Pingshi City is the only place that must pass between Xinye County and Yiyang County, and there is an endless flow of business travelers.
Since the banditry appeared in Dafu Mountain, they came out to rob the mountain from time to time, which caused a large number of business travelers to gather in Pingshi and Fuyang cities. They would only pass together when enough people had gathered.
In the evening, Yang Anxuan and others came to Pingshi City.
A few miles away from the city, you can see a series of tents with people shouting and horses neighing, just like a market.
To enter the city, you have to pay taxes of two cents per person, two cents for horses, and one cent for cattle. Banditry has made Pingshi City rich.
Pingshi City is even more dilapidated than Jiyang City. After many merchants crowded in, the streets became more and more crowded.
On the street, from time to time, you can see powerful men with swords and swords walking by in a showy manner. They should be the guards of the caravan.
The inn was full, so I finally spent half a tael to rent two courtyards at the Penggui Inn. Food and horse feed were not included, so the price was three times the usual price.
After taking a short rest, Yang Anxuan divided the sixteen people into several teams and went to the streets to eat and find out the news.
Yang Anxuan took Yin Ji and Xu Xiaozhong with him. Xu Xiaozhong was actually from Pinglin County, Yiyang County. The Xinye he fled to last year was Jiyang City, which he passed through Dafu Mountain in Fuyang County and passed Pingshi City.
According to Xu Xiaozhong, there were more than 20 people who fled with him at that time. When they were in Fuyang County, they all dispersed and some people stayed in Fuyang. He and more than a dozen people begged all the way to Jiyang City. At that time, Dafu There were no thieves when we were in the mountains.
Yang Anxuan had read the intelligence and knew that these thieves were gathered by refugees like Xu Xiaozhong when they were fleeing.
Yiyang County's disaster relief was not like Xinye County's, where they just cooked two pots of porridge to show off. The desperate refugees were forced to loot everywhere, and the government was incompetent, leading to a big situation.
After tasting the benefits, this group of refugees elected leader Zhang Huahua from Huyang, and established themselves in the Dafu Mountain area. They attacked farms and robbed merchants and travelers, shaking several counties and attracting hungry refugees to join them.
The restaurant's business is booming, the lobby is full, noisy and smelly.
Yin Ji frowned and started to go up to the second floor, but Yang Anxuan held him back.
Yang Anxuan whispered: "Brother Yin, if you want to inquire about news, you have to find a place where people talk nonsense."
Yin Ji blushed and silently followed Yang Anxuan towards the corner. There was a table of guests who had just stood up and left, and the dishes on the table were in a mess.
The waiter came over to clean up quickly, and a few people ordered drinks and food while waiting, but their ears were attentive to the chatter and laughter around them.
Yang Anxuan's ears are so sensitive that he can distinguish useful information even in noisy environments.
"...The Yangzhou caravan recruits people to cross Dafu Mountain and pay them a hundred coins a day."
"It's only a hundred dollars. I heard that there is a business group in Yan State that offers one hundred and twenty dollars a day. I'm going to give it a try tomorrow."
"... Ever since this group of thieves came to Dafu Mountain, our business has been out of business. If this continues, my shop will be closed if there is no supply of goods."
"Oh, it's such a pain for us small businessmen. The government only knows how to collect money, but it doesn't know how to send troops to suppress these thieves."
"I heard from my cousin that Governor Zhu asked Yongzhou Prefecture for help, and I heard that a large army will come to conquer them soon."
This news was like a stone hitting water, and everyone asked the person who made the news. The person was unclear, and it was obviously just hearsay.
Yang Anxuan had an idea and said loudly: "When Chen came from Jiyang, he saw more than a thousand troops coming east. Could it be that the imperial court sent a large force to suppress the Qing Dynasty?"
"Hey, little brother, when did you see it?"
"Two days ago, outside Jiyang City." Yang Anxuan responded.
"Ji Yang, that must be the Yang family army. I heard that General Yang, the governor of Xinye, killed all the soldiers when he was guarding Luoyang. If he personally led the troops, those thieves would be dead."
"Hey, you are dreaming. General Yang is the prefect, so how can he personally lead the troops to suppress the bandits? Besides, can Xinye's troops and horses compare with Luoyang's troops and horses? They may be the same as our Yiyang's troops and horses. On the contrary, He was killed to pieces by thieves."
