Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 511 Xiongnu: I am also part of the Chinese nation!

The Xiongnu people migrated westward.

It's something that's been around for a long time.

When the Xiongnu were powerful
Their warriors once traversed the Western Regions on horseback, reaching the vicinity of the Caspian Sea, where they demanded wealth and people from the local Saka and Wusun people.

When the Han Dynasty rose to prominence, the Xiongnu suffered heavy blows, and "replacing losses in the south with gains in the west" became the primary choice for the Chanyu (rulers of the Xiongnu).

But just as the Central Kingdom is the center of the world...
The grasslands where the Xiongnu lived were also the best grasslands in the world.

In spring and summer,
Here, there is enough rain for the herders to grow, and the grass grows as far as the eye can see.

Several winding rivers lie nestled in the embrace of the grassland, providing water for the herdsmen and their livestock who come from nearby.

In autumn
The cattle and sheep have grown fat and strong, and the herders can enjoy their harvest to their heart's content, just as the people of the Central Plains rejoice over a bumper harvest.

However, after harvesting the grain, the farmers in the Central Plains would huddle at home, prepare thick clothes, and get ready to spend the winter that was about to come.

After eating and drinking their fill, the herders on the grasslands continue to busy themselves driving their cattle and sheep to the winter pastures where they can be sheltered from the cold wind.

If the wind and snow are stronger
The warriors of the tribe would then mount their steeds, take up their bows and arrows, and head south to plunder the people of the Central Plains who had stockpiled a year's worth of grain.

Or perhaps for survival,

Or perhaps it was to satisfy the desires of the Xiongnu chieftains.

of course,

Whether or not they can win is another matter.

all in all,
Relying on this land, and illuminated by the brilliance emanating from its neighbors,

The abundant water, heat, and nutrients of the southern Mongolian grasslands allow the herders who live there to grow stronger, more powerful, and more robust than those in other places.

after all,

Only a strong physique is worthy of being a match for the gentlemen of the Xia Dynasty, and only by being able to withstand the brilliance of these gentlemen can one not only avoid being scorched to death, but also produce additional photosynthesis.

Through the constant challenge of these regularly refreshed opponents on the grasslands, virtuous men are able to maintain their martial prowess and caution, preventing them from falling into the predicament of "a country perishes if it has no external threats."

And of course,
Xinxia is an exception.

The "toxicity" of the Sindhu people is quite powerful.

Even though the gentlemen there still follow the teachings of their ancestors and dare not abandon their innate "destiny," they cannot escape being dragged down by the people of India. Their martial arts have deteriorated to the point that even the Qin people, now embroiled in internal strife, cannot bear to watch.

Fortunately, the Sui Dynasty didn't care about this.

All it needs to do is guard the Yangguan Pass, the gateway, and ensure that it can defeat the Sindhu people.

In summary,

The Xiongnu people were reluctant to leave the grasslands where they lived.

Even as the Han Dynasty grew stronger, and some tribes gradually migrated westward, the main body of the Xiongnu, led by the Chanyu, remained in this region.

During the reign of Emperor Yuan of Han,

Zhizhi Chanyu harbored the idea that "if I can't beat the Han people, I'll go outside and kill the barbarians and savages from beyond the borders," and once tried to migrate westward to establish a state.

unfortunately,

His efforts were too effective.

The Han court believed that he would threaten its Protectorate of the Western Regions, so it dispatched Chen Tang there, making him another protagonist in the story of "Those who offend the mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished".

The failure of that attempt made the Xiongnu withdraw their reach to the west, realizing that no matter how far they fled, they would not escape the destruction of the Han people, and that they were destined to have a love-hate relationship with them until the very end.

So when they heard that Wang Zhi planned to lead his tribe westward...

His ministers all advised him, “The power of the Southern Alliance in the Western Regions is growing stronger. After refusing the Han envoys, they have proclaimed themselves the rulers of the Western Regions… If we go west, I’m afraid they won’t give way.”

