Chapter 163 A Scheme Within a Scheme

When Aqige heard Shen Huaichen say that, he immediately became excited.

"Is it about Regu City?"

Shen Huaichen nodded.

"It's about Leigu City. Didn't that garrison commander disrespect the prince? In less than three days, he came to the prince for help."

Achig was a little skeptical.

The guy in Regu City was personally appointed by his sworn brother.

They were stationed in Leigu City while keeping an eye on him.

Starting last year, Aqige listened to Shen Huaichen's words and started doing business with the other commanders and city lords of the twelve border cities.

Everyone else came except for the commander of Regu City.

Who wouldn't like a lot of money?

Seeing how wealthy Saharan has become, which city lord wouldn't be envious?

Soon, Achig was drinking and chatting happily with the city lords.

But this is the commander of Regu City...

Shen Huaichen secretly made a mental note of this person.

Unmoved by personal gain, he spent all his time thinking about how to train his soldiers.

This is a rare and excellent general for the Northern Hu.

But for Da Yu, that's not a good thing.

Who knows, one day when this kid is all set up, he might lead his men to raid the border of Da Yu?

Or, given time, if this kid grows stronger, will he kick Achig out and take over the thirteen border cities?

Shen Huaichen didn't want his hard-earned peach trees to be cut down by others.

So, after analyzing the situation, Shen Huaichen made a few small moves...

"In less than three days, that boy will come to the prince's door to beg for help."

Your Highness, you must remember that you cannot make this decision on your own; it is up to the lords of the other border cities to make the decision.

"Of course, you should also consult with the other city lords first, and don't ask for too low a price," Shen Huaichen reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Achig was overjoyed and immediately postponed his trip back to the capital to avenge his daughter.

......

Three days later, as expected, Helian Xi, the commander of Leigu City, came to visit.

His thick beard couldn't hide the anxiety on his face.

The first person he saw was Shen Huaichen.

He glared fiercely at Shen Huaichen, harboring deep hostility towards the people of Da Yu.

Shen Huaichen smiled, not worried at all. He was about to be ripped off, and he was happy about it!

"General Helian, why aren't you busy training your troops? What are you doing here?" Aqige asked Helian Xi with a smile.

Helian Xi took a deep breath and said after a while, "Your Highness, I would like to ask you about purchasing some warhorses from here."

Achig...

That's so direct!

Wait a minute, this kid has the most warhorses in the border city, so why is he asking me to buy them?

Does he have some plans lately?

"Warhorses? General Helian is joking."

"My warhorses are all limited. My personal guards have a few, but I don't have any extra warhorses to sell to General Helian!" Aqige said calmly.

Helian Xi knew, of course, that Aqige didn't have many warhorses.

"Your Highness, what I mean is, could you please summon the city lords and commanders of the other cities?"

Sell ​​some of their warhorses to me.

Aqige remained silent, his gaze towards Helian Xi filled with inquiry.

Buy from other city lords? It seems the quantity is quite large.

What's the purpose of buying so many warhorses all at once?

"I can help you with this."

"But I cannot guarantee whether they will sell or not," Archie said.

After bowing to Aqige in thanks, Helian Xi left without even glancing at Shen Huaichen.

Only after Helian Xi had disappeared from sight did Aqige look at Shen Huaichen.

"Mr. Du, what do you think is the reason why Helian Xi suddenly wants to buy warhorses?"

"What else could it be? They must be short of warhorses!"

Your Highness, these are some horses that I, Du, purchased in Leigu City last year through some traveling merchants.

They're all on your ranch now!

As Shen Huaichen spoke, he handed a list to Aqige.

Achig took it and was startled.

Eight hundred warhorses...

"These...these were all bought from Regu City?" Achig was a little incredulous.

"Money makes the world go round, Your Highness. There are many people who love money."

Especially the lower-ranking officials, who are constantly urged to train, make a fortune from it, and then find an unfamiliar place to change their identities and continue their lives.

Anyway, the warhorse is with Your Highness now. Your Highness, what do you suggest we do?

Achig laughed heartily.

What do you mean, what can you do? Once it's in his hands, it's his.

No wonder Helian Xi was so anxious his beard was practically on fire!

So many warhorses are missing!

"Mr. Du is indeed a man of great talent! With so many warhorses missing, no wonder that brat Helian Xi is in such a hurry!"

He valued his warhorse more than his own life!

These warhorses must make up about 20% of all of Helian Xi's warhorses!

"I don't care whether other city lords sell or not, but I certainly won't sell mine."

Shen Huaichen nodded in agreement.

Twenty percent? That's a bit too little!

If you knew that Helian Xi's side had lost nearly half of its warhorses, wouldn't you be shocked?

Three heavy snowfalls occurred on the grassland at the end of last year.

Back then, let alone training, even walking from one tent to another was difficult.

The snow was up to people's thighs.

It was around that time that Shen Huaichen withdrew a large sum of money from Aqige's account and went to Leigu City.

He had already learned that the veteran quartermaster in charge of raising horses had been whipped in public by Helian Xi, and was filled with intense hatred for him.

So, Shen Huaichen first brought the man's family to Sahara City and hid them there, and then gave the man a large sum of money.

Soon, the warhorses were moved out one by one.

Eight hundred warhorses were delivered by Shen Huaichen to Aqige's horse farm.

In addition, 1,200 horses were brought back to the Weiyuan Army by men sent by Changsheng Hou in disguise.

As the snow fell heavily, two thousand warhorses vanished without a trace.

Shen Huaichen, on the other hand, can be a bit ruthless in his actions.

He also ordered the quartermaster to castrate all the warhorses that Helian Xi used as breeding horses, and all the mares were sent to Dayu.

As for whether anyone saw it?

Hehe, warhorse trading is very frequent in the thirteen border cities now. Who knows if the commander thinks this batch of warhorses is not of good quality and wants to sell them first, and then wait until spring to buy better horses!

Helian Xi only discovered that many warhorses were missing when they gathered after the New Year.

Of course, the veteran quartermaster he had whipped was also missing.

Helian Xi dared not make it public, fearing that others would take advantage of his confusion to attack him. He could only take advantage of the fact that the other city lords had not yet discovered this and quickly replenish the horses.

Of course, he also wanted to take advantage of this transaction to find out who had stolen his horse.