The boat set off again, stopped by Hanzhuang for one night, and arrived at Taizhuang at dusk on the third day.
Liang Jiajun stood on the dock, watching the three scarred men carrying the box and leaving, and whispered to Gu Zhengchen beside him: "They left, and there was no robbery along the way. I guess we were overly worried. If you are still not at ease, we can change ships here. However, if we are really targeted by thieves, changing ships will not help."
Gu Zhengchen stared at the three people leaving, with doubts in his eyes: The wolf went out once and then left without catching any food?
"That's it, maybe we got it wrong."
Gu Zhengchen replied softly.
"Come on, let's go ashore for a walk. I'm really tired from being on the boat these days."
Liang Jiajun stretched out his hand and asked.
Gu Zhengchen looked back at Sun Shiba, winked, and followed Liang Jiajun ashore.
Although Taizhuang is not prosperous, it is quite lively. Merchants traveling from south to north stop here to rest, and many businessmen stock up here to facilitate the movement of goods from north to south.
A closer look at the business shows that medicinal materials, silk, and grain are the main items. Neither Gu Zhengchen nor Liang Jiajun needed to buy these things, but there was an antique shop where Gu Zhengchen could stay for a long time.
Regardless of whether this thing is a fake or not, it will always be genuine to future generations...
Unfortunately, I can't go back.
Back on the ship, Liang Jiajun went back to the cabin to rest, and Sun Shiba found Gu Zhengchen: "The three people checked into an inn with their boxes."
"Inn?"
Gu Zhengchen was a little surprised: "There are only three people?"
Sun Shiba nodded easily: "There are only three people, one of whom is holding a box. Maybe these people were thieves before, but now they have become obedient people."
Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly and said softly: "Do you think so too?"
At this moment, the ship shook violently.
Then a loud shout was heard: "The inspection department is conducting an interrogation and no rash actions are allowed."
Gu Zhengchen looked sideways and saw a ferocious-looking sergeant walking in. He was wearing armor and holding a sword on his waist. Behind him were two sergeants holding spears and carrying bows and arrows on their backs.
Seeing this, Boatman Wang quickly stepped forward to greet him and said, "Inspector Ling, why are you here in person today?"
Inspector Ling Yan approached Captain Wang's hand and weighed it, a smile appeared on his face, he waved his hand and said seriously: "Captain Wang, it is the duty of the inspection department to inspect people and arrest thieves. It is not to make things difficult. You, but a month ago, salt gangsters disturbed the peace around Yangzhou, and the prefecture and county issued strict orders to strictly investigate to prevent thieves from entering the ships and harming the people."
"this……"
Captain Wang was in a dilemma.
Ling Yan whispered: "We don't care how much personal belongings you bring, but the merchant's luggage still needs to be checked. If something goes wrong because of my inability to check, I can't afford it."
"Okay, since it's your duty, let's search."
Captain Wang agreed with a smile.
Ling Yan nodded slightly and walked towards the family of three: "Where are your luggage?"
The man uneasily took out the package on his shoulder. The sergeant opened it and looked at it. There were only some clothes, steamed bread, and more than twenty copper coins. He took half of the coins and stood up and said, "No problem."
"Master Jun, this is our family's life-saving money..."
the man begged.
The sergeant lowered his head sternly: "If you say one more word, I won't leave you a single penny."
The man sat down slumped.
"Monk, where is your luggage?"
The monk looked up at the sergeant and continued to twist his rosary: "All the people give me food and clothing, why do I need luggage when I go out? With just one rosary, one bowl and one staff, I can travel north and south, and cross east and west."
The sergeant was despised and angry: "You bald donkey..."
"That's enough, don't be rude to the monks!"
Ling Yan stopped him.
When Gu Zhengchen saw this scene, he couldn't help but narrowed his eyes slightly.
Lao Zhu once became a monk in Huangjue Temple. Regardless of whether he shaved his head or not, it is an indisputable fact that Huangjue Temple gave him food.
In the first year of Hongwu, Lao Zhu founded Shanshiyuan and let monk Huitan manage Buddhist affairs.
In the six years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Lao Zhu has basically followed the Yuan Dynasty's policy towards Buddhism. He not only established large Dharma conferences and ordered Buddhist monks to preach, but also built temples and recruited monks.
Respecting Buddha has been a basic policy since the founding of the People's Republic of China. The change in this policy had to wait until the fourteenth year of Hongwu.
Nowadays, the monks have such a high status that even the inspectors who work under them do not dare to offend them easily.
In Gu Zhengchen's view, Lao Zhu's attitude towards Buddhism is a typical one of burning bridges across rivers.
Nowadays, the emphasis on Buddha is to use Buddha to stabilize the people's hearts and believe that this life should be miserable and death should be blissful. Who would oppose the imperial rule? After the court stabilized the situation, Lao Zhu no longer needed Sakyamuni to save the people of the Ming Dynasty.
Old Zhu Buddha said: My people, I will come to cross over.
Ling Yan looked at Gu Zhengchen and walked over: "Where is your luggage?"
Gu Zhengchen raised his hand to stop Gu Cheng who was about to speak, and pointed to the cabin: "Inside."
"Search!"
Ling Yan gave an order and the door opened.
Liang Jiajun frowned and looked at the visitor, while Gu Zhengchen looked up at the ceiling.
"Inspection, we found something!"
The sergeant found a kitchen knife.
Ling Yan took the kitchen knife and looked at Gu Zhengchen and Liang Jiajun: "This is it?"
Gu Zhengchen said calmly: "It's for cutting vegetables."
"Also, there's one more."
The sergeant made another discovery.
Ling Yan's face turned dark: "How do you explain this?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Liang Jiajun. Liang Jiajun shook his head and said nothing. Gu Zhengchen had to explain: "It is used for chopping garlic. You should know that some kitchen knives can cut vegetables but cannot clap garlic..."
"you!"
Ling Yan was a little angry.
"Inspection, there are two more here!"
Ling Yan looked at the four kitchen knives in front of him and looked at Gu Zhengchen fiercely: "I see that you are armed with murderous weapons and intend to commit murder and robbery! Come on, catch them -"
Gu Zhengchen took out the official documents from the Ministry of Personnel: "Inspection, right? We bought a few kitchen knives as specialties when we went out, didn't we violate the laws of the Ming Dynasty?"
"Officer, officer?"
Ling Yan's expression changed slightly and he quickly said, "I didn't violate it."
No matter what kind of official the other party is, the one who can use the official documents of the Ministry of Personnel is definitely higher than the inspection officer from the ninth rank. These people are probably working in Beijing. If they write a memoir and send it to the Ministry of Officials, their future will be over. Not only that, they may also implicate their cousin Ling Shuo.
Ling said that he had written several times to tell him not to let himself get into trouble. The atmosphere in the court was very wrong now...
"Master Guan, we are just doing a routine thing. Haha, since there is nothing wrong, we won't bother you."
Ling Yan clasped his fists and left.
Gu Zhengchen stepped forward: "Inspector Ling, I'll see you off."
Ling Yan almost wanted to jump into the river. Maybe he was being watched. What should he do?
"Please also ask the inspector to lend me a moment to speak."
Gu Zhengchen smiled.
Ling Yan secretly gritted his teeth, he was preparing to get benefits, you damn corrupt official!
Gu Zhengchen and Ling Yan walked to a secluded riverside. Gu Zhengchen looked at the lights on the boat and said, "Inspector Ling, do you want to make meritorious service and impress the court?"
