"Tap Tat Tat..."
In a remote and desolate small town, seven or eight people dressed as guards rode tall horses and surrounded a young man into the town. This kind of scene is really too rare for this kind of remote town, and it immediately attracted everyone's attention. Quite a few nearby townspeople looked at him curiously, wondering where the nobleman came from.
Zhou Dacheng clamped the horse's belly, making the horse under his crotch a few steps faster, and was half a horse behind Nangong Yue, who was dressed in blue men's clothing, and said: "Master, go along this road for more than a mile. , it’s the post station.” The hundred elite soldiers they brought along on this trip are temporarily stationed three or four miles away from the entrance of the town, and if there is any change, they can send out signal flares in time to recruit people.
Nangong Yue nodded while looking at the surrounding environment.
This small town is sparsely populated. The surrounding houses and streets seem to have not been repaired for many years. Passers-by walking along the road look yellow and emaciated, and their clothes are mostly patched. This is obviously a poor town.
Nangong Yue raised her brows. According to Zhou Dacheng, the scale of the mine on the Sigelan Mountain is not small. Generally speaking, such mines will recruit miners from the nearest villages and towns, and the people in these villages and towns will make a living and their life will be better, but here...
Suddenly, there was a commotion in a house tens of feet away, and several big men were dragging a skinny young man out of a house.
The boy shouted hoarsely into the room: "Father! Mother!"
Immediately afterwards, a couple in their thirties came out supporting each other. Beside them was a thin boy who cried pitifully: "Brother! Don't take him away!"
Nangong Yue and her party couldn't help but stop and looked in that direction.
Zhou Dacheng frowned slightly. Is there any law here? In broad daylight, someone dares to rob someone in the street!
Zhou Dacheng glanced at Nangong Yue, and was about to step forward, when he saw the man in the couple step forward, begging those burly men with red eyes: "I regret it! I will return the money to you , Masters, please don’t take away my dog’s leftovers!”
One of the tall and strong men snorted coldly with disdain, took out a densely written piece of paper from his arms, and said disdainfully: "You guys signed this contract of sale, see clearly? This is a death contract! After signing the death contract, you still want to go back on your word?!" He deliberately looked around and said loudly, "The death contract is here, even if we sue the government, we are justified!"
Zhou Dacheng didn't come forward again, the other party said it was right, since the death contract was signed, even the government has no right to interfere.
The woman burst into tears with excitement: "The dog left! My dog left!"
A few burly men ignored the poor couple at all, and dragged the boy named Gou Sheng away arbitrarily.
"Why-"
A long sigh came from the side of the road, and a gray-haired old woman sighed and shook her head and said, "This family is too worried! No matter how poor the family is... how can they sell people to such a place?! Go, I don't know how I died!"
Nangong Yue frowned, does this aunt know something
She gave Baihui, who was also disguised as a man, a wink. Baihui immediately understood, got off her horse, walked quickly to the old lady, and asked, "Ma'am, do you know the origin of those people? Why are they so overbearing?" ah?"
The old lady saw that Baihui was dressed like a servant, and then looked at the accompanying guards. She knew that this group of people might be either rich or expensive, but they were foreigners after all, and no matter how noble they were, they were no more noble than the masters of those people.
The old lady hesitated for a moment, but still kindly reminded: "That's from the Fang family's mine. He often comes to our town to buy people to work as miners in the mine, and the contract is still dead. The old lady sees that you are foreigners, you'd better Avoid them."
Nangong Yue, who was two or three feet away, naturally heard it too, frowned slightly, but said nothing.
A group of people continued to move forward, and after a cup of tea, they arrived at the post station in the town.
In this kind of small town, the post station rarely receives passing officials or messengers on weekdays, and the inside is empty.
As soon as Post Cheng saw Zhou Dacheng showing the post voucher of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, he was so shocked that he almost lost his legs. He couldn't understand why such a big man suddenly came to such a remote place like them.
There were not many rooms in the post station, and the post office ordered people to forcefully clear out one upper room for Nangong Yue, and a few upper rooms for the accompanying guards.
After a stick of incense, there were a few more people in Nangong Yue's room, besides Zhou Dacheng, the two hidden guards Xiao Ying and Xiao An who were elusive were also called.
Nangong Yue looked around the crowd, her eyes fell on Xiao Ying, and she said in a deep voice, "Xiao Ying!"
"The subordinate is here." Xiao Ying put away her usual casualness and respectfully responded with cupped fists.
