Daxing County, a suburb of Beijing, North Tibetan Station.

To go north by water, you must pass through Tongzhou Wharf, and if you go north to Beijing, you must pass through Beizang Station.

You Jingwu stood in front of the window of the post house, staring at the majestic rain outside.

This time, You Jingwu escorted Liang Bohong into Beijing, and in order to be foolproof, he resorted to a false and real method.

Ostensibly, he claimed that he would enter Beijing by water. After boarding the official ship in Yangzhou, he let the ship dock after traveling less than 20 miles north. brought fifty capable wrestlers in disguise and escorted Liang Bohong to take the land route.

As for the official ship, it still erected two official signs, "The Son of Heaven is in the army" and "Escorted by order", and continued to sail north to cover people's eyes.

Five days ago, You Jingwu, who was on the way, got the news. The official ship had an accident near the Texas wharf, and the bottom of the ship leaked and sank. Several wrestlers drowned. The rest of the wrestlers struggled to swim to the shore to save their lives.

You Jingwu secretly rejoiced: fortunately, he changed to the land route. Otherwise, Liang Bohong may be buried in the belly of the fish.

Yesterday, You Jingwu and his entourage rushed to the North Tibetan Station, which was only fifty miles away from the capital. It only takes half a day's work, and the errand is successfully completed.

But I ran into the damn ghost weather. The autumn rain in the eighteenth year of Hongji is not like a serious autumn rain, but like a torrential rain in the middle of summer. Smoke and rain kept falling. There was a big flood in the Putan Lake near the North Tibetan Station, which washed away the post road.

You Jingwu had to hold Liang Bohong, the most critical figure in the Lianghuai salt case, and others at this Beizang station.

The relatives of the Ninth Lady, Beizhen Fusi Qianhu Basha came over. He lowered his voice and said, "The one surnamed Liang has already fallen asleep." The four robes looked at him closely. ”

You Jingwu nodded. The rain outside the window splashed on his seven-rank civil official uniform.

You Jingwu entered Beijing secretly. All the way through the post station, they all pretended to be the county magistrate who entered Beijing after the expiration of his term of office and waited for the new post appointed by the ministry.

Basha pretended to be his butler. The rest of the robes disguised themselves as his servants, handymen, and palanquins.

You Jingwu complained to Basha: "This damn rain has been raining for a day and a night, and it has no intention of stopping. ”

Basha said: "It's useless to worry. Let's have dinner first. ”

The two sat down at the table and waited for the postman to bring them dinner.

After a while, the postman came over with food. In his left hand he held a basket, and in the basket were four black cakes. In his right hand he was holding a saucer, and in the dish was shredded salted radish.

After the meal was served, Basha was displeased: "We are the seventh rank official of the imperial court in Yu Zhixian. According to the specifications of the post reception, it should be two meats, two vegetables, one soup and white rice. ”

You Jingwu lied that his surname was Yu. Therefore, Basha called him "Yuzhi County".

The postman didn't say a word, turned around and left.

Yi Cheng, who was in his sixties, walked over. He sneered: "Heh, Zhengqipinzhi County is an official in the local area." At the feet of the Son of Heaven, he is an ant at best. ”

"In a year, we have to receive more than a dozen governors, political envoys, envoys, and capital secretaries who enter Beijing alone. What is the positive seven products? ”

The little Jiupin Yicheng has a big tone. After all, it's Jingye.

You Jingwu pinched the mixed dough cake with his hand: "It's as hard as a stone, and it smells a little rancid." No matter how young I am, I have to give someone something to eat, right? ”

I think that You Jingwu followed his father to fight against the Japanese in Fujian, and when the war was urgent, it was already a delicacy to have hard mixed bread to eat.

But at this moment, he had to make a reaction that the Jiangnan magistrate should have in the face of mixed bread.

The magistrate of the anointed land was fooled by the post station with miscellaneous cakes. If Zhixian didn't say a word, and he was willing to do it, wouldn't others doubt his identity?

