Under the scorching sun, on the banks of the Tianma River, several fishing boats loaded all the fish they caught into wooden barrels and transported them to a fishing ground on the shore one by one.

Several skilled fishermen snatch the fish from the barrel, break its gills, thread one end of the soaked straw rope through the mouth and gills, tie the other end to the fish's tail, and hang it on the fish cart.

In a short time, hundreds of fish were processed, and the entire water fish cart was filled with big fish.

"Hurry! This carload of fish was quickly transported to Zhongning City! "One of the stewards saw that a cart of fish had been prepared, and he cried out loudly.

The fishermen hurriedly pushed the cart to a unified place, where more than 20 carts had been released, with a total of more than 2,000 fish and a net weight of nearly 30,000 catties.

The 30,000 catties of fish were ordered by a big customer in Zhongning City, and the price was very high.

Zhongning City is far away from lakes and rivers, so there are not many fish. However, Zhongning City can be regarded as a big city, and the demand for fish is relatively high, and in the past, other cities were transported to dead fish, which could not meet the needs of people in Zhongning City for live fish.

Since the Qiao family mastered the art of bowfish, the fishmongers in several surrounding cities have known about it, and the price of live fish has doubled, and the fishmongers in Zhongning City have seen the business opportunity and cooperated with Jiguan County, a large fish-producing county, so that the Qiao family has made a lot of money.

As the demand for fish increased, Qiao Wenze doubled the fishing grounds in Jiguan County and hired a large number of workers, which greatly increased the production capacity of the entire Jiguan County, and he made money himself while providing a lot of employment opportunities.

Now, all the people in Jiguan County have smiles on their faces, and they worship the Qiao family as gods.

The sun was just shining, and it was already noon, and the fishermen who had been busy all morning were already hungry.

The steward clapped his hands, drawing the attention of all the fishermen, "Guys! Let's get ready, and we're going to start eating right away! Today, Master Qiao specially added meat to everyone, and after everyone finished eating, speed up the progress! ”

The crowd erupted in cheers, "Master Qiao is so good!" Thank you, Mr. Joe! ”

Qiao Wenze took Qiao Tong to the fishing ground, and he heard a burst of cheers, and he said to Qiao Tong earnestly: "Tong'er, this time to expand the scale of the fishing ground, although it cost a lot of silver, we don't have much silver money on hand now. But the treatment given to workers cannot be deducted. If in order to save money, we reduce the treatment of these fishermen who have been working for us, it will not be worth the loss. ”

"The boy wrote it down." Qiao Tong nodded seriously.

When the steward saw the big boss coming, he hurriedly greeted him.

introduced Qiao Wenze to some of the situation of the fishing ground one by one, and the father and son nodded frequently.

After walking around for a while, Qiao Wenze felt that he was getting older and a little tired. So he said: "Tong'er, now Steward Zhang will take you to inspect other places, my father is a little tired, so I will rest for a while." ”

Qiao Tong hurriedly asked, "Father, but if you are unwell, do you want the child to call the doctor to come and have a look?" ”

Qiao Wenze waved his hand, "No need, it's all an old problem, I'll be tired after walking for a long time, you can get busy, don't worry about me." ”

"Okay, the boy went first. The father has a good rest, and the child will come as he goes. Qiao Tong bowed down and left with the steward.

Qiao Wenze was supported by the servant, found a shady place, and the servant prepared a chaise longue for him, and he lay down comfortably and closed his eyes.

After a moment, he suddenly felt someone gently tapping him on the shoulder.

He opened his eyes, and in front of him was a woman dressed in blue brocade, and the woman saw that he had woken up and stepped aside.

A smiling man sat on a bench, his eyes fixed on him, and behind the man stood a burly man.

When Qiao Wenze saw this smiling man, he jumped up from the recliner in shock, "Xu...... General Xu......"

This man is none other than Xu Xiang.

Xu Xiang learned that the grain was mixed with sediment and that Qiao Wenze gave him the batch, so he came to Jiguan County to settle accounts with Qiao's family.

