Spare me.

The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Qiangqu demonstrated his sincerity: not only did he send his own son, the Right Wise King Yufuluo, as leader of the diplomatic mission, but he also arrested several Xiongnu tribal chiefs who had previously joined the Xianbei Budugen tribe in attacking the Xinghan Army, loaded them into a dozen prisoner carts, and delivered them all to Xinghan City for the army to deal with as it saw fit. He even humbly begged Wang Bo to forgive him for his failure to supervise his people. Along with the delegation, he brought many fine furs and several choice warhorses as gifts.

Wang Bo had some impression of Yufuluo: in the history of the late Han, Yufuluo had been a rather repressed figure. Originally loyal to the Han, he had once led Xiongnu cavalry to suppress the rebellion when Zhang Chun conspired with the Wuhuan. Not long after, discontented with the Han court’s harsh taxation and forced conscription, the Xiongnu people rebelled, killed his father Qiangqu, and enthroned the great general Xubu Guduhou as the new Chanyu.

Having no other recourse, Yufuluo traveled to the Han capital seeking aid to restore his nation, but happened to arrive during the chaos following Emperor Ling’s death. He was detained for several years, only to escape amid the turmoil. When he tried to return to Xiongnu lands, his own people refused to accept him. Unable to rejoin his tribe, he gathered a handful of loyal followers and lingered in Hedong.

Disillusioned with the Han, Yufuluo later allied with the White Wave Army, raiding and joining the wars between various warlords, until he finally surrendered to Cao Cao. His most commendable deed was that when Emperor Xian was in danger, he did not waver in his loyalty and protected him—a man of deep feeling and principle.

Therefore, Wang Bo did not put on airs when receiving Yufuluo in Xinghan City. Yufuluo presented his gifts, lavishly praised Wang Bo as a deity descended to earth, called the Xinghan Army a peerless force, and expressed the Xiongnu’s desire to trade large quantities of Xinghan liquor.

Wang Bo, unmoved by Yufuluo’s extravagant flattery, took him on a tour of the newly constructed Xinghan Army Martyrs’ Cemetery. Pointing to the coffins of fallen soldiers yet to be buried, Wang Bo declared firmly: the Xinghan Army’s brothers were indomitable warriors; their blood would not be shed in vain.

Since the Xiongnu tribes involved in the attack did not act on Qiangqu’s orders, they must have acted out of their own greed. Though they withdrew when the tide turned, their opportunism was inexcusable. Wang Bo declared that these chiefs could be spared the death penalty, but their tribes must send five thousand able-bodied men to Xinghan’s labor camp to serve for several months; only after this term, and together with their chiefs, would they be released. Wang Bo promised not to mistreat them and guaranteed that at least 4,500 would return.

Otherwise, the Xinghan Army would block all trade routes to Yunzhong, Wuyuan, Shuofang, and other regions, allowing not a grain of food, an ounce of iron, or a pound of salt to reach the Xiongnu tribes.

As for Yufuluo’s request for large-scale trade in Xinghan liquor, Wang Bo replied: Xinghan City is willing to do business with any friendly nomads; except for medicinal liquors which are slightly restricted, all others will be supplied according to production. Prices would follow those of previous caravans, but Xinghan City would not accept currency; the Xiongnu could only trade horses, cattle, sheep, and high-quality furs suitable for making armor.

Yufuluo, still the picture of humility, stroked the furry ermine tail at his cheek and, without giving an immediate answer, bowed and said that the matter was too important for him alone to decide—he would send someone back to Xiongnu lands to report Wang Bo’s terms to Qiangqu, and ask for a prompt reply.

In consideration of the good horses Yufuluo had brought, and to show his willingness to befriend the Xiongnu, Wang Bo hosted a modest banquet, brought out his best medicinal wine, entertained Yufuluo, arranged for him to be shown around, and then left him to his own devices.

Yufuluo took no offense, enthusiastically pestering his host Niu Hong every day to show him every corner of Xinghan City, eyes shining with admiration.

Several days later, Yufuluo called on Wang Bo, reporting that Chanyu Qiangqu had agreed to all Xinghan’s demands and had already sent five thousand laborers to the outskirts of Wujin City, along with the first batch of cattle, sheep, and nearly a thousand horses to be traded for Xinghan liquor, requesting Wang Bo to accept them.

Delighted by Yufuluo’s report—more so than ever upon seeing Zhang Ning—Wang Bo, in his joy, gifted Qiangqu several more pounds of medicinal wine, fruit wine, and some new-style furniture, kindly consoled Yufuluo, and finally arranged for the deeply respectful Yufuluo to return.

