The south ships and the north horses, and the northern transportation is naturally dominated by vehicles and horses. In fact, the load capacity of the ox cart is larger, but the speed is too slow, so there are few ox carts for long-distance transportation. There are not many horse-producing areas in the Great Song Dynasty, the military supply of horses is still seriously insufficient, and the people do not have so many horses, so long-distance trafficking mostly uses mules and donkeys as the main transportation force.

The Ding family hurriedly gathered 200 carts of rice grain, 200 carts and mules and horses pulling feet, as well as thousands of people and Zhuang escorted, but they did it overnight, just this move, it can be seen how huge the Ding family's connections and power in Bazhou are.

However, of course, the car that came out in a hurry was what model, what kind of car was originally used, and there were also all kinds of mules and horses, and Xue Liang, a pig, was unlucky, driving a horn car pulled by a donkey, and the car was still loaded with dung, although it was washed very clean, it was inevitable that it still had a little peculiar smell, so that he sat on the wheel, wrapped his face in a mouthcloth, and pulled his face like a bun.

Especially when I saw Ding Hao driving a cart pulled by two big mules with shiny hair, walking in front of him in a beautiful manner, sometimes Miss Ding got off the horse and sat on his car for a while, Zhen Zhu'er couldn't help but sigh secretly: "Most people in this world judge people by their appearance, and Miss Ding is not exempt from vulgarity." In fact...... My handlebar style is so old that I am dumb, why doesn't the eldest lady get on my car? ”

Ding Hao is a member of the Ding family, this is an indisputable fact, and many people in the Ding family know it, although they are secretive in front of Master Ding. Ding Yuluo naturally felt that this man who was related to him by blood was much closer than others, especially when this kind of family was alive and dead, who was just a combination of pure interests, and it was clear at a glance that relatives were close and far.

is like Liu Shiyi's distant nephew, because Liu Shiyi's relationship is also on an errand in the Ding family, usually his cousin's family has some big and small affairs, he spares no effort to help, and he goes to visit gifts during the New Year and festivals more often than his own son. Liu Shiyi compared the two, and always felt that his lazy son was unproductive, and he was not affectionate enough to Lao Tzu, so he couldn't help complaining.

His mother-in-law pointed a rolling pin at his nose and scolded: "You blind old thing, your distant nephew respects you because he thinks you are useful to him, do you think that people really treat you as a father and filial piety?" But your son is different, don't look at himself as a parent, and he is not as diligent as your nephew, but now you are in charge of the outer court, and he is your son; Thou art not to be in charge of the outer court, but he is thy son; As long as you're his father, he can't ignore you, your nephew who can't hit with eight strokes? So Liu Shiyi didn't let go of a fart.

Ding Yuluo is the same, when she is tired, tired, and haggard, she doesn't want to expose her weakness in front of outsiders, but she can't help but rest, the only place that can make her relax without hiding it is the trailer driven by Ding Hao.

When Ding Yuluo rode on the horse, she was like a heroic man, she rode a horse, kept circling the entire convoy, boosting morale, dealing with some problems that were not well prepared due to the haste on the road, arranging for the horse to constantly explore the road ahead, and discussing with Liu Shiyi, Chen Feng, and Yang Ye at any time to revise the route of travel, as if she was full of energy and could never finish.

But when she got off the horse and sat in Ding Hao's carriage, she was so tired that she didn't even want to lift her fingers. Only Ding Hao, who was sitting beside her, could see the anxiety and anxiety in the depths of her eyes, as well as her tired appearance. Ding Hao moved the grain stack when he stopped to rest, and piled up a half-person-deep place for people to lean on, which was not only windproof but also easy to rest, and did not let people see the tiredness on the faces of the people leaning there. Although these actions were subtle, Ding Yuluo knew that he was doing it for himself, and he became closer to him psychologically.

At this moment, when she was sitting next to Ding Hao, her body was leaning on the grain and rice stack, her thighs were spread, and she was lazily paralyzed on the car board, like a vulgar man, and she couldn't see the appearance of everyone at all. Now only in front of Ding Hao can she be so relaxed.

"Miss, don't be too anxious, I heard Feng Dazhang say that if we rush at this speed, it will be three days late at most when we arrive in Guangyuan, but fortunately, the eldest young master set off so long in advance, and finally gave us time."

