Heavenly Dao Formula

Chapter 45: Jinxia City

   Two days later, Xia Fan could vaguely see the continuous gray walls of Jinxia City.

   is different from the temporary "city wall" built in Qingshan Town. It is a solid wall that is really used for defense and can resist foreign invasion. The height of the visual inspection is more than ten meters. The top is lined with dense jagged bunkers, or horse faces. Near the corner of the city wall, he even found several city defense equipment similar to a stone thrower.

   In terms of area alone, most ancient cities could not be compared with modern cities, but after all buildings were surrounded by huge stone walls, the visual impact of ancient capitals was even better.

   And he actually captured a sense of "modernity" in the distant view of this city.

   Soon Xia Fan realized where this feeling came from—compared to the endless woods and fields along the way, the area near Jinxia City was bare. Not only that, but plumes of black smoke filled the back of the city, making the color of the sky gray. Coupled with the yellowish-brown earth and stone walls, there is a smell of fog.

   If it was not a horse-drawn carriage running on the official road, he would almost think that Jinxia City had already entered the pre-industrial era.

   "Brother Wei, what's the matter with the black smoke?" Xia Fan shouted, raising his voice.

   Wei Wushuang, who ran in front, opened the curtains and probed back, "That's burning salt!"

   "Burning salt?" He asked in surprise.

"Haha, is it the first time for the son to go to Jinxia?" The coachman smiled and took the words, "This is one of the symbols of Shenzhou. This city is not much called Jinxia among the local population. Everyone calls it Jinxia. "Yancheng", or "Smoke City." After all, with the East China Sea backed by and the river passing by, it is most appropriate to play tricks. It is said that the smoke has lasted for more than a hundred years since it rose. "

   One hundred years... means that it started from the time of eternity?

   "Xia Fan, what is the relationship between smoke and salt?" Li Li asked in a low voice.

"What he said should be the use of sea water to make salt," Xia Fan had already guessed after hearing what the coachman said. "There is a lot of salt in the sea. If the excess water can be boiled dry, it is not difficult to extract salt from it. That smoke should be caused by a large amount of wood burning."

"The son is very knowledgeable." The coachman nodded, "This industry is also the reason why Yancheng can become the capital of Shenzhou. It is rumored that all Daqi's salt will be used, and Yancheng will occupy 30%. Otherwise, it is poor and white. How could it overwhelm the other three cities and six towns. "

   "Is the price of this white land outside the city?" Li muttered.

   "Then there is no way, people have to live. Once this salt burns, it is impossible to stop."

   Indeed, Xia Fan nodded secretly. The salt industry was an official business in ancient times, and it was a state-controlled material. Since it has become a salt-producing area, it is no longer a matter for the locals to decide how many days and how much it produces. Those in charge of this business will naturally make a lot of money, but if they fail to meet the above requirements, it will only be a matter of an instant.

   The last few miles were quickly completed. After checking the customs, the carriage slowly passed Wengcheng and drove along the main road into the city.

   The grayness at this time is more obvious, and even the air is filled with a faint smell of firewood.

Xia Fan noticed that perhaps in order to reduce the annoying falling dust, most of the pedestrians on the street were wearing hats, and the better thing was a shawl and a cap. It was a usual practice to cover the hair. This unexpected discovery made him treat the fox demon. Hidden in the city has a little more confidence.

   is just one thing that doesn't meet his expectations: it is clear that you are sitting on the river by the sea, and commerce should be very prosperous, but the streets have not shown the vitality they should have. It's not that there are no shops, there are street sellers, but it always makes him feel that something is missing.

   Xia Fan asked the driver of his doubts.

   The latter's answer was somewhat helpless, "Because there are always demons on the beach..."

   Even under the nose of the Privy Council?

   A slight strangeness floated in Xia Fan's heart, but looking at the other party, he didn't seem to want to elaborate, he didn't continue to ask.

   Two quarters of an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a high wall.

   "My son, your destination is here."

   "You are waiting here." Xia Fan blinked at Li in the carriage, then picked up the suitcase and got out of the car.

   Wei Wushuang also came over there, "Although I have been to Jinxia City several times, this is the first time I have entered the Privy Council. To be honest...I am a little nervous."

   "You and I are already alchemists, what's so nervous, shouldn't this be regarded as my own site?" Xia Fan smiled.

   "Brother Xia, what I admire the most is yours." Wei Wushuang said with emotion, "No matter where you are, you look confident."

   "No need to shoot flattery, let's go in."

   Xia Fan took Wei Wushuang from the side to the front entrance, submitted the documents and put it in the courtyard, and was told that the report was in the "Zhiwei Hall" on the west side.

   "This Privy Council... is too big, too." Wei Wuxiong exclaimed as he walked.

Xia Fan felt the same way. There were not only one or two buildings inside the wall, but a dozen of them. They were arranged around the slab square in the middle, which looked orderly, and the main building facing the gate was close to four. On the second floor, the color of the red brick and golden roof is full of solemnity.

