Qin Xiao said with a smile: "If we go directly to trade with them, they will naturally ignore it. But I heard that although the grassland ministries are bound by the horse ban order and do not dare to trade with us openly, there are still many horse dealers secretly
Contact them. The Ximen family in Jiangnan started out as a horse dealer, and they have privately traded many war horses with various grassland tribes. Do you think if the horse dealers trade privately, can they obtain war horses from them?"
"This method may not be feasible." Yuwen Chengchao thought thoughtfully and said softly: "The horse ban on the grassland will do great harm to tribes like Zhenyu. The cheaper ones are Tiehan's Du'er tribe. I believe the Xile people
I am also resentful about this. Even if the Zhenyu tribe can make a living by selling horses, the price of selling them to the grassland tribes and selling them to the Tang Dynasty is completely different. If they sell them to the Tang Dynasty, they can get fifty
For two taels of silver per horse, if you trade on the grassland on your own, one horse of the True Feather Department will probably only earn more than a dozen taels of silver."
Lu Xiaolou said from the side: "Destroying a person's financial path is no different from killing his father. Naturally, the True Yu tribe hates Monandur's tribe to the core."
Yuwen Chengchao nodded and said: "For the Zhenyu tribe to become one of the three major tribes in Modong, there must be many capable people in the tribe, and these people naturally have far-sighted people. In the long run, they are surrounded by enemies on three sides. He
The Bone Department and the Bu Liuda Department are eyeing them. The Duer Department in the west is more like a poisonous tongue, waiting for an opportunity. Whenever they find an opportunity, they will definitely rush out and bite the Zhen Yu Department. Therefore, if they cannot make good friends with the Tang Dynasty or even become allies,
There is even a possibility of annihilation of the race.”
Qin Xiao nodded and said: "If we just compete with the other two Xile tribes for dominance in Modong, the Zhenyu tribe can barely support it, but the rise of the Du'er tribe is actually the most fatal to the Zhenyu tribe.
situation."
"If there are wise people in the Zhenyu tribe, they should understand that they and the Tang Dynasty have a common enemy, and that is Tie Han of the Du'er Hu tribe." Yuwen Chengchao said seriously: "So it is not impossible for the two sides to form an alliance. This is
From a strategic point of view, the two sides should strengthen cooperation. If we look at the actual situation, the horse ban will cause the real feathers to become worse day by day. If it continues like this, in a few years, there will be no need for enemies to fight, and the real feathers will not be able to fight against themselves.
If it cannot hold on, the tribe may even fall apart, so a wise leader should also find ways to change this situation."
Qin Xiao smiled and said: "The eldest son also thinks that we can use horse dealers to obtain war horses from the True Feather Department?"
"The premise is that the True Feathers must not be hostile to us." Yuwen Chengchao frowned: "What I am most worried about now is that someone will provoke the True Feathers to misunderstand our intentions. From the beginning, let us garrison troops
Songyang Pasture will inevitably make the Black Mountain Bandits and the True Feathers be wary of us. It’s just the Black Mountain Bandits. If the True Feathers are hostile to us, even if there are horse traders to help, the True Feathers will not be able to
Let the war horses flow into our hands."
Qin Xiao was thoughtful and said softly: "Can we have contact with Zhen Yubu?"
"If we have private contact with the True Feathers and the Liaodong Army knows about it, it will be troublesome." Yuwen Chengchao said in a low voice: "The Liaodong Army is trying every means to prevent us from training smoothly. We are in contact with the True Feathers.
They will immediately know that we want to obtain war horses from the Zhenyu tribe, which they will never accept. Although the Liaodong Army is no longer what it used to be, they have been in the Northeast for nearly a hundred years, and the surrounding tribes are still very afraid of them.
The Zhenyu Department must not dare to have conflicts with the Liaodong Army. If they know that the Liaodong Army and the Long Rui Army cannot piss in a pot, they would rather be enemies with us than offend the Liaodong Army."
Lu Xiaolou smiled lightly and said: "Yes, the grassland tribes follow the law of the weak and the strong. In their eyes, strength is everything. The strength of the Liaodong Army is far greater than that of the Long Rui Army, so they will only become the same as the Liaodong Army."
friend."
"The only way we can get war horses now is from the True Feather Division." Qin Xiao said solemnly: "I've been thinking about it these past few days. If we can't solve the source of the war horses, then the issue of troop training can only be empty talk, so it is urgent.
, we are not rushing to train or even recruit soldiers, but to solve the problem on the True Feathers’ side so that the True Feathers can provide us with war horses.”
Several people present nodded slightly, knowing that the source of the war horses was indeed the most urgent problem to be solved at the moment.
"If it doesn't work out, I'll go to the grassland for a walk." After a period of silence, Yu Wen Chengchao suddenly said: "I'll see if there is a chance to contact the elders of their tribe. If possible, direct contact with Zhen Yuhan is naturally a dream.
"
Qin Xiao smiled and said: "The eldest son and I want to go together, but we can't help you go to the grassland, so I will go there myself."
Everyone present changed their colors slightly, and Yuwen Chengchao said categorically: "Absolutely not. The general is the commander-in-chief of the first army, how can you be allowed to go to the grassland and take risks? Everything is just beginning now. As the commander-in-chief of the Long Rui Army, then
You can't leave no matter what."
"You don't have to worry, listen to me first." Qin Xiao raised his hand and said with a smile: "My eldest son, I am the leader of the Long Rui Army in name, but to be honest, my ability to lead troops is far from yours.
