Of course, after leaving the noisy and glitzy Jilongshanggang City and Houcheng District, there will be another scene of scenery and pastoral scenery along the way. Immaculate plantations, densely crisscrossed rivers and paddy fields, and a network of streets leading livestock, farmers carrying farm tools, and groups of vassal slaves carrying heavy loads.
And outside the villages one after another with gray walls and black tiles, green hedges and willow shades, small bridges, flowing water, and canals, full of Tang Dynasty-style villages; without exception, there will be a large or small, messy shack area that looks like an illegal building. ; There are many ragged vassal slaves and their families and children living here.
Obviously, this is the inevitable shadow corner under the dignity of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. On the other hand, as the vassal territory closest to China, all aspects here are deeply influenced by the Tang Dynasty, and there are similarities in various places; for example, this long-carriage passenger carriage.
It has almost the same design and configuration as the bus routes in most state capitals of the country; four draft horses that change every forty or fifty miles. There is enough interior space to carry twelve to eighteen people, leather seats, benches and standing grips in various fares, and front and rear lamps for indication and lighting at night.
You can also tow a small bucket behind the vehicle for loading goods and fodder; you can sneak a ride for just a few coppers. In Jiang Tian's long carriage, there was even a small compartment with a half-open door; there were herbal tea and snacks, and even a few rolled-up manuscripts.
Jiang Tian only glanced at it briefly. They were all local manuscripts from the southeastern coastal states and had the largest circulation. Therefore, the content published in them was also a mixed bag; there were short sketches about business promotions and short stories, as well as anecdotes about the public sentiments of the people. and legends. But the latest one was more than a month ago.
In comparison, there are also copies of "Tongning Observation" and "Ryukyu Insight" published on the island, which seem to be much faster in terms of date and time; they can be traced back to two or three days ago. However, you need to spend money to purchase limited quantities from passenger carriages and inns where you stop for transfers and rest.
The content published in it, in addition to the unshakable announcements from the court and local officials on the first page, also contains various commercial propaganda and anecdotes, occupying a large amount of space. Jiang Tian even saw some relatively fine fragrant white paintings, but he didn't know how they were printed.
Despite this, through the continuous comparison of transcripts from different dates, Jiang Tian can still understand some of the current dynamics and people's sentiments on Yizhou Island. For example, in the Tang Dynasty, the frequent changes and strange events in cities and wild places were not immune to the situation on Yizhou Island.
However, according to a certain attitude in the manuscripts, for most of the people in these foreign vassals, the reaction was not as nervous as that of China, which had been in peace for a long time. These grotesque aliens are not much different from the wild beasts, creatures, hostile tribes, and even foreign armies they have fought against for a long time.
Yes, even on the Yizhou Island, which is closest to the Middle-earth continent, there are still large areas of wilderness and inaccessible mountainous areas that are difficult to open up and roamed by wild beasts. There are also many remnants of the savages who lived on the island; because of the terrain It is dangerous and the environment is harsh, lacking the value of more exploration.
That is to say, decades ago, in order to open up the mountain road from the eastern states of the island to the two western states, a large-scale military raid was carried out to clear out the settlements entrenched in the central mountain range; and in many places Stations, strongholds and high walls were built at mountain passes and key points in the mountains.
Taiping Prefecture is one of the only two inland states among the seven prefectures of Yizhou that is not close to the sea. It runs northwest and southeast respectively, adjacent to the central mountain range of the big island. Therefore, there are occasional stories of savages and bandits; most of them are barbarians who are unable to survive in the mountains and come out to rob them.
On the other hand, there is very little news about the Gongshi family. Most of them are that the XX vassal of the East China Sea comes to visit; every few months or once every half a year, ocean-going ships from Xinzhou arrive; or they divide vassals and ministers. Between families, there are endless disputes and disputes, and even gossips of fun and jealousy.
After Jiang Tian collected more than ten issues along the way, he probably only got two pieces of information that were barely related to the office. One is a female family member related to the official family who went to Xingshan Temple in Pingtung Prefecture to fulfill their vows and issue a banner to a local charity house. The other is that the prince is unable to host the dragon boat race as usual for some reason.
In fact, as a scheduled passenger carriage runs every day from Jilongshan Port City to Jiayi City, the capital of Taiping Prefecture, the vast majority of passengers are short-distance passengers who go up and down the way; passengers like Jiang Tian who stop at one stop are the majority. On the contrary, it is a phoenix with scales and horns, and one can see the obvious divisions between social classes.
For example, those with dark skin and curly beards and hair of different colors basically only dare to buy the cheapest standing tickets. In other words, even if you bought a ticket, you would only dare to huddle in the corner humbly and cautiously; there seemed to be a natural respect and courtesy for those Tang people with black hair and black eyes.
And because they had bought a high-class seat in the inner room, only a few people would take the initiative to chat with Jiang Tian during this journey; instead, they would talk to each other with various accents, or whisper in low voices. Whispers continued. Mainly about their respective livelihoods, local prices and market rumors.
