Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

"The Beiting Protectorate's finances can be mainly based on trade. Goods from the Central Plains will be continuously transported here to trade with the locals. If you want to trade in the city, you need to pay a certain amount of tax."

“The locals can use their cattle, sheep, and leather to exchange for salt, silk, and lacquerware from the Central Plains. In this way, the economy is in our hands.”

"At the same time, with the Protectorate as the center, private schools were established so that learned scholars from the Central Plains could emulate Lao Tzu, go beyond the pass to assimilate the barbarians, and promote the transformation of customs and traditions in the local area, as well as learn the Central Plains' writing, culture, and etiquette."

“Some local Xiongnu people could not only serve as officials in the Beiting Protectorate based on their ranking in the exams at the private school, but some outstanding students could also go to Xianyang to take the exams again. If they passed, they could stay in the rich Central Plains to serve as officials.”

"In this way, within ten years, countless Xiongnu nobles and local young talents in the southern part of the Gobi Desert will yearn for Xianyang and hope to pass the examinations to go to the rich Central Plains and become a part of it."

"In this way, we can completely incorporate the southern desert into the territory of the Central Plains through economic, cultural, and military means, and there will be no royal court in the northern desert."

"All that remains is the Northern Protectorate of my Great Xia, the future thirty-eighth prefecture of the world, and... a group of Central Plains people skilled in horsemanship and archery!"

"However, achieving this goal is not something that can be done overnight. I will need to return to Xianyang and discuss it in detail with His Majesty..."

Listening to Bai Su's endless narration, Meng Yi looked completely bewildered.

She couldn't help but swallow hard, a thin layer of cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart, "This Young Master Bai is truly a genius."

All she wanted was to burn down the Xiongnu royal court, win a battle that would bring thirty years of peace to the border, and then withdraw to the Central Plains.

But Bai Su was different. She set her sights on the entire southern grasslands and the local Xiongnu people, wanting to swallow them all up. Her appetite left Bai Su speechless.

However, if it were truly accomplished, it would be an extraordinary achievement comparable to His Majesty's.

After all, once the Beiting Protectorate is truly established, Zhengjie will no longer only be the ruler of the Central Plains, but will also concurrently serve as the Chanyu of the grasslands, becoming a true ruler of the world.

This military achievement is in no way inferior to Wang Jian's contribution in destroying the State of Chu.

No wonder Bai Su just said that she overlooked a great achievement in battle.

Compared to her remarkable achievements, the supplies she captured seemed rather lackluster at this moment.

Chapter Ninety-Six: Being a Dog Isn't So Bad

It took Meng Yi a long time to recover from his shock.

She swallowed hard, her voice slightly stammering, "Young master, we are new here and have no foothold in the area. If we want to establish ourselves here long-term, we need a respected figure among the Xiongnu to act as a puppet and stabilize the people's hearts."

"Does the young master have a suitable candidate in mind?"

Bai Su stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then said, "There is indeed a candidate."

Meng Yi was taken aback: "Who?"

Bai Su said with a smile, "The Xiongnu Left Wise King who fell for the trap and was captured by us should have a reputation that can stabilize the local area."

"is her!"

Meng Yi frowned as he thought of the Left Wise King, whom he had personally captured: "She does have enough prestige and is a good candidate, but it will probably not be easy to win her over."

Bai Su smiled and said, "It's alright, I've already thought of three ways to take it back."

Meng Yi was taken aback, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are the three methods?"

"Treat them to a meal, behead them, take them in as dogs..."

Bai Su counted on her fingers and said, "I believe she will come to her senses."

......

......

In the dimly lit dungeon.

A woman with a cross-shaped scar on her face and a rather sinister appearance was sitting in a corner covered with straw.

She was somewhat distraught, never imagining that just a few days ago she was the high and mighty Left Wise King, but now she had fallen into such a predicament.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the dungeon.

The Left Wise King was taken aback and slowly looked up.

Meng Yi, dressed in a skirt armor and with a long sword at his waist, walked in behind a young man in white.

The Left Wise King couldn't help but feel a surge of surprise. She knew Meng Yi's status and position. As Meng Tian's sister, her prestige in the army was second only to the emperor.

Yet this very person, like a bodyguard, willingly followed behind this man.

Just who is this person?

Bai Su arrived at the front of the dungeon, sat cross-legged on the ground, and said with a smile, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Bai Su, and I am currently a Chief Envoy."

"You must be more than just a mere envoy!"

The Left Wise King frowned and glanced at Meng Yi standing beside him: "A mere junior official doesn't deserve such treatment."

Meng Yi smiled and said, "Your judgment is quite good. Don't underestimate Young Master Bai. He is no ordinary envoy. He is the greatest contributor to defeating you and Modu Chanyu in succession."

The Left Wise King looked at Bai Su with surprise and asked, "So you are the one who defeated the Chanyu. Why would someone of your high rank and power come to me, a prisoner?"

Bai Su didn't mince words and said bluntly, "I'll give you three choices: treat me to a meal, behead me, or take me in as your dog. Choose one."

The Left Wise King was taken aback and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Bai Su smiled slightly: "I want to establish the Beiting Protectorate in this area. After that, the southern desert will be under the jurisdiction of the Central Plains. If you are willing to cooperate with me, I will give you the opportunity to continue being the Left Wise King."

The Left Wise King's expression changed, his mood shifting between light and dark.

She was a smart person, and she understood what Bai Su meant as soon as she said that.

The man in front of her named Bai Su wanted to take her in as his dog.

