CHAPTER 1452: CHAPTER 1400: STRONGEST FOREIGN CLAN

This is not because Chen Xi looks down upon the Xianbei, but because in this era, from the perspective of the Han Empire, foreign clans are regarded as such; no foreign clan dares to challenge the glory of the Han Empire.

To be honest, even this fragmented state of the Central Plains is much stronger than during the times of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling.

Especially with Lyu Bu single-handedly breaking the Xianbei Legion, slaying the Xianbei Chanyu, rushing alone to the Xianbei Royal Court, killing all the Xianbei chiefs therein. He then shattered the void, leaving a tangible pressure in the mortal world, enough to prevent the Hu people from entering Bingzhou.

At such a time, the fact that the Xianbei managed to break through this barrier is simply inconceivable to Chen Xi, who has already started exploring the essence of Legion Talent.

The Han Empire during this period, in terms of its suppressive belief over foreign clans, had nearly reached the era when it had just fiercely ground down the Huns and intimidated foreign nations with bloodshed.

Breaking the myth of an empire during this period would really rival the era when the Martial Emperor began to dismantle the Huns, and to go against the overwhelming trend then required more than just one or two heroes; it required depth!

The Xianbei lack this depth, and their victory was too bizarre. Even during the Martial Emperor period, the battle with the Huns did not begin with victory, but relied on an accumulation of strength, gradually rising from underdog to powerhouse, not achieving success in one fell swoop.

To shatter the Empire’s pride and the awe it commands is not something a single war can change, unless it’s a spectacular victory like King Xiang’s Battle of Julu or Huo Qubing’s campaign in Hexi, could the Battle of Youzhou be counted as such?

Not at all. With a force close to a hundred thousand, they couldn’t entirely annihilate seven thousand troops. How is that a glorious victory? For it to be called that, it must be the reverse — seven thousand fighting a hundred thousand and nearly wiping them out; that’s what you’d call a glorious victory.

"The Northern Huns, is it..." Chen Xi muttered to himself with a heavy heart after a moment’s silence. The only possibility he could think of was the Northern Huns. As to why the Northern Huns did not attack Bingzhou as he had speculated, it was probably because of the lingering pressure from Bingzhou Jiuyuan.

This was the only possibility Chen Xi could envisage. Though it seemed incredible, considering everything, the only potential culprit he could think of was the Northern Huns.

Lacking reverence for the Empire, the Northern Huns fit this condition, and even if the Northern Huns developed Legion Talent or Military Spirit, Chen Xi could understand.

A foreign clan that had been fiercely beaten by the Han Empire for three hundred years, nearly lying prostrate, still showed no signs of submission. Call it foolish or reckless, but it all speaks to the kind of battle-will the Northern Huns possess.

"It seems to be quite a problem; if it truly is the Northern Huns, they cannot be treated as ordinary Hu people." Chen Xi picked up a piece of paper to begin writing, not using ciphers this time, even if it meant that all the feudal lords across the land would become aware.

Engaging the Huns is legitimate, politically correct within the Han Dynasty, even more so than safeguarding the Son of Heaven of Han. Because if a Son of Heaven is lost, another can be found, especially since many Han emperors later in the dynasty lacked heirs. The Imperial Clan could succeed as long as someone was capable.

And fighting the legitimate Huns, the blood feud over three or four hundred years seems etched into the very bones of both sides, and once on the battlefield, both the Han Dynasty and Northern Huns would see their combat power rise significantly.

This blood feud spanning more than three hundred years needs a resolution for both sides determined to settle the score.

Elsewhere, Sheni Pei on the Changping City Wall watched as the siege equipment slowly began to arrange below, and although they weren’t excellent, for Sheni Pei, who was besieged in the isolated city, it wasn’t a piece of good news.

With only five thousand troops remaining, Sheni Pei faced almost a hundred thousand troops. Even with the protection of Changping City’s walls, his soldiers could not help but feel fear.

But for Sheni Pei, this was not a concern. Although his troops were terrified, Sheni Pei was confident the Xianbei could not take Changping City within five or six days.

Feigning defeat turned into actual defeat, yet Sheni Pei had not a shred of worry. Although the unfolding of the Legion Talent amongst the Xianbei had truly shocked him, it also inspired thoughts of annihilating the Xianbei.

Just as Liu Yu could understand the implications of a foreign clan’s Legion Talent, Sheni Pei could recognize it too, but having personally experienced it, he understood it even more profoundly. However, due to the Xianbei’s Legion Talent, Sheni Pei did not unleash his Spiritual Talent.

Otherwise, even in defeat, it wouldn’t have been so severe. If Sheni Pei had fully activated his Spiritual Talent, the faded glory of the past would still have resisted a mere Legion Talent; even in defeat, it wouldn’t have been so disastrous, retreating over a hundred miles and being encircled.

Retreating back to Changping, Sheni Pei took the time to rest and ponder, realizing it wasn’t a question of strategy but instead, something felt amiss to him.

If it were truly a Xianbei general awakening the Legion Talent, the entire Xianbei race should have shown some changes, but in this battle, Sheni Pei didn’t perceive a difference in the Xianbei as a whole.

Although they had indeed grown stronger, they were still beaten one-to-five. Although the Yuan Family’s elite was indeed powerful, when facing the Central Plains Feudal Lords, even against the Yellow Turbans led by a strong general with Legion Talent, the exchange ratio with troops lacking Legion Talent wouldn’t be this large; at most, the casualty ratio might barely be one-to-three.

A one-to-three ratio can declare both sides being of equal quality, devoid of awe, achieving this in direct encounters. Yet the Xianbei still stood at one-to-five, which means the Xianbei’s lower ranks have not erased their fear of the Han Empire.

If the foundation hasn’t erased awe, how can Legion Talent emerge? Every Xianbei expert climbs from the base, and blocking this path means this Legion Talent couldn’t possibly belong to the Xianbei.

[Not a Xianbei’s Legion Talent, could it be another foreign clan’s? It shouldn’t be either, if even the strongest Xianbei are like that, how can other Hu people compare? Certainly not the Central Plains People, that’s impossible!]

Upon considering the Central Plains People, Sheni Pei dismissed the thought instantly. Regardless, anyone holding Legion Talent and the Inner Qi Manifestation level would be foolish to join a foreign clan. With that capability, they would be a General Commander under any feudal lord!

[Liu Bei wouldn’t do such a thing because there’s no need. So, it must only be the Hu people...] Sheni Pei thought with a frown, feeling the southeast wind as he stood on the wall.

Sheni Pei filtered through possibilities repeatedly, until his expression changed sharply, and his eyes suddenly sparkled. He too had thought of which foreign clan it was. Across the four directions of the Central Plains, only one foreign clan could achieve this: the Northern Huns!