Chapter 191: The Past of the Canal

Any dynasty in human history, as long as it can survive its first 100 years in peace, will fall into a stage of relative solidification of class.

For those who don't understand, the imperial hierarchy twinkles and changes like stars. But for the real upper echelons, the human relations of the empire are as complex as the entangled vines, which come from a few large families that have endured for ten generations.

This kind of thing is difficult to avoid in any empire.

A good empire is nothing more than maintaining a civilian bureaucracy run by professionals, and then trying to keep the struggle at the top at the top.

The families can compete for the position of the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, or they can grab the position of the first assistant of the cabinet, or they can co-opt their own power among the new officials of the empire. But everyone will have a potential consensus, that is, the professional civil officials under the left servant of the Ministry of Officials are all professional bureaucrats who have only risen through the ranks for more than ten years. Even the children of their own family, when they want to go to the officialdom, they will follow the rules, starting from the imperial examination, and spend more than ten years to integrate into the system. With the family's money, experience and connections, they just have an easier walk and a lower mortality rate.

At the same time, these families also had a group of descendants, who relied on huge fiefdoms, primitive wholesale businesses, and government-business relations to make money. However, making money is making money, and of course they will not and disdain to grab the hard-earned business of the bitter haha.

In other words, although they are also full of lights, they sing every night. However, the state has a moat that separates their business, their lives, their social connections, and even their marriages from the masses outside the imperial pyramid.

The state, operated by a civilian-bureaucratic class of professionals and idealistic professionals, operates according to at least certain clear rules.

But, but,

Everything above would have happened two hundred years before the empire, or no more than one hundred and fifty years.

Why?

Quite simply, the empire earns more and spends less through wars and demographic dividends. There is also the ability and opportunity to provide for this small but enormous class of people.

What if the empire doesn't make money anymore? Or is the empire's own business plummeting?

This is what happened two hundred years after the Ming Dynasty. This top class is so large that it can't actively lose weight, once it can't absorb enough nutrients through the original way.

Guess what they'll do?

They will directly extend their tentacles into industries that they can't even look down on. Then there would be violent clashes with the civil bureaucracy, the merchants, and the landlords.

After that, if there is no change, the next class that will directly contradict them is the majority of ordinary people.

It's like after the Great Tomorrow.

At this time,

Selling officials, this is the highest class, the earliest, and the most familiar source of money.

However, these families have not decayed for ten generations, and they will not roll up their sleeves and work so shamelessly. They don't have too many doormen and protégés in their hands.

Wang Yiming is actually the last link in this industrial chain, and it is also the best crop in the eyes of these people.

As soon as I got up early in the morning and settled the bill, the Yingchun Garden, which looked like an ordinary military camp renovation, really lived up to its reputation as a gold cave. At the end of the night, his five thousand taels of silver were gone.

Wang Yiming also wanted to ask the eldest brother to have breakfast and ask some questions. What he didn't expect was that when he just walked to the door of the guest room, he was stopped by two guards with knives.

"Guerrilla Wang, it's not yet noon, and our family is still resting."

"Okay. Then I'll come back after noon? Wang Yiming nodded and smiled, and handed over two small ingots.

The silver was received smoothly, Wang Yiming looked at the two hands still on the waist knife, but the silver handed over was gone. But the face is very ugly.

It's no wonder that others have to stand guard at the door while adults are happy in the room all night. Put it on anyone's body, no one will have a good face. One of the dwarves yawned, and then said:

"I said, Lord Wang, didn't the chief soldier of our family also make it clear to you yesterday. Now you are our guerrilla of the East Anwei of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. According to the rules of the imperial court, you brought eighty personal soldiers. Dong Anwei also gave you all the clothes and weapons. What are you doing here? What should you do? If something happens to Dong Anwei, the adults will summon you. ”

This has been with the chief soldier for seven or eight years, and he has seen many people like Wang Yiming buying officials. In fact, as soon as the money was handed over and the money was distributed, many people never appeared here again.

