Corresponding to the Forbidden City, the Xicheng District is equally noble.
Xicheng District is the residence of officials, big and small, and noble families. The people who live here are all from high-ranking officials and noble families.
Here, only people with a certain status are eligible to move into this area.
If one day, a certain family loses its power, according to the unspoken rules here, the family will have to move out of this area!
"…………"
In Dongcheng District of the capital, some wealthy businessmen live, while Nancheng District and Beicheng District are where ordinary people live.
The main line of the Niu Hulu family is located in Xicheng District!
He Shen was the undoubted most powerful official in the Qianlong dynasty in the later period, and he was the core figure of power in the Qing Dynasty with one person under his authority and more than ten thousand people.
However, whether it was when he was young and destitute, or when he was middle-aged and became a minister, the head of the Niu Hulu family had nothing to do with him.
Because Emperor Qianlong's mother was the eldest daughter of the Hulu family, that is, a woman from the Niu Hulu and Meng family.
With such a relationship, He Shen would never be able to take the position of the head of the Niu Hulu family unless he rebelled!
"…………"
Niu Hulu. Meng Mansion.
In the distance, the tall courtyard wall is already in sight.
The courtyard wall is one and a half feet tall, like a small city wall.
The walls are entirely made of bluestone bricks, which are extremely solid. The paint color on the surface of the bricks is also the top-notch bright red.
The glazed tiles on the walls reflect colorful brilliance under the sunlight.
Of course, these are nothing. The most important thing is that the Meng Mansion covers an astonishing ten miles.
You must know the location of Meng Mansion, but it is located in the most prosperous area of the capital, close to the palace, and every inch of land is valuable.
This shows how favored the Niu Hulu family lineage was in the Qianlong dynasty.
The majestic power of Niu Hulu and Meng Mansion can be surpassed only by the Forbidden City in the entire capital city.
In front of the gate of Meng Mansion, there is a post every three steps and a sentry every five steps, each of which is a patrol soldier wearing heavy armor.
The silver-white armor exudes a killing and calm atmosphere, giving people a condescending and oppressive force.
The tall gatehouse was even five feet high. There were twenty fully armed soldiers standing on both sides of the gatehouse in front of it, guarding it.
Right above the gate tower, the two golden characters of Meng Mansion are eye-catching. The first-class Duke's Mansion is inlaid with a red flag. The power of the flag owner, the top noble, is undoubtedly demonstrated.
The Forbidden City is in the center of the main city avenue, and the Meng Mansion is located on the west avenue of the main city...
If ordinary people from other places do not know the inside story, it is easy to confuse the two, because the Niu Hulu Meng Mansion is really too big.
"…………"
He Shen strode towards the gate of Meng Mansion.
This is his second destination today.
However, before he could get closer, there was a clanging sound, and two spears were already in front of him, blocking the way.
"..."
"What are you doing? Didn't you see that this is Niu Hulu Meng's Mansion? Stay away, otherwise don't blame us for being rude."
A soldier captain wearing armor yelled angrily.
The fierce aura of military strength directly enveloped He Shen's body, as if if he acted rashly, the two spears in front of him would leave two holes in his body in the next second.
"…………"
Looking at the dozens of elite soldiers with red flags in front of him, He Shen couldn't help but nodded and sighed secretly.
It is worthy of being one of the Eight Banners with a red flag. The banner owner’s soldiers are indeed extremely elite!
"…………"
He Shen, who had no intention of conflicting with them, immediately stopped after hearing this.
He Shen said with a serious look on his face, holding out the jade token that could prove his identity with both hands.
"I am He Shen from a branch of the Niu Hulu family. I am here to see my uncle Niu Hulu Meng Yan. Please go and inform me that He Shen is visiting. Please."
Looking at the genuine Niu Hulu family jade plaque and the thirty taels of silver forced into his hand, the squad leader did not dare to neglect and ordered his soldiers to take back their spears.
Then, the team leader quietly put the thirty taels of silver into his pocket, then clasped his fists and said in a deep voice: "Please, sir, wait here for a moment, I will go in and report immediately."
After saying that, he walked directly towards the gate.
"…………"
In no time.
The squad leader walked out.
He said to He Shen: "Sir, I have informed the housekeeper. Please wait a moment."
He Shen nodded silently when he heard this. He was not in a hurry. It was only about a quarter of the afternoon. Although there were some twists and turns today, everything was going smoothly.
This time, he came here to see his nominal uncle Meng Yan, naturally for glass business matters.
Unable to swallow such a big business, he had no choice but to seek advice from this cheap uncle.
"…………"
He Shen didn't wait long. After a while, he heard footsteps coming from the door, and they were the footsteps of an old man.
