In the kitchen, there is a large iron pot, cooking ingredients.
The fragrance comes from inside.
Wang Mazi chuckled, knowing in his heart, "The guest officer is at the toll booth ahead, so he didn't stop to rest and eat, right?"
"How do you know?" The owner of the caravan was a little wary, afraid of being targeted.
The goods they transported were of great value, but they dared not overdo them.
Wang Mazi settled the person in front of the dining table, "Because the guest officer didn't know what the scent was coming out of, I guessed it tentatively, and I guessed right. The scent that the guest officer smelled came from the special product of our rest station, braised meat. Along the way Every rest stop has this dish. If the guest officer had eaten at the rest stop in front, he would naturally not be curious about the aroma."
I see!
The owner of the caravan breathed a sigh of relief, luckily he was not targeted.
"Guest, would you like some stewed meat? There are stewed pigs, stewed pig's head, pig's tail, pig's ears, pig's liver, pig's lungs, stewed duck and stewed chicken, etc..."
Listening to Wang Mazi's report of the name of the dish, the caravan guys who had been tired all day and had been frozen for another day all started to salivate.
The owner of the caravan was not much better, but he was reserved and not obvious enough.
According to Wang Mazi's introduction, each table has a lo mei platter, some stir-fried vegetables, and sweet potato rice.
Winter melon ribs soup is free, you can drink it as you like. But there is only winter melon in the soup, no ribs. If it wasn't for the taste of pork ribs, everyone would have doubted whether it was winter melon vegetable soup or winter melon ribs soup.
The steaming food was served on the table, with an extra serving of lo mei.
The owner of the caravan picked up a piece of pig ear, hey, it tastes really good.
I ate another piece of stewed sausage. I didn't expect that pig offal could be eaten like this. It didn't have any fishy smell, but it smelled like spices.
The owner of the caravan was very satisfied with this stewed meat platter, so he simply ordered two more pots, and also served meat to the guys. Everyone eats and drinks enough, and they will work harder tomorrow.
While the owner of the caravan was eating, another huge caravan came from the direction of the capital on the cement road outside.
There are forty or fifty mules, horses and donkeys pulling the carts. There are twenty or thirty trucks carrying goods.
The owner of the caravan beckoned to Wang Mazi, "Over there in the capital, is the Wei River frozen?"
"I've never heard of it. According to the situation in previous years, we can still sail for half a month."
The owner of the caravan pointed to the big caravan coming from the direction of the capital, "Why don't they take the Weishui River, but go by land instead? Wouldn't it be a waste of time?"
Wang Mazi glanced outside, and suddenly laughed, "I know this caravan, and they run on this road every month. They are going to Luozhou. Now our cement road is more convenient than water transportation. And it costs less.
You also know that there are many checkpoints along the waterway, and a sum of money is charged for each checkpoint, and a delay is half a day. It's better to take our cement road. Although there are many toll stations, they are cheap. Moreover, it is convenient to eat and live, and there is no delay, and you can leave after paying the toll. "
I see!
When the owner of the caravan was originally in Luozhou, he also thought about shipping by water
But he was afraid that the Wei River would freeze and delay time on the way, so he changed to the cement road.
Who would have thought that today's cement road is more convenient and cost-effective than water transportation.
The owner of the caravan secretly rejoiced that he chose to walk in the cement.
Li Dashan took several toll collectors to count the number of mules, horses and vehicles.
The car was full of goods and covered with tarpaulin.
Li Dashan lifted the oilcloth and inspected it casually. Looking at the seal on the wooden box, he recognized at a glance that it was the cashmere clothes and trousers produced by the Sihai Textile Workshop in Beijing.
A set of cashmere underwear, extremely warm, the price is also very touching.
I heard from the station master that even if it is the internal price of the employees, it costs ten taels of silver a set. If you buy it outside, you will get twenty or thirty taels.
He also heard that cashmere is an extremely rare item.
A sheep only has a few ounces of cashmere all over its body.
A set of cashmere trousers requires several catties of cashmere, so how many sheep must be killed to weave a set of cashmere trousers. No wonder it's so expensive.
And he also heard that only during the period from winter to spring, the sheep will have cashmere.
Li Dashan looked at the carloads of goods and felt the strength of the caravan, and then he decided to register honestly.
Give the receipt to the steward and ask them to pay the toll by themselves.
This caravan coming from the direction of the capital had to drive overnight without stopping for meals and rest.
Hearing this, Li Dashan roared, "Come here, lift the fence."
Ding ding dong dong...
The sound of chains sounded.
Several prisoners wearing anklets came out from behind the toll booth, walking heavily. Go to the concrete road and lift the heavy wooden fence to let the caravan pass.
The owner of the caravan, who was eating under the window, was taken aback when he saw the people with chains on their feet.
"Who are they? You..."
Wang Mazi guessed what the other party was thinking, and hurriedly said: "Guest officer, please don't get me wrong. Those few people are all criminals, bandits and road tyrants, who do all kinds of evil. It is a waste of food for the county government to lock them up. Our station master will discuss with the county government. Asking the county government to send the prisoners over for labor reform will not only save food for the county government, but also deter those bandit road tyrants who have not been caught."
The owner of the caravan breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the words, "This is a good idea. Bandits and road tyrants are not good things, and they should be reformed."