   He estimated that the entire Privy Council is one lap larger than the track and field field, and it probably covers an area of ​​more than 20 acres.

  With such strong financial resources, it is no wonder that they can maintain an examination room like Qingshan Town for a long time.

  ……

   The reporting process went very smoothly. After the official in charge of the reception inspected the appointment and dismissal orders, he helped them to register in a harmonious manner and handed out a set of alchemist uniforms and an eight-grade bronze medal. In this way, Xia Fan and Wei Wushuang were regarded as official alchemists in the Privy Council.

   "This time the incumbent is really fast, and he will arrive before the end of August." The reception officer smiled and said, "Adding the four people who came before, Zhiwei Hall can also teach the first class."

   "What does the first lesson mean?"

   "Does alchemists also need to attend classes?"

   the two asked almost simultaneously.

"Allow me to answer one by one," the receptionist waved his hand. "There are more than one exam halls, you should know about this? The results of the exams in each place are different, and the appointment will naturally be different. The Privy Council is responsible for the land of a state, and each exam will accept 20 or 30 new alchemists. It is normal that the time will be delayed for several months. However, the evil will never be calmed down, so it will be too late to wait for everyone to come together. A little bit."

"In order to let you perform your duties as soon as possible, Zhiwei Hall will open once as soon as there are six people. Even if newcomers arrive later, you can stagger the teaching time. The same group of alchemists will also be in the next action. As a team of your own, if there are no other accidents, you will all work together for the Privy Council...no, for my Daqi."

   After answering Xia Fan's question, he looked at Wei Wushuang, "And of course the alchemist needs to attend classes-do you think you are already proficient in all spells and know the true meaning of heaven?"

   "Uh, of course not, I was rash."

"Haha...it's okay," the reception officer smiled. "In fact, alchemists must not only learn spells, but also have to be well aware of evils, such as their characteristics and the best way to deal with them. You will be in action. After repeated practice, only those who perform well can go further. As for the performance not so good, you should also be able to guess what the consequences will be..."

   Wei Wushuang shrank his neck.

   sounded decent, Xia Fan thought. At least the Privy Council seems to be summarizing evil intelligence, and emphasizes the combination of practice and cognition. This alone is much higher than the master's flow of experience. To treat things that are beyond common sense correctly, rather than attribute them to myths and legends, the Privy Council has touched the threshold of science at least on this point.

   Yes, science as a methodology is not so big and mysterious. If there are gods in the world, then science will not make people worship, but will only make people study. Regardless of whether the cognition is correct or not, it does not matter whether you can find the answer in the end. The important thing is that people never forget to seek truth.

"That's right," the reception officer added, "the Privy Council has a piece of land in the east of the city. The houses there can be rented to alchemists at low prices. Of course you can also solve the housing problem yourself, and the government will not interfere in any way. As long as it does not affect official business."

   "The evil incident cannot happen every day, so the alchemist is relatively free most of the time, but the two are newcomers. The front will be a little busy, and it will be easier in the coming year."

"Tomorrow’s first class will start at four o’clock in Mao’s time~www.ltnovel.com~ The place is right here, two of you remember not to be late. The lecturer is the sixth grade Master Daozhang. If it makes him unhappy, it is definitely It will suffer."

   "Thanks for reminding, Mr."

   "Hey, sir, I just watch the door." The other party smiled.

   bid farewell, and after the two walked out of the Hall of Zhiwei, Wei Wushuang let out a sigh of relief.

   "Who... I am indeed an official of the Privy Council, so enthusiastic and kind. You didn't know that I used to deal with yamen, even a small official could make things difficult for a long time."

   Xia Fan noticed that the clothes that the man wore were not alchemist uniforms, which meant that even though he was a "national civil servant", he and himself were obviously not in the same system. This might be the reason why the other party's attitude was so kind.

   Could it be that there are also establishments and temporary workers in this era?

   It's just that Xia Fan didn't tell the guess, "You are an eighth-rank official now, so how can anyone dare to make things difficult?"

"Ah... I almost forgot if you didn't tell me!" Wei Wushuang said excitedly, "What should an official look like, walking without his legs? No need to kneel when entering the Yamen? There are more than ten people in the house? Go out to eat. The store doesn't charge money?"

   The more you talk about it, the more ridiculous, Xia Fan gave him a white look, "You ask me, who should I ask?"

   "Or, we will change into new clothes later and go around the city?"

   "No time, you have to go by yourself."

   "Brother Xia!"

   "It's useless to call anything, don't talk about it!"

   Looking at his eager fellow townsman, Xia Fan shook his head helplessly.

   But this does not mean that his mood has not fluctuated-in fact Xia Fan is full of expectations for the future.

   For "want to learn more about the world," he has now taken the first step and officially entered the threshold.

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