Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

At this time, the earl's people all laughed, but the faces of the people around Haven were all ugly, only the smiling cat laughed heartlessly.He also patted the table and shouted: "Damn, eight eggs! Hahahaha! Haiwen, you are amazing!"

Master Tang De'en's face was ugly, and he muttered: "Irreverent."

Wen Kai laughed and spilled the wine, he drank the rest of the wine in one gulp, and then said: "Yes! My lord, there are rumors that the mayor of Mustang Land has eight eggs, what are you talking about... he and When a certain guard went whoring together, the guard saw it with his own eyes, and later he hanged the guard in order to kill people! Haha! Is there such a thing?"

Hearing this, Hai Wen's face also became ugly.These nobles don't think much of me at all, he thought.At this moment, Master Tang De'en snorted coldly, and said: "This old man is too strong to drink, so I will leave first!" After saying this, he walked away, even if Earl Xiongshan shouted to persuade him to stay, he would not be moved.Haiwen also heard Wenkai Chris curse at Tang Deen's back.

After Tang De'en left, the two young masters became even more unscrupulous, as if they regarded Hai Wen as a clown from afar.They asked all kinds of questions, and occasionally made some vulgar jokes.Haiwen knew that he couldn't reason with these two dudes, so he bypassed the two and said directly to the earl, "Lord Mani, what are you doing when you invite me here today? Could it be that you want to see my jokes?" ?"

The count didn't speak immediately, but drank a glass of wine, and immediately said: "I originally wanted to hear about your ability to make money, but since you are hiding it, then I don't have to ask—my lord, drink and eat meat!" Bar."

Haiwen understood the earl's thoughts, this guy just wanted to be a white wolf with empty hands. "My political achievements in Mustang Land are real. I have proved that I have the ability to change a region from poverty to prosperity. My lord, you are short of money, very short of money."

"I'm very short of money, so I don't want to invite someone who can only talk big. I see you..." The earl shook his wine glass, looked at the liquid in the glass and said, "You didn't make Mustang Town rich, you just killed Landlords in Mustang, got money out, and looked rich—I reckon you're the one who killed the chicken, don't you?"

Haven realized that the earl fundamentally did not believe in his ability to increase productivity.In the Earl's mind, Hewen might be a liar, or a robber who murdered and plundered.

At this moment, Sister Laya, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

"Lord Mani." She sat on the chair with her back straight, "What Lord Haven said is not a lie, and he didn't get his wealth by plundering. I saw all this with my own eyes. He really has a handle on how to get rich."

Laya's words and Haiwen's words are not of the same weight at all.She is the chairman of the White Clothes Society, this is a golden signboard, she is an upper-class person who can drink afternoon tea in Fengleibao, when she speaks, ordinary little nobles have to listen silently.

The earl and his two sons also fell silent. The earl asked Laya, "Miss Laya, I believe what you said. But there is nothing to prove it. I still hope that Lord Ambside... share it."

Laya said: "My lord, you can't take away the precious wealth we have worked so hard to unearth with a word of 'share it'."

The lord spread his hands and said, "Then what should I do? I have nothing but my illness, oh, I still have land, but can I seal your land directly? Make you nobles? Knights? Haha 'The meritorious ones get the land', this is the principle from ancient times. How can I give you a piece of land for no reason to let you farm? What should my vassals think? Huh?"

Hai Wen said: "Then I'd like to give you credit first—you can just open your mouth, tell the problem, and I'll find a solution for you."

Wen Kai jokingly said: "The tone is not small."

The earl nodded thoughtfully, and said: "The bear leader is indeed facing some difficulties. How about this, you can do three things for me. If you can do two things well, I will let you be a baron. If you do three things well, I will What do you think about making you a viscount directly?"

Chapter 130 Nine: The Next Era

Chapter 130 Nine: The Next Era

It was a real surprise.Hai Wen used to be like a mayor, but he didn't expect that the Lord was willing to give him a fief and make him a nobleman.If he can legally own a piece of territory, then he can really show his fist!If he can become a viscount, then he can even try to take back the wild horse land and get back what was lost.

