Chapter 131: The Naturalized Army

The first unit of the "Naturalized Army," armed with weapons provided by Zhang Juntai from the Gaochang people, was led by Mulü of the Qilülin tribe, descendants of the Rouran. Ever since the Göktürks had conquered and dismantled the Rouran Khaganate, the Qilülin tribe, who had always favored the Rouran, had been relentlessly hunted by the Turks. Fleeing westward to escape the Turkish purges, they eventually settled on the border between the Gaochang Kingdom and the Sui Dynasty, adopting a new name and seeking refuge under the Gaochang state, where they had multiplied to this day.

Following the launch of the current military campaign, a scout known as Night Owl sought out Mulü, the current chieftain of the Qilülin, to persuade him to raise an army.

"Are you an envoy of Li Wenyuan?" Having lived among the Han for so long, there was no one in the Qilülin tribe who could not speak the language, and Mulü, as their chieftain, was no exception.

"I cannot call myself an envoy; perhaps a lobbyist is more accurate," Night Owl replied.

"Then why did Li Wenyuan send you? What is his intention?" Mulü asked suspiciously.

"The Commander-in-Chief sent me simply to ask if you have any desire to restore the former glory of the Rouran people."

The words struck Mulü’s heart like a heavy hammer. In the days of their former greatness, the Rouran had trodden the grasslands with their herds of cattle and sheep across the entire steppe. However, as the Turks—originally mere iron-forging slaves—gained the favor of the Rouran Khagan through their superior craftsmanship, they gradually annexed over fifty thousand men of the Tiele tribes and became a formidable force. Later, in alliance with the Xianbei, they rebelled, overthrowing the Rouran rule in two massive campaigns and subsequently slaughtering the remnants of the Rouran tribes across the steppe.

The Qilülin branch could not escape this fate. As a surviving fragment of the Rouran, they had been driven southwest by the Northern Turks. By the time they reached Gaochang, their once-thriving tribe of nearly five thousand had been reduced to fewer than a thousand. Deeply wounded, the chieftain at the time had been forced to swallow his pride, burying his desire for revenge deep within his heart.

Upon arriving in Gaochang, the chieftain had claimed they were the Shugu tribe, moving with the seasonal pastures, and begged the King of Gaochang for permission to settle within his borders. Later, as the Turks established the powerful Göktürk Khaganate and began their expansion, the Shiwei people in the east were the first to face them, surrendering without much resistance.

After neutralizing the threat from the east, the Turks turned their armies toward the southwest, systematically conquering the kingdoms of the Western Regions. They established supervisory offices in these states, which did not interfere in internal affairs but merely collected annual tributes. Under the pressure of the powerful Turkish military, Gaochang had surrendered without a fight, accepting Turkish rule to preserve their throne and domestic stability. For these small, sparsely populated Western states, avoiding war and minimizing loss of life was the best possible outcome.

The Qilülin tribe, having hoped to recuperate in Gaochang to eventually reclaim their homeland, realized that their sanctuary had fallen under Turkish control and accepted the futility of their dream. Over time, through intermarriage and integration with the Han people of Gaochang, they had slowly adapted. Not long ago, Mulü’s predecessor had made the decision to abandon the Rouran language, adopt the Han tongue, embrace Han education, and wear Han clothing and hair adornments.

Gradually, the people of the Qilülin began to accept their new identity as Han. But then, the Han, who had long been on the defensive in the Western Regions, suddenly launched an offensive, sweeping across the Gaochang commanderies like lightning and laying siege to the capital. This, however, meant little to Mulü; to his tribe, it was merely the change of one master for another. He had intended to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, yet Night Owl had come to him with a proposal too tempting to refuse.

"Revive the Rouran? Forget it. Thank your Commander for his kindness. In the last hundred years, the Rouran have either died or fled. There is no longer a Rouran tribe on this steppe," Mulü sighed, shaking his head helplessly.

"Indeed, as you say, the Rouran tribe no longer exists on the steppe. But as the leader of the last surviving branch, have you never thought of vengeance against the Turks? If they hadn't been iron-forging slaves who gained the favor of the Rouran Khagan, how could they have ever dominated the steppe?"

"That is all in the past. To the victor go the spoils. I do not wish to dwell on it. Now, I only care about how to make my people survive longer. After all, this is the grassland, and on the grassland, the children of Tengri are the strongest."

"You may be right, but clearly, looking at recent events, the great Tengri does not seem to be watching over what happens here. That is why we were able to capture all of Gaochang's territory with the force of thunder," Night Owl replied, catching the irony in Mulü’s voice. He remained composed and shifted the focus back to his goal:

"Furthermore, our General Zhang Juntai, who leads this western expedition, asked me to provide you with a guarantee: even if you do not wish to summon the warriors of the Qilülin to take revenge against the Turks, we have prepared another option. Are you willing to drive those Turkish lackeys and accomplices to fight the Turks to the death?"

"Oh? That, I find interesting. Tell me more," Mulü said, leaning forward.

"The General has formed a unit called the 'Naturalized Army,' filled with Hu people who refuse to submit to civilization. Many among them are opportunists, and the Commander does not want these men to remain a hidden danger. He hopes they will disappear on the battlefield, while simultaneously depleting the Turkish fighting force," Night Owl paused, then added, "And currently, the position of commander for this Naturalized Army is being reserved for you."