Liang Xiao ignored Duo Wu Neng and said to the shadow guards beside him, "Break their mouths."
While the soldiers were resting and collecting arrows, the shadow guards smiled and approached the terrified Xianbei people.
Half an hour later, Duo Wu's face turned pale, and he wailed, "We were tricked by Attila!"
The soldiers were speechless.
The four confessed simultaneously: Attila, the son of the Xiongnu Chanyu, had tricked them into heading south to face the Great Qian cavalry. The purpose was self-evident.
It was to buy time for the barbarians to escape, while simultaneously weakening the Xianbei forces to prevent them from growing too powerful in the future!
At the same time, it would sow discord between the Xianbei and the barbarians.
Liang Xiao smiled and said, "During the Battle of Helan Mountain and the shame of Yanzhou, many other foreign tribes served the barbarians, abetted their evil deeds, and caused the deaths of many Yanzhou citizens. You Xianbei were the main force among these auxiliary troops, so you don't need to be too disappointed. This general had long guessed that you were not barbarian cavalry, and never intended to show you any leniency."
Duo Wu Neng exclaimed in surprise, "Doesn't your Great Qian nation win hearts and minds through virtue?"
Lu Changhe, standing beside Liang Xiao, reminded him, "Deputy Marshal, this Duo Wu Neng also participated in the Battle of Helan Mountain and invaded Yanzhou. He is considered a famous fierce general of the Xianbei."
Liang Xiao understood and did not respond to Duo Wu Neng. He immediately ordered his men to behead him and two others, leaving only the last Xianbei man.
"I will give you a horse and three days' rations. Go back and report this matter to your king. If you dare to abet evil, our Great Qian nation will not only invade the desert but also march east and exterminate your Xianbei!"
The man, given his only chance of survival, offered his profuse thanks and fled the scene on horseback, fearing that Liang Xiao would change his mind.
Zhuo Ying pouted, "It seems the barbarians have their clever ones too, knowing how to pit wolves against tigers and kill with a borrowed knife."
"To let our army and the Xianbei cavalry wear each other down, which would not only affect our advance but also weaken the Xianbei military strength, because they also know that the Xianbei will inevitably rebel in the future and oppose the barbarians," Liang Xiao explained. "However, for Great Qian, whether it's barbarians or Xianbei, those who deserve to die will be shown no mercy. We must annihilate the enemy's fighting strength!"
The soldiers, accustomed to Liang Xiao's iron-blooded resolve, all pledged their loyalty.
The crossbow bolts were soon recovered, with over 100,000 discarded due to breakage or being embedded in flesh.
However, compared to the total stock of over four million crossbow bolts for the 100,000 strong army, this loss was acceptable.
"Rest is complete, continue the pursuit!"
The Great Qian iron cavalry advanced again. This time, they left behind 20,000 cavalry to protect 20,000 logistics personnel, while the remaining 60,000 followed Liang Xiao, marching towards Longcheng.
The barbarians had already mobilized for their retreat yesterday, and Attila was merely responsible for luring Duo Wu Neng.
By the time the 60,000 Great Qian iron cavalry reached Longcheng, they found only scattered broken tents and dilapidated houses, feeling a sense of anticlimax.
"Deputy Marshal! The barbarians have all fled, leaving behind only a few hundred corpses. It seems they died of illness!"
Liang Xiao was not greatly surprised upon receiving the news.
Zuo Wushang reminded him, "Further north lies Mobei, which is even more treacherous than Mosouth!"
Liang Xiao immediately ordered, "The Xianbei have been used by the barbarians, but they are retreating with hundreds of thousands of barbarians, which will inevitably slow down their march. Our army has plenty of reserve warhorses. While the barbarians' tracks are not yet covered by the sandstorm, advance immediately!"
The soldiers changed to their reserve horses, and the army marched northeast.
