Zhang He opened a passage in Youzhou, but Zhao Yun, who was in Mobei, did not immediately follow the passage into Youzhou, but met with the leaders of several tribes in the desert.
In the desert, there is order, but there is also no order.
What is orderly is the natural law of the weak and the strong. The reason why there is no order is that the strong ones here often take turns to take charge.
Throughout the development period of the desert, there have been some heroes, but they were often unable to continue the rules and could only be fleeting like a flash in the pan. This resulted in a rare order or law in the desert.
In the eyes of desert shepherds, robbery and taking sheep are not a big problem. The question is whether they will be caught after robbing and taking sheep.
If you don't catch it, it's your skill; if you get caught, you're unlucky.
If Zhao Yun wants to attack Youzhou, the main force will inevitably be placed in the Youyan area. At this time, these nomadic barbarians in the desert have no tradition of obediently waiting for Zhao Yun and Cao Chun to decide the winner.
Be prepared to take advantage of the situation and take advantage of others.
Zhao Yun summoned these herdsmen heads Hu to come for a meeting, just to solve this problem.
Obviously, Zhao Yun cannot completely restrain the scattered Hu people, but these Hu people leaders can. The premise is that these Hu people leaders have a certain prestige.
The Han people did not know much about the Hu people until the appearance of the Hussar General. If Fei Qian had not pointed out the differences between the Hu people and the Han people in the lecture hall, Zhao Yun would not be able to deeply understand these Hu people until now.
Human system and military system.
The management system of the Hu people is very loose, and there is no inevitable inheritance. One moment, they may be able to control a hundred thousand people who control strings, but the next moment, their heads may fall to the ground, and their bodies may be missing.
This is the complete difference between the Hu people and the Han people.
Both the Xiongnu and Xianbei are composed of tribes one after another. Although they are connected to each other to some extent, such as the positions of thousands of households and thousands of cavalry, in fact the Hu people's subordinates are still loosely connected.
It was still not centralized enough. In fact, the Khan's tribes only directly governed their own tribe, and the rest belonged to other wise kings. Therefore, the Khan spent his whole life either guarding against the wise king, or he was killed by the wise king in the end.
The herdsmen brought their women and children with them. They could mount their horses to fight and dismount their horses to graze. Even the women and children could hunt. The Hu people did not need to govern the herdsmen or manage the army, nor did they have to worry about food and baggage.
This is an advantage that the Han army will never have.
But this is also the disadvantage that the barbarians will never develop civilization.
If there is no division of labor, no specialization, and no scholars who are completely free from work, they will never be able to climb the technological tree.
If there is no way to climb the technological ladder, naturally there will be no way to compete with the powerful technology and productivity of the Han Dynasty...
Therefore, when Gan Feng appeared in front of these barbarians with his heavily armored cavalry, all the barbarians felt as if their throats were suddenly strangled, and it was extremely difficult to even breathe.
Anyone with any brains knows that Zhao Yun is demonstrating, but what can he do?
The Hu people have no iron, but the Han people have iron.
If it weren't for the Five Husty Rebellion, if the Hu people wanted to catch up with the Han people, it would be even harder than climbing to the sky!
If one step is slow, then every step is slow!
As long as China does not stop, even if the Hu people have four more legs, they will still be unable to catch up.
"How is it?" Zhao Yun pointed at Gan Feng and others and said with a smile, "I, these young soldiers and generals, do you think they are pretty attractive to you?"
Leaders Jiankun and Rouran immediately praised Zhao Yun as a divine envoy in the sky, and Gan Feng and others were the divine soldiers in the sky...
What?
Hussars General Fei Qian?
That is of course the gods in heaven!
The person who brags does not seem embarrassed, but the listener does feel a little embarrassed. What is interesting is that not every Hu leader has the qualifications to brag. For example, the defeated Xianbei and Wuhuan people are far away.
Sitting at the bottom, I can only be responsible for laughing.
Zhao Yun waved his hand and said: "There is no need to flatter me like this. I have called you here today for no other reason than for the peace of the desert..."
