Way of Overlord
Chapter 150: Precedent

Chapter 150: Precedent

Now his territory covers the whole lower south of the Southern Great Steppe.

He subjugated Khulun, Kanun made an alliance with Chagai tribe, subdued Duhai tribe and subjugated Zlata tribe.

This young chief had thoroughly aroused Xu Bai attention.

And so, he began studying this person.

Xu Bai observations and meticulous study of Aeryon, the young chief of the Brolgadhr tribe, led him to an unsettling realization.

Aeryon rapid and calculated expansion across the lower south of the Southern Great Steppe was not merely the work of a chieftain seeking territorial gains; it seemed to be part of a much larger and ambitious plan.

As Xu Bai delved deeper into his analysis, he discerned a trend that hinted at Aeryon potential to unite the disparate tribes of the Southern Great Steppe under his banner.

This, in itself, was a formidable prospect.

The Southern Great Steppe was known for its fragmented tribal landscape, with chieftains vying for dominance and territories frequently changing hands through alliances and conflicts.

That is why Yan had never had to worry about them that much. Even now, the prominent people in the world only worries about the imperial power and not the tribes on the Great Steppe.

Xu Bai growing sense of unease stemmed from the realization that Aeryon consolidated power could pose a significant threat to the neighbouring regions, including the Yan empire.

The tribes of the Great Steppe had long been viewed as peripheral and inconsequential by the Yan dynasty, but Aeryon ascent signalled a change in the balance of power that could no longer be ignored.

In the face of these unsettling developments, Xu Bai’s concern for the stability of the Yan dynasty deepened, and he knew that he had to act with caution and wisdom to safeguard the interests of his homeland.

This young chief is a danger but it is still a little wolf

And the Great Steppe is still not enough to a threat to the Yan dynasty. At that time Zhuo Bufan did not yet come down to Chang ’an and Dugu Yi is still in Bingzhou.

Xu Bai’s initial assessment of Aeryon as a "little wolf" in the vast expanse of the Great Steppe was founded on the belief that the Southern Great Steppe, while formidable in its own right, was not an immediate threat to the Yan dynasty.

However, as events continued to unfold, Xu Bai found himself revising his assessments repeatedly.

The rapidly changing circumstances, including Aeryon skilful expansion and his potential to unite the tribes, forced Xu Bai to reassess the situation.

The danger posed by this young chief is no longer something to be underestimated.

The balance of power in the region was shifting, and Xu Bai had to adapt his strategies and plans accordingly.

In this volatile and evolving landscape, Xu Bai understood the need for vigilance and foresight.

Beyond Aeryon remarkable ascent in the Great Steppe, Xu Bai harboured concerns due to the concurrent rise of other neighbouring tribes.

His apprehensions were multi-faceted.

The burgeoning power of the Utgard, Sordkazan, and Esbizuk tribes had become increasingly evident.

Their territorial expansions and military triumphs signalled an undercurrent of change within the Great Steppe.

Utgard, in collaboration with the Kazan tribe, waged successful campaigns against the Rudya tribe.

The Sordkazan tribe had engaged in conflict with the Tuvan tribe, ultimately subjugating them.

Simultaneously, the Esbizuk tribe solidified its prominence, securing victories against the Lushar and Kyara tribes.

Xu Bai detected a sense of renewal in the Great Steppe, hinting at the potential for tribal unification.

While these shifts might appear modest in isolation, their collective impact could be profound.

To Xu Bai, it was the subtlety of these transformations that posed the gravest threat.

Small ripples, over time, had the power to coalesce into tidal waves that could disrupt the stability of the entire region.

Xu Bai, unlike many of his compatriots in the Yan dynasty, held a nuanced perspective when it came to the people of the Great Steppe.

He is well-versed in the pages of history that told tales of cycles—periods of division followed by periods of unification.

In the current landscape of the Great Steppe, he discerned the emergence of a unifying force.

He refrained from subscribing to the all-too-common Yan stereotypes that belittled the Great Steppe and its inhabitants.

He questioned the simplistic and scornful narratives propagated by the Yan military and officials:

"The Great Steppe is weak."

"The Great Steppe people are mindless creatures."

To Xu Bai, these words amounted to little more than empty boasts.

