On November 26, the twelfth year of Jian'an, Sun Quan met with Ma Liang and Ma Di.
"Envoys from Jingxiang and Xiang, Ma Liang and Ma Su, pay homage to the Marquis of Wu." Ma Liang held the banner in his hand, and Ma Su followed half a step behind.
Downstairs, Jiangdong's civil and military officials were present. At the top, Sun Quan was sitting in front of the case.
"The Wuchang of the Ma family, I have heard about it for a long time. The envoys are not polite. What's going on?" Sun Quan was wearing black black clothes and a flat crown on his head, with six thorns in front of the crown! As the Marquis of Wu, Sun Quan already had the authority to dress and
Wear these things.
Ma Liang supported the Jingjie and said, "Thank you, Marquis Wu. My lord Liu Cong has specially ordered me to come down to visit Marquis Wu. For the sake of the good of both families, I will give Marquis Wu a hundred pieces of Shu brocade, ten jade bis and ten pairs of white bis."
Sun Quan smiled and said: "After the envoy returns, I would like to thank Liu Jingzhou for the orphan."
Ma Liang continued: "My lord has one more thing to ask of Marquis Wu."
"Let the messenger speak."
"My lord wants to buy pig iron with the Marquis of Wu to forge weapons to fight against Cao Cao."
"My lord, no, iron is a national weapon and is related to the country's military. I hope my lord will think twice." The gray-haired Zhang Zhao immediately stopped him.
"My lord, the Shanyue people we captured last time mined a lot of iron ore, and we can't use it all, so why not sell it to Jingzhou," Zhuge Jin said.
"My lord, what Zhuge Ziyu said makes sense." Another important minister from Jiangdong, Gu Yong, Gu Yuantan!
Zhang Zhao hit the wooden board on the ground with his crutch, "What you said is to support the enemy."
The civil and military officials in Jiangdong were in a quarrel.
Sun Quan looked at Lu Su and Zhou Yu, "What do Gong Jin and Zijing think?"
Zhou Yu listened to Sun Quan's question and stood up and asked Ma Liang: "I heard that Mr. Liu merged several cities ceded by me in Jiangdong and established Xunyang County?"
Ma Liang replied: "Exactly."
Zhou Yu continued: "I, Jiangdong, are willing to exchange half a million kilograms of pig iron for Xunyang. I wonder if the envoy can make the decision?"
Five hundred thousand kilograms of pig iron is definitely a national power for Jiangdong. The peak iron output of the Han Dynasty was only five million kilograms. Jiangdong has recently obtained a lot of pig iron from Shanyue. Those barbarians are not very skilled in forging, but they are.
It’s all cheaper than Jiangdong.
Jiangdong Wenwu and Sun Quan looked excited when they heard this. If they could exchange pig iron for Xunyang, then they would be extremely willing to do so. It's not that Jiangdong is incapable of sending troops, or that he doesn't dare to send troops, but that he can't.
! Anyone with a discerning eye can see that if Jiangdong and Jingxiang are really fighting to the death and both sides lose, then Cao Cao can just send troops to accept it, and there is no talk of going south to conquer Jiangnan.
Ma Liang recalled that last time Liu Cong sent more troops to Xunyang. What is certain is that Liu Cong will never give up Xunyang easily. "I can't make the decision on this matter. I still need to go back and ask my lord for instructions."
"My lord, there is no problem at all. Whether to trade or not, please consider, lord!" Zhou Yu failed to achieve his goal and sat back neatly.
Sun Quan nodded and looked at Lu Su again. Facing Sun Quan's gaze, Lu Su asked Ma Liang: "Envoy, how much pig iron does Jing Xiang want to buy? What price do you plan to pay?"
"Buy as much as you want. In terms of price, I am willing to pay 20% higher than the market price!" 20%, this is already a very expensive price. Liu Cong really has a sense of urgency. Cao Cao is coming, and he must
ASAP.
"Liu Jingzhou has such a big appetite." Lu Su was a little horrified.
Ma Liang organized his words in his heart and said: "Jiangdong and Jingxiang are allies. If I, Jingxiang, are defeated by Cao's thieves, can Jiangdong survive alone?"
"You are all important ministers of Jiangdong, heroes of the time, and the Marquis of Wu is also the current ruler of the Ming Dynasty. Don't you understand that the lips are dying and the teeth are cold?"
"If Jing Xiang blocks Cao's army, it will be a huge gain and no harm to Jiangdong!"
