Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 473 Can Anyone Be Taken Prisoner?

Juyanze.

After Anagui was defeated by Li Shuang in Shuozhou, he fled to Juyanze with his remaining troops.

The situation was chaotic at the time. During his escape, Anagui heard that his younger brother, Yujiulütahan, had surrendered with 10,000 Rouran cavalry from the east. He was terrified and dared not return to the northern desert for a while.

After the situation became clear, Anagui, having learned that the Rouran and many Tiele tribes had surrendered and that southern Mongolia was no longer under his control, decided to launch a western expedition.

At Juyanze, Anagui left behind a considerable number of followers. At that time, the prospects for the westward expedition were uncertain, and Anagui wanted to secure a way out for himself. In addition, Anagui wanted to rely on his marriage ties with Tuyuhun to launch a pincer attack on Liangzhou from the north and south.

However, this idea remained only a concept as the Longyou army occupied the Hehuang region, the Tuyuhun ceded several prefectures, and the connection with the Southern Liang was severed.

After news of Emperor Liang's return to Luoyang spread, the Rouran people of Juyanze felt an even greater threat.

The Rouran people knew the Tuyuhun people well, and they were worried that the Tuyuhun people would betray their alliance at this time and completely side with Li Shuang.

If they don't withdraw in time, the Longyou troops will concentrate their forces and head north. At that time, we might see the Tuyuhun people in the army.

However, the Rouran people were caught up in a debate about whether to withdraw.

Where to go?
Western Regions, Northern Desert, or Southern Desert?

With Anagui's departure, the Rouran royal court moved to Wusun Mountain, thousands of miles away. Far from the royal court, the hearts of the Rouran people in Juyanze, a remote place, were constantly wavering.

Yujiulütahan and others remained in southern Gobi Desert, and the Rouran royal family who had surrendered to Li Shuang continued to write letters, urging them to surrender as well.

Many Rouran people in Juyanze wanted to surrender and return to southern Mongolia, but a considerable number remained loyal to Anagui and wanted to go to the Western Regions.

As for the northern desert, they neither wanted to go back nor dared to.

When Anagui marched south, he took away the main force of the Rouran people in the northern desert and a large number of Tiele tribes.

If they could occupy the southern part of the Gobi Desert, and even move south to Hengshuo and occupy the Hetao region, then the Rouran's rule in the northern Gobi Desert would remain stable.

However, after Anagui's defeat in the southern desert and his westward expedition with the main force of the Rouran, the benefits he promised to these Tiele tribes were not delivered. In addition, he squeezed them out of their pockets again because of the westward expedition.

The Tiele tribes in the northern desert rose up one after another, and either killed or drove away the Rouran officials stationed in the area, thus maintaining a de facto semi-independent state.

If they return to the northern desert, the risks are very high, and who knows what they will face?
Inside the main tent, a group of officials from the Rouran Khanate were arguing fiercely.

Finally, they looked at the person in the main seat and asked:

"You decide on the registration and payment details!"

Before Anagui ascended the throne, the Rouran people fought fiercely for the position of Khan. Several Rouran Khans did not remain in the position for long before they all died.

Yujiulü Dengzhusili was the younger brother of the previous Khan, Yujiulü Brahmin.

"Chilian Toubing Doufa Khan brought stability to the Rouran Khanate, freeing our Yujiulü clan from infighting. His contribution is immense. But now, the Heavenly Khan's power shakes the four directions, and even Chilian Toubing Doufa Khan cannot withstand his might. On our journey to the Western Regions, we will traverse shifting sands, high mountains, and snowfields, and may even encounter the Tiele tribes. Have you all considered this?"

Yujiulü Dengzhusi Li gave a reason that no one could refute: going to the Western Regions, the natural environment was secondary; the most crucial thing was that they might encounter the Tiele people who were furious about being exploited by Anagui along the way.

A fierce battle is inevitable.

"If we return to the southern desert, we will not need to travel a long distance and will be able to find a place to stay."

Yu Jiulu Dengzhu also had his own selfish motives.

In the Western Regions, Anagui has gathered a group of new tribal leaders, such as Ashina Tumen, who have already occupied an important position in the Rouran Khanate. Yujiulü Dengzhushili, relying solely on his royal status, will likely not be given important responsibilities.

Moreover, he is the brother of the former Khan, which is a major drawback.

But things would be different in the southern desert. The Eastern Rouran appointed Yujiulütahan as their Khan, but Yujiulütahan was not a ruler with the same talent and ambition as Anagui. If Yujiulüdengshili were there, he would surely be given important responsibilities and be able to protect his people.

Yu Jiulü Dengzhu Sili expressed his opinion, bringing the argument in the tent to a close. "In that case, we shall present a letter of surrender to General Yang Kan, stating our intention to submit."

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone burst into the tent, disrupting the important meeting.

"The Longyou cavalry are here!"

This sound shocked everyone in the tent. Yu Jiulu stood up and asked:
"How many people came?"

"The Han cavalry and the vassal cavalry together number about five thousand, led by Daxi Wu and Qibi Mozang. They are heading towards our territory and are less than fifty li away."

Yu Jiulu gritted his teeth, revealing a fierce determination.

"Gather the troops; we'll discuss the surrender later."

Yu Jiulü Dengzhu understood that peace had to be won through fighting; otherwise, they wouldn't even have the right to surrender.

……

The Longyou troops marched a thousand miles to Juyanze, where the Rouran cavalry had already been assembled.

The Rouran had 6,000 settlements here, and at this time they had gathered all able-bodied men who could fight, making their forces twice as large as those of the Longyou army.

Yu Jiulu rode his horse and looked at the Longyou soldiers approaching from afar; his heart skipped a beat.

They came on a long march, but their morale was not low, and their fighting spirit was burning.

Yujiulü Dengzhu sent an envoy to express his intention to surrender.

But from afar, before the envoy could utter more than a few words, he was killed with a single blow.

Then, Qibi Meicang took the lead, charging forward with a large number of his cavalry.

Looking at Qibi Mocang charging into the enemy formation, Yujiulü Dengzhu had only one thought in his mind.

Is this kid even human?

Qibi Mocang charged forward like a ferocious beast, completely disregarding his injuries.

Even after being injured, Qibi Meicang became even more courageous.

Seeing that Qibi was not hiding any closer, Yujiulü roared angrily.

"Qibi Mocang, the Khan of the Toubing Khanate has treated you well, so why are you leading Han troops to attack me now!"

Qibi Mocang did not speak, but demonstrated his attitude through his actions.

He wielded a ten-foot-long spear, yet wielded it as if it were an ordinary sword, knocking down Yu Jiulu Dengzhu Sili's personal guards one by one.

That beast-like aura was felt even by the mounts under Yu Jiulu Dengzhu Sili's command, causing them to neigh and tremble.

Yujiulü Dengzhu Sili brandished the reins, trying to escape, but he couldn't control his mount.

Qi Bi swung his spear and knocked Yu Jiulu Dengzhu Sili off his horse.

The blade of the long spear was pointed at Yujiulü Dengzhu Sili's neck, and the battle ended swiftly and decisively.

Qibi Mocang looked down at Yujiulü Dengzhu Sili and said:
"Surrender in the face of battle? How could you even think of that? All that traveling a thousand miles was for nothing!"

……

(End of this chapter)