Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1059: Grassland War Disaster and Xianbei Dilemma

Jia Xu gently placed the charcoal pencil on the edge of the sheepskin. Though the outline of the map was just a few strokes, it exuded a sense of vigor. He looked up at the three of them and said in a calm voice with unquestionable certainty, "Look, there's basically nothing wrong with it, right?"

The three of them came forward, comparing the sheepskin with their memories. After a long pause, they nodded in agreement, "Master, your writing is excellent! It's indeed... it's almost the same. But the grasslands are so vast, so we can only say it's roughly the same."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu patted the three men on the shoulder, his tone softening. "Hey, don't worry." Then he said, "Come here, bring the cooked fish soup and roasted lamb leg so the three guides can have a good meal." After the food was served, he looked at the three men again, his gaze sharp yet tempting. "As long as you cooperate well and act as good guides, I will not only keep you safe, but also bring you wealth and glory when the time comes."

The three of them were already frightened, and were even more flattered when they heard this. They thanked him repeatedly with trembling voices, and were led by the servants to the side to eat and drink.

Yue Ji and Pang De stood by, watching Jia Xu spread out a clean sheepskin, took a fresh charcoal pencil, and concentrated on drawing the route. Lines crisscrossed the sheepskin, marking the locations of streams, mountains, and dense forests with increasing clarity.

Pang De saw him put down his charcoal pencil and then spoke, "Sir, there's no point in waiting here. We've been waiting for several days, but there's no sign of the king. I think the battle may be at a stalemate, otherwise, given the king's temperament, he would definitely come to join us."

Jia Xu pointed at the Xianbei royal court marked on the map and tapped his finger heavily. "Since Your Majesty has come to the grasslands, he will definitely engage in a major battle with the Xianbei. In my opinion, he will most likely completely cripple Ke Bineng here at the Xianbei royal court. If that's the case, we shouldn't wait any longer and head straight for the Xianbei royal court. Even if Your Majesty arrives later, we won't miss the opportunity to fight."

Yue Ji looked troubled and said hesitantly, "Sir, this is a vast grassland. If we only rely on this map, what if we get separated along the way or miss the king? Isn't it..."

Before he could finish, Jia Xu interrupted, "That's fine. We'll just march towards the royal court. There's no need to worry too much about missing anything. With Hu Chi'er here, we can have him scout both sides as we march. With his speed, he can cover hundreds of miles. We'll march ahead, and he'll follow our steps, splitting off and patrolling for a hundred miles to the left and right. That way, we won't miss the king's trail."

Jia Xu summoned Hu Chi'er to his tent, unfolded the newly drawn map, and slowly traced the route with his fingertips. "Look, we're heading for the Xianbei royal court tomorrow. You take five hundred men, equipped with the best horses, and patrol in a fan-shaped formation along the right side."

He drew an arc on the map, extending from the right wing of the army: "Every time you advance ten miles, leave fifty men behind. Continue this way until you reach a hundred miles, which will result in ten teams, exactly five hundred men."

Hu Chi'er scratched the back of his head and replied in a muffled voice, "I see. It's like casting a net, spreading it out bit by bit?"

"Exactly." Jia Xu nodded, his fingertip pointing at the end of the arc. "You march normally. At dusk, you will return from the far right and have each team gather up one by one. Then, you will rejoin the main army to rest overnight." He paused, emphasizing his words. "Before setting out the next day, you will lead them to redeploy their troops and ensure that within this hundred-mile radius, there are always our men watching."

Hu Chier patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, sir! I have the brothers keep their eyes open like hawks. Even a rabbit running by can be spotted! We will definitely not let the king's army slip away from under our noses!"

Jia Xu nodded in satisfaction and gave another instruction: "If you encounter any suspicious activity, don't fight to the death. Just fire a warning arrow. We need to keep information flowing, not engage in a fight with the Xianbei."

Hu Chier nodded heavily, turned around, and went to call the troops. His gruff voice could soon be heard from outside the tent: "Everyone, get ready! Pick the fastest horses, and set out before dawn tomorrow!"

Pang De watched the busy figures outside the tent and said to Jia Xu, "Sir, your arrangements are truly impenetrable. With Hu Chi'er's group scattered, even if they were blindfolded walking across the grassland, they would still run into the king's troops."

Jia Xu put away the map and cast his gaze out into the dark night. "The grassland is vast, and there are too many variables. The more cautious we are, the less mistakes we will make. Once we have joined forces, we can work together to overthrow Kebinen's court."

On the vast grassland, Jia Xu led the team, under the guidance of several guides, and marched towards the Xiongnu royal court with difficulty.

The grassland's terrain was undulating, with rolling hills sometimes stretching out before our eyes, and sometimes vast swamps and wetlands that could easily lead us into trouble if we weren't careful. The team stumbled forward, taking every step carefully.

Fortunately, the Xiongnu royal court was close to the majestic Wolf Mountain, which gave them a rough idea of ​​their direction. Furthermore, with several guides nearby, who, though nervous, were at least familiar with the route, the team didn't get lost on the vast grasslands.

