Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Wang Xiong stroked his beard: "Because when I first set out from Xiangping, I sent someone to offer a plan to His Majesty. His Majesty granted my request, which is why the court was able to send Tian Guorang to cross the border!"

"This..." Hu Zun was a little confused about where Wang Xiong's confidence came from, and was momentarily stunned: "What plan did you offer, Lord Wang?"

“Going back two hundred years from today, since the reign of Emperor Guangwu of Han, all the court’s strategies for dealing with the northern barbarians have been wrong, often resulting in much more effort for little gain!” Wang Xiong looked at Hu Zun with great confidence: “Two hundred years from now, even with so many wise men in the court, only I, Wang Xiong, can come up with this strategy and accomplish this task!”

Faced with Wang Xiong's almost arrogant statement, Hu Zun became even more confused: "What does Your Excellency mean by this? Please explain it to me!"

Wang Xiong stood up with a smile, walked up to Hu Zun, and patted him on the shoulder: "His Majesty has granted my request. General Hu only needs to know that I will reward you with a merit, and does not need to know the details. If things do not go well, I will take full responsibility!"

Wang Xiong was older and more experienced than Hu Zun, held a higher position, and had the Emperor's permission. Hu Zun had no choice but to agree.

The two men slowly emerged from the hall, and one of Wang Xiong's attendants, who was waiting outside, bowed to them. This man was quite imposing, nearly nine feet tall, with a high nose and a wide mouth, and appeared to be around thirty years old. He was extremely robust, yet he was dressed as a swordsman.

Hu Zun stopped, looked the man up and down for a few moments, then turned to Wang Xiong and asked, "Your Excellency has such a valiant warrior under your command! May I ask his name?"

Wang Xiong gestured towards the man with his lip: "General Hu is asking you, so just answer him yourself."

"My name is Han Long," the burly man said, sparing with his words.

Wang Xiong smiled and said, "This is a brave warrior I recruited when I was the governor of Youzhou during the Huangchu era. It has been ten years since then. Han Long is from Lingzhi in Liaoxi. He is fond of martial arts and has a chivalrous spirit. He also admires the seniority of famous generals, so he chose the name 'Fengxian' as his courtesy name."

Fengxian? Hu Zun was slightly speechless.

It's one thing for Han Long to be uncultured, but how could Wang Xiong not know who Fengxian is? Choosing such a courtesy name is hardly an auspicious sign.

Watching Wang Xiong and Han Long leave, Hu Zun felt somewhat bewildered.

The messenger traveled back and forth between Guzang City and the former Beidi County for a month, making two trips, and finally reached a consensus.

That is, Wang Xiong wants to meet with Tuoba Agu in person and the two of them discuss face-to-face the ransom that Liangzhou Prefecture will use to exchange for the kidnapped people.

On August 3rd, Tuoba Agu led 20,000 light cavalry to the outskirts of Wuwei City. Across a slightly dilapidated small town, they faced off against Hu Zun's 5,000 cavalry.

Bald-haired Agu, already sixty years old, sat astride a magnificent and tall horse, gazing towards the city of Wuwei in the west. Autumn grasses grew tall, the longest stems and leaves already reaching above the horse's knees, and a gentle north wind blew, giving the borderlands of Liangzhou a touch of desolation.

Perhaps due to the custom of shaving one's head, or perhaps due to some kind of transliteration, even Tuoba Agu's own family couldn't figure out why he was surnamed Tuoba. The Xianbei people had diverse origins, and when the Xianbei rose to power, many miscellaneous nomadic tribes on the grasslands were inexplicably classified as Xianbei.

The Hexi Xianbei were mostly classified in this haphazard way, and they do not seem to have much kinship with the lineage of Budugen and Tanshihuai.

There are no shortage of conflicts on the grasslands, and the leader must lead his people to find a way out, resolve disputes, and even be good at fighting.

Tuoba Agu didn't take Xiahou Ba's five thousand cavalry or the small garrison of the imperial army in Jincheng and Anding prefectures seriously. In his mind, the imperial army couldn't do anything to him. As long as he wanted to go, whether west to Juyan or Dunhuang, north to Shuofang, or even further north to more distant places, the vast grasslands offered him a place to go.

But Bald Agu is now panicking.

When Tian Yu's 28,000 troops appeared in Shuofang, directly north of Tuoba Agu's garrison in Beidi County, an unprecedented sense of oppression entered Tuoba Agu's mind.

Although, including the Lushui Hu, Juyan Hu, and the various Hu tribes gathered in Jiuquan, Zhangye, Wuwei, Anding, and Jincheng in the past two years, Tuoba Agu could barely muster a cavalry force of seventy to eighty thousand, this already included all able-bodied men. Only about half of them were truly combat-ready.

