Cao Zhen replied coldly: "Wei Chiqin, we said it well at the time, after you traded with Brother Li in Guzang, there was nothing to do with you, and now you should stay in Guzang and wait for the transaction to be divided, you said that the matter was urgent that night, and it was already a violation of the agreement to let your people follow all the way, why do you still want to get out of the customs?" Wei Chiqin, what do you want to do to find out the way and route of trading with the Western Regions? ”

Wang Huaqiang smiled slightly: "Cao Xingshou, I will also have a long-term transaction with the Western Regions in the future, what you said is right, this trip is just to follow your Chamber of Commerce to see the route, you see that I have already arrived in Yangguan, let me go with it, it doesn't matter, besides, this time I was going to follow the An brothers and sisters to the East-Turks, just by the way." ”

An Xinggui's brows furrowed, and he looked at Wang Huaqiang: "Brother Wei Chi, you didn't say that you were going to the Eastern Turks, why did you suddenly come out like this this time?" ”

Li Fan had mentioned this matter to Wang Huaqiang many times along the way, and when he saw that a few people were about to get into trouble, he hurriedly snorted and said: "Two virtuous brothers, Brother Wei Chi also has to obey his big brother Liu's orders, we sometimes can't catch up with changes in our business plans, let's be considerate of each other." ”

He turned his head to Wang Huaqiang and said: "But Brother Wei Chi, I am also thinking about it all the way, you may not have too many people, it turns out that you said that you want these people to follow the cart, I didn't care about you, and then after changing the camel, you said that you want to be familiar with the route of doing business, I also agreed, but now you have to go out of the customs, and after you go out, it will be in the territory of the Western Turks, and these hundreds of brothers under your command will not play any role in the past, so I will see it back." ”

Wang Huaqiang thought secretly in his heart, it seems that Cao Zhen and An Xinggui are wary of themselves, and Li Fan has already said this, if he insists on being a little too faceless, it may backfire, anyway, Changsun Sheng has already arrived here, with his ability, it should not be a problem to change to the Yumen Pass Plug dozens of miles to the north, as long as he follows the past, he will achieve his goal.

Thinking of this, Wang Huaqiang's face showed a slight smile, and he arched his hand at Li Fanyi: "President Li, then do it according to your wishes, but I am going to go out of the customs, and my guys will let them turn back to Daxing, and a month later, the second batch of 200,000 catties of iron ore will still be traded according to this old route." ”

A trace of disappointment flashed on Li Fan's face: "Next time, Brother Wei Chi won't escort him personally?" ”

Wang Huaqiang smiled: "President Li also said just now, I am also under the order of others, I can't help it, next time it may be the son of Lu Ben Lu Thorn Shi, Sergeant Lu Delin came to escort him." When the time comes, I will ask Chairman Lee to take care of him. ”

There was a hint of surprise in Li Fan's voice: "Lord Lu Benlu? It's the minister of the dragon when the emperor ascended the throne, and his son has also joined you? ”

Wang Huaqiang nodded: "Yes, several important ministers of the Northern Zhou Dynasty who helped Yang Jian ascend the throne back then were not allowed to be reused in the Sui Dynasty, and they all held grudges, Liu Fang, the biggest hero in the past few years, was killed by Yang Jian with an excuse, and the remaining Lu Ben, Zheng Yi, Liu Chang and other princes were all in danger, so Brother Liu was unwilling to sit still and was determined to give it a go. ”

Li Fan smiled: "It turns out that Liu Gongzi still has the support of these important ministers behind him, Brother Wei Chi, I am more and more optimistic about your career now." ”

He glanced at the sky and said: "It's not too early, let's hurry up and deliver the goods, let's get out of the customs as much as possible, Brother Wei Chi, this time you will go with us alone, these brothers can go all the way to our chamber of commerce in Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Zhangye, these big cities of guest houses to eat and live, free of charge!"

Wang Huaqiang shook his head: "I think it's better to let them go back the way they came, after all, they are not familiar with this road, take the safety point again, President Li, please ask the two brothers to help lead the way, there is no guide in the desert and it will be troublesome." ”

Li Fan patted his chest: "It's wrapped around me." He shouted to the guards in the distance: "Liu Dongzi, Li XVII, you two take Brother Wei Chi's men back to Guzang, remember, go back the same way." The two guards on horseback took the order.

