Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The next day, the sky was overcast, with leaden clouds hanging low as if about to press down at any moment. The atmosphere within Starfire Fortress remained solemn; the joy of victory had been replaced by an urgent sense of preparation for war. The air was thick with the pungent smell of newly arrived horses from the stables, the smoke from weapons being repaired in the forge, and a faint, almost imperceptible stench of blood—the dead and wounded warhorses captured the previous day were being processed.

The interrogation of Wuzhuer took place in a semi-underground cellar inside the fortress, originally used for storing stone. The cellar was dark and damp, with only a few narrow vents high in the wall letting in a faint light. In the center of the cellar stood a rough wooden table, upon which rested a dim oil lamp, several scrolls of bamboo slips, and a ceramic bowl. Chen Xing sat upright behind the table, Chen Wei stood beside him with his hand on his sword, Wu Xuejiu sat in the shadows in a corner holding a brush and inkstone, and Zhao Tiezhu and Zhou Dashan stood on either side, their expressions stern.

In one corner of the cellar, several objects covered with coarse linen were piled up, their shapes somewhat irregular, and a faint smell of blood emanated from them.

"Bring it up," Chen Xing said calmly.

The cellar door opened, and two Wei soldiers escorted Wuzhu'er inside. His shoulder wound had been re-bandaged, but his clothes were tattered, his face was still covered in blood, and his hands were bound behind his back. Stepping into the cellar, he squinted to adjust to the dim light, then raised his head, his gaze sweeping arrogantly over everyone in the cellar, finally settling on Chen Xing's face, and exhaling a disdainful breath from his nostrils.

"You Han dog leader, just kill me if you want, why all this fuss?" Wuzhuer said hoarsely, his voice echoing in the cellar.

Chen Xing ignored his provocation and merely nodded slightly to Chen Wei. Chen Wei stepped forward, picked up a scroll from the table, and unfolded it—a summary of the interrogations of Su He and the others the previous night. He read in a flat tone: "The Wild Fox Plain Barut tribe has about four hundred men, women, and children. They have about fifty or sixty mounted soldiers. Their leader, Tuoba He, is about fifty years old, greedy and impetuous. The tribe's grain reserves are low, and this year the pastures are poor, resulting in weak cattle and sheep. They have had frequent disputes with their western neighbor, the Ulolan tribe..."

Wuju'er initially looked disdainful, but his expression gradually changed as he listened. Especially when he heard phrases like "insufficient grain reserves" and "poor pastures," the muscles around his eyes twitched involuntarily a few times. These were the tribe's dire circumstances, details that ordinary herders or lower-ranking warriors might not know. How could these Han people know?

After Chen Wei finished reading, he placed the bamboo slips back on the table. Chen Xing then spoke, his voice low but clear: "Centurion Wuzhu'er, I know the true strength of your tribe. This time, Tufa He ordered you to lead thirty riders here, ostensibly to reconnoiter, but in reality to plunder and replenish your tribe's supplies. However, did he inform you of the strength of this camp? Did he prepare any reinforcements for you?"

Wuzhu'er's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, refusing to answer.

Chen Xing didn't press further, but lightly tapped the wooden table with his fingers: "You led thirty riders here, and your entire army was wiped out, and you yourself were captured. Have you considered how Bald He will deal with you when he finds out?"

Wujuer suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with even greater ferocity: "Our great chieftain will surely avenge us! He will lead all the warriors of our tribe to raze your little village to the ground!"

"Revenge?" Chen Xing chuckled lightly, a hint of mockery in his voice. "What revenge? You heard it yourself. The Balut tribe only has fifty or sixty capable cavalrymen left. They've already lost most of them in this battle. The remaining twenty or thirty are to defend the grasslands and guard against the Ulolan tribe. Does Bald He dare to bring all of them? Even if he sends out his entire force, including the old, weak, women, and children, four or five hundred men... what can they do?"

He stood up, walked slowly to the pile of things covered with burlap, and gestured to Chen Wei. Chen Wei stepped forward and yanked off the burlap.

In the dim light, several blood-stained horse heads were clearly visible! They were the heads of the Hu horses that had died in yesterday's battle, their eyes wide open, their severed necks a bloody mess, a gruesome sight. A strong stench of blood instantly filled the air.

Wuju'er's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at the horses' heads, his breathing becoming heavy. For steppe warriors, warhorses were almost like brothers. Witnessing his comrades' mounts meet such a fate was no less shocking than seeing their corpses.

"This is the fate of the 'warrior' mount that followed you yesterday." Chen Xing's voice turned cold. "If even the horse is like this, what about the men? The corpses of your fallen men are now exposed in the desolate valley, left to be devoured by jackals and pecked out by eagles. And all this is because of Bald He's greed and your Wuzhu'er's underestimation and recklessness!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Wuzhu'er roared. "It was the Great Chief's order! It was you Han people who cunningly laid an ambush!"

