Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

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Although Yan Qing's injuries were severe, he had improved slightly and went to Luo Chen's tent to assist him with affairs and discuss the next steps, as usual. Luo Chen even personally inquired about the injured wolf's condition, seemingly quite interested in it. During his walk, he personally visited the tents of the wounded and sick, offering his condolences to each one, and then made a special trip to check on the injured wolf. A perceptive medical professional might have noticed that although the large wolf was very weak, its gaze remained fierce, sending chills down one's spine. Only when it saw Luo Chen would its fierce and sharp gaze soften slightly, replaced by a kind of confusion and interest, as if Luo Chen held a great attraction for it.

Attentive patrols of the Luo Chen army might have noticed a strange sight: a group of guards surrounding a man dressed in Western Han Dynasty official robes, moving back and forth in the desert. This man, with a small mustache and a broad face, though not wearing a military uniform and instead sporting a wide-sleeved robe, was remarkably agile. He rode on horseback, constantly looking around, while the guards kept a safe distance, swords drawn and ready. It was common to see people in unusual attire in the Luo Chen army camp, often high-ranking officials like Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Heng, and Sun Yuanhua; this was something everyone had become somewhat accustomed to. This man, dressed in the robes of a previous dynasty and with a sword at his waist, clearly held a noble position. However, those with experience might be more drawn to his composure and skill in the desert. He pointed and gestured, conversed loudly with the guards around him, and occasionally chuckled, as if he had been to every corner of the desert, introducing and joking about it to others.

In fact, even the guards accompanying him were completely bewildered. They were originally responsible for protecting Prime Minister Luo Chen's safety; they were the lord's personal guards, now under the command of Commander Barrow, numbering around a thousand. Luo Chen had summoned a small squad of twenty men from them, pointing at the middle-aged man dressed in the official robes of the previous dynasty, and said, "Mr. Zhang is going out to check on the patrol situation. You all need to protect him. You must ensure Mr. Zhang's safety is absolutely guaranteed."

"Understood." Although this squad of guards was responsible for protecting Luo Chen every day, this was the first time they had been received by Luo Chen alone, and they were flattered. However, they had never seen this Mr. Zhang before and had no idea where he had come from. But since Luo Chen addressed him as "Mr. Zhang" with such courtesy, he must be an important figure.

The guards followed him out the door and headed north. They ran for several kilometers. Mr. Zhang watched as the patrol team, working in pairs, strategically shifted their perspectives in the desert, observing the situation with both agility and stealth. He was delighted and praised them repeatedly. The guards soon discovered that Mr. Zhang was very easy to get along with; he would laugh heartily after every few words, his remarks witty and humorous. Even more admirable was his remarkable familiarity with the desert. It was as if he had been to every corner of it, happily recounting his past travel experiences.

Mr. Zhang, like a lively elder, quickly became one with the guards. "How powerful we are now! We never dared to dream of this before," Mr. Zhang exclaimed. "To mobilize so many cavalry and so many horses at once, consuming countless resources, only Emperor Wu of Han in history could have such great talent and ambition."

The guards were somewhat puzzled. As Luo Chen's personal guards, they knew almost all of Luo Chen's (goodness) high-ranking officers and strategists. These elite military and civil officials often strode past them into Luo Chen's central command tent, where they would talk for one or two hours at a time. But this Mr. Zhang was someone they had never seen before. Why was he reminiscing about "the past"? He hadn't appeared in Luo Chen's army before...

What's most captivating about Mr. Zhang is that he's both a newcomer with a completely unfamiliar face, and possesses an incongruous air of world-weariness, as if he's experienced every stage of Luochen Group's growth, as if he's been to this desert before, and he recounts it with the ease of returning home, even—as if he's lived through the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, otherwise why would he keep talking about how things were during Emperor Wu's time… But that's clearly impossible; Mr. Zhang isn't that old yet.

Chapter 133 Encounter

The guards listened intently as Mr. Zhang recounted various stories from the time of Emperor Wu. Mr. Zhang was witty and eloquent, telling tales even more captivating than those of a traditional storyteller, and the guards thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Suddenly, Mr. Zhang stopped, staring intently at a certain point in the distance.

These elite guards, upon noticing Mr. Zhang's unusual behavior, immediately formed a close-quarters battle formation. Three guards stood beside Mr. Zhang, five drew their sabers in the center, and the remaining eight or nine drew their swords or bows. In an instant, these guards had formed a fortified battle position around Mr. Zhang.

However, the guards looked in the direction Mr. Zhang was looking and didn't find anything obviously unusual, just rolling yellow sand, an ordinary scene in the desert, with no unidentified soldiers or creatures. The guards and Mr. Zhang had confirmed this large area with at least four patrol teams along their way. As soon as they entered the area, patrolmen asked for their passwords. These four patrol teams were divided into two groups, conducting covert patrols and reconnaissance in the desert, effectively covering the area. So, what could Mr. Zhang possibly find unusual?

"Gray...is it an animal?" The guards noticed a hint of confusion in Mr. Zhang's tone. "Go and see," Mr. Zhang said calmly. His tone when giving orders was very similar to that of Prime Minister Luo Chen—calm and resolute, compelling people to carry out his commands without question.