Some of the barbarian leaders changed their faces slightly, and some moved their buttocks uneasily.
Because most of the time, following the slogan of "peace in the desert" is the follow-up to reducing manpower and turning over livestock.
Zhao Yun looked around and smiled, "Everyone, your words are unfounded... Someone, please bring your head up!"
Guard Zhao Yun brought up three lacquered square boxes, opened the lids, and pushed them in front of the barbarian leaders.
"Everyone, please take a look." Zhao Yun extended his hand to signal.
Whether they were Hu people or Han people present, they had all seen life and death. Naturally, they would not be afraid of the three withered heads, and they just spread the word about them.
The head inside the box has very obvious features.
"Sex-eyed man!"
"I know, this is a guy from the Northern Desert!"
The hair and pupils of different colors are easy to identify.
The pale skin, light-colored hair, and the shriveled shape caused by long-term air drying make these heads not beautiful from any angle, leaving only ugliness and cruelty.
"These lustful people..." Zhao Yun said slowly, "specialize in cannibalism. When they were discovered, there were cooked human body parts in their camp, and there were shepherds who had been thrown out of their abdomens and hung on trees...
That's right, just like how you hang cattle and sheep to dry..."
Following Zhao Yun's description, a Hu leader who was holding a water bowl and preparing to drink water suddenly choked and sprayed out the water with a pop, soaking a large area of the leather robe of another Hu leader next to him.
.
"These heads..." A foreigner held up the heads and looked at the degree of muscle atrophy and dryness in the severed parts of the heads. "It's been at least half a year..."
Zhao Yun glanced at the man and recognized him.
Mo He from the Rouran tribe.
Zhao Yun smiled and said: "It is indeed what I gained last winter."
"Last winter?" The leader of Jiankun, Jirgis, was also staring at the rosy head. "Most of the people we in Jiankun had contact with before were red-haired people. These white-haired people are rarely seen... I heard that last winter,
Some herdsmen tribes were attacked by Semu people...could it be these Semu people?"
"There are also differences among people with colored eyes." Zhao Yun said, "The civilized people know civilization, while the uncivilized people look like wild beasts. These people with colored eyes are not afraid of severe cold and are strong and powerful. I am one of my subordinates.
He may not be his opponent. After being injured, he becomes more and more crazy, as if he doesn’t know the pain, which is extremely troublesome.」
All the barbarian leaders were talking about it.
"In order to capture these lewd people alive, I have sacrificed many of my sons." Zhao Yun said slowly, "These guys can't understand the language, are barbaric in temperament, and are extremely violent. They can't communicate at all. No one can hear the words they use."
Understood. If this guy is given ordinary bean curd food, he will not eat it. He will only eat raw and cooked meat..."
The heads of the barbarians all looked a little sad when they heard this.
Zhao Yun looked at it, and then put weight on the mental balance of these barbarian leaders, "According to the investigation by my scouts, these lustful people have actually appeared in the desert a few years ago... The reason why they were not discovered is because they were discovered."
Their people...well, yes, they all died and were eaten by them...I believe you have heard rumors before that some evil spirit ate the entire tribe, or some ferocious beast took advantage of the heavy snow to attack a certain place.
...Actually, it was mostly them who did it.』
In an era when information transmission was extremely backward, and in the severe winter with heavy snowfall, even if someone could escape the vicious hands of these lustful people who attacked the tribe, they might not be able to go far in the wind and snow. Even if they were lucky enough to encounter
Some people from other tribes may not be able to describe things clearly under strong stimulation.
What's more, in the desert, the various tribes may not be harmonious, and their languages may not be connected. As for writing...
For the Hu people in the desert today, Chinese is the only standard, common and practical "foreign language". Most of the tribal leaders and some tribal nobles take learning Chinese as part of their abilities.
kind of performance.
"This winter..." Zhao Yun looked around, "Do you think these lustful people...will come? I ate one last year, one this year, and some next year...these lustful people ate your people,
They can survive the severe winter and thrive, but what about you? How many tribes do you have that you can feed them?"
The leaders of the barbarians all had more or less serious expressions on their faces.
