Chapter 20: Horse Trading
"If you have something to say, you don't have to be polite." Lu Bu said with a smile.
"Brother Fengxian, I look at the elite cavalry in the Bingzhou army and yearn for it. I want to form a cavalry, but there are few horses in the south. I wonder if Fengxian can sell some war horses?" Sun Jian stared at Lu Bu with a bright look.
Cavalry is a powerful weapon on the battlefield. With cavalry, the army can obtain the enemy's movements faster and earlier. Since last time he saw the style of the Bingzhou cavalry, he has been preparing to collect all the war horses in the general and train them day and night, but the effect is not ideal. There is still a big gap between the war horses in the Central Plains and the war horses in Bingliang and other places.
Even if there are war horses, there is still a big gap in their cavalry. The formation of a cavalry is not a matter of overnight success. It requires cavalry to have good horse control skills and be able to complete various actions on war horses, otherwise they will become infantry riding on horses.
"Wentai, I won't go around the circle anymore. I can fight horses, but I need to exchange materials of the same value for food, grass, iron, and money."
"Fengxian is indeed a cheerful person, but the army went on a war, and there was insufficient food and grass, so it was difficult to get all together for a while." Sun Jian's joy also turned into loneliness.
"It's okay, I can fund 500 horses in Wentai first, just in terms of price?" There are still excess war horses in the Bingzhou army. Although they were eliminated, they are also excellent horses for the princes in the Central Plains.
"Thank you Fengxian." Sun Jian said gratefully.
"You and my brother, a horse, I count you four thousand coins." Lu Bu patted Sun Jian on the shoulder and said.
"Four thousand?" Sun Jian grinned. Four thousand was the price of forty stones. A family of three could eat for a year. A war horse requires three stones of food every month. In addition, feeding a war horse is equivalent to raising two soldiers.
"A word is determined." Sun Jian gritted his teeth and agreed. The price of 4,000 yuan was no longer high. Someone among the princes might be rushing to ask for it. It was already a great enthusiasm to sell it to him. He had hit a wall with Ma Teng and Gongsun Zan before. The princes of the Central Plains guarded against the princes of the frontier, and the princes on the frontier were not fools.
"Five hundred war horses, I will send General Cao to Wentai tomorrow at the latest." Lu Bu was also a little happy to have a business. Bingzhou has no shortage of war horses, but what is lacking is food and grass. Developing a state is not enough for a passion. Only with soldiers and food can one have the right to speak.
"Brother Fengxian, our army lacks war horses and the soldiers' cavalry skills are a bit weak. Can we send cavalry to teach?" Sun Jian asked expectantly.
"Yes." Lu Bu agreed readily. As long as the stirrups are not exposed, the Bingzhou cavalry will have a great advantage among the princes.
After leaving the Bingzhou military camp, Sun Jian was also full of fighting spirit. He seemed to have seen the scene of cavalry sweeping across the battlefield.
Dong Zhuo, who was still unsatisfied with the levy, dug up the tombs buried by emperors of all dynasties, loaded with gold, silver and jewelry one after another, and before leaving, a fire burned the century-old capital.
At this time, under the "violent" offensive of the Allies, the Hulao Pass General surrendered after receiving the news that Dong Zhuo abandoned Luoyang.
When the Allies arrived at the city of Luoyang, the fire was still not extinguished and the village was deserted. Yuan Shao had no choice but to order the army to station in the wasteland.
As the pioneer, Sun Jian went to Luoyang to put out the fire.
Yuan Shao, who felt that he had made great contributions, began to think a lot. Although Luoyang City was burned by fire, he was still the number one person in the world, unparalleled. Such a merit and reputation were enough to shine the family. What's wrong with the concubine's son? He had to tell the people of the Yuan family with his actions that he was the number one person in the Yuan family.
"Leader, now Dong Zhuo is holding the emperor to the west, and the army is taking advantage of the victory to pursue him. The leader of the alliance remains unmoved. Why is it?" Cao Cao said anxiously with anger.
The princes in the tent stopped praising each other and turned their attention to Yuan Shao. At this time, as long as Yuan Shao gave the order, the princes had to advance to pursue.
"Meng De, the princes' troops fought for several days, and they were already scarce and lacking in horses. It was useless to pursue Dong's thief." Yuan Shao comforted.
Cao Cao snorted coldly: "The Dong thief burned Luoyang and robbed the emperor. The world was shaken and he didn't know where to go. This was when the heavens were dead. One battle could determine the world. Why did he hesitate to move forward?"
"Meng De, the three armies are tired, don't move rashly." Yuan Shu persuaded, and the other princes advised him one after another.
Cao Cao was furious and said, "The prince is not enough to make a plan." After saying that, he left with his sleeves and led more than 10,000 troops under his command to chase Dong Zhuo at night.
Lu Bu shook his head, then walked out of the tent of the princes, ordered the troops and soldiers, and all the way, Cheng Lian led the troops and wounded soldiers in the army to set out towards Bingzhou in advance.
The next day, he led the remaining 7,000 soldiers with Cao's army. He did not plan to come back in this battle regardless of the outcome. The coalition of princes was already in name only. Dong Zhuo is now the richest man in the world. As long as he operates properly and has Li Su's support, he will rob him and have money and the development of Bingzhou will be no empty talk.
Let’s talk about Dong Zhuo’s journey to Xingyang, and the prefect Xu Rong went out to greet him. Li Rudao said: “The prime minister abandoned Luoyang. In order to prevent the princes from pursuing the soldiers, he could teach Xu Rong to ambush the soldiers outside Xingyang City. If there were pursuers, he could let them go. When I defeat the enemy here, then intercept them and kill them. It would definitely make the princes panic and dare not send troops to pursue them.”
Dong Zhuo followed Li Ru's advice and ordered Hua Xiong to lead 10,000 elite troops behind him, just waiting for the princes' army to arrive.
"The officials are willing to stay behind to cut off the rear." Li Su stepped out.
"Okay, Wei Gong led 5,000 elite soldiers to assist General Niu to transport food, grass and supplies." Dong Zhuo's trust in Niu Fu was naturally not comparable to that of Li Su, and he didn't care about Li Su's request for battle.
Cao Cao led the army to chase after him overnight, and the scouts sent out batch after batch, and what they got was basically suffering from the people. The news of Dong Jun's atrocities was very angry and kept scolding Yuan Shao and others.
"Start up the marching and be sure to catch up with the old thief Dong Zhuo." Cao Cao urged.
"Lord, the old thief Dong Zhuo is all elite under his command, and our army has only ten thousand people. Be careful." Cao Ren advised.
"The emperor is in trouble, as a minister, how can we retreat?" Cao Cao said firmly.
Seeing this, the generals of Cao's army were not good to persuade him again, so they could only keep urging the troops to advance.
After chasing him overnight, Cao's army was trapped and horses were exhausted. Suddenly, drums were heard in front of him. Hua Xiong led his troops out suddenly. Cao Cao's front army could not resist and was defeated.
Hua Xiong laughed and said, "It's not as expected by Lord Li, there are indeed princes pursuing their troops and kill them with me!"
Cao Cao drove out his horse and cursed: "The traitor will rob the emperor and move the people, and they will be captured if they don't get off the horse. Otherwise, the army will be destroyed when you arrive."
Hua Xiong cursed: "You have no cowards, dare to fight me!"
Xiahou Dun jumped into the horse and speared his gun and killed Hua Xiong. The two fought together, no matter how they won or lost. Suddenly, the sound of a shocking drum sounded on the left. Li Jue led the army and came from the left.
Chapter completed!