Of course Sun Ying was very clear about this information, but he hoped to get more information, so he invited the three of them into the woods and asked the soldiers to pour water for them. Sun Ying asked with a smile: "How many troops have Goguryeo deployed in the Liaohe River? Do you know?"

The three of them looked at Meng Queta, who was headed: "I know one thing, we have been observing their army's movements. The chief initially thought they wanted to destroy the Marines, but later he realized that they were plotting against Liaodong."

"How many troops are there?" Sun Ying asked directly.

Meng Chi thought for a while, "There are about 40,000 people in the new city, and the Liaodong city to the south, with a total of about 70,000 people. Last night, we found that there were a lot of Goguryeo troops stationed in Yan City, and the Goguryeo troops set out a little later, so we probably passed here tonight."

The information provided by Meng Chi is undoubtedly extremely important. Although the details are still lacking, the general direction is clear. Goguryeo divided the troops into two groups, one attacking Yancheng and the other attacking Liucheng.

Sun Ying pondered for a moment and said, "I want to meet you chief. Can you take me there?"

"Of course, then please go back to Liucheng to report the news."

Sun Ying immediately wrote a letter and handed it to a fire chief and said, "Take ten brothers back to the camp and hand it over to General Pei, be careful on the way."

Huo Chang took the letter and led his men away, while Sun Ying led ninety cavalry to follow the Marines to the northeast.

The Xi tribe controlled the area north of Yanshan Mountain in Beiping County and west of Liucheng County. It was called Raolezhou by the Central Plains dynasty, which is the later Hebei area in Chengde, Hebei. There are towering mountains and endless plains here. More than a dozen rivers flow through the area, making it dense forests, rich grass, and very fertile land. It is an excellent place to live and reproduce.

The Xi tribe was a branch of the Donghu Xianbei people and was of the same lineage as the Khitan. However, due to its small population and weak strength, it has been controlled by its powerful neighbors for a hundred years and became its vassal. The Xi people were not very ambitious, but the Khitans were very ambitious. They launched several wars against Liaodong, and the Xi people were also coerced to send troops, and they have repeatedly become the vanguard of bloody and fierce battles, with heavy casualties.

This time, the number of troops sent to attack Liucheng was the highest in the ten years of the Xi tribe. In the end, nearly 14,000 soldiers died tragically under Liucheng. Chief Su Zhi finally led only 6,000 people back to Raole in anger. Ten years of energy conservation were destroyed.

The death of 14,000 young and strong people in foreign land caused the Xi tribe to fall into misery. Every household cried, and the Xi tribe began to develop great hatred for the Khitan. At the same time, the chief Su Zhi became scared. Once the Sui army counterattacked and liquidated, the Xi people would be the first to be the disaster of the destruction of the Xi tribe. Therefore, Su Zhi and the leaders of the Xi tribe discussed and decided unanimously to send people to Liucheng to apologize, and were willing to use 300,000 sheep as compensation for following the Khitan to send troops to Liucheng.

Their apology statement has not yet received a response from King Zhang Xuan of Qi. But that afternoon, several Sui cavalry came to the Raole grassland. They were taken to the Xiren King's tent by dozens of Xi warriors. Chief Su Zhi quickly walked out of the tent after hearing the news. He looked at the Sui cavalry who came from afar in confusion. What did they come from?

He went forward to the cavalry captain and saluted: "We are here to meet the chief under the order of General Pei. This is a handwritten letter from my general!"

The lieutenant presented a letter. Whether it was Khitan, Xi people or Goguryeo, the ethnic minorities in the Donghu area were greatly influenced by the Central Plains dynasty. Their nobles could basically speak fluent Chinese and were very familiar with the Central Plains text. They did not have their own writings, and they all used Chinese to record things. Su Zhi and the Sui army captain had no communication barriers.

