Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 228 Liu Xuande

In Yunzhong County, south of Shaling, a vast expanse of withered yellow grassland stretches along the rolling hills.

It was early spring, and the grass buds had not yet fully sprouted. The withered grass from last year swayed in the cold wind, like a golden sea.

This is the winter pasture of a medium-sized tribe that was affiliated with the Xianbei Yuwen tribe.

Although it is almost time for the seasonal migration, large numbers of cattle and sheep are still grazing on the remaining grass roots, and hundreds of gray yurts are scattered among them. Herdsmen are busy packing their belongings, preparing to migrate north.

However, the shadow of death is silently approaching.

Several miles away from the grassland, behind a low ridge, Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao stood side by side.

Both men wore greyish-white robes for concealment, covering fine leather armor underneath.

Behind him stood five hundred elite Youyi soldiers, dressed in the same attire, blending seamlessly into the snowy backdrop.

The warhorses were gagged, and the soldiers were silent, with only their heavy breathing condensing into white mist in the cold air.

Zhao Yun's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's as he carefully observed the movements of the distant tribe through his monocular telescope.

He saw scattered flocks of sheep, herdsmen dismantling their yurts, and dozens of Yuwen cavalrymen loitering lazily around the perimeter of the camp.

"Wen Yuan, the timing is perfect."

Zhao Yun's voice was deep and clear.

"The main guards of this unit left with the majority of the tribes during their migration, leaving the area undefended and with favorable winds."

Zhang Liao nodded calmly, holding a similar telescope in his hand: "The camp is scattered, which is conducive to the spread of the fire. Most of the able-bodied men have been conscripted, and those left behind are mostly the elderly, women, and children... Although I am reluctant, military orders are absolute, so let's do it."

Zhao Yun put away his binoculars and nodded, then raised his right hand and swung it down sharply!
The silent command was conveyed instantly.

Dozens of well-prepared scouts from the outposts emerged like ghosts. Carrying specially made flammable pouches, they moved with the swiftness of cats, using the undulating terrain and the cover of dry grass to divide into several groups and silently sneak towards several key windward positions on the edge of the grassland.

At the same time, another hundred or so cavalrymen quietly mounted their horses, drew their bows, and aimed their cold arrows at the grassland.

The arrow gleamed with a deadly cold light in the dim daylight.

The tribe's herders knew nothing about this.

An old herdsman was laboriously tying the last few bundles of felt onto his cart, while his grandson chased after a stray lamb nearby.

Several women sat around the dying campfire, cooking the last bit of dried meat and cheese curds.

The Yuwen cavalrymen outside the camp were lazily basking in the sun, passing around a rough leather wine pouch.

suddenly!

Chi Chi Chi -!
Several rockets, accompanied by piercing whistles, shot up suddenly from the withered grass on the northwest side of the grassland, like falling meteors!

boom! boom! boom!
Dry, withered grass ignites instantly when exposed to fire! The oil poured by the scouts provided an even more terrifying accelerant!
Almost in the blink of an eye, several thick tongues of fire shot into the sky! They swept across the entire tribe's pastures and camps at an astonishing speed! The fire was fueled by the wind, and the wind fueled the fire's power, with flames soaring into the air and thick smoke billowing!

"Fire! Fire! Run!"

The tranquility of the camp was instantly shattered by terrified screams!

The cattle and sheep were startled, letting out mournful cries as they scattered and fled, crashing into tents and people! The herders ran around like headless flies, crying out as they searched for their loved ones, livestock, and their meager possessions.

The patrolling cavalry of the Yuwen tribe were also stunned by the sudden fire. They tried to organize firefighting or maintain order, but their efforts were futile in the face of the raging fire!
Amidst this extreme chaos!
Om-!
A dense, chilling rain of arrows precisely covered the Yuwen cavalry attempting to assemble from behind the mountain ridge!
puff!puff!puff!

The sharp blades pierced through the leather armor, the muffled thuds of tearing flesh echoing throughout! The screams abruptly ceased! The Yuwen cavalry fell like felled wheat in an instant! The remaining few were terrified, no longer caring about their duties, they screamed and turned their horses to flee, wanting only to get away from this land of death!

"Youyi Army! They are the white-armored killing gods of the Han people!"

A sharp-eyed herdsman spotted the conspicuous white figures on the distant mountain ridge and let out a desperate wail.

Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao stared expressionlessly at the hellish scene before them.

The towering flames illuminated their young yet resolute faces, while the acrid smell of thick smoke drifted on the wind.

