Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 21 A pair of couplets to pay homage to the master
"Brother Fan, this is the Yingsu River. In December of the first year of Xianqing, the Tang army fought with the Turkic cavalry here. The former army general Su Dingfang personally led 500 cavalry to attack and defeated more than 40,000 enemy troops. More than 1,500 people were killed and captured, and countless horses and equipment were seized. How magnificent! The Tang Dynasty is thousands of miles away!"

The young scribe in green shirt talked loudly and laughed to the equally young merchant, as if no one else was watching. His aura was just like Gong Jin's back then, minus a feather fan. This person's surname was Liu Minghaogu, a scholar in the Ming Dynasty. His grandfather was Liu Minkuan, who participated in the "Three Victories in Huangzhong" and became the governor of Shaanxi and Shaanxi in the Ming Dynasty.

Liu Haogu inherited this heroic spirit from his grandfather. When his grandfather went to Yulin to patrol the border, he remembered the old iron horses and gold, and wrote the poem "Zhenbeitai": "The sound of autumn in the important town is in full bloom, and the patrol is not for the stage. Qian Qian The mountains are far up to the sky, and a stream of water comes from the desert. The Cuiwei sky tower is close to the garrison, and the fortresses surround the ground. From the height of the sky, you can see the smoke and smoke, and you feel like you are nestling in a carefree Langyuan." That aura was just like what he had today.

The merchants who were traveling with him were young, mature, and dark-skinned. It was probably due to traveling around doing business all year round. He actually had fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He was wearing an ordinary leather jacket and hat, and he looked ordinary. But the occasional flash of light in his eyes showed that this person was extraordinary.

His name is Fan Yongdou, and his ancestral home is Jiexiu, Shanxi. The Fan family in Jiexiu has been doing business for generations. As early as the early Ming Dynasty, their family was doing business in Zhangjiakou and Mongolia. It has been passed down to Fan Yongdou for the seventh generation. Because of his good reputation, Fan has become a wealthy businessman in the Zhangjiakou area trading with Manchuria and Mongolia. People at the time called him "a businessman who lives in a border town and works with integrity."

These days, if you want to do business in the Ming Dynasty, you must have someone on top, otherwise it will not be successful. Fan understood this principle well, made good friends with powerful people, and built a dense protection network. Liu Haogu's ancestral home was also in Shanxi, and his grandfather had been the governor of the three sides of the Ming Dynasty, so he naturally became the target of the Jiexiu Fan family.

In the past few years, Fan's business has been somewhat unsatisfactory. The original big customer, Nuerhachi of Jianzhou, suddenly rebelled against the imperial court. Hated to rebel against the Ming Dynasty. The most surprising thing is that he actually defeated the officers and soldiers repeatedly and invaded Liaodong like a tiger. The imperial court put him on a blacklist and imposed an embargo on various strategic materials such as iron and food. Lao Fan's business in Liaodong was affected. Although he could still smuggle trade by bribing officials, after all, the cost and risk of doing business had increased a lot.

In order to make up for the losses in Liaodong, it was extremely necessary to expand trade with Mongolia and open up new trade routes. Fan Yongdou turned his attention to Wala and wanted to visit Talbahatai, the trade center in Oirat. He and Liu Haogu were good friends. When Liu Haogu's grandfather was serving as a garrison in Xining, his father took him to visit the Khalkha and Oirat tribes, so he volunteered to be a guide.

"This Yingsao River is really spectacular. I didn't expect that the Mongolian Huite chieftain would farm and build a city here. You see, sir, they even planted this thing." Fan Yongdou pointed to the melons in the melon fields with interest and smiled. : "It is said that this melon comes from Hami and is called 'Qionglong'. Unexpectedly, the Mongols actually introduced it to Yingsao River. It's interesting! It's interesting!"

Liu Haogu frowned, "This city, as well as these farmlands, vegetables, and fruits, only appeared in recent years. The Huite tribe is not like other tribes who live in pursuit of water and grass. Instead, they are semi-nomadic and semi-settled. Their ambitions are not small." , in the long run, it may be a disaster for China.”

The two of them talked as they entered the city, but they couldn't help but be surprised when they saw that although the city was not big, there were many business travelers coming and going, and there were many craftsmen making and selling various daily necessities.

There is a row of long wooden houses in the south of the city, surrounded by walls and watchtowers at the four corners. They cover a large area and there is a large shooting range in the middle. This is the weapons workshop of the Huite Department located in Yingsagawa City, Dayuledus County.

