At the beginning of September, the official department was completed, and Xue Bai set off for Yanshi.

Li Longji did not retain his part-time job as Taile Cheng, probably because he was not very satisfied with his musical level. But his court title is still Cheng Lang, from the eighth rank, with the rank of eight ranks, he is attached to the county lieutenant, which is considered to be a very high standard.

When others look at him as such a young champion, they know that he is likely to have his back to a big tree and a bright future.

The autumn rain is continuous, and it is not a good time to hurry.

Leaving Chang'an City, one day to Weinan, the next day to Huazhou, the third day to Huayin County, Xue Yunniang occasionally contracted the cold, they had to stop to rest, the fifth day before setting off to Tongguan.

Xue Bai thought that he would have the heart to climb Mount Hua again, but now the difficulty of the long journey is far beyond his imagination, and there are female dependents in the team, so he finally gave up.

In Huayin, you can see Huashan from afar, it may be too far away, it is not dangerous to look at it, but I feel that the distant mountains are like daisies, very beautiful. But if you climb it, it must be extremely steep, I really don't know how Li Longji wants to dig the Huashan Road and bring hundreds of officials up to seal Zen.

"Let's go."

Continuing to the east, there are more and more mountains ahead, and the road is becoming more and more difficult, but fortunately, there are business travelers coming and going along the way, and it is still much more reassuring to follow the team of merchants.

From early morning to afternoon, Tongguan is approaching.

Xue Bai's mood also changed, standing on the horse and looking eastward, his eyes were a little reminiscent.

Remember the URL

"Has Shaofu ever been to Tongguan?

The name of the person who spoke was Yin Liang, Byte Ming, a native of Chenjun, Henan, who was thirty or eight years old at the time of Chinese New Year's Eve.

Yin Liang is a clansman of Yan Zhenqing's mother, Mrs. Yin, who was a guest when Yan Zhenqing was the lieutenant of Liquan County, and then lived in seclusion to study the imperial examination in Zhongnanshan, and failed to win the list in two years.

"I often hear people talk about Tongguan." Xue Bai responded: "So it seems to understand, but I don't understand." ”

"Tongguan is bordered by the Yellow River in the north and the Qinling Mountains in the south. The surrounding peaks are connected, the valley is deep and the cliffs are extinct, and there is a narrow sheep intestine path in the middle, and only one car and one horse can be allowed to go back and forth....

Yin Liang was conscientious, received Xue Bai's money, and took the trouble to start with common sense.

Xue Bai recalled his previous life, and always thought that Xi'an and Luoyang were very close before he went to Guanzhong to study...... In fact, it is not close to say that it is not close, and it is not far away. The problem is that the Qinling Mountains and the Yellow River have formed a natural barrier, blocking the two places like a long corridor, and Tongguan is a gate. To the east is the Central Plains, and to the west is Guanzhong.

Further on, the carriage was no longer easy to walk, and the women also got off the car and walked, Lu Fengniang couldn't help asking: "Why didn't you see the Yellow River?"

"You can see it after Tongguan." Yin Liang responded, "The Yellow River is just north of the mountains and forests. ”

Finally, Tongguan is in front of you.

Seki Castle is a hillside, the trees are not high, and the loess is visible. The towers on the castle were also gray, and they were not as majestic as they imagined. But as far as the eye can see, there is no other road to pass.

There was a long queue of business travelers and pedestrians blocking the gate. Xue Bai stood there and watched the merchant travel pass through the customs and noticed a strange thing.

"Mr. Yin, do you know why some caravans levy tariffs and some don't?"

Although Datang does not collect commercial taxes, there are also customs taxes. Du Youlin didn't understand this, and also looked at Yin Liang and listened carefully.

Yin Liang lowered his voice and said, "That's naturally 'hanging'." ”

"What is 'registration'?

"Military transit has the right to be exempt from taxes, so some businessmen have used their brains to join the army." Yin Liang said: "Since the imperial court recruited troops, there are generals in the army who have eaten empty salaries, and if there is a vacant amount, these businessmen are allowed to register. ”

Du Youlin was stunned when he heard this, and asked, "Then why can't they fight?"

