Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

The Xianbei girl named Tuoba Yizha rode her horse to the spot where the kestrel had fallen.

She held the reins with her left hand, leaned her body to the right on the horse, and stretched out her right hand, like a swallow skimming the water, swiftly grabbing the dead falcon lying on the ground, before sitting upright on the horse again.

The movements were quick and precise.

Liu Bei read it and secretly praised it in his heart.

The horse gallops on without stopping.

Holding the kestrel she had shot down, Tuoba Yizha spurred her horse and galloped off into the nearby woods.

The figure quickly disappeared into the branches and leaves of the trees.

Liu Bei watched as Tuoba Yizha's figure disappeared into the woods before reluctantly withdrawing his gaze.

Jian Yong, who was standing next to Liu Bei, smiled slightly when he saw Liu Bei's expression.

Realizing he had lost his composure, Liu Bei hurriedly straightened up and said:

"Xianhe, let's hurry and report back to the Khan's tent."

"it is good."

Jian Yong nodded. "The Khan must be getting impatient. Let's go quickly."

Everyone spurred their horses and galloped away.

soon.

Liu Bei and his party arrived at the Tuoba tribe's camp, galloping on horseback beside the rows of yurts.

They gradually arrived at a courtyard enclosed by a wooden fence where the Khan's tent was located.

Everyone dismounted and strode quickly toward Tuoba Lin's tent.

Liu Bei lifted the curtain and saw that all the generals were already gathered and sitting inside the tent, seemingly waiting for him alone.

Upon seeing Liu Bei enter, all the generals looked at him.

"Xuande, you've arrived!"

Tuoba Lin, the Khan of the Tuoba tribe, sat in the main seat and smiled warmly.

Liu Bei and the others immediately placed their right hands on their hearts and bowed to Tuoba Lin:

"Khan! By the grace of Heaven, Tuoba Jiefen has successfully taken over the Rilu tribe."

"sit!"

Tuoba Lin laughed and said, "The decisive battle was fought a thousand miles away, and the strategy was planned within the tent. If it weren't for you, Zhang Liang, the strategist from the Han region, Tuoba Jiefen wouldn't have been able to conquer the Rilu tribe so quickly."

"Khan, you flatter me. Comparing me to the strategist Zhang Liang is something I truly do not deserve."

Liu Bei was very humble.

Tuoba Lin smiled and said:

"You Han people are good; you don't boast about your achievements. Unlike us Xianbei people, if we gain military merit, we will make a big fuss about it and flaunt it everywhere."

"Alright, let's quickly discuss the western expedition."

Liu Bei glanced at the generals sitting in the tent and saw that they were five veteran generals who had stayed behind to guard the old camp of the Tuoba tribe: Tuoba Qiudun, Tuoba Daxi, Tuoba Sihai, Tuoba Yizhan, and Tuoba Chekun, as well as three young and promising generals: Baba Peng, Pulu, and Yiloujin.

Baba Peng was the son of Tuoba Baba, also known as "Mohefu" of the Baba tribe, one of the ten tribes of the Tuoba clan. His surname was Tuoba and his clan name was Baba.

Just as Hegu Xun was the son of Mohefu Tuoba Hegu of the Hegu tribe, one of the ten tribes of Tuoba.

Similarly.

Pulu was the son of Tuoba Punai. The surname was Tuoba and the clan name was Pu.

Yiloujin was the son of Tuoba Yilou, whose surname was Tuoba and clan name was Yilou.

These three young Xianbei generals were left behind to guard their home base because their fathers were away on a campaign at Canhebei.

They were all around eighteen or nineteen years old.

However, on the grasslands, a Xianbei man of eighteen or nineteen years old was already capable of standing on his own.

Now, the Tuoba tribe wants to launch a western expedition against the Zhijian, Luoluo, and Yanliyou tribes, but lacks generals, so they have no choice but to send them to the battlefield.

"Khan, the messenger has reported to you my and Tuoba Jiefen's plans at Canhebei. What do you think?"

Liu Bei asked.

"I think it's feasible."

Tuoba Lin said in a deep voice, "On your way from Canhebei, I already sent out three waves of scouts to investigate the camp of Yan Liyou's tribe at the foot of Langshan Mountain. I believe the first wave of scouts will return to report to me soon."

Langshan is the western section of Yinshan Mountain, and like Gaoqueshan Mountain, it is part of Yinshan Mountain.

Liu Bei pondered for a moment and said:

"Langshan is four or five hundred li away from the Tuoba tribe's camp. A scout's round trip would take at least two days and two nights..."

—A forced march can cover 300 li in a day and night.

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Lin silently considered the matter for a moment and said:

"The camp of the Yanliyou tribe is located on the grassland below Langshan Mountain, about four hundred li away from the camp of the Tuoba tribe. It can be reached in a little over a day by fast horse. The return trip would take another day, which is less than two days and one night."

Liu Bei listened, nodded, and said:

"The Yanliyou tribe also has five settlements, with a population of nearly 50,000 and a cavalry force of nearly 10,000. This is only the military strength of the Yanliyou tribe, not counting the Zhijian and Luoluo tribes. Our current military strength, at most, is only 6,000 cavalry."

