Chapter 171: Ruthless |
Agu frowned slightly, feeling as if someone was watching him.
Jia Liangcai whispered into Qin Ziwen's ear, and Qin Ziwen nodded before speaking quietly with Luo Gang.
Luo Gang said to the merchant wearing a blue silk robe on the far left, "Manager Gu, my friend here wishes to speak with you privately."
Agu frowned and instinctively waved his hand dismissively, wondering what there was to talk about.
While waiting, he had already privately reached a consensus with the other four, deciding to take this opportunity to ruthlessly drive down the prices.
No matter how miraculous this place was, it couldn't interfere with their ability to make money!
He instinctively glanced at Jia Liangcai, his brow furrowing. For some reason, he actually sensed the demeanor of a Great Yong official from this old man.
Agu quickly picked up the wooden cup in front of him and took a sip of water.
Jia Liangcai made a gesture of invitation.
"I'll go see what trick he's trying to pull." After saying this, Agu stood up.
Moving to the side, Agu wore an unhappy expression. He wanted to see exactly what this old man had to say.
"You are from the Rou Luo tribe, aren't you?" Jia Liangcai's voice was like the whisper of a devil.
Agu put on a righteous face. "You can't just say such things recklessly!"
"Speak louder, best if they all hear you. I spent twenty years in Yingzhou. I can smell that scent on you from a mile away." Jia Liangcai gave him a sharp glance.
Agu fell silent, his brow locked in a frown.
He secretly scrutinized Jia Liangcai's face. Had there really been a high-ranking official like this in Yingzhou in recent years?
"You concealed your identity to infiltrate Great Yong, presumably to make it easier to gather supplies for Rou Luo. We have a large batch of refined iron here. That should be something you want. If our cooperation is pleasant, we can continue trading in the future. We can give you what you desire." Jia Liangcai said softly.
Qin Ziwen used Insight on the Traveling Merchant Teahouse.
[Level 1 Traveling Merchant Teahouse: Level 1 Merchant Attraction, Level 1 Temporary Stay]
After frowning for a long time, Agu finally spoke. "There are too many eyes here. If we purchase iron from you, we definitely won't be able to keep it secret. In recent years, beings like you have frequently appeared all over Great Yong. The authorities have issued orders that anyone coming from a Home must report to the government. Other goods are one thing, but iron must be sold to the government. I wouldn't have a chance to take the iron back either."
"Are your guards all your own people?" Jia Liangcai inquired.
Agu did not answer.
"If they are your people, then it's simple." Jia Liangcai revealed a cold smile. "Find a way to lure the guards of the other merchants inside. We'll help you deal with them. Then you can use these things to trade with us. We killed the people, silenced them. No one will report your purchase of this batch of iron to the authorities."
Agu's head jerked up, his pupils violently contracting. He had thought himself a ruthless person, but he never expected this seemingly amiable old man to be even more ruthless!
"You are threatening me." Agu blustered, though inwardly shaken.
Jia Liangcai said sinisterly, "You can understand it as a threat. If you dare refuse, the fact that you are from the Rou Luo tribe will immediately spread among all the traveling merchants. Do you think your record is clean? Can it withstand scrutiny?"
Agu lowered his head, his mind in turmoil, his eyes filled with panic.
He even suspected that this old man might silence him too after killing the others, and then seize all their goods.
Agu said, "Allow me to consider it."
"You have the time it takes to drink one cup of tea. My Master's patience is limited." Jia Liangcai dropped this sentence and then returned to stand behind Qin Ziwen.
Qin Ziwen watched Jia Liangcai's entire performance without expressing any opinion.
Jia Liangcai felt steady inside. What is not prohibited by law is permissible; what is not authorized by law is prohibited.
He was willing to bear the consequences, even if it meant shouldering more infamy.
Agu walked over. He seemed to have made some kind of decision, as even his walking posture appeared much more relaxed. "I've considered it. The goods we are transporting this time are mainly cotton, cloth, and medicinal herbs. We can give them all to you."
"I also want your guards' bows."
"What bows do we have!" Agu instinctively denied it, but after speaking, he saw Jia Liangcai staring at him with a smile on his face.
His cheek twitched.
"You, a Rou Luo person, traveling as a merchant within Great Yong, on such important matters, wouldn't you use your own tribesmen? According to the customs of your Rou Luo tribe, I don't believe you haven't hidden any bows."
"Only two. Bows are contraband in Great Yong. Carrying too many makes it easy to be exposed." Agu said.
Jia Liangcai gave a faint smile, then walked out and found Cao Biansheng, who was chatting with classmates in the corridor. "Warrior Cao, there is a matter requiring your assistance."
Cao Biansheng turned to look at Jia Liangcai. He knew this old man; it seemed the Guild Leader had recruited him. Usually gentle and kind, a good old fellow.
"What is it? Tell me."
"I'd like to ask you to kill some people."
Cao Biansheng frowned. He looked at Jia Liangcai. "Is this your idea, or the Guild Leader's?"
"The order is what I convey." Jia Liangcai said, then calmly laid out the entire plan.
After listening, Cao Biansheng's face shifted between dark and uncertain. Although they were people from another world, asking him to kill them all for no reason was still hard for him to accept. He considered himself a person with principles. What was the difference between this and killing a group of unarmed civilians? He asked again, "Really kill them all?"
"We want the goods and the bows." Jia Liangcai said simply. "This is a rare opportunity. Longbows are not easy to make. The Rou Luo tribe's coming-of-age ceremony is to craft a longbow suitable for oneself. Their bows are good."
Cao Biansheng closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them. "I know what to do now."
Inside the room, Zou Jianghe had also joined the price-haggling team.
However, haggling was proving very difficult. These merchants, relying on their perceived control of the initiative, had goods originally intended for sale in the north. Selling a portion in advance wasn't impossible, but the price was naturally up to them.
Zou Jianghe asked if the price could be cheaper.
Manager Huang said unhurriedly, "How can the price be changed so easily? That's the rule of our trade!"
Just as both sides were engaged in heated discussion, a large number of figures suddenly appeared inside the Traveling Merchant Teahouse.
The merchant caravan's guards hurried over.
"What are you all doing here?" Manager Huang sensed something was wrong.
"Ah, sir, we heard there was danger here."
These guards spoke one after another, piecing together the truth.
Several managers sensed something amiss. "Who said that?"
"It was Manager Gu's people."
Bang!
The door was suddenly slammed open.
A large crowd swarmed in, holding long spears, surrounding everyone. Looking back, the way out was already blocked.
"What are you doing!?" The other four merchants were shocked and furious.
"Gentlemen, since you have no sincerity in your trading, we will choose someone with sincerity ourselves!" Cao Biansheng stepped forward.
Hearing this, the four merchants looked at each other in dismay and quickly said, "The price is negotiable! Don't be impulsive!"