Chapter 135: Just Being Spoiled
When Lu An woke up the next day, he didn't see Pei Yan. Every day when he opened his eyes, he would see Pei Yan sitting by the bed, waiting for him to get up. Why was there no one here today?
As soon as Lu An made a move, Eunuch De came in.
"Where is the emperor?"
Eunuch De smiled and joked, "The emperor has important matters to discuss with Marquis Dingbei. Before he left, he told me to send someone to report to him if you wake up."
Lu An: “…………Eunuch De, you really don’t have to be like this, hahahahahaha”
"No need to report. I'll wait a moment." Lu An got up and put on his clothes. After he finished cleaning himself, he called Xuanying up.
Seeing that he had nothing to do, Lu An took Xuanying out for a walk. Lu An was either strolling or walking all day, otherwise he really had nothing to do.
At this time, Pei Yan was sitting on the dragon chair listening to Mo Yuan's military report.
Ashina was standing nearby. He changed into a clean suit of Hu clothing, tied his brown curly hair behind his head, and the wound on his shoulder had been bandaged. Compared to the prisoner he looked yesterday, he actually has the bearing of a barbarian prince today.
Mo Yuan glanced at Ashina and said, "Your Majesty, three forces are now gathering towards the border of Wei, like three sharp knives, pointing directly at the three most vulnerable passes of Wei."
"The Wuhuan tribe has gathered about 20,000 cavalrymen in the Langshan area, and the Xianbei tribe is outflanking them from the east. Their forces are equal. As for the Rouran... " Mo Yuan paused, "The Rouran's movements are the most bizarre. On the surface, they are keeping their troops still, but our spies have discovered that they are secretly stockpiling a large number of arrows and kerosene."
Pei Yan frowned. The situation on the border was more serious than he had imagined. If the three tribes really launched a joint attack, coupled with the power of the barbarian Tuoba tribe, the northern defense line would indeed be in danger.
"Ashina is right," Pei Yan said softly, "the timing they chose to attack was too accurate. Winter is approaching, and our supply lines will be stretched. The garrisons in the three northern states must allocate at least half of their manpower to ensure the safety of the food routes."
Mo Yuan nodded: "Besides, fighting in winter is extremely disadvantageous to our Han soldiers. The barbarians grew up in bitter cold places, and their ability to withstand cold is far better than ours."
"Your Majesty." Ashina performed a barbarian salute and looked at Pei Yan.
Pei Yan observed Ashina's expression calmly: "Your people are very fast."
"They are not my father's troops." Ashina shook his head. "The Tuoba tribe is still waiting and watching. These are the vanguards of the Wuhuan and Xianbei. They are testing the reaction of the Wei Dynasty."
Mo Yuan sneered: "Probing? Twenty thousand cavalrymen approaching, is this called probing?"
Ashina turned to Mo Yuan with a frank look in his eyes: "On the grassland, this is called: showing claws." Helian Bo and Murong Chui were demonstrating their strength to increase their bargaining chips for the subsequent negotiations. "They won't really attack, at least not now. Before winter, the tribes on the grassland need to complete the last large-scale hunt and store enough meat to survive the winter. The real danger is around the winter solstice."
Pei Yan thought for a moment: "So you suggest that I send someone to negotiate now?"
"The sooner the better." Ashina said affirmatively, "It's best to reach an agreement before the snow falls. Once the first snow falls, the leaders of each tribe will disperse to their respective winter camps, and it will be difficult to gather them again. By then, Helian Bo will most likely convince the other leaders to launch an attack directly."
There was a moment of silence in the hall. Pei Yan's fingers tapped lightly on the armrests of the dragon throne, which was his usual action when thinking.
"I will go there myself." Pei Yan said suddenly.
"What?" Mo Yuan and Ashina exclaimed at the same time.
"Your Majesty, you must not do that!" Mo Yuan knelt on one knee, "The situation on the border is unclear. If Your Majesty makes a mistake..."
"It is precisely because the situation is unclear that I must go in person." Pei Yan interrupted him, "Ordinary envoys cannot make promises on my behalf, and the leaders of the tribes will not believe it. Only when I come in person can I show the sincerity of the Great Wei."
There was a flash of surprise and admiration in Ashina's eyes: "Your Majesty is very courageous, but this journey is indeed full of dangers. If Helian Bo knew that you were going there in person, he would probably..."
"So we have to act in secret." Pei Yan has made up his mind, "Travel light and with a small group, and ride as fast as possible. Before Helian Bo can react, we must first meet the leaders of Rouran and Xianbei."
Mo Yuan wanted to dissuade him, but when he saw Pei Yan's determined eyes, he knew it was useless. He gritted his teeth and said, "Then please allow me to dispatch the most elite shadow guards to accompany you."
"No, too many people will attract attention." Pei Yan shook his head. "You, me, Ashina, and six elite guards, we will go as a caravan."
Ashina suddenly knelt on one knee and said, "Your Majesty trusts me so much, Ashina will protect you with his life!"
Pei Yan reached out his hand to help him up: "I hope your loyalty will not disappoint me."
When Lu An had almost finished his shopping and was returning to Mingguang Palace, he happened to see Mo Yuan coming out, followed by an exotic man who Lu An thought was handsome.
Mo Yuan saw Lu An staring at Ashina, so he stepped forward to block Lu An's sight and thought: You'd better stop looking at him. If Pei Yan knew, would you still want to keep your eyes? Besides, can you be a little more promising? Can Ashina be as handsome as me?
Lu An saw that Mo Yuan was blocking his view, so he tilted his head slightly and looked behind him.
Ashina had long heard that the emperor of Wei was a womanizer. He looked at the handsome eunuch in front of him and thought that this person must be the emperor's lover. He walked out from behind Mo Yuan and performed the barbarian etiquette to Lu An, "I am the second prince of the barbarian tribe. My name is Ashina Tuoba."
When Lu An heard that it was a barbarian, he didn't look at him or speak. He raised his hand to let him stand up, and walked into the hall without paying any attention. Lu An did not forget that it was this person named Ashina who injured Pei Yan. He looked like a human being, but at first glance he was not a good person.
Mo Yuan: …………
Ashina saw Lu An's expression change so quickly that he didn't react at all. He still maintained the posture of saluting. He looked at Mo Yuan and asked, "Did I do anything wrong?"
Mo Yuan doesn’t know either! Lu An was not an impolite person. It could only be Ashina's fault. He patted Ashina on the shoulder and said, "It's okay. He is just arrogant because of his favor."
Ashina: ………
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