In recent years, the foreign races who often invaded the border and robbed Youzhou were mainly the Wuhuan and Xianbei.

These two tribes are all descendants of a foreign tribe called "Donghu" during the Shang Dynasty.

In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu Shanyu Maodun destroyed the Donghu, and the remaining Hu people fled to the "Wuhuan Mountain" and "Xianbei Mountain" respectively, and they reproduced and grew from then on. With their respective mountains as their tribes, the Wuhuan and Xianbei people were born.

At first, both the Wuhuan and the Xianbei lived in the former Xiongnu area. In the middle of this dynasty, one of the Wuhuan branches moved inward and was allowed to settle in several border counties in Youzhou, responsible for recruiting other Wuhuan people to come and surrender. At this point, the Wuhuan people gradually joined the ranks of internal migration.

Many of the Wuhuan people outside the territory of the Han Dynasty moved in. These Wuhuans who moved in later gradually developed three large strongholds in Youzhou, namely the Wuhuan in western Liaoning near the western Liaoning Kingdom, the Wuhuan in Shanggu County near Shanggu County, and the Wuhuan in Liaodong Kingdom near the Liaodong Kingdom.

Collectively known as the Three Counties Wuhuan.

When Yan Rou was young, he was captured by the Wuhuan and Xianbei. According to Gongsun Zan, he was first captured by the Wuhuan tribe who robbed Guangyang, and then he was captured twice by the Xianbei people who attacked and killed Wuhuan. He was in this way and was separated by the Wuhuan and Xianbei for a lifetime.

The Wuhuan and Xianbei are all nomadic.

Why should we look far and far?

Liu Bei felt that something must be strange.

Seeing that Yan Rou was not as good as the crown, he was all young. Liu Bei was too lazy to speculate, so he asked in person.

Yan Rou asked with a smile: "Does the young master know the official salt and iron camp?"

"Naturally knows." The salt and iron system has a long history. It began around the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, and was first prepared in the Qin and Han Dynasties. From the Qin Dynasty, "the profit of salt and iron are twenty times that of ancient times", to Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, he practiced "official ridges, salt and iron are prohibited from boiling and casting in the people". It was only after Emperor He of the Eastern Han Dynasty that he let go of the "remaining the ban on salt and iron" and allowed the private sector to be private.

"The cattle and horses in Wuhuan in the three counties are also sold and sold by people. For example, the Hu Shang in Zhuo County is the merchant of King Wuhuan of Shanggu."

"So that's it." Liu Bei understood. It turned out that the horses of Wuhuan in the three counties were also specialized. Except for a few Hu merchants, others could not participate. No wonder Yan Rou was far away. I was afraid that even if Liu Bei went to the Wuhuan tribe, he would not be able to get horses.

"How many kings are there in Wuhuan at this time?" Liu Bei asked.

Yan Rou said again: "There are four major Wuhuan kings in Youzhou. The Wuhuan King Shanggu, and more than 9,000 people fell. The Wuhuan King in western Liaoning was Qiu Li, and more than 5,000 people fell. The Wuhuan King in Liaodong was Su Puyan, and more than 1,000 people fell. The Wuhuan King in Youbeiping was Wuyan, and more than 800 people fell."

"Lu" is equivalent to "Tribe". It means tribe. Among the four Wuhuan kings, the strongest one is the Wuhuan King Shanggu Nanlou. It has more than 9,000 tribes under its jurisdiction. The weakest one is naturally Wuyan, the Wuhuan King of Youbeiping. He has only more than 800 tribes.

However, the speaker is unintentional, and the listener is intentional.

Liu Bei asked again: "Why are there four kings in the Wuhuan county in the three counties?"

Yan Rou thought for a while and said, "It is because the Xianbei attacked the pass for years, and the Youbei County was gradually eroded. Moreover, the Wuhuan and the Xianbei County fought for years and were the weakest. Therefore, they were not listed among the three counties."

Yan Rou mentioned two reasons. The first is that Youbeiping County was constantly eroded and annexed by the Xianbei, and its territory was gradually shrinking, not enough to be ranked alongside the other three counties. Second, it is also because of the fierce battle with the Xianbei and the decline of Youbeiping Wuhuan, which was gradually declining, was no longer in line with the remaining three Wuhuans.

