Guangzhou in July is like being in the crater of a volcano. It is unbearably hot. The willow trees by the river have no choice but to hang down. The trees on both sides of the official road are also listless, and many pedestrians are resting in the shade.

Only the business travelers with slightly rich pockets did not rest in the hot official road. Instead, they all stayed in the wine shop next to the inn.

Since the construction of the post office road, one-third of the road from Guangzhou City to Yongzhou City has been built. In this hot summer, even if the Xiang army is not human, the people from the Ministry of Industry will not dare to drive it anymore. After all,

One person dies, one person is missing.

However, wherever the official roads are built, the post station is built there. A dozen simple rooms and a large stable are only provided for messengers and military envoys to rest, eat, and change their horses. If the officials come, coarse rice, vegetables, and well water are all they need.

If you can endure poverty, you will naturally receive these three things.

If you can't stand it, you can only go to the wine shop and inn next to the inn to enjoy it.

According to the rules, wine shops and inns on official roads can only be operated near the inn and the rent must be paid. If you want to operate it on the official road, you can, but it must be ten miles away from the inn.

A post station is set up every thirty miles away. If there is an inn or a restaurant ten miles away, people might as well walk a few more steps and go to the inn to rest.

Therefore, we can only operate some resting tea stalls, not large wine shops.

Each post station is responsible for entertaining couriers and officials below the fifth rank. The burden is extremely small, and it is only some green vegetables and tofu. The cost is low, and the rent can not only cover the income, but is more than enough. On average, each post station can bring in a surplus of hundreds of dollars every month.

When all the officials in the imperial court saw this, they were naturally jealous. How come the national highway was built with the treasury, but the profitable business was done by the inn? It was unbalanced, absolutely unbalanced.

Officials kept writing letters calling for the inn to be taken back, but Li Jia always refused to do so.

Regardless of whether the post station is making money at this time, if it is in the hands of the bureaucrats, it will definitely suffer losses within half a year, and then the court will need to make up for it. After all, the post station system is related to the national economy and must be maintained.

Even big companies can lose money and go bankrupt after losing two barrels of oil. Can you still believe it?

"Hey, have you heard? In September of this year, the imperial court is going to start the examination for talents and talents!"

"I heard that if you are selected as a scholar, you can go to work in the Yamen and become an official!"

In a wine shop, several merchants said with great interest.

"Where did you hear that?" The people at the next table asked in surprise.

"You don't even know this?" The businessman looked at it with disdain and said, "I just went to the hut and passed by the Yuelai Inn. I listened to Dr. Tea's lecture on the newspaper for a while and then came back for a drink!"

"Doctor Tea at Yuelai Inn talks about the residence report? This is really good!" The man at the next table sighed, then threw down a dozen copper coins and said: "Waiter, check out, I want to go next door to listen to the residence report!"

"Hey, let's eat quickly and go to Yuelai Inn to listen to the newspaper!" Seeing this, the businessman no longer hesitated and said quickly.

As a result, most of the guests hurriedly paid their bills and ran to the Yuelai Inn next door to listen to the newspaper.

"Hey!" The shopkeeper sighed.

"Shopkeeper, why don't we also read the newspaper?" the waiter said, looking at the empty lobby.

"Yelai Inn likes to use novel tricks to attract guests!" the shopkeeper said through gritted teeth: "Tomorrow, we will also talk about the hotel newspaper!"

My home is obviously the closest to the official road, but now the business is not as good as that of Yuelai Inn.

"Shopkeeper, may I ask, where is the post station? How far is it from the capital?" At this time, a large group of people came over, and a dark-skinned young man stepped forward and asked.

"Oh!" The waiter was stunned for a moment and said: "There are still nine inns, two hundred and seventy miles away from the capital. The inn has rented the best location to us. If you walk half a mile in, you will see a

A bunch of stables, that’s it!”

"Sir, if you want to eat, you'd better come to our restaurant. The food in the station is all green vegetables and tofu, which is not to your liking!"

"Got it!" The young man nodded, then pointed to the crowded inn next door and asked, "Why are there so many people there?"

"I heard that we are talking about Di Bao. We will also talk about it tomorrow. You can come and take a look then!"

"No, we have to leave tomorrow!"

When the young man returned to the main army, everyone gathered around him and asked hurriedly: "Brother Jian, where is the post station?"

"We'll be there if we walk half a mile further. There is a large group of stables!" Di Jian took a breath, and the sun in the sky almost fainted him.

"Then let's go to the inn!" The special envoy, Zheng Bailong, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, waved his hand and said: "We have come back from a long journey as an envoy, so we can save as much as we can!"

"However, this inn is too much. It has even rented out all the important parts of the pipeline. How can we find the messenger? The military situation is urgent. We must impeach them!"

"The messenger can rest here while we help him get the horse..." the waiter said standing at the door.

Special envoy Zheng held his head high and walked away quickly, paying no attention to him.

"Let's go!" Di Jian waved his hand and led the two ponies he brought back from Dali to the inn.

The specialties from Dali have already made ponies hunchback. The four hundred people who were sent to Dali as envoys, except for dozens of people who died unluckily, returned with a full load. Even if there were no horses, they had to carry it on their own back to the capital.

"This trip to Dali is finally worth it!" Di Jian sighed as he walked.

"Yes! Although the road is more difficult and there are more bandits, we have fulfilled His Majesty's instructions and made a fortune by the way!"

Zhang Dadao smiled and said, although he has lost a lot of weight, he is still very energetic and cheerful.

"The money we earned is secondary. The key is that we made this trip and not only got rid of the murder charge, but also made meritorious service. The court did not mention that we would be promoted to a higher position. It would be okay if we were reinstated!" Wang Chao said casually.

.

"Yes, money is secondary. Atoning for one's merits is the most important thing. The Forbidden Army has a lot of money and is comfortable. Especially for us cavalry, promotion is just a matter of course!"

Di Jian said in a deep voice that he wanted to return to the army now. It would be most appropriate to fight and establish meritorious service, and be rewarded with money and land, as well as a title.

The group of people arrived at the inn in great force, and were immediately disappointed. There were three or five small courtyards, four or five huts, and the most striking thing was a large stable, with only three scattered horses grazing.

"I wonder if you all have a seal of honor?" the postman came out and asked softly.

"Of course there is, this is the seal of approval from the Ministry of Rites!" Special Envoy Zheng took it out.

"It turns out that we are an envoy to the Dali Kingdom. How disrespectful. Please come with me. The horses are kept in the stables and have people to take care of them. However, these ponies also belong to the envoy?"

"Some of the tribute items from Dali need to be carried on horses!" Special Envoy Zheng said without blushing or out of breath.
Chapter completed!