The ship arrived in Nanjing, and everyone got ashore and entered Nanjing through the water gate. Soldiers from Luo Aquan's special battalion also infiltrated Nanjing City in various identities. China Company-Huaxing Alliance had many properties in Nanjing City, except for Huaxing Alliance Nanjing. Outside the business building, there is Huaxing Bank, many shops under the Zeng family's name, and several huts in the hands of the Commercial Information Department and the Old Camp Military Intelligence Department, which are used as secret contact points. However, there are very few people in these places. The place is already covered with dust and cobwebs.
Therefore, everyone used the Ganzhou businessman as a guide to find a clean hotel to stay in. According to the original plan, more than a dozen of Luo Aquan's subordinates found a place to stay in nearby areas, either working part-time or dressing up as gangsters. Enter the Huaxing Alliance to work; the rest of the special battalion's masters temporarily gathered in a warehouse of the Huaxing Alliance to stand by.
Yin Feng and others also followed the plan and went out to inquire for information. This time, they could not appear dressed as scholars. There were many wealthy businessmen in Nanjing, so Yin Feng still appeared dressed as businessmen.
Nanjing, relying on the prosperous south of the Yangtze River, showed a prosperous scene that was completely different from that in the north. Especially the famous Qinhuai River area was even more prosperous and prosperous. In the late Ming Dynasty, the gatherings of laymen and officials in the city often talked about Zen and preaching, which was very lively. At that time, Shilin Celebrities all like Buddhism and Zen. The problem is that they often go to romantic places to discuss the principles of Buddhism and Taoism, because listening to music by prostitutes is also an important part of the elegant and elegant life of scholar-bureaucrats. Even the kings of the Donglin Party go there to criticize the government. In a romantic place, you can make revolution without forgetting the enjoyment of life.
Therefore, at Zeng Shan's suggestion, Yin Feng, Chen Zhongji, Xu Hongji and Luo Aquan set out for a trip to the Qinhuai River.
We hired several small sedans and walked all the way, crossing Wuding Bridge, and soon entered the center of the Qinhuai River - the old courtyard. The old courtyard is known as Quzhong. The front door is opposite Wuding Bridge, and the back door is on Chaoku Street. Here The houses vary in size, but they all look exquisite and clean. There are shiny copper rings on the doors of each house. Some doors are open, and you can see the sparse flowers and trees in the small courtyard, bonsai rocks, and scattered decorations. Some courtyard doors are empty. The tall trees stretched out their branches from inside the wall, and the cicadas chirped.
Although Yin Feng had been to Nanjing once, it was because he was doing business and building relationships and had no time to hang out in Feng Yue Chang. This was also the first time he came back to this place.
The few people who had just come from the north were a bit strange. Zeng Shan couldn't help but said: "Compared to the kilns in the north, this place is simply a fairyland."
Xu Hongji said with a smile: "I have traveled all over the world, and this is the first time I have come back to the Qinhuai River. Haha, it is really an eye-opener."
China's prostitution industry reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty. Xie Zhaozhe, a Ming Dynasty man, said in his book "Wuzazu": "Nowadays, prostitutes are all over the world, and there are thousands of prostitutes in every metropolitan area." , there are often people in other outlying states and outlying towns, who make a living by leaning on the door all day long, and their livelihood is pitiful. However, the officials of the Jiaofang in the capital collect their tax money, which is called fat money, and those who are subordinate to counties and counties are happy. Households were just for obeying orders. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, official prostitutes were used to accompany wine, and it was still the case in the early years of the country. It was banned in the early days of Xuande, but those who lived in the homes of the gentry did not care about it. Therefore, although they disappeared in public courts, they often filled the courtyards and courtyards, and there were Those who are not affiliated with an official but work as prostitutes at home are commonly called 'private nests', and there are countless of them." It can be seen that the Ming Dynasty was a period when both official prostitutes and private prostitutes flourished.
The Ming Dynasty attached great importance to the "color" of prostitutes, with two emphasis points: first, natural beauty, such as "wrists like lotus roots", "jade-colored skin", "white female jade fat", and "skin jade-like snow" , "eyes painted" are all examples of focusing on true beauty. Secondly, they should be petite and exquisite, such as "slender and pretty", such as "light waist", such as "娉婷娟好", such as "juanyan appearance" and other styles All the beauties were appreciated by the kings and grandsons of Zuma at that time, and they were famous in Beili. Since about the Tang and Song Dynasties, the beauty of southern beauties had come to the fore. By the Ming Dynasty, the "Jiangsu and Zhejiang style" beauties had become popular all over the world. Almost later.
Yin Feng said: "In the capital, there are many women from the Yanzhao area who are prostitutes. Here are all beauties from the south of the Yangtze River. Brothers, who is familiar with this place?"
Everyone quickly shook their heads. If you don't have money, you have no chance to enter this kind of place. Xu Hongji was just a wandering Taoist priest begging for food, so of course he couldn't come to this kind of place. Zeng Shan has stayed in Beijing for a long time, and it was the first time that Nanjing was attracted by the Qinhuai River. Come on, Chen Zhongji and Luo Aquan have been working overseas all year round, and they have no chance to come to such a high-end romantic place.
