Chapter 515: Fierce Reputation, Baima Qiang Envoys! [3]

October.

West of Longxi Commandery, Jianwei City.

Jianwei City, as the name suggests, is for establishing prestige.

In the fifth year of the Yongyuan era of Emperor He of Han (93 AD), the Protector of the Qiang, Guan You, defeated the Qiang chieftain Mitang, who lived in the Greater and Lesser Yu Valleys. Later, Emperor He ordered the Protector of the Qiang, Hou Ba, and the Jincheng Chief Clerk, Shangguan Hong, to establish twenty-seven military agricultural colonies here to station troops and defend against the Western Qiang's border disturbances.

But as the Emperor Huan era began, the Han Dynasty's deterrence in Xiliang and the Western Regions grew weaker, and this place was gradually abandoned.

Thus, it became an important area for Qiang activities.

The County Magistrate Qiang and several smaller Qiang tribes were all active here.

At this time, several huge *jingguan* had been piled up outside Jianwei City.

Since leaving Mucheng Valley last time, Duan Yu had ordered that any Qiang tribe in the vicinity of Jincheng Commandery would not be spared.

Since that unknown person wanted to splash dirty water on him, fine, he would simply kill them all to the end.

Subsequently, he, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao split their forces into three groups.

They began to strike all the Qiang tribes west of Yunwu County.

Time flew by, and half a month passed.

The day before, the three of them converged their forces at the Greater and Lesser Yu Valleys, slaughtered the County Magistrate Qiang tribe regardless of gender or age, brought their heads to outside Jianwei City, and piled them into three *jingguan* of ten thousand heads each.

In this half month, more than a dozen Qiang tribes, large and small, had almost all been wiped out by Duan Yu.

The number of heads cut off alone exceeded fifty thousand.

If one added the battle at Yunwu, there were already eighty thousand heads rolling in Jincheng Commandery at this time.

This was already four times the Han population of Jincheng Commandery.

Pushing further east, the army would cross Jincheng Commandery and reach the territory of Longxi Commandery.

The seven thousand cavalry who had been killing for half a month were now stationed in the abandoned Jianwei City.

Countless campfires were lit in the city.

After entering October, the weather became increasingly chilly.

At this time, Duan Yu, along with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao—who had clearly lost weight but were much more spirited—sat by a campfire.

A lamb, roasted to a golden brown and sizzling with oil, was set over the campfire.

In front of the three of them were their respective wine flasks.

"We will rest in Jianwei City for one day today, and tomorrow we will set off toward Longxi Commandery, then pass through Xiangwu County and return to Jixian."

"I estimate that in another five to eight days, we will be able to return."

Duan Yu used a wooden stick to poke the campfire in front of him and said, "You two have been out for a long time, too; you should return to Luoyang before the New Year."

Yuan Shao unscrewed the wooden stopper of his wine skin, took a gulp, and then wiped his lips heroically, saying, "I'm in no rush to return to Luoyang."

"I used to think Liangzhou was a wasteland, but after fighting here with Ziyi for these two months, I finally know what it means to have a good time!"

"A real man should live like this," Yuan Shao sighed.

Cao Cao, sitting to the side, nodded in agreement: "My greatest wish in this life is to be like Ban Ding Yuan, to spread our prestige in the Western Regions. Now, thanks to Ziyi, the greatest wish of my life has finally been half-fulfilled."

Duan Yu smiled.

This campaign had been in preparation since July.

Three months had passed by now.

Everything that needed to be fought had been fought.

What remained was the cleanup for the coming spring.

The autumn harvest was almost over, grain from Bingzhou still needed to be transported over, and there were many things waiting to be handled at home.

Moreover, as the weather grew colder, the subsequent battles would not be easy to fight.

The surrounding Qiang tribes that needed to migrate had already migrated.

Going to great lengths to find them now would be counterproductive.

The prestige that needed to be established had already been established.

Some things are better in moderation.

If one goes too far, it will be counterproductive.

So his plan was to return to Jixian first.

The army also needed to rest and reorganize.

The three of them used small knives to slice meat from the roasted lamb while drinking wine, chatting, and warming themselves by the fire.

Time quickly arrived at dusk.

Just as Duan Yu felt they had drunk enough,

Tie Shitou suddenly came to report.

"General, the scouts just captured a few Qiang scouts outside the city. Those men say they are from the Baima Qiang and want to see the General."

Duan Yu turned his head to look.

The Baima Qiang of Longxi Commandery?

Among the Western Qiang, the three most powerful tribes were the Shaodang Qiang, the County Magistrate Qiang, and the Baima Qiang.

Now, the Shaodang Qiang and the County Magistrate Qiang were basically wiped off the map.

Even if they weren't, there was basically no possibility of them recovering in the future.

The only one left was the Baima Qiang, who had been active in Longxi Commandery all year round.

"Bring them here," Duan Yu said.

Tie Shitou nodded, then waved his hand toward the distance.

Before long, a dozen cavalrymen from the Personal Guard camp escorted three Qiang soldiers to Duan Yu.

The firelight illuminated their faces, and one could clearly see their terrified and panicked expressions.

Their legs were trembling; if not for the support of the Personal Guard cavalry, they would probably be kneeling on the ground by now.

"You can understand Chinese, right?" Duan Yu looked up at the three.

The three nodded hurriedly.

"Speak, who sent you to find me, and what is the matter?" Duan Yu said.

The three seemed afraid to look up at Duan Yu.

After swallowing a mouthful of saliva, they lowered their heads and said: "It's… it's our Old King."

"He said he wants to have a talk with you, the respected Grand General."

"He hopes you can show mercy and not… not continue this slaughter."

"Oh?"

Duan Yu raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes: "Your Old King?"

"Bai Long?"

The several Qiang soldiers nodded repeatedly.

"Heh." Duan Yu sneered and said: "He says he doesn't want me to kill, so I won't kill?"

"Wouldn't that make me lose face?"

"Also, who does he think he is?"

"Shitou, drag these three out and behead them. Throw their heads directly onto the *jingguan* to make up the numbers."

Hearing the indifference in Duan Yu's calm tone,

the three Qiang soldiers were so scared that they knelt on the ground the next second.

"Grand General, spare our lives…" ===== CHAPTER 517 =====