My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

In July, in Youbeiping County, outside Tuyin City.

It was the height of summer, and the grasslands were lush and green, but the various forces gathered there felt no sense of ease or warmth.

Inside the makeshift alliance tent, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The main seat in the tent was left empty to show the majesty of the imperial court.

Below him, the newly appointed Governor of Youzhou and Marquis of Xiangben, Liu Yu, sat upright on the left. He was dressed in the official robes of a governor, and his demeanor was refined yet carried the authority of someone who had long held a high position. However, a trace of worry lingered between his brows.

Beside him stood Meng Yi, the General of the Central Army. As an envoy sent by the court to witness the alliance and supervise the suppression of the rebellion in Youzhou, he remained calm and composed, with his eyes half-closed, as if he were merely an outsider.

On the opposite right is Ji Xuanyuan, the Northern General and Marquis of Zhuo.

Behind him, Li Cunxiao and Dian Wei stood silently, their hands resting on the hilts of their newly acquired Tang-style swords, like two guardian deities. Yet, the fierce aura they exuded was enough to terrify any ill-intentioned person.

Below Liu Yu was Gongsun Zan. Although he was only a surrendered military officer and the Marquis of Duting, whose official rank was far inferior, he stood tall with his back straight, his face as cold and hard as iron, and his eyes, like poisoned nails, were fixed on the Wuhuan leader opposite him, making no attempt to hide his deep-seated hatred and uncompromising killing intent.

Behind him, his subordinates Yan Gang, Tian Kai, and others also glared at him with hostility.

The focus of all these gazes was on Qiuliju, the Wuhuan chieftain, Supuyan, the Qiao King, and several other tribal leaders, who were seated on the outer side of the tent.

They tried to maintain the dignity of their tribal leader, but their slightly pale faces and occasional shifty eyes betrayed their inner fear.

Especially when his gaze inadvertently swept over the menacing figure behind Ji Xuanyuan, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

The scene of Li Cunxiao single-handedly breaking through the enemy lines and killing countless Wuhuan warriors has long been a terrifying legend passed down among the Wuhuan army.

At the beginning of the alliance meeting, Liu Yu, with the intention of appeasement, spoke gently and affirmed the "sincerity" of Qiuliju and others who "repented and returned to the king's rule". He expressed that the court was willing to forgive past mistakes, accept those who had submitted, and promised to give them certain rewards and trade conveniences. He hoped that the Wuhuan tribes would live peacefully in the borderlands from then on and serve as a permanent barrier.

Qiuliju quickly stood up and expressed his gratitude in somewhat broken Chinese. He then shifted all the blame to Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju, who had fled to the Xianbei, claiming that most of the Wuhuan tribes had been coerced and misled by them, and that they had now come to their senses and were willing to pledge allegiance to the Han emperor.

It seemed that a pacification ceremony, in which both host and guests were happy, was about to be successfully completed under Liu Yu's leadership.

"Lord Liu, in my humble opinion, this matter is highly inappropriate!"

A cold, hard voice shattered the barely maintained atmosphere, like a hammer blow.

Gongsun Zan abruptly stood up, ignoring Liu Yu's slightly furrowed brows and the astonished gazes of Qiu Liju and the others. His voice was hoarse with excitement: "The Wuhuan are fickle and have never been trustworthy!"

"Today, their surrender is a desperate measure, but who knows if it's not just a delaying tactic? Once they recover their strength, or if there's any change in the court, they will surely become a border threat again! Beneath the walls of Guanzi City, the souls of thousands of loyal Han soldiers are still warm, and countless families have been torn apart! How can such blood feuds be erased with a few words of surrender and some rewards? In my humble opinion, we should press our advantage, wipe them out completely, and thoroughly intimidate the various barbarian tribes to ensure ten years of peace in the northern frontier! Appeasement? I fear it would only be nurturing a tiger to cause future trouble!"

Upon hearing this, the temperature inside the tent plummeted.

Gongsun Zan's generals were outraged and echoed his sentiments.

Qiu Liju, Su Puyan, and the others looked extremely grim, but dared not openly refute them. They could only turn to Liu Yu for help.

Liu Yu's face was ashen.

