Chapter 28: The Escaped Slave Incident (Part 2)



Mikoyan had good eyesight and saw that the cavalrymen were indeed nearly 100 people. Wu Lai also guessed correctly that these cavalrymen were indeed Yi Jiang's men, but what they didn't expect was that the leader of the team was Yi Jiang himself.

After confirming this, Mikoyan raised the bronze medal representing his identity as the high priest of the Seneca Temple, and Woolley, who was standing next to him, raised his bronze medal of citizenship.

The two cavalrymen immediately dismounted, took the bronze identity plates from the two men, looked at them, glanced at the two men again, turned around and handed the bronze identity plates to Yi Jiang's horse.

Yi Jiang took the bronze medal and glanced at it. His eyes suddenly narrowed. After a slight hesitation, a smile appeared on his face. Then, he jumped off his horse and walked towards Mikoyan and Wu Lai who were blocking the road.

"It turns out to be the high priest Mikoyan of the Seneca Temple. Oh, and you, a small citizen. Tell me, why are you blocking my way?" Yi Jiang asked as he walked.

Mikoyan smiled slightly, took two steps forward, and then stopped: "Deputy General Yi Jiang, since you already know our identities, why did you let your people surround our carriage?"

Yi Jiang laughed and waved his hand gently, and the cavalry surrounding the carriage and Wu Lai immediately retreated to the side of the road.

"High Priest Mikoyan, can you give me an explanation now?" The smile on Yi Jiang's face suddenly disappeared, and his voice became a little colder.

"No problem. But I don't know whether Lieutenant General Yi Jiang is willing to let your subordinates hear my explanation. Of course, if you don't mind, I will tell you straight away." After Mikoyan finished speaking slowly, a scornful smile suddenly appeared on his face. He showed it deliberately for Yi Jiang to see. Although a lieutenant general of a legion is prominent, it does not mean that he, the high priest, must give him face - there are six regular Assyrian legions, and each legion has at least twelve lieutenants, while there are only sixteen clergy at the level of high priest in all Assyria. What's more, the social status of clergy is much higher than that of military positions.

Mikoyan's words made Yi Jiang hesitate for a moment. When his eyes swept across Wu Lai's face, he accurately captured the relaxed smile at the corner of Wu Lai's mouth.

Yi Jiang raised his right fist, then swung it back with force. Nearly a hundred cavalrymen turned their horses' heads at the same time and slowly retreated along the road. They did not turn their horses' heads again until they were a hundred steps away and waited by the roadside.

"Give me your explanation." Yi Jiang looked at Mikoyan.

Mikoyan nodded and said, "Deputy General Yi Jiang, if I'm not mistaken, you are going to Seneca City, right?"

Yi Jiang frowned, and although he didn't answer, a hint of hesitation flashed across his eyes.

"In fact, Citizen Wulagindo and I are going to Menia City to look for you." Mikoyan glanced at Yi Jiang and continued, "Because last night, two slaves who were said to have escaped from you sneaked into Citizen Wulagindo's house."

"Oh? Is that true?" Yi Jiang narrowed his eyes again.

"I happened to be a guest at Citizen Wulagindo's home at the time, so I happened to experience the whole process. Moreover, I also gave Citizen Wulagindo an idea, which is to execute these two guys who are talking nonsense, because the reasons they made up are absurd, disgusting and unbearable to hear. Moreover, they are extremely disrespectful to you, Lieutenant General." Mikoyan said seriously, and Wulagindo nodded in agreement.

"Executed?" A hint of doubt flashed across Yi Jiang's eyes.

"Shouldn't they be executed?" Mikoyan asked in return. "Of course, if these two were indeed your slaves, I would have asked the citizens of Wuleglindo to escort them back to your mansion no matter what. But they are obviously just two thieves who intended to steal. Both the Supreme Assyrian Code and the Supreme Divine Code give citizens the right to execute thieves. Moreover, they are two thieves who slandered you, the deputy, and even your father, General Anubis. Citizen Wuleglindo agreed with my suggestion, but just as he was about to send someone to notify the tribune, I suddenly thought of something bigger..."

The sudden smile on Mikoyan's face made Yi Jiang choose to suppress his anger temporarily: "High Priest Mikoyan, is there anything worse than killing someone?"

"Of course there are, for example, the alliance, earning gold coins." Mikoyan said with a smile, "Compared to these, what are two damn thieves?"

"But what does this have to do with me?" Yi Jiang's face looked a little unhappy. At this point, how could he not know that the other party already knew that the person was sent by him.

They wouldn't really kill him, would they? Yi Jiang thought to himself.

"To make a long story short!" Mikoyan suddenly raised his voice and spoke faster. "This citizen of Wuleglindo beside me has been asking me to find someone who can share the God-given horse gear these days, and those two damn thieves just reminded me of you, and of course, your father, Anubis. In my impression, General Anubis is a brave and courageous warrior. Unfortunately, he commanded the Fourth Legion that protects the people, not the First, Second or Third Legion. Therefore, he had no chance to participate in the battle with the Hurlits. This is a regret for General Anubis and also a regret for the Assyrian territory. Just as I analyzed with citizen Wuleglindo a few days ago, if your father had a brave cavalry of 5,000 men, he would surely be invincible in the Hurlit territory and win endless honor and wealth for your family and the whole of Assyria."

Yi Jiang was stunned and could hardly believe his ears.

