Tang Qi Tan

Chapter 108
After crossing this fast-flowing horizontal ditch and passing through a concealed and inconspicuous opening in the wall, the eyes suddenly opened up, and everyone appeared in a rather open passage.

Looking at the corridor wide enough to run a horse, and the traces of man-made excavation and reinforcement on the wall, the young Jinwu fire chief Zhang Wusheng couldn't help but muttered under dumbstruck:

"This... this... this, could it be, the origin of the Raiders of the Shenfu?"

Hearing the name "Shenfu Raiders", everyone present showed a certain kind of complicated expression.Because this is an allusion originating from an allusion in the city of Chang'an when Liang Gong was alive; it is also the source and material of recreating stories that have been enduring for the people of the market since later generations.

It is rumored that there were unruly people in the court who took Taixing emperor east to recuperate from his illness; they suddenly attacked the residence of Duke Liang who was left behind, and tried to rob the two palaces of the emperor and the emperor who lived in Nannei and Beinei.Because of the menacing rebellion, the entire city of Chang'an fell almost instantly, and even Liang's mansion was nearly razed to the ground.

At this time, the martial arts, the scholars and students of Beijing University, and the teachers of the city/management who had disappeared in the turmoil suddenly appeared near the center where the rebel party was entrenched, and attacked them in one fell swoop. Exterminate and behead it.As a result, all the rebels in the city were leaderless, and fell into panic and chaos.

Therefore, in the end, under the siege of the new government soldiers summoned from the four fields of Gyeonggi; the rebel party who initiated the rebellion had almost nowhere to escape; Crowds of people's heads fell to the ground and their homes were cut off.And this story is also called "Shenfu Raiders".

"That's right. At the beginning, some people guessed that these aisles and culverts were one of the former sites where Duke Liang left behind to hide soldiers underground."

The informant, Aguan, wrote lightly: It was as if he was familiar with someone who had repeated it countless times.

And in this high and wide aisle, after only a dozen or so steps away from a corner, there is a partition space like a warehouse full of various sundries.As the secret door pressed against the partition with heavy objects opened, there was a heat wave and clamor immediately.

The next moment appeared in front of them, it was a crowded and narrow underground street.One side is densely packed and uneven, with bamboo and wood frames, rags, straw and other messy building materials, all the shacks, shabby houses and simple shops built against the wall; on the other side is the aisle full of sewage and garbage.

And on the so-called street walls, there are even ghostly symbols, painted with colorful characters and layers of colored paintings; and various large and small wooden signs and banners are hung on nails, which seem to be messy and decadent. And beautiful inexplicable meaning.

With the continuous transpiration during the period, the smoke and mist that cannot be dispersed are mixed with all kinds of smoky smells; all kinds of scenes of rubbing shoulders and crowds seem to be similar to those in the city square on the ground. There is not much difference in the open-air market.

And the ubiquitous dim or blazing lights, as well as the various lamps in the hands of those ragged pedestrians, make people feel a little bit more at this moment. It's just the illusion of entering a backstreet of a night market.

Jiang Tian even saw behind the curtains of some shacks, the looming white arms and thighs soliciting business, and the seductive faces covered with heavy makeup.And a thick man in short clothes with his breasts exposed and his belly exposed, stumbled drunkenly out of it, smelling of bad-quality makeup and alcohol;

And in other cages where chickens and dogs bark, the blackened chopping boards are stacked.On the other hand, there are shopkeepers who swiftly kill chickens and fish, cut up meat, and finally turn it into a sizzling cooking stove on the side, cooking and frying, full of fishy and dry food dishes.

"Could it be that everyone who enters the ghost market has to spend so much trouble?"

However, at this moment, Murong Wu suddenly stopped and asked:
"Not really, it's just that it's not a regular opening day; officials want to directly enter the ghost market without attracting attention, saving a lot of trouble; they have to go through such a special experience."

The informant Aguan also quickly explained:

"Then what happened to them?"

Frowning, Chen Wentai, deputy of the Jinwu team, asked at the same time:

"Naturally, most of them are poor people who can't see the light because of other reasons or unavoidable difficulties in daily life. Therefore, they can only gather in these dark and narrow underground tunnels, thinking that they are making a living. Therefore, they can't see the light of day. It doesn't matter day or night, because everyone is like a ghost that hides by day and comes out at night."

The informant Aguan said truthfully:
"So, the ghost market has arrived?"

Zhang Wusheng, the fire chief of Jinwu, said impatiently:

"To tell you the truth, this place is naturally also where the rumored ghost market (periphery) is located, but it is not the ghost market (core) that Mr. Wang expected."

The informant Aguan laughed and said:
Jiang Tian heard the words, but nodded slightly in his heart.Obviously, here is the unique ecology and gray system of the underground world composed of a large number of fugitive slaves, refugees, Fanren and other black households, as well as desperadoes, wanted criminals, gang members, smuggling gangs, and dens for selling stolen goods.

