565. "True Khan's" Declaration

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Supply lines were heavily guarded, and engineers worked to ensure equipment was in top and good condition as the army progressed. Yan Yan, as the seasoned general who had faced the Nanman tribes before, ensured that his troops maintained discipline and vigilance.

Zhang Ren, on the way to the southern border, proposed an aggressive push to capture key Nanman strongholds early in the campaign. "If we can take their major strongholds quickly, the smaller tribes will lose their will to fight. Speed is our ally, General Yan."

Yan Yan nodded but cautioned, "We must not let ambition cloud our judgment. The Nanman are cunning, and their land is treacherous. Patience and caution will serve us better than haste."

The two generals balanced each other well, their differing approaches creating a harmonious command structure. Behind them, Zhang Song, Fa Zheng, and Meng Da monitored the campaign's progress from Chengdu, ready to provide logistical support and adjust strategies as needed.

The first skirmishes occurred along the border, with Nanman guerilla fighters ambushing supply convoys and harassing scouting parties. The jungle itself seemed to conspire against the invaders, its dense foliage and hidden dangers slowing their advance. However, the discipline and training of Liu Zhang's troops allowed them to weather these early challenges.

As the army pressed deeper into Nanman territory, they encountered Wutugu's warriors at a narrow mountain pass. The battle was fierce, with the Nanman defenders using their superior knowledge of the terrain to devastating effect. Wutugu himself led the charge, his massive frame and spiked armor striking fear into the hearts of the invaders.

Yet, Liu Zhang's army was not easily deterred. Yan Yan and Zhang Ren coordinated their forces with precision, using disciplined formations and superior weaponry to gradually push the defenders back. The pass was eventually secured, but at a high cost, leaving both sides bloodied and determined.

As the campaign dragged on, the Nanman tribes continued to resist fiercely. Meng Huo's strategy of guerilla warfare and psychological tactics took its toll on Liu Zhang's troops, but the invaders' determination and organization remained unbroken.

As Liu Zhang's army continued its campaign in the treacherous southern territories of Yi Province, Yan Yan and Zhang Ren pressed forward, their troops maintaining discipline and cohesion under harsh conditions.

Every step was hard-fought, the jungle closing in around them as the Nanman guerrillas waged a relentless war of attrition. Supply lines were increasingly difficult to maintain, and the constant threat of ambush weighed heavily on the soldiers.

Zhang Ren, ever the strategist, proposed a risky maneuver to strike directly at Meng Huo's base of operations. "General Yan," he urged during a planning meeting, "if we can corner Meng Huo, we can force a decisive engagement and break their resistance. The longer we let him operate, the more dangerous his strategies will become."

Yan Yan, though cautious, saw the merit in Zhang Ren's plan. "Very well," he agreed. "But we must tread carefully. Meng Huo is no ordinary foe, his knowledge, influence, and strength in this land give him an advantage we cannot underestimate. Let us gather intelligence and prepare thoroughly."

Spies and scouts were dispatched to locate Meng Huo's stronghold while the army advanced with calculated precision. The Nanman, however, were not idle. Meng Huo had anticipated such a move and began fortifying his position. One of his advisors, Ahuinan, led ambush parties to disrupt Liu Zhang's forces, harassing their flanks and forcing them to divert resources to defend supply lines.

Despite these challenges, the generals' resolve did not waver. Yan Yan's experience and Zhang Ren's bold tactics continued to complement each other, allowing the army to repel attacks and make incremental progress toward their goal.

Both sides were prepared for numerous confrontations, as the decisive battle that would determine the fate of Yi Province's southern borders and the Nanman Tribes wouldn't arrive until both sides felt it was time to end it once and for all.

For Meng Huo and his chieftains, it was a fight for survival. For Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, it was a test of their mettle and the culmination of their vision for a unified and secure province with no influence and danger from barbarians.

Far to the north, beyond the Great Wall, another campaign was unfolding. Cao Cao's army, under the command of Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, Ma Teng, and Han Sui, had achieved remarkable advances in the Xiongnu territories, securing the southern and western territories. However, the central and northern Xiongnu regions, were left to Batu and Zolgar to control as their domain.

Meanwhile, in the east, the Xianbei tribes, under Kuitou's leadership, had carved out their own gains in the conflict with the Xiongnu. Despite their successes, the Xianbei were seething with anger and resentment. During a tense meeting in the Xianbei encampment, Kuitou addressed his council of chieftains.

"The Han have betrayed us," Kuitou growled, his voice filled with fury. "They promised to march alongside us against the Xiongnu, but instead, they took the opportunity to seize the richest and most strategic lands for themselves. While we bled on the battlefield, they expanded their domain without lifting a finger to help us!"

One of the chieftains, a grizzled chieftain named Shadun, slammed his fist on the table. "We cannot let this stand, Chief Kuitou. The Han think us weak and divided, but we have proven our strength. If we do not act, they will take even more from us."

