SWDnovel Chapter 1400: Chaos before War
Chapter 1400: Chaos before War
Chapter 1400: Chaos before War
Seeing Tuoba Xilu so panic-stricken, with fear still on his face, and even trying to please him, Sima Yi suddenly had an idea when he remembered that this person was arrogant at first but respectful later:
Tuoba Liwei's decision to depose the eldest son and enthronize the youngest was a way to cause chaos, but the youngest son was so useless and incompetent.
From this perspective, death and extinction of the clan are not unimaginable...
He thought so in his heart, but his face was amiable:
"Why do you have to be so polite, nephew?"
As he spoke, he stepped forward and helped Tuoba Xilu up, "Get up quickly, get up."
After Tuoba Xilu stood up, Sima Yi gently patted his shoulder and said in a gentle voice:
"I already know about the Tuoba clan's affairs. My dear nephew, please accept my condolences. You must accept my condolences!"
But just a few words were enough to make Tuoba Xilu's nose sore.
"I have said it before, Feng the thief has always been cunning, and his actions are cruel, so he is known as a cruel and ruthless person."
Tuoba Xilu stammered when he heard this:
"I regret not listening to the Master's teachings..."
Sima Yi sighed:
"In fact, I didn't expect that Feng the thief could do such a thing..."
They sent troops outside the Great Wall in winter and went deep into the grassland, directly annihilating the largest tribe on the grassland.
Thinking that Tuoba Liwei was the greatest help he could find, he ended up in such a situation.
Sima Yi also felt a little sad because he felt sympathy for his own kind.
When Sima Yi heard the news, his hands and feet turned cold, as if he had fallen into an icy cave.
That was a large tribe with over 100,000 soldiers, yet it was destroyed by the Han army in winter.
This thief Feng... is so cruel that he is as ruthless as his mother!
Cruel and vicious!
If you don’t take action, then it’s fine. But once you take action, you won’t give anyone a chance to survive.
Therefore, his first priority this time was to appease Tuoba Xilu.
Then he should win over the hearts of the 50,000 cavalrymen of the Tuoba clan, so that they would not become demoralized and collapse due to the destruction of the tribe.
We have completely lost the support from outside the Great Wall, and we cannot lose these 50,000 troops.
"Don't worry. I have an alliance with Tuoba Khan, and you are here to fulfill the agreement. Although the Khan's tent of Tuoba family has been destroyed on the grassland, don't you still have 50,000 troops in your hands, my nephew?"
"And they are all young and strong warriors. As long as you and I join forces and defeat the Feng bandits, you can use the prestige of defeating the Feng bandits, plus my support, to lead these 50,000 elite cavalry back to the frontier to rebuild Tuoba. It will be a piece of cake."
Tuoba Xilu felt relieved when he received Sima Yi's promise that he would continue to support his people with food and fodder.
In addition to being grateful, when I heard the prospects described by Sima Yi, I would be lying if I said I wasn't moved.
They were just frightened by the Han army's genocide, and the chill had not yet worn off. Their previous contempt for the Han army had now reversed and instantly turned into fear of the Han army.
That was during the cold winter when the ice and snow had not yet melted, but the Han army was able to penetrate deep into the border area and even directly attack the Tuoba tribe's wintering area.
No matter how stupid Tuoba Xilu is, as long as his IQ is above the human average, he will understand what this means.
For the grassland warriors, the white disaster is the greatest test brought by the gods to the grassland.
However, this test was not difficult at all for the Han army.
From now on, the entire desert may just be a hunting ground for the Han army.
The prey is the tribe on the grassland.
Feng the Plague God... could it be that he really has the power of a ghost or god?
Thinking this in his heart, Tuoba Xilu asked Sima Yi in a low voice:
"Master Taifu, I heard that the Taihang Mountains are majestic and the roads are narrow like goat intestines. They are the barrier of Hebei. It is so dangerous. That Feng plague... Master Taifu, are you sure you can stop that Feng thief with the Taihang Mountains as a wall?"
Hearing this, Sima Yi was stunned, and his contempt for Tuoba Xilu increased even more.
It was just that the tribe was destroyed. Tuoba Xilu hadn't even seen the Han army, but he was already so frightened. What a coward!
To be honest, I still prefer your previous rebellious look.
Even though you may be a little rude to me, as long as you have the courage to defeat the thief Feng, I will be a little tolerant.
Thinking of this, Sima Taifu's face became even kinder, and his tone became even softer:
"Prince Tuoba, don't worry. I have been managing the Taihang Pass for several years. Every pass is guarded by elite soldiers and generals. There are many forts and strongholds built in the dangerous places."
