Iron Dynasty

Li San, I order you to send someone to watch all the hospitals immediately. Anyone who buys medicinal materials for bruises and injuries can't be spared.

In King Qi's mansion, Xiao Ming said solemnly to Li San.

Li San had already learned the news that Guanzhuang had been burned on the way back. Now Wang Xuan is in Cangzhou City, responsible for collecting intelligence on the grassland, and he is responsible for matters on the fief.

This incident made him feel guilty because he had not received any news before.

When Xiaguan came, he had already arranged for someone to investigate this matter secretly. Li San hesitated and continued, By the way, Your Highness, these days Xiaguan has asked the secret guard to keep an eye on the merchants who came back from the grassland, but he found a few This businessman is suspicious, and after entering Qingzhou City, these people searched for news everywhere, and they also wandered around the workshop area and the equipment department.

You mean these businessmen are spies on the grassland? Xiao Ming said.

Isn't it right? These smugglers are only profit-seeking. They can use our money to do things, and they can also use the barbarian's money to do things. Li San said.

Take our money to do business? Xiao Ming frowned, Does the secret guard also buy news on the grassland from them?

Li San nodded, On the vast grasslands, only these merchants can penetrate into the barbarian tribe. During this time, the barbarians are very vigilant against unfamiliar caravans. Therefore, we can only obtain some information by bribing these businessmen.”

In reality, there are no double agents. Li San didn't believe that these businessmen were right. Xiao Ming said, Since that's the case, you should secretly arrest these suspicious businessmen and torture them. We don't have much time to communicate with each other. They've gone in circles, and at this point they'd rather kill a thousand by mistake than let one go.

Li San nodded, his expression suddenly gloomy.

Li San had just left, and Xiao Ming was about to go out, when Li Kaiyuan suddenly asked to see him outside the palace.

During this time, he was busy preparing for the war in Cangzhou. He didn't care too much about the business of the Chamber of Commerce, but handed it over to Li Kaiyuan.

His Royal Highness. Li Kaiyuan bowed in the main hall and said.

No gift, you, the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, are so busy, how come you have time to come to me? Xiao Ming asked.

Li Kaiyuan said with a smile on his face: His Royal Highness, no matter how busy I am, I can't forget you, Your Highness, hehe, Your Highness, I have a good thing to tell you this time.

What's the matter? Xiao Ming lacked interest, and the succession of things made him a little irritable.

Li Kaiyuan saw that Xiao Ming's mood was not high, and said: Your Highness, you must be happy to hear this. I sent two ships of saltpeter to His Highness.

Two ships of saltpeter? Didn't Chen Wenlong say that there is no saltpeter on the market now? Xiao Ming wondered.

Li Kaiyuan said: Your Highness will thank Qin Yuanwai. A few days ago, when I came back from Jinling City, I was encountering the Qin family's merchant ship that was returning to Qingzhou together. The lack of saltpeter, I remembered this and went to Qin Yuanwai, Qin Yuanwai was very happy, saying that the saltpeter was going to be delivered to His Royal Highness.

Oh? Xiao Ming not only was not happy after hearing this, but frowned.

Your Highness, what's wrong? Isn't this a good thing? Li Kaiyuan asked.

A good thing? It is indeed a good thing. It's just that Qin Chuanyun didn't come to take credit for this good thing, so why did he give it to you humbly. Xiao Ming said.

Li Kaiyuan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly recalled, Yes, this kid was more diligent than me before, Your Highness, what do you mean?

Xiao Ming didn't answer, but asked, Where were you when you saw Qin Chuanyun?

He is on the dock and seems to be going out of town. Li Kaiyuan said.

Xiao Ming rolled his eyes. The connection between these two things made Qin Chuanyun feel more and more wrong.

Hurry up and call Li San back. Xiao Ming said in a hurry.

Seeing Xiao Ming's embarrassed expression, Li Kaiyuan didn't dare to ask any more, and ran out immediately, and after a while, Li San was chased back.

Xiao Ming and Li San talked about the whole story, and immediately took the secret guard to the Tuojiang Wharf.

Just arrived at the wharf, there is still the shadow of Qin Chuanyun at this time.

The guards in the city soon came to report that, except for some servants and Qin Chuanyun's concubine, all the important members of the family were not in the city.

Qin Chuanyun! This king is not mean to you! Xiao Ming said angrily.

Li San said cautiously: His Royal Highness, Qin Yuanwai is always a noble family, but I didn't expect him to be so forbearing. He not only deceived His Highness, but also let me relax my vigilance against him. The lower official is guilty.

It's not your fault, it's the king's fault. The wealthy family is always the wealthy family. How could they be willing to become commoners? Xiao Ming muttered to himself.

Li Kaiyuan said at this time: His Royal Highness, there is no conclusion at this time. Maybe Qin Yuan is just going out with his family. Look, aren't all the Qin family's merchant ships here? These two ships are loaded with saltpeter.

The three of them were talking when an old man suddenly came out from the bow of the boat, and when they saw Li Kaiyuan, the thin old man said: Manager Li, member Qin and his family went back to save relatives, and before leaving, he specially ordered the old slave to Hand over the things on this ship to His Highness to relieve His Highness' urgent need.

His Royal Highness, look, maybe this is just your guess. Li Kaiyuan said.

On the dock were two merchant ships with a length of more than 30 meters. These were the standard water transport merchant ships of the Qin family. If the warehouses were full of saltpeter, this would really make Qingzhou no longer have to worry about the source of the gunpowder.

Frowning, Xiao Ming and Li San got on the boat together. At this time, he couldn't help but wonder if he was too sensitive.

After all, it cannot be concluded that this is what Qin Chuan Yun did just by guessing.

Your Highness, this saltpeter is here. The old man led Xiao Ming to the cabin, and sure enough, it was full of saltpeter.

Li Kaiyuan said: Look, Your Highness, maybe Qin Yuan really did a good thing.

At this time, the old man said: These saltpeter were bought from a merchant in Shu at a high price. I heard that the nitrate cave in Shu was sealed by the king of Shu. Only with the order of the king of Shu can we continue to mine it.

When he was speaking, the old man raised his hand and rubbed his eyes, because he was standing very close to the old man, and a faint smell from the old man's hand floated into his nose.

Xiao Ming was instantly shocked, and he shouted: Gunpowder! Get out of here!

Li San was startled, he raised the knife and fell, the old man clutched his chest and fell down with a groan.

The three quickly fled out, and before they walked 20 meters, a deafening bang sound came, and Xiao Ming pressed Li San and Li Kaiyuan to the ground quickly.

At this moment, a wave of air swept across the three of them in an instant.

Li Kaiyuan, you bastard, I'm going to kill you!

As if his body was broken, Li San got up from the ground, stretched out his hand and punched Li Kaiyuan, who was blinded.