Chapter 700: City Annihilation

The Great King refused food and drink; the Xiongnu envoy returned without success.

The Chanyu could agree to cede land, but would never surrender the royal city—there's nothing to discuss.

The royal city holds extraordinary significance for the Xiongnu, marking their shift from nomadic tribes to a steppe empire. A fixed royal city means centralized power, enabling a political system on par with the Central Plains dynasties.

The Great King wants the royal city; if Punu were to give it up, his faction would become sinners of the steppe, and the Xiongnu would revert to nomadism—truly a return to the days before liberation.

The envoy left, and the Great King's expression turned grim. 'Seal all exits—don't let a single Xiongnu noble escape.'

Yes!

"We've come this far; we must make the entire steppe remember the name of our North Border Xuanjia Cavalry. This royal city is mine!"

"Think of the suffering they've inflicted on the North Border over the past century, think of the various rebel kings in the south, the Western Regions and Western Qiang to the west, wolves surrounding us. Today we'll display the cavalry's long-range prowess, telling the world that the North Border Xuanjia Cavalry is unstoppable!"

"I think this battle needs no more words, soldiers—do you fear gaining too much merit?!"

"Behead!"

"Burn the tents!"

"Good! Convey my order—attack the city!"

The Great King finished speaking, raised his Sun-shooting Bow, and the gate that the envoy had just closed exploded with a huge hole!

The cavalry cheered loudly at the charge's horn, and the Great King laughed heartily.

At that moment he recalled the slave raid north of the city when he was six, and the corpses of the palace guards littering the ground outside West Hua Gate on New Year's Eve.

He told himself, 'It's not that I love killing or love war; today, if I have the power to not destroy the Hu, my descendants will one day be enslaved by the Hu.'

Even his invincible ancestors never imagined that the Great Jin would later be harassed by the Hu of the steppe for a century, or that an emperor would be captured—a disgrace beyond compare.

When Wei Shen stood beside him, he heard the Great King muttering: 'I can't even guarantee that my descendants will always fight…'

"Then this time let's go all out, so they'll remember it for a century!"

"Splendid!" The two brothers exchanged a smile.

Later Bai Li Hu came up with a fitting description for this siege, saying that calling it a siege was inappropriate; it should be called—plowing the courtyard.

The Great King brought out a gunpowder crossbow, which had never been used before; today he prepared to indulge and give the Xiongnu an eyeful. The crossbowmen generously used six bolts—six whole bolts—ah~ the earthen wall of the Xiongnu dynasty's capital boomed and collapsed.

The Owl Cavalry led the charge; the cavalry surged into the city amid a rain of arrows without slowing, and then it was—a flat push.

Anyone who saw the scene first doubted their own eyes—what kind of army is this? Is this a descent of killing gods into the mortal realm?!

Hu Du stood there stunned; no matter how you looked, they had no power to fight back. He shuddered, then, as if waking from a dream, spurred his horse and fled desperately toward the north of the city.

From the sounding of the charge's horn to the cavalry seizing the city walls, less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

The interior fell into chaotic madness; nobles trying to flee found every gate swarming with cavalry in disarray.

Fire, smoke and dust, and wails permeated the entire city.

The western slave camp erupted in flames; the streets were full of escaping slaves, and the Great King could easily tell from one panic-stricken, emaciated face after another that most were Jin people.

He looked around the street, murmuring, 'Perhaps I should have come earlier…'

Wei Shen couldn't bear to see him like this, saying, 'You also need to take action. Your Majesty, how old are you this year?' The one who should reflect is your father!

The Great King's mood instantly cleared: 'Makes sense—I'll go back tonight and write a grudge ledger!'

Wei Shen: ……

Hu Du, together with a dozen-odd Xiongnu nobles, gathered around the Chanyu's Queen, leading a large force as they assaulted the North Gate; beyond the gate lay mountains, and they thought the North Gate was a minor one, possibly assigned the fewest cavalry.

Their reasoning wasn't wrong, but five hundred Xuanjia Cavalry were enough to become an obstacle they couldn't get past.

The North Gate resembled a giant sack—whatever went out was swallowed up.

After a fierce battle, the Queen's carriage overturned; she tumbled from its ornate compartment, her face smeared with blood and mud. She let out a piercing wail, for her son's skull had rolled to her side.

A cavalryman stepped forward and cut the carriage's flag; in the next instant, the banner embroidered with a golden wolf was trampled into the mud……

The Xiongnu royal city changed hands in half a day.