Yi Cheng stroked his white beard: "Hmph, still talk about it!" The magistrate of the county next to him entered Beijing and other new posts after his term of office, and brought at most three or five retinues. But you alone took fifty. Where do we have so much grain for those cows and horses you raise? ”

"Then again. A magistrate with fifty retinues should make a fortune in the south. If you want to eat well, you can't help it, just pay some money. ”

The officials of the Ming Dynasty are all relying on the mountains to eat the mountains and the sea to eat the sea. Yicheng is relying on the post station to eat the post station.

What are you a county magistrate? The governor lived in the post station, and he had to reward dozens of taels of silver.

You Jingwu said with a smile: "I said that I would have to pay for the silver, wouldn't it be over." After three years as a county magistrate in Jiangnan, I can always get dozens of taels of silver. ”

After speaking, You Jingwu took out a silver ticket of fifty taels from his sleeve: "Serve me and the housekeeper a few good dishes, and then blanch a pot of wine to warm up." The attendants who gave me also changed their white bread to three taels of wine each. ”

Yi Cheng put away the silver ticket and shouted: "Gotcha! Serve a few good dishes and blanch a pot of wine! The rest of the entourage will also entertain me! ”

Looking at Yicheng's face, it seems to be from Jiupin Yicheng, which is clearly a snobbish shop in a restaurant.

Not long after, the post guard brought You Jingwu food again. The four dishes are pork in sauce, stir-fried chicken thighs, pickled cocoon white, and fennel beans. The soup is bone tofu soup.

You Jingwu didn't move his chopsticks, but called a cat next to him: "Rabbit, come here!" ”

The cat, named "Rabbit", took three steps and two steps, and ran into You Jingwu's arms.

You Jingwu took some vegetables from each of the four dishes, pulled out another piece of steamed bun, and put it on the stool. The "rabbit" bowed his head and feasted.

Don't underestimate this cat. People have positions in Jinyiwei, and they are nicknamed "Poison Captains" by the robes.

Jin Yiwei went out to do secret errands, and if he was afraid of being poisoned, he had to bring a "poison captain".

There are more than 20 such school captain cats in Fusi, Beizhen.

The silver needle can only test arsenic, and the cat drug test is much more reliable than the silver needle.

Yi Cheng saw this scene and said: "Evil, fifty taels of silver in exchange for food, you will give this little beast a bad thing?" ”

You Jingwu stroked the cat's head and said with a smile: "You don't understand this, right?" This is my beckoning cat. I served three years in Ping'an, Jiangnan, and when I entered Beijing, I was able to bring fifty retinues, all thanks to this lucky cat. ”

"I think you can also raise one, and make sure that all the passers-by you meet in the future are as generous as me."

Yi Cheng said: "You are quite interesting. That's it, I'm busy with official business, so I'm not here to talk to you! ”

After saying that, Yicheng walked to the wood-burning stove in the distance, lay on the chaise longue and took a nap.

After the tea, the "rabbit" was safe and sound after eating the vegetables. You Jingwu and Basha were relieved to eat boldly.

The rest of the lieutenants and wrestlers saw You Jingwu and Basha move their chopsticks, and they also began to eat white buns and drink.

After eating, Basha said: "I have figured it out in the post station." There are a total of six post guards, and a total of seven post men. Look at the temples without practicing the family. It's all delicious and lazy post bugs. ”

Lianjiazi's temples are usually bulging.

You Jingwu said: "Liang Bohong slept in the attaché's shop. Remind the brothers who are close to them not to take a nap at night. ”

Basha said: "Don't worry. These brothers all came out of Xiangxi Lane with Mrs. Jiu, and they were extremely reliable. Liang Bohong's fate is related to the future of Master Chang, and no one dares to slack off. ”

At that moment, the door of the inn was pushed open.

Several people walked in.

One of them, like You Jingwu, was dressed in a seventh-grade official uniform and was in his forties. The rest looked dressed as if they were his entourage.

