Although the distance from Chun'an County to the capital is long, the route is very smooth. Follow the Xin'an River and Qiantang River to Hangzhou Prefecture, then turn into the canal, and then go all the way north. When there is no way to go, the capital will be reached.
It’s just that it’s very troublesome to transfer the boat. If the boat is not a private boat, it is impossible to sail from Chun’an County all the way to the capital, and at most it will only go to Hangzhou.
Therefore, we can only change ships one after another at hubs such as Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Huai'an, and Linqing, and we spend a lot of time here.
Along the way from south to north, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Huaihe, and Linqing are all prosperous places in the world. Unfortunately, Fang Yingwu and his party had no intention or plan to visit. They just wanted to spend the night at the dock and continue on their way.
There are two reasons. First, Fang Yingwu was worried about his father's condition, so he was in a hurry and didn't want to waste any extra time on the road.
Second, I was short of money. The money I brought with me was only enough for travel expenses, but I didn’t know what the situation would be like when I got to the capital. Therefore, I had to use it sparingly and not waste it on sightseeing along the way.
If a celebrity has enough reputation, he can rely on his reputation to make friends everywhere, and the locals will also sell face to entertain him. Fang Yingwu is obviously not qualified. He is relatively famous in Chun'an, but looking at the whole country, he is only one of the hundreds of thousands of scholars.
Just an ordinary member.
There were four people in the group. In addition to Fang Yingwu and Lan Jie'er, there were two others. One was named Fang Yingshi, who was considered a clan brother. He had a big back and a big palm, and was responsible for intimidating Xiaoxiao and picking up boxes and cages. The other was Lan Jie'er's brother Wang.
English, easy-tongued, responsible for dealing with cars, boats, shops and people.
It's easy to get bored when traveling with two people, but it's better if you travel with four people. The more people there are, the more fun it will be.
But after traveling by boat for more than ten days, Fang Yingwu and his party arrived at an amazing place, which was Suzhou, the most prosperous city in the world.
The wharf of the canal in the west of Suzhou City is the famous Fengqiao Wharf. Yes, it is the Fengqiao in "Night at Maple Bridge".
The ship rented from Hangzhou was willing to be delivered here, so Fang Yingwu and others got off the ship and found a relatively clean hotel next to Maple Bridge to stay. After that, they should look for passenger ships and negotiate the price.
Go to Yangzhou.
Next to Fengqiao is the famous Hanshan Temple. Although Fang Yingwu didn't plan to go sightseeing on the road, it was too close to Hanshan Temple this time. It was only a few steps away from the hotel.
With the scenic spots so close at hand, it doesn’t take much time to take a look around.
At the same time, Sister Lan was also looking forward to seeing what the "Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City" in the Tang poem looked like, so Fang Yingwu agreed to go sightseeing in the temple together tomorrow morning - there should be no admission fee for visiting ancient temples in the Ming Dynasty.
There was no talking all night, and the next day, Fang Yingwu, Lan Jieer and two entourages went to visit Hanshan Temple together.
The temple was crowded with tourists, and it was obvious that the incense was very popular. Although Fang Yingwu was a materialistic believer, it would not spoil the scenery at this time. He bought a few sticks of incense outside the temple and handed them to Sister Lan, and accompanied her to the Main Hall to burn incense.
In front of the main entrance of the palace, there is an iron altar with an altar table and an iron tripod. It is densely packed with people and the incense smoke is floating up to the eaves.
Under the protection of two attendants, Fang Yingwu and Sister Lan reluctantly squeezed their way to the front of the crowd to wait. Fang Yingwu chatted with his concubine for a few words, and seeing that the pilgrims in front were about to call it a day and leave, they prepared to step forward to fill their seats.
At this moment, the crowd behind suddenly started to stir, making an uproar, yelling and screaming, as if they were in a vegetable market.
