Sun Tu's words finally made Wu and Song feel relieved, and they had a lot of fun eating and drinking. After having enough wine and food, the three of them left the restaurant with a faint sense of fumes. When the few followers saw this, they did not dare to neglect and quickly paid to follow him. Even though they had not gained anything from following Sun Tu these days, they did not dare to be careless in their duties.
It was just after noon when we left the restaurant, and people, horses and animals were constantly coming and going on the long street. This is where the Liao Kingdom was much stronger than the Song Dynasty. They had many more horses than the Song Kingdom. Not to mention that there was no shortage of horses in the military and government offices. Even among the people, there were too many people raising horses. At this time, there were many horses on the road. The number of horses coming and going is equivalent to the number of horses that can be seen in the busiest market in Bianjing in one day.
When they saw this scene, Sun Tu and Lu Da both had longing expressions on their faces. After looking at each other, they both sighed. If the Song Dynasty could control such a large number of war horses, why would it not worry about being passively beaten in battles with other countries
"Come on, let's go to the Sheep and Horse Market in Xicheng today. I heard that there are always people there who can pick out a few thousand-mile horses. We went to see it before and there was nothing special. Let's try our luck today." Sun Tu After saying that, he turned around at a crossroads and headed west. Two or three miles ahead was the famous Sheep and Horse Market in Youzhou City.
As the name suggests, the Sheep and Horse Market is naturally a market for selling cattle, sheep and horses. As a former nomadic people, the Khitan people are actually half of the Khitan people still living a nomadic life, including their emperor, who can naturally raise the best livestock, cattle and horses. Come on, especially the horses, they are unique in the world. However, due to the tense relationship with the Song people, they did not dare to sell their own war horses to the south, so the horses were sold as far away as Nanjing, and the price was naturally not too high.
Although Sun Tu and others were also from the Song Dynasty, because of their status as envoys, it was really hard for the Liao people to stop them from buying horses. As long as they didn't go too far and bought several horses at once, they would turn a blind eye. Of course, even ordinary horses could not catch Sun Tu's eye, so he never actually bought horses in the Sheep and Horse Market several times, he just walked around and asked around.
Today he came back with interest again, but it made those who were following him quite uncomfortable. As Liao people, they really couldn't understand why these envoys from the Song Dynasty liked to see those animals so much. But even though they were upset, their pace did not slow down. They still followed Sun Tu and the others westward, and soon entered the Sheep and Horse Market, which was only separated by wooden fences.
Compared with other markets in Youzhou, the environment of Yangma Market is much worse. Not only is it very noisy due to the barking of various animals, but there is also a foul smell in the air, even for Liao people. Frowning, let alone Wu Song and Lu Da who came from the south. Sun Tu, on the other hand, was very interested at this time. He kept making simple negotiations with the vendors on the roadside, asking about the situation and prices of the horses. He looked as if he really planned to buy a few horses back.
Often at this time, the people who were following him would pay special attention to his words and actions, for fear that he would communicate with Song spies right under their noses. However, whether in person or after checking, they found that there was nothing wrong with the merchants who negotiated with Sun Tu. Not only were they not Song spies, but most of them were Khitan people.
After asking a few questions, Sun Tu's eyes suddenly lit up. He stared at a snow-white horse in front of him for a moment, and said in a low voice: "What a good horse!"
In fact, not only him, but the Liao people behind him also expressed admiration and even greed. Such a majestic horse with extremely pure coat color and every movement that made it look extraordinarily powerful and beautiful was really eye-catching and eye-catching. I want to make it my own.
At this time, many people who were interested in this horse had gathered in front of the horse stall, including Han Chinese and Khitan people. At this time, they were all bargaining with the owner, whose beard and hair were yellow and purple. When Sun Tu and the others approached, they heard the man open his hands and say loudly: "We have already said that this is a rare dragon colt horse breed on the grassland. Even the sweat-blooded horses in ancient times are not better than it. Therefore, the price of five thousand guan is not expensive at all. This horse is not what Huangfu Duan is boasting about. Although it cannot run a thousand miles a day, it is definitely not a problem to run five or six hundred miles a day. If you buy it, you will definitely not regret!"
The horse was indeed a good horse, but the price he asked was too high. Five thousand guan was not a small sum even in the Song Dynasty, but in the Liao Kingdom it became an astronomical figure for ordinary people. Even if the people around him wanted to get this BMW, they all gave up after hearing this number.
At this time, someone shouted: "Huangfu Duan, the price of your horse is too high. Not to mention in Nanjing, it may not be possible to sell it even in Kyoto, but I still lowered the price. I bought it for 500 guan." it."
