On the seventh day of March, 20,000 mounted archers left Jiyuan to head north.
After passing Yunzhong and arriving at the southernmost Yongping County of Yanmen Prefecture, Tian Yu received an urgent dispatch from his subordinate FengPo, causing a sudden change in his expression.
"What's wrong with you, Tian Gong? Is there news in Yanmen Prefecture?" asked Guo Qianjian, who had been staying with Tian Yu for these few days.
When Tian Yu was in Yanmen in the first year of Taiping, he didn't take Guo Qianjian, the young commander of mounted archers, seriously at first. It was only after Guo led a group of 100 horsemen into battle and helped the Wei army to a decisive victory that Tian became aware of Guo's abilities.
With a shared experience of fighting together and both being in the military, they had developed a sense of camaraderie across ages. However, with Guo Qianjian's position as a military leader, he had already surpassed Tian Yu in authority and influence.
As an imperial confidant, Guo Qianjian later surpassed others, a status that ordinary people could only admire but not possess. Tian Yu was also aware of this fact.
Tian Yu clutched the letter from Feng Po in his hand, his brows furrowed, and he sighed deeply before responding to Guo Qianjian, "This matter will have to be known sooner or later, and I won't keep it from Zhong Gong anymore."
"Old Man has returned from the dispatch from Yanmen to Yunzhong. He has also brought back 3,000 cavalrymen from Ji Qi. Ke Bibi himself did not come to the court as requested."
Hearing these words, Guo Qianjian instinctively pulled on the rein of his horse, causing the animal to neigh loudly.
"You audacious thief!" Guo Qianjian shouted, "Does Ke Bibi's band really not fear death?"
Tian Yu glanced at those around, lightly struck his horse's flank, and moved closer to Guo Qianjian: "Old Man is worried about this matter."
"Zhong Gong also fought against Ke Bibi in the past, and you know something of this man's character to some extent."
Guo Qianjian placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword, coldly snorted, and said, "Of course I know. Ke Bibi is a crafty man. During the Battle of Maiyi, his main force was always outside the encirclement, not daring to fight bravely from beginning to end."
"Not daring to fight, they only seek to preserve their strength. Whether it's Ke Bibi of Xianbei, or Su Li, Bu Du Geng, Xie Guini, and others of Wuhuan, they are all the same!"
Tian Yu sighed, "That's the case. If Ke Bibi doesn't come, how can I explain to the emperor?"
Guo Qianjian cautiously asked, "Tian Gong, can we first attack Ke Bibi's forces? Disperse them before heading to Liaodong?"
Tian Yu shook his head: "Zhong Gong is thinking too simply. Previously, Ke Bibi had fortresses in Pingcheng. In the first year, I used military force to destroy his fortresses in Pingcheng, and his court moved further north to Yunzhong."
"As for Pingcheng, that's manageable. But how do you fight in Yunzhong? You would spend a month there, fight for half a month, and then return for another month. Where would you find the strength to go to Liaodong?"
"In addition, the grassland is so vast. If Ke Bibi were to escape westward, would we be able to continue pursuing him?"
Guo Qianjian seemed to have thought of something and asked again, "Who is Ji QiBu that Tian Gong just mentioned? I only know that there was a general named Ji Qi in the Eastern Wu."
Tian Yu replied, "Ke Bibi's son-in-law."
Guo Qianjian was perplexed and asked, "Ke Bibi isn't just one son-in-law, called Yu Zhu Tie? Wasn't this person killed by our army in the past?"
Tian Yu rolled his eyes slightly: "Why not allow Ke Bibi to find another husband for his daughter?"
Guo Qianjian helplessly shook his head.
Problems don't disappear out of thin air; they are simply transferred to another person.
Tian Yu expressed his worries to Guo Qianjian, who now faced his own dilemma: "This bandit is truly detestable! It cannot be fought, so what should we do?"
