The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1260 - 658: The First Gate of Great Xuan

The people stood on the deck of the Cao Boat, gazing into the distance.

At the junction of the Huitong River and the Wei River, the sunset dyed the river surface a golden red.

On both riverbanks, watchtowers and checkpoints were scattered.

Black-robed minor officials, sallow-faced oarsmen, merchants, porters…

People of all sorts coming and going, their noisy chatter even drowned out the sound of rushing water.

The river mouth was completely blocked by a tall wooden canal gate.

Dozens of Cao Boats and passenger boats crowded at the gate, anxiously waiting.

"Let's open the dam——!"

As the elder official at the gate struck the copper gong, the Cao workers swiftly set up the gangplank.

"Heave ho~"

Shirtless oarsmen on the shore shouted as they pulled the ropes, sweat rolling down their bronze backs.

As the winch turned, the massive wooden gate slowly lifted.

The long-awaiting boats immediately sailed into the lock.

After a dozen or so boats passed through, the wooden gate slowly descended again as the boats behind continued to wait.

This is the "dam passage" at the canal checkpoint.

The spectacle and scale were no less impressive than any port.

Li Yan and the others, seeing this, were not surprised.

Linqing City was no ordinary place; it was the Great Xuan Dynasty's preeminent northern commerce hub, the foremost of the eight Canal Currency Offices, overseeing four hundred miles of river port, collecting taxes surpassing ten times the entire Luzhou commercial tax revenue, ranking first in the nation.

Not to mention Jinan Prefecture, even Suzhou and Hangzhou would have to step aside.

"Prosperity suppresses both capitals," is not an empty phrase.

This place not only amassed substantial troops but was also a gathering ground for merchant associations from various provinces.

"Young Hero Li."

A worker of the Cao Gang respectfully cupped his hands and said: "It's getting dark, and passing through the Linqing Currency Office won't be quick. Perhaps you'd like to go ashore and spend the night in Linqing City, and once we pass the checkpoint tomorrow, you can return to the ship."

Li Yan frowned slightly, "Is it so troublesome to pass a currency office?"

"Ah~"

The Cao Gang worker sighed, "This place is the court's money sack, and troubles are plenty. Leave the handling to us; spare your ears from its filthiness."

Li Yan pondered for a moment, "Alright."

His original plan didn't intend to stop here.

Before reaching Tianjin City, he would only make a stop at Cangzhou to visit the Wu Family.

But given the situation, waiting an extra night wouldn't be a problem.

Meanwhile, the Cao Boat gradually approached the gate.

As the oarsmen cranked the winch, the gate rose, and the Cao Boat entered.

Li Yan took a look around, a familiar feeling surged within.

This structure, he had seen something similar in his past life when passing some dams by boat, and didn't expect it to be utilized so early on.

If he guessed correctly, there would be more gates ahead altering the river levels, making the water flow gentle.

The difference was, on both sides of the riverbank, there were guards in watchtowers, armed with crossbows and firearms, keeping a watchful eye, and small boats on the river were operated by tax collectors responsible for inspections and tax collection.

Li Yan, without showing any emotion, glanced at the left riverbank.

He saw wooden poles standing on the shore with several corpses hanging on them, necks tied with bamboo tally.

"Those are private boats evading taxes..."

Seeing Li Yan's eyeing, the Cao Gang worker quickly whispered an explanation.

At this moment, a tax boat slowly sailed over.

By now, the sun had set, the light was dim, and the elderly tax collector holding a lantern labeled "Heaven" leapt onto the deck, his clothes tattered, reeking of stale alcohol, looking around arrogantly, "What are you dawdling for, inspect!"

At his command, two junior officials immediately rushed into the cabin.

They stormed in like wolves and tigers, rummaging through the cabin in chaos.

A nearby Cao Gang disciple hurriedly handed over a red-sealed "passport" from the Currency Office.

The elderly tax collector glanced at it briefly, moistening his fingertips with saliva to carefully check page by page.

"Ouch!"

At that moment, a cry of pain sounded.

The junior official who rushed in was seen being directly thrown out of the cabin, rolling twice on the deck.

Lv San emerged from the cabin darkness, face cold, "If you mess around again, I'll chop off your dog paws!"

It turned out that these two junior officials, seeing Li Yan and others' luggage in quality sandalwood boxes cloaked in leather for waterproofing, had become greedy, attempting to pry them open and steal something, but were beaten out by Lv San.

"You..."

The elderly tax collector's face changed, just about to act up.

He wasn't flustered seeing people were taking action.

This Grand Canal connects north and south, mixed with all sorts of people from the Three Religions and Nine Sects, he'd seen it all.

However, Linqing was under heavy military guard, no matter what kind of hero from the green forest comes, here dragons must coil and tigers must crouch; if one dares resist tax, per court decree, they could be beheaded directly!

Yet before he could shout, he saw Long Yan'er wave her sleeve beside him.

The three tax officials immediately stiffened, their eyes turning vacant.

"They've already inspected, nothing happened before..."

Long Yan'er slightly parted her lips, then beckoned to retrieve the Gu Worm.

The three tax officials gradually regained their senses.

"Have you inspected?"

"Yes, it's just some grain..."

"Alright."

The elderly tax collector nodded, feeling something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint it, then suddenly squinted and pointed at the cargo hold: "The two baskets of Zhangzhou oranges inside, they're not listed in the tax register!"

The Cao Gang's boat carried only grain, no Zhangzhou oranges.

Nevertheless, the Cao Gang disciple smiled and handed over broken silver, "Yes, yes, we'll make sure to settle it."

The elderly tax collector stuffed the silver into his sleeve, glanced around as he swept his lantern over the stern, then waved his hand:

"Alright, next one!"

Saying this, he led his two subordinates back onto the small boat and left.

"What a spectacle..."

Sha Lifei laughed, "We've traveled the pugilistic world, crossed countless checkpoints, but never seen one so blatantly open, truly deserving of its title as the world's number one checkpoint at plucking a feather off a passing goose!"