The seven-rank official shouted: "Where is Yicheng?" ”

Yi Cheng got up from the chaise longue and a spirit. After seeing that the person who came to join the post was a seven-rank official, he lay down lazily: "What are you shouting, it scares me." ”

The seven-rank official walked in front of the post and took out the post coupon: "Wang Yi, the magistrate of Zhuqiao County, Laizhou Prefecture, Lower Shandong, will return to Beijing to wait for his post after his term of office and stay in Guiyi." ”

Not everyone can live in a caravanserais. The post voucher is a voucher issued by the Ming Dynasty to civil officials to stay in the post station. This thing was called "Chuanfu" in the Qin period, "Fu Coupon" in the Han Dynasty, "Guo Suo" in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, "Post Coupon" in the Song Dynasty, "Biaozi" in the Yuan Dynasty, and changed back to "Post Coupon" in the Ming Dynasty.

The post ticket corresponds to the "fire ticket", which is issued by the military department to the cavalry who are in an urgent situation. The fire ticket is only allowed for one person and one horse, and the post station provides food reception and horse change services.

Yi Cheng looked at the post ticket and instructed a post officer: "Arrange a place for this Wang Zhixian to live." ”

Wang Yi said: "Can you give a few clean changes of clothes?" We had been on the road for a day, and we were already drenched. The clothes in the box were also wet. Plus some hot meals, preferably a couple of hot wine."

Yi Cheng half-squinted: "There are quite a lot of things. We only give food, but we don't care about clothes. ”

Wang Yi seems to have heard of the beating nature of these post bugs in the suburbs of Beijing. He took out a silver coin of ten taels from his backpack and put it on the table: "It is not easy to return to Beijing after a long journey to report on work, please take care of it." ”

Yi Cheng took the money and said in his heart: The poor officials in Shandong are not as generous as the rich officials in Jiangnan.

However, although the fly is small, it is also meat. The post man took the money and instructed the post guard: "Do as he says." ”

When Wang Yi was talking to Yi Cheng, You Jingwu had been vigilantly scanning this side with the afterglow of his eyes. There are too many people who want Liang Bohong to die mysteriously. Since the escort can be disguised as a magistrate, the Assassin can also be disguised as a magistrate.

Wang Yi followed the postman upstairs and changed into clean clothes. After a while, I went back and went back to the first floor. On a rainy night, he took the initiative to sit at You Jingwu's table and talked: "Brother Tai?" ”

You Jingwu arched his hand: "In Xiazhejiang, Cixi County, Ningbo Prefecture, Yu Zhuangjing." ”

You Jingwu has long fabricated his identity resume and memorized it very well.

Wang Yi said: "It turned out to be Lord Yu." Look up for a long time. In Zhuqiao County, Laizhou Prefecture, Lower Mountain, Wang Yi. ”

You Jingwu arched his hand and said, "It turned out to be Lord Wang." Disrespectful and disrespectful. ”

The first meeting of civil officials is similar to the first meeting of local ruffians and hooligans in later generations.

The ruffians and hooligans had to say a few words when they met: "I'm with Brother Crow of the Eastern Star, where are you getting mixed up?" ”

"Ah, I'm smiling with Dongxing. It turned out to be a good brother of the club! ”

Civil officials also have to cross-talk. Also ask each other where they are and who the boss is.

Wang Yi asked: "Which list of Jinshi is Lord Yu?" What's the ranking? Who is the Master? ”

You Jingwu lied without changing his face: "Under the 15th year of Hongzhi, the 67th place in the top three, the seat teacher is Wang Hua." ”

Wang Yi said with a smile: "Under is the thirty-third place in the second class of the twelfth year of Hongzhi, and the teacher is Cheng Minzheng." ”

You Jingwu has always been highly vigilant, and he heard something wrong from Wang Yi's words: "Lord Wang is the top of the second class, how can he be an official for six years or still a county magistrate?" ”

After the calf, You Jingwu was timid! When Hongzhi was in the twelfth year, he was still in Yongningwei with his father You Tianjue. I don't hear anything outside the window, and I only fight dogs and robbers. How did he know about the 12-year meeting of Hongzhi? I don't know what happened to Wang Yi's teacher Cheng Minzheng.

