Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1008: Xianbei’s predicament and lack of prestige

Inside the spacious and luxurious Xianbei royal tent, Kebi Neng gazed grimly at the raging snow outside. Like a raging wild beast, the wind whipped the blizzard into the tent, pounding it with a heart-pounding roar. Messengers from various tribes shuttled back and forth, reporting to him the damage caused by the snowstorm.

Recalling last year's invasion of the Han Dynasty, they had hoped to plunder Han territory and expand their tribe's strength, but they had returned empty-handed, losing so many elite troops in vain. This had already left Kebi Neng heartbroken, and now civil war had broken out on the grasslands, with tribes fighting each other for territory, resources, and supreme power. The chaos was even more frustrating.

However, before one problem was resolved, another arose. Just as he was brooding over these troubles, he heard that the Xiliang people had dared to attack the grasslands. This news was like thunder, exploding in Kebineng's ears and instantly igniting his anger. He trembled with rage, his eyes gleaming with anger, and he roared, "How dare these Xiliang people bully us Xianbei people like this!"

In anger, Kebi Neng made a prompt decision and decided to send his son Ulanda to lead his elite troops to intercept and kill the Xiliang army immediately.

Kebi Neng sat in the royal tent, his thoughts drifting back to the moment his son, Ulanda, had left. Ulanda's face was steely, his eyes ablaze with the fire of battle. His resolve betrayed him, as if he were determined to crush any Xianbei enemy who stood in his way. He knelt on one knee, his voice firm and powerful, "Father, rest assured. I will keep the Xiliang people off the grasslands and protect the Xianbei's honor!" Kebi Neng gazed at his son, a mixture of relief and worry. He patted his shoulder and warned, "My son, be careful. Ma Chao of Xiliang is no pushover." Ulanda nodded gravely, rose, and strode out of the royal tent, his figure gradually disappearing into the drifting snow.

The image of Ma Chao recurred in Kebi Neng's mind like a lingering nightmare. He remembered his first encounter with Ma Chao, on a vast grassland. Mounted on a black steed, Ma Chao charged into the Xianbei army like a bolt of black lightning. He wielded a spear, its tip gleaming coldly. Every swing of his spear sent blood splattering, and wherever he struck, Xianbei warriors fell. The scene was a scene of hell. Ma Chao's bravery and the ferocity of the Xiliang cavalry plunged Kebi Neng's army into chaos. Despite the Xianbei warriors' fierce resistance, Ma Chao's fierce attacks gradually crumbled their defenses. The Xianbei army suffered heavy losses in that battle, including the loss of many of the tribe's elite warriors. This instilled in Kebi Neng a deep fear of Ma Chao.

Now, facing the dire situation of Ma Chao's return to the grasslands, Kebi Neng was terrified. He recalled the scene of discussing countermeasures with the tribal leaders. They looked at each other in shock, all in awe of Ma Chao's reputation. He knew that the army led by his son Wulanda alone might not be able to stop Ma Chao's advance.

Ke Bineng, filled with worry, made another decision, sending the newly appointed Prince of Zuoguli, Barutu, to contact the Right Wise Prince, Murong Xuepo. Barutu was known for his wisdom and composure, and Ke Bineng had high hopes for him.

Before leaving, Kebineng tightly grasped Barutu's hand and said solemnly, "Barutu, the grassland is in imminent danger. The Han army led by Ma Chao has invaded like wolves, wantonly trampling on our land. You must convince Murong Xuepo to stop the infighting. Tell him that if the Xianbei tribes don't unite and drive out the Xiliang people, the entire grassland will face catastrophe."

Barutu knelt on one knee and responded firmly: "Don't worry, Khan, Barutu will live up to your trust." Then, he led a carefully selected team of envoys and embarked on a journey in the wind and snow.

However, the roads had been blocked by heavy snow for some time, and news from the outside world seemed to be blocked by the thick ice and snow. Kebineng waited anxiously in the royal tent for news of Barutu and his son Ulanda, but nothing came. He was deeply depressed and could only drink cup after cup of kumis to try to ease his anxiety.

Outside the royal tent, a howling wind and blizzard raged, threatening to devour everything in the world. Ke Bineng gazed at the snow outside, wondering, "Has Wulan Da encountered Ma Chao? Can he withstand the onslaught of the Western Liang cavalry? And how are Barutu's negotiations with Murong Xuepo progressing?" This string of questions weighed on him like a heavy stone, suffocating him.

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted outside the tent, the sound of a large number of soldiers. Kebineng, who had been sitting in the tent feeling bored, rose immediately upon hearing the noise and hurried to the door. Outside, he saw heavy snow falling and a howling wind. His son, Ulanda, scimitar-slung at his waist, his body covered in snow, was struggling towards the tent.

Ke Bineng's heart tightened, and he hurried forward to ask, "Wulanda, how is the battle going?" Wulanda's face was filled with resentment, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Father, we only fought them once, and Ma Chao was as cunning as a loach, running away at the first provocation."

Kebi Neng frowned and pressed, "How many troops do they have?" Ulanda replied, "In my opinion, no more than 30,000 or 40,000." Kebi Neng looked puzzled and said, "If there are only 40,000, and they are unfamiliar with the area, how could you not catch up?"

