Chapter 401: Promotion and Fortune

Such a great victory was unprecedented, and the entire Song Dynasty was ecstatic. All the big cities and small villages that knew the news set off firecrackers to celebrate.

This kind of ecstasy is no exception even for Shi Bin himself, but his joy does not come from defeating Meng Ge, but from the nearly 30,000 good horses that Meng Ge left for him. This is a great fortune, a good horse is at least a hundred taels of silver, and now there are 30,000 good Mongolian horses, that is three million taels of silver. If it is not exchanged for silver, it can at least make up another 12,000 cavalry, which is a huge improvement in the combat effectiveness of his army.

How to deal with these good horses Shibin knows that he has to think carefully, and he can't make rash decisions, so as not to regret it when he gets it. If you have money in your hand, you will have a hard pole, and you can buy it if you are short of food and grass and materials, and it will be much easier to consolidate the foundation. With horses in hand, the combat effectiveness of the army increases, and the waist pole is also hard, and it will be much easier to expand the territory, and the larger the territory, the more resources.

Thinking that Meng Ge's cavalry galloped across the field without scruples like a lightning bolt, and he had to think about it for fear that he would be served by the Yuanren cavalry if he took a wrong step, that kind of taste was really painful. The situation changed because of the infantry cavalry. Therefore, Shi Bin's heart was itching, and he couldn't wait to make all the good horses into the mounts of the infantry cavalry. Besides, if you don't have enough money or can't buy things, you can directly rely on strong soldiers to grab them.

The problem is that the cost of one horse is worth three infantrymen, and if all of them need horses, it is equivalent to raising an extra 90,000 elite soldiers, so do you need money or horses? This made it difficult for Shi Bin to decide.

Before he could think about it, Xu Feng came over and asked: What to do with the 30,000 military horses. didn't think about it, of course, Shi Bin could only deal with it and said, "First raise it in the dilapidated camp left by the Yuan people, and send enough people to take care of it." ’

Knowing that Shi Bin didn't think about it, Xu Feng couldn't break it, but he still gently reminded him: there is not enough grain and grass. Half a month later, there will be only people to eat, no horses to eat.

Knowing this, Shi Bin had no choice but to ignore his tired life, Xu Feng called Xie Qiangbing and Li Ergou to discuss this thorny issue.

The two soon arrived at Shi Bin's place, and said in unison: "Handsome! ”

"Okay, you guys too. Everyone did a great job this time. Shi Bin squeezed out some smiles on his face and said.

followed Shi Bin for not a year or two, of course, he saw that Shi Bin had something hidden in his heart. After Xie Qiangbing and Li Ergou glanced at each other, Li Ergou asked, "What's wrong with Dashuai?" Why don't we feel happy that we have won this big victory? ”

"No, no, no, of course happy. It's just that there is a trouble that is difficult to decide, so that's why it looks like this. Shi Bin smiled.

Nuisance? At present, there is no trouble at all in the eyes of Xie Qiangbing and Li Ergou, Zhengzhou City was saved, Lu Wende's life was saved, and the Yuan people were beaten back to the north of the Yellow River, and the harvest was still very huge, where is there any trouble?

Seeing that the two of them were still ignorant and didn't understand, Shi Bin smiled bitterly: "Of course, this is a big victory, an unprecedented big victory." But you seem to have forgotten the trouble, that is, what about the 30,000 horses? ”

This time, Xie Qiangbing and Li Ergou understood what Shi Bin meant. Indeed, so many horses are a nuisance. If you swallow it alone, not only can you not afford it, but you will also be criticized. But it is really undesirable that such a good war horse is not left in his hands.

"Dashuai, do you think we can sell some of it to others and keep some of it for ourselves as we did last time in Ulihanna?" Xie Qiangbing said.

"The way is a good way, the question is who to sell to, and how many people have the strength to buy so many horses? Only half of them were fifteen thousand horses. Li Ergou said.

This is a very real problem, and raising horses is very troublesome and very expensive. Looking at the Great Song Dynasty, there were no more than three generals who could afford to raise 3,000 military horses. One of them is staying in the city of Zhengzhou.

As soon as he heard this, Xie Qiangbing was immediately unhappy, snorted coldly, frowned, and stopped talking.

"Why don't we lend it to someone else?" Shi Bin said in a flash of inspiration.

