Chapter 278

The motorcade went all the way, not fast. There is nothing urgent to go back to the emperor this time. It's just to go back to the year-end feast. There are still 20 days left. Dewey was not in a hurry. Anyway, even if he went back, it was just an endless feast, as long as he arrived before the Regent's annual ceremony.

Ten days after setting out, I had passed through nurin province and called on governor Bohan on the way. However, at the end of this year's grand ceremony, Bohan was not recalled to the imperial capital by Prince Chen. According to him, before the failure of the coup, he was recalled to the imperial capital at the end of each year to receive awards. Since the failure of the coup the year before last, Bohan has never returned to the imperial capital. Obviously, this is also an obvious signal that he is out of favor as an official of the prince faction.

However, Bohan seems to have seen through these things, and there is no too depressed impulse. On the contrary, he asked Duwei to bring some gifts to visit his family in DIDU. According to the practice of the Empire, when a governor like Bohan, an important person in charge of military affairs, took office, his family members stayed in the imperial capital. I don't need to say what it means.

Ten days later, the carriage went out of nurin province and entered the middle of the Empire. Along the main road, you can go east and south to the port on the upper reaches of the Lancang Grand Canal. You can get on the boat here and go down the river to the imperial capital.

Although it's a little faster to walk on land, it's more comfortable to take a boat after all, and there's already a big boat named by Dewey waiting at the port.

Mingfan port is the most upstream port of the Lancang Grand Canal, and it is also the last terminal point of the Lancang Grand Canal to the West. The excavation of the Grand Canal ends here. Further west, it is a dangerous river. And a few tributaries.

As the last station of the grand canal leading directly to the west, every year to the end of the year, it is the busiest season in Mingfan Harbor... Even more lively than the annual summer celebration that the Roland people attach most importance to.

Innumerable caravans from the West have to rush home before the end of the year, while the caravans from the East have to take advantage of this time to transport the most urgent goods in winter to the northwest.

At this time of the year, the river traffic is busy and the ships are very tight.

As an inland river port, Mingfan port is already very large. But these days, the berths of the wharf are still full, and all the merchant ships announce that the shipping space is full, which makes many merchant teams waiting for the shipping space have no choice but to live in the small town of the port.

This is a matter of last resort. After all, the transportation cost of river transportation is much cheaper than that of dry transportation. For the same goods, the transportation cost of dry transportation is about four times higher than that of river transportation. After all, a carriage fleet of goods, as long as a big ship can be transported.

Du Wei and his party arrived at damingfan harbor in the evening. Thanks to the bustling port, the small town beside the port has also benefited a lot. It has become a very busy market town, even because of the East-West exchange caravan. With all kinds of strange goods, there are a lot of shops and even a few high-end porcelain shops in this small town. Compared with a town with a population of less than 20000, this is very rare.

Duwei and his party didn't inform the security officials and the mayor of the town in advance. As a result, they were blocked directly outside the town.

There are too many caravans. It's said that there are more than 40 caravans in the small town these days. The hotels alone are full, not to mention the guest rooms in the hotels. Even the kitchen can't be occupied. Several warehouses in the port are already full. Some caravans who often travel in the northwest are used to sleeping in the open. We set up tents and campsites on both sides of the road outside the town, and sent people to the port every day to inquire about the information and see when we can have free space.

Originally not too wide on the street, too many motorcade and horses have blocked most of the roads. It took duvet's motorcade two hours to get to the port.

Finally, after seeing the family insignia on Du Wei's carriage, the river transport official in the port was not because he was proficient in insignia, but used "flame tulip" as the insignia. This is the only one in the Empire! Even an idiot can see it.

cracking. The mayor and the sheriff rushed to the dock. Because there were no hotels in town, Dewey declined the mayor's offer to invite him to stay at his home. I decided to live on the boat.

However, when Dewey asked to leave immediately, the river transport official's face was in a cold sweat, and he faltered and said, "my Lord, I'm afraid it's very difficult."

Then, in Du Wei's questioning eyes, the river transport official explained the reason helplessly.

Dewey's ship has been in port for many days. Because Duwei had a long journey, it was not sure which day he would arrive, so the river transport officer ordered the ship to enter the auxiliary channel of the river in order to make way. After all, Duwei's ships were all sea going ships. Although it was the smallest one, it was still too big on the inland canal. Such a big ship always stayed at the port, It's a waste to occupy the berths of two merchant ships in such a busy peak.

