Xiping two years. Spring, New Year's Month, Great Plague.

Spring came late in the Northland, and the ice and snow had not melted. The germs failed to spread, and the patients were treated in a timely manner, so the plague fortunately did not affect Lousangyi.

By the time the ice began to melt, the cars and horses were barely able to pass.

The stable has been dormant for a winter, and the good news is frequent. Su Shuang said that several good horses will be born soon. The green horse is a great contribution.

The lack of horses is the most headache for the whole Lou Sang.

In other words, Gongsun Chan said a few years ago that someone can solve the urgent need for horses. But I don't know who he is talking about.

Liu Bei was twelve years old.

The figure jumped up again. The strength is also great. The Xiongnu longbow of the two stones can be opened freely. Fighting with the Gongsun clan, who is slightly shorter than him, he can be undefeated in two lilies. Fencing is considered to be a nascent achievement.

Famous teachers produce high apprentices.

It is said that Qin Wuyang killed people in the twelfth year, and people did not dare to resent. With Liu Bei's skills, it seems to be almost the same.

The school building has opened. All classmates and friends, it is still difficult to see the young prince and marquis during the day, and Liu Bei still goes to school at night. Even so, the schedule is full. In addition to his own practice, he also needs to decide everything in the city. Mayor Geng Yong and Chief Cui Jun visited the Hou Mansion every day without mentioning it.

The white soldiers, the sailors, the thieves caught and stabbed the traitors, strictly investigated and defended, and never slackened.

When the spring flowers bloomed, suddenly a horse rushed into the city.

Immediately young, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, blazing. After inquiring about the location of the school building with the guards, he rushed to the house.

Soon, Gongsun Chan sent a letter to say that his friend had arrived. Liu Bei hurried to meet him.

Gongsun Zhan, a noble child, rented an annex on the third floor of the dormitory. On weekdays, there are also maidservants to serve daily life. It is the time of the meal, and the students go to the cafeteria more often to eat. When Liu Bei arrived at the annex on the third floor, Gongsun Zhan was chatting and laughing with a young man in Hufu.

Seeing Liu Bei, he got up and beckoned him in.

One left and one right, holding the hands of Liu Bei and the young man in Hufu, introduced: "Brother Xian, this is the person who can help you." The name is Yan Rou, and he is a native of Guangyang in Yan Kingdom. ”

"Guangyang Yan Rou, I've seen the young monarch and the marquis." Although Liu Bei was wearing civilian clothes, the young man in Hufu did not dare to slack off and saluted respectfully. Yan Rou should not be very old, but she looks very old. It must have something to do with my own experience.

Liu Bei returned the salute with a smile: "I am commensurate with Brother Zhan, a brother." You're welcome. ”

Gongsun Chan also smiled and said: "What the virtuous brother said is extreme. The two of us studied together and have known each other for a long time. They are both brothers and brothers. Yan Rou, you don't have to be formal. ”

"It's fine." In the end, it's all juvenile nature. Yan Rou was not pretentious, and straightened up neatly.

The host and guest are seated.

Liu Bei then spoke: "Brother once said to Beiyan that Your Excellency can solve the dilemma of Lou Sang's lack of horses. I wonder if that's true? ”

Yan Rou nodded lightly: "If it's only for horses, (Yan) Rou does have a way." ”

Liu Bei was overjoyed: "How to help?" ”

"Without it, go to northern Xinjiang to sell horses." Yan Rou replied.

A few years ago, Zhang Shiping also sent a letter saying that he was going to northern Xinjiang to sell horses. At that time, Liu Bei had a lot of concerns. Now Yan Rou mentioned it again, and then he thought: "Your Excellency knows Hu Ren? ”

Hearing this, Yan Rou's face tightened. Then he raised his eyebrows and said, "Don't you know." Hu people have a lot of trust in me. ”

Gongsun Zhan then said: "Yan Rou was captured by Wuhuan and Xianbei when he was young. Grew up in the Hu tribe. It is quite believed by the Hu people. ”

I see.

No wonder there was a hint of uncertainty on the face.

It must have been a painful experience. Liu Beizheng didn't know how to speak. Yan Rou said nonchalantly: "I can talk about the few tribes that are cruising outside the pass." The price is less, and the prince should rest assured, and it will be several times cheaper than the horse market. Saying that, Yan Rou talked about an old news again, "Last year, the snow was heavy, and Xianbei Lao Shan died of illness. Xindan had just succeeded to the throne and was in need of gold and silver to appease the other tribes. At this time, it is easy to sell horses. ”

Liu Bei also heard that Lao Shan died a year ago, and his son Tu Teruo's corpse was chased away, and Shan was already in power.

