The night sky was a tapestry of stars, stretching endlessly over the boundless grasslands. Holding one's breath and gazing upward, the scene was as serene and beautiful as the ancient verses told by village elders in childhood. It was impossible to imagine that this very place had just witnessed a fierce battle—a bloody conflict that had raged from dawn till the moon reached its zenith.
Lao Yu pulled his thoughts back to the present. Before him lay an endless expanse of corpses, with faint cries of agony and the whinnies of warhorses lingering in the air. Broken banners swayed slightly amidst the smoke rising from the burning remains. Silent, exhausted soldiers moved methodically among the dead—some searching for fallen comrades, others ensuring no enemy chieftains feigned death among the slain.
The air was thick with the metallic stench of blood and the acrid odor of burning flesh, both human and animal. Yet the night breeze drifted slowly across the plains, gradually diluting the heavy aura of violence left by the battle.
Lao Yu knew that no matter how many lives were lost or how many tears were shed, the sun would still rise and set, the wind would still whisper through the night, and the next day would come as it always did—just as it had when news arrived of his last elder brother’s death. His mother had wept until she went blind, yet the following day dawned bright and auspicious, perfect for weddings and breaking ground.
Straightening his shoulders, Lao Yu continued forward, carrying two buckets of hot water. Behind him followed two grooms, each hauling large buckets of steaming water. The three of them entered the largest golden-topped tent in the camp. Inside, armored generals stood or sat, some deep in thought, others laughing boisterously as they pointed at a massive sand table spread across the ground. Nearby, elderly local scholars muttered incessantly about something or other. At the center of it all stood a tall, fair-skinned, strikingly handsome young commander.
One of the officers, refined in appearance, turned and spotted Lao Yu. He grinned. "Lao Yu’s finally here! Let’s freshen up—this stench is unbearable!"
Zhang Shan smirked. "Our little Lady Li is so particular..."
Li Si snapped, "Who was the beast that dumped three bottles of perfume on himself last time? Next time you steal my new clothes, I’ll have you gelded!"
The generals burst into laughter.
Lao Yu and the two grooms poured the hot water into basins in the corner of the tent, mixing it with cold water. While Lao Yu attended to Huo Bu Yi’s washing, the other attendants helped the bloodstained commanders clean up.
As he removed the armor and loosened the blood-caked hair, Lao Yu watched the water grow murky. His gaze then fell on the handsome young man’s battle-scarred hands. Softly, he murmured, "If the Marquis knew how little you care for yourself, he’d be heartbroken."
Huo Bu Yi replied, "On the battlefield, blades and arrows have no eyes. Uncle Cui understands."
Lao Yu sighed but said nothing more. In his mind, someone as noble and precious as Huo Bu Yi belonged in the bustling Capital City, surrounded by perfumed carriages, beautiful women, and fine steeds—a graceful young lord, not here on this desolate frontier, risking his life in battle.
A middle-aged general spoke up. "Lord Huo charged too recklessly today. I couldn’t even stop him—he nearly got tangled up with the vanguard. Especially at noon, when we flanked Ganxie Chanyu’s central tent, I turned around and couldn’t find him. Nearly scared me to death! Zhang Shan, you useless lout, why didn’t you call for me when you charged out? Lao Yu, when you return, make sure to report this to Marquis Cui!"Another pot-bellied veteran chuckled, "What's the use of complaining to Cui Hou? Cui Hou just follows the young master's lead in everything. I say we should have Cui Hou lodge a serious complaint with Your Majesty!"
Li Si frowned, "Both of you generals are of advanced age, yet you still love to complain so much."
Zhang Shan laughed, "It's precisely because we're old that we love to complain! If this were our younger days, you two generals would have already pinned the young master down—what would there be to complain about?!"
The group burst into laughter again.
Lao Yu lowered his head with a quiet smile. In truth, Lao Yu wasn't actually old—he was about the same age as Cui You and had even served as his attendant in their youth.
For two or three generations, the Yu family had been clerks in the Cui family's shops. Because the Cui family treated their servants generously, even during the turbulent years of war, Lao Yu's parents had managed to safely raise eight strong sons.
