Lord of the Desert

Chapter 261

"Say it straight."

Jian Siyuan continued.

"This case is led by the Governor's Office. Mr. Jin may have used some means to get a few informants—of course, the sources of intelligence have nothing to do with us."

"It's written in the brochure that in two days' time at Niuyinpo, the Fubo gang will privately ship a shipment to the south."

Compared with the case of Wang Mincai last time, he spoke more bluntly this time.

"I heard that even the boats on the Yao River are checked every day."

Bai Jiaci was puzzled.

"The wind is so tight, and there are still people who dare to commit crimes. Are they really asking for money or life?"

"Not necessarily."

Jian Siyuan smiled back.

"Things in the world are difficult, most of the time it is not because there is a right choice or a wrong choice; it is because we know that there is no way ahead, but we have to go."

"The smuggling business on the Yao River is related to the livelihood of countless people."

"But that's secondary."

"The key is that once you earn some money, it's not so easy to get out."

As he spoke, he leaned out and turned the booklet back a few pages.

"This is the cargo that the cows are going to ship out—half of the ship is linen for concealment, and half of the ship is smuggled salt and iron armor."

Across the wide table, several people frowned.

Dahua followed the old system of the previous dynasty, eating lakes and ponds, managing (official) mountains and seas, and specializing in salt and iron.

Smuggling salt and iron is a serious crime, let alone this iron or armor?

Hong Fan lowered his head and flipped through the book a few times, but couldn't find the answer he was looking for.

"Where did the goods come from, and who were they sent to?"

So he looked up and asked.

"Salt probably comes from the west or north. There are many salt lakes along the Tongguang and Yuquan lines, and they are inexhaustible."

Jian Siyuan replied.

"As for iron armor, it's even more uncommon. Is there any powerful family with private soldiers on the border?"

When everyone heard this, they all looked at Hong Fan.

"Well, we in Jinhai have always followed the rules and only use leather armor."

He touched his nose and replied.

Jian Siyuan folded his hands and laughed, with an expression of "guess I believe it or not".

"As for the buyer, there is probably no one else who can use a lot of iron armor now except the Huaiyang King."

He sighed.

Hong Fan understood.

Since the establishment of the Dahua Dynasty, the Huaiyang Feng family has always been a first-class family, and after the rebellion of the thirteen kings, it even sealed off the border and became the king.

The things they ordered, the Fubo Gang can rely on for a while, but not forever.

Seeing that everyone had finished reading the booklet, Jian Siyuan reached out and took it back.

"This time, the request is also very simple to say-take people to stop the goods, and try not to kill people."

he concluded.

"You did a good job last time, Hong Fan, and the admiral and Qian Shi all praised you."

"Don't let them down."

······
Two days later, November 25.

It is rare for Xijing in the midst of winter to usher in a warm day.

The snow accumulated two days ago had melted away and the weather was fine.

Thirty miles south of the city.

The second team of four people stationed in front of a forest.

"I came to see it last night. The forest is not deep, only two miles away."

Hong Fan said, pointing to the top of his head.

This "coming" obviously refers to Feilai.

"Passing through the woodland, there is a wonton-shaped shallow bay, which is the cattle drinking pool."

As he spoke, he slapped Hongqi's ass.

The latter got the order, and as soon as his ears were pricked up, he led the three companions to a thatched field that he had long been optimistic about.

Around the edge of the forest, there is a rammed earth road.

Hong Fan naturally chose not to take the big road.

He checked the weapons and half-body armor of the three teammates with his eyes, and led the way into the forest.

Most of the trees in Xijing in winter have branches but no crowns.

The same is true here.

The bare roots float on the ground like knotted veins.

The slender branches extend upwards, like hands pointing to the sky.

Dry leaves covered the ground.

The four walked across quickly, and there was a sound of smashing bones.

There is not much drinking for cattle.

But the cargo ships coming today are not small.

A large ship fifteen feet long and five feet wide can carry two to three hundred thousand catties, but has a draft of less than one foot, so a small wharf can be used.

Even in Xijing, this is the top riverboat.

The ship and the shore are connected by several boards.

The boatmen were sweating profusely, and some of them with strong firepower even took off their cotton jackets and carried them naked.

Not far from the shore, a grass shed was built in advance.

There is an incense table under the shed, and an incense burner on the table.

Three sticks of incense curled up into smoke.

The yellow paper was burning, and rooster blood was sprinkled on the edge.

When the fire subsided, the ship's steward came down.

"Hallmaster Wang, the goods are all ready, and the ship can be dispatched at any time."

He said to the leader in front of the incense table.

"Everything went well today."

The latter laughed.

He was about forty years old, well-proportioned, wearing a round hat and a mustache.

He turned around and took the hand of a short and strong man beside him: "On the way to the south, I will leave everything to brother Zhuang!"

"Do you dare to try your best?"

The latter said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, the man in the round hat nodded in satisfaction, and was about to speak, when he caught a glimpse of the steward's eyes in the wrong direction from the corner of his eye.

He turned his head to look, and saw four Tiqi in scarlet silk clothes emerging from the forest in the distance.

All Fubo help the minions roll their Adam's apple.

The complexions of the Hunran and Penetrating Realm leaders suddenly became gloomy.

"Let's sail quickly."

The man in the round hat whispered to the steward.

As soon as the words fell, the dozens of people on board fell into a hot pot like ants.

They are all proficient, know the pros and cons, and do their own division of labor without urging—untie the mooring, hoist the sail, hoist the anchor...

Several people on the shore exchanged glances.

The man in the round hat led the people forward to meet him quickly, and clasped his fists at Hong Fan from afar.

"In a small place like Niu Yinbo, I don't know what can be done to help Mr. Hong and Ruyi Heroine?"

He laughed loudly, he didn't know whether it was on purpose or not, he and his men were blocking Hong Fan and his party.

"My lord Wang Jinglong, the head of the Hengjiang Hall of the Fubo Gang, friends on the road often call me 'Master Yi'."

"The one next to you is Brother Zhuang Shaoyuan, 'Fire Hand'..."

Wang Jinglong was full of smiles, and his words flowed freely.

Then he was interrupted by Hong Fan's deep voice.

"Don't you think I'm here to make friends?"

"Stop the boat."

He pointed to the cargo ship in the distance with one hand.

Wang Jinglong's expression froze slightly.

"Mr. Hong broke Lin Laoqi's hand in Mingyue Tower, and almost suffocated Young Master Liu to death."

"How dare I, Mr. Wang, refuse to listen to your words?"

He smiled wryly.

"But my lord doesn't know, we all pay attention to auspiciousness when we live on the water."

"Today's auspicious time has come. I lit the incense and burned the yellow paper, and I have reported to the Goddess of the River."

"This boat really can't stop..."

Wang Jinglong smiled apologetically and made a long bow.

From north to south, there is a downwind, and today it happens to be downwind as well.

The sails are full.

Hong Fan stopped talking nonsense and gave him a wink.

Wu Ruyi then walked out from the side, intending to intercept the boat directly.

The minions of the Fubo gang dare not move.

At this time, the short and strong man nicknamed "Fire Hand" took two steps diagonally and stopped her.

There was a loud clang.

Bai Jiaci and Zhan Yuanzi unsheathed their swords.

"Hall Master Wang is planning to fight us?"

Hong Fan asked loudly, smiling instead of angry.

"Young Master Hong, don't get me wrong!"

Wang Jinglong cupped his hands again.

"It's just some small business that can't be seen on the stage, why is it here?"

His posture is low, but the muscles in his body are tense.

The boat gradually left the shore.

Hong Fan sneered and took the lead.

(End of this chapter)