In the lands of the Xiongnu, their chieftain awaited the triumphant return of his warriors.
This time, they had dispatched an army of two hundred thousand to invade the Central Plains, a costly endeavor.
Because of this, their hearts had already begun to fantasize about their army conquering Yanmen Commandery in the Central Plains, establishing a vast territory for them, and bringing back abundant grain and wealth.
It had to be said, the Xiongnu harbored immense ambitions.
They had even decided in their hearts to incorporate the Central Plains into their Xiongnu dominion.
However, a little over a month later, grim news arrived.
"Great King, disaster has struck! Our Xiongnu army has been utterly defeated!"
"What? What are you saying?"
"Great King, our Xiongnu army has been crushed! Our two hundred thousand soldiers have been defeated by Qin cavalry!"
"Qin cavalry??"
At this moment, the Xiongnu chieftain's face was filled with disbelief.
Before this, he had never heard of the existence of Qin cavalry.
Although he knew that among the Central Plains, there was a powerful nation called Qin, which had conquered Yanmen Commandery from Zhao.
However, they had always heard that Qin's strength lay in their infantry; their cavalry, they had never heard of.
Now, to suddenly hear that their Xiongnu cavalry had been defeated by Qin cavalry.
Such news was difficult for the Xiongnu chieftain to accept.
"Are you deceiving this king? I sent out two hundred thousand soldiers to attack the Central Plains, how could they be defeated by Qin cavalry? What are Qin cavalry?"
"Great King, everything I say is true. We... we just escaped from the battlefield. Of the two hundred thousand soldiers, only a few of us have survived!"
"Great King, our defeat was too tragic. Those Qin cavalry, they are too ferocious!"
Thinking of the might of the Qin cavalry, these Xiongnu cavalrymen who had fled back were filled with fear.
Whether it was the fire bottles or Lin Tian himself, they had all formed immense psychological shadows in their hearts.
Even facing Lin Tian and the army under his command again, they lacked the courage to do so.
At this moment, as they recounted the defeat of their Xiongnu army, they wept uncontrollably.
Who would have thought that a burly man of the grasslands would cry so miserably.
The Xiongnu chieftain, hearing their cries, clearly felt a flicker of panic in his heart.
He was beginning to feel that what they were saying might be true.
However, he was unwilling to accept it.
That was their Xiongnu's army of two hundred thousand! Two hundred thousand soldiers were enough for them to conquer various states in the Central Plains.
Now, someone was telling him that their two hundred thousand soldiers had not only been soundly defeated, but only a handful had returned alive. This was truly difficult for him to accept.
However, before he could say anything more to them, they continued to speak.
"Great King, that's not the most terrifying thing. The most terrifying thing is that those Qin cavalry said they want us Xiongnu to be wiped out and our lineage extinguished!"
"What? They want to annihilate us Xiongnu??"
Such words were indeed too shocking for the Xiongnu chieftain.
Ever since he ascended to the position of Xiongnu chieftain, the Xiongnu had dominated the grasslands.
Whether on the grasslands or in the Central Plains, there were few who could match them.
Even the famous Zhao general Li Mu could only hold them to a draw.
To defeat their Xiongnu army, Li Mu was far from enough.
The Xiongnu were destined to rule the grasslands for countless years.
Yet, at this moment, someone was claiming to annihilate them, which instantly enraged the Xiongnu chieftain.
"Did they really say such things??"
"Yes! Not only did they say such things, but they are also likely to advance into our Xiongnu grasslands!"
"Then how many troops do they have?"
"Less than a hundred thousand!"
"Hmm?"
Less than a hundred thousand. Such a number truly stunned the Xiongnu chieftain.
He had imagined that the Qin would have many cavalry, at least two hundred thousand soldiers.
Only then could they match their Xiongnu cavalry and defeat their Xiongnu's two hundred thousand army.
However, his subordinates were now telling him that the Qin army had less than a hundred thousand men.
This situation was far beyond the Xiongnu chieftain's expectations.
At this moment, the Xiongnu chieftain's expression was extremely grim.
"You're saying that the Qin, with less than a hundred thousand troops, annihilated our two hundred thousand cavalry?"
"Yes, those Qin people are too cunning. Not only do they possess strange bottles, but their warhorses are also equipped with contraptions, allowing their warriors to move as if on flat ground while on horseback!"
"Our cavalry is no match for the Qin cavalry at all!!"
These Xiongnu cavalrymen were already very familiar with the possessions of Lin Tian's army.
Because those were the very things they feared.
Therefore, they spoke with great detail at this moment, and the Xiongnu chieftain listened intently.
However, after listening, he could no longer suppress the killing intent within him.
He drew his curved saber and swung it at the head of the Xiongnu cavalryman.
"Useless, a bunch of useless fools!!"
Two hundred thousand soldiers being defeated by a hundred thousand soldiers, such an outcome was unacceptable to the Xiongnu chieftain.
Such a record was not befitting of their brave Xiongnu cavalry.
Therefore, he could not tolerate such incompetent and cowardly cavalry for a moment longer.
Afterward, he beheaded the other few Xiongnu cavalrymen who had escaped, and only after having them cooked did the Xiongnu chieftain feel a sense of relief.
"A group of good-for-nothings, completely useless!"
"However, if the Qin cavalry were to attack us Xiongnu, then we indeed need to prepare!"
"Summon our army, let all our people participate. If the Qin cavalry dares to come, we will surely make those Qin people lose their heads and their corpses litter the grasslands!!"
The Xiongnu chieftain had naturally heard the news about the Qin cavalry.
However, he was more inclined to believe in the strength he possessed.
He believed that given the might of the Xiongnu cavalry, no other cavalry could be their match.
The reason their two hundred thousand army was defeated was necessarily due to the commander's misjudgment.
Those generals were too foolish, which led to the crushing defeat of their two hundred thousand army and the loss of twenty thousand Xiongnu soldiers.
If it were him, he would definitely lead two hundred thousand troops to break through Yanmen Pass.
But now, with the Qin army about to march into Xiongnu territory, he could also seize this opportunity for revenge!
Therefore, knowing that Lin Tian was about to lead his army to charge, the Xiongnu chieftain was not only unafraid but instead felt a sense of joyous anticipation for revenge.