Hao Datong was a rough man, but he was also a soldier.
After reading "Have You Ever Risked Your Life for Someone Else?", he was instantly filled with fervor, like dry tinder meeting a raging fire, and even began to identify with the story himself.
Terrible foreign enemies invaded, slaughtering their own brothers and sisters. Everywhere they looked was devastation, with the corpses of their compatriots and the cries of the people. How furious they were!
Damn it, even if Tuoba Yu were here, I'd kill them all, even if the Heavenly King himself were here!
The actions of the Prince of Xiliang described in the text filled him with admiration. To defeat an enemy army of 100,000 with a small force—what a display of courage!
He was truly invincible. From the very beginning, Lin Yi was unstoppable. Wherever he went, his enemies fled in terror. His overwhelming and heroic spirit was enough to make anyone's blood boil just thinking about it.
That's a real man!
ah?
Zhang Ci was dumbfounded. Had Hao Datong gone mad? Why was he suddenly praising Lin Yi?
Has she been brainwashed?
He glanced at the newspaper in Hao Datong's hand, and then began to read the article titled "Have you ever risked your life for someone in this life?" His pupils contracted in surprise; it turned out to be about that matter.
He could only sigh, "So that's how it was back then. Your Highness was truly full of ambition. Tuoba Yu made a mistake in choosing the wrong person!"
At first glance, I only thought Lin Yi was very bold, daring to chase down 100,000 enemies with 30,000 men. Now, after reading this article, I realize just how indignant Lin Yi was back then.
Tuoba Yu had indeed provoked a formidable opponent; most people wouldn't dare to take such a risky gamble. Unfortunately for him, he encountered Lin Yi.
A true man among men.
Thirty thousand men managed to drive a hundred thousand-strong army into a complete rout. Just thinking about it is amazing. No wonder he is the Prince of Xiliang!
"Hahaha, I like that saying too. Whether I've ever risked my life for someone or not, I've lived my whole life for my lord. Anyone who dares to provoke my lord, I'll fight them to the death!" Ma Chao said in a deep voice, a resolute look flashing in his eyes.
As a martial artist and a soldier, he was willing to risk his life; the key question was, for whom was he risking his life?
He was willing to risk his life for his lord without hesitation!
"Me too. Only our lord deserves our desperate sacrifices. No one else is qualified!" Zhang Liao nodded in agreement.
Gongsun Zan and the others readily agreed, ready to risk their lives for their lord without hesitation!
Forehead!
Seeing such a surging scene, Zhang Ci and Hao Datong were dumbfounded. Lin Yi was so popular, which was not a good thing. With Xiliang so united, it would be harder than climbing to heaven for the emperor to take back Ningchuan Commandery in the future.
Lin Yi was quite pleased. Although he knew they wouldn't betray him, he still felt relieved to hear the statements of these outstanding individuals.
"It's enough that you have the will. I have always won people over with Win People Over with Virtue. If we are of one mind, Xiliang will surely be invincible in the future. What do you think?"
He looked at Zhang Ci and the other person, and said meaningfully.
Ma Chao and the others also turned their gazes to them, instantly striking Zhang Ci and Hao Datong like a thunderbolt, leaving them feeling completely disoriented.
What does this mean? Is it asking them to choose sides?
"With 150,000 troops under your command, Your Highness is undoubtedly invincible," Zhang Ci said with a dry laugh.
Lin Yi chuckled, not pressing him for anything, but instead asked, "Are you two the Prefect and Commandant of Youning Commandery? What brings you here to my door?"
This immediately hit the nail on the head, leaving Zhang Ci with no way to avoid it.
He came here seeking Lin Yi's help, and if he didn't offer anything in return, Lin Yi probably wouldn't help him; after All Under Heaven, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
But here's the problem!
What does Lin Yi want from me? This is a very serious question.
Youning Commandery?
However, if he were to give Youning Commandery to Lin Yi, the Emperor would likely send the Great Ning Guard to assassinate him.
He glanced at Hao Datong beside him, who was also looking at him. The two stared at each other, and he felt a chill run down his spine. This was not a good question to ask, and it would be awkward if he were rejected.
However, if we say nothing, then this trip will have been in vain, Youning Commandery will still be in danger.
If Great Ning comes to the rescue, that would be fine, but if Great Ning's support doesn't arrive, Youning Commandery will be doomed. Therefore, if he wants to be absolutely sure, he must have Lin Yi's support.
This is the man who defeated Tuoba Yu, and nominally a member of the Great Ning. Even if I were to seek him out myself, it wouldn't be considered treason.
Let's give it our all!
Zhang Ci gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, Tuoba Yu is currently wreaking havoc in the Great Wasteland Commandery and could threaten Youning Commandery at any time. Your Highness is known as the nemesis of the Northern Barbarians. Could you lend a helping hand at this critical moment?"
So what if I lose face? Losing face in front of Lin Yi, the Prince of Xiliang, isn't a shameful thing. Most people don't even have that opportunity.
"The nemesis of the Northern Barbarians?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yi couldn't help but smile. This Zhang Ci was quite good at flattery, managing to come up with such a nickname.
However, this is not something that can be done by talking; there must be a price to pay.
Seeing Zhang Ci's anxious expression, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "Prefect Zhang, I can't help you with this matter. The Northern Barbarians don't pose a threat to my Xiliang right now, so I have no need to provoke them!"
Although he decided to deal with the Northern Region Barbarians, that was for the future, not now.
If he were to intervene now, he would be helping Great Ning, which is not in his best interest.
"Your Highness, we are willing to offer some compensation as a token of our appreciation for your hard work. Tuoba Yu is terrified of you and will certainly not dare to fight back." Zhang Ci didn't mince words and directly stated his intentions.
That's right, it's money!
Money can make the devil turn the millstone, so he planned to use money to persuade Lin Yi to help suppress Tuoba Yu.
"Remuneration?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of disdain flashed in Lin Yi's eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Brother Zhang may not know my temperament. I am not interested in money, otherwise I would not have distributed the recovered supplies to the people."
The subtext is that I, the king, am not short of money, and money cannot sway me.
Forehead!
This statement left Zhang Ci, who was about to haggle, dumbfounded. Could there really be someone in the All Under Heaven who wasn't interested in money, and now he was standing right in front of her? This seemed rather absurd.
He looked up at Lin Yi and saw that Lin Yi was staring straight at him, not joking at all, which left him completely dumbfounded.
Holy crap, I actually stumbled upon something that's free.
Seeing the two looking completely bewildered, Lin Yi chuckled inwardly. If you also had a Winning People Over with Virtue System, you wouldn't be interested in money either, since there are many things that money can't buy.
For example, are sweet potatoes and potatoes available in this area?
Of course not.
As for weapons and equipment, although they can be manufactured with money, the designs can't be produced overnight, of course not.