There were many post houses in the Tang Dynasty, with an average of one post every thirty miles.
Post houses are generally located on official roads or on both sides of the post roads and are run by the government. On the one hand, they are used to deliver official documents, such as edicts and edicts issued by the court, and memorials and notes from local officials to the court. On the other hand, they are used to provide food and drinks for public servants. One-stop service of accommodation, lodging and accommodation. In other words, only officials appointed by the imperial court are eligible to stay at the inn. If there are accompanying family members, they must pay for themselves.
Chutingyi, ten miles away from Guangdu City, is the only way to enter Guangdu City. Guangdu City is the transportation hub of Qingzhou and one of the five major capitals of the Tang Dynasty. It has prosperous trade and has as many as 500,000 permanent residents. There are many officials and people passing through. Chuting Posthouse is located in this prime transportation location and is a rare special-class posthouse. , complete infrastructure, including gardens, buildings, horse pens, parking lots, main halls (where you can have wine, tea and meals), soup pools (with natural hot springs), wine warehouses, tea warehouses, pickle warehouses, and cold storages. The guest room levels are divided into The fifth grade is assigned according to official positions.
Hua Yitang's official position is the county lieutenant of Chengxian County, Qingzhou, which is the lowest rank from the ninth rank.
Therefore, when Mu Xia took Hua Yitang's "talisman" to register at the guest cabinet in the main hall of the post house, the post office directly assigned the lowest fifth-class room.
Mu Xia was surprised: "My master is a Jinshi."
Yi Ding paused while handing over the key, "First Class or Third Class?"
"First and third place."
"I'm sorry." The postman changed to a fourth-class room and asked again, "But are you from a noble family?"
"Five surnames and seven sects."
"Which last name?"
"Yang Duhua clan."
The postman's eyes widened, he said "please wait a moment" and hurried away. Not long after, the postmaster of Chutingyi came out, followed by four post officials and six postmen, and the group went out in great force. Welcome guests.
The people eating tea and drinking in the main hall were all officials who came to stay. They were all a little curious when they saw such a battle. The people who could make all Chutingyi go out to greet them were the high-ranking officials above the third rank. They all looked over to watch the excitement.
A two-wheeled carriage drove up outside the gate, followed by a dozen bandit-looking men with bruised noses and swollen faces. Each person's thumbs were tied with thin hemp ropes, like quails about to be roasted in the oven. With.
The driver was a young man in short black clothes, who looked very energetic. He jumped out of the car, rolled up the hemp rope with the silver-sheathed dagger in his hand, and pulled. A group of people screamed and fell to the side of the horse post. Bundle into a pile.
There were two carriages behind. One driver was a blond Persian boy with a stinky face. He dragged a fat man out of the carriage. The fat man's clothes looked like they were picked up from the roadside. They were very unfitting and did not cover his face and stomach.
The other driver was a young lady with a short sword on her waist. A man carrying a big box got out of the car first. His face was as pale as if he had just crawled out of a grave, but he was wearing a dazzling red robe. The wind blew and splashed Bloody.
The last person to get off the bus was a young man.
Everyone's eyes suddenly lit up. This young man was so good-looking. His temples were the color of a young boy, his skin was like jade, and his facial features were handsome and bright. His snow-white robe was blown by the wind and fluttered, as charming as a peony flower.
The postmaster led all the post officials to greet him, bowed and saluted, "Everyone at Chuting Post has seen Huajia Silang!"
Everyone said "Wow" in their hearts, it turned out that he was the famous dandy of the Yangduhua family. No wonder the postmaster was so solemn about his affairs.
Although Chuting Post is an official post, the food, wine, tea, spices, etc. are all supplied by the Hua family's caravan. The post director was also recommended by the Hua family to join the official position, so he is considered to be half a Hua family member.
Hua Yitang looked at the postmaster and said with a smile, "It turns out to be postmaster Xu. We haven't seen him for many years, but he still has the same style."
Xu Yi was surprised, "Silang has seen me?"
"Xu Yichang forgot? When Hua was seven years old, we met in Mu Zhong's caravan. You were the deputy leader of the caravan at that time," Hua Yitang said, "Qingzhou's warm climate must be good for you. It’s good for cold legs, right?”
Xu Yichang's eyes were red, "Thank you for your concern, Shiro. It's much, much better!"