"Unless he grows wings and flies over the Taihang Mountains, otherwise..."
When Master Sima reached this point, he stuttered for an inexplicable moment. He didn't know why, but he always felt a little weak when he said this.
So the words came to my lips and turned into:
"Even if he can come, he will suffer heavy casualties. By that time, the Han army will surely be exhausted."
"You and I, together, have more than 200,000 troops. We are well-rested and ready to take advantage of him. Are you afraid of him?"
Before his tribe was destroyed, Tuoba Xilu was naturally not afraid.
He even wished that the Han army could cross Taihang Mountains earlier.
But at this moment, he felt extremely embarrassed when he heard what Sima Taifu said.
After all, you can't take back what you said before.
He explained in a low voice:
"Grandmaster, the Tuoba tribe has just been defeated. Although they still have 50,000 elite cavalry, their people are panic-stricken and their morale is low. They are timid at the name of the Han army. I'm afraid that for the time being, they will not be able to go into battle!"
Sima Taifu nodded and agreed:
"I am not ignorant of military affairs, so how can I not know that morale is low after a great defeat?"
Then he consoled her:
"But Prince Tuoba, you must also know that those 50,000 elite cavalrymen are warriors carefully selected by Tuoba Liweikehan."
"These people are the most elite warriors of the Tuoba tribe. Even if they suffer a temporary setback, as long as they are properly appeased, I believe they will be able to regain their morale soon."
Tuoba Xilu still looked dejected and sighed:
"Taifu, you don't know that my people respect warriors the most, not to mention that these people are all veterans of the tribe, and only those who are extremely brave can be defeated."
"Now that Kehan has died suddenly, there has been no time to designate who will take over Kehan's position. So even if I am Kehan's son, I have not had time to make great contributions, and people may not obey me."
In fact, this was the plan that led to his diplomatic mission to Southern Xia.
He acts as a coordinator between the tribe and Nanxia, but if there is a war, as long as the adults don't lead the army personally, he will be the most suitable candidate to lead the tribal reinforcements.
After the allied forces with Wei defeated the Han army, the tribe could then use the power of Wei to seize the Liaodong area...
As long as you can do all this, then you will have made a great contribution.
That's why he was so impatient to have a decisive battle with the Han army a few days ago.
Tuoba Xilu had stayed in Yecheng for a long time. Although he had never even been to Luoyang, he considered himself to be relatively familiar with the Han areas and the Han people.
The Southern Xia states were fighting for supremacy, and it was the time when the Great Xianbei rose again...
The young Tuoba Xilu was full of ambition and high spirits.
Unexpectedly, the tribe did send reinforcements in advance, and the Han army was about to arrive, but his mood at this time was completely different from the previous days.
Because Mr. Feng slapped me in the face from a distance.
He was in so much pain that he even had to reflect on himself in front of Master Sima and speak the truth:
I am too young and have not accomplished anything. Those warriors may not necessarily obey me.
Sima Taifu laughed, showing his understanding, and then offered an idea:
"Tuoba Kehan is dead, and it was Tuoba Shamo Khan who did it. Prince Tuoba, as the second son of Tuoba Kehan, should be the successor to Kehan's throne."
"We Han people have an old saying, 'In a town of ten households, there must be a loyal person. As long as Prince Tuoba has a reputation, there will always be loyal people in your tribe."
Sima Taifu spoke slowly and in a low voice:
"When the time comes, Prince Tuoba will give me a list. I will give more food and clothing to those who support you. If they do not obey, they will naturally be deprived of food and clothing."
"In less than a month, I believe everyone will know what to choose, and Prince Tuoba can also take advantage of the situation to establish his prestige and command everyone, as easy as turning the palm of your hand over."
When Tuoba Xilu heard this, his eyes lit up and the expression on his face finally became excited.
He widened his eyes, even suspecting that he was dreaming:
"Master, Master, are you willing to help me?"
Sima Taifu laughed:
"Although Tuoba Kehan is gone, the alliance between me and the Tuoba clan still exists, and the Han army is pressing ahead. It is the time for us to work closely together. How can I just watch the Tuoba clan fall into internal strife and do nothing?"
Sima Yi's words were tantamount to clear support for Tuoba Xilu to take charge of the last 50,000 remaining Tuoba clan members.
Tuoba Xilu was sure that he had heard correctly, and finally showed an expression of extreme emotion on his face, and even his lips trembled a little, but he did not say anything. In the end, his attitude finally became respectful:
"Grandmaster... Tuoba Xilu, thank you for your kindness in giving me a new life! I was ignorant and offended you last time, so I deserve to die. I hope you will forgive me."
