Courrier stared at everything that was happening in front of his eyes, dumbfounded.
The compatriot of Slalos had already left in a car. Looking from afar, he was still waving his arms, leaving a series of passionate and fanatical slogans and preaching echoing in the straight street.
Logically speaking, after the Houtu Empire declared its opening, many foreigners were full of yearning and longing for the legendary eastern country. However, yearning was one thing, but it all depended on whether or not the country was willing to let them go. As it happened, the Kingdom of Lifire, which bordered the Houtu Empire, was a highly authoritarian theocracy.
High pressure, mental control, and theocracy determined that they were extremely xenophobic. There was no precedent to go through the official immigration procedures at all.
It meant that the Slalos was right. At this moment, the Slalos in the Houtu Empire, except for the envoys, students, and merchants who were appointed by the government, were basically all illegal immigrants.
Instead of calling them illegal immigrants, they could be defined as traitors. After all, they were all illegal escapees who crossed the border in secret. According to the laws of the Order and the country, they would be hanged either way.
According to the strict rules of the Order of Fire, those dregs who had betrayed their country should be dragged back and burned at the stake. The Kingdom of Lifire had also proposed to have the Houtu Empire send those illegal immigrants back for trial. However, because they did not grasp the situation well, they appeared to be too arrogant and bossy. In the end, they were rejected by the people of the Chamberlain of Dependencies.
It had to be said that the officials of the Chamberlain of Dependencies did not quite understand the diplomatic relations of the great powers in the new era. Also, one could not expect the feudal countries in this era to have mature extradition regulations and relevant systems. Also, the dignity of the Heavenly Empire had to be taken into consideration.
Are you kidding? We will do whatever you ask us to do, old Slalos. If this spreads out and the people of other government offices learn about it, where will we put our face?
— Besides, it was the decision of the Imperial Court to open up the four barbarians. In the end, a group of people who sought refuge with our Celestial Empire were driven back in the first year. If this news were to spread, would the scholars of the other countries still want to seek refuge with us?
Moreover, don't think that we don't know what you guys are like. Once this group of people returns, they will definitely be tied to the rack and roasted alive. Pushing people back into the fire pit like this is a loss of virtue. I won't do it.
As the saying goes, a weak country has no diplomacy. How could the dignified Celestial Empire be bossed around by barbarians?
Especially when the war had just ended, the newly promoted Da Honglu of the Honglu Temple was also someone who had been on the battlefield. Moreover, he had coincidentally worked under someone whose name must not be mentioned. It could be said that he had been poisoned by this person. He was full of bad habits and was not the slightest bit reasonable. Especially at this time when the Hou Tu Empire's martial arts was flourishing and was above the present age, the officials of the Honglu Temple were spoiled to the point that their noses were raised to the sky. They all ignored the envoys of other countries. A Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple, who had been a civil official, could not stand it and reminded the Da Honglu to pay attention to the face of the Heavenly Empire. In the end, he was spat on the face.
The face of the Celestial Empire?
Face your mother! Face is the phoenix-winged gold-plated centipede in this official's hand. Face is the millions of brave soldiers and thousands of generals of the imperial court. If the country loses its elite soldiers and only has you bookworms who only care about face, let's see if those barbarians will care about face or not.
With such a person in the Ministry of Rites, the so-called diplomatic mediation was a joke. The Divine Power of Flames was rebuffed, but there was nothing they could do. Because this matter could not be settled. Although the chief official of the Honglu Temple was unreasonable, in the final analysis, it was because the trade and technology exchange negotiations between the Hou Tu Empire and the Divine Power of Flames had hit a wall.
After all, the Divine Power of Flames knew their own situation. They even strictly guarded their own citizens, controlled their thoughts, and forbade them from conducting any scientific and firearms experiments. How could they allow the stupid pagans to flood in on a large scale?
They had always been wary of their eastern neighbor.
Of course, they had another choice. If the Empire was unwilling to do it, they could do it themselves. However, this proposal was quickly rejected. After all, the Hou Tu Empire was the most powerful country in the world, and it had a very stubborn pride in certain aspects. Sending the inquisitors of the court to sneak into the Empire's territory and capture thousands of criminals, thieves, rogues, and idlers at the risk of angering the Empire … It was a pain in the ass no matter how one looked at it.
Therefore, after various considerations, apart from strengthening the border patrol and establishing the joint punishment system to intimidate the citizens, the Lifire Kingdom also tacitly accepted the situation and turned a blind eye to the scumbags who fled to the Hou Tu Empire. However, as one of the five most powerful countries in the world, the Order of Flames had its temper too. After being rebuffed on one side, the Order of Flames immediately retaliated by making things difficult for the caravans from the Empire and increasing the tariffs.
