The capital of Chengdu is more than a hundred miles away from Guanxian County. Taking a boat is naturally much slower than riding a horse, but the advantage is that it is quiet and there is no chance of being spotted during the boat ride.
In one hour, at the speed of the boat on the inland river at that time, it could travel forty or fifty miles with the wind and the current, but only half if it was against the wind and the current.
Going from Chengdu Prefecture to Guanxian County is against the current.
The wind direction was always changing, and the sand-proof flat-bottomed boat Gao Kewei was riding stayed on all night and arrived at Majiadu, five miles south of Guan County.
In Guan County, the most famous one is Dujiangyan.
In this era based on agriculture, water conservancy is the lifeblood of farmers. Thanks to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Guanxian County enjoys geographical advantages. For thousands of years, it has been prosperous and the people have had no fear of famine. It can be said that it is a heaven among heavens.
In the past, Guan County did not have a city wall. During the Hongwu period, Taizu ordered cities to be built all over the world, and it was only then that earth walls were built in Guanxian County. The current masonry city wall in Guanxian County was just built during the Hongzhi period.
The county town is not big, the perimeter of the city wall is only eight miles. Today, at Xuanhua Gate in the east, Daojiang Gate in the south, Xuanwei Gate in the west, and Zhen'an Gate in the north, soldiers under Guo Zan are all inspecting and questioning passers-by.
Here comes the question: After all, Gao Kewei is not a person who has been issued a sea arrest document. There is no portrait. How many of the soldiers below have seen Gao Kewei with their own eyes?
Guo Zan had no choice but to cooperate with the "fearful" magistrate of Guan County and first detained a large number of suspicious caravans and people for Guo Zan to identify.
The same is naturally true for Fulongdu and Majiadu in the south of Guanxian County. Guo Zan has arranged manpower here to inspect every boat coming downstream.
This kind of investigation naturally caused a lot of complaints.
"There are women on board, how can I let you search it? This is the boat that the Tongzhi of Chengdu Prefecture came to visit friends in Guan County! Where are you soldiers, so daring to act like this?"
Gao Kewei looked at the ship in front of him through the gap in the curtain on the window with an ugly face in the cabin, listening to the roar of the steward on the ship in front of him.
How could it be so fast? Yang Junlin is a waste!
On the dock, it was clearly not the officials from Guan County doing anything. The momentum of those officers and soldiers cannot be compared to that of the Yamen servants.
After hearing the words of the Chengdu governor's family manager, the officers and soldiers were obviously more vigilant. The leader said something that Gao Kewei couldn't hear clearly. He saw only a few soldiers and took care of the ship. Another man got on his horse and galloped away to Guan County.
"Master, what should I do?" Next to Gao Kewei, his soldier who had been ordered to deliver a message to Songpan Wei and Xingdusi asked seriously.
Gao Kewei shook his head calmly: "It's okay. This is a ship that usually goes to Songpan for trading. I'll let Shopkeeper He deal with it later. The four of you are just escorting the ship. I'm just a doctor who identifies medicinal materials."
Along the way here, Gao Kewei has changed all his clothes, even cut off a lot of his original good beard, and his appearance has changed drastically.
He even had a lot of pimples on his face, making him look like a bad old man that no one would want to take a second look at.
At this moment, he had been staying in the cabin reading a medicine book.
Western Sichuan is indeed a source of medicinal materials, especially Songpan, which is rich in hundreds of kinds of traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Fritillaria nard, spikenard, noxious root, costus, and cordyceps.
At this time of year, Songpan enters the Cordyceps harvesting season.
The backup plan arranged by Gao Kewei will naturally be thoughtful.
The "Shopkeeper He" on the ship was already waiting for inspection by the soldiers.
"This general, our Cheng'antang comes to western Sichuan every year to buy herbal medicine." Shopkeeper He said to a small team leader, also called "general", already holding some broken silver in his hand, "There are five guys and four guards on the boat. There is also a doctor who can identify medicinal materials, do you want all the young ones to be called, or do you want the general to take a closer look?"
"Everyone is asked to come outside first." The team leader said with a straight face and did not accept what he handed over.
After a while, several people were called to the deck outside, and the captain said in a deep voice: "Third brother, please go back to the cabin and see if there are anyone hiding there."
After saying that, he looked at Shopkeeper He: "You said there are only ten people in total. If there are still people hidden, you'd better explain it now."
"I'm not telling you any lies, just search for it, General!" Shopkeeper He laughed along with him, "Just please be kind and don't destroy some of the medicinal materials that have been received in Xinfan in the cabin."
"Lu Yin brought it to me to see."
"Yes, yes, yes." Shopkeeper He quickly took out Lu Yin and another certificate from his arms, "Our Chengantang also has municipal registration in Guan County."
