In this era, Longyou was not yet a barren desert. There were green mountains and clear waters everywhere, and the vegetation was lush. However, it was sparsely populated. Often, one would walk a hundred li without seeing a single chimney smoke. Only wild beasts roamed the jungles and grasslands.
Even when one reached the outskirts of Huangshui, if it weren't for the lofty city in the distance and the cattle and sheep grazing on the grasslands in front of it, it would have been difficult to feel any human presence. But once one entered the crude city gate made of yellow mud and gravel, the scene in Huangshui City was completely different.
Inside Huangshui City, there were carriages and horses, and people were everywhere. The shops were like forests, and the people were abundant. Although this place could not compare to the prosperity of Luoyang, the more prosperous provinces and counties they had passed through before entering the Guanzhong after leaving Luoyang were not necessarily much livelier than this place.
Huangshui was an important place for trade between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, so it was abundant with goods and people. Of course, what was different from the provinces and counties of the Central Plains was that there were fewer people wearing silk and satin. The streets were filled with the figures of Tubo, Turks, and Hu people from even further west. It was like an international metropolis.
Further from Huangshui was the city of Shanzhou, where Heishui Changzhi had originally been stationed. Although Duoduo was not a well-known figure in Shanzhou, it was hard to guarantee that no one there would recognize her. Thus, after discussing it with her, Yang Fan decided to let her live in Huangshui, which was relatively close to Shanzhou.
In Yang Fan's view, how a woman would survive with a child was a major problem. He had once discussed this with Duoduo, but Duoduo was very optimistic.
Once in Longyou, Duoduo was like a fish in water, no longer as helpless as she had been in the Central Plains. She told Yang Fan that in Longyou, women could engage in more professions than women in the Central Plains. They could work in all kinds of shops and workshops, and earn enough grain to feed the two of them. There was no problem, so Yang Fan could only let her be.
In Huangshui City, row upon row of houses lined up on both sides of the main road. There were wine shops, foot shops, butcher shops, temples, public houses, and everything that one could think of. Medical halls, medicine shops, cart repair, fortune-telling, shaving, plastic surgery, and other trades were all flourishing. Inside the shops, there were all kinds of expensive and cheap goods, such as silk and satin, jewelry and spices, silk and porcelain. The shops were bustling with pedestrians and merchants. More than a dozen knights were escorting three large carriages, moving slowly among them.
Shen Mu said to Yang Fan, "Are you going to see your people first, or are you going to settle Miss Duoduo down first?"
Shen Mu had revealed many secrets to Yang Fan. Although Yang Fan still did not reveal the true identity of Miss Duoduo and the baby she was carrying, it was not good for him to completely conceal it from Shen Mu. Therefore, he had already briefly explained to Shen Mu that Duoduo was a girl whose hometown was originally in the Western Region. This time, he was helping her return to her hometown and at the same time concealing his own identity. It was killing two birds with one stone and he did not have any personal feelings for her.
Yang Fan thought for a moment and said, "It's better to settle Miss Duoduo down first. You also said that Longyou is full of Tubo spies and spies. I have just arrived at Huangshui, if I go to see those people immediately, it will be hard to avoid attracting attention. Moreover, it will be inconvenient to bring a woman and a child with me. "
Shen Mu nodded and said, "That's true. Do you need my help?"
Yang Fan thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No need. This is a gathering place for merchants from the north and the south. There are many places to rent and buy. There won't be any problem."
Shen Mu nodded and looked out of the window. On the main street, there were merchants doing business, officials riding horses, peddlers peddling their wares, families riding carriages and ox-carts, barbarians pulling camels from the Western Regions, people of different ethnic groups wearing strange clothes, monks carrying baskets on their backs, porters pushing wheelbarrows, and disabled old men begging by the roadside. There were all kinds of people on the street. Who knew which one of them was a Tubo spy?
Shen Mu turned his head to Yang Fan and said, "If you and I part here, it will be very inconvenient. The Huangshui tycoon Yan Zhenhao has already prepared a banquet to entertain me. Why don't you come with me? When the banquet is over, my carriage will leave from the main entrance. You and Miss Duoduo can ride the same carriage and leave from the side entrance. It will be easier to conceal your tracks this way. "
Yang Fan nodded his head in agreement. At this time, a man was limping out of a medicine shop on the roadside. This man was wearing a robe with a lapel around his waist. His right arm was supported by a wooden walking stick, his left hand was carrying several bags of medicinal herbs. He was walking slowly, looking extremely distressed.
If Yang Fan could walk face to face with him, he would definitely recognize this man as his colleague, the Hundred Horsemen Imperial Bodyguard Zhang Xitong. Unfortunately, they were going in the same direction. The curtains were rolled up. Yang Fan was sitting in the carriage. He could only see the back of a man limping like a stray dog. He would never have thought that this man was actually his own comrade.
The carriage rumbled past Zhang Xitong's side. Zhang Xitong carried his wooden stick and limped along. When he was tired, he stopped and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Looking at the bright sun in the sky, he sighed deeply and said to himself, "It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. I'm the Hundred Horsemen Imperial Bodyguard, but I actually fell into the hands of a group of small thieves.
Ai! How can there be so many strong people in Longyou? The weather is so hot. I don't know if Tian Yan's injury will recover. Yue Ziqin's group still hasn't arrived. Yang Fan, who is acting alone, is most likely in danger. There are only the two of us left. How can we complete the mission that the general has entrusted to us? "
Zhang Xitong let out a long sigh and limped into a narrow and dirty alley.
The carriages traveled in the city for a while and came to a wide alley with few pedestrians. On both sides of the alley were high walls and Guangliang gates. With one look, one could tell that the people living in this area were either rich or of high status.
