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Chapter 1147: Chaos in Central Asia
🕑 Added 2024-12-03 14:06:40 +0000 UTCAs the morning bell of the new year rang, the grand court assembly in Chang'an officially commenced. Officials, nobles, foreign dignitaries, and vassals from various ethnic groups slowly entered the hall. Liu Xie, dressed in his imperial robes, sat with dignity on the throne, exuding a commanding presence as he surveyed the scene with an air of dominance.
Looking at the officials who bowed in unison, Liu Xie raised his hand and slowly said, "Rise, my lords."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the assembled ministers replied respectfully before returning to their designated places. However, the seats for the Nine Ministers and other high-ranking officials, such as the General of the Left and Right, remained conspicuously empty.
Although Liu Bei held the position of Grand Commandant, Yang Biao was the one currently sitting in that seat, and the limited military authority in Chang'an was also in Yang Biao's hands due to his position as Grand Commandant.
"Zhongda, why do you remain silent?" Sima Lang asked his younger brother, Sima Yi, who stood behind him as an aide.
"The might of the Han Emperor has not yet faded," Sima Yi replied quietly. He had never seen such an emperor before, but seeing the once-timid and now imposing young emperor, a deep jealousy began to take root within him.
"Indeed, the residual power of the Han dynasty, after four hundred years, is still enough to awe the world," Sima Lang said, unaware of the growing turmoil within Sima Yi's heart.
"But I wonder if the one seated above can maintain such authority in the days to come," Sima Yi coldly transmitted back.
Sima Lang fell silent. Though Cao Cao had not yet shown any intention of confining the emperor, Sima Lang knew that if Liu Xie continued to be swayed by Dong Cheng’s manipulations, that day was drawing near.
[I didn't expect the Son of Heaven to display such dignity,] Guan Yu thought with a slight surprise. Compared to the private banquet they had attended previously, the emperor's demeanor in this court assembly was like night and day.
[The remaining prestige of the Han dynasty is still present. It seems I must remain patient for now,] Zhang Hong mused, before presenting his tribute of valuable treasures as a loyal subject.
[If His Majesty can maintain this level of authority, what harm is there in giving my all to support him?] Cao Cao thought with a trace of bitterness, then cast a dissatisfied glance at Dong Cheng across the court.
[Emperor... I'm suddenly quite interested in you,] Sima Yi silently contemplated.
While the grand court assembly in Chang'an was taking place, thousands of miles northwest of Chang'an, amidst the cold winds and snow, the last remnant of the Xiongnu people, who could still call themselves warriors of the steppe, received an urgent message delivered by their war eagle.
"Chanyu, the Parthians have sent word, requesting our help to deal with the Great Qin (Rome)," said a strong man with yellowish skin, dressed in sheepskin.
"Tell the King of Parthia we need ten thousand sets of battle armor, fifty thousand sets of leather armor, a hundred thousand arrows, and a hundred thousand bushels of grain," Huyan Chu said coldly, his eyes flashing.
"I will inform them at once," the man turned and left to convey the message to the Parthian envoy.
The Northern Xiongnu had been encamped in this region for some time, and the Parthians were well aware of their presence. However, Parthia was in no position to worry about them. Rome had nearly broken them, and they desperately needed strong reinforcements.
While the Han dynasty would have been the ideal source of assistance, the distance was too great for them to intervene effectively. The Han armies were primarily infantry-based, and they were too far from the main battleground in Mesopotamia. The Han's support was like water too distant to quench the flames. Therefore, the Parthians decisively turned to the Northern Xiongnu for help.
Despite having been weakened by the Han, the Northern Xiongnu were still recognized for their formidable combat strength. On the vast Eurasian continent, aside from the Han, who were renowned for their martial prowess and earned the title of "Hanzi" (Sons of Han) for their fighting abilities, the Northern Xiongnu were also considered a force to be reckoned with.
Even though they had suffered defeats at the hands of the Han, the Northern Xiongnu’s fighting power remained acknowledged by all the Central Asian countries. Despite their small population of only tens of thousands, they still dominated the region. Even the mighty Parthian Empire adopted a policy of avoidance, hoping the Xiongnu would leave them alone.
However, Huyan Chu, the Chanyu of the Northern Xiongnu, knew the harsh reality his people faced. In terms of pure combat strength, they might still rank among the top five in the world, but their population was too small, and they lacked the vast grasslands they once thrived on. The lands most suited for their nomadic lifestyle had been marked with an "X" by the Han dynasty, signaling their defeat.
To make matters worse, the Han dynasty seemed to be growing stronger. Not only had their population continued to grow, but while the Xiongnu once numbered seven million compared to the Han's twenty million, now the Xiongnu had dwindled to just seventy thousand, while the Han had swelled to fifty million. How could they hope to fight under such conditions? Unless they managed to inflict casualties at a rate of one Xiongnu to one hundred Han, they were doomed.
As Chanyu, Huyan Chu understood this all too well. His people were struggling. They lacked proper armor, battle-ready swords, and suitable pastures. If these issues weren’t resolved within a hundred years, the once-great Xiongnu Empire might vanish entirely.
This was why, despite being enraged when he learned that Langjuxu Mountain had been turned into a lake by the Han, he kept his composure in front of his people.
He wanted revenge, but his enemy was the Han dynasty. He couldn’t risk the future of his people by fighting a battle they couldn’t win. The graves of their ancestors were important, but the future of their children and youth was far more vital. Though filled with rage, Huyan Chu suppressed his emotions, for he was responsible for his tribe.
[The Romans...] Huyan Chu thought as he refocused his mind, trying to quell his anger toward the Han. [If the Parthians provide us with weapons, armor, and supplies, we’ll go help them deal with the Romans.]
The Northern Xiongnu had no problem fighting the Romans. They had helped the Parthians defeat them several times before, and even Roman formations like the testudo (tortoise formation) were nothing the Xiongnu couldn’t handle.
However, the Romans were simply too numerous. The Xiongnu could break through Roman defenses, but they didn’t have the manpower to sustain a full-scale war. That was why they had ceased their westward expansion and settled on the Parthian border, hoping to rebuild their population. Without this, they would have no future on the continent.
What neither the Han nor the Xiongnu realized was that the Parthians were on the brink of collapse. Rome had nearly defeated them. The frontlines were no longer in Mesopotamia but dangerously close to the Parthian capital, which was why the Parthians were desperately seeking help.
"You want us to send troops?" The King of Kushan looked at the Parthian envoy. The two nations had relatively good relations, but Kushan had recently become deeply engrossed in Buddhist culture, unable to extricate itself.
"We humbly ask for your assistance. In return, we are willing to cede the land of Sindh to your nation," the Parthian envoy pleaded, nearly at his wits’ end. The Romans were almost at the gates of their capital. If it fell, it would be a humiliating defeat for Parthia.
"This is a matter of great importance. I must consult the Buddha for guidance," replied the King of Kushan, his face full of religious fervor.
"Please ask as quickly as possible," the Parthian envoy was on the verge of panic.
"The living Buddha will give a sermon in three days. I will seek an answer then," the King of Kushan said, unhurried.
The Parthian envoy, though frantic, had no choice but to wait patiently. The answer would come in three days.
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