"Master Qiao, don't come unharmed." Although Xu Xiang had a soft smile on his face, his heart was already full of anger.

"Joe is fine! There is General Lao Xu who is worried. How did General Xu ...... Today I came to Jiguan County, why didn't you say it earlier, the villain ordered someone to prepare a thin wine to welcome you! Qiao Wenze knew that Xu Xiang would come to him, but he didn't know that it would be so soon.

At first, although he learned that Wei Muzhi led his army to Zihu and could not set up an ambush for Xu Xiang on the Tianma River, he didn't care.

He felt that the two people would collide on Zihu sooner or later, and at that time, Xu Xiang's two thousand "rebels" estimated that there was no possibility of escape.

Although five or six days had passed, he had not received any news that Heyuan Mansion had been breached and Wei Muzhi had been killed. He always felt that most of Xu Xiang and his 2,000 "rebels" had already been buried in Zihu.

However, now that Xu Xiang appeared in front of him unscathed, there should be no other possibility than to settle accounts with himself.

How does this make him not panic?

He was always just a businessman, how dare he stand up to the army?

"Tell you ahead of time?" Xu Xiang snorted coldly, "So that you can pack up your things and escape?" ”

Qiao Wenze was so frightened that he knelt down, and said in horror: "General Xu spares his life, the villain never has such an idea!" ”

Xu Xiang glanced at the entire fishing ground, and then said leisurely: "Master Qiao, I see that you have almost mastered the technique of bowfishing. Do you think my live fish technique is worth your 5,000 stone of food and resources? ”

"Value! Absolute value! Qiao Wenze hurriedly said, although this bowfish technique is simple, no one has ever thought that with the bowfish technique, his fish can be transported to Zhongning City, and even Yu Ning will sell it.

In the past few days, the amount of fish ordered from Zhongning City has reached the total amount he usually transports to Guyuan City and Baiyuan City in a year, and the benefits he has gained from it are limitless.

Although 5,000 stone of grain was a lot, if it was converted into silver, he would be able to earn it back in half a year.

And this time, among the 5,000 stone of grain he gave Xu Xiang, nearly sixty percent of the sediment was mixed in, which was even more neglected.

"Then you're still mixing mud and sand in the food you gave me!" Xu Xiang stood up with a loud shout, his eyes stabbing at him like sharp blades, making him tremble in fright.

Xu Xiang himself is a person in the army, and he has long had an iron-blooded temperament, coupled with the fact that he was reborn in this world, and he is also a prince with such a noble identity, this garden is angry, and his temperament is Lingran. Qiao Wenze has always been just a narrow-minded businessman, and he has never seen a big storm, how can he withstand his coercion.

"General Xu spares his life! The villain is blinded by lard, so it will be shoddy! I am willing to compensate General Xu for his losses! I am willing to compensate tenfold! Ten times over! ”

Hearing the word "tenfold", Xu Xiang's anger was reined in, and what he lacked most at present was food.

Although Qiao Wenze cheated him, he didn't plan to really kill him.

This time, he deliberately stayed in Jiguan County, just to recover his losses, and the expectation in his heart was that he would have to get at least 10,000 stone of grain before he would let go of the Qiao family.

I didn't expect Qiao Wenze to be so cowardly, and he said ten times the compensation.

This made Xu Xiang have to be concerned, Xuanyuan must be short of food, this is a fact. If you can get 50,000 stone of grain, even if the next few cities Xuanyuan Ding doesn't get food, you can still support the capture of Zhongning City.

He sat down again, raised his eyebrows, and his tone softened a little, "You have fifty thousand stone grain?" ”

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Qiao Wenze hurriedly said, "As long as General Xu gives me three months, I will definitely give the general 50,000 stone of grain!" ”

"Three months?" Xu Xiang frowned, he thought that Qiao Wenze really had 50,000 stone of grain!

