Liu Qi's words made everyone stunned, including Xu Shu and Gan Ning.
Just now he was having a heated discussion on how to deal with the enemy, and suddenly he turned into a shrewd businessman?
Zhuge Jin hurriedly said: "General Liu is joking. The alliance to fight Cao Cao is a matter between two families. The general will become the son-in-law of Soochow. Isn't this a big mistake?"
Liu Qi, however, looked serious: "As the saying goes: Brothers will settle accounts! Did we have an agreement when we came here to discuss business? Otherwise, even if I agree, it will be difficult for my father to explain! I have given up 10% of the price, which is already in view. It’s for the sake of the two families getting married.”
Zhuge Jin laughed dryly, and Lu Su also pouted secretly. Who didn't know that Liu Biao had already ignored the affairs of Jingzhou? This is obviously an excuse.
Zhou Yu's eyes were also slightly glaring. Liu Qi was indeed as rumored. He was blinded by money and recognized money but not people.
After thinking for a while, he said: "The army is still short of 50,000 arrows. I wonder when the general will prepare them all? If it takes more than half a month, I, Jiangdong, can make most of them, so why buy arrows?"
Liu Qi slowly stretched out three fingers.
"Three days?" Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and said coldly: "There is no joke in the army. What if there are no arrows in three days?"
Liu Qi said: "Without arrows for three days, I and the other generals will attack Ruxu first. We will defeat the enemy even to the death."
Zhou Yu was secretly happy in his heart, clasped his fists and said: "Okay, let's make this agreement: If we prepare fifty thousand arrows in three days, I, the people from Jiangdong, will send out the entire army to defeat Cao's thieves together with the general."
Zhuge Jin hurriedly said: "General, this matter is not trivial. If the battle is delayed due to temporary anger, how can we reply to the Marquis of Wu?"
Liu Qi smiled and said: "Military orders are like mountains. The governor and I have established a military order and written a letter of agreement. When the time comes, we will have written evidence to prove it and it will not cause any difficulties to you."
"Okay!" Zhou Yu was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to prepare pen and ink to write down military orders and receipts for purchasing arrows.
Liu Qi added: "Although fifty thousand arrows are not worth much, they are still around one million. It's not that I can't trust the governor. This matter is not military after all, and someone needs to be a guarantee!"
Zhou Yu snorted slightly and looked at Lu Su: "Please trouble Zijing to be your guarantor!"
Liu Qi smiled and said: "Mr. Lu is the perfect guarantee. I heard that Ming Gong asked me to donate grain to help the governor. How generous? A small amount of money is naturally not a problem."
Lu Su had no choice but to sign and stamp the document. The two parties agreed to prepare arrows and attack Ruxu ten days later, and each went to prepare.
After Liu Qi left, Lu Su stamped his feet and said: "The governor made a bet with Liu Qi, why did he drag Lu Su with him? If the Marquis of Wu is really unwilling to pay by then, why can't he ask me to pay for it myself?"
Zhou Yu sneered: "It will take at least half a month to make 50,000 arrows. It must be because Liu Qi usually ignores military affairs and talks nonsense. I just saw the surprised expressions on Xu Shu and Liu Pan's faces, so I knew that there were not many arrows in his army." Arrow, so I agreed to it first. Even if it is transported from Jiangxia nearby, it will take at least ten days. I am asking Liu Qi to attack Ruxu first and then advance to reduce the damage to the Wu army."
Lu Su breathed a sigh of relief and said, stroking his beard: "It turns out that the governor's method of stimulating generals has been completed!"
Zhou Yu said with a smile: "After all, Liu Qi is young and energetic, and he likes to protect his shortcomings. Just now he stood up for Gan Xingba, and he will surely suffer the consequences."
Lu Xun had been fighting beside him for a long time, and suddenly said: "I don't think Liu Qi is a gullible person. What he just said is true, and he may be relied on. The governor needs to be on guard."
"Huh?" Zhou Yu's eyes gleamed slightly and he smiled again: "Even if Liu Qi really has 50,000 arrows, he can just help me defeat Cao Cao. The money will be allocated from the military ration money."
Lu Su nodded and said, "What the Governor said makes sense. Regardless of whether Liu Qi has arrows or not, it will be beneficial and harmless to me, Jiangdong."
