Shu Chen

Chapter 154 Rejection
Gathering at the door, the Lu family's house on the mountain.

Zhuge Ke, who was sitting upright, frowned and drooped his eyes, scratching his head and thinking.

And Zheng Pu, who was seated on the right, held up a cup to drink by himself, cast his eyes on the greenery of the low mountain, and waited for Zhuge Ke's meditation in his spare time.

He has completely blocked the back road of bargaining.

The discussion that followed was only a matter of Wu Guo's willingness to accept the high price of the big man.

However, he felt that Wu Guo could not refuse.

The reason is nothing more than "rare things are more expensive".

Since Sun Quan dared to send people to discuss the purchase of war horses just after the Great Han recaptured Longyou, he must have made preparations for "man for the knife and I for the fish".

Furthermore, since Sun Quan is called the Son of Heaven, out of consideration of motivating the officials and commoners in Jiangdong and consolidating his foundation, he will spare no efforts to prepare for the Northern Expedition against Wei, so as to win the hearts of all will unite in the Tuyuan in the future.

It's just paying more food and fodder!
How can it be more important than establishing a king's prestige and handsome officials?
Just as Zheng Pu expected, after Zhuge Ke pondered for a while, he finally spoke again.

"Zheng Jun, the price of each war horse is [-] hu, and my state of Wu can't afford it. Why don't we make a little compromise, and we will pay [-] hu for each horse, and the remaining [-] hu of grain and fodder will be offset by other materials at an equivalent value. I don't know what Zheng Jun wants?"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Zheng Pu raised his eyebrows.

After bowing his head in pretentious posture and thinking, Fang slightly nodded, and asked, "My great man and your country are in an alliance to fight against Wei. Ge Jun has said so far, and I can't be more demanding. I just don't know, Ge Jun will use What is worth doing?"

"It is a precious thing."

Zhuge Ke also had a gurgling smile, and said softly, "My country of Wu faces the sea in the east and Jiaozhou in the south, and there are many rare treasures produced. Such as light pearls, ke insects, emeralds, water essences, glass, and clam beads."

Before he finished speaking, he saw that Zheng Pu, who was seated opposite him, had restrained his face and his brows were condensed into streams.

Involuntarily, he also stopped talking.

After pondering for a while, he asked suspiciously, "Mr. Zheng doesn't seem to like it?"

"I don't like it!"

Zheng Pu was displeased, and his voice was a little bit embarrassing, "I treated Ge Jun with sincerity, but Ge Jun deceived me that I was short of wit!"

Ok?
My words are wrong?

Immediately, Zhuge Ke's eyes showed surprise, and he folded his hands and asked, "Why did Mr. Zheng say that?"

"how you said that?!"

Like an enraged lion, Zheng Pu raised his head suddenly, and his voice was stern, "May I ask Ge Jun, what do I, a big man, want these jadeite, water essence and colored glaze for? It can make the soldiers full! Now, Mr. Ge knows that my big man is still pure and simple, but now he uses these flashy things to pay for food and fodder, what is his intention? Is it because he wants to see my big man reappear as the collapse of Emperor Huan Ling? Almost!"

Uh.
Although emeralds and other things are flashy and not real, they can be exchanged for food and fodder with wealthy families, or they can be sold as handsome men to the Qiangdi tribe!
Furthermore, people in my country of Wu like jade and other things, and there is no sign of being decadent!
Zhuge Ke couldn't help muttering in his heart, and the hands on his knees couldn't help stroking the green jade jue on his waist.

Seeing Zheng Pu's indignant expression, and fearing that today's discussion would break up again, he finally swallowed his defense.

Alas, if you want something from others, let's condescend first.

Having made up his mind, he solemnly left the meeting to apologize.

Said:
"The world can learn from the world, and the sun and the moon can show it. I have no such intentions. My country Wu and your country are closely related, and An Neng has ulterior motives! I just slipped my words. I was eager to buy war horses, so I couldn't think about it for a while. Zhou Er, please Zheng Jun not to take offense."

call.
Hearing this, Zheng Pu closed his eyes and let out a long sigh of relief.

