By this point, the King of the wild people's eyes had begun to redden.
He stared at Zheng Fan and continued, "However, I don't feel completely hopeless. Since I can understand the language of the barbarians, I know that in your army, Lord, the barbarians are respected. Therefore, I believe…"
Zheng Fan imdiately raised his hand. "Sorry, I use barbarians because, for nearly a hundred years, they haven't done anything significant."
For nearly a hundred years, the barbarians had been either bullied or on the path to being bullied.
But the wild people were different. They had just devastated half of Jin land.
Using barbarians, the people of Yan State wouldn't object; rather, they would feel proud. Their old rivals of yesteryear could now only serve them as dogs.
If he used wild people...
Heh.
Would he, Zheng Fan, still want his foundational support base in Jin land?
Zheng Fan rubbed between his brows and said, "Let's be more practical. Think about it so more. Try to persuade not to turn the al I just treated you to into your last."
The King of the wild people nodded solemnly, as if in deep thought.
Zheng Fan gave him ample ti. In Siniang's absence, Lord Zheng's ti wasn't precious.
"Lord, I can help you manage the wild people as a controlled threat, thereby enhancing your own strategic importance. I can help you absorb their strength, gain a continuous supply of their labor, and even make the snow plains replenish your Snow Sea Pass."
"Is that all?"
"That's all."
"It does sound sowhat sincere."
"I... I want to live. Because only by living is there hope. Only if I am alive can I have the chance to make a coback. I understood this principle when I was very young."
Zheng Fan nodded, yet then shook his head. "Actually, letting you live would also be a significant risk to my own safety."
"You can imprison , lock in an iron cage. I can tell you what you want to know, and I can help you strategize for the snow plains. Of course, if you have any other matters, you can also co and speak with . As for loyalty, even if I said I wanted to offer it, you wouldn't accept it. But my wisdom, my experience, can be unconditionally provided for your use."
"So what do you want in return?"
"Being imprisoned at least ans I can survive."
"But endless imprisonnt is a deeper form of despair."
"I have hope."
With that, the King of the wild people left his seat.
Xue Three's eyes narrowed instantly, ready to act.
But the King of the wild people made no other sudden moves. Instead, he prostrated himself before Zheng Fan, saying, "Lord, I can wait. I am also willing to try to wait. Lord, you are different from other Yan people, truly different."
"Wait? Wait for what?"
"The path you are on, Lord, cannot be entirely smooth sailing. So, I can wait. I can wait for the day when you need a cavalry of wild people to assist you, wait for you to personally release from this cage! I bet you will rebel! I bet you will raise troops! I bet you will, one day in the future, break away from this Yan State! When that ti cos, when you need every force at your disposal to handle the situation, you will rember the Little Dog in the cage. This is my hope."
The path he had chosen wasn't about loyalty anymore. From the very beginning, he never intended to be so truly loyal minister. Otherwise, why go through all this trouble? Was it just for the fun of overcomplicating things?
CLAP... CLAP, CLAP... CLAP, CLAP, CLAP... CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP!
Zheng Fan began to applaud, slowly at first, then gradually quickening his pace.
Now, all he could do, feeling uncultured, was inwardly exclaim: "Aweso! This is a true lesson."
This short man before him, his face made fearso by horrific scars, had truly used his ability to beguile people to its utmost.
He had genuinely been swayed earlier. No, even now, he was still swayed.
However, Lord Zheng was always surrounded by his seven devoted followers. Furthermore, he had been clashing with 'masters' ever since his debut. And just now, Ji Chengjue, his partner, who was a master of feigning simplicity despite his profound cunning, had reminded him to stay true to his own judgnt and remain vigilant. Therefore, at this mont, Lord Zheng was in the most 'peaceful' state he had been in for so ti.
Did you think you were the one bargaining him down since the al began? Actually, he was the one deliberately outmaneuvering you, finally employing a tactic of feigned concession to achieve his true aim. Before even sitting down at this table, the man had set a goal for himself: to survive, not to be killed. And now, he had succeeded. A master, a true master. As a fellow player in the ga of manipulating hearts and minds, Lord Zheng clearly recognized that the other's caliber was above his own. The only regret was that the King of the wild people had encountered Tian Wujing.
"Get up. It's cold on the ground," Zheng Fan said.
The King of the wild people imdiately rose, showing Zheng Fan a simple, honest smile.
Fanli, standing behind Zheng Fan, looked sowhat dejected. Watching the King of the wild people's current expression, he strangely felt as if he were looking in a mirror. Consequently, Fanli now desperately wanted to cut him down.
Then, Fanli released his killing intent.
The King of the wild people imdiately shrank back, his smile vanishing, and sat back down on his chair.
"You bet correctly. I really can't bring myself to kill you."
"Thank you, Lord, for sparing my life!"
"I'm not killing you because I feel that if I did, the world would beco a bit more boring."
If the world lost one interesting person, wouldn't it also lose so of its brilliance?
"Lord's magnanimity is sothing Little Dog deeply admires."
Zheng Fan smiled. "Don't be hasty, don't be hasty. How about this: I'll lock you up first. After so ti passes, we can co out and chat again."
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