Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Juyong Pass is the northwestern gateway to Youzhou, located at the intersection of the Taihang Mountains and the Yanshan Mountains, and is one of the famous three inner passes.

The canyon where it is located is characterized by high mountains and deep valleys, with a treacherous terrain. At its narrowest point, only one horse-drawn carriage can pass through, truly deserving the description of "one man can hold the pass against ten thousand men."

For nomadic peoples outside the Great Wall to enter the Central Plains of Han China, Juyong Pass was an essential passage.

Han Chinese could also travel to places like southern Mongolia and Dai County after leaving Juyong Pass.

For the Han Empire, holding Juyong Pass would prevent the Xianbei cavalry from advancing south into the North China Plain, thus ensuring the safety of the entire Central Plains.

At this time, although it was the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the emperor was tyrannical, the court still prohibited strategic items such as iron products and horses from flowing out of the grasslands to aid the enemy.

Therefore, before setting off from Shiwulipu, Liu Bei had already placed the Juque sword in his home in Dashulousangli.

The rest of the weapons were kept at Zuo Zi's house in Shiwulipu.

Before leaving, he also left one of Zhang Fang's servants to guard him.

Liu Bei also specifically instructed Zhang Fei and Wutulu to play at Zuo Zi's football field in their spare time and to look after the house.

Since carrying iron products out of the pass was prohibited, Liu Bei needed to protect himself along the way, so he prepared dozens of eyebrow-level sticks as well as various short sticks and long sticks.

After inspecting the "passes" that served as passes one by one, the customs officers at Juyong Pass also carefully examined the goods carried by the camels and horses. Finding no violations, they collected a 15% customs duty.

According to regulations, customs officials should collect 10% of the customs duties, which is a tithe.

However, the Commandant of Juyong Pass deliberately forced an additional five percent to be levied.

The captain held considerable military power, and for a time no one dared to challenge him.

Liu Bei knew that collecting a 15% tariff was still too low.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, due to food shortages in the interior, grain exports were strictly controlled, and the progressive tariff rate at the three customs gates (inner gate, middle gate, and outer gate) reached 68%.

Around the time of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and until the Three Kingdoms period, tariff rates remained high, reaching 20% ​​to 30%, and even as high as 40% to 50% at one point.

Liu Bei didn't care about this, because his real purpose for this trip was not to sell grain and silk. Therefore, he only hoped to pass through the pass smoothly and reach the border.

soon.

After all the paperwork was completed, the customs officer immediately allowed them to pass.

Liu Bei led his caravan safely through Juyong Pass.

After passing through the pass, they traveled for more than a day and arrived at Juyang (now Huailai County, Hebei Province).

Juyang was the capital of Shanggu Commandery in Youzhou, located on the banks of the Zhishui River (Sanggan River or Yongding River), a strategically important location.

Traveling more than a hundred li north from Juyang, you will reach Ningcheng in Shanggu Commandery (present-day Zhangjiakou area, Hebei Province), the seat of the Protector of the Wuhuan during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

At this time, Xia Yu was serving as the Protector of the Wuhuan.

Liu Bei's entire caravan rested briefly in Juyang.

A day later, they continued westward along the valley of the Zhishui River.

After another six or seven days of travel.

They then arrived at Gaoliu County, the seat of Dai Commandery (present-day Yanggao County, Shanxi Province). — This suburban grassland was also the birthplace of Tanshihuai, the Xianbei Khan.

Dai County still belonged to the territory of Youzhou.

After another day of rest.

Continue heading northwest towards Gaoliu.

A few days later, they arrived in the heart of the Xianbei territory.

Along the way, one could often see Xianbei people herding cattle and sheep.

Cattle and sheep graze freely across the mountains and fields.

Meanwhile, the Xianbei herders rode their horses, singing joyfully; their voices were loud and clear, and very pleasant to hear.

When they saw Liu Bei and his Han merchant caravan arrive, they greeted them warmly. They didn't seem like ruthless invaders who killed like mowing grass.

However, Liu Bei also knew that once they put on their armor, took up their bows and swords, and entered the military camp, they would be warriors who only obeyed the orders of the Xianbei Khan, Tanshihuai.

They hit wherever they were told, without any mercy.

Even unarmed Han Chinese civilians on the border were plundered and killed by the Xianbei cavalry, who did whatever they pleased.

Thus, it became a northern threat to the Han Empire.

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Liu Bei led his caravan to the vicinity of Canhebei, which is now Daihai Lake in Inner Mongolia.

This area is west of Shanggu County and belongs to the territory of the Western Xianbei, one of the three Xianbei tribes divided by Tanshihuai.

A cool breeze blew across the surface of Canhebei Lake.

Everyone felt very refreshed.

Just then.

