Three Kingdoms: Heir of Wolong, my father-in-law is Guan Gong

Chapter 39 Zhuge Qiao’s conjecture about crossing the river in white clothes

"Five hundred bows, one hundred thousand arrows, three hundred ring-headed knives, and five hundred pairs of leather armor."

"Lu Boyan really dares to speak."

In front of Zhuge Qiao, there was a map of the counties in Jingzhou, including the river mouth checkpoints, important towns, and administrative offices in the counties.

After Mi Fang learned that Liu Bei was going to be king, she was not very enthusiastic about doing business with barbarian merchants.

Mi Fang is just greedy, but not stupid.

At this critical moment, if Mi Fang dared to sell this batch of ordnance privately to barbarian merchants, Mi Fang would really burn down the armory.

But Mi Fang didn't know how to reply, so she simply pretended to be dumbfounded and entrusted the business with the barbarian merchant to Zhuge Qiao.

This business has been entrusted to Zhuge Qiao, so how to do it must be done according to Zhuge Qiao's way.

If the money and food supplies of the Chu merchants were not in place, Zhuge Qiao would not be able to deliver even an arrow to the barbarian merchants.

As for when the money and food are in place?
  Then it’s even more impossible to give it!

"It is said that there is no business without treachery. We are already engaged in business. How can we talk about benevolence, justice and morality?"

"The furs of the barbarian merchants can be returned, and the money and grain of the Chu merchants can be borrowed."

"But whether it is returned in the end depends on how many people Lu Meng can send."

Zhuge Qiao's eyes fell on Xiangguan, located in Changsha County. After the Chu merchants' money and grain were transported from Jiangdong, they would be transited in Xiangguan.

The apparent reason was that Lu Meng wanted to tax Chu merchants and would protect their money and food.

This reason makes the dog want to cry.

Is Chu Shang provoking you? He just wants to buy some fur goods and is taxed. Does he need you, Lu Meng, to provide protection?
  "You guys should save more rice from Xiangguan."

"Otherwise, if there is a shortage of food, the kings and princes will not be able to find a place to get food."

After coming to Jingzhou, Zhuge Qiao realized a problem.

The Han River will surge, which means there will be a lot of rain this year, which is very likely to cause floods.

Floods will damage Jingzhou's rice fields and affect Jingzhou's autumn harvest.

This means that the money and grain from the autumn harvest may not be able to support Guan Yu in taking Xiangfan.

Coupled with Yu Jin's surrender, this will put great pressure on Jiangling City's money and food logistics.

Zhuge Qiao chose to personally take charge of the business with the barbarian merchants in order to raise more money and food.

Zhuge Qiao also had speculations about Guan Yu taking rice from Xiangguan and Lu Meng crossing the river in white clothes: after Lu Meng pretended to be ill and left, Lu Xun praised Guan Yu non-stop and wished he could regard Guan Yu as his biological father.

It is more likely that he promised Guan Yu, such as: "My lord, don't worry about the Northern Expedition. If you are short of food, come to me." "There is food in Xiangguan. All allies want money. If those merchants want money, let them come to me." "Where to transport it?" Transport it to Jiangling City? Okay, I will take care of it, Lu Xun." "I am a sensible person, my soldiers cannot cross the Xiang River, and the merchants will transport them themselves."

Therefore.

Although there were soldiers at the beacon tower, Lu Xun wanted merchants to transport grain to Guan Yu. Would the soldiers at the beacon tower still refuse?
  After several attempts, the soldiers at Beacon Tower probably gave way to the merchants coming from Xiangguan. Who would suspect that the merchants had problems?

The acquisition of Xiangguan rice is most likely related to Yu Jin's surrender in Jiangling City.

The pretense, weakness, flattery, and flattery involved were all played by Lu Xun like a fool.

If Lu Xun was even more shameless and wrote to Guan Yu, "My Lu family and the Sun family have deep hatred, but not only was I forced to change my name, but I was also forced to marry Sun Ce's daughter as my wife." Lu Xun killed Sun Quan as his collaborator.