Later, when the Cui family joined the current Emperor's uprising, Lao Yu's parents, after listening to storytellers for several days, became filled with heroic fervor. Believing the Yu family's time for prosperity had come, they begged Cui You to let their sons enlist in the army to earn some merit.
Yet despite Cui You personally arranging for the Yu brothers to skip the rank of common soldiers, within less than ten years, all seven of Lao Yu's elder brothers had perished. Two were killed in battle, two died from stray arrows, two succumbed to severe injuries, and one drowned in a swift river during retreat, unable to remove his armor in time.
His parents wept until they had no tears left, finally understanding the saying "a general's success is built upon ten thousand bones." Those who could fight their way to wealth and glory were truly exceptional among men, while those who reached the very top were practically celestial beings descended to earth—requiring not only extraordinary skill but also ancestral blessings and unbeatable luck. Otherwise, they would never survive to the end.
So Lao Yu's parents pleaded with Cui You again, asking that Lao Yu simply serve as Cui You's personal attendant. They no longer cared about merit—keeping the family safe and together was what mattered most. Cui You agreed. From then on, Lao Yu served Cui You diligently in all matters, working tirelessly by his side, and eventually became one of Cui You's trusted men.
Later, as the realm gradually came under the Emperor's control and Cui You no longer needed to campaign frequently, Lao Yu became a contented old steward in the Cui residence. Five years ago, when Huo Bu Yi got into trouble and was exiled to the northwest, Lao Yu followed the weeping Cui You to this desolate frontier.
As for what exactly happened to Huo Bu Yi, Lao Yu didn't know the details. But he did know one thing—concerning this "exile," whether in court or beyond, from the Capital City to the northwest, no one took it seriously except Huo Bu Yi himself.
Not only was this "exiled criminal" of noble birth personally escorted and protected by Cui Hou, a top-ranking minister of the court, but on the day Huo Bu Yi arrived, the two regional commanders of the northwest rushed to pay their respects and fondly reminisced about the heroic bearing of General Huo Chong—though these two likely had never even met him. Moreover, the most prominent local clan gifted a newly built luxurious Secluded Residence for Huo Bu Yi to stay in, while a noble lady, Lady Luo, frequently came by to offer her warmth.At first, Cui You was deeply moved, thinking these two high-ranking regional officials were genuinely enthusiastic. Only later did he realize the Emperor and the Third Prince had sent letters—one subtle, the other blunt—to remind them. Yet, Huo Bu Yi insisted on living in a desolate horse pasture in the wilderness. At the time, his injuries had not yet healed, so Cui You resorted to tears and tantrums, claiming he couldn’t face the late Madam Huo’s spirit and might as well die too. Finally, Huo Bu Yi relented and settled into a quiet, old mansion.
In the second year of exile, Yuhou arrived at the border town with luxurious supplies that made bandits across the Tianshan Mountains drool—though officially, he was there to deliver an imperial decree. The Emperor ordered Huo Bu Yi to "atone for his crimes through meritorious service" and promoted him to commander of the border prefecture.
The crowd: No need for the first part—we all understand. Your Majesty, you’re really not subtle at all.
In the third year of exile, the Second Imperial Son-in-Law arrived with bundles of goods and a hefty military stipend to visit Cui Hou (stop pretending) and incidentally deliver another decree—ordering Huo Bu Yi to continue "atoning through meritorious service," promoting him to deputy commander of the Northwestern Military Camp, with authority to recruit soldiers, establish his own office, and oversee the northwestern tribes.
The crowd: When will that "deputy" be dropped? And by the way, who’s the "chief"?
In the fourth year of exile...
The crowd: So exhausting.
Yet Lao Yu believed the Emperor was truly a benevolent ruler. For a land scarred by turmoil, having such a kind and virtuous sovereign was a blessing.
Life on the northwestern border was both lonely and busy. Tasked with looking after Huo Bu Yi, Lao Yu knew more than most.
While the Liang Qiu brothers were still arguing over whether to inform Luo Niangzi about Huo Bu Yi’s injuries, Lao Yu had already sternly ordered the servants inside and outside the residence: no matter how furious Luo Niangzi became, she was not to step foot into the study, Inner Chamber, or meeting hall.