Fang got up to return the salute, and said, "It's because I am stubborn that I misunderstood what Ge Jun said."

It's just that after sitting down again, the atmosphere was somewhat stalemate, and for a while, neither side had a word.

"Cough, cough."

After a while of silence, Zhuge Ke cleared his embarrassment by coughing a few times, and said softly, "Since Zheng Jun doesn't want such flashy things, I'll mention other things. Now that your country is short of labor, you don't hesitate to fight with the natives of remote Yongchang County." The barbarians traded and tried to attract servants and servants to Longyou. Our country is a Communist alliance, so we should help one or two. If I report to the emperor of my country, I will bring some servants and servants from Jiaozhou to your country, and the right will be used as the difference in food and fodder. I don’t know. Does Zheng Jun think it is possible?"

"this."

After Zheng Pu heard this, his face showed embarrassment.

Nie Xu hesitated for a while, then shook his head, showing a look of pity on his face, "What Ge Jun said was about the worries of our country. Also. If, as Ge Jun said, the return of servants and servants will only increase the consumption of food and fodder, and will not benefit the current situation, please forgive me for not accepting it."

"Ha, it's Zheng Jun who is in the game!"

Immediately, Zhuge Ke raised his voice to refute, and said, "Earlier, Mr. Zheng said that the two counties of Hanzhong and Wudu in your country have no solid borders, so that the soldiers and fodder of all the troops in Longyou have to be transported from the land of Shu. If you agree, I will do it just now." Ti, using maids and servants to farm fields in Shibian, wouldn't it be possible to alleviate the shortage of food and fodder in the army after three to five years?"

At this point, he looked slightly complacent, and without waiting for Zheng Pu's answer, he continued, "Furthermore, although I am not talented, I dare to assert that it is only a little over a year old that your country was taken back to Longyou, so let me comfort you now." Li Shu is the top priority. If you want to march into Liangzhou, you won’t be able to do so if you don’t have the merits of accumulating martial arts and repairing armor soldiers for three to five years!”

"Hahaha~~~"

After Zhuge Kefu finished speaking, Zheng Pu clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Ge Jun has mastered contingencies, learned from opportunities and foresightedness, and he is indeed a handsome man in the world!"

After praise, he nodded his head and promised, "So, according to Mr. Ge's suggestion, let's use servants to pay for food and fodder."

"good!"

Zhuge Ke bowed his hands to express his thanks, beaming with joy, "Thank you Zheng Jun for allowing him. After I return to my country, I will firmly advise the emperor of our country to facilitate this discussion!"

He held up another cup and invited, "Zheng Jun, drink!"

"drink!"

Zheng Pu responded with a loud voice.

After putting down the wine cup, he asked again, "I don't know how many war horses your country wants to buy? Please tell Ge Jun clearly so that I can report back to the Prime Minister and prepare them first."

Ok?
Zhuge Ke raised his eyebrows.

Immediately, he realized something, shook his head slightly and smiled.

Selling horses, even the Qianghu tribe would not sell stallions, and cut off the follow-up trade.

For example, male horses are castrated before being sold; female horses that cannot be castrated are sold before they are bred.

The same is true for the big man.

Now it is the turn of spring and summer, which happens to be the breeding season for northern horses.When Zheng Pu asked about the number, he wanted to make sure that there were enough male horses that had already been castrated.

"Zheng Jun, let's prepare with five hundred horses first."

Zhuge Ke said with a smile, "Our country does not have enough grain and fodder reserves, and we cannot afford to buy too much."

He paused, seemed to be thinking about something, and then added a sentence, "Zheng Jun, the horses that can be used as riding draft animals, I don't know if they can also be replaced by servants?"

After Zheng Pu heard this, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: This person really deserves the praise of wisdom.

