In recent years, often Koubian has robbed the alien races in Youzhou, mainly Wuhuan and Xianbei.

These two ethnic groups are all descendants of an alien race called "Donghu" during the Yin Shang period.

In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu destroyed the East Hu in Maodun, and the remaining Hu people fled to the "Wuhuan Mountain" and "Xianbei Mountain" respectively, and multiplied since then. With their respective mountains as their clan names, the Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes were born.

At first, Wuhuan and Xianbei both lived in the former Xiongnu area, and in the middle of the dynasty, one of the Wuhuan tribes moved inward and was allowed to settle in several border counties in Youzhou, responsible for recruiting other Wuhuan people to come and take refuge. At this point, the Wuhuan people gradually joined the ranks of internal migration.

Many of the Wuhuan people outside the land of the Han Dynasty have moved in. These internal Wuhuan later gradually developed three large strongholds in Youzhou, namely Liaoxi Wuhuan near Liaoxi Kingdom, Shanggu Wuhuan near Shanggu County, and Liaodong Wuhuan near Liaodong Kingdom.

Collectively known as the Three Counties Wuhuan.

When Yan Rou was a teenager, he was captured by Wuhuan and Xianbei. According to Gongsun Zhan, he was first captured by the Wuhuan tribe who plundered Guangyang, and then by the Xianbei people who attacked and killed Wuhuan for the second time. So tossed and turned between Wuhuan and Xianbei, nine deaths and one life.

Wuhuan and Xianbei are all nomads.

Why go far?

Liu Bei felt that there must be something strange in it.

Seeing that Yan Rou has not yet reached the crown, it is all a young man's heart. Liu Bei didn't bother to speculate, so he asked in person.

Yan Rou smiled and asked, "Does the young prince know about the salt and iron official camp?" ”

"Nature knows." The salt and iron system has a long history. It began in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and was first prepared in the Qin and Han dynasties. From the Qin Dynasty to "the benefits of the mountains" and "the benefits of salt and iron are twenty times that of the ancients", to the Western Han Dynasty Emperor Wu is to practice "official ridge salt and iron, forbidding the people to boil and cast". The Eastern Han Dynasty and the emperor and queen only let go. 'The prohibition of salt and iron in the county and the state' allows the private sector.

"The cattle and horses of Wuhuan in the three counties also have special personnel to sell and operate. For example, Hu Shang in Zhuoxian County is the merchant of King Wuhuan in Shanggu. ”

"I see." Liu Bei understood. It turns out that the horses of Wuhuan in the three counties are also franchised. Except for a few Hu businessmen, no one else could participate. No wonder Yan Rou is reluctant to seek the near and far. I'm afraid that even if Liu Bei goes to the Wuhuan tribe, he won't be able to exchange for horses.

"At this time, how many kings does Wuhuan have?" Liu Bei asked.

Yan Rou said again: "There are four Wuhuan kings in Youzhou. On the valley Wuhuan Wang difficult (nìng) building, more than 9,000 people fell. Qiu Liju, the king of Wuhuan in western Liaoning, has more than 5,000 people. Su Fuyan, the king of Wuhuan in Liaodong, fell more than 1,000 people. Wuyan, the king of Wuhuan in the right Beiping, more than 800 people. ”

'Luo' is equivalent to 'ministry'. It's the meaning of the tribe. Among the four Wuhuan kings, the strongest is the Wuhuan King Nanlou in Shanggu. It has jurisdiction over more than 9,000 tribes. The weakest strength is naturally Wuyan, the king of Wuhuan in the right Beiping. He had only more than eight hundred tribes.

However, the speaker has no intention, but the listener has the intention.

Liu Bei asked again: "Why do the three counties Wuhuan have four kings?" ”

Yan Rou thought for a while and said, "Because of Xianbei, the right Beiping County has gradually been encroached upon. And the right Beiping Wuhuan and Xianbei have been fighting for many years, and their strength is the weakest. Therefore, it is not listed among the three counties. ”

Yan Rou said two reasons. The first is that Youbeiping County was constantly encroached upon and annexed by Xianbei, and the territory under its jurisdiction gradually shrank, and it was not enough to be tied with the other three counties. Second, it is also because of the fierce war with Xianbei for many years, and the Wuhuan of Youbeiping, which is declining day by day, does not live in a parallel with the remaining three Wuhuan.

