Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

As night fell, bonfires were lit in the Taiji Kingdom's military camp.

The siege will begin tomorrow, so everyone ate dinner and went to bed early.

At this time, Shatuo approached Shen Lang again and put forward new conditions for the war.

After hearing Shatuo's purpose, Shen Lang didn't even raise his eyelids, but simply asked, "You mean, you want the Taiji Kingdom's troops to lead the charge for you, and then you follow behind and pick up the scraps?"

Shatuo hurriedly said, "Duke Zhenguo, you should have seen our strength. Without our help, you couldn't have easily conquered Rangzhou City."

But we only have a little over four thousand men this time. You don't want to see the entire army wiped out before the city even falls. It's not a worthwhile deal for either side.

Shen Lang smiled faintly: "Clan Chief Sha, do you think I'm easy to manipulate, giving you the illusion that you can do whatever you want with me?"

Meeting Shen Lang's deep, unfathomable eyes, Sha Tuo felt a strong sense of unease.

But he still mustered his courage and said, "I apologize, Duke Zhenguo, but the Shatuo people have great respect for you."

But Shatuo is also a tribal chief, and he must prioritize the interests of his tribe in many matters. Please understand.

"I understand, of course." Shen Lang calmly picked up his teacup. "You must consider the lives of your tribe's people; you can't afford too many sacrifices."

As a tribal chief, your thinking is correct. If I were in your position, I would have the same thoughts.

Shatuo replied gratefully, "Thank you, Duke Zhenguo, for understanding the hardships of our tribe. We, the people of Liaodong,..."

We could only survive by hunting and herding sheep. In harsh weather, a white plague in winter could wipe out our entire tribe. It was truly difficult, so…

"That's your business, don't bother explaining it to me." Shen Lang directly interrupted Shatuo's attempt to elicit sympathy. "I have no interest in, nor do I have time to, pity your tribe's plight."

I only have one question for you, and I ask that you answer me truthfully.

Shatuo: "Duke Zhenguo, please ask."

Shen Lang smiled jokingly: "Tell me, how can you get your hands on a beautiful jade that's been placed among wolves without paying a blood price?"

Shatuo shook his head: "That's impossible. If you want to seize treasure from a pack of wolves, you have to make sacrifices and sacrifices."

"I thought you didn't know this principle, but it seems you understand it perfectly well."

Shen Lang's gaze gradually sharpened, making Sha Tuo afraid to look him in the eye for a moment.

"You want the wealth and women of the entire Rangzhou City without giving anything in return? I'd like to know how you have the audacity to make such a request?"

Shatuo hurriedly said, "Duke Zhenguo, you misunderstand. It's not that we are unwilling to make sacrifices, but attacking such a fortified city is not something our Shatuo tribe is good at. Please understand, Duke Zhenguo."

"Of course I understand, but I'm thinking about another issue."

Shen Lang grabbed a dagger and casually weighed it in his hand.

"When you eat mutton, is the credit due to the person who slaughtered the sheep or the person who cooked it?"

Shatuo didn't understand what Shen Lang meant at first.

But Shen Lang quickly gave his answer: "Whether the credit goes to the one who slaughtered the sheep or the one who cooked it, it has nothing to do with the person who ate the sheep, unless you have paid an equivalent price, don't you think?"

"This……"

"The people of Taiji Kingdom went to be your vanguard; they died meaninglessly beneath the city walls."

Once you've exhausted the defenders on the city walls, you can easily take control of the city.

Then the spoils would require the entire city's wealth. Shatuo, is there really such a good thing in the world?

"You want to plunder the entire city's wealth by stepping over the corpses of the Koreans without giving anything in return. If I had agreed to your conditions, it would have already caused a mutiny."

Shatuo suddenly stood up: "If the Duke of Zhenguo is unwilling to agree, then I will immediately take my people back."

After saying this, Shatuo turned to leave the tent.

"Shatuo, you don't really think that without you, I can't find someone to conquer Rangzhou City, do you? Just leave here."

But I guarantee that those tribes in Liaodong that you've lured here will stay and take your place.

Shatuo was taken aback: "What do you mean by the Duke of Zhenguo's words?"

"If you're not willing to do it, there are plenty of others who are," Shen Lang chuckled. "Don't think I don't know the conditions you secretly made."

As long as I tell them the details of our transaction...

I believe they will stay and help me conquer Rangzhou City.

"If you're leaving, take your people and leave immediately, but there won't be another chance to cooperate next time."

After a moment's thought, Shatuo realized that Shen Lang's words made a lot of sense.

No one can resist the temptation of profit; if someone is, it's because the profit isn't big enough to ignite their ambition.

If I withdraw, perhaps the Black Bear tribe will take my place and reap more benefits tomorrow.

This was something he didn't want to see, since the Shatuo tribe hadn't gotten anything yet.

"I'm sorry, Duke Zhenguo. I was too arrogant. Please forgive me."

After figuring everything out, Shatuo resolutely knelt before Shen Lang and sincerely admitted his mistake.

Shen Lang sneered inwardly. The best way to deal with these barbarians was to make things clear.

Many people actually fall into a misconception that the nomadic and fishing people outside the Great Wall are all simple and honest.

The truth is quite the opposite; the nomadic hunters and fishermen outside the Great Wall are all incredibly cunning.

It really comes down to the saying, "Poor mountains and bad waters breed unruly people."

This statement is not necessarily derogatory, because good people cannot survive in harsh living conditions.

Shatuo was cunning and wanted to gain the greatest benefit at the lowest cost, but unfortunately he encountered Shen Lang, who was all about profit, so this tactic was destined to be useless against him.

"Duke Zhenguo, first of all, I apologize for my rash behavior just now."

But to be honest, the various tribes in Liaodong were really not good at siege warfare; the pointless deaths of their people benefited no one.

Shen Lang replied, "What if I help you breach the city walls of Rangzhou?"

“Duke Zhenguo, this joke is not funny at all! Neither slingshots nor battering rams can possibly bring down the walls of Rangzhou.”

"Never mind what I do. I only ask you, if a corner of the city wall collapses, can you take Rangzhou City?"

"If what the Duke of Zhenguo said is true, and the city wall has collapsed, I can naturally understand why the warriors should charge into the city in one fell swoop."

"Alright, remember what you just said. Be at the gates of Rangzhou City at four o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Yes, then I'll head back now. Take care, Duke Zhenguo."

After Shatuo finished speaking, he hurriedly left this place of trouble.

During this discussion with Shen Lang, the initiative remained in Shen Lang's hands throughout the entire process, which made Sha Tuo feel very uncomfortable.