I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 63 - 24: The Northern Xiongnu’s Westward Flight, A Single Battle Decides the Western Regions

Chapter 63: Chapter 24: The Northern Xiongnu’s Westward Flight, A Single Battle Decides the Western Regions
"This time, it’s even more dangerous for our army."
"I order you to lead the brothers, cut down the two kings of Cheshi, slaughter all those within Cheshi’s territory who oppose our Great Han, and completely control Cheshi to prepare provisions for our army!"
"Tell the entire Western Regions... those who are not loyal to our Great Han will pay the price!"
Gu Cheng did not hide his murderous intent in the slightest.
"Yes!" The soldiers took the order and left.
Geng Bing swallowed silently.
The feeling Gu Cheng gave him now was completely different from when they were in Luoyang, and it brought him immense pressure.
But looking at Gu Cheng’s current state, he couldn’t help but speak: "General, why don’t you rest and let me pursue?"
"No need!"
Gu Cheng waved his hand directly.
It wasn’t because he wanted the credit, but because he realized the rarity of this opportunity.
He didn’t trust anyone else to handle it!
Geng Bing, still helpless, could only bow and assent.
The three armies prepared!
During this time, Gu Cheng had not rested, and by relying on the scout s, he stood before the map, frowning, seemingly contemplating various possibilities.
Finally, when Geng Bing came again.
Gu Cheng had already devised a plan.
He divided the entire army into three routes.
The first route:
— The pursuing army.
This army must doggedly chase the Northern Xiongnu, leaving them with no time to attend to other matters.
The second route is the reserve force.
This pursuit is different from previous ones, as the Northern Xiongnu’s army is not merely remnants; their morale is weakened but not broken.
We must ensure that the Han soldiers maintain a certain level of combat effectiveness.
The third route is the intercepting force led by Gu Cheng himself.
This route is the most crucial.
It is to preemptively predict the Northern Xiongnu’s path, serving as an ambush and interception force.
In fact, this army, of course, should primarily be composed of the troops that have always followed Gu Cheng.
But this time, Gu Cheng did not intend to take them.
The army is weary, and these people must be allowed to rest properly; at the same time, securing Cheshi thoroughly is also key, ensuring no problems arise in the rear is vital for these plans.
He didn’t even plan to bring the few generals who had always followed him.
But this time, these generals would not agree.
"General, I wasted an opportunity before, and now, though tired, if even you lead the army to fight the enemy, why not us?"
This was Dou Gu speaking.
Nowadays, he holds sincere admiration for Gu Cheng, both in willpower or ability; he’s felt the gap between himself and Gu Cheng.
"Indeed! How can we let the general go alone at this time? A real man should face death if need be, what is there to fear?"
Geng Gong also spoke up.
"Exactly! We are willing to go with the general to kill the enemy, willing to die rather than retreat!!"
The shouts resounded in the camp.
Geng Bing looked at Geng Gong in surprise.
What was happening?
Wasn’t this younger cousin of his always proud and haughty? How did he become like this now?
Having not experienced the siege, he naturally couldn’t understand these generals’ feelings towards Gu Cheng.
To them, Gu Cheng had completely conquered them.
"Good!"
Looking at everyone in front of him, Gu Cheng took a deep breath, his eyes growing sharper, "In that case, let’s go together."
"If we win this battle, we shall establish eternal achievements!"
"If we lose;"
"We shall return wrapped in horsehide together!"
The three armies resounded with thunderous approval!
Gu Cheng promptly settled everything.
Then immediately rallied the troops and pursued directly!
...
The only direction for the Northern Xiongnu to retreat was Qiuci.
The Qiuci Kingdom is a key point on the Silk Road, and whoever controls it essentially controls the initiative on the Silk Road.
Currently, Qiuci has long been controlled by the Northern Xiongnu.
And through Qiuci, they radiate in all directions, including the Shule Kingdom where Ban Chao currently is.
Before Ban Chao went to the Shule Kingdom.
The king of Shule, Wang Douti, was a Qiuci arranged by the Northern Xiongnu.
Gu Cheng had profound mastery in maneuver and flanking tactics.
He planned to advance west along the Peacock River valley, crossing the edge of the Kuche Oasis, directly threatening Qiuci City.
The intention was to completely trap the entire Xiongnu army at the edge of the Qiuci Kingdom.
The risk in doing so was indeed very high.
After all, there was also the presence of the Northern Xiongnu within the Qiuci Kingdom.
But Gu Cheng had his own judgment in doing this.
——Ban Chao was still in the Shule Kingdom!
The Shule Kingdom had definitely not been lost.
Otherwise, the Northern Xiongnu would have already pressed their army to the borders, and they couldn’t have held it!
This was Gu Cheng’s judgment of the overall situation!
Now, as the Northern Xiongnu retreated, pressing directly towards Qiuci, the Northern Xiongnu army besieging Shule would certainly retreat as well.
