Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 265
On May 24th in the 1596th year of Wanli ([-]), Huang Laifu and his party passed through the corner of the roadside forest and passed the endless plain, and they could already faintly see the majestic silhouette of Beijing City on the horizon.

An hour later, Huang Laifu and others were already standing outside the Fucheng Gate in the capital.There are palace city and imperial city in Beijing city, and the outermost is the capital city, with a circumference of 45 li and nine city gates.Huang Laifu and others came from Shanxi and entered Beijing through Fuchengmen in the southwest.

In the year of Wanli, there were 130 households in Beijing, with a population of 70. In addition to the floating population from outside, the population was several million, which can be called extremely prosperous.Although Huang Laifu has already been to Beijing twice, but every time he comes, he will be fascinated by her style.Not to mention the prosperity of the shops, what attracted Huang Laifu the most was the feeling of freedom and luxury in Beijing at this time.

Walking on the street, all eyes are men and women in brocade clothes, each of them has refurbished clothes, there are all kinds of surprises, imitations and transgressions, emerging one after another.Weaving golden makeup flowers was originally a special thing for the royal family, officials and nobles, but now it is ordinary merchants and citizens who wear pearl crowns and gold and silver buns all over the place.Clothes such as yellow, bright red, and gold embroidered brocade were originally strictly prohibited for the common people to use, but now they are maidservants of wealthy households walking on the street, all dressed in bright red. On the contrary, some Confucian scholars, if they wear an ordinary cloth robe and walk on the street If you go up, you will be laughed at for being shabby.

As for some lowly musicians in the teaching workshop, they could only wear some green headscarves in the past, but now they are painted with birds and birds on their costumes, ostentatiously passing through the market like courtiers.What is even more extreme is the dragon pattern clothing, originally a symbol of the royal family, which was strictly forbidden to be used illegally in the early Ming Dynasty, but now walking on the street, there are three citizens out of ten, and the clothes are full of Tuanlong, Lilong and other clothing patterns.

There are also those literati who are the proud sons of heaven, who are full of tricks, walking on the street complacently, and the crown scarves they wear on their heads alone include Han scarves, Jin scarves, Tang scarves, Zhuge scarves, Chunyang scarves, There are dozens of styles of Dongpo scarves, Yangming scarves, Jiuhua scarves, and Xiaoyao scarves. There are even scarves woven with horsetail. Horsetail scarves can be corrugated, single yarn, double silk, etc. There are so many patterns that people are dizzying. feeling...

There are many merchants, crowded pedestrians, red men and dolls, flirting, there are countless bookstores along the street, selling rare erotic novels, freshly released "Jin Ping Mei", "Ru Yi Jun Biography", "Embroidered Couch Wild History" and so on They are sold together in a majestic manner, and the advertisements on the signs are full-length.Next to it are also legendary novels such as "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin", "Journey to the West".In every bookstore, there are a lot of buyers, and no one is in charge.

Huang Laifu was at the door of a bookstore, and saw a few people dressed as eunuchs flipping through the book that seemed to be "Jin Ping Mei". One time: Wu Song fights a tiger in Jingyanggang, Pan Jinlian thinks her husband is a prostitute.The version of the later generations seems to be the version of the Chongzhen period. The first chapter is: Ximen Qingre married ten brothers, Wu Erlang met his elder brother and sister-in-law coldly.

What makes Huang Laifu happy is that many bookstores still sell the "Wuzhaibao News" produced by Wuzhaibao. They were all discussing excitedly.When I came out, I suddenly saw a group of people around the street, making noises from time to time.Huang Laifu and others rushed over to take a look, but they saw a man, naked, walking up and down the market, making various movements, which attracted laughter from time to time.Huang Laifu felt stunned. He didn't expect that there would be people running around naked in the Ming Dynasty, and no one cared about it. Isn't it too open?
This time Huang Laifu came to Beijing with some family guards, including Gu Dadao, A Zhi and others.The rest of the confidants, such as Jiang Dazhong, Yang Xiaolu and others, sit in Wuzhai Fort and Ningwuguan, handling affairs large and small in various places.With them around, Huang Laifu felt relieved.Gu Dadao and Ah Zhi, the two have never been to the capital, but Ah Zhi is a more stable person, and Gu Dadao is young after all, seeing someone running naked at this time, he couldn't help opening his mouth in surprise: "What is that person doing? In broad daylight, naked, walking It's really indecent to walk around, why don't you see anyone taking care of you?"

