Han official!

Chapter 159 Township Party
In mid-April, during the meal (9:45-10:30), Guo Jie and his party arrived at the pass of Gaolan Mountain, and after bypassing the pass, they arrived at the Jincheng River Valley.

In April, millet, wheat, beans and small beans are planted. The whole way is a barren scene of loess gullies. When we arrive near the pass of Gaolan Mountain, we see fields of corn and rice, a scene of lush grass and water.

The people of Jincheng received the letter in advance and were building a beacon tower on the mountain pass. The watchtower had been built, and only some rammed earth walls remained to be closed.

"This land is unowned. Why can't we pass through here?"

"First, there's no beacon fire, and second, we're not garrison soldiers from the Duwei Mansion. Why are you stopping us from passing?"

"I think you are just a gang of highway robbers. Let's go to the governor's mansion and seek justice."

On the wide road near the mountain gap, a group of merchants wearing fine gauze jackets and trousers, with ring-handled swords on their waists and carrying bows and crossbows on their backs, blocked the road to the mountain gap and tried to enter the Jincheng River Valley.

These merchants came from the countryside around Chang'an. Bandits were rampant outside the Great Wall, and the Huns often plundered them.

Most of the merchants who went to the frontier to conduct trade were traveling together in a powerful caravan from the same township. Some had fewer than a hundred people, some had hundreds, and some had even thousands of people.

The merchants who rashly entered the mountain gap were from Xingze Township. They were a caravan composed of seven or eight powerful families, and their leader was Di Ping, the youngest brother of Doctor Di Shan.

The ox carts were loaded with large amounts of silk, wine, rice and other food, and were sent to a Xiongnu territory, where they were exchanged for Xiongnu horses, cattle, sheep and furs, making huge profits.

It only costs a few thousand coins to buy a horse at the border, but it can be sold for tens of thousands of coins in the nine markets of Chang'an inside the pass, attracting many merchants to go to the Xiongnu for trade.

The Western Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu established a strict system to control the trade. Normally, merchants needed to go to the designated trading location, the customs market, to conduct transactions.

However, there were also many merchants who went to the Xiongnu to trade privately in order to avoid commercial taxes and rents. However, these people often had an official identity to avoid being arrested by the border counties.

Di Ping had a familiar smuggling route, which allowed him to evade taxes without being caught by the garrison troops in the border counties.

However, his brother Di Shan passed on a message that he needed to gather a hundred white horses as soon as possible. Di Ping was forced into a desperate situation and had to take a risk and head to a river valley that had no detour but was unfamiliar to him.

Unexpectedly, Di Ping, along with many powerful family stewards and servants, had just arrived at the intersection of the mountain road when he was stopped by Wei Junru, who was dressed in military uniform.

There was also a Linjin hero named Ji Shaogong and a man named Zhao Guo. These two were insignificant little people.

Not to mention the heroes of Linjin, even the heroes of Chang'an could not scare away the merchants who dared to go to the Xiongnu for trade.

Whether going to the border to do business or trading with the Huns, which merchant does not make money by licking blood from the knife, will not be afraid of the so-called heroes and heroes.

Only when facing Wei Junru, powerful businessmen like Di Ping were in trouble.

Wei Junru was extremely beautiful and had been serving as Princess Pingyang's imperial carriage driver for many years. Everyone knew that she was a private servant of the princess and a close confidant among her confidants, so no one dared to act rashly.

"My brother is a horse breeder."

Di Ping steeled himself and decided to force his way in. "You are Princess Pingyang's personal servant, so you cannot stop the trade. You are exchanging silk, wine, and rice for the Xiongnu's horses. The Han Dynasty is short of horses, and while merchants trade for profit, it is also beneficial to the Han Dynasty's military preparations."

What about the private belongings of the great house?
After all, you are just a house slave. You really think you are a superior person. If you are respected, you will be called Princess Pingyang's private servant. If you are not respected, you are just a lowly house slave.

In addition, Di Ping's family background was good. His eldest brother Di Shan was a doctor, and his second brother Di Guangwu was a livestock official. His family was a powerful family in Xingze Township. How could Wei Junru, who was born as a slave, compare to them!
"Get out of the way!"

Di Ping hesitated for a long time, then said impatiently, "The whole land belongs to the king. When did this trade route, which we used for more than ten years, become Guo Jie's private road? If you don't get out of the way, don't blame me for being ruthless. If I hurt you, my wife, don't blame me for being too harsh."

As Di Ping spoke in a hostile tone, the more than one hundred people behind him clenched their ring-handled swords, took out their bows and crossbows, and stood on the verge of a fight, making it clear that they would force their way in unless they were allowed to pass.

When going to the border to do business, it was common to encounter groups of bandits from time to time and kill people with knives and crossbows.

None of the businessmen were timid.

"Ah."

