Jialongguan

This is the first pass between Liangzhou and Jixi Road, and it is one of the important passes for refugees from the Central Plains to enter Liang.

Shortly after the establishment of Shuozhou, Chenyue came here once, and it was here that he helped the new Shuofeng camp commander Mei Yushu and his family, which gave this Central Plains man the idea of ​​joining the army.

But now, the first batch of people who moved into Shuozhou have completely integrated into Beiliang Dao.

Now, Chenyue's first stop when inspecting Liangzhou is still Jialong Pass.

There was a huge flow of people on the official road outside Jialong Pass. A large number of refugees from the Central Plains passed through here to enter Liang, and there were also caravans coming and going. They also gathered here, making the crowd loud and clear.

This also gave rise to many vendors setting up temporary shacks on the roadside to do small businesses, selling tea, noodles and other snacks.

"Staff, four bowls of noodle soup, put some slices of beef on it, hurry up."

"Hey, sir, wait a moment, I'll be there soon!"

From a small noodle shop on the roadside, the ferocious roar of a ferocious tiger rang out.

It is said to be a noodle shop, but in fact it is just a few tables and chairs set up in the open air. It is ventilated from all sides, and only a gray-black canvas above the head is used to block the scorching summer sun.

It's almost midsummer, and people are sweating all over even if they stand outside and don't move.

Chen Yue looked at the passers-by on the road with great interest. Besides Bi Hu, those who accompanied Chen Yue to eat noodles were Zhuang Hao, the magistrate of Jialong Pass County, and Fan Ying, the commander of the Jialong Pass Patrol Battalion.

These two are the highest-ranking officials in Jialong Pass. Chen Yue had seen them before when he came here.

"Here comes the noodles. Please use them, gentlemen." The store owner smiled and brought the noodle soup.

There are a few slices of beef lying on top of the soup noodles, and scattered green onions, which are full of color, flavor and flavor.

"Thank you." Ben Hu said politely.

The four of them were wearing casual clothes and did not bring any guards, just like ordinary people eating noodles at a roadside stall.

"Lao Zhuang, tell me, how is the situation lately?" Chenyue asked while eating.

The current King of Liang has no airs at all, and there is no need to call him by his official name among the crowd.

Zhuang Hao, the county magistrate of Jialong Pass, was still a little uncomfortable hearing this title. He lowered his voice slightly and said: "Master Chen, since the war started in Beiliang Road last year, the number of refugees entering the country has decreased a lot. After the war ended this year, there have been more people.

.Now, there are six to seven hundred people entering the country every day."

"Anthracene, that's right. Will all these people go to Shuozhou?" Chenyue nodded and asked.

In the past, there were frequent wars, so it was normal for the refugees to not dare to enter Liang. Now that Beiliang is as safe as a rock, these refugees naturally feel more at ease.

"Most of them will go to Shuozhou, but there are also a few who are not refugees. They may be doing business or moving. Most of these people will choose to settle in some of the more prosperous places in Liangzhou or Youzhou."

Chenyue swallowed the noodles in his mouth and said with some surprise: "Is there anyone else who has settled in Liang now?"

"Yes." Zhuang Hao nodded: "I heard from the people in Liang that many states in the Central Plains have increased taxes and exploited them at all levels, and those merchants can't bear it anymore."

Fan Ying, who was a bit honest at the side, laughed and said: "They say there are no corrupt officials in Beiliang, so those who do small business would rather come to our border to do business."

"That's it." Chen Yue nodded in sudden realization.

After Fan Ying said this, Chen Yue remembered that there were frequent wars last year. Although the imperial court did not spend money on Beiliang Road, Pinghan Road and Nanjiang Road were also bottomless pits.

After a war, the national treasury will definitely be emptied, and the only way is to increase taxes.

And as soon as taxes are increased, the corrupt officials below will have another opportunity to make money. When officials at all levels increase the tax, it will fall on the people at the bottom. I don’t know how much more money will be collected.

But the poor people had no money, so the officials targeted the small businessmen, trying to cut off a layer of flesh from them, forcing these people to find another way to survive.

The clear officialdom on Beiliang Road has become an advantage that attracts merchants to Liang.

After thinking about this, Chen Yue, who was eating noodles, curled his lips and said, "It's really an advantage for us, hehe."

A few people chatted while eating, and gradually the bowl of noodles was exhausted. Chenyue shouted happily, patted the table and shouted: "Store, four more bowls!"

"Okay, please wait a moment."

Zhuang Hao waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, just one bowl is enough for me."

"Hey, Lao Zhuang, it's rare for the king~ Oh, no, it's rare that the young master invites us to eat noodles. If you can eat an extra bowl, it's a bowl." Fan Ying, who was sitting on the side, said carelessly: "A dignified man from Beiliang, there are only two of them.

As for the bowl of noodles, if you can’t finish it, I, Lao Fan, will eat it for you.”

"Haha, go ahead and eat. Eat as many bowls as you want." Chen Yue smiled from ear to ear.

Ben Hu was also smiling, rubbing his hands excitedly and looking around, waiting for the next bowl of noodles to arrive.

Suddenly Ben Hu's eyes paused, and the smile on his face gradually turned cold.

Chen Yue, who was drinking noodle soup, immediately noticed something was wrong with Bi Hu and asked calmly: "What's wrong?"

Ben Hu pursed his lips towards the official road: "Master, look at that."

Several people looked in the direction where Ben Hu was pointing, and saw five or six ragged men there, their faces covered with a lot of dust, each carrying a tattered baggage, following the flow of people.

Move forward slowly.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong?" Zhuang Hao, the magistrate of Jialongguan County, had a trace of doubt in his eyes.

In his eyes, these five or six men were ordinary refugees who came to Beiliang Road to find a way to survive.

But the two soldiers, Fan Ying and Bi Hu, were different. Fan Ying narrowed his eyes and said softly: "It's a bit weird."

"What do you mean?" Zhuang Hao asked with a frown.

"Most of the refugees in the Central Plains are thin or have weak hands and feet. Look at these few, although they are dressed in tatters, but you can vaguely see that they have quite strong physiques." Fan Ying said coldly.

Ben Hu took over the conversation and continued: "Look at how steady they are when they walk, and they are obviously full of energy. And while everyone else is focused on moving forward, these few look around from time to time, faintly spreading out into a circle.

, be ready to deal with emergencies around you at any time.”

Zhuang Hao became more and more dazed. Although he couldn't quite understand what the two of them were saying, when he looked at these people again, he felt that they were different from ordinary people.

"You mean these are not refugees?" Zhuang Hao asked hesitantly.

The corners of Chenyue's lips raised slightly: "Being a soldier is a bit interesting."

"A soldier?" Zhuang Hao was stunned: "A deserter from the Central Plains?"

Ben Hu shook his head: "I'm not sure, but it doesn't look like deserters are so sneaky. Who knows them in this area of ​​Beiliang? They are obviously guilty of thieves."

"Ahem, sir?" Fan Ying coughed and said, "Why don't you follow me and have a look?"

"Guests! Here you go!"

At this time, the store owner came over with four steaming bowls of noodles.
Chapter completed!