Tuoba Jiefen is worthy of being a famous male lord in the history of Tuoba Xianbei, and was even posthumously honored as Emperor Shengwu by the founding emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

If you are an ordinary person, it is difficult to be so unchanging between life and death, calmly answering, which sentence should tell the truth, which sentence should tell a lie, how to say the words, which words can not be hesitated, which words should change the tone of which words, this requires quick wisdom and needs to make a correct judgment in an instant!

Zhou Zhi is a delicate-minded, quick-witted person, after more than 20 years of tempering, this allows him to skillfully understand Tuoba Jiefen's mind, understand what the other party wants to know, what he wants to try, what he wants to achieve, this is the accumulation of experience and wisdom.

At this time, Tuoba Jiefen seemed to have paid lip service to it, and solemnly admitted this nascent tribe, but in fact it was only a preliminary test.

When Tuoba Jiefen asked the reason again, Zhou Zhi, who was kneeling on the ground, immediately pretended to be sincerely frightened and replied: "Back to Lord Tuoba, at the end of last year, the king of Chu asked the people to mobilize 30,000 border guards to prepare to participate in the western expedition, which was completely unexpected by the people, because the people were greedy for money for a while, so it was impossible to mobilize so many elite soldiers from the border army. The people were not spared after the incident, so they had to prepare early, so they secretly sold their property and bought a large number of cattle, sheep and horses from many tribes on the grassland! ”

"But the resources of the people are limited, and it is difficult to really ration so many warriors in sufficient quantities, so since they arrived in the grassland. It can only survive in the way of the prairie. Stabilize the warriors of the tribe first and do not flee. In this way, I can meet Tuoba-sama and offer a sincere gift! At that time, the people thought that Tuoba, the male lord of the grassland, would not mind his subordinates fighting in the way of the grassland, and if the people misunderstood the rules of the grassland, please also give these humble people a chance with your broad mind! ”

With these words, Tuoba Jiefen nodded secretly when he heard this. It's not that he thinks it makes sense, but he has already secretly found out about these things. If Zhou Zhi explains too much, or even says the first half of the lie, then he will definitely die, because what he really wants to test is his current mind.

"Spike!" Tuoba Jiefen suddenly called.

"In!" Zhou Zhi immediately echoed, barely hesitating for a moment, in Xianbei, the name of the tribe is often the surname of the tribal leader.

Tuoba Jiefen smiled indifferently, as if with embarrassment: "The men on the grassland are proud of the conquest. Be proud of your bravery, and your actions will not be wrong. But it's also not advisable, because those tribes are also subordinates of Tuoba, and you don't have enough reason, and they don't provoke you, but you attack wantonly, which will embarrass Tuoba, and see it as a provocation by your stabbing blade to me Tuoba! ”

Finally passed the first level!

When Tuoba Jiefen's words fell, Zhou Zhi's mind instantly flashed this thought, he knew that Tuoba Jiefen had at least initially believed him, as for how to really gain Tuoba Jiefen's trust and gain a foothold in the grassland, it would require further action, but at least the first step had been taken now.

What Tuoba Jiefen said at this time obviously didn't care about any provocations, there were more such things on the grassland, and the grassland where the Tuoba family's hegemony was located, the tribes of all sizes also often quarreled, and within the Xianbei ethnic group, it was still a tribal alliance form in the late primitive society, and it was common for them to merge with each other, so their words obviously had other meanings.

Zhou Zhi comprehended, immediately straightened up, and shook his head very decisively: "No, no, no!" This is not a provocation, this is the highest respect of the people to Tuoba! ”

"Respect? Annexing the subordination of my Tuoba tribe is tantamount to violating the dignity and property of my Tuoba tribe, is this still respect? Tuoba Jiefen pretended to be annoyed and said.

"Lord Tuoba misunderstood, the people merged several small tribes, just to make the tribe more cohesive, so that they could better serve the great Tuoba in the future, and what the people did was also to bring more honor and property to Tuoba!"

"Where's the honor? Where is the property? Tuoba Jiefen asked sharply.

"The Blade Department is the most staunch subordinate department under Tuoba, and the combat exploits of the Blade Department are the exploits of Tuoba. In addition, not only have the lower tribes brought the three layers of cattle, sheep, and horses that they have obtained, but they have also prepared five thousand of the strongest warriors in the tribe, as well as their women and children, and the tribe of the lower people is still very poor and cannot support so many people, I wonder if the upper lords are willing to show your mercy and give them a place to live? Zhou Zhi said with sincerity on his face.

But in fact, this is really obscure enough, to put it bluntly, it is to send the population, and in the grassland tribes, the most important thing is the population. What supplies are not enough, what does it matter, as long as there are people, strength, and warriors, if they can't do it, they will grab it, this is their style.

It can be said that very few tribes are willing to give away the population, unless they are forced to give it away after losing the war, otherwise even the upper part cannot deprive the subordinate population, which is the core interest under the tribal system, and it is also the rule of the steppe, even if the most powerful tribal overlord violates it, it will also anger all subordinates and make them rebel en masse.

Zhou Zhi is like this now, it is tantamount to a different way, which can be described as a whimsical idea, and instantly hit the soft underbelly of the core of the Tuoba family sitting on it.

