Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 756: Bloody Court
December 3rd, midwinter.

After several days of discussing the details, scouts set out first to explore the road. After receiving feedback, Huo Jun led 4,000 elite cavalry to raid Chi Lechuan.

Four thousand cavalrymen, elite soldiers drawn from various armies, each man riding two horses, all skilled in riding and shooting, with complete armor, weapons and supplies.

In order to prevent Ke Bineng from noticing, Huo Jun did not plan to enter Chi Lechuan from Dingxiang County. Instead, he led his troops out of the Great Wall from the northern part of Yanmen, from the direction of Chanhepo, that is, the northeast direction of Chi Lechuan, along the ancient and dilapidated Linhu Ancient Road, and rushed to Chi Lechuan.

In the deep winter, the sky outside the Great Wall is azure blue, and the mountains are covered with snow. The mountains in the northern part of the Great Wall are ravaged by cold winds, and the mountains in sight show gray outlines, and most of the mountains are withered and yellow grass.

The wind outside the Great Wall was not as damp and cold as that in the south, but rather dry and cold. The wind blew through the mountains, making a whirring sound, and this icy wind constantly penetrated people's bodies, as if it could freeze their flesh and blood.

"Bah!"

On the Linhu Ancient Road, led by Budugen, the Han army marched quickly. Four thousand cavalrymen rode on horseback on the upper road, and because the terrain was a valley road, their ranks marched in a winding manner.

In order to prevent the Hu tribes from blocking the road, Ding Feng led two hundred cavalrymen in front, with Budugen as the guide, ready to clear out the Xianbei Hu cavalry at any time.

"Shut up!"

As the sun gradually set, the temperature gradually dropped. Huo Jun could not stand the cold anymore and had to rein in his horse. He rubbed his red, frozen cheeks with his gloved hands.

Because of concerns that Huo Jun would not be able to adapt to the climate in northern Xinjiang, Master Bu had already made leather gloves, knee pads, and wool socks for Huo Jun, almost fully armed. But even so, the dry and cold wind still penetrated his clothes and invaded his skin.

"How is the Prime Minister?"

Seeing Huo Jun stop to rest, he pulled his horse to a halt and asked.

"fine!"

Breathing out the white hot air, Huo Jun asked, "The temperature difference between day and night in the northern part of the Great Wall is very large. Now that the sun is gradually setting, where should our army go to rest?"

Qian Zhao waved his hand to call a Xianbei man, communicated with him in Xianbei language, and then asked the Xianbei cavalry to retreat.

"Prime Minister, there are many trees on both sides of the Linhu Ancient Road. About ten miles ahead, there are more densely packed mountains and streams. We can set up camp and rest." Qian Zhao said.

"it is good!"

Huo Jun warmed up his stiff body, then pulled the reins and urged his horse forward.

Qian Zhaogai saw that Huo Jun was not adapted to the cold climate outside the Great Wall, so he ordered the Wuhuan to surround Huo Jun in the cavalry.

Most of the 4,000 elite cavalry were Han cavalry, and more than half of the Han cavalry were southern cavalry. Considering the issue of personal adaptability, Huo Jun arranged the border Hu cavalry and the Han border cavalry outside, which was considered a small trick in the cavalry raid.

"Report!"

The scout came riding back to report, saying, "Prime Minister, there is a Xianbei tribe garrisoned ten miles ahead, and it has been defeated by General Ding, and more than a hundred households of the tribe have been captured."

"it is good!"

Huo Jun ordered his men, "Set up camp ten miles ahead to rest!"

"promise!"

In order to obtain useful information in advance, Huo Jun and Qian Zhao led their personal guards forward.

After a while, when Huo Jun arrived, Ding Feng led the captured Xianbei chieftain forward.

"Xiangguo!"

"How about it?"

Ding Feng pointed at the small leader and said, "After interrogation, we learned that because the Linhu trail was difficult to travel, the people of Chanhepi often took the main road to deliver salt, so there were no other tribes on this road. This tribe had offended the nobleman and had to move here to graze."

