The Child Emperor

Chapter 163: Sudden Appearance of the Xiongnu

In the middle of the night, only a dozen Chu soldiers returned to the city. They had been following General Feng Shili in pursuit of the fleeing Xiongnu when they became separated from the main force and encountered a large Xiongnu army. Fearing discovery, they galloped away frantically, unable to find General Feng, and eventually escaped back to Shattered Iron City.

They were truly terrified, having barely rested on their journey back. Their lips were dry, and their faces covered in sweat and dust. Unsure of where their superior officers were, they were brought to the general’s residence.

The news was so sudden that Han Ruzi had to treat it with caution.

“Where did you see the Xiongnu army?” he asked.

“On a grassland less than two days’ journey from here.”

“Grassland? Not a valley?”

The soldiers shook their heads in unison. “It was a grassland. The Xiongnu army was resting in their camp, which stretched as far as the eye could see, probably numbering in the tens of thousands!”

His description seemed exaggerated, and Han Ruzi found it hard to believe. After some thought, he asked, “Did you really see the Xiongnu camp?”

“Yes, we did,” the soldiers replied in unison.

“Think again, carefully,” Han Ruzi said. He had only encountered the Xiongnu once but had read many books about them. They always deployed scouts far from their camp. For these dozen men to reach the camp’s vicinity seemed unusual.

Even if some Xiongnu nobles had adapted to sedentary ways, the army wouldn’t abandon their old habits.

The soldiers thought for a moment. One of them spoke up, “Niu Er, you definitely saw the camp, right?”

Everyone turned to Niu Er, who looked flustered before saying, “I saw it from a distance… but we did encounter many Xiongnu.”

This time, everyone nodded emphatically.

Han Ruzi had to start from the beginning, finally piecing together the truth.

Feng Shili had been pursuing the fleeing Xiongnu. Two days ago, they surrounded Zaheyan and over a hundred others. The battle was supposed to be one-sided, but a sudden wind disrupted their formation, and the Chu army fought without cohesion. Niu Er and about twenty others spotted a Xiongnu on a fine horse and gave chase.

They soon realized the Xiongnu was a woman, possibly Zaheyan’s wife or daughter, and decided to capture her. However, she was not only riding a fast horse but was also an excellent archer, always managing to shoot one or two pursuers and break through.

After chasing her for some time, the Chu soldiers noticed a larger Xiongnu cavalry force to their flank. Outnumbered, they stopped their pursuit and turned back. The Xiongnu cavalry did not pursue them but instead met the woman and escorted her away.

The Chu soldiers felt increasingly uneasy. Niu Er bravely rode up a hill and saw the vast camp but admitted that he had been looking into the setting sun and couldn’t see clearly.

“But we heard the sound of the army, right?” Niu Er asked for his comrades’ confirmation.

The others nodded. “Yes, we heard the rumbling of thousands of horses, shaking the ground.”

Recalling the scene, the soldiers were pale with fear.

They tried to rejoin General Feng but couldn’t find the way back, so they fled east and returned to Shattered Iron City after two days and nights.

“The Xiongnu cavalry saw you but didn’t chase you?” Han Ruzi asked.

“We don’t know why. They shouted something we didn’t understand,” Niu Er said.

Han Ruzi immediately summoned Chai Yue and Cai Xinghai.

Chai Yue had not participated in the city-wide revelry, but Cai Xinghai was drunk and had to be doused with cold water to sober up. Upon hearing that a large Xiongnu army was nearby, his intoxication vanished.

Niu Er and his men had encountered the Xiongnu the afternoon before last. If the Xiongnu had continued eastward, they would be very close to Shattered Iron City.

“That’s impossible. We were on guard against ambushes and sent out scouts, but we saw no sign of the Xiongnu,” Cai Xinghai’s first reaction was disbelief.

Chai Yue reminded, “The scouts were sent out before the battle. We haven’t sent any since the victory.”

Han Ruzi asked Chai Yue and Cai Xinghai to question the soldiers again. He retreated to his room to think. After a while, he ordered Zhang Youcai to fetch Prince Donghai and Ni Qiu to summon Cui Teng.

Prince Donghai arrived first, looking as if he hadn’t slept. He smiled, “Have you come to a decision?”

“Write a letter to the Grand Tutor Cui, and then go with me to Divine Hero Pass.”

“A letter alone might not work without me going personally.”

“Send Cui Teng.”

“Alright,” Prince Donghai agreed. “I’ll do as you say. If it succeeds, get me an official post.”

Zhang Youcai laid out paper and ink. Prince Donghai was halfway through his letter when Cui Teng arrived, bleary-eyed and irritated. “Why did you call me in the middle of the night?” he grumbled, yawning loudly.

When he learned he was to meet his father, Cui Teng became fully awake. “I’ll go! When do we leave?”

“We’ll send you to Divine Hero Pass at dawn,” Han Ruzi said.

Prince Donghai finished the letter, letting it dry before turning to Cui Teng. “Go quickly and return swiftly. Don’t delay; this is a matter of life and death.”

