"Brother, are you a man or a woman?"

Inside the ox cart, Xiuxiu asked Duan Yunjie very seriously.

"Man, don't you call me brother."

Duan Yunjie replied lightly, her eyes looking out of the curtain, and she felt absent-minded.

Xiuxiu didn't give up, moved her body to Duan Yunjie and asked, "If it's a man, how can he ride the ox cart with me?" You see, their real men are all horsebacks! Besides, how can a man be so good-looking! ”

Duan Yunjie shook her head slightly, and didn't answer Xiuxiu.

Xu Ping rode on his horse and looked at the surrounding fields. It was already the depths of winter, and the weeds on the roadside had turned yellow, but there was a new green in the dead grass, not as depressed as in the Central Plains. Next to the official road is the rice field, the rice has already been harvested home, but the new branches and buds have grown from the cut rice stubble, a piece of green. Although the climate is hot and there is no shortage of rain, Lingnan in this era only grows one season a year, and the so-called second crop of rice grows from the rice stubble, and how much can be harvested. If in the previous dynasties, the rice in the south of the Yangtze River was revived and harvested was auspicious, and Pegasus was reported to the imperial court, and the people of the Song Dynasty were no longer surprised, and they would not be so shocked again. The yield of rejuvenated rice is only a fraction of that of the first season, and the land is still wasted, and the Jiangnan region will no longer remain, only the farmers in this remote Lingnan area are still lazy and do not care about the land.

Raising his head, not far away, round stone mountains rose from the flat ground, as if they had been planted there. The rocky mountains are varied and varied, dotting the land with many colors, but also dividing the plains into fragments, unlike the endless Central Plains.

This is a rich land, rich in products, beautiful scenery, and people who see it with their own eyes are all intoxicated, but it has been barren here for thousands of years. The winding five mountains blocked the footsteps of the Han people to the south, and also blocked the way for the rich products of this land to go out. Guangnan West Road became the most remote and desolate place in the Great Song Dynasty, and the imperial court could not make ends meet here, and the more they did not take this land to heart.

Wang Wei has been in Hunan for many years, and this kind of scenery is not strange and does not take it to heart. Seeing Xu Ping beside him enjoying the scenery, he didn't scratch him, but just hurried away silently.

The transfer envoy went out to patrol and brought out almost all the belongings of the yamen, and the team was mighty. This is also Wang Weizheng's life, he took office just in time for Guangxi to cancel the Criminal Department, and there was no deputy envoy and judge and other deputies, he was alone, and wherever he went, he was the Yamen of the Transit Envoy Division.

Duan Fang's status was low, and he didn't dare to go with the two chiefs, but he was mixed in with the officials of the transfer envoy, not far from Xiuxiu and Duan Yunjie's ox cart.

Seriously speaking, Duan Fang's official is the same as Xu Ping's eighth grade, and the official's salary is also very different. But the Great Song Dynasty doesn't care about official products, it talks about official ranks, and the difference between Beijing officials and people is like mud, don't say that everyone is from the eighth grade, even from the ninth grade, the general will be the supervisor of the main book, and it is also out of reach for the selection of people from the eighth grade. Beijing officials are a trench in front of the selection of people, and many small officials who have worked hard to select people cannot cross it in their lifetime.

Duan Fangben is almost the same as Xu Ping, and with various subsidies, it is far away, not to mention that the future of the two is completely incomparable.

The next stop on the route from Guizhou to Yongzhou is Liuzhou, then through Xiangzhou Laibin, then to Pennzhou, and through Kunlun Pass to Yongzhou. After leaving Guizhou, the next stop is Yongfu County, and you will have to rest overnight in the post house.

There is a river next to the official road, the river water is clear and quiet, and from time to time there are tributaries flowing into it, cutting off the official road again and again, and small stone arch bridges appear on the official road one after another.

The river has been walking with each other, crossing bridge after bridge, and at some point, a stone dam suddenly appeared on the river, which has fallen into disrepair for a long time, and huge stones are scattered in the water.

