Ma Chao remembered that in later generations, Baiyin City in Gansu Province was one of the top mining areas in the country, rich in iron and copper deposits, and even precious metals such as gold and silver were also abundant, and there were many types of metals. Moreover, there are many salt ponds in the northwest region, such as the place where the Qin people made their fortune is a place rich in salt.

Ma Chao said: "This matter is easy to hear. I have many salt ponds in Liangzhou, such as a large salt pond next to the West Sea, if we send Hu Cao to manage it, the salt taken can be sold to the imperial court, and we will be able to accumulate military funds. There are also dozens of minerals such as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, and coal in Wuwei County, most of which are rich ores. As soon as the gold, silver and copper mines are found, we will send them; Iron ore, tin ore and coal mines are enough to make Liangzhou strong, and there will never be a shortage of smelting and building agricultural tools and weapons. Father might as well send people from Hu Cao and Gong Cao to Wuwei County to look for it. ”

Ma Teng was a little stunned after hearing this, and said: "I have never heard of any mineral deposits in Wuwei County before, how can Chao'er dare to guarantee that there must be there?" ”

Ma Chao was speechless at this time, he couldn't tell Ma Teng that I knew it was a cornucopia in my last life, you just go quickly.

Ma Chao thought about it again and again, and said seriously: "Er dreamed last night of an immortal with white hair, white beard, and white clothes, and the immortal told him in the dream that there were many mineral deposits there, and even gold and silver mines were very rich, so he asked Er to get them as soon as possible." ”

Ma Teng was a little unconvinced, and said: "It can't be that you have this kind of dream after being too tired and cranky in dealing with official business these days, right?" ”

Ma Chao said: "That's what the immortals said, my father should send someone to find it as soon as possible, if you don't find it, it doesn't hurt, what if it's really as the immortal said?" Aren't we going to send it then? Not to mention that it is more than enough to meet Yang Biao's construction project, even if we buy all the family property in one go, it is nothing, and we still have a lot of surplus to support the big war in ten days. ”

Ma Chao said so, and Ma Teng had nothing to say, and said: "Okay, for my father, I will order Hu Cao and Gong Cao to form a team, and Ma Jun will lead the team to prospecting." I hope it is as you say. ”

Ma Chao breathed a sigh of relief. But thinking about the underground treasures in Wuwei County, that is, Baiyin City, and the endless gold and silver, Ma Chao couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

Ma Teng said again: "Since we talked about Yang Biao, I think of one more thing for my father, and this matter must be done as soon as possible." ”

"Whatever is it, my father tells me."

Ma Teng said: "The imperial court uses the placement of Yang Biao by our side, which can probe our reality and reality. If it weren't for Chao'er, you used deception to conceal the military aircraft that started the war ten days later, Yang Biao would have known about it. As a father, I also know that you have an internal response in the court, but after all, it is too weak, the court is dark, and we are in the light. Therefore, my father wants you to secretly establish a tribe to specialize in probing the secrets of the imperial court, spying on the enemy, and monitoring the movements of the imperial court. ”

Ma Chaofang remembered that although he did not lack a strong regular army, he lacked intelligence agencies, and it was not enough to rely on Jian Shuo, who was far away in the capital. Ma Chao thought about it and said, "Er will do it immediately with Jia Xu." ”

Ma Teng said suspiciously: "Is Jia Xu a suitable person?" ”

"Jia Xu is the best at perceiving people's hearts and using people's hearts, and he is also good at using tricks and has a superb mind, and it is overkill to establish an intelligence agency. Because the intelligence agency must be hidden, I will call it a 'hidden dragon'. ”

Ma Teng said: "It's okay." There is another matter, for the father has not yet come up with a solution, I want to ask Chao'er your opinion. ”

"What?"

Ma Teng sighed and said, "Recently, there have been complaints from the people who want to return the horses leased by the Thorn Mansion and ask for them to be replaced with cattle. ”

Ma Chao was a little puzzled. This policy was originally formulated by Ma Chao, and Ma Chao also laid off more than 200,000 horses with slightly inferior qualifications at the same time, leaving only 100,000 good horses for the Xiliang Army. The inferior horses were handed over to Tocao, who leased the horses to the common people for ploughing the fields and charged very low rents; Or sell it to the people. Ma Chao's original intention was naturally to use Malay to cultivate the land and benefit the people, but the people were unwilling to accept it, which is strange.

Ma Chao said: "The rent for renting horses is very low, but it is only two buckets of millet a year, and anyone can afford it." There are many people who use it rent-free, so why don't the people want it? ”

Ma Teng sighed and said, "Isn't it because horses are too difficult to raise?" Unlike cattle, horses only need to eat during the day and regurgitate at night, but horses need to eat day and night; Cattle have a tame temperament, and horses are irritable and untamable if they are not gelding, which affects farming; Cow manure can fertilize the land, while horse manure is too acidic and pollutes the land. Therefore, the people were reluctant to use horses. And it would be a pity if more than 200,000 horses were not used. After discussing with Yan Zhong, Yang Biao and others, Wei Father has distributed 100,000 horses to Gong Cao, which can still be used in the construction of the project; 80,000 horses were sold to herdsmen in the four counties of Qiangzhong; 10,000 horses were sold to merchants and carts were drawn for them; But there are still 40,000 horses idle. These 40,000 horses are useless, and they consume a lot of forage every day, so my father is really anxious. ”

Ma Chao thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps, we can sell these 40,000 horses to Huangfu Song." ”

"What?!" Ma Teng stood up in fright, touched Ma Chao's forehead with the back of his hand, and calmed down a little, "Obviously you don't have a fever, why do you say such nonsense?" ”

Ma Chao smiled: "Father, why can't you sell it to Huangfu Song?" ”

Ma Teng hated iron and said: "Huangfu Song is used by the imperial court to destroy us!" Now he only has 50,000 horsemen and 50,000 infantry troops, which is already very powerful. But if he is given 40,000 horses, will he not have about 100,000 horsemen? As a father, you don't scare Chao'er, but 100,000 iron horsemen are twice as many as ours! ”

Ma Chao smiled: "Father don't worry! Even if Huangfu Song had many cavalry, he didn't have much use. ”

"What do you mean by that?"

Ma Chao said: "The dividing line between our Liangzhou and Guanzhong is Longshan, and now we have all taken Longshan, controlled the Jieting and Sanguan, and are in a favorable defensive position." Only by conquering the street pavilion or the scattered pass can Huangfu Song cross Longshan and threaten Jincheng. In other words, in the future, our battle with Huangfu Song will be the battle of defending the city and guarding the pass. The terrain of the street pavilion and the scattered pass is dangerous, and the mountains and rivers are on the surface, and the emperor can use cavalry instead of infantry to attack the city? In this way, even if the number of cavalry increases, he will only be more unable to exert it, so what can he do about me? ”

Ma Teng came back to his senses, understood Ma Chao's intentions, and said: "I see, even if he is given more horses, he will not need cavalry to attack the city, because horses can't climb the city wall after all." In this way, the horse is useless to Huangfu Song, and selling the horse to Huangfu Song is also harmless to us. On the contrary, we can still make a lot of money, but Huangfu Song has to spend more forage to raise war horses. This is really killing two birds with one stone! ”

"Exactly. The meaning of the child is to exchange horses for cattle in the imperial court. ”

"But can Huangfu Song agree? After all, cattle are related to agriculture and the foundation of the country. ”