Liu Kun couldn’t control the situation. The soldiers were in chaos, and Liu Jie didn’t linger in battle either. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he led his army to break through the encirclement and escape.
He had no interest in entangling with that fool Liu Kun. What benefit was there in killing the Jinyang Army? It was a waste of effort and would cost him men. So the usually brutal Xiongnu army just broke through the opening and abandoned the Jinyang Army to flee.
Seeing this, Liu Kun’s heart went cold. If Liu Cong was hidden among them, then Zhao Hanzhang’s two months of carefully arranged encirclement would be broken—two months of effort completely wasted!
Moreover, if Liu Cong escaped alive, the future troubles would be endless.
Liu Kun could already imagine how future history books would write about him. Therefore, without thinking, he turned his horse around and struggled desperately to stabilize the situation, leading troops to pursue.
Linghu Sheng and Ji Dan also felt their hearts go cold, equally knowing they couldn’t let the Xiongnu army escape like this. However, they also knew they couldn’t pursue so hastily. Therefore, the two blocked the angry and anxious Liu Kun—one calmed him while the other went to reorganize the army.
Linghu Sheng switched the blade in his hand for a horse whip, striking several soldiers who were running around in confusion without mercy, shouting loudly, “Form squads of ten, gather together! Find your squad leaders! If squad leaders and unit commanders have fallen, the most senior takes over! Deserters will be executed without mercy! Those who create chaos in the ranks will be executed without mercy!”
The participating generals also rode through the ranks, organizing their own troops. Soon they had gathered their unit commanders, the commanders found the squad leaders, and the soldiers found their squad leaders. They quickly reorganized the army. By this time, the Xiongnu army had already fled far away…
Liu Kun was anxious. Ji Dan could only counsel him, “The first battle went badly. If we rashly charge forward now, we might fall into a second trap, and our morale is low, which is unfavorable for battle.”
Ji Dan suggested, “After we reorganize the army, we can gradually pursue from behind. The Xiongnu army is retreating and surely won’t dare to linger in battle. We just need to drive them until they’re exhausted, then surround and annihilate them.”
So Ji Dan’s suggestion was that they needed to look at the map, see if they could divide their forces for attack, preferably having one force circle around to their front, while also suggesting Liu Kun seek aid from Zhao Hanzhang.
“This matter is critical. We’ve already lost the initiative. Please, Your Excellency, request aid from the Great General.”
Liu Kun was very reluctant inwardly to ask Zhao Hanzhang for help. After all, they had made a wager—if he won, he could stay in Jinyang. But…
Liu Kun hesitated without speaking. Seeing this, Ji Dan placed a mountain on his shoulders with a thud, saying, “If Liu Cong is hidden in this army and we let him escape, the future troubles will be endless.”
Linghu Sheng also ran up. He was more direct, asking Liu Kun, “Does Your Excellency wish to become a sinner for all eternity?”
Everyone knew Liu Cong was wildly ambitious, and he was the Xiongnu emperor. Unless the emperor died or surrendered, the state wouldn’t fall. As long as the Xiongnu had him, even if only he alone remained, he might still make a comeback.
Because of the Xiongnu, the Central Plains had fought several major wars with countless civilian casualties. Zhao Hanzhang, despite the severe drought and locust plague, still insisted on military action against the Xiongnu, practically mobilizing the entire nation’s resources to achieve the current excellent situation. All this was to eliminate the Xiongnu in one stroke, giving the Central Plains and the northern lands a relatively peaceful environment, so the people would no longer suffer from the chaos of war. If Liu Cong escaped because of Liu Kun, not only would those who accompanied him have to apologize with death, they would be cursed in the history books for ten thousand years.
If this was their fate, needless to say what Liu Kun’s would be.
Though Liu Kun was unhappy to hear this, he still gritted his teeth and said, “Send someone to request aid from General Zhao.”
Linghu Sheng had been waiting for these words. He immediately dispatched a team of soldiers who were quick on their feet and skilled in combat to deliver the message and request aid.
