I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 561 Who is the Barbarian?
After Gongsun Du was defeated by Zhao Yun in the Liaodong Rebellion, the Xianbei people who had been colluded with Gongsun Du to rebel together quickly fled the battlefield.

After suppressing the rebellion in Liaodong, Zhao Yun led his subordinates and the Goguryeo coalition forces back to Xuantu County.

"My lord, we have found traces of the Xianbei people ahead!" A soldier in leather armor came up to Zhao Yun among the mountains and forests.

Zhao Yun immediately drew his sword and ordered in a deep voice, "Let's go and defeat the bandits!"

Behind him were not only Han soldiers wearing leather armor, but also most of the Goguryeo people. They were generally wearing leather armor, and the swords in their hands were also the Han army's ring-handled swords.

At this time, the two groups joined together under Zhao Yun's command, drew their swords, and followed Zhao Yun carefully forward.

Soon, Zhao Yun saw the Xianbei people in front of him. Perhaps they had never thought that there would be enemies here, and the Xianbei people who were on guard were very careless. As Zhao Yun cut the opponent's neck, he did the same in other places.

Just as Zhao Yun was about to move forward, he suddenly heard a few hurried shouts coming from a tree not far away.

He cursed inwardly, knowing that this was a secret sentry arranged by the Xianbei people.

However, Zhao Yun also realized that the Xianbei people generally did not arrange secret sentries, so there might be some gains today!
Since he had been discovered, there was no point in pretending. Zhao Yun immediately took the lead and led his men to charge.

Shouts of killing rang out. Even though there were secret sentries to warn them, they were outnumbered, and the gap in morale and equipment was huge... Soon, the fighting ended.

Zhao Yun led his men to interrogate the captives on the spot - "Where can Gongsun Du and Kirby be? I tell you, only those in your group can survive!"

Of course, Zhao Yun would not be so cruel. This was just a way to scare people during the interrogation.

What Zhao Yun didn't expect was that after being frightened by him, the leader of the small Xianbei tribe actually confessed - "I don't know where you are, but the Han man named Gongsun Du passed by here ten days ago..."

Zhao Yun was delighted and asked for details.

When the Liaodong Rebellion was quelled, the culprit Gongsun Du fled with the Xianbei people, and Ke Bineng, who had survived the attack of the Han army in the past, did not appear on the Liaodong battlefield. In Zhao Yun's view, the existence of these two people, one knowing oneself and the other knowing the enemy, is really a hidden danger for the Han Dynasty.

Therefore, after returning to Xuantu County, Zhao Yun did not stay in Xuantu County to govern the place, but handed over the work of the county governor's office to Yan Rou. He took the warriors selected from the Han army and Goguryeo people and tried to find the traces of the two.

He targeted the eastern Xianbei to the north of Liaodong County and Xuantu County. After all, in the past, from Shanggu to Liaoxi, almost all the Xianbei in the north had been attacked by him, Guan Yu, Lu Bu, Ding Yuan and others.

The relationship between the Goguryeo people and the Xianbei people was not good. Before the Xianbei people filled the power gap left by the Xiongnu and became a nomadic group active on the grassland, they were originally a fishing and hunting people in Liaodong. This lifestyle was extremely similar to that of the Goguryeo people for a long time.

It was only after the Goguryeo people came into contact with the Han people that they gradually changed part of their production methods to farming. But even so, under the influence of the environment, fishing and hunting were still the most important way of survival for the Goguryeo people.

Although the Xianbei people, who were originally hunters and fishermen, had become nomadic, there were many Xianbei people who maintained their fishing and hunting traditions in the area north of Liaodong and Xuantu County, where there were many mountains, forests and swamps. There were naturally many conflicts between the two ethnic groups who lived in the same way, and the Goguryeo people were actually one of the targets of the Xianbei people's looting.

So, when Zhao Yun set his sights on the Xianbei people in Xuantu County and north of Liaodong County, Goguryeo erupted in great enthusiasm.

In addition to Zhao Yun's ability to lead them to victory, the most important thing is that Zhao Yun did not take any of the spoils after the victory. All soldiers, whether they were Han or Hu, were rewarded according to their merits. Therefore, no matter whether they were Han or Goguryeo people, everyone under Zhao Yun's command dared to fight.

The only regret is that there were not many spoils that could be snatched from the Xianbei people, and the seized materials were not even as valuable as the captives themselves.

Here, Zhao Yun brought the prisoners and spoils back to the base of the army he led, and then checked the map of the army based on the prisoners' statements.

But the map in his hand was rough to begin with, and Zhao Yun had discovered many errors along the way... But there was nothing he could do about it, as the northern part of Xuantu County where he was now was an area that the Han people had hardly ever touched before. However, along the way, he had already corrected the past mistakes.