"Except for the Helong and Anxi armies, why do you want to fight? It is even more impossible for businessmen to go to the battlefield, and they will risk giving another "tax payment" to the generals to find someone to replace them in the army. ”

"Can you still be replaced by the army?

"It's just the occasional nod. In this way, the merchants were exempted from customs duties, the generals were bribed, and the surrounding farmers occasionally earned some money as errands. Blinded up and down, it gradually became a routine. ”

Xue Bai shook his head and said, "It seems that all parties benefit, but the loss is the benefit of the society." The military and government are corrupted, and when the border troubles are together, the thieves are in chaos and out of control.

"Well, what can I do about it?

These things can't be seen in Chang'an, and no one has ever mentioned them in the court, Xue Bai, a county lieutenant, naturally can't manage the military and politics, so he can only step forward and hand over the paperwork, listen to a few calls of "Zhuangyuanlang", and enter Tongguan.

The ruins of the city have changed slightly, but not much.

In the second year of Wu Zhou Tianzhu, Tongguan City moved to the Yellow River, and then gradually moved north as the water level of the Yellow River dropped.

Xue Bai was familiar with this place, because this was once the place where he had served.

They were not garrisons, and they could not stay in the city for a long time, so they quickly left the city of Tongguan.

While the team was resting, Xue Bai wanted to take a look, and climbed a small hill on the north side alone.

In the team, Lao Liang saw it and was not at ease, so he hurriedly signaled Jiang Hai to follow.

Xue Bai was not as good at climbing mountains as they thought, he climbed faster and faster, and finally pulled a small tree to the top of the hill, passing through the small forest in front of him, and the scenery immediately opened up.

The Yellow River is at the foot of the mountain, and it doesn't look turbulent because it's too wide.

There is no longer any obstruction in the line of sight, and you can see far away. To the west, you can see the big bend of the Yellow River like the sea, and you can see the Wei River flowing in; To the north, you can see Shanxi.

In addition, only the sky is high and the clouds are wide, and the great river flows eastward.

That night, everyone stayed in the post house on the bank of the Yellow River, and before they checked in, it rained again, and the wind blew fiercely.

Finally for dinner, instead of dry food, I ate meat sandwich buns.

The taste of today's meat buns is very different from that of later generations, because there are many disaster years in Guanzhong, people mix the remaining flour with pork and roast it to avoid waste, and the taste is far less rich than that of later generations.

In the wind and rain, a few old fishermen came to sell the freshly caught Yellow River carp.

They were bare-footed, bare-chested, and most of them were not very good at speaking, except for gesturing with fish baskets.

"Uncle still goes fishing in this weather? Don't want to die?! ”

Xue Bai knew that this section of the Yellow River was actually quite dangerous, but after saying a few words, they didn't understand it, and they didn't care about such a reminder at all.

Du Youlin was kind-hearted, and hurriedly bought all the fish, and paid for the post house guys to help grill the fish, and the fishermen happily rushed into the wind and rain with the money.

There were not many rooms in the inn, so they rented a small single courtyard, with only two side rooms for shops, one for men and one for women. The retinue slept in the hall of the courtyard on the floor.

At night, the wind by the Yellow River has been whistling.

The bedding was very wet, and Du Youlin's snoring was like thunder.

Xue Baijing was a little unable to sleep, thinking about some of the past....

He is not from Guanzhong, but the books he studied in Guanzhong were in Tongguan County after graduation, and he worked in the ancient city of Tongguan for a long time. The town is not rich, but there are many cases, and they are too many to count.

In those years, he often walked through the mountain paths of the forbidden ditch, mediated some unbelievable cases, fruit trees that grew crooked into other people's fields, stolen jewelry, and his daughter-in-law who ran away.

It was a really difficult place for him, it was located at the junction of three provinces, and the national highway was full of people, and the big river was often falling into it. At that time, Tongguan was no longer an important town in the world like the Tang Dynasty, and had become a forgotten place.

But those villagers are indeed strong, simple and proud, the passers-by on the national highway smashed their glass, they still get up early, brand the most fragrant meat buns, sell the lowest price, they do not envy the distant bustling city, as if they have a sense of responsibility to stay here for generations.

