Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Zhang Wei nodded, acknowledging the Xianbei’s doubts. ”We understand your concerns. To show our sincerity, we are prepared to share the intelligence we have gathered on the Xiongnu’s defenses and troop movements, information that could benefit your campaign. We will send our own troops to join you at the agreed locations. Both sides would have eyes on the battlefield, and there would be no room for deception.”

Kuitou considered this for a long moment. The offer of shared intelligence was a bold move and unprecedented, suggesting that the Han were willing to place a certain level of trust in them.

Yet he was aware of the risks. An alliance with the Han would mean exposing his warriors to the machinations of a powerful empire that had often viewed the northern tribes with suspicion and crusade against them if they could.

The council watched him expectantly, awaiting his decision. After a moment, Kuitou inclined his head, his voice steady. ”Very well, Zhang Wei. We will consider your proposal, but we will need further assurances. You say the Han will join us in the field, yet words are easy to speak. When the time comes, if the Han do not stand with us, we will remember those actions.”

Zhang Wei’s gaze was unwavering as he replied, ”You have my word, and that of my lord, Cao Cao. We will see this alliance through until the demise of the Xiongnu.”

Kuitou nodded, accepting the commitment. He signaled to the council of chieftains, who had been silent but watchful throughout the exchange. ”Prepare our warriors,” he commanded. ”We will march as planned. The Xiongnu will soon see that their arrogance and overconfidence have brought them enemies from every side.”

The chieftains rose, the weight of decision settling on them as they moved to prepare their forces. The tent emptied, leaving Kuitou and Zhang Wei alone, each studying the other in the silence that followed.

As the day drew to a close, the Xianbei camp bustled with preparations for war. Messengers rode out to rally distant tribes, warriors sharpened their weapons, and banners were readied for the coming march. The fires burned brightly across the camp, a symbol of the unity and determination that Kuitou had instilled in his people.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wei and his retinue made their way back to a tent prepared for them by the Xianbei to take a rest, having accomplished their mission. As they walked, Zhang Wei allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.

As Zhang Wei settled into the tent provided for him, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of satisfaction. Not only had he managed to persuade Kuitou and the Xianbei chieftains to form an alliance, but he had also planted a seed of trust that would lull them into a sense of equality in their joint campaign.

Zhang Wei knew well that the promises of equal spoils, territory, and cooperation were far from the real intent of his lord. His mission was to make the Xianbei believe they would gain, while the true benefit would fall squarely into lord Cao Cao’s hands.

With this achievement, Zhang Wei imagined the rewards awaiting him. His lord, Cao Cao, valued resourcefulness, and Zhang Wei was certain that news of his success would bring commendations, perhaps even elevation to an advisory role or leadership over a campaign of his own.

Beyond that, he hoped to impress the two master strategists, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, whose guidance was instrumental in shaping Cao Cao’s tactics. If they were satisfied with his work, it could be the first step toward an influential position, a dream he had harbored for years.

Unable to wait, Zhang Wei quickly prepared a detailed report on the day’s developments. His hand moved quickly, the words flowing as he wrote out his accomplishments, relishing each stroke as he recounted the deceptive alliance he had forged.

He emphasized the Xianbei’s willingness to march, their commitment to the planned pincer attack, and the confidence Kuitou and his chieftains had shown.

The report was subtle but clear: Zhang Wei had effectively secured the Xianbei’s allegiance for their interests, guiding them into what would likely be a brutal clash with the Xiongnu while their forces moved strategically to capture key territories for themselves.

The hour was late by the time he finished. He tied the letter securely to the leg of a raven he had brought, trained specifically for covert communication. The raven would blend into the darkness, slipping past Xianbei sentries unnoticed and reaching friendly lines at the Great Wall by daybreak. Zhang Wei opened the tent flap, allowing the raven to take flight. He watched as it vanished into the night sky, carrying his success with it.

The raven flew tirelessly, gliding over the rugged landscape and reaching the Great Wall by the next evening. As it approached the main tower, where Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai were currently located, the bird settled on the narrow ledge of a window.

Inside, Guo Jia was poring over a map, refining the details of the carefully planned diversion tactic on the Xiongnu. Xi Zhicai noticed the raven first and signaled to Guo Jia. They both approached the window, Guo Jia carefully removing the letter from the raven’s leg before it fluttered off into the darkening sky.

Guo Jia read the letter silently, his lips curling into a satisfied smile as he handed it to Xi Zhicai. ”It seems Zhang Wei has fulfilled his mission admirably. The Xianbei are convinced they will gain equal territory and spoils from this alliance.”

Xi Zhicai nodded, reading the letter with a keen eye. ”He played his part well. With the Xianbei’s strength directed against the Xiongnu, we will be free to maneuver and secure the most strategic locations without contest.”

