"Who are you?"

Although they were rescued, those soldiers were nervous, and they all raised their guns and aimed at Chen Ziang, who came out in the distance.

Chen Ziang scratched his head, and then took off the jade pendant that Liu Bingkun gave him, and then put it in the hands of the person in charge, and said: "My name is Chen Ziang, and I was sent by General Liu to interrogate those bandit leaders who plotted to rebel. Looking at the strong man with some surprise, he asked again: "As for this person, could it be that he is the leader of this rebellion?"

was able to cultivate the true yuan, and even made the Red Phoenix Army go into a big fight, sending so many people.

Chen Ziang can know the person in front of him just by thinking with his ass, even if he is not the leader, his identity is extraordinary.

Those people took a closer look and confirmed that it was something that Liu Bingkun was wearing, and immediately tensed up, put his left hand close to his waist, and his right hand crossed his chest, and gave a military salute: "It turned out to be Mr. Chen? Seeing Chen Ziang's curiosity, they also replied one after another: "As for this person, his name is He Zhi, he was originally a tyrant here, and he is used to bullying civilians. Because his own land and property were divided, he gathered his subordinates and prepared to rebel and want to regain the land. ”

He Zhi opened his mouth to argue: "Those fields and properties are all earned by my hard work, why should I take them back?"

Seeing that this guy was unrepentant, a soldier immediately looked angry, stepped forward and picked up the gun, which was to smash it at He Zhi. The tail of the gun is made of birch, and after being treated with tung oil, the wood is quite hard, and it directly smashed He Zhi to a whoa.

After the previous battle, He Zhi had already run out of energy, and naturally he couldn't resist, and he was taught a good lesson.

Seeing He Zhi like this, Chen Ziang snorted and laughed directly.

Then why don't you say, what kind of means did you use to buy such a large land?"

In troubled times, society collapsed and morality deteriorated.

In this troubled world, the poor people have no chance to live, and if they encounter famine, drought, flood, or even banditry, they will directly bury their lives.

However, like He Zhi, a local tyrant and inferior gentry, he relied on his own strength to use various means to plunder the land.

The iniquities they have created are too numerous to mention.

Chen Ziang knew all this very well, and naturally did not have much sympathy for He Zhi.

Sure enough, He Zhi looked stunned and lowered his head in humiliation.

Chen Ziang saw the other party hanging his head, and he knew that the other party's heart had completely collapsed, he stood in front of He Zhi, a pair of sharp eyes were quite interesting back and forth, and said: "But. If you are willing to cooperate with me, perhaps I will spare your life so that you do not spend the rest of your life in prison. ”

"What do you say?"

He Zhi's body trembled, feeling a little scared.

"You should understand. Those fox friends of yours alone can't fight us at all. And with your lustful and inward-looking nature in the past, it is impossible to rebel. The only explanation is that you have someone behind you. Tell me who that person is, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, those corpses hanging at the head of the city will be your fate. Seeing that He Zhi was here, Chen Ziang didn't care about any morality, and directly threatened.

If you let that guy continue to hide, I don't know how much it will happen.

"You, already know?" He Zhi's body trembled, and his two eyes were dead to ashes.

Chen Ziang nodded and said, "Of course." I know everything you have planned. Otherwise, why do you think I would spare your life?" Probably feeling impatient, Chen Ziang raised his foot and stepped on the crook of the other party's leg, there was a gunshot wound there, and when Chen Ziang stepped on it like this, He Zhi couldn't hold back anymore and moaned loudly.

"I said, did I say okay?"

"Very well, so tell me who that person is?"

"Actually, I don't know his name, but I know that the other person is a Semu man who has a big business. He said that as long as this matter was successful, he could activate the Khan and let the Khan make me a county commander. ”

was threatened by this, He Zhi poured out everything, and even spit out what clothes the other party was wearing and what he liked to eat, for fear of missing something.

"That's right. If you have to oppose us, do you think you have good fruit to eat?"

After Chen Ziang listened, he felt comfortable.

Although they don't know who that person is, since the scope has been narrowed, they only need to check one by one according to this condition, and they will naturally be able to find each other.

After saying goodbye to a few people, Chen Ziang returned to Qingyang Mansion and exchanged the information he had obtained with Liu Bingkun.

"You're saying that it's the Semu people who have settled in the city who do such things?" After Liu Bingkun heard this, he fell into deep thought.

Chen Ziang looked happy and said, "That's right. All we need to do is arrest them, and I'm sure we'll be able to find out who is behind these things. ”

"No, perhaps, you're thinking too simply. Liu Bingkun shook his head, his face was a little heavy, and it looked like a cloudy day.

