524. Tugeh Khagan's Problem

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Meanwhile, Ma Teng and Han Sui's troops, who were more familiar with the local terrain, would take on the role of leading the feigned retreat into the mountains. The key to success would be timing, pulling the Xiongnu in far enough that their cavalry was fully committed, while ensuring that Cao Cao's forces didn't get trapped themselves.

Meanwhile, at the camp of the Northern Xiongnu Tribes coalition, Tugeh Khagan sat in his tent surrounded by his advisors, his brow furrowed as he listened to the latest reports. Today had brought some good news, the coalition was growing day by day and today was no exception.

Several tribes had joined their cause, swelling their ranks and increasing their potential for an all-out assault on the Great Wall. With every tribe that pledged its allegiance, Tugeh felt the power of his position solidifying. He had always believed that the more tribes he could unite under his banner, the more warriors he would command, making their assault on the Han forces all the more inevitable.

"The new tribes have sent their warriors to our ranks, Khagan," one of his advisors said. "Our forces will number more than fifty to sixty thousand riders when the rest arrive. The Han dogs will be no match for our cavalry once we are fully assembled."

Tugeh nodded, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The prospect of leading such a vast horde against the Han was exhilarating. Yet, there was always something lurking beneath the surface, a whisper of discontent. As the meeting continued, the mood in the tent darkened. Another advisor, younger and more hesitant, shifted nervously before speaking up.

"Khagan, there is... another matter," the young man said, his voice careful. "Some of the tribes, particularly the Onggirat and the Qangli, have been causing disruptions. They are not cooperating with your representatives. Their leaders, Batu and Zolgar, refuse to follow the directives given to them. They claim autonomy over their warriors and are undermining our preparations."

Tugeh's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing at the implication of disobedience. The authority he had worked so hard to cultivate could be at risk if these tribes continued their defiance. He glanced at the faces of his other advisors, but it was clear from their expressions that this problem was more than just petty disagreements.

"Disruptions? Autonomy?" Tugeh's voice was a low growl. "These tribes pledged themselves to our cause. They must understand that unity is the only path to victory. If they defy me, they defy the entire coalition."

The tent fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the rustling of the maps spread out on the table. Another advisor, older and more seasoned in dealing with the internal politics of the nomadic tribes, spoke up.

"It is more than just their independence, Khagan," he warned. "There are rumors spreading among the tribes that not all of the leaders agree with how you became the leader of the coalition. Some whisper that you were too quick to claim leadership, that your rise was not as legitimate as they had hoped. These rumors are fueling discontent, and if we do not act soon, it could spread."

The news was a blow to Tugeh's confidence. He had united the tribes with the promise of glory and victory over the Han, but now he saw that old rivalries and ambitions were rearing their heads.

Tribal leaders like Batu of the Onggirat and Zolgar of the Qangli were strong willed and ambitious in their own right. If they were to question his authority, others might follow suit, unraveling the coalition just as it was gaining momentum.

Tugeh stood up from his seat, his large frame casting a shadow across the room. "These whispers of dissent must be silenced. We cannot afford division when the Han stand united behind their walls, ready to resist us. I will summon Batu and Zolgar to account for their actions. They must be made to understand the price of defying my leadership."

As he spoke, he did not know that the seeds of this discontent had been carefully planted by his enemies. Unbeknownst to Tugeh, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, two of Cao Cao's most brilliant strategists, had managed to infiltrate his coalition.

Through subtle manipulations and well-timed bribes, they had convinced several key tribes to begin sowing discord within the ranks of the Xiongnu. The Onggirat and Qangli, led by Batu and Zolgar respectively, had agreed to sabotage Tugeh's efforts in exchange for future power and wealth.

The plan was simple. By causing chaos within the coalition, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai hoped to weaken the Xiongnu before they could strike at the Great Wall. The tribes were proud and fiercely independent, and it was easy to exploit their rivalries and mistrust of one another. If the coalition could be divided, the Xiongnu would be vulnerable to internal collapse before they even reached the Han defenses.

In secret meetings with agents sent by Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, Batu and Zolgar had made a pact. In exchange for betraying Tugeh at a critical moment during the upcoming battle, they would be rewarded with autonomy and power over the remaining Xiongnu tribes under Cao Cao's rule.

The Onggirat and Qangli would become overlords of the northern steppes, a reward too tempting for ambitious leaders like Batu and Zolgar to resist.

Back in Tugeh's camp, the Khagan was making plans to confront his rebellious subordinates. He summoned Batu and Zolgar to his tent, hoping to bring them in line through intimidation or, if necessary, force. The two leaders arrived later that evening, accompanied by their retinues, their faces impassive but their eyes calculating.

"Batu, Zolgar," Tugeh began, his voice measured but stern. "I have heard troubling reports about your tribes. You have been disrupting our preparations, undermining the authority of my representatives. You understand that this behavior cannot continue."

