Fu Shifeng

Chapter 45
Cars and horses travel all the way to the southeast, passing through Huating, entering Longzhou, passing through Yongqi, and the imperial capital Chang'an is within easy reach.

As an important place in the capital city of Daxia and the first good area, before reaching Chang'an, the prosperity and prosperity can't wait to come into view.

The townships under the jurisdiction of Gyeonggi-do are densely populated, far surpassing the Western Regions, and there are many inns and restaurants along the roads, so that business travelers do not need to find post houses to settle down.There is plenty of wine and food in the shop, and the shopkeepers will take the initiative to warmly invite any passerby who sees luxurious clothes and exquisite carriages.

If you get tired of walking, these inns also rent donkeys and horses, which travel tens of miles, which the locals call "post donkeys".

"I don't understand." Cheng Sanwu was riding on horseback, holding a freshly baked hot mustard pancake in his hand, and asked as he gnawed, "Aren't these shops afraid that the post donkey will be taken away?"

Changqing pointed to a donkey rider on the side of the road: "Did you see it? There is a brand on the buttocks and back of the post donkey, and others can recognize which one belongs to it at a glance."

Cheng Sanwu retorted and asked, "What if I take the donkey away and secretly kill it for meat?"

"Do you think that other people are like you, who know how to eat and drink when they are full of brains?" Changqing smiled helplessly: "Besides, this is the suburb of Chang'an, and the government has enough people to catch thieves, but it's not like the Western Regions. If you enter the desert and barren mountains, you will see no one."

"That's not likely." Cheng Sanwu said in a low voice, and then stuffed the remaining biscuits into his mouth.

Changqing rode alongside him on horseback, so he could hear clearly, and couldn't help but think of Cheng Sanwu's past, maybe he fled west along this road back then.

You know, there are sixteen guards stationed in Chang'an, Ma Tun, and there are many high-ranking people who are either overt or covert.And Sun Shaoren, who was killed by Cheng Sanwu back then, served as General Youwuwei, so the person responsible for chasing down Cheng Sanwu would probably not be the bad guys from the Jingzhao Mansion who hunted down thieves, but the elite cavalry of the imperial army. Fortunately, there are Buddhist and Taoist experts accompanying him.

Changqing had been studying the art of war with his teacher for a long time, and he couldn't imagine how Cheng Sanwu would have escaped from the siege and interception of the imperial army back then. Even if Master Lu intervened secretly, the transmission of news was always delayed.If it were Changqing himself, he would have been trampled into flesh by iron hooves.

But Chang Qing thought about it, Great Xia has been in peace for many years, not to mention the frontiers of the Western Regions, at least from Gyeonggi-do to the Luobian area, this heartland can be said to have smooth roads, there are no thieves and thieves, and business travelers go far without holding a knife Travel has been regarded as common.

And at this moment, not far ahead, there happened to be a group of young knights with bows and swords and light fur and fat horses. They were dressed more because they admired the chivalrous style, and they didn't really want to fight bandits and monsters around Chang'an.

Changqing looked at the group of weak crowned men riding tall horses. They also had a bit of martial arts skills, chatting and joking, discussing which manor to go to enjoy, and they were followed by guards, obviously from high-ranking families.

These people wandered around the capital, without any troubles or worries. Wu Maocai, who was similar in age to them, was already going to rush around in the Western Regions and commit dangers, and eventually died in the desert.The difference in family background is really like a moat.

"You have been with Su Wangting for so many years, but you can't even understand such a simple matter?" Afu suddenly said.

The chariots and horses from the Ministry of Internal Affairs walked in front, and Afu sat in the vermilion-covered car, opened the curtains, and watched the autumn scenery of the mountains and rivers along the way. She took off her embroidered shoes and sat reclining on a table, which was very charming.

Afu obviously said this to Cheng Sanwu. He took the initiative to drive closer and asked, "What? Don't you know this too? You didn't see it."

"What's so difficult about it." Afu twirled her fingers around the edge of the teacup on the table: "As long as these shops have the same owner behind them, wouldn't it be fine?"

Cheng Sanwu was taken aback: "But we walked for dozens of miles today, and there are hundreds of restaurants and inns on both sides of the road. It is impossible for them to all have the same owner, right?"

Afu smiled without saying a word, Su Wangting also rode close to him, and asked, "Could it be...these shops along the way are all under the name of Jingzhao Webster?"

"It's not just Webster's, Du's also has a lot of property here. Of course, they may not manage it themselves, and some of them are wealthy businessmen helping them." Afu said: "The western suburbs of Chang'an are the only way to communicate with the Western Regions. Every time there is a curfew, those business travelers who are too late to enter the city will settle in the western suburbs."

Su Wangting presided over the Baochang Society, and sent goods to Chang'an, so he naturally knew about it, but he didn't think much about it in the past, and now he saw that the shops and inns stretching for dozens of miles belonged to one or two people in Chang'an. The family is a noble family, and the heart is still greatly shocked.

In comparison, although I have earned a large amount of property in Quzhi City, it is far inferior to what I have seen along the way.

