Before entering the city, Liu Qingfeng and I made simple changes. This time I went north, I had a few high-quality masks in my arms for emergencies, but I thought that there were not many people who knew us anyway, just sticking a little bit. The beard, the sideburns and eyebrows are slightly modified. In this way, we both looked thirty years old, changed into merchant clothes, and hid Lu Long and Chi Xiao on the tea cart.
As one of the three cities bordering Daming in the southern border of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Star City is far more deserted than Yanmen and Liaodong. Although there are many disputes between the two countries, it is an excellent way for business and travel to smuggle. There is a lot of friction between the two cities of Star City. In the middle, there are Chi Castle, Zuo Ning Wei and other stray bandits coveted. Therefore, as the three major border trade cities, Star City is not prominent.
When I came to the city gate, I saw that under the city gate was heavily guarded, a number of vendors, rangers, and ordinary people lined up outside the city, preparing to cross the border. Since the establishment of trade, postal, and navigation between the two countries in the Northern Zhou Dynasty 30 years ago, a number of profit-seeking businessmen went back and forth between the two countries, reselling some popular materials and making huge profits.
Of course, for some knights who travel the world, or students who travel to study, the Shendu City of the Northern Zhou Dynasty is also a must-see.
According to legend, a generation of Confucianism, Shen Junru, drove an ox cart from the Central Plains to give lectures in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, but was crowded out by the Northern Zhou Dynasty. However, Shen Junru was not discouraged. , Breaking away from the sky. This is also the only land immortal in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. For hundreds of years, everyone has looked up, and even Wudi Wuming has sighed.
It’s just that although Shen Junru had a great way, Confucianism did not spread in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. His students escaped and died in the anti-Confucianism movement in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. However, the big locust tree in the city of God became the Central Plains. The holy place that students yearn for, and there is an endless stream of students who go to the capital every year.
A pale-faced soldier who looked malnourished for a long time, holding a brush in his hand, without raising his head, asked, his name
We handed over the road guides prepared earlier, Qin Sanqing and Liu Guanfeng.
gender
Liu Qingfeng said, can't you see clearly
Why are you so much nonsense that you don't answer the next one.
I even said that the official, don't be angry, and even handed over a Chinese, male gender, female lover.
The soldier raised his head and said impatiently, what did I ask you and what did you answer. Where do you come from? Where do you go
I said to come from everywhere and go everywhere.
The soldier patted the table and went out, next!
Liu Qingfeng said that the official, don't be angry, we are merchants in the Central Plains, and we drove a cart of tea to the gods. The soldiers screamed, and according to the old rules, a 30% commission was used as the tariff.
I said, Guan Ye, I'm afraid this is wrong, this 30% is a bit too much? The soldier knocked on the table and sneered, 30% is to give you face, if you are verbose, take 50%.
The sound was a bit loud, someone came in from the curtain in the next room. The man was wearing a Northern Zhou military uniform with a small teapot in his left hand. It is estimated that he should be the little boss here.
Gangsan said that these two people came to Dazhou for business and refused to pay taxes. In my opinion, they might be spies from the Ming Dynasty. I said to my heart that you’re really accurate. He was born in Dengwenyuan, but he is not a spy. But he said, two officials, we are great people. You see, this is an order from Shenducheng to purchase tea from us.
The man picked up the order, glanced at it, and snapped, the little teapot fell to the ground, and he stepped forward and slapped it three times. You don’t have a long-eyed thing, and you dare to stretch out your hand indiscriminately.
Gang San'er covered his face and shouted injustice, boss, I also act according to the rules.
rule? In the Great Zhou Dynasty, King Zuo Xian is the rule! You don't want your life, I want to live two more years. Don't let it go! Gangsan was beaten inexplicably, signed and sealed on the document, we are considered to have passed the customs.
The boss came in front of us and said, in Xingchencheng, general captain Lu Xingzhou, two brothers with the surname Gao
Liu Qingfeng said he was unhappy.
Lu Xingzhou said in embarrassment, I asked the two Gao's names
I gave my name, and Lu Xingzhou was very courteous and insisted on inviting us to dinner, but we refused, and we ate dinner with him in the Star City.
It turned out that after Lu Xingzhou learned that our tea was bought by King Zuo Xian and used to entertain guests at the Ghost Nuo Festival of the Northern Zhou Dynasty at the end of next month, he moved his mind and wanted to get in touch with the King Zuo Xian through the two of us.
During the banquet, Lu Xingzhou tried to compose our words and asked who we are familiar with in Zuo Xian's palace.
Liu Qingfeng said no shame, honestly speaking, I had a fateful friendship with King Zuo Xian's son. The last time the son of Zuo Xian came to the Central Plains, I took him to the heaven and earth to consume.
Lu Xingzhou asked in doubt, Zuo Young Master
How did Liu Qingfeng know the name of Prince Zuo Xian, but his mind turned quickly, saying that this was his alias when he was in the capital, and he was used to it.
Lu Xingzhou was skeptical and even persuaded him to drink.
I sneered in my heart, this Lu Xingzhou was so sophisticated. After learning that we were sending tea to King Zuo Xian, he showed great hospitality and soon called us brothers and sisters. He didn't want to establish a relationship with Zuo Xian's palace through us.
People in the Northern Zhou Dynasty are aggressive and addicted to alcohol. They are more aggressive when they are drunk. There are countless deaths due to drunken fights every year. In addition, the winter in the Northern Zhou Dynasty was cold, and it was not uncommon to get drunk and freeze to death on the roadside. For this reason, the Northern Zhou court banned the production of liquor above 48 degrees.
