Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

After watching Du Lingfeng leave, Xie Xian returned to the residence.

He looked at the others packing their luggage under Zhou Tie's command, feeling somewhat melancholic.

This was a rude awakening as soon as he entered the city. In less than half an hour, he had a rough understanding of Haiyuan City.

The Lu family was so powerful that everyone in the city, from top to bottom, depended on them for food, and their eyes and ears were naturally all over the city.

In some ways, it was very similar to Peach Blossom County, which naturally made the situation somewhat bad.

He feared the situation was more difficult than he had imagined.

After everyone had finished packing, they gathered together, and people were sent to guard around the room.

After all, they were unfamiliar with the place, and it would be a big trouble if there were eavesdroppers.

Seeing everyone present, Xie Xian said, "Everyone, the situation in Haiyuan City is beyond my imagination."

"When you go out, be careful to be discreet and don't be targeted. Once you are exposed, I'm afraid none of us will be able to leave Haiyuan City."

"I will immediately write a letter to the master and send someone back to the capital as soon as possible."

Zhou Tie asked, "Lao Xie, what did that Du Lingfeng say to you just now?"

A helpless expression appeared on Xie Xian's face: "The Lu family is already all-powerful in Haiyuan City, and the government is colluding with them."

"However, it's just hearsay. In a couple of days, I will personally go to the Lu family."

"We are outsiders, and the situation in the city must be extremely closed. Any outsiders will be treated with suspicion."

"I'm afraid our people will have a hard time moving."

After Xie Xian said this, the others fell silent, and the atmosphere seemed a little dull.

Everyone was from Peach Blossom County.

They were all too familiar with this kind of situation.

What kind of things did Peach Blossom County do?

Tax evasion, private road permits, kidnapping merchants, unauthorized reconstruction, self-made military equipment... Fang Zheng-yi had done almost everything that could cost him his head.

So, wouldn't the Lu family be equivalent to the master!

Damn it, if that's the case, then many things will really be difficult to handle.

They had to be careful even when going out.

Seeing that morale was suddenly hit, Xie Xian encouraged, "Everyone, don't worry too much. After all, there shouldn't be anyone more daring than the master!"

At least no one dares to make military equipment privately...

Qian Desheng had a clueless, melon-eating crowd expression, looking at Xie Xian for a while, and then at the others for a while.

He hesitated and said, "I think, after we figure out the Lu family's terrain, wouldn't it be enough to send someone to steal their account books?"

"The Lu family's business is so big that they must rely on account books to manage it, and even more than one set of account books."

"As long as we have the account books, all our problems will be solved."

Xie Xian pondered for a moment: "You're right, that's what I think too, but the situation is unclear now, so don't act rashly."

"Everything will be decided after I enter the Lu family!"

..........

Two days later, Du Lingfeng arrived on time.

Xie Xian had already prepared himself and waited inside. The two of them didn't exchange many pleasantries and went to the Lu family.

On the way, Du Lingfeng took the initiative to say, "Brother Xie, how was your tour of Haiyuan City these past two days?"

"Not bad, this place is not inferior to Jianjiang." Xie Xian smiled. He had indeed wandered around the city a lot these past two days.

The government, can't say the government.

It should be said that the Lu family really managed Haiyuan City very well.

The shops everywhere were decorated exquisitely.

"Although this place is good, I always feel like something is missing."

"Oh? What's missing?" Du Lingfeng asked.

"Poor people." Xie Xian looked at the roadside: "It's really surprising that there are no poor people here."

"Brother Du, I've been to the capital, and it can be said that poor people are everywhere, but where are the poor people in Haiyuan City?"

Xie Xian paused and continued, "You and I are both merchants, and we must know that things are valued according to their scarcity. Everything in the world is the same."

"Things that everyone can see are often not valuable, and things that can't be seen are truly valuable. Brother Du, why does Haiyuan City have this scene?"

Xie Xian had traveled north and south and seen a lot.

Whether the people are rich or poor can be distinguished at a glance not only from their clothes, but also from their mental state.

This situation was obviously not normal. Even though Peach Blossom County was already very wealthy, it was still inevitable that there would be poor people.

Poverty and wealth, as a relative concept, in any part of the world, there are always fewer rich people and more poor people. This is certain.

Hearing this, Du Lingfeng was stunned for a moment, and then sighed softly: "Brother Xie is really meticulous, I didn't expect you to care about this kind of thing."

"That's right, those who can appear on the street are relatively wealthy people. Of course, it's impossible not to have poor people, but they just can't be seen."

"Some of them are incorporated into the Salt Gang and make salt outside the city, while others are hidden in every corner of Haiyuan City."

"They seek survival in the cracks. Instead of calling them people, it would be more appropriate to call them rats in the gutter."

"If someone pours out swill at night, you might be able to see them."

Xie Xian remained noncommittal, raised his eyebrows, but his heart started beating faster again.

Seeing his silence, Du Lingfeng also felt emotional and took the initiative to persuade: "Brother Xie, you may not like it here, but I actually don't like it either."

"But you must not show it when you see Young Master Lu."

"We hit it off at first sight, and I sincerely treat you as a friend."

"Feng Hua Lou gives a lot of leftover food to the poor every night. You even sort those leftovers and arrange them neatly. I haven't seen this elsewhere, so I know you are a good person."

"Who doesn't want to be a good person? But the world is actually like this. Poor people can't be considered people in the first place, so why should you be so idealistic?"

"It's actually risky for me to bring you here. You must remember not to show any dissatisfaction when you see Young Master Lu, and also don't mention that you have done things for Fang Zheng-yi or other officials, otherwise it will be troublesome, remember?"

Xie Xian nodded in agreement: "Brother Du, since you are willing to bring me wealth, of course I can't implicate you, don't worry."

Du Lingfeng smiled with satisfaction: "I naturally trust you. You are a few years older than me and still have such enthusiasm. I admire you very much."

Xie Xian smiled and said nothing, but his thoughts gradually drifted away.

Perhaps if he hadn't met the master in the first place, he wouldn't be who he is today.

The fire in his heart would have been extinguished like the ordinary people.

He seemed cynical, but the deeper he understood, the more he could be ignited.

Hold the bottom line, use any means! Be able to bet everything for his own and other people's lives!

Following such a person, how could he be indifferent again?

After walking for a while, Du Lingfeng suddenly reined in his horse and pointed to a gate next to him: "Brother Xie, we're here!"

Xie Xian looked sideways at the ordinary gate, seeming a little puzzled: "Here... seems unremarkable? This is the Lu family's gate, not quite what I imagined."

"Haha? Unremarkable? There's more to it than meets the eye! Come with me." Du Lingfeng laughed twice, jumped off his horse and went to knock on the door.

Before long, someone came to open the door.

The doorman immediately opened the door when he saw him: "So it's Young Master Du, who is this...?"

"This is my friend, take him to see Young Master Lu, we have something to discuss. I already notified you a couple of days ago."

The doorman extended an inviting hand and pointed inside: "The steward has already informed me about this matter, please get on the sedan, you two young masters!"