"Big brother, it's no problem for me to leave some prairie elite troops here for half a year. This time when I came to Jing Country, I did bring some cavalry with me."
Inside the imperial study room, Sanda readily agreed, "Then let's exchange two of my prairie warriors for two imperial physicians from Jing Country."
[Heh, this is the modern university exchange student mechanism, huh? The two countries complement each other's strengths, while the Emperor father can keep the target Duoti and continue courting him.]
Xiao Chuchu, being held by Wei Zheng behind the study room, resolutely praised her father's strategy.
[Apply some pressure on the child, Bu-shi, apply some pressure on the father, it really works.]
[Emperor father, the uncarved block can indeed be carved.]
Xiao Yunzhou heard this and was delighted, his face beaming with joy.
His celestial daughter had affirmed him.
"Virtuous brother, excellent!" Xiao Yunzhou laughed heartily and raised his cup to Sanda. "I was worried you wouldn't be willing to let them go."
Sanda waved his hand, "Hey, big brother, since you call me brother, I naturally can't let you be at a disadvantage."
He was no fool; Xiao Yunzhou wasn't his real brother.
Jing Country wasn't helping the prairie for free.
Even the previous trade had been established on the basis of mutual benefit for both countries.
Now, Jing Country not only agreed to let them deposit money in Jing Country's banks, but was also willing to teach them the inoculation technique that could reduce mortality rates.
For Sanda, the importance of the two imperial physicians from Jing Country was no less than that of two iron cavalry from the prairie.
After all, while the prairie didn't lack brave warriors, it lacked advanced medical techniques.
Xiao Yunzhou's proposal to exchange the imperial physicians with prairie cavalry for half a year was perfect for Sanda's needs!
"Big brother, I won't bother with pleasantries. If the prairie needs to borrow money in the future, we will go to Jing Country's banks."
"Although we are not one family, we are like one. As for the people I brought this time, you can choose whoever you want. They are all skilled in horse taming and archery."
Sanda was being very generous.
Xiao Yunzhou's gaze flickered, his complex eyes briefly scanning over the few tall, muscular generals standing behind Sanda.
Duoti.
He wanted this man.
Courting this person was not only in accordance with the celestial realm's instructions but also conveniently solved the future crisis of a prairie traitor being bribed by Chu State for his 'good brother'.
Sanda shouldn't be angry, should he? He should be grateful instead.
After some thought, Xiao Yunzhou felt no psychological burden.
But soon, his expression froze.
Heaven knows, he didn't even know which one was Duoti!
Behind Sanda, there were currently four prairie men, all burly and broad-shouldered, dressed in light prairie armor.
The two on the left were particularly tall and fierce-looking, with arms as thick as bowls and extremely formidable appearances.
Duoti should be one of these two tallest ones, right?
Xiao Yunzhou cleared his throat and began, "Virtuous brother, how about these two..." His gaze drifted towards the tallest one on the left, but just for an instant, his outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
[Heh, the novel mentions that Duoti's stature is considered short and sturdy on the prairie.]
Xiao Chuchu pondered in her heart.
"???"
Xiao Yunzhou's gaze froze, suddenly shifting from the tallest one on the left to the 'valley' in the middle—the shortest of the sturdy men.
This sturdy man's height was about the same as Xiao Yunzhou, the Emperor of Jing Country.
Was this the stature that the celestial realm recognized as one of the 108 elites?
Xiao Yunzhou's attempt to name him faltered, and in that instant, he heard his daughter's celestial voice softly emerge.
[According to the author's setting, Duoti was bullied by his tribesmen and neighbors for being short when he was young.]
[So at the age of thirteen, he ran away from home and followed the adults to war. In every battle, he would fiercely charge ahead, not caring about his life, always running at the front and finding the enemy's weaknesses with courage and wisdom.]
[Through sheer hard work, he eventually proved that although his height was lacking, his ferocity and strength were more than enough.]
[By the age of thirty-three in the novel, Duoti had already become the number one warrior in the prairie's vanguard.]
[Woo-ooh, Father Emperor, don't choose the wrong person. Taller doesn't necessarily mean better.]
[Please don't court the wrong target.]
"!"
Xiao Yunzhou's heart trembled; indeed, the people valued by the celestial realm all had legendary stories behind them.
Immediately, he turned his pointing hand from the left and moved it towards the 'valley' in the group of four behind Sanda—the shortest but sturdiest armor-clad figure.
"Virtuous brother, this general's eyes are like a tiger's, brimming with energy and ready to pounce. I find him quite impressive." Xiao Yunzhou's gaze was full of praise. "I wonder if you are willing to part with him?"
