The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 682: Not a Barbarian
"Withdrawn?"

Guanqiu Jian looked at the scout in front of him and seemed to have thought of something.

The movements of the Tuoba tribe have been very strange recently. They have stopped harassing, and the scouts have been able to contact fewer and fewer Tuoba cavalry.

Yang Hu sent an envoy to inform that a large number of Tuoba cavalry were fleeing towards the northeast.

Zhang Te was standing next to Guanqiu Jian at this moment, and he analyzed the situation calmly.

"Are they planning a major detour? To attack our rear?"

"No, they are afraid of being blocked by us, so they dare not go into Youzhou."

"So what do they mean?"

"They probably want to abandon their original territory and head to Goguryeo."

"what??"

Zhang Te was stunned for a moment. Guanqiu Jian smiled and said, "They are different from us. They don't have prefectures, counties, and districts. Although they have built a few cities, they are still mainly nomadic. They don't have a precise territorial division. Wherever their livestock can reach is considered their territory."

"So, they won't be confined to the city like we are. If they can't graze here, they can go to Goguryeo."

"As for the common people, when tribes outside the Great Wall fight, they won't massacre each other's herdsmen. These herdsmen are assets to them, and they won't think of following others for the sake of their own king. Being robbed and captured is normal. Whoever captures them will own them."

"So they could easily abandon their territories and herdsmen and go to Goguryeo to take what they wanted from there."

"This Tuoba Liwei is quite capable of raising children. Apart from that Desert Khan, this Tuoba Chuo, and that Tuoba Luguan, they are all courageous and decisive people."

"They went to Goguryeo, but the Goguryeo people were no match for them."

The threat posed by the Tuoba tribe in Guanqiu Jian's mind increased again.

These people must be eliminated as soon as possible, otherwise it will be a disaster in the future.

Judging from the level they are demonstrating now, they will probably be able to establish a larger alliance in Goguryeo within a generation.

Perhaps, because of this lesson, the next time the Wei army encounters it will not be an alliance, but the real Tuoba Kingdom.

Alliances are easy to deal with, they can share happiness but not adversity. When they encounter a strong opponent, they often collapse from within. But if it becomes the Tuoba Kingdom, it is hard to say.
Guanqiu Jian immediately gave the order to attack Shengle City directly.

The main force of Wei State sped up and no longer cooperated with Yang Hu. They advanced directly towards the opponent's royal city. It only took Guanqiu Jian two days to join forces with Wen Yang.

Guanqiu Jian originally thought that Wen Yang would be very upset as he was unable to engage in direct combat with the enemy.

But when Wen Yang came to pay a visit to Guanqiu Jian, there was no sign of grievance or anger on his face, and he looked very confident.

"Grand Marshal, I followed your orders and did not pursue those cavalrymen, nor did I engage in direct combat with the enemy. I have been keeping an eye on Li Wei the entire time!"

"That Tuoba Chuo wanted to take his father away, and he deliberately let his brother lure me out to attack. I didn't chase him at all. They even sent people to scold me, but I didn't leave!"

Only then did Guanqiu Jian realize that when Tuoba Chuo evacuated, he had intended to take his father with him.

But Wen Yang is blocking the way here. Although it is difficult for his cavalry to attack the city, it will be a different matter if you want to get people out of the city.

Wen Yang is not a vegetarian.

In order to lure Wen Yang away, Tuoba Chuo asked his younger brother to trick Wen Yang into fighting. Wen Yang did not fall for it and started a verbal fight again. But no matter what they did, Wen Yang always stayed under the city and did not move.

Tuoba Chuo left helplessly.

Zhang Te couldn't help but praise him, "If General Wen knew about this, he would definitely be pleased!"

Guanqiu Jian nodded, very satisfied with Wen Yang's performance. Looking at the extremely confident Wen Yang in front of him, he said, "You finally have the demeanor of a great general. Fighting in battle requires courage, but you can't lose your mind either."

"He who knows how to exercise restraint and doesn't fight recklessly, that's what makes a qualified general!"

"I think Ah Yang will become a general capable of commanding an army of 100,000 in the future!"

Guanqiu Jian made an evaluation of Wen Yang, and Wen Yang smiled shyly.

Although Wen Yang is most famous for his abnormal martial arts, his command ability is actually not bad. In history, he was the first general in the Western Jin Dynasty to defeat Shu Jineng. Before him, famous generals such as Hu Lie failed to do this.

He led the army of three states, defeated Shuji Neng's main force, and captured more than 200,000 people.

Guanqiu Jian led everyone to the foot of Shengle City. Looking at the big city in front of him, Guanqiu Jian gave an order.

"Siege the city!!"

Tuoba Liwei probably thought of the subsequent development very early on. He handed over his elite troops to Tuoba Luguan, and not many troops were left in the city.

After receiving fresh troops from Guanqiu Jian, Wen Yang took the lead in launching the siege.

Under the protection of the soldiers, Wen Yang climbed up the city wall with a large shield in his hand, braving the arrows, and then he was like a tiger among a flock of sheep.

With one charge, Wen Yang was able to knock three or four Xianbei people off the city wall.

