Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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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.

As Kuitou’s forces descended upon the Xiongnu’s tribe on the border, chaos erupted. The Xiongnu warriors led by Bogda fought fiercely, but the sheer size and ferocity of the Xianbei onslaught overwhelmed them due to the large difference in size.

The Xiongnu’s formations fractured under the pressure, and Kuitou seized the opportunity to drive them into a complete rout. In the heat of the battle, Kuitou led a charge directly into the heart of the Xiongnu ranks, his presence inspiring his warriors and striking fear into the hearts of his enemies.

With Kuitou leading the charge into the heart of the Xiongnu formation, his presence seemed to grow with each blow struck and every order given. His warriors rallied around him, their morale boosted by his fierce leadership, and the respect he commanded among the Xianbei chieftains grew.

The thought of a united Xianbei Confederation, a revival of their people’s strength and unity, began to emerge in the minds of the chieftains. Yet they knew that these hopes would only have a future if they first crushed the Xiongnu here and now, for that future to have the foundation to be accomplished.

Bogda, the Xiongnu chieftain on the border, felt the crushing weight of his army’s defeat. His forces were breaking, the screams of his men punctuated by the relentless clash of Xianbei weapons. With his warriors scattered and few options left, he made the difficult decision to order a retreat.

Raising his sword high, he gave the signal, shouting over the din for his warriors to fall back and regroup. As the command spread through the ranks, the remaining Xiongnu began to scramble in all directions, desperate to escape the Xianbei onslaught.

But Kuitou was not one to let his enemy slip away so easily. Observing the chaos and sensing that victory was at hand, he shouted to his men, ”No survivors! Let no Xiongnu escape to carry word of our strength back to their kin!” His voice carried above the sounds of battle, and the Xianbei warriors responded with renewed ferocity. The scattered Xiongnu were pursued mercilessly, their cries fading as they were hunted down across the open plains.

As his warriors executed his command, Kuitou’s gaze fell on Bogda, who was retreating with a small group of loyal fighters, desperately trying to shield him as they maneuvered their way out of the battle. Kuitou’s eyes narrowed.

This chieftain, the one responsible for guarding the Xiongnu’s eastern borders, was a valuable target. Taking Bogda’s life would demoralize the remaining Xiongnu and send a clear message to the others. With a nod to his men, Kuitou spurred his horse forward, followed closely by his most trusted warriors, their focus fixed on the fleeing chieftain.

Bogda’s escape was fraught with danger as the Xianbei pressed in from all sides. His loyal warriors clashed with the pursuers, buying him precious seconds, but Kuitou and his men were relentless.

They cut down each defender, narrowing the gap with every passing moment. Bogda’s heart raced as he glanced over his shoulder, seeing the determined expression on Kuitou’s face. He knew there would be no mercy if he were caught.

The chase stretched across the windswept plains, with Bogda darting through shallow ravines and rocky outcrops, his men fighting tooth and nail to protect him. But one by one, his defenders fell, and soon it was just Bogda, alone and surrounded by the Xianbei. Realizing he was out of options, Bogda turned to face Kuitou, his expression defiant even in the face of certain death.

Kuitou dismounted, meeting Bogda’s gaze as he approached. The two warriors stared each other down, an unspoken understanding passing between them. In a final, desperate move, Bogda charged, swinging his sword in a wide arc, hoping to take his enemy down with him.

But Kuitou was quicker; he sidestepped and brought his own blade down, striking Bogda with a decisive blow. The Xiongnu chieftain fell to the ground, his lifeblood staining the earth while his eyes were still open filled with unwillingness.

With Bogda’s death, the last of the Xiongnu resistance crumbled. The remaining warriors, leaderless and scattered, were hunted down by Kuitou’s men, ensuring that no one would escape to warn the Xiongnu main forces of the Xianbei’s strength. The plains were littered with the bodies of fallen Xiongnu, a stark testament to the Xianbei’s brutal victory.

As night fell, the Xianbei warriors gathered around fires, tending to their wounds and recounting the day’s battle with a mixture of pride and awe. Kuitou stood among them, his gaze distant as he contemplated the battle’s success and its implications for the future.

This victory was more than a mere battle as it was the first step toward solidifying his people’s strength and perhaps, in time, forging a new Xianbei Confederation that could rival the greatest powers in the steppe and even the Han Empire, like what his grand uncle Tanshihuai made.

While Kuitou’s warriors rested, scouts were dispatched to survey the surrounding area and ensure there were no nearby Xiongnu camps that might alert their main forces.

The Xianbei’s swift and decisive attack had been planned to avoid attracting the attention of Tugeh Khagan’s Coalition Army, which was currently engaged with the Han forces near the Great Wall.

