At nearly noon the next day, a group of people entered Yanzhou Fucheng.
Coming from the canal, you will live on the boat all the way, and there is no need to stay at the inn.
At this time, Zheng Haizhu took out the small Kanhe that he had obtained from Eunuch Liu of the Suzhou Weaving Bureau and took everyone straight to the official post in Yanzhou.
With Kanhe in hand, you don't have to spend money to stay in a state hotel.
But Zheng Haizhu only cared about safety and did not want to waste accommodation and food expenses, so as soon as he entered the door, he paid five taels of silver to the postmaster and asked for a few of the most ordinary rooms according to the standards of other mid- to high-end hotels.
The postmaster has been in office for many years and has received countless family members of officials who used the imperial contract for free food and accommodation. This was the first time that he met someone who actively gave money, and he couldn't help but feel strange.
When I saw those lanterns that were not unfolded yet, they were already unparalleled in beauty. When I learned that they were here to celebrate the princess’s birthday, they immediately started chatting.
"Everyone, the current King of Lu is a wise king. We, the people of Yanzhou, all look forward to the long life of the King and Princess."
Zheng Haizhu nodded and said, "We saw a porridge soup shed outside the city gate. When we inquired about it, we found that it belongs to the palace."
The postmaster said: "No, how can the Yanzhou government have money? There have been constant natural disasters in recent years, and there have been rumors of Xiangjiao. Foreigners think that Yanzhou is located on the main road of the canal, so it should be richer than Suzhou and Hangzhou. In fact, the government is really rich. I don’t have to pay for it. Fortunately, I met this generation of King Lu, who was a good man of the ninth generation. If you go to the southeast of Fucheng, you can see a big bridge on the Si River. It was built by King Lu’s palace who bought stones and recruited craftsmen. , it cost three hundred thousand taels of silver. With that bridge, during the two-month flood season, no matter how heavy the water is, the flow of people and businesses will not be hindered."
Prince Lumi of the Ming Dynasty paid ten thousand shi per year, which is equivalent to more than ten thousand taels of silver according to today's rice prices. In addition to silk, satin, tea and horse materials, this bridge cost almost ten years of King Lu's salary.
Yes, the current King of Lu, Zhu Shouhong, is very good.
Although in essence, the money was paid to the national treasury by the people from all over the country, not to mention that the prince's own land did not have to pay taxes on the grain, but Zhu Shouhong's ability to provide food, clothing, housing and transportation to the local people was already considered as the debris flow of thousands of sects of the old Zhu family. There was a breath of fresh air inside.
Zheng Haizhu then said to the postmaster: "Okay, we are going to see the Sihe Bridge."
Then he asked: "By the way, Confucius's mansion is in Qufu, but Mencius's hometown is in Zoucheng? Is it far from Fucheng?"
The postmaster waved his hand: "Not far away, just ten miles east of the Sishui River, you will see a charcoal mountain. That hill is specially used to supply charcoal to Prince Lu's palace."
Zheng Haizhu felt happy.
Great, the layout of Yanzhou in the Ming Dynasty is indeed different from that of later generations. Prince Lu's Mansion is so close to Zoucheng.
Zheng Haizhu asked about Zoucheng, of course not out of nostalgia for visiting Mencius's former residence, but because, as a later generation, she knew for sure that there were coal mines in Zoucheng!
Mencius said that everyone can be like Yao and Shun.
Zheng Haizhu said to himself that Yao and Shun first had to find the mine.
…
After a hurried lunch, Zheng Haizhu sent two intelligence agents, Mu Zaohua and Li Daniu, to take a big car and go to Zoucheng Chaitan Mountain to explore the road.
She herself, together with Wu Bondang and Xu San, went to visit Zhang Dai's father, Zhang Yaofang, the chief historian of Prince Lu's palace.
After all, Prince Lu's Mansion is at the level of a prince, and the palace facing south is also very majestic.
The colors of the palaces and pavilions are all the same vermilion and green as the Emperor's Palace. Even the auspicious clouds on the pillars and eaves are the same, except that the ones climbing on them are not dragons, but flat chilies without two horns. One level lower than the emperor.
The south gate of the Wangfu faces the wide Imperial Street, overlooking the south gate of Yanzhou Prefecture.
On both sides of the imperial street, just like the imperial road in Kaifeng Prefecture in the Song Dynasty, there are rivers and pools dug. Weeping willows are planted along the riverside, and lotus seeds are grown in the water.
In this late autumn season, which is popular but not green, because it coincides with the birthday of Princess Lu, countless silk flowers were planted on both sides of the imperial street.
Under the Bell and Drum Tower at the end of Imperial Street, several large sheds were erected, and giant lanterns made of colored silk could be vaguely seen.
There was someone on duty in front of the shed. Wu Bondang went up to inquire and said that these big lights were to be used in conjunction with the fireworks on the day of the birthday banquet to show to the members of the royal family and distinguished guests.
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Zheng Haizhu couldn't help but think of Zhang Dai in history. In the book "Tao'an Dream Memories" left to future generations, there was a special article about the fireworks and lights he saw when he came to visit his father in Prince Lu's Mansion, which was like a dream. .
As the administrative office of the royal palace, the Changshi Division opened a separate side door on the east side of the city wall in the royal city to facilitate the entry and exit of those doing business or visiting.
Zheng Haizhu showed the doorman a stamped letter that Zhang Dai had asked his father, Zhang Yaofang, to write. One of the doormen immediately went to report it. Not long after, a middle-aged man in blue official uniform came over.
The middle-aged man had a handsome face and a long beard, and his aura was gentle and gentle. He held his hands and smiled and said: "Several friends, please come to my duty room to talk."