Huang Laifu also smiled, the end of the Ming Dynasty was really too extravagant and free.However, he has seen more extreme things in later generations, so he naturally acts as if nothing happened, and he is not surprised.However, the appearance on the street made him feel like a future generation.But Gu Dadao and the others were from Northwest Shanxi, and had seen little of the world, so they were naturally surprised.

This time Huang Laifu came to Beijing, besides seeing Emperor Wanli, of course he also wanted to meet his parents first.After Huang Sihao and Yang's came to Beijing, Huang Laifu hadn't seen them for several years.Huang Sihao, Gu Qianhu and others live in Dahuaishu Hutong, Nanshikou Street, not far from the imperial city. There is a huge garden, which was awarded to Huang Sihao by Emperor Wanli. Since Huang Sihao came to Beijing a few years ago, Zhu Yijun, the Emperor of Wanli, awarded and rewarded him again and again, and even summoned him for banquets from time to time, which is very enviable.Some time ago, after Huang Laifu's success in Hetao came to Beijing, Huang Sihao was recruited by Emperor Wanli to reward him.

The capital stipulated that military officials in the city were not allowed to ride sedan chairs. Although military officials began to ride sedan chairs like civilian officials after Zhengde, there were clear regulations and restrictions on the decorations, ceremonial guards, and bearers of the sedan chairs, which should not be violated.But for Huang Laifu, he has never been interested in taking a sedan chair, the speed is too slow, no matter where he goes, he always rides some fast horses.At this time, a group of them, each leading a frontier horse, came to the outside of Dahuaishu Hutong on Nanshikou Street. where.

When I arrived at the entrance of the alley, I saw several servants already waiting there. Among them, a servant Huang Laifu knew came up to him with a smile on his face, and sang to Huang Laifu: "The young master is here, the master and the old lady have been waiting in the mansion for a long time. It's gone!" Huang Laifu came to Beijing, so he naturally sent someone to notify Huang Sihao and others.The rest of the servants cheered happily, some came up to help the group get their luggage, and some ran back to the mansion quickly to report the news to Huang Sihao and others.

Surrounded by everyone, Huang Laifu and others entered the mansion and came to the hall, only to see Huang Sihao, Yang Shi, Gu Qianhu, Song Shi and others standing at the entrance of the hall, their faces full of excitement and expectation .Huang Laifu took a step forward and kowtowed to the elders.Huang Sihao calmly said: "My son has worked hard all the way, get up."

Yang, on the other hand, burst into tears, and hurried forward to help Huang Laifu, saying: "Fu'er, I haven't seen you for several years, my mother, stand up quickly, and let my mother take a good look."

She looked at Huang Laifu and said, "My son has lost weight."

Huang Laifu said: "Mom has been in Beijing for the past few years, how are you doing?"

Yang said with a smile: "Okay, with my son's words, mother is content."

After the mother and son talked for a while, Huang Laifu saluted Gu Qianhu and the Song family again. Gu Qianhu smiled and said, "You don't need to be too polite, son-in-law. You have worked hard all the way here." From time to time, I heard the reputation of my virtuous son-in-law. A few days ago, my virtuous son-in-law even defeated the barbarians in Shuofang. The capital is very excited. The emperor also sent us to Beijing because of this, and he rewarded us greatly. His colleagues are all envious."

Having said that, he laughed out loud.The Song family couldn't wait to say: "My son-in-law, how has my daughter been all these years?"

