novelAbuy Chapter 296 Northern Border Troubles
Chapter 296 Northern Border Troubles
On the second day of the second month of the fifth year of the Qiming era, the dragon raised its head.
The ice and snow in Chang'an began to melt, and the branches of the locust trees along the imperial road were faintly showing hints of tender green. People shed their heavy winter clothes, stepped out of their homes, and welcomed the first warmth of spring.
However, the atmosphere at the court assembly in the Taiji Hall was as cold as winter.
The Minister of War held a military report delivered by express courier, his voice trembling:
"Your Majesty—Urgent report from the northern deserts! Ashina Duobi of the Tiele tribe passed away last month, and his eldest son, Ashina Gudu, succeeded him. The new Khan refuses the court's investiture, proclaims himself 'Snow Wolf Khan,' and boasts…boasts…"
"What are you threatening?" Chen Xing's voice remained calm as usual.
The Minister of War swallowed hard: "He boasted that the title 'Heavenly Khan' was self-proclaimed by the people of the Central Plains, and the grasslands do not recognize it. He also said... he would lead his iron cavalry south to Chang'an to 'demand an explanation.'"
An uproar erupted in the hall.
"Arrogant!"
"court death!"
"Your Majesty, I request permission to lead an expedition and pacify the northern deserts!"
The military officers stepped forward, their spirits high. Dian Xiong, sleeves rolled up, roared, "Your Majesty! This humble general is willing to be the vanguard and go to the northern desert again! This time, we'll twist that Snow Wolf Khan's head off and use it as a chamber pot!"
Chen Xing raised his hand, stopping the commotion.
He looked at the Minister of War: "Ashina Gudu, how old are you this year?"
"Your Majesty, it is reported that she is twenty-four years old."
"His father, Ashina Duobi, sent a hostage to Chang'an last year, and died of illness this year. Don't you find this strange?"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Jia Wen stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is wise. Ashina Duobi was not yet fifty years old and was in good health. When he came to court last year, I personally received him and found him to be in excellent spirits, not like a sick person. His sudden death is indeed unusual."
Chen Xing nodded, his gaze shifting to a middle-aged man in a fur robe in the hall. That was Ashina Mo, the second son of Ashina Duobi, a hostage from the Tiele tribe, who had been sent to Chang'an to study. Ashina Mo was eighteen years old this year and had already studied at the Imperial Academy for three years.
"Prince Mo," Chen Xing said gently, "what do you think?"
Ashina Mo stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and his voice trembled slightly:
"Your Majesty, I...I don't know. My father wrote to me last year saying he was in good health and told me to focus on my studies. Suddenly...suddenly..."
He couldn't continue speaking, and simply touched the ground with his forehead.
Chen Xing looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said:
"Get up. This has nothing to do with you."
He turned to his ministers, his voice growing somber:
"Gentlemen, I have my own plan for this matter. Let's leave it at that for today. Ministers of War and Minister of Revenue, please stay after the meeting."
The meeting dispersed.
Inside the Wenhua Hall, Chen Xing summoned Jia Wen, Chen Wei, Dian Xiong, the Minister of War, the Minister of Revenue, and Ashina Mo.
Ashina Mo knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head. Chen Xing told him to get up and offered him a seat.
"Prince Mo, I ask you, what kind of person is your elder brother, Ashina Gudu?"
Ashina Mo remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking:
"Your Majesty, my elder brother... has been different since childhood."
"no the same?"
Ashina Mo said, "On the grasslands, our elders often said that wolves should be fierce, but they must know when to be fierce and when to be patient. My eldest brother never understood this from a young age. He only knew how to be fierce. When he was a child, his favorite thing to do was to tear apart the wild rabbits he caught and watch them struggle."
Chen Xing frowned slightly.
"What is his relationship with your father?"
Ashina Mo lowered his head: "This is bad. My father often says that my elder brother is too fierce and will harm the tribe in the future. When I was a child, my father said that he wanted to pass the throne to me."
Everyone in the hall felt a stirring in their hearts.
Chen Xing remained calm: "And then?"
Ashina Mo smiled bitterly: "Later, I was sent to Chang'an. My father told me to study hard and learn the customs of the Central Plains. I didn't understand then, but now... now I understand. My father was protecting me."
Chen Xing remained silent for a long time before slowly saying:
"Prince Mo, I have a question for you, and you must answer it truthfully."
Ashina Mo knelt down: "Your Majesty, please ask."
"Was your father's death related to your eldest brother?"
There was a dead silence in the hall.
Ashina Mo lay prostrate on the ground, trembling all over. After a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty dares not speak."
Chen Xing stood up, walked up to him, and looked down at him.
"I wouldn't dare say, but it does exist."
Ashina Mo did not answer, but simply bowed his head deeply.
On February 15th, another urgent report came from the border.
Snow Wolf Khan Ashina Gudu led 30,000 cavalry south to Baidaochuan. The garrison commander of Yunzhong closed the city gates and held firm, urgently requesting reinforcements. At the same time, among the tribes of the northern desert, five tribes refused to obey Snow Wolf Khan's orders and were slaughtered, with over 10,000 elderly, women, and children killed or wounded.
When the news reached Chang'an, it shocked the court and the public.
Inside the Taiji Hall, the pro-war and pro-peace factions were arguing fiercely.
The pro-war faction, led by Dian Xiong, roared: "Your Majesty! We can't tolerate this any longer! If we continue, that wolf cub will think we're afraid of him! I request permission to lead the expedition; if we don't raze the northern deserts to the ground, I'll offer my head to you!"
The peace faction, led by several senior officials, earnestly advised: "Your Majesty, the northern deserts are bitterly cold, and a long and arduous expedition carries uncertain odds. Moreover, the new policies in the south have just been established; if another major war is launched, it may shake the very foundation of the nation. It would be better to send envoys to question them and persuade them with reason..."
Dian Xiong retorted angrily, "Persuade with reason? Was he reasoning when he killed people?"
The veteran officials were speechless.
Chen Xing remained silent. He simply listened quietly, his gaze sometimes falling on the assembled officials, and sometimes gazing at the chilly spring sky outside the hall.
The debate lasted for an hour without any resolution.
Chen Xing finally spoke:
"I understand. Court is adjourned."
The courtiers were astonished.
On February 17, Chen Xing summoned Ashina Mo to the Wenhua Hall.
"Prince Mo, I have a favor to ask of you."
Ashina Mo knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please give your orders."
Chen Xing looked at him and slowly said:
"I want you to return to the northern desert."
Ashina Mo was shocked. He raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
"I'm not sending you to your death," Chen Xing interrupted him. "I'm sending you to contact those tribes that are unwilling to submit to your elder brother. I will send an elite force to escort you to the northern border. From there, you're on your own."
He paused, his tone turning somber:
"Your father sent his son to Chang'an so that he could live, not so that he could be a hostage. I promised your father that I would treat you well. I will keep my promise."
Ashina Mo lay prostrate on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
"Get up." Chen Xing helped him up. "Remember, you are your father's son. Your father is a wise man; he knows when to be fierce and when to be patient. You must learn from him."
Ashina Mo wiped away his tears and bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your trust."
On February 20th, a small team of one hundred people escorted Ashina Mo away from Chang'an and headed north.
Chen Xing stood on the city wall, watching the procession gradually disappear at the end of the official road.
Murong Mingyue stood beside him and said softly:
"Your Majesty, do you think he can succeed?"
Chen Xing was silent for a moment, then slowly said:
"have no idea."
He paused, gazing at the vast, desolate sky to the north.
"But I know that the Snow Wolf Khan won't live much longer."