The carriages and horses traveled all the way to the southeast, passing Huating, entering Longzhou, passing through Yongqi, and the imperial capital Chang'an was within easy reach.
As an important place in the capital of Great Xia and the most prosperous area, before arriving in Chang'an, the prosperity and wealth can't wait to come into view.
The villages under the jurisdiction of Gyeonggi Province are more densely populated than those in the Western Regions. There are many hotels and restaurants along the roads, so business travelers do not need to find inns to stay. The restaurants are rich in wine and food, and the shop assistants are often seen in luxurious clothes and exquisite carriages and horses.
Pedestrians came forward to invite them warmly.
If you get tired of walking, these inns also rent donkeys and horses, which can travel for dozens of miles. The locals call them "post donkeys".
"I don't understand." Cheng Sanwu was riding on horseback, holding a piece of hot cake just out of the oven, and asked as he gnawed: "Aren't these stores afraid that the post donkey will be taken away by others?"
Changqing signaled to a traveler riding a donkey on the side of the road: "Did you see it? There are brand marks on the buttocks and back of the post donkey. Bystanders will be able to identify which family it belongs to at a glance."
Cheng Sanwu retorted: "What if I take the donkey away and secretly kill it for meat?"
"Do you think other people are like you, only thinking about eating and drinking?" Changqing laughed helplessly: "What's more, this is the suburbs of Chang'an, and the government has enough manpower to catch thieves, unlike in the Western Regions, where they rush into trouble when they commit crimes.
When you enter the desert and barren mountains, you won’t see anyone.”
"That's not necessarily true." Cheng Sanwu whispered, then stuffed the remaining biscuits into his mouth.
Changqing was riding alongside him, so he could hear clearly clearly. He couldn't help but think of Cheng Sanwu's past. Perhaps he fled westward along this road.
You must know that there are sixteen guards and horses stationed in Chang'an, and there are many experts guarding it, either openly or covertly. And Sun Shaoren, who Cheng Sanwu killed back then, served as the general of the Youwu Guard, so he was responsible for chasing and killing Cheng Sanwu.
Yes, I guess they are not the bad guys from Jingzhao Mansion hunting down thieves, but the elite Imperial Guard cavalry, and maybe they are accompanied by Buddhist and Taoist masters.
Chang Qing had studied the art of war with his teacher for a long time, and could not imagine how Cheng Sanwu escaped from the Forbidden Army's pursuit. Even if Prime Minister Lu intervened secretly, the news was always delayed and delayed.
If I were Changqing myself, I would probably have been trampled to pieces by iron hooves.
However, Chang Qing then thought about it. During the years of peace in the Great Xia, not to mention the frontiers of the Western Regions, at least from the Gyeonggi Road eastward to Luobian, the roads in this heartland can be said to be smooth, without thieves and thieves, and business travelers can go far without a knife.
Traveling has become commonplace.
At this moment, not far ahead, there happens to be a group of young knights armed with bows and swords, wearing light fur and fat horses. They are dressed more to admire the knight style, and they are not really going to fight with thieves, bandits and demons near Chang'an.
Chang Qing looked at the group of weak knights riding tall horses. They also had some martial arts skills. They were chatting and laughing, discussing which manor to visit. They were followed by entourage and guards. They were obviously from high-ranking families.
These people wandered around the capital, knowing no troubles and no worries. Wu Maocai, who was about the same age as them, was already running around in the Western Regions and committing dangers, and was eventually buried in the desert. The difference in family background was really like a natural chasm.
"Thanks to the fact that you have been with Su Wangting for so many years, you can't even understand such a simple thing?" Afu suddenly said.
The carriages and horses of the chamberlain were walking in front, and Afu sat in the carriage with a red wheel and green cover. She opened the curtain and watched the autumn scenery of the mountains and rivers along the way. She took off her embroidered shoes and sat leaning on a table, which was unique in style.
Afu's words were obviously meant for Cheng Sanwu. He took the initiative to approach on horseback and asked: "What? Do you also understand this? I didn't see it."
"What's so difficult about this?" Afu's fingers circled the edge of the tea cup on the table: "Wouldn't it be great as long as these shops have the same owner behind them?"
Cheng Sanwu was stunned: "But we walked dozens of miles today, and there are hundreds of restaurants and inns on both sides of the road. They can't all have the same owner, right?"
Ah Fu smiled and said nothing, and Su Wangting also approached on horseback and asked: "Could it be that...the shops along the way are all under the name of Jingzhao Weishi?"
"It's not just Wei's. Du's also has a lot of industries here. Of course, they may not take care of it themselves. Some wealthy businessmen help them run it." Afu said: "The western suburbs of Chang'an are the only way to connect with the Western Regions.
, every time there is a curfew, those business travelers who have no time to enter the city have to settle in the western suburbs."
Su Wangting presided over the Baochang Society and sent many goods to Chang'an, so he naturally knew about this, but he didn't think much about it in the past. Now he sees dozens of miles of large and small shops and inns, all of which belong to Chang'an.
He came from a high-ranking family, but he was still shocked inside.
In comparison, although I had earned a large amount of property in Quzhi City, it was far inferior to what I had seen along the way.
"Weidu in the south of the city, go to Tianchiwu." Changqing said with a slightly disdainful tone: "The western suburbs of Chang'an are nothing. The southern suburbs all the way to the foot of Zhongnan Mountain are filled with manors, mansions, pools and gardens, most of which belong to Wei.
The Du family. Even His Majesty, the current emperor, goes out to the city to escape the summer, and occasionally visits their manor."
Su Wangting knew that Changqing didn't like powerful people, and it was hard to say anything nice to these aristocratic families, but this place was close to Chang'an, and some words were still not suitable to be said in public.
"What do you mean by 'go to Tianchiwu' just now?" Cheng Sanwu looked curious and asked Changqing.
"It's just that these two families have many children, participate extensively in government affairs, and are extremely powerful." Chang Qing asked, "otherwise, what do you think it means?"
Cheng Sanwu twirled his beard: "I was thinking, they are almost touching the sky. Could it be that they are stepping on something?"
"What are you talking about?" Chang Qing asked with a smile: "Then tell me, what are they stepping on?"
"Then who knows?" Cheng Sanwu shrugged: "I'm afraid you're stepping on someone else's grave, right?"
Chang Qing originally wanted to retort and scold Cheng Sanwu for his whims, but then he thought about it, the Weidu family was so powerful and wealthy, didn't they also use thousands of tenants and slaves, just like stepping on the graves piled with the bones of countless people, to achieve success?
Is it wealthy?
Changqing understood at a thought, raised his eyes and glanced around, and suddenly saw Afu and Su Wangting looking at Cheng Sanwu with deep thoughts in their eyes.
Cheng Sanwu, on the other hand, scratched his belly and looked around: "No, there's no oil on the cake just now. I want to eat a pig's trotter, I can smell it!"
Cheng Sanwu ignored the looks of several people, rode his big maroon horse to the side of the road, and went to look for food on his own.
When Chang Qing was feeling helpless, the Chang'an knights he had just seen approached on horseback and came to the Qing Gai chariot. The leading man had eyebrows flying into his temples, his face was as pink as a powder, and he was wearing a sapphire blue round-collared brocade robe with round flowers.
, there is a gold-wrapped sword on the waist, the sword head is inlaid with agate, and there is a brocade sachet hanging on the belt. The fragrance of orchid is rippling, which shows the extraordinary nobility.
Qin Wangshu was always on guard. When she saw this situation, she immediately rushed over and squeezed in beside the green-covered car to block the blue-robed man.
"My young lady doesn't like to interact with outsiders, please get out of the way as soon as possible!" Qin Wangshu scolded her coldly. If Afu hadn't asked in advance to keep a low profile on her way back to Beijing, she would have wanted to reveal her identity as a chamberlain and beat up all these idlers.
turn.
