Chapter 386 [Family Hidden Dangers and Playboy's Carriage]

In the morning, the sky was just dawning, and on the south side of the gate of the northwest fortress, there were already a lot of people crowded in the originally huge square.

The convoy parked in the square had been so crowded that it had driven the procession for miles, and as soon as the gates were opened, there were a line of defenders, armed with swords and heavily armed, forming a wall of separation, and on the city wall, there were also archers on guard, patrolling the crowd at their feet with alert eyes.

According to the rules here in the Northwest Fortress, today is the day when the doors are opened.

The best position at the front of the square naturally belongs to various large chambers of commerce, or groups with extraordinary energy.

The Northwest Fortress is an important passage through the Empire's borders, especially in the Northwest, and is the only trading channel to the Orc Kingdom.

Every once in a while, the frontier army would open the gates and let some of the caravans go, allowing them to travel north to trade with the orcs - of course, the Tulip family's own caravans would be the top priority.

Even before the opening day, the chambers of commerce had already submitted applications to the military at the Northwest Fortress, and the goods they brought out of the customs were clearly listed and submitted for review. A qiē prohibited item, naturally there is no one on the list - the actual situation, it is difficult to say.

Every once in a while, the opening and closing days are like the opening of the sluice gates, and the caravans that gather and wait to exit the customs are like a tide.

Rao is the Northwest Fortress is the Empire's premier fortress, the gate is wide, but it is also congested. The army guarding the city gate was busy sweating, and a convoy of chambers of commerce lined up to leave the customs, and before leaving the customs, the official documents obtained in advance from the independent division were submitted to the officers of the city gate for review. At the same time, there will also be soldiers at the checkpoint to conduct spot checks on the cargo of the transport convoy.

Every time the switch is opened, there will be some entrainment of private work, so there are heavily armed soldiers around to stand by in case anyone dares to violently resist the law.

For a morning, there was a constant stream of traffic under the city gates, but the convoy waiting in the square did not seem to have decreased much.

Just south of the square, in an unknown line of chambers of commerce, Dixon and Captain Hook, dressed in ordinary merchant clothes, sat in a wagon, with thick round barrels underneath their buttocks.

"Have you counted?" Dixon wore a straw hat crookedly, and a dry straw in his mouth. Sitting there, his trouser legs rolled up, looking no different from an ordinary trader, tilted his head, and mouthed at Huknunu beside him. smiled: "It's been a morning...... How many caravans and how many truckloads of goods have passed? At the end of this day, how much cargo will the Northwest Fortress have to be cleared? This is just a switching day. If it's a year. What a staggering number of transactions can be reached here. ”

Captain Hook had a pipe hanging from his mouth. swallowing clouds and spitting mist, his face is solemn.

Dixon said in a low voice: "A few years ago, I came here once - don't look at me like that, I came to buy some Warcraft materials with the logistics of the academy, at that time, the opening day of the Northwest Fortress. But nowhere near as many fleets as there are now. In the past two years, I've heard that this place has become bigger and bigger, and even many convoys that originally came from the central fortress to Guò would rather make a detour of thousands of miles. Come here and get out of the country. ”

Captain Hook took his pipe from his mouth and said coldly, "Why?"

Dixon smiled slightly: "You already have the answer in your heart, so why ask me again." ”

"Could it be that the defenders here dare to openly shield the smuggling caravan?!" Captain Hook's eyes were gloomy, he sighed softly, gritted his teeth and said coldly: "The Tulip family entrusted the important task of the Northwest Fortress to Sylvester, how dare he do such nonsense!"

After a pause, Hook frowned and pondered for a while, and said, "It is said that this Sylvester is a smart and capable person, how could he do such a profitable thing......?

"As far as I know, this Sylvester has a very simple life. Dixon shook his head and said, "I heard that he has been living in the barracks all these years, and he is no different from other officers in the army in terms of living expenses." ”

Hook was stunned: "This ...... It's weird. ”

By noon, although the defenders under the city gate had been busy all morning, they did not show any slackness, and even the soldiers around them who were heavily armed and lined up to be shocked were still standing straight, and the ranks were not chaotic at all!