"This time, I asked Yichang Xu to take care of me."
"What are you talking about, Shiro? Coming to Chutingyi is just like coming to your own home. Please come inside quickly."
Xu Yichang led Hua Yitang and his entourage into the main hall and said apologetically, "According to Shiro's family background, he could have lived in a first-class room, but the official post has regulations that official position comes first, family background comes second, so we can only prepare room for Shiro." Third class room.”
Hua Yitang: "It doesn't matter, we only stay for one night, as long as it's clean and comfortable."
Xu Yichang looked at the people in the yard and asked, "Who are those outside?"
"For the bandits who were caught on the way, I also asked Postmaster Xu to send someone to deliver a message to the prefect's mansion in Guangdu City, asking them to send officials to take these bandits back."
"Bandits?!" Xu Yichang said hurriedly, "Old Li, go out and have a clear look."
A post official who was over fifty years old ran out, circled around the bandits twice, ran back with his face shining, and shouted, "Yes, that's right, it's Xiong Laosan! Exactly the same as the wanted portrait!"
Everyone in the hall was immediately shocked.
Jin Ruo came over with excitement on his face, "They are wanted criminals? Is there a reward for their capture?"
Official: "Yes, yes! These bandits have been causing harm near Chutingyi for more than half a year. Their whereabouts are unpredictable and they are very difficult to deal with. The bad guys from Guangdu City searched the mountain five or six times, but no one was caught. I'm so angry." It was so frustrating that a reward order was issued, Xiong Laosan offered a reward of ten coins, and the other bandits also had ten coins."
"Master, we made a profit!" Jin Ruo shouted.
Lin Sui'an came over holding the menu of the inn and patted Jin Ruo on the shoulder, "The bounty belongs to you."
Xu Yichang looked around Lin Sui'an with stern eyes and gave a more respectful salute, "I have met Madam Lin."
Lin Sui'an was a little surprised and asked Hua Yitang with his eyes. Hua Yitang raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"This, it's not good." Ita dragged Bai Xiang over. Bai Xiang staggered on his feet, his face flushed, and he clutched his stomach and groaned.
Jin Ruo poked Bai Xiang's belly, and Bai Xiang grunted twice. Jin Ruo rolled his eyes, "I told you not to eat so much. Look, you may have a fever from the accumulated food."
Bai Xiang grimaced and thought to himself: I'm not full, the tea named Eta is clearly poisonous.
Only then did Xu Yichang see Bai Xiang's face clearly, and he was shocked, "Isn't this Bai Sanlang of the Bai family in Qingzhou? How come he looks like this?"
Hua Yitang sighed, "It's a long story. I'd like to ask Yichang Xu to send another message to the Bai family leader by the way, just say——"
Ita: "His son is in the hands of our Hua family!"
Xu Yichang took a breath.
Hua Yitang: "No... Hua means -"
Jin Ruo: "Ask the Bai family to send money quickly!"
This little fat guy can't even think of freeloading!
Xu Yichang: "Eh?!"
Hua Yitang: "..."
Fang Ke: "Hurry up! Otherwise, his son will not survive!"
Get this foodie away quickly. He dared to drink all the tea Eta made for me. He is really looking for death.
"I'll send someone right away!" Xu Yi ran away with smoke coming from his butt.
Hua Yitang looked at Xu Yichang's leaving figure and hesitated for a long time: "... Mr. Bai must understand what I mean..."
Lin Sui'an: "Pfft!"
In Lin Sui'an's impression, a third-class room should be similar to a three-star hotel. It is about an ordinary single room, but it is actually a suite. The bed is very large, and the bedding is newly replaced, with a brocade surface and a cotton lining. It is soft and fluffy. Smelling the smell of new cotton, she had reason to suspect that Yichang Xu had simply replaced the first-class room sign at the door with a third-class room.
After traveling for more than half a month, he was finally able to have a good sleep. Lin Sui'an simply washed himself, lay down on the soft quilt, and fell asleep contentedly.
After a dreamless night, he felt refreshed when he got up. Lin Sui'an first went to the next door to seize Jin Ruo and squat for half an hour. Then he walked to the main hall in the morning light. Mu Xia prepared breakfast himself, Yita made new tea, and spent a day. Tang yawned and sat at the table. When Mu Xia saw Lin Sui'an and Jin Ruo arriving, she filled two more bowls of chicken soup.
