Lin Daguan went all the way north along the canal, passing most of the places he passed in a flash, and only stopped briefly at two places.
The first place is Yangzhou. After staying in Yangzhou Branch Palace for a few days, I don’t know if Miss Wang can get what she wants this time.
At the same time, I inspected the salt industry and found no particularly good opportunities for robbery, so I left Yangzhou with a little regret.
The second place of stay was Huai'an Mansion. Relying on Shen Shoufu's favor, he visited Pan Jixun, the governor of the river channel.
This man was probably the most famous water conservancy official in the Ming Dynasty. He served as the governor of rivers four times in his life, had dealings with the Huanghuai River for more than 20 years, and proposed several strategies to manage the Huanghuai River.
The more famous strategy of "accumulating the Huai River and brushing away the Yellow River" was proposed by Governor Pan. Under this strategy, Hongze Lake was artificially made bigger and bigger, getting closer and closer to the Ming Dynasty Ancestral Tomb.
The Ming Dynasty ancestral mausoleum located in Sizhou is the imperial mausoleum of Zhu Yuanzhang's great-grandfather, great-grandfather, and grandfather. In the original historical time and space, it was flooded by the Hongze Lake a hundred years later.
Lin Tailai wanted to know if the Ming Dynasty still existed, which unlucky official would encounter the flooding of the ancestral mausoleum a hundred years later.
This time Lin Tailai stopped by to visit Governor Pan because he wanted to ask Governor Topan to come up and advocate for dredging the old route of Wusong River. After all, Governor Pan is the chief water conservancy technical expert in the imperial court today.
But the goal was not achieved, and Lin Tailai's request was rejected by Governor Pan.
Governor Pan could tell at a glance that this project to dredge the old Wusong River was not a technical issue at all, but a political issue, and he did not want to wade into troubled waters.
Lin Tailai pestered him for two or three days, but he had nothing to do with this water conservancy tycoon who was about to retire in his old age. After all, the other party was also the person who applied for the first aid.
In the end, Lin Tailai had no choice but to leave Huai'an Mansion and continue heading north.
In early November, we arrived at the Zhangjiawan Pier in Tongzhou, the northernmost end of the canal, and then prepared to change the land route to the capital.
That night, Daguan Lin and a few of his servants stayed at the inn for the night, while most of the other servants had to find a place to stay nearby.
As a candidate who went to Beijing to take the exam, Lin Tailai was qualified to live in the inn, but he was not qualified to take fifty people to live in the inn.
In fact, along the way, in order to avoid being too ostentatious and eye-catching, Lin Tailai was separated from most of the servants.
Usually there are only five or six people following him, and he looks like an ordinary person rushing to take the exam. But the other dozens of people keep their distance and do not gather together for action.
After settling in today, Lin Tailai, who was a little angry, walked around the courtyard while debating whether to go out and experience Beidi Rouge.
As the first hub of JD.com, Zhangjiawan Wharf is naturally extremely prosperous.
Just then, I saw a familiar fifth-grade official sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, listless and dejected.
After thinking about it carefully, Lin Tailai exclaimed: "What a fate! We met again at the inn!"
Three years ago, when Lin Tailai went to Beijing to take the martial arts examination, he met a passionate official named Xu Zhenming at this station, who claimed to promote rice in the north.
At that time, Lin Tailai made a bet with Xu Zhenming that he would fail within one year.
Unexpectedly, when I went to the capital to take the exam, I met Xu Zhenming again at the same post station.
When Xu Zhenming heard someone calling him, he looked up and immediately recognized Lin Tailai.
The main reason is that Lin Tailai's appearance is impressive. Once you have seen him, it is difficult to forget him.
Lin Tailai came closer and asked, "Where are you going again?"
Xu Zhenming said depressedly: "Asking for leave to go back to his hometown." It was obvious that he was depressed and frustrated.
Lin Tailai said jokingly: "Three years ago, Your Excellency vowed that half of the water transportation in the south of the Yangtze River could be saved.
But I’ve been waiting hard for three years in Suzhou, why haven’t I received the good news that my money and food have been cut in half?”
Xu Zhenming's face turned dark. This was really a pot that he didn't want to open! As the saying goes, he didn't talk about it for more than half a sentence, and he got up and wanted to leave.
But Lin Tailai took another step forward and pinned Xu Zhenming firmly to the stone bench with a slap.
Lin Tailai, who had the right to speak, smiled and said: "How is it? My prediction has come true? Did you fail to promote rice in one year?"
Xu Zhenming was a little dissatisfied and said: "If we promote rice cultivation in the north, after it matures, one acre can reap the benefits of several acres.
