I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 354 You've really made my life miserable!

Yuan Tan submitted a memorial, stating that he had previously attacked Guanzhong and was familiar with the situation there, requesting that Yuan Shao allow him to go to Guanzhong on his own.

Yuan Shao's attention was now mostly drawn to Liu Miao's frequent movements in the Central Plains, so he readily agreed to the matter.

Yuan Tan went to Hedong alone and explained the reasons to Zhong Yao and Xiahou Dun, which convinced the two men to submit and serve Yuan Shao.

Afterwards, Yuan Tan went to Ma Teng's camp and explained the advantages and disadvantages to Ma Teng, which led Ma Teng to submit a memorial to Yuan Shao, stating that he would never sell warhorses to the south again, but only that the cold and harsh land of Xiliang required Yuan Shao to allocate a batch of money and grain.

Finally, Yuan Tan, along with Zhong Yao and Ma Teng, submitted a memorial stating that because they feared Liu Miao's retaliation, they must keep Yuan Tan in Guanzhong to guard against Liu Miao.

Yuan Shao was initially hesitant about the matter, but Yuan Shang couldn't wait to stir up trouble and began to support Yuan Shao in granting Yuan Tan an external fiefdom!

Thus, Yuan Shang, the good younger brother, also helped Yuan Tan complete the last task.

Yuan Shao sent an envoy with the emperor's jade tablet to establish the Qin state, which consisted of the four commanderies of Hedong, Jingzhao, Fengyi, and Fufeng, and appointed Yuan Tan as the King of Qin to protect the western border.

Thus, a result that satisfied everyone emerged in Guanzhong.

Yuan Shao believed he had already controlled Guanzhong and completely cut off Liu Miao's access to warhorses.

Yuan Tan finally escaped Hebei, Yuan Shang's stronghold, and was able to protect himself.

Yuan Shang sidelined his biggest rival for the throne, Yuan Tan, by moving him out of Hebei and away from the central government.

Zhong Yao and Xiahou Dun retained their troops and influence in Guanzhong, allowing them to coordinate with Cao Cao in Hebei.

The Western Liang warlords such as Ma Teng and Han Sui did not have to face the crushing force of Yuan Shao's army.

Ma Chao preserved the trade route between Xiliang and the Central Plains.

Liu Miao could continue to ensure a steady supply of warhorses from Xiliang to the south, thus expanding the size of the cavalry.

Xu You, busy with all the smuggling, essentially monopolized the smuggling routes between Hebei and Guanzhong, and between Hebei and the Western Liang and Western Regions, generating huge profits! He once again became one of Hebei's top wealthy men, hidden in the shadows!
……

Since everyone is satisfied.

Everyone will do their utmost to maintain the current situation in Guanzhong and prevent Yuan Shao from noticing.

Caravans between Xiliang and the Central Plains were still able to travel along this road.

Unless Yuan Shao personally comes to Guanzhong, he will never discover that his beloved son is still transporting warhorses for Liu Miao, and even actively profiting from it.

However, every time Yuan Tan watched as large numbers of warhorses from Xiliang passed through Guanzhong and were secretly transported to Liu Miao's territory via Wuguan Road, he couldn't help but sigh, "What on earth am I doing?"

"Nature is doing the right thing."

The advisors beside Yuan Tan comforted him.

"As long as we can ascend to the supreme position in the future and defeat Liu Miao, then these will all be nothing more than insignificant things hidden in the gaps of history books!"

By the way...

The staff also presented Yuan Tan with the accounts of Guanzhong.

"This is the commercial tax from trade with the south... Since Hebei is unaware of this, these are all Your Highness's private property."

Yuan Tan glanced at them out of the corner of his eye and was immediately alarmed: "How can there be so many?"

"Isn't having more a good thing?"

The aide said earnestly, "These all belong to His Highness!"

"Based on this, recruit retainers and train soldiers in Guanzhong... and then shine brightly in the future war against Liu Miao. The supreme position will then be within Your Highness's reach!"

When he saw so much wealth laid out before him, Yuan Tan finally stopped struggling...

"I have come to this state all because of my father and that good brother!"

It's not just Yuan Tan who's struggling.

Ma Teng and Ma Chao were also struggling.

Although they all knew that Liu Miao had tacitly approved of this, for some reason, they felt a sense of unease, as if they were betraying Liu Miao.

"We still have to apologize to His Majesty!"

Ma Teng originally proposed to give Liu Miao two precious Ferghana horses, but Ma Chao rejected the idea.

"I had already decided to present horses to Your Majesty as a token of my gratitude. What is the meaning of presenting horses again now while I am apologizing?"

Ma Teng cursed, "You spendthrift! Anyway, His Majesty doesn't know why you presented the horse, so what's wrong with just presenting the horse?"

Ma Chao also refused to back down: "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond!"

"Bullshit! I watched you grow up! And you call yourself a gentleman?"

Despite his cursing, Ma Teng also felt that offering Liu Miao two Ferghana horses was a bit too disrespectful!
But what else could be offered besides warhorses?
Now that Liu Miao controls half the country and is rich beyond measure, what can I, from the cold and desolate land of Xiliang, offer to impress him?

