Yuli City.

The right virtuous king jumped like thunder.

After entering the city of Yuli, he sent envoys to the surrounding countries, ordering them to pay tribute and send troops to help. Since the Huns defeated the Yue clan more than 30 years ago and controlled the countries of the Western Regions, this has become a common practice, there is no need to say anything at all, send an envoy to go, and the countries will obediently obey their orders and ask for anything.

But this time, King Youxian was mercilessly despised.

He sent a dozen messengers, only half of whom brought good news, and the remaining half either didn't find anyone or didn't return at all.

It was very simple that no one was found, and those small countries had already hid in the mountains when they learned that a big war was about to start. They are nomadic tribes, driving cattle and sheep, rolling up tents, and they can go at any time, and there are countless valleys in the Tianshan Mountains, where to hide for two days, no one wants to find them.

In the winter, life in the mountains must be difficult, but compared with being taken away by the Huns and having to work for the Huns, they would rather hide in the mountains for a while. For them, the Huns were beasts more terrible than the cold.

It's impossible to tell what is missing. There is no one alive or dead, just like a stone thrown into the sea, and a person falls into the mud, leaving no trace.

King Youxian estimated that the missing messengers were most likely killed. In the mountains, it is not easy to ambush one or two people. The loss of a few people, the Right Virtuous King doesn't care, but the loss of face, the Right Virtuous King can't tolerate it.

If these small countries dare to rob and kill his envoys, it is tantamount to declaring war on him, and if they don't make them pay the price, how can the Huns rule the Western Regions?

King Youxian decided to find a representative knife. He chose Qiuzi.

He didn't want to attack Guzi. One is that the turtle is too far away. There are still more than 600 miles to go. There are still more than 1,700 miles away from the division. It's a long way to go. The second reason is that Qiuzi is not an ordinary small country and has strength. If intimidation fails, he has to use force, and he is not sure of victory.

The result he hoped for most was to scare the king of Qiuzi and let him take the initiative to send men, horses, cattle and sheep, so that he would not have to run away. But now, the messenger sent to Qiuzi is gone, and he can no longer sit idly by. The turtles must be made to pay. Otherwise, the rule of the Xiongnu in the Western Regions would fall apart, and no one would take the Xiongnu seriously.

King Youxian did not dare to take this risk. He knew that it would be difficult to attack Qiuzi, so he could only bite the bullet.

After dragging on for more than half a month, King Youxian led an army of 40,000 and marched towards Qiuzi.

――

On the hillside, seven Lang officials stood on horseback. Looking at the smoke and dust raised by the Huns, they looked at each other, laughed, and rushed down the hillside on horseback. Soon disappeared into the mountains.

For several days, they traveled hundreds of miles back and forth. He killed four or five groups of Xiongnu envoys, including those who sent Qiuzi. Now, they have successfully completed their mission and lured the Huns to Qiuci, where they can leave Qiuci.

Of course, they loved this job very much, and whenever they had the opportunity, they would continue to attack the Huns.

――

After much deliberation, José decided to seize the opportunity. He united several main battle factions and made a proposal to the king of Qiuci, asking the king of Qiuci to refuse the extortion of the Huns, strengthen his troops, and hold the city.

King Qiuzi hesitated, and many powerful people also objected. They believed that Qiuzi was no match for the Huns, and fighting the Huns would only lead to the destruction of the country. Rather than this, it is better to break the bank and eliminate the disaster. For the past thirty years, the Turtles have been doing just that.

When Jose and others were at a disadvantage, the Hun army pressed the border, and the envoy of the king of Youxian came to Yancheng, and after angrily reprimanding the king of Qiuci for violating the yang and yin, the king of Youxian put forward a request that shocked the monarch and ministers of Qiuci: the king of Qiuci personally went out of the city to ask for guilt, and offered millions of cattle and sheep, 10,000 soldiers, 10,000 slaves, and a number of treasures, otherwise he would be punished by slaughtering the city.

King Guizi was frightened by the anger of King Youxian. Millions of cattle and sheep are almost all the existing livestock in Qiuzi. There are 10,000 soldiers, half of the strength of Qiuzi. Add slaves and treasures, does this mean to hollow out the turtles? If these are really handed over, Qiuzi will be reduced to an inconspicuous small country from now on, and their good life will come to an end.

For King Qiuzi himself, the greater danger is that King Youxian wants him to go out of the city in person to plead guilty. It's easy to get out of the city, but it's hard to get back. No matter how confused King Qiuzi is, it is impossible for him to agree to this request. But he didn't agree, but the magnates refused to let him go, and in the face of the threat of the Huns' slaughter, in order to keep their wealth, they preferred to sacrifice the king of Qiuzi.

Just when King Qiuzi was angry, Dongfang Shuo appeared again. He told the monarch and ministers of Qiuci that the Huns were only lying and intimidating, and they did not have the strength to conquer Qiuci at all. He repeated what he had said to Jose and advised the king of Qiuzi to hold on to the city and not to give in easily to the Huns. Even if you surrender, you can't accept all of Youxianwang's conditions. Otherwise, the country will be destroyed.

Although King Qiuzi didn't fully believe in Dongfang Shuo, it was related to his own life, and he didn't dare to be careless. He accepted Dongfang Shuo's suggestion: on the one hand, he sent Jose and other generals of the main battle faction to strengthen the city defenses and prepare for battle, and on the other hand, he sent envoys out of the city to ask King Youxian for guilt and forgiveness, and said that if King Youxian refused to give in, he would fight to the end and fight to the death with King Youxian.

