In May, the rainy season has entered in the south of the Yangtze River. After many days of continuous summer rain, the water level of the Qinhuai River rose, which also led to poor drainage in the palace, causing waterlogging. The court stopped working for the day. Officials did not have to work, so they naturally looked around.
Have fun, and stay closer to the Qinhuai River.
In fact, the imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty was very big, but the quality was really not that good. Due to the superstitious Feng Shui when building the palace, it had to be built on the Fugui Mountain of Zijin Mountain. Due to the site selection constraints, a large amount of manpower had to be used to fill in the Yanque Lake.
When building a palace city, the foundation is naturally not very solid.
When the palace was built at that time, although methods such as driving wooden piles, paving the bottom with boulders, and tamping with lime trimix soil were used to reinforce the foundation, there was still a problem of foundation subsidence, resulting in the palace being high in front and low in back, which was not auspicious in Feng Shui, and the inner palace was underneath.
Waterlogging is easy to occur when it rains, which is really a problem. However, now that the imperial court is overwhelmed by wars in various places, there is no spare time to renovate the palace, so it can only make do with it.
The emperor can make do with it, but the eunuchs and court ladies in the palace are in dire straits, because they have to be responsible for removing sewage and cleaning up a large palace. They are so busy that they don't even have the energy to complain. In addition,
Their status is so humble, and they are punished at every turn. A sea of anger has long accumulated in their hearts. Once it breaks out, the consequences will be very terrible.
Different from the grievances in the palace, there was a peaceful scene of singing and dancing outside the imperial city. Since it was approaching the Dragon Boat Festival, many people went shopping on the streets. Along the Qinhuai River, silk and bamboo curled up, and flower boats were woven, attracting countless literati and poets. Buildings were built on both sides of the Qinhuai River.
There are several young women in rich costumes leaning in front of the colorful building, winking and waving at passers-by. It is really a great place for fireworks.
Master Confucius once said that food and sex are not the same as food and sex, and the rich men in the capital are not easy to change their nature. They all like to gather in the Qinhuai River area, look for flowers and willows, spend the day and night, and be very happy.
Of course, when it comes to what people called prostitutes at that time, most of them were mainly for showing off their love affairs. It's not that they didn't do sex business, but they also talked about love and concubine. Those who took off their pants for money were not called prostitutes, but secret prostitutes.
The gathering place for prostitutes is not called a brothel, but a brothel. It is a place visited only by poor people.
The Qinhuai River is a place frequented by wealthy men, so they naturally pay attention to some elegance and pomp. Even the prostitutes who sell jokes are divided into three, six, and nine grades. The most popular ones must not only be naturally beautiful, but also be able to play.
A "talented woman" who can sing, recite poems and paint would cost more than ten taels of silver once to meet, which most people really can't afford.
At dusk, the tourists on the street suddenly started making noises, running to the river one after another, and stretching their necks like ducks to watch. They saw a large and gorgeously decorated flower boat coming by the river, and there was a burst of joy from the flower boat.
The beautiful music of the piano and the two large Liu-shaped lanterns hung on the flower boat attracted a burst of exclamations from tourists.
"Mrs. Liu's boat is coming!" As soon as the news came out, the wealthy men who were feasting on beauties in various brothels abandoned the women around them and rushed to the window to take a look. They found that it was really the Liu family's boat.
Immediately ran downstairs, behind
Inevitably, there was a burst of shouting and complaining. Not only the beauties who had been abandoned looked like they were complaining about women, but the old madams also blamed themselves for their bad luck and not being able to find so many good "daughters" like Mrs. Liu.
.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the big flower boat slowly stopped at the riverside. Many people wanted to get on the boat, but were blocked by a few tall and powerful men. The flower curtain on the boat rolled open at a corner, and there was a loud noise.
A crisp cry: "Mr. Xie is on the shore. We are so destined, can you come and sit on the boat?"
After hearing this, everyone looked at the man in plain robes by the river, with mixed feelings of envy, jealousy, and hatred in their eyes. You must know that Liu Fei has been the oiran for three consecutive years, and anyone she doesn't want to see is the one who takes Jinshan.
Even when Yinhai moved in, she didn't even care. But it was a great honor for her to invite him.
The young man named Xie did not refuse the invitation. He pushed his way through the crowd and stepped onto the flower boat. The flower boat then turned and left, making the onlookers on the shore feel melancholy and dispersed silently, each looking for new love.
