The Xilamulun River and the Wulijimuren River converged here, depositing a vast, level prairie. This was the heart of the Donghu Alliance: the White Wave Beach Royal Court.
The rivers wound like ribbons, carving the grasslands into pools of varying depths. Rows upon rows of oxhide tents stretched along the banks. The largest, crowned with a golden roof, was where the alliance held its councils. Outside stood nine wooden pillars carved with wolf patterns, from which flew the Donghu Alliance's Black Wolf banner, snapping fiercely in the bitter north wind.
At this moment, the golden-roofed tent was brightly lit with candles. Dozens of Donghu chieftains, clad in leather armor and carrying curved blades at their waists, sat in a circle. Yet the atmosphere was far less boisterous than during their usual deliberations.
Shegan Chanyu had personally led 150,000 of the main force south to attack Pinggang City. The Royal Court's military and political authority was temporarily held by two men. The first was Hulü, Great Chieftain of the White Deer Tribe. As the leader of the alliance's second-largest tribe and Shegan Chanyu's in-law, he was acting as the temporary head.
The second was Kumo, Left Worthy King of the Black Wolf Tribe and Shegan's cousin. He commanded the Royal Court's thirty thousand elite wolf cavalry and served as Hulü's deputy, responsible for military deployments.
Hulü was nearing fifty, his face wrinkled like the bark of an old tree, yet his eyes remained as sharp as ever.
His fingers tapped the low table before him. Several bowls of koumiss, still warm, sat atop it. He said in a deep voice, "The Chanyu's army has been south for many days. Pinggang City has surely fallen by now, and before long, they will return in triumph bearing spoils of war.
"During this time,