Star Trace Gate

In the kitchen, the dishes were clinking, several large pots were steaming, and more than a dozen waiters were busy sweating.

The woman in plain clothes who had followed the shopkeeper in had already blended into the crowd. She stretched out her hands to help the kitchen pick vegetables. Her movements were smooth and natural, as if she had been a member of this place for a long time.

It was not that no one noticed the woman in plain clothes joining the party. The three or four village women who were helping the cooks at the stove had actually seen her.

However, when they faced this supposedly strange woman, they did not show any surprise, surprise, or doubt. They just stared at each other and continued to work with their heads down.

Their brains seemed to instinctively filter out the strangeness between the two parties, as if the woman in plain clothes should appear here and be a member of the kitchen, but she could not attract anyone's attention, like an unacknowledged person. Dispensable people to pay attention to.

In fact, not only did they not feel any surprise or surprise, even the innkeeper didn't notice anything was wrong at this moment. He only talked to Wang Xinggui's entourage with a smile on his face.

"Brother Liu came to the kitchen in person. Did he have special instructions? Do you want to give medicine to the little King Huai and others?" The shopkeeper bared his yellow teeth and asked proactively: "I have everything ready here."

The attendant waved his hand: "I'm here to tell you, don't give me the medicine yet. That Zhu Zigui has no spine. Ever since he met the boss, he has been like a dog wagging its tail begging for mercy... He should not cause any trouble again."

The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly: "I know, I know. If you need to administer medicine, Brother Liu only needs to give me a wink, and I will take care of it myself to ensure that everything is flawless."

Not far away, the woman in plain clothes was picking vegetables and blinking her smart eyes, listening to the two people conspiring loudly.

The shopkeepers and waiters of this inn all came down from Jingshan Mountain. They usually assist the bandits in killing people and stealing goods, poisoning and drugging, and kidnapping women. They are all familiar with the road, so when the two of them talked, they didn't betray anyone at all. They are accomplices, there is no need for any secrets at all.

Wang Xinggui's attendant reminded him again: "Don't rush to serve the food and wine. I will inform you when the discussion has a result."

"I know, I know, let's go, Brother Liu, and have tea in the front hall."

While talking, the two of them walked out of the kitchen together.

In the crowd, the woman in plain clothes was picking vegetables and observing her surroundings.

At this time, more than 200 bandits gathered outside the inn, and the kitchen could not provide food and drinks at all. The woman in plain clothes looked at it for a while and realized that this kitchen only prepared fine meals for the boss, and there were three kitchens next to it, with dozens of people preparing banquets for ordinary minions.

After looking at it quietly for a while, he understood the surrounding environment. She stood up and walked out in a dignified and elegant manner.

After taking two steps, her eyes suddenly stopped, and she suddenly realized that her posture was incompatible with this place, so she immediately imitated the behavior of a country woman and left quietly.

In the kitchen, no one noticed her leaving, just like no one noticed her coming in...

She wandered among the four kitchens in the backyard. She was obviously a living person, but she was not noticed at all. It was as if everyone ignored her automatically...

……

Outside the inn, under the pergola.

After Ren Ye and Wang Xinggui tried each other for a few words, they took the initiative to ask: "Three heads, Xiao Wang grew up in the palace since he was a child, has less contact with the outside world, and has no experience in traveling. So I don't know, what are the two heads? How much is the price mentioned, and I don’t know if our Qingliang Mansion can bear it... I would like to ask the three masters to make it clear."

Wang Xinggui looked at Lu Long when he heard this.

"Jingshan will take 50% of the profit from the passing goods of Qingliang Mansion." Lu Long said.

Ren was also a little startled: "I dare to ask the boss, then... how to extract the 50% profit?"

"When the goods pass by, I will have someone from Jingshan to count them and estimate them. After summing up a large number, I will take a 50% profit." Lu Long looked at him with sharp eyes as he returned.

The corners of Ren Ye's mouth twitched, and he clenched his fists secretly under the table: "Three leaders, can we still discuss the 50% profit?"

"Haha." Wang Xinggui sneered: "No."

"Okay." Ren Ye nodded solemnly: "Then we will follow the instructions of the three heads of the family. All goods passing through will be given to Jingshan 50% of the profit."

"The second thing." Lu Long's expression was calm and he spoke again: "Jingshan wants to set up four ordnance factories in Qingliang Mansion to secretly make armors and weapons... You need to secretly summon civilians and craftsmen to deliver according to the quantity every six months. There must be no mistake in a single ordnance.”

Forge armor and weapons?

After Ren Ye was confused for a moment, he immediately thought of the Qianli Green Camp in southern Xinjiang and its secret connection with the Lich Kingdom. Bandits definitely need armor and weapons, but they don't have to deliver a batch every six months, and they have to set up four ordnance factories for a long time.

This is obviously for the regular army, secretly building ordnance!

It seems that there really is collusion between officials and bandits in southern Xinjiang!

Lu Long looked at Ren Ye: "The raw materials used for the ordnance are provided by Jingshan; but the expenses of the farmers and craftsmen have to be borne by Qingliang Mansion."

"...!" Ren also heard this, and the fists clenched under the table were about to break.

Bullies don’t bully like this!

Not to mention anything else, just these two "terms" can no longer be described as a loss of country and humiliation of power, but directly treated as a slave.

The other party has to take a 50% profit from the goods that pass by. This condition is almost like lying on Qingliangfu's body to suck blood, and it is also the most ruthless way to suck blood.

The caravan trade is a dusty journey. In addition to the expenses on the road, hiring people, and legal taxes, 50% of the profits will also be taken away!

So what's left? All that is left is the little bit of silver that he risked his life to support his family.

Secondly, Jingshan wants to set up four ordnance factories in Qingliang Mansion. Although it provides casting raw materials, it does not care about the expenses of farmers and craftsmen. This is equivalent to asking the government government to pay for this money.

Let’s not even talk about how outrageous and traitorous it is for this dignified city in the Central Plains to forge ordnance and prepare war-ready weapons for the southern Xinjiang army! At least you can't just ask me to work for you and also ask me to pay for it myself, right?

This guy doesn't treat people as human beings at all!

After Ren Ye pondered for a long time, he suppressed the anger in his chest and asked: "Master. These people do business to support their families and make profits... Let us take away 50% from the mountain. They have no profit, so how can they do it?" What about the merchants who are willing to work hard? They don’t do business, and there is no tax in this government... How can I give money to the farmers and craftsmen in the ordnance factory? "

"You don't need to think about it." Wang Xinggui interrupted with a smile: "I have already thought of a way to deal with it for you."

"What's the solution?" Ren Ye asked back.

"Since ancient times, the government is big and the people are small. You have an army, swords and guns. If they don't want to go into business, you kill a group of them. If they don't want to work in the ordnance factory, then kill another group of people until they are willing. "If someone wants to move their family secretly under the pretext of trade, you can use their family as hostage. This method can solve all problems." Wang Xinggui showed a very cruel expression: "My three brothers have already settled it for you." Okay. This Qingliang Mansion is an isolated city, and you already have the authority to open or close the small secret realm. The people who are about to be slaughtered can't escape even if they want to. Treat them all like animals, just keep them hungry... In this way, you, Prince Huai, will get at least 30% of the profits from the trade!"