Chapter 63

Liu Kun came in with a look of anger, seemingly moving about casually, but to the surrounding people, his presence was overwhelming, almost shaking the entire hall. Lu Yao couldn't help but admire him; indeed, he was the great general under the Eastern Sea King, a man of extraordinary caliber.

Before coming to Jinyang, the muscular man had investigated the new governor of Bingzhou and heard of Liu Kun's fame for fighting across the Yellow River. However, the Xianbei people were accustomed to their arrogance on the grasslands and thought it was just the Han people exaggerating. It wasn't until he was in the presence of Liu Kun that he suddenly realized the overwhelming aura of this man, which was even more impressive than his reputation.

He had stood proudly before the Xianbei warriors, exuding a powerful presence, but compared to Liu Kun, he immediately seemed inferior. In terms of skill, he was one of the best on the grasslands, with unmatched courage and valor. But now, he felt an immense pressure that seemed tangible, as if his mind and spirit were being controlled. In a daze, he found Liu Kun's hand on his shoulder, pulling him towards the hall.

To be so completely at someone's mercy, unable to resist, was something he hadn't thought possible in nearly a decade. When he tried to struggle, he found his limbs unresponsive, moving involuntarily with Liu Kun.

Liu Kun's calm voice sounded in his ear: "There is one thing I must make clear to you; resisting arrest with weapons and attacking government officials are capital offenses under the laws of the Jin Dynasty. According to our Han customs, criminals are not considered heroes, and there is no glory in dying in battle..."

Before Liu Kun finished speaking, a strange sound suddenly came from outside the hall. It started with a low, buzzing sound, followed by sharp whistling, accompanied by the cries of many people, screams, and the groans of the dying!

The Xianbei nobles who had been sitting calmly in the hall were now gaping in shock. Two of them, who reacted quickly, kicked away the tables in front of them and jumped up.

The Xianbei man's face turned pale. He struggled with all his might, but Liu Kun's hand on his shoulder was as heavy as a mountain, pinning him down. Seeing the man fall into Liu Kun's grasp, the Xianbei nobles became even more agitated, gesturing and shouting, but none dared to act rashly.

In a moment, the area behind them fell silent. The buzzing, whistling, and roaring sounds all disappeared. Without turning back, the Xianbei man could guess what had happened. The Jin army had mobilized dozens of powerful crossbows to surround the area, and as soon as Liu Kun led him a bit further, they immediately shot down all the Xianbei warriors!

These Xianbei warriors were the best of the best, but under the crossbows, they were like fish on a chopping block, completely helpless.

The Han officials in the hall were mostly stunned, but Lu Yao noticed that Wen Qiao calmly returned through a side door, still wearing a warm smile, dressed in a wide robe, without a trace of blood or violence.

Liu Kun still had his hand on the Xianbei man's shoulder, leading him slowly up the steps into the hall, continuing his conversation without a pause: "... They are just criminals, not worth such a fuss. This is the most appropriate way to handle it."

As they entered the hall, which required climbing five steps, the Xianbei man, moving involuntarily, stepped onto the last step. The strong smell of blood was already pervasive.

At this moment, Liu Kun released the Xianbei man's shoulder, straightened his robe, and smiled: "Do you agree? Chief Yilu?"

The Xianbei man narrowed his eyes, staring at Liu Kun with a blank expression. After a long while, he gradually relaxed his tense body: "Governor Liu, excellent skills, excellent tactics, and excellent insight! Tuoba Yilu sincerely admires you. Please forgive my earlier rudeness."

It turned out that this man was none other than Tuoba Yilu, the chief of the western Tuoba Xianbei, the nephew of the Tuoba Xianbei chief Luguang, and the brother of the Xianbei Great Khan Yili.

Tuoba Yilu was the most low-key of the three major chiefs of the Tuoba Xianbei, rarely engaging in military campaigns, but his reputation was no less than that of his uncle and brother. Legend had it that he replaced the simple laws of the nomadic people with strict laws, and any tribe that violated them would be exterminated. In the areas under his control, sometimes one would see people carrying the elderly and children, and when asked where they were going, they would say, "To be executed." This showed the brutality and harshness of his rule.

With Tuoba Yilu revealing his identity, the attitude of the Xianbei nobles who came with him changed dramatically. They stood respectfully behind him, not daring to sit or even speak loudly. Dugu Zhe, who had been laughing and joking, now looked solemn and loyal, a stark contrast to his earlier behavior.

Liu Kun smiled lightly: "There is no such thing as good insight. It's just that the horsewhip Chief Yilu lost when entering the city last night happened to fall into the hands of my soldiers."

