"What a straw boat horse borrowing plan, can't you just say it's to steal Turkic war horses?" After hearing Xiao Rui's plan, Chai Shao couldn't help laughing and scolding, "His Majesty asked you to help with the horse administration and raise horses. You'd better go with him. What I said is that if you’re not good at breeding, you can make money to buy. Now it’s even better, even buying is too slow, so just grab it instead?”
Everyone looked at Chai Shao's attitude with their hearts in their throats. Could it be that the Governor disagreed? After all, this is using Anle City as bait, which is very risky.
Xiao Rui asked slyly: "How about uncle? Do you want to take a shot! If you do it, maybe you will become an elite cavalry."
Chai Shao laughed loudly: "Do it! Of course I have to do it. Although this plan is risky, I like it. It's too risky to let you juniors act as bait. I decided to do it myself."
Pfft...absolutely not! You are not here as a bait. I am afraid that if I scare the little Khan Tuli, he will not come to attack Anle County.
After much talk, Chai Shao was finally persuaded to go back and take charge of Youzhou, while arranging supporting troops and horses.
But Chai Shaogui said: "There are three thousand soldiers and horses in Anle City. The five thousand people I secretly summoned. If we add the city defense troops deployed by Youzhou, we can gather almost eight thousand reinforcements. It should be enough. But who knows what they are?" What time will come again? If we delay for a long time, the food and grass for thousands of people will be able to bring down Youzhou."
Xiao Rui smiled, "Don't worry about this. I have already found a food supplier. We can definitely afford it this time."
oh? Is there anyone willing to provide military rations? Who has so much money?
Xiao Rui smiled and looked at Su Lie who was standing aside. Su Lie said in shock: "Me? Chang Shi, don't be ridiculous. I will be so poor that I can't even afford a house. If you hadn't come, I wouldn't have seen you in Anle City for a day." I have to be able to eat meat. How can I have money?"
The Grand Governor Chai Shao's face turned dark, and he spat and reprimanded: "Are you complaining to this governor that he is too harsh on you and does not treat you enough? You don't know that the people's livelihood in Youzhou is difficult. Who doesn't tighten their belts to get by? You I still want to eat meat every day, but I, the governor, only have one meal every other day.”
Su Lie shrank his neck and didn't dare to speak anymore. He said in his heart that I didn't mean that. Please don't transfer me out of anger. Seeing that the war was about to start, the time for meritorious service had arrived. Moreover, I have only had a few good days in Anle City, and I can’t bear to leave.
Xiao Rui tried to smooth things over: "I never thought that Youzhou would be so difficult. This is because Rui, the long history leader, has neglected his duty. After this battle, we must find a way to revitalize the agriculture, industry, and commerce in Youzhou. As the governor, my uncle can do it in one day." If I can't eat a meal of meat, won't it make the barbarians laugh at me, the Tang Dynasty? Absolutely not."
"Okay, as long as you have this filial piety. Let's talk about food and grass." Chai Shao interrupted Xiao Rui's flattery.
At this time, a guard outside shouted: "General, there is someone outside the door asking to see you."
Su Lie frowned slightly, we are discussing in secret, who is so ignorant?
When he came back from asking, he looked at Xiao Rui with a troubled expression and opened his mouth, as if he was afraid of being heard by Chai Shao.
Chai Shao raised his eyebrows, "What? What trouble did you cause behind the governor's back?"
Xiao Rui understood and asked with a smile: "Is this the Cui family from Qinghe?"
Su Lie nodded heavily.
"Cui family of Qinghe? Why are they here again? Didn't you say that we have reached an agreement with His Majesty?" Chai Shao was puzzled.
Xiao Rui said calmly: "Don't worry, uncle, the food delivery person is here."
Su Lie explained on the side: "Last time the Turks attacked, people from the chamber of commerce outside the city were robbed. Among them, people from the Cui family in Qinghe took the lead in surrendering to the enemy, so we captured a group of them. The other party came to ask for people."
What? ? ? You detained their people? Why didn't this, why wasn't it mentioned in the military newspaper? Chai Shao's face turned darker.
Xiao Rui smiled and went out: "General Su, you take uncle to visit Anle City. It's just the Cui family of Qinghe. I can do it alone. I can't make too much trouble."
"Bastard, that's the Cui family of Qinghe, can you handle it alone?" Chai Shao wanted to help, but Su Lie grabbed him, dragged him, and finally left through the back door.
