Chapter 255: When a child cries, its parents, terrified of Jia Jing, immediately hush it

On the southern foothills of the Tian Shan, Jia Jing rode the Red Hare, observing the formation of the opposing Hun Xie army.

The Hun Xie Khanate mainly occupies the Western Regions, and the border between Da Han and Hun Xie runs from the Hexi Corridor to the Altai Mountains.

The Tian Shan lies on the inevitable route for Hun Xie's eastward advance into Da Han, serving as a natural barrier for Da Han's northwestern frontier, and its military strategic importance is great.

For Hun Xie to threaten Da Han by moving east, it must seize the Tian Shan passes.

Jia Jing's plan to promote peace through war and intimidate Hun Xie makes taking the Tian Shan an equally good choice.

When Jia Jing led twenty thousand elite Han cavalry straight toward the Tian Shan, the Hun Xie nation, constantly monitoring Da Han's northwestern frontier movements, responded swiftly.

The Hun Xie Khan dispatched his top general Ga Le Da Ma, commanding six ten‑thousand Hun Xie troops, to arrive early at the Tian Shan and set up battle formations.

At dawn today, the two armies deployed on the southern foothills of the Tian Shan, and war was about to erupt.

As time passed, the morning sun rose slowly, its warm light spreading over the land.

Yet the six‑ten‑thousand Hun Xie soldiers felt extreme fear and cold inside.

They stared at the opposing twenty‑thousand Han cavalry, their faces solemn, and deep in their eyes showed an imperceptible dread and terror.

Especially before the Han lines, the Han general riding a crimson warhorse, brandishing a bright silver spear, sparked boundless panic in their hearts.

Even though they outnumbered the enemy and held advantageous terrain, they still felt dread.

Because they knew the opposing Han commander was Jia Jing, the new‑generation Da Han war god who achieved nine victories on the steppe, annihilated the Great Yuan royal court, and swept all foes.

Stories of his valor and legend have circulated for months across the steppe, the northwest, and Hun Xie.

In Liaodong, three battles annihilated 150 000 Manchu Qing troops, erected a capital observatory, beheaded the Manchu Qing crown prince, killed Manchu Qing Batu Lu like a dog, and left no opponent under his spear!

Below Yu Lin Cheng, a lone rider shattered a fifty‑thousand Great Yuan army; his spear flew like a dragon, arrows like lightning, cutting generals and seizing banners, leaving no prisoners.

At Wolf Mountain's golden camp, a night raid of six thousand broke three ten‑thousand, captured Great Yuan Khan Batu Mongke, and destroyed the centuries‑old Great Yuan royal court.

Later, he eradicated seven steppe tribes, killed over a hundred thousand enemies, captured tens of thousands, sealed the Wolf's dwelling, and drank horse‑breath from the vast sea.

Before his Han Iron Cavalry, every enemy met only failure!

Since he entered the battlefield, he has fought dozens of battles, never losing; the souls of nearly five hundred thousand enemy soldiers linger under his command.

What is called a hundred battles, a hundred victories? What is called unstoppable?

The Han general before us is a living example!

Thus countless steppe refugees from Hun Xie describe him as a devil, a demon god, an unmatched being, unlike any mortal.

Even today in Hun Xie, Jia Jing's name has become a tool for Hun Xie people to frighten their own children.

Among the Hun Xie folk, the saying "When a child cries, its parents, terrified of Jing, immediately hush it" has begun to spread.

They use "Jia Jing is coming" to scare a wailing child, and the child stops crying at once.

Clearly, Jia Jing's reputation in Hun Xie has reached an extraordinary level today.

So how could Hun Xie soldiers not panic? How could they not fear?

Jia Jing's name to them is a knife hanging over their heads, a nightmare that keeps every Hun Xie person awake at night.

At this moment, that knife hangs before them, its cold blade pointing at them, ready to reap their lives.

This impending fear of death envelops their whole being, making their hearts feel as if they have fallen into an icy abyss.

They truly are scared!

Under the great wolf‑headed banner of the Hun Xie army.

Hun Xie chief Ga Le Da Ma's complexion is iron‑blue; he is the top general under the Hun Xie camp, having rarely known defeat in half a lifetime of campaigns.

Yet at this moment, his hand gripping his weapon trembles slightly.

On his left and right stand deputy generals Sai Yin Bo Ke and Ba Tu Er Ce.

Both wear solemn expressions, gazing at the bright "Jia" character fluttering on the Han army's great banner opposite, as if seeing a Yama decree.

"Damn it! How can we fight? Our lads can barely hold their weapons, there's no morale at all against the Han!" Sai Yin Bo Ke shouted hoarsely, lacking confidence.

It's not only the soldiers' weapons that slip; only a few commanders remain unafraid.

Jia Jing's fame has been blaring in Hun Xie lately!

Countless fleeing steppe tribes echo the same praise of his invincible bravery!

Compared with the soldiers' limited information and rumors, they understand more clearly the terror of the Han general before them.

Weapons are no match for Jia!

A lone rider shattered a fifty‑thousand Northern Yuan army!

In a single battle he cut down over a thousand foes!

His spear lifted a thousand‑jin supply cart!

These are verified feats gathered after extensive inquiry, with no exaggeration!

How can we fight this?

"It's all that damn Manchu Qing's provocation! It caused our nation to face such a great enemy!"

"Damn it, if I survive this battle, I'll give Manchu Qing a severe lesson!"

Ba Tu Er Ce shouted sternly, clearly turning his fear into anger directed at Manchu Qing.

If it weren't for Manchu Qing's provocation, they'd claim the Da Han Empire is a soft target, a ripe peach to be taken!

How could Hun Xie send troops to invade Da Han's border and invite Da Han's retaliation!

In the end, the soft peach wasn't grasped… instead they hit a solid iron slab!

"Enough, stop talking; saying anything now is useless. We have no retreat!"

Ga Le Da Ma, with a grim face, whispered a command.

His complexion was iron‑blue, his heart burning with anger.

One deputy can't hold his weapon, the other already contemplates his afterlife—unheard of!

They must find a way to boost morale, or the battle need not be fought at all.

"Can't we just accept the Da Han Empire's peace terms? As long as we agree to the peace, the Han Army will withdraw."

"Han people have a saying: as long as the green mountains remain, we need not worry about firewood…"

Batu Er Ce's eyes flashed, and they muttered low.

"How dare you! Do you want the Great Khan to abandon his dignity?"

"If we accept the Da Han Empire's territorial concession terms, losing the southern foothills of the Tianshan, Hami and Turpan would be equivalent to opening the Khanate's eastern gate completely."

"From the Altai Mountains all the way to the Khanate's core Ili River Valley will become flat and unguardable!"

"Not to mention Yerkang and Gashkar are the Khanate's most important sources of wealth, the economic lifeblood of the Khanate."

"Once ceded, the Khanate will lose countless silver, cloth, grain, and its tax revenue will sharply decline. This will be an irreparable pain for the Khanate!"

Ga Le Da Ma's expression hardened, and they shouted sternly.

"Although they are a fierce general, the fact that they can serve as the chief commander of this expedition for Hun Xie clearly shows they possess some political acumen!"

"They know that unless absolutely necessary, the Great Khan cannot possibly agree to such harsh four peace terms from the Da Han Empire."

"If we surrender without fighting, we will not only face territorial loss, reparations, hostages, and mutual trade."

"It will also cause massive loss of popular support at home, cause the noble ministers to become divided, and even make the Great Khan completely lose his dignity and prestige, leading to internal division of Hun Xie."

"Therefore, even if the odds of victory are low, this battle, Hun Xie must fight!"