While Li Si and Zhang Shan were still betting on whether Huo Bu Yi actually liked Luo Niangzi, Lao Yu had secretly informed Cui Hou that Huo Bu Yi often caressed the lyre string tied around his wrist late at night—and begged Cui Hou not to meddle by playing matchmaker.
Lao Yu also knew this: Huo Bu Yi genuinely wanted to be punished, but the Son of Heaven wouldn’t allow it.
After freshening up, the generals and three scholars sat down again. Lao Yu lifted the tent flap and ordered attendants to file in with meal boxes and wine, serving the group. Once sated, a messenger outside the tent reported. Huo Bu Yi wiped his hands and called for entry. Liang Qiuqi stepped in, cupping his hands: "Tuhunha and Wulü Chanbu have been brought."
An elderly scholar with old scars on his face glared fiercely and clasped his hands. "Lord Huo, these barbarians are wolves at heart—cruel and vicious. It would be best to slaughter them all..."
Huo Bu Yi raised a hand to stop him. "Patience. Let me question them first. ... Aqi, bring Tuhunha in."
The tent fell silent.
Liang Qiu Fei led several soldiers dragging in a bound man—wild-haired, bearded, and bloodied. Forced to kneel, he roared in broken Han speech: "...Huo Bu Yi, you cursed, treacherous Han! Kill me if you must, but do not humiliate me!"
Huo Bu Yi tilted his head. "You weren’t captured in a fair fight with our generals. You were caught in General Wang’s ambush while fleeing. Haven’t you already been humiliated?"The generals burst into laughter, while Tuhunha struggled to suppress his anger. "In any case, you are all treacherous villains! You've slaughtered so many of our tribesmen—I will never let this rest with you..."
Before he could finish, Zhang Shan muttered softly, "This fellow actually speaks Han language, and quite well at that. He even knows the phrase 'let this rest.'"
Huo Bu Yi smiled. "Don't be fooled by our Right Guli King's rough appearance. He's actually quite studious. Years ago, he started learning Han language from the Han slaves his people had captured."
Light laughter rippled through the tent, and Tuhunha's ears turned as red as pig's blood.
The middle-aged Confucian scholar frowned. "This man has taken pains to learn our language—his ambitions must be considerable."
Huo Bu Yi nodded. "Well said, Mr. Jia. According to our spies, ever since his youth, he has been enamored with all things from our Central Plains—pottery, incense, silk, even poetry and beautiful women... he adores them all."
Tuhunha, humiliated and enraged, shouted, "Huo Bu Yi, you treacherous snake! You killed my elder brother! I swear I will never share the same sky with you—"
Huo Bu Yi feigned surprise. "Oh? But weren't you and your brother Quanchu Chanyu always at odds?"
Tuhunha froze.
"Ever since your father passed five years ago and your brother succeeded him as chieftain of your tribe, he has repeatedly suppressed you."
"Four years ago, he seized your favorite slave girl, then tortured her to death."
"Three years ago, he took half your men and livestock. You stormed into his tent that very night, and each of you stabbed the other."
"After that, you two brothers lived in separate camps. If not for Ganxie Chanyu forcing you to reconcile and taking your children hostage as leverage, you would never have agreed to join this battle, would you...?"
Huo Bu Yi continued exposing one grievance after another until Tuhunha nearly choked, as if stripped naked. "Enough!" he bellowed. "Spare me your tricks! Matters of the steppe are for the heroes of the steppe to settle—we don't need your meddling to sow discord! The same goes for my brother and me. No matter how deep our enmity, it's between our own people! But this time, you deliberately provoked conflict, leaving us no choice but to unite and fight you in this great battle—that is the true, unforgivable grievance!"
Huo Bu Yi patiently explained, as if instructing a child: "We Han people live settled lives, farming and laboring in peace, troubling no one. But you? Whenever the weather suits you, you ride out to raid, killing, burning, committing every atrocity. Countless fields we toiled to cultivate lie abandoned, villages we built with effort emptied in an instant. Yet one cannot guard against thieves forever. Left with no choice, I devised a way to gather all you restless tribes in one place—and deal with you in a single stroke. Having studied Han texts, you understand reason better than most chanyus and guli kings. You know I speak the truth."
