Chapter 697 Let’s Discuss This Matter Later

Bingzhou, Taiyuan

After Tuoba Khan learned that Pingzhou held explosives and other weapons of war, he ordered the Xianbei royal tent headquarters to be transferred from Leping to Taiyuan.

First of all, Taiyuan is full of mountains, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. With its terrain, it can block the Pingzhou army.

In addition, Taiyuan is connected to the Xianbei area in Hexi Province. If something goes wrong, they will evacuate directly from Taiyuan.

In short, facing an invincible weapon like explosives, Tuoba Khan was already considering a retreat.

At the same time, spies found out that while Pingzhou sent heavy troops to attack Xianbei, they also launched a large-scale attack on Dali.

After the members of the Xianbei Royal Court heard the news, they were shocked. They were told by the second prince. As expected, Pingzhou also attacked Dali.

For a time, speculations about Pingzhou's military strength arose.

Some people guessed 800,000, some guessed 1 million, some guessed 1.2 million...

Even with an army of 800,000, that would be very powerful.

Their Xianbei army only had 500,000 soldiers at full strength.

These 500,000 soldiers and horses are already the limit. The young and strong men of each tribe, including the young and strong men of the Eastern Xianbei, Tuoba Xianbei and Hexi Xianbei, have been mobilized.

Tuoba Khan and others thought they had underestimated Pingzhou's military strength, and discussed changing their combat strategy.

Before, they were thinking of going south to occupy the city of Dali. Now, they still have to go south, but this time they mainly go south to plunder food.

If you can defend the city, defend it; if you cannot defend it, throw it away; never defend it to death.

Anyway, there is no chance of winning against the Pingzhou army with sharp weapons. If you know you can't defend it, then you won't defend it and just take away the food and property.

At worst, they plundered the surrounding cities and then hid in the grassland. Don't you believe that Pingzhou can send troops into the grassland to hunt them down?

"Our next step is to march to Hexi!" It has been confirmed that if we can't win Pingzhou, then let's catch Dali and bully him.

If the search for Hexi goes well, they will go south and plunder the Hedong area!

We have to get through this winter no matter what.

For this decision, all members of the royal court seconded it.

Tuoba Khan noticed that Yuchi Rui was a little distracted, "General Yuchi, what are you thinking about? But what's wrong with our plan?"

Yuchi Rui came back to his senses and replied, "Khan, I was thinking that Pingzhou suddenly launched an attack on Xianbei and Dali. Why are you crazy?" There was no sign.

At this time, news of the battle between Pingzhou and Dali in Yangping arrived.

When the members of the Xianbei Royal Court heard the reason why Pingzhou sent troops to Da Li, they couldn't help but be stunned.

The sixth prince, Tuoba Chao, only felt ridiculous, "No, Dali's spies caused Lu Songli to give birth prematurely. What does it have to do with us, Xianbei?" Why did Pingzhou launch a massive attack on their Xianbei city?

Tuoba Lian said quietly, "That is the reason for Pingzhou to attack Dali. In addition, Pingzhou's slogan for attacking us is 'driving out the barbarians and recovering the rivers and mountains'."

After all, Pingzhou is going to war, and any reason is just a fucking excuse!

…

Asda, the chief of Sushen tribe, also felt that Pingzhou's reason for attacking them was very unreasonable and incredible at the same time.

Only the Hulu tribe has always gone south, and the Han people rarely go north to attack the Hulu tribe, because the grassland is very large, it is easy to get lost, and it is difficult to attack.

Plus, it’s just not cost-effective. The Han people do not care about their grassland land and regard it as barren land outside the Great Wall.

In other words, there is not much benefit from winning.

Therefore, the Sushen tribe has been very stable over the years.

Even though they were adjacent to Xuantu County, they never thought they would be attacked by the Han people.

Later, the Fuyu tribe was attacked and occupied by Pingzhou. Asda was worried and defensive for a while, but there was no change in Pingzhou for the next two years, so they gradually relaxed their guard.

