Chapter 203

At dusk, the clouds were like brocade.

The river surface was dyed a layer of golden red, shimmering, as if countless carp were leaping.

The current Yunyang Prefecture has been under construction since the founding of the Great Xuan dynasty, and it has been a hundred years since then. It sits facing south with its back to the mountains, and the Hanjiang, Danjiang, and Du River converge here, making it a critical hub for water and land transport in the north and south.

Via the Du River, one can reach Bashu; from the Danjiang, one can enter Shangluo; and from the Hanjiang, one can reach Han Zhong upstream and Jingxiang downstream, which can be called a thoroughfare for six provinces.

Li Yan and the others came by boat from the Danjiang, and after bypassing one side, the first thing they saw was the Xihe Wharf.

On the river surface, boats of all sizes were shuttling back and forth.

There were merchant ships and passenger boats, and the boatmen on the wharf were as busy as ants. Ships were either unloading cargo or setting sail, and under the reflection of the sunset, the silhouettes on the river were chaotic, a scene of busyness.

At this moment, the boatman's drunkenness had mostly worn off, and thinking of his previous behavior, he couldn't help but feel regret in his heart.

This bald-headed man Sha Lifei was a person of the martial world who killed without blinking, and that sorcerer could cast Gu poison.

He had put his arms around them and bragged...

Drinking really does ruin things!

He didn't dare to say anything more at this moment. After reaching the shore and waiting for Li Yan and the others to walk onto the wharf, he pushed his bamboo pole and turned to run away.

After sailing several hundred meters away from the shore, he discovered a small piece of scattered silver in the boat cabin. His eyes lit up, and he hurriedly went forward to pick it up, putting it in his mouth to bite it.

Afterward, he gave a thumbs up toward the shore.

"Generous!"

…………

The layout of this Xihe Wharf in Yunyang Prefecture was very orderly, with stone platforms for cargo ships to dock and move goods, as well as stairs extending into the river for passenger boats and pedestrians to come and go.

On the stone steps, many people were waiting, either standing or lying down.

Whenever a passenger boat approached, they would stand up one after another, specifically picking those who looked wealthy, bowing and scraping as they approached.

These were all members of the city's porter guilds, whose purpose was to help people carry luggage and earn a meal, and they were also very familiar with the situation in the city.

Among them were many "Bangbang" (porters) holding sticks and speaking with a Bashu accent, whose prices were cheaper than anyone else's.

Li Yan and the others had just stepped onto the stairs, and although they felt these people were not to be trifled with, a group of them still surrounded them, competing to ask if they needed their luggage carried.

The porters could endure hardship, and one of them, speaking with a Bashu accent, said directly, "Masters, just give us a meal, and we guarantee to deliver you to your destination."

"We do things honestly. If you trust others, you might be tricked into some inn and slaughtered for a fortune..."

A local man nearby immediately widened his eyes and cursed, "You barbarians, what are you spouting? Do you know the rules!"

"Damn it, what are you shouting about!"

There were quite a few porters, and the two sides were about to start fighting if they didn't agree.

"Hey, hey, hey~ everyone, don't get angry."

Sha Lifei waved his hand hurriedly, "Our brothers have few things, we'll carry them ourselves, so we won't trouble you all."

He was an old hand in the martial world and had already discovered something wrong.

The wharf is a place where people of all walks of life have gathered since ancient times, a mix of dragons and snakes, but most of the time there is a rule.

Even if you cheat people, you have to divide up the territory.

And now, this situation clearly showed two groups of people fighting over the wharf; if they didn't agree, they might dare to start fighting directly.

"Humph!"

"You be careful!"

Hearing that there was no work, the two groups glared at each other and scattered one after another, though they left behind harsh words when they left.

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Watching these people leave, Sha Lifei said in a low voice, "It seems the situation with the Cao Gang is not good."

The wharf has always been the territory of the Cao Gang. Even if porter guilds from other places come to grab business, they wouldn't act recklessly and must divide the territory to eat under the mediation of the Cao Gang.

And now, it was like this.

This shows that the Cao Gang's control is rapidly declining.

"No need to pay attention."

Li Yan shook his head slightly, "Let's enter the city to rest first. Once Brother Lu San's arrest warrant is revoked and our Daoist certificates are handled, we will leave immediately for Yichang."

As he spoke, he led the group toward the city gate.

Their image was somewhat eye-catching and easily attracted attention.

There were bad things and good things; at least the pickpockets of the Rong family gate on the street would avoid them, and beggars wouldn't randomly come up to block them.

But the old hands in the martial world all had sharp eyes, and in the distance from the wharf to the city gate, the group had already felt many gazes fixed on them.

Li Yan was too lazy to pay attention and led the group directly into the city.

Although Yunyang Prefecture City could not compare to Chang'an, its scale was quite large, with over seventy streets and alleys. Each street intersection was equipped with a Land Chenghuangmiao, and all of them were placed with "Mount Tai Stone Dare-to-Stand" (stone tablets to ward off evil).

