Chapter 413 Her Second Gift]
After Chen Fenghe entered the room for a while, the old man led a man in brocade clothes in. He was not very old, about thirty years old, with a handsome appearance and a mustache, which made him look steady and reliable.
"Boss, why did you come so suddenly?" the man asked softly.
Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "There's something urgent that needs to be ordered immediately. I'm sorry for disturbing Manager Gu's sleep."
After hearing this, Shopkeeper Gu was startled and said, "What's the matter? I'll send someone to take care of it immediately."
Chen Fenghe said, "I have a shipment of grain coming from Jiangnan. It should arrive near Youzhou City in the next two days. There's also a shipment of fodder that should be arriving soon. Tell Manager Zheng to get ready these two days. He needs to have enough mules, horses, and carts ready. Once the cargo arrives, we'll transport the grain and fodder to Datong Prefecture. We have to travel day and night, and there can be no delay."
Shopkeeper Gu was a bit confused. "Boss, this... Datong Prefecture borders the Northern Rong. Even without major fighting, the people living in these border areas are often attacked and plundered by these stragglers. As a result, a small number of people in Datong Prefecture have abandoned their homes and fled inland, leaving the population sparsely populated now. How can we transport food and fodder there? Even if we did, I'm afraid no one would be interested. And that's not the most worrying thing. The greater risk is that the places we pass through are all close to the border. If the Northern Rong bandits discover us and come to plunder, not only will all our food and fodder be taken, but we'll probably all be killed by them too! This deal really... isn't a good deal..."
At the end of the conversation, Shopkeeper Gu couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
Ever since he was invited by his current boss to help manage the Gu family's business, he has witnessed many times how his boss used his keen business acumen to analyze and predict situations and then make a fortune.
With the boss's intelligence, he should have thought of his concerns, right?
However, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure out why this deal was worth it. The risk was too great, and the returns were too low...
While thinking this, Shopkeeper Gu spoke again, whispering a suggestion: "Boss, in my opinion, it would be better to transport this batch of grain and fodder to Daming Hedong and our Hejian Prefecture. This year, Hedong and Hejian have suffered from severe drought, and Daming Prefecture has suffered from floods in the Yellow River and Huai River, and the grain harvest has been poor. These grain and fodder will not only be easy to sell in these three prefectures, but can also be sold at a good price, and it can also save the freight all the way to Datong Prefecture..."
Chen Fenghe smiled and said, "You have a point. However, I have my own plans. You only need to deliver the food and fodder. Don't worry, when the time comes, someone will buy it from you at a high price. Also, as you worry, the journey to Datong Prefecture this time may not be safe. The escorts who transport the food and fodder must be the most skilled to ensure that nothing goes wrong."
Seeing his boss's confident look, Shopkeeper Gu didn't say anything more and agreed, "Yes."
Chen Fenghe added, "One more thing. Are the two existing trade and transportation lines with Beirong still functioning normally?"
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Gu immediately reported, "There's been a severe drought in the Northern Rong region this year, so we've been receiving quite a few orders for fodder and grain, and occasionally for things like cloth and tea. Everything's going smoothly. However, I was supposed to report something to my boss in the next few days. We just received a large order for 5,000 kilograms of various grains and another 5,000 kilograms of fodder. I was hesitant because I was worried about how we could raise 5,000 kilograms of food and fodder so quickly given the constant natural disasters this year. But unexpectedly, the other party offered double the usual price, saying they were willing to exchange it for 5,000 sheepskins, 500 sheep, and 10 taels of gold. Seeing such a high offer, I felt it was inappropriate to act on my own, so I needed to consult my boss."
After saying that, Shopkeeper Gu looked up at Chen Fenghe, and the doubt he had before couldn't help but rise again.
In this year of famine, I don’t know where the boss found the means to collect food and fodder continuously and then give it to him to sell among the people.
Five thousand kilograms of food and fodder. Even if others were envious of the double price, I'm afraid they would be unable to afford it.
But if it is the boss, it may not be the case.
If this deal can be agreed, the profit will probably be more than all the transactions with Beirong this winter combined!
Upon hearing this, Chen Fenghe couldn't help but frown slightly.
"How is the attire of the person who came to negotiate the deal you mentioned?"
