Wu Wangfu and his entourage of nearly 1,000 people marched towards the south. Accompanied by Li Ke, Xue Rengui, Yin Yang, Yuwen Hongtai and Pang Fei, who were like-minded people, Qin Mubai did not feel bored. After all, it is the heart of a thirty-year-old person, and this little sorrow can still be beared. After the sadness of his youth, Qin Mubai quickly adjusted his mood and began to look forward to the next stop of his life.

Throughout the ages, there have been many places in the officialdom. It is not uncommon for Beijing officials to be sent to local places for further study, and then promoted after they have made some achievements. Qin Mubai knew that he was standing at a crossroads now, and he couldn't afford to make a mistake. Well done, the future is immeasurable; If you make a mistake, you will be unlucky.

After all, he has offended others above the court!

Xiangzhou, as Li Tao said, is a place where soldiers from ancient times must fight. Xiangzhou was also known as Xiangyang in ancient times, Xiangyang County, located in the Central Plains Lian Han Shui, Nantong Jing Hubei and Xi Lian Han Shu, to the east waterway can reach Wu Yue, is the Central Plains hub place.

Xiangzhou has a lot of water, and the transportation is quite convenient. A Han River lies in front of Xiangzhou. Since ancient times, the Han River has been a natural military barrier in the Jingxiang area, and it is also a way to make money. Speaking of Hanshui, it is worth mentioning that it originated in Hanzhong, and Hanzhong is the birthplace of the Han Dynasty.

Han, the title of a nation. Han nationality, Chinese language, Chinese characters, Chinese culture...... Needless to say. For Hanshui, the Chinese sons and daughters of the past and present have naturally paid more attention to it.

The money, grain, cloth and iron in the Jingxiang area all passed through Xiangzhou, and the water and land links could be transported to Guanzhong and taxed to the imperial court. The salt affairs in the Wuyang area also relied on the transportation here, starting from Xiangzhou to the southern states and counties. Therefore, Xiangzhou's Caoyun Wharf can be said to be famous all over the world, and it has become an important financial revenue of Xiangzhou.

Therefore, Xiangzhou is not only an important town in the Central Plains and a place where soldiers must fight, but also a big piece of fat that is rich and oily. If it weren't for a prince like Li Ke, how could he easily win a fat official position like Xiangzhou Thorn History?

Naturally, the more prosperous and prosperous the place, the more dragons and snakes are mixed, and there are all kinds of people from three religions and nine streams. The Caoyun wharf alone is very complicated. Whether it is an official or a soldier, a Yang or a civilian hooligan, who doesn't want to make a profit here? In addition, whenever it comes to salt, rice, iron, and other things that are monopolized by the imperial court, there must be such activities as salt barrage private merchants. In the long run, there have been many underground "green forest gangs" in the Xiangzhou area, which are actually gangsters with the nature of the underworld to reap the benefits here. And the government army secretly communicated with them with one eye and turned a blind eye, each taking what he needed.

Then there are the children of the old family who live in Jingxiang and the local gentry and the powerful people, many forces are intertwined, and the small Xiangzhou seems to be a small place on the surface, but it is not as simple as it seems on the surface. There are policies and countermeasures, and this has been the case throughout the ages. If you weren't a capable person, it would be really hard to eat and hold it when you came here.

Li Ke chatted with Qin Mubai along the way, obviously he knew Xiangzhou very well. It turned out that he had previously served in Anzhou, and he could get to Anzhou by going down the Han River, which was not too far away. I also know a lot about the people in this area.

"It seems that our trip will not be easy, Your Highness." Qin Mubai smiled, "Now I understand why the emperor simply allowed me to go with you." You have a history of assassination, and without the help of the army, it is not easy to suppress these local snakes in Xiangzhou! ”

"That's right." Li Ke smiled slightly and said, "When you arrive at the local prefecture and county, it is not as good as the capital at the foot of the Son of Heaven, to put it mildly, there is no tiger and monkey in the mountains to call the king." Maybe a little squire here will praise my emperor and the son of heaven every day, but secretly he feels that he is the most upright person in this area. ”

