Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

Everyone around laughed, and the person who searched quickly withdrew his hand in disgust, and said, "Who the hell touched you, ugly ghost! Get out!" The leader shouted loudly, saying: " Search hard!"

At this time, the smiling cat cried again, saying: "He touched me hard! This guy touched me hard, what do you say?"

The people around couldn't help laughing, and the leader couldn't do anything about the rascal cat, so he said, "Get lost when you're done searching!"

After a while, the guards let the three pass through, but nothing special was found.Then they crossed the town and came to the gate of the inner courtyard.The guards were the same two strong men in chain mail last time, but this time, no one asked Haiwen to bribe them, so they walked in directly.The baron's castle was no different than last time, the air was cold and damp, the corners of the walls were covered with cobwebs, the stone bricks were rotten and cracked, covered with black spots and moss.

The person who led them was still the old man with white hair and hunchback, nothing had changed.When they came to the dining room last time, there was a gap in the heavy wooden door, and a dim light came out from inside.The old man coughed heavily at the door, and said, "My lord, they are here."

"Please come in."

So the old man pushed open the door with difficulty and let the three of them in.

As soon as he entered the door, Haiwen's face became tense.

The restaurant is still the same restaurant, the long table is still the same long table, but there are people standing around it.About twenty soldiers in armour, with sabers at their waists, surrounded the house.They stood against the wall like the knight armor of the castle, each standing upright with serious faces.Baron Mustang was sitting at the end of the long table, far away from them. At this moment, he held a wine glass in one hand and greeted with the other: "Please sit down."

The Baron Mustang looked a little more haggard than last time, Haiwen responded, and was about to pull up a chair to sit down, when the baron suddenly put the wooden wine glass on the table and said, "Prepare a seat for the guests !"

After finishing speaking, the twenty or so people behind shouted in unison: "Yes! Reserve a seat for the guests!" Then everyone lifted their left feet and bumped their right feet with the back of their feet, and the iron shoes immediately clanged.Haven was startled immediately, and the little old man Gustin screamed in fright and shrank behind Haven.

Then these armored guards each took a big step forward, and there was another "boom".This time even the smiling cat was sullen.Then three of them yanked the chair out of the table, and the chair legs rubbed heavily against the floor, making a screeching sound.These people were all frowning and staring, with fierce expressions, and then they shouted together:

"Please sit down!"

How can one sit down?Gustin's legs trembled in fright, the smiling cat was sullen and silent, but Haiwen's face became very ugly, and he asked, "What do you mean, my lord?"

The baron laughed a few times, and said, "This is a gift to welcome distinguished guests! Mayor, you have worked hard, and I thank you." He pressed his hands down as he said, "Please sit down!"

This is a killing power stick.Haiwen and the smiling cat looked at each other, biting the bullet.As soon as he sat down, the baron said again: "Serve the guests wine!"

Then the people behind shouted in unison: "Serve the wine!" Three big men took the wine bottle, and then directly poured the bottle mouth down into the wine glasses of Haiwen and others.The glass was full in an instant, but the three of them still didn't stop, just kept pouring.Immediately, the wine overflowed the table, almost half of the bottle was poured, before the baron shouted: "Please!"

The three people also shouted: "Please!" After finishing speaking, they smashed the wine bottle on the ground, "Bang!" The glass shards splashed everywhere, and the red wine flowed all over the ground, like blood.

This battle made Gustin unable to bear it anymore. The old monkey trembled on the chair in fright, and cried after a while, "Master, I want to go home! I quit, I want to go home !"

Haiwen said: "Sit down honestly! Now you can't leave even if you want to."

The baron raised his voice and said: "Ah! I didn't say he wouldn't go."

Hearing this, Gustin immediately grinned and opened his mouth, "Huh? My lord let me go? Then I'll go, I'll go, I'll go." Then he got up and ran out.At this moment, the smiling cat grabbed him, and then pressed his hand on the table with a "bang", causing the wine on the table to spill out.

Gustin let out a painful "Ouch" and shouted, "What are you doing?"

The smiley cat smiled and said, "Master Gustin, Sir, let you go, but we didn't let you go."

The Baron stared, and Haven stared at the Baron.Then the baron slapped the table and roared: "Presumptuous!" After saying this, the twenty armored guards shouted in unison: "Presumptuous!" Then he drew out his saber with a "crack".Twenty shining blades shone coldly under the oil lamp, and Gustin cried out again in fright.

However, the smiling ranger is not afraid, he also slapped the table, laughed and said: "Ha! You are the only ones with knives?" After that, he pulled out two shining scimitars from his crotch, and he played tricks, Then "Dang! Dang!" He slashed the knife on the wooden table twice, and shouted, "Master Cat, I want to see who is presumptuous?"

Baron Mustang's face turned ugly as if he had eaten a dead mouse, and he shouted, "Why did you bring a knife in here?"

