Chương 570: 548. The Start Of a Domino's Effect In The North
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As the Xiongnu forces began their retreat from the Wall, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai wasted no time in deploying their agents to keep the pressure on Tugeh. Their spies spread rumors throughout the Xiongnu encampment, stoking fears about Batu's and Zolgar's influence and suggesting that perhaps Tugeh had lost the favor of their gods. As whispers of discontent spread, the Khagan's authority was chipped away even further.
In the eastern Xiongnu lands, the situation was dire. The Xianbei invasion had not only destabilized the region but had also created a ripple of fear among the eastern tribes. Chieftain Bogdag's defeat was a humiliating blow, and many Xiongnu tribes found themselves scattered, with some even pledging fealty to the Xianbei rather than risk further destruction.
Those who still resisted were desperately calling for reinforcements from the coalition tribes, hoping that Tugeh would send aid to stave off the relentless Xianbei advance and reclaim what they had lost, whether it was land, riches, or kin.
Back in the Northern Xiongnu coalition, Tugeh Khagan and his remaining forces rode northward at a grueling pace, their horses kicking up dust clouds as they pushed through vast stretches of open steppe. Every day counted, and they knew they could not afford any delays.
Tugeh hoped that returning to the coalition's main camp would provide a temporary refuge where they could restock their dwindling supplies and recruit new warriors to strengthen their numbers. However, their journey north also served as a painful reminder of their recent losses.
The 200,000-strong force that had once marched so confidently toward the Han borders had now been reduced to a mere 100,000, their ranks thinned by the 3 costly battles they had lost against the Han. The spoils they had expected were nowhere to be found, and the toll this campaign had taken weighed heavily on the warriors' spirits.
As they passed through villages and encampments, Tugeh Khagan attempted to restore his standing among the chieftains, hoping to rekindle their loyalty and trust. He spoke of honor and resilience, of how their ancestors would expect nothing less than for them to rebuild and rise again.
But his words didn't do much and fell flat on the ears of the chieftains; the spark of admiration he had once commanded seemed to have dimmed. Many chieftains had grown disillusioned with Tugeh's leadership, seeing him not as the steadfast Khagan they once respected but as a leader who had led them into a costly and directionless conflict.
Among the chieftains, Batu and Zolgar continued their quiet campaign of subversion. They rode at the edges of the group, whispering in low tones to those who would listen, suggesting that the Khagan had lost his touch, and that perhaps the gods were no longer with him.
They fanned the flames of discontent, pointing to Tugeh's repeated failures and casting doubts about his ability to navigate them out of this crisis. Over time, their influence grew, and many chieftains began looking to them as potential leaders who might restore the Xiongnu's strength.
In the midst of this internal power struggle, Tugeh remained largely unaware of the depth of Batu and Zolgar's machinations. He believed that his chieftains were merely shaken and would eventually return to his side. Yet as each day passed, the gulf between him and his people widened, the whispers of dissent growing ever louder.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Great Wall, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai watched the developments with satisfaction. Their spies reported the deteriorating situation within the Xiongnu ranks, confirming that Tugeh's authority was hanging by a thread.
The two advisors quickly relayed the news to Xiahou Dun, Li Dian, Yu Jin, Ma Teng, and Han Sui, who had long awaited an opportunity to reclaim the lands outside the Wall. With the Xiongnu forces depleted and embroiled in their own internal conflicts, the Han advisors saw this as the perfect moment to launch a decisive campaign.
"Now is the time," Guo Jia said, addressing the assembled commanders. "With Tugeh's forces scattered and his leadership faltering, we have the opportunity to take back what was once ours and secure the northern steppe. The Xiongnu's attention is divided between us and the Xianbei, who have already made significant gains in the east. If we strike swiftly and decisively, we can reclaim our lands and expand our hold on the steppe."
Xi Zhicai nodded, adding, "Tugeh Khagan is vulnerable. His chieftains are turning against him, and even his own allies question his decisions. By launching our campaign now, we not only regain our territory but also destabilize him further, pushing the Xiongnu closer to the edge of total collapse."
The commanders agreed, and a plan was swiftly drawn up. They decided to leave 50,000 troops stationed along the Great Wall to maintain their defenses and secure the border.
With the remaining 150,000 troops, Xiahou Dun, Li Dian, Yu Jin, Ma Teng, and Han Sui would lead an all-out offensive beyond the Wall, focusing on reclaiming key territories and seizing valuable resources scattered across the steppe. Their objective was clear: press the advantage, weaken the Xiongnu's position, and carve out a permanent foothold in the northern territories.
As Cao Cao's army advanced beyond the Wall, the Xiongnu's coalition found themselves besieged on multiple fronts. In the east, the Xianbei under their chieftain Kuitou continued their relentless push, capturing tribe after tribe.
