It is really hard to imagine that there can still be a thriving place in such troubled times. Han Wenjing and Xing Lie couldn't help but click their tongues. They thought that such a prosperous scene was only in Huangmo Pass. Now it seems that they were just looking at the world from a well.
Lord Rui took in the astonished looks of the group, his face gleaming with pride. "Young General, take a look! The people of Yishu Pass are living in peace and tranquility thanks to the dedicated support and care of Marquis Xinyang. Just like Huangmo Pass, no one wants the peaceful life they have worked so hard to create to be ravaged by war. By marrying Yishu Pass and Huangmo Pass, we can work together to properly care for the people of both places."
Han Wenjing said, "Marquis Xinyang also said the same thing to the refugee leader at Xiding Pass. I don't think he got any good results, so he had to settle for the next best thing and come to us at Huangmo Pass."
Lord Rui was not surprised to hear Han Wenjing say this. They had already thought of an excuse before Xing Lie and others came. Since this well-known matter could not be concealed, they simply admitted it generously.
Lord Rui's wry smile was quite provocative. "Our Marquis was indeed young and frivolous when he was young, and he offended many people. He first considered marrying into the Xiding Pass because Yishu Pass and Xiding Pass were closer. Who would have thought that the parents of the refugee leader died because of the Marquis? The two sides formed an irreconcilable hatred, which is why the eldest lady..."
When he was moved, Lord Rui even wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.
After seeing this, Lin Rui could only describe it as crocodile tears.
There was something wrong with this place, no, or rather, it was particularly weird, but he couldn't put his finger on it. After entering Yishu Pass, he felt uncomfortable everywhere.
Lord Rui specially arranged the Major General and his entourage to a mansion closest to the palace where the Marquis of Xinyang was staying. The servants and maids were already prepared, but neither Xing Lie, Han Wenjing nor Lin Rui liked being in someone else's territory, where their every move was watched by other people's servants. If there were no spies from the Marquis of Xinyang here, Lin Rui's name would have to be written backwards.
It was Xing Lie who asked Wang Sanhu to send all the servants away, and his personal soldiers were there to serve him on a daily basis.
Lin Rui was helped by San Liang to the room cleaned by his personal soldiers. He sat down on the armchair and rested for a while before letting San Liang help him take off his armor.
It was heavy and stuffy, and he almost lay on the horse's back without standing up all the way. The sunlight was hot even on the metal like armor, not to mention him inside. It was like being in a sauna.
After taking off the armor, he only wore a chain mail given by Uncle Changtai, and now he could finally breathe smoothly.
At this moment, Wang Sanhu knocked on the unclosed door and asked, "Master Lin, are you done packing?"
Lin Rui responded: "But has the Major General looked for it?"
"Yes, Lord Lin."
Lin Rui stood up and jumped twice. As expected, he was not wearing any armor and felt relaxed.
Lin Rui and San Liang followed Wang Sanhu to the pavilion where the young general lived. Why wasn't he in the study? After all, it was someone else's study on someone else's property. Who knew if there was a secret passage in the study? Would the Marquis of Xinyang arrange spies to eavesdrop?
When Lin Rui arrived, he found Han Wenjing already beside the Major General. He walked up to the Major General and saluted. Xing Lie supported him and said, "We are all family. Don't worry about these empty formalities."
Lin Rui insisted: "How can that be possible? Etiquette cannot be abolished!"
They are all aiming for rebellion. If Xing Lie becomes emperor in the future, his disrespectful behavior will surely be criticized.
Xing Lie helplessly watched Master Lin carefully perform the ceremony before he said, "After we entered the city today, did you feel anything was wrong?"
Han Wenjing smacked his lips and said, "I really didn't expect that Yishu Pass would be managed so well by Xinyang Hou. It's even more prosperous than Huangmo Pass."
Xing Lie looked at Lin Rui: "Master Lin, what do you think?"
Lin Rui organized his words, looked at the two men and asked carefully, "Master Han, Major General, don't you think the atmosphere in the city is a little...?" He was thinking about what adjective to use: "Is it weird?"
"Weird? It is a bit strange indeed." This is what Han Wenjing said.
None of those who can become Xing Lie's counselor are simple. Neither Lin Rui nor Han Wenjing will look at the superficial prosperity, but will think about what chips are supporting the prosperity.
Lin Rui was the first to voice his doubts: "We came from the territory of Xinyang Hou, and all we saw along the way was wasteland overgrown with weeds. There was no land to be cleared, no seedlings to be planted, and not even a single civilian to be seen in the wild. How did they solve the rice problem for the people in the city?"
Han Wenjing also said, "Although those people's clothes have patches on them, they are not made of cotton and linen that ordinary people can afford. Instead, they are made of a kind of fabric called Xiangyang satin, which was only available to some wealthy families in Linjing."
Deputy Commander Wang Sanhu couldn't help but exclaim, "Major General, are the previous rumors true?"
"What?" Lin Rui and Han Wenjing both asked.
Wang Sanhu said, "It's said that the Xinyang Marquis knows some evil magic and can exchange human lives with evil spirits for gold, silver, jewelry, rice, meat and food. In the past, the rioters and refugees they encountered on the road were all sacrificed by the Xinyang Marquis."
Lin Rui didn't believe this explanation at all. Although he was not an absolute materialist, the gossip Wang Sanhu said about Marquis Xinyang was incredibly false.
How could there be such an evil method of sacrificing people? Is this just some ancient martial arts novel?
"It's impossible. If Marquis Xinyang really knew such evil magic, why didn't he just sacrifice the foreigners who occupied Linjing? Wouldn't Linjing be his? Why build a miniature version of the imperial city in Yishu Pass? Isn't it just to satisfy his dream of becoming emperor?" Lin Rui complained. Although he had never been to the imperial palace in Linjing, he also listened to Han Wenjing's explanation along the way, talking about how audacious Marquis Xinyang was.
The emperor is far away from us, and now that foreigners have occupied Linjing, no one knows where the emperor on the throne has gone.
The royal family who are in power have completely lost their prestige among the people. They are equivalent to traitors. No matter what, they will not be willing to be enslaved by such spineless people.
Xing Lie nodded repeatedly after hearing this. "I'll have my men investigate these days. Lord Lin and Lord Han, please don't stay too far away from the guards. I'm afraid someone might take advantage of you."
"We are the Major General's men. If you touch us, wouldn't that be a slap in the face of the Major General? Does Marquis Xinyang really have the guts to do that?" Han Wenjing couldn't help but ask. He didn't expect that when he entered the territory of Marquis Xinyang, he would still be so unsportsmanlike.
Lin Rui was calm and composed. "Yishu Pass is definitely not as simple as it seems. There must be something we don't know. It's better to be safe than sorry! Lord Han, let's not go out if we can."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
