On the other hand, Yan Duo, Wang Zheng, Li Fu, and Ma Wei traveled 600 miles in a hurry. They traveled day and night. They only slept for four hours at night and changed to six fast horses. They arrived at Bianliang the next day when it was almost dark.
Yan Duo was the head of the escort team, a low-ranking officer of the section level. Seeing that it was getting late, he waved his arm and said,"We have been rushing to the capital since yesterday morning, and our stomachs are already growling with hunger. There is a tavern in Xiqi in front of us. Let's go feed the head and drink a few cups before going to Grand Preceptor Cai's house to send a letter!”
Li Fu and Ma Wei agreed with Yan Duo's suggestion. Li Fu said,""People are made of iron and steel.”
Wang Zheng stopped in his tracks and looked forward. He saw a flag hanging on the roof half a mile away. On it were four words written in thick ink: " Xiqi Tavern ".
Xiqi was synonymous with Kansai. Yan Duo's choice to dine there made sense, but Wang Zheng was a little worried and said," Captain Yan, we still don't know where Grand Preceptor Cai's residence is. We rushed 600 miles to Beijing to send a letter, but we were delayed because of the meal…"
Before Wang Zheng could say the words " the timing is not good ", Yan Duo interrupted him."Brother Wang, you have a noble character. Why don't you go and investigate Grand Preceptor Cai's residence? The three of us will feed our heads here. After you greet him, tell us.”
Wang Zheng knew that Yan Duo was using his big belly to carry him. He laughed awkwardly and stopped chewing.
Yan Duo raised his arm and said," Sharpening a knife will not delay the work of chopping wood. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone if we dine in the tavern and ask the insiders?" A living person can't die from holding his pee!"
As Yan Duo spoke, he strode forward. Wang Zheng, Li Fu, and Ma Wei followed closely behind.
The streets of Bianjing were wide and unobstructed. It was still afternoon, but the people in front of the teahouses and taverns were already bustling with activity.
The shouts of those who pulled carts and sold pulp and those who carried loads along their shoulders were endless.
Yan Duo, Wang Zheng, Li Fu, and Ma Wei discussed as they walked. Yan Duo said eloquently,"People say that Tokyo is heaven. If we can live here for a few years, we won't have come to the world in vain!”
"Isn't this easy?" Wang Zheng interrupted. As long as Young Master comes to the capital, we can just follow him!”
"It's that easy!" "Young Master is the son of Grand Preceptor Cai. If he could have come, he would have come long ago!" Li Fu chattered. He was already 20 years old, but he still hadn't come. There must be something difficult to say!”
? Wang Zheng continued." Saying that we are Young Master's people doesn't seem accurate. Lord Jiang is our leader!" Lord Jiang is Grand Advisor's grandson, and Grand Advisor has a special liking for him. The possibility of Lord Jiang coming to the capital is very high. If Lord Jiang comes to the capital, it's not the best of both worlds for us to hitch a ride on his boat!”
Yan Duoxin said happily," I like what Wang Zheng said. We are Lord Jiang's direct descendants. If Grand Preceptor Cai lets Lord Jiang come to the capital to be an official, then the four of us entering the capital will be like scorpions on the back of our hands!”
"Don't dream of marrying a wife and always think of good things!”" We're just small soldiers," Ma Wei said disapprovingly." It's best not to talk about our master's privacy!" Hurry up and feed your head!"
The four of them walked briskly, passing by fruit stores, fish stores, rice stores, meat stores... all the goods in front of them were contaminated.
From the Northern Song Dynasty to the era of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, despite the corruption of society, the market prosperity was no less than that of the modern Pinduoduo, accounting for 80% of the world's gross domestic product.
This was a terrifying number! Think about it, it was the 12th century, and the only superpower in the 21st century only accounted for about 25% of the world's gross domestic product.
Therefore, while people hated the Jurchen for using barbaric military means to destroy the advanced productive forces and cause the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty, they still missed the talented Huizong and Cai Jing.
During the 25 years of Emperor Huizong's reign, peasant uprisings continued, but politics, economy, and military affairs flourished. Otherwise, Qingtang would not have recovered to the Central Plains 350 years after the Tubo people notified it.