There are a total of eleven parts of the Tuoba family core, and now there are still sitting here, in addition to Tuoba Jiefen, there are ten people, in addition to Tuoba Jiefen's headquarters, the other nine tribes including Tuoba Liwei are a total of nine tribes, only the bald Pi was unlucky to be scolded away just now, and his part obviously has no chance, otherwise it must be the first to stand up.

"My tribe can accommodate it!" In an instant, a man stood up.

"My tribe can too, and the pastures are abundant in my place, and they are suitable for them to live in!"

"There are already many warriors in your area, and my tribe is even more lacking in warriors!"

In the blink of an eye, the adults of the various tribes, who had been silent, argued, five thousand warriors are not a small number, especially their women and children, warriors can create people, for the tribe, no matter how many warriors there are. In short, it is never enough.

"Bell! Clang! Clang! ”

Tuoba Jiefen angrily leaned on his scepter. Interrupt the argument of the crowd. "Your ministries are fighting for this kind of gaffe. Isn't that contemptible? Sit back! ”

His authority was obviously extremely high, and no one dared to offend, and everyone looked at each other, no matter how much they insisted just now, they obediently sat back in their places at this moment.

After everyone was completely quiet, Tuoba Jiefen glanced majestically around the week, and then turned back to look at Zhou Zhi, he was not so easy to fool. is not a person who is greedy for temporary interests, and said calmly: "Thorn Blade, what do you mean by this?" ”

"This ......" Zhou Zhi looked around, and said with some hesitation: "Lord Tuoba, I wonder if it is convenient for the people to speak now?" ”

Tuoba Jiefen looked at him deeply and nodded lightly: "It's all Tuoba Ben's family here, but it's okay to say it!" ”

"Lord Tuoba, the people don't really mean anything, they just show their loyalty to Tuoba. The people do not have much ambition, if they have. The plan is very big, why bother to do that greedy thing in Chu State? The rights of the following people in the state of Chu at that time. Promising! ”

"It's not a secret, there are three people who ask for it, one loves money, two loves women, and three loves freedom, in the state of Chu, the property of the people must be supervised, and women have a range, and under the rule of the king of Chu, there are many constraints, and it is difficult to do what they want, but the grassland is different, and the people think that they have no other ability, but they are still good at fighting, so these can be obtained on the grassland."

"The people know that in order to get all this, they must have the protection of Tuoba! This is to show Lord Tuoba that the Thornblade Department is loyal to Tuoba, and at the same time, he hopes that Tuoba will trust Thorn Blade more. ”

As Zhou Zhi's voice fell, Tuoba Jiefen was noncommittal, still maintaining that indifferent expression, but his words had obviously had a slight intention of wooing.

"There is no restriction on your property on the prairie, as long as you have the ability to seize it and have the ability to protect it, then your property is yours, unlike your Han Dynasty. The same is true for women, as long as you can make women willing to follow you, and you can also protect her, then she is yours, there are different wives and concubines of the Han Dynasty, there are more or less restrictions, what ministers cannot exceed the king, what status restrictions, those are not on the grassland! ”

"As for the third freedom, I think the grassland can also be given to you, in addition to obeying the orders of the Tuoba, at least in your tribe, you are supreme! In our steppe, you are subordinate to me, but your tribe only needs to be subordinate to you, so this should be what you desire, right? ”

"This is exactly what the people want, and everything they do today is for this!" Zhou Zhi replied respectfully.

"It seems that you do have the character of a prairie boy, and you are honest enough!" Tuoba Jiefen finally smiled slightly.

"In that case, then I will tell you frankly that these are not enough to gain Tuoba's trust, and I hope you will not disappoint me in the future!"

At this moment, Zhou Zhi understood that he had finally initially gained Tuoba Jiefen's trust, but this was not enough, far from enough, he didn't have much time to slowly gain Tuoba Jiefen's trust, because he still had real tasks and goals, and he needed to buy time.

"Lord Tuoba, the people still have the courage to make a request!"

"Speak!"

"The people of the tribe are now short of materials, if they want to stabilize, they must annex some suitable tribes and occupy some grasslands, so as to survive, and I hope Lord Tuoba will agree!"

Zhou Zhi's voice fell, and the hall was suddenly excited, and the war knife "Snort!" Laugh at! Laugh at! "One after another out of the sheath.

"Bold!"

"You're provoking!"

"What do you want to do in such a hurry to grow the tribe?"

Zhou Zhi was unmoved, and just said calmly: "Ladies and gentlemen, listen to me, the people know your lords' doubts and difficulties, but what the people mean is that in the future, the tribes annexed by the Thornblade Department will dedicate the warriors and people of the seventh layer and the property of the third layer to Tuoba, and give it immediately!" ”

In an instant, the audience was silent, and the needles could be heard!

Everyone was stunned, whether it was Tuoba Jiefen, or Tuoba Liwei, who had been quiet, or other adults, they were all stunned, without exception!

After a long time, Tuoba Jiefen looked at Zhou Zhi deeply: "Are you really willing?" ”

It's not that he doesn't believe it, but this is something unbelievable on the grassland, no one will do this, even if Tanshi Huai unified Xianbei and formed a tribal alliance, but absolutely no tribe will do this, this is already a practice that can be called dedication, at least with the current customs of the grassland people, it is impossible.

Of course, Zhou Zhi did this for his own purpose, but he knew that the other party would not easily believe in him and would doubt his scheme, so he immediately made a request that made Tuoba embarrassed.

"It's just that the people also ask your lords to agree to a request!" (To be continued......)