Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

He immediately wrote a letter and sent it by fast horse to the Wuhuan tribe. His words were earnest yet carried an unquestionable authority, demanding that the Wuhuan leader provide information on the possible hiding places of the remaining Xiongnu tribes, as further proof that they had completely severed ties with Shi Xie and were loyal to the court.

The Wuhuan leader was now a frightened bird, and dared not disobey.

Upon receiving the letter, he dared not delay and immediately marked out in detail the areas where several large remnants of the Xiongnu might be active, as well as the vague locations of several relatively fixed winter camps, and sent them back to Gu Rubing's army as quickly as possible.

Having obtained this valuable intelligence, Gu Rubing felt somewhat relieved.

He knew that while military intimidation was important in dealing with these grassland tribes, the best strategy was to combine it with diplomacy to subdue them without fighting.

He decided to follow the same strategy he had used to persuade the Wuhuan people and make the trip himself.

He ordered that even more lavish gifts be prepared than before—more silk, tea, salt, and even some exquisite ironware and porcelain.

He temporarily entrusted the affairs of the camp to the wounded Ma Chao and his deputy, ordering them to reorganize the troops, comfort the wounded soldiers, clear out the remaining enemies around Black Wind Ridge, and prepare to continue the pursuit!

Subsequently, Gu Rubing, accompanied only by Zhang Fei and over a hundred elite guards, escorted the gifts and, based on intelligence provided by the Wuhuan people, sped towards the depths of the northern grasslands, towards a suspected major gathering place of the remnants of the Xiongnu.

After several days of travel, traversing the desolate Gobi Desert and rolling grasslands, Gu Rubing and his group finally found the camp of the Xiongnu tribe.

Similar to the plight of the Wuhuan tribe, this Xiongnu tribe also appeared quite dilapidated, with sparse yurts, a small population, and an atmosphere of decay permeating the air.

After identifying himself, Gu Rubing was led to the largest yurt in the center of the tribe, decorated with wolf skulls and old banners.

The leader of the Xiongnu tribe was a tall, dark-skinned middle-aged man. He sat on a low couch covered with wolf skin, his eyes arrogant and wary as he sized up Gu Rubing. He showed no intention of getting up to greet him, and his attitude was even colder and tougher than that of the previous Wuhuan leader.

Following etiquette, Gu Rubing had the gifts he brought brought carried in one by one. The exquisite silk, fragrant tea, and snow-white salt stood out in the slightly dim yurt.

He got straight to the point and explained his purpose.

"Chief, I have come here for no other purpose than to inform the nobles that Shi Xie is a great traitor to the country, who has harmed the people and aroused the wrath of both heaven and man."

Now he is at his wit's end and may flee to the grasslands seeking refuge. We hope the noble will consider the greater good and not take in this household, lest it bring trouble upon themselves. If the noble agrees, these humble gifts are but a token of our respect, and our great Han Dynasty is willing to exchange goods and resources with the noble in the future, and to open border markets.”

However, Gu Rubing was met with a cold snort filled with disdain and anger.

The Xiongnu leader suddenly stood up, not even glancing at the precious gifts. He strode over to a soldier holding a brocade, snatched the smooth and beautiful silk, and threw it hard on the ground. He even stomped on it several times with his muddy boots!

He pointed at Gu Rubing and roared angrily in broken Chinese.

"Get out! Take your things and get out of our grasslands! We Xiongnu people don't need your Han people's hypocritical charity!"
"We won't obey your orders! Shi Xie is your enemy, not ours! The grasslands are vast; we can take in whomever we want. It's none of your business to tell us what to do! If you don't leave, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Their arrogant attitude was so overbearing that they practically rubbed the face of Gu Rubing, the Great Han King, into the ground.

The Han army guards accompanying him inside the tent were all furious, their hands on their sword hilts, waiting for their lord's order to draw their swords.

However, Gu Rubing did not show any obvious anger when he saw this scene. Instead, his eyes were calm and even showed a hint of understanding.

He knew in his heart that compared to the Wuhuan, who had been entangled with the Han territory for a longer time on the border of Youzhou and were more deeply influenced by Han culture, the remnants of the Xiongnu who had fled to the depths of the grasslands had a more deep-rooted and purer hatred for the once powerful Han Dynasty.

Having experienced the devastating defeats of the era of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, and suffering repeated blows over the past century, this hatred has long been ingrained in their blood and cannot be easily resolved by a little money or words.

He came here not expecting the Xiongnu to "abandon darkness and embrace light" like the Wuhuan and offer assistance.

His bottom line is very low; as long as the other party remains neutral and does not take in or support Shih-hsieh, his strategic objective has been achieved.

