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For the ancient means of communication, many people think of the beacon, it can be said that this means of communication covers a very wide area, but the fly in the ointment is that it will be affected by the weather.
However, some information cannot be delivered by the beacon alone, but by some messengers, and the delivery speed of the messenger is called "800 miles expedited".
So, how fast is the "800-mile expedited" and why did the robbers not dare to intercept it on the way to the delivery?
The type of information that was transmitted in ancient times
In ancient society, as an important mechanism for information transmission, the post system has undergone an evolution process from simple to complex, starting from the Qin Dynasty, in order to effectively manage the country, Qin Shi Huang ordered the establishment of a post network throughout the country.
This network has gradually developed into a coherent system, including the establishment of post stations, staffing, and the formulation of laws and regulations, to ensure that important information can be transmitted safely and quickly.
The post station network is frequently arranged, with an average of one stop every 20 miles, and the station is equipped with guest rooms, stables and warehouses to facilitate the rest of messengers and travelers.
In the post system, the 800-mile express is the most talked about delivery method, which requires the messenger to reach a speed of 300 miles per day, and in case of a very urgent situation, up to 800 miles.
In order to ensure the smooth progress of the 800-mile expeditious process, the imperial court not only provided legal support, but also had a special person responsible for the maintenance of public order to ensure the smooth flow of the transmission process.
History has recorded many cases of 800 li expedited and successful transmission of emergency military information, such as Tang Xuanzong quickly learned of a rebellion 3,000 miles away from the capital.
This is enough to prove the high efficiency and importance of the eight-hundred-mile rush in the transmission of information at that time, and in addition to the postal system, the ancient information transmission also relied on some other methods.
For example, well-trained carrier pigeons could transmit messages over long distances at a speed several times faster than land transportation at that time, and at the same time, water transportation was often connected with land post stations, which could reduce the time loss of transit and improve the speed of north-south transportation.
These different ways played their respective roles in ancient societies and together contributed to the transmission of information in ancient times.
By the time of the Tang Dynasty, the entire post system had reached its peak, and the use of a variety of means of transmission enabled the transmission of information to reach the optimal state.
Although the post system has been replaced by the modern postal system over time, its place in history is still very important.
However, in the process of transmitting information, it can be said that some documents need to be delivered quickly, so in order to ensure the smooth flow and confidentiality of communication, what kind of strict management will the imperial court make of the post station?
Eight hundred miles expedited management
In ancient China, in order to quickly transmit extremely important information, especially secret documents involving military intelligence and state affairs, a set of efficient communication mechanisms was established, known as the "Eight Hundred Miles Expedited".
At the heart of this mechanism is a nationwide network of post stations, each about 10 to 15 miles apart, so that messengers can change horses and transmit information around the clock.
The widely deployed post station system can quickly transmit information to all parts of the country, and each post station is equipped with fast horses from all the post stations such as fresh and connected stations.
The messengers can use their great horsemanship to speed by lightning speed, and quickly deliver important documents to their destinations.
The health and expenses of the horses are regularly reported between the stations, and those responsible for concealment or corruption are severely punished to ensure the efficient operation of the station system.
It was precisely because of the great importance attached to correspondence by the imperial court that strict legal measures were taken against acts that might obstruct the transmission of urgent documents.
According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, anyone who dared to obstruct or hijack urgent military documents would face a penalty of the third degree or higher, and if they lost the war, they would be sentenced to death by hanging, and their family members would also be punished by joint sitting.
To a certain extent, these strict legal measures have ensured the efficient operation of the 800-mile expedited transmission system, and such a strong institutional guarantee has deterred bandits who dare to intercept the "800-mile expedited transmission."
As the so-called "shouting: "Eight hundred miles of expeditious! The gold medal will be given, and those who resist will die, and those who oppose will die! Then I saw the smoke and dust billowing out, and the rider had already left!"
This sentence shows the extreme speed of the eight-hundred-mile urgent messenger like a gale, and it is far away in an instant, making people feel that they cannot catch up.