By the way, this matter was somewhat related to the Zhang Residence. After hearing about the discord between the two countries and confirming that the friendship between Yinluo and the Lifire Kingdom's royal family was not affected at all, Grandpa Zhang immediately made the decision to fan the flames in the Lifire Kingdom, increase the tariffs, and make things difficult for them.
Alright, I agree with both hands. It would be best to force all the competitors into a dead end so that the Zhang Family would forever monopolize the trade route with the Lifire Kingdom.
As a noble Flame Guardian of the Order of the Blaze, Chauriel was also a future star favored by the red-robed cardinals. She had the right to participate in all kinds of political discussions and was well aware of the matter. Naturally, she knew that her compatriots did not live well after escaping to the Empire. However, she was not moved at all. She even wanted to laugh. As the Flame Guardian of the Order of the Blaze, who had a bright future, she did not have a good impression of these traitors.
However, that did not stop her from being somewhat interested in what was happening before her eyes.
From that person's speech, she knew that the Slalos in Bright State City were not living well.
That was why she was relieved.
However, there was another piece of news that piqued her interest. An Imperial named Zhang Jianyuan, for some unknown reason, had extended a helping hand to the Slaroans. As someone who was familiar with the Empire, she knew the arrogance of the Imperial people very well. An Imperial merchant actually sympathized with a group of illegal immigrants, and even wanted to provide work for a group of fugitives, liars, and scum? Was his brain damaged?
After being shocked, she became vigilant. If the merchant was not naive and cute, then he must be a scheming, scheming, and a big bad guy with bad intentions.
Courrier could not help but think of the serfs who struggled to survive under the whips of the nobles in the Lifire Kingdom, and the criminals who mined minerals deep in the mountains and underground for the Order … Those people could no longer be considered human, whether it was their numb hearts or the treatment they had been subjected to.
Those living pieces of meat were like a bunch of livestock that looked very much like human beings.
She frowned and thought of something. Although those illegal immigrants were traitors who had betrayed their motherland, and even if they returned to their country, they would be executed or thrown into the Baikalia Wilderness to dig coal. However, it did not mean that they could be treated as livestock and slaves by the Imperial people at will. It did not mean that she could stand by and do nothing about it.
They were also descendants of fire, and their bodies and souls belonged to the spirit of fire. In the mortal world, only the Order was qualified to judge and punish what they had done. Even the Houtu Empire was not qualified, let alone a small merchant.
Courrier hesitated for a moment and made a decision.
After the mission was completed and the Lone Ranger and the pilot were recovered, she had to return to the headquarters of the Order as soon as possible for the handover and debriefing. She could not stay in the Empire for even a moment. It was completely unrealistic to expect the Order to take care of and investigate the people in the Ming Province. Therefore …
Although the mission was important, this matter had to be taken seriously. Therefore, she decided to find out who Zhang Jianyuan was and what the Embroidery Hall was for. If Zhang Jianyuan was really a kind merchant, then it would be fine. But if he was a swindler with bad intentions, then she had to find a way to deal with him!
She had always been a resolute person. Now that she had made a decision, she would not hesitate. Courrier looked around and found a man who looked more honest and asked, "Brother, may I know how to get to the Embroidery Hall?"
It had to be said that beauty was the best weapon. Although she covered her face with a veil and covered her beautiful body with a thick cloak, her blue eyes, which were as blue as the sky, and her cold temperament showed a sense of sacredness that could not be profaned. When had the honest man of the Empire seen such a beauty?
He could not even speak clearly and stuttered as he pointed out the direction.
Courrier got the answer she wanted. Leaving the confused man where he was, Courrier walked in the direction of the Embroidery Hall.
Along the way, she had already met three carriages, each carrying a Slaro. They were waving their arms and shouting the same thing. Even the lines were the same.
"My compatriots, are you confused about the predicament and embarrassment you are in today?
Seize the opportunity in front of you, get a decent life, and join us!
Join the Embroidery Hall!
Believe in yourself and your value!
The generous and rich Mr. Zhang Jianyuan is waiting for you in the Embroidery Hall! "
— Something like that.
She could not help but feel more and more worried. It seemed that the shocking and extremely provocative speech did not come from the Slaro compatriot's own eloquence, but from someone else's lines. This made Courrier feel very uneasy. If this was an organized conspiracy, then the purpose of the other party was obviously not difficult to guess.
She was worried when she suddenly heard a surprised voice, "You!
You are a Slaro, right? "
Courrier looked up and saw a bearded Slaro man rushing over with a surprised face. He reached out to grab her arm and said, "Come!
Come with me!