"What will we do when we are blocked from the front by Jiaonan and pursued from behind by the Xiongnu chieftain?"

Wang Zhi stroked his beard and replied angrily, "Staying here means certain death, while heading west offers a chance of survival!"

“We can follow the route taken by Zhizhi Chanyu back then, go through the Yanran Mountains, pass through the Wusun Kingdom and reach the west, bypassing Jiaonan.”

But his ministers were still worried and wanted to dissuade him.

Regarding migration,
The orthodox Xiongnu people showed resistance.

Despite having half-Han Chinese ancestry and yearning for Sinicization, Wang Zhi was extremely resolute.

He forcefully passed the decision and quickly organized a force, including cattle, sheep, and servants.

The ministers had no choice but to know that even if they did not follow Wang Zhi, they would inevitably face the ruthless and suspicious Chanyu's sword.

then,

They had no choice but to bite the bullet, don their longbows and scimitars, and join the clandestine migration.

When the Xiongnu Chanyu learned of this,

He was initially furious at Wang Zhi's betrayal, but then clapped his hands with delight and said, "This must be because he fears my power!"

"I had just stopped him from becoming the Left Wise King, and he fled far away in fear!"

His men asked, "Should we give chase?"

After thinking for a moment, the Chanyu said, "There's no need for that."

“Itochiya is only one of the enemies. My strength cannot be diverted because of this coward.”

He desperately wanted his son to succeed him, so that he could keep power in his own branch of the family.

But his father was so energetic that he fathered many brothers for him.

His brothers, who had served as Chanyu, also left behind their own descendants.

Upon careful calculation,

He also has many younger brothers and nephews to fight against.

The practice of succession by younger brother, which had lasted for decades, had become a strange "ancestral rule" that needed to be upheld by some elderly Xiongnu people.

They are bound to become another obstacle for the ambitious current Chanyu.

in this way,

Since Master Yituzhiya has shown signs of retreating and being timid, there is no need for him to worry about it anymore.

Just right,

The departure of that bastard also took away many people within the Xiongnu who were inclined towards the Central Plains.

This was beneficial for Huduershidaogaoruodi Chanyu to strengthen his power and revive the Xiongnu.

To know,
During Wang Mang's reign, he bestowed upon his elder brother, who succeeded him, a title filled with contempt: "Xiao Chanyu."
This was naturally a great insult to Huduershidaogaoruodi Chanyu.

Therefore, after he came to power, he greatly suppressed the pro-Han forces within the Xiongnu, and he especially hated his brother Wang Zhi, who had Han blood.

Now that he can get rid of two burdens in one go, the Chanyu is overjoyed and would not waste his strength to pursue them.
Wang Zhi wanted to lead his men back to fight him, so that the fisherman would ultimately benefit, leaving the Chanyu speechless with envy.

Only the nephew of the Chanyu, the Right Rizhu King, was furious about this.

He privately told his subordinates:
“If succession is from elder brother to younger brother, then the Right Guli King should be the heir; if succession is from father to son, then as the eldest son of the former Chanyu, I should also be the successor.”

"Now that the Right Guli King has fled, I'm about to become the subject of the Chanyu's torture!"

Shortly thereafter,

As expected, the Chanyu sent people to undermine his power.

Since King You Rizhu couldn't take a trip like his uncle, he could only choose to endure it.

Wang Zhi, who was traveling westward, still encountered obstacles from the Jiaonan people, who dominated the Western Regions, even though he deliberately chose to travel around to the north.

With the Silk Road as a vital artery in Jiaonan, it was natural not to allow the Xiongnu to freely venture westward.

Wang Zhi was worried about the Xiongnu chieftain's pursuit from behind and did not want to clash with them, so he sent his son to negotiate.

Before leaving,

Wang Zhi also made his son wear Han Chinese clothing and instructed him to treat Jiaonan as a friend according to Han Chinese etiquette.

“Your mother is also Han Chinese, and I have arranged for scholars from the Central Plains to be your teachers. Compared to the Xiongnu, you are more like a Han Chinese.”