Watching Yufuluo lead the Southern Xiongnu envoy away, all modest smiles and deferential bows, Wang Bo reflected: This father and son, Chanyu and prince, were genuinely loyal to Han, representing their elders’ gratitude for Han’s former kindness. The later restlessness of the Xiongnu was entirely the result of the Han court’s incompetence and the chaos of war, which gave ambitious tribesmen their chance.

It seems that in any era, only by being strong oneself can others be compelled to respect you.

After this battle, according to Wang An’s report, Wang Bo estimated that the Xianbei of Yunzhong had lost at least half their able-bodied men. Budugen must be in dire straits, trying desperately to pacify his followers—how could he have time to attack Xinghan City again?

Now Wang Bo had to consider how to develop and strengthen the fledgling Xinghan regime. If he could amass enough strength before Zhang Chun’s rebellion next year, and capture the Xianbei-held Dingxiang, Yunzhong, and Wuyuan in one stroke, then subduing the remaining Southern Xiongnu would be within reach. With a few years of pacification and assimilation, they would become Han, and conflict would vanish.

To develop and grow in these troubled times, two things are essential: self-sufficiency in food and independence in arms.

In short, at the very least, Xinghan must be able to feed itself—this is the foundation. The recent battle had underscored for Wang Bo the urgency of this: with trade caravans cut off for just over a month, Xinghan City’s grain supply had already become stretched. If not for the subsequent victory, Wang Bo’s chief worry would not have been the Xianbei’s tens of thousands of troops, but what he himself would eat next.

Best to follow Cao Cao's example and implement military farming! These two rivers rushing by should not be wasted, as in times past, by composing worthless poems about "the Yellow River coming from heaven." Instead, why not build canals and waterwheels to irrigate the fields? Just thinking of those so-called “Immortal Poets” and “Sage Songwriters” made Wang Bo angry—they were pampered fools, ignorant of the hunger of the masses. Ordinary people care only about their next meal…

With leisure at hand, Wang Bo’s thoughts began to wander once more.

It had been a long time since Chen Rong had sat down with him, but now he came to complain: the labor camp was overflowing with prisoners, even after sending many to Yang Feng. With few capable officers, Chen Rong was nervous handling these strong Xianbei men, fearing trouble daily. Now that the passes and roads were completed, large-scale forced labor was unnecessary, and workshops dared not employ them, yet they still had to be fed—a long story short, he didn’t want to keep these idle barbarians!

Wang Bo, noticing Chen Rong’s newly white hair, quickly apologized, “Forgive me, Elder Chen! It was my negligence.”

Chen Rong, who had been pouting, instantly softened and sighed, “My lord, do not say so. I have watched you lead us this far, never resting for a day, always fearing for Xinghan’s ruin. It is a hardship for you!” He even wiped his eyes. “What does it matter if I throw away these old bones? In my heart, you are as a son or nephew to me…”

He rambled on, so like Wang Bo’s mother from his previous life, that Wang Bo was moved, eyes reddening: “Elder Chen treats me as family, and I am unworthy of such kindness. Now that I am alone in the world, perhaps…”

But the old man cut him off, shook his head, and ran off in a flash.

“The old codger! Makes me cry and then runs away!” Wang Bo cursed in amusement, but he understood Chen Rong’s intent: to preserve Wang Bo’s authority in the army, he would rather flee than accept such intimacy.

Touched, Wang Bo returned to the problem at hand: what should he do with these prisoners? Send them home? Clearly impossible. Of course! Use them to clear land and prepare for spring planting, and also set the slave laborers to repairing the mountain road to Wujin County. Next year, after all, he’d need to march from Yunzhong to strike the Xianbei.

Having figured it out, Wang Bo called Yang Feng and put him in charge.

First, he found some old farmers to mark out arable land along the river; half the Xianbei prisoners would burn off the weeds and trees to prepare for next year’s plowing. The other half would be sent to roadwork.

Yang Feng looked at Wang Bo oddly when told to put prisoners to roadwork, and finally couldn’t help but ask, “But the weather is freezing—how can roads be built?” Wang Bo was momentarily stunned, then laughed at himself for forgetting such an obvious point.

He simply waved it off: “They can quarry stone for now! Can’t let these barbarians idle!” and left the problem to Yang Feng.