Batu, a tall and imposing figure with a reputation for ferocity in battle, met Tugeh's gaze without flinching. "Khagan, we are loyal to the cause, but the Onggirat have their own way of doing things. My warriors do not take orders lightly, especially from those they do not respect. Your representatives... lack the strength to command them."

Zolgar, shorter but equally shrewd, nodded in agreement. "The Qangli are no different. We fight for the same goal, but we will not be treated as if we are mere vassals. Our warriors are proud, and they follow me, not your men."

Tugeh's fists clenched at their insolence. "You are part of this coalition, and you will follow my orders. There can be no room for individual pride when we are on the brink of war. If your warriors refuse to cooperate, they will find themselves on the outside of this great campaign."

Batu smiled, a cold and humorless expression. "We are all on the outside of your campaign, Khagan. We are not fools. We know that your leadership is being questioned by more than just us. Perhaps it is time for you to consider whether you are fit to lead."

The tent fell into a tense silence as Tugeh realized the full extent of their defiance. Batu and Zolgar were not merely testing his patience; they were challenging his authority outright. His position as Khagan was being threatened, and if he did not act decisively, he risked losing the support of other tribes as well.

"You dare to question my rule?" Tugeh's voice was low, filled with barely restrained fury. "I united this coalition. Without me, you would still be squabbling over petty land disputes while the Han grow stronger by the day. I will not allow you to tear apart what I have built."

Batu's smile faded, replaced by a steely glare. "Then prove you are strong enough to keep it together."

Tugeh realized then that this was not just about the coalition or the upcoming war. Batu and Zolgar were angling for power, and they were willing to risk everything to claim it. He knew that a direct confrontation would only lead to further division, but if he allowed this challenge to go unanswered, he would appear weak in the eyes of the other tribal leaders.

As the tension in the tent reached a breaking point, Tugeh made a decision. He would not engage in open conflict—not yet. Instead, he would bide his time, keeping a close eye on Batu and Zolgar while consolidating his support among the other tribes.

The battle against the Han was too important to let internal strife tear them apart, but once the Han were defeated, he would deal with the traitors in his midst.

For now, Tugeh Khagan had to hold his coalition together by sheer force of will, even as the seeds of betrayal continued to take root around him.

Outside the tent, the cold wind howled across the steppe, carrying with it the whispers of war and treachery. The battle for the Great Wall was fast approaching, but the true war for power and survival had already begun within the ranks of the Xiongnu.

After the tense confrontation with Tugeh Khagan in the main tent, Batu and Zolgar wasted no time. Under the cover of darkness, the two leaders slipped away from the camp to meet with the other tribe leaders who had secretly agreed to betray the Khagan.

They knew that time was of the essence, and any delay in planning their mutiny could spell disaster. Tugeh was not a man who would tolerate insubordination for long, and once he gathered his forces, he could easily crush them unless they acted first.

In a secluded corner of the vast Xiongnu encampment, hidden from the prying eyes of Tugeh's loyalists, the rebellious chieftains gathered in a small tent. Batu, the leader of the Onggirat, and Zolgar, head of the Qangli, were the central figures in this conspiracy, but they were not alone.

Several other tribe leaders, each with their own grievances against Tugeh's leadership, had joined them, lured by promises of wealth, power, and autonomy—prizes that Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai had skillfully dangled in front of them.

As the leaders took their seats around a rough wooden table, the tension in the air was palpable. These were men who had long lived by the sword, and their loyalty was never to any single ruler but to their own tribes and ambitions.

Tugeh's rapid rise to power had unsettled many of them, and now, they saw their chance to undermine his authority and take a piece of the spoils for themselves.

Batu opened the meeting with a low, gravelly voice. "Tugeh's forces outnumber ours, that much is certain. His warriors are loyal to him for now, but we all know that his leadership is hanging by a thread. If we move against him, we must strike when the time is right, when his forces are spread thin and he is most vulnerable."

Zolgar, ever the strategist, nodded in agreement. "Timing is everything. We cannot face him head-on; that would be suicide. His coalition may be fragile, but his personal guard and elite cavalry are formidable. We must lure him into a situation where his strength is meaningless—just as Guo Jia's agents have advised us."

The mention of Guo Jia's agents drew the attention of the other leaders, who exchanged knowing glances. Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai had been working behind the scenes to destabilize the Xiongnu coalition from the inside, and their agents had been instrumental in organizing this meeting.

They were the unseen hands guiding this rebellion, their goal to weaken Tugeh Khagan's forces before the inevitable confrontation at the Great Wall.

Just then, two figures entered the tent, their cloaks heavy with the dust of the steppes. The agents of Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai had arrived. The men wore simple clothes, blending in easily with the nomadic tribes, but their eyes gleamed with intelligence and purpose. They were the intermediaries between the rebel tribes and the Han strategists, and they carried with them the next phase of the plan.

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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