Su Zhi was surprised that it was actually a letter from Pei Xingyan to him. He took the letter and read it quickly. Pei Xingyan stated in the letter that he had read the letter of apology from the Xi tribe and had sent someone to pass it to His Highness the King of Qi. He himself could understand the suffering of the Xi tribe being coerced by the Khitan and was willing to help the Xi tribe to relieve the suffering. But now, Pei Xingyan made a final request, hoping to temporarily garrison the Xi tribe on the grasslands for no more than a month.

Su Zhi pondered for a moment and said to the cavalry captain: "I need to discuss with the elders of each department and write back to you in the afternoon. You can rest for a while."

He immediately asked the Sui cavalry to take down to rest and entertain him happily. He immediately asked the elders of the five ministers to discuss major events.

At noon, Su Zhizheng and the six elders of the Xi tribe, including Murong, Yuwen, Duan, Tuoba, Qifu, Tufa, etc., discussed Pei Xingyan's request for garrison.

A thin elder said hoarsely: "Although there are many transit troops in the past century, there are only Khitans stationed on the land of the Xi people. Everyone has seen the attitude of the Khitan towards us. I am very worried that once the Sui army enters the grassland, it will control us like the Khitan, and at the worst, it will retaliate against us and slaughter the Xi tribes. After all, there are tens of thousands of cavalry, and we are far from being opponents. I suggest that it is better to refuse."

"The Elder Bald Fa said it was unreasonable. If we wanted to kill our Xi tribe, we would discuss what else we would just kill us. We, the Xi people, have lived in this land for thousands of years. Since the Han Dynasty, the Central Plains dynasty has never controlled us. Instead, we voluntarily surrendered and paid tribute. I think the Sui army has no malice, but it is just a temporary garrison. And this happens when we want to ease our relationship with the Sui army. How can this opportunity be rejected?"

Everyone talked about it, but there were many people who agreed and few people who opposed it. After a long time of struggle, there was no result. Everyone looked at Su Zhi together. After all, he was the chief, and he was the final decision.

"How did the chief decide?" asked an elder.

Su Zhi said slowly: "Actually, the intention of the Sui army is very clear. The Goguryeo people are about to enter Liaodong, and the Sui army is bound to counterattack. This time, the King of Qi sent 30,000 cavalry into Liaodong. Although there is a large pasture in the Yiwulu Mountain area, war horses can get grass, but what should people do? The 30,000 cavalry want to enter our grassland, and hiding is one aspect, but I think their greater intention is to get supplies from us."

The big tent suddenly became noisy, and two elders who opposed it said anxiously: "How can we afford to support 30,000 cavalrymen!"

Su Zhi waved his hand, "Listen to me and finish my words!"

The big tent calmed down again, Su Zhi said: "I have estimated that 30,000 cavalrymen will stay in the grassland for one month and need 5,000 tents. Of course, they will return the tents, mainly food. We need to supply about 500,000 sheep. We had previously expressed our willingness to compensate 300,000 sheep, so these 300,000 sheep can be deducted, and in fact, there will be another 200,000 sheep. These 500,000 sheep are just tax sheep tribute to the Khitan. I think we don't have to give it to the Khitan this year. Maybe we can get something from the Khitan, what do you think?"

Everyone was moved. It would be better if they didn't have to offer sheep to the Khitan, and it would be better not to give it to them in the future. Five hundred thousand sheeps and 100,000 sheeps every year put heavy pressure on them. They also understood Su Zhi's hint that once the Sui army retaliated against the Khitan, the Xi people would definitely gain something.

An elder said: "Since the chief has said that, everyone can vote! If most people agree, then they can agree to the Sui army."

There was a bowl in front of each elder, and everyone agreed to put beans in the bowl, and the empty bowl expressed their objections. As the chief, Su Zhi could put three beans. The two elders who did not agree understood in their hearts that as long as Su Zhi agreed, the vote would definitely pass. More importantly, they also wanted to get a share of the pie from the Khitan. Since everyone agreed, they would not be this evil person anymore.

After a moment, everyone put beans into the bowl. Su Qi nodded and said, "Since everyone agrees, I will give the news to Sui Jun a clear reply!"

(To be continued.)
Chapter completed!