Wei Junru raised his eyebrows and sneered, "Today, let's see who dares to enter the Gaolan Mountain beacon tower without permission. Anyone who dares to enter the beacon tower without permission will be treated as a thief and killed without mercy!"

She rode a Hexi horse, wore red fish-scale armor, had her bun wrapped in a red scarf, and held a spear in her hand. She looked extremely heroic.

There were twenty other concubines around Wei Junru, who also rode on Hexi horses, wrapped their heads in red scarves, and held spears in their hands. Except for not wearing armor, they also looked as brave as men.

These Xijuns were all daughters of the knights-errant of Chang'an. In order to resist the control of their parents, who forced them to marry some weak men, they ran to Jinchenglu and took refuge with Wei Junru, and once again lived a life of riding carriages and horses.

In addition, the tough folk customs of Jinchengli are more in line with the preferences of these wives. Many wives take the initiative to express their feelings and even bring their men home to live with them.

A strange custom gradually formed in Jinchengli.

Women fight and men farm.

However, the real military power in the Jincheng River Valley area can only be held by men, and the chiefs and soldiers of the Xixia Fire and Gaolan Mountain Fire can only be men.

Xijun, riding a horse and holding a spear, can only be regarded as Wei Junru's private soldier.

"Just twenty or thirty people, and you dare to speak so arrogantly!"

Di Ping drew his ring-handled sword and shouted, "One last time, get out of the way! Otherwise, don't blame me!"

Before he could finish speaking.

A Hexi horse galloped from behind.

Guo Jie raised his sword and chopped off Di Ping's head.

A head shot up into the sky, rolled on the ground, and rolled to the feet of many merchants.

Guo Jie took out the official letter announcing the establishment of the Gaolan Mountain beacon tower, tore it open, and shouted, "These people are idlers bribed by the Xiongnu. They are trying to attack the beacon tower. Kill them all!"

"drive!"

Wei Junru gave a loud shout and immediately led the red-turbaned ladies to rush out, killing the powerful merchants on the opposite side and killing two of them with a spear.

Chong Huangrou, Mang Tong, and An Guo Shaoji all drew out their two-foot swords and rushed towards the powerful merchants, killing one merchant after another who tried to break through with the two-foot swords in their hands.

Except for Yan Yi who was building a school and Su Jia who was recuperating.

The people around Guo Jie killed people without hesitation, and they valued friendship more than the laws of the Han Dynasty.

"Husband."

Covered in blood, Wei Junru came to Guo Jie's side, but she changed into a gentle and delicate look: "I hope my appearance does not scare my husband. If my husband does not like it, I will not take action myself in the future. I will command my soldiers to take action."

Guo Jie extended the sleeve of his ruhaku and wiped her fair face, smiling, "Madam is a heroine, and is determined to support her husband. What man wouldn't want a lady like you? Let's go to the Xihe Horse Farm first, and I'll help you get dressed."

"Hmm? My husband wants to wash up together again? It's inconvenient for me to wear a military uniform."

"What we want is the military uniform!"

In the next few days, Guo Jie lived in Wei Junru's house today and Yi Shuo's house tomorrow, enjoying the happiness of having two wives.

It was not until a few days later that an officer on horseback arrived at the Gaolan Mountain beacon tower with several garrison soldiers.

A large number of beacon towers were set up in the border counties, and the management system was composed of the beacon chief, the waiter chief, the waiter officer, and the commander's office.

The Sui Chang was equivalent to a village official, the Hou Chang was a village head, the Hou Guan was a county lieutenant, and the Duwei Fu was a county governor.

In the beacon tower system of the border counties, the Houguan was already a middle or high-level official, in charge of all the beacon towers within the county.

"Guo, the accountant."

The officer in attendance was surnamed Xu. Seeing Guo Jie, he dared not neglect him. He was the chief accountant of the Right Secretary of the Interior. He bowed and said, "The beacon tower on Gaolan Mountain had just been established, and suddenly over a hundred merchants were killed or injured. Even at the border, this is a horrific case. I have come to understand the situation."

Xu Houguan was worried that Guo Jie might misunderstand him, so he added, "I have no ill intentions in coming here. I was simply assigned by my superiors to do this as a routine matter, a normal prisoner registration."

Guo Jie knew that recording prisoners was a review of the case to avoid false charges and wrongful convictions.

It is also an important improvement to the rule of law system.

The sentencing of criminals was no longer solely based on the decision of the county magistrate, and there were restrictions on the county magistrate who had absolute power.

Xu Houguan did not go in either. Instead, he sat under a mulberry tree at the entrance of the beacon tower. As he walked towards the mulberry forest, he picked two radishes from the vegetable patch opened by the beacon soldiers and put them in his mouth to chew.

He casually handed Guo Jie a radish, and when he saw Guo Jie take it, he smiled.

"Are these merchants really secretly communicating with the Xiongnu idlers?"

Xu Houguan didn't hide the truth and directly pointed out: "The merchants who died or were injured were all members of powerful families. When this matter reached Chang'an, it aroused the anger of many powerful people, who claimed that they would severely punish the murderers."