"Wedu in the south of the city, go to Tianchiwu." Changqing's tone was slightly disdainful: "The western suburbs of Chang'an are nothing. The southern suburbs go all the way to the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. There are endless manors and mansions. The Du family. Even His Majesty the current Emperor goes out of the city to escape the summer heat, and occasionally visits the manors of their two families."

Su Wangting knew that Changqing didn't like the rich and powerful, so it was difficult to have good words for these aristocratic families, but since this place is close to Chang'an, some things should not be said in public.

"What do you mean by 'go to Tianchiwu'?" Cheng Sanwu asked Changqing curiously.

"It's nothing more than the fact that these two families have many children, they are widely involved in government affairs, and their power is so powerful." Changqing asked back: "Otherwise, what do you think it means?"

Cheng Sanwu twitched his beard around his mouth: "I was thinking, they are almost touching the sky, maybe they are stepping on something?"

"What kind of weird talk are you talking about?" Changqing asked with a smile: "Then tell me, what are they stepping on?"

"Then who knows?" Cheng Sanwu shrugged, "I'm afraid you're not stepping on someone else's grave?"

Changqing originally wanted to refute, laughing and scolding Cheng Sanwu for his whimsy, but then he thought about it, the Weidu family is so powerful and rich, isn't it also enslaving thousands of tenants and servants, like stepping on a graveyard made of countless people's bones to achieve success? Wealthy and wealthy?
Chang Qing understood immediately, raised his eyes to scan, and suddenly saw Afu and Su Wangting staring at Cheng Sanwu with thoughtful eyes.

On the other hand, Cheng Sanwu himself scratched his belly and looked around: "No, the cake just now didn't have any oil flakes, I want to eat a pig's trotter, I can smell it!"

Cheng Sanwu ignored the gazes of several people, and slipped to the side of the road on a big bay red horse, looking for food on his own.

When Changqing felt helpless, those Changan Xiashao who had just seen pulled their horses closer and came to the side of the Qinggai car.The leading man has eyebrows flying into his temples, his face is like powder, he is wearing a royal blue round-necked brocade robe with round flowers, a gold sword wrapped around his waist, the head of the sword is inlaid with agate, and there is a beautiful sachet hanging on his belt, and the fragrance of Lanzhi is rippling. Come, it shows the extravagance.

Qin Wangshu was on guard all the time. Seeing this situation, she whipped her horse and rushed over, crowded beside the blue-covered cart first, blocking the blue-robed man.

"My lady doesn't like to interact with outsiders, so hurry up and get out of the way!" Qin Wangshu scolded coldly, if Afu hadn't asked in advance to keep a low profile on the way back to Beijing, she would have immediately revealed her identity as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and beat all these idlers turn.

The man in the blue robe kept a smile on his face, but behind him was an ape-armed attendant approaching, pressing his hand on the hilt beside the saddle, accumulating strength, and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Du's father is Yushi Zhongcheng, talking to your miss It's an insult to someone."

Qin Wangshu raised his brows upside down, and was about to teach him a lesson, when Afu said softly, "Wangshu, don't mess around, this Mr. Du must have no malicious intentions."

"Yes." Qin Wangshu stepped aside reluctantly.

Hearing Afu's soft tone, the young man in blue robe felt half of his body crumble.Looking at her innocent yet somewhat charming face, she leans against a small table to show off her figure, the cloth of the pair of skirts falls slightly, revealing a large area of ​​smooth snow below the neck of the goose, as well as a seductive ravine looming, shaking People can't move their eyes.As well as the overlapping legs under the skirt, and a pair of orange-red jade feet showing a bit of white, one can't wait to get into the green-covered car immediately, hold it up and taste it.

"Young Master, Young Master?" Afu called softly, and the blue-robed young man swallowed a large mouthful of saliva with a grunt in his throat. Come to see me. Haven't asked Miss Fang's name yet?"

"My concubine doesn't have a proper name, so you can just call me Afu." Afu leaned against the car, showing a girlish demeanor.

Seeing this, Changqing frowned slightly. Afu is the embroidered messenger of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and her intentions are unpredictable, so there is no need to worry about her.But that Du Jianzhang, obviously relying on Jingzhao Du's family background, came to molested women, in Changqing's eyes, he was ugly.

Su Wangting also didn't say a word. He knew very well that only Afu was playing tricks on others, and there was absolutely no possibility of others playing tricks on Afu. This Mr. Du was afraid that bad luck would happen if he ran into Afu.

"Did Afu come to Chang'an to visit friends or relatives?" Du Jianzhang saw that Afu had brown hair and blue eyes, and she was an obvious barbarian. Cars are rare, presumably they are not the family members of ordinary businessmen.

"I'm here to visit relatives." Afu frowned slightly, showing a trace of sadness, which made me sigh with pity: "My concubine's parents passed away, and I have no place to stay in my hometown, so I can only come to Chang'an to join a distant relative .”

