From north to south along the Grand Canal, even if the distance is the same, different people need different times.
Because the terrain is different, many hubs require people to pass through locks and pull boats. Therefore, the length of the total journey often depends on social status and the size of the fleet.
For ordinary people like Lin Daguan, it takes about a month to take a boat from Yangzhou to the capital.
However, just after leaving Yangzhou City and walking a short distance to Gaoyou Prefecture in the north, Lin Daguan's boat stopped.
Obviously they can continue their journey, but Lin Daguan must spend the night in Gaoyou Prefecture.
It was not dark at this time, and Lin Daguan looked at the shore and fell into deep thought.
Zhang Wu, the right protector, couldn't understand, and asked his brother Zhang Wen: "The martial arts department in the capital is about to come, but you are sitting in the hall but you are not in a hurry to leave. You sit here in a daze for no reason. What are you thinking?"
Protector Zuo Zhang Wen sighed: "Based on my understanding of sitting in the hall, most of the time I was sitting in the hall because I wanted to publish a poem, but I couldn't find a good excuse, so I held it back."
Zhang Wu added: "What excuse do you need to write poetry? Can't you just close your eyes and finish writing?"
Zhang Wen scolded softly: "You're such an unimproved person! If you write something and it doesn't spread, then wouldn't it be in vain?"
Then the two of them waited for official Lin's instructions, but until evening, Lin Tailai still had no clue.
So Lin Tailai had no choice but to take his men ashore to have dinner. Now that he had plenty of money, Lin Tailai would not treat himself badly.
Nowadays, the commodity economy along the canal is relatively developed, and wherever the docks are prosperous, there must be restaurants.
Lin Tailai and his group were sitting in the lobby, waiting for their meals, when someone at the table next to them spoke and caught Lin Tailai's attention.
Someone said: "I came from the north. When I passed by Huai'an Prefecture, I saw many more officials patrolling the waterways. I wonder what happened."
Another person said: "I have some connections in the government over there. I heard that the official was ordered to secretly look for a man who is taller than an ordinary person and likes to wear Confucian shirts."
Hearing this, Official Lin frowned slightly. Hearing this news, it seemed that someone in Huai'an Mansion had ill intentions towards him?
"Is it Governor Yang?" Zhang Wen said in a low voice next to him.
It is indeed possible. After all, Huai'an Mansion is the residence of the Governor of Fengyang and the Governor of Hecao. It is easy to make some small conspiracies and tricks.
After thinking for a while, Senior Official Lin ordered: "Stop in Gaoyou Prefecture for one more day. Tomorrow you go prepare some things and hire some people to send me north."
On the next day, everyone went to do their own things according to the instructions.
Another day later, I suddenly heard the overwhelming sound of suona on the Gaoyou Pier. People nearby thought some big boss official ship was passing by.
However, I saw two huge banners hanging on a large boat on the shore announcing the invitation. One of them read, "Lin Tailai, Jieyuan of South Zhili, went to Beijing to take the exam", and the other read, "Oath to seize the military leader and show his glory to Jiangzuo in the world."
There is also an erected sign with the message "Why do officials come to look for me? No one in the world knows you."
They are all very simple and easy to understand, and anyone with a little knowledge of words can understand them.
Gaoyou was so close to Yangzhou City, so he knew a lot about Lin Jieyuan, a man of great influence, so many people gathered around the shore to watch the excitement.
Then I saw a majestic man wearing a long gown walking out of the water station on the shore.
After standing under the outer wall for a while, he had a pen in his hand and started writing on the outer wall of the inn.
Everyone looked around and saw that this was a quatrain, which read:
"Qin You parked his boat at night in the cold rain, and the water in South Lake surged to the sky.
The wind has disappeared from Qinhuaihai, and the world has been lonely for five hundred years."
Qin Huaihai refers to Qin Shaoyou, a great literary figure in the Song Dynasty, who was from Gaoyou.
Five hundred years of loneliness in this world is the most exquisite finishing touch.
It has the meaning of recalling the ancient Qin Shaoyou five hundred years ago, and also contains a sense of heroism in today's world five hundred years later.
Therefore, this is a good poem that can only be published in Gaoyou. No wonder Lin Daguan hesitated to move forward.
After finishing the poem outside the inn, Lin Daguan put down his pen, boarded the big boat, bowed his hands to the crowd on the shore, and shouted: "Lin is going!"
Immediately, under the encouragement of seven or eight suona players, Lin Tailai's big boat slowly sailed north.
The suona players all received money and wanted to preach all the way through Huai'an Prefecture.
If the city of Yangzhou today is nicknamed "Little Suzhou", then Huaian's nickname is "Little Yangzhou".
It is also a prosperous place, and there are many salt merchants. It is very similar to Yangzhou in all aspects. However, the Huaibei salt industry is the main industry, and the scale is much smaller than that of Yangzhou.
