Shuhan

In the northeast of Youzhou, to the north of Liaodong County, far away from the prosperous Central Plains, the vast grassland is like a huge white velvet carpet. Even though it is early spring, the remnants of winter still stubbornly remain on this land.

The snow has not yet completely melted, covering the ground in patches, as if it were icing sugar that nature had accidentally sprinkled.

Unlike the gradual warming and revival of the inland areas of Youzhou, spring on the grassland is always late. It takes at least half a month before the lush green and vibrant scene can be seen.

Deep in this vast grassland, there is a body of water called "Da Ze".

In later generations, it was also called Hulun Lake, Dalai Lake, and Dalainor, which means "lake like the sea" in Mongolian.

It is like a shining pearl on the grassland, and even in this early spring, it begins to show its unique charm.

The ice surface of the lake gradually melted under the warm sunshine, making a fine and crisp sound, like the whisper of nature.

There are numerous tribes dotted around the lake. They are like children on the grassland, nestling beside the water and enjoying the gifts of nature.

After a long and cold winter, the people of these tribes are now busy releasing the cattle, sheep and horses that have been kept in the pens all winter.

After a season of consumption, these livestock looked thin and tired, but they still instinctively dug at the roots of the newly thawed land, hoping to draw a bit of vitality from this long-sleeping earth.

On the west side of the lake, a densely packed group of tents came into view. They were arranged in an orderly manner like a group of mushrooms on the grassland.

Among them, the most conspicuous tent is Kebinen’s royal tent.

The scale and grandeur of the king's tent still demonstrate its former glory and majesty, even though Kebineng's strength is now far less than before.

At this moment, inside the royal tent, Kebineng was sitting upright on a throne made of animal skins. Although his face looked a little tired, there was still an unyielding light in his eyes.

Two years ago, he could lead 100,000 cavalrymen and gallop across the grassland, invincible.

However, times have changed, and now, facing the Han envoys, he no longer dares to show the slightest bit of arrogance.

The Han envoys were dressed in gorgeous Hanfu with fluttering sleeves, which was out of tune with the rugged atmosphere of the grassland.

He read out the will of the Han Dynasty expressionlessly: "Kebi Neng's troops can develop westward and invade Tuoba Liwei's pastures and tribes. The Han Dynasty will not assist Tuoba Liwei."

These brief words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in Ke Bineng's heart.

Ke Bineng was a smart man, and he quickly figured it out in his mind.

In recent years, the southward migration of the Tufa tribe gave him a chance to catch his breath, allowing him to temporarily break free from the suppression of the Tufa tribe and develop his own power.

But now, the Tuoba tribe has been renamed the Tuoba tribe, and the Han Kingdom has suddenly extended such an olive branch to him. This is undoubtedly a great opportunity for him to rise again and become the overlord of the grassland.

Thinking of this, a glimmer of excitement flashed in Kebineng's eyes.

He slowly stood up, walked to the Han envoy, and said in a firm tone: "I will definitely respect the Han as my suzerain, and I am willing to serve the Han!"

The Han envoy nodded slightly, as if he had anticipated Kebineng's answer.

He turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly stopped, looked back at Ke Bineng, and said meaningfully: "Ke Bineng, the opportunity is already in front of you. Whether you can seize it depends on your ability."

After saying this, he flashed and walked out of the king's tent.

Ke Bineng stood where he was and watched the Han envoy's backs go away.

He had mixed feelings in his heart, with both longing for the future and worry about the unknown.

The road to resurgence will never be smooth, but he firmly believes that as long as he has determination and courage, nothing can stop him from moving forward.

Thinking of this, Kebineng took a deep breath, turned around and walked out of the king's tent.

He looked up into the distance and saw a red sun slowly rising at the end of the grassland, casting golden light all over the earth.

He seemed to see his future hegemony, which was like the rising sun, full of hope and possibility.

In the following days, Kebinen began to actively prepare plans for westward expansion.

He sent envoys to form alliances with surrounding tribes, while strengthening the training and equipment of the army in preparation for the coming battle.

