From Chief to Ball

It was also at this moment that he understood the source of the self-confidence of those captured Xiacheng people, and also realized that those simple words such as 30 people raising a soldier were not ridiculous.

Qiongxi himself is the only Dongyi person who has guessed about Xiacheng's future actions, and he will not reveal his guesses in order to stabilize the morale of the army.After thinking for a long time, he has decided to retire, he will not stay and pave the way for Su Yue, when the time comes when his own strength is greatly damaged, Su Yue will never miss this opportunity.

It is really not easy to be the leader of an ethnic group. You have to consider internal integration and rebellion, you have to consider preserving your own city power while gaining benefits for the ethnic group, and now you need to consider the sudden emergence of Xiacheng, a force that cannot be underestimated.

Just when he was about to retreat, there was another shouting outside, and Qiong Xi shouted angrily: "Since the camp is set up, why are there still people shouting?"

"It's the Xiacheng people who were arrested a few days ago and let them back, saying that they have something to bring to you, the leader."

Qiongxi nodded, and asked the guards beside her to escort those people in, and Qiongxi also recognized some of them.

A few people were about to cry when they met, Qiong Xi waved her hands and said, "You are not wrong. What did the leader say?"

"He said... In the morning, please ask the leader of Qiongxi to interrogate in front of the battle. Both sides will bring [-] warriors to accompany them, and no bows, arrows, spears or swords are allowed."

"Understood, take them down."

After these people left, Qiongxi felt a little relieved for a moment.

Since they want to talk, it's much easier to talk. I'm afraid the leader on the other side is also ambitious, and maybe he will discuss with him some conditions that are beneficial to both of them.I can make a concession and return some of the plundered slaves as the meritorious service of the Xiacheng people. As long as the Xiacheng people are willing, I can even exchange some benefits from the Dongyi city for some people and technology in Xiacheng.

In the early morning of the next day, Qiongxi selected the twenty most powerful men, and he didn't need to make any small moves, nor was he afraid of making small moves by the opponent.At this time, you need to keep your word, which is a very important criterion for being a leader, because rights are not yet granted by God.

In order to show his favor, he decided to release the captured Xiacheng people by the way tomorrow, anyway, these few people can't change anything.

After the sun rises, the archers line up and shoot an arrow.Qiong Xi wore the most luxurious costumes and held a sacrificial vessel symbolizing military power. The warriors who followed were also dressed in tiger skins and bear skins.

This is considered a very dignified appearance, Qiongxi felt pretty good about herself, but when the person opposite appeared, Qiongxi couldn't help but curse.

On the other side, there was also the sound of drums, and then there was a melodious flute sound, which sounded very soft, not like an army song, but rather like a tune telling the pastoral hometown, but there was a sense of arrogance and unyielding hidden in the tune.

It was nothing at all, but when the sound of the flute began to melodious, thousands of people sang in chorus from the opposite side, as if the city on the opposite side came to life.

Qiong Xi knew the languages ​​of the tribes of the Great River, but he hadn't heard this song at all. He only heard vague words about the width of the waves of a great river.

Such unison ballads overwhelmed the impatient army drums on his side. There were no spears and bows in the singing, and it seemed that there was only yearning for a peaceful life. Every evening felt uneasy pride and arrogance.

What was even more frightening was that when the singing sounded, the few Xiacheng people who were still tied up that he was planning to let go sang along, right beside him, ignoring the angry gazes on the side.

The warriors around him wanted to shut up those people, but Qiong Xi graciously waved his hand to signal that there was no need for it. He had already lost a bit in momentum, and it would be meaningless to be that kind of careless person again.

Soon, a person on the opposite side rode a big white horse, followed by twenty men in black, and slowly came to the front of the army formation.

Qiongxi was laughed angrily by the other side, she made it clear last night that she was not allowed to carry weapons and bows, but she did not say that she was not allowed to ride horses.The leader on the opposite side is riding a war horse, condescending and even more imposing.There is a cow on my side, but if I ride a cow, the height is high, but it will be a laughingstock.

The warriors around squatted down together and said: "Please sit on our shoulders, the leader, and it must be higher than the opposite side."

Qiong Xi flicked his sleeves, facing the warriors around him and the thousands of Dongyi clansmen behind him, he laughed and said: "The rider is a beast, not a warrior. I would rather raise my head and talk to the other side than let My warriors do what brutes do. Go!"

The hearts of the people were inexplicably moved, and hundreds of people secretly vowed in their hearts that they would never betray their leader throughout their lives.

After getting close, Qiongxi realized that one of the 20 people on the opposite side was holding a roll of wood chips and half a piece of charcoal in his hand, which was not a weapon.

After approaching, the leader on horseback on the opposite side lowered his head and said to the person holding the wooden chip: "Remember, on July 35th, [-]th year of the Chinese calendar, Jixia looked up at Qiongxi when he saw Qiongxi."

Qiongxi gritted her teeth and stared at Chen Jian on the horse. This was the first time the two young people met, but they didn't even ask each other's names, because they were already familiar with each other.

"what is this?"

"It's not a weapon, it's just words. Xia Cheng calls it history, so that future generations will know what happened today."

"You're not right. I look up because you're on a horse and we don't have a horse. I don't look up because I respect you."

"You're right. I only let people remember that you looked up. As for whether it's because you don't have a horse or because you respect me, it's up to future generations to guess. But I didn't lie, no ?"

Qiongxi snorted, decided not to engage in these verbal disputes, and asked directly: "Ji Xia invited me here, what do you want to discuss?"