Xu Ping saw it and said to Wang Weizheng beside him: "I said that we are all down, but the river next to us is so gentle, it turns out that there is a stone dam to stop the water." ”

Wang Weizheng sighed: "Yunxing doesn't know, the river next to it is an ancient canal in the Tang Dynasty, which was dug during the longevity of the Empress Wu to communicate Lishui and Liujiang River, just to open up Lingnan." Since the war of the five dynasties in the late Tang Dynasty, the canal has been abandoned for a long time and cannot be navigated, so it has become like this. ”

"I see. This river communicates with Lishui, reaches the Xiangjiang River through the Ling Canal, and then connects to the great river, which is very important to the western part of Lingnan, so why not rebuild it? ”

Wang Wei shook his head uprightly: "It is not easy to repair the river, it costs a lot, unless the imperial court allocates money, how can it be repaired with the wealth of Guangxi?" I can only think about it. ”

Xu Ping had no choice but to remain silent when he heard this.

The Guangnan West Road was a money-losing commodity for the Great Song Dynasty, and the money collected was already very reluctant to pay the officials of the road, and the cost of the garrison had to be subsidized by the imperial court, unless there was a major reason, where was the interest in appropriating funds to build this ancient canal. Taizu and Taizong still have the idea of recovering Jiaozhi County and its land, since Taizong's conquest of Jiaozhi failed, Zhenzong Dynasty has pretended to be a ghost all over the world, this idea has also faded, just barely maintain the situation.

Guangxi's products are not abundant, and the poor are poor in transportation, and those from outside cannot come in, and local things cannot go out. If the economy does not develop, it will be difficult for the population to grow, and if there are fewer people, the environment will not be developed, and the miasma will be profitable, forming a dead circle. The natural conditions of Guangdong next to it are not much different from Guangxi, but in the Song Dynasty, there is basically no harm from miasma, that is, there are more people, and the degree of development has gone up, and manpower has defeated nature. Even in later generations, Guangxi still suffers from the loss of transportation, and the industrial social economy can also make great achievements.

But this era is different, the freight volume is not so large, as long as there are one or two passages in Guangxi, the situation will be greatly improved, but unfortunately no one in the court cares about this place.

The brigade walked slowly, and could only advance thirty miles a day, and only entered Liuzhou on the ninth day.

According to the system, the transit envoy shall not stay in a state for less than three days to prevent him from wandering around. Unless there is something very special, it should not be more than fifteen days, to prevent the seizure of the power of the governor.

It is impossible for Xu Ping to wait for Wang Weizheng in Liuzhou, not to mention that there are several states below where he has to inspect them one by one, so he parted ways, and Xu Ping took Duan Fang and others on the road.

The road was much faster, and after another nine days, I finally arrived at the post house outside Yongzhou City.

It was evening at the post house, Lin Yicheng was drinking comfortably around the brazier with a few post guards, and as soon as he heard that the new appointment had arrived, he jumped up, put on his official robe in a panic, and came out with all the post guards.

Xiuxiu got down from the ox cart and said to Xu Ping weakly: "Official, it's so hot here, and it's so stuffy, I don't think I have any energy at all." ”

Xu Ping was startled, and hurriedly touched Xiuxiu's forehead, but fortunately she didn't feel hot, and said to her: "It's not as hot and humid as Guizhou, it's more stuffy and humid, and the air is not circulating." You're just afraid that you're tired on the road, and you won't be able to adapt to it when you get here, so don't move, rest quietly, and boil a bowl of medicine at night to drink. ”

Xiuxiu agreed sickly, stood beside Gao Daquan and didn't speak again.

Duan Fang's father and son were locals, so they didn't feel anything and stood quietly aside.

Lin Yicheng rushed out of the post house and hurriedly saluted: "Xia Guan Lin Siping, I am here for the post man." I don't know that the general sentence is coming, there is no distant welcome, and I hope to forgive my sins! ”

Xu Ping also felt hard along the way, waved his hand and said, "That's it." You go and clean up the two clean and tidy yards, and get a few lighter dishes, we are tired along the way. ”

Lin Yicheng hurriedly ordered his post guards to do the same immediately, and then instructed his subordinates to take the cattle and horses to feed, and pull the ox cart to the courtyard and put it away. After everything was done, he should lead the way and lead Xu Ping and his party into the post house.

