The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 158 (Part 2) People’s hearts are sinister

“There are hundreds of thousands of households in the seven miles of Liangzhou, and the barbarians are half-ready to play the pipa.” Since Li Gui, King of Liang, rebuilt this Hexi city more than thirty years ago, Liangzhou City has become increasingly prosperous. Even in this frosty and windy time, there was still a scene of busy traffic under the city gate three hours after the sun rose.

The Anjia caravan slowly moved forward following the long queue in front of the east city gate. When they saw that they were still dozens of steps away from the city gate, someone came to meet them on horseback.

Anjuro hurriedly urged the horse to catch up a few steps, and bowed on the horse to salute, "Uncle Liu, why do you bother to come to greet me today?"

Uncle An Liu was probably in his early forties, with a thick curly beard covering most of his face, and his equally thick eyebrows were tightly knitted together at the moment, "You guys came a few days earlier than in previous years, but The situation is really not good now. None of the previous groups of people heading west have received public inspection, and they have been selling goods on the spot for the past two days. "

Anjuro couldn't help being surprised. He had known that the Liangzhou Sicang Junjun who was now in charge of the public inspection was a bit greedy. Yesterday, he heard Mi Dalang and Lao Qin from Didian talking about this person. With connections, if you can handle such a thing, you can only get some gold and silver at most. Why does even Uncle Six look like this? He hurriedly said, "Sixth Uncle, you also know that our caravan is different from them. Firstly, we are going to Xizhou to buy spices and medicinal materials from slaves, and then return to Chang'an in the spring. Secondly, our goods are also ordered by the nobles of the Protectorate. , if it cannot be delivered on time, how will we settle down in Xizhou in the future?”

Uncle An Liu sighed, "Of course I know all this. I heard that the Turks are rebelling now. The imperial court has ordered an expedition in the first month of the year, and strictly controls the passage of iron, bronze, good horses and other items. Then Su Shenjun also used this reason repeatedly for some reason. After a strict investigation, even the silk was not allowed to be taken away, and two Kang people who brought a few extra swords were sent to prison. They actually refused to accept the gifts. Therefore, our Sa Bao went to visit Chang Shi. He can't help but wonder what kind of general Su Canjun is."

Pei Xingjian had already led his horse forward. Hearing this, he hugged Uncle An's six hands and said, "I've met Uncle Six. May I ask if the name of Su Shenjun is Shangnanxiayu?"

Uncle An Liu glanced at Pei Xingjian with some surprise, and then looked at An Juro. An Juro hurriedly smiled and said, "This is Pei Changshi of the Anxi Protectorate. He went from Chang'an to Xizhou to take up his post."

Uncle An's eyes lit up, and then his smile narrowed into a slit, and he returned the courtesy, "I don't dare to take it, I don't take it! Nagashi is too polite." After saying that, he glanced at Anjuro with admiration. This nephew took it seriously. The young man outshines his old master, and actually meets a brother who has a long history! After thinking for a while, he added, "That Su Shenjun seems to have this name."

Pei Xingjian glanced at Juro with a wry smile and nodded silently.

Anjuro was somewhat embarrassed. He could naturally guess a thing or two about the situation between Pei Shouyue and his aunt. Although it was not a big deal for husband and wife to be angry, as a member of his mother's family, he naturally could only help his sister. Now the aunt didn't recognize it. This brother-in-law could go with him, but he couldn't relax first and quickly changed the subject, "Honorary, are you familiar with this person?"

Pei Xingjian frowned slightly, "I've met him once or twice. This man is indeed the youngest son of a lieutenant general in the Ministry of War. His temperament is... somewhat stubborn, and he may not be willing to give me this face."

Anjuro An's newly raised hopes were immediately extinguished in half. Anjuro thought for a while and said, "It's better to give it a try anyway. Since silk is embargoed, the four carts of silk that uncle and nephew brought this time are I'm sorry to have to ask Uncle Six to collect it first and sell it at Liangzhou's market price. My uncle will take 20% of it. I'll take care of the accounts when I return to Liangzhou. I'll also ask Uncle Six to take my nephew over there." He said. He asked Pei Xingjian, "Keep my promise..."

Pei Xingjian smiled and said, "I went to the government office with my cousin. This matter seems a bit strange. I have to find out more about it first."

While they were talking, the An family caravan had entered the city gate. They walked west for more than a mile and unloaded four loads of silk in front of a store. Even the guard's machete was handed over to the guard for safekeeping. The list was fingerprinted.

Ah Cheng couldn't help but whispered to Pei Xingjian, "I originally heard that these Hu merchants are father and son brothers who also settle accounts. Today I saw that it is true."

