There has always been a saying in Beijing that "the east is rich and the west is noble".
Well-known families and dignitaries all like to live in the West City of Beijing, while wealthy businessmen and wealthy families mostly live in the East. In comparison, only ordinary people and small families live in the Nancheng area. Merchant hawker.
However, the most lively place in Beijing is Tianqiao Street in Nancheng.
The overpass was originally a high bridge built of white stone, located outside the Zhengyang Gate. Since Emperor Yongle Zhu Di established his capital in Beijing and expanded the outer city, this area has been included in the city of Beijing. The overpass was originally a transportation hub, and all traffic from the south Merchants entering the city had to pass through here, and the flow of people was very large. Therefore, some merchants began to set up stalls here to sell goods, and many foreign entertainers also performed here to make money. Over time, a street market was formed.
The liveliness of the Tianqiao is not only due to the numerous shops and various places for eating, drinking and entertainment, but also because all the people from all walks of life in Beijing like to gather here.
The pedestrians on Tianqiao Street include not only playboys from wealthy families, but also many poor and idle men. Those young and strong men who work part-time to work hard take over the work early in the morning and earn about ten copper coins at noon. Once they got it, they stopped working and wandered here, listening to storytelling, watching tricks, playing horse riding, and drinking soju. They didn't leave until dark. Except for leaving a few copper coins for household use, the rest of their money would be spent on In the wine shops and teahouses on the street, this is the only fun for these Beijing men.
The flyover is a unique local scene. When foreign tourists come to Beijing, they don’t have to go to other places, but the flyover is definitely a place they should visit.
Even on ordinary days, Tianqiao Street is bustling with activity. On the Dragon Boat Festival, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, there were twice as many people as before. The Qingshi Street, which is several feet wide, was so crowded that people were rubbing shoulders with each other and it was extremely crowded.
Both sides of the street are also decorated with lanterns and colorful flags, creating a festive scene.
Hua Bushi is standing on the east side of Tianqiao Street, in front of the Lingxiao Pavilion Restaurant. He is wearing a light silk floral robe and a melon skin hat on his head. He is still dressed like a rich man, and beside him is a snow-white dress. The woman whose energy is as bright as an orchid is none other than Sima Rulan.
One is a rich young man who is dressed in gold and silver, and the other is a young girl who is extremely beautiful and pure. The two of them are standing together. They really don’t match each other at all. In comparison, Chu Yiyi and Meng Huan are standing next to them. , which makes people look much more pleasing to the eye.
And coming with Hua Bushi was Wu Yinghao.
Yesterday I heard that Hua Bushi was invited by "Wanli Tang" to participate in the Lion King Conference. Mr. Wu seemed to have found a treasure. He jumped more than three feet high and immediately begged Hua Bushi to take him with him. Come together.
If he wanted to join in the fun and watch the lion dance on Tianqiao Street, Wu Yinghao could come by himself. He had to go with Hua Bushi, but he had his own reasons.
Wu Yinghao, who was born as the seventh rank commander of Wuyang City, although he knew some officials of the Ministry of War in the central government, he had always been in a low position and had not a deep foundation. Especially last year, his "mentor", Zhao Chengyi, the left minister of the Ministry of War, was dismissed because of his inability to suppress bandits. After becoming an official, Wu Yinghao completely lost his backing.
For a junior official of the sixth or seventh rank, he only needs to make good friends with the magistrates, governors and other local officials of the province, which is enough to secure his official position and make money. However, if he reaches the fifth rank or above, if he does not have a solid backing in the court, it will be in danger. Very good.
Nowadays, there are many parties in the Ming Dynasty, and the various forces are fighting to the death. The military attachés of the fifth rank, no matter how big or small, have been able to control the military power of one side. If no one in the court takes care of them, they will be taken care of by others at any time. They are plotting against each other, and in today's chaotic situation, the emperor is suspicious and fickle. If he fails, he may be dismissed from office, which is the least serious matter. Even beheading is common for emperors.
Officialdom is like a battlefield, and the dangers involved are real.
Wu Yinghao was good at maneuvering and knew the ways of being an official. He urgently needed a backer, but if he really wanted to find one, it would not be that easy.
This time he was ordered to go to Beijing to report on his work. It was hard to predict whether it would be a blessing or a disaster for him. If he followed the right path, it would be easy to get promoted and make a fortune. If he was not careful, he might cause trouble. Before coming to Beijing, Wu Yinghao had already Nowadays, the parties and powerful ministers in the imperial court have learned all kinds of information clearly, and have set goals to seek refuge with. In order to prepare the gold and silver treasures for management, it can be said that they have spent all their money from being an official for many years.
However, it is necessary to send these heavy gifts to the right person, and sending them to the right person is also a skill. The arrogance of Beijing officials is not ordinary, especially those high-ranking officials who are powerful enough to support Wu Yinghao. Not everyone wants to see it. You can see it all. Everyone wants to lean on the big tree to enjoy the shade. People like Wu Yinghao come to seek connections and try to be the disciples of those powerful officials like crucian carp crossing the river. There are too many people.
In the past few days since entering Beijing, Wu Yinghao has encountered several problems. He even refused to accept people when he visited them, just because he, a fifth-grade official, was not considered in their eyes at all. Now the day to report to the Ministry of War is approaching. The silver gift he had prepared had not yet been sent out, so he couldn't help but feel at a loss what to do.