"I suppose Jiaonan will be able to lower their guard against us after seeing your refined and gentle demeanor."

The son received orders and, carrying treasure, went to visit the Jiaonan general who was blocking his way.

Upon seeing his Han Chinese appearance and attire, the other party indeed found him to be very easygoing.

After accepting the gift, his expression became even more friendly. He even asked, "Why do you want to go to the West?"

Wang Zhi's son said, "Because the Xiongnu Chanyu does not tolerate our loyalty to the Han people and despises the Han people."

“My father asked his ancestors for directions and received guidance to travel west.”

The general was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

He remembered the dream he had had before.
There are also the sacrificial rules that the people of the Western Regions follow, which originated from the Central Plains.

After pondering for a while, he told the other person, "Since there is divine guidance, I should not disobey it."

Wang Zhi, the original Right Guli King of the Xiongnu, was not a purely kind and weak person.

He couldn't compete to become the elder brother of the Chanyu, but leading his men to charge into his own territory would still be very lethal.

Having already accepted the money, he couldn't push his luck any further and drive the person to the brink of suicide.

Wang Zhi was then allowed to pass and travel directly to Wusun.

But when facing the Wusun,
Wang Zhi's attitude was no longer as gentle as before.

He said to his subordinates:
"The feud between the Xiongnu and Wusun has lasted for many years."

"Moreover, the relationship between the Wusun people and the Central Plains is not as strong as mine."

Several generations of his ancestors were princesses of the Han Dynasty.

How much of the Han bloodline does the Wusun Kunmi of today possess?
If it weren't for the fact that they were still within the Western Regions and had once maintained friendly relations with the Central Plains, the ugly-looking Wusun people would have been reduced to a mixed-race barbarian group from outside the region.

Miscellaneous Hu

It is a new term that emerged after the virtuous men of the Chinese states explored the world and discovered more barbarian tribes.

After all, people have varying degrees of closeness and distance.

Gentlemen naturally had different attitudes toward barbarians.

The neighboring barbarians who had intermarried with the Chinese were the legitimate "familiar barbarians" whose names and origins could be recorded in the annals of the Chinese civilization.

Those further away, whose names are merely heard and whose power is weak, are simply miscellaneous barbarians unworthy of a gentleman's memory.

That status
Compared to the Mo people, who were driven all the way to the north by the Xia people and are still being beaten to this day, they are even more inferior.

During the Qin people's conquest of the Western Sea, countless non-Han peoples were eliminated.

The weak grass and trees were crushed by it, becoming just another stroke in the "barbarian" record in history.

Wang Zhi held some of the barbaric customs of the Xiongnu in contempt, let alone those of the Wusun.
then,

He launched a ruthless attack on the Wusun, plundered the wealth of several of their cities, and after eating and drinking his fill, he continued westward with satisfaction.

Since the reign of Emperor Yuan of Han, the Wusun had been plagued by intermittent internal strife, never having had a moment of peace. Faced with this sudden attack, they were naturally powerless to resist and could only watch as the Xiongnu wiped their mouths and left with a flourish.

Crossing the Wusun, we arrived beyond the Western Regions.
Wang Zhi chose to stay in the Hezhong region, venting the anger he had suffered at the hands of the Xiongnu Chanyu on the nearby countries and tribes.

Naturally,
The losers who come from the East can always get what they want from the West.

After seizing some land and cities from Kangju and Dayuan respectively, King Zhi summoned his subjects and sons to discuss the establishment of a new state.

He said, "I am not very satisfied with the Xiongnu system, and I hope to enjoy lasting wealth and prosperity with everyone here."

"Therefore, it is very necessary to establish a country and implement a sound and stable system."

His pure-blooded Han Chinese son sensed his father's intention and suggested, "The fact that the Han Dynasty could rise again after twenty years of decline shows that its system was brilliant and stable."