If Fang Ke is not here, he must not have woken up, and Bai Xiang is not here either. I heard that he was probably still sleeping in after taking a dip in the soup pool for half the night yesterday.
"Don't worry about him. Let's leave immediately when Brother Fang gets up." Hua Yitang said, "Anyway, it's only half a day's journey from Guangdu. He won't starve to death."
"I guess people from the Guangdu City government should be here too," Jin Ruo stretched his head to look outside, "I'm still waiting to receive the reward."
Before he finished speaking, there was the sound of horse hooves outside the gate, and a group of black-clothed bad guys rushed into the inn at lightning speed. The leader was a big man in his forties, with a long face, splayed eyebrows, a strong body and a thick waist, with an iron ruler around his waist. He was quite skillful. After turning over and dismounting, he was the first to see the bandits in the yard. After a quick glance, a bad guy was left to check the status of several bandits, and he led the rest of his men straight in.
Xu Yichang hurriedly greeted him and called him "Commander Zhao". He then led the man to the table of Hua Yitang and others and introduced him, "Silang, this man is the bad commander of Guangdu City, Zhao Zhengzhi."
"Zhao Zhengzhi has met Huajia Silang," Zhao Zhengzhi's eyes paused on Qian Jing at Lin Sui'an's waist, "May I ask if this is Mrs. Lin Sui'an?"
Lin Sui'an nodded, "Exactly."
"Did Xiong Laosan and other bandits be captured by Madam Lin yesterday?"
Jin Ruo was anxious, "Hey, hey, I caught him!"
Zhao Zhengzhi looked at Jin Ruo again, his eyes paused on "Ruo Jing" for a moment, and he frowned slightly, "Who is this?"
Lin Sui'an: "My apprentice is Jin Ruo."
Zhao Zhengzhi's men ran in and whispered something in his ear. Zhao Zhengzhi's expression softened a bit, he whispered a few more instructions, and his men ran out again.
The speech and behavior of these bad people after entering the inn were quite strange, as if they were guarding against something or investigating something. Lin Sui'an felt a familiar discomfort - as if he regarded them as some kind of suspect.
Lin Sui'an glanced at Hua Yitang: That's good. The news sent to the Bai family in Qingzhou yesterday must have made the head of the Bai family misunderstood and thought we were the kidnappers who captured Bai Xiang.
Hua Yitang covered his forehead with a fan and rolled his eyes up and down: Not really.
Fortunately, Zhao Zhengzhi's next words were, "Where is Mr. Bai Xiang?"
"Ahem, but the head of the Bai family asked you to pick up Bai Sanlang?" Hua Yitang cleared his throat, "Bai Sanlang was robbed by bandits on the way. Fortunately, he saved his life when he met us. He was frightened and was probably still sleeping. ——”
"Immediately ask him to get up and follow us back to Guangdu City," Zhao Zhengzhi said, "something happened to the Bai family in Qingzhou."
Everyone was stunned.
Xu Yichang: "The Bai family in Qingzhou is one of the most aristocratic families in Guangdu City. What can happen?"
Zhao Zhengzhi frowned, paused, and said, "The head of the Bai family, Bai Rong, went crazy and chopped Doctor Tie from Qiumenfang into a pulp."
! !
Jin Ruo just spit out the steamed meat cake that he stuffed into his mouth. Ita's hand shaking the tea scoop almost spilled it on Mu Xia. Lin Sui'an gasped and Hua Yitang covered his mouth with a fan.
There was a "plop" from the direction of the corridor. Bai Xiang collapsed on the ground. He looked at the position where he had just come in from the backyard. His face was blue and his eyes were bulging. "You, you, you, you, what did you just say?!"
When Zhao Zhengzhi was about to speak, he saw a trace of blood red floating over him. A dry and pale face appeared in front of him, with a pair of eyes like ancient wells. His voice was also dry, but for some reason, Zhao Zhengzhi actually I could hear a bit of joy.
"Where is the body? Is it still fresh?"
Zhao Zhengzhi grabbed the iron ruler and took three big steps back in fright. The hairs on his back stood up.
what? Is it a human or a ghost? !
Only then did he see clearly that he was actually a white-faced man in a red robe. Looking at Hua and Lin over there, it was even stranger.
