Chapter 1208: Escorting corvée labor and passing Hangu Pass
The banquet celebrating the Lu family's housewarming ended at 4 p.m.

but.

Cao Gong wanted to act as a matchmaker for Su Mingzhe, and the two stayed until the hour of You, discussed the marriage with Lu Gong, and then left.

After returning to Juxianzhuang, Su Mingzhe told his eldest brother what happened at the banquet.

When Su Da heard this, he immediately quit:
"Second brother, you said that Magistrate Cao helped you persuade Lu Gong to marry all three daughters to you, and the price was that you had to escort the treasury taxes, grain, and corvée labor to Xianyang?"

"No, no!"

"It's a long journey from Pei County to Guanzhong. It takes several months to go back and forth. If you miss any labor service, you will be beheaded. We can't do this job!"

"Brother, you don't have to go, I'll go by myself!"

After Su Mingzhe agreed to County Magistrate Cao's request, he asked for more budget:
"This time when we go to Xianyang, we will increase the grain, fodder, treasury taxes, and corvée labor by 10% to be on the safe side. With this guarantee, we will be safe. Besides, I also want to take the opportunity to visit Xianyang!"

Su Da could tell that Su Mingzhe had made up his mind, but he still felt unsafe:
"Second brother, take the things in our storehouse with you, and take half of the servants with you as well. If something unexpected happens, at least we have a backup."

"it is good!"

Su Mingzhe didn't bother to be polite with Su Da and immediately went to the warehouse to count the supplies.

It is about two thousand miles from Peixian to Xianyang.

If we march fifty miles a day, the ideal scenario is that we will arrive within forty days.

The court only required arrival before the New Year, so there was some flexibility in terms of time.

Of course, these are all ideal situations.

Winter is coming soon.

It would be dangerous if the road was blocked by heavy snow.

Therefore, Su Mingzhe must be fully prepared.

The next day.

Su Mingzhe led the team to the county government office to check the amount of treasury taxes, food and fodder, and corvee labor.

Magistrate Cao did not deduct any money on this point, and even gave a lot more.

In addition to the two-month travel expenses, an additional 10% was allocated as a guarantee.

When County Magistrate Cao handed all the supplies to Su Mingzhe, he said earnestly:

"Brother Su, I'm going to trouble you this time!"

"Don't worry, sir. Su Mingzhe will definitely fulfill his mission!"

Su Mingzhe collected all the treasury taxes, food, and corvée labor, signed his name and sealed his agreement, and immediately led everyone away from Pei County.

At night.

A team of nearly a thousand people rested in Juxianzhuang.

On the second day, everyone in Juxianzhuang rowed boats to escort the corvées across the Si River.

After crossing the Si River, you will reach Shanfu County, Dang County.

Su Mingzhe was not in a hurry to leave, but gathered everyone together and performed the "Soul Capture Technique" on everyone.

The main enemies in transporting treasury taxes and food are various bandits and robbers.

The enemies who escorted the corvée were mainly the wounded and the casualties caused by epidemics and fatigue.

In order to ensure that everyone could be transported safely to Xianyang, Su Mingzhe prepared to train these more than 900 corvée laborers after receiving the task.

With the help of the "Soul-stealing Technique", everyone was stirred by Su Mingzhe's eloquent speech and their blood boiled, and they couldn't wait to set off immediately.

However, before setting off, Su Mingzhe first taught everyone a set of pre-Qin Qi-guiding techniques.

With this set of Qi-conducting techniques, at least after walking two thousand miles, everyone can be strong and healthy, free from illness and disaster.

in this way.

That day, we walked thirty miles.

On the second day, Su Mingzhe taught everyone a set of "Dog Beating Stick" and "Dog Beating Formation".

After learning this dog-beating formation, at least two people can form a formation to block enemies from all directions.

It can form a large formation of more than one hundred people.

The source of this set of dog-beating formation is the Zhu Xian sword formation that Su Mingzhe learned in the "Zhu Xian" plane, which was obtained after some modification.

That day, we traveled another thirty miles. Then more than ten days passed.

Everyone gradually became proficient in the art of conducting qi and the dog-beating formation, and their daily travel speed also increased, reaching fifty or sixty miles a day.

In the blink of an eye it was the end of November.

