Lu Bu: My wife comes from two thousand years later

The current population of the Southern Xiongnu is about 500,000. This is the data when Yufuluo first left the Xiongnu. The military strength cannot be counted at the moment, because as long as the Xiongnu have a bow and a horse, they can be considered a soldier, and even women, children, and the elderly can ride on horses to kill the enemy. Based on a population of 500,000, it is no problem for them to raise tens of thousands of soldiers and horses.

The currently controlled areas include Dingxiang County, Yunzhong County, Wuyuan County, Shuofang County, Shang County and the northern part of Xihe County. There are also some tribes distributed in the Yinchuan Plain and Ordos Plateau east of the Helan Mountains, and some even occupy Beidi County in Liangzhou.

In the past, the Xutu Hu of the Southern Xiongnu rebelled and invaded Xihe County from the south. King Xutu and his followers were killed by Lu Bu, and tens of thousands of people died. The Xiongnu were frightened. Even when there was a famine in recent years, even when someone invited them to invade Bingzhou together, they did not dare to challenge Lu Bu. They were so poor that they had no choice but to take advantage of the situation on the border.

The Xiongnu were so weak that they should have sent troops to completely resolve this hidden danger long ago. However, the Xiongnu were skilled in archery and horsemanship, and their troops were scattered throughout the Hetao region. A few years ago, the new Chanyu Guduhou died of illness, and the tribes were leaderless, scattered and in chaos, making them difficult to suppress.

Another reason is that the Hun cavalry was too mobile. They were a nomadic people. If they couldn't win, they would run away. When you left, they would come back. Lu Bu had insufficient troops before, and it was difficult to station troops in every place, so the Southern Hun problem was dragged on.

The reason for deciding to send troops this time was to stabilize the rear while the war with Gongsun Zan had not yet begun. The plan to send troops was not a temporary decision. When the summer harvest had just been completed, Lu Bu discussed the matter with Zhang Mo. The initial strategy was to capture one or two of the tribes to make an example of them, and then directly attack the Xiongnu royal court, establish a new regime, and then recruit the scattered tribes.

As for how many people will come back to accept rule and how many will continue to wander around and resist, it is unknown. We can only formulate a new battle plan based on the situation after conquering the royal court.

After the plan was finalized, military orders were passed down, with Zhang Liao, commander of the Bingzhou Army, as the main general, Yu Fuluo, Zhang Yang, and Yan Xing, who had just joined the Bingzhou Army, as deputy generals, Guo Tu as the military advisor, and military assistants Sima Yi, Pang Tong, and Zhuge Liang accompanying the army for training. The total number of troops was 10,000, including 6,000 cavalry and 4,000 infantry, who were dispatched from Taiyuan and Xihe County respectively, and gathered in Lan County before crossing the Yellow River.

The reason for choosing this longer route instead of crossing the river directly west from Yanmen is that it is not easy for cavalry to cross the river. Across the Yellow River to the west of Yanmen is the Xiongnu royal court. Crossing the river from there will inevitably be harassment by the Xiongnu cavalry on the opposite side, causing unnecessary casualties.

Lan County in Xihe Commandery had long been under the jurisdiction of the Tang State, so the safety of crossing the river within its own territory was unquestionable.

It took Zhang Liao a day and a half to cross the Yellow River. After resting for half a day, he headed for his first target, Fushi County, the seat of Shangjun.

Fushi County is flown by the Sheyan River, a tributary of the Yellow River, and another small tributary flows into it from the north. These two rivers provide the area with abundant water resources and fertile river valley plains.

In autumn, the poplar forest on the south bank of the Sheyan River is covered with a layer of gold, egrets stroll and fly among them, mallards forage in the marsh, and herdsmen graze cattle and sheep in the vast grassland on the north bank.

"Such good land, and the Huns actually used it to grow grass?"

Three days later, Zhang Liao's army arrived at Fushi County and saw this scene. Sima Yi couldn't help but sigh.

Yu Fuluo explained, "Although we Xiongnu people submitted to the Han Dynasty over 200 years ago, many of us can speak Chinese, wear Hanfu and Hanguan, and some of us farm, but most of us still prefer to herd livestock."

He pointed to a large grassland on the north bank of the river valley. "A few years ago, this was farmland, but with the frequent wars in recent years, people feel that grazing is less secure than farming. As a result, a lot of farmland has degenerated into grassland. But now I think farming is more secure. Once we pacify those traitors, I want to plant rice all over this place."

Sima Yi asked again, "If we rely on grazing, this piece of grassland can't support the entire city, right?"

Yu Fuluo glanced at him and laughed, "That's why you don't understand. Among us Xiongnu, only nobles and leaders live in the city. For example, the Jibulu tribe that occupies Fushi County, their leader, Jijier, lives there with his family and trusted soldiers. The other nomads are divided into smaller tribes, scattered around the area, either grazing or farming. They come back regularly every year to pay taxes to Jijier."

"Are they so self-aware? There's no tax evasion?"

"Unless you flee and rely on other tribes, you won't be able to escape. Everyone needs Jijier's protection. If there's no Jijier to lead them in plundering during the famine, they will starve to death."

Sima Yi nodded in understanding. To put it bluntly, each tribe was actually a small ruling group, and the leaders of all tribes and the Xiongnu nobles formed a large ruling group. Now that the Xiongnu had no Chanyu, each tribe was independent and the large ruling group had become in name only.

When the team arrived outside the city, they saw that the gates of Fushi County were tightly closed, and the top of the city wall was filled with bows and arrows, as if the city was ready for battle.

Zhang Liao set up camp on the north bank of the Sheyan River. With his military advisor and three assistants, he spent half a day inspecting the surroundings of the city.

The city was built in a triangle where two rivers meet. The rivers surround its west and south sides, forming a natural moat. The east and north sides are vast flat lands. There are trenches and fences on the east side, but the north side is flat. This was a passage left by the Huns for the convenience of cavalry entering and exiting.

The defense of this city was not very good. There was not even a crossbow on the top of the city wall. It could be taken by force. However, Zhang Liao did not intend to waste his troops on the siege. He stationed a large force outside the city and sent Yan Xing with 2,000 cavalry to plunder and massacre the people of Jijier nearby, forcing him to leave the city to fight.

Ten days later, after Yan Xing massacred two small tribes, the leader Jijier could no longer sit still. While Yan Xing's troops were still there, Jijier led his five thousand trusted soldiers out of the city to fight.

The outcome of the battle was no surprise. Most of Jijier's men were killed, some fled back to the city, and some fled to other tribal territories. Jijier was captured.

As to why Jijier chose not to surrender even though he knew he could not win, Zhang Liao only found out the reason after he captured Jijier.

It turned out that Jijier had once led troops with King Xiutu to attack the royal court and killed Yu Furuo's father, wife and children. Jijier knew that Yu Furuo had defected to Lu Bu and made contributions in Lu Bu's battle to eliminate Yuan Shao. He was afraid that if he surrendered, he would eventually be liquidated by Yu Furuo.

Jijier originally wanted to defend the city, but the Han army went around slaughtering his people. He had no choice but to fight outside the city. He thought he could escape if he couldn't win, but he was captured unexpectedly.

Yu Furo's family was killed and he himself was blocked outside and unable to return home for nearly ten years. Today he finally got his revenge. No matter how hard Jigil begged, Yu Furo still cut off his head and asked someone to pickle it with lime, preparing to bring it back to the royal court to show the rebels.