"Citizen Wuleglindo is an impatient and hot-blooded young man, but his strengths, besides generosity and elegance, include decisiveness, courage and wisdom. He agreed to my suggestion as soon as I mentioned it, and also promised that as long as I can convince you, the deputy general, to agree to share the 'God-given horse harness', he will give 20% of the profits to the temple. Isn't that right, Citizen Wuleglindo?" Mikoyan looked at Wulai with a smile.

Wu Lai nodded gracefully: "That's right, I did say that. Of course, I also said some other things, I'm sure Your Excellency the High Priest will not forget them."

"Of course I haven't forgotten." Mikoyan laughed and then said to Yi Jiang, "There are two additional conditions for Wuleglindo citizens. The first is that the principles of Wuleglindo citizens cannot be violated, such as production, sales methods, and rude interference. The second is to strictly keep secrets. In other words, as long as you, Deputy General, promise to do these, you, Wuleglindo, can immediately become an ally, and I will be your witness and collaborator. Now, please think about it for a while, Deputy General Yi Jiang, and then tell me what you think."

When Wu Lai met Mikoyan's seemingly casual gaze, he smiled and nodded.

"I would like to ask, how many sets of God-given horse harnesses can the citizens of Wuleglindo produce every month?" Yi Jiang asked after a moment of hesitation.

"Eight hundred sets," Wu Lai replied.

"That's a good yield. So, how do we divide the profits?" Yi Jiang asked again.

Wu Lai smiled and replied, "My base selling price is 20 gold coins per set. If you, the deputy general, can be responsible for selling out the 800 sets of horse harnesses produced each month, then you only need to pay me for 560 sets. We will settle the accounts at the end of each month. Archpriest Mikoyan will be the one who will contact you and me for settlement. How do you think?"

"It's a perfect way to split the profits." Yi Jiang looked at Wu Lai seriously for a while and nodded slightly, "I can't refuse."

"Then, your Excellency Lieutenant General's trip to Seneca can probably be canceled, right?" Woolley asked.

"Of course, you are a very good ally, very smart, and very tactful." Yi Jiang stretched out his hand towards Wu Lai, "I am happy to deal with people like you."

"Me too," said Woolley.

Military personnel always carry seals with them, and Mikoyan and Wu Lai came prepared, so the contract was signed quickly. After everything was done, Yi Jiang warmly invited Wu Lai to visit Menia City, but Wu Lai smiled and shook his head: "Deputy General Yi Jiang, it's not time yet. There are some things waiting for me to go back and deal with, right?"

"You're right. We'll have to do it next time." Yi Jiang said.

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"I wonder if the deputy general has any other suggestions? For example, regarding those two thieves?" Wu Lai asked after a moment of hesitation.

"Since we have identified them as thieves, you can do whatever you want with them. If you feel it is necessary, I can send ten soldiers to accompany you to save you some unnecessary trouble. What do you think?" Yi Jiang said.

"No need. There are some things I like to handle myself. Only when they are handled properly can I concentrate on creating wealth. Of course, it would be great for me if Your Excellency the Lieutenant General wrote a personal letter to the Governor of Seneca City. You know, some people like to be jealous." Wu Lai said with a smile.

"Okay, this is easy to do." When Yi Jiang agreed readily, Mikoyan nodded approvingly.

After a while, Yi Jiang jumped on his horse and led a hundred cavalrymen to gallop away along the way they came. After watching their backs disappear, Mikoyan turned back and asked Wu Lai who was reading the letter, "Who is it for?"

"Just as you guessed, it's Doggie." Wu Lai put the letter back in his arms and walked towards the carriage. "Let's go back. Everything is going well, isn't it?"

"That's true, but don't you feel sad to give up so many benefits at once?" Mikoyan joked as he followed.

"There's no need to feel bad. Sales will shrink in two months anyway. You don't have to worry about it now. Yi Jiang will work hard for the 240 sets of horse harnesses every month. With him around, the prospects for horse harnesses will be brighter." Wu Lai laughed and jumped onto the carriage.

"Go back and find an opportunity to cause some trouble for Doji. The biennial city-state nobles meeting is about to start." Mikoyan jumped into the driving seat. "No matter what you want to do to him, I will help you. Don't worry."

After Wu Lai nodded, Mikoyan controlled the reins to turn the horse's head, and after a wave of the whip, the horse began to trot.

At the same time, a cavalryman behind Yi Jiang caught up with him and rode side by side with him. Judging from his clothes, he should be a captain of the guard or something like that.

"Sir Lieutenant General, are you really not going to Seneca?" he asked.

"I'm not going." Yi Jiang replied, thinking that since the goal had been achieved, there was no need to go through so much trouble.

"Seneca's Dojian tribune..." The cavalryman had just said half of his words when he saw Yi Jiang's unhappy look and quickly shut his mouth.

"Don't mention him in front of me again! I don't know what kind of pig brain can come up with such a stupid idea, and he even says that others value money more than their life. I think he is that kind of person." Yi Jiang spat fiercely and whipped the horse's buttocks with his backhand.

At lunch the next day, Woolley and Mikoyan returned to Seneca City. After all, they had stayed overnight in a small town along the way, so both of them looked in good spirits.

After sending Mikoyan back to the temple, Wu Lai went straight back to the Baishi Building. While taking a bath, he asked Gauguin if there was anything unusual in the past two days. After listening to Gauguin's narration, he pondered for a long time, then stood up from the bath.

"Go to the paper mill immediately and bring Tana and El to me." He ordered while wiping the water stains on his body with a towel.


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