Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At this moment, Jin Cuo—the leader of the Shiwei tribe—knelt and crawled two steps forward, approaching Ma Chao, and said in a trembling voice, "May I ask Your Majesty, is it appropriate to bestow upon you the title of Divine Might Heavenly Khan?"

Upon hearing Jin Cuo's suggestion, Ma Chao pondered briefly, weighing the pros and cons. The title "Divine Might Heavenly Khan," though carrying connotations of a foreign tribe, might, to some extent, intimidate the various tribes of the grasslands, demonstrating the might of the Han Dynasty and his absolute rule over this land. While it might be somewhat presumptuous, Ma Chao didn't care about such things now. After a brief pause, Ma Chao solemnly nodded, agreeing, "In that case, I accept the title 'Divine Might Heavenly Khan.' But you must understand that this title is not only an honor, but also a warning."

Upon hearing Ma Chao's agreement, Jin Cuo and the other tribal leaders were overjoyed and immediately knelt down again, shouting, "Long live the Divine Mighty Khan! Long live! Long live!" Their shouts shook the heavens and echoed through the Langjuxu Mountains.

Ma Chao's eyes were sharp as he scanned the crowd and said loudly, "Since you have honored me as the Divine Might Heavenly Khan, you must strictly abide by the rules from now on. The Wolf Dwelling Mountain is the boundary. The area north of the mountain is your grazing land. If anyone dares to cross the boundary without permission, don't blame me for being ruthless."

All the leaders responded in unison: "We humbly obey the command of the Divine Khan!"

Ma Chao continued, “Today I bestow supplies upon your tribe to help you recuperate. But you must understand that this is a blessing from the Great Han, not something you are entitled to. From now on, you must maintain reverence for the Great Han and never harbor any disloyalty.”

Jin Cuo hurriedly said, "Khan, rest assured, we will pay tribute every year and become your subjects every year, forever serving as your vassals. We will never dare to have the slightest disloyalty."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, signaling everyone to rise. He turned to Xu Shu and said, "Yuanzhi, record this matter and spread it to all the tribes of the grasslands, so that they all know what happened today." Xu Shu bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, Your Majesty."

With the sacrificial ceremony at Langjuxu Mountain successfully completed, Ma Chao led the group to the ruins of Ordos City. The once glorious city of Ordos was now completely unrecognizable, only piles of tents and other supplies remained. Sunlight fell on these supplies, reflecting a cold light that seemed to tell the story of the wars and vicissitudes the city had endured.

A group of tribal chiefs huddled together, their eyes fixed on the supplies, their expressions a mixture of shock and barely suppressed longing. These seemingly ordinary items were undoubtedly a fortune for their tribes, struggling to survive on the grasslands. However, fearing Ma Chao's imposing presence, none of them dared to ask him for anything. They could only watch helplessly, their eyes filled with a mixture of resignation and hope.

Ma Chao took in everyone's expressions, a faint smile playing on his lips. He said, "Since I've already promised you these things, they are all yours. But for now, you must come with us to join Pang De and Jia Xu. Although the Murong Xianbei have been largely wiped out, remnants still remain. I will wipe them out completely, leaving no future trouble." His voice was firm and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

After a pause, Ma Chao's expression hardened, and he swept his gaze over everyone before continuing, "From now on, I do not wish to see any herders grazing in front of Langjuxu Mountain again. Langjuxu Mountain is an insurmountable boundary, and you must remember that well."

Upon hearing this, the leaders nodded vigorously and said in unison, "We will obey the command of the Divine Khan!" Their voices trembled slightly, containing both awe for Ma Chao and anticipation for the wealth that was about to be obtained.

Ma Chao nodded in satisfaction, waved his hand, and ordered, "Let's go!" The group mounted their horses and set off in a grand procession towards the agreed-upon location with Pang De and Jia Xu. The dust kicked up by their hooves billowed across the ruins of Ordos City, adding a touch of tragic grandeur to this vanished city. In Ma Chao's heart, however, was already firmly set on completely eradicating the remnants of the Murong Xianbei. He knew that only by eliminating all threats could the borders of the Han Dynasty truly usher in lasting peace and tranquility.

At Ma Chao's command, the army surged across the grasslands like a mighty tide. The tribal leaders, though filled with fear and unease, could only follow cautiously behind the army under Ma Chao's imposing presence. Their target was the territory of the Murong Xianbei, a land long ravaged by ambition and war.

On the first day, the army marched towards the Harel tribe. A fierce wind howled across the grasslands, swirling yellow sand and kicking up dust along the marching route. Ma Chao, riding a tall warhorse, stood tall and straight, his eyes sharp, constantly monitoring the army's progress. Along the way, he continuously boosted morale, inspiring his soldiers to advance bravely. After two days of arduous travel, on the morning of the third day, the army finally arrived at the Harel tribe.

