Along the way, I passed many passes under the guise of being a masked man with a black veil and the emperor's messenger.
Saddles and stirrups have already been popularized among the Forbidden Army, so riding a horse is relatively simple. Just after driving for 600 miles in a row, my butt was in unbearable pain at first, and then it was almost numb to the point where I couldn't feel it at all.
I was so anxious that I hardly stopped except for eating and resting along the way.
Before the thirty-first day of the first lunar month, the group had already seen the Didao County city wall from a distance.
Three miles away from the city wall, a team of elite cavalry was waiting on horseback, with a large banner with the word "king" in the lead.
Seeing my group of people appear, the leader came on horseback alone. After a while, he came close and got off his horse.
"The last general, Wang Li, has met your Majesty! Your Majesty will live forever!"
I raised my hand and said: "General Wang, there is no need to be polite. My identity must be kept secret and I can only be treated as the emperor's messenger."
Wang Li straightened up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will eventually understand."
Meng Tian wants to be in the clouds to guard against the sudden attack of the Huns. Only Wang Li in Longxi can protect my safety.
Then without any nonsense, the group followed Wang Li into Didao County.
After arriving at Wangli's official residence, I ordered only Meng He and Wangli to stay, and asked, "Have the Qiang people replied to your letter?"
Wang Li bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the Qiang people have agreed to meet at Hezheng County in the northwest of Didao tomorrow at midnight. However, Hezheng County is close to the Qiang people, and many people in Guizhou do not want to live here. The city defense is extremely dilapidated, and the generals are worried... …”
I tapped on the table.
"Except for General Meng, Feng Quji and you, even Li Si and Meng Yunfeng don't know about my coming here. Dada shouldn't go to war for a messenger."
Meng Yunfeng is the governor of Longxi County.
Wang Li cupped his hands and said, "I will fight to the death to protect His Majesty's safety!"
I nodded and looked at Wang Li with interest.
Judging from historical records, Wang Li is really not a famous general. It's okay if you can't beat Xiang Yu, it's not embarrassing, but it's really a bit head-scratching if you can't even beat Liu Bang.
"Is Marquis Tongwu still alive?"
Wang Li was startled, then bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, my father has been without pay since the thirty-sixth year of the First Emperor's reign, and it has been four years now."
I sighed with regret: "Marquis Tongwu has made great military exploits for our great Qin Dynasty. As his son, you should study more on how to lead an army on weekdays. Don't let your royal family fall into silence."
Wang Li straightened his body and said, "I obey your Majesty's order."
But I was curious in my heart: 'What does your Majesty mean by this? It sounds like the Wang family has been in decline since my time...'
A night of silence.
We set off from Didao at the beginning of Yinshi the next day and arrived outside the city west of Hezheng County two hours later.
Wang Li hid more than a thousand fine cavalry in the city and only took a hundred men with him. This was what Dada requested in the letter. Both sides could not bring more than a hundred soldiers.
A military tent has already been set up at the foot of a mountain outside the city.
We arrived first and waited in the tent for the Qiang people to arrive. Wang Li was so nervous that he was a little restless, fearing that the Qiang people had some conspiracy.
Near midnight, a rumble of horse hooves hitting the ground came from a distance. The number of Qiang people who heard the sound was no more than a hundred.
After the Qiang cavalry arrived, both parties stayed twenty steps away from the military tent to prevent the other party from making a sudden attack and to be on guard at the same time.
In the tent, I heard the footsteps outside gradually approaching, and then a tall man with a beard and a Qiang costume opened the military tent and walked in.
When Dada saw me sitting on one side, he couldn't help but look at Wang Li and frowned: "Why is the messenger of Da Qin a child? Could it be that he despises me?"
I stood up and glanced at Wang Li. Wang Li understood and nodded.
Da Qin borders the Northern Qiang clan, and friction is inevitable. Wang Li is naturally no stranger to this old acquaintance. Just make sure it's Dada, don't think it's a fake for a long time.
I cupped my hands and said, "I am the most trusted person of the Emperor of Qin. Doesn't the Great Khan know that I, the Emperor of Qin, am also young and promising?"