Feng's big palm whip is a handlebar type that the Ye family car dealer lent them when he heard that the Ding family was in trouble. Yejia Automobile Dealer is the largest car dealer in Northwest China, transporting people and goods to deliver letters, and receiving any work. During the Spring Festival, most of the people in the Ye family car dealership had a big holiday, and they didn't come back until the Lantern Festival.

Ding Yuluo cheered up, slowly curled up his legs, which felt a little indecent, and sighed softly: "I know this, what I'm worried about is whether that gang of thieves will come back and continue to fight our idea." It's a long way, and if something happens to delay the trip for a long time, it won't be too late for the food to arrive. Besides, I now encourage everyone to take turns to rest and travel all night, although the trip is fast, but it is difficult to last, Feng Dazhang whip is used to walking long distances, and he can sleep and rest in the car, don't look at his age, such hard work is bearable, but most of these people and coachmen are temporarily patchwork, and it will not be possible to walk for two days. ”

Ding Hao knew that Ding Yuluo was telling the truth, not only people can't stand it in this way, but the cattle can't stand it, it won't take long, the speed must slow down, in that case, it will be difficult to determine the date of rushing to Guangyuan, maybe five days late, maybe eight days late, or even ten days and a half a month, once the border army loses the battle with the Tartars because of the problem of food, the fate of the Ding family can be imagined, and they are bound to atone for the countless soldiers and civilians who died in vain in Guangyuan.

Ding Hao has no feelings for the Ding family at all, whether it is the sanctimonious Ding Tingxun, the unmet Ding Chengzong, the prodigal Ding Chengye, maybe only this half-sister, the relationship between them is quite mild. But his current fate is still closely related to the Ding family, his mother Yang family, who has gradually accepted it in his heart, is in the Ding family, which is a family relationship that cannot be parted, once the Ding family declines, where should the Yang family go as a signed deed of sale? He has no foundation in this world, and even has no social relations at all except for Xue Liang, who is a pig, where should he go?

Starting from scratch is by no means something that can be done by talking about it with red lips and white teeth. Modern society values interpersonal relationships, and the ancient world attaches more importance to interpersonal relationships. Without social connections, without familiarity with the customs of this world, nothing will be accomplished.

During the Chinese New Year, the Ding family prepared a large number of gift lists, and the officials Kong Mu even had a share in the town's tax collectors and errand servants. Ding Hao was touched by what happened, thinking about his figure and appearance, although he didn't know how to write this traditional Chinese character, but most of them were still recognizable, and he could only be regarded as semi-illiterate, and if he was an errand boy in the government, he was probably qualified.

But when I inquired, I found out that I didn't even think about it. Don't look at the characters like tax collectors and errand servants when they appear in the play, they are all small people who can no longer be tricked, but in real life, they are ancient civil servants. The treatment of civil servants in the Great Song Kingdom is quite good, and it is definitely more difficult to get into the civil servants than more than a thousand years later, even if his ancestors are innocent for eight generations, he may not have that way and opportunity, let alone his current status.

He can't even do the shopkeeper who is more sophisticated than the tax officer. The shopkeeper has to memorize the 28 dishes ordered by the seven tables of guests in one breath, and he has to report the names of the dishes to the kitchen with various beautiful folk songs, and when serving the dishes from the kitchen, he can stack more than a dozen dishes from his shoulders to the tips of his fingers, and not a drop of vegetable soup will not spill out. Is anyone capable of such a shorthand expert, folk songwriter and acrobat?

So in order to have a place to live for himself for the time being, or even use the Ding family to start his life, now as long as possible, he has to do his part for the Ding family.

After being silent for a long time, Ding Hao said softly: "Miss, don't think so much, too much thought in your heart will not help, but it will make you haggard, do our best, I think, that gang of robbers will not keep an eye on the Ding family." Besides, we have recruited more people this time than last time, and I heard Feng Dazhang say that in the past ten years, the world has been peaceful, and there are many people and horses in the northwest region, and they can't please go if they really want to come. The eldest lady should think more about once the delay is too long, so dredge the joints to the Guangyuan side, as long as the surplus food in Guangyuan is still enough to eat, as long as the Guangyuan army does not eat the defeat, the Ding family ...... It shouldn't be a big deal. ”

Ding Yuluo smiled bitterly: "I hope so, I just think now that my father should not have monopolized the business of Guangyuan grain and rice supply, so that although the profit is big, the risk is too big, otherwise the burden on our shoulders will not be so heavy." ”