The gentleman named Xie stepped into the boat and saw that there was a one-year-old young master sitting on the table. It was Xu Jingchang, the son of Xu Zengshou, the left governor. Xu Zengshou was the youngest son of Zhongshan King Xu Da, so he could not succeed in the title. However, the Xu family had great achievements.
In the country, the descendants of the Xu family also have a transcendent status. Even the young master Xu is considered a well-known figure in Jinling.
Of course, the reason why Xu Jingchang became famous in the capital was not because of his talent, but because he was a complete playboy who could do nothing but embarrass the Xu family. As soon as the young master named Jie saw him, he
Although he still had to bow politely, his eyes were full of disdain.
"It is said that Mr. Xie is very talented and knowledgeable. When we meet him today, he is so famous." Xu Jingchang seemed to have seen what the other party was thinking and got angry first.
"What Mr. Xu said is true. I don't have the slightest bit of writing in my mind. It's really insignificant." The young man named Jie cupped his hands and looked around. When he saw the ink on a bamboo painting on the table was still wet, he said: "What a great painting.
It’s just a pity that there is no inscription.”
"Didn't Mr. Xie say that he doesn't have any literary skills? Why, do you want to imitate other people's literary skills?" Xu Jingchang said with a smile.
"Mr. Xie, if you don't mind that this painting technique is vulgar, please write an inscription." Sitting next to her was a young woman who looked somewhat similar to Liu Wan, but compared to Liu Wan, her face was less charming but more charming.
She is somewhat delicate, like a fairy who does not eat the fireworks of the world. When most people see her, they want to get close but are afraid of being rude.
"Since the lady invites you, I have the courage to show off my ugliness." Mr. Xie picked up the brush and swiped it, and saw four lines of words on the painting: "The reeds on the wall are top-heavy and have shallow roots; the bamboo shoots in the mountains have sharp mouths, thick skins and hollow bellies."
"What are they writing about? There are only bamboos in this painting, where are the reeds?" Xu Jingchang didn't understand the meaning of this couplet, so he said disdainfully. However, before he finished speaking, Liu Fei covered his mouth and smiled at
Mr. Xie said: "Mr. Xie is so funny. Please sit down quickly. Let me give you a drink first."
The man named Xie calmly took his seat, raised his glass and drank it down in one gulp. Just as he was about to talk about poetry and essays, he saw the curtain in the inner hall was opened, and an old woman in her forties or fifties came over.
It was Mrs. Liu who was well-known in the capital. The man named Xie naturally recognized Mrs. Liu, so he got busy and bowed his hands in salute. But the young master of the Xu family sat there with an angry look on his face, as if he was angry because he was neglected.
"I heard that Mr. Xie was recently demoted and fined, is this true?" Mrs. Liu didn't mince words and asked directly as soon as they met.
"I have a straightforward temperament and cannot be flattered, so I cannot tolerate it among my colleagues." The man named Jie frowned.
"Oh, they are jealous of their talents. Sir, don't take it to heart. Come on, I'd like to toast you a glass of wine and wish you success soon." Mrs. Liu was quite generous, and she drank from the glass.
"Thank you Madam for your kind words. I am deeply grateful."
"Now that the distinguished guests are sitting here, we should be drinking and chatting, but I still have to take the liberty to ask, what is the current situation in the Ming Dynasty? Why are there rumors everywhere that the Japanese pirates are causing trouble again? I am a person who has been there, and I am really afraid of another war." Mrs. Liu said. With her bitter face, it was obvious that the thief shouted "Catch the thief". She was eager for the world to be in chaos. Of course, she asked this because she wanted to find out the inside information of the imperial court.
"What are you doing, Mother Liu? With my Xu family here, everything will be safe. If you are really worried about being lonely in your later years, why not..." Xu Jingchang looked at Liu Fei affectionately, but he looked like a pig brother Mutually.
"Young Master Xu is joking. You are a real young master, and our Fei'er cannot reach you." Mrs. Liu knew that this boy was interested in seducing Liu Fei, but she would not agree.
"I'll redeem her as my concubine. She's not my wife, so there's nothing to be proud of. Tell me, how much does it cost?" Seeing that Mrs. Liu didn't agree, Brother Xu decided to do something more direct. After all, his father was the Governor Zuo. , there is plenty of money.
"It's not about money. Our Fei'er only sells his art and not his body." Mrs. Liu still refused. It's not that she doesn't want to marry a "daughter", it's just that a dude like Xu Jingchang doesn't deserve such a good "daughter". Get rid of it.
