Hebei Province, Jizhou Mansion, on the official road.

Jingle bell~~

With the ringing of the bells, four horses galloped in.

The first one is a young man in his twenties, with sword eyebrows and starry eyes, a straight nose and a square mouth, and then wearing a scholar's son's outfit, he looks even more outstanding and magnificent.

The two people behind him, on the left is a burly strong man, wearing heavy armor, with a resolute complexion, not angry and arrogant. The one on the right, looking at about fifty years old, although his face is like a ghost, he is not as slow as an abyss, which is not to be underestimated.

The last one is more unbearable.

This is a middle-aged man in his thirties, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a wide forehead, and he looks pretty good. However, at this time, his clothes were loose, his hair was unkempt, his nose was hollow, his sideburns were hot and sweaty, and he opened his big mouth and pouted.

No need to ask, this is Cui Geng, Feng Changqing, Zhou Xing and Song Genhai.

They left Luoyang, passed through Zhengzhou, Xiangzhou and Weizhou, and now have reached the territory of Jizhou.

When you arrive in Jizhou, it is not far from Dingzhou.

"Wait for me, sir! Wait for me! Song Genhai shouted breathlessly behind him.

Sigh~~

Cui Geng pulled the reins at this time, "I said Song Genhai, you have a lot of things to do along the way." What did I say, you have to listen to Feng Changqing when choosing a horse, but you just don't listen, and now you regret it. Look at this white horse, it's good-looking, but it's slow and doesn't obey it. If it weren't for your kid dragging his feet, I guess we would have arrived in Dingzhou early. ”

Song Genhai said with annoyance: "Eh, I really know that I am wrong, this horse looks like a miracle horse, who knows that it is a silver-like pewter spear head, and it looks ......."

Herod~~

Before he finished his words, the white horse suddenly let out a long roar, followed by a "tiger jump", and quickly overtook Cui Geng by a horse's head.

Song Genhai was almost thrown off his horse, and scolded angrily: "You brute, don't let people say that you run slowly!" When you get to the next station, Lao Tzu will definitely change you! ”

When Cui Geng saw it, he said happily: "Wait! This guy seems to understand what we are saying, and it's not useless, so let's keep it. ”

"I won't stay long." Song Genhai was actually a little reluctant, after all, riding this horse was too popular, "This horse belongs to the imperial court, and it has to be returned to Dingzhou at the latest." ”

Zhou Xing also slowed down and interjected: "This is Brother Song, you don't understand." Don't look at our horses, they were all received from the imperial court, but this horse is really private. Since we like it, then let's buy this horse with some silver. ”

"What? Can the imperial court's post house be operated by private individuals? "It's the first time I've heard of Song Genhai.

"Why not? This kind of thing is more common in the north. In addition, I will tell you that all the pavilions in Jizhou and Dingzhou are run by a person named He Mingyuan, and the imperial court does not need to spend a penny. ”

Now everyone was interested and looked at Zhou Xing.

Cui Geng asked: "The post house welcomes so many officials every day, how rich is this Mingyuan, can he withstand such a toss?" ”

Zhou Xing explained: "You can say the opposite. It's not that He Mingyuan has the money to contract so many post houses; It is precisely because he has contracted so many post houses that he is particularly rich......"

During the Tang Dynasty, the pavilion post in the north was extremely developed, known as a post in 30 miles and a pavilion in 50 miles.

However, after the number of post houses increased, the money required to maintain these post stations was an astronomical amount, and the imperial court was naturally under great pressure.

In the end, I don't know which genius official made a twist and suggested that the inn be handed over to private management.

Of course, if you can't get in and out of the inn, you will definitely lose money. In order to make up for the losses of these operators, the imperial court stipulated that no other counter-travelers, inns, and mansions were allowed to exist within a few miles of the inn.

In this way, the operators of those inns opened their shops next to the inns and made a fortune.

Of course, Cui Geng and the others knew what Didian was.

In addition to the function of an inn, it also provides a warehouse for merchants to stack goods, and even plays the role of an intermediary, matching buyers and sellers to extract commissions, which can be regarded as a profiteering industry that ranks among the top today.

Back then, Zou Camel was able to become the richest man in the world, relying on running a mansion. It can be seen that He Mingyuan, who monopolized the post stations in Dingzhou and Jizhou, how rich does he have to be?

Song Genhai said sourly: "As the governor of Dingzhou, our family is just the head of those pavilions in Dingzhou. If He Mingyuan wants a horse, he still dares to collect money? ”

Cui Geng snorted him, "Look at your kid's interest, is the official the one who lacks the three melons and two dates?" No, it's a bad name. ”

"Then ......" Song Genhai's eyes rolled, "Then let's eat and drink more in the pavilion and eat him to death!" ”

"Go out, don't say we know you!" The crowd shouted in unison.

……

It was getting dark, and Cui Geng and others were preparing to stay overnight at Tumen Station in Zhao County, Jizhou.