Businessmen and citizens must apply for road guidance before traveling. On this road guide, the merchants' names, hometowns, whereabouts, reasons for going out, dates and physical characteristics, etc. are recorded in detail for inspection.
When applying for a road guide, you will naturally have to pay a certain fee, commonly known as "road guide money."
The so-called city registration is a certificate that allows you to open a store and do business in a certain city. If you have city registration, you are a legal merchant who pays market rent to the local area. In addition, you will also have a showdown with shop workers, and you are considered a local resident.
The team leader carefully looked at the road signs and the words on the market register, and kept looking at the face of shopkeeper He.
Among the crowd on the deck, Gao Kewei was guessing the origin of these soldiers.
A low-level military attache doing inspections in Majiadu is also literate?
These are probably the most elite officers and soldiers in Sichuan.
Looking to a place far away from the pier, the grooms were taking care of more than twenty horses.
In other words, the ones inspected here are all cavalry, and everyone has a horse.
Gao Kewei's face remained calm, but he knew one fact in his heart: this could only be sent by Xue Lun, who was already looking for him.
The team leader saw that the physical description on the road guide was indeed Shopkeeper He himself, and then looked at the ten people in front of him.
The five guys were naturally trembling with fear, which seemed normal. Those four sturdy ones were probably the guards, and there was also a scholar with a sinister face.
The news from above is: Gao Kewei brought many soldiers and honor guards with him when he left the city.
Of course, if he wanted to escape, he would have changed his appearance and concealed his whereabouts. But if Amber can lead the team to pursue the case in person, Gao Kewei should not only have such a few people around him.
At this time, the person who went into the cabin to check carefully also came back: "Brother Xiong, there is no one else in the boat."
The team leader nodded: "Extend your hands and let me see."
"...General, what do you mean?" Shopkeeper He still said something more, but after seeing his serious expression, he quickly said, "You are too talkative, General, please look..."
He was a little worried.
Gao Kewei calmly stretched out his hand in front of him and looked at each of the team leaders one by one.
This depends on which people are pampered?
The five guys naturally have rough hands, and the four soldiers are acting as guards. They are strong and strong, as if they have been trained.
And when the team leader walked up to Gao Kewei, he naturally smelled the scent of the cabin where he had kept various medicinal materials for so long.
Since those hands were those of a doctor, it was normal that they were not that rough.
"Are you a doctor?" The team leader stopped in front of Gao Kewei, looked into his eyes and asked.
Gao Kewei had seen a lot of big scenes and replied calmly: "General, you don't believe me? How about I give you a bloodline?"
He seemed calm and unhurried, and the team leader really stretched out his wrist: "Come on. The person we are looking for is a treasonous person. I can't trust him. I have to carefully verify his identity."
After saying that, he looked at Shopkeeper Na He and the others to see their expressions.
Shopkeeper He looked very nervous and wronged: "We are all good citizens who abide by the law, how can we be traitors? General, when did traitors appear in Chengdu Prefecture? No wonder I came to Guan County today to see General You guys..."
The squad leader focused on Gao Kewei's soldiers. Although their expressions changed slightly, they said nothing or did nothing.
Gao Kewei really stretched out his hand, shook his sleeves and then stretched out his fingers to take his pulse: Dare to pretend to be a doctor, because Gao Kewei is really interested in medicine, knows a little bit about it, and can at least make nonsense.
He still wants to pretend to be a doctor who can identify medicinal materials. He is not a miracle doctor. He has enough medical knowledge.
While he was feeling his pulse, he heard the captain suddenly say: "You are about the same number as that group of traitors. Stay on the ship for now! Be honest and search them one by one! Are you a doctor? I will find a real one." Doctor, let’s take a test!”
"General! It's unfair, this, this, this..." Shopkeeper He suddenly became very nervous, and his eyes couldn't help but look at Gao Kewei, "Doctor Wang is really a doctor, General, why don't you wait until Doctor Wang finished checking General's pulse?" One or two?”
The squad leader still looked at Gao Kewei and the soldiers, took a step back and said with a ferocious smile: "I would rather catch the mistake than let it go. Little doctor, when you heard that we were looking for the traitor, you still kept your composure and wanted to take my pulse." Prove your identity? Brothers, surround us!"
"What an injustice!" Shopkeeper He cried sadly and took out two more silver ingots as if it hurt him. "The road guide and market registration are all ready for me. Why would you scare me? Please accept your small kindness and treat your brothers to some." liquor."
He behaved like a sensible little businessman, as if this group of officers and soldiers were just scaring them to extort some money.
The squad leader continued to look at the people in front of him not far away, and showed extremely vigilance: "Don't do this to me, I'm not worried, just obediently let my soldiers search you!"
For a moment, there was quite a sense of tension on the deck.
"Isn't this old man afraid of taking a test?" On the contrary, Gao Kewei stood up angrily, "If you want to search, search it. Shopkeeper He, please give me more money this time!"
