The next day, Dong Zhuo left the Bingzhou camp under the pretext of taking his brothers out for training. Zhang Huan did not say much, only instructing him not to make too much of a commotion.
A few days later, powerful families from various other places gathered at the designated market location in the three states. Some powerful families who lived nearby were also the first to arrive in Jiuyuan.
Since the official opening of the trade market has not yet taken place, those powerful and wealthy families have no choice but to stay in the city temporarily.
The houses and warehouses that Zhang Huan had originally ordered the soldiers of Bingzhou to build were now put to good use, and the rent alone made the Bingzhou camp a small fortune.
Small vendors from nearby cities also come here, roaming the streets and alleys, constantly calling out their wares.
The arrival of these people instantly transformed the once desolate border town into a bustling hub.
The soldiers Zhang Huan sent out to patrol the streets smiled knowingly as they watched the crowds coming and going. Having guarded this deserted city, they hadn't seen such a lively scene in a long time.
In Pengyang, Liangzhou, a soldier from the Imperial Guards, who had come from Luoyang, headed straight for the Liangzhou camp.
Upon arriving at the camp, the Imperial Guard soldier reined in his horse, dismounted, and bowed slightly to the two guards.
"May I ask if the Marquis of Dingbian is here?"
"The general is in his tent. Please wait a moment, sir. I will go and inform him immediately."
Since Duan Jiong and Liu Hong frequently corresponded, these guards were quite familiar with the Imperial Guards. After saying a few words, they hurriedly ran back into the camp.
Before long, the soldier hurriedly returned, saying, "Sir, the general requests your presence!"
Thank you!
The Imperial Guard soldier was then taken to Duan Jiong's central command tent.
"This humble general pays his respects to General Duan!"
"Hmm! No need for formalities!" Duan Jiong nodded, then looked at the others in the tent and said, "You may all leave now!"
"promise!"
After everyone had left, the soldiers of the Imperial Guard took out Liu Hong's handwritten letter from their pockets and handed it to Duan Jiong.
After reading the letter, Duan Jiong destroyed it in front of the Imperial Guard.
Then Duan Jiong said with a smile, "This official, please go back and tell His Majesty that he can rest assured that this time they will be severely injured, if not killed!"
"Rest assured, General, I will convey your message truthfully!"
"Yes! Sir, you've come a long way and must be tired. Go and rest now!"
"promise!"
Not long after the Imperial Guard soldier left, Duan Jiong summoned Guo Si, Tian Yan, and the newly promoted Li Jue to his tent.
"Gentlemen, the Emperor and the court have now agreed to open a trade route. The trade route in Liangzhou is located 30 li from our Pengyang City."
No one spoke. They already knew about this, and they didn't think it had anything to do with them.
Instead, he quietly watched Duan Jiong in the main seat, waiting for Duan Jiong to continue.
Looking at the expressions of his generals, Duan Jiong shook his head helplessly. Why couldn't any of his subordinates offer any suggestions?
They're good at fighting, but when it comes to using their brains, they all become mute.
"Therefore, I believe that our Liangzhou army has a chance to make a fortune! I wonder what you all think?"
Li Jue's eyes lit up, and he looked at Duan Jiong excitedly, "General, do you mean that we should go and...?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Jue made a throat-slitting gesture!
Upon hearing Li Jue's words, everyone suddenly realized what was going on and looked at Duan Jiong with eager anticipation.
"You brainless idiots! How can you do something like that so casually? I've told you to read more books, but you never listen!"
Duan Jiong was so angry with his subordinates that he couldn't help but grab the bamboo slips on the table and throw them at Li Jue.
"Hehe~ General, please calm down! General, please calm down! We are all illiterate, how could we possibly read any books?"
Li Jue chuckled, caught the bamboo slip Duan Jiong tossed to him steadily, and then put it back with a grin.
Although Duan Jiong was strict in disciplining his troops, that only applied to military campaigns and discussions. In daily life, he was very kind and approachable to his subordinates.
Unless it was a military discussion, they generally treated Duan Jiong as an elder.
Duan Jiong glared at Li Jue, snorted, and said, "Hmph~ As a military commander, it's no good if you can't read. It seems I have to ask His Majesty for permission to send a few tutors to teach you!"
"Um...this..."
Li Jue was speechless. He was fine with fighting on the battlefield, but reading and writing? He wasn't cut out for that either!
Guo Si stood up and said, "The general is right. Moreover, Zhongying once said that the emperor values us military men. We must not only be brave in killing the enemy, but also study and be polite, so as not to be looked down upon by those scholars. Only in this way can we not bring shame to His Majesty!"
Upon hearing his friend Guo Si's words, Li Jue realized what was going on and assured Duan Jiong, "Yes, what A Duo said makes sense. General, rest assured, I will definitely study hard and learn to read and write! I will not let you down!"
Duan Jiong smiled slightly and nodded, "That's good. His Majesty has taken in a group of teenagers in Luoyang and is currently training them. It's not too late for you to start learning now."
"If any of you are overtaken by them in the future, you are not allowed to say that you are my subordinates. I can't afford to lose face like that!"
"General, rest assured, we will definitely study diligently!"
"Then how does the general get rich, as he just mentioned?"
After saying that, Li Jue looked at Duan Jiong with shining eyes. Although the Liangzhou army had sufficient military funds, they did not mind earning more so that they could improve the soldiers' meals.
Duan Jiong said in a deep voice, "The news of the opening of the trade route has already spread. The location is within our Han territory. The Qiang people and people from the Western Regions are also heading here. How can they come to our Han as they please?"
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