Yuan Shu smiled and said to Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei:
"I see that both of you are knowledgeable about horses. For our first stop, why don't we go buy some horses?"
At the mention of buying horses, Gongsun Zan's eyes lit up, and Liu Bei's face showed excitement.
Both of them loved horses but had never owned a famous steed.
This was because a fine horse was simply too expensive. They were like modern-day car enthusiasts, longing for luxury cars but unable to afford them.
Now that Yuan Shu had said he would cover all expenses, meaning they could get a good horse for free, of course, they were delighted.
Since Yuan Shu had come to the Cai residence today with Zhou Yi, he hadn't brought many people, only Zhang Cheng and two servants.
Now that it was time to show off, he naturally needed to call more people.
So, Yuan Shu instructed Zhang Cheng:
"Zhang Cheng, go back and tell Yuan An to send four carriages over, and also have Shi A bring a few skilled guards.
Since this young master is going out to splu— I mean, to tour the city, of course, I need to do it in style."
Zhang Cheng quickly responded, "Rest assured, young master, I will make the arrangements immediately."
Nearby, little Cai Wenji had sharp ears and seemed to have heard Yuan Shu mention the word "splurge." She excitedly came over and asked:
"Senior brother, are you going out to splurge? Can you take Yan'er along?"
Yuan Shu thought about it. If he left, only Cai Wenji and the two old men would be home, and she would surely get bored. It was better to take her out for some fresh air, so he said:
"Alright, then senior brother will take you along today."
He then turned to Liu Bei and the others and said:
"My steward has already gone to make arrangements. We'll set off shortly."
After a while, Shi A arrived at the Cai residence with two wandering swordsmen and many servants.
Four luxurious carriages were neatly parked at the entrance of the Cai residence, creating a truly grand spectacle.
Liu Bei was completely stunned. He had always had a natural love for extravagant things, but his financial situation never allowed for it.
Now, seeing this scene before him, he felt a surge of emotion—this was what a real man should aspire to!
The Yuan family truly lived up to its reputation as an aristocratic clan.
Yuan Shu patted Liu Bei on the shoulder and said with a smile:
"Liu junior brother, pick the one you like best and get in."
Snapped out of his daze by Yuan Shu's pat, Liu Bei quickly expressed his gratitude:
"Thank you, senior brother. Then I'll choose the one in the middle."
As he got into the carriage, he noticed Shi A standing guard nearby and was immediately intrigued.
This man looked like a formidable warrior—could he be recruited?
At this time, Liu Bei had already been gathering heroes in Zhuo County. Some people just had that kind of nature.
Shi A, noticing Liu Bei's intense gaze on him, felt a chill down his spine. He secretly thought, "Could this Liu Bei have some improper thoughts about me just because I'm handsome?"
His face immediately darkened, and he said to Liu Bei:
"Please, young master, get in the carriage!"
Seeing Shi A's unpleasant expression, Liu Bei said no more and directly boarded the middle carriage.
Yuan Shu, carrying his junior sister Cai Wenji, got into the front carriage. Zhou Yi and Gongsun Zan each chose the last two, and the entire convoy began heading toward Luoyang's busiest commercial street.
Many places in the commercial district sold horses, but since Yuan Shu wanted the finest ones, he naturally headed for the largest establishment—"Imperial Horse Pavilion."
It was said that this horse dealership had even received investment from Emperor Ling of Han himself. The horses they sold were of the highest quality, though their prices were also exorbitant.
The four carriages stopped in unison at the entrance of "Imperial Horse Pavilion."
The shop attendants inside, seeing such a grand entourage, immediately recognized them as distinguished guests and hurriedly came out to greet them.
The attendant had sharp eyes and instantly identified Yuan Shu as the leader. He eagerly said:
"Young master, are you here to buy horses? Please, come in! You've come to the right place.
Our shop sells the finest horses in all of Luoyang. We are the one and only!"
Yuan Shu, with an air of superiority, led his three junior brothers into the "Imperial Horse Pavilion."
"Welcome, young masters! Your presence truly brings honor to our humble shop!" A slightly plump middle-aged man approached them with a flattering tone.
This man was dressed in a luxurious robe and had the dignified appearance of a wealthy merchant. He was likely the owner of "Imperial Horse Pavilion."
Just moments ago, a clerk had gone upstairs to report the arrival of important customers, prompting the owner himself to personally come and greet them.
Yuan Shu spoke boldly to the owner:
"Today, I am here to buy horses for my senior brothers. Bring out your best horses for them to choose from.
I have plenty of money, so don't try to save me any! Understand?"
A thin middle-aged man standing beside the owner respectfully responded to Yuan Shu:
"Young master, you appear to be a man of great wealth and status. Our shop will certainly present the finest horses for you to select."
Yuan Shu glanced at this man. Unlike the owner, he did not display any obsequiousness. It seemed that this shop was likely run as a partnership between the two.
"Do you have any top-quality white horses?" Gongsun Zan could not hold back any longer. Seeing such a large-scale horse dealership, he was eager to make his selection.
The wealthy-looking owner smiled and replied:
"Young master, of course, we have top-quality white horses.
A recent shipment of fine steeds has just arrived from the Western Regions, among which are several White Dragon Colts, even more precious than Ferghana horses.
Lovers of white horses must not miss this opportunity!"
Hearing that there were white horses even rarer than Ferghana horses, Gongsun Zan was overjoyed:
"Hurry, take me to see them!"
Liu Bei also loved fine horses, but at the moment, he seemed more interested in the two horse merchants, frequently casting glances at them.
The group followed the two owners to the horse yard in the back.
The horse yard was vast, with various horses running and jumping around.
Among them, five white horses were gathered together. These horses were stunning, pure white from head to hoof without a single stray hair.
These must be the White Dragon Colts the owner had mentioned.
Gongsun Zan could not contain himself any longer. He dashed forward and leaped onto the back of one of the white horses, showcasing his excellent riding skills.
"Hyah!"
He guided the white horse into a gallop around the yard.
The horse moved swiftly yet steadily, and everyone could see that it was extraordinary.
After two full laps, Gongsun Zan finally stopped, leading the horse back to the group. With joy in his voice, he said:
"This White Dragon Colt truly lives up to its name—it's an excellent horse!
I'll take this one. You should all pick one too—such fine horses are rare!"
Liu Bei trusted Gongsun Zan's expertise in judging horses, so he stepped forward and chose a White Dragon Colt as well.
Yuan Shu turned to Zhou Yi and said:
"Junior brother, these fine horses are hard to come by. You should choose one too."
Zhou Yi politely declined:
"Senior brother, these horses are clearly very expensive. How could I accept such a generous gift?"
Yuan Shu pretended to be displeased and said:
"Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei didn't hold back and each chose one. Are you saying that the bond between us brothers is weaker than that of two outsiders?"
Hearing this, Zhou Yi had no choice but to agree:
"Then I shall choose one as well. Many thanks, senior brother, for your generosity."
Yuan Shu thought to himself, "If you really want to thank me, why not join my ranks and become my grand marshal?"