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As the shouting grew louder, the tent flap suddenly flew open. Several warriors barged in, out of breath and eyes wide with alarm. The sudden entrance caught everyone's attention, and a hush fell over the group. "My Khagan!" one of the warriors gasped, dropping to his knee. "Grave news from the east—the Xianbei have invaded our lands!"
A murmur of shock swept through the room. Tugeh Khagan sat bolt upright, his weary expression turning into one of dread. "What do you mean, the Xianbei have invaded?" he demanded, his voice barely concealing the rising panic.
"The Xianbei attacked our eastern borders," the warrior continued. "Chieftain Bogdag fought valiantly but was defeated. The Xianbei have taken many tribes, plundered our lands, and taken our people as slaves. The eastern tribes are scattered, my Khagan. They cry for help!"
The news hit the tent like a thunderbolt. The surviving chieftains, already strained and bitter, erupted in a fresh wave of rage. Some cried out for vengeance against the Xianbei, while others turned their anger back toward Tugeh, questioning his ability to lead, and blaming him for overextending their forces against the Han, leaving the east vulnerable.
Tugeh Khagan clenched his fists, his knuckles white as he struggled to maintain his composure. His mind raced, torn between disbelief and fury. The Xianbei invasion was a new threat he hadn't anticipated, and with his forces decimated at the Wall, he realized he had little strength left to repel this new enemy. Worse, he could sense the loyalty of the chieftains slipping, as their gazes hardened and their whispers grew louder.
Across the tent, Batu and Zolgar shared a brief, knowing glance. The Han's ploy had succeeded beyond their expectations, and now they were watching the Xiongnu leader's last vestiges of authority unravel. Batu took a small step forward, clearing his throat.
"My Khagan," he said, loud enough for all to hear, "perhaps it's time to reconsider our priorities. We've weakened ourselves battling the Han, yet they stand stronger than ever, and now the Xianbei exploit our weakness in the east. We must rebuild our strength if we're to defend our lands effectively."
Zolgar joined in, his voice sympathetic yet sharp. "Batu is right. We must fortify what we have left rather than continue fighting on two fronts. This war has cost us dearly. If we do not tend to our own tribes and defend our remaining territories, there may be nothing left to fight for."
The chieftains murmured in agreement, and several nodded, seeing Batu and Zolgar's words as a logical call for caution. The two continued, subtly shifting the blame for the losses onto Tugeh and reinforcing the notion that his leadership had brought them to ruin.
"Khagan, you have led us with courage, but perhaps it is time to let the younger warriors take the lead in protecting our people. We cannot afford more of these losses," Batu said, his voice edged with challenge. He kept his gaze steady on Tugeh, watching as the Khagan's confidence faltered.
Tugeh's advisors attempted to defend him, but their words were drowned out by the mounting voices of the chieftains, many of whom were openly calling for a shift in leadership.
Some suggested retreating northward, regrouping far from Han territory, while others called for a temporary truce with the Han to focus on the Xianbei threat. The notion of a truce seemed to deepen the schism, with some chieftains regard it as an insult to their honor and others seeing it as their only means of survival.
Tugeh Khagan, feeling his grip on power slipping away, raised his hand for silence. The tent quieted, though tension simmered in the air. "I understand your frustrations," he said, his voice heavy with resignation. "I misjudged the Han. But we are Xiongnu! We do not flee like cowards before a storm. I will not submit to the Han nor abandon our people to the Xianbei. We must hold strong."
But the chieftains' murmurs revealed their dissatisfaction. Batu seized this moment to speak again. "My Khagan, perhaps you might reconsider your stance. We all respect your wisdom and strength, but in times of desperation, one must be willing to adapt. For the sake of our people, perhaps a truce with the Han may buy us the time needed to strengthen our eastern defenses."
Tugeh glanced at Batu with suspicion but could see the tide of opinion turning against him. He was losing control, and he knew that any attempt to command them by force could lead to open rebellion within his ranks.
Meanwhile, Batu, Zolgar, and the chieftains aligned with them continued to stir doubts, each offering their support for Batu's suggestion of peace with the Han.
They carefully painted the truce as a temporary, tactical retreat, a way to regroup and recover. The chieftains, wearied from recent losses, slowly found the idea of a truce appealing, if only as a temporary solution to stabilize their fractured tribes.
Seeing that Batu and Zolgar were slowly gaining support from the chieftains, Tugeh Khagan raised his hand, commanding silence in the tent. His gaze swept across the room, and he saw the doubt in his followers' eyes. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he hoped would rally his people one last time.