"Hmph, you're a person who only sells his art but not his body. You can toast him instead of drinking fine wine. When the time comes, I won't even get the money for selling your body." Xu Jingchang was angry, because he had never been rejected by anyone in his life. Since the other party refused to give face, he was thinking about how to steal it.
"Mr. Xu, you must be drunk. Come here, take him off the boat." Mrs. Liu rolled her eyes at him, waved her hand, and two sturdy men came in. Regardless of whether he was still yelling, they picked him up and walked away, throwing them back directly. When we got to the shore, we didn't take him seriously at all.
After getting rid of the annoying Xu Jingchang, Mrs. Liu asked someone to serve the banquet again, and then said to the man named Xie: "Mr. Xie is a close minister of the court. Can you tell me whether my concerns are serious?"
"Madam smiled. I am not a close official of the court. Only the ministers in the court can keep secrets. I speak lightly and am just a spectator in the court. But madam, don't worry. Although the court is in turmoil now, But the foundation is still there and there will be no turmoil.”
"There is no turmoil? Not necessarily, but I have heard that the Japanese pirates seem to have colluded with the people of Shuntian Prefecture and are preparing to take the sea route south to attack the capital. I also heard that the Mongols have also colluded with the people of Shuntian Prefecture to raise troops to go south. The Ming Dynasty is surrounded by enemies, I'm afraid..." Mrs. Liu stopped talking and looked at the other party with a sad face.
"The Japanese pirates are preparing to invade the capital. Who did you hear about this?" the man named Jie asked urgently.
"Not long ago, I went north to Shuntian Mansion on the order of the eldest princess. I met the leader of the thieves in Shuntian Mansion. He has no superiors, and he has a big plot. I have some old friends in Beiping City. I came to report not long ago that I said that Shuntian Mansion is by the sea. Many Japanese pirates came, as well as warships. They seemed to have reached an agreement with the bandit leader, and they were practicing naval exercises on the coast of Shuntianfu. Isn't this a big plan? But I am a female, and I can't tell the world about this. I can only watch helplessly as the thief grows up." Mrs. Liu looked regretful. People who didn't know the inside story thought she was a good person who cared about the country and the people.
"So, is this true?" The man named Jie frowned and asked again.
"It's absolutely true. Many people in the market know about it. The court doesn't know about it. Someone must be deliberately blocking the news. I'm afraid those officials have been bribed by others." Mrs. Liu added to the fire.
"Ah, such a big thing has happened. I have to tell you that I should take my leave first." The man surnamed Jie stood up, handed over his hands, and left immediately. Of course, he didn't notice that Mrs. Liu and Liu Jun looked at each other with a knowing smile.
After the other party had gone far, Mrs. Liu and Liu Jun quickly changed their clothes, then got off the flower boat, transferred to a small boat, and left in a hurry. Under the protection of the servants, the two took the water gate and left the city smoothly.
.On the vast Yangtze River, several large ships quietly sailed southward under the cover of night.
"Mother, will the court be fooled?" Liu Jun asked melancholy as he stood on the bow of the boat, looking at the bustling night scene not far away.
"You should be fooled. As long as the imperial navy is transferred to the sea, we will destroy it." Mrs. Liu smiled slightly. She did so many things, but she actually wanted the imperial court to destroy the naval forces fortified in the Yangtze River and the southern coast.
The teacher was transferred out, and she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble.
"Mom, didn't I send someone to say that we lost three warships for no reason? Now we only have twenty-five warships. Can this compete with the hundreds of ships of the Ming Dynasty?"
"Don't worry about this. Once the Ming Navy goes north, it will definitely carry a lot of military provisions, and the sailing speed will definitely be very slow. Let's wait for work and try our best to seize the ship and gather the Ming army. If the plan goes well this time, we will
We can raise the army immediately."
"Mom, I always think this is too risky. We still have too few people, only five thousand."
"Now we have three missing boats. The people on the boats may have been caught by others. If we want to avoid being exposed, we have to take risks. Now success or failure depends on this one move, and I don't want to wait any longer."
"In that case, should we send a message to Sister Wan and ask her to lead the team south? Having more people will give us more strength."
"No need, Wan'er has another important use." After Mrs. Liu said this, she looked up at the dark clouded sky and seemed to be saying to herself: "It's been more than thirty years, God, it's time to open your eyes!"