After arranging the rest of the matter, I set off with four regiments of guards, because the roads along the way had been repaired, and in just a few days, Wanpu's newly built city wall was already in sight.
Of course, the troops I brought were far more than this. Several troops had already arrived secretly before me, and now they are on standby around Wanpu.
Before entering Wanpu City, I had already laid down in a comfortable carriage, that extra-large carriage. Since it was claimed to be a governor's inspection, of course I had to make a show of myself.
"Sir." Rock's voice sounded outside the car: "The Lord of Wanpu City requests your interview."
I lifted the curtain on the car window and took a look. Colter, who had arrived two days earlier, was already standing at the city gate.
"Let him come over and get on the carriage directly." I agreed, and then said to the rock, "Don't you think it's hard to talk like this? It's better to reply in your own way."
"Yes, sir!" Rock nodded and turned around.
Colter saluted under the carriage, and then got into the carriage with a smile. The carriage was shaking slightly, and we had entered the city gate.
Even under such a severe situation, just looking at so many people separated by soldiers on both sides of the street, you will know that Wanpu Mall is more prosperous and lively than the last time I came here, and the shops on both sides have a wide variety of products.
Most of the well-dressed businessmen come to buy bulk goods empty-handed, unlike ordinary hawkers who carry everything with them.
I withdrew my gaze and looked at Colter: "How many days have you been here?"
"Reply to the officer." Colter whispered, "It's been two days."
"Have you figured out everything about the situation here?" I asked again.
"We've figured it all out. After all, this is still where the lower officials started. There haven't been many changes in the officials below." Colter answered cautiously, "Amaterasu has returned and is waiting for you..."
I raised my hand to stop Colt from continuing.
"Why did I put you in Wanpu Lai as the city lord?" I said, "Do you understand the reason?"
"This..." Colter pondered for a moment, "Sir, is it related to the current war situation?"
I nodded.
"That's right, otherwise why do you think I came to Wampu? Luman's bastard is an accountant. He knows very well how much the Dark Moon Province produces and how much the two provinces consume.
In this attack, he probably wants to use up the supplies we don't have in abundance." I smiled faintly: "But this bastard has countless calculations, but he has ignored Wanpu."
"But everyone knows that Wampu is a commercial city!" Kolter said: "How could Lumann not know this?"
"Of course Luman knows about the normal business activities carried out by Wanpu." I motioned for Colter to sit closer: "But what he doesn't know is that we have a complete smuggling system and aquatic fleet."
"But I am still a little worried," Colter said. "Although our smuggling system is large and sophisticated, it is not enough to support the consumption of two provinces."
"This is exactly the reason why I came to Wanpu. It is a dream to use such a system to support the daily consumption of the province. At most, it can only provide material support for this military operation." I nodded approvingly: "On the one hand, I can knock on the door.
By talking to other businessmen, we can also make some adjustments to the system."
"Then what are you going to do, sir?"
"I'll talk to Amaterasu first, and then you gather the big businessmen in Wanpu and let me organize a few dances. Don't they like to attend the dances very much?" I thought for a while: "By the way, Dill Merlin
Where?"
"Miss Dill Merlin... No, Mrs. Dill Merlin has always lived in the small castle by the sea. We have always protected those who don't come into the city very well." Colter said: "But these businessmen
...They have become more and more cunning, sir, when will you meet them? I will make arrangements for you."
"Let's take a look again!" I lay down and said, "I'm not in a hurry."
After the carriage slowly stopped, I straightened my robes, got out of the car and walked into the official residence of Lord Wanpu.
In the official residence, the guards were guarding three floors inside and three outside. Under such protection, not even a fly could fly in. Colt took me upstairs, opened the door of a small room, and then knew the opportunity
of retreat.
There was only one person in the room, wrapped in a black robe. The rocky body swayed and was already separated between us.
"Who is that?" The knife in Yan Yan's hand had already been unsheathed, and he shouted in a low voice: "Back off immediately!"
The man in black robe slowly raised his hand, put down the hood on his head, revealed a thin but determined face, and knelt down on one knee towards me.