Sanda and the 'valley' Duoti behind him were both stunned, their expressions slightly surprised.
"Big brother, you have a keen eye," Sanda truly admired Xiao Yunzhou's old brother, his eye was too sharp, "to spot the best warrior I brought with me at a glance!"
The more he interacted with Xiao Yunzhou, the more Sanda realized that the Emperor of Jing Country was no ordinary man.
Before arriving, he had thought Jing Country was inferior to Chu State, but in the short twenty days or so he had stayed, he had a premonition that Jing Country would not fear Chu State in the future and might even surpass it!
"Last time, I heard the envoy say that you, big brother, spotted my prairie's finest horse at a glance even in the pitch-black night. I thought it was just luck." Sanda clicked his tongue in admiration.
Xiao Yunzhou remained composed, "It's nothing, just a bit of an eye for such things."
It was just due to the guidance of the little celestial princess from the celestial realm.
He looked at Sanda with sympathy. Good brother, you don't understand the joy of having someone from the celestial realm.
"Duoti, don't you quickly pay respects to the Emperor of Jing!" Sanda immediately waved his hand freely. "For this half year, you must respect the Emperor of Jing as you respect me and follow Jing Country's arrangements. Understood?"
Xiao Yunzhou cleared his throat. No need for that.
Sanda's brother was about to be stolen!
But soon, Xiao Yunzhou looked towards the Duoti who was about to pay respects and was about to smile when he heard a howl from his own daughter.
[Woo, Duoti's favorability towards my father has dropped to -5%.]
[Terrible!]
Xiao Chuchu made a cooing sound in her swaddling clothes.
Xiao Yunzhou: "...!"
He looked incredulously at the seemingly loyal and sturdy Duoti standing before him.
[The King of Chu sent Duoti a lavish gift, so Duoti thinks the King of Chu values him greatly.]
[In contrast, Sanda didn't even ask a question before sending him to Jing Country, making Sanda seem to value Duoti much less compared to the King of Chu.]
Xiao Chuchu clicked her tongue helplessly.
[Duoti's heart must have been angered, and as a result, he also has no goodwill towards the Emperor father.]
Xiao Yunzhou inwardly sighed, casting a gloomy look at the uncouth Sanda.
He had been implicated.
[Woo-ooh, the system says, congratulations to me, I've discovered one of Duoti's character weaknesses - high self-esteem.]
Xiao Chuchu found that she had been rewarded with twenty points.
Unfortunately, the courting mission was not progressing but regressing.
[Alas, I guess Duoti also thinks my emperor father is not a wise ruler, thinking he can point at anyone he wants, assuming that the warriors from the grasslands are all pushovers, without even asking if they're willing to stay.]
[Tsk, my father's imperial manner indeed ignores the voices of the grassroots, not treating them as humans.]
Xiao Chuchu scolded in her heart.
Xiao Yunzhou's hand soon trembled uncontrollably.
Busying himself before the sturdy and sturdy Duoti, and bowing to him in time, he spoke up, "Ahem, don't hurry to bow to Zhen!"
Duoti looked puzzled, and indeed stopped moving.
Xiao Yunzhou wiped his sweat in fear, "Ahem, Zhen respects every hero in the world."
"Duoti, you are a heroic figure, Jing Country welcomes you, but I don't know if you are willing to stay for half a year to exchange the ways of riding, archery, and military training?"
"If you don't want to, Zhen won't force a hero."
Duoti had an honest appearance, making it easy for people to overlook his strong temper inside.
His brows and eyes were like those of an ox, but at this moment, the unfriendly, disapproving dark color suddenly rippled after Xiao Yunzhou's words.
Duoti couldn't help but raise his head and look straight at Emperor Xiao Yunzhou, whom he had previously thought little of.
[Woof!]
[Duoti's favorability increased by 5%, back to 0%.]
Xiao Chuchu breathed a sigh of relief and set off fireworks in her heart.
Xiao Yunzhou was also delighted, but only for a moment.
[Damn, my old man's fierce operation was like a tiger, but upon closer inspection, he was stuck in place.]
[Dang, after all that fuss, it's back to 0 again...]
Xiao Yunzhou's face suddenly turned red, and his imperial arrogance completely disappeared.
His daughter's scolding was right.
He, this incompetent ruler, was stuck in place after all that fuss, and he had to thank his daughter.
Duoti scrutinized Xiao Yunzhou, and happened to catch the sight of the Jing Country emperor's arrogance fading and his humble self-reflection.
His gaze changed.
Then, Duoti couldn't help but blurt out, "Duoti is willing."
After all, the King of Chu had asked him to sabotage the alliance between the two countries.
Staying in Jing Country... would be better.
That's how Duoti convinced himself.