I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 420: Battle Historian and Battle Envoy

A few days later, You Rizhu King Tiefu finally led his troops to the city of Jiaohe.

His arrogance made him believe the disguise of the people of Gushi. All the Huns did not believe that Jiaohe City was defended by natural barriers and that the Han army could capture it quietly.

They couldn't believe that the Han army dared to defend this isolated and helpless city in the face of 20,000 Xiongnu cavalry and even set up an ambush in the city.

At the same time, caution also made him keep an eye on things.

He did not go into the city in person to take over Jiaohe City, but instead sent several miscellaneous kings with two thousand cavalry to negotiate with "King Gushi".

He led the rest of the troops and set up camp on the river beach upstream of Jiaohe City. On one hand, he guarded Jiaohe City, and on the other hand, he served as the main camp to command the war with the Han army.

As he said before.

Although the Han army held the gap in the Tianshan Mountains, preventing the Xiongnu army from easily launching a surprise attack from behind, in his eyes, the Han army was already surrounded by Xiongnu cavalry.

Because there is no water source or oasis in the gap of Tianshan Mountains.

No matter whether it is the Xiongnu army or the Han army, they cannot stay for a long time in the gap of Tianshan Mountains where there is a lack of water and food. If the stalemate continues, the supply pressure of the Han army will increase day by day, while the Xiongnu army can rely on Jiaohe City to suck blood from Gushi City... King Gushi will not think that this rescue is free... In this way, the Xiongnu will be well-rested and the Han army will be the first to collapse.

The Han army was mostly composed of infantry, so when they could not hold on and retreat, their marching speed would naturally not be fast, and their morale would be greatly affected if they returned empty-handed. At that time, the Xiongnu cavalry only needed to bite the tail of the Han army and chase them, and then divide their troops to cut off the Han army's supplies, which would easily throw the Han army into chaos, thereby completing the harvest and achieving a great victory.

This is a classic tactic commonly used by the Huns.

This was also the most helpless situation for the infantry when facing the cavalry. They couldn't leave, and they were not right not to leave. They couldn't shake off the cavalry, and they couldn't hit them. No matter how many people they had, they would eventually be abandoned by the cavalry. Even if they managed to escape back to the city, they would have to pay a heavy price, and all their baggage and food would be lost...

After all, there are very few generals like Li Ling who can control the troops and resist until they run out of ammunition and food, and the Huns rarely encounter them.

Several miscellaneous kings who went to Jiaohe City for negotiations had the same arrogance as Tiefu.

"The Xiongnu reinforcements have arrived, why don't you quickly open the city gates to welcome them!"

Without any doubt, they led two thousand cavalrymen to the gate of Jiaohe City and knocked on it.

What is the identity of King Gushi? He is just like other small countries in the Western Regions. He has always been a slave of the Xiongnu. Since the right wing of the Xiongnu is directly bordering them, how could such a thing dare to rebel?

"General Su, look at this..."

Faced with such a situation, Sima Qian was a little undecided.

This was different from what had been expected. Even if Jiaohe City could not accommodate the 20,000 Xiongnu troops, King Youriju should have led his troops to the city to demonstrate first to calm King Gushi's heart, and then consider the issue of where to station the troops.

But now, it is estimated that there are only two thousand soldiers at the gate of the city.

The flags around these miscellaneous kings also revealed their identities, and King You Rizhu was not among the leaders.

"Don't worry, just ask first."

Su Wu calmed himself down and whispered a few words to a Gushi man beside him who was dressed as a Gushi general.

Gu Shiren then went up to the tower and asked loudly, tentatively:

"If they are Xiongnu reinforcements, where is the Right Sun King?"

"King Yourizhu has set up camp upstream of the Jiaohe River and has specially ordered us to come and discuss with King Gushi about attacking the Han army... What? Could it be that someone else dares to pretend to be a Xiongnu army? Quickly open the city gates to welcome them!"

Several miscellaneous kings shouted loudly in an impatient tone.

The people of Gushi in the city just found it funny when they heard this. What did they mean by "Does anyone dare to pretend to be the Hun army?" They had already pretended to be the Huns a long time ago, and the red willows on the Gushi King's grave might have sprouted by now.

Upon hearing this, Su Wu looked at Sima Qian, frowned, and asked:

"Sima Jianjun, what are you thinking now?"

The plan Liu Ju originally left for them.

They waited for the Xiongnu's King You Riju to approach the city, and then shot him dead by surprise, leaving the Xiongnu army leaderless.

