Gather! 3

After the Tuoba clan joined, momentum picked up for alliances with ethnic minorities. It wasn’t just the Tuoba clan. Tuoba Pigo had come as a representative after prior discussions with surrounding small tribes.

Not only the tribes that had discussions with Tuoba Pigo beforehand, but also those who had been keeping quiet yet harboring resentment against Cao Wei and the Southern Xiongnu began to seek us out.

Most, like Tuoba Pigo, only sent their representatives to meet with me.

However, some impatient tribes seemed to take our alliance as a foregone conclusion and brought their armies. They wouldn’t be trying to intimidate us with just a few hundred or thousand troops.

When dealing with them, I realized anew how bold Tuoba Pigo had been.

Unlike Tuoba Pigo, who only looked at whether we were comrades to fight together against Cao Wei, they tried to negotiate with me, measuring this and that.

Asking to open markets, or what we would do for them if they took our side. The Jiefu branch of the Xianbei, who had settled more towards Xiliang than Ordos, were that type.

The conflict in Ordos isn’t a big problem right now, but they probably came to get some scraps. Being near Anding, they would be more aware of our situation than other northern ethnic minorities.

Still, the Jiefu were gentlemen. Some even raised foolish disputes, asking if we were planning to attack them after defeating Cao Wei.

‘If you act like that, it might create intentions that weren’t there before.’

I’m not sure if they’re coming to join forces and fight together, or if they want to have a go at us first.

Nevertheless, the ethnic minorities forming alliances steadily increased.

We couldn’t let them into Xiao Pass, so the area outside the gate was bustling with ethnic minorities.

“Wenwei, how many have gathered so far?”

“About 5,000.”

“The most important one still hasn’t come.”

“Is the Tuoba clan that important? From what I heard from Qu Pingbei, aren’t they a small tribe under the protection of the Murong clan?”

As Fei Yi said, the Tuoba clan wasn’t an particularly strong tribe right now.

Nevertheless, the reason I was keeping a close eye on the Tuoba clan was because they would later found Northern Wei, which would pacify the chaotic era of the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms.

“Tuoba Pigo is no pushover, so there must be a reason why they made the second son the successor over such an eldest son.”

“That’s true, but…”

After days of focusing on reconnaissance, espionage, and information gathering to observe Cao Zhang’s movements, while gauging the right time for our expedition, welcome visitors arrived.

“General Fang! Did you come in person, General?”

“Hahaha, even though we’re late, you welcome us so warmly. More importantly, please lower your speech. It’s been quite a while since you rose to a higher position than me, hasn’t it?”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Aren’t you the Commander-in-Chief? The hierarchy should be clear. That’s why the General of the Agile Cavalry sent me.”

Though I received the Commander-in-Chief position from Liu Bei, if we only consider official positions, Ma Chao as General of the Agile Cavalry outranked me.

Ma Chao stayed in Xiliang and sent Fang De with reinforcements to avoid any potential command authority disputes.

Especially since Fang De also brought Qiang people with him. If Ma Chao had come directly, it was obvious there would be noise regardless of his acknowledgment.

“The General of the Agile Cavalry said to convey his apologies for not coming in person.”

“Apologies? Rather, I feel guilty for burdening him.”

“Haha, you’re using honorifics again.”

“Oh dear. It seems it’s become a habit… I see.”

I compromised with a middle-level speech style, as it felt awkward to suddenly switch to informal speech. Fang De didn’t comment further on my speech style, seeming to find this acceptable, and handed me a letter saying it was from Ma Chao.

It contained writing saying that though his heart burned to eradicate Cao Zhi with me, he sent Fang De instead to avoid causing confusion.

The content was similar to what Fang De had said. But the ending part was different.

[It might be insufficient as an apology, but I’m sending a small gift along, hoping you’ll like it.]

“A gift?”

“Ah, did you see?”

“What kind of gift? He said it was a small gift. Oh, no, what is it?”

“Would you like to see it now?”

It sounded somewhat strange that he mentioned seeing it when it was called a small gift, but I nodded. Fang De told me to follow him and started walking somewhere.

And the place Fang De took me to was none other than in front of the stables.

“Bring that one out.”

Coming to the stables, the gift was as good as confirmed to be a horse.

Naturally, the expectation should drop knowing the identity of the gift, and the impression upon receiving it should also be weaker, but…

The moment I directly witnessed the horse Ma Chao had sent as a gift, I let out a silent scream with my mouth wide open.

How should I express it?

Big? Slender? Majestic?

No. More than that, beautiful is the more fitting word.

If Biaoyue Wu had the appearance of a rough wild horse, and Cao Huang Bichuan had the gravity befitting an emperor, this horse had noble elegance.

Its smoothly stretched body boasted graceful curves, and its platinum-colored fur shone brilliantly.

Its enormous body, one and a half times larger than other horses, was filled with tough muscles, yet its good proportions even gave an impression of being nimble.

I could tell at a glance that it was a Ferghana horse, the world’s finest horse said to travel a thousand li in a day, a legendary steed.

“It seems you like it.”

“Isn’t this a Ferghana horse?”

“That’s right. It’s a horse not inferior even to the General of the Agile Cavalry’s favorite mount. And how clever it is. It perfectly understands and follows human words, but won’t let anyone but its master ride on its back.”

