Chapter 157 Haidong Hou [Please vote for me! 】
In Longyuan City, the long street is bustling with people.
The streets seemed to be flooded with tourists from other places. Cars and horses were running side by side, children were playing happily, and there were several times more vendors setting up stalls and walking salesmen than usual.
“It’s so lively.” Liang Yue couldn’t help but say when he opened the curtain and saw the scene.
Their carriage was caught in the street traffic and moved very slowly.
"It's already mid-May, so everyone should be here to participate in the Colorful Clothes Festival." Wu Xiaoqi, who was driving outside the curtain, said with a smile: "On the last day of this year's Caiyi Festival, there will be a triumphal ceremony for General Ling Shen's army. It will definitely be an unprecedented event."
"Yes." Liang Yue then remembered the Colorful Clothes Festival.
The Yin Dynasty had a unique festival, which was said to be a tradition left over from the battle of reconquest more than 400 years ago.
At that time, almost everyone from Kyushu participated in the war, the warriors were sergeants, the mortals carried heavy supplies, and every household had men participating in the war. After years of fierce fighting, more than half of them died.
When we returned home after a complete victory, many years had passed, and many people died in the battle without being notified. At that time, the female relatives of the family would wait outside the city day and night, hoping that the man would come home. During the day, they wear colorful clothes so that they can be seen by their families when they return. At night, they carry lanterns to light the way home.
It is said that some people waited for several years in colorful clothes and lanterns, but they never waited for their family to return.
Later this became a tradition. Every night in mid-May, the women of Yin State would wear colorful clothes and carry lanterns, and walk the road from the city gate to their homes. Even if this person has passed away, the soul of the dead must be allowed to return.
After hundreds of years of evolution, this tradition has gradually become the current Colorful Clothes Festival - on May 15th every year, girls will put on the most beautiful colorful satin clothes and carry lanterns. Playing in the streets.
There are many performances on the street, including lion dance, acrobatics, yangko, bamboo circus, iron flower...
There is also another activity, which is that every shop along the street will hang a flower at the door "Flying Flowers" is to hang a bunch of flowers high and let the boys climb up and pick them. The more famous a restaurant or shop, the more expensive and beautiful the hanging flowers will be, and the more people will be competing to pick them.
This item should make people remember the martial spirit and not forget the national humiliation.
Later it evolved into the idea that if a young man fell in love with a girl, he would pick a flying flower for her, give it to the beautiful woman, and invite her to travel with her.
Nowadays, the Caiyi Festival has become, in addition to paying homage to heroic spirits, it is more of a festival for young people to find each other’s loved ones, so it has been passed down for a long time.
As the saying goes, "In May, the gods are all flowing with colorful clouds, and the fire on their bare wrists reflects the flying flowers."
The most lively place of the Caiyi Festival is naturally Longyuan City, so there will be many people from nearby Zhongzhou and even idlers from other states who come here specifically to visit and watch.
"But those of us at Zhuxie Yamen can only watch from the rooftop." Wen Yifan said with a hint of loneliness.
The moment when the whole country is celebrating is the most nervous moment for people in the yamen.
Everyone travels in Longyuan City, and there are millions of people on the streets. This happiest moment is also the moment when theft, robbery, obscenity and other cases are most common. Therefore, at this time of year, all the officials in the imperial court will be extremely vigilant and devote all their strength to maintaining order.
Not to mention the people from the Criminal Department and the Imperial Guards who are waiting day and night and taking turns, Yamen like the Zhuxie Division and the Yinma Prison also have to keep a close eye on each.
"Then let's take a vacation this year and go shopping." Liang Yue chuckled.
"Is that okay?" Wen Yifan asked in a low voice with bright eyes.
Liang Yue also lowered his voice and said, "Let's just say I was injured."
"Yes." Wen Yifan also snickered, "I am indeed injured. "
"That's right! "
The two of them were like two students in the back row of the class, their heads close together and whispering. Wu Xiaoqi in front was speechless for a while.
I said, brother and sister, there are only three people in the car, who are you trying to protect yourself from?
Is the atmosphere here, or do you just treat me as an outsider?
The carriage continued to advance slowly until it reached the north of the city. It then relaxed a bit and sped up, returning to Zhuxie Yamen.
As soon as he returned, Xie Wenxi came out quickly.
“Aiya.” He said with a smile on his face, “Our two great heroes are back.”
"Thank you, sir, but don't say that." Liang Yue quickly stopped him.
"After receiving your news, I immediately went to verify that Yulijiang is indeed one of the twelve generals under the Nine Martingale Spy." Xie Wenxi held his hand, "You join It’s really amazing that Zhuxiesi got rid of such a person soon.”
Although Liang Yue always amazed him, he was no longer so easily frightened.
But this time it was unexpected.
Liang Yue said sternly: "It's only because Senior Sister Wen is in charge that I have a chance to make a contribution. Senior Sister Wen has been under that person's spell, and we need to check on her situation quickly." "Already invited. The priest from Wentian Tower is here, you guys follow me." Xie Wenxi was also nervous about Wen Yifan's situation and had already led the two of them into the main hall before he spoke.
"I'm fine." Wen Yifan smiled and said, "Thank you, sir, for you don't have to worry about me. I'm very fine."
Xie Wenxi saw her bright smile and also He was startled for a moment, then quickly quickened his pace, murmuring: "It seems something is not right, we need to treat it as soon as possible!"
Wen Yifan: "..."
