In early September, all the documents from the Ministry of Personnel were completed, and Xue Bai set off for Yanshi to take up his post. Please go to [Full~Ben520 Reading] for the latest chapter, please remember our website: xs520.\nco
Li Longji did not retain his part-time job as Tai Le Cheng, probably because he was not satisfied with his musical skills. However, his imperial title was still Chengwu Lang, and he was appointed as Ji County Lieutenant with the eighth rank official rank, which was considered a very high standard.
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When others see that he is such a young number one scholar, they know that he is likely to have a bright future with a big tree at his back, and it is not a good time to rush in the rainy autumn.
After leaving Chang'an City, we went to Weinan on the first day, Huazhou on the next day, and Huayin County on the third day. Xue Yunniang occasionally caught wind and cold, so they had to stop and rest, and they set off for Tongguan on the fifth day.
Xue Bai originally thought he would be interested in climbing Mount Huashan again, but now that the long-distance trek was far more difficult than he imagined, and there were women in the team, he finally gave up.
From Huayin, you can see Mount Huashan from a distance. Maybe it’s too far away, so it’s not dangerous to look at it. On the other hand, the mountains in the distance are as beautiful as black daisy. But if you climb up, it must be extremely dangerous. I don’t know what Li Longji thinks.
The Huashan Road was dug and hundreds of officials were brought up to be enshrined in Zen.
"Let's go."
Continuing to the east, there are more and more mountains ahead, and the road becomes more and more difficult to navigate. Fortunately, there are business travelers coming and going along the way. Following the merchants' team makes people feel more at ease.
From early morning to afternoon, Tongguan is approaching.
Xue Bai's mood also changed. He stood on the horse and looked eastward with some nostalgia in his eyes, "Has the young master ever been to Tongguan?"
The speaker's name was Yin Liang, Bie Ming, from Chenjun County, Henan Province, and he was thirty-eight years old.
Yin Liang is a clan member of Yan Zhenqing's mother, Mrs. Yin. She was a guest when Yan Zhenqing was the captain of Liquan County. After that, he lived in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain to study for the imperial examination, but failed to pass the examination for two years.
"I often hear people talk about Tongguan." Xue Bai responded: "So I seem to understand it, but not understand it."
Tongguan is bordered by the Yellow River to the north and the Qinling Mountains to the south. The surrounding peaks are connected, the valley is deep and the cliffs are cut off. There is a narrow trail in the middle, which can only accommodate one car and one horse.
Yin Liang was conscientious and received Xue Bai's salary. He took the trouble to start with common sense. Xue Bai recalled his previous life and before going to Guanzhong to study, he always thought that Xi'an and Luoyang were very close... In fact, when it comes to whether they are close or not, it is far or not.
The problem is that the Qinling Mountains and the Yellow River form a natural barrier that separates the two places.
Just like a long corridor, Tongguan is a gate. To the east is the Central Plains and to the west is Guanzhong.
Further forward, the carriage was no longer easy to move, and the female relatives also got off the car and walked. Mother Lu Feng couldn't help but ask: "Why didn't you see the Yellow River?"
"You can see it after passing Tongguan." Yin Liang responded, "The Yellow River is just north of the mountains and forests."
Finally, Tongguan is right in front of us. The entire city is 520.????
Guancheng is a hillside with low trees, showing the loess. The towers on Guancheng are also gray and not as tall as expected. But looking around, there is no other road that can pass.
The business travelers were blocked at the gate, and pedestrians lined up in a long queue. Xue Bai stood there watching the business travelers pass the border, and noticed something strange.
Mr. Yin, does he know why some caravans collect tariffs and some do not?"
Although the Tang Dynasty did not collect commercial taxes, there were customs taxes. Du Youlin didn't understand this either, and looked at Yin Liang, who seemed to be listening attentively.
Yin Liang lowered his voice and said, "Of course it's 'registration'."
“What is ‘registration’?”
"Military transit has the right to be tax-free, so some merchants used their brains to change their names and register and join the army." Yin Liang said: "Since the imperial court recruited troops, there have been generals in the army who have been paid empty wages. If they have empty quotas, they allow these merchants to join the army."
Registration."
