Knowledge changes destiny, this saying is vividly reflected in Jin Gaila.

Jin Kaila began to study the secret of his Jin family's fat "by order". The eunuch in charge of Huangzhuang had personally visited the house to discuss the matter of supplying fat, and asked him to take Renren and Fei to Huangzhuang after the Spring Festival.

In addition, many people who want to change their destiny with knowledge are entering Beijing one after another.

Starting from Huai'an on the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Tang Shu, Gong Yongqing, and Wang Shenzhong had a special ship to send them north without stopping. They saved a lot of rest stops and the trouble of finding another ship along the way.

The weather is good, this winter is not too cold, and the northern section of the canal has not yet begun to freeze.

Just as they set off from Tongzhou to Beijing, snowflakes started to fall from the sky.

Wang Shenzhong, who has lived in Quanzhou, Fujian, saw snow in the north for the first time. He was so surprised that he opened the curtains on the carriage to look at the scene outside.

"Ruixue! A good sign!" Gong Yongqing praised him repeatedly, and then told him, "Don't look at it, it's cold."

As soon as the curtains were opened, cold air poured into the car.

After saying that, he looked at Tang Shu with envy: "Mr. Liu has arranged Wei Zhong's settlement in the capital. I don't know if my servant who came before me has found a good place to live."

They rested in Tongzhou for one night, but his servant set off overnight to find a place to stay.

Tang Shu had been troubled by him along the way. At this moment, he said seriously: "There are so many temples and temples in the capital city? It must have been done!"

"I'm afraid that's not the case."

Gong Yongqing took another handwritten copy of the latest issue of "Ming Pao" that he bought in Tongzhou yesterday. This is already the fourth issue published on the 15th day of the twelfth lunar month.

He said with emotion: "Fei Xiang has been sealed. With so many third-, fourth- and fifth-rank official positions in the court, the news in the officialdom will naturally be better informed. I'm afraid that in addition to the candidates from all over the country rushing to take exams, there are also many people running for official positions in the capital.

People, the Spring Festival is approaching, it’s the time to pay a visit.”

Tang Shu didn't say much, just smiled.

In any case, Liu Tianhe arranged for him only a small house, which could not accommodate so many people.

He is now afraid that Gong Yongqing will continue to ask him about possible news about next year's exam: there is no news at all, it is Gong Yongqing who thinks too much.

At this moment, when he heard Gong Yongqing mention "running for office", Tang Shu knew that he still had not understood the essential changes after the establishment of the Prime Minister and the Minister of State, and the implementation of the new law next year to establish the provinces.

He looked at the problem with the same set of ideas as before.

There is no doubt that Gong Yongqing's intention in ordering his servant to find a hotel in the city is self-evident: the editor-in-chief of Ming Pao is afraid that he will be harassed more by the newcomers like them from the same country.

During the more than twenty days along the way, except for disturbing Tang Shu from time to time, Gong Yongqing spent the rest of his time writing poems and articles, preparing to deliver them in large quantities when he arrived in the capital.

On the contrary, Wang Shenzhong showed no further preparations along the way and was only very curious about the scenery of the North.

Now three people are crowded into one car, and the rest are in the carriage behind.

The convoy braved the wind and snow and headed west along the road between Beijing and Tongzhou, and then heard the noise outside.

Gong Yongqing became curious now. He lifted the curtain of the car window and looked out. Then he opened his mouth slightly: "Why is there so much construction here?"

Tang Shu also leaned over to take a look, and after thinking for a while, he said: "I'm afraid it's the news published in the last issue, the light industrial park in the southeast suburb of Beijing's Second Park."

Only then did Gong Yongqing remember. However, the biggest news in the previous issue was the news that Fei Hong was appointed as the first Prime Minister and Minister of State. Gong Yongqing did not pay attention to other matters.

But looking at the busy scene outside in the wind and snow, Gong Yongqing was a little shocked.

"...I didn't expect that there were so many craftsmen rushing to work in this light industrial park."

"Construction Bureau of the Ministry of Industry." Tang Shu focused his eyes on them, "I'm afraid we will see their presence in the future when dealing with floods in the Huanghuai River."

"...How can this light industrial park be so vast?" Wang Shenzhong couldn't help but sigh, "This is how much fertile land it occupies. I wonder where the people who have lived here for generations have moved."

Gong Yongqing said nonchalantly: "Since it is a major plan of the imperial court, the people should understand it. Besides, this light industrial park is so big, how much labor is required? Shuntian Mansion must have a proper plan. If it is not handled well, how can it be possible to carry out large-scale construction?

I've thought too much."

Wang Shenzhong did not argue, and Tang Shu slowly looked at him.

Then, he said: "I traveled all over the world in the past, and I have been to the capital three times. If I remember correctly, further south here is the Tonghui River, which was originally a small market. Bupi Tea, World Department Store

, transported from Tongzhou to the capital, and gathered here before entering the city. It was originally used as a storage yard for various merchants' goods, but it has long been no longer fertile land."

"...I see." Wang Shenzhong bowed to Tang Shu, "Brother Tang is knowledgeable and knowledgeable, and I really admire him."

"It's not worth mentioning." Tang Shu looked outside in amazement, "It's probably more difficult to get these business houses to give up space to build this light industrial park than to get the people to move away, but the construction has started so smoothly?"

Gong Yongqing asked again: "What's so difficult about this? As soon as the River Transport Bureau was established, wouldn't businessmen from the north and south gather in Huai'an to watch the River Transport Bureau eat and drink? How many of the eighteen enterprises are located in the capital? People don't agree with officials.

