Chapter 67: The Chanyu Slain, the Wusun Flee

Liu Ju rode a tall, swift horse, solemnly escorting Wuyu Chanyu as they marched toward Northern Frontier City.

Behind him, the Han Army marched in mighty, vigorous array, their steps orderly, morale high, displaying the might of Han.

Along the way, the people of Northern Frontier City heard that the Son of Heaven had returned victorious, and they flocked to the streets, stretching their necks in anticipation.

When Liu Ju's figure appeared in view, the crowd erupted with thunderous cheers.

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long long live!"

The people's voices rose together, echoing to the heavens.

Their eyes shone with excitement and reverence as they knelt to greet him.

Recently, the Ministry of Works promptly distributed sufficient food and warming supplies, letting the people feel warmth and care in the bitter winter.

Now, seeing the Son of Heaven personally return victorious, and having escorted back the Xiongnu Chanyu who had repeatedly raided the borders, this joy and gratitude reached its peak.

Liu Ju's gaze was stern, his face bearing a smile, he waved to the people, and the citizens of Northern Frontier City immediately raised their voices again.

After Liu Ju entered Northern Frontier City, he immediately began interrogating Wuyu Chanyu.

In the tightly guarded tent, though bound by ropes, Wuyu Chanyu still tried to assume a haughty posture.

Liu Ju sat upright in the tent, his gaze like a torch, staring directly into Wuyu Chanyu's eyes: "Wuyu, you have repeatedly invaded Han's borders, causing countless people to suffer; now captured, what do you have to say?"

Wuyu Chanyu snorted coldly, calculating in his mind that the Xiongnu still had forces beyond the frontier, perhaps a chance remained.

He suddenly changed his expression, putting on a fawning look, and fell to his knees with a thud: "Son of Heaven of Han, your fame spreads far, filling me with awe. I have committed a great error this time, filled with regret. Now I wish to acknowledge you as my father, henceforth loyal to Han, and hope you will pardon my sins."

While speaking, he secretly observed Liu Ju's expression, hoping to use this as a delaying tactic and also to seek a way to survive.

Liu Ju heard this, frowned slightly, after a long pause snorted coldly: "I have not yet married, and have no heir."

"You dare?" Zhang Tang shouted angrily.

Just then, a sudden rush of footsteps came from outside the tent.

A guard hurried in, knelt on one knee, and reported loudly: "Your Majesty, great news! Prince Xuanwei smashed the Xiongnu royal city, again sealed the Wolf's Rest, and the Xiongnu main force has been heavily damaged!"

Upon hearing this, the tent instantly erupted in an uproar.

The guard added: "Prince Xuanwei captured two hundred thousand Xiongnu slaves, three hundred thousand head of cattle, sheep, and horses, and is now marching triumphantly toward Proclaim Might City."

"Good!"

Liu Ju's face lit up with wild joy; he never expected that Huo Qubing, missing for so long, would bring such a great surprise.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Celebrations, Your Majesty! Long live, long long live!"

The others followed suit, dropping to their knees.

But Wuyu Chanyu, as if struck by lightning, turned deathly pale instantly, the faint hope in his eyes utterly extinguished, he collapsed to the ground, his heart like dead ash.

Liu Ju gazed at the desperate Wuyu Chanyu, feeling no pity, and coldly said: "Wuyu, your crimes are monstrous; today is your day of death."

"Son of Heaven, spare my life!"

Wuyu Chanyu uttered his final cry.

Liu Ju saw no need to heed him, immediately ordered Wuyu Chanyu executed, and had his head hung on the gate of Northern Frontier City to intimidate the Wusun.

Immediately afterward, Liu Ju summoned the generals, his gaze fixed on Zhao Chongguo and Li Gan: "Now the Xiongnu have suffered a heavy blow, and the Wusun are nothing to fear. I command you two to lead the elite Feathered Forest Guards in a surprise attack on the Wusun. You must destroy them in one stroke, so they know the dignity of Han cannot be violated!".

Zhao Chongguo and Li Gan knelt on one knee, responding in unison: "We will surely exert our utmost and not fail Your Majesty's great trust!".

Meanwhile, the hundred-thousand-strong army within Northern Frontier City also stood ready in strict formation.

The next day, on the high, thick walls of Northern Frontier City, Wuyu Chanyu's head was hung high.

The bitter wind howled past, tossing his beard and hair wildly; his once stern visage now twisted, eyes wide open, as if dying in unrest.

His tightly shut lips seemed still to hold the unspoken resentment.

In the Wusun King's tent, the atmosphere was heavy as the stillness before a storm.

A messenger burst in panic, fell to his knees with a thud, and reported tremblingly: "Your Majesty, grave news! Prince Xuanwei smashed the Xiongnu's lair, the Xiongnu main force has been heavily damaged; now the Xiongnu can barely care for themselves, and may be unable to aid our Wusun.".

The Wusun King had been seated properly at the head of the tent, his wine cup suspended mid‑air; hearing this, his hand shook violently, spilling the fine wine.

He widened his eyes, his face full of shock and disbelief, saying: "How…… how could this be? The Xiongnu are so mighty, how could……"

Before he could finish, he rose from his seat and paced back and forth, his expression flustered.

The ministers beside him also stared at one another, their faces ashen as paper.

Some ministers could not help muttering curses under their breath; others sat frozen, not knowing what to do.

The tent was filled with a sense of despair.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" an elder minister asked anxiously.

The Wusun King Lie Jiaomi halted his steps, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but he quickly forced composure: "What's there to panic about? My Wusun still has a great army; we can surely contend with the Han Army.".

Yet his trembling voice betrayed his inner fear.

At that moment, another soldier came to report: "Your Majesty, the Han Army has sent Zhao Chongguo and Li Gan leading elite troops toward our Wusun, I fear……".

At the same time, another soldier reported: "Your Majesty, the Han Army has marched out of Northern Frontier City and is advancing toward us."

Lie Jiaomi's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

He gazed at the banner fluttering outside the tent, as if seeing the Han Army surge forward like a tide.

"Withdraw, withdraw, withdraw! Return to Wusun, withdraw quickly!".

At Lie Jiaomi's command, the formerly mighty Wusun army instantly scattered like birds and beasts, and in the blink of an eye collapsed into disarray.

When Liu Ju led the great army to the Wusun's encampment, seeing the scattered tents and abandoned supplies before him, everyone was stunned.

The previously promised two‑hundred‑thousand‑strong army, boasting they would crush Han, had just fled like that?

Liu Ju picked up a wine cup fallen on the ground; the grape wine inside still retained warmth.

"Is that all?"

He turned to look at the equally astonished Zhang Tang and others, shook his head slightly, and muttered, "They're nothing but a rabble."

"Your Majesty, should we pursue?"

At this point, Zhao Chongguo, who had not yet become excited about killing, stepped forward and asked.

Zhang Tang and the others also looked at the Son of Heaven with anticipation; having been pressed and beaten by the King of Wusun for several days, everyone's hearts were filled with anger, and they naturally wanted to kill to their heart's content.

Liu Ju discarded the wine cup left behind by the hunt's arrogance and indulgence, leapt onto his horse, and said: "One should pursue the fleeing enemy with remaining vigor; one must not seek fame by imitating the Hegemon King—charge!"

At his command, the great army set out again, rushing toward the direction in which the Wusun people had fled.