The Zhen Residence was still surrounded by the moth bandits, and when Wang Liu returned to the Zhen Residence, he brought back bad news.
The negotiation failed. Rather than calling it a failure, it was more like there was no possibility of success at all.
In Wang Liu's eyes, even though Zhou Cheng, the leader of the moth bandits, was brave, he was domineering, barbaric, and completely unreasonable.
Of course, Wang Liu still repeated Zhou Cheng's words.
"In other words, if we don't agree, the moth bandits will immediately attack the residence." Zhen Xian muttered.”
"Although the Moth Thief is vulgar, I've observed his words and actions. He should be a man of his word."”
Zhen Xian paced back and forth in the hall. He did not mind doing business with the moth thief.
In fact, when the moth bandits rebelled, they had also purchased a batch of medicine, weapons, and food from the Zhen family.
Although the risk was high, if word got out, it would be troublesome.
However, the profits from doing business with the Moth Bandits were quite high. The Moth Bandits plundered seven provinces and twenty-eight counties, so they had no lack of gold, silver, and jewelry. During the uprising, these gold, silver, and jewelry were only used to reward the three armies.
After all, doing business with the moth thieves was no different from rebellion.
However, there were many people who had dealings with the Moth Bandits in the various prefectures and counties, and some of them were even related to some aristocratic families.
Each family had their own schemes and schemes. Therefore, they turned a blind eye and no one would deliberately make a fuss about such a problem.
Zhen Xian hesitated for a while and said,""I'll personally go to the Provincial Governor's Office."
……
After Zhen Xian left the Zhen Manor, he was led by the moth thief to the Provincial Governor's Manor.
To Zhen Xian, the Provincial Governor's Estate was not a foreign place. Before Wang Kao came, the previous provincial governors had maintained good relations with the Zhen family.
Without officials to rely on, business wouldn't be big.
Especially the smuggling of iron ore, salt, and other businesses. Every year, the Zhen family would sell these 'contraband' to the Xiongnu in the grasslands, and they would earn huge profits.
After entering the Provincial Governor's Office, Zhen Xian saw the Tiger Troop Battalion.
The Tiger Troop was in the Provincial Governor's Office, eating and drinking. Although they were ravenous and looked extremely uncouth, every single one of them was covered in blood. Their auras were filled with killing intent. They were indeed much stronger than the soldiers of the Jizhou Prefecture.
And when the Tiger Troop soldiers stared at Zhen Xian, he actually felt a little scared.
Zhen Xian took a deep breath and looked straight ahead.
At this moment, Zhou Cheng, He Man, Zhou Cheng, Pei Yuan Shao, and the other generals were drinking together.
The 60 catties of cooked meat and 20 catties of wine were eaten and drunk by the group of fierce men. Soon, there was nothing left on the table.
"Cut another 60 catties of cooked meat," Zhou Cheng shouted.”
He had already drunk four or five catties of wine, but he was not drunk. Perhaps the alcohol content of the Han Dynasty was not high, or perhaps his body was really too fierce.
After Zhen Xian crossed the threshold, he walked to a distance of five meters away from Zhou Cheng and bowed."Zhen Xian of the Zhen clan greets the canal commander."
Zhou Cheng continued to chew the meat. Before he swallowed, he said,"I want 300,000 stones of grain, 3,000 warhorses, as much salt as possible, as much weapons as possible, especially bows and crossbows.”
He Man, Zhou Cang, and the others widened their eyes in shock.
To buy so many, wasn't this simply making things difficult for him?
However, Zhen Xian replied calmly,""The items that the canal marshal needs aren't many.”
Zhou Cheng smiled and said," The Zhen family is indeed the richest family in Jizhou. Don't worry, I have countless gold, silver, and jewelry. I won't mistreat the Zhen family."”
Never use the thinking of the poor to guess the wealth of the rich, because the poor could never imagine how rich the rich were.
Moreover, the amount of food that Zhou Cheng wanted was actually not much.
According to the Han Dynasty's military system, 300,000 stones of rations were only enough to feed 100,000 soldiers for a month. Of course, Zhou Cheng would deduct the rations of the old, weak, and young, so the rations of these 100,000 soldiers could last for a few more days.
"But I don't know, how will the canal marshal transport this batch of grain?" Zhen Xian asked.”
300,000 dan of rations was not a small number. To transport such a large amount of rations, a large amount of manpower and cattle and horses would be required.
Otherwise, they couldn't possibly let 100,000 people carry three stones of millet each.
However, if a large number of cattle and horses were used, they would be easily discovered by the government troops. Moreover, if a war broke out, these cattle and horses loaded with food and supplies might slow down the march.
Before Zhou Chengduo could answer, Zhen Xian continued," The reason why you took Ye City is to get food. Now that Ye City is under your control, there are many aristocratic families in Ye City. Just their treasuries alone can provide you with millions of dans of food. Huangfu Song is marching towards Ye City. Can you really transport these millions of dans of food away?”
Zhen Xian was very smart. Although he was the son of a concubine and had to do dangerous work every time, he was able to handle things logically and independently. It was just that the difference between the legitimate and the illegitimate was too great.
Zhen Xian's words were hinting to Zhou Cheng that he might not even be able to take away a million dans of grain in Ye City. Why would he force the Zhen family to sell another 300,000 dans of grain?
"Continue," Zhou Cheng looked at Zhen Xian and said.”
Zhen Xian said," What the Canal Marshal wants to do now is to divide the Zhen family or the famous families in Ye City. Then, he will take them under his control. However, pardon me for being blunt, but it is not a wise decision."”
"How dare you!"
"Chief, let me kill him!"
Although Zhou Cheng had yet to express his stance, the lieutenants under him were all holding their steel sabers and swords, as if they could kill Zhen Xian at any time.
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