Chapter 2415: Garrison North Town (4)

These patrol guards were locals.

All kinds of news and affairs—they were sure to know.

Even if it were false rumors, it would still be very useful to Zhao Chi.

So he could try asking.

Zhao Chi then asked, "You two, we just arrived at our Garrison North Town, and there are many things we're not clear on. May I ask you—what exactly is the grudge between our White Tiger Corps and your Black Tortoise Corps? From just now I've been sensing what seems like hostility toward us?"

The patrol guard on the left said, "This isn't the place for you to fish for information. Sit tight."

The patrol guard on the right said, "Whatever grudge your two corps have is none of our business. I only have charge of you. In a bit, people from your corps will come take you away, and our job will be done. Understand?"

Zhao Chi smiled.

He took out two gold coins and tossed them through the gap in the iron bars in the middle.

They landed right on the two men.

"What the hell! What are you doing?"

The two patrol guards sprang to their feet, blades drawn in an instant, staring tensely at what had been thrown.

It turned out to be two gleaming gold coins.

The two patrol guards exchanged a glance; each saw the delight in the other's eyes.

They immediately turned their heads.

The iron door behind them was shut tight, and no one was behind the lookout slit in the door either.

The two patrol guards immediately sheathed their blades, swiftly picked up the coins and pocketed them, and smiles appeared on their faces.

This was a whole gold coin, after all.

Who wouldn't smile at that?

The patrol guard on the left said, "I told you, we've already notified your corps. You and that female lord will both be able to leave in a bit. Even if you… do this, we still can't let you go early."

Zhao Chi nodded. "I understand. I'm just sitting here anyway, and I can see you have to stand guard over me, right? While there's time, I want to ask a few questions."

The patrol guard on the right said, "Just asking some questions—isn't that cost a bit steep for you?"

The patrol guard on the left said, "He's a lord. He's way richer than us."

"Lords have big expenses too. They have to feed so many people. One battle fought poorly, and they have to pay out thousands upon thousands of gold coins."

"What's that got to do with us? Go ahead and ask. Still want to hear the question from just now?"

Zhao Chi nodded.

The patrol guard on the left said, "Honestly, whether it's your White Tiger Corps or our Black Tortoise Corps stationed here, it actually doesn't have much to do with us. It's all internal lord business. We've only heard rumors too—they may not even be right."

Zhao Chi said, "No problem. Just say whatever. Think of it as chatting. True or false doesn't matter."

The patrol guard on the left said:

"Alright, since it's like that, then I'll say a bit.

"Actually, we don't really know the internal affairs of your lords either. After all, we're not part of the same system.

"But we've heard the grudge between your two corps goes way back. The story is that during a battle, your White Tiger Corps apparently screwed the Black Tortoise Corps—pulled out early and left them to lose a lot of men.

"But there's also a rumor that that time it was the Black Tortoise Corps trying to screw the White Tiger Corps, but the White Tiger Corps saw through it, so they pulled out early.

"As for the truth, we don't know."

The patrol guard on the right said:

"Besides that, it seems the Black Tortoise Corps had some noble spies among them before. During the last spy purge, the White Tiger Corps caught a bunch of Black Tortoise Corps nobles and executed them all.

"Of course, the Black Tortoise Corps also caught plenty of White Tiger Corps noble lords and executed them too—no room for negotiation.

"Catching nobles isn't a big deal, but the problem is some lords weren't nobles at all. They were settled personal scores under the guise of public duty—taken out on the spot.

"And some nobles really did come to help, but got killed by mistake.

"You tell me—is that a big grudge or not?"

The patrol guard on the left said, "There's also business conflicts, but I don't know the details on that one too well."

The patrol guard on the right said, "You get the money angle, right? Cutting off someone's income is like killing their parents. Even blood brothers fall out over money, let alone between lords. That kind of thing is really hard to say."

The patrol guard on the left said:

"And there's more.

"These are all later matters, though. I heard your Azure Dragon Corps and Vermilion Bird Corps in other cities also have their own issues.

"But those rumors are even more far-fetched—everyone treats them like stories.

"If you ask me, this kind of thing is perfectly normal.

"Forget your lord corps—even our patrol team has plenty of petty crap.

"Don't look at our patrol team having only a little over 200 people—we're still split into 10 squads, and the squads never stop feuding with each other.

"It all comes down to interests."

"You get it?"

"You don't look much past your teens—maybe you haven't experienced much of this kind of thing yet.

"But let me tell you, this kind of crap is everywhere.

"Forget your two corps—even within your White Tiger Corps itself, surely there are conflicts?"

The patrol guard on the right said:

"Exactly.

"Even a family of three will quarrel.

"What couple never bickers? Some even come to blows.

"If it's like that within one family, how could a faction with so many people really live in harmony?