Bad things always happen at night, and of course secret things always happen at night. Hao Liande led his two men to conduct a secret investigation in Songjiang Mansion. Unfortunately, as he was not familiar with the place, he found nothing in a few days. Hao Liande had no choice but to find a helper - Wu Shanchang, a thousand households in Songjiang Thousand Households Office.
Wu Shan was a good man with a strong enterprising spirit, but he stayed in the position of Qianhusuo for nearly ten years. His former subordinates had already risen to great heights, but he was still where he was, without changing at all, except that his eyes were full of wrinkles. There are wrinkles, and there are a few more strands of hair on the head.
You can't conquer the world immediately, but you can't rule it immediately. Many of the generals who fought with Zhu Xiluo have retired and returned to their hometowns. The power of civil servants is getting bigger and bigger, so military officials are also facing embarrassing problems. They can even curse people without culture. They were no match for those intellectuals, so warriors were treated the lowest. Many warriors had difficulty maintaining their salaries, and ended up selling their own weapons, or working in workshops or docks after work. But he still couldn't change his current situation of poverty.
As the top leader of Jinyiwei in Songjiang Mansion, Wu Shanchang often owed wages, but because he had no children, his expenses were smaller, and his wife could also help earn some money to support the family, so Wu Shanchang's conditions were still good. It's better, but most of the Jinyi guards, you may not believe it, their lives are bright on the surface, but in fact they are worse than beggars. These are the Jinyi guards, the minions of the current saint, directly under the yamen, their lives are This is the case for most of the companies. Thinking about it, other units may not be much better.
Wu Shanchang is on duty today. Although his salary cannot keep up, Wu Zuishang will insist on standing at his post every shift, and he will be worthy of the saint's kindness of knowing him and the people of Songjiang Prefecture who raised him.
Military people love to drink. A jar of wine and a plate of pickles, this is the dinner for a fifth-rank military attaché of the Qianhu Station of Jinyiwei.
"Sir, when will the royal court's salary be paid? My father has been ill for several days. If I don't have money for medicine, I'm afraid my father won't survive this week." A Jinyi captain said with worry.
The tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop, the son wants to be filial but can't raise him. He worked hard to raise himself, but as for himself, he can't even pay for his father's medical expenses. The captain's face is full of self-blame and shame.
"Boss Guo, why didn't you tell me earlier that your father was sick? Nowadays, disasters are happening frequently and the court is also in great difficulty. It is estimated that the salary will not be paid for a while. So I have a little bit here for you to take. If it is not enough, I will think of a solution. ," After a sip of wine, Wu Shanchang took out some broken silver from his sleeve. It was indeed quite broken, including one tael, two taels, and some copper plates that were currently in low use.
Because of inflation, today's copper coins can no longer be regarded as circulating currency. If three or two copper coins fall on the ground, no one will pick them up. People may not even ask for alms given to beggars, which shows that Wu Shanchang's life was not easy either.
Boss Guo hurriedly refused, "No, sir, I can't ask for your money anymore. Your family is not rich either."
Putting the money into Boss Guo's hand, Wu Shanchang cursed, "Just take it if I tell you to. How can there be so much nonsense? Do you want your father to die? There is not much money. Take your father to the miracle doctor." When asking for a consultation, just tell him that I asked you to go there, and write down the difference first and pay it in two days."
"Sir, I" a five-foot man was also moved by Wu Shanchang. Eyes Boss Guo's eyes also became blurry.
"Don't act like a mother-in-law or a mother-in-law. They are all brothers who survived the battlefield. They have a life-long friendship and can give you anything except your wife."
"Yes, we are all brothers," another captain in Jinyi also poured out some broken silver from his pocket and said, "I have been bathing a lot lately, and the silver is a little short. You can take it too, my dad." My mother died early, and she had no wife or children, so she had no expenses. Whenever you have money, you can pay it back to me, but I won’t use it.”
"No, I can't take your money, Lao Duan," Boss Guo refused. Everyone has his own difficulties, and every family has a difficult book to recite. Although Lao Duan is lonely and helpless, there is no place to spend his money. few.
