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, and the top is lined with dense jagged bunkers, or horse faces. . Near the corner of the city wall, he even found a few city defense equipment similar to a stone thrower.

   In terms of area alone, most ancient cities can never be compared with modern cities, but after all buildings are surrounded by huge stone walls, the visual impact of ancient capitals is even better.

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

   Xia Fan soon realized where this feeling came from—Compared with the endless woods and fields along the way, the area near Jinxia City was bare. Not only that, but there was still black smoke behind the city, which made the sky gray a bit. Coupled with the yellow-brown earth and stone walls, there is a smell of fog.

  If the horse-drawn carriages weren't on the official roads, 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.

   "Hehe, this is the first time for the son to go to Jinxia?" The coachman smiled and took over, "This is one of the symbols of Shenzhou. There are not many people in this city called Jinxia. Everyone is there. Call it "Yancheng", or "Smoke City." After all, with the East China Sea back to the back and the river passing by, it is most appropriate to play tricks. It is said that this smoke has lasted for more than a hundred years since it rose. "

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

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

  "He said that salt should be made from sea water." After hearing what the coachman said, Xia Fan had guessed in his heart, "the sea contains a lot of salt. If the excess water can be boiled dry, it is not difficult to extract it from it. The salt comes. The smoke should be caused by a lot of burning wood."

   "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 is used, and Yancheng will occupy 30%. Otherwise, here is a poor and white city, how could it overwhelm the other three cities. 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 was a state-controlled material. Since it has become a salt-producing land, it is not up to the locals to produce a few days and how much. Those who are in charge of this business can naturally make a lot of money, but if they fail to meet the above requirements, it would be just 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.

   At this time, the grayness 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 dust, most of the pedestrians on the street wear hats, but better is a shawl and a soft hat, covering the hair is the usual way. This unexpected discovery made him I have more confidence in the fox demon hiding in the city.

   is just one thing that doesn't meet his expectations: it is clear that the river is close to 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 also street sellers, but it always makes him feel that something is missing.

   Xia Fan asked the driver of his doubts.

   and the latter's answer was a bit helpless, "Because there are always demons at the beach..."

   Even under the nose of the Privy Council?

   There was a strange feeling in Xia Fan's heart, but looking at the other party as if he didn't want to elaborate, he didn't continue to question.

   Two quarters 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 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 led Wei Wushuang from the side to the front entrance, submitted the documents and put them 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 feels the same. There are not only one or two buildings within the wall, but a dozen of them. They are arranged around the slab square in the middle, and they look orderly, and they are facing the gate. The main building is close to the fourth floor, and the color scheme of the red brick and golden roof is solemn.

   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 process of reporting went smoothly. After the official in charge of the reception checked the appointment and dismissal orders, he helped them to register in a harmonious manner, and distributed 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 receptionist smiled and said, "In addition to the four people who came before, Zhiwei Hall can also give the first class. ."

  "What does the first lesson mean?"

  "Do alchemists also need to attend classes?"

   the two asked almost at the same time.

   "Allow me to answer one by one," the receptionist waved his hand. "There is more than one examination room for the exam, you should know about this? The results of the exams in each place are different, and the appointment will naturally be different. No. The Privy Council is responsible for the land of a state, and each exam will accept 20 or 30 new alchemists. It is normal for the time to drag on for several months. However, the evil will never be calmed down, so we will wait for everyone to come together before starting classes. It's too late."

  "In order to let everyone perform their duties as soon as possible, Zhiwei Hall will open once as soon as there are six people. Even if newcomers arrive later, the teaching time can be staggered. The two will be the same. The same group of alchemists will follow In his actions, 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 take classes-do you think you have mastered all the magic techniques and know the true meaning of heaven?"

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

   "Haha...it's okay," the reception officer laughed. "In fact, the alchemist 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 do that. Practice repeatedly in the action, and 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.

   sounds pretty decent, Xia Fan thought. At least the Privy Council seems to be summarizing evil intelligence, and it emphasizes the combination of practice and cognition. This alone is much higher than the master's flow of experience. Being able to treat things 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 that big and mysterious. If there are gods in the world, then science will not make people worship, but will only make people study them. 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 the truth.

   "That's right," the receptionist added, "The Privy Council has a piece of land in the east of the city. The houses there can be rented to alchemists at a low price. Of course, you can also solve the housing problem yourself. The government will not do this. Any interference, as long as it does not affect official business."

   "Evil incidents cannot happen every day, so alchemists are 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 4:00~IndoMTL.com~ The location is here, two of you don’t remember to be late. The lecturer is a sixth-grade Wendaozhang master. If it makes him unhappy, it’s definitely It will suffer."

   "Thank you, Mr. reminder."

   "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.

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

   Xia Fan noticed that the clothes that the man wore were not alchemists, which meant that although 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’re an eighth-rank official now, so how can anyone dare to make things difficult at will.”

   "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 hiding in the house? Don’t you charge me when I go out to eat in restaurants?"

   is getting more and more ridiculous, Xia Fan gave him a blank 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 completed the first step and officially entered the threshold.


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