Principality of Yaxiu, Northwest Frontier, Canal Waters.

On the tranquil river, a small fishing boat, only two people wide, slowly approached the town, slid into the low-hanging greenery of the shore, and melted into the reflection of the rolling quaint buildings along the river.

"Sir, I'm not wrong, am I?" said the captain's deep voice with a hint of joy. It's not big, it's not too small, and there are not many strong guards, and with the means of the commander, it won't be long before we can change identities. ”

"Look again, there's no hurry. Townsend sat leisurely in the bow of the boat, black bread in his hand, and shoved a mouthful into his mouth. It seemed careless, but his gaze looked far and near from time to time, and he had taken in all the points.

After more than ten days of rapid driving, Townsend and his party had fled far away from the southeast war zone and penetrated deep into the northwest end of the Principality of Yaxiu. When choosing a further place to hide, the early captain of the canal remembered that there was a peaceful town nearby, and the location and size were very suitable.

It's a matter of life and death, and this kind of thing can't be sloppy, so Townsend asked the captain to lead the way and personally come to reconnoitre.

By any measure, the town called Harvey is a great place to hide. First of all, it is not on a busy canal, but it is only seven miles away from the main channel of the canal, and there are several small and medium-sized waterways and land routes leading to neighboring towns in three directions, and legend has it that there is even a mountain smuggling trail to the West Coast, which is the most savage and inhospitable part of the continent.

Secondly, Harvey Town is a good size, it is larger than the township but smaller than the average city, about 50,000 or 60,000 people. The local Reading Power Chamber of Commerce, Lan Ruihua, has unyielding leadership, which involves many industries and is also loose in management, so no matter what direction Townsend chooses to develop after Tibet, it will be convenient for him to perform here.

The most important point, however, was that there was no large garrison of the principality or the Union for a hundred miles near the town of Harvey. Even back decades, there was no war near Harvey Town, and the local Chamber of Commerce was able to resolve minor local disputes.

But that's what puzzled Townsend as well. Yes, a place like Harvey can only accommodate a local chamber of commerce, but in terms of the town's privileged environment, it is amazing that a small and well-readable chamber of commerce can stand for decades, unless the chamber of commerce has a secret that no one knows.

The real key is the West Coast, where no place is truly desolate under the lure of profit. Often, the more closed it is, the more profitable it is to smuggle.

Townsend is sure that Harvey Town is a key point of communication, so the Blue Blossom Chamber of Commerce is not as simple as it seems. That remote smuggling trail to the West Coast is bound to be busy at some point.

On the premise of obtaining a large amount of smuggling profits, it is reasonable and necessary for Lanrui to adopt a kind attitude towards local small merchants...... Maybe the future of these people depends on this chamber of commerce.

A tight small group of more than 20 people, without dragging, and with considerable combat effectiveness, is a force that should not be underestimated wherever it is placed. If the Blue Blossom Chamber accepts them, then they will be the help of Harvey, and if they don't, then they will be the power to destroy the caste.

In any case, Harvey Town is such a good place, Townsend is bound to enter, and he has already made up his mind.

"Go and sell the fish to the people in the town, don't inquire about anything, and if someone asks us, they say that we are sailors on the main waterway, and we have come out to make extra money. Having made up his mind, Townsend said to the captain, "Go back when you're done." ”

The captain nodded, and did as Townsend said. Neither his swarthy countenance nor his simple words attracted the attention of the natives. Then the two of them went fishing and returned, and it took several hours before they arrived at the express ship.

Seven days ago, the express ship that was fleeing for everyone's lives had been renamed the "Eat and Drink". It was now parked by the canal in the name of emergency repairs, but in reality, Townsend had to change its exterior outline, and also had to repaint and change the sails so as not to be recognized by its owner.

Because this large number of things were important, and Townsend had to personally suppress the formation, he could only make a detailed reconnaissance plan, and then dispatched two groups of ten people, led by monkeys, to monitor and reconnoiter Harvey Town.

It took five days for the reconnaissance plan to be carried out at a normal pace, and the monkeys they did it very carefully. Sent back twice a day, it is a detailed record of the town's cargo throughput and personnel traffic, even the packaging style has not been missed, as well as the town's large and small idle affairs, of course, the construction road distribution map will not be left behind...... After analysis, Townsend was more certain of his judgment.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, the monkey himself returned, and he brought important news.

“...... From the southeast came five carriages, with two horses, all of them strong and tame. The carriage of the same style, without logos, is very well made, which is the kind of luxury that the commander said, the kind of low-key luxury!" said the monkey, "The opening car and the rear car are heavier, and the middle one is very light, like some big man coming." The motorcade drove directly to the Chamber of Commerce headquarters, but strangely enough, there was no welcome ceremony in the town or the Chamber of Commerce. The car went straight through the side gate. ”

"There are no signs in the carriage, there is no welcome ceremony, probably my own people. Well, the size of the five-two carriage is at least a close, high-level figure. Townsend analyzed: "How much does the Chamber of Commerce purchase ingredients in the kitchen?"

"The purchase of fresh food has increased a lot, and the requirements are very delicate, even the small fish have to be the same size. The monkey recalled, and slapped his thigh: "They urgently transferred several large bags of things from the warehouse, which was filled with high-end cutlery and common utensils! Also, before the carriage arrived, the stewards changed into new clothes, and some of the male servants ran to freshen up. ”

"Could it be that a big man has come on the spot? It seems that my action must be advanced to this evening. Townsend nodded: "Monkey, you work hard, act with me tonight, the captain will hold the ship, and the success or failure will depend on this!"

"Why do you want to advance?" asked the captain in a low voice, "Sir, isn't the reconnaissance not yet complete?"

"Although the reconnaissance is not completed, the basic situation is almost touched. It's a rare opportunity, if the big man leaves tomorrow, we'll only have a small talk with his men. The small role of local janitor is the most difficult to deal with, and it is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Townsend smiled slightly, showing strong confidence: "You don't have to worry, for me, the bigger the person, the easier it is to deal with." ”

The captain and the monkey cook seemed to understand whether they understood it or not, but Townsend had already made up his mind, and they would not object to it again.