xymnovel Chapter 364 Partitioning of Western Turks, 91 points
Chapter 364 Partitioning of Western Turks, 91 points
"Your Highness, the royal court of the Western Turks is located at Sanmi Mountain."
The King of Yanqi, Long Tuqi, approached with a beaming smile and earnestly explained to Lü Xiao the situation regarding the passes and royal court within the Western Turkic territory.
He pointed at the map, afraid of missing any detail, as if he wanted to pour out everything he knew.
"If we wish to launch an attack, we must first enter their gateway, Yingsuo Pass!"
Not to be outdone, King Baisuni of Kucha forced his way through from the side and quickly added his own words.
It was as if he would miss out on some great achievement if he spoke a moment later.
Qu Boya, the ruler of Gaochang, had been squeezed to an unknown location and could not be seen at all.
He stood on the periphery of the crowd, tiptoeing to look inside, craning his neck to peer in, but he couldn't squeeze in no matter what he did.
He realized that he still had a lot to learn when it came to flattery.
The rulers of these countries are all shameless, each one more eager to curry favor with the powerful than the last; they have utterly disgraced themselves.
"Who is willing to serve as the vanguard in the attack on Yingsuo Pass?"
Since these rulers are rushing over, each vying to show their loyalty and practically begging to lay their hearts bare for Lü Xiao to see, Lü Xiao will give them a chance.
Wasn't it to show loyalty?
Wasn't it supposed to be an attempt to curry favor?
Isn't the point to perform?
In the first battle, he will eliminate whoever backs down.
The crowd, which had been making a racket just moments before, fell silent instantly. You could hear a pin drop, and even breathing could be heard clearly.
The group looked at each other, staring at each other blankly, and no one said a word.
Vanguards are those who charge to the very front, who are expected to bleed and die.
Nobody wants to be the one to stick their neck out, nobody wants to risk their life.
"These fence-sitters!"
Upon seeing this, Yuwen Chenglong was furious. His face darkened, and as he spoke, his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.
What he hates are fence-sitters, opportunists who follow whoever offers them benefits, and who have no backbone or principles.
Rather than keeping it, I'd rather chop it up; it'll save me from getting in the way and from getting annoyed by looking at it.
"We've come from Yanqi!"
Just then, Long Tuqizhi shouted loudly, breaking the silence.
These small countries are inherently weak, struggling to survive between larger nations, and their lives are extremely difficult.
First, they submitted to the Sui Dynasty, paying tribute and becoming its subjects every year, at least having a powerful backer.
Later, the Sui Dynasty was embroiled in internal strife and had no time to attend to the Western Regions. The Western Turks rose to power and conquered the surrounding small states.
They were then forced to submit to the Western Turks, becoming their vassals, treated like dogs and ordered around.
Now Sui Chao Teng has stepped in; their own father has come to uphold justice for them!
How can a son cower behind his own father?
Would he still be called a son?
Does he even deserve to be called a son?
"We'll join in too!"
Upon seeing this, the kingdoms of Gaochang and Shule stepped forward one after another, their voices rising and falling, each louder than the last.
They had figured it out: the outcome of this battle would ultimately be decided by Lü Xiao.
What Western Turks, what 100,000 elite troops, they were all paper in front of Lü Xiao.
Eight hundred men dared to fight against one hundred thousand elite troops from the Western Regions and even won. Is this something a human could do?
This is a god descending to earth!
What's there to be afraid of when fighting alongside someone like that?
"I will not use you for nothing. Once you enter the Western Turkic Khaganate, the livestock will be divided three-seven, and the people will all belong to my Great Sui."
Lü Xiao has never been a stingy person, nor is he the kind of person who wants the horse to run but doesn't want it to eat grass.
He has always been generous, giving everything he deserves and never giving more than he should.
This is his principle, and it's also his source of confidence.
In short, it wasn't a wasted trip!
"The prince is truly benevolent!"
"Yes, we get 70%, and the Prince takes 30%!"
"So benevolent, so incredibly benevolent! King Shuo is truly a wise ruler, one in a million!"
For a time, the rulers of various countries spoke in the language of the Sui people, and they were all moved to tears, wishing they could kneel down and kowtow to Lü Xiao.
However, they didn't understand one thing.
Seventy percent of them were from the Sui Dynasty, and the remaining thirty percent of them still had to defer to the Sui Dynasty.
"What are you talking about? They're seventy percent from our Great Sui Dynasty!"
Yuwen Chenglong was a man who never suffered a loss, and he couldn't stand seeing the imperial court suffer a loss.
Although they made a profit without spending any money or effort, they still managed to take the lion's share.
Qu Boya immediately knew his moment to shine had arrived. He raised his hand high and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"We've taken too much, 30%! I suggest we take 20%!"
He is someone who understands the importance of taking things slowly and steadily, and knows what it means to cast a long line to catch a big fish.
As long as we appease the Sui Dynasty, what livestock will we not have in the future?
Even a tiny amount of something that flowed from between the fingers of the Sui Dynasty would be enough for these small, foreign countries to use for several years.
Why worry about gains and losses in the short term?
Yuwen Chenglong squinted, still feeling that taking 80% was a loss for his family.
He was scheming in his mind how to make more money and how to maximize his profits.
He glanced at the crowd around him, then turned and whispered, "Pei San."
"what?"
Pei Yuanqing was watching the commotion when he was suddenly called out to. He looked completely bewildered and had no idea what was going on.
Even though Yuwen Chenglong was winking, making eye contact, and gesturing with his lips, his facial expressions were almost twitching, Yuwen Chenglong still couldn't understand what he meant.
"You're so stupid."
Yuwen Chenglong sighed, his face full of helplessness, and shook his head.
This thing is lucky to be with Prince Shuo. With Prince Shuo protecting it, it won't suffer any losses or go hungry.
Anyone else would have been used as a tool or a weapon, and would have met a violent end.
Pei Yuanqing didn't understand, but there were others who did.
The Qiang chieftain Xi Daoyi seized the opportunity and drew everyone's attention:
"The Sui Dynasty deserves the greatest credit for destroying the Western Turks and should receive 90% of the spoils!"
Upon hearing this, the people around fell silent once again.
They could accept the initial 30%, even though they were unhappy, they didn't say anything.
Two-tenths reluctantly accepted it, feeling very aggrieved but not daring to lash out.
Just as they were about to see which dog was barking and were preparing to curse it out in private, another one popped up demanding 90%!
According to them, they might as well give it all away to the Sui Dynasty.
At this moment, Pei Yuanqing suddenly realized what had happened, slapped his thigh, and looked full of regret, wishing he could slap himself.
What a great opportunity for advancement, what a great chance to shine, what a great opportunity to flatter someone—and it was all snatched away like that?
Lu Xiao looked at Xi Daoyi and Qu Boya, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
These two performed remarkably well; they were perceptive and knew how to handle situations.
Knowing when to say what, and knowing when to do what.
Their progress is practically written all over their faces; it's hard not to see them improve.
It would be a shame not to promote someone as perceptive and insightful as him.
Thus, the division of the Western Turkic Khaganate was finalized and the matter was settled.
The Sui Dynasty took 90% of the livestock and tribal property, and even more of the population, leaving none behind; everything belonged to the Sui Dynasty.