Chapter 661: Grievances under the Executive Order

Zhang Yue originally thought that Yuan Fang would explain everything clearly, however, he didn't know if the old incident back then was too tortuous, or because he didn't want to talk about it anymore, or because he drank too much and was a little confused, Yuan Fang didn't finish it after all. So, he could only watch the elder pour wine into his stomach cup after cup, and watch the eyes of the man fall drunk on the small table.

Although there was a brazier next to him, it was not easy to persuade Yuan Fang to drink two less glasses just now, but at this time, seeing that the person was drunk, Zhang Yue couldn't help but be a little anxious, and when he stood up in a hurry, he accidentally brought down the stool behind him. Hearing the movement, a looking head suddenly poked out of the back door, and after a while, the trembling old shopkeeper walked out.

"Childe doesn't need to worry, he's just drunk. You go back first, Xiao Liuzi and I will settle the person, and when he wakes up, he will go back by himself. ”

Although he knew that Yuan Fang had asked himself to be here, and the people here must be reliable, Zhang Yue always felt a little uneasy, until the old shopkeeper promised a second time, and also instructed the young man to remove a door panel, he reluctantly agreed, and whispered in front of Yuan. Seeing that the person was completely unresponsive, he had to stand up straight. Fastening his cloak and putting on his hat, he couldn't help but look back again, and then gave some advice to the old shopkeeper, and then went out the door.

Walking out of this alley, Zhang Yue turned to another street according to the plan, and after waiting for a while, he saw his guards coming in a carriage, and immediately rode up to meet him. When he asked them about going to another house to give gifts, and when he learned that there were no flaws, he took off his hat and cloak and exchanged it with the man who had come out of the carriage. When he got into the car, he couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief, and pondered what Yuan Fang said tonight. Suddenly, while he was pondering, he heard a loud noise in front of him.

It is now curfew, and not only have fences been erected on the streets, but also patrolmen have been dispatched, so that idle people cannot go to the streets casually if they have no urgent matters such as illness, childbirth, funeral, etc. But due to the customary rules, the officials and nobles who come and go in the first month are not limited to this, and Zhang Yue himself is Ying Tianfucheng, so he can still hang out at the time. Hearing this voice, he opened the curtain of the car, and Niu Dang next to the car hurriedly rode his horse over, lowered his body and said, "Young master, it seems that the patrolman caught the person who committed the night!" ”

Since Nanjing is one of the two capitals, the curfew is lifted only on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month throughout the year, and ordinary people must be flogged 40 times if they commit a night offense. Therefore, Zhang Yue couldn't help but ponder for a moment when he heard this, and then ordered: "Go, go over and take a look!" ”

Zhang Yue, the main manager of the mansion, is Ying Tianfu Xue, the criminal name, money and food, etc., all have their own judgments, magistrates, etc., he can be regarded as idle and idle, so only a small part of the many errand servants under the jurisdiction of the government have seen him, and many people have never seen him at all, let alone the people of the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses. So, at this time, the two patrolmen stepped forward to check, and when they saw Zhang Yue getting out of the car, the entourage next to him reported his official name, and he was still a little suspicious. Soon, a man who looked like a captain caught up behind him.

"What's going on?"

The patrolman hurriedly ran forward and whispered, "Boss, he said that it was Lord Ying Tianfu Chengzhang!" ”

The Five Cities Terracotta Division is in charge of patrolling thieves and fire prisoners, etc., and the government does not govern each other, but the command of the Terracotta Division is not as good as the commanders of those guards, and the grade is only six grades. Therefore, when the captain heard that there was a four-rank Ying Tianfu Cheng in front of him, he couldn't help but be startled. Looking at the man's youth, he thought about the news he had heard before, and there was no doubt in his heart, and he hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

"The villain sees Master Zhang!"

Seeing that the leader knelt, a large group of patrolmen suddenly knelt down, only the few patrolmen who were escorting people did not come up. Zhang Yuexu raised his hand, and then asked the captain about the situation. Hearing that the captain just vaguely said that it was a night, he sank his face: "Even if it is a night, the court has its own laws, how can it shout and shout?" Also, is the night offender a military or a craftsman? Is it a night out for no reason, or is it due to illness or someone in the family giving birth? ”

When the captain heard Zhang Yue's question in such detail, he shouted in his heart, and secretly thought about how he met an official who knew the inside story and was honest tonight. After all, this night patrol has always been their Terracotta Division's final say, if you stuff some money to be accommodating, whether it is gambling money, eating wine or other things, you can let it go casually; But if you don't give it, even if you really go out to grab the medicine, they can also make up a crime to take the person back and hang him overnight. Slander is slander, but he didn't dare to offend a fourth-grade high-ranking official, and his face was more respectful.