The Ministry of War does not ask, and the Ministry of Officials will not investigate.

"Why don't you leave? I still want to receive the court's money and salary. "The dwarf guards are also horizontal, and their words are straightforward.

"How can it? I just want to say goodbye to the Chief Soldier. If you say so, I'll be waiting here. You bother, tell the chief soldier what I want. You bother. ”

In fact, Wang Yiming didn't want to stay here, it was too expensive.

What's more, he doesn't want to spend any more money on this one. has a relationship with a concubine, and this money has to be spent on the blade, right?

It's better if you don't see me, I'll hurry back to my thirty-mile pier.

Wang Yiming also inquired clearly, found a place on the dock, and waved the flag of the canal East Anwei. There is only good for your business, and there is no harm.

Three days later, Wang Yiming, who was going down the river, returned to his old house in Thirty Miles.

"Dad, my son is back."

Eighty soldiers with broadswords and spears were lined up outside the old mansion, and Wang Yiming, dressed in military uniform, shouted loudly as soon as he arrived at the door.

"Ming'er, can you pay it all the way?"

"Look at your old man." Wang Yiming handed over his farewell.

"Okay, good, open the ancestral hall, open the ancestral hall."

"Dad, wait a minute," At this time, it was Wang Yiming's fourth concubine who took the road of the general soldier for Wang Yiming. It stands to reason that there should be no room for women to speak at this time, but this woman from Nanjing is an ordinary person.

As he spoke, in the fiery eyes of Wang Yiming's lady, he waved his handkerchief and walked in front of Wang Yiming with a bewitching twist of his thin waist. Let Wang Yiming's father have no choice but to turn his face away.

"That's it......" The man glanced at Wang Yiming, who was dressed as a guerrilla, with disgust.

"A guerrilla makes you content?" The soft body came up tightly. A hand directly pulled Wang Yiming's ear. If it was in normal times, Wang Yiming would be ripped off, who would make him speechless in front of his concubine. But now, his father and the main house are there, and there are his own soldiers behind him. I couldn't say it, Wang Yiming snorted and dodged the concubine's hand.

"Listen to my father's arrangement, worship the ancestral hall first, and talk about the rest later."

"Oh, Wang Yiming, this is putting your bullshit in front of the old lady? Isn't it? The concubine directly raised her voice, and her harsh voice made Wang Yiming uncomfortable. If you didn't still have the way of being a general soldier, would Lao Tzu be able to bear you?

Wang Yiming hurriedly smiled at his father, signaling that this one was still useful, and he had to be coaxed. As soon as his father waved his hand, Wang Yiming stuck it like a dog.

"Everyone's there, aren't they? I'll look for you in the room when I'm done in a while, and you go back first. ”

"That's not good, if you don't go to the main house first, doesn't it mean that the concubine doesn't abide by the woman's way, how can there be a concubine." This one is unrelenting.

"Grandma, look at it, look at it, who in this family dares to treat you as a concubine, who doesn't want to be your grandmother? Don't worry, as long as my official can go up, the official lady of the court will be you. "Wang Yiming has no choice, this concubine of his own and the one of the chief soldiers are handkerchiefs. If you say it's going to happen, it depends on the money, but if you say it's bad, then it will definitely happen.

These few words made this little concubine happy.

"If you can speak, then let me pull my ears." The concubine deliberately stomped her foot and said.

"Cheng, Cheng, Cheng. You can let it go, I still have to go to the ancestral hall with my father. ”

The concubine stretched out her hand to pull her ear, Wang Yiming just wanted to break free, but she didn't expect her concubine's mouth to stick out like this.

"I'll tell you, my handkerchief ......"

"Ahem, ahem." Wang Yiming's father couldn't stand it anymore and coughed loudly.

"Go over there and cough!" Wang Yiming said irritable directly.