But it's not that simple.Haiwen thought to himself, usually only those who have made military exploits can get fiefdoms, if not for military exploits, they must have some meritorious achievements.Task rewards and task difficulty have always been directly proportional.

Hai Wen was about to ask what was the matter, when the eldest son Wen Kai shouted: "Father, you can't do this! This is too hasty!" Then the second son Lavidia also said: "Yes, Father, this land needs to Where did it come from?"

The count waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry about this." However, Lavidia still asked, "Don't come from the east?"

"I said you don't need to worry about it!" The earl glared at him, and Lavidia was choked and lost her voice, and turned her head away with her mouth curled up.Wen Kai saw his younger brother deflated, but the corners of his mouth turned up, and he poured himself a glass of wine.

At this time, Haiwen asked: "What are the three things you said, my lord?"

"First, bandits are rampant on the commercial roads now, and I want you to find a way to solve this problem; second, can't you make money? Now there is a shortage of gold in the Xiongshan vault, you have to conjure up eight... oh, one hundred thousand The gold coins come out. And the means must be legal, killing and stealing money cannot be done. When these two things are done well, when will I make you a baron."

After the earl said this, Wen Kai and Lavidia started to laugh. One laughed and said that the bandits were powerful, and asked Master Haiwen to suppress the bandits and lose their eggs if they had to be killed; I can't get it out even if I emptied it.

But in Hai Wen's opinion, neither of these two things is difficult, so he asked, "What about the third thing?"

"After you have done these two things well, I will naturally tell you the third thing." The earl's tone became serious, "To tell you the truth, Lord Haven, Xiong Ling really needs someone who can do practical things now." The people around me are all from the military, and the war is okay, but the governance of the country is a mess." He drank strong alcohol, and then had a long belch, "My master is right. Everything he taught has been reversed. Now I need someone who can really save the people of Xiongshan. Lord Haiwen, don’t think that I can’t walk, but I also know the things outside. People come in every two days. The castle is willing - I see the child is too hungry to poop, and the mother is too thin to express milk, I feel uncomfortable, I..."

Wen Kai interrupted at this moment: "Father, what are you talking about?"

The count gave him a blank look, and said, "It's none of your business!" After finishing speaking, the count called the old servant next to him, and said, "I drank too much, push me outside to get some air—you keep drinking, oh, call Come some dancing girls!" He made a look at Haiwen and said, "Master Haiwen, let me show you around the castle."

"it is good."

So Haven and the earl went out alone, they crossed the corridor and circled upwards.Because the earl needs to use a wheelchair, the castle specially built ramp stairs that can walk in a wheelchair.In a few minutes they were on the platform of the castle tower.It was a spacious platform built on the top of the hill, from which one could overlook the entire Bear Mountain.It is now late autumn, and the mountains in the distance turn gray and yellow. There is a maple forest at the foot of the mountain. The wind blows the fiery red fallen leaves, dyeing the road and the mountains like a paintbrush stained with cinnabar.

The cold wind blows towards the face, and penetrates into the flesh along the gap of the clothes.At this moment, the count groaned in pain, probably because of the gout attack again.

The old servant said to the count, "My lord, it's too cold here, let's go back."

The count said: "No, you wait for me at the door, I have something to say to Lord Haven."

The old servant saluted and left.

Haven looked at the earl's back.Although the old earl looked thin from the front, he could be seen from the back with a broad frame, like a soldier.Haiwen thought to himself: Earl Xiongshan was also a majestic general back then. He beat the great knights in the north and the slave traders in the south. People sigh.

Haiwen couldn't help but said: "Master Earl, I still want to advise you to drink less alcohol and eat less seafood, otherwise the gout will get worse."

"Thank you." The count sighed, and the sigh was covered by the cold wind, "None of my two sons cared about me."

Haven didn't know what to say, he chose to remain silent.

