"A stratagem to lure the enemy? What stratagem?" Duo Yongjian asked. "Princess Consort, what do you have to say?"
The constant raids by the cavalry on Xue Lin City and Ghost Valley Pass prevented them from sending reinforcements to Qilin Pass. This, in turn, allowed the Xiongnu army to capture Qilin Pass. This was Ling Yue's suggestion, so why was she speaking of such a thing now? Duo Yongjian thought with some irritation.
However, due to this battle, Ling Yue's unit of twenty thousand slave soldiers had made a significant contribution, losing thirty percent of their men. Therefore, Duo Yongjian spoke to her with more politeness.
"Are there only this many people in Qilin Pass? General Yan led a large contingent of troops out, and it felt as if they were deliberately retreating, with reinforcements waiting outside. Great Chieftain, doesn't this make one suspicious?" Ling Yue replied.
Ling Yue's analysis was sound, and many of the Xiongnu generals around her nodded in agreement.
Although Princess Consort Ling Yue was a woman, her insight was indeed extraordinary, and many of the strategies were proposed by her. For this reason, many Xiongnu generals were full of admiration for her.
"Hmm, according to your opinion, how should we respond?" Duo Yongjian asked, though his mind was elsewhere.
Having just captured Qilin Pass, there must be many beautiful women within the pass, as well as countless treasures. Duo Yongjian urged his horse into the city, his heart already racing ahead, long before he passed through the city gates.
"Why don't we retreat?" Ling Yue replied. "The weather is already exceptionally cold, and they are extremely fatigued. It's best to seize the opportunity and withdraw, then discuss further plans."
Many of the Xiongnu generals present secretly praised her words.
The further south they ventured in this campaign, the more difficult it became, and the fiercer the battles grew as they approached the three passes. The Xiongnu had suffered significant losses, with many feeling a vague sense of unease. Retreating now seemed to be the best course of action.
Regardless of any plans or traps General Yan, led by Hu Yan Sheng, might have, retreating now would foil his scheme. Moreover, the Xiongnu army's capture of Qilin Pass would undoubtedly shake the Yan dynasty, putting the Xiongnu army in a superior position. From then on, whether for war or peace negotiations, the Xiongnu would hold the advantage and could demand much from the Yan court.
Therefore, seizing the opportunity and withdrawing was indeed a wise plan.
"Retreat?" Duo Yongjian was furious. "Bitch, you want to run wild now that I've loosened the reins? I, your Great Chieftain, have mobilized a hundred thousand troops to march south, only to capture this insignificant Qilin Pass and seize a meager amount of people and property before slinking back? Bitch, if you dare to utter such nonsense again and disrupt my army's morale, I will throw you into the military camp."
Duo Yongjian's heart was still set on the fertile lands of the Central Plains, the abundance of beautiful women and slaves, and mountains of treasure. Thus, he was unwilling to retreat simply after capturing Qilin Pass.
Ling Yue's primary asset was her force of twenty thousand slave soldiers. During the attack on Qilin Pass, Duo Yongjian forced them to take the lead in the assault, resulting in the loss of over three thousand men. Ling Yue's strength was thus greatly diminished.
This was precisely what Duo Yongjian wished to see, and he reverted to his old ways, publicly humiliating Ling Yue.
Duo Yongjian had tolerated Ling Yue for a long time for the sake of his only son, Prince Bian. However, Ling Yue was now becoming too powerful. How could Duo Yongjian not sense her growing influence?
After this battle, Duo Yongjian planned to depose Ling Yue from her position as Princess Consort and even have her killed to eliminate future trouble. As for Prince Bian's reliance on her... he could simply provide him with more attractive female slaves.
Duo Yongjian regretted giving the beautiful Ling Yue to Prince Bian to this day. If she were still under his command, Ling Yue would have been, at most, a favored consort. Once he tired of her or disliked her, he would have had her executed or confined like cattle. She wouldn't have reached the point of becoming so powerful and uncontrollable.
"The Great Chieftain is right. Your son has erred," Ling Yue said, no longer daring to speak further. She retreated timidly, emphasizing the word "son."
......
"Princess Consort..." Zhen Jin said to Ling Yue in her tent.
"Do not call me Princess Consort anymore," Ling Yue said faintly.
Zhen Jin nodded silently.
Zhen Jin understood Ling Yue's suffering better than anyone.
At a tender and innocent age, Ling Yue had to bear the pain of her nation's downfall and the hardship of displacement. At such a young age, she also had to carry the heavy burden of restoring her country and avenging its humiliation. To achieve this goal, Ling Yue's brother sent her to the grasslands, to the Great Chieftain of the Xiongnu, Duo Yongjian.
After her brother's death, she lived alone and desolate on the grasslands, under the shadow of the brutal Duo Yongjian, enduring all manner of bullying. Now, with her life having improved slightly, Duo Yongjian intended to put her to death.
Ling Yue, having lived into her twenties, had not had a single happy day, nor a moment of peace.
"Princess..." After a long pause, Zhen Jin asked, "You know it's impossible, yet why did you insist?"
"General Zhen Le..." Ling Yue looked at Zhen Le and replied, "The longer I stay here, the more dangerous it becomes for me, and the more they will die."
Zhen Le nodded.
