Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five: The Dragon City Ceremony

The Xiongnu tribes worshiped nature, believing that nature itself was divine. In their understanding, the Mountain God stood above all other gods, and Kunlun was the greatest mountain known to them. Thus, the God of Kunlun naturally became the supreme deity in the hearts of the Xiongnu. From the Chanyu down to commoners and even slaves, all among the Xiongnu revered the God of Kunlun.

That day, the sky was clear, the air crisp, and a gentle breeze stirred the heavens. Junchen Chanyu led the princes, nobles, and several thousand soldiers to Dragon City, where they conducted a grand sacrifice to Heaven and Earth and prayed for the blessing of the God of Kunlun.

The sacrificial platform at Dragon City had already been erected. The heads of cattle, sheep, and other sacrificial beasts were arranged upon it, while banners stood in regulation order along either side. Everyone taking part in the ceremony was dressed with solemn dignity, their expressions grave. Junchen Chanyu stood at the front, with the various princes and nobles arranged behind him.

“Great God of Kunlun, protect Your people. Grant Your people wealth, and let them live and work in peace beneath Your glory!”

The aged Chanyu recited the sacrificial prayer with practiced ease. His voice, now weighty and now gentle, drifted above Dragon City and swept away with the northern wind toward every corner of the great desert.

Behind Junchen Chanyu stood Nangong Yanzhi, Crown Prince Yudan, Yizhixie, King of the Left Valley, Princess Yixue, and several other figures of importance among the Xiongnu. Because this sacrifice was of great significance, even the leaders of tribes beyond the royal court, including the Worthy Kings of the Left and Right, had all been summoned by Junchen Chanyu.

As Junchen Chanyu recited the prayer in a loud voice, the richly dressed Crown Prince Yudan wore an expression of devout reverence. His gaze toward the sky was identical to that of Junchen Chanyu, and his lips moved faintly, as though he were praying alongside the Chanyu for the welfare of the Xiongnu people. Yizhixie, King of the Left Valley, remained composed, though a shadow lay across his face. His eyes shifted repeatedly among Junchen Chanyu, Nangong Yanzhi, and Yudan, gleaming with uncertainty.

Two years earlier, Junchen Chanyu had granted Yizhixie a stretch of pastureland and sent him to develop his own tribe. As for the royal court, it would naturally be inherited by Crown Prince Yudan.

Junchen Chanyu’s aged face was covered in wrinkles. A furrow of worry lay between his brows, and three lines of distress marked his forehead. Once, during the reign of Emperor Wen, this great Chanyu had been so ambitious and spirited that he joined forces with the seven eastern kingdoms of the Great Han in preparation for an assault on Chang’an. Though he still possessed his former resolve, his dignity and might were no longer what they had been. Junchen Chanyu had grown old, and his health had recently begun to fail. It seemed that the day when Crown Prince Yudan would succeed him was not far off.

Every old man nearing death could not help reflecting on whether the many things he had done in life had been right. Junchen Chanyu was no exception. This once-great ruler, having reached his present age, seemed to hold different thoughts about the road the Xiongnu should take in the future. That was also why he was so satisfied with Yudan, whose nature was somewhat gentle and whose edge was not particularly sharp.

Yet the two extraordinary wars that had recently broken out between the Xiongnu and the Han had caused his plans for peaceful coexistence with the Great Han to waver. The consecutive defeats suffered by the Xiongnu armies in Shanggu Commandery had branded this proud Chanyu of a proud people with a mark of shame. Many young nobles of the tribe wanted to wash away that disgrace in blood.

But once war began, it would inevitably be both sides who bled—not merely one of them.

After finishing the sacrificial prayer, Junchen Chanyu turned and glanced at Crown Prince Yudan. He sighed inwardly and looked southward.

Even if he himself did not wish to wage a large-scale war against the Central Plains, he thought, the young and vigorous emperor in the south would probably refuse to let him have his way.

At that thought, Junchen Chanyu felt deeply conflicted. He said to Yudan, “Come with me.”

The Chanyu and the crown prince walked aside and stood shoulder to shoulder, gazing across the vast grasslands.

“Do you remember what Zhonghang Yue said about how the relationship between Han and Xiongnu should be handled?” Junchen Chanyu asked.

“I remember.” Yudan replied, “Zhonghang Yue once said that the Great Han possesses vast territory and abundant resources, and that its national strength is gradually growing. The Great Xiongnu can only wage small wars against it, not launch an all-out campaign, because if we had to withstand the fury of the Great Han united as one, the burden would not be light.”

As Yudan spoke, Junchen Chanyu watched him without looking away. When Yudan finished, his face remained calm, without the slightest trace of agitation. This eased the Chanyu somewhat, and he continued, “Then what do you think of Zhonghang Yue’s claim?”

“I... I dare not make a rash judgment.” Yudan lowered his head.

“Oh? And why not?” Junchen Chanyu frowned slightly.

“I do not know whether Zhonghang Yue was right.” Yudan’s voice grew softer, and he did not dare meet the Chanyu’s gaze. “The Great Han may indeed be powerful, but for the past several decades it has lived beneath the authority of the Great Xiongnu. In our battles with the Han border garrisons, we have rarely suffered defeat, and every time we ride out, we return with rich spoils. If the Great Han is truly powerful, I cannot seem to see it. But perhaps that is because the two sides have never truly fought a decisive battle. As for what would happen if the Great Xiongnu and the Great Han committed the full strength of their nations to war, I cannot say...”

When he finished, Yudan glanced at Junchen Chanyu somewhat uneasily. The moment his eyes met the Chanyu’s stern gaze, he lowered his head once more.

Junchen Chanyu did not look at him again. His gaze drifted toward the distant grasslands, and he fell silent.