These merchants are well aware of the dangers of bandits and road tyrants. I fully agree with the actions of the local county government and toll stations.
In recent years, natural disasters have been frequent, and many places have suffered disasters.
Ever since, in the mountains and forests along the official road, there are lumps here and pinches there. You occupy a hill, and I occupy a valley. In just a few years, many bandits emerged.
Some of these bandits really couldn't survive anymore, so they could only go up the mountain and fall into the grass as bandits.
Some people are really lazy, sneaking around on weekdays, and the world is difficult, so it is better to go up the mountain and fall into the grass as a bandit, eat delicious food and drink hot food.
There are also some people who have desires in their hearts just around the corner, but suffer from no chance of promotion. Don't do anything, just go up the mountain. He hoped that one day he would kill officials and rebel, be recruited by the court, and embark on his official career in another way.
This group of people with different ideas gathered together to rob the passing business travelers along the way, endangering one side.
A typical bandit road tyrant, harming local people's livelihood and economy.
In the past, business travelers suffered a lot from it, but there was nothing they could do.
As a result, in recent years, many merchants have changed their careers.
He couldn't save his life, so how could he dare to travel north and south to do business.
How can this work!
Without passing business trips, how can toll booths and rest stops make money and support people
So at the beginning of the establishment of the toll station, the first escort team was established to suppress bandits.
In order to make this trade route unimpeded, the bandits and road tyrants along the way must be eradicated.
Sihai Road and Bridge Trading Company, in addition to organizing escorts, also issued a reward notice.
Wang Mazi pointed to the reward notice posted on the wall, "Guest officer, please take a look, five taels of silver for killing a bandit Luba, and ten taels of silver for capturing a living bandit Luba. Our boss pays. , can be active now. Just to earn this reward."
Just as he was talking, he saw several county government officials coming, escorting four prisoners wearing shackles and chains.
"Boss Niu, I sent someone here for you. Take it away." The yamen servant shouted at the top of his voice.
It was cold outside, so I simply entered the rest stop. The rest station with floor heating is very warm.
Several prisoners, wearing thin clothes, stood in the cold wind, shivering.
Boss Niu came out of the toll booth gritting his teeth.
He greeted the yamen servant first, and then stepped forward to check the teeth of several prisoners.
"Hey, I said the person you sent is not right. This little boy, could it be the bandit road tyrant?"
"Don't believe me, Boss Niu, this is his military advisor."
"Fart strategist. I can kill him with one fist."
"That's right! Boss Niu, this!" The yamen servant gestured with his thumbs.
"Boss Niu retired from the Sirius Army, so of course it's different."
Sirius Army
The owner of the caravan was surprised when he heard this.
That rude toll station manager turned out to be retired from the Sirius Army. No wonder he was fierce.
Boss Niu chuckled and kicked the yamen servant, "A hero doesn't mention his bravery. Come, call my family."
Niu Boss's family member, Mr. Niu, has cross-eyed, unattractive looks, looks fifty or sixty, but is actually only in his forties.
I have worked in the bandit business for nearly twenty years, and I have become a military adviser since I was a pawn. I have a few brushes.
It's a pity that the luck was bad. As soon as Boss Niu came, he took the lead in annihilating the bandits where Mr. Niu was. He became a coolie at the toll booth and was undergoing labor reform.
"My family came to recognize people. The few people sent by the county government are said to be bandits. Do you know them?"
"It must be bandits." The yamen servant emphasized from the side.
Ten taels of silver per person, this is not a bandit, this is clearly white money.
Mr. Niu didn't talk nonsense, he played oral sex directly, and talked about bandit slang.
After a short while, several people's backgrounds were pulled out.
Mr. Niu pointed at the little boy and the other two, "These three are the gangsters from Niutoushan. They have been in the industry for at least three years. I have seen this little boy once. As for this big man, he is a porter, not a bandit. I don't know." How did you get caught as a charge?"
"Okay, bastard, play tricks and catch porters to make up for it. Is it really easy to get money from our boss? If I fail the assessment at the end of the year, I will take your skin off."
Boss Niu rolled up his sleeves and waved his arms like iron bumps at the yamen servants.
The yamen servants scattered in all directions, with panic and uneasiness on their faces.
"Boss Niu calm down, we really don't know. It was all sentenced by the county captain. This is the file. Please read it, Mr. Niu."
Boss Niu sneered, "I don't look at this, I only know that you are playing tricks to cheat money, which is not a good thing. Do you know the consequences of cheating money.
Last month, at the Jiulipu toll booth, there were also government servants who arrested people for cheating rewards. Guess what happened? The last government servant was reformed through labor at the Jiulipu Toll Station for three years, and I can still see him now. The county lieutenant was directly kicked out.
How dare you dare, do you also want to come to Lao Tzu for labor reform? It just so happens that I am digging mountains and ponds here, and I am short of coolies. "
"No, no, Boss Niu misunderstood. Maybe the county captain made a mistake. Let's go back and fix it."
"Really made a mistake? Didn't I admit the wrong person?"
"We made a mistake."
"These four prisoners stay here, go away. After the matter is cleared up, come here with the case files and get the bills to collect the money."
"Yes, yes, boss Niu, you have the final say."
A few yamen servants ran away like shit.