After passing Chaoge, he would officially enter Qingzhou.

The border between the two places is actually not very clear. At the junction, there are no dense fortresses and beacon towers, nor are there any border guards who are facing a great enemy and are full of murderous aura. They only have several posts on the border.

Ma Dai was a little nervous at the beginning and secretly prepared to be interrogated by the other party. Unexpectedly, although the sentries were dressed in bright clothes and looked energetic, they were completely uneasy. Only when someone went up to talk to them would they answer. Otherwise, even if someone passed by them directly, they would ignore it.

Ma Dai kept his identity in mind and of course he would not take the initiative to cause trouble.

In fact, the most obvious sign of the dividing line is actually seen from some aspects that are not related to military affairs. The most important thing is people... many people!

Ma Dai once thought that the 300,000 army was magnificent enough, but when the group arrived in Yanjin, he saw the crowds of people around the dock and the woven scene, his scalp was numb.

This is not fear, but he has never seen it before, nor has he ever thought of seeing such a dense crowd.

Around the wharf, a market-like place has been formed here. The overall layout is a bit scattered, but no matter whoever is the first to notice the only wide street connected to the road and parallel to the river.

This street is about three times wider than Chidao, and it is even more than the usual street. There are all kinds of shops on both sides, and many of them are buildings, with the second floor or even the third floor. There are co-workers and wise men calling guests loudly at the door.

The pedestrians on the street can even be described as "crowded". Looking up, they are full of people. In addition to these shops, they have drawn circles and singing to sell arts and hand-held specialties, and those who carry bamboo baskets to yell and sell food and snacks, which fuel the lively atmosphere.

Ma Dai comes from Wuwei, one of the most desolate places in the Han Dynasty. Just a few months ago, he entered Chang'an City. Although it was Chang'an City after the war and fire, what he saw and heard still opened his eyes and was amazed. But even the most prosperous Suzaku Avenue in Chang'an City is not as popular as that of this nameless wharf.

Ma Dai and the guards were stunned and almost forgot to get off the horse. Ma Yunli in the car also widened his eyes and looked at the scene in front of him in a daze. After a moment of stunned silence, the little girl made a completely different reaction from her brother and others. She cheered and jumped out of the carriage and rushed to the rolling crowd in front.

Ma Dai was too shocked and reacted half a beat slower. When he realized that he wanted to stop drinking, he saw that the girl's smaller figure had disappeared from the crowd. Where could he find it?

He just complained in his heart, and hurriedly ordered a few people to stay and chase him. If he investigated the military situation and did not meet the enemy, he would lose his own people because of watching the fun. That would be a big joke.

After squeezing into the crowd, Ma Dai soon lost his direction. Too many people and scenery made him dizzy, and too many noises made his ears buzz. There were too many people in this place, and everyone was spared no effort to show himself, so it formed an effect that made him dizzy.

"Lotus seed soup, fresh lotus seed soup, pure West Lake lotus seeds, clear fire and bright eyes and delicious!" In addition to the sound and color effect, there is also fragrance. Ma Dai didn't know what the West Lake lotus seeds are for, but the rich fragrance can really arouse people's appetite.

"Brother, come and try my crab. It's a live sea crab. It's easy to eat it in this inland place!" Another vendor held a strange-shaped so-called "crab" in one hand. Ma Dai had never seen such a thing before. He was skeptical about whether something so ferocious could be eaten.

"Shaobian, Lanzhou Shaobian..."

The street vendors sell food mostly for food, which is very attractive to those who dress up short-term and look like coolies. From time to time, people dressed up like this are surrounded by groups of three or five.

If they were in Liangzhou, even if they were jealous, they would have to watch it, or just snatch it. Here, Ma Dai was surprised to see that those people dressed in coolies actually paid for the payment without caring about it, squatting on the side of the road with a bowl in their arms, and then ate it in big mouthfuls.

According to legend, Qingzhou is so rich that it is really true. Even these coolies can buy food and eat it casually, and all the food looks quite expensive.

In fact, before leaving, Ma Dai had already prepared some psychologically for the prosperity of Qingzhou. However, he believed that no matter how prosperous Qingzhou was, there would be no place that was too popular on the border areas where war disasters could occur at any time.