Hook saw it in his eyes, although he had a lot of criticism for that Sylvester in his heart, he still couldn't help but admit it: This guy is really strict in governing the army!

Although waiting in the back, Hook had been carefully and secretly observing the process of the defenders under the city gate inspecting the guards.

He found that the defenders under the city gate did not have the appearance of "filling their own pockets" and "colluding with officials and businessmen" as he expected.

The defenders were also very strict and strict in the inspection of the goods of the customs clearance convoy, and there was no sign of openly releasing water.

He told Dixon about this question, and Dixon smiled slightly: "This is natural, if it is casually let people see it, then how can this business last?"

He pulled Rahuk and said with a smile: "All the doorways are on the paperwork submitted by the leaders of those customs clearance caravans. ”

"Oh?"

"These customs clearance documents must be declared to the border army in advance. After the border army battalion issued it, it was allowed to leave the customs. But there are many ways to do it...... But you don't know. ”

Hook came to his senses and touched Dixon: "How do you know?"

Dixon smiled wryly: "I suffered two years ago. ”

Get one's fingers burnt?

Hook froze.

According to Dixon, he came here two years ago as a magician in the logistics department of the Academy of Magic, what kind of organization is the Academy of Magic?

Are you going to suffer here? This is also the territory of the Tulip family.

Dixon snorted: "Two years ago, my senior brother and I in the academy came here to do business, and according to the requirements of the academy, we purchased a batch of materials for Warcraft here - you know, there are many magicians in the academy, and some special materials are needed for the research conducted. Many of these materials are not very easy to see, and in order to meet these needs, the college sometimes has to do some shady business.

When I first came here, I thought that this errand would be easy to do—with the sign of the Academy of Magic, were you afraid that you would not be able to eat anywhere? But in this Northwest Fortress, I hit a nail, and if it weren't for the fact that there was a senior brother who was a veteran, I would have made a fool of myself that time. ”

As he spoke, Dixon recounted what happened to him back then.

It turned out that Dixon had come here with another logistics deacon from the college. Go out of the customs and go to the orc's territory to buy some special "materials", and if you want to trade with the orcs, you can't take the empire's gold coins, so you can only bring some things to exchange with the orcs.

And it was here that I was ready to take the goods out of customs. Got into trouble.

The truck of the dignified magic academy was actually detained by the defenders!!

Dixon was taken by surprise. I was also very annoyed -- there were still people in the world who dared to seize the things of the Magic Academy? Not to mention the Northwest Frontier Army! Even the defenders of Loulan City, the tulip family, the city guards of the imperial capital! and even the Imperial Forest Army. I can't do anything like that!

But this independent division was made!

And that time, after the people of the Independent Division detained Dixon's goods, they did not tear his face, but politely invited Dixon to the military camp of the Northwest Fortress as a guest.

Then, Dixon got a ...... List of charges!

"Charged...... List?!" Hook's eyes widened.

"It's a list of charges. Dixon sneered, "That list is meticulous. I was amazed when I saw it once, and I was able to list almost all the possible goods I could think of. Daily necessities, civilian supplies, military supplies. Suspected military supplies, including, of course, many contraband prohibited by imperial decree. Everything was listed in that list - after each shipment, a number was indicated. According to the man in the Independent Division, who negotiated with me, this is called ...... Tariff. ”

"Ridiculous !!"

If it weren't for the fact that he wanted to hide his identity, Hook would almost jump up and roar!

He immediately lowered his voice, but his tone was full of anger: "Tariffs? What are you kidding! Tariffs are only qualified to be levied by the official authorities of the Empire! Moreover, I have never been at Tulip's house! Tulip's family has never said anything about so-called tariffs! Even at the checkpoint leading to the grassland in the northwest, there has never been such a move to ask for money!"

