Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 521 The Twenty-Second Year of Jianwu
The 22nd year of Jianwu in the Han Dynasty.

This was not a peaceful year.

The strange phenomena that have appeared since the time of Emperor Cheng of Han continue, and have not eased despite the common people's saying that "the mandate of heaven has been determined."

Liu Xiu, who was overjoyed by the strange celestial phenomenon during the Battle of Kunyang, was also often troubled by it after ascending the throne.

From spring to autumn,

A solar eclipse, a locust plague, and an earthquake followed one after another.

It caused a lot of trouble for the emperor who was governing the country.

The only two things that pleased the emperor were

Firstly, the crown prince Liu Zhuang, whom he ultimately chose, was indeed a natural-born manager.

He possesses an extraordinary talent for handling political affairs.

When the emperor, due to the stroke he suffered in the seventeenth year of Jianwu, often felt exhausted and powerless in governing the country, it was the crown prince who assisted him, allowing policies to be implemented smoothly and preventing the old forces from making a comeback.

This made the emperor, who had deliberately ruined his "benevolent and gentle" persona, feel that he had done a brilliant "business deal".

The name before and after death

How can it be compared to the fate of the nation?
both,
This is the cruelty of heaven and earth, which is not only inflicted on the Central Plains.

He is supreme and merciless.

When the Central Plains suffered disaster
The swords formed by the wind and frost on the grassland came with great ferocity.

The grass has withered and turned yellow, and the river has dried up.

Autumn, a season when horses should be fat and sheep grazing, presents a desolate and emaciated scene.

Living a long life, experienced old herders drive their cattle and sheep under the sky, and take a deep breath, they can feel the cold air contained within.

Winter is coming.

"This year is probably going to be tough."

The old herdsman said this to his relatives and friends.

Although the people of the grasslands who draw their bows have always lived a hard life, they don't care about whether the harvest is good or bad.

But when a white plague comes, the days when people could still live are gone, and the herders will feel the same grief and pain as the farmers in the Central Plains, who feel that "the fields they have cultivated for a year have been ruined by locusts".

From north to south,

Apart from those carefree meat-eaters,
The feelings of people at the bottom of society in the face of heaven and earth are generally the same.

According to past practice,
When cattle and sheep could no longer survive on the grasslands, these herders, led by the Xiongnu Chanyu, would seek a way to survive in the south.

unfortunately,

There was a bit of an unexpected situation this year—

Huduershidaogao Ruodi Chanyu, who had reigned for twenty-eight years, died.

Before his death,

Having forced his younger brother to flee and imprisoned his nephew for many years, the Chanyu (ruler) satisfiedly handed over power to his son, who became known as Udatihou Chanyu.

Whether the latter was unable to bear such a heavy burden, or was somehow implicated by the things his father had done before his death, remains unknown.

Shortly after taking office, he fell seriously ill and, like many cattle and sheep in the tribe this year, succumbed to a sudden, biting cold wind.

His cousin,

This inspired the Xiongnu Right Rizhu King, who had been suppressed and imprisoned by his uncle for many years.

He drank the fine wine heartily and said to those around him:
"The new Chanyu only reigned for three months before passing away, following in his father's footsteps."

This is what the spirits and ancestors are telling us:
They shouldn't have continued doing those evil deeds!

"The Xiongnu are about to return to their rightful place!"

to this end,

He won over many Xiongnu nobles.

The latter also suffered from the suspicion and stubbornness of his predecessor for many years, and worried that his son would do something similar. So he supported the Right Rizhu King Bi as the new Chanyu on the grounds of "the laws of the Xiongnu ancestors".

result,

The successor was not him, but the younger brother of Udatihou Chanyu, who was known as Punu Chanyu.

King You Rizhu harbored resentment and began vying for power with his cousin.

This prevented the Xiongnu from gathering together to attack the Han Dynasty in the south.

The Han officials on the border breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that at least this year they wouldn't have to suffer any more misfortune.

"The Xiongnu are also about to be replaced."

"I wonder if, in a few more years, the royal court belonging to the Great Chanyu will still be erected on this grassland, and the vast Dragon City of yesteryear will still be built."

This people of the grasslands,
It's always the same routine, coming and going.