"Don't surround me! Fight as you normally would! Form an attack formation and prepare for battle!" Mr. Zhang shouted sternly. He drew his sword and nimbly mounted his horse. The soldiers exchanged glances, but Luo Chen's orders were to protect Mr. Zhang without fail… Seeing the guards looking at each other, unwilling to move, Mr. Zhang frowned and said sternly, "I am now the battlefield commander. On the battlefield, everything must be done according to orders. Decisive and unified action is the only way to win battles and survive! Hesitation will likely result in being shot or hacked to death by the enemy!"

This Mr. Zhang, usually all smiles and very casual, dressed even like a scholar, didn't seem like someone who came to fight. Unexpectedly, when the battle actually began, he suddenly transformed, becoming stern, fierce, and exuding a murderous aura. "I don't need your protection! You desert greenhorns, you actually want to protect me? You weren't even born when I rode across the desert alone!" Mr. Zhang berated them, then stepped out of the protective circle, mounted his horse, and galloped north. The guards scrambled to follow, partly wanting to see how Mr. Zhang fought, and partly because Luo Chen had personally ordered them to ensure Mr. Zhang's absolute safety, so they had to follow in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Two patrol teams had clearly also noticed the unusual situation. The stranger was leading twenty guards and running in one direction. Had he discovered something? One patrol team quickly approached Mr. Zhang and his guards, while the other team provided cover from the flanks and rear.

After galloping for more than ten minutes, Mr. Zhang suddenly reined in his horse and stopped. The guards warily formed a battle formation around him. Two patrols from the flanks also rushed over. "Do you have a crossbow? Give me one!" Mr. Zhang shouted to the guard beside him. Immediately, a crossbow was thrown into Mr. Zhang's hand.

The guards' crossbows were rigid bows, still drawn by the arm. Many in the Luo Chen army had switched to bolt-action crossbows, which were cocked and pulled. While effective, these were more popular among infantry, while cavalry still largely used hand-operated crossbows. This was because cocking and firing was inconvenient for cavalry at high speeds. Of course, personal preference dictated that some cavalrymen also opted for bolt-action crossbows, carrying them on their backs as they rode at breakneck speed, still looking quite dashing. Generally, Luo Chen didn't require uniformity in weaponry, so many Qiang soldiers still carried traditional scimitars. However, the Luo Chen army's sabers were exceptionally good, becoming the cavalry's favorite weapon and one of their signature weapons. The steel-making techniques were crucial, thanks to the technology Luo Chen had acquired from the system.

The guards were astonished to find that the old man, who looked like a scholar, could easily draw such a stiff bow and coldly point it in one direction. Suddenly, a large gray wolf sprang out of the sand several hundred meters ahead, followed by another. The two wolves didn't charge; instead, they turned and ran, darting left and right, clearly afraid of being hit by arrows from behind.

With a "whoosh," Mr. Zhang calmly released his arrow, but the wolf, hearing the sound of the arrow behind it, suddenly dodged, and Mr. Zhang's arrow missed its mark. "Damn it!" Mr. Zhang cursed and threw the bow and arrow back to the guard beside him.

The guards responsible for the perimeter had already given chase and fired arrows repeatedly, but the wolf nimbly dodged them all.

“What a cunning wolf… there must be something fishy going on…” Mr. Zhang sneered. “Still hiding in the sand? You think I can’t find you just because you’re hiding in the sand? I knew where you were the moment your gray fur twitched.” With that, he mounted his horse and chased after the wolf, taking the guard’s bow with him.

The patrolmen who came to check the situation were probably seeing such a capable old stranger for the first time, easily identifying wolves in the sand from hundreds of meters away. Having encountered this master, they followed him and pounced.

"Soldiers in front, watch your flanks, there might be wolves lying in ambush!" Mr. Zhang shouted from behind. "Watch out for stray arrows! There might be someone!" Mr. Zhang repeatedly warned his soldiers. Then he muttered under his breath, "Damn it, there's something fishy going on!"

Sure enough, a guard was galloping ahead when suddenly a large wolf leaped out of a sand dune to his side and pounced on his horse. Its sharp claws gripped the wolf's flank, and with a violent tug, the horse howled, stumbled, and fell heavily to the ground, throwing the rider to the ground. The rider screamed, thrown onto the sand with a dull thud, followed by the crack of breaking bones, and the soldier cried out in pain. His leg was broken, but the soldier quickly drew his short sword, preparing for hand-to-hand combat.

The wolf pounced fiercely, but suddenly a sharp whistle rang out from the enemy's side.

It turned out that the moment the soldier fell to the ground, an enemy finally couldn't resist peeking out. He quickly knelt down, bow in hand, intending to shoot the fallen soldier dead with an arrow. Unexpectedly, Mr. Zhang was faster, spotting him instantly and firing an arrow that struck the enemy squarely in the head, causing him to collapse immediately.

The whistle blew, and several large wolves charged toward the enemy soldier who had been shot dead.

"No need to hide it anymore, you Huns," Mr. Zhang said coldly.

Chapter 134 Emergency Meeting

Seeing such an organized and planned wolf pack, Mr. Zhang's first thought was that these wolves were tamed war wolves. And behind the wolves, there must be some powerful force. There are many shady dealings involved.

