When Liu Qi left Jingzhou, Xiahou Mao, despite the dissuasion of Xiahou Yuan and Zhang Liao, entered Nanyang with his entourage.
The two carriages were loaded with goods. In addition to northern animal skins and medicinal herbs, there were also gold bars inside. This was the experience gained from the last time furniture was transported.
After reselling furniture and food for half a year, he finally earned enough for the ransom, which he exchanged for gold. Finally, he had the chance to hold his head high.
Setting foot on the familiar road again, Xiahou Mi basked in the spring breeze, humming the tune he learned from the palace maids, and was in high spirits.
After making a lot of money in the Central Plains and Hebei, Xiahou Mao wanted to make more money. The reason why he had to go to Jingzhou in person this time was to see what new ways Liu Qi had come up with to make money and to observe and learn from him.
Of course, there is also the private residence and the Black Pearl leaning against the door!
When the carriage arrived at Fancheng, Xiahou Lan was already waiting with his men. Next to him was a young man of about seventeen or eighteen with red lips and white teeth. He was none other than Ma Su, the youngest of the five Ma brothers.
Before Ma Su entered officialdom, he often followed his brother Ma Liang in and out of the government office. Xu Shu discovered that this man was quick-witted and able to debate with others with ease, so he brought him to the Yanfeng Camp, hoping to train him if he was suitable for intelligence management.
Xiahou Lan was once Xiahou Dun's deputy general, and the two of them were familiar with each other. He clasped his fists and said, "General Liu was very uneasy when Xiangjiang encountered an accident last time. This time, I was specially ordered to receive you, just as if we were in Xuchang."
Xiahou Mao said sullenly, "Xiahou Lan, tell me the truth, were Zhang Wei and the Xiangjiang shipwreck all Liu Qi's schemes?"
"Why do you say that, young master?" Xiahou Lan said with a smile, "General Liu has sent people to investigate the Zhang Wei incident. He should have sealed up the house, but it was bought by you, and Zhang Wei sank the Xiang River. Only because of you did it, the matter was dropped. Even if Zhang Wei died and there is no evidence, those carts of gold are genuine. If it was General Liu's plan, how could he be willing to give up so much gold?"
"That's true!" Xiahou Mi nodded slightly. Liu Qi loved money so much, how could he be willing to let three thousand taels of gold sink into the river
It seems that even the Prime Minister can make mistakes sometimes. How can I, Xiahou Mao, be someone who can be easily deceived
He felt a little more at ease, so he asked, "Is General Liu at home?"
Xiahou Lan said: "The general married into the Sun family and has gone to Jiangdong."
"Could he have gone to Jiangdong to help in the war?" Xiahou Mao snorted.
But he didn't care. His father-in-law was well versed in military strategy. With him leading the troops personally, no one in the world could stop them. Even if there were two more Liu Qis, it would be in vain.
Then he asked, "What about my Qinggang sword?"
Xiahou Lan smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. The sword and the document are in Xiangyang. The general has already told us to give him a good reception before he left. All expenses will be charged to his account."
"That's more like it!" Xiahou Mao felt that Liu Qi still valued him, and said with a pout: "But he used my Qinggang sword to attack Wuguan, and this account still needs to be settled!"
Xiahou Lan smiled and said, "Of course, of course. When the general returns from Jiangdong, I will give you an explanation!"
Xiahou Mao waved his hand and said, "Okay, the gold I brought is in this vehicle. Let's count it here to avoid any accidents when crossing the river."
Xiahou Mao is still haunted by the incident at Xiangjiang last time, and he feels nervous even when riding on a boat.
Xiahou Lan smiled and said, "My lord, you worry too much! The last time a ship sank in Xiangjiang River, it had a huge impact, and General Liu was alarmed to come and inspect it in person. Later, after everyone brainstormed, the problem has been solved. Not to mention pedestrians, even vehicles can pass safely, and there is no need to worry about the wind and waves."
"Hmm?" Xiahou Mao frowned. "The Han River is vast. Can Jingzhou build a bridge in just a few months?"