Guo Jia leaned back, tracing a finger across the map. ”And by the time the Xianbei realize the true nature of this arrangement, the Xiongnu will be weakened beyond recovery, and we will hold all the land worth holding. Zhang Wei’s actions have ensured the Xianbei won’t question our presence until it’s too late.”

Xi Zhicai looked up, his face contemplative. ”Yet there remains a delicate balance here. We must ensure that Kuitou and his warriors bear the brunt of the Xiongnu resistance. If the Xianbei come through this conflict too unscathed, they may become a problem of their own.”

Guo Jia nodded thoughtfully. ”Indeed. The trick will be to let them do the heavy fighting. We’ll have Zhang Wei monitor their movements, keeping the Xianbei at the vanguard. If they succeed, the Xiongnu will fall, and we will have them to thank; if they weaken, we can swoop in and take control.”

Over the next few days, the final preparations were made. Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai coordinated Cao Cao’s army meticulously, reinforcing their units and ensuring that scouts kept close tabs on both the Xianbei and the Xiongnu.

As word came of the Xianbei’s approach, Cao Cai’s troops quietly took up hidden positions along the planned battleground, choosing high ground and defensible positions that would allow them to strike when the timing was most advantageous.

Meanwhile, Kuitou was equally busy with his own preparations. The Xianbei’s tribal leaders assembled their warriors, rallying them with speeches of vengeance and glory, each one determined to show the might of the Xianbei.

Messengers brought back reports of the Xiongnu’s movements, confirming that their forces were thinly stretched and largely unprepared for a two-front attack. The confidence in the camp was high, and though Kuitou harbored a cautious skepticism, he could feel the swelling pride among his chieftains and warriors.

With the pressure of gaining prestige weighing on him, Kuitou felt the weight of his grand-uncle Tanshihuai’s legacy. If he could emerge victorious, driving the Xiongnu from their lands, he would finally be acknowledged as a unifying leader for the Xianbei.

He had amassed an impressive force of 150,000 warriors under his banner, a powerful army drawn from all across the Xianbei territories, each man driven by a deep-seated hatred of the Xiongnu and a fierce pride in their heritage. The time had come. With final reports in hand, Kuitou gave the order to march, leading his warriors southward toward the Xiongnu’s encampments.

Their objective was clear: hit the Xiongnu’s rear flank and destabilize their forces from within. A brutal assault from behind would disrupt the Xiongnu and allow the Xianbei to expand their domain across the northern steppe. As they advanced, the ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet, sending a signal across the plains that a storm was coming.

In the volatile northern steppe, the movement of such a large force didn’t go unnoticed. Tribes like the Wuhuan, Fuyu, and Yuezhi watched from a distance, assessing the unfolding situation.

Each tribe was deeply aware of the stakes; if the Xianbei and Xiongnu exhausted themselves, there would be opportunities to expand their influence, settle old grievances, or seize lands and resources. Some tribes began reinforcing their own borders, while others watched carefully, biding their time until the inevitable clash provided an opening for them to act.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao’s men stationed across the Great Wall took note of the Xianbei mobilization. Reports were hastily dispatched back to Nanpi, where Yuan Shao’s advisors could deliberate on this significant development.

However, unknown to Yuan Shao’s forces, Lie Fan had taken steps to safeguard his plans to instigate a border incident which led to a war between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

Through his covert network of Oriole agents spread across Yuan Shao’s domain, he intercepted these messages, ensuring that Yuan Shao remained in the dark about the true nature of the Xianbei’s sudden aggression.

The Oriole agents worked efficiently, expertly removing any evidence that could lead Yuan Shao to uncover Cao Cao’s role in stirring up the tribes. Lie Fan intended to keep Yuan Shao and his advisors focused on Cao Cao and the border incident, not on what Cao Cao was doing to the north so as to not let Yuan Shao amass his entire army to give a large blow to Cao Cao, which wasn’t part of Lie Fan’s plan.

Back at the Xianbei encampment, Kuitou rode at the head of his forces, his heart pounding with anticipation. The chance to avenge his people, to make his mark as the true leader of the Xianbei, was within reach.

He knew that victory here would elevate him, solidifying his position and giving him the authority needed to finally once again unify the tribes under a single banner.

He looked back over the endless line of warriors, their banners waving like a sea of determination. Each one of these men was here for a purpose, to honor their ancestors by forging a fire of revenge against the Xiongnu.

The Xianbei moved swiftly, sweeping through the northern plains and into Xiongnu territory. Their approach caught the Northern Xiongnu tribes on the borders by surprise. A Xiongnu chieftain named Bogda, who was stationed at the border between the two tribes had received vague reports about Xianbei activity from his scouts, but hadn’t anticipated an invasion. Bogda scrambled to rally his forces, but the Xiongnu tribes on the border were scattered and were unprepared to face the full might of the Xianbei.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0