After racking his brains for a long time, Ma Teng finally had a flash of inspiration!
"I know!"

------

Jinling.

After learning of the final outcome of the Guanzhong campaign, Liu Miao shrugged and expressed his approval of the result.

In any case, whoever is in charge of Guanzhong, as long as they obediently send over the warhorses, everything else is trivial.

"But we need to increase the subsidies!" Liu Miao always felt that Yuan Shao, that old bastard, wouldn't give him much time.

We still need to get more warhorses. We should even spare no expense in doing so.

After all, Liu Miao had a strange premonition that his battle with Yuan Shao would probably be coming soon!

Therefore, when Ma Teng's envoy came to apologize to Liu Miao, Liu Miao didn't care at all, only instructing the other party to ensure an ample supply of warhorses.

"Let the warhorses of Xiliang reproduce as many times as they want! I can eat them all!"

Liu Miao had a huge demand for warhorses.

The Western Liang region, and even the Western Regions, also had a huge demand for the grain, silk, tea, and porcelain that Liu Miao possessed.

However, the cost of warhorses is almost impossible to reduce, but Liu Miao's various products can reduce costs as technology advances in the future.

Therefore, Liu Miao may need to import warhorses at a loss in the short term, but in the future, he will inevitably turn from a trade deficit to a trade surplus! That's why Liu Miao said that he can consume any number of warhorses he needs, and there will be no problem of an oversupply of warhorses in Xiliang.

Ma Teng's envoy was naturally grateful, but still insisted on presenting gifts to Liu Miao.

Two precious Ferghana horses.

Their bodies were well-proportioned, with narrow heads and high necks, tall and graceful figures, and majestic and fierce expressions. Even someone like Liu Miao, who didn't know much about horses, could tell at a glance that these were two fine horses!
Liu Miao leaned closer to take a look, but couldn't figure it out, so he asked Ma Teng, "Is it male or female?"

"Your Majesty, it is a male and a female."

"Oh~~~"

Liu Miao drew out the sound—

"Send this mare to Kuaihang! She has accompanied me on so many campaigns; it deserves a reward!"

"Law! Law! Law! Law! Law!"

According to the soldiers in charge of feeding the horses, Kuaihang neighed all night long, and when Liu Miao saw Kuaihang again, Kuaihang, which had always been indifferent to Liu Miao, showed unprecedented intimacy to Liu Miao, as if saying "I'll still be with you in the next life!"
After all, even Liu Miao didn't get to sleep with a foreign woman, but Kuai Hang did first. This favor is a bit too heavy!

"As for this stallion..."

Liu Miao thought of Zhang Liao, who had driven his warhorse to its death during the Battle of Kunyang.

“Wen Yuan worked hard back then, so let’s give this to him as a gift.”

Liu Miao casually disposed of the two precious Ferghana horses, but seeing that Ma Teng's envoy still seemed hesitant to speak, he couldn't help but laugh: "What else did Ma Teng send me? Surely he didn't send his daughter as well, did he? Hahahaha!"

Liu Miao swore an oath.

He was just joking.

But when he noticed the envoy's gaze change, Liu Miao fell silent...

"He...really delivered it?"

"Our lord is offering his daughter to put His Majesty's mind at ease!"

"..."

With that reckless Ma Chao around, what could Liu Miao possibly worry about regarding Ma Teng?
Even Liu Miao sometimes worried that Ma Teng might accidentally be killed by his son!
With Ma Chao in charge, why send your daughter here now?

Liu Miao looked at the messenger with resentment: "Why send a girl again? What am I supposed to do if word gets out?"

If this continues, what if Shi Xie sends gifts, Gongsun Du sends gifts, and even Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang send gifts?
Giving away a daughter is one thing, but what if you give away a wife in the future?

What will happen to my reputation? If this continues, won't I be sitting at the same table as Cao Cao?

But Ma Teng's envoy clearly had other ideas and quickly assured Liu Miao—

"Is Your Majesty worried that Yuan Shao will find out that our lord has sent his daughter to marry into the Yuan family, and that this will provoke Yuan Shao to take action against our lord?"

The envoy was immediately moved and said, "Your Majesty is still considering the Lord's interests! This is truly benevolent!"

"My lord said that if His Majesty doesn't mind, then we should keep this matter private for the time being and simply send the young lady to Jinling!"

Liu Miao was truly unwilling!

However, considering that Ma Teng meant well and that it would help him build a closer relationship with the Ma family of Xiliang, he had no choice but to endure the humiliation.

"Since that's the case, I have no choice but to do it!"

"I know! I know!"

After Ma Teng's envoy saw that Liu Miao, although already the Emperor of Han, was not as cold and unapproachable as he had imagined, he became much bolder and began to discuss some matters with Liu Miao.

"In addition, the young general asked me to pass on a message to His Majesty."

"The matter of the Hu women we discussed last time has now been settled! However, the young general heard from those Hu people that in the Parthian Kingdom and the Qin Kingdom further to the west, there is another type of Hu woman with blonde hair and blue eyes! So we plan to gather them all next time and send them to Jinling!"

Liu Miao frowned again!

I've already said it! I'm not that kind of person!

But when the words reached his lips, they came out as three words—

"Thanks for your hard work!"

(End of this chapter)