Dewey's boat had already paid the berthing fee for 15 days, but in such a busy season, the river transport officer ordered to refund the berthing fee and made room for other merchant ships.

Originally, he thought the Duke would be furious, but Dewey just laughed and patted the pale river transport official on the shoulder. Wen Yan said with a smile, "well, it's not your fault. It's my fault. You're a very good official... So I'll live on the boat tonight, but I don't know when I can make way for the river to set me on the road? "

"Probably until tomorrow... Tomorrow morning." The river transport official was relieved.

"All right." Dewey shrugged: "well, gentlemen, don't be too nervous. For me, it's a wonderful thing to close the night scene of Mingfan harbor here."

Sent off the mayor and the river transport officer. Even Dewey refused the town's sheriff to send soldiers to protect him. After all, in this busy season, there are only 200 security soldiers in the port, and the manpower is very tight. What's more, Dewey doesn't feel like he needs any protection.

"You didn't punish these officials? They took up your berth, and you paid for it. "

When everyone left, Queen Medusa asked Dewey, "it doesn't seem to fit in with what I know of your human aristocracy."

"The noble way?" Dewey laughed. "Who told you what these nobles did?"

"Your fiancee." Queen Medusa's voice was very calm: "in that town on the outskirts of the imperial capital, during the days when she accompanied me, I asked her to read a lot of your human books to me. According to what I know of your noble practices. I'm afraid I'll immediately order the river transport officer to be hoisted and whipped

Dewey shook his head: "he's a very good official. My ship is here. Although it doesn't have my family badge, the sailors and captain are not dumb. So the river transport official would not have no idea who the ship belonged to. But he did. It shows that he is a very pragmatic official. It's not his fault, it's mine. "

This is a sea soul ship, but for inland rivers, it is already very big. That night, Dewey got on board in a small boat. He lived on the boat, waiting for the river transport officials to clean up the river and prepare to leave the next morning.

The next morning, the ship finally got to the berth of the wharf.

The river transport officer and the sheriff came to see Dewey, and the Duchess was about to leave. These people are also relieved, although the Duke looks very friendly, but after all, it is too much pressure to deal with such a big man.

Such a big ship entered the dock road. Dewey's men were busy carrying the cargo. This sea soul ship is so big that it can be loaded with horses and carriages.

But here the sailors are busy, but there is a basket.

Du Wei was sitting in the cabin drinking hot tea when he heard the noise coming from outside. It seemed that the sound was not too far away, which made him keep his heart. He asked people to open the cabin window and see the wharf outside. A group of Northwest foreigners in leather robes are crowding around and yelling and scolding under their own boat. Some foreigners have climbed the boat from all around. Several sailors are black and blue and have suffered losses. Fortunately, several guards of duvidi saw them and rushed up. The two sides have pulled out their weapons and are confronting each other.

These grassland people look very arrogant, although there are several guards with swords on Duwei's side. I'm not afraid. The noise seems to be getting louder and louder.

"What's the matter?" Dewey looked back at the river transport officer and the sheriff. They were sweating. The sheriff quickly confessed his crime and ran out. Several security soldiers came from a distance. However, there were only a dozen grassland people at first, but after shouting, dozens of people gathered from the dock. Everyone on the grassland is fierce. Although these guys are all caravans, they are all armed with machetes. They draw their swords at the first sight, so the onlookers all stand far away.

Although the public security officers went out, these grassland people didn't seem to pay for it, and the first few of them yelled and scolded at the public security officer.

"What's going on?" Du Wei turned his head and looked at the river transport official: "are these grassland merchants so rude here? How dare you even face the imperial Sheriff

The river transport official's face was bitter and hesitant. Dewey's face had cooled down: "yesterday, I thought you were a good official, and I had a little favor with you. Why do you shrink from these grassland people today? Have you taken advantage of them? "

"Absolutely not!" The river transport official was startled, and then he said it quickly.

It turns out that Mingfan harbor is the hub of East-West river transportation. Among the businessmen, many of them are from different nationalities on the grassland. These grassland people are savage, unreasonable and often disobey the rules. The one with a hard fist is the boss.