However, the above has nothing to do with Lin Daguan for the time being, and Lin Daguan has no intention of staying in Huai'an Mansion, the base camp of Governor Yang.
He was just playing and playing tricks, and passed through Huai'an Prefecture in a very flamboyant way.
Those river officials who were secretly looking for "a majestic man wearing a Confucian shirt" could only watch him watching.
Some conspiracies completely lose their effect once they are exposed to the sun.
Even if a Jieyuan majors in martial arts, he cannot be intercepted at will when he comes to Beijing to take the exam.
After that, we left South Zhili, passed through Shandong, and then entered North Zhili.
Since Lin Daguan liked to publish his works in sets, he originally wanted to leave poems at various places along the canal and then compile them into a collection of poems.
However, time is really limited, and I have wasted a lot of time in Yangzhou City before, so I no longer have time to work on my literary career along the canal.
Therefore, Lin Daguan still focused on the exam, rushed on his way, and stopped showing off. In late March, he arrived at Zhangjiawan Pier in Tongzhou, which is very close to the capital.
This is considered the northern "terminus" of the Grand Canal. Most people will get off the boat when they arrive here, and then go to the capital by land.
Lin Daguan, who came to Beijing to take the exam, was qualified to stay at the inn.
As a hub for entering Beijing, there are too many people coming and going, and the conditions of the inn are just like that. It is common for several groups of people to live in the same courtyard.
As a senior official, Lin was assigned to the worst possible room.
There's nothing I can do about it. I really can't blame anyone. Who makes Lin Daguan not even an official?
Lin Tailai was standing at the door of the house. After Zhang Wen, the guardian of Zuo, came back from shopping outside, he shouted to Lin Tailai: "Sit down! I just heard the news about Jinke's number one scholar outside. Do you know who it is?"
Zhang Wen's reference to the top scholar in today's subjects, of course, refers to the just-concluded liberal arts competition. When normal people think of the imperial examination, they default to the liberal arts, and they generally don't think of the martial arts.
Of course Lin Tailai knew who the number one scholar was in the 14th year of Wanli, but he did not rule out the butterfly effect and the original number one scholar in history had changed, so he asked: "Who is he? Could it be that I know him?"
Lin Tailai had no reaction, but Zhang Wu was surprised and said: "Isn't that the defeated general of our sitting team? The three of them came together at that time, and they were all defeated by sitting team!"
A year ago, the leader Wang Lao held a literary conference in Suzhou. At the Qiuzhiyuan Gathering, the three heroes of the clouds, Tang Wenxian, Dong Qichang, and Chen Jiru, fought together against Lin Tailai. It was the battle that made Lin Tailai famous. No wonder Zhang Wu was deeply impressed.
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"Can even this person win the top prize?" Zhang Wu asked in disbelief.
He couldn't help but recall the desolate and somewhat funny figure who didn't dare to write a poem but deliberately took action and was knocked down by a single move.
"When we enter the capital and sit down in the palace to defeat him again, won't we immediately become famous in the capital?" Zhang Wu finally said.
"Pfft!" Suddenly, an uncontrollable laughter came from the west wing of the courtyard, "What a loud tone for a slave!"
Official Lin raised his eyes and saw that the other party was a fifth-rank official. Of course, in a place like the capital, fifth-rank officials were not uncommon.
However, Lin Tailai still asked: "I am Lin Sheng from Suzhou. I want to go to the capital to seek refuge as prime minister. Who do you think you are?"
Upon hearing this, the official immediately took a few steps forward and introduced himself: "Xu Zhenming, who is on the right side of the lower river, was ordered to go to the east of Jingdong to cultivate paddy fields."
Not only did he give his name, but he also took the initiative to introduce him to his errand.
Who doesn’t want to have one more channel for the first assistant to know about themselves?
You have to register before you check into the inn. Lin Sheng’s identity shouldn’t be fake.
Moreover, a Suzhou "Lin Sheng" was actually able to live in an official inn, which may have been arranged by Shen Shoufu.
Lin Daguan suddenly realized that he was also a minor celebrity in history.
But now that we have seen so many famous people, it no longer causes turmoil in Lin Daguan's heart.
Xu Zhenming's father was Xu Jiusi, who was not a high-ranking official but was still considered a famous official. He was often regarded as a "model of loving the people and being honest."
The protagonist Xu Jiujing in the very classic "Xu Jiujing's Promotion" is based on Xu Jiusi.
Xu Zhenming himself was a pragmatic official. He was considered an engineering and water conservancy expert in the late Ming Dynasty. He also experimented with cultivating paddy fields in the north.
When Lin Tailai heard that the other party had gone to complete the errand of cultivating paddy fields in Jingdong, his heart was moved and he deliberately asked: "Can paddy fields be planted in the north?"
