Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 282

On April 25th in the [-]th year of Wanli, Huang Laifu led a group of people to the gate of Fucheng in the capital again.Before last year, Huang Laifu came to the capital, but a few months later, he came to the capital again.

These days in Shanxi Town, Huang Laifu was mainly busy with the restoration of Wei Shengwei. In his spare time, he played Liu Yumei and Liu Erniu together to play flounder kiss, which was also exciting.However, Emperor Wanli had a call, and Huang Laifu always put state affairs first, and women were put second. As soon as the decree came, he followed him to Beijing.

In front of a pavilion not far from Fucheng Gate, there was a crowd of people welcoming Huang Laifu, including officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Rites, as well as Chen Yangzhi, the Prime Minister of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, and Chen Feng, the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, The eunuch of the Banking Bureau, the supervisor of Shanglinyuan, and others, as well as Wang Chongyi of the Shanxi Merchants Guild, stood behind with a group of Shanxi merchants, advocating etiquette, bustling and lively.

Fuchengmen and Chaoyangmen are facing each other far away from east to west. There is a lot of people coming and going from this place. The merchants and horses from Shanxi, Henan, and Shaanxi to the capital, and the coal cars from Mentougou and Zhaitang in the west of Beijing also come in and out of this gate. There are constant traffic every day. .Pedestrians passing by outside the city saw so many big figures greeted at the entrance of the pavilion, many of them stopped to watch, or inquired about the reason.In addition, the two sides of Tingbianguan Road are crowded with many Beijing citizens or literati watching the excitement.However, they were all stopped by soldiers and horses sent by Wucheng soldiers and horses to maintain order.

Emperor Wanli summoned Huang Laifu to Beijing to prepare for the eastward levy, all the officials naturally heard about it, and the teahouses and restaurants in the capital also spread the news, with various opinions and ideas.However, the jealousy and admiration towards Huang Laifu among the literati and officials is the mainstream. Seeing that Huang Laifu is a warrior, but is so favored by the emperor, naturally deeply hurt the nerves of many people.

Although the second court war is about to break out right now, for many civil servants, this is a distant and unimportant matter. At present, Emperor Wanli in Beijing ordered mining and taxation, etc., which are related to their immediate interests.In the first month of this year, officials continued to pester Emperor Wanli over the matter of opening mines and negotiating taxes.Among the famous people and major events, there are Dai Shiheng in the official department, Liu Gang, a concubine of the Imperial Academy, who inspected Zhoupan, the censor of Zhili, and the Imperial Academy reviewed Li Tengfang and others. Being reprimanded by all the officials and so on made a fuss that couldn't be added.

In the past few days, the Shanxi Town "Wuzhaibao News" controlled by Huang Laifu also published several articles defending Emperor Wanli's move of mining and taxation, which aroused the anger of many civil officials, but they found that they did not What is the way to deal with it? I watched helplessly as part of the capital's public opinion position was taken away.

In fact, Huang Laifu's "Wuzhaibao News" did not have any world-renowned editor-in-chief, and when it came to peerless talents in the newspaper, there was even no one. Most of the editor-in-chief were poor scholars or petty officials.However, Huang Laifu couldn't stand the no-nonsense route that Huang Laifu took. A lot of money was spent, and a lot of vulgar speeches and information were distributed. Every newspaper was distributed as if they didn't need money. Naturally, it has stolen the hearts of many ordinary people.

For ordinary people, the articles written by the reporters of "Wuzhaibao News" are not only interesting, but also very knowledgeable. Anyway, everyone has limited knowledge, and they can't understand more advanced articles. With this level The article is already very good. In fact, most citizens don’t even read the newspaper. They just listen to the newspaper sung by the storyteller in the teahouse and restaurant. It felt like it entered their hearts, and they felt more and more that what was said in the newspaper made sense.

To be objective, "Wuzhaibao News" can't take any position in the circle of literati in the Ming Dynasty. Those literati bought "Wuzhaibao News" not to support Huang Laifu's views, but to understand Huang Laifu's views. It's all about playing tricks. "Wuzhaibao News" is still taking the line of catering to or grabbing the thoughts of the bottom class or the petty bourgeoisie, which are two different circles from the traditional literati ideological positions.

