[Before the National Day, ask for tickets]

"Tiancheng, please take a seat."

"Brother Xu, please take a seat."

In just a few sentences, the words have been weighed, and after a push, it looks like he is familiar with the ordinary etiquette between the guest and the host, but the place has been changed to the bow of the ship. Taking advantage of the scenery on both sides of the strait, there were two or three plates of self-purchased fruits and side dishes on the humble tables, and a servant of the Xu family served his young master and guests, and set up a seat on the undulating deck.

The young man known as Brother Xu sat facing west, drank the contents of the cup and said, "There is no good scenery on both sides of the Chishui River, but this wine tastes good. ”

"This was bought in Moutai Township?" Wang Xingping asked.

The prince surnamed Xu was stunned for a moment when he heard this, this place is really rarely called like this, and he said with a smile to the back: "It was indeed bought at Banbian Bridge, and the old man on the boat was reluctant to drink it with us." ”

Maotai Township is in the west of Yongzhen Yixi, because there is a soil platform behind the township as a place of sacrifice, and it is named after being covered by thatch all year round.

It is next to the east bank of the Chishui River, where the wharf is located, and where merchants from the north and south gather. Wang Xingping remembered that when he set off the day before yesterday, he and Xiaoliu also went to the Wanshou Palace in front of the street to make a round of incense, and a small bridge outside the palace view was called half of the bridge by the merchants because it was only half of the water, and it was usually called Moutai, but there were very few, so Wang Xing asked a question, and Young Master Xu would be stunned.

There are more than 20 good koji wines in Moutai Township alone, and there are hundreds of winemakers and winemakers. It is to bring some local merchants to and fro, Wang Xingping is a few outsiders, no one reminded, but the owner of the ship, Shi Gongsi, because the two groups of guests have no goods, he put more than a dozen Weng in the bilge, and when he arrived in Hejiang, he just paid for salt.

It's just that this wine is reluctant to entertain guests, so the wine and food have to go ashore to buy separately, fortunately, although the wine on the Erlang Dam that passed before is not as good as half of the bridge, but it is not bad, and Liao Si will never be bad at drinking, and the muddy soup such as Xifeng can be poured down, and the koji wine here is all jade liquid elixir, which is to be on the boat for two days, and the wine has not been broken. Although Wang Xingping is also good at drinking, he is not noisy in this matter, and he will not quarrel with the boatman for such things, and Young Master Xu's pot is obviously bought by himself.

It's just that seeing that this son of the Xu family is also a good drinker, Wang Xingping is not easy to distract people, so he talked about the wine.

"If you want to say that this winery on the Chishui River, in the opinion of the younger brother, it is indeed the best in Moutai Township."

"It's just that this wine is produced less, and it is not easy to drink it if you go outside, so I only bought a few jars for my brother this time, and I have to save some drink, otherwise when I get to Hejiang, I will have to buy it at a high price from this boat."

Wang Xingping listened, "In fact, this method of brewing wine is not difficult, the key is that the transportation is inconvenient, and the water transportation of the Chishui River is also convenient." ”

"After all, it's still ugly and hateful." When Xu Qianzhong heard this, he scolded hatefully.

"Brother Xu and his entourage are also going to Hejiang?"

At first, when he got on the boat at the dock outside Yongzhen Station, Wang Xingping met with the Xu family and his party, and the Xu Quanzhong son in front of him was about twenty-two or three years old, and he was born with clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, but his body was much burder than ordinary scholars.

Wang Xingping vaguely remembered that at that time, this family seemed to have just been replaced from another ship from the south, in addition to two companions and some luggage, there was also an elder, who was only about forty years old, and he was also burly.

I heard Xu Qianzhong reply: "Actually, I want to go to Chongqing Mansion." ”

"Oh? That's a coincidence, we also have to go to Chongqing. ”

When Xu Qianzhong heard this, he didn't hide it, and asked: "I just heard that Tiancheng said that he was going to Hejiang to make salt?" Why do you still have to go to Chongqing Mansion? ”

Wang Xingping didn't hide it, omitted the rough things and said it as it was, and then heard the young man Xu smile again: "It turns out that your sister is in Chongqing, so it's no wonder that Hejiang is close to Chongqing, so it's good to go to Chongqing." ”

The so-called exchange of courtesies, since the other party took the initiative to make friends, Wang Xingping naturally would not let go of the opportunity, and said: "I don't know where Brother Xu is, I saw you change ships at the dock the day before yesterday, and it seems that you are also from the south." ”

"We are from Chishuiwei, and you are fellow villagers in Guizhou when it comes to Tiancheng."

"No wonder it looks close." Wang Xingping said with a smile.

It turned out that the son of the Xu family went to Chongqing with his father to visit his grandfather, whose ancestor was a native of Pu'an Prefecture, Guizhou, and listened to Xu Quanzhong's words, his grandfather seemed to be a famous official, but he didn't know what position he was in, and now he was working in Changshou County under the jurisdiction of Chongqing Prefecture, and he happened to be in Chongqing Mansion these days. The Chishui Wei is just south of the Yongning Division, close to the Chishui River, and is the gateway to the northwest of Guizhou.

