Chapter 1333 - 1273: Refusing to Obey
When Tuoba Yilu received the news, he was hunting outside Ping City with his youngest son. Upon hearing the news, he immediately returned to the city to meet the soldier who had discovered this information.
This soldier was an operative stationed in Bingzhou, running a lamb soup shop not far from Beigong Chun’s residence. His main task was to keep an eye on Beigong Chun’s movements.
He would also buy a court bulletin daily, and while the information it contained was meant for the public by the court, it was still packed with valuable information.
So he particularly enjoyed sending the court bulletin to his leader.
But he never expected that one day the information in the court bulletin would be so crucial. This time, he didn’t trust anyone else to send it. As soon as he got the bulletin, he closed his shop under the pretense of illness and rushed back to Ping City.
After reading the court bulletin, Tuoba Yilu didn’t look pleased.
Tuoba Biyan was quite happy, "Father, Aunt is going to be the Emperor!"
Tuoba Yilu smacked him on the head, "Fool, what is there to be happy about her becoming Emperor?"
Tuoba Biyan clutched his head and said, "She is your sworn sister. Isn’t it good for her to become Emperor?"
"No, it’s not good, not good at all," Tuoba Yilu said. "Dai County is borrowed land. The Little Emperor is neither wise nor authoritative; maintaining the status quo is best. In the future, when chaos reigns in the Central Plains, we Xianbei might have opportunities to move south."
He said, "North of Shengle City is cold and harsh. Our people live in hardship. I only wish to settle in Bingzhou. Zhao Hanzhang is exceptionally talented. Though a woman, she is ambitious. In just one year, she has unified the south. For territories like Dai County and Xiliang, which are hanging in the balance, do you really think she won’t reclaim them?"
Tuoba Biyan said, "But she promised you, Father, that she would grant Dai County to you as your fief."
Tuoba Yilu said, "She has kept her promise, but only to make it my fief. Without a Princely Heir, there is no succession. What if it ends in one generation?"
Zhao Hanzhang kept her word. When Tuoba Yilu sent troops to assist her and returned to Luoyang the year before last, she issued an imperial decree in the name of the Emperor, changing Dai County to Dai Country, officially appointing Tuoba Yilu as the King of Dai.
Originally, she intended to appoint Tuoba Liuxiu as the Princely Heir, but Tuoba Yilu submitted a memorial stating that Tuoba Liuxiu was unfilial and foolish, not wanting him as Princely Heir, and requested the Emperor appoint Tuoba Biyan instead.
However, the courtiers believed in the order of seniority, and there was no actual behavior from Tuoba Liuxiu to indicate unfilial conduct, so they did not agree. This matter remained unresolved, and two years passed without the edict for appointing a Princely Heir being issued.
Tuoba Yilu was irritated and had not wanted to see Tuoba Liuxiu for two years.
He planned to write to Zhao Hanzhang after three years, telling her that Tuoba Liuxiu had not paid respects to him for three years. But before three years were up, Zhao Hanzhang was going to become the Emperor.
Tuoba Biyan also remembered that this aunt favored the elder brother, and he heard that Tuoba Liuxiu was having a tough time in Xinping City, and the aunt even sent people to give him money and goods.
Tuoba Biyan felt anxious and asked, "What if Aunt becomes Emperor and insists that my elder brother be made Princely Heir?"
Tuoba Yilu lowered his gaze and after a moment said, "I will write to your second uncle."
He found an excuse to dismiss Tuoba Biyan and then summoned the Great General, "I see Beigong Chun in Bingzhou is quite arrogant, often associating with the Qiang Hu and Xiliang, seemingly harboring disloyalty. I am responsible for guarding the northern borders for my third sister, so it’s my duty to oversee the military generals of the borderlands..."
Saying so much, Tuoba Yilu had one intention: whether they could take over part of Bingzhou to expand their activity area.
His nephew, Tuoba Qina, immediately said, "Great King, I am willing to lead the troops forward."
But most generals objected, "If the Great King believes Beigong Chun harbors disloyalty, you can lodge a complaint with the Great General, but deploying troops without orders seems inappropriate."
"What’s inappropriate? Our purpose is not really for Great Jin. Capture the place first; as long as our troops are strong, General Zhao wouldn’t dare to fight us."
Tuoba Yilu nodded approvingly; that’s exactly what he thought.
The Xianbei have 200,000 strong troops, especially well-trained cavalry. It wouldn’t be easy for Zhao Hanzhang to defeat him. She has just ascended the throne; her domestic situation is unsettled, and she hasn’t fully grasped power. Surely she wouldn’t want to go to war.
As long as he can hold a place for three years, it might become legitimate after that. Even if not, he can barter that place for other benefits.
Tuoba Yilu expressed that he could bend or stretch as needed.
The opposing generals were unconvinced, saying, "General Zhao is known for being tough. If she’s enraged, she will certainly deploy troops."
He showed them the bulletin and said, "She’s currently forcing the Little Emperor to abdicate; her hands are tied. This is possibly our only chance in the next ten years."
Once she solidifies her throne, it would be much harder to seize territory for their people.
They deliberated behind closed doors for a long time and finally decided to deploy troops.
Tuoba Yilu was adept at strategizing. Once the decision was made, he immediately mobilized troops in batches to the border and sent messages to summon Tuoba Liuxiu, instructing him to recruit 20,000 troops and head to the border for reinforcements.
Beigong Chun was also mobilizing troops. He had to guard against Tuoba Yilu and the Qiang Hu to the west.
In recent years, he had good relations with the Qiang people, having established a market at the border. Moreover, the other side of the Qiang Hu was the old home of Xiliang, with Shi Le mediating, so they hadn’t had any conflicts in the past two years. Consequently, Beigong Chun stationed fewer soldiers on the western border, with most of the troops set up in three defensive lines in the north.
The first and third camps moved twenty li towards the border line, planting banners on the wide, unobstructed prairie.
Tuoba Yilu was halfway there when he received reports from scouts, prompting him to personally lead men to survey the situation.
His second son, Tuoba Pusuge, advised, "Father, Beigong Chun is well-prepared. This battle won’t be easy."
Other generals also chimed in, "We have already lost the initiative. Since we can’t take them by surprise, perhaps we should withdraw."
"Beigong Chun’s cavalry is famous worldwide, not inferior to us Xianbei. If it were any other Han general, we’d have fought, but him..."
Even if Zhao Hanzhang personally defended here, they would have the confidence to fight, but with the prepared Beigong Chun...
Tuoba Yilu tightly gripped the reins.
Just then, people on the border seemed to spot them from a distance. A group departed from their camp, moving towards them.
It was just a crowd of small black dots, estimated to be about a hundred people.
Tuoba Yilu strained his eyes, yet couldn’t discern who it was. He was about to send his second son to investigate when a messenger dashed from the rear, announcing urgently, "Great King, the Eldest Prince refuses to send troops. He said, he said..."
Tuoba Yilu angrily demanded, "What did he say?"
"He said attacking Great Jin is a most unjust act, and he refuses to comply."
Tuoba Yilu was furious, about to explode, when a sharp-sighted general beside him quickly alerted, "Great King, that’s Beigong Chun; he’s personally come."
Tuoba Yilu was astonished, immediately suppressing his rising anger.