Regarding the newly erged Chanyu, the Emperor has already dispatched people to gather a lot of information. This newly risen Chanyu is from the highest nobility of the Xiongnu tribes—the Luan Ti clan. Before the split, all Chanyus of the Xiongnu hailed from this surna.
The newly erged Chanyu has inherited the title of Modu Chanyu and is twenty-two years old this year, brave and battle-hardened, both courageous and strategic, and ruthless. He is the youngest brother of the previous Chanyu. He had been biding his ti silently and defeated his brother two years ago to ascend the Chanyu’s throne.
After becoming Chanyu, his thods were quite remarkable. He won the hearts of the Luan Ti clan and cultivated an elite cavalry band. In the past two or three years, this cavalry has been invincible, conquering every battle, leading them to annex two or three tribes consecutively.
The ergence of the new Modu Chanyu, and his fierce annexation of two or three tribes, has made other Xiongnu tribes extrely wary.
Since more than ten years ago, everyone split from the Royal Court and claid the throne for themselves. Having been kings for more than ten years, none are willing to submit to others now. They are not inclined to bow to the Luan Ti clan once more.
The various tribes do not trust each other and are mutually on guard. If this continues, they will eventually be annexed by Modu Chanyu.
The Emperor intends to unite the remaining tribes against the new Modu Chanyu and then divide his tribe, ensuring that their seven tribes will not rge for a long ti and can continue ruling individually.
The cooperation and friendship with the Wusun serve this purpose.
The people of Wusun, besides intermarrying with the Han, have many who intermarried with the Xiongnu and had children. Many descendants of the Xiongnu are in Wusun, fluent in the Xiongnu language and very knowledgeable about the Xiongnu situation.
The Emperor wrote to the leader of Wusun, asking him to carefully select so people to send to persuade the various tribes of the Xiongnu. Of course, relying entirely on the Wusun for this matter is impractical; Great Zhou also has to send people to persuade the tribes of the Xiongnu.
After consulting with key ministers like Pri Minister He, it was decided to send an official, Song Hongjie, of Da Honglu to the Xiongnu. Naturally, his identity must be concealed, disguising him as a descendant of Wusun and Xiongnu.
Song Hongjie is proficient in many languages of the Western Regions, particularly the languages of Wusun and Xiongnu. Moreover, he is very knowledgeable about Wusun and Xiongnu customs. Most importantly, his appearance does not resemble that of people from the Central Plains, making him most suitable for going to the Xiongnu without being suspected as an official of Great Zhou.
The Emperor instructed that failing to persuade them is not a problem, but under no circumstances should he reveal his identity. If his identity as an official of Great Zhou is exposed within the Xiongnu territory, Song Hongjie will face only one fate, which is death.
In addition to persuasion, Song Hongjie has another mission, which is to understand the current situation of the various Xiongnu tribes.
On the surface, Song Hongjie was relieved from his position by the Emperor for committing a mistake, but secretly, he has quietly set off for the Xiongnu. Of course, before going to the Xiongnu, he must first go to Wusun to et their leader.
For Song Hongjie to successfully infiltrate the Xiongnu, he must have the help of the Wusun people.
By now, considering the ti fra, Song Hongjie has reached the Wusun.
At this mont, the Emperor has received a letter sent back to the capital by Song Hongjie. In the letter, Song Hongjie reported to the Emperor that he has prepared thoroughly to head to the Xiongnu. The first tribe he plans to go to is the Han Clan tribe, which is closest to Wusun.
By the ti the Emperor received this letter, Song Hongjie had already arrived at the Han Clan tribe.
He also ntioned in the letter that once he reaches the Xiongnu tribes, it will not be convenient for him to directly write back to the Emperor. Therefore, he can only write to the leader of Wusun first, and then have the leader of Wusun convey it.
The Emperor, after reading the letter, burned it over a candle fla, musing, "Song Hongjie should now already be infiltrating the Han Clan tribe within the Xiongnu."
Pri Minister He stroked his beard and said, "The next step depends on him."
Grandmaster Liu slightly frowned and remarked, "I’m afraid it might not go as smoothly as imagined."
Pri Minister He nodded in agreent, "The distrust and vigilance among the Xiongnu tribes make uniting them against the new Modu Chanyu quite challenging."
The Emperor sat back at the imperial desk, resting his face in his hands on the table, and said, "I have given Song Hongjie a third option."
Pri Minister He and Grandmaster Liu asked in surprise, "A third option?"
"According to Kun Ruo, the new Modu Chanyu has not exterminated all offspring of the previous Chanyu. There is a son of the previous Chanyu, and he is only five years younger than the new Modu Chanyu." The Kun Ruo ntioned by the Emperor is the leader of the Wusun.
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