Chapter 356

Speaking of which, in broad daylight, selling private salt openly on the street, has the prefect's office not woken up? Although it's cheap at two hundred wen, I support them competing with the salt merchants...

Xie Tu pointed at the opposite street: "They're here."

"Magistrate Xiao? Now there's a show to watch!" Lu Jia became fully interested; this Magistrate Xiao cannot tolerate any sand in his eyes, he's very upright.

Xiao Gang truly didn't misname himself; his actions are simple and crude. He rode forward, waved his hand, and said, "Selling private salt is a capital offense—seize them!"

The troops rushed forward. The common folk scattered and fled, knowing today's bargain couldn't be snatched.

Tie Zhu saw the painstakingly maintained formation instantly fall into chaos, feeling great distress.

He hastily produced a princely mansion token, saying, "Sir, we are from the Northern Border, merely seeking to provide some benefit to the people of Rangeyang by selling cheap sea salt—don't attack yet!" Fighting would also be to your loss.

Xiao Gang knew that anyone daring to buy private salt must have a powerful background, and certainly would be a major trouble; hearing the news from the prefect, he immediately feigned illness and guessed as much, but he hadn't expected it to actually be the King of the Northern Border.

"This is Great Jin territory; selling private salt is a capital offense, no matter who you are! Why haven't you moved yet?!"

This Magistrate Xiao's subordinates obey orders without question, drawing their blades and slashing; if they can't prevail, they should draw their swords.

Xiao Gang brought only about a hundred men; frightening the city's civilians is no problem, but trying to intimidate the Owl Cavalry is sheer folly.

At the moment the weapons clashed, the outcome was already decided.

The Rangeyang City Guard's regulated iron-plate weapons met the Great King's straight blade; the uneven break shows the Owl Cavalry didn't exert any effort.

Tie Zhu spread his hands and said, "Look, we're our own people; if there's an issue we should talk it out, not resort to blades—now look what's happened!"

Xiao Gang sat high on his horse, without a word raised his ceremonial blade and slashed at him; Tie Zhu nimbly drew his sword to block, saying, "You're no match for me—why not go back and be a proper official?"

"Arrogant!"

Tie Zhu: …Just who is being arrogant?

He began to fight back, since the Great King, being tall and strong, had given him a heavy blade; once he got serious, Xiao Gang's court-issued saber instantly split in two…

"I have already killed two hundred Xiongnu with my own hands; this sir, take your men back and pretend nothing happened—we will withdraw from Rangeyang on our own the day after tomorrow."

Then Xiao Gang threw down the half-blade in his hand and prepared to attack bare-fisted; Tie Zhu side-kicked, a thick leg firmly suppressing his assault.

"You insist on showing off and don't care about your brothers' lives?" He didn't need to say more; hearing the cries from behind made the scene sound especially miserable.

Tiezhu is still fairly good-natured; one person standing beside him, arms crossed, gave a cold laugh, "Sir, have you heard of the renowned Youzhou Mysterious Armor Cavalry? Even if you called up all the city's troops, it wouldn't help. We're selling the people cheap salt; no matter how you put it, it's a good thing for the folks of Fanyang. And yet, Sir, why are you risking your life?"

Don't be fooled by the crowd; the street is now very quiet, and after retreating to a safe distance, many townspeople are watching from afar. He spoke loudly enough to be heard over the screams, his voice clear and carrying to many ears.

The street fell silent for a moment, then came a low, booming sound, and some quick-reacting townspeople bolted.

"Heavens, they're the Youzhou Mysterious Armor Cavalry!"

"... the one who killed Bei Huzi and burned the corpse, that You King's man?"

"Run, they're the Northern Border King's men!"

"Help—!"

The street filled with people crying for their parents, heads surging as they began to flee for their lives, a hundred times more desperately than before.

Owl Cavalry: …What's going on with this reputation?

His Majesty should be able to understand.

His notorious reputation also varies by region; Fanyang and Jiangnan are the hardest-hit areas. Here lies the second-ranked academy under heaven, the Lu clan's main base. Those in Fanyang who spare no effort to smear His Majesty can only fall short compared to Jingzhou and Yuzhou, but they still rank among the very top nationwide.

The street descended into utter chaos—this time not a brawl, not even a one-sided beating; Xiao Gang swept his gaze over, and of the hundred men he'd brought, barely any remained standing… but it was obvious they hadn't been struck to kill.

The outcome was decided.

Tiezhu didn't even have time to deal with him—he couldn't sell three carts of salt, and yet His Majesty wonders what they're up to!

He hurriedly shouted to the townspeople, "We're our own people! Why are you running? You're not Xiongnu—what do you have to fear from the Mysterious Armor Cavalry? Won't you buy the cheap salt at 800 wen?"

The old lady ahead of Xie Tu in line had run off halfway, so he took the chance to cut in: "I didn't run—give me a hundred wen's worth!"

"All right! Did you bring a salt jar?"

"No……"

The salt seller's assistant pulled out a drawer from under the cart's shaft, drew out a kraft paper sealed bag, and said, "Five wen for a pocket—need one?"

Anyone else would surely not be such a sucker—selling a paper bag for five wen, why not just go rob?

Young Master Xie, he falls for the straight hook every time.

"Yes! Is this bag made of the cloth from your Northern Border?"

No, it's a paper bag, easily torn, needs gentle handling. See, this seal can be pressed shut; if your jar at home can't hold more, you can put it here and it won't get damp.

A sealed paper bag broadened the horizons of Xie Tu and Lu Ge.

Watching the salt seller and Xie Tu chatting and laughing, those who hadn't run far began to hesitate. The salt is cheap, not to mention pure—its technique is clearly superior to the salt guild's; it's a shame to miss out like this.

After watching the Owl Cavalry sheathe their swords and return to formation as if nothing happened, these people completely stopped in their tracks.

The You King—ah, no, the Northern Border King—although his reputation is bad, no one's heard of him massacring civilians. Eight hundred wen is worth the risk, so many people started lining up again.

Tiezhu smiled, directing the townspeople to re-form the queue, seeing Xiao Gang still standing there, he kindly offered a ladder: "Brothers, once we finish selling we'll leave the city early—don't worry! What are you busy with?"

He paused, then added: "Actually, your skills aren't bad, your stance is solid—if you have a mind to join the army, you could serve under Your Highness." He saw this young military officer had promise, shared the same flaw as His Majesty, and wanted to recruit any somewhat plain-faced fellow.

Who knew they wouldn't appreciate it.

"Xiao Mou admits his inferior skill; I'll wait at the street corner until you leave the city."

Besides, Xiao Mou is a commandant of the Great Jin and will never ally with the rebel king.

This made Tiezhu furious, and he shouted at the top of his voice: "You really don't know good from bad! Who is the rebel king? Our Highness, at a young age, personally went on a western expedition and preserved the Great Jin's lands—these lands are still the portion cut off from Chang'an—so who do you say is the Great Jin's rebel king?"

Our Highness is also the late emperor's son; his mother's clan is the Wei family, who have guarded the southwest for generations. By status, who is the rebel king—you tell me? As a martial practitioner, you actually act as a lapdog to the Wang family, thinking the Wangs are nobler than the Weis? You're blind-hearted!

His comrades beside him were stunned—Tiezhu really went all out!

………………………………

【New month, wanting to improve, everyone give the rankings a tap! When I slack off on updates, I never mentioned this kind of thing, huh. Tapping the rankings, p yang persimmon click traffic (ง•̀_•́)】

This month I really want to improve; last month I was slacking on updates, basically had no silver, not even full attendance or low-income aid, and I don't want to o(´^｀)o