Gathering together at home, the Lu family lives in the mountain house.
Zhuge Ke, who was sitting upright, frowned and drooped his eyes, stroking his eyebrows and thinking.
Zheng Pu, who was sitting on the right, raised a cup and drank by himself, casting his gaze into the greenery of the low mountain, waiting for Zhuge Ke's thoughts.
He has completely blocked all avenues for bargaining.
The subsequent discussion was simply about whether Wu State was willing to accept the high price of the Han Dynasty.
However, he felt that Wu Guo could not refuse.
The reason is nothing more than "the rarer things are more valuable".
Since Sun Quan dared to send people to discuss the purchase of war horses just after the Han Dynasty had recaptured Longyou, he must have been prepared for "people to be swordsmen, and I to be fish and meat".
Furthermore, since Sun Quan was proclaimed the Emperor, out of the consideration of motivating the ministers and common people in Jiangdong and consolidating his foundation, he would also work hard to prepare for the Northern Expedition against the Wei Dynasty, in order to gain the people's will to invade the Central Plains in the future.
It’s just a matter of paying more for food!
How could it be more important than establishing the authority of a king and being handsome and powerful to his ministers?
Just as Zheng Pu expected, Zhuge Ke finally spoke out again after pondering for a long time.
"Zheng Jun, each war horse is priced at 4,500 dendrobium of grain and fodder, which we, the State of Wu, cannot afford. If we make a small compromise, our country will pay 3,500 dendrobium of grain and fodder for each horse, and the remaining 1,000 dendrobium of grain and fodder will be used as compensation with other materials at the same price.
I wonder what Mr. Zheng thinks?"
"oh?"
Hearing this, Zheng Pu raised his eyebrows.
After pretending to lower his head and think about it, Fang nodded slightly and asked, "My great Han Dynasty and your country are allied to fight against Wei. Now that Jun Ge has said it, I can't be harsh anymore. I just don't know what Jun Ge will do next."
What can be used to counteract evil?”
"It is a precious thing."
Zhuge Ke also smiled and said softly, "Our country of Wu is bordered by the sea in the east and Jiaozhou in the south. It has many rare and precious treasures. Such as tortoise shells, pearls of light, tiger souls, worms, emeralds, water essences, colored glazes, and clam beads."
Before he finished speaking, he saw that Zheng Pu, who was sitting across from him, had already condensed his face and frowned.
Involuntarily, he also stopped talking.
After thinking for a while, he asked doubtfully, "Mr. Zheng seems to be unhappy?"
"Of course I don't like it!"
Zheng Pu was displeased, with a hint of embarrassment in his voice, "I treat Mr. Ge with sincerity, but Mr. Ge deceives me for my shortcomings!"
Um?
Is my word wrong?
Suddenly, Zhuge Ke's eyes were filled with surprise, he also lowered his face and raised his hands and asked, "Why did Mr. Zheng say this?"
"how you said that?!"
Like an enraged lion, Zheng Pu suddenly raised his head and said with a fierce voice, "I dare to ask Mr. Ge, what is the purpose of this jade, water spirit and glass that my big man wants? It can fill the soldiers' stomachs! Then!
Well, Mr. Ge, since he knows that all of us in the Han Dynasty are very simple and simple, but now we use these flashy things to pay for the food and crops, what is the evil intention? Could it be that he wants to see my Han Dynasty reappear in the decadence of the two emperors Huan Ling?
Huh!"
Well.
Although jade and other items are flashy, they can be exchanged for grain and fodder with wealthy families, or they can be sold to handsome men from the Qiang and Di tribes!
Furthermore, the people of our country of Wu all like jade and other objects, and there is no sign of them falling into disuse!
Zhuge Ke couldn't help but murmur in his heart, and the hand covering his knees couldn't help but caressing the green jade on his waist.
Seeing Zheng Pu's angrily expression and fearing that today's discussion would break up unhappily again, he finally swallowed his excuses.
Alas, if you want something from someone, please condescend first.