When he arrived at a quiet courtyard, Lin Yicheng asked Xu Ping: "Shangguan still likes it here?" ”

This is a three-room courtyard, the houses look very neat, and a big banyan tree in the courtyard is hugged by three people, almost covering the entire courtyard, which looks elegant and quiet.

Xu Ping nodded: "Yes, this place is exactly what you want." By the way, do you have a good well here? Grab a few buckets of water and we'll take a bath. ”

"Shangguan peace of mind, we are here in the post house, ushering in a lot of sends, there is a sweet well behind the hall, the water quality is clear and sweet, everyone says yes. Then I command them to fill the water tank, and you may enjoy it with confidence. ”

Lin Yicheng was full of diligence, for fear that Xu Ping would not be satisfied at all. This is his top boss, the current Cao Zhizhou military general, who doesn't take care of chores, but Xu Ping will be in charge of him in the future.

Xu Ping nodded. Since entering Guangxi, all the officials he has talked to along the way have told him that Yongzhou's water and soil are poisonous, and that he cannot eat things indiscriminately and drink water indiscriminately, which makes him suspicious himself.

Seeing Lin Yicheng standing next to him looking at him eagerly, Xu Ping's heart moved, and he pointed at Xiuxiu and asked him: "By the way, my little maid has felt uncomfortable since she entered the Yongzhou territory, and I am afraid that she will be poisoned." ”

Lin Yicheng said with a smile: "Shangguan said that he was joking, how could there be miasma in Yongzhou City, then it would be repaid." I'm afraid that it's hot and humid here, and this little lady is not used to it all of a sudden. ”

"Probably. What medicine do you have here for miasma, and it's good to prevent it. ”

"Yes, yes." Lin Yicheng nodded again and again, took a small tin box from his sleeve like a baby, opened the lid, and there were three grids inside, respectively with ash powder, unknown fruit food and green vine leaves.

Seeing Xu Ping looking at himself with inquiring eyes, Lin Yicheng said: "Shangguan, this is a good thing unique to our local area, called betel nut, men, women and children are indispensable every day, and the prevention of miasma is the most effective!" ”

"It turned out to be betel nut, does this thing work?" Xu Ping looked at Lin Yicheng's mysterious appearance and couldn't help but be a little disappointed. This thing was always chewed and chewed by Taiwanese people in movies in his previous life, and it was very unsightly, but he didn't expect it to become popular in this era.

"It turns out that Shangguan has heard of it." Lin Yicheng handed over the tin box, "Don't look at this thing as inconspicuous, it has a miraculous effect on miasma, our natives here have relied on betel nut to resist miasma for generations." ”

Xu Ping took the tin box and asked, "How do you want to eat it?" ”

Lin Yicheng took the rattan leaves out, taught Xiuxiu to smear clam powder on the vine leaves, then wrapped the betel nut, and put it into his mouth, chewing and chewing very intoxicated.

Xiuxiu was curious, and put one in her mouth, chewed it and said to Xu Ping with a bitter face: "Official, this thing tastes so weird!" ”

Xu Ping smiled: "It's weird, is the medicine bitter!" ”

Xiuxiu didn't know whether it was true or not, she just wanted to get better quickly, endure the weird taste, and just chew.

Xu Ping said to Lin Yicheng again: "By the way, this Duan Tui official is the new Ruhe County Commander, we met in Liuzhou, and we walked all the way." You also arranged a place for their father and son. ”

Lin Yicheng seemed to have just seen Duan Fang, and stepped forward to salute: "Duan Tuiguan, it turns out that you have returned to Yongzhou to take up your post!" Forgive the official for not recognizing you! ”

Xu Ping listened to Lin Yicheng's words, and he was familiar with Duan Fang, he couldn't help frowning, what kind of story does his subordinate have in Yongzhou?