Chapter 142 Writing a Letter
At this moment, Lu An was sitting in front of the desk in a daze, with rice paper spread out in front of him and a brush in his hand, but he was completely absent-minded.
Lu An was hesitating whether to write or not. He muttered to himself while hesitating, "According to Long Wu, Pei Yan and his companions are almost at the border now. I don't know how Pei Yan is doing? Pei Yan didn't even write to me. Should I write to Pei Yan? It's been so many days and there's not a single letter."
Lu An scratched his hair angrily and cursed Pei Yan, "Liar."
In fact, Lu An had been wanting to write a letter to Pei Yan for the past two days, but he always felt that it would not be a good idea for him to start writing to Pei Yan just two days after Pei Yan left. But now it is different. Pei Yan is almost at the border, and he can ask if he has arrived safely.
Lu An wrote at the table for a long time. When he came to his senses, he found that he had written three pages. He didn't know if he could put them into the pigeon tube. Lu An felt that it was a bit too much, but he still had a lot to say to Pei Yan, "Alas."
Finally, Lu An put down his pen and took out a carrier pigeon from the birdcage. This was the pigeon that Pei Yan had left behind when he left, so that it would be convenient for him to write letters. After Lu An put the letter away, he released the pigeon and watched it fly out of the palace and fly to Pei Yan's side.
The Xianbei camp was filled with the aroma of roasted lamb, and the Canglang flag erected in front of the central tent fluttered in the wind. Pei Yan took a deep breath. The smell of the grassland reminded him of the decisive battle five years ago - a hundred thousand cavalrymen fought for three days in Sunset Plain, and finally ended with the complete victory of the Wei Dynasty. The number of tribal flags that fell at that time was more than ten times the Xianbei flag in front of him.
"Emperor of the Great Wei, please follow me." Murong Chui made an inviting gesture, with a fox-like vigilance flashing in his eyes.
Pei Yan nodded, his muscles slightly tensed under his black battle robe. Mo Yuan followed him like a shadow, his fingers never leaving the hilt of the sword.
Ashina followed at the end, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings - this place should have been his ally, but now it has become a target that needs to be guarded against.
The main tent was covered with a thick wolfskin carpet, and food and wine were already laid out on the low table in the middle. Murong Chui sat down cross-legged and clapped his hands. The musician began to play a string instrument with a distant and desolate tune.
"After the battle at Sunset Plains six years ago, I didn't expect that I would be able to drink in the same tent with Your Majesty." Murong Chui personally poured wine for Pei Yan, and the silver bracelet on his wrist jingled.
Pei Yan took the silver cup and saw a string of tiny tattoos on Murong Chui's arm - totems of five different tribes, each representing a chief he had defeated. "I didn't expect that Chief Murong's Xianbei tribe would recover so quickly. Your casualties should have been no less than 30,000?"
The temperature inside the tent seemed to drop suddenly. Murong Chui's smile froze on his face.
The musician's tune was out of tune for a few notes.
The corners of Mo Yuan's mouth rose slightly. This is exactly what Pei Yan is smart about - it seems like a casual chat, but in fact it is reminding the other party to remember their position.
"Your Majesty is a military genius, and the Xianbei are convinced." Murong Chui finally squeezed out these words, his voice as dry as the friction of sand.
The servant brought out a roasted whole lamb, and the golden fat dripped onto the charcoal, making a sizzling sound. Pei Yan slowly cut off a piece of lamb leg, the tip of the knife flashing coldly in the firelight.
"I heard that Wuhuan's Helian Bo has been very restless recently?" Pei Yan asked casually, "Has he forgotten how I crushed his tent six years ago?"
Ashina's hand holding the wine glass trembled. He still remembered that battle vividly - Pei Yan personally led the light cavalry in a thousand-mile raid, trapping Helian Bo's most elite troops in the Black Water River Valley. In the end, the Wuhuan people had to kill horses and drink blood to survive.
Murong Chui's Adam's apple rolled: "Helian Bo... is indeed a little agitated, but the Xianbei have always strictly abided by the boundaries set by Your Majesty and have never crossed the line."