The moment the enemy soldier peeked out, Mr. Zhang's arrow, which he had prepared beforehand, flew with perfect accuracy. In that same instant, Mr. Zhang caught a glimpse of the soldier's helmet and weapon: a typical Hunnic headdress and a typical Hunnic hard bow.

The arrow struck the enemy soldier squarely in the forehead, and the soldier fell instantly. The fallen soldiers prepared to rush forward to identify the body.

Clearly, this wolf-man squad of the Xiongnu consisted of more than one Xiongnu soldier. The commander obviously discovered that his soldier had been shot dead. In order to prevent his identity from being exposed, the enemy commander immediately blew his whistle to signal for rescue and withdrawal.

All the wolves, including the one that was about to attack the fallen soldier, stopped their attack. Several wolves quickly lifted the body, while others took turns providing cover, and they instantly dashed into the desert.

The guards beside him wanted to rush after them, but Mr. Zhang stopped them. He simply sat on his horse and watched coldly until the pack of wolves disappeared into the desert. "Wolves carrying...people?" Finally, one of the guards couldn't hold back any longer. Indeed, many others, like him, had witnessed the large wolves carrying soldiers dressed in Hunnic attire as they galloped away. They were all astonished, their eyes wide with surprise, speechless.

I've heard that the southern barbarians fought on elephants, but elephants are relatively docile animals and don't eat meat. In the south, they even used elephants as transport. I can't believe that people could ride wolves into battle! These wolves are bloodthirsty killers; how did humans tame them? I've never heard of wolves being used as transportation before…

"War wolves, riders on wolves, Huns... Interesting." Mr. Zhang chuckled coldly, completely ignoring the astonishment of the guards beside him. Finally, he announced coldly, "The enemy has nine-headed wolves and three riders. It seems they are spying on our military secrets."

The Steppe Wolf Legion and the elite cavalry of the Fallen Army thus had their first dramatic encounter.

This meeting undoubtedly shocked both sides. About an hour after Mr. Zhang's guards encountered a patrol squad from the Grassland Wolf Legion, both sides simultaneously convened emergency meetings. Those present were all serious and tense; the two armies moved in unison, as if it had been pre-arranged…

Outside the central command tent, an unusually dense array of guards stood. Chang Yuchun's horse charged straight into the camp, heading directly for the tent. He leaped off his horse before the guards, not even glancing at them, and strode into the tent. Barrow—newly appointed commander of the guards—stood outside the tent, receiving reports from squad leaders on the defensive deployment. Barrow's status was clearly very high. However, seeing Chang Yuchun's imposing entrance, Barrow discreetly stepped aside. He recognized Chang Yuchun; he was a general whom Luo Chen had personally promoted and intended to heavily rely on… Less than a quarter of an hour later, Lü Bu entered the tent in the same manner. Chang Yuchun carried only a saber at his waist, while Lü Bu also carried his halberd.

Luo Chen's expression was serious; he merely nodded slightly to the two men. The commanders of Luo Chen's four Imperial Guard detachments, as well as several of Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu's personal guards, were also present at the meeting. Sitting to Luo Chen's left was a strange, elderly man dressed in Western Han Dynasty official robes. To his right was the familiar Yan Qing. Clearly, his injuries hadn't healed, as a bandage was wrapped around his neck.

Chang Yuchun had already received a rough idea that the wolf pack's backers were basically confirmed to be the Xiongnu. The messenger, mimicking Luo Chen's tone, urgently demanded that he immediately attend a meeting at the central command tent. In fact, Chang Yuchun's 60,000 cavalry were already not far from Luo Chen's encampment. Chang Yuchun abandoned the main force of cavalry, which was still advancing rapidly, and only took a few generals with him, quickly converging on Luo Chen's position.

As expected, the atmosphere was tense and unusual. Based on Chang Yuchun's experience, a fierce battle was inevitable. Both sides were making preparations with extreme tension. Following Luo Chen's orders, Chang Yuchun's troops, who were closer, were rapidly converging on Luo Chen. Once they joined forces, they would form a cavalry group ready for battle. Lü Bu's troops, being further away, immediately formed a battle formation, advancing with extreme caution and reconnaissance. Meanwhile, the number of patrol teams dispatched had reached an unprecedented nearly five thousand, meaning there were a thousand patrol units participating. They resembled a dense swarm of bees escorting an aircraft carrier. Of course, the main function of these swarms was reconnaissance, preventing the enemy from suddenly appearing before them or their numbers from suddenly exceeding their expectations.

· ······Requesting flowers· ····

The layers of imperial guards outside the central command tent indicated this was a high-level emergency meeting. Luo Chen usually disliked having too many guards around him, and all the senior commanders of his 150,000-strong cavalry army were present. Dozens of messengers stood guard on one side of the tent, clearly ready to issue orders at any moment. The unfamiliar old man beside Luo Chen was also intriguing; he seemed to be the most composed of all the officers present.

The officers greeted each other, Chang Yuchun and Lü Bu exchanged greetings, and Chang Yuchun also greeted Yan Qing warmly, but no one looked at the little old man in the corner, even though he was sitting next to Luo Chen and seemed to have a significant background... Only a few guards who fought with him knew how formidable this man was, and therefore treated him with utmost respect.