Huang Laifu said: "Thank you for your mother-in-law's concern. Yunniang is very good. When she came to Beijing this time, she asked her son-in-law to greet her father-in-law and mother-in-law well on her behalf. In addition, she asked someone to bring many gifts for her. Er Lao."

Mrs. Song laughed from ear to ear, and said that this daughter is filial.Gu Qianhu said disapprovingly: "Yunniang has always been sensible, and it is naturally good that she has been blessed with her all these years."

Then everyone chatted some gossip, Gu Dadao also stepped forward and saluted everyone, Huang Sihao and Yang Shi nodded and smiled, Gu Qianhu and Song Shi looked at their grandson, seeing him not seen for several years, even more He is tall and heroic, and he is also very happy.Afterwards, everyone sat down to talk, and Huang Laifu ordered the gifts brought from Wuzhaibao and other places to be given to the elders. These were carefully selected by Gu Yunniang, and everyone was very happy, saying that Huang Laifu and Huang Laifu had a heart.

After finishing the homely talk, Huang Sihao talked about their affairs in Beijing these years. Since entering Beijing, perhaps because of Huang Laifu's relationship, Emperor Wanli has loved them a lot, and rewarding them with banquets is a common thing.A while ago it was the Dragon Boat Festival, there was a dragon boat fight in the palace, the Holy Majesty was lucky enough to plant willows on the Longevity Hill, Huang Sihao and others were lucky enough to be called to the Imperial Palace to celebrate the festival together, and when they came back, they were rewarded with a lot of property.

Seeing that midsummer and June are coming again, the palace has already sent some water noodles and silver seedlings to relieve the heat and escape the heat. When the Mid-Autumn Festival in July, the palace will perform rituals and release river lanterns. Huang Sihao and others will accompany them again. drive beside.There is nothing to say about the favor, and many officials are quite critical when they see that the Huang family is so favored.In order to avoid suspicion, Huang Sihao and others rarely make friends with officials in the capital. They usually act in a low-key manner, but sometimes they go to the residences of some veterans who are also the families of the generals in Beijing.

Huang Laifu was very emotional when he heard that, because of his relationship, his parents might only be able to stay in Beijing so cautiously for the rest of their lives.He looked carefully at his parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, and saw that they were obviously much older. It was obvious that they had been under a lot of pressure in Beijing these years, and it wasn't that their life in Beijing was so leisurely as they said right now.

It was almost noon, and the family had lunch.After the meal, Mrs. Yang and Mrs. Song went to appreciate the gift from Huang Laifu.Huang Sihao and Gu Qianhu sat down with Huang Laifu to talk.Huang Sihao has been in Beijing for a long time, so of course he is much more informed than Huang Laifu in Wuzhaibao.He talked about some major events in Beijing during these times.

From the beginning of the year to the present, there are not many major events in Beijing, only a few events are relatively sensational. Cloths, skins, and other things were cleaned up one by one, collected and folded into silver taels, and released to help the border.It is also requested to cut redundant staff and reduce fodder.

There is also the fact that Ma Jinglun, the censor of Henan Province, was deprived of his post to serve the people. Last year, because of the failure of the Ministry of War to inspect the military and government, Emperor Wanli ordered severe punishment, and many speech officials were also punished.At the beginning of this year, Ma Jinglun accused Emperor Wanli of the five major crimes of "the prison of the military and government": "ignoring the government, not exalting the court, not cherishing talents, not being cheap, not issuing edicts to sin against himself, etc. He believes that Emperor Wanli It is not for the sake of the country to lose the position of being a ruler, but to bring about extraordinary disasters, and to commit serious crimes against officials."

There were many disrespectful words in Ma Jinglun's words, and Emperor Wanli was naturally furious when he got the words, so he denounced Ma Jinglun for the people.However, in the public opinion of Beijing officials, Ma Jinglun has won a reputation for his honest and honest words.Only Huang Laifu shook his head secretly.These officials of the Ming Dynasty have gone to the point of recklessness in order to gain fame.