"It's not surprising." Qin Mubai said, "In a group of people, if anyone is used to being worshiped or giving orders, after a long time, it is easy to be fluttering. Furthermore, those who stand at the top of the mountain and those who stand at the foot of the mountain seem small to each other. ”

"Oh, that's a wonderful thing to say." Li Ke smiled after hearing this, "It seems that you have already made a bamboo in your chest?" ”

"I can't talk about it." Qin Mubai said, "When you arrive at a new environment, you have to adapt to it for a while. I only heard that the Caoyun Terminal in Xiangzhou is the most prosperous and the most complicated. It's better to take a few people in disguise and private clothes to investigate first. There is no news more accurate than what you have seen with your own eyes. ”

"Okay." Li Ke agreed without saying a word.

A few days later, he had taken over the territory of Xiangyang County, the administrative office of Xiangzhou, and Li Ke summoned Quan Wanji and asked him to lead the brigade to continue to take the dry road south to Xiangzhou. And Li Ke, together with Qin Mubai, took Xue Rengui, Yin Yang, Pang Fei, Yuwen Hongtai and other four people with him. Everyone disguised themselves and boarded a boat at a Caotou to go south along the Han River.

It was early spring, and the east wind on the river was very cold. A galleon passenger ship that was customary in the south sailed down the river against the wind and waves, accompanied by more than a dozen people, mostly peddlers, pawns and travelers.

Although Li Ke and Qin Mubai changed into ordinary clothes, their detached temperament could not be hidden. In addition, the four people accompanying him are all powerful and non-idle, especially Yuwen Hongtai, who is as tall as a god, is even more terrifying, so no one has accosted them along the way, let alone causing trouble.

Let everyone cry and laugh, Yuwen Hongtai, a man who is reckless and reckless, jumped in shock as soon as he got on the boat, and his feet were unstable, just like the little daughter-in-law who entered the door of the evil in-laws, and her face was a little pale with fear. After getting on the boat, he kept shrinking silently, and after a short time, he suddenly vomited and vomited.

Such a big guy, he actually got seasick!

"Uh......h I knew I wasn't coming! Yuwen Hongtai wanted to cry without tears, and when the boat went all the way, he vomited all the way, crying like a child, until the boat was full of laughter.

Downstream, there are still 100 miles of waterway to Xiangzhou. The Dafan passenger ship docked at several piers along the way to pick up and drop off passengers. Qin Mubai and others have also seen the Caoyun Wharf in Xiangzhou, which is indeed extremely prosperous and lively. Day or night, passenger ships or cargo ships often dock. The men who take the work here are waiting day and night, and the officials and officials can often be seen here to maintain order. Occasionally, you can see some sturdy people shuttling back and forth among the people in the cabin, and everyone does not dare to offend them in the slightest as if they were gods.

"The transportation of Xiangzhou is related to the imperial court's taxes and the transshipment of salt and iron, and it has always been extremely important." Li Ke said, "Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty and even in the pre-Sui period, salt barons have been rampant in the Jingxiang area, and countless salt taxes have flowed into the hands of salt barons. In addition to stealing and selling illicit salt, the salt barons also organized crowds to gather together, and formed alliances with the government and private iron tools, and ran rampant in the township to oppress the good. In troubled times, the behavior of these salt lords is still reasonable, and some of them are also to fight against tyranny and seek a way to survive. But Fang is now peaceful and prosperous, the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and these guys do a lot of things that are not beneficial just to fill their own pockets, so they can't be tolerated. ”

Qin Mubai nodded and said, "I have also heard for a long time that the Jingxiang area is rich and prosperous, but it is also a mixture of three sects and nine streams of dragons and snakes, and it is not as simple and calm as I imagined. For so many years, the salt lords have been inexhaustible, almost on a par with the royal law, and the local government seems to be powerless against them. This time, if we can exterminate the salt lords, it may be a good achievement. ”

Li Ke smiled at the corner of his mouth: "Look, I'm in the same place with me again." If we do what others can't do, that's a good political achievement. How powerful and difficult the salt lords in Xiangzhou are, we have to have a deep understanding to know. ”

Later, Li Ke asked the boatman and learned that there was a very famous ferry in Xiangyang County ahead, called 'Eight Ghost Crossing', which was one of the largest transportation wharves in Xiangzhou. Li Ke said: "Let's get off the boat there and take a look, it's okay to stay for a day or two, anyway, we will go to Xiangzhou, so we should look for people's livelihood." ”

"It's fine."

