As Valentin hesitated, a Tianri cavalryman galloped from afar, his face filled with terror.
"Lord Valentin! The barbarians are invading Great Qian from the south, and forty-seven million have been beheaded by Liang Xiao of Great Qian!!"
The moment the words fell, the craftsmen digging in the desert dropped their tools.
Valentin's pupils contracted: "Nonsense! The barbarians are all cavalry, how can forty-seven million be beheaded?!"
"It's true! The Left Virtuous King and others barely escaped with their lives and have already fled back to Longcheng with the barbarians of Yanzhi Mountain to report!" the Tianri cavalryman stammered.
Before Valentin could respond, several more Tianri cavalrymen arrived one after another to report, detailing the battle.
"Liang Xiao, the Marquis of An Guo of Great Qian?" Valentin, usually stern, found his breathing becoming rapid.
"We've heard the name Liang Xiao, the Marquis of An Guo of Great Qian. He can now stop barbarian children from crying at night, something even Great Qian's Heavenly General cannot do!" the cavalrymen said, their faces pale.
They were all warriors of the Tianri tribe, and facing a killer like Liang Xiao, it was inevitable they would feel fear, as this was not their home turf.
Valentin came back to his senses, pulled out a golden handkerchief, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, gritting his teeth.
"That Liang Xiao will surely pursue his victory. If we don't return home quickly, I fear we too will become prisoners! Retreat quickly! Queen of Guzhi, I will return and ravage this woman who provided false intelligence to death!!"
The favored concubine of the King of Guzhi, disliking both the King and his kingdom, had fled to the Guishuang Dynasty with intelligence and treasures, and now she would reap what she had sown.
The Tianri miners, greatly relieved, mounted their horses and fled Yinshan overnight.
Liang Xiao, with the blood of the barbarians, had unexpectedly scared away the Tianri tribe's ten-thousand-strong treasure-hunting team, preserving Great Qian's opportunity to explore the ancient Xiongnu king's treasure.
The next morning, Liang Xiao ascended a mound and ordered loudly, "Scouts are investigating the barbarian royal court. All soldiers, advance with me!"
At his command, the entire army was filled with burning ardor.
The barbarian royal court was a hundred li away, but to them, it was already within close reach!
Fearing that the barbarians might have other forces, Liang Xiao did not immediately rush the hundred-li march, allowing the enemy to prepare.
Hong Qu, as one of the scout captains, led over a thousand scouts, dispersing to various locations to ascertain the situation of the barbarian royal court.
"Reporting to the Chanyu! Great Qian's cavalry has truly arrived!!"
As the scout reported on horseback, the barbarian Chanyu, who was dining with his ministers, was so startled that the mutton in his hand fell to the ground.
"I specifically destroyed the northern passage, how could they be so fast!" the Left Virtuous King exclaimed in panic.
According to his calculations, Great Qian's cavalry could cover a hundred li a day, and possibly two hundred li if forced march!
This meant that Liang Xiao had indeed taken a considerable amount of time to repair the destroyed roads, allowing him to gather supplies and prepare adequately before reaching the desert!
"The enemy has at least sixty thousand cavalry, we are no match for them, retreat quickly!" the Chanyu had already lost composure.
Just then, another rider arrived: "The ruler of Xianbei has accepted the Chanyu's order and dispatched the great general of Xianbei, Duo Wuneng, with ten thousand Xianbei cavalry, to assist the Left Virtuous King in attacking the northern borders of Great Qian. They are about to arrive outside the city!"
The moment the words fell, the barbarian court was shocked.
The Xianbei were coming?
"Before the Left Virtuous King led his troops south, I did indeed send someone to Xianbei to request troops, but now our nation is weak, and I fear we can no longer control the Xianbei..." the Chanyu sighed.
The ministers were all trembling with fear.
The Chanyu's action was, of course, to show his might and force the ruler of Xianbei to obey his commands.
