"What you said is on point." The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "Those who go out to travel around the world must know the rules and abide by the rules wherever they go. In the past, when we robbed roads in the mountains, all the business travelers who passed by had to leave money to buy the way. Now,
I went down the mountain and made a living from Liang Liang, but I can't change the rules. I can't get the money to buy the way, but you have to charge more for returning customers. Once you get to know each other, we will become friends from now on."
Li Yan actually agreed with what he said. After all, he was also from the Green Forest Road. In previous years, he had set more rules, but if Grandmaster was paid to pay for the road and spread, people would laugh to death, so he was destined to break these rules.
"To put it bluntly, road money becomes filial money." Li Guo imitated the shopkeeper and smiled. The shopkeeper hummed and stared at Li Guo with a sneer on his face: "Are you filial or ungrateful?"
"It's not that you are disrespectful, but you can't bear it." Li Guo sneered: "There are three ways now. One, I pay the normal price and leave. Two, I wait for the military men to deal with it. Three, everyone depends on their ability. I will go and you will stop me."
See if you can stop me or if I can’t get away.”
The shopkeeper laughed angrily: "You can't take any of these three roads. First, since you are a Jianghu man, you must abide by the rules. Second, military men also follow the rules. Third, you are only a dozen people in your group, but
I can greet dozens or even hundreds of people with just one greeting. You are far outnumbered in terms of numbers, and I have more knives than you, and I bet you don’t dare to use a knife.”
Li Guo really didn't dare to use the knife, because if he used the knife, someone would be killed. If this had happened elsewhere or in the past, this inn would have been razed to the ground, and all the people inside would have been burned to the ground.
But now it doesn't work. First of all, he is no longer the Green Forest Road, and he is not even the prince of Dashun. Now he is an official of the Ming Dynasty, and he has a special status and special environment. In addition, he is outside the customs and under Chang Yu's nose. There are some things he wants to think about.
He did it but couldn't do it, so he kept putting up with it.
Moreover, in just a few words with the innkeeper, he also found out the other party's background. The reason why the people in the Zhonghou Institute are strong and tough is because most of the people there are bandits or defeated soldiers who came down from the mountains.
Ordinary people mostly make a living by farming, but after these people come down from the mountains, they still have a good conscience, and they rarely farm honestly. Most of them still live with the original leaders. Those leaders originally established mountains and strongholds to have some savings.
, after coming down from the mountain, he started various businesses, and his original subordinates became today’s assistants.
Although these people are good people and serve the people, they still stick to the Green Forest Road. They have made a living in the city. Although they no longer do things like killing people and stealing goods, they still happen to rip off customers. This kind of thing has been the norm at all times and in all countries.
, let alone the chaos outside the customs these days, will such things be rare in the society governed by law in future generations?
But after all, this is a business, and it pays attention to the long-term, so it is enough to rip off customers, and as they said, they only rip off first-time customers. After that, the price will be the normal price, and the business travelers passing by also know the origins of these stores.
, if you are slaughtered, you will be worshiped at the top of the mountain. Later, when you get acquainted, you will still have someone to take care of you. Over time, it has become an unspoken rule.
There is no government office in the city, and all matters are handled by the garrison. The garrison turns a blind eye to this kind of thing. As long as they don't engage in murder and extortion, they generally won't get involved. Besides, which of these business owners doesn't?
Give them something to do. Although military discipline has been strengthened now, it does not affect this unspoken rule and gray income chain. After all, if the water is clear, there will be no fish. For the same reason, this matter will never be eliminated throughout the ages.
Some people may ask, how do these stores know who is a repeat customer?
Please, do you think this is Beijing City, Nanjing City, or Hangzhou City? This is outside the customs, a war-torn area. In previous years, there were very few business travelers who left the customs. They were all trying to make some money from Hukou. They only came and went in a few hours.
After the great victory of Ningyuan, the border was stabilized, and there were gradually more merchants and merchants, but the scale was far less than that inland.
So Li Guo and his party looked like new faces at first glance, and these former mountain kings could tell at a glance that they were not serious business travelers. After all, Li Guo and his party were all soldiers, and their aura was very different from ordinary business travelers, not to mention that they were followed by a short man.
Taoist, so the lion opened his mouth and wanted to kill him severely.
Li Guo was tolerant, but that didn't mean he was afraid of trouble. After hearing what the innkeeper said, he stood up and said, "Since all three roads are inaccessible, we have no choice but to leave. Please stop me and see!" He walked out the door.
"Stop him." The shopkeeper saw that this man was unwilling to enter, and he immediately became angry. If he really walked out today, it would undoubtedly be a slap in the face, and it would be difficult to lead the team behind him, so he shouted sharply.