This tribe, once renowned for its bravery and skill in riding across the grasslands, now had its elite troops decimated, leaving mostly the old, weak, and wounded. Ma Chao, spear in hand, the tip gleaming with a chilling light, charged into the enemy ranks like a black lightning bolt. His movements were agile and fierce; each swing of his spear sent a spray of blood flying, like the merciless reaping of lives by the Grim Reaper's scythe. The people of the Harel tribe, though knowing they were powerless to resist, still tried to fight back with their meager weapons. But how could this stop Ma Chao's tiger-like onslaught? Their resistance was futile. Wherever Ma Chao went, screams echoed, blood splattering across his armor, staining it even more crimson, making him appear like a demon from hell. The camp was instantly engulfed in flames and chaos, the fires soaring into the sky, reflecting the despair on the faces of the Harel tribe. After a fierce battle, the Harar tribe collapsed and became a speck of dust in the long river of history.

After a brief rest at the Haler tribe for a day, the army continued its journey on the fifth day, heading towards the Kulun tribe. This march was even more arduous, with rugged and uneven roads, compounded by days of torrential rain that made the grasslands muddy and impassable. But Ma Chao and his soldiers did not falter, pressing on despite the rain. After four days of arduous travel, on the ninth day, they finally arrived at the Kulun tribe.

The Kulun tribe, nestled in the mountains, held a strategically important and treacherous position, which they believed would ensure their safety. However, they too were subject to the fate of having their elite troops drawn from the army, leaving them utterly powerless against Ma Chao's mighty army. Ma Chao led his spirited warriors, scaling the mountains and valleys, appearing before the Kulun tribe like a divine intervention. The tribe's warriors were filled with terror, their weapons trembling with fear. Despite their attempts to establish a weak defense, Ma Chao's army surged forward like a tidal wave, unstoppable. Ma Chao, spear in hand, charged through the ranks, each thrust fatal, staining the mountainside red with blood. As the tribe's banner slowly fell, the Kulun tribe was annihilated, leaving behind only desolation and bloodshed.

After a day of rest and recuperation at the Kulun tribe, the army set off again for the Urtu tribe on the eleventh day. This journey was relatively short, and after two days of marching, they arrived at the Urtu tribe on the thirteenth day.

The Urtu tribe, skilled in ambush tactics, attempted to set a trap on Ma Chao's army's likely route, hoping for a last-ditch effort. However, Ma Chao, shrewd and prepared, saw through their scheme. When Ma Chao's army entered the Urtu ambush, there was no panic. On the contrary, under Ma Chao's command, his soldiers quickly launched a counterattack. The Urtu warriors, weakened by the redeployment of their elite troops, were overwhelmed by Ma Chao's fierce offensive. Ma Chao, riding his steed, charged through the enemy ranks, his spear moving like a dragon emerging from the sea, each strike precise, felling any who tried to resist. The Urtu people cried out in despair; their resistance seemed so insignificant before Ma Chao's overwhelming power. After a fierce battle, the Urtu tribe was completely crushed by Ma Chao's army. The cries of their people were drowned out by the thunder of hooves and the clash of swords; the entire tribe was engulfed in a sea of ​​blood.

The grasslands were now deathly silent. The herders who were once a common sight were nowhere to be found, and even the wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys had vanished without a trace. After leading his army to destroy several sizable tribes in succession, Ma Chao gradually lost patience with defeating them one by one. He knew that the remnants of the Murong Xianbei were like a malignant tumor lurking in the shadows; if they weren't eradicated quickly, they would pose an endless threat.

Ma Chao acted decisively, summoning Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Zhang Xiu. He stared intently at them and said in a deep voice, "Although the Murong Xianbei are severely weakened, remnants still exist. Each of you will lead a force and attack in all directions. Show no mercy to any Murong Xianbei forces you encounter; kill them all. Make sure to completely eliminate their forces and ensure this grassland is free of future troubles." The three men accepted the order, their expressions solemn. They turned and quickly organized their troops, galloping off in different directions, the dust kicked up by their horses lingering on the grassland for a long time.

After arranging this matter, Ma Chao turned his gaze to the Hu brothers and said seriously, "Hu brothers, you and your brothers are familiar with the terrain of the grasslands. Quickly lead a team of elite scouts to find Mr. Jia Xu's whereabouts and rendezvous with him as soon as possible. Our army now needs Mr. Jia's wisdom to discuss the subsequent plans." The Hu brothers clasped their hands in agreement and, with their scouts, disappeared like ghosts into the vast twilight of the grasslands.

In reality, ever since the news of Murong Xuepo's defeat swept across the entire grassland like a biting cold wind, the tribes that had originally been subservient to the Murong Xianbei had become like frightened birds, utterly terrified. Fear, like a dark cloud, hung over every tribe, leaving them in constant anxiety.

Many tribes, well aware of the Han army's bravery and might, dared not offer the slightest resistance and chose to migrate, hoping to escape the Han army's thunderous pursuit. However, living conditions on the grasslands were extremely poor; cattle and sheep were not only their most important assets but also their source of food for survival. Therefore, even in their hasty escape, they had no choice but to travel with their large herds of cattle and sheep.

This undoubtedly slowed their migration considerably. The herds of cattle and sheep strolled leisurely, occasionally stopping to graze on the sparse pasture, making the entire migration extremely slow. The herders were anxious, constantly waving their whips, trying to urge the cattle and sheep to quicken their pace, but to little avail.