The scene in front of him was even better than the Gaotang he had expected. Even the small port on the border was like this. What would the legendary capital Gaotang be like?

Ma Dai was simply afraid to think about it.

Finally, he was calm by nature, without being stunned and dazed. He finally remembered the serious matter, but there were afraid that there would be no thousands of people on this street. How easy was it to find a little girl in the crowd?

As the crowd was drifting with the flow, Ma Dai searched hard, and finally saw the familiar figure in front of a stall. He sighed and walked forward quickly. Before he could speak, Ma Yunli turned around and pounced on him as if he had seen his relatives.

Ma Dai was very surprised and thought that this little troublemaker was afraid of getting lost. As a result, when he heard Ma Yunli's scream, he immediately found a familiar feeling.

"Second brother, you are here. You must have brought money with you? Hurry up, buy a few mutton skewers to eat!" Ma Yunli looked impatient and urged him in a stack of yells.

"..." Ma Dai was speechless and said depressedly: "What kind of mutton should I eat when I arrived in the Central Plains? If you want to eat, you should eat something you can't eat in the side, such as lotus seed soup..."

He learned and sold it now, but what he said was not unreasonable. Xiliang was barely considered part of the grassland. Locals, regardless of Hanhu, mostly live on nomadic life. Lamb is for the people of Xiliang, just like corn for the people of the Central Plains. Although not everyone can afford it every meal, it is the main food.

"Second brother, it's not me who said you. You are too old-fashioned. How is the mutton in Qingzhou the same as the mutton in Guanzhong?" Although it was less than a moment since I arrived in Qingzhou, Ma Yun raised his waist and looked a bit similar to Yang Chao before, and he looked like a native Qingzhou native. "If you smell it, smell it carefully, can this mutton skewers be the same as the mutton you have eaten?"

No matter how much they conceal, the characteristics of Ma Dai and his group's words and deeds cannot be covered, so everyone shows themselves in the name of Guanzhong merchants. Anyway, they are far away. Where can the Qingzhou people distinguish the difference between Xiliang people and Guanzhong people?

Ma Dai came this time and had no determined goal. He didn't have to spy on military information, but just for his eyes and ears. He would check if Qingzhou was the same as the legendary one, and the customs and customs were also part of it. Otherwise, even if Ma Yuntui would be bothered, he would not be able to take the other party with him.

Therefore, after arriving in Qingzhou, in addition to trying to avoid military investigations, his mentality was quite relaxed. Even if there was no loss of Ma Yunli, he also planned to take a good look at the market and ask about some news from these peddlers.

In fact, Ma Dai had already smelled the fragrance, and since he entered the market, he was surrounded by various scents. However, there were too many strange things and he was eager to find someone before, so he had no time to tell it out carefully. After Ma Yunli reminded him, he realized that the fragrance emitted by the so-called mutton skewers in front of him was indeed unique.

"This meat... is strange. Why don't it smell like it smells so scented? It smells so fragrant?"

"Yes, right?" Ma Yunli pointed to the fat boss on the other side of the charcoal stove and explained: "Uncle said that there is something called pepper in the seasoning, which was brought back by the Qingzhou merchant fleet when he went to the South China Sea. I added some of this stuff. Not only did the mutton not smell bad, but it also had a special fragrance." As she said that, her voice suddenly became a little sweet: "Second brother, can you buy a bunch of it for me?"

"Then let's have a few strings." Ma Dai never refused this cousin's request, not to mention that he was very curious about the so-called seasoning brought from overseas.

"That's good, objectively, wait a moment." The boss of the kebab was very rich and smiled and looked very kind. While answering, he moved quickly and flirted with the skewers. Ma Yunli stared at the skewers with oil and fragrance on the charcoal fire without blinking. Ma Dai just lamented in his heart, fortunately no one recognized him here.

Soon, the meat skewers were grilled.

The boss didn't ask Ma Dai what he meant, and directly divided ten strings and handed them over. The rest was handed to other diners who came earlier than Jack Ma. Then, under the urging of others, the new one was roasted.

