"Isn't it just so? We, the Li family, were quite well-off in Yinlang County years ago. But ever since we moved to this desolate frontier, we've endured a hundred years of eating dust, not to ntion the n of the Li family rarely even get to eat at."
"That being said, Mistress Li, why should one struggle in life like this?"
The Old Lady nodded.
"Actually, we've been old neighbors for so many years; we should show so consideration for that. I won't waste my breath anymore spouting nonsense about our two families joining forces for mutual prosperity. Since you, Mistress Li, wished to invite out for a talk, I'll grant you this courtesy."
The Old Lady declared, "The Barbarian army must not advance one step further east."
The old Barbarian King slowly sat down and said, "Back when your Li family's three hundred thousand iron cavalry were stationed there, we couldn't have entered even if we wanted to. But now, if we want to enter, can you stop us?"
Originally, the territory guarded by the three hundred thousand northern border soldiers of the Six Garrisons now had less than one hundred thousand soldiers remaining. Consequently, their control was drastically weakened, making it very difficult to prevent the Barbarians from entering.
Moreover, this ti, under the summons of the Royal Court, the Barbarian tribes not only had one hundred thousand cavalry from the Royal Court itself but also nurous other tribes responding to the call. Together, they could muster more than two hundred thousand cavalry.
In the past, when the three hundred thousand northern border soldiers were present, the Barbarian tribes wouldn't have dared to gather so brazenly. They knew very well that even in a confrontation of three hundred thousand against three hundred thousand, their side would inevitably suffer a complete defeat.
But now, precisely because they saw a glimr of hope, many large tribes that had long ignored the Royal Court's summons had once again gathered under its banner.
The Old Lady then said, "I have co today, Great Khan, to discuss a business proposition with you."
"Marquise, please speak."
"This ti, as long as the Barbarians do not cross the border, then for the next ten years, my Earl of North Border's Manor, and my Yan State, will no longer set foot in the desert."
Although large-scale battles between the two sides had beco rare in recent decades, the northern border soldiers still occasionally ca over looking for a fight. Knowing the harsh living conditions of the desert, they would 'help' the Barbarians reduce their numbers, thereby alleviating their population pressure. Soone like Li Fusheng could, in later ages, have beco the director of the family planning office.
The old Barbarian King waited for a long mont, then, as if just realizing, he laughed. "Is that it?"
So, my not taking the initiative to attack you for ten years... that's supposed to be a gift?
For a mont, the old Barbarian King truly felt a whirlwind of emotions.
"Unsatisfied?" the Old Lady asked.
"It's not a matter of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. This price is truly too low. Your Yan State has sacrificed nothing. How can I answer to my people?"
The Old Lady nodded and said, "Our Earl's Manor, truth be told, isn't very good at doing business."
"I can tell."
"We are more skilled at speaking with our swords."
"When it cos to swords now, you are no match for ."
The Old Lady said solemnly, "If the Barbarians do cross the border, my one hundred thousand northern border soldiers will charge into the desert and head straight for your Barbarian Royal Court!"
The old Barbarian King's eyes suddenly narrowed.
I can abandon my ho; I can abandon my main camp. Even if it ans your Barbarian tribes will burn, pillage, and plunder my lands, I *will* destroy your Royal Court!
The Old Lady continued, "The one hundred thousand northern border soldiers will not return unless they destroy the Royal Court!"
The desert was not entirely sand; in fact, many oases were nestled within it. The Barbarian tribes could indeed migrate, but their migrations followed the patterns of climate and the availability of water and grass, adhering to their own natural rhythms. Even if the Royal Court kept running, kept fleeing, kept avoiding battle, the attrition on the tribes during such a relentless pursuit would be terrifyingly high.
In later eras, both Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Chengzu of Ming launched multiple such expeditions that, on the surface, yielded little. Although the number of enemies killed might not have been high, the attrition suffered by the tribes while fleeing was still not to be underestimated.
Most importantly, the old Barbarian King understood that other tribes, especially the larger ones, would be quite pleased to see the Royal Court and the Yan people fight to the death, preferably annihilating each other. If they were to advance eastward together, those tribes would obey his commands. But if Yan soldiers invaded the desert, as long as the Yan forces didn't attack them, they would simply watch from the sidelines.
The old Barbarian King rubbed his brow and said, "Is your Li family... threatening ?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps I could learn from you. Honestly, I've lived for many years, quite long enough. Tell , do you think I, too, could make a sacrifice to secure a broader horizon for our Barbarian people?"
The Old Lady looked at Ji Wujiang and said, "Present His Majesty's secret decree to the old Khan."
Ji Wujiang nodded, retrieved the secret decree from his bosom, and handed it to the old Barbarian King.
The old Barbarian King weighed the secret decree in his hand and slowly opened it. The decree was very short, just a few lines of text. It was handwritten by the Yan Emperor.
But after seeing these few short lines, the old Barbarian King's body trembled violently. He glared at the Old Lady. "Your Li family... No..."
Then, the old Barbarian King turned his glare upon the Eldest Prince. "Those surnad Ji, you are all truly madn! All of you are madn!!!"
With that, the old Barbarian King clenched the secret decree tightly in his hand and said nacingly, "I will wait! I'll wait and see! I'll wait and see how you Yan people bring about your own destruction! Even if my Barbarian tribes do not act, I refuse to believe that the Mandate of Heaven will be with your Yan State!"
People only beco angry when they are afraid; they only lose their composure when they are panicked.
The negotiation ended in this manner.
The Old Lady settled into her carriage. Just then, the Eldest Prince, Ji Wujiang, also followed her in and said, "Aunt."
The Old Lady seed completely unfazed by this. In fact, as His Majesty's first child, the Eldest Prince had stayed in the Earl's Manor for a ti in his early years, personally cared for by the Old Lady. This was already sothing of a tradition between the Ji Family and the Li family, much like how the previous Emperor had allowed the current Yan Emperor to grow up alongside Li Liangting.
"You want to know what your Father Emperor wrote in the secret decree?"
"Yes."
"I did not read that secret decree."
"But I believe Aunt can surely guess what Father Emperor wrote."
The Eldest Prince knew well that this Old Lady was no ordinary person. He even knew that his own Father Emperor and the Earl of North Border had once both cherished her as their sweetheart. It could be said that if the Old Lady had been willing back then, she would now be the reigning Empress, a maternal model for the entire realm. However, being the wife of the Earl of North Border was, in truth, not so different from being the Empress.
"Then I shall try to guess for you."
"Thank you, Aunt, for dispelling my doubts." The Eldest Prince assud a listening posture.
The Old Lady smiled faintly and, mimicking the Yan Emperor's tone, said, "If the Barbarians exploit Yan's engagent in war to cross the border, then I, the Emperor, will cede the greater part of Yan's territory to Qian and Jin in exchange for peace. I will then mobilize the entire nation's forces to march fully into the desert and fight the Barbarians to the death! The Ji Family may be annihilated, Yan State may perish, but the Barbarians must not advance eastward!"
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