"Therefore, we must quickly take down the Yanliyou tribe and then use their 10,000 troops to fight against the Zhijian and Luoluo tribes."

Tuoba Lin said confidently:

"Yan Liyou is already an old man in his sixties or seventies. Although he is still in good health, he is old and frail, lacks the strength and courage of a young man."

"Although we only have five or six thousand men, Xuande is brave and his eight hundred elite cavalry are the best of the Rilu tribe. With my thousand guards, it will be easy to take down the Yanliyou tribe."

"Xuande, just tell me how we conquered the Yanliyou tribe."

"it is good."

Liu Bei nodded and said, "Time is of the essence. We can't wait for the scouts to return to the Tuoba tribe from Langshan. My suggestion is to send troops to the Yanliyou tribe's camp tonight."

"In this way, the army can quickly rush to a place only a few dozen miles away from Yanliyou's camp on the second night."

"Then, find a secluded spot to hide and launch a surprise attack on the Yanliyou tribe's camp at dawn. We'll definitely catch them off guard."

Tuoba Lin listened, nodded silently, and said:

"Indeed, a brilliant plan. Shall we send out all six thousand troops at once?"

"Of course not."

Liu Bei said in a deep voice, "Khan, it would be best to leave a thousand elite troops to guard the Tuoba tribe's camp in case of any unforeseen circumstances. I can be the vanguard, and tonight I will lead a thousand elite cavalrymen westward. Babapeng, Pulu, and Yiloujin can each lead two hundred Xianbei cavalrymen to follow closely behind me for ten miles."

"Tuoba Qiudun, Tuoba Daxi, and Tuoba Sihai each led seven hundred cavalrymen, thirty or forty li behind Baba Peng and the other two. Tuoba Yizhan and Tuoba Chekun each led seven hundred cavalrymen, thirty or forty li behind Tuoba Qiudun and the other two."

"The reason for this arrangement is that I lead an elite cavalry force, which is physically strong and well-equipped, and capable of long-distance raids. The cavalry led by the other generals are physically weaker and well-equipped, and cannot keep up with my elite cavalry."

"Khan, what do you think of this arrangement?"

Tuoba Lin nodded and said:

"A very reasonable arrangement. Xuande, once you reach the vicinity of Yan Liyou's camp at the foot of Wolf Mountain, you can rest first and wait for the main army to arrive before launching a surprise attack."

Liu Bei nodded upon hearing this.

He hesitated, a hint of difficulty on his face.

He wanted to speak, but then swallowed his words.

Upon seeing this, Tuoba Lin asked in surprise:

"Does Xuande have some unspeakable secret?"

Liu Bei glanced at his generals and said in a deep voice:

"The Khan is stationed at the Tuoba tribe's camp and cannot venture out lightly. However, on the battlefield hundreds of miles away, there must be a general who can make the final decision at any time based on the real-time changes on the battlefield."

"This western expedition against the Zhijian, Luoluo, and Yanliyou tribes is of great importance. We hope that the Khan can appoint a supreme military commander to make all decisions regarding the western expedition."

After hearing this, Tuoba Lin hesitated for a moment, unable to make a decision.

He first looked at his brothers—Tuoba Qiudun, Tuoba Daxi, Tuoba Sihai, Tuoba Yizhan, and Tuoba Chekun, five veteran generals.

He pondered for a moment.

He shook his head gently.

Followed by.

Tuoba Lin then looked at his three nephews—Baba Peng, Pulu, and Yiloujin, three young and promising generals.

Without even hesitating, he shook his head.

At last.

Tuoba Lin looked at Liu Bei, as well as Qian Zhao, Guan Yu, Lü Bu, Gao Shun, Jian Yong and other people beside Liu Bei, and silently made some calculations in his mind.

half an hour.

Tuoba Lin then said in a deep voice:

"The westward expedition against the three tribes is indeed a matter of great importance, but I must remain at the Tuoba tribe's camp and take care of the urgent military reports sent from Canhebei, so I cannot personally lead the army westward."

"On the battlefield, things are indeed constantly changing, and a strong commander is needed to make quick judgments."

"After much thought, I believe that among all the generals present, only Xuande is capable of undertaking the important task of leading the western expedition."

The five men, Tuoba Qiudun, Tuoba Daxi, Tuoba Sihai, Tuoba Yizhan, and Tuoba Chekun, were all around forty years old. Upon hearing this, each of them showed an expression of dissatisfaction.

Even Liu Bei himself felt that something was amiss.

All that could be heard was Tuoba Qiudun shouting:

"Khan, I see that Xuande is only fifteen or sixteen years old, still a boy. How can he shoulder the heavy responsibility of commanding the western expedition?"

Tuoba Daxi also said:

"Khan, the matter of conquering the three tribes in the west is absolutely not something to be taken lightly."

Tuoba Sihai, Tuoba Yizhan, and Tuoba Chekun also echoed this sentiment:

"Yes, yes, how could we let Xuande be the commander-in-chief of the western expedition? How could a Han Chinese lead us Xianbei people?"

……

When a general is in the field, he may disobey some of the emperor's orders.

—The Art of War by Sun Tzu