My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Meng Quan stood frozen in place, as if the blood in his body had frozen at that moment.

The bronze battle axe in his hand crashed onto the rubble at his feet with a loud clang. As sparks flew, the shock in his eyes had not yet faded, leaving only a deathly silence and blankness.

The earth-shattering battle cries from the end of the valley were still ringing in his ears, but now all he could hear were the cries and fleeing of the Southern Barbarian soldiers, who had abandoned their armor and weapons. The two sounds intertwined, like a dull knife, repeatedly cutting into his nerves.

Not far away, Wu Rong was in no better shape. She leaned against a withered tree, her chest heaving violently, her rapid breathing still carrying the lingering smell of blood.

Only now did she truly break free from the shadow of death, and a belated sense of relief overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, making even her fingers tremble slightly.

"I'm still alive..."

Wu Rong muttered to himself, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

Luck? Maybe.

But the price of this luck was Yin Jie's life. (Witch)
Rong's gaze drifted into the depths of the valley, where smoke and dust billowed, and the Han army's "Han" banners fluttered in the wind. He could vaguely see a general in silver armor leading his troops in pursuit.

Her heart sank – Yin Jie had turned and charged into Deng Ai's central army to buy her time to escape, clearly gambling with her own life.

With Yin Jie's martial arts skills, facing a fierce general like Deng Ai, he would probably have already been exhausted and died.

A sense of guilt crept into Wu Rong's heart, wrapping around it like vines.

I recalled the roar of "Master Wu, hurry up and leave!" that Yin Jie had shouted when he turned around.

The guilt made her nose sting, but the emotion only lasted a moment before she forcibly suppressed it.

"I am the fiercest general of the Southern Barbarians, and my value far surpasses that of a mere guard commander."

Wu Rong took a deep breath, raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and his gaze gradually became firm. "I cannot die. The great cause of the Southern Barbarians still needs me. Yin Jie was able to exchange his life for mine, which is his honor and a worthy death."

She repeated these words twice, as if she were trying to persuade others, or perhaps hypnotizing herself, to completely dispel that bit of guilt in the wind.

Just then, a rapid sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, followed by a jumble of footsteps.

General Xu Rui was covered in blood, his armor was covered in knife marks, and even his helmet was askew.

He tumbled off his horse, staggered to Meng Quan's side, and collapsed to the ground with a thud, his voice hoarse and almost incoherent:

"Your Majesty! Commander Yin Jie... Commander Yin Jie fought bravely against Deng Ai to stop the Han army, but was ultimately outnumbered and killed by the Han army!"

He paused, his chest heaving, and with difficulty uttered even worse news:
"Our army's formation is in disarray, and the Han army is taking advantage of the situation to launch a counterattack. Our brothers can't hold them off and are all fleeing! The army has collapsed, with countless dead and wounded. The corpses are almost blocking the valley... We... we have been defeated!"

"Failed?"

Meng Quan seemed to be burned by those two words, and suddenly came to his senses. The confusion in his eyes was instantly replaced by shock and anger.

He looked in the direction Xu Rui was pointing and saw that in the narrow valley, the Southern Barbarian soldiers were running around like headless flies. Some were pierced by the Han army's long spears, some lost their footing and fell off the cliff, and some simply threw away their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy.

Those rattan armor soldiers and elephant soldiers he had carefully trained for many years had long lost their former ferocity and were now only in a state of utter defeat.

This is the wealth accumulated by three generations of the Meng family!

From his father's generation onwards, the Southern Barbarians relied on these elite soldiers to intimidate the surrounding tribes and even dared to repeatedly harass the Han army's borders.

But now, in just one hour, tens of thousands of troops have been routed, and years of hard work have been destroyed in an instant.

Meng Quan felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, and the pain made it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"Your Majesty, victory and defeat are common occurrences in war; you must not lose your composure at this moment!"

Meng Quan, who was standing to the side, quickly stepped forward and whispered, "..."

"The Han army is currently in high spirits, while our army has lost its will to fight. We must immediately withdraw to rest and reorganize, preserve our strength, and make a comeback in the future!"

Meng Quan's advice was not just empty words of comfort.

He knew that the Southern Barbarians were a vast region with a population of 700,000, most of whom were young and strong, so they never lacked soldiers.

Although they lost more than 20,000 troops this time, as long as they return to their territory and issue a conscription order, they can regroup 20,000 to 30,000 troops within three months. The Southern Barbarians can withstand this loss.

However, if they do not retreat now, and the Han army completely seals off the valley and surrounds them, the consequences will be unimaginable.

There are still 60,000 troops in front of us. If they are all wiped out, nearly half of the young and strong men of the Southern Barbarians will be lost. At that time, let alone making a comeback, it will be a problem whether they can even defend their own territory.

Meng Quan clenched his fists.

He couldn't back down, at least not in such a pathetic way.