The count continued: "Master Haiwen, even if this disease is cured, I will not live for a few years. I am 60 years old, and I should be content when I live [-] years old. Not everyone can have this kind of blessing like Tang Deen. Especially since I am a soldier, I have killed many people, according to the White Clothes Society, I committed crimes, and those who commit crimes do not live long."

"Laya didn't say that. You must have met a fake nun from the White Clothes Order." He thought of the fat nun who stole the subsidy.He intends to find an opportunity to talk about it, but the atmosphere is obviously not right now.

"Whatever he says!" The count smiled wryly. He shook his wheelchair and came to the fence of the platform. There were mountains in the distance and an abyss beneath his feet.Haiwen also followed, the wind was blowing against his scalp, and the smell of alcohol made him feel dizzy.

"Master Haiwen, look to the west." The earl said, pointing to the west.Haiwen looked towards the west and saw a tall tower in the distance.The tower stood alone, and it was difficult for Haiwen to judge how tall it was from this distance.

In the past, there were many high-rise buildings in Haven, but they have never seen such a tall building here."What's that?" he asked.

The count said: "That's the watchtower at Antler Pass in the west. It was built by the Duke's order a few years ago. Originally, Bear Mountain was going to be built, but we couldn't pay for it. Later, the Grand Duke fell ill, so no one cared about it and left it alone." on."

"What is this for?"

"Decree." The earl said, "The Antler Pass is bordered by the two duchies of the South and the North. It is a military route in the Gulf. If the Antler Pass is broken, the northerners' cavalry or the southerners' mercenaries can rush into the open plains. At that time, the bay will suffer. The Duke ordered five years ago that three sets of towers should be built at the west, north, and south gates of the bay. If there is an enemy situation, a beacon will be sent. But now only the north has been completed. The west stall has been repaired Half of it is left unattended, and the civil war in the southern river bend is even more deserted—you say, what should we do if foreign enemies invade?"

"My lord, do you want me to raise money for you to repair the pagoda?"

The count shook his head, then pointed to the south side with his hand, and said, "Look south again."

Haiwen looked to the south and saw an ordinary farmland, nothing unusual.But then the earl said: "That is the field of the Schaud Sect. In the past, these magic sticks had no right to buy fields and engage in production. But the Gulf has been very poor these years. Later, Shiratori and Mondalia two The Marquis discussed opening up the land to these religious people to make money. As a result, people from the Stewart Church and the White Clothes Church began to buy land, but they not only farmed the land, but also preached while farming... I didn’t plan to be here Xiong Ling did this, but my son insisted that he was short of money, so he sold the land."

"My lord wants me to take back the land?"

The count shook his head again and said, "Look to the east."

Haiwen looked to the east, only to see mountains and wilderness, and Liao was uninhabited. "I just saw a piece of desolation," Hai Wen said.

"Yes, it's a wasteland." The count said, "but it shouldn't be like this here. When the Grand Duke Trident was still young, he once told the nobles in the bay to build their homes. He wants to make the bay as powerful as the north. , as rich as the south. But the war disrupted his plan, foreign war, civil war, endless war. He did win the war all the time, and people remembered his merits, and said of him: 'Oh, Grand Duke of the Trident, Invincible!' But no one remembers his original wish. I was a pioneer by his side at the beginning, and he was named a baron because of my meritorious deeds in killing the enemy. Later, I was deserving of meritorious service in guarding Antler Pass, and he rewarded me with the Bear Mountain in the west , let me be a frontier earl. I have heard him say more than once: 'I am tired of war.' 'My people are hungry, but we are fighting endlessly.' 'We took blacksmiths to make swords , arrested farmers to join the army, and then the fields were abandoned, there were no farm tools and no farmers. His mother-in-law looks like a man, but he is like this. When he talks about the people, he becomes a mother-in-law. He said that he was more willing to feed the people than to open up the land—isn’t the land just for people to eat? If you take the land and starve the people to death, what’s the point of that? "

