Starting from mid-June, Bingzhou began to rain for days again.
When the first drop of rain fell, all the Xianbei nobles couldn't help but look up to the sky.
There seems to be one more reason to withdraw troops.
Wei Xiong and Ji Dan were sitting in the tent, looking at the gloomy and irritable Tuoba Yulu without saying much.
As the political representatives of the farming forces in Tuoba Dai Kingdom, they are a standard new party.
Wei Xiong's uncle Wei Cao Wei Deyuan was a native of Daijun, and he was actually the same family as the ancestors of the Wei family in Anyi - "During the Han and Ming Dynasties (Wei Hao), he adopted Confucianism from Daijunzheng, and died in Anyi, Hedong. When he dies and is buried, his descendants will live in his family."
The Anyi Wei family is a branch of the Daijun Wei family, but now its size and influence far exceed that of the group of people who stayed in their hometown.
Wei Cao and Wei Xiong once led more than ten people from their clan and township party (Ji Dan was among them) to defect to Tuoba Yiyi in the northern part of Zhendai County and the grassland behind the mountain, saying that they wanted to recruit Jin people for their own use.
Later, Tuoba Yiyong used troops many times, and they came up with more plans——
In the seventh year of Yuankang (297), Tuoba Yi crossed the desert, attacked the Mobei grassland, and surrendered many tribes. Then he sent troops from the Mobei grassland and marched westward for five consecutive years. By the first year of Yongning (301), Tuoba Yi The western boundary of Xianbei expanded to the homeland of Wusun.
Four years later, Tuoba Yi died and Tuoba Yilu succeeded to the throne.
If Tuoba Yilu carried out substantial political reforms for the country, his elder brother Tuoba Yiyong made great achievements in martial arts.
Counting the nominally surrendered and vassal tribes, there are more than ten thousand miles between the east and west boundaries of the Tuoba Dai Kingdom, spanning the Monan and Mobei grasslands, laying the foundation for Tuoba Xianbei - in the entire tribal alliance, except for Tuoba In addition to the clan, there are a total of seventy-five tribes with different surnames, including Zhedig, Yifu, Hegu, Helan, Dugu, Qiulin, Xubu and Poliuhan.
Of course, this is only the territory of the tribal alliance. Just like the Dahe Clan Alliance and the Yaonan Clan Alliance (Yelü Clan and other eight tribes) in later generations of the Khitan, the Tuoba clan is just the leader of this tribe, and they can go on expeditions and defend against enemies together, but Normally people have a high degree of freedom, but they might migrate away one day.
The territory actually controlled by the Tuoba clan only reached the Shuofang area to the south of Yinshan Mountain, and a little further to the north of Yinshan Mountain.
But the alliance is not useless, at least they are nominally the subjects of the Tuoba clan. To put it bluntly, if the Northland is unified one day, and the Central Plains sends a large number of troops to attack the northern and southern capitals, Tuoba Xianbei will still have grasslands to run to.
Run far away, wait for the chaos in the Central Plains, and then find an opportunity to fight back - this is also their historical trajectory. After Fu Jian mobilized 300,000 people to destroy the country, Tuoba Xianbei escaped into the grassland, and a few years later he cautiously returned The land came back because the former Qin court didn't care about them at all.
Wei Cao was granted the title of Marquis of Dingxiang and served as Assistant Prime Minister.
Wei Xiong and Ji Dan were able to advise Zan Hua and lead troops in battles. They were highly valued by Tuoba Yi Yiyuan, and he was appointed as a general. They conquered various parts of the grassland and became famous. For their merits, they were awarded the title of Yunzhonghou and Loufan. Marquis - It is worth mentioning that these are all titles of the Jin Dynasty, because Dai Gong is also a minister of the Jin Dynasty in name. Except for Wei Cao's Marquis of Dingxiang, who is Sima Tengbiao, the titles of the latter two are Tuo Ba Yiyi asked for it from the Jin court.
After Tuoba Yilu came to power, Wei Cao died of illness, but Wei Xiong and Ji Dan were still in important positions and served as left and right assistant ministers respectively.
After Tuoba Pugen came to power, they were lured by Liu Zun and took 30,000 Hu and Han people south to defect to Liu Kun.
Later, Liu Kun was defeated by the Xiongnu, and both of them rushed back to Daijun.
