The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 409 The Xianbei were dumbfounded: How come every Han Dynasty had a Wei Qing or Huo Qubing?
It was the twelfth year of Zhangwu.

Spring comes late to the north, but the grasslands are already warm.

As the ice and snow begin to melt, tender buds sprout from the soil.

It is the perfect time to train troops.

The Xianbei chieftain Kebineng stood atop a high hill, gazing into the distance at the tribal camps stretching for miles.

A sense of pride and ambition began to rise within him.

"Chanyu, this year, futures trade with the Han people has decreased by another 30%."

The strategist, Tuofa Yan, stepped forward to report, his hands holding bamboo slips recording the transaction amounts of each department.

Kebineng's lips curled into a slight smile:
“…Good. The Han people are using silk and tea as bait to try and control the economic lifeline of our tribe.”

"Now that our tribe is self-sufficient, why should we depend on others?"

“Didn’t you see how the tribal leaders handed over large numbers of cattle and sheep to the Han people, only to receive a few worthless receipts in return?”

"Although our tribe did indeed benefit a lot from the Han people, we also became subject to their control."

At this point, Kebineng's lips twitched slightly.

During the Han Dynasty, Li Yi engaged in futures trading in the north, which gave Kebineng a real headache.

Because a large number of the tribe's chieftains' cattle and sheep were handed over to the Han people, Kebineng didn't dare to turn against the Han people even if he wanted to.

Because if the relationship turns sour, the cattle and sheep that are held as collateral by the Han people will never be returned.

Therefore, the nobles in the tribe would definitely not support him fighting a war against the Han people.

Therefore, Kebineng had no choice but to gradually reduce and restrict trade with the Han people.

In order to gradually break free from the economic control of the tribes by the Han people.

"...However, the border tribes still complained, saying that they could not survive without Han tea."

"I'm a little worried," said Tuofa Yan.

Kebineng turned around, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's:

"...Pass down the order: anyone who privately trades with Han people exceeding the quota."

"Cut off his right hand and confiscate all his livestock!"

Tuoba Yan bowed and accepted the order, secretly alarmed by the ruthless nature of this Xiongnu chieftain.

Since Kebineng unified the Xianbei tribes north of Shanggu, their power has grown daily.

They were no longer content to be vassals of the Han Dynasty.

At dawn the next day, the sound of bugles echoed across the grasslands.

Kebineng personally went to the training ground, where 30,000 cavalrymen stood at attention like a forest.

The Xianbei were another powerful nomadic people who emerged in northern China after the Xiongnu.

According to historical records, Kebineng's army numbered over 100,000, namely:

"By then, the army grew strong and powerful, with more than 100,000 cavalrymen."

The term "archer" here refers to a warrior who can draw a bow and shoot arrows.

Typically, one person is assigned one or more horses, referring to cavalry.

Therefore, historical records indicate that Kebineng had more than 100,000 cavalrymen at the height of his power.

However, it is worth noting that:
"More than 100,000" refers to the total troop strength, not the standing army.

Just like the Han Dynasty today, the country's standing army numbered around 500,000.

However, this does not mean that the Han Dynasty could only mobilize 500,000 people.

Historical writing often involves describing someone as having a million followers, or a nomadic tribe with a hundred thousand archers.

Those were all descriptions of his war potential.

That is, the military forces that it may mobilize.

It's not that they can actually muster that many troops at any time.

Although Kebineng's forces were strong, they only had about 40,000 to 50,000 regular troops.

However, these forty to fifty thousand were all cavalry, and specifically mounted archers.

Thanks to the nomadic lifestyle of the grasslands, where everyone is a soldier, they are highly mobile and adept at maneuvering and fighting.

They herd livestock in peacetime, and become warriors on horseback in wartime.

And now Kebineng's sphere of influence is actually quite large:

He unified most of the tribes in the central and western parts of the Xianbei, and his sphere of influence roughly extended from present-day Shanxi and northern Hebei to central Inner Mongolia.

It is believable that troops of 100,000 could be mobilized from such a vast area and population.

It's not entirely an exaggeration in historical records.

It was precisely because of this powerful war potential that Kebineng was unwilling to remain under the control of the Han people.

Because in his view, the Han people were cunning.

No matter what business the Xianbei people did, they could never beat the Han people.

Ultimately, it will only be the Han people who profit from their hard-earned money.

“In the past, Modu Chanyu trained his soldiers with whistling arrows, and his orders were always carried out, which led to his hegemony in the northern desert.”

Kebineng spoke slowly, surveyed his generals, and said in a deep voice:
"Now I wish to follow the ancient methods and train an iron cavalry. What do you generals think?"

General Murong Tiele cupped his hands and said:
"The Chanyu is wise! However, Modu's laws are extremely harsh, and I fear the soldiers may find them unbearable."

Kebineng laughed loudly upon hearing this:

"To achieve extraordinary things, one must rely on extraordinary people."

"Order: Anyone who fails to advance upon hearing the drums and gongs will be executed; anyone who fails to retreat upon hearing the bugles and horns will be executed; anyone whose ranks are not in order will be whipped fifty times!"

On the first day of training,

Kebineng ordered his soldiers to use wood as horses and grass as people, and to practice charging formations.

