Tao Kan wants to recover Xiangyang, and this strategic goal is not small.

Xiangyang is an important town in the Han Dynasty, and its gains and losses are of great strategic significance to the entire middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. From Shen Zhezi's heart, he very much hopes that Tao Kan can succeed. Not to mention anything else, if Tao Kan can recover Xiangyang and hold it, the situation in Yuzhou will also be improved, at least the slaves will not dare to go south on a large scale, which can make Shen Zhezi more calmly prepare for war.

Jingzhou is divided into Shaanxi towns, and Tao Kan is also a veteran who has been tempered by war for a long time, since he dares to think about it, he must have a purpose, not an adventure that is divorced from reality.

Although Jiangdong was tossed after the Su Jun Rebellion, Jingzhou as a whole suffered little damage. Cheng Han in the west is also a mess now, and he is still in front of Cheng Shang, and he is powerless to raid out. The northern Qianhu has entered the late period of Shile's rule, and now it is shrinking and defending as a whole, digesting and resolving the internal contradictions by itself, and does not have too strong desire to attack.

Now Shi Zhao's Jingzhou Thorn History is named Guo Jing, and his position is embarrassing, even if he occupies Xiangyang Quartet and plunders it, but in fact, the degree of separation from Shi Zhao's court is deeper than that of Jiangdong. If Tao Kan fights with him, it can be guaranteed that even if Shi Zhao will have reinforcements, it will definitely not be too timely. Therefore, from a military point of view, the battle for Xiangyang is actually a local battle between the two Jingzhous in the north and south.

On the whole, it is true that Jiangdong's counteroffensive is weak, and the situation under Shi Zhao's current situation is not enough to support large-scale military operations. Shi Le's actions to support Hanchen have already made his subordinates have hidden resentments, and each of them has more or less revealed some intentions to support the army and respect themselves, which can be described as very unstable internally.

But Tao Kan's current predicament, whether it is big or small, is half to blame, and half is a disaster.

Although Jingzhou is also a vast area, it is a place of four wars, especially since Tao Kan took over, Taichung has been consciously suppressed since the era of Yu Liang's administration, so Jingzhou itself has some difficulties. Although Tao Kan solved some problems by counterinsurgency, Wang Shu then left Zhenjiang Prefecture, which made his rear somewhat unstable.

Not long ago, Tao Kan snatched Xiangdong from Qingxu's family, which made Wang Shu increase the blockade of Jingzhou. There is little communication between the two states at the moment.

Of course, the non-communication at the top cannot completely cut off the communication at the bottom. Therefore, Jingzhou was still able to intermittently obtain some supplies from Jiangzhou.

However, this situation came to an abrupt end after Shen Zhezi vigorously developed the Jiankang market and attracted many Jiangzhou people into the game. With the same material and material goods, it is more profitable to go to Jiankang, and the transportation is more convenient, so Jingzhou is naturally not attractive.

If it is an ordinary year, Jingzhou's self-sufficiency is more than enough, but if you want to launch such a large military operation, the accumulation is somewhat insufficient. Tao Kan didn't give Shen Zhezi too much trouble through Tao Hong, if he wanted to start a battle and occupy Xiangyang in the future, there would still be a vacancy of about 200,000 grains in Jingzhou.

200,000 grains, this amount is not small. The Shen family was known as the leader of Jiangdong in the early years, and with such a big food shortage, they were almost forced to die. But for the current Shen Zhezi, this number cannot be said to be big.

But if he directly provides assistance to Jingzhou, not to mention the difficulty of raising, the difficulty of transportation and consumption along the way alone will already exceed the difficulty of raising.

Shen Zhezi directly made an appointment with Yu Zhang's surnames Deng, Luo, Xiong, etc., and even his protégé Hurun's clan, Hu's family, each of whom was rich in money and was also an active participant in Dingcang. Although Dingcang is still a new creation at the moment, and it has not yet reached the time of great profit, the prospects are broad and can be expected, so these people are also very enthusiastic about Shen Zhezi's invitation.

"I invite you this time, but I actually have something to ask for."

After the guest and host sat down, Shen Zhezi also got straight to the point and spoke directly.

"When the colt says that, it's too outlandish. If I can do something, it is my honor, what do I want. ”

Xiong Yu, a member of the Xiong clan who had been staying in the capital and was already quite familiar with Yu Tiao, hurriedly said after hearing this, his demeanor was not lacking in compliments, but the others did not despise it because of this, and they echoed his statement.

These people have such a correct attitude, on the one hand, it is naturally because Shen Zhezi did not look at the cold and took them to make a fortune together. On the other hand, I also saw with my own eyes that not long ago, the Shen family directly connected with the Langya Wang family, and the results were already very clear, even the old giants like the Langya Wang family could not suppress the Shen family, why should they, the Jiangzhou Haozong, offend the new door that they don't have to offend at all.