"Ah."

Xu Houguan suddenly sneered, his face full of contempt: "This is a border county, not the interior of the country. Those powerful people really think they are hereditary marquises. Even if they are hereditary marquises, they cannot influence the border troops."

The military has its own system.

The border troops are even more special. No powerful nobles can influence them, nor dare to interfere with them, unless they wish to die.

The beacon towers in the border counties have a strong xenophobic mentality.

In the eyes of Xu Houguan, Guo Jie, who had taken root in the border and fought against the Huns, was one of his own.

Also a fellow villager.

No matter how much pressure came from above, even if Dou Ying was sent out, and the message was passed down layer by layer to the border, it would not have much impact on Guo Jie.

Guo Jie took out the blood-stained letter and said, "That day, I returned to the beacon tower on Gaolan Mountain with this letter. I saw a group of merchants attacking the beacon tower with swords drawn. I had no choice but to kill these bandits."

"Just draw your sword."

Xu Houguan nodded slightly. "As long as those merchants draw their swords, I can give you an explanation. This incident was caused by the merchants attacking the beacon tower. No one will come to cause trouble again."

He didn't even glance at the letter.

Based on Guo Jie's one-sided statement, I believed what he said.

He was also charged with the murder of more than one hundred businessmen.

Attack the beacon tower.

"I am going back."

Xu Houguan arrived quickly and left quickly. "You can write a love letter. Forget it. I'll find an assistant to write it so that you and your wife won't be disturbed. It's a rare opportunity to take leave to come home and visit your wife, so I won't bother you."

Guo Jie heard the word "home".

In a trance.

For him, he felt the care of his fellow villager Xu Houguan in the border county.

The border county is my real home.

Xu Houguan passed by the vegetable patch and picked another radish. Without washing it, he put it directly into his mouth and started eating it with some dirt on it.

"Wait a minute."

Guo Jie had served as an official for two lifetimes, and habitually adopted some official manners: "After killing those merchants, we seized a lot of cotton, silk, and wine. Xu Houguan took some back and distributed it to his brothers to supplement their families."

Xu Houguan was stunned at first.

"hehe."

Soon, Xu Houguan shook his head and laughed again, "Guo Jili has been an official in Chang'an for many years and doesn't understand the customs of the border guards. You and I are both military officers. Whoever steals the property belongs to him. It is unreasonable to share the heads of people on the battlefield. Don't you think so, Guo Bianhu?"

The border counties respect brave people the most.

When Xu Houguan said "Guo Bianhu", he acknowledged Guo Jie and dispelled his concerns so that he would not continue to use commercial goods to win people's hearts.

Guo Jie nodded. It seemed that the customs in the border counties were indeed different from those in Chang'an.

One side raises one person.

Each county has its own customs.

"but."

Xu Houguan hesitated and said, "I do have a favor to ask. I heard that your guest has built a plow pulled by two oxen, which can quickly turn the soil and cultivate more fields. I wonder if you could sell me some."

He sighed and said helplessly, "The border counties are poor. The soldiers who have settled here have been allocated a lot of land, but the soil is very hard. With a plow pulled by two oxen, our brothers' lives will be better."

"Come and get it tomorrow."

Guo Jie agreed directly without any hesitation.

The speed of the agreement was so fast that even Xu Houguan was stunned.

Xu Houguan stammered, "You... you agreed?"

Guo Jie nodded seriously.

Firstly, Zhao Guo was going to promote the new plow and the two-crop-a-year farming method to promote the progress of Han agriculture.

Secondly, using two oxen to pull a pole was already an outdated technology in Jinchenglu, and Zhao Guo invented a more advanced farming technology.

Thirdly, by selling it to border garrisons such as Xu Houguan, it can also benefit the military officers and garrisons of the beacon system.

The Han people's ethos is to value death over life.

Showing kindness to the garrison soldiers will only bring benefits and no harm.

As for the plow pulled by two oxen, it was secretly learned by the powerful.

No more worries.

Sooner or later, the powerful people in each county will be plundered by cruel officials, their land will be confiscated, and the two oxen pulling a pole will ultimately benefit the poor common people.

Guo Jie was not a good man, but he was at least an official who had been in power for many years.

As long as I can get some practical things done for the people.

He was still happy.

However, Guo Jie needed to confiscate more of the powerful people's property as soon as possible before the cruel officials killed them all, so as to complete the purchase of titles to atone for his sins.

"Thank you, Mr. Guo."

Xu Houguan's face was full of respect, and he even changed his address: "The merchants you killed were from Xingze Township. Their leader was Doctor Di Shan's youngest brother Di Ping. When you return to Chang'an, be careful of Doctor Di Shan causing trouble."

Guo Jie nodded heavily and watched Xu Houguan leave the Gaolan Mountain beacon tower.

(End of this chapter)