They did not order an assault on the camp to massacre the elderly and infirm; their objective was very clear.

Destroy the Yuwen tribe's pastures, eliminate their manpower, and create panic.

"Retreat!" Seeing that the fire had spread, the Yuwen cavalry had been routed, and the camp was in complete chaos and paralysis, Zhao Yun decisively gave the order.

Mission accomplished, no need to linger.

The white-clad wandering army retreated like the tide, arriving silently and leaving without a trace, leaving behind only a sea of ​​fire and desperate cries.

Thick smoke billowed straight into the sky, clearly visible from dozens of miles away.

a few days later.

In the southeast of Yunzhong County, on a secret trade route connecting the grasslands and the border of Bingzhou.

A caravan consisting of dozens of oxcarts is moving forward.

The cart was loaded with salt, ironware, coarse cloth, and some luxury goods from the Central Plains, all from the Han region.

The caravan was escorted by over a hundred fierce Xianbei knights, belonging to a small vassal tribe of the Tuoba clan.

The leading Hu merchant was wrapped in a thick fur robe, his face showing the weariness of a long journey and a hint of anticipation for the upcoming profit.

Suddenly, the scout who had been exploring ahead came running back in a panic: "Chief! Something's wrong! There are Han soldiers ahead! In white armor!"

The Hu merchant chieftain's expression changed drastically: "The White-Armored Army? How could they be here? Quick! Turn around! Protect the goods!"

However, by the time you see the white armor, it's already too late.

Woo——!
The sound of whistling arrows shattered the silence of the wasteland!
From behind the seemingly peaceful hills on both sides, a large number of white figures emerged as if by magic! It was a guerrilla force personally led by Zhao Yun! Like a pack of wolves on the hunt, they had been lying in ambush for a long time!
"Target, escort cavalry! Three-round rapid fire! Free volley!"

Zhao Yun's clear, cold voice rang out.

hum!hum!hum!
The mighty bows that the Youyi Army was so proud of emitted a deathly tremor! Arrows rained down like locusts! Precise, dense, and deadly!
Puff puff puff!

The sounds of arrows piercing flesh, the mournful neighing of warhorses, and the screams of the guards knights filled the air in an instant!
The Xianbei guards' prized horsemanship looked rather ridiculous under the barrage of arrows from afar!
When poor, he would strike with precision; when rich, he would use overwhelming firepower. Zhang Xian's military strategy was always to use long-range attacks whenever possible and heavy armor for close combat, aiming to minimize his own casualties.

Armor-piercing arrows would be a waste to use on the Hu people, whose leather armor was as thin as paper and could be easily pierced by the triangular arrowheads!
After a volley of arrows swept across the ground, men and horses fell to the ground in an instant, and blood stained the withered yellow grass red!

"Charge! Scatter them! Seize the goods!" Zhao Yun pointed his spear.

The wandering knights sheathed their bows and drew their gleaming ring-pommel swords, sweeping down like a white storm! Dealing with the guards, stunned and disorganized by the arrow barrage, was like tigers among sheep! Blades flashed, blood splattered! The resistance crumbled swiftly!
The Hu merchants and their drivers were already paralyzed with fear, kowtowing repeatedly and crying out in broken Chinese, "General, spare our lives! The goods... all the goods are offered to the General! Spare our lives!"

The battle ended quickly.

The Xianbei guards were almost completely wiped out, and all the caravan members were captured.

Zhao Yun rode up to the trembling Hu merchant chieftain, the cold tip of his spear pressed against his throat: "Speak, where did the goods come from? Where were they destined for? Who in the Tuoba tribe were you in contact with?"

Under the threat of death, the Hu merchant chieftain confessed everything like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.

"It was...bought from a Han merchant surnamed Wang in Yanmen County...transported...transported to the royal court of Tuoba Suoqi, the chieftain of the Tuoba tribe...in exchange for their furs and warhorses...the contact was Tuoba Suoqi's nephew, Tuoba Yuan..."

“Yanmen County… Wang, a Han merchant… Tuoba Yuan…” A cold glint flashed in Zhao Yun’s eyes as he memorized these names.

"Do they have any connection with the Xianbei leader Suotou?!"

he continued to ask.

The merchant dared not conceal the truth and immediately said, "I am a cousin of Tuoba Lin, the leader of the Tuoba clan!"

There really is a connection.

Zhao Yun pondered, noting that the main activity area of ​​the Xianbei Suo leader was around Hulun Lake, located in the border region, so this information was somewhat valuable.

