Chapter 37 Treasure Offering Seeing that the shopkeeper was suspicious, Li Si smiled and stood up to leave.
Then he took his entourage to visit several other shops that collected groceries, and saw that the largest transaction was still saltpeter, followed by sulfur, which was rarely used in the market before.
As for the ironware and iron materials that every group of ant thieves would definitely spend a lot of money to buy, they only ranked third.
Regardless of the price increase and trading volume, it is far from that of saltpeter and sulfur.
When Li Si saw this, he immediately understood something in his heart.
Walking to a secluded place, he called his two smartest followers to his side and ordered in a very low voice, "You two should go back to Dadu and report to Lord Zuo Cheng that Li Si found the red scarf thief wreaking havoc in Tengzhou.
The so-called bolt from the blue regarding the purchase of saltpeter and sulfur is probably related to firearms, as the Red Turban Army itself claimed."
"Fourth Master is saying that the red scarf army's notice originally told the truth.
Did they actually tell the truth when their heads were stepped on by donkeys?"
The story of Wu Labuhua's defeat and death has long been spread in the capital city.
Those two followers were working as dogs in Youcheng Mansion.
Naturally, they already knew that the Xuzhou Red Scarf Army posted a notice clarifying that there was no sky thunder.
They were stunned and blurted out their doubts.
"I asked you to report, then go back and report, there is so much nonsense."
Li Si raised his eyes and cursed loudly.
Then, he explained with a sneer: "This is the highest level of lying.
It is obviously the truth, but it makes you only want to guess the opposite.
Go quickly and let Mr.
Youcheng find a way to prohibit the trade of these two goods to Xuzhou, otherwise Once Sesame Li accumulates enough gunpowder and tries to capture him, the price the court will have to pay will be huge."
"Yes."
The two attendants did not dare to neglect, agreed, and immediately trotted back to the inn to get the horses.
When the other attendants saw it, they inevitably asked in a low voice: "Fourth Master, Fourth Master, aren't those saltpetre and sulfur prohibited things in the first place?
Why do you still invite Sir You Cheng?"
"Idiot."
Li Si listened impatiently and raised his hand to give the questioner a hug, "When did that happen?
Our Yuan Dynasty had more bans than anything, but as long as it can make money, you see Which one has been implemented seriously?”
"Alas, alas, the fourth master is right, he is right."
The attendant who was beaten had a smile on his face and did not dare to ask another word.
At the beginning of the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, the trade in saltpeter and sulfur was indeed prohibited.
But those bans were only effective for Han Chinese and Southerners.
If it were the Mongols and Semu people, no one would take it seriously.
Especially the latter, as long as it can make money, my mother and I can sell it, so why don't they care about the ban?
Therefore, over time, these bans have completely turned into waste paper.
Unless the court reiterates it again and backs it up with severe punishments.
Otherwise, even if you sell saltpetre to the gate of the state government, as long as you don't step on those stone steps, the adults inside will turn a blind eye.
After discovering an important piece of information, Li Si was no longer in the mood to stay in Tengzhou.
After finding a simple meal at a restaurant that looked quite clean, he went back to the inn to settle the bill, and led his entourage to continue running south.
He was anxious to dig a hole for the new Huainan ambassador Lu Zeng, and of course he refused to go west to the canal and take a boat.
Instead, he went straight out of the south gate and ran along the official road.
Unexpectedly, after running for more than ten miles, the road ahead suddenly became extremely narrow.
More than a dozen carriages loaded with goods lined up in a long queue, crowded at the narrowest point, squeezing the entire official road to a crawl.
"Things without eyes," Wang Ershiyi, the follower who was following Li Si, cursed and tried to clear the way with his whip.
Li Si suddenly reached out his hand and grabbed his arm.
"Don't be too fussy.
This is not Dadu.
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Let's go around on the muddy roadside."
"Why?"
Those followers were used to being crabs in the capital city.
When they got outside, they were not willing to make way for a group of country bumpkins.
They immediately turned their heads and protested, "Fourth Master, you are too cautious.
Although This is not Dadu, but it is also the territory of the Yuan Dynasty.
Who dares not to give face to our master?"
"A bunch of idiots who eat chaff, stupider than pigs."
Li Si glared at everyone and responded in a very low voice, "It's only three or two days' journey from Xuzhou.
Sesame Li has made so many achievements in Xuzhou When the news came, the leaders of Guizhou didn't panic at all.
How to live their lives as they should.
If there is no trouble between the local government and the red scarf thieves, is it possible to actually recruit the local police officers?
Who can guarantee them?
Which side are you on?”
When all the followers heard this, they were so frightened that they gasped.
Everyone had indeed seen it just now.
The ground in Tengzhou was indeed as peaceful as a paradise.
