Chapter 419: The victors are the kings and the losers are the bandits. Why fear the pen of history? I will bear the infamy! Cessing land and offering soil? Cao Cao still has some dignity!

"Tens of thousands of fierce soldiers are within reach?"

"Dezu, you mean..."

Cao Zhi's eyes were surprised yet confused, and he had not yet understood the implication of Yang Xiu's words.

Cao Ren suddenly realized and blurted out:
"Southern Xiongnu, the tens of thousands of brave soldiers you are referring to, could it be the Southern Xiongnu?"

Yang Xiu smiled, cupped his hands and complimented:
"General Huqi is wise. What Xiu is referring to is the Southern Xiongnu."

Cao Ren suddenly understood.

Be it Cao Zhi or Xun You, they all suddenly understood.

The Xiongnu had internal strife since the time of Emperor Zhang, and split into the Northern and Southern Xiongnu. The Northern Xiongnu migrated westward, while the Southern Xiongnu went south to surrender to the Han Dynasty.

The Huns, who had been attacked for more than two hundred years since the time of Emperor Wu, finally surrendered to the Han Dynasty. This was naturally a great joy.

Therefore, the Han court not only agreed to the surrender of the Southern Xiongnu, but also allowed them to submit to the Han Dynasty and move to the Bingzhou area south of the Great Wall.

From then on, the Southern Xiongnu were divided into five tribes. The Han Dynasty set up the General of the Household to Protect the Xiongnu to monitor and control the Xiongnu people. The Xiongnu Chanyu was also conferred a title by the Han Dynasty.

However, since the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Han Dynasty declined, and the various Hu tribes that had originally submitted to the Han Dynasty took advantage of the situation to rise up.

For example, the Qiang people in Liangzhou, the Wuhuan people in Youzhou, and the Southern Xiongnu people in Bingzhou not only began to disobey the orders of the Han Dynasty, but also rebelled from time to time, looting the Han people's cattle and sheep, and causing trouble for the border states.

When Dong Zhuo's rebellion broke out, the Southern Xiongnu Khan Yufuluo even led his army across the Yellow River to cooperate with Yuan Shu and Cao Cao in the fight for Yanzhou. His influence once extended to the south of the Yellow River.

Later, under the attacks of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, the expansion of the Southern Xiongnu was curbed, and its forces retreated to Bingzhou and retreated to Xihe County and Shang County west of Bingzhou.

Although the power of the Southern Xiongnu has shrunk, they have not stopped plundering the Han people. Their strength, which has been dormant for all these years, has been increasing day by day.

According to rumors, Yu Fuluo was able to mobilize nearly 50,000 Xiongnu cavalry.

Of course, the weapons and armor of these 50,000 cavalrymen may not be as sophisticated as those of the Qin or Han armies, but the number of 50,000 alone sounds scary enough.

The advantage in quantity can make up for the gap in quality.

"Uncle Zixiao, what Yang Xiu said is absolutely right!"

"If Yu Fuluo Ken led 50,000 Xiongnu cavalry to help us, would we still be afraid of Liu Bei?"

Cao Zhi spoke without thinking and shouted excitedly without hesitation.

A gleam of light flashed in Cao Ren's eyes and he stood up suddenly.

"General Zixiao, we need to be cautious about this matter."

Xun You spoke in time and interrupted the excitement of the uncle and nephew of the Cao family.

"The Southern Xiongnu tribe is said to have 50,000 cavalrymen. If they are willing to come to help, they will naturally be able to influence the outcome of the battle."

"But General Huoqi, don't forget that the Xiongnu have always been greedy. Since the second emperor of Huanling, they have been encroaching on Bingzhou and plotting to gain a foothold in Han territory."

"Our Bingzhou is in danger now. If we ask Yu Fuluo for help, the Hu chieftain will surely take advantage of the situation and ask us to cede our land to him."

"We all know the emperor's attitude towards the Hu people. How could he possibly do something that would damage the dignity of the country, such as ceding land to the Xiongnu?"

"You thinks this plan may not be feasible."

Xun You poured a bucket of cold water on the two Caos' heads, instantly washing away the excitement on the faces of the uncle and nephew.

"Gongda's words make sense. Your Majesty may not agree to such an act that undermines the dignity of the country..."

