Since entering the sea, the hovercraft has maintained a distance of five kilometers from the coast.
This distance is sufficient to avoid the dense reefs near the shore while ensuring that the direction is not lost.
Fang Er had been piloting for less than ten minutes before handing over the controls of the ship to Wang Xuance.
The vast expanse of the sea had very few fishing boats, and with the sonar system capable of detecting scattered reefs ahead, the journey was quite monotonous.
An economic speed of 55 knots might not be easily understood, but in terms of kilometers per hour, it would be much more intuitive at one hundred kilometers per hour.
It could be said that this ship was currently the fastest ship in the world!
From Laizhou to Yangzhou by sea is approximately 1500 kilometers, while the hovercraft's range is 300 nautical miles, or 550 kilometers.
Therefore, when passing by the administrative seat of Dengzhou, Fang Er chose to take a look and refuel the hovercraft.
The administrative seat of Dengzhou was in Wendeng, and it was not until the Ming and Qing dynasties that it was changed to Penglai.
The ship was docked at the shore, with a few people left to guard it. When Fang Er entered Dengzhou City with the others, it was already afternoon.
Dengzhou City was very small. It was originally just a county town and was only upgraded to a prefecture in the early Wude years.
The northern coastal areas of this era were poor. Although the sea was rich in resources, the inability to transport them out was the biggest problem.
Since the cement road was completed, some merchants smelled business opportunities and transported some durable dried goods from here to the central plains, making considerable profits.
Otherwise, with a national debt of two million guan, there would have been no hope of selling it all in Dengzhou Prefecture three to five years ago.
It should have been a bustling scene, but as Fang Er entered the city, he found that almost every household had their doors closed, and there were only a few pedestrians on the streets.
He asked Guan Chang to inquire about the location of the bank, and after several turns, they found the Dengzhou branch.
From a distance, they saw a large crowd of people gathered outside the branch, many holding bills and curses intermittently heard from the crowd.
Refund the money! Refund the money!
You say it was robbed, but who knows if it's true or not!
Exactly! Even with imperial officials escorting it, it was robbed. If your bank is also smashed in the future, what will you use to return our money!
We don't want it anymore! Refund my national debt!
Wuwuwuwu!! This money is my lifelong savings. If you don't refund it, I'll die right here in front of you today!
The scene was very chaotic, and the branch manager Gu Hai, sweating profusely, was explaining to them at the top of his lungs at the entrance.
Everyone, please don't be anxious! His Majesty has already issued an imperial decree to thoroughly investigate the matter of the national debt being robbed, and the money will definitely be recovered!
Also, this money is for purchasing grain. With the great drought, how many people will die without grain!
When the national debt was issued, the bank stated that the debt term was one year, and it would be repaid with both principal and interest upon maturity.
Since the first phase of the national debt, has the imperial court ever defaulted on anyone's money?
Please rest assured, this world will not fall into chaos!
Your money will not be shorted!
But at this moment, another voice shouted from the crowd.
A great drought has descended from heaven! This is a warning from heaven, and the Li family's imperial throne is in jeopardy!
Our Dengzhou is not suffering from drought, so why should our money be used to save others!
What kind of damn bank is this, it's just cheating us of our money!
Now that they have got the money, they are shirking responsibility onto bandits, it must be intentional!
As this voice fell, all the common people instantly turned red-eyed.
Refund the money!
Refund the money!
Refund the money!
Bang!
Fang Er in the distance could no longer suppress his anger and fired a shot into the sky.
The crisp gunshot made everyone look over. When Gu Hai saw who it was, his eyes turned red.
These days have been too difficult!
Make way! Duke of Shenyang is here by imperial decree to investigate the case!
Before the onlookers could understand what was happening, the Yan Yun Cavalry and the Special Operations team had already escorted Fang Er over.
Your Grace!
Gu Hai quickly stepped forward to salute.
However, Fang Er merely nodded slightly, then walked past him without saying a word, standing directly in front of the bank and looking at all the common people gathered there.
Several people in the crowd exchanged glances, and then one of them lowered his body.
It's you! You are the one who handled the national debt! You also handled the bank, hurry up and return our money!
Refund the money!
This damn national debt will soon become waste paper!
Refund~~~
Silence!
As the others chimed in, Fang Er suddenly shouted, and the scene instantly fell silent.
Guan Chang! San Dezi!
Here!
He, he, he, he! Bring these four people out for me!
Fang Er pointed consecutively at four people in the crowd and said coldly.
Yes!
Guan Chang, along with the other nine Yan Yun Cavalry who had accompanied him, immediately rushed into the crowd.
What are you doing! Why are you arresting me!
The first person to be apprehended struggled and shouted.
Let me go, I just came to refund the national debt. Why are you arresting me and not so many others!
The second person was grabbed by the hair by Zhang De and pulled out of the crowd.
Then came the third and fourth.
Fang Er had noticed these four people from a distance. They were clearly instigating things while hiding in the crowd.
Seeing the fierce Yan Yun Cavalry suddenly attack, all the common people surrounding the bank were stunned. They retreated in fear, afraid that they would also be arrested.
Your Grace! My old mother is critically ill and needs money for medical treatment. Please, be merciful and return the money to me, I beg you! Wuwuwu~~~
A strong man in the crowd suddenly knelt down, kowtowing and crying.
Others who wanted to speak were pulled back by acquaintances.
Some, seeing the Yan Yun Cavalry apprehending people, were so scared that they fled into the distance, only to be intercepted by the guards who rushed out of the bank.
In Fang Er's absence, Gu Hai and these guards dared not act, for fear of damaging the bank's reputation.
Now that he was here, it was as if they had found a backbone.
Everyone, be quiet!
Fang Er shouted at the panicked crowd, then looked at Wang Xuance.
Xuance, help this brother up!
The man was helped up, still wiping away tears.
Summon the Prefect of Dengzhou to come here!
Fang Er spoke again, this time emphasizing the word "summon," clearly not in its literal sense.
Yes! Read books!
A guard bowed to receive the order and ran towards the distance.
These guards were permanent staff of the bank, with a quota of ten people for each branch. They were not part of the previous call-up.
My dear elders, please wait patiently for a moment.
Don't worry, with me here, not a single cent of your money will be lost!
Everything will be explained by me after the Prefect of Dengzhou arrives.
ps: Recommend two books, Xuanhuan "Ultimate Demon Master" (This book is underrated by its title, those who like Xuanhuan can check it out.)
Female-oriented agricultural novel "Cannon Fodder is Pregnant: My Cub is a Lucky Star"
(Secretly speaking, this female-oriented book is written by a young lady, it's super sweet.)