Chapter 164 A Scheme Within a Scheme
Achig's word was law, and he indeed summoned the other city lords and commanders.
Then Helian Xi said he wanted to buy everyone's warhorses.
Everyone laughed when they heard that.
Hey, you want to buy a warhorse too? When I tried to get you to do business with me before, didn't you look down on me?
They even claimed that they had been poisoned by the people of the Central Plains and were now thinking about the heretical practices of the Central Plains.
Pah!
What's wrong with making money? With money, you can buy more warhorses and women!
If it weren't for the money, who the hell would want to come all the way to the border to cause trouble!
It was as if he was the only one in the entire Northern Hu who wanted to conquer the Central Plains.
And now? We still have to come back to them to buy horses.
"We have warhorses, but I wonder how many General Helian wants?" a city lord asked with a smile.
“Two thousand horses, of which at least five hundred are mares,” Helian Xi said solemnly.
The other city lords gathered together to discuss the matter.
Two thousand horses! Although their family could produce that many.
But no one can sell you all their possessions!
Otherwise, what will we use to rob... no, to fight wars!
However, although one family might not be able to come up with that much, ten or so families could still pool their resources to make it.
They benefited from Shen Huaichen's usual influence on them.
They quickly reached an agreement.
Each household contributes two hundred warhorses, and the price is uniformly set at one thousand taels per horse. No household can lower the price, otherwise the other households will unite to boycott him.
However, Helian Xi jumped up immediately when he heard the price.
"A thousand taels for a horse? You might as well rob it! Last year it was only five hundred taels at most, and that was for a pregnant mare."
The other city lords chuckled.
"No, we don't have General Helian's ability to rob."
We don't have many troops; we can barely defend ourselves.
General Helian, on the other hand, was determined to sweep away the Central Plains.
Besides, when it comes to robbery, who knows as much as General Helian?
Helian Xi...
Aqige and Shen Huaichen remained silent, simply drinking their tea.
Helian Xi was warlike, and his troops were indeed seized.
However, because he was sent by the capital, most people turned a blind eye and swallowed their humiliation.
"Five hundred taels at most, no more. I'll send them to you all after two months when the salaries from the capital come through," Helian Xi said angrily.
Everyone was unhappy when they heard this.
Not only did they cut the price in half from 500, but they also made me sign an IOU?
Who knows if this kid will admit it in two months!
"I almost forgot, it seems I don't have many warhorses left, and I don't think I can sell them."
General Helian, I'm sorry.
"Your Highness, I'll invite you for drinks again next time. Farewell."
As the first city lord rose to take his leave, the other city lords and commanders also took their leave.
Trying to get something for nothing!
Do you still think they're the same fools they used to be, believing everything you say...?
Seeing that the large tent was soon empty, Helian Xi was somewhat incredulous.
They actually dared to ignore me...
“Your Highness…” Helian Xi looked at Aqige.
Achig smiled and spread his hands.
"There's nothing I can do. They're all acting on their own. As you know, I came to the border mainly to retire."
It's fine for everyone to get together and drink when they have free time.
When it comes to buying and selling, people might have their own ideas!
General Helian, I am powerless to help you.
Helian Xi glanced at Aqige, then at Shen Huaichen, suddenly let out a cold laugh, and then slammed the tent shut and left.
Achig's expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of displeasure.
"Your Highness, please do the other city lords a favor!"
"General Helian doesn't want to spend money and can't buy warhorses, so he'll probably resort to his old tricks!" Shen Huaichen warned.
Upon hearing this, Aqige agreed, "That makes sense. If Helian Xi's troops are insufficient, he will definitely resort to looting."
This favor must be transferred to other border towns.
Achig had his attendants relay the message to the lord and commander of Geda City, and at the same time, he strengthened the defenses of Saha City.
After doing all this, Achig led a retinue and several large chests of jewels back to the capital to avenge his daughter.
As for the affairs of Sahara City, they were all handed over to Shen Huaichen.
Sure enough, three days after Aqige left, Helian Xi launched an attack on the neighboring border city and seized a large number of warhorses and provisions.
Upon seeing this, the other city lords surprisingly united and launched a major counterattack against Helian Xi's Leigu City.
Helian Xi was formidable, but even he couldn't withstand the siege of so many border cities.
The reason those city lords united was actually because of a few words from Shen Huaichen.
There is an old saying in the Central Plains: "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."
Today Helian Xi has plundered one border city, and he will plunder other border cities in the future.
"Constant concessions will only make Helian Xi stronger..."
The city lords, who had already tasted the benefits of doing business with Saharan, immediately realized what was going on.
In less than ten days, Regu City was reduced to ruins.
The city lord who was the first to be robbed by Helian Xi immediately took over Leigu City.
By the time Achig returned from the capital, the thirteen border cities had become twelve...
Saharan remained completely unaffected and remained the center of the border city.
Similarly, the city lord who occupied Regu also sent Achig a large number of warhorses and jewels...
"Will he become the next Helian Xi?" Aqige asked with some concern.
Shen Huaichen smiled and indicated that it was impossible.
"Even if the prince can sit idly by and do nothing, the other city lords will not allow him to grow stronger like this."
All the prince needs to do is to keep a firm grip on Sahara City.
This is Tongdu City, a vital passage connecting the border of Chongqing and Datong.
Whoever controls the city of Sakha will control the border.
As for the fighting and killing between other city lords, that has nothing to do with you.
You can simply sit back and reap the benefits.
Achig immediately felt at ease.
And so, right after the New Year, the thirteen border cities of the Northern Hu began to fight amongst themselves.
Marquis Changsheng also breathed a sigh of relief.
In the past, during the spring plowing season, the Northern Hu people would always come and cause trouble.
I wouldn't dare launch a large-scale invasion, but it's quite annoying to have a small force come and plunder.
Now we can just sit back and watch them fight amongst themselves.
All they have to do is sit back and watch the show.
Or, if they see that the other side is a bit weak, we can secretly send them some supplies to support them and make them fight even harder!
Marquis Changsheng stroked his beard as he looked at the report from the horse farm, wondering how many more warhorses they would need this year...
"My lord, our master said that he will give you the cheapest price for those 1,200 warhorses, 300 taels each."
Just have you deliver the banknotes to my wife...
"If you're short of money, you can give it to me in three years," Shen Zhong said softly, having just returned from Sahara.
Marquis of Ever Victory...
Alright! Three hundred taels of silver is indeed a bargain, considering the fine warhorse and so many mares...
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