Sang Qian laughed and said, “There is no need for Brother Zu to feel alarmed, I am merely seeking confirmation. It is just that dispatching troops isn’t that simple of a matter. I need to report to the authorities for approval. If we make a huge fuss but end up with nothing, then everyone from the top brass to the low level soldiers will have complaints.”
“You need to request for approval from the higher ups?” Zu An was stunned. “Then why are you wasting time here? How long does it take for this process to be completed?”
Zu An’s brows furrowed tightly. Where was there any time to waste like this? These fellas are so inefficient! No wonder the illicit salt trade has gotten so out of hand.
Sang Qian then came up with all types of subjects to stall for time. Zu An replied indifferently to all of it.
After a while longer of this, Zu An finally couldn’t take it anymore. He got up and said, “If the commander’s side won’t be able to help, then I’ll move my Chu estate’s own men to catch the criminals.”
Things always had a higher chance of going wrong the more time was wasted. Being held up here already left him with a vague ominous feeling.
“Please do not be impatient Brother Zu, it’ll be completed soon.” Sang Qian changed the topic. “Furthermore, the arrest of the illicit salt trade is our River Patrol Army’s responsibility, so how can we make Brightmoon Duke go through the trouble? If the governor, City Lord, heard about this, then I will be severely punished for negligence.”
“I will wait another ten minutes. If there is still no progress, then I will head over to deal with it myself.” Zu An also knew that Chu Zhongtian most likely sent him here out of reservations towards the regulations, to prevent his political enemies from having more things to use against him.
But he couldn’t wait here limitlessly. If someone really scared those illicit salt traffickers away, then everything would go down the drain.
“Minutes?” Sang Qian didn’t really understand this measurement of time, but he roughly guessed Zu An’s intentions. “We’ll receive news soon. Please be patient, Brother Zu.”
After waiting a few more torturous minutes, Zu An finally couldn’t take it anymore. He got up and began to walk out.
Unknown if it really was a coincidence or not, a soldier suddenly ran in and said, “We received orders from above!”
Sang Qian said with a laugh, “Good, we’ll immediately mobilize the troops. Depart!”
The soldiers in River Patrol Army’s drill ground began to gather. When he saw how slow these soldiers were moving, their armor not even on straight, Zu An frowned. Are these soldiers or riffraffs?
With this type of army in charge, no wonder the illicit salt trade has grown so rampant.
Sang Qian’s expression also became a bit unpleasant, hurriedly explaining, “Yesterday’s drills ran a bit late. I reckon that the men haven’t completely recovered yet.”
He spoke while roaring at his subordinates, “Hurry up, stop dilly dallying!”
Unfortunately, no matter how he roared, those soldiers only put on a bit of an act. In reality, they didn’t move that fast.
Just the assembling of the troops took half an hour.
But thank the heavens they still departed in the end.
Sang Hong silently watched as the troops departed. He fiddled with a smoking pipe in his hand and quietly took a hit. His slim face flickered behind the rising smoke.
A wave of confusion rose within him. “How did Zu An manage to pinpoint the illicit salt traffickers’ activity?”
Zu An brought Chu estate’s guards and River Patrol Army’s soldiers towards the pier.
Out of worry that the illicit salt traffickers already ran, Zu An was extremely anxious. He urged the horse to charge crazily.
As a result, after only covering half the distance, a palanquin suddenly rushed out from a street.
Zu An hurriedly reined his horse in. Even though it stopped at the final moment, those porters were clearly alarmed.
The palanquin on the shoulders of the men who fell over also leaned to the side.
“Aiya~” A young lady’s alarmed voice sounded from within.