As for the accidents that may happen along the way, there are too many.
You may encounter road landslides and obstructions. You may also encounter monsters and beasts. The most likely possibility is that you may encounter bandits robbing the road.
The reason why people with carriages and horses can be paid to take people along with them is because they are familiar with the road and will always have ways to deal with unexpected situations. Moreover, there are many people, and it is not easy to be in danger.
"Bandits? Are they very powerful?" Zhang Yan was curious about the bandits and found them strange. He also wanted to hear what the bandits looked like in the eyes of the driver.
"Hahaha, bandits, some are useful and some are not. Where are they not? Not to mention the distance, we have to go through three levels along the way, and we must meet the bandits face to face. But don't be afraid, little brother.
, our big boss at Shunji Car and Horse Shop also has connections on the road, even bandits have to give our boss three points of thin noodles."
The driver said it nicely, but Zhang Yan understood that the so-called "thin noodles" had nothing to do with face, and tearing away the fig leaf was still a "profit".
Do you really think that bandits are doing business without capital? They have to support people! They will also be surrounded and suppressed by the Yamen and the military. It is also a business of sticking their heads in their belts to earn a living. However, bandits only dare to use violence.
It's just weak, it's a real low-level evil thief. This kind of thing would put down his knife and stop doing business just for the sake of face? How is it possible!
It's nothing more than that the bandits didn't want to risk their lives and cause damage, and their people couldn't withstand the wear and tear compared to the chariots and horses, and the chariots and horses didn't want to always fight to pass, which would also affect the sale of goods. So the two sides hit it off and discussed a
The price is determined by how much you will pay at one time, or by the quantity of goods each time.
It’s just money to buy the road.
"Are all the bandits warriors?" Zhang Yan looked at the ten guards in the convoy. Only three of them were warriors. The rest should have only practiced boxing, kicking, and swords, and were only slightly stronger than ordinary people.
"Hey, how could they all be warriors? It would be good to have two warriors out of ten. But even if they are not warriors, those people are very powerful. Many of them are villains posted by the yamen for rewards. We can't mess with those who are doing business.
rise."
That's really something you can't afford to offend. On the one hand, you're running errands to make money, and on the other hand, you're risking your life to make money. Of course, you can't compete with someone who is ruthless.
Four days later, the convoy entered the mountains and moved forward in the winding ravines. If nothing else happened, it would take three days of walking on this mountain road to cross the mountain range and enter the territory of Huaiqing County. By then, it would leave Yongde.
The city is not far away.
After Zhang Yan entered the mountain, he looked at the relaxed expressions on the faces of the coachmen and guards who often used this road. He knew that the so-called "passing three passes" should be on the mountain road in the past few days.
.
After walking for about half a day, there was a wide mountain col ahead, with large rocks on both sides. From a distance, it seemed that there were words written in red paint on a large rock.
"Brother, don't mess around later. In front of you is the "turtle's foot stone" I told you before. There are men from the Evil Wolf Village guarding it. When the time comes, I will go to negotiate with you. Don't make any noise. It's very dangerous.
It will be over soon." The coachman named Xiong turned to Zhang Yan who was sitting behind the car and warned him.
"Okay, Brother Xiong, don't worry, I won't cause any trouble for you guys."
The coachman was quite at ease with Zhang Yan, because during the chat along the way, Zhang Yan told him that he was a soldier who was demobilized from the Yubei Mountain Fortress and returned home. Where is Yubei Mountain? The soldiers who retired there knew it if they just thought about it.
How big is it? If you explain it, there should be no trouble.
Zhang Yan didn't even think about going there to cause any trouble. He was just a passerby following the car. He didn't need to worry about the relationship between the bandits and the carriage dealer on this road. Just treat this trip as a way to gain some knowledge.
But as he got closer, Zhang Yan could clearly see the three words "turtle's foot stone" on the huge stone, but he didn't feel even a single figure.
Where are the bandits?
The senses were also dispersed, and he still didn't sense any ambush from others. This made Zhang Yan feel very strange. Where are the bandits that were promised? This first level is out of tune, right?
Zhang Yan was not the only one who found it strange. Everyone in the team looked at him with big eyes.
According to past practice, the bandits who are watching on the mountain can see the convoy coming from a distance, and if they get closer, they can see the flag of the convoy, which means they know that it is a "familiar" team. When the time comes, six or seven people will come down.
Guijiaoshi waited here, ordered the goods on both sides, and paid enough to pay for the journey as agreed. That was the explanation. The convoy could continue to move forward.
But now we have arrived at Turtle Foot Stone, and no one can see the bandits in Evil Wolf Village. This is the first time for people who travel by horse and carriage to encounter them.
However, the leader was experienced and after a brief stop, he called on the convoy to continue moving forward. However, he did not go far before he stopped the convoy to rest in advance, saying that he would not leave today. Then he summoned the convoy leader to mutter to the side.
Gude seemed to be discussing something.
Zhang Yan was very curious, so he quietly lit an ear talisman for himself, then used spiritual energy to gather his ears, and listened to all the words spoken by the leader of the distant convoy and the leader of the guard, word for word.
"Boss, what do you mean, something happened to the people in the Evil Wolf Village?" The person who spoke was the leader of the guard, with a serious expression, but it was obvious that he did not understand what the other party said clearly.
The leader of the convoy was in his fifties, with dark skin and some gray hair. His face was gloomy at this time, and he nodded and continued: "Wilang Village was a new village five years ago. Including Heidao Village and Huanshan Village behind it.
It's the same. But the bandits in this mountain five years ago were actually a different group of people."
"Boss, I know everything you said, but what does it have to do with whether something happened to the Evil Wolf Village?"
"Whether something happens to those dogs in the Evil Wolf Village is not the point. The point is that if something happens to them, it means that the forces in this mountain are now in chaos. If the same is true for the Black Blade Village behind, then our trip will be difficult.
Already."
The guard leader was silent for a while as if he finally figured it out, so he asked in surprise: "Are you saying that we are likely to be affected by the chaotic situation here and that they will not recognize the previous agreement with us?"
"Recognize? I'm afraid that something will happen to Black Blade Village and Huanshan Village just like the previous Evil Wolf Village. Why should the new mountaintop recognize the previous agreement? Would you admit it if it were you?"
"Then...what will happen if it's really what you said?"
"What else can we do? Either ask for a ridiculous price, or eat both the people and the goods. When the Evil Wolf Village overthrew the previous forces five years ago, they chose the latter. The purpose was to show their ferocity, so that they could do better later.
Negotiate price with us.”
This statement startled the leader of the guard. He thought of facing hundreds of thieves who were disorganized. He only had ten people in his hands and only three warriors. It was a situation where death was inevitable!
"Head, shall we go back?"
"It's not possible to retreat now. If we just run away when something happens to the Evil Wolf Village, do you think my boss will tear you and me apart due to the losses?"
"Then what do you think we should do, Boss? You won't really force your way in, right?"
"Tomorrow, we will send someone to check on the situation in Heidao Village at the back. If something goes wrong, we will go back. Then we will have something to say in front of our boss. Either we are afraid of the wind or the rain is too timid to scare ourselves."