Chapter 3: The Long Journey Home

The Later Zhao regime also had officials from the Qiang ethnic group, but they were still not comparable to those from the Di ethnic group. Although both were considered second-class people, there were still distinctions between them

Liu Yan and others naturally would not venture deep into the city; they merely lingered on the outskirts. After approximately two hours, the anticipated individuals finally appeared.

"Coming from the northwest," Liu Yan has a language translation system that can mimic any accent and convey any message. At this moment, he speaks with a genuine Qiang accent: "I came this way as a stopover, and I still need to continue northward"

During this special period, having the identity of a Hu person in the north serves as a "protective umbrella". No matter how frustrated or displeased Liu Yan was, he had to consider the context. He vented his frustrations and displeasure on the people along the way, completely indifferent to which ethnic group the newcomers belonged. If he could overpower them, he would take them down; if not, he would simply avoid them.

This city is merely a small place, and the so-called prominent figures are just like that. Liu Yan spoke at length, while those Hu people who could not even travel a few dozen miles could only listen.

On this day, Liu Yan left the main group with just over twenty people. He instructed Tian Shuo and others to continue leading the main group towards the predetermined target, and then he hurried towards a city they had passed through

The sky is vast, the wilderness is boundless, the wind blows the grass low revealing cattle and sheep. The blood of men, the color of heroes. At my call, the rivers and seas echo back. The mountains are silent, the waters mourn. Charging forth, we display our brilliance.

This is indeed correct; only those of the Huaxia lineage who speak of etiquette and propriety prefer to avoid conflict, while the Hu people emphasize mutual respect. If respect is not given, they resort to speaking with their fists

Liu Yan was not engaging with the Hu people for the first time; he understood that it was a test of the waters.

It must be stated that this year, only the Hu people are wandering about everywhere. The Jin people may not be able to roam freely, but they certainly do not dare to openly carry weapons and run around with guards, for if they were to be killed, there would be no place to seek justice.

The preceding "Chilichuan, beneath the Yin Mountains. The sky resembles a vast yurt, enveloping the four corners of the earth." was, however, omitted by Liu Yan

The city walls are riddled with gaps, and there are no parapets or battlements on top, nor any facilities such as watchtowers.

Those were relatively prominent figures within the city; to put it plainly, they were either from the Qiang ethnic group or the Di ethnic group. The sudden appearance of around twenty strangers in the city would indeed be strange if they did not react.

To the north of Qingzhou lies no other territory but Yizhou. By the time he arrived, he had already prepared a narrative, as the Later Zhao and Eastern Jin were engaged in a fierce battle along the banks of the Yangtze River. He crafted a set of arguments about wanting to go to Eastern Jin, which would explain why he was traveling to Yizhou via Qingzhou, rather than any other place

The people of the Qiang tribe are domineering, exerting their authority over everyone. The Qiang individuals in charge casually brought in some medicinal materials, claiming they were to be sold to Liu Yan, and even stated that the pricing could be set arbitrarily

Liu Yan is representing the Qiang ethnic group and is stating the need to procure medicinal materials

Give, but do not give too much. If they want to extort again, adopt a firm attitude and present the stance of being ready to fight if necessary.

The appearance of the people was not so abrupt; first, someone came over to greet, then found a place, and afterwards, twenty to thirty Hu people arrived.

Those who originally had doubts about Liu Yan's identity as a Xiongnu no longer doubted after witnessing his actions. Why? Because the Jin people do not possess such boldness; only the Hu people would act with such decisiveness in matters of vengeance and gratitude

Currently, every city appears to be in a state of severe disrepair. To what extent is this disrepair evident? The city walls exhibit collapses at intervals, resulting in numerous vulnerabilities despite their presence.

Who is Liu Yan? Even if he is not well-off, he is still someone who has been bombarded with modern information, so how could he not understand the meaning? Isn't it just a matter of asking for a toll or something similar?