In the chaotic discussion, someone said: "I heard that Xinye County recruited soldiers years ago. If I hadn't allowed me to leave, I might be a soldier from Xinye County now."
"Yes, when I arrived in Jiyang in February, I heard that more than 800 people were recruited and divided into two teams for training. Do you think these recruits will be the ones who come to clean up this time?"
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. There was a mixture of fish and dragons in the lobby. Yang Anxuan threw the stone, causing waves that spread quickly throughout Pingshi City.
At noon the next day, the news that Xinye County sent troops to suppress the bandits was confirmed. A business brigade encountered soldiers stationed in Tanghe County.
There is an undercurrent of turmoil in Pingshi City, and a storm is coming.
Yang Anxuan took Yin Ji and Xu Xiaozhong to Fenghe Grain Store in the east of the city. Fenghe Grain Store was the largest grain store in Pingshi City.
When the Qing Dynasty army arrived, the thieves would definitely hide in the mountains. Yang Anxuan guessed that the thieves might come and prepare food in advance.
There was a long motorcade parked in front of the Fenghe Grain Store, and the men were loading the grain onto the bullock carts.
Yin Ji's eyes lit up and he chuckled: "Most likely, Third Young Master guessed it."
It was agreed beforehand that Yang Anxuan was the third young master of his employer, and he was going out to buy medicinal materials. Yin Ji was to accompany him personally, and Xu Xiaozhong and others were to be his bodyguards.
After putting on a show, Yang Anxuan asked Chen Hua to take someone to purchase some medicinal materials for healing wounds. First, to prevent interested people from visiting, and second, to start a war immediately in case of emergency.
"Hey", Xu Xiaozhong on the side exclaimed.
Yang Anxuan followed his gaze and saw a man in brocade robes talking to the person dressed as the shopkeeper in front of the store, with an arrogant expression.
"Acquaintance?" Yang Anxuan asked, a little surprised that Xu Xiaozhong had such a wealthy acquaintance.
Xu Xiaozhong hesitated for a moment and said: "Third Young Master, this is a fellow villager of mine. Their surname is Tian and their name is Dahe. We came out of the village together and separated in Fuyang City."
The companions who fled together became so wealthy in less than half a year. Thinking of the purpose of this trip, Yang Anxuan smiled clearly.
Xu Xiaozhong was a head above the crowd. Tian Dahe glanced at Xu Xiaozhong across the street. He was slightly startled, whispered a few words to the shopkeeper, and walked towards Xu Xiaozhong.
When he saw that it was Xu Xiaozhong, a smile appeared on Tian Dahe's face and he said loudly: "Gou Sheng, you are really a kid, I thought I saw it wrong.
Xu Xiaozhong looked at Yang Anxuan nervously, and Yang Anxuan said softly: "Don't panic, act according to the opportunity."
Tian Dahe noticed Xu Xiaozhong's gaze, stopped and asked, "Gou Sheng, who are these two?"
"Brother Dahe, you are the boss of the servant." Xu Xiaozhong returned to normal and responded with a smile: "Brother Dahe, I didn't expect to meet you here. It seems that I am doing well."
Tian Dahe tugged on the brocade clothes on his body, looked at the Ge robe on Xu Xiaozhong, and said proudly: "It's not bad. I asked you to follow me, but you refused, otherwise you would be able to wear this."
The corners of Xu Xiaozhong's mouth twitched and he remained silent.
More than twenty people came out of the village, both old and young. When they arrived in Fuyang, Tian Dahe pulled the young man to leave. If he followed, those old people and children would starve to death.
Tian Dahe looked at Yang Anxuan carefully and saw that Yang Anxuan was luxuriously dressed and wearing beautiful jade around his waist. A trace of greed flashed in his eyes and he turned his head to cover it up.
"Gou Sheng, what are you doing here at Pingshi? Are the young and old men in the village okay? Why don't you come to Fuyang City to find me?" Tian Dahe rolled his eyes and said, "I opened a rice shop in Fuyang City. If you come to me, I will take you to a brothel (1) to have sex."
I opened a rice shop in Fuyang City and went to Pingshi City to buy grain. This guy was so easy to tell lies.
Yang Anxuan cursed secretly, pretending to be impatient and urged: "Don't waste time, return to Jiyang as soon as possible after purchasing the goods, don't let anything happen in the chaos of war."
