funbook-pk Chapter 1009 Murong's ambition to become independent
Chapter 1009 Murong's ambition to become independent
The atmosphere in Murong Xuepo's tent was solemn. A fast horse from the Tuoba tribe, which had just surrendered, had arrived with news that they were being harassed by Han troops. This news was like a bombshell, sending shockwaves through the camp and leaving Murong Xuepo stunned. "How is this possible?" Murong Xuepo frowned, his face filled with disbelief. "How could the Han army suddenly appear on this vast grassland? They haven't set foot on this grassland in ages."
However, the Tuoba envoys who came to seek assistance swore solemnly and described the nightmarish scene with horror: "Great Khan, those Han troops were like evil spirits and a gust of wind, sweeping through our tribe in an instant. They killed everyone they saw, without distinguishing between young and old. Our entire tribe was immediately plunged into a sea of blood."
Murong Xuepo, through his own tactics, had successfully wooed several tribes, greatly increasing his power and becoming a match for the Xianbei King Kebi. He knew that to maintain his position, he must protect these newly allied tribes. Thus, he acted decisively, swiftly assembling the Murong army and preparing to march immediately to the Tuoba tribe to engage the Han army.
At that moment, a snowstorm raged outside the tent. A soldier hurried in with a report: "Great Khan, Kebineng's envoy, Zuoguli Prince Barutu, requests an audience. He is waiting outside the tent in the wind and snow."
Murong Xuepo was slightly startled, a thought flashing in his eyes. He wondered why Kebi Neng had sent an envoy at this critical moment. Was he seeking peace, or perhaps some other conspiracy? After a brief silence, Murong Xuepo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. He said, "Let him in." He wanted to see what Kebi Neng was up to.
Barutu struggled through the raging snowstorm and entered Murong Xuepo's tent. Instantly, a gust of icy air rushed in with him, causing the relatively warm air inside to stagnate. His heavy fur coat was covered in glistening icicles, which clashed with each step, making a crackling sound.
Murong Xuepo reclined on a tiger-skin chair, gazing coldly at Barutu, his eyes filled with scrutiny and disdain. Barutu bowed, but before he could speak, Murong Xuepo launched into a fierce attack, his tone thick with sarcasm. "Hmph, who did I think it was? It's Kebi Neng's Zuoguli King, Barutu. Why, in this freezing weather, instead of staying at the royal court, have you come to me? Could it be that Kebi Neng has come up with some 'brilliant' idea again, taking us Xianbei warriors to our deaths?" His words cut through the icy air of the tent like sharp blades.
Barutu was well aware of Murong Xuepo's resentment towards Kebineng, but at this moment, he had no time to dwell on the contempt in his words. He suppressed his anxiety, took a deep breath, and tried to keep his voice steady. "Right Wise King, the situation on the grassland is now perilous. The Han army led by Ma Chao has penetrated the hinterland like a hungry wolf, burning, killing, and looting, leaving behind devastating suffering wherever they go. You and I both know that if we don't join forces to resist, the entire Xianbei will face catastrophic disaster." Barutu spoke earnestly, his eyes revealing deep concern.
Upon hearing this, Murong Xuepo suddenly stood up from his chair, strode to Barutu, glared at him, his face full of anger and sarcasm: "Join hands to resist? That's easy to say! Back then, Kebi Neng insisted on going to war against the Han Dynasty and ignored everyone's dissuasion. What was the result? How many Xianbei men died in a foreign land, and the vitality of the grassland was greatly damaged. Now he wants us to clean up the mess for him. Hasn't he always been very capable? Why, is he afraid now?" Murong Xuepo's voice echoed in the tent, with unquestionable anger.
Barutu faced Murong Xuepo's angry gaze without flinching. Instead, he took a step forward and said anxiously, "Right Wise King, the past cannot be changed, but we cannot let the tragedy continue. Now Ma Chao is our common enemy. If we continue to fight each other because of past grudges, the Xianbei will surely be destroyed. I implore you to put the overall situation first, put aside your prejudices, and join us in fighting against the Han army." Barutu's voice trembled slightly with anxiety, and his hands clenched unconsciously.
Murong Xuepo snorted coldly and turned back to his chair. After sitting down, he stared at Barutu, as if weighing something. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he shouted outside the tent, "Bring in the people from the Tuoba tribe who are asking for help!"
Not long after, the envoy of the Tuoba tribe walked into the tent with a look of panic on his face, his body still covered with snowflakes. In this tense atmosphere, he lowered his head and his body trembled slightly.
Murong Xuepo pointed at the envoy, looked at Barutu with sharp eyes, and said loudly: "Barutu, it's not that I, Murong Xuepo, don't give you face, nor do I deliberately want to offend Kebineng. I, Murong Xuepo, have never wanted to see endless internal fighting among the Xianbei, but look at this situation! The Tuoba tribe had just surrendered to me, but it suffered such a brutal blow at the hands of the Han army. If I put everything aside and cooperate with you at this time, how can I explain to these tribes under my command? How can I appease their panicked hearts? Tell me, what should I do in this situation?" Murong Xuepo spread out his hands, his eyes showing helplessness and a hint of questioning, staring at Barutu, as if to find the answer from his response.
