When Liu Qi left Jingzhou, Xia Houmao entered Nanyang with his entourage despite the dissuasion of Xia Houyuan and Zhang Liao.
The two carriages were loaded with goods. In addition to animal skins and medicinal materials from the north, they were also packed with gold nuggets. This was gained from the experience of transporting furniture last time.
In the past six months, I had resold furniture and food, and finally earned enough ransom, which was then exchanged for gold. Finally, I felt proud.
After setting foot on the familiar road again, Xia Houmao bathed in the spring breeze and hummed the tune he learned from Gong'e, feeling very proud of the spring breeze.
After making a lot of money in the Central Plains and Hebei, Xia Houmao knew the taste of food. The reason why he had to go to Jingzhou in person this time was to see what other novel ways of making money Liu Qi had come up with and to observe and learn from them.
Of course, there is also the private house and the black pearl looking out from the door!
When the carriage arrived at Fancheng, Xia Houlan and others were waiting for him. Next to him was a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy with red lips and white teeth. He was Ma Su, the youngest member of the Wuchang family of the Ma family.
Before Ma Su became an official, he often followed his brother Ma Liang in and out of government offices. Xu Shu found that this talented person was quick-thinking and could handle arguments calmly, so he took him to Yanfeng Camp to train him if he was suitable for managing intelligence.
Xia Houlan was once the deputy general of Xiahou Dun, and the two of them were familiar with each other. He clasped his fists and said, "General Liu was very uneasy when there was an accident in Xiangjiang last time. This time, I have been specially ordered to receive the young master as if he were in Xuchang."
Xia Houmao said with a sullen face: "Xia Houlan, tell me the truth, the shipwreck of Zhang Wei and Xiangjiang was all Liu Qi's plan?"
"Why did the young master say this?" We have to let this matter go. Even if Zhang Wei dies without any evidence, those carts of gold are genuine. If it was designed by General Liu, how could he give up so much gold?"
"That's true!" Xia Houmao nodded slightly. With Liu Qi's love for money as much as his life, how could he be willing to let three thousand taels of gold sink into the river?
It seems that the Prime Minister also made mistakes sometimes. How can I, Xiahou Mao, be so easily deceived?
After feeling a little more balanced, he asked, "Is General Liu at home?"
Xia Houlan said: "The general married the Sun family and has gone to Jiangdong."
"Could it be that you went to Jiangdong to help in the war?" Xia Houmao snorted slightly.
But he didn't care. His old father-in-law was proficient in military strategy. With him personally leading the army, no one in the world could stop him. It would be in vain for Liu Qi to join him.
Then he asked: "What about my Qingzhi Sword?"
Xia Houlan said with a smile: "Don't worry, young master, the sword and the written documents are all in Xiangyang. The general told me to wait for Haosheng to receive me before he left. All expenses will be recorded in his account."
"That's pretty much it!" Xia Houmao felt that Liu Qi still valued him, so he curled his lips and said, "But he used my Qingzhi Sword to sneak attack Wuguan. This debt still needs to be settled!"
Xia Houlan smiled apologetically and said, "I'm sure. When the general returns from Jiangdong, I will give you an explanation!"
Xia Houmao waved his hand: "Okay, the gold I brought here is in this vehicle. Just count it here to avoid another accident when crossing the river."
The last incident in Xiangjiang left Xia Houmao still frightened. He even felt trembling while riding on the boat.
Xia Houlan said with a smile: "Master, you are too worried! The shipwreck in the Xiangjiang River last time had a great impact and alerted General Liu to come to inspect it personally. Later, after everyone brainstormed, the problem has now been solved. Not to mention pedestrians, even vehicles can pass safely. No more worries about wind and waves.”
"Huh?" Xia Houmao frowned, "The Han River is vast. In just a few months, can Jingzhou still build a bridge?"
Xia Houlan smiled and said, "Young master, you will know what you are doing when you reach the riverside."
Xia Houmao was curious, and everyone came to the dock together. They saw a row of large and small boats on the Han River, forming a pontoon bridge from north to south.