He waved his hand, and a servant presented a red-lacquered tray to Tuoba Yilu.

On the tray was the luxurious horsewhip that Xue Tong had taken the night before.

Tuoba Yilu's expression remained unchanged as he took the horsewhip: "I didn't expect that a noble like Governor Liu would be so familiar with the horsewhip I usually use. Thank you." His words carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Since I, Liu Yuanshi, have been appointed to govern Bingzhou, I must understand the local customs. The Tuoba Xianbei have always been friendly with the court. The former Great Khan Yili fought for the court many times, serving as a pillar of the northern border. And the reputation of Chief Tuoba Yilu for controlling and leading tens of thousands of people as one has long been known to me."

Liu Kun responded, then changed the subject: "I wrote to Tuoba Yili a few days ago, planning to meet the major chiefs on a good day. Chief Yilu's personal visit is truly gratifying. However, why did a person of your high status come in secret? Please be honest and resolve my doubts."

"Governor Liu, rest assured. I came here to speak openly and will not hide anything." Tuoba Yilu took a cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, and slammed the cup on the table: "Half a month ago, the pillar of the northern border, my brother Tuoba Yili, died suddenly. Tuoba Luguang, who is nominally the leader of the Tuoba, acted quickly, incorporating the twelve major tribes of the central region into his control, greatly expanding his power. As a result, the western Tuoba became unstable, and many tribes that once supported me now follow Luguang. Ha! Ha! My position as the chief of the western region is now precarious, and I can only firmly control three or four tribes."

No one could have imagined that this chief, after his identity was revealed, would be so candid, admitting his loss of power in the internal struggle of the Tuoba Xianbei.

While describing the dire situation, Tuoba Yilu showed no signs of despair, shaking his head: "Even my personal guards have secretly joined Luguang. If it weren't for the support of Chief Dugu, I might not have been able to leave Shengle. If Luguang knew I came to Jinyang, there would certainly be more trouble."

"This isn't just a precarious situation; it's a dead end. A stray dog dares to commit crimes in Jinyang?" Liu Yan muttered, his voice low but clear to everyone. It seemed that even though Lord Yuanshi had executed the Xianbei killers, his anger had not subsided.

Tuoba Yilu, however, did not get angry, saying calmly: "My subordinates acted improperly and have been punished by Governor Liu. I have no complaints. Why should this general still hold a grudge? Besides, even a stray dog still has sharp teeth. If the Han people are weak, they cannot blame us Xianbei."

He glanced at Liu Yan and turned to Liu Kun: "The chaotic state of the Jin Dynasty is clear even to us barbarians. The former governor of Bingzhou, Sima Teng, was incompetent and allowed the Southern Xiongnu to rise, doing nothing about it. When I heard that a new governor was appointed, I even thought that if the new governor was as incompetent as Sima Teng, I might lead my warriors to take the fertile lands of Bingzhou and declare myself king. But it turns out that there are still resolute and decisive people like Governor Liu in the court. Heh, it seems the fate of the Jin Dynasty is not yet over, and my previous thoughts were wrong."

This Xianbei chief seemed determined to shock with his words, openly talking about rebellion and chaos. Everyone was already numb from the earlier events and could only stare with wide eyes, too stunned to argue. Since Lord Yuanshi didn't seem to mind, the officials all pretended not to hear.

Tuoba Yilu spoke confidently, while Liu Kun tapped the table with his long fingers, as if calculating something. Suddenly, he asked: "Chief Tuoba, I, Liu Yuanshi, understand your dangerous situation and your ambitions. Please be straightforward; what is the purpose of your visit? Do you seek something from me, or do you offer something to me?"

Tuoba Yilu laughed and stood up, raising his voice: "I seek help from Governor Liu, and I can also offer help to Governor Liu!"

"Governor Liu, the Jin Dynasty is the legitimate ruler of the world, and you are a high-ranking official appointed by the court. I want to become the chief of the Tuoba Xianbei, and I cannot do it without your strong support. However, the situation in Bingzhou is clear; I, Tuoba Yilu, am in a precarious position, but with a single call, I can gather ten thousand brave and skilled cavalry. I believe I can help the court eliminate rebels and subdue the small fry. If Governor Liu can help me become the chief of the Tuoba Xianbei, I will offer the forty thousand Xianbei people for your command!" He looked at Liu Kun with bright eyes and continued: "Governor Liu, you are a hero among the Han, and I, Tuoba Yilu, am a hero among the Xianbei. If we work together, what can we not achieve in this world?"

Liu Kun suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining with intensity. Their gazes met, and it seemed as if sparks were about to fly.