Especially when the river transportation is tight and the ship's cabin is full, other caravans are willing to abide by the rules and honestly wait for the harbor river transportation station to arrange the cabin. Even if some individuals are dishonest, they can quietly insert some gold coins to try to bribe the river transportation officials here to get their own cabin.

At this point, Dewey laughed: "Oh? So you must have made a lot of money recently? "

"No, no!" The river transport official's face was cold and he said immediately, "Your Highness. Although I have some power in my hand now, I never dare to accept bribes! My staff, I often severely warn them that if anyone dares to accept bribes and make random arrangements, he will eat my whip! You can send someone to inquire. Everyone in the town knows my reputation. "

Dewey nodded: "well, you dare to delay my boat, so you are business. okay. I believe you on that. Don't explain. Let's talk about these grassland people. "

The river transport official looked resentful: "my lord... If it's our empire's own caravan, it's best to do something quietly and try to bribe... But these grassland people don't care about this. If they don't have any shipping space, they often just grab it! "

"Go on." Dewey's face sank slightly.

"Grassland people have always been so barbaric in doing business, but because of the huge profits of grassland trade, many businessmen are willing to take risks to trade with them. This is the caravan to and from Mingfan port. Two out of ten percent of Chengdu are grassland people. And... Unlike our people, prairie people are most united. As long as a caravan quarrels with others, all the prairie caravans in the town will take weapons to help. It's a headache. They despise local officials, even in the face of security soldiers, dare to draw a sword to fight. There are only 200 people in the public security office of Mingfan port. It's OK to deal with more than a dozen grassland people. But if two or three grassland caravans gather together, it's really hard to do. "

"In such a busy time, the cabin is tense, and if the cargo is put in the warehouse for one more day, it will cause one more day's loss. In order to grab the cabin, the most common trick of these grassland people is to take people to the port. Which ship, if it's open space. Or when they are loading goods, they gather a large number of people to rush up. Take someone else's boat first. In some cases, they even throw their goods into the water. If they wait for other caravans to make a theory, they will draw their swords and threaten them. Even if the security team comes, these people will sit on the boat! Anyway, they all rushed on the boat, but they just couldn't come down. We can't help playing rogue like this. In the past, when confronted with this kind of thing, the caravans could only admit their misfortune. When people come out to do business, they only seek money, but these grassland people are desperators. Most of the caravans of our empire are not willing to offend these grassland people and fight with them for nothing. "

The more Du Wei listened, the more gloomy his face became. He sneered: "the security office just sat by and ignored? Those domestic businessmen who suffered losses did not go to the public security office to complain? "

"Of course there are... But my Lord, as I said just now, the security office is short of manpower..."

"Nonsense Du Wei said angrily: "what's the shortage of manpower? I think it's timid!! Prairie people are just like wolves. They bully the soft and fear the hard. If you really work hard on them once, they will be hurt and scared, and they will not dare to fool around in the future! It's because of your indulgence that you've come to this point today! "

When the river transport officer heard this, he turned around and said, "Your Highness! I understand what you said, and... We have also made efforts, but the results are chilling

Du Wei was stunned: "tell me about it."

"The year before last, these grassland people were rampant. The magistrate and I couldn't bear to see them any more, so we decided to teach them a lesson. At that time, we sent out all the soldiers of the security office, even some of the people from our river transportation office took weapons to fight. And taught a vicious grassland caravan a lesson. These grassland caravan people injured other caravan people on the wharf, robbed their cabin and lost most of their goods! Such a vicious act has violated the imperial law! What's more, after our people went, they dared to openly resist the imperial public security forces. It was even more a crime. In a vicious fight, three soldiers of our public security office died and more than a dozen were injured, and a total of more than 60 grassland people were arrested! At that time, although we loved the dead soldiers, it would be a good thing if we could teach these grassland people a lesson! After the sixty grassland people were captured, according to the imperial decree. Even if they don't all die, they should all be sent to big ear city to be coolies! "

"Yes, you did a good job." Dewey nodded: "and then?"

"And then?" The river transport official raised his head and looked indignant: "Sir, guess what happened later?"

Dewey's mind moved, and he had already guessed a little.

