Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1718 - 1633: Plotting Against the Empire
Zhang Su was not aware of the thoughts of the Shendu Envoy, but having recently pacified Yizhou, completely taking over Yongchang Prefecture, Zhang Su had become thoroughly crafty.
After all, if strategists, as creatures, laze around at home all day, their combat power is limited, but when forced into a never-ending war, even completing seemingly impossible tasks, they themselves undergo change.
Simply put, this group’s professional instincts suddenly awaken, like effortlessly digging a trap for someone—very easy for them.
"Oh, ten thousand miles of territory," Zhang Su said, scratching his ear, as if he had misheard inadvertently, frightening the kneeling Shendu Envoy so much that his head sank between his legs.
"I plead for rescue for our country." The Shendu Envoy trembled, Zhang Su’s comment almost caused him heart failure.
"Oh, I heard you clashed with the Kushan, huh." Zhang Su responded listlessly, showing no intent to intervene, though after taking Yongchang Prefecture, he and Yizhou’s people had already received intelligence from the Southern Barbarians about nearby conditions.
Overall, as Zhang Su mentioned initially, some Southern Barbarians are our own, staunch allies, like those from Silver Pit Cave, representative of the Thirteen Caves, well-civilized loyalists.
From the start, Zhang Su’s goal was clear: to recover all of Southern Yizhou, so trivial matters were negotiable, while rewarding allies generously for loyalty.
The Southern Barbarians with Zhang Su benefited greatly these months, eventually many were impressed by his charisma, leading troops to support the Yizhou Army in pacifying Yongchang Prefecture.
This enabled Zhang Ren, Yan Yan, and others, unfamiliar initially, even stumbling over maps to successfully pacify all Southern Yizhou in months.
No problem with Barbarians ruling Barbarians; we offer stable food prices in exchange, no need to farm, no need to plunder; for assistance, food prices will be discounted to ninety percent.
By leveraging such methods, special discounts were given to Thirteen Caves’ Barbarian King, our earliest ally, thus entitled to best conditions, cheaper grain for lesser quantities, welcoming settlement, awarding fifty acres each.
Indeed, Yizhou Civil Officials’ eloquence was formidable, plus Zhang Su held high authority in Yizhou, strong, and cunning, using Guann Zhong’s deer trade and Le Yi’s Qii assimilation, deceiving the Barbarians into submission.
Certainly Zhang Su and others didn’t plan to betray allies, as such methods would integrate the Barbarians within five years, converting allies into citizens, enhancing population and governance.
Besides, though the Barbarians love combat with average organizational power, their physical quality excels, especially the rattan-armored Ugoer Nation folks, incredibly fierce.
Feed them well, equip each with a subpar Wolf Fang Club, combining their uniform 1.8-meter height, armor’s defense, and physical quality, they endure vast attacks effortlessly.
As for fire raid, do you think Zhang Su, Zhang Song, Cheng Ji, Qin Mi, Wang Lei, Huang Quan are idiotic enough to provide such chances?
Moreover, Ugoer Nation’s Barbarians, from Great King down to soldiers, possibly consumed too much snake venom, impairing their minds, exhibiting abnormality universally.
Clearly Ugoer Nation initially opposed Zhang Ren and others due to their rebellious past.
Nevertheless, Ugoer Nation’s King proved exceedingly formidable, Zhang Ren, Yan Yan, E Huan, and even young twenty-something Meng Huo received a beating; despite being Inner Qi Manifestation, they barely gained advantage.
Though lacking Inner Qi, his robust physique akin to Bronze Skin and Iron Bones thwarted skillful assaults; without combat expertise, could resiliently defend against four men. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Furthermore, those rattan-armored Barbarians showcased notable combat power, causing considerable losses for the Yizhou Army, inciting Zhang Song and Huang Quan to torch them, pacified only by Meng Huo.
Familiarity revealed the renegade Wutugu to Yizhou’s Scholars and Warriors as an irrational talent; he fought Yizhou for chaos, not territory, spurred by opportunity to feast on public meals, as Ugoer Nation couldn’t sustain so many.
Submission resulted from exquisite Yizhou rice, comfort of Shu Brocade attire; indeed, Meng Huo was deemed kind.
To such irrational minds, reasons mattered little; whoever could provide sustenance became preferable for allegiance.