Du Youlin was stunned when he heard this and asked: "Then they can't fight?"
"Except for Helong, how can the Anxi army fight? It is even impossible for merchants to go to the battlefield. In addition to buying military memberships, they will also give another 'payment' to the generals and find someone to join the army on their behalf."
"Is there any alternative to joining the army?"
"It's nothing more than an occasional click. In this way, merchants are exempted from customs duties, military generals receive bribes, and farmers around them occasionally earn some money from work. It has gradually become a routine to deceive everyone."
Xue Bai shook his head and said: "It seems that all parties are benefiting, but it is the interests of the country that are harmed. The military and political affairs are corrupt, and when border troubles arise, bandits and bandits cause chaos, and it is out of control."
"Throat, what can I do?"
These things were not seen in Chang'an, and no one in the court ever mentioned them. Xue Bai, a county lieutenant, naturally had no control over military affairs. He could only step forward and hand over the documents, and listened to several calls of "Zhuangyuanlang".
Entered Tongguan.
The city site has changed slightly, but not much.
In the second year of Tianshou of the Wu Zhou Dynasty, Tongguan City moved to the Yellow River. After that, as the water level of the Yellow River dropped, it gradually moved north.
Xue Bai is familiar with this place because it was the place where he once worked.
They were not a garrison and could not stay in Guancheng for a long time. They quickly left Tongguan City.
While the team was resting, Xue Bai wanted to take a look and climbed up a low hill alone in the north.
In the team, Lao Liang saw him and was worried, so he quickly motioned for Jiang Hai to follow.
Xue Bai was not as good at climbing as they thought. He climbed faster and faster, and finally climbed a small tree to the top of the hill. Passing through the small woods blocking his eyes, the scenery immediately opened up. (Full??
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The Yellow River is at the foot of the mountain. It doesn't look turbulent because it is too wide.
There is no longer any obstruction to the line of sight, and you can see very far away. To the west, you can see the big bend of the Yellow River, which is like the sea, and you can see the Wei River pouring into it; to the north, you can see Shanxi, except for Shanxi, only the sky is high and the clouds are wide.
, the big river flows eastward,
Vn
That night, everyone stayed in a post house by the Yellow River before moving in. It started raining again and there was a strong wind.
Finally, I no longer eat dry food for dinner, but eat Roujiamo. The taste of Roujiamo today is very different from that of later generations. Because there are many disaster years in Guanzhong, people mix the remaining flour with pork and bake it to avoid waste, and the taste is far different.
It does not have the riches of the Hereafter.
In the wind and rain, a few old fishermen came to sell freshly caught Yellow River carps.
They were barefoot and black-armed, and most of them were not very good at talking. They only held fish baskets and gestured.
“I’m going fishing in this weather? I’m going to die?!”
Xue Bai knew that this section of the Yellow River looked slow but was actually quite dangerous. However, they couldn't understand what he said and didn't care at all.
Du Youlin was kind-hearted and quickly bought all the fish, and also paid for the staff of the posthouse to help grill the fish. The fishermen happily took the money and rushed into the wind and rain. There were not many rooms in the posthouse, so they rented them. In a small private courtyard, there are only two side rooms for bunkhouses, one for men and one for women. The entourage slept on the ground floor in the hall of the private courtyard.
At night, the wind beside the Yellow River kept whistling, making the bedclothes damp, and Du Youlin's snoring sounded like thunder.
Xue Bai found it rare that he couldn't sleep, thinking about the past...
He is not from Guanzhong, but he studied in Guanzhong. After graduation, he worked in Tongguan County and worked in Tongguan Ancient City for a long time. The town is not rich, but there are many cases and they are countless.
During those years, he often walked through the mountain paths of Jinggou, mediating some incredible cases, big and small, fruit trees that grew crookedly into other people's fields, stolen jewelry, and runaway daughter-in-law. This place was real to him. It was difficult, located at the junction of three provinces, with people coming and going on the national highway, and people often fell into the river. At that time, Tongguan was no longer an important town in the world like it was in the Tang Dynasty, and had become a forgotten place.
But those villagers are indeed strong, simple and proud. Passers-by on the national highway smashed their windows, but they still got up early and baked the most fragrant meat buns and sold them at the lowest price. They did not envy the prosperous cities in the distance, like It is a sense of responsibility that has been guarded here for generations.