"See this bunker? The Japanese still want to smuggle across the Yellow River, and they don't even want to set foot in Shaanxi! ”

Thinking back on these people and things, Xue Bai thought that he was going to be a county lieutenant and a parent official, and he suddenly felt very difficult.

A few days ago, he lived like a powerful man in the Tang Dynasty, and he even secretly determined to want this Li Tang's country. But when he revisited the old place, he still did not forget that he was a farmer whose ancestors had been digging in the fields for generations.

In a daze, the sky gradually brightened, and the snoring was still ringing.

Xue Bai then got up in his clothes and walked out of the wing.

It's still raining outside, and there's a tendency to get bigger, so I'm afraid I won't be able to start today.

Xue Bai originally expected the Du family sisters to come out and talk, but after this journey, they were also tired, and obviously they would not come out.

He simply walked out of the small courtyard and walked towards the lobby of the post house.

Outside the door of the post house, there is an old man holding an umbrella in the distance, sighing and chanting: "After the rain, the mountains and rivers are shining, and the clouds and willows are endless." ”

Xue Bai raised his eyes and saw that the rain was still falling, and he didn't know what this old man meant by poetry.

At this time, the other party turned his head and said with a smile: "The old man heard that there is a champion Lang in the post house, but you are Xue" Yes. Xue Bai looked at it and saw that although the old man was not wearing an official robe, he was wearing a jade belt around his waist, obviously a high-ranking official, and asked, "I don't know who Your Excellency is?" ”

"Wei Jun Taishou, and Hebei interview and disposal envoy, Miao Jinqing."

"It turned out to be Miao Gong in person.

Xue Bai had heard of this infamy, after all, when Miao Jinqing was taking the Chunqiu exam, he ordered a champion to hand in a white paper during the re-examination, called "dragging the white champion", which is one of the laughing stocks of Chang'an City in recent years.

said that it was a laughing stock, but Miao Jinqing was gentle and elegant in person.

"Heavy rain is blocking the road, you and I are destined to meet, how about a chat?

"Fortunately, Miao Gong, I can't ask for it.

Fortunately, it depends on the status and status, otherwise there are so many people in the post house, and I don't see Miao Jinqing and others.

The two turned back to the lobby and sat down, Miao Jinqing was born in a Confucian family and had extraordinary talents, so he first taught Xue Bai some experience in his career.

In comparison, Xue Bai's official road has actually gone very smoothly. For example, after Miao Jinqing entered the office, he became a county lieutenant for two terms, and joined the army for one term, before becoming a county lieutenant for Wannian.

But as long as he arrived at Wannian County Lieutenant, the imperial history, the staff wailang, langzhong, and the waiter were promoted very quickly, and the presiding over the spring was so bad, and the external depreciation was still too guarded.

"Xue Lang went to Luoyang to investigate disaster relief?"

"Yes, I don't know what Miao Gong thinks?

Miao Jinqing obviously not heard of Xue Bai's deeds for the first time, stroked his long beard, hesitated for a moment, and said slowly: "Although the old man and Xue Lang are new acquaintances, but at first sight, it doesn't hurt to remind one or two." ”

Xue Bai hurriedly got up and responded, "Thank you Miao Gong." ”

"It's not a secret, the old man has also heard about the case in Lishan. One of them is that it is difficult to travel on the Tongguan Road, how did Zhaoying Ling bring nearly 1,000 victims to Lishan?

"How?

Miao Jinqing raised his hand, pointed to the east, and said: "Shaanxi County Taishou and Shaanxi Defense Envoy Dou Tingzhi must know." ”

Xue Bai couldn't help but say: "I'm just a county lieutenant, how can I ask the Taishou of Shaanxi County?"

"That's not something that the old man can control." Miao Jinqing stroked his beard and smiled, and said no more.

When Du Youlin got up, he heard that Miao Jinqing was in the post house, so he went to pay a visit, but he didn't expect that Miao Jinqing didn't see him at all.

This made Du Youlin very puzzled, thinking that he had only heard of stepping on the high and praising the low, but it was rare for someone to greet the county lieutenant of Jiupin with a smile and reject the senior officials of the fourth grade.

