Chapter 587
The day had just brightened when the group of people from Jingdou began to rise and wash up . This time, everyone Fan Xian had brought was from the Council . Other than Mu Feng'er, who was now in charge of the Qinian Unit, the other people were formed from the Second and Sixth Bureaus . A half militaristic professional life in the Overwatch Council made these people serious and silent . There was only the sound of running water and the squeaking of the door .
It was only 20 li from the inn to Dingzhou . Flying on the eight-horse wide road, it did not take a lot of time . Furthermore, they didn't have to be careful with their horses . When this group of people came to the eastern gate of the city, the sun had not yet risen very high . There was a sliver of coldness tucked into the warmth . However, the line of farmers, as well as merchants from the Central Plain trying to get into the city, had already formed a long line .
Autumn had not yet fully arrived in Jingdou, but the soldiers at this border city were already wearing armor with a layer of cotton . Fan Xian glanced unobtrusively . He then signaled for Mu Feng'er to ready their documents .
From the beginning, Fan Xian had no plans to make public his imperial envoy status on this trip to Dingzhou . With just these dozen people, even if he wanted to make a spectacle, he wouldn't be able to . This group of people were disguised as Jiangnan merchants . In their hands were travel passes and tea contracts from the Ministry of Revenue and the river transport department . Their disguises were not because the court had suspicions about the Dingzhou . It was because Fan Xian had to meet someone in private . In order to ensure that person's safety, it was best to not go through court channels and to meet privately .
After all, the Hu people had suddenly become enlightened . The Emperor and Fan Xian both suspected there was a clever person making calls in Xi Lake . No one knew if the Hu people had hidden a spy in either the military or political arms in Dingzhou .
The soldiers at the east gate performed their checks meticulously . Fan Xian didn't line up . He stood to the side and watched with cold eyes, quietly nodding his head . The Ye family had been on the Western frontier for decades, yet there wasn't any neglect . No wonder the Emperor liked them so much .
The deputy from the relay station wiped at the cold sweat on his forehead . Following behind Fan Xian, his heart hammered like crazy . We was also disguised as a merchant . His face had been altered by the Overwatch Council officials and appeared particularly wretched . He didn't understand why the noble in front of him had to bring him into the city or why he had to dress in this way .
The line reached Fan Xian's group quickly . Fan Xian noticed that although the Dingzhou soldiers checked everything strictly, they did not take the opportunity to take things for themselves . Furthermore, they didn't try to purposely make things difficult for the merchants and farmers, so they moved very quickly .
Mu Feng'er handed over the prepared documents, travel passes, and tea contracts . The soldiers seemed startled slightly and furrowed his brows, as if there was something strange .
Fan Xian narrowed his eyes, not sure what had gone wrong . However, he was not panicked . He was going to go to the Xiliang Road Governor's manor in any case after noon to make clear his identity . There shouldn't be any misunderstanding between the two sides .
The official's surprise was not because there was something wrong with these documents . Rather, these documents appeared overly beautiful, particularly the stamp and signature . They were all from heads of the various yamens . This meant the identity of this group of merchants was important . Otherwise, how could the old officials in court personally audit these documents?
Fan Xian and his group had not expected that this point would attract the attention of others . It was very easy for the Overwatch Council to make these documents . However, the Imperial Censor had been keeping an eye out, so these documents were actually the real things that had been taken from each department . But, they were too real and too ostentatious . If, at this moment, it was still Wang Qinian at Fan Xian's side being responsible for these details, he would not have made such a mistake .
The official glanced at Mu Feng'er coldly . He then glanced unconsciously at Fan Xian . He knew that the pretty young man full of nobility was the true leader of this merchant group .
Fan Xian did not look back at him . He was looking with great interest at the wall of Dingzhou in front of him . He quietly wondered to himself where these large rocks had been moved from since Dingzhou was surrounded on all sides by flat grasslands and barren lands . Was that yellow dirt between the rocks? Even that could be used in building a wall?
The official furrowed his brows and unconsciously did not want to bother the proud young man . He nodded to let them through . After this group of merchants entered the city, he called over a subordinate and gave a few orders in a low voice .
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Fan Xian didn't know that his appreciation of the city walls would give the Dingzhou soldier a proud impression . He truly liked to look at everything . After all, this was a rare second chance at life . He always had a powerful desire to know about the beauty, history, or existence around him .
He had scene Shangjing's centuries-old ancient city walls and was even more familiar with Jingdou's strictly guarded city walls . Now, he had the rare opportunity to come to the westernmost city in the kingdom, so he was curious . Furthermore, he still felt regret in his heart . He was not sure when he would have the opportunity to see the supposedly largest city in the world: Dongyi .
The deputy official who had followed them into the city with a mournful expression gradually learned why the Duke of Danbo had brought such an insignificant figure as him into the city . It turned out that the little duke wanted to stroll around the streets . However, the streets inside Dingzhou were a mess with various squares chaotically entwining . If one didn't have a local leading the way, it was impossible to find many of the places that didn't have a name .
It gave him a headache that this seemed to be the first this noble duke had come to such an isolated place and was interested in absolutely everything . He wandered everywhere and did not seem to tire . He was particularly interested in the Hu people weapons that had been shipped in from the Hu people by Xichi Lake . They drew his attention for a long time .
