In August on the meandering road, the weather is already very cold, and the grass and trees are beginning to wither. There are goshawks flying in the sky, sheep and deer grazing on the ground.

Yu Chi Saburo got on the train, looked around curiously, and said to Xie Yuanwai: "This is the train?" The staff said that this thing is very fast, and it doesn't eat grain and grass, so I don't know what it looks like. By the way, can trains only run on railways? ”

Xie Yuanwai said impatiently: "I've already gotten on the train, of course I should know that this is the train." Trains with railways, of course, can only run on railways. How expensive is iron? If it's not for the sake of running the train, how can you be willing to travel thousands of miles away like this? ”

Yu Chi Saburo turned his head to look out the window, bustling with the crowd getting on and off the car, and muttered: "It's strange, how can there be such a thing in the world?" Who would have thought of building such a thing? Thousands of miles away, can you really get there in one day and one night? ”

Xie Yuanwai shook his head, ignored him, and just ordered his entourage to arrange a salute.

With a whistle, the train started, faster and faster, and Xie Yuanwai's heart was secretly relieved. This time, entrusted by the Marshal Mansion of Hequ Road, he took Wei Chi Saburo from Gaochang to Shengzhou, and Xie Yuanwai was always worried about accidents. Fortunately, Khotan has been destroyed for 40 years, and a generation has passed, and no one has paid attention to the identity of Wei Chi Saburo, and the road has been safe. As long as you arrive in Shengzhou and get the reward promised by the Shuaifu, everything will be fine.

Out of Shengzhou Station, Xie Yuanwai instructed his entourage to arrange accommodation, and he took Wei Chi Saburo with him and went straight to the Shuaifu. When he arrived at the gate of the marshal's mansion, after ordering the guards to report, he took Yu Chi Saburo and stood outside the door, feeling worried.

After a while, Tian Jing came out, looked at Wei Chi Saburo, who was standing on the side and was watching around, and said to Xie Yuanwai: "It's hard work outside the staff. Please come in with me, some vanity, and take a look. ”

After speaking, he led the way first, and took Xie Yuanwai and Wei Chi Saburo together into the Shuaifu. When he arrived at an empty room, he turned around and said to Xie Yuanwai: "It's not that I don't trust Yuanwai, it's just that it has been more than 40 years since Khotan destroyed the country, and the descendants of the palace have withered." This person is a descendant of the lieutenant, what testimony does he have outside? It is best to have physical evidence, Gao Chang is thousands of miles away, and it is not easy to recruit human witnesses. ”

Xie Yuanwai took out a cloth bag from his arms, opened it carefully, and said: "This is the document of San Lang's father when he was sold to Gaochang. When Saburo was born, his master went to the government to make a clerical work and was here. ”

Tian Jing nodded, took the paperwork and looked at it carefully. Gaochang's documents still retain the format of the Tang Dynasty, but the language has changed greatly, using local colloquialisms, which is quite different from the Central Plains. Fortunately, it is not difficult to understand, Tian Jing read it and put it away carefully.

Taking out a piece of paper from his bosom and handing it to Xie Yuanwai, Tian Jing said: "This is three hundred guan, you can go to the savings house in the city to withdraw the money, and the staff can buy anything you like in Shengzhou City." From then on, Wei Chi Saburo has no relationship with outsiders, and there is no need to talk about it to outsiders. ”

Xie Yuan took the deposit of the savings bank, breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and sincerely thanked Tian Jing. Three hundred is not a small amount, and you have to do a good job of business for a long time to earn it. This time, it didn't cost much to bring back Yu Chi Saburo, and Tian Jing's reward was earned in vain.

Seeing Xie Yuanwai walking out, Wei Chi Saburo was about to follow, but was stopped by Tian Jing: "San Lang, your deed is with me, you don't have to go with Xie Yuanwai." Come with me, and stay in the mansion for a few days. ”

Wei Chi Saburo grew up in his master's house since he was a child, and he was used to this kind of life, so he saluted Tian Jing and stood aside.

Xie Yuanwai left, Tian Jing said to Yu Chi Sanlang: "San Lang, your family history Xie Yuanwai said that you are unknown, can you tell me?" ”

Yu Chi Saburo said: "My father was originally the royal family of Khotan, and when the Black Khanate attacked Khotan, he was captured as a slave. After several resales, he was sold to Gaochang Kingdom, and the owner's family found him a Hun family. I have two older brothers, both of whom died young, and they call me Saburo by men. He is twenty-three years old this year and has been working in the master's house. In business, everything is fine, and you can also be competent in writing and arithmetic. ”

Tian Jing listened and nodded. After Wei Chi Saburo finished speaking, he said, "How do you know that you are the royal family of Khotan?" ”

Wei Chi Saburo said: "It's funny, it's only been a few decades, and there are still many witnesses." My great-grandfather is Yuchi Dharma, I heard that he was the king of Khotan, and Daddy was also a minister of Khotan. ”

Tian Jing said: "How old was he when the Khotanese Kingdom was destroyed?" At a young age, how to be a minister? ”

Wei Chi Saburo said: "He is a royal family, so he was naturally born with a big official, and he can naturally be a minister!" ”

Tian Jing asked him again when he was born, how he grew up, and some miscellaneous things, which were verified with the documents obtained from Xie Yuan. After confirming that it was correct, he said to Yu Chi Saburo: "Do you know what kind of place this is?" Why did I come to you? ”

