Chapter 4896 Falling into the Trap
In the land of Hexi and the ancient Silk Road, Guzang City stands among the mountains and rivers, looking at Qilian in the south and the desert in the north. It has been passed down through the ages in the cold wind and snow.
Guzang City was first built during the Xiongnu period, and was repeatedly expanded during the Wuliang Period. It now spans three miles from east to west and seven miles from north to south, with "streets leading to twenty-two gates." The number of city gates is the largest among all capital cities in the past dynasties.
"Zhou Li·Kao Gong Ji" says: Facing with your back to the market.
This means that the palace is in the middle, the court is to the south, and the city is to the north. This is the regulation of the ancient capital.
However, since the construction of Guzang City in the Qianliang period, palaces were built in the north of the city and markets were built in the south of the city. This was inconsistent with the "system of backing the market". Therefore, Guzang City pioneered the "North of the Palace and the City in the South" and laid the foundation for the future of East Asia. The new pattern of construction of the royal capital became a model city.
Its pattern initially influenced the construction of Pingcheng, the capital of the early Northern Wei Dynasty, and then the capital city of Luoyang in the Northern Wei Dynasty, Yecheng in the Northern Qi Dynasty, Jiankang in the Southern Dynasties, and the city planning of Chang'an City in the Sui and Tang Dynasties were all deeply influenced by it.
……
The official road crosses from outside Qingyang Gate. Even in the snowy weather, there are still merchants gathering on both sides of the road, and the carriages and horses are racing. The prosperity is even far better than that of Dayi in the Central Plains, with Han people and merchants everywhere, and business travelers are endless.
Although the tax system has been changed in the Tang Dynasty, it has not been implemented in Liangzhou. The establishment of "tax cards" is not only an important financial source for the local government, but also a necessary means to control the goods sold by merchants from the east and west, such as important strategic materials such as salt and iron. It is absolutely not allowed to flow to the Western Regions, and the existence of "tax cards" is really necessary.
The snow is falling heavily, and a long queue has formed in front of the tax caravan heading to Guanzhong. A carriage is loaded with goods dragged by horses or camels. The caravan guards are wearing thick cotton coats and holding swords and bows. Although this place is Under the rule of the Tang Dynasty, banditry and the like had disappeared, but the Han people were mixed and violent, and fights often occurred. Once a real fire broke out, goods would be damaged.
An Yongda was wearing a fur suit and a felt hat covered with snowflakes. He was sitting on the shaft of the car with his hands folded in his sleeves. The flag next to him was painted with the Yin family emblem. Yin Hongyong not only went there in person to offer a bribe to Cheng Yaojin. , and even took out the family crest to hide from others.
During the two hundred years of Chang'an, the An family emblem has long been the "inspection-free gold medal" for the entire Hexi region. As long as the caravans traveling to and from Hexi with the An family emblem are exempted from inspection, however, today they have to take shelter in the distant Hexi region. The Yin family, which is far inferior to the An family, makes An Yongda feel very depressed...
The snow was getting heavier and heavier, but fortunately the wind was moderate and it wasn't that cold.
An Yongda stretched his neck and took a look. The convoy in front was still many miles long, and he couldn't pass the checkpoint in a while. This made him irritated and worried. After all, the nights were long and there were many dreams, and even with the protection of the Yin family, he couldn't. Make sure no accidents happen.
There was the sound of horse hooves, and more than ten riders rushed up from behind in the wind and snow. When they got close, they all rode up. The knights on the horses did not dismount. They pushed up their felt hats, revealing their eyebrows covered with ice and snow, and arched towards An Yongda. He handed over his hand and said, "I've seen my uncle! My father was afraid that the heavy snow would delay his trip, so he asked me to escort him. Now I'm going to communicate with the officers and soldiers and let my uncle pass the checkpoint first."
This is about jumping in line.
An Yongda was overjoyed. This was an auspicious sign for Yin Hongyong's son. The two families had known each other for a long time, so he sat on the shaft of the car and returned the gift: "Your Majesty, An will appreciate this friendship deeply, and it will be repaid in the future!" < br>
Yin Hongyong really knows how to be a good person. Although he accepted the generous gift from himself, he also took human kindness to the extreme. Not only did he personally communicate with Cheng Yaojin, but he also sent his son to escort him through the card, which was really touching.
"Uncle, wait a moment. I'll come as soon as I go."
After saying that, more than ten riders rode forward and reached the checkpoint, murmuring for a while with the officers and soldiers at the checkpoint.
After turning around for a moment, Yin Zhaoji called out loudly on horseback: "Drive the carriage over and come this way."
An Yongda quickly told the leading vehicle to obey the order, so the convoy broke away from the long queue and slowly moved forward from the official road next to it.
This move naturally aroused dissatisfaction among the other teams queuing up, and they heard curses along the way. However, many people stopped after seeing the Yin family emblem on the team. Even if there were still one or two who still complained, the momentum was much smaller.
The Guzang Yin clan belongs to a wealthy family in Liangzhou, and with this privilege of jumping in line, even if others are dissatisfied, there is nothing they can do about it...
Before the convoy arrived at the checkpoint, sure enough, the other convoys passing the checkpoint had been suspended, and the convoy with the Yin family emblem was allowed to pass first.
Arriving at the checkpoint, An Yongda looked at the hundreds of fully armed soldiers standing on both sides in the heavy snow. He was suddenly shocked and felt that something was not right about the atmosphere. Since the fall of the Turkic Khanate, tribesmen migrated westward, and only a few remnants were left in the grasslands and deserts, the security in Hexi has always been very good. Most of the soldiers at the checkpoints along the way were just pretending. No one dared to kill people and steal goods under the noses of the Tang army, so checkpoints were placed everywhere. There are not many defenders.