Barutu looked at Murong Xuepo, then at the trembling Tuoba envoy beside him, and he understood that Murong Xuepo's concerns were reasonable. But time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to slack off. He took another deep breath, trying to calm himself, and slowly said: "Right Wise King, the Tuoba tribe's plight is truly heartbreaking. But think about it: if we don't put aside our past grudges and unite to fight the Han army, the Han army will surely defeat us one by one. By then, not only the Tuoba tribe, but other tribes, including your Murong tribe, will find it difficult to escape disaster. Only if we work together to repel Ma Chao, your protection of the various tribes will be remembered by everyone, and your prestige on the grassland will surely rise to a higher level. In this way, the various grassland tribes will unite as one, and why worry about not being able to regain their former glory?" Barutu's words were sincere and heartfelt, and he looked at Murong Xuepo with a firm gaze, trying to impress him with these words.
For a moment, the tent fell into a deathly silence, the only sound outside being the howling wind and blizzard that buffeted the tent. Murong Xuepo was lost in thought, a hint of hesitation in his eyes as he mentally weighed the pros and cons of cooperating with Kebineng. Barutu stood quietly by, not daring to breathe, awaiting Murong Xuepo's decision. The Tuoba envoy, meanwhile, kept his head bowed, even breathing cautiously in the oppressive atmosphere.
Murong Xuepo's face was solemn. After thinking for a moment, he waved his hand and said to Barutu and the envoy of the Tuoba tribe, "You go down and wait first. Let me discuss it with my confidants." Upon hearing this, Barutu and the envoy retreated respectfully. Only Murong Xuepo and his confidants were left in the tent.
"Khan, in my opinion, the most urgent task is to gather troops and kill those Han people. They are acting recklessly on our grassland, which is really too much!" The speaker was one of Murong Xuepo's confidants, the fierce general Ulihan. He had a generous personality and was always known for his bravery. At this moment, he clenched his fists and his face was full of anger.
Tuya, the counselor standing by, frowned slightly, shook his head and said, "Ulihan, we can't be rash about this. The Tuoba tribe is asking for help at this time, and if we ignore it, it may discourage the newly surrendered tribes. I think we should send troops to support the Tuoba tribe first, stabilize the people's hearts, and then make long-term plans." Tuya is meticulous and always considers problems carefully and thoroughly.
At this time, another confidant, the older Bater, slowly spoke: "Great Khan, the Han army is now powerful. If we fight alone, it will be difficult to win. Kebi Neng sent envoys to ask for peace. Why not put aside your prejudice and cooperate with him for the time being? After all, the lips and teeth are cold, and the best strategy is to work together to repel the Han army." Bater was mature and prudent, and had a high prestige in the tribe.
Inside the tent, everyone expressed their opinions and argued endlessly, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense. At this moment, the young general Suhe, who had been silent until then, suddenly stood up and shouted, "Great Khan, since the Xianbei are constantly strife-ridden, and Kebi Neng is struggling to win over the people, why not seize this opportunity to unite several tribes and declare independence? This way, we can break free from Kebi Neng's control, establish our own faction, and avoid being embroiled in this endless struggle."
As Su He spoke, the tent fell silent, and everyone's eyes turned to Murong Xuepo. Murong Xuepo's heart stirred; Su He's words hit the mark. For years, he had been ambitious, wanting to break free from Kebineng's rule, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity.
However, just as Murong Xuepo fell into deep thought, almost ready to be persuaded, Agula, the Murong clan's great shaman, who had been standing silently in the corner, slowly spoke. Agula was over seventy years old, his hair white, but his eyes were exceptionally deep, revealing a mysterious power. He swept his gaze over the crowd and said slowly, "Great Khan, everyone, we must not act rashly at this moment. Back then, when Huo Qubing conquered Wolf's Lair, our Xianbei ancestors suffered a heavy blow and were deeply weakened. If we are divided by internal strife again, it will only give foreign enemies an opportunity to exploit. The Han army led by Ma Chao is already upon us. Only by uniting against the enemy can we protect our Xianbei from destruction. Do you wish to see the shame of Wolf's Lair being closed by the Han army again?"
Agula's words struck like a hammer, resonating deeply within everyone. Murong Xuepo's heart trembled, and the impulsiveness that had surged within him cooled slightly. He was caught in a dilemma. On the one hand, there was the long-cherished opportunity for independence; on the other, there was the Great Shaman's warning and the existential crisis facing the Xianbei.
For two long days, the atmosphere in Murong Xuepo's tent was tense. His confidants each held their own opinions, and arguments rang out one after another. Murong Xuepo repeatedly weighed the pros and cons of each side, his mind a tangled mess of thoughts.
On the one hand, Sukh's proposal for independence was extremely tempting to him. He had lived under the shadow of Kebi Neng for many years and had long yearned for absolute rule of his own, free from his constraints. If he could seize this opportunity to unite several tribes and declare independence, it would undoubtedly be the perfect opportunity to realize his ambition.
But the words of the great shaman Agula also echoed in his ears like a warning bell. He knew very well that the Xianbei were now facing a powerful foreign enemy, the Han army led by Ma Chao. If they could not unite internally, they would surely repeat the mistakes of their ancestors and suffer a devastating disaster.