Chapter 348 Hunting for He Xing (1/2)
Chapter 348 – Hunting for He Xing
Budugen, the current young leader of Xianbei Tribe, was overseeing 15,000 men of Gongsun Du Army.
The Xianbei Tribe was one of many tribes among the northern lands beyond the Great Wall of China. Unlike the aggressive Xiongnu Tribe, Xianbei under Budugen was less aggressive.
In history, after Cao Cao defeated the Wuhuan Tribe along with Yuan Shao's sons in the year 207, Budugen sent tributes and formed a peace treaty with the future Wei Empire. As a result, his Xianbei Tribe maintained a peaceful relationship with the northern warlord.
Unfortunately, the relationship between the northern tribes was similar to the relationship between the warlords of China. Tribal chieftains also struggled for the supremacy over the other tribes for resources.
In 224, Budugen formed an alliance with Cao Pi to eliminate his rival, Kebineng.
But a politician's mind could not be predicted as Budugen formed an alliance with Kebineng to attack the Wei Country together in the year 233.
In the end, Kebineng betrayed Budugen and killed him later.
The Budugen in this world had not suffered a significant defeat yet, so he was confident that his tribesmen could reap profits from this alliance with Gongsun Du.
11 PM.
Several scouts returned with reports.
”I've received a report from Gongsun Du that the empress has escaped, and she's running away into our net. Yet, none of you found her!?”
All of the scout teams found nothing but deserters and peasants, which nothing proved worthy of Budugen's attention.
”Is there any report about a sighting of a noblewoman?”
”N-No, my lord!”
”Bunch of idiots!”
Budugen tossed a bamboo scroll at the scout captain.
”If you find any stray with women, capture all of them! One of them might disguise as a peasant! Remember, she has a son, so she will appear along with her disguised family!”
”Y-Yes, sir!”
All scouts left Budugen's commanding tent, leaving him and his guest alone.
Budugen turned to his guest, who was a middle-aged man in his 40s.
He was Cheng Yu, one of Cao Cao's best advisor!
”She'd better be here as you predicted, old man.”
Cheng Yu sighed, ”It was not even a prediction. It's a fact.”
”If none of them can find He Xing, I'll be claiming your life.”
”Haiz, so young, so impatient. Very well, so be it. But for now, I'll take my rest.”
Cheng Yu bowed and retreated to his tent. Once he arrived, he found Xiahou Dun in there.
Xiahou Dun opened his eyes, waking up from his nap, ”How's the search?”
”Messy and terrible. You can't count on these barbarians after all.”
.
Before both of them arrived here, Cao Cao and Pu Jing made many moves behind the scenes.
First, Pu Jing knew about the discontentment among the Gongsun Clan to Gongsun Zan, so he sent a diplomat to negotiate Gongsun Du for an alliance. He offered assistance for his rebellion against his clan master.
Gongsun Du accepted the offer without hesitation. He marched his troops south in disguise as Gongsun Zan's reserve troops after Gongsun Zan had deployed his men to Luoyang.
Because of the coalition, Xu Huang's Silver Axe did not stop them from entering their territories!
Instead of moving to the gathering location and assault Hulao Gate together with other ally forces, Gongsun Du camped south of Ye City, claiming that he wished to restock supplies before he continued marching.
Sima Fang, who acted as a temporary governor, believed in Gongsun Du's words. He allowed the convoys of Gongsun Du to come and go between Ye City and his camps.
After Cao Cao's forces retreated from the chaotic coalition, Cao Cao sent Cheng Yu and Xiahou Dun north to meet with Gongsun Du, whom Pu Jing had been secretly contacted before the gathering.
Cheng Yu spread words to Gongsun Du that the empress was traveling along with Gongsun Zan's forces, and they requested his aid for capturing the empress and her son.
They claimed that the empress had been suppressed by Tong's forces, and Cao Cao wished to rescue the empress for the Han Dynasty.
Obviously, Gongsun Du did not care about the Han Dynasty. As long as Gongsun Zan was dead, he did not care who would become the overlord of the new country since he planned to devour everyone else later.
However, the threat of Tong's forces was too significant to overlook. After absorbing Gongsun Zan's territories, their borders would connect with Tong's.
To weaken Tong's armies, Gongsun Du accepted Cao Cao's terms, and another alliance against Zhang Tong between Cao Cao and Gongsun Du was formed.
.
Although Cheng Yu did not know how Gongsun Du collected many tribe leaders into his forces, he did not put any importance to them.
”We should get ready to leave soon.”
Xiahou Dun frowned, ”Are we not going to wait for the empress?”
”Our objective has been completed. We've sowed discord between Gongsun Clan and Zhang Tong, and they'll be busy fighting each other for years. Our lord will have more times to expand and consolidate the central plain.”
.
6 AM, a new day.
Zhao Yun and He Xing continued traveling on foot, except Liu Xie who rode on Zhao Yun's neck.
The journey was slow as they trekked through the forest, and they were walking along the shallow river they found.
At first, Zhao Yun planned to head north, but he changed his mind when He Xing confessed about the clan chat.
Zhao Yun was amazed by the details of the chat, which He Xing recited it to him from the part which all strategists brainstormed for a counter plan against Gongsun Du.