There were more than a dozen Xia army soldiers at the gate of the city checking people coming in and out, and there were also a few small teams patrolling back and forth on top of the city. It seemed that what the restaurant owner said was true.
Su Jin and others walked to the city gate bravely. The moment they stepped onto the suspension bridge, everyone's hearts were beating nervously. However, the soldiers guarding the gate were not interested in them because there happened to be women from a wealthy family leaving the city.
The two sisters at home were as tender as dripping water, and they flirted with the defenders and made various flirtatious gestures, which made the defenders lust after them.
Su Jin secretly called it a fluke, and while they were paying attention to the two women entering the city, he quickened his pace and walked through the passage between the two horses and entered the city gate.
Before Su Jin had time to lament his luck, he suddenly saw a dozen Xia troops riding towards him. Everyone hurried to the side. The cavalry team came to the gate of the city. The soldiers guarding the city quickly straightened their backs and saluted. Then one of the leaders heard
The ferocious-looking officer asked loudly: "Is there anything strange today?"
A person who looked like a team leader came forward and said: "Reporting to Commander Li, there is nothing unusual. Everything is normal."
Commander Li said coldly: "We can't take it lightly. If something goes wrong, I'll take your head."
The squad leader quickly said: "Don't worry, Commander Li, there won't be any mistakes. I'll keep my eyes wide open and check very closely. Nothing will happen."
"Yes." Commander Li nodded, looked around, and suddenly saw the back of Su Jin and a group of more than a dozen people walking towards the city, and suddenly shouted loudly: "Those few, stay back."
Su Jin's heart was lifted, and the hands of Wang Chao, Mahan and others unconsciously went to their waists, where there were short daggers hidden inside the belts.
"Stop, it's you, the ones wearing Han Chinese clothes and carrying baskets." The commander shouted, while riding his horse to catch up with Su Jin and others who pretended not to know what to do and continued walking into the city.
He rushed past Su Jin and others and blocked Su Jin and others at the exit of the city gate.
"If you don't stop when you are told to stop, are you seeking death?" Commander Li shouted, while reaching out to touch the scimitar at his waist.
Su Jin quickly stopped, took off his bamboo hat and put it in his hands: "I didn't know that the general was telling me to wait. I offended him."
Commander Li looked up and down at the group of people in front of him and said in a cold voice: "Who are you from?"
Su Jin cupped his hands and said, "To be honest, General, we are private traders from the south."
Commander Li had actually known for a long time that these people must be from the Song Dynasty. As long as Su Jin lied and said they were from Daxia, he would immediately order the arrest of these people. Su Jin's unabashed self-identity made him a little bit confused.
Accident.
"Since you are from the Song Dynasty, when you and I are at war, what are your intentions in sneaking into our city in Huizhou? Tell me!"
Su Jin cupped his hands and said, "General, what you said is wrong. Why did we sneak into the city? We obviously came in after being checked at the city gate. We are just here to do business in your country."
"Bah, the two countries are hostile and trade routes have long been cut off. What kind of business are you doing?"
"General, a war is a war, but there is still business to be done."
"I don't think you are doing business, but you are here to do business. Someone kidnapped you, took you away, and tortured you severely." Commander Li shouted loudly.
More than a dozen soldiers dismounted and wanted to take action. Su Jin struggled and shouted: "Your country is too abrupt. I think there are many private traders from your country in Lanzhou Prefecture. Although the two countries are at war, I, Song
The people of our country have never been so rude to the merchants of your Xia Kingdom. We have done business in various places in your country, but we have never seen such rudeness as the officers and soldiers in Huizhou City. If word spread, it would not be a joke."
Commander Li waved his hand to signal the soldiers to stop. He got off his horse and approached Su Jin. He stared into his eyes and said, "I didn't expect you to be very articulate. The more I look at you, the less you look like a businessman."
Su Jindao: "Of course I can't escape the general's eyes. I was originally a scholar who studied hard. My parents wanted me to pass the imperial examination and win the imperial examination. Unfortunately, I failed to pass the imperial examination many times, so I had to take over the family business and start a business."
Commander Li suddenly asked like a barrage of questions: "Where do you live in Lanzhou? What is your business?"
"My family lives in Guaizilou, Dongcheng, Lanzhou Prefecture. Su Ji on Yanggufang Street is my family's property. On the surface, we are engaged in the cloth business, but to be honest with the general, we are secretly engaged in the green salt business of your country."
"Salt trafficking is a capital crime, don't you want your life?"
