The sun shines on the river, creating sparkling waves.
There are a lot of sails on the river, and there are green trees beside Parrot Isle.
Under a thick Old Willow tree, a white-haired old man sat cross-legged, with tattered clothes and an old fishing drum. He played lightly and slowly, and sang leisurely:
"Miluo River's side, the loyal soul remains, Qu Yuan praises the eternal life. Compose poems, Yiquanquan, worry about the country being separated from the country. It is difficult to walk alone in the world. Life is also awe-inspiring; death is also awe-inspiring..."
The old man used Mianyang dialect. The song "Sigh Qu Yuan" sang about desolation and sadness. Unfortunately, people came and went in a hurry, and only occasionally someone dropped a coin.
This place is already Hanyang Wharf.
Fishing boats floated on the river, accompanied by ancient fishing songs, fishermen cast big nets, and there were also passenger boats and boatmen shouting river chants and slowly docked.
There were even more people coming and going on the pier.
The porters were shirtless and busy carrying large bags.
There are teahouses to rest in, fish shops selling fish, and many artists who travel around the world, performing hard and earning a living.
Among the crowd, there was a man with dragon and tiger tattoos, a dog-skin plaster on his neck, a fleshy face, and an open collar exposing his chest hair. He was walking Four Directions Step as if walking sideways.
People along the way showed their kindness and gave way.
The man didn't bother to answer. He walked to a tea shed, sat down and poured tea by himself. He also took out the big cigarette stick behind him and filled it with cigarettes.
Before he could take action, a few skinny young men came next to him, with flattering expressions on their faces, blowing fire sticks and lighting cigarettes for him.
The man didn't even raise his eyes, he kept puffing out smoke. After he finished smoking a bag of cigarettes and drank a few sips of tea, he said calmly:
"Tell me everything."
Several young people quickly joined in to report:
"Back to the hall master, my subordinates just saw Lu Chuantou from the Raft Sect arriving. There was also an old man accompanying him. He didn't look good, but Lu Chuantou was very respectful to him..."
"Commandery Commandant Office's people set up an ambush in the morning and captured a merchant at the dock. I heard that it was Magistrate Xu who was in disguise..."
"Just now, a few new faces came. They spoke with Yuzhou accents, and their eyes were very fierce. They pointed their knives at us. I'm afraid they are the characters on Greenwood Path..."
"I also saw a few great monks this morning..."
Several young people carefully recounted everything that happened on the dock from morning to noon.
The man's name is Yue Xing, and he is the master of hall Hanyang City White Dragon Gang.
This White Dragon Gang belongs to a local gang with considerable influence. From the government offices to the traffickers and lackeys, everyone knows about it.
In terms of status, it is not inferior to the original Chang'an City Fire Bear Gang.
But unlike Fire Bear Gang, White Dragon Gang is relatively more sophisticated in its actions. It will not cause complaints among the people, and it can move freely among various forces. It has been in existence for decades.
After all, Hanyang is a place where fish and dragons are mixed, connecting the north and the south, Three Religions and Nine Schools gathers, and there are many dragons crossing the river.
If you don't have eyes, you may be destroyed.
White Dragon Gang has been able to exist in Hanyang for decades. It has its own abilities. Apart from anything else, its vision alone cannot be underestimated.
Several hall leaders in the gang patrol the territory every day, collect information from Wangfeng's subordinates, and then pass it on to each other.
This is a rule set by the old gang leader and has not changed for decades.
Sometimes their information is even better than those Jianghu Inns that specialize in buying and selling information.
I don't know how many times I have let White Dragon Gang survive the disaster.
As for Yue Xing, although he looks like a dragon and a tiger, he is a man who was killed in the blood of Blade Light and has already stepped into Hidden Strength.
After listening to the report from his subordinates, Yue Xing said calmly, "With the war in the southwest, the world is not at peace either."
"Some people on the rivers and lakes in western Hunan have a lot of contacts with Tusi City in Miaojiang. They have often been causing trouble in various places recently, trying to disrupt the situation."
"The gang leader said that although we don't feed the imperial court, we are still Great Xuan Dynasty's subjects. If those people cause trouble, we will inevitably be affected."
"Everyone, keep an eye on it and report it immediately if you find anything wrong!"