"There's no prairie there, there's here. Dixon was not in a hurry, and said lightly: "The independent division did this, and it has always done so." ”

“...... Nobody cares!" Hook was breathing heavily.

"When I came here two years ago, it was said that the independent division had just begun to impose 'tariffs'. This kind of thing, far from being resisted by the merchants, was very popular! Just because on that list, many sensitive materials were included in the scope of tariffs, that is, as long as you pay the tariffs, those sensitive things can be transported out for sale, and you don't have to worry about the border troops of the independent division will seize you. ”

"This ...... This...... This is nothing short of blatant...... Openly...... Bold !!" Hook couldn't believe it: "I believe this could never be the Tulip family......'s decision!" It must be the selfish behavior of the independent division! Could it be ...... Is it really unattended!!"

Dixon said coldly: "What's the matter?"

As he spoke, he sighed softly: "Two years ago, that eldest lady had just been made the head of the family, and the previous duke had just left, and the whole family was panicked...... However, this new patriarch is a young girl! When women are in power, there is naturally a kind of weakness. Because the eldest lady is a woman, unlike the previous generations of heirs, she began to train in the army from a young age - the previous generations of heirs, who have been trained in the army, will form a group of their own team, will establish prestige in the army, and when they succeed to the throne, what they want to do will naturally be much easier, and people's hearts will naturally be appeased. But in this generation, the patriarch is a young girl, and the big man among those retainers, even if he is still loyal to the family, but to make everyone willingly obey the orders of a young girl, how many people don't say it in their mouths, but they may not be willing in their hearts! Not to mention...... This Sylvestre's status is very delicate, and he has been in the Northwest Fortress for many years...... He came here at the age of twenty-five, and now he is Chinese New Year's Eve three, and he has been here for eight years! he has not moved his ass for eight years, and he has always had the full support of the previous duke. Eight years...... Saying something unpleasant is enough to make this border army 'worthy of the name'!"

Truly?

Hook was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly came to his senses!

Independent Divisional ......

Independent!

......

"Sylvester is very clever, although he has made a lot of money, and even openly covered up smuggling, but in the first place, he has not done too much, at least those important weapons and equipment have not been exported. It's just that some iron medicine has been released a little. Second, his move has been supported by many chambers of commerce...... You know, those big chambers of commerce have the shadow of those big giants of the empire behind them. Something like that. It was too late for the support of those wealthy families, so they naturally made a group of 'good friends' for Sylvester. And the most critical. It's the third one! Although he has earned so much money, he is not greedy, and his living expenses have never increased, but he will hand over half of the money he makes to his family every year! As a general in the army, he leads the army outside. can also hand over a large amount of income to the family every year, which makes many people speechless. And the rest of the money, Sylvester himself did not swallow up, but established a system in the army. It is said that those money made the whole army and officers at all levels grateful to him. In addition to the salaries and salaries paid by the family to the soldiers, all the soldiers in the independent division will be distinguished according to the number of soldiers, even those auxiliary armies and servant armies, according to the head, according to the rank, and the size of the contribution to the army, and everyone will get an additional amount of money. This subsidy will not be cashed out immediately, but during the New Year's holidays, a large amount of festival expenses will be issued, and most of the subsidies will be stored in the accounts of the logistics battalion, once a soldier or officer is discharged, he can withdraw this subsidy at any time, and he can return to his hometown to live in a beautiful way! This money is enough to buy a good piece of land in his hometown, although he cannot be rich and expensive, but a well-off family will never run away. ”

Hook was stunned!!

Buying people's hearts! Wolf ambition!!

This Sylvester is doing this, it is simply ......

He simply turned his family's independent division into his own private army!!