Determined, he left the table solemnly to apologize.
say:
"The sky and the earth can be used as a guide, and the sun and the moon can be used as expressions, but I have absolutely no intention of doing so. Our country of Wu and your country are inseparable, so An Neng has ulterior motives! I just made a mistake, because I was so eager to buy a war horse that I couldn't think about it for a moment.
Zhou Er, please don’t be offended by Mr. Zheng."
call.
Hearing this, Zheng Pu closed his eyes and let out a long sigh of relief.
Fang stood up and returned the greeting, saying, "It's because of my stubbornness that I misunderstood Ge Jun's words."
After sitting down again, the atmosphere became somewhat tense. For a moment, both parties were speechless.
"Cough, cough."
After a period of silence, Zhuge Ke coughed a few times to resolve the embarrassment and said softly, "Since Mr. Zheng does not want such flashy things, I will mention other things. Now that your country is short of labor, you will not hesitate to fight with the natives of remote Yongchang County.
The barbarian tycoons are trying to lure maidservants to Longyou. Our country is a communist alliance, so we should help. Why don't I report to the emperor of our country to bring some maidservants from Jiaozhou to your country, and the power will be used to offset the difference in food and fodder?
Zheng Jun, do you think it’s okay?”
"this."
After hearing this, Zheng Pu looked troubled.
Nian Xu hesitated for a moment and then shook his head, with a look of pity on his face, "What Mr. Ge said was because he was concerned about our country's worries, which made me deeply moved. However, the original intention of our country's willingness to sell war horses was that there was not enough food.
Also, if the return of servants is like what Ge Jun said, it will only increase the loss of food and fodder, and will not be beneficial to the current situation. Please forgive me for not accepting it, Mr. Ge."
"Ha, it's Zheng Jun who is in the game!"
Immediately, Zhuge Ke raised his voice to retort, and said, "Zheng Jun said earlier that your country's Hanzhong and Wudu counties have no real borders with civilians, so that all the food and fodder of the soldiers in Longyou are transferred from Shu. If you agree to what I just said,
"Tip, if you use your servants to farm on the border, wouldn't it be possible to alleviate the army's shortage of food and fodder in three to five years?"
At this point, he looked vaguely complacent, and without waiting for Zheng Pu to reply, he continued, "Furthermore, although I am not talented, I dare to assert that your country has only been able to regain Longyou for more than a year. I will comfort you now."
Li Shu is the best. If you want to march into Liangzhou, you may not be able to do it without spending three to five years practicing martial arts in Jigu and repairing your armored soldiers!"
"Hahaha~~~~"
As soon as Zhuge Kefu finished speaking, Zheng Pu put his hands on his hands and laughed, "Mr. Ge knows how to make contingency plans and has the foresight to learn from others. He is indeed a great man in this world!"
After praising him, he nodded and said, "In this case, according to Ge Jun's proposal, let's use your servants to pay for the grain."
"good!"
Zhuge Ke bowed his hands in thanks and beamed with joy, "Thank you so much, Mr. Zheng, for your permission. After I return to the country, I will make every effort to admonish the emperor of our country and promote this proposal!"
He also raised his cup and invited, "Mr. Zheng, have a drink!"
"drink!"
Zheng Pu answered loudly.
After putting down the wine cup, he asked again, "I wonder how many war horses your country plans to purchase? Please tell Jun Ge clearly so that I can report back to the Prime Minister and prepare them first."
Um?
Zhuge Ke raised his eyebrows.
Immediately, he realized something, shook his head slightly and smiled.
By selling horses, even the Qiang and Hu tribes will not sell stallions, which will cut off subsequent trade.
For example, male horses are castrated before being sold, while mares that cannot be castrated are sold before being bred.
The same is true for big men.
Now is the turn of spring and summer, which happens to be the breeding season for horses in the north. Zheng Pu asked about the number because he wanted to make sure there were enough castrated stallions.
"Zheng Jun, please prepare five hundred horses first."
Zhuge Ke smiled and said, "Our country's grain reserves are not abundant and we cannot afford to purchase too much."
After a pause, he seemed to be thinking about something, and then added quickly, "Mr. Zheng, the horses can be used as riding animals. I wonder if they can be replaced by servants?"
