Tan Shihuai was the grassland tyrant that the Han Dynasty feared the most in recent decades.
This man's life is also quite legendary. It is said that his father's name was Touluhou. He initially served in the army with the Xiongnu tribe for three years. However, when he returned home three years later, he found that his wife had given birth to a baby.
Tou Luhou was so angry that he wanted to kill the child, but his wife refused to let him go. She also said that she was walking on the road when she suddenly heard thunder.
When she looked up, she saw dark clouds in the sky, and a snow-white hailstone fell directly into her mouth. She accidentally swallowed it, and then she became pregnant and gave birth ten months later.
After giving birth to this child, she said that she had done nothing wrong to her husband. She also said that this child must be the child of heaven, and she would surrender to the Marquis of Lu to raise him up.
When Touluhou heard this, he was furious, beat his wife severely, and threw the child out of the house. The wife privately told her family and asked them to adopt the child and name it Tanshihuai.
As this child gradually grew up, he did show something different from others. He grew up in his grandfather's house, but he never cried or played. He grew up tall, strong, and very brave.
When he was fourteen years old, a leader from another tribe came and robbed his grandfather's cattle and sheep. Tan Shihuai fought with them alone on horseback.
He killed dozens of people in a row, became invincible, scared the opponent away, chased all the cattle and sheep back, and even snatched the opponent's cattle and horses. In this way, his heroic and invincible deeds spread, and everyone in the tribe began to
Fearing him, believing in him, and making him the leader of the tribe when he was eighteen years old, Tan Shihuai personally made laws and heard lawsuits. Because of his bravery, no one dared to violate his laws.
Because he was fair in his dealings, gradually many people came to seek refuge with him.
When Tan Shihuai was in his twenties, he established a royal court in Danhan Mountain and Jieqiu River. He commanded the warriors of the clan and fought everywhere. No one could resist his army. For a time, he had strong troops and horses, and let the east
The tribal leaders in the west and the west all reluctantly surrendered to him, and this man unified many Xianbei tribes on the grassland. He took advantage of this opportunity to continuously plunder the Han border to the south.
He plundered and resisted Ding Ling from the back, conquered Fuyu from the east, and conquered Wusun from the west. For a time, he completely occupied all the territory of the original Xiongnu. The territory was more than 14,000 miles long from east to west and more than 7,000 miles wide from north to south.
, mountains, rivers, swamps and salt ponds are all within its jurisdiction, and it is very powerful.
Of course, the one most threatened by him was the Han Empire. In July of the second year of Yongshou, Tan Shihuai personally led four thousand cavalry to plunder Yunzhong County and defeated the local garrison. After that, he became the Han Empire.
He and Yanxi raided Youbin three times in the first year, second year, and sixth year of Yanxi. The Han army could not resist it.
In the ninth year of Yanxi, Tan Shihuai was somewhat complacent and felt that he could occupy the Youbian border area. He dispatched tens of thousands of cavalry to invade nine counties in the border area, killing and plundering local officials and people, and conquered dozens of
In the county town, the frontier garrison was reduced to ten, which aroused the anger of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Xiaohuan sent Zhang Huan to lead the Northern Army to directly attack Xianbei. Tan Shihuai could not win and left quickly.
However, the imperial court did not have enough money to allow Zhang Huan and others to conquer Xianbei. What's more, they came and went in a hurry and did not confront the Han army head-on. It was really a headache. Out of concern for Xianbei, Emperor Xiaohuan sent an envoy to bring
With the seal and ribbon, he planned to make Tan Shihuai king and make peace with him as a sign of friendship. However, Tan Shihuai not only refused to accept it, but even more aggressively invaded the border areas with the Han Dynasty.
He believed that if the big man wanted to marry him, he recognized his strength and was afraid of him.
And this year, the old Tan Shihuai wanted to teach the trustworthy young man a lesson and let him take a look at the powerful Xianbei beyond the border. However, he did not expect that as soon as his soldiers approached Heyou, they were suddenly killed.
