59: Jianzhou Jurchens

“Jianzhou Jurchen!”

She Jian said in a deep voice.

Lin Yue’s heart was immediately filled with an indescribable emotion... Inside the Nuzhen Tribe Encampment.

“Chieftain, the Military Advisor has returned.”

Hearing this, Nurhaci frowned. Why had Zhao Bo returned so suddenly?

When Fiyanggu returned last night, didn't he say that the Juqu Tribe and they had a pleasant conversation, and that the marriage alliance was settled, just waiting for an auspicious day for the wedding?

Could it be that something had changed?

Nurhaci did not dare to be careless, and immediately sent someone to summon Zhao Bo, and had someone serve him tea.

Marrying into the Juqu Tribe was an important step for him. Once Huerhan married the Xiongnu King’s daughter from the Juqu Tribe, they would gain the support of the Juqu Tribe.

Coupled with the original support from the Li family, in a short while, he would have the strength to unify all Nuzhen Tribes!

“Chieftain, something terrible has happened!” Zhao Bo said, looking flustered, after running in!

“Military Advisor, don’t panic, tell me in detail.” Nurhaci’s heart trembled, thinking it was bad, but he still spoke to comfort Zhao Bo and handed him the tea.

Zhao Bo took the warm tea and drank it all. He had run all the way, afraid of encountering the Qin Army, so he had galloped his horse in a wide circle. If his warhorse hadn’t been a Earth-Tier warhorse, it probably would have foamed at the mouth and collapsed dead.

Then he caught his breath and said to Nurhaci:

“The Qin Army launched a night raid on the Juqu Tribe, the Xiongnu King is trapped, and Huerhan’s fate is unknown!”

These words were like a clap of thunder from a clear sky, shocking Nurhaci into silence for a long time.

Huerhan was not only a Second-Rate Military General, but also his adopted son!

Now his fate was unknown!

“Why are you alright?” Nurhaci asked. Then, seeing Zhao Bo’s embarrassed expression, he asked again, “I mean, you must have suffered a lot running out.”

“Last night I felt uneasy, so I sent people out to patrol nearby. But one of the teams didn't return for a long time, and I felt something was wrong.

But Huerhan and the others didn't believe me and insisted on staying there.

Soon, the Qin Army launched a night raid on the Encampment. Huerhan even wanted to find his fiancée. I couldn't stop him. Seeing the Qin Army approach me, I took Zhao Fusheng and ran back.” Zhao Bo shook his head, saying with some heartache.

“Moreover, when I returned, I saw that the Qin Army did not go back to Liaodong Commandery, but was heading in our direction!” Zhao Bo continued.

“Where did you encounter them?” Nurhaci stood up and pressed for an answer.

“I’m not sure where it was, but half a day has passed, so I suppose they won’t arrive anytime soon.”

The Qin Army was marching normally, while he was galloping on a Earth-Tier warhorse, so the distance was gradually widening.

Nurhaci sighed upon hearing this, remaining silent.

Ever since Zhao Bo was appointed Military Advisor, some of the old guard within the tribe had quietly criticized Zhao Bo. They were amiable on the surface, but privately, no one looked up to him, an outsider.

Yet, in Nurhaci’s eyes, Zhao Bo was more important than an ordinary brave general. Zhao Bo’s plans for the future development of the Nuzhen Tribe, which he had discussed with Nurhaci, greatly appealed to him.

Especially the Eight Banners of Jurchen and the Eight Banners of Outsiders, they were very much to his liking!

As he envisioned, the Nuzhen Tribe would gradually become a great tribe capable of contending with the Xiongnu, carving out territory to rule as kings, and even settling within the passes was not impossible!

The marriage alliance with the Juqu Tribe was one small part of this plan, but these plans could only be executed with Zhao Bo’s help, which was why he treated Zhao Bo with such courtesy!

But unexpectedly, they encountered a Qin Army night raid. The current predicament made him agitated and restless, so he closed his eyes to calm his mind and ponder.

