Chapter 958 4 Water City

Jingguo borders Qingguo and Song State. Qingguo is to the southeast of Jingguo, and Song State is to the northeast.

The checkpoint between Jingguo and Qingguo was called Jianjiaguan, and the checkpoint with Song State was called Beiguanguan. The reason why it was called such a name was because Beiguanguan was a checkpoint built on the sea.

The sea where the two countries intersect is called the North Sea. The North Sea is different from the Sea of ​​Rebirth that Zhou Ran passed through before. The North Sea is calm and can be used by light boats.

Zhou Ran took a boat and sailed on the North Sea, as if walking on flat ground.

Beihai is not big. After a while, we arrived at Beihai Pass.

Although Beihai Customs is built above the sea, it still towers into the clouds and is extremely majestic.

Jingguo and Qingguo were at war with each other, so Jianjia Pass seemed particularly deserted. However, the relationship between Jingguo and Song State was very good, and the two sides communicated with each other. The North Customs House was never closed, and there were countless ships coming and going.

The ship Zhou Ran was on quickly passed through the North Customs.

After driving for a while, we finally arrived at Sishui City, the first city-state in the Song Dynasty.

As the name Sishui City suggests, there are four rivers passing through the city, so it was named after it.

Zhou Ran looked at the walls of Sishui City and couldn't help but sigh.

"I originally thought that the city-state of Jing State was prosperous enough, but compared with Song State, it was far inferior. Song State was so prosperous that it took at least hundreds of years of truce to achieve this situation!"

Before coming to Song State, Zhou Ran knew some things about Song State from Jing Kang, the leader of Jing State.

The Song State is a permanent neutral country among the twelve countries in the inner region. This status prevents the Song State from the disaster of war.

The Qing State fought continuously and used troops against neighboring countries, but the Song State never confronted the enemy head-on. Except for territory, it agreed to all Qing State's demands.

It can be said that a large part of the military expenditure of the Qing State came from the Song State.

The Song State endured humiliation and aggravated the Qing State's arrogance, but this was also a way for the Song State to protect itself.

It is precisely because of the humility of the leader of the Song State that the prosperity of the Song State has been preserved. The position of the leader of the Song State has been passed down for dozens of generations, making it the longest among the twelve countries in the inner region.

Therefore, Jing Kang asked Zhou Ran to come to Song Dynasty.

The Song Kingdom's understanding of Shura Pillar is probably the deepest among the twelve kings of the Inner Territory.

The big ship Zhou Ran was riding on docked at the port of Sishui City. Zhou Ran got off the ship and went to the market of Sishui City.

It is very lively here. There are not only people from Song, Jing, and Qing, but also many people from other countries in the inner region. It is really like a hodgepodge.

Zhou Ran was wandering in the market, and a vendor stopped Zhou Ran.

"Guest, you must be a noble from a certain country, right? Do you need to buy some specialties?"

Zhou Ran was stunned and looked at the vendor up and down.

"How do you know I'm a noble?"

I was dressed simply, and it was impossible to judge my identity from my clothes. This hawker had such a sharp eye.

The hawker smiled and said: "Guest, I have seen many nobles like you. Even though I only sell some trinkets, I have met many big people! Who made the Song Kingdom prosperous? The nobles from all the countries in the inner region all Walking around in the Song Dynasty, you are just one of them."

"really interesting!"

Zhou Ran smiled, even a hawker had such a vision, which showed that the prosperity of the Song Dynasty was not in vain.

Just as he was about to extract more things from the vendor, Zhou Ran's face darkened.

There is actually someone following me behind me. This person seems to be cautious. Where can he go without his eyes?

"Boss, I'm sorry, I don't have any money with me."

I dropped a sentence,

Zhou Ran left the market.

Driving quickly, Zhou Ran came to a remote alley in Sishui City.

The stalker was hot on his heels. How did he know that he had fallen into Zhou Ran's trap?

After entering the alleyway, the stalker lost sight of Zhou Ran and was at a loss when Zhou Ran appeared behind him.

"Oh it's you!"

Zhou Ran said coldly that the person following him was Ye Ziwen, the head of the Heilu Jingguo branch.

He once entrusted Ye Ziwen to investigate intelligence for him, and Ye Ziwen was conscientious in his work, but because he was affiliated with the Black House, he betrayed him in the end.

Zhou Ran didn't blame him for this, but now that he was actually following her, that was a different matter.

"Ye Ziwen, do you really think you can follow me with your humble tricks?" Zhou Ran said disdainfully.

Ye Ziwen is a high-ranking member of the Black Clan, so his reconnaissance ability is naturally very strong.

But that was only compared to ordinary people. When Ye Ziwen faced Zhou Ran, his reconnaissance ability was completely insufficient.

"As expected of the champion, since I have been discovered by you, if you want to kill or behead me, please do as you please!" Ye Ziwen looked righteous and upright.

Zhou Ran didn't mean to kill him, but asked: "Why are you following me? Did the big shopkeeper Hei Lu send you here?"

Ye Ziwen smiled bitterly and said: "The big shopkeeper is dead, and the Black Palace is leaderless again. Lady Shi Ji could not find a suitable candidate, so she took charge of the Black Palace herself. As for what I am doing here, I am just following you! Lady Shi Ji will The elite troops from Heilu were sent to Sishui City to ask us to collect intelligence. I didn’t know what to do, so I saw you, so I followed you all the way.”

"Is there still this matter?"

Zhou Ran felt a little surprised.

Generally speaking, shouldn't this kind of thing be targeted?

But Shi Ji didn't tell anyone what needed to be investigated. She only asked the elite Black Lu to collect intelligence and let everyone run around like headless chickens. What's the point of this?

Zhou Ran said again: "Since Shi Ji has already taken action, I am afraid there will be a big conspiracy here. I see that you are not lying. This time, I will not kill you. You just need to tell me where the base of Hei Lu is."

"Base?"

Ye Ziwen seemed hesitant. If he told Zhou Ran the base of Hei Lu, it would be equivalent to betraying Hei Lu.

In this way, he would have no place to stay in Hei Lu.

Seeing that Ye Ziwen did not speak, Zhou Ran said again: "Ye Ziwen, I admire your courage. If you insist on dying, I will not stop you. You can choose the way yourself!"

Zhou Ran's words revealed a hint of murderous intent, forcing Ye Ziwen to compromise.

Ye Ziwen sighed and said, "Hei Lu's base is in Lingyin Temple outside Sishui City. Every night, everyone will meet there."

"Very good!" Zhou Ran smiled and looked at Ye Ziwen again, "Ye Ziwen, I won't kill you, but this doesn't mean I won't kill you for the rest of my life! I order you to leave Sishui City. If I see you again next time, you will definitely die!"

Zhou Ran's words made Ye Ziwen tremble involuntarily.

Ye Ziwen clearly felt that Zhou Ran was more terrifying than Lord Shi Ji.

How dare he disobey such a ruthless person? ?

"Guanjun Hou, don't worry! I will disappear in front of you, and from now on, I will never let you see me again!"

With that, Ye Ziwen left in disgrace.