My Emperor Father Can Read Minds

Chapter 308: Taking a Detour and Running Away

Deng Zhengde was surprised by the arrival of the three—Chang Ning and the others.

He didn’t know much about the young noblemen from the capital, only a few connected to His Highness. They had met at the manor before, and coincidentally, Chang Ning was one who frequented the manor.

After they met, before Sheng Hong could ask about Great Liang, Chang Ning directly asked Deng Zhengde,

“Who is that Liu San? He doesn’t look like someone from the merchant group.”

Knowing they had already met, and that the inn’s address came from Liu San himself, Deng Zhengde did not ask how they met. Instead, he asked Chang Ning,

“Have you noticed something’s off?”

Chang Ning frowned. “That guy is obviously suspicious. Out of so many merchants from Great Liang, and with so many watchful eyes, why send only his family’s people to Great Wei? He must be a spy!”

“That’s a bit rash,” Sheng Hong said helplessly.

“You idiot, don’t speak!”

“Hey, who are you to insult me, Chang Ning? I’m telling you, don’t—”

“Shut up!”

Annoyed by Sheng Hong, Chang Ning immediately kicked him and Fu Jixiang out.

With those annoying fools gone, Chang Ning finally felt relieved to discuss matters with Deng Zhengde.

Chang Ning said, “Trust me, that Liu San definitely has a problem! His words are vague and evasive; he’s definitely a spy.”

Deng Zhengde quietly smiled at him, “Yes, thank you, Young Master Chang, for the reminder. I’ve taken note.”

Chang Ning was serious: “Not just remember, you must be vigilant! Although the spies’ methods are hard to guard against, they’re definitely planning to go with you to the Merchants' Alliance! The Merchants' Alliance was built solely by His Highness. They might want to steal techniques to bring back home. If Great Liang learns our secrets while sneaking in, won’t that troubles His Highness? Can we tolerate that? Absolutely not!”

Having said everything, Deng Zhengde smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Chang Ning became anxious. “I’m telling the truth. You’re in charge of the Merchants' Alliance; His Highness trusts you so much; you mustn’t be careless. What if—”

Seeing how genuinely worried Chang Ning was, Deng Zhengde stopped teasing him and nodded.

“Yes, Young Master Chang, rest assured. I know what to do and will never betray His Highness’ trust. You can be assured.”

Chang Ning stared into Deng Zhengde’s eyes for a few seconds, confirming his sincerity before finally letting his guard down.

After all, Deng Zhengde was personally appointed by His Highness to manage the Merchants' Alliance. Considering how much the Merchants' Alliance has grown in just a year, Chang Ning had no doubt about Deng Zhengde’s abilities.

Anyway, Chang Ning was convinced those from Great Liang were spies, and he had warned him. If Deng Zhengde truly ran into trouble, it would be none of his business…

Because of Chang Ning’s goodwill, Deng Zhengde asked why they came to Jiaozhou.

Chang Ning: “Just passing through. We’re heading to Yizhou. I bought some land there to raise geese. As for the other two, it's not worth mentioning.”

Deng Zhengde nodded thoughtfully. “Yizhou has had quite a stir recently. I heard from people below that many minor aristocratic families are selling land… If you’re buying land there to raise geese, you’d better watch out for some people.”

When these established families sell land, it’s usually a turbulent time. Some might have shady intentions and resort to underhanded methods. If locals buy land, that’s fine, but outsiders might easily be duped.

Chang Ning: “Thanks for the warning. But the land was bought through distant relatives in Yizhou. It’s all arranged already, so I can start working once I get there. No problem.”

Deng Zhengde: “When will you set off?”

Chang Ning thought for a moment. “Tomorrow.”

Although catching a spy was exciting, since Deng Zhengde was here, he didn’t have to worry. He might as well keep an eye on those two idiots next door.

The two fools who, even after being betrayed, still said good things about their betrayers!

What were the two idiots, who had been called fools, doing now?

They were talking with Liu San and the others who had just returned.

Even though Chang Ning called them idiots and pointed out Liu San and his group as spies from Great Liang, Sheng Hong and Fu Jixiang, who were idle rich young master in the capital, had only faced major trouble from scoldings or beatings from their family elders for laziness.

Spies?

That seemed far from their experience.

Sheng Hong: “You all came back so soon? Didn’t you say you’d stay longer in the city?”

Liu San: “Everyone got tired and figured we needed to rest since we still have to travel tomorrow.”

They didn’t talk much, and Liu San and the others left.

Watching their departing backs, Sheng Hong and Fu Jixiang exchanged a silent glance.

Sheng Hong: “A lucky thought suddenly came to me, what about you?”

Fu Jixiang: “…You’re shameless; you go first.”

Sheng Hong: “What do you think about us taking a detour to the Merchants' Alliance?”

Fu Jixiang looked at him deeply and couldn’t help but applaud. “Great minds think alike.”

Truly, they were cut from the same cloth.

Their thoughts were exactly alike!

Sheng Hong agreed and whispered plans with Fu Jixiang in a corner.

“Since Chang Ning thinks they’re suspicious, why not we just go there ourselves? We’re not Chang Ning; we don’t have to go to Yizhou. If we follow Liu San and the others and find proof of their spying, wouldn’t that be a big achievement?”

“Makes sense, but didn’t you think they weren’t spies?”

Sheng Hong glared at Fu Jixiang with his eyes. “Whether they are or not doesn’t matter if there’s a chance to make credit!”

Fu Jixiang: …

You’re pretty straightforward.

The two decided to ditch Chang Ning and follow the merchant convoy to the Merchants' Alliance.

Chang Ning only found out that these two idiots had left him behind when he was about to set off the next day.

He was completely speechless.

Two idiots who can’t judge people properly still dared to tag along and stir up trouble?!

They deserved to be deceived!

—

Ji Commandery, Ziyang County.

Unlike before when it was poor and barren, Ziyang County had grown many times larger inside and outside the city.

This small county city had already attained the prosperity of a major city.

Inside the city, carriages and horses flowed like water, pedestrians came and went hurriedly. Though not everyone was shining and laughing heartily, everyone had a light in their eyes.

Perhaps because the city walls constrained the boundaries, everything inside the city felt orderly and strict under government control.

Outside the city, the boundaries of freedom opened up, with vast and broad areas, neat and beautiful greenery, and factories were set up one after another. The Merchants' Alliance, comparable in scale to a county city, connected merchants from all over…

There was no place outside a city as prosperous and safe as this.

After all, the patrols of the Merchants' Alliance Guard, formerly the Oxhead Army under His Highness the Wise King, persistently practiced and guarded all of Ziyang continuously around the clock.

Even the officials in the capital city couldn't maintain such security.

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