She sighed, crossed her legs, glanced at Ding Hao, and suddenly said strangely: "Everyone in the house says that you are stupid, but I see that you are talking and acting, it really doesn't look like it." You ......, I remember that you haven't left Dingfu since you were a child, but you seem to have some knowledge. ”

Ding Hao's heart jumped, he was silent for a moment, and suddenly grinned: "Hehe, stupid, it's just because I don't want to speak." Who I am, what do I say, and to whom do I tell it? I have never left the Ding family, but many people are sophisticated, and they don't have to go all over the world to eat thoroughly. You see, this is a big world, and the Ding family is a small world, and in the courtyard of the Ding family, you can taste the sophistication of human feelings. ”

Ding Yuluo was silent, and after a while, he said softly: "Actually, many people in the Ding family know about you, but Daddy...... Still deceiving ...... others. The affairs of the Ding Mansion are not in my hands, but I can still do it if you change your situation. If...... The Ding family can escape this catastrophe, and when I return to Bazhou, I will find a way to help you find an errand, and it will be much stronger than now. ”

Ding Hao turned his head to look at her, a lock of green silk emerged from under the brim of her hat, and flew up gently in the wind, revealing her white and clear forehead, her eyes were clear and very pure.

Ding Hao felt a little moved in his heart: "Miss, there is one thing I have never figured out, growing grain, is there such a big profit, the Ding family only relies on farming, and in thirty years, it has become the leading family in Bazhou, but it is too risky to sell military rations, why not turn to other businesses, such as opening a few more rice oil and silk shops, or opening a restaurant?" ”

Ding Yuluo said: "Of course, the big families in the northwest region who are well-to-do don't focus on land. In the Central Plains, there may be more business resources, but in the northwest, farming is definitely the most profitable business. The Tartars in the north are on the border every year, and the nomads in the northwest often harass our borders every time there is a natural disaster**. The imperial court stationed a large number of troops in the border area, and the biggest consumption of the army stationed here was food ......"

Ding Yuluo probably also wanted to relieve his nervousness through chatting, and patiently explained to Ding Hao.

As a person living in modern transportation conditions, Ding Hao really does not understand the difficulties of long-distance transportation in ancient times. Grain may not be too expensive when it was in the Central Plains, but when it was transported from the Central Plains to the border, it was astronomical.

For example, if you want to send 100,000 troops, and the baggage accounts for one-third, and there are only 70,000 soldiers who can go into battle, you must use 300,000 people to transport grain. How much is this grain worth to be transported to the front? If it was transported by livestock, it would have been able to carry more, but once the animal died, it had to throw away the grain it carried. Moreover, there are many places where livestock, chariots and horses are not allowed to enter or leave at all.

However, it is different if the nearby levy is different, if the grain is cultivated in the northwest region, planted on the spot, and then the grain produced is supplied to the military, then the cost of the imperial court will be greatly reduced, so the imperial court is very encouraging to cultivate grain in the northwest region, and they pay low taxes and high prices to encourage them to plant. Farming in the northwest is definitely a source of wealth for the big landlord's family with thousands of acres of land.

Ding Yuluo was explaining to Ding Hao, and Liu Shiyi rode a mule to the front of the car: "Miss, I've been on the road for two days in a row, and there is Qingshui Town in front, so I have to let the guys go in and rest for a night, otherwise everyone will be unbearable." ”

Ding Yuluo nodded, although she had good riding skills, her body was about to fall apart, not to mention many people who rode inferior horses or coachmen who drove big carts. Although she longed to fly to Guangyuan, she also knew that she had to let everyone rest anyway.

She nodded and ordered: "Steward Liu, you take a step forward and pack all the restaurants and spare rooms in the inn in Qingshui Town, we have so many people and so many cars, I'm afraid that the inn alone can't live, and the cold can't let everyone sleep outside, you take some people to visit, no matter who is willing to borrow the house, they will pay double the price of the inn, and try to make everyone live comfortably." ”

Liu Shiyi said happily when he heard this: "The eldest lady is really sympathetic to the big guys, and the small ones will do it, so that everyone can eat happily and live comfortably." With that, he drove the mule away as fast as he could.

Qingshui Town is not very big, but because it is located in the northwest transportation center, it is also quite prosperous. Just after the New Year, as soon as I entered the town, there were still broken red all over the ground, which were all debris of the burning cannonball. During the Chinese New Year, there are very few travelers who go out, so most of the inns and restaurants in the town are empty, and some people have lent out vacant houses.

