"What I mean is that if Licheng County cannot be captured in a hurry, we will simply concentrate our forces to attack Zoucheng County first. After attacking Zoucheng County, we will actually capture Jeju, Yunzhou, Yanzhou, Yizhou and
Mizhou, we can even capture Laizhou and Dengzhou, leaving Li Na with only Qizhou, Zizhou and Qingzhou. Then we can use land and low taxes to lure the people out of these three states. Li Na's
It will be difficult to feed an army of 60,000 people. If we attack him at this time, we will definitely be able to defeat him easily."
Liu Sigu's suggestion still makes some sense. Zoucheng County is definitely easier to capture than Licheng County. Zhu Si thought for a long time and said: "Let's do this! We will divide 20,000 troops to attack Zoucheng and send large siege weapons there. 70,000
The army besieged Zoucheng and demanded that the Song and Qing Dynasties must capture Zoucheng County within three days, otherwise they would be questioned!"
...........
Although the war between Qizhou and Yanzhou is in full swing, it is very quiet west of Hulao Pass, and there is no atmosphere of war at all. The dignitaries in Luoyang are still living a dreamy life. All officials are doing whatever it takes to make money, and desperadoes are taking risks.
All kinds of smuggling are rampant.
Zhang Wutao of Woguan has been in office for nearly two months, and his appetite is getting bigger and bigger. He keeps raising the price from Zhang Min, from the initial 300 guan per trip to 400 guan per trip, and then to 500 guan.
Today I simply asked for 800 guan per trip.
In the room, Jiang Min looked at Zhang Wutao speechlessly. After a long while, he said angrily: "I can only make a profit of 1,200 guan for each trip, and I have to give Yang Mi 300 guan. I only have 900 guan myself, and then take out the hired help."
Part of the money and travel expenses will be given to the partners. Calculated in this way, I can only make a profit of five or six hundred guan from a trip, while the general asks for 800 guan. How should I do this business? "
Zhang Wutao smiled shamelessly and said: "You can make your business bigger! If I ask you to pass the customs, I don't care how many mules and goods you have? Even if you lead thousands of camels to pass the customs? I don't care, you can transport goods ten times more? Profit
Six thousand guan? I only take 800 guan, brother? This little money is only enough for the rich and powerful in Luoyang to have a meal!"
Jiang Min lowered his head and thought for a moment and said, "General, do you remember the Hu Ji I mentioned last time?"
"Yes! You have been saying it for a long time. You said you would pick the most beautiful one for me? Where is he?"
"People have arrived. There are 450 orchids in total, as well as a thousand barrels of wine and two thousand rock salt. This is the biggest deal I have ever made. After it is completed, I will give the general two thousand taels at a time.
silver."
Zhang Wutao laughed so hard that he couldn't close his mouth. His greed became more intense and he added again, "This time I want three thousand taels of silver, and I have to pay one thousand taels first."
A look of embarrassment appeared on Jiang Min's face? "General, isn't this against the rules?"
"What rule do I hate the most? Just give me the money and we can talk about anything. Let's make a lot of money together happily!"
Jiang Min hesitated for a long time before he had no choice but to say: "Since the general offered such a high price? I also have a condition."
Zhang Wutao was a little unhappy when he heard that the other party still had conditions, so he said, "Please tell me the conditions."
"Actually, the conditions are very simple. This time there will be women and wine. Your soldiers will be restrained and they will not be allowed to touch or steal the wine!"
Zhang Wutao thought it was some difficult condition! It turned out to be this, and he burst out laughing, "Okay, it's a deal!"
"What if General Zhang cannot restrain the soldiers?"
"You can deduct my money!"
Jiang Min shook his head, "I don't dare to deduct your money. If you can't restrain the soldiers this time, I will not go to Guanguan in the future. I would rather take the long way to Luoyang via Shangluo Road!"
Zhang Wutao was furious, slammed the table, and said sternly: "Do you think I can't even control a soldier?"
Jiang Min was not afraid of him at all. She stared into his eyes and said, "Of course you can control it, but you don't want to control it at all. What about my interests?"
Only then did Zhang Wutao realize that the other party was not joking, and he might really change the route. This was not possible. His expression became serious, and he nodded and said: "Don't worry, what you are worried about will never happen!"
Jiang Min took out two large ingots of gold from his pocket and put them on the table, "This is one hundred taels of gold, an advance payment for you. In three days, my goods will arrive at Hangu Pass. After passing the customs, I will
Pay another two hundred taels of gold!"
After saying that, Jiang Min turned and left. Zhang Wutao did not go to see him off. He picked up the two heavy gold ingots on the table and weighed them. The golden light was so bright that he could hardly open his eyes.