Chen Ziang looked surprised and asked in a low voice, "Why?"

"Why?" Liu Bingkun fell into deep thought, and when he saw Chen Ziang's inquiring posture, he had no choice but to explain: "Actually, long after you said that you are an outstanding person, I already have several candidates. It's just—"

"Just what?" Chen Ziang continued to ask.

Liu Bingkun replied: "The first one is Callahan. This man is engaged in the fur business, and has always provided us with enough sheepskins and cowhides, and most of our army's winter coats depend on this person, so that there are enough materials. The second was Rakesh, who was engaged in ore. If it is an ordinary ore, we may not care, but what he provides is saltpeter! Saltpeter is one of the raw materials for gunpowder, and two-thirds of my saltpeter is supplied by this man. The third was Pamir, who was not a business tycoon, but who was good at mechanical forging, and the lathe used to make guns was made by this man. ”

"What?"

Chen Ziang was stunned.

At first, he was overjoyed when he knew the target, but when he knew the suspicious person, he was completely stunned.

Obviously, these three people have an extraordinary significance to the Red Phoenix Army, and if they want to deal with it according to ordinary procedures, it is obviously impossible.

"Why do they have such a position?"

Chen Ziang was puzzled, after all, the Semu people stepped into the Central Plains with the Mongols, and there were not a few evil things they did, why did the lord treat these people with three points?

Liu Bingkun shook his head and replied: "Although it is not my race, his heart will be different. But you must also know that those who are Chinese are Chinese, and those who are Chinese and Chinese are Yidi. If they are willing to obey the laws and regulations of our court and provide sufficient help to our army, how can we refuse? Otherwise, will you let our soldiers freeze to death in the summer in single clothes?"

"I see. So what are we going to do? Are we going to just give up?"

Chen Ziang was quite helpless, so he had to hang his head.

He didn't know who did it in this matter, or if all three of them had a share, in short, even if the target was locked, things were still confusing, so he couldn't see clearly.

"Give up? Of course it's impossible. After all, the stakes are very high, and if the investigation is not clear, the entire Northern Expedition may be ruined. ”

Liu Bingkun said helplessly: "Of course." I will also spy on this matter, and if there is any movement of these three people, I will tell you immediately. It's just that you should be careful in your actions in the future, don't offend the other party, or they will tell the lord. If the lord is not aware of the situation, he is afraid that he will punish you. Got it?"

Chen Ziang replied vaguely, and returned to his room with some loss.

At this moment, it will take him some time to be able to digest this matter.

——————

Changan.

Compared with the tension of the frontline, this place is a peaceful scene.

In the government affairs area, the welcome building specially used to welcome distinguished guests is also solemn, in addition to the soldiers on both sides, the building has already been arranged, everywhere is full of festive appearance, as if to welcome some distinguished guests.

"Are they coming?"

Standing in front of the door, Xiao Jingmao was a little nervous.

Yang Chenglong next to him chuckled: "Those people are just some businessmen, why are you so nervous?"

Yang Chenglong has always been immersed in Confucian academics, although what he has learned is a new study that has been applied to the world, but the high in his bones should never be, so when facing those businessmen, there is always a sense of condescension.

"How can you not be nervous?"

Xiao Jingmao smiled bitterly: "You also know that the war is still going on at this moment, and a lot of supplies are consumed every day and night, if you don't have their support, how can you support the Northern Expedition?"

He wanted to straighten his back, but these people had considerable resources in their hands, and if he wanted to collect what he needed for the war, he would have to pass from them, or the whole army would come to a halt.

Xiao Jingmao didn't want to risk the failure of the Northern Expedition to offend these merchants.

Yang Chenglong shook his head and chuckled, "Okay." I just hope that your banquet will go smoothly this time. ”

Then, a group of people came from a distance, these people were about 100 people, dressed in various colors of Confucian robes, and they looked like ordinary Han people. They are the leaders of various local industries in Chang'an, and their industry scope covers clothing, food, housing and transportation, which can be said to be all-encompassing. Without these people, the entire Chang'an City would have to stop.

When these people saw that Xiao Jingmao was actually receiving him in person, they immediately became terrified: "I didn't expect Premier Xiao to wait here in person, it's really rude to be here." ”

"Haha. If there is no help, how can Chang'an have today's situation? Please go inside, and the banquet will start in a while. Xiao Jingmao smiled on his face and welcomed the group into the building.

At this moment, some people came in the distance.

Compared with the previous group of people, the number of these people is much smaller, about a dozen, and their clothing and appearance are very different from the Han people, but for various reasons, so stay in the Red Phoenix Army, such as the Khitan, Jurchen, Qiang and even Mongolian, Semu.