The Xiongnu-Xianbei War (1)
In the year 181 AD, the fourth year of Guanghua of the Later Han Dynasty.
I was nine years old, and at the same time, I heard the news that Tanshihuai was gathering a large army north of Yin Mountain.
It was a scale of army different from the raids on Liang Province, Bing Province, or You Province that had happened every year.
When such an army gathered, rumors could not be avoided.
Even though the Xiongnu and Xianbei were enemies, they had crossed paths while grazing their livestock on the grasslands.
When herders killed each other, it was endless, so in such cases, they would simply pass by without noticing each other or exchange light greetings.
But from a certain day onward, the herders and livestock of the Xianbei side began to disappear from the borders.
The meaning of this fact was simple.
It meant that war was approaching.
In ancient times, when the Xiongnu were the hegemon of the Mobei, it was the same, but the Xianbei of Tanshihuai had previously moved their livestock and the elderly to the northern regions even from Mobei.
Meanwhile, the soldiers and horses were gathered at the place designated by Tanshihuai, and naturally, the herders and livestock disappeared from the borders.
Thus, the herders of our Xiongnu quickly received the urgent report and it reached the Grand Chanyu's imperial yurt in Lishi County, Xihe Commandery.
Fortunately, compared to the Han soldiers who were not mobilized in the previous war, the Xiongnu reacted first.
“All the great men of the Xiongnu, gather at Meiji County!”
Xihe Commandery is a long, narrow commandery stretching from northwest to southeast.
Among them, the county at the southeast end, Lishi County, is located across the Yellow River before entering the Taiyuan basin, spanning the Ye Liang Mountains.
Meiji County is the opposite, at the northwest end, in the Hetao Plateau.
Originally, the imperial yurt was in Meiji County, not Lishi County.
When I first entered Lishi County, as seen in the vision, the Xiongnu internal great rebellion against the Han forced the relocation of the imperial yurt to Lishi County.
It was the rebellion of the Xiongnu Gulong King, Wu Si, during the reign of Emperor Shun.
The Grand Chanyu at the time, Tute Ruoshi Gongzhu Chanyu, who was held responsible for this incident, and his younger brother, the Left Wise King, committed suicide together.
Although it was responsibility forced upon them.
Due to the aftermath of this incident, the position of the Xiongnu Grand Chanyu passed from branch to branch... to my great-grandfather, Li Ling Grand Chanyu.
Although there was no resentment against the Han who oppressed our royal family, conversely, without such oppression, a branch like us would not have become the royal family of the Xiongnu, so it was a bit awkward.
At the time, Emperor Shun was also a person whose lineage diverged from Emperor Ling Liu Hong a hundred years ago, so it was ambiguous to pursue grudges.
The common ancestor of Emperor Ling Liu Hong and Emperor Shun Liu Biao is Emperor Zhang of the Later Han, the Three Great Emperors.
Among Zhang's sons, the Qinghe King lineage is Shun, and the Hegan King lineage is Emperor Ling Liu Hong. By modern standards, the distance is so far that they are just strangers.
Anyway, my great-uncle and Grand Chanyu Hozheng gathering the Xiongnu army in Meiji County instead of Lishi County meant that he intended to advance north to confront Tanshihuai's invasion, without waiting for Tanshihuai to invade deep into Bing Province.
As the Kagan responsible for the Tengri faith, I responded to the Grand Chanyu's call and led the Wuhuan cavalry and Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Jian Yong, Zhang Liao, Huchuquan, etc., heading to Meiji County.
I informed my grandfather Yufuluo and my father Yufuluo as well that I was heading to Meiji County. Both sent replies that they were departing for Meiji County.
“The movement of the Grand Chanyu without consulting the Wang Zhonglangzhang (Wang You) is something I cannot move on yet. As the Wang Zhonglangzhang decides, we will go quickly too.”
My mentor Lu Bu said so.
On one hand, I understood, but on the other, I felt that through the campaign to exterminate Tanshihuai, the position of the Xiongnu Grand Chanyu had improved quite a bit.
If the general had still been alive, he would have caused a commotion saying 'the Grand Chanyu moved the army without my permission, so it's rebellion' or something.
But that general died 'at the hands of our Xiongnu'. Exactly, that was the official reason for his death.
With this alone, there was sufficient reason for the new Wang Zhonglangzhang Wang You to be cautious of us.
If the emperor had questioned the Xiongnu about the general's death, but Liu Hong instead blamed the general, then.
Well, as Hou Dun implied, at the point where Liu Hong wanted to use the Xiongnu to kill the general, there was no other outcome.
The reason Wang You had to come out with a low profile was the difference in the number of troops he commanded.
“The Han cavalry will probably be under my command this time too.”
Lu Bu continued to command the cavalry under Wang You.
Considering the martial prowess that saved our army in the Tanshihuai extermination war, the fame it brought, the loyalty of the Bing Province army cavalry... if I kicked out Lu Bu, he would become a mere Wang Zhonglangzhang.
Just like in modern times, a new officer in a unit tries not to clash with the staff officers.
However, Lu Bu also had to respect Wang You, so he could not move until the order came.
Excluding Lu Bu's cavalry, the Han infantry was essentially wiped out in the previous war. The remaining ones were gathering under the name of 'Tengri', becoming nomads and cavalry.
In other words, most of Bing Province's military strength was Xiongnu military strength.
Even if the emperor tried to rebuild the army in his edict, the defense of the northern border could only be left to our Xiongnu army.