"From top to bottom, there is hardly a single person in the independent division who is dissatisfied with this commander...... From the officers down to the soldiers, they are all grateful to this commander and extremely supportive of him! After all, the eldest lady has only been in power for two years, and all aspects of the family, all kinds of relationships, and all kinds of factions want her to straighten out the relationship and settle it one by one. And the independent division has been run by Sylvester for eight years! He is deeply rooted here, and even if the eldest lady wants to move him, it will not be easy to make a big move for a while. Otherwise, if he has just come to power and his position has not yet been secured, he will rashly attack an elite army that has left the family territory for many years and lives abroad...... What if something like a mutiny is triggered......"

"So...... It's not that Lord Duke doesn't know about Sylvester's actions, and it's not that he doesn't move, but he can't move for the time being?"

"Always wait for the eldest lady to straighten out the internal relationship of the family, all kinds of power are firmly grasped in her hands, sit firmly in the position, and grasp the power, so that she can attack him. Moreover, this kind of thing is not easy to come by, and if you are in a hurry, I am afraid that it will cause chaos. ”

Hook fell silent.

After a long while, the captain suddenly shook his head: "This Sylvester is dead." ”

Dixon smiled, "You're not optimistic about his future?"

Hook sneered: "Even if what he does is very cunning, he uses this way to make money...... The central government of the empire was hindered by the prestige of the Tulip family, and it was difficult to interfere with him. And inside the tulip family, he couldn't shake him for the time being...... But for a long time, he is still a dead end! After all, the power of the family is there, although the Duke can't move him for the time being, but the eldest lady is also a powerful character, give her some time, there will always be a time to sit in a stable position! Once the Duke sits firmly in his position and straightens out the authority of the family and the relationship between all parties, he can always free up his hands to clean him up! At that time, even if Sylvester wins the hearts of the people in this independent division, these soldiers are the disciples of the Tulip family's territory after all, and no matter how much they support him, they may not be willing to follow him to erect a flag and rebel. There is only an independent division, only 20,000 or 30,000 people, and you really dare to argue with your family...... This Sylvester will never end well!"

Dixon smiled. He looked at the crowded caravan carriages and horses in the square, and said in a low voice: "It's not strange what you say...... In fact, I know a lot of people from the Chamber of Commerce, although they all support Sylvester's work in the Northwest Fortress - after all, what he did made these Chambers rich. But in the final analysis, it is said that in private, many of the bigwigs behind the chamber of commerce are not optimistic about the future of this Sylvester. It's about the same as your point of view. Wait until the duchess of the Tulip family has her hands free, this Sylvester day. That's it. ”

Speaking of this, Dixon's tone suddenly changed: "But...... I don't see it that way. ”

"Oh?" Hook looked at the young magician with some surprise, "What do you think?"

Dixon smiled wryly: "I...... I don't know. ”

"Don't know?"

Dixon's face was complicated, he thought for a moment before shaking his head and said, "I've only seen that Sylvester." Two years ago, I was called into the army. This Sylvester met me personally. He was polite to me, but about things that were going to be charged. But very resolutely. Refusing to let go. But he told me in private that he just needed to borrow the sign of the Academy of Magic to put on a show. As long as it is announced to the outside world, even the caravans of the Magic Academy have followed the rules of the game he formulated, then the other large and small chambers of commerce. There will be no worries. In fact, after the incident, he also sent someone to quietly refund the customs duties we paid. It's just that this thing is done secretly, and outsiders don't know about it. ”

Speaking of which. Dixon whispered: "I just lifted, according to my contact with him, I think this man is by no means the arrogant and greedy person I imagined, this person is actually very careful and careful in doing things, and shrewd and intelligent...... Such a person will never fail to understand his own situation and hidden dangers in the future. So...... Although I don't know what else he has to rely on, I feel that this person is by no means as simple as everyone thinks. Future...... The duchess of the Tulip family wants to move him, but it may not be so easy. ”

The two chatted for a while, and finally lined up to the caravan they were in.

The leader of the caravan took Dixon's money before allowing them to enter his team and leave the customs under his own name.

The empire has always had strict control over who goes out. Therefore, if the two of them want to get out of the customs, they always have to be attached to other caravans.

