sinking into sand

In the past year, it was spring again.

This year is the seventh year of Jian'en, and the world is still in chaos as in previous years.

Xie's imperial court, which has been passing along these years, seems to have encountered bad luck again. The beginning of the year was a plague of locusts. All over the Central Plains, not to mention the fields in the hands of the common people, even several places where the army garrisoned the fields suffered disasters.The signs of people fleeing south that had been stopped had reappeared.

But even fleeing to the south is not easy.This year's rain is more abundant than last year. After a month of rain, the Lijiang River naturally burst its embankment, flooding many places along the coast, and the Lijiang City naturally suffered.The displaced people and those who fled from the south faintly regained their momentum in the east of the Lijiang River, as if they had defected to the water bandits, and they seemed to be about to revolt.

The south is chaotic, and the imperial court is also sad. The local governments have been reporting the disaster situation in various places since the beginning of the year. The imperial court has selected several places to be exempted from taxes, and the rest can't be controlled. Let the local governments figure out their own solutions.As we all know, Xie Shu, the emperor of the Jian'en Dynasty, was just a showman and did not go to court. The Zhai family behind him was powerful, and the government soldiers even surpassed the city defense army stationed in Dingzhou.The forces of the Zhai family are entrenched in the northeast and southeast of Dingzhou, and they don't care about other places.It is said that there are quarrels in the court every morning, and there are also ministers who remonstrate with death, but it doesn't work.

But at this moment, Guan Jingyue also made moves in the northern border.

The military strength of the northern palace has always been bounded by the Liao Ding Pass to the south of Quehuo, and they will never go south.After the spring of this year, Guan Jingyue suddenly gave a memorial, saying that they found traces of Xianbei people in the south of Liaoding Pass, fearing that people from the Central Plains would communicate with them secretly, and hoped to send troops to Liaoding Pass.

Everyone can see that Guan Jingyue is Sima Zhao's heart.But it doesn't make much sense to approve or not to approve this booklet.The court ignored it until Xia Tian, ​​when it was being troubled by floods.Guan Jingyue posted another note, saying that the son of the Northern Territory had disappeared in the Central Plains.Suspecting it was a conspiracy by the Xianbei people, he finally led the army to the threshold of Liaoding Pass.

The imperial court was in a hurry and had no choice but to transfer Zhai Su to station in Fengcheng, a hundred miles away from Liaoding Pass, in the name of bandits.Separated from the Liaoxi Corridor with Guan Jingyue's army, they finally stopped the march of the northern army going south.

The east wall was demolished to make up for the west wall, and once Zhai Su left, the bandits and water bandits in the southeast gradually became more and more arrogant.They had already absorbed a lot of refugees, and finally at the end of the summer of the seventh year of Jian'en, there was an uprising.

The imperial court had no generals to use. After half a month of fighting and suppressing, they finally sent out troops.I can only be thankful that these people turned out to be just farmers, and they relied on their lives to fill them up, and they barely suppressed the sound of this wave of uprising.It just came and went, and the flames of war swept across the entire hinterland of the Central Plains, even including the Lijiang River, which has been in a corner for a long time.Many merchants in the south had to give up the shortcut of the tea and salt trade road.Detour the Yongjia Ancient Road and enter Dingzhou and other places from the northwest.

The war lasted for a long time, and the imperial court could not control many places among the people.So all of a sudden, many little-known Jianghu sects prospered again, as if having more iron in their hands than others would give them more courage.Many people couldn't continue to flee to the west where there was no war, so they simply defected to some sect nearby.Work as tenant thugs for others, at least they can make a living.

In such a chaotic year, a new pattern has gradually formed among the people.The Lijiang River is no longer a corner, but it has begun to feel a little deserted.On the contrary, Daocheng, which does not go down the mountain, passed by on the Yongjia Ancient Road, became prosperous and busy because merchants took advantage of the way to re-assume the important task of communicating from north to south and from east to west.And because of the remote location, the Zhai family, the Li family, the Xie family, and the Guan family were all out of control. A local hooligan formed a lion-tiger gang on the spot, occupied the empty government office, and did some things to collect protection fees and tolls. buy and sell.Because there are many merchants, they also made a fortune, so they simply started doing serious business, and successively opened several stores in Yuncheng to make a living, and their reputation in the local area became increasingly prominent, needless to say.