Generally speaking, it is very good for a small city to have 50,000 stone of grain in the treasury, but in a county like Jiguan County, it is considered rich to have 30,000 stone of grain in the treasury.

Of course, this is talking about the treasury of the government. Naturally, how many grain merchants in the hands of these people cannot be counted in it.

Although the granary in the north of Heyuan Mansion was burned and nearly 100,000 stone of grain was burned, so many people in Heyuan Mansion would not starve to death, after all, there was still a lot of grain in the hands of grain merchants.

Even if they conquered Heyuan Mansion, the grain in the granary of the treasury would naturally become their spoils of war, but they could not touch the grain of the people, and if they did, it would be no different from robbers.

Xuanyuan must represent the orthodoxy of Great Xia, and the army is naturally a righteous army, of course, he will not be allowed to do things to rob the people of grain.

Qiao Wenze can be regarded as one of the richest people in Jiguan County, and he has hoarded almost 20,000 stone of grain in his own granary, but there is still a big gap between 50,000 and 50,000. The reason why he promised 50,000 stone of grain was because he had a channel to get it.

"Three months is too long." Xu Xiang said, "One month, I'll give you a month to gather 50,000 stone of grain!" ”

Qiao Wenze secretly complained, all his own grain, plus Guyuan City had a good relationship with him, he could get up to 30,000 stone of grain a month.

"Yes! The villain must do his best to gather 50,000 stone of grain as soon as possible! Qiao Wenze said stubbornly.

It seems that trading with the people in Zhongning City has to let them exchange food for it.

"When the food is sufficient, it will be stored with you, and someone will naturally come to pick it up when the time comes."

After dealing with the food matter, the matter here was already busy, so he hurriedly took Yang Dianfeng and the eldest grandson Mingying to Zhongning City.

This time, there is no need to walk through the mountains and forests and swamps, and you can directly take the official road.

Although the news of the destruction of Heyuan Mansion has now spread to several nearby cities, the defenders in the city are also very nervous, and there will be interrogations of people entering and leaving the city.

The three of them underwent a slight transfiguration, disguised as merchants, and did not make anyone suspicious.

Finally, on the fifth day, they entered the confines of Zhongning City.

At this time, Zhongning City was surrounded by Qin Zhiwei and Huo Lingzhuo's 30,000 troops, and the city wall was already full of holes, but it still failed to take it.

In the past few days, Xu Xiang also received news that Baiyuan City surrendered after resisting for a day, while Guyuan City surrendered directly without any resistance.

Xu Xiang was dressed in a businessman's purple brocade suit and sat in the carriage, with the eldest grandson Mingying dressed as a maid sitting next to him, and Yang Dianfeng was dressed as a coachman to drive the car.

The carriage swayed towards Zhongning City, and it was more than twenty miles to the north, and they should be able to reach Zhongning City before it was completely dark.

At this time, it is the setting sun, and the golden red afterglow of the sun shines on this sparkling road, and the afterglow of the setting sun is like a landscape painting.

"Phew! Parking!"

Just as the swaying carriage aroused Xu Xiang's sleepiness, and he had not yet fully fallen asleep, a rough voice suddenly woke him up.

Yang Dianfeng hurriedly reined in the horse, and saw seven or eight big men with long knives jumping out of the road.

"What's wrong?" Xu Xiang asked.

Yang Dianfeng put his head into the carriage and said, "Young master, there are a few robbers of houses. ”

Xu Xiang is idle and bored, he has been on the road for the past few days, except for chatting with Yang Dianfeng and Sun Mingying, there is no other entertainment activities, except for eating every day.

Now, we will be in Zhongning City soon, and the time is not so tight.

When he saw that there was a robbery, he immediately became interested.

He got up, Yang Dianfeng hurriedly got out of the carriage and helped him get out of the carriage, and then the eldest grandson Mingying also walked down.

Xu Xiang saw seven or eight shirtless rough men, led by a man with a few pockmarks on his fat face, which was very ugly.

He was holding a ghost-headed knife in his hand, with many small gaps on the blade, which looked like a blunt knife.