A cold wind blows.The count curled up on the wheelchair and tightened his clothes, "In the end, the Duke failed to realize his ambition. Did you look at a wasteland? It was supposed to build roads here. The Duke said at that time that when he had money, he would Open the road, and then Xiongshan can enjoy the gold brought by water transport; not only here, he also said a lot of things, he said, "build roads when you meet mountains, build rivers when you meet water", he said that the land in the bay is barren, and the plains are dry. No, agriculture can’t be done. If you want to be rich and strong, you must do business. He is right, these years the Gulf region has relied on business to survive-the Grand Duke of the Gulf region is a strange person! His father’s generation was in the top position in the Gulf region The last of the four principalities, he has been in power to this day, and the Gulfland is the second among the four principalities, and there is a vague tendency to compete with the northerners." He laughed, but his laughter was soon replaced by a sharp cough The voice sucked back, "But the miracle is over. The Grand Duke has very little life left. Although his son 'Little Trident' is talented, he is young and arrogant. A glorious triumph to wash off his 'Little Trident' moniker. He wants to fight."

"Young people are like this." Hai Wen said, "But whether or not to go to war cannot be decided by one person."

"That's right, but if the young people are all main fighters, then a big war is inevitable. The Grand Duke is probably the first to let go of Liao; the next one is probably the Marquis of White Bird, who has already passed the title to his son in advance. Migraines, laced with hard liquor to sleep every day; then maybe the nobles of the Reach, this civil war will wipe out a lot of the old and bring up the new; and then... maybe me. One of the new Marquis White Bird and Little Trident was born in the army, and the other grew up on a warship; the nobles in the Reach are more bloodthirsty than anyone else... Religious warriors, mercenaries, retired veterans, peasant soldiers , cavalry, navy, military wizards, they come like migratory birds. Even 50 years ago, I have never seen such a scene-my lord, do you think these guys come to the bay to beg for food? ’ he let out a hoarse laugh.

Haven vaguely realized what the Earl really wanted to say. "You want me to help you prepare for war?" he asked tentatively.

At this moment, the count turned his head to look at Haven, and said:

"I just wanted to tell you, Bayland, it's going to change."

After hearing this, Hai Wen felt a chill all over, as if the wind on the roof was much colder again.

The Ranger, Chapter 4: Vengeance

The Ranger, Chapter 4: Vengeance

When the silver-haired bard said "a piece of charcoal", there was an exclamation from the four seats.He put his arms around the girl in his arms, tapped his index finger on her thigh, and beat the time. After about ten seconds, he continued:

"In this way, the young master of the Mao family can be said to have lured wolves into the house, and his family has been ruined—well, let's predict what will happen next..."

"Don't!" shouted the audience again and again, telling him to continue.The girl in his arms also begged in his ear, asking him to continue talking.So the bard laughed a few times, played a few notes, and continued:

"This is exactly the farmer raising poisonous snakes and causing disasters with good intentions. Master Mao was standing in front of the ruins and weeping loudly, and passed out from crying. After a long while, the warriors of his family's nursing home helped him up and said to him: 'Master , the family and the house can’t come back crying’. Master Cat asked him: “Where are my parents and relatives?” Samurai Charlie replied: “It’s gone.”

The poet played a few sad notes and sang a ballad: "The shadow fell from the sky and fell on him, stretching his fate; the north wind blew and blew, blowing ashes into his lungs; he stood at the lonely cross , hesitating; the samurai asked him for revenge, but he just cried. There is no place for him in the chaotic world."

As the last note fell, the tavern fell silent.The girl in the poet's arms asked him, "Is this the end?"

"What do you think?" the poet asked gently.

"I think?" The girl lowered her head and said in a low voice, "Master Cat should practice martial arts, and seek revenge from the robbers in a few years?"

The people around also said with dismay: "That's right, aren't all the stories like this?"

The poet asked them: "Do you like to hear such stories?"

Some say they love it, some say they don't, and some say, "I used to love it, but now I'm sick of it because every bard says it."