It was clear that Great Chieftain Duo Yongjian intended to wear down Ling Yue's forces. Once her forces were depleted, it would be Ling Yue's end. Even if she didn't die, she would be forever imprisoned in the northern lands, never to rise again.
Even if Duo Yongjian died of illness, Ling Yue would not be able to rise again, due to the Xiongnu custom of human sacrifice.
Ling Yue and Zhen Jin understood this all too well, but currently, there was nothing they could do.
Ling Yue's only viable path, or rather her only chance of survival, was to escape from Duo Yongjian's shadow.
"General Zhen Le..." After a while, Ling Yue asked, "Do you think that person... is still alive?"
"Some people die even when they stay peacefully at home. Some people, no matter what dangers they face outside, will not die," Zhen Jin replied, knowing full well whom Ling Yue was asking about.
Ling Yue nodded.
If he were still alive, with his myriad of unconventional or novel ideas, he would have been a great help to Ling Yue. Unfortunately, he had run away. She had treated him with sincerity, yet he had shown no appreciation.
Ling Yue thought with resentment.
......
"My men, hurry! Faster! Capture these bandits, and there will be a great reward!"
In the Xiongnu royal court, Qi Wu Han, the Left Great Commander under Xiongnu Great Chieftain Duo Yongjian, fully armored and mounted, continually urged his subordinates towards the camp of the late Ao Deng.
The Left Great Commander Qi Wu Han was Duo Yongjian's brother-in-law.
A band of bandits, of unknown origin, had launched a surprise attack on the troops of the Right Inner King Ao Deng of the royal court, killing Ao Deng and occupying his camp. How could this be tolerated? Duo Yongjian had ordered Ao Deng to lead the army to guard the royal court, and with Ao Deng killed, the royal court was in peril. As Duo Yongjian's brother-in-law, Qi Wu Han had no choice but to eliminate these rebels and restore peace to the royal court. Thus, Qi Wu Han assembled over five thousand soldiers and charged towards Zhou Fugui's unit.
These over five thousand soldiers were all the troops under Qi Wu Han's command, meaning all the clansmen under his banner, from the old to the young. There were few able-bodied men, as most of them had been taken south by Duo Yongjian.
Qi Wu Han leading all the troops from his clan was not a situation where he could afford to lose. If they were defeated, not only would the Xiongnu royal court be in danger, but even his stronghold, the White Wolf Stone City, might not be safe. However, this worry was unnecessary. According to reports, these rebels numbered only two to three hundred men. With five thousand men facing two to three hundred, how could they possibly lose?
Therefore, Qi Wu Han confidently led his army forward.
As for the great rewards Qi Wu Han promised, they were, of course, not from his own coffers. It was from the spoils of war taken from Ao Deng's camp, with a small portion distributed as rewards, while the majority would be pocketed by Qi Wu Han.
"Commander..." a Xiongnu general said worriedly to Qi Wu Han. "The Left Great Cavalry Commander Xu Bu Liang and his troops are still more than thirty li away. Why not wait for him to arrive, then advance together, and wipe out this group of rebels in one fell swoop?"
"Wait for him?" Qi Wu Han said with disdain, glancing back. "By the time he arrives, mares will have foaled countless times. We won't wait for him. Pass down the order to advance quickly and swiftly eliminate these rebels."
Qi Wu Han and Xu Bu Liang had agreed to advance together, flanking and annihilating Zhou Fugui's unit. Yet, Qi Wu Han was desperately urging his troops forward and had actually opened a distance of over thirty li from Xu Bu Liang's unit. Xu Bu Liang's cavalry was far more numerous than Qi Wu Han's, and his troops were more elite.
With Qi Wu Han and Xu Bu Liang advancing together, flanking and annihilating Zhou Fugui and other rebels would undoubtedly have been a safe plan. However, the key issue was the credit and the treasures from Ao Deng's camp.
As for the treasures, whoever grabbed them first would own them, there was no need to say more. But the credit for annihilating the rebels and stabilizing the royal court was a different matter. When Duo Yongjian bestowed rewards in the future, who would be ranked higher? At the very least, they would be considered equals.
Qi Wu Han was unwilling to share the glory with Xu Bu Liang, a junior.
It was true that Qi Wu Han was Duo Yongjian's brother-in-law, but on the grasslands, especially within the royal court, who was not related by blood or marriage? Without mentioning other things, Duo Yongjian had countless brothers-in-law.
Duo Yongjian had an innumerable number of consorts.
Therefore, vying for credit was the top priority, even more so than eradicating these rebels.
"Commander..." The Xiongnu general, a cautious and prudent person, still advised, "The enemy's situation is unclear. We must not advance rashly. Beware of an ambush!"
"What unclear enemy situation?" Qi Wu Han was enraged. "Are hundreds of mere bandits and vagrants scaring you into not moving? March quickly, or it will be too late."
The cautious Xiongnu general thought it made sense and then led several hundred cavalrymen to gallop forward, acting as the vanguard for Qi Wu Han's unit.
Qi Wu Han's remaining troops no longer formed any formations, but followed the Xiongnu cautious general haphazardly as they charged forward.
What need was there for formations to deal with a few bandits and vagrants?
Soon, the Xiongnu cautious general returned, shouting loudly to Qi Wu Han, "Commander, there is an enemy ambush in the forest ahead!"