Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The setting sun was like blood, and the barren meadow below Woniu Hill gradually fell silent.

The sounds of fighting, shouts, cries, and the screams of livestock had all ceased, leaving only the low whistling of the evening wind through the blood-stained grass and the intermittent, suppressed groans of the wounded. The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation. The fallen corpses of the barbarians mingled with the mangled horses, cattle, and sheep; broken weapons, scattered leather bags, and the wreckage of overturned carts were everywhere. The air was thick with the stench of blood, the stench of livestock, and the smell of dust, a nauseating stench that filled one to vomit.

Under Chen Wei's command, the soldiers of the Xinghuo Battalion were methodically clearing the battlefield. The elite troops maintained their vigilant formation, monitoring the northwest and northeast directions, guarding against possible counterattacks by routed soldiers or new enemies. The garrison troops were divided into several teams: one team drove the kneeling Hu prisoners to one place, tied them together with ropes, and placed them under the guard of designated personnel; another team began to collect the bodies of their own fallen soldiers and preliminarily identify the wounded among the Hu corpses who were still breathing, carrying them together with their own wounded to a temporarily designated medical area; and another team, with the assistance of the Murong cavalry, gathered the scattered, unclaimed livestock on the battlefield—mainly cattle and sheep, and a few horses that had been frightened and run away.

Murong Mingyue had regrouped her troops. Of the original twenty-eight riders, only twenty-one remained, with several more wounded. Everyone was covered in blood and exhausted, but their eyes held a sense of relief at having avenged their great grudge and an exhilaration after the fierce battle. Her own wounds had reopened, and blood had soaked half of her red robes into a dark red, yet she still insisted on riding on her horse, helping to maintain order. Her gaze frequently swept over the cowering Hu prisoners, especially searching for the figure of Bald He—she had vaguely seen him fall from his horse in the chaos of battle, but it seemed he had escaped.

"Miss Murong, your injuries are serious. Why don't you dismount and rest? We'll take care of things here," Chen Wei said with concern as he rode over and saw her pale face.

Murong Mingyue shook her head, her voice slightly hoarse: "It's nothing serious, just a superficial wound. Commander Chen, have you seen that Hu chieftain, Bald He?"

Chen Wei said regretfully, "That fellow is cunning. After his horse was hit by an arrow, he abandoned it and fled, seizing horses from the fleeing soldiers and heading northwest. As night fell, the fleeing soldiers scattered, and we couldn't catch up."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Murong Mingyue's eyes, but she quickly recovered. Even if Tuoba He had escaped back to Yehu Plain, he was now a defeated fugitive. His tribe's elite forces were wiped out, most of the women and children had been captured, and his livestock had suffered heavy losses. With the Wuluolan tribe eyeing them from the west, their very survival was precarious, let alone revenge. This battle had completely crushed the Balut tribe.

"Let them run away, they're just stray dogs, nothing to worry about," Murong Mingyue said, then solemnly clasped her hands in a fist salute, "This time, we are very grateful to Commander Chen for his timely assistance in deploying crossbows, otherwise our troops might have suffered losses. The soldiers of the Starfire Battalion are brave and skilled in battle, Mingyue admires them!"

Chen Wei returned the greeting: "You're too kind, young lady. Your troops are valiant and their guerrilla tactics in harassing the enemy are invaluable. If it weren't for your troops' raids on their flanks and rear, scattering their cattle and sheep, and disrupting their formation, our army's frontal advance wouldn't have been so smooth. The credit for this battle belongs to the combined efforts of both our armies."

The two exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with mutual respect. Through this shared battle, a bond of trust and understanding had been forged.

At this moment, several garrison officers came to report the preliminary count results.

"Reporting to Commander Chen and Miss Murong! Preliminary count: Approximately 120 Hu people have been killed or wounded, with about 80 dead and over 40 wounded who have been taken into custody. A total of 237 Hu people, including men, women, and children, have been captured, including 51 able-bodied men and the rest women, children, and the elderly. 63 intact horses have been seized, along with over 20 wounded horses. There are roughly 500 head of livestock, mostly cattle and sheep, with a small number of packhorses. Weapons and leather armor are being collected, but the exact number is still unknown."

Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue were both shocked upon hearing this. The Balut tribe had truly come out in full force this time; the 237 captives likely represented more than half of their tribe's population. The more than 500 cattle and sheep were vital to any nomadic tribe. This battle could be considered a complete uprooting of the Wild Fox Plain Balut tribe!

"What are our casualties?" Chen Wei was more concerned about the losses on his side.

"Reporting to the commander, our army suffered seven casualties, all of whom were garrison soldiers. Most of them succumbed to their wounds in the initial chaotic fighting upon engaging the enemy. Eleven were seriously wounded, and thirty-four were lightly wounded. The Murong tribe... suffered seven casualties, five seriously wounded, and nine lightly wounded."