After Qingtang returned to the Central Plains, the Silk Road was once again opened up, and the exchange of goods between China and foreign countries was also on the fast track.
In the early days of Emperor Huizong's succession, he was an out-and-out Ming Lord, especially in calligraphy, painting and sports.
If Song Huizong was the chairman of the Football Association, then the football of future generations would not be so cowardly and bullied by small countries.
In the early years of Emperor Huizong's accession to the throne, he was young and high-spirited. He issued an edict to seek talents and was open-minded. He once left a good reputation for accepting advice modestly and following advice like a stream.
Why did the 25 years of Huizong's reign become the darkest period of Northern Song politics? And also made a wise ruler of a generation become the master of a subjugated country?
This was because Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty focused on art and sports, known as the Emperor of Painting and Calligraphy. The power of the court was entrusted to Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Wang Fu, Liang Sicheng, Zhu Wei, and Li Yan.
Cai Jing had the ability to act according to the situation. He had deceived Emperor Huizong into a comfortable life, but he had covered the sky with one hand and did his own thing. The Song Dynasty was going to perish day by day under the manipulation of Cai Jing's six thieves…
Yan Duo, Wang Zheng, Li Fu, and Ma Wei came to the entrance of Xi Qi Tavern. A servant with a white handkerchief on his shoulder immediately came forward to greet them."Please come in, four generals. All meat in our shop is on discount today!”
Yan Duo went to look at the manservant and saw that he was about thirteen or fourteen years old. His lips were red and his teeth were white. He had a handsome baby face that was delicate and beautiful. He couldn't help but be startled.
Yan Duo stared at the manservant and asked: " You seem to be a girl. Why are you dressed like a boy? You can still tell that we are soldiers?"”
The status of Song Dynasty soldiers was very low. They had to tattoo words on their faces or arms to join the Imperial Army.
Yan Duo and the other three were carriage soldiers without tattoos, so when they rushed to the capital, they were all dressed in casual clothes, but they were still seen by the hotel manservant.
When the servant saw Yan Duo's question, he chuckled and said,"I'm naturally a boy!"
He paused for a moment and swallowed." The four of you look like soldiers. That's why I'm shouting like this!"”
The manservant did not tell the truth. In fact, she was a woman named Su Jingcao. She disguised herself as a boy manservant in front of the tavern to attract business. Her name was Su Xiaozhuang.
Although the women of the Northern Song Dynasty inherited the open-mindedness of the Tang Dynasty, it was still a little awkward for a woman to stand in front of the door to attract customers. It was much smoother for a man to dress up as a manservant.
Yan Duo chuckled and said,""You look like a girl to me! Your eyes are sharp enough. One look and you can tell that we are soldiers!”
Yan Duo waved his arm and said,"Your tavern has a discount on meat?" What kind of meat do you sell?"
"Mutton, beef, black pork, fish, chicken, duck, all on discount!”The manservant said as if he was counting treasures, and made a modest gesture,"Bring the horses to the backyard to feed the grass!”
As the servant spoke, he shouted into the tavern,"Mother, you take care of the business. Little Zhuang Zi will lead the guest's horse to the backyard to feed it!”
Wang Zheng exclaimed,"Looks like Xiqi Tavern is a mother and son shop!"”
As soon as he finished speaking, a woman walked out of the tavern and greeted,"General, please come in!"
The woman was around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Her skin was fair and clean, and she was dignified and beautiful. She also recognized that Yan Duo and the others were soldiers, so she called out.
Yan Duo teased,"Wifey is so beautiful, but you're actually the tavern manager?"”
The woman smiled and said,""May I borrow your good words, General? This little girl is the tavern manager, and from your voice, I heard that you are from Kansai?”
? Wang Zheng laughed." Shopkeeper's ears are really sharp. You can tell that we are from Kansai?" That's right, the four of us are from Hua State!”
"People from the East Mansion! Please go to the private room and meditate!" The female shopkeeper introduced herself." I'm Qin Yue 'niang, from Maganqiao, Fengxiang Prefecture, Kansai. My husband's name is Su Erchong. He went with the imperial court's army to conquer Green Pond. The tavern in the capital is under the care of me and my son, Xiao Zhuang!"”
