Tuoba Xulu raised his head and looked at Sima Yi with hope.

A few months ago, Taifu Sima had solemnly comforted himself, telling him not to worry too much about the future of his people.

He also promised himself that as long as he could defeat the Han army this time, he would help him return to the grassland and rebuild the Tuoba clan.

At the beginning, the other party did deliver enough food and grass on time and in the right amount.

However, the good times did not last long, and began to gradually delay. Then, after repeated urging, the amount of food delivered was insufficient.

It's just that now I and others have nowhere to go, so they have to live under someone else's roof, and there are heavy troops stationed around Yecheng.

Not to mention, the remaining 50,000 troops of the Tuoba clan were unknowingly separated by people, making it difficult to communicate with each other.

To this day, in addition to the Tuoba headquarters, more than 10,000 people are still loyal to him.

Tuoba Xilu was not sure how many of the other tribe leaders were willing to obey his orders.

Under the various methods of Taifu Sima, the dignified grassland warriors did not dare to make any move. They could only come alone and beg Taifu to allocate food and grass to save the lives of their clansmen.

"Only Prince Tuoba also knows that the Han army is attacking urgently to the west of the Taihang Mountains, and Hebei must give preferential treatment to supply grain and grass to the soldiers in front."

Taifu Sima sighed, "Therefore, these days, I have no choice but to show slightness to your department."

Having said this, he raised his sleeves and covered his face, "Prince Tuoba came to my house several times. I didn't miss him on purpose, but it was just that I didn't have the face to meet him."

Putting down his sleeves, Master Sima sighed again, pointed at Fu Gu, and continued:

"Actually, I have already tried my best to prepare food and fodder for your department earlier."

"This Master Fu just came back from Pingyuan County. He was following my order to borrow food from the major families in Hebei..."

Having said this, he paused for a moment, seeming embarrassed, "How about I ask this Fu to tell you how he went to borrow food."

Hearing that the Grand Tutor had sent someone to borrow food for him, Tuoba Xilu felt happy and looked at Fu Gu longingly, trembling his lips:

"Fu Zhang, thank you very much..."

Fu Gu smiled bitterly and waved his hand:

"Don't thank me in a hurry. Although I am going to help your department borrow food, alas, nothing can be done..."

Seeing Fu Gu's expression and hearing these words again, Tuoba Xilu's heart, which had just risen from the bottom of the valley, suddenly fell back to the bottom:

"Fu Zheng, what do you mean by this?"

Fu Gu immediately recounted what he had said to Taifu Sima before in detail, with slight changes.

There are nine lies and one truth, which is the most difficult to distinguish.

After Tuoba Xilu heard this, he couldn't help but burst into tears again:

"What should I do?"

Then he turned to Taifu Sima and begged with tears:

"Master Taifu, my people accepted Taifu's invitation and braved the cold to travel, but now they have a family and it's hard to return. Taifu can't just ignore us!"

"Uh-huh! What did Prince Tuoba say? When did I say I don't care?"

Master Sima finally stood up and walked to Tuoba Xulu. He wanted to help him up and said warmly:

"I am talking to you about this, don't I just want to explain to you that I am not ignoring you, but I am trying my best to prepare food and grass for you?"

Tuoba Xilu, however, refused to get up and knelt in front of Taifu Sima. He raised his head pitifully and said:

"But, didn't Tai Tu say that there is a shortage of food and grass now, and those big households are unwilling to borrow food, what should we do?"

Taifu Sima did not answer immediately, but glanced at Fu Gu.

Fu Gu understood, stretched out his hand and together with Sima Taifu, pulled Tuoba Xilu up, and said:

"Actually, before Prince Tuoba came, Taifu and I had discussed it for a long time, and finally figured out the reason why they were unwilling to borrow food."

"The taxes in various places in Hebei are fixed. My going to borrow grain this time is no different from increasing taxes to those high-ranking families, so they are naturally unwilling."

"Therefore, I'm afraid we won't be able to come forward with this matter again." At this point, Fu Gu's eyes became meaningful, "But Prince Tuoba is different."

