The voice did not fall. There was a person beside him, so he got up and saluted: "Thank you, the prince, for letting me wait for me to dye the orchid incense and wash away the copper smell." ”

"Oh?" Liu Bei looked up and saw that it was the butcher in the colony. The chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep slaughtered by his family every day supplied most of the city's needs. He smiled back: "How is business good lately?" ”

"Business is business as usual. But the price is getting higher. The butcher was worried about the price of meat: "All animals will rise after the New Year." In the long run, there will be chaos. ”

"Can it be because of Longxi business?" Liu Bei's heart moved.

"It's the main cause." The butcher said: "The Longxi trade road is intermittent, and the slaughter prices of cattle and sheep such as the Southern Xiongnu and Baiman have also risen. Now Haoyou has a monopoly on the horse market, and a ploughing horse has been sold for two million dollars. It also contributes to the fact that livestock prices are only rising, not falling. ”

Multiple causes. The trade routes are not smooth, the powerful have monopolies, and the policies are lacking.

Come on one by one.

Dry your hair and comb through the crowns. The robes that had been taken off earlier were also washed and steamed. Wear a new one, up and down, and the fragrance is pleasant. Liu Bei, Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shu, the four of them went out of the golden water soup pool and went to the orchid wine shop for a drink.

The four of them happened to be seated.

The bartender brought ten years of Chen Songquan wine, Western Regions wine, and several plates of refreshing snacks and pastries.

Three glasses of wine. Yuan Shao then spoke: "The imperial court will hold a court meeting in the near future to discuss the business affairs of Longxi. I heard that His Majesty also rushed 600 miles to recall Xia Yu, Tian Yan, Zang Min and other generals who begged for Xianbei. It seems that this time the army will be sent to Longxi, which is imperative. ”

Cao Cao put down his wine glass: "In the past, there was Liangzhou Assassin Shi Mengtuo and the elite of the Western Regions sent troops to besiege the city, and the troops were withdrawn after running out of food, and they returned in vain. Even the people of the Western Regions were confused. If they are defeated again, the nations will look down on them. The Han court feared losing the right to speak in the Western Regions. ”

Liu Bei nodded lightly: "Meng De said it." ”

Yuan Shao looked at Liu Bei: "Xuande wants to attack the Western Regions again?" ”

Hearing this, everyone put down their wine glasses one after another.

Liu Bei thought for a while and said, "Let's see how the court is." ”

Cao Cao also nodded: "The cities of the Western Regions are thick-walled, and the soldiers are strong and strong. Far from being comparable to Xianbei nomadism. The art of war is cloudy, and ten rules surround it. If you want to pacify the Western Regions, the cost is far more than that of the Northern Expedition. Your Majesty... I'm afraid I can't afford it. ”

Yuan Shu pouted and said, "Meng Tuo Shanjia." In the past, the calamus wine was left behind, that is, the history of Liangzhou thorns. I have not heard that he is good at leading troops. ”

Liangzhou Thorn Shi Mengtuo. It is Meng Tuo, who is scattered and only wants to kneel.

"Before the soldiers and horses moved, the grain and grass went first." Cao Cao glanced at Yuan Shu, and then retorted: "Meng Tuo is also a hero, and he has many generals. When the army goes out, the grain road is a matter of life and death. If you can't do anything, how can you return without success? ”

"What Mende said is very true." Liu Bei also said: "Attacking the city is not better than pounding the nest. Riding lightly, once the grain and grass are insufficient, the grain road is cut off. It's too late to regret. Therefore, Meng Tuo's army went out of the fortress and fought steadily. It's also common sense. ”

Yuan Shao's eyes lit up: "Could it be that Xuande has an 'extraordinary' method?" ”

Liu Bei nodded lightly: "I am still meditating, seeking up and down." ”

Cao Cao raised his head violently when he heard this, and there seemed to be a flash of light in his eyes.

Yuan Shu poured wine: "Drink and drink." What are these important things to do in the court? It's too far away from us. ”

Speaking of wine, Liu Bei asked: "The highway said before, 'Meng Tuo left Zhang Rang with calamus wine, that is, worshiped the history of Liangzhou Thorn'. I don't know what is the magic of this calamus wine? ”

Originally. Nowadays, calamus wine is indeed very precious.

