Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 359 Horse

Several people in the room chatted around the four parrots. Ji Qingwan asked, "Husband, are you going to visit your parents-in-law today?"

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "Yes, we will go there. Hui Niang can also meet her family."

Ji Qingwan said: "Then clean up, it's a good opportunity to talk to my parents-in-law."

After that, several people started to work, packed some dried fruits and took some fresh fruits and vegetables. Zhao Zhen and others rode horses, while Ji Qingwan, Ji Xuan and Liu Hui Niang took a carriage and went to their father Zhao Jin together.

After the ceremony, Liu Huiniang took out the handkerchiefs she had prepared in advance and presented them to her mother-in-law, second mother, and eldest sister-in-law. She presented her father-in-law Zhao Jin and eldest brother Zhao Xiang with a jar of Yimeng Mountain Wine that the Liu family had stored for 30 years, and Tiantian also had a small frog that could jump after it was fully wound. After offering tea, Liu Huiniang sat down.

Li E glared at Zhao Zhen first, then took off a golden hairpin from her head and handed it to Liu Hui Niang, saying, "Now that you are married into the Zhao family, you are all one family from now on."

Liu Hui Niang agreed with a smile. After a few words were exchanged, Second Mother Miao Ying personally cooked the big fish that Zhao Zhen brought. The family enjoyed themselves for half the night before Zhao Zhen and the others said goodbye and went home.

The next day, Zhao Zhen had just finished his breakfast when the doorman Su Dong came in and reported, "Master, Lu Sanlang heard that you are back and is waiting outside."

Zhao Zhen heard this and stood up and went to the front. Ji Minghan and Ji Mingdan also stood up and went to the courtyard to practice martial arts. Ji Qingwan and Ji Xuan accompanied Liu Huiniang, teasing the two pairs of birds and chatting.

Liu Hui Niang is well-informed and knowledgeable. Ji Qingwan and Ji Xuan have been exposed to different fantasy worlds in the inner city since childhood and are familiar with biographies. They are also knowledgeable. When the three of them talk, they feel like they have known each other for a long time.

Without mentioning the jokes of the women in the inner courtyard, let's just say that when Zhao Zhen saw Lu Zhuocheng, he asked, "Lu Sanlang, how did you know I was back? I didn't see you working in the store yesterday."

Lu Zhuocheng smiled and said, "Zhao Erlang, if you want to know how difficult it is for you to come back, just look at the many more goods in the shops in front of you."

"Couldn't it be that my wife received it?"

"Others must be wise. Your wife collected mostly raw materials, so where did the finished products come from? Besides, these bone-carved peonies, boxwood ornaments, and cool bamboo mats, which one is not produced in your fantasy world?" Lu Zhuocheng said with envy on his face.

Zhao Zhen asked, "Why, Sanlang, what can you do to take care of your brothers?"

After hearing this, Lu Zhuocheng straightened his face and said, "Erlang, my father has a group of good horses looking for buyers these days. Are you interested?"

Zhao Zhen heard this and said happily, "Of course, my fantasy world is not peaceful either. Up to now, many of my cavalry are riding saddle horses. They are fine for traveling, but when it comes to the battlefield, the horses will get scared before they can charge."

"I wonder how many war horses your uncle has?"

"More than 400 horses, and most of them are mares. There are only 40 to 50 geldings, and more than 10 stallions."

"What's the price?"

"Don't worry, Erlang. This horse has been tested and is indeed suitable for use in battle. However, most horses are about 5 feet 30 or 50 at the shoulder, and only about 11 of them are 5 feet 60 or 70. Most are about 6 feet long."

"Mongolian horse?" Zhao Zhen asked.

Lu Zhuocheng nodded: "If it wasn't a Mongolian horse, it would have been bought by someone long ago. Erlang, do you want it?"

"No wonder. Mongolian horses are not as good as local Bohai horses in terms of height and weight. This horse is better in endurance and tolerance to rough feeding. I wonder how much it costs?"

"The shopkeeper wants 30 strings of cash per horse."

Zhao Zhen was a little entangled. He was in the fantasy world, and he used tea to exchange. One stone of tea cost less than 20 strings of cash. He could exchange it for three or four horses in the north. Because the journey was long and there were too many uncontrollable factors, it was not realistic to sell on a large scale. Moreover, the road was not peaceful. If he was not careful, the horse could not be sent back.

Now, these 400-plus Mongolian horses can be obtained by spending some money, and it is hard to say which one is more cost-effective.

The fantasy world is currently short of war horses. Although these horses are short, they can serve as light cavalry.

