Chapter 1 The Purple Horn

Upon the dunes stood a tent, its apex adorned with a single, purple horn.

This was the symbol of supreme power for the barbarian royal court, somewhat akin to the Qian Kingdom's Golden Crow banner; instruments reserved only for those of "Emperor" status, their symbolic significance far surpassing their practical use.

Historically, the royal court possessed three such tents, each topped with a purple horn.

The horn came from a Pixiu.

In history, two generations of the Ji family emperors died in battle while personally leading their armies, their Pixiu mounts captured by the barbarians, who severed their horns to create such items. The third came from a Yan state commander-in-chief who died in battle.

Only truly noble-blooded Pixiu beasts could grow such purple horns atop their heads; the barbarians regarded them as trophies, symbols of honor.

However, during the barbarian westward expansion a century ago, one of these tents was lost in the West.

Another was seized back by the inaugural Marquis Zhenbei not long after he began guarding the desert, as he led his iron cavalry in pursuit of the barbarian royal court.

That meant the royal court possessed only one such tent currently, yet here it was.

Outside the tent stood a middle-aged man clad in animal skins. His hair was red, his eyes gleamed with an amber light, yet his face bore the dark, rugged features of the barbarians.

Legend had it that the Right Guli King of the barbarian royal court was a mixed-blood, his father a Roman, his mother a barbarian slave.

He had joined the barbarian tribes as a youth, risen through the ranks, and eventually become the Right Guli King.

He stood there, gazing into the distance, where a black cavalry force, bearing the black dragon banner of the Yan Kingdom, was advancing.

Within the formation was a carriage.

A young man rode at the vanguard, clad in golden armor, radiating heroic spirit, solid as a bedrock.

When he arrived before the tent and saw the purple horn, a look of anger flashed across his face.

The Right Guli King smiled faintly, perhaps due to his early years in Rome, a hint of the West lingered about him.

The gazes of the two men met in the air, though no sparks flew. One was steady and reserved, the other domineering and assertive; it was impossible to say who was superior, only that each had his own strengths.

The young man in golden armor was about to spur his horse forward, but the Right Guli King raised a hand to stop him.

"Move aside, I must inspect the tent!"

The Right Guli King said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, only one person beneath my barbarian rule may enter this tent. Rest assured."

"Why should I trust you!"

A smile touched the corners of the Right Guli King's lips, his eyes seeming even more bewitching in the sunlight.

"It's not a matter of trust. You've only brought a hundred riders this time, none of the garrison generals have come. If I truly intended anything, I could handle it myself.

I admit, Your Highness possesses a talent for martial arts, having already reached the Fourth Rank Martial Warrior realm at such a young age. Given time, your achievements in martial cultivation will be limitless, but as it stands, you are no match for me."

As he spoke,

The Right Guli King raised his hand, pointing to the carriage slowly approaching in the distance, and said, "Even the honored guest within that carriage isn't worried, why must Your Highness break the rules?"

"Is that a Ji family brat? Come in, let me, your Khan, take a look."

An aged voice sounded from within the tent.

The Right Guli King lowered his hand.

Ji Wujiang dismounted, walked to the tent, and cupped his fist, "Ji Wujiang has come to pay respects to the barbarian Khan."

"Heh, truly changed. The Ji family's people have actually learned manners, heh."

Ji Wujiang lifted the tent flap and saw an old man in luxurious robes sitting cross-legged inside. The old man was very old, huddled within, lacking even a hint of a barbarian king's presence, not much different from a wealthy old farmer in the Yan Kingdom.

"What? Is it only the Ji family that's allowed to act civilized now, while we barbarians must forever remain uncivilized?"

Ji Wujiang entered the tent.

"Ji family brat, you're indeed born with a heroic bearing. It's a pity, the Ji family hasn't personally roamed the desert for many years. Your Khan almost thought that the Ji family's descendants had already become mired in pleasure and could no longer stomach the sand of this desert."

A century ago, the barbarian royal court launched a westward expedition and suffered a great defeat.

The inaugural Marquis Zhenbei was enfeoffed in Beifeng Prefecture and began suppressing the desert.

For hundreds of years, the barbarians, who had always been a major threat to Great Yan, were unable to advance even a step further. The scenes of the Ji family's ancestral emperors personally leading expeditions into the desert were becoming extremely distant memories.