"Old Duan, I'm not telling you, it's time for you to marry a wife. Those women who take baths can't last long after all," Wu Shanchang persuaded, putting down the wine bowl.
"Haha, sir, who would fall in love with a good girl like us, a poor military household? I found a matchmaker some time ago, and she was a widow with two children. I thought to myself, if you have children, you will have children, and I will save myself the trouble of having another one. I never thought that they would still be unwilling, not interested in me, and thought we were too poor." Old Duan picked up a pickle, carefully put it into his mouth, and then chewed hard until the salty taste was gone from his mouth before swallowing it.
Out of ten military men, nine are rich. It is difficult for a poor military household to find a wife. Emperor Taizu Gao stipulated that military households are hereditary. That is to say, if you are a military household, your son will be a military household, and so will your grandson. In later generations, all male children were from military families. Therefore, in order to find a wife for their children, many people would choose to marry their daughters to a man from another military family in exchange for a daughter from his family. Those who did not have a daughter were helpless. You can play with yourself. This custom has been with the establishment of the Qianming Dynasty until its demise.
As for Zhu Xiluo of the Ming Empire, who claimed to be a descendant of the Zhu family, he would naturally follow the laws and regulations of the previous Ming Dynasty. Moreover, Zhu Xiluo was not a person who liked to think, so it was difficult to implement new decrees, whichever was simple. Therefore, the hereditary system of military households continues to be used.
Moreover, because of Zhu Xiluo's family planning policy, each person can only have one child, resulting in many military households having only one child, a boy or a girl. The girl will be separated from her status as a military household when she marries an ordinary person, while the boy will be separated from his status as a military household. As for the children, they still need to inherit their father's legacy and devote their youth and blood to the long-term peace and stability of the Ming Empire. But what about their marriage problems? Who would be willing to marry their children to a military household and continue to be a military household after having children. Therefore, the single issue has always been the biggest problem among military households.
Of course, if the wages of military households were higher, there would be some people who would reluctantly marry into military households for money, but well, military households are all very poor. Including Wu Shanchang, a fifth-grade Qianhu master.
Old Duan's words have entered everyone's heart. Every man doesn't want to taste the taste of a woman, but no good girl is willing to marry him, so they can only go to the bathhouse.
After taking a sip of wine, Old Duan continued, "Marry a wife, take care of yourself, don't let you do this, don't let you do that, nagging you even after drinking a sip of wine, how can those girls who take baths be gentle and considerate, in their You are the uncle in front of me, you can choose any posture and be obedient."
Wu Shanchang nodded sympathetically.
Women are always a topic that men can't finish talking about. Lao Duan continued, "Sir, you know, there are a few more girls coming to Shuang Wai Wai. They said they used to sit at the Bund Tavern in Songjiang Prefecture and joined because of their health. "Shuang Wai Wai Wai Bathhouse, I was lucky enough to try it for a while in Lao Duan. It's really good if it comes from a big place. The technique is so good. Even the screams are better than those of girls from small places."
"Really?" Wu Shanchang asked excitedly after wiping the wine stains from the corner of his mouth, "But I heard that the price of Shuangwai Wai Bathhouse has increased again."
"Well, it is a bit more expensive than before. I heard that because of the economic crisis, the doctors who attend clinics have increased the physical examination fees for girls." Pouring a bowl of wine for himself, Duan continued to explain, "But the membership price is still the same. Listen. He said that now Shuang Wai Wai is carrying out activities normally, and there are discounts for membership, and old members will get two bonuses if they recharge ten times,”
"Doesn't that mean you can sleep 12 times for the price of 10 times?"
"Yes, your income is correct. I heard that there are many members and there are not enough girls there. The Shuangwaiwai Bathhouse is recruiting workers. The salary is favorable, with paid leave, and clothing and cosmetics subsidies. If I were a woman, I would want to do it." Lao Duan also envied those women's single life. If a person's survival becomes a problem, he will have a sense of shame, moral values, and just to live, what kind of choice? Not to live.
