Wei Ni

Who would be willing to guard the border when one can join the central army?
Besides, the Zuo family, who have always been on good terms with the Wuhuan tribes, don't want their children to serve in the army in Youzhou.
If they were to run into a bad bureaucrat who directly accused the Zuo family of colluding with the Wuhuan tribe to rebel, they would be unable to explain themselves. Even if they proved their innocence, it would plant a thorn in the hearts of the county chiefs.

Therefore, after listening to Xiahou Hui's words, Zuo Junbo immediately claimed that he would rush to Liucheng in three days and would definitely be able to persuade the Wuhuan tribe to submit.

In order to prove that he was not talking nonsense, he also gave a general introduction to the situation over there.

When Cao Cao, the Emperor of Wei, defeated the Wuhuan tribes in the three counties at Bailang Mountain, he did not destroy or subdue all the pro-Yuan Wuhuan tribes. Some tribes fled to Liaodong with their remaining people following Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi. After Gongsun Kang sent the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi to Cao Cao, these tribes fled back to Gaoliu, Yangle, Changli and other places to survive.

It is worth mentioning that Yangle County and Changli County were the administrative seats of Liaoxi County and Liaodong vassal state respectively.

However, due to the fact that the northern border was almost lost at the end of the previous dynasty and the miscellaneous Hu people moved inland, and that Yuan Shao, when he was in control of Jizhou, befriended the Wuhuan in three counties and used them to attack Gongsun Zan's rear; after Gongsun Zan's demise, the territory from Yuguan in Liaoxi County to the east of Liaoshui River also became the habitat of the Wuhuan tribe.

This was the main reason why Cao Cao, Emperor Wu of Wei, relocated the three Wuhuan counties back to the south of the Yanshan Mountains.

If they continued to stay north of the Yanshan Mountains, the Central Plains dynasty would be unable to exercise effective control over them and would be nurturing a tiger to cause trouble.

Therefore, after the remaining pro-Yuan Wuhuan tribes fled back to the Liucheng area, they filled the buffer zone between Liaodong and Wei State and had the opportunity to expand their tribe again.

However, Wei State and Gongsun of Liaodong did not have the time to deal with them, but some Xianbei tribes moved south.

They are the Bai tribe (Murong tribe) Xianbei.

This Xianbei tribe, which previously lived in the mountains (Daxinganling Mountains) upstream of the Raole River (Xilamulun River), gradually migrated eastward along the river because of the increasingly harsh living environment and was unwilling to submit to the small-race Kebinen. They hovered in the north of Liaoxi and Liaodong counties (Khorchin grassland).

After the Wuhuan people in the three counties were relocated by Cao Cao, they began to move south and entered Liaoxi County and the northern part of Liaodong vassal state.

Inevitably, they also came into conflict with the remaining pro-Yuan Wuhuan tribes.

Wars broke out between them for the pastures with more abundant grass and water, and for the mountain meadows where they could shelter from the wind and spend the winter.

The leader of the Bai tribe of Xianbei at that time was called Mohuba.

This was because when the tribe had just moved south, it encountered the vigilance of Gongsun of Liaodong. After learning that Kobineng had surrendered, he sent envoys to the southern part of the Yanshan Mountains to express his submission to the Wei State and become a vassal.

His purpose was to enter Liaoxi County legitimately and become the master of Liucheng area without attracting suppression from Wei State.

At that time, the Wei State was experiencing a period when the strong Xianbei tribes outside the Great Wall fled and the weak sought allegiance, so the State did not care about his request and agreed to it directly.

Anyway, there are thousands of small tribes like these outside the Great Wall, and they pose no threat to the State of Wei.

Moreover, the Bai tribe of Xianbei also played a role in pursuing the remaining pro-Yuan Wuhuan.

Yes, today the State of Wei still has strong vigilance against the Wuhuan tribe outside the Great Wall.

Although they had long since declined and their strength was insignificant, the State of Wei still maintained a hostile relationship with them.

no way.

Who let them go down this path to the end?

Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi have been dead for so many years, but they still refuse to accept Wei's rule! For Wei, if they don't wipe them out, wouldn't it remind the common people that Hebei used to belong to Yuan?
Under such circumstances, life became difficult for the pro-Yuan Wuhuan.

After the Battle of Bailang Mountain and escaping Gongsun Kang's pursuit, the two most powerful tribes, such as Youbeiping Wuhuan Chanyu Kou Loudun and Liaoxi Wuhuan Dudu Wang Huliu, still had thousands of tribes! However, the precarious life in these years made many tribesmen abandon them, and under the gradual encroachment of the Bai tribe Xianbei, only a few hundred tribes were left.

Destruction is just a matter of time.

It was for this reason that Zuo Junbo dared to solemnly swear to Xiahou Hui that he would fulfill his mission by going to persuade the enemy to surrender.

After all, among the three parties of Wei, Liaodong and Baibu Xianbei, the pro-Yuan Wuhuan tribe must choose one to rely on in order to survive. In this case, why not choose the strongest one?

Moreover, only the powerful Wei State would look down upon their hundreds of tribes and be unwilling to take them away!

Another reason is that the Zuo family no longer wants to do business with them.

When Wang Xiong was in office in Youzhou, his policy towards the miscellaneous Hu tribes was to win them over and appease them, so there was no criticism of the Zuo family's trade with the pro-Yuan Wuhuan.

But now, not only Guanqiu Jian has come, but even the central army commander Xiahou Hui has come.

The Zuo family did not want to bring disaster to the clan because of the benefits of the chariot beads.

Therefore, when Xiahou Hui came to the Zuo family and entrusted them with the task of persuading them to surrender, the Zuo family was really overjoyed - rather than saying that the Zuo family helped in persuading them to surrender, it would be more accurate to say that Xiahou Hui gave them an opportunity to resolve the hidden danger.

