As Zhu Biao's uncle, Lan Yu was more casual in front of him. However, Lan Yu did not go towards Zhu Biao, but looked at Han Du, snorted a few times and said dissatisfiedly: "What do you want to do when you mobilized a large number of people to bring His Highness the Crown Prince and us?"
Han Du smiled, and when faced with Lan Yu's question, he pretended to be mysterious and did not say anything. Then he said: "Don't worry, you are here today to show your favor. Naturally, we have to do our best to let you return home happily."
After saying that, Han Du clapped his hands.
Immediately, a maid dressed in gauze came forward with various delicacies and wines, placing a portion in front of everyone. Then there was a burst of music. As the music sounded, a group of women walked from both sides to the middle of the stage and began to dance.
After the dance, Heqing Hou Zhang Yi clapped his hands and applauded, "Okay! We have never seen this song and dance in Jiaofangsi. It is really eye-opening."
Han Du smiled slightly, which Zhang Yi had never seen before. Although these female musicians are also female musicians from Jiaofangsi, the songs and dances they perform are the latest. From then on, Han Du decided to use the latest songs and dances to perform here, and wait until some time later to perform them in Jiaofangsi.
While everyone was eating and drinking, they also expressed their admiration for the singing and dancing without hesitation.
After everyone had seen and listened, and had had enough wine and food, Lan Yu asked impatiently: "You invited us here in such a big way, isn't it just to watch the singing and dancing? I admit that you are doing this The singing and dancing are indeed very good, but there is no need to run out of the city, right? Can't you listen to it in Jiaofangsi?"
Han Du felt that everyone's eyes were on him, and he quickly stood up and explained with a smile: "Of course it's not just that. Since it is a racecourse, horses are indispensable. Today, we invite you to watch the horse racing."
"Horse racing? We don't even know how many horses we have ridden. What's so interesting about this horse racing?" Lan Yu asked again.
Han Du invited everyone to sit down on the observation deck, and gave everyone a telescope in their hands. He pointed at the track below and explained: "As you can see, the horses in the shed are going to participate in horse racing. . These horses run around the track ten times. Whichever horse finishes first is the winner.
You are all experts in horse-drawing, so let’s see which horse can win. If you think that horse can win this horse race, you can bet on it. Once it wins, you can win a lot of money. "
Souma? This is a method that many people pride themselves on, especially for these noble generals.
After all, these days, when they go into battle to kill the enemy, they still have to sit down on their horses. The quality of their war horses directly determines their life or death. Many people even value their horses more than their concubines in the house.
Now that he had the opportunity to show off his skills in front of everyone, everyone was immediately interested and looked towards the stable with their binoculars.
"One, two, three... Hey, horse No. 9 is pretty good. It's a thousand-mile horse." Sun Ke, the Marquis of Quan Ning, was the first to speak in surprise.
However, his words were not only not recognized by others, but also attracted ridicule.
Chen Huan, the Marquis of Puding, did not give Sun Ke any face at all, and said directly: "Fuck, horse No. 9 is just average. Look at No. 17, that is the real good horse. This horse will definitely win."
Sun Ke, the Marquis of Quaning, originally thought horse No. 17 was really so great, but at first glance, he felt that it was not as good as the horse No. 9 he was interested in.
Immediately he said unconvinced: "What's so good about Horse No. 17? He looks downcast and can't stand it at first glance."
"What do you know? This is called the divine light being restrained and not showing anything. You see, Horse No. 17 is sure to win." Puding Marquis Chen Huan said to Sun Ke with full confidence and confidence.
Sun Ke was naturally dissatisfied, "No. 9 can win."
"No. 17~"
The quarrel between the two naturally attracted the attention of others. Some people agree, some oppose, and some even don't like either horse, but insist that the one they like is the best.
Han Du looked at the noisy argument among the people and felt even more happy.
"Let's make a noise! Let's make a noise! If you don't make a fuss, we really can't do anything to you. Now it's good. If we have differences, we can fish in troubled waters and make a fortune."
Seeing Chen Huan and Sun Ke arguing endlessly, Han Du quickly stood up and smoothed things over with a smile, saying: "Everyone, please be patient for a moment. You will know who is better and worse after one match, right?"
After Han Du finished speaking, everyone immediately stopped arguing.
Indeed, the father-in-law is right and the mother-in-law is right. Since no one can convince anyone, let’s just give it a try and tell the truth.
"Yes, you will know who is right and who is wrong after one game..."
Seeing that no one had any objections, Han Du quickly took out a piece of paper and explained: "These are the rules of horse racing at the racecourse. You can not only see who has a better vision of horse racing, but also bet on it. With this kind of vision, Not only can the clever ones prove that they are superior in skills, but they can also gain a fortune, so why not do it?"