Gongsun Zan's fierce opposition was within his expectations; the tragedy at Guanzi City had indeed made this White Horse General's attitude towards the Hu people extremely extreme.

Just as he was about to use his authority as governor to subdue them and explain the great principle of "benevolence and virtue to influence far and wide," another voice that he was even more wary of rang out.

"Lord Liu, I also feel that there are some points to discuss regarding this matter."

Ji Xuanyuan spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it instantly attracted everyone's attention.

He did not get up, but simply tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze calmly sweeping over Liu Yu, and then over Qiu Liju and the others.

Liu Yu's heart sank slightly.

Gongsun Zan lacked authority, and his words could be dismissed as the views of a military man, mere words of indignation.

But Ji Xuanyuan was different.

He was not only appointed by the imperial court as the General of the Northern Army and a county marquis, but also a powerful figure who actually controlled the military affairs of Zhuojun and even the northern part of Youzhou, and possessed a strong army such as the Jingnan Army.

His attitude is of paramount importance and can even directly affect the success or failure of the alliance.

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Zan's eyes lit up with surprise, and he straightened his back even more, glaring defiantly at Qiu Liju.

As expected, Marquis Ji was on his side!

Ji Xuanyuan's tone remained calm, as if he were discussing the weather: "This Wuhuan rebellion lasted for nearly a year, with the bandits plundering several prefectures including You, Ji, and Qing, causing immense suffering and destruction to the people and leaving cities in ruins. Our border troops also suffered heavy casualties. In the end, we won this battle."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Liu Yu, a perfectly timed hint of doubt in his eyes: "Since we won, why should we offer money and silk as rewards to the losing side?"

"This principle is beyond my understanding; I am not well-read enough. Please enlighten me, Your Excellency."

These seemingly casual words sent chills down the spines of Qiu Liju and the others even further than Gongsun Zan's direct anger.

They were not afraid of the roar of a warrior, but they were afraid of this calm, rational, and questioning force.

What's even more frightening is that as Ji Xuanyuan spoke, the killing god behind him seemed to silently grin, his gaze sweeping over their necks.

Liu Yu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Lord Ji, you can't say that. To appease distant peoples, to make them grateful for the Emperor's grace, and to end hostilities forever, is the only way to ensure long-term peace and stability. If a little wealth can bring peace to the borders and allow the people to recuperate, wouldn't that be better than years of war that deplete the nation's strength?"

"Your Excellency is benevolent and virtuous; I, Ji, admire you greatly."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, seemingly convinced, but then changed the subject, looking at Qiuliju: "However, King Qiuliju, King Supuyan, I really don't understand your sincerity."

"You rebelled, killing and plundering hundreds of thousands of my Han people. Do you think this blood debt can be wiped clean just because Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju fled to the Xianbei? They are the ringleaders. Are you, their followers, completely uninvolved? Now you come to surrender, offering empty words in exchange for rewards and peace... I'm afraid there's no such easy thing in this world!"

Sweat beaded on Qiu Liju's forehead as he hurriedly said, "Lord Ji, you are wise! We were indeed coerced by the traitor Zhang, and we are now willing to do everything in our power to make amends..."

"compensate?"

Ji Xuanyuan interrupted him, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Alright!"

"You have killed and plundered over 100,000 Han Chinese people. We will settle this debt on a head-by-head basis. I also do not want your cattle, sheep, money, or grain. Those things are rightfully ours in the border region. You took them and then returned them. This is not a sign of sincerity."

He paused and slowly said, "How about this, each of your Wuhuan tribes should select over ten thousand strong men and women to accompany my envoy to Luoyang. His Majesty the Emperor is benevolent and will surely find fertile land to properly settle them, grant them land and houses, teach them farming and weaving, so that they may forever be subjects of the Han Dynasty."

"As for you kings and leaders, you may come along if you wish. His Majesty will treat you with the respect due to honored guests. In two or three hundred years, if your descendants miss the grasslands and wish to return to visit their relatives..." Ji Xuanyuan spread his hands, his smile sincere.

