The sky is gray and fine snow is falling.
Chengdu Prefecture in the distance seems to be covered by plain gauze, with only black and white remaining between the sky and the earth, giving it a unique charm.
Outside the city Official Road, there is mud.
Although the New Year is approaching, Official Road leading to Chengdu Prefecture is still busy, with both nearby people and businessmen coming and going.
The wooden wheels squeaked and got stuck in mud puddles from time to time.
The car body is covered in mud and doesn't look good, but it's actually a high-end product and costs a lot of money.
The reason is simple, it is wrapped with iron hoops.
For this kind of wheel, a huge iron hoop is made, and a wooden wheel is embedded in it after it is heated red, and then it is completely fixed after cooling.
Even if the journey is long, there is no need to worry about the wheels falling apart in the middle.
Even so, the iron hoop is full of rust and will not last long if it is not replaced next year.
There were fans of mutton in the car.
People in Sichuan like to eat mutton and must eat it in winter.
Ordinary people naturally don't have this ability, but the huge Chengdu Prefecture, where wealthy businessmen and dignitaries gather, can easily sell a cart of mutton.
"Gr. Laozi, this damn weather..."
He took off his bamboo hat and shook off the snow and complained to the side, "It's been so many years since it snowed so heavily in Sichuan. Isn't there going to be a problem next year?"
As he spoke, he glanced calmly.
On the one hand, he complained, and on the other hand, he also talked to me.
Next to him, there was a group of people from Li Yan.
He came from Wanchun County, and met these people on the road. The road was difficult in winter, and he was afraid of encountering hungry wild animals coming down the mountain, so he made an appointment to go together.
These people, at first glance, are not ordinary people.
The handlebar type is Chengdu Prefecture Huaiqing Carriage Guild, an old man who can be considered a charlatan. He chatted casually and wanted to find out the details.
Wang Dao Xuan Hearing this, he stroked his beard and looked at the sky. He nodded with a solemn expression and said, "The climate has indeed changed. Last year I discovered that it was colder than in previous years. I didn't expect it to be even colder this year..."
Li Yan next to him was thoughtful when he heard it.
He vaguely remembered that at this time in his previous life, there was a period of Little Ice Age, which caused turmoil in the dynasty and caused endless disasters.
Could it be that the Human Path revolution is also related to this...
Ah oh~ah oh~
Suddenly a donkey's head stuck out from the side. One eye was straight and the other was sideways. It was the stupid donkey adopted by Li Yan.
It's hard to say anything else about this idiot, but he's just lucky.
The team was separated before, and Sha LiFei and the others took him to Guan County, where he was fostered in a horse and carriage shop. Perhaps he was too ugly, and no one paid attention to him after the accident.
After coming down from the mountain, Li Yan personally went to Guan County to bring this stupid donkey out. After all, he had developed a relationship and couldn't just leave it alone.
He casually patted the donkey's head, Li Yan looked at the tea stall on the roadside in the distance, narrowed his eyes slightly, turned his head and clasped his fists and said, "Uncle Liu, I'm going to have a sip of hot tea later, let's not leave here."
The handlebar type was stunned for a moment, a little strange.
It's not far from Chengdu Prefecture. There is nothing to eat or drink after entering the city. These few don't look like poor people... I'm afraid something is wrong.
Of course, he didn't have much time to ask, so he could only say, "I am at the Huaiqing Carriage Guild, and I am familiar with Chengdu Prefecture. If you can find it useful, you can always come to me."
"See you later."
"See you later."
Watching the motorcade leave, Li Yan winked and led a few people to the tea stall.
The tea stall was not big, just a pavilion set up with patched rags. There were a few square wooden tables inside, and the teapot was steaming on the small stove.
The weather is cold, so naturally there won't be many guests.
There was only one table in front of which sat a middle-aged man, dressed in black, with a bamboo hat covering his face.
Seeing that there were no pedestrians on the road, Li Yan directly placed Severing Dust Blade on the table, sat opposite him, and said in a deep voice, "Brother, how are you in the city?"
The man opposite looked up, it was Hou Xuan who was escaping from Guan County.
He was now unshaven and his face was full of exhaustion, and he said, "Young Hero Li Don't worry, the tea stall belongs to my brother."
This person is a local tycoon in Guan County. He first joined a gang, then started doing business, and accumulated a lot of wealth.
To be honest, Li Yan doesn't want to deal with these people.
Those who live in rivers and lakes and can start from the local area are definitely not a good type.
However, this Hou Xuan was very loyal. In order to help them, he was implicated and almost lost his family.
Li Yan has a clear grudge, so naturally he can't leave it alone, so he agreed to help this person find another chance.
Although Guan County encountered a strong enemy, the clues of Erlang Zhenjun still need to be pursued, so Li Yan asked Hou Xuan to come to Chengdu first to find out the news.
Unfortunately, they didn't gain much.
The reincarnation of Erlang Zhenjun did not stay in Guan County for a long time. We only found out that the other party's name was Yang Chenghua. After the death of his adoptive mother, he left completely.
