The capital of Chengdu is more than a hundred miles away from Guanxian County. Taking a boat is naturally much slower than riding a horse, but the advantage is that it is quiet and there is no chance of being spied on during the boat trip.
In one hour, at the speed of the boat on the inland river at that time, it could travel forty or fifty miles with the wind and the current, but only half if it was against the wind and the current.
Going from Chengdu Prefecture to Guanxian County is against the current.
The wind direction was constantly changing, and the sand-proof flat-bottomed boat Gao Kewei was riding stayed on all night and arrived at Majiadu, five miles south of Guan County.
In Guan County, the most famous one is Dujiangyan.
In this era based on agriculture, water conservancy is the lifeblood of farmers. Thanks to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Guanxian County has taken advantage of its geographical advantages. For thousands of years, there has been abundant material and people, and there has been no fear of famine. It can be said that it is a heaven among heavens.
In the past, there were no city walls in Guanxian County. During the Hongwu period, Taizu ordered all the people to build cities, so Guanxian County had earthen walls. However, the masonry city wall in Guanxian County today was just built during the Hongzhi period.
The county town is not big, and the perimeter of the city wall is only eight miles. Today, at Xuanhua Gate in the east, Daojiang Gate in the south, Xuanwei Gate in the west, and Zhen'an Gate in the north, soldiers under Guo Zan are all inspecting and questioning the passers-by.
Here comes the question: After all, Gao Kewei is not a person who has been issued a sea arrest document. There is no portrait. How many of the soldiers below have seen Gao Kewei with their own eyes?
Guo Zan had no choice but to cooperate with the "fearful" magistrate of Guan County and first detained a large number of suspicious caravans and people for Guo Zan to identify.
The same is true for Fulongdu and Majiadu in the south of Guanxian County. Guo Zan has arranged manpower here to inspect every boat coming downstream.
Such investigations naturally caused a lot of complaints.
"There are women on board, how can I let you search it? This is the ship where the Tongzhi of Chengdu Prefecture comes to visit friends in Guan County! Where are you soldiers, so you are so bold?"
Gao Kewei looked at the ship in front of him through the gap in the curtain on the window with an ugly face in the cabin, listening to the roar of the steward on the ship in front of him.
How could it be so fast? Yang Junlin is a loser!
On the dock, it was clearly not the government officials of Guan County who were doing anything. The momentum of those officers and soldiers was not comparable to that of the government officials.
After listening to the words of the Chengdu magistrate's family manager, the officers and soldiers were obviously more vigilant. The leader said something that Gao Kewei couldn't hear clearly, and only a few soldiers took care of the ship first, and another one got on his horse.
Rushing towards Guanxian County.
"Master, what should I do?" Next to Gao Kewei, his soldier who had been ordered to deliver a message to Songpan Guard and Xingdusi asked seriously.
Gao Kewei shook his head calmly: "It's okay. This is a ship that usually goes to Songpan for trading. I'll let Shopkeeper He deal with it later. The four of you are just escorting the ship. I'm just a doctor who identifies medicinal materials."
Along the way here, Gao Kewei had changed all his clothes, and even cut off a lot of his original good beard, and his appearance had changed drastically.
He even had a lot of pimples on his face, and he looked like a bad old man that no one wanted to take a second look at.
At this moment, he had been staying in the cabin reading a medicine book.
Western Sichuan is indeed a source of medicinal materials, especially Songpan, which is rich in hundreds of kinds of Chinese medicinal materials such as Fritillaria nard, spikenard, Qianghuo, costus, and cordyceps.
At this time of year, Songpan enters the Cordyceps harvesting season.
The backup plan arranged by Gao Kewei will naturally be thoughtful.
The "Shopkeeper He" on the ship was already waiting for inspection by the soldiers.
"This general, our Chengantang comes to western Sichuan every year to buy herbal medicine." Shopkeeper He said to a small team leader, also called "general", already holding some broken silver in his hand, "There are five guys and four guards on the boat.
There is also a doctor who can identify medicinal materials. Do you want all the young ones to be called, or do you want the general to take a closer look?"
"Everyone is asked to come outside first." The team leader said with a straight face and did not accept what he handed over.
After a while, several people were called to the deck outside, and the team leader said in a deep voice: "Third brother, please go back to the cabin and see if there are anyone hiding there."
After saying that, he looked at Shopkeeper He: "You said there are only ten people in total. If there are still people hidden, you'd better explain it now."
"I'm not telling you any lies, just search for it, General!" Shopkeeper He laughed along with him, "I just want you to be kind and don't destroy some of the medicinal materials in the cabin that have been received from Xinfan."
"Bring it to me to look at, Lu Yin."
"Yes, yes, yes." Shopkeeper He quickly took out Lu Yin from his arms and another certificate, "Our Chengantang also has municipal registration in Guan County."