"I am the great master of Ningshan Daxiong Peak, Wang Yinghao! Make a mouthful of the mountain ghost head big knife, the acquired five-fold martial arts master! Jianghu people call Ningshan ghosts sorrowful! When you pass by my Wang Yinghao's territory, you need to pay ten taels of silver tolls! Otherwise, wherever a certain big knife goes, there will be no piece of armor left! "The rough man at the head reported his home and purpose.

The others around laughed wildly, muttering to Xu Xiang to hand over the silver.

Ten taels of silver, for Xu Xiang is not much, but for ordinary people is a lot of money, according to Xu Xiang's current dress, ordinary businessmen take out ten taels of silver to bandits, and they will also feel distressed.

These bandits, some lions opened their mouths.

Yang Dianfeng was about to step forward to teach this gang of robbers a lesson, but Xu Xiang pulled him back.

"Ten taels of silver, huh?" Xu Xiang smiled slightly and asked.

"That's right! Ten taels of silver! If you pay it, you will be safe and sound, and if you don't pay it, you will die! The bandit Wang Yinghao showed a fierce and vicious look.

"Ten taels of silver will be given to you. But can you guarantee that I will be safe and sound? Xu Xiang asked.

"Of course! This radius of fifty miles, who doesn't know the name of my Wang Yinghao! As long as you pay the toll, I'll keep you safe! Hearing that Xu Xiang was willing to give silver, a smile appeared on his face, and his face was not so hideous.

"In other words, the ten taels of silver have been handed over to you. This is a radius of fifty miles, and no one can hurt me? ”

"That's nature! Don't talk nonsense, hurry up and pay the money out! ”

Xu Xiang shook his head, "But I don't believe it!" ”

Wang Yinghao showed an angry look on his face, "You're kidding me!" ”

After saying that, he was carrying a big knife, and he was about to rush up. Xu Xiang hurriedly raised his hand and said, "No! No! Don't worry! Listen to me! ”

"Say it! After that, pay the money! ”

"Do you know that this Zhongning City is only more than twenty miles away from us, right? Now there are people fighting in Zhongning City! I'm going to Zhongning City later, and you'll protect me, right? ”

Wang Yinghao showed anger on his face, Zhongning City has been fighting for more than ten days, how could the news not reach his ears.

It is precisely because Zhongning City is now wartime, so there is no caravan passing by from Tongxin City to Zhongning City, and his income has been greatly reduced, and the pot in the village is almost impossible to open these days.

finally ran into Xu Xiang, so he naturally had to extort a lot of money.

Hearing Xu Xiang say this, how could he really protect people and go to Zhongning City, these few people under his command are not enough for those troops to stuff their teeth!

However, for the sake of money, he can't manage so much.

"That's right! I protect you! ”

"That's a good feeling! Lao Yang, give money! Xu Xiang laughed.

"Huh?" Yang Dianfeng had a puzzled look on his face, not knowing what kind of medicine was sold in Xu Xiang's gourd.

"Why are you still stunned? Give money! Xu Xiang added.

Yang Dianfeng had no choice but to take out the money bag and throw ten taels of silver at Wang Yinghao, who took it into his hand, and was a little surprised by Xu Xiang's refreshment.

He also saw that in Yang Dianfeng's money bag, there were no less than one hundred taels of silver and many silver tickets, but he did not show a greedy look, saying that as long as ten taels, it would only be ten taels.

When he got the money, he was very happy in his heart, and he raised his head with a knife, "Brothers, the money is in hand, go!" ”

Several bandits happily planned to leave, but Xu Xiang stopped them: "Wait, where are you going?" ”

Wang Yinghao turned around and said, "Where is the uncle going, do you need to tell you?" ”

Xu Xiang said, "But what you just said, you want to protect me!" ”

The bandits burst out laughing, "You're not a fool, are you?" Now that Zhongning City is at war, who will accompany you to your death! ”

"Brothers, let's go!"