... . ...

"Fellow captains and generals," this was Luo Chen's opening remark, which was very precise. The detachment commander and the guards were all captains, while Yan Qing, Chang Yuchun, and Lü Bu were generals. There were no captains among this group.

Then he pointed to the little old man beside him: "This is Zhang..."

"My name is Zhang Cheng," the old man said with a smile, nodding to everyone. But everyone looked at Luo Chen, hoping he would give more details.

"Um, not bad... This is Mr. Zhang Cheng, Deputy Military Advisor Zhang Cheng." Luo Chen seemed to hesitate for a moment, making people wonder if this person was really called Zhang Cheng. But everyone clearly heard his title: Deputy Military Advisor.

The Deputy Military Advisor, nominally possessing limited military power, means that under the lord's orders, they can independently command hundreds of thousands of troops, or even more. In the Luo Chen system, those who reach the rank of Military Advisor are considered ministers of state, pillars of the state, and true "ministers." This rank is generally considered to have been held by three individuals: Zhuge Liang, Zhang Juzheng, and Zhang Heng. The military equivalent of a Military Advisor is roughly the Grand General, such as Xu Da. In the civil service system, the Deputy Military Advisor is slightly lower in rank, possessing limited military power, roughly corresponding to the Supreme General and the Lieutenant General. Those below, such as the Councilor and Advisor, have no military power and are true advisors.

Chapter 135 The Little Old Man Named Zhang Cheng

Sima Qian wrote: The Annals of Yu states, "The Yellow River originates from Kunlun. Kunlun is over 2,500 li high, where the sun and moon hide from each other to create light. On it are sweet springs and jade pools." Now, since Zhang Qian's mission to Bactria, having explored the source of the Yellow River, how could we have seen the Kunlun mentioned in the Annals? Therefore, the description of the mountains and rivers of the Nine Provinces in the Book of Documents is close to the truth. As for the monsters mentioned in the Annals of Yu and the Classic of Mountains and Seas, I dare not speak of them. The traces of Dayuan were originally due to Bowang. First, we explored the source of the Yellow River, then glimpsed the sea. The branches of the river flowed westward, and the Heavenly Horse turned inward. The Pamir Mountains were dust-free, and the salt lakes were calm. How vast and remote this land was, with many fortified passes and barriers.

—From the Records of the Grand Historian, Biography of Dayuan

Although nominally, the rank of Deputy Military Advisor roughly corresponds to that of General or Lieutenant General among military officers, a distinct tendency exists within Luo Chen's army: among officers of the same rank, civil officials often hold higher positions than military officers. For example, the Military Advisor Zhuge Liang held the position of "Regent of the State." Zhang Juzheng, who first governed the Guanzhong region for reforms, was immediately appointed Prefect of Yizhou after the fall of Yizhou in 1480, making him the leading figure in reforms. Zhang Heng was the primary organizer of national scientific and technological advancements. Luo Chen treated these individuals with exceptional courtesy and respect. Even Xu Da, a Grand General of the same rank, despite his high position, clearly showed deference to figures like Zhuge Liang and Zhang Juzheng.

Further down the ranks, among the civil officials, was Xu Shu, the deputy military advisor. A veteran minister, he had always followed Luo Chen, never shirking his duties, and was a trusted advisor of Luo Chen. Which of those generals—Huang Zhong, Xiahou Yuan, Ma Chao, Yan Qing, Lin Chong, and others—hadn't been commanded by him? Therefore, although nominally of the same rank, these powerful regional generals treated Xu Shu with utmost respect.

Today's newly appointed deputy military advisor—no one knows where he comes from; he simply became deputy military advisor overnight. Just like back then, no one knew where Zhang Juzheng came from, yet he was suddenly appointed Minister of Works, leading land and military reforms in the Guanzhong region. He practically controlled everything, granting all of Luo Chen's requests with unparalleled favor. He even went so far as to carry out massacres against powerful clans in the Guanzhong region. Finally, productivity in the Guanzhong region was greatly unleashed, and the financial power and resources controlled by the Luo Chen group multiplied. Of course, there are also those like General Xu Da, who suddenly appeared and was directly promoted to commander. Chang Yuchun fared somewhat better; he spent considerable time as the Prefect of Shuofang before immediately being appointed General of the Central Army, with the possibility of further promotion in the future.

These suddenly appearing civil and military officials were all exceptionally capable. Without exception, they all enjoyed Luo Chen's immense trust and support.

The officers exchanged glances and bowed, saying, "Mr. Zhang, it's an honor." Mr. Zhang returned the bow with a smile, appearing like a kind old man. One couldn't help but wonder what kind of work he was supposed to be in charge of—cultural education? Wasn't Zhang Heng already the principal of the Chang'an Academy? However, if people had seen him commanding a small squad of the Imperial Guard against a Xiongnu patrol, they probably wouldn't doubt the identity and abilities of this veteran desert general.

This Mr. Zhang Cheng was none other than Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, a famous figure in the Western Han Dynasty and Chinese history.