"Borrow?" Xie Qiangbing and Li Ergou said in unison. They had heard of borrowing grain and grass and borrowing weapons and armor, but this was the first time they had heard of borrowing horses.

"Yes, we have so many horses anyway, sell some of them, keep some of them. Divide a portion of what is left behind to make money. Shi Bin smiled.

Is that okay? The two vaguely seemed to understand what Shi Bin meant, and it seemed that Shi Bin was going to raise horses with horses.

This was of course a good idea, and Xie Qiangbing and Li Ergou immediately agreed, and suggested that Shi Bin himself leave 15,000 of the best military horses to form infantry cavalry, which would be used to make up for the battle damage and expand the number of infantry cavalry. Sell 8,000 ordinary war horses, and the remaining 7,000 war horses will be used to make money.

While arguing over how many horses to sell, Lu Wende's subordinates came, saying that they had set up a banquet in Zhengzhou City to invite Shi Bin to the banquet.

Disturbed by the horse's problem, Shi Bin couldn't wait to hide for a while. Without saying a word, he left with Lu Wende's men, leaving only Xie Qiangbing and Li Ergou in a daze.

As soon as he saw the restaurant, he found that Lu Wende came out of the restaurant with his two brothers to greet him. At this time, Lu Wende made people feel very tired, and there was a bit of a strong spirit. However, Shi Bin can also understand that he has insisted on it for three or four months, and Lu Wende estimates that he has never slept a single sleep, can he not be tired?

didn't want Lu Wende to be too polite, Shi Bin quickly walked over and hooked up with Lu Wende and entered the restaurant with a smile. It's not like two officials, but like two hardcore brothers in the underworld.

Entering the private room, Lu Wende, Lu Wenfu, and Lu Wenxin stood together and bowed to thank Shi Bin for saving his life. The three brothers of the Lu family were also the pillars of the Song Dynasty, Shi Bin didn't dare to give this ceremony, and immediately returned the salute and asked them not to torture him so much.

The three of them are not literati, and the etiquette will arrive when they reach their hearts, and when they see that Shi Bin is not happy, they no longer pretend, but persuade Shi Bin to drink.

Looking at Shi Bin, the three brothers of Lu Wende, he suddenly felt that at least 3,000 horses in his hands had landed, and he didn't have to worry so much.

"Lord Shi, this time I really want to thank you for your full rescue and timely identification of the Yuanren's giant stone throwing machine plan, otherwise I, Lu Wende, may have crossed the Nai He Bridge to see Lord Yama." Lu Wende said with a very wry smile.

Lu Wende's words were obviously from the bottom of his heart, but Shi Bin didn't want to be arrogant. What's more, Lu Wende blocked Meng Ge's royal expedition with a Zhengzhou city, and he was also a big hero. Shi Bin asked himself if he didn't have the courage of Lu Wende.

Therefore, he said very sincerely: "Brother Lu doesn't have to be modest, junior brother, I will only be opportunistic, and I don't dare to fight and kill like you, if I am trapped in this lonely city by the elite of 100,000 yuan, I will abandon the city and flee for a month at most." ”

These words made Lu Wende and his two brothers very comfortable, although they did not believe that Shi Bin would abandon the city and flee, but affirmed Lu Wende's courage, which was very appropriate. So the three of them did not hesitate to boast and say good things about Shi Bin.

After thanking Shi Bin for knowing that he was going to serve the main dish, he quietly waited for Lu Wende and the three to continue.

"Brother Shi, my brother has something I want to discuss with you..." Lu Wende said with some embarrassment.

"Brother Lu, please say, don't be shy about it. Brother, I will help if I can, there is no other word. ”

"Brother Shi, I was very dismissive of your infantry cavalry before, but this time I felt their power, but in five days, I mobilized civilian ships from the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to the Yellow River to intercept the Yuan people, if it is infantry, it is absolutely impossible, so I also want to imitate you to form an infantry cavalry. Even if you can't play against the Gento, you can increase your mobility, and you can quickly support and retreat, so you don't have to be so constrained. Lu Wende said with a smile.

I see, Shi Bin looked at Lu Wende and smiled, pretending to think and not making a sound.

Lu Wende's two brothers, Lu Wenfu and Lu Wenxin, were just two martial artists, and they didn't see that Shi Bin was pretending to hesitate, afraid that Shi Bin would not agree, so they anxiously urged him to agree to Lu Wende's request.