But unexpectedly, Pingzhou didn't follow the rules and actually sent troops north to attack their Sushen tribe!

Half of the young men of their Sushen tribe had been taken away by the Khan, and the remaining young men were naturally the guard dogs guarding the tribe.

But they were tricked by Pingzhou, and small groups were lured out of the tribe time and time again and eliminated.

Unfortunately, by the time he realized it, it was already too late.

This time, he personally led troops to guard the fortress, but he found that their Sushen tribe was no match for this Pingzhou army.

"General Yue, is your slogan wrong? Pingzhou wants to 'drive out the barbarians and recover the rivers and mountains', but what does this have to do with our Sushen tribe?"

Yue Shu replied, "There's nothing wrong with that."

"Are you coming to attack our Sushen tribe? Which inch of our Sushen tribe's land belongs to you in Pingzhou?" Asda, the chief of the Sushen tribe, shouted in collapse.

"The Dongning Town at the foot of your Sushen tribe used to belong to us Han people."

Asda:…

That is all a matter for the previous dynasty!

"Okay, okay, you Pingzhou just say yes, give us two quarters of an hour, and Dongning Town will get back to you."

After winning the land effortlessly, Yue Shu naturally agreed.

Asda abandoned Dongning Town and returned to the tribal center with his people, still feeling uneasy.

At the same time, he cursed Murong Jie half to death in his heart. The Khan asked him to come to the rescue. Fortunately, this guy went to attack Liaodong County in Pingzhou. He was really seriously ill!

It’s not that he used this trick incorrectly, but that he chose the wrong place.

Liaodong County is the birthplace of the Qin and Lu families in Pingzhou. How can it be so easy to defeat?

It seems that Pingzhou is bound to win over their Sushen tribe, otherwise they might as well leave.

He gave an order, and Asda's daughter Hana couldn't believe it, "Dada!"

Asda ignored her, but her mother urged her to pack her luggage quickly.

Hana could only mutter while packing her luggage. There were many good things in her room that she got from Dali. These were all spoils of war sent back from the front line. I heard that they were all used by Han noble ladies.

Chang'an, the palace hall

The court was very lively that day.

As soon as Liang An shouted "If there is something, report it, if there is nothing, leave the court", the ministers rushed to express their opinions.

"Your Majesty, I have a report to report."

"Report it."

"Your Majesty, Xie Zhan caused a big disaster because of personal grudges, and now let me Dali bear the consequences. I suggest that Xie Zhan be dealt with to calm the anger of Pingzhou, so as to stop the war and bring peace to the world."

Why did Xie Zhan attack Lu Songli? Of course, it couldn't be all because of personal grudges. There was also a reason to eliminate this number one enemy for Dali.

The emperor might not know about this.

But now, Pingzhou obviously wants to hold Xie Zhan responsible.

Then, they can ignore other things and give Pingzhou what it wants to quell the war.

Meaning, Your Majesty, you can just put the blame on Xie Zhan and end this crisis.

In the court, Song Mo watched silently, he wanted to see how many people wanted Xie Zhan to die to apologize for his crime.

"Your Majesty, I second the motion. This disaster was caused by Xie Zhan, so it is reasonable for him to end it."

"Your Majesty, I second the motion."

"Your Majesty, I..."

The ministers expressed their opinions one by one.

Pingzhou's explosives are so powerful that they have no way to restrain them. There is no better way to solve a big problem than sacrificing one person. Sacrifice Xie Zhan and the world will be peaceful.

Song Mo looked at the ministers who were all falling down, and was terrified. Finally, he sneered, "Let's discuss this later! Dismiss!"

"Your Majesty——"

The ministers looked at each other and knew that it would not be that easy. If the emperor agreed at the beginning, where would their face be? However, they were confident that the emperor would agree, but it would take some time and they would have to ask a few more times.