The men rushed over. How could Li Guo's followers be so impudent? They drew their swords and were about to strike. At this moment, a shout came from outside the door: "Shopkeeper Liu, who is causing trouble here?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a sturdy soldier walked in, followed by more than a dozen of his subordinates. After entering, he looked at everyone's faces with a cold look on his face and showed that he was not angry and proud. The shopkeeper came up with a smile on his face: "Mr. Yan
"You're here just in time, there are people here who are freeloaders and hiding weapons."
"Oh, there are still people in this world who are freeloaders." Yan Zongqi snorted angrily and his eyes fell on Li Guo: "Are you hiding weapons to rebel?"
Li Guo smiled and said nothing. Song Xiance had previously handed over his hand and said: "Master, it is common for our merchants to carry weapons for self-defense outside. If this is considered a rebellion, I am afraid that none of the merchants leaving the city will be innocent."
"Whether you are innocent or not is not up to you, a dwarf. It depends on the laws of the Ming Dynasty." The commander-in-chief glared at Song Xiance with disdain and said, "We will discuss the matter of hiding weapons secretly later, and saying that it is free food for others."
what happened?"
"It's natural to give money for meals, but I've never heard of people forcibly collecting filial piety money." Song Xiance smiled faintly, and shopkeeper Liu immediately jumped up: "Whoever wants your filial piety money, our store has clearly marked the price."
You order it yourself, why don’t you accept your order after eating it?”
Clearly marked price? Song Xiance snorted: "Let me see the price you marked there. Where is it written that a jar of wine is seven taels of silver and a sheep is thirty taels of silver?"
"It's written here." Shopkeeper Liu curled his lips, and while he was talking, a waiter handed over a wooden board, and the price was actually clearly marked on it. This made Song Xiance and Li Guo stunned. They had never ordered food before.
I've seen this wooden board. It's obvious that this is all a routine.
When the commander-in-chief saw the two men's expressions, he asked, "You and other merchants who travel all over the country are also considered people of the world. Don't you understand the rules of traveling around the world to pay respects to the mountains and docks?"
"I know the rules of worshiping at the top of the mountain and worshiping at the dock, but it has to be done voluntarily. I have never seen anyone forcefully follow the rules! Forcing people to do so is not a rule, it is robbery." Song Xiance snorted, and the general flag was strong.
He said angrily: "Then we've seen it today! This is the rule outside the customs, this is the rule in Zhonghousuo, and this is my rule. I ask you whether you abide by these rules."
"What if you keep it? What if you don't?" Li Guo sighed lightly.
"If you abide by the rules, everyone is a well-behaved person. If you don't abide by the rules, there is no need for me to tell you the rules." The commander-in-chief raised his eyebrows, and Li Guo smiled: "Then, we will be imprisoned and beaten into submission."
?"
"Hmph, you think I'm a bandit," the commander-in-chief snorted coldly: "I can't beat you, and there's no need to frame you, but I have to investigate and find out if you're innocent, I'll let you go."
Li Guo chuckled: "Is it that this investigation can't be found out even if it takes half a year, or that one investigation will definitely find something?"
"What do you mean?" Mr. Yan Qi's face suddenly darkened, and his subordinates behind him began to shout about taking people to the military camp.
At this moment, a person came over: "I have traveled all over the country and have never heard of this rule, let alone know that there is such a rule outside the customs, and you are not qualified to set the rules here." The words were not loud, but they were loud, and everyone looked at them.
Then they saw a burly man with a murderous intent and a bow on his back.
"Who are you?" Mr. Yan Qi is a discerning person. The man in front of him is neither a businessman nor a traveler. He is definitely not a Jianghu person. So he is... It suddenly occurred to me that the two battalions of the East Factory Guards entered the city for the night today.
, but they have strict military discipline and do not leave the military camp, and the military uniforms are slightly different. Could it be...
My heart has begun to feel weak.
The man Li Guo met was Kuang Ren, the chief eunuch's bodyguard.
"The merchants in the city usually respect you, and if there is trouble, you will help solve it. It is right to use money to help others to eliminate disasters, but the premise is not to bully others. Once what you did today is reported to the superior, whether it is General Gao or
Commander Wu or Commander Zu, I'm afraid they can't even eat, so let's go around." Kuang Ren said coldly. No matter how stupid Mr. Yan is, he knows he's in trouble. He quickly bowed and saluted: "Don't blame me, sir. I heard this.
Someone hid weapons and came to check, and I heard from the store that someone was freeloading..."
"If you want to check private soldiers, then all the merchants passing by in the city will be checked. Why are you only focusing on this one? And the rules you mentioned, how come the people from the Octopus Company have never seen you check them, nor have they asked them to follow the rules?