Zhou Yu laughed proudly. This was a sure-profit deal. He ordered the three armies to prepare for battle and asked Zhuge Jin to inquire about the news.
Liu Qi and everyone returned to the tent. Gan Ning said anxiously: "The general doesn't know something. I only brought 10,000 arrows here just in case. It's not enough."
Xu Shu said worriedly: "Even if there is a workshop, it will take ten days to work day and night. What's more, we are far away in a foreign country? The general has been hasty this time!"
Liu Qi smiled and said: "Don't panic, everyone. Since I dare to bet with Zhou Yu, I am naturally confident. Someone will come to deliver the arrow. This is a sure-fire deal."
Gan Ning wondered: "This place is far away from Jiangxia, who else can send arrows?"
"Far away in the horizon, close in front of you!" Liu Qi smiled mysteriously and told everyone to prepare for war, leaving Liu Pan alone to discuss.
Liu Pan was also very worried and said: "Dalang, there are no arrows in the army. If we fail to deliver them in time, wouldn't it cost the lives of all the soldiers?"
Liu Qi said: "Since I dare to agree to Zhou Yu, I naturally have a way to deal with it. It is up to you to prepare this matter yourself. You can send people to cut down trees and make arrows openly, and act according to my instructions secretly."
Liu Pan nodded and said, "Just ask me, sir."
Liu Qi said: "You need to prepare wooden stakes and bundles of grass to make straw figures. At least two thousand, of course, the more the better. In addition, prepare five hundred straw mats. Will two days be enough?"
Liu Pan thought for a while, nodded and said: "Working overnight, two days is enough, but what does this have to do with getting the arrows?"
"It's not taking, it's borrowing!" Liu Qi patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Just go and prepare, I will make a magic use of it."
Although Liu Pan was puzzled, he had great trust in Liu Qi since he got rid of Cai Mao, and he obeyed his words and went to prepare.
In fact, Liu Qi wanted to use a straw boat to borrow arrows. During this period, he observed the wet terrain. It was the turn of spring and summer, and the valley was filled with thick fog in the morning and evening.
Zhou Yu also tried to take advantage of the heavy fog to sneak attack Ruxu, but Cao Jun was prepared for it. He set up fishing nets within three miles of the water village and hung them with bells. As long as the ship was approaching, he would immediately notice it.
Although this move is very effective in preventing sneak attacks, it is also a good use for Liu Qi. Zhou Yu used the lack of arrows as an excuse. Isn't this a deal?
While he was making plans, Zhuge Jin also came to inquire and expressed concern, but Liu Qi just laughed and asked him to deliver the half-month's food and grass as soon as possible.
Zhuge Jin didn't ask the reason and was about to leave, but Liu Qi asked: "Just now, all the generals were competing for merit, but Lu Xun didn't say a word. I wonder what his high opinion is?"
Zhuge Jin smiled and said: "Lu Boyan is a scribe. He only does political documents. How can he strive for credit? But he just said that since the general dared to establish written evidence, he must be sure. It is really curious, so I came here to ask."
Liu Qi waved his hand and said with a smile: "How can I be sure? I just have a chance to make money, so I want to give it a try. Anyway, we are both trying to defeat Cao Cao, so what does it matter whether we win or lose?"
"What the general said is absolutely true!" Zhuge Jin nodded in agreement and left.
He told Zhou Yu and Lu Su, who both laughed at Liu Qi for talking about business in the army. In fact, there was no distinction between priorities. I am afraid that this person's victory over Cao Cao in Nanyang was all due to Wolong and Fengchu.
Liu Qi sat alone in the tent, looking at the tent door with a melancholy look on his face. All the generals in Soochow were angered by Gan Ning just now, including Zhou Yu. Only Lu Xun looked calm and stood motionless. He was worthy of being a commander-in-chief.
Although this guy has not attracted Sun Quan's attention and was only temporarily promoted to join the army by Zhou Yu, he is the head of the Lu family and Sun Ce's son-in-law. No matter how big a hoe is, he can't dig it out!
It's like a knowledgeable person seeing a rare treasure, but it's just a decoration in someone else's house, and he can't get his hands on it. It's more uncomfortable than a hundred claws scratching his heart.