Soon the group got off the boat. Yuwen Hongtai was not embarrassed when he stumbled garlic on his legs, and if it wasn't for the powerful Xue Rengui when he got off the boat and walked the sampan, he was probably afraid that he would have fallen into the river.

It was dawn, but the Eight Ghosts were already lively.

Passenger and cargo ships are very finely divided. On the left, there is a passenger ship that picks up and drops off passengers, and on the right is a larger group of cargo ships. As far as the eye can see, within a radius of several miles of water, the sampans are like linen all over the wharf, and some officials shouting loudly to direct the ships to enter the harbor and dock, and there are as many coolies as cattle hair, wearing short cardigans and rolling up their trousers, barefoot and open-chested, and carrying the goods to the shore. There is a piecework thin head next to it, which should be used to settle wages.

Qin Mubai and the others went ashore from the side of the passenger terminal, except for the pedestrians who got on and off the boat, they didn't encounter any idle people. After a big detour along the way, everyone intended to go to the side of the cargo dock to see what was going on. Unexpectedly, two officials at the entrance came out and stopped them.

"Stop, which ship are you the owner of?" The official looked at a few people vigilantly and asked.

"Oh...... That. Li Ke casually pointed forward and said with a smile, "Brother Guan, let me wait in, our goods are being unloaded!" ”

"Ho!" The official sneered, "Where did you come from, this is not a place for wind and flowers, is it a place for you to have fun?" Let's go, let's go, don't force the official to turn his face! ”

"What do you mean?" Li Ke's face sank, "My own ship is unloading, can't I go in and see it yet?" ”

"Let you go, you get out!" The official was so impatient that he shouted, "You have to be here to get bad luck, don't you?" ”

"Wait." The other official next to him seemed to be more clever, looking at Li Ke and the others' extraordinary behavior, maybe some big people, pulled the evil official aside, and said with a slap in his hand, "What is the matter with this Langjun who wants to enter the dock?" ”

"Didn't I say it all?" Li Ke didn't get angry, and asked calmly.

Lang Jun laughed. Lang Jun should be a merchant from other places, right? The official smiled, obviously a little sarcastic, but still said very politely, "Whoever enters and exits the owner of the Eight Ghost Crossing must have a special token issued by the county government in his hand." Needless to say, you can come and go at any time. Pimp...... Do you understand? ”

"What, you still have to ask for tokens?" Li Ke was stunned for a moment, and then laughed dryly, "That's it, I forgot about it for a while, and I'll go back to Guixian Mansion to ask for it." What a bother, farewell! ”

The evil servant sneered: "Zhou Laojiu, what nonsense do you have to talk about with these people?" Straight with a stick fork to go away is quiet. ”

Qin Mubai and the others came to find out, and they have been watching and understanding from the sidelines. It's Yuwen Hongtai, who vomited all the way, although his body vomited a weak temper, he just pressed his stomach, and he couldn't hold back his annoyance anymore. Hula rushed forward, he waved a big slap like a fan, and with one slap he hit the evil servant in the face, and shouted: "Find and clean up, I will fulfill you!" ”

The evil official screamed and fell to the sky, like a cement slab plopping and falling to the ground with a thud, but the people around him were shocked. Several officials rushed over with knives and sticks, and the whole dock suddenly exploded like a pot, and it became lively.

Li Ke, Qin Mubai and the others were also a little annoyed, but after all, they were all masters of the province and didn't want to make more trouble, so they hurriedly pulled Yuwen Hongtai back.

Li Ke scolded secretly: "Yuwen Hongtai, are you confused or what?" There are no priorities! ”

Qin Mubai smiled slightly: "Son, if you come, you will be safe, and it is not a good thing for Hong Tai to poke a basket." It's like destroying a hornet's nest, you have to have a temptation, right? ”

"Huh!" Li Ke smiled and stopped talking. Looking at the group of people and others surrounding in front of him, he cut his hands behind his back and laughed at them.