A majestic pass about ten feet high, stretching across the mountains, blocked the way for everyone.

"Master, is Hangu Pass just ahead?"

It was Zhou Bo's first time to travel far away, and it was his first time to see the majestic pass connected to the mountains. He immediately felt melancholy:

"With such a magnificent pass, it's no wonder that Qin can develop quietly, accumulate strength, and annex the six kingdoms!"

"Yes, this is Hangu Pass!"

Su Mingzhe also looked at the pass with a forward-looking mind.

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the area east of Hangu Pass was the heartland of the Central Plains, and the area west of Hangu Pass was the land of the Hu people.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Qin people conquered the thousands of miles of fertile land in Guanzhong, making a huge contribution to the expansion of the Chinese nation's territory.

Today, the heartland of China has moved from east of Hangu Pass to Guanzhong.

A few years later, Qin lost its power and a great war began. The saying "He who controls Guanzhong controls the world" will be passed down through the ages.

Dang Dang Dang——

Suddenly, there was a warning sound from the gate.

Su Mingzhe thought that some bandits had appeared, so he quickly waved his sleeves, signaling everyone to form a formation to protect themselves.

As a result, when his spiritual consciousness was opened and he heard the conversation between the people behind the lock, he was immediately at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

"Who is this person from outside the pass?"

The commander guarding Hangu Pass heard from his subordinates that a thousand elite soldiers had come from outside the pass, but they were not wearing armor and looked very suspicious, so he immediately ordered his men to sound the alarm.

"Reporting to the general, I am a prisoner in Pei County, and I have been ordered to escort the treasury taxes, grain, and corvée labor to Xianyang!"

Su Mingzhe ordered everyone to disband the formation, and he came to the gate alone and threw his identity token over the gate.

The guard saw that Su Mingzhe could actually throw a light black bamboo token twenty or thirty feet away, and he immediately admired it:

"This guy is so strong! If E Lai were alive, no wonder he could train a group of corvées into sharp warriors!"

As he spoke, the guard ordered his men to check the token and confirm that it was correct. He then asked Su Mingzhe to bring up the documents, rosters and other items. After checking them one by one to make sure they were correct, he opened the gate and let them pass.

Hangu Pass, as the name suggests, is a majestic pass built in a urn-shaped valley.

It is located on the plateau in the west, faces a steep ravine in the east, borders the Qinling Mountains in the south, and is blocked by the Yellow River in the north. It is truly a place where 'one man guards the pass and ten thousand men cannot break through'.

When they entered the pass, they found that such a grand pass was quite bustling with people coming and going.

Seeing everyone's surprise, Su Mingzhe explained:

"Now that the Qin Dynasty has unified the world, the remnants of the six kingdoms of Jin, Qi, Chu, and Yan are no longer a concern. The real elite warriors of the Qin Dynasty have been sent by the First Emperor to fight in the south and the north. Naturally, this pass, which was originally used to defend against the six kingdoms, is no longer of much use."

clap clap-

There was a round of applause.

Everyone looked over and saw that the guard who was on the top of the city just now had changed into his regular clothes and came to Su Mingzhe:

"Sishui Su Erlang, you are really knowledgeable!"

Su Mingzhe took the token, document list and other items returned by the garrison commander, and then said with a smile:

"General, have you also heard of Su's name in Guanzhong?"

"Of course!"

The guard laughed and said:
"Su Jilang of Sishui, with his own efforts, cleared the land of bandits and pirates in Sacheon County. His contribution to protecting the country and the people is known to all the ministers in the court."

"General, you are too kind!"

Su Mingzhe said modestly:

"I just opened up the official trade route within a hundred miles of Pei County. It's absolutely a rumor to say that I have cleared the entire county of bandits and pirates!"

"Anyway, this is what I heard in Guanzhong!"

The guard didn't care whether Su Mingzhe was being modest or truthful, and introduced himself with a fist:
"My name is Li You. My father is the prime minister of the Qin Dynasty. When he sent me to Hangu Pass as a general, he told me that if any heroes come through the pass, I must invite them to my home. My father has been talking about the name of Su Erlang for a long time. I hope Su Erlang will do me the honor of visiting my humble home. Don't refuse!"

(End of this chapter)