Chapter 19: San Chuan Tribe, Wu Jia Xucuo

Page 1 of 3

Chapter 19: The Three Rivers Tribe and Wujia Xucuo

The Fine-Toothed Tribe

After receiving word of the grassland from Wang Li, he ordered the herdsmen to slaughter cattle and sheep to prepare food for the army. Then, after sending scouts to notify Meng Tian, fifty miles away, he found a place and promptly fell into a deep sleep.

The following day—

“General, some barbarians escaped under cover of darkness last night!” a captain hurried over to report.

“What?” Wang Li sprang to his feet, his face dark with anger. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You were exhausted last night, General, so I didn’t dare disturb you,” the captain replied, shrinking his neck.

“Hmph! You’ve delayed military intelligence. We’ll settle accounts after the battle. Sound the assembly!”

Wang Li turned and strode outside.

“Some barbarians escaped last night. It seems we can no longer continue the surprise attack. Send scouts thirty miles ahead to maintain vigilance. From here on, we’ll be fighting a hard battle.” Wang Li stood inside the felt tent temporarily used for military councils and addressed the assembled officers.

“Haha! A hard battle is just what we need. That’s when killing becomes truly satisfying!” A deputy general, covered in blood, licked his lips excitedly.

“I have never fought the Xiongnu head-on, but even the mounted soldiers of Zhao, wearing the dress of the northern tribes, could drive these barbarians back to their homeland. If our Great Qin could destroy Zhao, we can destroy the Xiongnu as well. Where is the nearest major tribe?” Wang Li asked.

“General, we’ve already made inquiries. A hundred miles from here lies a large tribe called the Three Rivers Tribe. It is one of the four great tribes under Tuman’s command. A hundred miles north beyond the Three Rivers Tribe stands the Xiongnu royal city—Tuman City. The tribal chief is Wujia Xucuo, and he commands twelve thousand warriors.”

“Twelve thousand? It truly is one of Tuman’s trusted tribes. Otherwise, it would never possess so many warriors. Including women, children, and the elderly, its population must number at least forty or fifty thousand. Make preparations. This will be a hard battle, and we must not underestimate the enemy. Send word to the other forces nearby and have them reinforce us as quickly as possible. I fear this battle may draw the main Xiongnu army. Pass the order down: eat and rest at once. We attack in one hour!”

“Yes, General!”

The commandant clasped his fists, accepted the order, and departed.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

An hour later, it was already mid-afternoon. Having eaten and drunk their fill, the soldiers had recovered much of their strength. They busied themselves organizing their weapons and armor, preparing to set out.

More than ten thousand cavalrymen, led by the young Guli Zha, swept northward beneath a billowing cloud of dust.

A hundred miles away, in the Three Rivers Tribe, the tribal chief Wujia Xucuo was discussing matters with his subordinates inside the great tent.

Wujia Xucuo was already in his forties. Tall and powerfully built, he had been personally appointed by Tuman as the greatest warrior of the Xiongnu. With Tuman’s support, he had conquered dozens of large and small tribes in the surrounding region through ruthless methods, making his tribe the largest Xiongnu settlement for hundreds of miles around. He was Tuman’s most trusted subordinate.

The tribe now numbered more than fifty thousand people, including twelve thousand skilled bowmen. In times of war, it could instantly raise an army of twenty thousand Xiongnu horsemen.

Unlike most of his fellow Xiongnu, Wujia Xucuo was not content to live in the present. He loved reading and studying the culture of the Central Plains, and he trained his soldiers with exceptional rigor. He had always harbored one ambition: to lead the Xiongnu people through the city walls and into the Central Plains, seize its grain, treasures, and women, and make its people bow before the iron hooves of the Xiongnu cavalry.

Then the Xiongnu would no longer be forced, during the bitter winters, to abandon the old, the young, the sick, and the crippled merely to ensure the survival of their people when food ran short. Because of this conviction, Wujia Xucuo often urged Chanyu Tuman to reform the Xiongnu, learn from the people of the Central Plains, and strengthen the might of their nation.