Zhao Bo knew that Nurhaci was thinking of a solution to the crisis, so he stood aside and did not disturb him.

Now, the two were in a situation where they would either prosper or suffer together. He also hoped that Nurhaci could come up with something; after all, he was considered a generation's hero, and Zhao Bo had confidence in him.

“Military Advisor, what do you think of this matter?” Nurhaci suddenly asked.

“First, we need to find out why the Qin Army launched a night raid on the Juqu Tribe, then we can make detailed plans.” Zhao Bo said, taking a sip of the freshly served hot tea.

The current situation far exceeded his expectations. Originally, his 'certificate of loyalty' was that Jurchen development plan, which his father had entrusted several retired strategists in the real world to formulate after entering the game for on-site investigation. That's how he gained Nurhaci's favor.

Now, if asked what to do, he couldn't say a single thing!

“Come, let Heheli, Fiyanggu, E'yidu, Anfeiyanggu, and others come.

Also, let Murhaci, Šurhaci, Yarhaci, and Bayara come together!”

Nurhaci reeled off names one after another. These people, without exception, were his most loyal core followers!

His personal guards ran out one by one after hearing the command, and soon everyone entered the tent and took their seats.

After Zhao Bo’s brief retelling, the large tent immediately fell into a deathly silence.

Seeing that no one spoke, Nurhaci sighed and said, “Given the situation, everyone, please leave, and stay away from this troubled place.

If I am fortunate enough to escape this calamity, I will invite you all back to gather again.”

“Chieftain, absolutely not!”

“Big brother, we swear to live and die with our tribesmen!”

“Fleeing in battle is not the act of a warrior!”

Everyone looked agitated, expressing their stance one after another.

Nurhaci gave a wry smile at the sight, then said:

“Then let’s make some countermeasures.

Anfeiyanggu, you lead the warriors of the tribe to patrol a hundred li outside the Encampment. Once you discover traces of the Qin Army, report back immediately!”

“Yes!” Anfeiyanggu responded.

“Fiyanggu! You personally go find Li Rupo and tell him that Qi Ya misses him day and night, and that she will be sent to him tonight.”

“Yes!” Fiyanggu responded.

Qi Ya was a famous beauty of the Nuzhen Tribe, and Li Rupo was deeply infatuated with her.

She was Nikan Wailan's daughter. Nikan Wailan, to curry favor with Li Rupo, wanted to conveniently offer her to him, but before he succeeded, Nikan Wailan was killed by Nurhaci, and she could only resign herself to this place.

He also knew that many in the tribe secretly harbored feelings for her, including his own brother.

But now, Nurhaci could only give her to Li Rupo, wondering if Li Rupo could save his life!

“Military Advisor, you go to the outsiders. You all return to your own world and do not come back for a while, to avoid being implicated.” Nurhaci said.

“Yes!” Zhao Bo responded.

He understood in his heart that it wasn't that Nurhaci was afraid of them being implicated; it was clearly that he was afraid of them being discovered by the Qin Army, which would then confirm the Jurchen’s crime of harboring outsiders!

“Murhaci, Šurhaci, Yarhaci, Bayara, you go out and take the women and children away, hide as far as possible, and leave a spark of hope.” Nurhaci said to his four younger brothers.

“Big brother!” The four still wanted to say something, but Nurhaci waved his hand to interrupt them. They knew that more words were useless at this point, so they lowered their heads.

“Heheli, you travel day and night, take this letter to Dong Commandery, and you must not make any mistakes!”

“Yes!” Heheli carefully took the letter and put it into his bosom.

“Today, the safety of the tribe depends entirely on all of you.” Nurhaci sent someone for wine, took the wine bowl, and drained it in one gulp.

Everyone nodded heavily, likewise took their wine bowls, drained them, and then strode out of the large tent!

Seeing everyone leave the large tent, Nurhaci immediately collapsed weakly onto his chair.