Therefore, Jingzhao Mansion and Chang'an and Wannian counties in the past dynasties can certainly attack and ban these underground places one after another; After the limelight will be revived.

So, under the guidance of the informant Aguan, Jiang Tian and his party continued to move forward; at this time, the mark left by Liu Niang, who is a senior spy, is actually not very useful.Because Jiang Tian saw it with his own eyes, there are people scribbling and scribbling on the wall all the time.

After passing through several intersections in a row, which were obviously extending in all directions; the crowded flow of people gradually became thinner, and the environment such as the ground and walls where the sewage flowed across became clean and tidy.There was even a faint sound of silk and bamboo playing in the air; even unknown songs lingering in it.

It's like attracting visitors from all directions and in the pipeline network passage; they all gather in a large underground space that is quite open.The ground suddenly sank down, and it appeared that the upper part was empty; many outlets of the pipe network with gurgling water flowed into it at random heights.

But Jiang Tian stood at one of the exits, but looked at this scene with a little amazement; it turned out to be a hollow similar to a subsidence, and it looked like an ancient underground palace.And the messy buildings of various colors lit up on the four walls, along the winding and winding stairway, finally converged at the quite spacious bottom.

Jiang Tian thought that the so-called ghost market should not be sneaky groups of three or four, wandering the streets in black clothes with long pockets and covering their heads and faces, secretly conducting private transactions; or else, holding special tokens, Enter a certain building, hide your head and cover your face for some kind of auction?

But in fact, with the informant Aguan in front, he is very familiar with leading the way down the stairs.Among the stalls, peddlers, and shops that obviously violated the rules and regulations along the way, there were people who kept greeting, teasing, and yelling at him.In this way, I came to the bottom with the "greetings" to the informant Aguan and female relatives within several generations.

Just looking at the similar, similar small city squares and neighborhoods in front of them, everyone can't help but feel a little stunned and strange.

"What kind of scene do you think the ghost market is like?"

Then Aguan seemed to have noticed this change in mood, and immediately explained humbly:
"If you want to say that the original origin of this ghost market is nothing more than a variety of people who can't show their faces outside, they communicate with each other; after a long time, it is inevitable that there will be some dirty and disputes. Only when there are rules, there will be Order, to make everyone's business easier."

Jiang Tian couldn't help but understand in his heart, if there are all black shops here that do no business, or specialize in defrauding customers; then how can this kind of underground market be maintained for a long time?Since it has been able to survive the blows of the past generations and has been tenaciously maintained until now; then the basic market demand and supply chain should also reach a dynamic balance that complements each other.

At this time, someone finally stood up to stop them, but it was a few strong men in gray shirts and blue hips wearing half masks.Immediately, in front of some kind of certificate presented by the online person Aguan, he backed down again; and quite politely handed over a few lanterns with different colored patterns.

And after entering the lower level, this real ghost market area, the informant Aguan also seemed to be slowly letting go, with a cautious and restrained posture, but he said in a humble and uplifting voice:
"To tell you the truth, sir, it is not for nothing that this ghost city claims to have everything."

"All the food, clothing, housing and transportation, the buildings, the courtyards, the restaurants and the teahouses are naturally small but well-equipped."

"Not to mention the things on the ground, most of them can be supplied here, even if there are no things on the ground, you can find them here."

"Of course, the price is slightly higher than the normal market price; if it is a unique and rare item, I am afraid that the highest price will get it?"

"Naturally, most of them are fraudulent and fooling around; you must have a good pair of tricks, or a means to identify the authenticity, otherwise you will be deceived if you are deceived, and you will not be able to report to the official."

Having said that, he even made a self-righteous joke before continuing;
"Don't dare to hide it, the little ones naturally have some livelihood in this ghost city. If you don't dislike it, you can go and sit for a while."

"The business in this ghost market is naturally divided into three, six, and nine grades; the lowest among them are these peddlers; selling some melons, fruits and refreshments is just a superficial business, and they are secretly peddling some stolen goods for others. .”

"Secondly, there are street stalls on the side of the road. You need to pay some money to occupy a place; the things you sell are the most miscellaneous and messy; you can open the parcels by spreading them out, and there are occasional thefts and fights among each other."

"Those who can build a shed or push a cart on the spot have to pay a little more than them. They not only do the business of drinking wine, selling food, but also selling news and other miscellaneous things among the guests."

"As for those who can occupy a place and build shops and buildings, they have backgrounds and origins; their business is the same as on the ground; but the things they sell are much rarer. .”

"But no matter how you say it, gold, silver, money, tickets and precious coins are all used here. Treasures, jewels, calligraphy, paintings and antiques can also be sold here. It's just that according to the market at the right time, there must be different discount prices."

"If there are some things you can't ask for, there are also some quality shops and mansion shops, which can be found for you (rewards). As long as you can get the price, it is enough to drive it."

"Then what do you think it's like to be the owner of this ghost city?"

Jiang Tian, ​​who had been listening to the smile without saying a word, suddenly opened his mouth and said;
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(End of this chapter)