One day, when the gate of Daocheng was about to be locked, a carriage came from outside the city.

The driver was a young man.Seeing the guard at the city gate, who was about to get a guide to clear the customs, the guard waved his hand impatiently and gestured to him asking for money.

The man was stunned for a moment, put away the guide, turned back to confirm something with the people in the carriage, and after a while took a small piece of silver ingot to the guards guarding the city, and entered the city smoothly.

After they entered the city, the gates were closed.The man driving the carriage looked around and saw a hotel near the city gate, so he drove over.

At this time, it was getting dark, and the waiter at the door had just finished leading the horse for the previous guest.Seeing someone coming again, he hurriedly put on a smiling face and greeted: "Guest officer, how many are you? We still have a room here today!"

The young man sat in the car and said, "There are three of us, we need two rooms."

"That's it!" Xiao Er replied neatly, "Where is your carriage parked? Is the backyard complete?"

"Okay, let's get off the people and luggage first. I'll ask you to lead the way later."

After he finished speaking, he turned over and got out of the carriage, opened the carriage door from behind, and took two low stools for getting out of the carriage.Xiao Er leaned over to show her courtesy, and happened to see two women getting off the carriage.

At this time, women often wear disguises when going out, and seldom show up in dresses.Xiao Er quietly looked at them, both of them covered their faces, only showing a pair of eyes.But one is smart and the other is clear and beautiful, which is really beautiful.

Xiao Er stared at it for a while and dared not look any further.He said in his heart that this man might be really capable, so it's okay to be a blessing to Qiren. In such a chaotic world, he can take two beauties with him, so there must be a way to keep him safe.

When he thought of this, he acted with a bit of sincerity and earnestness.He led the way, helped to take down the luggage and sent it to the room they reserved, and then went to help park the carriage.

After he left and the door of the room was closed, Larry Lark held back all the way, finally pulled off the face towel, and burst out laughing.

Guan Lan also tore off the scarf, and gave Lan Bailing a bad look.Yu Sha had no choice but to put all his luggage back, and hurriedly came over to try to persuade Guan Lan, saying to Guan Lan, "I would like to accept the bet, and you will bet with her yourself."

The three of them were Yu Sha and the others. They went from Yunshuijian to the Lijiang River at the end of spring. They stayed for a month and didn't hear any news about Si En and Xun Er. They seemed to be preparing for war everywhere.The only novel thing is that almost a year has passed, and notices to arrest Guan Lan are still posted all over the Lijiang River.

After discussing it, they decided to take a detour to Dingzhou on the Yongjia Ancient Road.Firstly, there are a lot of people coming and going on this road, maybe there will be some news, and secondly, the situation in the north is not stable, Guan Lan also wants to go back to the north to have a look.Lan Bailing originally just sent them out. Hearing that they were going north, he didn't rush back to Lange on a whim, and followed them to the northwest.

Their business was not smooth. To put it simply, they were half-forced to go through the life of those fleeing people again, and actively and passively took care of a lot of nosy affairs.

At present, most of these refugees are fleeing from the north to the south, and they are going to flee from the south to the west.Some go on the road by themselves, and it is not uncommon to drag their families with them.Many were still suffering from tuberculosis.If you are not careful, you will die of illness on the way, let alone starve to death.In the end, even a heartless person like Larry Lark couldn't stand the questioning of his conscience, and began to heal the refugees who were traveling with him as much as he could.

Of course, there is nothing good about this, Sheng Mi En, Dou Mi Qiu.What's more, people are not sane when they are hungry and crazy, that is to say, Lark Lark is open-minded and devoid of human nature, plus he has superior force.It wasn't affected much.It's just that they stop and go, the water bandits are all in the south and they are about to be recruited, and they have just entered Daocheng.

