The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 580 Destroying the Xiongnu

The night Wei Yan received the imperial edict, a raging fire broke out at the Zhang family ancestral home in Changshan County. Three thousand armored cavalry surrounded the manor, their torches illuminating Wei Yan's cold, iron-like face.

"General Wei, the Zhang family is a prominent family in Hebei. You cannot..." The Prefect of Changshan earnestly advised.

"A prestigious family?" Wei Yan sneered, his long sword slashing down with a deafening crash as the Zhang family's gate collapsed. "A prestigious family that colluded with the Xianbei and hoarded armor?"

The thunderous sound of hooves echoed as Tang cavalry stormed into the manor. The Zhang clan members fled in panic, only to be slaughtered one by one by archers. Wei Yan rode into the courtyard, his eyes devoid of emotion as he looked at Zhang Yan, the Zhang clan leader, pinned to the ground.

"Wei Yan! You will die a horrible death!" Zhang Yan roared, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "My Zhang family has been a prestigious clan for centuries!"

"A once-prominent family, now severed." Wei Yan raised his knife and brought it down, Zhang Yan's head rolling to the ground.

Similar scenes unfolded one after another in various counties of Hebei. Powerful clans such as the Liu family of Boling and the Wang family of Fanyang were uprooted. Wei Yan carried out Qin Shou's orders with swift and decisive action. In just seven days, rivers of blood flowed across Hebei, and more than ten thousand people were implicated.

Those who held official positions in the court, such as the Cui and Lu families, although they survived, were severely punished by Wei Yan and suffered heavy losses.
At dawn on the eighth day, Wei Yan stood on the banks of the Zhang River, looking at the corpses floating in the water, and coldly said to his deputy, "Order the entire army to march to Bingzhou immediately. The rest are to be dealt with by the local officials."

Meanwhile, at the Xiongnu royal court.

Liu Bao, clad in golden armor, stood on a high platform, overlooking the assembled 30,000 iron cavalry. Banners blotted out the sun on the grassland, swords and spears formed a forest, and the neighing of warhorses shook the heavens.

"My comrades!" Liu Bao raised his scimitar high, his voice booming like thunder, "The Tang people are killing each other in Hebei, leaving the Hetao region vulnerable! Follow me south and reclaim the pastures of our ancestors!"

"Roar!" The 30,000 Xiongnu cavalrymen roared in unison, their voices like thunder.

Liu Qubei, the younger brother, rode forward and whispered, "My lord, scouts report that Cheliji is about to invade Longxi, and Kebineng has also gathered troops to attack Youzhou. The main force of the Tang army is tied down; this is the perfect opportunity!"

A sly glint flashed in Liu Bao's eyes: "Order the vanguard of five thousand cavalry to disguise themselves as a merchant caravan and sneak open the gates of Yunzhong City!"

At the same time, in Chang'an City.

Qin Shou stood before the sand table, gazing at the three black flags representing the enemy, a cold smile playing on his lips. Jia Xu hurried inside: "Your Majesty, the latest military report! General Wei Yan has left Hebei and will arrive at Yanmen in three days; General Zhao Yun, leading ten thousand light cavalry, has already reached Shuofang; Generals Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, each leading twenty thousand troops, have respectively stationed themselves in Wuyuan and Yunzhong."

"Good!" Qin Shou slammed his hand on the sand table. "Liu Bao thought I had fallen for his diversionary tactic, but little did he know I was about to lure him into a trap!"

Compared to Liangzhou and Youzhou, he valued the Hetao region more, as it was the place where the Tang Dynasty raised horses. The Xiongnu had been part of the Central Plains for hundreds of years, but they still harbored ambitions and wanted to restore their former glory.

Liu Bao was one of them. According to historical records, the Xiongnu participated in the Five Barbarian Invasions. Although Qin Shou is currently in power, the chances of another Five Barbarian Invasions are relatively small, but we cannot let our guard down.

Since that's the case, we might as well nip it in the bud and deal with these guys first.

Look, even now, these guys are still not afraid of the Tang army's might and are still thinking about attacking the Central Plains.

Even the powerful families in the Central Plains colluded with foreign tribes; they were a group of people who feared power but not virtue.

Li Ru frowned and said, "Your Majesty, the Hetao region has open terrain, which is advantageous for cavalry warfare. The Xiongnu cavalry are swift and swift; if we cannot annihilate them in one battle, they may become a major threat."

