Cao Cao led a group of henchmen to the place where horses were raised, after all, horses also belonged to the Cao family's military secrets, and ordinary people were not qualified to know.

Horse farms are huge horse pens enclosed with sparse wooden fences.

I saw countless high-headed horses in the circle, roaring one after another, each horse was red like charcoal, with shiny manes and full of spirit.

"Is this a bad horse?" Cao Cao looked confused, and said to the generals around him, such as Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, Cao Chun, and others: "How can these horses look more energetic than our horses." ”

"That's right, are all the bad horses on the grassland so wonderful?" Xiahou Yuan and the others were also puzzled.

At that time, after the Wenwu of the Cao family got the news that Liu Ping was forced to buy inferior horses, everyone had an inherent impression of inferior horses, thinking that what Liu Ping brought back must be a group of old, weak and short thin horses.

But the horses they saw were completely different from the bad horses they had imagined, and each of them seemed to be in good spirits and incomparably superb.

This must be considered a bad horse, so what should a good horse look like?

At this time, Liu Ping saw Cao Cao, so he hurriedly walked over and bowed down and said, "See my father-in-law, my son-in-law is fortunate to have bought the horse back without dishonoring his mission." ”

"Ping'er, I've suffered a lot of grievances along the way," Cao Cao said with a pleased smile to Liu Ping: "I heard that you are competing with Yuan Xi in the grassland, and now our financial resources can't compare to Yuan's, and it's normal to be unable to compete with Yuan Xi." ”

He paused, then pointed to the horses and said, "It's just that this batch of inferior ...... you bought What's going on with horses? ”

"Father-in-law really thinks this is a bad horse?" Liu Ping blinked his eyes and smiled mysteriously.

"What do you mean by that?" Cao Cao was stunned when he heard this, glared at Liu Ping, a little confused by the second monk, and wondered: "Could it be ...... Are these good horses? ”

All the henchmen present were Cao's henchmen, and Liu Ping didn't need to hide anything, so he nodded with a smile and said, "Exactly, these three thousand horses are all good grassland horses that have been raised in the lowly manner." ”

As soon as these words came out, Cao Cao and all the civil and military forces were stunned.

For example, there are many discussions today, Liu Ping, as the envoy of the Cao family, was pressed by Yuan Shao's second son, and he was forced to buy inferior horses to fill the number, which made the Cao family lose face.

This is like two families fighting for wealth, and the losing party will naturally have a dull face even with the family.

Although Cao Cao is more affordable and doesn't pay much attention to things with empty heads and brains, who doesn't want face?

It's just that it's a fact that he can't fight Yuan Shao financially, so he doesn't force Liu Ping to buy a good horse with good quality and low price, and it is impossible for good quality and cheap to appear on the same object at the same time.

However, Liu Ping actually said that what he bought back was a good horse that went to the low, which made Cao Cao and the civil and military forces a little puzzled.

"Ping'er, what the hell is going on, tell me quickly, you're going to kill me in a hurry," Xiahou Yuan's eyes widened, looking anxious.

At this time, Guo Jia said with a smile next to him: "Do you still need to ask, Ping Gongzi must have used the strategy of stealing beams and replacing pillars." ”

Guo Jia is so smart, Liu Ping guessed it as soon as he said it.

"Ping'er, is that really the case?" Cao Cao's eyes lit up instantly, and his eyebrows involuntarily raised.

Liu Ping nodded and said with a smile: "As Mr. Fengxiao said, it is true that the son-in-law bought a batch of inferior horses before, but he has already unknowingly dropped the bag with Yuan Xi, and now we are all genuine grassland horses." ”

The crowd was in an uproar.

"In this way, all the horses that Ping Gongzi brought back are good horses, and the ones that Yuan Xi transported to Yecheng are bad horses?"

"That's right, it's gratifying that our bad horse has become a good horse, but Yuan Shao's good horse suddenly became a bad horse, and he is a person with a good reputation, I'm afraid his nose will be crooked."

"The good strategy of Ping Gongzi, exchanging cheap bad horses for good horses, this trip can make a lot of money."

At this time, Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh beside him: "I knew that the rumors said that Ping'er had to retreat to the second, it would not be so simple. ”

In this way, Liu Ping spent a small amount of money to buy a good horse for him, and naturally made a lot of money, but Yuan Shao spent a lot of money to buy a bad horse, so that Yuan Shao could suffer such a dumb loss, how could this not make him happy?

After a while, Cao Cao's expression became serious, and he turned to the people around him: "It's just that this cheap can only be known to us, and no one is allowed to reveal it, can you understand?" ”

Everyone nodded one after another, who can not understand the relationship here?

