On the seventh day of the first lunar month of the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, the sky was clear, the cold wind was howling, the earth was silvery white, and the slightly sparse snowflakes were rolling back and forth in the wilderness with the cold wind.
Although the capital of the Ming Dynasty is no longer as prosperous as it once was, it is, after all, the most benevolent capital, and its heritage is still there. On the surface, it still appears to be prosperous. It seems that the ravages of the slaves in the past have been forgotten, and the troubles of rogue bandits in Huguang have also been forgotten.
It has not affected life here at all.
In the Yuan Longchang Carriage and Horse House outside Desheng Gate in the north of the capital, there was a bustle of people, mules and horses neighing continuously, accompanied by the howling cold wind. More than a hundred horses and horses stayed here to rest.
Yuan Longchang Carriage and Horse Racing Shop was supposed to be closed during the Spring Festival and did not open until the beginning of the year. However, this year is indeed an exception. That is because the big boss Zhang Cheng came to Beijing during the Spring Festival and needed to settle here.
Niu Sheng was busy arranging various matters, and Wang Zhaozheng also came here to be busy. He arranged for the men to feed the horses and mules, and also ordered his subordinates to quickly arrange food and drinks to drive away the cold for Lin Fang and others.
A special person with a friendly smile on his face was greeting every waiter in Yuan Longchang. He could not show his face. No matter who he met, he always had that smile on his face.
It was Lu Dachun, the former postmaster of the Yunzhou Posthouse, who was arranged by Zhang Cheng to receive guests from all over during his wedding. He did everything very meticulously and thoughtfully, which made Zhang Cheng very satisfied.
Therefore, he was brought to the capital this time and planned to place him here to coordinate the relations between all parties. Niu Sheng was responsible for deploying action teams everywhere, Wang Zhaozheng was responsible for business operations, and Lu Dachun was responsible for traveling among officials.
.
In the independent Tianzihao courtyard room behind Yuan Longchang Carriage and Horse Racing House, Zhang Cheng is sitting in the upper seat, Niu Sheng, Wang Zhaozheng, Lu Dachun and others are in the lower seat on the right side, and Lin Fangping, Zhang Chengfang, Zhang Jintai and others are in the lower seat.
Head down on the right side.
"Lü Dachun, you will stay in the capital from now on and travel among the officials in the court for me. I will find a casual position for you in Honglu Temple so that you can communicate with various officials in the future." Zhang Cheng said to him.
Lu Dachun said.
The springy look on Lu Dachun's face actually solidified at this moment. He seemed a little dull and didn't know how to express his gratitude to Zhang Cheng.
"Plop!"
He suddenly stood up and knelt down where he was, kowtowing and saying: "Lü Dachun thanks the commander for his support... Dachun will do his best for the commander... swords and mountains of fire... never give up..."
"Get up, all of you will die without hesitation. You are all dead, and that one is here to work for me again!"
Zhang Cheng continued in a deep voice: "I only need you to work hard. As long as things are done well, you are loyal to me, and I will not treat you badly."
His eyes flashed brightly, he stared at Niu Sheng and the other three people, and continued in a deep voice: "Niu Sheng is a close relative of this commander. You and the other three people should take him as their leader. When things are undecided or emergencies arise,
The matter should be reported immediately to Niu Shengzhizhi, but you know it!"
"The villain will know." Wang Zhaozheng and Lu Dachun answered one after another.
Zhang Cheng nodded and asked Niu Sheng: "Niu Sheng, where is Liu Jinhai now? Why can't I see him?"
Niu Sheng hurriedly stood up and replied: "Commander Commander-in-Chief, Mr. Liu has been operating in the Jinan area for a while. His subordinates have discovered Mr. Liu's whereabouts in the carriage and horse shops in Baoding and Zhending.
The news of the Commander-in-Chief's visit to the capital has also reached Mr. Liu. Mr. Liu also said that he will definitely return to the capital to report various matters in recent months to the Commander-in-Chief. It is estimated that he will be able to return to the capital within a day or two.
Meet the Commander-in-Chief."
Zhang Cheng nodded and said to Wang Zhaozheng: "Wang Zhaozheng, I will stay in the capital for a longer time and will not return to Xuan Town until after the Lantern Festival. Please make an appointment with Yu Shangyou and the others on my behalf to set a time."
, let’s get together at Tongchun Tower!”
Wang Zhaozheng hurriedly stood up and responded: "Yes, I will accept the order."
At this time, Zhang Cheng raised his hand and pointed at Lu Dachun, and said to Niu Sheng and Wang Zhaozheng: "Lu Dachun has just arrived in the capital. You two should take more care of him. Wang Zhaozheng will help find a place to live in the city in the next two days."
, let Lu Dachun settle down for the time being, and the money needed will be collected from Tongchun Tower."
"Here!"
Everyone chatted for a while, and Niu Sheng reported on the establishment of hidden sentries in various stores in the capital. Zhang Cheng was very satisfied with this, and especially told him not to be afraid of spending money, and to make more preparations for those key points.
Wang Zhaozheng was also eager to report on the income and expenditure of Tongchun Tower, but Zhang Cheng did not dare to be interested. He only listened briefly and ended hastily.
That night, everyone had a banquet, but Zhang Cheng didn't drink much. He just stayed with everyone for a while and then left.
…………
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the sky was clear and cloudless, and the streets of the capital were already crowded with people, creating a prosperous scene that concealed the aura of doomsday of the Ming Dynasty.
There were five carriages moving forward slowly on the bustling street. In front were twenty strong knights on horses leading the way, and behind were twenty strong women, also on horses, guarding the five carriages.
At this moment in the capital, the annual lantern market has begun again.
Starting from outside Dong'an Gate in the west and ending at the east exit of Dengshikou Street in the east, the distance is about two miles long, and several streets are full of lantern markets.
In the capital, every year, the lantern market starts on the eighth day of the first lunar month and ends on the 16th day of the first lunar month. The entire lantern market lasts for ten days. During the day, it is a market. At night, everyone goes out to watch the lanterns together.
In previous years, the lamp market would gather merchants from all over the country, including those from the north and south, from various provinces, and from foreign countries.
There are fashionable brocades, damasks, embroideries, cloths, handicrafts, household utensils, as well as Western chime clocks and exotic gadgets. The shops are classified according to industry, each occupying a section of the street.
At this time, people in the capital had already finished their breakfast, and the streets and alleys were crowded with people.
There are people in the market who are shopping, people who are watching the excitement, people who are curious and eye-opening, and people who are just looking at people. It can be said that there are all kinds of people.
In the hustle and bustle, some people had their boots stepped off, some had their money stolen from them, and some even had their companions or children dispersed, shouting and shouting, as if the pot was boiling.
As the saying goes, the lantern market in the capital is the "opening of the nine markets", which means that many nearby streets and alleys become lively during the lantern market.
At this time, although it was only the morning of the eighth day of the lunar month, all the markets in the capital were open for business. Zhang Cheng was sitting in the carriage, holding Ji Xuanzhu's hand tightly, looking at the bustling scene outside through the curtains.
The carriage moved forward slowly. Zhang Cheng and his group of forty or fifty people, especially the knights who were leading the way, were filled with murderous aura. A road suddenly opened up in the crowded market.