Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1189 The Great Tent on the Southern Slope of Yinshan Mountain
"Report, Right Wise King, the route map for the detour to the south has been drawn up."

Southern foothills of Yinshan Mountain

The enormous wolf-headed royal tent fluttered in the north wind, its rough felt fabric seemingly bearing the ambition of the entire grassland.

Inside the tent,

The tallow torches crackled and burned, casting long, distorted shadows onto the hanging wolf skins and scimitars. The air was thick with the pungent smell of mutton and the acrid odor of smoke.

Right Wise King Qieti Hou sat upright in the main seat, his wolf-skin cloak making him appear as cold and hard as a rock. This southward journey was also a well-thought-out decision. He assumed that the Lan Clan had already completed their mission, so he did not travel fast, but rather marched and resupplyed along the way.

Most importantly, why did the Chanyu allow the Left Wise King to travel south with him? Did he sense something? His eyes turned cold as he glanced at the figure of the Left Wise King, Yizhihuye.

now,

Inside the large tent, tribal leaders gathered together, and the Left Wise King Yizhihuye had already picked up a wine cup, filled it to the brim, and shouted with delight.

When the messenger handed a secret letter to the Right Wise King, the Marquis of Qieti frowned at first, then was overjoyed. He pressed down the secret letter in his hand and put it directly into his sleeve. This scene was seen by the Left Wise King, Yizhihuye, who picked up his wine cup without making a sound.

"Come, Right Wise King, for the sake of the Chanyu, drink this cup of wine to the brim."

"Good, for the Chanyu, for the Eternal Heaven, let's do it."

Inside the tent, everyone shouted in unison, raised their cups together, and drank them down in one gulp with great bravado.

Left Wise King Yizhihuye downed his wine cup in one gulp, but his eyes, like the most cunning fox on the grassland, subtly swept over Qietihou's sleeve. The frown and surprise in that instant, and the quick movement of hiding, did not escape his eyes.

It seems that the secret letter that just arrived is extremely important, and what is the Marquis hiding? Thinking of this, he vaguely understood why the Chanyu had sent him along.

and,

Since heading south, the movements of the Marquis's main force have always seemed to deviate slightly from his central army, like two snakes that are neither close nor distant, taking the wrong routes.

"Come on, everyone, let's keep going!"

The headman of the Helan tribe took the lead,

A thunderous response erupted from inside the tent, as tribal leaders raised their cups and drank heartily, wine dripping down their bushy beards, creating a lively and boisterous atmosphere.

But in Yizhihuye's view, it might just be a smokescreen by those Han people. So, he raised his cup again, his gaze fixed intently on Qietihou, and his tone seemed to change unintentionally:
"Right Wise King, today our scouts report that your vanguard seems to have deviated from the agreed-upon valley and headed eastward. Have they discovered some fertile grasslands, or... something more important?"

He still smiled as he spoke, and his tone was casual, as if he had been drinking, showing no sign of probing.

However, while the Marquis was somewhat wary, his face remained calm, and he raised his wine bowl in return:
"Your Excellency Zuo Xian is overthinking it. They are just a few lost sheep, coveting a few rare patches of tender grass on the eastern slope. I have ordered them to return to the group immediately. On the southern slope of Yinshan Mountain, which inch of land can escape Your Excellency Zuo Xian's discerning eyes?"

The answer was flawless; the grasslands are vast, so it doesn't matter where you go.

Yi Zhihuye laughed heartily and stopped asking questions, but the laughter didn't reach his eyes. No matter how lush the water and grass were, it wasn't worth the army resting for three days in the valley on the southern slope of Yinshan Mountain.

"Left Wise King, this place is considered the heartland of our territory. Let us rest here for three days and then send out our troops as soon as the time is right."

"Alright, we'll do as the Right Wise King says."

After the banquet, the Left Wise King Yizhihuye hurriedly returned to his own royal tent.

First day of rest

Yizhihuye then dispatched his trusted scouts, who were sent out like ghosts. Perhaps today, the news they needed should arrive.

Sitting in the tent, he ordered more wine and meat, and before he had taken two bites, his trusted subordinate, Bai Yang, rushed over and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I have received news."

Aries was filled with excitement and knelt on the ground. Izhihuye immediately got up and helped him up.
"Don't be so polite. Come on, sit down and have a cup of warm wine to warm yourself up."