I could predict that the northern dignitaries would oppose the increase in taxes, but I didn't expect that even the farmers would oppose it."
Lin Tailai replied: "The north is different from the south of the Yangtze River. The land is more concentrated and the proportion of tenant farmers is higher.
For these tenant farmers, the land belongs to the masters, and if the output is high, the masters will take more.
Therefore, switching to rice planting will make them work several times harder, but their income may not increase much. How can they be motivated to plant rice?
This is human nature. If you don’t consider solving the problems of human nature, it makes no sense to just talk about technology.”
Xu Zhenming was dejected and stopped talking. The career he had placed high hopes on had failed, and it was useless to say anything now.
He was hit hard and everyone treats him as a joke now. After returning to his hometown this time, he doesn't plan to come out again.
Lin Tailai was not interested in continuing to discuss the issue of promoting rice in the north. After using this issue to attack Xu Zhenming, he suddenly said in a very seductive tone:
"If you still want to make a career, I can show you a clear path that will make people remember you for hundreds of years."
Xu Zhenming raised his head curiously, "What clear path can you point out?"
Lin Tailai said with great certainty: "Go to Susong, where the Wusong River flows. It is your promised land."
In the minds of Lin Daguan, this Xu Zhenming is a rare official who likes practical operations and is also a water conservancy expert, so he can be put to good use.
He could work in Songjiang Prefecture, or supervise Susong Water Conservancy as a doctor in the Ministry of Industry to help him implement the Wusong River plan.
"Is this possible?" Xu Zhenming questioned.
Lin Tailai asked back: "You are probably just a joke in the court now, right? You don't want to leave your name in future generations with such a joke image, right?"
Xu Zhenming remained silent.
Lin Daguan was as compassionate as a saint and said: "You are like a lost lamb. Only I can save you. Who else is willing to give you a chance?"
As for the issue of your official transfer, let me solve it."
After talking to Xu Zhenming, Lin Tailai gave up all thoughts of going out to fight the fire, and decided to wait until he got to the capital.
Then he greeted a few other friends from the same hometown who were traveling together and went out to eat.
Among the five members of the Suzhou Fuxue Group, Wang Yusheng has a great business and does not need to follow Lin Tailai.
So the three people traveling with Lin Tailai were Jin Shiheng, Chen Yunjian and Shen Jue.
The next day, the four of them set off together, and there was only the last stretch of road left to the capital.
Just as he left the gate of the inn, a knight suddenly galloped towards him.
After turning over and dismounting, the knight shouted to Lin Tailai: "But Mr. Lin is in person? Commander Li of the patrol camp ordered me to come and report the news!"
The knight stepped forward, whispered a few words to Lin Tailai, and then left.
Lin Daguan then explained to his friends: "I told you, I can eat as much as I want in the capital!
This Commander Li is Li Rusong from the patrol camp, and I have a friendship!"
As he said that, he pulled out armor from the cart where the luggage was loaded and put it directly on his body.
Everyone: "???"
What's going on? Why did you put on the armor?
"Don't panic, this is just a personal hobby of mine." Lin Daguan said calmly.
Everyone was too lazy to ride a horse, so they hired more than thirty carts and took the servants with their luggage to the capital.
The road between Tongzhou and Beijing is extremely lively with an endless flow of cars and horses. More than thirty cars are not very conspicuous on this road.
Lin Daguan sat in the car and continued to brag to his friends: "When we enter the capital, I will take you to see Rouge in the North and the east and west alleys of Jiaofangsi. I can enjoy them all!"
Everyone said together: "Please lead the way!"
At noon, everyone finally saw the city walls of the capital.
Originally, there was no outer city in the capital. Zhengyang Gate, Chongwen Gate and Xuanwu Gate were the three southern gates.
But later, with the development of the capital, a large number of people gathered outside Nancheng, forming a large residential area.
During the Jiajing period, a half-circle of city walls was built in the south to surround the new residential area in the south. It was called the Outer City, and several outer city gates were opened, so the Outer City area is actually the current Nancheng District.
If people coming from the direction of Tongzhou want to enter the city through Chongwenmen like in the past, they must first enter the outer city area or Nancheng District through Dongbianmen.
As we approached Dongbian Gate, the carriages and horses slowed down because they had to line up one by one to pass through the city gate.
Lin Tailai and others jumped out of the car and stretched their legs while waiting to enter the city.
At this time, more than forty people suddenly came out from under the city wall. At the head, a man in green robe shouted: "Lin Tailai! If you dare to come to the capital again, I will definitely teach you a lesson today!"
Everyone was shocked. Is there anyone outside the city gate under the emperor's feet? Lin Tailai put on the armor in advance. Is this what he was guarding against?
Official Lin didn't panic and pulled out two iron whips from the cart.
