Chapter 180 Luokou
Zhang Xutuo was covered in wounds but still looked at Li Mi with contempt and spat, "So it was a treacherous scheme by a rat like you. A person without a father or a king, even heaven cannot tolerate it."

Li Mi remained calm and continued to persuade sincerely: "Yang Guang is not a wise leader. The late emperor left behind a great foundation, but in just over ten years under his rule, he has caused the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people. He still does not repent and continues to act like a tyrant. We should follow the will of heaven and the will of the people..."

Zhang Xutuo waved his spear to interrupt him, pointed the spear blade at the surrounding Wagang soldiers and said: "They can rebel, but you can't. You have been favored by the emperor, and you have inherited the title of Duke at a young age. You don't know much about the suffering of the people. It is obvious that you are not fighting for the world, but for your own ambition!"

When Bing Yuanzhen heard this, he covered his shoulder that was stabbed by Luo Shixin and laughed out loud, almost falling off his horse. Although he didn't say anything, the meaning was very obvious.

Zhang Xutuo's disdain deepened. "You used to follow Yang Xuangan, and you were considered a great man. But now you are subordinate to a group of bandits. I have been a powerful leader for a lifetime, but it is a shame for me to be defeated by you."

After saying this, he looked up to the sky and said, "How can I repay the emperor for his kindness? I will fight to the death!"

He charged towards Li Mi, but his body was already riddled with holes, so how could he break through the enemy lines and kill the generals? Soon, several spears pierced his ribs. He uttered his last roar, fell off his horse, and died with his eyes wide open.

Zhang Xutuo's words had some influence, but not as great as the impact of his death. People from top to bottom of Wagang looked at Li Mi with admiration. Zhang Xutuo could be said to be the nemesis of these people, such as Wang Bo, Sun Xuanya, Shi Lijie, Hao Xiaode, Pei Changcai, Shi Zihe, Guo Fangyu, and Zuo Xiaoyou.

Each of these people had gathered tens to hundreds of thousands of soldiers, attacked counties and captured cities to become powerful, but without exception, they were defeated by Zhang Xutuo, either died or fled.

And now, such a person died in their hands!
Not only did they defeat a powerful enemy, but Wagang also showed itself in front of all the heroes of the world. More directly, Luokou Granary belonged to them, and Wagang would not have to worry about food and fodder for a long time.

This is all thanks to Li Mi. He really is worthy of being the Duke of the County. He is completely different from these people.

After the war, Li Mi undoubtedly got the biggest piece of the pie. He became the second leader of Wagang due to his military exploits. Wang Bodang and others as well as their troops were officially under Li Mi's command, in addition to a number of surrendered Sui soldiers.

Zhai Rang allowed him to establish the Pushan Public Camp. If he did not agree, Li Mi might have led Wang Bodang and others to leave Wagang.

Then when everyone was discussing matters, Li Mi sat below Zhai Rang, opposite him was Xu Shiji. The three of them now controlled everything in Wagang.

Li Mi was full of enthusiasm: "Lord Zhai, the people are starving now. There is a lot of grain in the granary at Luokou. We can lead our troops to attack them lightly and we will surely be able to take it!"

This was something that had been decided long ago and was also something Li Jiancheng had ordered. Zhai Rang nodded without hesitation.

Li Mi said hurriedly: "After taking the granary, we should distribute millet to the poor. Everyone near and far will come to us. A million people can be gathered in one day. Then we can call on all directions, attract the wise and the noble to give us strategies, select the brave and the brave to give us soldiers, destroy the country of Sui, and issue the general's orders. Isn't it great?"

Zhai Rang felt hot-hearted when he heard this, but he immediately came to his senses. He couldn't defeat Lang Jun, and he couldn't defeat Li Mi either. There was no way a fool like him would rule the world.

Li Mi and Zhai Rang were not familiar with each other, so they didn't notice anything. Xu Shiji was relieved. It was easy to kill Zhai Rang, but without Zhai Rang, it would be difficult to check and balance Li Mi.

Zhai Rang pretended to be distressed and said: "Food and grass are the foundation of the army. Giving it to the people rashly will damage our reputation, but it will easily hurt the hearts of our soldiers. Let me think about it." Li Mi couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth. He really wanted to kill this short-sighted idiot. What's the use of having a lot of food and grass without soldiers? Showing kindness to the people can win their hearts and recruit soldiers with food.

To say that we will have a million troops overnight is an exaggeration, but after a few months, expanding the army by hundreds of thousands will definitely not be a problem. We can become a first-rate force in the world in one leap. How can we not want that?
But Li Mi still endured it. Zhai Rang had a high prestige in Wagang. After all, he came here to seek refuge. Before Zhai Rang did anything, he could not bear the infamy of killing his master and usurping the foundation.

So they stopped talking about this matter and started talking about capturing Luokou Granary. Soon, the troops were dispatched successfully because no one did not want to occupy the largest granary in the world.

...............

Li Jiancheng put down his bow and looked at the fleeing cavalrymen not far away, knowing that the time for peace talks had come. Sure enough, within two days, the leaders of the Tiele tribes dismounted and led the two tightly bound Turkic princes to kneel under Shibi Khan's horse.

In the big tent, the leaders of the various tribes once again solemnly apologized to Shibi Khan. Shibi Khan severely reprimanded them, but also ordered them to stand up and take their seats, and had people serve them fine wine.

Faced with the Khan's goodwill, the leaders of various tribes drank heavily as if to show their loyalty, pretended to be drunk, and said extremely disgusting words.

Ashina Shilifu and Ashina Duobi, who were kneeling below, kept crying and begging for mercy.

Shibi Khan watched all this with joy. That was good. His prestige was not damaged. The tribes would also hand over the eldest and youngest sons of their leaders. These children would grow up by his side and would learn to respect the Khan as a god and fear him as a monster.

As for his two younger brothers, he could legitimately reduce their power and military pastures, and keep them in Dali City until they were completely law-abiding.

So he said generously that as long as they remembered the lesson, then the matter could be let go. We are a family and we should pursue greater achievements.

Shibi Khan revealed his ambitions for the Central Plains. Many people, who had just learned about the situation in the Central Plains, expressed their desire to follow the Khan, go south to occupy the best land, raise more horses, more cattle and sheep, marry more women, and have more children!
After many tribal leaders returned drunkenly, Shibi Khan ordered his men to untie his two younger brothers. Yes, in order to establish his authority, Shibi Khan treated the tribal leaders with courtesy, but he kept his two younger brothers tied up and kneeling in the middle of the tent.

Although he said he would forgive them, he did not let them stand up and enjoy the treatment as the sons of the former Khan. Instead, they had to kneel like slaves and watch them drink.

Ashina Shilifu looked in humiliation as a slave came over as ordered. The tall figure knelt in front of him and untied the ropes for him with his rough hands and feet. The relief in his body could not suppress the indignation in his heart and the fear of the future.

He knew his brother too well. For the rest of his life, unless Ashina Duoji died first, he would have to live by his side like a dog. Whether he would be whipped or get a bone to eat depended entirely on the other party's mood.

Suddenly, he found a hard and sharp object stuffed into his arms. It was so familiar. It was a knife, a short knife used to cut meat. He had been inseparable from it for every meal since he grew teeth.

...............

(End of this chapter)