After about half a day, Fan Xian and his group had become familiar with Dingzhou's commercial square . They had perfectly demonstrated the energy that a merchant group should have .
Below a mud wall, Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and looked at the tower of the grand Dingzhou wall in the distance . Lowering his voice, he asked, "Has the message been sent?"
Mu Feng'er carefully looked around and nodded . "According to the agreement made by both sides, it has already been sent . However, we arrived two days early, so the other party may not have entered the city yet . "
Fan Xian thought for a bit and then said, "We had to come two days early . It was impossible to lock down the news of me leaving the capital . Hongcheng would know for sure that I was coming . If I get stalled by that kid, he will certainly fill me with wine . Then, how will we have time to work? Besides, who knows if there are spies from the Hu people in the camp and the Governor's manor?"
Mu Feng'er glanced back at the nervous and uneasy deputy official at the back of the group . "If we weren't familiar with the city, we really shouldn't have brought this person along as a guide . I don't even know how we're going to deal with him later . "
Fan Xian smiled and said, "It's not that anyone will lose their head . We are ensuring the other person's safety, so we have to be so careful . As for that deputy, when we are leaving, just give him two beauties . "
Although he had said it like that, Fan Xian also felt some regret . The Emperor had always forbidden the Overwatch Council from getting too deep into the military . Regardless of whether it was the Fourth Bureau that managed all the Roads or the Second Bureau that collected intelligence reports, the Overwatch Council did not have any capable people in Dingzhou .
Of course, the Overwatch Council had hidden spies in Dingzhou . Fan Xian thought that since it was safe inside Dingzhou, they would not need to use these spies . Otherwise, after the matter, neither the military nor the political side would be unhappy . It would be the subordinates of the Overwatch Council that took the hit .
The group of people stopped the carriage in the shade and silently waited for the sun to slowly move . For lunch, they bought some baked sesame cakes and ate them with some clear water . Fan Xian was no exception . Every time they were on a mission, his actions always brought him slightly closer to the hearts of his Overwatch Council subordinates . However, the deputy official saw that the little duke also gnawing on the baked cake with difficulty and was secretly astonished .
When the shadow of the mud wall behind the carriages had grown gradually longer, one of Fan Xian's subordinates returned humming a little tune . He even held a Hu area specialty item that he had bought along the way . It looked like he had gone carefully . He threw these things back into the carriage and lowered his voice to speak to Fan Xian .
Fan Xian raised his head and glanced at Mu Feng'er . He smiled and said, "Looks like the other party is in even more of a rush than us . Let's go see them . "
Mu Feng'er thought that it shouldn't be a conspiracy . After all, Dingzhou was part of the Qing Kingdom . No one dared to do make a trap targeting the Overwatch Council . He nodded and went to call for the deputy official .
Leaving the group of carriages, Fan Xian, Mu Feng'er, and the official went through the mud wall and passed the lively street market . They walked through as curiously as merchants coming for the first time from inland . After walking for an indeterminable amount of time, they finally arrived at a lamb shop .
Fan Xian saw that the shop had no sign and couldn't resist smiling . "This place is so hard to find . " He patted that deputy official's shoulder . "Looks like you're quite something to even know of such places as this . "
The deputy felt his entire body become soft and thought that this shoulder was one that had been patted by the duke . Looks like I won't want to wash it for half a month… But I only wash once a month anyway . It should be that I won't look for a woman for half a month…This doesn't seem to be worth it…
While this deputy was thinking wildly, Mu Feng'er had already walked into the lamb shop . Turning his body to pass through the inner door in the mud house, he covered his nose and walked into the inner room . He sat down on the bamboo mat he had agreed on with the person earlier .
There were four bamboo mats inside this stall . There was a little table on the mat for the guest's meat, food, alcohol, and water . Each mat was separated by a thin curtain . It did not block out the sound and was barely sufficient .
Fan Xian sat in the innermost spot . The deputy only dared to sit on half the outside seat . He kept muttering to himself in his heart, not sure why this noble figure had to find this very unremarkable stall . Was he here to meet someone?
Then, he fearfully accepted a bowl of wine the duke handed over . He carefully took a drink and fell into a deep sleep .
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After eating a few pieces of lamb and drinking two bowls of wine, Fan Xian's eyes grew brighter and brighter . He glanced at the thin curtain next to him and sent a meaningful gaze to Mu Feng'er .
Mu Feng'er thought for a moment and then picked up his bowl . He rose to lift up the curtain to move onto the bamboo mat on the other side . When the curtain lifted, Fan Xian's eyes were sharp . He saw that the person was around 40 or 50 years old . However, his complexion was dark since he was a Hu person . It was difficult to be accurate .
The sun was well into the sky . The day was gradually growing hotter . The mud house remained cool and secluded . This was not the prime time to be drinking, so the stall was particularly quiet . There were only Fan Xian's group and this mysterious Hu person .
No one knew what Mu Feng'er was saying over to the Hu man . After a long time, the other side lifted the curtain . Mu Feng'er nodded to Fan Xian to indicate that he had confirmed the other person's identity .
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