On the official road of the Ming Dynasty, there was a post of a hundred miles by water and a post of eighty miles by land.

This was due to the wise judgment of Emperor Hongwu. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Emperor Taizu rebuilt post stations across the country and established a smooth transportation network to facilitate the transportation of grain and grass and the transmission of information. However, the Ming Dynasty official post only received official business from the imperial court.

People were not open to the public, but many people saw business opportunities, and some inns and shops were opened next to Guanyi, forming a business district with Guanyi as the center.

Some of the larger official stations are even as large as a small town.

Starting from one inn, you will usually arrive at the next inn before dark. But sometimes, it depends on the weather, rain, snow and windy weather, or the carriages and horses are damaged, so many caravans cannot arrive before nightfall.

, you can only camp outside for the night, so traveling around the world is never an easy task.

Their convoy was quite lucky and arrived at the inn before dark.

The convoy entered the carriage and horse post. To put it bluntly, it was a row of earthen houses next to the official post. It also had a small courtyard where business travelers could park their vehicles and goods.

As Fan Xiaodao, he can live in Guanyi directly. With his personal information and official documents, all applications in Guanyi are free. However, the procedures are a bit troublesome and he has to register and file. Fan Xiaodao's trip is a secret operation, so

I don't want to cause any trouble.

This carriage and horse post is located between Wucheng and Tianliang City. It is also a time-honored brand. It is said that the owner is a relative of the local postmaster. He accepts both black and white and is quite influential in the local area.

A large courtyard, with a five-room house in the front where you can eat, and three rows of mud houses in the back for people to rest, divided into A, B, and C.

In the third class, Class A rooms are single-door rooms, Class B rooms are for six to ten people per room, and there is a resting place for the female family members. As for the Class C rooms at the back, they are just a big shop, with a room for fifty people.

Spread a straw mat on the ground. Most people traveling in rivers and lakes will bring bedding. The more sophisticated ones will bring some animal skins, which are generally not used. Of course, the inns will also provide free reeds and chicken feathers as bedding.

None of them are used.

The courtyard also hired five or six practitioners as bodyguards. The price is a bit more expensive than the surrounding shops, but it is still worth it. A-class rooms cost one tael per night, and B-class rooms cost 200 to 300 fen.

As for the C-class room, fifty coppers is enough, but living there is just to protect yourself from the wind and rain. If you want to sleep comfortably, don't even think about it.

Although it was early winter, business in the yard was good. In addition to their caravan, there were also three or four groups of convoys who also stayed here.

After everything was settled, everyone went to the mud house in the front row for dinner.

These people are also divided into three, six or nine levels.

Some people who bring their own dry food can spend 5 cents for a pot of hot water, and then ask the kitchen to heat steamed buns with pickles, which is enough for a meal. A slightly better one can spend 30 cents for a portion of broth, which is a few

Individuals can pool their money together, get a plate of peanuts, a plate of beef, and a few cents of wine, sit down, and gather together to brag and talk.

These people also consciously sit on benches in the corner to eat instead of eating in an open and honest manner.

It is very rare for a figure like Duan Tiande of the Yellow River Gang, who is somewhat famous in the world, to live in Chemayi, arrange a single room for his children, and order a pot of beef and a pot of mutton.

These talents are the basic ecology of Jianghu.

As for the kind of high-roller who says "waiter, cut ten pounds of beef, a jar of good wine, and a table of fine food and wine", you basically don't meet many of them in a month.

Of course, Chemayi is quite lucky today.

Xu Jianxing and others had been working hard all day and finally had a rest in the evening, so they immediately asked for a table of food and wine.

The wine is strong and spicy in the mouth. Compared with Jiangnan rice wine, it is still inferior.

The vegetables were cabbage, radish, and potatoes. They also ordered a portion of tomatoes. It is said that in autumn, tomatoes are chopped and boiled, then put into jars, sealed with yellow mud and white wine, and taken out in winter for practical use.

It is very luxurious. As for the meat, it is chicken, duck and fish. The chickens are freshly killed and the fish are slaughtered alive, but they are all made in the north.

Xu Jianxing was accustomed to fine clothes and fine food. He looked at the dishes on the table and said, "Compared to those in the south, the food of northerners is a bit rough."

As soon as the map cannon was fired, the guests at the other tables were a little unhappy. However, seeing that they were well-dressed and had weapons in their hands, and not knowing their background, although they were dissatisfied, they did not express it.

, I still understand these principles of being friendly and making money while away from home.

Du Yunru also said, "Isn't it true? If we hadn't been heroic and righteous, who would have come to such a bitter and cold place!"

Wherever you go, you are still inside the pass, and you are already complaining. It is only when you get outside the pass that you can see what a bitter cold land is. However, the young masters and ladies who know where they are at a glance have nothing to do with more money.

Ergan, whoever comes out is not here to make money and make a living, you are here to do chivalry and righteousness, you are so full that you can hold on!

Duan Tiande saw Fan Xiaodao sitting in the corner eating alone, with a flatbread and a plate of mutton soup, so he went up to invite him to dine with him, but was declined by Fan Xiaodao, not because he didn't want to owe a favor, but because the place was convenient for observation.

After leaving Chemayi, they entered the territory of Tianliang City tomorrow. Ten days ago, Li Yi made a big fuss here and killed more than thirty people. The Tianliang horse thieves had a close relationship with Ye Yulou. He

I'm thinking, has Li Yi entered Tianliang City now?

He was from Heifeng Village, and he understood very well how these horse thieves behaved. In places like Car Horse Post, people must be stationed for a long time, called lookouts, who are the people who inform the horse thieves. For example, how much cargo is there in the convoy today?