Snow is similar every year, and people eat people every year.
The leaders of the barbarians looked at each other, and after a long silence, the leader of Jiankun, Jierjis, asked: "The Protector...I don't know, what do you want?"
Zhao Yun smiled, like a Buddha holding a flower, "My lord, as long as there is peace in the desert, I will naturally be the same."
"Peace……"
The barbarian leaders murmured and repeated.
This thing is more expensive than anything else!
Suddenly, the Xianbei leader at the bottom raised his voice and said: "Daduhu, tell us what you need us to do! We will do whatever you say!"
Zhao Yun pretended not to understand the hidden meaning of the Xianbei leader, and said with a smile: "When the Han Dynasty was founded, Emperor Gaozu entered Guanzhong and made a three-chapter agreement with his elders. Those who kill will die, and those who hurt others and steal will be punished."
Zhao Yun looked around slowly, "Now my Lord wants to make a three-part agreement with you and all the tribesmen in the desert. Those who kill will die, and those who hurt others and those who steal will not be punished. I don't know if you have any opinions."
?』
What else can you say about this?
And no matter from which perspective, these three chapters of the agreement are a good thing.
At least it seems like a good thing.
Zhao Yun saw that no one had any objections, so he pointed at the head of the man with lustful eyes and said, "This is the murderer. According to the third chapter of the agreement, he should die! If a murderer comes again this year... what should you do?"
Rouran Mohe slapped her hands and said, "Kill him!"
"Yes! Kill these guys!" Jiankun Gilgis also shouted, "We cannot let these guys kill our tribesmen wantonly!"
All the leaders also expressed their opinions angrily.
This is a very simple and direct answer. There is no second option. Is it possible that these lustful people want to eat people, so they have to wash their necks and send them there?
These barbarian leaders are not stupid. If they are timid and do not dare to express their attitude on this occasion, when other people spread the word when they go back, the tribesmen under them will collapse without any hesitation!
This is a desert. There are no Han people with monarchs and ministers, and there is no household registration system. If the herdsmen pack their luggage and leave, who can tell who these people are? And a herdsman cannot even protect himself.
What is the value of following a leader?
So whether it's true or false, these bastards have to make a statement.
After a messy statement, someone said: "It's just... Protector-General, it's not that I am timid, but these lustful people... Even the sons of Protector-General have trouble fighting, I'm afraid those people... go up."
Just to die..."
Zhao Yun smiled and waved his hand, "Come here, bring the armor!"
Not long after, a guard brought up the armor's frame.
On the stand hangs a complete set of armor.
It was the same set of armor that Gan Feng used with his men and horses.
A complete set.
From helmet to neck protector to combat skirt, from top to bottom, it’s a complete set.
"This kind of armor," Zhao Yun said, "can be sold to you. This is my lord's support for you."
The desert lacks iron and even more armor.
It is true that a set of armor is passed down for three generations.
"Ah? You didn't give it to me..."
Among all the barbarian leaders, a voice blurted out, then whispered after half the sentence.
Zhao Yun smiled and said, "Is there anything in this world that can get something for nothing?"
The barbarians looked at the armor with a certain amount of greed.
Although the level of armor is not clearly marked on it, everyone present has been in battle, and they can judge it at a glance without even having to use it.
"Are they all this... this kind of armor?" Rouran couldn't help but ask, "I mean, are all the armors sold the same as this one?"
There is a gap between the sample and the real thing, which has always been a nightmare for transactions, whether it is for Hu people or Han people.
"It can't be said that they are exactly the same, but they are similar." Zhao Yun said very rigorously, "After all, armor production requires many processes, so it is really impossible to make them exactly the same."
"No, no, that's not what I meant..." Rouran Mohe quickly explained, "I mean... this... um, that..."
Zhao Yun nodded slightly, "I know that the quality of the armor is definitely the same as this one, there will be no difference!"
When Zhao Yun said this, everyone's eyes became hot.
"But I don't know... how much does such armor cost?" Gilgeous asked, "If it is too expensive, we won't be able to afford it, even if we don't mind the guards laughing at us."