The poet nodded slightly and said: "Yes, in fact, everyone who listens to stories thinks so. They want to hear hearty stories. So, bards also make up stories like this—they tell In the story, the heroes are brave, the knights are righteous, and the protagonists are all good men with high martial arts skills and revenge. But my friends, I am not a qualified bard. You see, I am so old, I I don’t want to lie to people by telling boring stories anymore. I can twist this story according to your wishes, but that’s just a lie to cheat money.

The girl asked him, "What is the real story?"

The silver-haired old poet flicked the hair on the girl's sideburns and said, "Smiley cat, he failed to get revenge."

The girl exclaimed, "Huh?"

"Yes, no," continued the poet in a deep tone, "he swore to take revenge. While they were wandering, they studied martial arts with Charlie, the warrior of the family. He was very talented and practiced hard. After three years, he became a teacher. He and the samurai went back to the old place to look for those enemies, but they couldn't find them. They searched everywhere, but there was no news. It was two months later that they heard that the robbers had been killed by the nobles long ago, and they are now missing. .”

"Then isn't he training in vain?" the girl asked.Immediately the bartender next to him sneered a few times and said, "This is really useless! What kind of ranger is this?"

The poet said with a smile: "It's just that those with high martial arts skills are not called rangers, and those who dare to face setbacks are counted-yes, the robber who killed his parents is no longer there, but there are countless robbers waiting for him to kill-he can go Kill other bandits to pay homage to the dead souls of relatives. From that day on, Smiley Cat swore that he would kill all the bandits in the bay area. From that day on, he became a real ranger."

"Oh!" The girl sighed.

The poet continued: "Smiley Cat realizes that he still needs to get stronger. But at this moment, his warrior Charlie has nothing to teach him. However, the warrior knows one place where Smiley Cat can become stronger-the It is the tribe of the Murphys. The Murphys are the best warriors in the world. They are more proficient in weapons than us in using knives and forks. Therefore, the smiling cat went to the territory of the Murphys, the smiling ranger, He has to become stronger!"

Author's message:

ps: After I write too much, I will sort out the extra episodes independently and make a free long chapter (or write a separate book), so that you can read it more convenientlyw

Chapter 140: The Earl's Request

Chapter 140: The Earl's Request

"Master Haiwen, you are a polite person, more polite than ordinary nobles. Because you at least know how to listen." The earl looked at Haiwen, who nodded silently, "I also told these words to my two sons , but they don’t understand this. Wen Kai is like me, he’s good at fighting, but his management of the territory is a mess; Lavidia has been brainwashed by the Vulcan Cult, and he doesn’t know what he’s thinking all day long.”

Haven asked, "So what do you mean?"

"I want you to assist them." The earl said, "The bear leader really needs a magician who can conjure gold. Lord Haven, everyone knows about the Mustang Land. I think you have the brains of a businessman and the courage of a soldier. I tested your self-cultivation before, and you are very satisfying to me. I think you can do this well. Haiwen, I am not a nobleman, I am a soldier, and soldiers are loyal. So as long as you can do well, I will I will never treat you badly. This is the morality of a soldier."

"What do you want me to do? To assist them? To assist them in fighting?" Haven had to understand the question clearly.

"No, on the contrary. I don't want to die with these shitty things. When I was young, I always wanted to win honor and prestige. I wanted to expand the territory of the Gulf. But when I got old, I realized that these Everything is useless. Indeed, I was a great general, but I am disabled, and a disabled general is not as good as an ordinary disabled. Now I want to fulfill my promise back then."

"Did you make any promises?"

"I once promised the people in my post-victory speech, I promised them land, riches, peace. I never kept any of those three. I promised my son more than I can remember, but still nothing Fulfill. I am dying, Master Haven, I have to fulfill my promise. I will do something for my people and my son." He pointed to the east, "The law of the Gulf stipulates that the eldest son inherits the fief, So the eldest son, Wen Kai, will inherit the title of Earl, while the second son has no land to claim. I wanted to make him Viscount Dongshan, but he lost his mind and wants to rent Dongshan to the magic stick of Vulcan Cult. I don’t know What does he think, but my land must not fall into the hands of those northern lunatics. Haven? Ambleside, my teacher has said good things to you in front of me, and I believe in my teacher's vision. Therefore I will promise Dongshan to you, if you do well what I arranged, you will come to be a baron, or even a viscount."