The man in green robes leading the opposite side waved his hand vigorously without hesitation and said: "Hit!"
If more than forty people ambushed a few people, they would definitely have an absolute advantage. Can they still win?
Before he finished speaking, dozens of strong men suddenly jumped out of nearby carriages and surrounded him.
The man in green robe was shocked, but it was too late to retreat!
The information he received only said that Lin Tailai came to Beijing to take the exam, but it did not say that Lin Tailai also brought dozens of strong thugs with him!
Any normal person would come to the exam with dozens of thugs?
If we talk about fighting experience, there aren't many who have more rich experience than Lin Daguan's "housekeeper". They have all been honed with a lot of practical combat opportunities in the past three years.
Among them, the most elite "housekeepers" have experienced dozens of battles, and few people in the world have such experience.
Therefore, this "ambush battle" is destined to be counterattacked, and it will be one-sided.
It was rare for Lin Daguan, who was wearing armor and holding an iron whip, to go into battle in person. As a result, the battle outside the city wall was over after only a few blows.
The man in green robe lay on the ground, looking up at the sky, with a tear shed from the corner of his eye. How he wished he had not come out today.
Three years ago, there was no way to fight with more people and less people. Three years later, when the numbers are equal, it will be even more difficult to fight.
Looking at the wounded on the ground, Jin Shiheng asked on behalf of other friends: "Who are these people?"
Lin Daguan said calmly: "They are all from the Jinyiwei Officer School. The leader is Xue Yi. They are a bunch of losers who want to sneak attack me here.
Three years ago, I sent dozens of people to border towns, including this Xue Yi. It seems that they have found connections and come back."
Everyone: "."
You, Lin Tailai, have a good time in Beijing, is that all?
Everyone knows the name of Jinyiwei very well, but before Lin Tailai even entered the city, he had a group fight with Jinyiwei Official School!
Official Lin waved his hand and said to everyone in an understatement: "It's all trivial, it doesn't matter! Let's go to the city first!"
After a group of people entered Dongbianmen, they arrived outside Chongwenmen within a few steps, and then queued up again to enter the inner city.
When he was idle and bored, Jin Shiheng suddenly pointed not far away and said: "There is a post on the wall! Many people are watching it!"
Chen Yunjian also said: "I heard that in recent years, it has become very popular in the capital to hang up posters with big characters.
The content above is mostly political commentary or criticism, and is often found at intersections or places where people gather for easy dissemination."
Lin Tailai was not surprised by this. Isn't this just a big-character poster?
Jin Shiheng said enthusiastically: "Let's go! It's boring to wait to enter the city. Let's go read this post and understand the public opinion trend in the capital."
Everyone walked over together and saw that the post was only about 200 words long, very easy to read, and the title of the post was "On the Four Pests of the World."
Taking a closer look at the content, it roughly reads: “There are four major evils in the world today, and if these four evils are not eliminated, the world cannot be cured.
First, today's ministers are squeezing each other out and striving for power, which is harmful to Qian Jin.
Secondly, upright ministers are repeatedly expelled from their positions, and young people become ambitious and rampant, which is the harm of strife.
Thirdly, not asking whether the county governor is qualified, and not punishing officials severely for taking bribes for personal gain will lead to the deterioration of officials' governance and the destitution of people, which is a harm to the state and county.
Fourth, the power of the local tyrants is greater than that of obeying orders. They run rampant and do not dare to do anything to anyone. This is the harm of the local tyrants, especially Lin Tailai of Wu District."
After everyone read the post, they silently watched Lin Daguan, a typical representative of the harm caused by local tyrants. You are really very popular in the capital.
What on earth have you, Lin Tailai, done so that you can be seen on big-character posters as soon as you enter the capital?
The post summarized the four major harms. The first three harms were discussed in general terms, but when it came to the fourth harm to local tyrants, Lin Tailai was suddenly directly named.
This was the only name mentioned in the post on the wall, so it stood out.
Dozens of people ambushed outside the city, roll call was announced in big-character posters inside the city, and both civil and military forces fought against each other! This is it!
Also, should they stay away from Lin Tailai to avoid suffering the consequences?
Of course, it is impossible to post just one post. If you want to have the effect of influencing public opinion, you have to post more than a dozen posts, covering as many areas as possible with high traffic flow.
Lin Tailai looked at the post and fell into deep thought.
Logically speaking, most of the posts are anonymous, and readers do not know who the poster is.
However, in the original history, Zhao Nanxing, the leader of the Donglin Party, once published a memorial, the content of which was the Four Pests.
The content is very similar to the previous post. Even the names of the "four major evils in the world" are the same. Isn't it a coincidence?