Another chieftain, younger and more cautious, spoke up. "But the Xiongnu are not yet defeated. If we turn our attention to the Han now, we risk leaving ourselves vulnerable to retaliation. We must tread carefully."

Kuitou nodded, his expression grim. "You are right. For now, we continue our campaign against the Xiongnu. But we will not forget this betrayal. Once the Xiongnu are dealt with, we will ensure the Han pay for their treachery."

The Xianbei chieftains murmured their agreement, though tension lingered in the air. Kuitou knew he was walking a fine line, balancing the demands of his people with the need to secure their future. The betrayal of the Han had sown seeds of distrust, and he would need to tread carefully to maintain the unity he had gained among his tribes.

In the central domain of the Xiongnu on the other hand, a new era was dawning for the Xiongnu. Batu and Zolgar, who had done immense purging, had united their people in an unprecedented show of harmony that was according to what the two of them wanted.

The central steppe, a vast and open expanse, was now a sea of tents, tens of thousands of them stretching as far as the eye could see. This gathering of tribes marked a turning point in Xiongnu history, as Batu and Zolgar sought to reshape their fragmented society into a more centralized and enduring power that would help them realize their ambition as overlords of the Xiongnu.

The chieftain council, the traditional governing body of the Xiongnu, had been systematically purged of dissent. Chieftains who questioned Batu and Zolgar's loyalties or suspected ties to the Han were removed and replaced with loyalists who supported the new order.

With opposition silenced and the council under their control, Batu and Zolgar proposed a radical transformation, which was the abolition of the elected Khan system and the establishment of a hereditary dual monarchy system where the two of them each would become permanent Khan, and their descendants will inherit the title. Standing before the assembled tribes, Batu addressed the crowd with fiery conviction.

"For too long, the Xiongnu have been divided, weakened by internal strife and the treachery of the Han and Xianbei," Batu declared. "No more! From this day forward, we are united under the banner of the True Khans of the Steppe! My brother Zolgar and I shall guide our people, not as fleeting leaders chosen by whim, but as rulers whose bloodline will ensure the strength and continuity of the Xiongnu for generations to come!"

Zolgar stepped forward, his towering frame and booming voice commanding attention. "Our first decree as True Khans is this, we shall rebuild the Xiongnu! Our warriors will be trained, our horses will be bred, and our people will grow stronger. When the time comes, we will march east to reclaim our lands from the Xianbei and remind them of the might of the Xiongnu!"

The gathered tribes erupted in a chorus of cheers and war cries. The declaration of the True Khans marked the end of the chieftain council's authority. Batu and Zolgar had not only solidified their power but also set the stage for the Xiongnu's resurgence, which was what Batu, Zolgar, and their supporters thought.

Under the True Khans' decree, the Xiongnu began an intensive campaign of rebuilding and preparation. Every tribe contributed to the effort, their activities carefully coordinated by Batu and Zolgar's newly formed command structure.

Young tribesmen were conscripted into the warrior ranks and underwent rigorous training, learning to fight in disciplined formations modeled after Han military tactics. Blacksmiths worked tirelessly to forge weapons, while herders focused on breeding and raising horses, the lifeblood of the Xiongnu's mobility and power.

Zolgar, who was much more skilled as a warrior compared to Batu, personally oversaw the training of the new recruits. He believed in leading by example, often joining sparring matches to demonstrate his prowess and inspire his warriors.

"Strength and discipline," he told them, "are the keys to victory. We will show the Xianbei that the Xiongnu are not a broken people but a force to be reckoned with."

Batu, meanwhile, focused on logistics and strategy. He dispatched scouts to monitor Xianbei's movements and gather intelligence on their defenses. He also worked to strengthen alliances with smaller foreign tribes that had been overlooked in previous conflicts, ensuring that the Xiongnu's ranks swelled with fresh recruits of foreign warriors.

Despite their progress, Batu and Zolgar faced challenges. The scars of past defeats lingered, and some tribesmen remained skeptical of the new leadership. To address this, Batu convened a grand council of the tribes, where he and Zolgar reaffirmed their commitment to the Xiongnu's resurgence.

"Our unity is our strength," Batu declared. "Together, we will reclaim our lands, restore our honor, and ensure that the Xiongnu's name strikes fear into the hearts of our enemies!"

Meanwhile, in the Xianbei encampment to the east, Kuitou and his chieftains were growing increasingly wary of the Xiongnu's activities. Reports of the vast gathering of tribes and the proclamation of the Xiongnu's so called True Khans had reached their ears, fueling concerns about the Xiongnu's renewed strength.

Kuitou called another council meeting, his expression grim as he addressed his chieftains. "The Xiongnu are rebuilding. Their declaration of dual Khans is not just a political maneuver, it is a call to arms. They will come for us, and we must be ready."

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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