Now that Yuan Shu said that the emperor has not yet been pacified, if the matter of changing horses reaches Yuan Shao's ears again, Yuan Shao will inevitably be angry, and then the brothers will attack from the north and south, and the Cao family will be in danger.

"Now that we have horses, we should start to form cavalry, raid Yuan Shu, and quell the rebellion," Cao Cao said.

Previously, Liu Ping bought a horse to form a tiger and leopard cavalry and quell the rebellion of Yuan Shu, but now that the horse has arrived, this matter must be implemented quickly.

At this time, more than a month has passed since Yuan Shu became emperor, and the court represented by the Cao family still has not sent a single soldier, which has been criticized by people all over the world.

The longer it drags on, the less credible the Han court will be, and the lower the prestige of the Cao clan will be.

"What my father-in-law said is extremely true, it is better to send troops to quell the rebellion of Yuan Shu sooner rather than later," Liu Ping nodded and said: "If it takes a long time, all the princes in the world will see that no one cares about the emperor, and it will be troublesome to follow suit." ”

"That's right," Cao Cao said with a heavy face: "Although three thousand light cavalry may not be able to pacify Yuan Shu, it must be sent as soon as possible."

Yuan Shu had 60,000 military horses under his command, and dozens of generals such as Ji Ling and Lei Bo, and sent 3,000 elite light cavalry to raid, which was certainly a very risky strategy.

But this strategy is better than a strange word, a fast word, even if it can't win, at least it shows my Cao's attitude of defending the Han family in front of the world. ”

All the civil and military officers nodded yes, and they all felt that the fact of conquering Yuan Shu could not be delayed any longer.

In fact, as far as Liu Ping is concerned, although he proposed a plan to form a tiger and leopard cavalry to raid Yuan Shu, he doesn't know what the specific effect is.

Although he knew the direction of history, Yuan Shu's demise was inevitable.

But in real history, Yuan Shu's forces were jointly attacked by Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce, and Lu Bu, and they were supported for two years.

In this life, under the instigation of Liu Ping's little butterfly, Lu Bu's forces perished early, Liu Bei did not have Lu Bu's blow, nor did he throw himself into Xu Du, but instead became a life-and-death enmity with the Cao family, and it was impossible for Liu Bei to jointly send troops to conquer Yuan Shu.

In this way, the four-way army has removed two roads, who knows how long Yuan Shu can hold out?

It's just that for Liu Ping and the Cao family, Yuan Shu's puppet court has to fight, I don't know if this raid can work wonders......

At this time, Liu Ping pointed to the distant Butu and the more than 30 tribesmen: "Father-in-law, this time the son-in-law went to the grassland and brought back a lot of good horse breeders. ”

"It's still Ping'er's thoughtfulness, and even the horse breeder has been brought back," Cao Cao pinched his beard and nodded: "It's just a servant, but with a little effort, I will play tomorrow."

You've been tired all the way, so go back and rest early.

It's just that Jie'er has been talking about you these days, you go to see her first, so that she can rest assured. ”

"The son-in-law will go immediately," Liu Ping felt sweet in his heart, and it felt good to have someone to worry about.

……

The crowd dispersed, and Buttu Sanqig and his people stood far away by the stable, uneasy.

They just watched Liu Ping laughing and talking with a group of well-dressed old and young people, and pointing fingers at them, and they couldn't help but be suspicious in their hearts.

At the beginning on the grassland, although Liu Ping promised them a lot, now that he has arrived in Xudu, I don't know how Liu Ping will treat them.

As for being an official, Butu didn't have the luxury, he just wanted the He clan to live in peace and stability in this strange place, and not to face the butcher's knife at any time.

It's just that I heard that the southerners are cunning, and there are many things that they pretend to promise for the sake of immediate interests, who knows if Liu Ping's promise on the grassland will be counted?

At this time, Liu Ping walked over, beckoned several officials of the former Cao family to raise horses, pointed to Butu and ordered: "From now on, this is your Shangguan, and all the things about raising horses are all under his orders." ”

"No!"

Several officials didn't dare to discount Liu Ping's orders, and bowed to Butu in unison: "I've seen Shangguan!" ”

Butu was a little flustered, and hurriedly performed the prairie etiquette to those officials.

Liu Ping smiled and said to Butu: "You don't need to be polite, these are your subordinates, tomorrow the edict of the Son of Heaven will come, and this place will be under your control." ”

"Does the master really want the emperor to make me an official?" Butu clearly couldn't believe it yet.

