"Eat faster, and we'll hit the road when we're done."

"Ah Jun, you go to the front post station first, and let them get the carriage ready."

"It's not dark yet, let's go to the next post station and rest."

Along the way, Zheng Peng got up early to catch up with the dark, went straight to Chang'an from Tingzhou, and when he said goodbye to the guards, he couldn't wait to drink the loose wine, threw down a sum of money to let them enjoy themselves, and spared no money on the road.

Lu Jin, Zhou Quan and others had some complaints, Guo Ziyi and Ku Luo were also a little incomprehensible at first, but when they heard Zheng Peng tell the story of Lu Shu, all complaints and incomprehension were left behind, and sometimes they were willing to act as a groom.

From Tingzhou to Chang'an, the distance is about 3,000 miles, and according to legend, the fastest speed takes about seven days, and the latest information from the Western Regions can be sent to Chang'an in seven days.

Zheng Peng didn't work so hard, got up early to catch up with the dark, and it only took thirteen days to walk through the boundary of Qizhou, dozens of miles away from Chang'an, and at most half a day's journey.

Seeing that it was too late to advance to Chang'an at the gate of the closed city, Zheng Peng and his entourage rested at a post station called Kelaiyi.

"Big brother, second brother, I've worked hard, I'll give you a drink." Zheng Peng raised his glass.

There are constant disputes in the Western Regions, and all kinds of public security incidents are endless, but the territory of Datang is peaceful and the road is not left behind, and there is no danger encountered along the way, but I am tired enough.

The three of them are riding horses and carriages alternately, the scenery along the way is good, the first few days are still a little bit of mind to watch, to the back, only the road in their eyes.

Guo Ziyi's face was pale from being tired, Zheng Peng was even more miserable, his crotch was ground up by the horse's back with two big bubbles, and he walked into a figure-eight when he walked, only Kuro, who grew up on horseback, had nothing to do, he should eat and drink.

Kuro has a stunt, he can take a nap on the horse's back for a while, his legs are clamped, the whole person lies on the horse's back, his hands subconsciously pull the reins, let the horse follow, and soon enter a deep sleep, he only needs to squint his eyes for a short time, and soon the dragon will be fierce.

"Hehe, I'm not hard, I used to chase and kill a big green wolf that bit the clansmen to death, and chased and killed them in the mountains for a month, that's what is called tired, you two can resist it." Kuro said with a smile.

Guo Ziyi said boldly: "They are all their own brothers, there is no need to say polite words, what they say is a raw part." ”

Speaking of this, Guo Ziyi gave Zheng Peng a thumbs up: "The third brother is affectionate and righteous, has a new love and does not forget the old love, he is really a man of temperament, and the eldest brother is optimistic about you." ”

"Big brother, aren't you making fun of me, how can there be any new love..."

"The young lady of the Guo Mansion, as well as the county lord of Tuqishi, aren't they all your confidants?"

Zheng Peng immediately explained: "Big brother, you misunderstood, they are just a cooperative relationship with me, and they really have nothing to do with it, so you can't talk nonsense."

"If there is another relationship, then it is not a new love, it is a bride, and your eldest brother is not blind."

Kuro also nodded violently on the side: "Yes, yes, yes, that Lin Xun'er is a stunning beauty, Miss Guo and the county lord are also first-class beauties, tsk, no wonder the third brother disdains to hunt wild food in the Western Regions, it is not eye-catching at all." ”

Just when Zheng Peng didn't know what to refute, suddenly there was a noise outside, and then he heard the voice of the post guard reprimanding loudly, and the quarrel became louder and louder.

couldn't talk anymore, Zheng Peng walked out of the lobby with some curiosity to see what they were arguing about.

When he walked to the door, Zheng Peng first froze, then quickly walked up, and said with a tiger face: "What happened?" ”

Outside the post station, a group of wounded soldiers supported each other and wanted to enter the post station, but the three post guards blocked the way and did not let them in, and pushed and shoved a little brutally.

"It turned out to be Deputy Supervisor Zheng" The post guard put away the indifference just now, and explained with a smile: "I said that the post station is full, but they just don't believe it, they insist on breaking in, and the small ones can't help it." ”

Zheng Peng stared at the post guard and said, "There is really no vacancy?" Or are you too troublesome? ”

Another thin post man explained: "Back to Deputy Eunuch Zheng, the post station near the capital has always been overcrowded, all of them are based on rank first, don't hide from Deputy Eunuch Zheng, give you two rooms, one of them is still temporarily vacated, these military masters are also very sympathetic, but there is really no way." ”

Going out, the post station is the preferred choice of the past guests, one is not afraid of robbers and thieves, two is not afraid of black shops, three to the price is relatively fair, according to the provisions of the post station is the priority to receive officials, if you can't live, on the grade of seniority.

This is very close to Chang'an, the post station is overcrowded, when Zheng Peng first arrived, the post guard said that there was no room, or Ah Jun took out the holy decree, the post Cheng ran over and got two upper rooms for Zheng Peng.

Lower-ranking officials don't have rooms, let alone these rankless and unqualified big-headed soldiers.

A wounded soldier with a white cloth wrapped around his shoulders pleaded and said: "The inns we met are too expensive, I thought the post station would be cheaper, so I rushed here, but I didn't expect it to be full, I heard that there is no inn nearby, the nearest one is also ten miles away, my brothers are inconvenient to walk on their legs, a few, okay, just find a place, let's squeeze a few of them." ”

"Alright," said a couple of wounded soldiers, pleadingly.

