The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

As night fell, the sky gradually darkened. Meng Yuan led Meng Yi, Pang Qing, and others, along with 20,000 cavalrymen and 40,000 horses. Led by Han Xin and Zhao Da, they sped like an arrow from a bow, heading northwest of Yanmen Pass.

The clatter of horse hooves resounded through the sky, stirring up clouds of dust, as if a giant dragon were galloping across the earth. This massive army was imposing, and every face was filled with determination and resolve.

The army galloped along, finally halting twenty miles from where Han Xin and his men had scouted the Xiongnu royal court. Scouts from the front quickly reported, "General, twenty miles ahead, we've only found traces of Xiongnu troops, but no human presence nearby."

Meng Yuan frowned, lost in thought. After a moment, he gave an order: "Brother spies, start from this spot and spread out a twenty-li radius. Search thoroughly, leaving no trace." Then, turning to Meng Yi, he said, "Brother Yi, it seems the Xiongnu are quite cunning. After the Xiongnu army set out, their lair moved. We must not let our guard down."

Meng Yi nodded in agreement and said, "Brother Yuan is absolutely right. However, I think we should send Han Xin and Zhao Da to investigate. They are familiar with the terrain and may be able to find any traces left by Li Ziwei."

Meng Yuan nodded slightly in agreement. Then, Han Xin and Zhao Da rode off like a whirlwind, heading straight for the hillside where they had hidden during their initial exploration.

After careful investigation, the two found an arrow carved on a stone, pointing to the north. They quickly reported their discovery to Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan ordered the scouts to focus their search in the north direction. Meng Yi suggested that Han Xin and Zhao Da accompany the scouts.

As darkness gradually enveloped the sky, Han Xin and Zhao Da walked about twenty miles due north when they saw a flickering light in the distance, so they cautiously groped their way forward.

Just as they were trying to get closer to their target, two figures suddenly jumped out from the side, quickly covered their mouths and pressed them to the ground. One of them whispered, "Brother Han, it's me, Li Ziwei!"

Hearing this voice, the stone hanging in Han Xin and Zhao Da's hearts finally fell.

Li Ziwei then recounted the events: "Two days after you left, the Xiongnu army set out. The remaining force from the royal court, numbering approximately 20,000, also slowly moved north. I deliberately left a mark on the hillside."

Han Xin asked: "General Meng Yuan has led General Meng Yi and 20,000 cavalry to arrive here. Is there any unusual activity in the Xiongnu's lair?"

Li Ziwei replied, "The Xiongnu who remain are living quite comfortably, spending their days either hunting or enjoying themselves. Brother Han, you remain here to monitor while I report to the young generals."

Han Xin and Zhao Da nodded and told Li Ziwei to be careful. Li Ziwei disappeared into the darkness in a flash.

Li Ziwei rode his horse south for about forty miles and finally saw where the army was.

When Meng Yi met Li Ziwei again, compared with the situation of Han Xin and Zhao Da a few days ago, Li Ziwei's face was darker, his hair was more messy, and his clothes were more tattered. Only his reflective eyes could be seen in the light of the night.

Li Ziwei dismounted, bowed, and said, "General, the Xiongnu's lair is forty miles ahead. There are 20,000 of them, 10,000 of whom are the families of the princes and nobles who have stayed behind, and another 10,000 are the guards led by the Right Wise King."

After listening to this, Meng Yi's eyes flashed with excitement.

"Okay, this time we must wipe out the remaining Xiongnu forces in one fell swoop and sweep across the royal court!" Meng Yuan said proudly, waving his hand.

Then, he turned and instructed the people behind him, "Brother Yi, lead 10,000 cavalrymen and go around to the back of the Xiongnu camp! Block the gap, and I will lead the troops to attack from the front later."

For a moment, the entire military camp became busy, and the soldiers sharpened their swords, preparing for the upcoming battle.

On the other side, Han Xin and Zhao Da continued to monitor the movements in the Xiongnu camp.

They hid in the dark, observing the Huns' every move.

At this moment, the Xiongnu camp was still bustling with activity. The nobles were still immersed in the joyful atmosphere, completely unaware of the danger approaching.

At this moment, someone noticed something was amiss. He approached the Right Wise King and said worriedly, "Uncle, I'm feeling a little uneasy. How about we send some more people to scout the surrounding area?"

The Right Wise King was already a little tipsy at this time. He laughed and responded, "Your Highness Maodun, don't worry! The sentries and patrols around the camp have been deployed. Besides, didn't we move the camp according to your suggestion? Don't worry, it's okay!" After that, he patted Maodun on the shoulder and comforted him, "Relax, relax." Then, he hugged the maid beside him and continued to drink happily.

Maodun sat there for a while, but his uneasiness persisted. So, he decided to personally patrol the camp with his own guards. However, to his annoyance, he found the sentries dozing off or drinking, while the patrols were nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Meng Yi led Ying Bu and ten thousand elite cavalrymen, like a group of ghosts, carefully weaving through the dense grass and circling to the northern part of the Xiongnu camp. Their figures were looming in the moonlight, as if blending into the darkness.

Meanwhile, Meng Yuan and Pang Qing each led five thousand elite cavalrymen, like two sharp swords, attacking from both sides. Their movements were light and agile, like ghosts, silently and stealthily approaching the Xiongnu camp. The three armies, like a vast net, gradually tightened, encircling the Xiongnu camp.

Meng Yuan looked up at the sky. The moon was silver, and the stars were twinkling. He took a deep breath and whispered, "All officers, listen! Charge immediately when I give the order!" The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes gleaming with determination, as if to tell the world that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for their country.

At that moment, a rousing drumbeat suddenly rang out, shattering the night's silence. In an instant, shouts of war erupted, resounding through the air and deafening the ears. The Xiongnu, caught off guard by this sudden attack, were thrown into complete panic and chaos.

Meng Yuan led the charge, charging headfirst into the enemy lines. His spear, like a sea-born dragon, soared up and down, instantly slashing through the enemy lines. His imposing presence stirred the blood of the soldiers behind him, their morale soaring as they charged forward, throwing themselves headfirst into the battle without hesitation.

At the same time, Meng Yi and Ying Bu launched a fierce attack from the rear of the Xiongnu camp. Chaos erupted within the camp, with flames shooting into the sky and thick smoke billowing. The cries of killing, the clatter of horses' hooves, and the clanging of metal combined to form a thrilling symphony.

Maodun looked at the devastating defeat before him, his heart filled with sorrow, but he was not consumed by despair. He gripped the reins tightly, his gaze determined as he headed westward to break through the siege. At his side, hundreds of defeated soldiers followed closely behind him.

At this critical moment, Maodun demonstrated outstanding leadership and combat skills. He constantly directed his soldiers to change formations and cleverly used the terrain for cover and counterattacks.

Finally, they broke through the Qin army's encirclement and fought their way through. Maodun looked back, only to see the battlefield behind him filled with smoke and devastation. He knew the cruelty of this war, but he also understood that only by surviving could he have a chance to make a comeback. So, he and his remaining soldiers continued their journey of escape...

Maodun and his men fled desperately all night until they were far away from the battlefield. They stopped to rest for a while and counted the number of people. They found that the original army of 10,000 people was now less than 1,000.

Maodun was in a heavy mood. He realized that the Xiongnu had suffered a heavy blow and vowed to avenge his grievances and restore the Xiongnu's glory. He decided to lead the remaining troops to find a safe place to hide for a while...