Jack Ma has arrived for a while. Judging from her name, he obviously became familiar with the boss. Maybe he had already made up the idea of ​​taking credit first.

"Boil, hot, hot..." After getting the skewers, Ma Yunli took a bite in a hurry, but he was burned. While shouting hot, his mouth was not idle. "Well, um, although hot, it is also very fragrant. Second brother, don't watch it, eat it soon, it will be not delicious when it is cold."

Ma Dai shook his head, and had no choice but to take her, so he picked up a bunch and ate it. The taste in his mouth made the girl understand the girl's feelings. Her tongue was numb, but a fragrance directly melted. In Xiliang, where salt is very scarce, how could she eat such a carefully conditioned barbecue?

After eating, Ma Dai felt endless aftertaste and immediately recruited several guards, intending to solve the lunch here.

The fat boss didn't rush to ask him to pay the bill at first, but when he saw his companions looking tall and tall, he heard Ma Dai say he wanted to eat openly, and he couldn't help but feel a little worried and asked, "Brother, have you brought enough money? These meat skewers are not expensive, but they are not cheap either."

"Aren't you just a few skewers of meat? Are you afraid that we have no money? You're so embarrassed!" Ma Dai didn't say anything, but there was annoyed among the guards. He turned around and exposed a large handful of yellow and orange Wuzhu coins. He said 'hey': "See? How can you eat for nothing?"

Although they were not exposed, they were pretending to be a local tyrant from Guanzhong who came to Qingzhou to purchase, so they naturally had to pretend to be a little bit like it. Ma Dai was not a person who was exposed, so the guards would definitely come out to support the scene.

The money in this bag is not too much, but it is at least hundreds of thousands of dollars. I thought that even if I couldn't calm everyone down, I could scare a vendor who set up a stall on the roadside to stagger.

As a result, the diners dressed in coolies glanced at them and turned their heads indifferently. The boss rubbed his hands and said embarrassedly: "Several people, this money is really not good..."

"No way? Just these skewers of meat are so expensive?" Ma Dai was surprised. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were not much. When the prices in Guanzhong were at their highest, he could only buy a few dou of rice. But even that, a few dou of meat would not be more expensive than a few dou of rice, right? Besides, those who dressed up in coolies obviously had dozens of strings and dozens of strings, but the boss didn't doubt who could not pay the bill.

"It's not that the meat is expensive, but that the money is not good..." The boss explained a few words, and saw that Ma Dai and others were still confused and a little embarrassed. After thinking about it, he suddenly asked, "Is this the first time you are here in Qingzhou? And he avoided the outpost on the road?"

"What do you... mean?" Ma Dai suddenly became alert. Several guards subconsciously pressed their hands on their waists. Qingzhou was indeed not a good place, and it seemed that the guards were loose. But even the vendor on the roadside was so vigilant. It was tight inside and loose outside!

The Ma family guards were all elites in the battle. When they became nervous, their murderous aura suddenly spread out into the air. The fat boss was startled and shook his hand quickly and explained: "Don't be excited. I just want to tell you that the post is specially used to exchange coins, and everyone who often enters and leaves the country knows it!"

There are too many new terms in the sentence "What?", even though Ma Dai thought he had done his homework in advance, he was still confused.

"Fatty Zhang, you have this extra question. Isn't this guy a first time to come to Qingzhou? How many people from Qingzhou who have never been to Qingzhou have seen the official sentry and don't hide? Especially they still came from Hanoi..."

The diners were eating on their own, but even the murderous aura exposed by the Ma family guards did not affect them. Instead, they felt interesting when they saw Ma Dai's confusing and surprised look, so someone interrupted.

"Look at my memory, didn't you just notice it?" The fat boss slapped his forehead and turned his head, and changed his previous smile: "Recently, fewer and fewer innocent faces have come. Even if he comes back, he will probably inquire carefully. However, it's no wonder that the war has just been fought in Guanzhong..."

After listening to his explanation, Ma Dai gradually understood.

In fact, he knew a little bit about this. Since the Hanwu era, the mainstream of the Central Plains has always been Wuzhu coins. Later, Wang Mang, Dong Zhuo and others issued new coins, but they were not able to circulate in the end, with Qingzhou as an exception.

