Isolated town in northern border region

The news spread like the wind across the grasslands, from one tribe to another, and in less than ten days it reached the entire northern grasslands.

"Have you heard? There's a band of bandits, over five hundred of them, riding the best horses and carrying the sharpest knives, raiding every tribe they encounter!"

"They're not bandits, they're the Wolf Riders! Xiao Lie sent them to cause trouble on the grasslands!"

"The Wolf Riders? Aren't they traitors from the grasslands?"

"Even a traitor is better than Timur! Timur was beaten like a dog and ran back home, not daring to utter a sound!"

"That Xiao Xiong led five hundred men and rampaged across the grasslands, why didn't Timur dare send troops to suppress him?"

"Send troops? What kind of troops would he send? Which tribe still listens to him?"

The herders on the grassland sat around the campfire, talking in hushed tones.

Xiao Xiong led five hundred Canglang cavalry, roaming the grasslands like a pack of hungry wolves.

He doesn't fight tough battles or attack large tribes; he specifically targets small tribes with only a few hundred people.

Upon arriving at a tribe, he held a knife to the chief's neck, smiling as he demanded food and drink.

How could those tribal leaders dare to utter a single word of dissent?

They obediently offered up cattle, sheep, and horses, and some even gave away bags of gold and silver jewelry, just hoping this plague god would leave quickly.

Xiao Xiong didn't stand on ceremony. Those who could eat and drink ate and drank on the spot, those who could take it with them loaded it into the car and drove away, and those who couldn't take it with them shared it with the brothers who were traveling with him.

Inside Timur's tent, the atmosphere was so gloomy it looked like it was about to rain.

The tribal leaders sat in a circle, their faces grim.

Some people lowered their heads to drink tea, some closed their eyes to rest, and some secretly observed Timur's expression.

"Great Khan, the Azure Wolf Cavalry roams the grasslands with impunity, plundering more than a dozen tribes in just ten days!"

"If this continues, the people of the various tribes will fall apart."

An old leader couldn't help but speak up.

Timur didn't speak; his hands gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Great Khan, send troops to quell the rebellion! This humble general is willing to lead my cavalry!"

A young centurion stood up and volunteered for the mission.

Timur remained silent.

It's not that we don't want to send them, it's that we can't.

The Azure Wolf Cavalry were elite troops, and they were extremely familiar with the grasslands!

Timur's idea of ​​capturing Xiao Xiong on the grasslands is simply a pipe dream!

The only way is to send people to garrison various small tribes and wait for Xiao Xiong to come and plunder, but he doesn't have that many troops!

Timur's face grew increasingly grim.

Just then, the curtain was lifted.

Tug walked in.

His left ear was wrapped in thick bandages, and blood was seeping through the gauze.

"Father Khan."

Tug knelt on one knee.

"Your subject requests permission to fight."

Timur looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

"Your injury hasn't healed yet."

"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."

Tug raised his head.

"Father Khan, the wolves are rampaging across the grasslands. If we do not wipe them out as soon as possible, the tribes will surely become disloyal and alienated."

"Your subject is willing to lead the cavalry of this force to the area, and within three days, we will surely take Xiao Xiong's head."

Whispers filled the tent.

Timur's gaze swept over the crowd and then landed on Tug.

He saw the fire in his son's eyes, and he also saw the expectation in the eyes of the other leaders.

He has to give an explanation.

"it is good."

Timur nodded.

"I, the Khan, will give you 20,000 cavalrymen. Bring back Xiao Xiong's head within three days."

The news that Tuge had led 20,000 cavalry out of the royal court reached Xiao Xiong's ears that very day.

Xiao Xiong grinned after hearing the scout's report.

"Twenty thousand cavalry? This is probably Timur's last remaining strength?"

"General, what do we do?"

His subordinate asked.

Xiao Xiong heeded Xiao Lie's instructions and did not hesitate at all.

"Let's run."

Xiao Xiong mounted his horse.

"Brothers, we've got a job! Young Master Tug is coming to see us off, we have to give him some face."

"drive!"

Five hundred wolf riders swept across the grassland like a gust of wind and disappeared into the northern horizon.

Tug chased after them for three days.

On the first day, he discovered traces left by the Azure Wolf Riders in a ransacked tribe. He deduced that Xiao Xiong had gone east and immediately led his army in pursuit.

The next day, he caught up with the rear guard of the Gray Wolf Cavalry by a river.

Seeing the black wolf flag in the distance, Tuge's blood boiled.

"Chase them! Chase them!"

Twenty thousand cavalrymen galloped wildly, but the horses ridden by Canglang were too fast. They chased for a whole day, but the distance between the two sides remained five or six miles.

On the third day, Tug found himself wandering in a huge circle on the grassland.

Xiao Xiong wasn't heading east at all; instead, he was leading him on a roundabout route across the grassland.

Just when he thought he was about to catch up, the Wolf Riders would suddenly accelerate and disappear behind the hills.