Su Jin suddenly laughed: "I have no way of answering the general's question. I just want to say, 'People die for money and birds die for food.' In business, those who talk about business naturally pursue profit. Although our Song Dynasty court prohibits the private sale of youth,
Salt, but doesn’t the general know that the more prohibited a business is, the bigger the profits will be. Besides, I said I was doing it secretly, so how could I let the government know about it? This is an inquiry from the general in your country. If not, how could I
Will speak out."
Su Jin's answer was flawless. Although Commander Li couldn't find any flaws, he still had some doubts in his heart. Su Jin knew that he might not believe it, so he gritted his teeth and decided to take a risk, so he whispered: "How about I lend a step to the general?"
Commander Li shouted: "Don't play tricks, I will not follow your tricks."
Su Jin hurriedly said: "The general misunderstood, I just can't speak in front of so many people."
Commander Li said: "If you have anything to say, just say it."
Su Jin said: "Well, if the general has any doubts about our identity, you might as well ask General Pochaolong, the munitions department in this city. He is an old acquaintance with me, so he naturally knows that what I said is true. If it is him,
If you still can't dispel the general's doubts, then I have nothing to say, so I will just consider it my unlucky fate to come to your country to do business at this time."
Commander Li frowned and said, "Pochaolong? How do you know him?"
Su Jin smiled and said: "Although merchants make small profits, they have to travel thousands of miles and earn hard-earned money. Because we travel all over the world, we naturally make many friends. There is a saying in the Song Dynasty.
It's called 'relying on parents at home and relying on friends when going out'. Without friends to help, it would be inconvenient for me to wait outside. General Pochao and I also hit it off, so we became friends. This time I came to Huizhou to pay him a visit.
Otherwise, there is no green salt in Huizhou, and I heard that today there are many interrogations in the city on our merchants coming from the south, why should I come here to cause trouble? It is really a matter of friendship, and besides, I also believe that your people are reasonable and will not harm innocent people."
Commander Li was somewhat convinced by Su Jin's nonsense. Of course he knew that the Munitions Department was very powerful. The battle on the Weizhou front was about to start. The supply of grain and grass was a top priority, and the Munitions Department was the head of Huizhou Prefecture at this moment.
The first critical department is responsible for transporting grain, grass, arrows, armor and weapons to the front line. Although this quite chaolong is just a small escort department and the people are not that good, it is not easy to offend people for no reason.
No need to do more.
The reason why Su Jin came up with the name Po Chaolong was, firstly, to increase the credibility of the lie. Secondly, he also knew that Pochaolong escorted grain to the Weizhou front line and would never come back for five or six days. This is called being unable to verify.
, seeing that the interrogation in this city is indeed very strict, and if you fail to deal with it even slightly, something may happen, so there is no other way.
Commander Li pondered for a while, then looked at Su Jin and said, "If you come to visit Po Chaolong, you can go out of the city. As far as I know, he went out of the city on business and won't be able to come back for five or six days."
Su Jin said in astonishment: "Does it take so long? This is unfortunate."
"So you'd better turn back."
Su Jin frowned and said: "Where can we go at this time? It's already afternoon, and it will be dark before we can reach the next town. The general promised me to stay in Huizhou for one night, and I will leave tomorrow. Wait for us
After purchasing goods and returning south, I will visit Pochaodutou again. Then I can ask the general to show my favor and have a glass of wine with him to make friends."
Commander Li said: "I don't have time to deal with you gang of desperate businessmen. It's okay. I'm only allowed one night. You have to leave tomorrow. The city has been very guarded against you southerners in the past few days. If something goes wrong,
But don’t blame me for not reminding you, if it weren’t for the fact that you and others are well-upgraded and acquainted, you would not be allowed to enter the city today.”
Su Jin thanked him repeatedly, winked and took two gold ingots from Lu Laosan's hand, quickly stuffed them into Commander Li's hands and said: "Thank you, General, for your accommodation. I am grateful and grateful."
Commander Li calmly put his arms into his sleeves, his face became slightly softer and said: "My Daxia court has made it clear that although you are a private businessman, you can still play some role at this time, so that's why
Be more tolerant to you; you should keep a low profile, especially these days. You also know the reason. You Song people are despicable and killed two wild kings of the left and right military divisions in a sneak attack. Therefore, the recent interrogation of you has been strict.
These are excusable circumstances.”
Su Jin smiled and said: "We understand, General, don't worry, we will stay here for one night and leave tomorrow."
Commander Li waved his hand, turned around and mounted his horse, waving his hand and galloping away. Su Jin stretched out his sleeves to wipe the cold sweat from his face. It was not easy to sneak in, and he almost missed the mark. He didn't know that it was his own words that convinced the commander.
, maybe the extraordinary reputation played a role, or maybe it was the two ingots of gold that played a role. In short, as long as you pass the risk, you don't need to think too much.