Even with its momentary glory and brilliance, it could never maintain its position in the long run like the Central Kingdom, flowing with the river of history to the end of time.

They either become silt at the bottom of the river at the beginning, or they become silt after traveling a certain distance.

all in all,
Those barbarians who are inherently evil and defy the king's rule will only meet one fate!
Unseen by ordinary people, and increasingly desolate with the snow and wind this year, Emperor Wu of the Former Han Dynasty stood at the highest point of the sacred mountain of the Xiongnu, leading a yellow dog on the left and a falcon on the right.

"Ugh!"

"My old rival from back then has fallen to such a state, which truly delights me...!"

Hey,
Thinking that the greatest contributor to the Xiongnu's downfall was himself, the Han emperor, Emperor Wu felt a surge of pride as he fastened his belt and found himself inspired to compose poetry.

Wei Qing, to his left, said nothing, simply admiring the scenery on Langjuxu Mountain.

Huo Qubing, to his right, was still immersed in the shock brought by the "Han Army's Fengshan Map" and tried to find the escaped ghost in a corner of the mountains.

"No wonder he never let me go back to Langjuxu Mountain."

"So that's why!"

Emperor Wu could only comfort his beloved general, "It's alright, you can modify yourself to look more handsome."

But Huo Qubing said, "If we modify it again after so many years, what if future generations can identify the difference in painting techniques and pigments? Wouldn't it spread rumors that 'later generations thought the Marquis of Champion should be tall and handsome, so they modified it, but in reality the Marquis of Champion is ugly'?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Qing couldn't help but frown and say, "How could you think like that?"

"It seems they have indeed been corrupted by ghosts and spirits."

My good nephew from before wouldn't have let his thoughts wander like this.

Still somewhat indignant, Champion Hou was about to follow his uncle and aunt down the mountain peak and back to the hidden cave, where he would replace the "self-portrait of God" that was described as the tallest and most handsome with his own face.

"If we're going to be ugly, we'll be ugly together!" he said.

Just as they reached the mountainside, a billowing cloud of dust, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of horses' hooves, came from the east to the west.

The three leaders of the Former Han Dynasty stood on a protruding rock and looked out. Then, the sharp-eyed Marquis of Champion said:
"They are Wuhuan people!"

"It seems that they took advantage of the Xiongnu's disaster and their internal strife over power struggle to seize their position as the overlord of the grasslands."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wu clapped his hands with delight and exclaimed, "Heh, that's perfect!"

"I have said it before: now that my lineage of the Han Dynasty has perished, the Xiongnu should also die and serve as our burial offerings!"

"How can we allow a two-hundred-year-old entanglement to survive alone?"

The love-hate relationship between Western Qin and the Han Dynasty was mostly just talk due to the distance and mountains between them.

But the "entanglement" between the Han and the Xiongnu was real.

"I hope that Liu Xiu will be sensible enough and have the swift and ruthless methods I had back then, so that while the Xiongnu are weak, we can lead them into a new era!"

Standing on the sacred mountain of the Xiongnu, holding the small golden statue of the Xiongnu used for sacrificial rites that he had picked up while running around on the mountain, Emperor Wu of Han spoke with utmost sincerity.

Then he remembered something and said to Wei Qing:
"By the way, Zhongqing, take this new golden statue home for you to keep as a souvenir."

"Qu Bing already presented me with one before, and it is still stored in the treasury of Chang'an... Your home is in dire need of it for decoration!"

The fact that the Xiongnu people worshipped their ancestors shows that they had not completely forgotten the bloodline from the Central Plains within them.

Even though Huo Qubing seized the most important golden statue used for the sacrificial ceremony, a new one was made afterward.

However, as their power declined, the Xiongnu people gradually neglected their sacrificial rites.

Several of the golden statues used in the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven were lost in the Langjuxu Mountains.

otherwise,

Even if Emperor Wu had auto-pickup enabled, he couldn't create something out of nothing!
"...I don't know if the Wuhuan can become the new rulers of the grasslands, nor do I know how many years their status can be maintained."

Even after accepting the Jurchen troops, Wei Qing continued to watch the rapidly approaching Wuhuan army, a question lingering in his mind about the future of the grasslands. This same question also arose in the minds of the Yan people.

……

"The State of Yan cannot remain confined to a corner of the world forever!"

