Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1663: Chapter 1602: Better Off Dead

Chen Xi and Zhou Yu didn’t rush into the Northern Huns Camp. To be honest, if it weren’t for the fact that the Northern Huns had no possibility of surrendering, Chen Xi actually wasn’t very willing to resort to harsh measures. In truth, while Chen Xi believed in ”the only good Hu people are those who are dead,” he also believed in Liu Yu’s philosophy of enlightening all people, transforming the Hu into the citizens.

The first principle naturally refers to those foreign clans like the Northern Huns who have absolutely no hope of surrendering, or whose surrender is less valuable than their death. There’s no way around it; the Great Han Dynasty doesn’t have surplus grain, and Chen Xi isn’t the Holy Mother who would starve himself to sustain others.

As for the second method of education, in Chen Xi’s view, it is more suitable. After all, most foreign clans in this world couldn’t possibly hold out for hundreds of years without surrendering like the Northern Huns. To be honest, being like the Southern Huns isn’t too bad. You see, the Han Empire hasn’t wiped out the Southern Huns, has it?

Aside from those times when the Southern Hun Chanyu needs to bow at the Emperor’s feet with a fawning look of admiration, there’s not much else. Generally speaking, the Han Emperor wouldn’t often make the Chanyu perform the humiliating dances.

After all, a big sturdy man, especially one reeking of mutton while physically imposing, dancing is quite a sight. If it didn’t give the entire Han Empire a sense of conquering the enemy, it would have been abolished long ago. Usually, the Emperor wouldn’t make the Southern Hun Chanyu dance but rather remember and even reward him a bit.

Moreover, some Southern Huns were even given the surname Liu, which clearly indicates that if you truly submit, the Han Empire is quite reliable. At least personal safety and the rest of one’s life are well assured.

Honestly, a Southern Hun Chanyu who was made a king, and the Southern Hun’s Left Virtuous King, actually live pretty well. After all, they are at the Marquis level, and the annual rewards are quite sufficient. As long as they are submissive, everything can be negotiated.

”The Northern Huns are truly stubborn.” Chen Xi remarked wistfully, acknowledging that any race once at its peak has unique attributes, and for the Northern Huns, the rightful heirs of the Huns, it was their obstinacy.

Perhaps stubbornness in an individual is a flaw, but when this attribute expands to an ethnicity, it becomes a virtue instead of a drawback.

”Indeed.” Zhou Yu said while directing Li Yan and Cheng Pu to shoot back the young and strong Northern Huns emerging from the fire.

The Iron Cavalry had already cut off their retreat and seized a vast number of cattle, sheep, and horses. Even without a precise count, the one camp alone held hundreds of thousands of these animals. The blaze had scattered countless livestock, and Chen Xi and Zhou Yu estimated that the camp housed over a million cattle, sheep, and horses.

This is why the camps had to be spaced tens of miles apart; without such separation, not even the finest pastures could sustain so many cattle and horses.

”However, the situation is a bit troublesome, Gongjin. What do you think seeing so many cattle and horses?” Chen Xi mentioned with a slight headache. Witnessing this, Chen Xi somewhat understood the Northern Huns Chanyu’s intentions, finding them quite vexing.

”The Northern Huns have gathered the entire strength of the grasslands; I can’t believe a lone camp holds tens of thousands of horses, hundreds of thousands of strong cattle, and nearly a million lambs.” Zhou Yu chuckled coldly, ”Among three camps, there’s at least hundreds of thousands of spare horses, over half a million cattle, and three million lambs. It’s absurd.”

”It seems we have reached the same conclusion. But I tend to believe that the Northern Huns forcefully enslaved other tribes, thus stockpiling such massive resources.” Chen Xi remarked coldly, ”The entire steppe is probably in ruins now, what a ruthless Chanyu!”

”Not ruthless, more like very good; without us lifting a finger, the Northern Huns have eliminated all latent threats for us. For fifty years there might be no foreign threats on the Northern Frontier.” Zhou Yu was not one to criticize harshness; quite the opposite, he admired their approach.

The Han Empire considers its reputation in quelling Outer Barbarians, whereas the Northern Huns’ method is shameless. Yet, Zhou Yu didn’t care as the dead were from a foreign clan, eliminating national threats, ruthless or not they benefited.

”Ugh...” Chen Xi brushed aside an arrow, observing from a distance as organized Northern Huns Cavalry emerged from the fires, ”I underestimated the Northern Huns. Even in a rear camp, there were substantial troops guarding it, and it even had escorts inside.”

”The numbers are not large, and clearly not organized; I’d say they acted spontaneously. Leave it to me.” Zhou Yu waved his hand, signaling Chen Xi not to worry, then requested Chen Xi’s folding fan, slowly unfolding it, and gesturing with it. Instantly, a fierce wind rose.

The already burning Northern Huns Camp was engulfed by Zhou Yu’s full Spiritual Capacity-driven wind, igniting intense fire backlashes. In all regions, flames roaring several feet high consumed everything, making it impossible for those without the power equivalent to an Inner Qi Manifestation to survive.

Naturally, those Northern Huns who struggled amidst the inferno were forced back by the flames, their subsequent charge futile as they struggled to see through the thick smoke, only to be struck down by the arrows lying in wait.

”You’re using my fan all wrong.” Chen Xi snapped, taking back the fan. Feigning ignorance, Zhou Yu’s spiritual wind aroused flames; using a fan as pretense, it was cruel.

”You’re kind-hearted, but kindness to enemies is misplaced.” Zhou Yu mocked, discerning Chen Xi’s expression under the flickering fire and moonlight.

Before Zhou Yu could continue, Chen Xi interrupted, ”I understand what you’re saying. Besides, even without your input, I would have carried through. Setting the fire succeeded; our losses were far less than if we confronted them directly. They are our enemies, after all.”

”Yes, they are our enemies.” Zhou Yu nodded in agreement.

”However, rest assured, such acts won’t happen in the Central Plains. I would never implicate innocent people or relatives.” Chen Xi raised an eyebrow, ”Moreover, I believe I have the strength to prevent such acts now.”

Narrowing his eyes, Zhou Yu examined Chen Xi, whose figure was illuminated by the fire; Chen Xi clearly saw Zhou Yu’s intent. This statement conveyed more than mere assurance, and Chen Xi trusted Zhou Yu understood him.

As Chen Xi and Zhou Yu applied their spiritual capacities to alter the weather with the intent to raze one of the Northern Huns’ three major military camps to ashes, the Left Virtuous King Kun Wan’s forces arrived at the westernmost Northern Huns camp, encountering the routed Northern Huns troops.