Catching Monsters

Chapter 725 Conditions
Upon hearing this, a strange look appeared in Jiang Yun's eyes. The leader of the Kachi tribe had gone from being a slave to becoming the leader of a tribe.

And with a small tribe, they quickly annexed other tribes and grew stronger.

This is indeed somewhat unexpected.

It's important to understand that in the Northern Hu, slaves had an extremely low status. Normally, it would be a pipe dream for a Southern person to become the leader of a tribe.

"Your Tuoba tribe is one of the top five tribes on the grasslands. Don't you have any experts at the first-grade level who could assassinate him? Why did you have to come all the way to the capital of Zhou to ask me for help?"

Tuoba Anyi's face showed a bitter expression, and he sighed and said, "Brother, you don't know this. Our Kachi tribe does have many experts, but the strongest one is only a second-rank wizard. When the Kachi tribe first attacked our Tuoba tribe, I had already sent experts from our Kachi tribe to fight them."

But there has been no news of them at all.

"I have also contacted other major tribes, hoping they will send experts to investigate the details of this Card Pool Department."

“But this card pool is the closest to our Tuoba tribe, and the other major tribes have no interest in my proposal whatsoever.”

"Those damned, short-sighted bastards were even secretly mocking me for being scared by a small tribe."

"They have no idea that this card pool department is quite unusual."

"Unlike those tribes that rose to prominence slowly in the past."

At this point, Tuoba Anyi also felt somewhat helpless. There was nothing that could be done; it was very common for tribes to devour each other on the grasslands.

Moreover, the card pool section is, in any case, the closest to the Tuoba section.

If the card pool division gradually grows stronger, the first to get anxious should be the Tuoba division.

How could people from other tribes possibly send experts to help?

They might secretly wish for the Tuoba tribe to die quickly.

Hearing this, Jiang Yun's eyebrows were still slightly furrowed. He did not nod in agreement, but he did not object to helping him either. He simply said, "Brother Tuoba, it's no use asking me about this. If you want to lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard to the Northern Barbarians, you need His Majesty's order. Do you understand what I mean?"

Jiang Yun himself had absolutely no interest in the affairs of the Northern Hu. Right now, the Zhou Kingdom was in a state of utter chaos because of the Serpent Saint.

They had no time to care about the Kachi tribe on the grasslands.

However, Qin Hong had been paying attention to this card pool department before and had been secretly investigating it. That was why Jiang Yun did not directly refuse Tuoba Anyi.

“I understand.” Tuoba Anyi was also a smart man. He took a deep breath and said, “Now that your Zhou emperor has ascended the throne, I have not yet visited him. Since I am in the capital this time, I must go and pay a visit to your emperor.”

After saying this, Tuoba Anyi got up to take his leave, and Jiang Yun did not try to stop him.

However, considering that the two were sworn brothers, he personally escorted Tuoba Anyi to the outskirts of the Northern Garrison.

After Tuoba Anyi left, Jiang Yun quickly summoned Qi Da back to his study and asked with a frown, "How strong are the people our Embroidered Uniform Guard sent to the Kachi Division?"

Qi Da pondered for a moment and then said, "After all, this matter was personally arranged and instructed by you, sir, so I specifically arranged for Leng Liuer to lead the team. He is also a third-grade martial arts grandmaster, but..."

"Leng Liuer led the team?" Jiang Yun frowned slightly upon hearing this. Leng Liuer was quite strong, but now he had disappeared from the Card Pool Department.

Jiang Yun closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Alright, let's see what His Majesty's attitude is first."

“If Your Majesty is unwilling to help Tuoba Anyi, our Embroidered Uniform Guard will find another way to send people, or I will go there myself to see if we can rescue the brothers trapped in the Kachi tribe.”

"Yes." Qi Da nodded in agreement. That's why the brothers in the Northern Garrison were so devoted to Lord Jiang.

Lord Jiang would not stand idly by if something happened to his subordinates.

Jiang Yun's actions naturally made his men willing to risk their lives for him.

……

Inside the imperial study, Xiao Jingzhi was questioning Jiang Xing about Fang Tianzong's affairs during this period.

“Your Majesty, Sage Fang’s requirements for food and drink are very simple. He is quite unhappy about the large amounts of fish and meat prepared for him.” Jiang Xing sat respectfully to the side and said in a low voice, “It’s just that there has been no movement from the Serpent Saint’s side recently, which makes Sage Fang seem a little impatient.”

Xiao Jingzhi gave a wry smile. The fact that the Serpent Saint hadn't made a move against the Zhou Kingdom's imperial palace was beyond his control.

He couldn't very well step forward and ask the Serpent Saint to attack him.

Just then, a young eunuch walked in from outside and whispered a few words in Jiang Xing's ear.

After hearing this, Jiang Xing's eyes showed a hint of surprise. He then said to Xiao Jingzhi, "Your Majesty, Tuoba Anyi from the Northern Hu has come to the capital and wishes to see you."

"Tuoba Anyi?" Xiao Jingzhi frowned; the name did seem familiar.

Jiang Xing reminded him: "The leader of the Northern Hu Tuoba tribe."

"Him?" Xiao Jingzhi frowned. "He wants to see me?"

"Summon him here..." After saying this, Xiao Jingzhi added, "First inform Eunuch Qin, and then bring him in after Eunuch Qin arrives."

"Yes."

Safety first. Who knows what the leader of this Hu tribe is up to with his sudden arrival?

Upon receiving the news, Qin Hong immediately went to the Imperial Study.

After Qin Hong arrived, Tuoba Anyi was quickly greeted by Jiang Xing and entered the Imperial Study.