Shops lined both sides of the street, from grain, oil, and cloth to sundries and rouge, from the four treasures of the study to wine shops and teahouses, everything was available.

It was dusk at this moment, and the buildings in the city were high and low, standing close together. The light was dim, and every shop had already lit candles.

"Rice flower tea..."

"Sour paste noodles, three-combination soup."

On the bluestone street, crowds were coming and going, the sound of hawking along the street was constant, steam was rolling, and all kinds of aromas were hitting the nose.

Yunyang Prefecture could be considered the first special zone in the history of the Divine Land. Although it was built specifically to deal with the Jingchu mountain people, it also presented a unique trend of prosperity.

Chang'an was substantial, but in terms of the flavor of human life, it could not compare to Yunyang.

The streets here were not spacious, and the flow of people was constant, possessing both northern and southern characteristics. One could see Han people wearing coarse cloth jackets, as well as Tujia people with black scarves wrapped around their heads.

Accents from all over the place gathered, some of which were even incomprehensible.

People in the martial world traveling to various places generally have to pay respects to the wharf first.

Wandering beggars from the east have to find the local "sitting tigers" (local beggars), and if they beg for food randomly, they will be beaten to death...

Wandering artists in the martial world have to find the local Changchun Society, and only with their permission can they set up a spot to perform...

Even thieves have to find the local "Old Rong" (thief leader).

These are the rules of the martial world. To make a living in someone else's territory is equivalent to scooping rice from someone else's pot. If you don't understand the rules, you won't be able to move an inch.

Li Yan and the others could be considered members of the Mystic Sect. Registering their names at the local Chenghuangmiao with their Daoist certificates was, to some extent, also paying respects to the local power.

Of course, they were not in a hurry.

For now, it was better to find an inn, settle down, and go to the Chenghuangmiao tomorrow.

Of course, they also had to wait for Battalion Commander Huang to revoke Lu San's arrest warrant.

Just at this moment, the group stopped.

Only to see Han Kun, who had become an elder of the Cao Gang, walking over with a few people and blocking them directly.

Han Kun smiled, "Brother Li, why be so distant? Coming to Yunyang Prefecture without letting us know, let me help you arrange things."

"I was afraid of troubling you, senior."

Li Yan smiled and cupped his hands, making a joke of it.

In fact, he didn't want to have anything to do with the Cao Gang at all.

Not to mention that the other party was currently in conflict with the Pai Sect, fighting until their heads were broken and blood was flowing, just the fact that Han Kun had planted disciples at the Shangjin ferry crossing revealed something strange.

This person's ambition was probably not small.

But the troublesome thing was that back at the Manchuan Pass, Han Kun had been very polite, helped them out, and even helped find Lu San.

This favor had not been repaid yet...

"Hahaha!" Han Kun stroked his beard and smiled, "We are all brothers in the martial world, so there's no need to be so particular. Besides, we can be considered fellow townsmen, so how can there be any talk of trouble?"

"If that old man Zhang Yuanshang knew you had come to Yunyang and I didn't treat you well, I don't know how he would mock me."

As he spoke, he raised his hand, "The inn has already been arranged for you, and this welcome banquet naturally must be held properly."

Since things had been said to this point, Li Yan naturally couldn't be pretentious, so he cupped his hands respectfully, "Thank you, senior."

Immediately, several Cao Gang disciples were about to come forward to take their luggage.

"Brother, you are too polite, I'll do it myself."

Sha Lifei hurriedly smiled and blocked them.

In the luggage behind him were gunpowder, firearms, coal essence, and several valuable artifacts of Wang Daoxuan.

Moreover, to prevent being probed by sorcerers, the mysterious monk's robe Li Yan had found was also wrapped in the luggage to isolate the aura.

Most of the team's assets were on their backs; how could they dare to hand them over to others?

!.

Someone went to take the bamboo basket for Lu San, but was also stopped by him, for fear of scaring the little white fox inside.

The Cao Gang disciples were helpless and had to look at Han Kun.

Han Kun understood immediately, didn't point it out, waved his hand to tell the Cao Gang disciples not to meddle, and led Li Yan and the others into the carriage.

After they left, several people in the crowd slowly raised their heads and scattered, running in all directions...

…………

The layout of Yunyang Prefecture was high in the north and low in the south, with two-thirds being plains and one-third being hillsides.

The three carriages in front and back moved forward all the way, gradually heading north. The terrain became higher and higher, and the surrounding buildings became more luxurious and secretive.

Finally, the carriages stopped.

"Brother Li, this is the place."

Han Kun nodded to indicate after getting off the carriage.

Li Yan looked up and saw an ancient and luxurious mansion in front of him, covering a considerable area. On the plaque of the main gate, the four large characters "Jiangzhe Guild Hall" were written.

Seeing the astonishment of the few, Han Kun smiled, "This place is quiet, and the president happens to be an old acquaintance of mine; it's more comfortable than staying at an inn."

While speaking, an old man walked out of the gate.