As early as when Wang Yu defeated Yuan Shao and occupied Hebei, the general shogunate began to try to build new coins, which became popular from scratch, from scratch.

When Ma Dai first heard about this, he still came from Han Sui. The latter's news also came from Zhong Yao. He also sighed for a while, saying that no wonder the Qingzhou army was rich and minted and issued money, and finally succeeded. How could it not be rich?

It was because of Han Sui's evaluation that Ma Dai left the impression in his mind that Wang Yu was skilled in making money.

Before traveling, for the sake of convenience, he also wanted to find someone to exchange for some Qingzhou coins, which was convenient for use, but after searching for it, he couldn't find it. He discussed with Han Sui, and the latter said that it might be because of the rumors that Qingzhou coins might be similar to what Dong Zhuo did back then. Those inferior coins were useless at all, so he could only boast about it and said that it was successful.

On the way, he met Yang Chao and others, and they brought ordinary Wuzhu coins or other bad coins. Ma Dai didn't take the money seriously and ended up making a joke.

It turns out that Qingzhou coins have only been circulated internally, and when they are external, they use the original currency. Why is this so the fat boss and diners can't tell me why, so in the end they simply took a few Qingzhou coins for Ma Dai to show.

"This is the coins minted by the General's Mansion. There are three types of coins in total. Gold coins are the highest value. One is worth ten silver coins, and one silver coins is worth one hundred copper coins... Our coins are real. Gold is gold, silver is silver, and there is no money added to the copper coins. Even Wuzhu coins cannot compare, let alone the white coins minted by others."

Like Wuzhu coins, Qingzhou coins are also round, but there is no hole in the middle. One side of the coins is carved with the pattern of the golden dragon, and the other side is the four big characters Kaiyuan Tongbao.

Not only is the carving of this coin very exquisite, but its size and weight are larger than ordinary Wuzhu coins. It is no wonder that the diners and bosses think that the General of the Cavalry may not want the money to flow out and make others cheaper.

Under the influence of this mentality, the local people's attitude towards foreign coins is naturally self-evident. Whether it is to respond to the call of the General's Mansion, unify the financial order, or simply not willing to suffer losses, there are only two words for foreign coins: Refusal to accept them.

Ma Dai was embarrassed and retreated awkwardly. Before leaving, he said that he would come back to pay it back after changing the money, otherwise he would be fine if he stayed here.

The fat boss waved his hand generously and said that it was just a skewer of meat. It was no big deal, even if he treated him. He also reminded Ma Dai that those posts were not only exchange points, but also consulting points, and just ask if you don’t understand anything. Finally, he added, saying, jokingly that as long as it is not a military secret, everything will be answered.

The diners were laughing, and Jack Ma thanked sweetly, making the fat boss's bones a little bit soft, but Ma Dai was sweating profusely, as if his identity had been completely exposed.

In fact, Ma Dai's feeling was not wrong. After they left, the smile on the boss's face disappeared, his eyebrows were furrowed together, and he looked very embarrassed.

"Oh, people say that getting promoted and getting rich is a three-part joy in life. The head of the family, what are you doing? Are you thinking about begging a young man before you get rich? Don't forget it. That daughter looks so stern, it's not your turn to kill pigs and sell meat!" He frowned in a daze, and he was responsible for cutting meat on the side. The boss's wife, who is also very round, is so sour.

"Hi, what do you know?" The boss stomped his feet, pulled off his apron, and reminded him: "Madam, take care of you here first, I'll go."

"Hi, hey, your temper is getting older. Why? You are allowed to stare at someone's daughter and treat you as a fat man. I can't say a few sarcastic words? Want to give up? Who are you threatening? Today we have to explain it clearly!"

"Okay, listen to me, are you okay?" The wife couldn't get married, and the boss was also amused and laughed: "Where do you think I'm going? I'm going to the yamen..." He said softly: "Yes, it's the Red Building."

The boss lady covered her mouth in surprise: "No? That daughter's character can be... a spy?"

"Who said it well? I will always be at ease when I report it."

"Well, what the head of the family said."
Chapter completed!