A thousand-year-old family that began with the Battle of Makino

Chapter 170 Commercial City, Lantern Festival
"Next!" "Okay, let's go!" "Next!"...

"What are you pretending to be?"

"Hey, Master Jun, cloth!" A middle-aged businessman wearing coarse cloth said with a smile on his face.

The sergeant ignored it and just asked people to get on the car to check. They found that they were indeed pieces of cloth and returned to the merchant.

"Where did it come from?"

"Xinfeng!"

"Come from Chang'an?"

"Yes Yes Yes!"

"Where is the business document?"

"Here it is!"

The sergeant handed the document to the clerk next to him. The clerk copied the information on the document onto a bamboo strip and asked, "How many tea leaves are there?"

The merchant stated the quantity, and the sergeant verified it. The clerk recorded the quantity, then put the bamboo sticks into the cloth bag next to him, stepped forward and said to the merchant: "This is not the first time you have come to Chaoge to do business. The rules are all there." You know it!”

The merchant smiled apologetically and said, "I know, I know. I'll go to the Shangshi Yamen to register the quantity soon."

The clerk nodded and said: "I still want to remind you that Bai Gong is kind and allows you merchants to sell the goods before paying taxes, but don't run away, otherwise you won't be able to eat the good fruit."

The merchant patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, sir, we don't dare to run away, otherwise will we still be alive?"

The clerk nodded and said: "Go over!"

The merchant thanked him repeatedly, and then asked his hired man to drive the three trucks to the city. On the city tower, a solemn official in black robe was watching all this. He was responsible for supervising the sergeants and clerks at the city gate to prevent them from getting rich. It's your own pocket, you can eat and get cards.

In this way, the three systems, inspection by the City Guards Office, records by the Commercial and Municipal Government, and supervision by the Yushi Office, can ensure the smooth development of commercial activities throughout Chaoge City.

The City Guards Office is responsible for Chaoge City's public security, traffic, patrols, and city gate inspections. With the warrant from the Prime Minister's Office, it has the power to search residential houses and arrest suspects. Due to the rapid increase in Chaoge's population, the number of troops is 5,000.

The Commercial City Government is responsible for commercial activities in Chaoge City, including commercial taxes, market management, commercial cases, etc. It has an anti-smuggling team of 500 people dedicated to catching unscrupulous businessmen who evade taxes.

The Yushifu is responsible for supervising all officials and city guards except the army. It only has the power of supervision and no law enforcement power. It carries a bamboo slip with it and writes down the illegal things in the city. It is directly responsible to Duke Bai.

In the book-delivery team, a young civil servant was very curious about the things around him. He had a clear view of the scene just now.

He curiously asked the colleague next to him: "This Chaoge City is really big. Didn't it mean that Emperor Gaozu hated merchants? Why are there so many merchants in Chaoge?"

The colleague, who was probably in his thirties, smiled and said: "You don't know something. This Chaoge is Bai Gong's private land. If Bai Gong hadn't volunteered to go to the king's house, I don't know how many people would have been buried in this land in Hebei. ?”

"By the way, do we have a chance to see the great sages this time? I heard that Confucianism is prevalent in the Bai Kingdom and there are many great sages gathering here."

"I heard from Dr. Fengshu that most of the great scholars are at Taibai Academy in the Taihang Mountains, but we also have the opportunity to go there. I am going to apply to go to Taibai Academy to copy. Brother Sima, what about you?"

"I want to go too. I heard that the Bai Kingdom has the most complete history books in the world. There are records from King Wu of Zhou to the present. I'm really looking forward to it!" Young Sima Xi's eyes were shining with gold.

The colleague smiled and said: "You, like your father Sima Taishi, are addicted to history books as much as their lives. I am different. I hope to be accepted as a disciple by a great scholar. In this way, I can rise rapidly and make my family name famous. "

"Hahaha!" Sima Xi and his colleagues laughed.

If one adjective could be used to describe today's Chaoge, it would be prosperous. It is not as solemn as Chang'an, which can be seen from the color. Chang'an has more black, red, and less other colors, while Chaoge is just like a big colorful dye vat, full of flowers and colors, and the costumes of pedestrians are also different.

Sima Xi followed the motorcade almost through the city. They entered from the south gate and came to the north gate. After passing through a residential street, the noisy sound just now disappeared, and what came into view were courtyards. There are lush plants and running water, and the people coming and going are either polite or informal, holding scrolls or discussing with each other.

This is the Bai Family Academy in the North City of Chaoge. This school alone occupies half of the North City of Chaoge. Different from the bustle of the South City, the grace of the West City, and the solemnity of the East City, the North City is quiet and peaceful.

A group of civil servants came towards the crowd: "Everyone, please come down and put your cars in other courtyards! According to the order of the Crown Prince, you can play wherever you want today and tomorrow, and you will have to divide your work and start working the next day."

Sima Xi and several colleagues followed a civil servant and moved into a courtyard. After settling in, they made an appointment to go to the city to have a look. Sima Xi was also very curious about the charm of this thousand-year-old city. Before, he only glanced at it and didn't feel it. arrive.

Sima Xi accompanied the four of them. They first walked around the North City and saw some students arguing with each other in the field of speculation, while others were in every corner, holding bamboo slips in their hands, leaning on stones, studying carefully, and even saw a student inside. In a field, several students are working there.

All this was very curious to these people who came from Chang'an and had only received closed education at home. They called a student on the roadside and asked why. Let’s all go together!”

They asked what the requirements were for admission, and the student explained patiently: "Every year, the school will recruit a thousand people, divided into four parts. It only recruits people who have studied elementary school. One of them is a child of the Bai family or a child with the surname Bai. There are children of the public clan who have gone to other places to establish clans. As long as they have a name in the family tree and are recommended by the clan elders, they can enroll in the school. Just like me, I was recommended by the Jimo Wang family to enroll in the school last year.

