Liu Qi's words stunned everyone, including Xu Shu and Gan Ning.
You were just discussing strategies to deal with the enemy, and in the blink of an eye you turned into a shrewd businessman
Zhuge Jin said hurriedly: "General Liu, you are joking. The alliance against Cao is a matter between the two families. You will become the son-in-law of the Eastern Wu. Isn't this a bit too formal?"
Liu Qi said seriously, "As the saying goes: Brothers should settle accounts clearly! We made an agreement when we came here to talk business. Otherwise, even if I agree, it will be hard to explain to my father! I gave a 10% discount because of the marriage between our two families."
Zhuge Jin laughed dryly, and Lu Su also pouted secretly. Who doesn't know that Liu Biao has long stopped caring about Jingzhou? This is clearly an excuse.
Zhou Yu's eyes were also slightly stern. Liu Qi was just as the rumors said, greedy for money and only cared about money.
After a brief thought, he said, "The army is still short of 50,000 arrows. I wonder when the general will be able to prepare them. If it takes more than half a month, Jiangdong will be able to prepare most of them. Why do we need to buy more arrows?"
Liu Qi slowly stretched out three fingers.
"Three days?" Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and said in a cold voice: "There is no joking in the army. What if there are no arrows for three days?"
Liu Qi said: "We have no arrows for three days. I and my generals will attack Ruxu first and we will defeat the enemy even at the cost of our lives."
Zhou Yu was secretly delighted and clasped his fists, saying, "Okay, let's make this agreement: If you can prepare 50,000 arrows within three days, all the troops of Jiangdong will go out to defeat Cao Cao together with you."
Zhuge Jin hurriedly said, "General, this matter is of great importance. If we delay the opportunity to fight because of a momentary anger, how can we reply to the Marquis of Wu?"
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Military orders are as heavy as a mountain. I have signed a military order with the governor and written a letter of agreement. When the time comes, we will have the written evidence and will not embarrass you."
"Okay!" Zhou Yu was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to prepare pen and ink to write the military order and the receipt for purchasing arrows.
Liu Qi added: "Although 50,000 arrows are not worth much, they are still worth about a million. It's not that I don't trust the governor. After all, this is not a military matter, so we need someone to guarantee it!"
Zhou Yu snorted slightly and looked at Lu Su: "I'll trouble Zi Jing to be my guarantor!"
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Mr. Lu is the perfect guarantor. I heard that you donated grain to help the Grand Commander. How generous of you! A small amount of money is no problem."
Lu Su had no choice but to sign the document. The two sides agreed to prepare all the arrows and attack Ruxu ten days later.
After Liu Qi left, Lu Su stamped his feet and said, "Why did the governor drag Lu Su into the bet with Liu Qi? If the Marquis of Wu really doesn't want to pay, will he ask me to pay out of my own pocket?"
Zhou Yu sneered and said, "It will take at least half a month to make 50,000 arrows. I guess Liu Qi is not taking care of military affairs and is just talking nonsense. I just saw Xu Shu and Liu Pan were both surprised, so I knew that their army didn't have many arrows, so I agreed first. Even if we transport them from Jiangxia, it will take at least ten days. I want Liu Qi to attack Ruxu first and then advance to reduce the damage to the Wu army."
Lu Su heaved a sigh of relief, stroked his beard and said, "So the governor's method of provoking the enemy has worked!"
Zhou Yu laughed and said, "Liu Qi is young and hot-tempered after all, and likes to protect his shortcomings. He just stood up for Gan Xingba, and he will surely suffer the consequences."
Lu Xun fought for a long time and suddenly said, "I think Liu Qi is not a man who talks nonsense. He just said something very serious. I'm afraid he has something to rely on. The commander-in-chief needs to be prepared for any eventuality."
"Hmm?" Zhou Yu's eyes were slightly stern, and he smiled again: "Even if Liu Qi really has 50,000 arrows, it will just help me defeat Cao. The money can be allocated from the military rations."
Lu Su nodded and said, "The governor is right. Whether Liu Qi has arrows or not, it will be beneficial to Jiangdong."