If it’s such a clever horse, would it know that I’ve become its master? When I placed my hand on its nose bridge to try to connect with it, the horse gently snorted and brought its head close in return.

A smile spread involuntarily at its behavior, as if begging to be petted more.

“Look at that.”

“Does it have a name?”

“No. Please name it yourself.”

I met eyes with the horse. My image was reflected in its amber eyes, clear to the point of transparency yet deep.

Horses are supposed to be timid creatures, but its eyes were filled with curiosity, not fear. As if carefully observing what kind of person its master would be.

“Let’s call it Jinjing Huang (Gold Essence Phoenix).”

“The clever golden phoenix, a good name that pairs with its master.”

Was it happy to have a name? The horse, now named Jinjing Huang, neighed energetically.

“I should try riding it.”

“Shall I have a saddle brought?”

I shook my head at Fang De’s question. I wanted to do it myself. When I tried to place the saddle on Jinjing Huang’s back, it bent its body on its own and waited quietly.

“I knew you were smart, but you’re also well-behaved?”

Snort. Snort.

“You want to run too? Alright, alright.”

Stroking Jinjing Huang’s neck as if coaxing a child, I leapt onto its saddled back.

Jinjing Huang, which had been lowering its body until then, straightened its legs as soon as I mounted. I was amazed and proud that it behaved so obediently with me on its back, when it was said not to let anyone but its master ride.

Just as I was thinking of taking a light lap around Xiao Pass, Jiang Wei came running urgently, as if looking for me.

“General! They’ve come, Tubin the great man of the Murong clan and Tuoba Yiyi the leader of the Tuoba clan have come to see you!!”

At last, the big fish I’ve been waiting for have arrived.

Who wouldn’t know the calculations they were making while watching the situation, given the long distance?

‘Come to think of it, should I try making an abacus? The original is said to have existed since BC.’

I’ll think about that later. Anyway, they would have come this way since they’ve already had friction with Budugen, the Xianbei Western Great Man under Cao Wei.

Nevertheless, the reason they were late was to naturally raise their own value and secure a more advantageous position while Cao Zhang was growing in weight by swallowing surrounding ethnic minorities.

‘They must have wanted to take the initiative. Then I’ll treat them the same way.’

It’s not that I’m going to be hostile. They need to become precious comrades to fight against Cao Wei, so I can’t lose them by venting clumsily.

What I’m trying to do is just establishing the hierarchy. To show the ethnic minorities who are covetously trying to climb to the top of our heads who’s superior.

With the mischievous smile I often make when taking sudden actions, I firmly grasped Jinjing Huang’s reins.

“Go ahead first. Everyone follow!”

And I kicked Jinjing Huang’s belly and sprang forward.

“Let’s go!”

The direction I galloped towards was where Xiao Pass’s gate was. The place with the northern ethnic minorities on the other side.

The wind swept through my hair. A sense of speed as if becoming a gust of wind. It was an even more intense gallop than when I rode Biaoyue Wu.

“Open the gate!!”

At the sudden appearance of the Commander-in-Chief ordering to open the gate, the soldiers were flustered but faithfully followed the order.

Before the gate was fully open, I passed through the gap and shouted while cutting through the middle of the ethnic minorities’ tents.

“Listen! Those who still doubt the true intentions of our Han and cannot abandon their suspicions about me!”

Those wandering around stopped walking and turned to look at me, and those inside the tents came out, lifting the flaps at my forceful shout.

Drawing all eyes to myself, I orated while circling the center.

“Someone asked me. After defeating Cao Wei, wouldn’t it be their turn next? I never dreamed I’d hear the story of Han Xin’s ingratitude here!”

Laughter was heard here and there at those words.

“What foolish words, aren’t they? Our main battlefield is not here in Hetao, but far away in the Central Plains! If we didn’t have the strength to project force to Hetao, that would be a lie. But what’s clear is that fighting that detestable Cao Wei is more urgent than driving you out and occupying Hetao!”

We have more than enough strength to subjugate if the ethnic minorities take hostile action. But there are more losses than gains in pouring efforts into conquest to the point of a life-or-death struggle.

After time passed for those who understood Chinese to translate my words into their languages, people appeared shouting “That’s right, that’s right” in broken Chinese.

They too would want to avoid becoming hostile with us while Cao Wei still boasts its power.

Nevertheless, the majority still didn’t respond.

If simple words are not enough, then I’ll gladly prove it with ability hereafter.

“From this moment, until the sun sets! Anyone is fine. I’ll accept challenges.”

I thrust into the ground the flag I had snatched while running here.

The tip of the flagpole. The small blade called a spearhead was deeply embedded in the ground. I put so much strength into it that the planted flagpole trembled.

“If there is anyone who can defeat me, I will not discriminate based on their status and will serve them as Commander-in-Chief, handing over command authority. But if you cannot, then you should rightfully submit to me.”

I clearly face those with fierce gazes flashing, untamed unlike dogs who chose to submit to humans.

And where my gaze finally turned was to Tuoba Yiyi, the leader of the Xianbei who arrived last.

“If you have complaints about me, prove it not with that three-inch tongue, but with a three-foot blade.”

Respect for the strong.

It was the law of power that ruled the steppes.