"Uncle don't be angry." Xue Bai said, "This matter is simple, presumably he regards me as a messenger." ”

"What is a chincha?"

"Officials appointed by the saints to deal with important matters in the locality."

"You?" Du Youlin was shocked and said in a low voice: "You tell me the truth, you really obeyed the holy decree to secretly investigate the assassination case?" ”

Xue Bai smiled without saying a word, bowing his head and pondering.

Shaanxi County Taishou and Shaanxi Yu Defense made Dou Tingzhi manage the section of the road from the Central Plains to Guanzhong, which is naturally an important position;

In addition, the money and grain are constantly transported on this road, and there are many losses, so it is naturally a fat gap; Even, if there is a rebellion in the Central Plains, this position is also related to the defense of Guanzhong.

That Miao Jinqing wanted to use him or the Yang Party behind him to deal with Dou Tingzhi, even if it was just an idle move, it also showed that someone had already heard the wind and moved. wants to take advantage of a case to "stolen" political opponents and seek official positions.

"The important thing is that people with hearts think that I have been given a holy decree." Xue Bai said: "Perhaps, there are already many pairs of eyes staring at us at this time.

Staring at you as a Yanshi county lieutenant taking office?

"Uncle should not underestimate the county lieutenant."

After all, many county lieutenants can be prime ministers, but they have never seen any doctor Zanshan become prime ministers.

Du Youlin didn't underestimate Xue Bai, but he didn't realize how serious the matter was, so he couldn't help but get nervous at this time and asked, "Then what should we do?" ”

Xue Bai said: "Even Miao Jinqing has heard of me, and the target of the public does not need to show his identity through Shaanzhou, it is easy to fall into the trap of others." ”

Du Youlin knows what a trap means, it is not impossible to pretend to be a thief and kill him, and the more common way is to sit on stolen goods, or use traps such as beauty to make them join the stream.

But this terrain can't be bypassed. ”

"It's just a fake identity.

"It's going to be a while, how can you hang a fake ......" Du Youlin was halfway through his words, and suddenly thought of one thing, so he couldn't help but stop talking, and whispered: "You mean, registered in the army?" ”

"Is it easy?

Both of them were a little worried that this matter might not be easy to do, so they just asked Yin Liang to help find out one or two first.

Unexpectedly, it was only in the afternoon, and Yin Liang handed over two documents.

"I bought it from a merchant.

"So easy?

"They have a lot of this kind of paperwork in their hands. It must be known that in addition to the registration and inflated quota in the army, there is also a disadvantage of 'entering the service', although the generals collect a lot of money, they also have to bribe the powerful and envoys of the DPRK and China. In short, it's easy to do anything with money....

In the evening, the fishermen came to sell their fish again, and Du Youlin still paid for all their fish.

"There is no rain in spring and summer, and this autumn is also strange, the wind and rain do not stop." Du Youlin looked at the backs of these fishermen and couldn't help but sigh.

The next day, the wind and rain stopped, and everyone set out again.

Walking along the Yellow River, there was a cry from a small fishing village in front of me.

They stopped and marched, only to see the villagers crying and offering sacrifices by the Yellow River, and some Taoist priests setting up altars and waving peachwood swords against the Yellow River.

Several women and children lay on the ground crying to death.

Xue Bai and the others went over to ask, but the women didn't answer, only cried.

In the end, the Taoist priest shook the bell, sighed a little flatly, and said: "It's not unusual, yesterday I fished and let the Yellow River swallow three...

Du Youlin's mind buzzed, and he opened his mouth, feeling that it was not he who bought fish the day before yesterday and killed them.

It's just a few dozen steps out of the customs.

Just flow silently. Only the bones at the bottom of the river know what kind of turbulent waves it contains, and what kind of danger it contains.

Everyone looked up, the Yellow River in front of them was extremely wide, it was always so calm, no matter day or night, it was like this Tang Dynasty.

The cry behind him faded away, Xue Bai left Tongguan, and the cloud went to Yanshi.

Walking between the waves of the Yellow River and the mountains of the Qinling Mountains, he always thought of a poem in his head, but he couldn't pronounce it.