The Child Emperor - Chapter 150: First Sight of the Xiongnu

Two hundred Chu soldiers crossed the river early in the morning. After about an hour, they arrived near an earthwork, where they split into four groups, each heading in different directions to scout the enemy, agreeing to reconvene at this location by noon the next day.

The garrison troops at Shattered Iron City hadn’t crossed the river for several years. Only some old soldiers remembered the terrain, so they acted as guides.

Each direction had fifty soldiers, further divided into groups of either five or ten, spaced less than a mile apart, sometimes closer, sometimes farther, limited to being within sight of each other, signaling with flags. Han Ruzi was the commander, accompanied by more people than others, totaling twenty.

Han Ruzi was responsible for scouting the east. He circled around a small mountain, advancing along the riverbank. His group was at the rear, while the squads ahead often paused but found nothing significant.

Du Chuanyun was very excited about this mission. Every time they stopped, he would ask questions eagerly. Usually, he didn’t get answers until they caught up with the front and found that the cause of the pause was just a pile of stones left a long time ago or some dried horse dung.

The traces left by the Chu army in the north had not completely disappeared, and within the first day’s journey, they encountered many remnants of the Chu presence.

Before dark, the troops stopped and gathered together. Each squad stayed on the outskirts, while the generals remained inside. They didn’t make fires or noise, fed the horses first, then wrapped themselves in blankets to rest on the spot.

Du Chuanyun’s excitement faded away. He dared not speak loudly and could only ask softly, “Is this what scouts do? It doesn’t seem very useful. We haven’t traveled far all day; it’s slower than marching.”

“This kind of thing can’t be done in just one or two days,” Han Ruzi replied in a low voice. He had read books and listened to explanations from old soldiers, so he knew a bit more. “When we advance to this point and leave markers, the next batch of scouts won’t need to be so cautious. They can move quickly and continue to advance until they are thirty miles away.”

Du Chuanyun nodded. Han Ruzi looked toward Fang Daye not far away under the moonlight. Scouting usually didn’t require going as far as a thirty miles. He wanted to hear the opinion of the veteran.

Fang Daye’s large body moved slightly, as if he were asleep, refusing to say a word.

The first scouting mission was successfully completed, with no enemy traces found in any direction. Han Ruzi wanted to prove that this wasn’t just a whim of a child, so he formalized the scouting operation, with all soldiers taking turns, including the noble sons.

With the precedent set by Cui Teng, no one dared to openly oppose his orders. But nobles were nobles, with connections reaching far and wide. Someone naturally spoke for them.

That afternoon, as usual, a messenger from Divine Hero Pass arrived, but this time, in addition to regular documents, there was also a letter from General Wu Xiu who was in charge of the pass, politely requesting to borrow more than ten people to serve as staff officers. An order from the Grand Marshal of the Northern Army accompanied the letter.

These ten-plus individuals were all well-known noble sons, but Cui Teng was not included. As the son of the Grand Marshal of the Southern Army, he couldn’t use the connections of the Champion Marquis who was the Grand Marshal of the Northern Army and the Emperor’s uncle Wu Xiu. For some reason, Grand Tutor Cui had not shown any concern for his son.

Han Ruzi summoned the chief clerk and had him write a more polite reply, roughly stating: Shattered Iron City is isolated on the border, and the defenders find the numbers insufficient rather than excessive. Not a single person can be spared. He also instructed the chief clerk to remind Wu Xiu that the Northern Protection General takes orders directly from Grand General Han Xing, and although the position of the Grand Marshal of the Northern Army is high, he cannot arbitrarily mobilize the subordinates of the Northern Protection General.

The next day, the ten-plus individuals on the list were sent out to participate in the scouting mission, which lasted for six days, with extra horses and provisions.

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Cui Teng took pleasure in others’ misfortune and openly mocked these clever but clumsy noble youths, so he was also sent to scout.

Han Ruzi personally led the army once again.

As winter drew nearer, and with no signs of attack from the Xiongnu, Chai Yue, inexperienced as he was, grew anxious and decided to join the action, leading a team in another direction.

The number of soldiers increased to four hundred, with each group comprising a hundred men. They brought along thirty to forty extra horses specifically for transporting provisions. Each soldier also had to carry a portion of rations.

This was no leisurely outing, with no picturesque scenery to admire nor fine wine and cuisine to enjoy. Their rations consisted of hard biscuits and dried grains, with each person allotted a pouch of wine, barely enough for three days. For the remaining days, they had to rely on water from local sources.

Cui Teng and the prominent nobles were difficult to manage, so Han Ruzi kept them close. After two days, these individuals looked different; their lips cracked, their faces pale. One by one, they confessed to Weary Marquis, swearing by the heavens that they didn’t wish to return to Divine Hero Pass; it was their fathers and brothers who acted without their consent.

Oddly, Cui Teng seemed unperturbed. He neither begged for forgiveness nor complained. Everything seemed new and interesting to him, and he chuckled gleefully. By the end of the day, he not only finished his own wine but also struck up a friendship with Du Chuanyun. He was willing to ask questions, and Du Chuanyun was willing to answer. The two quickly put aside their previous grievances, with Du Chuanyun even sharing his wine with Cui Teng.

On the third day at noon, the team spotted a vast grassland, tinged with yellow, stretching endlessly. With the clear skies, the surroundings became even more invigorating.

“Why didn’t the Chu empire build a city here? It’s much better than the desolate Shattered Iron City,” Cui Teng’s eyes lit up as he took a sip from his wine pouch — both he and Du Chuanyun had run out of wine and he had snatched another pouch from someone else, and threatened them not to report him to the Northern Protection General.