"Lord Huiyu, he is a military family, and there are no births, diseases, funerals, etc., at home, and he said that he went to someone's house to borrow rice. The villain waited for many years to patrol the night, and was used to seeing such people who made up excuses indiscriminately, so he ordered the person to be taken, but he was stunned and dissatisfied, and made a lot of noise. The villain will escort the person back, and if he has just disturbed the adult, please forgive him. ”

"Bring someone in and I'll see."

Zhang Yue originally had no intention of caring about such idle matters, but when he heard that the person was a military household, he ignored this seamless reply, and commanded with a straight face. The captain had no choice but to wave his hand, and after a while, a military man with a lot of flowers was pushed and shoved. I saw that he had a lump of rags stuffed in his mouth, and there were still a few bruises on his face, but his face was still unyielding. Seeing that he was holding his neck and not bowing his head, a patrolman behind him suddenly flew up and kicked him in the crook of his knee, and he knelt down after standing unsteadily.

Motioning for someone to take down the gagged rag, Zhang Yue asked bluntly, "Why did you commit the night?" ”

Although the soldier was pressed his head, he still struggled, and when he saw that he really couldn't break free, he pulled his hoarse throat and said loudly: "During the Chinese New Year, the daughter-in-law and children at home were hungry for a day, and I went to find someone to borrow rice!" ”

"Looking for someone to borrow rice?" Zhang Yue frowned, and immediately sneered, "Which guard are you from?" The military households guarding Nanjing are all living in one place, and if you want to borrow rice, you can go to find your neighbors, how can you run to the street? If you really can't open the pot, you should have thought about it in advance during the day, how could you come out to borrow it at night? ”

The captain was originally watching with his hands clasped on the side, and when he heard Zhang Yue ask a series of questions, he couldn't help but be surprised when he thought that the other party was just meddler. A few patrolmen next to him couldn't help but talk to each other for a while, and gradually became excited. They were just going to squeeze some oil and water out of this man, and now it seems that this person has committed a crime?

"Why come out at night to borrow? Your Excellency, you would really ask knowingly! The sturdy military man suddenly got rid of the hand that was holding his head, and raised his head suddenly, "Jingwei's salary has always been a whole piece of rice, and he doesn't give money, but why did our people who have been to the West give two percent of the treasure money?" Our military households were originally difficult enough, six buckets of rice per month, but now they have to follow the example of foreign troops transferred to Nanjing garrison, they can only give four buckets and eight liters of rice per month, and the rest is given money. I don't go to Mafu Street to ask Gonggong Zheng to borrow rice during the Chinese New Year, who else can I beg! ”

Hearing this hoarse remark, everyone present was stunned, even Zhang Yue. Although he has been thinking about the affairs of the next official army, he didn't expect it to come to this point, and at this time, he only felt that a big stone was pressed in his heart, and he was a little breathless for a while. At this moment, some people among the inspectors started scolding.

"Fuck you! When you went to the West with you, you didn't know how much benefit you reaped. There are so many health centers in Nanjing, no one can compare to you rich! How generous were you then, and now you have become like this after a few days of poverty? Phew, you deserve to starve to death, we have worked so hard that we can't afford to sell a few private goods! ”

As soon as he opened his mouth, the others immediately joined in. The soldier's face turned red and white for a while when they said it, and suddenly shouted angrily: "What do you know! We sail at sea for a year and a half and can't come back, if we encounter a storm or get sick, it is difficult to even send the corpse back to our homeland, either directly buried at sea or buried in that barbarian land, every time we go to sea, the head is pinned to the waistband of our trousers, and the little money is brought back to buy life money, and we are not allowed to use it? ”

"Shut it all up!"

Seeing that the noise on both sides alarmed the residents on both sides of the street, Zhang Yue finally recovered from his contemplation and immediately scolded angrily. Seeing that the crowd gradually stopped, he ordered: "Since this matter is related to the next official army, it is better to leave it to Gonggong Zheng to deal with." A few of you bring people along and go with me to Mafu Street. ”

Although the inspectors had just made a lot of noise, they looked at each other as soon as they heard that they were going to guard the eunuch's mansion. They are even lower than the officers and soldiers of the guard, and they only have to kowtow when they see the officials, let alone go to see such a big person? So, under the pleading gaze of his subordinates, the captain could only come forward with a hard head, saying that it was his duty, and this person was taken to the garrison eunuch's mansion by Master Lao and so on. Seeing this situation, Zhang Yue was no longer difficult for them, so he ordered four guards to take people on and set off.