Sometimes, centurion Tuoba Wuzhu would mislead his troops, causing the formation to become chaotic.

Kebineng personally took the whip and lashed the man fifty times in front of everyone, staining his battle robe with blood.

Wuzhu gritted his teeth and endured the torture without uttering a sound.

"Good man!"

Kebineng threw his whip to the ground, saying, "If I do not groan when I am being tortured now, I will not be afraid of death when I am on the battlefield in the future."

"Promote Wuzhu to the rank of commander of a thousand men and bestow upon him ten fine horses!"

Seeing this, the soldiers were both in awe of his power and impressed by his reward, and they trained even harder.

Half a month later, Kebineng changed his training method.

He ordered the cavalry to split into two teams, one carrying wooden swords coated with white ash, and the other carrying wooden spears stained with vermilion.

In the midst of the battle, those hit by gray are considered injured or killed, while those hit by sand are considered dead.

The living continue the fight, the dead withdraw.

Murong Tiejian said:
"Chanyu, although wooden weapons are blunt, they can still injure people if they are used in a charge, and I fear there will be many deaths and injuries."

Kebineng shouted sternly:

"Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime."

“A wound from a real sword or gun is better than dying on the battlefield.”

The training was indeed brutal, with people falling from their horses and fracturing bones every day.

Kebineng personally went to offer condolences, provided medicine, and supported the family.

The soldiers endured hardship but had no complaints.

Another month passed, and the cavalry had mastered formation changes.

Ke Nengbi then imitated the story of Emperor Wu of Han, creating linked iron-clad cavalry and selecting strong men to wear heavy armor.

Wielding a long halberd, they practiced the skills of charging into battle.

At dusk that day, training had just ended.

Kebineng climbed the platform to observe the soldiers returning to camp, when suddenly he saw dust rising from the southwest.

A group of Han envoys arrived in a long procession.

Han envoy Jie Jun arrived on the orders of Tian Yu, the Protector of the Xianbei.

It turns out that Tian Yu had been transferred to the position of Governor of Pingzhou, replacing the retired Lü Bu.

However, the court retained his position as Protector of the Xianbei, meaning that it hoped he would continue to supervise the Xianbei people.

In the past two years, Tian Yu discovered that the Xianbei chieftain Kebineng had been reducing the trade volume at the border.

It seems that they intend to break free from the Xianbei's economic dependence on the Han people and undermine the futures agreement established by Prime Minister Li.

I also heard that he has been smuggling ironware in the Central Plains for the past two years.

The "Liaodong smuggling case" that broke out last year was due to corruption within the country.

But it is indeed proven that the Xianbei people have been recruiting soldiers and buying horses in recent years, especially purchasing a large amount of ironware, armor, and armored fighting equipment from the Central Plains.

Feeling uneasy, Tian Yu sent his chief secretary, Jie Jun, to pay a visit to this restless Xianbei leader.

While we're at it, let's test his limits.

When Jie Jun arrived, he was secretly surprised to see that Kebineng's troops were well-trained.

However, he calmly bowed.

"The Chanyu has worked hard in training his troops. I, Chaotian Shijun, have come here to inquire after his well wishes."

Kebineng sneered:
"Governor Tian is busy with countless affairs of state; how can he have time to care for us people from beyond the Great Wall?"

Jie Jun said:
"When the governor heard that the Chanyu had reduced the quota for trade, he was deeply worried."

"If the Xianbei did not have Han tea, how would the herdsmen relieve their greasiness?"

"Without salt from Han, how will the people season their food?"

"My grasslands have cheese to cut through the greasiness and lake salt to add flavor, so there's no need for the envoy to trouble himself."

Jie Jun was startled and quickly said:

"Does the Chanyu intend to destroy the futures agreement established by Prime Minister Li back then?"

"Li Xiang and the Xiongnu chieftain made a vow to each other that would remain unchanged for a hundred years."

"Why has this unexpected change occurred?"

Kebineng, however, changed the subject, waving his hand and saying:

"The envoy has come a long way and must be tired. Please come into the tent to rest."

During the banquet, Xie Jun observed that the Xianbei generals were seated in an orderly manner and behaved with propriety.

Completely unlike his usual carefree self, he knew that Kebineng had great ambitions.

After a few rounds of drinks, Xie Jun probed again:
"The Chanyu's troops are well-trained; could it be that he intends to launch an eastern expedition against the Wuhuan?"

Kebineng raised his glass and laughed:
"...I am training troops for self-defense."

"However, if anyone violates our borders, hehe, in your Han Chinese words, we will punish them no matter how far away they are!"

Xie Jun remained silent upon hearing this.

The following day, Kebineng invited Jiejun to observe the troops.

On the drill ground, 30,000 cavalrymen were divided into three teams: red, white, and blue.

They advance at the sound of the drum and retreat at the sound of the gong, their formations changing as smoothly as flowing clouds and water.

Suddenly, Kebineng waved his command flag, and the cavalry immediately split into dozens of small teams.

Interwoven and overlapping, seemingly chaotic yet actually orderly.

With another wave of the flag, the teams quickly surrounded the simulated enemy, trapping them in the core.

Jie Jun's expression changed slightly:

"This formation of the Chanyu seems familiar..."

