"I came under imperial orders to punish you barbarian rebels!"
"His Majesty tolerated your ravages before because the footless beasts in the south had yet to be destroyed. Considering you incapable, he let you be. Liang has been under our governance for nearly ten years, yet you never thought to send your heirs to Luoyang as hostages. Instead, you used your feet to prowl the trade routes, rob merchants, and harm the people!"
"To don armor and wield sharp weapons against people without an inch of iron in their hands brings shame upon high and low alike. Now I have come to pacify you. If you understand Heaven's mandate, strip yourselves bare and lead sheep out in surrender, and your lives may yet be spared, your women made concubines and your men slaves..."
After Shu Jinen arrived at the Xi people's fortified camp, he composed a lengthy proclamation and shot it into their camp with an arrow.
Perhaps these Xianbei all had a habit of writing little essays to curse their opponents. In any case, Cao Shu Jinen brought all his talents to bear in this letter, cursing them until they were drenched in a shower of dog's blood.
There was no need to worry that the enemy would not understand it, either.
These tribes generally had advisers and interpreters, and some chieftains could even write proclamations themselves.
After finishing his proclamation, Cao Shu Jinen ordered officers under his command to take the main banner and lead thirty horsemen outside the enemy camp to shout challenges, demanding that they come out and surrender at once.
After receiving the letter, the Xi people's Qijin had his attendants translate it for him.
Once he learned its general contents, fury immediately blazed within him.
The trade route from Sha Province to Luoyang actually