Two days later in the morning, two hunters were walking on the road thirty miles west of Jinzhou City, one young and one young. The young man was rough and majestic, his eyes were full of energy, and he was carrying some mountain products and animal skins on his shoulders. The young man's eyes were blurry and seemed to have no vision.
When they woke up, the burden on their shoulders was firewood on one end and charcoal on the other. They were in a hurry to go to Jinzhou to sell the goods.
It wasn't these two people on the road, there were many people coming and going, and most of them were heading towards Jinzhou City. As for what they were going for, it was naturally to make a living.
Jinzhou City was originally not only a military town in the Ming Dynasty but also a large city in the north. However, after several years of war, it was almost in ruins, and the population was withered and the streets were deserted.
But what the Qing government wanted was naturally not a ruin. After occupying Jinzhou, they began to attract merchants and immigrants. In addition, their policy of appeasing the people gradually gained vitality in the past two years. Then, after Dorgon's army retreated from the pass, they suddenly
It also made Jinzhou City lively.
It is said that wherever there are people, there are rivers and lakes, but it is not just the rivers and lakes, but also the economy.
Even though there were tens of thousands of people in Jinzhou City at this time, more than half of them were soldiers, but they still boosted the economy. These soldiers also wanted to eat, drink, have fun, and spend money. Therefore, during this year, various shops opened in Jinzhou City.
It boosted the economy and created employment. People from dozens of miles around would go to the city to make a living, and some even went as far as to sell goods from within the customs.
Jinzhou has not closed the city. Although there is a tense situation at this time, it is not a war zone at this time and there is no war. Therefore, Jinzhou has not closed the city. People can still come and go freely and make a living. However, the inspections are stricter when entering and exiting.
.
"With this thirty-mile journey, we estimate that we will have to reach noon." The young man murmured in a low voice. The young man walking in front turned around and smiled: "Is my boss tired?"
"I didn't realize it at all." Chang Yu changed the burden on his shoulders: "But my boss is not allowed to shout anymore, you are my brother now."
Wang Zhengnan quickly looked around and said, "I understand."
"Brother, are you herding sheep or fleeing sheep?" Chang Yu saw a sheepherder driving six or seven sheep walking leisurely on the road next to him. He couldn't help laughing and said: "There are no such things on this road
Grass".
The shepherd glanced at him and said expressionlessly: "I don't herd sheep and I don't care for them. I'm selling sheep in Jinzhou City."
"Hey, good fellow." Wang Zhengnan, who was carrying the mountain goods, couldn't help but said: "The way you are going, it will be dark when you get to Jinzhou, and you will not be able to enter other cities, and you will encounter a disaster."
The sheepherder chuckled and said, "There's no rush. I'm sure I can enter the city before dark. As for the Jie Dao you mentioned, I haven't seen him for a long time." He then said, "I don't want to see him either."
"Who dares to rob them in broad daylight? I will send them back to the west with one strike of my sword." At this moment, a loud voice came from behind. Several people heard the voice and went away, but they saw a down-and-out swordsman walking up with disdain on his face.
, his eyes glanced at Wang Zhengnan and the others and landed on Chang Yu: "You are a little kid who has carried so many things. Are you tired?"
Chang Yu rolled his eyes and cursed in a low voice: "I'm very tired, are you going to take care of me?"
The swordsman laughed and walked away. He was faster than a horse and disappeared with a puff of smoke. The surprised pedestrians were stunned and commented that this swordsman was an expert.
After walking for about ten miles, it was only half an afternoon when he saw a village on the roadside ahead. Chang Yu was a little thirsty and went to ask for water. When he got closer, he found a tea shed at the entrance of the village and many people were resting there.
The business of the tea shed was very deserted, and almost no one was spending money. After all, the poor people were reluctant to spend the money, so they mostly stayed here to rest. Chang Yu was really thirsty, but after thinking about it, he still didn't go to spend money. It wasn't because he didn't have money.
But he felt that it was not suitable for his current status, so he went to the village to ask for water, but he saw the swordsman approaching and threw a water bag over: "Look, you are such a pitiful kid."
Damn it, Chang Yu secretly scolded Wuzhong for making fun of himself whenever he got the chance. However, he took the water bag and thanked him. He took a sip and was about to hand it to Wang Zhengnan, but was stopped by Wuzhong.
He took it away and said: "I have to keep some for myself. If you want to drink it, go buy the tea and drink it. Don't let the store owner scold me later for stealing business."