The smiling cat smiled ferociously, stepped on the stool with one foot, pointed at the baron and said, "This is called a chicken hiding a knife! Do you know that?"

Author's message:

ps: It will be on the shelves soon, and I feel restless w

Chapter 53: Talking and Talking

Chapter 53: Talking and Talking

The baron obviously didn't know what "chicken-er hidden knife" was.After being stunned for a while, he slowly put down the wine glass in his hand and said, "You are only alone."

"But I am a smiling ranger." The smiling cat opened and closed his hands on the handle of the knife, "I never had any helpers when I was killing people at the White Bird Marquis. Sir, if you think these big heads If Bing is better than me, we can compare each other."

The count's old face was wrinkled, and then he glanced at Hai Wen and said, "It seems that you really want to rebel? Why don't we stop talking about it, and I'll report to Lord Viscount directly and ask him to send troops to suppress the rebellion. "

Haiwen smiled and said: "My lord, this is a misunderstanding, a big misunderstanding. I am here today to clarify this misunderstanding. We are still officials under your command, and you are still the Lord of Mustang. I am still thinking about it." Let's make a fortune with you." After saying that, Haiwen put a bag of gold coins on the table.The baron looked at the gold and let out a harsh sneer, "Ambside, do you know what you did this time? You killed ten upright and law-abiding taxpayers in my territory, not only that, but also You robbed them of their land and their property; not only that, but you also incited those foolish people to rebel. You have no pardon."

Haiwen took a sip of wine slowly and said, "First of all, my lord, I have not committed any of the crimes you mentioned. Don't worry, I will tell you the truth. First, I am not murdering an innocent taxpayer. , but executed ten heinous criminals. Their crimes——” Haiwen slapped the prepared file on the table, “—here it is clearly written, you can read it.”

The baron snorted, but didn't look at the file.

Haiwen continued: "In that case, then I judged the sinner reasonably, not intentionally murdered. Then you said that I robbed the land and property? My lord, you are wrong, how dare I rob the land? Those lands are Yours!" Haiwen smiled, shaking his wine glass, "All the land and property of the criminals will be confiscated. In the name of the law, these lands are all under your command. This is the law of the principality! My lord, I am here to reclaim the land for you."

"Fart your mother!" The baron coughed angrily after cursing this sentence, "Who said the land is mine? You gave the land to the serfs, who else should I ask for it?"

Haiwen spread his hands and said, "But these 'serfs' still have to pay you taxes. According to the old rules, we have thirty catties per mu of land! Right? No more, no less, everything is in accordance with the law, Thirty catties per mu of land, and every catty missing will be counted on my head.”

The baron squinted, laughed disdainfully, and said, "You have slaughtered the farmers, who the hell am I going to collect taxes from?"

"Look for me." Hai Wen kept smiling, "I will form a farmers' association, and I will calculate the tax per mu of land. We will pay the tax when we harvest next year. According to the agreement, it is guaranteed to be more tax than this year. Fifty percent. If you think about it carefully, you used to collect taxes from the landlord. If you asked the landlord for [-] catties, the landlord would have to ask the peasant for [-] catties! Now that the landlord is gone, let’s collect it directly. Isn’t that too much? Is there a layer of oil and water coming out?"

The baron supported his head, stared at Haven and said, "You collect the rent for me? Can you collect it all yourself?"

"I let the farmers pay the rent by themselves. I will set up a farmers' association and let the farmers manage the farmers themselves. Then ask the farmers' association for it."

"Want to come up?"

"If you don't come up, I'll take their land." Haven lied enough to satisfy the Baron, "What do you think?"

The baron rubbed his chin, pondered for a while, and then said, "Ambside, are you just thinking about it and trying to fool me like this?"

"Don't dare, if you have any other requirements, just ask."

The baron thought for a while, and said, "Do you want me to take care of such a big matter for you? If the troublemakers in Mustang Land rebel, do you want me to take care of it too?" Speaking of which, the baron's face changed again. He pointed at Haiwen's nose and cursed: "You bastard! I think you are crazy about money! How dare you do such a thing as inciting peasants to rebel?"

Hearing this, Hai Wen became anxious. He jumped up against the case and shouted: "I did not incite rebellion! My lord, please don't frame me! If someone in Mustang Land is convicted of rebellion, both of us will be overwhelmed." Go around!"

When he called the baron, he was startled, his hands trembled, and a little red wine spilled out of his glass.

Immediately the baron said: "But you are not rebelling, so what is it? Do you think I am willing to take care of your shit? Isn't it because there have been rumors recently that the farmers in the Mustang Field rebelled? What the hell are you doing for two days? , The earl's apostle came down and asked me, what should I explain? I don't think you should leave today, keep the head, and I will take it to plead guilty to the grand lords when I come back."