However, considering that now that Cheng Yaojin has settled in Guzang City, it is reasonable to strictly inspect the caravans passing by outside the city...
"How many vehicles are there in total and what kind of goods are loaded on them?"
A group of soldiers who looked good came forward, stretched out their hands to lift the felt cloth of a car, and asked casually.
Yin Zhaoji stepped forward and replied with a smile: "They are all furs and medicinal materials sold back from the Western Regions. There are fifteen carts in total."
However, he whispered: "This is the Yin family's fleet. Because the value of the goods is too high, I am afraid that the details will be revealed during the inspection and will be targeted by thieves. Therefore, I have reported it to Lu Guogong in advance, and I have obtained Lu Guogong's permission to pass without inspection. I don't know. Can Xiongtai get an order in advance?”
The team was nodding: "It turns out to be Yin's team..."
An Yuanda felt relieved, but immediately became confused.
The team seemed to be breathing heavily, and then continued after a pause: "...What about the Yin family? This is the world of the Tang Dynasty, and the laws of the Tang Dynasty are followed! If one or two of them go through the back door to evade taxes and sell contraband, the country will Isn’t the Tang Dynasty going to be destroyed? Come here and search it for me carefully!”
Yin Zhaoji was shocked and quickly grabbed the team leader: "Duke Lu has already agreed. Brother, why don't you ask your superior?"
"What official?" The team was shaking off Yin Zhaoji's hand and said disdainfully: "I am the biggest official in this tax card! Even if it's Duke Lu in person, I have to enforce the law impartially and search strictly! Search for me!"
"Here!"
More than a dozen soldiers around him quickly stepped forward, searching each vehicle carefully. The soldiers standing on both sides stepped forward in unison and surrounded the entire convoy. Each of these soldiers held their hands on the hilts of their swords, waiting for When the guard made any movement, he drew his sword out of its sheath.
The ominous sign was anxious and stamped its feet: "Alas, alas, it doesn't make sense, it doesn't make sense!"
But they couldn't stop the soldiers from searching the car.
A soldier opened the felt cloth, moved the bag containing the medicinal materials aside, and suddenly shouted: "It's trapped!"
Several soldiers came forward and saw neatly arranged boxes under the upper layer of medicinal bags.
In name, they were selling medicinal materials, but in fact there were boxes underneath. It was obviously a trap!
An Yongda was so panicked that he jumped down from the chariot shaft early, pushed the soldiers away and tried to cover himself, while shouting at Yin Zhaoji, who was obviously in a daze next to him: "My nephew, go and see Duke Lu at once!"
It seems that Cheng Yaojin failed to communicate clearly, so the checkpoint soldiers did not know that the convoy had obtained the exemption qualification, which led to the soldiers coming to search. At this time, the soldiers must be prevented from searching the car, otherwise the wealth worth hundreds of thousands of dollars will be revealed, which will cause great trouble!
Not to mention others, if Cheng Yaojin knew that the wealth that actually deceived him was so huge, there was no guarantee that he would not be greedy!
The reason why he begged Yin Hongyong to contact Cheng Yaojin to buy an "inspection-free" qualification was to prevent this situation.
The money and silk moved people's hearts, and given Cheng Yaojin's lawless character, he might not be able to give the Yin family face when the time comes...
Yin Zhaoji seemed to have only reacted at this time. He quickly got on his horse and shouted: "Uncle, wait for me. I'll be back as soon as I go!"
He led his servants on horseback and quickly returned to the original route, entering Guzang City from Qingyang Gate.
The soldier didn't take it seriously and sneered: "No matter whose caravan you are, please explain why you are carrying such a huge amount of money and where are you going? Why? Why are you using medicinal materials to deceive others?"
An Yongda didn't know what was wrong with Yin Hongyong, so he calmed down and said: "My subordinates are actually the Yin family's caravan. They are going to Chang'an to buy tea and silk to sell to the country of food. It's just that the journey is high and far away. I was afraid that exposing the money would attract thieves’ covetousness, so I had to cover it up.”
The soldier's eyes lit up as he looked at the convoy, and he snorted and said: "Buying tea and silk? I think he wants to buy the garrison in Guanzhong with a huge sum of money, and his intention is evil? Come, take all this convoy into custody, and wait. I’ll take action after reporting it to the commander!”
"Here!"
The soldiers on the periphery took action instantly, first disarming and tying up the convoy guards, and then in small groups with clear division of labor, they drove the vehicles towards the military camp under the city wall.
An Yongda knew something was wrong and was about to resist. Several horizontal knives were already placed on his neck. The sharp blades even cut his skin. He could only sigh in despair and surrender.
I just hope that Yin Zhaoji can inform Yin Hongyong quickly, and Yin Hongyong will communicate with Cheng Yaojin to give him permission.
But he also knew that since the money and silk had been exposed, it was almost impossible not to be bitten hard by Cheng Yaojin...
……
In the barracks in front of the Qianguang Hall, Cheng Yaojin sat by the stove with a big horse and a golden sword, and raised his glass to Yin Hongyong with a smile: "Xiandi is indeed aware of current affairs. This time he destroyed An's intention to bribe the courtiers. It is a great achievement." For one thing, I will write a letter to express my merits to Your Majesty later. I think Your Majesty will definitely reward you." Yin Hongyong smiled bitterly. Lian sighed and said: "Such actions are really contrary to the ethics of the subordinates. However, the rebellious ministers and traitors can be punished by everyone. The Yin family is a relative of the emperor and has been deeply favored by the emperor. How can he dare to help the emperor do evil? I only hope that the concubine in the capital will be virtuous. The empress and His Highness Prince Qi can understand my painstaking efforts and will not blame me for this. ”