Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 1038: Mission to the Qiang People, Persuading Them!

"A Chu man from afar, I heard you brought gifts, and... a proposal?" Ehe Shaoge's voice boomed, carrying the unique authority and scrutiny of a steppe ruler. He sized up Yi Xiaochuan, his gaze filled with distrust. He held little affection for the people of the Central Plains, especially these losers in the struggle for power.

Yi Xiaochuan remained composed, performing a Qiang etiquette ceremony before having gifts presented. He didn't rush to reveal his full plan, but instead began by discussing the overall political situation, analyzing the Qiang's circumstances and predicament. He emphasized that, given Gao Yao's consistent practice, if he truly secured Xianyang and unified the country, his first target would be the Qiang; after all, how could he allow others to snore on his own bed?

"Does the leader know that the Southern Army is now fraught with danger, like a volcano about to erupt?" Yi Xiaochuan spoke eloquently. "Gao Yao is tyrannical, and the whole world is outraged. Although my lord Xiang Yu has suffered a setback, he is still the leader of all righteous men in the world, and his soldiers are all battle-hardened elites. His resurgence is just around the corner."

Ehe Shaoge snorted coldly: "What does your internal strife among the Han people have to do with us Qiang people? We have lived here for generations and have never interfered with your affairs."

"Chief, you are mistaken." Yi Xiaochuan smiled slightly. "If the Southern Border Army continues to be strong, who will be the next target? When the First Emperor sent Meng Tian to attack the Xiongnu in the north and build the Great Wall, was it merely for defense? His ambition was to encompass the four seas and conquer the eight wastelands. Once they are internally stable, they will inevitably turn their attention to the surrounding areas, including the fertile Qiang lands! At that time, Chief, do you think the flesh and blood of the Qiang warriors can withstand the iron armor and powerful crossbows of the Qin army?"

These words struck a nerve with Ehe Shaoge and the Qiang nobles present. They had heard of, and even experienced firsthand, the strength of the Qin army.

Yi Xiaochuan pressed his advantage: "Now, the Southern Army is in turmoil and preoccupied with its own problems, presenting a golden opportunity! If our leader is willing to ally with my lord Xiang Yu and jointly launch an attack on Xianyang..."

"Attack Xianyang?" Ehe Shaoge laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "With your little remnant army? And us? Attack the capital of Qin? Mr. Yi, are you dreaming?"

"This is not wishful thinking, but a win-win strategy." Yi Xiaochuan's expression remained unchanged. "We are not going to launch a direct attack. Gao Yao's fate is currently unknown, and the situation in Xianyang is unstable, so there will inevitably be gaps in the defense. We can launch a joint attack and take advantage of the chaos. Once we succeed..." He paused, then threw out the most crucial bait, "The Qin treasury is piled high with treasures, grains, salt, and iron. My lord promises to give 30% of it to our Qiang brothers! Furthermore, once things are settled, the fertile pastures of Longxi and Beidi counties near the Qiang territory can be allocated to the Qiang people, allowing you to graze freely and exchange goods!"

"Thirty percent treasure? And land?!" A chorus of exclamations and whispers erupted within the tent. The Qiang lands were barren and resource-scarce; the wealth of the Southern Army and the fertile grasslands near water sources held a fatal attraction for them.

Eheshaoge's eyes sharpened instantly, and he leaned forward slightly, clearly tempted. But as the leader, he wouldn't easily give his opinion: "Words are meaningless; how can I believe you? What if you go back on your word later, or are you just using us as cannon fodder?"

Yi Xiaochuan had anticipated this question, and he calmly replied, “Chief, you are wise. First, we can swear a blood oath, with the gods of the grasslands and Mount Kunlun as witnesses. If we break this oath, may we be condemned by both gods and men! Second, in this campaign, my lord Xiang Yu will personally lead the main force of the Chu army, 30,000 men, to attack from the rear and draw the attention of the southern border army. Your tribe only needs to send 50,000 men to launch a surprise attack from the west. We will attack from both sides, not leave our Qiang brothers to face a powerful enemy alone. Third, if things do not go smoothly, your tribe can withdraw to the grasslands at any time. We will have no complaints, and the gifts we have given you do not need to be returned. Consider them as tokens of friendship.”

The terms he offered were extremely generous, minimizing risk and maximizing returns. The clause allowing for withdrawal at any time, in particular, greatly alleviated Ruheshaoge's concerns.

A long silence fell over the tent, broken only by the crackling of the butter lamp. Ohoshago and the shamans and elders around him exchanged opinions in hushed tones, their debate intense.

Finally, Ehe Shaoge slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, stood up, and stared intently at Yi Xiaochuan: "Good! Mr. Yi, you are straightforward and your conditions are sincere! We Qiang people will do this deal! I will immediately gather warriors from all tribes and send 50,000 troops to meet you at the agreed time to jointly attack Xianyang!"

When Yi Xiaochuan returned to Beidi County with news of the successful alliance, Xiang Yu could hardly believe it. He hadn't expected that Yi Xiaochuan could actually persuade those unruly Qiang people.

"Xiao Chuan, you...you really did it?" Xiang Yu looked at Yi Xiao Chuan with a complicated expression. He was relieved to have gained strong support, but also felt uneasy about forming an alliance with a foreign race and making a solemn promise.

Yi Xiaochuan's face showed no joy, only a cold calculation. He dismissed his attendants and lowered his voice to say to Xiang Yu, "Xiang Yu, although the alliance is formed, we must not place all our hopes on the Qiang people."

"What do you mean by that?" Xiang Yu asked, puzzled.

"What I promised them was based on capturing Xianyang and annihilating Gao Yao." A cold glint flashed in Yi Xiaochuan's eyes. "But there's a crucial prerequisite—is Gao Yao really dead or not?"

He walked to the map and pointed at Xianyang: "My plan is to use this 50,000-strong Qiang army as our vanguard and a testing pawn!"

"If Gao Yao is truly dead, and Xianyang is leaderless and plunged into internal strife, then the sudden attack by the Qiang's 50,000 fresh troops could very well disrupt Xianyang's defenses and even create a miracle. At that time, our 30,000 well-rested Chu troops can seize the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, working together from within and without. We do have a great chance of taking Xianyang, or at least seizing a large amount of resources and territory. Giving the Qiang 30% of their wealth and some peripheral lands will be painful, but it will be worth it."

“But—” Yi Xiaochuan’s tone suddenly turned serious, “If Gao Yao is not dead, and this is all a trap…then the first to run into this trap will be these 50,000 Qiang soldiers! They will attract the Qin army’s fiercest firepower and suffer the most brutal blows! And what we need to do is remain still and observe closely!”

"Remain inactive?" Xiang Yu was stunned. "Wouldn't that be a betrayal of our promise?"

"It's about preserving our strength!" Yi Xiaochuan said sternly. "Brother Yu! Don't forget our situation! We only have these 30,000 men left! If Gao Yao isn't dead and has set up an ambush, a rash attack would mean total annihilation! Let the Qiang people wear down the Qin army's forces and test the depth of the trap, giving us time to make a judgment and a chance to survive! It's ruthless, but it's the only wise choice!"