It was as if they didn't even feel that the ant thief's nest was so close at hand.
The city gates are also wide open on all sides, and there is no fear of following the footsteps of Xuzhou.
What does this mean?
It only means one thing.
The officials and people of Tengzhou have long known that the red scarf thieves will not attack them or even send their men to harass them.
There is only one way to make Zhima Li so respectful, that is, someone from the government secretly establishes a relationship with Zhima Li, pays a sum of money and food to the Xuzhou red scarf thieves, and buys temporary peace.
It's just that the officials in this place did it too blatantly.
After all, the ant thieves only bothered in one or two mansions, but there were hundreds of mansions like this under the imperial government.
"What do you know?
The so-called being an official for thousands of miles is just to make money."
Seeing the doubtful expressions on the faces of his followers, Li Si frowned and continued.
"If the ant thief is allowed to attack the city, even if he takes out all the family property to take care of it, he will not be able to escape the fate of his family being exiled thousands of miles in the end.
But when he sends his men to hook up with the ant thief, the money spent is not his own.
Even if it is nowhere to be found, Tian Zhizhi Li was caught by the court and his name was revealed.
It can be said that the thieves preyed on them until they were about to die.
As long as there is no real evidence, the court can't do anything to them in order to appease people."
"Hiss" After hearing this, everyone gasped again.
If the facts are really as what Li Si guessed, the fate that awaits everyone after summoning the officials now is probably the fate of being killed and silenced.
Under the shadow of death, the followers did not dare to continue to be arrogant.
He moved his mount away from the official road honestly, and walked forward on the muddy ground with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
It is now early February, the ice and snow are gone, and the spring tide is raging.
And Tengzhou is close to Weishan Lake and the canal.
Therefore, both sides of the official road were covered with mud pits of various sizes.
If you accidentally step on it, people and horses will be submerged up to their necks.
The genius Li Si rode forward on his horse for more than twenty steps.
When he saw that the mud under his feet was really full of traps, he had no choice but to sigh and return to the official road with his entourage covered in mud.
Then he jumped off his mount, straightened his clothes a little, walked quickly to the convoy blocking his way, and slightly raised his hand to a man who looked like a steward, "This brother has invited me.
I'm in a hurry to get there.
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I’m visiting relatives in the south.
Can you please ask your guys to clear a passage so that I can go there first?
I know this is an unkind invitation, but it’s really the relatives who are urging me.
Take a look.”
"Wait here, I'll ask my boss."
The steward rolled his eyelids unhappily, dropped a harsh word, and stepped into the motorcade.
After three circles and two circles, he came to a group of people standing and talking in the center of the motorcade, and lowered his voice to ask for instructions.
"Brother Zhu, here you go, look."
The person who was called Brother Zhu by everyone was not Zhu Ba11, but who.
He quickly turned his head and looked at Li Si's face, and then gave instructions quietly in a voice that could only be heard by a few people around him.
"Liuzi, I'll block it for you.
Go and check secretly to see if it's them."
The waiter Wang Liuzi immediately poked half of his head out from Zhu Bayi's shoulder, took a quick look, then quickly retracted his head, and shouted in a low voice, "Yes, that's him.
He has been in the city asking about the Red Turban Army."
The news also spread to all the places that collect groceries in the city."
"Okay, Lao Yu, give Liu Zi two slings of money and go back to buy snacks to honor my mother.
Others" Zhu Bayi nodded slightly and ordered in a low voice, "Hong San, you take a few brothers to go from the side first and take them The retreat is blocked and then wait for my order."
After saying that, he immediately turned his head and walked towards Li Si with Wu Twenty-Er, who was dressed as a steward.
The genius Li Si has been following Tuo Tuo since he was a child, fighting openly and covertly with other Mongolian nobles.
So far, he has had at least dozens of lives on his hands.
The intuition for danger is far beyond that of ordinary people.
When I pulled the horse back to the official road, I already felt that something was wrong with today's events.
Later, I saw a familiar shadow peeking at me in the crowd, and I immediately knew that I was probably being watched.
Therefore, before Zhu Bayi and his "guys" came to him, he took the initiative to take a step forward, bowed his head to the ground, "Xiao Ke is in a hurry, can I cause trouble to my brother?
I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed."
"You don't have to be polite in Xiaoshe."
Zhu Bayi waved his hand and responded with a very awkward popular name.
"I accidentally blocked your road.
It's Zhu's fault.
If you have any trouble, please ask Xiaoshe your name.
Where are you going?
It's already afternoon.
I just set out from the city.
I'm not afraid of encountering someone on the road.
Is it troublesome?"
If I don't meet you, there will be no trouble.
The genius Li Si doesn't know that the person standing in front of him is the legendary Zhu Bayi with four wings.
However, from the faint murderous aura on the other party's body, he felt that this person's identity might be extraordinary.