As he spoke, Ding Feng glanced at the leader and asked, "Prime Minister, to prevent the news from leaking out, should we kill them all?"

As if sensing Ding Feng's murderous intent, the little leader looked a little agitated and kept saying something.

Qian Zhao leaned close to Huo Jun's ear and said, "Prime Minister, this man said he knows where the court of King Kebineng is, and he is willing to lead our army."

"Ok?"

Huo Jun's eyes lit up and he asked, "Please inquire carefully. Is the Kebineng royal court in Yuanyang or Beiyu?"

Qian Zhao communicated through the Xianbei language, pacified the small leader, and asked about the location of the corresponding royal court.

"Prime Minister, the royal court of Kebineng moved north to Beiyu, which is adjacent to the Manggan River and backed by the Yin Mountains. The tribe this man belongs to used to graze in the wilderness of Chi Lechuan, but now, as General Ding said, they have no choice but to graze among the forests, lakes and mountains. The people of the tribe are poor and destitute, and can only make a living by hunting." Qian Zhao said.

Huo Jun looked at the short leader and said, "Tell him to follow me to attack the Xianbei king's court. I will make him the commander of Linhu Road and allocate fertile pasture to him."

"promise!"

Upon hearing this, the little leader was extremely delighted and immediately knelt down and kowtowed to thank Huo Jun for the reward.

"Prime Minister, this man said that his tribe is called Helan, and his name is Helan Renshi." Qian Zhao introduced.

"it is good!"

Huo Jun commanded his men and said, "Let this unit join our army and attack Hu Ting with us."

"promise!"

With the surrender of the Xianbei tribe, it was more convenient for the Han army to march and rest in the Linhu Road. In order to express his sincerity in surrendering, Helan Renshi slaughtered all the cattle and sheep in the tribe, which made Huo Jun even more satisfied.

After a night of rest, in order to hurry up, the Han cavalry, under the urging of the generals, had a simple breakfast and hurried on their way. After learning the exact location of Hu Ting, Huo Jun discussed with everyone and changed the original route. Previously, they planned to enter Chi Le Chuan from Baiqu River, but now they directly entered Chi Le Chuan from the upper reaches of Manggan River.

The new route was even more remote, almost marching through the mountains. Fortunately, the horses had horseshoes nailed on, and the mountains outside the Great Wall were not high mountains and deep forests like those in the Central Plains, but were interspersed with shrubs and dwarf forests.

It took about four or five days to walk the two or three hundred miles of mountain road to reach Chi Le Chuan. Considering the needs of the battle, Huo Jun led his troops to slow down the march in the mountains and sent Hu cavalry to inquire about the situation of the royal court.

At dusk, the setting sun shines across the mountain springs, the cold air invades, and the temperature drops.

At the foot of the mountain, Huo Jun was listening to the report from the Hu cavalry and discussing the marching plan with everyone.

"Prime Minister, although Beiyu City is available, Ke Bineng has not yet moved into the city due to its small size and narrowness."

Qian Zhao used a small stick to draw on the sand and said, "The Hu court is close to the Manggan River in the east and the Daqing Mountain in the west. Because the people of the tribe often go out, the outside of the royal court is loose. If the troops attack suddenly, the royal court will be destroyed."

Because the royal court was a semi-military and semi-living place, its layout was not like that of a Han army camp with felt tents scattered around. Only the area around the royal court was heavily guarded with chevaux de frise and carts.

Huo Jun pondered the terrain where Hu Ting was, and said in a deep voice: "Today is cold and the ground is frozen, and the Manggan River is frozen. Our army will leave Shanquan Ridge, ride across the river, and rush to attack the royal court!"

"Prime Minister, we don't know the whereabouts of General Wei. If he has not reached Baidao, I'm afraid Ke Bi will be defeated and flee to Mobei." Qian Zhao said worriedly.

“I can’t care about that!”

Huo Jun wiped off the traces on the ground and said directly: "Our army rushed here and changed the route halfway, and has lost contact with Shi Yuan and Wen Chang's armies. The most important task now is to defeat the enemy. If Ke Bi can find out, all our previous efforts will be wasted."