Dada hesitated for a moment, clasped his fists and said, "I didn't mean that. It's just that the matter is important and I have to deal with it carefully. Please forgive me."
I laughed and stretched out my hand to signal Dada to sit down.
After the two of them sat down, I said: "I have long heard that the Great Khan is born with martial arts, and today I saw that he is truly worthy of his reputation. There is no need for the Great Khan to have any doubts. I can take my own initiative in what we are talking about today."
Dada responded: "In that case, I have no nonsense. As early as when our ancestor Yiqu was attacked and destroyed by the Great Qin, our Northern Qiang clan wanted to submit to the Great Qin. However, at that time, the Great Qin was still quite afraid of our Northern Qiang clan. My tribe had no choice but to go west and occupy the Qilian Mountains, where we can also herd cattle and sheep."
"Now our Northern Qiang clan is in a difficult situation. There is Qi Suha from the Qiang clan in the south who is eyeing us, and there is Touman Chanyu of the Xiongnu in the north who wants to destroy us. Coupled with the sudden betrayal of Hulmu, there are only 150,000 people in the Northern Qiang clan today. If our clan is annexed by Touman Chanyu, I am afraid that Da Qin will face pressure from simultaneous attacks from the north and the west."
"I, the Northern Qiang clan, have always been at peace with Da Qin, and have never plundered Da Qin. At this time of life and death, I ask the Emperor of Da Qin to help my clan!"
After listening to Dada's words, I nodded and thought for a moment.
"There is nothing wrong with helping you. But there are 150,000 people in your clan. How can I guarantee that you are not pretending to succumb to the Qin Dynasty and then cooperate with the Xiongnu inside and outside?"
Dada smiled boldly: "Your envoy's concern is justified. If the Emperor of Qin is willing to help my clan, I can move all of our clan to the vicinity of the Great Wall, leaving only 10,000 cavalry to manage the clan. However, the safety of our clan must be guaranteed by Da Qin!" "
I'm a little surprised.
"Only 10,000 cavalry are left? Could the Great Khan be making fun of me? If Great Qin regrets it, what should you do?"
Dada sighed heavily.
"The noble envoy did not know that the 40,000 people that Huermu took away were only strong men, and more than 30,000 people and countless cattle and sheep were taken to the Xiongnu! Our Qiang clan has never been more than 200,000 strong men. There are only more than 70,000 men, and the rest are old, weak, women and children!"
"Since I took over as the Great Khan, I wanted to rest and recuperate without using my weapons. However, the powerful enemies around me did not give me a chance. Not only did they repeatedly demand tributes of cattle and sheep from my clan, but they also often launched troops to plunder. Now my clan's combat power has been completely lost. , is no different than the annihilation of the clan!"
After listening to it, I still had doubts. It all seemed too simple.
Dada saw that I was silent and understood my worries.
"If your envoy is still worried, I can order 20,000 cavalry to march directly to the Great Wall. When all the horses and weapons are handed over to Da Qin, your envoy and the Emperor of Qin will know my intentions!"
I pondered for a moment and said, "That's very good. However, the Great Khan gave his fortune and life to Da Qin. I guess there are conditions, right?"
Dada cupped his fists and said, "Your envoy is smart. Since our clan surrenders to the Qin Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty will ensure our clan's food and grass supply! No less than four million catties per month! As for cloth, salt and iron, our clan can exchange it with cattle and sheep."
I frowned.
Since the vigorous development of rice in Jiangnan, the amount of land in Daqin has almost doubled. Although four million kilograms of grain is only the output of more than 40,000 acres of land, four million kilograms of grain is required every month. Even for today's Great Qin, it is still a large expenditure.
Based on the 150,000 people, it is equivalent to the Qin Dynasty raising 150,000 people in vain. It cannot tax or conscript, and it must always be on guard against their sudden rebellion.
"I'm afraid Great Qin cannot agree to the Great Khan's proposal!"
Dada's expression changed, and just as he was about to speak, I immediately said, "I have a few questions. Have you ever considered them?"