"By the way, General." Zuo Junbo asked with gratitude in his delight, "I wonder how many households in the Wuhuan tribes will send one man to join the expedition? Is it still based on the ratio during the reign of Emperor Wu?"

Huh?
Can I draw troops to join the expedition?
Hearing this, Xiahou Hui raised his eyebrows in surprise, but did not answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his eyes and twirled his beard, pondering.

Because he was moved.

Han Long had said before that conscription was not allowed because he had no friendship with the Wuhuan tribes.

And the one asking the question now is Zuo Junbo, which naturally means that it is possible.

Furthermore, since more than 200,000 Wuhuan people in the three counties were settled in the interior, it has been a common practice for the Wei State to draw Wuhuan as cavalry to accompany the expedition, and it has long become a consensus. They also earned the reputation of "famous cavalry in the world."

Xiahou Hui was moved because they were lingering between Liaodong and Liaoxi counties and were familiar with the geography of the mountains and rivers, making them the most suitable people to serve as guides and scouts for the expedition to Liaodong.

"General, are you worried that they are unwilling to die?"

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Zuo Junbo, who had misunderstood him, couldn't help but add, "If that's the case, General, don't worry. Although they were defeated by our Wei State in the past, they hate the Liaodong Gongsun who killed their former master and hunted them down even more. If you tell them that you want to attack Liao, they will definitely be willing to fight to the death!"

uh~
I don't doubt that they have no desire to fight, but I really don't know how many cavalry to withdraw.
After secretly saying this, Xiahou Hui smiled happily and praised him generously, "With Jun Bo's words, I have nothing to worry about!"

After saying this, without waiting for Zuo Junbo to be humble, he asked sincerely, "Well, I don't know what kind of character they are, and I don't want them to misunderstand our sincerity by conscripting men to join the expedition. So I can only ask Junbo, how many cavalry should they send?"

Zuo Junbo was deeply touched by this implicit trust and respectful attitude. He said directly, "General, about 200 cavalrymen would be most suitable. I am quite familiar with the leaders of the tribes and know their likes and taboos. If you recommend A Luopan, the younger brother of Youbeiping Wuhuan Chanyu Kou Loudun, as the commander of the 200 cavalrymen, they will surely have no doubts and will be willing to follow you to the death."

"good!"

After clapping his hands and praising, Xiahou Hui pondered for a moment and made a decision, "Let's do this. According to Jun Bo's words, when they are willing to submit, I will let Kou Loudun's brother A Luo Pan pay tribute to Luoyang. I will also petition the court to appoint him to an official position in the army, and the two hundred cavalrymen under his command will all be volunteers."

"General Gao Yi!"

Suddenly, Zuo Junbo couldn't help but praise, "In this way, Lord Koloudun and the other clansmen will have nothing to worry about!"

Because the Yicong was one of the organizations of the border army and had a full salary.

Previously, when Wei State recruited Xianbei or Wuhuan tribes to join the expedition, they were fulfilling their vassal obligations, and their treatment was not comparable to that of military soldiers. Moreover, after the establishment of the system, they no longer had to worry about being treated as consumables to fill the gullies.

Xiahou Hui's move was full of sincerity.

It is also a treatment that will make the Youbeiping Wuhuan Chanyu Kouloudun, Liaoxi Wuhuan Governor Wang Huliu and others grateful.

Regardless, the relationship between the two sides remains hostile today.

And they are still at a disadvantage.

While they were chatting, a servant from the Zuo family tiptoed over and asked Zuo Junbo something in a low voice.

It turned out that the food for the banquet was finally ready.

Maybe it was because they had lived in a remote area for a long time, but the food prepared for the Zuo family's banquet was not so fancy. They did not have the variety and aroma of meat soup, fish sashimi, roasted deer, cabbage and leek salt vegetables, wild rice, and soybean soup like the ones the noble families in the Central Plains would prepare for their guests. They just slaughtered two sheep in a very simple way, but the cooking method was very appetizing.

The first thing to come up is the Hu Geng rice.

The dish is made by boiling selected lamb ribs in water, taking them out, cutting them into pieces, and seasoning them with onions, coriander, and pomegranate juice that were introduced from the Western Regions.

It is served steaming hot, and the aroma of mutton hits your nose.

Take some mutton and eat it directly. The meat is fat and fresh. It is still delicious when it is cooled down. There is no smell of mutton. It is very tasty without any seasoning. The butcher of Zuo's family also put steamed millet rice on the bottom, and spread the shredded meat on the rice. The soup slowly soaks in. Stir it with bamboo chopsticks and eat it in big mouthfuls. You will feel some heat in your body, which makes you feel the refreshing autumn weather.

A large portion of Hu Geng rice per person is enough to fill the stomach.

Therefore, the next thing to come up is roasting.

The so-called burning and roasting, Kong Yingda said in his commentary on the Book of Songs: "burning is also roasting, cutting into pieces and piercing them and roasting them over fire."

To put it simply, roasting is to put small pieces of meat on a string and roast them over a fire. This way of eating originated in the Spring and Autumn Period. After the Western Han Dynasty opened up the Western Regions, the Hu style flourished in the court and the country, and roasted lamb skewers were the most popular among the upper class.
The grilled skewers are served continuously as a side dish for everyone to eat while drinking and chatting, so they are also the last dish to be eaten.

After the roasted meat was served, the host and the guests drank and chatted for a while, and then the banquet was almost over.

So after drinking some wine, Xiahou Hui was very tactful and was about to say goodbye, but Zuo Junbo got the better of him, "General, I am going north to recruit the Wuhuan tribe to surrender. How about you send one of your followers to go with me?" (End of this chapter)