"Master Cohen." As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes: "It's me, I'm Amaterasu."
"Well, long time no see." I patted Rock's shoulder to signal that the person in front of me was not in danger, and then entered the room.
"Yes, Master." Amaterasu looked at me and said, "I am always outside and rarely have the chance to come back."
"Get up first, sit down and talk." I asked Yan Yan to close the door and found a chair to sit down. Then I looked at Amaterasu's face carefully: "You have lost a little weight. How are you doing?"
"Fortunately." Amaterasu handed over a scroll, still standing aside with his hands down: "This is the private power network developed by Amaterasu in the past two years. Please take a look at it, young master."
I flipped through it casually, and this guy did a pretty good job.
"Yes, in the Sibia Empire, you have put people into almost every city." I put down the scroll and said, "How is your income and expenditure?"
"There is a slight surplus in the revenue and expenditure." Amaterasu answered respectfully: "The large number of capable manpower sent by the young master played a key role in our development."
This is true. In each batch of military academy cadets, about one-fifth of them transfer to Amaterasu or Marfa.
"As I said before, I don't care about your income and expenditure." I paused: "But you have to ensure the tasks I give you."
"Yes, Master." Amaterasu answered me in a positive tone: "I can complete what the Master has told me."
"Your answer makes me very happy." I stood up and walked to Amaterasu and asked him in a low voice: "But have you ever thought that what you are doing now is very dangerous and your identity must be hidden?
It is very likely that you will never be able to walk on the street or in my mansion as openly as others in your whole life... Even so, don't you regret it?"
"I will not regret being able to follow the young master and do things for the young master!" Amaterasu raised her eyes and looked at me, her eyes no longer looked as panicked and cowardly as when they first met.
"Your personality has changed." I reached out and lifted the scarf around Amaterasu's neck, and saw a shocking scar: "What? Is it from fighting for territory?"
"The accident happened last year, when the war between gods and demons was at its most intense." Amaterasu said with some shame, "While negotiating with the boss of a city in the Demon Alliance, I was ambushed by the other party."
"It's inevitable after you've been hanging around down there for a long time. I'll turn around and assign a few more guards to you." I patted his shoulder: "Your body is not very strong, and your martial arts skills are average. That's why I let you take this position."
As for the position, I am interested in your experience since childhood. As long as people work hard, they have the possibility of success."
"Yes."
"You don't lack motivation, but don't always think about surpassing others in martial arts or physical strength. You can't do this." I leaned over and said in a very low voice: "Use your head, use you
Use your momentum for your strategy."
"Master, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Amaterasu smiled bitterly, touched her neck and said, "There were many times when I almost couldn't come back."
"If you had said these words earlier, you might not have understood them!" I sighed: "You have to experience it yourself to feel the meaning of my words."
"Thank you, Master."
"Okay, there's not much else to say." I sat back on the chair and said, "I asked you to come back because I have two things for you to do."
"Master, please give me your instructions."
"First, I will attack Harik's province immediately. I want his entire province to be in chaos and the people's hearts to be unstable. You have less than five days to prepare." I said seriously: "Second, I have a share in this.
The plan is given to you and you follow the steps written on it - be careful, it's very important."
With that said, I pulled out a piece of paper with "Secret Garden Project" written on it and handed it to Amaterasu.
Amaterasu looked at it, then folded the plan and put it in her arms without changing her expression. "Good boy, I like people who don't negotiate the price."
"Can it be done?"
"Twenty daisies intact, I understand what the master means." Amaterasu answered me: "But master, how much chaos do you want to bring to Harik's province?"
"Try your best. Not only will Harik's province be in chaos, but the provinces bordering him will also be in chaos."
"yes!"
"That's it, just step back!" I waved my hand and said, "Put the other things aside for now and do your best to do these two things."
"Take care, young master." Amaterasu said with a salute, "I take my leave."
I watched Amaterasu walk out, and I was very happy in my heart. He has grown up so fast, his mind is good enough, and now he has a firm character. If there are people to guide him, it will not be difficult at all to become a hero.