Fang Yingwu looked back and saw more than a dozen military officers appearing. Under the leadership of a small leader, they rushed over with long sticks in their hands.
They did not intend to smash, smash, or rob, but they divided into two lines and kept waving long sticks to drive the crowd to the side. Fang Yingwu and his group were also squeezed out of their feet as the crowd swayed, and they retreated to the steps in front of the temple.
On the edge.
Soon the sergeants cleared an empty space right in front of the palace, surrounded it and stood quietly waiting.
When Fang Yingwu saw this posture, he knew very clearly that there must be some powerful and powerful people coming to offer incense! Those who dared to act so arrogantly in a scenic spot in Suzhou had a lot of background.
Suddenly I heard some local people around me talking: "This should be the sergeant from the Biaoying camp in the governor's Yamen."
It turns out they are the governor's men, no wonder they dare to be so arrogant and domineering!
After continuous strengthening since the Xuande Dynasty, the governor has gradually evolved from a temporary dispatch to a regular one. His rank is not necessarily very high, but he has become the de facto top local official. The actual power of the governor lies in the administration, supervision and command of the three departments.
Above - Of course, Suzhou Prefecture belongs to Nanzhili and does not have a Sansi Yamen.
However, when Fang Yingwu listened to his father's gossip, he seemed to have heard that his father's benefactor, Wang Shu, who was known for his uprightness and selflessness, was the current Governor Su Song.
Not long after, I saw a sedan landing, and a young woman of medium height and graceful figure slowly got out of the sedan.
She wore a sunhat and lowered her veil to block other people's sight. She couldn't see her appearance clearly, and her age was impossible to guess. All she could tell was that she was not very old.
Fang Yingwu heard two local regulars around him talking: "This girl is probably the youngest daughter of Futai."
Fang Yingwu was shocked again. It turned out that this woman was the heroine in his father's scandal! Look carefully at the wealthy woman who lit the incense, knelt down, and prayed. Her movements were elegant and beautiful, which was quite pleasing to the eye.
When the daughter of the Wang family got up, the surrounding sergeants began to move wildly again, trying to send the daughter into the sedan chair to leave. However, they accidentally bumped into Fang Yingwu and Sister Lan, and almost fell down at the foot of the steps.
Fang Yingwu couldn't help but said angrily: "I heard that Wang Zhongcheng is a famous minister in the world, but it turns out he is nothing more than that! I saw him today, and he is not worthy of his name!"
The words were a bit loud. The daughter of the Wang family was about to leave. When she heard Fang Yingwu's words, she turned around and walked up to Fang Yingwu. After looking at her, she asked, "Are you talking just now? How do you not live up to your name?"
Fang Yingwu sneered a few times and said, "This is a pure place for Buddhism. If a rich man comes here, he can just persuade him to vacate the space. But I have never heard of beating famous officials with sticks to drive away pilgrims!"
Through the veil, I couldn't see Miss Wang's expression, but I saw her turning around to call the sergeant leader who was opening the way, and asked: "Chief Yan, is what this young master said true?"
The little leader was reluctant to answer. When the pilgrims who had not dispersed around saw someone coming forward, they all cheered: "Of course it is true, otherwise we would just like to stand on the side and worship Buddha!"
But seeing the veil shaking a few times, Miss Wang ordered the sergeant: "Brother Yan is disturbing the people indiscriminately. I will give him forty sticks and apologize in public!"
Fang Yingwu shook his head and secretly sighed that Miss Wang was too showy. There was no need to punish one of his own people so severely in public, and he was not afraid of being coldhearted by his subordinates.
In fact, as long as he is reprimanded in public and promised to be severely punished when he returns, that will be enough. There is no need to take such serious measures.
But this is her family law, and Fang Yingwu certainly won't go back and meddle in other people's business. However, they showed no tolerance, and she should respond out of politeness, so she cupped her hands and saluted: "The Wang Zhongcheng family is indeed very virtuous. According to rumors,
It’s true, what I said earlier was inappropriate, so I’m leaving now.”
