章 541: 519. Northwestern Movement
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Cao Cao's gaze turned cold. "Very well, keep an eye on both Liu Bei and Sun Ce. I want detailed reports on both of their movements. If they make a significant move, we will begin our preparation to act." With that, the plans were set in motion. As the intrigue in the Jing and Yang Provinces continued to unfold, the northern frontier was about to become a new battleground. Cao Cao's attention, now split between internal politics and external threats, would shape the fate of the realm in ways no one could yet foresee.
On the other hand, Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Li Dian were deep in preparations for their campaign to reinforce Ma Teng and Han Sui on the northwestern frontier. The tension was palpable as they readied 100,000 of Cao Cao's finest veterans.
These soldiers, hardened through years of conflict under Cao Cao's banner, were seasoned in battle and capable of facing fierce adversaries. However, this would not be a typical campaign.
The Xiongnu were a warlike people, accustomed to harsh conditions and skilled in the art of mounted warfare. They had grown up in a world where conflict was a way of life, and now, they were uniting in a common cause to resist the encroaching forces of the Han.
Xiahou Dun, known for his fierce loyalty and martial prowess, stood at the heart of the preparations. His eyes gleamed with determination as he watched the soldiers ready themselves for the long march ahead.
Yu Jin and Li Dian, both accomplished generals in their own right, were busy overseeing the logistics, ensuring supplies and weapons were in order. They knew that once they crossed the Great Wall, the terrain would be unforgiving, and the Xiongnu would not give them an easy fight.
As they prepared for the march, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, arrived at the encampment. Both men had decided to accompany the force and stay at Tianshui, a strategic where the army passed through, where they would coordinate the campaign for Xiahou Dun, Ma Teng, and Han Sui from there.
Their arrival brought an air of calm to the camp. Guo Jia, with his sharp intellect and intuitive understanding of warfare, had a reputation for seeing outcomes that others missed, while Xi Zhicai's steady presence and strategic mind ensured that every move was calculated and precise.
"We ride into a storm," Xiahou Dun said to the two advisors as they met to discuss their plans. "The Xiongnu are not like the warlords we've faced before. They fight with speed, and they know the land better than we do. What's worse, they're uniting under one banner."
Guo Jia nodded. "The Xiongnu have always been divided, but now, with Ma Teng and Han Sui pressing them from the south, they see a common enemy. If they gather in strength, they could pose a serious threat to our frontier."
"We'll need to be cautious," Xi Zhicai added. "Ma Teng and Han Sui's forces are capable, but they are stretched thin across the northern plains. Our reinforcements will bolster their ranks, but the key to victory will be disrupting the Xiongnu's unity."
Xiahou Dun frowned. "We'll crush them on the battlefield, but how do you suggest we divide them before the fighting starts?"
Guo Jia's lips curled into a slight smile. "There are always divisions in any alliance, especially among the Xiongnu. Their tribes are proud and independent. If we can exploit their internal rivalries, we might be able to prevent them from fully uniting."
"The key is intelligence," Xi Zhicai said. "We need to gather more information on their leaders, their factions, and their motivations. If we can turn one tribe against the others, or even bribe a few leaders, we can weaken their coalition."
"Leave that to us," Guo Jia said, turning to Xiahou Dun. "You focus on leading the army. We'll handle the intrigues."
Satisfied with the plan, Xiahou Dun nodded. "I'll trust you with that. But be quick. Once we're across the Wall, every day we wait is another day the Xiongnu grow stronger."
The preparations continued at a relentless pace. The 100,000 soldiers, divided into several corps, were well-equipped with a mix of infantry, cavalry, and archers, all veterans of countless battles.
They would march first to Tianshui, to drop Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai there, then head toward the Great Wall where Ma Teng and Han Sui awaited them, and from there, they would push further into the northern plains to confront the Northern Xiongnu tribes coalition.
As the army set out, the mood was somber yet determined. These were not the lush, fertile lands of central China, but the harsh, barren expanses of the northern frontier. The winds howled across the desolate plains, and the towering peaks of the Great Wall loomed in the distance, a stark reminder of the danger that lay beyond.
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai rode with the army, but their minds were already focused on the next phase of the campaign. Once they reached Tianshui, they would need to make contact with their agents embedded within the Xiongnu tribes, using every trick in their arsenal to destabilize the coalition.
Meanwhile, far to the north, beyond the Great Wall, a different kind of preparation was taking place.
In a vast, sprawling plain, countless tents were erected, their colorful banners flapping in the wind. The banners bore the symbols of the many tribes that made up the Xiongnu nation—symbols of wolves, horses, and eagles, all representing the fierce independence of these nomadic people.
But now, for the first time in many generations, these tribes had gathered under a single banner, uniting in a council to confront the threat posed by Ma Teng and Han Sui.
At the center of the encampment stood the largest tent, adorned with a black banner that bore the mark of the Xiongnu's newly appointed coalition leader, a man named Tugeh Khagan. He was a fierce and cunning warrior who had risen to power by uniting the various tribes through both diplomacy and strength of arms. Now, he stood at the head of a vast coalition, determined to drive the Han forces out of the northern plains.
