Chapter 1: Urban Inspection

Old Yu repeatedly said, "It's all good, it's all good." As he spoke, Old Yu supported the vehicle to let the young man jump down, then reached inside to help out the pale-faced woman. The woman had her brows tightly furrowed, her eyes closed, and seemed to be completely devoid of strength

The sentinels at the gate also became noticeably serious in their duties, arriving on site before dawn to prepare for the opening of the city gates. Documents, registers, and safety signs all needed to be arranged in advance. The officials from the Xingzhou government office were also waiting nearby, while another group of soldiers stood in formation at the city gate, ready to respond to any unexpected situations

The young man appeared delicate and frail; as soon as he got off the vehicle, he seemed to be struck by the cold, constantly tiptoeing in small steps. The woman, upon disembarking, had her lips turn pale, and her whole body began to tremble.

A low response came from the car, "No need, you shouldn't drink either, the young lady cannot tolerate the smell of alcohol"

Xingzhou, as an important city connecting the north and south of Dayuan, has always experienced a continuous flow of people; however, it has never been as prosperous as it is now. The daily influx of people has nearly increased four to five times compared to the past.

Unless one encounters extremely rare goods, such as the southern pearls produced only in the south and the glass unique to the western regions, it is indeed only the powerful merchants who have the means to trade in such items, and one must simply accept their pricing. However, these luxury goods do not affect the livelihood of the people, and it is impossible to undermine the foundations of the state through them

The driver shook his head and said, "This is not a business matter; inside the car is our young master, the fourth son of the family. The young lady is feeling a bit unwell, and we are going to the Rejuvenation Hall for a check-up. If we delay, we might not be able to get a spot."

Moreover, with several neighboring towns and state capitals grouped within the same area, the cost of small-scale trading of goods within this range is significantly low. The threshold for doing business has lowered, and profits have increased, leading to an unprecedented surge in commercial activity in Dayuan. For merchants, what does war matter? As long as it does not reach their vicinity, it cannot dampen their enthusiasm for making money

He hesitated for a moment, then politely said: "Please have the young master get out of the car, as it is customary to check if there are any contraband items inside."

When the initial decree was issued from Kyoto, it was not well received. The abolition of small tax checkpoints would inevitably lead to exorbitant tax rates at the major checkpoints in order to maintain balance, which would suppress the enthusiasm of merchants

These individuals are itinerant merchants from the north and south, some wishing to enter the city while others intend to leave. Their carts are filled with various goods. The drivers, in groups of two or three, stand on the ground stamping their feet and rubbing their hands, waiting for the city gates to open at the hour of the rabbit

The soldiers saw that these two individuals were either ill or weak, all shivering in the cold wind. The cart was small, leaving no possibility for concealment, so they quickly conducted a check and allowed them to return to the cart

Those who were in a hurry to catch the bus had already raised their wine gourds. Upon hearing this, I could only hang it back up and swallowed a mouthful of saliva dryly.

The young man seemed to be frozen, his hands numb. He expressed his gratitude and, with Old Yu's assistance, helped the woman back to the carriage. With a faint crack of the whip, the horse snorted and began to pull the carriage away, heading towards the Rejuvenation Hall in the north of the city. The guard at the gate glanced back for a moment, then shifted his attention to the next person, completely unaware of what he had just let pass.

However, after actually traveling along the trade route, one will find that without the need for layers of scrutiny, not only does the court save on the time required for the transfer of tax silver, but merchants also save on the transportation time of goods. Additionally, they are spared from the numerous bribes that must be paid at various checkpoints. Overall, it proves to be quite cost-effective, which in turn leads to even more frequent movements among merchants

The sky has not yet brightened, and the earth seems to be covered with a layer of blue water film embedded with ice shards, both damp and cold

These merchants seem to possess skills from unknown origins, as countless goods that were previously seldom seen in the market have suddenly appeared. Although their operations are on a small scale, the sheer number of people involved is overwhelming. If this situation continues, the era when a single large merchant could control the market will likely be a thing of the past. Now, in the event of a grain shortage or similar crisis, even if the court does not intervene, these ubiquitous small traders can manage to stabilize prices to an acceptable level.

As the sky gradually brightened, more and more people gathered in front of the city gate, and as the entrance became overcrowded, they formed a long, winding line that extended far away, the sounds of clapping hands and stamping feet almost merging into a rhythmic beat

The guard nodded. There are two renowned physicians at the Rejuvenation Hall, and it is extremely difficult to get an appointment with them. He opened the curtain of the carriage, and the small horse-drawn carriage was visible from end to end. Inside sat a man and a woman; those with family wealth tend to marry early. The man had a fair complexion and still looked youthful. The woman had a pale face, appearing weak and listless. Despite the warm stove burning inside the carriage, she still looked as if she were shivering from the cold.

In the convoy, there was a horse-drawn carriage with curtains hanging down. The carriage was only somewhat new, not considered luxurious, and the horse pulling it was merely a scruffy nag. However, due to the wartime period, the trade of horses was restricted; horse trading was not only strictly regulated but also had to be sold uniformly to the government, which then distributed them uniformly, prohibiting free circulation among the populace. Therefore, this horse-drawn carriage stood out among the many mule and donkey-drawn freight vehicles.

In his fifties, thin and wiry, with a face weathered by the elements, he rubbed his hands together vigorously and called into the carriage: "Young Master Si, it is indeed very cold today. I have brought some warm wine; would you like to have a little to ward off the chill?"

Since the beginning of the war, the court has issued a series of new decrees, one of which significantly reduced the number of tax checkpoints on official roads, imposing taxes in a one-time manner across a dozen major regions. This approach not only saves time in the collection and operation of taxes but also reduces the large number of personnel stationed at checkpoints along the roads

There is still some time before leaving the city gate. The porters outside the gate are mostly from nearby counties and are familiar to one another. The coachmen, unable to drink, clearly feeling bored, began to greet and chat with the acquaintances around them

At the hour of the rabbit, the city gates opened on time. Those entering and exiting the city formed two lines and were only allowed to pass after a thorough inspection by the guards. When it was the turn of the small cart, the guard recognized it as belonging to the Xinglong Carriage and Horse Company and greeted, "Old Yu, you are up quite early today. Do you have business this early?"

In the early hours of a winter day, when people cherish the warmth of their blankets the most, dozens of trucks have already gathered inside and outside the city gate of Dayuan Xingzhou City.

Looking again in the car, the fair-faced youth's expression changed to one of anxiety, revealing a temperament that was entirely inconsistent with his appearance. He softly said: "Strange? We have already arrived in Xingzhou, yet the city gate has not conducted a population check? I thought there would be a martial law in the nine cities. Have they really lost the emperor and are not preparing to search for him?"