"I, Ji Xuanyuan, guarantee that I will open the border gates of Youzhou and welcome them back to visit relatives. In this way, we will withdraw our troops and cease hostilities, our two families will be forever allied, and intermarry for generations. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

There was a moment of deathly silence inside the tent, followed by a deafening burst of laughter!

Gongsun Zan and his generals laughed so hard they almost fell over.

Even Meng Yi couldn't help but cough, covering his face with his sleeve, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Li Cunxiao grinned widely, and Dian Wei chuckled softly.

"Lord Ji! You...you've gone too far!" Qiu Liju trembled with anger, his face turning from white to red.

Su Puyan could no longer contain himself. He suddenly stood up, glared at Ji Xuanyuan, and roared, "Lord Ji! You are trying to wipe out the very foundation of the Wuhuan! This puts us in a very difficult position!"

"Difficult to handle?"

Li Cunxiao snorted coldly and took a step forward: "If it's difficult, then let's not do it!"

Dian Wei stepped forward almost simultaneously, drawing his sword half a foot from its sheath, its cold light gleaming.

"Clang clang clang!"

The generals behind Gongsun Zan also stepped forward in unison, their hands on their swords, glaring angrily.

Inside the tent, the killing intent instantly filled the air, and the atmosphere solidified; a single spark would be enough to ignite it completely!

Qiu Liju and Su Puyan were so frightened by this scene that they took two steps back, their momentum completely gone, their faces pale. They could only look at Liu Yu in a panic, their voices pleading: "Lord Liu! Look at them... this..."

Liu Yu felt a throbbing pain in his temples, and a surge of anger mixed with a sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

As the governor, he presided over the alliance meeting, but his authority was challenged by Ji Xuanyuan and Gongsun Zan one after another. Ji Xuanyuan, in particular, made a condition that was almost a joke but was actually vicious. This was completely undermining him and trampling his appeasement policy on the ground!

"Enough! Sit down, all of you!" Liu Yu slammed his hand on the table in front of him with a loud "bang," his beard and hair standing on end, and for the first time, anger appeared on his refined face.

"This is a major matter of pacification for the imperial court; how can it be treated lightly! What kind of behavior is this!"

This rebuke temporarily quelled the impending conflict.

Ji Xuanyuan raised his hand, and Li Cunxiao and Dian Wei snorted and returned to their original positions, but their hands still did not leave their weapons.

Gongsun Zan and the others sat back down reluctantly, but their gazes toward the Wuhuan leader became even more hostile.

Qiu Liju and Su Puyan felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and hurriedly sat down, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.

Liu Yu took a few deep breaths, suppressing his anger, and looked at Ji Xuanyuan. His tone softened, but it carried an undeniable insistence: "Lord Ji, the conditions you just mentioned... are indeed too harsh, which is unbecoming of the court's magnanimity and is not a true solution to the border troubles. If the Wuhuan were to relocate more than 100,000 people inland, their tribe would inevitably disintegrate, creating a power vacuum on the grasslands. This could be filled by the Xianbei or other tribes, leading to new chaos. This is not the court's intention."

He composed himself, turned to the still-shaken Qiu Liju and the others, and said in a deep voice: "Since you have sincerely submitted, you must show real sincerity to quell the anger of the soldiers and the people, so as to reassure the court. Although what Marquis Ji said was... intense, the blood feud of the border soldiers and the suffering of the people cannot be ignored. Let's do this."

Liu Yu quickly weighed the options in his mind, knowing that if he followed his initial appeasement plan today, with Ji Xuanyuan and Gongsun Zan present, it would have no chance of passing and might even exacerbate internal conflicts.

He had to come up with a compromise that could preserve the overall situation of appeasement, partially satisfy the demands of Ji, Gongsun and others, and at the same time maintain his authority as governor.

"First, the Wuhuan tribes must contribute 3,000 warhorses and 50,000 head of cattle and sheep to compensate for the losses caused to the people of Youzhou by this rebellion and to replenish the livestock in the border counties."

"Secondly, each department must send 8,000 strong and brave warriors to serve in the Youzhou border army for a period of five years. They will be under the command of generals appointed by the imperial court, in order to atone for their past mistakes and also to strengthen the border defenses."