Tian Yu's grip on the letter tightened even more: "Zhong Gong is familiar with the military situation in Yanmen, and he should also go with me to see the emperor."
Guo Qianjian nodded: "I believe the emperor will definitely have a wise decision."
One advantage of being an official in the court is that when faced with difficult matters, one can naturally report to the higher authorities. The general has the directorate of military affairs, and above it, there is the West Hall.
But the emperor, above the West Hall, has to make choices.
To their surprise, Cao Rui seemed to have been unaffected by this matter, speaking casually, "If Ke Bibi doesn't come, it's clear that this man has great ambitions."
Tian Yu, full of regret, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is the subject's failure to protect the general of Wuhan that led to this situation. Please punish the subject."
Cao Rui glanced at Tian Yu: "General Tian still doesn't spend enough time with me. Whether Ke Bibi comes or not is not something you can decide alone. Why ask for punishment? Don't go through the motions."
Tian Yu bowed respectfully again.
Cao Rui said, "I vaguely remember that in the first year of Taiping, you submitted a memorandum requesting military action against Ke Bibi. You said that Ke Bibi had killed one of your envoys?"
Tian Yu nodded: "That's right. The messenger was called Xia She, who had lived on the frontier since childhood. I promoted him from a common soldier and nurtured him for ten years. But unfortunately, he died at the hands of Ke Bibi."
"Does he have any descendants?" Cao Rui asked again.
Tian Yu lowered his head slightly: "No, he died at the age of thirty-three."
"Death for a national matter is the act of a loyal minister. When you return to Yanmen Prefecture, Tian Qing, you shall have a larger tombstone erected for him. At that time, I will have Zhong Yu inscribe words on it."
Zhong Yu? Tian Yu didn't recognize this person. With a look of inquiry, he turned towards Guo Qianjian.
Guo Qianjian whispered: "He is the son of Zhong Taifu, the Under-Secretary of State, who is skilled in calligraphy and often writes imperial edicts."
Tian Yu bowed deeply: "Your Majesty's benevolence is most commendable. On behalf of Xia She, I thank the emperor!"
Cao Rui nodded: "In the past, Zhang Qian established diplomatic relations in the Western Regions and became Duke Bowang. Court envoys are not ordinary men who can accomplish such tasks without intelligence and bravery."
"Zhong Gong, summon all of my escort officials. I want to choose one from among them to be an ambassador to Ke Bibi."
"You shall do as I command." Guo Qianjian received the order and left. When he saw the escort officials, he didn't explain the reason, merely mentioning that the emperor had issued a decree. At this time, the marching party had stopped to rest, and four escort officials came to pay their respects to the carriage. Cao Rui looked at them slowly and said:
"Have any of you heard of Xia She?"
Who is Xia She? The four men all shook their heads, indicating that they did not know.
Cao Rui gestured towards Tian Yu with a nod of his head: "General Tian, please speak."
"Yes." Tian Yu bowed and agreed, summarizing Xia She's life story in a few sentences for the escort officials.
Seeing that the few people still seemed unsure, Cao Rui whispered, "I ordered Tian Gong to summon all ethnic groups, but only Ke Bibi did not respond. He only sent 3,000 riders."
"I want to send a messenger to Yunzhong to meet Ke Bibi. Who among you is willing to go?"
The four escort officials, in order of the time they arrived at the emperor's side, are Zhong Yu, the son of Zhong Yao; Du Yu, the son of Du Ji; He Yu, the son of He He; and Xia Hui, the son of Xia Huayuan.
The officials are all the sons of prominent officials, and in terms of literary elegance, they are indeed rare among those living on the frontier.
Cao Rui had already formulated a strategy in his mind, and such actions were merely to test the four. Just now, when he mentioned Xia She, it was just to scare them.
Raw jade needs to be carved before it can become a utensil. Whether these young men can bear important responsibilities depends on whether they pass one test after another.