Listening to Xu Qianzhong's words, Wang Xingping suddenly remembered the section just now, and asked: "I just heard Brother Xu say that he is hateful, and he seems to know a lot about this Renhuai County. ”

"It's just that my family has been here by the Chishui River for a long time, and I have heard about the situation of various chieftains and places."

"The younger brother heard Brother Xu talk about the Renhuai County Order, and he seemed to be disdainful, but Brother Xu's family has some disagreement with this Wu County Zun?"

"It's not bad, Chishuiwei is still separated from the province, so it won't have anything to do with it, it's just that this one has a reputation." Xu Qianzhong laughed, with frivolity in his words.

…………

The weather was hot, but it did not prevent the old man in the county from sneezing.

"How did these barbarians come to Renhuai? It's really hard to do business. ”

In the back hall of the Renhuai County Ya, a lean man took a square towel and wiped his face, regardless of whether he was suffering from the wind and heat.

Wu Jiyao is fifty years old, and the maintenance is beneficial, with a smooth and smooth face, plus a few strands of long hair that is refreshing and refreshing, there is a bit of a born style. With the background of paying tribute, now it is a county order, which is considered to be the end of the ordinary. It's just that his career is hopeless, so he has more thoughts on money, but fortunately, he still occupies the name of a fellow villager in Huguang, and he can get a dispatch in this Zunyi Mansion.

Renhuai is not a county in Wangzhou, just in terms of population and economy, it is not even as good as some Tusi in the south, but the so-called Tiangao Emperor is far away, and at the junction of the three places, there is also a benefit that is not controlled, anyway, the triennial performance appraisal has nothing to do with himself, but it is better for An Ansheng to make money and seek some benefits for future generations.

After a sneeze, Master Wu didn't care if it was because he was scolded by someone, but reluctantly picked up a document.

"According to my son, I don't need to prepare, just send these barbarians away, send them out as soon as possible, as long as the boat enters Anle Creek, I don't care about the affairs of Renhuai County."

The youngest son stayed in his hometown to study, hoping to have a fame, the eldest son was not angry since he was a child, so he stayed at his own side, and he had a good response, but he always loved his temperament, and Master Wu was very indulgent, and when he saw the paperwork in his hand, he came up with an idea.

Wu Jiyao said: "On the surface, we still have to supply wholeheartedly, but it's just ...... Our Renhuai County is narrow and poor, and the money that should be given cannot be missing. ”

"Don't worry, my son understands." Wu Shi said, and then scolded again: "It's just a land state, and he dares to call himself the king, it's really arrogant." ”

Wu Jiyao waved his hand, but said: "King Interpretation is one of the four kings of Wusizang who is crowned by the imperial seal, and this person named Suo Nanjian is also the national teacher of his family, doesn't it mean that there are hundreds of people with his entourage?" It's a nuisance, as long as you don't make trouble in the country. ”

On the official document in Wu Jiyao's hand, it was said that the team of the king of Wu Sizang to pay tribute in Beijing wanted to borrow from Renhuai, and this time the tribute envoy was the most trusted national teacher under him, Suo Nanjianshen.

Wu Shi was unconvinced and said: "There are some corals and corals in the horizontal and vertical directions, and if they are sent to Beijing, they are not afraid of hindering the eyes of the elders, this King of Interpretation is really a businessman." ”

Since the Ming season, the tribute is a profitable and loss-free deal for the surrounding vassals, no matter how valuable the tribute is to Fanbang, the Ming will always give back more, even if it is not for the sake of return, with the endorsement of the imperial court, back to the territory, and the surrounding tribes to talk to a lot harder. Although there has been a period of giving back to Fang with treasure money, but on the whole, in terms of material, the Ming Dynasty still lost a lot, but the world is all over the world, and it is also an acceptable transaction to maintain the prestige of the empire in foreign countries.

Just for the sake of the imperial court's financial planning, the government also set restrictions on the tribute of various foreign domains, from the number of years of tribute, the route to the number of people in detail. It's just that there are too many benefits, and it is inevitable that there will be those who are so active that they want to violate the rules, and take the initiative to send them to the door to pay tribute, wanting to get the status of a Ming vassal at the same time. For such a thing, in the early years, the imperial court had to severely punish it, and the sending officials who were confused were implicated, but in recent years, the system has not been very restrictive, but the process that should be taken still has to go, and the one-way Kanhe delivery still has to go through the motions, otherwise the team of hundreds of people will inevitably cause a lot of commotion when they enter the mainland.

"Didn't you read what it said on the official document for customs clearance? After Xuzhou, I met the peach blossom flood, and I had to make a detour to the south to cross the border, and no one could find fault with it, but this time it was honest. ”

Wu Jiyao said that it is reasonable, in the past, there were two roads in the north and east of Wusizang, or by Gansu, Qing, or Sichuan, and there was no custom. But the place where the Qingtang River is sparsely populated, it is not conducive to the combination, in order to prevent the entry of the gangsters, after Chenghua, the tribute road of Wusizang was set in the east. For example, the tribute envoys are first through the Diaomen, Yazhou to Chengdu, in Chengdu to pass the Kanhe, after sending along the river to Xuzhou, and then all the way to the east, in Yangzhou to change ships through the canal to the north to the capital, although the post road to Yazhou has already been built, but after all, it is not as good as the north road to walk, is that the tribute envoys have often violated the rules from Gan, Qingdao into the interior.