If those commercial firms want to continue doing business, why should they not give in?"

Tang Shu felt more and more that Gong Yongqing had the temperament to point out the country and not think about details.

Although this principle is true, which private business firm that can establish a foothold in the capital does not have some friends who are officials? There are many interests at stake here.

To solve the problems here, methods and strategies must be needed.

The carriage quickly passed through this bustling construction site, and a few miles further west, we could already see the residential houses outside the east wall of the capital.

The capital city surrounded by the city walls of Beijing is only a small part of the capital city.

For example, in the southeast and northwest directions of Beijing, outer cities of different sizes extend outside the city walls. Not only do many people live here, but many officials also live outside the city.

The small house that Liu Tianhe arranged for Tang Shu was also located outside the east wall of Beijing. He got off the carriage in advance, carried his luggage and said goodbye to them: "Mingzhi, Daosi, let's say goodbye first. After settling in, on New Year's Eve

Let’s talk around the fire again at night.”

"Brother Wei Zhong, after we settle down, we will send someone over to tell you where we live."

Gong Yongqing and the others knew where Tang Shu lived. They said goodbye now and Tang Shu went straight to his residence.

In the coming months, I will have to study my lessons carefully.

Gong Yongqing and the others continued walking, and when they arrived at the east gate of Chaoyang City that they had agreed with their servants, he began to worry about gains and losses again, wondering whether finding a place to live would go smoothly.

Fortunately, the servants were already waiting there. They saw Gong Yongqing and others getting off the carriage from a distance, and hurried over: "Master, I'm so happy! The Tongyi Bureau has actually dedicated a house beside the pasture of Zhizhifang next to the Gongyuan.

The hotel has been changed to the residence of the number one scholar, specially for the candidates who are going to take the examination. Only those who are from the examination system can stay here. I have already signed up for you."

Gong Yongqing was overjoyed: "This is happening? How wonderful! How wonderful!"

There are thousands of people rushing to take the exam from all over the country. Naturally, it is impossible for the Zhuangyuan Residence to accommodate so many people. It is just a first-come, first-served basis.

At the edge of Gongyuan, there was another good fortune, and Gong Yongqing repeatedly called him to lead the way.

After entering Chaoyang Gate, we headed south, and sure enough we saw Gongyuan not far away.

About two hundred steps away is the Mingzhifang Grassland.

This pasture was originally a storage place for fodder used by military horses, and it occupies a very large area.

At this time, one of the houses was owned by Tongyi Bureau, and the three characters "Zhuangyuanju" were clearly displayed on it.

"I heard that it was after Prime Minister Fei took office that I sincerely asked him to give me the title. We are here by chance. It has been less than five days since we welcomed the guests. If it had been any later, all the senior officials who had already arrived in the capital might have moved here!"

"...Don't you need money?"

"Of course I want it."

After Wang Shenzhong asked about the price, he was speechless to Gong Yongqing, the servant: Do you think everyone in the world has a lot of money?

The "elegant room" where the number one scholar lives costs a lot of money. If you stay there for several months, you will have to pay three taels of silver every month.

Wang Shenzhong doesn't want to live here. It's too expensive. What does five taels of silver mean? If you live there for two or three months, you can buy an acre of good land. I heard that an ordinary hotel or temple apartment costs less than one tael of silver a month.

.

Moreover, when so many people gather together, they are afraid that they will talk loudly every day and visit friends day and night, and they will not be able to live in peace.

"Have you ever asked about the temples inside and outside the city?"

Gong Yongqing was delighted with the excitement, and when he heard the words, he said: "Tao Si, I don't know how to take the examination now. How would it be if the scholars gathered together to learn from each other and prove it?"

"...it's better to go to a temple."

Wang Shen centrally thought that Tongyi Bureau might have taken advantage of this idea and took the opportunity to make money from everyone.

Eventually they parted ways.

It's not that Wang Shenzhong can't afford the money. His family is not that bad and he received a subsidy this time as a new imperial examination candidate.

The most important thing is that I feel that Gong Yongqing is too noisy along the way. If I continue to live with him, I am afraid that it will hinder my preparation for the exam.

At this time of year, people in the capital are preparing to celebrate the New Year.

Wang Shenzhong also brought a servant with him. At this time, he was walking on the streets of the capital. The servant put his hands in his sleeves like the northerners and asked: "Second young master, are you looking for a hotel, a temple apartment, or simply ask a dental shop to help rent a private house?"

?”

"Temple apartment."

He didn't want to trouble anyone. Wang Shenzhong actually knew a few people who were born in Quanzhou in the capital.

Seeing that it was getting dark, they could only search around Dongcheng.

There are many temples in the capital, and these temples were originally the favorite places for many officials to stay when they came to Beijing.

Now at the end of the year, Gong Yongqing's guess was correct. There were indeed many people living in various temples.

"If you don't think it's unlucky, then go to Zhihua Temple and have a look."

"Bad luck? Why?" Wang Shenzhong couldn't help but ask when he heard this person from the capital saying this.

The man was stopped on the road and asked about it. When he heard the words, he smiled and said, "Xianzong entered the Ancestral Temple, wouldn't it be unlucky for Zhihua Temple? This brother also went to Beijing to take the exam, right? That Zhihua Temple was built by Wang Zhen during the reign of Yingzong.

It was built and given the name of Zhihua Zen Temple by the Yingzong."

Wang Shenzhong understood immediately.
To be continued...