Chapter 136 The midnight bell arrives on the passenger ship
Chapter 136 The midnight bell arrives at the passenger ship
"The Great Road of the Universe" published in the 27th year of Hongwu records that in the early Ming Dynasty, the length of roads was 10,900 miles vertically and 11,750 miles horizontally. After more than 200 years of development, the post roads centered on the post stations have extended in all directions, and the land roads are generally 40 to 50 miles long.
A post station, the waterway post station is a little far away, there will be one seven or eighty miles away. The land post station has carriages, horses, donkeys, mules, porters, and the water post station has boats and watermen for use. Both the land post and the water post station can provide it.
Food and accommodation, and all of this is free, but the general public cannot enjoy the convenience of the inn. It is used by officials to go to Beijing or to serve as officials, imperial envoys and border towns to fly to report military information——
At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the water horse delivery system was relatively strict, but after Jiajing, it became excessive. Wang Yi, the official had the post office Dakanhe card, and had the right to recruit two horses, ten civilian husbands, and two boats.
Officials who are on official business also have the right to use Yi Delivery Xiaokanhepai, ride on carriages, horses, boats, and stay for free. For those high-ranking officials of royal descent, two horses are not enough for ten people, so they often go beyond the regulations and requisition horses. The people have requisitioned horses.
Times, that's all. Many officials also gave Kanhe cards to relatives and friends for use. They were sent to the inn to welcome them, and they were exhausted. Now eunuch Zhong gave the small Kanhe cards made by the Yamen to Zhang Yuan for use. This is the case.
It’s a very common thing nowadays, it’s not surprising——
Zhang Yuan thought: "My brother-in-law Shang Zhou Zuo is still honest and upright. He uses his own boats to bring his family to the capital. Please visit for the free chapter."
Despite this, Zhang Yuan still accepted the Yi Delivery Xiao Kanhe Pai lent to him by Eunuch Zhong. Well, he took the opportunity to examine the public sentiment at the post station. It is said that another important reason for the demise of the Ming Dynasty was the reduction of Tianxia Post Office in the second year of Chongzhen. Li Zicheng was originally
When the Yinchuan Post Station was cut down, Li Zicheng lost his job. There was also a famine and he had no food to eat, so he turned against him——
Zhang Yuandao: "Thank you very much, father-in-law, for lending me the Xiaokanhe card, but how can I bear these one thousand taels of silver!"
Eunuch Zhong smiled and said: "Why can't you bear to help Qiu Qiancheng solve his problems? Qiu Qiancheng said that I also have all Mr. Zhang's thank you gifts, so our family will give you a thousand taels. Why, do you think it is too little?"
"
When the water is clear, there are no fish, and when people are careful, there are no disciples. Of course, Qiu Qiancheng will not say that all the gifts of thanks to Zhang Yuan belong to Eunuch Zhong. Qiu Qiancheng does not pay attention to Zhang Yuan at all, but Eunuch Zhong gave Zhang Yuan
The original money is not so much that he is impatient and insists on giving it away. It is an alliance of interests. If Zhang Yuan does not accept the money, there will definitely be a gap. If he does, it will be a collusion. The friendship between everyone will be further improved. Through this calculation against Qiu Qian
By chance, Eunuch Zhong saw Zhang Yuan's resourcefulness. More importantly, Zhang Yuan was good at eight-part essays, and it was inevitable to pass the imperial examination to become an official. Therefore, Eunuch Zhong thought it was necessary to make friends with Zhang Yuan, wouldn't it be useful to know people when they were humble?
vision?
Zhang Yuan bowed and said: "This is a gift from my father-in-law. Zhang Yuan accepted it with a shy face. I hope that I can repay my father-in-law in the future."
Eunuch Zhong nodded with satisfaction, picked up the tea cup and said: "Drink tea, drink tea, this is West Lake Longjing. If Mr. Zhang likes it, we will also give you two catties." This is not serving tea as a farewell, it is truly casual.
chat.
Zhang Yuandao said: "My father-in-law supervised the construction of Hangzhou, which is really enviable. Just the beauty of the mountains and rivers, nurtured day and night, can be enjoyed by just a few people."