Duke Yan sat upright in the council hall of Gantang Palace and addressed the ministers of the Yan state in this manner.

Gantang Palace
It was a palace built by the Yan state after it conquered Goguryeo and established its capital at Ji'an, for the purpose of discussing state affairs. It has a similar feel to the palaces of the Han Dynasty.

After all, "republican rule" is a first for them in the world today, so they naturally cannot escape the influence of old experiences.

The name "Gantang"
This is taken from a line in the poem "Shao Nan" in the Book of Songs, which expresses remembrance of Duke Shao:
“The sweet pear tree, which is lush and verdant, should not be cut down or felled, for it is where Duke Shao rested.”

The capital was chosen to be "a place where people gather and find peace".
With "Zhou and Zhao Gonghe" as the hall,
This serves as a warning to future generations, reminding them not to forget the goals set forth by the Yan Kingdom in Liaodong, and not to betray the blood and tears shed by their ancestors for this purpose.

in this way,

This also meant that even though the Yan state was located in Liaodong, outside the Great Wall, with the sea to the east and high mountains to the west, it still harbored the idea of ​​going out into the world.

Their eyes were set on the south, harboring the idea of ​​crossing the Great Wall, seizing Liaodong Commandery from the Han Dynasty, expanding along the Liao River to the coast, and opening up the Liaoxi Corridor that could connect to the Central Plains.

However, the Han Dynasty was not weak at this time.
The Yan state in Liaodong also needed time to rebuild its strength.
Therefore, we cannot afford to break ties with the Central Plains and start a major war.

then,

The Yan state then temporarily turned its attention to the barbarian tribes around it.

They expelled and took in many Hu people, and learned that to the west, beyond the great mountain that separated them from the southern grasslands, lived the direct descendants of the former Donghu.

Donghu

It was a collective term used by the Zhou dynasty to refer to the numerous barbarian tribes located to its northeast.

Therefore, the area of ​​the Donghu was not limited to Liaodong, but also included the eastern part of the grassland, which was a very wide region.

When the Xiongnu rose to power

Modu Chanyu, who had once been forcibly taken a queen by the Donghu people, harbored deep hatred and launched a brutal attack against them.

The main ethnic group of the Donghu was destroyed and quickly declined.

The remaining tribesmen could no longer rally other tribes around them, and even faced frequent "subordinates rebelling against superiors," so they had no choice but to retreat, splitting into two branches, one in the north and one in the south, each going their own way.

Those who went north settled at the foot of the Great Xianbei Mountain, which separated the grasslands from Liaodong, and adopted the name of this mountain as the new name of their tribe, calling themselves "Xianbei".

Those heading south reside at the southern end of the Great Xianbei Mountains, at the foot of a mountain called "Wuhuan".

Like his "brothers," he also chose to use "Wuhuan" as his new name.

As things stand now, both of these works have become very popular.

Among them, the Wuhuan, being closer to the Central Plains and able to communicate with them, showed a greater potential to "take over the Xiongnu and replace them".

"Moreover, in addition to fulfilling the mission of reviving our Xia people and abandoning the barbarians, attacking the Wuhuan can also seize the Xiliao River Valley and open up the road to the grasslands!"

"As long as I can travel to the grasslands, the Western Silk Road can also be connected to me, so that I don't have to rely solely on the sea to exchange and trade with Xinxia and Xihai."

When the gentlemen of the Xia people do things...

I've always liked to seek out backups.

After all, from the very beginning, our ancestors were nurtured by the Mother River. If they hadn't been prepared, how could the prosperous and flourishing China we have today have come to be?
Therefore,
Even with the existence of Qi, a warm-hearted coachman who travels by sea, Yan, which currently lacks sufficient national strength to build large ships for long voyages, would not entirely place its hopes for communication with the outside world on Qi.

The State of Qi has always been respectful to the Central State.
If the Han Dynasty in the Central Plains were to make a request to join forces with them to block the Yan Kingdom's route from the sea, what could they do?

The Liaoxi Corridor cannot be taken for the time being.

The Yan state was unable to build large ships that could be used for naval warfare and even compete with the Qi state.

in this way,

They could not let go of the Wuhuan Mountains, which were the vital passage through which the Liao River flowed and through which the Donghu people once traveled between Liao and the grasslands!