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Several of his subordinates quickly raised their hands and said yes.
Their movements were also seen by people in the distance.
The dock has always been a place of right and wrong. There are more than one group of people seeking information here.
White Dragon Gang This approach is also a method.
Let everything be clear and let all Over the River Dragon know that Hanyang City is a place to talk about Jianghu Rules and cannot be messed with.
The second is to shirk responsibility. After all, there are endless secret methods in the world. If something goes wrong and the court asks, you can say that you have tried your best.
Seeing his subordinates working hard, Yue Xing nodded with satisfaction.
Just as he was about to stand up, he inadvertently glanced at the river, his pupils suddenly shrank, and he slowly sat down again, lit a pack of cigarettes, and whispered in a low voice, "Here's a hot idea, take a look at your feet."
White Dragon Gang disciples quickly looked up.
There were many ships coming and going on the river, but one ship stood out very conspicuously. It had a huge hull and several levels of ship cabins above it. It was the "Tower Ship".
White Dragon Gang Although he is a land tiger and does not live on the water, after all, in a dock city, you can tell what kind of ship is at a glance.
On the Yangtze River, the most common one is "Sand Ship". The bottom is flat and you can sit on the beach without fear of being stranded. It is safer in wind and waves.
Because of their many advantages, they are widely circulated. They come in different sizes, shapes, and have different functions, from giving away people to transporting goods.
In addition, there are "Canal Boat" often used by canal Cao Gang, "Raft Ship" used by the Raft Sect, and "Tribute Ship" used by the government to transport tax money.
As for "Tower Ship", it is relatively rare.
Its cost is high, and it is even requisitioned during wars and used as a warship, which shows that it is extraordinary.
This kind of large ship can usually only be built by big merchants and powerful forces. If it is only used to transport food and goods, it would be too luxurious, so it has become a thing that only wealthy gentry and wealthy households can afford.
To put it bluntly, it is a luxury merchant ship.
The ship in front of us is particularly exquisite. Not only is the hull painted red, but even the pavilions on the ship have the Prosperity look of red buildings and yellow tiles.
The huge sail was swaying, with Nine-Headed Bird painted on it.
This kind of ostentation is not something ordinary people can afford.
As soon as White Dragon Gang disciples saw it, they knew it was E Prefecture Merchant Guild's treasure ship.
E Prefecture Merchant Guild is a behemoth, gathering wealthy businessmen from all over the state to join Open Sea Trade, and even Prince of Wu Prefecture is a member.
Whoever comes up there, they will naturally pay attention to it...
Tower Ship On the deck, Li Yan stood with his hands behind his back.
He looked up and saw that the river was wide, with hundreds of boats vying for the current. The mountains in the distance were undulating and lush, and the sky was clear and the water was clear. It was a beautiful scenery.
Compared with Yichang, this place is obviously much more prosperous.
In addition to Sha LiFei, standing beside him was a man with a goatee and a round face, wearing brocade clothes. Upon seeing this, he smiled and introduced, "Young Hero Li, we will be there soon."
"The pier in front is Parrot Isle. Since the Han River was rerouted during the Daxing Period, Hanyang and Hankou have become more prosperous."
"To the north is Hanyang and Hankou, and on the south bank is Wu Prefecture City. Because the Prince of Wu Prefecture Palace is in the city, plus the Yamen and Commandery Commandant Office, many places are prohibited from entering, so Hanyang and Hankou have more prosperous trade."
"By the way, there is Yellow Crane Tower on the south bank. Since ancient times, celebrities and elegant people have gathered together, leaving many calligraphy treasures. Decades ago, when the imperial court was building Yu King Temple, it also built Qingchuan Tower on Guishan. It faces Yellow Crane Tower across the other bank. It can be said to be a double gem."
"Young Hero Li If you have time, I'll go shopping with you."
"Thank you Patriarch Tian for your kindness."
Li Yan smiled and said, "I have other important things to do. I will leave after Daoist Wang helps you arrange the feng shui of the Yangzhai."
Coincidentally, when they left Dangyang, Guan Peide insisted on staying, held a farewell banquet, and invited many guests.
This Tian Fengchang Patriarch Tian is a Hanyang merchant and a member of the E Prefecture Merchant Guild. After hearing the deeds of several people during the dinner, he immediately asked to go with him.
