Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

After hearing Budugen's words, Guo Tu gradually smiled.

At this point, the matter is basically more than half resolved.

A qualified monarch or leader.

They must know how to assess the situation.

At his age, Budugen has already achieved what he has; he's definitely not stupid.

Bu Dugen knew the advantages and disadvantages.

Given Duan Yu's relationship with the Southern Xiongnu, he only needed to free up his resources to deal with the Xianbei.

With the Xiongnu's understanding of the northern grasslands and the fighting prowess of their wolf cavalry, as long as Duan Yu provided them with weapons, armor, and food, it was only a matter of time before they dethroned the Xianbei from their position as the overlords of the northern grasslands.

Therefore, cooperation and mutual benefit are the best choices.

Guo Tu turned his gaze to the remaining Xianbei chieftains in the camp.

Budugen raised his hand and waved to the crowd.

Upon receiving the order, many Xianbei chieftains stood up, left their seats, and walked out of the tent, leaving only Guo Tu and Budugen inside.

"Okay, now you can say it."

Guo Tu smiled and nodded, saying, "The Chanyu truly deserves to be called a young and powerful ruler. My master gives the Chanyu the highest praise for this."

“My family is very sincere.”

"As long as the Chanyu agrees to cooperate and keeps the Xiongnu in check, my master will provide the Xianbei with weapons, armor, and provisions."

"Duan Yu's army is currently attacking Bingzhou, and at the same time, the Southern Xiongnu have also received news from Duan Yu and are preparing to move south to attack Bingzhou together."

"My master hopes that the Xianbei will send troops to contain the Southern Xiongnu."

As Budugen listened to Guo Tu's plan, he slowly shook his head.

“War will kill people. If you only want to give up some weapons, armor and food in exchange for the lives of the Xianbei people, my tribe and I will not agree to this cooperation.”

“I can give you another chance. If you still can’t convince me, then please go back to where you came from.”

Guo Tu smiled and shook his head, saying, "Of course, it's not just that."

"Chanyu, don't be impatient. If that were all, my master wouldn't have sent me all the way to Xianbei."

“My master said that if the Chanyu is willing to cooperate, the Hejian region of Bingzhou will be given to the Xianbei after the Xiongnu are destroyed. It will be given to the Chanyu as a place for the Xianbei to live and multiply. I believe the Chanyu is also aware of the importance of the Hejian region.”

"The area has abundant water and grass, and a suitable climate. If we can graze our livestock there, we won't have to worry about the cold winds and blizzards on the grasslands in winter."

River area.

A hint of relief appeared on Budugen's face.

The area surrounding Hejian includes the Huangshui River Basin, Taoshui River Basin, Luoshui River Basin, Weishui River Basin, Fenshui River Basin, Sanggan River Basin, Zhangshui River Basin, and Hutuo River Basin.

The abundant waterways, combined with the plains, created a perfect natural pasture.

The Yinshan Mountains shield the area from the cold winds blowing from the north, ensuring that the grasslands are no longer exposed to the biting winds in winter.

It is extremely suitable for grazing and survival.

During the late Warring States period, King Wuling of Zhao extended the territory of the Zhao state to the Yinshan Mountains and established the Yunzhong Commandery, located in the eastern part of the Tumochuan Plain, occupying the Hejian area. He used this territory to raise horses and created the then-powerful Hu-style cavalry archery.

After the Qin Dynasty unified the Central Plains, it relocated 3 households to the border area and established the Yunzhong and Jiuyuan prefectures.

However, at the end of the Qin Dynasty, the Hejian region was occupied by the Xiongnu. At that time, the people who had migrated to this area during the Qin Dynasty were either killed or returned to the Central Plains, and the Hejian region was occupied by the Xiongnu for a long period of time.

During the Western Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty rose to power. Emperor Wu of Han sent Wei Qing out of Yunzhong to defeat the Loufan and Baiyang kings of the Xiongnu and occupy Hejian.

Minister Zhu Fuyan submitted a memorial suggesting that a city be built in the Hetao region for farming and horse breeding, serving as a base for defense and attack against the Xiongnu.

From then on, the Han Dynasty began grazing its warhorses in this area, thus forming the Han Dynasty Pasture, which laid the foundation for the main source of warhorses for the cavalry used by the Han Dynasty in its later struggle for supremacy over the grasslands.

North of Hejian lies the Yinshan Mountains, making Hejian the first barrier against the southward advance of the Xiongnu.

The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry was known as the elite of the land, precisely because of the support of the horse farms in the Hejian region.

As the saying goes, "The Yellow River brings a hundred harms, but it enriches the Hetao region," and "The Yellow River enriches the Hetao region, making the former Hetao region rich."

The Hetao region here refers to Hejian.

Seeing that Budugen was wavering, Guo Tu immediately pressed his advantage, saying, "Chanyu, please rest assured. Although the Southern Xiongnu are indeed very powerful with Duan Yu's help, in my opinion, they are not a monolithic entity."

"Guo naturally has a way to help the Chanyu defeat the Xiongnu."

"Guo will stay by the Chanyu's side and help him defeat the Xiongnu," Guo Tu said confidently.

After careful consideration, Bu Dugen looked up at Guo Tu.

"I can grant your request, but I have one condition: all the spoils of war from defeating the Xiongnu will belong to the Xianbei."

"Of course!" Guo Tu agreed with a smile without hesitation, and then said, "I believe that before long, the Chanyu will be glad he made this decision today!"

............