"I'm afraid I'm going to let you go to the mine this time." Nangong Yue half-closed her eyes, and a gleam flashed in her eyes.
Before coming here, she guessed that there was something wrong with the mine here, and today's scene made her guess even more affirmed. The general mines and the surrounding villages and towns are mutually beneficial. Most of them will hire miners. After all, mining is hard work. You can use it for a few years and then replace some young and powerful miners. It is far cheaper than buying a person with a dead contract. many.
Unless... there is something shady about this mine!
Also, from the words of the old lady just now, it is revealed that many people died in the mine for no apparent reason...
If you want to investigate the truth, you have to go to the tiger's den.
The situation at the mine is unknown, so this mission is naturally risky, Nangong Yue thought about it, and decided to ask Xiao Ying to find out.
At this time, Nangong Yue couldn't help but feel a little lucky. Fortunately, she left her grandfather, sister Xia, and Huamei in the post station in Hehe Town before making a detour to Xigelan Mountain.
Xiao Ying's eyes lit up when he heard the words, and he immediately understood what Nangong Yue meant, and said excitedly: "Concubine Shizi, are you asking your subordinates to sell themselves?" The excitement in his eyes and tone seemed to be Some can't wait. "That's a good idea. I haven't tried selling myself to bury my father before!" As he said that, he looked at Xiao An with treacherous eyes, Xiao An's heart sank, his face was as black as a pot...
Xiao Ying and Xiao An exchanged glances quickly. Nangong Yue was originally in a heavy mood, but she couldn't help laughing at the two of them, and even the atmosphere in the room became much lighter...
Xiao Ying and Xiao An quickly retreated quietly.
The room was quiet for a while, Nangong Yue took a sip from the teacup and put it down, her eyes darkened, and she said slowly and meaningfully: "It's time to meet the county magistrate here."
As soon as Nangong Yue's voice fell, there was a sound of footsteps in the corridor outside, followed Ren Zinan into the house and said: "My lord, Wang Xiancheng has already heard, just arrived downstairs, should I bring it now?"
The timing was a coincidence, and Nangong Yue responded.
After a while, Ren Zinan came hurriedly along with a middle-aged man in the official robe of the county magistrate.
The tokens of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion have all been sent to the county government. No matter what the county magistrate still has in hand, he has to put it down for the time being. The highest official Cheng had ever seen was only the magistrate of a neighboring town, how could he have seen a nobleman from the palace!
"Master Wang, this way please!"
Ren Zinan politely invited him into the house, but Wang Xiancheng stayed outside for a moment, wiped the sweat from his brow, and then crossed the threshold with his robe.
There were four people in the room, the most eye-catching one was a young man who looked fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing a blue robe, sitting at a round mahogany table, behind the young man stood two handsome All the servants are bowing their heads and waiting for orders.
The young gentleman took a sip of tea carelessly, frowned, put it aside in disgust, and said angrily, "What kind of tea is this! Is it for people to drink?"
One of the young men hurriedly stepped forward, and said respectfully: "Young master, why don't you make a pot of the Pu'er tea we brought this time?"
The young man waved his hand, and the young man left the house immediately, just passing by Wang Xiancheng who entered the room, and the young man didn't even look at Wang Xiancheng.
Wang Xiancheng looked at the last person in the room calmly. It was a tall, middle-aged man in his forties with a dark face. Judging from his stern aura, he looked like a soldier. The military generals in the book are probably battle-tested, but a character like this can only stand in front of this young prince.
The black face was naturally Zhou Dacheng, he clasped his fists at Wang Xiancheng, and then introduced: "Master Wang, this is our young master." He purposely spoke vaguely.
"I've seen you, son."
Wang Xiancheng hurriedly bowed and saluted respectfully, guessing in his heart: since the person holding the token of Zhennan Wangfu, it must be a person from the Wangfu. I heard that Shizi is still fighting in Yanding City, so there are not many people who can be called sons. As far as he knew, apart from the second son Xiao Luan, the prince also had several nephews in the palace, and he didn't know which one came today.
"Excuse me." Nangong Yue said casually, without any intention of asking the other party to sit down.
Naturally, Wang Xiancheng did not dare to criticize, and asked attentively: "I don't know that the young master is looking for an official, but what are your orders?"
Nangong Yue shook the folding fan in her hand, and asked straight to the point: "Master Wang, is there a mine on the Sigelan Mountain next to your town?"