"Yes, that way I can offer five hundred and fifty guan." Someone followed up and added the price: "Huangfu Duan, you should know that this horse is really not worth such a high price. If the overlords in the city see it, I'm afraid they will I’m going to rob you, and you won’t even get a penny by then.”
These people started making noises, which made the whole scene more lively. Some people shouted: "Huangfu Duan, this is your first time coming to Nanjing. We don't trust you. You said this horse can travel hundreds of miles a day, but We have to see it with our own eyes. Why don't you let me try it? If it can really run more than five hundred miles a day, I will buy this horse for five thousand guan."
Huangfu Duan immediately raised his face and said, "Are you bullying us for being foreigners? If I really give you the horse and you run away, we won't have the horse to catch up with you." He pointed it out with one word. His cunning intentions immediately aroused a burst of laughter from everyone. This person indeed regarded Huangfu Duan as a fool.
At this moment, a voice rang out from outside the crowd: "This is indeed a good horse that is one in a thousand, and it was sold at a loss for 5,000 guan. That's it, I'll buy it from 1,000 guan." Get off it!"
As soon as these words came out, the originally noisy crowd suddenly fell silent. Everyone hurriedly looked back behind them, wanting to see what such a heroic man looked like. Then they saw Sun Tu and the others standing there with smiles, looking up and down at the white horse with joy.
Huangfu Duan was also a little surprised. He didn't expect that someone would actually spend such a large amount of money to buy a horse. In fact, he did price the horse higher than its own value. He just didn’t want to sell the horse casually and attract more people’s attention.
Because this horse is clearly a living sign to him.
In just two days, the customers attracted by it had already bought seven or eight horses from him, and his business here was better than the surrounding businesses put together. Even though Huangfu Duan looks like a rich and wealthy businessman, in fact, in addition to his ability to read and raise horses, he is also quite meticulous in doing business.
But now that someone was talking about it, he could only continue, and said with a smile: "This guest really wants to pay 5,000 yuan to buy this horse? Let's put it up front, our horse will not reduce the price..."
"Of course. If the price of such a good horse is lowered, it would be a disgrace to its noble origin." Sun Tu said, already standing in front of the crowd, he came to the white horse and looked up and down carefully, and then nodded again. : "It is indeed a rare horse in the world. It's settled, five thousand guans, I won't miss you a penny."
Huangfu Duan was overjoyed when he heard this. If he wanted to use this horse as a sign, it would be worthwhile to sell it for five thousand guan. Moreover, if this deal really goes through, I will become famous in Nanjing. Are I afraid that no customers will come to visit me? So he immediately nodded and bowed and said: "Thank you very much, guest, for this money..." As he said that, he looked at Sun Tu and the others with some doubts, seeing that they didn't look like people who could take out thousands of dollars at any time.
"I wasn't prepared when I came out, so I don't have so much cash on me now. But don't worry, although I am from Song Dynasty, I am also the most honest, and I will never go back on what I promised you. Let's do this, you will tell me later How about sending it to the Song Embassy Post in the south of the city and handing over the money and the horse?" Sun Tu explained with a smile.
Upon hearing that he was from Song Dynasty, the people around him showed strange expressions, showing hostility but also some relief. Because everyone knows that people in the Song Dynasty are rich, just like many countries in later generations know that Chinese aunts who travel can spend the most money.
Huangfu Duan no longer had any doubts at this time, and he responded happily: "It's settled, after the market is closed, I will send the horse to the post."
"Hmm." Sun Tu nodded with satisfaction and muttered: "With the wealth of the Song Dynasty, it would not be difficult for him to buy the entire Liao Kingdom's horses!" As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the people around him changed again. At this time, several cold snorts came from not far away, and a solemn voice rang out: "Wait a minute. Who told you to sell my Daliao horse to the Song people at will? How much does this horse cost, my master? wanted!"
Before he finished speaking, there were already more than a dozen guys dressed as evil servants with savage faces, waving steel knives, and driving away the crowd with a few false strikes. Then two young men dressed in rich and gorgeous clothes were revealed outside. The young masters in robes, both of whom had ugly faces and behaved very arrogantly, flicked their riding whips in their hands and almost hit the two common people in front of them who were trying to avoid them.
But after seeing the appearance of these two people clearly, everyone did not dare to get angry. Instead, they stepped back. When they looked at Sun Tu and the others, there was already a sense of gloating in their eyes: "These Song people are so arrogant, this You will suffer a loss when you return. The two young masters have nothing to rub in their eyes, and they hate the Song people the most. It is good to take away their horses, but maybe they will have to suffer even more... "