The evil servant was pulled up from the ground, afraid that he would fall and hurt and covered his head and wailed, and the Zhou Laojiu next to him seemed to be a leader, and hurriedly persuaded the brothers behind him who were passionate about fighting, and came to Li Ke and said: "This son, I see that you are also a character who knows how to learn and is not an idle person, but there are such fierce people under your command?" It's inconvenient to cause trouble on the docks, so let's go! ”

"You're a troublemaker." Li Ke smiled and said, "Having said that, if I don't leave today, what will happen to the situation?" ”

Zhou Laojiu wrung his brows, as if he also showed a trace of anger, and said impatiently: "We are busy, you better stop pestering." Otherwise, it is possible to be killed at this pier. Let's go, let's go! ”

"Haha, that's interesting!" Li Ke laughed, "Which royal law in Datang stipulates that if you break into the Caoyun wharf, you will be beaten to death?" I really want to open my eyes today! ”

Qin Mubai next to him smiled and said, "Childe is so Yaxing today, I will accompany him." This Brother Zhou is a good person, and we don't embarrass you. Why don't you tell your brother to stand down and let me wait in and have a look, and it won't hurt." ”

"Hey, you really don't know how to lift!" That week, Lao Jiu gritted his teeth and scolded hatefully, took a step back, and suddenly waved his hand violently, "Blow them away!" ”

A group of officials were about to rush up with knives, guns and sticks, and Li Ke suddenly shouted: "Stop!" ”

The officials were stunned, but they really stood still. I couldn't help but wonder neatly in my heart: What a great majesty, bigger than the county commander's style!

Seeing that these servants were suppressed, Li Ke felt very good, and the corners of his mouth twitched and said: "You are so anxious to bombard us away, could it be that there is something unsightly in these eight ghost crossings?" As officials and officials, are you selling smuggled goods and committing adultery? ”

"Bastard, nonsense!" The officials were stunned at first, and then roared angrily, "Get out!" Otherwise, take them all and go to jail! ”

"Haha, interesting!" Li Ke stroked his palms and laughed, took a few steps back or so and smiled at Qin Mubai and Xue Rengui, "It's your turn." By the way, I really want to know which of the two of you is fighting a little harder? ”

"He's supposed to be more neat." Qin Mubai also smiled, and also took a step back with Li Ke, "And Yin Yang and Hong Tai, which round will I make a move?" Hong Tai alone will top ten! ”

"But it suffocates me!" Yuwen Hongtai roared loudly, and he was about to rush forward and beat people. The officials only felt that it was dark in front of them, and a big black bear-like creature had already rushed forward, which frightened them a little at first.

Before Yuwen Hongtai's fist hit the flesh, there was a sudden bigger commotion on the other side of the dock, the roar was like thunder, and there was a faint sound of swords slashing through the air. Several ships also appeared to have been overturned, and large bags of cargo fell into the water, causing a huge splash.

"Hey, it's more lively over there than we do!" Li Ke and the others stood on tiptoe and watched.

The officials couldn't help but look back nervously, and Yuwen Hongtai was stunned for a moment with a fist: "Such a big move?" ”

At this moment, a series of loud noises suddenly sounded on the pier, and someone on a viewing tower next to the fence shouted: "The dock has changed, the dock has changed!" ”

All the officials were like a curse, and immediately threw down Li Ke and the others, and rushed towards the dock desperately, leaving only two or three people to pull up the fence at this entrance and hold them with knives, refusing to retreat half a step.

"Looks like there's a good show, and we're here at a good time." Li Ke smiled a little wickedly, and hooked his finger at Yuwen Hongtai, "It's your time, Hongtai." This fence of broken trees and branches should not be able to stop you, right? ”

"Haha-" Yuwen Hongtailei roared, like a locomotive slamming into the fence with all its might. There was a loud bang and a frightened cry from the officials, and one by one the fences fell down. Although Yuwen Hongtai is huge, he is extremely agile, he rolled on the spot, lifted a knocked over official on the left and right and threw it away, clapped his hands and said: "Childe, this way is clear, please!" ”

Qin Mubai smiled: "Childe, are we looking for trouble?" ”

"Clearly not." Li Ke said, "We are here to see this excitement!" ”