After Zheng Pu heard this, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: This man really lives up to his praise of wisdom and wisdom.
Because he didn't need to think about it, he could guess that Zhuge Ke wanted to use the trick of "implanting flowers and grafting trees" by asking this question.
After purchasing these horses, which can only be used as riding draft animals, they can be resold to Jiangdong wealthy families at a high price to make up for the shortage of grain for the war horses purchased by Wu State.
The wealthy families in Jiangdong have extravagant living styles and are not stingy with their wealth.
Zhuge Ke paid a thousand bushels of grain for each horse he rode, and with their grain reserves of "acres connected to Fang Kingdom", they would definitely flock to him.
"Of course it's okay."
Zheng Pu nodded and chuckled, "When you hear Ge Jun's words, you will know why the emperor of your country regards you as his envoy!"
"Hahaha~~~"
Zhuge Ke was not surprised when Zheng Pu saw through his thoughts.
Both of them are people who are full of strategies and tactics, and it is unusual for them to draw inferences from one example.
He did not make any modest remarks, but laughed heartily, and praised him as if he had met a close friend, "In front of Mr. Zheng, all my thoughts and plans have nowhere to hide!"
The matter was generally settled, everyone got something, and both of them were happy.
I can finally let go of my thoughts, hold the bamboo chopsticks, and the meat-cutting dagger and focus on eating.
After having had enough wine and food, Zhuge Ke looked towards the lush low mountains not far away, thinking whether there was anything missing in today's discussion.
But he didn't notice that Zheng Pu on the other side quietly turned around and looked at the servant Qi Yacuo who had been waiting by his side. Yi Yi slightly raised his head to the side.
When the beggar saw him, he didn't say anything.
He just bowed his head slightly and left gently.
"Hiss!"
After a while, there was an exciting horse neighing that pierced the sky and interrupted Zhuge Ke's thoughts.
He also finally understood why Zheng Pu claimed that the horse he gave as a gift was just ordinary when he was on the way here.
Where the stream winds around the low mountain, a majestic war horse shoots out like a flying arrow. A young man wearing a black thin felt cloak with a black cloth underneath is sitting upright on the horse and galloping with a whip.
The man is nimble and the horse is majestic.
One person and one horse are so powerful, but they seem to be invincible.
Perhaps, what Cao Zhi of the Wei Dynasty wrote in "The White Horse Chapter" is "as cunning as a monkey and as brave as a leopard and chi". This is probably the same situation, right?
If all the war horses purchased by the Wu Kingdom were like this, the cavalry assembled would not be any worse than the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry against the Wei Dynasty, right?
I just don’t know if the handsome war horses raised by the Han Dynasty are willing to be sold?
Zhuge Ke couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Immediately, he glanced sideways out of the corner of his eye, and saw Zheng Pu stroking his beard with a smile, looking at the heroic figure of the young man galloping, with a faint look of relief in his eyes.
Is this son Zheng Jun's nephew?
"nice!"
With a slight movement in his heart, Zhuge Ke suddenly clapped his hands and praised, "I have heard for a long time that the Zheng family is very knowledgeable and has many talented people. Today, this young man has such a heroic appearance, which shows that he is well-deserved!"
"Hahaha~~~~"
Hearing this, Zheng Pu laughed.
He also waved his hands repeatedly and said humbly, "Jun Ge, you are so complimentary! You are so complimentary! My disciple Fu Qian and Fu Gongyuan are the descendants of my great Han Zhonglie, not the nephew of the Zheng family."
Fu Qian Fu Gongyuan?
Is this the son of Fu Xu who died in the Battle of Yiling?
Zhuge Ke's heart trembled.
He suddenly remembered that people had previously inquired about Zheng Pu's past deeds, and he couldn't help but think of more.
Just like today's Han Dynasty, Prime Minister Zhuge turned the tide and injected vitality into the declining Han Dynasty after the defeat of Yiling. He ruled the country for three years to pacify the southern barbarians, and for six years he captured Longyou, bringing the Han Dynasty out of the abyss of the Dragon in one fell swoop! And with
Veteran ministers such as Zhao Yun, Li Yan, Wei Yan, and Wu Yi served as the mainstay, nurturing the growth of the younger generation of generals.
Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Huo Yi, Jufu and Wang Ping, as well as Zhuge Qiao who came from Wu.
Among them, the youngest and most outstanding one was undoubtedly the general who led the Prime Minister's Office to join the army.
Zhuge Qiao once said to him that the prime minister often discussed military strategies with Zheng Pu, and many of the Nanbarbarians and soldiers sent out to Longyou used his strategies. He asserted that this son would definitely become a pillar of the Han Dynasty in the future.
Now we can see again the extraordinary heroic appearance of a great man and a younger generation of talents.
Therefore, it can be said that the Han Dynasty, which was reduced to a dead tree in the past, is now sprouting in spring!
Alas, if the awe-inspiring people are here, who can say that there will be evil in the Han Dynasty?
The Han court has regained its momentum. I don’t know whether it will be a blessing or a disaster for our country of Wu in the future.
For example, the demarcation of the Xiangshui River in the past.
There is still the hatred of the Battle of Xiangfan and the Battle of Yiling.
In an instant, Zhuge Ke thought so hard that he had thoughts of misfortunes and blessings in the future.
Little did he know that Zheng Pu had called him several times in succession.
"Gejun?!"
Zheng Pu walked up to him and waved his hand in front of his eyes, interrupting his thoughts.
"ah?"
With an exclamation, he came back to his senses, stood up, held his hands in his hands, and asked with a smile, "I was so lost in thought for a moment that I fell into a trance. Well, I wonder why Mr. Zheng called me?"
"Without him, the sun will reach the west."
Zheng Pu pointed to the sky with his finger and said with a smile, "Every county in Longyou has a curfew. If we don't leave and go back to Hebei County, I'm afraid we will have to stay here tonight."
"ah"
After hearing this, Zhuge Ke exclaimed and looked up at the sky.
As an envoy, it would not be appropriate for him to stay out at night.
If he goes back, he will be reported to Sun Quan by those who are accompanying him, making Sun Quan think that he has acted recklessly and recklessly.
"Thank you, Mr. Zheng, for reminding me."
He held up his hands in thanks, "It's getting late, it's time for me to return to Hebei County."
"Go with you."
In return of the salute, Zheng Pu turned his head and asked his followers to lead the war horses and go out side by side with him.
After riding his horse back on the road, he asked Zheng Pu what he expected.
"Zheng Jun, I wonder if your country's war horses are similar to Fu Gongyuan's horse just now, can they be sold?"
"Ha, Mr. Ge is too greedy!"
Zheng Pu, whose body was rising and falling with the horses, his laughter was carried by the strong wind, "Like Gongyuan's mount, I only have a few hundred horses, and they are not enough for my own use, so how can I be willing to sell them? Furthermore, I dare to ask Ge Jun,
What can your country give in exchange for such a majestic war horse?"
Zhuge Ke was silent for a while.
Zheng Pu had already priced an ordinary war horse at 4,500 bushels of grain. It would not be surprising if a horse as majestic as Fu Qian's horse could be priced several times more.
He, Wu Guo, can't afford it.
"Ge Jun, don't think like this anymore."
Seeing that he had not spoken out for a long time, Zheng Pu comforted him and said, "If your country wants to rebel against Wei, the places to march are Xiangyang and Huainan. Both of these places are covered with water and swamps, so boats can show off their power. There is no need for such majestic horses for the time being."
.It would not be too late to wait until my Han Dynasty recaptures Liangzhou and raises tens of thousands of war horses, and then comes back to buy them. By then, my Han Dynasty will have a surplus of war horses, and the price will be lower."
Well.
This makes sense.
However, how can it be so easy to recapture Liangzhou?
When the Han Dynasty conquered Longyou in a battle, it was just a surprise that made Ni Wei lose the opportunity.
Now that the Wei soldiers are on the side, how can the Han Dynasty take advantage of it again?
Zhuge Ke secretly slandered.
After thinking for a while, he asked, "Mr. Zheng, in exchange for your servants, can your country spare more than a hundred horses and give them to my country?"