According to Liang Xiao's plan, they would first drive out the barbarians and kill enough barbarian cavalry before sweeping through Mobei.
However, Liang Xiao had another purpose: to investigate the location of the ancient Xiongnu royal treasure.
North of the Yin Mountains, in the land of the "Seeing Dragon"!
The mark on the treasure map was a large red circle, spanning a thousand li. The best clue was only a single sentence in the Xiongnu language.
Liang Xiao's first priority was to confirm if anyone was already excavating the treasure.
"Deputy Marshal! We've found the Chanyu's roof tiles!"
A general presented Liang Xiao with several roof tiles inscribed with Great Qian characters, which read: "Son of Heaven Chanyu" and "With Heaven Boundless, Ten Thousand Years."
"This is indeed the Chanyu's court. The enemy has moved on, pursue them immediately!"
After eating their rations, the 60,000 Great Qian iron cavalry urgently charged northeast.
Meanwhile, the barbarians in Longcheng had retreated over a hundred li northeast of Longcheng, their cries echoing along the way.
The weather in Mobei was harsh, far worse than Mosouth, a region even the barbarians disliked.
There was not only extreme cold and heat but also vast sandstorms.
"Report to the Chanyu! The Great Qian army has reached Longcheng!"
Upon receiving the news, the barbarian emperor and his ministers were greatly alarmed.
Attila roared, "Did Duo Wu Neng see through my deception and defect to the enemy?"
The scout shook his head, "The ten thousand Xianbei cavalry have likely been annihilated..."
Everyone present gasped, their throats trembling.
"How could it be so fast..." the Chanyu murmured, somewhat distraught.
The combat effectiveness of the Great Qian iron cavalry had far exceeded his imagination!
Attila explained, "The Great Qian nation must have prepared a massive amount of crossbow bolts, while the Xianbei cavalry had limited bolts. It's normal for them to be shot down."
The others chuckled bitterly.
It wasn't that the Xianbei cavalry couldn't afford crossbow bolts, but as subordinates, they were reluctant to waste them on the battlefield.
These subordinate forces sent troops to assist, showing their loyalty and seeking benefits. If the barbarians solely relied on them to fight on the front lines, these forces would not agree.
As a result, Great Qian reaped the benefits, reducing their casualties and allowing them to speed up their advance!
"The enemy will definitely pursue us. We must make plans early!" Zuo Xianwang, who had been silent, finally spoke, his voice trembling.
"What plans?" the Chanyu frowned.
They were still resting; their warhorses were exhausted.
Zuo Xianwang analyzed, "If we continue to let everyone ride our warhorses, we will run out of reserves. The enemy army has plenty of reserve warhorses to switch to, allowing for faster pursuit and easy interception of us!"
Despair filled everyone's faces, "Indeed!"
"Therefore, we must reluctantly abandon some people!" Zuo Xianwang gritted his teeth.
Everyone was shocked and looked at Zuo Xianwang.
Zuo Xianwang continued, "Among them, there are about 300,000 people who are not relatives of our current cavalry. It is time to resolutely abandon them. We cannot let them occupy horses any longer, otherwise, we will be annihilated sooner or later!"
Everyone's breathing became rapid.
Abandoning 300,000 people!
But if they didn't abandon so many, in a few days, the loss would be more than just 300,000...
"How do we abandon them? Let them become prisoners of Great Qian?" the Chanyu said unwillingly.
Attila suggested, "Take the provisions and let them be prisoners. They can consume the Great Qian iron cavalry's military grain, which is also a good idea!"
Zuo Xianwang shook his head, his eyes sharp, "This plan is indeed good, but don't you forget who Liang Xiao is? He will never fall for such a trick! Among these 300,000 people, many are familiar with Mobei and may very well lead the Great Qian cavalry out of hatred!"
The Chanyu looked distressed, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
Zuo Xianwang took a deep breath and enunciated word by word, "Kill them all!"
The makeshift camp was unusually quiet.