The fiercest soldier of the border army

The government troops are still clearing out the remaining enemy forces.

They were all in high spirits. This time, the Xiongnu's 30,000 cavalrymen marched south in a mighty force, and the Datong army lost cities and territories, suffering repeated defeats.

Unexpectedly, they won a great victory here!

The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as a troop of heavy cavalry broke through the lingering fog of the battlefield. The leader dismounted and strode forward.

"Hahaha! I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

"Tang Shun, you're a good kid!"

Shi Hanshan's voice was loud and clear. He slapped Tang Shun's shoulder hard, so hard that Tang Shun staggered half a step.

He grinned, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of the Huns scattered on the ground, finally settling on the eagle's head rolling in the mud, where he repeatedly exclaimed in admiration:

"Good! Well done! This is the Right Chief Steward, a big fish!"

"This time, the Right Li King led 30,000 cavalry south to plunder, and our army suffered heavy casualties and setbacks on all sides!"

"With this head, and with these few thousand barbarian cavalry, we are not only without fault, but on the contrary, it is a great achievement!"

Shi Hanshan laughed heartily, his gaze towards Tang Shun filled with admiration.

Despite his exhaustion, Tang Shun bowed and humbly replied, "It was the commander's timely arrival that allowed me to stop this man, as he led his heavy cavalry to annihilate the Xiongnu army."

"I dare not take credit for this."

"Don't you dare take credit?" Shi Hanshan shook his head. "When I led the troops to charge, the Xiongnu were already disorganized and had suffered heavy casualties in the siege."

Shi Hanshan sized him up, his expression turning serious: "How was this fortified pass built? And how did you manage to defend it? Tell me."

Tang Shun did not hide anything and narrated calmly, "Colonel Wang sent us to garrison Xiushui Town, but the town's walls were dilapidated, so our team recruited local people to build the walls."

"When the construction was halfway done, I heard that Commandant Wang was stationed in Linhe County, and that 30,000 Xiongnu cavalry were marching south. So I recruited local militia to protect my hometown."

"us……"

Tang Shun gave a brief account of what had happened, speaking plainly without exaggeration or self-promotion.

As Shi Hanshan listened, the smile on his face gradually turned into a solemn expression.

He nodded repeatedly, muttering, "Good, good, good—"

He said "good" three times in a row, then turned to look at the people standing in a line behind him.

"Wei Zong, Liang Enyi, Cheng Feng, you little rascals, very good, very good!"

Shi Hanshan praised lavishly, "His command was skillful, his advances and retreats were orderly, and he fought to the death without retreating—truly a valiant warrior!"

"As for you..."

He looked at Zhu Hang.

Zhu Hang stepped forward and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Commander, I obey Captain Tang's orders without question!"

"Not bad, not bad!" Shi Hanshan laughed heartily, his gaze towards Tang Shun filled with even greater admiration.

He said solemnly, "You can gather people, defend cities, defeat enemies, and even transform a group of scattered soldiers into an iron army. You can be called both brave and resourceful!"

He paused, then added in a low voice, "The real skill lies in being able to win over one's superiors."

Tang Shun looked up and understood what he meant.

Zhu Hang's public statement, delivered with utmost respect, clearly surprised Shi Hanshan.

A team that can make a former superior bow down and obey orders is more valuable than killing a general.

Shi Hanshan paused, glanced around, and frowned slightly. "Where is Wang Xianghong? Wasn't he supposed to be leading his troops to defend Xiushui and plead for reinforcements?"

"The Xiongnu have all fled, but this captain hasn't shown up; he's hiding?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Shun's heart skipped a beat.

The four people behind him—Wei Zong, Liang Enyi, Cheng Feng, and Zhu Hang—involuntarily exchanged glances.

Shi Hanshan may seem rough, but he is actually quite perceptive and immediately sensed something was wrong.

"What happened?"

"I dare not conceal this from the Commander." Tang Shun's mind raced as he carefully chose his words, "Seven days ago, Lieutenant Wang led his defeated troops here to request entry into the pass."

"The fortress is newly built, and materials are hard to find. So my subordinates simply made a stone gate, which is difficult to breach, but also difficult to open."

"My men opened the city gate a foot wide, but the Xiongnu pursuers arrived and shot all of Wang Xiaowei's men dead on the city wall."

"And Commandant Wang..." Tang Shun took a deep breath, "was taken away by the Xiongnu with ropes, and his fate is unknown."

After saying this, Tang Shun and the others bowed their heads and clasped their hands, seemingly waiting for the verdict.

Tang Shun knew that Shi Hanshan had saved him several times and even personally supported him. Keeping Wang Xianghong's information from him would be harmful and not beneficial.

It would be better to explain things clearly so that Shi Hanshan can handle the situation calmly.

Ultimately, it's because Tang Shun is too weak right now. He has no foundation in this world, and the slightest disturbance could cost him his life.

The smile on Shi Hanshan's face visibly disappeared, and his brows furrowed tightly into a deep frown.

He did not respond, but instead paced back and forth on the battlefield with his hands behind his back.

After a long pause, he asked in a deep voice, "So, Wang Xianghong didn't actually ask for help; the person who did ask for help was sent by you?"

He stepped forward, his words sharp and eloquent: "You're falsely conveying military orders?"

Asking for help in the tone of a superior is itself a false military order.

This matter can be taken lightly or seriously; if superiors insist on escalating it, it could be a fatal blow.

"This concerns the lives of three thousand people; I have no choice but to do it!" Tang Shun met Shi Hanshan's gaze calmly. "If I am guilty, I will bear the blame alone!"

Tang Shun did not delay or offer a scapegoat, but readily took the blame upon himself.

Shi Hanshan did not respond, but continued pacing back and forth, his pace quickening, as if he was pondering what to do.

"Only when Wang Xianghong requested help did the Commander-in-Chief order the troops to be dispatched; if it were anyone else, he certainly wouldn't have shown up."

"The Commander-in-Chief has come in person. He is in charge of the overall command in this battle, and I am the vanguard. Are you aware of this?"

Tang Shun replied in a deep voice, "I understand."

In fact, the commander was able to mobilize the forces of five schools, which is a thousand men.

An army of five thousand men would inevitably have a commander-in-chief in charge.

Tang Shun slowly sheathed his broadsword.

We've won this battle, but the real challenges may have only just begun.

"Let's go, take the head of the Right Chieftain with us."

Shi Hanshan patted Tang Shun's arm, "The Commander-in-Chief is in the central army. Let's go see him. We can't avoid trouble if it's inevitable."

The group followed him as they passed through the cleared battlefield.

The bodies had been dragged to one side, and soldiers were counting the heads. Warhorses neighed, and flags were half-furled.

The commander's camp was set up on a high slope, with two large flags fluttering in front of the tent and several personal guards standing solemnly on both sides.

Shi Hanshan entered the tent personally, and after about half an incense stick's time, the curtain was lifted.

A guard stepped out of the tent and gestured for them to enter.

Tang Shun and his companions carried them inside.

A middle-aged general dressed in a red robe and iron armor sat upright behind a desk.

He had a thin face, and his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Wang Xianghong's. He had long, narrow eyes and a smile on his lips.

Shi Hanshan stood to the side, his eyes lowered.

Upon seeing this, Tang Shun and the others bowed in unison, saying, "Greetings, Commander-in-Chief."