Lu Xingzhou breathed a sigh of relief after Liu Qingfeng agreed to invite Lord Zuo Xian to come to Star City as a guest. Liu Qingfeng said, Brother Lu, although there is no shortage of money when going north this time, there is still not enough money to deal with Young Master Zuo.
Lu Xingzhou said, the matter of silver is easy to talk about, but I'm afraid you don't want silver. Five thousand taels, have you seen enough? Liu Qingfeng's eyes are round, but he is holding a shelf, five thousand taels, this...
Lu Xingzhou gritted his teeth, ten thousand taels.
Liu Qingfeng said okay, let me try again, do you want to write an IOU for you
Lu Xingzhou said, no need. The two of you are on the road. Names, hometowns, and addresses are all clear. I have many friends in Central Plains, so I think you two won't fall behind.
I thought to myself that this Lu Xingzhou is really on the road, the rivers and lakes are the rules, the money is collected, and the future will not do anything. That is a penalty of three knives and six holes, but I often walk by the river, how can I not wet my shoes and meet Liu Qingfeng, He deserves bad luck.
Drunk and drunk, Lu Xingzhou arranged accommodation.
On the second day, we said goodbye to Lu Xingzhou and prepared to go on the road.
Walking in Xingchen City, the architectural style here is very different from that of Beijing and Xiliang. The houses are mostly dome-shaped roofs, which are quite Byzantine. After a stroll, Liu Qingfeng fell in love with the dried beef in the city. Different from the Central Plains method, four or five catties of beef yields one catty of jerky, which is quite chewy.
Liu Qingfeng took out five thousand taels of silver bills and said that half of the bills would be divided between each meeting. Don't say that I was not interesting enough. I said that this is what you deserve, so I won't take it for myself. No matter what Liu Qingfeng said, keep it safe with me, otherwise someday you will make an impulse consumption and your hard-earned money will be gone. I said that you are fooling people and you are embarrassed to say that it is hard to make money? Liu Qingfeng disdainfully said, this is in exchange for life.
The two made a fortune, and Liu Qingfeng said to celebrate. The two came to a noodle shop and ordered two bowls of spicy noodles, and they discussed things about the north as they ate.
I said, since Yuan Jingang is the royal family of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, it is not difficult to find him in Northern Zhou Dynasty. It's just that the two of us just killed Wanyan, so I don't think he will let us go.
Liu Qingfeng said, I have already inquired with Lu Xingzhou. After Wanyan learned that his son had been killed by us, Thunder was furious and sent more than 30 killers from Northern Zhou Dynasty to the Central Plains to avenge his son. Where did he think that after we slaughtered people, not only did we not hide, but we came to Beizhou swaggeringly, haha!
Although Liu Qingfeng reported the names of Murong Baiyun and Li Boyang at the time, it is estimated that it is not difficult to find out that we are the culprits. I began to regret that I didn't slaughter the Wanyanyan subordinates that day, which caused the current troubles.
The territory of the Northern Zhou Dynasty is long and narrow. From the Star City to the God Capital, it is eight or nine hundred miles northwest, passing several major forces in the middle. Nominally, the Northern Zhou Dynasty is a monarchy empire, but the major cities are controlled by different nobles. . They only need to pay very low taxes every year, and nominally follow the arrangements of Emperor Zhou.
Seven or eight people from the rivers and lakes came to the store, each shouting a bowl of plain noodles, taciturn and not much words, bowed their heads to eat the noodles, look at the dress, hairstyle and weapons, they should be from the rivers and lakes of the Northern Zhou Dynasty.
We had almost eaten. We were about to check out and leave. A couple of men and women came outside the door. The man was in Yushu and was at ease, and the woman was graceful, like a beautiful woman.
Liu Qingfeng's eyes straightened. I said you have a girlfriend, so why are you still looking like a fan. Liu Qingfeng handed over a paper towel, Sanguan, can you wipe the nosebleed first. I said that I have gotten hot after eating spicy food recently.
As soon as the two came, the seven or eight quakers were immediately alert, as if they were approaching an enemy, the person in the lead signaled everyone not to move. I thought about these two people. They looked good in martial arts, but I don't know where they are. Especially this woman, it is estimated that she can compete with Shen Luoyan.
The man said, what does Xie Fairy want to eat
The seven or eight people trembled as soon as the three characters Xie Xiezi came out. I don't know much about the rivers and lakes of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and Xiaosheng rivers and lakes rarely involve the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Apart from occasionally saying that Emperor Wu is unknown, there are very few reports on the rivers and lakes of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. This fairy Xie is estimated to be an extraordinary person in the rivers and lakes of the Northern Zhou Dynasty.
Xie Xianzi looked at the tattered tables in the house and frowned. I have been used to food since I was little. How can I eat in such a humble noodle restaurant? But business matters, boss, three bowls of noodles.
Those seven or eight people paid secretly and were about to leave. Xie Fairy patted the table. Before this girl finished eating, you sat there obediently. Maybe this girl is in a good mood and spare your life.
Three bowls of noodles came, the man was about to get a bowl, Xie Xianzi pushed him, these three bowls are mine, you have to order yourself. With that, he picked up the chopsticks, hula hula ate happily.
The man said, didn’t you say that business matters
Fairy Xie said yes, eating is a matter of business. The others are not worth mentioning, man, two garlics.
Liu Qingfeng laughed when he heard the words, and whispered to me, the rivers and lakes of the Northern Zhou Dynasty are really interesting, and there are even fairies who eat garlic!
I teased, what happened to the fairy eating garlic? Don't you, a hero, also sell skewers shirtlessly. People only have different positions, and there is no distinction between high and low.
Although the voice was very low, the fairy Xie heard it. With a shake of his chopsticks, a piece of noodles shot out from the bowl and attacked Liu Qingfeng's door.