Wang Xiancheng was startled, he didn't expect that the other party came to ask about Fang's mine. But that mine is the property of the Fang family, the property of the grandfather of the son and the second son of Xiao, if the person who came was the second son of Xiao, why bother to ask him, an outsider...
Wang Xiancheng was a little puzzled again, but he still replied: "Young master, the mine in Sigelan Mountain is a mine owned by the Fang family, specializing in the production of iron ore. Not many." The Fang family bought some young and middle-aged men in the town and signed death contracts. Of course, Wang Xiancheng knew about it, but the dignified Fang family had a big business and was an in-law of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. How dare you say anything. Moreover, the government really can't intervene in this matter, and those death contracts are tantamount to buying someone's life.
Nangong Yue had a half-smile, not missing the flash of hesitation on the face of Wang Xiancheng, but she didn't take it seriously, and said: "My lord, this young master came to Xi Gelan Mountain this time to serve his father..." As she said that, she coughed deliberately and bluntly, and changed her words, "I am here to purchase iron ore under military orders. The military affairs are urgent and cannot be delayed. You go and call the person in charge of the Fang's mine!"
Of course, Wang Xiancheng also heard what Nangong Yue said, and his heart was full of turmoil, "I was ordered by my father..." Could it be that what the other party wanted to say was "I was ordered by my father"? Then, the other party is undoubtedly the Second Young Master Xiao of the palace! Could it be that the Second Young Master wanted to show his merits in front of the prince, so he didn't go through the Fang family and came here so recklessly...
The more Wang Xiancheng thought about it, the more he felt that this was the case. Thinking of the rumors about the Second Young Master Xiao during the battle with Baiyue last year, he thought he was the truth.
Seeing Wang Xiancheng's changed face several times, Lily behind Nangong Yue almost didn't laugh, and secretly shed tears of sympathy for Xiao Luan who was far away in Luoyue City.
Wang Xiancheng didn't dare to be negligent, wiped the sweat from his forehead again, and said hastily: "...Young Master, please wait a moment, the next official will send someone to pass it on."
After Wang Xiancheng saluted, he went downstairs temporarily, and anxiously sent people to Fang's mine to find someone. This is a matter between the Wangfu and Fang's family, and the county magistrate Wang really doesn't want to get involved in it, wishing to wait for Fang's steward Deng to come and retire.
Wang Xiancheng walked back and forth anxiously in the lobby of the inn, unexpectedly, before Steward Deng came to the Fang family, he saw the Second Young Master Xiao coming downstairs with a group of followers.
"My lord," Wang Xiancheng hurried forward, "You are..."
Nangong Yue stroked her sleeves, and said: "My lord is tired of waiting, so go outside for a walk first. When the Fang family comes, you can let him wait here for my lord." He said it as a matter of course .
Wang Xiancheng secretly groaned: I heard that the Second Young Master Xiao is absurd. At first I thought that nine out of ten sentences were exaggerated like those rumors about the son of a bitch, but I didn't expect that the Second Young Master Xiao is really an immature person. Brother son.
Wang Xiancheng had no choice but to say: "My lord, can I accompany you around?"
Nangong Yue was noncommittal, and left on her own, Wang Xiancheng quickly followed.
The crowd surrounded Nangong Yue aimlessly and walked everywhere like stars and moon. Nangong Yue complained to Wang Xiancheng from time to time while walking: "Master Wang, isn't your town too boring? There are no restaurants, There are no temple fairs, no dim sum shops, and I don’t even see a peddler on the road…”
Wang Xiancheng could only helplessly apologize.
At this time, there was a commotion in front, and I saw a few people gathered around the roadside, whispering to each other, not knowing what they were looking at...
"Huh?" Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows and said to Baihe, "Xiaohe, go and see what happened there?"
"yes."
Lily took the order to go, nimbly sneaked into the crowd, and then nimbly got out again, and came back with lowered eyebrows and said, "Young master, there is someone who sold himself to bury his brother there." Lily thought of what she saw just now, Trying hard to hold back a laugh, my whole body stiffened.
"Sell yourself to bury brother?!" Nangong Yue tapped the handle of her fan on her palm with great interest, and said with bright eyes, "Then I must go over and see who is beautiful..." As she spoke, she was already striding towards Walk in the crowded direction.
"Gong..." Baihui deliberately made a hesitant expression, and endured even harder.
Wang Xiancheng also hurriedly followed, and gave the two yamen servants a wink.