The location of this kind of pavilion is very particular, first of all, it cannot be built in the city, otherwise the city gate will be closed at night, which will affect the transmission of urgent official documents.

Secondly, it must be built on a traffic artery, otherwise it will be too inconvenient.

The last point is that it is best that there are no people around, so that merchants can not find a house to stay.

Tumen Station is such a place.

In a wilderness, twelve five-entry courtyards are lined up, and the five houses on the left are pavilions for officials to rest. The seven houses on the right are He Mingyuan's private residences, which can be moved in by businessmen and ordinary people.

Looking from afar, a pool of blue ponds is fresh and pleasant, several rows of willows flutter in the wind, the red walls and green tiles are clean and atmospheric, Cui Geng and others are very satisfied.

But...... In front of the post house, a group of people gathered around it was very noisy.

Cui Geng and the others turned over and dismounted, and the rough man Feng Changqing took the lead, squeezed three and two, and was already in the crowd.

Squeezed in to take a look, only to find out why so many people were watching, it turned out to be the guy from the post manager, who was arguing with a middle-aged man in a green shirt.

The guy clasped his hands and shouted, "This official, the pavilion is already full, how many times have I told you, why don't you believe it?" At the moment, only the Didian near the post station has a vacant room, so you can spend some money to stay there. ”

The middle-aged man in the green shirt sneered: "It's full? Don't give the official a sloppy look. Now that there is no war, and it is not the year of election, where are so many past officials? ”

"How do you know why this is happening? The problem is that there really are so many officials. ”

The guy looked a little bit like a big bully, "What's the matter?" Listening to the meaning of the official's words, do you still want to search our Tumen Station? No problem, the little ones don't dare to stop it, but the question is, do you have that much guts? ”

"You ......" the middle-aged shirt was so popular that his nose was almost crooked.

"What's wrong with me? Eh, I said Master Ji, not the small one said you, be a little more generous. As far as you are a Jiupin official, even if you live in Tumen Station, it is just a single room with three meals of green vegetables and tofu. How much money can I save? If you have the kung fu of grinding your teeth with a small one, wouldn't it be okay to spend money directly on the side? ”

Master Ji, the Jiupin official in the man's mouth, was choked by him and suddenly turned red, and said angrily: "Is this a matter of money?" As an official of the imperial court, I have the right to live in the imperial court. ”

"Come on, I think it's about money." The man said, "The lady you are with is seriously ill, right?" If you weren't worried about the store money, wouldn't you have spent money to settle down a long time ago? ”

"I ......"

Master Ji choked for a while, and his heart was sad, he really stumped the hero with a penny. The dignified court nine-rank life officer was actually ridiculed by a guy who ran away from the hall!

Although he was extremely ashamed and indignant in his heart, Master Ji was worried about his wife who was in a hurry and was seriously ill, and finally endured his temperament and reluctantly conjured up a smiling face, "It's good to be at home for a thousand days, but it's difficult to go out." Little second brother, please make it easier. ”

Unexpectedly, the guy didn't eat his set, so he asked for a hand, and snorted coldly: "It's convenient for you, who will make it convenient for me?" It's still the same sentence, I'm sorry, it's full, you can take a step higher. ”

……

The two had a back and forth, and they said a few more words. The middle-aged man's posture became lower and lower, looking at the meaning, if it weren't for the official body, he would have to kneel, but the guy still shook his head again and again, but he didn't allow it.

Cui Geng couldn't bear it in his heart, coughed lightly, and said, "This brother, since the pavilion is full, don't be embarrassed for this little brother." This official also wanted to live in the pavilion, come, let's live in the mansion together, as for the room money, I'll out! ”

Master Ji sighed, turned his head and looked at Cui Geng.

"What? Are you out? ”

The guy also screamed in surprise, turned his head to look at Cui Geng and the others, and his face suddenly changed greatly.

Because he saw the dazzling armor on Feng Changqing's body.

The helmet ears are turned up, and the top is standing upright and long. Armor belts below the neck guard, and the cuirass shines brightly. Draped with a hideous dragon's head and a drooping knee-like skirt.

The guy is doing the work of ushering in the post station, and he naturally has a vision.

He recognized this armor as the superior of the Tang Dynasty armor - Mingguang Armor!

Although this kind of armor appeared in the Han Dynasty, it did not begin to be popularized on a large scale until the end of the Tang Dynasty due to the limitations of the production process. It's a rarity now.

Nowadays, if you are not a military attache above the sixth grade, don't think about having such a set of armor! That is, Cui Geng, who has a very good relationship with Zhang Lao Slippery Head, gave Feng Changqingtao such a set.

The guy was shocked, grandma, there are six-rank military attachés to escort him, who is this master in front of him? If he is offended, can he still be fine?

Thinking of this, the guy who was still domineering just now, his eyes instantly narrowed, and his face also showed a flattering look, "Where is the small Tumen Station, see this adult, dare to ask your lord, your honorable name, what is your official position?" ”

sanjiangge