The large yellow crossbows had been set up on the city wall in advance, covered with gray cloth for camouflage. There were four of them in different positions, trying to make the enemy open their hearts with one strike. At the same time, there were two thousand crossbowmen hidden in the city wall. When the large yellow crossbows were fired, thousands of arrows were fired at the same time, which could also cause some casualties to the Xiongnu cavalry under the city.

But now King You Rizhu has not come at all, how can this plan be implemented?
Are we just going to shoot a few miscellaneous kings?
This would probably make it difficult to achieve Liu Ju's strategic goals, and it would not have much impact on the Xiongnu army, right?
"General Su, if you have any ideas, just tell me. I am just a scholar and I don't have any experience in leading troops..."

Sima Qian spread his hands, frowned and smiled bitterly.

"What the military supervisor Sima said is true. Before this, I was just a groom who fed horses and drove carriages. I became an envoy on a diplomatic mission without knowing why, and I have no experience in leading troops."

Su Wu glanced at him and seemed calmer.

Sima Qian smiled bitterly and said:
"That's different. My ancestors were historians from beginning to end, and your father, General Su Jian, had accompanied General Wei to the north to attack the Xiongnu many times. The blood flowing in our bodies is different."

"I just remember that my father's entire army was annihilated in his last battle and he was nearly beheaded by the emperor. In the end, he had to pay money to redeem himself as a commoner..."

Su Wu waved his hand.

"Forget it, let's not talk about these past events... Actually, I do have a bold idea in my mind. I wonder if Sima Jianjun dares to give it a try?"

"I knew it. General Su, let me tell you first."

Sima Qian concentrated and said.

"The Xiongnu only have 2,000 soldiers and horses, and there is no large army behind them. We have 5,000 defenders in the city, and the people of Gushi are also of the same blood as us. Why not open the city gates and let them in, and then wipe out this army in the city."

Su Wu lowered his voice, a fierce look appeared in his eyes.
"Even though we cannot kill the Right Sun King, if we can kill two thousand cavalrymen in one fell swoop, it won't be a waste of your highness's painstaking planning. What do you think?"

"This idea... is indeed bold enough."

Sima Qian's face changed slightly when he heard this, and he looked Su Wu up and down.

"But if this fails, the enemy will form a situation of internal and external cooperation, and Jiaohe City may not be able to be defended. I wonder how confident General Su is?"

At this moment, he was still thinking about the credibility of Liu Ju's maxim, always suspecting that he would be led into a ditch by Su Wu, a Du "Ling" man.

Su Wu did not answer but asked:

"How confident is the military supervisor Sima that Your Highness can lead several thousand cavalry to defeat 20,000 Xiongnu cavalry?"

"..."

Sima Qian didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"If Your Highness is defeated by the Xiongnu, Jiaohe City will be beyond saving. The two of us and the five thousand soldiers in the city will be trapped. What's the point of being able to defend it?"

Su Wu said again,

"And helping His Highness weaken the Xiongnu in advance is saving ourselves, don't you think that makes sense?"

"Besides, Zhao Po Nu and Wang Hui had made great contributions in conquering Loulan, and they also made great contributions in slaughtering the royal family of Jiaohe City a few days ago. Although Han Zeng, who came to escort my sister, was appointed as the fake Sima, even the usher Dongfang Yudu, who came to deliver the imperial edict, immediately assassinated the Tongpu Duwei and subdued Yanqi. He will most likely be granted a title of nobility after returning."

"It's nothing for me. Anyway, I was just an envoy sent to make peace with Wusun."

"But Sima Jianjun is the military supervisor of a large army. If he dies in the Western Regions without any achievements, it would be fine. At least he can be recognized as a hero. If he returns alive, won't he be ridiculed?"

"I'm afraid even Sima Jianjun, when he compiles history books in the future, won't know how to write about himself, right?"

"And if this is accomplished, Sima Jianjun will be a war historian who can put on armor and kill enemies in battle, and write about the Spring and Autumn Annals. This will surely become a good story..."

That’s all I have to say.

Sima Qian immediately summoned up great courage and said fiercely, gritting his teeth:
"Fuck! Fuck them! Kill them all who tricked them in!"

"If this can be accomplished, General Su will become a combat envoy who can go to enemy countries with a seal and kill enemy generals with a sword. It can also clear your father's name. Isn't this a good story?"

At this time, the two of them were completely unaware that they were being influenced by the catfish effect that Liu Ju had subtly created... Everyone felt as if a carrot was dangling in front of them.

(End of this chapter)