Bing Province, Taiyuan.
The Southern Xiongnu had been paying close attention to the Xianbei lately.
They had suffered a crushing defeat against them beyond the pass, despite having superior numbers. It left the Xiongnu feeling too ashamed to face their ancestors.
Whenever they spoke of the Tuoba Tribe, every last one of them ground his teeth. In their telling, the Tuoba were treacherous villains who knew nothing but dirty tricks. Had they not been careless back then, they would never have lost to those bastards.
Liu Bao sat in the seat of honor. His prestige among the Xiongnu was now the highest.
The former commanders of the various tribes no longer handled specific affairs, but they still often visited him to discuss matters together, such as how they would coordinate their efforts in the future.
The tribal chieftains, along with outstanding people such as celebrated Xiongnu scholars and learned men, had all gathered here.
Naturally, that included Liu Yuan.
Young Liu Yuan stood beside Liu Bao, like a crane among chickens.
Despite his tender age, that expression, that bearing-he was the very picture of a distinguished scholar!
He looked even more like one than Liu Xuan did.
Liu Yuan listened to their discussion without joining in, merely standing to one side with a rather disdainful expression.
After returning to his homeland, Liu Yuan really had earned everyone's respect.
Although he could not answer a single question when discussing the classics with Liu Xuan, that did nothing to diminish his standing in their eyes.
It had something of the flavor of, "Liu Xuan is learned, but the one standing beside him with his head held high is a true distinguished scholar."
Yet only his father, Liu Bao, knew that this child of his was a lost cause.
After Wang Su died,