At that moment, Zhao Zhen said, "Brother, I won't hide it from you. I can eat this horse. You know, most of the horses in our Gao country are hybrids. Bohai horses are not considered good war horses. Fortunately, most of these Mongolian horses are mares. I will send them to the fantasy world to see if I can improve the horse breed." Zhao Zhen did not show up, and asked Lu Zhuocheng to run an order on his behalf to reserve this batch of Mongolian horses. Zhao Zhen had no place to keep them here, so he asked the shopkeeper who sold horses to keep them for a few days. When he returned to the fantasy world, he asked him to drive the horses to Bailiu Village. All the fodder for these few days was borne by Zhao Zhen.

After hearing this, Lu Zhuocheng said happily, "Brother, you take 1000 strings of cash and I'll go and place the order. Once the deal is done, I'll have to ask my father for a broker's fee of a hundred strings of cash. I'll also ask about the price of the horse, it'll be better if it's cheaper."

Zhao Zhen sent someone to the backyard to get a thousand taels of silver notes, handed them to Lu Zhuocheng, and said with a smile: "Sanlang, you should also go to the market more often, and buy any good horses that are priced right."

Lu Zhuocheng smiled bitterly and said, "There aren't many horses on the market. If you want to buy a horse, you still have to buy it from a horse dealer. If Shopkeeper Zhai has any news, I will let you know."

As he spoke, Lu Zhuocheng took Zhao Zhen's banknote and went to the Beishi official office.

Not to mention that Zhao Zhen returned to the backyard and chatted with Ji Qingwan and others, but only said that Lu Zhuocheng rode to Guanya on horseback and found Old Man Lu who was looking for a buyer.

When Father Lu saw Lu Zhuocheng, he asked, "Sanlang, what are you doing here today?"

Lu Zhuocheng asked: "Dad, has Mongolian Mark found a buyer?"

Father Lu shook his head in distress. "There are a few people who want to buy a horse to ride, but Bayardan refuses. After all, these people want the highest price, so the remaining horses are even harder to sell."

"Dad, I found a big customer who can take all these 400 horses in one go, but he has to lower the price. I want half of the commission."

"Your classmate who married the daughter of the Ji family, the one named Zhao Zhen?"

Lu Zhuocheng nodded.

"You can discuss the price of the horse with Bayardan later. As for the commission, it has been registered with the government, so I can only give you 41%, and no one can change this."

“Doesn’t Bayardan know that the filing commission is high?”

"This is his first time here. Although the commission for filing a registration is high, it is better than being cheated. Young people should not always aim too high." Old Man Lu scolded angrily.

Lu Zhuocheng heard this and said, "I just want to save more money so that I can build a family business and get married soon, right?"

After hearing this, Old Man Lu also laughed: "Your mother has been asking people to go around these days. Naturally, our family has prepared a betrothal gift for you. You can keep the money for yourself, so that you can live better in the future."

As he said that, Father Lu took Lu Zhuocheng to meet Bayardan of the livestock farm. After the introduction, Lu Zhuocheng said bluntly: "Boss Bayardan, there is a tyrant in this county who is interested in buying it and asked me to ask the price?"

"You want them all?"

"I want it all."

Bayardan heard this and said with a smile: "I have 431 war horses here, each one costs 30 guan, so I want 12930 guan. I'll give you a discount, 12500 guan. No less."

Seeing Bayardan's determination, Lu Zhuocheng said, "Okay, 12500 strings of cash. However, these horses will need Bayardan to take care of them for another five to seven days. I have a written agreement here, with 1000 strings of cash as an order, and the remaining 11500 strings of cash will be delivered in ten days at most. When the time comes, you need the storekeeper to drive the horses to my brother's farm outside the county. If ten days pass, the 1000 strings of cash will belong to the storekeeper."

Bayardan heard this and said, "I still have half a month's worth of fodder here. It will take 10 days. If you pay me, I will give you the rest of the fodder as well."

At that moment, Bayardan took away the document with the signatures of Lu Laodi and Lu Zhuocheng and the 1000-string silver note. A sign saying "Sold Out" was also hung at the entrance of the racecourse.

Old Man Lu and Lu Zhuocheng said goodbye to Bayardan and left the fence.

Lu Zhuocheng was about to leave so that he could reply to Zhao Zhen. Old Man Lu said, "After you finish this order today, you don't have to rush to do other things. You haven't been home for seven or eight days. Come home with me today and have a few drinks to avoid your mother's nagging. I have other good things here, I will tell you about them too, and see if your classmate Zhao Zhen wants them."

After hearing this, Lu Zhuocheng went home with Old Man Lu.

(End of this chapter)