Zhang Qian, under the orders of Emperor Wu, prepared to unite with the Yuezhi to resist the Xiongnu. However, on his first journey, he was detained by the Xiongnu for decades. After escaping, he reached Dayuan, Kangju, and other places, eventually reaching the Yuezhi. This marked the first time the Central Plains empire had proactively sent an official envoy to the Western Regions, preparing for the Silk Road and the Western Han Empire's control of the region. Zhang Qian subsequently made two more missions to the Western Regions, and later to the southern frontier, tirelessly traveling back and forth. He was a veteran of the desert and a top-notch diplomat.

This explains why this usually jovial old man remained remarkably calm and composed when encountering the giant wolf and the peculiar Wolf Warrior patrol. It also explains why Luo Chen suddenly activated him and brought him into Luo Chen's desert legion at this crucial moment. How could a veteran who has spent his life traversing the desert and beyond not possess this composure, courage, and strategic ability?

The sudden addition of such a veteran desert player was, of course, due to Luo Chen spending a fortune to redeem him from the system.

The Western Han Dynasty was too close to the Three Kingdoms period, predating it by four or five hundred years. If Zhang Qian were to reveal his real name, wouldn't that frighten everyone? Would they think he was some kind of old demon? So he adopted the alias Zhang Cheng. This was the third person among the high-ranking officials and commoners to bear the surname Zhang, following Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Heng.

"The details of the wolves that attacked our army a few days ago have been basically ascertained; they are a specially trained combat unit of the Xiongnu," Luo Chen summarized succinctly. "This unit, consisting of nine wolves and three riders, formed a small squad to spy on our army's secrets. They were discovered by Mr. Zhang's team and engaged in a skirmish." Luo Chen glanced at Zhang Cheng as if to confirm, and Mr. Zhang Cheng smiled and nodded.

"This also means that the wolf pack is no longer a secret to us, and our whereabouts—to the Xiongnu—are no secret at all." Luo Chen said the last half of his sentence almost word by word.

The generals below the stage looked at each other in dismay. The most difficult part of the long-distance surprise attack had passed, and they were about to capture the Hexi Corridor while the enemy was completely unprepared. Now, this situation had arisen...

"In the long run, the enemy has only two options: one is that the Xiongnu army in the four commanderies of Hexi receives the alarm and begins to consolidate its forces and build fortifications—or they flee in time." Luo Chen added with a cold laugh, expressing his disdain, which was echoed by the commanders below. "The other option is to transfer troops from the northern front. But that's too late. Think about how long we've traveled. And..." Luo Chen's sneer deepened. "Messenger! Long distance, to Shuofang!" Two senior messengers immediately appeared in the tent. "Send this to General Xu Da, the commander-in-chief of the Shuofang front: The Xiongnu army has discovered the location and purpose of our desert raiding force. Your mission is to hold back the main Xiongnu force directly in front, preventing them from coming south to provide reinforcements." One messenger dictated the message, while the other received a shorthand copy. The two then rushed towards Shuofang from different directions.

The generals below, upon hearing such a concise and efficient order and analysis, all wore expressions of smug satisfaction. Although the Xiongnu knew the whereabouts of the raiding party, what use was it? No matter how hard they tried, the Xiongnu troops in the four commanderies of Hexi could not defeat them, and no matter how hard they tried, the Xiongnu troops on the other side of Shuofang could not get through.

"From a close-up perspective, the situation is dire!" Luo Chen suddenly raised his voice, sharply reminding the generals below. "The situation is extremely dire; a brutal battle is imminent!"

"We deployed nearly 10,000 elite cavalry to capture a dozen or so wolves, and we suffered nearly 20 casualties," Luo Chen said, referring to the grassland pursuit battle a few days ago. "You should have witnessed the brutality of the battle back then. Many of my soldiers were engaged in close-quarters hand-to-hand combat with the wolves, wrestling with death itself."

"What if we increased the wolf population ten thousandfold? What if we had hundreds of thousands of wolves? And then added a hundred thousand Xiongnu riders?" Luo Chen suddenly asked loudly.

Chapter 136 The Battle of Jingzhou

The desert cavalry led by Northern Dust encountered an extremely dire situation: a powerful enemy suddenly appeared, and the marching position and combat objectives were violent, requiring them to be prepared for a brutal battle at any time.

The situation in the south was already extremely tense: Huang Zhong's urgent letter reached Xu Da and then Luo Chen. Not long after, the newly promoted deputy military advisor, Fa Zheng, rushed south to Xinye, where he met with Huang Zhong's and Liu Bei's generals. Fa Zheng's arrival naturally aroused much speculation and great attention.

Meanwhile, after resolving the conflict in Hebei, a large number of Cao Cao's troops began to rapidly advance south. Cao Ren led his cavalry to Fancheng, just a stone's throw from Xinye and Jingzhou.

Many believed that a major, fierce battle—between the Luo Chen group and Cao Cao's group—was about to unfold in Jingzhou. In short, Cao Ren, Yu Jin, and others were going to clash with Huang Zhong and Fa Zheng. After all, Liu Qi and Liu Bei's forces were already locked in a fierce battle with the Cai clan in Xinye, and the Cai clan had clearly taken the initiative, even attempting to seize Liu Bei's wife—a truly insidious tactic. At this point, the power behind Liu Bei's forces became apparent: Huang Zhong, the local commander of the Luo Chen group, dispatched his elite 10 cavalry to rout the Jingzhou cavalry.