Upon hearing this, Murong Mingyue's eyes darkened. Seven more loyal followers had been lost... Since the southward migration, the number of followers had steadily dwindled, and now there were fewer than twenty capable fighters left. She silently etched this blood debt into her heart.

Chen Wei said in a deep voice: "Carefully collect the remains of the fallen soldiers, and do everything possible to treat the wounded. The captured Hu medicine may also be used as appropriate. Keep the prisoners in a centralized custody for the time being, give them water, and provide simple treatment to the wounded to prevent mass deaths. Keep the livestock in a centralized pen to prevent them from getting lost or being killed by wild animals."

"promise!"

Chen Wei then said to Murong Mingyue, "Miss Murong, your wounded soldiers can be sent back to the fortress for treatment along with our wounded soldiers. As for the captured livestock, according to the pre-battle agreement, they should be distributed among your troops to compensate for your losses. The specific distribution method can be discussed with my fortress lord after we return to the fortress."

Murong Mingyue nodded: "It's all up to Lord Chen and the commander to arrange." She was indeed exhausted, both physically and mentally, and her men also urgently needed rest and treatment.

As the sun began to sink behind the distant mountains, dusk settled. Chen Wei ordered his troops to escort the prisoners, drive the livestock, and carry the spoils of war back to the fortress in triumph. The bodies of the fallen were wrapped in linen and transported back on captured carts. The wounded were carried on horseback, in carts, or by the assistance of their comrades.

A long procession wound its way along the mountain path in the twilight, led by the Xinghuo Battalion, followed by prisoners and livestock, and then Murong's troops and the wounded. The atmosphere was solemn and heavy; the joy of victory was overshadowed by the concrete casualties and the immense pressure of dealing with the aftermath.

From atop the fortress walls, Chen Xing had already spotted the returning troops. Seeing the long line of prisoners and herds of livestock, he was deeply moved. The gains from this battle far exceeded his expectations!

The fortress gates were wide open, and Zhao Tiezhu, Zhou Dashan, Wang Jian, Li Shu, Wu Xuejiu, and others were already waiting outside. Torches were lit, illuminating the area around the gates.

The troops entered the fortress one after another. The prisoners were temporarily housed in a cleared area on the west side of the fortress, jointly guarded by the elite soldiers and the garrison commander, with bonfires lit around the perimeter to prevent any disturbances at night. Livestock were herded into the temporarily enlarged stables, and the auxiliary soldiers busied themselves adding fodder and water. The wounded were quickly carried to the medical station, where Wang Jian and those with some medical knowledge worked tirelessly. The bodies of the fallen were properly prepared for burial at a later date.

Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue were the last to enter the fortress and report back to Chen Xing, who came to greet them.

"My lord, I have fulfilled my mission! The main force of the Balut tribe has been routed, with many killed, wounded, and captured. The details have been recorded by Secretary Li Shu." Chen Wei clasped his hands in a fist salute and gave a brief report on the battle results and his own casualties.

Chen Xing nodded, his gaze then falling on Murong Mingyue. Seeing her bloodied and swaying slightly, he said with concern, "Miss Murong's injuries are quite severe. Please go and get treatment and rest. The entire Xinghuo Fortress will remember your contributions in this battle."

Murong Mingyue forced herself to remain calm and clasped her hands in a fist salute, saying, "You flatter me, Lord. The survival of Mingyue and my people is entirely due to your shelter and the bloody battle fought by the Starfire Camp soldiers. It was just a small favor, nothing to mention. It's just that... we have suffered another loss among our people, and my heart is truly pained." Her voice was low and could not hide her grief.

Chen Xing solemnly said, "Please accept my condolences, young lady. Your brave warriors shed their blood on the battlefield, and their heroic spirits will not be far away. Our Xinghuo Fortress will certainly not fail their loyal souls. We will do our utmost to treat your wounded; and those who have died in battle will be buried with proper respect and worshipped alongside our soldiers."

Murong Mingyue's eyes welled up with tears, and she said softly, "Thank you, Lord of the Fortress." She had indeed reached her limit, and with the help of two women, she went to the accommodations arranged for Murong's men to treat her injuries and rest.

Chen Xing watched her leave and said to Chen Wei and the others, "This great victory is thanks to the bravery of our soldiers and the cooperation of the Murong troops. All those who participated in the battle will be awarded merit according to the 'Meritorious Service Order,' with the highest honors! Li Shu, calculate the results tonight and publish the results tomorrow!"

"Yes!" Li Shu replied loudly.

