Chapter 262: Su Lei Completes the Map

Su Lei heard that and his expression grew somewhat complicated; this grassland has always been the law of the jungle, and their tribe is being bullied because they are weak, but saying he feels no grievance is impossible.

Seeing the other party hesitate, Luo Feng thought to himself that there was drama, and immediately continued, "Your tribe's youths die for the grassland, yet you have to leave here; I feel sorry for you!"

He knew full well that the man before him was inciting, yet Su Lei had to admit that he was indeed unwilling, and more importantly…

If he remained silent, could this man let his people go?

Su Lei looked around, saw the opponent's soldiers encircling them, and the tribe members' faces were filled with terror; finally Su Lei made up his mind.

"General! May I make a deal with you? You know, I am a merchant!"

Luo Feng raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat amusing; the lives of their tribe were in his hands, yet they still dared to negotiate terms with him?

"Deal? What could you offer that would move me?"

Luo Feng then said, "Tell me Wang Ting's location, and that alone can exchange your tribe's lives!"

Su Lei stepped two paces closer to Luo Feng, "General, Wang Ting's tribe surrounds us! I regret to say so, but with your forces, going there would be nothing but a death sentence!"

"That is my problem, not yours!" Luo Feng's tone grew even colder.

Su Lei lowered his voice, "General, this place is still some distance from Wang Ting, but…

…the distance to Hun Xie is actually quite close!"

"Hun Xie?" This was the first time Luo Feng had heard that name, and he did not know what it signified.

"Exactly!" Su Lei explained, "As I mentioned before, thirty years ago I did business in Lin City!"

Luo Feng perked up his ears, signaling Su Lei to continue.

"At that time the grassland was home to countless tribes, and we had not yet clashed with Da Qian; that is why I could conduct trade in Lin City."

"What does this have to do with the one called Hun Xie?" Luo Feng did not want to hear the filler, urging Su Lei to get to the point.

Su Lei was not angry and continued, "These tribes fought each other, and conflicts between them were frequent. Then Hun Xie suddenly appeared and shattered everything; he subdued all the tribes and fully unified the grassland."

At that moment Luo Feng caught on, "So the conflict with Da Qian began only after the grassland was unified?"

"Because the grassland's resources were scarce, we could have traded cattle and sheep with Da Qian for necessary supplies. But Hun Xie advocated plunder, and that idea gained support from many," Su Lei explained promptly.

"Then what about Wang Ting's Chanyu?"

"Hun Xie's son!"

Upon hearing that, a spark of brilliance flashed in Luo Feng's eyes; he understood the nature of the deal Su Lei was referring to.

"So the deal you speak of is for me to go kill Hun Xie?"

Su Lei shook his head repeatedly, his tone cautious and humble: "General, I only tell you where Hun Xie is; I would never dare order you to act!"

Luo Feng squinted, thought calmly for a moment, then said, "What do you want?"

Su Lei rejoiced at the words, "General! If I share this information with you, no tribe on the grassland can accommodate us, so I wish to secure a safe haven for my people."

"This is hard to arrange!" Luo Feng shook his head and sighed; he wasn't bargaining, the matter was truly difficult.

Now the Beijiang people hate the Xiongnu as if they were murderers of their fathers; if the Ming Army dared to accept the Xiongnu, internal chaos would erupt at once, and the reputation and fame that the elder brother had painstakingly built would vanish overnight.

Su Lei hurriedly explained, "General, we are not asking to live in the city; we only seek a safe place on the grassland outside Frost City. As long as you guarantee not to send troops to wipe us out, that is all."

Luo Feng did not answer immediately; instead, he opened a map to examine.

Seeing the map, Su Lei was overjoyed, stepped forward and pointed to a spot, saying, "General, I wish to lead my people there; may we?"

Based on Su Lei's indication, Luo Feng found the location particularly strategic: it had a river branch, was very spacious, and the guards on the city wall could see the tribe's situation at a glance, leaving no room for hidden intentions.

Moreover, the Xiongnu Army rarely attacks in the direction of Frost City; as long as the Ming Army turns a blind eye, they can live here peacefully.

Since this spot has always been on the front line, no Xiongnu graze here, so the pastures are lush, making it a genuinely good location for ordinary herders.

But placing the tribe's lives entirely under the Ming Army's watchful eyes—having met only once—Su Lei's bold decision indeed shows a certain daring.

Luo Feng teased, "Aren't you afraid that if you live here, I might, on a bad‑mood day, wipe you out?"

"I have dealt with many Beijiang people; you value honesty above all, and I trust you," Su Lei said earnestly, showing no sign of doubt.

Luo Feng gave no reply; Su Lei was merely flattering him, and there is no trust between different peoples!

The purpose of Su Lei's move is easy to understand: other tribes on the grassland bully them, leaving them no choice but to migrate south.

But the closer they get to the south, the more likely they are to encounter armies; with both sides at war, being captured by the enemy would surely mean certain death.

Now encircled by Luo Feng, if he does not divulge any information, he will die today; by revealing it, he shows that the grassland cannot accommodate him.

In this deadlock, Su Lei forced himself to find a way out; though it carried a hint of humiliation of being under someone else's roof, it at least saved his life.

"Fine!"

After pondering for a long time, Luo Feng spoke: this does not count as accepting the Xiongnu, it will not affect his reputation, and with the other side under his watchful eye, he fears no changes.

But since it's a deal, the information Su Lei provides must be worth that price; otherwise, this won't end!

Su Lei was elated, first turning to soothe his nervous tribe, then moving beside Luo Feng and saying, "Hun Xie is extraordinarily brave, but now aged; he was once revered by the tribes as the Eagle of the Grassland, and in a month the Grand Sacrifice will occur, for which he is currently preparing."

"Where?"

"General, could you give me the map?" Su Lei straightened, staring directly at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng handed over the map, his gaze fixed on Su Lei; any sign of movement from him would receive no mercy.

Su Lei looked left and right, found no flat ground, and had to crouch on the earth to begin writing and drawing.

Luo Feng stood beside him, watched for a while, then his eyes lit up: Su Lei was completing the map for him!

Su Lei drew in great detail, marking Wang Ting's location and Hun Xie's current whereabouts on the map, even adding numerous notes for areas further north.

When Su Lei finished, he respectfully presented the map with both hands, "General, I wonder if this deal meets your satisfaction?"