Unexpectedly, the tense battle in Jingzhou suddenly came to an end.

No force took any action—of course, Liu Bei's return to Xinye didn't seem like a serious move. The Cai clan, suddenly terrified by Luo Chen's power, lay prostrate until Cao Cao arrived. Liu Lin, though arrogant, knew that showing himself now would be suicidal. Luo Chen's army strictly controlled its actions—on the advice of Master Fa Zheng—and refrained from launching a large-scale attack on the Cai clan or seizing their territory. The only force that entered Jingzhou was a smaller than 30,000 cavalry led by a subordinate general.

The most crucial variable—Cao Cao's power—unexpectedly remained stagnant. Of course, according to Fa Zheng, a reasonable explanation is that Cao Cao's war machine is too massive, and it will take time to arrive, hence his current silence. Once prepared, his entry into Jingzhou will inevitably cause chaos. However, Huang Zhong might have a different view—that the situation in Jingzhou will likely remain stable amidst fluctuations for a long time. That is, although there will be significant fluctuations, the overall political stability will not be broken.

An article was widely circulated within Cao Cao's army. When it reached Jingzhou, it caused a sensation, making paper scarce in Luoyang.

The fact that this article was written by Luo Chen and commented on by Cao Cao is surprising: the author is Luo Chen and the commentator is Cao Cao.

This article discusses how the Central Plains regimes dealt with the iron cavalry of the northern nomadic tribes. Luo Chen never intended to publish it; it was his private research and was carelessly tossed aside. Two months later, Cao Cao had it printed, commented on it, and praised it highly, considering Luo Chen a genius of unparalleled talent. Therefore, Cao Cao believed Luo Chen would inevitably win the battle against the Xiongnu. He seemed to be cheering on Luo Chen's campaign against the Xiongnu.

Below is a summary of the article to give readers an overview and to demonstrate Luo Chen's analytical abilities:

The first lesson from Luo Chen is about traditional Central Plains infantry tactics: the phalanx formation is a traditional tactic that even Wei Qing and others couldn't change. The phalanx consists of infantry, chariots, and cavalry, with the infantry and chariots on the outside and the cavalry on the inside. An important tool is called "deer antlers," sharpened tree branches resembling deer antlers, which are partially driven into the ground to impede cavalry charges. In battle, the chariots are arranged in a curved formation, interspersed with deer antlers, forming a hook shape to reduce the impact of the Turkic cavalry and restrict their movement. The infantry must coordinate with the chariots; as the chariots and deer antlers obstruct the Turkic cavalry, disrupting their formation, the infantry can then rush outside the chariots to fight. If the infantry defeats the enemy, the cavalry in the center of the formation can then pursue; even if the infantry cannot win, theoretically, it can reduce the losses of friendly infantry and cavalry, especially the cavalry. This is a typical defensive tactic, the key being the phalanx wall formed by the infantry and chariots, which both restricts enemy cavalry and maximizes the protection of friendly cavalry. This tactic reflects two points: first, in the early Sui and Tang dynasties, especially the Sui dynasty, the Central Plains dynasties mainly relied on infantry to resist the Turks; second, the cavalry of the Sui dynasty and the early Tang dynasty did not have the ability to fight the Turkic cavalry head-on.

Next, let's analyze the term "Turkification of cavalry." Cao Cao, of course, wouldn't understand terms like "Sui Dynasty" and "Turks," but his intelligence allowed him to accurately substitute them, believing that "Luochen" was simply a different name, actually referring to the relationship between the Han and the Xiongnu. During the Sui Dynasty, Taiyuan became the primary military stronghold for defending against the Turks. Li Yuan, stationed in Taiyuan, was on the front lines of the war against the Turks and developed the method of "Turkification of cavalry." First, they learned Turkic combat methods, becoming familiar with mounted archery, using bows and arrows extensively, and wearing armor regularly. This was consistent with the "Hu-style riding and archery" practice of King Wuling of Zhao. Li Yuan went a step further, not only learning from the Turks in combat but also in lifestyle, adopting "Turkic" eating and sleeping habits. The cavalry became completely "Turkicized." They lived nomadically, moving with the water and pasture, without fixed campsites; their provisions came from sheep and horses; their advance was not in formation, moving with lightning speed; in battle, they were brave and eager for spoils, and in defeat, they retreated swiftly without shame. The Turkification of the cavalry transformed the soldiers, greatly enhancing their combat effectiveness. Even the Turks, upon encountering these soldiers, could not distinguish them and mistook them for members of a Turkic tribe.

Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin), born in 950, was known for his daring and unconventional tactics, including flanking maneuvers and surprise attacks, and his willingness to penetrate deep into enemy lines. These strengths were largely due to his elite cavalry, which further propelled the development of elite cavalry in the Tang Dynasty. Besides surprise attacks, Li Shimin was also a great enthusiast of archery and horsemanship. He himself said, "I have loved archery since childhood, and I consider myself to be proficient in its techniques." Having spent his early years with Li Yuan in Taiyuan, Li Shimin was heavily influenced by the "Turkicization of cavalry," and his love of archery and horsemanship was deeply ingrained. Furthermore, the Guanzhong Plain, to which the Sui and Tang rulers belonged, itself possessed some nomadic archery and horsemanship characteristics.

