After more than a year of fierce fighting, the allied armies of the lords utterly defeated the Mountain Rong in Yan State. Vast stretches of wilderness and forest in northeastern Yan State became Qi State's territory.
Moreover, more than a hundred thousand Mountain Rong were beheaded this time. Yan State would essentially have no need to worry about another Mountain Rong invasion for twenty years.
If Yan State still could not defeat the Mountain Rong twenty years later, it would truly be utterly useless.
Especially since Lü Xiao Bai saw that these newly conquered lands produced little and were also an exclave, he generously gave all of them to Yan State.
The Marquis of Yan practically wanted to drop to his knees before Lü Xiao Bai. He gripped Lü Xiao Bai's hand and would not let go, saying with tears in his eyes, "Marquis of Qi, I truly do not know how to thank you for your kindness to Yan State.
"But receiving a favor without repaying it is not how a gentleman should behave.
"Four years ago, Qu State showed you disrespect.
"You are a virtuous man. Those who disrespect you are therefore without virtue and deserve to be attacked!
"Two years ago, when you held an alliance assembly at Cangyi, Qu State did not attend. This time, when the alliance assembled in Yan State, Qu State still did not attend.
"This is a refusal to honor the Son of Heaven, and it deserves punishment.
"Now you have rid me of the Mountain Rong threat and given me five hundred li of land.
"I do not know how to repay you, so I shall lead Yan State's army against Qu State and make its lord come before you to apologize.
"Surely this will repay a little of your kindness."