Chapter 25: Decisive Battle Against the Xiongnu, the Princess of Parthia

Chapter 25: Decisive Battle against the Xiongnu; The Princess of Parthia

Touman City

Interrupting Modu abruptly, the Chanyu looked at his son with visible displeasure and a furrowed brow, expecting a reasonable explanation.

"Father, the Yuezhi and the Donghu have each dispatched fifty thousand troops. This is not simply because the Great Qin has bared its fangs; they covet our Xiongnu grasslands and intend to profit while we are embroiled in war with the Qin. Those smaller tribes are also looking for a chance to seize what they can. We cannot trust them too readily!" Modu hurriedly explained.

"Then we shall wait until they arrive to discuss it! I have my son to attend to." With that, Touman left the council chamber to visit his youngest son.

Modu watched his father’s retreating back, his hands clenching so tightly that his nails bit deep into his palms. Father, I shall keep the secret of the saddles from you. Do not blame me for being ruthless; you are neither a qualified father nor a qualified king.

At the edge where the western grasslands meet the desert:

Tens of thousands of tall, sturdy horses thundered across the ground, the dust raised behind them obscuring the sky until the very heavens seemed to darken. General Xila of the Greater Yuezhi led fifty thousand cavalry. While they claimed to be supporting the Xiongnu, their true intention was to "borrow a path to conquer Guo"—they had their sights set on the Dayuan Kingdom. No fool would ride such a distance just to assist the Xiongnu against another legendary Eastern superpower. The Yuezhi had long coveted the pastures and horses of Dayuan; this expedition was merely a pretext. If Dayuan refused passage, it would provide the perfect excuse to attack; if they granted it, then...

Following behind the main force was another group of cavalry, whose attire stood in stark contrast to the Yuezhi. The soldiers had their heads completely wrapped in cloth, leaving only their eyes exposed. Hundreds of them guarded a woman on a white horse in the center, her face hidden behind a veil.

"Uncle Harris, where are we now?" the woman asked.

"Honorable Princess, we have reached the territory of the Xiongnu," replied the blond, blue-eyed man by her side.

"Tell the knights to pick up the pace. The mysterious East that the wandering merchants spoke of will soon be within reach. I am so eager to see what kind of kingdom that land has nurtured!" the woman replied excitedly.

"Honorable Princess, His Majesty only sent you as an envoy to the Yuezhi Kingdom to present gifts, not for you to wander so far on a whim. If something were to happen to you, how could I answer to him?" Harris pleaded earnestly.

"Oh, relax! Uncle Harris, I have heard stories since I was a child of a mysterious kingdom in the distant East, yet few have ever seen it. If it weren't for that Xiongnu envoy, I would have thought the stories were false. With such a perfect opportunity, I must see it for myself. Don't worry, I’m just looking! Besides, I have you with me!" the veiled woman said with a giggle.

"Very well! But when danger arises, you must listen to me!" Harris said helplessly.

"I know, I know! Giddy-up!"

"Slow down! Keep up!" Harris urged the knights around them.

***

Seven days later, fifty miles outside of Touman City:

By the banks of a wide, winding river, white tents were scattered across the endless grassland like points of light in a starry sky. A simple encampment sprawled in the center, with watchtowers distributed in an orderly fashion. Squads of armored soldiers, spears and swords in hand, patrolled the camp along fixed routes. Days earlier, after Yang Duanhe had arrived with reinforcements to join Meng Tian, the armies merged. After one day of rest, Meng Tian led the combined forces to establish this camp fifty miles from Touman City.

Inside the central command tent, all the high-ranking generals of the northern expedition had gathered, waiting for their commander-in-chief to order the final assault on the Xiongnu.

"Officers and soldiers, this is the final battle between the Great Qin and the Xiongnu. If we win, the prestige of the Qin will dominate the world; if we fail, we shall not venture out for twenty years! I have no more to say. I look to you all to give your utmost!" Meng Tian surveyed the generals.

"Long live the Great Qin!" the generals roared in unison.

"Where is the military advisor? Report the situation!"

"I am here!" a man dressed in a scholar’s robe stepped forward.

"The main camp currently holds forty-five thousand elite cavalry, fifty thousand regular cavalry, two hundred thousand infantry, fifty thousand archers, and over ten thousand special operatives. There are currently over three hundred thousand Xiongnu herdsmen around Touman City, with a combined force of over three hundred thousand tribal cavalry stationed outside the city walls, alongside several thousand Xiongnu garrison infantry. The laborers responsible for transport have already retreated to Yanmen Pass. Our current provisions are sufficient for only one month!" the advisor reported rapidly.

"One month is enough. I will take Touman City in less time than that!" Meng Tian declared confidently.

"Wang Li, Bai Lie, Li Xin, Zhongli Mei!" Meng Tian commanded.

"I am here!" the four stepped forward.

"Wang Li as commander, Bai Lie as deputy, lead forty thousand cavalry to protect our left flank. Li Xin as commander, Zhongli Mei as deputy, lead forty thousand cavalry to protect our right flank. Await the signals from the central command!"

"Understood!" The four stepped forward to receive their orders.

"Sima Xin, Ren Xiao!"

"I am here!"

"I order both of you to lead seventy thousand infantry each, forming two formations on the left and right to guard the center!"

"Understood!"

"Yang Duanhe!"

"I am here!"

"I order you to lead ten thousand infantry and the camp support troops to defend the base!"

"Understood!"

"I, along with the Immortal Master, shall lead the remaining forces and command from the center. The special operatives are to await orders at the tent! We attack Touman City tomorrow at the hour of the rabbit!"

"Long live the Great Qin!"

In the final years of the Warring States period, as the Central Plains were embroiled in chaos, the Xiongnu tribal alliance, under the leadership of Chanyu Touman, crossed the Yin Mountains and the Zhao Great Wall to seize the "Henan Land" south of the Ordos Loop. Relying on the abundant rivers and lakes of the Ordos region, the Xiongnu settled down, developed, and grew strong.

Touman built the first administrative center in Xiongnu history in the Yin Mountain range north of the Ordos—Touman City. With this as his base, Chanyu Touman established the first state power of the northern tribes: the Xiongnu Kingdom.

After the First Emperor of Qin unified the six states, he ordered the great general Meng Tian to lead an army of 300,000 to march into the Ordos region in 215 BC. The Xiongnu suffered a crushing defeat. Touman led his forces to flee northward, while Meng Tian guarded the frontier, repairing and connecting the existing walls built by the Qin, Zhao, and Yan states. Stretching nearly ten thousand li from Lintao in the west, along the Yellow River, north to the Ordos, and along the Yin Mountains to Liaodong, it served to prevent further Xiongnu incursions.

Now, the air around Touman City was thick with restless tension. The surrounding herdsmen had retreated within the city walls, and the cattle, sheep, and horses had been driven to the pastures in the rear.

Colorful banners fluttered atop Touman City, their various patterns dancing in the wind. The area surrounding the city had been transformed into a massive military camp, stretching for miles across the meadows.

To the left of Touman City were the two hundred thousand cavalry of the Xiongnu main force; to the right, the twelve-thousand-strong coalition army of the various tribes. With over three hundred thousand troops stationed near the city, the neighing of warhorses and the clouds of dust raised by galloping iron cavalry were enough to strike terror into the heart of any man.

(End of Chapter)