This is why he was so happy when he heard that Hua Bushi was invited to participate in the Lion King Conference. After being in the city for so long, Wu Yinghao had certainly heard about the Lion King Conference on the Dragon Boat Festival, but the news he found was It is different from Hua Bu Shi.
What Hua Bushi and "Qianhuafang" were looking for was what forces were involved in the conference and the strength of the masters invited by the ten sects. But what Wu Yinghao cared about was the many senior officials from the six departments of the imperial court and several cabinet bachelors. The leaders of the eunuchs in the palace, etc., and almost all the powerful officials he originally wanted to seek refuge with will appear at the Lion King Conference.
Wu Yinghao also specifically found out that on the Dragon Boat Festival, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, before winning the Lion King Dance Competition, many dignitaries who came to the conference would go to a restaurant called "Lingxiao Pavilion" to gather. This was undoubtedly a meeting point with A great opportunity for them to get acquainted.
On the day of Duanyang, it was not easy to enter Lingxiao Pavilion. You had to have an invitation issued by the "Eight Gates of Yanjing". Of course Wu Yinghao couldn't get it himself, so he pestered Hua Bushi just to get it. Ask Hua Bushi to bring him here.
Stay shameless, sharpen your head, and seize opportunities. These three mantras are the only way Mr. Wu has been able to get promoted and make a fortune over the years.
Lingxiao Pavilion is the largest restaurant on Tianqiao Street. The building is divided into three floors and is ten feet long. It is not only tall and majestic, but also decorated with blue bricks, yellow tiles, carved beams and painted columns. It is extremely luxurious and looks very grand.
The news that Wu Yinghao learned was generally correct. Before the Lion King Conference every year, powerful figures from all parties invited by the "Eight Sects of Yanjing", as well as government officials representing the backstage forces of their respective sects, would gather in the Lingxiao Pavilion. Have a big banquet.
The purpose of this banquet is of course not to drink and eat to celebrate the festival, but to show off the strength of the ten sects participating in the Lion King Conference and discuss the division of industrial sites in various parts of Beijing.
When it comes to the competition for interests, of course there will not be harmony at the banquet. The threat of quarrels is not a problem. When you can't reach an agreement, you can only talk with weapons and fists. It is also common for experts from all parties to fight each other, so this event happens every year. This grand banquet had another name in the world, called "Lingxiao Sword Forum".
These inside stories are not things that Wu Yinghao can find out.
Not long after Hua Bushi and his party arrived in front of the Lingxiao Pavilion gate, a person came out to greet them, it was Dou Fei.
Three days ago, Hua Bushi informed Dou Fei that he agreed to accept the invitation of "Wanli Tang" to attend the Lion King Conference. Dou Fei was overjoyed and immediately sent someone to give him a gift of one hundred thousand taels. Today, the young proprietor Dou is also smiling. , obviously very happy that Hua Bushi arrived as promised.
Without the help of the "Evil Dog Sect", it would be difficult for "Wanli Tang" to maintain its position among the "Eight Sects of Yan Shuo". Compared with the sect's annual income in Beijing, one hundred thousand silver taels is not a lot, but Still worth the money.
"This must be Miss Sima. It's a blessing for us to have the rare 'Jade Fairy' come here. Dou is so polite." Dou Fei is also a smart and capable person, and he recognized him without waiting for Hua Bushi's introduction. When he saw Sima Rulan, he immediately cupped his fists and saluted.
The two masters under the "Evil Dog Sect" are famous in the world. Hua Bushi, the young master, does not know martial arts. If it comes time to compete, he must rely on the "Jade Fairy" for help. Dou Fei I know this very well, so my etiquette is very considerate.
Sima Rulan just smiled politely and returned the Wanfu gift without saying much.
Dou Fei, Hua Bushi and the others greeted each other and were very polite to Chu Yiyi and Meng Huan. When they introduced Wu Yinghao, the young proprietor just casually bowed his hand.
"Wanli Tang" can be regarded as a well-established sect in the capital. It is a third-grade and fourth-grade official in the capital. Dou Fei often sees it on weekdays. A fifth-grade official like Wu Yinghao who comes to Beijing from other places naturally does not will be in his eyes.
"It's still early and the banquet is not ready yet. Master Hua and Miss Sima will invite you to sit in the front hall of the restaurant for a while. When the time comes, Dou will take you to the table."
This banquet was originally hosted by the "Eight Gates of Yanjing", and Dou Fei could also be regarded as the host. He was familiar with the business and immediately led Hua Bushi and his party into the door of the restaurant.
The front hall of Lingxiao Pavilion is very spacious. In the room with an area of more than ten feet, tea and fresh fruit snacks are placed on the sandalwood table. When a few people entered the room, there were already dozens of guests who had arrived early, and they were sparsely arriving. Sitting in the east and west corners of the lobby.
Hua Bushi immediately noticed that the guests sitting on the west side were dressed in different attires, including monks, Taoists and laymen, and most of them carried weapons. They were obviously members of Jianghu sects who were invited to come, while the twenty or thirty guests on the east side Most of the guests were dressed in rich clothes, elegant and elegant, and it was obvious at a glance that they were all official figures.
Officialdom and the world of politics are two completely different worlds, but in this Lingxiao Pavilion, due to interests, these two people are in the same room, but they sit in separate corners with a tacit understanding.