Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Looking at the enormous dome before him, Liu Bei knew that this was the headquarters of the Tuoba tribe of the Xianbei people in the west.

The dome has a circular arched roof with skylights for ventilation, and is covered entirely with felt, so it is completely safe even on rainy days.

The felt covering the dome provides shelter from the wind and water, while the round arch design allows rainwater to quickly slide off the tent surface.

The bottom is then weighed down with stones or sandbags to prevent rainwater from seeping into the dome.

Everyone followed Tuoba Lin as he lifted the curtain and entered the yurt.

Liu Bei glanced inside and saw that the interior of the yurt was simply furnished. A huge felt rug hung on the north side, and a large folding chair was placed on a high platform below it. This was naturally the seat of the Tuoba chieftain.

A flag embroidered with a deer hung in front of the felt mat, seemingly the totem of the Tuoba tribe.

A long table was placed in front of the folding chair.

Beneath the long table, on either side, were two rows of smaller folding chairs. In front of each chair was a low table, much like the civil and military officials of the Han Chinese.

This was naturally intended for the Mohophs of various small tribes to sit in when they came to the tent to discuss matters.

Mohof is the language of the Dingling people (also known as the Gaoche people) who live further north, and it means "brave and strong people".

The Tuoba Xianbei and Dingling people had frequent interactions and intermarried. Therefore, Tuoba Lin borrowed this term to refer to the leaders of the various small tribes under his command.

Around the dome, there were some wooden chests and cabinets piled up.

The floor was covered with a thick carpet.

The entire dome could fit a hundred people.

Tuoba Lin led everyone into his tent.

This was the first time that Qian Zhao, Guan Yu, and the others had observed the Xianbei people's yurts so closely, so they were all very curious and kept looking around.

Tuoba Lin's son, Tuoba Jiefen, then began arranging seats for Liu Bei and his party.

They each took their seats.

Tuoba Lin stood beneath the banner embroidered with a deer and addressed Liu Bei and the others:

"The Tuoba tribe came from the distant Daxianbei Mountains and migrated south twice before finally arriving at the foot of Gaoque Mountain. During the second southward migration, our people entered a swamp and could not find their way out no matter how hard they tried."

Just when they were in utter despair, a mythical beast appeared, its antlers resembling those of a deer but not a deer, its body resembling that of a horse but not a horse, its head resembling that of a donkey but not a donkey, and its hooves resembling those of a cow but not a cow, leading the Tuoba tribe out of the swamp.

The people believe that this divine beast was sent by Heaven to guide them out of their predicament. It is their guardian deity and the totem of their Xianbei Tuoba tribe.

Naturally, he spoke all of this in the Xianbei language.

After Tuoba Lin finished speaking, Liu Gao translated it into Chinese and relayed it to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei knew that the so-called totem of the Xianbei Tuoba tribe was the "four unlikes" – the Père David's deer – as the Han people called it.

The Xianbei people often referred to the sky as "Huangtian" or "Huangdihuangtian," just as the Mongols called the sky "Changshengtian."

They practiced shamanism, believing that all things have spirits and worshipping natural deities such as the sky, earth, mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars, especially the celestial gods.

When the Xianbei people worshipped Heaven and Earth, they also worshipped their ancestors.

After Tuoba Lin finished introducing the guardian deity of their people, he sat down on the Hu bed.

Liu Yu and Liu Gao briefly introduced the names and identities of everyone present to Tuoba Lin.

Tuoba Lin listened silently, and finally, his gaze fell upon Liu Yu and Liu Gao:

"I was very reluctant to see you go. The night you left, I had a dream. I dreamed that you returned to the grasslands from inside the Great Wall."

"I never imagined that this dream would actually come true. Heaven above! Your people have always been blessed by you, and this time, you have once again sent our Tuoba tribe's friends from the distant Han lands. I am truly overwhelmed with gratitude."

Liu Gao continued to translate for Liu Bei and the others.

Liu Yu then said:

"Respected Tuiyin, my brother and I have traveled a great distance to the western Xianbei Tuoba tribe. On the one hand, we bring silk and satin from the Han lands to your people, and on the other hand, we hope to buy some more heavenly horses raised at the foot of Gaoque Mountain to take back to the Han lands."

Tuoba Lin listened and nodded:

"You are merchants by nature. This is how it should be. Mount Gaoque stands forever unmoved, but the Yellow River flows ceaselessly day and night. The Xianbei people graze their cattle and sheep on the grasslands, while the Han people make a living by farming. Merchants travel far and wide. And I am tasked with leading the Tuoba tribe."