Shi Bin, who has lived and died together, knew that he couldn't do too much, and after thinking about it in a fake way, he said: "I have a lot of horses in my hands, and I do intend to sell some, but I don't have a decision to sell as much as I want to sell to anyone." After all, this is a big deal, not my business alone, and I have to give my men a satisfactory answer. ”

Since Shi Bin intended to sell it, Lu Wende and the three of them were naturally very happy, and immediately expressed their willingness to buy 8,000 good war horses at the price of one hundred and twenty taels of silver for a good horse.

Lu Wende has a lot of appetite, rich enough, Shi Bin said secretly. He only had fifteen thousand warlike horses, and he actually wanted eight thousand in one go.

In fact, it's not that it can't be sold, it's just that Shi Bin is reluctant to give up, after all, good horses are rare.

Knowing Shi Bin's thoughts, Lu Wende raised the price of one hundred and twenty-one horses to one hundred and fifty two horses. Shi Bin had a fierce battle in his heart, so he still didn't say anything.

"One hundred and eighty twenty-one horses!" Lu Wende said with difficulty, "Brother Shi, look, no matter how high the price is, I can't afford it." ”

Afraid that Lu Wende would misunderstand and think that he was an insatiable person, Shi Bin immediately explained: "Brother Lu, there is no need to be like this, the reason why I don't speak is not a matter of price." Even if it's a hundred taels, I'll sell it to you. ”

It's not the price, but what's the problem? Lu Wende and the three looked at Shi Bin suspiciously.

Shi Bin smiled awkwardly: "I only have a total of 30,000 war horses, and the good ones are only 15,000, do you think I am willing to sell so many good horses?" ”

"I see. How much is the brother willing to sell? ”

"Brother Lu, my brother is willing to sell you three thousand good horses at most." Shi Bin said with some embarrassment.

When they heard that there were only 3,000 horses, which was too far from the 8,000 horses they expected, the three of them all cried and mourned, obviously very dissatisfied with this number.

"How about seven thousand? The price of two hundred and one horses! Lu Wende said, paused, and immediately said: "As long as Brother Shi agrees to my request, Brother I'm willing to help you do something, as long as it doesn't hurt morality." ”

This temptation was very great, and Shi Bin was a little shaken. However, he immediately came to his senses again, and still emphasized that it was not a matter of money, but that he would never sell so many good horses.

Lu Wende, who was a little frustrated, had no choice but to take a step back, saying that he was willing to buy 6,000 horses at the price of 2521 horses, and was willing to do Shi Bin a big favor, and could even give up the work of defending the city this time, as long as he left the credit of Lu Wenfu and Lu Wenxin.

Looking at Lu Wende Shi Bin, who was about to collapse, he felt a little too much, and he couldn't bear it. In the end, he painfully expressed his willingness to sell 5,000 good horses to Lu Wende at a price of one hundred and sixty taels, and would not swallow his credit, but asked him to nominate Li Ergou to serve as the pacification envoy of Henan Road with him.

I thought that Shi Bin himself was going to be the pacification envoy of Henan, but he didn't expect that he was going to be a subordinate, and Lu Wende immediately understood the meaning. As for these, Lu Wende didn't bother to care, as long as he had the war horse, he naturally agreed to Shi Bin's conditions without hesitation. and expressed his willingness to help Shi Bin sell the 8,000 ordinary war horses.

Lu Wende is a man of his word, and after receiving Shi Bin's 5,000 good horses, he immediately paid the money and helped nominate Li Ergou as the pacification envoy of Henan Road. After that, he also helped Shi Bin sell and buy, and of course he also made some intermediary fees in the middle. Soon the 8,000 horses were sold out at the price of 200 taels, and Shi Bin was left with 10,000 good horses and the 7,000 ordinary war horses used to make money.

Although the horses were only more than half of what they used to be, they were actually sold for 2.4 million silver, which made Shi Bin and his friends very happy.

In less than half a month, Li Ergou's official seal, official uniform and appointment documents arrived, which made Li Ergou ecstatic. Although Xie Qiangbing did not become a pacification envoy, he was also promoted to the commander of the Wu'an Army. Shi Bin himself became the deputy privy envoy, the governor of the council, and the direct bachelor of the Longtu Pavilion.