Wang Huaqiang also turned the camel, ran back to the caravan, and said loudly to everyone: "Listen, now start unloading, after unloading, all the way back to Guzang, President Li's people will take you to the desert again, after I leave, listen to the arrangement of the steward along the way, after returning to Daxing, first go to collect the reward, then rest for three days, and then follow the next group of caravans to set off." ”

There was a burst of cheers from the crowd, and as soon as they heard the reward money, the eyes of these guards pretending to be Xiaoguo Sergeants lit up, and the motivation to work was suddenly there, and they unloaded the goods from the hump with their hands and feet, Wang Huaqiang smiled and said to Duan Da beside him: "Brother Duan, I'll leave it to you next." You know what to do. ”

A sly glint flashed in Duan Da's eyes: "I understand." ”

Wang Huaqiang glanced meaningfully at Changsun Sheng, who was mixed in the crowd, covering his face with a cloth, dressed as a miscellaneous servant, and looked at each other, Changsun Sheng nodded silently, all without saying anything.

Just when Wang Huaqiang was busy giving orders to his subordinates and directing the unloading, Li Fan and the three people in the distance also watched coldly, constantly looking at Wang Huaqiang and his party.

Cao Zhen couldn't help but open her mouth: "Big brother, I didn't say you, how can you take Wei Chiqin's people through our business route this time?" If they know about it in the future, they will also rob us of our business on this road, miscellaneous!"

An Xinggui shook his head: "Lao Cao, the eldest brother should have his own calculations, didn't that Wei Chi kid just say that they are taking the desert of the southern route this way, not our usual route." ”

Li Fan nodded with satisfaction, and the small eyes on his round face revealed a fierce light: "Brother Cao, I won't be stupid enough to tell him about my route, I took him to the most dangerous southern route, and we generally don't take that road ourselves, unless it's smuggling, there are Tuyuhun and Qiang people everywhere on both sides of the desert, if I hadn't said hello in advance this time, it wouldn't have been so easy."

Next time, Yu Chi boy will go on his own trip, I am afraid that he will be empty of people and money. Hmph, do you think I can't see this kid's mind? I'm calling it a plan. ”

The expression on Cao Zhen's face became soothing, but when he saw Wang Huaqiang's subordinates, his brows furrowed again: "Big brother, I see that these guys brought by Yu Chi are all as strong as a cow, not like ordinary guys at all, and they are all fierce, like Qiu Ba who has fought on the battlefield." ”

An Xinggui "hi" said: "Yu Chi boy himself is a guard in the palace, and he went to Nanchen to fight, and it is estimated that there are a lot of soldiers and men who are usually befriended. Didn't those government soldiers who were laid out also join our merchant groups as guards? ”

Cao Zhen shook his head: "No, the layoffs are all old, weak, sick and disabled, and they are only used as miscellaneous servants in our merchant group, but if you look at these subordinates of Wei Chi Boy, there are five big and three coarse, and the elite soldiers in the world are only afraid that it is just like this, and it is impossible to cut these people no matter how they are disarmed." ”

Li Fan also nodded thoughtfully: "Yes, these people are usually not like ordinary miscellaneous servants at all, when they rest, they complain bitterly, basically they don't talk much, let them do whatever they want, when pushing the cart, the weight of two thousand catties in a cart is also three people pushing it is not difficult at all, even the usual work and rest looks like the style of the army, in my opinion, Lao Cao is right, there is no doubt that he must be a soldier." ”

When Li Fan said this, his brows also locked: "Lao Cao is right, these people really can't be underestimated, in fact, there are many Qiang people on the road from Guanzhong to Guzang, and the area of Jincheng is also rampant with horse thieves, but Yu Chi can get through this road, and there are still ruthless people under his command, so don't be careless." ”

He suddenly raised his head and beckoned a steward in the distance, and when he got closer, he whispered: "Steward Li, you will also go back with Wei Chiqin's caravan in a while, remember, make a few more circles in the desert along the way, don't let them touch the way, understand?" ”