"I don't know, but the number of people in this raiding party shouldn't be very large!"
Looking at the situation within the tribe, Cao Cao also gave his answer.
"Oh? Why do you think so, General Cao?" Qiu Liju asked in confusion.
Cao Cao smiled and pointed to the tribe, saying, "Look over there, there's a row of wooden tables with some wine and meat on them, and none of the people who were killed had any weapons with them."
Therefore, it can be concluded that the people of this tribe were all killed suddenly without warning, and the attacking group must have been mistaken for their own.
Qiu Liju raised an eyebrow: "Hmm~, so this group came from the Han Dynasty and disguised themselves as Xianbei people?"
Cao Cao nodded: "Very likely!"
Qiu Liju was still puzzled: "Then what is their purpose? If they only raid some small tribes, it won't affect Tan Shihuai, right?"
Cao Cao glanced at Qiuliju: "Didn't I say before that killing is only the most basic form of warfare? The purpose of this raiding party should be to incite internal strife among the Xianbei!"
After all, letting the Xianbei people fight amongst themselves, causing discord between superiors and subordinates, and increasing internal strife will make our future actions easier!
"Uh... General Cao is right..."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Liju was slightly taken aback. He felt that Cao Cao's words sounded somewhat familiar.
It wasn't that someone had told him that, but rather that his own tribe seemed to have had a similar experience in the past.
In the past, he and the surrounding tribes were always attacked without warning, which kept him busy with constant attacks on each other by the Shefu, Nanlou and others. This not only consumed a lot of resources but also left him with no time to develop, making it impossible for him to survive. In the end, he was swallowed up by the Han Dynasty.
Hearing Cao Cao's words, Qiu Liju immediately realized that the demise of the Wuhuan tribes was very likely the work of the Han Dynasty.
Although Qiu Liju understood the reason behind it, he did not show any signs of jealousy or resentment.
Now that he has been granted a noble title, has his own residence and status in the inner prefecture of the Han Dynasty, and his son has entered the Imperial Guard and sworn allegiance to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, his future is limitless.
Within the Great Han territory, the life of wealth and comfort was far more pleasant than being a tribal chief. He no longer needed to dwell on those matters and ruin his son's future.
Cao Cao, who was standing to the side, was also constantly observing Qiu Liju's expression.
Noticing that Qiu Liju showed no sign of resentment, Cao Cao nodded to himself.
Qiuliju glanced around the tribe, then looked at Cao Cao with a hesitant expression: "General Cao, we are still 800 li away from Tanhan Mountain. Further west are some large tribes, which are not easy to attack."
"Besides, we've been here for quite a while now, and Tan Shihuai's people should be on their way back. What do you think, should we...?"
Cao Cao waved his hand: "No rush, brothers, we're already here. Although we failed to achieve our goal of destroying Tan Shihuai's rear, we should still enjoy ourselves first!"
"General Cao is right!!"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Liju's face lit up with an excited smile.
"Let's keep going!!"
Cao Cao gave the order, and then left with Qiu Liju and the others, heading towards the next tribe.
Meanwhile, Helian, who was the first to return to defend the tribe, led 10,000 soldiers to a small tribe on the outermost edge.
"Damn it, those bastards beat us to it!"
Looking at the corpses scattered all over the tribe and the dried bloodstains, He Lian couldn't help but curse.
After receiving Tan Shihuai's order, He Lian led 10,000 soldiers back without stopping. He dared not sleep or eat too much on the way, but he was still a step too late.
Thinking about all the hardships he had endured on the road, yet failing to fulfill Tan Shihuai's request, He Lian's face turned extremely grim.
Li Ru, on the other hand, looked at the scene in the tribe with a strange expression, then dismounted and walked into the tribe.
"gentlemen?"
He Lian was slightly taken aback, but quickly jumped off his horse and followed.
Upon arriving at the tribe, Li Ru looked around and then adopted a thoughtful expression.
"Sir, is something wrong?" He Lian asked curiously.
Li Ru nodded slightly: "Something is amiss. It seems the people of this tribe weren't killed by outsiders..."
He Lian's expression shifted: "Oh? What do you mean?"
Li Ru pointed to a row of wooden tables not far away: "Young Master, you see, a banquet should have been being held before these people were killed."
Traditionally, a tribe only holds a banquet when it is for a sacrificial ceremony or to welcome distinguished guests.
"It's not the season for sacrifices right now, so this tribe is probably holding a banquet to welcome a group of distinguished guests..."
He frowned: "Distinguished guests? In our current situation, where would we find any distinguished guests?"
Li Ru said solemnly, "Distinguished guests don't necessarily have to be from outside. For example, when the eldest son arrives, the other tribes will certainly hold a grand banquet to warmly welcome him."
He Lian's expression shifted: "Sir, are you saying that these people are all from our royal court?"
Li Ru nodded: "Very likely, and the number of people involved wouldn't be too large. They probably took advantage of the situation while the people were drunk to kill everyone in the tribe!"
Li Ru's analysis was largely the same as Cao Cao's previous judgment, the only difference being that Li Ru identified the attackers as his own people.
Of course, this was also deliberately orchestrated by Li Ru.
He frowned: "What happened after you drank?"
"Young Master, Master!"
Just then, one of He Lian's personal guards rushed over.
He Lian frowned: "What's wrong?"
"Reporting to the young master, I found the corpses of several women in a nearby tent, and all of them were naked..."
"Let's go take a look!"
Upon hearing this, He Lian immediately strode toward the nearest tent.
Upon opening the tent flap, He Lian's face immediately darkened.
Six naked female corpses lay scattered on the ground, and the furnishings inside the tent were also strewn about.
Just then, other subordinates came to report that the situation was roughly the same.
Li Ru stepped forward and said, "Young Master, it seems that those people were lustful and that's why they attacked the people in the tribe!"
He gritted his teeth and said, "Who on earth is this person? How could they be so ruthless to their own people?"
"There's one alive here!!"
Just then, a shout came from not far away, and Li Ru and others hurried over.
There was a little boy, about the height of a car wheel, huddled in the corner of a tent, trembling uncontrollably.
Seeing this, He Lian stepped forward and said gently, "Child, don't be afraid. Tell me, who killed your people?"
Upon hearing this, the little boy raised his head, trembling.
"Ah~, don't kill me!"
Upon seeing He Lian's attire and Li Ru standing beside him, the little boy couldn't help but cry out in surprise, shrinking back into himself and trembling even more violently.
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