There is a Hu market more than 20 miles northeast of Jicheng, the place is not big, only more than 200 steps. The city is set up temporarily, so there is no city wall and no market shop, and it is basically stacked freely. The Hu people also did not have any fine goods, most of them were some leather goods, mountain goods, and some horses.

Liu Bei was particularly concerned about horses. Zhao Yun brought more than 500 horsemen, and the consumption of war horses became a factor he had to consider. Five hundred cavalry required at least six hundred horses, and this number needed to be further increased if the attrition and battle losses of the rapid march were taken into account. If he could have a thousand war horses, he would be able to guarantee the combat effectiveness of these five hundred knights.

After a little glance, Liu Bei was a little disappointed. Although there are horses in Hu City, they are not good horses, only 30% of them are combat horses, and most of the rest are ordinary riding horses, and some can only pull carts. Liu Bei asked Xian Yufu about the price of these horses, Xian Yufu hesitated, and said after a while that the price of these horses is not low, the good ones cost five or six thousand, and the bad ones cost three or four thousand. However, in order to encourage trading, Hu Shi does not charge taxes.

Xian Yufu said it very vaguely, but Liu Bei understood. These Hu markets are all appeased by the Hu people, which is equivalent to sending money.

Liu Yu was in Hu City, standing and talking with several Wuhuan people. He was tall and thin, gray-haired, and dressed in a cloth garment, a little more modest than the merchants of the city. Knowing that Liu Bei was coming from Chang'an, he immediately asked about the envoys he sent to Chang'an, Tian Chou and Xian Yuyin. Liu Bei was very surprised, he had not been in Chang'an for a short time, and Zhang Fei also competed with many people, but he had not heard of Tian Shou and Xian Yuyin.

Liu Yu didn't ask again, and then invited Liu Bei to sit in the tent that was used as a public party and took the edict. He held the edict in his hand and sighed for a long time. Xian Yufu conveyed to Liu Yu what Liu Bei had just said on the road, and Liu Bei also expressed his attitude again, willing to assist Liu Yu to dissuade Gongsun Zhan and restore stability in Youzhou, and took the initiative to ask Ying, willing to go to Zhuojun to meet Gongsun Zhan and convey the imperial edict.

Liu Yu expressed his gratitude, and asked Xian Yufu to send Liu Bei to the post house to rest, and set off tomorrow to see Gongsun Zan in Zhuo County.

Liu Bei felt Liu Yu's perfunctory, but he was helpless, so he had to take advantage of Xian Yufu to send him out, and once again expressed his sincerity to Xian Yufu and asked him to convey it on his behalf. Xian Yufu sent Liu Bei away, returned to Liu Yu's side, and asked Liu Yu about Liu Bei's impression.

Liu Yu thought for a long time. "Yuan Bi, you know that my son Liu He was detained by Yuan Shao in Yecheng."

Xian Yufu nodded. "You know, Yuan Shao still refuses to let him come back?"

"I'm not going to talk about this now, I'm talking about Liu Bei. Although the dog couldn't get out, he often wrote to him, and he once mentioned Liu Bei. Within a year, Liu Bei attached Tao Qian, returned to Yuan Shao, and demoted Sun Ce, several times, I am afraid this person can't believe it. ”

Liu Yu told him what he knew. Liu Bei came here to mediate the conflict between him and Gongsun Zhan, so Liu Bei's statement didn't explain anything. But Liu Bei and Gongsun Zhan are the same family, and he doesn't believe Liu Bei's initiative to show goodwill.

Xian Yufu frowned and didn't speak for a long time. He didn't know much about Liu Bei, and if Liu Yu didn't say it, he really didn't know about these situations. He pondered carefully for a while, and then persuaded: "Envoy, I think that's exactly the case, Liu Bei can be used." He carried Gongsun Chan in front, and now even if he wants to return to Gongsun Chan's command, with Gongsun Chan's character, I am afraid he will not be able to accept it. If he wants to gain a firm foothold in Youzhou, he can only advance and retreat with the envoy. ”

Liu Yu smiled bitterly: "I know he is available, I am just worried that he is unreliable." What if he defects? ”

"I thought it wasn't likely."