Yu Sha checked all the rooms in the inn, and confirmed that there were no traces of ecstasy or drugs, and barely ruled out the suspicion of staying in a black shop. Then he relaxed, and asked Xiao Er for some food.

Xiaoer hurried up and down, and took a plate of steamed buns and a few small dishes of pickles in a short while.When Yu Sha took it, his corner of the eye glanced across the corridor and the hall below. There were many people dressed as rangers or merchants sitting in the hall, which was very lively.

Yu Sha took the food and went back to the house. Lan Bailing saw that his expression was different, and asked, "What's the matter, what did you see?"

"It's nothing." Yu Sha said, "I think many people don't look like gangsters."

When he said this, both Guan Lan and Lan Bailing cast their gazes over.Yu Sha's ability to read people was learned from Mu Yao, and it can be regarded as a unique skill.They avoided a lot of risks on their way north.Since he said it doesn't look like it, maybe there is something wrong.So a few people opened the window halfway, and when they were eating in the room on the second floor, they could always pay attention to the movement downstairs.

Coincidentally, the inn, a place where merchants and rangers gather, is indeed prone to conflicts. They didn't finish their meal, and some people began to argue with each other.

Yu Sha and the others sat on the second floor, condescending, and took a good look at the people in the hall.Lan Bailing looked curious, and asked, "What? What did you see?"

"There are a lot of people." Yu Sha replied casually: "People from the south, north, Dingzhou, and the southeast coast, there are people everywhere."

"Isn't this normal?" Larry Lark said, "Now that the war is going on, everyone takes the Yongjia Ancient Road. No matter where they go, they always go through Daocheng."

Yu Sha hummed, and only kept this matter in his heart, without further mentioning it.

A group of people were eating, and after a long while, there was a commotion downstairs. Lan Bailing probed to see, and saw a group of people wearing official clothes at the door.It seems to be holding a reward order or something in his hand.

Lan Bailing was startled suddenly, and turned his head to exchange a look with Yu Sha Guanlan.Yu Sha pursed his lips and nodded slightly, and kept eating with his hands.Guan Lan only glanced at those people, and silently pressed his hand on the dagger at his waist.

At this moment, the team of officials entered the inn, holding a reward notice in their hands, which said that the murderer Li Mou was at large, but looking at the portrait, the one painted on it was Guan Lan.

Yu Sha, Guan Lan, and Lan Bailing walked all the way, and they have long been familiar with this scene.I don't know if it's because Guan Lan has been missing for too long or there are some calculations, but the notice offering a reward to Guan Lan can be encountered in every larger city.But the strange thing is also here, although there are posters everywhere, there are often yamen servants patrolling the post and inn, and they are not careful about the inspection.When we first met, Yu Sha was like facing a formidable enemy, and I was afraid that he would follow Yu Wangling's way again, and after several times, he was confused by this foolish attitude.Helpless, he had no choice but to pretend to be a disguise for Guan Lan, and for a moment he was not sure what the reason for this was.

Just like what they had encountered a few times before, those yamen servants just put on a posture, and they didn't even check one by one, but they were very skillful in their gestures of reaching out to ask for money.The beggars in the hall seemed to be familiar with their way of doing things, and they paid for it one after another.

It's just that this group of people suddenly hit a wall when they got a certain table.The man first slammed the bowl on the table, then raised his head, arrogantly spit at the servants begging for money, and cursed loudly: "What are you? How dare you ask the Lord for money?"

Yu Sha saw the man's face clearly following the voice, and his eyes widened suddenly.

Guan Lan noticed his strange appearance, and said, "Know him?"

Yu Sha nodded slightly, and said a name: "Qin Kailian."

Lan Bailing was confused when he heard the name, and asked, "Who is this?"

Guan Lan also thought for a while, and finally found a name surnamed Qin from the trivial things he had long forgotten, and said, "Qin Shen's son? Isn't the Qin family in Dingzhou?"

It's time for them to chat quickly here.The situation below is intensifying.

Qin Kailian smashed the bowl, and the guards at the tables around him also showed fierce looks, and many of them had something on them.Judging by the posture, it is ready to go to the end.