Nanjing's romantic places are divided into three places: Nanshi, Zhushi and Jiuyuan. The so-called Nanshi is a place where low-class women receive customers, and generally there are no literati. In the Zhushi, the women among them may occasionally have special colors. , most of them are places of nostalgia for businessmen from all over the world, and officials and gentlemen rarely go there; and the old courtyard where Yin Feng and others are now located is the so-called "Shangtangxou" - the place where high-level officials are located. In a brothel, there is absolutely no scene of people leaning against the door to show off. Each courtyard is like a mansion of a wealthy businessman. There are at most one or two gatekeepers or maids at the door. Even those maids are all beautiful and bright. Her teeth were pure and beautiful, which made Luo Aquan, who rarely came to prosperous places, look straight at her eyes.
Yin Feng pointed at a courtyard casually and said: "This courtyard is called Danyan Bookstore. Let's go and have a look at this courtyard."
The five people climbed up the steps, and immediately a maid shouted, "We have guests."
A madam who was about forty and a half years old greeted her at the door. She immediately judged with a vicious look that the tall man in the middle should be the leader of the five people. He had a calm demeanor and was either a high-ranking official or a wealthy businessman; The short black man (Luo Aquan) has sharp eyes and quick movements, and should be a bodyguard; the younger one is also tanned, and should be the personal attendant of the leading guest officer (Chen Zhongji); the other two are of scholarly temperament, and should be It's the tall diners' staff member in the middle.
She wished Yin Feng a very polite wish, and said in a voice that made people itchy: "It's your first time here, ladies and gentlemen. I am the second wife of the Lin family. Please come in, girls from the Danyan Book House." I am still bathing and dressing up. When it gets dark, I will come out to meet guests. Please sit inside."
Luo Aquan glanced at Yin Feng, saw Yin Feng nodded slightly, immediately turned around and stood at the door, intervened and stood.
The old bustard's heart skipped a beat when Chen Zhongji said kindly: "Mother Lin, we have come from afar and don't understand the rules here. Please make arrangements as you wish."
Madam Lin Erniang kept saying please, and secretly whispered to a turtle slave who was following behind her: "Be careful, these guests are extraordinary."
"Why did mom say that? Judging from their accents, they are just wealthy businessmen from Fujian and Guangdong," Gui Nu asked carefully.
Lin Erniang frowned and said: "You idiot, haven't you seen the magnanimity of the man in the middle? And his bodyguard, with vicious eyes and faint murderous intent. If you go outside and take a look, I can guarantee that there must be people outside our yard." There are a lot more strangers watching here,"
Turtle slave was startled, ran to the door and poked his head out, then came back with a very unnatural look on his face and said to Madam Lin Erniang: "Mom, the streets and alleys outside look like they have been sealed off, and you can't even see the people coming and going. arrive,"
The old madam stamped her feet: "He is going to die. This man is not only rich but also very noble. He has many bodyguards overtly and covertly. There are also a large group of gentry and students coming in the evening. What should we do?"
Turtle slave asked: "Then, let the lady go and receive them,"
At this time, Yin Feng and others had been led into the inner courtyard by the little maid at the door. The maid stopped at a door and opened the bead curtain. After everyone entered the room, Yin Feng's eyes suddenly lit up: not only were the windows bright and clean inside, but also The furnishings are elegant, and there are colorful porcelain vases, sandalwood Ruyi, jade Guanyin, and several books on the ancient shelves. On the wall are Lu Tingzhen's silk flowers and birds and Dong Qichang's running script. He was about to take a closer look when he heard a strange sound. screamed:
"Xiao Cui makes tea! Xiao Cui makes tea!"
Everyone looked back and saw that there was an elaborate bird stand hanging from the roof beam with colorful ropes. A parrot with a string tied to its leg was chattering. The maid named Xiao Cui waved her fist at the parrot. Laughter Then he ran into the side room.
Xu Hongji and Zeng Shan, two scribes with good tempers, marveled at the furnishings here and there. Chen Zhongji retained the habits cultivated in the military camp and did not like the too gentle and extravagant furnishings here. He had no interest in extravagant calligraphy and painting. So he sat impatiently behind an Eight Immortals table and sighed: "Shipowner, we don't have a place like this in Taiwan. Look at the things here. It's too luxurious. There are also brothels in Taiwan Harbor now. You can get by with just one tael of silver." How much are the ladies here worth for one night?"
Yin Feng smiled: "We are not here to play, Ji Zai, are you afraid that the man in your family will not let you go to bed if he knows about it?"
Chen Zhongji blushed: "What are you talking about? Captain, I just feel that the contrast between what we have seen and heard along the way is too great; on one side there are people dying of hunger, and on the other side there is a life of debauchery, what a big deal,"
Xu Hongji smiled coldly: "Master Chen, don't you know? If the young lady here wants to redeem herself, she will have to pay three to five thousand taels of silver."
"Good guy!" Zeng Shan called out. When he was hanging out in Beijing, he knew that the wealthy people in the north kept concubines, bought girls, and redeemed kiln sisters in large numbers. The prices were very cheap. Three to five hundred taels was a scary big number. From then on, I heard that some people came to work for several thousand taels. Of course, some people went to the south of the Yangtze River to hunt for beauty and brought back a beauty that Wu Nong spoke softly about. Zeng Shan never thought much about money before, but now he knows that his net worth is so amazing.
Yin Feng said coldly: "The officials and gentlemen are the parents of these sisters. Haha, these high-ranking officials in the court will never be stingy on these matters." He thought of his wife Zeng Qian. In fact, Zeng Qian's mother is from Qinhuai River.
In the evening, a group of scribes calling for friends poured into the Danyan Book Apartment. Soon several sedan chairs stopped at the door, and several distinguished disciples accompanied by personal guards also arrived. The nightlife of Qinhuai River officially began. ,