Chapter 575: Inquiring for Information
Li Changtian stopped drinking and went to find out the news.
Shuozhou replied that the magistrate of Taihe County had warmly entertained the envoy, but the magistrate of Suining County had not allowed the envoy in at all. As for Xin'an County, no news was sent back at all.
Li Changtian's heart skipped a beat. Xin'an County was so close to Pingyang County, but no news had been sent back. Something must have happened to Meitang.
"I'm going to Xin'an County. Please take care of Xingye County." Li Changtian simply packed his luggage and instructed Xu Xuan.
Xu Xuan took out a new pass and stuffed it into Li Changtian's pocket: "I'm here in the county, don't worry. This is the new identity I made for you. People who travel between the two counties say that Lord Lu strictly checks the pass. It will be more convenient for you to hold the pass issued by our Xingye County."
"Thank you." Li Changtian put away the pass and set off immediately.
Xin'an County is related to whether Hezhong County can be taken over as soon as possible, so Li Changtian dare not waste time.
After walking along the official road for about a day, Li Changtian saw several barricades set up on the road, and six or seven yamen runners were checking one by one.
Li Changtian's heart tightened, and he obediently got off the carriage and lined up.
When it was his turn, Li Changtian couldn't help but ask, "Why did the government start checking on the official road? Shouldn't they check when entering the city?"
"Why are you talking so much nonsense?! Give me the pass!"
Li Changtian handed over the pass.
The leading yamen runner flipped through the pages and said, "A person from Xingye County? So new?"
Li Changtian smiled ingratiatingly, took out a small ingot of silver, and while no one was paying attention, stuffed it into the hands of the leading yamen runner.
"I've been staying at home for a long time. This is my first time going out."
The yamen runner calmly weighed the silver in his hand and said in a much more gentle tone: "It's not safe to go out now."
Li Changtian smiled bitterly: "Isn't there anything else I can do? The flood is so severe that my family's business can't continue, so I want to come to Xin'an County to see if there are any other ways to make a living."
There were not many people on the official road, and the yamen runner also wanted to find someone to chat with: "It's the same. What can Xin'an County do? Baida Express was shut down, and many supplies can't get in. It's not as good as your Xingye County."
Li Changtian pretended to have just heard the news, opened his mouth wide, and asked in surprise: "Why was Baida Express shut down? Did they commit a crime?"
"Who knows? We are just following the orders from above. I heard that your Xingye County is going to join the Duke of Yun?"
Li Changtian put his hands into his sleeves and sighed, "There is such a saying. When the gods fight, we mortals suffer. Does Xin'an County plan to surrender?"
"Get out of here! Is this something you can find out?" The bailiff pushed Li Changtian.
Li Changtian left with a smile, but he felt heavy in his heart.
The yamen runners’ attitude of concern is enough to tell that Xin’an County will not stand on the side of Duke Yun.
When entering the city, Li Changtian paid a ten-cent entrance fee.
Hundreds of disaster victims in tattered clothes gathered in the river not far from the city. Judging from their actions, they should be dredging the river.
Li Changtian took a glance, then lowered his head, his expression becoming more solemn.
The disaster situation in Xin'an County is much better than that in Pingyang County. Although there is silt in the river, it does not affect the passage of ships.
Seeing that the flood is about to recede and the victims are returning home one after another, Xin'an County is organizing the victims to dredge the river at this time. There must be ulterior motives!
Li Changtian guessed that Xin'an County was preparing to allow large-scale ships to enter the county.
Li Changtian frowned. If the imperial navy took Xin'an County as a front for insurance, the next battle would probably be a tough one!
The development of Xin'an County is similar to that of Xingye County, except that the county government has stricter control over rice shops. The price of refined rice cannot exceed 150 coins, and purchases are limited according to household registration.
Li Changtian pretended to be a traveling merchant, wandering around the market, but in fact, he was constantly paying attention to the news around him.
"The magic water is sold out again! When will you get new stock?" A woman with a jade hairpin on her head and a small basket on her shoulder stood at the door of a luxuriously decorated shop, urging impatiently.
The shopkeeper had a bitter face and said, "Madam Hua, it's not that we are out of stock again, it's that there is no stock at all! The magic water is only produced in Yunzhou and Kyoto. It is usually in short supply. If it weren't for Baida Express, we wouldn't be able to get it even if we tried."
Madam Hua was very anxious: "After a great disaster, there will be a great epidemic. The magic water can prevent diarrhea, dispel evil and cold. How come you don't know how to make money?!"
The shopkeeper kept trying to comfort them: "Just wait a few more days. I heard that a large number of people will come to Xin'an County in a few days, and they might bring some magic water with them."
"When the goods arrive, remember to send someone to inform me."
After Madam Hua left, Li Changtian walked into the shop.
The shopkeeper said without even looking up: "The magic water, soap, perfume, and canned goods are all out of stock."
Li Changtian probably knew what this magic water was. It should be Huoxiang Zhengqi Water.
"Boss, what do you have at home? Why is there nothing?"
The shopkeeper said bitterly, "What can I do? The goods can't come in, and I can't make them appear out of thin air."
Li Changtian muttered: "How can we from Xingye County get in?"
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he almost leaned half of his body on the counter, and asked softly, "Do you really have goods in Xingye County? That's right, your Xingye County has surrendered to Duke Yun, so of course you can have whatever you want."
Li Changtian acted like a silly son of a landlord and said cheerfully, "Of course. Ever since our County Magistrate Wang agreed to join Duke Yun, there have been a lot of ships coming and going. By the way, didn't Duke Yun send an envoy to Xin'an County?"
Speaking of this, the shopkeeper became angry: "He was sent and thrown into jail by the county magistrate."
"Ah?!" Li Changtian quickly managed his expression and asked in confusion, "If you don't plan to surrender to Duke Yun, then don't do it. Why did you arrest the envoy? Isn't this equivalent to breaking up with your relationship?"
The shopkeeper seemed to have found a kindred spirit, and started to complain: "That's exactly the point! Treat the envoy well and send him back safely, so as not to offend him! Who knows what our Lord Lu is thinking?"
Another customer who also came to the store complained: "What else can I think? Our Lord Lu was born in a poor family. He was a Jinshi in the third year of Tongde. It has been almost twenty years, and he is still just a small county magistrate. He just wants to take this opportunity to show his loyalty to the government and then get promoted to a higher position!"
Seeing that the customer explained the matter in such detail, Li Changtian quickly took out a handful of silver coins and said, "Brother, you seem to be an understanding person. I have just arrived at this precious place, so please give me some advice."
The customer stuffed the change into his purse and grinned with delight: "It's not really advice, I'm just a jailer."
Li Changtian said, and bowed quickly, "It turns out to be the yamen runner. I am so sorry for your disrespect. You must have been very busy recently, right?"
The bailiff sighed, "It's really not busy. Lord Lu was disgusted by the prisoners who only ate and did not work, so he packed up all the prisoners and sent them to dig a canal. Now there are only two prisoners in the whole prison."
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