The Guangliang gates were buildings that were second only to the Wangfu. Logically speaking, there couldn't be so many high-ranking officials here. Longyou was not like the Central Plains. There were not strict requirements in these areas. As long as you had money and power, you could build anything you wanted. No one would punish you for overstepping your authority.
The carriages traveled in the long alley for a while and stopped in front of a door with a high base. The eaves were decorated with sparrows and three clouds. Yang Fan and Shen Mu lifted the curtain and walked out. Zhang Yi followed behind.
A man in his forties dressed as a Scribes smiled and stood at the bottom of the stairs. He bowed to Shen Mu and said loudly, "Young Master, you came from afar. I, Yan, have not welcomed you. Forgive me, forgive me!"
This man was the richest man in Huangshui, Yan Zhenhao. Yan Zhenhao controlled jewelry, leather goods, silk, porcelain, salt, and almost all the profiteering businesses in the area. He also owned two large pastures and thousands of fine horses. He could be said to be as rich as a country.
A few years ago, he was only one of the Four Great Tycoons of Huangshui. He sat on the third seat, but he wasn't number one. Now, he was able to suppress the other heroes of Huangshui. The reason was that he had the support of Shen Mu.
Yan Zhenhao was not one of Shen Mu's people. He had absolute freedom and could make his own decisions. But because of common and long-term interests, who could make him betray Shen Mu? Doing so was equivalent to betraying himself. Thus, he was someone Shen Mu could absolutely trust.
Shen Mu got out of the carriage and helped Yan Zhenhao up. He laughed and said, "Old Yan, long time no see!"
Yan Zhenhao smiled and said, "Yes! It's been more than a year since we parted last spring in Chang 'an. Young Master is as handsome as ever. Congratulations. And this is … "
Yan Zhenhao's eyes focused and he looked at Yang Fan.
He was well aware of Shen Mu's identity and how much power he had. How could he underestimate someone who could walk shoulder to shoulder with Shen Mu?
Shen Mu smiled and said, "Come, come, come. Let me introduce you. This is my brother, Yang Fan! You can call him Erlang. Erlang, this is the richest man in Huangshui, Yan Zhenhao, whom I mentioned to you before. Brother Yan. "
"Little brother Yang Fan greets Brother Yan!"
Yang Fan hurriedly went forward to greet him. Yan Zhenhao wore a turban on his head and a loose robe with pine and bamboo patterns. He was tall and thin, with a high forehead and a high nose. There were three strands of mustache under his chin. He did not have the stink of money of a merchant at all. He looked carefree and elegant, just like a distinguished scholar. It was difficult to associate him with a merchant's identity.
After the greetings, Yan Zhenhao courteously led the two of them inside. At this time, Lady Qiqi and Duoduo also came out of the carriage with their child. Shen Mu did not introduce Qiqi to Yan Zhenhao. After all, the identity of the eldest daughter of the Li family was too illustrious. She was an unmarried young lady, but she had followed him thousands of miles to Longyou. It was difficult to explain to a man and a woman alone.
Yan Zhenhao also had business dealings with the Li family. His jewelry business was with the Li family. It would be a little awkward for him to know that this lady was the pearl of the Li family.
Yan Zhenhao was a little surprised to see two women come out of the carriage. One of them was even carrying a child. But he knew that Shen Mu was a playboy. Since Shen Mu did not point it out, he did not ask. He only quietly instructed the steward to quickly inform the Lady of the residence.
Yan Zhenhao led the guests into the mansion. They passed the front hall, the main hall, a few winding corridors, and a few houses before arriving at the back garden.
They entered a moon door with vines and flowers hanging on it. There was a small winding stone path in the middle that led to a secluded place. To be able to build such a garden in Longyou, one must have put in a lot of effort. Just from this, it was enough to show the wealth of the Yan family.
At the end of the winding path, a wide open space appeared in front of them. There was a pond about the size of an acre, rippling with light. A red pavilion with carved pillars was facing the water. The side facing the ground was open while the other three sides had windows. It was summer now and the windows were open. The wind blew in from all directions and it was very cool.
In front of the pavilion, there was a woman with two maids waiting respectfully. When she saw the guests, she smiled and went forward to welcome them. This woman was Yan Zhenhao's legal wife, Lady Gong. Her maiden name was Nianxi. She was also from a prestigious family in the Western Region. Although she was around thirty years old, she had a clear and fair face without makeup. Her facial features were elegant and elegant. She looked like a person in her twenties.
It was funny that the people of the Central Plains liked to wear Hu clothing. Longyou was the closest to the Hu people, but the local people liked to wear Han clothing. Lady Gong wore a floral, narrow sleeved jacket with a lotus leaf skirt tied around her waist. She wore a plain robe on the outside. Her glossy black hair was tied up in a peony bun. Other than a jade hairpin in the bun, there were no other pearls or jade ornaments. She looked very simple and elegant.
This style of dressing was not luxurious but graceful. It was just right for her noble status. One must know that the rich merchants of the Western Region were very different from the merchants of the Central Plains. They were actually the leaders of the local politics, economy, culture and education. Although they were called merchant families, they were actually the families of the local officials. Their background was very deep. Naturally, the merchants who only dealt in business could not compare.
Seeing that Lady Gong was about to step forward to pay her respects, Shen Mu hurriedly stepped forward and smiled. Both sides greeted each other. As the hostess, Lady Gong warmly invited the guests to sit in the pavilion.
There were already a few tables in the pavilion. Everyone took their seats. All kinds of delicacies were served like flowing water. Musicians played under the door. Two beautiful Hu concubines walked in. The welcoming banquet began …
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