"After 2,000 years, the courier will not come so early."

Ren Hong complained while putting on a robe and hurriedly went out, the temperature difference between day and night in Hexi was large, and the Dunhuang Gobi during the day was extremely hot, but it was a little cold in the early morning.

The messenger who knocked at the door outside had been greeted by the night watchman, and in the light of the pine torches a face tanned by the sun, and sweat solidified the sand and salt on the face.

This is the courier brother of the Han Dynasty, wearing a soap towel on his head, wearing a wide-sleeved shirt on the right placket, wearing long boots, and the blanket on his back is red and white, don't you say, it is a bit similar to Jingdong's package.

After greeting Ren Hong, he took out a red lacquered wooden box from the blanket hanging on his body:

"The county government has to hand it over to the owner in person! Also, hopefully a new horse for me, I'll have to rush to the next one later! ”

"Please come with me."

Ren Hong has received night envoys many times, and he is familiar with the business, while shouting to the east kitchen to pour water and prepare for food, and at the same time let the stables prepare the horses.

On the way to the Zhifu General Office, Ren Hong asked where the envoy came from, but learned that he had only set off from Dunhuang early yesterday morning and had traveled 130 miles a day to arrive at Hanging Spring.

"It's so fast, it should be urgent!"

By the time they walked to the hall used for office and banquets on weekdays, Xu Fengde had already limped and came down from upstairs, the official robe on his body was not properly worn, and the Liu crown on his head was a little crooked.

Xu Fengde straightened his clothes, took the red lacquered wooden box with both hands, respectfully placed it on the table, and opened it in front of the postman.

At this time, all the lamps on the bronze lampstand were lit, and the hall was already full of light and shadow.

But inside the lacquer box, there were two pieces of slips tightly together, one foot and five inches long, and stamped with mud seals - two ends, one in the middle.

"Three Messengers!"

Ren Hong saw it really on the side, and couldn't help but jump his eyelids.

The Han family has its own perfect system of passing on letters, from one to five, representing different reception specifications: one on horse, two on the horse, three on the horse, four on the gallop, and five on the place.

Specifically, it is a bit complicated, so it is better to paraphrase Ren Hong's summary:

"One is trivial, two chickens fly and dogs jump, and three kills pigs and sheep slaughter......"

They correspond to the busyness of the hanging springs to cope with different specifications of the book.

In short, after receiving the three passenger messages, Hanging Springs will prepare a public car with "four horses and feet", and a few guinea sheep and chicken wine.

According to Ren Hong's experience, it is either officials like Yumen and Yangguan Duwei who are more than 2,000 stones, or the imperial envoys subordinate to Jiuqing pass by......

Without waiting for him to think deeply, Xu Fengde had already ordered:

"Ren Hong, right to the seal."

"No!"

Ren Hong opened the wall cabinet with ease, took out the ink board that was to be backed up in each place, and compared it with the seal on the handbook to confirm that it was exactly the same......

He raised his head: "Sifu, it is indeed the seal of the imperial doctor!" ”

Xu Fengde checked it again and asked, "What time is it?" ”

Ren Hong had already asked the person on duty at night, even if it was the latest chicken, it had been called for a long time, and the sky was still dark, so he reported: "July is over, a few days!" ”

Unlike later generations who thought that no matter which dynasty in ancient times was twelve hours, at least in the Hexi Corridor, everyone lived the "sixteen hour system", and there were sixteen hours a day.

From 0:00 onwards, they are: midnight, rooster crow, morning, weekday, sunrise, flea food, food time, day before the day, day loss, feeding time, lower feeding, sunrise, dusk, night eclipse, and human determination.

And at a post station like Hanging Spring, the time is subdivided into thirty-two! For example, the morning time (3 to 4 o'clock) is divided into two points: the rooster crows and the few days.

Because they must confirm that the specific time of arrival and departure of each letter is not precise enough, and if something happens later, it will be necessary to hold them accountable.

Therefore, Ren Hong thinks that Hanging Springs still lacks a post to loudly knock the gong to tell the time at "Hanging Springs at 32 o'clock".

After confirming that the seal was correct and remembering the time, Xu Fengde gently opened the handbook.

He glanced at the words on it, his eyes widened, and then he glared at Ren Hong fiercely!

The summons was handed to Ren Hong: "Quickly record it!" ”

Ren Hong promised, kneeling on the pu mat and preparing to write, but when he looked at the book, he was stunned.