There is a place to make a fortune! "
Courrier frowned and took a step back. With her skills, it was too easy to avoid this grab. When dealing with the people of the Empire, she had to be cautious and patient, but when dealing with the extremely suspicious and malicious Slaro in front of her, she had no worries.
She said coldly, "What do you want?
Get out of my way! "
The man grabbed nothing and was stunned for a moment. Then, when he heard this rude reprimand, his face was a little embarrassed. Since ancient times, the Russians had the habit of drinking and beating their wives. Their attitude towards women could be imagined. What's more, they were all illegal immigrants exiled abroad. What was there to be arrogant about?
He said angrily, "You don't know how to appreciate my kindness!
I am giving you a chance to make a fortune. You'd better shut your mouth and follow me obediently. Otherwise … Hmph, looking at your appearance, it seems that you are not bad. First, take off your veil and let me have a good look. If … "
As soon as he finished speaking, Courrier rushed forward. After hearing the words' take off your veil ', she suddenly thought of the infidel she had met earlier. The unhappiness and anger in her heart that she had yet to vent gushed out. She opened her five fingers and pressed her right hand, which was wrapped in a tactical glove, on the man's face. She directly lifted the man, who was close to 100 kilograms, and slammed him into an empty alley at the side.
Then, there were wails and screams. The man, who was as strong as a bear, was trampled under her feet and beaten up violently. Courrier stepped on the man's head and looked down at him condescendingly. "You dirty pig, lowly bastard, born scum. Even if you have fled abroad, you still haven't changed your nature of scum. Does bullying and trapping your fellow countrymen make you so happy?"
The man screamed loudly, "Spare me!
Spare me!
This noble lady, I don't have any ill intentions. I really don't have any ill intentions! "
A ferocious smile appeared on Courrier's face. She exerted force with her feet and pressed the man's head against the limestone floor. She continued to crush her heels and smiled happily. "Oh?
No ill intentions?
Then where do you plan to take me?
A brothel, or the bed of some big shot? "
The man was scared out of his wits. He howled, "No!
I swear I didn't! "
"Lower your voice, you pig!"
Courrier first scolded angrily, then smiled and said, "Don't be in a hurry to deny it. A man should face his own desires. It doesn't matter how many bad things you do, because it's only hurting others. The strong hurting the weak is the law of heaven, but lying is wrong. Lying is disrespectful to yourself …"
She exerted force with her feet and said with a smile, "So, do you understand?
You can actually do what you want. You can sell me to a brothel or sell me to some big shot. There's no problem at all. As long as you can defeat me, you can do anything to me. You can even treat me as a plaything, as long as you have the right.
In this world, only the strong can survive. The strong can dominate the weak. As long as you have the tolerance, as long as you have the power, you can do whatever you want. Do you understand? "
The man was so scared that he almost peed. Other than nodding his head fiercely, he couldn't say anything. Then Courrier's voice became as cold as ice. "But you're too weak. Whether it's your body or your soul, you're too weak.
I've said it before. The strong have the right to deal with the weak. If you can defeat me, you can do whatever you want with my body. But now, I've defeated you … "
A bright blade flashed out from the cloak, and a long knife slowly stuck to the man's face. Courrier's voice became cruel. "Are you ready to have everything taken away?"
The man trembled and howled at the top of his voice. "Spare me!
Please don't kill me!
Please don't kill me!
I didn't do anything. I'm not a bad person!
You'll get into trouble if you kill people here! "
"Do you think I'll care about this?"
Courrier said calmly. "You have to understand that I can do whatever I want with you. Whether I kill you or not, it's all up to me …"
Finally, this Slaro man was at the bottom of society. He knew how to read people's expressions. He immediately said loudly, "Please order me around!
From today onwards, you're my master! "
"You're just an ant. You don't even have the right to be my slave."
Courrier said coldly. "Try your best to save your life. First, tell me, who are you working for?
How many Slaro girls have you harmed?
Where have you sold them? "
The man was stunned. Then, he shouted loudly, "I'm not!
I didn't! "
"You don't have much time left. My patience is the same."
Lord Yan Wei's tone became colder. "Maybe you need to suffer a little before you can understand your situation?"
This Slaro man knew that he had made a big mistake. He wanted to cry but had no tears. He also knew that the situation was urgent. He tried his best to deny. "I didn't kidnap people!
I don't work for brothels or rich people!
Even though I'm a destitute Slaro, I will never harm my own people! "
"Oh?"
Courrier chuckled. "A few minutes ago, you stopped me on the street when I was a stranger. You touched me and said that you were going to take me to make a fortune. You said that you were going to take me to make a fortune. You said that you were going to take me to make a fortune. Didn't you want to introduce me to an easy, decent, and well-paid job?"
