No boat?
Shen Yiyun frowned and looked at Shen Yiyan, who had come to report, "Aren't there any cargo ships?"
Given the current situation in Liuzhou, it would indeed be difficult for Shen Yiyan to find a luxurious private yacht. However, with so many merchants returning recently, finding a cargo ship to give them a ride shouldn't be a problem, right?
"What a coincidence..." Shen Yiyan also smiled wryly, "The market for goods has been too good these past few days. Because of the tax exemption, many merchants have just finished unloading their goods and then quickly bought another batch of local goods to take to the north. After all, no one knows when this tax exemption policy in Liuzhou will be canceled, and everyone wants to make a second profit."
Shen Yiyun immediately understood. That made sense. The Great Jin had extremely heavy taxes, using a system of tiered taxes invented by the King of Qin. Low taxes were levied on low-income transactions, while high taxes were levied on high-profit transactions. Especially for highly profitable businesses like transporting goods from the north to the south, taxes could account for up to 30% of the profits!
This is no small sum. Liuzhou is now duty-free and the largest port. Merchants who have tasted the benefits will all rush to do it again, unless they are foolish.
"Aren't there any new merchants coming to the port?" Shen Yiyun asked, puzzled.
The fame of the Liuzhou Door God has been spreading for about ten days. Although it has been short and the scope of dissemination is limited, at least the two neighboring wharves should have heard about it. In addition, with the Nanming Prefecture's public announcement that Liuzhou is exempt from taxes, there should be a steady stream of new merchants coming in.
"That's how it was supposed to be..." Shen Yiyan also asked in confusion, "The day before yesterday, the number of new cargo ships arriving was still on the rise, but since yesterday, it seems that no new ships have entered the port. I specifically went to check on our own cargo ships today, and the amount of cargo we've received in the past two days has dropped significantly, especially today, there's basically no cargo left to receive on the market."
Shen Yiyun's pupils contracted upon hearing this, and a growing sense of unease filled his heart. He asked in a low voice, "Not even a single new ship?"
"No..." Shen Yiyan shook his head. "I've inquired several times, and since the afternoon, there hasn't been a single new ship at the port."
"Let's go check out the port!"
"Second brother, what happened?" Laojiu Shen Yizhuo asked, rubbing his eyes.
He didn't know if it was because he ate too much during the day, but he felt very tired and sleepy. To be honest, he didn't want to travel overnight at all. He really didn't understand what his second brother was in such a hurry for.
Murong Yunji frowned and glanced at Shen Yiyun, but said nothing, unusually remaining silent.
And so, the group followed Shen Yiyan all the way to the port.
Upon arriving at the port, they encountered an unexpected person.
" Lord Chen is here too?"
It was only early April, and the night wind at the dock was still quite cold. With no new ships arriving, almost no one wanted to stay there. The huge dock was deserted, which made it seem quite incongruous for the dignified prefect to be standing there in the wind.
Chen Qing didn't turn around, but stared blankly into the distance.
Shen Yiyun followed the other person's gaze with suspicion. He didn't know when it had started, but a layer of fog had begun to spread across the sea, covering a wide area and almost the entire sea surface as far as the naked eye could see.
Fog is common at sea, nothing unusual. What's this guy looking at so strangely?
"Does Mr. Shen intend to leave tonight?"
Just as Shen Yiyun was wondering, Chen Qing's soft voice came, which immediately put Shen Yiyun on alert.
Looking at Chen Qing, who was still staring blankly at the sea, he frowned, then smiled and said, "What? Does Your Excellency not wish us to leave?"
"I don't want to..." Chen Qing nodded honestly.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yiyun became highly vigilant, took a small step back, and conjured a Dharma wheel in his eyes as he carefully observed his surroundings.
If that young general in white is lurking nearby during the day, I must be careful. A sorcerer facing a warrior like that could be killed in close combat if I'm not paying attention.
What if we insist on leaving?
"Then there's nothing I can do to stop it..." Chen Qing sighed and shook his head.
Shen Yiyun: "..."
It feels like holding your breath and then getting a stitch in your side...
"But it doesn't matter anyway." Chen Qing sighed and turned back, "You can't leave anyway..."
"Why do you say that, sir?" Shen Yiyun frowned, feeling that the guy in front of him wasn't joking, but the other party really didn't seem to have any intention of making a move.
"You'll find out soon enough." Chen Qing didn't say anything more. Having seen the persistent fog with his own eyes, he knew there was no turning back...
That thing... it's really here!
Chen Qing made a farewell gesture and walked directly into the city, leaving the three members of the Shen Family somewhat stunned.
"Second brother, what's this guy doing? Playing tricks."
"Hopefully it's just a charade." Shen Yiyun glanced uneasily at the sea, then looked at Shen Yiyan: "Has the ship's helmsman been summoned?"
"I've already sent the message, I'll be there soon!" Shen Yiyan replied quickly.
He was puzzled. Liuzhou was currently exempt from taxes, a perfect opportunity to stock up on goods. Other merchants were eager to send more large ships over, but his master, instead of sending a few people back to Nanyang, was taking this cargo ship away. Was he in such a hurry to go back and offer incense?
He complained inwardly, but dared not delay, and contacted the helmsman who had already found accommodation in the city.
"Second Brother, is it really necessary?" Shen Laojiu asked curiously.
Even if he didn't understand business, he knew that such a large cargo ship must have been brought in to carry a full load of goods, and it was indeed a bit extravagant to only bring the three of them.