Fortunately, Wang Yi didn't seem to see that You Jingwu was a coward. He explained with a smile: "Who made my teacher Cheng Minzheng." There was an accident in the meeting that year, and Cheng Butang was later ordered to give office. ”

"In our Ming officialdom, the master is the backer. My backer fell too fast, and I naturally couldn't rise. ”

You Jingwu nodded: "Ah, that's the case." ”

Wang Yi smiled and said: "You are different from adults, your master Wang Hua has been promoted to the left waiter of the Ministry of Rites this year. It is said that there is a good chance that he will enter the cabinet in the future. ”

"With the future pavilion as a backer, Yu's future career will naturally be smooth sailing, and he will rise step by step."

You Jingwu smiled: "Where, where." In the lower ability is limited, this time the term of office will return to Beijing to wait, don't be transferred to the next county to serve Amitabha. ”

The counties of the Ming Dynasty are divided according to the amount of money and grain paid. 100,000 stone of grain is for the upper county, 60,000 stone is for the middle county, and 30,000 stone is for the lower county.

Wang Yi was full of New Year's words: "Lord Yu is too humble." You are a fat shortage in Jiangnan. When I returned to Beijing, I should have brought a lot of silver to dredge. There is also the help of your master Wang Butang. I watched Gao Sheng nail it from the six-pint board. It is not impossible to promote the sixth product or stay in Beijing and enter the department. ”

When the civil officials of the Ming Dynasty chatted in private, they did not shy away from words such as "fat shortage" and "silver".

In the eyes of the vast majority of civil officials, being an official is like doing business. The ten-year cold window is the principal, and the silver earned when he is an official is the profit.

You Jingwu smiled: "Then borrow the auspicious words of Lord Wang." ”

Wang Yi asked: "I have heard of Cixi, Ningbo, this place is a good place that is rich and oily. There must be a lot of taxes in the county. ”

You Jingwu perfunctory: "Ah, Cixi produces silk and tea. It's a lot of taxes."

You Jingwu couldn't say the specific amount of taxes in Cixi.

Wang Yi said: "The Zhuqiao County where I work is much worse. There is no other specialty in the prefecture, the only specialty is Hibikima! I've been an official for three years, and I've been busy dealing with Xiangma. ”

"That hellish place, so poor that rats pass by with tears in their eyes. I really envy you Jiangnan officials! ”

You Jingwu was afraid that if he continued to talk, he would show his stuffing, so he gave Basha a look.

Basha said: "Master, it's not too early. It's time for you to rest. ”

You Jingwu nodded: "Okay." Lord Wang, I'll go back to my room and sleep first. We'll talk again tomorrow when we have time. ”

At this moment, the door of the post house was pushed open again. Come in a man with five big and three rough. The man was dressed in a robe and had a hat. There is a waist knife hanging from his waist.

You Jingwu looked at the man. I saw that he was wearing the color of the military uniform of the guard under his robe.

The man walked in front of Yi Cheng: "I am one of the hundred households of the Yamen of the Shandong Dusi, and I will send four hundred miles to Beijing to expedite the military situation." ”

After speaking, the man took out the fire ticket and handed it to Yicheng.

Receiving a 400-mile expedited soldier is not a reception of civilian officials, and it is not allowed to be neglected. If you delay the urgent paperwork, you won't be able to eat and walk around.

Yi Cheng looked at the fire ticket and asked, "Lu Dahu and Lu Baihu?" Do you want to change horses and travel overnight? ”

Lu Dahu scolded: "Hanging! Lao Tzu had just returned from the vicinity of the lake in the north. If you get into a big water, you can change to a fart horse, and you can drive a fart road! The post roads are all washed down! ”

Xiucai met Bing, and it was unreasonable. Qiu Ba like Lu Dahu is not used to a post bug like him.

Lu Dahu said: "Hurry up and prepare a meal for me!" ”

Yi Cheng asked, "What else do you want?" ”

Lu Dahu said loudly: "I still want a ditch and lost girl, you have to have it here!" ”

When Lu Dahu walked to You Jingwu's side, he glanced at You Jingwu.

This glance didn't matter, Lu Dahu actually shouted at You Jingwu: "Hey, I didn't expect this wilderness post to meet an acquaintance!" ”

(End of chapter)