In the evening, Sean walked into a tavern with two servants.

"You two have been following me around all day today and must be tired. Come, let's eat and drink something." Sean said with a smile. As for tiredness, he was more tired than the two servicemen. At the end of the day, his legs felt as heavy as if they were tied with several huge stones. He didn't have to suffer such hardships in the city of Lovington.

However, Sean was in a very good mood. After walking through most of the town, he had collected a thick stack of evidence. Each piece of evidence was a bloody accusation of Wu Lai's tyranny, barbarity, and cruelty. Each piece of evidence was ironclad evidence of Wu Lai's oppression and enslavement of the townspeople.

"Thank you, Mr. Sean." The two servants hurriedly thanked him. Sean had been working like crazy since the afternoon, and they were now really tired, thirsty and hungry.

After ordering the food and drinks, Sean asked for the records from the two waiters. It would be better to keep such important things with him. After carefully putting them in his pocket, Sean hesitated for a moment, took out his purse, poured out two silver coins, and placed and pushed them on the table.

"This is a reward for you two." A hint of arrogance appeared on Sean's face involuntarily. This was his usual expression. Every time he rewarded others, he would have a feeling of being superior to others. However, because the number of rewards was very rare, the feeling was very strong every time.

"Thank you, Lord Sean." The two servants looked at each other and each picked up a silver coin.

Sean felt a little regretful that he didn't hear any words of gratitude, but that was all. During the subsequent meal, Sean couldn't help but remind him twice more. Tours had said that Wu Lai was very barbaric, and he didn't want to get into trouble. He just needed to collect evidence and hand it in. Governor George would not listen to his opinion on how to deal with him anyway. Besides, since this was a way to seek credit, Sean would naturally not leak even a single word to Tours.

After eating and drinking, Sean walked towards his own residence happily. As a rule, he, as an outsider, had a small bedroom in the governor's residence, but Sean didn't want to be in a difficult position there. In addition, Tours also vacated a small house for him, and arranged a housekeeper, a cook, and two cleaning slaves. At least he had a sense of home. He would meet a decent-looking woman on the way, and he would naturally have a comfortable night.

Sean soon became angry again because he found that there were no prostitutes in Salt Marsh Town. This was obviously a little unusual. You know, in the Assyrian territory, prostitution was as common as selling wine. In other words, the wine might even be sold out, but prostitutes would never be "out of stock" at any time.

After asking, Sean found out that it was "Wu Lai's doing."

"Okay, you just wait." Sean thought angrily, and thus, Wu Lai had one more "crime" added to his "crime" - forcing prostitution to become a good person.

When Sean was angry, the two servants who had been running around with him all day carefully knocked on Guru's door.

"What's the matter?" Guru opened the door.

"Master Guru, we have something to report to you." The two servants said respectfully, because they were arranged by the Kochi family to accompany and protect Guru. At Wu Lai's instruction, Guru "threw" them into the Cultural Bureau.

"Come in and talk." Guru nodded.

As soon as they entered the door, the two servants took out the silver coins that Sean had rewarded them: "Master, this is from Sean."

"Keep the money for yourselves. Tell me, what's the matter?" Guru sat on the edge of the bed. Even Wu Lai's room was simple and cramped, so his was naturally not much better. However, he had been here for so long that he had become accustomed to the simplicity here.

The two servants told him everything that happened today. Guru immediately smiled bitterly and shook his head, thinking that Sean was quite interesting, but how could he be a peace officer with such a low level? Was Lunvington short of talent? "Okay, I get it. Just do as usual." After Guru dismissed the two, he sat and thought for a while, then got up and went out to find Wu Lai.

…

For two consecutive days, Sean went from street to street to collect Wu Lai's "crimes", and the harvest was quite considerable. Just when he was becoming more and more proud of it, the Salt Supervisor Naru came.

Naru was of course not coming for Sean, he was here to inspect the salt industry in Saltmarsh Town - at least that's what it seemed like.

As soon as he entered the town, Naru went straight to the governor's residence. After some polite exchanges, he first agreed with Wu Lai to go to the salt field to inspect it together the next day. Then, at Wu Lai's invitation, he went to visit the canal protection site. However, he was serious the whole time, which made the atmosphere very depressing.

Unlike Sean, Naru accepted Woolley's invitation to the dinner party, but also declined to stay at the official residence. Instead, he asked his deputy to find a pub for them to stay overnight.

"It's just two nights, there's no need to make such a fuss." Naru explained to Wu Lai.

"In that case, I'll do as you wish. I've already asked someone to inform my colleagues who are still in town. You have to get everyone to toast you a few more glasses tonight." Wu Lai said with a smile.

Naru hesitated and nodded.

At the end of the dinner, Naru stood up and raised his glass. He first thanked them very seriously, then changed the subject and said, "According to the latest salt industry regulations of the city-state, starting from this year, the inspection items of the salt field will increase. For those parts that do not meet the requirements of the regulations, all fines will be imposed, ranging from two hundred to one thousand. And I am sure everyone has heard about my character, so tomorrow's inspection will be very detailed and ruthless. I hope that Governor Wu Lei and the Salt Production Officer of Tours will forgive me."

Fine? Regulations? Wu Lai frowned. Naru's words were more like a declaration of war than a "friendly reminder". Wu Lai had no idea what the new salt regulations mentioned by Naru were. He even thought that this might just be an excuse.

There was no conversation that night after the banquet. At dawn the next day, Naru's carriage appeared outside the gate of the official residence.

Wu Lai, who had just finished exercising, wiped his sweat and couldn't help muttering, "Are you so anxious?"

