"My boss, ahead is Jimingyi, which is almost sixty miles away from Xuanfu Town. Should we continue on our way to Xuanfuyi to rest, or should we stop at Jimingyi?"
Han Huang, dressed as a butler, sat in the front room (the shaft of the carriage) and asked in a low voice towards the carriage.
"Chicken Cing Station?"
Chongzhen's heart suddenly moved, and he had the idea of wanting to take a look, and immediately said: "Stay at Jimingyi for a while, I will take a look before going on my way!"
It is true that Jimingyi is too famous, and many movies have been filmed here in later generations.
Such as "Westward Journey", "The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor", the TV series "Huan Zhu Ge Ge" and so on.
Putting aside these things, Jimingyi is the largest and most functional post station in the Ming Dynasty. It is more accurate to say that it is a post station than to call it Jimingyi City.
When we get here, we naturally have to experience it.
Less than half an hour later, the convoy arrived at Jimingyi City. Entering the city was not a problem at all.
I don’t know what method Han Huang used, but the sergeant guarding the city actually agreed to let Chongzhen and others go up the tower.
Standing on the east city gate tower and looking into the city, you can see a five-foot-wide avenue leading directly to the west gate. It is straight, spacious, and unobstructed.
In Chongzhen's mind, he sketched an urgent and spectacular scene of postmen holding torches at night, flying horses to pass the post, pedestrians giving way, and shopkeepers rushing out.
In order to transmit information and build such a wide road, one can imagine how harmful the Mongolian tribes were to the Ming Dynasty.
Standing on the tower and looking out at the city, I recalled the locations used in TV series in later generations.
After watching for a while, Chongzhen got off the tower and the motorcade continued to set off.
By the time the sun set, the motorcade had arrived at Xuanfu Station, the last station in the south of Xuanfu Town.
"Old Han, it will be almost noon when we arrive at Xuanfu City tomorrow. According to the agreement, Tengxiang Right Guards, White Guards, and Tiger Guards will set off this morning!"
Han Huang poured a cup of tea for Chongzhen and whispered: "My boss, as agreed, they set off this morning and arrived at Xuanfu in three days. We have one day to take a look at Xuanfu and Zhangjiakou Fort.
Because once the army sets off to the north, the spies stationed by Jiubian in Beijing will definitely spread the news. Beijing is only more than 400 miles away from Xuanfu, and it only takes one day.
Although we have made arrangements, the Xuanfu will know about it tomorrow night at the latest. "
"Well, let's leave early tomorrow!"
After a night of silence, the convoy set off in the starlight. When the sun jumped out of the earth, the city wall of Xuanfu Town was already in sight, but it was also blocked.
Because there were caravans waiting to enter the city in front of them, it was so dark that it was very spectacular.
After waiting for a full quarter of an hour, there was no movement at all.
"Come on, let's go take a look at the front!"
"Master, it's better for me to go, and you wait in the car for a while!"
But Chongzhen still waved his hand. Seeing this, Han Huang could only nod towards the guards. More than ten guards slipped into the convoy without leaving a trace and surrounded Chongzhen.
When they were still more than ten feet away from the city gate, Han Huang looked at an old man in the convoy next to him: "Brother, what's going on in front of you? They haven't moved for a long time!"
"I guess this is the first time for me to come to Xuanfu just like your brother."
Without waiting for Han Huang's response, Chongzhen said doubtfully: "I hear what you mean, there is a mystery in it!"
The old man laughed and said, "Young man, if you have some understanding, you can understand it with just a few clicks."
Han Huang on the side twitched when he heard the old man calling Chongzhen a young man, but secretly motioned to the guards who were about to draw their swords not to move.
"Young man, if you had been here a few times, you wouldn't ask this question. Xuan Mansion has a secret rule.
That is, all caravans entering Xuanfu City or Zhangjiakou Fort must pay taxes! "
Without waiting for Chongzhen to ask, the old man whispered: "It's not the commercial tax stipulated by the imperial court, but another protection tax.
All caravans entering the city will register in the city in advance to receive a voucher, and someone will calculate the protection tax for you when receiving it.
A few taels less, a few hundred or a thousand taels more, it all depends on what materials the caravan is selling.
Over time, everyone has become accustomed to spending money to buy peace of mind. At most, we can lower the price during acquisition, and our profits will still be there. "
"Then why don't you fight? This place is so close to Beijing. Wouldn't it be difficult for these people in Beijing to cause trouble?"
After Chongzhen finished speaking, the old man looked at Chongzhen as if he were an idiot. Chongzhen felt uncomfortable looking at him.
After a long time, the old man looked at Han Huang and said, "Brother, you have to train this young boy in your family. This kind of straight character is not suitable for business.
Where is this place? Xuanfu Town is the first of the nine sides.
There are the Xuanfu General Soldier, the Xuanfu Governor, the Wandu Secretary and other government offices within the Xuanfu. Which one can we offend?
If the imperial court finds out, they will most likely be killed by these people, but can you ensure that the new governors and soldiers who come here will not follow suit? Ten officials and nine corrupt officials are no joke.
And perhaps generals at all levels and aristocratic families in Xuanfu are involved here. If you say you have offended them, can you still come to Xuanfu to do business in the future?
If the news spreads to the mutual markets of several other border towns, your caravan will be blocked. "
Han Huang's face was gloomy: "Brother, do you mean that there are similar phenomena in other major border towns?"
"It's almost the same, but the names are the same!"
"Blocking is a good idea. If I want to punish you, I can get you some contraband during the random inspection of goods, such as swords, armor, ironware, salt, tea, etc.
The confiscation of the caravan's supplies is a minor matter, but a serious charge is that you will be accused of collaborating with the enemy. In the worst case, your home will be confiscated and your family will be exterminated. "
"How dare they?"
"dare?"
The old man chuckled, his smile full of mystery: "Young man, do you really think these caravan goods are so clean?"
At this point, the convoy in front finally moved, and the old man patted the dust on his shoulders: "Look, didn't the man in front still give in?
Youdao is that the King of Hell is easy to mess with, and the devil is difficult to deal with. Spending money will cause less trouble, and harmony will make you rich! "
After the old man walked a few steps, he looked at Chongzhen again: "Young man, I think you are rich and noble, so I would like to give you a few words. If you can listen, it's better. If you can't, just think that I'm talking nonsense.
Being young and energetic is a good thing. When I was young, I was just like you, but as I experienced more, I understood.
Whether it's doing business, being a good person, or being an official, what you do is all about humaneness and sophistication!
Too much strength is easy to break, let alone me and other common people, even the emperor cannot be too strong when facing his ministers, otherwise..."
"Let's go, see you at Zhangjiakou Fort if we are destined!"
The convoy moved slowly, and Chongzhen glanced at the flag of the old man's caravan: "Go check this caravan!"
From the conversation with the old man, he noticed too much information, and smuggling had become a secret thing.
The merchant's boldness during this period was more serious than he imagined, and many strategies may need to be changed in the future.
"Let's go!"
Lax armaments, low vigilance, too much scoundrel nature of the sergeants, and a large number of old and weak soldiers were Chongzhen's first impression after entering Xuanfu City.
After walking around the city for a day, I didn't see much. The only people who could live in the military town were the family members of the sergeants and some local people.
In the General Military Mansion of Xuan Mansion, General Wang Chengyin held a piece of information with a solemn expression.
"Tens of thousands of troops from Beijing are coming towards Xuan Mansion. They are suspected to be white soldiers and forbidden troops. The commander does not know."
