The next day, early morning.

When seeing the evidence presented by Aesop, Anthony shook his head with a wry smile. He simply did not believe that Doji would be so stupid and bold as to instigate the slaves of Yijiang's deputy general to steal Yijiang's golden pot for him.

However, the golden pot weighing 400 shekels was lying quietly in front of him, shining brightly, with intricate and beautiful patterns, and the emblem in the middle of the pot was clearly written, meticulously. Even if you ignore the emblem in the middle of the pot, at first glance, it would not be an item that an ordinary noble family would have.

In addition to the golden pot, there is also the confession of the escaped slave. He claimed to be named Tana and was the daily slave of Lieutenant General Yijiang. On a night when Doji visited Lieutenant General Yijiang and stayed at his official residence, he was ordered to select a female slave to bathe for Master Doji. Doji was very satisfied with his hospitality and even more satisfied with the golden pot used as decoration in the bedroom. Therefore, he promised to let Tana obtain civilian status and provide asylum...

The confession was reasonable and the process was linked, but Anthony knew that Doggie was framed. However, he could not determine who was the real person who framed Doggie. In his opinion, it could be any one of Aesop, Wu Lai, and Yi Jiang, or it could be that two or even three of them conspired to frame Doggie.

But this is not important anymore, because the letter from Lieutenant General Yijiang clearly states that Wu Lai can represent him within the city-state of Seneca. Moreover, before these evidences were presented, Wu Lai had already detained the fugitive slave Tana on behalf of Lieutenant General Yijiang, and he would personally escort Tana back to Menia, including, of course, the golden pot that he was temporarily allowed to look at.

What Anthony couldn't understand the most was Wu Lai's attitude - Aesop relayed this to Anthony, and he said that Wu Lai was willing to let the matter end there. In other words, after getting the golden pot and Tana back, no one wanted to get involved with Doggie anymore.

This sounds like a good thing, at least for Doji, because as long as Aesop, Wulai or Yijiang are willing, they can easily bring Doji down. Think about it, a deputy general whose father is the commander of the legion and has a promising future, a tribune known for his strictness and strictness, and a wise and mysterious "God-favored One", it would not be too difficult to defeat Doji with such a lineup.

"It started so fiercely but ended so abruptly. Why did it happen?" Anthony was puzzled and did not come to his senses until the assistant officer walked in.

"Mr. Archon." The assistant called out in a low voice.

After shouting twice, Anthony finally turned his gaze away from the window and said, "Give the golden pot to Wuleglindo, and then make an appointment with Aesop and High Priest Mikoyan for me, and tell them that I am inviting them to taste a new wine tonight."

"Okay, Your Excellency." The assistant nodded and reached out to pick up the golden pot.

Outside the official residence, Wu Lai was looking at Tana in the prison van with a smile on his face.

A moment later, Woolley left the consul's residence in a carriage driven by Nelton and Tana's prison carriage, one after the other. Following the prison carriage came six cavalrymen sent by Aesop to escort Woolley and the prisoners, and Malone riding a black horse.

When the crisp sound of horse hooves hit the street, Hippo circled around El in the White Stone Building, nodded and said approvingly: "Good choice, El, let me remind you that Master Wu Lai is an elegant, intelligent, generous, kind but very self-disciplined man. He doesn't like loose women, at least, he doesn't like them now."

"I understand, Butler Hippo." El nodded.

"Then, you'd better wash yourself clean before he comes back, because Master Wu Lai likes cleanliness." Xibo said as he called two female servants to serve as servants. "Before Master Wu Lai gives clear orders, let El rest. Now, you two take her to the big bathroom to take a bath and then change her clothes."

"Yes." The two female servants bowed and nodded and answered.

In the evening, Wu Lai and his party stopped in Pingfan Town. In fact, they could have continued to move forward, but Wu Lai didn't want to make himself too tired. After all, the situation now was different from that night.

While the six cavalrymen and the prison van driver were having a meal, Woolley refused to follow Nelton and Malone and walked to the front of the prison van with a plate of food.

"Have something to eat." Wu Lai placed the plate in the gap between the cage frame and the car floor.

Tana nodded gratefully and reached out to grab a piece of bread from the cage.

"It tastes even better with some dried meat." Wu Lai said as he untied the water bottle tied around his waist, "Eat slowly, don't choke."

Tana nodded in thanks and grabbed the kettle.

After glancing around and seeing that no one was paying attention, Wu Lai smiled slightly and lowered his voice: "Tana, I am very satisfied with your performance. I promise that you will not be punished by the deputy general when you arrive in Menia. Maybe he will appreciate you more than before."

"Thank you, Mr. Citizen Wulai." Tana thanked.

"By the way, I want to know one thing, El, what is her relationship with you?" Wu Lai asked. He kept El purely because it was El's choice, but he was very curious why El was willing to stay.

"Citizen Wulai, El is really my biological sister, and our family is indeed civilians. For some reason, my sister and I were sold to the deputy general. What El said that day was the truth. My family lives in the town of Liuer, northwest of Assyria. In addition to my parents and grandmother, I have two younger brothers and a younger sister. Your guess is correct, my lord. I became a slave in the deputy general's family when I was nine years old, and my sister became a slave at this time last year." After Tana finished answering, his expression was a little bleak.

"Why do you think El chose to stay instead of going with you, his brother, to complete my mission?" Wu Lai asked again.

"I didn't have the chance to ask, but I guess she must not want to go back to the lieutenant's mansion, where she was often forced to do things she didn't want to do. During the two days that El and I stayed in your paper mill, we heard a lot of praise for you. I think my sister believed that those praises were not nonsense, so she chose to stay." Tana answered seriously.