“It’s probably too far,” Du Chuanyun replied out of habit, even if he didn’t fully understand; he had to offer a guess.

It was Han Ruzi’s first time venturing this far, and he was in high spirits. “Building a city depends on the terrain. Shattered Iron City is located in a desolate area, but it’s strategically situated, bordered by a river to the north, mountains to the east, and connected to Divine Hero Pass to the south. It’s defensible and easily accessible. In contrast, this plain is wide open. Xiongnu cavalry could arrive in the blink of an eye, with no time for reinforcements from the rear.”

“Let’s hope the Xiongnu don’t show up now,” Cui Teng’s expression shifted slightly.

The previous scouts had been here, leaving a pile of stones as a marker. Once they entered the grasslands, their marching speed noticeably slowed. Another day’s journey, and they could turn back after noon tomorrow.

As evening approached, the forward team signaled an anomaly. Soon after, more signals indicated a serious situation, and the rear teams prepared for battle.

Although they had rehearsed this scenario many times at Shattered Iron City, everyone felt a bit tense and even fearful when it actually happened. Even the usually curious Cui Teng and Du Chuanyun didn’t ask questions but immediately gathered around the Northern Protection General.

Han Ruzi glanced at Fang Daye, the veteran standard-bearer, who remained expressionless, seemingly unconcerned about the happenings ahead.

A scout rode back from the front, reporting the sighting of several tents about one or two miles away. They didn’t resemble military camps and were likely just ordinary herdsmen.

The Xiongnu nomads did not draw a distinction between soldiers and civilians, and herdsmen often followed the army in their migrations. However, a small number might have strayed from the main group for various reasons.

Han Ruzi ordered further investigation and, together with a staff officer accompanying the army, quickly devised an attack plan. Given the frequent interactions among the Xiongnu, capturing a few individuals might reveal the movements of Prince Zaheyan.

The attack began in the evening, just before sunset. Dividing into three teams, with one team charging and the other two intercepting, they concluded the assault before the sun completely disappeared over the horizon.

A total of three tents, seven Xiongnu individuals, and dozens of cattle and horses were unexpectedly met by the Chu army. As the Xiongnu saw the Chu soldiers, they mounted their horses and fled but were intercepted midway and immediately brought to the Northern Protection General.

Han Ruzi did not participate in the attack. Instead, he and a dozen guards watched from a distance. The battle was simpler than he had imagined, with a few shouts and a short chase of a few miles, and it was all over. He didn’t even see how the Xiongnu were captured.

The noble sons remained by his side as guards. Initially relieved that they were not sent to combat, they regretted it upon realizing how simple the battle was. Led by Cui Teng, each of them wanted to participate in the mop-up operation. Han Ruzi refused them all and finally only dispatched them with some soldiers to search the tents.

The seven Xiongnu individuals were brought in, consisting of two women, three children under ten years old, and two elderly individuals with graying hair. Watching them escape so agilely on horseback, Han Ruzi hadn’t anticipated that they would be this kind of group.

The women and the elderly knelt and begged for mercy, while the soldiers pushed the three children down. Han Ruzi couldn’t understand their words. The army’s interpreter stepped forward and said, “They claim they are not soldiers and beg the general to spare them.”

“Ask them about the movements of the Xiongnu,” Han Ruzi said, walking to the side. Night was rapidly falling, and they wouldn’t advance further today. He ordered the troops to rest on the spot. According to regulations, enemy tents were generally not to be used.

He hoped these Xiongnu individuals could provide some useful information. After preparing for more than a month at Shattered Iron City, he also hoped for some achievements.

The interpreter quickly returned. “They claim to have come from the west. Over a month ago, they saw the Xiongnu army retreating to the west, but they didn’t see any Xiongnu cavalry left behind.”

“If the Xiongnu are retreating west, why would they be advancing east?”

“The Xiongnu claim that there’re evil spirits in the west, so they fled to the east for refuge.”

“Evil spirits?”

“It’s the Xiongnu’s term. They’re probably referring to disasters like famine or drought.” Even the interpreter wasn’t entirely sure.

Just as Han Ruzi was about to have the interpreter continue questioning, cheers came from the direction of the tents, indicating they had found something valuable. Han Ruzi glanced at Fang Daye once again; this was precisely what the old standard-bearer called “a group of children.”

A noble son rode back, shouting from afar, “We caught him, we caught him!” As he approached, he reined in his horse and excitedly said, “We caught a Chu traitor.” Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and hastily suppressed his excitement. “Oh, perhaps he’s still an acquaintance of the general.”

Shortly after, Han Ruzi, accompanied by Du Chuanyun, entered one of the tents. Cui Teng and the others surrounded the tent, brandishing their swords. As Han Ruzi entered, they made way for him.

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The tent was dimly lit, with someone holding a candle in hand. The dim light illuminated a figure lying on the ground.

It was Jin Chuiduo’s elder brother, Jin Chunbao.

He appeared very weak, with his hands and feet bound by ropes. It seemed that he had been captured by those Xiongnu women and children.

Cui Teng shook the sword in his hand and said, “General, you are the strictest adherent to military law. It was fine to spare the Jins once, but this time it’s a battle between two armies. You won’t let them go again, will you? You’ve never been so forgiving to us before.”

Han Ruzi didn’t answer, staring into Jin Chunbao’s eyes.

Jin Chunbao seemed somewhat bewildered. It took him a moment to recognize who was in front of him. He sat up abruptly, his voice loud. “Weary Marquis, quickly go save… no, no, run away as far as possible!”

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