The only person who knew the inside story, Taoist Lu, has also died.
There is no other way, they can only go to Chengdu Prefecture.
"Chengdu Prefecture There is not much noise."
Upon hearing Li Yan's inquiry, Hou Xuan said in a deep voice, "Our affairs at Guan County seem to have been deliberately covered up and no big noise was made."
"I found Brother Wang at Shunyuan Escort Agency and asked him to send someone to inquire. Neither the Chengdu Prefecture Yamen nor the city guards have received orders to arrest us..."
Li Yan thought thoughtfully, "How is Shu King Residence doing now?"
Hou Xuan looked around and whispered, "Since my son was shot dead in the street and King of Shu made a big fuss in the government office, he returned to Shu King Residence and stopped going out."
"The rumor coming from Shu King Residence is that King of Shu is bedridden and has even vomited blood. I'm afraid he won't be able to survive this year."
"Shu King Residence's Prince have started to move around, sending people one after another to curry favor with the imperial censor and want to ventilate the news to the capital. It's probably because they can't take care of us..."
"That's it."
Li Yan thought for a moment, "Brother Hou, what are your plans?"
What he asked was naturally about the other party's future plans.
Hou Xuan sighed after hearing this, with some confusion in his eyes, "Before I came out, I brought a group of brothers with me. I don't have much, but they have followed me through life and death, and they have to give me a home."
"Brother Wang wants me to be a escort with him, but my brothers are average in martial arts, so I'm afraid they won't be able to make a living in this profession."
"Chengdu Prefecture Dragons and snakes are mixed together. It's difficult for me as an outsider to enter. Now they are all in the carriage shop and visited several docks. No one has come to trouble me yet."
This is the helplessness of being in the world.
If you can't take root, you can only wander around.
Li Yan thought for a moment and took out a banknote from his pocket.
"Young Hero Li What is this!"
Hou Xuan frowned and stopped him quickly, "My surname is Hou. I don't have much ability, but I have never regretted my loyalty to the world. Moreover, I brought money with me when I came out, so I don't have to worry about food and drink."
"Brother Hou misunderstood."
Li Yan smiled and said, "I want to build a temple near Chengdu next year, and it will be close to the river, but it is very troublesome to find craftsmen. Since Brother Hou is idle, why not help me prepare for this first."
"It's easy to say, there's nothing wrong with you."
Hou Xuan then nodded in agreement, but after taking the banknote, he was suddenly surprised, "Ten thousand taels!"
Ten thousand taels may not buy many Spiritual Material in Xuanmen, but if it is used among the people, even if the price increases, it can do a lot of things.
It is more than enough to build a small temple.
"This is just an upfront deposit."
Li Yan nodded and said, "I have some things to do after I enter the city. Brother Hou can help find someone first. The price is easy to negotiate, and the craftsmanship cannot be bad. I can ask Brother Wang to help me find a Xuanmen craftsman."
"One thousand taels of it is your reward."
Seeing that Hou Xuan was about to refuse, Li Yan shook his head again and said, "If Brother Hou doesn't accept it, I'm afraid that people will point out my back, and there will be trouble in the future."
"That's fine."
Hou Xuan hesitated for a moment and put the banknote in his arms.
He could already tell that Li Yan was ready to help him.
After collecting the banknote, Hou Xuan asked again, "Young Hero Li, what are your plans after entering the city?"
"Shu King Residence, Ghost Opera Troupe..."
Li Yan said two words casually, and then said in a deep voice, "What we do is indispensable for bloodshed. Brother Hou must not participate in it to avoid being implicated. Let's also tell Brother Wang."
"I will find you when it is safe."
Hou Xuan was startled, and a chill rose up his back. He said no more, stood up and clasped his fists, saying, "That's fine, you must be careful."
After saying that, he nodded to the old man setting up the stall, put on his bamboo hat, got up and walked away.
He knew that Li Yan would definitely not let him know where he was going.
"Let's go too."
After he left, Li Yan also took people away from the tea stall.
They came from the west. When they arrived at the west gate of Chengdu Prefecture, it was already past noon and there were not many people lining up at the gate.
However, I saw that the city gate was towering and the upper gate had carved beams and painted buildings. Although it had been eroded by the years, it still showed its former glory.
After all, it is a big city, and the soldiers at the city gate are also energetic, wearing armor and holding guns, and carrying muskets behind them.
Against the wind and snow, it is like a rock in front of the door.
Li Yan and others looked too eye-catching, and before they even got close, the city defenders were staring at them.
Li Yan There are several people, but their faces don't change.
Li Yan already explained this matter on the way.
On Qingcheng Mountain, he took over the Cheng family's errand and went to Chengdu Prefecture to protect the Cheng family's favorite Fifth Prince so that he could take over smoothly.
This may be overt or covert.
Li Yan knew that it was the Cheng family who really planned the plan, and they were just a front.