"What about you? Why don't you choose to stay?" Wu Lai's question made Tana stunned for a moment, and then a trace of bitterness appeared on his face: "Although I am a slave, I am eager to return home. Although Menia is far away from Liuer Town, Seneca is even farther."

After hearing the answer, Wu Lai sighed softly and said, "I can understand your idea, but if I were you, I would choose to stay with my sister to protect her. Even if I am unable to do so, at least I have tried my best. It is better than leaving your sister in a strange place and heading home by yourself. Of course, you have been a slave for too long and have become accustomed to thinking from a slave's perspective. You said you longed to go home, but when your sister was right next to you, you turned a blind eye..."

Tana lowered his head, a hint of pain quietly appearing on his face.

"We will reach Menia City in two days. During these two days, you should think carefully about what I just said. If you change your mind, you can tell me before you enter the lieutenant general's residence. That way, maybe it will still be in time." After Wu Lai said this, he turned around and left.

Nelton, who was waiting not far away, saw Wu Lai coming back and hurriedly went up to him: "Master Wu Lai, you seem to have a good impression of this boy?"

"I can't say I like him, but I don't know why, I think he lives a pitiful life." Woolley replied, "And that El, he gave me the same feeling."

"Master is really kind. However, there are too many people like them in the world. We can't take care of them all," said Nelton.

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

"Perhaps what you said makes sense." Wu Lai sighed and waved his hand, "Take me to rest."

Two days later, Woolley's carriage slowly drove into the city of Menia. As a traditional city in the Assyrian territory, Menia's history is much older than Seneca. Therefore, its scale and population are not only times that of Seneca, but its prosperity is also incomparable to Seneca.

In the areas divided by wide and straight streets, there are shops, mansions, temples, squares, fountain gardens, baths, and brothels. These areas of varying sizes and heights jointly guard the core of the city of Menia - the giant stone square with the statue of Boyue Menia, the "pioneer of Menia". At the same time, it is also an open-air arena.

The square is called the Stone Square because it is built on a huge rock in the central area of ​​Menia. The rock has an amazing size - 4,700 cubits long, 3,150 cubits wide, and more than 1,600 cubits high. The original rock was naturally not as flat as it is now. In order to chisel and grind it into its current shape, it took Menia nearly two hundred years to complete it, which is much more difficult than building a stone wall with rammed earth in the middle.

The official residence of Deputy General Yijiang is on the top of a small hill, facing the Stone Square in the distance. Around the official residence are the residences of the most prominent military officials in the city of Menia scattered in an orderly manner - this is the custom in the Assyrian territory.

As they drove along a winding stone road and approached the gate of the deputy general's residence, Wu Lai, who was sitting in the carriage, turned around and glanced at Tana in the prison car. The moment his eyes met Wu Lai's, Tana subconsciously lowered his head and turned his face to the side.

Wu Lai shook his head and reached out to brush away a petal that had fallen on the corner of his robe at some point.

"I didn't expect to meet you so soon, Wu Lai, Greendo." Yi Jiang said to Wu Lai while eating. This was obviously a bit impolite. From the moment Wu Lai walked in until now, he did not ask Wu Lai to sit down, but continued to eat. Undoubtedly, this made Wu Lai feel a little unhappy.

"Tell me, what do you want me for?" After a long while, Yi Jiang finally finished his meal. He looked up and asked while wiping his hands with a towel.

"Sir, Lieutenant General, if you insist on continuing your rudeness, I think I have nothing to talk to you about." Wu Lai frowned and said.

Wu Lai's words stunned Yi Jiang for a moment, and then a scornful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Wuli Grindo, I think you don't understand something. Although you and I are partners, it is just a business deal. It does not mean that you, a child, are qualified to sit on an equal footing with me. Similarly, it does not mean that you are qualified to sit in front of me. Although you are a citizen with a small fortune, if you can't stand my attitude, either leave, or let Mikoyan come with you."

Wu Lai was a little surprised by Yi Jiang's attitude, but it was obviously inappropriate to get angry. He couldn't do that, either from the current situation or for future plans. However, Wu Lai never developed the habit of swallowing his anger in any world, just like he never chose to be defensive in any confrontation or battle.

"Mr. Lieutenant, it seems that you already know something, but according to etiquette, I should still tell you the purpose of my visit." Wu Lai straightened his sleeves and said, "There are two reasons for my presumptuous visit today. First, I brought back your runaway slave Tana, and also brought back the golden pot that he stole from your mansion and gave to Seneca Tribune Doji. The evidence of the whole matter is sufficient and clear. Tribune Aesop carried out the whole process of recovering the lost property and the runaway slave for you. Seneca Archon Anthony personally inquired about the matter and admonished Tribune Doji. In the end, I, Archon Anthony, and Tribune Aesop all felt that this matter could end here."

Yi Jiang narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly.

"Secondly, the messenger of General Shuman, the commander of the Second Assyrian Army, came to Seneca a few days ago and found me. After some serious consideration, I think I need to come here to ask your Excellency the Deputy General whether you are willing to postpone the execution of our cooperation contract for one year. Oh, I forgot to mention that before I set off, I specifically consulted the High Priest Mikoyan about this. He said that he would support whatever decision I made, and also told me that the cooperation contract did not specify the start and end time of the cooperation, so according to convention, the start time of the cooperation is determined by me, the producer. I am sorry that I suddenly wavered in my firm confidence in your Excellency the Deputy General. Perhaps, it was because of the friendly wording in General Shuman's handwritten letter and his messenger's respectful attitude towards me that made me lose myself, but now I do think that delaying cooperation is a good choice. What do you think, your Excellency the Deputy General?"

Yi Jiang subconsciously clenched the towel in his hand.