Shield in one hand, sword in the other, he hacked and killed people on the wall, single-handedly cutting a bloody path. Seeing such a ferocious leader, the soldiers also screamed and climbed up madly. Soon, all the people standing on the wall were Wei soldiers.

Guanqiu Jian watched the changing of flags on the enemy's city walls from a high platform in the distance.

Wen Yang has always liked to play games like beheading generals, seizing flags, and being the first to charge into battle.

Of course, it is a blessing for the commander to have such a brave general in the army, and he can often produce unexpected results.

Wen Yang was the first to break through Shengle City, and then rushed towards Tuoba Liwei's palace.

Wen Yang had been here before, so he was very familiar with the city.

When Wen Yang rushed into the palace, he did not encounter much resistance from the enemy. All of Li Wei's troops were stationed on the city wall, and he was only surrounded by a few guards.

Wen Yang surrounded the place and began to search for Li Wei. Finally, he found Li Wei under the guidance of a guard.

Li Wei did not hide. He sat calmly on the bed, waiting for Wen Yang and others.

This was what Wen Yang saw when he rushed in.

Wen Yang was overjoyed.

Go first and capture the king!
Should I be able to upgrade to the next level this time?
He walked forward, wanting to grab Li Wei, but when he got close, he let go of his hand. Without making any mockery, he simply ordered the soldiers, "Keep an eye on this man and don't let him commit suicide."

Li Wei glanced at him and said, "General, why don't you tie me up?"

"You are too old, I don't want to do it!"

Li Wei did not say anything. Only after they had captured the entire city did Wen Yang have someone help Li Wei out to see Guanqiu Jian.

This was the first meeting between Guanqiu Jian and Tuoba Liwei.

Guanqiu Jian still admired this old man very much. This guy almost changed the entire Xianbei.

Unfortunately, he was unlucky and met his own Holy King.

"Tuoba Liwei. I have long heard of your great name, and today I am honored to meet you."

Guanqiu Jian spoke.

Li Wei said, "Back then, the State of Chu attacked the State of Sui for no reason. The King of Sui asked why, and the King of Chu replied, 'We are barbarians!'"

"I have good relations with the Wei Kingdom. I sent my son to Luoyang as a hostage and have repeatedly presented gifts to the Wei Kingdom to show my loyalty. I wonder why the Grand Marshal would attack me for no reason?"

Wen Yang was stunned. This old Xianbei man knew quite a lot and even knew allusions!
Guanqiu Jian calmly said, "It is for the purpose of great unification."

"Today, the Wei army is sending troops to attack Tuoba in order to follow the principles of heaven and earth, unify the world, end disputes, and create a prosperous era!"

Li Wei was very surprised. He said, "I am not a minister of the Great Wei, and this place is not the territory of the Great Wei. How can it be called a great unification?"

"All under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people in the world are his subjects."

"Since you have read the classics, you understand this principle."

Li Wei shook his head. "I know a little bit about the classics. 'Under the vast heaven' refers to the land ruled by the emperor. The Great Wei succeeded the Later Han Dynasty, but this place is not governed by the Great Wei emperor. How can it be called the king's land, and how can I be called his subject?"

Wen Yang was already getting impatient after hearing his words and was about to step forward to interrupt him, but Guanqiu Jian explained:
"The so-called place governed by the king refers to the place that has been educated. In the pre-Qin period, there were many barbarians outside Liang. They were not educated and could not be called the king's territory. In the early Han Dynasty, the counties west of the Yellow River were recovered. They all learned the teachings of the sages, knew the rites and laws, and understood the principles. They were no longer barbarians, but the king's territory."

"Now that you are in the outer frontier, you have caused the people at all levels to study the classics, to talk about the teachings of the sages, to have a good understanding of etiquette and laws, to have men and women in order, and to observe the principles of human relations and law. Naturally, this will become the land of the king, and you will naturally become his subject."

Tuoba Liwei did not get angry, he thought about this problem seriously.

"In other words, the reason the general attacked me is because I know the classics and etiquette?"

Guanqiu Jian looked up and said, "That's right."

"Those who receive instruction will become subjects of the king. Gongyang said, 'Great unification, how can there be two masters under one sky?' This is why you surrender today."

Wen Yang looked at Guanqiu Jian and then at Li Wei, not quite understanding what they meant.

Li Wei smiled bitterly.

"I have already been defeated. There is no point in arguing with you. General, you can cut off my head in exchange for a reward."

Guanqiu Jian said, "If you were an uncivilized barbarian, you could be beheaded and displayed to the public, demonstrating the might of the Wei army. However, you already know the etiquette and should be treated with respect as a royal subject. You are already an octogenarian, and even if you have committed a grave crime, you cannot be humiliated by force."

"You can return to Luoyang with me and let His Majesty deal with it."

Tuoba Liwei could no longer speak.

After the soldiers took him away, Wen Yang asked, "At his age and frail health, can he live to see Your Majesty?"

"Arrange a few more doctors. If we can get him to Luoyang alive, he will be of great use in the future."

(End of this chapter)