As for these stubborn remnants of the Xiongnu...

A cold killing intent flashed deep in Gu Rubing's eyes. After completely eliminating the threats from Shi Xie and Penglai, he would naturally be able to uproot these troublemakers who repeatedly raided the borders and defied the king's rule, sending them to where they belonged! Now was not the time.

Gu Rubing's ability to remain calm and weigh the big picture doesn't mean that everyone around him possesses the same composure and patience.

"You scoundrel! How dare you insult my elder brother!"

"court death!"

Almost the instant the Xiongnu leader finished speaking, two thunderous roars rang out simultaneously!

Zhang Fei and Ma Chao, who had been holding back their tempers and guarding Gu Rubing's side, suddenly exploded like a powder keg that had been lit!

As legendary warriors among the best of their time, how could they have ever suffered such humiliation? Seeing that this mere tribal chief dared to be so presumptuous and disrespectful to their lord, the anger in their hearts instantly overwhelmed their reason!
Zhang Fei's eyes bulged like copper bells, his hair and beard bristled, and his eighteen-foot spear, like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, carried a fierce wind as it thrust straight at the Xiongnu leader's face! Although Ma Chao was still recovering from his injuries, in his rage, his speed was as fast as a ghost, and his Dragon Cavalry Spear transformed into a silver line, aiming straight for his opponent's heart!

The two attacked in a fit of rage, their speed exceeding the limits of what the naked eye could perceive. The Xiongnu leader felt two terrifying killing intents lock onto him instantly, and a chilling aura of death rushed towards him.

He didn't even have time to react; he could only watch helplessly as the dark spearhead and the silver gun tip rapidly magnified in his pupils, becoming only an inch away from his skin!
The sharp wind was already stinging his cheeks and chest!
The shadow of death instantly enveloped him. The arrogance and anger on the Xiongnu leader's face were replaced by boundless fear. His body stiffened, cold sweat poured down his face, and even his breathing stopped.

The other Xiongnu chieftains and guards inside the tent were terrified. They wanted to move, but were intimidated by the palpable killing intent emanating from Zhang Fei and Ma Chao, and were unable to move.

"Yide! Mengqi! Stop!"

At the critical moment, Gu Rubing's calm and authoritative voice rang out, like a resounding bell, awakening Zhang Fei and Ma Chao from their rage.

Upon hearing this, the two men abruptly stopped, their spear tips, imbued with terrifying power, hovering just an inch from the Xiongnu leader's vitals, trembling slightly, yet not yet released.

But that chilling killing intent remained firmly locked onto the target, preventing the leader from making any rash moves.

Gu Rubing slowly rose, walked to the two men, and gently raised his hand, signaling them to put away their weapons. Although Zhang Fei and Ma Chao were reluctant and snorted, they still obeyed and slowly put away their weapons. However, their four eyes remained fixed on the Xiongnu leader like fierce tigers, their warning unmistakable.

With the pressure suddenly reduced, the Xiongnu leader's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground. He could only stand by supporting himself on the low couch behind him. He was panting heavily, and his eyes were filled with lingering fear and an indescribable complexity as he looked at Gu Rubing.

Only then did he truly realize what a terrifying killing god was following this seemingly calm Han Chinese king!
I just had a brush with death!
Gu Rubing looked calmly at the still-shaken Xiongnu leader, his tone remaining peaceful, yet carrying an air of control over the entire situation.

"Chief, can we now talk calmly? My request is simple: I only ask that the nobles promise not to harbor Shi Xie and his followers. As for whether the nobles have any old grudges with Shi Xie, or any disputes with other tribes, I have no intention of interfering, nor am I using this as leverage."

"As long as the nobles do not aid Shi Xie, they are acting in my goodwill. Let the misunderstanding of earlier be put aside. These gifts will remain with the nobles as a token of my appreciation."

Faced with the overwhelming force of the enemy and Gu Rubing's combination of threats and persuasion, the Xiongnu leader's expression shifted. He finally swallowed hard, no longer daring to maintain his composure, and said in a hoarse voice.

“…Okay…I…my department promises, we will never take in Shih-hsieh!”

But then he changed the subject, a glint of cunning and hatred flashing in his eyes, and laid out his conditions.

"However, Your Highness, the Xiongnu people are now fragmented and scattered like sand, and not all of them obey my orders!"
Under Na Shixie, some traitors of the Xiongnu had already defected to him and served as his henchmen! In addition, there was another force led by a guy who claimed to be a descendant of the Xiongnu royal family, who was entrenched in the Wild Wolf Plain in the northwest, and whose strength was no less than ours!
That fellow is ambitious and has always wanted to annex us and reorganize the various Xiongnu tribes! If Shi Xie escapes to him, he will surely take him in in order to strengthen his power and fight against you Han people! He might even actively collude with Shi Xie!