Zhou Yu laughed triumphantly, this was a sure-win deal, he ordered the three armies to prepare for battle, and asked Zhuge Jin to gather information.
Liu Qi and the others returned to the tent. Gan Ning said anxiously, "General, you don't know that I only brought 10,000 arrows with me this time, just in case. It is far from enough."
Xu Shu said worriedly, "Even if there is a workshop, it will take ten days to work day and night, and we are far away from home. The general is careless this time!"
Liu Qi said with a smile: "Don't panic, everyone. Since I dare to bet with Zhou Yu, I am naturally confident. There will be people to deliver arrows to my door. This is a business that is guaranteed to make money."
Gan Ning asked in confusion: "This place is far from Jiangxia, who else would send arrows?"
"It's far away in the sky, yet it's right in front of us!" Liu Qi smiled mysteriously, and told everyone to prepare for battle, leaving Liu Pan alone to discuss.
Liu Pan was also very worried and said, "Da Lang, there are no arrows in the army. If we fail to deliver them in time, won't it endanger the lives of the soldiers?"
Liu Qi said: "Since I dared to promise Zhou Yu, I naturally have a way to deal with it. You will prepare this matter yourself. Send people to cut down trees and make arrows openly, and do what I tell you secretly."
Liu Pan nodded and said, "Just give me your orders, Dalang."
Liu Qiyan said, "You need to prepare wooden stakes and bundles of grass to make straw figures. At least two thousand of them. Of course, the more the better. Also prepare five hundred straw mats. Will two days be enough?"
Liu Pan thought for a moment and nodded, "We can make it overnight. Two days will be enough. But what does this have to do with getting arrows?"
"It's not taking, it's borrowing!" Liu Qi patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "Just prepare it, I will have a good use for it."
Although Liu Pan was puzzled, he had great trust in Liu Qi after getting rid of Cai Mao, and he obeyed his orders and went to make preparations.
In fact, Liu Qi just wanted to use the straw boat to borrow arrows. During this period, he observed the terrain of Ruxu. It was the transition from spring to summer, and the valley was filled with thick fog in the morning and evening.
Zhou Yu also tried to take advantage of the heavy fog to launch a surprise attack on Ruxu, but Cao's army was well prepared. They set up fishing nets and hung bells within three miles of the water stronghold, so that any boats approaching would be discovered immediately.
Although this trick is very effective in preventing sneak attacks, it is also a good opportunity for Liu Qi to take advantage of it. Zhou Yu uses the lack of arrows as an excuse. Isn't this just inviting business to his door
While he was thinking about it, Zhuge Jin also came to ask and expressed his concern. Liu Qi just laughed it off and asked him to send the food and fodder for half a month as soon as possible.
Zhuge Jin was about to leave without getting any information, but Liu Qi asked, "When all the generals were arguing over their merits, Lu Xun said nothing. What's his opinion?"
Zhuge Jin smiled and said, "Lu Boyan is a scholar who only does administrative paperwork. How could he compete for credit? But he just said that since the general dared to sign a document, he must be sure of it. I am really curious, so I came to ask him."
Liu Qi waved his hand and smiled, "How can I be sure? I just want to try my luck because there is a chance to make money. After all, we are both trying to defeat Cao, so what does it matter whether we win or lose?"
"General, you are absolutely right!" Zhuge Jin nodded in agreement and left.
When the words were relayed to Zhou Yu and Lu Su, they both laughed at Liu Qi for talking about business in the army. He really couldn't distinguish the primary from the secondary. This man was able to defeat Cao Cao in Nanyang, probably because of the efforts of Zhuge Liang and Lu Su.
Liu Qi sat alone in the tent, looking at the tent door with a melancholy face. Just now, all the generals of Soochow were angered by Gan Ning, including Zhou Yu. Only Lu Xun looked calm and stood there motionless, worthy of being a potential commander.
Although this guy has not attracted Sun Quan's attention and was only temporarily promoted to military officer by Zhou Yu, he is the head of the Lu family and Sun Ce's son-in-law. No matter how big the hoe is, he can't dig it out!
It's like a person who knows what's good sees a rare treasure, but in someone else's home it's just a display and he can't get his hands on it, which is more painful than being anxious.