Originally, at other times, for several tribes that were close to the Central Plains, it was no problem for them to surrender symbolically and make a living.
After all, Zhongyuan is actually quite generous most of the time, although the words "reward" or "gift" are used, which are obviously superior to others.
But the things given are all real and real!
So whether it is a reward or a gift, it is best if you can get it in your own hands.
But it’s no longer possible in this generation.
The Central Plains was divided into three countries, and they were busy with civil wars. They couldn't even take care of their original vassal countries, let alone accept the surrender of several tribes on the grassland. They simply didn't have the time.
If the grassland people want to obtain food, they can only buy it from merchants and the court, exchanging war horses, cattle and sheep.
What's even more disgusting is that in the past few decades, the courts of the two countries bordering their grasslands are not just ordinary stingy, they are stingy to a new level!
The various tribes on the grassland were unable to take advantage of each other due to their fierce calculations.
How much silk cloth and grain can be exchanged for a war horse? That's all for you to bargain over. No more cuts can be made.
Not to mention the merchants in the past, they even reached a new level than the imperial court.
Businessmen pursue profits, and friendship does not exist. They just want to maximize profits, and they can bargain even better than the imperial court!
So they couldn't help but start to envy the place bordering Zhao State.
Look, in the past, they were all vassal states of the Central Plains. If the Central Plains said one thing, they would not dare to say another. What about now?
They turned over and became the masters, and gave up land that belonged to Zhao State in the Central Plains again and again. Although they have now surrendered to Zhao State, Zhao State is so generous.
The annual payments such as coins and cloth were paid on time and on time every time, which was more generous than when the Central Plains was intact.
They also seem to want such a good court!
They don't want the two imperial courts that are now bordering on them, each one more bad-tempered than the other, and always using their fists to make trouble!
It’s so difficult!
But there is no need to worry now, because God has already sent people to save them.
Those were Xu Qing and Xiao Ye who were riding horses towards a small tribe, as well as many shadow guards riding on horses.
It can be said that these shadow guards represent the pinnacle of Chu's light cavalry.
Don't even think about the heavy cavalry. They can't afford to raise them and have been disbanded long ago.
Xiao Ye rode on his horse and looked at Xu Qing and said, "Brother Xu, we are almost reaching the small tribe on the map. Shall we rush over directly?"
Xu Qing shook his head and said: "There are only a tribe of more than 400 people, and there are no war horses. If we rush through them this time, how many people will they still have left for us to collect?"
Xiao Ye took it seriously and said, "Brother Xu is right, you really can't do this."
Xu Qing said: "Today, in order to maintain foreign wars and plunder resources from the bottom with the high-level dignitaries, the Wanyan Department has long made the people on the grassland miserable. Although there was a artifact of the Glazed Wolf King some time ago, but that
It has a certain deterrent effect on the powerful, but ordinary herdsmen are basically indifferent to it, just like the tenants in the Central Plains who do not recognize the jade seal passed down from the country."
"So we only need to use a few people with strong martial arts skills to sneak into the place where the powerful man who rules the tribe lives, conduct a beheading operation, and then distribute all the cattle and sheep he has gathered to the herdsmen below. These herdsmen will naturally rise up. We
There will also be a hundred responses to one call."
Xiao Ye said, "Brother Xu, you said that the Wanyan tribe plundered a large number of cattle and sheep from other tribes in order to maintain the war. Even if there were cattle and sheep, they must have been handed over. How can this small tribe still have enough cattle and sheep?"
Xu Qing shook his head and said: "Brother Xiao, don't worry, there is definitely some, and the quantity is quite sufficient."
Xiao Ye wondered: "Brother Xu, why are you so sure?"
Xu Qing said; "Although Wanyan Khan recruited a large number of cattle and sheep to support the war, it is absolutely reasonable to apportion it to each tribe. Wanyan Khan is a hero who can unify the grassland. If you don't understand at all,
He will not be able to unify the entire grassland if he only governs and only focuses on war."
Xiao Ye wondered: "Then Brother Xu also said that the various tribes on the grassland were suffering miserably from being oppressed by the Wanyan tribe? Isn't this contradictory?"
Xu Qing shook his head and said: "There is no contradiction at all. Although a hero like Wanyan Khan will not overly exploit the people under his rule, what about the officials he sends?"
"Brother Xiao will understand if I give you an example. For example, I am a khan on the grassland. In order to maintain the war, I issued an order that each household must hand over three sheep as military expenses. But if it is passed down to one level, it will become ten.
Only, the next level down will be fifteen, and so on..."
"The most egregious thing is not the middle-level officials but the petty officials who have direct contact with the grassroots herdsmen. They can directly exploit the ruled. It is precisely because of this that they are more unscrupulous in squeezing wealth. Fifteen sheep can
Directly turning into fifty sheep, this is not groundless, this is human nature."
Xiao Ye was surprised: "It's actually like this?!"
Xu Qing said; "So, regardless of whether the official is small, the means of making money are not small at all. These talents are often the most hateful, and the oppression of these people will directly make the people below think that the rulers are cruel and unscrupulous, and then
They will be incited to launch rebellions, and the superior ruler will fall into self-doubt. He is obviously working hard to govern the country every day, so why did he end up with the reputation of a foolish king."
Xiao Ye fell into deep thought when he heard this: "Brother Xu, what you are talking about is not just for grasslands, right? Is it the same for our Chu country? Just like during the last disaster relief, my father and uncle even
They all reduced military expenditures to allocate funds for disaster relief and even purchased grain from the State of Zhao at high prices. It was obviously enough grain for disaster relief, but it could not reach the hands of the people, so wars broke out frequently. However, the court was able to find a large number of corrupt officials from the bottom up.
.”
Xu Qing said: "It's not just the Chu State, it will be like this wherever the power of the world spreads. Brother Xiao, since ancient times, the imperial power has not gone to the countryside. No matter how hard you work in the temple, you can't understand the suffering of the people.
If you are unable to solve the problems of the people, you will not win the support of the people. In the end, you will only get the name of a tyrant, so you should take this as a warning."
When Xiao Ye heard this, he immediately cupped his fists towards Xu Qing and said, "Brother Xu, Xiao Ye has learned a lesson!"
Xu Qing smiled and said: "Okay, this time we are fighting for the country, let's not talk about political affairs. Speaking of the grassland, there is no need for money. What do they rely on to become the general equivalent?"
Xiao Ye said, "Prairie people generally trade with salt and tea. My father asked me to bring a lot of them this time. I still have a few bags with me."
As he said this, Xiao Ye took out a bag and handed it to Xu Qing.
After taking it, Xu Qing opened the bag and said in a daze, "Just this tea? Isn't this too much?"
Xiao Ye spread his hands and said, "That's what I asked my father at the time."
Xu Qing asked: "What then?"
Xiao Ye said: "My father said he was afraid that the tea would be too good and they wouldn't be able to get used to it."
Xu Qing; "..."
He suddenly understood the meaning of Agula's strange expression when he came to visit for tea last time.