Before he could finish speaking, he pulled the person over to sit down, handed them a cup of warm wine, and after the Aries thanked him, took the cup, drank it all in one gulp, and felt a warm sensation welling up from his chest and abdomen.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I went to the Right Wise King's scout camp and made contact with a centurion. After drinking some wine, he suddenly revealed a piece of information, but I don't know if it's true or not."

Aries is also somewhat uncertain, especially since this person is very easy to bribe. Although some methods were used, look, this person revealed part of the truth, which was too easy.

A glint flashed in the eyes of the Left Wise King, and he reached out and patted the Aries' arm.

“You have the meticulousness of a Han Chinese, but how many men on the grasslands are like you? Regardless of whether it’s true or false, as long as you say it, the two of us can analyze it and get the gist of it.”

Yizhihuye didn't have these guesses. Regardless of whether they were true or false, he wanted to get to the bottom of it. Baiyang nodded and agreed, and then told him the information he had gathered over the past two days.

“Your Majesty, that centurion said that the Right Wise King sent his trusted men to find a direct road to the interior of the pass. He said that a path “never seen before” has been discovered, and that the map has been presented to the Right Wise King.”

"Unprecedented...the route into the country..."

Yizhihuye stood in his large tent, his back to the flickering firelight. The tent was deathly silent, except for the tapping sound of his knuckles striking the hilt of his sword.

"This news came suddenly. Do you think it's true or false?"

If it were any other news, Yizhihuye would have believed it, but this time, he was less inclined to believe it. The Right Wise King had been sacrificing troops from various tribes every year to try and force the Han people to pass through the pass. The Great Wu Dynasty's troops were not weak either, and they fought every year, suffering heavy losses every year, yet they had not made a single move. If such a route existed, shouldn't it have been used long ago?

"Your Majesty, I feel that this is somewhat unreliable. If this path had been known earlier, not to mention a few years ago, even ten years ago when the Great Wu court was in turmoil, the Right Wise King would have led his troops south. Perhaps, with such great merit, he could have competed for the Khanate. But now that the Chanyu has ascended the throne, I have not seen him make any moves."

Aries hesitated for a moment, then, considering that the Chanyu was currently staying at the Northern Desert Royal Court, he became somewhat uncertain.

“Your Majesty, perhaps the Right Wise King is hiding something, or perhaps he is waiting for this secret path.”

It's hard to say what we're waiting for.
A chilling rage, mixed with immense doubt, instantly swept over Ichikhuye.

"What a cunning Lord Qieti! He's really cunning. Why didn't he bring it out earlier or later? Why did he have to reveal it when I was here? Isn't this just setting us up for a trap?"

He turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with cold light, all traces of his usual arrogance gone.

"Send the order!"

"Subordinates obey orders."

Aries immediately rose and knelt in worship, his expression solemn.

"Regardless of whether the news is true or false, or whether Marquis Qieti has made a move, I have brought very few troops this time, only 30,000 iron cavalry for protection. So, fast horses! The fastest horses! With my Golden Wolf Token, immediately send messengers to travel day and night back to the Left Wise King's Court!"

"Order: Lou Fan's troops! All able-bodied men who can mount horses and draw bows, break camp immediately!"

"Order: Hu Yang tribe! Send all your chariots and heavy armored warriors to our aid under the cover of night!"

"Order: Western Mountain Tribe! Gather their fiercest wolf riders without delay!"

"The three tribes, with a combined force of 250,000! Tell those three old bastards that the gold mines, silver seas, silks, and beauties of the Han lands are right before their eyes! Tell them to give it their all! Within half a month, I want to see the dust raised by my 250,000 wolf cavalry, south of the southern foothills of Yinshan, blot out the sun! Anyone who disobeys... will have their tribe exterminated!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Aries received the heavy golden wolf token as if it were a burning flame, turned and rushed out of the tent. The rapid hoofbeats instantly faded into the vast night, carrying with them the command to ignite the entire western grassland.

Whether it was a misperception or not, many tribal chiefs from the eastern grasslands seemed to have made a pact to arrive one after another. The Right Wise King's forces swelled rapidly, exceeding 300,000, and their massive tents, blotting out the sky, filled the entire southern foothills of the Yin Mountains. In the days that followed...

The atmosphere on the southern slope of Yinshan Mountain became extremely subtle. The camps of the Left and Right Wise Kings faced each other across a shallow stream, with banners fluttering and horns sounding from time to time, but there was little interaction between high-ranking officials.

Furthermore, the Marquis intensified the concealment and defense of the area surrounding the secret path, while also dispatching more elite teams to try to ascertain the specific situation at the end of the path. He also ordered Master Lan to personally lead the Hulan tribe on guard to prevent any leaks.