Cao Ren frowned and sat down again.

He knew Cao Cao's character best.

When he was still young, Cao Cao set an ambition to become the General of the Western Expedition of the Han Dynasty, to wipe out the Hu people and expand the territory for the Han Dynasty.

Cao Cao has always adopted a policy of suppression towards the Hu people.

Just like the Qiang people in Liang Province, after Cao Cao seized control of Liang Province, he ordered Xiahou Yuan to launch several offensives against the Qiang people, forcing the Qiang people to migrate hundreds of miles west and they dared not invade Liang Province again.

When Yuan Xi offered Bingzhou to Cao Cao, Yu Fuluo took the opportunity to propose to Cao Cao that in exchange for Yuan Xi's loyalty to Cao Cao, Cao Cao would give the five northwestern counties of Bingzhou, namely Xihe, Shang, Wuyuan, Shuofang and Dingxiang, to the Xiongnu, and would also confer the title of King of Jin on Yu Fuluo.

These five counties have been infiltrated by the Huns for decades, and in fact more than half of the cities are under the actual control of the Huns.

Even if Yuan Xi surrendered to Qin, Cao Cao could only nominally control Yanmen County, Taiyuan County, Shangdang County, and Hedong County of Bingzhou.

Yu Fuluo was full of confidence, thinking that Cao Cao would go with the flow, recognize his actual control over the five counties, and grant him the title of Jinyang in order to win him over and appease him.

Who would have thought that Cao Cao would refuse it outright.

Cao Ren understood that although his brother the Emperor had abolished the Han Dynasty and established himself as the emperor, his original intention had not changed and he still had great disgust and wariness towards the Hu people.

Although the five Xihe counties were actually under the control of the Xiongnu, in name they still belonged to the Qin State and to the Han people.

If Cao Cao had given these five counties to the Huns, wouldn't that have set a precedent for Han emperors to cede land and give away territory to the Hu people?

Moreover, it legally recognized the Huns' control over the five northwestern counties!

There will be endless troubles!
How would people in the world despise Cao Cao, the emperor who ceded land?

How will Cao Cao be recorded in history books?

Cao Cao still had some dignity, so he rejected Yu Furuo's request without hesitation and in stern words.

But the Qin State is in danger now. In this situation, if we bow our heads and ask Yu Fu for help, what if the other party takes advantage of the situation and brings up the old matter again?
"Uncle Zixiao's reminder reminded me that my father had rejected the unreasonable request of the Xiongnu to grant land."

"My father also said that after we wipe out the fake Han and pacify the world, we will definitely use military force against the Xiongnu and drive these Hu people out of Bingzhou."

"According to this calculation, Dezu's plan is indeed not feasible."

After Cao Zhi muttered to himself, he sighed bitterly:
"But now our connection with Guanzhong has been cut off, and the reinforcements from my father cannot come to rescue us. Baibo Pass is also shaky and we won't be able to hold out for a few more days."

"If Yu Fuluo doesn't come to rescue me, then my Bingzhou will be..."

Cao Zhi shuddered and dared not say anything more.

Cao Ren's body stiffened and his eyes became hesitant again.

"Now that Hedong has fallen and Bingzhou is cut off by the Han army, even if we want to ask the emperor for permission, we have to go through Xihe County and Shang County." "It's such a long distance. By the time we get the emperor's clear order, I'm afraid Baibo Pass will have been lost and Bingzhou will be doomed."

"As the saying goes, a general in a foreign land may not be granted orders by the sovereign."

"Your Majesty has granted the General of the Cavalry the power to command the military and political affairs of Bingzhou. There are some matters for which the General of the Cavalry does not need to consult Your Majesty and can act at his own discretion."

Yang Xiu spoke in a roundabout way, and his eyes and words were full of profound meaning.

Cao Ren's heart was suddenly shocked.

Yang Xiu was trying to trick him into meeting the Huns' conditions without telling Cao Cao, in exchange for Yu Fuluo leading 50,000 cavalry to come to the rescue.

In other words, he alone had to bear the blame for ceding land to the Huns.

But Yang Xiu was very cunning. He did not say a word throughout the whole process, openly advising Cao Ren to act on his own and cede land to the Huns for help. All his actions were just hints.