Tuhunha knew he was right and gave a low grunt.
Huo Bu Yi pressed on: "With so many Han slaves under your roof, you must know the state of the Central Plains today. Do you truly believe you can still raid and plunder as before, then ride off unscathed? Let me tell you—in today's battle, your brother's forces were annihilated. The men you now have captured are the last remaining warriors of your tribe. Have you considered how you will face the elderly, the weak, the women and children waiting back on the steppe? They believed your brother's promises—they were counting on you two to bring them prosperity."Tuhunha's eyes showed regret as he whispered, "Actually, I had advised my elder brother and Chanyu Ganxie before. In earlier years it was fine, but now that your Central Plains is gradually stabilizing, you would surely free your hands to deal with us. Several hundred years ago, Chanyu Modun was so powerful, unifying the entire grassland, with livestock stretching to the horizon and warriors more numerous than the stars. Yet even he couldn't withstand the Emperor of the Central Plains, was defeated and left homeless, even the sacred land for ancestral worship was destroyed, and he ultimately died on the run. We... we should stop..."
Huo Bu Yi stood up, hands clasped behind his back as he walked over. "Just now when you passed through the layers of tents, did you see our soldiers digging a large pit to the west?"
Tuhunha suddenly became alert. "You... what are you planning?!"
Huo Bu Yi smiled. "In the Han books you've read, was there mention of a general named Bai Qi?"
Tuhunha stiffened all over. "You... you want to bury us alive..." Bai Qi was a demon incarnate, having buried five hundred thousand alive. How many people did his own tribe even have?
Huo Bu Yi turned to Li Si and asked, "How many prisoners did we capture today?"
Li Si pretended to think for a moment. "The surrenders increased the later it got, especially after Chanyu Ganxie's royal banner fell—then they surrendered even faster... Hmm, at least seventy or eighty thousand. Counting separately, the Right Guli King here had the most surrenders under him, about a third."
General Wang added, "Including the wounded, it must exceed a hundred thousand."
Zhang Shan said, "What's the point of keeping the wounded? To heal them so they can fight us again? Might as well push them into the pit and be done with it."
Tuhunha trembled. "I... I heard your current Emperor is famously benevolent, which is why I ordered my men to surrender quickly after a few blows, telling them not to resist stubbornly. Otherwise, with the bravery of my troops, even if ambushed, if we had fought to the death, you might not have captured me so easily."
General Wang pondered. "That's true. Thanks to him, my men avoided many casualties."
"If you're begging for mercy, then beg properly," Li Si said coldly.
Tuhunha's eyes were full of hesitation, torn between choices.
Huo Bu Yi stared at him intently. "...First go rest and recover. Later, I'll have a well-read scholar reason with you properly. Whether the remaining men, women, and children of your tribe live or die will be your decision."
The soldiers on either side stepped forward to escort Tuhunha out of the tent, while the Liang-Qiu brothers brought in another Hu man with only his arms tied behind his back. This one looked slightly younger, with a light brown face and golden eyes that shone with wariness.
Upon seeing Huo Bu Yi, he automatically knelt on one knee.
Huo Bu Yi said, "Wulü Chanbu, regarding the matter of submission I discussed with you last time, what is your answer now?"
Wulü Chanbu hesitated. "I know you mean well, my lord, but we grassland men are accustomed to riding and herding, following water and grass to settle. Now you ask us to gather and settle permanently—this is probably..."
Huo Bu Yi sneered. "Accustomed? Hmph! If we go by what you're 'accustomed' to, then you should just do as you please, raiding and plundering our towns whenever you're short of something, and our people should be treated like livestock, driven off or enslaved at your whim!"Wulü Chanbu looked troubled: "What you say is true, my lord, but... although my grandfather was the previous Great Chanyu, he has already passed away. Even if I inherit his banner, I may not be able to command full obedience. Even if I'm willing, many elders and tribal kings might not agree."
