After passing Daming Prefecture, there were more people on the road. Those who had fled during the war gradually came back, and the garrison troops from the three counties were also withdrawn. There were many more officers and soldiers here than before, and from time to time, officers and soldiers in bright armor could be seen galloping past on the road.

Among the people coming and going, there are not only ordinary people carrying things on their shoulders or in their hands, but also many people who are dressed richly, ride tall horses and speak with foreign accents.

"Why are there so many outsiders?" one person asked in confusion, "They don't look like they are fleeing."

Besides, who would flee to their place? The Jin army is gathering on the northern border. Although they have negotiated peace and stopped fighting, it is still very scary.

"What do you mean refugees?" A passerby shook his head. "How can refugees dress like this? These are businessmen."

There is business wherever there are people. There is nothing strange about this. It’s just that the businessmen in the east and west routes of Hebei have been strictly controlled in the past ten years under the rule of Duke Chengguo.

Of course they can do business in the north, but Cheng Guogong has set up a separate household registration for them and strictly controlled them. He also designated business locations, and they had to report if they moved freely between state capitals. As for the Tunbu border, they were not allowed to approach it.

"It's different now." Someone whispered, "Qinghe Bo said that the northern land has suffered from wars for many years, and the people need to be made prosperous so that the army can be strong, so the businessmen are busy."

People seem to understand but not quite.

"What kind of business can we do here?" Everyone shook their heads. "It's so dangerous. Aren't you afraid of losing all your money?"

"Who knows? Businessmen are always looking for profits. As long as they can make money, they are not afraid of anything." A passerby said, looking up and looking ahead, "Look at how many people are waiting in line at the checkpoint over there."

Although businessmen are allowed to move around freely, the checkpoints are still very strict and many people are refused and kicked out.

"Mr. Sun, we just want to do some business, why won't you let us through?" The rejected people asked with a frown on their faces.

The general who was called Lord Sun had a cold expression on his face.

"No reason," he said.

Very good, this general is obviously a veteran, and has been deeply influenced by Duke Cheng’s tyrannical tactics.

However, the country is no longer under the rule of Duke Cheng, and Duke Cheng has also rebelled and fled. Why is he still acting so arrogant? The businessmen who were blocked outside the checkpoint did not disperse immediately, but made a fuss outside.

The heavy fur curtains were lowered, instantly blocking out the noise outside.

"Look, this curtain is different." A man in his fifties with thin eyebrows and a long face held the curtain and said in a strong southern accent, "It's really a good thing."

A general sitting in the room chuckled.

"What good is a broken curtain?" he said, and took a big gulp of tea. He lifted his legs and placed them on the table. The armor on his body made a rustling sound, and this rough movement conveyed fear.

"Sir Song, don't underestimate this broken curtain. Take it to our south and you can earn ten dollars for one." The man said in a soft voice.

General Song laughed again.

"You also care about ten dollars?" he said with a smile.

"In business, money is not limited to small amounts. As long as it's money, we have to take it into account." The man said with a smile, sitting down opposite General Song. "So, Mr. Song, in your eyes, the North is poor, but in our eyes, there is money everywhere."

General Song pinched his beard and hummed twice.

"As a soldier, I don't understand your stuff." He said, his narrowed eyes flashing, "I only know that the place you are going to is not suitable. There are not many broken curtains near the three counties of Baozhou, Xiongzhou and Bazhou. Are you going to do business with the Jin people?"

Doing business with the Jin people in the north would be considered a traitor, a serious crime that would be punishable by beheading if caught.

The man did not change color or panic due to the threat, and remained sitting still.

"Your Excellency's words really embarrass me." He said with a smile, "Your Excellency can fight against the Jin people without fear of life and death. Although we love money, compared with life and death, money is nothing. Your Excellency is not afraid of life and death in front of the Jin people, and we will never make a deal with the Jin people for a few dollars."

General Song was very pleased with the flattery and changed the position of his legs that were resting on the table.

