Ping An Biography

It is impossible not to part for a moment.The preparations for going to Beijing this time were very cumbersome, and it seemed that the schedule was rather rushed. There was only one day before departure, and Zhang Ning still had a lot of things to do in person.

Before dawn, Zhang Xiaomei went to Huoshi to hold the lamp when her mood became more stable, and was busy packing a change of clothes and belongings.She doesn't sleep at all, she looks very looking forward to and excited, but she lacks a feeling of leaving home. I don't know if her family will feel a little sad when they know her current mood, and they don't show much after being together for more than ten years. Reluctant to come; probably because I want to go with my brother.

This is the first time she has traveled far since she was a teenager. Her life circle is Liren Street, and she rarely goes to other places in Nanjing City. The farthest place she has traveled is her hometown in the countryside of Shangyuan County. The territory of Fuer County has never been before; this time it is a little far away.

It is normal for ordinary people at this time to have never traveled far, especially for some women who have lived for decades and have never even been to the county seat. a world.That is to say, officials, scholars, some slaves, and merchants ran outside a lot.So in people's eyes, it is very far from Nanjing to Beijing, but in Zhang Ning's sense, it is not too far, even if the traffic is slow at this time... Nanzhili passed by, from Shandong Chief Envoy and Henan Chief Passing between the envoys, you will reach the border of Beizhili, how far is it?In the eyes of those who have seen the global village, it is also an ordinary trip.

Zhang Ning went out early in the morning without eating, and then he didn't see anyone for a whole day.He first sent Lao Xu to get in touch with the business gang to inquire about the details of the itinerary, and then went to buy some things.

The transportation method was contacted a few days ago, and a deposit was also placed.Taking the canal route, it was a business gang in Shangyuan County that took over the business of Zhang Ning and his group. It was a joint organization of many commercial firms. There were often fleets of ships traveling between the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.Zhang Ning wanted to bring more than a dozen members of the troupe and a few followers, so he rented a boat to go north with the caravan; the caravan's departure time is tomorrow, so they need to finish the preparations before tomorrow, so they can't miss the time .

Lao Xu was solely responsible for the living expenses required for the journey, and Zhang Ning didn't ask. He was busy buying gifts.The value of things ranges from a few taels of money to nearly a hundred taels, depending on the severity.Mainly "elegant things" used by literati, such as calligraphy and painting, playthings, study utensils and so on.

In fact, the works of some local painters in Nanjing at this time are of high standard, and it can be seen that they have spent a lot of energy, but because they are not particularly famous painters and they are "living people", the prices are cheap, and the best ones can sell for a dozen or so. , the general one or two pair is also very tasteful.So the gifts that Zhang Ning bought included a few of these calligraphy and paintings, which didn't look tacky and didn't cost much.As for pens, inkstones, etc., it mainly depends on what the material is made of. If the material is rare, it is likely to be very finely processed.

There are also things for health and rare medicinal materials.As for things made of gold, silver and jewelry, you must not buy them unless they are used as bribes. The Ming dynasty scholars liked elegance and style in different times. If you mess around in this circle, people will say that you are illiterate. Upscale.The literati were not as open and flamboyant as they were in the Tang Dynasty. Around that time, the golden lamp luminous cup, red and purple silk and satin were the most popular.

Saying goodbye to Fang Ling and the others that night, the trip was approaching and there was no time to express my heartfelt feelings.If you choose rationally, bureaucrats who are too young are not a good destination for beauties, especially the aspiring sons in Jiangsu and Zhejiang who work harder when they are young. How can they spend so much time spending time with beauties?You go and wait for his beauty to grow old.Not to mention the beauties who are famous, but those who marry young Jinshi as their main wives. It is not uncommon for her husband to be an official in Beijing without family members, and it is not uncommon for her to stay in her hometown for several years; and the young Beijing officials are also depressed. Strictly forbidding bureaucratic piao|ji, the way many people solve their physiological needs is to find men to play with, because the law does not stipulate that it is not allowed to engage in sex... For example, Zhang Ning had such a problem when he was an official in Beijing. , he didn't look for a man|ji, but was self-sufficient.

Zhang Ning then bid farewell to the elders in the family, and his cousin Zhang Shicai also came to the pier to see him off when he set off the next day.