Pei Xingjian smiled faintly and said, "We Tang people naturally don't settle accounts openly. At most, we only settle accounts in private." After saying that, he couldn't help but look at the car not far away and sighed deeply - he himself, Why not?

Ah Cheng couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. It wasn't until the delivery was completed and the carriage and horses moved forward again that he sighed, "What Ah Lang said makes sense."

This Liangzhou City is different from other places. The Daliang Palace, now the Guzang Mansion Office, is located at the top south end of the city. The convoy traveled a full three or four miles before arriving. Pei Xingjian reined in his horse and looked around, bowed his hands to An's uncle and nephew, and turned around to leave with Acheng. Uncle An Liu led the convoy through a side door on the west side and walked through a long corridor before arriving at a very wide courtyard. In front of the courtyard, there was already another caravan with seven or eight camels waiting there. Uncle An Liu hurriedly stepped forward to inquire, only to find out that a group of people had been rejected today, and several Hu merchants from this team were inside for public inspection.

As he was talking, he saw a group of soldiers coming out of the courtyard. They came up and pulled the bags from the camels to inspect them. The sound of broken utensils, scoldings, and pleas suddenly became a chaotic mess.

When Liuli got out of the car, it was already after two cups of tea. The goods of the Hu merchants in front were scattered on the ground in a mess. Some medicinal materials were put aside. The leading merchant was taken away directly. Uncle An Liu was left behind. Several Hu merchants below were surrounded, and they managed to escape with great difficulty. Liuli had already learned about Anjuro's identity from Anjuro and hurriedly came forward to greet him. Uncle Anju felt a little strange in his heart, but he didn't have time to think about it for a moment.

A doorman frowned and walked out, "Is Anjia Juro here? The higher ups have summoned you to go to the public inspection!"

Anjuro hurriedly turned around and smiled, "I'm sorry to trouble you." He quietly stuffed a Sasanian silver coin into the doorman's hand. The doorman's face suddenly relaxed a little, and he whispered, "Be careful when you go in to answer. Please don’t contradict me.”

Anjuro smiled and thanked them, and led a group of people into the courtyard. Several merchants in the caravan took their respective places to go to the hall to talk, and the rest were waiting in the courtyard. This matter had been done several times along the way, and Liuli felt that something was wrong with the atmosphere. She hurriedly asked those Hu maids what happened, but they couldn't explain the reason.

Many of the soldiers on the side had their eyes darting back and forth on Liuli's face and body. Liuli was quite impatient. She just knew that during the public inspection, the male and female population would probably be checked. There was no reason to wear a hat, so she could only pretend not to see it.

This inspection took an unexpectedly long time. It took more than a quarter of an hour before the felt curtain in the main room was opened. A tall man walked out with a gloomy face. He said in a deep voice after going out, "Pass." Are all the family members and servants mentioned above here?"

Uncle An Liu followed this person among Hu Shang's messengers. He stepped forward and said with a smile, "Except for the driver who is looking after the horses, everyone is here to inform Su to join the army. Our An family caravan has been gone for dozens of times." Years are the most disciplined."

Su Canjun sneered, "Rule? If it were a rule, you shouldn't have left the border at this time! Who knows whether the things you are transporting will fall into the hands of the Turks?"

Uncle An Liu heard that the words were not good, so he could only laugh and said, "Joining the army is just a joke, even if you have the courage of the younger ones, the younger ones won't dare."

Su Canjun snorted and said to the officer beside him, "Go and count the people and goods, check carefully for me!" As he spoke, he glanced around coldly, and suddenly saw Liuli. He was slightly startled and looked up and down several times. , after thinking for a moment, he pointed, "Whose family member is that Hu girl?"

Anjuro Anjuro felt something in his heart and hurriedly said, "I'm going to join the army. That's my sister-in-law."

Su Canjun's face suddenly became more playful. He raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Your sister? Why don't I look like her? She looks more like a runaway maid from a wealthy family!"

"Liangzhou", today's Wuwei, Gansu Province, was a world-class city at that time. "Sasanian silver coins", because copper coins and silk were too heavy, on the Silk Road, Persian Sasanian silver coins and Roman Byzantine gold coins were once the common currencies.

About the update, Alan will take the qualification exam on the 29th. As long as you pass the exam, there will be an update on the 30th. As for my fingers, although I need less these days, I really try my best. I go to bed at 12 o'clock every day at the earliest, but there is no way, and I still have to endorse...

By the way, I would like to recommend the authentic Taiwanese-style H article "The Prince Marries". The more he writes, the more H he is... Alan, who suddenly can't write a meaty scene, is envious, jealous, and hateful.

 (End of this chapter)