The Child Emperor - Chapter 151: The Xiongnu’s Lure

Jin Chunbao’s hands and feet were untied. He took a small sip of wine, calming his mind, and began to recount his experiences.

Several months ago, Jin and his two siblings, along with the maid, ventured onto the steppes, where they soon encountered the Xiongnu. After identifying themselves, they were escorted to the grand camp of the Eastern Chanyu.

They had come to the steppes in search of freedom, only to find another “imperial court.”

“The Eastern Xiongnu have also split,” Jin Chunbao lamented bitterly, especially when faced with a group of familiar noble youths. These individuals had once mocked and bullied him in the Capital, and now they saw him at his most wretched.

During the reign of the Martial Emperor, the Xiongnu split into two factions, east and west. The Western Xiongnu persisted in hostility against the Chu empire, suffering consecutive defeats and ultimately fleeing thousands of miles away, their whereabouts unknown for many years. In contrast, the Eastern Xiongnu submitted to the Chu empire, offering tribute, and enjoyed decades of peace.

However, over these decades, there had been noticeable internal divisions among the Eastern Xiongnu. While ordinary Xiongnu continued their nomadic lifestyle, the Eastern Chanyu and a large number of Xiongnu nobles settled near the Ordos Loop of the Yellow River.[1] They exchanged horses, animal hides, and other goods for necessities from the Central Plains. Apart from their annual hunting expeditions on the steppes, they were largely disconnected from nomad life.

During Prince Qi’s rebellion, he had made generous promises to the Xiongnu in exchange for assistance. The Xiongnu nobles were tempted. Having grown accustomed to settled life and long coveting the riches of the Central Plains, they were aware of their own limitations but dared to dream. Prince Qi provided them with an opportunity.

However, the Xiongnu nobles required cavalry, a substantial amount of it.

Year after year, the northern nomad paid tribute, seeking peace. When they heard about the call to arms for an unpredictable battle, many chose to flee, and many tribes migrated northward or westward.

To muster enough cavalry and prevent the dispersal of the tribes, the Eastern Xiongnu expended considerable time and effort. By the time the army finally assembled, Prince Qi had already suffered defeat.

The army, painstakingly assembled, couldn’t simply disband. After heated arguments, the Xiongnu launched an attack on the Chu empire, seizing a considerable amount of wealth, partially satisfying the ambitions of some nobles.

When the main Chu army arrived, the Xiongnu grew fearful, especially the ordinary soldiers who had fought without gaining much spoils. Many deserted, compelling the Eastern Chanyu to retreat. He had to first suppress the rebellions among various tribes on the steppes and gather more cavalry before engaging the Chu army in battle.

There was also a belief that the elderly Eastern Chanyu simply did not want to engage in a decisive battle with the Chu army. By indulging the army’s desertion, he used it as an excuse to avoid confrontation.

However, another group of Xiongnu nobles firmly believed that Chu was in decline and that it was time for the Xiongnu to rise again. What the people of the steppes lacked was not cavalry but courage. With a few victories against overwhelming odds, they could reignite the ambitions of the nomadic people and defeat the decadent Chu army.

Prince Zaheyan was the representative of this faction of nobles. His ambitions went beyond this; he dreamed of unifying the entire steppes, abolishing the division between Eastern and Western Xiongnu.

After learning about the Jin family’s background, Zaheyan saw an opportunity.

The ancestor of the Jin family was the Xiongnu’s Virtuous King of the Right, closely related to the Western Chanyu. Admiring Jin Chuiduo’s beauty, Zaheyan also wanted to use the Jin family’s status to claim the position of Virtuous King of the Right. Therefore, on the second day of their meeting, he sent people to propose marriage.

The Western Xiongnu had long disappeared, and the Virtuous King of the Right was just a title unclaimed for several decades. Zaheyan’s actions were merely to enhance his prestige, preparing for the contest for power after the old Chanyu’s passing.

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Jin Chuiduo unequivocally refused. Zaheyan, over forty years old and surrounded by wives and concubines, lacked genuine respect for the Jin family. Naturally, she was unwilling to marry him.