In addition, on the eighth day of March this year, the Kunning and Qianqing Second Palaces were in urgent need of reconstruction due to a fire. Regarding the issue of funding, there were endless disputes among all parties.

Of course, in recent times, the most sensational thing in Beijing is still the matter of the courtiers arguing about rewarding Japan.Since the first Korean War, there has been a lot of controversy about rewarding Japan's Guanbai Toyotomi Hideyoshi.At the beginning of May this year, the courtiers once again started a heated debate on this matter.Shen Sixiao, the imperial censor of the right capital, accused Shi Xing of insisting on the title, and accused Fan Qian, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, of supporting Shi Xing's opinion.Fan Qian said: "The false rumors are thousands of miles away, can you know that the rumors are bound to break?
Meditate on filial piety: "The book envoy Li Zongcheng has fled to Beijing, has harmed the prestige and humiliated the country, and caused disasters to the extreme. Can you still go along with the evil officials and harm the country?"

The news was like a bolt from the blue, which made Fan Qian pale, speechless, and withdrew from the meeting.Li Zhen, the left servant of the Ministry of War, gathered a meeting to report to Emperor Wanli.When Emperor Wanli heard that Feng Rizheng sent Li Zongcheng to abscond, he was naturally furious, ordered Li Zongcheng to be arrested, and ordered the deputy envoy Yang Fangheng to replace the principal envoy, and Shen Weijing as the deputy envoy to continue to visit Japan.Therefore, the Daming Mission to Japan, which had been in North Korea for a year, was able to move on.

At the same time, Emperor Wanli also decreed: "Whether the seal is successful or not, the battle defense must not be abolished. The governor of Jiliao and other officials have the duty to guard against the Japanese. The soldiers and horses of the two towns must be reorganized, and they will personally patrol the neighboring North Korea. Depending on the vital points, accumulate troops and save wages. Select generals and brave generals to lead elite soldiers, enforce strict discipline, go to North Korea to cooperate with the training of soldiers, and stick to the dangerous points. Tianjin, Denglai, Zhejiang, Zhili, Fujian, Guangxi, etc. have ordered the governors, generals and officials to be strict Line and guard. Xuan, Da, Shanxi frontier soldiers and Zhejiang soldiers are all selected and listened to. All localities must ensure that soldiers travel with food, and try to transfer it in various ways, or open Haitong, or buy it nearby in Liaodong, so that the army will thrive and there will be no shortage of food. At the same time, I ordered the governor of Jiliao to send a quick message to order the king of North Korea to accumulate food and grass for our soldiers to rescue."

After this decree came out, the news about whether Da Ming would start a second war with Japan in North Korea spread in the capital again.Even the envoys of many vassal states are paying close attention.

Huang Sihao didn't pay much attention to the previous few news, after all, those matters had nothing to do with the Huang family.As for the last matter, he pays close attention to it. After all, if there is a real war, his son Huang Laifu may lead troops into North Korea for the second time.Only Huang Laifu knew that war was inevitable after hearing the news.Of course, he couldn't explain this matter to his father for the time being.

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Of course, Emperor Wanli summoned Huang Laifu, and when Huang Laifu went to Beijing, it was impossible to meet Emperor Wanli right away.Therefore, in the past few days, Huang Laifu wandered around Beijing with great interest.Teahouses, restaurants, bookstores, and scenic spots everywhere have left Huang Laifu's figure.Especially the night market at night in the capital made Huang Laifu very interested.

The night market in the capital city in the late Ming Dynasty was a cup of nectar for the citizens.The night markets here are extremely prosperous, especially in the night markets on Yujie Street, Qipan Street, Tianqiao and Mahang Street, where the traffic and horses are so crowded that people cannot stop.Crowds of citizens, with chewing gum in their mouths, whistling, strolling and watching, all kinds of shops or brothels, as long as you want anything, you can find it in the land of the capital.

Huang Laifu felt rather lingering, until three days later, no one came from the palace, and Emperor Wanli summoned Huang Laifu to see him.

(End of this chapter)