"Really?" Pei Yan took out a secret report from his bosom and gently placed it on the table. "Last month, the Xianbei cavalry attacked our northern border herdsmen three times and stole more than 500 cattle and sheep."
Murong Chui's face turned pale instantly. He didn't expect that these little things were recorded.
"Your Majesty, please understand!" Murong Chui's forehead was covered with cold sweat. "That was just the work of a few disobedient tribes. It was definitely not my order!"
Pei Yan pushed the secret report to Murong Chui: "I am here today, not to punish you. The grassland has been dry for years, and more than half of the livestock have died. I know that the livelihoods of the tribes are difficult."
Murong Chui was stunned, obviously not expecting Pei Yan to know so much about the current situation of the grassland.
Pei Yan continued, "That's why I propose to open up trade. Wei can exchange grain and cloth for your horses and furs. It's better than letting your young men die in vain, isn't it?"
The tent was completely silent, with only the occasional crackling of charcoal in the brazier. Complex emotions flashed through Murong Chui's eyes - vigilance, suspicion, desire, and finally settled on cautious hope.
"Your Majesty, are you really willing to trade?" Murong Chui's voice was tense, "Before this, the Wei Dynasty had always prohibited the export of ironware and salt..."
Pei Yan raised his hand to interrupt: "This is a different time. Now the Wei Kingdom is peaceful and the people are safe. All I want is peace on the border. As long as the Xianbei promise not to harass us again, the three markets will be opened immediately, and ironware and salt will be traded in limited quantities."
Murong Chui's breathing became noticeably rapid. Iron and salt were the most scarce supplies on the grassland. With these, his people would be able to survive the coming severe winter.
The attendant presented the chessboard at the right time, and Murong Chui tried to calm down: "I have heard that your majesty is a great chess player. I wonder if you could teach me a game?"
Pei Yan knew it well - this was a test from Murong Chui. The people of the grassland believe that the style of chess is like the person, and the opponent's true intentions can be seen from the chess moves.
"I'm very happy." Pei Yan played black and moved first. The first piece landed in the center of the board. His attack was as fierce as when he personally led the cavalry to attack Huanglong.
Murong Chui's eyelids twitched, and he played cautious defense with the white pieces. In the battle six years ago, Pei Yan broke through the center and split the coalition forces into two.
"The trade conditions are indeed favorable." Murong dropped a piece and tried to flank the opponent. "But Helian Bo will not accept it easily. He has always believed that..."
"War is more satisfying than trade?" Pei Yan cut off the White chess piece's retreat with one move, just like he cut off the Xianbei's food supply route back then. "How many able-bodied men are left in Helian Bo's Wuhuan tribe now? Thirty percent? Forty percent?"
Murong Chui's hand hung in the air. This number was too accurate, so accurate that it was terrifying. The Wuhuan did suffer heavy losses in years of war, which is why Helian Bo was so radical - he needed new spoils and slaves to keep the tribe running.
The game was going well. Pei Yan's offensive was like a tide, wave after wave. Every move reminded Murong Chui of the unexpected tactics of the Wei army. On the Sunset Plains that year, it was this unpredictable way of deploying troops that caused the coalition forces to lose sight of the overall situation and ultimately be defeated.
"I can understand Helian Bo's anger." Pei Yan suddenly said, and with a clever move, he killed Murong Chui's three sons. "But he should understand that continuing to fight against Wei will only lead to death. I am willing to trade today to give the tribes a way out, not because I am afraid of war."
"If Helian Bo insists on fighting again, I will accompany him to the end, but then it won't be as simple as rushing back to the grassland."
Murong Chui's back was soaked with cold sweat. On the chessboard, his white pieces were in a desperate situation; in reality, the fate of the Xianbei was also in jeopardy.
"Your Majesty," Murong Chui put down his chess piece and decided to show his hand, "If I agree to trade, how can you guarantee that Helian Bo will not regard the Xianbei as traitors and attack us?"
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