Because he didn't need to think about it, he could guess that Zhuge Ke's question was trying to use the strategy of "transferring flowers and trees".

After purchasing these horses that can only be used as riding draft animals, they can be resold at a high price to the wealthy people in Jiangdong, so as to make up for the lack of food and fodder for war horses purchased by the state of Wu.

The aristocratic families in Jiangdong all live extravagantly and are not stingy with money.

Each of Zhuge Ke's riding horses cost one thousand hu of grain and fodder, and their grain and fodder reserves of "the fields are connected to Fangguo" are definitely flocking to them.

"It's possible."

Zheng Pu nodded, and laughed softly, "When you hear Ge Jun's words, you will know why the emperor of your country regards you as the ear of the envoy!"

"Hahaha~~~"

Zhuge Ke was not surprised that Zheng Pu saw through what was in his heart.

Both of them are people who are full of strategies, so it is quite common for them to draw inferences from one instance.

He didn't make humble words, but laughed heartily, and praised him as if meeting a confidant, "In front of Mr. Zheng, there is nowhere to hide what I think and plan!"

The matter was generally settled, and both of them were happy with their own gains.

Finally, he can let go of his mind, hold the bamboo chopsticks, and the meat-cutting dagger and bury his head in the gluttony.

After drinking and eating, Zhuge Ke cast his eyes to the gloomy low mountain not far away, wondering if there is anything missing in today's discussion.

But he didn't notice that Zheng Pu on the other side turned his head quietly, looked at the servant Qiyacuo who had been waiting by the side, and Yiyi slightly lifted it to the side.

Seeing that, the beggar house didn't make a sound.

He just bowed his head slightly as a gesture, and then walked away gently.

"Hiss!"

When he was young, there was an impassioned neighing sound that pierced the sky and interrupted Zhuge Ke's thoughts.

He also finally understood why Yu Tuzhengpu claimed that the horse he gave was nothing more than an ordinary one when he came here to give him a horse.

I saw an extremely handsome war horse shooting out like a flying arrow where the stream circled the short mountain.A young man, dressed in a black thin felt cloak and a black cloth jacket, is galloping on horseback with a whip.

People are agile, and horses are also powerful.

One person and one rider are so powerful, but they seem to be invincible.

Perhaps this is probably the same situation as what Niwei Cao Zhi wrote in "White Horse Chapter" "Swifter than monkeys and apes, brave as leopards"?
If all the war horses purchased by my country of Wu are like this, the cavalry formed will not be much worse than the tiger and leopard cavalry against Wei, right?

I just don't know, would someone like Xiong Jun, a war horse raised by the Han court, be willing to sell it?
Zhuge Ke couldn't help but feel emotional.

Immediately, he glanced sideways from the corner of his eye, but saw Zheng Pu was smiling and stroking his beard, watching the heroic figure of the young man galloping, with a hint 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 in Shifang has profound knowledge and a large number of talented people. Now a young man has such a heroic appearance, which shows that his reputation is well-deserved!"

"Hahaha~~~"

Hearing this, Zheng Pu laughed.

He waved his hands again and again, and said modestly, "Ge Jun is absurdly praised! Absurdly praised! This is my disciple Fu Qian and Fu Gongyuan, who is the successor of my hero, not the nephew of the Zheng family."

Fu Qian Fu Gongyuan?
Is this the son of Fu Xun who died in the battle of Yiling?
Zhuge Ke's heart shuddered.

He suddenly remembered that people had asked about Zheng Pu's past deeds before, and couldn't help thinking of more.

Just like today's big Han, Prime Minister Zhuge turned the tide and injected vitality into the weakened Han Dynasty after the defeat of Yiling. The three years of ruling the country flattened the Nanman, and the sixth year the soldiers captured Longyou, bringing the big man out of the dragon's abyss in one fell swoop!And Zhao Yun, Li Yan, Wei Yan, Wu Yi and other veteran officials acted as the mainstay, nurturing the junior generals to thrive and grow.

Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Huo Yi, Ju Fu, Wang Ping, and Zhuge Qiao from Wu.

Among them, the youngest and most outstanding one is the general seeking captives who joined the army in front of the prime minister's mansion.

Zhuge Qiao once said to him that the prime minister often discussed military strategies with Zheng Pu, and Ping Nanman and soldiers going out of Longyou mostly chose other strategies, asserting that this son will definitely be the pillar of the great man in the future.

Today, I can see again the extraordinary heroic appearance of a man of a younger generation.

Therefore, it can be said that the Han Dynasty, which has been reduced to a dead tree in the past, is now sprouting in spring!
Alas, if there are awe-inspiring people, who can say that the Han Dynasty is full of evil?

The Han court has risen again. I don't know if the future will be a blessing or a disaster for our country of Wu.

For example, the demarcation of the Xiangshui River in the past.

There are still grudges from the battles of Xiangfan and Yiling.

In an instant, Zhuge Ke's mind was overwhelmed, and the thought of future misfortune and fortune came into being.

Unbeknownst to him, Zheng Pu had called him several times in succession.

"Ge Jun?!"

Zheng Pu, who came up to him, waved his hand in front of his eyes, which also interrupted his thoughts.

"what?"

With a cry of surprise, he came back to his senses, stood up and cupped his hands, and asked with a smile, "I was lost in thought for a moment, but I was in a daze. Well, I don't know why Mr. Zheng called me?"

"Without him, the sun will go west."

Zheng Pu pointed to the sky with his fingers, and said with a smile, "All the counties and counties in Longyou have curfew. If we don't go back to Ji County, we may spend the night here."

"what"

Having said that, Zhuge Ke exclaimed in surprise, and looked up at the sky.

As an envoy, it is not appropriate for him to spend the night outside.

If he went back, he would be reported to Sun Quan by the people accompanying him, making Sun Quan feel that he was willful and negligent in doing things.

"Thank you Zheng Jun for reminding me."

He cupped his hands in thanks, "It's getting late, it's time for me to return to Ji County."

"Go with you."

After returning a salute, Zheng Pu turned his head sideways and asked his subordinates to lead the horses and go out side by side with him.

It was no surprise that he rode his horse back to the road, and asked about Zheng Pu's expectations.

"Zheng Jun, I don't know if your country's war horse is similar to Fu Gongyuan's horse just now, can it be sold?"

"Ha, Ge Jun is too greedy!"

Zheng Pu, whose body was up and down with the horse, his laughter was a little misty due to the gust of wind, "Like Gongyuan's mounts, I am only a few hundred horses, and they are not enough for my own use. How can I be willing to sell them? Besides, I dare to ask Ge Jun, Such a handsome war horse, what will your country give in exchange for evil?"

Zhuge Ke was silent for a while.

For ordinary war horses, Zheng Pu already paid [-] hu for food and fodder, and it would not be surprising that the price of a horse as handsome as Fu Qian's would be several times higher.

Wu Guo can't bear it.

"Ge Junmo don't think about it."

Seeing that he had been silent for a long time, Zheng Pu said with relief, "If your country wants to rebel against Wei, the places to march will be Xiangyang and Huainan, both of which are densely covered with water and marshes, and boats can show their power, so there is no need for such a handsome horse for the time being. It won’t be too late to buy after my big man recaptures Liangzhou and raises tens of thousands of war horses. By then, my big man will have a surplus of war horses, and the price will be lower.”

Uh.
This remark makes sense.

However, how could it be so easy to take back Liangzhou?

The big Han went down to the land of Longyou in the first battle, but it was by surprise that Ni Wei lost the opportunity.

Now that the soldiers against Wei are on the side, how can the big man have another opportunity to take advantage of?

Zhuge Ke secretly slandered.

After thinking about it, he asked, "Zheng Jun, if you exchange your servants, can your country spare more than a hundred horses to our country?"

"No way!"

No, Zheng Pu listened to it, and made a loud noise without thinking.

(End of this chapter)