The old man prostrated himself on the ground, expressing the highest respect with his full body touching the ground.
This move staked the fate of the entire barbarian tribe on this desperate gamble.
But for the survival of his people, he had no other choice.
Touman the Great's loud laughter exploded like thunder, echoing throughout the magnificent golden palace.
Three hundred thousand people? Hahahaha!
He laughed so hard he bent over backwards, and the gold threads on his dragon robe trembled.
It felt like I'd heard the funniest joke in the world; I almost laughed until tears streamed down my face.
"My Xiongnu Empire spans 20,000 li from east to west, and its people number far more than 50 million, a full 50,037,862!" "Its mighty army numbers in the millions, with our Xiongnu Royal Army alone numbering a staggering 500,000!"
"Your mere 300,000 people are but a drop in the ocean, a mere trifle. What do you mean by that?"
He glanced contemptuously at the prince's envoy, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery.
The envoys looked at each other, uneasy about Touman's arrogance.
The laughter was like a sharp knife, piercing their nerves and making them feel suffocated.
They couldn't understand whether the laughter was joy, mockery, or both.
The old man gritted his teeth, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and said with a forced smile:
"Your Majesty, although our barbarian tribe is small in number, each of us is brave and skilled in battle, and we have lived in the heart of the Central Plains for generations."
"He knows the terrain, mountains, rivers, and even every plant and tree there like the back of his hand."
"We are willing to lead the way for Your Majesty's army and serve as Your Majesty's vanguard!"
The old man paused, then added:
"Moreover, my barbarian tribe has 100,000 elite soldiers, all of whom are seasoned warriors who have fought on many battlefields, enough to become a formidable force under Your Majesty's command!"
He kowtowed again, his forehead striking the marble floor with a dull thud.
Touman's laughter stopped abruptly. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a hawk's.
"I don't find it appealing!"
He was blunt and straightforward.
"However, the fates of the many branches that split off back then were quite different."
"It is indeed remarkable that you were able to survive in the heart of the Central Plains."
He paused, his tone turning colder.
"My Xiongnu tribe and the three kingdoms of the Central Plains have a blood feud that began a hundred years ago! Even if you don't come looking for me, I will eventually lead my troops south and crush the Central Plains!"
The envoys' emotions were like a rollercoaster, and by the end, they were all moved to tears.
"Your Majesty is wise!" the old man exclaimed.
"Your Majesty has established the Xiongnu Empire, and your achievements far surpass those of previous Chanyu. You will surely be able to unify the world!"
Touman smiled faintly, as if unifying the world was nothing more than a piece of cake for him.
“However,” he changed the subject.
"Not now. My empire has just experienced a major war and needs to recuperate. It is not advisable to start another war."
The barbarian envoys immediately panicked.
It took them nearly a year to travel to seek help.
If we wait until they've "rested and recuperated" completely, it will be too late!
By then, Lu Yan will probably have already completely annexed the barbarian tribes!
"His Majesty!"
The old man mustered his courage and said.
"If we don't destroy Shannan County now, it will surely become a major threat to the Xiongnu Empire in the future!"
"This is alarmist!"
Touman waved his hand impatiently.
"How powerful can a mere county town be? Although I am far away on the grasslands, I am well aware of the situation in the Central Plains."
The old man wanted to persuade him further, but his companion pulled him back and whispered:
"Stop talking. His Majesty's mind is made up. If you continue, you might anger him!"
The old man then realized what was happening, quickly shut his mouth, and lowered his head in silence.
The Touman Emperor looked at the trembling envoys before his throne and sneered inwardly.
He established the Xiongnu Empire not for any grand ambition or for any national righteousness.
He simply wanted to survive, to ensure the survival of his people!
The grasslands are harsh and cold, and resources are scarce. Throughout history, the Xiongnu chieftains could only survive by plundering the Central Plains.
However, the Central Plains were not so easy to deal with. Once the Central Plains dynasties recovered, they would take cruel revenge on the grasslands.
We have witnessed this cycle too many times and have personally experienced the horrors of the White Disaster.
Herds of cattle and sheep froze to death, and countless members of his tribe starved to death; that scene remains a haunting nightmare for him to this day.
He was fed up with this precarious life! He wanted to change it all!
To build a powerful empire, an empire that is self-sufficient and no longer dependent on plunder!
We must ensure that the Xiongnu people no longer suffer from hunger and cold, and no longer be bullied by the Central Plains dynasties!
To this end, he worked diligently to govern the country and annexed the tribes large and small on the grasslands.
He established the powerful Xiongnu Empire and proclaimed himself the Great Emperor.
Having learned from the painful lessons of past Chanyu, they understood that nomadic life on the grasslands was ultimately not a long-term solution.
For long-term stability and security, a nation must be established on fertile land.
Only by developing agriculture can we break free from our dependence on nature.
The grasslands are vast, but there are very few places suitable for survival.
We need a stable rear area, a rear area that can provide sufficient food and manpower.
Only in this way can he freely conquer the Central Plains and completely eliminate the Xiongnu's worries about their rear!
Now is clearly not a good time to attack the Central Plains.
The Xiongnu Empire had just experienced a major war and was severely weakened, so it needed to recuperate.
Not to mention, venturing deep into the heart of the Central Plains to rescue a small tribe.
That would be a thankless task!
"Your Majesty, I am not exaggerating. Shannan County is truly terrifying!"
The old man spoke hoarsely, as if trying to pour out all the fear he had experienced along the way.
"The weapons they used weren't what we know as weapons at all! I saw it with my own eyes, that thing, that thing..."
The old man was so excited that he stomped his feet, his face displaying a variety of expressions, like someone performing in an opera.
It changes color from blue to white to purple, like a color palette.
Touman the Great was originally reclining on his tiger-skin throne.
He casually picked at his nails, looking indifferent.
He had long been aware of the corruption of the Central Plains dynasty.
Can a small county town really cause such a commotion?
He chuckled and said:
"Oh? What's so strange about them? Do they all have three heads and six arms, and can breathe fire and spit ice?"
Upon hearing this, the old man immediately perked up and began to speak fluently, like beans pouring from a bamboo tube.
He recounted the many strange things about Shannan County.
He said that the thunder was like a god descending to earth, with a loud bang that shook the earth and sent sand and stones flying.
It can shake a person so badly that their internal organs shift.
Those muskets were even more powerful, firing several bangs.
The heavy cavalry's armor was as thin as paper; it was instantly riddled with holes.
And those cannons, their range—one li? Two li? No, it's at least three li!
The old man spoke with great enthusiasm, his spittle flying everywhere, spraying them in the face like a shower of flowers.
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