It’s just that from the point of view of traditional Chinese literati, when they think they have seized the moral high ground, they naturally hope that all people in the world will stand by their side and criticize "faint emperors, traitors, and warriors" together. This is the so-called "He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world" and the power of "justice", although they didn't care about the thoughts of ordinary people in the past, as long as the literati circle held the same point of view as they did.However, Youdao knows its value only when you lose it. Right now, Daming's power of public opinion cannot be completely controlled in their own hands, so they feel lost.

However, their dissatisfaction turned into dissatisfaction, and they did not have the power to restrain Huang Laifu. They gradually lost many positions of public opinion—referring to farmers and the public class.The articles they wrote, those classical Chinese, the ordinary people can't understand and are not interested.In fact, they are unsatisfactory. If they only concentrate on managing public opinion in the literati circle, they can be said to be in harmony with Huang Lai.

Because Huang Laifu supported Emperor Wanli to open mines and discuss taxes, and Huang Laifu was favored by the emperor as a warrior, which aroused the sensitive expressions of many people, so many civil servants in the capital were dissatisfied with Huang Laifu.Now that this controversial figure has come to Beijing again and will be entrusted with important tasks again, many people naturally come to watch and vent their dissatisfaction.Of course, although they were very critical of Qingyi, they couldn't think of a way to prepare food and salaries.At the same time, they were also curious, wondering how Huang Laifu would prepare food and salaries after he came.Is it to suggest that the emperor increase the taxation of the world?If so, Huang Laifu will definitely be called disabled by them.They can propose this kind of thing, but Huang Laifu's suggestion is not.

All kinds of thoughts made Huang Laifu's visit to Beijing this time a huge response, and there were many people of all kinds who came to "greet".When there are many people of all kinds, there will naturally be more people watching the bustle at the entrance of the pavilion, which makes the road in front of the city gate quite congested.Of course, among the crowd watching the excitement, there were also many ordinary citizens who had a good impression of Huang Laifu.

The sun rose higher and higher, and when it was about six o'clock (9 o'clock in the morning), suddenly someone in the crowd shouted: "Here we come, Huang Junmen is here!"

Immediately there was a commotion in the crowd, and everyone looked around, only to see dozens of fast horses billowing in the dust, and looking at the flag in front, it reads "Shanxi General Soldier, Yellow" and other words, it is Shanxi The chariot and horses of Huang Laifu, the commander-in-chief of the town.

On this trip, Huang Laifu brought his own Wuzhai Fort staff and some personal guards as usual. Huang Laifu didn't like to ride in a carriage. Wherever he went, he rode a fast horse. Naturally, his entourage also did the same.

At the entrance of the pavilion, Huang Laifu stopped his horse. After a long journey, he had a dusty look on his body, but he was in high spirits. The same was true for the attendants behind him.

Many citizens in the crowd cheered: "Huang Junmen, Huang Junmen!"

Although many civil servants are dissatisfied with Huang Laifu, many people in the capital still have a very good impression of Huang Laifu. He is an important general of the country and a legendary figure, and he can often hear it in story books. Moreover, when Huang Laifu arrived in Beijing last year, he made a series of actions that made him While many people were novel, they also got benefits.Therefore, inside and outside the capital, the more small citizens, the more ordinary people, the better they feel about Huang Laifu.

Wang Chongyi hurriedly ordered the drummers to start playing, and there was a burst of music immediately.

Everyone came out to greet each other, and Huang Laifu also came to the front of the pavilion. With a smile on his face, he clasped his fists and saluted all around, and said: "Everyone welcomes you, don't dare to do it!"

An official from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Rituals came out first, and the two of them bowed to Huang Laifu and said, "I have been ordered to welcome you, Huang Junmen has worked hard all the way!"

They are polite and thoughtful, but their expressions are flat.Huang Laifu came to Beijing this time to discuss the matter of collecting food and salaries from the east. The officials of the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Rites had the responsibility to send people to welcome him, especially when the emperor asked Huang Laifu to be treated favorably and let him come to Beijing.But these civil servants, although they are inferior to Huang Laifu, because Huang Laifu is a general, they still have a sense of superiority in their hearts, so they still put on airs in front of Huang Laifu.

Naturally, Huang Laifu could see that he had seen too many little civil servants like this, so he cupped his hands slightly and said, "I'm sorry, both of you!"

Then he turned his eyes to behind them. Chen Yangzhi, the supervisor of the Imperial Horse Supervisor, and the eunuch of the Banking Bureau came forward. The two looked affectionate, and they both smiled and said: "Huang Junmen has worked hard all the way. I haven't seen you for a few months. The door still looks the same!"