Later, Tuoba Yulu came to power and proclaimed himself acting king. Since the two of them had made greater contributions, their crimes were pardoned, but they were not given official positions.
Wei Xiong and Ji Dan are not young anymore. Now they are just the "Yangzhen" (three nobles) of Tuoba Dai Kingdom. They have a high status but no real power. They only serve as advisers and give suggestions to Tuoba Yulu.
, may not be accepted yet. And this seems to be a reflection of the new party's status within Tuoba Dai Country today.
Of course, despite Mrs. Qi's efforts to win over the new party, Tuoba Yulu relied on the old party to come to power, but as for these two people themselves, haha, they may not be inclined to the new party or the old party.
This is the secret of politics.
Individuals are individuals, political forces are political forces, and people are good at disguising.
"Is there any news about Gu Xiu Tiao Desert Jinqiu?" After a long silence, Tuoba Yulu sat cross-legged behind the case and asked.
Wei Xiong and Ji Dan continued to be silent.
"Your Majesty, those people from Hexi will not come." Nu Gen from the Helan tribe also sat cross-legged on the ground and said: "The Hexi Bald Hair tribe has been very close to those people in the past few years. They can win over those who can, but they can't.
The people who are trying to win over us are no longer obedient. Don’t worry about it. For the sake of the alliance we swore in the past, it would be nice to live in peace."
Hexi Xianbei and Tuoba Xianbei are actually related.
In the past, after Tuoba Liwei (Tuoba Yiyong, Tuoba Yilu's grandfather) inherited the position of tribal leader, his brother Tuoba Pigu was not angry, so he led his tribe to move westward, calling himself the "Baofa tribe" ("Tufa tribe").
"Tuoba" (different transliteration of "Tuoba") is the most powerful branch among Xianbei in Hexi.
The Bald Hair Tribe was once powerful. Bald Hair Tree Function (the grandson of Tuoba Pigu) repeatedly defeated the Jin army and killed four frontier officials in a row. Later, he was defeated by Malong in the Western Expedition. After so many years, he gradually became stronger again.
He actually wanted to compete with the Tuoba clan for the influence of the Xianbei tribes in Hexi.
The "desert cavalry" Tuoba Yulu wanted to mobilize was a general term, mainly referring to the Xianbei tribe's troops and horses in the Hexi Corridor and Alxa outside the territory controlled by the Tuoba clan.
Twenty years ago, it was conquered by Tuoba Yiyi, and they swore an alliance to join the tribal alliance and surrender to the Tuoba clan.
Unexpectedly, after only twenty years, I am no longer very obedient.
Especially when Yi Lu conquered Yanmen County ten years ago and immigrated from various places, including many Hexi tribesmen, they were obviously quite submissive at that time.
"If they don't come, I can—" Tuoba Yulu was interrupted mid-sentence.
A Wuhuan nobleman stood up and shouted: "If they don't come, we won't fight. We will go home and farm."
The leader of the Youji people looked left and right, his eyes twinkling.
"Qi Gui, what are you talking about?" Liu Lugu stood up suddenly and said angrily: "In the past, when Yi Yi was in power, Yi Lu was obsessed with the title of the Jin Kingdom. He had no strong cavalry, but he did not go south to attack the city and capture the territory, thus missing the opportunity.
Today, the Jin Dynasty exists in name only, treacherous ministers are wielding power, people's hearts are not attached to them, and the king is marching southward, what's wrong with that?"
Qi Gui had already stood up and was about to leave the tent. After listening to Liu Lugu's words, he sneered and said, "I had no objection to going south back then. But things are different now. When the opportunity is gone, it is gone. It doesn't make sense to a fool like you.
"
Qi Gui is a Wuhuan people with a relatively deep Chinese culture and one of the backbone members of the New Party. His tribe farms and grazes near Dongmugen Mountain.
In the past, Yi Yi and Yi Lu repeatedly helped the Jin Dynasty, defeating Liu Yuan, Liu Cong, and Liu Can's ancestors and grandsons. They also helped Liu Kun regain Jinyang once.
Each time they went south and captured large tracts of land, they ended up withdrawing their troops. The reasons were very complicated. Liu Lugu's infatuation with the titles conferred by the Jin Dynasty was a reason that cannot be ignored.
