92Chapter 92: Fenglangjuxu, the Whip of God
The first month of the seventeenth year of Emperor Wu's reign.
Desert North
While the army was resting, Chen Qing, Zhou Yafu and others all gathered in the big tent. They were discussing whether this war should end or continue.
Wei Qing frowned slightly, and said hesitantly, "The army has already arrived here... If we can't completely drive the Xiongnu out of Mobei, they will still recover in a few years and become a serious threat to the Han Dynasty again."
"Why not completely exterminate them?"
Although Huo Qubing was a little nonchalant, his expression remained unchanged. He simply said, "I agree with my uncle... ahem, I also agree with what General Wei said."
"This Han-Xiongnu War cost a lot of money. If we just let the Xiongnu continue to recuperate here, it will inevitably leave a legacy of trouble."
"It is better to completely exterminate the Xiongnu than to cut off the roots."
The other three looked at each other, with a look of hesitation on their faces.
"Go to the captives, what do you think?"
Chen Qing slowly looked at Chen Ding with a questioning look on his face - although his son also inherited the "strange power" of his ancestor, he was different from him.
He only inherited extraordinary strength, but did not inherit the strategy of his ancestors. However, Chen Ding Chen Qulu was different. Chen Ding inherited Han's military tactics and Huangshi Heavenly Book, and was a man of both civil and military talents.
Therefore, in this situation, when Chen Qing was unable to make a decision, he subconsciously thought of Chen Ding.
Chen Ding exhaled slowly. He glanced at everyone and said slowly, "Although it's said not to pursue a desperate enemy, at this moment, we are not thinking about ourselves, but about the prosperity of the Han Dynasty for hundreds of years."
"So we must eradicate them completely. Otherwise, if the Han borders weaken and the Xiongnu resurge, future generations may blame our ancestors."
"only....."
"I don't agree with General Wei and General Huo's plan to exterminate the clan."
"Although the Xiongnu suffered a crushing defeat in this battle and their vitality was severely damaged, their foundation is still strong. After all, they are a powerful nation that can be compared with the Han Dynasty. If such a huge country really wants to perish together with it, I am afraid that the Han Dynasty will also suffer a blow."
He narrowed his eyes and took out a roll of silk from his arms.
The silk looked very old and worn, as if it had been passed down from a very long time ago.
In fact, this thing is indeed very old.
"Years ago, I discovered this item in my family's library. It was left behind by my ancestor, Chen Xigong, Marquis of Guandu. Chen Xigong and Liu Hou discovered from ancient books that there was also a vast continent far to the west."
"There are grasslands all over there, which are more suitable for the Xiongnu to live in than our Central Plains."
Chen Ding smiled faintly. "I believe that if they had a choice, the Xiongnu would rather flee far away and fight the local natives than be destroyed with us."
"The Western Regions are very far away from us, and there are mountains blocking the way. After the Xiongnu have fled, we can establish a prefecture here and have people garrison here."
"Peace will come to the Central Plains."
"The borders no longer need to be worried about by the Huns."
"We won't lose much in this battle."
"how?"
Chen Qing and Zhou Yafu exchanged a glance, then paused for a moment and said, "That's a good idea."
"In that case, let's send a message to Chang'an and ask for your Majesty's opinion."
"He also ordered his scouts to send a message to the Xiongnu Chanyu with arrows."
Zhou Yafu smiled and said, "As the strategists say, there are no permanent alliances in the world, only permanent interests."
"If we can completely drive the Xiongnu away in one battle, and completely eliminate this great threat to the Han border, you and I will be able to live up to our reputation for generations to come."
.... .....
Xiongnu
The Chanyu looked at the letter in front of him and waved his hand, asking the staff member beside him who was obviously Han Chinese to come over. He handed the letter over and said, "Let's see what your Han general has to say next."
After the man quickly finished browsing, his eyes were filled with excitement.
Then he informed the Xiongnu Chanyu of the existence of the "Western Regions". He frowned slightly and said, "If that's really the case..."
After mumbling for a moment, he gave the order directly: "Send the order! Order Huer Tuotuo to lead a group of wolf riders to the Western Regions to investigate!"
.... .....
Weiyang Palace
Looking at the news coming from the frontier, Emperor Wu stroked his chin with a slightly hesitant look on his face. "If this is true, then it would be a good thing for the Han Dynasty."
"The Xiongnu have already been subdued."
"The rest doesn't matter anymore."
Why did Emperor Wu fight against the Huns?
Perhaps in the original history, Emperor Wu attacked the Huns in order to seek revenge, to grab land, to spread the prestige of the Han Dynasty, and to bring his martial arts to the peak.
But at this time, Emperor Wu fought against the Huns simply because they kept invading the border, and he also wanted to make a name for himself in martial arts.
Now that both goals have been achieved, if he were to order the extermination of the entire Xiongnu tribe, which would amount to hundreds of thousands or even millions of people... Emperor Wu felt that he would be known as a "tyrant" in the future.
At this time, Emperor Wu's thoughts and ideas were different from before.
He wants to become...the true greatest emperor of all time!
An emperor of all ages without any stigma!
After thinking for a moment, he sighed.
"Forget it!"
"Send an order, have Marquis Qing and others take my place, seal the Wolf's Lair, and offer sacrifices to the Heavens after the matter is resolved!"
.... ....
In the seventeenth year of Emperor Wu's reign, in the fifth month of summer.
After half a year, the Xiongnu Chanyu finally received a letter from Huertuotuo and others in the Western Regions, and realized that there really was a vast grassland in the Western Regions that was suitable for their survival, and there were no strong opponents!
Just a bunch of powerless natives! (To the Xiongnu Wolf Riders, Rome, Greece, etc. during this period were indeed powerless.)
Overjoyed, the Xiongnu Chanyu quickly gave up his original idea of destroying himself and the enemy together, and wrote a letter in a very servile manner, calling the Han emperor "Emperor of Heaven" and calling him the Sage Lord of Eternal Heaven, saying that the Han emperor was actually a messenger sent by Eternal Heaven to rule the world.
He is willing to offer his highest respect and his submission.
After the Emperor of the Han Dynasty appointed him as the "King of the Western Regions", the Xiongnu Chanyu led many Xiongnu people, nobles, and hundreds of thousands of troops and slowly marched towards the Western Regions.
Chen Cheng, who was watching this scene from a "bystander's perspective" in the air, smacked his lips.
In the original history, the Xiongnu, with their remaining troops and defeated generals, could beat the natives of the Western Regions and make them cry out "God's Whip". Now... the Xiongnu are almost at their peak...
Two hundred thousand troops, tens of thousands of wolf riders...
What will become of the Western Regions?
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"Book of Han: Annals of Emperor Xiaowu" states: "In the seventeenth year of the Emperor's reign, the Xiongnu Chanyu surrendered, and the Emperor appointed him King of the Western Regions. The Xiongnu fled. From then on, there was no war in the northern desert, and the world was at peace, ushering in an era of prosperity."