"I have always wanted to come to the desert, but there has never been a need."

"That tone is indeed worthy of a Ji family child." The barbarian Khan showed no anger, pointed to a cup of mare's milk wine before him, and said, "Drink."

Ji Wujiang did not lose face, raising the cup directly and draining it in one gulp.

"How is it?" the barbarian Khan asked.

"Extremely unpleasant."

"Hahahaha..."

The barbarian Khan laughed loudly, then said, "This Khan also has Western wine here. In a few days, I'll have someone send you some. Wine is more enjoyable when shared."

"Then this young one thanks the Khan."

The old barbarian Khan had consistently acted like an elder. Although the two sides were hostile, and the current situation was tense, Ji Wujiang gradually changed his previous arrogance and began to show the demeanor of a junior.

"This Khan has always been afraid, afraid that until the day I kick the bucket, I won't be able to have a Ji family member ride a horse into the desert to take a look."

There was more to these words.

Because the Li family guarded the desert too steadily, none of the Ji family princes had any need to personally lead expeditions. The only way to get a Ji family member to appear in the desert again was if the Li family were about to lose control of the situation.

It was a pity that this opportunity never came, and it was difficult to achieve this goal.

Ancestors had fought with the Ji family here for hundreds of years, but now, in his generation, the Ji family was no longer happy to come to the desert. It could truly be said that he had no face to meet his ancestors.

"In the future, this young one can often come and take a look."

The old barbarian Khan shook his head, and said, "Aren't you going to contend for the throne?"

This question was very direct.

Ji Wujiang smiled and said, "I don't have the brains for that."

"Since ancient times, there have been plenty of kings and emperors who didn't have brains.

Tell this Khan honestly, do you want to be emperor?"

Ji Wujiang did not hide it. Here, there was no need to hide anything. Moreover, as a prince, he was very clear about his father's temperament. His father was actually very open-minded to a certain extent.

"I want to."

Who wouldn't want to sit on that dragon throne?

But in this world, there's no rule that says you get what you want.

"I heard that the Yan Emperor's favored heir is your second brother?"

"Yes."

"Ah, that's right. The Second Prince's maternal uncle is the Marquis Jingnan, and his future father-in-law will be the Marquis Zhenbei. If he doesn't sit in that position, who will?

It's a pity for you. Who told you to be born with a poor background?"

The Yan Kingdom's First Prince's mother was a maidservant.

Ji Wujiang nodded and sighed, "Indeed."

"Hehehehe, hahahahaha!"

The old barbarian Khan pointed at Ji Wujiang and said, "You rascal, you suit this Khan's taste. You have no family background, but this Khan can give you one."

The family background here naturally referred to the "wife's family."

Whether in this era or in later generations, a person's most direct family connections were roughly these three: one from his father's lineage, two from his mother's lineage, and three, from his wife's lineage.

"Could it be that the Khan wants to give me the position of the royal court?"

"Even if you were to sit there, your father would definitely be willing, even if it meant severing all ties with you in name, but could you, a Yan person, a member of the Ji family, sit in that position?

This Khan has a young daughter, a pearl of the desert. If you want her, this Khan can betroth her to you."

"What about the dowry?"

"The Ji family is still so shameless."

"Since the old Khan wants me to call you father-in-law, there must be a greeting gift."

The old barbarian Khan held up one finger,

and said:

"Ten thousand royal court cavalry."

"Too little."

"What about your face?"

"The Second Prince's side has hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry combined from the Marquis Zhenbei and Marquis Jingnan, and you only give me ten thousand? How am I supposed to compete for the throne as your son-in-law?"

"Wujiang, don't make things difficult for the old man. Everyone knows how much he has left. You can't squeeze anything out of him."

The old madam's voice came from outside the tent.

Ji Wujiang took the initiative to walk to the entrance of the tent, lifted the tent flap, and saw that the Right Guli King, who had previously shown him no courtesy, was now bowing to the old madam.

The Li family had guarded the desert for a hundred years.

A hundred years was truly a long time.

Long enough that the barbarians now feared the Li family instead of the Ji family.

His identity as the Yan Kingdom's First Prince was no match for that of the current Marquis Zhenbei's wife.

"Aunt."

Ji Wujiang took the initiative to support the old madam's arm.

