Jiang Ming's words sent a chill down Tuoba Ren's spine, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
He paused with a smile and continued, "The entire Xianbei army probably doesn't exceed 100,000, right? Not to mention a superpower like Jin that can mobilize 500,000 troops, even a small state like Zhongshan has 100,000 troops, right? Jin is surnamed Ji, and Yan is also surnamed Ji, so they are of the same clan. If you beat up someone's younger brother, won't the older brother kill you?"
"This...this, this..."
Tuoba Ren wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
Jiang Ming continued, "You bunch of ministers, all you do all day is encourage the Khan to make mistakes... You don't have a brain at all, you're short-sighted. A person has a brain, but it's not for drinking mare's milk wine."
"The prince consort's lesson is correct..."
Tuoba Ren said awkwardly, "We only know that... the Yan people are hateful, they come to the grasslands at the drop of a hat to reduce the population and slaughter our people. The Xianbei people hate them to the bone! Also, the Great Gan Emperor is already just an empty shell, and the various states of Central China are each governing themselves, so..."
"So, I'm telling you, you're all naive!"
Jiang Ming sneered, "The older brother steals the younger brother's food and beats him black and blue, no problem. But you, an outsider, come to their house to steal things, you try it? The two brothers will beat you to death!"
"The prince consort is right, the prince consort is right..."
"Alright!"
Jiang Ming coughed lightly and said, "Go back and tell my father-in-law that Yan is currently preparing to fight Qi and will not harass Xianbei. Moreover, I can tell you with certainty that Yan suffered a major defeat this time and was severely weakened. For a very long time to come, it will be impossible for Yan to have any conflict with Xianbei. During this period, don't go looking for trouble and make yourselves miserable!"
He paused and continued, "As for... as his son-in-law, I will certainly show him the respect due to him. As a nomadic state, the Xianbei are most lacking in things like metal pots, salt, and tea. I will help them provide these, exchange goods, and do business to make the Xianbei rich quickly. When your strength is roughly the same as that of the Yan state, won't they dare not harass you anymore?"
"Hiss~!" Tuoba Ren gasped, his eyes darting around, and said, "What the Prince Consort says makes sense!"
"Right?"
Jiang Ming laughed and said, "You need to be strong yourself to forge iron. You guys are still too weak to fight. You need to develop slowly. Besides, there are tribes like the Xiongnu, Loufan, and Linhu around you... If you squander all your resources, who will benefit from it?"
"Hiss~! The prince consort's reprimand is justified!" Tuoba Ren felt a chill run down his spine.
"Go back and tell the Xianbei Khan what I mean! Tell him to withdraw his troops!" Jiang Ming waved his hand.
"Then... this humble servant will return immediately and convey the Prince Consort's intentions to the Khan!"
"hehe......"
Jiang Ming smiled faintly: "If he insists on fighting, or... thinks that killing me will allow him to take over Dukang County, then he can try. I have already trained the governor of Dukang County, and we have long anticipated that you might pull such a move. I just returned from the county today!"
"No, no!"
Tuoba Ren waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Excellency, I will do my best to persuade the Khan to give up the idea of going south. Everything... will be done as Your Excellency says."
"Hmm! Not bad! You can go back now, drive carefully!"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Well then... this humble servant will take his leave now..."
After seeing Tuoba Ren off, Jiang Ming watched his retreating figure, his brows furrowing into a knot.
He was gambling, gambling that this Xianbei Khan was smart enough to be a wise and capable ruler who could tell good from bad!
He has said everything he needed to say!
Letting myself manage the Yan region would be like putting myself in a very difficult position.
Not to mention how much the people who were burned, killed, and looted hated him, the other nations would not forgive him either!
......
Tuoba Ren returned to the temporary Khan's residence built in the mountains and reported to Murong Xue's father, the Xianbei Khan, about his experience of going down the mountain to "collect hides".
When Tuoba Ren relayed Jiang Ming's words, the Xianbei Khan's eyes flashed with a murderous light, and the muscles in his eyelids and face twitched, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry!
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