How many people there are, and whether there are any practitioners, these are all necessary skills for watchmen.

And his eyes kept falling on the three or four people on the other side of the table.

They acted in a very low-key manner. They only ordered some simple meals and said nothing. They barely moved their chopsticks but raised their ears. They always stared at the guests who came to dine. In the inn, when the guy who was responsible for filling hot water passed by them,

They all avoided them, obviously knowing their identities.

There is no doubt that it is probably a lookout for horse thieves.

Horse thieves act ruthlessly and kill no one alive, but they don't rob everyone.

They have their own code of conduct. For example, if some goods are escorted by escorts or acquaintances from the escort agency, they will turn a blind eye and let them go. Of course, these escorts also work with these bandits on weekdays.

To build a good relationship, you need to take care of things that need to be done, and give gifts that need to be given. The king of hell and the little ghosts have to be dealt with. When you encounter those who are blind or careless,

, then I’m sorry, you’re welcome.

Fan Xiaodao is not an escort, he is a policeman.

He was not responsible for Duan Tiande's goods, but he wanted to get inside information about the Tianliang horse thieves, so he chose to go with him.

Although Duan Tiande is a figure in the world, his influence is also in the Central Plains. He is not familiar with the road to the north. He is escorting tens of thousands of taels of goods. If he wants to reach Fenghuang Ridge safely, he cannot get around the Liangma thieves today.

It was a hurdle, so he invited Fan Xiaodao out of selfish motives.

Fan Xiaodao also knew it, but didn't say anything.

When Duan Tiande saw that Fan Xiaodao refused to sit at the same table, he ordered the waiter to bring another pot of beef. After saying a few polite words, he returned to his table.

This behavior also aroused Duan Yunhong's dissatisfaction, "Dad, if you didn't teach us to be diligent and thrifty, why would you still give food to that guy?"

How could Duan Tiande be willing to explain the reason to her clearly? You can't say that he is a big spy of the imperial court and a powerful figure in the Six Gates. Is your father trying to curry favor with him? He waved his hand and said, "You have to ask so much about food."

what!"

Duan Yunpeng said: "I think Brother Fan is quite a nice person."

When Duan Yunhong heard this, he became even more convinced of his own inference, thinking that the two of them had already decided on his life-long events while chatting just now. He immediately put down his chopsticks and said, "You think it's good, then I'm not interested in marrying you."

!”

Duan Yunpeng asked curiously, "Why don't you marry me?"

Duan Tiande didn't know what her precious daughter was thinking. When he saw her losing her temper, he said angrily: "If you want to eat, eat quickly. If you don't eat, go away. What are you doing here?"

Duan Yunhong sat back and refused to eat.

The more I thought about it, the more aggrieved I became. Then I saw Du Yunru waving to her, and I thought to myself, you guys worked together to sell me out, but I won’t let you succeed, so I forced a smile, stood up, and came to Xu Jianxing’s table. Du Yunru even

When asked what was going on, Duan Yunhong said, "There is a toad that wants to eat swan meat!"

"Where's the toad?"

Duan Yunhong pointed at where Fan Xiaodao was sitting and pursed his lips, "A toad in a cotton-padded jacket!"

Since they were sitting with their backs facing each other, Fan Xiaodao was unaware of these things.

Du Yunru was very dissatisfied when she thought that her attempt to tease Fan Xiaodao failed today and was teased by her companions. Seeing that Duan Yunhong was angry, she said, "I'll help you get rid of this bad temper!"

She picked up a plate of meat and a pot of wine, came to Fan Xiaodao, and said with a smile: "Brother Fan, thank you for your gift of water today. I have brought vegetables and I will treat you to two drinks."

Du Yunru couldn't help but pick up a wine cup and pour a glass of wine.

Fan Xiaodao smiled and said, "I don't drink when I go out."

Du Yunru said: "We are all children of Jianghu. When you say that, do you look down on girls?"

"That's not true."

Du Yunru said: "Then you are afraid that the wine is poisonous?" She picked up the wine glass, drank half a sip, and pushed the half-full glass with her lip marks on it, "You should feel relieved now, right?"

Fan Xiaodao still refused. Xu Jianxing on the side winked, and Lin Jiuri came over and said, "Miss Du invites you to drink because she thinks highly of you. My friend, isn't it a bit unethical for you to do this?"

Fan Xiaodao put the wine glass in front of him and said, "If you don't get drunk, you will get drunk. If you like to drink the remaining wine so much, I will give you this cup."

Lin Jiuri was about to get angry, but was stopped by Du Yunru. She sighed quietly, "Mr. Lin, forget it if Brother Fan doesn't drink. Luohua is ruthless on purpose. You can't force people to do things they don't like." Lin Jiuri said.

But he said, "No, sister, with this tone, my brother will do it for you!" He stared at Fan Xiaodao, "Would you like to drink this wine or not."

Fan Xiaodao still shook his head.

"Don't toast and eat as a penalty."

Fan Xiaodao whispered, "Drinking will kill people!"

Lin Jiuri said, "You mean, this wine is poisonous?"

He took out a silver needle and pierced it into the wine. There was no difference.

Fan Xiaodao shook his head, "No, there are many people here, and there is Tianliang City to the north. Drinking can easily cause trouble, so it's better to be careful!"

Lin Jiuri looked around and said loudly: "I thought you were some kind of hero, but it turns out that you are afraid of the Tianliang horse thieves! What Tianliang horse thieves are, they are just a bunch of rabble. They said it so horribly. It is probably just spreading rumors. If there are really horse thieves who dare to come out and cause trouble.
To be continued...