As the weather gradually turned colder, the battle between Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, the Black Mountain Army and other forces entered a relatively peaceful stage. Each of the forces on their own side huddled in their own military strongholds, and everyone was quietly waiting for winter.
After that, we will use our own methods next year.
But it was during this relatively peaceful period that Yuan Shao received the message he least wanted to receive.
The action of Wuhuan Prince Lou Ban, who conspired with himself to kill the pottery merchant, ended in failure, and Lou Ban himself was captured alive by the pottery merchant.
Qiu Liju, the leader of the Three Kings Tribe, now sent people to ask Yuan Shao for his request.
And that's not the worst.
What makes Yuan Shao even more worried is that Zhen Mi, who is in charge of all business affairs of the Zhen family, has also fallen into the hands of pottery merchants.
When Yuan Shao heard the news at first, he suddenly became panicked. He hurriedly asked Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Pang Ji, Guo Tu and others to discuss countermeasures.
The Zhen family has strong financial resources, and now Zhen Mi, who is in charge of the family business, has fallen to the pottery merchant. If she turns around and supports the pottery merchant, Tao will be able to take root in Hebei from now on.
After everyone heard what happened, everyone began to lower their heads and think deeply.
Not long after, Jushou was the first to speak: "General, this matter is somewhat difficult to handle... Putting aside everything else, the Zhen family has too much money, shops, cattle, horses, and food in Hebei, and
It is a top priority that the eldest lady of the Zhen family, who is in charge of all this, falls into the hands of a pottery merchant... After all, she is a woman. If she cannot withstand the torture of the pottery merchant in the end and gives away the Zhen family's property, we want to give it away in the future.
It would be difficult for people named Tao to be expelled from Hebei."
Yuan Shao sighed and said: "This matter is all Yuan's fault. Now that Prince Wuhuan and the daughter of the Zhen family have all fallen into the hands of the pottery merchant, what should we do about this matter?"
Everyone looked at me and I looked at you, but no one said anything.
In the end, Guo Tu stood up and said: "General, in fact, this matter can be easily solved. The reason why the Zhen family is important is just because its family wealth ranks first in Hebei. This is a deep consideration. Now the Zhen family's shop is
The person at the helm is Zhen Mi, but the actual head of the family is Zhen Yao. The general might as well ask Zhen Yao to return to Zhongshan immediately and order him to sit in the old house and take care of the Zhen family's property for the general. In this way, Zhen Mi is in Tao
It is useless in the hands of merchants."
After hearing this, Yuan Shao nodded: "What you said is a good idea. It's feasible."
Pang Ji hesitated and said: "General, this method is probably a little too vicious, right?"
Guo Tu sneered and turned to look at Pang Ji, saying: "Pang Yuan Tu, we helped the Zhen family preserve their assets, why are we so vicious?"
Pang Ji shook his head and said: "The pottery merchant saw through our plan. No matter how he saw through it, he must have known about it by now. If it is delayed for a long time, I'm afraid, I'm afraid it will hurt that person."
Miss Zhen’s life!”
Hearing this, Guo Tuha couldn't help but sneered: "You Pang Yuantu, when did you become so interested in the woman named Zhen again? Could it be that you are coveting the beauty of that woman?"
"Bah!" Pang Ji spat fiercely and said: "Guo Gongze, don't you dare to bury someone! How old am I, why am I thinking about that woman? Aren't I just telling the truth? Another one, then
The woman is the one that the Second Young Master admires. It’s not like you don’t know that the Second Young Master has a deep love for the woman. He asked the general for marriage many times but was not successful. If he knew that the woman was in the enemy’s hands, the general would do this to kill her.
If we give up, won’t it easily create a rift between father and son?”
Jushou said to Yuan Shao from the side: "General, these things are not impossible. After all, the second young master is young and energetic, and he has great admiration for the daughter of the Zhen family. If he knew..."
Yuan Shao said lightly: "What can he do if he knows? How dare he do anything to me, my biological father? He is not my son yet... You don't have to argue, just do as I say!"
…
A few days later, the pottery merchant returned to Linzi City carrying prisoners and trophies.
The results of this battle were rich. Not counting the important figure of Wuhuan's young prince Louban, the 700 high-quality prairie horses that the Wuhuan people used to lure the potters alone were a huge amount of feudal wealth.
This is equivalent to giving yourself 700 light tanks for free.
The whole Linzi city was full of joy, and many soldiers came to watch the 700 horses captured from Wuhuan.
Zhao Yun and A Fei personally selected a few horses for trial riding. These war horses that grew up in the northern grasslands are indeed much stronger in physique and endurance than the southern horses. Although the people of the northern grassland tribes are economically backward, their war horses are indeed
Really great.
The pottery merchant found a quiet house in Linzi City and asked Zhen Mi to stay temporarily.
Although the house is not big, it still looks very clean. Zhen Mi walked around and observed it and felt very satisfied.
She made some pastries and invited the pottery merchant to taste them in the main hall.
Zhen Mi, a woman with tears in her eyes, the pottery merchant did not dare to say it was not delicious this time. After eating a few pieces and praising them, Zhen Mi finally smiled.
"By the way, Prime Minister, you told me last time that as long as I do as you say, you can save my brother's life from Yuan Shao..." Zhen Mi brought the topic to business: "Then I will now
I have come to Zicheng with you according to your words, where is my brother?"
The potter put another piece of cake into his mouth and said slowly: "Don't worry, according to the reports from my subordinates, your brother has been returned to his hometown Zhongshan by Yuan Shao, and is currently taking your place and taking charge of the family business again. Now
Hebei is in war, and the status of a family with a lot of wealth, such as the Zhen family, is extremely sensitive. Yuan Shao is afraid that you will become enemies if you get into my hands, so he will never do anything to your brother."
Zhen Mi suddenly realized what she said.
"He wants to use my brother to take over the business power from me?"
The pottery merchant nodded and said: "Yes, both the left and right are members of the same family. It doesn't matter whether you control it or your brother controls it."
Zhen Mi took a deep look at the pottery merchant and said, "If that's the case, then when can I go back to my home?"
The potter picked up another piece of cake, took a bite and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to go back for a while. If you don't go back, nothing will happen to him. So if you are in my hands, your family and brother will be more or less safe."
Some, at least Yuan Shao will have some scruples."
Zhen Mi bit her lip when she heard this, and after a while, she whispered: "The Prime Minister told me last time, do you want me to help you arrange the things for the three armies to spend the winter?"
The pottery merchant bit the cake and nodded, "That's right."
"Then my brother returned to Zhongshan and took over the leadership of the family from me. I'll stay here... I'm afraid my little girl won't be able to do anything about your winter supplies used by the three armies."
The pottery merchant was stunned when he heard this, and his mouth that was chewing the cake stopped moving for a moment.
It seems...this is the situation!
In this case, wouldn't my trip have been in vain?
What to do with the winter supplies for 100,000 people?
The potter reluctantly put down the cake in his hand.
Zhen Mi asked curiously: "What's wrong? Don't you want to eat?"
The pottery merchant shook his head and said: "I have been hunting geese every year and today I was caught in the eye by a goose... I am not in the mood anymore."