Han officials

Chapter 229 The Ingenious Use of Brotherhood [12]

Tanhan Mountain, the royal court of the Xianbei.

While Wei Zhe's search at Baitan Mountain yielded nothing, the area around Tanhan Mountain was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of people and horses.

However, upon closer inspection, one can still discern the differences between these non-Han people.

Although they all wore long robes with the left side overlapping the right, the Xianbei people mostly wore their hair in a braid, hence the name "Suolu" (braided barbarians) in Youzhou.

In contrast, the Wuhuan were more simple, mainly shaving their heads.

Although both originated from the Greater Khingan Mountains, the long-term evolution clearly led to the gradual separation of the Xianbei and Wuhuan peoples.

However, at this moment in the Xianbei king's tent, Nanlou seemed to have awakened his bloodline, constantly talking about how the Wuhuan and Xianbei came from the same source and were originally brothers, even using the Han Chinese saying "brothers may quarrel, but they unite against external aggression".

Those who know him will understand that he is a Wuhuan leader, but those who don't might mistake him for a Xianbei leader.

However, Nanlou didn't seem to mind at all. After downing another cup of mare's milk wine, he raised his cup boldly to Kebineng at the head of the table and said, "Your Majesty, you are the king of the grasslands. As long as we can defeat the Han army this time, the Wuhuan people will surely be your loyal hounds!"

After saying that, Nanlou cleanly and neatly drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Upon seeing this, Kebineng, who was on the throne in the tent, burst into laughter with delight.

"My brother, welcome back!"

It's not that Kebineng is shallow-minded; it's just that Nanlou has hit the nail on the head.

Despite the fact that the Danhanshan Royal Court is now under Kebineng's control, he has no royal blood at all.

It was exactly three years before the Yellow Turban Rebellion that the grasslands beyond the Great Wall entered their own "chaotic period at the end of the Han Dynasty".

In that year, Tanshihuai, who had unified the Xianbei, dominated the grasslands, and was poised to become the next Modu Chan, suddenly died of illness. Although his son had grown up and successfully succeeded him, Helian did not inherit his father's talents, and did not even have half of Tanshihuai's abilities. He was also greedy, arrogant, and unjust in his judgments.

As a result, after only a few years on the throne, the western Xianbei tribes fled to the west bank of the Yellow River and stopped paying tribute to the Danhan Mountain royal court. Even the central Xianbei tribes right under the nose of the royal court rebelled, and there were quite a few who disobeyed Helian's orders.

Therefore, in order to establish his prestige, He Lian had no choice but to personally lead his army to attack Han territory, because on the grasslands, as long as one could lead his tribe to plunder wealth, he would be a good leader. However, unexpectedly, he was shot and killed by militia from a small county town while plundering Beidi County, thus dying young.

At that time, his son Qianman was too young, so he was replaced by Kui Tou, the son of his elder brother Helian.

As a result, when Jianman grew up, he unsurprisingly competed with Kuitou for the title of ruler of the Xianbei.

Although Kui Tou eventually killed Jian Man, the central Xianbei tribes were completely torn apart, and their people scattered.

Even the leader himself died in battle while suppressing a rebellious tribe.

Thus, Budugen and Fuluohan inherited their elder brother's legacy and became a major power among the central Xianbei.

Therefore, if we count by bloodline, Budugen and Fuluohan are actually the grandsons of Tanshihuai, with impeccable lineage.

In contrast, Kebineng belonged to a small branch of the Xianbei people, and even his small tribe could not explain the origin of his bloodline.

Because the Xianbei people had once annexed hundreds of thousands of Xiongnu tribes, Budugen and others often mocked him as a descendant of the Xiongnu.

It was precisely because of this that Kebineng always valued his reputation. He was not only brave and skilled in battle, but also fair in enforcing the law and not greedy for wealth. In this way, he gradually expanded his tribe. Furthermore, taking advantage of the chaos in the Han Dynasty, he continuously recruited refugees and rebels from Han areas, and even took the initiative to learn the Han people's writing and military strategy.

Even now, under Kebineng's reforms, his Xianbei cavalry can understand the commands of the gongs and drums. Otherwise, Kebineng would not have been able to occupy the sacred Xianbei land of Tanhan Mountain outside of Shanggu and Daijun.

From this perspective, Budugen can also be seen as the "Dong Zhuo" of the grasslands—both of humble origins, yet able to take control of the Xianbei royal court.

If the Han people hadn't fallen into internal strife, Kebineng would have even considered asking the Han court for a title of king.

Although Tan Shihuai looked down on it back then, Ke Bi can really appreciate it!

Therefore, Nanlou's address of "Your Majesty" can be said to have struck a chord with Kebineng.

Chanyu? Only a fool would take such a common title seriously.

It can be said that with the decline of the Xiongnu, even the title of "Chanyu" has lost its value on the grasslands.

The Xianbei people preferred to call themselves "Daren" (大人, meaning "Great Man") rather than "Chanyu" (单于, meaning "Shanyu").

Of course, titles like "Khan" are even less valuable.

In fact, the word "Khan" became famous for generations and even influenced later Central Asian countries, entirely thanks to the Rouran people.

Therefore, the most valuable title on the grasslands today is still the "King's title" of the Han people.

If the late emperor had bestowed upon Kebineng the title of "King of Xianbei" before his death, Kebineng might have been able to travel thousands of miles to fight against Dong Zhuo when he deposed and installed emperors.

However, although the group inside the tent were all smiles and laughter, Nanlou's face darkened as soon as they left the Xianbei royal court.

Those standing nearby, including Lord Nalou of Shangjun Wuhuan and Lord Pufulu of Daijun Wuhuan, also had grim expressions.

The three of them never expected that Kebineng, who kept calling his brother "brother," would turn around and send his brother to his death.

The group rode on horseback for a long time, until the Xianbei people were no longer visible behind them. Only then did Pufulu curse angrily, "You knew that Kebineng, that barbarian, was unreliable! You told us to go to the White Mountains to graze, while you went to attack Guangning (Zhangjiakou)? How could you say that!"

Although Kebineng just said that it was to take care of the Wuhuan people that he let the Xianbei people go first.

But Pufulu isn't stupid. Could Shanggu County, no matter how difficult to conquer, be more terrifying than Wei Zhe, who roams the borderlands?

Lord Nalou of the Wuhuan tribe in Shangjun, who was standing nearby, shared the same idea.

On the hillside, Lou said resolutely, "No matter what you choose, I will never go to Baishan."

You must know that Baishan is located between Baitan City and Danhan Mountain. If they go to the Baishan area, it would be like foolishly becoming a shield for Danhan Mountain, and in the end they would probably not escape death.

Upon hearing this, Nanlou retorted without any politeness, "Then what do you plan to do? Go back and surrender to that bastard Wei Zhe?"

It's not that he can't kneel down, but if he were to go back to his old ways now, he probably wouldn't be able to save their wealth and lives.

If Nanlou is like this, then Pufulu and Nalou naturally have the same concerns.

Seeing the two looking worried, Nanlou finally stopped keeping them in suspense and revealed his thoughts.

(End of this chapter)