Chapter 484: Northern Di Draws Blood

Latest website: "Hahaha... That's right, as close as one family."

The lamps in the tent flickered, and Tiemuta's face was alternately bright and dark.

Hearing this, he laughed incessantly.

Seeing this, Dou Wei chimed in with laughter.

After a while, Tiemuta put away his smile and said to Dou Wei, "Without Prime Minister Dou, how could the Northern Di and the Great Song be as close as one family now? Upon learning that Prime Minister Dou had arrived at Wuguan, the Khan ordered me to come and present Prime Minister Dou with a generous gift from the Northern Di to thank the Prime Minister."

Dou Wei felt a surge of joy in his heart, but he said, "The Khan is truly too kind. This is merely a small matter, and it is simply my duty."

Tiemuta shook his head, "The Prime Minister is too modest."

Having said this, he pulled a sheepskin scroll from his bosom and ordered the soldiers in the tent to hand it to Dou Wei.

Dou Wei unfolded the sheepskin scroll with suspicion, but after just one glance, his hands began to tremble slightly.

What was recorded on this sheepskin scroll was actually the Art of Cannon Casting.

"Great King Tiemuta, this, this..." He was already unable to speak.

A smile played on the corners of Tiemuta's mouth; he had anticipated that Dou Wei would be very agitated.

After all, this was the Northern Di's method of casting cannons.

In Xiangcheng, his Great Khan and younger brother Wulanba had both decided to hand the Art of Cannon Casting over to Dou Wei.

And he had strongly opposed it at the time.

It was not until his Great Khan explained it that he stopped obstructing it.

This time, his Great Khan was determined to deal with Yan Wang.

Kutu, Enke, and Sa'erge, three great kings, had died one after another at the hands of Yan Wang.

In this war, two more royal tents had been lost to Yan Wang.

Furthermore, Yan Wang had attacked Ningjin Dusi, slaughtered many small tribes of the Curved Blade Royal Tent, and snatched away a large number of cattle, sheep, warhorses, and young, strong slaves.

Because of all this, Yan Wang had now become a thorn in their eyes; they could not sleep until it was removed.

Therefore, after the peace negotiation plan was set, his Great Khan prepared to crush Yan Wang from two aspects.

The first was within the Great Song.

After the peace negotiation, the Northern Di would have normal dealings with the Great Song Imperial Court, excluding Yan Wang.

Taking this opportunity, they would exploit the conflict between the Great Song's powerful clans and the Imperial Clan, standing on the side of the powerful clans to support them.

And the Dou Family was the powerful clan they had chosen.

One reason for this was that during the previous incident in Jinzhou, the Dou Family had already had secret contact with them.

He could see that this Dou Family was a sinister character and possessed great ambition.

Secondly, the area outside Wuguan would henceforth be Northern Di territory.

This would facilitate dealings between the two sides.

Thus, by supporting the growth of the Dou Family and letting their ambition swell, perhaps the Dou Family could become a fire that would bring chaos to the Great Song.

This was undoubtedly beneficial to the Northern Di.

However, this was their long-term goal for the Northern Di; they could not count on the Dou Family within a year or so.

But in the short term, it would be beneficial to the Northern Di to let Dou Wei trip Yan Wang up a little.

The second aspect could only rely on the Northern Di themselves.

Although his Great Khan had not yet thought of a way to deal with Yan Wang for the time being.

However, they would soon implement a plan to keep Yan Wang firmly contained along the Yanzhou line.

For them, this would at least be beneficial to the Great Song's powerful clans and would curb Yan Wang's development.

"This was ordered by the Khan to be given to you powerful clans of the Great Song, but it is not just for your Dou Family; Prime Minister Dou must not keep it to yourself." Tiemuta stared at Dou Wei.

According to his Great Khan's intention, the Great Song's powerful clans were constrained by the cannons made by Yan Wang, which would make them hesitant when dealing with Yan Wang.

Rather than that, it would be better to give the Northern Di's cannon-casting method to the Great Song's powerful clans.