Seeing Chen Fenghe's strange expression, Shopkeeper Gu didn't dare to neglect him. After a moment's thought, he said, "The man who came here... is dressed just like any other Beirong person, not particularly fancy, but his manners are quite good. Oh, and he's wearing a fox fur coat that looks quite valuable. I think he's a wealthy man in Beirong, otherwise he wouldn't have bought so many things..."
Chen Fenghe frowned even more and said, "You should reject this deal. Also, from now on, transactions with Beirong will be tightened by two-thirds. We will not accept large orders, large clients, or high bidders. We will only accept small orders. Do you understand?"
Shopkeeper Gu was stunned when he heard this and asked, "Boss, why is this?"
What businessman would turn away profitable transactions and only engage in unprofitable ones?
Chen Fenghe didn't explain much, but simply said, "You'll understand after a while. Also, if the man who said he wanted to buy 5,000 kilograms of food and fodder shows up again, send someone to report to me immediately."
Manager Gu didn't want to ask any more questions, so he agreed and left.
Chen Fenghe still returned to her room in Shili Village through space.
This batch of grain that she said was transported from Jiangnan was naturally taken directly from the space.
However, everything has to have a source, so they said it was purchased from Jiangnan.
The reason why it was transported to Datong Prefecture was naturally for Xiao Yunshuo.
Before the troops move, the food and supplies must be sent first.
The so-called war, in addition to the emergence of many lethal weapons in modern society that can destroy a city or even a small country in an instant, and the types of war that can be ended within a few days, hours or even minutes, to put it bluntly, is a protracted war for food supply.
No matter how powerful the Northern Rong cavalry is, without sufficient supply of food and fodder, they will be defeated after a long time.
Xiao Yunshuo rushed to Yanmen Pass overnight, which shows how serious the crisis there is.
If a war is about to break out, then food and supplies will be extremely important.
This... could be considered as her second gift to Xiao Yunshuo.
Back in her room, she took a nap and didn't wake up until the afternoon.
Qin Mengyue learned that Beirong was likely to send troops, and she was also worried about Xiao Yunshuo, so she felt a little uneasy and didn't eat much for breakfast and lunch.
Chen Fenghe asked the kitchen to make some noodles with gravy and persuaded Qin Mengyue to eat some and not mention it anymore.
After noon, some villagers came to visit, and they were still talking about the gossips of the Dong family and the Li family, which was no different from usual.
Chen Fenghe couldn't help but look at the sky outside. It was a gloomy day and the sun was not out.
She frowned slightly. This time, the Northern Rong led their troops to invade the south. Although according to Xiao Yunshuo's idea, the troops would be stationed outside the Yanmen Pass in Datong Prefecture, were the other northern border cities safe?
Seeing her looking outside, Madam Yang smiled and said, "From the looks of the weather, I'm afraid it's going to snow again. Since the beginning of winter this year, we've already had several heavy snowfalls. The spring wheat we planted this autumn will surely yield a good harvest in May or June next year. I guess God won't let us ordinary people suffer!"
After hearing this, Chen Fenghe smiled and echoed a few words.
If we put aside what Xiao Yunshuo said last night, life here is indeed peaceful.
Maybe... she was overthinking it.
Xiao Yunshuo and Yuan Xu rode light horses on their journey. Yuan Xu also sent messages in advance by carrier pigeons to all the strongholds in An Ge near the official road from Youzhou to Yanmen Pass, asking them to prepare dry food and water for the horses in advance. These strongholds had similar functions to the government post stations, so they arrived near Yanmen Pass within two days.
At this time in Yanmen Pass, Mu Xuan had a serious expression and sat upright in the seat of honor.
In his hands were two letters, both of unknown origin, which were nailed to the pillars under the eaves with arrows.
The content of one letter said that his daughter Mu Qing had been captured by the Northern Rong. If he wanted his daughter to return safely, he needed to surrender to the Northern Rong and open the Yanmen Pass to surrender when the Northern Rong needed him. At that time, the Northern Rong Khan would appoint him as the founding duke and let his son - the next Northern Rong Khan - marry his daughter, and his daughter would become the queen of the Northern Rong in the future.
The content of the other letter said that his daughter had been rescued and would be escorted back home soon, and asked him not to do anything stupid.
