The Duan Tribe was in Liaoxi Commandery, while the Murong Tribe was farther east, in Changping Commandery.
Once Wen Yang had finished his preparations, he led five hundred elite cavalry toward Liaoxi Commandery.
The Duan and Murong tribes were Xianbei tribes living within Great Wei's borders.
But they were different from the Xiongnu.
Cao Cao had defeated the Xiongnu, detained their Chanyu, made them live outside the cities, sent officials to watch them, and turned their chieftains into puppets.
The Xianbei, on the other hand, had earned the opportunity to settle here through meritorious service.
When Sima Yi had come to campaign against the Gongsun Clan here, he had received help from these two Xianbei tribes. They had fought for Cao Wei many times and rendered considerable service.
Later, when Guanqiu Jian marched against Goguryeo, the Murong Xianbei had also attended him before his saddle and behind his horse, helping him capture Goguryeo's royal capital.
To commend their achievements, Sima Yi submitted a memorial requesting that Mohu Ba, the Murong Tribe's Xianbei Chieftain, be invested as King Who Follows Righteousness and that his tribe be allowed to live around Liaodong.
Although the Duan Tribe had not been granted a royal title, they too had been allowed to remain in Liaoxi Commandery.
Wen Yang's first destination was the Duan Tribe's territory.
After they headed north from the Yan Kingdom, they barely saw anyone on the roads, and the relay lodges along the way had fallen into disuse.
For this, they had Sima Yi's benevolent governance during his campaign against the Gongsun Clan to thank!
He had massacred cities and slaughtered people here, leaving scarcely a Han person to be seen beyond the Yan Kingdom.
As Wen Yang led his cavalry this way, he felt the contrast particularly keenly. When they reached