Chapter 30: The Xiongnu Expedition
"Father Khan, this is what happened!"

In Touman's tent, Maodun told him everything that needed to be said.

After listening to Maodun's story, Touman pondered for a while and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "The Lich King wants us to conquer the outside world!"

Maodun heard this and said nothing. In fact, ever since the Lich King set up the bone tribute for the Xiongnu, the Xiongnu's foreign conquests were inevitable. Maodun knew this, and Touman also understood it.

Looking at Maodun who was silent, Touman asked: "Modun, who do you think we should attack? Donghu, Dayuezhi, or those wild people further north?"

"It must be the Dayuezhi!" Maodun said the Dayuezhi with certainty without hesitation.

"Why do you think so?" Seeing Maodun's affirmation, Touman immediately said seriously: "Although the Great Yuezhi is not as strong as our Xiongnu, it is not much worse. Moreover, their territory is very unfavorable for our Xiongnu to fight. Attacking us will also benefit the least! The most difficult!"

Compared with the Dayuezhi, he preferred to attack the Donghu and the barbarians further north, as attacking both sides would be more beneficial to the Xiongnu.

Although the Donghu were as strong as the Xiongnu, that was before. Now the Xiongnu had a 30,000-strong cavalry of undead corpses that would not tire or be hurt, and they had fought the Donghu twice, both of which were great victories, and they had also expanded their grasslands. The Donghu no longer dared to fight the Xiongnu.

Even if the Lich King did not send troops, they would have a great chance of winning the attack on the Donghu, and would undoubtedly be able to obtain more pastures and raise more cattle and sheep. In addition, the Xiongnu would also be able to obtain a lot of cattle, sheep, horses and corpses during the war.

It would be much easier to attack the barbarians further north. Although the land in the north is vast and sparsely populated, with ice fields everywhere, it is not impossible to graze livestock. They can even learn from the people in the Central Plains how to grow crops and vegetables, or raise rabbits. Although the environment is a bit harsh, it can help the Huns feed more people.

The only difference is that although the territory of Dayuezhi is vast, most of it is Gobi and desert, with a lack of water, which is not suitable for the Xiongnu to fight. Moreover, the territory of Dayuezhi is connected to the Mountains of the Dead, so the Xiongnu could not get much territory, and probably did not get much spoils either.

"Because attacking the Great Yuezhi is more beneficial to the Lich King, and it is also what the Lich King wants to see the most!"

However, in response to Touman's question, Maodun simply said one sentence.

"Then it seems that we really have no choice but to attack Dayuezhi!" Touman understood immediately after hearing this and could only sigh unwillingly.

As the pavement knife in the hands of the Lich King, the Huns have no choice but to move forward wherever the Lich King points!
Otherwise, the Hun's sword would most likely be thrown into the furnace by the Lich King and recast into an obedient sword, eventually becoming like those corpse cavalrymen.

Then Touman resigned himself to his fate and called his warriors to inform the tribes on the grassland. Even if they were unwilling, the Xiongnu had to accept their fate and make a knife that would satisfy the Lich King.

The grassland is vast, and it will take at least a month for them to notify people from various tribes, gather a sufficient number of troops, and prepare for defense against the Donghu.

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On the other hand, after Yan Dan left Xianyang, he traveled by boat and carriage for more than ten days and finally left the territory of Qin and entered the border of Zhao.

(PS: There is also Zhao between Yan and Qin.)
There was also a woman with Yan Dan, that was Zhao Nu.

Yan Dan had only been in Zhao State for half a day when he found an excuse to get off the carriage. He couldn't wait to get away from the carriage and came to the wasteland.

"Damn you Ying Zheng, I will definitely kill you! Damn you Ying Zheng, I will definitely kill you!"

"Damn you Ying Zheng, I must kill you! I must kill you!"

Looking at the sunset over the distant mountains, Yan Dan murmured with gritted teeth, and finally he could no longer suppress the anger and hatred in his heart, and roared out loudly.