Huo Bu Yi said, "Don't make it sound so noble. Your tribes have joined forces, but you're not united. Many among you, like yourself, don’t wish to oppose the court, and even more are just trying to preserve their strength and wait for opportunities. If you continue to be obstinate, I won’t show mercy in the next battle. In my opinion, rather than dying by my hand, why don’t you, young Chanyu, clean house yourself? That way, you’ll not only gain absolute authority but also receive rewards from the court. What do you think?"
Wulü Chanbu gritted his teeth: "Fine! I’ll go back and deal with those who won’t listen. But you must lend me the crossbow unit you promised last time for a few days, just in case!"
Huo Bu Yi nodded and ordered Wulü Chanbu to be untied and escorted out.
A young scholar turned and said, "So this is the last remaining grandson of the late Hunu Great Chanyu? I’ve heard he’s brave and skilled in battle. Though young, he commands considerable respect."
Mr. Jia, the scholar, replied, "Indeed. I found it strange during today’s battle. His troops had several chances to charge forward but only feigned attacks before retreating halfway. At first, I thought he was cowardly, but when General Li led the pursuit, his men proved quite tenacious..."
An elderly scholar frowned: "I heard that after the Hunu Great Chanyu passed away, the tribes he had united fell into chaos. His sons and grandsons fought among themselves, allowing other tribal chieftains to seize much of their grazing lands, livestock, and people."
Mr. Jia smiled: "Lord Huo has chosen well. When I saw this man fighting fiercely after being captured, I thought he was just stubborn. Turns out he already intended to submit."
The young scholar asked doubtfully, "Then should we support Tuhunha or this Wulü Chanbu?"
Several officers and Mr. Jia laughed. Zhang Shan patted the young scholar’s shoulder: "In business, the worst thing is having only one buyer—you risk being exploited. You need multiple sellers to make the deal work."
The elderly scholar said coldly, "In my view, these Barbarians are all ungrateful wretches. Better to kill them all and be done with it!"
Mr. Jia sighed and advised, "Ah, I understand your feelings, old sir. Those of us settled in the northwest—which family hasn’t suffered at the hands of these Barbarians? Ten years ago, two of my clansmen died by their hands. But His Majesty does not wish to wage large-scale war and bring suffering to the people. We must respect His Majesty’s intentions. Besides, the seven or eight tribes involved in this battle, and the many others who didn’t participate, are all watching us. The key to the policy of restraint is balancing kindness and intimidation, keeping all sides in check—making them fear us while also offering some benefits."
Huo Bu Yi smiled: "Since Mr. Jia understands His Majesty’s intentions, I will surely report this to His Majesty to ease his concerns."
A glint flashed in Mr. Jia’s eyes.Huo Bu Yi continued, "In that case, please have Mr. Jia explain the principles thoroughly to Tuhunha later—matters of romance, morality, and propriety. Merely supporting Wulü Chanbu isn't enough. It would be best if Tuhunha is willing to yield."
The Confucian scholar surnamed Jia accepted the order.
Laughter filled the tent when suddenly a messenger entered and whispered a few words into Huo Bu Yi's ear. His expression changed immediately, though he smiled and said, "An urgent matter has arisen. Please continue enjoying your drinks, Generals and gentlemen. I must take my leave now."
Naturally, no one objected. Zhang Shan even joked that they could drink more freely without Huo Bu Yi present.
With a faint smile, Huo Bu Yi hurriedly departed, leaving the others in the tent to speculate—
"We've just won a great battle. What urgent military affairs could General Huo still have?"
"With the realm now at peace, where else could unrest be brewing? Isn't it obvious?"
"Are you referring to Gongsun Shi in Shu? Don't jump to conclusions."
"General Qian is right. Didn't you notice the Bamboo tube water ladle hanging from that messenger's waist? It's a favorite of the Shu people. I'd wager it's about matters in Shu."
"General Wang, your sharp eyes never fail! I've long heard that General Huo will soon depart, entering Shu from Long to flank the Gongsun Shi forces alongside the imperial army. It seems the rumors are true—no wonder General Huo had no patience to tangle with those barbarians."