“Rest assured,” Cui Teng promised, thumping his chest.

Prince Donghai, still concerned, suggested, “Have Du Chuanyun accompany him.”

“No need,” Cui Teng protested, though he had reconciled with Du Chuanyun, he didn’t want to be watched.

Han Ruzi thought it was a good idea and sent Ni Qiu to fetch Du Chuanyun. He then called Zhang Youcai over, whispering instructions. Zhang Youcai nodded and hurried out with ink and brush.

Prince Donghai laughed, “What’s gotten into you? Changing your mind suddenly and acting like there’s an enemy at the gates.”

“There is indeed an enemy. The Xiongnu army is less than a day’s journey from here.”

Cui Teng shivered, “No wonder you’re sending me to see my father. Brother-in-law, you are… too good to me.”

Du Chuanyun and Ni Qiu arrived and stood silently.

Prince Donghai was puzzled, “Where did this Xiongnu army come from?”

Chai Yue and Cai Xinghai entered, looking grim. Their detailed questioning had confirmed the soldiers’ story.

“The fleeing Xiongnu woman is likely the daughter of the Jin family,” Chai Yue said, glancing at Han Ruzi. “But she didn’t seem to be luring us. It seemed accidental, which is very strange. Zaheyan didn’t seem to know about this Xiongnu army’s presence…”

Han Ruzi had his doubts, but he decided to act first. “Is the Xiongnu army real?”

Chai Yue and Cai Xinghai exchanged a look and nodded.

“If so, General Feng Shili and his men are in great danger?”

Chai Yue and Cai Xinghai nodded again. Prince Donghai interjected, “Wait, if Feng Shili is in danger, how did these soldiers escape?”

“They were let go by the Xiongnu,” Chai Yue explained. “It’s likely a form of intimidation to create chaos in Shattered Iron City.”

“Foolish,” Prince Donghai judged.

Han Ruzi needed such “foolishness.” He looked around at the group. “Given the suddenness of this event, with General Feng’s fate unknown, as the Northern Protection General, I have the authority to take command of all Chu troops, correct?”

There were over twenty thousand Chu soldiers in the city. Feng Shili had appointed two trusted deputies to oversee the army temporarily. Normally, the Northern Protection General wouldn’t have a say. If not for the deputies being heavily drunk and the gate guards being Han Ruzi’s men, the returning soldiers wouldn’t have been brought to the general’s residence.

Cai Xinghai was the first to respond, “As the Northern Protection General, you can take command of the entire northern region.”

This wasn’t a solid reason. Chai Yue added, “As long as the Chu soldiers are in the city, the Northern Protection General should have the authority to take command.”

“Good.” Han Ruzi looked around again. “A lone city is hard to defend. I will personally go to Divine Hero Pass for reinforcements. I will take command of all Chu troops and then hand them over to you two.”

Chai Yue and Cai Xinghai were shocked, their faces changing. Chai Yue said, “This… the number of Xiongnu troops is unknown. Shattered Iron City might not need reinforcements…”

Only Prince Donghai knew Han Ruzi’s real intention in going to Divine Hero Pass. He said, “Requesting reinforcements might be unnecessary, but if the Xiongnu outnumber us and besiege the city, now is the time to request help, or we might lose the chance.”

Chai Yue understood the logic but was uneasy about taking command of the Chu army. “Perhaps we should speak to the two deputies. Maybe…”

Han Ruzi shook his head, “I trust you two. Do you trust me?”

This was a high-stakes gamble. If the supposed Xiongnu army was small or did not attack, if Feng Shili survived and returned… any of these scenarios could spell trouble for Han Ruzi, Chai Yue, and Cai Xinghai.

Cai Xinghai suddenly knelt, having been prepared for this day. He even felt it had come too late. “Please give your orders, Lord Marquis.”

For Chai Yue, the decision was harder. He had just achieved merit and had a bright future. But remembering the Chai family members who had forced him to commit suicide, he made up his mind and knelt. “I am willing to follow you.”

Cui Teng, feeling the excitement, also knelt, not knowing what to say, just calling out, “Brother-in-law.”

Prince Donghai stepped back, smiling silently. He wouldn’t kneel to Han Ruzi again.

“Come with me to see the two deputies,” Han Ruzi said, taking his sword from the wall.

On the way, Han Ruzi called for ten soldiers on night duty. At the gate, they met Zhang Youcai, who had completed his task and written “Chen” on the wall, a signal to summon Meng E.

Du Chuanyun would escort Cui Teng; Han Ruzi needed a protector by his side.

Han Ruzi, Prince Donghai, Cui Teng, Chai Yue, Cai Xinghai, Zhang Youcai, Du Chuanyun, Ni Qiu, and ten soldiers, eighteen in total, walked through the quiet streets, everyone armed with swords.

It was almost dawn. Apart from a few late-night revelers, most soldiers were asleep, and Shattered Iron City was silent.

One of Feng Shili’s deputies was fast asleep, while the other was still drinking with his subordinates, holding a woman in his arms, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

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