The harsh winds blow, the seaweed withers... The Han soldiers number three hundred thousand, with generals including Huo Piao and Yao... The enemy can be crushed, the banners extinguished, stepping through the entrails of the Hu and wading through Hu blood... There are no Hu left, the Han way flourishes... May Your Majesty's life last for three thousand frosts... Yet the great winds and clouds soar, how can we find brave warriors to guard the four corners

The Qiang ethnic group is currently quite active, primarily in the northwest and in the basins below the plateau (Tuyuhun), and they are also considered active in the region of Shu

The Qiang people are not only a cannibalistic tribe, but they are also the first ethnic group to establish a class system in the Central Plains. According to the regulations set by the Emperor of Later Zhao, the Qiang people are classified as the first rank, while the Di people, Xiongnu, and other Hu people are classified as the second rank, wild beasts as the third rank, and the Jin people within the territory as the fourth rank. The fact that wild beasts are ranked higher than the Jin people is no joke, as the Emperor of Later Zhao issued a "Hunting Prohibition Order" specifically targeting the Jin people, stipulating that they are not allowed to harm wild animals

The people of the Jiezhu tribe are purely Caucasian, characterized by blonde hair, unkempt hair, green eyes, and high noses. They generally have disheveled hair and wear a variety of clothing.

Indeed, it is not only the Jin people who regarded Liu Yan as a Xiongnu, but also those from the Later Zhao who believed that Liu Yan's group was a tribe of the Xiongnu. This is because during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of the Eastern Jin, "Han" represented the Xiongnu. Thus, there were Liu Han, Former Han, Later Han, and so on. The term "Han" had long been synonymous with the Xiongnu. Even the Di people established Cheng Han, although the official name was Qiu Chi. The term "Han" had long been synonymous with the Xiongnu.

What a tragic era that must be! The people of Jin are even worse than wild beasts!

Liu Yan sang loudly, and the line "Without a hero, the Han dynasty flourishes. May Your Majesty's life last for three thousand frosts. But the song of the great wind and clouds soars, how can we find a valiant warrior to guard the four corners?" was repeated again and again, leaving those who understood it with a look of bewilderment on their faces

The Hu people recited, "There are no Hu people, the Han way flourishes." Nothing could be more surprising to the Jin people, who began to doubt whether they had misunderstood something.

After dealing with all the important figures, Liu Yan's identity was accepted, allowing him to roam freely and openly. There were many things to see, but seeing so much did not necessarily guarantee a good mood

Liu Yan is merely engaging in limited nonsense, discussing local customs and traditions without delving into overly sophisticated matters

Logically, Liu Yan leading a large group of people on the road should have attracted the attention of Later Zhao. However, in reality, it did not. If this had occurred near the capital, Xiangguo, it might have raised concerns, but the Later Zhao regime is currently very busy. They are occupied with mopping up the aftermath and are also engaged in internal strife. Who has the spare time to pay attention to a group of Xiongnu capturing slaves amidst the chaos?

In this manner, it is not that no one is displeased with Liu Yan's actions, but those who dare to provoke him generally end up suffering greatly. Within the mindset of the Hu people, where strength determines leadership, Liu Yan has instead formed friendships with some of the Hu.

Liu Yan has already realized that impersonating a Xiongnu is a good idea. Although he feels extremely displeased internally, he does not go around proclaiming that he is not a Xiongnu. Furthermore, he cannot explain it clearly; he is just frustrated that the illustrious "Han Chinese" not only became notorious in later generations but was also utterly detestable during the Eastern Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms period.

The somewhat literate people of Jin, upon hearing Liu Yan sing along the way, appeared somewhat entranced and intoxicated by the performance

The Di people are of the yellow race, yet most of them have their hair tied up and dress relatively elegantly... In simple terms, they are more aligned with the Han people, and the so-called sinicization is quite pronounced

In this era, the Central Plains are dominated by the Qiang people, and naturally, the ones speaking are the Qiang people. That robust Qiang man nodded and said: "If you want medicinal herbs, you must either go to the southern regions or to Liaodong."

