Because of the special nature of the personal guards, there is no commander. They directly obey the emperor's orders or are led by confidant eunuchs. Tang Potian, as the sword-bearing officer of the palace army's vanguard, has a high rank. In addition, he is also the commander of the guards of the prince's palace.
He was also a figure in the vanguard of the government army. He had a wide range of views in the guard station and his words had weight. At this time, following Chang Yu's orders, he was holding a mobilization meeting for several sword-wielding officers, Qianhu.
The risk of escorting people to pay wages is high. It is a long and long journey. In addition, it is an area hit hard by thieves. People may lose their heads at any time, so everyone is not very motivated.
"Although the future is difficult and dangerous, the oil and water are very rich. It is better to take a chance than to wait for death in Beijing. Besides, this is the emperor's personal order. You'd better keep your spirits up."
Chang Yu's simple words were able to speak louder than Tang Potian's for a long time, and he had money in hand and imperial edict in hand. These personal guards were both well-behaved and excited.
"After lunch, we went to training outside Andingmen for an afternoon. We will set off early tomorrow morning." After Chang Yu explained some things to Tang Potian, he asked a guard from the Prince's Palace to drive straight to the north of the city for him.
It was already noon at this time, and Chang Yu was a little hungry. The reason why he did not stay in the Fujun Guards Station to eat was because he was in a hurry to meet up with Wei Dahai at Tengxiang Guards.
"Han Liang, where are you?" Chang Yu squinted in the car and suppressed the protest from his stomach.
"Back to Eunuch Chang, we have arrived at Iron Lion Alley. We can get there without half a stick of incense," said the guard driving the carriage.
Iron Lion Alley? Chang Yu's squinted eyes suddenly opened: "But the Iron Lion Alley in Tian Guozhang's mansion"
"Eunuch Chang is joking, is there a second Iron Lion Alley in Beijing?"
Chang Yu was stunned: "Go to Tian Mansion."
In ancient times, wealthy families liked to erect a pair of stone lions and other objects in front of their mansions, firstly to ward off evil spirits, and secondly to show their status. However, there was often a very high-end wealthy family who erected a pair of large iron lions, which was unique in the capital.
One copy, this person is the mansion of Chongzhen’s favorite concubine Tian Xiuying and his father Tian Hongyu, and the street where his mansion is located is named after the pair of iron lions, Iron Lion Alley (later Zhang Zizhong Road)
It is said that when one person attains enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Tian Xiuying was favored by thousands of people throughout her life, but Tian Hongyu's social status has also increased. Not only has he made money well, but he has also gained the false title of guerrilla general, commander of the royal guards, and left governor.
But even so, he is just a pawn under Zhou Kui. Although they are both the head of the country, and even though his daughter is deeply favored by the emperor, there is still a level difference after all. In the words of later generations, "I will not die, and all of you will be the same."
There is a world of difference between "being a concubine" and "being a concubine", so most of Tian Hong's encounters are with Zhou Kui running errands and doing things.
At this moment, Chang Yu was standing in front of the magnificent mansion, looking at the pair of dark iron lions with silent expressions. He didn't know why, whether it was because of the cold weather or something else, there was no one around at the front door of this huge mansion.
But Chang Yu is well aware of the principle of tea cooling. Tian Xiuying has been dead for two years, and the Tian family is no longer favored. Naturally, there are no people to fawn over. Tian Hongyu also knows that when he was favored, he offended many people with his arrogance and domineering. Now,
I had no choice but to keep a low profile with my tail between my legs and stay at home. (Historical note: Tian Hongyu passed away the year after his daughter died of illness. It is also said that he disappeared after the city was destroyed in the 17th year of Chongzhen. The novel adopts the second version)
Being so low-key and careful, it's no wonder that Jin Yiwei found nothing when he came to search the night before. Looking at the closed door, Chang Yu secretly smiled. Although he found nothing, he must have frightened Lao Tian a lot.
I thought in my mind that I took a few steps back and took a closer look at the big house in front of me. This house is really a place where spirits gather.
The home of Tian Xiuying, the most beautiful concubine of the Ming Dynasty
Chen Yuanyuan, the most beautiful woman in the Ming Dynasty, lived here, and it was here that she fell in love with Wu Sangui.
