On the other side, after leaving Tang Mansion, Xiao Yuan also walked around the city.
Although it is already a cold winter, due to the prosperity of Qinzhou, there are still many pedestrians in the market, and the businesses in various shops are also relatively prosperous.
"Baozi, freshly baked buns~~~~"
There are vendors selling food on the street. Under the cages, the steam is steaming and the fragrance is wafting.
Xiao Yuan's appetite was greatly improved, he greeted Xu Hu, and couldn't help but walk to the stall.
When a customer came to the door, the hawker immediately smiled and said: "Hey, you two gentlemen, let's see what you want to order. They are all freshly baked and your hands are burning."
"Give me one with vegetables and one with meat filling." Xiao Yuan pointed.
"I want ten meat-filled buns." Xu Hu said immediately, looking at the steaming buns, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
"Okay, wait a minute, sir." The vendor responded and started to work.
After a while, when the buns were packed, he also said with a smile: "Two guests, a total of twelve yuan."
"Here." Xu Hu took the bun with one hand and took out a piece of silver from his pocket with the other.
"Hey, that's a lot. Please wait a moment, sir. I'll ask you for some money."
The hawker took the broken silver with both hands, and when he was looking for money, Xiao Yuan asked calmly: "Boss, you vendors, have you encountered any difficulties or injustices in making a living in Qinzhou?"
"Young master, you mean..." The hawker was confused and asked tentatively.
"For example, are there any bullies who forcefully demand gold and silver?"
Hearing this, the vendor handed Xu Hu the Qin coin and replied: "This was available many years ago, but it is gone now."
As he spoke, he pointed to the top and said with a serious face: "I, Qin, have strict laws. Who dares to be so arrogant under the rule of your Majesty?"
"Haha, it's pretty good." Xiao Yuan smiled and took a bite of the bun, "Well, it tastes good."
The two of them left here and walked around casually. Xiao Yuan also took this opportunity to chat with various pedestrians as an ordinary person.
He chatted with many people, including traders, shopkeepers, and people buying things. Overall, Qinzhou was relatively prosperous and stable.
Meeting a kind aunt again, Xiao Yuan started chatting with her again.
The aunt was holding a basket in her hand, which contained some farm items. As they chatted, they reached the Qinghe River in the city.
"This big river in Qinzhou has fed so many people in the past, but now, alas, it is just a smelly ditch. Not to mention other things, even us women who want to find a place to wash their clothes have no place. Okay. It’s winter and it doesn’t smell, but if it’s summer, it smells bad!”
The aunt looked like she was shaking her head and sighing, and the Qinghe she was talking about was the river in Qinzhou City that ran through the entire city. There were many arch bridges. There were countless households living on both sides of the river. Many families also There is laundry nearby.
After hearing this, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but said: "Oh? I remember that the city river was very clear, wasn't it?"
"Alas, you don't know something. It used to be a clear river. Last year it was fine. But this year, it suddenly became dirty. At first, you could still do laundry. But now, the water is unusable and it stinks!" road.
"That's it..." Xiao Yuan frowned, then smiled and said with cupped hands: "Thank you for telling me, aunt. You are busy, so I won't bother you anymore."
"What are you talking about? You young masters are just too polite." The aunt replied with a smile and walked away with the basket in her arms.
After he left, Xu Hu was still stuffing buns into his mouth and said vaguely: "Master, do you want to go and see?"
"Of course." Xiao Yuan glanced at him and saw the way he was eating, and couldn't help but said with a smile: "There are so many buns, can you finish them all?"
"This is not enough. It would be better if there was wine."
With just a few steamed buns, he could still think of wine. Xiao Yuan shook his head: "You have to change your habit of drinking."
"Without wine, what fun would there be?" Xu Hu said gloomily.
Hearing this, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but glare at him, "Everyone only knows how to drink, and he has gotten drunk and made trouble many times."
The latter shrank his neck, secretly looked at Xiao Yuan's face, and muttered: "Then, if the young master doesn't let the villain drink, it's better to kill the villain."
Xiao Yuan shook his head helplessly again.
Xu Hu is addicted to alcohol, which is his shortcoming, but at the same time, he is also the most loyal and capable general under Xiao Yuan.
After a while, the two of them arrived at the riverside in the city. Xiao Yuan also went up to the arch bridge and looked down slightly.
Although it is winter, this big river is not a stagnant water, but flows slowly, so it is not frozen.
Looking from the bridge on both sides, there are some houses and residential areas, and there are also many laundry places by the river.
I remember when I first arrived in Qinzhou, girls wearing gauze and women washing clothes could be seen everywhere along the river, but now it is empty.
The river water is no longer as clear as before, and has even turned a little black.
Due to the climate problem, Xiao Yuan did not smell the stench, but seeing the dirty black water and the messy things in the water, he could imagine what it was like in summer.
That's it, let alone laundry. It's probably a hot day and the smell will spread, so there will be few people walking around the entire river.
In the past, wherever there was an arch bridge, it was extremely lively. Women were doing laundry under the bridge and pedestrians were passing by on the bridge.
Now seeing him again, Xiao Yuan's brows suddenly furrowed.
"Then the aunt didn't lie to me. If that's the case, what will Qinzhou City look like?"
He said something and then raised his head to scan the surroundings. "This river extends throughout Qinzhou City. The clear water that nourishes the people has turned into sewage. The Qinzhou government did not deal with such a major event, let alone report it. It is true." A crime of neglect!"
"Go and call Qin Zhouzhang and Ye Cheng."
"No!" Xu Hu responded first, then looked around, with a confused look on his face: "But Young Master..."
Xiao Yuan understood what he meant. This time, he came out with only Xu Hu and no other followers, so he said: "Don't worry, I'll wait for them here. You can go back as soon as possible."
"This is it!" Xu Hu had no choice but to accept the order and left quickly.
This place is not too far from Wuwei Mansion, so Xu Hu went to Ye Cheng's place first.
At this time, Ye Cheng was checking the files as usual, and a soldier ran in in a panic, "Sir, the Tiger Marquis is here."
"What!?" Hearing this, Ye Cheng was startled, and quickly stood up to greet him personally.
Xu Hu and Ye Cheng are the oldest generals under Xiao Yuan's command, and they are very familiar with each other.
After the meeting, before Ye Cheng could exchange polite greetings, Xu Hu got straight to the point and said, "Brother Ye, the king is calling urgently."
"Ah!?" Ye Cheng was stunned for a moment, then said quickly: "Hurry, hurry."
"In addition, you can send another sergeant to inform Mr. Gong, the leader of Qinzhou. Your Majesty also wants to see him."
