Continuing from the last chapter, he said that Li You had arrived in Tongzhou after hearing the report from the boatman, so he went out with his entourage to see the weather at the No. 1 dock in the world.
With the setting sun shining down, all you can see is the criss-crossed waterways, thousands of boats and shops, and the scene of a prosperous and prosperous age.
But... this scene was too kind and familiar. Xiaozhu said doubtfully, "It's strange. I feel like I'm back home again."
Li You felt the same way. He felt as if he were in his hometown in a trance. Only this feeling of clear autumn air and wild geese flying south was rare in Jiangnan.
The accompanying boatman laughed and said: "Because there are many rivers and boats, this place is also called Jingdong Jiangnan." He also said: "After tonight, I would like to ask Mr. Li to go to the capital on his own. This small boat cannot move forward and will have to turn around and go back south.
Already."
Zhang San stepped forward and said dissatisfied: "How dare you! There is clearly a waterway ahead, why can't we go? There is no reason to leave a guest halfway! Be careful and ask your Mr. Song to skin you when you turn around!"
The boatman hurriedly explained: "Uncle Zhang, please calm down. This is no wonder. The river from Tongzhou to the capital has been silted up and dredged over the years. In order to ensure the transportation of grain, the court only allowed canal boats. Therefore, everyone else got off the boat in Tongzhou and changed.
We entered Beijing by land, so it’s not a slight slight.”
Seeing Zhang San making a joke, Li You scolded: "Don't show your eyes. Go and find out where the official post is. We will move our luggage and stay in the post tonight, book the carriages and horses, and set off for the capital tomorrow morning."
Officials who want to live, eat, drink, and live at the inn for free need to hold a Kanhe. This symbol of privilege is issued by the Ministry of War. Every year, a certain number of Kanhe is allocated to the major yamen in the capital and local provinces and governments.
According to the system, under normal circumstances, only those traveling at the level of Beijing officials and local officials can receive the survey. Li You was not eligible regardless of his rank or official duties.
But there is always a difference between the system and reality. Mr. Li just had Kanhe in his hand. Needless to say, he blackmailed him from the Wang Zhifu. With this thing, it was a lot more convenient along the way. It is really a must-have when traveling.
Prepare sharp tools, and the long distance of more than 2,000 miles will basically cost nothing.
Not long after, Zhang San came back and said to Li You: "Master! The inn first said that it was full and refused to take him in. The younger one said that the master had a match, so he reluctantly agreed to take him in."
It is said that this Tongzhou Post is also called Luhe Post. Tongzhou Pier is the first pier in the world and the only place to go to and from the capital. Therefore, Tongzhou Post has naturally become the first post station in the world, commonly known as the first post of Beijing Gate. This post station welcomes and greets people.
There are too many high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Li You, a seventh-rank foreigner, is not attractive to anyone, and it is expected that he is not diligent.
Li You and his entourage got off the ship and checked into Tongzhou Post. Although Nuo Da's post station covers a large area, it only gave Li You a third of a small courtyard for his master and servant to stay. This quadrangle is very narrow, with north, east and west
There are three small houses on three sides, and Li You and the four of them used the two rooms on the east side. The master and his maidservant shared one room, and the two elders and servants shared one room.
Although Mr. Li was not very satisfied with this, he could only smile bitterly. Seeing that it was getting late, he was too lazy to spend money to find another place if he was not familiar with the place.
After eating some simple meals provided by the inn and rinsing his mouth, Li You suddenly felt tired and was ready to rest. Xiaozhu, his roommate, stared at him for a long time, but didn't see any ambiguous hints from the master, so he had to clear the table. The master wouldn't let **
*, so she could only make do with lying down for the night.
As soon as Li You took off his coat and yawned, he heard a knock on the door and stopped. Xiaozhu called from inside the door: "Who is outside?"
"The people who live in the north house below live in the same courtyard, so they are destined to come here with fine wine. Can we talk about it?" said someone outside.
It turns out that they are just friends, which is very common. Everyone is like this these days. With limited technical conditions, they use every possible opportunity to meet more useful people. Those who can live in the inn are no worse than others.
However, Li Youwei was really tired and had no interest in talking nonsense with this unknown person. He declined loudly: "I'm slightly ill and it's inconvenient to welcome guests. Your Excellency, please forgive me!"
There was no sound outside. Li You was lying down with his clothes on. Just as he was about to fall asleep, there was another knock on the door.
"Who is outside?" Xiaozhu asked through the door panel.
But I heard someone outside whisper: "The adult inside is disturbing me. Do you need any special services?"
Li You suddenly laughed out loud. This kind of look is so popular these days. He shouted in a teasing manner: "How much money!"
The man outside said happily: "I do things like a child, and I am satisfied with you!"
"No need! I don't need it!" Li You simply refused.
The man outside hurriedly said: "Sir, don't worry. The younger ones will do the work first and collect the money later. I have acquaintances in various ministries. No matter whether I ask for an official to do something, I will make it clear and the money will not be refunded!"
I misunderstood, it turned out to be a broker... Li You thought about it, his characteristics are still in line with his customer standards, no wonder slander came to him. Those with money and power will naturally live in a good courtyard. He is squeezed into a small courtyard with grievances.
Most of them are middle and low-level officials.
When such people go to Beijing to do business, they naturally need to find a way, so this "special service" came into being. As for whether the service is effective, who knows.
Li You has never eaten pork and has seen pigs running around, so he knows that this industry is a mixed bag, but anyway, he is just studying and has no need for it.
After finally getting rid of the people outside, Li You lay down with his clothes on again, and was about to fall asleep again, but was woken up again... Suddenly he heard noisy footsteps outside, and entered the courtyard. After a while, someone stood in the courtyard and shouted: "
The censor who has been ordered to supervise is here! Everyone else is waiting to avoid this! Who is Li You, come out to meet us!"
Li You originally thought that the matter had nothing to do with him, but he clearly heard his name and that there was a censor in the courtyard. Although the censor of the Guo Dynasty was only the seventh grade, he was much more powerful than the previous dynasty.
Pin Liyou didn't dare to be rude, and he didn't know what happened, so he had to get up and open the door.
There was a torch burning in the courtyard, and in the light of the fire I saw a tall man in official robes with black gauze standing in the middle. Accompanying him was the postmaster, whom Li You had seen when he moved in. In addition, there were several attendants and a number of spectators watching the excitement.
The level was the same, so Li You casually handed over his hand and said, "I invite you, my lord. I don't know what you're doing for me."
The censor nodded and said: "I am supervising the censor Ren Gongdao, and I was ordered to patrol the post office. When I checked here, I heard that Mr. Li is holding a Kanhe check-in?"
Li You was alert in his heart. After all, his survey was suspected of violating regulations. However, there were many people doing this, and the law did not punish everyone. Why did someone come to ask questions today? He thought about it and said: "Why did Master Ren ask about this?"
?”
The attendant next to Ren Yushi scolded: "Yes or no, just say it! Why are you so long-winded? Can you ask me about Feng Xian's behavior?"
Li You was furious when he heard this. Everyone was of the same seventh rank. Even if the imperial official and censor Qinggui looked down on the foreign officials, this attendant was too arrogant! He snorted and ignored him, and let's see what the censor Ren would think.