He stared at Gu Rubing and said through gritted teeth.

"My request is that if Your Highness can help me eliminate that so-called royal family and allow me to integrate the remaining Xiongnu tribes, I will not only guarantee not to help Shi Xie, but also promise that I will never invade the south during my lifetime!"

Otherwise, even if I agree to your request today, the existence of that royal family is still a variable!

Upon hearing this, Gu Rubing's eyes flickered slightly, and he quickly weighed the options in his mind.

As expected, there was discord within the Xiongnu tribe. The leader wanted to use someone else to do his dirty work, eliminate his political enemies, and unify the tribe.

Agreeing to his request would indeed more completely cut off Shi Xie's possibility of seeking refuge with the Xiongnu, and might even secure a relatively stable northern border.

However, the risk is that they might be drawn into the internal struggles of the Xiongnu, wasting time and manpower.

However, compared to the threats posed by Shi Xie and Penglai, the Xiongnu royal family is clearly a much lower priority. If this opportunity can be used to resolve part of the Xiongnu problem once and for all, it would be worthwhile.

After a moment's thought, Gu Rubing nodded.

"Yes. I agree."

But you will be responsible for drawing them out and providing the necessary intelligence.

Upon seeing Gu Rubing agree, the Xiongnu leader revealed a hint of joy and ruthlessness on his face.

"Alright! It's a deal! I'll send someone to deliver a challenge, inviting him to a decisive battle three days from now at Eagle's Beak Cliff, east of Wild Wolf Plains, to settle our score!"
He is confident in his strength and will surely accept the challenge!

With the plan set, both sides made their own preparations.

As expected, the Xiongnu leader sent someone with a provocative declaration of war.

As expected, the Xiongnu royal family, confident in their military strength and with a long-standing desire to annex, accepted the challenge without hesitation.

Three days later, at the foot of Eagle's Beak Cliff.

Two Xiongnu cavalry units faced each other from a distance, their tension palpable.

The Xiongnu royal family member was indeed distinguished by his appearance, riding a magnificent black horse, wielding a long sword, and exuding a menacing aura.

After the two leaders exchanged insults, the battle broke out. Nearly 10,000 Xiongnu cavalrymen collided like two torrents, and the sounds of fighting, hoofbeats, and clashing weapons echoed across the plains.

At the height of the battle, when the two sides were locked in the deepest entanglement, suddenly, from behind the hillside on the flank, came the deep and awe-inspiring sound of the Han army's war drums!
"Zhang Fei and Ma Chao, under the command of the Great Han King, are here! Those who surrender will not be killed!"

With two thunderous roars, Zhang Fei and Ma Chao, like two war gods, led hundreds of well-rested elite Han cavalrymen and, with unstoppable force, fiercely penetrated the flank of the Xiongnu royal family's troops!

Zhang Fei's spear swept across like a black dragon's tail, causing men and horses to fall wherever it passed; Ma Chao's silver spear darted about like a white snake spitting its tongue, leaving no one unscathed under its blade!
This sudden blow was devastating for the Xiongnu royal forces who were engaged in fierce fighting!

They never expected the enemy to collude with the Han army, let alone that the Han army's fighting power was so terrifying! Their flank collapsed instantly, their formation fell into chaos, and their morale plummeted.

The Xiongnu royal family was both shocked and furious. They tried to organize a resistance, but under the fierce attack of Zhang Fei and Ma Chao, they were powerless to turn the tide.

Within a quarter of an hour, his troops were completely routed, and he himself was knocked off his horse by Ma Chao in the chaos, his fate unknown.

Seeing their leader captured and the Han army's momentum unstoppable, the remaining Xiongnu cavalrymen abandoned their weapons, dismounted, and surrendered.

The battle ended quickly.

The Xiongnu leader who cooperated with Gu Rubing took the opportunity to gather surrendered soldiers and reorganize his troops, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement and ambition.

He approached Gu Rubing's horse, his attitude becoming infinitely more respectful than before, and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your help, Your Highness! From this day forward, my tribe will be Your Highness's friend in the Northern Frontier! I swear by the Eternal Heaven that I will never harbor Shi Xie, nor will I ever invade the borders of the Great Han!"

Looking at the smug expression of the Xiongnu leader and the Xiongnu soldiers behind him who had just been incorporated into the army and whose eyes still held fear and confusion, Zhang Fei snorted heavily, his face full of displeasure, and muttered to Ma Chao beside him. (End of this chapter)