The river transport official looked pale and said, "later. The more than 60 prairie people had been locked up in the security office for several days, and an order came from above. They not only ordered to release all of them, but also returned all the goods of their caravan that they had detained! Even the government paid a sum of money to compensate them for their "losses"! This kind of thing, let us blow our lungs! But later, even a few soldiers who died in the capture of these grassland people, even the pension was delayed for two months! At that time, the sheriff was dismissed!! Your honor. Is this result chilling? We are not afraid to fight with grassland people, but after we finish it, we get such a result... Let's... Let's... "

At the end of the day, the river transport official's eyes suddenly turned red. Tears came out.

Dewey was silent.

He knew very well that the Empire had lost control of the northwest in recent years, and had been trying to appease the grassland people. The officials of the imperial capital were always seeking stability and security for fear of causing the rebellion of the grassland people.

The grassland merchants who came to do business in the Empire became more and more arrogant. They had heard about it for a long time. When I first met governor Bohan in nurin Province, I saw with my own eyes several leaders of grassland caravan shouting at governor Bohan and even threatening him!

That's the governor of the Empire! Grassland people dare to be rude. Not to mention the businessmen and petty officials in these ports?

Duwei was in the province of Desa and had strict law enforcement. Moreover, the battle of giliat city made the prairie people suffer. Therefore, the prairie people were honest in Duwei's territory. However, when they arrived in the middle of the Empire, they began to sprout again! In addition, they recognized the weakness of imperial official policy. It's even more unscrupulous.

The river transport officer. It seems that he is also a hot-blooded man, but unfortunately he is criticized by the above weak policies. Smooth the edges and corners, cold through the heart.

Thinking of this, Dewey stood up and handed over a silk scarf. Wen said, "well, wipe your tears. I see. It's not your fault. It's no wonder you're cold hearted when it comes to such things. "

The river transport official took Du Wei's silk scarf, but his hand trembled, but his tears flowed.

Dewey went to the hatch and looked outside. The noise grew louder.

The more these prairie people gathered, there were about 100 people. The number of people on Duwei's boat was only 30 or 50, and they were even more arrogant. From their experience, the Roland people were weak and threatened, and most of them could get the other side out of the cabin.

At the moment, the sheriff was sweating. He was standing on the dock with a few soldiers and shouting, "all back! No mischief "You bastards, this is not the place for you to fool around! This ship is not officially chartered! It's a private ship! The man on board is a noble! You do it, too! "

Without waiting for the sheriff to finish, one of the leaders held a machete and yelled, "I don't care if he's a cargo ship or a private ship! Our goods have been put in the warehouse for a day. If we delay any longer, winter is over and the weather is getting warmer. Who will buy leather goods? Even if it's a private ship, just send us a cargo. What's the matter! What happened to the nobility! We prairie people don't care about you Roland nobles

"Nonsense! Nonsense The sheriff looked like a mediocre man. He cried anxiously, "how many caravans are waiting, let alone one day, even if the goods have been released for three or five days! What are you worried about! Listen to me and get out of here, or you'll get angry. "

"How are we?" The leader of the grassland people was very rude. He gave a false chop with his machete and said with a smile: "we didn't rob his boat! What if I borrow it! "

Seeing that the public security officer couldn't hold down the scene, the grassland people made a lot of noise, and several of them rushed up. The soldiers of the public security office couldn't stop them. They didn't dare to do anything, and they could only be pushed back.

Dewey looked up at the magistrate's incompetence and sneered. After calling the bodyguard, elder Yan gave two orders.

Lao Yan ran out immediately. After explaining in the ear of the sheriff, the sheriff was stunned and looked at the chief bodyguard strangely. In his stupefied Kung Fu, grassland people have flocked to the boat. The police station was scattered, and two soldiers were squeezed into the river.

Many of the other ships on the ground and the merchants on the wharf were watching. Everyone has a helpless face. Everyone shakes his head and sighs at the weakness of the government.

Duwei's men on the ship were ordered to get out of the way and let the prairie people rush on board.