"Have you seen this fort? The Japanese invaders still want to sneak across the Yellow River and never even think of setting foot in Shaanxi!
Recalling these people and things, Xue Bai suddenly felt that it was very difficult to think that he also wanted to be a county captain and a parent official. (Full version of this book. hit#update#)
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A few days ago, he lived like a dignitary of the Tang Dynasty, and he even secretly aspired to join the Li Tang Dynasty. But when he returned to his hometown, he still didn't forget that he was a farmer whose ancestors had been digging in the fields.
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In a daze, it was getting brighter and the snoring was still ringing.
Xue Bai then put on his clothes and got up and left the prime minister's room.
It's still raining outside, and it's getting heavier. I'm afraid I won't be able to set off today.
Xue Bai was originally expecting the Du sisters to come out and talk to each other, but after traveling all the way, they were tired and it was obvious that they would not come out.
He simply left the small courtyard and walked to the lobby of the post house.
Outside the door of the post house, an old man was holding an umbrella and looking into the distance. He sighed and recited a poem: "After the rain, the mountains and rivers are shining brightly, and the flowers and willows in the clouds are endless."
Xue Bai raised his eyes and saw that the rain was still falling. He wondered what the old man's poem meant.
At this time, the other party turned around and said with a smile: "I heard that there is a scholar staying in the post house. Are you Xue Bai?"
"Yes." Xue Bai looked around and saw that although the old man was not wearing an official robe, he was wearing a jade belt around his waist. He was obviously a high-ranking official. He held the ceremony and asked, "I wonder who you are?"
"The governor of Wei County and the interviewer and envoy of Hebei Province, Miao Jinqing."
"It turned out to be Mr. Miao in person."
Xue Bai had heard of this reputation. After all, when Miao Jinqing took the exam in Spring, he ordered a top scholar to submit a blank paper during the re-examination. He was called "the white top pick". This was one of the laughing stock of Chang'an City in recent years.
He said he was the butt of a joke, but Miao Puqing was gentle and polite in person. "The heavy rain has blocked the road. We are destined to meet each other. How about we chat?"
"It's a pleasure to meet Mr. Miao. I couldn't ask for more."
Being lucky enough to meet him depends on his status. Otherwise, there would be so many people in the post house that Miao Jinqing would not be related to others.
The two of them went back to the lobby and sat down. Miao Puqing came from a Confucian family and had extraordinary talents. He first taught Xue Bai some experience in official career.
When compared, Xue Bai's official career has actually been very smooth. For example, after Miao Puqing entered the officialdom, he served as a county captain for two terms, joined the army for one term, and then became a Wannian county captain.
But as soon as you reach Wannian County Wei, you will be promoted very quickly to censor, Yuanwailang, Langzhong, and Shilang. If there is such a big mistake in Zhuchun, you will still be the eunuch after being demoted.
"Xue Lang came to Luoyang to investigate the disaster relief matter?"
"Yes, I wonder what Mr. Miao has to say?"
Miao Jinqing obviously didn't hear about Xue Bai's deeds for the first time. He stroked his long beard, hesitated for a moment, and said slowly: "Although this is my first acquaintance with Xue Lang, we feel like old friends at first sight, so it doesn't hurt to remind him."
Xue Bai quickly stood up and said, "Thank you, Mr. Miao."
"To be honest, I have also heard about the Lishan case. One of the points is that because of the difficulty of traveling on Tongguan Road,
How did Zhao Yingling bring nearly a thousand victims to Lishan Mountain?"
"how?"
Miao Jinqing raised his hand, pointed eastward, and said: "The governor of Shaanxi County and the defense envoy of Shaanxi and Guozhou, Dou Tingzhi, must know about it."
Xue Bai couldn't help but said: "I am just a county captain, how can I ask the prefect of Shaanxi County?"
"That's not something I can control." Miao Puqing stroked his beard and smiled and said no more.
When Du You got up next to him, he heard that Miao Jinqing was at the post house, so he went to visit him, but to his surprise, Miao Jinqing didn't see him at all.