The two yamen servants hurried forward to clear the way for Nangong Yue, and the common people naturally avoided the officials when they saw the officials.
In the center of the crowd, three burly men were standing in front of a straw mat. The one in the middle was the tallest and strongest. He waved his big arm and said loudly: "I bought it!" The people looked around and said, "My Lord Tiger bought it!" The tone seemed to say who would dare to rob someone from my uncle!
Those common people were afraid of offending this group of people, and they didn't dare to watch any more, and scattered away. The vision ahead was also clearer. When Wang Xiancheng saw the man who claimed to be Lord Tiger, he frowned, fearing that the Second Young Master Xiao would start a quarrel with him.
A person was lying on the straw mat in front of the three big men. The person was covered with a large gray linen cloth, which outlined the outline of the corpse, which made people shudder.
And behind the straw mat, there was a young man in ragged clothes kneeling. His hair was a little messy, and there was a lot of gray on his cheeks, but it could still be seen that he should be in his twenties.
The tiger master nodded in satisfaction, and Nangong Yue snorted coldly, "I thought it was a pink beauty who sold her body to bury her brother. How can she be a stinky man! It's boring! It's really boring!"
That Lord Hu also saw Wang Xiancheng next to Nangong Yue, and he was worried that this young man who didn't know where he came from would rob him, but now he was relieved.
Fearing that things would change if he was slow, he hurriedly raised his hand, and the attendant beside him quickly handed a piece of paper into his hand.
Master Hu squatted down, and said forcefully to the young man: "Aren't you going to sell yourself to bury brother? Hurry up and make a bet?"
The young man looked at the full contract with hesitation, and asked: "I don't know how many years I have to sign? Can you give..."
Before he finished speaking, Master Hu said impatiently: "Why do you ask so many questions? I can just help you bury my brother!"
While speaking, his attendant took advantage of the young man's unnoticed fingerprints on him.
These people seem to be well-trained, or in other words, they are used to it on weekdays. After a while, a carriage came rattling over. Behind the carriage was a huge wooden cage. Five or six men were imprisoned in the cage, and that young man was also imprisoned rudely.
While being pushed forward, the young man yelled: "My brother... I want to bury my brother!"
Master Hu replied, "Don't worry, since you signed the contract, I will keep my word and bury brother for you." He gave his servant a look, and the servant immediately wrapped up the straw mat and carried it on his shoulders. The corpse is gone. Isn't it just dealing with a corpse? What's the trouble with that!
Looking at the direction in which the carriage was going, Nangong Yue spread her fan again, turned her head to Wang Xiancheng and said, "Master Wang, your town is too poor, right? Why are so many people selling themselves? ... This town There are really iron mines in the city, so you didn’t lie to me, right? Zhaofeng Town and Ruixiang Town are also rich in iron ore and copper mines, as far as I know, they are very rich.”
Wang Xiancheng smiled wryly in his heart. The other mining towns are rich because the mines make the local people have a livelihood and drive other industries, but the Fang family manages the mining affairs of their town...
Wang Xiancheng couldn't tell because of his suffering, so he could only say: "Young master, I dare not lie to you. There is indeed iron ore on the Sigelan Mountain, and it is very rich. Nearly a hundred carts of iron ore are shipped out every month. "If it weren't for the abundance of iron mines and the lack of mining, why would the Fang family buy people everywhere to go to the mines!
Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows. In this way, the ore reserves in Sigelan Mountain are extremely rich, and it doesn't look like they are doing other things secretly in the name of the mine. That is to say, the secret of Sigeland Mountain Most likely the mine itself...
Thinking about it, Nangong Yue glanced forward, the carriage that looked like a prison cart was turning to the right, and then it was out of sight.
The carriage was escorted by several people and horses all the way out of the town, heading for the western suburbs of the town. After driving for four or five miles, several mountains appeared in front of them.
The few men who were locked in the carriage all showed expressions of uneasiness and fear. The carriage was very quiet, and there was no sound at all. Xiao Ying, who was curled up in the corner, also showed a disturbed expression, looking around, but the corners of his mouth were twitching. A strange arc is drawn from an angle that no one else can see...
"Is this group new?" At the foot of the mountain, a big man at the door scrutinized the people in the carriage, glanced casually, and opened the iron gate to let the carriage in.
The carriage continued along the winding mountain road, and one could see a man dressed as a yamen servant in front of him hurrying in another direction...