As long as Ban Chao could seize this opportunity.
Once he moved his troops, the Qiuci Kingdom would have no time to react!
This was the best opportunity!
As for whether Ban Chao would counterattack?
As brothers, how could they not understand each other?
Things turned out exactly as Gu Cheng had judged.
Ban Chao was not lacking in military capability, and upon sensing the Northern Xiongnu army’s intention to retreat, he immediately guessed that the situation had changed.
He prepared to counterattack on the spot!
The drawbacks of the Northern Xiongnu’s two-front war were fully exposed at this moment.
Ban Chao was no longer just thirty-six horsemen.
He commanded the troops of both the Shule Kingdom and the Yutian Kingdom.
Although these two countries’ forces were naturally insignificant compared to a great nation like the Great Han.
But don’t forget, this was in the Western Regions!
Ban Chao marched relentlessly, directly entangling the Northern Xiongnu army preparing to retreat to Qiuci.
And precisely because of this.
The entire Qiuci Kingdom was in chaos.
Gu Cheng seized this opportunity to truly block the retreating Northern Xiongnu army.
Attacking from both the front and back!
Another fierce battle unfolded.
The Northern Xiongnu army was completely thrown into disarray, and the changes completely exceeded their expectations.
They never thought the Han Army would disregard exhaustion to take the risk of pursuing.
Nor did they imagine why the generals on both fronts made the same judgment at the same time without prior communication!
When the army’s morale began to waver, the outcome of this battle was already determined!
After leaving behind over three thousand men.
King Zuo Luli had no choice but to turn northwest, fleeing again towards Gumo Country.
But how could Gu Cheng leave such an opening?
The moment the Northern Xiongnu army was intercepted by him, the outcome of this battle was already decided.
He pursued relentlessly, quickly chasing them down.
At the same time, the large army led by Geng Bing did not pause either.
Both armies advanced together on Gumo.
And when Gu Cheng triumphed, Ban Chao had no obstacles left; he quickly breached the eastern border of Qiuci, and simultaneously advanced to attack Gumo again.
All three armies moved together!
King Zuo Luli abandoned the city and fled at night.
Gu Cheng personally led a large army to pursue, killing over ten thousand enemies, and capturing countless spoils.
The Northern Xiongnu were utterly defeated in the Western Regions.
Chanyu Bono was greatly alarmed, deciding to flee westward.
In one battle, the Western Regions were secured!
—————————
In the eighth month of the first year of Jianchu, Protector of the Western Regions, Sheng, defended Yanqi, and the invaders could not capture it.
By chance, son-in-law Captain Geng Bing led twenty thousand elite troops on a swift march by night to Yanqi. Sheng then opened the city to join forces with Bing, attacking from both ends, greatly defeating the Cheshi army, causing the enemy to scatter, abandoning their armor and fleeing to Qiuci.
Sheng then took command of all the armies, advancing on three fronts:
Appointing son-in-law Captain Geng Bing for the central force, leading over ten thousand infantry and cavalry to assault through the Southern Desert;
Personally leading five thousand light cavalry, secretly traveling through the Gobi, outflanking the northern pass of Qiuci;
At that time, Military Sima Ban Chao, being in the Shule Kingdom, gathered over ten thousand troops from Yutian and Shule to launch a surprise attack on Qiuci’s flank east of the Kunlun Mountains, shaking Qiuci.
Sheng personally charged through the enemy lines, killing six notable kings under the command of King Zuo Luli, causing the enemy to disperse, leaving over three thousand corpses, with remaining troops fleeing in panic to Gumo.
By then, Chao had already overrun Qiuci’s eastern border, cutting off their provisions and reinforcements, then advancing to attack Gumo,
Sheng climbed high and swore to the troops: "Just as Chen Tang beheaded Zhizhi, we must emulate him now!"
Then he used battering rams to destroy the walls, unleashing a flurry of ballistae. The Xiongnu, exhausted, abandoned the city and fled at night, and the Han Army pursued, killing over ten thousand, capturing a hundred thousand cattle and sheep, the blood staining the drifting sands, and the sound of the Hu flute ceased.
The Northern Chanyu, trembling with fear, migrated the entire clan westward, daring not to gaze towards the Han border again.
From the Puli Sea to the Kunlun Mountains, merchants traveled without fear, the camel bells echoing melodiously.
Emperor Zhang, upon hearing the news of victory, issued an edict: "Sheng has thundered forth, displaying the majestic power of the Han over ten thousand miles." He commanded that a stone be inscribed at Chigu City, reading: "In Jianchu, rebels were vanquished, the three armies united as one, the dust of the Hu eternally pacified, the mountains and rivers remain unscathed." Over fifty countries in the Western Regions sent their children to the court, offering tribute of camels, horses, and treasures, bowing in respect, stating, "The Heavenly Han will not abandon us."
——"Later Han Book. Biography of Gu Sheng"