This made Du Youlin very puzzled. He thought that he had only heard of flattering the superior and flattering the inferior, but it was rare for someone to greet the ninth-rank county captain with a smile and turn away the fourth-rank high-ranking official.
"Uncle, there is no need to be angry." Xue Bai said, "This is a simple matter. He must have regarded me as an imperial envoy."
"What is an imperial envoy?"
“An official appointed by a saint to handle important matters in a local area.”
"You?" Du Youlin was surprised and whispered: "Tell me the truth, did you really follow the imperial decree and secretly investigate the assassination case?"
Xue Bai smiled and said nothing, lowering his head in thought.
Dou Tingzhi, the governor of Shaanxi Province and the defense envoy of Shaanxi Province, was in charge of the section from the Central Plains to Guanzhong, so he was naturally an important position;
In addition, money and food were constantly transferred along this stretch of road, resulting in a lot of losses, so it was naturally a bad job; even if there was a rebellion in the Central Plains, this job would also be related to the defense of Guanzhong.
Miao Jinqing wanted to use him or the Yang Party behind him to deal with Dou Tingzhi. Even if it was just a casual move, it showed that someone had already heard the news and wanted to take advantage of a case to "seize" political opponents and seek official positions.
"The important thing is that some people think that I have obeyed the imperial decree." Xue Bai said: "Perhaps, there are many pairs of eyes staring at us at this time."
"Are you looking at a Yanshi county lieutenant taking office?"
"Uncle should not underestimate the county captain."
After all, many county captains can become ministers and prime ministers, but they have never seen a good-hearted doctor become prime minister. Du Youlin didn't look down on Xue Bai, but he didn't realize how serious the matter was. At this time, he couldn't help but become nervous and asked:
"Then what do we do?"
Xue Bai said: "Even Miao Jinqing has heard of me, and I am a target of public criticism. There is no need to reveal my identity and pass through Shaanzhou, as it is easy to fall into the trap of others."
Du Youlin knew what a trap meant. It was possible to kill him by pretending to be a thief. The more common way was to take the stolen goods.
Or use traps such as beauty to get them to join in the evil.
"But we can't get around this terrain."
"Just go there under a false identity."
"It's only for a while, how can we give it a lie..." Du Youlin was halfway through talking when he suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but stop talking and whispered: "You mean, register in the army?"
"Is it easy to handle?"
Both of them were a little worried that this matter might not be easy to handle, so they just asked Yin Liang for help to find out more.
Unexpectedly, in the afternoon, Yin Liang handed over two documents.
"Bought it from a merchant."
"So easy?"
"They have a lot of this kind of documents in their hands. It should be noted that in addition to registered registration and empty quota, there is another disadvantage in the army, which is 'advancing'.
Although the generals receive a lot of money, they still have to bribe the powerful officials and envoys in the court. In short, everything is easy to do if you have money.
OX
In the evening, the fishermen came to sell fish again, and Du Youlin still paid to buy all their fish.
"There is no rain in spring and summer, and this autumn is also strange, with non-stop wind and rain." 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 started walking along the Yellow River again. Weeping came from a small fishing village ahead.
They stopped marching and saw villagers crying and offering sacrifices by the Yellow River, and Taoist priests setting up altars and performing rituals, waving peach wood swords towards the Yellow River.
Several women and children were lying on the ground crying hard.
Xue Bai and others then went over to ask, but the women didn't answer, they just cried loudly.
At the end, the Taoist priest rang the bell and sighed a little flatly, saying: "It's not surprising, the Yellow River swallowed three of them during yesterday's fishing.
Du Youlin thought for a moment and opened his mouth, thinking that he might have killed them by buying fish the day before yesterday.
This is just a few dozen steps out of the pass.
Everyone looked up and saw that the Yellow River in front of them was extremely wide. It was always so calm, no matter day or night, it just flowed silently. Only the bones at the bottom of the river knew what kind of stormy waves it contained and how dangerous it was to devour people.
Just like the Tang Dynasty.
~~
The crying behind him gradually faded away, Xue Bai left Tongguan and went to Yanshi
Walking between the waves of the Yellow River and the mountains of the Qinling Mountains, he kept thinking of a poem but could not pronounce it.