If it were just dealing with the five thousand cavalry from Liangzhou, Tuoba Agu wouldn't be afraid. But when twenty-five thousand cavalry and three thousand infantry appeared from the north, Tuoba Agu felt a pang of regret.

How wonderful it would be if things were as peaceful as they were two, five, ten, or twenty years ago.

Can not go back.

Since we can't go back, let's face the challenge head-on.

Becoming a powerful ruler like Tan Shihuai is difficult, but at the very least, one could be like Kebineng.
Before long, Chen Li, the prefectural governor, complied with Wang Xiong's request and rode his horse for more than a mile from the city to the vicinity of Tuoba Agu.

"Who are you?" Bald-haired Agu asked, raising his horsewhip.

Chen Li bowed slightly and said, "I am Chen Li, the Prefect of Liangzhou. I have come here on the orders of Governor Wang Junjun of Liangzhou. I invite you to come to the city for a chat. The banquet in the city has been prepared and is just waiting for your arrival."

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" A Xianbei nobleman beside Tuoba Agu advised, "This is a Han city. If we rush into the city and something happens, we will regret it!"

“Grandpa, Uncle is right,” said a Xianbei boy of about fifteen years old, whose hair was braided with turquoise and amber. “Entering the city may be dangerous. Don’t fall into the Han people’s trap!”

Bald Agu nodded slowly, thinking he had succeeded, and looked up at Chen Li: "Prefect Chen, did you hear what my people said? Don't try to trick me into the city!"

Helpless, Chen Li spread his hands and asked, "It was you who agreed to meet with my lord. Are you perhaps going to change your mind?"

"Nonsense!" Bald-headed Agu glared. "How could I be as cunning as you Han people? Since you promised Magistrate Wang that you would talk in person, then let's talk in person."

After looking around for a few seconds, Bald Agu pointed to a slightly raised mound in the south of the city: "Tell Magistrate Wang that I will meet him there! Let him come alone."

"Are you joking, Your Excellency?" Chen Li asked with an incredulous expression. "My lord is so distinguished, how could he be without someone to serve him? Would it be alright if Your Excellency and the lord each brought five servants?"

Bald-haired Ah Gu shook his head: "Five people are too many, and we don't need that many people to serve them. We can only bring one person at most!"

Knowing Wang Xiong's plan, Chen Li forcibly suppressed his excitement and nodded, saying, "Alright, one person it is, but no weapons allowed!"

“That’s natural.” Bald Agu nodded. “I will meet with Magistrate Wang on that mound in a quarter of an hour.”

"Alright." Chen Li bowed in agreement, then spurred his horse and rode back.

Chen Li returned to the city and told Wang Xiong what had happened. Wang Xiong simply smiled and said, "Prefect Chen, you've worked hard. Go to General Hu's army again and have him send scouts to check the situation here. If they see anyone waving at us, they should immediately lead their troops east to attack. I'll give him the credit, and tell General Hu not to hesitate!" "I will obey Your Excellency's order," Chen Li replied again.

After Chen Li left, Wang Xiong looked up at the sky with his hands behind his back, then looked at Han Long, who had already prepared the horses beside him: "Fengxian, don't hold back later."

"Rest assured, Your Highness, I understand." Han Long nodded slightly.

Wang Xiong hesitated for a few seconds, then instructed again, "The Hu people are cunning and will certainly not come empty-handed. Fengxian, you'd better bring some weapons as well."

"I have brought a lance, a short sword, a bow, two quivers of arrows, a crossbow, two daggers, and an iron awl. Even if there are a hundred bandits, I can protect you, my lord." Han Long seemed unconcerned.

Wang Xiong thought for a moment and said, "Don't bring lances and bows, just bring short swords and don't draw attention to it."

"Okay," Han Long replied.

Meanwhile, Tuoba Agu was also preparing to set off. He looked around and instructed, "Ruoluo Wuliang, you are the most valiant man in my tribe. You will come with me this time. Bring your weapons and bows and arrows, put on your armor, and be ready to protect me at any time."

"Your Majesty, rest assured," the burly Ruoluwuliang replied, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "With me by Your Majesty's side, a few Han people are nothing to worry about!"

"Please take care, sir," the Xianbei boy beside him said.

Bald-headed Ah Gu patted the boy's head: "Shu Jineng, wait for your grandfather to return!"

"Mm," the boy replied.

The armies of Tuoba Agu and Hu Zun faced each other across Wuwei City, more than two miles apart. The mound that Tuoba Agu casually pointed to was about one mile south of the city.

The two sides consisted of four riders in total. Wang Xiong and Han Long set off from the city, while Tuoba Agu and Ruoluo Wuliang set off from the army formation. They arrived at this place almost at the same time.