The big ships are connected by iron cables, and there is a wooden bridge between the small ships, which is more than two feet wide. There are pedestrians, carriages and horses passing by on it. Although it is slightly undulating, it is very stable.
"How wonderful!" Xia Houmao looked at it for a moment, patted his thigh and said with a smile, "Mom no longer has to worry about me taking the boat."
During this trip, Xia Houmao's mother repeatedly warned him to exchange his sword in Nanyang before returning, and not to cross the river by boat. After hearing about the last danger, the old man was so frightened that he could not sleep well for several days.
Xia Houlan said: "In fact, there are not a few people from the north of Jingzhou. In order to facilitate communication with Nanyang, General Liu moved the retired warships from the navy to this place and built pontoon bridges. Since then, the north and south natural chasms have been opened up, and the people all praise it."
"This General Liu... General Liu can always come up with something new!" Xia Houmao sighed with emotion and ordered his entourage to drive on board the ship and rush to Xiangyang.
Along the way, Xiahoulan asked about the affairs of Jingzhou. Xiahoulan felt ashamed of Xiahoudun and was very respectful to Xiahoumao, telling him everything he knew.
"Second uncle, dare you say that my coming to Jingzhou is of no use?" Xia Houmao was secretly proud of having obtained a lot of important information, thinking about showing off in front of Xia Houyuan when he returned.
When the carriage and horses arrived in Xiangyang, they first counted the belongings and retrieved the sword and documents. Xiahou Mao asked his entourage to take them back to the village to wait, and then he couldn't wait to rush to Shuiyunjian.
Xia Houlan asked doubtfully: "Master, don't you go back to the village to rest?"
"Why are you in a hurry? I'll go first to see if there are any new ones... ahem," Xiahou Mao said seriously, clasping his hands behind his back, "I'm here mainly to see if there are any new business opportunities in Xiangyang. I want to eat the grilled fish from Shuiyunjian." Got it!"
Xia Houlan smiled knowingly, accompanied Xia Houmao to Shuiyunjian, ordered some barbecue, and left voluntarily.
In a very private room in the backyard of Shuiyunjian, Zhang Song was sleepy-eyed, looking at the shiny and graceful bodies on the left and right, one white and one black, with a complicated expression.
He originally planned to go to Xuchang to meet the emperor and ask Cao Cao to send troops to attack Zhang Lu, but Liu Qi secretly invited him to Xiangyang.
It happened that Cao Cao had already gone to Huainan, and Zhang Song thought that it would be useless to think of Xuchang. It would be better to wait here for a while and take a look at what is so surprising about Liu Qi.
Unexpectedly, he met Pang Tongtong and became very familiar with him. He drank and got drunk, and couldn't resist his hospitality. He fell into this gentle countryside and didn't realize that seven or eight days had passed.
You must know that Zhang Song was born ugly and was laughed at by others since he was a child. He even shunned women when they saw him, even his wives and concubines disliked him. How could he have ever truly tasted the hospitality of a woman?
In a drunken dream, he was placed among the water and clouds, and he has been unable to extricate himself since then!
When setting off, boasting about Haikou to Liu Zhang and the civil and military forces would surely persuade Cao Jun to send troops. However, there was chaos in Guanzhong at this time, and they were delayed in Xiangyang for too long. How could they get back on track after returning?
"Oh, it's all because of drinking and sex!" Zhang Song patted his forehead regretfully and sighed: "I will quit drinking from now on!"
When I was thinking hard and couldn't do anything, I heard the old bustard knocking on the secret door hurriedly and urging: "Sir, get up quickly, there are distinguished guests arriving today, and I want Mo Lian to accompany me."
Zhang Song glanced at the sleeping dark-skinned woman and said displeasedly: "How come this distinguished guest can be more expensive than me?"
When he arrived in Jingzhou, Liu Qi was treated as an honored guest, and Pang Tong secretly arranged it. Who dared to disturb him?