"This man is really my God of Wealth, I can't let him go!" Zhang Wutao said to himself with a smile.
...........
Song Tian was a little anxious. Tomorrow was the time he had made an appointment with Zhang Wutao, but His Highness Prince Jin had yet to express his position. Should he pursue this plan or not?
Song Tian had no choice but to find Pan Liao. He had been reporting this matter to Pan Liao some time ago, and he hoped that Pan Liao could explain it to His Highness on his behalf.
After listening to the story, Pan Liao smiled slightly and said: "His Highness is considering the problem from the overall situation. Perhaps he thinks that the time to seize Weihan is not yet mature."
"But tomorrow is the agreed time for the goods to cross the border!"
Pan Liao waved his hand, "That's okay [Biquge 5200 www.bqg5200.xyz]. It's normal to be delayed for a day or two when something happens. If you are too eager, the other party will be suspicious."
Song Tian had no choice but to ask again: "I wonder what opportunity your highness is waiting for?"
Pan Liao smiled apologetically and said: "This... I don't know very well, but you don't have to worry, His Highness knows it well. During this period, he has been paying close attention to the situation in the Central Plains."
Song Tian didn't ask about the result, so he had to bow and go back. Pan Liao thought about it and went to the palace of King Jin...
Guo Song stood in front of the sand table and stared at the Qi State on the sand table. He had received the Flying Eagle message from Hebei. Li Bing's army and Yang Meng's army had converged in Dengzhou, and the 70,000-strong army was ready to attack at any time.
But his deployment was link-by-link. If Zhu Si did not withdraw his troops, the Dengzhou army would not be able to mobilize, and Zhu Si must be forced to withdraw.
At this time, the guard reported at the door, "Your Highness, Pan Xiangguo is here!"
Guo Song nodded and said, "Invite him in!"
Not long after, Pan Liao walked in and asked with a smile: "Your Highness is still busy worrying about the war in the Central Plains?"
Guo Song sighed softly, "Still waiting for the opportunity to fight."
"What is the fighter plane Your Highness is waiting for?"
Guo Song pointed at the sand table with a wooden pole and said: "Yanzhou!"
"Yanzhou?" Pan Liao was slightly startled.
Guo Song nodded, "Zhu Si cannot take Qizhou and has already moved to Yanzhou. If he still cannot take Yanzhou, his morale will decline to the extreme. If he captures Weihan at this time, Zhu Si will have no choice but to retreat."
"But what if Zhu Si captured Yanzhou?" Pan Liao asked with a smile.
"If Zhu Si wins Yanzhou, Li Na's strength will be weakened by another three points, which will still be beneficial to us. In fact, I hope Zhu Si wins Zoucheng County."
Pan Liao smiled again and said: "Song Tian couldn't help but come to ask me just now. He was in a hurry. Tomorrow night is the agreed time, but His Highness has not given the order yet. He is a little confused as to what to do."
At this moment, the sound of running footsteps was heard outside, and then a soldier reported at the door: "Your Highness, Fei Ying sent an urgent message, Zhu Si's army conquered Zoucheng County, and the entire 20,000 Qi army was destroyed!
"
Guo Song finally got the news he wanted, and he immediately ordered: "Tell Song Tian to come see me immediately!"
Guo Song immediately issued two orders. First, he ordered Zhang Yun to lead an army of 50,000 people to the north to capture Yingzhou and Yuzhou; second, he ordered the Jin Wei Mansion to take the lead and cooperate with the scout battalion to prepare to capture Weihan.
.........
Under the cover of night, a huge team was driving on the official road. The reason why this team was huge was that it included 60 passenger oxcarts, including 300 large trucks, and there were 1,500 people inside.
Large barrels of wine, and hundreds of strong mules carrying bags of salt.
There were more than 500 carriage drivers, men and sword-wielding guards in total. Jiang Min was at the forefront on horseback. Behind him were 60 passenger ox carts, which were filled with orchids transported from the Western Regions. There were a total of
Four hundred and fifty people.
Then came the big truck that transported the wine. This is the big one. These wine barrels are all extra-large wooden barrels, tall and thick. Each barrel can hold at least two to three hundred kilograms of wine.
Finally, there is the mule team transporting salt. The entire team is at least three miles long. There are a hundred guards with swords at the front and rear of the team. This is what Jiang Min had negotiated with Zhang Wudao in advance. From Hanguguan to Luoyang, there were many people along the way.
It was not peaceful and there must be guards to follow, so Zhang Wutao allowed the cargo to be accompanied by no more than 200 guards. Long weapons and crossbows were not allowed to be carried, only swords and long bows were allowed to be carried.
At the first watch, the team gradually approached Hangu Pass.