Rebirth: The wedding night, my whole family was exiled, I raised 500,000 soldiers

The rage in Monshanka's eyes could burn someone to death.

"You..." Although she was angry, she couldn't think of any words to refute.

Shen Lanxi said arrogantly: "When I say this, I am not discussing with you, but notifying you."

Meng Xiangka glared angrily at the tribal leader behind her, his eyes wide open as if he wanted to eat Shen Lanxi alive.

"Not to mention that there are many mountains in the southwest and very little land available for farming, the miasma lingering between the mountains poisons many people every year. In addition, the climate here is hot and humid, and many people suffer from lung disease. It was better when they were young, but as they get older, their legs and feet start to swell and ulcerate. Coupled with lung disease, few people in your tribe live long, and the average age is only fifty."

Monshanka and the tribal leaders behind her were silent.

Shen Lanxi continued, "I can guess the reasons why you keep causing trouble. One is to seize the arable land, and the other is to find a way to survive for the tribesmen who have been rooted in the mountains for many years."

Although the last one is exaggerated, it also reflects what the foreigners in the southwest are thinking.

Shen Lanxi bluntly pointed out: "You all bowed down to my Great Zhou before, but you suddenly turned against me in recent years, isn't it because you saw my Great Zhou's continuous wars?"

The foreigners all had strange expressions on their faces. They didn't expect Shen Lanxi to expose her shortcomings.

"Unfortunately, I have disappointed you. Before I came to the southwest, I had already received news that Shu and Qianzhou had returned to the territory of my Great Zhou. The two rebels had been killed by the troops I sent. From now on, my Great Zhou no longer has any territory left outside. From now on, the world will be peaceful in the Great Zhou."

The anger in Meng Xiangka's heart gradually died down. If it was true as Shen Lanxi said, then they would be in a weak position now, but the wolf tribe would never compromise with Shen Lanxi.

"When you were a vassal of my Great Zhou, you paid a total of 200,000 taels of silver in grain, furs, cattle, sheep, etc. to my Great Zhou every year, right?"

Meng Xiangka said with a humiliated expression on his face: "That's right, you Great Zhou exploited us too much. Two hundred thousand taels is all the income of our southwestern tribes. Sometimes the gods are not kind, and we have to starve to pay tribute to you Great Zhou. Every year, many people in our tribe starve to death or are seriously injured by wild beasts."

Shen Lanxi was silent for a moment and then said, "What I said before about mutual benefit was not a lie. The court did not take the situation of the southwestern tribes into consideration before. If you agree to submit to me, I will calculate a reasonable number based on the actual situation in your area."

Meng Xiangka turned around and discussed with his tribesmen. They all frowned, obviously not believing what Shen Lanxi said.

"You people of the Great Zhou don't keep your word. How can you guarantee that we will reduce our tribute? Will the Emperor of the Great Zhou listen to you?"

Shen Lanxi: "I can open a trade route for you. I have sent people to survey the mountains in the southwest. They are very suitable for the growth of herbs. You did not trade with the Great Zhou before. Even if you have herbs, you only use them for yourselves. After you become our vassal, I plan to build a herbal medicine processing factory here to purchase herbs!"

Meng Xiangka turned around and started talking to his tribesmen again.

Shen Lanxi: "Of course, you can also use it to buy food, cloth and other things. I will have someone make detailed arrangements later."

After discussing with his tribesmen for a while, Meng Xiangka continued, "If we submit to the Great Zhou, will you send officials to our southwest?"

If it's still the same as before, we might as well have a fight.

Shen Lanxi: "Your foreign races have different customs from my people in the Central Plains. Since I propose that you become my vassal, I must have figured out a way to have the best of both worlds."

The reason why many foreigners are still sitting here obediently is mostly because they are forced by the words of Meng Xiangka and other tribal leaders, but now when they heard what Shen Lanxi said, they listened to it unconsciously.

"What I'm talking about is the two-governance method. The Great Zhou will not interfere in the internal affairs of your southwestern tribes. You only need to pay the taxes and silver assigned by the court on time."

"After you become our vassal, you will be our subjects, and the tribute will be changed to tax. All the people in your southwestern tribe together are equivalent to the population of a province in our Great Zhou. You can think of your tribe leader as a provincial governor, who is directly under the command of the emperor and is not bound by the laws of the Great Zhou. Of course, if you think there is something worth learning from the laws of the Great Zhou in the future, you can also adopt them."

Mengxiangka and the tribal leaders whispered again.

"We need to discuss this." Many leaders of small tribes have been somewhat disobedient recently, and she cannot make a decision alone.

Shen Lanxi: "Sure!"

The southwestern troops retreated, and the southwestern soldiers who had been holding their breath were all in disbelief.

Just by sitting there and talking for a while, the Regent drove the southwestern barbarians away?

When did the southwestern barbarians become so easy to talk to?

"Prince Regent, how did you make the foreigners retreat?"

Shen Lanxi smiled: "Of course I will convince people with reason!"

The general who asked the question was stunned.

She explained: "The Southwestern Barbarians are not unreasonable people. They were deceived by Bai Qingling before and thought that our Great Zhou did not value peace talks. Then Bai Qingling burned their camp. They are here now just to make us hand over the culprit to them."

Southwest Army: Hand over Bai Qingling?

Is Prince Zhennan willing?

"Prince Zhennan has already harbored the intention of rebellion and will definitely come to rescue Bai Qingling."

The Southwestern Army had heavy expressions.

Shen Lanxi said sympathetically: "You haven't rested for a day and a night. Go and have a good rest. There may be a battle later."

The Southwestern Army's expressions became heavy again. Who were they fighting against?

With the Prince of Zhennan or with foreigners?

No matter which side it is, if it can avoid war, it will avoid it.

……

Soon the news of Zhou Ruyuan's rebellion spread throughout the southwest, and the imperial court also received the news.

Emperor Renxiao could not bear the blow and fainted in the Golden Palace.

Fortunately, just one day later, good news came from the southwest.

"The Regent has successfully persuaded Southwest to use the two-governance method to make Southwest submit to our Great Zhou!"

"The regent is mighty!"

"The Regent is the cornerstone of our Great Zhou!"

This good news diluted half of the shadow of Zhou Ruyuan's rebellion. The government was once again presided over by the regent, and Emperor Renxiao retreated behind the scenes and began to raise troops.

~

"Your Highness, this is bad. Now the whole southwest is spreading the rumor that you are planning a rebellion!" Jiang Wuya came running to report the news in a panic.

Zhou Ruyuan's face was full of anger. When did he say he wanted to rebel?

He hasn't taken any action yet!

"Where did this news come from?" Zhou Ruyuan asked hurriedly.

Jiang Wuya: "From the Southwest Army, I also heard a piece of news that the princess will be handed over to the Southwest foreign tribes tomorrow, and those foreign tribes want to burn the princess to death to vent their anger!"

Zhou Ruyuan’s eyes went dark and he staggered two steps.