"Here we come, what are your orders, Master Qianhu?" A clever little schoolboy ran in. He was about the same age as me and fair-looking, and he bowed beautifully.
"He is a new brother, his name is Zhang Ying. Take him around to get familiar with this place, and tell him some stories by the way!" Liao Jianzhong said, and took out a banknote from his arms and said: "One I’ll go out again, buy some fruit wine and food, treat everyone to a meal, and we’ll be acquainted!”
"Okay, sir, please don't worry. I'll make the arrangements right now!" Xiang Chong reached out and took the banknote. I glanced at Liao Jianzhong subconsciously, and he nodded to me with a smile. I quickly said goodbye politely, and then said goodbye to Xiang Chong. After walking out, my father-in-law Ma's voice came to my ears: "This kid looks quite smart!" I just don't know if he was talking about Xiang Chong or me.
When we got out of the house, Xiang Chong had already held my hand and said with a smile: "I'm Xiang Chong, and I'm also new here. I'm just three months ahead of you. Come, let me show you the Fusi District of Beizhen." ."
【Beizhen Fusi】
Since Emperor Hongwu, this has been the seat of Beizhen Fusi. Because it is located to the north of the capital, and corresponding to it is Nanzhen Fusi, it is also called Beiyamen. What does Beizhen Fusi do? It handles cases decided by the emperor. It has its own prison (imperial prison) and can arrest, torture, and execute prisoners on its own without going through the judicial system. Beizhen Fusi has many external tasks and often travels across the country. Since he is directly responsible to the emperor, local officials are respectful to people in Beizhen Fusi when they see them, and do not dare to be careless at all. They call them "envoys" or "imperial envoys". ". In layman's terms, Beizhen Fusi is the arresting department of the imperial court. Countless souls died under torture, making it a creepy place. But there is one thing. There are many residential houses here, and you can even see the residents walking freely through the door. The residents are not afraid of this place at all. I am very puzzled about this. Xiang Chong and I are the kind of people who are familiar with each other. We soon talked about everything, so in response to my question, Xiang Chong smiled mysteriously and said: "We are the emperor's grandfather who personally arranged to arrest the officials. We don't care about the common people's affairs."
I nodded in understanding. It seemed that the Jin Yiwei was indeed very powerful. Xiang Chong led me out of Fu Si, Beizhen Town. He looked at the sky and said, "I should have taken you to experience the Si and Imperial Prison, but There are too many evil spirits in those places. You are just starting out. It is not too late to go after you have paid homage to the great god. Let's go out!" But he ran to the back door, where there were seven or eight school captains guarding him, and a leader. Sitting on a bench in the shade and drinking tea, Xiang Chong said to me: "It's convenient to go to the street here. There are always people questioning you at the main entrance. Although it is a government office, you sometimes have to register, so it's more casual here!" The leader saw it. We asked, "Xiang Chong, new here?"
Xiang Chong smiled and said: "It turns out that the second brother Lou is on duty. This is the new brother named Zhang Ying. Liao Qianhu asked me to take him around and buy some things on the street. Let’s entertain all brothers tonight! Zhang Ying, this is the second brother of Lou Fenglou and Xiaoqilou. Zhang Ying, please show your badge to the second brother of Lou, it will be convenient in the future!”
I quickly took out my waist badge. Lou Feng took the waist badge and looked at me and said: "Since it was appointed by Liao Qianhu, there will be no mistakes. You can do it at your own convenience. There are many rules in the outside world, so don't do it. Being playful has ruined Jin Yiwei's reputation."
After saying that, he returned the badge to me and said to Chong: "Second Brother Lou is right. Naturally, my little brother dare not indulge wantonly. I will take him out and find a familiar shop to buy some things and then come back. Let's get together in the evening." ! Second Brother Lou must give me a compliment!" With that said, he pulled me out.
On the street, the crowd was bustling. Before I could see the distance clearly, I found a group of people sitting at the door. They were all crying and sad. When they saw us coming out, their eyes brightened up. A middle-aged man who looked like a butler had already stood up and said: "You two are on duty, let's talk conveniently!"