This clause is both a partial acceptance and softening of Ji Xuanyuan's condition of "wanting people," and a strategy of mixing in some sand.

"Third, from this day forward, the sons of the leaders of the Wuhuan tribes who are ten years of age or older shall be sent to Jicheng or Luoyang to 'learn etiquette,' and all the leaders, large and small, shall submit oaths to the court, swearing an oath by blood, promising never to betray the Han."

"Fourth, open border markets such as Liucheng and Bailang Mountain, which will be managed by officials sent by the state government. Fair trade will be allowed, and the outflow of military and state weapons such as ironware and crossbows will be strictly prohibited. The Wuhuan people will be required to trade furs, livestock, and herbs for salt, iron, cloth, and grain."

"Fifth, although the two traitors Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju have fled to the Xianbei, the various Wuhuan tribes have the responsibility to assist in their pursuit. If their whereabouts are known, they must be reported to Youzhou immediately. If they can be captured, killed, and presented to the court, the court will reward them handsomely."

After Liu Yu finished speaking, the tent fell silent.

These five conditions are far more severe than simple rewards and appeasement; they are full of punishment and control, but they are far from the level of "extermination" that Ji Xuanyuan committed.

It preserved the basic structure of the Wuhuan tribe and its living space on the grasslands, while at the same time greatly strengthening the court's control and influence over the Wuhuan through compensation, sending hostages, dispatching troops, and controlling markets.

Qiu Liju and Su Puyan exchanged a glance, both seeing the bitterness and helplessness in each other's eyes.

These conditions also cost them dearly: three thousand warhorses, a large number of cattle and sheep, eight thousand warriors, and the dispatch of hostages... the cost was enormous.

But compared to Ji Xuanyuan's hopeless plan, this at least left the tribe with hope for survival and also gave face to Liu Yu, the governor who advocated appeasement.

They knew that this was the best outcome Liu Yu could secure for them under the immense pressure from Ji Xuanyuan and Gongsun Zan.

The two men discussed the matter hastily in a low voice in the Hu language for a moment. Finally, Qiuliju rose with difficulty and bowed deeply to Liu Yu: "The regulations set forth by the lord... are difficult, but since we have sincerely submitted, we are willing... willing to follow the lord's wishes. We only hope that the lord will take pity on our tribe's difficulties and be lenient in terms of the number of warhorses, cattle, sheep, and the length of time the hostages will be held..."

He tried to make a final bargain.

Liu Yu's expression softened slightly, and he was about to speak when Ji Xuanyuan slowly interjected, "My lord, regarding warhorses... our newly established cavalry of the Jingnan Army is in dire need of fine steeds. The Wuhuan have offered three thousand horses; could we allocate fifteen hundred of them to Zhuojun? After all, our troops have contributed greatly to breaking through the enemy's defenses and relieving the siege, and the soldiers deserve some substantial rewards. As for learning etiquette..."

He glanced at Qiu Liju.

"Five years is too short, ten years would be better. That way, you can complete your studies, return home, and educate the tribe. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Qiu Liju's vision went black, and he almost fainted.

Gongsun Zan immediately interjected, "My lord! Our troops have suffered heavy losses and urgently need replenishment. The remaining 1,500 warhorses should be allocated to Youbeiping! A portion of the 8,000 Wuhuan soldiers should also be prioritized to fill our vacancies!"

Looking at the two people in front of him who had started vying for benefits before even reaching an agreement, Liu Yu's initial sense of satisfaction at being in control of the situation vanished instantly, leaving only deep exhaustion and a sense of utter understanding.

Today's meeting has completely revised his ideal of appeasement.

The future relationship between the Han and non-Han peoples in Youzhou, and even the entire northern frontier, will inevitably take a more realistic path based on the deterrence of strength, supplemented by political and economic control.

And the one who led this path may not have been entirely him, the governor, from the very beginning.

He glanced at Ji Xuanyuan, whose expression was calm yet who maintained firm control over the direction of the discussion, and then at the Wuhuan leader, whose face was full of resentment but who had no choice but to submit. He understood.

The rules of the game in Youzhou are quietly changing.

He must adapt to this new situation where power redefines discourse as quickly as possible.