It seems that he is just dissatisfied because of this setback.
Shopkeeper He could only smile bitterly when he heard this: "Don't be upset, Doctor Wang. Please be patient for a while. General, please forgive me. Doctor Wang is very skilled in medicine, but he has a bad temper."
The squad leader had no expression on his face and just waved his hand to let his men search him.
In silence, he kept paying attention to the reactions of the people on the boat.
What Gao Kewei was afraid of was that his people would be too nervous. Now he suppressed his discomfort and had someone search out a half-read medical book from his arms.
Naturally, nothing special was found on the rest of the people. The team leader looked at Gao Kewei after flipping through the medical book, and then said: "It's true that we are searching for traitors. You came from Chongqing Mansion. Have you ever encountered a group of more than thirty people pretending to be a caravan in the past two days?"
"General, I'm doing business outside. One more thing is worse than one less. I really didn't pay much attention to it." Hearing this, shopkeeper He once again presented the silver ingot, "Since you have trusted us, you must accept this offer, and we will also accept it." Be at ease."
"No need. Go to the pier and pay the tax before entering the city. If you encounter such a group of suspicious people later, report them to the official immediately and you will be rewarded heavily."
After saying that, he got off the boat without changing his expression and walked towards a boat at the back that was docked at the ferry.
Gao Kewei breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had told them before: Don't take action in a panic unless absolutely necessary.
These officers and soldiers who came to inspect did not accept any money, but they also conducted the inspection in a very organized manner. They even received orders to deceive, and someone was guiding them behind the scenes.
Even the best soldiers in Sichuan may not be able to do business in such a business-like manner without taking any money.
It's just because the matter is serious, and if something went wrong after accepting the money, it would be difficult for them to defend themselves.
Regarding the orders received, deception must be flexibly implemented according to different people. The leader in each place must be smart.
After breathing a sigh of relief, I heard Shopkeeper He shout: "You three will stay on the boat. Doctor Wang, and the six of you, come with me to get off the boat and enter the city."
Everything looks like a serious business.
He first went into the cabin with Gao Kewei and looked around. Although some places were indeed messed up, they were obviously just looking for a place to hide people.
"Master, will you hire two carriages when we get to the dock?" Shopkeeper He said solemnly, "I'm afraid there will be a lot of officers and soldiers along the way. Turn to the trail and go to the town to the east of the city first, then abandon the carriage and leave quickly? "
It was like this when I first arrived in Guanxian County. I'm afraid that a dragnet has been laid out in Shuzhong.
Gao Kewei was also heavy-hearted, but he shook his head: "It doesn't have to be like this. You enter the city as usual. I changed my clothes on the way and only went with Tan Wu. I also prepared a road guide. You and I will meet again at Yuexipengsi. "
After that, he took out a few pages of documents, a few banknotes, and two sets of robes from the small mezzanine between the beds in the cabin that could not hide anyone, and quickly packed them.
Unexpectedly, he had just prepared everything when he heard a noise outside.
"Master General, what are you doing..."
Shopkeeper He and Gao Kewei walked to the cabin door and took a look. They saw that the team leader just left and came back, and there was a rather haggard and embarrassed man beside them. He looked over with bloodshot eyes. When he saw Gao Kewei, he stretched out his hand and said, "Even if it's not real, he is still one of the substitutes!"
Gao Kewei's heart was shaken, and the captain seemed to have seen the treasure: "Take it!"
Damn it, if it weren’t for the fact that after getting off the ship, a man suddenly appeared and stopped him. He claimed to be the Colonel of the Sichuan Walking Seat of Jinyiwei, but he would have been walked by this man who had gone through so many storms!
This time it was no longer a lie. All the soldiers in the group drew their swords with gleaming eyes.
"Master General, what does this mean..." Shopkeeper He was still lucky.
Gao Kewei beside him was complaining: Why can it be so fast? Only then did he escape until the next day!
He knew that after dividing the suspects along the way, the four guards he had left were completely unable to withstand them.
But being blocked on this pier, how to escape?
Seeing that this group did not bring bows and arrows, Gao Kewei decisively pushed Shopkeeper He forward and jumped directly into the river.
Born in Huguang, he has good water skills, but he hasn't done anything in the water for many years.
"Hey, it's your uncle!" The captain in Jinyi cursed beside the team leader. He picked up his energy and jumped into the water and quickly chased Gao Kewei.
There was already chaos on the boat, and the captain kept ordering: "Get the boat quickly, and the bows and arrows! They are all captured alive, don't chop them to death!"
Diving, diving, fighting for his life, Shopkeeper He has been kicked over by him.
In the middle of the river, the captain in Jinyi had already caught up with Gao Kewei. He strangled him around the neck with his backhand and stepped on the water. His head was above the water and he was panting: "I have been chasing you for two days and one night! Two days and one night!"
There’s another update at 10 o’clock
