Xuanyuan Chong asked Qin Xiao to help the court recruit people, and Qin Xiao did not delay. He asked Gu Baiyi to write a note and sent someone to Kyoto immediately.

Although he knew that the saint would most likely allow the recruitment of troops and even the Black Mountain bandits, Qin Xiao did not act rashly until the decree arrived. He simply asked Yuwen Chengchao to lead his troops to camp at the foot of the mountain, and cooperated with Xuanyuan to put pressure on Baimuzhai.

He knew that Xuanyuan Chong was a smart man. Although he didn't say it directly last time, his meaning was very clear. When the imperial decree arrived, he must ensure that the entire Black Mountain could surrender. In this way, the problem of Baimuzhai must also be resolved before the decree arrives.

resolved before.

But over and over again, the recruitment decree will take at least a month to be issued.

Qin Xiao has not yet waited for the decree, but a special guest has arrived.

Inside the big tent, it was as warm as spring. Qin Xiao looked at the middle-aged man in front of him with a smile, and said with a smile: "I really didn't expect that Mr. Ximen would actually go out in person. You are from the south, and the climate here may not be the best."

Is it a great adaptation?"

The visitor turned out to be Ximen Hao, a horse dealer whom Qin Xiao met in Hangzhou.

Although Ximen Hao is not one of the seven surnames in Jiangnan, he is still a very famous figure in Jiangnan. The biggest business of the Ximen family is the tea and horse business. The reason why he became a wealthy businessman in Hangzhou is actually relying on the horse business with various grassland tribes.

In the early years, the business was booming and they made a lot of money. However, since the horse ban was implemented in the grassland, the tea and horse business could not be conducted openly, which also caused a big blow to the Ximen family.

But after all, they are horse traders with deep roots. The Ximen family has been trading with various tribes on the grassland for many years. They have deep connections on the grassland and there are still many opportunities for private trade. After all, the horse ban has harmed the interests of many tribes. Although the tribes do not

He dared to trade openly with Tang Dynasty merchants, but he would still look for opportunities secretly.

"The general has an order, how dare I delay?" Ximen Hao was grateful to Qin Xiao. If Qin Xiao hadn't turned things around in Hangzhou, the Ximen family would have been completely wiped out. With such a deep kindness, Ximen Hao naturally remembered it in his heart, with a look on his face.

He said respectfully: "After receiving the general's letter, the villain immediately completed the matters at hand, prepared a batch of goods, organized a caravan, and currently asked them to wait in Pingcheng, Liaoxi County."

Qin Xiao nodded and asked, "How is the situation over there in Jiangnan?"

"The imperial court mobilized troops from Jianghuai to garrison." Ximen Hao said: "They did not disturb the people, but I heard that a group of officials will be replaced next. I don't know the specific situation yet."

Qin Xiao thought that as long as Jiangnan was peaceful and peaceful, everything would be fine. After all, his military supplies had to be transported from Jiangnan. Under this situation, he was more worried than anyone else about the recurrence of chaos in Jiangnan.

Ximen Haodao: "General, you said in your letter that you want to trade horses with the grassland, and you also said that you want the caravan to wait in Liaoxi County. If the villain is not wrong, does the general want to trade privately with the Zhenyu tribe?"

"That's right." Qin Xiao naturally stopped hiding it: "You also know that if the imperial court wants to train troops here, it must have a supply of war horses. However, the Liaodong Army controls the horse source in the entire Northeast, and I have no horses available. The imperial court keeps them.

We have to supply the four northern towns and the southern army with war horses. Even so, we are still stretched thin, so we are unable to ask Long Rui’s army. Under such circumstances, we can only rely on ourselves and find reliable sources of horses."

Ximen Hao nodded and said: "General, there are no less than fifty or sixty tribes in the grasslands, large and small. There are some tribes in Monan that raise very fine war horses, and there are a lot of them. However, they have either been annexed by the Du'er army, or they have long since become

The subordinates of the Duer Husband are obedient to the orders of the Duer Husband, and it is difficult to obtain horses from them. Our business in Monan has been very unsatisfactory in the past few years. We rely on some daring officials from various ministries to trade secretly.

The amount of each trade is small, which is better than nothing. Currently, we still have our own right to speak on the grassland, and there are only a few people who maintain a large number of war horses, and this Zhen Yubu is one of the best."

"I also heard that the war horses of the Zhenyu tribe are second to none on the grassland." Qin Xiao said: "The Zhenyu tribe is one of the three tribes of Xile. It has been attacked by the other two tribes of Xile. It has been able to support itself until now.

Because they have extraordinary methods of raising horses."

Ximen Hao smiled and said: "The Zhenyu tribe's horse-raising skills are indeed outstanding. They control the Zhenyu grassland and have seven or eight horse farms. The largest horse farm is said to have tens of thousands of war horses, but these horse farms are all

It is the forbidden area of ​​the Zhenyu tribe, and outsiders cannot take a step beyond it." He leaned forward slightly and said softly: "Every horse farm is heavily guarded, and a Tutun commander is assigned to take charge. Before the horse ban order was issued on the grassland,

I also had a lot of trade dealings with the True Feather Tribe. After the horse ban was implemented, the True Feather Tribe was under pressure from the Duer Husband and did not dare to trade with us anymore. However, we had friendship with a Tutun man named Chiroge.

Yes, I have secretly done some business with Chiroge in recent years, and I can buy two to three hundred war horses from him every year."

"Is this Chirogg the official in charge of the racecourse?"

