Crack horsemen

Zhang Han let out a deep sigh, his expression heavy with the weight of the situation. He spoke gravely, "General, these women are not crying because they have lost hope, but because they are about to face a fate worse than death. Despite the strength and discipline of our Qin army, there are still unscrupulous people within Fan City. If these women leave the safety of the General's residence without your protection, it won't be long before they are captured and exploited. Their fate... is too dreadful to imagine." Qin Yi fell silent, feeling frustrated as he looked at the group of women with blank expressions. Their fates had been sealed long before they could even speak for themselves, their lives subject to forces beyond their control. He inhaled deeply and, after a long pause, spoke with calm resolution, "Very well. Let them stay." He turned to Xuan Jian and gave him his orders, "Xuan Jian, select those with the best qualities and incorporate them into the Shadow Secret Guard. The rest will remain here and perform menial tasks." With that, Qin Yi did not spare another glance at the women and turned to leave. Although they were undeniably beautiful, his mind was already consumed with more pressing matters—his relentless pursuit of power, the complex web of politics, and the danger that surrounded him. His thoughts were pragmatic; he had no illusions of being a virtuous man. If any of these women were secretly sent to assassinate him, he would need to be vigilant. He could not afford to fall into such a trap. Just as Qin Yi was about to exit the courtyard, a sudden digital notification rang out from the system: "Ding! New mission issued: The host must confront the scattered Xiongnu forces and rescue the Gongshu family members. Complete the mission to receive three god-tier gift packs!" At that moment, hurried footsteps approached. "Report! Urgent matter for the General!" a voice called, urgent and breathless. Meanwhile, just a short distance away from Fan City, on the vast grassland, two groups of people were engaged in fierce combat. One group, a band of Xiongnu warriors armed with curved scimitars and dressed in foreign clothing, was attacking. The other group was a merchant caravan. At the forefront of the caravan, two young men wielded long swords, fighting valiantly against the Xiongnu invaders. The sounds of battle—clashing weapons, screams, and the thunderous impact of blades—echoed across the plains. Blood soaked the grass, and severed limbs and broken bodies littered the battlefield. Clearly, the Xiongnu forces were far stronger than the merchant caravan. Had it not been for the extraordinary bravery of the two young men, and the strategic brilliance of one, the caravan would have already been overrun by the Xiongnu cavalry. The simpler-minded of the two young men, after deflecting an attack from a Xiongnu soldier, managed to turn and shout toward the other youth, who was expertly directing their defense. "Ziming, there must be at least two thousand Xiongnu soldiers. We have barely three hundred men, many of whom are old or weak. What should we do?" Ziming, the more composed youth, surveyed the Xiongnu forces with a grave expression. Despite the tight knot of anxiety in his chest, his face remained calm. He responded shortly, his voice unwavering, "Wait for reinforcements." The simpler-minded youth could only sigh in frustration. With no support in sight, he turned and lunged back into the fray, his sword flashing as he fought. At the outer edges of the battlefield, behind the Xiongnu lines, their leader sat calmly atop his horse, watching the fight unfold in the distance. Occasionally, he took a sip from his wine, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Another officer, standing beside him, hesitated before speaking, "General, the merchant caravan is at its breaking point. Shall we bring the full force to bear and crush them now?" The general sneered, unimpressed. "Tch. Just a few stray dogs, and you want us to send the entire army? Let them have some fun; it's a good chance to train the men." The officer was still uncertain, glancing at the distant scene of battle. "General, this area is not far from Fan City, so..." The officer's words hung in the air, but the general knew exactly what he meant. His face paled slightly as he recalled the terrifying figure from the failed assault on Fan City. The memory of that general, whose strength seemed almost supernatural, made the Xiongnu leader's blood run cold. With a shiver, the general quickly regained his composure, but his voice became more serious. "All right, men, it's time to end this. Close the net!" At his command, the Xiongnu warriors, their faces filled with bloodlust, fixed their gaze on the surrounded caravan as if it were a group of beautiful women, eager to descend upon their prey. Ziming, realizing the imminent danger, called out loudly to his comrades, "Gather together! Form a circle—prepare for their final assault!" The caravan fighters quickly complied, huddling together in a defensive formation as the Xiongnu forces closed in from all sides. Just as the Xiongnu general shouted for the final assault, "Kill them all, leave no one alive!" a sudden tremor shook the ground, interrupting the battle. The warriors on both sides paused, momentarily confused, and turned toward the source of the disturbance. In the distance, dark smoke billowed up into the sky, like a black dragon baring its fangs and claws, heading straight for them. "What is that?" Everyone was struck by the same question. At that moment, one of the Xiongnu officers, whose vision was sharp, suddenly shouted in alarm, "Qin cavalry! It's the Qin cavalry!" Hearing this, the faces of the Xiongnu soldiers turned ashen, and the Xiongnu general's face darkened, his expression so grim it seemed as though it could drip with malice. The only force that could arrive this quickly and in such numbers was the Qin army, and he knew well that this was the army from Fan City, the army led by the man who haunted his nightmares. "General, the Qin cavalry appears to be in greater numbers than ours. We are caught between the merchant caravan and the incoming Qin forces. Should we retreat?" one of the Xiongnu officers asked. The Xiongnu general paused, his mind racing. He glanced at the approaching Qin cavalry, now less than a mile away, and then at the surrounded merchant caravan. After a long pause, he clenched his jaw, his decision swift and resolute. "Retreat! Pull back, now!" Without a moment's hesitation, the Xiongnu general ordered a full retreat, his men scattering in panic, retreating even faster than they had arrived, as if they feared the wrath of the killing god who led the Qin forces.