"Haha, Lao Duan, it's not that I don't like you, little brother. It's just your appearance that makes a customer fall in love with you." Boss Guo also swept away the gloom just now and joined the chat.
"What do you guys know? Those girls all say I have substance."
"Pfft" Wu Shan took a long sip of wine and sprayed it on Lao Duan's face, "Haha, Lao Duan, stop teasing me, you have meaning."
Licking the wine stains on his face, Lao Duan said unconvinced, "Sir, you really don't believe it. Next time we go to Shuangwaiwai and see what the girls there say."
Recalling the days he spent at Shuangwaiwai, Wu Shanchang couldn't help but sigh, "I haven't had a bath in a long time. The girls in Shuangwaiwai are pretty good, but the price is a bit high."
"The price of good goods is high," Lao Duan said, then lowered his head and whispered, "I met the prefect Xie Xiangrong that day."
"What, really?" Wu Shanchang and Boss Guo both looked in disbelief.
You must know that Xie Xiangrong, the prefect of Songjiang, is famous for being henpecked. He has to obey Mrs. Xie's instructions when going to the toilet every day. He will be beaten for every second more and every second less. It is said that one time, Mr. Xie probably had a bad stomach, and he didn't know how long he should sit in the toilet for a second. When he heard Mrs. Xie greeting him outside, he was so anxious that he ran out without even having time to wipe his butt. A severe beating was inevitable because he was disrespectful to his wife and met her with a smelly body.
"I saw it with my own eyes. How can it be false?"
"Tsk, tsk, we haven't seen each other for a few days. This Xie Xiangrong is so brave." Wu Shanchang touched his chin and sighed.
"Haha, I guess I'm tired of eating. Lao Xie wants to change his taste." Boss Guo also laughed at the side.
"Haha, Lao Guo, how is your wife? I need you to try some new cuisine."
"Go away, go away, my wife and I have true love."
"Hey, what are you guys talking about? You are chatting so happily." A voice came from the door.
Wu Shanchang replied casually, "Talk about women."
The sound came, and people also walked into the room. The three of them were the makeup-covered eunuch of the Royal Horse Guards, Hao Liande, the commander of the Jinyi Guards.
Hearing the topic of women, Hao Liande's face turned very ugly. Is this a slap in the face on purpose?
Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Wu Shanchang finally reacted, sobered up a bit, stood up, and stared at the person.
Lao Duan and Boss Guo were not slow to respond. Then they stood up and stood on both sides of Wu Shanchang, holding their hands on the handle of the knife.
Wu Shanchang looked at the three people who came. The leader was thin and his face was very pale. The beard on his mouth obviously did not match his skin color. He had a vague aura of a superior. Wu Shanchang asked, "May I ask what your Excellency is?" How dare you break into Jinyiwei's Qianhu residence privately."
"Haha, why don't we break in? There isn't even a captain on duty outside, so I just walked in." Jinyiwei is his own yamen, and the discipline is so loose. Songjiang Prefecture is still a coastal prefecture and has a coastal defense. Investigating the smuggling of Japanese pirates is such an important task. Thousands of other inland households can imagine this. Hao Liande was very angry, angry at these people who took advantage of the emperor's salary and were not loyal to the emperor.
"who are you"
A sign was thrown on the table,
Wu Shanchang picked it up and took a closer look.
Jin Yiwei's waist badges with different statuses are different. The lowest level of warriors and captains use wooden plaques. On the front is the Jinyi personal army guard division, and on the back is the name of the team they belong to.
The small flag, main flag, deputy 100 households, and 100 households bronze medals have slightly different shapes and are also nameless.
Deputy Qianhu, Qianhu, and Zhenfu use silver medals, which are famous.
It is famous for the use of gold medals for command signatures, colleagues, and command.
When Wu Shanchang saw the name Hao Liande on it, poof, Wu Shanchang wanted to kneel down.
"Nima, this is my big leader coming."
With his hands behind his back, Hao Liande looked up at the beams at 45 degrees, waiting for Wu Shanchang to salute. Well, not bad, it was quite frugal, and it was all in the open air.
"You are lying. The commander is a eunuch. How can he have a beard?"