But I don't need him to be a hero now, I just need to be his gangster.
"Get your horses ready and I'll take you out for a ride." I said to the rock: "Take everything I need with me and only follow one guard battalion."
"Yes, sir." Shi Yan immediately walked to the door and ordered.
It has been a long time since I left here, and the small smuggling pier has been improved. Just looking at the bollards on the pier, I guessed that the current berths are more than ten times the original ones. Behind the pier are contiguous warehouses, and
The workers' residence and the road connecting here have been completely repaired and widened to the point where two carriages can run parallel at the same time.
The garrison camp of Wanpu City is here, with the dock and the castle as the center, a ten-mile radius is a restricted area, there are many sentries on the land, and there are aquatic speedboats patrolling in the sea... Anyone with a discerning eye can tell at a glance that this is a typical "collusion between government and businessmen"
.
I hurried to the dock and looked carefully at everything in front of me.
The people on the pier were separated in the corner of the pier by guards. These people looked at me without looking panicked at all.
Relying on the shore are three-masted clippers with a uniform style, porters in uniform uniforms, recorders holding account books, and slides for loading and unloading goods... All of this is more professional and more sophisticated than the smuggling I imagined.
Efficiently. I glanced at the goods piled nearby, mentally estimating their value and profit - a surprising amount.
Well done, no wonder Feilin knows that there is a very courageous smuggler in Wanpu. It is strange that Feilin, who is the municipal supervisor of the dark province, does not know about such a method.
I turned my horse's head and looked towards the castle. My dear lady must also be watching me in the castle, but I don't know from which window. But she can't know now that the tugging nobleman on the dock is actually
her husband.
Seeing that I had not spoken a word, the eyes of the people standing next to me, separated by the guards, showed uneasiness.
Because I was wearing a Divine Blessing Knight armor, I had put down my face guard, and my long black hair was scattered on my cloak. All of this showed my identity, an identity that was known to the people of the entire empire.
Governor of the Dark Province, Divine Knight, Count Korn Kedar.
A guard who I had left behind to protect Dill Merlin walked quickly onto the pier. Only then did he see my long black hair from a distance, and his eyes were already shining with excitement.
"Sir, sir?" His eyes scanned my body, and he was more sure of my identity. He hurriedly took off his weapon, knelt down on one knee in front of my horse and said, "I've seen you, sir!"
"Well, get up and talk." I raised my hand and said calmly, "Is Dill Merlin here?"
"Replying to the officer," he replied, "Madam is here!"
"Let these workers do their own thing." I didn't want my arrival to disrupt Dill's money-making plans: "Take me to the castle."
"Yes, sir, please go this way." The guard turned to the workers and whispered: "Do your own thing!"
After saying that, he took my horse's rein and walked in front, while Rock's vigilant eyes never left his body until I made a gesture to Rock.
The Guards Battalion that came with me has taken over the defense of the castle - this was a prior arrangement. This small place has now become synonymous with wealth. God knows how many other forces have spies here? I can
I don't want to take risks, and I don't want others to know about my relationship with this lady.
Most of the soldiers I brought didn't know that this was my territory. A few officers knew it, but they didn't understand what I wanted to do, so they had no choice but to patrol around in a serious manner.
I feel uneasy in my heart. Dill Merlin is right in front of me. It is impossible not to meet her. Not to mention that the battle situation in front of me is in urgent need of her help. If I don't meet her, I will feel very sad.
But what happens after we meet? God knows how this fearless and delicate lady will treat me. Loving me is one thing, but it is another thing to accept the identity I have always hidden... It’s so difficult!
As if he understood what I was feeling, the war horse stopped in front of the castle gate. I exhaled, clamped my legs under the horse's belly, and entered the castle under the surprised gaze of my subordinates.
"Sir, please dismount." The guard holding the reins held the horse's head with both hands: "Madam is waiting for you in the hall."
I nodded, adjusted my robe outside my armor, dismounted and walked into the hall.