"Yes." Ximen Hao said: "He is responsible for leading the troops to guard the racecourse. He secretly transfers some from the racecourse. The quantity is not large, and no one is aware of it. Moreover, he can sell it at a good price by trading with us. As long as he is not discovered by others, it will naturally be

Everyone is happy. In fact, this situation exists in every racecourse, but as long as the number is not large, even if the people above the True Feather Department find out, they will turn a blind eye." He frowned and said, "But the trouble is

Bohai people, Bohai people have also used trade in the name of trade in recent years. Many Bohai merchants went to the grasslands and secretly traded horses with various tribes. These tribes did not dare to trade war horses in large numbers. The number of horses secretly traded was limited, and the Bohai people ate them.

A batch, we only have one less coat here."

Qin Xiaowei nodded and said: "Mr. Ximen, I will help you this time and take me to the True Feather Department."

Although Ximen Hao knew that Qin Xiao wanted to buy horses from the grassland, he did not expect that Qin Xiao would go there in person. His expression changed immediately and he lost his voice: "General... General wants to go there in person?"

"Long Ruijun wants to train cavalry. There is no other way but to obtain horses from Zhenyu." Qin Xiao said solemnly: "I know it is not easy to buy horses from them, but I went there this time because I wanted to

Let’s see if there is a chance to meet with the leaders of the True Feather Tribe, and if possible, we can even reach some feasible agreements with them directly.”

Ximen Hao said worriedly: "General, please forgive me for speaking frankly. You are of noble status. The so-called gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall. The grassland tribes are uncivilized and capricious. Even if we have done trade with them for decades, we will not be able to do it."

I have never really trusted them. If you go there in person, just in case...!"

"It doesn't matter." Qin Xiao said with a smile: "My identity during this trip will be kept secret, and no one else will know except you. And there is a saying that goes well, if you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't get the tiger's cubs. If you want to get a war horse, always

Take some risks."

Ximen Hao was still worried and shook his head and said: "General, I dare to say that if you want to do business with the Zhenyu Department, you don't have to do it yourself. You can send a trustworthy subordinate there."

"I grew up in Xiling, and I have come into contact with many barbarians." Qin Xiao said seriously: "Their culture is indeed different from ours. We cannot trust them, and they will not easily trust us either. If both sides want to gain mutual understanding, they must

We must be honest with each other. The Zhenyu tribe is a large tribe in Modong. It is said that there are hundreds of thousands of people. If you want to interact with such a tribe and even gain their trust to reach an agreement, you only send one trusted subordinate to contact you.

Gaining their trust may even make them feel that we are contemptuous of them."

Ximen Hao nodded slightly, knowing that Qin Xiao's words made sense.

"The time is not ripe, I will not reveal my identity." Qin Xiao said with a smile: "Don't worry, Mr. Ximen, I also want to get familiar with the environment there during this trip to the grassland. If there is a chance, it will be better, but if it doesn't work out, just take it as a

Take a walk around the grassland.”

Seeing Qin Xiao's persistence, Ximen Hao knew that Qin Xiao had made up his mind, so he could only say: "When will the general prepare to leave?"

"You can leave at any time." Qin Xiao said: "I will explain the matters here, and we can leave the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Ximen Hao said softly: "In order to avoid being noticed, I came here in disguise this time. It is very secret and no one knows. If the general is determined to go in person, we can leave the day after tomorrow, but the weather is cold...

!”

"Mr. Ximen, a southerner, can still come to see you in such a cold season. How can I not resist the cold?" Qin Xiao smiled and said: "I will arrange for Mr. to stay first and wait for two days."

After setting up Ximen Hao, Qin Xiao went directly to Gu Baiyi's tent. Although it was already late at night, Gu Baiyi was still reading under the lamp. When he saw Qin Xiao coming in, he put down the book and asked, "Have you made up your mind?"

When Ximen Hao arrived at the military camp, Qin Xiao had already explained Ximen Hao's identity to Gu Baiyi, and revealed that he would go to the grassland in person. Gu Baiyi didn't say much at that time. When Gu Baiyi asked, Qin Xiao nodded.

He said: "If you don't go this time, don't worry, brother."

"Actually, I'm not worried." Gu Baiyi said with a smile: "Since you have already decided, naturally you are sure." After a pause, he said: "But it is not easy to convince the Zhenyu tribe. The grassland tribes have always been hostile to us Tang people.

They are biased and think that we are too cunning. To gain their trust, we naturally have to be sincere, but just gaining their trust is not enough. Trusting you does not mean that you will definitely provide us with war horses."

Qin Xiao nodded slightly and said: "The True Yu tribe is surrounded by enemies on three sides and is in a very dangerous situation. I think they also hope to have an ally."

"In their eyes, our threat is no weaker than the enemies on the other three sides." Gu Baiyi smiled and said: "How to make them believe that we sincerely ally with them is not an easy task. During the trip to the grassland, you will do your best, but after hearing

That Zhenyu Khan is also a wise man, and even if you fail to reach an agreement with him in the end, he will not harm you."

Qin Xiao smiled and said: "Brother, I leave this to you and the eldest young master."

Gu Baiyi nodded slightly and asked, "How many people are you planning to take?"

"Naturally, the less the better." Qin Xiao said: "Lu Xiaolou has been to the grassland, so let him take a few brothers with him to ensure that there is no danger."

Last time, Lu Xiaolou took the initiative to ask for help, claiming that he could be a guide for Qin Xiao. Although the Ximen family's caravan was already a guide, having Lu Xiaolou by his side was still a bit of a help.

Qin Xiao is naturally completely relieved that Long Rui's army is left to Gu Baiyi. Qin Xiao is a very self-aware person. He knows that he is really not as good as Gu Baiyi in commanding troops. With Gu Baiyi staying behind, it can be said that he is
Chapter completed!