For any Xiongnu prince, being rejected in marriage was a disgraceful matter. As one of the strongest sons of the Eastern Chanyu, Zaheyan, in particular, could not tolerate such humiliation. After several unsuccessful attempts to persuade Jin Chuiduo, he declared that he would marry her on the day the first snow fell on the steppes, dead or alive.

The Jin siblings attempted to escape, but their efforts ended in failure. Instead, they were kept under tighter surveillance. Initially, Jin Chunbao behaved compliantly, gaining Zaheyan’s trust. However, a few days ago, he attempted to flee again with his siblings. The attempt was thwarted, and while he managed to escape, he became separated from his siblings.

Unfamiliar with the steppes and unsure where to go, Jin Chunbao wandered aimlessly on horseback until he collapsed from exhaustion. He was rescued by Xiongnu nomads.

Unable to speak much Xiongnu, the nomads assumed he was a deserter from Chu territory, so they tied him up, intending to hand him over to the Xiongnu nobles for a reward.

“Weary Marquis, please save my sister. She is stubborn and would rather die than marry Zaheyan. How many men do you have? Too few won’t do…” Han Ruzi didn’t answer. Instead, he walked out of the tent.

The sky had turned dark, and dozens of soldiers stood guard half a mile away. Fang Daye held a flag in his hand, gazing up at the sky, seeming to blend into the flagpole.

The other noble youths remained in the tent. Cui Teng stepped out alone, standing side by side with Han Ruzi, both looking in the same direction. After a while, Cui Teng spoke, “It seems that the little miss from the Jin family refuses to marry anyone, no matter who proposes.”

Cui Teng had also proposed to the Jin family and was rejected without even meeting Jin Chuiduo.

Han Ruzi grunted in agreement.

“I’ve figured it out. She is a jinx. Any man involved with her will have bad luck. I count myself luck. I just ended up sitting on a tree branch thanks to this little brother Du.” Standing on the other side of the Weary Marquis, Du Chuanyun chuckled. He didn’t know who Jin Chuiduo was and didn’t care. He lowered his head, lightly tapping the ground with the tip of his boot.

“Chai Yun has had it worse, dying because of her,” Cui Teng sighed heavily, despite having had quarrels and fights with Chai Yun, he still missed him. “You’ve had a rough time too, the comfortable Weary Marquis couldn’t stay put and ended up enduring the wind and sun in the north…”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m advising you to stay away from her. Let her take her bad luck to the Xiongnu. Maybe we won’t have to do anything and still reap the rewards.”

“I never said I was going to save anyone.”

“You don’t have say it. Look at you: silent, distracted, with a gloomy face. Chai Yun taught me that this is the look of a man longing for a woman. I won’t tell my sister, but you have to promise not to go rescue her. Also, you need to treat me better in the future…”

“Nonsense,” Han Ruzi retorted. “I’m thinking that Jin Chunbao’s words don’t quite match with what Chai Yue said.”

“Oh, then I worried for nothing. Yeah, why didn’t Jin Chunbao mention anything about the Xiongnu prince thinking you deflowered Jin Chuiduo and wanting revenge? I’ll go ask him. This kid used to be afraid of me, he wouldn’t dare lie to me.”

Han Ruzi didn’t stop Cui Teng. Mounting his horse, he returned to the troop, ordering the interpreter to interrogate the Xiongnu again and find out which direction they came from.

A few screams came from the tent. Shortly after, Cui Teng and his group escorted Jin Chunbao out of the tent.

With a mournful face, Jin Chunbao said, “Weary Marquis, I’ve told the truth. There are some things I can’t say in front of everyone…” Under the glare of Cui Teng and others, Jin Chunbao didn’t care anymore and hastily added, “My sister likes the Weary Marquis. She often says she was once the Empress of the Chu empire, how could she become a queen of the Xiongnu? Zaheyan is extremely jealous because of this and vows to kill the Weary Marquis.”