Under his leadership, the people of the tribe seemed to see hope for the future. They united as one and worked together towards this goal.

On the vast grassland, the wind was rising and the clouds were surging. Before the drums of war sounded, the flashes of swords and the shadows of sabers were already intertwined in secret.

Kebi Neng was leading his wolf-like and tiger-like tribal warriors in a fierce attack on the Tuoba tribe's grasslands.

The sun shines through the sparse clouds onto the grassland, but it cannot hide the coming storm.

Kebineng wore a fur robe, a wolf fur coat on his shoulders, and a long sword shining with cold light hung on his waist. It was his companion in countless battles.

He rode on a majestic warhorse, the sound of its hooves was like thunder, shaking the grassland.

There was a cold and resolute expression on his face, and his eagle-like eyes were staring straight ahead, as if they could penetrate all obstacles and look directly at the core of the Tuoba tribe.

"For the survival of the tribe and the future of our descendants, we must be strong!" Kebi Neng said silently in his heart. Although his voice was soft, it was full of unshakable determination.

This fertile grassland is the lifeline of the Tuoba tribe. Once it is in their hands, the strength of the tribe will increase exponentially, enough to stand out from the crowd on this grassland.

Faced with the sudden invasion, the herdsmen of the Tuoba tribe panicked and fled in all directions.

The cries of cattle and sheep, the crying of children, and the roars of soldiers intertwined together, forming a sad picture.

However, Kebinen's troops were well-trained. They quickly and orderly drove the cattle and sheep, tied up the captives, and ruthlessly plundered all the wealth they could take away.

In just one month, Kebineng advanced a hundred miles westward like autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, captured hundreds of thousands of cattle and sheep and livestock, tens of thousands of people, and more importantly, he occupied the hundred miles of fertile grassland.

But in Youzhou, far away from this war-torn land, in the city of Zhuo County, Zhuo County, the scene was quite different.

The city walls are majestic, the streets are prosperous, and the place is bustling with people coming and going.

In a magnificent mansion in the city, Tuoba Liwei was receiving the envoy from the State of Wei with a frown on his face.

The envoy was dressed in gorgeous robes, holding a staff, and spoke earnestly, trying to persuade Tuoba Liwei to form an alliance with Wei to fight against the increasingly powerful Han.

"Lord Tuoba, the King of Wei is sincere and is willing to work with you to achieve great things. Once the alliance is formed, Wei will provide soldiers, food and fodder to help you grow your strength, as well as gold, silver, treasures, beautiful women and delicious food to show our sincerity."

The messenger's words were full of temptation, trying to impress this hero of the grassland.

After hearing this, Tuoba Liwei felt mixed emotions.

Didn't he want to break free from the shackles of the Han people and restore the glory of his tribe?

But years of forbearance and waiting have taught him to be cautious.

He stood up slowly and looked out the window with deep eyes. There, a group of birds were flying across the sky, free and high.

"Mr. Envoy, your proposal is indeed tempting, but this matter is of great importance. Please allow me to think twice."

His answer was ambiguous, neither rejecting nor agreeing, and he was obviously trying to find the best balance.

After the messenger left, Tuoba Liwei sat alone in the study, thinking for a long time.

Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and a confidant covered in dust and looking panicked rushed in.

"My lord, it's bad! Kebineng led his troops to occupy our pastures. The cattle and sheep were robbed and the people were taken captive. The situation is critical!"

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Liwei's eyes widened with anger and he slammed his fist on the table, causing the cups and plates to clatter.

"Ke Bineng, this ungrateful guy, how dare he attack me!"

He roared, his heart filled with unquenchable anger and resentment.

He knew very well how important the grassland was to the tribe; losing it would be tantamount to losing the foundation of survival.

"This matter must be reported to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, and he must make the decision for us!"

Tuoba Liwei said this with gritted teeth, but then fell into deep thought.

He vaguely felt that Kebineng's actions did not seem simple, and there might be a more complicated political game behind it.

However, he didn't know that the mastermind behind all this was the almighty Han emperor, who was manipulating the situation on the grassland in a subtle way to achieve his own goals.