The remaining ridges of Langshan Mountain in late winter are still covered with mottled snow armor, but the Kundulun River has already broken through the ice and is rushing eastward, carrying yellow sand and ice shards.

On both sides of the riverbank, reeds sprouted tiny green shoots from the frozen soil, and flocks of sandgrouse swept across the sky, their wingtips brushing against the frost-covered yak tassels on the soldiers' leather hats, startling a series of trembling sounds from bronze watchtowers.

The south wind, carrying fine dust from the Mu Us Desert, made the red banners on the city walls flutter loudly.

The city where the surrender was accepted.

This rammed earth border town is located on the west bank of the Shimen River. The city wall is over three zhang high, with the horse-face protruding like the fangs of a giant beast, and the arrow holes on it are as dense as a honeycomb.

Hidden inside the southwest corner tower is a ceramic listening urn, capable of detecting the faint vibrations of a horse's hooves breaking ice from thirty miles away.

In the second year of the Yuanshou era, General Huo Qubing attacked the Xiongnu in the north, and the Hunxie King of Hexi surrendered with 40,000 troops.

Emperor Wu ordered Gongsun Ao to build this city, intending it to prevent the Hu people from moving south to graze their horses.

But Shoujiang City, which once symbolized the peak of the Han Dynasty's military might, is now in ruins.

If Duan Yu hadn't funded the Southern Xiongnu and used the surrender city as a base, this city would have long been deserted and abandoned.

Heading south from Shoujiang City, crossing the Yin Mountains and the Great Wall, one arrives at Bingzhou.

At this time, tens of thousands of Xiongnu soldiers were gathering in Shoujiang City.

Since Duan Yu visited the Southern Xiongnu four years ago, he has maintained a friendly relationship with them ever since.

Last year, during the campaign in the Western Regions.

The Southern Xiongnu also sent troops to contain the Northern Xiongnu.

During these four years, Duan Yu sent a large number of weapons, armor, and salt to the Southern Xiongnu to support their attacks on the Northern Xiongnu.

This also prevented the Southern Xiongnu from raiding the borders of Bingzhou.

Although Bingzhou was not in Duan Yu's hands, Duan Yu always believed that as long as they were Han people, they should be protected by him and not be harmed by foreign tribes.

After four years of development and recuperation, the Southern Xiongnu have now basically annexed the Northern Xiongnu.

Although it is not as powerful as it once was, it is still much stronger than it was four years ago.

However, Qiangqu Chanyu did not abandon Duan Yu because of the current strength of the Xiongnu.

Compared to the Xianbei, the Wuhuan and other nomadic tribes living east of the Gobi Desert, the Southern Xiongnu naturally understood Duan Yu the most.

In four years, the Xiongnu had become stronger.

However, Duan Yu's development was far more powerful than that of the Southern Xiongnu.

In recent years, Duan Yu has fought in the north and south without ever suffering a defeat. Last year's battle in the Western Regions was even more devastating, sweeping through the entire Western Regions like a plowshare.

When the Northern Xiongnu joined the battle, they were blocked in the Tianshan Mountains and annihilated.

It was precisely because the Northern Xiongnu were weakened after that battle that Qiangqu had the opportunity to annex them.

At this time, more than 40,000 Xiongnu soldiers were gathered inside and outside the abandoned surrender city.

The reason so many Xiongnu tribes gathered this time was because they were summoned by Duan Yu.

Inside a large tent in the city.

Compared to a few years ago, Qiangqu Chanyu had aged considerably, along with his eldest son Yufuluo, his second son Huchuquan who had returned from Chang'an, and some Xiongnu tribal chiefs, all gathered in the camp to feast.

Freshly slaughtered and cooked mutton was laid out on the table in front of them.

Cut a piece of tender, juicy lamb with a small knife, dip it in a little bit of fine, snow-like salt, and take a bite and your mouth will be filled with juicy goodness.

Serve with a sip of mare's milk wine.

Qiangqu, whose appetite was not as good as in his younger days, placed a clean lamb chop on the table, picked up a rag from the side to wipe the grease off his hands, and then took a small sip of mare's milk wine.

Seeing his father put down the knife, Hu Chuquan immediately put down the mutton in his hand as well. Although he was not very full, he stopped what he was doing.

Qiangqu Chanyu looked at his youngest son with some curiosity and asked, "My son, why aren't you eating?"

Hu Chuquan's posture as he knelt behind the table was just like that of a well-mannered Han Chinese.

Upon hearing his father's question, he immediately replied respectfully: "The Book of Rites says: 'If an elder has not yet finished eating, a junior shall not dare to drink. If an elder stops eating and a junior continues to eat, it shall be considered a transgression of etiquette.'"

“This is the Han Chinese etiquette that my brother-in-law taught me.”

Upon hearing this, Qiang Qu was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Hu Chuquan's statement immediately made everyone in the tent except himself look up at him.

"My son has learned a lot in the past four years by His Highness the Prince of Liang's side. Not bad, not bad!" Qiangqu praised.

However, Hu Chuquan's words also attracted a different kind of attention.

Opposite Huchuquan, there was a young man who looked somewhat similar to Huchuquan.

The youth did not kneel like Huchuquan, because the youth only had one left leg.

The right leg was just an empty pant leg.

“My brother, it seems you’ve been trained by Duan Yu to be very obedient,” Yufulo said with a sneer.

Upon hearing Yufuluo's voice, the atmosphere in the tent immediately turned cold, and all the chieftains of the Xiongnu tribes lowered their heads, pretending not to have heard anything.

...................

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