Inside the tent, Tugeh Khagan sat with his most trusted advisors and tribal leaders. The atmosphere was tense as they discussed their strategy.
"We cannot allow the Han to continue their advance," Tugeh said, his voice low but filled with authority. "The two men named Ma Teng and Han Sui have already taken the lands of our southern brothers. If we do not act now, they will push further north, into our heartlands."
A tribal leader, his face weathered and scarred from years of battle, spoke up. "The Han have strong armies, but they do not understand our ways. We know the land better than they do, and our horsemen are unmatched."
Tugeh nodded. "Yes, but we cannot rely on that alone. They must be sending reinforcements—an army of countless men that surely much more compared to us. We must be prepared to face them in open battle."
Another advisor leaned forward. "We should lure them into the plains. Let their army stretch thin, and then strike with our horsemen. We'll cut off their supply lines and starve them out."
Tugeh considered this. "That could work, but we must also be wary of their strategies. The Han are always clever and are known for their cunningness, something that our ancestors have passed down for many generations. We cannot underestimate them."
The tribal leaders murmured in agreement. They had fought the Han before, but this was different. The Han were no longer a distant threat—they were now on their doorstep, and their presence was growing stronger by the day.
"We must send out scouts," Tugeh commanded. "I want to know the movements of every Han soldier on the plains. And we must strengthen our alliances. The more tribes we can bring under our banner, the stronger we will be."
As the Xiongnu prepared for war, uniting more tribes under their banner, Xiahou Dun's army began its march toward Tianshui. For the first few weeks, the pace was grueling. The soldiers, though seasoned, felt the strain of the long trek across rugged terrain, far from the more familiar, fertile lands of central China. The harsh northern wind bit at their faces, and the roads became less forgiving as they moved deeper into the frontier.
Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Li Dian led from the front, pushing their men forward with quiet determination. Each knew the stakes—if the Xiongnu coalition was not broken soon, it could threaten the entire northwestern region, destabilizing Cao Cao's control and opening a pathway for invasions into the heart of the Han territories. Their force of 100,000 veterans was one of the most formidable armies in the land, but even they understood that the Xiongnu would not be easily crushed.
After about a month and a half of relentless marching, they finally reached Tianshui, a vital strategic city located near the frontier.
It was here that Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai would part ways with the main army to begin their work coordinating intelligence and strategy for the coming campaign.
Upon arrival in Tianshui, the city bustled with activity. Soldiers, traders, and local officials moved about, preparing supplies for the forces headed to the Great Wall. The city itself was heavily fortified, with high walls and guarded gates, a necessary defense given the threat of raids from the northern tribes.
Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai set up their base of operations in the governor's residence, where they immediately began to receive reports from their agents embedded within the Xiongnu tribes. Both men worked tirelessly to assess the situation, pouring over maps, reports, and intelligence on the Xiongnu's movements.
Xi Zhicai addressed a group of gathered officials and military officers. "Our primary objective here is to destabilize the Xiongnu coalition before they fully unite. Tugeh Khagan has managed to bring many tribes together, but their unity is fragile. We must exploit any internal divisions we can find."
Guo Jia nodded in agreement. "We've already received reports of rivalries between certain tribes, especially those that have been traditionally independent. The key is to turn these rivalries into open conflict. If we can weaken their alliance from within, our army will face a far less cohesive force on the battlefield."
To that end, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai began reaching out to their network of spies and informants, sending agents north to make contact with disaffected tribal leaders. The plan was to offer bribes, promises of autonomy, or other incentives to sow distrust among the tribes. Some tribes, particularly those on the outskirts of the coalition, were already weary of Tugeh Khagan's dominance and might be persuaded to break away or even join the Han cause.
While Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai stayed behind at Tianshui, Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Li Dian, along with their army, pressed on toward the Great Wall. Their journey would take another few weeks as they navigated the treacherous terrain that separated Tianshui from the frontier.
As the army approached the Wall, the soldiers grew more tense. They knew they were marching into hostile territory, where the Xiongnu could strike at any moment. The Great Wall loomed ahead, a massive structure that had long stood as a barrier between the Han and the nomadic tribes of the north. However, in recent years, the Wall had been less effective as the Xiongnu became more organized and brazen in their raids.
On the other side of the Wall, Ma Teng and Han Sui awaited the reinforcements with growing impatience. Both warlords had spent years fighting on the northern frontier, battling the Xiongnu and other tribes that threatened the Han's borders. Their forces had been successful in subduing much of the Southern Xiongnu, but they were now stretched thin, and the threat of a unified Northern Xiongnu coalition was a daunting one.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 32 (199 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 1325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 951 (+20)
VIT: 613 (+20)
AGI: 598 (+10)
INT: 617
CHR: 96
WIS: 519
WILL: 407
ATR Points: 0
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