Xu Zhenming was full of confidence and replied with great enthusiasm: "Of course! If the promotion of paddy fields in the north is successful, half of the water transportation in the south of the Yangtze River can be saved!"
To be honest, being able to cultivate a large number of paddy fields in the north will definitely be a great thing for the benefit of the country and the people.
However, not all things that benefit the country and the people can be implemented.
Seeing Xu Zhenming patting his chest and saying "it can save half of the water transportation in the south of the Yangtze River", Lin Daguan somehow remembered the promise of "Ping Liao in five years".
A good thing is a good thing, but you must also pay attention to the method. Lin Tailai sighed and urged with his conscience: "There are some things that can be done but not talked about. Master Xu, please encourage us!"
Xu Zhenming said in surprise: "What does this mean?"
Lin Tailai then advised again: "For example, if you can save half of the water transportation in the south of the Yangtze River, don't say it first. It would be too publicity."
Xu Zhenming disagreed and said: "If we don't make it clear first, how can we impress people and make people realize the benefits?"
Lin Tailai was a little helpless. Xu Zhenming looked like a technical expert who was extremely ignorant of the world.
Ming Dynasty needs such talents, but such talents are easily buried by reality.
So he repeatedly persuaded: "If your words spread, I am afraid that the northern gentry will be shocked and frightened, and then they will rise up to oppose!
They will only think that half of the water transportation saved in the south of the Yangtze River will be taxed to the north!
Therefore, although cultivating paddy fields in the north is good governance, don't rush for success, and don't talk about it in a big way.
After all, this is a matter of great stakes, and the human heart is the most complicated thing.
That’s why I say, there are some things that can be done but not said, and the less attention-grabbing the better.”
But Xu Zhenming did not listen to the advice and retorted: "Things cannot be accomplished by looking forward and backward and being timid."
So Lin Daguan stopped trying to dissuade him: "I dare to conclude that if you act in such a public and radical manner as your Excellency, the paddy field reclamation project will definitely fail."
Xu Zhenming's expression changed slightly: "I originally thought that we were from the same camp."
However, Lin Daguan became more serious and said: "And if I dare to stop my career, I will definitely fail next year!"
Xu Zhenming immediately became angry because these words sounded like a curse.
Even if it fails, it's okay to persist for three to five years, right? How can it fail immediately next year? Who are you looking down on?
Lin Tailai took the opportunity and said, "If Mr. Xu doesn't believe it, make a bet with me."
Xu Zhenming was already very dissatisfied and sneered: "What kind of gamble should I make with you?"
Official Lin quickly said: "If Mr. Xu can continue next year, I will admit defeat and promise to put your achievements on Shen Shoufu's desk.
If you fail next year and can't continue to cultivate paddy fields, just agree to do something for me, which is also related to farmland water conservancy, and I won't embarrass you!"
"It's a deal!" Xu Zhenming said without hesitation.
Lin Daguanren also responded: "Then I will wait for the good news from Mr. Xu. To be honest, I hope I lose this bet."
After returning to the house, Zhang Wen asked: "You want to recruit this person here?"
Lin Tailai only replied: "If this person cannot be used by the country, it will be a waste. It is better to use it to help me."
Zhang Wu came up and said, "I really don't see what this person's specialties are. Why do you like him so much?"
Zhang Wen shouted: "Don't you know that sitting in a restaurant is good at meeting people?"
After a night of silence, Lin Tailai and his party set off for the capital the next day and arrived at the end of the journey.
First, enter the outer city, that is, Nancheng, which was built during the Jiajing Dynasty, through Dongbian Gate, and then enter the inner city through Chongwen Gate.
Anyone who knows a little about history knows that although the Chongwenmen Customs is of low grade, it is a big gap.
However, Lin Daguan did not bring any goods, and he was a surrogate son, so he did not face any difficulties in the Chongwen Sect.
The gate of the city is so big, unless you are a big boss who is shouting in front of you and someone is clearing the way, everyone has to follow the crowd into the city.
Lin Daguan, who had just arrived, certainly had no privileges in the capital. As soon as the crowd squeezed out of the dark city gate, Lin Daguan took a few breaths of fresh air.
Before they were far away from the city gate, suddenly there was the sound of rapid horse hooves from behind, followed by the sound of howling and screaming.
Lin Tailai and his party looked back and vaguely saw a few people riding horses through the doorway.
Zhang Wu said in astonishment: "Are the powerful people in the capital so arrogant and domineering? It's even more outrageous than sitting in Suzhou!
When we were in Suzhou, we never saw horses riding in the busy city!"
Zhang Wen added: "The main reason is that I rarely ride horses in a pavilion and mostly ride boats, so there are no opportunities to ride horses in the city."
While the group was talking, they saw a tall horse charging straight towards Lin Tailai.