For example, there are strange beasts that eat people, there are abandoned houses that are constantly haunted, and there are harmful water monsters that appear in the countryside. In a village where familiar people live together, many people suddenly died overnight and fled to the county; or the vassal soldiers patrolling the mountain road killed many wild animals.
Occasionally, there are some people who talk to Jiang Tian enthusiastically. But Jiang Tian, who is used to seeing people from all kinds of military and public affairs, can easily see some clues about the other person's identity; such as the obvious thick callus on the palm of his finger, or the habit of making innuendoes. Suspicious manner.
It was obviously like a local official, or a secret spy, who would conduct routine interrogations and tests on any new faces. However, Jiang Tian also has an identity that is enough to cope with it; a Long March athlete who returned to his hometown to visit relatives and worship his ancestors. Of course, this man is real and is still serving in the Jinwu Guards guarding the border.
In order to correspond to this identity, he also used drugs and methods to change the description; for example, he used camellia oleifera ointment to slightly change the color of his beard and hair and make them look unkempt and straight; Smooth feeling; use potions to create tiny wrinkles.
The combination of various detailed adjustments is enough to change a person's appearance. Except for bed partners who have had close contact, most other familiar people may not be able to recognize him without long-term contact. Therefore, it is enough to deal with these inquiries and temptations along the way.
As this trip got closer to Taiping Prefecture, the customs and customs on the road began to change significantly;
For example, villages and settlements that originally had only wooden fences and fences began to have relatively solid wooden walls and thorn bushes, and then turned into walls made of thick earth and gravel.
There were even a group of armed villagers carrying swords and bows. A few men played gongs and drums to clear the way, transporting a wild boar as big as an ox with broken tusks on a cart, while the hunting dogs kept barking and surrounded it. Below, swaggering across the street. Obviously there are still lingering traces of the conquest era.
Therefore, when Jiang Tian arrived in Lanxi County, he was already alone again. As a distant branch of the Tonghai Office, Lanxi Bo Yifang also plays an important role in the local area.
. Therefore, Jiang Tian walked around the county and easily found out about the local vassal residence owned by Lan Xibo.
However, when he arrived at the feudal residence at Xitou, he unexpectedly found that it had been mostly vacant and abandoned for some time. Only a few slaves are maintaining and repairing the many buildings in the house that are covered with dust; therefore, the courtyard has long been overgrown with flowers, trees and weeds.
Then, in the idle conversation of these slaves, Jiang Tian learned more about the whole story. It turned out that Uncle Lanxi, who had no heirs at that time, adopted an adopted son designated by the government. The family moved to the new manor given by Dongning Mansion, and would only come back occasionally every few years.
Therefore, when Jiang Tian walked around in it and found no more clues, he was about to leave; suddenly a letter prompt was triggered on the vision panel: "The fifth phase of the mission scene: The resentment of the country..." The next moment , he jumped into a nearby inconspicuous courtyard without hesitation.
After entering it, Jiang Tian discovered what was unique about this courtyard. Although the gaps in the brick paving are already overgrown with weeds, compared to other parts of the courtyard, the grass is much fresher in color and does not have any slightly larger branches and leaves; it seems as if it has just grown again.
Then, under some kind of throbbing and guidance from this body, Jiang Tian slowly walked into one of the old and mottled two-story buildings. Gently open the window and a line of light slips into it. I found that the furnishings in the room were all in good condition, with only a thin layer of dust that was almost invisible.
However, at this moment, Jiang Tian's mind was full of nostalgia, aftertaste, and sentimental melancholy; his eyes became moist without even realizing it. It's like my predecessor lived here and left behind all kinds of short and beautiful memories here. I can't help but touch those old things. (See the end of Chapter 11 for details)
It was the joy of fishing under a huge parasol in the mountain streams and springs in summer; and the sweat of digging out flower beds in the courtyard with one's own hands, planting citrus and loquat seedlings, and looking forward to the flowers blooming and bearing fruit in the future. ; and the joyful mood of writing vigorously and expressing feelings under the night light with dancing insects.
However, this beauty could not last long; as the sinister-faced old man with fleshy nose and frosty hair appeared. Even the short-term peace and joy that escaped this corner were completely shattered. Then, after a series of sad and indignant struggles to no avail, he traveled thousands of miles to the unfamiliar land of the capital.
I don't know how long it took before Jiang Tian recovered from the uncontrollable sadness and nostalgia; only to find that he was already bursting with tears, and he was still holding a smooth and rubbed patella in his hand, with one corner missing like a deer or a horse. wood carving. It seems to be the first gadget made by the predecessor in his life.
It also represents a certain feeling of admiration for seeing things and missing people. It's just that I was forced to leave too hastily, so I left it here and couldn't find it. But this time, although no clues were found about Shen Xin's disappearance, the progress of the tasks related to the predecessor was accidentally triggered; it was not without success.
Just when he was about to return to his original position and leave, he suddenly heard noises coming from outside; it was a door that had been closed for a long time and lacked use, and then opened with a creak; there were also groups of rushing footsteps, and one after another. There was a buzz of people, as if someone just happened to be back...
(End of chapter)