Regarding Tuoba Xilu's initiative to admit his mistake, Sima Taifu naturally took the attitude of a great man and forgave the villain's mistakes.
After laughing it off, they gave some encouragement and both sides expressed that they would cooperate sincerely in the future to defeat the thief Feng.
Before leaving, Taifu Sima reminded Tuoba Xilu again and again that he must appease the tribe in a timely manner, and at the same time, hand him the list of candidates most likely to be won over as soon as possible, and then left.
Tuoba Xilu was so grateful that he naturally agreed.
After sending Sima Taifu out of the house and watching him drive away in the carriage, he turned around and went back.
He didn't know that the amiable look on Sima Taifu's face disappeared in an instant when he lowered the curtain in the carriage.
Sima Yi closed his eyes for a while, as if thinking about something, and then suddenly asked the people in the car:
"Lanshi, what do you think of Tuoba Xilu?"
Fu Gu, the Zhonglang who came with Sima Yi, bowed and said:
"Taifu, I think this person was quite rude to you a few days ago, but now he is very respectful. From this, it can be seen that this person is rude when he is in power and cowardly when he is out of power."
"As the saying goes, the Diyi people fear power but not virtue, and that's true! In the war in Hebei, we must not pin our hopes on this man."
Fu Gu was the Minister of Personnel at the beginning of Cao Shuang's regency. He saw at a glance that He Yan, one of the three dogs in Taizhong, was not a good person. He once said to Cao Shuang's brother Cao Xi in private:
"He Pingshu is quiet on the outside but cunning on the inside, and he loves profit instead of focusing on the basics. I am afraid that he will first confuse his sons and brothers, and the benevolent people will stay away, and the government will be ruined."
However, not only did Cao Shuang and his brothers not listen, the news was also heard by He Yan, who finally dismissed Fu Gu from his official position on the pretext of a trivial matter.
Fu Gu could be regarded as one of the first talents who abandoned Cao Shuang and joined Sima Yi, so Sima Yi attached great importance to Fu Gu.
Sima Yi heard Fu Gu's words and nodded slowly, then frowned again with a hint of anger on his face:
"Yes! Last time, I saw that this person was arrogant and threatened to make Feng the thief. I thought he was very courageous, so I tolerated his rudeness again and again."
"I didn't expect that today, I saw that he was just an ignorant person who had never seen the world. As soon as Tuoba Liwei was destroyed, he became a coward. He was afraid before he even met the Han army."
Fu Gu comforted him, "How many people in the world can be as tenacious and unyielding as you, Master? Now that the situation has changed, Master, you should think of a solution in time."
"Based on the cunning and vicious behavior of Feng the bandit, after destroying the Tuoba clan, I'm afraid he is targeting the Grand Tutor and wants to cut off the Grand Tutor's support. He must have a backup plan."
The flattery did not make Sima Yi feel better. Instead, he groaned:
"How could I not know that? That's why I came here in a hurry to find Tuoba Xilu, intending to discuss matters with him, but I didn't expect... Humph!"
Thinking of Tuoba Xilu's ugly behavior just now, Sima Yi's face became more gloomy:
"In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Gu hurriedly asked, "Master, do you have any plans?"
Sima Yi did not answer, but asked:
"What should I do with what I have seen from Lanshi?"
Fu Gu said without hesitation:
"Tuoba Xilu is incompetent. Even with the help of the Grand Tutor, there is no way he can completely replace Tuoba Liwei and lead the 50,000 elite cavalry. It would be better for the Grand Tutor to take charge personally."
When Sima Yi heard this, his expression changed from anger to joy, and he said with a smile:
"What Lanshi said really struck a chord with me."
Then he lowered his voice and said, "In fact, that's exactly what I meant."
"Oh?" Fu Gu's face was also full of joy. "It turns out that Gu's guess was right. The Grand Master has already come up with an idea."
Sima Yi nodded and said:
"I asked Tuoba Xilu to point out someone who could be won over. On the surface, I said I wanted to help him, but in fact, I did the opposite. I would provide enough food and clothing for anyone who disobeyed Tuoba Xilu."
"Over time, those who are willing to rely on Tuoba Xilu will sooner or later lose their hearts, and then these Tuoba remnants will fall into my hands."
As for whether these people would be dissatisfied and run away...
These stray dogs have entered Hebei Province. It is already a great favor for me to give them a place to stay. How can they still want to run away?
In recent years, the horses traded from the border have been becoming fewer and fewer, more and more expensive, and worse and worse. Now, someone suddenly gave him such a cavalry. Sima Yi felt that God was blessing him.
God and God cannot take it, but they are to blame.
If I don't eat it in one bite right now, I'm afraid God will not forgive me!