Du Jianzhang nodded slightly, nothing could be seen on his face, but his lust was very hot at the moment. This kind of lonely and helpless rich girl was the most suitable to attack. If it doesn't work, I will stuff her into an outhouse of my own and raise her up without anyone noticing, even my father doesn't know.

With his mind set, Du Jianzhang said: "Miss Afu doesn't know something. Now that Chang'an has strict rules, Jingzhao Mansion is investigating travel violations everywhere. I'm afraid your green-covered car won't even be able to enter the city gate."

"Then, what should I do with that concubine?" Afurou was weak and at a loss.

"Miss Afu, don't worry." Du Jianzhang hoped to climb into the car immediately, and hugged this beautiful orchid in his arms. He suppressed his desire and said, "Xiaosheng has a manor in the south of the city. Miss Afu might as well go and settle down first. Hou Xiaosheng sent someone to inquire about the news for the girl, and when he finds the girl's relatives, he must inform her immediately, how about it?"

Afu pursed her lips in thought, and Du Jianzhang was about to persuade her again when she suddenly shouted, "Hey! What are you doing?!"

Everyone looked back, and saw Cheng Sanwu coming on a big bay red horse, holding a pig's trotter in his hand.The pig's trotters are steamed so that the skin and meat are smooth, and then poured with black bean sauce and garlic, wrapped in lotus leaves, it has a very different flavor from mutton.Although it was not the food of the upper class, Cheng Sanwu still ate it with greasiness and relish.

"Send the idlers away!" Du Jianzhang turned around and said casually, and the ape-armed attendant stepped forward and put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"What are you doing?" Cheng Sanwu glanced at him: "You are not official servants, why do you want me to get out of the way?"

Seeing a flash of blue light, the pig's trotter in Cheng Sanwu's hand snapped in two, and the blade almost brushed his fingers.

The long sword was back in its sheath, and the ape-arm follower asked with a straight face: "See clearly?"

Cheng Sanwu looked down at the half pig's trotter that fell on the ground, immediately got off the horse and picked it up, blew off the dust and mud on it, ate it as it was, and said vaguely: "I hate the guy who doesn't let me eat and drink well."

Changqing had already figured out Cheng Sanwu's temperament and knew that the situation was not good, so he secretly took precautions.At the side, Su Wangting persuaded, "Old Cheng, don't use the knife."

"Understood!" Cheng Sanwu threw the gnawed bones at the ape-armed follower, who frowned angrily, and drew his sword like lightning to block the bone.

"Are you deliberately provoking trouble?" The ape-arm follower got impatient, dismounted and cupped his hands: "Ziwu Sword, Lin Shaoying, please recruit!"

"Yo ho?" Cheng Sanwu felt novelty: "Is this... a martial arts competition?"

"If you are afraid, back away quickly, don't ask yourself to be humiliated!" Lin Shaoying said in a deep voice.

Cheng Sanwu nodded, and also cupped his hands: "I am... Idle in Jianghu, Cheng Sanwu, come on."

Seeing this, everyone moved away one after another, leaving a place for the contest.At this time, many passers-by heard the movement and gathered around to watch, which shows the martial arts atmosphere of Great Xia.

"You won't draw the knife?" Lin Shaoying saw the knife hanging on the other side's waist.

"Do you want to fight?" Cheng Sanwu asked back.

Lin Shaoying's complexion darkened, feeling the humiliation immediately, she immediately stepped forward and nodded with a sword.

Ziwu Sword is a sword school that originated from Ziwu Valley in the Qinling Mountains.

Seeing the point of the sword reaching the top, Cheng Sanwu turned sideways to avoid it, the point of the sword swept down from his nose, turned around suddenly near the neck, and wiped his throat, which showed the strength and ingenious turning.

But I didn't see Cheng Sanwu making a big move, he stepped a little, and slid back, avoiding the killer move of wiping his throat.

"Wow, so ruthless?" Cheng Sanwu said, "Is that how Zhongyuan beats?"

Lin Shaoying was annoyed in her heart, originally he was just planning to slash his throat to force the other party to retreat, but who would have thought that Cheng Sanwu's body speed was better, this alone already showed the gap between the two.

Knowing that this person is not easy to deal with, Lin Shaoying no longer held back her hands, raised her spirits, and leaped forward, piercing Cheng Sanwu's chest with her long sword.

However, Cheng Sanwu stomped to the side and turned back in an instant by kicking on the ground again. His figure was already in front of Lin Shaoying.

The huge force hit the vital points of the meridian, Lin Shaoying's half body was numb, her internal breath was in a mess, and the long sword was released naturally.Cheng Sanwu took advantage of the situation and stretched out his hands to grapple, urged by divine power, directly lifted Lin Shaoying over the top.

"Old Cheng!"

At this time Su Wangting opened his mouth to stop, Cheng Sanwu understood immediately, he did not throw Lin Shaoying to the ground, but threw him out with both arms.

Lin Shaoying also reacted quickly, adjusted her limbs in mid-air, and let herself roll to the ground without falling.He turned over with a gorgeous oolong twisted column, and immediately won the applause of many onlookers.

(End of this chapter)