Chapter 460: Why Don’t You Shut Up?

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The informant reported, “It’s said that the seedlings that appear by Tianci Lake have a high yield and are easy to survive. After planting them, one fruit can be cut into a few pieces. Each piece can grow into seedlings.”

“As long as we serve them well, our Xiongnu people will be full in a few years!”

Chercha’s temples throbbed. “Where did you hear this nonsense?”

The informant replied, “Great Xia’s Rhizome Planting Manual. The Second Prince bought it from the border city. It’s said to be very cheap. You can buy it for a few copper coins.”

Chercha wanted to kill someone. “They believe him just because he bought a book. Are they stupid?”

The informant said weakly, “This book was written by Princess An’ning of Great Xia. It’s said that the border city became like this because of the content she wrote in the book back then.”

Cheryan was speechless.

Cheryan snorted. “Even if it’s true, how long will it take to plant enough fruits to feed all the Xiongnu citizens? Are so many people just waiting for that seedling to grow?”

The informant swallowed his saliva. “Ah, that’s not true. The Second Prince said that since saplings can grow by Tianci Lake, it means that the soil there is different from before.”

“Everyone, you don’t have to wait foolishly for the seedlings to grow. You can just buy the seeds from Great Xia!”

He said, “So now, the Second Prince and the commoners have already planted a large piece of land around Tianci Lake.”

Chercha recalled the sentence he had heard the most during the recent conscription and had the urge to vomit blood. The commoners said— “Why are you a soldier? Go farm!”

“If you farm, you’ll be safe and you can eat your fill. If you fight a war and die, you’re brainless!”

This doggerel naturally came from Xiaoxiao. With the NPCs who came and went without a trace, it would be too easy for her to send any news to Xiongnu.

For example, the Xiongnu catastrophe was because of perfidy. For example, the heavens bestowed gifts because they stopped fighting. For example, there was no future in fighting and farming to support the entire family…

One or two sentences might not be able to change Xiongnu fundamentally.

However, day after day, year after year, coupled with the sweet potatoes in their mouths, the live fish fry that were urgently transported to Xiongnu by the Great Wall Cargo, and the increasing number of smiles on the faces of the Xiongnu citizens…

Who still wanted to fight?

Some of the ministers who knew about the change in Xiongnu were still worried. “If we let the Xiongnu people eat their fill and wear warm clothes, won’t they become a huge problem for Great Xia in the future?”

Ning Ansheng, who had returned to the capital to report his work, had a cold expression on his face. He said mockingly, “Official Liu, your words are funny. It’s as if Great Xia has been stagnant ever since the Xiongnu learned how to plant sweet potatoes.”

“The popularization of new rice, the reform of farm tools, the granary of the world, and the smelting of ironware. Great Xia is on the path to becoming stronger and stronger. Even the Xiongnu people are full. Can they catch up?” The Emperor laughed. “Dear Official Ning, you’re right!”

Imperial Censor Zuo gritted his teeth. “Even so, isn’t it inappropriate for Princess An’ning and General Xiao to privately decide to sell the seeds and fish fry to Xiongnu?”

Rong Yan asked coldly, “According to Official Zuo, should we report to you what everyone wants to do in the future?”

Imperial Censor Zuo cupped his hands and bowed. “Shouldn’t you at least report it to His Majesty and let him decide?”

The Emperor said lazily, “I know.”

Imperial Censor Zuo looked up in a daze. “Huh? W-When did this happen?”

After saying that, he knew that he was in trouble. As expected, Rong Yan sneered the next moment. “Why? Official Zuo, are you unhappy that I didn’t report this to you first?”

Imperial Censor Zuo hurriedly knelt down. “I don’t dare!”

The Emperor ignored him and only said to Rong Yan, “Third Prince, tell these idiots the reason why you traded with Xiongnu.”

Rong Yan accepted the order.

“The Xiongnu encountered a natural disaster and the disappearance of the iron mine will definitely cause the Xiongnu people to panic. According to their past actions, it’s only a matter of time before they have ill intentions towards Great Xia again.”

“Great Xia has been doing well recently. The country is prosperous and the people are safe. We’re not afraid of Xiongnu, but we’re not warmongers.”

“The people have just recovered from the consecutive years of battle. If they have to suffer because of this again, their morale will definitely be low. The new policies and laws that have just been pushed to the critical moment will definitely be greatly affected.”

“If we let the Xiongnu people cause trouble at the iron mine, whether they dig out the iron ore or not, it will only make them more anxious to send troops to Great Xia because of the natural disaster.”

“But now that the Xiongnu people are busy farming and rearing fish, their thoughts of mobilizing naturally fade.”

The Imperial Censor Zuo interrupted, “What a joke. Can mere seedlings and fish fry change the Xiongnu people’s natural belligerence?”

Rong Yan asked him, “Official Zuo, if you had a choice, would you rather live a carefree life or risk your life to eat your fill?”

Imperial Censor Zuo was still insistent. “But Xiongnu has three princes. Did they all choose to farm?”

Rong Yan smiled. “Of course not.”

“But Official Zuo, isn’t the internal strife in Xiongnu a good thing for Great Xia?”

They were busy arguing and fighting among themselves. Who still had the mood to scheme against them?

Moreover, the person in charge of the Xiongnu troops did not want to fight the most now.

As a famous fiend of Xiongnu, he could stop children from crying at night in the past. Now, he was hoeing the ground barefoot.

It was not that he had really turned over a new leaf, but…

“Do you know that this is strange?”

“When Chercha and Cheryan told me that they wanted to attack Great Xia, I wanted to be the first to raise my hand. In the end, just as I walked out of the tent, a f*cking drought lightning struck my toes!”

“Don’t tell me that this is a coincidence. The next morning, half of the lake water in Tianci Lake was inexplicably reduced. Half of such a huge lake was suddenly gone. Can you imagine!”

“Moreover, I just sent back the rejection news. The next day, it f*cking rained and filled the lake again…”

If it was just one of them, those who heard it might think that it was a coincidence. However, with so many coincidences combined, who wouldn’t be afraid?

After saying this painful matter, Chernan quickly added, “At most, I’ll discuss with Chercha and Cheryan about attacking Great Xia after all these grains are planted. At that time, we’ll have a strong army and sufficient rations. We will win if we attack Great Xia…”

Before he could finish his sentence, there was another bolt of lightning in the sky. This time, apart from Chernan’s toes, the lightning also took care of the vegetable seedlings that had just grown more than a foot. A small piece of land turned into nothingness.

Chernan was speechless.

The strategists:…

“Your Highness, why don’t you shut up?”

Of course, Xiaoxiao did not expect to scare Chernan with just a few strange phenomena. However, as long as he was afraid and admitted defeat, could Great Xia’s development speed not compare to Xiongnu’s?

If Xiongnu really did not repent, what was so difficult about flattening the Xiongnu’s capital and completing the unification of the world?

Xiaoxiao did not tell anyone about these thoughts, but Rong Yan, who knew what she meant, had already made it clear in the royal court.

“As long as Great Xia puts in enough effort, with the right time, place, and people, who can stop this growing prosperity?”