When night came again, the dawn moon rose in the sky in Longcheng, and the night of the grassland covered the four fields. After the fierce fighting during the day, the area was temporarily calm.

Longcheng, an important place where the Hun cavalry repeatedly invaded the Han Dynasty in the south, has witnessed the sacrifice of countless warriors for hundreds of years. After tonight, it will be deeply remembered in the history books as an important node of a major battle.

After the Black Eagle Army and the Red Fire Army converged, the total strength of the army has now reached more than 40,000 people. Coupled with more than 20,000 Western Regions coalition troops, as well as various teams that arrived to transport heavy grain and grass, the tents set up were endless, firmly encircling the Xiongnu camp centered on Longcheng.

This was the first time in the history of the Han Dynasty's war against the Xiongnu. No matter what the outcome of this battle is, just looking at the battlefield situation in front of us, it has already made all the soldiers participating in the battle extremely excited.

The bonfires lit everywhere on the grass illuminated the Han army camp very brightly. Large pieces of meat were tumbling in a large marching pot, and the aroma was wafting everywhere, and it was almost cooked. In addition to the meat being cooked, the dining area of each large camp was filled with abundant food. The soldiers who had already seen the hope of victory gathered around, waiting to feast on it.

The meat is animal meat and beef and mutton. In the Central Plains, of course, these things are very luxurious food. In order to protect agriculture, the Han Dynasty strictly prohibited the slaughter of cattle without permission. Don't say that ordinary people want to eat beef and mutton, even those princes and noble families, unless there are special circumstances approved by the government, otherwise they have no right to slaughter privately.

However, in the prairie, there is no shortage of cattle, sheep and horses. A large number of Huns, after the war, storage and grazing is the only thing they can do. As a result, tens of millions of large livestock are herded in each tribe, and horses and sheep are grazed on the vast grasslands, which is also the main source of subsistence that can be exchanged for daily necessities to maintain their livelihood.

The Han army seized countless horses, cattle and sheep on the battlefield, and many cattle, sheep and horses that were left unattended because of the war ran around casually, and they were caught and killed to improve the food of the whole army.

And the rest of the abundant food supplies in the army naturally came from the order of Yuan Zhao of the Great Han Shangshu Order, and it was continuously transported from Shuofang and other cities in the three cities. Among them, it was a large number of businessmen from the Central Plains who contributed to the effort.

At this time, hundreds of representatives of the Han Dynasty were watching contentedly and discussing something with each other in a low voice. Either way, the excitement is palpable.

It's no wonder that they are so enthusiastic, Yuanhou has already said that after the war is over, whether it is the grassland or the Western Regions, it will be a treasure land with unlimited potential. In these vast areas, there are countless valuable resources waiting to be mined and explored. Whoever develops benefits from it, and they will enjoy the wealth brought by these treasures together with the country.

The only condition for obtaining this qualification is to contribute to the war of the heroic Han soldiers to destroy the Xiongnu and fully guarantee the logistics supply of all the Han soldiers. As long as this is done, then they will be guaranteed by Shang Shu Ling Yuanzhao himself. Wealth and glory, a century-old family, just around the corner!

At this moment, no one doubted that the promise made by Yuan Zhao was just an empty word, just as no one doubted that the Han army would surely achieve the most brilliant victory. This point is especially firmly believed in the hearts of the merchants who witnessed the great victory of the Han army from east to west and from south to north.

"Since ancient times, merchants have made great profits...... Why did the Yuanhou attach so much importance to the merchants? Could they really be that useful?"

On the grass outside the Chinese army's tent, the crowd sitting on the ground is, in a sense, the elite of the Han Empire who will influence the overall situation of the world in the future. The middle-aged man named Dongfang Shuo finished eating a large piece of mutton in front of him, wiped his mouth with satisfaction, and his hands were greasy regardless of his image, making people wonder if this was still the waiter who paid great attention to dress by the emperor's side. He looked at the large number of merchants' tents gathered over there, and asked the question in his heart with some confusion.

The bonfires lit in it are very vigorous, and although it is early summer, the grassland is still a little chilly at night. Yuan Zhao carefully sprinkled a small piece of beef ribs he specially picked out with fine salt seasoning and other things, and then put it in front of Huo Quzhi beside him, signaling her to eat it slowly.

The hussar general, who was invincible on the battlefield, immediately pushed away a large pile of food in front of him, took the small plate, and ate it slowly. She doesn't eat much, and she is especially picky about what she eats, and for so many years, only what her master made by her hands will make her appetite greater. Although she was already full, she still decided to eliminate the steak completely when she smelled the aroma of the steak!

