Chapter 363

The Mobei grasslands in mid-June were like a huge piece of emerald spread out on the earth, presenting a vibrant green.

The vast and boundless grassland seemed to have no boundaries, extending to the distance that the line of sight could not reach.

It made people sigh at the uncanny workmanship of nature.

Looking into the distance, the flat and open wilderness was like green ocean waves rising and falling, and the breeze blew, setting off layers of green waves.

At the end of the horizon, the blue sky like a gem and the green grassland perfectly merged together, forming a picture that made people intoxicated.

Under the blue sky and white clouds, herds of cattle and sheep walked leisurely.

Shoujiang City, also known as Sanjiang City.

For the Xiongnu, Shoujiang City was like a monument of history, witnessing the process of the Xiongnu turning from prosperity to decline. Here, a humiliating surrender treaty was signed, and since then, the offensive and defensive situation between the Great Han and the Xiongnu had reversed, and the Hexi region had finally gotten rid of the Xiongnu's harassment.

And for the Great Han, it represented the peak moment of the Han Dynasty's military power.

It represented the process of moving from the humiliation of the early Han Dynasty's marriage alliances to strength.

In 105 BC, the Great Han built this city after accepting the surrender of the Xiongnu's Left Great Dudu.

Since then, the Hexi region has belonged to the Great Han.

From the north of Shoujiang City, it was the Mobei grasslands, which was also the direction the Xiongnu fled after being defeated by the Great Han.

At this time, white yurts were stationed one after another around Shoujiang City.

Yurts were the tents where the Xiongnu lived.

They were made of wood and felt, bulging in the middle and drooping around, shaped like the sky, and because the Xiongnu respected the sky, they were named yurts.

The main body of the yurt was a wooden structure, with walls, skylights, rafters, and doors all made of wood, with an arched top, covered with felt, and generally white.

Tens of thousands of Xiongnu herdsmen were grazing horses around Shoujiang City.

Since the rise of the Great Han, the Xiongnu had been absorbing the knowledge and lifestyle of the Great Han.

The early lifestyle of eating raw meat and drinking blood on the grassland had already changed greatly.

From clothing to diet to life, the Xiongnu were gradually moving toward the Han Dynasty.

At the height of their prosperity, the Xiongnu even began to build cities on the grassland.

Then they farmed around the cities, and their lives did not completely depend on grazing.

Various pottery such as jars, bowls, tripods, bottles, pots, vats, and plates also appeared in the homes of Xiongnu nobles and tribal leaders.

Some even had some precious lacquerware and fired pottery with glaze.

Especially the nobles among the Xiongnu, who were completely close to Han culture in terms of lifestyle, materials, and clothing.

Robes made of animal skins and livestock fur also looked more and more like the long robes of the Han Dynasty.

On this vast and boundless grassland, there was a large and populous Xiongnu camp.

Looking around, yurts were densely distributed, like a white ocean.

And in the very center of this camp of tens of thousands of people, an ancient and vicissitudinous earth city stood quietly.

The earth city had experienced the baptism of long years and the erosion of wind and sand, and its original appearance was difficult to distinguish clearly.

The city walls looked somewhat dilapidated, and there were signs of collapse in many places.

Those once sturdy walls had now become precarious.

Especially in some corners and near the city gates, the damage was even more serious.

The city walls that should have been tall and thick were now only a few intermittent sections left.

Looking at the main gate of the earth city, it should have been a big gate, but at this moment it had become a shocking huge gap.

The prosperity and liveliness of the past seemed to have vanished with the passage of time, leaving only this dilapidated earth city standing alone in the wind.

Inside the city, rows of neat tents stood.

This ancient city was Shoujiang City.

It also witnessed the process of the Xiongnu moving from prosperity to decline.

After the rise of Tanshihuai, the Xianbei replaced the Xiongnu as the grassland hegemon.

They drove the Xiongnu completely out of the Monan grasslands, occupied the most fertile pastures, and further extended their tentacles into the Hexi region.

Thirty years of abandonment made Shoujiang City lose its original appearance.

The wood and city gates that built the city in the past were either dismantled and burned, or became materials for the Xianbei people's tents.

This was also the first time in decades that the Xiongnu had returned to Shoujiang City.

And at this time, the royal court of the Xiongnu Chanyu Qiangqu was stationed in Shoujiang City.

The Xiongnu were different from the Great Han.

The Great Han was a monarchy.

And the Xiongnu were more like an alliance system.

Although the Chanyu had the name of controlling the entire grassland on the surface, in reality, it was still a matter of strength.

The Chanyu was the supreme ruler of the Xiongnu, inherited by the Luan-Ti clan.

Under the hereditary system of the Chanyu, there were several great Xiongnu nobles.

The four surnames of Huyan, Lan, Xubu, and Qiulin were all extremely noble surnames of the Xiongnu, who served as auxiliary ministers and Left and Right Guduhou for generations.

In addition to the Left and Right Guduhou, the remaining noble power system of the Xiongnu was also divided into Left and Right Xianwang, generally held by the relatives of the Xiongnu Chanyu.

Left and Right Guliwang, Left and Right Generals, Left and Right Duduwei, and Left and Right Danghu were responsible for military and political affairs.

Left and Right Daqiequ: in charge of political affairs or wars.

Other nobles also included nobles, Rizhuwang, and Tongpu Duduwei, who were responsible for different functions and regional management.

When the royal court of the Chanyu was prosperous, it could command the grassland, but when it was weak, it was also very likely to be replaced by other great Xiongnu nobles.

And at this very moment, the position of the Xiongnu Chanyu was facing a major crisis.

The two sons of Chanyu Qiangqu.

The eldest son Yufuluo and the younger son Huchuquan were both captured by a general of the Han Dynasty.

Qiangqu, sitting in the royal tent in the dilapidated Shoujiang City, wore a black sable hat on his head and was chewing on milk crisp made of milk.

Although he was only in his early forties, Qiangqu, wrapped in a fur robe, looked like an old man in his sixties.

The developed masseter muscles made Qiangqu's face look square.

This was caused by eating meat all year round and needing strong bite force.

On the table in front of Qiangqu were silver pots.

Silver bowls were placed on both sides of the silver pot.

It was filled with milk wine made from mare's milk.

There were also some snacks on the wooden tray of lacquerware beside it.

Milk crisp, milk skin, and air-dried mutton and beef.

The royal tent was silent, and several burly Xiongnu thousand-men commanders stood in front of Qiangqu with their heads down.

Thousand-men commander, also known as a thousand-man leader.

Was the highest officer commanding the army among the Xiongnu except for the nobles. ===== CHAPTER 365 =====