Hearing this, the smiling cat clenched the two knives on the table, and the surrounding soldiers let out a menacing growl.Haven ignored them, he just stared into the baron's eyes.After a few seconds of deadlock between his eyes and the baron's, the baron raised his hand first and said, "Go back." After saying that, the soldiers each took a step back.

The baron said: "If you don't want me to kill you, then come up with an idea! How can this matter be settled?"

Haven said: "My lord, you must know that this matter must not be classified as a rebellion. Let's put it this way—" He said very quickly, "I am forming a militia to counter the rebellion! Landlord Mander K. Wayne hired Private army, armed serfs, entrenched in one side of the map to plot against the law. I, Haven Ambside, followed the public opinion, recruited militiamen to maintain law and order, and suppressed bandits and countered rebellion. If you want me to say, don’t punish me for my crimes, my lord, you should commend me Come on."

The baron laughed loudly: "You shameless person! You still want me to commend you? Do I still have to reward you with gold and make you a knight? Huh?"

"I'm not joking!" Hai Wen raised his voice a little, and shouted, "If you commend me, this matter will change from 'rebellion' to 'counter-rebellion', and if you punish me, then This matter is 'rebellion'! People have two skins, and both pros and cons are right, my lord, I was born as a judge, and I am very good at fabricating charges."

The lord thought for a while and said, "I think it's too far-fetched. The lord above may not believe it."

"I have witnesses!" Haiwen said, inviting out the little old man who was about to pee his pants, "Master Gustin! As one of the largest farmers in Mustang Town, can you tell me objectively? The latest situation?"

"Ah?" The little old man was dumbfounded, "What do you want me to say? I will say whatever you want me to say!"

With a gentle smile on Haiwen's face, he said, "You tell the truth. Master Gustin, let me ask you, did I rob you of your land or invade your private estate?"

Gustin shook his head and said, "No!"

Haven continued: "Am I going to infringe on your property?"

"No."

"What are you doing here today?"

"I..." The little old man looked blank, "I'm... oh! I'm here to sign a contract with you. My lord! The mayor said that he would help me manage the land, and that he would guarantee my The annual income is not small. My lord, this is a great thing, and we invite you to be a notary."

The baron stared at Gustin and nodded, then Haven and the baron said: "You see, the farmer in Mustang Land doesn't resent me, in contrast, he is very grateful - I have another letter here, you see Take a look." He said and gave the letter from the old mercenary farmer to the lord.The Sir took it over and glanced at it this time, then nodded and remained silent.

Haiwen said: "So, I am only targeting those farmers who have committed crimes. Not only will I not cause trouble for them, but I will also help them make a fortune together! Now the Mustang Land is from farmers to landlords, No one has any complaints against me, and they are all grateful to me. My lord, next year you can wait to get rich together."

Having said this, the baron had nothing more to say.But looking at his face, it seems that he is still unwilling.He drank wine glass by glass and remained silent for a while.Hai Wen was not in a hurry, just waiting here.The smiling cat was still holding two knives, and was in a stalemate with those soldiers.

After about three glasses of wine, the Baron said, "I can't think of it, Ambside."

Chapter 54: Homecoming

Chapter 54: Homecoming

"Can't be justified?" Hai Wen asked, "We are justified, what is there to justify? If it is really not possible, there will be gold."

The lord glared at him and said, "Gold? Use gold to settle the lord? This is not a small number. Where does the money come from?"

"Of course I will, my lord." Hai Wen said.

"Are you so rich?" the baron squinted at him and said in a strange tone.

Haiwen raised his vigilance. He smiled and said, "It's still a little bit. The landlord's house is a bit oily."

"I don't think there is a little bit?" The baron laughed, stroking his beard and said, "Ambside, tell me, how much oil and water are there in ten landlords' homes? How many buckets can they hold?"

Haiwen sighed, put on a sad face, and said, "My lord, you don't know. I took a bunch of poor brothers to sweep up the landlord's house. Most of the money was taken away by them. Or else Well, Master Charles also shared some, so I don’t have much in my hands. What’s more, most of the remaining money is public funds. If I want to form a peasant association and settle the people under my control, I need a lot of management. My lord , Let me put it bluntly, if you take a few copper coins from me, I will not be able to deal with the people below! Then something will happen, and we will both be ugly!"

The baron shook his face and said, "I think you are stingy! Damn, you scooped up such a big piece of meat, but you don't even give me a mouthful of soup? Do you still think of me as a lord?"

Dare to feel that this grandson is biting me!Haiwen frowned and said, "My lord, I really can't get it out now. The things found in the landlord's house before have not been realized yet. I asked Master Charles to sell them. After the sale, let's talk about money. No?"

"How soon will he be sold out?" said the Baron, stroking his beard.

This old thing has money in his eyes.Haiwen thought for a moment, and said, "It's winter now, and I think spring will be over soon. Don't worry, my lord. The whole Mustang Town is yours. How can I use this little money?"

