GBP Chapter 179 Finding Trouble in the City
Chapter 179 Finding Trouble in the City
"My lord, please accept this silver and let us pass. We are only doing this for the Second Princess and the Prime Minister."
If it weren't for the fact that they were working for the Prime Minister, it would be fine, but as soon as those two people's names were mentioned...
Then we must investigate even more thoroughly.
Of course, the higher-ups also gave instructions to simply stop them here for a while.
We still need to let them into the city smoothly later, otherwise they'll suffer the consequences.
The stalemate continued, but at least they had a layer of cover above them.
It was just some old silk and some flawed jewelry.
Ma Yuan gritted his teeth and ordered his followers to remove the cloth covering the fabric, exposing it to the sunlight.
Even flawed jewelry shines brightly, and the silk has a certain luster.
These superficial tricks are all there; after a while, who wouldn't know them?
They simply used the handle of their knives to lift them up and examine them.
Even though they saw exposed knife scars, they didn't investigate further.
As Ma Yuan watched him walk further and further back, the hidden objects that lay the groundwork behind him became fewer and fewer.
She gently parted the surface and revealed a series of knives hidden inside; her hand was already on the blades.
But little did anyone know that the inspector simply walked up to the last carriage and looked it over.
He didn't lift the cloth to check, and his heart finally settled down.
He breathed a sigh of relief, and large beads of sweat dripped down his forehead.
The soldier conducting the inspection glanced at him, secretly chuckling to himself.
She joked, "You look hot. We sisters get thirsty and hot too after patrolling the city for so long."
"The money we just gave you is probably not enough. If you give us enough, we'll be there right away. If you don't give us enough, well, there are contraband items in your car."
That sounds like blatant robbery.
Moreover, looking around, there were no other people passing through; it seemed they were just targeting their group to fleece them.
That was a heavy bag of silver ingots.
They even dared to make outrageous demands; just look at the way those two are blocking their way.
It seems that if they don't pay, they really won't be allowed to pass, and their goods will be confiscated.
Most importantly, they aren't exactly innocent people either.
There were indeed contraband items inside, but if you could pay money to avoid trouble, then it wouldn't be a big deal.
He then winked at the attendant following behind him.
He took out a portion of the flawed jewelry from the box and handed it to the soldier in front of him who was inspecting it.
The soldier gave a signal to the men on either side, but they still didn't let him pass.
It seemed that they had no choice but to spend a lot of money, so they took out a few more bolts of silk from the box and handed them over.
Still speaking with a respectful tone and a fawning smile, he asked, "Would you gentlemen please let us pass?"
"So-so, good luck in the city."
Why doesn't Ma Yuan know what this sentence means?
When they arrived in the city, the inns there avoided them like mice avoid a cat.
They wanted to book a room at the inn, but upon seeing their souvenirs, they all refused.
That's really strange. They have money but nowhere to spend it. Why don't the inns accommodate them?
Moreover, they were sent by the royal family. Since the inn wouldn't accommodate them, they had no choice but to seek help from the general stationed at the border.
Xiao Si was drinking with Du Lan in Haida at that moment.
A soldier came to report that the Second Princess and the Prime Minister's men had arrived at the border.
He immediately stopped drinking the wine in front of him, and Dulan roughly knew what had happened.
After all, they are now friendly countries, and she and Xiao Si are also close friends.
"What's wrong?"
"This is going to be a good show."
"Then I'll consider this a win for today's competition. Now I want to see what's in the box!"
"Look, it's nothing more than two copper coins."
She opened the box, and it contained gold coins!
He was the one who wanted to close the box. She disdained this kind of competition that had already ended halfway through and returned the prize money to each other.
If there's a good show to watch, he can't just sit idly by. She's a master at making things difficult for people.
Ma Yuan walked through most of Manluo Town but couldn't find a place to stay.
Finally, the patrolmen on the side asked, "Xiangsi's residence is just ahead."
They arrived at the gate of Xiao Si's mansion in a grand procession with their carriages.
"Is General Xiao at home?" Ma Yuan handed over the letter to prove their identities.
The soldiers on guard were all in cahoots with each other, and Xiao Si returned on horseback at that moment.
They saw the carriages parked at their door.
He started with some polite pleasantries, exchanging greetings back and forth.
Then, feigning ignorance, he asked, "I didn't know that Deputy Ma had come to my residence to see me. What brings you here?"
"These inns in Manluo are strange. None of them will receive us. They all say they're on a trade route, but they're all full, some even booked in advance. What do you mean by 'booked in advance'?"
"Oh dear, Deputy Ma, you may not know this, but since the trade routes opened, we've all been working ourselves to the bone, checking all those goods day after day, we simply can't keep up."
But who knew that after she said that, she would let out a burp.
They can lie even more convincingly, yet they're always busy and overwhelmed.
She looked completely drunk, but Ma Yuan couldn't expose her.
"General Xiao Si, this is a letter from the Second Princess and the Prime Minister."
"and then?"
Ma Yuan: ?
"What's the point of showing me souvenirs? You have to tell me your own story."
"What I mean is that General Xiangsi's residence should have extra guest rooms where we sisters can rest for a while. Oh, and of course, the General shouldn't skimp on the tea expenses."
By the way, the general doesn't treat guards as easily as he does.
A small bag filled with gold beans was handed to Xiao Si.
Xiao Si weighed the money in her hand; this was truly a huge investment, but did she care about the cost?
After the trade route opened up, the sisters also started their own businesses.
He didn't care about the dirty money at all, and Wu Chengji and Wu Ziyan were providing him with tremendous support.
If you have a secure job, don't insist on eating wild food. You might end up poisoned somewhere without even knowing it.
She tossed the gold bean back: "Deputy Ma, there's nothing shady going on in these goods, is there? Giving me money won't work; we don't buy that here."
Those who don't fall for this act have undoubtedly received countless benefits.
She refused to believe she didn't know that this group of people were cunning and scheming.
In the back-and-forth exchanges, countless open and covert attacks were unseen.
"Please, Deputy Ma, stay at an inn outside. My residence is too small to accommodate so many carriages, nor can it accommodate the envoys appointed by the Prime Minister and the Second Princess."
“General Xiao, this is a major matter for the Prime Minister and the Second Prince. How dare you, a mere border guard, disobey orders?”
"Perhaps Lieutenant Ma is unaware of the saying, 'A general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders.' Do you mean you absolutely must stay at my residence today?"
"Humph!"
Ma Yuan never expected to suffer a setback at Xiao Si's residence.
This person is not afraid of the power of the Second Princess and the Prime Minister?
With so many carts towed by him, and the carriages still on the street tonight, wouldn't he become a sitting duck?