Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1012: The Grassland Divides into Eastern and Western Xianbei

After dealing with the Jie, Ma Chao keenly sensed the changing atmosphere around him. He knew the Xianbei would not give up and could attack at any moment. So, he acted decisively and ordered the entire army to pack up and prepare for a retreat.

Although the Xiliang cavalry and Jie soldiers had just experienced an inner struggle, they quickly regained their mobility under Ma Chao's leadership. They skillfully dismantled their tents, loaded supplies onto their wagons, and were ready to set off in a matter of moments.

When Wulanda finally realized he might have been tricked by Murong Xuepo and decided not to wait any longer, leading his Xianbei troops in an attack, Ma Chao's camp was deserted. Only a few bonfires, still smoldering, burned lonely in the cold wind, as if telling of what had just happened. Looking at the empty camp, Wulanda felt a surge of regret. He realized that because he had trusted Murong Xuepo too much and was so focused on depleting her strength, he had missed a golden opportunity to encircle and annihilate Ma Chao, allowing him to escape once again.

"Chase!" Wulanda shouted, furiously waving his whip. The Xianbei soldiers immediately spurred their horses and pursued Ma Chao. But across the vast grasslands, blanketed in snow, Ma Chao's army had long since vanished in the blizzard, leaving behind only a trail of blurred footprints that were quickly buried by the wind and snow. Wulanda knew that this time, finding Ma Chao would be even more difficult. And the battle between him and Ma Chao was sure to intensify.

Murong Xuepo led his army in a mighty march toward the Tuoba tribe. Along the way, the sound of horse hooves thundered, and the stirring of snow swirled in the air. He had originally planned to use this opportunity to support the Tuoba tribe as a way to establish prestige among the various tribes and expand his own power. However, when the army arrived at the Tuoba tribe, the scene before him filled him with rage.

The Tuoba tribe was completely silent. The former camps had been reduced to piles of ash, wisps of smoke rising in the cold wind. Among the shattered walls, the occasional crackling of unburned wood seemed to mourn the devastation it had endured. The Tuoba tribe, after all, was a major tribe on the grasslands, yet now it had fallen into such a dire state.

Murong Xuepo's face was as gloomy as water, and he immediately ordered the scattered Tuoba tribe members to gather. Those who had survived the disaster were filled with fear and sorrow, tears still welling in their eyes. From their fragmented accounts, Murong Xuepo learned that it was the Han army that had, after burning, killing, and looting, fled to another place like ghosts.

Murong Xuepo's resentment burned like a raging fire. He knew this was a golden opportunity. He invited the leaders of each tribe to gather at the Murong Tribe. Already deeply disappointed with Ke Bineng's decisions, they were moved by Murong Xuepo's clever tactics and rushed to the area with their trusted aides and elite troops. For a moment, Juying City was bustling with activity, with various forces converging there, and the air was filled with restlessness and unease.

After everyone settled into their seats in the spacious conference tent, Murong Xuepo suddenly stood up, his gaze sweeping across each of the leaders present. He slammed his hands on the table and boomed, "Everyone! Look at the grasslands now, look at the tragic scene of the Tuoba tribe. It's simply unbearable to watch! Why is all this happening?"

He paused, his eyes gleaming with anger as he spoke passionately, "If Kebineng wasn't incompetent, how could he have rashly provoked a war with the Han? Did he think the Han were a soft persimmon to be bullied? This is how the Han cavalry invaded our grasslands, burning, killing, and looting! As a result, the tribes suffered heavy losses, countless men shed their blood on the battlefield, and countless families were torn apart!"

Murong Xuepo grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, pacing back and forth in the tent. He continued, "As the Xianbei king, he doesn't consider how to protect the country and the people, but only knows how to sit in his tent and indulge in pleasure! Faced with the plight of the various tribes, he turns a blind eye and a deaf ear! What's the point of keeping such a foolish and incompetent person? Are we keeping him around just to watch as he leads the Xianbei tribes into the abyss, step by step?"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like dropping a huge rock into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. The leaders of various tribes immediately exploded, and all of them spoke out their hatred for Kebineng.

"That's right! Ke Bineng is only concerned with his own enjoyment and doesn't care about our lives at all!"

"He started the war, but now we, a small tribe, have to bear the consequences. How despicable!"

"If he wasn't incompetent, why would we be in this situation? He should have been taken down long ago!"

……

Everyone was talking at once, their voices blazing with condemnation, their discontent and anger towards Ke Bineng pouring out like a flood. Murong Xuepo looked at the excited crowd, his lips curled up slightly, a subtle glint of pride in his eyes. He knew his plan was progressing towards success, while Ke Bineng's rule was already shaky.

When the outcry against Kebi Neng subsided for a moment, Murong Xuepo's confidant Wulihan was the first to lose his patience and stood up with a jerk. He was a sturdy man, like a wolf on the grassland, and his eyes were full of determination. He clasped his hands together, faced the crowd, and said in a loud voice: "My fellow leaders, look at the current situation. Kebi Neng is incompetent and has caused our Xianbei tribes to suffer terribly. How can we continue to let him control us? Lord Xuepo is wise and courageous, and has always considered the interests of all tribes. Only he can lead our Xianbei tribes to regain their glory. I think it would be better for us to support Lord Xuepo to become king. Let us work together to get rid of Kebi Neng's cowardly rule!"