"This is the ambush formation of Han Xin, the general of the Han Dynasty, which I have slightly modified."

Kebineng proudly declared:

"What the Han people have, the Xianbei people must also have."

"What the Han people don't have, the Xianbei people must also have!"

After Jie Jun returned to Han, he reported to Tian Yu.

He truthfully recounted what he had seen and heard during his mission.

“Ke Bineng was skilled in training his troops, and his soldiers obeyed orders without question, just as easily as if they were his own arms.”

"Judging from their ambitions, they not only do not wish to submit, but also covet the Central Plains."

Tian Yu pondered for a long time before saying:

“Kebineng is truly a threat to the north.”

"However, Prime Minister Li has always opposed war with nomads, believing it to be of no benefit to the country."

"Moreover, Prime Minister Li now controls all the military forces in the country. Without the permission of the Prime Minister's office, I cannot mobilize the troops from Liaodong and Hebei to attack Kebineng."

Jie Jun sighed:

"Judging from the court's intentions, it seems they are now powerless to look north."

Tian Yu nodded and said to Xie Jun:
"Let's give them more gold and silk to appease them for now."

On the northern grasslands, Kebineng received a generous gift from Tian Yu and smiled at his generals:
"Tian Guorang fears me!"

"Now we should stockpile grain and fodder, and train our soldiers well. In the future, we will surely lead you south to graze horses!"

Murong Tiele said:
"Chanyu, the city walls and moats in the Han territory are high and deep, unlike those on the grasslands."

Kebineng looked south:
"Modu Chanyu also thought that the Great Wall was insurmountable, but the Xiongnu cavalry eventually broke through the border."

"I now have 30,000 elite troops, which are far superior to the Xiongnu of the past."

"Once there is a change in the Central Plains, we can take advantage of the situation and invade!"

That night, Kebineng dreamed that he led his army to break through the Great Wall.

They entered the Central Plains and became the dominant power in the north.

Upon waking, he immediately summoned craftsmen to cast a gold seal inscribed with "Xianbei Chanyu" according to Han dynasty regulations.

Their ambitions are now obvious.

Half a month later, Kebineng's cavalry were able to switch mounts and shoot arrows while on horseback.

Within sixty paces, every arrow hits its mark.

Seeing the army's growing strength, the leaders of various tribes flocked to join them, making the Xianbei forces unprecedentedly powerful.

The number of Han merchants on the border is gradually decreasing, and futures trading is frequently interrupted.

Looking at the undulating mountains to the south, Kebineng knew that the day of the decisive battle with the Han Dynasty was not far off.

But before that, he had to unify the Xianbei.

On this day, banners covered the sun on the southern grasslands.

Kebineng's main tent was set up on the southern slope of Langjuxu Mountain.

With its lush vegetation and open terrain, this place is an ideal location for military parades and exercises.

The three major Xianbei tribes in the east—Suli, Mijia, and Budugen—successively led their people to the area.

The Suli tribe was the first to arrive.

Although the old chieftain Suliyan was over fifty years old, he could still ride his horse at lightning speed.

A thousand riders behind them kicked up billowing dust.

"Brother Suli, how have you been?"

Kebineng came out of the tent to greet them and took their hands to help each other up.

His gaze, however, drifted toward the cavalry unit behind Suliyan.

Suliyan dismounted and bowed:
"...Since the Chanyu has summoned us, how could we dare not come?"

"Having heard that the Xiongnu Chanyu's army has grown strong and powerful in recent years, I have come today to broaden my horizons."

As the two were exchanging pleasantries, a bugle call sounded from the south.

The three thousand iron cavalry of the Miga tribe pressed in like a dark cloud, with a general in golden armor and a red robe leading the way.

It was Miga Texiong, the leader of the Miga tribe.

"What a grand display!"

Suliyan stroked his beard and whispered, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.

Ke Bineng smiled without saying a word, secretly pleased.

This was exactly the effect he wanted—

This caused the leaders of various tribes to both compete with and fear each other, ultimately leaving them no choice but to submit to him.

At noon, Bu Dugen finally arrived late.

Budugen Tuoba was dressed in plain robes and accompanied only by a hundred or so personal guards.

This stands in stark contrast to the grand scale of the previous two parts.

"Brother Budugen, why are you so late?"

Kebineng asked, his tone already carrying a hint of displeasure.

Budugen bows in greeting:
"...Some trivial matters in the ministry have caused delays, and I hope the Chanyu will forgive us."

His gaze swept over the tens of thousands of soldiers on the field, his expression unchanged.

But a storm was brewing in my heart.

He wasn't surprised by Kebineng's formidable army.

Instead, they were surprised by Kebineng's terrifying military mobilization capabilities and the armament of this cavalry.

Iron is scarce on the grasslands, yet Kebineng still managed to arm so many cavalrymen.

Where did he get all this iron ore?
The next morning, bugles thundered.

Kebineng personally donned golden armor and led 30,000 elite cavalry to form ranks on the grassland.

The cavalry were divided into five-colored square formations:

Black-armored heavy cavalry wielded long spears, while red-armored light cavalry carried curved swords.

White-armored archer cavalry carried powerful bows, while blue-armored cavalry charged with javelins.