Qin placed the right Beiping County, and the Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system. It has jurisdiction over 16 counties: Pinggang, Wuzhong, Shicheng, Tingling, Junmi, Xuwu, Tuyin, White Wolf, Sunset, Changcheng, Licheng, Guangcheng, Juyang, Pingming, etc. During the Western Han Dynasty, Youbeiping County was one of the important border counties in the north to defend against the Xiongnu, and the imperial court sent elite soldiers and strong generals to garrison it. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the intrusion of Wuhuan and Xianbei, the jurisdiction of Youbeiping County was greatly reduced, and only the southwest corner of the county in the Western Han Dynasty remained. The northern boundary is roughly north of the line of the present-day Great Wall. At this time, Youbeiping County only led four counties: Tuyin, Wuzhong, Xu Wu, and Junmi.

From the original sixteen counties, it has become four counties today. It shows that Xianbei has become a big trouble at this time.

Liu Bei asked again: "Wuyan, the king of Wuhuan in Beiping, can there be a Hu merchant who specializes in horses?" ”

"Nope." Yan Rou already understood what Liu Bei was thinking, so he persuaded: "Hu Shang of Zhuo County is a person from the Wuhuan King of Shanggu. Nanlou is brave and strategic, and often plunders Han land. led more than 9,000 people, and the other three kings added up, but only more than 7,000. With the strength of the young prince at this time, he is definitely not the enemy of King Wuhuan in Shanggu. ”

Yan Rou's worries are not unreasonable.

In other words, Zhuo County, or the entire Zhuo County Horse Market, is the sphere of influence of the Wuhuan Wang Nanlou in Shanggu. On the side of the couch, how can you allow others to snore? If you sell horses from Wuyan, the king of Wuhuan in the right Beiping, it is equivalent to squeezing the territory of the Wuhuan King Nanlou in Shanggu. It will inevitably cause dissatisfaction with the other party.

A Wuhuan King with more than 9,000 troops is not something that Liu Bei can compete with as a pavilion marquis.

Liu Bei smiled and said, "It's okay." ”

The reason is simple. Liu Bei went bankrupt, but he bought 100 good horses. Furthermore, he bought it for his own use, not for selling it to others. Besides, he is also a pavilion marquis. Even if Shanggu Wuhuan King Nanlou knew about it, most of them would not make enemies with him. Without it, the interests involved are too small.

For the sake of a hundred horses, you have to send troops to attack a pavilion?

Come to think of it, this 'brave and strategic' King of Shanggu Wuhuan is more than that.

Yan Rou thought about it, and also felt that Liu Bei's words were reasonable. This was carefully planned.

I heard that Liu Bei was going north to sell horses, Geng Yong and Cui Jun all came to serve as staff officers.

Hearing that Cui Jun, who had been a businessman for many years, went to Youbeiping, he immediately suggested: "Why not take the waterway?" ”

"Waterways?" Liu Bei was stunned.

"Liaodong Tian's sea ship can cross the sea. Right Beiping, sandwiched between Liaodong and Zhuojun, sea ships just passed. "At this time, coastal navigation was very developed. As early as the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the north-south coastal route from Dandong, Liaoning Province in the north to the mouth of the Bailun River in Guangxi Province in the south has been opened. If it weren't for the smooth sea route, Donglai Tai Shici would not have gone to Liaodong, which is across the sea, to avoid trouble.

Liu Bei then took the topographic map of the mountains and rivers drawn by his teacher and pondered it carefully.

Sure enough, if you enter the Bohai Sea along the Laishui River and change to a sea boat, you can follow the route of the Bohai Bay and arrive at Tuyin County in Beiping County.

In this way, there is no need to cross the two counties of Guangyang and Yuyang. Compared to taking the land route, the sea route can save a lot of trouble.

Tian's caravan may be used.

However, Tian's sea ships are fixed to and from Liaodong and Donglai cross-sea routes. After arriving at Penglai Port, sail north along Bohai Bay to Laishui into the sea. Finally, change to a river merchant ship and arrive at Lousang and anchor at Baihu. This time, the horse trafficking had to continue north at the Laishui estuary and arrive at Tuyin County in Beiping County.

I don't know if there is a seaport in Tuyin County now?

Liu Bei then ordered someone to invite the Tian family steward to inquire carefully.

The Great Voyage is no joke. Sailing bravely, but there was no port supply on the way, and a group of people floating on the vast sea, it was really dangerous.