"It's true that it was Bald He's order." Chen Xing took a step closer, his gaze sharp as a knife. "But did he tell you that this stronghold has sturdy walls and sharp arrows? Did he tell you that I have brave soldiers under my command? If he truly considered you a tribal warrior, why didn't he send more men, with ample provisions and weapons, instead of sending you with these thirty light cavalry to your deaths? He's using your life and the lives of thirty of his men to test the strength of my stronghold! If he wins, he gains provisions and women; if he loses, he'll only be losing 'unimportant' pawns like you!"

"You...you..." Wujuer's forehead veins bulged, wanting to retort, but he was speechless for a moment. He was not stupid. After calming down and thinking it over, he realized that the Great Chief, Tuoba He, had indeed become more and more impatient and demanding in recent years, and more and more harsh on his subordinates. This trip south was hastily prepared and lacked intelligence, which was indeed intended to test them.

Taking advantage of his wavering mind, Chen Xing continued his psychological attack: "You've been captured and brought here for a day and a night. Is there any sign of reinforcements from the direction of Wild Fox Plains? Are there any envoys coming to negotiate? No. Because in Tuoba He's eyes, you're already a dead man. The annihilation of your thirty riders might anger him, but he would never risk the survival of the tribe for you 'dead men.' What he's more likely to do is strictly control the news to prevent the Ulolan tribe from taking advantage of the situation, and then... withhold your compensation for the dead, and take your wives, daughters, cattle, and sheep for himself!"

"No! Impossible! The Great Chief..." Wuju'er's voice trembled, and for the first time, wavering and fear appeared in his eyes. The grassland tribes were cruel, and it was not without precedent that chiefs would embezzle the inheritance of those who died in battle and seize their wives and daughters.

"Impossible?" Chen Xing sneered. "Then tell me, if Bald He really intended to save you or avenge you, where would he be right now? Is he on his way to gather troops? Or is he sending someone to negotiate? Why is there no news of him?"

Wuzhuer opened his mouth, speechless. Yes, if the Great Chieftain really had something to do, judging from the timeline, at least some scouts should have reappeared in the vicinity by now.

Seeing that his psychological defenses had cracked, Chen Xing softened his tone: "Wuzhu'er, I respect you as a man, daring to fight on the battlefield and maintaining your integrity even after being captured. However, integrity should be used for a worthy lord, for protecting the elders and children of the tribe, not for dying needlessly for a greedy and incompetent leader, only to bring ruin to your family after death!"

He sat back down behind the desk and gestured for Chen Wei to turn the oil lamp up a bit. The dim light illuminated Chen Xing's young yet resolute face: "When Xinghuo Fortress was first established, it was not for conquering all directions, but only to find a place for those who followed me to settle down and make a living in this chaotic world. I killed the Hu people only because they wanted to kill and plunder me. If the Hu people did not attack me, I would not attack them either. In this battle, your tribe started the conflict first, and I had no choice but to fight back in self-defense."

Wuzhuer remained silent, his chest heaving violently, clearly struggling internally.

Chen Xing continued, "You have already witnessed the strength of my stronghold. Even if the entire Bald He clan were to attack, I am confident that they would be utterly defeated, and perhaps even... that his Balut tribe would be wiped out from the list. But in that case, my Starfire Fortress would inevitably suffer casualties, and what would become of your remaining tribesmen, young and old, who stayed in Wild Fox Plains? They might be swallowed up and enslaved by the Ulolan tribe, or they might be displaced, freezing and starving to death. Is this what you want to see?"

"What exactly do you want?" Wuzhuer finally asked hoarsely, his tone no longer as forceful as before.

"I'll give you, and the Balut tribe, a chance," Chen Xing said solemnly. "I want to know the full details of Wild Fox Plain and its surrounding area: the terrain, water sources, the various tribes, their relationships, transportation routes, and even the situation in the larger area north of Black Mountain. If you tell me the truth, I promise I won't kill you or mistreat the other prisoners. Once the situation becomes clear, I might release you all."

"Let us go back?" A glimmer of hope flashed in Wuju'er's eyes, then it was filled with doubt. "You would be so kind?"

"Letting you go back is to my advantage," Chen Xing said frankly. "Firstly, you have already witnessed the power of my stronghold, and you will surely feel awe upon your return. You can persuade Bald He not to harbor any further delusions. Secondly, I need someone to convey my message to Bald He: Xinghuo Fort has no intention of being enemies with the Balut tribe. If we can maintain peace, we may exchange goods in the future, with my grain, silk, salt, and iron in exchange for your cattle, sheep, and horses. But if you dare to invade again, we will retaliate with thunderous force. Do not say you were not warned!"

He paused, then his tone turned stern: "Of course, if you try to evade the issue with lies, or if Bald He remains stubborn... then next time what's hung outside the village gate won't just be a horse's head. I guarantee that the Balut tribe will never have a centurion again, or even... never have a leader."