He was wearing a dark-colored member's robe, was tall and thin, had a goat-like beard, and even wore a pair of tortoiseshell glasses on the bridge of his nose. His temperament was quite elegant, and he smiled, "Brother Han, are these your distinguished guests?"

"The rooms have already been arranged; Chen Ji Zu will take you there."

"Thank you, Brother Chen."

Han Kun cupped his hands, clearly very respectful to this old man.

The old man smiled and nodded to Li Yan and the others without asking much, got into a carriage after leaving the gate, and left quickly.

Behind him followed a young man who, although dressed like a merchant, had a straight figure, a gentle temperament, and raised his hand with a smile, "I am Chen Ji Zu; please follow me, everyone."

Li Yan and the others looked at each other and had no choice but to follow him in.

This "Jiangzhe Guild Hall" should be a place for merchants from Jiang and Hu to gather and stay. The space inside was not small, and the front courtyard not only had a main hall mansion but even a stage for plays.

Several men dressed as merchants were gathering in a side room; the screen blocked their figures, and only the sound of fishing drums and Jiangnan ditties came from the window.

Chen Ji Zu led them through the front courtyard via the side corridor and introduced them with a smile, "The back is all guest rooms for resting. There haven't been many people recently, and I have already reserved the best rooms for you all."

Just at this moment, a drunken voice came from one of the rooms, "South has tall trees, cannot rest and think. Han has wandering women, cannot seek and think. Han is wide, cannot swim and think..."

Hearing this, Chen Ji Zu shook his head slightly and sighed, "It's a scholar from Jiangzhe who came to the capital for the imperial examination. He met a beauty in Yunyang and was so infatuated that he lingered in the guild hall and refused to leave."

"He often goes crazy with wine recently. If he disturbs you all, please forgive me."

"Not at all."

Li Yan said politely, not taking it to heart.

Yan Jiuling was knowledgeable and had some family background, and even he went up early to make arrangements everywhere.

As for the one inside who was addicted to beauty and delayed his proper business, it would be strange if he could pass the exam.

Of course, this matter had nothing to do with him, and he wouldn't say anything more.

The rear guest rooms were all in the form of large courtyards, with two floors, and most of the rooms were empty, without a single person.

Chen Ji Zu led the group to the second floor, came to the north side room, took a key from his bosom, opened several rooms, and raised his hand, saying:

"Everyone, please."

Li Yan walked into the room and felt satisfied.

The room was very clean, with a set of chicken-wing wood furniture. Looking out from the window, he could see a tall building on the north city gate opposite, with railings and flying eaves, eight corners upturned, and brilliant lights.

Chen Ji Zu introduced with a smile, "That is the most famous 'Spring Snow Building' in Yunyang Prefecture. Scholars and writers from all states of our Great Xuan come to this place and will all climb the building to write inscriptions."

"The 'Spring Snow Building Record' by Governor Yuan of Yunyang made it famous throughout the world, and this room is also the best in the guild hall."

"Thank you."

"Not at all, Uncle Han's distinguished guests naturally must be entertained with all our hearts. If you need anything, you can find me at any time."

After Chen Ji Zu finished speaking, he cupped his hands and bid farewell.

He spoke eloquently, and his words made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

More importantly, he didn't steal the limelight and gave Han Kun enough face.

Li Yan looked around and smiled helplessly, "Senior Han, you are really too polite; we feel uneasy."

The Jiangzhe Chamber of Commerce was already wealthy, and he heard that merchants there even participated in overseas trade, with a bountiful harvest.

The environment here was much better than the inns in the city.

"Hahaha... why be polite."

Han Kun laughed heartily, "My ancestral home is in Jiangzhe. This time, it was also with Brother Chen's help that I obtained this elder position, so we can be considered family."

As he spoke, he got up and closed the door, and then his expression became solemn, "To tell you the truth, it's been a bit chaotic in the city recently. Not only have my Cao Gang and the Pai Sect clashed, but many new faces have also arrived."

"Since I cannot lose the way of treating guests, nor can I drag you into this chaotic situation in the martial world, after thinking about it, this place is the most suitable."

Li Yan was stunned; he hadn't expected Han Kun to be so frank.

Looking at the other party's face, Li Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Senior Han, let's not speak in riddles. We are just nobodies; I don't know what you want?"

"What we can do, we will naturally agree to; if we really can't do it, we will leave right now!"

He didn't have time to play riddles with Han Kun.

Some things are better said clearly.

"Little Brother Li is also straightforward..."

Han Kun listened and said, "The Commandant's Office made quite a stir, and I was reprimanded and ordered to leave Shangjin."

"I don't know who exactly it was that harmed my disciple?"

Li Yan was silent for a moment and shook his head, "Senior, take my advice: the water in this matter is too deep. Getting involved in it might very well be a catastrophe!"

"Oh..."

Han Kun listened, his expression unchanged. He came to the table, poured tea for everyone himself, picked up his own and took a sip, then said leisurely:

"Brother Li, are you avoiding it because of the new-style gunpowder?"

Li Yan's eyes narrowed immediately upon hearing this:

"Senior Han, you know quite a lot..."

(End of chapter)