"In the grand scheme of things, everything is arranged by Heaven."

"Recently, I have been discussing with Tuoba Jiefen how to better manage our Tuoba tribe."

"You are scholars from the Han region, and your country has rich experience in this area. You can help offer some advice."

"Of course, you have been traveling for more than a month. Now you should take a good rest in the yurt. There is no rush to come up with ideas."

"In a little while, around noon, I will treat you to a good feast, with beef and mutton, and mare's milk wine."

This was Tuoba Lin's test of Liu Yu and Liu Gao.

Because last time, Liu Yu and Liu Gao refused to offer any advice or suggestions to Tuoba Lin no matter what.

This time, the two returned again, and Tuoba Lin believed they had changed their minds. So, he couldn't wait to test them.

Liu Yu and Liu Gao worked together to translate for Liu Bei.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei immediately said:

"Tuiyin, this is an internal affair of your Xianbei Tuoba tribe. How can we Han merchants, as outsiders, get involved?"

Tuoba Lin could not understand the Han language, so Liu Gao still acted as the translator.

Upon hearing Liu Bei's words, Tuoba Lin immediately replied:

"We don't want you to get involved in the internal affairs of the Tuoba tribe, but simply to share your experience in governing the country and ruling the people in Han China. We may adopt it, or we may not."

After listening to Liu Gao's translation, Liu Bei realized this was an excellent opportunity to gain Tuoba Lin's trust, and thus said:

"Tuiyin, if you want to hear how the Han people govern the world, we can give you a brief explanation."

Tuoba Lin was very pleased to hear this.

He couldn't help but gaze at Liu Bei, growing more and more fond of him, and said:

"You are a cousin of Liu Yu and Liu Gao, so you must also be a scholar. We Xianbei people respect scholars from the Han lands because they are wise, understand the changes of the past and present, and are learned about the relationship between heaven and man, just like the stars in the sky."

"If you can help our Tuoba tribe, Heaven will surely protect you."

"Tuoba Jiefen ordered them to bring out fine wine and good meat to entertain the guests from afar."

"Yes, Father."

Tuoba Jiefen immediately lifted the curtain and went out.

Not long ago.

Then Xianbei women filed in, carrying wooden trays with large chunks of beef on them, which they placed on the long table in front of each person.

Then Xianbei women brought pottery bowls and placed them on each long table.

Another Xianbei woman held a pottery jar in both hands and poured mare's milk wine into each pottery bowl.

Tuoba Lin raised the mare's milk wine in his hand and looked up at the skylight at the top of the dome:

"Thank God for His blessing!"

Then, looking at everyone, he said:

"Apart from Liu Yu and Liu Gao, this is the first time I've met any of you. Let's drink this bowl of mare's milk wine, and from now on, we're friends. Cheers!"

Liu Bei and the others also picked up their earthenware bowls and shouted, "Cheers!"

Everyone drank it all in one gulp.

It was Liu Bei's first time drinking mare's milk wine. He felt that the wine had a faint milky aroma mixed with a hint of alcohol, slightly sour with a sweet aftertaste, and a cool sensation as it flowed down his throat.

For someone accustomed to Han Chinese cuisine, the taste was naturally a bit strange. But he could still accept it.

Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, Guan Yu, and the others smacked their lips and nodded in praise of the delicious food from beyond the Great Wall.

Only Wu Lu Da Wang frowned slightly, but did not react much.

"Eat meat! Eat meat!"

Tuoba Lin was very pleased to see everyone drink the mare's milk wine in their bowls. He then invited everyone to eat beef, saying, "These are the best beef ribs. Sprinkle them with a little salt, and add some wild onions and garlic from beyond the Great Wall. They are an unbeatable delicacy. These are all miraculous blessings from the heavens."

Everyone had already smelled the tempting aroma of the beef, and being both tired and hungry, they picked up the beef from the tray in front of them and began to eat.

……

The Imperial Horse Keeper (家马令) was an official title established during the Han Dynasty, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master of the Palace (太僕). He was in charge of the emperor's private horses and also raised milk horses to produce mare's milk for making mare's cheese. (Yan Shigu's commentary states: Mare's cheese tastes like wine, and drinking it can also cause intoxication, hence it is called "horse wine.")

—From the "Table of Officials and Ministers, Part 1, Book of Han"—specifically, the section on the Grand Master of the Palace.