Before the war began, he swore an oath before all the tribal leaders that he would lead his army all the way to Chengdu, and after conquering the city, he would let everyone plunder it for three days, so that the southern barbarians could also taste the pleasure of living in prosperity.

But now, they haven't even seen a trace of Chengdu. Instead, they've suffered two defeats on the banks of the Han River and in the valley, this time losing more than 20,000 elite troops.

If he were to withdraw like this, and the news reached the Southern Barbarians, the tribal leaders who were already eyeing his throne would surely seize the opportunity to attack him, accusing him of incompetence and ruining the country.

What if his prestige plummets and all the tribes unite to force him to abdicate?
Is the throne he painstakingly built up over many years about to be lost because of this defeat?

"Your Majesty, are you worried that withdrawing the troops will damage your prestige and destabilize your throne?"

Liu Xun, who had been silent all along, noticed Meng Quan's concerns and stepped forward, sincerely reminding him, "Your Majesty, have you considered that although withdrawing the troops now may invite some criticism, at least we will preserve our main force. If we win a battle in the future, our prestige will naturally be restored."

But if we don't retreat, and the entire army is wiped out, you won't even be able to save your own life. What prestige or reputation will you have left then?

Liu Xun's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Meng Quan's ears and instantly bringing him to his senses.

Yes, as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.

He abruptly released his fist, his palms already covered in cold sweat.

"That's right, if we withdraw now, we still have a chance to regroup."

Meng Quan's eyes sharpened. "But if we don't retreat, and the main force of the Han army arrives and traps us in this valley, our entire army of 60,000 will be wiped out. Then Wei Yan and Xiao He will lead the Han army to advance unimpeded, and the Southern Barbarians will have no soldiers to use. Won't we face the danger of extermination?"

My thoughts raced, and my previous hesitation vanished without a trace.

The throne is important, but what is the point of being king if even the Southern Barbarians are gone?
Meng Quan took a deep breath, raised his head, and swept his gaze over the fleeing soldiers. His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable authority:
"Pass on my order: all units must immediately gather their forces and retreat along the western path back to the Southern Barbarians!"

"Dang——dang——dang——"

The sharp, muffled sound of a gong instantly echoed through the valley. This was the retreat signal of the Southern Barbarian army, rarely heard in the past, but now it sounded with a sense of panic.

Before the sound of the drum could stop, Meng Quan had already turned around and grabbed the warhorse of his personal guard. When he mounted the horse, he almost missed the stirrup.

Even the usually composed king could not hide his panic at this moment.

He squeezed his legs tightly around the horse's belly, and the whip lashed the horse's rump. The warhorse neighed in pain and carried him as it galloped wildly toward the exit on the south side of the valley.

His horse's hooves trampled over the broken spears and arrows scattered on the ground, the dust kicked up blinding him, yet he dared not slow down in the slightest.

Liu Xun and Lü Kai had already prepared their horses. Seeing Meng Quan set off, they immediately followed closely behind. Their personal guards formed a human wall behind their lord, barely blocking the scattered pursuers from behind.

The Nanman soldiers, who were struggling to hold on in the valley, had their tense nerves completely snap the moment they heard the sound of the gong. Their morale vanished instantly, like a dam being breached by a flood.

The Southern Barbarian Army was originally organized into units of various tribes. Soldiers joined the army either for the orders of their tribes or for the purpose of looting after the war. Now that even the king was leading the way in fleeing, who would be willing to fight to the death?
"The king has fled! We should retreat too!" Someone shouted, and the words spread like wildfire throughout the army.

The soldiers who had been waving their weapons in resistance immediately threw down their weapons and turned to flee south.

Some soldiers, in their struggle for escape, even drew their swords and attacked their own kin.

Some were pushed to the ground and instantly trampled into mincemeat by the fleeing crowd.

The saying "a defeated army collapses like a mountain" perfectly describes this situation.

The remaining 40,000-strong Nanman army was now completely scattered, fleeing in all directions like headless flies.

Seeing this, the Han army's morale soared even higher. The generals shouted, "Those who surrender will be killed without mercy!" and led their troops in hot pursuit. Long spears pierced the backs of fleeing soldiers, and curved swords cleaved off the heads of those who fled.

As the sun set, its orange-red afterglow shone through the cliffs on both sides of the valley, casting its light on the ground littered with corpses and turning the blood into an eerie dark red.

As dusk deepened, the Han army's pursuit gradually ceased, bringing an end to the nearly hour-long massacre.

The valley floor was littered with corpses, piled up in layers, some with their eyes wide open, seemingly still showing traces of the terror they felt before they died.

Some were clutching their broken weapons so tightly that their finger bones were exposed.

On the battlefield, occasional cries of agony could be heard, the groans of the southern barbarian soldiers who had miraculously survived.

But soon, these cries of agony would be replaced by the sharp sound of Han soldiers finishing off their enemies.

