In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

The barely maintained aura that Zhou Yicheng had been putting on finally crumbled.

He stared at Yang Xuan and Yan He, and after a moment he managed to force a smile.

"You two have misunderstood."

"I did not mean to make things difficult for you."

"However, recently, escapees and private merchants have been mixed along the post roads, so the rules have to be tightened."

"Since the documents are correct, then... then please enter the inn to rest."

Upon hearing this, many people secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Instead of stopping, Cui Shen took a half step forward.

"If that's the case, then what Zhou Yicheng just said about my family's transgression of regulations..."

Zhou Yicheng's face stiffened.

"It's just a routine inquiry."

There is no definitive conclusion.

"What about blocking the water and the stove?"

"The subordinates don't understand the gravity of the situation and said the wrong thing."

Cui Shen then nodded.

"it is good."

"Then I'll just write down this sentence."

Zhou Yicheng looked at him, his heart practically clenching its teeth.

This man, who looked like a scholar, was more cunning than the old soldier when he wielded his knife.

He won't break ties with you.

He didn't indulge in idle talk.

He simply pinned back to you every single word you had just said.

If this kind of person were to actually secure a position in a local government office, he would likely be even more troublesome than someone wielding a knife.

The door finally opened.

The procession slowly entered the post station.

Wen Bo first led his men to settle the medicine furnace and the main carriage in a sheltered spot. Afu followed to fetch water, while Pei Zhao, as usual, kept a close watch. Upon entering, he first looked at the wall, then the well, then the stable, thoroughly examining the backyard and the direction of the side gate.

While Cui Shen outwardly continued to verify the names of those borrowing stoves and rooms, he had already made up his mind.

We've passed the first hurdle.

But precisely because it's in the past, he's even more certain of one thing.

Someone had given prior notice.

If he were just an ordinary courier who was greedy for money and treated people differently based on their status, he wouldn't have made things so difficult for them just now.

They refused to provide water or lend them a stove, targeting the most critical areas of the patient and the female relatives; then they used "overdue" and "missed deadline" as pretexts to obstruct their journey to their new post.

This whole approach was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Thinking of this, Cui Shen, carrying the account book, hurried to the backyard.

In the small house in the backyard, Yang Xuan was already leaning against the couch, and Uncle Wen was changing his dressing.

The confrontation at the door just now, which seemed to consist of only a few words, had actually made him break out in a cold sweat again.

The wound was rubbed by the clothing, and even the edges of the bandage were oozing a little red.

Yanhe stood by the window, watching the courier walking back and forth in the courtyard.

Cui Shen bowed respectfully upon entering before saying:

"Da Lang".

"That Zhou Yicheng was definitely not acting on a whim."

Yang Xuan hummed in agreement.

"You noticed?"

"Yes."

Cui Shen lowered his voice.

"His timing was perfect."

"If it were just because we have a lot of people and a lot of vehicles, we would at most start by trying to get some extra money from the fodder and water. At worst, we would just want to get a few more strings of cash. But the first thing he said was 'over the rules' and 'late'. He even blocked the water, fire and medicine stove. This doesn't seem like he's trying to skim money from us. It's more like someone told him in advance what we were most afraid of, and he cut off that first."

Yang Xuan nodded slowly.

This is exactly what he expected.

The other party wasn't trying to kill him outright.

Instead, we need to use these methods—not too big, not too small, but absolutely disgusting—to grind him down all the way.

The delay caused by the grinding.

It was worn out and severely damaged.

The team's morale has been eroded.

Even if he survives to reach Yaozhou, he will be a half-dead dog.

This method is exactly the kind of trick those people in Chang'an usually use.

Yanhe turned around.

"That Zhou Yicheng may not even know who he is working for."

"good."

Yang Xuan said.

"This kind of person is mostly just responding to a sentence or receiving a favor."

"Let him 'look after' us along the way."

"He may not know who's in charge, he just knows that if he does this well, people will remember his good deeds."

Upon hearing this, Cui Shen's expression grew even more somber.

"Won't we have to do the same at every subsequent post station?"

"Not every post station has people."

Yang Xuan leaned against the pillow, his voice slightly weak but still steady.

"But as soon as someone ahead tests whether we are soft or hard, those behind will follow suit and change their methods."

