Eighteen old news

Lin Zhengdao is very familiar with Quanzhou, and he told Ding Si and Hu Runze along the way, which made the two of them have a deeper understanding of Quanzhou. Originally, Quanzhou is surrounded by the Luoyang River in the north, ** in the south, and there is Quanshan Mountain next to it, which is really a good place with mountains and water, but unlike Fuzhou City, which is separated by Jiudao Mountain, the terrain of Quanzhou is very flat and open, the streets are dense, and the traffic is free. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Quanzhou has developed very rapidly, and now it has become the largest stone city in Fujian Province, which is divided into sub-cities, Luocheng and Yicheng from the inside to the outside, and the three cities are interlocking, and the layout is very rigorous. Because Quanzhou is two miles away from the sea, so foreign trade has been very prosperous, from the beginning of Hongwu three years, Fujian City Bo Division is located in Quanzhou, and stipulates that foreign sea ships are not subject to commercial tax, at that time Quanzhou was a smash hit, foreign caravans have come to visit, for a time famous, very lively. However, this bustle also attracted the Japanese Kou, the Japanese coveted the prosperity of Quanzhou, often came to intrude, every time to burn and loot, it was extremely vicious, so in recent years, Quanzhou was not as lively as before, and even the Fujian City Bo Division moved to Fuzhou.

"Actually, Quanzhou is really a good place, Brother Ding, you see, even the city wall is much higher than Fuzhou, some people calculate that it is 519 zhang high." Lin Zhengdao was very proud of Quanzhou, and couldn't help but preach proudly: "And Quanzhou's silk silk, Dehua white porcelain, Anxi and Yongchun's tea are even more famous all over the world. ”

Ding Si has been wandering around Quanzhou for the past two days, and nodded in agreement when he heard the words: "This is very true, I see that the streets of Quanzhou are wide, the population is large, and the goods are dazzling, and its prosperity is comparable to that of the capital." ”

Lin Zhengdao thought it was: "Exactly, exactly, although I make a living as a merchant and have been to many places, I really rarely see a good town like Quanzhou." He sighed and said: "It's a pity that the prosperity of Quanzhou has attracted wolf ambitions, and some Japanese pirates often come to harass them, so the imperial court has no choice but to order a sea ban." And said unwillingly: "If not, I don't know how rich Quanzhou is today." ”

Ding Si asked, "Do the Japanese still come to plunder from time to time over the years?" ”

Lin Zhengdao thought for a while and replied: "According to the elders, there was a large-scale attack in the thirteenth year of Chenghua, Quanzhou was well defended, and the Japanese invaders were defeated and retreated, and these Japanese robbers could have been captured in one fell swoop, but the thieves on Xiaoliuqiu Island (Taiwan) came to meet them and told them to run back. There hasn't been much movement over the years, but it's just harassed from time to time. ”

After speaking, he had already arrived at the Lin family's house, Lin Zhengdao jumped out of the carriage first, and diligently helped Ding Si and Hu Runze get out of the car, and then explained to the two: "My uncle is very elegant and quiet, so he lives in a house in the western suburbs of Quanzhou City, and I live in the east of the city because of the convenience of business. ”

Ding Si looked at the house, it was a small three-entry courtyard, with a vermilion gate, and two stone lions squatting at the door, which seemed to have some family background. Lin Zhengdao led the two of them to enter the door, and suddenly heard a crisp girl's voice sound: "Uncle Zuo, is the young master back?" ”

As soon as the three of them crossed the shadow wall, they saw an old man facing everyone, and a girl dressed as a girl was facing away from the three of them. This old man was about fifty years old, with white temples, dark skin, and a loyal and honest look on his face. ”

When the girl heard the old man say this, she turned around and suddenly saw three people, and she couldn't help but stick out her tongue, and then called out in a proper manner: "Young master." This girl's round face, curved eyebrows, curved eyes, full of joy, and a smile on her face turned out to be the magpie girl in yellow who appeared in the capital not long ago.

Lin Zhengdao said to the magpie: "Magpie, you came to me for something?" ”

The magpie said a little crampedly: "Miss is waiting in a hurry behind, urging me to see if the young master is back." At first glance, when he saw Ding Si and Hu Runze, the magpie seemed to be a little flustered, and his eyes didn't dare to look at the two, looking helpless.

Lin Zhengdao laughed: "I knew that Miss would be in a hurry, you go back and tell Miss, just say that it was a mistake that day, it was Ding Catch from Beijing who came to visit his uncle on the way, not Uncle Ding Catchy who brought the news." You tell her not to worry about her uncle, he is an old man who comes and goes freely, and now he may be in the Tianshan Mountains, and he is watching Snow Lotus drink. ”

The magpie said yes and left.

Lin Zhengdao explained to Ding Si and Hu Runze: "Because my parents died early, we both grew up under the watchful eyes of my uncle, and my sister was especially loved by my uncle. ”

At this time, it was not yet noon, Lin Zhengdao invited Ding Si and Hu Runze to sit down in the hall, Ding Si saw that this hall was also chic, a picture of a tiger descending the mountain was hung on the wall, and a couplet was hung next to it, which was written in fourteen big characters with strong pen and ink: business does not let Tao Zhu Fu, why not let Zi Gongxian do not breed goods. There are a few pots of flowers in full bloom on the bar, spitting out the fragrance faintly. The three of them sat down separately, and the next person had already brought the tea, and Ding Si tasted the tea carefully, only feeling refreshing and fragrant.