Qin established Youbeiping County, and the Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system. Sixteen counties under its jurisdiction: Pinggang, Wuzhong, Shicheng, Tingling, Junmi, Xu Wu, Tuyin, Bailang, Xichang, Changcheng, Licheng, Guangcheng, Juyang, Pingming, etc. During the Western Han Dynasty, Youbeiping County was one of the important northern border counties to defend the Xiongnu. The imperial court sent elite troops and generals to garrison for generations. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the invasion of Wuhuan and Xianbei, the jurisdiction of Youbeiping County was greatly reduced, and only the southwest corner of the county during the Western Han Dynasty was left. The northern boundary was roughly north of the Great Wall line. By this time, Youbeiping County only led four counties: Tuyin, Wuzhong, Xu Wu, Junmi.

From the first sixteen counties to the current four counties, it shows that the Xianbei area has become a major disaster at this time.

Liu Bei asked again: "Wuyan, King Wuhuan of Youbeiping, can there be a Hu Shang who specializes in horses?"

"No." Yan Rou understood what Liu Bei was thinking, so he advised: "Hu Shang, Zhuo County, was the man of Wuhuan, Shanggu. Wuhuan, was brave and scheming, and often plundered the Han territory. He led more than 9,000 people to fall, and the other three kings added together, which was only more than 7,000 troops. With the power of the young king at this time, he was definitely not the enemy of Wuhuan, Shanggu."

Yan Rou’s worries are not without reason.

In other words, Zhuo County, or the entire Zhuo County Ma City, is the sphere of influence of King Wuhuan of Shanggu. How can you allow others to snore on the side of the bed? If you sell horses from Wuhuan of Youbeiping, Wuhuan of Shanggu, it is equivalent to occupying the territory of King Wuhuan of Shanggu. It will inevitably cause dissatisfaction from the other party.

A Wuhuan King with more than 9,000 tribes was not something that Liu Bei and Tinghou could compete with.

Liu Bei smiled and said, "It's okay."

The reason is very simple. Liu Bei lost all his money, but he bought a hundred good horses. Besides, he bought it for use, not for selling others. Besides, he was a marquis of Ting. Even if the king Wuhuan of Shanggu knew about it, he would not make enemies with him. Without it, the interests involved were too small.

For the sake of a hundred horses, we have to send troops to attack a Tinghou?

I think this "brave and scheming" King Wuhuan of Shanggu is more than that.

Yan Rou thought about it and felt that Liu Bei's words were reasonable. So he planned it carefully.

I heard that Liu Bei was going north to sell horses, Geng Yong and Cui Jun, all came to advise.

When Cui Jun, who had been in Youbeiping for many years, heard that he had been in business, immediately made a suggestion: "Why not take the water route?"

"Water Road?" Liu Bei was stunned.

"The Tian family sea ship in Liaodong can cross the sea. Youbeiping is sandwiched between Liaodong and Zhuojun, and the sea ship passes just by." The coastal navigation at this time was very developed. As early as the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the north-south coastal route from Dandong, Liaoning to the north to the Bailun River mouth of Guangxi has been opened. If the sea route was not smooth, the Taishici of Donglai would not have gone to Liaodong, which faces across the sea, to avoid disaster.

Liu Bei then took the mountain and river topographic map drawn by his mentor and pondered it carefully.

Sure enough, by following Lai Shui into the Bohai Sea, by changing to sea boats, you can sail along the Bohai Bay route to Tuyin County, Youbeiping County.

In this way, there is no need to cross Guangyang and Yuyang counties. Compared to land, sea routes can save a lot of trouble.

The Tian family caravan may be used.

However, the Tian family ships traveled and crossed the sea route with Liaodong and Donglai. After arriving at Penglai Harbor, they sailed north along the Bohai Bay to the sea entrance to Laishui. Finally, they transferred to the inland river merchant ship to Lousang and sailed in Baihu. This time, they had to continue north at the entrance to Laishui and arrive in Tuyin County, Youbeiping County.

I wonder if there is a harbor response in Tuyin County now?

Liu Bei then ordered someone to invite the Tian family to inquire about it carefully.
Chapter completed!