Eunuch Zhong laughed, then suddenly his smile faded, and he said solemnly: "Although we admire the beauty of the lake and mountains every day, our family is still worried. Mr. Zhang is very smart. I wonder if he can solve our family's doubts?"
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Is it possible that Eunuch Zhong is full and warm and lustful and wants to grow back? I can't help you." He said: "I don't know what my father-in-law is worried about. Although Zhang Yuan is young, maybe he can help my father-in-law.
?”
Eunuch Zhong pondered for a moment and said: "Our family will not be in Hangzhou for a long time. We will return to Beijing the year after next. After staying out for a long time, it is really uncomfortable to return to the palace as a servant. Is there anything Mr. Zhang can do to help us?"
Are you staying in Hangzhou?"
Eunuch Zhong also sighed for a moment and asked casually. He didn't expect Zhang Yuan to really think of a way to let him stay in Hangzhou. Although Zhang Yuan was smart, he was young after all, and he didn't understand the complex situation in the palace——
But I heard Zhang Yuan say: "My father-in-law is away, and the appointment is in the hands of the emperor and the eunuchs in charge. There is no other way but to ask someone to go back and deliver gifts. I thought that because my father-in-law has learned a lot and is loyal to the emperor, he is the eunuch of ceremony."
A eunuch with a pen can also do it. If you can be an eunuch with a pen, you will naturally be proud and proud."
Eunuch Zhong shook his head and said: "Our family is under the supervision of the internal officials, who are in charge of the palaces, the construction of tombs and the use of dowry utensils. Although we have purchased them outside for several years, we still have to be in the internal supervision when we return. Although the internal supervision is not bad,
But it’s incomparable to the Supervisor of Ceremonies.”
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "It is now the forty-first year of Wanli. Emperor Wanli still has six or seven years of good life. He is the emperor and his courtiers. If Eunuch Zhong wants to be the center of the inner court, he must gain the trust of Crown Prince Zhu Changluo in advance. But Zhu Changluo is a
Short-lived emperor, will the Hongwan case happen as usual, and what role can I play? Wei Zhongxian is now with the emperor's grandson Zhu Youxiao? Eunuch Zhong is a good person, how should I give him some advice?"
Eunuch Zhong saw Zhang Yuan frowning and thinking, and smiled and said: "It's not difficult for you, we are just talking casually."
Zhang Yuan said sincerely: "Eunuch Zhong, I have the courage to say that the most important thing in court competition is to follow the right person. If you want to stand out among the many internal officials, you must follow the right person, and you must take a longer view. Those eunuchs who are currently in power do not need to
If you are too friendly, because there are too many people fawning over them, you will easily make enemies if you compete for favors. The emperor's eldest son, the emperor's eldest grandson's internal officials, and the father-in-law should get close to each other if possible."
Eunuch Zhong's expression condensed. Zhang Yuan's words could be described as far-sighted. This is not what a sixteen-year-old boy would have imagined. But he obviously really thought about him and whispered: "Long live Lord loves Prince Fu and has not allowed Prince Fu to conquer Luoyang so far."
, I don’t like to see Master Chitose very much, I’m just afraid that——” The following words were not clearly stated.
Zhang Yuandao: "Prince Fu is about to become a vassal, either this year or next year. This is the general trend. Eunuch Zhong will keep an eye on it."
Eunuch Zhong stared at Zhang Yuan and asked, "Do you understand Ibrahim?"
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Why do you need Yi Zhan? Eunuch Zhong has been in the palace for many years. He must also know that the emperor and the ministers have been fighting for more than 20 years about the establishment of the crown prince. Who won?"
Eunuch Zhong suddenly said: "Are you saying that the courtiers can force King Fu to leave the capital and join the feudal clan?"
Zhang Yuan smiled but said nothing.
Eunuch Zhong looked at Zhang Yuan and asked with some disbelief: "Why are you so wise and sharp at such a young age?"
Zhang Yuandao: "Nothing else, I just love to learn and think deeply."
Eunuch Zhong was filled with admiration, but then said: "If King Fu really comes out of the capital next year to join the vassal state, our family will obey you, and we will obey your advice from now on."