"Your son won't be happy." Haven said.Yes, I mean that I robbed Lavidia's fiefdom, and my future baron will not be good.

"I will find another piece of more fertile land for him, but I can't tell him about it now. I want to sharpen his temper. Lord Haiwen, I can't give a title to a son of a magic stick, I dare say he will Donate my land to his gods for free! So I'll give him nothing until he gives up that damned faith- That's it, Lord Haven. It's too cold in here, time to go- La Wen, push me down!" Then a servant came in from the outside and pushed the count away.Meanwhile, Hai Wen stood on the edge of the roof and watched the scenery of Bear Mountain for a while.

When he returned later, the banquet was over.His people have left the castle one by one, and the eldest son Wen Kai is sending them out one by one at the gate.On the other side, Smiley Cat, Laya, Master Tang Deen and his second son Lavidia are drinking tea around a clean table.Hai Wen first went over to greet Wen Kai, said some polite words, and then said to him: "My father gave me two tasks, one is to suppress bandits, and the other is to make money. I don't want to mention the matter of making money. You are Xiong Shan Commander-in-Chief, I think this matter needs to be discussed with you."

"Then you have found the right person!" Wen Kai obviously liked the title of Commander, "Now I am in charge of the affairs of Xiongshan Town, so just say what you want."

It seems that your way of managing things is not very clever. The poor beggars and dilapidated orphanages in the towns appeared in front of Haiwen's eyes.

"My lord, I would like to borrow a few scouts with quick legs and a map of Bear Mountain. I have to figure out the terrain first, so that I can encircle and suppress the bandits."

Wen Kai nodded and said, "This is the right choice. Other than that, what else do you have?"

"And I want to ask you, why did this bandit..." While saying this, Dreyer suddenly came over, he came with a smile; he first saluted Wen Kai, and then said : "My lord, today's wine is really good. I heard the servant said that you found it from the south on purpose? Let me tell you, this wine tastes unusual. My lord, your eyes are very poisonous! But I can drink your good wine , Oh, I'm really... flattered."

After hearing this, Wen Kai raised his eyebrows and said, "Taste it out! As I said, I have a high eye for wine tasting. Look at my wicked brother, he doesn't understand these elegant things."

Dreyer quickly echoed: "Yes, of course drinking for nobles is different from drinking for mud-legged people. You are the one who will inherit the title." Dreyer went up and put his arms on Wen Kai's shoulders naturally, and said with a smile, "Would that be possible?" Is it the same? Hahaha!" Then Wen Kai also laughed out loud.

Hai Wen watched them enthusiastically act like brothers, and was amazed for a moment——I just walked away for a while, and you are asking for help?But seeing them complimenting each other, Haiwen was anxious—he still had something to ask!So he took a step forward and said, "Just now I..." After saying three words, he suddenly saw Delaire winking at him, and Hai Wen was taken aback for a moment, and didn't ask any more questions.

Then I saw the butler and the earl's eldest son leaning shoulders together, one side shouted: "Young Lord!" and the other side shouted: "Brother Butler!" It was impossible to kiss for a while.Instead, Haiwen stood aside, unable to speak for a long time.After talking for a few minutes, the butler enthusiastically sent Wen Kai out the door, as if he was the owner of the castle. "At the end, he was still waving at the door, and shouted loudly: "Young Master, drink next time!" "

Young Master Wen Kai's face was flushed, "Okay! The castle can't fly, come if you want!" After saying this, Wen Kai put his hands behind his back and staggered away.The butler looked at his back and kept the smile on his face for three seconds. As Wen Kai turned into the corridor, the smile on his face disappeared instantly.

The butler took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, then threw the handkerchief into the trash, and said to Haiwen, "How are you doing, my lord?"

"How about what?"

"How about my method?" The butler laughed and said, "This young lord is already on good terms with me. When we drink again, he will be an 'Iron Brother'!"