Xiahou Lan smiled and said, "You will know when you reach the river."
Xiahou Mao was curious, so everyone went to the dock and saw that on the Han River, large and small boats were lined up in a row, forming a floating bridge from north to south.
The large ships were connected by iron chains, and the small ships were connected by wooden bridges, which were about two meters wide. People and vehicles were passing by on them. Although there were some ups and downs, it was very stable.
"Wonderful!" Xiahou Mao watched for a moment, patted his thigh and laughed, "My mother doesn't have to worry about me taking a boat anymore."
During this trip, Xiahou Meng's mother repeatedly reminded him to exchange the sword in Nanyang and return, and never take a boat across the river. After hearing about the last dangerous incident, the old lady was so scared that she couldn't sleep well for several days.
Xiahou Lan said, "In fact, there are quite a few people in the north of Jingzhou. In order to facilitate communication with Nanyang, General Liu moved the retired warships from the navy here and built a floating bridge. Since then, the natural barrier between the north and the south has become a thoroughfare, and the people all praise it."
"This Liu... General Liu, he always comes up with something new!" Xiahou Mao was deeply moved and ordered his followers to drive on board and rush to Xiangyang.
When asking about Jingzhou along the way, Xiahou Lan felt ashamed of Xiahou Dun and was very respectful to Xiahou Mao, telling him everything he knew.
"How dare Second Uncle say that my coming to Jingzhou is useless?" Xiahou Mao obtained a lot of important information and was secretly proud of himself, thinking about showing off in front of Xiahou Yuan after returning.
When the carriage arrived in Xiangyang, Xiahou Mi first counted the property and retrieved the sword and the document. He asked his followers to take them back to the manor and wait, and then he could not wait to rush to Shuiyunjian.
Xiahou Lan asked in confusion, "Sir, are you not going back to the manor to rest?"
"What's the hurry? I'll go see if there's any new... ahem," Xiahou Mao said solemnly, with his hands behind his back, "I came here mainly to see if there are any new business opportunities in Xiangyang. I want to eat the grilled fish at Shuiyunjian!"
Xiahou Lan smiled knowingly, accompanied Xiahou Mao to Shuiyunjian, ordered some barbecue, and left on her own.
In a very secret room in the backyard of Shuiyunjian, Zhang Song was sleepy, looking at the two shiny bodies, one white and one black, with graceful curves on his left and right, with a complicated expression.
He originally planned to go to Xuchang to meet the emperor and ask Cao Cao to send troops to attack Zhang Lu, but he was secretly invited to Xiangyang by Liu Qi.
As Cao Cao had already gone to Huainan, Zhang Song thought that it would be useless to stay in Xuchang, so he might as well wait for a while and see what was so special about Liu Qi, who had made such a big splash.
Unexpectedly, he and Pang Tong hit it off right away, drank till he got drunk, and could not resist his hospitality, so he fell into this gentle embrace, and before he knew it, seven or eight days had passed.
You have to know that Zhang Song was born ugly and had been laughed at since he was a child. Women would avoid him when they saw him, and even his wives and concubines despised him. How could he have ever truly tasted the warmth and flattery of a woman
In a drunken dream, I was arranged to be in Shuiyunjian, and since then I have been unable to extricate myself!
When setting out, he boasted to Liu Zhang and the other civil and military officials that he would be able to persuade Cao's army to send troops. However, there was chaos in Guanzhong at that time, and he had stayed in Xiangyang for too long. How could he report after returning
"Alas, all because of alcohol and sex!" Zhang Song slapped his forehead in regret and sighed: "From now on, I will stop drinking!"
Just when he was racking his brains for a solution, he heard the madam knocking on the secret door and urging him, "Sir, get up quickly. A distinguished guest is coming today, and he specifically asked for Mo Lian to accompany him."
Zhang Song glanced at the sleeping dark-skinned woman and said unhappily, "Who is this distinguished guest? Can he be more distinguished than me?"
When he arrived in Jingzhou, Liu Qi treated him as a guest of honor, and Pang Tong made secret arrangements. Who would dare to disturb him