I was stunned, but Xiang Chong naturally followed the man. In a secluded place, the man bowed deeply and said: "I am the steward of Jinke Jinshi Gao Dezheng. My young master was originally sent to Leizhou, Guangdong by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. As a county magistrate, the young master was confused for a moment and went to a place he shouldn't have gone to to eat and drink, and was taken away by the Jin Yiwei. So far, there is no news. The family is very anxious. Please come up and find some ways to let me know. Some news about the young master." After saying that, he took the banknote from his sleeve. I have never seen such a scene before. Xiang Chong took it naturally and quickly put it in his sleeve, but said: "What's your name? It's such a small thing. , you are so polite, you really don’t need to give it to us, hey, but thank you. Can you go to Shuntianfu Yamen to report the case? If not, we will go back and ask for you. Go to Pingjia Old Store at this time tomorrow! Someone will give you news there. "Yes." The man heard this and said with a smile on his face: "You are so humble, so thank you so much!"
Xiang Chong didn't wait to salute, and led me away. As he walked, he said: "I don't know how many people the Jinyiwei will arrest in a day, and we don't have time to send a special person to inquire. We have to check little by little tomorrow." Then he smiled and said : "Commander Mou will not let us collect money. He will catch a person who collects money privately, beat him twenty times, and send him to a remote and barren land. But we still have to do something that is easy to do." He said to me again: "Those people are all family members of officials. It is estimated that their master has disappeared, and they have guessed that there is something disgraceful, and they dare not report it to the official. When someone understands and tells them, they come here to die. Don't say it, This is also a way for Jin Yiwei to make money!"
I didn’t think much about money. I just felt that these people were crying and pitiful. I thought that since I had just come here, I had to be careful in everything. I nodded and said, "I will have to rely on Brother Xiang to take care of me from now on!" "Where? I will have to rely on you to help me in the future!" Seeing that I didn't understand what he meant, Xiang Chong said proudly: "I have read your post. You are from Eunuch Zhang, and your career is just around the corner. Although I am older, , I have no roots or mountains to get started, I will count on you to take care of me and support me in the future!"
I was surprised, thinking that I had just entered Jinyiwei and that others understood me so clearly. I couldn't help but look back at the Fusi Yamen in Beizhen.
Xiang Chong rambled on and said: "Those who can work in Jinyiwei have some foundation. Like you and the newcomers who came with you, they are all protected by someone. Do you know that the newcomer Qian Sheng who came with you, He didn't even enter Jinyiwei's gate and went directly to the East Factory to work. His uncle Qian Tong and Qian Cai are the godsons of Eunuch Qiu. Naturally, those who are close to the water will get the moon first!"
I only have a vague impression of Qian Sheng, and I am still unfamiliar with him after all. But thinking about the gentleman Qian I met when I first entered the door, I unconsciously asked: "When we first came here, we met a gentleman from Qianhu, whose surname is said to be..." Money!" "That's him. Qian Cai Qianhu, Nansi Qianhu, people are not good. He has a younger brother named Qian Tong, who works for Baihu, working in Dongchang!" I asked about Liao Jianzhong, and asked Chong said: "Liao Qianhu is amazing. He is one of the best heroes among the Jinyi Guards. He is bold and well-rounded. He is given face in every aspect, and he does things cleanly and neatly. Even the emperor knows his reputation. If it were not for the government affairs, , we Jin Yiwei have already become famous!"
I was very puzzled and asked why it was hindering the government. I looked around and whispered: "The Jinyiwei started from Emperor Taizong to Grandpa Hongzhi. There have been ups and downs several times. There are almost no Jinyiwei commanders who have died well, and they can compete with us. There are civil servants and Dongchang. Either you come up or I come up. Over the years, the fighting has never stopped. Grandpa Hongzhi ascended the throne. I really can’t stand it. He suppressed us and Dongchang and prevented us from participating in the government. For more than ten years, we have been careful and there has been no trouble. The things arranged by the court have been done beautifully!"
I said: "I guess this is Grandpa Hongzhi's care for us!" Xiang Chong pursed his lips and smiled, and said: "Having said that, we ordinary Jinyi guards are just working as errands here to make a living. If our ancestors were virtuous, we might be able to make a living. Even though he is an official, some big shots are not willing to be so mediocre, so they naturally want to achieve great success!"
I nodded and said: "This is probably because everyone has his own ambitions!" Xiang Chong smiled and said: "It is natural to have ambitions, but there is no chance, it is just empty talk. I have no hope, but you do not. Hope You can help me more in the future." He said it very seriously, which made me not know how to answer.
Xiang Chong didn't notice my embarrassment, he still smiled and said with confidence: "The world is so big, there is always a place for us to stand. No matter what, I climbed out of the big ravine, and I will definitely do it again in the future." Go back and see, after all, I am the only one in our small mountain village who has come out to be an official in so many years!"