A child of eight or nine years old walked in with more than a dozen followers behind him.

Seeing it was him, Urut Buyechuk (the official responsible for managing blacksmiths and weapons production) bowed and walked in. "Taiji, you are here," a peach-like smile appeared between his eyebrows.

"Well, how are the weapons and armors going?" The child's voice sounded mature beyond his age. This kid is Suletan, the young master of the Huite tribe.

"To answer your question, since Dadaiji brought back many blacksmiths from Yarkand, the output of weapons has increased a lot. Currently, the monthly output is 100 armors, 300 knives, 300 shields, 1,000 guns, and 300 spears. Three hundred roots and bows."

"That's right." The child smiled slightly and raised his brows, "What about the firearms?"

"Taiji, we are currently unable to manufacture artillery. We can only produce seven muskets per month, and they are all local muskets that cannot shoot far."

"I heard that Rumi (Ottoman Turkey) is rich in eagle guns, which are very useful. Many craftsmen in Bukhara can make them. You might as well send someone to Bukhara to invite some craftsmen." The child thought for a while and spoke.

"Yes, I will send someone to Bukhara right now," Buyechuk said humbly.

"Yes." Suletan nodded with satisfaction, inspected the armory again, and then left to go shopping in the market.

In the market, he met two people, two Han Chinese: Fan Yongdou and Liu Haogu.

"Huh? Han Chinese", the little guy chuckled.

Fan Yongdou traveled far and wide and had extensive knowledge. When he saw his appearance, he knew that he was a son of a powerful family. The people did not fight with the officials, so they immediately smiled at him in a friendly way. "Shuzi is rude!" Liu Haogu was irritated by the little guy's wanton laughter, and said sarcastically: "Silkworms are the world's worms." That means, don't be complacent, even if your father's generation has the world's power, they are just a worm. That’s all.

"A swan is a bird by the river," the little guy's counterattack came out of his mouth. Even if you are a swan, you are just a bird by the river.

"Huh? Hu people also know how to couplet?"

Liu Haogu was surprised, "How about trying one more pair?"

"If I can't match him, I'm willing to offer him hundreds of horses. If I can match him, what will happen to him?" the boy asked slyly.

"What do you want?" Liu Haogu asked calmly.

"If I match up, please sir, stay in Ying Sachuan for three years and accept me as a disciple."

"This~" Liu Haogu hesitated.

The boy's tone was very disdainful, "Why, sir, are you afraid?"

After all, he was young and energetic, and Liu Haogu felt that it would be too embarrassing to be afraid of a child. No matter what, it's just a difficult situation that stumps him.

"You little kid, don't try to provoke me. Listen carefully. Mencius Zou, Mencius Wu, Mencius the eunuch, one is a man, one is a woman, and one is neither male nor female."

"嗞～"

After hearing this, Suletan gasped. This first couplet is too difficult! Zou Mencius refers to Meng Ke, a male; Wu Mencius is the wife of Lu Zhaogong, a female; eunuch Mencius is the author of "Poetry·Xiaoya·Xiangbo", a eunuch in the palace, neither male nor female. Three celebrities, three genders.

You must find characters with three different relationships to pair up with! The little guy thought for a long time and was silent.

"Don't be impatient, little kid, think slowly." Liu Haogu suddenly felt a little ashamed. He was too weak to win such a difficult match for such a young child.

"Sir, I have it," Suletan said with a bright smile on his face, "King Xuan of Zhou, King Xuan of Qi, King Xuan of Sima, one king, one minister, neither king nor minister."

King Xuan of Zhou was the head of the Zhou Dynasty and was the king; King Xuan of Qi was the princes of the Zhou Dynasty and was a minister; King Xuan of Sima refers to Sima Yi. He was posthumously named King Xuan during the Cao Wei Dynasty, and was posthumously named Emperor Xuan during the Jin Dynasty. Therefore, it is said: No king, no minister.

"Oh, this young master is so smart!" Fan Yongdou praised him repeatedly. He felt that this child was so proficient in Chinese studies that he must be the son of a noble person, and he wanted to make friends with him.

"Sir, please come with me to Taiji Mansion and formally perform the ceremony of apprenticeship." Suletan put away his mischief and said respectfully.

"Huh, don't worry. I am a disciple of the saint. I should keep my word and teach you for three years." Liu Haogu said in a deep voice, but he was muttering in his heart. This child is going to be a disciple in the chieftain's house. It seems that he is a local native. The chief's son. The native chiefs here are proficient in Chinese, which should not be underestimated!

(End of this chapter)