286: A temporary victory is not a victory

The head of the Xiongnu Cavalry Soldier in front of Lin Yue flew off with a thud! Blood sprayed out, splattering everywhere!

Lin Yue's expression remained normal, his hands not stopping for a moment. With his right hand, he picked up the long spear that the Xiongnu Cavalry Soldier had just been holding and, after snatching it, hurled it forward!

The long spear, carrying a whistling wind, gave no time for reaction and instantly pierced the chest of a nearby Xiongnu Cavalry Soldier!

The Xiongnu Cavalry Soldier was carried backward by the impact of the long spear, falling from his horse.

Meanwhile, Yang Yansi, the Seventh Son, who was beside Lin Yue, saw this. He grabbed the reins of an ownerless Xiongnu warhorse in front of him, let out a loud shout, his arm veins bulging, and threw it towards the Xiongnu Army!

He possessed Heavenly Strength and was a Third-rate Military General. A warhorse weighing several hundred catties was like a docile lamb in his hands; it was thrown into the air without the slightest resistance!

“Bang!”

The warhorse flew and crashed onto two Xiongnu Cavalry Soldiers not far away. The two were pinned under the horse, spitting blood, their breaths faltering, their eyes filled with disbelief.

The Xiongnu Army behind the two looked at the sudden change in front of them, momentarily stunned, and all stopped in their tracks.

After a brief moment of shock, the startled warhorse suddenly stood up with a "swoosh," spinning around frantically as if lost, and finally found an opportunity to bolt away.

But this action also forced the Xiongnu Army to rein in their horses, reluctantly halting their charge. They were blocked in place.

“Charge!” Lin Yue shouted.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, after a brief acceleration, he charged towards the Xiongnu Army!

The Seven Young Masters and Eight Tigers of the Yang Family were all gathered, closely following behind Lin Yue. Although their strengths varied, ranging from Third-rate Military General down to Mid-Level Military General, on the battlefield, facing the elite Xiongnu Army opposite them, they were undoubtedly a terrifying fighting force!

Wherever they went, they reaped the lives of the Xiongnu Army as easily as cutting melons and vegetables. For a time, no one could stop them; they forcefully carved a path through the surging Xiongnu Cavalry!

However, on the other side, the situation for the Qin Army Cavalry Soldiers was not optimistic. In the confrontation between the two armies, Lin Yue and his group led the charge, piercing into the enemy formation like an arrow. But the Qin Army Cavalry Soldiers to his left and right were locked in fierce combat with the Xiongnu Cavalry Soldiers.

As time passed, they showed a slight decline. After successive battles today, their stamina was starting to lag.

In the distance, on a dirt slope, Wuluoli was riding his horse, standing beside a Xiongnu strongman as massive as a small mountain, silently observing everything.

“Wuluoli, is that Lin Yue?” the Right Wise King asked.

“Yes,” Wuluoli nodded silently, following the direction of the Right Wise King’s finger.

The Right Wise King smiled, stroking Wuluoli’s head to comfort him: “Don’t be disheartened. A temporary defeat or victory means nothing. There have been countless invincible warriors on the grassland, all glorious for a time, revered by countless tribesmen.

But with just one defeat, they became food for the wolves of the grassland, not even leaving behind bones. In the end, their former followers could only offer a sigh, and then no one would ever mention them again. If they were mentioned, it was only as a negative example to warn future generations.

So don’t be disheartened. As long as you survive, there is hope to start over, and only the warrior who ultimately survives can become the king of the grassland!”

He looked at the two factions fighting each other in front, his eyes filled with reminiscence, and finally spoke softly: “For Lin Yue to survive this time, it can be said to be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.”

“Uncle, have you also failed?” Wuluoli asked in a low voice.

The Right Wise King heard this and laughed: “More than just failure! Our Luandi clan was originally just one tribe on this vast grassland.

In those years, we followed Touman Chanyu, went through hundreds of battles, and narrowly escaped death countless times to establish this vast empire.

How many dangers there were! Even the Chanyu himself nearly lost his life several times, let alone us. To be alive today is truly a blessing from the heavens for our Luandi clan.”

The Right Wise King laughed, then said to Wuluoli:

“Speaking of complete and utter failure, it would have to be that time nearly thirty years ago.

That time, we were also fighting against the Central Plains people, but it wasn't the current Qin State, but the Zhao State.

At that time, we were all around twenty years old, young and fearless, thinking victory was within reach. But as we fought, we lost our vigilance and were ultimately defeated by a Zhao State general named Li Mu, suffering a crushing defeat.

We watched helplessly as millions of tribesmen died before our eyes, but we could only flee, powerless.

That defeat was a huge blow to the Chanyu. Millions of his Army were annihilated, the grassland was like hell, and the rivers were stained red with blood. Countless cattle and sheep contracted diseases, and the smoke and dust from burning corpses turned the blue sky of the grassland a hazy gray.

For me, it’s still a nightmare to this day.” The Right Wise King smiled, but his eyes were somewhat moist.

“The Chanyu was different. The first thing he did upon returning was to gather all the tribesmen, saying he would seek revenge!

But before that, he said he needed to change the weakness of our tribe fighting individually. He must first integrate the warriors on the grassland and establish a unified, powerful empire.”

“I’ve never heard of this,” Wuluoli shook his head.

“Ninety percent of the tribesmen who went on that campaign never returned, so it’s not surprising.

Moreover, conflicts and deaths happen every moment on the grassland. People are always attracted by new events, and they selectively forget old, failed histories.

So, living is victory.

And a temporary victory is not victory. Just as people will only remember Touman Chanyu as the king of the grassland, and not that the Chanyu was once a loser.

When you truly become the Chanyu, no one will remember your temporary failures, and those who do remember your failures will cover for you, because by then you will be the king who leads them to invincibility.” The Right Wise King rubbed Wuluoli’s head and said:

“I have surrounded them. Lin Yue is now just a trapped beast; he cannot escape.”

The two thousand-plus cavalry behind Lin Yue had already suffered considerable losses, and the enemies were growing in number. If this continued, they would eventually be worn down!

“Good!” Wuluoli laughed. After the Right Wise King's words of comfort, much of the gloom in his heart had dissipated.

A son raised like a wolf surpasses his father and ancestors. What his father could achieve, there was no reason Wuluoli could not!

Just then, a scout ran up and said: “Lord Right Wise King, about one hundred thousand cavalry are charging from the south! The Qin Army’s advance is fierce, and they will be upon us soon!”