Whenever he thought he had lost them, the Wolf Riders would reappear in another direction, waving at him from afar.

Tug was so angry he was trembling all over.

"Xiao Xiong! Are you even a man of the grasslands?! If you have the guts, fight me head-on!"

Xiao Xiong's voice drifted over from afar.

"Tugeyehu, you are truly mighty; I am no match for you!"

"Only you can truly convince me!"

Tug could hardly believe his ears.

Is this something Xiao Xiong would say?

While Xiao Xiong was playing hide-and-seek with Tuge on the grassland, Xiao Lie had Qian Wanli send out more than a hundred spies who could speak the grassland language to infiltrate various tribes and spread the news everywhere.

"Do you know why Timur couldn't beat Xiao Lie? Because he's old, cowardly, and afraid to fight."

"His son, Tuge, is different. Tuge confronted Xiao Lie head-on in Youzhou. Although he lost, it was because Xiao Lie cheated."

"In terms of bravery, Tug is ten times stronger than Timur."

"Didn't you see that Tug didn't back down even after having one of his ears cut off? If Timur had half the courage of his son, he would have taken Cangzhou long ago."

These words grew wildly on the grassland like weeds.

Some believed it, some didn't, but everyone remembered it—

Tuge was a tough and resolute man from the grasslands.

What's even more ingenious is that Xiao Lie always had his spies "casually" mention a certain detail when spreading the news—

"Xiao Xiong's five hundred wolf riders were causing trouble all over the grasslands. Timur didn't dare to send troops to suppress them. It was Tuge who volunteered to lead five thousand men to chase after them."

"This son looks more like the Khan than his father!"

Upon hearing these rumors, Timur was so angry that he smashed three wine glasses.

But he had no choice.

Though the tribal leaders didn't say it aloud, they were already making plans in their hearts...

Timur is old, Tug is young.

Tug was courageous and willing to fight, and as the eldest son, he should inherit the Khanate according to the rules.

Although it lost an ear, looking at it now, it doesn't seem to have receded even after its ear was cut off. What is that?

That's bravery!

Almost half a month has passed.

Tug's reputation grew day by day.

Even Tug himself sensed this change.

At first, when he led his army through the tribes, the herders kept their distance from him, their eyes filled with indifference and suspicion.

Later, people began to bow to him.

Later, a tribal chief offered cattle and sheep to reward his army.

Some people even privately call him "Great Khan"!

With Tuge's intelligence, he didn't even need to guess to know that Xiao Lie was behind it all!

It was half a month later when the news reached Timur's ears.

"Every tribe is speaking well of Tug."

The old wizard said cautiously.

"They say Tug is the bravest warrior on the grassland, that he is courageous and willing to fight, and that he is the one who deserves the position of Khan."

Timur remained silent for a long time.

He knew what this meant.

On the grasslands, the rule is that the strong rule.

He's old now, can't fight anymore, and his prestige is not what it used to be.

Each tribe needs a stronger leader to guide them, and Tug is becoming that person.

"Relay the Khan's orders."

Timur's voice was hoarse.

"Tuge has rendered meritorious service in pursuing and suppressing the bandits. Effective immediately, he is promoted to deputy commander of the grassland allied forces and will command all tribes north of the royal court."

The old leader was taken aback.

"Your Majesty, this..."

"Do as instructed."

Timur waved his hand and closed his eyes.

He knew that this move meant handing over the Khanate to his son.

But he had no choice. Rather than let the tribes pressure him, he chose to gracefully back down.

When Tuge received his appointment, he was chasing Xiao Xiong to the northernmost wilderness of the grassland.

He read the order without saying a word. His personal guards, however, erupted in uproar.

"Deputy Commander! Ye Hu is now the Deputy Commander! He commands all the tribes north of the Royal Court!"

Tug folded the order neatly and tucked it into his pocket.

"Keep chasing."

His voice was calm, but his hand holding the reins was trembling slightly.

Another half month passed.

Timur gave Tug everything he could.

Military strength, power, territory...

Under Xiao Lie's aggressive marketing, Tuge is gaining popularity among the various tribes.

Timur knew the time had come.

"Relay the Khan's orders."

Timur sat in the royal tent, looking at the jewel-encrusted Khan's badge, and remained silent for a long time.

"This Khan is old and frail, and is no longer able to lead the various tribes of the grasslands..."

"From this day forward, the throne of Khan shall be passed to his eldest son, Tug."

Everyone in the tent knelt down in unison.

"The Great Khan is wise!"

Timur did not turn back; he walked out of the tent alone.

The wind was strong on the grassland, making his white hair disheveled.

He knew that his era had come to an end.

The news of Tug's succession to the Khanate reached Xiao Xiong's ears that very day.

Xiao Xiong burst into laughter after hearing this.

"It's done! Your Highness is truly a brilliant strategist!"

"Brothers, let's stop running."

"Let's go see the grassland hero, One-Ear!"