"In August of the second year of Yuanfeng, Sima Chenguang and the imperial historian Chen Xin undertook the edict and served the imperial history:

The horse supervisor Fu Jiezi was sent to the northwest country.

Yu Shi Dafu Xinxia right Fufeng, Longxi, Anding, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang counties place, stables, the book to the second for the driving, when the house to pass the house, for the driving of the three seals, such as the law! ”

This is the standard format of the Han Dynasty's biography, which was issued by the general Huo Guangming Yushi Mansion a year ago, which means that all the counties and guest houses that are pointed to along the way must receive Fu Jiezi, the imperial court envoy who went to the Western Regions, according to the specifications, let alone coming.

It won't be wrong, there is already a copy of the similar biography record in Hanging Springs, and Ren Hong has read it repeatedly.

That time was a record of going to the Western Regions, and now seeing this biography means that Fu Jiezi has returned!

The words of the envoy confirmed this: "Fu Majian has arrived at the county government, he is in a hurry to return to Chang'an, only to rest in Dunhuang City for one night, and will go east in the morning." ”

"The county warden and the superintendent ordered me to rush ahead of them, inform the various places along the way, and prepare for reception in turn."

Ren Hong hurriedly asked the envoy: "When will Fu Majian go to Hanging Springs?" It's still too late for us to kill the sheep and slaughter the sheep. ”

"Tomorrow, not ......"

The messenger poured a mouthful of water into his mouth and shook his head:

"It's July, it's evening!"

……

The messenger hurriedly ate and drank, stirred his face with cold water, and without resting, he stepped on the newly changed stagecoach and left. He carried a red and white satchel containing the book on his shoulder, held the customs clearance talisman high in one hand, pursed his mouth, and drove the red-maned horse like an arrow, heading eastward!

He still has to rush to the next stop, change horses and not people, and run all the way to Jiuquan County in the east to complete the mission.

At this time, the sky was already white, Xu Fengde watched the envoy go away, but he turned back sharply, wanting to kick Ren Hong, but he flexibly avoided it.

Xu Fengde scolded angrily:

"You little son, didn't you say that Fu Jiezi still has eight or nine days to arrive?"

Ren Hong explained: "It stands to reason that this should be the case, and it is all to blame that Su Yannian and Chen Pengzu went too late, causing me to miscalculate the time." ”

In these years, there is no telegram, and even if the two sides agree on a specific time, it is common for them to meet for a few days.

After all, even Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, who was familiar with Hudi and could automatically find his way, could lose his title late when fighting the Huns.

But then again, Fu Jiezi only arrived in Yumen the day before yesterday, arrived in Dunhuang City yesterday, and will run to Hanging Springs today, which is too rushed!

Dunhuang County east and west hundreds of miles, there are nine places, from the Yumen Pass to this place, there are dragon place in turn, Dunhuang place, cover to place, after this is the hanging spring place, almost sixty miles a place, a day to walk a station.

But Fu Jiezi is running at a speed of two stops a day!

"This Fu Jiezi, are you in a hurry to go back to Beijing to catch the exam?"

Ren Hong muttered secretly, and was about to discuss countermeasures with Xu Fengde, but who expected that this bad old man was also big-hearted, and he yawned and said:

"Old man, you have taken over this matter, whether Fu Jiezi arrives today or tomorrow, you have prepared it for me!"

He even patted Ren Hong on the shoulder, and said earnestly: "Ren Hong, Ren Hong, if you can't cope with this little change, just keep to yourself, stay in the hanging spring to take the old man's position, and don't think about being a big husband and going to a foreign land to make meritorious contributions!" ”

After that, he stretched his waist and went back to catch up on sleep.

Seeing that Xu Fengde was the shopkeeper, leaving only himself to carry the burden, Ren Hong couldn't help but take a deep breath, but finally smiled:

"I'm feeling a little nervous!"

He knew that today, the seventh month of July, was going to be an extremely busy day!

……

PS: Hanshu Yan Shi Gu Note: "Law, all those who take the transmission and send the driving pass are all holding a five-inch wooden letter and sealing it with the seal of the imperial historian." It is passed on and sealed. Ginseng, three also. There will be a period of sealing both ends, two at each end, and four seals. There are five seals in the middle of the ride, two at each end, and one in the center. It is rumored that two horses will be sealed again, and one horse will be one letter. ”

It is completely consistent with many "Chuan Xin Jian" unearthed in Hanging Spring Han Jian.