Lin Sui'an held his forehead with his hand and murmured, "This is not according to the routine. We haven't entered Guangdu City yet - could this broken physique be upgraded?"
Hua Yitang looked distant, picked up the tea cup and took a sip. His beautiful facial features instantly wrinkled into a sad bud, "It's so bitter."
Two hours later, Lin Sui'an felt that she was about to drown in Bai Xiang's tears.
It was a three-hour journey from Chutingyi to Guangdu City. In the first two hours, Bai Xiang was probably too shocked and was in a trance. Then, very suddenly, without knowing what he thought of, he woke up and started crying. .
Lin Sui'an didn't know that there was such a man in the world who could cry. When Bai Xiang cried, his voice was loud and rough, like a donkey braying, and the tears and snot were all smeared on Hua Yitang's clothes... …
That's right, Bai Xiang has been holding Hua Yitang's thigh and crying since he woke up.
"Grandpa - Grandpa - my grandpa will not kill anyone! Grandpa must be unjust! Hanashiro, you must help me! Grandpa - Grandpa - Hanashiro, I know you are the best at solving crimes - please help me, help my grandpa - "
Hua Yitang's forehead was throbbing with veins. He held the small fan with his fist and tried to smash it several times, but held back several times. He was probably disgusted by Bai Xiang's sticky nose, and his tight thighs could be seen through the hem of his clothes. Muscles, Lin Sui'an felt that if he were not on the speeding carriage, he would probably kick Bai Xiang back to the east capital.
"I am just the county lieutenant of Cheng County, Qingzhou, and I have no control over the cases in Guangdou City!" Hua Yitang gritted his teeth and said, "You'd better hug the thigh of the governor of Dongdu!"
"I don't believe in those mediocre officials! I only believe in you! Hanashiro, you must save me, save my grandpa, save my Bai family! After all, we are all five surnames and seven sects, and we have the same spirit to connect branches and break bones. Connected with tendons, connected with broken lotus roots——"
"Oh shit! Who has no connection with you! How disgusting!"
"Hanashiro! Ouch ouch ouch ouch -"
"Oh shit! Let it go, let it go!"
Lin Sui'an sighed and turned his eyes to another unusual person in the carriage.
Fang Ke held a small piece of white cotton cloth and took out the autopsy tweezers, pliers, clamps, forks, spoons, knives, hammers, and pestles one by one, and wiped them carefully. His deep pupils shone with light. The more people you infiltrate, the more people you infiltrate.
It seemed that the journey was uneventful and I didn't encounter any corpses. Brother Fang was very depressed.
Hua Yitang obviously noticed Fang Ke's state, shaking his small fan rapidly, "Brother Fang, we can't handle this case -"
Fang Ke raised his eyes and glanced at Hua Yitang, which was profound and unspoken.
Hua Yitang swallowed hard, and Lin Sui'an sighed again, "Bai Xiang, if you cry again, we won't help you."
Hua Yitang: "Hey!"
Bai Xiang's crying stopped suddenly, and he turned his head suddenly, his translucent swollen eyeballs fluttering up, "Ms. Lin, are you willing to help me?"
Lin Sui'an nodded.
Bai Xiang cried again. Thinking that Lin Sui'an wouldn't allow him to cry, he suppressed his crying again. He choked and hiccupped repeatedly. He turned around and wanted to hug Lin Sui'an's thigh, but Hua Yitang pinched him. Went back.
"You dare?!" Hua Yitang's eyes were like a ferocious butcher's knife.
Bai Xiang took advantage of the situation and hugged Hua Yitang's thigh, "I know you are good people, Hua Silang. As long as I survive this disaster, from now on, I, the Bai family of Qingzhou, and the Hua family of Yangdu are willing to turn their hostility into friendship and have a good relationship for a hundred years!"
Hua Yitang snorted, "I just want to find out the truth. If your grandpa is really the murderer, no one can help."
Bai Xiang wiped his face and said seriously, "I swear on the head on my neck that I can never be the murderer."
Hua Yitang narrowed his eyes, "Why do you make such a decision?"
"Because my grandpa——" Bai Xiang lowered his voice, "he is bleeding."