"It's nothing, I just hope you retreat. The tribes of Dahe didn't provoke you, but you came here to plunder our relatives as slaves. This is something that I and the entire Xiacheng cannot tolerate. This insults our ancestors. Yes The insult of our ancestors, even if we die, we must wash away."

"When you retreat, leave our relatives that you plundered. I can forgive your fault and will not pursue. Otherwise, I, Xiacheng, will never let you go, and I will not let you bully our relatives without caring about it." Ask and even shrink back, even if you try your best to exhaust all Xiacheng people, you won't give up until you get those relatives back!"

The voice of these words is very loud, and it seems to be heard by the envoys of the various cities and the relatives and children of the cities behind, but these words are exchanged for the disdain of the envoys of the cities.

They didn't understand how Jixia became so dull?Is it true that Qiongxi can retreat because of her lip service?These words were so beautiful that those envoys were a little ashamed to hear them, but these words can make Qiongxi retreat?

At this time, a sharp and long horn sound suddenly sounded from behind seemingly unintentionally, and several large ships were going down the river. It seemed that they were just moving normally, but Qiongxi's pupils shrank.

The anger in his heart has been uncontrollable, and he has been aggressive and used various small means since the beginning of the meeting.Indeed, history books are not weapons, but after thousands of years they are more terrifying than weapons.

Especially this seemingly unintentional sound of the horn actually told him that Xia Cheng was going to go down the river to the hinterland of Dongyi.

At this time, Qiongxi had no choice but to retreat, but now that he was retreating, he could immediately think that this group of damned Xiacheng people would definitely write down in their history books: "Xi is ashamed and retreats..." or even He could guess what else these people would write.

Qiong Xi let out a long sigh, and said in her heart that what you said sounds so nice, isn't it ambitious?If you were really as angry as you said about the humiliation of your ancestors, you should have lined up to fight me to the death, and even wiped out all your clansmen. Why hide here?It's nothing more than wanting people to hear what you said so nicely.

He knew that it was impossible to talk about some things in front of everyone, so he said: "Please ask Jixia to talk to me in private."

He felt that the other party should be able to understand what he meant. Now that the two families are fighting to the death, in the end it is Su Yue who is the cheapest, so it is better to talk privately and say something that is beneficial to both parties.

The answer I didn't want to get was: "You insulted my ancestors and plundered my relatives. This is the same hatred as insulting relatives. How could I have a private conversation with you? This is family hatred, how can I let it go? I have heard that your arrows are supernatural. , unparalleled courage, and convinced by the tribe. If you admit your mistake and retreat, return your relatives, and settle the family hatred, I am naturally willing to make such a heroic man as a friend, and there is nothing wrong with drinking and talking. But the family hatred has not disappeared, I Jixia I don’t know what private words to talk to you about!”

Qiongxi only scolded Chen Jian's parents and ancestors in his heart, and then watched the person holding the wooden slips and charcoal pencils keep writing down these words, and his heart became even more angry. Knowing that it was irreversible, he simply shouted: " At this time, the cities are like forests, and the clans are everywhere. The winner cheers the loser as a slave. It has been like this for thousands of years. Didn’t Jixia’s ancestors plunder other clans as slaves? Since Jixia respected his ancestors, he You should abide by such laws, if you really feel that your ancestors have been insulted, you and I will have a decisive battle here tomorrow!"

Chen Jian smiled immediately, bent down and said in a low voice, "I won't fight you here, I just came to tell you that I'm going to go down to your city by boat. Since you refuse to return my Relatives, since it is said that the winner cheers the loser to be a slave, it is a law for thousands of years, so let's take a look."

"Guess, I arrived at Dongyi first by boat? Or did your army arrive first on two legs?"

"Xi, retreat, I won't send troops to follow and pursue, go back earlier while the weather is fine, why bother to argue about victory or defeat at this moment?"

Qiongxi was trembling with anger, and said in his heart that once I retreated, your group of historians would definitely write down such a thing, saying that after listening to your words, I retreated in fear, and my reputation in Qiongxi will be completely wiped out after thousands of years. let you ruined!

He said with a livid face: "Ji Xia and I have nothing to talk about. But Ji Xia, please remember that when I capture Xia City one day, the first thing I will do is destroy your history books, because the records on them are all false. talk!"

Chen Jian nodded with a smile and said, "Then it depends on who burns whose history books. Oh, by the way... I forgot that you Dongyi people don't have any history books, so you can only pass them on by word of mouth instead of using fire. Only with a sword."

The two looked at each other, and they laughed at the same time. The conversation has come to this point. In the end, it still depends on whose sword is sharp. A momentary win or loss means nothing.

"Ji Xia Congying, if one day I capture Xia City, I will still make you the lord of the city."

"Does Qiongxi know how to read? If you don't recognize it, it's best to learn it, lest you have to learn it now when you surrender in the future."

This was the last conversation between the two before the formation. The warriors of both sides returned to the formation with their respective leaders standing upright.

Returning to the army formation, Qiongxi recruited the leaders of the various clans, and gave the order to prepare to retreat, and also gave the reason, that is, the people of Xiacheng might sail eastward to attack their own hinterland.

The clan leaders were terrified, but Qiongxi gave them a death order. Before the army retreated, they were not allowed to publicize this matter. Otherwise, the army's morale would be unstable. Whoever said that at that time, that clan would be exterminated .

"These Xiacheng people are so cunning, if we retreat, will they follow? His words cannot be trusted."