Xie Wenxidi At first glance, I thought she was really fine, but it was really abnormal to see her smiling like this.
On the way in, Liang Yue took the time to ask, "Has Zheng Kan been handed over to the Ministry of Punishment?"
"Um..." Your Excellency did not see him. This man died in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment that night! "
...
The waves on the Moon River are gentle.
A painted red boat with a touch of gold slowly passed by, moving along the river bend. There was a continuous sound of singing and dancing on the boat. It turned out that the musicians on the deck were playing.
There were only two people in the magnificent cabin.
One is an old man wearing a yellow brocade robe. He is in his fifties, has broad shoulders and a thick back. He is sitting on the brocade pier. He is quite strong. He also has a wide face, narrow eyes, and rough, dark skin. Although his clothes and accessories look expensive, his body is not noble at all.
Across from him, there was a man in a black robe. He must have just sat down and took off his hood with his hands, revealing a very tough face. He looked to be a middle-aged man in his thirties, with a bronze complexion, a strong profile, thick eyebrows and big eyes. His hair was tied into a braid at the back of his head, and he had a short beard.
"Brother Manhu came here in such a short time. After all the hard work, are you probably exhausted?" The man in brocade robes opposite poured a glass of wine and raised it from a distance: "Drink this glass to the full for you. Wash away the dust."
"Fortunately, martial arts practitioners are not afraid of tiredness." The man named Manhu replied expressionlessly. He also filled the wine glass and responded: "The goods that Khan is eager to ask for. , it was already postponed, but the appointment was missed. I wonder what happened to Haidong Hou?”
The man in brocade robes opposite was actually the current Haidong Marquis, Jiang Hao.
"Haha." Haidonghou laughed twice and replied: "It was our people in Liangjiang Mansion who had a problem. He committed a crime and was caught by the Ministry of Punishment. I paid a lot of price to have me in Liangjiang Mansion. The only spy in the Punishment Department was used to get rid of him. I was worried that they would keep an eye on Liangjiang Mansion, so I didn’t dare to send anyone to take over the goods for the time being. "
"The Punishment Department?" Man Hu lowered his eyes. His eyes showed suspicion, "Is the Ministry of Justice of your country of Yin controlled by the left prime minister Liang Fuguo? I heard that he is a very scary person."
"That's right." Haidong Hou A flash of coldness flashed in his eyes, fleetingly, "Liang Fuguo is a mad dog. Anyone bitten by him will either lose a piece of meat, or have to chop off his head with a knife! But I don't have the strength to chop off his head, so I just Can cut off my own flesh. Brother Manhu, what I killed was my nephew who was raised since childhood, almost like my son."
"I understand, it should be just like Khan and me. , Although he is not his biological father, he is better than his father. If he is not a very trustworthy person, you will not let him run the business of Liangjiang Mansion." Seeing him say this, Man Hu nodded slightly.
In the land of Jiu Yang, there are only nine people who can be called Khans, and they are the leaders of the nine tribes.
If Man Hu is the nephew of Jiu Yang Khan, his status should not be low.
Haidong Hou sighed, "Well, it's good that you can understand. As long as the goods are loaded in Liangjiang Prefecture, they will arrive at the Golden Sheep Department smoothly. You can tell the Khan not to worry. But just pretend The ship will definitely be late, I hope you don’t be in a hurry.”
“Khan is in a hurry, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent me here,” Manhu frowned and said, “Especially the major cities in Jiu Yang. Bulk goods such as salt, copper coins and spices in Guxu City have always been supplied by our Golden Sheep Department. However, recently, the Water Monkey Department has obtained a large amount of goods from nowhere and sold them at low prices in Guxu City to seize them. Our market. If we don’t compete with them at this time and instead cut off the supply of goods, then it will take a lot of effort to fight for it back.”
"Huh?" Haidong Hou heard this and was confused, "I know exactly the goods that pass through Xihai and Shuangbeicheng every year. There can't be a large amount of goods from another company?"
Jiu Yang and Yin Dynasty have been in a state of banning trade in recent years, but like the Tongbei Chamber of Commerce in the past, if the government does not allow it, then there will be people among the people who will make up for it.
Transporting the exquisite goods of Yin State to Jiu Yang, and transporting the raw materials of Jiu Yang back to Yin State, this kind of "smuggling" has actually not been banned.
The usual method is to carry a small amount of cargo with storage instruments and other equipment, and climb over the towering sky gorge again and again. Although it is dangerous and often fatal, it is very profitable, so there are always many people taking risks.
The biggest smuggler among them is Haidong Hou, who has been handling the royal business for many years.
The ban only bans ordinary people. An official figure like him has wide channels and connections. He can send ships directly through the West Sea to open up Shuangbei city defense. He has both resources and money-making capacity. It is not comparable to those smugglers who work alone, and there is no risk to themselves.
In addition to the land route at Tianxia Pass, there were also two water routes for trade between Jiu Yang and the Yin Dynasty.
One is to go out of Shuangbeicheng and go around the West Sea, connecting with the Western Continent of the State of Yin; the other is to go directly to the Beihai, very close to the Beizhou of the State of Yin.
But after the former was locked up by the Yin Dynasty in Shuangbei City, navigation was banned. The latter requires crossing the Xuanming Sea where water monsters gather, which is even more dangerous and basically impossible to achieve.
Haidong Hou is confident that he is definitely the only one who can open the road between Xihai and Shuangbei City.
Where did the other bulk goods come from?
He was lost in thought for a moment.
(End of this chapter)