Wang Xiong and Bald Agu looked at each other for a few seconds from a distance of two zhang. Wang Xiong dismounted first and walked towards Bald Agu with a smile.

When Tuoba Agu saw Han Long, he was taken aback. This attendant of Governor Wang seemed a bit too tall and strong. But when Tuoba Agu saw that Wang Xiong was wearing an official robe, was of medium height, and was not carrying any weapons, and Han Long was only carrying a short sword, while he and Ruoluo Wuliang were both wearing armor and carrying swords, his courage grew a bit more. He then dismounted at the same time as Ruoluo Wuliang.

The four people stood facing each other, about half a meter apart.

"Are you the bald-headed Agu?" Wang Xiong slightly bowed.

“Exactly,” said Bald Agu. “Where did the former Governor Sima go? He was too wicked; was he dismissed by the emperor?”

“That’s right. Sima Shuda has already been escorted back to Luoyang by the Emperor’s men. The Emperor has appointed me to serve as the Governor of Liangzhou.” Wang Xiong nodded and said, “Today, I have a gift to present to you.”

"Fengxian, fetch the brocade robe." Wang Xiong gestured to Han Long.

Han Long nodded, returned to his horse, and presented a brocade robe with both hands to the bald-headed Agu.

"Did Magistrate Wang give me a brocade robe?"

Bald Agu knew the brocade robe was valuable, but he couldn't understand Wang Xiong's intentions for a moment. He was on guard and gestured to Ruoluo Wuliang beside him to take it.

When Ruo Luowuliang looked at Han Long, he felt that the man's eyes were as sharp as lightning. For some reason, he felt a little scared, but he still mustered up his courage to take the robe with both hands and spread it out for the bald Agu to see.

There were no weapons and no danger. Bald-headed Agu touched the material of the brocade robe and nodded: "Thank you, Lord Wang, for gifting me this brocade robe."

Wang Xiong stroked his beard and smiled, "Look at the patterns on this brocade robe, they are quite precious. Now that I have given you a gift, do you have anything in return?"

"This..." Bald Agu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I came in a hurry, please forgive me, Magistrate Wang."

Wang Xiong's smile remained unchanged: "Since that's the case, why don't you return the two thousand men you kidnapped to me, and hand over the leaders of the Juyan Hu and Lushui Hu to me for punishment? How about that?"

Bald-headed Agu's eyes widened: "Lord Wang, are you joking? Just for a brocade robe?"

Wang Xiong and Bald Agu exchanged a glance for a moment, then Wang Xiong shook his head and sighed deeply.

Halfway through his sigh, Han Long suddenly lunged forward, his movements as swift as a cheetah leaping up. His right hand gripped the throat of the bald-headed Agu like an iron clamp, and with a single forceful movement, he easily snapped the throat of the Hexi Xianbei leader.

Seeing this, Ruoluo Wuliang was shocked. He was still holding the brocade robe that Han Long had handed him. Just as he was about to throw down the robe and draw his sword, Han Long kicked him a full ten feet away. Ruoluo Wuliang was also eight feet tall and was known as the number one warrior of the Hexi Xianbei. However, in front of Han Long, a true hero of Youzhou, he was as vulnerable as a child. As the excruciating pain came, he could only clutch his chest and abdomen and curl up on the ground.

With a forceful push of his right hand, Han Long threw the bald-headed Agu down, then strode forward and stepped on Ruoluo Wuliang's chest. He pulled out a dagger from beside his leg and easily severed the blood vessels in the man's neck, causing blood to gush out like a spring.

Bald Ah Gu lay on the ground, his eyes wide with fury, pointing a trembling finger at Wang Xiong, whose smile was gradually fading away.

At this moment, Han Long also spoke up and asked, "My lord, should we kill this person or not?"

Wang Xiong looked down at the bald-headed Agu and said lightly, "You pig-dog, I gave you a chance, but you did not repent and still oppose the Great Wei?"

"Fengxian, behead him! Execute him in accordance with the law, and send his head to Luoyang!"

"Here." Without hesitation, Han Long bent down and plunged the dagger into the neck of the bald Agu, easily severing his head like an old farmer harvesting wheat. He then pulled on the long braid at the back of his head, turned around, and waved to those behind him.

Behind them were the five thousand cavalry led by General Hu Zun of Heng Hai.

Wang Xiong, dressed in an official robe with the hem fluttering slightly in the north wind, looked at the massive Xianbei army formation to the east with his hands behind his back.

Behind Wang Xiong, five thousand cavalrymen, spears in hand, spurred their horses into a disciplined formation, accelerating eastward with a thunderous thud of hooves. (End of Chapter)