As soon as Ma Liang finished speaking, the soldiers from Soochow came in and reported, "My lord, on November 15th, Cao Cao deposed the three princes in Xudu, installed him as prime minister, forced the emperor to make him prime minister, and made many ministers."
"What?"
"The thief is brave!"
"The thief Cao is domineering!"
It's not that the civil and military officials in Jiangdong are really loyal to the Han, it's just that they are afraid. Cao Cao has praised him, so will he still be far away from going south?
Sun Quan took the letter from Lu Su, opened it, read it, and sighed: "What do you think of Cao Mengde's behavior?"
Now, no one in Jiangdong Wenwu, who was filled with righteous indignation just now, was talking about attacking others? How could it be possible? If they don't fight, it would be fine. Besides, when Jiangdong's army is on the ground, can it be the opponent of the Northern Valiant Cavalry?
"My lord, trade pig iron with Jingxiang. If Cao's thieves go south, Xiangfan will bear the brunt." Lu Su said to Sun Quan.
Sun Quan nodded, "Envoy, I will immediately send a ship to send 500,000 kilograms of pig iron to Jingxiang. The envoy can go back first and resume his duties with Liu Jingzhou."
Ma Liang shook his head and said, "Thank you very much, Marquis Wu. My younger brother will be responsible for the specific matters of the transaction between the two parties. I still have a mission."
Facing Sun Quan's confused gaze, Ma Liang said firmly, "Across the ocean, go to Liaodong!"
Ma Liang and Ma Su did not stop. Ma Liang went to Liaodong, while Ma Su stayed in the posthouse, waiting for Jiangdong to load the pig iron. After seeing Ma Liang off in person, Sun Quan returned to the Daohou Mansion.
In the backyard, Sun Shangxiang was practicing sword practice! When he saw Sun Quan approaching, he actually slashed at Sun Quan with his sword.
"Second brother, why don't you avoid it?" Sun Shangxiang sheathed his sword and said to Sun Quan with a smile.
Sun Quan was a little helpless, "Little sister, you are already engaged, why are you still so unruly? You are a wielder of swords and guns, be careful of being divorced by Liu Cong in the future."
When Sun Shangxiang heard Liu Cong, his face turned red with embarrassment. When he heard the second half of the sentence, he became angry, "How dare he! If he dares to divorce me, I will kill him!"
"By the way, second brother, isn't there an envoy from Jingzhou? Has he written to me?" Seeing Sun Quan's helpless expression, Sun Shangxiang waved her pink fist, "This damn Liu Cong, he is exactly what his mother said.
I really don’t want to think about me at all.”
"Second brother, I want to go to Jingzhou to find him!"
Sun Quan quickly took out the tip bag that Liu Cong wanted to hand over, "This is his letter to you. Where is mother? I'm going to see her."
Sun Shangxiang grabbed the kit and opened it eagerly, while rushing to Sun Quan and said: "Mother is enjoying the flowers with Qiao Guolao. Second brother, please go quickly."
Sun Quan looked at Sun Shangxiang and sighed. He felt a little sad for Liu Cong...
On the third day of December, Ma Su returned to Xiangyang with Jiangdong's fleet. Liu Cong went to greet him personally and held a banquet in the Prefectural Mufu to celebrate Ma Su's success.
"You Chang, you have done a good job, and you are worthy of the name of Ma's Wuchang. Come, let me congratulate You Chang with this wine!" Liu Cong was really happy. He had gathered all the craftsmen from Xiangyang, Jiangling and other places, just waiting for Pig Iron to come
Once you arrive, you can continue to build the ordnance you need!
Ma Di raised his glass and drank with Liu Cong in the air, saying, "My lord, this is all the result of my fourth brother. I dare not take the credit."
"You Chang are humble. I know your talents. You will be responsible for supervising the ordnance forging in Xiangyang."
"Thank you, Lord! I will try my best!"
For such a simple thing, if Liu Cong defeated Cao Cao, it would be another credit.
"Young Master, the Lord has asked you to go there." Just when everyone was happy, the housekeeper Cai Jing came in and reported.
Liu Biao has been recovering from his illness and has rarely interfered in Jingzhou affairs. He has really delegated power to Liu Cong. Except for Liu Cong's two visits in the morning and evening every day, it is impossible to see Liu Cong at this time.
Liu Cong was a little curious, "What's going on?"
"Mrs. Fan is pregnant!" Cai Jing replied with a smile.
"Congratulations, lord, congratulations, lord!" While Liu Cong was still stunned, there were already shouts of congratulations from below!