Yellow-armored rangers carry lassos.

"The martial arts demonstration begins!"

Kebin was able to wave the flag.

First, the heavily armored cavalry charged forward, their hooves thundering like lightning.

Long spears, like a forest, pierced straight at the straw-made dummies.

Then, the red-armored light cavalry flanked them from both sides, their scimitars flashing.

All the "enemies" were cut down.

Most impressive were the white-armored archer cavalry, who fired three arrows in quick succession while on the move.

Every arrow hit the bullseye from a hundred paces away.

The blue-armored cavalry displayed their javelin-throwing skills, their javelins piercing leather shields and penetrating heavy armor.

The yellow-armored cavalrymen threw out lassos, capturing their prey within twenty paces without fail.

Suliyan's face turned pale as he thought to himself:

"Although our cavalry is brave, compared to this, they are like children playing."

Mika Tetsuo gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his palms sweating profusely.

Budugen closed his eyes and sighed softly, already knowing that things would not end well today.

Rumors circulated that this Xianbei leader was not a peaceful ruler, and it seems that the rumors were true.

After the military parade, Kebineng hosted a banquet to entertain the leaders of the three tribes.

After several rounds of drinks, Kebineng suddenly threw his cup to the ground, and dozens of armored soldiers rushed into the tent.

"Kebineng! What does this mean?"

Mika Tetsuyo suddenly stood up and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Kebineng laughed loudly:
"...Please do not be alarmed."

"I have invited the three of you here today because I have important matters to discuss."

He paced back and forth in the tent, saying, “Our Xianbei tribes are scattered in the south of the Gobi Desert, and have always been divided and disintegrated by the Han people.”

"Now that our tribe is somewhat stronger, we are willing to form an alliance with you all to jointly resist the Han Dynasty."

"What do you gentlemen think?"

Suliyan pondered for a moment and said:

"We appreciate the Chanyu's kind intentions, but forming an alliance is no small matter."

Clearly, no one dared to offend the Han Dynasty rashly.

Because their tribes were relatively weak, they simply did not have the strength to resist the Han army.

Moreover, the merchants in his region mostly relied on salt, iron, and tea from the Central Plains.

If the Han people stop the supply chain, the herders in their tribes will definitely not be able to bear it.

"Does Brother Suli still intend to continue being the Han people's watchdog?"

Kebineng sneered, "Offering horses as tribute every year in exchange for some insignificant rewards?"

Budugen slowly opened his mouth:
"How does the Chanyu intend to form an alliance?"

Kebineng's gaze swept over the three people:
"Elect a leader to unify commands."

"In battle, we advance together; in retreat, we defend together."

"In this way, the Han people will not dare to look down on our Xianbei."

Kebineng was also an outstanding politician in the history of the Xianbei.

However, it is not simply a matter of conquering tribes by force to subjugate them.

Because it knew that once it forcibly annexed the various Xianbei tribes by force, it would be in trouble.

The Han Dynasty would definitely intervene.

Therefore, the only option is to use force to coerce the various factions to join his side.

The tent fell silent for a moment, with only the crackling of torches breaking the silence.

All three leaders knew that the so-called election of a leader was nothing more than a means to force them to submit to Kebineng.

Mika Tetsuhiro angrily said:

"Our Miga tribe has been free for generations, how can we..."

Before he could finish speaking, a deafening drumbeat suddenly sounded outside the tent, and thirty thousand cavalrymen shouted in unison:

"Alliance Leader! Alliance Leader! Alliance Leader!"

The sound shook the surrounding area, and dust fell in rustling sounds from the top of the tent.

Suli sighed deeply:
"With the Chanyu's military might so formidable, what choice do we have?"

"We are willing to accept the Chanyu as our leader."

Mika Tetsuo's face turned ashen, and he finally bowed his head and submitted.

Budugen finally stood up, bowed, and said:
"I am willing to obey the leader's orders."

Kebineng was overjoyed and immediately ordered his men to bring four white horses.

Slaughtering and blood swearing oaths to support each other.

After the oath was sworn, Kebineng immediately issued the first decree of the leader of the alliance:

"From this day forward, no Xianbei tribe shall sell warhorses to Han people."

"The existing cattle and sheep trade has been reduced by 30%."

"Alliance Leader, please reconsider!"

Suli said urgently:

"If we don't trade with the Han people, where will our salt, iron, and cloth come from?"

Mika Tetsuo also said:

"With a sudden 30% reduction in trade, the livelihoods of the people in the region may be difficult to sustain."

Kebineng said coldly:

"The Han people use trade as a rein, controlling us Xianbei like dogs and horses."

"Severing this shackle may be painful in the short term, but it will surely be beneficial in the long term."

"I have my own arrangements regarding salt and iron."

He clapped his hands three times, and his guards carried in more than ten wooden boxes, which were filled with gold and silver treasures.

"This is the savings accumulated over the years, temporarily distributed to you all to help you through this difficult time."

"When our Xianbei become strong, why should we worry about not having salt, iron, and cloth?"

Seeing that Kebineng used both kindness and force, the three leaders had no choice but to accept their orders and return home.

That night, Kebineng climbed the high hill alone.

Looking towards the lights of the Han lands to the south, he said to his advisor beside him:

"Now that we have control of the Xianbei people, what should our next step be?"

