"Come on in, have a look!"

While wandering around, Zhao Ning heard a commotion ahead and noticed a large group of people gathered together. Curious, he walked over.

Squeezing into the center of the crowd, Zhao Ning realized that it was a performance troupe from the Western Regions, and the open space in front of them was filled with the goods they had brought.

Some crystal-clear glass products, as well as some exquisite jewelry and other items.

Several women from the Western Regions, dressed in light gauze, were performing in the background.

Looking at those graceful and uniquely charming women from the Western Regions, both Zhao Ning and the powerful and influential people watching couldn't help but widen their eyes and swallow hard.

"Will they be sold?"

After the performance, a young scion of a prominent family pointed at several women from the Western Regions and asked in a loud voice.

Upon hearing this, the Western Region merchant's face beamed with smiles. "They are all my slaves, of course!"

Name your price!

The young man from a prominent family looked at the women from the Western Regions with shining eyes.

"They have all been trained by me over many years. According to the Han Dynasty's prices, each one is worth one million coins!"

Everyone was slightly taken aback. One million coins would be enough to buy dozens of able-bodied men if used to buy other slaves. What did these women have besides being pretty? Why were they so expensive?

"Hmm! That's fair enough! I'll take them all!"

The scion of the wealthy family, however, didn't care at all. Having just made a fortune, these millions seemed like a pittance to him.

After paying, the merchant from the Western Regions handed the identity contracts of the women to the young nobleman. After confirming that everything was correct, the young nobleman looked at the women.

"From today onwards, you are my people. Come with me!"

"Yes, Master!"

After he finished speaking, several women from the Western Regions obediently followed the young man from the noble family and left the place.

Not long after the young master and the women left, the rest of the people gathered around and began asking where they could buy some. They wanted to buy a few to take home; these exotic women were simply too attractive to them.

The Western Regions merchant, however, was all smiles. Those goods were merely incidental; the slave trade was their main business.

So he led everyone to his caravan, where, apart from his few guards, there were dozens of veiled women. Just by looking at their figures and their large, exposed eyes, everyone could tell that these were rare beauties.

With their eyes shining, everyone rushed forward to select and buy. Zhao Ning gritted his teeth and bought two as well. He felt that if he took these women back to befriend those powerful and influential people, it would definitely be helpful.

Looking at the women and the goods from the Western Regions, all the powerful and influential people exclaimed in amazement, "So the Western Regions have so many good things? What a wonderful place!"

A few days later, the merchants from the Western Regions not only sold all the goods they had brought, but also bought up a large amount of the remaining silk and liquor, intending to take them back to the Western Regions to sell. These items were very popular in the various countries of the Western Regions.

Some of the horses, cattle, and sheep that were acquired in the exchange were bought up at the original price by the border troops and local governments before they even left the three prefectures.

This trade fair resulted in huge profits for everyone, including the Qiang, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Wuhuan, Goguryeo, and other groups. Whether it was the Han Dynasty court or powerful merchants, everyone made a fortune.

And so, people set off on their journeys, each carrying their own harvest.

In the Deyang Palace, Liu Hong looked at the memorials sent from various places and nodded in satisfaction.

Although not many horses were purchased at this trade fair, more than 20,000 warhorses capable of fighting were still selected after screening, and they were purchased at extremely low prices.

It should be noted that in the past, the grasslands had tried their best to control the flow of warhorses to the Han Dynasty. Even if they wanted to buy them, they would have to pay a huge price, which prevented the Han Dynasty's cavalry from expanding its scale and gaining an offensive advantage, leaving them only able to passively defend.

Subsequently, Liu Hong ordered Duan Jiong, Zhang Huan, Lu Zhi, and others to select five thousand strong and healthy horses and send them to Luoyang, as he planned to expand the size of the Imperial Guard Cavalry.

As for replenishing the border cavalry, Liu Hong temporarily abandoned the idea. The current Han Dynasty could only support Duan Jiong and the more than 20,000 cavalry from Bingzhou and Youzhou, plus the 5,000 Imperial Guards that were planned to be expanded, which was already the limit.

If we go any further, we'll need to invest more in military spending and supplies, which could negatively impact the lives of people within the country. Currently, our defense capabilities are sufficient, and there shouldn't be any problems on the border in the short term.

"Your Majesty, this time the national treasury's revenue from the trade, apart from the cattle, sheep and horses purchased, has tripled in terms of money and grain, and all the official granaries in various regions have been fully replenished!"

Tian Feng reported the tallied income to Liu Hong, his face beaming with smiles.

Increased national treasury revenue means that the imperial court can devote more energy and resources to developing people's livelihoods next year. Moreover, the ample grain in local granaries has greatly improved the country's ability to withstand disasters.

The situation of widespread famine, as in the past, will be greatly reduced.

"Good! Yuanhao, go and draft an edict to notify local officials to sell or rent the cattle they have purchased to the people at normal prices, and distribute them as soon as possible for land reclamation in preparation for next year's spring planting!"

Tian Feng did not rush to obey the order and leave, but said, "Your Majesty, the cattle on the grasslands are probably not as strong as ordinary oxen. What about the price?"

"Oh, right, right, Yuan Hao is right!"

Liu Hong then realized what was happening, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Hmm, let's calculate it at half the price of a normal draft ox."

"promise!"

The following day at the court assembly, Cao Song, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, read aloud the national treasury revenue from this trade fair, based on the data compiled by the Ministry of Personnel.

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