The cellar was silent, broken only by the faint crackling of the oil lamp wick. Wujuer stood with his head bowed, his facial muscles twitching; he was clearly torn between two conflicting emotions. On one hand, there was the honor of the tribe and loyalty to the chief; on the other, the harsh reality, his worry for the fate of his people and families, and… that faint glimmer of hope for survival, and perhaps even for improving the tribe's situation.

After a long silence, he slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse: "You...you mean it? You won't kill us? You might release us later? You're truly willing to make a deal with my tribe?"

"I, Chen Xing, always keep my word." Chen Xing looked him straight in the eye. "The 'Order of Merit' and 'Military Regulations' have been established, and the soldiers and civilians in the fortress all abide by them. You can inquire about them yourself. I also have regulations for the treatment of prisoners. Those captured the other day, except for those who resisted and were seriously injured and died, all others were given medical treatment. If I want to establish myself in this chaotic world, my reputation is the foundation of my existence."

Wuzhu'er remained silent for a moment, then finally let out a long sigh, as if all his strength had been drained away: "...What do you want to know? Ask away."

Chen Xing gestured to Wu Xuejiu. Wu Xuejiu immediately spread out new bamboo slips, picked up his brush, and dipped it in ink.

The interrogation lasted from the afternoon until late at night. This time, Wuzhuer no longer resisted and revealed everything he knew:

Wild Fox was originally a grassland spanning dozens of miles, with three main water sources. The Balut tribe occupied the largest spring and the nearby pastures. Their tribal settlements were primarily in felt tents, without fixed cities. The elderly, women, children, and most of their cattle and sheep migrated seasonally. As Suhe had said, the tribe had about fifty or sixty soldiers capable of fighting, and most of their elite forces had perished here. Their leader, Tuoba He, was brave but lacked wisdom, and in recent years had become increasingly greedy and stingy, causing considerable resentment among his followers.

To the west lies the Ulolan tribe, whose population and military strength are similar to those of the Balut tribe. The two tribes have a deep-seated grudge over a fertile grassland, and friction has been frequent in recent years. To the south, apart from the newly established Xinghuo Fortress, there are no other large-scale Han Chinese forces within a hundred miles, only a few long-abandoned fortresses and scattered mountain people fleeing the war.

What truly concerned Chen Xing and his group was the situation further north, behind the Black Mountain, mentioned by Wuzhu'er. According to Wuzhu'er, a powerful Han Chinese warlord force had risen in recent years north of the Black Mountain. Its leader called himself the "Black Mountain Commander," commanding several thousand soldiers and controlling several counties. He frequently waged war against the surrounding Han and non-Han tribes, sometimes conquering and sometimes appeasing them, wielding considerable power. The Balut tribe had previously engaged in small-scale conflicts with him, suffering losses and subsequently being forced to pay a small amount of "tribute" for peace. This was one of the reasons why Tuoba He dared not easily mobilize all his troops south—he needed to guard against the Black Mountain Commander's infiltration and also feared that insufficient tribute would provoke a punitive expedition.

In addition, Wuzhuer also gave a general description of the main roads leading from Yehuyuan to Xinghuobao and its surrounding areas, the terrain suitable for ambushes or large-scale troop movements, and some common sense about finding directions and water sources on the grasslands.

After Wuzhuer finished speaking, Wu Xuejiu had already written down a thick stack of bamboo slips. Chen Xing had someone bring water and food and handed them to Wuzhuer.

"I hope you are not lying about what you said today," Chen Xing said. "For now, rest here and recover from your injuries. I will have people continue to investigate the situation in Wild Fox Plains to verify what you said. If it is true, I will fulfill my promise. Think carefully: do you want to continue following Bald He with your followers and gradually perish amidst famine, internal strife, and external threats, or do you want to find a safer path to survival for yourself and your followers?"

Wuzhuer silently accepted the food, but did not eat it immediately. He just lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

Stepping out of the cellar, the night air was crisp and cool. Chen Xing took a deep breath and said to Chen Wei and the others waiting outside, "Quickly compare the intelligence we've gathered with the existing information from Li Shu and compile it into a booklet. The Wild Fox Yuan Barut tribe is not a threat for now. What we need to be wary of is that 'Black Mountain Commander.' Zhao Tiezhu, send more sentries northward, paying particular attention to any activity in the Black Mountain direction. Zhou Dashan, are there any refugees from the north in the newly attached camp? Inquire carefully about the situation north of Black Mountain."

"Yes, sir!" The group accepted the order.

An interrogation not only pried open the mouths of stubborn enemies but also revealed a wider and more dangerous world. The enemies of Xinghuo Fortress may be far more than just the Hu tribes in front of them. And opportunity often comes hand in hand with danger.

Chen Xing gazed at the deep night sky to the north, his heart filled with turmoil. The Black Mountain Commander… in this chaotic world, another powerful figure had emerged who needed to be taken seriously.

Before its foothold is firmly established, powerful neighbors have already emerged. The journey of Xinghuobao is destined to be anything but smooth.