There are still floor-to-ceiling windows with colorful patterns next to the door, the furniture is still polished to a discernible finish, and there are still flower pots filled with light fragrance in the corridor. I stop and take a deep breath of the air with the delicate fragrance. This completely different air from the outside immediately relaxed my whole body... I almost took off my helmet and threw it aside, and shouted, "Madam, I'm back."
But I still endured it with strong perseverance.
Dill Merlin, who was dressed in a full dress, was standing in the hall waiting for me with Abu in his arms. His long fiery red hair was carefully tied behind his head and combed meticulously. He looked quiet and noble, with light makeup on his peaceful face, but There was caution in her eyes when she looked at me. The well-behaved Lily stood behind her with her head slightly lowered, while the naughty Abu kept sticking out his tongue at me...
I stood ten steps away from them and looked at Dill Merlin.
Compared to the last time we parted, Dill looked much more mature. Under her slender eyebrows, a pair of elegant, clear eyes were looking back at me... The way she looked at strangers was really nostalgic. .
I swallowed dryly, and Dill immediately took a small step back, holding Abu in her hand a little tighter.
I had to smile bitterly under the protection of my face...Okay! Since we have to face it sooner or later, let’s start from now!
So I took off my gloves and said in a modified voice to the rock behind: "Close the door."
"Mrs. Dill Merlin? You should know who I am, right?" I raised my head a little higher: "If you don't want this governor to treat you, shouldn't you give me the treatment of a governor? "
"Yes, Lord Governor Cohen Keda." Although I ordered the door to close, which made Dill suspicious, she still saluted me calmly: "Dil Merlin has seen the Lord Governor, the glorious knight of God's blessing, may I Your light will always shine on the land of the dark provinces."
"Well, your etiquette is very formal, unlike those foolish women I met along the way." I gestured to the rock, and then said to Dill, "I heard that you are married, why don't you use your husband's surname?"
"Please forgive me, Lord Governor, my husband is not a nobleman and his surname is not famous." As if he didn't expect me to ask such a question, Dill was stunned for a moment, his eyes already wary, "But we are very loving."
"Love?" Yan Yan brought a chair and placed it, and I sat down politely. "I received a report that your husband... is a smuggler?"
"Mr. Governor, this is a rumor." Dill answered me calmly, with his clear-cut chin raised slightly: "I can assure you that there is no such thing."
"Really? Then what did I see just now?" I smiled softly, "The dock, the cargo hold, and those workers, are they just used by you, madam, to drink at home?"
"Of course not." Dill smiled: "Every business I do must be reported to Lord Wanpu."
"Let's be honest! I have changed the Lord of Wanpu City. I'm afraid your business will come to an end." I said, "But for you personally, this governor has a suggestion."
"Your Excellency, please speak."
"It is undeniable that your appearance makes me attracted, and I have also heard a bit about your business methods, madam. I wonder if you, madam... would you mind forgetting your former husband?" I said slowly, " Add the surname of the Kedar family to your name of Dill?”
"What did you say?" Dill's eyebrows trembled, her eyes bulged, and even Lily behind her looked up at me in surprise.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"Marry me and become a dignified governor's wife." I said again. "From now on, I no longer have to smuggle secretly. I can leave all the business in the Dark Province to you."
"You...shameless!" Dill's face turned red and his finger pointing at me was trembling, "Get out of here!"
It seemed that Dill was really angry.
"You have to think carefully." I chuckled: "This is related to the lives of many people, including you, your family, your father, and even your husband."
"Governor Cohen Keda, you have the privilege. You can take away everything from me, but you can never take away my feelings." Dill looked at me without fear and said word by word, "
I don't care what you can do, just do whatever you want. Just these few words of yours have made me despise you from the bottom of my heart."
I sighed, not knowing how to continue this topic, but this guy, Rock, had already grabbed his own knife in his hand.
"Report sir." A guard officer I brought leaned out from upstairs: "We have checked that there are no outsiders in the castle, and the magic barrier has been completed."
"I know." I threw the gloves aside: "Everyone, get out." (To be continued)