"My brothers," he began, his voice deep and resonant, "you speak of truces and retreats, of abandoning our fight. But do you not remember the blood of our ancestors, the unyielding spirit that flows through our veins? The Xiongnu have never bent to the will of others, nor have we fled from any storm that sought to crush us. Our gods and ancestors are watching us, even now. If we make peace with the Han, if we yield to the Xianbei without a fight, we will be forever dishonored."
The chieftains exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the fervor in his words but also hearing the impracticality of his defiance. Tugeh continued, his tone growing even fiercer, trying to ignite the warrior spirit he believed still lingered within them.
"Our ancestors fought and bled to protect these lands, and they await us in the steppes of paradise beyond. Do we want to face them as cowards, as those who would rather compromise than defend our people? To call for a truce is to dishonor their memory, to invite shame upon ourselves and upon our children. I say we fight! We show our gods and ancestors the true Xiongnu spirit. We battle both the Han and the Xianbei if we must!"
A stunned silence filled the tent as the chieftains and his advisors stared at him, shocked by the sheer intensity of his conviction. Some looked moved by his words, while others, including Batu and Zolgar, struggled to keep the disbelief off their faces.
They were beginning to see Tugeh as a man gripped by delusion rather than wisdom. His fervent call to battle seemed more like a descent into madness than a calculated decision, especially considering their weakened state.
Tugeh, sensing the hesitance in the crowd, pressed on. "I know that times have been hard. I know that we have lost much. But our honor is worth more than these hardships. Our ancestors demand that we rise again, that we do not cower before these enemies, no matter how many they are."
At this, Batu interjected, his voice careful and composed, feigning respect as he sought to bring Tugeh's speech back into the realm of reason. "Khagan, we all respect the strength of your spirit, and your love for our people is unquestioned. But perhaps there is wisdom in a tactical retreat. Let us fall back from the Great Wall for now, gather our remaining forces, and focus on repelling the Xianbei first. If we regain control over our eastern lands, we can return to face the Han with renewed strength."
Tugeh eyed Batu with suspicion, aware that his authority was being subtly challenged but also recognizing the sense in the suggestion. Yet he was too deeply invested in his pride to fully accept it. Still, he couldn't ignore that many of his chieftains were now visibly wavering, drawn to the prospect of Batu's plan.
Batu saw the Khagan's hesitation and pressed his advantage. "A strategic withdrawal does not mean defeat. We must rebuild, unify, and fortify ourselves for the long struggle ahead. The Xianbei have taken our people, and plundered our lands. If we do not act now, there will be nothing left of the Xiongnu to defend."
Tugeh's jaw clenched, his gaze dropping momentarily. He could sense the eyes of his chieftains upon him, reading the disappointment and desperation etched on their faces. He needed to make a decision that would appease their doubts without completely surrendering his own pride. After a moment, he exhaled, nodding reluctantly.
"Very well," he said, his tone laced with resignation. "We will withdraw from the Great Wall. We will regroup and focus our strength against the Xianbei. But know this," he added, raising his voice with renewed passion, "this is not a retreat out of fear. It is a step back to gather ourselves for a stronger blow. We will return, and when we do, the Han and the Xianbei alike will feel the wrath of the Xiongnu."
The chieftains nodded in subdued agreement, visibly relieved that Tugeh had finally relented. Batu and Zolgar exchanged subtle smiles, satisfied that their subtle influence had shifted the Khagan's stance.
To the other chieftains, it appeared as though Batu's counsel had brought balance to an otherwise unhinged strategy, yet only Batu and Zolgar knew the full extent of their plan. They intended for Tugeh to exhaust his forces further against the Xianbei, ultimately weakening his rule beyond repair.
The Khagan issued orders to begin the withdrawal, instructing his chieftains to rally their warriors and prepare for the move east. Despite the Khagan's bravado, a heavy atmosphere hung over the tent as each chieftain considered the grim reality they now faced.
News of the Xiongnu retreat quickly reached Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai. They had predicted this outcome, understanding that Tugeh's pride would demand either a last stand or a temporary withdrawal to avoid immediate humiliation.
Cao Cao's advisors exchanged glances of satisfaction, their calculations unfolding exactly as planned. Now that the Xiongnu would be occupied with the Xianbei in the east, now their forces had the freedom to fortify their position along the Wall and prepare for the eventual push further into Xiongnu territory.
"We have set the stage well," Guo Jia remarked, his voice filled with quiet satisfaction. "With the Xiongnu forced to fight on two fronts, they will weaken themselves further. Tugeh's authority is already compromised, and soon his own people will begin to see him as unfit to lead."
Xi Zhicai nodded, his mind already turning toward the next phase. "This rift between the chieftains will only deepen as the Xiongnu face defeat after defeat. Our spies within their ranks will ensure that Batu and Zolgar continue to sow discord, turning Tugeh's own men against him. Soon, the Xiongnu will be fractured from within."
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.
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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