Liu Yan was not clear whether the Qiang people had established a nation; he could only say that he represented a large tribe. This point actually has its basis, as the people he brought along clearly appeared to be tough and exhibited a military demeanor. Who wouldn't take a group of warriors when venturing far from home this year?

Tian Shuo has been trying to understand what kind of person Liu Yan is, as well as what kind of tribe the Han tribe is. He could not extract any answers from the soldiers clad in scarlet battle robes, but he did receive some seemingly plausible answers from others who were also of Jin descent.

It truly reveals a desolate scene! The cities that were once lively and prosperous now appear dilapidated and in ruins, with only a very few of them still inhabited. However, it is certain that the majority of the residents are of non-Han descent, while the current Han people are all busy fleeing for their lives

The world today is in chaos. If we start counting from the fall of the Eastern Wu by the Sima clan, the Western Jin, which was established only 37 years ago, fell under the attacks of the Xiongnu, and both Emperor Huai and Emperor Min were captured.

Those Jin people who had followed Liu Yan for a considerable time informed Tian Shuo that Liu Yan had always claimed to be Han. No one dared to ask whether he meant the Han of the Xiongnu or the Han of the Han people. It was only known that Liu Yan's faction had emerged rather abruptly, and in terms of military preparedness and daily provisions, it could certainly be regarded as affluent. However, no one could ascertain the number of people in the tribe or where they primarily operated, yet those soldiers were indeed fearless and undaunted in battle.

Due to the numerous breaches in the city wall, entering and exiting the city was not done through the city gates. Liu Yan and more than twenty others had already changed their attire and did not enter the city through the gates. Before entering the city, they encountered a few people, and both sides merely observed each other from a distance, without any deliberate interaction.

The song is not merely a song, but a poem, originating from the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai's "Hu Wu Ren". It is perhaps one of the few poems that Liu Yan can remember so clearly.

Speaking of which, the Huaxia nation can indeed be described as a romantic people. While individuals may not leave their names in the annals of history, beautiful poetry can be passed down through the ages. From the Book of Songs of the ancient pre-Qin period to the "fu" of the Han dynasty, the "poetry" of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and the "ci" of the Song dynasties, they have accompanied countless grand events and battles, showcasing the splendor of prosperous times and the passage of years

Hundreds of thousands of Qiang people ruled the entire Central Plains, which were filled with Hu people everywhere. In fact, no one can accurately estimate the total number of Hu people in the Central Plains. Generally speaking, the number of Hu people living in the Central Plains is estimated to be between 2 million and 2.5 million, while the number of Jin people living in the Central Plains is likely to be similar.

The wilderness stretches endlessly, with patches of grass taller than a person and desolate areas devoid of human presence. Occasionally, one might pass by the ruins of what could have been a village. Liu Yan leads a large group of people heading north.

The Xiongnu established the Han state (later changed to Zhao), and the Jie people, who had once been slaves of the Xiongnu, overthrew the Han (Former Zhao) to establish Later Zhao. The establishment of Later Zhao did not bring an end to the chaos; in fact, the Jie people, with a total population of only a few hundred thousand, became the overlords of the Central Plains, further exacerbating the turmoil

After entering the city, they found that there was not a single soul to be seen within its walls. What lay before them were ruins scattered everywhere, with one ruin after another becoming a defining feature of the city. Also notably present were the bones and desiccated excrement found in abundance.

The Qiang and Di people, upon hearing Liu Yannan speak of the customs and practices of so many places, found that some of it was indeed what they had heard through the grapevine. It was not that they were simple-minded, but rather that their experiences were genuinely limited. Furthermore, Liu Yannan, in both his attire and demeanor, bore no resemblance to the Jin people, so they reluctantly accepted that he was a person from afar.

On the vast expanse of land, there are only four to five million inhabitants, and according to the customs of various dynasties, the majority live concentrated within the cities. One can imagine just how desolate it must have been.