Meanwhile, Yizhihuye quietly integrated the troops from other tribes that were arriving one after another and who belonged to his direct lineage. His massive camp was expanding every day, like a lurking beast breathing slowly and powerfully, accumulating strength.

The plan was to rest for three days, but a week has already passed. The mobilization order for the troops under the Left Wise King has spread to all the tribes in the western part of Donghu. There is a heavy atmosphere in the air, like a storm brewing. Even ordinary soldiers can feel the invisible tension between the two supreme commanders.

The days of waiting were long and agonizing.

Finally, on the evening of the thirteenth day, a thunderous sound echoed across the horizon. A black line flashed on the horizon, the terrifying roar of countless hooves striking the earth simultaneously! From afar, a cloud of dust rose up, blotting out the sun, like a yellow cloud of doomsday, quickly swallowing the last rays of the setting sun. Then, beneath the dust, an endless, surging black tide appeared.

The 200,000 elite troops of the Left Wise King Yizhihuye have arrived!

"Waaaaah! Waaaaah! Waaaaah!"

A mournful horn sounded.
The first thing that catches the eye is the vanguard of Lou Fan's tribe, all riding black-maned steeds. The riders are exceptionally tall and robust, with half of their arms bare, revealing bulging, iron-like muscles and a ferocious indigo wolf head tattoo. In every charge, they are always the first warriors to charge forward.

Following closely behind were the Hu Yang tribe's cavalry, each rider on two horses, carrying bows and crossbows, with three quivers on each horse. Before each attack, they would use arrows to scout the enemy.

Finally, bringing up the rear were the wolf riders of the Western Mountain tribe, a group of wild soldiers dressed in multicolored fur robes, with various feathers stuck in their heads, uttering sharp whistles and howls imitating wolves, galloping on their horses, arrogant and domineering.

The entire main camp of the Left Wise King's army instantly erupted in cheers. Horns blared, drums thundered, and the soldiers left behind rushed out of their tents, waving their weapons and shouting deafening cheers that soared into the sky.

The merging of the two forces into one, with nearly 300,000 troops, gave Left Wise King Yizhihuye confidence. Hearing the shouts outside the tent, the smile on Yizhihuye's lips deepened.

This sound wave was clearly heard in the camp of the Right Wise King and Marquis Qieti, and the soldiers in the camp all changed color and rushed to the edge of the camp to look out.

In the distance, smoke and dust obscured the sun, banners fluttered like a forest, and swords and spears gleamed like snow. The seemingly endless army stretched to the horizon, and the overwhelming killing intent crashed down like a tangible tsunami, making it hard to breathe.

"Report, Your Majesty, the three tribes under the Left Wise King, together with a total of 250,000 elite troops, have arrived. The Left Army camp now has about 300,000 troops gathered."

The chief commander under the Right Wise King, his expression somber, relayed a message: 250,000 troops were coming to their aid! And this was the combined army of the three most elite tribes under the Left Wise King! Why were they coming? The answer was obvious.

And the Marquis stood before his golden-roofed tent, his face so gloomy it could drip water. He suddenly flung open the curtain and looked westward at the overwhelming military might that blotted out the sky. He clutched the secret letter tightly in his sleeve, his knuckles turning white.

Yizhihuye... What swift movements! What ruthless determination! With his goal achieved, he also felt the pressure! This army of 250,000 was not only an aid to entering the pass, but also a sword hanging over his head. They were there to take a share of the spoils, and he needed to prepare carefully for the rest.
"Issue the order: tonight I invite the Left Wise King to the main tent for a meeting."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The head of the household lowered his head and responded.

That night,

Southern foothills of Yinshan Mountain

The banquet, attended by the Left and Right Wise Kings along with the leaders of the major tribes, was held in the largest tent of the central army, the Golden Wolf King's Tent.

Inside the tent,

The huge campfire blazed fiercely, its flickering flames casting shifting shadows on everyone's faces inside the tent.

This time,
Yizhihuye naturally took the main seat, and was on equal footing with the Right Wise King Qietihou, except that the two sat on the left and right sides respectively.

Below, the tribal leaders were naturally arranged in two rows, left and right. Lou Shan, the chief of the Lou Fan tribe, had an arrogant look on his face, while Hu Lin, the chief of the Hu Yang tribe, had a thin face and shifty eyes.