Unfortunately, when it rains, it pours. If the Xianbei in the eastern desert knew of the barbarian's crushing defeat, then this force of ten thousand cavalry could become a threat!
The Left Virtuous King, with a flash of inspiration, roared, "Chanyu, now is the time to remain calm! Dispatch brave individuals, and let Attila personally greet the Xianbei cavalry, trick them into heading south, and resist Great Qian's cavalry for our nation!"
Everyone was astonished.
Facing Great Qian's cavalry, they were going to use the ten thousand Xianbei cavalry as a shield?
Attila, the Chanyu's eldest son, who had been silent, finally stepped out from the crowd, smiling, "Father, your son understands the Left Virtuous King's intentions and is willing to undertake this important task."
As everyone looked on in confusion, Attila's expression changed, and he said sternly, "All escorts are forbidden to mention the barbarian's crushing defeat, or they will be put to death!!"
"So that's how it is!" The ministers finally understood, and all looked at Attila with anticipation.
Whether the barbarians could achieve a 'drive the tiger to swallow the wolf' strategy now depended on him!
Ten li east of Longcheng, Attila, the son of the Chanyu, led five hundred men to meet with ten thousand Xianbei cavalry.
The ten thousand Xianbei cavalry, clad in light armor, all wielding long sabers, exuded an imposing aura.
The leading Xianbei great general wore silver armor, a silver crown, and carried a long spear, looking magnificent!
"General Duo Wuneng, I trust you are well!"
Attila immediately waved his horsewhip and rode east, a smile on his face.
"So it is Lord Attila who personally came out of the city to greet me. This general is immensely humbled!" The silver-armored great general, Duo Wuneng, quickly rode forward and cupped his hands in greeting.
Attila was the Chanyu's most valued son, and even their ruler of Xianbei dared not slight him!
Attila merely smiled, about to speak, when Duo Wuneng unexpectedly said, "This general heard that the Left Virtuous King led forty thousand troops south and lost seventeen thousand in Yanzhou. Is this true?"
The moment the words fell, the five hundred men behind Attila felt their hearts pound, and their breathing became rapid.
Attila said with disdain, "It was merely a loss of seventeen thousand brave warriors. The Great Qian people paid with seventy thousand casualties. Because Yanzhou reinforced their troops, the Left Virtuous King had to temporarily retreat and then launched a surprise attack on Yunzhou, achieving a great victory! My father orders you to immediately head south and assist the Left Virtuous King in combat. After conquering Great Qian, the treasures and women of Great Qian will be yours to plunder!"
"Only lost seventeen thousand?" Duo Wuneng blinked in surprise.
"Great Qian nation values civility over martial arts, and the whole country is filled with weaklings. At the cost of seventy thousand casualties, they barely managed to kill my seventeen thousand barbarian warriors. If we don't exaggerate the attack tenfold, how can it be counted? Do you not even understand the atmosphere of Great Qian valuing civility over martial arts?" Attila responded calmly and unflustered.
Duo Wuneng pondered for a moment and nodded, "Lord Attila, you are correct. Great Qian is so incompetent, it is impossible for them to have beheaded seventeen thousand barbarians. After all, the barbarian cavalry is invincible!"
Attila burst into laughter, "The might of my barbarian cavalry is known throughout the world! You should immediately march south. You should be able to catch up with our troops two hundred li away and obtain supplies! I will return to report to my father on the sincerity of the Xianbei, and we will waive your tribute for this year!"
Upon hearing this, Duo Wuneng and the preceding generals behind him were both shocked and overjoyed: "You will truly waive this year's tribute?"
"Can I not represent my father?" Attila raised the barbarian golden staff he held, a symbol that seeing the golden staff meant seeing the Chanyu himself.
After his initial surprise, Duo Wuneng quickly calmed down and frowned, "Lord Attila, but is it really appropriate for us not to pay our respects to the Chanyu? Where is the Chanyu?"