"Chen Wei has captured many prisoners, so we must handle them with care. The elderly, women, and children should be kept in one place and given basic food and drink; do not mistreat them for now. The able-bodied men should be placed in a separate area and kept under strict guard. Tomorrow I will personally interrogate them to identify their leaders and key members before deciding on a course of action."

"This subordinate obeys!"

"Zhao Tiezhu, the captured livestock are an important asset. Count them, divide them into pens for feeding, select the strong ones to keep as draft oxen and pack horses, and slaughter and salt the weak ones to supplement our meat supply. Pay attention to disease prevention to avoid the spread of disease among the animals."

"Rest assured, my lord! I'll take care of it right away!"

"Zhou Dashan and Wang Jian, assist in settling the prisoners and caring for the wounded. Mr. Wu, come with me to discuss the follow-up matters."

Everyone accepted the order and got to work. Inside Starfire Fortress, the lights were on, and the sounds of people, animals, and moving things mingled together. Although busy, everything was orderly, showing the efficiency and composure that had been restored after more than a month of reorganization.

Inside the council chamber, Chen Xing and Wu Xuejiu sat facing each other. On the table lay Li Shu's preliminary battle report.

"We captured 237 people, over 500 cattle and sheep, and over 80 horses..." Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard and pondered, "This is a huge fortune, but also a huge burden. The population has nearly doubled, and the consumption of food and supplies has increased dramatically. Moreover, these Hu prisoners are unpredictable, and if not handled properly, they may become an internal threat."

Chen Xing nodded: "What you say is absolutely right, sir. However, opportunities and risks go hand in hand. If these people can be properly absorbed, they will be a source of labor for land reclamation and a replenishment of soldiers. Livestock is also urgently needed for farming and transportation. The key lies in how to 'absorb' them."

He had already considered this: "The captured Hu people should not be mixed with the original inhabitants of the fortresses or the newly arrived refugees. We can emulate the system of the 'Newly Arrived Camps' and establish 'Assimilation Camps' to include all the captured Hu people. Those who are mild-mannered, obedient, and have a skill should be selected and given slightly better treatment, and allowed to exchange labor for merit points. Those who perform well may gradually become regular fortress inhabitants over time. Those who are stubborn and resentful should be strictly guarded and given hard labor to observe their future performance. The able-bodied men should be dispersed and incorporated into the hard labor camps, where Wang Jian and the veteran soldiers of the Ruishidu will strictly manage them."

"As for women, children, the elderly, and the weak," Chen Xing continued, "they can be engaged in light labor such as weaving, tanning, and animal husbandry, and their work can be counted as merit points. Among the children, the youngest can be selected to establish 'primary schools' to teach them Chinese language and literature, so that they can be subtly influenced. In time, they may be able to assimilate the barbarians into Han Chinese and be used by us."

Wu Xuejiu's eyes lit up: "The Fortress Master's plan is a good one, combining firmness and flexibility, and taking a long-term view! I second that. But right now, the provisions..."

"Food and fodder are indeed an urgent matter," Chen Xing said. "The captured cattle and sheep can be partially slaughtered, cured, and dried to supplement our meat supply. We should also intensify land reclamation; the 'Western Region Miracle Herbs' are growing well. If they are indeed as productive as you say, they may alleviate part of the food shortage in the fall. In addition..." His eyes flickered slightly, "we could further cooperate with the Murong tribe. They are skilled in horsemanship and archery, and our fortress has food and weapons. If we can form an alliance, share resources, and jointly resist foreign aggression, our strength will be greatly enhanced."

Wu Xuejiu clapped his hands: "The fortress lord is far-sighted! That Miss Murong is indeed no ordinary woman. Although her troops are decimated, their bones are still intact. If they can sincerely submit to her, they will be a great help. Judging from her performance on the battlefield today, she cooperated well with Commander Chen, and it seems that she has already developed a sense of trust."

Chen Xing gazed out the window at the sparse starlight. A great victory had brought rich spoils, but also a more complex situation and heavier responsibilities. He had to manage the prisoners, appease the Murong tribe, stockpile provisions, and guard against the Black Mountain Commander… a thousand and one tasks required him to sort them out one by one, proceeding cautiously step by step.

But at least, Xinghuobao has established a formidable reputation in the vicinity of Blackwind Ridge with a clean and decisive victory. Whether it's the remaining Hu tribe or the distant Black Mountain Commander, they'll have to think twice before trying to take over this place.

In times of chaos, both benevolence and swords are indispensable for survival. In today's battles, the swords have already shown their sharpness; for tomorrow's peace, benevolence and wisdom will be needed in tandem.

As night deepened, the fort gradually quieted down. Only the footsteps of the sentries, the occasional groans of the wounded, and the mooing of cattle and sheep in the barns punctuated the silence of this post-war night.

The crushing defeat of the Hu tribe is just the beginning. The journey for Starfire Fortress is still long.