Han Du asked people to distribute the papers with the rules of horse racing to everyone one by one.
After everyone saw it, they all nodded in approval.
Sun Ke jumped out directly, pointed at Chen Huan and said, "Do you dare to have a bet with us?"
"Why don't you dare?" Chen Huan has full confidence in his vision, and naturally he will not flinch at all.
"Okay, then let's bet a hundred dollars." Sun Ke made his decision immediately.
After hearing this, Chen Huan smiled contemptuously and said: "It's only a hundred guan, how can you, the Marquis of Quan Ning, take it? Is it because the Marquis of Quan Ning's house is having trouble making a living? If that's true, why don't you say anything? For the sake of our old brothers. Come on, will I still not help you? Hahaha~"
Sun Ke's eyes turned red with anger at Chen Huan's words. He pounded the table angrily and cursed: "Who are you looking down on? We still need your help, but it's enough if we help you."
"One thousand guan! If you agree, we will make a bet with you. If you don't agree, I will send someone to deliver 500 guan to your house when you get back. Don't be so stubborn." Chen Huan did not agree with him. Sun Ke argued and just said calmly.
"Okay, let's bet!" Sun Ke would not lose his momentum at this time. Besides, a thousand strings is really nothing to him.
Not only these two people, but others also placed bets on their favorite horses.
Except for Zhu Biao and Tang He, everyone else still couldn't hold down five hundred strings even if they had Tang Ding.
Everyone puts a bet on the bet contract, and it's done. With the status of these people, there is no need to ask them to hand over the money first. Just make a deposit and the racecourse will send someone to pick it up tomorrow.
Next, the horse racing begins.
The railings of the stable were opened, and the rider held the reins and sat on the horse. The sitting horse sneezed and began to become restless.
As the servant suddenly waved the flag down, more than twenty horses immediately jumped out of the fence and accelerated into a gallop.
"good......"
Someone saw in the telescope that the horse he had bet on was ahead, and cheers suddenly broke out.
Seeing that there was no one ahead of the horse he had bet on, he stared intently at every move below. When I see the horses that I am paying attention to slowly come up from behind, the excitement and excitement is simply indescribable.
One after another, the observation deck erupted in louder applause than before.
Round and round...
Some horses slowly start to fall behind from the lead, some horses slowly lead from behind, and some lead and then fall behind, and then lead again. Ever-changing, ever-changing.
The skill of the rider and the coordination of the horse are all the key to determining the speed. Even every turn tests the rider and the horse.
After nine laps, just when everyone thought the overall situation was decided. Unexpectedly, a group of chestnut-colored horses that were originally in the middle and back position slowly rushed up, passing the horses' heads one by one, and finally rushed to the first position.
"Why!"
"pity......"
"Why is it this horse?"
Everyone sighed.
The winning horse was so inconspicuous that no one noticed it. Unexpectedly, it actually won in the end.
Although everyone lost, this was actually a good result. After all, everyone loses and no one wins, which at least means that they all have similar visions. No one is better than the other, and no one should look down on the other.
After losing the horse race, the relationship between them became much closer.
Zhu Biao didn't expect this result, and after thinking for a moment, he couldn't figure out what was going on. After all, he is really not very proficient in Souma.
Turning to Tang He who was on his left hand, he asked: "Dong Xin, what do you think is going on?"
Tang He smiled and said, "This horse can win, just as I expected."
"I've heard for a long time that Duke Xin is good at judging horses. Today I opened my eyes." Zhu Biao first said a few compliments to Tang He, and then continued to ask: "What's different about this horse?"
Tang He put down the dried fruit in his hand and patiently explained to Zhu Biao: "This horse is certainly not a top-notch horse in terms of speed, but its four hooves are thick, which shows that it has extraordinary endurance.
I wonder if His Highness has noticed? The track below is at least four miles long in one lap, and it will be forty miles in ten laps. Although the other horses were a little faster, they lacked endurance and would begin to run out of energy before they could run for forty miles. Naturally, they were no match for this horse with outstanding endurance. "
"I see. It seems that this horse race is not just about running fast." Zhu Biao nodded, retracted his body leaning towards Tang He, and returned to his normal sitting posture, with his back straight and looking at the people on the left and right in front of him.
"Haste makes waste, this is also the truth." Tang He said lightly and said nothing more.
Han Du smiled happily when he saw a dark horse emerge at the end. This means that everyone's bets will fall into their own pockets. Even when they look at the eyes of everyone, they seem to see a color of money covering their bodies.
These are all their own sponsors.
After having an experience, all the nobles fell in love with horse racing.
The way. Before Han Du could speak, they all shouted anxiously, asking Han Du to start another game.