"You don't need a master or a master, you are no longer a slave, and after becoming a servant, we are officials in the same dynasty, not master and servant," Liu Ping said indifferently.

Seeing that Liu Ping did not break his promise, Butu's eyes were slightly moist, his right arm was crossed in front of his chest, and he said earnestly to Liu Ping: "The master will always be the master of Butu." ”

It was Liu Ping who rescued them from Qubei, and let him marry his sweetheart as he wished, and he had the opportunity to be an official, which was difficult to repay for this grassland man.

So they stayed in the land where the horses were raised.

Sang Qige felt strange when she first arrived in Xu County, and begged to live with her brother and the clansmen to raise horses, but Liu Ping did not force her.

Only then did she believe that Liu Ping had really given her freedom, and she was not greedy for her body, and she couldn't help but admire and be grateful to this young man, but for some reason, she was still a little lost in her heart.

……

The next day, the morning pilgrimage.

"Liu Qing's trip to the grassland this time is not easy, I have also heard," the Son of Heaven was on the throne, and his brows furrowed slightly: "The son of the general dares to compete with Qing for a good horse, and the real number should not be." ”

Recently, Liu Ping's purchase of inferior horses has been rumored, and no one almost knows about it, and Liu Xie has naturally heard about it.

"Shouldn't it be, there is no court in sight," Kong Rong took the lead and said angrily: "Liu Gongnai is the great Si Nong of the dynasty, in charge of the world's finances, where does General Yuan's money come from?" Shouldn't all the taxes collected by the subordinate territories be the money of the imperial court?

He actually used it to compete with Liu Gong privately, how can there be such a reason?

Your Majesty shall decree that he shall reprimand his misdeeds. ”

In fact, Kong Rong is right, the money of all state pastors in the world should theoretically be under the jurisdiction of Liu Ping, the big Si Nong, and be uniformly allocated.

But that's just theoretical, if it falls apart today, and the princes don't even care about the emperor, who cares about Liu Ping, the big Si Nong?

Whoever collects the money is his.

"Ahem," Liu Ping smiled slightly: "As the saying goes, if you do too much injustice, you will kill yourself, and the Yuan family will be punished if you can't do it." ”

"I didn't expect Liu Gong to be so kind," Kong Rong sighed and said: "That Yuan Xi is extremely arrogant, Liu Gong can still be so indifferent, I really admire Gong's mind."

However, if there is really retribution, it will not make the imperial court decline to this point, and people like Yuan Shao, who are tired of eating Hanlu, are divided into one side and perverse. ”

As soon as Kong Rong took the lead, all the courtiers in the court began to denounce Yuan Shao one-sidedly.

After all, Liu Ping's identity is also a courtier, and the Yuan family does not respect Liu Ping, and they will not respect them either.

At this time, a Huangmen official suddenly came in and said, "Your Majesty, the envoy of Yuan Shao outside and the envoy of the humble are asking to see me." ”

"Xuan!" Liu Xie raised his hand.

As soon as he heard that the envoys from both sides were coming, Liu Ping smiled secretly in his heart, if he didn't guess wrong, I'm afraid that these two families were coming to a lawsuit, and it was quite fast.

It turned out that Yuan Shao listened to the advice of Fu Zhi, sent an envoy to reprimand him again, forced him to admit his mistake and return the money, and threatened that if he did not agree, he would report to the Son of Heaven and announce his shoddy evil deeds to the world.

This matter is extremely aggrieved to Qubei, he obviously sold a good horse to Yuan Xi, but Yuan Xi raised himself to death but asked him to return the money, and let him admit that the horse has a problem, how can there be such a reason?

Apologize and return the money? It's a dream.

Qubei reprimanded Yuan Shao's envoy angrily and drove him back.

So the two sides completely tore their faces, and they were all angry, and at the same time they presented themselves to the Son of Heaven and begged the Son of Heaven to uphold justice.

Unexpectedly, the envoys of the two sides collided together.

However, at this time, Liu Xie and the courtiers did not know what was happening.

Yuan Shao's envoy and the envoy of despair entered the court at the same time to meet the Son of Heaven.

"Your Majesty!" The trial first asked: "The right virtuous king went to be humble and honest, shoddy, and sold the inferior and sick horses to us as good horses, but most of the bad horses died of illness before they reached Yecheng."

That is really cunning and cunning, please Your Majesty decree that he will be punished for the crime of fraud. ”

The courtiers looked at each other when they heard this, and they were all confused.

They were still discussing just now, the Yuan family had no courtiers, and snatched the good horse in Liu Ping's hand, forcing Liu Ping to buy bad horses, but they didn't expect that Yuan Shao was also a bad horse and a sick horse in his hands now?

