Dao Fruit

Other people's eyes did not fall on the stone statue, but looked at the fish swimming in the water, sighing one after another.

A member of the Sanshui tribe said: "This fish is called 'North Sea Ice Fish'. It is as hard as ice on the outside, but it can be used after breaking the shell. It is delicious and juicy, with smooth meat. Swallowing it can generate heat and resist severe cold, and it can even be used as wine."

"It has such an effect?"

The envoys were immediately surprised, and their eyes on the swimming fish also changed.

Someone with quick thinking immediately said: "In that case, maybe Lord Su has been able to persist for many years because he ate this kind of fish!"

However, as soon as this was said, the Sanshui noble who introduced it looked embarrassed: "North Sea ice fish is not easy to catch. It is very spiritual. Don't even think about fishing it out with bait. It is also very flexible and strong. Even an adult man can't withstand a single impact. In addition, the sea water is cold, so it is difficult for anyone to catch it with bare hands."

Someone else added: "Even if you use a fishing net to catch it, it will still be difficult to succeed, because the ice fish will swim away before the net falls into the water. Even if it doesn't have time to escape, it can break out of the net with a sprint, which is useless."

Zhong Yan wondered: "In that case, how do you catch this fish? Since you know the taste and know that it can be added to wine, you must have experience."

As the question and answer went on, the slightly tense atmosphere among the crowd subsided. This was also what the Sanshui people hoped for, so they did not hesitate to bring out some of the clan's secrets.

"Because some people in the tribe have special blood, they can go into the water to keep warm in November and December every year. With the help of special ointment, they can apply it on their bodies to attract ice fish to come over and spread all over their bodies. The ointment is compatible with the blood and emits a fragrance. If the ice fish soaks in it for a long time, they will lose their strength and be caught in one fell swoop."

When saying this, the person who said it looked at the old Khan Yebalu from time to time. Seeing the latter nod secretly, he said it with confidence.

This physique theory involves the foundation of Sanshui. It also caused disasters at the beginning, so it must be prevented.

"There is such a thing?" Someone among the envoys immediately exclaimed, "It seems that the noble ancestor must be an extraordinary person."

This is a bit obscure, actually hinting that the ancestor of the Sanshui tribe is a cultivator who has achieved success in life cultivation.

Because the cultivator has reached the second stage of life cultivation and refined the seven souls, as long as the heroic soul is refined, this body of magical skills can retain a little fur in the blood, and then be passed down to the world from generation to generation, and do things beyond common sense.

It's not surprising that the three water tribesmen used blood to attract fish.

In fact, almost every tribe that can rise on the grassland has the ability to inherit the blood of Yingpo to some extent.

However, this kind of blood inheritance will inevitably become ordinary as time goes by and it will be diluted from generation to generation. Unless there is another change in the source of the blood, it will eventually disappear in history.

The fact that the three water tribesmen can easily use their special qualities at least shows that their ancestor lived not far from now. It also shows that the history of this tribe itself is not long.

Of course, after some explanations, everyone's ideas about how Su Gong lived back then have changed again, and they are more confused.

"In fact, this kind of ice fish can be exchanged with goods from the Central Plains," Meng Qingbin, who had been listening silently, suddenly spoke. As soon as he spoke, the content of his words made the Sanshui people present jump in their hearts, "Tea, salt and other things can be traded."

Hearing this, the Sanshui nobles were all excited. They were located in a remote area, but they were not unaware of the rich products in the Central Plains, and they had seen these things. Unfortunately, on the grassland, if you want to get these, there is generally only one way, that is, to get them through the hands of the Rouluo people.

Because the trade between the grassland and the Central Plains was controlled by the Rouluo people, in the earliest times, the Da Rui government had organized formal border transactions. Later, with the rise of Rouluo, it came to plunder, and the official transactions were banned, but as long as there was a demand, someone would take risks, so there was still a lot of private smuggling.

The Meng family behind Meng Qingbin, with its back to the border, also participated in these things. At this time, saying this also meant paving the way for the family-

Once the crisis was over, the part of him, the envoy, representing the national dignity, was a little dim, and the family's interests were put on the agenda again.

People's hearts are always changing with the environment. It's hard to see the bottom line and principles until the last moment.

Thinking about it, the old Khan of Sanshui said: "The good intentions of the envoy are very grateful to the people of Sanshui, but Sanshui is far away from Darui, and it has to pass through many tribes in the middle, and there are also the obstructions of the Rouluo people. I'm afraid it's difficult to trade directly."

"How could I not know this?" Meng Qingbin smiled slightly, "Now Rouluo has been severely damaged. When Darui and the nobles jointly send troops to defeat the remnants of Rouluo, the fertile grasslands of Rouluo will naturally belong to the nobles. Can the trade between the two sides be blocked again?"

He, the envoy of Darui, did not forget his mission while fighting for the interests of the family. After Qiu Yan's actions, he had already shocked the people of Sanshui. What he had to do next was to draw a blueprint for them, depicting the beautiful prospects after defeating the Rouluo people, and increase their enthusiasm.

It was a move of both kindness and power.