To put it bluntly, the Jin Dynasty still has its power, and the older generation has not yet changed its thinking. Unexpectedly, the Jin Dynasty has already become a powerful external force - not only Tuoba Xianbei, but also Murong Xianbei. The Murong family provided food relief during the Youzhou flood.
, Emperor Hui of the Jin Dynasty rewarded Murong Xin with brocade robes and the like, as if he had received a treasure, and he still wants to be canonized by the Jin Dynasty.
But the new generation doesn't buy it that much, and Tuoba Yulu is a typical example.
Qi Gui believed that the Tuoba Yilu era was a good time, and he was not wrong.
At that time, the Chinese army in Luoyang was almost exhausted, and the Central Plains was in chaos. The Xiongnu took advantage of the situation to rise and conquer a large area of ​​Jin. And this group of Xiongnu was at a great disadvantage to Xianbei in terms of record. When they regained Jinyang, they chased Baili,
After inflicting heavy losses on the Xiongnu, what if they captured Jinyang at that time?
But Tuoba Yilu actually left. Before leaving, he only ordered Wei Cao to lay stones in Dagancheng (southwest of today's Wenshui County) to commemorate his merits. He also left some Xianbei soldiers and horses to help his sworn brother Liu Kun, and told them to obey Liu Kun.
Command, is it too far away?
The charlatanism is too strong! This is not how national affairs are conducted.
Now, Qi Gui doesn't think it's a good time to go south, because Henan and Hebei have been unified, and the situation is different.
"Why don't you go south now and wait until the Shao thief usurps the Jin Dynasty?" Liu Lugu stared at Qi Gui and asked.
Tuoba Yulu sat there with an ugly expression, tacitly allowing his son-in-law to attack Qi Gui and others.
Qi Gui had already walked to the door. Hearing this, he turned to look at Liu Lugu and sneered: "In my opinion, we should understand the situation as soon as possible. Instead of thinking about the south, it is better to look at the north. The tribes in Hexi are already not very obedient, and Mobei
Are the tribes obedient? I think so
He is no longer obedient. The king is touring various places, only reaching Yinshan Mountain in the west and Dongmugen Mountain in the east. It is better to go further. You can go to Mobei to have a look, and Hexi to be shocked again. After all, twenty years have passed. Yan
That’s all!”
After saying that, he walked out of the camp carelessly.
After Qi Gui left, several more people got up and left with them, but they did not give Tuoba Yulu any face.
Before someone left, they looked at Wei Xiong and Ji Dan.
The two of them were like puppets, expressionless.
Liu Lugu secretly took a look at Tuoba Yulu's face and found that it was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he was suddenly shocked.
"Your Majesty." Wang Yue, who was sitting opposite Liu Lugu, cupped his hands and said: "It's rainy and rainy again today, which is not conducive to the cavalry's movement. The leaders of the tribes are not very united, and their timidity has turned timid. There are still enemy cavalry scurrying near the important area of ​​​​Beidu.
, have not yet been wiped out. With all these things going on, it is better to stop the army and redeem He Na to make peace with the old people."
"You think so too?" Tuoba Yulu's voice was not loud, but it was cold and extremely disappointing.
Wang Yue was born in the Wang family in Guangning, later moved to Daijun, and now lives in Shengle.
His sister, Mrs. Wang, is Tuoba Yulu's wife, so Wang Yue is considered one of Yulu's confidants. He said this, which made Yulu very disappointed.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty." Wang Yue continued: "The sending of troops this time has already dampened morale and caused disunity between the top and bottom. It may be disadvantageous to continue fighting. It is better to withdraw the troops for the time being, reorganize the tribes, and then send envoys to Chang'an to repair the Xiongnu.
In the future, the Xiongnu troops will march out of Tongguan and Puban, and the king will send his troops out of Caochengchuan, Pingcheng, and Daijun. They will attack together in several directions. There is still a chance."
Daijun is one of Tuoba Yulu's old lairs and has been in charge for many years.
The tribes west of Ruyuan (Guyuan, northeast of Zhangjiakou) also have close relations with him.