Over here,

The old barbarian Khan, who had been lazily curled up there, also staggered to his feet,

Coughed a few times,

and smiled:

"Nice to meet the Li family's sister."

The old madam smiled slightly, nodded, and said:

"Nice to meet the opposing family's old brother."

One was the Great Khan of the barbarian royal court, a true barbarian king;

The other was the Marquis Zhenbei's wife, a figure who could make the ground tremble with a stomp of her foot in the North;

But their greetings

were like those of old neighbors meeting.

"Has my old brother Li gone to the South to enjoy himself?

I say, Li family's sister, don't you know what kind of virtue a man is?

He went out to have fun, leaving you at home. This matter is truly unkind.

I've heard that the women of Jiangnan in the Qian Kingdom are all beautiful, who knows, my old brother Li might have found a new love there."

"The family is too poor, so poor that we can't even make ends meet. A man has to go out and sell some strength to earn some money to spend.

Now, our daughter is about to get married, so we have to prepare some dowry, so that our daughter won't be bullied after she marries."

"Li family's big sister, you're being too polite. Your daughter can be considered to have grown up under my watch. My royal court should naturally add to her dowry."

Almost everyone knew what kind of methods the Zhenbei Marquis's daughter used against the desert barbarians. How the Shatuo tribe was exterminated, how the royal court's Left Guli King fell.

But even so, this dowry was not a joke.

"Don't bother the old brother, your days aren't easy either."

"Hey, it doesn't make a difference, does it?"

"Heh, the years aren't good now, everyone is living a tight life. If you have this heart, then stop thinking about coming to my house to beg, and my Li family will be satisfied."

"Words can't be said like that."

The old barbarian Khan's face began to become serious, and he continued:

"In the early years, although my barbarian tribe lived a hard life, we could still have a feast during festivals. Now it's better, since your Li family came, we've lived a hard life for almost a hundred years. These days are hard to endure."

"Isn't that right? My Li family was considered a wealthy family in Yinlang County in the early years. Since moving to this desert border, we've eaten sand for a hundred years, and even the men of the Li family can hardly eat meat on weekdays."

"So that's why, Li family's sister, why make yourself suffer in this life?"

The old madam nodded.

"Actually, we've been old neighbors for so many years, so we have to think about our relationship. I won't waste my breath anymore and say nonsense about our two families joining hands to seek wealth.

Since you, Li family's sister, want to invite me out to talk, then I'll give you this face."

The old madam said:

"The barbarian soldiers must not advance a step further."

The old barbarian Khan slowly sat down,

and said:

"In the past, when your Li family's 300,000 iron cavalry were all lined up there, we couldn't get in even if we wanted to.

But now, we want to get in, can you stop us?"

Originally, the territory guarded by the 300,000 Zhenbei troops in the Six Towns now only had less than 100,000 left, and the control was weakened too much at once. It was indeed difficult to stop the barbarians from entering.

What's more, this time, under the call of the royal court, the barbarians not only had the royal court's 100,000 cavalry, but also many tribes that responded to the call, who could also gather more than 200,000 cavalry.

In the past, when the 300,000 Zhenbei troops were there, the barbarian tribes would not have dared to gather so openly, because they knew very well that even if everyone fought with 300,000 against 300,000, they would definitely be completely defeated.

But now, it was precisely because they saw hope that many large tribes that had long stopped listening to the royal court had reunited under the banner of the royal court this time.

The old madam said:

"This old woman has come today to talk about a deal with the Great Khan."

"Marquis's wife, please speak."

"This time, as long as the barbarians do not cross the border, then for the next ten years, my Zhenbei Marquis's mansion, my Great Yan, will no longer step into the desert."

Although large-scale battles between the two sides had been rare in recent decades, the Zhenbei army still ran over to find some battles to fight from time to time, and knew that the desert's survival conditions were harsh, so they helped them reduce their population and alleviate the population pressure.

People like Li Fusheng could go to be the director of the family planning office in later generations.

The old barbarian Khan waited for a while,

then seemed to realize it,

and smiled:

"That's it?"

I won't actively beat you for ten years,

Is this a gift?

For a moment, the old barbarian Khan really felt a mixture of emotions in his heart.

"Not satisfied?" the old madam asked.