Zheng Haizhu was not surprised that Zhang Yaofang, as an elder and the chief minister of the palace, came out to greet him in person.
She asked Zhang Dai to write a letter to her father, mentioning her friendship with Liu Shimin of the Weaving Bureau.
This is not a bragging statement like "I know Eunuch Liu, but Eunuch Liu doesn't know me", so why not mention it.
On necessary occasions, you should show your connections and boldly try to knock on the door of the public office instead of cautiously visiting private homes.
Public offices can obtain more information.
After entering the royal city, Zhang Yaofang said some pleasantries as he walked and asked if the journey went well. Zheng Haizhu answered respectfully, and took the initiative to introduce Wu Bondang and Xu San as the shopkeeper and assistants who handled his business.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he passed the check-in room with the sign "Gongzhengshuo", a man hurriedly appeared from inside and almost ran into Zheng Haizhu head-on.
An official soon followed and said in a loud voice: "General, please don't be upset. I would like to give you a bold advice. After a few days, it's not too late to give me advice."
Zheng Haizhu looked intently at the man, who was about the same age as Lu Xiangsheng. His features were straight and graceful, but his face was full of anger, like an angry Persian cat.
The prince's son attacks the prince, and the prince's son attacks the general.
Zheng Haizhu thought to himself, so this young man is also a member of the Lu Fan clan?
While he was thinking about it, the man said coldly to the official who came out of the Gongzheng Office: "What? I, Zhu Yipai, also have the surname Zhu, can't I take care of the silverfish in my Zhu family? Why do we have to wait a few days before talking about it?" ? I want to talk to Your Highness now."
After he finished speaking, he turned around and saw that Zheng Haizhu was a woman. He then looked at Wu Bond and Xu San, frowned and asked Zhang Yaofang: "Chang Shi, who are they?"
Zhang Yaofang did not expect that Zhu Yipai would appear in the Yamen today.
Zhu Yipai was the nephew of Zhu Shouhong, the current King of Lu, and the eldest son of Zhu Shouyong, the king of Taixing County.
King Lu was nearly forty years old, but he had no children, so he doted on his nephew.
Although Zhu Yipai was the son of a county prince, everyone from the concubines and eunuchs in the palace to officials at all levels in the palace office called Zhu Yipai "Your Highness" on weekdays.
The official of the Gongzheng Institute was newly appointed, and he called him "General Zhengguo" sternly, while Zhang Yaofang, who had been in Lu Fan for a long time, already said in a warm tone: "Your Highness, this is Miss Zheng. She works for Eunuch Liu, who is weaving in Suzhou. This time she came north for business, so Quanzi asked her to bring some lanterns from her hometown to celebrate the princess’s birthday.”
When Zhu Yipai heard the words "Suzhou weaving", the frosty air on his face dissipated a lot, and he just asked Zhang Yaofang calmly: "Isn't it among the subjects purchased by the palace?"
Zhang Yaofang smiled and said: "How come, it was presented by Quan Zi."
Zhu Yipai nodded and said bluntly: "Hey, Lao Zhang, wouldn't it be better if your master had sent them earlier? We would not have to buy those lamps in front of the Bell and Drum Tower, and we would save a lot of money."
Zhang Yaofang waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Highness, you are so embarrassed. In our small place in Shanyin, the lanterns we make can only be hung in the transepts to add some joy. How can they be compared with the big lights in front of the Bell and Drum Towers."
Zhu Yipai said: "Oh, that's it. Then I'll go and see how the big lantern is tied. If you want lanterns in the future, I will provide them from Taixing Prince's Palace. There are so many silks and silks given by the emperor in the library, I don't believe it can be tied. Make beautiful headlights."
He paused and then said to Zheng Haizhu and others: "You have come all the way, not only as guests of Zhang Changshi, but also as guests of my Lu Mansion. Come back to the banquet with Chang Shi."
Zheng Haizhu is busy squatting for a blessing
Li: "Thank you, Your Highness."
Zhu Yipai said "hmm" in his nose, said no more to everyone, and walked away.
The Changshi Division and the Gongzheng Office were two yamen, and there were outsiders present. Zhang Yaofang was inconvenient to ask more questions, so he just said goodbye to the official office.
But from the word "silverworm" mentioned by Zhu Yipai, Zhang Yaofang could guess that this little highness, who was different from most of the sect's dandies, was angry about which clan was asking the Lu Mansion for money to build a large-scale construction project.
Seeing the searching look on Zheng Haizhu's face, Zhang Yaofang said meaningfully: "Your Highness's father, King Taixing, is also a wise king praised by the people of Yanzhou. This year, there are many disasters in Lu. King Taixing asked Long Live to donate Tianhu More than ten people were sold for charity and exchanged for food to help the victims. Your Highness is very fond of his father and is worried about the expenses of the country."
Zheng Haizhu pursed his lips slightly: "It is really a blessing for me, the Ming Dynasty, to have a vassal like Lu Mansion that serves as an example."
Zhu Yipai in history became the penultimate King of Lu in the Ming Dynasty after the death of his uncle and father.
When the Qing army invaded Yanzhou Prefecture, Zhu Yipai committed suicide by hanging himself in the palace.
Zhu Yipai was a vassal king who was not even recorded in three lines in the history books. I didn't expect that the real person had such a personality.
Zheng Haizhu raised his eyes and looked at the dazzling glazed tiles on the top of the palace complex in front of him.
Zhang Yaofang pointed to the tallest one: "That is the Chengyun Hall, the main hall of the palace. The night banquet three days later will be held in front of the Cunxin Hall behind the Chengyun Hall."