"No need to worry." Zhao Yun said, "My lord has an order to conclude with you... this, um, most favored treatment treaty, giving you the largest discount, and you can also use this this winter..."
Zhao Yun pointed at the head of the lustful man and said, "Use this to pay for the price... let's make ten heads equal to one!"
"Ten heads with lustful eyes?!"
"Is this too much?"
"Sex-eyed people are not easy to kill!"
"That's right, that's right!"
"Five, no no, how about eight?"
The sound of chirping sounded.
Zhao Yun waved his hands and his face sank.
Everyone couldn't help but gradually became quiet.
"The prices for these ten sex-eyed heads are only available this winter." Zhao Yun's expression softened, "I don't think anyone with sex eyes will come this winter, or they won't come in the future. Then the price will naturally be as normal.
money to settle the settlement.』
All the barbarians looked around, fell silent, and began to make their own calculations.
Speaking of which, if the heads of the Semu people are really used in exchange, it would really kill two birds with one stone. After all, the Semu people eat their herdsmen. Logically speaking, these guys should be killed, but now they can still be used
Wouldn't it be an extra benefit to exchange human heads for armor?
only……
"I dare to ask the Great Protector, I don't know what the Hussars General did..." Jiankun's Kyrgyz asked a little cautiously, "It's just some heads... This, uh-huh, haha..."
Zhao Yun nodded and said, "Didn't I tell you everything just now? My Lord is offering such benefits for the sake of peace and stability in the desert... Of course, I heard that deep in the desert, in the cold land, there are gold, silver and gems produced...
Well, this theory of gold and silver is just what I heard. What I heard cannot be true..."
"oh……"
"Yes, yes, the Great Protector is right."
The barbarians whispered to each other for a while, but they believed deeply in the gold, silver and precious stones that Zhao Yun said.
Is this right...
The meeting came to an end, and the discussion was almost done. Under the encouragement of several barbarian leaders, Jiankun Jierjis boldly asked: "Dadhu, I want to ask, if we... this Semu man is too powerful
Now, can you, um, I just want to ask, can you give us some... more powerful weapons?"
"What weapon? For example?" Zhao Yun asked.
"For example, this, for example...Five Elements Thunder..."
After saying the last three words, the group of barbarians fell silent and looked at Zhao Yun eagerly.
Zhao Yun's expression was neither sad nor happy.
This thing is actually expected.
Five Elements Thunder, or gunpowder, seems to be a fatal material, but to put it bluntly, this thing is a consumable product, and it requires extremely high storage conditions. The key is that Hu people do not have the relevant production conditions.
.
Nowadays, Qiaoqi's gunpowder manufacturing in northern Guanzhong has completely formed a group production. The production process is not only safe, but also fast. Not only that, Huang's Gunpowder Workshop has even divided the production of black gunpowder into six processes.
Crushing, mixing, beating, granulating, drying, packaging, each process has more detailed requirements and execution standards.
As long as there are sufficient raw materials, once this assembly line-like workshop starts operating, the production volume will be extremely impressive.
And ever since Fei Qian developed the artillery, he has gradually become dissatisfied with the power of black powder...
As far as Zhao Yun knows, research on new gunpowder is already underway in the North.
The formula of gunpowder has actually been sent to Shandong a long time ago, but the gunpowder produced in Shandong has always been much inferior. This shows that even if these barbarians got the Five Elements Thunder or the gunpowder formula, they wanted to make it.
The arrival of qualified gunpowder is still far, far away.
Unless one day, the Han people stopped running and fell down under the trees to sleep...
"Well, this matter... is not completely hopeless. It just needs to be reported to my lord first before making a decision." Zhao Yun didn't say no, nor did he say yes. "However, you all know that the price of this Five Elements Thunder...
But it’s expensive, and it’s easy to break. If you want to exchange it, you have to think carefully..."
"Yes, yes, thank you for reminding me..."
Even though they said this, most of the barbarian leaders were obviously exchanging glances excitedly. They obviously felt that they had to change a few coins no matter what, otherwise, if others had them but they didn't, wouldn't it mean that they would lose their status?
