Chapter 68: Huo Qubing's Triumphant Return

Lie Jiaomi led the Wusun's defeated remnants, fleeing in panic all the way like a bereaved dog.

The bitter cold wind of the Western Regions was like a sharp blade, cutting across their faces full of dust and fatigue.

The soldiers were hunched, their steps staggering, their armor shattered, their weapons also incomplete.

Some had wounds not yet healed, blood seeping through their coarse cloth clothing, forming dark red ice chips in the bitter cold.

"Your Majesty, how long must we keep fleeing?"

A young Wusun soldier's voice trembled as he shouted with a sob: "The Han Army is like a ghost, impossible to shake off!".

Lie Jiaomi sat on his horse, his body swaying as if about to fall, his eyes full of exhaustion and despair.

"Where are we?" Lie Jiaomi asked listlessly.

At this moment his heart held both regret for his rash decision to raise troops and anger at the Xiongnu's lack of spirit, but above all was fear and hatred toward Liu Ju and the Great Han.

A Xiongnu warrior said: "Judging by the surroundings, we should be inside Loulan territory."

"Enter the city and let the Loulan King come out to see me!"

The warrior said cautiously: "Your Majesty, even Loulan cannot withstand the Han Emperor's great army; we had better speed up our march, return to Wusun, and then we need not fear the Han Army.".

Lie Jiaomi forced out the last vestige of dignity and shouted: "Silence! I have my own plan."

But in fact he felt utterly lost, not knowing where safety lay; going to Loulan was merely a makeshift measure.

"Your Majesty, ahead are the Xiongnu remnants."

At this moment another Wusun warrior came to report, and Lie Jiaomi's spirits lifted: although the Wusun Chanyu had been killed by Liu Ju, the Xiongnu were still rich in resources; if they truly joined forces with the enemy remnants and added the Loulan people, they would not lack a chance to turn the tables.

"Take me to see them!"

The Wusun King's entire demeanor changed, and he regained confidence.

But when he saw the Xiongnu remnants led by the new Er Chanyu, what he saw were emaciated warhorses and listless Xiongnu cavalry.

At this time the Er Chanyu also gazed upon his ragged retinue, his heart full of resentment and anger.

The Xiongnu iron cavalry that once swept the steppes had now fallen to such a state.

But when he saw the Xiongnu King Lie Jiaomi approaching, his whole spirit was revived.

Upon meeting, the two called each other brothers, clasped hands, and wore smiles of relief.

"Er Chanyu! I never expected to meet you here!"

The Er Chanyu also laughed: "Lie Jiaomi, we have both been ruined by the Han Army!"

"Our Wusun warriors need only one day's rest, and we can still fight, to regain Wusun's glory!"

Lie Jiaomi said solemnly.

The Er Chanyu also proclaimed loudly: "Our Xiongnu iron cavalry, though temporarily set back, will not sink into oblivion."

"This time we will avenge our past shame and make the Han Army pay a heavy price!"

Lie Jiaomi said through gritted teeth.

The Er Chanyu also echoed: "Then let us avenge our past shame."

At this moment the Wusun soldiers straightened their backs, gripped their weapons tightly, and shouted loudly: "Fight for Wusun!"

"The Xiongnu will prevail!"

The Xiongnu cavalry also brandished their long swords, letting out earth‑shaking roars.

Not far off, the gates of Loulan City stood open; the Loulan King, knowing he could not resist, personally led his officials to greet the Wusun King and the Xiongnu Chanyu.

The three parties, upon meeting, quickly formed a strategic alliance to jointly resist the Han Army.

Lie Jiaomi, the Er Chanyu, and the Loulan King stood on the battered watchtower of Loulan City, gazing at the city before them that urgently needed order; whether the Loulan King was willing or not, he could now only join hands with the Wusun and Xiongnu to resist the Han Army.

"From today onward we are in the same boat; only by united effort can we withstand the Han Army."

Lie Jiaomi spoke with firm gaze, his voice echoing in the wind.

The Er Chanyu and the Loulan King nodded in turn, their eyes showing resolve.

Thus, a tense yet orderly defensive construction campaign got underway.

The soldiers of Wusun, Xiongnu, and Loulan quickly threw themselves into the defensive work.

Meanwhile, on the dust‑filled Great Desert Ancient Road, Huo Qubing, who had just conducted a northern expedition against the King of the Hun, rode his sturdy warhorse, his spirited bearing leading the contingent forward at a steady pace.

At this moment the Han Army's soldiers were all proud‑looking, their military bearing neat and orderly.

In the column, the Xiongnu prisoners hung their heads in dejection, bound together by ropes; behind them, herds of cattle and sheep kicked up dust, their lowing and bleating echoing across the open plain.

Not far off, Liu Ju had already led the Han Army soldiers outside Loulan City, waiting eagerly.

When Huo Qubing's figure appeared in the horizon, Liu Ju's face broke into a relieved smile, and he strode forward to meet him.

Huo Qubing dismounted, knelt on one knee, and proclaimed loudly: "Your Majesty, I have not failed my mission; I have captured Xiongnu prisoners and cattle and sheep, and now return to report!"

Liu Ju personally helped Huo Qubing to his feet, his eyes full of praise: "Marquis of Valiant, your exploits this time are splendid; you are indeed the war god of my Great Han!"

Liu Ju turned to face the entire army and announced loudly: "Marquis of Valiant Huo Qubing penetrated enemy territory, repeatedly achieved extraordinary feats, and brought glory to my Great Han. Today I shall specially confer rewards to honor General Huo and all officers for their bravery!"

Having spoken, he ordered that the prepared rewards be distributed one by one.

The soldiers cheered and leapt, morale soaring, their shouts piercing the clouds.

After the awards, Liu Ju immediately summoned all the generals to the hastily erected tent to discuss tactics for defeating the enemy.

The map was spread on the table; Liu Ju pointed at Loulan City, his expression grave, and said: "Now Wusun, Xiongnu, and Loulan have joined forces, daring to make a last stand. But my Great Han soldiers are brave and fearless; we will surely crush them in one fell swoop!"

Huo Qubing's eyes blazed as he pointed to the defensive points of Loulan City on the map and said: "Your Majesty, Loulan City does have fortifications, but they are not impregnable. Its walls, though hastily repaired, have unstable foundations; moreover, the city's stores of grain and fodder are limited, so a prolonged siege will throw the enemy into disorder."

The other generals also offered their suggestions.

Liu Ju quickly devised a siege strategy and began to deploy it in an orderly manner.

At this moment Zhang Tang stepped forward confidently and said: "Your Majesty, I have already placed spies deep around Loulan City to closely monitor the enemy's movements."

Wei Xiang stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, in logistics we have also made ample preparations; grain and fodder flow continuously from the rear, now piled up like mountains. The military doctors have readied various medicines and instruments, ready to respond to any casualties that may arise."

Liu Ju kept nodding; as night deepened, the tent lights blazed, and he proclaimed loudly: "In this campaign we must exert our utmost strength and take Loulan City in one stroke, so that those who dare to oppose my Great Han will know that its majesty cannot be violated!"

Liu Ju's voice was firm and strong, like a great bell echoing in the tent.

The commanders all shouted in unison: "We will obey the Emperor's order, and swear to die defeating the enemy!"

This shout filled with determination lingered long in the quiet night sky.