Businessmen and citizens must apply for a road guide before traveling. On this road guide, the businessman's name, hometown, destination, reason for going out, date and physical characteristics, etc. are written in detail for inspection.
When applying for a road guide, you will naturally have to pay a certain fee, commonly known as "road guide money."
The so-called municipal registration is a certificate that allows you to open a store and do business in a certain city. If you have a municipal registration, you are a legal merchant who pays market rent to the local area. In addition, you will also have shop workers to show off, and you are considered a local resident.
The team leader carefully looked at the road signs and the words on the market register, and kept looking at the face of shopkeeper He.
Among the crowd on the deck, Gao Kewei was guessing the origin of these soldiers.
A low-level military attache doing inspections in Majiadu is also literate?
These are probably the most elite officers and soldiers in Sichuan.
Looking towards a place far away from the pier, the grooms were taking care of more than 20 horses.
In other words, the ones inspected here are all cavalry, and everyone has a horse.
Gao Kewei's face remained calm, but he knew one fact in his heart: this could only be sent by Xue Lun, who was already looking for him.
The team leader saw that the physical description on the road guide was indeed Shopkeeper He himself, and then looked at the ten people in front of him.
The five guys were naturally trembling, and it looked normal. The four sturdy ones were probably the guards, and there was also a scholar with a scowled face.
The news from above is: Gao Kewei brought many soldiers with him when he left the city, and the guards of honor were in full order.
Of course, if he wanted to escape, he would have changed his appearance and concealed his whereabouts. But if Amber could personally lead the pursuit, Gao Kewei should not have only such a few people around him.
At this time, the person who went into the cabin to check carefully also came back: "Brother Xiong, there is no one else in the boat."
The team leader nodded: "Extend your hands and let me see."
"...General, what do you mean?" Shopkeeper He still said something more, but after seeing his serious expression, he quickly said, "You are too talkative, General, please look..."
He was a little worried.
Gao Kewei calmly stretched out his hand in front of him, and the team leader looked over one by one.
This depends on which people are pampered?
The five guys naturally have rough hands, and the four soldiers are acting as guards. They are a bit strong and it seems normal for them to have been trained.
When the team leader walked up to Gao Kewei, he naturally smelled the smell of the cabin where he had kept various medicinal materials for so long.
Since those hands were those of a doctor, it was normal that they were not that rough.
"Are you a doctor?" The team leader stopped in front of Gao Kewei, looked into his eyes and asked.
Gao Kewei had seen a lot of big scenes and replied calmly: "General, you don't believe me? How about I give you a bloodline?"
He seemed calm and unhurried, and the team leader really stretched out his wrist: "Come here. The person we are looking for is a treasonous person. I can't trust him. I have to carefully verify his identity."
After saying that, he looked at shopkeeper Na He and the others to see their expressions.
Shopkeeper Na He looked very nervous and wronged: "We are all good citizens who abide by the law, how can we be traitors? General, when did a traitor appear in Chengdu Prefecture? No wonder I came to Guan County today to see General
You guys..."
The squad leader focused on Gao Kewei's soldiers. Although their expressions changed slightly, they said nothing or did nothing.
Gao Kewei really stretched out his hand, shook his sleeves and then stretched out his fingers to take his pulse: Dare to pretend to be a doctor, because Gao Kewei is really interested in medicine, knows a little bit about it, and can at least make nonsense.
He still wants to pretend to be a doctor who can identify medicinal materials. He is not a miracle doctor, and his accumulated medical knowledge is enough.
While he was feeling his pulse, he heard the captain suddenly say: "You are about the same number as that group of traitors. Stay on the ship for now! Be honest and search them one by one! Are you a doctor? I will find a real one."
The doctor is here to take a test!"
"Jiang Ye! It's unfair, this, this, this..." Shopkeeper He suddenly became very nervous and looked at Gao Kewei involuntarily, "Doctor Wang is really a doctor, General, why don't you wait until Doctor Wang finished taking the general's pulse and said
One or two?”
The squad leader still looked at Gao Kewei and the soldiers, took a step back and said with a ferocious smile: "I would rather catch the mistake than let it go. Little doctor, when you heard that we were looking for the traitor, you still kept your composure and wanted to take my pulse."
Prove your identity? Brothers, surround us!"
"What an injustice!" Shopkeeper He said with a sad face, and took out two more silver ingots as if it hurt him, "The little road guide is complete, the market registration is ready, why would you scare me? Please accept the small thought and treat the brothers to a meal.
liquor."
He behaved like a sensible little businessman, as if this group of officers and soldiers were just trying to scare them to extort some money.
The squad leader continued to look at the people in front of him not far away, and showed great vigilance: "Don't do this to me, I'm not worried, just obediently let my soldiers search you!"
For a moment, there was quite a sense of tension on the deck.
"Aren't you afraid of taking a test?" Gao Kewei stood up angrily, "If you want to search, just search. Shopkeeper He, please give me more money this time!"
