Chapter 47

"Get out! You, take your family and go over there!" Li You pointed at the old Qiang man who had first skinned the sheep, and then called out the people who had participated in making the sheepskin rafts over the past two days, "You, you, and you, also bring your families and stand over there!"

These people knew that the moment to decide their fate had arrived. They did not dare to defy Li You’s order and, with trepidation, led their families out of the crowd and stood on the other side.

"Children, the elderly, and women should also go over there!" After picking these people out from the crowd, only a few dozen young and strong Qiang men, including Dian Liang, remained! These were the main forces who had attacked the envoy group and had been helping over the past two days. They seemed to realize what Li You was about to do, and the crowd became noisy.

However, these people hadn't eaten for almost two days! Even if they wanted to resist, they had no strength left. With a command from Li You, dozens of Han soldiers rushed forward and swiftly dispatched them, like slicing melons and chopping vegetables!

"Everyone must pay a price for their wrongdoings! Since your tribe dared to attack us, you should have been prepared to be exterminated!" Li You glared at the remaining old and weak Qiang people, "Since you helped us make the rafts over the past two days, I will be magnanimous and spare your lives!"

Li You looked around; the tents were scattered, and the sheep had all been slaughtered. These Qiang people would likely have to seek refuge with other tribes. He warned them, "More Han people will come here in the future. I hope you will make wiser decisions then! The Han leaders who come later may not be as lenient as I am!"

"Alright, pack up and take your belongings and go!" After saying this, Li You waved his hand, signaling that they could leave. Then he and the envoy group members boarded the sheepskin rafts.

Untying the ropes from the large rocks, his soldiers slowly pulled the rafts across the river. Among the remaining Qiang people, there were not many young and strong men left. Even if they were dissatisfied, they had no strength to attack.

Moreover, they had more important things to deal with. The young and strong men of the tribe were almost all dead or injured, and this small tribe was finished. They had to pack up and seek refuge with a friendly tribe before anyone discovered them! Once they were sure the Han people would not return, they began searching through the collapsed tents for useful items like sheepskins, iron tools, and water jars.

The women quickly picked out the unspoiled mutton and prepared to make it into jerky. The survival of the remaining old, weak, and women depended entirely on these supplies!

When Li You reached the western bank of the Yellow River, he saw that these people had already packed their belongings and were leading oxen and horses, seemingly ready to leave. He gave them a long, deep look and waved his hand, "Leave some intact sheepskins, and burn the rest!"

Fire broke out almost simultaneously on both banks of the Yellow River. On one side, the sheepskin rafts were being burned, and on the other, the bodies of their loved ones and the items they couldn't take were being burned.

The old Qiang man watched the Han envoy group depart and slowly said, "Let's go." The Qiang people stopped their crying and followed him to a nearby tribe. The old Qiang man held his grandson in his arms, mounted his horse, and left this place that had caused him so much pain, looking back every few steps. He lovingly stroked his grandson's head, "Child, when you grow up, if you see these Han people again, don't provoke them..."

"Sir, we have now entered the territory of King Xiutu!" After traveling several miles, Tang Yifu returned from the front of the group to report to Li You.

"King Xiutu?" Over the past few days, Li You had learned about the administrative system of the Xiongnu from Tang Yifu. The Xiongnu government was divided into three parts: the first was the Chanyu's court, the central part of the Xiongnu, which directly governed the central region of the Xiongnu, facing south to the Han regions of Yunzhong and Dai; the second was the court of the Left Xianwang, which governed the eastern region of the Xiongnu, facing south to the Han region of Shanggu and east to the Wuhuan; the third was the court of the Right Xianwang, located in the western region of the Xiongnu, facing south to the Han region of Shang and west to the Yuezhi, Di, and Qiang.

The Chanyu was hereditarily held by the Lüdi clan and held supreme power, assisted by the Left and Right Guduhou, who were nobles from the Huyan, Lan, and Xubu clans. The Huyan clan was on the left, while the Lan and Xubu clans were on the right. Below the Chanyu were the Left and Right Xianwang, the highest local officials, with the Xiongnu valuing the left, so the Left Xianwang had higher power and status than the Right Xianwang. The Left Xianwang was often the Chanyu's deputy and heir, and the Chanyu's heir was often appointed as the Left Xianwang. Below the Left Xianwang were the Left and Right Guliwang, and below them were the Left and Right Dajiang, Left and Right Duduwei, and Left and Right Danghu.

Under the Left and Right Xianwang were the Left and Right Dajiang, Left and Right Aojianwang, Left and Right Huzhiwang, Left and Right Xiang, Left and Right Guduhou, Left and Right Yizhiziwang, and Danghu, all of whom managed their own territories.

There were also other temporarily appointed kings, such as Zhong Xingshuo's "Tianwang," Li Guang's descendant Li Ling's "Jiankunwang," and Foxugugu Chanyu's brother's "Yudiwang," among others.

In terms of military organization, in addition to the Chanyu's own army, which he personally commanded, other Xianwang, Guliwang, and Danghu also had military power. There were twenty-four military leaders who commanded ten thousand cavalry, known as the "Wanji Chang."

These twenty-four Wanji Chang were divided into two types: one was the twelve major nobles directly under the central Chanyu's court, namely the Left and Right Xianwang, Left and Right Guliwang, Left and Right Dajiang, Left and Right Duduwei, Left and Right Danghu, and Left and Right Guduhou; the other was the twelve heteronymous noble kings and peripheral vassal kings, namely the Huyanwang, Xubuwang, Lan Shi Wang, Kunyewang, Xiutuwang, Donghuwang, Loufanwang, Baiyangwang, Dinglingwang, Jiankunwang, Hujiewang, and Wusun or Zelanwang, totaling twenty-four.

King Xiutu and King Kunye belonged to the latter type. They were peripheral vassals of the Xiongnu, belonging to the Xiongnu but not directly governed by the Great Chanyu, and had considerable autonomy in their territories.

The scale of the tribes controlled by King Xiutu and King Kunye was neither large nor small, with about forty to fifty thousand people. Later, when Huo Qubing conquered Longxi, King Kunye surrendered to the Han, while King Xiutu changed his mind at the last moment and was killed by Huo Qubing. His crown prince became a stable boy for Emperor Wu of Han.

Just as Li You and his group entered King Xiutu's territory, he also received a letter from Zhong Xingshuo! King Xiutu lay on his bed, eyes half-closed, enjoying the service of his attendants. After a long time, he finally asked, "What did that eunuch say?"

Like most traitors in later generations, although Zhong Xingshuo was deeply trusted by the Great Chanyu, the Xiongnu nobles looked down on him.

"Great King! Zhong Xingshuo's letter says that the Han have sent an envoy group to travel west to the Yuezhi territory, intending to ally with the Yuezhi to attack our great Xiongnu! They are now likely within your territory! He requests that you send troops to intercept the Han envoy group!" The minister of King Xiutu reported respectfully.