He had studied history with diligence, understanding that past humiliations suffered by the Yan dynasty at the hands of the Steppe tribes were not rooted in the Steppe’s inherent weakness but rather in the strength of unity when the Great Steppe is united in one purpose.

He knows that the people of the Great Steppe might seem weak and easy to defeat but if that is really the case, then how could the Yan dynasty was humiliated by them in the past many times?

This is just the boasting words of the Yan military and the boasting words of officials when they reported to the emperor

In the Yan dynasty, control over the vast empire is vested in the hands of the emperor, but the practical governance of this realm is entrusted to the scholar-officials.

The mechanisms of control and propaganda that the emperor wielded to influence the common people held little sway over the discerning eyes of the noble families.

Among these aristocratic families, Xu Bai is a figure of notable talent in literary arts, yet he was set apart by his origins.

His lineage bore no scholarly heritage; rather, he hailed from one of the numerous aristocratic clans.

As the winds of change swept across the Great Steppe, Xu Bai, having gathered a trove of information about the young chief spearheading these transformations, secluded himself to delve into the intricate intricacies of this emerging power in the Southern Great Steppe.

In this deep dive into the affairs of the Steppe, he reached a definitive conclusion: The catalyst for the metamorphosis in the Great Steppe had emerged in the form of Aeryon, the son of Rakarys.

The more he delved into the life and exploits of this chief, the more he grew convinced that Aeryon is an imminent threat, a looming danger on the horizon.

Aeryon turns his small tribe into a large tribe and transformed his men from weak to strong. Such a person must have some ability

Xu Bai explain all of this to the military official and then he said

"Aeryon, the chief of the Brolgadhr tribe, has displayed remarkable leadership abilities. He has not only elevated his once-small tribe to a formidable force but has also metamorphosed his warriors from mere novices into a powerful fighting unit. Such an extraordinary transformation requires profound skill and vision."

Xu Bai paused momentarily, his eyes scanning the faces of the assembled military officials. The gravity of the situation hung palpably in the air.

"I believe that Aeryon is no ordinary chieftain," he continued.

"He possesses qualities that could potentially unite the tribes of the Great Steppe, something we have not seen in a long time. His rapid expansion, strategic acumen, and willingness to take calculated risks are indicative of a man with grand ambitions. We must not underestimate him. If we allow these tribes to coalesce under his banner, the Great Steppe could become a formidable power, and the Yan dynasty may face an unprecedented threat."

Xu Bai’s words lingered in the air, the weight of their implications sinking in.

"All of those tribes, the Esbizuk tribe, the Khagai tribe, the Sordkazan tribe, all of them have never been this united before. One could only guess why but I believe that these chiefs is called upon by Aeryon the chief of the Brolgadhr."

"If he succeeds this time, mark my words that the raid toward the north would become even more frequent"

Xu Bai words carried weight, each sentence revealing a deeper layer of the crisis they faced.

As he spoke of the unprecedented unity among neighbouring tribes, a unity that wodul be able to be transformed into an alliance the officials in Nurshira couldn’t help but exchange worried glances.

The notion that these tribes, often at odds with one another, were coming together under Aeryon leadership painted a dire picture.

General Xi Yan, who had initially downplayed the invasion, now realized the gravity of the situation.

His scepticism had been swept away by the unsettling truth. He couldn’t hide his concern as he pondered the implications of this united front.

Xu Bai final warning about the potential for more frequent raids in the north sent shivers down their spines.

It is a chilling reminder of the dangers they faced not only in the immediate future but also in the long term.

But despite the mounting fear, Xu Bai refrained from voicing all his concerns.

He understood that spreading panic wouldn’t serve their cause.

He sighed as he looks at the military general and the officials

"Can these people protect this city?" he thought to himself.

Xu Bai is quite sure there is no reason for any of the other tribes that bordered Yan to attack

Xu Bai analysis is rooted in a deep understanding of the Great Steppe’s politics and the mindset of its tribes.

He was confident that the neighbouring tribes had not initially intended to attack Nurshira.

Their hesitancy during the initial raid suggested a fear of Yan’s military might, which had always been a significant deterrent.

However, the success of Aeryon attack on the Yan Wall had altered the regional balance of power.

The once-frightened tribes were now reconsidering their stance.

This shift in perspective was a clear indication of the threat Aeryon posed. If he succeeded in plundering Yan’s riches and resources, it would set a dangerous precedent.

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