Zhong Yu listened to the emperor's words and his heart began to beat violently in his chest.
Among the four, Zhong Yu has the longest tenure, having joined the emperor's entourage in the seventh year of Huangchu. He is also the most familiar with the events leading up to and during the battle at Yanmen Prefecture.
The more familiar he was, the more difficult it became.
On the one hand, Ke Bibi is a notorious bandit who has frightened the locals. He is one of the most disobedient foreign leaders outside the northern frontier. In other words, Ke Bibi is truly ruthless.
On the other hand, Zhong Yu still doesn't want to show any fear. Before he departs, his father Zhong Yao, the Marquis of Zhiyi, has repeatedly reminded him to act on the situation and not fail in his duties.
Now that the emperor has given the order, if he doesn't express his willingness to go, isn't that a dereliction of duty? Will it provoke the emperor's wrath?
Zhong Yu's thoughts are subtle, and it only takes a moment or two.
"I am willing to go!" Among the four, Du Yu, the eldest and previously accompanied by Sima Zhi when he went on a mission to Wuchang, stepped forward with a bow in response.
Zhong Yu was caught off guard, just as he was about to lift his hand to make a statement, when He Yu and Xia Hui also reacted at the same time.
From Guo Qianjian's perspective, it looked like Du Shu first spoke up, followed almost immediately by Zhong Yu, He Yu, and Xia Hui.
Raw jade cannot be made into a fine utensil without carving, and it is only in these critical moments that one's true thoughts and aspirations can be truly revealed.
Cao Rui observed the actions of the men and their expressions, which ranged from resolute to somewhat timid.
However, Cao Rui wouldn't reveal that they all said yes, instead he smiled and said, "All four of you are willing to go? Excellent, I appreciate it."
"Zhong Yu!"
Cao Rui pointed at Zhong Yu, "As you have been with the emperor the longest, today, you will go as the ambassador for this journey on my behalf!"
Zhong Yu's eyes widened, and he could hear a buzzing sound in his ears. Out of all the quarter of choices, how did the emperor choose him?
Zhong Yu sighed inwardly and cursed his fate, but there was no way he could show any fear on his face.
Zhong Yu took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go as the ambassador to Ke Bibi!"
"Your Majesty, what would you like to say to Ke Bibi? I will certainly not fail in my mission."
Cao Rui nodded: "I will draft a decree shortly. All four of you are loyal and prudent ministers. Please go back now."
"Zhong Yu, I will send someone to find you later."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please excuse me." The four officials left.
After the four escort officials had left, Cao Rui smiled at Tian Yu and Guo Qianjian: "Du Shu is older, while the other three are all young men. It's quite interesting to see their expressions."
Tian Yu is a distinguished general himself, someone who has navigated the turbulent waters of the palace for many years. How could he not notice the subtle expressions and the hidden thoughts of those few moments just now?
Tian Yu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the young officials are still young. Not everyone is like General Guo Qianjian."
Guo Qianjian remained silent for a few moments.
Cao Rui said, "I know. I haven't told you how to deal with Ke Bibi yet, have I?"
Tian Yu and Guo Qianjian nodded together.
Cao Rui said, "This matter is actually quite simple."
"Ke Bibi's refusal to come is merely because he fears that General Tian might take advantage of the opportunity to attack or absorb his troops and power. In other words, it's because General Tian's face isn't big enough."
Tian Yu smiled awkwardly twice.
Cao Rui pointed to himself with a smile: "My face should be big enough, right?"
"I will issue an edict to Ke Bibi, appointing him as the Xianbei chieftain. I want him to come to Yanmen to receive the seal and official credentials. Since Tan Shihuai, no one from the Xianbei tribe has held such a prestigious title."
"His previous title of Huwang, a nominal king, was revoked by the Wei dynasty a few years ago. The title of chieftain is even more prestigious. How could he refuse to come?" (End of this chapter)
