Chapter 695: The Royal City Without Experience

Before this, who would tell Punu that the Great King dares to lead ten thousand cavalry deep into Xiongnu territory all the way to the Royal City? He would surely shout—Absurd!

Now it's fine; they've been led all the way to the gate of the Royal City, sparing them the trouble of getting lost. Now they're in a dilemma: if they retreat to defend the city, they fear they can't hold it and would invite disaster; if they don't enter the Royal City, they fear they might still be found.

By then, they would still lose these escaped forces, letting the Royal City be taken without effort.

The Xiongnu were under enormous pressure, but the Great King was the opposite—he didn't bother with other fleeing tribes, just picking on the tough ones and enjoying it.

"Even if the Xiongnu are poor, the royal family and nobles have surely amassed considerable treasure over these years? At the very least, they've taken plenty from Father Emperor's hands—I must reimburse the expenses of this campaign. Let the Xiongnu also taste the flavor of troops at the Royal City's gates and the Chanyu dying in battle. This time, I will take Punu's life!"

"Blood debt, blood repayment!"

"Storm the Royal City!"

The whole army's morale was high, fighting spirit surging.

Baili Hu was more thoughtful than the Great King, his mind racing as he gazed at the endless grassland stretching as far as the eye could see. He raised a practical question: "We've followed the deserters deep in; coming was easy… but going back? Without a reliable guide, isn't that still rather dangerous? The stretch we've just run is all grass, not even a small hill. Have we forgotten to make markers?" Without any reference point, getting lost on the return would be quite a hassle.

Ever since leaving the borders, veteran soldiers had reminded them to make markers, but the Great King had a Killer's Mace, so he had no need for them.

That guy shouted at Xiao Jin: "Xiao Jin, don't you miss home's roasted lamb? Lambs raised on black alfalfa, when roasted, sizzle and drip oil, fragrant—……"

The Xiao Jin that had been wandering around him, upon hearing this, immediately turned its head toward the southeast, drool almost spilling out. It bit onto the Great King's saddlebag and tugged toward the direction of Youzhou—quick! Let's go home and eat lamb!

The Great King laughed loudly, "Just now, who did you say would get lost?"

Baili Hu: ……

A rice bucket can locate things—this Baili Hu never imagined.

The Great King only needs a tracking skill to effortlessly bring ten thousand elite cavalry to the Xiongnu homeland. The Senior Intelligence Group would still have to take a detour to find it, but on his first visit, Punu handed him the victory.

Punu's ambition wouldn't let him just escape like that; he still returned to the Royal City, but before the Great King could surround it, the city had already been shaken by this shocking news.

The Grand Chanyu allied with the Xianbei to form a 200,000-strong coalition marching south—zero spoils, not to mention that less than half of the troops made it back? If you're shocked now, you're obviously late. Even more shocking, the northern border cavalry have chased them to their doorstep, and they're currently right outside the Royal City!

Punu has just taken power; to say the Xiongnu are an impregnable iron bucket is unrealistic, but right now the nobles have no time to mock Punu—better to save their own skins first.

The Royal City quickly organized its defenses, but everything was chaotic—after all, the Xiongnu are not skilled at defending cities.

What they know is siege warfare, and now the tides have turned.

Before Punu went out on campaign, the troops left to guard the Royal City were in the hands of the Left Worthy King, namely his eldest son Hudu. After hearing a barrage of mockery and sarcasm for a while, Hudu retorted verbally, but he was still unwilling inside.

He had never been to the Central Plains, nor seen the majestic passes of Shuofang and Shanggu, and thus couldn't believe the Jin cavalry could be this strong. By now he didn't have time to ponder why his father's campaign had failed so badly, but when he rushed onto the city wall and looked south… he seemed to understand a bit.

On the southern horizon rose a billowing cloud of dust; beneath it, black dots clustered like ants, gradually enlarging and clarifying into a breath‑taking sight.

Ten thousand horses galloped, their hooves rumbling into a deafening roar, dust shooting up to blot out the sun.

Black-armored horses, spears glinting in the sun, heaven and earth seemed to dip and rise.

A black cloud swept in swiftly from the horizon, without horse whinnies or horn blasts—heavy and suffocating, as if pressing on his chest.

Turning his head, he saw clansmen rushing home at the gate, yet the gate remained wide open, making his chest feel even more constricted.

"Close the gate! Useless things!"

The Great King watched amused in the ranks, "Look how Father Emperor indulged the Xiongnu—all these years we only watched them invade others; now it's our turn to lack experience, huh~"

Baili Hu grabbed Zhang Sheng's unsmiling face: "You still seem rather happy?"

The Great King raised his head, puffed out his chest, full of vigor: "I'm just making the old man proud—when the son excels, the father's face shines."

Baili Hu: ……

Yellow Spring Realm

The Ningde Emperor underground felt no light; under everyone's gaze, his son teased him, losing face terribly—he slammed the table and shouted, "Unfilial wretch!"

The towering Jin Gaozu rose and kicked him far away, shouting, "Who are you calling unfilial?!"

Ningde: ……