Then Chen Feng, the eunuch of the imperial horse supervisor, and the supervisor of Shanglinyuan, Jian Cheng, and others stepped forward to greet Huang Laifu.Naturally, these people came to welcome Huang Laifu as personal good friends.During these days, Huangzhuang, Huangdian, factories, supermarkets and other things in the capital area have been operating smoothly, and they have gained a lot of benefits. Although they have always been arrogant in the capital, they can be regarded as prominent, but in front of Huang Laifu, they are not willing. Put on airs, after all, Huang Laifu is an important partner to them in the future. Huang Laifu is the commander-in-chief and is deeply favored by the emperor. Said to be rare.

Huang Laifu said: "I'm sorry for your father-in-law to welcome you, Laifu is ashamed to do it!"

The eunuch of the Banking Office said with a smile, "Based on our relationship with the military sect, if the military sect says something like this, it's an outsider!"

Several eunuchs said yes one after another.In the eyes of several civil servants and the surrounding literati watching the excitement, this situation is naturally an ironclad proof that Huang Laifu colluded with the eunuchs to bring disaster to the country and the people.After meeting these people, Wang Chongyi led a group of Shanxi merchants to meet Huang Laifu in the end, and Huang Laifu nodded slightly.

Finally, under the watchful eye, everyone went to the city. If other local officials came to Beijing, they usually just stayed in post houses.But Huang Laifu has his parents' residence in Jingzhong, so he went back to his parents' house.

The soldiers and horses of the Wucheng Bingma Division opened the way in front, and they went all the way. The capital stipulated that military officers in the city were not allowed to take sedan chairs, and Huang Laifu did not have the habit of riding sedan chairs, so everyone accompanied Huang Laifu on horseback (although two officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Household Affairs Cursing inwardly), and the chief eunuchs accompanying Huang Laifu are all important figures in the capital, this situation is a bit conspicuous, so the people in the city stopped to watch along the way.

Originally, the matter of Huang Laifu had already become a hot topic in Beijing, but now Huang Laifu came to Beijing again, with a huge force, which shocked many people.In one of the teahouses on Fuchengmen Street, several literati who were talking high-spirited were also alarmed, and they all looked downstairs through the window. After the carriages and horses passed by, one of them said: "I heard that Huang Laifu entered Beijing on the emperor's order." , to prepare for the eastward levy of grain and pay, hum, he is a warrior, but he is so favored, what is the natural reason?"

The other person also said indignantly: "Look at that Huang Laifu's complacent look, it's so beautiful, but I don't know that none of the ministers and scholars in the capital can take on the important task of raising food and salary, and have to let a warrior come In charge? What does the emperor think?"

The other person did not agree with their opinions, saying: "Everyone knows that Huang Laifu is very good at making money. Although we are reluctant, we have to admit it. Besides, serving the country, what is the difference between civil and military? If you don't call Huang Laifu Fu came to Beijing to march to the east with tens of thousands of soldiers, how will the food and wages be arranged?"

One person shouted loudly: "As long as the government is sound and the people are harmonious, the emperor, the sage, and the ministers are worthy, and the mere collection of food and salaries is just a matter of turning the palm of your hand!"

The man said: "Look at the pattern with the palm of your hand? What a joke, do you think that money and food can fall from the sky just by talking about it? Easier said than done."

Immediately, several people quarreled...

Huang Laifu came to Beijing again, and was entrusted with a heavy responsibility by the emperor, which attracted the attention of many people. Among them, there was a special person.

In the street pattern inside and outside the capital city of the Ming Dynasty, the streets leading to each city gate are the widest, and these streets are mostly named after the city gates, such as Chongwenmen Street, Chang'an Street, Xuanwumen Street, West Chang'an Street, Fuchengmen Street Street, Andingmen Street, Deshengmen Street, etc.In the area divided by various streets, there are many streets and alleys. By the beginning of Wanli, there were more than [-] streets and alleys in the inner and outer cities of Beijing, including more than [-] alleys.

The entire city of Beijing is divided into five cities, and the residential areas in each city are all commensurate with squares, and under the squares are divided into shops, signboards, etc., and the residents are typical courtyard houses.Among them, Zhongcheng is located in Zhengyangmen. Because it is in the middle of the whole city and close to the Imperial City and the Forbidden City, it has a superior geographical location and a dense population. There are 68 shops in Jiufang.