Shen Yiyun looked at the misty sea and suppressed his unease, saying, "Being able to leave is already a good thing..."
Murong Yunji also became unusually serious. She looked at the sea with an indescribable feeling, as if there was something there, but upon closer inspection, she couldn't quite place it...
--
"Waaah..."
At dawn, Zhou Haitao, who had finally had a good night's sleep, stretched contentedly as he walked out of the yard.
In the first few days after taking office, I was treated like a beast of burden by the man surnamed Chen. All the odd jobs were piled on my shoulders, and I couldn't get two hours of sleep a day. It was even more tiring than when I was studying.
Especially recently, with the return of the population, there has been an increasing number of things to do. However, since yesterday afternoon, for some reason, no new ships have entered the port. The reduced workload in trade registration allowed him to finish his work before midnight yesterday. If it weren't for the horrific scene in the military camp that made him feel uneasy before going to sleep, he probably would have slept much better.
Satisfied, he planned to first go to Ma Erniang's place to hang out for a while, then get some breakfast, and then go to North Street to see how many people had returned. But when he got to the courtyard, he saw Chen Qing was pale and had dark circles under his eyes.
"Grown ups?"
The scene struck the fat man as odd, because he was usually the one who had been busy all night and returned home with dark circles under his eyes to find this idle man looking refreshed and ready to go out.
Why is it reversed today?
"Hmm?" Chen Qing looked up, clearly dazed.
"You just got back?" Zhou Haitao asked cautiously.
"Hmm..." Chen Qing nodded.
"My lord... where did you go?"
Could it be that he went to that concubine's courtyard?
Has this despicable fellow finally started indulging in extravagance and debauchery?
"On the city wall..."
"What are you doing on the city wall, sir?"
Let's see if the fog gets into the city.
"Ah?"
"It's nothing..." Chen Qing shook her head, then suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly asked, "Have Gu Bei and the others returned?"
"Hmm, judging from the agreed time, he should be back today. What's up, sir?"
"Okay..." Chen Qing nodded, "After they return today, tell them not to go to the countryside yet, but to come here. I have other matters to instruct them on."
"Okay, Laoda..." Zhou Haitao quickly replied, then added, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing glanced at the other person silently, hesitated for a few seconds, and then asked, " Haitao, where does your father do business again?"
Whitewater County...
"Okay..." Chen Qing quickly said, "I'm giving you a day off today. Go back to Whitewater County and bring your father and your other siblings here. Remember, be back before dark!"
"Huh?" Zhou Haitao was taken aback. " Laoda, don't scare me, what happened?"
The fat man recalled the bloody scene at the military camp yesterday, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Just go when I tell you to. Why all the nonsense? Don't you want to keep your job?"
"Okay, okay!" Without another word, the fat man scurried off towards the door.
Chen Qing watched Zhou Haitao's retreating figure, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.
This worry wasn't directed at Haitao, since Whitewater County wasn't far from here, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, Fatty should be able to get back before dark.
He was more worried about his elderly mother. Before, he wanted them to return to Liuzhou as soon as possible, but now, given the current situation, he preferred that they stay far away, preferably outside of Jiangnan!
"Seriously... what the hell!"
Chen Qing was so frustrated he wanted to smash the wall. He couldn't understand why there were always unexpected events. The Ghost Immortal version was unlocked ahead of schedule, but why was that thing from the sea also released?
Which damned bastard has nothing better to do than eat?
"Young man... it seems you know what this fog represents."
A deep voice rang out from Chen Qing's chest; it was the Mirror Demon, who hadn't spoken for a long time.
"You know that too?" Chen Qing said sullenly.
"Nonsense, there's nothing in this world that I don't know!"
"Yeah?"
"But you're an exception..." the Mirror Demon muttered, "You and that freak, the King of Qin, are both anomalies!"
"Let's put aside the anomalies for now," Chen Qing said seriously. "That thing was locked up by the Nine Heavens Mirror Valley, so why was it released? Do you know the reason?"
"You actually know about Nine Heavens Mirror Valley?" the Mirror Demon said in surprise. "Tsk tsk, if that's the case, how come you can't guess who released it?"
Chen Qing frowned. According to his partner's design, after the chaos caused by the fox demon during the reign of Xuanzong of the previous dynasty, the ancient times returned, and powerful things would slowly descend one by one, but in a certain order. After all, the monsters he designed were too powerful. If they all came at once, even the biggest spenders would be wiped out!
If we follow the version order, after the Fox Demon comes the Earth Spirit Revival, followed by the Yin-Yang Illusion Realm, the Dragon Maiden Lighting the Lamp, and the Divine Statue Descending from Heaven from Heaven. These three phenomena represent three major ancient forces unfolding: the Land of Samsara, the Ancient Dragon Palace, and the Demonic Realm Beyond the Heavens!
The three factions have different directions and will guide players to unlock different terrifying ancient times. Of course, in the process of unlocking, players will also encounter different forces to fight against.
The guy in the mist is the second boss in the Ancient Dragon Palace route. This thing actually appeared before the Spiritual Energy Revival, and there was no dragon girl to show up, which is very inconsistent with the original pairing.
The setting is messed up... This is Chen Qing's biggest worry, because his greatest reliance is his understanding of the setting, just like someone who travels to ancient times understands history.
If history goes awry... then the time traveler's most reliable precognitive ability will be gone...
Hehe, the outcome will be decided this Friday, everyone! Please continue to support Mofang, thank you!!