In the late spring evening, the setting sun was as red as blood, sprinkling on the mottled walls of Guangyang Palace, casting a mysterious veil over this majestic building.

Tuoba Liwei was dressed in gorgeous furs, with a short knife on his waist that symbolized the glory of the tribe. He rode his beloved black horse and slowly walked into the palace of the Han emperor.

His face was firm, and his eyes showed both expectation and anxiety. It was obvious that in this audience with the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, he was shouldering the hope and future of the entire tribe.

The gate of the palace slowly opened, but there was no guard of honor as expected to greet them. Only a eunuch named Huang Hao, dressed in gorgeous official uniform and with a sinister face, walked out slowly.

Huang Hao's eyes revealed a subtle contempt. He spoke softly, but every word was as sharp as a needle: "Master Tuoba, His Majesty has sent people to the grassland to reprimand Kebineng. You can go back now."

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Liwei's body trembled slightly, and a trace of surprise and unwillingness flashed in his eyes.

He quickly adjusted his mood and asked anxiously, "Just a reprimand? No troops were sent to punish them? No need to return the 100-mile grassland they occupied?"

There was a barely perceptible tremor in his voice. Obviously, that piece of grassland was the foundation of survival for the Xianbei tribe.

Huang Hao shook his head slightly, with a meaningful smile on his face: "I don't know about this."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and was about to leave, his back looking particularly arrogant and indifferent.

Tuoba Liwei was not a stupid person. He was well aware of the difficulty of this journey and the intention of the Han emperor.

He hurriedly took a step forward, and said pleadingly, "I want to lead my troops to the grassland. Please let the eunuch inform His Majesty on my behalf."

He lowered his posture very low, trying to gain a glimmer of hope with a final effort.

However, Huang Hao stopped and turned around, with a cold smile on his face: "The Khan can go back to the grassland, but the Xianbei cavalry in Guangyang Palace and the tens of thousands of Xianbei settled in Zhuo County cannot be moved."

These words were like a ray of ice, piercing Tuoba Liwei's heart.

Tuoba Liwei's anger was instantly ignited. His eyes widened and his voice was deep and powerful: "These are all my soldiers, why can't they move?"

His hands were clenched into fists, veins bulging, showing his inner anger and unwillingness.

Huang Hao sneered, and the laughter sounded particularly harsh in front of the empty palace: "Maybe you can give it a try!"

After saying this, he walked straight into the palace without stopping, leaving behind only a cold back and a closed door.

Tuoba Liwei was so angry that he was shaking all over and almost lost his mind.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil.

Acting impulsively at this moment will only bring greater disaster.

He closed his eyes, and the images of the old, young, women and children in the tribe emerged in his mind, their expectant eyes, and their lives that depended on him.

He couldn't, he couldn't let the tribe fall into eternal damnation because of his momentary impulse.

Upon seeing this, his close associates began to clamor, and some even proposed to break away from the Han Dynasty and establish themselves as kings.

Tuoba Li opened his eyes slightly, his gaze firm and deep. He raised his right hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

Although his voice was not loud, it carried unquestionable majesty: "The Han Kingdom is now powerful. It will be of no benefit to us to go against it."

The confidants looked at each other, and finally lowered their heads to show their submission.

Tuoba Liwei knew that this was a difficult road, but he had to choose forbearance and wisdom for the future of the tribe.

As night fell, outside the Guangyang Palace, Tuoba Liwei sat alone on the back of a black horse, gazing at the grassland in the distance.

In the moonlight, his figure appeared lonely and tall, like a lone hero carrying the fate of the entire tribe.

He thought of his father's last words and the simple yet resilient faces of his tribal people, and a resolute strength surged in his heart.

True strength does not lie in momentary victory or defeat, but in the ability to survive in adversity and grow in challenges.

He must solve this difficulty!

Ever since.

Tuoba Liwei did not choose to return to Zhuo County or the grassland immediately, but decided to change his fate in another way.

Visit the Han officials!