The Book of the Later Han Dynasty contains: "Meng Tuo, the word Boliang, with calamus wine to leave Zhang Rang, that is, to worship the history of Liangzhou Thorn." ”

"Controversy for Categories" also has the saying: "Two Han people with fine wine and calamus, and one price is worth five officials".

Speaking of these anecdotes, Yuan Shu knows a lot.

He replied, "The reason why calamus wine is precious is that it uses the precious medicinal herb of the local specialty 'nine-section calamus'. The nine-section calamus grows on the top of the mountain, and is known as the saying that 'it is difficult for those who have no ambition to get'. The collection is limited to 10 days before and after Xiaoman. Prematurely, calamus pulp is insufficient and of poor quality; Too late, the calamus seedlings wither, difficult to find. The water used to make calamus wine is also the Shundi Spring at the foot of Lishan. It is said that this spring was dug by Emperor Shun himself. Drinking regularly can cure all diseases and prolong life.

The selection of ingredients and the brewing of calamus wine are also extraordinary. The wine is made in the early morning of the morning before the rooster crows, the wine needs to be sealed in time, stored in the ground, and several years later, before drinking. ”

"I see." Liu Bei understood: "Calamus wine is medicinal wine. ”

"Yes, yes." Yuan Shu nodded happily: "If you can prolong your life, how can it not be expensive?" ”

Liu Bei was deeply inspired. Medicinal wine is actually not difficult. With Hua Tuo's ability, it must not be difficult to use Songquan brew supplemented by various rare medicinal materials to prepare several medicinal wines that prolong life.

After returning home, he went to Linxiang and asked the doctor to order Hua Tuo to try to mix medicinal wine.

Practice bowing, and there will be a venue in the backyard.

Let all the weapons be removed and the site cleared. The torch was held high, and the two righteous brothers practiced their skills hard.

The next day, Empress He personally accompanied Guo Sheng, a regular servant, and came to the door early in the morning.

He said, "He was sent by the queen to greet him."

How could Liu Bei not know what his mind was. Then a date was agreed, and three days later he entered the palace to meet the queen.

Sending Guo Changzhi away, Jia Xu said: Asking for gifts is one thing, and helping his brother He Jin is the other.

Presumably, Liu Bei's banquet has been passed to the ears of the queen. Unlike the wealthy family. He was born as a butcher and remarried. The foundation of the DPRK and China is still shallow. Liu Bei is a relative of the Han family and is well-known in the world. And Your Majesty also appreciates more. At this time, I don't think it's helping, but when?

Such as fire jade Huasheng, gold silk blanket, fox big fu, Qiu brocade mattress, chicken song Hua pillow, glass fragrance dew. It's indispensable. He was born in a butcher's family, and he will inevitably be profitable. Jia Xu said again: Or you can serve another hundred horseshoe gold cakes.

Liu Bei shook his head and said, "I spent a lot of money in the horse market before. Now when he enters the palace to offer gifts, he only pays 100 gold, and he must give the truth. If it doesn't come out, it must be less than a thousand gold. ”

Jia Xu also shook his head: "If you favor one over the other, what should the two queen mothers think about?" ”

Liu Bei smiled: "So, this is the same as the two queen mothers, just do it." ”

Jia Xu nodded and said, "The lord sees it clearly." ”

Rest back to the horse archery technique is simpler than Liu Bei thought.

Because of stirrups.

All of Liu Bei's cavalry were equipped with high bridge saddles and double stirrups. Unlike the Rest Archers, who did not have stirrups, it was extremely difficult to maintain balance on horseback. The dragon and tiger cavalry is much simpler to master. Even if your hands are unreined, stirrups can help you balance.

The improved two-stone recurve angle end bow, combined with armor-piercing arrows, can penetrate two layers of iron armor within 300 steps.

It's just too tough.

The angular bow is a compound bow in itself. Add the recurve and the power is doubled.

There is no need for Liu Bei to order.

Led by the yellow crossbow, all the strong crossbows in Linxiang have tried to transform them into recurve bow arms. Liu Bei also ordered someone to install a clairtelescope on the curved arm crossbow for aiming. Clairvoyance is extremely expensive to make. In addition, the curved arm crossbow is made of refined steel, and no expense is spared to forge it. The six-stone 'soul chasing crossbow' similar to the military crossbow of later generations, with a winch winding, a ratchet crossbow machine, and a special flying fly crossbow arrow, can penetrate three layers of heavy armor within 100 steps. Hit every shot, and the middle will die. Specially prepared for embroiderers.