"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Haha, kill your way in, kill your way in!"
"Don't let that Tufu dog escape!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Wei's old general, Zhunjin, was exceptionally adept at leading troops. A veteran of countless battles, he, along with Prince Bian and Linyue, led over ten thousand elite Xiongnu cavalry to launch a surprise attack on the Tuhun Xiongnu's Laidai City. In just half a day, Laidai City was breached. With Laidai City fallen, the hundred thousand strong warriors of Duoyongjian could directly confront the northern frontier stronghold of the Great Yan Kingdom, Xueyin City.
After the city fell, the cavalry of Duoyongjian swarmed into Laidai City, slashing and killing as they went. They plundered the city's population, livestock, and valuables. The women of the city fared the worst, either abducted or violated, some even to their deaths.
Generally speaking, warfare between nomadic tribes on the grasslands was primarily for plunder. Upon conquering a city or tribe, all resisters were killed, and those who submitted, along with women, were taken captive. Livestock and valuables were also seized, and often the city or settlement was burned to the ground.
"Where is General Zhunjin?" After Laidai City was breached, Linyue, holding Prince Bian, entered the city surrounded by hundreds of Xiongnu cavalry. Upon witnessing the carnage within, Linyue frowned and asked.
"Princess Consort, I will go find Zhunjin," a Xiongnu general replied loudly and galloped away to locate Zhunjin, the actual commanding general of this assault and Linyue's trusted subordinate.
"Qinduni..." Linyue then addressed a young shaman named Qinduni.
Qinduni understood, smiled faintly, and led a few people towards the city.
"Linyue, I'm scared!" Prince Bian said, rubbing his head against Linyue's chest.
Prince Bian felt safest in Linyue's embrace.
"Your Highness, you are the commander of an army. You cannot be like this at this moment," Linyue said, holding Prince Bian.
"Oh, what should I be like then?" Prince Bian asked.
"You should ride a horse alone, you should wear armor and carry a bow," Linyue said softly.
"Oh, alright." Prince Bian regarded Linyue as his mother, and his mother's words were naturally the most trustworthy, so Prince Bian nodded.
"Someone, assist His Highness in changing," Linyue then instructed the attendants.
The attendants brought a tall horse, a small set of armor, and a toy-like small bow.
"Linyue..." Even so, after changing into the iron armor, slinging the small bow over his back, and being lifted onto the saddle by several attendants, Prince Bian still felt the immense weight of it all. He looked pitifully at Linyue from atop the horse.
Linyue sighed, urged her horse forward, and stood beside Prince Bian, taking his cold little hand.
"My Lady!" After the city was breached and the chaotic troops entered, the city was in utter disarray. The Xiongnu general searched for a long time before finding Zhunjin. Zhunjin rode swiftly and bowed to Linyue from his horse.
"General Zhunjin, you must not allow the troops to kill so indiscriminately," Linyue said calmly to Zhunjin.
"My Lady, but this..." Zhunjin's face immediately showed a look of difficulty.
These over ten thousand elite cavalry were neither Linyue's personal troops nor Zhunjin's subordinates. They were temporarily assigned by Duoyongjian, with Prince Bian being their nominal commander.
After the city fell, these over ten thousand elite cavalry immediately transformed into beasts, rampaging and plundering everywhere. Zhunjin could not control them at all; no one obeyed his commands.
"In the Prince's name, summon the thousand-man commanders of each unit," Linyue, fully aware of Zhunjin's predicament, ordered.
Horns were sounded, and ten thousand-man commanders who were currently engaged in plundering the city were summoned before Linyue.
"Esteemed Commanders..." Linyue rode forward, looking at the ten commanders of varying heights, builds, and appearances. Their only common trait was their fierce and rugged demeanor. Linyue asked, "Are you in good spirits today?"
"Good, why wouldn't we be?" The ten commanders, after a moment of surprise, responded. One commander named Weidun laughed heartily, "This Laidai City is truly a large city. There are countless cattle, sheep, gold, silver, jewels, and grain. We can't even finish looking, let alone robbing."
"And countless beautiful women. Hey, Commander Weidun, how many women have you defiled?" A commander of the Wusun tribe named Mikun also chimed in.
"Haha, Commander Mikun, I heard your unit also plundered quite a bit," Weidun laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha!" The ten commanders, disregarding Linyue's displeased expression, erupted in boisterous laughter.
The ten commanders' blatant disregard for Linyue caused Zhunjin and the several hundred personal guards of Linyue to become enraged, clenching their sword hilts.
"Esteemed Commanders..." Linyue waved her hand, signaling Zhunjin and the others to remain calm, and continued, "Do you know what our Great Xiongnu lacks the most?"
"We lack horses, cattle, sheep, weapons, and grain. What else could it be?" Weidun arrogantly replied, "Princess Consort, what do you mean by this?"
"Stupid pig, what we lack the most is people," a young commander named Canshen said faintly.