"It's good to know," he said. "Don't touch things that you shouldn't touch just for the sake of money."

The man smiled and answered yes, then leaned forward slightly, took out a handkerchief and wiped the non-existent dust off General Song's boots.

"Your Excellency's boots have been worn for a long time," he sighed.

General Song said "Oh".

"There is no way we can spend so much military money on clothing. The most important thing is to have enough food to eat and keep our weapons," he said.

The man nodded repeatedly in response.

"We are in the fur business. We don't have anything else, but we have plenty of leather boots and leather clothes." He said sincerely, "Winter is coming. I hope you and the soldiers can wear something warmer. It's not much, just two carts."

He pointed outward.

Through the half-open window, one could see two cars parked in the yard, piled high and tightly covered with cloth.

General Song narrowed his eyes.

"Okay, then I'll thank you on behalf of the soldiers." He said, raising his hand to pull out a piece of paper from his boot and throwing it, "Remember to do business honestly."

The man was overjoyed and respectfully took it, bowing deeply.

"Don't worry, sir." He said sincerely, "We understand. Without a stable life, we will have no business to do and no money to make."

The man retreated respectfully, and the general did not move. Soon, a clerk came in and whispered something to the general, as if he was talking about something happy. The general could not help but burst out laughing.

The general also laughed and glared.

"Be reserved, you look ignorant," he said.

The clerk hurriedly stopped laughing, but soon burst into laughter again.

The general did not blame him, and his legs were swaying rhythmically.

There was a flurry of footsteps outside the door, accompanied by sounds of resistance.

"Master Sun, you can't go in."

"Lord Sun, Lord Song is resting."

Hearing this voice, the satisfaction on Lord Song's face disappeared instantly.

"Sir, I will go and deal with him." The clerk said hurriedly.

Lord Song kicked open the tables and walked out with big strides. A general had already pushed aside the blocking soldiers and stood in the yard. When he saw Lord Song coming out, he stopped.

"Lord Sun, what's the matter?" Lord Song asked in a neutral tone.

Lord Sun looked at him.

“Why are these traders being allowed to cross the border illegally?” he said.

"What do you mean by private release?" Lord Song said in a cold voice, "Now that the North is stable, people who do business can go anywhere. Why not release them?"

"Now that the Jin people have penetrated deep into our northern territory, we must conduct strict inspections and prevent spies from sneaking in." Lord Sun said.

Lord Song shook his head.

"My dear, you are wrong to think like that. They are just doing business, how can they be considered spies?" He said, "Think about it, if they become spies and let the Jin people ravage the north, what good will they gain? They are just courting death. These businessmen are not stupid."

Lord Sun looked at him with a serious expression.

"You underestimate these businessmen. They don't care about anything for money. As long as there is enough profit, they dare to seek their own death." He said, "Sir Song, you don't understand. This is a lesson we learned with blood..."

Lord Song's expression suddenly changed.

"I'm the newcomer? You're saying I've never fought a war or killed an enemy, and I don't know anything." He was furious and pointed at General Sun. "Sun, let me tell you, you were still a baby when I was killing gold thieves. You don't know shit."

Mr. Sun's face was stiff. He suddenly walked towards the two cars parked in the yard and pulled off the covering before anyone could react.

Lord Song and the minor official cried out in surprise.

The drape was removed to reveal a pile of leather coats and boots on the car.

"What are you doing!" the clerk shouted, jumping over a few steps, "This is for the brothers to use during the winter. The master was concerned about the brothers and specially asked for it for those businessmen..."

Before he could finish his words, General Sun kicked the car.

He was so strong that the seemingly full car was kicked to the side. With the clerk's scream, the car turned over with a bang. The leather boots and leather jacket fell to the ground with a crackling sound. There were white things stuck in the middle, which dazzled the people in the yard.

That's...silver brick.

The scattered leather boots and leather clothes were filled with silver ingots and silver bricks.

The yard was completely silent.

"Sir Song, I don't understand what this means." General Sun looked at Sir Song and said coldly, "Could it be that Sir asked the businessmen for money to be used as wages for the brothers?"

Lord Song's face turned pale and red, and suddenly his brows raised.

"Mr. Sun, just focus on your job and stop meddling in other people's business," he shouted.

"Song Zhijie, do you know what you are doing? You are aiding and abetting the evil, you are going to destroy the foundation of the North..." General Sun also shouted, with an angry look on his face, pointing his finger at General Song.

"I am helping the tyrant?" Lord Song's face turned fierce, and he raised his hand and waved, "Catch him!"

The dazed soldiers in the yard came to their senses and rushed over without hesitation to hold Lord Sun down.

"What do you want to do?" Lord Sun shouted angrily.

"What do I want to do? I also want to ask you what you want to do?" Lord Song's face was grim. "You led people to block the checkpoints so that even flies could not pass through, and the complaints were everywhere. Did you inform Duke Cheng and his son so that they could avoid being arrested here?"

Sun Da's face turned red with anger.

"This is ridiculous, this is ridiculous," he shouted, struggling.

Lord Song did not stop and took a step forward.

"Tell me, did Duke Cheng contact you? Did he ask you to do this?" He shouted, his eyes sparkling, "Sun Zhan, you have followed Duke Cheng for ten years..."

"I'm not someone who has been following anyone for ten years. I've fought for the Great Zhou for ten years. If he is a general, I will listen to him. If he is a thief, I will catch him. Song Zhijie, you are framing me!" General Sun shouted angrily.

Lord Song looked down at him.

"Whether it's a frame-up or not, we'll know after we investigate." He said coldly, waving his hand, "Take her away."

Regardless of Lord Sun's struggle, the soldiers gagged him and took him away like wolves and tigers.

"It's finally clean." The clerk flattered Lord Song with a smile, "You are so efficient."

Lord Song snorted.

"When we are soldiers, we use our fists to enforce justice," he said. "Nowadays, people who can't see clearly who has the bigger fist deserve to be punished."

After saying this, he looked at the silver scattered on the ground and raised his hands.

"Pack these up and send them to Qinghe Bo."

He paused again, thinking of something.

"Remember to save some for the New Year. We should suppress what should be suppressed and reward what should be rewarded."

"Your Excellency is wise!" The clerk responded with great joy and bowed.

…

The checkpoint was left far behind, and the road ahead was smooth and unobstructed. However, the driver did not spur the horse to speed up, but looked back.

"I'd rather not come," he said.

The driver had an old face and wore a thick hat to cover his messy hair. He looked very sloppy, but his voice was gentle and clean.

"Dad, I know what you mean." The bearded man on horseback stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "If we can come here this way, other businessmen can also come here this way. They paid such a large amount of money, so they will not throw it away in vain. They must take it back."

As for how to make money, people will go crazy and have no bottom line when it comes to financial interests.

The driver looked behind him with a dim expression for a moment, but he did not sigh anymore. Instead, he looked at the bearded man.

"There's still no news about Miss Jun." He asked, "Maybe everything is alright."

The bearded man smiled.

"Dad, you don't know that little bastard." He said, "If she is safe, he will definitely let me know and show off his happiness in her misfortune. If she is not well, this guy will definitely hide it. He doesn't want me to be a hero to save her."

"Maybe now he knows that you can't be a hero, and going there will only cause trouble." The driver said in a gentle voice.

The bearded man exhaled and swung the whip in his hand.

"Heroes are found in different places," he said. "Let's be heroes wherever we are supposed to be."

After saying this, he urged his horse to gallop faster.

The driver said nothing more, but raised his hand and flicked it lightly. The horses started to move forward, and the dart flags on the cart whizzed in the wind. The people in front and behind followed suit, shouting slogans, and running forward in a lively and noisy manner like all the caravans.