Ji Dan immediately hinted that Liu Kun should boost morale, then they would pursue.
This staff advisor and part-time general first encouraged Liu Kun himself. “Your Excellency needn’t worry. If he’s fled, let him flee for a while. This entire area up to Shanggu Commandery has been recovered by the Great General. In just two or three quarters of an hour, how far can they run?”
He said, “It’s like walking a dog. They sprint ahead, and when they’re tired from running, we can pursue and surround them.”
Liu Kun felt somewhat better. He immediately spent half a quarter-hour boosting morale, then led the army in pursuit.
In three quarters of an hour, if people ran at full speed, they could indeed cover quite a distance. At least for now, Liu Kun couldn’t even see the Xiongnu army’s tail. Following the traces all the way, he ran while constantly afraid.
What if Liu Cong was in the army and took some men to quietly leave midway? They wouldn’t be able to find any traces.
The more he thought about it, the more panicked Liu Kun became. He could already foresee how the history books would write about him. He was going to become a sinner for all eternity.
Ji Ping, lying in ambush with ten thousand men in the southwestern foothills, heard the sounds of a large army advancing and immediately peered out to look. At this moment, a scout also came running back out of breath to report, “General, Liu Jie is coming. This humble one took a quick look—the column stretches back six or seven li, at least thirty thousand men.”
Ji Ping’s eyes widened. “How many?”
The scout confirmed, “Thirty thousand men.”
Ji Ping quickly asked, “What is their appearance and morale like?”
“Not many wounded, they don’t look disheveled, not like they’ve suffered defeat.”
Ji Ping understood—most likely Liu Kun had lost.
Fifty thousand men, prepared in advance—even if they couldn’t completely surround thirty thousand, they shouldn’t have let so many break through this quickly, right?
Ji Ping gritted his teeth and ordered the entire army to prepare, while also telling the scout, “Immediately go notify Li Tianhe. Tell him to prepare at once. I will let a group pass through.”
The scout acknowledged and immediately went to notify Li Tianhe.
When Li Tianhe heard, he knew Liu Kun was unreliable, and all the pressure had fallen on them. However, it didn’t matter. Between him and Ji Ping lay four or five li—this stretch was the best for ambush, with nowhere for the enemy to escape. They could either retreat or break through from his position. As long as he and Ji Ping blocked the upper and lower ends, the Xiongnu army couldn’t escape.
However, twenty thousand against thirty thousand—even with an ambush prepared in advance, he worried about gaps. So he told his messenger, “This place is closest to General Beigong and General Zhao. Send people to both generals to request aid.”
This was to ensure complete security.
The messenger acknowledged and left with the order.
Ji Ping was also worried about problems. As soon as the scout left, he sent a messenger back to seek aid from Zhao Hanzhang.
The order had just been given when the Xiongnu army approached. Ji Ping held his position the entire time, not allowing anyone to move. He was counting—after letting roughly two thousand pass, he waved his hand and shouted loudly, “Attack!”
Simultaneously, with a whistling sound, a signal flare screamed into the sky and exploded. Soldiers lying in ambush on both sides immediately threw down the rocks and rolling logs they had prepared long ago…
Archers stood at the edge of the mountain slope, continuously nocking arrows and shooting…
Liu Jie hadn’t expected an ambush here. His eyes nearly split with rage. He immediately wanted to lead his troops into the forest to kill the enemy. Arrows flew toward him, and his personal guards swept away the flying arrows, saying to him, “General, leave quickly!”
Liu Jie said, “More than twenty thousand men are all behind. How can I abandon them and leave?”
It wasn’t that he was so loving—rather, these were all his wealth. If something happened to his father, this would be his family fortune. The more he took with him, the better his future days would be.
So Liu Jie was reluctant to leave.
“The rocks and rolling logs will eventually run out. I’ll wait here with all the soldiers to kill the enemy. Everyone—I won’t abandon a single one.”
—