If you are stopped, it doesn't matter if you reveal your identity.
However, the strange thing is that when the soldiers guarding the city saw them, they were wary but did not step forward to stop them for questioning.
Li Yan and others were a little confused, but they immediately understood it after entering the city.
Because of the trampling of pedestrians and the melting of snow, the streets of Chengdu Prefecture looked a little muddy, but not deserted, and there was a lot of noise.
But you can see that there are rows of shops on both sides, including clothing stores, grain and oil stores, teahouses, and restaurants.
As the New Year approaches, business becomes even more booming.
People were walking in a hurry on the street, either stopping to buy new year goods or carrying charcoal and wild goods for sale, and the sound of Sichuan was noisy.
What caught everyone's attention even more was that there were quite a few people in the world.
Outside the tea house and restaurant, a ragged East Traveling Beggars was playing Money Clapper and singing Lian Hua Luo.
Through the window, you can see your grandfather and grandson singing Yugu Storytelling.
Chengdu Prefecture It is very lively during the Chinese New Year, and the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is even more famous throughout the world.
It is not surprising that artists from all over the world gather at this time.
But there are also many warlocks mixed in among them.
An old man with a monkey on his shoulders...
There are five big and three thick monks holding Convenience Shovel...
There is even Black Clothed Man carrying a musket...
Li Yan and Sha LiFei glanced at each other.
Although the court has issued gun licenses, there are not many of them that you can get, and most of them are hidden.
For example, Divine Firearm is placed in the luggage.
To be so blatant, he must be a disciple of a major sect.
Regardless of whether they are martial arts practitioners or sorcerers, although there are many of them, in a big city like Chengdu Prefecture, they seem to be few and far between.
I just entered the city and met so many...
Something must have happened in the city.
"Go to the Prince mansion first."
Li Yan thoughtfully turned around and entered the alley with everyone.
There were obviously fewer people in the alley.
This is Xicheng, where ordinary people live. Almost every household is busy cleaning the house and making bacon.
Naughty boys were playing in the alley, burying cheap firecrackers in the snow. They exploded with a ping-pong sound and the snow splashed everywhere.
It's not the New Year yet, but it already has the flavor of the New Year.
Li Yan and the others lowered their bamboo hats and quickly shuttled through the alleys. They asked a few vigilant people along the way and quickly headed south of the city...
The layout of Chengdu Prefecture is an oval overall.
When Daxuan destroyed Daxing, Chengdu Prefecture was also a battlefield. A hundred years ago, it was renovated and the city wall was expanded. Four gates were opened in the east, west, south, and north, and urns were built in each city.
The famous Shu King Residence occupies the center position.
It has a circumference of five miles and a height of four feet. The outer ring is Xiao Wall and the circumference is nine miles. It can be described as magnificent. Therefore, within Chengdu Prefecture, a triple city structure of inner, middle and outer is formed.
Chengdu South City has many temples and temples.
Not only are there Wenjing Palace, Horse King Temple, City God Temple, but even Chengdu Prefecture is here, and there is also the famous Qingyang Palace outside the city.
Naturally, dignitaries and dignitaries gathered here.
South City Deep in an alley, there is a large house surrounded by bamboo forests, set against the snow, with a tall gate tower and red lanterns hanging on it.
This place is Fifth Prince Mansion.
The imperial court has strict requirements for the specifications of Prince.
For example, the front gatehouse has three rooms and five bays, the middle gatehouse has one room and five bays, and the front hall has five bays and seven bays...
From height to specifications, nothing can be exceeded.
Speaking of which, the area is not large.
Especially in recent years, as the imperial court has promoted the status of merchants and lifted some restrictions, many people have spent heavily on building luxury houses.
Prince Mansion looks much shabby compared to it.
There is no way, this is the rule of the court.
You can turn a blind eye to businessmen, but the children of the royal family are watched by many people, and if they go out of line, someone will impeach them.
After all, there are many officials who are willing to be beaten for promotion.
Even so, this treatment is not available to everyone.
Fifth Prince was smart and eager to learn when he was young, and his mother was from the Cheng family and had little to do with other people. For the sake of the Cheng family's reputation, Fifth Prince was able to leave Shu King Residence.
Living in this secluded place, I usually keep a low profile.
"Who?!"
Li Yan Before the group of people got close, a man emerged from the bamboo forest. He was wearing green clothes, his temples were slightly bulging, and his face was dark and solemn.
At first glance, he looks like a practicing master.
Li Yan took out the Cheng family warrant given by Ming Shanzi from his arms and said calmly, "Excuse me, please give this to Fifth Prince, he will know about it."
"Oh?"
Seeing the word "Cheng" on the token, the man narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more, but nodded and said, "Okay, please wait a moment, don't run around."
After saying that, he turned around and entered the Prince mansion.
"Yan XiaoGe, something is wrong."
Sha LiFei came closer and whispered.
Li Yan also nodded and curled his lips, "The Cheng family is not honest, I'm afraid someone wants to steal the business..."