When Shen Zhezi heard this, he said with a smile: "Since you are all swaggering, then I won't lie any more." ”

As he spoke, he told Tao Kan what he had requested, and then said with a smile: "The dry city of the Principality of Tao, for the country's labor, and for the capture of the frontier, since I am trapped and sued, I am duty-bound." 200,000 grains, for me, is not a small amount, but it is not much. However, there is only one concern, one is the head of the river, the other is the end of the river, each living in the east and west, and the road is far away. Moreover, this is a military use, and if there is a delay in the period, it is a major crime to mislead the country, and we must not be cautious. So I'd like to ask you, can you help me? ”

Everyone was still smiling eagerly, but after hearing Shen Zhezi's words, they all cooled down, and there was no lack of embarrassment in their expressions. They thought that Shen Zhezi's trapped matter was just his own business, and if he could help, it would naturally be a favor, but they didn't expect that this matter would also involve Jingzhou, so it would be a little difficult to do.

When Shen Zhezi said this, he just wanted to ask them to help Jingzhou. In fact, this kind of thing, they haven't done it before. After all, the family is big, so it is natural to bet on many parties. But the current situation is that it is obvious that Jiankang has a much greater chance here than Jingzhou, not to mention that Wang Shu almost tore his face directly with Tao Kan, and they went to help Tao Kan in this situation, not to mention the cost of materials, and they may offend the top officials, which is really difficult.

What's more, 200,000 grains! No matter which one you put it in, it's a big number, and nowadays not everyone has this horse so arrogant, a full 200,000 grains, and only a no more or no less.

Seeing that everyone suddenly became silent, the atmosphere of the entire banquet was inherently awkward, and Shen Zhezi was not surprised. Of course, he can't directly accuse these people of only caring about the court's private plans and not caring for the country, that is not reasonable at all. Anyone can say big things, but now they are about to take out the rice grain for white flowers when they open their mouths, and how many people have that noble sentiment of destroying their families and relieving difficulties?

What's more, in the eyes of the contemporaries, Tao Kan wanted to recover Xiangyang, was the purpose purely to serve the country? I'm afraid that Tao Kan himself won't think so.

"With that in mind, I certainly won't embarrass you. 200,000 grains, I will divide them into ten equal portions here, please claim them according to your ability. After the grain arrives in Jingzhou, please issue a receipt in Jingzhou, hold this to the capital, I will pay the original amount, and add 2,000 Hu per 10,000 grains. In addition, the construction of the city of Neidong is imminent after the year, and you will help you today, and I will have something to return in the future. ”

Shen Zhezi made his own conditions, and then said: "This is a private friendship within the door, and it does not involve justice. Help today, remember it. ”

When everyone heard Shen Zhezi's conditions, the embarrassment on their faces gradually faded, and then they began to bow their heads and think. It is true that 200,000 hus of grain is not a small amount for each of them, but if it is only 350,000 hu, with a little raising, it is not that it cannot be raised.

As Shen Zhezi said, raising grain is only a trivial matter, and transporting grain is the most difficult. But in the past, they actually had no shortage of transactions with the Jingzhou Army in this regard, in fact, there were channels, but the cost was far less profitable than that of transportation to Jiankang, so they gave up.

Shen Zhezi offered 10,000 grains here to give 2,000 yuan of compensation, if it is convenient for water transportation in summer and autumn, it can be said to be generous, and there can be a surplus after deducting losses. But now, Jiangzhou's own water transportation is not as convenient as Wuzhong, and it is the dry season in early winter, and if you rely on human and animal transportation alone, the cost will increase greatly. In fact, 2,000 grains could not fully supplement the consumption of their transportation.

However, they also need to consume food to transport it to Jiankang. Under the offsetting of each other, even if there is a loss, it is completely within the acceptable level. This loss can not only show favor to the Shen family, but also gain a favor in Jingzhou, and Shen Zhezi has more promises. Summing it up like this, it makes their hearts pound. In this way, Wang Shu's disgust is nothing. The Wang family can't get back after losing so much face, do they dare to suppress them because of this trivial matter?

The first person to react was the Xiong Yu, who had already stood up under Yu Tiao's repeated glances, and said loudly: "Although the Han family lives in Jiangxi, they also admire loyalty. Do what you can, and be willing to claim three copies, in order to help the difficulties of the horses, and it will not be overdue. ”

With this one taking the lead, others also rose up one after another and claimed their own claims. There were six or seven of them, and the ten places were quickly sold out.

The bear recited the first to claim it, and got three copies alone, seeing that the other people who had not been assigned turned to him, how could he not guess the thoughts of those people, and even said: "The horse is entrusted to Tao Gong, although it is a private opinion in the door, but the heart is still open and open." What kind of 2,000 subsidies and the like, my family really can't accept it with shame......"

When Shen Zhezi heard this, he hurriedly raised his hand to interrupt: "I have already said before, this is a private friendship within the door, and it does not involve justice. You help me today, and I will be rewarded in the future. Shengyi boxing, really flattered, the future or still have to work for a long time, frequent thanks are unfamiliar, love in the cup, drink the saint! ”

When everyone heard this, they also raised their glasses. It's just that in my heart, I think a little bit about what Shen Zhezi said. Will you have to work long in the future? It seems that the Shen family still has the strength to keep the current situation, and there is no shortage of long-term prospects!