Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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Kuitou listened carefully to the debate, his expression unreadable. He understood the merits and drawbacks of both options. Trading with the Fuyu was safer and more reliable, but it would take time, time they might not have. Trading with the Han, on the other hand, could yield immediate results, but it came with the risk of betrayal and the potential for political complications.

As the chieftains continued to debate, Kuitou’s mind raced. He knew that the decision he made would have far reaching consequences for the Xianbei. The wrong choice could lead to their downfall, while the right one could secure their future. After what felt like an eternity, he raised his hand, silencing the room.

”Both options have merit,” he said, his voice steady. ”But we must consider the bigger picture. The Fuyu are a neutral tribe to us, and trading with them would strengthen our relationship. However, we cannot ignore the urgency of our situation. The Xiongnu are preparing for war, and we need resources now. Therefore, I propose a dual approach. We will send envoys to the Fuyu to negotiate a trade agreement, but we will also explore the possibility of trading with the Han, probing to see if they will accept and if their price isn’t abnormal. If we can secure resources from both sources, we will be in a much stronger position as it will fasten our construction.”

The chieftains murmured their approval, impressed by Kuitou’s pragmatic approach. The decision was not without risks, but it offered the best chance of success for them. With the council’s support, Kuitou began to implement his plan as soon as possible.

Envoys were dispatched to the Fuyu tribe, carrying gifts and promises of future cooperation, alongside the things they wanted to trade with. At the same time, a small delegation was sent south to the Han territories which were under Lie Fan’s control unknown to them.

The delegation was instructed to tread carefully, avoiding any mention of the Xianbei’s conflict with the Xiongnu. Their mission was to establish trade relations, nothing more and nothing less.

As the envoys set out on their missions, Kuitou turned his attention to the defenses along the western border. He ordered the construction of small outpost camps, which would serve as rest points for patrols and early warning stations in case of a Xiongnu attack, with whatever resources they had at the moment.

The tribes along the border were instructed to increase their patrols and report any suspicious activity especially any movement from the Xiongnu’s domain, while ordering for the tribes population on the border to move into the hinterland of Xianbei’s domain. Kuitou knew that the Xiongnu would not attack without warning, but he was determined to be prepared for any eventuality.

The Xianbei warriors, though fewer in number than the Xiongnu, were fiercely loyal to Kuitou. They had seen his leadership in action and trusted him to guide them through the challenges ahead.

Under his direction, they began training with renewed vigor, honing their skills in archery, horseback riding, hand to hand combat, and blade combat. Kuitou also introduced new tactics inspired by the Han, emphasizing discipline and coordination over brute force.

Meanwhile, the delegation that was sent by Kuitou to the Great Wall had just arrived, and they were immediately met with a tense reception. A contingent of soldiers stationed along the towering fortifications of the Great Wall had their bows drawn, arrows nocked, and aimed squarely at the Xianbei envoys.

The air was thick with tension as the leader of the delegation, a seasoned warrior who knew some diplomacy named Toghrul, raised his hands in a gesture of peace. He urged his horse forward, his voice carrying across the distance as he shouted, ”We come in peace! We seek to establish a trade arrangement with your lord or the merchants of the Han!”

The commander of the unit atop the wall, a grizzled veteran named General Zhang who had served for a long time guarding the border, narrowed his eyes as he assessed the situation.

He had seen his fair share of nomadic tribes attempting to cross the Wall, some with peaceful intentions, others with ulterior motives. After a moment of deliberation, he raised his hand, signaling his men to lower their bows but remain on high alert. ”Hold your positions,” he ordered, his voice firm. ”Do not let your guard down. These Xianbei may claim peace, but we cannot afford to take risks.”

General Zhang quickly dispatched a messenger to report the situation to his commanding officer, General Li, who was stationed at a nearby garrison. The message was brief but urgent, a Xianbei delegation had arrived at the Wall, seeking trade relations.

General Li, a man known for his cautious but pragmatic approach to his man, deliberated for a short while before issuing his orders. ”Allow them to enter,” he instructed, ”but they must be under constant escort by our soldiers. We cannot afford to let them roam freely. Monitor their every move and ensure they do not stray from their stated purpose.”

The messenger relayed the orders back to General Zhang, who saluted in acknowledgment before returning to the Wall. He addressed Toghrul, his tone firm but not hostile. ”You may enter, but you will be escorted by our soldiers at all times. Any deviation from your stated purpose will be met with swift consequences. Do you understand?”

Toghrul, though wary of the Han’s mistrust, had no choice but to accept the terms. He nodded solemnly, his expression unreadable. ”We understand. We are here only to trade, nothing more.”