The man was stunned. Then, he nodded quickly. "Yes, yes!"
Courrier rolled his eyes. "Honest sir, as a reward, I'll take your ears …"
The poor Slaro suddenly felt a chill in his ears. In a flash, he finally understood the key to this big mistake. He shouted with all his strength, "I'm taking you to the Embroidery Hall!
The merchant named Zhang Jianyuan!
I'm going to do a proper job! "
The chill dissipated. Courrier was stunned. Then, he exerted force on his feet and sneered. "Oh?
Then I have to thank you?
You should make up a more appropriate reason. A rogue, scumbag, and swindler who fled to the Houtu Empire. In order to find a decent job for a Slaro compatriot who is also in a foreign country, you don't ask for anything in return. When you meet a compatriot, you pull her away without any explanation. You have such a good heart. Why didn't you get selected by the church to preach in the remote countryside of the Theocracy? Why did you escape to this country? "
The man howled, "Wrong!
Wrong!
It's not that I don't ask for anything in return. I also get paid!
I'm only doing this for the money!
I can earn three hundred coins by pulling a healthy young man! "
Courrier was stunned. He relaxed the force on his feet a little. "You work for Zhang Jianyuan?
You're responsible for recruiting people for him?
Humph, you still say that this is not human trafficking? "
"No!"
At the mention of this, the Slaro under his feet shouted, "It's not human trafficking, nor is it working for him. I'm working for myself!
Zhang Jianyuan is a genius!
An absolute genius!
I never thought that doing business could be done like this, and that recruiting workers could be done like this! "
Courrier also knew that he seemed to have made a mistake, but the behavior of the pig under his feet was also quite rude. According to the law of the church, offending the Flame Guardian, who was at the top of the Seraph Battle Sequence, was the most serious crime of blasphemy. The punishment that followed would be enough to make him and his family regret living in this world. Now, he was just beaten by her, which was already too easy for him.
She wanted to go to the Embroidery Hall for Zhang Jianyuan. It would be great if she could get some information from the Slaro compatriots. She said as if nothing had happened, "Work for yourself?
How did you do it? "
"Speaking of which, it's very simple!
Zhang Jianyuan needs workers, a lot of people. He wants to hire Slaro people. I don't know why he doesn't hire people from the Empire … But I don't care. I just know that he needs workers, and he came up with such a genius idea to let us Slaro people recruit workers for him! "
He raised his head and said excitedly, "Every single one of you!
I'm here to recruit workers for the Embroidery Hall. They're all able-bodied, regardless of gender. I want as many as you can!
As long as the people I introduce pass the Embroidery Hall's test and sign an employment contract, I can get three hundred copper coins from the Embroidery Hall as a referral fee! "
Courrier said disdainfully, "This is what you mean by working for yourself?
You don't know what kind of background Zhang Jianyuan has, and what kind of scheme he has. Just for three hundred copper coins, he's selling his compatriots to a completely unknown place? "
"This is not selling!
I'm doing this for their own good! "The man shouted fanatically." The next part is the most genius part of this plan!
The people I introduce can continue to find their relatives and friends and introduce them to the Embroidery Hall!
For every successful introduction, that person can also get three hundred copper coins!
Then!
Out of the three hundred copper coins, thirty copper coins are mine!
Do you know what this means? "
Courrier thought for a moment, and his expression changed slightly.
The man continued to shout, "Zhang Jianyuan needs a lot of workers!
Because he's the most popular businessman in Mingzhou City recently!
He wants to expand his business!
He needs a lot of manpower!
Although I don't know why he wants to hire Slalos, this is an opportunity! "
"If he wants workers, we have relatives and friends. If he gets workers, we can make money, a lot of money!
As long as his demand for workers continues to increase, we will always be able to earn referral fees!
If I introduce more people, those people will go out to recruit others. I don't even have to do anything and just lie at home every day to make money! "
"Moreover, when Zhang Jianyuan was training us, he once revealed that there will be more opportunities to make money in the future!
Aren't you tempted?
Anyway, I'm tempted!
I will definitely become a respectable rich person! "
Courrier fell into silence. Although the man's speech was not good and his description was a mess, she could still recognize that there seemed to be something very terrifying hidden in this simple and crude but effective strategy.
The person who could come up with such a plan must be a scheming and terrifying schemer …
Zhang Jianyuan … What do you want to do …
After the man finished his passionate speech, his blood cooled down. Only then did he realize that he was still a fish on the chopping block. Just as he was feeling uneasy, he suddenly heard the terrifying woman say something with a smile.
"Congratulations, Mr. Swindler with a dream, you have three hundred copper coins to earn."