It seems that he is just dissatisfied because of this setback.
Shopkeeper He could only smile bitterly when he heard this: "Don't be upset, Doctor Wang. Please be patient for a while. General, please forgive me. Doctor Wang is very skilled in medicine, but his temper is not very good."
The squad leader had no expression on his face, he just waved his hand and asked his men to search him.
In silence, he kept paying attention to the reactions of the people on the boat.
What Gao Kewei was afraid of was that his people would be too nervous. Now he suppressed his unhappiness and had someone search his arms for a medical book that he had just read halfway through.
Naturally, nothing special was found on the other people. The team leader flipped through the medical book and looked at Gao Kewei again, and then said: "It's true that we are searching for the traitors. You came from Chongqing Mansion.
Have you ever encountered a group of more than thirty people pretending to be a caravan in the past two days?"
"Master General, I am doing business outside. One thing more is worse than one less thing. I really didn't pay much attention to it." Upon hearing this, shopkeeper He once again presented the silver ingot, "Since Master Jiang has trusted us, we must accept this offer, and we will also accept it." Be at ease."
"No need. Go to the dock and pay the tax before entering the city. If you encounter a group of suspicious people like this later, report them to the official immediately and you will be rewarded heavily."
After saying that, he got off the boat without changing his expression and walked towards a boat at the back that was docked at the ferry.
Gao Kewei breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had told them before: unless absolutely necessary, never take action in a panic.
These officers and soldiers who came to inspect did not accept any money, but they also conducted the inspection in a very organized manner. They even received orders to deceive, and there were people behind them giving guidance.
Even the best soldiers in Sichuan may not be able to do business in such a business-like manner without taking any money.
It's just because the matter is serious, and if something went wrong after accepting the money, it would be difficult for them to defend themselves.
In response to the orders received, deception must be flexibly implemented according to different people. The leader in each place must be smart.
After breathing a sigh of relief, I heard Shopkeeper He shout: "You three will stay on the boat. Doctor Wang, and the six of you, come with me to get off the boat and enter the city."
Everything looks like a serious business.
He first went into the cabin with Gao Kewei and looked around. Although some places were indeed messed up, they were obviously just looking for a place to hide people.
"Master, will you hire two carriages when we get to the dock?" Shopkeeper He said solemnly, "I'm afraid there will be a lot of officers and soldiers along the way, so turn to the trail and go to the town to the east of the city, then abandon the carriages and leave quickly?
"
It was like this when I first arrived in Guanxian County. I was afraid that a dragnet had been set up in Sichuan.
Gao Kewei was also heavy-hearted, but he shook his head: "It doesn't have to be like this. You enter the city as usual. I changed my clothes on the way and only went with Tan Wu. I also prepared a road guide. You and I will meet again at Yuexipengsi.
"
After that, he took out a few more pages of documents, a few banknotes, and two sets of robes from the small mezzanine between the beds in the cabin that could not hide anyone, and quickly packed them.
Unexpectedly, he had just prepared everything when he heard a noise outside.
"Master Jiang, what are you doing..."
Shopkeeper He and Gao Kewei walked to the door of the cabin and saw that the captain had just left and returned, and there was a rather haggard and embarrassed man beside him. He looked over with bloodshot eyes, and when he saw Gao Kewei, he stretched out his hand and said
: "Even if it's not real, it's still one of the substitutes!"
Gao Kewei's heart was shaken, and the captain seemed to have seen the treasure: "Take it!"
Damn it, if it weren’t for the fact that after getting off the ship, a man suddenly appeared and stopped him, claiming to be the Colonel of the Sichuan Walking Seat of Jinyiwei, but he would have been walked by this man who had gone through so many storms!
This time it was no longer a lie, all the soldiers in the group drew their swords with gleaming eyes.
"General, what do you mean..." Shopkeeper He was still lucky.
Gao Kewei beside him was complaining: Why was it so fast? He only escaped until the next day!
He knew that after dividing the suspects along the way, the four guards he had left were completely unable to resist him.
But if you are blocked on this pier, how can you escape?
Seeing that this group did not bring bows and arrows, Gao Kewei decisively pushed the shopkeeper He forward and jumped directly into the river.
Born in Huguang, he has good water skills, but he hasn't done anything in the water for many years.
"Hey, it's your uncle!" The captain in Jinyi next to the squad leader cursed, picked up his energy, jumped into the water, and quickly chased Gao Kewei.
There was already a chaos on the boat, and the captain kept ordering: "Get the boat quickly, and bring the bows and arrows! They are all captured alive, don't chop them to death!"
Diving, diving, fighting for his life, Shopkeeper He has been kicked over by him.
In the middle of the river, the captain in Jinyi had already caught up with Gao Kewei. He strangled him around the neck and stepped on the water with his head above the water, gasping for breath: "I have been chasing you for two days and one night! Two days and one night!"