Xiao Rui's words were to save Chai Shao's face. In fact, his real idea was that you guys here will delay my performance, and it will be difficult to blackmail these rich people.
Soon, the visitor from the Cui family in Qinghe was welcomed in. This time it was not only Cui Bailing, the big shopkeeper, but also a thin old man with gray hair. Looking at his face, Xiao Rui guessed that he was Cui Bailing's father.
"This is my father Cui Shouli, the third elder of the Cui clan in Qinghe." Cui Bailing introduced.
"It turns out to be the old man of the Cui family in Qinghe, Xiao Rui is polite!"
"Xiao Changshi is young and promising, and his reputation is well known. He is one of the few young talents in the Tang Dynasty. I have already heard of his fame, so there is no need to be polite."
After the two parties had finished the ceremony, Xiao Rui asked someone to serve tea, leaving the three of them alone in the living room.
Cui Bailing got straight to the point and said: "Xiao Changshi, I am here today to represent the many Anle merchants of the Five Surnames and Seven Wangs to ask for that batch of supplies. The supplies were robbed by the Turks outside the city. Thanks to the help of the Anle defenders, they took it back. We can't thank you enough and would like to remember you as a favor..."
"Wait a minute, what is inhumane is something to be said later, but we have to make it clear. We did not help recapture this batch of supplies. They were purely spoils of war for our Anle garrison. The soldiers were training outside. I don't know who leaked the news. They were captured by the Turks. People knew that the defenses of Anle City were empty, so three thousand soldiers and horses came to attack."
"Our guard, General Su, made a prompt decision, decisively led and trained the soldiers, and set up an ambush on the enemy's return journey, catching them off guard. As for the supplies these people had, they didn't know. As for where the Turks' supplies came from, Anle City didn't. Ask the Turks why."
puff……
Is this rhetoric a lie? Xiao Rui, you are also a famous person, do you want face? The ambush that was prepared in advance was described as an accidental encounter. You obviously did it on purpose. When you discovered the enemy's attack, you didn't send someone to notify Anle City to take shelter, and you just watched them fight to the city?
Cui Bailing's face turned red with anger. He didn't expect that Xiao Rui would not give face when he entered the city, but he would still use the same rhetoric to support the Anle Chamber of Commerce. Did he want to monopolize that batch of supplies? Aren't you afraid of chipping your teeth?
"Xiao Changshi, it is the duty of the Anle garrison to protect the home and the country, to protect the land and the people, and to protect the people's property. That batch was robbed by the Turks, and the Tang Dynasty officials and troops are also obliged to send troops to recover it. Are you sure you want to swallow this batch of supplies? "
Xiao Rui nodded repeatedly: "Master Cui, you are absolutely right. I completely agree. However, this batch of supplies has been included in the military merits of the battle and reported to the court. If I change my words now, won't the court say anything about us? False reporting of military exploits? No way. How about you do me a favor and count it as food and fodder to support Anle City in resisting the barbarians?"
Cui Bailing snorted coldly: "That won't work. How do you explain to the court that it's your business? If you withhold our things and use them to falsely report military exploits, we will also report it to the court and handle it according to the rules. You let us eat it last time A dumb loss, giving up the benefits of happiness to you. There will be no second time."
"For the sake of the Li Royal Family, the family promised His Majesty to let you go once. Don't push yourself too far. Since you are young, I would like to remind you that when the Li Royal Family raised troops to establish the Tang Dynasty, the Cui Family of Qinghe provided food, grass and financial support. "
oh? What's the meaning? Does it mean that you have contributed to the country? Or are you saying that you are so powerful that the Li royal family cannot afford to offend you? Xiao Rui heard two meanings.
The old man next to him, Cui Shouli, was drinking tea without any intention of interrupting. It was obvious that both father and son were quite arrogant.
Xiao Rui didn't want anyone else to pretend to be me. He raised his eyebrows and asked in a half-hearted tone: "Oh, you mean, you can provide money and food to support the civil war, but not to resist the barbarians? Haha, what a famous family. A noble family, no wonder they have been entrenched in Anle City all these years and have close contacts with the Turks."
"Last time, I suspected that you were colluding with the enemy, and was persuaded by His Majesty not to pursue the matter any further. Now it's better, are you becoming less evasive?"
Cui Bailing angrily clapped the coffee table at hand, "Shut up, you are slandering our Cui family of Qinghe! We have passed down the inheritance for hundreds of years, with generations of talented people, and a family full of loyal people. How can we allow you to slander the reputation of our Cui family of Qinghe with such bloody words?" ?”