The strategist, Tuofa Yan, replied:
"It is advisable to consolidate our internal position first before planning to move south."

"Liu Bei revived the Han Dynasty three times, and now the Han Dynasty is at its zenith."

"Our department has not yet fully developed, so we must not rashly engage in conflict with them."

Kebineng laughed loudly:
My plan is not about the gains or losses of a single city or place.

"With the ban on horses, the Han cavalry will inevitably decline within three years, and will never be as strong as they are now."

"By then..."

He gripped the hilt of his knife tightly. "What I want is not the profits from border trade, but the vast lands of the Central Plains!"

Moonlight is like water,

The raindrops fell on the Xianbei leader, making his eyes burn with ambition.

The landscape of the northern grasslands will be completely changed from this point on.

The north wind howls fiercely, and the white grass outside Yanmen Pass is bent.

In the five border cities, the former hustle and bustle has been replaced by a desolate atmosphere.

Looking at his deserted stall, Li, the shopkeeper from Han, couldn't help but sigh:

"Kebineng's single decree has cut off our livelihood!"

Ashina De, a merchant from Hu, squatted in front of his stall and complained in broken Chinese:
"Salt? No." "Tea? No."

"No cloth."

"My hides are piled up like mountains, but I can't sell them."

He pointed to the empty shelves and said, "The good stuff from the Han people is no longer coming."

On the other side of the border, in the felt tents of the various Xianbei tribes, complaints were equally rife.

"Dad, I'm cold."

The little girl, wrapped in a tattered sheepskin, shivered in the cold wind.

The old herdsman, Uvi, touched his granddaughter's cold little hand and angrily said to his wife:

“At this time of year in previous years, Han merchants would have already brought cotton cloth and cotton.”

"Now look what's happened! Kebineng issued a decree, and we don't even have a decent piece of cloth to wrap ourselves in!"

Several tribal elders gathered in Budugen Tuoba's tent, each with a worried expression.

“Chief, the people are all complaining.”

"Without salt from Han, it would be difficult to preserve meat."

"Without Han tea, it's hard to get rid of the greasiness."

“The children are sick, and we can’t even buy traditional Chinese medicine.”

"At this rate, this winter is going to be tough!"

Budugen Tuoba remained silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.

How could he not know the suffering of his people?
Since Kebineng issued the trade ban, the livelihoods of people in all departments have plummeted.

at the same time,

Inside the Han government offices at Yanmen Pass, a somber atmosphere prevailed.

Prefect Wang Li stroked his beard and sighed:

"Border trade has plummeted, and city tax revenue is less than 30% of what it used to be."

“If this continues, even the military pay for the border troops will become a problem.”

Because of the large-scale trade between the Han and non-Han peoples, the military pay for border troops was directly deducted from the trade volume.

Now that trade has run into problems, the only option is to temporarily report to the imperial court and have them issue the replacements.

However, the news had to be relayed back to the imperial court for a decision.

Going back and forth will definitely take up a lot of time.

General Zhang Chu was even more worried about military affairs:
"With the Xianbei warhorses no longer being sold in the south, our cavalry replenishment will definitely experience a period of upheaval."

“What is even more worrying is that Kebin can unify the various tribes.”

"They are preparing for war and preparing for battle; their ambitions are not small."

Of course, the merchants from both places suffered the most.

Han merchant Li Diandong and Hu merchant Ashina De secretly met in a secluded valley on the border.

"If this continues, we will both go bankrupt."

Li, the shop owner, sighed.

Ashnad nodded:

“We Xianbei people are not having an easy time either.”

The hides aren't selling, salt and tea are scarce, and the elderly and children are all sick.

As the weather turned cold, the resentment among the various Xianbei tribes grew increasingly intense.

Small groups of herders would occasionally sneak across the border at night to barter with Han Chinese.

Although Kebineng strictly prohibited it and even executed several "smugglers," it was still difficult to eradicate.

When Budugen Tuoba was inspecting the wild tribes, he personally witnessed a herding family sharing a single tattered fur robe.

The food spoiled due to lack of salt, and the child became pale and emaciated.

The old herdsman knelt on the ground and wept, pleading:
"Chief, if this continues, we won't survive the winter!"

That night, Budugen sat alone in his tent, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

The following day, he secretly summoned his confidants:

"Resume trade with the Han people secretly, but be careful."

"We must not let Kebineng's spies find out."

"Chief, if Kebineng finds out..."

Step-by-step decisiveness:
"I can't worry about that now! I can't just stand by and watch my people freeze and starve to death."

Soon, a secret trade route was re-established.

The furs and livestock from the foot of the mountain were quietly transported south.

The salt, iron, tea and cloth of the Han people quietly came north.

The lives of the people in the region have improved slightly.

While they were deeply grateful to their leader, they were all filled with apprehension, fearing that the news might leak out.

However, nothing stays hidden forever.

Kebineng's spies eventually sensed something unusual.

"Chanyu, it seems that the Budugen tribe is not so short of supplies lately."

Bald Yan reported in a low voice, "Your subordinate suspects..."

A cold glint flashed in Kebineng's eyes:
"Investigate thoroughly! If Budugen dares to disobey the Alliance Leader's order, I will make him pay the price!"

