206: Chapter 206 Two Paths Before Zhao Fusu

Lu Jia informed Jin Tu and Jin Xishan that Zhao Fusu wanted Jin Xishan to meet him at Yangshan Pass.

"Yes, your daughter is willing to go to Yangshan Pass to meet Great Qin's His Majesty the Head of State."

Zhao Fusu wanted to see Jin Xishan, and Jin Xishan also wanted to see what this extraordinary His Majesty the Head of State looked like.

"Good."

Jin Tu nodded.

Jin Xishan followed the wool transport team and headed toward Yangshan Mountain.

Lu Jia did not return; he and Cao Jiacheng remained at the Tuan Tribe.

Originally, Lu Jia intended to leave the Tuan Tribe, but he was persuaded to stay by Jin Tu.

Lu Jia also knew that Jin Tu still did not trust their Great Qin, especially with his daughter heading to Yangshan Mountain.

Since that was Great Qin's territory, he had to keep Lu Jia at the Tuan Tribe as a hostage to ensure his daughter's safety.

In the short term, the Tuan Tribe did not have much wool left.

Lu Jia turned his attention toward the five pastures adjacent to the Tuan Tribe.

He listened as Cao Jiacheng explained the details of the five tribes that occupied these five pastures.

The one furthest north from the Tuan Tribe was the Shuangzong Tribe.

From the word 'Frost' (Shuang), one could see just how far north this tribe lived.

'Mane' (Zong) refers to a horse's mane, highlighting the tribe's close connection with horses, while also implying that the tribe is like a horse's mane—seemingly ordinary yet tough and powerful, an indispensable existence.

Their living environment was not quite as harsh as the North Sea where the Dingling people grazed their horses.

The North Sea mentioned here refers to Lake Baikal.

Lake Baikal originates from the Mongolian language, meaning 'Rich Lake,' and the lake is abundant in aquatic products.

The harsh environment of the Shuangzong Tribe's territory was not much better than that of the Dingling people.

There were sandstorms in the summer and heavy blizzards in the winter; it was incredibly bitter and cold.

Surviving in such a harsh natural environment and through cruel grassland competition honed their bodies, giving their tribesmen extremely strong physical constitutions and tenacious vitality.

Their will was also tempered by the environment to be cold-resistant, hardship-enduring, and steadfast.

The tribe lived by hunting and animal husbandry, and they shared a deep bond with horses; horses were not only their means of transportation but also capable assistants in battle and daily life.

The pasture occupied by the Qinglan Tribe was the largest among the adjacent pastures, and its water and grass were the most abundant.

Their population was also the largest.

The tribe's total population reached twenty-five thousand, possessing five thousand Mounted Archers!

The overall strength of the Qinglan Tribe was twice as strong as that of the Tuan Tribe!

The totem of the Chiyanju Tribe was the Red Flame, and the tribesmen liked to wear large red robes with tightened cuffs at the wrists.

The pasture occupied by this tribe was not very good, but they were reluctant to leave.

Mainly because within its borders, there was a cluster of Red Flame that never went out.

As soon as the cold winter arrived, this cluster of Red Flame could protect their tribe from the cold.

This was also the reason why their tribe took Red Flame as their totem!

The Liefeng Tribe had the smallest population, and the pasture they occupied was only slightly inferior to that of the Qinglan Tribe.

Despite their small numbers, they excelled in mounted archery; with a bow and arrow in hand, they could basically hit whatever they aimed at.

There were even archers who could fire three arrows at once, hitting different targets respectively, which was quite extraordinary.

Their greatest strength was their surprise attacks, appearing quickly before the enemy like a gale to deliver a fatal blow.

Their tribesmen had bold and straightforward personalities and enjoyed drinking, especially liking to gallop across the grasslands after drinking, living a free and easy life.

As Lu Jia listened to Cao Jiacheng describe the situation of the Liefeng Tribe, he was also considering in his heart how to persuade the Liefeng Tribe to join Great Qin.

The Lingyu Tribe had the strongest horsemanship.

This was publicly acknowledged after several tribes had competed privately.

The cavalrymen of Lingyu were like ethereal feathers on horseback, capable of performing various high-intensity movements while mounted.

For example, while the warhorse was running at high speed, they could hold onto the horse and run with their feet on the ground.

This was just like a blogger filming a video of a dragonfly skimming the water by a pond; without a strong core and skill, it cannot be done.

Lu Jia continuously learned about the surrounding tribes from Cao Jiacheng's mouth, wrote it down on paper, and arranged for people to send it to Zhao Fusu via carrier pigeon.

Looking at the data on these tribes, Zhao Fusu was also pondering how to take these tribes for his own use.

That would be over ten thousand cavalrymen; even if he did not conscript these people, he could still cause the Xiongnu Royal Court to lose over ten thousand cavalry!

With the experience of successfully wining over these cavalrymen, he might even be able to win over even more.

Zhao Fusu still followed the original plan, using economic means to bind himself with the Xiongnu Tribes.

As long as more Xiongnu Tribes joined his camp, the power of the Xiongnu Royal Court would be continuously weakened.

In the end, there were only two paths left before the Xiongnu Royal Court: one was to continue opposing him until they were squeezed out of the grasslands, and the other was to join the camp of Great Qin.

Zhao Fusu narrowed his eyes and tapped his fingers on the table, wondering which path Modun would choose to take.

He hoped that Modun could submit to him, as he would then immediately obtain all the territory of the Xiongnu Kingdom.

Just thinking about it was exciting.

However, for an ambitious leader like Modun, Zhao Fusu did not think he would choose to submit; he would likely be squeezed out of the grasslands.

So where would Modun retreat to?

Zhao Fusu looked at the map, calculating Modun's escape route.

There were other powers in the northeast, and Modun's influence had not yet expanded there.

Lake Baikal was the territory of the Dingling people, but it was even more desolate than Mobei; Modun probably wouldn't run toward Lake Baikal.

The most likely place for Modun to go was the Western Regions!

Thus, two paths were placed before Zhao Fusu: one was to completely annihilate Modun on the grasslands, and the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions would naturally be taken over by him; the other path was to let Modun go to the Western Regions, which could greatly reduce his own troops' casualties.

Both paths could ensure the safety of the Hetao Plain; come next spring, the Hetao Plain could be developed on a large scale, reclaiming land to plant grain.

Once the Hetao Plain was developed into a great granary, it would have a positive effect on his promotion of industrialization in Great Qin.

After pondering for a long time, Zhao Fusu finally determined his strategic plan.

Exert full effort to divide the Xiongnu, squeeze out the Xiongnu Royal Court, drive them out of the grasslands, and eliminate the hidden dangers to the Hetao Plain.

Zhao Fusu's gaze fell upon the map of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, especially the Kingdom of Loulan.

The raw material needed for purple dye, Chromite, was distributed here!

Within the Kingdom of Loulan, there were also large distributions of Potassium Mine.

Potassium Mine can be made into Potassium Fertilizer.

Potassium Fertilizer can improve the stress resistance of crops, enhance their resistance to pests and diseases, and at the same time improve crop quality and increase yields.

There are also salt lakes in the Kingdom of Loulan that could supply the world's population of sixty billion for nearly a thousand years!