This made the old Khan Yebalu quite excited, but he was not blinded by the interests and did not express his opinion immediately. He just said: "Although Rouluo lost the Left Wise King, there are still three other kings and the Khan's headquarters. The strength is still there and it is impossible to be defeated in one battle."

"The Rouluo tribe is caught in internal strife, and the Left Wise King has been cut off. It has lost its wings. Even if it is not defeated in one battle, it will be torn apart. If the vacant land is not wanted by the Sanshui tribe, the court will give it to other tribes. The king should think it through." Meng Qingbin did not argue, and said lightly, "Moreover, if Rouluo is divided, the tribes that were forcibly conquered by it will surely scatter like birds and beasts, and then they will fall apart without attack."

There was already a threat in these words, telling Yebalu that the Sanshui tribe was not the only choice for Darui. This was also an unexpected move by Qiu Yan, which increased Darui's momentum and initiative. As a diplomat, Meng Qingbin could be more calm.

The old Khan was startled, but he did not dare to make a rash decision. He only said: "It is better to take a long-term view and discuss it with the envoy after returning to the tribe."

On the other side, after the initial shock, the envoys' eyes finally moved to the edge of the water. Someone saw the stone statue and immediately exclaimed.

"That stone statue is the Su Gong in your Central Plains." Duolu has always been paying attention to Qiu Yan's movements and expressions. When he heard the scream, he immediately introduced it.

"Is it there?"

Qiu Yan's eyes were dazed for a moment. In his vision, the sparkling lake and the snow in the sky suddenly disappeared. Instead, there was a snow-white grassland and a thin figure, wearing animal skins and holding a staff, walking alone.

However, this scene soon disappeared, and Zhao Can's question rang in his ears: "Is that where Su Gong lived? It was indeed bitter, cold and simple. How vicious were the Xiongbei back then! However, there was no grass nearby, and the cold wind was everywhere. How did Su Gong herd sheep? What kind of sheep can live in such a bad place?"

Dayan was an ancient dynasty in the Central Plains, and it had also shocked the four directions. At that time, it was the Xiongbei who rose on the grassland. The two sides attacked each other. The Su Gong mentioned by the people was Su Shi, the envoy sent by Dayan to the Xiongbei. Because of the war, he was intercepted by the Xiongbei Chanyu and forced to surrender.

Many people who traveled with Su Shi could not bear the pressure and declared their surrender, but Su Shi refused, so the Chanyu locked him up and did not give him food or water.

In the predicament, when Su Shi was hungry, he ate felt and chewed ice and snow, and endured for several days. Xiongbei thought it was very interesting and wanted to tease him, so he exiled him to the North Sea and asked him to herd rams, saying that he would be released only when the rams gave birth to lambs.

It was impossible for rams to give birth to lambs, so he was trapped for decades.

Even though Da Yan later offered sacrifices to Xiongbei and expelled them, the leading general asked about Su Shi's whereabouts, but Xiongbei did not tell him. It was a person who later went with Su Shi and surrendered to Xiongxian who revealed a little mystery. Unfortunately, Su Shi was no longer alive at that time.

But this incident has since spread throughout the world and become a well-known legend, and it has become the spiritual sustenance of many civil officials.

Before, Sanshui Khan said that Su Gong was stubborn and unyielding, and the envoys were so angry because their spiritual sustenance was insulted!

Later, under the guidance of the Sanshui people, Meng Qingbin, Qiu Yan and others slowly moved forward. The stone statue was located in a low-lying area. They had to walk down a slope. The ground was frozen and the surface was frozen. It was slippery to walk. They had to be careful, so they moved slowly.

It took nearly an hour to take a few steps. Many people were shivering from the cold, but no one complained. Even Qiu Yan, who could have arrived in one go, did not use his magical powers, but walked with others.

The closer they got, the more solemn the faces of the envoys became.

When they got close and saw the stone statue clearly, their hearts were moved, and their expressions changed.

The face of the stone statue was lifelike. Just looking at the face, you can tell that it was a skinny old man, wearing animal skins, holding a staff, facing south, and his face was still frozen with his expression before death.

Regret, attachment, and perseverance.

Deep in the ice in front of the stone statue, a few words can be vaguely seen. If you look carefully, you can recognize them -

I bow my head in front of you. I have failed to complete my mission and I am ashamed of my country.

Seeing this sentence, all the envoys trembled in their hearts, and felt indescribable sadness and sighs. The historian in the crowd had been prepared after what happened before. At this time, he took out paper and pen from his arms and was about to record it, but the cold wind blew and the ink froze first!

Qiu Yan was in the crowd and was also moved by the words. He even found a little true spirit in them. His mind trembled, and the Yin spirit in his body was actually attracted by the spirit in the words and flew out!

The next moment, the light and shadow changed, the wind and snow stopped, and a figure walked out of the stone statue. The surrounding scene changed drastically. It was no longer hard rocks and frozen soil, but turned into snow-white grass with knee-high grass.

The person who walked out of the stone statue held a staff and waved it in the air. There were no sheep around, but a group of...

wolves! (To be continued...)

ps: Thanks to "Adventurer*Tianyun" for the monthly vote!