However, smuggling is rampant here, and many merchants of the single gang will use this kind of name to pay money and attach themselves to those formal chambers of commerce, in order to get out of the customs to do business and make money, so this caravan does not have any doubts about the identity of the two.

In the afternoon, after waiting for nearly a day, the caravan where the two men were finally able to get out of the customs, and after some cross-examination, Hook carefully observed that the officer guarding the city gate had indeed read the approval submitted by the caravan leader before sending someone to check the goods.

What is the doorway in this, probably only the leader of this chamber of commerce himself knows.

The team was cleared, and Hook and Dixon mixed out.

Leaving the Northwest Fortress and heading north, they embarked on the road to the north, sitting in the truck, both of them couldn't help but glance back, the Xiongguan standing under the sunset behind them!

The banner of the Imperial Thorn Flower and the flame tulip flag of the Tulip Family are still fluttering on the head of the city, and the soldiers holding sharp blades are still majestic and heroic on the city walls.

It seems that it is still the demeanor of a powerful country.

But in their hearts, they didn't know what they thought, and they sighed at the same time, with a little deep melancholy on their faces!

"Anyway...... Let's do what Lord Darling has to say, perhaps...... By the time we come back next time, something has changed. ”

......

"What !!"

Du slapped the table hard and stood up! A layer of frost shrouded her face, and she glared fiercely at the person in front of her.

In front of her desk, a man who looked like a family steward hung his head deeply, not daring to touch the gaze of the duke, trembling, not even daring to breathe.

She ...... When did you run!" Du gritted his teeth slightly.

"Today, today...... Just now, the servant told me that he had gone to invite Miss Rodelle to dinner, but found that she was gone. As for when she left, I really don't know. ”

Du raised his eyebrows slightly, and was about to get angry, but suddenly before that, he swallowed back an angry sentence on his lips.

She was silent for a while, looked at the steward in front of her with a face full of awe, sighed softly, and her tone suddenly became flat: "I know, you go back, do what you have to do." Just act as if it didn't happen. ”

"......" The steward raised his head and glanced at the Duke in surprise, but found that Du Weiwei didn't look at him at all and waved his hand. As if he had been pardoned, he quickly bowed down and withdrew.

"Hmph...... Knowing the news of that guy, so you ran away, went to see him, went to him, and defected to him?" Du Weiwei stood in front of the table and sneered: "This little girl is very well-informed." ”

......

I said...... You're not going to bother me......"

In the carriage, Rose shook his brain, and looked at the little girl sitting in front of him with a sad face.

Rodelle was still wearing the service of a tulip maid - she hadn't had time to change it yet.

"I was already in danger when the messenger of Shiloh came to see the duchess, and if she got angry and grabbed me and beheaded me, I would have no place ......to complain! You're in my carriage again! If someone finds out, will that woman think I've kidnapped you? I can't tell with all my mouth!"

Rodelle glanced at Rose, even though she was wearing the rough robe of a maid, her eyebrows were crossed, but she was still full of charm, and said with a faint smile: "The famous Count of Villa, there are times when you are afraid?"

"Nonsense! Lao Tzu is not afraid. I'm going to keep my life alive, drink good wine, and sleep with beautiful women. Rose rolled his eyes.

"Okay, okay, all I ask you to take me to Nulin, and when I get to Nulin, I'll get off, and even if you kneel down and beg me, I won't stay in your carriage. Rodelle pouted: "You are a famous playboy, I am an unmarried girl, I will stay with you in such a small carriage for the next few days, I am not afraid of my reputation being damaged, but what are you afraid of!"

"Unmarried?" Rose suddenly became angry: "Hey! Aren't you sorry for saying this? Hell! Who put a pillow under his clothes and pretended to be a pregnant woman, and swaggered around the imperial capital? Hmph! You just went to find your brother Darling, but why did you drag me into the water! I want that woman to know that you took my carriage and left, and investigate it afterwards...... I'm a little earl, but I can't bear the wrath of Duke Tulip. (To be continued......)