Kuitou's forces, well-organized and ruthless, spread across the eastern territories, displacing Xiongnu clans and forcing them to either submit or flee.
Those Xiongnu who resisted fought bravely, but without reinforcements, they could only do so much. They sent urgent pleas to Tugeh Khagan, but Tugeh's forces were miles away, struggling to regroup, and his chieftains were too preoccupied with their own internal disputes to mount a swift response.
By the time Tugeh's coalition managed to return to their main camp, the situation was already spiraling out of control. Word had spread of the Han army's renewed campaign, with reports of villages and outposts north of the Wall falling one by one.
The news further shook the Xiongnu forces, and Tugeh's authority continued to erode as more chieftains began to voice their doubts openly.
In response to this rising dissent, Tugeh called a meeting with the remaining chieftains, hoping to rally them around a common cause. He stood before them, his gaze stern and resolute, attempting to project an image of strength.
"Our people are under attack from all sides," he declared. "The Han seek to reclaim our lands, and the Xianbei are tearing through our eastern tribes. But we are the Xiongnu, descendants of warriors who have never been defeated. We will not bend to these enemies."
Batu, seeing an opportunity, rose to his feet, addressing the gathering with a calm yet commanding voice. "Khagan, we respect your strength and your will to fight. But you must see reason. We are too few, too scattered. If we continue fighting both the Han and the Xianbei, we will lose everything. Perhaps it is time to consider alternatives that ensure the survival of our people."
Zolgar added, "Our priority should be the defense of our homeland. We cannot afford to be stretched so thin. The Han have a disciplined and well-equipped army, and the Xianbei are relentless in the east. If we fight them both, we are doomed."
Several chieftains murmured in agreement, nodding at Batu and Zolgar's words. Tugeh's eyes flickered with frustration as he recognized the shift in his followers. He had hoped to inspire them with a bold call to arms, but it was clear that his own people were increasingly leaning toward Batu's more pragmatic approach.
For Tugeh, the choice was bitter. He understood that the chieftains' loyalties were shifting, but he could not bring himself to accept defeat or submission. Instead, he clung to the last remnants of his authority, issuing orders to gather the coalition's remaining forces to drive back the Xianbei in the east. His hope was that by defeating the Xianbei, he could restore some of his lost prestige and rally his people against the Han.
But Batu and Zolgar, who had already planted the seeds of dissent, quietly prepared for Tugeh's inevitable downfall. They knew that the Khagan's decision to focus on the eastern front would further weaken their forces, leaving the Han an open path to capture the northern territories.
In private, Batu and Zolgar began speaking with trusted chieftains about a potential coup, hinting that a new leader could guide the Xiongnu to a stronger, more secure future.
On the steppe, Xiahou Dun and his fellow Han commanders advanced with calculated precision. Their forces moved through Xiongnu villages and encampments with ruthless efficiency, capturing supply caches and fortifying their new holdings. The Han troops were well-supplied and organized, a sharp contrast to the increasingly fragmented Xiongnu forces they encountered.
Every victory further emboldened the Han soldiers, and morale soared as they saw the Xiongnu's resistance begin to crumble. The chieftains who had once pledged their lives to Tugeh Khagan now scattered, some defecting to the Han in hopes of mercy, while others joined Batu and Zolgar's faction, seeing them as the last viable leaders.
As Tugeh led a final, desperate campaign against the Xianbei, his forces exhausted and morale shattered, the Han's strategic advances continued unchecked. Village after village fell under Han control, and soon, the entire southern part of the Xiongnu steppe was dotted with Han encampments and watchtowers.
In Xiapi, the news of the unfolding events on the northern frontier reached Lie Fan and Jia Xu through their network of Oriole agents. These spies had been deployed across the land, meticulously tracking the movements and developments within the Xiongnu and Cao Cao forces, carefully observing every ripple caused by Tugeh Khagan's deteriorating rule and the expanding Han campaign.
Each detail was gathered and presented in reports that painted a vivid picture of the chaos gripping the steppe. Lie Fan and Jia Xu read these updates intently, digesting the implications with shrewd anticipation.
As they studied the reports, a strategy began to form in their minds—a plan not just to counter the Xiongnu but to use this turmoil to achieve their broader ambitions. They shared a subtle, unspoken understanding: the fractured state of the Xiongnu and Cao Cao's recent military movements was the opportunity they waited to shift the power dynamics in the north.
"Perhaps," Lie Fan said, looking up from the reports, "it's time to escalate this border incident between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao into something more… significant."
Jia Xu nodded in agreement, his calculating gaze fixed on the horizon. "If we can maneuver them into a full-scale conflict, both sides will be preoccupied, leaving us with the advantage. Cao Cao and Yuan Shao have long harbored animosities; all they need is a spark to ignite them into action. And while they exhaust themselves, we shall be ready to strike at the opportune moment."
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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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