Yona felt heavy-hearted. The story that happened in the Long family mansion made him think a lot. And Long Shenlin was not a good chat partner. He felt that he and Xiaolong were not in harmony at all. In the words of an astrologer, it should be The wavelength of the soul doesn't match... Fortunately, this road finally came to an end. I ate some dry food on the way. At three o'clock in the afternoon, the two of them arrived at Suiyang North Station. Long Shenlin stopped and waited for an appointment. Na caught up and said to him: "You can reach Suisang City by carriage from here. There is an exclusive carriage line for the Long family at the Suiyang City Station. But it's better for us to avoid the limelight now. Senior Yona."
"How long does it take to reach Shaosang?" The astrologer blocked the sun with his hands and looked ahead. The path merged with the wide post road here. There was a small town at the intersection. The tallest three-story wooden house in the town hung Plaque: Nan Er Post. Roads are the foundation of a country. As a long-established power in the Eastern Continent, Nan Shang's post roads are laid using the three-layer lamination method. The loess ground is first tamped, and gravel is laid to increase load-bearing. Then pour molten iron liquid to make the stones solidify into a hard roadbed. Finally, lay loess and compact it. The final compaction work is very labor-intensive. Every inch of the ground must be compacted accurately 376 times. .It is not completed until the loess has a metallic sheen and is so tight that it cannot be lifted with a knife. These things are mentioned in the "Simplified Edition of the Geographic Survey of the Eastern Continent...Tianwu Fourteenth Year". He was appointed by the Astrologers Association for him. Among the packages prepared, Jonah found this booklet. Although it is not as rich and informative as the hardcover book, this book printed in the common language of the Western Continent can still help a lot.
"It takes about 5 days to reach Changsang by the fastest human-powered carriage." Xiaolong thought for a while and replied. "If it is an ordinary four-wheeled carriage, it will take 14 days. We have to find a private carriage. This season public carriages There will be no departures to Shaosang.”
Jonah wondered: "Human power... carriage. Is it driven by manpower or horses?"
"Manpower." Long Shenlin explained. "I just used the name of the carriage. Senior Yona, you will understand it when you see it with your own eyes."
Jonah nodded. Then he remembered the steam carriage "Midnight Star" in the southern continent. It was obviously driven by a steam puppet machine. It was not called a "carriage".
As he was talking, a large carriage, all black in body and drawn by four chestnut horses, rumbled past the post road and headed north. Long Shenlin immediately turned around and pulled Jonah's sleeve: "This is it. The carriage of the Long family. Be careful." The astrologer nodded. He covered his face with his sleeves and pretended to hide the dust. The carriage passed by quickly. The silver dragon-shaped emblem on the black body flashed away, leaving dust flying in the sky. .
"Actually, the Long family doesn't know that we are going to rescue Long Ji. We should be careful about the Brotherhood's pursuers, right?" Yona whispered.
"Don't underestimate the Long family, Senior Yona." Xiaolong said sternly: "A big family that has spanned the Eastern Continent for hundreds of years is much more powerful than you think. Sometimes, the family is more powerful than the country."
Jonah said to himself: "We saw the strength of the Tantai family in Suiyang Palace. We didn't see how powerful it was."
"That's because the enemies of you are not the entire Tantai family, but just the second and third masters who are fighting fiercely for the position of the head of the family. If those guys from the Presbyterian Church come forward to mobilize the armed forces of the Tantai family. Even if the restriction on using bloodline abilities is lifted, it will definitely not lead to a happy ending..." Long Shenlin explained.
The two crossed the road and entered the town. As soon as they approached Nan Eryi, four or five men and women gathered around them. "It's a special car going to Wenshang. It only takes two people to drive. Good horse, good car, good driver, and stable." It’s fast and safe. It only costs five copper coins per person. If you’re in a group, there’s a discount...” “Is it going to Xuchang? It’ll leave in five minutes. It’s guaranteed to arrive within two weeks. All meals and lodging on the way are included. Help introduce various Tourist attractions. We can also arrange a visit to a brothel in the evening. It’s a super luxurious trip.” “The two travelers can arrange a car no matter where they go. The chartered car price is absolutely affordable.”
"Let's go to Shaosang." Long Shenlin said.
The crowd immediately dispersed. Only a middle-aged broker wearing a dark green short coat remained in front of him. He rubbed his hands in embarrassment: "There is no shuttle bus to Shaosang this season. The 'spring miasma' in Yunmengze has begun. Who will It would be a fool's errand to rush there at this time. If the two travelers are going sightseeing, you might as well consider changing the itinerary. Dabo Lake, which is 100 miles away, is also a tourist attraction. I can arrange a round trip by car..." After finishing his words .Looking at Yona's confused face, he changed to the common language of the Western Continent and said it again... Say whatever you want to say to anyone. This is the reason for the existence of the brokerage industry.
"No. We want to cross Yunmengze from Shaosang to the capital of Liang Sui Kingdom." Yona said. Long Shenlin immediately glared at him. The astrologer was shocked to realize that he had made the mistake of not being vigilant again. Shut your mouth quickly.