Inside the gate, a person turned out from behind the corner of the mansion wall and strode out of the gate. He was none other than Meng Bao, the steward of Meng Mansion.
"………………"
"Old housekeeper."
When the more than forty flag soldiers with red flags saw this man, they all moved out of the way uniformly, but the spears in their hands did not tilt at all.
It can be seen from their actions that these soldiers are elites, and they have the bloody aura that comes from having been on the battlefield.
As the owners of the banner, the current family of the Queen Mother, and first-class servants of the Duke's Palace, these people are naturally full of confidence. Whether they speak or act, they are much tougher than the servants in other houses.
"…………"
Every time I come to the Meng Mansion and want to see the master, no matter what my status is or whether I have an official position, I don't dare to offend these servants at all.
This is the reason for the seventh-rank officials under the prime minister's sect.
"…………"
No, even when facing Heshen, a descendant of the Niu Hulu family, these soldiers are neither humble nor arrogant, and have a business-like attitude. At most, they are for the sake of Heshen's Niu Hulu family name, so it is not difficult for him.
These soldiers looked like this. As the steward of the Meng Mansion, Meng Bao was naturally confident.
Butler Meng Bao squinted his eyes and stared at He Shen, looking up and down, as if he wanted to see if there was anything wrong with He Shen.
Looking at the young boy who was about fourteen or fifteen years old with an immature face, the housekeeper Meng Bao didn't know why, but he felt a little nervous in his heart, as if he was facing some big shot.
It is precisely because of this that the steward Meng Bao has been keeping an eye on his master's children.
He Shen looked at the steward Meng Bao and refused to introduce him, thinking that he wanted benefits.
"…………"
He Shen touched his nose and stuffed him with a silver note worth one thousand taels.
With his peripheral vision, he glanced at the amount of the banknote in his hand, and the old wrinkled face of the butler Meng Bao suddenly burst into laughter.
"…………"
Under the leadership of the housekeeper Meng Bao, He Shen walked into the Meng Mansion and immediately felt that his eyes suddenly opened up.
As worthy of being a member of the Niu Hulu family, this environment is indeed extraordinary.
Inside the mansion, there are flowers, many decorations, and tall and towering buildings. In addition to being extravagant and luxurious, it also adds a bit of majesty and grandeur.
It can be said that the environment in Meng's mansion is not exactly the same as what He Shen imagined, but it is still very similar.
In the Meng Mansion, there is both arrogance and luxury, as well as iron-blooded style, and is full of contradictions.
Seeing this, He Shen couldn't help but nodded secretly in his heart.
It is indeed the end of the glorious era of the Qing Dynasty. The bannermen of this era are half fallen, half heroic, and extremely contradictory.
Do you want to say that these bannermen have completely degenerated? Not really, their blood is still hot...
But if you want to say that they are still as wild as beasts without fear of life and death when they first came out of the deep mountains and old forests, that is pure nonsense.
Butler Meng Bao walked in front, followed by He Shen. After a while, they passed the three entrances and three exits in front of the courtyard and immediately arrived at the main hall.
"…………"
The main hall of the Meng Mansion is very wide, with two rows of large rosewood chairs on both sides. There is only one large rosewood chair in front of the main seat.
And sitting on this big rosewood chair was a middle-aged and elderly man.
"…"
He Shen, who offered money and favors, finally got his wish to meet Meng Yan, the head of the Niu Hulu family and the current head of the family.
To be honest, the first feeling this person gave to He Shen can only be best described as profound.
This contemporary head of the Niu Hulu family clan looks like he is in his forties, but his actual age is already over fifty, and his temples are somewhat gray.
Seeing the young boy in front of him, the powerful Meng Yan, his face was extremely calm, and you couldn't tell what he was thinking just by looking at his appearance.
He Shen, less than one meter away from him, also stopped and looked at this uncle who looked full of profound aura.
"…………"
"He Shen, come to me, what do you want?"
Meng Yan's voice seemed a little low.
"……………………"
Uncle, I have a good business here, and I want to cooperate with you. When the money is made, the two of us will split it 50-50. "
When He Shen heard this, he did not hide it, but directly chose to get straight to the point and state the topic immediately.
When Meng Yan heard this, his eyes flashed, and he said with a serious look on his face: "Boy, do you want to do business with me?"
"You are so courageous. Even your father would not think of splitting the business 50-50 when doing business with me."
When He Shen heard this, he frowned slightly and said in a strong tone: "Uncle, it's not that I'm brave, but that I just want to use your name."
"For this business, you only need to put your name on it, and leave everything else to me. You won't suffer any loss if you split the account 50-50."