Long Ruijun really has someone he can't live without, and it's not me, but you."
"General...!" Yu Wen Chengchao looked horrified. Qin Xiao didn't wait for him to speak and said sternly: "Young Master, don't get me wrong. Let's train this army. From a senior perspective,
It is to prepare for the Tang Dynasty to regain its lost territory, for the sake of the entire Tang Dynasty Empire. From a small perspective, it is a personal grudge between us and the Li Tuo rebels. In this matter, you and I have no distinction between each other. Who can do anything?
Do your best.”
Yuwen Chengchao sighed inwardly and nodded: "Yes, it is your and my lifelong wish to recover Xiling."
"There is something I have never said." Qin Xiao said with a smile: "Before I left the border, I had already anticipated that it would not be easy to obtain war horses. From the beginning, I planned to use horse dealers to buy war horses from the grassland privately, so I sent people
I sent a letter to Ximen Hao from the Ximen family. The Ximen family is the largest horse dealer in the border area. Every year, they trade many war horses privately from the grassland. However, due to the rebellion of the Jiangnan Queen Mother Association, the Ximen family has had some troubles, but now
He has settled down. What I want is for him to arrange for a team of people to go to the grassland and trade with as many grassland tribes as possible. I didn’t know about the existence of the True Feather Tribe before, and now I can use the horse dealers to go to the True Feather Tribe.
touch."
Zhang Tailing had a quick mind and had already thought of Qin Xiao's plan, so he asked in a low voice: "Master, are you going to the grassland with the horse dealer?"
"This matter naturally needs to be kept secret. Except for you, this matter cannot be disclosed to anyone else." Qin Xiao said seriously: "If you go to the grassland, naturally you cannot pass it directly from Heitian Valley. I am
We are going to let the horse dealers wait in western Liaoning, enter the grassland directly from the north of Liaoning, and then take a detour to the Zhenyu Grassland."
Several people looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.
"There is actually no problem with this." Lu Xiaolou finally said: "The general is very good at martial arts, and with the horse dealer as a cover, as long as his identity is not exposed, there shouldn't be any big problem." He glanced at Yuwen Chengchao and said.
: "Yu Wenlang will stay at the camp, and I can accompany the general to the grassland."
"You?" Qin Xiao smiled and said, "I have no intention of taking you there."
Lu Xiaolou shook his head and said: "I managed to become a Zhaowu captain thanks to you, and I have a bright future. If something happens to you on the grassland, my future will be ruined. Don't worry, I will go with you. Not only will I not be a burden,
, and if something happens, I can help you escape."
As soon as he said this, several people laughed.
"Since the general has made up his mind, I won't give much advice." Yuwen Chengchao pondered for a moment and said seriously: "It would be best if we could contact Zhen Yubu, but if the situation is unclear, we must be safe.
For the Lord." He lowered his voice and said: "The Liaodong Army must have been watching us, and we must be careful when heading north this time. However, if the saint knows that you are in danger and heading north, he will definitely not allow it."
Everyone present knew that Qin Xiao, as the commander-in-chief of the Long Rui Army, went to the grassland in person, which was indeed a bit rash, but it could not be said that Qin Xiao was acting on his own initiative.
Qin Xiao has obviously thought deeply and even made preparations. In order to solve the problem of the source of the war horses, this trip to Zhenyu Grassland is definitely a must. At the moment, Long Ruijun seems to be the only choice suitable for taking on this important task. Yuwen Chengchao seems to be the only one.
and Qin Xiao.
Although Qin Xiao is the commander-in-chief of the Long Rui Army, this team is currently composed of Yuwen Chengchao's subordinates, and it is more suitable for Yuwen Chengchao to stay.
"Be sure to pay attention to the Black Mountain bandits." Qin Xiao whispered: "When we settled in Songyang Grassland, they naturally got the news a long time ago. There is no news at the moment. But since they are bandits who have fallen out of grass and become bandits, they are naturally hostile to the officers and soldiers.
There is hostility. I heard that the Black Mountain bandits don't even look down on the Liaodong Army. There are only a few thousand of us here, and they have no scruples. They may attack the camp if they find an opportunity, so they can't take it lightly at any time.
"
Yu Wen Cheng nodded and said: "I have sent scouts to patrol the surroundings day and night, and I have also set up surveillance cameras. Whenever there is any movement from the Black Mountain bandits, they will immediately send a ringing arrow as a signal." He frowned and said, "But at Songyang Grassland.
It is only more than a hundred miles away from Montenegro. If the problem of the Montenegrin bandits is not solved, we will always worry that they will attack the camp. If this continues, everyone will remain tense and will only be exhausted. The problem of the war horses needs to be solved urgently. This
The problem of Montenegrin bandits cannot be dragged on forever."
Lu Xiaolou said: "I heard that the Black Mountain bandits have gathered tens of thousands of people, and these bandits are brave and good at fighting. With the current strength of Long Rui's army, it is impossible to defeat the Black Mountain bandits. The Liaodong Army has wanted to kill people with borrowed swords from the beginning, but now it can't
Do you know when the knife of the Montenegrin bandits will be cut down?"
"Do you think the Black Mountain bandits hate the imperial court to the core, or are they incompatible with the Liaodong Army?" Qin Xiao thoughtfully glanced at the people: "Are they anti-Tang or anti-Liaodong Army?"