Tuoba Liwei was dressed in gorgeous Xianbei clothing, with a jade pendant around his waist that symbolized his status. He rode a tall black horse and slowly traveled along the official road of the Han Dynasty.

There was a humble smile on his face, but there was an unyielding light in his eyes.

He brought generous gifts and visited those high-ranking Han officials one by one, hoping that they could say a few good words for him in front of the emperor and ease the pressure on him.

Wherever he went, he behaved with utmost respect, and whether facing arrogant dignitaries or cunning politicians, he responded with unchanging humility and wit.

However, these efforts did not seem to bring about any substantial changes, and he could still feel the invisible pressure from the Han court.

Just when Tuoba Liwei was about to give up hope, an official named Liu from Zhuo County privately brought him a shocking news.

The official was nearly 50 years old and had a weathered face, but his eyes revealed an indescribable wisdom.

He whispered to Tuoba Liwei, "Great Khan, the reason why the emperor is targeting you is because you secretly met with the envoys of Wei State, which has long been known to the emperor of the Han Dynasty."

When Tuoba Liwei heard this, he felt as if struck by lightning, and an indescribable fear surged in his heart.

He originally thought that he had done this matter perfectly, but he didn't expect that it had already been exposed in broad daylight.

Tuoba Liwei took a deep breath, tried to calm his inner turmoil, expressed his deep gratitude to Liu, and then began to think of countermeasures.

Tuoba Liwei realized that in order to change the status quo, he must show his loyalty to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

He immediately ordered his confidants to go to Zhuo County, tie up the Wei envoy, and take him to the Guangyang Palace overnight.

Afterwards, he followed the Han Chinese legend, ordered people to fetch brambles, carried them on his back himself, and set out for the Guangyang Palace with the warriors of the Xianbei tribe.

In the messy wind, Tuoba Liwei's figure appeared particularly lonely and determined.

His face was full of determination and his eyes were flashing with an unyielding fire.

He knew very well that although this action was humiliating, it was his only way to turn the situation around.

When Tuoba Liwei and his party arrived at the Guangyang Palace, they were told that the Han emperor had no intention of summoning the Xianbei Khan, and only the eunuch Huang Hao came out to meet him.

Huang Hao was dressed in a gorgeous official uniform, with a sinister look on his face and a hint of subtle contempt in his eyes.

He looked at Tuoba Liwei coldly, as if he was looking at an insignificant ant.

Tuoba Liwei suppressed his inner anger, bowed respectfully, then told the Wei envoy everything and expressed his absolute loyalty to the Han Dynasty and his absolute obedience to the Han emperor.

He hoped that he could lead the Xianbei warriors to the grassland to fight against Kebi Neng.

After hearing this, Huang Hao raised his lips into a playful smile.

He looked Tuoba Liwei up and down, then slowly said: "I will convey the Khan's sincerity to Your Majesty. However, this time you can lead 20,000 Xianbei warriors back to the grassland to deal with Kebi Neng. But remember, your every move is under the surveillance of the Han Dynasty."

Although Tuoba Liwei was dissatisfied in his heart, he pretended to be grateful on the surface and nodded repeatedly to express his gratitude.

He knew that at this moment he no longer had the capital to bargain with the Han court.

On the way out of Guangyang Palace, Tuoba Liwei's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

On the one hand, he felt angry and humiliated by the actions of the Han emperor. On the other hand, he also understood that compared with the Han Dynasty, Kebi Neng was his biggest threat at the moment.

Only by dealing with Kebi Neng can he truly unify the grassland and become the true master of the grassland.

Only by becoming the lord of the grassland will he be qualified to bargain with the Emperor of Han!
Tuoba Liwei looked towards the north and seemed to be able to see the vast grassland. A strong fighting spirit surged in his heart.

May God bless you!
Bless my Great Xianbei!

Tuoba Liwei secretly swore that he would make the Han Kingdom pay double for today's humiliation one day.

He wanted to turn all his anger and unwillingness into motivation to move forward and lead the Xianbei tribe to a more glorious future. (End of this chapter)