Chapter 396: The timid and fearful Liangzhou Inspector!【1】

After Gai Xun sat down, the maid brought hot tea on a tray.

Liang Gu was still holding the piece of calligraphy he had just finished.

Liang Gu's calligraphy was a masterpiece of the Great Han; this was recognized, so the writing was naturally good.

"Yuangu, look at this writing of mine, has it improved?" Liang Gu looked at the writing on the white paper in his hand with a smile.

Gai Xun, who was tall and burly, knelt on the desk and cupped his hands slightly, saying: "Fangbo's writing is naturally the best in the Great Han."

Liang Gu smiled and stroked his beard slightly, saying: "The ink of this Youmi, paired with this white paper, is simply a masterpiece of the world."

"It's just a pity that this ink is expensive, and the paper is also expensive. They say this white paper is produced by the Zhen clan of Zhongshan in Jizhou."

"In Jizhou, it sells for nearly two thousand coins per dao, and when sent to Liangzhou, the price increases by fifty percent."

"Three thousand coins..."

Hearing the price of three thousand coins for a dao of white paper, Gai Xun frowned slightly.

Four hundred coins for a shi of Liang rice can support a commoner family for a month.

The price of this dao of white paper is enough for a commoner family for half a year.

Ordinary commoners simply cannot afford this thing.

I imagine only aristocratic families and officials in the imperial court can afford it.

Liang Gu smiled and said: "Of course, Yuangu, don't misunderstand, I naturally cannot afford it either. This paper was sent to me from Luoyang by Mr. Feibai."

Gai Xun did not take Liang Gu's explanation seriously.

But he didn't care either.

"Fangbo, I am disturbing you late at night for another matter," Gai Xun cupped his hands and said.

"Oh oh oh," Liang Gu quickly put down the white paper in his hand and smiled, saying: "Yuangu, look at my memory, I forgot to ask Yuangu's reason. Yuangu, speak, what are you here for?"

Gai Xun cupped his hands and said: "I just heard that a person came to the official residence today, claiming to be a subordinate of the newly appointed Administrator."

Liang Gu, who had just put down the white paper in his hand, frowned imperceptibly.

Then he immediately covered it up and pretended to be surprised: "Is that so?"

Gai Xun nodded and continued: "Fangbo, this person claims to be under the Administrator's command and says he came from the direction of Wangyuan County."

"Fangbo also knows that Marquis Guo Duan Yu was ordered by the Son of Heaven to go to the Southern Xiongnu as an envoy, so his family should have already arrived in Jixian."

"That person who came said he wanted to see Fangbo, but did not see Fangbo."

The corner of Liang Gu's eye twitched imperceptibly, and then he asked strangely: "There is such a thing?"

"Then... I really haven't heard of it."

"I imagine it was not reported by the people below."

"Then..." Liang Gu hesitated and asked: "Did that person say what he came for?"

Gai Xun nodded and said: "That cavalryman said that the team escorting Marquis Guo's family discovered Qiang cavalry active in the surrounding area after entering Hanyang Commandery."

"The Colonel escorting the team is worried that the Qiang tribes are preparing to plunder."

"And the road ahead is dangerous, so they want to ask Fangbo to send troops to help and meet them on the road to Jixian."

"I feel that this matter is of great importance, so I dare not delay, and thus came to report."

Gai Xun cupped his hands and bowed, saying: "Recently, the Canlang Qiang, Zhong Qiang, and Dianling Qiang tribes have indeed been unusually active. I am worried that if these Qiang tribes really have the heart to plunder, then Marquis Guo's family will be in danger."

"Hiss..." Liang Gu frowned and gasped: "Is that so..."

Liang Gu, with a serious face, stroked his beard and said: "If this is really the case, then naturally we cannot sit idly by."

"It's just..."

Hearing the word "just," Gai Xun's hand holding the teacup paused.

"It's just that Yuangu also knows that there are not many troops in the city now. If we really want to send troops, I fear the city will be empty."

"Therefore, if we want to send troops to help, we will have to mobilize county troops from the surrounding counties."

"Furthermore..."

Liang Gu looked at Gai Xun and said: "Is this matter really true?"

"Although those Qiang tribes have been a bit active recently, they wouldn't dare to plunder the official team, would they?"

"Marquis Guo is famous and is a tiger general of the Great Han. Are those tribes not worried about Marquis Guo's retaliation?"

"Also, Marquis Guo's father-in-law is Administrator Dong, and Administrator Dong has a great reputation in the Longxi area, and the local Qiang tribes also respect him."

"Yuangu... I actually feel that this matter might just be a false alarm."

"How about this," Liang Gu looked at Gai Xun and said: "Yuangu, draft a document early tomorrow morning and send it to the surrounding counties to mobilize troops."

"While mobilizing troops, send people to confirm in the direction of Wangyuan County."

"If there are really Qiang tribes daring to have designs on Marquis Guo's family team, I naturally cannot sit idly by."

"But if not, it will save the time spent mobilizing troops."

"What does Yuangu think?"

Liang Gu said this, completely according to the rules.

There is definitely nothing wrong with it on the surface.

But there is a problem here.

Speed is the essence of war.

It is only about a day's journey from Wangyuan County to Jixian.

By the time they mobilize troops from the surrounding commanderies and counties, and by the time they confirm whether there are really Qiang tribes wanting to plunder Duan Yu's family, I don't know how much time will have passed.

I am afraid it will have already happened.

Gai Xun frowned and wanted to speak.

But before Gai Xun could speak, Liang Gu spoke again: "Yuangu, it's not that I am worried unnecessarily."

"It's just that Yuangu also knows that although Liangzhou is chaotic now, it can still be maintained."

"But if I mobilize troops easily, I fear it will make the surrounding Qiang tribes feel worried."

"This matter of pulling one hair and moving the whole body, I fear it will evolve into a great disaster, so I have to consider the overall situation in my actions, and I have to take care of the overall situation."

"Yuangu can understand, right?" Liang Gu said.

Gai Xun took a deep breath, then put down the teacup in his hand, looked at Liang Gu, cupped his hands and said: "I understand."

"Since that is the case, I will take my leave first."

"Sorry to disturb you, Fangbo."

Gai Xun said after standing up.

Liang Gu shook his head with a smile and said: "Yuangu doesn't need to worry too much."

"Marquis Guo's troops are strong and his horses are sturdy, so how would the Qiang tribes dare to plunder easily."

"I estimate it's just some small tribes without eyes, coveting the wealth of Marquis Guo's team."

"Seeing that Marquis Guo's team is strong, they only dare to circle around, at most that's all." ===== CHAPTER 398 =====

"Seeing that the Marquis of Guo's troops are strong and his horses sturdy, they only dare to circle around in the periphery, and at most, that is all they can do."