Tuoba Xulu was confused and looked at a loss:

"I don't understand what Fu Cheng means by this."

Fu Gu explained patiently with a smile:

"Prince Tuoba just said that your ministry is here to defend Hebei. Those wealthy families have been protected by your ministry, but now they refuse to reward them with food. It seems a bit disrespectful."

Hearing this, Tuoba Xulu already vaguely understood.

"So if Prince Tuoba brings people to borrow food in person, it might be much better than us coming in person."

Tuoba Xulu's breathing immediately became rapid, and some instincts in his body seemed to be ready to activate.

But in the past few months, he had finally been teased by Taifu Sima so much that he subconsciously looked at Taifu Sima and said:

"Isn't this not good?"

Taifu Sima is the lord of Hebei, would he really tolerate him doing this?

Master Sima said with a kind smile:

"Has Prince Tuoba ever heard the story of Yufuluo, the former Huns?"

Tuoba Xilu had a look of shame on his face: "I have only heard of his name, but I don't know much about him."

"Yufluo was originally the son of the Xiongnu Chanyu. He led his people into the Han Dynasty to help the later Han Dynasty quell the rebellion. Unexpectedly, his father Qiangqu Chanyu was killed, so Yufuluo could only stay in the Han Dynasty and was not allowed to return to the country."

Sima Yi briefly explained to Tuoba Xilu the old events of the Huns sixty years ago, "Speaking of which, there are many similarities between his and Tuoba Xilu's experiences."

"At that time, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty was critically ill and had no time to deal with the affairs of the Xiongnu. Therefore, Yufuluo and his tribe had no way out and no food and clothing, so they raised food on their own in Taiyuan, Hedong and other counties."

Of course, there are many manors and forts of aristocratic families in Hedong and other places. Yu Fuluo cannot plunder anything at all, but instead damages the army. Taifu Sima will not tell Tuoba Xilu about this.

This was one of the reasons why he finally listened to Fu Gu.

As long as the number of tribesmen brought out by Tuoba Xilu is controlled, and given the Hebei family's ability to protect themselves, these Xianbei barbarians will probably not cause too much harm.

And the Xianbei Hu people's movement and chaos can frighten the aristocratic families in Hebei.

After all, Taifu Sima has managed to stabilize most of the Xianbei barbarians.

But if food and grass continue to be insufficient, who can guarantee that the remaining Hu people will continue to listen to the Taifu?

Right?

——

Tuoba Xilu returned to his residence from Taifu's Mansion, his expression was still a little dazed, as if he still hadn't come back to his senses.

Tuoba Chuo, who had been looking forward to it all this time, felt a chill in his heart when he saw his second brother in this state.

However, these days, the two brothers have repeatedly asked to see him, but they have never been able to see Taifu Sima, and Tuoba Chuo has become accustomed to it.

He comforted:

"Second brother, it doesn't have to be like this, the worst is next time..."

Before he finished speaking, Tuoba Xulu said:

"Brother, I met Taifu."

"Ah?" Tuoba Chuosheng swallowed back his unfinished words, "Brother, have you met the Taifu? Why is it like this? Could it be that the Taifu has rejected my brother's request?"

"It's true, but it doesn't count as rejection?" Tuoba Xulu didn't know what to say, so he explained the matter in detail.

After Tuoba Chuo heard this, his first reaction was: "Brother, is there a scam in this?"

Let others plunder your rule?

Isn't it strange that such abnormal things don't make people suspicious?

"Brother, we have retreated. This is our only chance."

Obviously, Tuoba Xilu also thought a lot on the way back, and his eyes flickered:

"We two brothers have been trapped here for several months. Recently, the number of adults from various tribes that we can see has become increasingly rare. Except for our own tribe, the Tuoba clan, all other tribes have not been seen for a long time."

"This time Sima Yi asked us to take people out. Regardless of whether it is a scam or not, this is our best chance."

"If not, if this continues, I'm afraid even our tribe members will have different intentions."

After Tuoba Chuo listened, he remained silent and finally nodded:
Chapter completed!