Chengdu is the heart of Xichuan, and Chengdu Fucheng is the first city in Xichuan. This ancient city has never lost its vitality, and as the commercial center of Xichuan, merchants traveling from south to north come and go in Chengdu Fucheng every day.
Xichuan is rich in products, and a large number of merchants will purchase goods from Xichuan and transport them to the east, and also bring a wide variety of goods from other places. It is precisely because of such business exchanges that Chengdu has maintained prosperity after Xichuan was included in the imperial territory.
In addition to the caravans coming in and out every day, there are also the escort teams coming and going.
The prosperity of commerce has destined the prosperity of Xichuan Escort Agency. There are no fewer than dozens of famous escort agencies in Chengdu Prefecture. Even Changping Escort Agency, one of the three major escort agencies in the capital, has a branch in Chengdu Prefecture.
However, no matter how large the caravans are, the city gates of Chengdu must be closed when it is garrison time, and they can only stay outside the city even for a short while at night.
Each gate of Chengdu City is guarded in turn by the guards directly under the governor's office. The tooth general in charge of the south gate is called Yang Lin. He is over forty years old and is steady and unsmiling on weekdays. However, everyone under his command knows that this tooth general is. Those who have actually killed people on the battlefield are in awe of him.
Yang Lin seldom talked to others and was introverted. No one could figure out his thoughts, but no one under his command dared to disobey his orders.
At Hai hour, although there were still laughter and laughter in many music halls in the city, there was already a dead silence at the city gate. Eight gatekeepers on night duty guarded the south gate. Yang Lin was extremely strict with his subordinates. When on duty, even if Even if a fire breaks out at home, you have to stay at your post conscientiously. As a soldier directly under the governor's office, every soldier among them is carefully selected. Not only is he brave and good at fighting, but he also abides by military discipline.
Yang Lin was sitting on a chair behind the city gate. Although it was already dark, he was still in good spirits and his eyes were alert. There was a small table beside him with a bag of fried peanuts on it. Every time he He reached over, pinched a peanut with two fingers, and then pinched the peanut shell skillfully. The two peanuts rolled into the palm of his hand. As soon as his hand was released, the peanut shell fell on the table, and then he raised his hand and put the peanut into his mouth.
Everyone under his command knew that this was General Yang Ya's hobby. There were very few people in the army who did not drink alcohol, but General Yang Ya was one of them. It seemed that peanuts were more attractive to General Yang Ya than wine.
Winter is about to enter, and the late night in Xichuan is already quite cold. The officers and soldiers guarding the gate have already put on their autumn clothes. As a general under the direct control of the governor's office, in terms of weapons, equipment and treatment, he is certainly the most popular among all the troops in Xichuan. Okay, autumn clothes are warm enough to keep out the chill of the night.
"Jiang Ya, there is a team approaching from outside the city." Someone from the top of the city shouted down, "Light the torch, there are quite a few people."
Yang Ya will crush the peanuts in his hand, wait until he puts the peanuts into his mouth, then slowly stand up, adjust his armor, go to the wall ladder and go up to the top of the city, approach the battlements, and look down the city. Guo saw a team approaching the edge of the city.
There was still a short distance away from the city gate, and the team stopped. However, the soldiers at the top of the city could see clearly that there were about seven or eight carriages pulling goods, and there were escort flags at the head, but they were an escort team. There are about twenty people in the team, which is not a small number for a bodyguard team.
"Jiang Ya, the flag looks like it's the Yiwei Escort Agency." A soldier said.
Yang Yajiang nodded and shouted down: "Is this the Yiwei Escort Agency?"
"Is it General Yang Ya?" Someone in front of the team smiled and said, "It's Lu Yi. Is it General Yang Ya who is on duty tonight?"
Yang Yajiang coughed and said: "Mr. Lu, escort chief, I heard that lately the escorts are all about letting your disciples go out. Why do you need to personally escort them this time?"
"To be honest, General Yang Ya, this escort was ordered by a nobleman from the capital. I was worried that something might go wrong, so I went there myself." Mr. Lu, the escort leader, seemed to be quite familiar with the officers and soldiers guarding the city: "Hurry up. If you hurry up, you'll still be late."
General Yang Ya said: "Where the regulations are, there is nothing we can do. Mr. Lu's escort team can only stay outside the city for one night and enter the city early tomorrow morning."
"General Yang Ya, this escort trip has been very hard, and the weather is getting colder and colder. Everyone is exhausted." Mr. Lu, the escort leader, smiled bitterly and said: "I know the rules, but I want to use this old face this time, please. General Ya will be accommodating and let us go home early."
Yang Lin frowned and said, "You are also from Chengdu. You know the rules here. How can you make an exception?"
"General Yang Ya, let me tell you the truth, this batch of goods was sent by Mr. Dou, the Minister of Household Affairs in the capital. I don't dare to delay it." Mr. Lu cupped his hands and said, "For Mr. Dou's sake, please ask General Yang Ya to be accommodating. .”
"Master Dou?" Yang Lin was a little surprised, and the soldier beside him whispered: "General Ya, Master Dou is a high official in the court. If you really offend him, then...!"
Yang Lin snorted coldly, pondered for a moment, and then said: "What kind of goods are they?"
"General Ya can send someone to check." Mr. Lu said.
Yang Lin said: "Come two people and follow me down."