"Of course, there can be no doubt about that. Hehe! The businessmen will play a huge role in the development of the country, but it is very important. Maybe you are still not convinced, it is because in the past thousand years, the social relations based on agriculture did not give them enough room for development...... However, in the near future, our Han Dynasty will be different from any dynasty. Oh, it's a little puzzling now, but you'll know by then. ”

Yuan Zhao patted the dust on his hands, and his expression was relaxed. The smooth outcome of the war exceeded his expectations, especially this time because of Shan Yuyi's arrogance and the rapid action of the Red Fire Army, the two armies joined forces to trap Dragon City, and the king of the grassland was already a turtle in the urn, and if he wanted to escape, he was bound to ascend to the sky!

Liu Ju, the crown prince of the Han Dynasty, sat on the left side of Yuan Zhao, he listened attentively to what Yuan Zhao said, and at the same time motioned to the East Palace companion who followed to read and record it in detail. He's been sticking to this habit for a long time. As long as it is the truth that comes out of Yuan Zhao's mouth, he often has to think about it many times, even if he can't understand it for a while, he will remember it in his mind, and when it is confirmed later, he will often have a sense of sudden enlightenment. He believes that the truth learned in this way is more thorough than that taught by any Confucian in the world.

It's just that when the corner of his eyes swept over Huo Quai, who was sitting in the red cloak on the other side, he felt a little inexplicably uneasy in his heart. The "brother-in-law" Yuan Zhao was so attentive to her just now, and the prince had already seen it. Several of them have known each other since more than ten years ago, if you talk about the relationship with your uncle Wei Qing, the relationship between the prince Liu Ju and Huo Qubing is not far away, and he naturally knows Huo Quzhi's true identity. Now that they have grown up, the original yellow-haired girl Xiaoice has grown into a heroic female general...... Isn't there something wrong with that? The crown prince Liu Ju scratched his head in distress, and worried more for Sister Suxi.

Except for a few generals who led the elite patrol and guard, the rest of the generals of the Black Eagle Army and the Red Fire Army were here. The Black Eagle Army was headed by Hou Weiqing of Changping, and the famous generals Cao Xiang, Su Jian, and Gongsun were all informal, sitting anywhere. And the Red Fire Army, as long as they don't charge on the battlefield, their hussar generals will always stay by Yuan Zhao's side, everyone knows that they have a deep relationship between master and apprentice, but they don't think of anything else. At this time, sitting on the other side, led by Li Kang and Bowang Hou Zhang Qian, several generals who had shined in the Hexi Campaign were also high-spirited and talked and laughed loudly.

When everyone heard the simple words that Yuan Zhao said just now, they all nodded frequently while eating and drinking. Although these generals are good at fighting, of course, they are still a little superficial in their understanding of national affairs, but they have recognized a truth from a long time ago, can the truth of what Yuanhou said be wrong?! He said that these merchants would play a big role in the future, and that would be very important, and that although they were of a lowly status in the past, no one could say for sure what would happen in the future!

Dongfang Shuo saw Yuan Zhao give him a faint look, so he didn't ask each other anymore, but thought silently in his heart. He was a smart man, and deep down he had a faint premonition that Yuan Zhao deliberately improved the status of these businessmen, and he must have a deep intention. Perhaps in the near future, this emerging power group will play a vital role in the development of the general trend of the world...... Could this be what Yuanhou wants to achieve?

"Oh, I almost forgot, didn't the Huns send an envoy over? When everyone is full, send someone to bring them over. ”

The smile on Yuan Zhao's face can be seen by anyone from the heart. The generals were the same, although a few of them were wounded and grinned a little strangely, but this could not stop the excitement in their hearts.

Wei Qing nodded, and a Black Eagle military captain turned around and left with people, and after a while, a middle-aged man in his forties who was protected by more than a dozen Hun warriors was brought over with an indifferent expression.

Yuan Zhao watched with interest as the man gradually approached. Although the wind and frost of the grassland dyed the black hair of his sideburns white, his upright posture showed the temperament of this person who had been in the top position for a long time. He is so incompatible with the Huns around him, and the influence of the Central Plains civilization can still be seen at a glance even if he has been tempered by more than 20 years of wind and dust outside the country.

"Yuanhou's name is like thunder, and we have to meet today, it is really a blessing for three lives, and the Bank of China is so polite!"

Zhang Jiazi, who fled to the Saiwai grassland for 20 years with a family feud, even if he had already sworn a poisonous oath, would never bow his head to the Han people again before he did not assist Shan Yu Khan in attacking Chang'an to poison Liu Huang and the Han family in this life! However, now, he had to break his oath, with the future of the entire grassland and the trust of Da Shan Yu himself, to bow down to the Han courtier in front of him, who was twenty years younger than him.

Zhang Zhongxing...... Hehe! I didn't expect you to have the courage to come to the Han Army! Do you know that because you defected to the Huns to give them advice, over the years, how many Han athletes have died because of this, and their lonely souls have not been able to return to their hometowns! Since you are here today, pay for their lives first! ”

Yuan Zhao stood up and shouted loudly, not angry and arrogant.