Wang Zhengnan smiled bitterly and went straight to the tea shed to ask for a bowl of water. He squatted on the roadside and drank. He looked across the road and saw a man sitting on a millstone under a tree, staring into the distance in a daze. This man was dressed as a woodcutter and had a tree beside him.
The large load of firewood is much larger than Chang Yu's load, which shows that this man is also very strong.
Then he walked over and chatted: "Brother, are you going to Jinzhou too?"
The woodcutter hummed but didn't want to talk, but Wang Zhengnan continued: "I wonder if firewood is easy to sell in the city. Can it be sold at a higher price?"
"Of course there is no charcoal to sell, but if you don't sell it, you will have to drink the northwest wind." The woodcutter got up and left with the firewood. Wang Zhengnan smiled, walked back to Chang Yu and whispered: "He is still very nervous.
Woolen cloth".
"As long as you talk less and look less, there won't be much of a flaw," Chang Yu said calmly. The woodcutter was none other than Kuang Ren.
The previous sheepherder was aquatic.
Chang Yu's purpose is to sneak into Jinzhou City. This is a big risk, so strict arrangements must be made. Several people also dress up carefully. He and Wang Zhengnan pretend to be hunters. Wuzhong is too gangster, so it is easy to show off by pretending to be other people, so they simply act in their true colors.
, Shuisheng is from a fine background, it is easiest to pretend to be what he wants, but the most difficult thing is Kuang Ren. He was born in the military, and his military temperament is too obvious, and it is easy for others to see his flaws, so Chang Yu asked him to talk less and talk less.
Looking around, the more dull the better.
So the five people transformed into the woodcutter, the hunter, the sheep herder and the swordsman, with the woodcutter in front, the hunter in the middle and the swordsman accompanying him, and the sheep herder behind them, and they walked towards Jinzhou City without haste.
At noon, when we were less than ten miles away from Jinzhou, many travelers stopped by the roadside to eat. Chang Yu and Wang Zhengnan leaned on their burdens and ate dry food on the roadside, looking at the gray sky in trance, or casually chatting with the pedestrians next to them.
After chatting for a while, the swordsman disappeared without a trace. In the distance, the sheepherder drove his sheep slowly closer, and the woodcutter disappeared.
Several people came from the east carrying burdens and were sweating profusely. Maybe they were tired from walking, so they rested on the roadside. After looking around, they walked towards Chang Yu: "Brother, can you excuse me for a drink of water?"
?"
Chang Yu, who was lost in thought, was startled, then spread his hands and said, "I don't get it either."
The man was slightly surprised: "No?"
"Indeed..." Chang Yu thought to himself, can I still lie to you? At this time, Wang Zhengnan took over the conversation: "I originally took it with me when I went out. I met a swordsman on the way asking for water, but to my surprise, the man actually gave me the water."
The bag was also taken away, which was really annoying..."
He looked indignant and convinced, "I just met a swordsman in the east, could it be that person?"
"We can't afford to offend a big and thick guy with a fierce look on his face." Chang Yu also realized at this time that it is normal for pedestrians not to bring water bags, but most hunters do, because hunters often go in and out of the mountains and forests, so they must
You need to bring water, and the water bag is made of cow and sheep skin and animal bladder. This material is only easily available to hunters, so the water bag is standard for hunters.
On the contrary, if you don't have this thing, it will make people suspicious.
Fortunately, Wang Zhengnan reacted quickly and found an excuse to put the urinal on Wuzhong's head, so as not to make these people suspicious.
The man said "Oh" and asked casually: "Are you going to Jinzhou City?"
Wang Zhengnan hummed: "I saved some mountain goods and took advantage of the heavy snow to go to the city and sell them."
The man peeled off the animal skins on the list and said, "The skins are good and should fetch a good price. Where did you get them?"
"Xujiazhuang is about twenty miles away from here," Wang Zhengnan said casually, and the man nodded: "I have been to that Zhuangzi, and there is a fire temple next to it." Chang Yu said, "Then you remember wrongly, that is a mountain."
The temple is not next to Xujiazhuang, but in Sunjiazhuang, two miles away."
The man laughed and said, "Yeah, it's not far away, so I don't think I'm wrong." He smiled and walked away to beg for water.
Chang Yu breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Wang Zhengnan: "A hundred secrets and a few sparse."
Wang Zhengnan hummed and looked into the distance. He saw the sheepherder driving the sheep slowly. He stared at the single gang members and suddenly whipped his whip to drive the sheep away. Chang Yu and Wang Zhengnan were worried.
Suddenly, I realized that this was the shepherd giving a warning, and it seemed that these single gang members were very suspicious.