Chapter 37: The water in the fireworks alley is deep
The Baihu Office in Yanhua Hutong looks very dilapidated. Although there is an unspoken rule that officials do not build government offices, the buildings here are even worse than the abandoned City God's Temple. In the past, this place was under the supervision of the Baihu Office on Wuma Street. Now it is no longer in use.
The so-called Baihu Office on the Wuma Street side was actually the former general government office.
Early in the morning, Liu Chengfeng rode here happily, but the dilapidated scene immediately made his good mood disappear. He originally thought that this place could at least provide shelter from the wind and rain, but now it seems that even this most basic
The features all seem a bit forced.
Liu Chengfeng's face darkened. He had seen all the hundreds of households in the capital. Although most of them were inconspicuous, the layout was not that bad. However, his own Baihu in Fireworks Alley was much different.
That's how bad it was. He walked in with his hands behind his back, and there were already many school captains inside to order some money. Then a clerk came out, and it turned out to be the Wang Secretary who had been in the Qianhu Office before. Wang Secretary gave Liu Chengfeng the head check
He made a salute and said respectfully: "Your Excellency."
Liu Chengfeng said with a straight face: "If you are not in charge of the records at Qianhu Office, why did you come to us?"
Wang Sili smiled bitterly and said: "Emperor and courtiers. In the past, when Liu Qianhu was here, villains were still needed. Now that the new Qianhu takes office, he will naturally bring his confidants with him, and students will be kicked out sooner or later.
Those who came out, please just transfer them to Fireworks Alley."
Liu Chengfeng finally understood that this guy Wang Sili had fallen behind the scenes and was fawning over him. He couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. His temple was already extremely crude, yet it could still be attractive to someone like Wang Sili.
, I don’t know what the man named Wang is thinking.
Official Wang said: "Sir, everyone has arrived. Shall we start giving lectures?"
Liu Chengfeng nodded and said, "Call everyone to the lobby. I have something to give you."
…………………………………………
In the simple lobby, more than sixty captains were lined up in four rows. They all looked lazy and barely showed a little respect for the new Baihu. In front of these captains stood Lao Huo and
General Banner Chen Hongyu, this Chen Hongyu was also transferred from Wuma Street. He is about thirty years old, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, big mouth, and a heavy back. But at this time, his face is not very good-looking, Wuma Street
There is plenty of money and money there, and being transferred here is almost like being exiled. Even though he was transferred here as Xiao Qi as the general flag, he still suffered a loss. Not only him, but also the captains below, who doesn't have resentment in his heart? So after seeing this
The adults of the Hundred Households don't have much interest in currying favor. Taking someone's money is the same as killing their parents. If Liu Chengfeng hadn't been granted the rank of Hundred Households, even if there was no room in the Thousand Households, a space would have to be made available for him. Why would everyone have to suffer?
This crime?
The salary of the twelve guards in the capital is only fifteen taels of silver per year. Most of the time, the payment is not in cash. If the superiors deduct money, they may not even get ten taels of silver. Without oil and water, will the family live in the northwest wind?
Liu Chengfeng looked at them. Although they had met each other before, today they were officially acquainted. Liu Chengfeng was thick-skinned and turned a blind eye to the resentments of the captains. He coughed and said: "There are no rules, my lord."
When I took office today, I called everyone here to clarify the rules. There are three streets under the jurisdiction of our health office, just Fireworks Alley. The other two are mostly for literary and ink business. There are many scholars there and no one usually causes trouble.
No one is allowed to make trouble in the house. If anyone makes trouble or blackmails the store, please don’t blame me for being rude."
After hearing this, everyone looked at each other and even those poor people who were engaged in the literary and calligraphy business were not allowed to go. Didn't this mean that the last bit of oil and water was gone? Although there were many stalls there and they couldn't make much money, they were still a piece of meat the size of a mosquito.
Is Baihu going crazy?
Chen Hongyu suddenly became angry and shouted: "Sir, I have something to say."
Liu Chengfeng's eyes fell on Chen Hongyu, and he said with a smile: "What? Mr. Chen Qi has something to say?"
Chen Hongyu snorted coldly: "Of course I have something to say. Sir, the people in this hall are all brothers with families. Without two or three taels of silver every month, it is difficult to even support their families. Now we are working behind the adults, and everyone also
I am willing to be loyal to hundreds of families, but you are ordered not to extort money. What does this mean? You know the salary of our Jinyiwei. Who can survive with this salary? Without money,
How can I be so bad?"
Chen Hongyu's words touched the minds of many captains, and naturally aroused their resonance, so many people complained loudly: "Sir, I still owe dozens of taels of gambling debt. If I really have to live on my salary,
, I’m afraid I have to prepare to sell my ancestral home.”
"My family of thirteen relies on me to support myself. How will we live in the future? We all follow hundreds of families and don't expect to get rich. We just want to make ends meet..."
Liu Chengfeng listened to everyone's complaints with a smile. After a full incense burning time, his expression changed and he said, "Are you done? You've finished talking, then I'll say it!" Liu Chengfeng was cold as ice.