Seeing him like this, Yudan did not dare say anything more. He could only stand beside him in silence.

After a long while, Junchen Chanyu let out a deep sigh. Whether he was speaking to Yudan or merely talking to himself, he said, “Enough. Let this old father pave the road ahead for you, my son.”

With that, Junchen Chanyu turned and walked toward the sacrificial platform.

Yudan watched his father’s retreating back, unable to understand what he had meant. Yet he lacked the courage to ask. His father did not seem to be in a good mood today, and Yudan dared not say anything further. He could only follow him, while inwardly wondering:

“Pave the road ahead? How?”

...

After the day’s sacrifice ended, the Xiongnu nobles rested in Dragon City. As custom dictated, they would remain there for one or two days.

The largest and most luxurious tent naturally belonged to Junchen Chanyu. At that moment, he was arguing with Nangong Yanzhi.

“Yudan is too gentle by nature, and he lacks any firm convictions of his own. If I do not prepare the road ahead for him, I fear that once I return to the embrace of the God of Kunlun, the Great Xiongnu will have no peaceful days left.” Junchen Chanyu’s expression was grim, even angry. “I am doing this for the future of the Great Xiongnu, and so that Yudan can sit securely upon the Chanyu’s throne!”

Compared with Junchen Chanyu, Nangong Yanzhi’s expression was no better—in fact, it was worse.

Whenever the two discussed such matters, the scene inevitably ended like this.

“After all that talk, you still mean to wage war, don’t you?” Nangong Yanzhi was anxious and furious, and her voice rose accordingly. “Will the Great Xiongnu have no future if we do not fight? Will Yudan be unable to become a good Chanyu if we do not fight? You have spent your entire life at war, and even now you still intend to keep fighting! Is war truly useful?”

Nangong Yanzhi was enraged, and Junchen Chanyu was no calmer. He retorted, “Do you think this is what I want? Isn’t it your good younger brother who keeps provoking war? At Mayi, if I had not remained vigilant, your brother would have cut me down beneath his horse! Now Liu Che wants war—what am I supposed to do? If I do not suppress him while I am still capable of fighting, should I wait until he comes to bully you and your son? By then, even if you are his elder sister, do you think he will show mercy?”

At that, Nangong Yanzhi covered her face, her voice breaking into sobs.

“I do not understand why you cannot live together in peace. Why must there be war? Must the Great Han and the Great Xiongnu truly fight until one of you dies? I am a woman who came here from the Great Han through marriage. Do you not think this is cruel to me, caught between you?”

When Junchen Chanyu saw her begin to weep, his heart softened. He sighed, sat down beside her, and gently stroked her back.

“It is not that we wish to wage war or see people die,” he said helplessly. “It is that we have no choice. This is fate.”

Nangong Yanzhi cried for a long while, and Junchen Chanyu patiently comforted her. At last he said, “Your younger brother is no ordinary emperor. Yudan will certainly be unable to contend with him. I have no choice now. If I cannot resolve this problem in my lifetime, I fear it will leave endless trouble for the future.”

After saying this, Junchen Chanyu seemed to feel utterly powerless, and he fell silent.

...

Night had fallen.

Yizhixie and his younger sister, Yixue, rode slowly around the outskirts of Dragon City. Their personal guards followed fifty paces behind them. Yixue was in low spirits and had barely spoken throughout the journey.

“What is it, little sister? Have you lost heart after a single failed campaign?” Yizhixie teased when he noticed her mood. “It was only a few Han soldiers. Next time I will go in your place and deal with them all. Then I will make every one of them your slave, and you can do whatever you like with them. How does that sound?”

Yixue sighed and cast him an annoyed glance.

“Brother, I have grown up. Could you stop treating me like a child?”

At this, Yizhixie burst into laughter.

“I nearly forgot. Little sister is now a battle-tested commander who has led troops into war—a proper general! Ha-ha!”

Then he continued, “Still, I think the old Yixue was more adorable—the little girl who would dance for joy over a few slaves, climb onto my neck, and wheedle shamelessly. I can still remember those days as though they were yesterday. And now, before I know it, you have grown so much. Time truly flies. But if you ask me, what is a girl like you doing leading armies and fighting wars? Wouldn’t it be better to stay at home, do needlework, and wait for your husband to return victorious from battle? Ha-ha...”

Yixue shot him an angry look and spat, “Can you be serious for once? I am trying to discuss something important with you, and you always act like this! If you keep it up, I will ignore you!”

“All right, all right!” Yizhixie had never possessed much authority in front of his beloved sister. Having watched her grow up from childhood, he cherished her with the deepest sincerity. “Let us speak seriously. Little sister, the main reason you lost this campaign was that the troops under your command were not elite enough. If you had used my Blood Wolf Cavalry, I could have taken that fortress at Yangtou Town in less than half a day. Then how could that scoundrel Qincheng’s scheme have succeeded? If you want to go to war again next time, I will lend you my Blood Wolf Riders. I guarantee you will return victorious!”

The moment Yixue heard the words “Blood Wolf Riders,” her eyes lit up.

“You are truly willing to lend them to me? They are the foundation of your power. Are you really willing to part with them?”

Yizhixie pretended to be angry.

“What kind of thing is that to say? If you want them, how could your brother refuse? Have I ever failed to indulge you in anything, from childhood until now? Let alone lending you the Blood Wolves for a campaign—if you truly want an elite cavalry of your own, I will have the Blood Wolves train them for you. Within a year, I guarantee you will have a first-rate cavalry force!”

“Really?” Joy spread across Yixue’s brows, and she could hardly keep from beaming. “You must keep your word, Brother. Within a year, I want a cavalry force equal to the Blood Wolves!”

“Ha-ha!” Yizhixie was amused into roaring laughter. “I, Yizhixie, have always kept my word!”