This magnificent building has three floors. On the first floor there are restaurants, tea rooms, and rooms that are crowded and narrow, like pigeon cages.
These pigeon cages are large bungalows from door to wall, with a small window on the wall. Typically, you take off your shoes and get on the kang when you enter the door. The shipping fee is cheap, and most of the people living in these pigeon cages are boat workers and poor people.
With an official position like Han Changmu's, he would naturally not live in Datongpu, so he would skip the first floor and go to the second floor.
The rooms on the second floor are slightly larger, the windows are also slightly larger, and the view is much wider than on the first floor. There are two beds in each room, and there is a pot of blooming begonias under the window.
This was the standard configuration for business trips in my previous life, a standard double room.
Yao Yao nodded. This time he was on a business trip, so he probably stayed on the second floor.
The long beard of the shopkeeper of the building was fluttering in the river breeze. He had been the shopkeeper on the boat for ten years and had good eyesight, but for the first time he saw a poor man in white who could afford to live on the third floor.
He led the two of them directly to the third floor. He leaned forward and said in a respectful manner: "The guest rooms of the two distinguished guests are on the third floor. I will lead the guests up to have a look."
Han Changmu nodded and said nothing.
Yao Yao was a little excited. The third floor was a luxury cabin.
The boat fare on the third floor is sky-high, but it’s expensive for a reason. It is indeed the place with the best view on the entire ship. The room is spacious and gorgeously decorated. The large hut is pressed against the wall. It can accommodate three or five people sleeping horizontally without being crowded. .
Their room is at the end of the corridor, and the two rooms are right next to each other, making it easy for them to communicate with each other.
Han Changmu is dressed as an ordinary gentleman in white clothes. At first glance, it seems that he does not come from a wealthy family. Apart from being good-looking, he has no other benefits.
Both of them were mediocre and had no aura of wealth, but if they could afford the boat fee for the third floor, their backgrounds must be unusual.
This large ship was run by the Zhou family, a wealthy businessman from Yangzhou. The shopkeeper was nearly fifty years old and had sharp eyesight. Although he did not go out of his way to please the two of them enthusiastically, he did not show any contempt for them. He led the two of them in an orderly manner. When they went to their respective rooms, they carefully introduced the layout and structure of the building and the things that needed to be paid attention to. They asked the waiter to bring hot water to their room and then left.
I originally thought that the room on the building must be wet and damp, but unexpectedly when I opened the door, there was no moisture, but it was extremely refreshing.
The incense was burned in the room, and the incense was carried into the city on horseback. The nobles spent a lot of money to buy it. They didn't expect that this building and the ship would be so wealthy.
Yao Yao is a person who has never seen the world. Such wealth has blinded her eyes for a long time. Her eyesight is not strong enough. She leans on the railing on the third floor platform and overlooks the distance. The sky is long and the water is wide. It really eliminates the depression of a long business trip.
Han Changmu came from a noble family and was not surprised by this magnificent building. His expression did not change at all. He just leaned on the stairs and silently looked at everything in front of him.
Suddenly there was a commotion downstairs. Yao Yao hurriedly leaned forward to look and saw dozens of people boarding the boat, all of them tall and sturdy men.
Han Changmu raised his eyebrows slightly, his cold face that had remained unchanged for thousands of years finally showed some expression, and he stared at the dozens of boxes carried by the group of people up the stairs.
Yao Yao caught the change in Han Changmu, and it turned out that he came for these people. No wonder he did not go directly to Yumen Pass from Chang'an City, but instead went around Yangzhou and boarded the ship from Guazhou Ferry.
She smiled like an inexperienced little maid, walked quickly to the stairs, saluted Han Changmu and said, "Sir, it's noisy here, so you'd better go to the room first."
Han Changmu pursed his lips and said nothing, then entered the room with his hands behind his back.
Yao Yao smiled, followed the group, watched them stuff the big box into the room, and wrinkled his nose slightly.
Yao Yao was dressed like a maid, smiling as if she was ignorant of the world, harmless to humans and animals. She let her look at this group of people without stopping them or raising any suspicion.
The group of people were tall and strong, and they walked as if there was an earthquake. The floor was shaking with loud bangs, and they struggled for half an hour before finally calming down.
Yao Yao waved her hands, and they stomped up the dust in the corridor. It was very choking. She frowned and pushed the door in. She saw Han Changmu leaning on Xiaohu's bed, pouring himself a drink. She didn't see anyone outside. Pour yourself a cup of tea.
Han Changmu looked calm: "How did you know to stay and watch them?"
Yao Yao restrained himself from looking at Han Changmu's long legs hanging on the edge of Hu's bed, and pursed his lips: "Your expression has changed."
"..." Han Changmu twitched the corner of his mouth: "It's that simple."
Yao Yao smiled, otherwise, going all the way from Chang'an City to Guazhou Ferry, riding a boat instead of riding a horse, and staying in a luxury cabin, even if it is a business trip with public funds, it cannot be such a waste.
This much money is enough to buy a lot of rouge and gouache for the saint's beloved concubine. It's such a waste for no reason. If the saint knows it, why don't you scold her?
Han Changmu breathed a sigh of relief. He accepted Yao Yao's statement and said calmly: "Then tell me what you saw."