"Tuoba Anyi, leader of the Northern Hu Tuoba tribe, greets His Majesty the Emperor of Zhou!" Upon entering the imperial study, Tuoba Anyi placed his hands on his chest and bowed slightly as a form of greeting. Upon seeing this, Xiao Jingzhi slowly rose and then gestured for him to sit down.

"Chief Tuoba's arrival this time has surprised me somewhat." Xiao Jingzhi sat on the dragon throne, observing the other party.

"I should have come to visit His Majesty the Emperor long ago, but I have been too busy with affairs on the grasslands and have not been able to find the time."

Tuoba Anyi didn't rush to get down to business. Instead, he exchanged pleasantries, praising Zhou as a land of etiquette and the Tuoba tribe for their long-standing friendship with Zhou.

Anyway, the two sides just exchanged polite words.

Xiao Jingzhi understood that the other party had come all this way not to say these pointless things.

Finally, after some casual conversation and pleasantries, Tuoba Anyi slowly got down to business.

"Recently, some accidents have occurred on the grasslands."

"There is a tribe called the Kachi tribe..."

Soon, Tuoba Anyi began to explain the situation regarding the Card Pool Department, bit by bit.

After giving a brief introduction, Tuoba Anyi slowly said, "Your Majesty, this Kachi tribe is very unusual. If it continues to develop like this, I'm afraid our Tuoba tribe will be annexed by them sooner or later."

“Once our Tuoba tribe is annexed, other tribes on the grasslands will not be able to stop it.”

At this point, Tuoba Anyi looked at Xiao Jingzhi and said, "In fact, I think that in the future, this Card Pool Tribe may form a unified force on the grasslands."

"Your Majesty, you should also be well aware that once a unified force emerges on the grasslands, the next step will be to invade the Zhou Kingdom."

"Therefore, we must nip this matter in the bud."

Hearing this, Xiao Jingzhi's face remained expressionless, but his heart sank.

The Northern Hu were the greatest adversary the Zhou state had faced in hundreds of years. As Tuoba Anyi said, whenever a powerful tribe established a royal court, they would always attack and invade the Zhou state.

However, Xiao Jingzhi asked expressionlessly, "As you said, even though the Kachi tribe has annexed several tribes, it only has about 10,000 to 20,000 people now. How can you presume that the Kachi tribe can annex all the major tribes on the grasslands?"

Tuoba Anyi gritted his teeth slightly and said in a deep voice, "My Tuoba tribe has fought against them before. The soldiers of the Kachi tribe can use the power of the dead."

“Every time we fight them, my Tuoba soldiers suffer heavy casualties.”

"Therefore, I would like to request His Majesty the Emperor to send someone to the Kachi tribe, and preferably to eliminate the current leader of the Kachi tribe to prevent future troubles."

Xiao Jingzhi narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this, and slowly said, "Chief Tuoba, no matter what you say, the Kachi tribe is just a small tribe with only about ten thousand people."

"Even if we take a step back and say what you say is true, and the Kachi tribe is able to unify the Northern Hu grasslands and become the grassland royal court, the first to suffer will be your Tuoba tribe."

"What do I have to worry about?"

"Even if we send someone to help you, there should be some other benefits, right?"

After hearing Tuoba Anyi's words, Xiao Jingzhi had already made up his mind.

The Tongyou Guard had already noticed something was wrong with the Card Pool Department and had sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate.

This matter definitely needs to be addressed; Xiao Jingzhi will not tolerate the emergence of another powerful force on the grasslands.

However, unlike Tuoba Anyi's straightforward personality, Xiao Jingzhi understood that the other party was in a hurry, so even if he sent someone to help, he would still try to get some benefits from Tuoba Anyi.

Tuoba Anyi frowned and asked, "What benefits does His Majesty the Emperor desire?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingzhi frowned slightly. This Hu person was indeed very straightforward in his speech.

Jiang Xing, standing to the side, smiled and reminded him, "Chief Tuoba, this isn't something our Emperor wants to gain."

"But since you want His Majesty to send someone to help you, you should at least show some sincerity."

"I..." Tuoba Anyi's lips moved slightly as he stared at the people before him and said in a deep voice, "Does His Majesty the Emperor need gold and silver?"

"Do I look like someone who is short of money?" Xiao Jingzhi then said, "I will send people to help your Tuoba tribe through this difficult time. From now on, every year, your Tuoba tribe will have to pay tribute to our Zhou court. What do you say?"

"Submit as a vassal and pay tribute?" Upon hearing these four words, Tuoba Anyi's expression immediately turned ugly.

It's important to understand that this act of submitting to the Zhou emperor and paying tribute is different from the previous one, where one would bring gifts to present to the Zhou emperor and then return with a host of benefits.

Previously, the Northern Hu royal court and the Zhou court regularly exchanged envoys.

However, if this matter were to turn into one of submission and tribute, the nature of the matter would be completely different.

Over the years, very few tribes of the northern grasslands have submitted to the imperial court and paid tribute.

Tuoba Anyi slowly said, "Your Majesty, if we do that, my reputation on the grasslands will be completely ruined. That is absolutely impossible."

Xiao Jingzhi narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Chief Tuoba, there's no need to refuse so decisively. Besides, reputation is an ephemeral thing; only tangible benefits in hand are real."

"If the Tuoba tribe is willing to submit and pay tribute, I will not ask for much from you. Moreover, I will allocate a large sum of money to you every year for tea, salt, and other things that are in short supply on the grasslands, enough to make the Tuoba tribe rich."

"Chief Tuoba should seriously consider whether he wants to lead his people to a better life, or to cling on for the sake of a hollow title?"

"As you say, if the gacha pool department is so extraordinary, what if it swallows you up and you lose your lives? What's the point of pursuing empty fame then?"

(End of this chapter)