Ballad of the Desert

Chapter 18: Emotional Threads

Li Cheng was moping, muttering under his breath "How could they say leave and leave so quickly? When I woke up the entire army base was empty."

I can see he's in no mood to teach me to ride so I practiced by myself. I stopped being so impatient and slowly got acquainted with the horse by trotting. I ended not falling off once, but after the morning was gone, Li Cheng was still sitting on the ground looking depressed.

I jumped off and walked over to talk with him, but he was so down that he answered once for my every ten questions. "Must you seek revenge?" He nodded, if he didn't kill the Xiong Nu to avenge his family, then his life is meaningless. I stare at him, yet another person seeking revenge for the death of a loved one. "Little teacher, if you spar with me, and in one hundred strokes you don't lose, then I promise to beg the General to take you along on the next battle."

He raised his head "A real man makes good on his promises, right?"

I solemnly nod my head and he immediately gets up. He pulls out his sword and faces me. I make a stance "Will the Xiong Nu wait for you to attack?" and he immediately rushes me with his sword raised. My martial arts, if I was sparring with another person, I'll likely lose. But if it was a life and death situation, the opponent will likely die. The wolf pack has the ability only to kill its prey, so everything I learned is used to kill. My attacks are extremely vicious, aimed at using the least amount of time to kill the opponent. Because of that, I have never really tested my martial arts skills, this being the first time.

In the beginning he was somewhat hesitant, but after I almost wrenched his elbow off, he stopped holding back and every attack became deadly vicious as well. After the fifty-first stroke, I aim for his eyes and then sweep him off his feet, his sword flying out. I clap my hands and crouch down "If I used a little bit more strength, your arm would be useless. The Xiong Nu would never hold back their strength."

He didn't say another word, just picking up his sword and attacking me again. I smile, this boy can be taught. There is no politeness on the battlefield. After six days, all I do is learn riding and spar with Li Cheng. He is very persistent. One time I punched him on the nose and he ignored his bloody nose and tears, continuing to hack at me. His last sword thrust actually sliced my sleeve. But he still only lasted eighty-seven strokes before I punched him out cold.

In six days time, Huo Qu Bing's army left Long Xi, and using the fastest imaginable speed and distance, quickly surrounded the enemy's flank and rear. The battle is swift and fierce. In a short six days, Huo Qu Bing's army is like the most devastating wind storm in the desert, swallowing up five Xiong Nu tribes, capturing and killing multiple officials and royal family members. In total, he killed or captured over eighty thousand Xiong Nu, allowing the Xiong Nu's most beautiful mountain region the Yen Zhi Mountains to fall into the hands of the Han Empire. The Han expansion continues westward.

The Xiong Nu's most revered speed army forces are no match for Huo Qu Bing's army, and in his first foray as a General, he's struck a major blow for the Xiong Nu. But the cost of this victory is steep indeed, with ten thousand men setting out and only three thousand returning. But this is the first time the Han army has used a swift attack formation against the Xiong Nu's typical swift attack, and it was a complete victory for the Hans. It was the first time an agricultural culture has battled a nomadic culture on horseback and emerged victorious. It may not remain the only time, but this was indeed the first such time in history.

I sit in the tent and hear the roaring cheers in the base. With this victory, the Emperor is sure to heavily reward everyone in the army, but right now those who returned alive are just happy to be here. The door opened and Huo Qu Bing was standing before me. He was covered in dirt and dust, his face completely exhausted. But his eyes were twinkling with joy. I smile and stand up "I thought you would go to the celebratory feast first!"