Shuangdi said: "This is the rule set by my lord. You are the emperor's personal soldiers. Since this rule has been set, everyone must abide by it!" Liu Chengfeng sneered and continued: "Whoever violates my lord's rule?
Try the rules, Liu Zhongxia will be your fate!"
The entire hall was filled with silence, and everyone no longer dared to talk. Liu Chengfeng's words were still very useful. After all, these hundreds of households had a lot of background. Not only were they related to the court, but they were also members of the Nanzhen Prefecture.
There are also people protecting him. Liu Zhongxia, a thousand households, is finished. To deal with them, isn't it as easy as strangling an ant?
Chen Hongyu stopped saying anything at this time. Although he was extremely dissatisfied, he did not dare to refute Liu Chengfeng again.
Liu Chengfeng said coldly: "Prince Wang..."
Official Wang stood up quickly and said: "Here."
Liu Chengfeng said: "Go, arrange for everyone to patrol and sit down, let them cheer up and do their errands well."
Official Wang said quickly: "Yes."
Everyone dispersed in a hurry, and a group of people left the hall and went to pick up errands in the custody room. Many people gathered around Chen Hongyu. Everyone did not dare to complain to Liu Chengfeng now, but Chen Hongyu was the boss after all.
Qi, come and complain, Chen Hongyu heard everyone talking, and couldn't help but said angrily: "What's the use of telling me all this? Didn't you hear what Master Baihu said? You all go on your errands honestly."
The Wang clerk in the signing room also persuaded with a smile, saying: "The first thing a new official does when he takes office is that we adults and scholars can talk to each other and protect the calligraphy stalls and calligraphy and painting stalls. It's just right. It's just hard work."
If you save everyone, maybe when a hundred households show sympathy, everyone will have something to eat."
Someone sneered and said: "I heard that Mr. Baihu was born in a calligraphy stall. This is called sympathy and mutual sympathy..."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Lao Huo couldn't help but said: "What nonsense are you talking about? Liu Baihu treats people very well. If you have anything to say, if you have the guts, just talk to him face to face."
Only then did everyone remember that Old Huo was around, and they all knew that Old Huo was Liu Chengfeng's friend, so they all fell silent.
Secretary Wang also followed suit and said: "Colonel Huo is right, it is important to handle the errands well."
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Forbidden City.
In a dark palace, several young eunuchs were sitting on their desks, sorting out the memorials sent by the Secretary of General Affairs. They had to clarify which ones could be sent directly back to the cabinet and which ones were to be submitted to the imperial gaze. They were not allowed to do anything.
Something went wrong.
At this time, there was no one at the top, but here at the bottom, Eunuch Liu was holding a tea cup and closing his eyes to rest. Eunuch Liu had a high status in this palace. Although the emperor today relies heavily on foreign ministers, he
After all, he can be regarded as a person who can make the ground tremble when he stomps his feet. What's more, he is a popular person in front of Eunuch Bingbi, so his status is even more remarkable.
All the servants in the palace knew that Eunuch Liu had not looked very good since he went out to announce his decree yesterday, so no one disturbed him. He even talked and walked on tiptoe, and did not dare to breathe too heavily.
After a while, a servant came in hurriedly, came to Eunuch Liu and whispered a few words in a low voice.
Eunuch Liu's closed eyes suddenly opened, and a stern look flashed across his face. He waved his hand and said, "Everyone, step back..."
The chamberlains behind the papers did not dare to neglect after hearing this. They stood up one after another and quietly exited the hall like a tide.
Eunuch Liu spoke slowly: "Firework Alley?"
"That's right, it's the Fireworks Alley. The person who inquired about the Fireworks Alley was a girl named Wen Chenruo. She is related to Liu Chengfeng and passed through the hands of Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Eunuch Liu's face became even more gloomy, and he said, "Why is the princess even involved?"
"That Wen Chenruo and the princess's gang have formed some kind of harem, and they often fool around together. The Queen only has a son and a daughter, and they are doted on in every possible way. Who can control it?"
Eunuch Liu nodded slightly, a coldness flashed across his eyes, and then he turned his attention to Liu Chengfeng: "What does he want to ask about Fireworks Alley? Does he want to seize the food from the tiger's mouth?"
"Father, 30% of the oil and water in our Dongchang comes from the Fireworks Alley. How dare he, a small member of the Jinyiwei family, have such courage? Is that right..."
Eunuch Liu sneered and said: "You are right. Since he wants to pry, let him pry clearly, let him know how deep the water in Fireworks Alley is, so as to prevent him from running in blindly. Fireworks
The oil and water in the alley, let alone a hundred households, even a thousand households, can't bear it. Let's see if he has the guts. Also, go tell Chen Rang and keep a good eye on the man with this surname in the guardhouse.
Liu, this man is a scourge, but now is not the time to touch him."
"Do you want to say hello to the factory manager about this?"
Eunuch Liu hesitated for a moment and said, "The Za family will tell you in person, you can go down."