"Why?"

"If you want to know his people, first look at his friends. Zhao Yun is a native of Changshan, he can gather five or six hundred horsemen, and the whole family follows Liu Bei, Liu Bei must have merit. Looking at Liu Bei's previous behavior, it is true that he has a disease that is lighter than going away, but he has a humble background and is eager to make contributions, although Gongsun Chan is his fellow brother, but he is under Tian Kai, which shows that there is no intention of reuse. Although Tao Qian benefited his soldiers, he just used him as an eagle dog. Yuan Shaogaomen, I'm afraid he won't take Liu Bei seriously. Liu Bei's surrender to Sun Ce was a defeat, not a defection, and it should not be regarded as the same. Looking at what Liu Bei did, even if there are small sections, there is no great evil. Now is the time to employ people, if Liu Bei can serve the king, it is also the desire of the people, and it is beneficial to the king. ”

Liu Yu stroked his beard and muttered for a long time, feeling that Xian Yufu had some sense. Liu Bei's identity is special, whether he is real or fake, it is a blow to Gongsun Zhan.

"According to Yuan Bi's opinion, how to place Liu Bei?"

"You might as well let him go to see Gongsun Chan first and watch what he does. If he has a bad relationship with Gongsun Zhan, he will be placed in Yuyang as the left arm of the king. If he had a secret relationship with Gongsun Zhan, he would put him in Lelang and let him comfort Goguryeo. After the king pacifies Gongsun Zhan, he will decide to use it depending on his obedience and disobedience. ”

Liu Yu nodded and chuckled. "Yuan Bi's plan is very good."

——

Shen Zhi walked into Sun Ce's big tent and bowed. Sun Ce raised his head, glanced at him, and then turned his gaze back to the official document in front of him.

"Pepin, sit."

Shen Zhi answered, took a seat on the seat next to him, and handed over a manuscript with both hands. This is an article written by Sheng Xian in two days. Sheng Xian himself was embarrassed to come, so he asked Shen Zhi to come. Shen Zhi couldn't get rid of it, so he had to bite the bullet and come to see Sun Ce. He read this article and felt that Sheng Xian's attitude was very correct, and the article was also very well written, as long as Sun Ce didn't deliberately make things difficult for him, he should be satisfied.

Sun Ce took the manuscript, glanced at it and threw it aside. He took the case with one hand and pinched his eyebrows with the other. "What does Pepin think?"

"Uh......" Shen Zhi secretly complained bitterly. Isn't Sun Ce embarrassed, he can comment on Sheng Xian's article, and it's this kind of article?

Sun Ce glanced at Shen Zhi and sighed. "I know he's your elder, and it's inconvenient for you to comment. I also know that it is very valuable to be able to write such an article in his capacity, and you probably contributed a lot from it. Unfortunately, this article does not address the symptoms and does not convince me that he will actually change course. He is just trying to save his life, and when he has the opportunity in the future, he will go against the grain. Pepin, do you want this to happen again? ”

Shen Zhi's heart tightened, and he suddenly understood Sun Ce's intentions. This time Sheng Xian was going to die, but it was Sun Ce who gave him a chance to persuade Sheng Xian in Shen You's face. If Sheng Xian couldn't really give up the idea of being an enemy of Sun Ce from the bottom of his heart, they would clash again sooner or later in the future. There is this danger, even if Sun Ce doesn't kill Sheng Xian, he won't use him, and of course he doesn't dare to let go of him Shen Zhi.

But he really doesn't know what kind of article Sun Ce needs, so when will he be able to guess the result? Shen Zhixin was horizontal. "Please also ask the general for advice."

Sun Ce looked at Shen Zhi. "You don't know what I want?"

Shen Zhi was embarrassed. "Straight foolishness."

Sun Ce shook his head and chuckled, revealing a hint of regret. "Boping, I heard that you were neglected by Guo Yi and Wang Sheng in Guling, but is there such a thing?"

Shen Zhi was embarrassed and laughed dryly.

"Don't you think it's weird? At the time of the war, these people still stubbornly despised the warriors, where did they get their self-confidence? ”