Both of them are from the four major clans of the Bai Kingdom and can enroll in the school after being recommended by the four major clans.

Third, no matter who has the nationality of the Belarus, first, as long as he passes the entrance test, he can enroll. Second, those whose family has made great contributions to the Belarus can enroll without taking the exam. Third, those who have donated a lot of money to the school can enroll without taking the exam.

The fourth one was recommended for admission by Bai Gong himself.

Those who enroll in the school must be between the ages of thirteen and twenty, and must stay there for three years. All fees are paid by the White House. However, the school will hold a basic test every year. Those who fail to meet the standards will drop out of school directly. After three years, those who pass the test will Those who qualify can obtain a bronze seal and be regarded as a student of the academy. "

After Sima Xi and others learned about it, they said goodbye to the students from the school and headed to the west of the city. However, they were stopped by a sergeant just after they had gone far, saying: "This is an important place for the military camp. Please don't come forward."

The four of them had no choice but to return. Sima Xi looked at the sky and said, "Why don't we go back! Isn't there another day tomorrow? Come back tomorrow?"

One person said: "No, I heard others said that today Chaoge will lift the curfew in the whole city except Xicheng. Tonight is their lantern viewing festival, and the lights will be on day and night."

"Really? Then let's go take a look?"

"Let's go!"

The four of them couldn't wait any longer and immediately turned south.

As soon as they entered Nancheng, the four of them were stunned by the bustling scene here. The sky was already dark at this time, and the entire Nancheng was brightly lit, with various colorful lanterns hung on both sides of the streets.

The streets were even more crowded, as if the entire Chaoge crowd had come out.

I saw everything being sold on both sides of the street, food, handicrafts, sideshows...

The people on the street include officials taking a break, soldiers on vacation, ordinary residents of the city, lads who have been working hard all day, businessmen, literati, and craftsmen... some of them are bringing their friends with them, and some are... I went shopping with my wife, children, and a few best friends.

Sima Xi and the others were stunned. Is this the human world? This is heaven!

Not far away from the four of them, a team of men and women was standing in front of a small stall.

"Hui'er, it's my brother's fault. I shouldn't have betrothed you to Liu Ying without your consent, but there's nothing we can do about it! If the Bai family wants to rule the world with the Liu family, they have to be tied to them. On a chariot!"

Bai Jun saw that Bai Hui still ignored him and was looking at the gadgets on the street. He said helplessly: "Besides, the most important thing is that I think Liu Ying is a good person. He is humble and polite. He is kind and loving to his parents and courteous to his subordinates. He is a rare companion!
With our family's conditions, there are really not many men who can find such a well-matched and respectful man. Besides, you are also 18 or 19 this year, and you are at the age of marriage. Besides, if not, Liu Ying is a good person. , my brother allows you to marry him? "

Bai Hui turned to look at Bai Jun and said, "Is that the reason? I've never met each other, how do I know? Okay, Bai Jun, you actually used your sister as a political marriage. None of our ancestors did this before. You Are you embarrassed to go to the ancestral temple to meet your ancestors?"

Bai Jun said embarrassedly: "That doesn't count! This isn't forcing you. Isn't this asking for your opinion? Besides, it's precisely because Liu Ying is good that I agreed to the Queen Mother's request. Otherwise, I wouldn't know anything. Don’t worry if you accept it. If you really don’t agree, I’ll let someone go in your place. They haven’t seen you anyway.”

Bai Hui snorted and continued walking forward. Bai Jun and his people quickly followed. After walking for a while, Bai Hui turned around and said, "Since you said Liu Ying is a good person and you praised Haikou again, I believe it." You, so as not to be discovered and said that our Bai family is not trustworthy. In addition, I can tell you in advance that if Liu Ying is not like you said, but a selfish and cruel person, don't blame me for messing around. ah!"

Bai Jun said happily: "Don't worry, if Liu Ying really treats you badly, my brother will rescue you even if it means his own life. His palace is nothing. It's not like our Bai family has never been burned."

After the lantern viewing party, Bai Jun returned to Bai Mansion and came to Bai Qing.

"How about it? Hui'er agrees?" Bai Qing also asked nervously.

Bai Jun smiled and said, "Huier agreed."

Bai Qing breathed a sigh of relief, then kicked Bai Jun again, and cursed: "Look at what you do, you dare to agree to anything. Do you know what your mother said about me? You even cheated your sister, what do you do?" What brother?"

Bai Jun was kicked down, he let out an ouch, and said with a crying face: "I am also doing it for the Bai family! By marrying the royal family, we can do better in the central government."

"Fart, our Bai family is not like other families that need to rely on women to maintain relationships. Throughout the ages, even if it can be maintained for a while, can it still be maintained for a lifetime? Look at the Wei Kingdom, my Bai family and the Wei family are so good, but once Wei Wan dies, Or is there nothing left? How many years will my grandmother, who was married to Wei Wan at that time, remain a widow? "

Bai Jun didn't dare to speak. Bai Qing continued: "Even if Liu Ying has a good character and ability, where is the royal family? Since ancient times, emperors have not lived long, so what good is it if you let Bai Hui marry her? I, the Bai family Can’t you still afford her?”

Bai Jun hesitated and said, "How about not getting married?"

Bai Qing kicked him again and said: "Marry, why don't you marry? You agreed, how can you still regret it? What do you think of Bai's reputation? I see what you have learned after staying in Chang'an for several years. Aren't you going to copy the classics if you can't find them on the table? I think there won't be enough copies to finish in a few months. Take this time to go back and recreate them yourself."

Bai Jun had no choice but to agree with a grimace.

(End of this chapter)