Chapter 3454: Extra Chapter 33
Zhou Man turned to face him and said after a long moment, "It's not easy, but if she's willing, maybe we can give it a try."
Bai Shan said: "Everyone knows that power is a good thing, especially those who have been unable to protect the people they care about. They understand this more deeply."
"Li Si may not be capable enough, but she's broad-minded and considerate of the greater good. If she's ambitious, supporting her could replace Li Yi," Bai Shan said, a cold glint in his eyes. "Li Yi might have been considered wise in his earlier years, but he's become increasingly reckless in the past two years. A man like him doesn't even care about the lives of his people, so how could he ever care about the emperor's favor in the future?"
And if he disregards the emperor's favor, will he rebel at the first opportunity?
Do you really think that you can control him just because he cares about the people in southern Xinjiang and doesn't want the Liaozi tribe to cause chaos?
Bai Shan sneered in his heart. He really didn't want the Liaozi tribe to be in chaos, and he wouldn't let it be, but he didn't say that he wouldn't replace the chief.
Li Si is the most suitable candidate, even more suitable than Li Yi's only son Li Dan.
According to his investigations during this period, most of the tribes that currently want to overthrow Li Yi are those that were once close to the Zhang family. After Li Yi became the chief, he suppressed them and increased the tributes and taxes assigned to them. This aggravated the contradictions and caused frequent conflicts.
Li Yi must not know that he asked the chief steward to be honest with Bai Shan and to report those tribes openly and secretly, hoping that the court would help him deal with these tribes, but he did not expect that Bai Shan would find a way to persuade them.
Isn’t it just about getting close to the Zhang family?
Then just replace someone from the Zhang family with someone else.
At the same time, we cannot let the tribes that are close to the Li family feel dissatisfied. Is there a better candidate than Li Si?
Bai Shan said, "Li Si is the daughter-in-law of the Zhang family, and her daughter is the bloodline of both the Li and Zhang families. Once this matter is settled, we will have someone send her to the capital to study at the Ming Academy first. When she grows up, she will be sent to the Imperial Academy. After she completes her studies, the court will issue an edict allowing her to inherit the title of Chieftain of the Liaozi Tribe. This will be legitimate and all three parties will be happy."
Zhou Man: "Will the Liaozi tribe agree?"
Bai Shan smiled slightly, "They will agree."
He held her hand and whispered, "Bring a few more guards with you when you go out these next two days, and don't go to remote places. Calculating the time, the chiefs of each tribe will be here in the next two days. Then we can sit down and discuss this matter."
Not only did the chiefs of various tribes arrive, but the garrisons from Liuzhou and Yizhou also slowly approached the Liaozi tribe, stopped at the border, and stationed troops outside the two cities.
The chiefs of all the large, medium and small tribes had just arrived in Annan City, and before they had time to report to the chief's mansion, they heard the urgent news from the border.
Everyone became anxious. A dozen people gathered together and shouted, "What does the court mean by this? Are they trying to trap our Liaozi tribe here and kill them?"
"Not really. Didn't they report that people from the medical offices in Liuzhou and Yizhou have brought in medicinal materials and will arrive in Annan City soon?"
"Then what is Chen Bing doing at the border?"
"Not letting our patients out?"
"Could something have happened at the Chief's Mansion?"
When these words came out, everyone was shocked and asked anxiously: "Could it be that the court wants to send troops to the Liaozi tribe?"
"Doesn't that mean they'll assign officials to us?"
The vassal states were different from ordinary prefectures. The prefectures controlled by the Jin Dynasty were run by officials appointed by the imperial court, paid taxes to the court, and were controlled by the court.
But the vassal states were autonomous.
Although tribute had to be paid to the imperial court every year, the Jin court was wealthy and the royal family was relatively tolerant. The amount of tribute required each year was not large, and most of the taxes paid by ordinary people were retained for the tribe's own use.
These tribes usually don't even listen to the words of the great leader. They all live their own lives behind closed doors and rely on the imperial court. They just want to lean on the big tree for shade, so that the Jin Dynasty won't attack them, and no other country will dare to attack them. If they were to be controlled by the imperial court...
It’s scary to think about it.
Everyone was getting agitated. Someone in the crowd was secretly encouraging them, saying, "Chief Li has also contracted malaria. We don't know if he can survive. The situation is so urgent right now. We can't let the Liaozi tribe be stranded and helpless."
"Chief Li is ill, where is the young chief?"
"I heard he was killed by bandits while out looking for medicinal herbs."
Those who were late in getting the news were shocked and asked, “When did this happen?”
"The news only spread in the past two days."
"Could it be because of this that the imperial court deployed troops to the border? Chief Li is actually childless..."
While they were talking, Bai Shan was standing on top of the inn where they were staying and looking down at them.
He reached out to close the door, then turned to look at the pale-faced Li Si, "Did you see it?"
Li Si was panicked, and his mind suddenly recalled the chaos three years ago.
Her father suddenly stormed into the chieftain's mansion with his troops and started a massacre. Her husband tried to stop her and her child, but he was unable to stop them. Not only her husband, but also her one-year-old child was snatched away...
If her daughter Xiaoman hadn't hugged her legs and cried bitterly, she would have followed...
The shadow of rebellion has always been hidden in her heart. In the past three years, not only has she been unable to stand the sight of war, but even loud noises could scare her.
Li Si's hands and feet were weak, and he finally managed to steady himself by leaning on the table. He looked up at Bai Shan and asked with a pale face, "Sir, are you going to subdue the Liaozi tribe on behalf of the court?"
Bai Shan asked meaningfully, "Does the Liaozi tribe now refuse to obey the imperial court?"
Li Si was startled and immediately said, "No, the Liaozi tribe is subservient to the imperial court and never dares to rebel."
Bai Shan nodded in satisfaction and said, "In that case, there is no such thing as taming him."
"The imperial court deployed troops at the border to prevent unrest among the Liaozi tribe," he said. "I believe you should know that some people are dissatisfied with your father's rule. If this epidemic had not come so suddenly and severely, I'm afraid a round of fighting would have already occurred in the chief's mansion by now."
Li Si didn't say anything.
Bai Shan walked to the table, picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of tea, "Your brother is dead."
He lifted the teacup and handed it to her, saying meaningfully, "You are now the only heir of your father. Whether it's from the Li family or the Zhang family, you are the most suitable heir."
Li Si lowered her eyes and looked at the tea handed to her. She was silent for a long time before she raised her hand to hold it. Her hand holding the teacup was still trembling a little, but her voice became firm, "My daughter..."
"When the medical teams from Yizhou and Liuzhou arrive, I'll have them send her away. She'll attend the Ming Academy founded by the princess. When she turns fourteen, she'll be admitted to the Imperial Academy through imperial favor." Bai Shan said, "Whether this succeeds or not, she'll be able to live a good life in Chang'an."
"If it succeeds, she will be the next great chief. If it doesn't, with my wife and I protecting her, she can live out her days in peace in Chang'an."
Li Si drank the tea in his hand and said, "It's up to Lord Bai to order."
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