Wulanda sighed helplessly and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know. They don't play by the rules at all. They wander aimlessly across the grasslands. Each of them is equipped with two or even three horses, their backs slung with pickled beef and other food, and they move at an extremely fast speed. Whenever they encounter a tribe on the grassland, they burn and kill them, leaving no one alive. They are rampaging across this vast grassland, and it will be difficult for us to encircle and suppress them. Furthermore, this sudden heavy snowfall has made it difficult for our soldiers to march in the wind and snow. If we continue to pursue them, I'm afraid we will all freeze to death in the vast snow. So I have no choice but to lead the team back."

Amidst the howling wind and blizzard, Kebi Neng stood in the royal tent, gazing out at the snow-covered grasslands, his heart filled with worry. He knew that the Han army led by Ma Chao had already invaded the grasslands, like a ferocious beast, ready to bring devastating disaster to the Xianbei tribes at any moment. The most urgent task now was to unite the various tribes on the grasslands and annihilate this invading enemy; otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Father, this is easier said than done!" Ulanda said with a wry smile, his face filled with helplessness as he interrupted Kebineng's thoughts. "The grasslands today are no longer the same as they were more than a year ago when we were united in resisting the foreign enemy. Now the people of each tribe are in panic and in disarray. If you issue an order saying that a large number of Han troops are coming and calling on all tribes to join forces to encircle and suppress them, they will all respond on the surface, but in reality, each one is pursuing their own selfish agenda. No tribe is willing to actually send troops. They all cling to their own pitiful 'three mu of land', fearing that their territory will be occupied by others if they send troops."

Ke Bineng's brows furrowed tightly, his eyes revealing anxiety and anger. He pressed on, "Isn't there a tribe that understands the greater good and is willing to fight for the survival of the entire Xianbei?"

Wulanda lowered his head slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then decided to tell the truth: "Father, the situation is worse than you can imagine. The tribes are now rife with internal conflicts. The larger tribes are fighting openly and secretly for more resources, territory, and power, and the war is constant. Smaller tribes are struggling to survive in the cracks between various forces, and they will fight to the death for the slightest benefit. This chaotic situation makes it impossible for us to gather an effective force to fight against the Han army."

After a pause, Wulanda gritted his teeth and continued, "In fact, some tribes are dissatisfied with you, father, and have spread many slanderous remarks about you privately."

"What?" Ke Bineng's expression suddenly changed, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes. "What did they say?"

Wulanda looked troubled, but he mustered the courage to speak. "Some say that if it weren't for you, my father, insisting on leading the army against the Han in order to eliminate dissidents and consolidate your own rule, the Xianbei wouldn't have suffered such devastating losses, and so many brave Xianbei warriors wouldn't have perished. The Han's reputation is now known like thunder, and we Xianbei tremble in fear at the mere mention of Han soldiers. Some tribal leaders have openly claimed that only the Wang Ting and Right Wise King Murong Xuepo's tribes were spared from significant impact during this expedition, while the other tribes suffered heavy losses. They believe that if Right Wise King Murong Xuepo hadn't held back before the expedition, 'wisely' conserving his strength, they wouldn't have ended up in this situation today. They even say that your current prestige is far inferior to Murong Xuepo's, and question whether you still have the ability to lead the entire Xianbei..."

Kebi Neng, hearing these words, trembled with rage, his eyes blazing with fury. He fiercely kicked the low table beside him, sending it tumbling across the tent with a dull thud. "These short-sighted fellows!" Kebi Neng cursed furiously. "They only see the immediate gains and losses, but fail to see that Ma Chao's army is now at the gates, and the entire Xianbei is facing a crisis of life and death! They are so selfish, disregarding the greater good. Don't they understand the principle of the lips and teeth being cold?"

After saying that, Kebineng paced back and forth quickly in the tent, his mind in a tangled mess, thinking hard about how to resolve the conflicts between the various tribes and re-consolidate the strength of the Xianbei people to resist Ma Chao's fierce attack and save the entire Xianbei from danger.

Ke Bineng was terribly anxious, pacing back and forth, muttering to himself, "Now all hope lies with Barutu. It all depends on whether he can convince Murong Xuepo. If that guy still doesn't understand the principle of "lips and teeth are cold", then our Xianbei will be in real trouble and will be destroyed. I just hope he can understand this, so that the Xianbei may still have a chance of survival."

Wulanda's face was filled with indignation, and he couldn't help but say, "Father, are you still counting on Murong Xuepo? He's been restless ever since he returned from the Han border. If it weren't for his ambition, trying to win over tribes everywhere and expand his power, how could the grasslands be so divided? Most of the chaos on the grasslands today is caused by him. How can you still have hope in him?"

Kebineng stopped and looked at Wulanda solemnly. He sighed and said, "I know exactly what he's thinking. But the situation is critical now. Ma Chao's Han army has penetrated deep into the heart of the grasslands. It's difficult for our royal court to resist them alone. If we can convince Murong Xuepo to put aside his grudges and work together, we may still have a chance of victory. Otherwise, our Xianbei tribes will be defeated one by one by the Han army and ultimately destroyed."

Wulanda shook his head helplessly and said, "But father, Murong Xuepo is extremely ambitious and only cares about his own interests. Will he really agree to cooperate with us?"

Ke Bineng gazed resolutely at the snow outside the tent, as if trying to penetrate the vast ice and snow and see a way out for the future. He said slowly, "No matter how slim the hope is, we must give it a try. This is our only chance right now. As long as there is a slight possibility, we cannot give up."