As the Xianbei delegation passed through the gates of the Great Wall under the watchful eyes of the Han soldiers, the Oriole agents stationed along the Wall observed the scene with keen interest. These agents, loyal to Lie Fan and operating under the direction of Jia Xu, Xu Kai, and Wang Yi, were trained to notice even the slightest irregularities.

The sudden appearance of a Xianbei delegation seeking trade relations was highly unusual. While the Xianbei had occasionally engaged in one time trades with the Han, they had never before sought to establish a formal trade relationship. This deviation from their usual behavior raised red flags.

One of the Oriole agents, a sharp eyed operative named Liang, immediately drafted a report detailing the situation. He emphasized the suspicious nature of the Xianbei’s request and the potential implications for Lie Fan’s domain.

The report was then entrusted to a messenger bird, a specially trained creature capable of flying twice as fast as ordinary birds and with far greater endurance. Within three days, the message arrived in Xiapi, delivered directly to Lie Fan and Jia Xu.

It was fortunate that both men were present in the Xiapi Governor’s Castle when the message arrived. Jia Xu currently was in his office reviewing intelligence reports from Oriole agents across the land, when the messenger bird landed on his windowsill.

He retrieved the message, his eyes scanning the contents with growing interest. The Xianbei’s sudden interest in trade was indeed unusual, and Jia Xu’s sharp mind immediately began piecing together the possible motives behind their actions.

Without delay, Jia Xu made his way to Lie Fan’s office. When he arrived, he found his lord already reading a copy of the same message, his expression thoughtful.

Lie Fan looked up as Jia Xu entered, gesturing for him to take a seat. ”Wenhe,” Lie Fan began, his tone calm but inquisitive, ”what do you make of this? The Xianbei seeking a trade relationship with our merchants is highly unusual. What do you think they are planning?”

Jia Xu folded his hands in his lap, his mind racing as he considered the possibilities. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice measured and deliberate. ”My lord, I believe this move is directly tied to the Xiongnu. As you know, Cao Cao has been meddling in Xiongnu affairs, using them as a tool to expand his influence northward.”

”The Xiongnu, under the leadership of Batu and Zolgar, have been preparing for war against the Xianbei, seeking revenge for the attacks launched against them during their conflict with Cao Cao. The Xianbei, being outnumbered and outmatched, are likely preparing their defenses. Their sudden interest in trade with us suggests they are in desperate need of resources like wood, weapons, and other materials to fortify their position.”

Lie Fan nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. ”So, you believe the Xianbei are seeking to strengthen themselves against the Xiongnu threat?”

”Precisely,” Jia Xu replied. ”The Xianbei are a smaller and less powerful tribe compared to the Xiongnu, not like in the past. They lack the resources and manpower to withstand a full scale invasion from much larger Xiongnu. By establishing trade relations with us, they hope to acquire the materials they need to build some fortifications, arm their warriors, and prepare for the coming conflict. It is a pragmatic move, but one that carries significant risks for them. They are essentially revealing their vulnerability to us, a potential adversary.”

Lie Fan leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest as he considered Jia Xu’s analysis. ”If that is the case, then this presents us with an opportunity. The Xianbei are desperate, and desperation can be exploited. But we must tread carefully. If we assist them too openly, we risk drawing the suspicion of the Xiongnu and by extension, Cao Cao. On the other hand, if we refuse them, we may miss a chance to weaken both the Xianbei and the Xiongnu by allowing them to exhaust each other in conflict.”

Jia Xu’s lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes gleaming with calculation. ”My lord, I believe we can navigate this situation to our advantage. We can agree to trade with the Xianbei, but on our terms. We can provide them with the resources they need, but at a high cost, both in terms of material and political concessions. This will drain their resources further, weakening them in the long run. At the same time, we can use this opportunity to gather intelligence on both the Xianbei and the Xiongnu. Our Oriole agents can embed themselves within the Xianbei delegation, observing their movements and reporting back to us.”

Lie Fan’s eyes lit up with approval. ”A shrewd plan, Wenhe. We will play the role of the benevolent trader, all while positioning ourselves to benefit from their conflict. But we must ensure that our involvement remains covert. Cao Cao cannot learn of our dealings with the Xianbei, or he may see it as a direct challenge to his influence in the north outside of the Great Wall, we don’t want to put our hands in there yet for now.”

Jia Xu nodded in agreement. ”I will instruct our agents to proceed with caution, my lord. The Xianbei delegation will be closely monitored, and any information they provide will be carefully scrutinized. We will also ensure that our trade agreements are structured in a way that maximizes our gains while minimizing the exposure of our dealings.”

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 33 (200 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