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Trust between people is the most difficult thing to establish.
Just like later-era people who, while clamoring "Where is the most basic trust?" also go to pirate markets to read novels.
Thus, history records instances of so-and-so trusting so-and-so greatly, and how so-and-so repaid that weighty trust.
Imagine if a street full of hopelessly plain, ugly people suddenly produced someone stunningly beautiful—wouldn't everyone be astonished, exclaiming, "Such beauty exists in this world!"
Most of history, beneath thin paper and sparse words, is filled to overflowing with pus, blood, and ugliness. That's why historians lavish attention on those few shining moments, depicting them vividly and movingly.
But mostly, it's mutual suspicion, calculation between people...
"Zidu, you said the Xiongnu Chanyu Yu Fuluo didn't pursue?"
When Fei Qian first saw Ma Yue arrive with less than a hundred cavalry, defeated from Pingyang, his heart nearly stopped for an instant. But hearing Ma Yue recount some details, his heart regained some warmth.
The Southern Xiongnu Yu Fuluo had directly taken troops to raid Ma Yue's White Wave Valley, while the White Wave army was attacking the old Pingyang city!
Amid this extremely bad news, the only point that puzzled Fei Qian was that Yu Fuluo seemed to have gone easy...
First, Yu Fuluo didn't participate in attacking Pingyang County town. Of course, Hu people weren't adept at siege warfare. With the White Wave's infantry-heavy forces, Yu Fuluo had even less reason for direct assault. So that was somewhat understandable.
Second, though Yu Fuluo defeated Ma Yue's cavalry, he didn't pursue to annihilate them. This was interesting. After all, Hu people were quite skilled on horseback. From Pingyang to Yong'an, though one could detour around White Wave forces, evading Hu people with multiple horses per man wasn't easy...
Ma Yue, face full of shame, knelt below the hall.
Having just independently commanded troops for less than ten days, he'd been herded back like sheep. Though he understood bringing back surviving forces and reporting to Fei Qian, accepting punishment, was the correct approach, emotionally it was very painful.
"...Yes, Lord. The Xiongnu only chased about ten li, then all withdrew. Please punish me, Lord!"
In the Han Dynasty, losing most of one's troops (shi shi) was a serious crime for commanders. But such crimes were judged based on actual circumstances; otherwise, no one would lead troops.
In Ma Yue's case, punishment was certainly warranted. But facing overwhelming odds, without major command errors, it likely wouldn't be a capital offense.
Fei Qian pressed: "Punishment is necessary, but that's not the focus now. Punishing you now—would that improve the situation? Zidu, I ask you to think carefully, recount the entire process, don't miss any details..."
Ma Yue kowtowed once, then slowly narrated while recalling.
After Fei Qian left Pingyang, initially the White Wave didn't attack Pingyang. They camped by the Fen River, seeming to ignore Pingyang, heading directly south.
But two days ago, the White Wave suddenly turned, directly advancing to Pingyang's walls, recklessly attacking the county town.
Ma Yue had received Jia Qu's instructions: if the White Wave attacked Pingyang, Ma Yue should seek opportunities to raid the White Wave supply depot. Not aiming to kill many, just burning provisions would cripple White Wave morale.
The White Wave's first and second days, they drove commoners to attack. Their own combat troops didn't move. So though声势浩大, it was ineffective. On the third day—this morning—the White Wave finally deployed combat troops...
Ma Yue, with cavalry, waited until noon, when fighting was intense, then suddenly charged from the valley, heading straight for the White Wave rear camp.
Initially, combat went smoothly. The White Wave, suddenly attacked, fell into chaos in their assault. Ma Yue led cavalry into the White Wave rear camp, started fires, destroyed supplies...
Just as everything proceeded according to plan, Xiongnu cavalry suddenly entered the battlefield, directly charging Ma Yue!
Ma Yue's forces originally had many Hu cavalry. In that situation, many Hu cavalry panicked, even fleeing before Ma Yue issued any orders. Though Bingzhou veterans held firm, morale was greatly shaken...
The Xiongnu cavalry were indeed numerous—almost ten times Ma Yue's. Helpless, they retreated. Between Ma Yue and Pingyang County town were not only Xiongnu cavalry but also White Wave bandits. Unable to enter Pingyang, they retreated towards Yong'an. Strangely, during the entire Xiongnu pursuit, they seemed to have no intention of annihilation, only chasing about ten li, then voluntarily withdrew.
Overall, Ma Yue's losses weren't from the initial clash but from recruited Hu cavalry seeing the situation unfavorable, slipping away during retreat—those ten li or so...
In other words, few died in battle; many fled. When Ma Yue regrouped, only about a hundred Bingzhou veterans plus a hundred-plus Hu cavalry remained—meaning about two hundred Hu cavalry fled.
Mercenaries—all like that. Fei Qian wasn't too surprised.
But after hearing Ma Yue's account, one thought circled in Fei Qian's mind: What did Yu Fuluo intend?
According to Ma Yue, Xiongnu cavalry numbered at least three thousand. That meant if Yu Fuluo was determined, annihilating Ma Yue's five hundred-plus wouldn't be difficult. Yet Yu Fuluo merely drove them off, didn't attack.
Though Ma Yue's forces were depleted, actually it was due to lax discipline during retreat, failing to detect and stop Hu cavalry desertions—not really Yu Fuluo's doing.
"How was Pingyang County town when you left?" Fei Qian pressed.
Ma Yue answered honestly: "At that time, attacking the White Wave rear camp caused chaos among attacking White Wave. Liangdao counterattacked, killed many... But later, because of the Xiongnu... So the current situation..."
Fei Qian couldn't help but frown...