Han Ruzi raised his hand to stop Jin Chunbao from speaking further. It was obvious he was “confessing” under threat; what he said couldn’t possibly be what Jin Chuiduo would say.

The interpreter also came to report, “I believe they’re telling the truth. They did come from the west. They have relatives in Zaheyan’s army and are rushing to seek refuge with them.”

Fang Daye still wore an indifferent expression. Han Ruzi had to make his own judgment and decision. After a moment of thought, he issued several orders, “Release the Xiongnu but don’t give them any horses. Take Jin Chunbao and all the livestock with us.”

Cui Teng laughed, “Jin Chunbao, did you hear that? You’re basically the same as livestock. Get on your horse.”

Seven Xiongnu pleaded, hoping to keep a few livestock. Without these cattle and horses, they wouldn’t survive the winter. Han Ruzi ordered the soldiers to draw their bows. The Xiongnu, with no other choice, tearfully left during the night.

“It would’ve been better to kill them and bring back seven heads. It would count as military merit,” Cui Teng expressed regret.

Watching the Xiongnu disappear into the night, Han Ruzi addressed all the soldiers, “The Xiongnu cavalry will undoubtedly track Jin Chunbao. They won’t be too far from here. By letting go of the seven Xiongnu, we’ll confuse their cavalry, making them think the Chu army will camp and rest here. My order is to retreat immediately! Take the livestock and release them halfway.”

The crowd was startled, and they immediately started preparing to depart. Cui Teng was particularly alarmed, “The Xiongnu cavalry is nearby?”

Han Ruzi looked at Jin Chunbao, “The Xiongnu deliberately let him escape, hoping to lure the Chu army into a trap. By making us bring him back to Shattered Iron City, they hope to lure even more Chu soldiers. The Xiongnu might not pursue too closely.”

Cui Teng kicked Jin Chunbao angrily, “So you’re still a traitor just like when you were a child!”

Jin Chunbao vigorously shook his head, “Weary Marquis, I really didn’t lie…”

“Perhaps you didn’t lie, but you were still manipulated by the Xiongnu.”

Jin Chunbao fell silent.

Cui Teng added, “Wait, if the Xiongnu intentionally let Jin Chunbao go, why did they have him captured again?”

“That was unexpected. These Xiongnu nomads didn’t know Zaheyan’s plan.”

Mounting their horses, the group herded dozens of livestock along the nighttime road. Naturally, the speed was not fast, and many kept glancing around, fearing that Xiongnu cavalry might suddenly appear in the darkness.

Han Ruzi became increasingly convinced that his judgment was correct: Chai Yue, in persuading the Weary Marquis to come to Shattered Iron City, not only exaggerated the geographical advantage but also exaggerated Zaheyan’s hostility towards the Weary Marquis. The Xiongnu, in order to lure the Chu army, exaggerated their internal divisions and the danger faced by Jin Chuiduo.

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While the Xiongnu and Chai Yue acted similarly, their narratives differed, indicating they were not colluding. However, Chai Yue underestimated the intelligence of the Xiongnu prince.

Han Ruzi sighed softly, unable to understand why everyone thought he had ulterior motives toward Jin Chuiduo.

An hour later, he ordered the livestock to be chased away, hoping to confuse the pursuing Xiongnu. Then, they could increase their marching speed. However, in the dark night, it was still risky to maintain direction and formation without causing chaos.

Fang Daye, who rarely spoke, suddenly spoke up, “The Xiongnu recognize the flag.”

“What?” Han Ruzi turned to ask.

“The few Xiongnu you let go, as long as they remember the shape of this banner and provide a brief description, those Xiongnu cavalry will guess that a high-ranking general is here. Knowing their temperament, they won’t let go of a Chu general easily.”

The banner was both a symbol of a general and sometimes invited trouble. Han Ruzi smiled faintly, “So, you also agree with my guess?”

Fang Daye remained silent.

Han Ruzi ordered the army to pick up speed.

[1] The Ordos Loop is shown in the picture below. Xi’an is the location of the Capital in our story.

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