Zhang Yuan said solemnly: "Father, these are the secret whispers between you and me. You must not tell others about it, otherwise you and I will both be guilty of serious crimes."
Eunuch Zhong nodded repeatedly and said: "Our family knows this. Our family has been in the palace for many years. If we didn't even know the benefits, we wouldn't be alive today."
…
It was already midnight when Eunuch Zhong sent Zhang Yuan out of the Weaving Office. Eunuch Zhong still sent a carriage to take Zhang Yuan back to the canal port. Ten taels of silver, a total of one hundred ingots, were packed in a suitcase and they were moved together with the carriage, as well as two kilograms.
Longjing tea and two jars of imperial wine "Han Tan Chun" -
Eunuch Zhong said goodbye to Zhang Yuan, looked at Zhang Yuan's carriage, and did not turn back until the carriage was far away. The chief attendants, servants, and disciples of the Weaving Department were all surprised to see Eunuch Zhong treating this young man with such courtesy. He was the chief envoy.
, Eunuch Zhong, the heads of the three divisions, the Commander-in-Chief and the Inspection-Commissioner, have never seen each other off like this before!
…
At the port of the canal, Zhang Yuan got off the car, and Mu Jingyan moved the suitcase onto the boat. The seventy-eighty kilogram suitcase was as light as a feather for a man like him. Wuling and Lu Dayou were also coming ashore.
, help carry the two jars of wine to the boat——
Qin Minping got off the red-head camphor boat and saw the carriage of the Weaving Department going back. He cupped his hands to Zhang Yuan and said, "Mr. Zhang, does Eunuch Zhong have any other instructions?"
Zhang Yuandao: "Nothing's wrong, just hurry up about the temple. Since Eunuch Zhong has said that you will only give one thousand taels of silver, you should not give more, but you must ask Eunuch Zhong for instructions and don't make any arbitrary decisions."
Qin Minping repeatedly said yes. At first, Eunuch Qiu extorted 3,000 taels, but later he sent 5,000 taels and Eunuch Qiu refused to accept it. This time, they brought 15,000 taels of silver and prepared to rescue Ma Qiancheng. Unexpectedly, they met Zhang in Hangzhou.
It turns out that this crisis was basically resolved with only one thousand taels of silver. Zhang Yuan is really the lucky star of their Shizhu people!
After chatting with Qin Minping on the shore for a while, the two said goodbye. Zhang Yuan went to the white-topped boat in Sanmingwa and handed over the small Kanhe sign of the Hangzhou Textile Department that Eunuch Zhong lent him to Lu Dayou for collection. Lu Yin also went to Lu Dayou.
When Dayou was there, Lu Dayou was well-informed and said happily: "Well, this is Kanhepai. Great, great. Our ship can travel smoothly. In this case, we don't have to worry about not being able to reach Qingpu before the seventh day of the Lunar New Year."
."
There are many checkpoints in this canal, including tax inspection checkpoints, state and county checkpoints, all of which collect taxes from passing passenger ships and merchant ships. The delays are often more than an hour. With this Kanhe sign, you don’t have to pay any taxes. The waterway,
The land route is unobstructed, which is the greatest convenience of Kanhepai——
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "We will set off early tomorrow morning and try to arrive before dark on the fifth day of the lunar month. My sister and brother-in-law must be waiting impatiently."
Zhang Yuan asked the boat girl to prepare water for bathing. Mu Zhenzhen put the young master's clothes in a bamboo basket and took them to the stream on the other side of the canal to wash them, saying that the water in the canal was not clean -
Zhang Yuan was reading a few pages of "Xing" alone under the cabin light, and copied half of Zhu Zhishan's "Qian Chibi Fu". Suddenly he heard the sound of more drums coming from very far away, which seemed ethereal and quiet in the quiet night. It sounded three times in a row.
, pause for a while, and ring three more times——
It was already the third watch in the middle of the night. Zhang Yuan closed his eyes and enjoyed the tranquility of the midnight bell arriving at the passenger ship, but then he stood up suddenly:
Why hasn't Mu Zhenzhen come back? She went to do laundry in the dark and fell into the water!