Xu Xiang said arrogantly, "That's not good!" What you promised will be done. ”

After speaking, he gave the eldest grandson Mingying a look, and the latter understood, jumped lightly, and fell in front of the bandits, blocking their way.

In just three or two strokes, this group of bandits was subdued by the eldest grandson Mingying, and one by one they held their heads or stomachs in pain, rolling on the ground and wailing.

Xu Xiang walked over slowly and said, "Mingying, you are too heavy. ”

"The lesson of the young master is that next time I will do it lightly." The eldest grandson Mingying said.

Xu Xiang squatted down in front of Wang Yinghao, with an evil smile on the corner of his mouth, "Didn't you say that you wanted to protect me when I went to Zhongning City?" A manly man, you can't talk without counting. ”

Wang Yinghao's heart is about to die, and his five-fold "master" is under the hands of the eldest grandson Mingying, but he can't make a move, which shows that Xu Xiang is not afraid of them robbing at all, and he finally understands that he is playing himself in front of him!

"I'm sorry, I was wrong! We were all wrong! The money will be returned to you! He knelt in front of Xu Xiang, a big rough man was crying and crying, and with both hands, he offered the silver that Yang Dianfeng had just given him.

"The little ones have eyes but don't know the true God, please spare the villain, uncle!"

The other bandits also knelt down and kowtowed to Xu Xiang to beg for forgiveness.

Xu Xiang looked serious, pointed to the silver that was still in Wang Yinghao's hand, and said, "You have collected my protection money, you should protect me to Zhongning City!" ”

Wang Yinghao is like a mourner, this wants them to go to Zhongning City, what is the difference between sending them to death?

"Uncle! We really know it's wrong! There is an eighty-year-old mother in the villain's house, and a three-year-old child under it, so let the villain go! ”

"No, no, no! If you promise something, you have to do it! Xu Xiang stood up and shook his head with a serious face.

"Mingying, I'll get into the carriage first. You will urge them to protect me by the side of my carriage. Remember, I paid the bill! Xu Xiang said to the eldest grandson Mingying again, and walked towards the carriage after speaking.

The eldest grandson Mingying looked at the bandits, and the bandits were stared at by her eyes, and they shrank together in fright, for fear that she would do something to them again.

"What? Didn't you hear what the young master said? Or do you need to do it? The eldest grandson Mingying snorted coldly.

"No need! No need! Wang Yinghao didn't care about the skin injuries on his body, got up, and timidly followed Xu Xiang's carriage.

Xu Xiang suddenly poked his head out of the carriage, and Wang Yinghao and the others were frightened.

"What are you doing? I won't eat you again! Xu Xiang chuckled.

"......" The bandits showed a nervous look on their faces, and no one dared to say a word, and the eldest grandson Mingying behind them was still staring at them!

"Don't worry, as long as you send me to Zhongning City safely, I will give you another ten taels of silver for protection!"

Wang Yinghao rolled his eyes, dizzy for a while, and felt that he was dead.

If there are such strong people under their hands, and they need to protect them, this can only mean that they will face danger, and maybe their lives will not be saved.

"By the way, Lao Yang, is there a village ahead? Later, you'll take them all to get a dress, shirtless, weird. Xu Xiang added.

The reason why Xu Xiang wanted to bring these bandits was not really because he was bored and used them as a tool to relieve boredom on the road.

Instead, he felt that in this world, real bandits would be eager to rob them all, and they wouldn't care about human life at all.

And Wang Yinghao and the others only grabbed a fixed amount of money, and when they saw that Yang Dianfeng had so much money in his hands, they didn't move other crooked thoughts, which is enough to show that they are not ordinary bandits.

From their shirtlessness, it can be seen that these people are not real bandits, but some hard-working people who have been forced to fall into the grass.

Since he has met him, if he has the ability to help, he will help.

What's more, after arriving in Zhongning City, he must urge Qin Zhiwei and Huo Lingzhuo to capture the city, and he can't let the 30,000 people play family games here, and he also needs some people to do things for him.