Facing the crisis of Tanshihuai's large-scale invasion, the urgent action of the Xiongnu Grand Chanyu could be packaged as 'sincerity'.
Thanks to various reasons, the Grand Chanyu Lianze Hozheng could issue the gathering order to the Xiongnu army first and then 'notify' Wang You.
He had somewhat recovered the status of the Grand Chanyu as 'below the emperor, above all vassal kings'.
As I had sworn to be the 'emperor's auxiliary troops' on the day our Southern Xiongnu was first established, I intended to expand our Xiongnu's 'share within the Han' as auxiliary troops.
“Cousin!”
Awakened from thoughts about the situation of the Southern Xiongnu and the path ahead by Huchuquan's call.
“The capital of Meiji County!”
The military tents and tents were already full around.
I raised a flag depicting the round sun and the thin moon supporting it below, and crossed between them.
In the modern era where Mongolia becomes a republic, the national flag and emblem used also include the Xiongnu sun and moon emblem.
While embroidering this emblem on the flag, I rode proudly among the Xiongnu people.
As if showing the mandate of Tengri.
As I approached the capital of Meiji County, flashes of light again.
‘Another vision.’
Perhaps this would be the fourth vision.
Once in Lishi County, twice in Mayi County, Anmen Commandery.
Once more in Meiji County.
Well, what kind of vision this time.
...This time, familiar faces appeared.
Although I know who the characters in each vision are, this time among the people I see, there are 'people I have known since before'. This was a different element from the special effect of the vision.
In other words, it means it is an event from the not-so-distant past of the era I live in.
'Young general.'
The general who Lu Bu, or rather I, schemed to kill.
But he didn't seem to be ready to become a Zhonglangzhang yet.
The position of Zhonglangzhang was held by a superior officer in front of him, Zhang Huan.
Behind Zhang Huan, standing side by side with the general, a burly man appeared.
A chill ran down my spine.
I knew he was Dong Zhuo in his youth.
Dong Zhuo around twenty years old, younger than Lu Bu!
Zhang Liao and Dong Zhuo stood silently behind Zhang Huan, and Zhang Huan alone... glared fiercely toward the Xiongnu Grand Chanyu.
“Be grateful that the emperor has forgiven the Chanyu!”
Looking at the Chanyu side, there was also someone familiar there.
Somehow, it was a bit nostalgic and sad.
It was my late great-grandfather, Tute Ruoshi Gongzhu Chanyu.
Of course, the great-grandfather was not yet the Chanyu. He seemed to be standing beside the Chanyu as the Left Wise King.
The Chanyu... was my great-grandfather Li Ling Grand Chanyu.
“Remember this! The emperor can replace the Chanyu at any time! Just as the descendants of Tute Chanyu and his Left Wise King were pushed out from the Chanyu position, just as you, a branch, became the Chanyu instead of the previous Houlan Yue Chanyu!”
Just as Zhang Liao dealt with us, Zhang Huan treated us the same way.
Surely this Zhang Huan... I heard he advocated a moderate policy toward the Qiang people and opposed the harsh policy of Duan Jiong.
Was it different when dealing with the Xiongnu?
Perhaps Zhang Liao learned from Zhang Huan.
“Only a little over ten years have passed since the rebellion of Gulong King Wu Si, and another rebellion in the Southern Xiongnu! The Chanyu who cannot control the dissatisfaction of the Xiongnu cannot be tolerated for long!”
In the end, Zhang Huan's threat from a mere Han general was something my great-grandfather had to nod to, though humiliating.
“...Understood.”
The vision ended there.
You have enjoyed the first entry event in Lishi County, Meiji County, 'The Coerced Chanyu' event.
You have not yet dominated Lishi County, Meiji County, and have not received stat correction.
This fact confirmed through the message that rose this time.
The special event of dominating people's hearts with the Tengri faith is not counted as 'domination' in this event.
It seems that secular power over the entire Xiongnu is still necessary.
Or, receive this special event area as 'my territory'.
Another speculation is that this special event may be given even if occupying Mobei.
Through the vision I saw in Mayi County, it was already revealed that this vision is not only for the Southern Xiongnu.
There was a vision when the Xiongnu were unified, like during the time of Muktu Grand Chanyu or Junshen Grand Chanyu.
Similarly, if I advance into Mobei, I may see more of these visions.
It would be good if I could see the visions of the Northern Xiongnu after the division as well.
And what exactly was this 'stat correction' really curious.
I hadn't received any stat correction yet.
...I would know if I win in this war.
I had Liu Bei and the Wuhuan group set up military tents in a suitable place, and moved toward the imperial yurt of the Grand Chanyu who had taken a seat near the capital.
My father Yufuluo and grandfather Yufuluo were also there.
After greeting my father and grandfather with a glance, I knelt before the Grand Chanyu Hozheng sitting on the high seat.
As I walked toward the Grand Chanyu, Xubu Chang glared at me, but since Huyan Gu was also glaring at Xubu Chang from the other side, he couldn't focus on me to restrain him.
The other large and small clans were only watching each other to see who would take the lead in the Southern Xiongnu, and didn't talk to me.
“My younger brother's grandson, the Kagan, has come.”
“I greet the Grand Chanyu.”
“Yes, I also have something I want to ask you, the Kagan who bears the name of the leopard, the one who hears the voice of Tengri. Does Tengri have any words regarding this war.”