In the spring of Jiangnan, everything is renewed. Unconsciously, the spring of the 29th year of Hongwu has arrived.
The wind is warm and the vegetation is young. Strolling along Xuanwu Lake outside the capital, the spring scenery is beautiful.
The lazy and warm sunshine forms lines of light on the lake surface. Occasionally, small fish and shrimps swim in the ripples, attracting birds to stop and watch on the water plants.
There are rows of green trees on the shore of the lake. Farmers carrying produce from their own gardens, as well as vendors, sell on the ground in a shady place. No one needs to organize it, and it gradually forms a medium-sized market.
The common people shuttled among them, picking and choosing, laughing, cursing, and bargaining. The farmers were honest and honest, buying more and giving away more, while the salesmen were cunning and boastful about selling and selling.
Walking further along the embankment of Xuanwu Lake is the canal of the Capital City.
The canal was so crowded with merchant ships that it was almost impossible to move through the water. From a distance, I saw a sea of sails. When I got closer, I saw one ship next to another, which made me dizzy.
The shopkeepers on the merchant ship were so anxious that they were sweating, jumping on the bow of the ship and cursing.
Damn it, in the Ming Dynasty, there was never a day without gambling at the capital dock. I don’t know what the tax collectors and officials on the canal did for food. Is the cane sugar from Guangdong on my boat waiting to be delivered ashore?
They scolded them fiercely, but when the tax collector arrived in a boat, they immediately changed their faces to smiles.
Oh, thank you for your hard work! This is the road guide opened by the Hedao Yamen, and the tax stamp from the Postal Department. Please take a look!
You see, you guys are so busy that you are sweating! Guys, please pack a few kilograms of the good tea on our ship for the poor men! Don’t refuse, I know you are as honest as water, but we have met so many times, don’t say yes
Friends are also acquaintances, right? This is a new tea from Fujian, not available on the market yet?
The servants are all wearing Shu brocade from Chengdu, without any tampering. The goods belonging to Lao Fengxiang in the capital are sold by Cao Guogong’s family. I’m not trying to scare you with Cao Guogong. The county magistrate might as well take charge now! Even though they belong to Cao’s family.
For buying and selling, the quantity of goods that can be uploaded is equal to half of the tax stamp!
On the congested water, the conversation between the merchants and the officials was clearly transmitted to the shore. The shirtless people on the shore laughed loudly, then waited for the merchant ship that had completed the inspection to dock, bulging their cheeks and spreading their arms to fuck hard.
Lively and bustling, this is the human world.
Talking and laughing is a peaceful scene.
Among the crowd on the bank of the canal, several burly men protected an old man and a young man, looking at the congested canal with smiles on their faces.
The young man is tall and tall, wearing the Confucian clothes of a scholar. The old man has a ruddy complexion and is sitting in a bamboo sedan.
These two men were none other than the two men of the Zhu family who took advantage of the beautiful spring weather to take a walk out of the palace.
The old man has recovered from his illness, but his left hand and foot always feel weak and his strength is not as strong as before.
The bustling scene on the canal made the old man's eyes full of smiles. He pointed with his right hand and said with a smile, "It's better than in previous years. There are more merchant ships coming, more taxes are collected, and the people along the canal can also rely on the water and have work to do."
There is progress!
Standing next to the old man, Zhu Yunxi also smiled and said, this is all because the emperor has managed the country well!
The old man smiled and said, the postal department, the canal tax collector, and the renovation of the outer city canal were all your idea, what does it have to do with us! Saying that, look at Zhu Yunxi, the eldest grandson, he did a good job!
Originally, there were slums along the canals in the outer city, all of which were low-rise slums. After reconstruction, not only did the rivers become wider, but they were also built into tall warehouses. There are not only warehouses, shops, restaurants, wineries, inns and theaters, but they are no better than those in the city.
Not as good as it is, and even a little more popular.
Li Jinglong, who was following behind the two men and acting as a guard, also smiled and said, with the Emperor and His Highness here in the Ming Dynasty, the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe and prosperous for a long time to come!
After hearing his flattering words, the old man didn't smile. He squinted and said, "Just now we heard it, the people on the canal said it was Cao Guogong's business? Why, you kid is also in business?" He said, snorted.
, officials prohibit business, you don’t know?
Li Jinglong immediately shrank his neck in fright, looked at Zhu Yunxi with pleading eyes, and then said in a low voice with a flattering smile, I am the Duke of the dynasty, how can I do business! But, as you know, there are several concubine brothers in my family.
, life has been tight. I thought that since we are all brothers from the same father, it is not good for them to suffer poverty. Therefore, they did some business in the name of Cao Guogong, and I just turned a blind eye!