Perhaps seeing the Xiongnu trading cattle and sheep with Xinghan, the Xianbei thought the army was willing to coexist with nomads. So, after Budugen staggered back to Yunzhong, coughing blood and unconscious for days, he and his chiefs decided to send an envoy to Wujin County, expressing their desire for peace talks.

Wang Bo, upon receiving Zhang Liao’s report, wrote in his clumsy hand: “If you wish to negotiate, you must first show your sincerity.” He sent this with the courier. Since he had never had time to learn the script of this era, not only was his writing barely passable in meaning, but the characters were so ugly that Xu Chu, who could recognize a few, laughed at him for a long while.

A few days later, the commander at Yunuguan reported that the Xianbei envoy had arrived. Wang Bo kept him waiting for three days before swaggering down to meet Budugen’s negotiator.

The meeting was held in a shabby hut below the pass. Wang Bo ignored the three thousand Han slaves and the livestock the envoy brought. After listening to the envoy’s long-winded speech, Wang Bo cut him off: “Because of your Xianbei invasion, my Xinghan soldiers suffered heavy losses and great material expense. What compensation does Budugen offer?”

The envoy stammered, “My lord Budugen has declared that all captured Han people will henceforth be returned! Also, cattle, sheep, and horses will be offered to the general... but this will require some time, so we beg the general to be patient…”

“How many Han remain among the Xianbei?” Wang Bo asked.

“After the battle at Yunuguan, only a few remain. Adding those brought this time, less than a thousand are left in the tribe, and most are women and children…”

“Held for years, most women and children? No doubt they are now settled and have children of their own. I will not force them to leave unless they wish to return. What of the thousands of prisoners here?”

“We beg the general to let them return to the tribe. The Xianbei swear never to invade again if you show such magnanimity.”

“Simply let them go? Then did my thousand fallen soldiers die in vain?” Wang Bo’s eyebrows arched.

“We… we could trade cattle and sheep for them…”

“How about horses instead? I have no interest in cattle and sheep.”

“I—I cannot decide. I must return to Yunzhong and discuss with Budugen…”

Seeing Wang Bo’s scowl deepening, the envoy’s legs gave out, and he collapsed in terror, close to soiling himself.

Wang Bo said with disgust, “If you know nothing, why are you here? We’ll discuss this later.” With that, he walked off.

“Mercy, general! Mercy!” The envoy scrambled after him, trying to grab Wang Bo’s leg, but Xu Chu kicked him to the door. Just as Xu Chu was about to throw him out, Wang Bo stopped him.

“Zhongkang, don’t be so rough! That is not the Xinghan way to treat guests.” He smiled at the Xiongnu envoy: “Return to Yunzhong, bring Budugen’s terms, and we’ll discuss further. And bring the remaining Han people as well.”

Wang Bo was not stingy: he ordered Niu Er to fetch five pounds of medicinal wine as a return gift for Budugen, handing it to the trembling envoy.

A few days later, the same Xianbei envoy returned with more cattle, sheep, furs, and, of course, over a thousand Han people, among them many women and children, back to Yunuguan. They waited three or four days, but Wang Bo did not appear.

On orders, Yang Feng arrived and, without even looking at the compensation proposal, told him Xinghan’s three conditions.

First, compensation of fifty thousand top-grade warhorses as reparations for the losses at Yunuguan. Second, thirty Western region steeds to cover the cost of feeding tens of thousands of Xianbei prisoners. Third, withdrawal from all of Dingxiang Commandery, and the territory one hundred li east of the Sha Ling, Yunzhong, Beiyu, and Wuquan line, to be made a demilitarized zone, where neither side may station troops.

Once these three conditions were met, a formal alliance could be signed, with details to be determined. If Budugen wanted to ransom prisoners, it would be one top-grade warhorse plus two packhorses for each prisoner.

Having delivered these terms expressionlessly, Yang Feng turned and left.

The Xianbei envoy nearly fainted on hearing this—this was not just extortion, it was like swallowing the sky! Never mind ransoming the prisoners; just the fifty thousand top-grade warhorses alone would silence the herds of his entire people forever. And now half the fertile grasslands would be ceded? This would move the boundary straight to the dry riverbed! Madness! Madness!

As a figure of some weight among the Xianbei, he understood what this meant: the Xinghan Army had never intended to negotiate! He stumbled out of Yunuguan, only then realizing he was drenched in sweat.

From then on, there was no word from Budugen’s Xianbei. Instead, the Xianbei withdrew completely from the former Dingxiang counties of Changle, Wucheng, Antao, Dingxiang, and others near Wujin, leaving only a few dozen Han behind to notify the Xinghan Army to come and take over.