Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 565 - 527: You Tujue people are truly sincere, I like that!

Chapter 565: Chapter 527: You Tujue people are truly sincere, I like that!

"I’m about to die? How come I didn’t know?"

Xing Luohou, although aware that recent turmoil was likely due to his father Khan’s death, saw chaos looming over the plains for a while.

But as things stood, his eldest brother Dashi Bian had left with some men, and no one knew their whereabouts.

His second brother seemed poised to inherit the position of Khan.

He himself was about to live the carefree life that his uncle Maxim once had, wandering the mountains and enjoying pleasures, truly a blissful existence.

Although a clash between Dashi Bian and Sharlobi seemed inevitable, for him, it actually had little impact.

Zhang San sneered, sat down, drank a sip of wine, and began to tell Xing Luohou the story of the War of the Eight Princes in Western Jin.

After listening, Xing Luohou still didn’t understand whose mother had died, why there were so many motherless, but indeed, too many had died in the struggle for the throne.

In Xing Luohou’s view, many of these deaths were totally unnecessary.

Then, Zhang San told Xing Luohou a story about nine sons vying for their father’s legacy.

This time, after listening, Xing Luohou was even more perplexed.

"Aren’t they blood brothers? Why do they do this?"

Zhang San sneered and countered, "Do you think blood brothers won’t contend and grab from each other? Then let me ask you, why does Sharlobi strive to seize the Khan’s position from Dashi Bian?"

"Because it was originally Sharlobi’s!"

"Really? I don’t believe you haven’t asked around about what Muzhen Khan said before dying."

Upon hearing this, Xing Luohou fell silent.

Because he had indeed inquired, and although some said Muzhen Khan passed on the position to Dashi Bian before dying, others claimed it was to Sharlobi. But after he asked many people, he learned the truth was that the position was meant to be passed to Dashi Bian, only for Sharlobi to reach first and threaten everyone inside the central tent.

"So, I came here to tell you, you’re about to die!"

Upon hearing Zhang San’s words and still reluctant to believe Sharlobi could really harm him, Xing Luohou shook his head.

"Impossible, Sharlobi and I are full brothers. He wouldn’t kill me!"

Zhang San, while drinking his wine, said sarcastically, "The question is, on what basis does Sharlobi trust you?"

"I... I can help him lead troops to attack Dashi Bian as a show of my loyalty!"

Zhang San laughed.

"But how does Sharlobi know that you aren’t trying to usurp military power and then ally with Dashi Bian?"

"I... I... I can stay back, handle logistics, and let Sharlobi personally go battle Dashi Bian!"

"So, does Sharlobi really trust that you won’t cut off his supplies, create trouble in the logistics, or stab him in the back? He trusts you that much?"

Although Xing Luohou felt certain that Sharlobi would trust him,

having heard the two stories narrated by Zhang San, he was now somewhat unsure.

Seeing Xing Luohou’s silence, Zhang San knew that the two stories had indeed had an effect.

No wonder in the age of the internet, those successful entrepreneurs who were considered best at storytelling ended up producing mostly rubbish!

Being capable of telling a story that convinces others like this, who would bother with creating a real product.

"Xing Luohou, I respect you as a hero, so I came here to save your life. I tell you, trust is built on formidable combat strength. Do you understand?"

Xing Luohou shook his head.

He truly did not understand.

Zhang San explained, "If you find your son making a mistake, would you not discipline him?"

"Yes, I would!"

"And if you found that Muzhen Khan had made a mistake, would you discipline him?"

"He is my father Khan, how could I dare?"

Zhang San smiled and said, "That’s the reason. You are more powerful than your son, so when he makes a mistake, you might not even listen to his explanation and assume it is definitely his fault. You go straight up to him and beat him, right?"

"But when your father Khan makes a mistake, you would try to make him listen to you, then carefully point out the error. You might even be afraid to point out any mistakes. Because you are weak, and your father Khan is very powerful!"

"Only with equality can there be trust. Only the weak will listen to the strong. The strong are never willing to listen or believe. The strong only make decisions they think they should make."

Although Xing Luohou still did not understand the connection between trust and strength and weakness in Zhang San’s words, he still vaguely felt that only by becoming strong could he make others listen to his explanations.

Only by being strong could he avoid being in a weak position.

As Zhang San watched Xing Luohou’s expression, he reminded him, "If you continue to stay here, you will only be butchered by Sharlobi. After all, if he could kill Dashi Bian, a successor designated by Muzhen Khan, why couldn’t he kill you?"

Xing Luohou nodded quickly, saying, "I understand! I will take my men and return to my tribe immediately, and then I will never come out again."

Zhang San grinned, this fool still doesn’t understand what I mean!

"So, you’re not planning to die here, but you’re planning to go back to your tribe and wait for Sharlobi to send someone to kill you so you can die at home, right?"

"Um... I..."

At that moment, Xing Luohou was at a loss.

Zhang San glanced at Xing Luohou and sighed heavily, saying, "This is risky, but I consider you a friend. So, I am willing to help you!"

Xing Luohou immediately looked at Zhang San, curious about what he intended to do.

"Xing Luohou, once you leave, immediately take your tribe’s people and those tribes that are well-disposed to you and willing to be loyal to you, move away from the center of the steppe and head southeast, closer to Longwang Road," Zhang San said.

"Then, you send a letter to Great Sui, stating your desire to seek refuge with Great Sui. At the same time, I will also risk my life to argue that you have always wanted to be friends with Great Sui and have never invaded Great Sui. Ask Kaihuang to allow you to settle outside Longwang Road and even aid you in conquering the other tribes that were there before!"

Xing Luohou then realized what Zhang San had truly come to do and immediately drew the dagger from his waist, pointing it at Zhang San.

"Are you trying to make me betray the Tujue?" he demanded.

Zhang San knew that Xing Luohou was much smarter than Dashi Bian and not so easily fooled.

He bluntly said, "By seeking refuge with Great Sui, are you no longer a Tujue? Even Great Sui could confer the title of Khan of the Steppe on you, allowing you to become the true Khan of the Tujue! Remember, only a Tujue who survives is still a Tujue!"

"Moreover, you must know, my discussing this matter with you is fine if Kaihuang agrees. If Kaihuang disagrees, for you, it means Great Sui didn’t send troops to help you deal with the other tribes north of Longwang Road, but for me, it means colluding with Tujue, and my bloody life is over!"

"I’m risking my life to help you for the sake of a friend! And you’re brandishing a dagger at the friend who came to save your life!?"

With a clang.

The dagger in Xing Luohou’s hand fell to the ground.

"I’m sorry, I misjudged you."

On Zhang San’s face, there was a mix of three parts disappointment and seven parts dissatisfaction.

In his heart... there was ninety percent elation!

Dashi Bian was foolish, and Xing Luohou was only a bit smarter.

You Tujue are true to your nature, I like that!