Whether thirty-four, thirty-five and forty-eight can be considered as a great achievement is up to you to judge.
Li Dalang and his group of more than ten people, who were far away from Jiangnan East Road, had already left Shule and headed for Xizhou (today's Turpan area). (Chapter 595 of Book Friends Circle is illustrated with a simplified map of the Overland Silk Road)
Due to its superior geographical location, Xizhou is not only an important supply center for the Overland Silk Road, but also connects Europe and Asia. The important transportation hub of the mainland is indeed a battleground for military strategists.
Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty had strong soldiers and horses. After destroying the Gaochang Kingdom, they renamed this place Xizhou.
The weather has become warmer and warmer along the way. After arriving in Xizhou, it is enough to just wear a coat at noon.
Li Dalang and his party, disguised as leather traders, are lining up now, waiting to enter the city.
As for the goal of Li Dalang's trip, the caravan behind Shenji Trading Company funded by the Shen family in Jiangnan had already entered the city long ago.
Because Shen Ji is a wealthy merchant, he is used to this trade route. Although when he entered the city, Wang Dingdao, who was sent by Li Dalang in advance and had already pretended to be a single traveler returning home, was observing. Nothing was found about Shen Kee Company.
"Captain, I can see clearly that although the steward delivered the parcel to the policeman guarding the city gate as usual, the policeman who inspected it did not even look at the goods.
I watched from the sidelines, as if this gave me money, just to get past other people in line and check as early as possible
This does not mean that we should not check or settle the matter.
I can clearly see that after the chief of the police collected the purse, although he gave the inspector a look, the four people still conscientiously looked at every car carefully, even the package. The tight sack was even asked to be opened and inspected. "
Li Dalang nodded, and did not say anything else to Wang Bingdao. He only said: "It doesn't matter, let's just remember what the Shen family firm did along the way. What happens next will be judged by the superiors.
After being tired for more than half a month, you take turns taking a bath with them to relieve your fatigue. In the evening, you all eat pot together. "
" Captain, what about Shen Ji? No need to stare?
Otherwise, I just go alone, I'm not tired. How can this journey be compared to the hardship we endured when we traveled thousands of miles? "
When Li Dalang heard Wang Bingdao mention what happened back then, he couldn't help but think of the dozens of people who died. After being stunned for a moment, Li Dalang stood up and patted Wang Bingdao on the shoulder, "No need. , this place is an important transportation thoroughfare, and it is the most prosperous place for hundreds of miles nearby.
Shen Ji and his party will definitely be repairing here for at least two days. Don’t worry, we won’t get lost. "
With Li Dalang's accurate words, Wang Dadan breathed a sigh of relief, "The team is saying yes, then it must be." ”
As for Shen Ji and his party, just as Li Dalang said, they really stayed in the city for three good days.
In the past three days, in addition to arranging the tasks and actions of the dozen or so people who followed, Li Dalang also personally took Wang DaDaLang to keep an eye on Shen Fangming, the steward of Shen Ji and his group.
But Li Dalang and Wang Dadan, who had been following Shen Fangming for three days, really didn't realize that he had talked with anyone suspicious.
After returning to the rented place at night, Gao Haiping and the others, who had been arranged by Li Dalang to do other things during the day, also explained their findings to Li Dalang one by one.
“It’s nothing unusual. It’s perfectly normal for those who arrive here to visit the official Lang Guan who is in charge of business here the next day.
We are a small caravan in disguise. We arrived here Business managers raised by wealthy merchants will have a drink with Lang Guan
It doesn't have any purpose, it's just to be polite to the officials and their families, and to be familiar with each other, so that if there are any edicts in the future, I can get first-hand information.
These are common methods used by businessmen, but they are nothing serious. "
Li Dalang asked Gao Haiping: "Then did you find anything strange? "Gao Haiping's hesitant look made everyone else in the room a little curious, let alone Li Dalang.
"Just say, I guess what you find strange is our breakthrough point. ”
After a slight hesitation, Gao Haiping told Li Dalang the strange thing he discovered: "Captain, brothers are all real people. We are on a mission and we are all honest.
However, when a businessman goes to the supply ground to make some repairs, there is no man who would not go to the flower house. "
But Li Dalang, who was only sixteen years old, was listening. When it came to the word "花楼", I understood what the strange point Gao Haiping was talking about.
Gao Haiping did not see contempt or disgust on Li Dalang's face, but instead saw Li Dalang's frowning brows and tight corners of his mouth.
Li Dalang guessed in his heart without saying a word. He continued to look at Gao Haiping. Before Gao Haiping could continue to speak, Wang Dalang answered from the side: "What's the matter?
No one from Shen Ji Company went to Hualou? "
"No, Shen Fangming and the other three managers didn't go. Except for the first day when the four of them went to see Lang Guan for a drink with the managers of the other two firms, they spent the whole two days. , one day they were shopping in the city, and the other day they were relaxing in the only teahouse in the city. In these three days, the four of them really didn't go to the Flower House once! "
"Weird! This is definitely weird! ”
Although Li Dalang is not married, he certainly understands the reason for the man’s bad taste. After all, the Li family practices medicine, and the Li family has an enlightened male elder like Li’s father, who has been with Li Dalang since he was a child. He talked about the man's nocturnal emission, and also said that a man and a woman can conceive an heir.
Although Li Dalang has not practiced it, he has rich theoretical knowledge.
Therefore, what Gao Haiping said is indeed weird.
It would be reasonable to say that the servants in the caravan with little money would not go to the Flower House, but Shen Fangming and the other three big stewards did not go. If there is no problem, it is really It’s unreasonable.
Wang Dadan and the others listened to Gao Haiping's words and started talking together.
"Is it that Shen Fangming can't do it?
The remaining stewards are afraid that they will offend Shen Fangming by going there?"
"Then how old is Shen Fang next year?"
Li Dalang directly answered Wang Bingdao's question, "It's only eighty-eight in thirty, so he can't be considered old."
Gao Haiping is slightly older, and He is a married man with children in his hometown. He continued what Li Dalang said: "Even if Shen Fangming is really in trouble at this age, he will not stop going to Hualou.
Even if he just invites Hua Niang to have a drink Listening to the song, I will never not go!
Such a matter is related to a man’s dignity. Shen Fangming is thirty-eight, even if he is seventy-eight, he will definitely go.”
"Sure enough, there is a problem!
Come here, tell me in detail the schedule of the other three stewards you have been monitoring for the past three days."
In other words, I have always wanted to It’s a really good place to travel to Xinjiang.