Wuhuan, who had always been cowardly, was defeated by the Xiongnu coalition. This was Tan Shihuai's first defeat since he made his voice. This also made him extremely irritable. If he hadn't been too old and weak, he would have mounted his horse and fought with these troops in person.
Fighting with bastards.
Danhan Mountain,
Xianbei Royal Court.
In a huge felt tent, there was a bed made of white wolf skin. Tan Shihuai, dressed in military uniform, sat on it with his head lowered and silent. In front of him was his eldest son.
He Lian, He Lian sat next to him and said with some sadness: "Father, the climate is getting colder and colder. Originally, if we could rob some food at the beginning of the year, we could still fight with them, but now, the horses are all hungry and thin.
If it’s too late, our warriors won’t be able to eat!”
"How can we fight against the Han Dynasty at this time?"
"I heard that the emperor of the Han Dynasty re-established the Southern Army. Now the Northern and Southern Army has more than 50,000 horses. They are grazing in Xiliang and have countless horses. If they start a war rashly, I'm afraid..."
Tan Shihuai suddenly raised his head and stared at his son in front of him. He Lian was startled and a little frightened. Tan Shihuai asked coldly: "Do you think I am old?"
He Lian shook his head and said nothing. Tan Shihuai looked outside coldly, coughed for a moment, gritted his teeth, and stood up slowly. He Lian wanted to step forward to help him, but he was violently beaten.
Pushing away, he stood up and said, "Don't think that I don't know your thoughts. You are worried about the leaders of the three departments, aren't you?" He looked at his son next to him coldly, and when he saw his son's submissive look, he felt in his heart
Even more furious.
Because the territory was too large, in order to facilitate management, he divided Xianbei into three parts, from the east of Youbeiping to Liaodong, connecting more than 20 cities such as Fuyu and Haoqi, and the eastern part, from the west of Youbeiping to Shanggu
The more than ten cities and towns in the county constitute the central part, and the more than twenty cities and towns from Shanggu County to the west of Dunhuang County and Wusun are the western part.
And each department selected the most brave and strategic talents under its own account to serve as the leader. Therefore, Xianbei will continue to become stronger. But this son, for some reason, is almost not as brave as himself. On weekdays,
He was unwilling to go out to participate in plundering and fighting. Among the Xianbei tribe, his prestige was far inferior to that of the other three leaders.
Xianbei is not a unified nation, but a union of many tribes. They do not have a hereditary system. Whoever is strong and has prestige is the king. Of course, Helian, as his son, has the most powerful power in Xianbei.
Army, but in terms of bravery and reputation, the three leaders completely crushed him. Therefore, he very much did not want to fight with the Han Dynasty, because that would make the already powerful three leaders even more powerful.
.
The prestige will also be higher.
But he, a prince who is not good at fighting, has no benefit at all. Even if the leaders of the three tribes are seriously damaged during the war, he will give them horses and warriors to help them. This is the obligation of the royal court. Tan Shihuai has no choice but to do so.
Sighing, walking slowly, he said: "The Emperor of the Han Dynasty died, and a baby who was still nursing became the emperor. This time is our best opportunity. Look at what he did..."
"If we wait another ten years, hey, we won't be plundering the Han Dynasty, but the Han Dynasty will conquer us!!"
"When Xianbei is strong, you are the king. If Xianbei is destroyed, you will be worse than a groom!"
Tan Shihuai said slowly and walked out of the tent. A strong wind was howling outside. He Lian couldn't help but shiver and tightened his coat. However, Tan Shihuai was as usual, without any change. He looked at it.
In the distance, a guard who was loyal to him was feeding his horse. Tan Shihuai waved to him, and the guard led the horse and walked over.
Tan Shihuai suddenly took the reins from the guard, walked slowly to the side of the horse, held the horse's neck with both hands, and was about to ride on it. Helian's face was full of worry, Tan Shihuai gritted his teeth and roared suddenly
, got on the horse in an instant, and the horse raised its front hooves high and neighed loudly. Tan Shihuai sat firmly on the horse, gasping for air, and shouted: "Call the leaders of the three departments over here!