A group of Xianbei cavalry, about a hundred riders, appeared out of nowhere and roared towards the caravan led by Liu Bei.

The thunderous hoofbeats were deafening.

These Xianbei cavalrymen all rode tall horses, wore their distinctive Xianbei-style tight-fitting, narrow-sleeved Hu clothing, and had their hair braided into small plaits that hung down their backs and over their shoulders.

They carried horn bows on their backs and ring-pommel swords at their waists, their eyes filled with a mixture of wariness and mockery.

Judging solely from their hairstyles, Liu Bei knew they were Western Xianbei, distinct from the Central and Eastern Xianbei, also known as the "Suotou Xianbei." — "Suo" means rope, referring to braiding hair.

More than a hundred Xianbei cavalrymen circled Liu Bei's caravan.

Liu Bei had no choice but to order a halt to the march.

On the way there, Liu Yu and Liu Gao had already informed Liu Bei that after entering the territory of the Xianbei people, they might be questioned and taxed.

However, they only accept a small amount; basically, a token payment is enough.

The Xianbei people had a strong demand for grain and cloth from the Han region, and therefore welcomed the arrival of merchants. Consequently, they did not impose heavy taxes on merchants from the Han region.

Liu Yu and Liu Gao both had some knowledge of the Xianbei language and could have daily conversations.

He then engaged in brief negotiations with the Xianbei cavalry, explaining his identity.

In addition, Jian Yong secretly told Liu Bei that he could also speak the Xianbei language. He had learned it from an old Xianbei man in Shiwulipu. Liu Bei told him not to tell anyone for the time being, as it might come in handy in the future.

A dozen or so Xianbei cavalrymen dismounted, briefly inspected the goods, and found nothing unusual. They then gave a short report in Xianbei language to the leader of the Xianbei cavalry squad.

At this time, Zhang Fang also handed twenty or thirty bolts of silk to the Xianbei commander as a symbolic payment of customs duties.

The Xianbei commander accepted the silk and then let them pass.

With a whistle, more than a hundred Xianbei cavalrymen roared away and quickly disappeared into the nearby mountains and forests.

Liu Bei led the caravan onward.

We stopped to rest near Canhebei.

Canhebei is located north of Manhan Mountain, a spur of the Yinshan Mountains.

It is a lake located in the area north of Dai County in the Eastern Han Dynasty, in what is now northern Datong.

The Han people called it Zhuwenze or Yanze.

The Xianbei people called it Canhebei.

Canhebei is a name that was chosen by the Han people after translating the Xianbei language.

The character 陂 means the surface of a lake.

The leaders of various Xianbei tribes in the west often came to this lake to participate in discussions and deliberate on tribal affairs; this was called "canhe".

Later, a major battle took place here: during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Sixteen Kingdoms period, Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei, Tuoba Gui, defeated Murong Bao, the crown prince of Murong Chui of Later Yan, at Canhebei.

The Northern Wei dynasty, through its victory at the Battle of Canhebei, laid the foundation for the unification of northern China. The Later Yan dynasty, on the other hand, saw its demise accelerated by this battle.

A Xianbei man came over and made a transaction, laughing and joking.

Liu Bei then exchanged some ox-horn bows and ring-pommel swords with them for self-defense.

He greatly admired the ox-horn bows made by the Xianbei people.

According to the nomadic Xianbei man, the bowstring tension could reach one or two hundred jin, and the range could reach more than two hundred paces.

Just then, a white-tailed eagle flew over the surface of Canhebei Lake.

Liu Bei suddenly became interested, so he drew his bow and nocked an arrow, pulled the bowstring taut like a full moon, and aimed at the jade eagle flying high in the sky.

Raise your right hand slightly!

"Whoosh!"

The arrow shot out through the air.

It hit the white-tailed eagle squarely in the lower abdomen.

The white-tailed eagle fell straight down from the sky into the grass.

The people around cheered loudly.

Even the Xianbei people praised Liu Bei's archery skills.

Liu Bei smiled slightly and then asked his cousin Liu Gao to ask the Xianbei people which Xianbei leader controlled this area.

The Xianbei people told them that Canhebei and the surrounding hundreds of miles were all under the jurisdiction of the Xianbei chieftain Rilu.

Liu Bei listened and nodded, understanding the situation.

He learned from his two cousins, Liu Yu and Liu Gao, that this Ri Lu was nothing more than a greedy and lecherous man with no great ambitions.

After enjoying a meal of Xianbei cuisine—grilled fish, roasted mutton, and cheese—the group set up tents to spend the night near Canhebei, planning to continue their westward journey the next day.

……

When the Yan army arrived at Canhepo, a strong wind and black clouds, like a dam, swept over the army from behind.

—Sima Guang, Zizhi Tongjian, Jin Dynasty