Hearing this, the old man nodded. Li Jinglong's father, Li Wenzhong, had many sons at that time, but only the legitimate son could inherit the title. This is the case in a big family. They are all obviously born to the same father, but because of the distinction between legitimate sons and daughters, life is very different.
Different places.
It's rare that the old man didn't get angry, but said thoughtfully, well, although it is suspected of breaking the law, it's rare that you have the kindness of brother Zhou Quan. But don't blame me for not telling you in advance. Money and silk are touching people's hearts, you kid
Keep an eye on me, don’t get caught! If you find someone who violates laws and disciplines, we won’t spare you!
As he said that, the old man seemed to be in a good mood because he saw this rich and prosperous scene. He waved his hand, walked away, and then moved forward to take a look ahead!
The guards carrying the sedan glanced at Zhu Yunxi, and after the latter nodded, they lifted the bamboo sedan and moved forward slowly.
Hey, you are all young men and have not eaten! The old man who was sitting was dissatisfied and said, "These two trails for you to walk are like women. Quickly, start walking!"
After hearing the imperial edict, the steps of several guards quickened.
The old man was still a little dissatisfied. He rolled his eyes at Zhu Yunxi and said, "Okay, I said walking, you have to sit in a sedan. We are seventy or eighty years old, but we still have no arms and legs? We finally went out for a walk, and let us sit in a sedan? It's not pleasant!"
Zhu Yunxi walked beside him and said with a smile, "Grandpa, there are not so many people on the canal. I am afraid that you will be bumped into by those who are not smart enough. When there are fewer people in front, I will just let you walk on your own!"
We have been through wind and rain all our lives, what kind of scene have we never seen? The old man snorted, and then stretched out comfortably in the sedan chair, and now you are doing it like a sick man!
Suddenly, the old man's movements froze.
On the trestle leading to the warehouse by the pier ahead, I saw dozens of men carrying wood on their shoulders and carrying a huge package of goods, walking slowly forward.
It seemed that the cargo was too heavy, and the men were exhausted and stopped on the trestle. The leading man was sweating profusely and the muscles on his shoulders suddenly rose, and he gritted his teeth and shouted.
Lift up the front and push hard at the back!
In the soft sedan, the old man waved his fist, and the children followed him and shouted, "Work harder, hey, hey, hey!"
With much encouragement, the goods were lifted up again and safely put into storage.
Good man! The old man laughed and said to the guards around him, even though you have all been practicing martial arts since childhood, when it comes to work, you can't compare with these men!
Seeing this, Zhu Yunxi laughed silently.
Taking care of the elderly means not only food, clothing, housing and transportation, but also taking care of the elderly's mood.
The group of people continued walking forward, crossing the pier, and there was a wide water surface in front of them.
There are countless ducks on the water, flapping their wings and quacking, looking at the vast expanse.
Ducks are fatter than chickens and are deeply loved by the people of Yingtian Prefecture and dignitaries. The ducks in the canals outside Yingtian Prefecture, Xuanwu Lake and other places are the seeds of lake ducks. They have been raised on the water since they were young, eating from canal grain ships.
The fallen grain, as well as the small fish, shrimps and insects in the river have grown up. The skin is crispy and the meat is tender, oily but not greasy.
Until later generations, Nanjing had its famous sliced duck!
Opposite it is the famous roast duck in the capital in later generations. In fact, roast duck originated from this.
In the original time and space, Zhu Di moved the capital to Beijing, and the ducks of Yingtian Mansion followed him.
Every year, the imperial court stipulates how many ducks farmers must send to Beijing if they want to raise ducks.
It is said that all knowledge in the world requires knowledge, and sending ducks is not only knowledge but also a secret craft. Duck farmers drive ducks along the waterway, and not only do they have many ducks along the way, but they also harvest many duck eggs. These duck eggs are what the imperial court gives to those who raise ducks.
Duck Man's Return.
Moreover, those ducks cannot be placed in cages. They all swim through the water and get their food from the water, so the meat is more delicious.
Seeing this scene, the old man suddenly became interested. He took Zhu Yunxi's hand and said, "Grandson, get a duck to eat!"
Zhu Yunxi looked at the ducks. The ducks were still small at the beginning of spring, and it was impossible to clean up this place.
Grandpa Huang, come to the front in a moment and find a better restaurant...
No! The old man frowned and said, the ducks in the restaurant are all farmed ducks. We want to eat this kind of lake duck! As he said that, he pointed to the shore and saw a duck patrolling back and forth among the ducks. It looked a bit majestic and gray-headed.
The duck said, That's it! How fat!
Zhu Yunxi was immediately troubled. At first glance, the duck was the head duck of the duck flock. It helped the duck raisers manage the duck flock. It was equivalent to the shepherd dog of the sheep flock. People who raise ducks would not sell them.