The concubine smiled proudly, but pulled Wang Yiming's waist even more. "My handkerchief is very good, and I told my sister to the chief soldier. Now the two sisters are in the General Soldier's Mansion, and they are one of the most important figures. Let me tell you, her sister went to the capital to visit relatives, and she has already taken a boat to Thirty Lipu today. ”

"Yes, lady. You can rest assured. Wang Yiming slapped his chest with a bang.

"From here to the capital, I have covered the expenses and subordinates along the way."

"Cut ......" The concubine let go of his ears and looked at him with a sneer.

"What, you think I'm greedy for your money?"

"I don't say that, I don't say that, when the lady looks at it, I don't mean that." Wang Yiming hurriedly explained.

The concubine turned around and walked to the middle between Wang Yiming and her father, crossed her waist and said:

"Tomorrow, you can see for yourself. Take a pee on yourself, your old Wang family is also playing prestige in this small place. If I hadn't met a robber on the canal, would I have landed in your house? They gave 100,000 taels directly to my parents. The words were fast and urgent, pointing his finger at Wang Yiming, and the spit Xingzi sprayed him directly.

Wang Yiming's father knew that he was scolding himself. But for the sake of his son's future, he had no choice but to endure it. Really wait until my son has gained a foothold in officialdom, what is the difference between killing you and killing a chicken.

"Yiming's family, Yiming is also telling the truth. What else can we have in our house, that is, a little silver? By the way, there is still an old jade in the warehouse at home, and you will give it as a gift. ”

"Daddy."

"Look at what you said. I didn't mean that, just take a look at the post station yourself, and the guerrillas won't be able to line up to lead the horses. After that, seeing Wang Yiming dressed as a guerrilla, he also felt that he had said the wrong thing, so he hurriedly added.

"I don't care how others line up. Isn't it good for me to have a good relationship? ”

"Wang Yiming, I'll take over the matter of sending it from the post station to the Shili Pavilion outside the Beijing Division at noon tomorrow. The size of the matter, your own mind is clear. If nothing else, I'm going to be the first to set off tomorrow, and no one can disturb me along the way. It was sent to Shili Pavilion safely and completely, so that the family has face, and the concubine has face, and naturally your benefits are indispensable. ”

"Did you hear me?"

"Don't worry, lady."

Wang Yiming finally knew that this was still for himself, and it was not too much at this time.

"Don't say that tomorrow at noon, even now I will seal the post station for you."

"Okay, then why don't you go now?"

Wang Yiming is also talking big, no matter what, the post station is a place for the imperial court, no matter how unbearable it is, it is not something that can be sealed by saying that it can be sealed.

"Isn't my husband afraid that you will be alone tonight?"

In order to be promoted, Wang Yiming is actually more anxious.

Early the next morning, Wang Yiming came to the gate of the post station with his eighty soldiers and more than twenty men. Respectfully put on a posture to welcome the send.

Wang Yiming's idea is very clear in this kind of thing.

Although it is said that the main owner did not show up, but who said that someone came to the house? But if a maid sees it, if he has a bad attitude and crooked mouth, won't all the things he did in front of him be blown away? His concubine has already gone in, and what he needs now is his own attitude.

Therefore, despite the heavy snowfall, Wang Yiming was still dressed in an official uniform, leading his subordinates and standing neatly in the snow. In order to look good, all of them only added a cape. Under the heavy snow and cold wind, Daming's leather armor will soon be blown through.

His henchman Zhao 13 estimated that he couldn't stand the cold, shook his sleeves, held the waist knife in his arms, and walked over.

"Boss, who's in here? The shelves are so big? ”

There is no need to share this kind of things and resources with others. Wang Yiming's mouth was very strict, and even Zhao Shisan didn't know it.

"Why don't we go to the donkey hot soup house and drink some soup? The widow still owes us rent. The brothers at the bottom can't stand it anymore. "These people used to be gangsters and thugs on the docks, and now they have changed into military uniforms, and they are a little uncomfortable. Now when the cold wind blows, it is even more crooked melons and cracked dates, staggering from side to side.