In this way, even if Cao Cao investigated the matter later, it would only be Cao Ren's arbitrary decision-making and had nothing to do with him.

"When a general is on the battlefield, he may not be granted orders from the king..."

Cao Ren stood up again and paced around the hall, struggling to make the right choice.

Xun You realized from the change in Cao Ren's expression that this General of Cavalry was intending to ask Yu Furuo for help without asking for permission.

"General Huqi, this action is not only concerning the dignity of our Great Qin, but it may also invite a wolf into the house, causing endless disasters!"

"In the history books of the future, there will probably be a bad name for you!"

"General Hussar, you should think twice before you act!"

Xun You tended to be against ceding land to the Huns for help, but he did not directly oppose it verbally.

Because he knew better than anyone that the situation had reached this point, and there was no other way out except asking the Huns for help.

So he could only advise Cao Ren to think twice.

Cao Ren's body shuddered and he couldn't help but stop. The already tilted balance in his heart was straightened out again by Xun You's reminder.

"No matter how history books write it, whether one is praised or cursed after death, I think it is all just empty reputation."

"The so-called success makes the king loser. What the historian writes depends on who is the king and who is the bandit."

"If Bingzhou is lost, then our Great Qin will perish, and all of us will be the victims of our lost country."

"How we bandits are written about in history books is decided by the king, isn't it?"

Yang Xiu asked back meaningfully.

"The winner is the king, the loser is the bandit..."

Cao Ren muttered these four words to himself over and over again.

The worry and hesitation in his eyes gradually dissipated and turned into iron-clad determination.

"That's it!"

"The Qin Empire cannot do without Bingzhou. What is the use of posthumous reputation and historical evaluation? If it cannot help me defend Bingzhou, what is the use of it?"

"Let me bear this infamy!"

...

Two days later, Baibo Pass South.

Another round of bombardment ended, and the world returned to peace.

"At this rate, if the bombardment lasts for three to five days at most, the walls of Baibo Pass will surely collapse!"

"Your Majesty, the Hanwei Cannon invented by Prime Minister Xiao is truly worthy of its reputation. This has broadened my horizons."

Fa Zheng pointed at Guancheng and smiled, looking sideways at Xiao Fang with respect in his eyes.

Liu Bei laughed loudly and said proudly:
"Pass the order down, let the soldiers get enough rest now, and within five days, destroy Bai..."

Before the inspiring words were finished, a rider on a horse came.

"Your Majesty, urgent news from Xihe County!"

"The Xiongnu Chanyu Yufuluo has led 50,000 Xiongnu cavalry across the river and is heading towards Baibo Pass. It's only two days' walk from here!"

The scout held up the silk letter with the secret report, dismounted from his horse and half-knelt.

The faces of all the Han army officials changed.

The heroic expression on Liu Bei's face turned into surprise. He hurriedly took the secret report, opened it and looked at it for a few seconds, then his brows suddenly frowned.

"The thief Cao actually followed Yuan Shang's example and did not hesitate to cede land and give away land in order to seek help from the Hu people!"

Liu Bei's face was filled with indignation, and he showed the silk letter to his ministers.

All the ministers took it and looked at it, and were all in an uproar.

The secret report of the spies claimed that Cao Cao induced Yu Furuo to mobilize all the Huns' troops and come to Baibo Pass to help in the battle by promising him the five counties of Xihai and the title of King of Jin.

Fifty thousand cavalrymen are only three days away from Baibo Pass!
Although Cao Cao was a traitor who usurped the Han Dynasty, he was still a local hero and the ruler of a country.

The king of the Han Dynasty was so shameless that he ceded land to the Hu people in exchange for the Huns' help!
All the ministers were indignant and shouted curses one after another.

"Although Cao Cao was a traitor to the Han Dynasty, he still had integrity and shame."

"This thief's original ideal was to become the General of the Western Expedition of the Han Dynasty, to wipe out the Hu people and expand the territory for the Han Dynasty."

"The current situation of the pseudo-Qin has not yet reached the point where it is out of control and there is no way out. I don't think Cao Cao will go to the point of ceding land to the Xiongnu for help, regardless of the infamy he will face in the future."

"In my opinion, this matter must have been dictated by Cao Ren, who acted arbitrarily and on his own initiative."

Amidst the angry curses, a calm voice sounded.

(End of this chapter)