The "800 miles expedited" transmission mechanism is like the "lifeline" of a country, and if anyone dares to cut it off, they are afraid that they will be punished by heaven, and the robbers intercepting such a messenger is equivalent to violating the laws of the imperial court, and the consequences are unimaginable.
As a result, the Eight Hundred Miles Expedited Messengers were both protected by law and supported by the population, so that even in troubled times, few people were willing to risk interfering with their messages.
The "800 miles expedited" transmission mechanism not only plays an important role in the efficient transmission of information, but also reflects the great importance that ancient Chinese attached to information transmission and national stability.
Whether it is a strict regulatory system or a severe punishment of illegal acts, it has made the "800 miles expedited" a set of high-pressure application of the communication mechanism.
Under the difficult social conditions at that time, it could still ensure that the information was conveyed quickly and accurately, so what kind of speed did the 800-mile expedited exist?
Eight hundred miles expedited speed
The speed of the "800-mile expedited" is not a lie, and according to historical records, this method of communication was already widely used in the Tang Dynasty.
For example, when An Lushan rebelled, his intelligence reached Tang Xuanzong in just six days, a figure that proves that the "Eight Hundred Miles Expedited" is indeed extremely efficient.
Records from the Tang Dynasty show that fast horses at that time could run up to 500 miles, or 250 kilometers, every day, and this astonishing speed was due to the selection of excellent horses and well-trained messengers.
However, the key to achieving this speed is the synergy of man and horse, with the couriers usually drawn from elite units and superior in physical strength, while the horses are carefully selected for their stamina.
During the relay, the messenger was replaced with fresh horses at each stop to ensure speed and efficiency.
At the same time, the staff of the inn will also provide the messenger with necessary supplies and rest to ensure that they can recover their strength in a short time.
Traditionally, messengers and post stations work closely together to ensure that messages are fast and accurate, but there are huge risks behind this high-speed communication.
Even so, many messengers were exhausted and even died suddenly after completing their tasks, but even so, in order to ensure the security and stability of the country, successive kings did not hesitate to pay a great price to maintain the system.
There is a poem describing the messenger "one post after another, and the post is like a meteor", which shows its speed and gallop like a dragon.
While the speed of the "Eight Hundred Miles Expedited" is impressive, in reality, its historical average speed is about 250 to 350 miles (about 125 to 175 kilometers) per day.
Even in an emergency, the speed does not exceed 500 miles (about 250 kilometers) per day, and in addition, local officials will be accommodating to ensure that the messenger is not hindered.
Although the real speed of the "800 miles expedited" is not as fast as the legend, it is undoubtedly an efficient and reliable means of communication under the conditions of ancient times.
However, it was this miraculous rapid delivery that reversed the country's crisis many times and turned the danger into a disaster, so what was the status of the urgent messenger at that time?
The status of the Messenger
During the Qing Dynasty, the court would have messengers wear different levels of waist tags depending on the importance of the letters.
Once the postman in the post station hears the bell of the messenger's visiting, he must immediately prepare everything to greet him, which shows that the status of the gold medal messenger is extremely high.
At the same time, we can also see that during the Cao Wei period, the envoy could sit with the minister, which also proves the high status of the courier.
On the way through each post station, the gold medal messenger could directly skip all other waits at the post station, completely above the common people, this privilege can be described as "majestic" at that time.
At the same time, military intelligence couriers are directly related to national affairs, so public security mistakes must be punished as death, which also shows that the power of couriers is unparalleled.
The Tang Dynasty's use of post stations as guest houses to provide comfortable accommodation for officials and literati also shows the high social status of the courier industry.
It can be said that the status of the messenger was extremely lofty at that time, because it was directly related to national affairs and royal interests.
It can be said that in extraordinary times, the delivery speed of the messenger can make a country or war go to different endings, so many courts have given some preferential treatment to the messenger.
Although the speed of "800 miles expedited" is not as fast as modern logistics, compared with the conditions at that time, it can be said that the speed of information transmission is very fast.
Resources
"Eight Hundred Miles Expedited" - Baidu Encyclopedia
"How fast is the 800-mile rush?" - Zhengguan News