He secretly cursed a few words in his mind, and then responded with a smile, "My surname is Li, and I am the fourth in the family.
Brother, just call me Li Si.
This time I went to the south, specifically to go to my uncle's house to marry my cousin."
Since the wedding is scheduled for the 28th of this month, I don’t dare to delay too much on the road.”
After a few words, the answer turned out to be flawless.
It not only reflects the tutoring that a Han nationality son should have in this era, but also does not involve anything real and useful.
After Zhu Bayi heard this, he couldn't help but look this person up and down again.
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I saw that Li Sisheng had red lips and white teeth, ape-like arms and wolf waist, and he really looked like a pampered young man.
It's just that her eyes seem a bit out of proportion with her appearance, and there's always a faint evil light flickering in them.
Looking up to see that Xu Hongsan and others had not yet returned to their positions, he smiled and continued: "Then you have to be careful, although the wedding cannot be delayed.
But as soon as you cross the Yellow River, you will enter the territory of Sesame Plum.
That red The scarf thieves are a group of desperate refugees, and the ones they hate the most are people like you, Brother Li, who come from a wealthy family."
"It's just spreading rumors."
The ghost Li Si cursed his mother in his belly, but he pretended to speak uprightly, "The Red Scarf Army will definitely compete with the imperial court in the future.
If they see anyone dressed neatly, they will kill them indiscriminately. , Wouldn't it chill the hearts of the wealthy people all over the world?
Besides, my younger brother only dressed up a little to welcome the bride.
In fact, his family only has a few acres of thin farmland, and he can collect some rent to ensure that he can live there every day.
Just enough food and clothing” "Really?"
Hearing Li Si's smooth and sophisticated answer, Zhu Bayi felt more and more suspicious about this person's identity.
He smiled and continued: "This is the first time I have heard that the Red Scarf Army has such a good reputation outside.
If Sesame Li learns that you praise him like this, he will definitely come to thank you personally and introduce Xiaoshe as a confidant."
"My little brother is just making random guesses.
I have never really seen what the rebels look like."
Li Si looked up anxiously and continued to respond with a smile, "But since they have taken up the word "righteousness", they will definitely not attack pedestrians for no reason.
Use the knife.
My dear, what do you think?"
"This" Zhu Bayi was really stunned by Li Si's question.
According to his original intention, since this guy with an obvious northern accent was inquiring about the Red Scarf Army and went to the market to pay attention to the transaction of groceries, to be on the safe side and he happened to meet him, he should not let him go.
The man and his entourage made it out alive.
But this person "kills indiscriminately" on the left and "rebels" on the right, and every word of this person is justified.
It's really difficult for him to make a choice with the otaku mentality of later generations.
Don't get rid of this person.
If he is a spy of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasty, based on the news of the sharp increase in the price of saltpeter and sulfur, it is not difficult to guess the real reason why the Red Scarf Army turned defeat into victory in the last battle of Xuzhou.
Although Zhao Junyong and Tang Zihao have used covert methods to delay the exposure of the truth as late as possible.
But if you don't know the identity of the other party, you will attack rashly.
According to what the guy surnamed Li said, the meaning of the Xuzhou Rebel Army is somewhat misplaced.
After all, this place is still hundreds of miles away from Xuzhou, and the Red Scarf Army's sphere of influence has not expanded to the north of the Yellow River for the time being.
Just because this person once inquired about the Red Scarf Army, he did not hesitate to kill him.
If the wrong person was killed and the incident spread, the image of the rebel army that Sesame Li had painstakingly created for Xuzhou Red Scarf over the past few months would inevitably plummet. .
Just when he was in a dilemma, he heard Li Si laugh and said with a smile: "Brother Zhu is afraid that Xuzhou Red Scarf will not be as guilty as the legendary Qiu Wuwu.
This matter is actually very simple.
If you expect others to be merciful, why not kill him first?"
I have become a hedgehog that no one can bite.
I have something, and Brother Zhu will understand it at a glance."
After that, regardless of whether Zhu Bayi agreed or not, he turned around and strode towards his mount.
He unhooked a three-foot-long wooden box from behind the saddle, walked back to Zhu Bayi with a smile, and gently used his thumb to lift the lock on the lid of the box, "Brother Zhu, please look, this is my little brother's."
Where to rely” "Pop!"
The delicate wooden box lid quickly popped open, revealing the scarlet velvet lining.
On the velvet, there is a copper pipe standing upright, more than two feet long, the whole body is round and straight, but there is a spherical protrusion three inches from the end.
There are wooden handles installed at the two positions directly below the balloon and at the front and back.
On the top of the balloon, there is a half-inch long strip hole with a dark gray paper twist embedded inside.
It was exactly what he had dreamed of but could never create, the musket: