Yizhou is located one hundred and fifty sixty miles due north of Baoding Prefecture. It is not much different than three hundred miles from Dongchang.
Here, it is famous for the production of Yishui inkstones.
The Yishui inkstone was taken from Huangboyang Cave in Zhongnan Mountain, Yizhou, and is named after the Yishui inkstone.
In the Ming Dynasty, which valued culture over military affairs, Yizhou was not only a place where many literati sought good inkstones, but also a place where merchants frequently visited.
This made Yizhou one of the most prosperous cities in Baoding Prefecture.
The Ouyang family that Xiao Chen is looking for this time is the largest family in the inkstone business in Yizhou City.
Yizhou County is not a very big town. Because it mainly produces inkstones, the shops on both sides of the main street are decorated in a retro style as much as possible in accordance with the government's requirements.
Because it is located in the north, the only low-cost plant that can express the literati atmosphere is bamboo. Therefore, rows of bamboo are planted on both sides of the streets in Yizhou and in front of the shops.
With streets paved with bluestones, bamboos that are still green in winter, and antique-style shop fronts on both sides, the first thing you feel when you walk into Yizhou City Gate is: this is the best place to cultivate your body and soul.
At noon, Xiao Chen and his party had already arrived at the gate of Yizhou City at full speed.
Everyone had already changed out of their Dongchang school uniforms, and now they were all dressed in common people's clothing.
Xiao Chen was wearing a light blue gown and a dark blue belt around his waist. Coupled with his slender figure, he looked particularly energetic.
From the files of Ouyang Qianhu, we learned that what the Ouyang family did in Yizhou was the inkstone business, so Xiao Chen planned to pretend to be a wealthy man who came here because of his fame, and approach the Ouyang family in the name of buying inkstones to find out.
Did Ouyang Qianhu come back and hide within the family?
At the gate of Yizhou City, there were two guards standing in ordinary uniforms. Although it was a bit cold, their waists were fairly straight. Occasionally they would step forward to question passers-by.
Xiao Chen led the horse and was about to enter the city gate.
"Stop, where are you coming from, and what are you doing in Yizhou?" A sergeant raised his hand and blocked Xiao Chen's way.
Duan Tianming, who was behind him, hurried forward with a smile on his face: "This military lord, we are from the capital, and we came to Yizhou to buy some fine inkstones."
"It turns out that I'm from the capital. Why don't you even understand this rule? This is the main entrance of Yizhou City, and horses and livestock are not allowed to pass. You people can go in, but horses can't." The sergeant said coldly.
Duan Tianming looked around and saw that outside Yizhou City was a stretch of fields, which was extremely empty. If the horses were placed outside the city, they would not know where they would go as soon as they turned around.
If someone is left to take care of the situation and there is not even a place to stay, it is okay for a short period of time. I am here to handle a case, and who knows how long it will take. How long can a few people guard a dozen horses on the edge of an empty field?
Besides, this Yizhou is also a trading city. It is impossible that there is no place to stay and take care of the horses. However, this gate is not allowed to enter. Is there a small gate?
"This military master is joking. Our arrival in Yizhou may be delayed for several days. There is not even a top-notch place outside. If horses are not allowed to enter the city, doesn't it mean that we are also locked out?" Duan
Tianming nodded and said with a bow.
"This is the rule of Yizhou City, and I can't help it." The sergeant said, and then looked at a few people, "If you really want the horses to enter the city together, there is nothing you can do."
Duan Tianming hurriedly raised his head and said, "If you have any ideas, please tell me directly."
At this time, a sergeant who seemed to be the leader came from the inside of the city gate and glanced at the dozen horses behind him: "You horses are fat and strong. Each horse must pay a tael of silver for sanitation and cleaning.
Then you can come in.”
"Sanitary cleaning fee? We have traveled to many places, and this is the first time I heard that horses need to pay sanitary cleaning fees when they enter the city. If you are fat and strong, you have to pay silver for a car. The fee is based on the fatness of the horse.
Decided?" Hearing this, Duan Tianming was a little angry.
Seeing Duan Tianming's defense, the leader took two staggering steps forward. He smelled of alcohol and had obviously drank a lot.
"There are no fees in other places because other places don't have the cultural heritage of Yizhou. You said, this clean bluestone street, your horses pull a pile on it, does it look good? Do you need someone to clean it? As for
Of course, the charging standard is higher for those who are fat and strong, but who wants to make them poop more?"
Duan Tianming was stunned: "Master, according to what you said, it is reasonable to charge sanitation and cleaning fees. But the annual military salary of an ordinary sergeant in the Ming Dynasty is only twelve taels of silver, and a month of marching, fighting, and standing guard is not enough.
In order to get one tael of silver, the entry fee for your horse into the city is only one tael of silver, isn’t it a bit much?”
After taking a look at Duan Tianming, the sergeant leader stretched his neck and burped. He stretched out his right little finger and dug between his teeth a few times. He dug out some vegetable leaves or meat residue, and with a "pop",
It bounced at Duan Tianming's feet.
"The principles are just like this, the things are just like this, and the fees are collected like this. These are the regulations of Yizhou City. Don't say you are from the capital, you are from the palace. If you don't
If you pay the fee, these horses can't enter the city. It's not like I'm deliberately making things difficult for you. There are many of you, so leaving a few people to guard the horses while others go in to buy things is not impossible."
The sergeant leader looked at Duan Tianming, looking like he was the only one in Yizhou City, and said coldly with squinting eyes.
Duan Tianming was about to have a fit when Xiao Chen stopped him: "Give them money."
A guard sergeant dares to sit down and raise prices at random. The management of Yizhou City is really impressive.
According to Xiao Chen's temper, he would have been knocked to the ground with a knife at this moment. There would be no chance for him to eat another meal.
However, the first task today is to arrest the two Qianhu who escaped from the Yanqing Guards. After the official business is finished, it will not be too late to go back and deal with the sergeants guarding the gate. If they are still involved, then all the people above will be arrested.
Take it.
Hearing Xiao Chen ask him to pay the money, the sergeant leader looked at Xiao Chen.
"Is this the first time for this young master to come to Yizhou City? Since you are so generous, I can't lose the people of Yizhou. So, you have fifteen horses in total, and you just need to pay ten taels of silver."
"Oh," Xiao Chen was stunned, "Why is this? Does the health fee for horses entering the city have such a large expansion space?"
"Where do you get so much money? Do you think ten taels of silver is too little? Then fifteen taels." The sergeant leader stared.
Xiao Chen stopped talking and waved his hand.
Duan Tianming took out ten taels of silver, put it in the opponent's hand, and greeted everyone to enter the city gate.
