Chapter 66: The Fierce Prohibition Order

  Thanks to friends who came to support, even more thanks to friends who not only came to support but also sent flowers, and of course the biggest thanks to friends who came to support, sent flowers and collected. I bow my head in gratitude here.

  The next day, until the sun rose high in the sky, the gate of Xiniya Port, which had been opening on time for decades, was still closed. The originally bustling dock was empty and quiet, with serious-looking city guards patrolling back and forth, holding long spears. As soon as someone appeared on the dock, the city guards would rush up and arrest him, taking him to the city guard station for a strict examination.

  A proclamation with a large red seal was posted on the wall by the city gate.

  At the same time, the Governor's Office considerately dispatched many loud-voiced guards to loudly proclaim the contents of the announcement along the streets for the sake of those uneducated masses.

  Above was a decree of extreme cruelty. Three sentences, one execution; five sentences, one hanging, all with the ominous tone of murder. In an instant, the wind howled and people trembled with fear. Every household closed its doors, every shop shut down, and the city of Sina fell into a state of terror.

  Everyone knew that the duke had been kidnapped, and the governor's office spared no expense to rescue the duke, setting up a desperate situation.

  This time the pirates have gone too far.

  A guard, covering the scarlet proclamation of the governor's office with his hand, walked along the desolate street, shouting in a loud voice: "Attention all residents. Now announcing the governor's order. First, those who collude with pirates will be killed. Second, those who hide and do not report will be killed. Third, those who sail out to sea privately will be killed. Fourth, those who gather crowds and cause trouble will be killed. Fifth..."

  He shouted as he slowly turned the corner and walked away.

  Ye Feng closed the window, and the room suddenly darkened. He turned around and sat back down at the desk, thoughtfully tapping his index finger on the desktop. The only sound left was the creaking of the old house echoing through the vast space.

  A businessman finally couldn't bear the silent pressure, wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead and said: "Sir, I don't know why you've called us all here, what is it about?"

  "What else could it be?" Ye Feng smiled wryly and said, "Of course, it's about the duke being kidnapped by pirates."

  The merchant stole a glance at Ye Feng and said with a flattering face: "Sir, we are all law-abiding citizens and have nothing to do with the pirates."

  Ye Feng looked at him in surprise, then slapped the table and burst out laughing. It was as if he had heard the most hilarious joke. The businessmen were frightened by his laughter, exchanging uneasy glances.

  Yefeng's smile suddenly froze, looking at their pale faces, said: "Stop pretending. Everyone is a clear-headed person, no need for nonsense. Let me put it this way."

  He stood up, his hands on the table, leaning forward to look at everyone and said: "The situation in Xiniya City over the past few years, I think you all know very well. Touch your conscience and think about it, how has the Duke treated you? Has he ever increased taxes for you despite his own difficulties? Has he maliciously oppressed you merchants who have no power or influence? Has he pretended to be a bandit on the road and robbed your goods? Has he investigated your accounts for tax evasion? Has he even seriously cracked down on your smuggling activities?"

  Everyone who heard it discussed it enthusiastically, and several mature businessmen showed a thoughtful expression on their faces.

  Ye Feng saw that everyone's expression had relaxed, and he hastily added more fuel to the fire. He crudely cursed: "Don't pretend to be innocent, you all think I don't know what you're planning."

  Thinking of good things, being greedy is not enough. If the Duke were to die, according to the law, women do not have inheritance rights, Miss Nia can only step aside, and the Governor of Xinya City can only be succeeded by Oula. However, before he turns 16 and comes of age to take on the governorship, the Emperor and the Senate will appoint a guardian for him.

  "He said, 'You bunch of bastards have dealt with them before, don't you know their character? I dare to say that when the time comes, not to mention your property, if you can keep your dog's life, I'll cut off my head and feed it to the dogs.'"

  The businessmen fell silent, but still looked as if they had not expressed their views.

  Ye Feng coldly looked at them, silently cursing in his heart: This group of bastards who don't shed tears until they see the coffin, fundamentally have no long-term vision. When there's no benefit, even if you speak eloquently, they won't be moved. Fortunately, he still had some chips that hadn't been played, so he wasn't afraid they wouldn't agree.

  He continued, "I know what you're thinking. You think that when the day really comes, it's no big deal to just take the money and run, right? Don't forget, at Xiniya Commercial Shares Company, you all have shares. Some of you have a few thousand, some of you have tens of thousands. Do you know how much money the company has made in these days?"

  He looked at the inquiring gazes of the crowd, stretched out his left hand and said: "Five thousand gold coins. In just half a month's time, I've earned five thousand gold coins. And this is only the beginning."

  The merchants were in an uproar.

  "Oh, right. Look at my memory." Ye Feng knocked his head and added: "I forgot to remind everyone that the company's legal representative is His Excellency the Duke. If he dies, according to the law, all of the company's assets will be confiscated. You won't get a single penny."

  One of the merchants immediately stood up, pretending to wipe away dry tears from the corners of his eyes. "Lord Ye, Duke has been shamelessly kidnapped, and we are also extremely indignant about this. Just thinking about his current situation makes my heart ache, I can't eat or sleep well."

  Then his face changed and he said sternly, "As a member of the Xiniya company, we also have the responsibility and obligation to serve him. Sir, please tell us what you want us to do."

  Ye Feng looked at the others with an unchanged expression, and as expected, the merchants suddenly became highly concerned about the duke's safety, one after another expressing their willingness to follow Ye Feng's arrangements.

  Ye Feng seemed to have forgotten their previous behavior, and said with some emotion: "Very good, everyone is so loyal to the Duke, in the future when the Duke returns, I will definitely tell him about your performance."

  The merchant spoke loudly and generously: "Your Excellency, just give the order. Are we to go and kill people or set fires? If I frown, Philis is not a good fellow."

  Other merchants secretly cursed his shamelessness and hastily followed suit in trying to curry favor with Ye Feng.

  "Right."

  "That's right."

  That's right.

  "Alright, I won't be polite then." Ye Feng slapped the table and stood up. His gaze swept across everyone's face as he said sternly: "The Governor's Office has issued a decree: From today on, Xiniya is under full maritime ban, no ships can set sail. I know you all have your own channels for smuggling, but don't even think about playing tricks, it's all stopped. Anyone who disobeys will be killed without pardon."

  The merchants gasped in unison, but seeing Ye Feng's murderous gaze, they gritted their teeth and reluctantly nodded.

  "Also, according to the proportion, take out another 20% of the income for me."

  Phillis hastily stood up, squeezing out an unpleasant smile on his fat face, saying: "Sir, how can this be? You should also consider our difficulties. With your ban on the sea, our goods cannot enter or exit. How can we make money without goods?"

  Other merchants nodded in agreement. They seemed to have temporary amnesia and completely forgot what they had just said.

  Ye Feng stared at them with an icy and ruthless gaze.

  The merchants saw his gaze, and their voices unknowingly lowered, until everyone closed their mouths. Ye Feng said with a face full of disgust: "A group of fools! If you're all just this intelligent, I really doubt whether it's necessary to continue talking to you."

  Moreover: Moon Dancer, what you said also makes sense. Is it just going to be a magnificent naked run? Everyone, if you can hide, hide for now, it's not like it's going to ruin anything.