Along the way, the rustling sound of horse hooves treading through the grass blended with the occasional sound of the wind. A few white clouds drifted leisurely in the sky. The seemingly peaceful grassland concealed countless unknown dangers.

The guides frequently pointed ahead, mumbling place names and directions. Jia Xu, perched on his horse, observed his surroundings with a sharp gaze, silently estimating the distance. Although the pace was much slower than anticipated, as long as they were heading in the right direction, they would eventually reach the Xiongnu royal court.

The sun gradually set, tinging the sky with a tinge of orange and red, casting a dreamlike hue on the grassland. Jia Xu gazed into the distance with a determined gaze. He knew that every step forward would bring him closer to his goal. Even if the road was difficult, he must not stop.

At the foot of Wolf Mountain, in Ordo City, the seat of the Xiongnu royal court, a storm had been raging for over six months. Ever since the discovery of Ma Chao and his men, the grasslands had been plunged into endless chaos and strife.

Initially, Kobe dispatched his son, Ulanda, to lead a massive army to encircle and suppress Ma Chao. However, unpredictable events unfolded, and with the rift between Kobe and Murong Xuepo, the situation shifted dramatically. Many of Kobe's tribes defected to Murong Xuepo's side. Murong Xuepo, however, remained in the rear, a cunning old fox, watching the clash of tigers from a mountaintop, waiting for his chance to strike. This left Kobe in a difficult position, facing a daunting challenge from both sides. He had to focus on suppressing Ma Chao while constantly guarding against Murong Xuepo's potential stabs in the back. His defense was a formidable task.

How could Ma Chao be easily defeated? He was like a raging storm, unstoppable wherever he went. One day he attacked one tribe, the next he moved on to another, completely roiling the Xianbei territory commanded by Kobineng. Wherever Ma Chao and his men arrived, they brutally slaughtered the tribes, leaving few alive. The stench of blood permeated every inch of the grassland.

Kobineng attempted to organize a tribal alliance, pooling his strength to encircle and suppress Ma Chao. However, Ma Chao and his followers were cunning, like ghosts, and they managed to evade their carefully crafted encirclements time and again. However, their escapes were only followed by tragic news of the massacre of other tribes. This repeated pattern made Kobineng's rule increasingly precarious, and the tribesmen became increasingly fearful, their trust in him gradually eroding. The confrontation between Ma Chao and Kobineng plunged the Xianbei into unprecedented turmoil and chaos.

Under Ma Chao's swift, lightning-fast tactics and Murong Xuepo's silent, steady encroachment, Kobineng's tribe was like a sand castle swept by a gust of wind, its morale rapidly disintegrating. Kobineng's orders from the royal court now barely reached his subordinates, his dominance fading at an alarming rate.

Kobineng's newly appointed Left and Right Guli Kings had both perished in the incessant fighting. The tribe led by the newly appointed Right Wise King was also not spared, being completely decimated by Ma Chao, leaving not a single one standing. Now, only the newly appointed Left Wise King, Tarim, remained, leading his tribe on the arduous journey to the Xiongnu royal court.

Tarim knew there was no retreat left, only a decisive battle with Ma Chao. He looked at his weary yet determined tribesmen with a mixture of emotions. The land of the Xiongnu royal court was about to become their final battleground. Whether it was a glorious rebirth or utter annihilation, this battle would determine it. Kobineng, standing high atop the royal court, gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with exhaustion and resignation. He knew his rule was crumbling, and this showdown with Ma Chao would determine the fate of him and his entire tribe.

Dark clouds began to gather above the Xiongnu royal court, and the atmosphere of a life-and-death battle quietly spread across the grassland. Everyone could feel that the storm was coming.

Inside the slightly aging royal tent in Ordo City, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating. Tarim's face was filled with sorrow, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed to Kobe about his tragic experiences abroad. His voice trembled, nearly choking with sobs, "My king, the Han army is coming with such ferocity that it's clear they intend to utterly exterminate our Xianbei people!"

Ulanda, who was standing aside, was originally a Xianbei prince who was always high-spirited, but at this moment, his eyes were red with anger, like an enraged beast, his chest was heaving violently, his fists were clenched tightly, his knuckles were white, as if he was going to rush out and fight Ma Chao to the death in the next second.

And Kobe, the once-dominant king of the prairie, now looked as worn and withered as a fallen leaf in late autumn. In just a few months, he looked as if he had aged ten years, his back slightly hunched, his eyes devoid of their former sharpness and majesty, more like an old, frail, and scarred wolf.

Kobe Neng forced himself to cheer up, reaching out and gently patting Tarim's shoulder, trying to soothe him. "Don't be too sad. Our two tribes combined now have over a hundred thousand people, and no fewer than sixty thousand of them are fit to fight. Ma Chao, though constantly on the march, likely only has fifty or sixty thousand soldiers." Kobe Neng narrowed his eyes slightly, a complex glint in them, as if he were pondering a strategy to defeat the enemy, or perhaps seeking some solace for himself. However, he also knew that Ma Chao's army was like a ghost, their fighting style unpredictable and difficult to predict. The outcome of this decisive battle was uncertain...

Outside the tent, a strong wind swept past, making the curtains rustle, as if it was wailing for the upcoming life-and-death battle.