Presumably, the new Shan Yu in Yan Rou's mouth is him.

"I don't know if you are familiar with the path to Shan Yu?" Liu Bei asked.

"(Yan) Rou (Sheng) grew up in the grassland, and the plants and trees outside the plug are like a few treasures. Naturally familiar. ”

"Are you familiar with the tribes along the way?" Liu Bei asked again.

"Young playmates, mostly scattered among the ministries. Soft nature is familiar, too. Yan Rou replied again.

"In this case, please think about it for a few days, whether you go or not, and you will know in a few days." Liu Bei thought for a while.

"Yes." Yan Rou nodded solemnly.

Leaving Gongsun Zhan's place, Liu Bei went to the city building again. I asked Jian Yong, and now there are tens of millions of money in the treasury. That's five million dollars available. Replaced with horseshoe gold cakes, there are more than 300 pieces. The reason why it is expensive. It's not 10,000 to 1, but 5,000 to 1, because copper coins are inconvenient to carry. Bulk goods, mostly settled in gold. It is also because it is easy to carry, so Hu Shang especially likes gold. Therefore, in the horse market, Hu Shang was even willing to exchange 15,000 copper coins for a horseshoe gold. In addition, Liu Bei's exchange volume this time is large, so the gold price is especially expensive.

Ordinary businessmen can't afford it.

Liu Bei asked, among the people he knew, only the Liaodong Tian clan could exchange with him.

Don't rush yet.

The next day, Liu Bei invited Gongsun Zan to ask Yan Rou about the details of her life.

Gongsun Chan will know this and tell it eloquently.

Among the blood and tears, I really can't bear to look at it directly. has a deep hatred of blood, but he can still be friends with the Hu people. Yan Rou is a very human being.

Seeing that Liu Bei was silent, Gongsun Zhan knew that he was suspicious, so he persuaded: "Yan Rou is a friend of the foolish brother." His people are loyal to the liver and courage, and they are willing to die lightly. This will definitely be successful, and the virtuous brother can rest assured. ”

"Brother is too worried." Liu Bei smiled and nodded: "I'm just thinking, if it can be done, how can I thank you?" ”

Gongsun Zhan breathed a sigh of relief: "They are all their own brothers, why bother to say thank you!" After the deed is completed, it is necessary to find him an errand to settle down in the city. ”

"That's fine." Although Liu Bei nodded, he was faintly worried. It always felt like something was wrong.

Anyway, since he is a friend of Gongsun Zhan, it is estimated that there will not be much of a problem.

After making up his mind, Liu Bei wrote to Zhang Shiping again and asked about the horse trade.

Soon received a reply from Zhang Shiping.

The letter said: Seeking the near and far is not the best policy. Why not go to Wuhuan in the three counties?

Liu Bei took a closer look before he suddenly woke up. It turned out that at this time in Youzhou, there were also three counties of Wuhuan.

Wuhuan, Branch, Yi (邑落), Luo. Yi and Luo are the communities under the jurisdiction of the subordinates. Each ministry rules over hundreds, if not thousands.

"The Book of the Later Han Dynasty: The Biography of Wuhuan" contains: "Each Yiluo has a little handsome, and hundreds of cadres are their own. "Falling, often for the meaning of the household. Each account or account can range from seven or eight to more than ten. A number of settlements gather together for the Yi or simply the Yi. "There are about 20 or 30 households in each town", and "there should be a population of 100 to 200 people in each town."

Above the settlement are tribes or tribes. "Hundreds of thousands of units are one of their own", the size of the department is very different, and they merge with each other, which is very unstable.

The ten counties of Liaodong, Liaoxi, Youbeiping, Yuyang, Guangyang, Shanggu, Dai, Yanmen, Taiyuan, and Shuofang are distributed with Wuhuan tribes of all sizes, with a population of more than 300,000. The tribal leader is called the lord, holds the power, and the lord's orders, "the people dare not disobey", "disobey the words of the lord".

"Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms" Pei Note quoted the "Book of Wei" to record the customs of Wuhuan: "The surname is impermanent, and the name of the adult is the surname." That is to say, the people of a tribe all have the same surname at the same time, and this surname is the surname of the strongest and fiercest great man who ruled the tribe at that time.