Dark clouds covered the border.

Budugen Tuoba stood outside the tent, gazing south towards the Han lands and north towards the court of Kebineng.

They knew that peaceful days wouldn't last long.

He stroked the hilt of the sword at his waist and made a silent resolution:

For the sake of the people's livelihood, he was willing to turn against Kebineng.

The winds in the north are even fiercer, whipping up piles of snow.

It seemed to foreshadow an even bigger storm to come.

The fate of the Han-Hu border region is once again hanging by a thread.

Inside Yanmen Pass, Tian Yu, the Protector of the Xianbei, sat upright in the hall.

He was fiddling with a secret letter in his hand, his brow furrowed.

The letter, presented by a border spy, details Kebineng's actions after unifying the various Xianbei tribes.

“Ke Bineng, this scoundrel, has quite the ambition.”

Tian Yu said to his staff, "If the Xianbei tribes are united as one, they will surely become a great threat to the northern frontier."

Military advisor Bu Zhi advised:
"General, although the various Xianbei tribes appear to submit, they each harbor their own ulterior motives."

“Especially the Suli tribe, which has a long-standing grudge against Kebineng, so perhaps we can start from there.”

Tian Yu nodded:

"Your words are exactly what I was thinking."

"Send word to the chieftain of the Suli tribe to visit the Han region and say that he has a generous gift to present."

Soon after, Su Liyan led more than a hundred of his personal guards to Yanmen Pass.

Tian Yu personally came out to greet them, showing great courtesy.

At the banquet, Tian Yu said:
"Chief Suli is a hero of the Xianbei, whom our dynasty has always respected."

"Kebineng's forceful unification of the various tribes and reduction of border trade is not a good strategy."

Suliyan sighed:
"General, you may not know this, but our troops are currently facing a severe shortage of salt and iron, and the people are suffering greatly."

"However, Ke's power was greater, so he had no choice but to comply."

Tian Yu feigned sympathy:

"Our dynasty is willing to lend a helping hand to our leader."

"If the leader can show his true intentions and continue to maintain friendly relations with the Han."

"Not only will trade be restored, but the imperial court will also offer generous rewards."

Suliyan was tempted, but still hesitated:

“If Kebineng knew this, he would surely come to punish me.”

Tian Yu laughed loudly:

"Do not worry, Chief. Our dynasty will surely send a large army to guard the border."

"If Kebineng comes to attack, we will make sure he never returns!"

He then clapped his hands and ordered his servants to bring out gold, silver, and silk.

"This is a small gift, please accept it as a token of my respect."

Seeing the generous gifts and the promise of safety, Suliyan finally made up his mind:
"Since you have shown me such kindness, General, I am willing to serve the court."

The next day,

Suliyan blatantly violated Kebineng's decree by sending a thousand fine horses to Yanmen Pass and boasting:

"Our Suli tribe is allied with Hanyong and will not accept Kebineng's orders!"

When the news reached the court of Kebineng, the leader of the Xianbei alliance was furious.

He smashed the wine cup on the spot.

"You old bastard, Suli, how dare you do this!"

The strategist, whose hair had turned white, urgently advised:

"Chanyu, please calm down! Suli's actions must be a ploy by the Han people to sow discord."

Kebineng angrily said:

"Even if it was a scheme, Suli's betrayal is a fact!"

"If we don't punish them severely, how can we convince the public?"

Murong Tiele requested permission:

"I am willing to lead my troops to attack Suli!"

Kebineng pondered for a moment:
"No, I will personally lead the army to conquer it."

"Let everyone on the grasslands know the consequences of disobeying the leader's orders!"

At a single command, 30,000 iron cavalrymen pressed in like dark clouds.

Heading straight for the Suli tribe's ranch!
Kebineng personally supervised the battle and issued the following orders:

"Anyone who resists shall be killed without exception."

"Plunder all cattle, sheep, and valuables!"

Suliyan hastily engaged in battle, and although his troops fought bravely, they were no match for Kebineng's elite forces.

The battlefield was littered with corpses, and all the felt tents were burned.

Countless cattle and sheep were looted.

"Father, run!"

Despite his severe injuries, Suliyan's son, Huyan, protected his father as they broke through the encirclement.

Suliyan was overcome with grief, tears streaming down his face.

"It is my fault that my people have been harmed! Why have the Han reinforcements not arrived yet?"

It turns out that Tian Yu had promised to provide assistance.

However, when he actually saw Kebineng's army pressing in, he said it was "not advisable to start a war lightly."

He closed the gates and ordered the troops to remain stationary.

The setting sun was like blood, and the Suli tribe suffered a crushing defeat.

The survivors fled to the northern desert, crying out all the way.

Kebineng rode his horse to survey the battlefield, coldly observing the captured Suli tribesmen:
"Distribute these people among the various tribes as slaves, so they will remember the consequences of betrayal!"

Murong Tiele said in a low voice:
"Chanyu, this move may alienate the people..."

Kebineng sneered:
"Only by severely punishing traitors can we deter others from harboring disloyal intentions!"

The northern desert was filled with sandstorms, and the remnants of the Suli tribe retreated to Bailang Mountain.

All supplies were lost, and the men and horses were exhausted.