Finally, there was the use of non-Han troops. The Tang Dynasty's use of non-Han troops resulted in a qualitative leap in the army's combat effectiveness, greatly promoting the Turkification of its cavalry. The direct participation of Turkic soldiers in combat served as a direct demonstration for Central Plains soldiers. Furthermore, the Tang army's "eating, drinking, and living like the Turks" attracted even more Turkic soldiers to join. Non-Han troops played a significant role in the founding of the Tang Empire. Of course, it wasn't just the Tang army; many warlords at the end of the Sui Dynasty also absorbed Turkic soldiers. For example, Li Mi's army included "thousands of non-Han cavalry." This sparked a nationwide craze for learning from Turkic cavalry, transforming the Central Plains cavalry.

Although this article is somewhat obscure, its arguments are brilliant and readily apparent. This is the result of Luo Chen's in-depth research into cavalry warfare history, and we must thank the system... However, the publication of this article has sparked various debates and events, which will be discussed later.

Chapter 137 King Huyan

The skirmishes on the grasslands caused great distress to both the Central Plains people and the Xiongnu.

For the Luo army, their surprise attack plan seemed to have gone smoothly, but unexpectedly, a wolf army legion appeared out of nowhere. What was the size and strength of this wolf army legion? Would it completely alter the balance of power between the Luo army and the Xiongnu army in the Hexi Corridor? If the wolf army legion was very powerful and had intervened, then on this vast desert, the Luo army's 150,000 men would inevitably suffer heavy losses, possibly even annihilation. For the Xiongnu, they had agreed to a direct confrontation on the grasslands, but Luo Chen, relying on his superior numbers, launched a surprise attack on their Hexi Corridor. The Hexi Corridor was a crucial strategic pasture for the Xiongnu, and a vital area for controlling the Western Regions and containing the Han Dynasty. Now, the sudden appearance of the Luo army near the Hexi Corridor, seemingly a large, organized cavalry force, could not help but cause panic among the Xiongnu leadership.

Everyone's attention was focused on one point: damn it, how many people are on the other side?! For Luo Chen, if it were just a pack of wolves, a hundred or so, to play around with, that would be fine, no problem. But if it were tens of thousands of wolves and cavalry, then things would be extremely dire. Everyone had witnessed the fighting power of wolf packs; Luo Chen only had a few hundred thousand cavalry, and after so many days of forced marches, his forces were scattered in two parts. If he were attacked by tens of thousands of cavalry and wolf packs, he would likely be in an extremely passive position. For the Xiongnu, if it were a few thousand, preferably Ma Teng's local army, then it wouldn't be a problem; at most, they could harass them, and the Hexi Corridor would be safe. But if it was a special attack by Luo Chen, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, then they were doomed. They had fallen into Luo Chen's trap, and their main force would never be able to reach Hexi, especially since there were hundreds of thousands of Luo Chen's troops frantically seeking a decisive battle right in front of them.

The grasslands are vast and sparsely populated, and this was the first meeting between senior generals and some powerful figures since Zhong Ping's coup.

The continuous Yinshan Mountains come to an end here. To the right, sparse grasslands and deserts begin, followed by a small lake nestled at the foot of the Yinshan Mountains. The continuous Yinshan Mountains served as a defensive barrier for the Xiongnu—making this area temporarily safe. The Northern Xiongnu King Huyan, the only king who maintained his own independent fiefdom and population, traveled nearly a hundred kilometers to reach the shore of this small lake.

The Xiongnu frequently appointed kings, who were usually local warlords. However, after the purges by Qiangqu and Zhongping, almost all of the Xiongnu local kings became mere figureheads, or were directly deposed or killed. For example, Zhongping genuinely massacred a group of local warlords during his coup. However, this Huyan King, being far from the emperor's reach and also being honest, managed to survive.

The small lake was heavily guarded, and Huyan King's guards were stopped. Huyan was, after all, a Xiongnu king, and was always surrounded by a retinue; this time he brought over a hundred cavalry. Considering this was to meet Zhong Ping, he couldn't be too arrogant, so Huyan ordered most of his men to slow down, while he himself led only a few guards. The expressionless guard stopped him: "Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter..."

King Huyan was furious at such rudeness and was about to lash out, but since he was outside his own territory, he knew it was best to be cautious and discreet. So he coldly gestured to his guards: "You wait here."

As the stalemate continued, a rapid clatter of hooves sounded from the east. A general instantly rode into the highest alert zone by the lake, then calmly reined in his horse. He was accompanied by guards, who seemed to know their place, stopping precisely at the right moment. The general had a dark complexion, sharp features, and wasn't particularly tall. He had sword-like eyebrows and a cold expression. Hu Yan recognized the man immediately. After a second's thought, he realized this man had once suppressed rebels—those who didn't support Zhong Ping—in his own territory. During that time, Hu Yan had been living in constant fear, having made a firm decision: if they didn't move, he wouldn't move; if they did, he would. If Zhong Ping didn't do anything to him, then everyone would be at peace, and he would listen to him. If they wanted to kill him, he would have to start a rebellion; if he couldn't win, he would run. After all, the west was a vast, unknown world. Even if he didn't continue migrating westward, he could survive in the Western Regions.