In any case, whether they gave it or not, the Great Song would not lack cannons.

Giving it to them would win the favor of the powerful clans and simultaneously strike at the cannon trade between Yan Wang and the powerful clans.

"So that's how it is." Dou Wei was slightly disappointed; Tiemuta seemed to be serious.

If he did not do this, he feared the Northern Di would hand it over to the other families themselves.

But he immediately became excited again.

Even so, at least the Dou Family would no longer be constrained by Yan Wang regarding cannons in the future.

Moreover, it was said that the Northern Di's cannons were not much different from the cannons Yan Wang sold to them.

Furthermore, although the Northern Di required it to be shared with the powerful clans, he would simply claim that it was the Dou Family's own initiative to share it, and the other families would inevitably be grateful to him.

Thinking this through, he could not help but feel smug.

"Besides the cannons, there is the matter of the Border Market this time. I presume Prime Minister Dou also knows about the Black Shark Sea Bandits. It is now impossible to transport Northern Di warhorses to Qizhou by sea, which is why the Great Khan added the Border Market clause to the peace negotiations," Tiemuta said.

Rising and walking to Dou Wei's side, he continued, "Although the Border Market is trade between two countries, placing it outside Wuguan is also the Khan's way of thanking the Dou Family. In future Border Market trade, we of the Northern Di will treat the Dou Family with sincerity."

Hearing this, Dou Wei felt as if he had listened to celestial music all night; he was almost floating with delight.

If he could obtain the benefits of the Border Market, his Dou Family would not only earn handsome profits but also obtain a large number of warhorses to build a powerful cavalry.

"Many thanks to the Khan." He, who usually kept his emotions hidden, could not hide his excitement this time. "The Khan is so generous; it truly makes me feel grateful. I wonder if there is anything the Khan needs my Dou Family to do."

"Nothing," Tiemuta said indifferently.

"Nothing?" Dou Wei was startled again.

The Northern Di treated his Dou Family so generously that he had assumed the Northern Di would make demands, just as they did with the Yuan Family.

But he had not expected to get this result.

"Truly nothing. This time, we of the Northern Di are merely thanking Prime Minister Dou for facilitating the peace negotiations," Tiemuta said, beaming.

He knew clearly that the powerful clans were different from the Yuan Family; having seen the world, it was difficult for these powerful clans to betray the Great Song Dynasty for a small profit.

Unless they were driven to a dead end.

According to the words of his Great Khan, the powerful clans were a piece of rotting flesh on the body of the Great Song Dynasty.

They, the Northern Di, only needed to provide them with food and let this piece of rotting flesh continue to grow.

When the body of the Great Song Dynasty could no longer support it, their opportunity would arrive.

Most importantly, even if they were to set conditions, they would be conditions aimed at the likes of Yan Wang.

And this time, they, the Northern Di, would truly fulfill the truce agreement in the peace talks and no longer stir up disputes with the Imperial Court of the Great Song Dynasty.

In this way, the threat of Yan Wang would grow in the eyes of the powerful clans.

Without them even needing to ask, the powerful clans would find ways to contain Yan Wang.

The strategy of attacking from both inside and outside was thus formed.

If they managed to strangle Yan Wang at that time, and the powerful clans then fell into internal strife, it would be as easy as turning over one's hand for them, the Northern Di, to seize the Great Song Dynasty's empire.

Thinking of this, he could not help but reveal an expectant look in his eyes.

He hoped their strategy of advancing by retreating against the Imperial Court of the Great Song Dynasty would succeed this time.

The two spoke of some idle matters again, and not until the moon was high in the sky did Dou Wei reluctantly depart.

On the road to Wuguan.

Dou Wei gazed at the moon, which looked like a jade plate, feeling light and airy all over.

The strength displayed by the Liang Family and the collusion between the Han and Wang families made him dare not be certain that he could defeat them.

But this Border Market would cause the strength of the Dou Family to expand in a short period of time.

Before long, their Dou Family would once again look down upon the other powerful clans.

When that time came, no one would be able to stop him from sending the Third Prince to the imperial throne.