Mythical Three Kingdoms

Several Wuhuan chiefs indeed have ulterior motives, but the Huns’ power compared to the Wuhuan is significantly stronger, so even if they had thoughts, it would be difficult to execute them.

”This won’t do, that won’t do, are we supposed to confront the Han army head-on?” one of the Wuhuan chiefs who had been listening without speaking finally cursed. Compared to the Northern Huns who disappeared in the Northeast over a century ago, Gongsun Zan’s rampage over the past ten years made it clear to the Wuhuan who was more terrifying.

”There’s no problem with not fighting the Han army to the death,” said the Wuhuan chief holding two short spears slowly, ”However, when our lives are in the hands of the Northern Huns, we cannot disobey their commands.”

Immediately, several chiefs were depressed, ”What do you suggest we do? It seems like you’re the only one among us with some brains.”

”We should send the War Eagle to watch the Northern Huns and attack when the Huns are about to approach us. However, we shouldn’t engage frontally and should only perform mounted archery,” said the Wuhuan chief holding the short spears as everyone focused their attention on him.

”But we don’t have many arrows,” another Wuhuan chief said.

”Just put on a show, and when the Huns come, we’ll put in more effort. Of course, if the Huns control the situation, we’ll help them block the Han army, but we should still leave a way out,” the Wuhuan chief holding the short spears clarified, indicating he didn’t want to mingle with the Huns.

”But I’m afraid the Han army will turn hostile,” said one of the Wuhuan chiefs as they exchanged glances until one stood up.

”I think, since Duke Bo’an was rescued, there’s a high likelihood he’d return to Youzhou now,” suggested the Wuhuan chief with the short spears, seeming knowledgeable.

The other Wuhuan chiefs showed a touch of joy upon hearing this, thinking that if Liu Yu came, they’d switch sides immediately, as they’d see him as a good brother of the Wuhuan people.

Actually, saying Liu Yu was particularly kind to the Wuhuan would be a joke. The Liu royal family made the distinction between Han Chinese and barbarians quite clear, yet with Gongsun Zan in Youzhou, leading White Horse units to ravage places meant entire areas of Wuhuan vanished.

In such a blood-soaked terror, especially since Liu Yu presented a bit of fairness, and as long as the Hu People submitted to cultural assimilation and learned the official language, he’d be willing to accept them, even if Liu Yu’s conditions were more demanding, he was still considered a good person by the Wuhuan people.

”If the message is accurate, giving Duke Bo’an a big gift wouldn’t hurt,” mentioned a Wuhuan chief smacking his lips, as the Wuhuan didn’t really want to antagonize the Han Dynasty anymore, especially since Gongsun Zan, a man capable of single-handedly defeating the Wuhuan, was extinguished by Han Dynasty orders.

As for tricking the Huns, to tell the truth, the Wuhuan did fear the Huns, but they feared the Han even more. Gongsun Bogui casting a shadow over the Wuhuan wasn’t an exaggeration, and even now, upon seeing groups of White Horses on the northeast grasslands, the Wuhuan people reflexively avoided them.

”I don’t think we should do it,” determined another chief after considering the matter. ”The Huns are not to be provoked, and whether the former Governor of Youzhou has returned is still uncertain. However, the idea of making a gesture without substantial action is good. I’ll send a War Eagle to scout where the Northern Huns have gone.”

The chiefs exchanged looks, having their thoughts, while the one with the short spears chuckled quietly, being a man of Supuwan. When the Huns first seized control of the Wuhuan, Supuwan sent his entire direct lineage to connect with each Wuhuan tribe.

The so-called insiders among the Hu People, as predicted by Liu Yu—Supuwan indeed, as anticipated, had no intention to surrender to the Huns.

While kept under house arrest, Supuwan showed no integrity but arranged his direct lineage immediately after the Hun leader left, always ready to seize the opportunity, achieve great merit, and become a marquis appointed by the Han Dynasty.

In short, not only was this group of Wuhuan chiefs considering siding with the Han, but even many previously hesitant Wuhuan chiefs were loosening their stance. Compared to the Huns, the Han Dynasty was indeed much better.

”Huh, why did my War Eagle return so soon?” asked the Wuhuan chief with a strange look at his war eagle, which he had just sent off against the wind. Could the Northern Huns have arrived this fast? He gestured for the War Eagle to land and communicated with it briefly, then stood stunned.

”Something’s wrong, something’s wrong, my War Eagle tells me there’s a Han army already landed behind us, and it seems they’re planning to ambush us,” the falconer informed the other chiefs, who fell into confusion.

”Isn’t this suicidal? Does the Han army have a problem with their minds? Haven’t they hidden themselves?” questioned a Wuhuan chief, frowning.

”They have, but the War Eagle flew over from above and could see everything,” the falconer smiled wryly. ”Perhaps this Han army doesn’t know that we use eagles for reconnaissance.”

”No, the bigger problem is that if we can detect it, so can the Northern Huns. The Han army’s plan is clearly to attack from multiple directions, but once this tactic is discovered,” said a Wuhuan chief wielding a great sword, feeling a headache coming on.

Conspiracies are most afraid of being exposed; once discovered and countered, they’re essentially doomed.

”What should we do?” The Hu People looked at each other. The Han army’s strategy was not bad—they would first break through upfront, then lure their enemies away with the vice army, and finally use their elite forces to ambush the Northern Huns. But the problem was that this Han army was completely unaware that they sometimes used eagles rather than people for reconnaissance!

”Send someone to inform the Han army and make this clear to them. If we don’t notify them and the Northern Huns discover the Han army, while the Han army remains unaware…” warned the Wuhuan chief with the short spears, growing chilly with dread, sentiments shared by other chiefs.

”If we truly annihilate over ten thousand Han regular troops, our extinction as Wuhuan might not be far off,” shouted the Wuhuan chief with the short spears, drenched with cold sweat, igniting fear among the others.

”I second that,” said one of the chiefs who had remained silent until now.

The Han army was not to be messed with. Occasionally, when both sides fought, the Wuhuan might lose hundreds, while the Han army only lost tens. The Han wouldn’t fuss over it, but if the Northern Huns seized the opportunity while the Han army was unaware of their reconnaissance tactics and successfully countered, annihilating over ten thousand Han troops, the Han Dynasty would undoubtedly obliterate the Wuhuan.

The Huns, for certain, had immense debts without worry; ’never coexisting with the Han’ was a statement heard not only from the Han Dynasty but also from the Huns. Both sides would pile blood vendettas to the top, uncaring of anything else, while even minor assistance from Wuhuan in such a major incident would result in them bearing unbearable consequences.

”This is our only option. If we are to lean towards the Han Dynasty, we must prevent the Han Dynasty from experiencing such an outcome on this battlefield,” the Wuhuan chief with the short spears sighed, as dwarves wedged between giants must contemplate many factors.