Qin Shou's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Therefore, I will make sure Liu Bao never returns! Order Zhang Liao to abandon the outer strongholds of Yunzhong and let the Xiongnu in!" Three days later, Yunzhong County.

The Xiongnu vanguard, disguised as a caravan, successfully tricked their way into opening the city gates, and five thousand cavalrymen surged in like a tidal wave. The defending troops retreated in a panic, and the Xiongnu occupied Yunzhong without bloodshed.

"My lord, Yunzhong has fallen!" Liu Qubei reported excitedly. "The Tang army fled at the mere sight of them, abandoning all their supplies and provisions!"

Astride his warhorse, Liu Bao looked at the mountains of grain and fodder piled up in the city, but frowned and said, "Too smooth. Order the entire army to be on high alert, and have the scouts expand their search area!"

However, for three consecutive days, the Tang army seemed to be truly routed. The Xiongnu cavalry successively captured five cities around Yunzhong, seizing countless spoils. Liu Bao gradually lowered his guard and ordered the main force to move south, heading straight for the heart of the Hetao region.

On the fifth day at dusk, the Xiongnu army reached the Baidao Valley. The mountains on both sides were steep, and the valley was narrow, allowing only ten horsemen to ride abreast. Huyan Zhuo warned, "My lord, this place is easy to ambush."

Liu Bao laughed loudly, "The main force of the Tang army is still in Hebei, and the garrison in the Hetao region is holed up in the city. Where would they find an ambush? Men, hurry up and get through!"

Just as the Xiongnu vanguard was about to emerge from the valley, a deafening drumbeat suddenly resounded from the mountaintop. Countless Tang army banners were raised from behind the ridge, and rolling logs and rocks rained down upon them!

"We've fallen for their trap!" Liu Bao's expression changed drastically. "The rear guard becomes the front guard, retreat immediately!"

However, it was too late. At the mouth of the valley, a large banner bearing the character "Zhang" fluttered in the wind. Zhang Liao, wielding a crescent-shaped halberd, led his heavily armored cavalry to block their retreat.

"Liu Bao!" Zhang Liao's voice boomed, "His Majesty knew of your plot all along; today is your death day!"

Arrows rained down from both sides of the valley. Xiongnu cavalrymen fell, their screams echoing through the valley. Liu Bao gritted his teeth and ordered, "All troops, charge! Break through the valley!"

The bloody battle raged into the night. The Xiongnu desperately tried to break through, only to encounter a well-prepared Tang heavy cavalry force at the valley entrance. Zhang Liao personally led his troops in the charge, and wherever his crescent halberd passed, Xiongnu knights fell like wheat being harvested.

At dawn, the battered and bruised Liu Bao led fewer than five thousand surviving soldiers out of the valley, only to see a silver-armored cavalry force sweeping across the plain like an avalanche. Leading the charge, a white-horse-riding general with a silver spear, was none other than Zhao Yun!

"Zhao Zilong of Changshan is here! Liu Bao, prepare to die!" Zhao Yun pointed his spear, and ten thousand cavalry charged forward.

Liu Bao's face was ashen, and his guards urged him, "My lord, retreat immediately!"

"Retreat? Where to retreat to?" Liu Bao laughed bitterly. "Yunzhong has been recaptured by the Tang army; we have nowhere to retreat!"

Just then, dust billowed on the northern horizon. A large banner bearing the character "Wei" fluttered in the wind as Wei Yan led 20,000 elite cavalry to strike, completely cutting off the Xiongnu's retreat.

At noon, the final battle raged on the Hetao Plain. Liu Bao personally led his guards in a desperate charge, but was unhorsed by Zhao Yun with a single spear thrust. Seeing their commander captured, the remaining Xiongnu troops surrendered en masse.

Three days later, the good news reached Chang'an.

"Your Majesty's strategy is brilliant!" Jia Xu exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement as he held the battle report. "Liu Bao has been captured alive, and the entire Xiongnu army of 30,000 has been annihilated! General Wei Yan has led his troops eastward to join forces with General Xu Huang to encircle Kebineng; General Zhang Liao has advanced westward to Longxi to join forces with General Ma Chao to attack Cheliji!"

Standing atop the city wall, Qin Shou gazed northward and said calmly, "Issue my decree: Liu Bao is to be escorted to the capital; the Anbei Protectorate is to be established in the Hetao region, with Zhao Yun temporarily in charge; all Xiongnu tribes that surrender are to be relocated to the interior."

(End of this chapter)