The residence of Zhang Yong, the marquis of Jingni during the Kangxi period.
Princess Hejing's Mansion of Qianlong's Daughter
The residence of Gu Weijun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Beiyang Government.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen died of illness here, and the famous will "I devoted myself to the Republic of China for forty years, with the purpose of seeking freedom and equality in China..." was also signed here.
Of course, the reason why Chang Yu came here for a walk was not because he coveted the mansion, but because of the wealth of the owner of the mansion. Tian Hongyu's wealth after so many years of exploitation was not ordinary. If necessary, he would definitely come and get it.
After standing in front of Tianfu Gate for a while, Chang Yu got in the car and headed towards Jintaifang. However, he was blocked before he left the alley.
There were dozens of people in the group, seven or eight coffins, paper money flying, and cries pouring out from a large house, blocking the entrance of the alley. Chang Yu stared at it for a moment and sighed in his heart. He had seen this scene more than ten times.
.
That's right, one of the major reasons for the demise of the Ming Dynasty was the plague!
The Little Ice Age caused climate extremes, famine caused by floods and droughts, and plague, all of which were fatal to the Ming Dynasty. Especially the plague, which first broke out in Shanxi in the sixth year of Chongzhen, spread to Hebei in the fourteenth year, and then entered Beijing, causing
The capital's population died in large numbers.
According to historical data, the plague caused the death of at least 200,000 people in Beijing, accounting for one-fifth of the city's population. So much so that after the intruders entered Beijing, there were records of people and ghosts mingling together, and people not dared to go there in the evening.
This is why Chang Yu always feels that the capital is sparsely populated. After all, more than 200,000 people died out of a total population of only 7 to 8 million.
Now is the period of severe cold, but the plague is still so raging. When the weather is hot, the situation will be so terrifying that a dark cloud hangs over Chang Yu's heart.
When they rushed to Jintaifang in a hurry, the hungry Chang Yu rushed into the Weisuo Yamen regardless of his appearance, shouting: "Hurry up and bring the food and wine, oh, no wine, more meat..."
The guard in front of the door was stunned for a moment, thinking who is this, is he crazy?
There was no good wine, but the food was absolutely rich, including fish and meat. Chang Yu devoured the food with gusto. Wei Dahai sat beside him to accompany him. He had already eaten. He had just called a few thousand households to gather people, and the master came rushing over.
.
Wei Dahai sat aside and looked at Chang Yu devouring his food with a smile on his face, but his eyes were full of mixed emotions. He thought that he had spent his whole life in the palace before becoming a royal horse supervisor and eunuch leader. Of course, this also made him
What he is most proud of is that, no less than other yamen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Royal Horse Supervisor is second only to the Li Jian in terms of strength. In addition to commanding the emperor's Tengxiang Four Guards, he is also responsible for running the Huangzhuang and Huangdian. In short, he is absolutely the leader in the palace.
However, there are talented people from generation to generation, and no one would have imagined that a little eunuch who had just entered the palace in March or April, and was originally unknown, would suddenly become famous, and become popular at a speed that any powerful eunuch in the previous dynasty could not catch up with.
.Now that I think about it, it feels inexplicable, as if such a person exploded out of the ground with a thunder.
A little eunuch who worked as a handyman in Shang Shanjian beat up a personal guard, held a boxing match and became famous instantly. Then he became a celebrity in the Prince's Palace, and then became a confidant of Queen Zhou, and now he is unaware of it.
He also gained the favor of the emperor and gave him a secret order to cooperate with Chang Yu.
Could it be that the command of the Tengxiang Four Guards is about to be handed over to me? I feel a little sad thinking about it. I can't help but sigh to myself, the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead.
Eunuch Wei and Eunuch Chang, the manpower has been gathered and is waiting for your order. Chang Yu had just finished eating. Cheng Ming and several thousand households came to the hall and said respectfully. They had all met Chang Yu and asked for his kindness.
I gambled money in the palace, and this time I went west to pay money. Chang Yu called a few of them and said, "Good deeds will naturally help your brothers."