The Right Wise King's chieftain, with a face full of scars and a bare chest revealing thick chest hair and several hideous scars, was devouring a roasted lamb leg. In addition, there were more than ten other tribal leaders, including Helan, Linhu, and Tuge, who were slightly less powerful but equally important. The tent was packed full of people, and the air was thick with the smells of alcohol, sweat, and roasted meat, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

Attendants bustled about, pouring strong liquor. Yizhihuye was the first to raise his cup, his loud voice breaking the deathly silence:

"Gentlemen! Warriors of the Eternal Heaven! Today, 250,000 men of my Left Wise King's army have arrived! At the foot of Yinshan Mountain, hundreds of thousands of archers of my Donghu have gathered, like dark clouds covering the sky, like raging waves crashing on the shore. Such military might is enough to make the entire grassland tremble and overthrow the Han court! By the Eternal Heaven above, for the glory of the Great Chanyu, cheers!"

"Dry!"

Most of the leaders, especially the three major tribes on the left wing and the direct descendants of Yizhihuye, responded with a resounding roar that shook the top of the tent. However, Tihou and his close tribal leaders merely raised their cups in silence, touched their lips to the ground, and the atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Yizhihuye put down his wine cup, his gaze sharp as lightning, fixed on Qietihou, his smile unchanged.

"Right Wise King, the army is ready, supplies are plentiful, and morale is high. We are poised to march south and enter the pass! But... where should this arrow be pointed? I heard that you recently obtained a secret map of great importance. This matter concerns the rise and fall of our Donghu people and the lives of all the tribes present here. Why not present it to us for discussion, so that we can work together to break through the pass and reclaim the glory of the Han dynasty?"

Seeing that the Right Wise King was feigning deafness and dumbness, the Left Wise King had no choice but to make the first move, and the tent was instantly so quiet that you could hear a pin drop!

All eyes were focused on Qietihou. Many tribal chiefs had eyes full of greed and joy, while other tribal leaders held their breath, their hearts pounding like drums.

After a moment of contemplation, the Marquis realized that the Left Wise King already knew about the matter and could no longer hide it. Looking at the many tribal leaders in the tent, he laughed heartily.
"Haha, the Left Wise King's information network is indeed excellent. This time, we are resting on the southern slope of Yinshan Mountain for the benefit of all the tribes. My men have gone through many hardships and have indeed discovered a secret path that no one has ever been before. If we use it properly, the Han people's wonderful world will surely be ours."

Since he had already revealed it, he might as well openly take out the secret letter from his sleeve—a secret route map drawn on sheepskin—and spread it out on the shelf beside him.

On the rough leather scroll, the complex terrain of the southern foothills of Yinshan Mountain was clearly outlined with charcoal and cinnabar. An extremely hidden and tortuous red arrow meandered through several seemingly insurmountable steep mountain ridges and dried-up ancient riverbeds, finally pointing to a weak point marked "Ghost Crying Cloud Mist Mountain". The end of the arrow went deep into Han territory and pointed to a county town called "Beihe"!

"hiss--"

A collective gasp filled the tent. Although they had suspected it beforehand, seeing the path that pierced straight into their vital points still shocked and delighted all the leaders!

"Ghost Cry Cloud Mist Mountain! It's said to be a place where mountain demons roam, shrouded in fog all year round, and no one ever goes there."

One of the Helan leaders exclaimed in disbelief.

"Beihe County, that's the gateway to the northern border, the granary!"

A greedy glint appeared in the eyes of the Tu Ge tribe leader.

"Excellent! What a wonderful road to heaven!"

Lou Shan, the chieftain of the Lou Fan tribe, slammed his fist on the table, causing the cups and plates to bounce around, and laughed wildly.

"The Right Wise King has rendered an immense service! With this road, the gold, silver, and tender women of the Han people will all be ours! Hahahaha!"

"Yes, if we can really make it through, then we can go straight into the heart of the Han people's territory, and who knows, we might even bring down the old emperor of the Great Wu Dynasty."

"Hahaha."

The crowd burst into laughter, and even the head of the household and others couldn't help but get excited.

However, the ecstasy lasted only a moment.

Izhihuye's voice was like ice water poured over someone's head, instantly freezing the atmosphere:

"The brave warriors under the Right Wise King have indeed performed a great feat and deserve a reward! However, this map concerns the life and death of our million-strong army and the success or failure of our southward campaign! How can its secret be kept by a single unit? What if something goes wrong..."

He looked around at everyone, his voice laced with suspicion, and asked;
"Does the Right Wise King intend to lead his army south alone, or does he want my hundreds of thousands of allied troops to wait here in vain, missing a golden opportunity?!"

(End of this chapter)