binnovel Chapter 396 Loufan Signs Alliance with Xiongnu
Chapter 396 Loufan Signs Alliance with Xiongnu
Therefore, Modu first sent an envoy to the Loufan tribe, inviting the Loufan king to the Xiongnu court for a meeting. After receiving the invitation, the Loufan king hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to accept the invitation.
When the Loufan king arrived at the Xiongnu royal court, Modu had already ordered his men to wait outside for a long time. The Xiongnu warriors, dressed in their finest attire, lined up in two rows to welcome the Loufan king.
Maodun personally went out to greet the Loufan king, showing the highest level of courtesy shown by subordinate tribes of the grasslands to a powerful tribe. Upon seeing this, the Loufan king was overjoyed, feeling the importance and respect Maodun placed on him.
Upon entering the royal court, Modu Chanyu lavishly entertained the Loufan king, hosting a grand banquet where they drank fine wine and discussed important matters of state. The Loufan king was highly respected at the banquet and was in high spirits.
Modu knelt on one knee and said to the Loufan king, "Your Majesty, I was able to reclaim the Xiongnu court thanks to your assistance in lending me troops. Now that the Xiongnu have been pacified and everything is in need of rebuilding, I wish to form an eternal alliance with the Loufan and share the benefits of the grasslands. I have no intention of breaking my promise." After saying this, he presented rare treasures selected from the Xiongnu's collection, including exquisite jade from the Western Regions and gold horse tack inlaid with gemstones.
Looking at Modu's sincere demeanor, the Loufan king, though harboring doubts, was faced with such generous gifts and knew that antagonizing the Xiongnu would bring no benefit. He slowly said, "In that case, I hope you will keep your promise. I, the Loufan, am also willing to join hands with the Xiongnu to safeguard peace on the grasslands." The two sides then signed an alliance, agreeing to establish a border market for mutual trade and promising to support each other in the event of foreign enemies.
The news of the alliance between the Xiongnu and the Loufan spread like wildfire across the vast grasslands. In this land where strength reigns supreme, the ebb and flow of power among tribes constantly affected everyone's nerves. This news was like a bombshell, stirring up a storm among the various tribes.
Inside the Yuezhi camp, the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating. Since the rise of the Xiongnu, the Yuezhi had suffered constant bullying and oppression, and their resentment towards the Xiongnu had long been ingrained in their bones. Now, upon hearing that the Xiongnu had allied with the Loufan, the Yuezhi king clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "This is truly adding insult to injury! The Xiongnu were already troublesome, and now that they have joined forces with the Loufan, our future days will likely be even more difficult." The generals' faces were solemn, their eyes filled with worry and resentment, but faced with this powerful alliance, they could not think of a solution for the moment.
Meanwhile, an uproar erupted in the Donghu camp. The Donghu had always harbored ambitions to expand their sphere of influence and bring surrounding tribes under their control. The alliance between the Xiongnu and Loufan undoubtedly created an insurmountable obstacle in their plans. The Donghu king slammed his fist on the table in anger, "That brat Maodun, he certainly knows how to stir things up! With this alliance formed, our westward expansion will be much more difficult." The strategists whispered amongst themselves, offering various suggestions, but everyone knew that breaking this deadlock would be no easy feat.
However, in the eyes of Lu Jia, Tian Xiaodao, and others, this seemingly dire situation might not be without hope. Tian Xiaodao and his group had already penetrated deep into the Xiongnu territory, observing secretly for a long time, and had also discerned the numerous internal conflicts within the Xiongnu under Modu's rule. Although Modu was ruthless and seized leadership of the Xiongnu through a series of bloody means, his foundation was not solid.
Recalling the scene of Modu imprisoning his father Touman Chanyu and cruelly murdering his queen and unborn child, Lu Jia shook his head slightly, "How could such atrocities not be condemned in the Xiongnu society that values bloodlines and traditions?"
Tian Xiaodao nodded in agreement, "Indeed, many Xiongnu soldiers' loyalty to Modu has greatly diminished, though they dare not speak out against it." More importantly, Modu's rash submission to the Loufan before fully consolidating his power was a gamble, seemingly a sign of keeping his word. The Xiongnu soldiers, proud and arrogant, would not easily accept such a humiliating decision. Doubt and discontent had already begun to fester in their hearts.
After discussing the matter, the two came up with a plan. Since internal conflicts were already brewing among the Xiongnu, all they needed was a spark to ignite them completely. So, they began spreading rumors among the Xiongnu soldiers, saying that Modu had used any means necessary to gain power, betraying his father and submitting to the Loufan, a disgrace to the Xiongnu. The rumors spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the Xiongnu. Inside the camp, the soldiers whispered amongst themselves, their gazes towards Modu's camp now filled with discontent and skepticism.
Meanwhile, Lu Jia personally traveled to the Yuezhi and Donghu to persuade them. Under his persuasion, the Yuezhi king finally decided to join forces with the Donghu to pressure the Xiongnu, demanding that Modu Chanyu release Touman. The Donghu, who had already wanted to use this opportunity to weaken the Xiongnu, readily agreed. Suddenly, the situation on the grasslands became unpredictable; the Xiongnu were attacked from both sides, and Modu Chanyu found himself in an unprecedented predicament.
Upon learning of all this, Maodun was filled with anxiety. He had to appease his soldiers and prevent a mutiny while simultaneously dealing with military pressure from the Yuezhi and Donghu, constantly deploying troops and causing him immense distress. Just when he felt overwhelmed, Touman Chanyu, who was imprisoned in the camp, sent a message to Maodun, declaring his willingness to help him.
Maodun's heart skipped a beat. He wondered if this news was a turning point or a greater crisis. But the situation was urgent, and he had no choice but to go and talk to his father, hoping to resolve the impending internal and external crisis.
On the way to the prison camp, Maodun was filled with thoughts. He recalled the hardships he had endured to get there; he had spared no effort for power, yet now he found himself in such a desperate situation. Would his father truly help him? Could this be a trap? Countless questions swirled in his mind.
Meanwhile, Touman Chanyu, imprisoned in his place, quietly awaited his son's arrival. His face was expressionless, yet no one knew what this former Xiongnu Chanyu was plotting. The situation on the grasslands, like the calm before a storm, grew increasingly unpredictable.
Modu stepped into the dimly lit prison camp, a musty smell hitting him. The light inside was faint, as if forgotten by time. His gaze slowly swept over the area, finally settling on Touman Chanyu in the center of the camp.
Touman Chanyu sat quietly on the felt rug, his figure somewhat blurred in the dim light, but Modu could still clearly see his weathered face and eagle-like sharp eyes. Once, Touman Chanyu was the supreme leader of the Xiongnu, his majesty as awe-inspiring as a mountain. Now, however, he was imprisoned in this cramped tent, stripped of his former power and glory.