Compared to the jubilant laughter of the Han troops, conditions on Zhang Xin's side were far harsher.
Less than sixty li from the last settlement lay another Xianbei village.
Lü Bu led the vanguard, Zhang Xin followed behind, and the army pressed forward without pause.
The routine repeated itself—seize weapons, slaughter cattle and sheep, burn the grain.
There was no time to rest.
Zhang Xin immediately ordered the men to switch to the captured warhorses and continue their westward raid.
He only had 2,500 troops. That was nowhere near enough to encircle every settlement—some Xianbei would inevitably escape.
And once they escaped, the news would spread.
The Xianbei were all cavalry—fast by nature. If Zhang Xin failed to break through to Tanhan Mountain before the enemy returned, half his plan would collapse.
He didn't yet know that the overall commander this time was not Kui Tou, but Fu Luohan.
But even if he did, it wouldn't change one thing:
They had to move fast.
—
Under strict orders, the Han army reached a third village before sunset.
After another massacre, Zhang Xin finally ordered a halt.
That night, he studied the map.
In a single day, they had marched over 170 li and destroyed three Xianbei settlements.
In a conventional campaign, such speed would have broken supply lines long ago.
But with Yan Rou guiding them and the map marking enemy settlements, Zhang Xin sustained his army through plunder—fighting to feed his troops.
Around him, soldiers snored heavily.
Forced marches and constant combat had pushed them to their limits.
Fortunately, before departure, Zhang Xin had equipped both Han and Wuhuan cavalry with stirrups and high saddles—greatly conserving their strength.
Otherwise, with over 800 li to cover, many would have collapsed already.
—
At dawn, he roused the army again.
They pressed on relentlessly.
In just five days, Zhang Xin's force swept through fifteen or sixteen Xianbei villages, advancing another 600 li—now less than 200 li from Tanhan Mountain.
But when they reached the next village, something had changed.
It was empty.
Only a few elderly remained.
"When did the others leave?" Zhang Xin asked coldly.
The old man spat back curses.
Zhang Xin slit his throat without hesitation and turned to the next.
More curses. Another death.
After killing more than ten, one finally broke.
"They got the news last night… left immediately…"
Yan Rou stepped forward after inspecting the area. "My lord, there are signs of fires and mass departure. He's telling the truth."
Zhang Xin nodded. "Who brought the message?"
"From the east… the villages you attacked earlier…"
"Where did they flee?"
"To the royal camp."
Zhang Xin waved his hand.
The remaining prisoners were dragged away. Screams echoed.
—
Inside the chieftain's tent, Zhang Xin spread out his map.
Lü Bu, Yan Rou, Dian Wei, and Niu Feng stood nearby.
After a long silence, Zhang Xin spoke:
"Order the entire army to rest for one day."
Lü Bu frowned. "We're not advancing?"
"The messengers came from the villages we hit yesterday," Zhang Xin explained. "They fled on single horses—slow."
"But once they reached this village, they could change mounts. By now, Tanhan Mountain has already received the news."
He tapped the map.
"If we push forward now, we'll arrive exhausted—while they wait, fully prepared."
The generals nodded.
"Our force is small," Zhang Xin continued. "Between here and Tanhan Mountain are two more villages. Including this one, they can gather six or seven thousand men."
"With just two thousand exhausted troops, how do we fight that?"
Lü Bu asked, "And what if the Xianbei forces from Youzhou return?"
Zhang Xin shook his head. "Their entry routes are limited—Ning County, Cuixi, Lulong Pass."
He pointed to the map.
"Ning County is closest. But even if they receive the news, they raid in scattered groups. It will take two or three days to regroup."
"We have time."
He looked at Lü Bu. "Send scouts to monitor Ning County. When we strike Tanhan Mountain, I'll be relying on your strength."
Lü Bu grinned. "I won't disappoint you, my lord!"
He had reason to be confident.
In the past few days, the spoils had been immense—gold, silver, livestock, horses.
Zhang Xin had promised: all loot belonged to the soldiers.
As vanguard, Lü Bu had taken the lion's share.
Now each man had multiple mounts—some even three. Lü Bu himself had to dedicate a horse just to carry his treasure.
Morale was sky-high.
—
After a day's rest, the army moved again.
Fifty li ahead—another village.
Again, only the elderly remained.
Zhang Xin didn't even stop. He ordered a change of horses and pushed onward.
By noon, they reached the final village.
Beyond it, ninety li away, lay Tanhan Mountain.
Xianbei scouts were already appearing nearby.
Zhang Xin knew—the enemy was ready.
He ordered a halt and sent out scouts of his own.
—
Tanhan Mountain, Royal Tent
"What did you say?!"
Kui Tou stared at the scout in disbelief.
"The Han force… only a little over two thousand men?"
Earlier reports had mentioned Han cavalry massacring villages—but their numbers were unknown.
It had made him uneasy.
Most of his warriors had already been sent out. Even after urgently gathering nearby men, he had only managed to assemble six thousand cavalry.
But now—
Only two thousand?
Kui Tou relaxed instantly.
"They succeeded only because of surprise," he scoffed. "Now that we're prepared, what is there to fear?"
Six thousand against two thousand.
The advantage was his.
"Men!" Kui Tou roared.
"Gather the troops!"
"I will personally lead the attack and meet the Han army in battle!"