"But the people of the grasslands are always agile and difficult to catch."

"If our army is mobilized and cannot achieve a swift victory, and is forced to prolong the war, then the Han Dynasty will also take action."

Ji'an is not far from the border.

In order to guard against their old rival, the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Han Dynasty specially amassed a large number of soldiers at the Great Wall in Liaodong Commandery in western Liaoning.

This made it very difficult for the Yan state to advance south.
In previous years, the combined attacks of the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, and Xianbei tribes failed to shake the Han Dynasty's defenses.

If the Han army discovers that the Yan army is struggling in the Wuhuan region, they will definitely step in to help Yan.

Why is Liaoning so cold and harsh?

Since we are all gentlemen of the Chinese nation, we, the great Han, must help our fellow countrymen warm up!

You might accidentally get burned to death.
That can only be blamed on the fact that the Yan state was "too weak to receive nourishment".

"This……"

Upon hearing these words, even the Duke of Yan hesitated.

Fortunately,

News of the Wuhuan's large-scale raid on the afflicted Xiongnu, intending to inflict a heavy blow on them, quickly reached the Yan state.

Duke Yan decisively issued the order, "This opportunity must not be missed!"

"send troops!"

"Advance westward!"

then,

The Yan army, rushing westward, easily occupied the land where the Wuhuan people had originally been stationed, gaining the passage that the Yan state had longed for.

The Wuhuan chieftain, who was at the front counting his spoils and thinking, "The Xiongnu are utterly pathetic and a disgrace to our ancestors," was furious when he heard about this.
"They actually took advantage of our clan's weakness to launch a sneak attack!"

"How despicable!"

Why didn't the Han people in the south stop the Yan state?

The captured Xiongnu people, upon hearing these words, couldn't help but laugh at their captors.
"The Xia people have always been cunning. How long have you Wuhuan people been in contact with them? How much do you know about them?"

"Although we have obtained the treasures of our tribe, even our ancestral land has been stolen... I wonder who will win and who will lose this battle!"

The leader became even angrier at what he said and drew his sword, stabbing the man to death.

then,

He stepped on the corpse of the Hun and said, "Since that's the case, then let's just take over the Hun's pastureland!"

"This place in southern Mongolia is still a bit more comfortable than our hometown!"

Wuhuan Mountain is such a small area.
They could not tolerate the Wuhuan people, who had already shown signs of becoming the dominant power!

Meanwhile, the displaced Wuhuan people gritted their teeth and decided to seize Xiongnu territory as their new home.

The grasslands became even more chaotic.

In order to become the Chanyu he so desperately wanted, the Right Rizhu King of the Xiongnu decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, submit to the Han Dynasty in the south, and then, with their support, kill his hated cousin.

Meanwhile, Punu Chanyu was suffering from constant natural and man-made disasters, and couldn't help but think of his uncle who had long since fled.

According to news from the Western Regions...

His cousin, who was half Han Chinese and even directly recognized the Chinese as his ancestors, established a state in a foreign land that is now developing quite well...

Ugh,
If you can't survive in either the southern or northern deserts...
Why doesn't he follow the other side's example and go west to develop in foreign lands?
I've heard there are quite a few fertile grasslands outside of this region.
If he could seize the country established by his cousin and use it as his own resources, that would be even more wonderful!
As for strength?

It's impossible that Yitu Zhiya could be forced to flee the grasslands by his father.

As the son, he couldn't even beat the other party, could he?
……

"Ah!"

Far beyond,
The Yangguan Pass, a vital passage in the Sui Dynasty.
A crucial battle for "connecting with the outside world and moving towards the future" is being fought here.

Just as the King of Qi was about to draw his bow and shoot the Sui general, he inexplicably sneezed, causing the arrow to slip from his bowstring and lose its power, thus missing his chance to fire.

He was filled with frustration:
Could it be that the people of the Sui Kingdom are cursing me behind my back, so that a cold wind blew across the back of my neck?
but,

No amount of witchcraft can determine the outcome of a war.

Yangguan,

He's determined to take the Kingdom of Qi!

He will surely storm into Yangguan, sweep across Xinxia, ​​and prove that he is the true successor of "Xia"!

(End of this chapter)