Hearing this, the baron finally showed a smile and said, "Okay! Haven Ambleside, the mayor of Mustang Town! I will give you another chance today, and we will see you next year when the tax is paid. If the money and food come , then everything is easy to say, if you lose a copper coin, I will make you go around without eating!"

"That's right." Haiwen stood up holding the wine glass, "My lord, let's toast to friendship."

The two toasted, and then the baron clapped his hands and said: "It's over, I'm going to drink with the mayor!" After that, the soldiers resigned, and Hai Wen also said to the smiling cat: "Master Cat, please sit down!" It's time to drink!" The smiling cat yelled "Okay!" and grabbed a big piece of meat and started to chew.Afterwards, Haven poured wine for Gustin again, apologizing to him, saying that I was really sorry for scaring you just now.Then everyone talked about the scene that didn't hurt or itch, eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves.

It was already afternoon after dinner, and Haven declined the baron's request to stay overnight, and decided to return to Mustang Town before dusk.So they bid farewell to the Baron, mounted their horses and drove back to Mustang Town.The three of them drank a lot of wine, Mr. Gustin fell asleep in the car because he couldn't drink enough, and Haiwen chatted with the smiling cat, thinking about going home before going to sleep.

He was thinking about the things to do later, such as counting the household registration and land, holding a collective funeral and memorial service, and retrialing the prisoners in the prison... Oh, I have to write to Gerrit, they are almost back .

There are still many trivial matters, but now he is so drunk and drowsy that he really can't remember them.

At this moment, there was only a loud "bang", and Haiwen's nerves tensed up instantly, and the blood vessels on the top of his head were throbbing with pain due to the sudden excitement.Master Gustin next to him also woke up, and shouted, "What's wrong?"

Hai Wen hurriedly raised the curtain of the carriage, and then the smoke made him cough. He squinted his eyes and saw a big tree fell on the road, blocking their car.At the same time, there was a burst of people shouting and neighing from all around, and a dozen robbers came out from the hillside and the bushes beside them.

In the lead is a strong man riding a black horse with disheveled hair and a two-handed sword that is nearly as long as a person in one hand.The man rushed to the front and stretched the reins, and shouted: "Wooha!" Then he swung his saber and immediately rode up. In an instant, the surrounding horses neighed and people howled, and a group of people screamed strangely.Then the leader shouted, "Get out of the car!"

The smiling cat turned its head and said to Hai Wen in a deep voice, "My lord, what should I do?"

Hai Wen poked his head out and said, "Let me ask first."

So Haven got out of the car.I saw a group of men wearing leather armor and inlaid armor around them. These people all held swords, wore pointed iron helmets, and had a black crow logo on their bodies.It looks like a group of mercenaries.

Hai Wen bowed to the leader and said, "What is your honor?"

The leader was blind in one eye, had a broken nose, and had a deep scar across his face. He looked very fierce. "You are Mayor of Mustang, Haven Ambleside?" he asked.

This is what came for me.Haiwen thought in his heart, the name-caller was probably approached by the enemy——is it Little Charles?Or Master Wayne?Or is it another landlord?

"Exactly." Haiwen didn't intend to hide it anymore. He and Master Mao were two brothers, one bald and the other short. Their looks were too conspicuous, and they couldn't pretend anymore. "What do you mean by this? Have I offended you?"

"My lord, let me just say it straight, someone is going to take your life, and today we will take your head back for gold. If you get out of the car honestly, we will give you a good knife, and the end will not be difficult for you. entourage and family members. But if you cause trouble to everyone, we have no choice but to remove your hands and feet, and then cut you up."

Haiwen said: "Who hired you? I will pay double the price."

"There are rules, my lord. This is not feasible. Come down quickly. If you are obedient, I can still let these innocent people go. We are mercenaries, not robbers."

Haiwen sighed, and said: "Okay then, let my friends go away first. The man in my car is a guest of the baron, and has nothing to do with me, he just walks with me. If you kill him, will the baron be okay?" I'm happy; as for the driver, it's useless for you to kill him."

"Okay, they can go."

So Haven called Master Gustin and the coachman to leave on horseback.The little old man cried and said to Hai Wen: "Thank you, thank you! I'm sorry, my lord!"

"What nonsense, hurry up!"

So everyone who had nothing to do with it left.The leader asked, "What about him?"

Hai Wen smiled and said, "He is my bodyguard, he probably wants to die with me."

The one-eyed dragon asked the smiling cat, "You want to die with him?"

The smiling cat said with a smile: "How can I die with him, I see..." At this point, the smiling cat clamped its legs fiercely, the horse neighed, and rushed out. The cat master raised his knife and shouted:

"You are the one who will die!"

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ps: I know it's hard not to complain, so the readership opens the door to you!

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