The voice that came with the hoofbeats was urgent and booming, carrying an unquestionable haste that instantly shattered the grassland's tranquility.
The leading general felt a jolt of suspicion and instinctively turned back. Two riders clad in black leather armor, curved blades at their waists, were spurring their horses hard toward them.
They were lean and agile, their expressions anxious. Judging by their attire, they were actually personal guards from the Xiongnu Chanyu's side.
The general's heart skipped a beat. A sense of foreboding rose within him, and he unconsciously tensed. Could it be that the Chanyu discovered I deliberately delayed the march in hopes of reaping the spoils without lifting a finger?
He did not dare put on any airs. He immediately dismounted, straightened his armor, and stood to one side with a respectful bow, quietly awaiting the guards' arrival, scarcely daring to breathe.
Moments later, the two guards galloped up, reined in their horses, and dismounted. Their faces were still marked by lingering terror, along with a trace of barely concealed relief.
They hurried before the general, panting heavily. Only after catching their breath for quite some time did they exclaim, "Thank goodness! Thank goodness you haven't entered Donghu territory yet! Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable!"
The general's doubts deepened. He hastily bowed and asked, "My lords, what happened? Why are you so flustered? Has the Chanyu issued some urgent order?"
One of the guards drew a deep breath, suppressing the shock and panic in his heart, then said heavily, "General, the hundred and twenty thousand troops of the Hunxie Tribe and the Xubu Tribe were completely annihilated by the Qin Army within Donghu territory—in just two days!
"The White Sheep Tribe fought desperately to escape and report back. They said the Qin Army's combat strength