The man in blue robe kept a smile on his face, but a follower with an ape-arm approached behind him. He pressed his hand on the hilt of the sword beside the saddle, secretly gathering strength, and said in a deep voice: "Master Du's father is Yu Shi Zhongcheng. I can't talk to your young lady."
It’s an insult.”
Qin Wangshu's eyebrows were raised, and he was about to teach the other party a lesson, when Afu said softly: "Wangshu, don't be ridiculous. This Mr. Du must have no evil intentions."
"Yes." Qin Wangshu stepped aside reluctantly.
When the young man in blue robe heard Afu's delicate tone, he softened half of his body. Looking at her innocent yet charming appearance, she was leaning on the small table to show off her figure, and the fabric of her skirt was slightly lowered.
A large area of smooth snow is exposed below the goose neck, as well as a looming and attractive ravine, which makes people unable to take their eyes away. As well as the legs folded together under the skirt, a pair of white feet with a bit of orange-red, making people want to immediately
Get into the green-covered car, pick it up and taste it.
"Young Master, Young Master?" Afu called softly, and the blue-robed Young Master swallowed a large mouthful of saliva. He woke up after hearing the sound, and quickly bowed his hands and bowed: "Du Jianzhang, a young man, I just heard you mention Jingzhao Weidu, especially
Come and see me. Haven’t you asked me your name yet?”
"I don't have a proper name, so just call me Ah Fu." Ah Fu leaned against the car, showing a girlish look.
Changqing frowned slightly when he saw this. Afu was the embroiderer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and her intentions were unpredictable, so there was no need to worry about her. Du Jianzhang, on the other hand, obviously came to tease her because of his high status as a Jingzhao Du family.
Women, in Changqing's eyes, can be described as extremely ugly.
Su Wangting was also silent. He knew very well that only Ah Fu played tricks on others, and there was absolutely no possibility of others playing tricks on Ah Fu. Mr. Du was afraid that he would be in bad luck if he bumped into Ah Fu.
"Is Miss Afu coming to Chang'an to visit friends or relatives?" Du Jianzhang saw that Afu had brown hair and blue eyes, and it was obvious that she was a Hu. Although there were many Hu people settling in Chang'an these days, people like Afu riding the red wheel and green cover
It's rare to see someone with a car, so they probably don't belong to an ordinary businessman's family.
"I'm here to visit my relatives." Afu frowned slightly, showing a hint of sadness, which made people secretly sigh with pity: "My parents passed away, and I have nowhere to live in my hometown, so I can only come to Chang'an to seek refuge with a distant relative."
.”
Du Jianzhang nodded slightly, nothing could be seen on his face, but he was very lustful at the moment. This kind of helpless rich girl was the most suitable person to attack. Even if things got bigger, no big shot would come to look for trouble. In fact,
If that doesn't work, he stuffs her into one of his outhouses and raises her without anyone noticing, not even her father knows.
Having made up his mind, Du Jianzhang said: "Miss Afu doesn't know something. Nowadays, there are strict rules in Chang'an. Jingzhao Mansion is investigating travel violations everywhere. I'm afraid your green-covered car can't even enter the city gate."
"Then, what should I do with my concubine?" Afuru was weak and at a loss.
"Don't worry, Miss Afu." Du Jianzhang hoped to climb into the car immediately and hold the beautiful Orchid in his arms. He suppressed his desire and said: "Xiaosheng has a manor in the south of the city. Miss Afu might as well go and stay there first."
Hou Xiaosheng sent someone to inquire about the girl, and when he finds the girl's relatives, he will tell them immediately, how about that?"
Afu pursed her lips as if thinking, and Du Jianzhang was about to persuade him again when he suddenly heard someone shouting: "Hey! What are you doing?!"
Everyone looked back and saw Cheng Sanwu coming on a big maroon horse, holding a pig's trotter in his hand. The pig's trotter was steamed until the skin and meat were elastic, then it was topped with black bean sauce and garlic paste, and wrapped in lotus leaves.