Feng Dazhang is about fifty years old, his face is full of wrinkles from knives and axes, his eyes are bright, his sideburns and cheeks have turned slightly white, but his body is always straight, and his body is very hard. He is used to running long distances, and this Qingshui Town is also often visited. After entering the town, he hurriedly helped Miss Ding, Deacon Liu and others, who had never commanded so many people, to settle everyone, and then went to the Changfeng Tavern where he was accommodated to eat.

When Ding Hao arrived in this era, he knew that he had learned a little more formulas and theorems than the ancients, and knew a little more about the social, political, and economic trends. So he took the initiative to follow Feng Dazhang's side to help busy, Feng Dazhangwhip liked this diligent young man very much, at this time Ding Hao and Xue Liang were also hungry, and the three of them laughed and entered the tavern like old friends.

When the three of them walked into the tavern, most of the convoy had already finished eating and returned to their rooms to rest. As soon as he entered the tavern, Ding Hao noticed that there were still a few people in the restaurant, and they were not from his own team. It's not yet the New Year, and there aren't many people going out, so Ding Hao took a few looks at it with interest. The men were divided into three groups, a young man in a green cotton robe, who was neither shabby nor generous, and was dusty, and had just sat in the corner of the left wall. Another young man with clear eyebrows, half-open with a sheepskin jacket and a brocade robe faintly exposed, sat in the right corner and was pouring himself a drink, looking at the dishes on his table, all of which were ordinary country dishes, but they were sumptuous in such a small place.

The other two, a middle-aged man and a teenager, were sitting at a table in the middle of the hotel, the middle-aged man had wide eyes, his eyebrows were like ink, and his eyes were bright. When Feng Dazhang Whip, Ding Hao, and Xue Liang walked into the tavern, he raised his eyes and glanced them up and down, his eyes were scrutinizing, and he was quite a little angry, and when the three of them sat down, he withdrew his gaze. The young man sitting next to him only buried his head in eating and drinking, and did not look up at anyone who came or went.

Feng Dazhang and the three of them found a table and sat down, next to the young man in the cotton robe who had just entered the store, only to see the young man holding the table with both hands, and complaining to Xiao Er: "You have dozens of dishes here, but I order the same, how can you do such a business?" ”

Because today's business is booming, Xiao Er said with a smile: "I'm really sorry, guest officer, there are not many guests coming and going during the New Year's Festival, and the dishes prepared in the tavern are limited. ”

"Okay, okay, I won't order these dishes, bring me a bowl of hot soup, four buns, and half a catty of mutton."

"Hehe, there is hot soup and steamed buns, mutton, it's gone, there is still half a pork knuckle in the kitchen, you see ......"

The man smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Chengchengcheng, what's on it, as long as you fill your stomach." By the way, you said that there are not many guests coming and going during the New Year's Festival, so there must be someone passing by, do you remember? ”

"Hehe, there's more to our Changfeng Tavern than just one in town, if people don't come to our tavern, they won't necessarily remember. I don't know who the guest officer wants to ask? ”

The young man said, "If they had been to town, you should have seen them, even if they didn't stay in your shop." They...... There should be three or four big cars, all of which are relatively luxurious. There were twenty or thirty guards accompanying him, the master was a man and a woman, the man was about forty, the surname was Li, and the woman was only fifteen or sixteen years old, surnamed Tang, have you seen it? ”

After Feng Dazhang Whip, Ding Hao, and Xue Liang sat down, they didn't listen to what they said, but just smiled: "Look at this situation, everything that can be eaten is almost eaten, and we don't need to order any dishes, Xiao Er, what is there to eat for our masters." ”

After Feng Dazhang finished speaking, he took out a purple-red gourd from under his robe, and said: "Pour me another gourd of wine, it's good, if it's sour or mixed with water, you won't spare you." ”

At this time, the handsome man in a brocade robe and a sheepskin jacket stood up, tightened the leather jacket, took out a string of copper coins from his sleeve, and stacked them on the table. After eating and drinking, I also have to rest, and after a while, ask Xiao Er to bring a basin of hot water to my room. ”

"I know, guest officer, please go back to the room to rest, the water is boiling in the room, and I will send it to you when the pot is boiled in a while."

The man smiled, left his seat and walked past Ding Hao and them. Ding Hao glanced up at him, and said in his heart: "This person has clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, that is, a pair of natural peach blossom eyes, which grow on a man's face, watery, and always make people feel awkward......";