The broker took off his turban and scratched his head. His face wrinkled up as if he had eaten something sour. "Is that so? It's not like there are no customers who want to take shortcuts. But it really makes me embarrassed... Why not take a detour from the Later Qin State?" In the past, the schedule would have lasted more than ten days, but it was safe and there were beautiful scenery to see. I would try to find a way to get a discount on the cost. After all, it is such a long route..."
"Two hundred strings." Long Shenlin said.
"Follow me." The broker immediately turned around and left.
The two followed the broker and left the inn. They turned left and right in the town and entered a carriage and horse shop. There were three carriages parked in the shop. Several horses were tied to the piles and bowed their heads to drink water. Three coachmen were sitting on the ground drinking. While chatting, I saw the broker come in. They all said hello: "Old Zhao, do you have any business? Where do these two agents want to go?"
The broker named Lao Zhao said with a smile on his face: "There is business, there is business. The two distinguished guests want to go to Sosang City. Xiaosun, let's go there. Fifty guan. Do you want to do it?"
The coachman on the left spat: "Only a fool can do it. At this time of year, if you go to Shaosang, you won't be able to pick up the guests on the return trip. Who wants to do a one-way thing? Besides, that road is so dangerous. You might not be able to run on it." I was fascinated by Spring Miasma while I was running and I burped and caught cold in my butt. I just got married and I still want to wait to hold my baby. Find someone else."
Lao Zhao added: "Dazhang, you are the only one with courage in this group of people. If you don't run this way, no one will dare to run. I will risk my life. Fifty-five dollars. Do it or not."
The coachman in the middle drank a cup of wine. His generous face turned red: "Old Zhao, I am willing to make this money. But the horses can't do it. Since I fell in the ditch last winter, the two horses ran away. I can’t travel far. I only dare to wander around within two hundred miles. What can I do?”
Old Zhao sighed. "Then it's up to you. Old Wang, you have the best carriage in the whole town. You usually have a weird temper. You don't want to invite ordinary guests. This time the guests are not ordinary. Do you want to stretch your muscles?" "
The coachman on the right has a round face and a pair of round eyes. He is about thirty years old. He is dressed much more luxuriously than the other two coachmen. He chews beef and his cheeks bulge: "Five hundred guan." You have to take care of your own food and accommodation. The price is the same.”
"What." Old Zhao was stunned on the spot. Long Shenlin translated for Yona. The astrologer was also surprised. In the west, one hundred copper coins in the southern continent are equivalent to one silver coin. One hundred silver coins are exchanged for one gold coin. And the price in the East is always one thousand copper coins. In other words, the coachman offered a high price of fifty gold coins. Fifty gold coins can buy a two-wheeled carriage in average condition.
"Give me some face, Lao Zhang." The broker walked over and hunched over and said with a smile: "I know you are not short of money. The sports car is just for fun. Five hundred coins is too much no matter how you say it. I will cover it for you two. Your distinguished guest is willing to go all out. I'll increase it to one hundred and fifty guan for you. How about it."
"No two prices." Lao Wang waved his hand, as if he was indifferent.
Xiaolong turned to look at Jonah. The 17-year-old boy couldn't help but touch his satchel. There were dozens of gold coins in the bag. Those were the expenses prepared for him by the Night Fifteen Kingdom. They advanced several months' salary of a fifth-level astrologer. If it were once All spent. What to eat and drink along the way? "Do you have money?" he whispered. Long Shenlin said with a wry smile: "I only saved ten gold coins. I dared to call two hundred gold coins just now." I want to give the broker a little sweetness and let him think of a way. Anyway, the price given to the coachman will not cost so much..."
The two teenagers looked at each other sadly. The broker was still lobbying the coachman. But Lao Wang didn't take this trick at all. He just shook his five greasy fingers. Just when they were embarrassed, a man suddenly ran in from outside. The little boy who was 6 years old shouted: "Uncle Zhao, there are two more guests. I brought them over for you. Give them money, give them money."
Two people walked in at the door of the yard. The one on the left was wearing a black cloak. A black hood covered his head. His face was wrapped in a black bandage. The whole person was wrapped tightly without exposing any flesh. Judging from the figure, he was a young man; on the right One was wearing a red robe, holding a staff, and a pointed hat. There was a shining badge on his chest. He was clearly a genuine magician. As soon as the two appeared, the atmosphere in the yard became tense. Jonah frowned. He looked at the other party and quietly pulled up the scarf that covered his face. It was clear that the Magician Association was controlled by the Brotherhood. All people wearing pointed hats on this continent might be their enemies. The astrologer couldn't help but be on guard.
Lao Zhao threw a copper coin to the child and greeted him with a smile: "Where are you two going? If you want to visit, I recommend a good scenic spot..."
"Shaosang. I'm going to Shaosang." The forty-year-old fire magician said. "As for the man next to me, I don't know him. But he seems to also go to Shaosang."