The flavor is very different from mutton. Although it is not the food of the upper class, Cheng Sanwu still eats it with a mouth full of oil and relish.
"Send away the rest!" Du Jianzhang turned around and said casually, and the ape-armed follower stepped forward and pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"What are you going to do?" Cheng Sanwu glanced at him: "You are not official officials, why should you ask me to get out of the way?"
There was a flash of blue light, and the pig's trotter in Cheng Sanwu's hand suddenly broke into two pieces, and the sword edge almost brushed against his fingers.
The long sword was sheathed, and the ape-armed follower asked with a straight face: "Did you see clearly?"
Cheng Sanwu looked down at the half-cut pig's trotter that had fallen to the ground. He immediately got off his horse and picked it up, blew the dust and mud off it, ate it as usual, and said vaguely: "I hate people who don't let me eat and drink."
Changqing had already figured out Cheng Sanwu's temperament and knew that the situation was not good, so he secretly took precautions. Su Wangting advised him: "Old Cheng, don't use the knife."
"Understood!" Cheng Sanwu threw the gnawed bones at the ape-armed follower. The opponent's eyebrows were angry, and he drew his sword to block the bones like lightning.
"Are you deliberately provoking trouble?" The monkey-armed follower became impatient, dismounted and handed over his hand: "Ziwu Sword, Lin Shaoying, please recruit me!"
"Yo ho?" Cheng Sanwu was very surprised: "Is this... a martial arts competition between rivers and lakes?"
"If you are afraid, retreat quickly and don't bring shame on yourself!" Lin Shaoying said solemnly.
Cheng Sanwu nodded and also handed over his hand: "I am... Jianghu Idle, Cheng Sanwu, come on."
Upon seeing this, everyone moved aside to leave a space for the competition. At this time, many passers-by heard the commotion and gathered around to watch, which shows the martial culture of Daxia.
"Aren't you going to draw your sword?" Lin Shaoying saw the knife hanging from the other party's waist.
"Are you going to fight or not?" Cheng Sanwu asked back.
Lin Shaoying's face darkened, she suddenly felt humiliated, and immediately stepped forward and flew forward, nodding with a sword.
Ziwu Sword is a sword sect that originated from the Ziwu Valley in the Qinling Mountains. It is especially famous for its fast swords that attack the middle line of Ziwu on the human body.
Seeing the sword's edge reaching the top, Cheng Sanwu stepped sideways to avoid it. The sword's edge swept down in front of his nose, turned suddenly near the neck, and came across his throat, which showed that the force was cleverly maneuvered.
But Cheng Sanwu didn't see any big movements. He stepped slightly and slid backwards, still avoiding the throat-wiping killing move.
"Wow, so cruel?" Cheng Sanwu said: "Is this how Zhongyuan beat you?"
Lin Shaoying was secretly annoyed. Originally, he just planned to force the opponent to retreat in the face of difficulties. Who would have expected that Cheng Sanwu's movement speed was better, and this alone showed the difference between the two.
Knowing that this person was difficult to deal with, Lin Shaoying no longer held back. She gathered all her energy, stepped forward, and stabbed Cheng Sanwu straight into the chest with her long sword.
However, Cheng Sanwu stepped on the ground and dodged to the side, then stepped on the ground to use the force to turn back in an instant. His body was already in front of Lin Shaoying, he raised his fist and pointed, and hit his armpit with a blow.
The huge force hit the key points of the meridians. Half of Lin Shaoying's body felt numb, her inner breath was in chaos, and the long sword naturally fell out of hand. Cheng Sanwu took advantage of the situation and stretched out his hands to grapple, using his divine power to directly lift Lin Shaoying over his head.
"Old Cheng!"
At this time, Su Wangting shouted to stop him, and Cheng Sanwu immediately understood and instead of slamming Lin Shaoying to the ground, he threw him out with both arms.
Lin Shaoying also reacted quickly. He adjusted his limbs in mid-air and let himself roll to the ground without being injured. He turned over with a gorgeous Oolong goal and immediately won the applause of many onlookers.