He waved his hand: "The goods are confiscated, and the personnel are sent back to Wuyuan to be forced into hard labor!" Looking at the prisoners being taken away and the seized supplies, Zhang Liao rode his horse closer to Zhao Yun and whispered: "Yanmen County is still in the hands of Governor Ding Yuan, and the prefect is his cousin. This caravan might be their doing."

Zhao Yun nodded, looking towards the direction of the Tuoba tribe's royal court in the north, his gaze profound: "Our army's strength has already been demonstrated, and it is not advisable to stay here for long, lest we attract a large-scale encirclement and annihilation. It is a good time to go back and inform the lord of this matter, and see what the lord thinks."

Zhang Liao nodded: "That's all we can do. Our repeated raids will surely cause turmoil within their ranks. It all depends on whether Liu Bei can seize this opportunity to make a move."
-
Several days later, on the outskirts of the Tuoba royal court.

The section on *Jiecao* (竭草).

The tribal chief, Jiecaoyegan, was a strong man in his forties, ambitious yet quite pragmatic.

He knew that relying on the powerful Tuoba Suoqi would provide temporary protection, but would severely hinder the tribe's development.

Especially recently, the Yuwen tribe has been venting its anger on neighboring tribes because their pastures were burned and their trade routes were cut off, leading to continuous conflicts. Tuoba Suoqi's ambiguous attitude has further fueled Jiecao Yegan's resentment.

However, on this day, three uninvited guests arrived at the camp.

The newcomers were none other than Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

They also brought several large carts, fully loaded with snow-white salt bricks, bundles of brand-new iron farm tools, and Bingzhou cotton cloth.

Under the pretext of trade, Jikusa no Kan personally came out to investigate.

"Leader of the Grass-Draining Clan, I have long admired your name."

Liu Bei bowed respectfully to the bewildered and suspicious-looking Jie Cao Ye Gan beneath the tent flap.

"I am Liu Xuande, representing General Zhang Xian, Marquis of Jinxiang, the General of the Han Dynasty. I have come to do some business with you, or rather... make friends."

"A Han Chinese general?"

Jiecao Yegan's eyes were sharp as an eagle's as he swept over Liu Bei and his two companions, lingering for a moment on Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, feeling their imposing aura and his heart trembling.

He waved to stop the commotion among his guards and said in a deep voice, "I have never had any dealings with the Han people. What brings you here?"

"We've come for the leader's future."

Liu Bei smiled slightly and gestured to his attendants to lift the tarpaulin covering a large cart.

The snow-white salt bricks gleamed alluringly in the dim tent.

"This is the finest refined salt from Bingzhou, which can cure all diseases, strengthen muscles and bones, and is far superior to the bitter salt from the grasslands."

They then lifted the tarpaulin off another vehicle, revealing gleaming ironware and softly colored cotton fabric.

"The farm tools made of fine iron are more exquisite than the weapons of the grasslands, and the newly woven cotton cloth of Bingzhou is soft and warm, ten times better than fur."

A suppressed gasp and greedy gasps filled the tent.

Salt, iron, and cloth—these are precisely the hard currencies that grassland tribes desperately need and crave! Especially goods of such high quality!
Jiecao Yegan's Adam's apple bobbed as he forcibly suppressed the pounding in his heart and sneered.

"Good stuff! But things belonging to the Han people aren't so easy to take! Tell me, what does Zhang Xian want? Does he want my Jiecao tribe to betray the Tuoba chieftain?"

"You flatter me, leader," Liu Bei said calmly.

"General Zhang is a formidable force, and his military might is something the leader must have heard of."

The Yuwen tribe, relying on its strength, has repeatedly invaded your tribe's grasslands, but the Tuoba chieftain has turned a blind eye. If this continues, how will the Jiecao tribe cope?

General Zhang asked for little, only that his leader could restrain his troops and remain neutral in the face of certain changes in the future.

As long as the Jiecao tribe doesn't actively become my enemy, this grassland...

Liu Bei pointed to Yinshan.

"On the southern slopes of Yinshan Mountain lies a land lush with water and grass, which will be ceded to the Jiecao tribe after the war! Furthermore, trade routes for salt, iron, and cloth will also be opened to the Jiecao tribe! This is a mutually beneficial arrangement, so how can it be considered a betrayal?"

The dry grass and wild grass began to breathe heavily.