Yan Duo was stunned, he said unreasonably,"So big sister is a military relative?"”
Qin Yue 'niang smiled and said bluntly,""Husband is not a soldier. Eunuch Tong will definitely let him be the guide when he goes west to Qingtang.”
Li Fu laughed awkwardly and said,"So it's Sister Fengxiang's husband who has gone to make contributions to the country!" Respected and worthy of congratulations!"
Qin Yue Niang's mood suddenly dropped, her eyes filled with tears, and she said sadly,""The Imperial Court's army has already recovered Qingtang, but there has been no news of my husband!”
As Qin Yue's mother spoke, she welcomed Yan Duo and the other three into the Phoenix Pavilion and asked,"What kind of dishes would you like to have?”
Yan Duo said bluntly," Give me a can of Western Phoenix Spring, a plate of lamb meat, a gourd chicken, a pound of cooked beef, a plate of pig's trotters, and the main dish is stewed noodles!"”
Yan Duo called out the names of the dishes in one breath. Wang Zheng hurriedly said,"Big Brother Yan has listed so many dishes. I'm afraid you won't be able to get it without half a string of money!”
Qin Yue 'niang smiled and glanced at Wang Zheng.""This brother is so detailed. Let me calculate how much it is!”
Qin Yue's mother said. Moving the abacus to his chest? He started fiddling with it.
Li Fu exclaimed," Big Sister Fengxiang is indeed an expert in managing money. She also carries an almanac with her wherever she goes!"”
Qin Yueniang didn't dislike Li Fu's praise. After tugging a few times, she said,："The village party ordered a few dishes, stewed noodles, and wine, a total of 5? 2? 0? Money, the store is giving a 50% discount today. Only 2? 6? 0? Money, for the sake of the villagers, exempt 3? 0 money? 23? 0? Forget about the money!"
Qin Yue Niang explained generously. Yan Duo 4? Everyone was dumbfounded.
As Qin Yue's mother spoke, she personally poured tea for the four of them and opened the bottle to pour wine.
A few dishes were quickly served on the dining table. The lamb was fat and tender, the gourd chicken was beautiful, and the cooked beef and pork trotters were mellow and fragrant.
The taste buds of the four people were instantly aroused, and they wolfed down the food and drank.
Yan Duo ate a few mouthfuls and saw Qin Yue Niang standing beside him. He couldn't help but thank her,""Big Sister Feng Xiang is a financial expert. The 520-yuan meat dish costs us 260 yuan, and we're even offering a discount of 30 yuan. The four of us only need 230 yuan for this meal. I really don't know how to thank you!”
"Thank you for what? Who asked us to be fellow countrymen!" Qin Yue Niang said with a smile,""The four villagers will come to Xi Qi Tavern as soon as they arrive in Bianjing. This is the greatest support for this servant. I hope that you can bring more guests in the future!”
"There's nothing to say about that!" Yan Jieji said confidently. He stood up and bowed deeply."However, this one still has a request for big sister.”
"What is it?" "As long as I can do it, I will not hesitate!" Qin Yue 'niang said generously.”
Yan Jieji sat back down and said,"We want to go to Grand Master, but we don't know where the mansion is!"”
Qin Yue's mother was stunned and asked,""General, are you asking about the residence of Grand Preceptor Cai Jing?”
"Yes, yes, yes! This is the residence of Grand Preceptor Cai Jing!" Yan Duo held the chopsticks in his hand and chattered,"We rushed over from Hua State 600 miles away to send a letter to Grand Tutor Cai!”
As soon as Yan Duo finished speaking, Qin Yue's mother's 'son' Su Xiaozhuang walked in and continued,""I know about Grand Preceptor Cai's residence! My mother also knows!"
The four of them were overjoyed. Yan Jieji said happily,"As expected, the old saying comes true. Sharpening the knife will not delay the firewood!”
Yan Duo and the other three asked Qin Yue's mother and son how they knew where Grand Preceptor Cai's official residence was while eating.
Just as Qin Yue 'niang was about to tell him the reason, she suddenly heard the neigh of a horse coming from outside the shop…
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。