I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

Wang Hongfu looked at the young man kneeling in front of him and crying bitterly, and felt pity in his heart.

He is called a young man only in appearance, and in fact, Ma Wenchang is not yet twenty years old.

As Ma Wenchang told the story, Wang Hongfu and others realized how difficult it was for this young man.

Ma Wenchang originally had a good family, but unfortunately his parents died and his family fell into poverty.

His family property was taken away by his uncles and aunts, and he could only depend on his sister.

Fortunately, although they had no property, the old house was still there, so the two of them did not have to be displaced.

He was only eight or nine years old when his parents died, and that year the Tang Dynasty's cavalry approached the city.

The King of Gaochang was so frightened after hearing this that he died. The prince led his troops to resist for a while, and it was during this time that his father was killed in the battle.

After the Tang army entered the city, they looted everywhere, and his home was not spared; all his property was taken away.

Later, some of his property was taken away by his uncles.

Their mother lived a hard life raising them and was unable to get enough food.

Not long after, their mother also fell ill and passed away.

Ma Wenchang became an orphan and barely survived in hardship with his six-year-old sister.

Later, the Tang Dynasty offered them a future, so he brought his sister all the way here and almost starved to death along the way.

After that, he used his weak body to shoulder the mission of supporting his sister, and he would do anything to provide her with food.

Raising and feeding horses and running errands for others are hardships that are beyond the understanding of ordinary people.

In this way, Ma Wenchang and his sister survived for several years.

A few years later, Prince Ji's Mansion developed the Anxi Protectorate and organized local people to reclaim wasteland and plant cash crops such as cotton and fruit.

The local governor ordered all males to reclaim the land.

Ma Wenchang was young, but in order to make a living, he worked hard to cultivate the fields and grow cotton.

Although not much was planted, it was enough to maintain a basic standard of living because the purchase price given by Prince Ji's Mansion was very high.

And the price of food is very low.

At this moment, Ma Wenchang finally saw hope of survival. He worked hard on the farm, doing more than anyone else, leaving home early and returning late.

Learn various experiences from the people sent by Prince Ji’s Mansion to be in charge of planting.

Gradually life got better.

But the good times did not last long. Prince Ji's Mansion suddenly lowered the purchase price of cotton. They wanted to sell it to other merchants, but the tribal leader did not allow it.

Anyone who disobeys will die inexplicably. After a few times, no one dares to resist anymore.

Their lives returned to what they were before, except that now they could barely avoid going hungry.

In order to have a better life, Ma Wenchang decided to work in the workshop of Prince Ji's mansion during the slack season.

Although the wages are low, it can at least help to make up for the loss.

But as time went on, the workshops began to exploit these craftsmen, and the workmanship became worse and worse.

However, the wages are getting lower and lower, and if you don't finish the work, you will be beaten and scolded.

This made the craftsmen in the workshop miserable. Some of them wanted to quit and were beaten half to death.

It was only then that people realized that they were being treated as slaves and trapped here.

Craftsmen often died in the workshop, and some were captured.

They all wanted to escape, but the workshop was heavily guarded, and those who escaped were caught and tortured to death.

No one could escape.

Ma Wenchang was unwilling to give up. He had a younger sister waiting for him at home. If he couldn't go back, his sister would be left alone and helpless.

It would be difficult for his sister to survive here, and even if she did, she would be bullied.

Not long ago, Ma Wenchang was assigned to Wang Yan's courtyard to do odd jobs and clean the yard.

He noticed that every once in a while a car carrying night-time incense would come in and out.

So after planning for a long time, Ma Wenchang prepared to borrow Dao Yexiang's car to escape from the workshop.

Once he was assigned to move things in Wang Yan's study, where he accidentally discovered a secret compartment containing two account books.

He secretly noted that two nights ago he had sneaked in, stole the account book, and secretly transferred it into a barrel of night-scented incense to escape.

He stole the account book to save his life, because he knew he would be discovered after escaping, and he could use the account book as bargaining chip.

Sure enough, his escape was discovered soon. He wanted to go back and take his sister away, but the pursuers caught up with him.

His sister was captured by the other party in order to save him. He wanted to go to the Xizhou government office with the account book, because he knew that the court would not sit idly by.

This was the only way he could rescue his sister.

But the pursuers were coming very quickly, and if Wang Hongfu and others had not happened to pass by today, he would have been doomed.

After Ma Wenchang told his story, he knelt down and kowtowed to Wang Hongfu:

“My dear, please help my sister. They are inhumane. If you go too late, I’m afraid my sister will be harmed by them.

Please, sir, please, sir."

Ever since Wang Hongfu heard what Ma Wenchang said, he has been frowning and lost in thought.

If what Ma Wenchang said is true, then Wang Wencheng has controlled this place several years ago.

They colluded with the local tribal leaders and committed crimes together.

Not only did they exploit the local people to grow cotton, but they also kept workshop craftsmen in captivity.

It seems that Wang Wencheng has great influence here, and no news has leaked out for all these years.

You know, it's not just the Prince Ji's Mansion that grows cotton here, there are also many nobles who grow cotton here.

The same is true for the Zhaoguo Mansion of Changsun Wuji, who also opened a workshop here.

But why didn't any news get out?

You know, merchants are the most informed, but he didn't hear any news in Chang'an City.

He couldn't help but sigh that Wang Wencheng actually had such means.

"Ma Wenchang, is everything you said true?"

Wang Hongfu looked at Ma Wenchang seriously.

"My Lord, everything I said is true. You will know it if you go to the workshop.

My life is in your hands now. If I say anything false,

I am willing to die as an apology."

Wang Hongfu nodded and walked towards the captain of the guards.

The guard squad leader also heard what was just said clearly, and the two of them walked aside.

“Captain Sun, this matter is of great importance, we must rush to the workshop as soon as possible. Wang feels that this matter cannot be delayed any longer.

Otherwise, it is very likely to be disadvantageous to His Royal Highness Prince Ji."

“Shopkeeper Wang, I don’t understand these things. When I came here, His Royal Highness Prince Ji told me that you are the one who makes the decision on everything.

We will execute whatever you say, so you can rest assured."

The captain of the guards also expressed his attitude. Although the matter was somewhat dangerous, as a guard of Prince Ji's Mansion, obeying the orders of His Royal Highness Prince Ji was the first priority.

Wang Hongfu nodded.

"Well, thank you very much, Squad Leader Sun. According to the time, our reinforcements should be arriving soon.

It’s half a day’s journey from here to the workshop. We will camp outside the workshop and wait for reinforcements to arrive.”

"Everything will be subject to the arrangements of Shopkeeper Wang."