The southern foothills of the Yin Mountains! That's ten times better than his current barren grassland! Not to mention the ongoing salt and iron trade! The temptation is too great!

He glanced at the undisguised longing in the eyes of his trusted subordinates, and then thought of the Yuwen tribe's relentless pressure and Tuoba Suoqi's indifference... An idea began to grow uncontrollably.

Rather than eking out a living in the cracks, why not... take a big gamble!
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with ambition: "Mr. Liu, words are not enough!"

Liu Bei seemed to have anticipated this, and took out a silk scroll stamped with the bright red seal of the General's Mansion from his bosom. The terms of the promise were clearly written in Chinese characters on it.

"This is a promise personally written by General Zhang, and we shall take it as proof! Once Yunzhong is restored, the grasslands, salt and iron, and trade routes will all satisfy the Jiecao tribe!"

Jiecao Yegan carefully examined the silk scroll and stroked the bright red mark, finally making up his mind.

He stood up, placed his right hand on his chest, and performed a solemn tribal salute to Liu Bei.

“Very well! I, Jiecao Yegan, am willing to form this amicable bond with General Zhang! As long as General Zhang’s army does not set foot on my Jiecao tribe’s current pastures, my tribe will not send out a single soldier! And I am willing to keep an eye on the movements of the Yuwen and Tuoba tribes for you, General!”

"The leader speaks his mind!" Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed.

"These salt, iron, and cloth are merely a token of our initial greeting! Further trade will be handled by designated personnel!"

Leaving the Jiecao tribe's camp, Zhang Fei couldn't help but ask in a muffled voice, "Brother, are we just going to let that Hu chieftain off so easily?"

A profound look flashed in Liu Bei's eyes.

“Yide, this is called using profit to drive them. The Jiecao tribe appears to be neutral, but in reality, it has planted a thorn between Yuwen and Tuoba.”

As long as he remains neutral, the Yuwen and Tuoba tribes will become suspicious of him, and that's enough. He's a real tough nut to crack...

He gazed at the distant outline of the vast and heavily guarded Tuoba royal court.

"It is that chieftain Tuoba Sochi."

Tuoba Suoqi was cunning and shrewd, with immense power. He was one of the key figures among the Hu people of Yunzhong and was extremely wary of the Han people.

A few days later, a secret letter, dictated by Liu Bei and written by Guan Yu, imitating the tone of a powerful nobleman from the Yuwen tribe and the seal style provided by the Jiecao tribe, was sent through a special channel.

It "accidentally" fell into the hands of one of Tuoba Suoqi's trusted guards.

The letter vehemently criticized Tuoba Suoqi for being two-faced, arguing with the Yuwen tribe for grasslands while secretly sending people to contact the Han army, intending to betray his allies and dominate Yunzhong.

The letter advised the chieftain of the Yuwen tribe to strike first, unite with the tribes dissatisfied with Tuoba Suoqi, and take advantage of his unpreparedness to annex his power!
This forged letter, riddled with flaws yet powerful enough to stir the heart, was like a poisoned pill, thrown into the already turbulent court of the Tuoba royal family.

"You scoundrel! Yuwen, how dare you slander me like this!" Tuoba Suoqi's roar echoed in the royal tent. He was so angry that he tore the letter to shreds.

"And that ungrateful wolf cub, Jiecao Yegan! He dares to collude with the Han people behind my back! Men! Keep a close watch on the movements of the Yuwen and Jiecao tribes! Increase patrols! Without my order, no tribe's army is allowed to approach within fifty li of the royal court!"

Once the seeds of suspicion are sown, they will quickly take root and sprout in the poison of self-interest.

The Yuwen tribe was already dissatisfied with the Tuoba tribe because their pastures had been burned. Now that they found the Tuoba tribe had suddenly increased their vigilance, they became even more suspicious and nervously withdrew their forces, wary of each other.

The already fragile alliance between the Hu people in Yunzhong was quietly cracked by Liu Bei's seemingly casual maneuvering, creating a huge rift.

"Brother's plan is brilliant, it wins hearts and minds!"

Guan Yu sincerely praised the tense atmosphere among the grassland tribes over the past few days.

Liu Bei shook his head slightly, his face showing no pride.

"Using one tiger to devour another is not a long-term solution. Now that the crack has opened, it remains to be seen how Generals Zilong and Wenyuan will further widen it."

"We should go now; we can't stay here any longer. Let's go find a Han Chinese village."

He turned his horse around, and several figures disappeared into the twilight of the vast grassland.

(End of this chapter)