Guangdu City is built according to the mountains and rivers. It has three cities: inner, middle and outer cities. The inner city has the highest terrain, where the prefect's mansion, official houses, posthouses, warehouses, etc. are all located. The middle city is the main city, and the west of the middle city is the fanfang. In this area, there are mostly foreign businessmen, and several small shops are connected to form a large square. There is no curfew among the small shops, and they mainly trade in foreign rare treasures. The largest number of cannibals live in Dashi Square. The south of Zhongcheng is the residential area of Tang Dynasty people. There are three In Sixteen Square, shops and people's residences are mixed together without any special distinction. The curfew is in name only and the commercial atmosphere is strong.
The outer city has crisscrossed waterways and numerous docks. The inner city waterway can reach directly to the Pearl River. Water transportation is extremely developed. It is the largest port city and trading metropolis in the Tang Dynasty after Yangdu.
Enter Guangdu City from the north gate and pass through the outer city and the middle city along the north-south central axis. On the way, you can see the gorgeous and tall Tanah Lot Temple. After entering the inner city, go straight to the Central Square. When you see the Lingguang Tower at the foot of the mountain, Then we arrived at Guangdu City Government Office.
Guangdu City is on the same level as Yangdu City. The prefect of Guangdu is named Che Mingting. He comes from a poor family. He is only forty-three years old. To be able to achieve this position is to be regarded as the elite among the elite.
"Among the five major capitals of the Tang Dynasty, Guangdu has the most vassal people. It is said that this Governor Che is proficient in the languages of the five countries and is very good at managing the vassal, but I don't know how good he is at solving crimes and arresting murderers." Hua Yitang stood in the main hall of the Governor's Mansion. In front of the door, he used a fan to block the blazing sunshine, "The sun in Qingzhou must be too harsh."
Mu Xia understood this and immediately took out the top power fence to cover Hua Yitang inside. She also wanted to give one to Lin Sui'an, but Lin Sui'an firmly refused.
The bad handsome man Zhao Zhengzhi glared at the group of people like he was looking at a lunatic, "Shiro Huajia, the person Cha Taishou wants to see is Juro Bai, what are you doing with us?"
Bai Xiang jumped over, almost knocking over Hua Yitang's power fence, and shouted, "I will be with Shiro whether I live or die!"
Zhao Zhengzhi: "..."
Hua Yitang was helpless: "I would also like to ask Marshal Zhao to inform you that Hua Yitang, the new county captain of Qingzhou Cheng County, and Qingzhou Bai Xiang want to see you."
Zhao Zhengzhi had no choice but to order someone to report it. After a while, someone came out and invited everyone to come into the house. After entering the gate, you first see a huge screen wall, go around it, and then enter a garden with lush flowers and grass. It is very different from the usual layout of the mansion. The garden leads to the cloister, and along the cloister, you pass through two rockeries and forests, and then you reach the main hall.
A man was waiting at the entrance of the main hall early. He was wearing a crimson official robe. He was thin and about the same height as Lin Sui'an. He had a short beard, dark skin, and a wide nose. He had a typical Qingzhou local appearance.
Hua Silang picked off the power fence and handed it to Bai Xiang. Bai Xiang took it very smoothly. Hua Yitang smiled and clasped his fists and said, "Prince Che, Silang is polite."
"Huajia Silang, I have admired him for a long time." The prefect Che said with a smile, "I heard that Huajia Silang was a first-class scholar in the new high school examination. He was deeply favored by the saint and won the important position of county captain in Chengxian County, Qingzhou. He will definitely have a prosperous official career and a smooth career in the future. Now that Hanashiro has arrived, why not stay in Guangdu City for a few more days, and Che sends someone to accompany you to the scenic spots in Guangdu City to have fun for a few days, and Hanashiro's trip will not be in vain."
This person was polite and polite on the surface, but in reality his smile did not reach his eyes. His words sounded complimentary at first, but in fact they were secretly thorny, mocking Hua Yitang as just a foreign official from the ninth rank.
Lin Sui'an felt a little strange. Guangdu City was a metropolis of international trade, and the Hua family was the number one merchant in the Tang Dynasty. The business exchanges must have been quite close. In any case, the Hua family should be given three cents. Could it be that this person had something to do with the Hua family? hatred?
