Sure enough, as soon as Guard Qi finished speaking, the faces of all the镖头 (bodyguards) and镖师 (bodyguards) present changed. In particular, the镖头 (bodyguard) could not hold back and shouted angrily, "Just because your kung fu is good, your master wants to open a镖局 (bodyguard agency)? This is simply child's play! You have no respect for镖行 (bodyguarding) at all. Please get out now!"

The others nodded in agreement, but their expressions towards Qi Chenglang also showed dissatisfaction.

Longchang Escort Agency is an old escort agency, and its escorts have at least three to five years of experience in escorting goods. No one has ever dared to say that I can escort goods just because I have high martial arts skills!

Qi Chenglang looked at the indignant expressions of the crowd and suddenly laughed: "Whether my martial arts are high or not, you can find out by testing me. As for what you call child's play, Longchang Escort Agency still has you old escorts here, how can it be child's play?"

Upon hearing this, not only the镖师 (bodyguards) and the shopkeepers, but even Xie Changshi felt a bit of a headache. Was this blockhead really smart or just pretending to be smart?

The manager of the escort agency, Yu Xinghong, was stunned for a moment, unable to hide his excitement: "Guard Qi, do you mean that if you take over our escort agency, none of us will have to leave?"

"Of course." Qi Chenglang readily agreed, but then changed the subject, "However, this isn't up to me; it requires the young master's consent."

Amidst the knowing looks on everyone's faces, Qi Chenglang continued, "Here's what I'm thinking: even if the young master doesn't keep you, you can still apply for jobs when we're hiring."

The group exchanged glances, but no one gave a concrete answer. It was all too frivolous; they simply couldn't believe it. Their gazes involuntarily fell upon Prefect Qi.

These two were brought by Prefect Qi, so they shouldn't be so unreliable.

At this moment, Qi Wenhan had no choice but to step forward: "Everyone, Third Guard Qi has no intention of provoking you. He has been a guard in the manor for many years and is somewhat simple-minded. This young master Wen's decision to open a security escort agency is not a spur-of-the-moment thing, nor is he treating escorting goods as a game. It is a decision he has made after careful consideration."

Qi Wenhan wasn't stupid. He had thought it over carefully on the way here. He heard that His Highness said that the situation in Mobei was very difficult. This time, they were able to get through the crisis thanks to the Emperor's reward, but what about next time?

It's impossible for Xinliang to clear wasteland and build a mansion next year, relying solely on the Emperor's rewards. The Emperor is extremely busy and cannot possibly keep an eye on his "exiled" younger brother at all times.

If Xie Changshi and the others wanted to gain a foothold in the northern desert, they would definitely try to push Prince Wen forward. Qi Wenhan knew this from the beginning, but he did not expect that Guard Qi would condescend to become a bodyguard.

For a moment, all sorts of conspiracy theories flashed through Qi Wenhan's mind. After thinking it over and over again, he finally said these words.

"We're here today just to give you more options, so don't put too much pressure on yourselves." Qi Wenhan couldn't use his power as the prefect to pressure people, otherwise things would backfire. If he angered these bodyguards, they would definitely turn around and go to Li's Trading Company.

Qi Wenhan turned and winked at Xie Changshi, who immediately understood: "Manager Yu, fellow镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), just as Prefect Qi said, we do not treat the镖局 (bodyguard agency) as a joke. There are still many things we need to learn from you all. Please consider this carefully. Our Wen family is temporarily residing on East Street, at the former residence of Master Tang."

Being able to stay on East Street, knowing Prefect Qi, and most importantly, being willing to take in the old guards of the escort agency, the manager was already inclined to favor these people. However, he didn't speak, but just smiled at Chief Secretary Xie: "I understand, please allow us to consider it some more."

Chief Secretary Xie wasn't in a hurry, since the Emperor didn't know about it yet: "In the meantime, we would like to ask you all to help with a delivery. A relative of ours is going to the capital and will be taking some specialties from the northern desert with him."

The idea of ​​having the Longchang Escort Agency protect Eunuch Ran back to the capital was a spur-of-the-moment decision by Chief Secretary Xie. One reason was to let Guard Qi experience escorting goods, and the other was to let Guard Qi test the character of these men.

A business deal suddenly fell into his lap, leaving Chief Escort Geng momentarily stunned. Overjoyed, he struggled to contain his excitement: "Steward Xie, before you came, Prefect Qi must have told you that our escort agency had lost three shipments. So, are you really willing to let us protect your relatives?"

Three consecutive setbacks made Geng, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), lose confidence in his own镖局 (bodyguard/escort agency).

Chief Secretary Xie nodded with a smile: "Of course I believe you. My relative has a special status, and it was originally arranged for Guard Qi to escort him. However, there are many taboos regarding escorts, which Guard Qi does not understand. So please take good care of him on the way."

Upon hearing this, Geng, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), instantly cooled down. He understood the other party's intention. He wanted to refuse, but considering the current predicament of the镖局 (escort agency), he gritted his teeth and agreed: "Alright, we'll take this shipment, but you need to pay a deposit, and we also need to inspect the goods being transported."

Butler Xie said it was a specialty of the northern desert, but there are still some differences between local specialties. For example, the jade cups of Quanzhou are also a local specialty of the northern desert, but their value is not comparable to that of ordinary local specialties.

Chief Secretary Xie smiled and said, "Of course." He looked up at Manager Yu and said, "I can give you the deposit now. Please have Manager Yu draw up a simple contract."

Since they hadn't seen the goods, they shouldn't have drawn up a contract, but the debt collectors were coming to their door every day, and the escort agency was really strapped for cash. If they could receive a deposit in advance to relieve some of the pressure, Manager Yu was naturally willing. He turned to look at Head Escort Geng, and seeing that he also nodded slightly, he stood up and drew up a very simple contract: "If you don't want us to do the escort in the end, we will not refund this deposit."

Chief Secretary Xie took out a fifty-tael silver note: "I know this rule." He took the contract and looked at it carefully before putting it away: "The earliest the escort will be two days, and the latest will be five days. Please be prepared."

Having said what needed to be said, the group took their leave. Just as they stepped out of the Longchang Escort Agency, their former aggrieved party came knocking on the door, hurling stones at the inner screen wall and shouting angrily, "What benevolence, righteousness, and courage? It's all a lie! You surnamed Yu, pay me back right now!"

The chaotic noise carried from the courtyard to the street. After listening for a while, Guard Qi mounted his horse and said, "These bodyguards have good tempers. They didn't lay a hand on these people who don't know any martial arts."

Xie Changshi glanced at him: "Whether they were tricked or not, the fact is that they lost the goods. If they still dare to attack people who are powerless even when they are in the wrong, then their character is really questionable."

The guard Qi was puzzled, his eyes widening: "So you're just going to take it like this?"

"Either endure it or find the truth and seek justice for yourself."

There's no such thing as fairness in this world. Even a prince as noble as him has to be sent to the northern desert.