"What are you going to do next, sir?"

Zhao Yun looked at Tadun who was asking the question and said, "Actually, you don't have to call me Sir."

Tadun shook his head and said, "I have already left the Wuhuan tribe and voluntarily followed you, sir. Could it be that you are unwilling to take me in?"

Zhao Yun heard this and said, "Gongsun Du has been gone for many days. If we go further north, we don't know the terrain and it will be difficult to get supplies. This time we have captured many prisoners and supplies, which is enough."

"I want to withdraw my troops, but are you sure you want to leave Wuhuan? It's fine to talk about it here, but if I return to Xuantu County, how can you, the Lord Wuhuan, call me Lord in front of the Wuhuan people?"

After hearing this, Tadun said firmly: "Why do you doubt me, sir? I want to follow you, sir, and I have thought it through carefully..."

Zhao Yun actually understood Tadun's dilemma very well, and interrupted him, "I know you are angry about Loufan's actions in secret, and you are also angry about Nanlou and Su Puyan's instigation behind the scenes, so I didn't say much to you all this way, just wanting to give you time to think it through on your own, but now, time is running out... Don't rush to answer, wait until we return to Xuantu County!"

Tadun understood Zhao Yun’s thoughts and took his leave after expressing his gratitude.

Loufan was the son of the former Wuhuan leader Qiuliju, and also the cousin of Tadun. When Qiuliju died, Loufan was young and lacked prestige, so Tadun was made leader. Now that Loufan was growing up, he had ideas about the position of Wuhuan leader.

This year, Tadun has been following Zhao Yun almost all the time and has rarely returned to the Wuhuan tribe. So Loufan wanted to take this opportunity to sneak into Tadun's home and also obtained the support of Nanlou and Su Puyan, the former Wuhuan leaders outside the Great Wall.

However, he overestimated himself and underestimated Tadun's prestige. The most important thing was that Tadun was by Zhao Yun's side. Therefore, Loufan did not get the support of most of the people in the end.

The news of Loufan's action soon reached Tadun's ears. Although Loufan did not cause any bloodshed, this move did make Tadun feel chilled.

In Tadun's view, the position of Lord was given to him by his uncle Qiuliju, and it should have originally belonged to Loufan. If Loufan was capable of taking on this important task, why not give it to him?
It happened that Zhao Yun was sending out troops, and the area covered with mountains, forests and swamps was naturally not suitable for bringing cavalry, but Tadun would rather follow Zhao Yun than take the opportunity to return to his clan. He was indeed a little angry when he made this decision.

When Zhao Yun led his army back to Xuantu County, Yan Rou, who had received the news in advance, came to greet him with Han people and Goguryeo people.

Especially after seeing a group of captured Xianbei people, the cheers of the Goguryeo people immediately surpassed those of the Han people, whose numbers were less than theirs.

When the Goguryeo soldiers who followed Zhao Yun saw this, they all raised their heads proudly.

That day, Tadun approached Zhao Yun again and bowed directly, saying, "Sir, I have thought it through. I was originally in charge of the Wuhuan tribe on behalf of my uncle. Now that Loufan wants to take charge and the Wuhuan Protector is helping, there is no need for me. Tadun is willing to follow you, sir!"

Zhao Yun saw that Tadun had made up his mind, so he immediately stepped forward to help Tadun up. To be fair, although Tadun was a Wuhuan, he was brave in battle and was somewhat alert in his daily life. It would not be a bad thing if he could break away from the rut of the Wuhuan tribe and serve the Han Dynasty with a new identity.

Zhao Yun thought of this and said to Tadun: "In that case, I will appoint you as the military commander of Xuantu County. You don't have to call me Sir anymore. We will serve His Majesty together!"

After hearing this, Tadun bowed again and said, "Thank you for your trust, Lord. I will never let you down!"

Zhao Yun helped Tadun up again and said with a smile: "If you don't mind, you can just call me brother in private."

Tadun smiled brightly upon hearing this, and immediately bowed to Zhao Yun and said, "Greetings, brother."

"Okay!" Zhao Yun patted Tadun's shoulder.

Zhao Yun knew that even if Tadun left the Wuhuan tribe, his influence in the Wuhuan tribe would not disappear. With Tadun as another link between the Han Dynasty and the Wuhuan, it would undoubtedly make it more difficult for the Wuhuan people in the Han Dynasty to cause chaos.

Just now, he learned from Yan Rou about the imperial court's immigration plan for Youzhou.

It is not yet known whether Xuantu County will accept additional population, but the neighboring Liaodong County and the adjacent Liaoxi County will undoubtedly increase the number of immigrants, and at that time the relationship between the Han and Wuhuan peoples must be handled well.