Wang Yiming hurriedly said to Zhao Shisan:

"The one inside." He pointed his finger to heaven,

"It's not something we can do here. You go and say it secretly, people will leave at noon, everyone hold on. Today's is over, and ten taels of silver per person will subsidize the family. ”

It's still good to use silver, Zhao Shisan continued to talk all the way, and everyone felt as if the cold wind was not so cold.

As he was talking, his concubine walked out of the post station with an umbrella and a beautiful woman wearing a red hooded cloak and holding a stove in her hand.

The beauty was still standing in the courtyard, and it seemed that the two of them still had something to say. hasn't waited for Wang Yiming to step forward.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves came from the canal not far away.

The speed of the horses was very fast, and as soon as they heard the sound of horses' hooves, they saw twenty-four black military horses and twelve black-covered sergeants appear at the corner of the long street in front of the inn.

The man who came rode very well, and even when he made a sharp turn, twelve men controlled twenty-four horses and horses without slowing down at all. The small flag behind him waved loudly.

Seeing the sign of the station, one of them rushed past the crowd and rushed directly towards the station.

There was only one day in the army, and Wang Yiming couldn't figure out who the person who came, but he could see that although the people who came looked brave, no one was higher than his position.

"Stop!" That's when it's time to behave yourself. If you can't let the one in the courtyard feel a little bit of privilege, how can you show your ability?

Sigh Rhythm ......

The leader didn't seem to expect anyone to stop him, and for a moment, he reined in his horse.

The moment the little lady in the courtyard walked to the door of the post station, the war horse raised its front hooves and stopped less than a foot in front of Wang Yiming.

Sigh Rhythm ......

The rest of the horses stopped in an instant.

"You're a dead man!"

The soldier on horseback did not speak, and Wang Yiming was so frightened that he forgot to speak. The little lady at the door was stunned and couldn't speak, only hearing the scathing voice of Wang Yiming's timid concubine.

"Wang Yiming, are you just a dead man?!"

"Didn't you see that Mrs. Yan is going out, the knife in your hand and the soldiers behind you are used to see?"

Wang Yiming's concubine stuffed the umbrella in her hand into the hands of the maid next to her. Flew directly in front of the black-clothed military horse.

"Mrs. Caoyun is here, you can retire temporarily."

Wang Yiming saw that his concubines were performing so hard, and the signboards of the biggest forces behind him were all revealed, so naturally he was not left behind.

"The king of Naturalized City ordered the banner officer, eight hundred miles to expedite the military report!"

The sergeant on the horse did not look at the man in front of the horse, and shouted directly at the post station.

They know that on the current Daming road, even Shoufu will get out of the sedan car and give way when he sees such a team. There is simply no official position that will stop you.

It looks like it should also be the army of the Ming Dynasty on the other side, but maybe the person leading the troops is just a big stick.

Hearing his shout, the thirty-mile shop rushed out of the post station in a panic. This kind of urgent military report is common, but it is rare to have a royal flag officer in front of it. This kind of work takes half an hour to complete the supply, and whoever delays it loses his head.

Yi Cheng directly pushed away the maid who was still blocking the door, and directly verified the other party's token, and then said in a panic:

"Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry. Set up a sink and a trough, add water and food to the soldiers. ”

At the sound of the order, the entire post station moved. The trough is for the horses, there will be no hot meal, but there will be hot water, and drinking water will be on the military rations, and this is the treatment of the eight-hundred-mile expedited. The main thing is to give the horse a good meal, and when the horse is well fed, the person has to go.

"Lao Li, where is my carriage, it's a dead man." The concubine of the chief soldier at the door only reacted at this time, looked at the big-headed soldier who turned over from the horse, covered her body and covered her nose and said.

The carriage came, but it was blocked behind the heralds and horses of the Naturalization City.

"Wang Yiming!" The concubine is anxious, not to mention having face, it's not enough to be embarrassed. When I remembered that I was picking up the boat yesterday, it was like a big slap in the face.