Chapter 602 - 183 Yelu: Nan Batian, you are on the path to certain death! (Beginning of the month, asking for monthly votes!)_5

Qin Ying knelt on the ground and said, "Lord Yelu, I don’t know anything, I was just following orders to escort the goods, I know nothing else, it’s all instructed by our Gang Leader!"

"You know nothing at all?"

Qin Ying said, "I know nothing at all."

Lord Yelu nodded and said, "Then let’s wait for Guild Leader Nan."

After saying this, Qimu Ge led Nan Batian and Tang Ziyue inside.

Upon approach, Qimu Ge gave a fist salute and said, "Lord, I’ve brought Nan Batian."

Hearing these words, Yelu turned his head towards Nan Batian who showed no sign of panic on his face but simply gave a bow and said, "I greet Lord Yelu."

Tang Ziyue followed with a greeting.

After it was over, Nan Batian stood by Liu Laoguai and said, "Old Liu, it seems you’re really out to get me, aren’t you?"

Liu Laoguai gnashed his teeth and retorted, "It’s you who’s out to get me!"

The two exchanged glances, then diverted their eyes, each filled with indiscernible emotions.

Yelu looked at Nan Batian and asked, "Guild Leader Nan, do you know why you’ve been summoned here today?"

Nan Batian answered straightforwardly, "Of course I do, my subordinate was just about to report to you, Lord Yelu."

"Oh?"

Yelu squinted at Nan Batian, curious to see what kind of excuse the Guild Leader would come up with.

Nan Batian said, "Lord Yelu, my subordinate has thought of a method to capture the Zoroastrian Sect, and I was preparing to report to you."

Yelu squinted at him and asked, "What method?"

"The situation is such, my subordinate thought, since the weapons were to be transported to the Northern lands, they would definitely take the transport route. But now that the Feng River is sealed, it’ll be difficult for them to move the goods out of Mianshui. So, I considered opening the water route, which would surely entice them to try to blend in with our merchant ships. My subordinate needs only to guard the ships and identify them, this plan is like catching turtles in a jar!"

Nan Batian bowed and slowly presented his plan to Lord Yelu, wearing an expression that seemed to say ’Lord Yelu, you should praise me now.’

"You’re talking nonsense!"

Before Yelu could react, Liu Laoguai couldn’t hold back and shouted, "You want to use the merchant ships to lure the Zoroastrian Sect into the trap, why don’t you also let out my Guild Cao’s ships, and only let your Fishing Guild act alone? You obviously have ulterior motives!"

"Ah, Guild Leader Liu, why would you say such a thing?"

Upon hearing this, Nan Batian immediately showed a face of surprise, though he was also an actor; as long as he got back in his rhythm, he could perform too. He looked at Liu Laoguai and said, "Guild Leader Liu, our Fishing Guild truly has limited manpower and can only watch over a limited number of ships. Thus, we can only open our ships to operation. Your Guild Cao has too many ships for us to oversee."

"You’re just being ridiculous! That’s a mere excuse!"

Nan Batian said, "Lord Yelu, I am telling nothing but the truth!"

"What kind of truth is that? I think he did this only to transport weapons for the Zoroastrian Sect. He wanted to do it secretly, and now that we’ve caught him, he hastily concocted an excuse. Lord Yelu, you mustn’t believe his nonsense!"

Yelu looked at the nearly crazed Liu Laoguai and then at the unperturbed Nan Batian. No wonder you can’t beat Nan Batian.

While Liu Laoguai fumbled for words, Bai Mosheng stood up. He first saluted to Lord Yelu and then said, "Lord Yelu, our Gang Leader is flustered and failing to express himself clearly. Since Guild Leader Nan is so confident in his innocence, may I venture to ask him three questions?"

Hearing this, Yelu narrowed his eyes—this Bai Mosheng was indeed clever. Without him, Guild Cao wouldn’t possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with the Fishing Guild!

Thinking this way, Yelu said, "Yes, Mr. Bai, go ahead and ask."

Bai Mosheng gave Nan Batian a salute and said, "Guild Leader Nan, I would like to ask you three questions!"

Upon hearing this, Nan Batian glanced at Tang Ziyue, who frowned. Bai Mosheng was shrewd, and she wasn’t sure if the Guild Leader could cope. With these thoughts, she furrowed her brows slightly, but since Lord Yelu had spoken...

No one could stop his questions, and you had to answer them well; dissatisfaction was not an option.

With this in mind, Nan Batian pondered and then said, "Mr. Bai, please ask your questions."

Bai Mosheng said, "The first question, just now Guild Leader Nan said the sudden opening of the Fishing Guild’s river ships for transport is to catch the members of the Zoroastrian Sect. If it’s to catch them, why would you raise the price for moving the merchandise?"

The first question was a trap indeed. Yes, Nan Batian, if you’re after the Zoroastrian Sect, why raise the prices?

Nan Batian thought for a moment and replied, "Mr. Bai’s point is well taken. I increased the price mainly to confound the Zoroastrian Sect. Under such circumstances, my Fishing Guild is taking the risk to transport goods. If we do not make extra money, charging the usual rates would not be believable, let alone deceiving the people from the Zoroastrian Sect."

"That’s why I boldly raised the prices and I hope Lord Yelu will see through this."

The crowd frowned slightly upon hearing this, for the answer had not resolved many doubts.

Bai Mosheng smiled and said, "Guild Leader Nan, it looks like you are well-prepared. In that case, I’ll ask my second question."

"Mr. Bai, please ask."

"The second question, Guild Leader Nan said it’s for catching thieves—we’ll just believe you for now—but for such a big plan, why didn’t you first report to Lord Yelu and then take action? Instead, you’ve been caught now and come out to claim it was for catching thieves, aren’t you trying to absolve yourself of responsibility?"

The crowd nodded at once. It was a sharp point.

Old Liu doesn’t catch you, you don’t report; he catches you, then you report. Isn’t this too deliberate?