Lin Zhengdao saw that Ding Si drank carefully, and couldn't help but say: "Brother Ding's drinking of this tea is the red heart Guanyin produced in Anxi, I don't know if you are still used to drinking?" ”

Ding Si exclaimed and said, "It's really good tea." ”

Lin Zhengdao is very articulate, coupled with his extensive knowledge and willingness to talk, the three of them chatted very happily, and unconsciously, they already felt like old friends at first sight, as if they had been friends for many years. When Ding Si came to the Lin Mansion this time, he also had the news of the loss of the prefect's seal, so he talked about it and asked a lot of things he wanted to know. It turned out that the loss of the prefect's seal had been firmly blocked by Zhang Hansheng, and the people of Quanzhou did not know about it until now, and the news that Zhu Youzhu heard that there was a demon in the prefect's yamen was even more nonsense, Zhang Hansheng turned out to be a person who did not believe in gods and Buddhas, and the relationship between Taoist priests and monks was faint, and there was no close contact at all. Ding Si heard what Lin Zhengdao said was quite the same as what he had investigated in the past few days, and couldn't help but think: It seems that Zhang Hansheng really offended someone, so he had the matter of going to the capital to spread the news first, and then taking the opportunity to steal the big seal. Thinking of this, Ding Si asked casually: "I think this Quanzhou City is very rich, but I don't know what kind of person this Quanzhou Governor is?" ”

Lin Zhengdao was talking about it, but he couldn't help but stop when he heard the words, he couldn't help it after thinking about it, and said briskly: "Originally, I shouldn't have said this, but I signed a contract with Brother Ding, even if I said it, it wouldn't be in the way." Then he said: "The surname of the prefect of Quanzhou is a vigorous and resolute person, it is rumored that he is extremely righteous, and he has some means to do things, and he is still very prestigious in Quanzhou Mansion, he has been re-elected for two consecutive terms in Quanzhou, and the relationship with the local rich gentry is also very harmonious. It's just that Lord Zhang is a hero, and he is also amorous. If it weren't for his temperament, Master Zhang would have been promoted. Lin Zhengdao didn't treat Ding Si and the others as outsiders, but actually told Zhang Hansheng a secret matter back then: It turned out that Zhang Hansheng was a lover of sex, and there was nothing to find fault with in other aspects, but this greed for sex brought him a lot of trouble. There were six or seven concubines in his family, among which the most favored by him was the third aunt Chang Ruyu, who was the sister of Chang Ruchun, who was replaced by Gu Yu that day. Two years ago, he heard that there was a stunning one in the brothel in Fuzhou, and he was tempted to take advantage of the time to go to Fuzhou to congratulate Ma Yunlong, the political envoy, and he actually touched the brothel to meet the **, and as a result**Qiao Zhang was born, and did not give Zhang Hansheng any convenience, Zhang Hansheng came up, so he let his subordinates smash the brothel, but he didn't expect that the card was according to the good of the inspector Sikong Tu, Zhang Hansheng did not get the slightest cheapness, but obediently lost the silver, and returned to Quanzhou with a disgraced face. At the end, Lin Zhengdao sighed: "If there is no such thing, maybe I will be appointed as a salt transfer envoy last time." ”

Ding Si and Hu Runze listened very carefully, and when they heard Lin Zhengdao say this, Ding Si asked: "Lord Zhang is so hobby, isn't he going to do something to bully men and women." ”

Lin Zhengdao waved his hand and said: "Although the adult is lustful, he is not to the point of starvation, and he will not do it easily for ordinary people's wives and daughters." There are some shameless people in Quanzhou Mansion, and there is a little bit of a flat-headed daughter at home, so they want to send it to Mr. Zhang, but I don't know that Mr. Zhang's vision is very high, and sometimes he brings humiliation on himself. ”

Ding Si talked with Lin Zhengdao for a while, except for the dispute between Zhang Hansheng and Sikong Tu, he never asked who Zhang Hansheng could have a grudge with. Lin Zhengdao is really a smart person, he saw that Ding Si was circling Zhang Hansheng intentionally or unintentionally, so he said happily: "Is Ding Zhukuai going to inquire about something, if necessary, I also have some acquaintances in Quanzhou Baidao**, although Brother Ding is open, I may be able to help." ”

Ding Si saw that he was enthusiastic, so he was no longer polite: "Then I really want to trouble the virtuous brother, I urgently need to know who the prefect Zhang Hansheng has offended?" ”

Lin Zhengdao patted his chest and agreed, at this moment, the next person came to report that the wine and food had been prepared, Lin Zhengdao invited Ding Si and Hu Runze to join the table, and the three of them drank happily and drank very happily. And in the backyard, the magpie was also nestled next to the green-shirted girl, seriously and meticulously talking to her, the green-shirted girl who had appeared in the capital had two rows of eyelashes tightly wrapped her eyes, looking thoughtful.