Chapter 655: The grassland situation and the helplessness of the Xianbei and other tribes

While Su Ye, Gao Ying and others were working hard to stabilize Hengzhou and farm in peace, the vast grassland north of Cangzhou was already in turmoil and the situation was becoming clearer.

With the gradual rise of the three major alliances: the Jurchen Wanyan clan, the Jurchen-Manchu Aisin-Gioro clan alliance, the Mongolian alliance headed by Temujin, and the old tribal alliance headed by Saihan on the prairie.

The three tribal alliances are like three bright stars, rising slowly, illuminating the night sky of the grassland, and also heralding the beginning of a new round of power game.

The Jurchen Wanyan clan and the Jurchen Manchu Aisin-Gioro clan joined forces and quickly gained a foothold on the grassland by relying on the bravery and fighting skills of the Jurchens and the profound heritage of the Manchus.

Wanyan Aguda's iron-blooded strategy and Nurhaci's foresight made this alliance not only have strong military strength but also have long-term strategic vision.

On the other hand, the Mongolian alliance headed by Temujin gradually emerged in the conflict by relying on the Mongolians' natural riding and archery skills and their deep understanding of the grassland.

Although Temujin, the eagle of the grassland, was initially afraid of the powerful alliance between the Jurchens and Manchus, he soon demonstrated extraordinary leadership and strategic wisdom.

He was the first to realize that the Mongolian people alone could not contend with the two powerful enemies, so he decisively extended an olive branch to the small and medium-sized tribes on the grassland, and built a loose tribal alliance based on interests.

In this alliance, the Mongols served as the core force, while other tribes became their shield against foreign enemies and tools for expansion.

Temujin's initial strategy laid a solid foundation for the rise of the Mongols on the grassland.

As for the old tribal alliance headed by the Longyao tribe behind Saihan, its foundation far exceeds the previous two. With its profound historical accumulation and extensive tribal connections, they have become a force that cannot be ignored on the grassland.

However, as these three alliances gradually grew stronger, the living space on the grassland became increasingly narrow.

Those tribes that originally formed their own factions and had considerable strength on the grassland gradually saw their living space squeezed by these three major tribal alliances.

The Jie tribe represented by Shi Le, the Di tribe represented by Fu Jian, and the Xianbei tribe represented by Murong Jun, Murong Chui, Murong Ke and others, which were relatively middle-to-upper-level tribes in the grassland, began to become the targets of the three major alliances.

Although they each possess impressive strength and talent, they are undoubtedly weak and unable to survive under the pressure of the three major alliances.

Shi Le, the leader of the Jie tribe, won the reputation of "Eagle of the Jie Tribe" on the grassland for his extraordinary bravery and wisdom.

However, facing the joint suppression of the three major alliances, he had to admit that the foundation and strength of his tribe were far from enough to compete with these behemoths.

Fu Jian, the young leader of the Di tribe, also faced a similar dilemma.

Although he knew that if he continued like this, the Di tribe would sooner or later be swallowed up by the three major alliances.

Therefore, although he had begun to actively seek cooperation with other tribes before, trying to resist the invasion of the three major alliances through the combined strength.

But compared with the three major alliances, Fu Jian's path is not easy.

There have always been complicated grievances and entanglements between the tribes on the grassland. It is possible for the strong to unite the weak, but how easy is it to unite them when they are of equal strength?

They are not the same ethnic group as the Jurchen Wanyan clan and the Jurchen Manchus, who originated from the same Jurchen clan and have some kinship with each other.

The other middle and upper tribes still had blood feuds with each other, so how could they unite so easily? As for Murong Jun, Murong Chui, Murong Ke and other talented people of the Murong clan, the Xianbei tribe they represented was in an unprecedented crisis.

The native Xianbei people, as an old and powerful tribe on the prairie, once had a glorious history.

However, with the changes of the times and the turbulence of the grassland situation, the strength of the Xianbei people was gradually weakened.

Several members of the Murong clan who had just been implanted were all rare generals, but under the oppression of the three major alliances that tacitly targeted the weak Xianbei clan, Murong Jun, who had just been implanted and had not yet begun to develop, was a little at a loss.

After all, no matter how good they are at fighting, it’s useless without an army to fight for them!

Therefore, although Shi Le, Fu Jian, Murong Jun and even Yuwen Yong can be regarded as powerful leaders who are not inferior to Wanyan Aguda and Nurhaci.

But there is no way, they rose too late, and the tribes behind them could not compare with the three major alliances in terms of foundation.

Therefore, when everyone was fighting for those small tribes on the prairie, the three major alliances did not have time to pay attention to them and just let them go.

But now, as the small tribes on the prairie have been gradually divided up, the three major alliances have begun to react.

What's going on, little brother?

It’s fine that I can’t control the other two alliances, but what about you?
What level of people dare to compete with us for population!

Therefore, the three major alliances seemed to have formed some kind of tacit understanding for a while, and began to work together to frantically suppress the tribes behind Shi Le, Fu Jian, Murong Jun and even Yuwen Yong.

Not only will you have to spit out those small tribes that you have swallowed, but we will also want you yourselves as well!
Therefore, facing the three extremely domineering alliances, the remaining middle and upper tribes such as the Xianbei who were still struggling to hold on were suffering terribly.

At this time, the three brothers Murong Jun, Murong Chui and Murong Ke were standing on a high platform in the Xianbei camp, looking at the distant sky dyed red by the setting sun, their brows furrowed and their expressions full of worry.

The wind on the grassland, with a bit of coolness, blew across their resolute faces, as if telling the endless vicissitudes of this land.

"Brother, the situation is getting worse and worse. The Longyao tribe, the Mongols, and the Jurchens are pressing us step by step. The living space for our Xianbei tribe and the other middle and upper tribes left on the grassland is getting smaller and smaller."

"If this continues, I'm afraid..."

Murong Chui was the first to break the silence, his desolate voice sounded a little low.

"Yes, big brother. Although we believe that we have some experience in commanding troops and fighting on the battlefield, we cannot make a meal without rice. Without sufficient troops and resources, how can we compete with the three major alliances?"

Murong Ke took over the conversation, worry flashing in his eyes.

"Second brother, third brother, I know that the Xianbei tribe cannot just surrender, but if we want to break the deadlock, it will probably be difficult to accomplish it relying on the Xianbei tribe alone."

Upon hearing this, Murong Jun slowly turned around and looked at his two younger brothers, his weathered face filled with sorrow.

(End of this chapter)