Lincheng is located in the westernmost city of the Yan Kingdom. Because the only way to pass is blocked by a high mountain, it blocks trade.
Therefore, Lincheng's information from the outside world is very closed, and supplies are also very scarce.
Even if there is a drought, the government treasury will not be able to deliver relief grains. Over time, Lincheng has become a marginalized city, and gradually it has followed the example of Xuerong City and gone independent.
Three years ago, Ning Zhaoping, the head of the Ning family, the largest family in Lincheng, declared himself the lord of the city. Naturally, the Emperor of Yan would not allow it.
Therefore, over the years, troops have been sent here, but due to the high mountains and long distances and the special terrain, they have been defeated in many expeditions.
Three years have passed since this torment, and Lincheng has become a painless tumor in the Yan Kingdom. It is uncomfortable to stay but troublesome to get rid of.
All the courtiers in the court knew that coming to the city to quell the chaos would be a thankless task. They would not be able to make any profit, not only would they lose troops and generals, but they would have to go back in disgrace and be scolded as a defeated general.
The reason why it is difficult to attack is not only due to terrain factors, but also the bigger reason is the city lord Ning Zhaoping of Lincheng. He will do anything to drive away the officers and soldiers. He is a very difficult person to deal with!
This is the clue that Xia Jin learned through Qin Haoou!
Xia Jin accidentally overheard the conversation between the old lady and the spies, and learned that Ning Zhaoping was using ordinary people to block the entrance to the city.
Using such despicable methods, it is enough to show that Ning Zhaoping is not only rich in methods but also very vicious. He is the kind of person who will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals!
Riding a carriage all the way, we arrived at the post station closest to Lincheng at the evening of the third day.
It's said to be an inn, but it's actually more like a tea stall.
The stall owner is an old man with a missing front tooth, black teeth, a big nose, messy gray hair, wearing coarse cloth clothes, and a pair of straw sandals on his feet.
It was approaching early summer, and he was wearing a vest with countless patches on it, layer after layer.
"Are you guys going to Lincheng?" the stall owner asked while pouring tea for Xia Jin and the others.
"We are from the escort agency, escorting the escort to Lincheng to deliver goods. When we came here, we heard people on the road saying that this area is not peaceful. I wonder what is happening in Lincheng now?" Motuo said.
"I haven't seen an escort come to this place for many years. I can hardly keep my shabby tea stall anymore, but in the past few days, I have customers coming to chat with me, an old man!"
The stall owner sighed, then looked at Mo Tuo and nodded: "Lincheng is not peaceful right now. If you can't help it, don't go there. Even if you want to go there, you have to wait until the war is over before going there!"
"Has it started yet?" Xia Jin asked.
"I heard from Ahu that the people on both sides are facing each other, and they haven't started fighting yet. I guess it will be the same as last time, and they will leave after Bingye has finished eating the food and grass!"
As he was talking, the stall owner raised his eyes and looked ahead.
"Ahu is here. He is a hunter from Lincheng Mountain. If you really want to enter the city, let him lead the way, but you have to pay some tolls! If you agree, I will talk to him!" said the stall owner.
Xia Jin looked in the direction the stall owner was looking, and saw a young man, who looked to be in his early twenties, with dark skin, not tall but strong. He was holding a hare in his hand and a sack of food on his shoulders.
Firewood.
"Grandpa, here are the firewood and rabbit meat you want!"
Ahu quickly put the hare and firewood in the kitchen, and then looked at the people sitting at the tea stall outside.
"The tea stall is a guest!"
The stall owner chuckled and lowered his voice and said: "They are escorts from out of town. They want to enter the city. I will ask you to lead them. I will make a lot of money for you to find a wife!"
Ahu was a little embarrassed, "Really?!"
"You kid, just wait until you earn enough money to marry Cuihua. Grandpa will help you negotiate a good price with them later!"
After the stall owner finished speaking, he picked up the hot water bottle and walked out, refilling the teacups for Xia Jin and the others.
"I just mentioned to Ahu about taking you into the mountains. Ahu said he wanted to hunt, but for my sake, he agreed to take you into the mountains to Lincheng, but he agreed in advance that you must pay him.
That’s right, after all, hunters eat seasonal food. If we don’t hunt more furs in exchange for money during the peak hunting season, we will go hungry in the winter!”
"Stall owner, don't worry, as long as we can get us to Lincheng smoothly, money is not a problem!" Xia Jin said.
She had just used her mind-reading skills to hear their voices, and these two were quite interesting.
One wants to help and the other wants to find a wife. Xia Jin doesn't mind the beauty of adulthood. After all, the money is not much for Xia Jin now.
"How about fifty taels of silver?" Xia Jin said.
This price is already very high. Generally speaking, the toll for guiding is one tael of silver, and the most is only five taels.
The price Xia Jin gave was like pie in the sky!
"Okay! That's it!" The stall owner agreed immediately, then went to the kitchen and said:
"Ahu, you can get married and build a house this year! The bodyguards outside said they would give you fifty taels of silver!"
"How many rabbits do we have to hunt and how many rabbit skins do we have to save?" Ah Hu looked excited, but after a second thought, he felt something was wrong.
"Aren't we trying to trick people?" Ahu scratched his head. "My mother told me that no matter what you do, you have to live up to your conscience. Now that Lincheng is not peaceful, you need to take risks. Even if you add extra money, five taels at most will be enough.
Got it!"
The stall owner glared at him with hatred.
"Why don't I call you a tiger! You can't make money even if you have money!"
Ah Hu scratched his head and said, "I'm not a business person. I just want to hunt and sell rabbits so I can eat!"
After saying that, Ahu ran out of the kitchen, walked to Xia Jin's table, and said:
"I only need five taels of silver! I don't need fifty taels!" Ah Hu said in one breath, and the stall owner couldn't stop him.
"Fifty taels of silver is for travel expenses, but you have to pay for the food on the road. A roasted rabbit sells for fifteen taels of silver in a restaurant. There are so many of us, at least one should be given to each of us. So, you will suffer a loss."
One point, how about if we add up to fifty taels of silver?"
Ahu counted on his fingers for a while, and the more he calculated, the more confused he became.
"It's settled! Lead the way!" Xia Jin said.
Ah Hu couldn't figure it out, so he simply didn't think about it, so he led the way in a naive way.
Seeing them walking away, the stall owner couldn't help but chuckle, "The roast rabbit meat in the restaurant is added with expensive spices, so it costs fifteen taels of silver. Rabbits caught in the mountains don't have such a high price! This guy met
Good guy!"
As he spoke, he walked inside.
Just then, a dark figure appeared in the backyard.
"Lord City Lord, Lin Ziyi is still standing at the gate of the city to confront us. The Young Lord has asked his subordinates to come over and inform you."
"I understand, let's let them confront each other and see how long they last!"
He bent over to burn firewood, making the fire stronger.
"After the food and grass they brought are exhausted, they will retreat!"
