Chapter 703

According to Chang Qing's confession, Mengding Mountain was only about a hundred miles away from the nearest major commercial hub. Very close.

Because there were tax checkpoints everywhere, every yamen wanted to set up checkpoints at the commercial hub to collect taxes, so many merchants, especially large-scale merchants, would choose to take a detour and go through Mengding Mountain to avoid taxes.

Thus, a smuggling route naturally formed.

Developing later on, this smuggling route connected the north and south, with professional personnel responsible for each node, becoming a mature smuggling chain.

The chain was full of talent and could by no means be shaken by local small-time thieves and bandits.

Chang Qing said he had seen people with Capital accents smuggling goods, had seen people in brocade uniforms responsible for escorting goods, and had even seen dozens of martial arts experts transporting goods.

"They are all big shots we cannot afford to provoke. Over the years, everyone has reached a tacit understanding, minding their own business. This time we were caught, it must have alarmed the people on the smuggling chain. I'm afraid the Six Shanmen won't be able to catch anyone."

As for the human smuggling my lord asked about, as far as I know, it is mainly selling people from the north to the south. The south has fertile soil and distinct seasons, requiring a large number of laborers. The north is dry and lacks water all year round, and the land cannot be farmed. One side is willing to pay, and the other is willing to suffer, so people came forward to organize human trafficking, transporting people from the north to the south to farm and reclaim land; those with skills go to work in workshops, and they can always find a bite to eat. It's much better than staying in the north and waiting to die.

Not taking the official road is, firstly, because every place collects a head tax, and secondly, they might not have legal documents. If caught, not only are the money and people confiscated, but the traffickers are also thrown into prison, with light sentences being exile and heavy sentences being beheading.

The student dares to say one thing: on the smuggling route, human trafficking belongs to the lightest category; there is really no problem. After all, those people are all willing to go south and have signed contracts. The truly serious ones are grain smuggling, ironware smuggling... the most serious are those private salt traffickers, whose power is immense. One smuggling trip is enough to live on for a lifetime."

Chen Guanlou had thought he would discover a wicked human trafficking chain, but it turned out to be a case of one side willing to pay and the other willing to suffer. It could no longer be simply called human trafficking; accurately speaking, it should be called labor export.

It was only because there were too many tax checkpoints on the road, and the head tax accumulated to be too shocking, that those labor intermediaries chose to take the smuggling route south to save money.

It was very clear that the money spent on greasing the palms of those on the smuggling chain was far lower than the taxes collected by the government.

This was very interesting.

Tax revenue was actually higher than gang protection fees. What kind of situation is this!

"You exposed the smuggling route, aren't you afraid of being retaliated against?"

"The fact that there is a smuggling route on Mengding Mountain is known to all the locals, and the local government is also clear about it. Just ask around locally, say you have goods that want to go south or north and want to avoid taxes, and someone will come forward to introduce you, and everything will be handled clearly. Merchants only need to pay money, and they don't need to worry about other things."

Haha!

Chen Guanlou was amused when he heard this!

It was indeed a mature industrial chain.

"In that case, the information you provided is worthless. Wait to be beheaded."

Chang Qing sighed, and even the sound of his sigh could instantly capture everyone's ears.

"I have also done my best. If it weren't for this, when we were caught that day, half of our gang of thieves would have been beheaded on the spot. Being able to live a few more days is also good."

"You want to live?" Chen Guanlou asked casually.

"Even ants cling to life, let alone me, a human." Chang Qing smiled bitterly, "But I know I cannot escape death. I have human lives on my hands, and I am a bandit leader; no matter who is spared, they won't let me go. I have already prepared myself to go to the execution ground to be beheaded."

"Self-aware, not bad." Chen Guanlou nodded, made no indication, and gave no hints, then left.

Chang Qing did not dare to hold any hope, and his mindset was quite good.

Next, Chen Guanlou met a water bandit with Seventh Rank cultivation, whose water skills were peerless, known as the "White Strip in the Waves." In the water, no one could catch him.

"He could be caught even like this?" Chen Guanlou was greatly surprised. A dignified water bandit could actually be caught by that bunch of trash from the Six Shanmen.

The Six Shanmen were least skilled at water operations. The water bandits imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison were basically sent by other yamens or even the military.

A merit picked up for free by the Six Shanmen.

This water bandit with Seventh Rank cultivation was rarely actually caught by the Six Shanmen themselves.

Too unexpected.

The prison guard hurriedly explained, "His woman lives on the shore."

One sentence explained the reason thoroughly.

Woman, on the shore.

Done!

If they didn't catch him, who would they catch?

No matter how high the martial arts, one is still afraid of sleeping drugs.

Once the sleeping drug is used, whoever drinks it falls!

Women are a disaster!

Men always find it hard to escape the trap of beauty.

Chen Guanlou chuckled; he did not have this worry. Passing through a hundred flowers, not a single leaf sticks to his body. Everyone should learn from him, don't be obsessed with one tree, but boldly embrace the whole forest. Don't be too fixed in your aesthetics either; whether plump or thin, try everything.

Don't sleep around with only one style; the aesthetics are too monotonous and too boring.

Chen Guanlou asked the water bandit curiously, "Do you regret it?"

"Regret what? I never regret anything in this life." The water bandit said with full confidence; he looked quite ordinary, but his tone was quite tough.

"Got guts!" Chen Guanlou raised a thumb, "When you go to the execution ground to be beheaded, don't cry."

"If I cry even once, I'm a grandson." The water bandit patted his chest and said.

Chen Guanlou chuckled, "This is what he looks like before entering the torture chamber; record it all down. After he comes out of the torture chamber, ask him again if he regrets it."

The prison guard agreed repeatedly, already preparing to find a painter to draw the water bandit's current unruly appearance. After a trip to the torture chamber, they would make a comparison. Thereby pleasing Prison Warden Chen in every way.

"You want to send me to the torture chamber? That's not appropriate, right? I paid money." The water bandit was a man who knew the times, immediately changing his expression, dropping his unruly face, and saying in a somewhat fawning and ingratiating manner.

"How much money did you pay?" Chen Guanlou was happy; this guy gave a better impression than the three from the black shop, so he was willing to say a few more words.

The water bandit gestured with a few fingers, "A full five hundred taels, it's all my belongings. Prison Clerk Xu promised that I wouldn't enter the torture chamber."

Quite corrupt.

Because he hadn't seen this account in the ledger.

Xu Fugui was acting behind his back, he must be disciplined.

Chen Guanlou looked toward the prison guard.

The prison guard hurriedly lowered his head and explained: "The little one knows nothing; money never passes through my hands. Matters of money are all managed by Prison Clerk Xu himself."

Chen Guanlou chuckled, indicating it didn't matter, and told the prison guard not to be so nervous.

"How about you give another two hundred taels, and I'll ensure you don't have to enter the torture chamber. How about it?" He asked the water bandit with a smile.

The water bandit took a step back, observing carefully, weighing the pros and cons, "Can you guarantee I won't die?"

"Too many demands." Chen Guanlou particularly despised people who pushed their luck.

"I can give money."

"Didn't you say all your belongings were gone?"

"I can borrow usury. I can also find wealthy landlords to borrow money. Some people owe me favors, and if they can use silver to repay the favors, I think they would all be very willing." The water bandit said so.

Chen Guanlou became interested, "Tell me, how much money can you get to buy your life?"