Fang Yingwu did not want to establish friendship with the Wang family. He was in a hurry to go to the capital. Besides, Wang Shu would not be able to enter the imperial court in the next ten years and would not be of much help to the court, so establishing friendship was not in a hurry.
What's more, she still doesn't know what the relationship between her father and Miss Wang is. If it's a rumor that offends her, isn't it just asking for trouble if she tries to make friends with her, but will it make people disgusted?
All in all, meeting his father as soon as possible was the top priority. Fang Yingwu felt uneasy about leaving his father alone in the capital where monsters and monsters were rampant.
Fang Yingwu habitually put down his hands and puffed up his sleeves gracefully. Fang Yingwu turned around and was about to leave. But he heard Miss Wang shout, "Wait a minute!"
Fang Yingwu turned around in confusion, "What else is there?"
Miss Wang was also very confused and asked: "I think you are a very kind-hearted young master. I think you have seen him somewhere."
Could it be that she was recognized? Fang Yingwu smiled. In her previous life, her words were really cliché and could not be more cliché. Unfortunately, this girl was the target of her father's scandal. Even if she had ten of her own courage, she would not dare to
Tease.
I had no choice but to say seriously: "This is my first time in Suzhou. Miss Wang must have been in a daze for a while. Please go back and rest more. I'll take my leave."
Miss Wang waited for Fang Yingwu to turn half of his body, and then suddenly said: "Brother, I will wait for you later!"
Fang Yingwu subconsciously replied: "I still have to go about my life!"
When the answer came out of his mouth, Fang Yingwu was immediately stunned. Why did he have a Huaxi accent?
Chun'an County has too many mountains and rivers, and the areas are fragmented. It is said that ten miles have different pronunciations and hundreds of miles have different customs.
Miss Wang's question just now was in the standard Huaxi dialect, and when he heard the local accent, he couldn't help but subconsciously answered in the Huaxi dialect.
Not only Fang Yingwu was shocked, but Sister Lan, Fang Yingshi, and Wang Ying were all astonished.
Miss Wang's veil trembled, she raised her finger and pointed at Fang Yingwu and said, "Your surname must be Fang! Is it Fang Yingwu? Tell me!"
Fang Yingwu was embarrassed and speechless, always feeling like he was being exposed in front of his face when he was pretending to be stupid.
He was certain that his father definitely had some unexplainable relationship with this young lady. Otherwise, how could she speak in Huaxi dialect? Otherwise, how could she easily see through him.
But this is even more embarrassing!
With no choice, Fang Yingwu had to salute again, "I am indeed Fang Yingwu, but I don't know."
Miss Wang asked back: "You don't know who I am? Your father never mentioned me to you?"
Fang Yingwu decided to pretend to be confused. This relationship was too inexplicable. If he didn't pretend to be confused, he wouldn't be able to show his respect. Could it be that he wanted to be his stepmother to the eldest lady who seemed to be no more than twenty years old? "My father has never mentioned it. I really don't know."
Miss Wang pondered for a moment and invited: "Whether you really don't know or not, don't leave yet. Come with me to the palace! Let my father meet you too!"
Fang Yingwu really didn't want to meet the famous Wang Shu and Wang Zhongcheng. This old man Wang Shu was too upright and selfless, and he couldn't get the sand out of his eyes.
I am not without my shortcomings, so I guess my personality will not be very similar to that of Wang Zhongcheng. It would be better not to meet him at all.
He frowned and declined: "I am in a hurry and my status is low, so I dare not disturb Lao Zhongcheng. Please forgive me."
Miss Wang knew it very well and said: "You must be going to the capital? Your father has already passed the second grade, why are you in a hurry? You won't miss it in an hour or three!"
Where are the left and right? Please get up Mr. Fang and run away to lead the army on your own!" (To be continued. Please search Piao Tian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!)