Unfortunately, Chanyu Tuman had reached an age of comfort and indulgence. His former ambition had long since vanished, like a grassland eagle with both wings broken. Yet from what Wujia Xucuo had observed, the eldest prince, Modu, was a man of immense ambition. Perhaps the future of the Xiongnu rested upon him.

“Chief Xucuo, the Qin have attacked our Qingqing Tribe! They’re heading toward the Three Rivers Tribe now!”

“What? The Qingqing Tribe is a full ten days’ journey from the Qin border wall, and the territory of the Left Sage King lies between us. How did the Qin army suddenly reach the heart of Xiongnu territory? Are you falsifying military intelligence?” Wujia Xucuo thundered.

“Chief, I am not lying. The Qin army is entirely mounted. They suddenly attacked the Qingqing Tribe. If I hadn’t run fast enough, I would have been killed by their scouts!”

“You’re not lying?” Wujia Xucuo still found it difficult to believe.

“No, Chief. And the Qin army must be coming for us. Each man has three horses, and there are more than ten thousand of them. If we delay any longer, it will be too late to make preparations!”

Wujia Xucuo rested a hand on the curved saber at his waist. After pondering for a moment, he walked out of the felt tent, ordered the tribesmen to assemble, and dispatched a messenger to the royal court.

Soon, the sound of a bull-horn trumpet rang across the grassland. The men of the Three Rivers Tribe, scattered in settlements across the plains, hurriedly seized their weapons and mounted their warhorses, whether young or old, gathering around Xucuo’s tent. In less than half an hour, they had all arrived—more than thirty thousand in total. Many carried strange wooden clubs or bone cudgels. Every face was turned toward the chief in bewilderment, wondering why they had suddenly been summoned.

“Just now, our sentries reported that the Qin army attacked the Qingqing Tribe and is now heading here!”

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

“How could that be?”

“Exactly! Why would the Qin suddenly come here? Are they looking for death?”

“Silence!” Wujia Xucuo cut short the uproar and immediately issued his orders. “Go home at once and have the women and children lead the cattle and sheep toward the royal court. If the Qin dare advance this far into the depths of the grassland, they must have come fully prepared. The men will take up their weapons and bows, mount their horses, and follow me. Let us meet these bold Qin soldiers face-to-face.”

Over the past several years, the tribesmen had come to know Xucuo’s temper. Once he gave an order, they knew to carry it out immediately—or blood would be spilled.

Before long, the entire tribe was in motion. Countless women and children mounted their horses, driving the cattle and sheep ahead of them, while ox carts joined the vast columns slowly moving northward.

The adult men of the tribe remained behind and formed a massive cavalry force. Seeing the sea of horsemen spread across the land, Wujia Xucuo’s calm face finally revealed the faintest smile. He immediately detached a portion of the force to guard the herders, then led the remaining cavalry galloping toward Wang Li’s position.

Wang Li knew nothing yet of the Three Rivers Tribe’s movements. The scouts sent to investigate had not returned.

At that moment, Wang Li was leading his cavalry at a steady but rapid pace across the grassland, where green grass stretched in every direction. The thick stench of blood and aura of slaughter surrounding the army sent startled wild horses and buffalo fleeing in panic. Even packs of wild wolves scattered wildly before them.

The Great Qin cavalry who had entered the grasslands had already been campaigning for more than ten days and had fought dozens of battles, large and small. Each unit had slain thousands upon thousands of enemies. The murderous aura clinging to them could be sensed from ten miles away, causing the animals and beasts nearby to avoid them entirely.

“Report!”

The scout sent ahead came riding back at full speed.

“General, a large cavalry force from the Three Rivers Tribe is riding toward us. There are at least twenty thousand of them!” the scout said quickly.

“Excellent! I was just planning to seek them out.”

Wang Li raised the spear in his hand and shouted excitedly to the soldiers around him, “Pass the order to the entire army! Slow our pace, form ranks, change formation, and prepare to meet the enemy!”

End of Chapter