Tusi Adu didn't know how he walked, but he was already far away from Zhang Jiuli. Several people around him looked around vigilantly. These were all his most loyal subordinates.
"Master Sun, how true and false are those words just now?"
Master Sun was left behind by Tusi Adu's father. In his early years, he was also a famous master in the areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Unfortunately, he got into trouble and offended the aristocratic families. He could not survive at least in the territory of the Tang Dynasty, so he had no choice but to come here for refuge. Later, he was discovered by Tusi Adu's father and stayed in the mountains as a military advisor.
It can be said that without the help of Master Sun, Tusi Adu would not even be able to suppress the generals in his own stronghold. After all, he is too young to be in charge of such a large area, and there are many people who are unwilling to accept it.
But with the help of Master Sun, these people collapsed within two or three years, including their heads, which are probably nowhere to be found now. Therefore, Master Sun is the person that Tusi Adu trusts the most. Although Master Sun is a Han Chinese, if it were not for this Han Chinese, let alone being in charge of this area over the years, he might not even have been able to keep his life.
"It's half true, half false. We'll have to wait and see for a while. But based on my understanding of the Crown Prince, the Tusi system probably won't survive. As for why they chose us, it's probably because they wanted to be quick. If they had enough time, they should have chosen Longchuan Tusi. Of course, Longchuan Tusi wouldn't accept it."
Master Sun had been pondering this matter. He wasn't sure about other things, but he was certain about the Tusi system. Just as Zhang Jiuli had said, how could a man with the world at heart allow a kingdom within a kingdom to exist beside him? Regardless of what the history books said or what he himself thought, such a situation would never be allowed to occur.
"If I also disagree and unite with the other chieftains to fight against His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, what are our chances of winning?"
Chief Adu was still hesitant in his heart. Of course, he still hoped to maintain the current situation. It would be best if their system could be passed down. He also wanted to pass on the position of chieftain for generations. Of course, the leader of every dynasty thought so. As for whether it could be passed down in the end, it depended on how they operated.
"It's hard for me to say. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is valiant and skilled in warfare, having conquered several surrounding countries. However, our geographical location is also very different. Countless imperial armies throughout history have sought to invade, but they never had the opportunity. But can we afford the gamble? This is something you need to consider. If he says so, the worst that can happen is that we can return to Chang'an, reorganize our troops, and then come back to fight again next year. But if we lose, when will we be able to recover to our best?"
Master Sun seemed to have not answered this question, but in fact he had already said it very clearly. The comprehensive strength of the two sides is not on the same level. If they fail, they can only go back and recuperate. If we fail, there is no room for recuperation at all.
What's more, by then the mountains will definitely be closed everywhere. The Tang Dynasty is different from other dynasties. Other dynasties may lift the blockade for the sake of the lives of the surrounding people, but the Tang Dynasty can completely follow the example of Liaodong. In order to harass Goguryeo and prevent them from farming, the Tang Dynasty moved almost all the people in Liaodong to the inland. With this determination alone, can the chieftains in the mountains compare with it?
Of course, the most important thing is a manifestation of strength. If the Tang Dynasty did not have such a vast territory, even if these people were moved to other places, it would form an extremely unstable factor. If these people do not rebel today, it does not mean that they will not rebel tomorrow.
After listening to what Master Sun said, Tusi Adu fell silent. He had always thought that if the various Tusi united, they could at least curb the development of the Tang Dynasty. Now it seemed that they were not on the same level at all. If they united with the other three Tusi, they might not even have the advantage they have now.
"So I'm going to tell them I want to unite now?"
When Tusi Adu said this, his voice trembled. After all, this was everything that his ancestors had preserved. If they surrendered to the court in his hands now, he couldn't imagine how he would face his ancestors in the future.
"Don't agree right now. If we agree right away, it will make us look like we have little status. Wait until the Tang Dynasty is in trouble and agree. Giving timely assistance is always better than adding icing on the cake."
Master Sun said helplessly. He also knew that he had to take this step. He had committed a crime in the Tang Dynasty. If he really surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he might have to continue to flee south for his life. But Tusi Adu's father had done him a great favor. If it really came to that, even if he had to live in exile for the rest of his life, he had to make it happen.
"But Master Sun, you..."
Tusi Adu suddenly thought of this matter. After all, the person whom Master Sun offended was not an ordinary person. They were the famous Five Surnames and Seven Clans in the territory of the Tang Dynasty. Under the pressure of those people, even the royal family had to make concessions, let alone a mere master.
"After all, I'm alone. It doesn't matter where I go. Besides, I've been in the mountains for so long. I want to go down and hide my identity. The gold, silver and treasures you and your father have given me over the years should be enough to buy my life."
What Master Sun said now was the truth. He was not originally a person who lived in the mountains. In order to save his life, he had been staying in the mountains all these years. In the end, he still wanted to go back to his hometown to take a look.
Tusi Adu was originally a little suspicious of Master Sun, and he had always been suspicious of these Han people. Now that Master Sun said this, it meant that he really cared about them.
The night fell into silence again. The people on the mountain did not make much change. Perhaps everyone believed Zhang Jiuli's assurance that they just needed to keep their troops in place. Li Xiang would go to Nanzhao after a while and would not stay here for too long. Many chieftains and bureaucrats on the mountain also thought so. People like Li Xiang had a long-term vision and would not focus on a small place like ours. What's more, there were mountains everywhere and there was not much benefit in the mountains.