Wu Jiyao said that this time he was honest, naturally he said that this time the tribute envoy did not violate the tribute road demarcated by the imperial court, but in this way, it was inevitable that Wu Xianzun felt a little troublesome.

…………

"Da Lang ......" The deep male voice interrupted the conversation between the two, and when he looked back, it was a middle-aged man wearing a collared green cloth shirt behind the two of them, who was also accompanied by this large body.

"Father." Seeing the middle-aged man coming out of the front cabin, Xu Qianzhong hurriedly got up.

The middle-aged man straightened his robe that was a little untidy because of the crampness in the boat, and looked at Wang Xingping and asked, "Who is this little brother?" ”

Xu Qianzhong hurriedly replied: "Tiancheng is also a merchant from Guizhou, and his son has nothing to do, so he has something to say to him." ”

The middle-aged man bowed slightly, "I remember, I saw it at the dock the day before yesterday." ”

"Wang Xingping has seen Master Xu."

From the conversation just now, Wang Xingping already knew the identity of the middle-aged man, who was Xu Qianzhong's Laozi.

Master Xu waved his hand and said, "Looking at the son, he looks like a scholar, this Tiancheng should be your watchword?" ”

Wang Xingping did not deny it, and said: "I have read some books indiscriminately, but I can't afford to be a reader, and I don't dare to show off in front of Mr. ”

Master Xu smiled and said: "There is no size in knowledge, what do you say, and besides, what can I learn to be worthy of you." ”

"Just look at the makeup of the gentleman's body, you know that he must be famous."

As soon as these words came out, Master Xu had no expression, but Xu Qianzhong on the side was really a little proud. In fact, Wang Xingping's words are still lifted, the person who can wear the shirt is at least a student, and with the age of the elder in front of him, it is not an accident. However, the student is only the first step of the imperial examination, and it is easy to say that ordinary people regard the student as a meritorious name, and he is a young master of a scholarly family who says this, if the language is frivolous, it will inevitably be regarded as ridicule.

It's just that Wang Xing is flat and tender, and secondly, he speaks kindly, so it won't make people think like this.

"Presumably, Da Lang also said to Tiancheng that we are going to Chongqing to pro our relatives this time, but we are bothered."

"Master Xu is polite, there are few officials like you now."

"Oh?"

Master Xu thought to himself, what is the flaw? Since he just got out of the cabin, he has not revealed his identity, and his son is relieved, although his son likes to make friends, but his mouth has always been very strict.

I heard Wang Xingping explain the confusion of Master Xu, "I see that Mr. has a cocoon in his mouth, but his back is quite broad, and Brother Xu is also average, and it just so happens that most of the Xingping clan are registered as soldiers, so I can see at a glance that Mr. This is the reason why he has been practicing bows and knives all year round." ”

In fact, it doesn't matter if it is a military household or not, even in terms of experience in later generations, Wang Xingping can see that the father and son are connected to those two personal companions, both of whom are from martial arts, and most of them have been in battle. In fact, it is also ordinary, here in Guizhou, but if it is a martial arts, even if it is just an ordinary military household, it is common to fight with the young people a few times.

Sure enough, I heard Master Xu say: "It's true that I practice martial arts, and it's common to move my muscles and bones after studying, why did I become an official?" ”

Master Xu's words were half interrogation and half test, and looking at Wang Xingping's eyes, he became majestic.

Wang Xingping hurriedly gave a salute, "What the student is doing is the method of reasoning. ”

"Oh? It's interesting, you can hear it. ”

"I just heard Brother Xu say that Mr. Xu's family lives in Chishuiwei, and Mr. Xu can not only have a famous background, but also work in his hometown all the year round, if it is not a high-grade martial arts, it would be strange." Actually, this reasoning is a bit far-fetched, but it can't be said that looking at you is like killing someone, which is too offensive.

Master Xu still had to argue, so he smiled and said: "It's all for the imperial court, why do you say that you don't see officials like me much?" ”

"Isn't it uncommon for officials to go out without post tickets?"

As soon as the words came out, Xu Qianzhong laughed to himself first.

In the Ming Dynasty, all provinces and provinces have post posts, a journey connects the center and the locality, and where there are students to go to Beijing to catch the exam, officials can use the post boat, but the court law, you need to use the post ticket of the survey. However, now the law is corrupted, officials have used both public and private travel, and the expenses should be borne by the government.

Of course, the premise of judgment is the identity of this old man Xu, and Xu Qianzhong's reaction also proves Wang Xingping's guess.

Hearing Xu Qianzhong laugh, Wang Xingping arched his hand while the iron was hot.

"It's abrupt, and I haven't asked Mr. for his name yet."

Master Xu also arched his hand, and Hao didn't mind.

"Xu Chengming......"