Chapter 11: Legends Are Just Legends

A Hu Ren tribe is a small society.

The more powerful the tribe, the clearer its internal divisions.

At the core are the military nobles and shamans; on the periphery are craftsmen and other artisans; at the bottom are ordinary herders.

Qifu Moyu’s tribe is no different.

After sending the tribe’s soldiers to Er Zhu Rong, there remained over twenty-five thousand people.

Jia Sixie had been overjoyed these past days.

Unlike the Han people in Taiping Village, who were all obsessed with fighting and killing, Jia Sixie was astonished to discover that these Hu Ren were unexpectedly multi-talented.

They knew how to raise livestock, treat animal diseases, make cheese, brew alcohol, build fortifications, forge iron…

Although Jia Sixie considered these Hu Ren’s skills far from refined.

These Hu Ren did not resist the skills Jia Sixie taught them.

What pleased Jia Sixie most was that they were even willing to farm!

“There’s a master in the military commander’s camp!”

Liu Gui followed Li Shuang, gazing at the orderly camp, and sighed.

Li Shuang smiled and asked:

“How so?”

Liu Gui pointed to the herders tending sheep and horses nearby and said:

“The Hu Ren around Pingcheng are often brave but poor at management. Your Excellency has just taken over Qifu Moyu’s tribe, yet none of the tribespeople show any sign of panic—they each have their place. As I walked here, I saw the herders working with clear order, nothing like typical Hu Ren behavior.”

Liu Gui was no ordinary merchant.

He was a Xiongnu; his father had once held the post of Inspector of Si Province, and as a youth he had traveled to Luoyangcheng, witnessing the finest things in the realm.

Liu Gui inwardly looked down on these Hu Ren who had not yet been sinicized, regarding them as barbaric and crude.

Yet the Luoyangcheng circle was not open to everyone; only Xianbei royalty, imperial relatives, and Han aristocratic families could enter.

He, a Xiongnu, was an outsider among outsiders.

After failing to remain in Luoyangcheng, he returned home and, relying on his father’s former position as Inspector of Si Province, engaged in trade.

When the Liuzhen rebellion broke out, Liu Gui recalled Gao Huan’s earlier words about the coming chaos and began to consider his options.

He approached Li Shuang, believing this military commander, Da Ye Shuang, who had gained fame in Beixiurong, needed him more than Er Zhu Rong did.

Li Shuang walked to a large tent, pulled back the flap, and found over a hundred people seated inside.

At the head was Jia Sixie.

He wore a short jacket and, like the other Hu Ren in the tent, was grinding bones.

Jia Sixie was deeply absorbed in his research and did not notice anyone entering.

“This is the master you spoke of!”

Li Shuang pointed to Jia Sixie; Liu Gui, looking at the unremarkable figure among the crowd, was also surprised—could this dullard really be a master?

Yet Liu Gui said nothing more, feeling quietly pleased.

Li Shuang bringing him to meet Jia Sixie and this weapons workshop meant he had taken the first step toward trust.

Jia Sixie was less a Confucian scholar than a Mohist, obsessively devoted to technology.

From the moment Li Shuang and Liu Gui entered the tent until they left, Jia Sixie never noticed them—he was entirely focused on perfecting the technique of making bone arrows.

Outside the tent, Li Shuang asked:

“The northern frontier lacks iron above all else—we’re forced to use bone for arrows. Can you find a way to get more iron?”

Liu Gui knew this was Li Shuang testing him.

“Salt and iron in Hengzhou, Shuozhou, and the Liuzhen are strictly controlled by Pingcheng. Normally, even if you could get any, it would be little. But now that the Liuzhen have rebelled, these things have become easier.”

Around Pingcheng, whether Hu Ren tribes or Han villages, there were clear divisions of labor.

In the past, even if the Luoyangcheng court was corrupt, order still held.

With the Liuzhen rebellion, both Hu and Han in the northern frontier have fallen into a dark forest—former divisions no longer exist; everyone’s first priority is self-preservation.

“What do you need?”

Liu Gui thought for a moment, bowed, and said:

“Five carts of grain, wine and cheese, and furs—I can secure one cart of iron for Your Excellency.”

“I’ll give you twenty carts, plus ten bags of gold!”

Li Shuang leaned close to Liu Gui and whispered in his ear:

“I also want some crossbows.”

Li Shuang was more generous than Liu Gui imagined, yet also bolder.

Crossbows and armor were contraband even among contraband.

Even a military commander, if caught trading crossbows and armor, faced certain death.

Any ordinary man hearing this would have broken into a cold sweat—but Liu Gui felt only eager excitement.

Liu Gui thought for a moment, bowed, and said:

“I know a tribe that can do this, but I must take my own men.”

Li Shuang heard this without concern.

“Fine!”

“Won’t you fear I’ll run off with these goods?”

“I trust you.”

Liu Gui, hearing this, felt a pang of emotion.

Liu Gui knew the Three Kingdoms story well—he had known since childhood of the harmonious bond between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

Especially in this declining age, the tale of Shu Han’s ruler and minister was more enviable than ever.

He never imagined this young military commander possessed such magnanimity.

What a bandit chief!

It was all just hearsay!

For a moment, Liu Gui looked at Li Shuang with a softening gaze.

Could I have met a true sovereign like Emperor Zhao Lie of Shu?

Just then, Hou Jing strode over loudly:

“Lord, I’ve caught that boy who cheated you—I broke his legs.”

Li Shuang was displeased.

“How crude of you! Why break his legs so quickly? Send for a shaman to set his bones!”

Hou Jing looked puzzled.

“Why set the cheat’s bones?”

“He betrayed my trust. Once he’s healed, break them again.”

“Got it!”

Hou Jing, delighted, hurried off.

Liu Gui, hearing this, felt his heart leap to his throat; inexplicably, his kneecaps throbbed.

Bandit!

Damn it—he’s definitely a bandit!

“Forgive me for the spectacle!”

Trading crossbows and armor, a crime of treason, had not frightened Liu Gui—but now, looking at this young man’s smile, a chill ran down his spine.

“Your Excellency, rest assured—I will fulfill your request!”

When Liu Gui spoke these words, his voice rang clear.

Horsemen galloped—three Er Zhu clan Qihu riders sped toward them.

As they drew near, the three Qihu warriors dismounted, knelt respectfully before Li Shuang, and delivered Er Zhu Rong’s message.

“The clan chief says: ‘Third brother, it’s time to head south!’”

The Er Zhu warriors delivered Er Zhu Rong’s words exactly.

Li Shuang listened, glanced at Liu Gui, and smiled.

“It seems Pingcheng can no longer dominate the northern frontier!”

At that moment, Li Shuang radiated an inexplicable aura that struck Liu Gui with awe.

His brief words carried a meaning Liu Gui could not articulate.

“When you’ve completed what we discussed, come to Xiurong and find me.”