The whole country in Daqin was rejoicing. At this time, Hulda, who had just crossed the Zherigantu Gaole Pass after four days of attack, did not know that Huermu had been completely wiped out.
Western Qiang land, near Heihe River.
Ten thousand horsemen galloped towards Hulda.
"Dadanghu, in front of you is the Heihe River. Only a hundred and sixty miles across the Heihe River is the hinterland of the Xiqiang land!"
Hulda looked around and could already see the Qilian Mountains in the distance.
"Okay! I ordered you to go down and not camp for rest today. Cross the Heihe River and go upstream along the Beida River. We will go straight to the foot of Qilian Mountain! Kill them by surprise!"
Wan Qichang said excitedly: "Yes! We are finally going to fight back, and the brothers can't wait!"
Hulda also smiled again and again: "Humph! I'm afraid Dada, this loser, never dreamed that we would come back. We must take over the Xiqiang land as soon as possible, and then fight towards Tianhou Mountain without wasting too much time. Otherwise, if we are delayed here, I’m afraid the leader will be under great pressure!”
Wan Qi Chang took the order and ran away. Hulda also rode to follow.
At this time, the Qin army of less than 3,000 men was stationed in the post house in Beiqiang, which was the location of Jiuquan in later generations, and they had no idea of the danger they were about to face.
There were not many cavalry in the Dada tribe. The main force of 10,000 people was mainly concentrated near Yanzhi Mountain, and the remaining 20,000 people were scattered around according to the divided areas of the post houses.
There are only more than 3,000 cavalrymen in the Northern Qiang region, stationed at the junction of Beidahe and Linshui Rivers northeast of the post house, with the supervisor Zhao Song following him in the army.
After half a year of getting along, Zhao Song had already gotten along well with Qi Daheer, the Qiang soldiers' commander of ten thousand cavalry. Mainly, Zhao Song does not interfere with their daily life here, but only teaches them many life skills, combat methods, and ideological education work.
In addition, Zhao Song was a forthright person with extremely high emotional intelligence, so he won the trust of the Qiang soldiers. Of course, there would occasionally be conflicts, but Qidaher knew that what Zhao Song taught them would play an important role, so having Qidaher support him did not affect his status.
"Haha, brother Zhao Song, I brought you some beef, come and try it!"
Qidaheer walked into Zhao Song's residence carrying a piece of strong beef tendon meat.
When Zhao Song saw him arriving, he quickly stood up and greeted him with a smile.
"Brother Qida, come in and sit down!"
The two sat down, Zhao Song took the beef and praised: "Good meat! I'll let Ha Song'er cook it now, let the two of us drink it!"
In Da Qin, it is forbidden to slaughter cattle. After Zhao Song came to the grassland, he had satisfied his beef addiction! Qidaheer naturally knows the rules of Da Qin, so every time he comes to bring beef.
"Okay, let's get drunk and rest today!"
After the two chatted and laughed for a while, Qidaheer gave Zhao Song's maid Ha Song'er already brought the meat, and the two of them ate and drank.
After drinking a few drinks, Zhao Song smacked his lips and said, "It's already early March, and there has been no movement from the Xiongnu side. I'm quite worried!"
Qidaher put down the cup in his hand and frowned: "Yes, after a winter, the Huns neither sent anyone to attack the Hexi Corridor, nor sent anyone to ask for food and grass from our troops. It is really strange."
Qidaher is also used to the name Hexi Corridor.
Zhao Song picked up the wine jar on the table and waved to Ha Song'er to take the wine jar down.
"We'd better not drink any more. I've been a little restless these days. The Huns can't just let it go. They will definitely come to make us unhappy. We need to be careful!"
Qidaher nodded and agreed: "That's right. Since last month, we have gathered all the cavalry, but there are only more than 3,000 people. It may be difficult to deal with the Huns. I have ordered more cavalry to be released. , and at the same time ask the nearby herdsmen to help us keep an eye on the north, so that we can find out in advance and have a way to deal with it!"
Zhao Song chewed a piece of beef and tapped the tabletop with the tip of the knife in his hand.
"That's good. I also informed the Qin army in the posthouse that if we are in danger, Wei Cheng can come to our rescue at any time. But they are infantry, so their role may be limited."
"In my opinion, if the Huns really attack in a big way, we will retreat to the post house. The post house is already quite large, and the wooden fence there can be relied on to block the cavalry charge."
Then the two chatted for a long time, until the grassland was filled with golden light before they separated.
Two hours later, almost midnight, Zhao Song suddenly heard a rush of footsteps in his sleep and woke up immediately.
Qidaheer opened the tent door and walked in quickly.
"Brother Zhao Song, get up quickly, the Huns are coming!"
Zhao Song asked anxiously while getting dressed: "How many people are there? How far away are they?"
Qidaheer's tone was urgent: "About ten thousand people, only twenty miles away, they will arrive in an instant! The cavalry coming are dressed as Qiang soldiers, they should be the traitor from Hormu!"
Zhao Song was stunned for a moment, then stopped thinking.
"Whether it's Hu'ermu or not, the people who came here are evil, and there are still more than 10,000 people. I suggest you retreat to the post house immediately and not face the enemy head-on!"
Qidaheer nodded: "That's exactly what I meant. Our troops have packed up and we'll set off immediately!"
Then the two men went to the posthouse with three thousand cavalry, and before leaving, they burned the camp.
When Hulda rushed to the camp half an hour later, all that was left to him was a burned-out ruins.
Hulda sneered: "Do Dada's cavalry only have this much courage?"
Wan Qi Chang rode forward and pointed in the direction of the post house: "Dadanghu, Tanqi came to report that the Dada tribe's cavalry escaped in that direction!"
Huldal turned his horse around and waved the whip in his hand: "Warriors, chase them. We must annihilate them all tonight!"
The rumbling sound of horse hooves was like bursts of thunder on the silent grassland, heading towards the post house.
By the time Hulda approached the post house, all of Hulda's cavalry had dismounted and were rapidly reinforcing the post house.
Hulda led the cavalry to stop in front of the post house, rode his horse forward, and shouted loudly: "Listen to the Qiang people inside, I am Hulda, the great householder, and I am back! Anyone who knows how to do it quickly opens the camp door and waits for me to capture the Qin army inside. Kill them all, but you will still be my good sons and daughters of the Beiqiang clan!"
Qida Heer climbed up to the high platform next to him, sneered, and responded loudly: "Hulda, you traitor, you still have the nerve to come back? Where is that traitor from Hormu?"
Hulda laughed loudly, raised his riding crop and pointed it at Qidaher: "It turns out to be brother Qidaer. I didn't expect that four years have passed and you are still alive!"
Qidaheer snorted coldly and said: "Bah! You are worthy of calling me brother! You and Hu'ermu are not dead, how could I die? I am still waiting to behead the traitor!"
Hulda was tit for tat.
"You say we are traitors? Then where did those Qin people in the post house come from? No matter how traitor I am, I will never beg for mercy from the Qin people!"
Qidaheer waved his hand and said coldly: "I have no nonsense with you. Go back to the Xiongnu if you have sense, or come and try to attack me!"
Hulda's face was gloomy and he said harshly: "Okay! Then I will chop off your heads and those of the Qin people!"
Then he turned around and returned to the army, and ordered Commander Wan Qi: "It's getting late. I think they number five to six thousand people, and they are blocked by fences. Order the warriors to camp on the spot and attack again early tomorrow morning!"