Any hint of Xianbei involvement could potentially jeopardize the alliance with the Han, and Kuitou intended to keep his people’s strength concealed until they could secure more territory and resources for themselves.

Back at the Great Wall, Yuan Shao’s men observed the Xianbei’s movements with growing concern, and knowing that they suddenly clashed with the Ziongnu meant some big changes would happen at the steppes.

Though they had no clear knowledge of the exact events unfolding on the northern plains, reports of large-scale mobilizations should have reached their lord’s court in Nanpi several days ago, but they received no responses which caused them to send another one.

But once again, Lie Fan’s Oriole agents intervened, intercepting these messages to ensure that Yuan Shao remained unaware of Cao Cao’s moves, and ensure the success of Lie Fan’s plan.

It was imperative that Yuan Shao remain uninformed, as any suspicion might disrupt the increasing border incident that Lie Fan had so carefully engineered between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, waiting for the right moment to unleash the news and cause both sides to battle each other while he enters as a third party.

In the Great Wall main tower, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai received the latest reports from Zhang Wei through his raven. The Northern Xiongnu border tribes had been crushed, and Kuitou’s forces were consolidating their hold on the newly claimed lands.

The two advisors exchanged a satisfied glance; the plan was progressing as intended. With the Xiongnu’s defenses fractured at their border, they could now proceed with the next phase of their strategy, taunting Tugeh Khagan and leading the fight to him, while also releasing the news of the Xianbei attack to Tugeh Khagan and his army, which would allow them to finally move in to secure key territories while the Xianbei occupied Tugeh Khagan and his army.

Days passed as Kuitou’s forces advanced through the plains, capturing strategic locations and establishing a firm presence in the region. The Xianbei’s victories continued to attract attention from rival tribes, each assessing the Xianbei’s newfound strength.

Kuitou, aware of the delicate balance he was now walking while gaining more power for Xianbei, sent emissaries to nearby tribes, to appease them and promise that the blades of war wouldn’t face their direction.

Meanwhile, back at the Great Wall, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai set their next phase into motion. With the northern borders of the Xiongnu fractured and Kuitou’s forces advancing swiftly through the steppes, the strategists implemented their tactic of feigned vulnerability.

Guo Jia’s gaze sharpened as he reviewed their plans with Xi Zhicai, who was equally intent on making every calculated move work seamlessly. They decided to selectively fortify certain sections along the Wall, presenting the illusion of an overstretched and undermanned defense line. It was a deliberate deception, meant to lure the Xiongnu into what they would perceive as a weak point ripe for attack.

Xiahou Dun, Li Dian, Yu Jin, Ma Teng, and Han Sui were stationed at the seemingly vulnerable positions, each with specific orders to reinforce the illusion while lying in wait. As these generals and his men readied themselves for what lay ahead, scouts were sent to ensure that their movements remained inconspicuous, preserving the mirage of the Han’s feigned inadequacy.

The plan was for the Xiongnu to take the bait, believing the Han forces to be overextended, and rush headlong into a trap. The trickle of information about the Xianbei invasion had been carefully orchestrated; they would let the news slowly reach Tugeh Khagan’s encampment in just the right manner and timing to spark confusion and overconfidence within the Xiongnu ranks.

In the Xiongnu encampment, several kilometers away on the open plains, the atmosphere was tense and dismal. The past two successive defeats had sent a wave of anxiety rippling through the camp. To maintain morale, the Xiongnu had attempted aggressive raids on the Great Wall, firing volleys of arrows and harassing the Han troops stationed there.

The intention was to lure the Han soldiers into a reckless sortie, hoping to inflict casualties in open skirmishes. However, only half their objective was achieved; while Han soldiers did suffer injuries, they refused to abandon their positions on the wall, remaining unmoved by the provocation.

The skirmishes and raids against the Great Wall had yielded little, and combined with the failure to draw the Han forces out frustrated the Xiongnu chieftains, who gathered in Tugeh Khagan’s tent to voice their complaints, where voices filled with anger and disappointment rose as they demanded explanations for their lack of progress and spoils.

Amid the rising discontent in Tugeh Khagan’s tent, his advisors tried to calm the disgruntled chieftains, but their words fell short. Just as the tension in the tent reached its peak, a scout burst in, panting from his ride across the plains.

”My Khagan,” the scout began, his voice strained but steady, ”the situation at the Great Wall is... strange. The Han defenses appear overextended. We see more movement along the Wall—some sections look weaker than others.” A spark of interest flared among the chieftains. They exchanged looks, and many had a glint of opportunity in their eyes. This was precisely the kind of news they had been waiting for—a sign of weakness from the Han. However, Tugeh Khagan’s advisors remained cautious. Tugeh himself furrowed his brow, wary of the information.

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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