As Wulihan finished speaking, Tuya also stood up. Although she was a woman, she was as capable as any man, with an upright posture and a resolute gaze. Tuya looked around and said clearly and forcefully, "Wulihan is right! Lord Xuepo's talent and vision are evident to all. In this critical moment, only Lord Xuepo can lead us to resist the Han army and protect the grasslands. Proclaiming ourselves king is the inevitable trend of the times, and we cannot hesitate any longer!"

Then, Bater, a man as burly as a bear, stood up. He said in a deep voice, "We have been looking forward to this day for a long time! Lord Xuepo has led us through life and death for the future of the Xianbei. Now that Kebi has messed up the grasslands, we must support Lord Xuepo to take the throne and make the Xianbei strong again! If anyone disagrees, I will be the first to disagree!"

Finally, the ever-meticulous Su He stood up, adjusted his hat, and spoke slowly but firmly, "Everyone, under the current circumstances, establishing oneself as king is not only a way out of this predicament, but also an opportunity to unite the various Xianbei tribes. Lord Xue Po has the ability and prestige, and we should fully support him. As long as we unite around Lord Xue Po, why should we fear Ke Bineng or the Han army?"

These four men echoed each other, heartfeltly supporting Murong Xuepo's claim to the throne. Their words, like a fire, reignited the atmosphere within the tent. Murong Xuepo's subordinates echoed, shouting slogans of support. The other leaders, watching this unfold, also began to tilt their hearts towards Murong Xuepo.

Filled with indignation, Wulanda returned to the tent and headed straight for his father, the Khan, Kebi Neng. Inside, candlelight flickered. Kebi Neng sat in the main seat, solemnly examining a military map. Wulanda slumped to his knees, his voice filled with frustration and anger. "Father, that Murong Xuepo is truly despicable! He refused to send troops and deliberately harmed me, causing me to miss the opportunity to encircle and annihilate Ma Chao. Ma Chao's bandits have already escaped and are nowhere to be found."

Ke Bineng's brow furrowed, a stern look flashing in his eyes. He was about to rebuke when, suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent. A soldier rushed in, knelt on one knee, and urgently reported, "Great Khan, something terrible has happened! The Murong tribe has declared independence, claiming to inherit the power of their ancestors. They have also listed your crimes in detail, clearly preparing to use force against you!"

Upon hearing this, Ke Bineng slammed his hand on the table, shaking the candlesticks and nearly extinguishing them. His eyes widened, his facial muscles twitching with rage as he roared, "How dare Murong Xuepo be so bold! He's openly plotting rebellion and disregarding the overall interests of the Xianbei people!"

Ulanda was also shocked and angry. He stood up from the ground and said, "Father Khan, this Murong Xuepo is ambitious and has long harbored rebellious intentions. Now he has openly declared independence and slandered you. This is truly despicable! We cannot sit idly by and watch. We must send troops to capture him and restore order to our Xianbei people!"

Ke Bineng took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He paced back and forth, pondering for a moment before saying, "We must not rush into battle. The Xianbei are currently unstable, and the Han army is at our side. If we engage Murong Xuepo now, we'll be attacked from both sides. We must first stabilize the situation and unite with the other tribes loyal to us before making any plans."

After saying this, Ke Bineng turned to the soldier who had reported the news and ordered, "Keep a close eye on the movements of the Murong tribe. Report any news immediately!" The soldier obeyed and quickly withdrew. Ke Bineng and Wulanda exchanged a glance, both revealing a hint of worry.

With Murong Xuepo's open declaration of independence, the situation on the grasslands shifted dramatically. Like a boulder thrown into a lake, the once unified Xianbei tribes were rippled, completely splitting into the Orthodox Xianbei, led by Kebi Neng, and the Murong Xianbei, founded by Murong Xuepo.

Faced with this sudden change, the various tribes assessed the situation and quickly made their own choices. Some tribes, attracted by the rosy blueprint painted by Murong Xuepo and dissatisfied with Kebi Neng's previous rule, joined the Murong Xianbei camp without hesitation. Other tribes, with deep ties to Kebi Neng or those who valued his long-standing rule, remained steadfast on the side of the orthodox Xianbei.

This fierce battle for supremacy further intensified the internal strife within the Xianbei, ultimately devolving into a standoff between the Eastern and Western Xianbei. The Eastern, led by Kebi Neng, gathered a group of loyal tribes under his command. Leveraging their traditional sphere of influence and accumulated resources, they strove to maintain the established Xianbei order. Meanwhile, the Western, led by Murong Xuepo, gathered tribes eager for change and new opportunities, aiming to carve out their own hegemony on the grasslands.

The two Xianbei tribes were on the brink of war, each preparing for battle and devoting all their energy to this internal conflict. Busy with building fortifications, expanding their armies, and plotting strategies, they had no time to pay attention to the movements of Ma Chao and his three armies. However, Ma Chao and his generals were keenly aware of this change, knowing it was a golden opportunity. The chaos on the grasslands provided greater space and possibilities for their military operations. A new campaign was quietly beginning.