"The general's concern for the princess is shared by all parents across the country. However, Yanmen Pass is a crucial barrier for Dayu. If the general surrenders, how many parents in Dayu will lose their children? The danger of ruining their families and their country lies in the general's single thought. The general is a man of integrity, deeply aware of the greater good, and willing to break his will rather than bend. He has even ignored the attempts of the Second and Sixth Princes to win him over, demonstrating his unwavering resolve. He refuses to join forces with those involved in the court's factional struggles, which would earn him the court's disdain. The people of Dayu will surely remember the general's achievements. I sincerely hope the general will not let a few false threats from the Northern Rong ruin his reputation..."
This second letter was not unbelievable. After all, if he had not rescued his daughter from the Northern Rong spies and captured them, how would he have known that the Northern Rong had sent him a secret letter, urging him to surrender?
But... who sent this second letter?
He was guarding the border and was always vigilant. Every once in a while, he would send scouts out to investigate the movements of the Beirong army, but he didn't find anything unusual in the past few days.
I haven't heard of any military intelligence from border towns like Taiyuan, Zhending, and Youzhou. I imagine the palace and the capital haven't received any similar intelligence either. Therefore, this letter certainly couldn't have come from the palace...
But judging by the tone of the second letter, he knew clearly that he had refused to join the Second Prince or the Sixth Prince's party, and was therefore despised and suppressed by the court?
Who is it...?
However, no matter who this person is, no matter how much information this letter reveals and how credible it is, does he... really want to believe it?
He loved his wife deeply all his life. After his wife died in childbirth, he was extremely sad. Even though his wife did not give birth to a son, only a daughter, he did not remarry over the years.
Over the years, his only weakness has been his daughter.
A few days ago, the Second and Sixth Princes, seeing that they failed to recruit him, instructed their officials to write letters to impeach him, saying that he had his own troops and was always expressing his dissatisfaction with the unclear death of the Crown Prince, and was suspected of deceiving the emperor.
The emperor, always suspicious, demoted him three ranks, from the general commanding the entire Datong garrison to a captain in charge of Yanmen Pass. The Datong garrison general was replaced by a military commander loyal to the Second Prince, who would be taking up his new post in the next two days.
The reason why he was still retained as the commander-in-chief guarding Yanmen Pass was simply because although Yanmen Pass was a natural barrier, ordinary generals were not capable of guarding it under the iron cavalry of the Northern Rong.
Mu Xuan once worked with the crown prince to defend Yanmen Pass under extremely unfavorable circumstances. His military talent was beyond the reach of ordinary generals.
Therefore, even though the two princes were fighting so fiercely, they really did not have the courage to replace the person who was in charge of the Yanmen Pass.
Otherwise, no matter who is in charge, once Yanmen Pass falls, it means that no prince will have the possibility of being named the crown prince.
Of course, this is just one of them.
Another reason is that Mu Xuan has been stationed in Datong Prefecture for many years and his prestige in the army is very high, almost second only to the crown prince Xiao Yunshuo. Not only the army of Datong Prefecture, but also the generals' armies of the neighboring Zhending and Taiyuan Prefectures all applaud Mu Xuan.
If Mu Xuan were to be completely defeated, or even to be killed, it might cause a mutiny. If the Northern Rong took advantage of the situation and invaded...
No one would dare to take this risk.
However, the second prince still took one step further than the sixth prince.
Some time ago, under the arrangement of Concubine Zhao and Prime Minister Zhao, the Second Prince, in the name of selecting a wife, requested that all court officials who had unmarried daughters of marriageable age be sent to the capital for the Second Prince to choose.
This matter had been discussed before in a teahouse in Youzhou City.
Mu Xuan's daughter Mu Qing was naturally one of them - in fact, she was the one that the Second Prince was determined to get. Even if she was not chosen as the principal wife, he would at least give her a place as a concubine.
Because everyone knew that the person Mu Xuan loved most in his life was his daughter. Once he married Mu Xuan's daughter, it meant that he had won over Mu Xuan.
By then, with the support of highly respected military generals in the army, it would be almost impossible for the Sixth Prince to compete with the Second Prince!
However, Mu Xuan did not want his precious daughter to marry the Second Prince or the Sixth Prince, so he acquiesced to his daughter's "running away from home".
Unexpectedly, it was this "running away from home" that put his daughter in danger!
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