A hundred and ten prairie people crowded on the deck. These people are probably used to robbing boats, and they are very skilled. The leader cried: "some brothers go to the cabin to check, find some empty cabins to load our goods, and then send some brothers back to the wharf warehouse to send people to transport the goods. The other brothers will follow me and wait here!" After that, he also demonstrated to the sheriff and said with a grim smile: "we are on the boat! If you want us to go down. First ask my machete if it's OK, then ask my brothers if it's OK! "

Duwei had already stood on the second deck of the cabin, and looked at the grassland people below. He just sneered: "old smoke?"

"My Lord!" Lao Yan answered immediately.

"Give me orders. Raise our flag. Then... Have the sampan removed! None of these coyotes on the deck is allowed to get off the boat and run away! "

These prairie people clamored for a while, and then someone was ordered to go down. However, as soon as they got to the boat, they saw that some sailors had taken away the sampan. In this way, no one could get off the boat.

Just after the report, I heard a signal. Then on the second deck, above the flagpole, a golden flame tulip flag rose quickly

Attracted by the bugles, these grassland people looked up one after another. When they saw that the flag of tulip on the grassland was rising, most of their faces changed! Even the tyrannical leader turned pale when he saw the tulip flag. These grassland people. I don't know any other Loran noble flag. But this tulip flag, how do not know? They came to do business within the Empire. It's all through Dewey's territory! In this year's battle in giliat City, grassland people lost 20000 cavalry and a shaman wizard, even the head of the golden wolf was cut off! Moreover, after that, many captured grassland people were decapitated, tied to the shelves, and transported to all parts of the province of Desa by carriage to visit the streets! Such a bloody means, grassland people all know, is the tulip Duke's hand! Prairie people are like wolves. They bully the soft and fear the hard. If you are soft, they bully you. If you are hard, they fear you. Du Wei's hard-blooded methods, together with the massacre of prisoners of war and the exposure of corpses to the sun on the streets, made prairie people even more scared. All caravans passing by the province of Desa were cautious and did not dare to make any mistakes. At this moment, seeing the tulip flag flying here, everyone is in fear... At this time, suddenly several grassland people exclaimed. Around the deck, dozens of fully armed tulip family bodyguards have rushed out from both sides. These bodyguards are wearing armor, and each of them is holding a small short crossbow of the most elite army of the Loran empire, There are dozens of short crossbows, facing the crowded grassland people. The prairie people were in a panic, and the leader didn't dare to be tough. He cried out: "we... We are businessmen, you can't hurt us... We..." Duwei stood on the second deck, his face was cold, and he asked the river transport officials around him casually: "well, I ask you, what's the charge of offending a Duke according to the imperial law?"“ This... Can be regarded as the crime of flouting imperial decrees and disrespect. It's a heavy duty to flog thirty, but a light duty to flog... "Flogging? Dewey sneered scornfully: "well, what if it's not an offense, but an assassination? What is the charge of plotting to assassinate an imperial Duke? " As soon as the river transport official's body trembled, he understood Du Wei's intention. His voice trembled and said, "if you plan... To assassinate, there is no amnesty for killing..." "very good." Du Wei gently smile, pointing to the following people, said with a smile: "you are the local officials here, you do a certification for me! You saw with your own eyes, such a group of grassland people, with weapons in their hands, rushed onto my boat! My ship is clearly carrying my Duke flag! Is that the evidence? A hundred and ten people with weapons don't want to assassinate me. What is it? " The river transport official only felt a chill rising on his back. He only felt that although the Duke was smiling mildly, he was like a bloodthirsty lion. How dare he say anything now? He nodded: "yes! My Lord, I know how to write the report“ Good. You're good. I appreciate you Du Wei praised him a few words, then turned around and gave an order to Lao Yan: "let your people get ready to start." When the order came out, the river transportation officer felt his legs softened. Fortunately, even though he stood firm, his shaking voice couldn't help whispering: "my lord... You..." Du Wei ignored him, but added another sentence to Lao Yan: "all the assassins have cut off their heads for me... Well, these grassland people don't have a habit, What kind of headframe do you like to use? All of these 100 heads have been erected on this dock for three days After that, he patted the river transport official on the shoulder with a smile. Wen Yan said with a smile, "in this way, your work will be much easier in the future." Du Wei had a mild smile, not a breath of smoke. But in the eyes of the river transport official, he could feel the cruelty... The river transport official's mind was pale. At last, he heard the Duke's last command in a soft and elegant voice: "let's kill, no one left."