"So today's performance is not just a formality."

"It's also for future reference."

Upon hearing this, Cui Shen immediately understood.

Their resistance at Yongxing Post Station today is not just about fighting for a drink of water or a stove for themselves.

It was also a message to the post station officials, clerks, and local informants who might not have shown themselves yet—

This team won't fall apart just because of a random card.

We need to find another way to wear them down.

"Ah Fu".

Yang Xuan suddenly shouted.

Afu, who was squatting by the door eavesdropping while holding a bucket of water, was startled and quickly poked his head in.

"I'm here."

"Go do two things."

"First, write down who in the yard watched our main vehicle the most today, and who listened most attentively when you spoke."

"Secondly, try to find out if there have been any fast horses, messengers, or people who specifically mentioned our route from Chang'an in the past three to five days at Yongxing Post Station."

Afu's eyes lit up.

"I understand."

He liked this job.

Running errands, sneaking into cracks, and eavesdropping are his forte.

Just as Afu ran out, Pei Zhao came in from outside the door.

His complexion was also not good.

"The gates on both sides of the backyard are narrow, but there is a breach in the east wall, and a small path leads to the back of the stable."

"If someone really tries to sneak in tonight, this inn is even worse than that wilderness last night."

Upon hearing this, Cui Shen's face flushed slightly.

If Yang Xuan hadn't intervened yesterday, they would have actually entered that small inn, and tonight they might be sleeping on the edge of a knife without even realizing it.

Pei Zhao didn't look at him, but only at Yang Xuan.

"We cannot fully trust the people at the post station tonight."

What do you think?

"I don't believe it either."

Yang Xuan said.

"But this time, we're determined to stay."

Pei Zhao was taken aback at first, then realized what was happening.

"What does Dalang want to do..."

"Since they want to use the post station to test me, I will also use the post station and see whose hand is revealed first."

Yang Xuan's eyes turned slightly cold.

"Not only do we need to stay here tonight, but we need to stay properly."

"Wenbo, continue to prepare the medicine and meals. Cui Shen, record everything that needs to be recorded, including how much fodder the post station provided, how many rooms they borrowed, and who spoke first—do not omit any of it."

"Pei Zhao, things are still the same outside. Your people are keeping an eye on things inside, and you're keeping an eye on things outside. There's just one thing: this time, I don't want you to only look at the footprints outside the wall."

"I want you to take a look around and see who among the couriers and our own people moves around the most, and who likes to crowd around the door the most."

Pei Zhao's eyes narrowed.

"You suspect there might be collusion between the inside and outside?"

"It's not a doubt."

Yang Xuan looked out the window.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later."

A troop ordered to travel south had to stop at post stations, change water, borrow fire, and pass through checkpoints along the way.

If someone truly intended to wear them down, they wouldn't just attack from the outside.

Working together from both inside and outside is the most efficient way.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Everyone is processing the weight of those words.

Until Yanhe spoke softly.

"In that case, I'll try a different approach on my end tonight."

Yang Xuan looked at her.

"How do I change it?"

"Previously, the maids and women mostly rested in the inner room, so if something really happened, they couldn't see anything. Starting tonight, my men will no longer just guard the inner room."

Yanhe's voice was flat.

"Caifan will bring two sharp-eyed people to take turns watching people from under the window and in the porch. I'll remember who brings water and food back and forth, who makes an excuse to get close to the main car, and who goes to the backyard and then comes back from the front door."

She said it so casually.

But Cui Shen felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.

This is a woman from a royal family.

They don't show up usually, but when it comes to actually closing in, they can spot every single corner you thought was the least noticeable.

Yang Xuan glanced at her and nodded.

"it is good."

"Then let's start tonight and make Yongxing Post Station our first trap after leaving Chang'an."

"Let's see who hangs it up first."

In the afternoon, Yongxing Post Station was indeed more lively than in the morning.

Two groups of minor officials arrived ahead, one heading north and the other south. They were all low-ranking officials and clerks, moving quickly and stopping only briefly.

Another caravan transporting cloth was resting at the gate. The man leading the caravan originally wanted to borrow a stove, but the postman dismissed him with a few words.

As Yang Xuan listened to these sounds, he became even more certain.

This post station is not without rules.

Rather, the rules are specifically designed to target them.