But the government servants who came to collect the money were not vegetarians. The current government in Daocheng existed in name only, and these people were either beggars or hooligans.There is a bit of ruthlessness in the body.Seeing that the situation here was not right, the yamen servants who were collecting money from all over the hall surrounded them, with their hands on the handles of their knives, and they seemed not afraid to fight these people.

The situation here is critical, so the shopkeeper of the inn quickly walked over a few times, bowed respectfully to the yamen servants first, and said, "Oh, brother, give me some noodles. I will pay for the money of this table of honored guests, and you are old." cool down."

Seeing that the shopkeeper of the inn was willing to settle the matter, the leading yamen servant didn't say anything, but Qin Kailian was not happy, sneered, and continued to scold: "You little old man, go away, it seems that the master lacks these things. What, Entering the city is a fee for entering the city, and there is another fee for staying in a hotel. When did the imperial court have these taxation titles? Or are you a yamen servant in Daocheng who knows everything?"

Seeing that he couldn't be appeased, the shopkeeper broke out in a cold sweat, and hurriedly apologized with a smile: "Guest officer, this... this... our Daocheng has always been like this."

"Why bother talking nonsense with him." The leading yamen servant got angry when Qin Kailian said a few words, glanced left and right at their own yamen servant, and shouted: "Hit me!"

In just a moment, the people on both sides twisted together.The number of people in the two groups seemed to be about the same, and they were both armed. For a while, the hall was filled with the sound of swords and swords clashing.

They moved extremely fast, implicating many people sitting around.After a short period of panic, they scattered and fled in all directions like birds and beasts. The innkeeper was pushed aside when he started, and his hat fell off at this moment. The guest shouted, "Oh, guest officer, money...money! The money hasn't been given yet!"

On the second floor of the inn, the three of Yu Sha exchanged glances one after another, and neatly packed up the valuable luggage.Without saying a word, he jumped out from the open window on the second floor.

The three of them were not in a hurry to go to the backyard to pull the carriage, and after turning out of the inn, they hid in a secluded corner not far from the corner of the street.

Lan Bailing glanced at the inn from a distance, and said, "Looking at the shopkeeper, it seems that fighting with weapons is very common in Daocheng."

Yu Sha hummed, and didn't forget to fasten Guan Lan's face-covering scarf.

Guan Lan looked at his expression and asked, "Are you still staying in this inn tonight?"

Yu Sha straightened his veil, hesitantly said: "Qin Kailian appeared in Daocheng, this matter is unusual."

Guan Lan knew what he wanted to do, so she said directly, "Do you want to see him?"

Yu Sha didn't deny it, and said, "I have a bad feeling. I always feel that there seems to be something involved. I have to ask."

Lan Bailing was impatient with their charades here, and said, "Oh, then you go to see Qin Kailian, what are we doing?"

Yu Sha turned to look at Lan Bailing, thinking: "I don't know if the three of us are too conspicuous, why don't we search for some news in Daocheng separately, and meet at this inn three days later."

Lan Bailing came out with them to see and visit everywhere, so it's natural to hear what he said.He said hello and left on his own.

Yu Sha glanced at Guan Lan who was still guarding him, raised his head and asked, "Aren't you going to find news from the northern border first? The Liao Ding Pass where General Li Guan is stationed is very close here."

Guan Lan reached out and pinched his face, and said, "No hurry, go see Qin Kailian first."

Yu Sha smiled, and took off Guan Lan's hand that pinched his face.

While they were talking, many people came one after another near the inn, their clothes were from the yamen, and the sound of weapons clashing was still heard endlessly.After a while, the sound of weapons stopped, and people began to come out of the inn. Yu Sha took a closer look, and it turned out that Qin Kailian and his party were defeated by these Daocheng yamen servants and were detained.Bully Yi'ling? Noon Dad*wu* Jiuling "resources? Group

Yu Sha turned to look at Guan Lan, Guan Lan happened to be looking at him with raised eyebrows, and said with a smile, "What should we do now?"

Yu Sha sighed, and said, "I have to go to the yamen again."