"My father is a descendant of Ninghu Eshi, and the grandson of the Emperor of Han. There is absolutely no problem in following his example!"

Wang Zhi stroked his beard and smiled with great pleasure upon hearing his words.

He then added, "But what should the country be called?"

The name Xiongnu

For Wang Zhi, it was a love-hate relationship.

He knew from a young age how much criticism and suffering his mother, who had lost her husband, endured within the tribe.

He himself was often bullied by his older brothers because of his bloodline.

When a boy grows up,

Unable to escape this shadow, Wang Zhi could only seek some comfort through his mother's descriptions of the Central Plains.

At this point,

His successful journey westward to this point shows that he is still under his mother's protection.

After stopping his travels and letting the exhaustion take hold, Wang Zhi felt an even stronger longing for his mother and for the Central Plains he had imagined.

Furthermore, he was not the Xiongnu Chanyu, and among the tribes he led were many Han Chinese who had taken advantage of the turmoil in the Central Plains to plunder from the border regions.

Therefore,
He did not want to use "Xiongnu" as the name of his country.

"We can use the name 'Qi'."

His beloved and very intelligent son suggested again:
“I once obtained a copy of Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian from a Han merchant who was traveling through the grasslands.”

"After reading it, I learned that my Xiongnu people are descendants of the Xia dynasty, specifically descendants of Chunwei, the son of Jie of Xia."

"King Wu of Zhou revived the extinct and continued the lineage, and enfeoffed the descendants of the Xia dynasty in Qi... Based on this, we can naturally establish the state of 'Qi'!"

Records of the Grand Historian
It is the culmination of the efforts of a certain historian during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han.

Because the compilers poured even more effort into the book after being forced to be castrated by Emperor Wu, Emperor Wu once again ordered restrictions on its circulation.

But merchants who can travel between the grasslands and Han-dominated areas always have connections and resources.

When encountering juniors who are interested in localization, they are not afraid to enlighten them and guide them towards the future.

And in the face of such a momentous event, prior wisdom begins to emerge.

Wang Zhi, who thought the matter was feasible, readily approved the proposal.

then,

The State of Qi, which had disappeared from the Central Plains for too long, was suddenly reborn in a place near the Sui Dynasty in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, and lived a second life.

As for the Sui Dynasty

The emperor, having just received news of the Xiongnu's arrival in Transoxiana from the previous urgent reports, was still thinking to himself:
Could there be a similar strange entanglement between the Yuezhi and the Xiongnu as that between the Qin and Han dynasties?
The lands that the Yuezhi people once occupied were all seized and occupied by the Xiongnu.

result,

The latest news, however, stopped the emperor's wild thoughts, and he exclaimed in surprise:
"What do you mean by 'the State of Qi has been resurrected'?"

Although the legal basis established by their new Xia branch originated from the investiture of the Zhou emperor, it was a remnant of the enfeoffment system.

But this does not mean that

The gentlemen of the new Xia dynasty longed for the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods!

How come the ancient state of Qi, which was destroyed by the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period, suddenly started playing with me?

"My esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts?"

The ministers looked at each other, and their initial tension about the Xiongnu's southward advance was inexplicably relieved.

And in the mountains,

God, who had witnessed the miraculous actions of Wang Zhi and his son, first laughed twice, and then found Gan Shi and other historians who were still observing the stars and recording the changes in the heavens and earth.

"It's all your fault for telling these ridiculous jokes all the time!"

"Now the State of Qi has truly come back to life thanks to your constant talking about it!"

Shi Shen retorted, "You were the one who started it!"

Don't slander someone's innocence!

"And what's so special about the mere state of Qi?"

"Isn't another Yan state coming from the north?"

"Once the son of the Ying family in the Central and Southern regions has a foundation sufficient to establish a state, I will find a way to get him to adopt the name 'Chu' as the name of his state!"

hum,

by that time,
Let alone ancient kingdoms that have long since perished being resurrected,

The feudal lords of the Spring and Autumn Period could all be replicated again!
(End of this chapter)