Before the Khan at Pingcheng

The first capital of the Tuoba Wei Khanate had been Shengle, which had been the capital of the Tuoba clan's previous state Dai. Twelve twelvemonths into the reign of Gui Khan, first monarch of the Tuoba Wei Khanate, the capital had been moved to Pingcheng and ever since that had been the home of the Tuoba Clan.

As a member of the Khan's Guard, General Tuyuhun had been no stranger to the capital, but Chuo had not been born yet and so Pingcheng was very much unknown to him. Standing within the giant ger that belonged to the Khan, the Young Tuyuhun stared at his monarch Buri Khan, a man of three and thirty twelvemonths… Three and thirty… He was only eight twelvemonths older than Chuo, seven older than Mulan. It was incredible. Someone so young. Clad in his armour with a golden belt embroidered with a brace of dragons facing one another, Buri Khan did not sit alone. On his right sat his son Tianzhen, a boy of thirteen twelvemonths… The very age Chuo had been when he had gone off to war.

Next to the Crown Prince was his own son in the arms of some woman… His son! Thirteen twelvemonths old and already a father. Incredible. Buri Khan was already a grandfather. Staring at the twelvemonth old Wulei, Chuo could not help but wonder if Buri Khan was showing to his soldiers that the line of Liwei Khan would continue.

When Mulan was called up, Buri Khan offered her the position of shangshulang. That was the highest position under the Khan, but as Chuo knew would happen, Mulan kindly turned down the offer, only asking only for a strong camel to carry her spoils home with her to her family.

Buri Khan merely smiled and nodded. Then was Chuo called up.

Walking up to his monarch, Chuo looked into the blue eyes of his monarch and studied his reddish-blond hair and white skin. Buri Khan didn't look much different from him, save for a lack of a scar upon his countenance. Would that Buri Khan could have led the host, but alas, that was not the way of things.

"Tuyuhun Chuo…" uttered Buri Khan, smiling at the man before him. "Your paterfamilias was a general of the Host and a member of the Guard. I would have you serve me as he did my father. Will you?"

"Most Noble Khan…" began Chuo. "I must say that I only desired to go home to my family and perhaps marry, but now with such an offer I feel torn. I have seen enough bloodshed to last me until the reign of your twice great-grandson." Chuo must have thought the reign of Buri Khan's twice great-grandson a long time off, but alas, that was not to be. Tuoba Hong would be born six and twenty twelvemonths later and ascend to the throne four twelvemonths after. By the time of the ascension of Hong Khan, Chuo would only be five and fifty.

Smiling, Buri Khan nodded. "I understand, Chuo. The offer will always be open to you. I suppose you will require a camel as well to carry your spoils?"

"Forgive me, Most Noble Khan, but I have no spoils." Chuo replied. "I wanted none. I did not fight for spoils. I fought because a member of the Tuyuhun Clan has served in the Khan's host since the reign of your ancestor Liwei Khan and to prove myself the equal of my siblings."

Again, Buri Khan nodded. "I understand that as well. I bid you safe travels, Tuyuhun Chuo."

"Thank you, Most Noble Khan."

Bowing, Chuo walked away from his monarch and exited the ger. Looking up to the sky, he wondered if he truly would accept the offer some time later. General of the Host and member of the Khan's Guard just as his father had been. Was he truly worthy of such a position? He supposed if he was, then he was. If he was not, then he was not. That was all there was to it.