Zhao Yun thought that Wang Kuang, who was going to take over his position, was an official with more seniority than him, so he shouldn't have to worry too much, right?
……

"Captain, do you really want to support Loufan to become the new Xianbei Lord?"

"What else?" Wang Kuang said unhappily, "Tadun followed Zhao Zilong to the battle, and we can't contact him for the time being! The same goes for Zhao Zilong. Can we take Tadun away now?"

But even though he complained, Wang Kuang knew that it was fine to let Loufan take charge of Wuhuan affairs temporarily. If he really wanted Loufan to replace Tadun, he was not a rookie, so he naturally knew that he had to inform Zhao Yun first, otherwise he would offend people for nothing! What's more, he was a man with a promising future.

Just after he finished complaining, Wang Kuang heard a message from his personal soldiers saying that a county official from Xuantu County had come to deliver a letter on the orders of the prefect.

Wang Kuang heard this and summoned him immediately. After reading the letter, he said to the Xuantu County official, "Please thank your master for me."

He immediately wrote a letter and prepared a gift.

After the county official left, Wang Kuang finally couldn't help laughing and praised, "Zhao Zilong is indeed acting prudently. Now that Tadun is under his command, the Wuhuan, who were originally forced by the Xianbei to unite the interior and the exterior, are now actually divided into two, with Liaodong County in between... Very good, very good... and it also allows me to show favor to Loufan."

After hearing this, his subordinates asked in confusion: "But didn't Xuantu County take away the authority of the lieutenant?"

Wang Kuang explained: "What do you know? Sending Wuhuan soldiers to Xuantu County is a general strategy, which cannot be changed by you and me. In this case, we must follow the trend."

"Now that we have secured the position of Lord of Loufan, it will be easier for the people to migrate to Liaoxi. At least we can use the power of Loufan to make the Wuhuan people cause less trouble."

"Captain, great advice!"

Wang Kuang accepted the praise from his subordinates with a smile.

Just as Zhao Yun was leading his army back, in the farthest forest he had reached, someone was searching for something. Not long after, the searcher reported back to one of them: "Sir, there are no survivors."

"Looking at the traces of fighting and the nearby graves, most of them should have been captured."

After hearing the report, the so-called "sir" clenched his fists tightly and cursed in his heart: "This Zhao Yun is a beast! In the past, it was us Xianbei people who plundered your population, how can it be the other way around now! Who is the barbarian after all!"

But on the surface, he could only solemnly promise: "One day, I will definitely take back the captured tribesmen!"

At this time, a man dressed in Han Chinese clothes beside him said, "Sir, judging from the traces, the enemy should have left for some time. I'm afraid the tribe ahead is also in danger."

"However, since they dare to target the Xianbei people, we might as well find out what they will ask the Xianbei people to do. If it is suitable, we can deliberately arrange a group of Xianbei warriors to act as internal support."

"Gongsun Jun is indeed a man of great talent!"

The people here are naturally Kobe and Gongsun Du, whom Zhao Yun has been looking for.

The two then traced Zhao Yun's marching route in the opposite direction. What they saw along the way was just as Gongsun Du had said. All the Xianbei tribes that Zhao Yun encountered were captured by him.

Those who survived were all lucky enough not to be discovered by Zhao Yun. This made Kobe even angrier.

Moreover, as they got closer to the jurisdiction of Xuantu County, Kobinen was unwilling to move forward.

However, after hearing what Gongsun Du said about the traitor, Kobe really became interested.

He immediately selected the Xianbei people under his command who were similar to the Goguryeo people and could speak Goguryeo language - in fact, they were the Goguryeo people who joined after being robbed and unable to defeat them, and went to Xuantu County to investigate the situation.

After ten days or so, he got his reward - "They are now being supervised to build houses. I heard that Zhao Yun promised to provide them with two meals a day and teach them how to farm. As long as they work for three consecutive years, they will get the houses they built and some fields, which will be enough for them to survive..."

Kobe knew it was bad as soon as he heard it. North of Liaodong, there are poor mountains and bad water. Under such conditions, there is no need to catch people. I am afraid that a lot of people will rush to do it!
Seeing that everyone around him seemed to be thinking, Kobe was about to say something, but he heard Gongsun Du speak up - "Don't be fooled by Zhao Yun... It takes a lot of food to open up the wasteland. Where does Zhao Yun get so much food?"

"Maybe it's just to deceive the Xianbei people and prevent them from causing trouble."

"Believe me, no one understands the Han people better than me."

At this time, someone close to Kobineng also said, "Yes, if the captives I captured before wanted to die, I would give them a little hope, so that they would beg me to let them live."

Kobe could see it and thought the scene was extremely weird.

(End of this chapter)