"Canshen, you little eunuch! Don't you think I know we lack people? Do I need you to tell me?" Weidun angrily retorted.
"Clang!" In an instant, the two began to quarrel and drew their swords, preparing to attack each other in front of Prince Bian and Linyue.
"His Highness and the Princess Consort are still here. What do you intend to do?" Zhunjin drew his sword and rode forward, looking at Weidun and Canshen angrily.
Canshen sheathed his sword sheepishly. Although Weidun also sheathed his long sword, he said sullenly, "Do we need a Han Chinese like you to butt into our affairs?"
Before the siege, under the authority of Duoyongjian and Prince Bian, Weidun and the others had to obey Zhunjin's orders. But after the city fell, Weidun and the others no longer heeded Zhunjin, especially since Weidun was confident that he could have captured Laidai City with his own ten thousand elite troops.
"Commander Canshen is right. What our Great Xiongnu lacks the most is people," Linyue said, giving Weidun a cold glance. "With people, we have cattle and sheep. With people, we have pastures. With people, we have armies. With people, we have everything. But you kill indiscriminately and plunder wantonly, solely to satisfy your own desires. Do you not find this improper? Did the Great Chieftain order us to attack this city merely for slaughter and plunder? Therefore, I command you: as long as they do not resist, stop the killing and stop plundering the property of innocent civilians."
Linyue's words were righteous, causing the commanders to nod in agreement, but some were still displeased, Weidun among them.
"Linyue, you were originally a lowly slave, first serving the Great Chieftain, then serving the Prince. You are nothing but a slut, daring to order us around?" Weidun said arrogantly, his hand on his sword, looking at Linyue.
Linyue did not reply. She merely frowned and adjusted her clothing.
This was Linyue's signal for Zhunjin and the others to act. Zhunjin rode forward, suddenly drew his long sword, and struck Weidun three times in rapid succession. Each blow was more powerful and forceful than the last.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
With the long sword descending, Weidun hastily drew his sword to parry. The two blades clashed, emitting three piercing sounds. On Zhunjin's third blow, although Weidun managed to block it, he was knocked from his saddle.
"Bind him!" Zhunjin ordered, pointing his long sword at Weidun. Several guards rushed forward, pinned Weidun to the ground, and bound him securely.
The other commanders looked at each other, unsure whether to attack or not. With Prince Bian present, attacking would be rebellion. If they didn't attack, they feared Linyue would move against them next.
Among the ten commanders, only Canshen signaled his troops to surround Weidun's soldiers, preventing them from making any rash moves.
Linyue nodded at Canshen in gratitude, then addressed the remaining commanders, "Weidun insulted the Great Chieftain and His Highness the Prince. According to the laws of our Great Xiongnu, he should be executed before the army!"
Linyue then waved her hand, signaling the action. Two guards stepped on the tightly bound Weidun. One guard swung his sword and severed Weidun's head with a single stroke, then kicked it several feet away.
"Esteemed Commanders, do not be alarmed!" Linyue then looked at the remaining eight pale-faced commanders and said, "Weidun disobeyed orders, and this has nothing to do with you. I repeat: immediately cease the killing and stop plundering the property of the ordinary civilians of Laidai City. Any plundered goods and persons must be immediately presented before the Prince's horse. The Prince will personally reward them according to their merits."
"We obey!" The eight commanders, along with Commander Canshen, were overjoyed. They placed one hand on their chests while on horseback and responded loudly.
The fall of Laidai City and the subsequent plundering by the troops meant that some had taken more and some less. Those with greater strength had taken more, and those with less strength had taken less. Linyue's intention to distribute the spoils according to merit was a fairer approach, which earned her the support of most Xiongnu cavalry, especially the common soldiers.
At the same time, Linyue's swift execution of Weidun for his defiance instilled fear in those who were hesitant, preventing further unrest.
Zhunjin nodded, secretly praising her.
Linyue's two steps—establishing authority through execution and then ensuring fair distribution of spoils—had secured the army's loyalty.
"Linyue..." Prince Bian was not frightened by Weidun's blood splashing on the ground. Instead, he felt Linyue was even more reliable and trustworthy, and he wanted to dismount and rush into her embrace.
Linyue shook her head slightly.
...
"Queen Qimoni!"
"Merciful Queen Qimoni!"
"We thank you, Queen Qimoni!"
Linyue left three thousand soldiers to guard the city and led the remaining troops out to return. The city's survivors, who had narrowly escaped death, rushed to Linyue's horse, kneeling and bowing in reverence.
The legend of Queen Linyue Qimoni seemed to be true, the citizens thought.
At the same time, Linyue's beautiful face, like that of a celestial fairy, inspired deep admiration and reverence in the hearts of the people.
In the battle for Laidai City, Linyue not only gained the army's allegiance but also the people's hearts. Her fame gradually spread across the grasslands, and everyone on the grasslands knew of Linyue's name.