Way of Overlord
Chapter 123: Yindu and Yan and the Great Steppe

Chapter 123: Yindu and Yan and the Great Steppe

The reason why the people of the Steppe teaches Xiahou Cao all kinds of tactics and even fought in his army, is because they believe in the sanctity of a promise, of an oath

The tribes of the Great Steppe hold their principles and values in high esteem, especially when it comes to promises and oaths.

For them, a promise is not a trivial matter; it is a solemn vow that carries the weight of honour and integrity.

When they make a commitment or pledge, they do so with the utmost sincerity, and they expect others to uphold their promises in the same manner.

This strong belief in the sanctity of oaths has led the Steppe people to share their knowledge of tactics and even fight alongside Xiahou Cao army.

They extend their trust, believing that he will honour his word and treat them with fairness and respect.

They see this cooperation as a gesture of goodwill and hope for a future of mutual understanding and cooperation.

However, when it comes to dealing with the people of Yan, the Great Steppe tribes have often been met with disappointment and frustration.

The Yan people, in contrast to the Steppe’s unwavering dedication to oaths, have been observed to change their stance and promises depending on their convenience.

the people of Yan speak one thing in the morning and another in the afternoon. They are a race of liars.

At least that is what most people of the Great Steppe had experienced when dealing with the people of Yan.

That is the problem that will come to the Great Steppe.

Ruler of Beixuan, the future king of one of the Three Kingdoms

And since the moment James accepted himself as Aeryon, his every step has been to avoid that fate.

And thus, the importance of knowing history comes into play.

When he reads about the battle that happened because of that incident in Nurshira during the reign of Emperor Wu of Yan, he saw something

He saw an opening. An opening to quickly take down Yan and open the road toward the Central Plain

If he wanted to ride down south...there is an opening

"Yan Empire is vast and imposing, its unity a common facade," he muttered, a mischievous smile gracing his lips.

It’s a smile that seems to carry a deeper meaning

Behind the grandeur of the Yan Empire lies a growing reservoir of resentment—a sentiment nurtured by years of unequal treatment.

Exclusive privileges are bestowed upon Yan people, while others are relegated to the role of subordinates.

This hierarchical dynamic has fostered a sense of discontent among the various ethnic groups within the empire.

To be more accurate, the Yan people treated other people of other races like animals and they relish in such thought of superiority

Parallel to this, the people of the Great Steppe also exhibit a similar tendency, albeit not as extreme.

It’s a trait ingrained in the social fabric, with historical nuances.

The Steppe’s early history was dominated by the Marynku people who is the original inhabitants of the Great Steppe.

However, with the arrival of the Ashran and Eresian, conflict begins

However, the conflicts didn’t stem from their origins but rather from competition for resources and territory.

Yet, the Great Steppe possesses a unique trait: a profound capacity for forming bonds.

The people of the Great Steppe feel close to those they connect with and when they connect with someone, they bring them into the family and it is in this way that the Ashran and Eresian merged together with the Marynku to make up as the three great races of the Great Steppe

Deep connections are forged with those they encounter, leading to integration into the extended familial networks.

This quality facilitated the merging of the Ashran and Eresian with the Marynku, creating the three dominant races of the Great Steppe.

Despite differing physical traits, narratives, and pantheons, a shared identity as Great Steppe inhabitants unites the people of Eresian and Ashran.

This sentiment transcends individual characteristics and belief systems, weaving together the tapestry of the Steppe.

Hardship and similar pain and suffering bonds them together.

The Yan Empire’s reality is starkly distinct.

Despite the sincere attachment a person from the Great Steppe or any other race may feel towards Yan, even harbouring loyalty to its cause, there’s an inevitable revelation awaiting them.

Sooner or later, they come face-to-face with the unsettling truth: Yan’s regard for them will remain as that of an outsider, despite their dedication and allegiance.

However, the moment these very individuals, driven by the mistreatment they endured, choose to turn against Yan, the scholars and propagandists of the empire embark on a venomous campaign.

They label them as dogs, mutts, traitors, and heap upon them a multitude of vile and demeaning titles.

This encapsulates the characteristic approach of the Yan Empire.

They excel in tarnishing reputations, distorting historical facts, pillaging the lands of others, and adeptly transforming malevolent actions into virtuous ones.

