Chapter 157: The Wuhuan Food Crisis

Because someone was able to step forward and offer a strategic plan, Gongsun Du ultimately adopted the idea. After all, the pressing issue at hand was that Cao Cao had to be dealt with first.

"In that case, I will immediately dispatch men to contact Tadun of the Wuhuan, and everything shall proceed precisely as Xuande put it just now!" Gongsun Du declared.

Until the conversation concluded, Zhang Fei did not utter a single word.

Deep down in his heart, he felt that his eldest brother's plan was truly somewhat despicable and shameless.

He turned his head to glance at Gongsun Du, despising this fellow from the bottom of his heart.

Gongsun Du cared not at all what Zhang Fei thought of him; instead, he raised his cup with a smile to toast Liu Bei and Yuan Tan.

This marked that the matter was now firmly settled.

...........

The weather north of Liaodong was gradually turning cold, which was nothing short of a nightmare for the Wuhuan people.

Their food supplies were almost exhausted, and to survive this bitter winter, it was very likely that a great many people would perish.

What should be done next became a question that the Wuhuan chieftains had to consider.

Ever since the four major commanderies were annexed by Yuan Shao, the troops responsible for guarding the Great Wall had grown immensely powerful.

No gains could possibly be extracted from them.

Consequently, even if the Wuhuan wished to cross the Great Wall and head south to plunder wealth, the probability of returning empty-handed was extremely high.

As for Gongsun Du in Liaodong, although that fellow had grain in his hands, the troops under his command were no pushovers either.

What was to be done?

They surely could not just sit and watch their own sons and braves starve to death like this.

Several of the Wuhuan chieftains gathered together to discuss the matter.

Tadun, Wuyan, and Supuyan were the chieftains of the three major Wuhuan tribes.

When these three tribes united, they commanded several thousand elite cavalrymen.

If they were to also integrate their herdsmen into the army, they would be fully capable of launching a war involving tens of thousands of men.

Gathered together here, they ate stewed mutton while discussing what should be done next.

Discuss as they might, no good solution presented itself.

Without grain, rather than being starved to death, it was better to go out and pillage—either raid the Han people or plunder these foreign tribes.

Tadun lost his patience, smashed the pot in front of him, and sternly said, "Instead of sitting here waiting to die, we might as well strike out!"

Supuyan and Wuyan looked at his angry expression with mixed feelings in their hearts.

At such a juncture of life and death, their situations were identical. Even if they had past grievances, they had to unite at this moment and twist themselves into a single rope.

"I think he is right. Even if we die in battle, it is still better than starving to death here. If we die in battle, at least our wives and children will have a few extra mouthfuls of food," Wuyan said coldly.

Supuyan, sitting beside him, offered no objections, as he had always followed Wuyan's lead.

Because he had once been the other man's subordinate, only later growing powerful enough to become a commander in his own right.

As long as Tadun and Supuyan both nodded, it would be equivalent to reaching a consensus.

Even if Gongsun Du was a hard nut to crack, they still had to give it a try.

"Alright, the major decision is made. Let us drink!"

Tadun raised his wine cup toward the two of them.

Just then, a Wuhuan messenger walked in from outside the felt tent.

"Reporting to the Chanyu, Gongsun Du has sent an envoy to request an audience."

Tadun frowned. Just moments ago, they had been discussing going to plunder Gongsun Du.

Now, this fellow had unexpectedly sent an envoy.

With these events coinciding, could it be a mere coincidence?

"Let him in!" Tadun commanded.

He exchanged a glance with the other two, and the three of them already had a scheme in mind.

At present, they absolutely must not reveal any flaws.

A moment later, a captain stepped into the military tent. Cupping his hands, he stated, "General Gongsun Du has sent me to bring three pieces of good news to the three Chanyus."

"Oh? What good news is there?" Tadun asked.

Wuyan and Supuyan also cast curious gazes.

They were eager to hear what the other party had to say.

At this, the captain sent by Gongsun Du spoke: "The General heard that the Wuhuan are short of grain, and has specially sent me to deliver some."

The three Wuhuan Chanyus frowned, somewhat surprised.

Could it be that this Gongsun Du had anticipated long ago that if they lacked grain, the Wuhuan would turn their sights on him?

Therefore, he thought it better to surrender the grain of his own accord.

"How much is there?"

"This is the gift list; please examine it, Chanyu."

Tadun took it and took a look, his brow immediately furrowing, because how could such a meager amount resolve their crisis?

"Please return and convey my thanks to General Gongsun..."

Although Tadun spoke thus, his tone was extremely stiff, bearing not the slightest trace of gratitude.

"General Gongsun also has a letter that he asked me to personally deliver to the Chanyu," the captain said.

After Tadun accepted the letter, the captain took his leave.

"Eldest brother, what shall we do about this?" Wuyan asked.

Tadun frowned deeply. "The arrow is on the string and must be fired; this little bit of grain is not enough to get us through the winter!"

They carried zero psychological burden whatsoever, having never regarded the Han people as anything of consequence to begin with.

Let alone when it came to surviving.

From the very beginning, the only factor they had considered was Gongsun Du's strength; benevolence and morality had never once entered their calculations.

After all, they were a foreign race, uncivilized beings.

"You two, return to your respective camps and make preparations!"

"Very well!"

Supuyan and Wuyan departed.

Feeling somewhat drowsy, Tadun immediately summoned several female attendants.

Holding one in his arms while the others massaged his shoulders, beat his legs, and poured fine wine,

he took a hearty sip of the wine, and suddenly recalled the personal letter Gongsun Du had given him.

Assuming it contained nothing of importance, he had not paid it much heed.

Only now did he unfold the envelope.

Upon reading the contents within, his expression altered drastically.

"This..."

The contents shocked him so much that he even began to feel a trace of doubt.

Gongsun Du actually wanted to ally with them to jointly launch a punitive campaign against Youzhou!

This was truly...

An earth-shattering piece of good news.

Tadun's cavalry was fierce and skilled in battle, and they had never feared such long-distance raid operations.

However, the barrier of the Great Wall had prevented them from fully displaying their prowess.

Now, with Gongsun Du's support, crossing the Great Wall would naturally be no problem at all.

When that time came, to say nothing of inexhaustible supplies of grain,

they could have as many women as they desired.

Compared to the fierce and untamed nature of Hu women, Tadun preferred the gentle and water-like temperament of Central Plains women.

Thinking of this, a fire seemed to ignite within his chest, demanding to be vented.

"Someone come!" Tadun shouted in a booming voice.

Instantly, several attendants entered and respectfully bowed to Tadun.

Tadun commanded, "Go and invite Wuyan and Supuyan to return here once more."

Although his subordinates found it perplexing—hadn't these two lords only just left?—the soldiers naturally still carried out Tadun's orders.