Daily Intelligence System: Don't Kill Me, Honey!

Chapter 601: Chapter 183 Yelu: Nan Batian, you are on the path to your doom! (It’s the beginning of the month, asking for monthly passes!)_4

However, Lord Yelu’s original order was to summon Nan Batian into the mansion. It seems I can’t touch him yet. Since that’s the case, forget it. Don’t get myself so infuriated. Besides, they’ve paid the money.

Thinking of this, Qimu Ge took a step back and gestured with an inviting hand, ”Please go ahead!”

At that moment, Nan Batian said, ”Ziyue, accompany me!”

Upon hearing this, Tang Ziyue immediately replied, ”Yes.”

With that, a group of people followed Qimu Ge straight to Yelu Mansion.

At this time, Yelu Mansion was absolutely bustling with activity. Elder Liu of Guild Cao took the lead, with more than twenty major merchants from the city filing a joint complaint. They were now standing in a row in the small courtyard of Yelu Mansion, weeping and wailing, begging Lord Yelu to do us justice!

Yelu’s head was buzzing from the noise.

The ones standing at the front in the neatest order were Elder Liu himself and Bai Mosheng beside him.

These two were the main characters today. One had sealed Nan Batian’s docks, preventing Nan Batian’s ships from going down the river.

The other had gone to negotiate with the local merchants. The outcome of the negotiations was very pleasing. These major clients were crying most pitifully, one by one, weeping and wailing, having been horribly deceived by Nan Batian.

The shipping costs had been raised tenfold, eating into their profits so much that they were almost gone. It was as though they had worked for nothing, so under Bai Mosheng’s influence, they all came forth to cry out their grievances, hoping to recoup their losses, and even freeload on Nan Batian’s cargo ships for a bit of profit.

Thus a group of people were weeping before Yelu.

Yelu, with a headache from the weeping, said, ”Stop crying, all of you. Guild Leader Liu, I’ve heard what you said. I’ve already sent Qimu Ge to find Nan Batian and have him give you an answer.”

Elder Liu said, ”Lord Yelu, it’s not that we’re being overly sensitive. It’s just that Nan Batian has really crossed the line. He has sealed off the Mianshui River and won’t let our Guild Cao ship goods, yet he sneaks goods down the river, and even stole our long-standing customers! Is this how things should be done?”

”We all obey your orders, Lord Yelu, not to ship goods down the river so as not to trouble you. But what about him? He uses our sacrifices as chips for his wealth, raising the shipping cost by tenfold. My brothers can hardly afford food!”

Upon hearing Elder Liu’s words, the other major merchants found their chance to chime in, suddenly crying out, ”Lord Yelu!”

Whoosh—suddenly a swath of them knelt down. These major merchants, who usually displayed the airs of wealthy businessmen outside, were now all kneeling on the ground, kowtowing and saying, ”Lord Yelu, we’re suffering! Please stand up for us! Nan Batian, that scoundrel is threatening us, saying if he doesn’t give the order, the river will stay closed for a month. Even your command to open the river is useless!”

”He also said that only his family can ship goods in all Mianshui County. If we don’t ship, our goods will rot on the boats, driving us to ruin!”

”We had no choice but to let him raise the freight charges tenfold. He is pushing us toward death!”

These businessmen, who always play their cards right and wouldn’t get up early if there was nothing in it for them, were now kneeling and crying because they had Elder Liu backing them up. Yelu had to give them some face.

Indeed, Yelu massaged his forehead and said, ”Hmm, Nan Batian has indeed gone too far.”

Upon hearing this, a merchant immediately said, ”Lord...”

Yelu frowned and replied, ”Shut your mouth for now.”

The merchant immediately clammed up. Yelu never minced words with businessmen, as in his eyes, these wealthy people were just moneyed hamsters, who could be lured with cash and then bled.

This was merely a dish in Yelu’s view. Why should he show any respect?

It was different with the Jianghu people. Although the Jianghu people might not have as much money, they had martial power. Like Elder Liu and Nan Batian, Yelu had to treat them cautiously.

If a businessman were suspected of affiliating with Zoroastrianism, there would be no need for questions. He would be captured and subject to severe torture. That would resolve the matter.

Such was the simple logic of the Mulan people.

To the Mulan people, the Han were like pigs and dogs, and among the Han, the wealthy merchants were the fattest pigs. They could be fattened most of the time, but come the New Year, they would certainly be slaughtered and served on the dining table.

But people like Nan Batian, they were ferocious dogs that could bite. So when dealing with them, one had to be cautious not to let them bite back.

This was Yelu’s approach.

At that moment, having ordered the merchant to be silent, the merchant dare not say another word but simply kept his mouth shut.

Seeing this, Elder Liu stepped forward and said, ”Lord Yelu, I understand what you’re thinking. We don’t want to relentlessly pursue Nan Batian, but what he’s done this time is way over the line. Sneaking commercial ships down the river like this—who knows what was actually on those ships? There’s a chance it could have been the military equipment that left the city!”

”Hmm?”

Yelu frowned upon hearing this. Military equipment being shipped out?

Yelu’s brow furrowed. Even though he wasn’t sure if Elder Liu was correct, it was still possible. He couldn’t let Nan Batian play him for a fool!

Thinking this, Yelu asked, ”Guild Leader Liu, do you have any proof?”

Elder Liu replied, ”No concrete evidence. However, I’ve captured Qin Ying, the trusted lieutenant of Nan Batian. Lord, you can interrogate this person.”

Upon hearing this, Yelu said, ”Oh, you’ve captured Qin Ying?”

Elder Liu said, ”Yes. Bring forth Master Qin!”

At that moment, Qin Ying appeared with a bruised nose and a swollen face, bound in iron chains, pushed forward by a crowd.

Seeing Yelu, he immediately knelt down, ”Lord Yelu.”

Yelu looked at Qin Ying and said, ”Speak, what exactly does the Fishing Guild want to do, daring to send ships down the river?”