A moment later, three carriages drove out of the town one after another and headed straight for the saltworks. The first carriage was Turles's, Naru was in the middle, and Woolley was in the last.

After a while, we arrived at the salt field.

Speaking of which, the salt marsh where the Salt Marsh Town Salt Field is located can be called a gift from God. In ancient times, this place was originally an ocean. With the mountain building movement and crustal changes, it was separated by the raised mountains and turned into a saltwater lake. In the long years that followed, the strata in this area broke, some areas rose, and some areas became increasingly sunken, dividing the original large saltwater lake into several lakes of varying sizes.

Over time, the potassium salt, limestone, magnesium salt, sulfate and table salt in the lake water slowly combined with the early silt layer. After long-term natural evaporation, the salt precipitated and formed a very thick mineral layer. As the climate in this area changed, the lake water continued to evaporate, and eventually formed the current salt marsh. There are only two of the lakes left now, and the nearest one is more than 40 miles away from the main area of ​​the salt field. It is said that the scenery is beautiful, but Wu Lai has no time to visit it now.

There are two ways to extract salt at the Yanhuan Town Salt Field. One is to boil brine from the salt well, and the other is to dig out the crystalline ore layer, crush it, soak it in water, analyze the salt inside, and then boil it. However, due to the water shortage in this area, the latter method has been abandoned.

The three men's carriage stopped in the salt well area.

Knowing that Naru was here to cause trouble, Wu Lai had no intention of following him closely. He walked a few steps slowly to another salt well, then simply stopped to watch the salt workers collect brine. Anyway, Naru had Tours with him.

This was Wu Lai's third visit to the salt field. However, the first time he was just a quick look and didn't take a close look at all. The second time he came to "ask for salt", and it was night time, so even if he wanted to see something, he couldn't.

This time, Wu Lai planned to take a closer look, but as soon as he saw it, his heart suddenly tightened. After looking at it for a while, he lost all mood...

After checking the salt well area, Naru got into the car directly. When he passed Wu Lai, he kept a straight face and said nothing. Wu Lai just frowned, and Turles came over with a sigh.

"Steward Wulai, the situation is not good. The Naru Salt Supervisor said that our salt wells are poorly maintained and the masonry on the well walls is loose. Once it collapses, it will have a great impact on salt production. Therefore, in addition to a one-month deadline to repair it, a fine of 500 gold coins will be imposed."

"Five hundred?" Wu Lai was startled. He thought, this is just the first place, five hundred. How many will it be after this round? In the evening, the answer came out. The salt well wall was fined five hundred, the salt frying field layout was fined one thousand, the firewood storage area was fined one thousand, and the salt warehouse was in disrepair for two places, which was fined two hundred. The total amount was two thousand seven hundred, and it was limited to three months to pay.

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

"Sovereign Wu Lei, I hope you have learned your lesson." Naru said with a straight face as he got on the car and left the salt field.

Wu Lai nodded, thinking that I really should learn a lesson. If I always let you guys take the initiative to attack, this game will be unplayable.

"I'm sorry, Governor Woolley, I've done my best. If you think I haven't done my job, you can write to Longvington and ask me to leave. I have no objection. I didn't expect that so many problems would be found during the inspection and the penalty would be so severe." Tours sighed and said pretentiously.

"It's okay." Wu Lai patted Turles on the shoulder. "These are just minor issues."

"Consul Wu Lei, I admire your broad-mindedness, but I am different. My legs tremble when I think about the fine of 2,700 gold coins." Tours sighed and shook his head, but he was very happy in his heart.

The amount of money that Longvington allocates to Saltmarsh Town every year is no more than 1,200 gold coins. Even this money is allocated because Saltmarsh Town is a salt-producing area. According to the rules, Saltmarsh Town can also withhold half of the salt production income every year. However, this money has never entered the governor's residence, but has been directly allocated to the salt fields, although there has never been a clear stipulation that this half must be used for the salt fields.

Of course, if you add this money, it will be more than enough to pay the fine.

The problem is that Woolley knew about the money but had no access to it.

"Consul Wu Lei, you must pay this fine, otherwise you will not be able to pass the city-state noble meeting." It is hard to say that Tours' reminder was not malicious.

Humph, you guys are just colluding to cause trouble, so stop pretending here. Wu Lai thought so and walked towards his carriage with a smile...

At night, Wu Lai and Guru sat on the rooftop of the official residence to admire the moon.

"Guru, I went to the salt fields today," said Woolley.

"I know. I heard that you were fined 2,700 gold coins. What should you do?" Guru asked worriedly.

"It's okay. The fines for the salt field will naturally be paid by the salt field. I'm not worried about that at all." Wu Lai paused after he finished speaking, and then said, "When I saw the salt workers extracting brine in the salt field, I suddenly felt a little emotional."

"Oh?" Guru stared.

"You may not have seen that scene. His clothes, his expression, tsk tsk, I don't even have the heart to describe it..." Wu Lai sighed again.

Guru was thoughtful.

Wu Lai continued, "Gulu, this shouldn't be the case. People who have made such great contributions to Lunwenton and the entire Assyrian territory shouldn't be working like oppressed slaves. Guru, all this must change. In addition, many things in the salt field must also be changed, such as the firewood, and the salt workers' clothing and production technology..."

"Woolley, I support you no matter what you do," said Guru.

Wu Lai smiled slightly, stretched out his hand and tapped Guru on the shoulder: "Okay, then we'll hurry and get it. Also, I'll be out for a few days, so if you stay in town, you have to take care of this stall for me."

"I will." Guru nodded and asked, "Where are you going? Lovington?"

Wu Lai nodded and replied, "Yes, and I plan to leave town with Naru, this guy who likes to stir up trouble."