Wang Yue means to reorganize the old land of the Eastern Lord and the Central Lord and suppress the tribes in the Western Lord's old land. Then even if they lose this time, they can still keep their position. In the era of Tuoba Xianbei's three divisions, the Eastern Lord occupied
In the grasslands to the west of Ruyuan, the central lords occupied part of the grasslands north of Daijun and further north, and the rest to the grasslands outside the Great Wall in the west of Yinshan were under the command of the western lords.
Tuoba Yilu was once a master in the western region, and he was the strongest in this area. Only the eastern and central regions could compete with him.
After Tuoba Yulu heard this, he was silent for a long time and asked: "Shao Xun is willing to stop the army?"
After saying this, he looked at Wei Xiong and Ji Dan.
"Your Majesty." Wei Xiong saluted and said: "Last year, there were heavy floods in Hebei, and more than ten counties were hit, causing heavy losses. This year, it seems that there will be continuous rain again. Although there may not be heavy floods, floods are unavoidable. Hebei has continuous floods.
Two years of disaster, and many years of fighting before, may be unsustainable. If this rain continues to fall, war will inevitably break out in Hebei, and refugees will be everywhere. The people just want to live, and if Shao Xun does not save them, no matter how great the kindness is, it will be useless.
There are cases of hungry people attacking cities and killing county guards. If there is chaos in Hebei, Yuwen, Murong and other troops may not sit idly by. Shao Xun is also in a difficult situation. He actually has no intention of taking the initiative to go north."
The implication is that if you hadn't led the army south this year, this war wouldn't have been fought at all.
Tuoba Yulu believes what Wei Xiong said, because the Wei family is a wealthy family in Dai County and is well-informed. He knows very well about the affairs of Jizhou and Youzhou, and his credibility is very high.
"Summon the envoy Shao Xun." Tuoba Yulu said with a serious look on his face.
Soon a guard came to deliver the order.
After a while, Pei Zhan, who had joined the army, was led into the tent.
He saw a few people leaving the big tent on the road. Judging from their clothes and demeanor, they were obviously high-ranking nobles from Xianbei, and he immediately got the idea.
After entering the tent, Pei Zhan looked at Tuoba Yulu who was sitting cross-legged, bowed and said, "See the Duke."
There was silence in the field.
Tuoba Yulu suddenly smiled and said, "Where is my useless disciple?"
"Detained in Jinyang." Pei Zhan said.
"Let him come back and let the two sides stop fighting." Tuoba Yulu said: "I am a simple man from the north of the desert, and I keep my word."
Pei Zhan smiled and said, "He is Mrs. Qi's beloved son. He is a rare creature, so how can we let him go?"
Tuoba Yulu was displeased and said, "Shao Xun is stingy too. Do you still need to ask for gold and silver?"
Liu Lugu scolded from the side: "Our country has no gold and silver, but we have desert cavalry, Yinshan strong cavalry, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Henan's armor. Is it possible to claim back to Huna?"
Pei Zhan shook his head and laughed.
Tuoba Sanbu stretches for more than a thousand miles from east to west. To the south of the desert, it has the inside and outside of the Great Wall in its hands, and it has a population of one million.
Generally speaking, adult males over the age of fourteen account for more than 30% of the total population. He can't be wrong when he said "hundreds of thousands of soldiers", but these are just strong men. Is it possible that you can still send them all? Can you send them all?
Fight?
"When Dai Gong went south, he captured Xinxing and more than ten thousand people from Taiyuan. If he can be released, he might be able to exchange for He Na." Pei Zhan set out the conditions.
Exchanging one person for ten thousand people made Tuoba Yulu and others look very unhappy.
Wei Xiong and Ji Dan looked at each other and sighed secretly.
Even if it were to be changed back, although He Na was alive, he was actually dead - a social death.
Xianbei has no need for cowardly people. Carrying shame on one's body is even more despised by others. That's the end of Tuoba He.
"If you succeed or fail, you can decide with one word." When Pei Zhan said this, there was a loud thunder outside the tent and heavy rain.
Tuoba Yulu's face moved slightly, as if he thought of something, his lips opened, and finally he gritted his teeth and said, "Yes."
Pei Zhan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Under lightning, thunder, and pouring rain, let alone cavalry, infantry is actually not easy to fight.
This year's battle is a completely unwarranted disaster, and it would be better to end it as soon as possible.
Liu Lugu looked at Tuoba Yulu and then at Pei Zhan, feeling a little downcast.
Chapter completed!