Tian Dahe said with a smile: "Master, I have a few more words for Gou Sheng. Why don't you go ahead and ask Gou Sheng to find you later?"
Yang Anxuan said with a straight face: "Okay, it won't take too long. I'm still waiting for you to load the car. Find me at the medicinal material store later."
After Yang Anxuan left with Yin Ji, Tian Dahe said: "Gou Sheng, this is your boss. Looking at him like a dog makes people angry."
Xu Xiaozhong said: "Brother Dahe, if my boss hadn't taken me in, my servant would have starved to death. Although the third young master has a bad temper, he is a good person."
Tian Dahe rolled his eyes and said: "Gou Sheng, you are from Jiyang. What news is there from Jiyang? Where are the other people in the village? Are they also in Jiyang?"
Xu Xiaozhong said with a sad expression: "Uncle Ma, Aunt Lin and Xiao Hua'er are dead. The others are in Jiyang."
Tian Dahe sighed falsely and said, "I heard that Jiyang City sent troops to suppress the bandits."
"No, Niu Egg was drinking with his servant before setting off."
"Niu Egg, Wang Niu Egg? This boy has gone to serve as a soldier. He was recruited by Xinye County? Why didn't you go?" Tian Dahe asked.
Xu Xiaozhong scratched his head and smiled honestly: "The recruiter said that the servants are as thin as bamboo poles and can be blown over by the wind, so I don't want to be servants."
Tian Dahe looked at Xu Xiaozhong and said, "I see that you have become a lot stronger. It seems that you are doing well during this period."
"It's not bad. My boss is a kind-hearted person who takes care of himself." Xu Xiaozhong said with a smile.
Tian Dahe asked a few questions casually, and then said: "Do you often interact with Niu Zao? This time Niu Zao, a soldier sent by Jiyang, also came. He only had food for a few days and sent him to fight. Isn't he going to die?"
"I heard from Niu Dan that the people who came this time were all new soldiers. It was said that Governor Yang sent his two sons to lead the troops to perform meritorious service." Xu Xiaozhong continued to be honest.
After asking for a stick of incense, Xu Xiaozhong said: "Brother Dahe, we can't talk anymore. It's late and the third young master will lose his temper and curse."
Tian Dahe smiled and said: "Gou Sheng, I will leave for Fuyang tomorrow. Where will you stay? I'll meet you for a drink tonight."
"Penggui Inn. By the way, the host's servant has been renamed Xu Xiaozhong. Don't give the wrong name when you are looking for the servant."
Tian Dahe stood on the street and watched Xu Xiaozhong leave. He pondered for a moment and called someone from the team. After whispering instructions for a while, the person nodded and left.
The oxcarts were loaded with rice, and then they went to the grocery store to buy smoked preserved fruits and dried fish. Ten oxcarts rolled out of the east gate and parked at the camp outside the city.
Tian Dahe ordered someone to unload the truck and hurriedly walked into the tent in the middle, where several men were sitting around drinking.
Seeing Tian Dahe come in, the bald leader smiled and said: "Lao Wu, you are back, come here and have a drink."
Tian Dahe sat cross-legged next to the bald head, took the bowl handed to him by the bald head, and drank it all in one gulp. The bald man asked: "What news did you hear? How much corn did you buy?"
"I bought eight hundred stones of corn, as well as some bacon and dried fish." Tian Dahe said: "Brother, I heard that Jiyang City has indeed sent troops."
Seeing the change in everyone's expressions, Tian Dahe smiled and said, "But the ones sent by Jiyang City are the newly recruited soldiers. Damn Yang Quanqi sent his two sons to lead the troops, hoping to gain credit."
Baldhead said: "Where did the news come from? Please tell me carefully."
"Today I met an acquaintance in the city. The boy came from the same village as me and escaped together..."
Tian Dahe repeated what he heard from Xu Xiaozhong, and then said: "I asked someone to go to Pengui Inn to inquire about it. The shopkeeper said that a group of drug dealers from Jiyang lived in the inn. Looking around in the courtyard, there are indeed medicinal materials piled up, and there are people drying them in the courtyard."
The bald man rubbed his bald head with his hand and pondered for a moment before saying, "Lao Wu, please invite that man out tonight. I want to ask him again."