Immediately, the two soldiers followed Yang Lin down to the top of the city, opened the small door on the side, and exited the city. Lu Yi had already stepped forward and cupped his hands and said, "Good work, good work!"
Yang Lin didn't waste any time and walked to the side of the convoy. When he got to the third car, he ordered the bodyguard to lift the rain cover covering it. There were three large boxes underneath. Yang Lin ordered to open one of the boxes and bring it to him. A soldier next to him winked. The soldier stepped forward, stretched out his hand to search inside, and then turned around and said, "Jiang Ya, there are some leathers inside."
"fur?"
Mr. Lu smiled slightly and leaned closer to Yang Lin and whispered: "Jiang Ya, Mr. Dou is quite wealthy and has several shops in Chengdu. It's just that he doesn't want others to know too much, so he hired a bodyguard to escort these people." The goods came here to be sold here, so please don’t publicize this matter."
"Oh?" Yang Lin scanned several other cars: "Are they all leather goods that you want to sell?"
"There are some calligraphy and paintings." Mr. Lu said, "General, do you want to check the teeth one by one?"
Yang Lin thought for a moment and then said: "After entering the city, don't alert anyone, just go back secretly."
Mr. Lu said hurriedly: "Thank you, General Ya, for your accommodation." He took a bag and stuffed it into Yang Lin's arms: "General Ya, please give these to the brothers to drink and eat." This bag contained a lot of silver, and Yang Lin He casually threw it to the soldiers on the side and ordered: "Each of the brothers on duty at night will distribute one portion and ask everyone to keep quiet. After all, this is Lord Dou's goods. We can't block Lord Dou's things."
The soldier hurriedly said: "Yes!" He thought that Master Dou was a high official in the court, and there were only a few officers and soldiers guarding the city. If Master Dou got angry, he could crush these people to death with the click of his fingers. Yang Ya would There is no way to do this.
Immediately after opening the city gate, General Yang Ya released the convoy into the city and immediately closed the city gate. The bag of silver was also distributed to the soldiers.
After Mr. Lu led the convoy into the city, he immediately dispersed the convoy. Six carriages with more than 20 people were divided into four groups. The escort flags were also put away. When the other teams left, Mr. Lu led the four teams. The five people turned onto a secluded road.
There are many escort agencies and restaurants in Chengdu.
Chengdu people love to eat and know how to eat, so restaurants are almost everywhere, ranging from food stalls with two or three low tables to large restaurants with three or four stories high and luxurious decorations.
Shuijing Street is one of the many streets in Chengdu. This street is not too lively, but Xiqingfang on this street is one of the best restaurants in the city. Not only does the four-story main building have magnificent cornices, but also the front courtyard The area where the backyard stands is extremely open.
It's just that Xiqing Tower has been closed since yesterday, and it was announced that it will be renovated, so there have been no customers in the past two days.
It was dark at night. Mr. Lu led two carriages to the back door of Xiqing Tower. He knocked on the door three times. Soon someone opened the door. Mr. Lu entered the courtyard and came face to face with a long-robed scribe. It was Mr. Huang, an aide to Shu King Li Hongxin.
Mr. Lu bowed his hands to Mr. Huang and whispered: "Sir, all six carriages have entered the city. They are protected by Yang Lin. Everything is fine."
Mr. Huang turned around and said in a deep voice: "Move the things in the car in." Immediately, more than ten people appeared from the darkness and went out to move boxes. Mr. Lu said again: "The other three groups are heading here. If we gather together, we will all arrive within half an hour."
Mr. Huang said: "You have made the first contribution. After the achievement is completed, the prince will definitely reward you heavily."
"Our Lu family has been favored by the prince for many years, and we have always thought that one day we can repay the favor. Being able to serve the prince this time is a long-cherished wish in this life. Even if we die, we will not give up." Lu Yi said solemnly: "This time I have made the escort agency brave and loyal. All the bodyguards have been transferred here, sir, if you have any errands, we will not frown even if we go up to the mountain of swords or to the sea of fire."
Mr. Huang took Lu Yi's arm and said, "Come with me."
There were not a few lights in Xiqingfang, so it looked very dim. Lu Yi followed Mr. Huang and walked forward, only to find people moving around the houses in the yard. It was obvious that there were many people hiding inside.
Entering a room, he only saw about ten people in the room. After Lu Yi entered the room, everyone looked over. Lu Yi knew that these were the confidants of the King of Shu, so he bowed to everyone and saluted. Seeing a lone lamp placed on the table, a black-armored general stood beside the table, looked at Lu Yi, and said with a smile: "Mr. Lu, we have been waiting for you for a long time."
Lu Yi hurriedly stepped forward and said: "General Dai, fortunately you have lived up to your command!"
The black-armored general was Dai Ling under Li Hongxin's command. He nodded slightly, and then said to the people around him: "Everyone, the so-called raising an army for a thousand days is spent in one moment. Your Majesty is like a reborn parent to us. Without you, we would not be able to survive." He couldn't live like this now. In order to protect the soldiers and civilians in Chengdu, the prince submitted a surrender form to the Chu State. The Chu State kept saying that bygones were bygones, but this time they sent a man named Qi here to ask the prince to come to Beijing. , you all know their purpose in letting the prince come to Beijing."
Everyone's eyes were filled with evil, and one person sneered: "I have been holding it in for so many years. Every day I think about cutting off Wei Shutong's bastard's head with a knife. The Chu State has been suppressing us for more than 20 years. This time we I can finally let go of the tightness in my chest.”