The mansion of Shi Xing, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of War, is located in Renshoufang in Zhongcheng.The original Shifu was a place full of cars and horses, but now it is empty and deserted.At this time, Shi Xing felt the coldness of the world. All day long, no one came to the door without saying anything. Even when he went out to visit, the other party hurriedly refused to see the visitor, afraid of causing trouble.

So from the beginning of February, a few days after he was suspended pending investigation, Shi Xing locked himself in the mansion and stopped going out, thanking his guests for recuperation, and waiting for the arrangement of fate, maybe one day Jin Yiwei would come to the door.And out of fear for the future, more than half of the family members in his mansion have secretly dispersed, leaving only a few loyal old family members looking at the empty mansion, and the old wife and his wife who worship Bodhisattva all day long. Frightened children.

After more than two months, Shi Xing is completely old and his hair is gray. Originally, he is 62 years old this year. He was considered a real old man in the Ming Dynasty, but he still had a young mind before, didn't he?Right now, he is really heartbroken.In the current court, no one dared to speak for him, and Shi Xing did not dare to think about the fate of the whole family in the future.

On this day, Shi Xing was wearing home clothes, and was lying on the recliner in the study reading a book, but how could he see the boredom and panic in his heart?Just when he was drowsy, his old family came in softly and said, "Master, that man has come to Beijing, look, isn't he?"
Shi Xing raised his old face and said blankly, "Who, who came to Beijing?"

Seeing that Shi Xing had become like this, the old family felt sad, and reminded: "It's Huang Laifu, the commander-in-chief of Shanxi Town! As you said, if Huang Laifu comes to Beijing, I will break up with you!"

From Minister of the Ministry of War to the person currently under investigation, no one in the court dared to speak for him. When he was in despair, a figure of a person flashed in Shi Xing's mind, that was Huang Laifu, the general soldier of Shanxi Town.This person is currently favored by the emperor, and he treats him well, maybe he can... Maybe it was to catch the last straw, Shi Xing once told this loyal old family member that if Huang Laifu came to Beijing, he would immediately Tell him that Shi Xing hopes that Huang Laifu can explain something for himself in front of the emperor.If it was Shi Xing in the past, it would be absolutely impossible to be so cheeky to beg someone, but right now he can't care about it.

It's just that the person I've been looking forward to before came to Beijing, but Shi Xing suddenly hesitated. After a while, he sighed, and said sadly: "The few cabinet ministers don't share with the old man. I'm afraid I won't be able to avoid it. He Huang Laifu is just a Warrior, are you willing to displease the Holy One for an irrelevant person? Forget it.”

The old family said anxiously: "Master..."

Shi Xing shook his head feebly, and said, "There's no need to say anything, there's no need to say anything..."

※※※

Huang Laifu and his party came to his father's house, and the family reunited with each other, naturally there was joy again.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Households had a few cups of tea in the mansion, left the military gate to wait for the emperor's summons, and left in a hurry.Huang Laifu did not invite, Wang Chongyi and other Shanxi merchants were naturally not qualified to come to the mansion, and the eunuchs of the eunuchs accompanied Huang Laifu to talk for a while, and everyone met for a banquet on the second night, after cleaning up the dust for the military gate, they smiled gone.

At home, after Huang Laifu took a shower and changed clothes, he had lunch with his parents and talked about homely things.However, Qu Yuanrui, Wang Qinian and others who came with Huang Laifu did not have such a leisurely time. All the aides went out to check various matters in Beijing during the past few months.

The next morning, Huang Laifu heard the report from Qu Yuanrui and others that Wanping Sangong Huangzhuang and some livestock farms of Shanglin Yuanjian had been officially in operation since the beginning of this year. The business model of Shangwuzhaibao seems to be very effective.The cement factories, wool spinning factories, glass factories, large supermarkets and other imperial stores that cooperate with the eunuchs are also in a booming development right now, and everything is going well.This satisfied Huang Laifu. He planned that if the livestock farms of Shanglinyuanjian were prosperous, they might be able to open a new non-staple food factory in Gyeonggi.With a population of millions in the capital, the demand for all kinds of meat must be huge.

In the evening, Huang Laifu happily came to the place where several leaders and eunuchs were entertaining him.

(End of this chapter)