"Nonsense! These past days, Cui Hou has been mobilizing troops and stockpiling provisions far beyond what we needed for today's battle. Clearly, there's another purpose! Zhang Shan, don't just drink—speak up!"
"Speak what? Can't even alcohol shut your mouth? If I'm wrong, it makes me ill-informed; if I'm right, I'd be leaking military secrets. Are you trying to get me killed?"
"Hahaha, fair enough. Fine, let's drink!"
"Drink, drink! But wasn't the campaign against Shu almost ready? What news could have made General Huo leave in such haste..."
"Shu is perilous indeed. Just recently, we heard that General Chen, leading the main force, was assassinated by the Sun Family's Death Squad. His Majesty then appointed Lord Weng Junshu, but alas, who knows how he fares now..."
...
In another golden-topped tent, Huo Bu Yi stared grimly at the urgent dispatch, exclaiming, "Lord Weng was also assassinated? Weren't precautions tightened?"
The messenger, a trusted aide for covert tasks, spoke freely in private: "After General Chen's fate, how could Lord Weng not be vigilant? His defenses were triple-layered! Yet, somehow, the Gongsun Shi hired a peerless warrior—unstoppable in battle, his bare hands capable of smashing stone steles. He carved a bloody path, and the Gongsun Death Squad following him seized the moment to shoot Lord Weng dead with hidden crossbows."
Huo Bu Yi pondered long. "...It seems I must lead the troops next month—first to Long, then to attack Shu."
Noticing the messenger's hesitation, Huo Bu Yi pressed, "Out with it. What else?"
The messenger bowed. "Nothing major, just... you once asked me to investigate the Yuan family..."
He fidgeted—these past years, his master had inexplicably tasked him with scrutinizing every detail of Young Master Yuan Shen's life and the Yuan family's ancestral habits. Even a fool could guess the reason.
Huo Bu Yi tensed. "Did something happen to Yuan Shen? No, he should be in the Capital City. Then it must be his father, Prefect Yuan. What of him?"
The messenger marveled at Huo Bu Yi's acuity. "Prefect Yuan was tasked with gathering supplies in eastern Jing Province and managing wounded soldiers and equipment for the front lines. But while I was tracking the assassin who killed Lord Weng, I saw Prefect Yuan rushing toward Shu with the Yuan family generals and Guard, claiming to aid General Wu in avenging Lord Weng."
Huo Bu Yi tapped the table lightly. "This... is unlike the cautious Prefect Yuan I know."The messenger said, "Exactly! Earlier, my lord instructed me to gather information about the Yuan family, so I learned a thing or two about Prefect Yuan’s character, and something always felt off. Later, I heard that this Prefect Yuan spent his days doing nothing but hunting down and killing the Death Squad of the Gongsun family. By the time I was ready to return and report, nearly all the hidden outposts of the Gongsun Shi in the Shu region had been destroyed and their forces wiped out by Prefect Yuan. Everyone said he was grieving the death of his colleague and seeking vengeance for Lord Weng. But, but..."
"But we know Prefect Yuan had no friendship with Weng Junshu," Huo Bu Yi concluded calmly. "And Prefect Yuan is not the impulsive, passionate type."
The messenger lowered his head in silent agreement.
Huo Bu Yi dismissed the messenger to rest and paced alone in his tent for a long while before summoning Lao Yu. "I won’t be returning to the city," he instructed. "The military situation in Shu is urgent, and I plan to lead the vanguard ahead in the next few days."
Lao Yu opened his mouth to protest, but Huo Bu Yi continued, "Go back and tell Uncle Cui that Lord Weng Junshu has also been assassinated. I expect His Majesty will dispatch General Wu to replace him. I must leave immediately—ask Uncle to have Zhang Shan and Li Si bring reinforcements to rendezvous with me later."
Lao Yu knew little of military affairs, but as Cui You’s trusted aide, he understood the gravity of the situation and could only nod in silence.
Before leaving the tent, he glanced back. The young general’s features were as cold and beautiful as ice and snow from the northern lands, yet his eyes burned with an unusually fierce intensity, as if he were about to embark on some passionate endeavor—more fervent even than when preparing for the campaign against the steppe tribes.
Lao Yu stepped outside and sighed softly.
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