Wei Chi Saburo said: "When I left Gaochang, Xie Yuanwai said that he was going to Shengzhou in the Great Song Dynasty to do business, and I think this is the place to come. As for why you came to me, it was naturally because Xie Yuanwai bought me, could it be because I was from the Khotanese royal family? ”

Tian Jing smiled: "What you said is right, precisely because you are from the Khotanese royal family. Since the founding of the Han Dynasty, the state of Khotan has been more than 1,000 years old and has always been submissive to the Central Plains. A few days ago, the city lord of Yizhou dedicated the city and stayed in the capital, and the Great Song Dynasty was about to enter the Western Regions. Not far from the destruction of the country in Khotan, the festival commander was sentimental and specially asked you to come to Shengzhou. What will happen in the future, that's hard to say. ”

Wei Chi Saburo has been a slave since he was a child, and most of Tian Jing's words are incomprehensible, and a small half is inappropriate.

After asking some more details, Tian Jing said: "You come with me and go to see the marshal of this road." ”

Yu Chi Saburo said: "Who is the festival marshal?" Why did you go to see him? ”

Tian Jing was not annoyed, and said: "The festival marshal is a slight envoy of the river meandering road, Du Xianggong." ”

Wei Chi Saburo didn't know what kind of official the envoy was, and he didn't say anything on the way, shook his head, and followed Tian Jing.

When he arrived at Du Zhongxiao's residence, Tian Jing asked the guards to go to report and said to Yu Chi Saburo: "The commander is in charge of the whole road, and he is in a high position, so you should be polite when you see it." Whatever you ask, you answer, don't fail to answer, and don't talk nonsense. ”

Yu Chi Saburo said: "I saw that you bought my paperwork in Xie Yuanwai's hand, isn't it that in the future, the festival commander will be my master?" ”

Tian Jing said: "Of course not. What happens in the future, the marshal will naturally order, you just do it. ”

Yu Chi Saburo shook his head: "Blame, you spent money to buy my paperwork, but why?" Since I have bought it, I am the owner. ”

Tian Jing said: "That's the money of the imperial court, you don't have to take it to heart." ”

While he was talking, the guard came out and asked Tian Jing to take Yu Chi Saburo in, and Du Zhongxiao waited in the study.

took Yu Chi Saburo into the door, all the way to the study, and saw Du Zhongxiao waiting at the door, Tian Jing hurriedly stepped forward to meet him.

Du Zhongxiao returned the salute, looking at Wei Chi Saburo standing on the side, of medium stature, his expression was not restrained, but he was a little down-to-earth and generous. Bow your hand to him: "In Xia Du Zhongxiao, I have seen San Lang." ”

Yu Chi Saburo hurriedly returned the salute, thought for a while, and said, "My document of selling my body is on this official's body, I don't know who you are in charge of?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "Those little things, don't be entangled. Now in the territory of the Great Song Dynasty, San Lang is a free body, but he lives in the Shuai Mansion first. When I have played the court and the will comes, I will see how to deal with it. ”

After speaking, Du Zhongxiao said: "We are talking inside." ”

took Tian Jing and Yu Chi Saburo and entered the study.

The guests and hosts sat down, and Du Zhongxiao said to Yu Chi Saburo: "This journey is hard. I don't know how San Lang and Xie Yuanwai came from? ”

Wei Chi Saburo said: "We loaded the goods in Gaochang, went north into Shangjing Road, and went all the way east. When he arrived at a place and turned south, he arrived at Fengzhou after Yinshan, and Xie Yuanwai said that he had entered the Song realm. Then I went south to Hezhou, got on the train, and arrived here, Shengzhou. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Okay." No surprises along the way? ”

Yu Chi Saburo thought about it and shook his head: "No." We had only met two caravans, and we overtook them in a hurry. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "But it's good luck, I haven't even met a thief." After Jeruren first occupied the meandering road, he governed it well. ”

Yu Chi Saburo was silent, uncomfortable. I have lived for more than 20 years, and I don't have many opportunities to talk to people like this.

Du Zhongxiao asked Wei Chi Saburo about his life experience and said, "San Lang himself, have you ever thought about what it was like when he was in Khotan before?" ”

Yu Chi Saburo said: "It's all in the past, what's the use of thinking about it?" All I want is to eat better, live better, and work without having to work hard. That's what really works. ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled and said, "Okay, then you will live in Shengzhou for a few days first, and wait for the imperial court to come down." Judge Tian, how about you get tired and take care of San Lang? ”

Tian Jing couldn't say he was unwilling, and he gave up his promise.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Shengzhou is a big city, very lively, San Lang can take a look around, and just have fun left and right." ”

When Wei Chi Saburo heard this, he couldn't help but widen his eyes and said, "Just have fun in the city?" How is it so good? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "The Khotanese royal family has been obedient to the Central Plains for thousands of years, so you should be regarded as the virtue repaid by your ancestors." ”

Hearing this, Yu Chi Saburo happily agreed. What is the Khotanese royal family, he has not seen what it is like at all, and it is a good thing to leave such a virtuous retribution. In the past, in Gaochang, although I didn't do heavy work, I didn't have any free time, and I didn't want to live a good life in Shengzhou.