At the time, this general had a cold and aloof demeanor. If I remember correctly, his name was Zhao Cheng. He was already known by nicknames like "Field Ghost" and "Ghost." In less than a month, he routed the local opposition forces, leaving many dead and others fleeing. However, Zhao Cheng seemed to have received special instructions; his army generally didn't enter Huyan's capital. When Zhao Cheng's troops encountered Huyan's local forces, they acted as if they didn't see them, with little interaction or conflict. He left after a month, and then Zhong Ping sent a letter warmly addressing him as "Brother Huyan," offering reassurance and leaving his territory and population untouched.

Hu Yan believed that Zhao Cheng played a role in his survival.

So he immediately forgot his displeasure, strode over, and called out, "General Zhao Cheng! General Zhao Cheng!"

Zhao Cheng stopped, turned around coldly, and looked him up and down.

Dressed in opulent robes embroidered with the beast motifs that symbolized his status, Huyan should have been quite confident, but for some reason, he felt uneasy under Zhao Cheng's gaze. Huyan hastily straightened his clothes, forcing a smile, and said, "General Zhao Cheng, I am Huyan, the King of the Northern Xiongnu. A few years ago…" Before he could finish, Zhao Cheng nodded, as if to say, "No need to say more, I understand." The guards on either side lifted the tent flap for him, and Zhao Cheng walked into the central command tent without looking back, leaving Huyan standing bewildered in the wind. Damn it, this man is so rude! Huyan's goodwill towards Zhao Cheng vanished instantly.

But leaving it to dry wasn't a solution, so Hu Yan hurriedly straightened his clothes and strode into the central command tent. The guards were quite polite and thoughtfully lifted the tent flap for him.

Hu Yan had expected the main tent to be packed with people—high-ranking generals, civil officials, priests, local elders, and many other kings—though they were merely figureheads with no real power. But the scene inside utterly shocked him. The vast central tent only had five or six people casually seated. These people weren't sitting properly on either side; they were very relaxed, even forming a circle. For a moment, Hu Yan even thought he had come to the wrong place… or that he had arrived too early, and hardly anyone else was there, not even Zhong Ping.

But sitting in the middle of the circle was Zhong Ping. Zhong Ping's words pulled Hu Yan back to reality: "Brother Hu Yan, you've finally arrived! Come on over, we've been waiting for you."

Chapter 138 The Powerful Men Attending the Meeting

Huyan Wang was immediately stunned. This wasn't a big meeting; it was a chat! He'd been forced to run over a hundred kilometers like a madman. However, these people were different from a chatterbox, because he'd never seen his fellow villagers so deep in thought and extremely tense during a chat.

Since there weren't many attendees, Hu Yan looked at them one by one—good heavens, he recognized them all. These people were clearly the core of Zhong Ping's group, each a high-ranking official. To Zhong Ping's left was his younger brother, General Zhong Ting. His complexion was rather dark, and he had removed his helmet, revealing curly hair that looked like it hadn't been washed in a long time; Hu Yan felt he could smell the stench from a distance. Moreover, the man looked weary, with heavy dark circles under his eyes, suggesting he had been quite exhausted and stressed lately. Of course, this was understandable; dealing with hundreds of thousands of enemy troops every day was tiring for anyone.

Huyan hadn't originally planned to attend the meeting. Staying in his own territory was safe; if he entered Zhongping's territory and was detained, he'd be helpless. However—he spotted Luo Chen troops in his area, albeit small patrols, possibly Lü Bu's men. Huyan panicked. His territory was deep in the grasslands, thousands of miles from the Central Plains; how could Luo Chen's army be there? Huyan immediately decided to move his army and mobile capital towards the four commanderies of Hexi, hoping for some safety. Because Huyan was rather timid, he was cautious and conducted reconnaissance from a distance. The results astonished the prince. According to the scouts, a large, densely packed Luo Chen army was moving around the four commanderies of Hexi. The scouts didn't know the exact number, only that there were many. They dared not approach for fear of being discovered, which was a wise move, as approaching would inevitably lead to their discovery.

Such a significant matter was naturally not something the prince dared to conceal, and he reported it to Zhongping. The report of the encounter by the Steppe Wolf Legion and the prince's report were presented to Zhongping almost simultaneously, and Zhongping immediately summoned the Prince of Huyan to an emergency meeting. —Zhongping immediately realized the problem was serious. The Steppe Wolf Legion's report stated: scouts encountered a patrol squad of the Luo army; one of our soldiers was killed. The enemy commander was tactically skilled and extremely formidable. The reconnaissance results indicated: the unidentified enemy was indeed Luo cavalry, and very likely the Guanzhong Iron Cavalry; their numbers were unknown, but based on marching tracks, their numbers were estimated to be large. The Prince of Huyan's report stated: a large number of Luo cavalry were discovered moving around near the four prefectures of Hexi.