At this time, the envoy who went to the humble was in a hurry, and said loudly: "Your Majesty the Emperor Mingjian, this is that Yuan Shao is spewing blood, and what our Xian King sold to him are all high-grade horses."

They didn't say anything at the time, but after the money and goods were cleared, their horses died on the road, what did it have to do with us? ”

"Three thousand horses, nearly two thousand have died before Yecheng, does it have nothing to do with you?" The judge retorted sharply: "It must be that your horses are sick in the first place, but they deliberately conceal it and sell it to us as good horses." ”

In fact, before the trial came, the Yuan family's advisors had already discussed, and the trial and match trip might not be able to get the edict of the Son of Heaven to reprimand the humble.

However, Yuan's purpose was just to take this opportunity to make the reputation of the humble go stinky, and to admit his mistake by threatening to return the money.

Regardless of whether you get the edict of the Son of Heaven or not, as long as you make a big deal and expose the despicable and shameless acts to the people of the world, the goal will be achieved.

"Does Your Majesty want to shield such a person who is blind and mercenary?" Seeing that Liu Xie was indifferent, the judge said solemnly: "If Your Majesty refuses to issue an edict, the general of my family will notify the world in the name of the General's Mansion to expose the nature of humility, and there will be Han compatriots in the province who will be deceived." ”

General Yuan Shaona's official position is also a fake festival Yue Kaifu, so he is naturally qualified to announce to the world, but it is not as influential as the edict of the Son of Heaven, but it is enough for those who are humble.

Seeing the aggressive appearance of the judge, all the courtiers were unhappy in their hearts.

Your Yuan clan obviously robbed Liu Gong's good horse, but most of them died as a result, and you still have the face to sue, is it possible for your Yuan clan to take advantage of the world's cheapness?

At this time, the most anxious person is the big boss, and he knows very well what the consequences will be if Yuan Shao informs the world.

In fact, ordinary people on the grassland are not as people imagine that they can eat beef and mutton all at once.

In fact, their staple food is also the grain grown by the farming people, and only cattle and sheep are willing to kill and eat when they are old and unable to have children, or die unexpectedly.

But the grasslands don't grow food, so where does the food they usually eat come from? Horses can only be exchanged for farming peoples.

If Yuan Shao shouted like this, no one in the world would dare to go to the grassland to buy horses, which would be equivalent to cutting off their grassland people's way of life.

"That's, you...... You're talking nonsense," the big boss was anxious.

Obviously, they were the victims, but Yuan Shao became more like a victim.

But the big man is a grassland man, and he is really clumsy in words, but he can only turn over a few repetitive words and reprimand the trial for nonsense.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please think, who is not short of horses in all the states of the world, if all the horses sold by the descent are all good horses, can we still take the initiative to kill them and frame them for despissing?" The judge continued to hold his head high and talk eloquently.

These words convinced many people, everyone in the princes knew the importance of war horses, and Yuan Shao naturally would not take the initiative to kill the horses he bought, so he was framed.

Everyone gradually believed that maybe the people who were sold to Yuan Shao were bad horses.

It's just that in their opinion, Yuan Shao deserves it, who let you rob the horse with Liu Gong, and now it is really as Liu Gong said, you will be punished.

"I ...... I'm going to kill you......"

Seeing that all the courtiers seemed to believe the words of the trial, the big pawn couldn't help but widen his eyes, clenched his fists, and the green tendons on his neck burst out.

There is never a need to move his mouth on the grassland, whoever has a hard fist will be justified, let him debate with such a scribe court, how can he win?

You must know that although the judge has an average character, he is by no means incompetent.

"Hmph, do you get angry when you know that you are wrong?" The judge sneered and said: "Above the court, before the Son of Heaven drives, how can you allow a barbarian to be wild? ”

Immediately, dozens of golden-armored warriors armed with weapons surrounded the big pawn.

I couldn't say it, but I couldn't do it, and suddenly my eyes were cracked, and my fist hammered my chest, and my chest was about to explode.

After a while, he suddenly fell to his knees and shouted hysterically, "Oh my God, open your eyes, they are trying to drive us to death!" ”

As he spoke, the rugged prairie man's eyes were filled with tears.

Now that the grassland has been hit by a disaster, it is conceivable that after Yuan Shao's trouble, no one dares to deal with them, and many people will inevitably starve to death.

There was silence in the courtroom.

"Your Majesty, the minister has a fair thing to say," At this time, Liu Ping looked at Cao Cao, and suddenly stood up after getting the affirmation.