As long as there is money to be made, let alone one game, it doesn't matter even if it is ten or a hundred games, just play it!
Just when Han Du thought he was about to make a fortune, a steward came outside the door, quietly opened a crack, looked at Han Du's position, and winked at him anxiously, trying to attract Han Du's attention.
Han Du didn't notice it at first, but when he saw it, he stepped back from the observation deck.
He opened the door and looked at the steward and asked, "What's wrong? What's the matter?"
"Master Marquis, someone was successful in the horse racing round just now." The steward looked a little anxious.
Han Du was stunned for a moment, then looked at the steward with doubtful eyes, and asked: "How is this possible? I am watching from above. I have seen everyone's bills, and no one has been successful."
"Master Marquis, look at this bill." Seeing that the explanation was unclear in a few words, the steward simply put the most direct evidence in front of Han Du.
"Five thousand coins!" Han Du's eyes suddenly shrank when he saw the number on the bill.
Han Du remembered clearly that no one had bet on five thousand coins just now. The biggest bet was between Sun Ke and Chen Huan, but the two of them only bet a thousand dollars each.
Where did these five thousand strings come from?
Han Du turned over and looked at it carefully. The note was complete with all the secrets, and it was indeed true. But it is impossible for someone to bet five thousand coins without knowing it.
After thinking for a moment, Han Du said in a deep voice: "Find the person who handled this bill and ask him where he handled the bill."
"The First Cause of All Realms"
"That's right!" The steward suddenly realized, and he was too anxious to get ahead, so he ignored this.
"Master Marquis, please wait for a moment. I'll go find him now."
Soon the steward came to Han Du with a person and said, "Master Hou, this note was handled by him, and the five thousand notes are absolutely authentic. I have already verified them. He paid the note on the spot." ”
"Pay with treasure money?" Han Du asked strangely.
Five thousand Guan treasure notes, this is not a small amount of money. Even treasure banknotes can be placed neatly in several stacks.
"Please take a look at it, Mr. Marquis." The steward took out a stack of banknotes from his body and handed them to Han Du.
The moment he saw the treasure note, Han Du's heart sank again.
This is a treasure banknote with a face value of 100 yuan!
Since the rise of maritime trade, in order to facilitate maritime merchants to purchase bulk goods, Han Du specifically asked Lao Zhu for instructions and issued a batch of hundred-guan treasure notes.
Although the denominations of this batch of treasure banknotes are large, not many are issued, and ordinary people have never seen them.
Han Du immediately thought that this person's identity must be unusual.
He turned to look at the person next to the steward and asked, "Who are you applying for this bill for? Take me with you."
"Yes, Lord Marquis."
The man took Han Du a few steps to the left, turned a corner, pointed to a door and said, "The guests here asked me to go in and do it."
Han Du glanced at the door and knocked three times with his fingers.
"Come in." A strong voice came from inside, and Han Du couldn't hear the feeling of familiarity.
He glanced at the steward in confusion and saw him shaking his head slightly. Apparently he didn't know when someone was here.
In this case, Han Du stretched out his hand and pushed open the door. The action was not rough. After all, they were also people who came to cheer, and those who came were guests. Since Han Du was doing business, he had to treat the guests with some kindness no matter what.
But the moment Han Du saw the room, a bitter smile suddenly appeared on his face. Before he even stepped through the door, he sighed and waved his hands, sending the two stewards away.
The steward didn't see what was going on inside the house, but since Han Du asked him to leave, it meant that he would be in trouble with his five senses from now on. He was getting what he wanted, and without any hesitation, he nodded and turned around to leave. His steps were brisk, as if Han Du would regret it.
Han Du straightened his clothes, walked in and closed the door. He walked over and bowed respectfully, "I pay my respects to the Emperor, the Queen."
The moment Han Du knelt down, he couldn't help but curse in his heart, "Lao Zhu is really getting older and younger now, and his bad taste is getting worse and worse."
Lao Zhu turned around, glanced at Han Du, and said, "You must be scolding me in your heart."
Han Du was suddenly shocked and quickly denied it: "I would never dare! The emperor's holy carriage is here, and the flowers are shining brightly. It's too late for me to be grateful. How could I have such delusional thoughts?"
Lao Zhu obviously had no intention of pursuing Han Du. Whether it was yes or no, Lao Zhu didn't care.
"Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Han Du got up from the ground.
A smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he said reproachfully: "I am stupid. I didn't know that the emperor was here. I was late to pick him up, so I asked the emperor to punish me."
Lao Zhu glanced at Han Du. What he said about punishment was just a nice word. If Han Du is really punished for such a trivial matter, then An Qing should go to the palace to bother him tomorrow.