"It's not a question of satisfaction or dissatisfaction, the price is really too low, your Great Yan hasn't even paid anything, and this Khan can't explain it to his people."

The old madam nodded, and said:

"My Marquis's mansion is not very good at doing business."

"I can see that."

"We're better at talking with knives."

"You can't beat this Khan when it comes to knives now."

The old madam said sternly:

"Once the barbarians cross the border, my 100,000 Zhenbei troops will all kill into the desert, directly pointing at your barbarian royal court!"

The old barbarian Khan's eyes suddenly narrowed.

I can give up my family, I can give up my lair, and risk your barbarians burning, killing, and looting in my home, but I must also destroy your royal court!

The old madam continued:

"The 100,000 Zhenbei troops will not return until they destroy the royal court!"

The desert was not entirely sand, there were actually many oases located within it.

The barbarian tribes could indeed migrate, but their migrations were based on climate and water, with their own laws.

Even if the royal court kept running, kept escaping, and kept avoiding battle, the loss of the tribes in this process of being driven was extremely terrifying.

In later generations, Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Chengzu of Ming had launched many such expeditions in the later stages, which seemed to have little gain. Although there were not many beheadings, the consumption of the tribes in the process of fleeing was still not negligible.

Most importantly, the old barbarian Khan knew that the other tribes, especially those large tribes, were happy to see the royal court and the Yan people fight to the end and perish together.

If they advanced eastward together, they would listen to his command, but when the Yan people killed into the desert, as long as the Yan people did not attack them, they would sit on the sidelines.

The old barbarian Khan rubbed his eyebrows, and said:

"Is your Li family threatening this Khan?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps this Khan can also learn from you. To be honest, this Khan has lived for many years, and I've lived enough. Tell me, can this Khan also sacrifice himself to exchange for a wider sky for my barbarian tribe?"

The old madam looked at Ji Wujiang, and said:

"Take out His Majesty's secret decree and present it to the old Khan."

Ji Wujiang nodded, took out the secret decree from his chest, and handed it to the old barbarian Khan.

The old barbarian Khan weighed the secret decree in his hand,

Slowly opened it,

The secret decree was very short, with only a few lines of words.

It was the Yan Emperor's handwriting,

But after seeing these few lines of words,

The old barbarian Khan's body trembled violently,

He raised his head and glared at the old madam,

"Your Li family, don't..."

Then,

The old barbarian Khan glared at the First Prince again,

"The Jis are all crazy, all crazy!!!"

After saying that,

The old barbarian Khan clenched the secret decree in his hand, and said fiercely:

"This Khan is waiting, waiting to see, waiting to see how you Yan people will bring about your own destruction!

Even if my barbarian tribe doesn't take action, this Khan doesn't believe that destiny will be on your Great Yan's side!"

People get angry when they are afraid;

People lose their composure when they are flustered.

The talks,

Ended in this way.

The old madam sat in the carriage,

At this time, the First Prince Ji Wujiang also came in, and said:

"Aunt."

The old madam seemed not surprised at all. In fact, as His Majesty's first child, the First Prince had stayed in the Marquis's mansion for a while in his early years, and was personally taken care of by the old madam.

This was already a tradition between the royal family and the Li family, just like the late Emperor had made the current Emperor and Li Liangting grow up together.

"Do you want to know what your father wrote in the secret decree?"

"Yes."

"This old woman didn't read the secret decree."

"But I believe that Aunt must be able to guess what Father wrote."

The First Prince knew that this old madam was extraordinary. He even knew that his father and the Marquis Zhenbei had both regarded her as their beloved in the past.

It could be said that if the old madam had been willing, she would now be the Empress of the dynasty, the mother of the world.

However, being the Marquis Zhenbei's wife was actually not much different from being the Empress.

"This old woman will help you guess."

"Thank you, Aunt, for clearing my doubts." The First Prince listened attentively.

The old madam smiled slightly, imitating the Yan Emperor's tone, and said:

"If the barbarian tribe takes advantage of the Great Yan's national war to cross the border, then We will cede most of the Great Yan's territory to seek peace with the Qian and Jin, and then send all the troops of the country to the desert, and fight the barbarian tribe to the death!

The Ji family can be destroyed,

Great Yan can be destroyed,

But the barbarian tribe must not advance eastward!"