While he was thinking about it, a clerk hurriedly came to report: "Mr. Qiao, Pan Zhizhong has had a quarrel with Governor Mi. Governor Mi asked you to go to the Governor's Mansion immediately."

"Oh? Just make a quarrel. What do you want me to do?" Zhuge Qiao didn't even raise his head, not wanting to pay attention to the conflict between Mi Fang and Pan Jun. The clerk said cautiously: "It's someone from Xichuan. Pan Zhizhong cursed Grandmaster Mi in the Grand Administrator's Mansion, and also scolded Young Master Qiao and General Anhan. Grand Administrator Mi asked the villain to invite Young Master Qiao."

Someone is coming from Xichuan?
  Zhuge Qiao suddenly became energetic: "Who is here in Xichuan?"

The clerk said: "It's General Zuo who is sending Ma Liang."

Zhuge Qiao nodded secretly: "Who else?"

The clerk shook his head: "I don't know."

Zhuge Qiao narrowed his eyes slightly. The little official didn't know that it didn't mean there was no one here. It was very possible that he had concealed his identity.

With Zhuge Liang's caution, since Zhuge Qiao asked for generals, there would definitely be soldiers from Xichuan coming to Jiangling City.

"Lead the way." Zhuge Qiao stopped asking the clerk.

Not long after.

Zhuge Qiao came to the prefect's mansion.

Pan Jun's angry voice was heard from a distance: "Mi Zifang, don't think I don't know. You are colluding with Zhuge Qiaohang and reselling weapons with barbarian merchants. You were afraid that I would do something bad, so you jointly signed a letter to transfer me."

"People like you are the scum of Jingzhou. My lord, I think you are the governor of Nanjun. How foolish you are."

"If a military advisor has an heir like Zhuge Qiao, his reputation will be ruined. What kind of good son can Zhuge Jin give birth to?"

Mi Fang's voice was also angry: "Pan Chengming, do you dare to call the lord stupid? You are so brave!"

Pan Jun's voice was stern: "Mi Zifang, my lord has done something wrong, can't I still scold him? Do you think I am a flattering villain like you?"

"In the past, County Magistrate Shaxian was guilty of filthy property and was executed according to the law. If your official position was not higher than mine, I would not have the right to deal with you according to the law. You would be a dead man now!"

Mi Fang was so angry at Pan Jun that the blood almost rushed to her throat: "Thief, do you think I can't kill you?"

"Mi Zifang, if you have the guts, just cut me with one sword. If I frown, I won't call you Pan Chengming!" Pan Jun frowned and his tone became even more fierce.

Mi Fang's right hand pressed on the hilt of the sword.

Mi Zhu had sharp eyes and quick hands, and quickly held down Mi Fang's right hand: "Zifang, don't be impulsive! If you kill Pan Chengming, it will be difficult for the master to explain."

After signing a joint letter asking Liu Bei to replace Pan Jun, Mi Zhu expected this day.

Being scolded by Pan Jun wouldn't be a loss, anyway, he wouldn't have to see Pan Jun in a few days, so out of sight, out of mind.

Ma Liang stood quietly aside and said nothing.

Neither Mi Fang, Mi Zhu, nor Pan Jun could be helped by Ma Liang.

"I seem to hear someone scolding me. It turns out to be Pan Zhizhong. I have heard that Pan Zhizhong's virtues are an example in Jingnan. Why can he scold others?" Zhuge Qiao entered the scene with a smile.

When Pan Jun saw Zhuge Qiao's arrival, his tone became even more angry: "Zhuge Qiao, you are collaborating with Mi Zifang, aren't you afraid of being blamed by the military advisor?"

"Pan Zhizhong, what you said is wrong. Why am I collaborating with Governor Mi? You can eat whatever you want, but you can't talk nonsense." Zhuge Qiao's smile remained unchanged.

But this smile made Pan Jun even more angry: "The Jingchu Chamber of Commerce is a dirty business, don't you know?"

Zhuge Qiao said calmly: "I know, Brother Wenlong told me. If Brother Wenlong hadn't told me about the Jingchu Chamber of Commerce in private, I wouldn't have known that Jiangling City still hid such secrets."

　The location of Xiangguan has always been controversial; this book shall prevail.

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)