Yao Yao held the cup and thought for a moment: "There are twenty-one of them, and two people can carry it, so there are ten boxes in total. The box is not big, and it is not very heavy. The long pole that lifts the box is not deformed, and the outside of the box is painted Tung oil, wax is sealed in the gap, the copper lock is a mother-and-son lock, and the lock is stamped with fire paint and wax. It is a sealing method commonly used by escort agencies that travel by water. The lower body of these people is very stable, and their arms, legs and feet are better than those of ordinary martial arts practitioners. People are much stronger, they are all hard skills practiced horizontally, if I guess correctly, these people are the escorts in the escort agency."
In just half an hour, he couldn't get too close. With just a few cursory glances, Yao Yao could tell so many things, and he spoke so confidently and confidently, with a gleaming look. Han Changmu was deeply moved. He looked at her deeply, with approval on his face unconsciously.
Yao Yao didn't notice Han Changmu's expression. After thinking for a while, he continued: "There must be tea in the goods they escorted."
"Oh." Han Changmu became interested and straightened up.
Yao Yao wrinkled his nose: "I smell the fragrance of Qi tea from Qimen in Shezhou."
Han Changmu narrowed his eyes and said, "The tea smells almost the same. How do you know it's Qimen Qicha?"
Yao Yao was a little embarrassed and smiled: "Qi tea is rare. The saint rewarded Leng Linjiang with two taels last time. I drank it once at his place. The aroma was high and pure, and it was sweet and refreshing like no other tea. The tender fragrance, so I wrote it down.”
Han Changmu raised his eyebrows: "I only drank it once and I remembered the taste. Yao Canjun is really talented."
Yao Yao snorted.
This was a variation of scolding, scolding her nose as sharper than a dog's nose, mocking her for not having seen the world. After drinking tea for a while, she couldn't forget it.
Yao Yao automatically ignored the sarcasm in Han Changmu's words and said: "I have a bad memory. Is there anything else you want to ask? Master, please ask it earlier, otherwise you will forget it and you will not be able to ask it."
Han Changmu sipped his tea: "Don't you wonder why I want to go around Chang'an City and why I am interested in these bodyguards?"
Yao Yao shook his head: "Not interested."
Her greatest advantage is not that she is good at flattering, nor is she good at catching thieves, but that she is knowledgeable and discerning. She does not ask questions that should not be asked, and is not curious about things that should not be curious. After all, curiosity killed the cat.
Don't be ridiculous, she, a subordinate, has no room to comment on Shangguan's decision, so why are you curious? She can go wherever the Shangguan tells her to go, and she can hit whoever the Shangguan tells her to.
Everything the Shangguan says is right, and everything the Shangguan does makes sense. Listening to the Shangguan's words is the only rule of thumb in official circles.
Han Changmu didn't know what Yao Yao was thinking, but he just felt that a girl of seventeen or eighteen years old had no curiosity, which made him curious.
Han Changmu tapped his finger on the small table: "Have you heard of Fire Zoroastrianism?"
Yao Yao nodded, this sect has many followers. Zoroastrian temples have been built in many buildings in Chang'an City. This sect is also quite popular in the countries in the Western Regions.
Han Changmu continued: "These escorts are from the Weiyuan Escort Bureau, and the goods being escorted belong to the Zhou family in Yangzhou City. The person controlling the Zhou family behind the scenes is Sa Bao from the Fire Zoroastrian Cult. This batch of goods is sent to the Kingdom of Qiuci." , and the Zhou family is the largest merchant on the Western Region Road. They have repeatedly transported contraband that is prohibited from trading by the imperial court, but they have never failed."
Yao Yao nodded, as expected, such a businessman would probably be protected by someone behind him.
Among merchants, it is often said that brocade from Shu goes north, salt and iron go south, gold and jade come from the east, and tea leaves go west. They are all precious things worth thousands of gold.
The Zhou family was born as a merchant and was the largest merchant on the Western Region Road. The items they sold included all the valuable items in the merchant house. There were only things that the world could not imagine and nothing that the world could not buy.
Any of these goods are worth a lot of money when taken out alone, and they can attract bandits and horse thieves from all walks of life along the Western Region to sharpen their knives and sharpen their knives.
But the Zhou family had an unimpeded journey, and being robbed was just a legend to the Zhou family.
Not to mention that the Zhou family is as rich as the enemy, but the smoothness of the road alone is beyond the reach of other merchants, and it is difficult to catch up with them.
Let’s just say that the standard-fitting high-rise boat for the nouveau riche they are riding on is part of the Zhou family’s business. Ordinary merchants really can’t afford it. Even if they can afford it, there are many obstacles to doing business in this industry. Just dealing with the pervasive Xingji Gang is not an easy task.
She blurted out: "There are people in the court who are not only good at being an official, but also good at doing business. The Zhou family's business is so big. If there are no whistleblowers in the court, how can the Zhou family seek benefits and avoid harm? They are just officials and businessmen." Collusion, mutual benefit, and if we don’t cause big trouble, who will meddle in other people’s business.”
Han Changmu was stunned and smiled thoughtfully.
How long has it been since I heard such straightforward words? These things are indeed tacitly accepted by the government. As long as no big trouble is caused, no one will delve into it. But such words come from the mouth of a little girl with a low official position. It's a bit shocking.
He looked at Yao Yao with interest and grinned, "You really dare to say that."
It's over. I forgot that the person in front of me is a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He talks nonsense.
Like a crow flying over, Yao Yao's face was covered with black lines when he said the wrong thing. He silently lit a candle for himself in his heart. Too many words will lead to mistakes, so just shut up.