The military man originally said that he was going to find Zheng He just for a moment of righteous indignation, after all, he was just a soldier, not even a small banner and a general flag, at most, he had seen Zheng He from afar. Therefore, when Zhang Yue ordered someone to loosen the tie and called him into the carriage, he only rubbed his wrist vigorously, but he no longer had the righteousness he had just now, and he just kept silent. And the cow who followed the car dared to see Zhang Yue closing his eyes there, so he asked in a daze: "Young master, it's so late, do you really want to disturb Gonggong Zheng?" ”

"It's him caught today, but who knows if there's a second or third? Most of the officers and soldiers in the next time were old men who had been to the West six times, and they were either proficient in the art of boating, or they were good at looking at the direction and steering the navigation, or fighting at sea. Now that it is guarding Nanjing, it is not treated the same as other Beijing guards and so on, so it is inevitable to make trouble. In any case, this matter has to be decided by Gonggong Zheng. ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Yue looked the soldier up and down, and asked, "What's your name?" ”

Although he just sat silently in the carriage, the soldier listened to the words of the two with his ears pricked up, and he had already pondered it in his heart. The most important etiquette in these years, not to mention an official, is the hundreds of households in their army, they must kneel and talk when they see it, the young official in front of him said that he was escorting him, but not only loosened the tie, but also called him into the car, this kind of warm attitude is unimaginable. Therefore, when he heard this question, he naturally respected a little: "Villain Xiang Jiao." ”

"Since you brought a Jiaozi, water kung fu is naturally skilled?"

"Yes, the villain has grown up by the sea since he was a child, and he remembers the reef currents near Taicang Port clearly, and later attacked Lao Tzu's military position, and was selected into the next fleet." Seeing Zhang Yue's curious expression, Xiang Jiao was even more energetic, "The villain is in charge of the sails on the boat, what kind of wind should be lifted and lowered in this situation, that is the most skilled." Moreover, even at the helm, the villain can make do with it for a while. ”

Although he had proposed a ban on opening the sea, Zhang Yue did not know much about the real situation of Zheng He's voyage to the West, and at this time, while listening and asking questions, he gradually had a general understanding in his heart. Just as he had almost forgotten the purpose of his trip, a voice came from outside.

"Young master, the Zheng Mansion on Mafu Street has arrived."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue stretched his arms and stretched his waist. He and Zheng He didn't have much friendship after all, so when he brought Zhang Qian's gift before, he could only pass through the door and not enter, but now with such a clear excuse, he can finally justifiably enter the gate of Zheng's mansion. After registering the two porters, he went into the next hut and waited. And after Xiang Jiao, who had just said the road like a hanging river, followed up slowly, he wanted to speak several times but hesitated, and finally opened his mouth.

"You are the Lord Zhang who first said that he wanted to open the sea ban?" Seeing Zhang Yue nodded, he suddenly knelt down, and kowtowed three times without saying a word, "My lord, we have been adrift on the sea for half of our lives, and many of us have been infected with such and such diseases, and now I don't want to spend the rest of my life like this, please think of a way for us people!" Some of us can sail a boat, some can know the direction of the wind and distinguish the stars, and some can fight, please say a word to the court and give us another chance......"

Before he finished speaking, a middle-aged man wearing a plain placket walked in, he glanced at Xiang Jiao who was pleading on the ground, and immediately ordered the two servants to fork the person out, and then saluted Zhang Yue, and said respectfully: "Lord Zhang, my father-in-law is waiting for you in the warm pavilion, please come with the little one." ”

Compared with those noble mansions with garden verandahs and pavilions at every turn, the regulation of the Zheng Mansion on Mafu Street is not large, but it is just an ordinary three-entry courtyard. Since Zheng He only has one adopted son, Zheng Enming, and in addition to raising a few more family members, it is naturally enough. Zhang Yue was led into the second gate by the housekeeper, and then changed to an old mother to lead the way, passed through the verandah to the main house, and finally entered the warm pavilion. As soon as he entered the room, he felt the warmth inside, and it was Zheng He sitting on the soft couch in the center.

Although the two had met a few times before, they had hardly spoken to each other, and after looking at each other for a while, Zhang Yue took the lead in saluting, and Zheng He also hurriedly got up to return the salute. After a few words of greeting, Zheng He asked bluntly: "I already know the intention of Lord Zhang's coming tonight, and this is indeed because I am not strict in control." If you have any thoughts, please say them directly. ”