The old chieftain, Suliyan, had shattered armor and his hair and beard stained with blood.

Looking down at Kebineng's army, whose camps stretched for dozens of miles, he couldn't help but sigh:
"The Han people have misled me!"

His son, Huyan, bandaging his arrow wound in the shoulder, said angrily:

"Tian Yu promised reinforcements, but not a single soldier has arrived yet!"

"If I survive, I will avenge this!"

Just then,

Inside Yanmen Pass, Tian Yu climbed the city wall and looked north.

But seeing the smoke of war billowing in the northern desert, his expression gradually darkened.

Military Advisory Guide:
"General, your plan is brilliant. Kebineng and Suli will both be severely injured, and our dynasty will reap the benefits."

Tian Yu shook his head:
“I originally intended to make the two tigers fight each other, so that we could reap the benefits.”

"But now we see that Ke's power is greater than that of others."

“If we allow them to annex the Suli tribe, their power will only grow stronger.”

"It has instead become a major threat to our dynasty."

Bu Zhi was surprised:

"Didn't the general say the other day..."

Tian Yu sighed:

“The other day I was only worried about the Hu people uniting, but now I know that maintaining a balance is the best policy.”

“Kebineng is cruel and ruthless. If he were to acquire all the livestock of Suli’s tribe, his strength would increase twofold, and he would surely become a threat to the border.”

Bu Zhi hesitated and said:
"Does the general intend to send troops?"

"But the imperial decree orders us to hold the border and not to venture out lightly."

"Furthermore, without the Prime Minister's order, we cannot mobilize the border troops without authorization."

Because Li Yi controlled all the military forces in the country, he had very strict control over the troops in the major military regions.

This is to prevent the border troops from getting out of control.

For generals like Tian Yu and Qian Zhao who were stationed on the frontier, the troop redeployment was relatively more flexible.

For example, Tian Yu was the governor of Pingzhou and concurrently the protector of the Xianbei.

He has the power to mobilize troops at the border.
However, the prerequisite is that it can only be used for defense!

That is, if the border is invaded by northern nomads, Tian Yu and Qian Zhao can act first and report later.

They mobilized troops for defense without receiving orders from the imperial court.

However, if troops are mobilized and attacked without imperial orders, it is unacceptable.

That would be "lightly starting a war," which violates the laws of the imperial court.

That's why Bu Zhi reminded Tian Yu that it would be fine to use it to defend the border.

But if we take the initiative to attack, that would be tantamount to starting a war without authorization.

That's against the rules.

Tian Yu resolutely replied:

"Now is the time to save the good and punish the evil!"

"If we wait for the imperial decree to be issued, the Suli tribe would have been wiped out long ago."

Immediately, the order was given:

"Summon my five thousand elite troops and send them out of seclusion immediately!"

Bu Zhi was greatly alarmed:

"General, please reconsider! Sending troops without imperial orders may incur criticism from the court!"

Tian Yu presses the sword:
"The border situation is urgent; how can we adhere to conventional methods?"

"Even if I offend the court, it's better than letting a tiger cause trouble!"

A sudden sandstorm arose beyond the Great Wall, and Tian Yu led five thousand elite cavalry out of Yanmen Pass.

Like a sharp sword piercing straight into the heart of the Xianbei territory.

Military Advisor Bu Zhi's Parting Advice:

"General, you have ventured deep into enemy territory alone. If the barbarians cut off our retreat, what will we do?"

Tian Yu reined in his horse and looked back:

"The art of war is to combine the orthodox and the unorthodox."

"Now Kebin is besieging Suli at Bailang Mountain, but he will never have expected the Han army to dare to penetrate so deeply into their territory."

"Strike unexpectedly and attack when the enemy is unprepared."

After three days of marching, the army had entered the territory of the Xianbei.

But all that could be seen was a vast, desolate grassland, utterly deserted.

Suddenly a scout came to report:
"General, barbarian cavalry have appeared from both the front and rear, seemingly intent on cutting off our retreat!"

Tian Yu climbed to a high place and looked into the distance, and sure enough, he saw billowing smoke and dust on both the north and south sides.

The barbarian cavalry, like ants, gradually formed an encirclement.

The generals were all alarmed, and some soldiers showed fear on their faces.

"No need to panic!"

Tian Yu remained calm and said, "Although the barbarians are numerous, they each harbor different intentions."

"Order: Set up camp ten miles ahead and collect as much cow and horse dung as possible to make firewood."

The generals did not understand his meaning, but they still followed his orders.

The Han army set up camp more than ten miles away from the Hu people.

They also collected a large amount of livestock manure, piling it into several small mountains.

That night, Tian Yu secretly summoned his generals and said to them:

"Now that the Hu people have surrounded us, a strong attack will surely result in defeat."

"I intend to use a feint attack; all of you, listen to my command:"

"At the second watch tonight, lead the troops to quietly retreat from the eastern route."

"Men must gag themselves, and horses must wrap their hooves; there must be no mistakes."

"And these piles of dung..."

The subordinate was puzzled.

Tian Yu smiled and said:

"...that is precisely for this purpose."

"Before retreating, set the manure pile on fire, making sure the smoke never stops."

As night fell, the Han army quietly withdrew eastward.