Hua Yitang said with a smile, "To be honest, Hua and Bai Sanlang hit it off immediately. When they heard about the sudden change in his family, they couldn't bear it, so they accompanied him here to ask about the case of Bai Rong, the head of the Bai family."
"Huaxian Lieutenant is joking. This case happened in Guangdu City, not Cheng County, so I won't bother Huaxian Lieutenant." Prefect Che's smile did not change, "Che has been the prefect of Guangdu for many years, and he still has some experience in investigating cases. As for the circumstances of this case, it is really inconvenient to talk to outsiders.”
Hua Yitang clicked his tongue and curled his lips towards Bai Xiang.
Bai Xiang was about to cry again, "Hanashiro, you can't just die without saving me!"
Hua Yitang sighed and took a half step back, "I'm at my wits end. Lin Sui'an——"
As soon as these words came out, all the bad guys were shocked, and at the same time they pulled out their iron rulers and stood in front of the Governor Che.
"Ms. Lin, this is the Prefecture of Guangdu, you can't mess around!" Zhao Zhengzhi shouted.
"Get out of the way!" Governor Che was furious, "I want to see what a mere ninth-grade county lieutenant can do to me, a prefect? Does he dare to chop me down in broad daylight?"
Zhao Zhengzhi: "The prefect didn't know something. This woman is Lin Sui'an. The fierce tigers of Taiyuan County and the Jin Yuwei of Taiyuan Jiang family were both defeated by her sword!"
The governor of Che pulled Zhao Zhengzhi away and squeezed forward, holding his head high, "I am the dignified governor of Guangdu, how can I be afraid of a little lady?!"
The bad guy hurriedly pulled him back, "Prefect! No!"
"Step aside!"
"Prefect, it's too dangerous!"
Lin Sui'an: "..."
She didn't even move a finger from beginning to end! Hey!
Hua Yitang laughed out loud, "Prince Che, are you acting too much? When did my Lin Sui'an say he was going to kill you?"
Jin Ruo: "Not just any cat or dog deserves to be chopped down by my master."
Governor Che: "What did you say——"
Lin Sui'an took a step forward, "That -"
The bad guy turned pale with fright, and quickly retreated a few steps while guarding Governor Che. As if facing a formidable enemy, Governor Che's face turned pale, and he made a crooked defensive posture.
Lin Sui'an scratched his forehead, and suddenly he flashed forward and rushed in front of Zhao Zhengzhi. Zhao Zhengzhi turned pale with horror and swung the iron ruler to strike, but the strike missed.
He didn't see anything clearly, he only felt that his vision went dark and then brightened. Lin Sui'an was gone. Then, Zhao Zhengzhi heard the scream behind him, it was Governor Che.
Lin Sui'an and Che Taishou stood ten steps away. They were almost the same height, but the current Che Taishou was obviously half a head shorter than Lin Sui'an. His face was green and white, and his knees were half bent, as if he wanted to kneel on the ground. . Lin Sui'an held his arm and did not kneel down.
"Lin Sui'an, what are you going to do to Governor Che?!"
Zhao Zhengzhi was about to charge, but unexpectedly, Governor Che suddenly shouted, "Don't come over!"
The voice was extremely high-pitched, as if it was coming from a state of shock after seeing something terrifying.
The bad guy was dumbfounded. Lin Sui'an raised his eyebrows, turned over the secret censor's order in his palm, and took it back into his arms.
Governor Che gritted his teeth and tried his best to lower his voice, "I didn't know it was Shangguan who arrived, and Che was rude. I hope Shangguan won't blame him!"
Lin Sui'an: "I was just passing by and thought this case was very strange. I wanted to check it out. I wonder if Chief Che could do it for me?"
The eunuch Che said, "It's natural."
Lin Sui'an raised his finger to his lips, "Do you understand what I mean, prefect?"
"I understand, I understand."
"That--"
The eunuch Che quickly stepped back, clasped his fists and saluted Lin Sui'an, and said in a loud voice, "Come here, quickly send the file on Bai Rong's murder case! Here, here -" He glanced at Lin Sui'an , then changed his words and said, "Let Lieutenant Huaxian check it out!"
small theater
Zhao Zhengzhi: The rumors are indeed true. The governor of Yangdu was frightened to death when Lin Sui'an glared at him. My family's prefect was so frightened that his head turned to paste when he was stared at by Lin Sui'an! :,,