First, because of the war, I was afraid that the road would be uneven.
After all, they set out from Dangyang, but they had to go through a land route, cross mountains and ridges, and then take a boat from Han River to Wuchang.
It is inevitable to encounter some dangers on the road.
It is much safer if you are accompanied by an expert.
Secondly, this Patriarch Tian made a fortune by investing in sea trade and built a large house in Hanyang City. However, because one after another people in the house fell ill, they suspected that there was something wrong with the feng shui of the Yangzhai.
Hanyang City Three Religions and Nine Schools gathers together, and there are naturally Xuanmen warlocks.
But rich people are always like this. They would rather spend more money and hire reliable people. Seeing that True Martial Palace's disciples are very respectful to Li Yan and others, they naturally think that they are experts.
So I spent a lot of money to hire them to arrange Feng Shui.
The destination of Li Yan and others' trip was Wuchang Nanbu Western Zhou Ancient Mine. Because a lot of metal Heavenly Spiritual Treasure was found there, it attracted Daoist craftsmen from all over the place to gather.
They want to find reliable craftsmen to make guns and magic weapons, so they will collect everything along the way, including Azure Dragon Mountain, Earth Dragon Bone and leather armor, all packed up.
Fortunately, I boarded this boat with Patriarch Tian, otherwise I would have to wait a few more days to find another reliable boat operator.
After all, the treasure is precious and very heavy. If something happens on the road and sinks into the river, they will be out of luck.
"Oh?"
Hearing Li Yan's rejection, Patriarch Tian said with pity in his eyes, "Young Hero Li is a little anxious, Dragon Boat Festival will be there in a few days, but it's very lively and can't be seen in other places."
Sha LiFei next to him heard it and immediately became interested, "Dragon Boat Festival and Divine Land are found everywhere. How is it different here?"
Patriarch Tian stroked his beard, his eyes full of pride, "Ezhou is Jingchu Region, so commemorating Sanlü Grand Master is naturally more grand."
"Here, the fifth day of May is called 'First Dragon Boat Festival', the fifteenth day of May is called 'Great Dragon Boat Festival', and the twenty-fifth day of May is called 'Last Dragon Boat Festival', which makes it a full twenty days!"
"There will be Dragon Boat Race, wealthy businessmen from all over the world, Jianghu sects, and even scholars from the Wenjin Academy."
"Not only that, famous opera troupes from all over the country will also gather here, from the north to the south of the Yangtze River, and they will play music all night long."
"Even brothels will hold oiran conventions, which are much more lively than the Chinese New Year!"
"More than twenty days?"
Sha LiFei was startled, and then he felt a little moved, and said, "Yan XiaoGe, how about we live in Hanyang and go to the ancient mine to find someone, it will probably take some time."
"How many of you are going to Western Zhou Ancient Mine?"
Without waiting for Li Yan to reply, Patriarch Tian was taken aback, shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "You guys are so secretive, why didn't you tell me earlier on the way?"
Li Yan frowned, "What happened?"
Patriarch Tian shook his head and said, "I heard that treasures appeared over there, many strange things happened, and people in the world fought secretly, and many people died."
"Prince of Wu Prefecture is furious. He has ordered people to seal the ancient mine, and heavily defended the surrounding areas. All the people in the world entrenched there have also been dispersed."
Li Yan was also a little surprised. After finishing Dangyang City's business, they hurriedly hurried along, just for fear of missing the opportunity. Unexpectedly, something happened.
Thinking of this, he quickly asked, "Prince of Wu Prefecture has sent troops to defend, is there a way to enter?"
Patriarch Tian was amused and said meaningfully, "Young Hero Li, we are not outsiders. Please don't talk nonsense about certain things."
"Our Prince of Wu Prefecture likes extravagance and collects all kinds of treasures. The construction of the palace did not go beyond that, but he played a trick and turned the surrounding area into a palace, occupying a small part of Wu Prefecture City."
"If you eat something in your mouth, how can you spit it out again?"
Li Yan When I heard it, I immediately understood.
Come on, it seems that this Prince of Wu Prefecture and King of Chang'an have completely different personalities, and they are not low-key at all.