Woolen cloth".
Mr. Yan's face turned green. Octopus is an imperial merchant. Their main business is to provide supplies to Jiubian. Wherever they pass, local troops must be sent to protect them. Moreover, even if they don't send troops, the attendants can kill the gangsters casually.
Regular troops, not to mention bandits.
Who dares to ask them to pay for travel and who respects money? Who dares to kill them?
"Does it look like a business company to you?" Kuang Ren pointed at Li Guo, and Mr. Yan quickly shook his head: "It doesn't look like it."
"Then does he look like someone who went out to enjoy the mountains and rivers?"
"Not like".
"Then does he look like a bandit?" Kuang Ren asked again. Mr. Yan waved his flag like a rattle, and Kuang Ren snorted coldly: "Then who do you think he looks like?"
Mr. Yan was sweating profusely and his face was blue: "Little, little..." At this moment, he was extremely frightened. Although he didn't know Li Guo's identity, he had already begun to make random guesses. He might be a fan of Dongchang or Jin Yiwei.
Ah, hey, why am I so stupid? Why didn't I think of it earlier? Who in the business traveler is so tough-minded as to dare to fight with these local snakes?
"I saved your life today." Kuang Ren walked up to him and stretched out his hand to pat Yan Zongqi's face a few times. Yan Zongqi didn't dare to move: "The little Zongqi is showing off his power here, if it weren't for
For General Gao’s sake, you’re done for now!”
"Your grace for sparing my life, I am so grateful that I will never forget it for the rest of my life..." Mr. Yan, who had been showing off his power just now, knelt down. At this moment, he had almost guessed the identity of the person in front of him.
It is not a secret for eunuchs to leave seclusion. Of course, the eunuch of the Dongchang Guards who stayed in the city for the night was also in the city, but he had a low status and had no chance to see him. Moreover, it is said that the eunuch did not enter the military camp because he disliked the poor environment of the military camp and lived outside.
shop.
In addition to the two battalions of Dongchang Guards, the Great Eunuch also has personal guards. The man in front of him is obviously a guard, and he is definitely a leader. Then Li Guo and others... must be other guards in disguise, and that
Taoist priest... Damn it, there are rumors that the great eunuch has a military advisor who is a Taoist priest...
Thinking of this man, his face suddenly turned pale. He raised his hand and gave himself a hard blow: "You deserve to die, you villain, you villain..." In the blink of an eye, you had a bruised nose and a swollen face.
"It's not that I won't let you eat, but don't look so ugly when you eat." Kuang Ren grabbed his hand and said, "Let's forget what happened today. If you do it again in the future, you will be severely punished!"
Mr. Yan quickly kowtowed and said he didn't dare. Kuang Ren then let go of him and said to Li Yan: "I'm still living here today. I should eat and drink as I should. If there is anyone else involved, please do as you please!"
The meaning behind the words is simple and clear. If someone is looking for trouble, you are done.
Li Yan cupped his hands and thanked him. He knew this was what the eunuch meant, and he actually felt a little grateful in his heart.
Bang bang bang, but after hearing a few slaps, Shopkeeper Liu gave himself a few slaps, bowed and walked to Li Yan: "You have offended the noble man by saying something but not knowing Taishan. Everything you eat and drink today belongs to me."
Yes, I just want you to be able to ignore the faults of the villains, don’t be like the little ones, and let the villains go.” After saying that, he knelt down in front of Li Guo. He was also a discerning person, and he knelt down and kowtowed when he saw his patron.
After that, I realized that the group of people in front of me couldn't be offended at all.
Li Guodan smiled: "If you don't need this little money, I will give you as much as I should. I won't give you one more point, but I won't give you one less point either!"
Shopkeeper Liu knelt on the ground and kowtowed and didn't know what to say. Kuang Ren walked over and said, "To make a living is to build reputation. Now that you have done well, you should do your duty and don't show off the tricks of Green Forest Road. If you are still thinking about it, then...
Go up the mountain."
"I don't dare. I know I'm wrong. Please save my life." Shopkeeper Liu kowtowed as if he was pounding garlic. Kuang Ren saw this and sighed: "How much money is it in total to roast ten sheep and send them to the military camp?"
"
"It's free, you give it to me for free!" Shopkeeper Liu said quickly, Kuang Ren frowned: "I can't hear you, please speak louder!"
"Free...two or two," Shopkeeper Liu suddenly remembered something and quickly changed his words.
Kuang Ren took out ten taels of silver and threw it on the ground: "What should I do if I only have so much?"
"Uh, how about I treat the rest of you as a villain?" Shopkeeper Liu stumbled, looking at a loss.
Kuang Ren chuckled, cupped his hands towards Li Guogong, turned and left.