"Deputy Supervisor Zheng, you can help us say a good word." One of the wounded soldiers suddenly said to Zheng Pengxing.

Zheng Peng said with some surprise: "Oh, you know me? ”

"Know" the wounded soldier hurriedly said: "The little one is called Du Duotian, these are my fellow villagers, they are all soldiers of Anxi Prefecture, and they have seen Deputy Supervisor Zheng on the battlefield. ”

It turned out to be his own people, Zheng Peng looked at the group of wounded soldiers, and said a little strangely: "Did you go to Chang'an to accept a reward?" Why is there no one to escort and no one to arrange room and board? ”

"How can there be any reward" Du Duotian said with a wry smile: "We are unlucky, we hung up the lottery, and the treatment was almost the same, so we sent a sum of money to go home in advance, thinking that we had never seen Chang'an, so we specially went back to our hometown to see where there was a reward." ”

As soon as the success is achieved, for ordinary soldiers, they can survive on the battlefield and make a little fortune to be satisfied.

I was injured and became disabled, and it was not easy to leave home in the future, so I wanted to see Chang'an before returning to my hometown, feel the prosperity and liveliness of Beijing, and then return to my hometown, and also have the capital to bluff.

In order to save trouble, many of these wounded soldiers did not take a car, but bought an old horse or mule to ride, and walked to their homes together, in order to save money, sometimes they also slept in the open air, look at the group of people in front of them, one by one they are tanned and thin, and the clothes on their bodies are dirty and messy, if they are not mostly wearing military uniforms distributed by the army, they would not recognize them as soldiers.

To put it mildly, a bit like a difficult person, or like a beggar, no wonder those post guards didn't let them in.

"You have worked hard, don't worry, your business is my business" After Zheng Peng finished speaking, he turned his head and said to the post guard: "Several, find a way to make another place, these are all heroes who shed blood for the Tang Dynasty. ”

The post guard was about to refuse, but Zheng Peng waved his hand and said, "All the expenses are counted as mine, and your reward will be indispensable at that time." ”

The three post guards guarding the door glanced at each other, and the last one seemed to be a small leader and said: "If you don't mind, you can add a few beds in the firewood room, although the place is a little simple, but the place is big, and the quilt is clean." ”

"Don't mind, don't mind, it's nice to have tiles to cover your head." Several wounded soldiers said in unison.

The post station is not an inn, like some rooms even if you have money and can't live in it, it's good to have a place to stay, and the money is still Zheng Peng for them, content.

A few wounded soldiers, under the leadership of the post guard, went to the firewood room to settle down, and Zheng Peng grabbed the little leader: "Prepare a table for them, send good wine and food, don't be lazy, I will settle the account tomorrow." ”

"Yes, yes, Xiao understands that when these poor soldiers meet Deputy Supervisor Zheng, they have met nobles." The little leader nodded in compliment.

Zheng Peng and his entourage returned to the room, and they were not in a good mood.

"These soldiers are so pathetic and don't get the respect they deserve." Guo Ziyi said with some feelings.

Kuro nodded and said: "Yes, the soldiers not only have to bring their own food and weapons, but they are not respected if they are injured, to be honest, a bit like our people, grandma does not love uncle on weekdays, only when we need to fight, the status is higher." ”

"Almost" Guo Ziyi explained: "Even in the imperial court, it is also the civil servants who have the upper hand, and only when the war appears, the military generals can speak, in fact, there are many laws of the Tang Dynasty that give preferential treatment to soldiers, but many of them are not seriously implemented." ”

After running for a day, Zheng Peng and the others were very tired, so they just chatted casually during the meal, and bathed and slept after eating.

Zheng Peng was tired for a day, as soon as he approached the pillow, he quickly fell asleep, I don't know how long he slept, he faintly heard the sound of fighting and begging for mercy, as if there was some sound of breaking, thinking that he was dreaming, until someone gently woke himself up.

"Young master, young master."

Zheng Peng slowly raised his eyelids, quickly sank again, and said sleepily: "Ah Jun, what are you doing, no matter what time it is, let me sleep for a while." ”

It seems that the sky is not yet dawn, and Zheng Peng feels that his eyelids want to "fight".

Ah Jun said in a low voice: "Young master, it's not good, someone is beating those wounded soldiers in the firewood room, it's Du Duotian and them, do you want to take a look?" ”

Wounded soldier? Beaten?

Zheng Peng stood up and hurriedly asked, "Wounded soldiers?" Why? ”

"I don't know what's going on, I heard the guy say, it seems that there is a wounded soldier who has to change the medicine every night, so he cooks medicine by the door of the firewood room, and the smell of the medicine is very bad, which angers a wealthy nobleman, and leads a group of slaves to beat those wounded soldiers." Ah Jun whispered.

Is that okay?

Zheng Peng stood up all of a sudden, put on his coat, and said loudly: "Let's go, see what's going on." ”

As soon as he walked out of the door, he happened to see Guo Ziyi and Ku Luo, who was in the same room with him, Zheng Peng asked in surprise: "Big brother, second brother, you haven't slept yet?" ”

"Just like you." Guo Ziyi said succinctly.

Hearing the screams below, it seemed to be Du Duotian's voice, Zheng Peng didn't care so much, and said "Let's go and have a look", so he rushed downstairs and walked towards the location of the firewood room.