It is impossible to make foolproof arrangements when fighting against nomadic peoples. They are highly mobile and if you miss the opportunity, there will be no chance of recovery.

Huo Jun led his troops out of the Great Wall and bypassed the mountains outside the Great Wall. His only purpose was to raid the court of King Kebi Neng. The key point of this operation was to destroy the court of King Kebi Neng and make the Shuo Shang Xianbei lose their command system.

Huo Jun swept his fierce eyes over the generals and said loudly: "You have followed me on a journey of ten days, sleeping in the open air for more than a thousand miles. Today is the day to drive out the barbarians, make a name for yourself, and achieve unprecedented achievements!"

"We are willing to follow the Prime Minister to defeat the Hu!" everyone said in a deep voice.

In order to avoid being discovered by the Xianbei people, the Han army strictly followed the regulations, buried their meals in holes, and ate weathered dried meat and shriveled Hu cakes.

Perhaps because it was the first raid on the Xianbei royal court, or perhaps because he was worried that the Xianbei would notice the movements of the cavalry, Huo Jun, who was already a veteran of many battles, rarely had nervous moments.

When the soldiers finished their meal, the night gradually darkened, with only the setting sun in the west. Without the sun's warmth, the air in the northern frontier was very cold. The whistling wind echoed among the mountains, indirectly covering up the sound of the horses' hooves wrapped in cloth.

"Xiangguo!"

Huo Jun stopped on the top of a mountain and saw his elite cavalry spread all over the mountains and fields, holding bows and spears, ready to go into battle at any time, and their accompanying spare horses were looked after by the elderly and the weak.

"set off!"

Huo Jun did not hesitate any longer. He jumped onto his horse with a swift posture, pointed his whip, and said in a deep voice: "Wave the flag, and the whole army will attack the Xianbei royal court."

"promise!"

In the setting sun in the west, the "Huo" flag fluttered in the wind, and the gold-inlaid flag cone on the tip sparkled, making it particularly conspicuous among the crowd.

The large banner advanced quickly, and the Han cavalry followed behind. Fearing that the Xianbei would be prepared, the Han army did not use a night raid, but rode directly forward, marching 40 miles, and launched a charge against the Hu court on the river bank.

"Bah!"

As the sun sets and the temperature drops, the tribesmen who had gone out earlier have already returned to their felt tents to avoid the cold.

Along the way, the cold wind blew, the dull sound of metal horse hooves came one after another, and a cavalry that did not belong to the Hu people appeared on the lonely wilderness.

The sound of breathing, the cold wind, and the sound of horse hooves, but the only thing missing was the sound of human voices. As they continued to approach the royal court, the icy breath of the iron cavalry reached its peak.

"what sound?"

"Horse hooves?"

As the Han cavalry continued to approach Hu Ting, the Xianbei people on the periphery heard the familiar sound of horse hooves and immediately became suspicious.

The Xianbei riders in the tent, who were unaware of the situation, came out of the tent on duty and rode their horses to question the newcomers. However, as the Han riders approached, they saw the flaming red flag and were immediately frightened and stunned.

“Why are the Han people here?”

"Enemy attack!"

The Xianbei riders hurriedly took out their horns and blew them urgently. The sound traveled far across the vast plains and seemed in the sky to convey the news of the Han army's attack to the people in the tribe.

Not long after, the horn whimpered a few times and then died down, and then the sound of horse hooves became louder.

Inside Wang Tingya's tent, Ke Bineng heard the sound of a horn that suddenly sounded and then disappeared, and he felt a little uneasy.

"Someone, go see what's going on?"

Ke Bineng could not sit still, so he stood up and called the attendants to ask questions.

"promise!"

While the attendants were searching, listening to the sound of horse hooves getting closer, Ke Bineng suddenly felt palpitations for some reason, as if he understood something and his face suddenly changed.

ps: There will be another update tonight.

(End of this chapter)