In the carriage in the distance, Ms. Zhao gently pulled up a corner of the curtain and silently looked at Yan Dan, who was kneeling on the ground in the distance and was in a state of turmoil. A trace of pity appeared in her eyes.

In Yan Dan's view, Zulong let him return to Yan because Zulong was going to attack Zhao and this was a way to win over Yan.

But he knew better that after Zulong conquered Zhao, the next one would probably be Yan.

January flies by in a flash.

The grasslands north of the Dead Mountains were covered with snow, and the cold wind was howling. The Huns' Touman tribe, 50,000 Huns men gathered here, and they prepared a large number of carriages and supplies.

These are the Hun men who are about to go on the expedition. They obeyed the call of Chanyu Touman and came from all directions of the grassland.

But this time, no one had the joy and yearning of previous expeditions and plundering. There was only worry, determination, and a sad farewell.

The atmosphere also seemed very depressing.

In Touman's tent, Maodun helped Touman put on his armor and said sincerely: "Father Khan, please be careful in this expedition! The Lich King acts at will, and his mood is hard to predict. There are too many variables! You must not be impatient!"

Maodun knew very well that as long as the Great Khan Touman was alive and was the Great Khan of the Xiongnu, he, Maodun, was a hostage. If Touman died, then he would be nothing.

Touman must wait until he grows up and is capable of taking over the Xiongnu, otherwise he will lose his usefulness and may not be able to survive.

"Mao Dun, you must be careful when you return to the Undead Mountains! Never disobey the Lich King! Be more careful and attentive in what you say and do! It's cold over there, so you must keep warm and take good care of yourself."

"Remember, you are a Hun, and your people are not doing well! Nor are they at peace!"

"If you have the chance, you should try to please the Lich King and speak well of your compatriots! Speak well of Father Khan! If the Lich King needs anything, you must send a message back in time!"

Touman patted Maodun on the shoulder and gave him the same sincere instructions.

Maodun is the letter of guarantee that the Huns have handed to the Lich King, and he is also the only remaining bloodline of his leader, Maodun.

If Maodun angered the Lich King or died, even if the Lich King did not vent his anger on the entire Huns, he would definitely vent his anger on him, the Huns' Great Khan.

Without the hostage, even if the Lich King didn't say anything, the Huns would have to take the initiative to replace a new Great Khan and send a new hostage to the Mountains of the Dead. Perhaps they would also send the head of the previous Great Khan to express their loyalty.

He wanted to live, and he also hoped to raise the several adopted sons he had secretly adopted.

As for Maodun, from the moment he became a hostage in the hands of the Lich King, he could never become the actual ruler of the Xiongnu, even if he was his last bloodline!

Touman and Maodun exchanged loving advice with each other for a long time before they parted ways.

Maodun boarded a carriage and, under the escort of two hundred Huns, set off for the Mountains of the Dead, carrying two carts full of daily necessities and ten carts of gifts from the Huns to the Lich King.

Touman also led 50,000 Xiongnu men, 30,000 Xiongnu corpse cavalry, and 5,000 carts of supplies and set out westward.

However, Touman and the seventeen leaders of the Xiongnu tribes who set out all had deep worries on their faces.

Because these 50,000 men were already half of the Huns' combat-capable men.

In the autumn, the Huns failed to plunder the Central Plains and were already short of supplies and food. The 5,000 carts of supplies now were the result of the entire Huns' best efforts.

The territory of Dayuezhi was not as large as that of Qin, Zhao and other countries, with many fields and houses, fertile land, and abundant water and grass. Dayuezhi had a vast territory and a sparse population, and there were many Gobi deserts. It was difficult to obtain supplies locally, especially water. It was not easy to support the war by plundering the Central Plains.

It is even more unknown how much benefit the Lich King will give them from the war!
(End of this chapter)