Thinking of this, he felt a little helpless and said, "In that case, I will bother Patriarch Tian for a while longer."
He came here not only for the purpose of finding Xuanmen craftsmen.
This period of time has been fruitful, and it takes time to settle down. Once there is a palace in Wuchang, heavily guarded by troops, it can avoid the nuisance of war.
Secondly, the area near Wuchang Prefecture has been an important town since ancient times. There are many imperial tombs of past dynasties, including Ancient Battlefield and Mass Burial Grounds.
He cultivates <North Emperor Yin Mountain Method> and cannot do without this kind of place.
Also, making a new type of musket is, after all, a taboo thing. To find a craftsman you can trust, you must observe and interact with him for a period of time.
In this case, we simply rested in Hanyang.
"That's good!"
When Patriarch Tian heard this, he was immediately overjoyed, "Don't worry, everyone, my Tian family has some connections in Hanyang City, and I will definitely help you introduce some big jobs."
He is a businessman, and such a powerful Daoist magician is a precious resource once he lives in the house.
Apart from anything else, helping some big customers solve their problems, just by introducing a master, is just a favor.
While the three of them were talking, the ship slowly docked.
Li Yan quickly walked into the cabin and informed Lu San and Wang Dao Xuan.
Lu San doesn't like to join in the fun, so he can have enough fun just staying in the cabin and playing with the pets.
As for Wang Dao Xuan, I was reading those ancient books along the way. I kept reading during the day and continued to read at night. Even my meals were delivered to the room.
After receiving the notification from Li Yan, the two of them packed their things.
They carried quite a lot of luggage. They had a special carriage on the way, and they carefully packed it after boarding the ship. There were seven or eight boxes.
Accompanied by the boatman's shouts, Tower Ship approached the Parrot Isle dock.
Before he even got close, all kinds of noises came towards him.
This is the distribution center for goods from the north and south, with merchant ships gathering and rare goods such as silk, tea, and porcelain piled up in mountains.
The porters shouted slogans and lifted the cargo.
Businessmen bowed their hands and discussed deals.
There are also the cries of various teahouses and restaurants, mixed together, and everything you can see is prosperous and lively.
E Prefecture Merchant Guild and Tower Ship are naturally a big deal.
Before they even get close, the Porters Guild gang at the dock is waiting eagerly.
"Wait a minute, be careful!"
After some polite greetings, loading and unloading of goods began immediately.
E Prefecture Merchant Guild's Tower Ship is quite large. They are not the only ones on board, there are also merchants heading to Xiangyang and Jingzhou.
Just unloading the goods took less than half an hour.
E Prefecture Merchant Guild is quite powerful, and with the Porters Guild working, no matter West Traveling Beggars on the dock or Old Rong walking among the crowd, they all have a good eye and do not come to cause nuisance.
Most of the people on board were businessmen, but there were also officials who were on board for official business, and porters were doing their work. There were many people waiting in carriages nearby.
"Sir, you had a hard time on the road."
The old man in charge of the Tian Mansion personally led people to greet him at the pier.
"Don't be too polite."
Patriarch Tian smiled and said, "This time there are distinguished guests coming to stay. Go and call for another carriage, and then send the things to the warehouse. Have someone go back early and prepare a banquet."
"Yes, sir."
The manager of Tian Mansion quickly agreed.
Parrot Isle On the wharf, there are also large warehouses built for merchants to rent and store goods.
The Tianfu steward was very prompt and arranged the delivery of the goods in a short time. He also called a carriage to load the goods of Li Yan and others.
Afterwards, a group of people rode horses and headed towards Hanyang City.
In the tea shed at the pier in the distance, Yue Xing of White Dragon Gang remained calm, watching all the people who got on and off Tower Ship.
Li Yan and his group are naturally very conspicuous.
Yue Xing frowned slightly, as if he remembered something, and quickly took out a booklet from his arms. The ink on it was brand new, and it contained the latest information from various places in Ezhou.
On one page, the deeds of Li Yan and others in Yichang were clearly written.
"Good guy, Over the River Dragon..."
Yue Xing clicked his tongue and shook his head, putting the booklet away again.
Li Yan There is indeed something unexpected.
He is now,
No longer an unknown person...
The second one is a little later