Nominally the Left Wise King, seemingly holding a high position, he was actually just a puppet without military power, helping the Xia army stabilize the situation in the royal court.

As a vassal who depended on others for survival, such an outcome was truly unacceptable to someone of her former high status.

The Left Wise King gritted his teeth and said, "If I don't want to be a dog, nor do I want to be beheaded, what will you do with me?"

Bai Su stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, "Then I'll treat you to a meal, and then send you to the northern desert to see Maodun."

"Let...let me go, are you serious?" The Left Wise King was stunned.

Not to mention her, even Meng Yi, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but look at Bai Su with a face full of doubt, unable to guess what he was up to.

How can we just let these prisoners of war, whom we finally managed to capture, go?

Bai Su glanced at the Left Wise King with a half-smile: "The reason why Modu suffered such a quick defeat this time is largely due to your underestimation of the enemy and your reckless advance. Not only did you lose 80,000 elite troops, but you also lost a large number of weapons."

“You have committed such a grave mistake, yet I have not harmed you in the slightest and have even taken the initiative to send you back. What do you think Maodun will think? How will she treat you?”

The Left Wise King was taken aback. After thinking carefully, he recalled the suspicious and fierce nature of the Chanyu Modu, who was like a hungry wolf.

He once killed his father with a whistling arrow for military power, and after defeating the Donghu, he ordered the Donghu king's head to be cut off and used as a sacrificial offering.

A layer of cold sweat immediately broke out on her forehead, and her face turned pale.

Staying here as a dog at least offers her a chance to survive; if she were sent back to Chanyu Maodun, she probably wouldn't even keep her head.

After all, having lost all her troops, she was of little value to Maodun.

Bai Su looked at her with a smile: "How about it, do you want me to take you home?"

The Left Wise King's eyelids twitched: "Well... um, I suddenly feel that staying here is actually quite nice."

Bai Su sneered, "You really are a smart man. The Beiting Protectorate is short of people right now. If you're smart, you'll obediently serve as my dog, and I guarantee you a life of wealth and honor."

"If you have any ulterior motives, I can simply abandon you and choose another Xiongnu nobleman to train. You should know that you are not important to me, but without me... there will be no place for you to live on the entire grassland."

King Zuo Xian: "..."

She felt like crying but had no tears left. Although it was true that what he said was correct, the fact that he was being told to be treated like a dog still made her feel choked up.

Bai Su smiled and said, "You don't need to look so aggrieved. If you perform well, you can run the local silk and lacquerware business in the future, and you can live a life of wealth and luxury."

The Left Wise King was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Is...is that alright?"

Bai Su nodded: "It's a matter of whether it's possible or not. For you, this might be a windfall, but for me, it's just a small profit, not worth mentioning at all."

After hearing Bai Su's words, the Left Wise King stood there dumbfounded.

You should know that silk, lacquerware, and wine vessels from the Central Plains were treasures on the grasslands. Even Modu Chanyu couldn't afford to give much silk to his subordinates.

But now Bai Su says that she wants to transport large quantities of silk from the Central Plains and let her manage the business.

Doesn't that mean that one can wear silk and satin every day, and enjoy these rare commodities from the Central Plains at will?

The Left Wise King blinked blankly, staring at Bai Su in front of him, as if he were seeing a big, thick, shiny thigh.

She suddenly realized that being a dog wasn't so bad after all.

Although he lost his military power, the material benefits he received seemed to be better than before.

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Don't you have anything to say to me?

"Are you finally back?!"

Bai Su rode on his horse, looking down from the high hillside at the magnificent city of Xianyang in the distance.

The city walls, over six zhang high, stretched as far as the eye could see, with towering gates on all four sides—east, west, south, and north—making it a thoroughfare and a magnificent capital city of the entire country.

Having grown accustomed to the rudimentary cities of the northern frontier, the sight of the magnificent Xianyang city before one's eyes is a powerful visual shock.

Even Bai Su was stunned for a moment.

No wonder those neighboring small states showed such surprise when they arrived in Xianyang.

Such a visible difference is indeed quite shocking.

"Young Master Bai, what's wrong?"

Seeing Bai Su standing there blankly, Meng Tian rode his horse over and asked with some confusion.

Looking at the female general in front of her, dressed in black skirt armor, with a cold and beautiful expression and a heroic demeanor, Bai Su couldn't help but smile and said, "I was just thinking that since the general has made such a great contribution on this expedition beyond the Great Wall, I wonder if His Majesty will bestow upon the general a title such as Marquis of Wucheng."

Meng Tian thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook his head: "Although I have made great contributions in this battle, I am far from being able to compare myself with Marquis Wu Cheng, Wang Jian."

A hint of surprise appeared on Bai Su's face: "This northern expedition against the Xiongnu is comparable to the achievement of destroying a country. Isn't that enough to warrant a title of nobility?"

A hint of regret flashed in Meng Tian's clear, autumn-like eyes as he said, "The title of Marquis of Wucheng is one of the highest honors among the twenty ranks of military merit. Wang Jian was only granted the title of Marquis of Wucheng by His Majesty after he had successively destroyed Zhao, Yan, and Chu."

"Her daughter, Wang Ben, even though she participated in the wars to destroy Yan, Wei, and Qi and made great contributions, has only obtained the nineteenth rank of nobility, the Marquis of Guannei. How difficult it is for her to reach the twentieth rank of military merit."

Upon hearing this, Bai Su was immediately taken aback.