In their writings and articles, Aeryon perceives a self-indulgent tone, self-masturbatory pieces, with pieces that lavish praise upon the scholars, Yan populace, and emperors, often engaging in self-congratulatory narratives.

Furthermore, they manipulate the tales of their deities and goddesses to suit their territorial ambitions, attempting to assert ownership over lands that rightfully belong to others.

Because of this Aeryon find a way, find a method.

"Nurshira would be my gate to the Central Plains" he muttered to himself.

Although his current tribe members perceive Aeryon focus to be solely on the Southern Great Steppe, his aspirations are far more extensive.

He harbours grand ambitions.

However, he recognizes that conquering the entire Great Steppe in this world is a more formidable endeavour than it was in his own world.

The landmass is broader, the population more extensive.

As such, he comprehends the necessity for strategic innovation; he cannot merely replicate the route Genghis Khan followed.

The magnitude of this task requires adaptations and approaches that suit the unique challenges posed by this world’s circumstances.

The Northern Great Steppe is an expanse brimming with formidable clans and tribes, each possessing their own strength.

The Eastern Great Steppe, too, holds its ground with considerable power.

In the heart of the Central Great Steppe, alliances between tribes create a challenging network to penetrate.

Meanwhile, the Western Great Steppe boasts influential trade connections and the advantage of steel weaponry from the Western Zhou.

The conquest of such diverse and fortified lands is no simple feat.

The complexity is further exacerbated by the ever-present spectre of dominant neighbouring nations, casting their influence and threats upon the Great Steppe from all four directions.

This intricate geopolitical landscape forms a daunting backdrop to Aeryon ambitious plans.

To the South lies the Yan Empire, currently mired in a state of turmoil.

The reins of government are held by eunuchs, the emperor’s competence is questionable, and both virtuous heroes and cunning villains ascend in unison. Amidst this turbulence, warlords are poised to carve up the realm, aristocratic families are manoeuvring cautiously, and the once-unified world seems destined to fragment into three distinct spheres of influence.

Such is the current condition of the Yan Empire, teetering on the precipice of collapse.

Aeryon possesses an unparalleled wealth of information about the Yan Empire, thanks to the unique perspective gained from the book he read.

The very same book he transmigrated into now

Yet, this Empire is not his only concern. There are other looming threats that demand his attention.

To the East lies Yindu, a region briefly mentioned in the book but about which Aeryon has limited information. The small passage that touches upon Yindu indicates a state of profound conflict and warfare in the region.

Yindu is the name given to the area of those people on the Eastern side. However, Yindu itself is not a name of empire or a nation

Yan Empire encompassed all the dominions south of the border of the Great Steppe. It is also the name of the dynasty that rules over the land.

The people of the land itself called themselves Yan people

The term "Yindu" might be a misinterpretation.

In the past, there existed an ancient empire known as "Indus" that held dominion over a considerable portion of Yindu.

However, this once-powerful empire vanished from historical records abruptly.

Aeryon knowledge about this particular historical period is limited, and the people who lived under the rule of the Indus Empire referred to themselves as "the people of Indu."

Following the downfall of the Indus Empire, its former territories fragmented into separate domains.

The governors and officials who had served under the Indus Empire’s rule assumed roles as warlords, eventually establishing themselves as kings and rulers over the shattered remnants of the empire.

From that point onward, a tumultuous period of conflict and strife ensued.

These warlords is driven by the ambition to reunite the once-mighty empire.

As a result, a succession of warlords, kings, and even queens emerged.

Their collective objective was to wield enough power to restore the unity and strength that the Indus Empire once represented.

This era of Yindu is marked by continuous battles, both among themselves and against external rivals, as they vied for dominance and the opportunity to reclaim the glory of the past.

Over time, as people from Yan Empire ventured into the fractured land once ruled by the Indus Empire, they encountered its inhabitants.

When these newcomers inquired about the identity of the local people, they referred to themselves as the people of Indu.

However, due to linguistic nuances and differences in pronunciation, the term "Indu" may have been misheard by the Yan visitors as "Yindu."

As Yan Empire’s contact with the region increased, the misinterpreted name "Yindu" began to circulate among its merchants, travellers, and populace.

Similarly, when merchants from the Great Steppe interacted with Yan merchants and heard this term, they also adopted the name "Yindu."

Over time, this miscommunication became deeply ingrained, leading to the enduring usage of "Yindu" to refer to the land and its people, even though its origins were rooted in linguistic misunderstanding.

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