He was so busy that he felt dizzy, as if he had a lot of things to do, but the boat had already left the shore.The prosperity of Nanjing City is drifting away in the waves, and the smoke and clouds of Qinhuai River will only appear in dreams.

The waterway is a bit slow, but the journey is smooth and stable.The risk of natural disasters in inland river navigation is very small; the possibility of being robbed by bandits is also small, because the merchant gang travels in groups of many boats, with a large number of people, and the green forests that are not powerful can't move them at all, which is why many shops and merchants have to unite Form a business gang.On the other hand, along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, soldiers, horses, and warships patrolled, and large groups of blatant bandits were rare, so no major incidents were encountered during the journey.

Zhang Ning and his party consisted of more than a dozen people, including old Xu, his grandson and grandson. The interview caused the organization to be abolished. His idea of ​​managing Biyuan fell through, and he still lives with Zhang Ning.

When we arrived in the capital, it was approaching the twelfth lunar month, and the weather was already very cold. Most of the people in the group had never been to the north and were not used to it.Fortunately, Zhang Ning has nothing to do with himself, and a young body is good, even if he lacks exercise; even he himself is a little bit uncomfortable, but it's not a big problem, and he will get used to it after a while. The water quality in the city of beijing is indeed bad, with a bitter taste, and the royal family and nobles themselves do not eat it. Every day, water trucks bring water into the city from the mountains outside the city.

In order to avoid causing trouble to his colleagues and friends, Zhang Ning did not send anyone to report when he first entered the city...For example, Yu Qian, you find someone to tell others that I have come to the capital. Out of etiquette, will he make all kinds of troubles? Accommodation, banquets, clothes and bedding, etc.?To add trouble to others is to owe favors, and Zhang Ning still needs to consciously not overdraw his favorability when it is unnecessary.

He first found an inn to settle the people and a lot of luggage, and then went to find a house to rent with Lao Xu and others.It may be difficult to find a temporary rental yard in other cities if it is unlucky, but there is no such problem in the capital.Because the capital has a relatively large floating population, with officials coming to Beijing to serve as officials and businessmen traveling between the north and the south, the rental housing market will naturally stimulate supply.Moreover, many people do not have real estate in the capital. After Emperor Yongle established Beijing, the price of land has been increasing year by year, and ordinary people will not be able to afford it for a while; Move the capital back to Nanjing!It's just that it won't be possible to put into practical action for a while, and relocating the capital is not a small project.

However, Zhang Ning knew that Emperor Hongxi was a short-lived emperor, and soon after the crown prince ascended the throne, the relocation of the capital would be cancelled, and Beijing would continue to be the capital.If Zhang Ning wants to do business and make money, he can definitely make money by collecting money to buy land now. Business opportunities are everywhere, but a person's energy is limited and he doesn't need to get involved in everything. Being an official can still make him rich, and it's good to do his job well... This information can be revealed secretly to Mr. Su to sell personal favors. Uncle and the others don't have that much capital to speculate in land.

He quickly found a suitable yard, which was of course located in the inner city's Dongcheng District. Several ministers Zhang Ning met lived in the Dongcheng District, and living closer was also good for relationships.Gujing Lane in Zhengjue Temple Hutong in Nanjuxianfang is not far from Zhengjue Temple. You can also go to the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha when you have time.

The quadrangle courtyard of the second entrance is much larger than the place where I lived in Huanghuafang last year, and the layout of the house has also been corrected. It is more suitable for Zhang Ning's current official status. Walk.There are more than a dozen houses of different sizes in this courtyard, but the rent is also more expensive. The monthly rent is three or five dollars, and the payment is half a year. If Emperor Hongxi really moves the capital, this courtyard may not even be rented out.

The situation is similar to last time. The monthly salary of the sixth-rank official is ten shi. Now that the government’s finances are calculated, the nominal ten shi monthly salary is still close to five taels after discounting the rice, silver, and banknotes. Zhongjing officials have to borrow money for a long time to survive, unless you don't need favors at all.

Before Zhang Ning came here, he got 3000 taels from Mr. Su. If he had known that the younger sister would be much better off if he didn't spend the 500 taels, but now he is already struggling.Fortunately, after settling down, I went to the Ministry of Rites and reported to the Ministry of Rites, and I was able to receive 50 taels of silver.