Meanwhile, the manure pile in the camp caught fire, billowing thick smoke.

From a distance, it looks just like wisps of smoke rising from a chimney.

The Hu scouts reported back to Kebineng:
"The smoke from the Han army's cooking fires was constant, as if they were cooking meals."

Kebineng laughed loudly upon hearing this:

"Tian Yu has walked right into our trap; we will surely annihilate him tomorrow!"

He then ordered all units to maintain strict blockade and wait for dawn to launch an attack.

The fireworks continued until noon the next day.

Kebineng became suspicious and sent elite cavalry to scout the camp.

They then realized they had fallen into a trap; the Han camp was already deserted.

"Chase!"

Kebineng was furious and personally led 30,000 iron cavalry in pursuit.

Tian Yu's army marched swiftly for a day and a night, arriving at the old fortress of Macheng.

The city walls are dilapidated and cannot be defended for long.

Just as they were getting tired, they suddenly saw a cloud of dust rising from the north, and the barbarian cavalry surged in like a tide.

"General, the barbarians are closing in!"

The scout was panting heavily.

Tian Yu looked around:

"Although Ma City has fallen, we can still fight it."

"Order: Hold the fortified position, raise many flags, and use them to mislead the enemy."

As Hu Jun approached, Tian Yu climbed the city wall to observe the enemy.

Seeing that Kebineng's army had split into several groups and had formed an encirclement, they realized that Kebineng's army had been divided into several groups.

Bu Zhi, a military advisor, worriedly said:

"The enemy outnumbers us, and we may not be able to sustain this for long."

Tian Yu pondered for a moment, then suddenly came up with a plan:
"The Hu people have just arrived, and their arrogance is at its peak."

"I will use a feint attack to defeat them."

He then summoned Sima and instructed him:
"You shall lead two thousand infantrymen, raise many flags, and march out from the south gate with a great commotion."

"The Hu people will surely concentrate their attack on the south, so I will lead my elite cavalry to launch a surprise attack from the north gate."

Sima Jian said:

"General, you are the commander of the three armies, how can you personally risk your life?"

Tian Yu presses the sword:
"Now we are trapped in a deadly situation, and we cannot win without resorting to unconventional methods."

"Say no more, just do as I say!"

at dusk,

Sima led his infantry out of the south gate, the sound of drums shaking the heavens, and banners fluttering like a forest.

The Hu people indeed concentrated their forces and launched a fierce attack on the south gate.

Just then, Tian Yu personally led three thousand elite cavalry and quietly opened the north gate.

But then, this general, highly regarded by the Han Dynasty, his red robes fluttering, his iron armor gleaming, let out a great shout:
"Soldiers! Follow me and defeat the enemy!"

Three thousand iron cavalrymen, like tigers released from their cages, charged straight into the central army of the Hu army.

Tian Yu took the lead, his spear like a dragon, invincible in its path.

Caught off guard, the Hu people were thrown into chaos.

Kebineng hastily mobilized troops to meet the enemy, but he was attacked from both the north and south, and his command was ineffective.

The Han cavalry charged into the enemy ranks, slashing left and right.

Tian Yu was even more valiant, defeating more than ten Hu generals in succession.

Although the Xianbei army was numerous, it was difficult to deploy its forces in a small area.

Those who trample on each other are countless.

"Chanyu! The Han cavalry are fierce; it would be better to retreat for now!"

Murong Tiele urgently remonstrated.

Kebineng glared angrily:

"With our 30,000 troops, how could we fear a few thousand Han soldiers!"

He personally led his guards to confront Tian Yu.

The two generals finally clashed.

Tian Yu was a seasoned veteran, and his marksmanship was exceptionally sharp.

Ke Bi was brave and fierce, and his sword strikes were heavy.

They fought for more than ten rounds without a clear winner.

However, the morale of the Han army was high, and they fought more and more bravely.

Hu Jun's formation was in disarray, and he could not support both the front and rear.

Suddenly, the Han infantry at the south gate broke through the encirclement and joined up with the cavalry.

Hu Jun completely collapsed and fled.

Tian Yu shouted:

"Pursue them! Don't let them escape!"

The Han army pursued their victory for over twenty li, leaving the barbarian corpses scattered across the fields and staining the wasteland with blood.

Kebineng led only a thousand or so cavalrymen to break through the encirclement.

After the battle, an inventory revealed that 8,000 enemies had been beheaded and countless horses and weapons had been seized.

The siege of the Suli tribe was thus lifted.

Bu Zhi, who had joined the army, was full of admiration:

"The general defeated 30,000 with only 5,000 men; he is truly a divine being!"

Tian Yu, however, showed no joy:

"Although Kebineng was defeated, his fundamental strength was not damaged."

"The threat from the Xianbei has not yet been eliminated."

He then mustered his troops and returned to the frontier, where the local people lined the roads to welcome him.

After this battle, the Hu people were terrified at the mere mention of Tian Yu's name.

He was called "Heavenly General".

Tian Yu must now submit a memorial to apologize for "unauthorized deployment of troops" and "recklessly initiating war."

Right now, I imagine quite a few ministers in the court are already impeaching me, right?
Tian Yu smiled wryly.

(End of this chapter)