Dongfang Shuo took the initiative to invite Ying, willing to be the envoy of the king of Qiuzi, and went out of the city to negotiate with the Huns.

King Qiuzi was overjoyed, agreed repeatedly, and sent Deputy Prime Minister Bai Ba and Dongfang Shuo out of the city together.

――

Dongfang Shuo and Bai Ba came to the camp of the Huns, and immediately became the focus of attention, whether it was his height, his wide carriage, or the huge bear skin on his body, all of which surprised the Huns. Standing beside him, Bai Ba was like a dwarf, and he was directly ignored by many people.

Under the gaze of the Huns, Dongfang Shuo came to the big tent of King Youxian generously and stood in front of the Huns.

It was a cold winter, and a large fire pit was dug in the center of the big tent of the right virtuous king, and the thick firewood burned in the fire pit, which illuminated the big tent brightly and was as warm as spring. More than a dozen Hun generals wore open leather jackets, held wine glasses, shouted loudly, arguing about who would attack the city first, the atmosphere was warm, in order to enhance the persuasiveness, from time to time pulled out scimitars and waved, revealing indescribable restlessness.

Seeing Dongfang Shuo coming in, the Huns were taken aback and involuntarily closed their mouths. A few other people simply stood up, made a defensive posture, and looked at Dongfang Shuo and the others vigilantly. The atmosphere in the big tent was suddenly a little tense.

Bai Ba's legs were weak, and his face was even more red and white. Dongfang Shuo stretched out his hand and quietly supported him.

"Are you Han?" As soon as King Youxian saw Dongfang Shuo, he ignored the minister who was the envoy and asked Dongfang Shuo directly.

"That's right, I'm Han." Dongfang Shuo smiled calmly: "I am Liang Xiao's doorman. ”

King Youxian was curious, and the Hun generals in the tent also looked at each other. This giant is Liang Xiao's doorman, how dare he come to the Hun camp? Could it be that he is not only taller, but also bolder than usual?

"Since you are a Han Chinese, why did you come to see me?"

"I am entrusted by King Qiuzi to explain the situation to King Youxian." Dongfang Shuo smiled even more happily. "King, at this time, it is not a wise choice for you to come thousands of miles to Qiuzi."

When King Youxian heard this, the corners of his eyes twitched. He pondered for a moment and sneered: "Seeing that you are so tall, I originally thought you were a warrior, but I didn't expect you to be a lobbyist." Why, do you want to repel my army by your tongue? ”

The Huns laughed, and the momentum suppressed by Dongfang Shuo was relaxed.

"I just don't want the king to die in a mess." Dongfang Shuo smiled more calmly. "If the king insists on going his own way and is willing to follow in the footsteps of Wudan, I have no objection. To be honest, I am enemies with the king, and you are seeking your own death, and I can't ask for it. ”

"In that case, why did you come?" The Right Virtuous King laughed angrily.

"I just don't want my opponent to be too weak and win too easily."

"Hahaha......" King Youxian couldn't help laughing. He felt that this Han man was really in a bad brain, otherwise how could he say such a thing. He laughed for a moment, then his face suddenly sank. "Do you think this little Yancheng can stop me?"

Dongfang Shuo has been looking at Youxian King quietly, with a contemptuous smile on the corner of his mouth, as if he is looking at a dying beast. Bai Ba trembled, his legs trembled, but seeing Dongfang Shuo so calm, his heart was inexplicably relieved, and he barely stood up straight.

"Is there only Yancheng in the eyes of the king?"

"Apart from Yancheng, what other small country is worth my concern?"

Dongfang Shuo grinned. "Has the king forgotten the prince of the Yue clan, Aliusu?"

Youxian Wang was stunned for a moment, and the smile on his face froze. When the Huns in the tent heard this, they also became a little uneasy. Aleusu has always been the heart disease of the Huns, and it is precisely because of Aleusu's good fighting that the strength of the Huns has not been able to penetrate deep into the south of the desert. Now that the Huns are alone, if Aleusu joins forces with Liang Xiao, it will not be good news.

Youxian Wang Qiang smiled and said, "Alyusu has just been defeated, if you dare to attack me, I don't mind killing him." ”

Dongfang Shuo added unhurriedly. "Has the king forgotten that Wusun Kunmi is arrogant?"

Youxian Wang's eyes tightened, and the smile he had just squeezed out disappeared without a trace in an instant, shocked and angry. "Hunting arrogance? Does he dare to be in the company of Han people? ”

Dongfang Shuo squeezed his eyes and laughed. "King, how do you think we crossed the Tianshan Mountains and took Daban?"

As soon as these words came out, there was a dead silence in the big tent. Right Xianwang's face was pale, and he stared at Dongfang Shuo's smile deadly, letting out a heavy gasp like a wounded lion. He originally felt that Liang Xiao's attack on Daban was a bit strange, and the Wusun people were quite suspicious. Now that he heard such words from Dongfang Shuo's mouth again, he had to reconsider his loyalty to hunting arrogance.

Hunting arrogance is so bold, but he dares to join forces with the Han people?

In addition to his anger, King Youxian felt a burst of cold sweat on his back. It was only then that he realized that he had probably fallen into a trap, and the people who dug this trap were Liang Xiao, Lie Jiaomi, and Aliusu. The three wolves joined hands and bared their fangs at him, intending to tear his flesh apart.

Bai Ba sensed the uneasiness of the Huns and was ecstatic. He raised his head and looked at Dongfang Shuo, unabashedly adoring the admiration in his eyes.

(To be continued.) )