Liu Bei had long ago issued a strict order: the southern barbarians had repeatedly invaded the border and massacred Han people; such foreign tribes must be exterminated.

"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts"—this is an ironclad rule etched in the hearts of the Han soldiers.

Whether they were killed in battle or survivors, as long as they were southern barbarians, there was no way to survive. Only by eradicating them completely could the threat be eliminated forever.

Several Han soldiers, armed with spears, examined the corpses on the ground one by one. If they found any still breathing, they would pierce their chests with a spear.

A young soldier hesitated for a moment, looking at the dying southern barbarian boy on the ground. Seeing this, the veteran next to him slapped him on the back of the head.
"What are you standing there for? Have you forgotten what your hometown looked like when it was burned and slaughtered by the southern barbarians? Being merciful to them is being cruel to our own people!"

The hesitation in the young soldier's eyes vanished instantly, and he gritted his teeth and thrust the spear down.

A moment later, the steady sound of horses' hooves could be heard.

Wei Yan and Xiao He rode side by side, slowly entering the battlefield.

As the two arrived at the battlefield, a figure in silver armor rode up on horseback; it was Deng Ai, leading his troops in pursuit.

He dismounted, knelt on one knee, and reported in a loud voice:

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal and General Wei!"

Our army has won a great victory in this battle. The Southern Barbarian army was routed. In addition to those killed, we captured more than 5,000 enemy soldiers, who are now being escorted to the valley entrance. We request that you two handle their case!

Upon hearing the words "captured five thousand," Xiao He raised an eyebrow slightly and said sternly:
“Those who are not of our race are sure to have different hearts! The southern barbarians have raided our borders and massacred our villages. How many Han women and children have died under their blades? Who will comfort these wronged souls? Leaving these prisoners alive will surely become a future calamity!”

"The Grand Marshal is absolutely right! The Southern Barbarians are fickle and unpredictable; keeping them alive is like raising a tiger to cause future trouble. They deserve to die!"

Wei Yan echoed, waving his hand with a resolute and ruthless tone, "Pass on my order! Take all these prisoners to both sides of the valley and execute them! Cut off their heads and hang them one by one on the wooden stakes on the cliff! I want to show any southern barbarians who dare to invade the borders of the Han Dynasty what happens when they oppose the Han!"

Deng Ai felt a chill run down his spine and instantly understood Wei Yan's intention.

This is not only about eliminating the root of the problem, but also about deterring others!
He kowtowed deeply: "This humble general obeys!"

Having said that, he rose and rode away on horseback, the sword at his waist gleaming coldly in the twilight.

Soon, screams and pleas for mercy echoed from the valley entrance.

Five thousand southern barbarian prisoners were forced to kneel on the ground by Han soldiers and lined up in a long queue. Executioners, holding ghost-head knives, cut off heads one by one. The severed heads were strung together with ropes and carried by the soldiers to the cliffs on both sides of the valley, where they were hung one by one on wooden stakes that had been nailed in advance.

Dark red blood flowed down the cliff face, resembling hideous scars in the afterglow.

In less than half an hour, all five thousand prisoners were killed, and their heads were lined up like beads on both sides of the valley, a truly horrifying sight.

After dealing with the prisoners, Deng Ai returned to report to the two men.

Wei Yan looked at the severed heads on the cliff face, nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Xiao He, cupped his hands, and asked:

"Grand Marshal, the main force of the Southern Barbarian army has been routed, and Meng Quan has fled south with his remaining troops. What should we do next? Should we press our advantage and pursue them to the heart of the Southern Barbarian territory?"

Xiao He shook his head, his gaze fixed on the south where Meng Quan had fled, and analyzed with certainty:

"Meng Quan has suffered heavy losses in this battle, and his family fortune is almost gone. He is already a frightened bird. Jiangyang City is an important town for the southern barbarians to reach the heart of the Han Dynasty. At this moment, he only seeks to protect himself and will definitely not dare to defend Jiangyang City. He must be afraid that our army will catch up and completely annihilate him."

He paused and continued:
"Our troops have been fighting for days, and the soldiers are exhausted. Why don't we let them rest for three days, replenish their food supplies, and recover their strength?"

We will advance on Jiangyang City in three days. In my judgment, Meng Quan will have already abandoned the city and fled by then. Jiangyang City will be an empty city, and we can easily take this important town without losing a single soldier!

Wei Yan pondered for a moment and found Xiao He's analysis to be entirely reasonable.

He turned to look at the soldiers behind him and saw many of them sitting on the ground, leaning on their weapons. Some were bandaging their wounds, while others were eating dry, hard biscuits, their faces full of exhaustion.

His heart softened, and he nodded immediately.
"The Grand Marshal is right!"
The soldiers have been fighting hard for days and deserve proper rest.

"Pass on my order: the entire army shall set up camp on the spot, prepare food, and rest for three days!" (End of Chapter)