On the fifth day of July in the Chongzhen fifth year of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1632), Zhu Youjian left the Beijing-South Tour. The focus of the Southern Tour was the major taxation provinces of Jiangnan, Zhejiang, Huguang, and Guangdong, especially Jiangnan and Zhejiang.
Zhu Youjian knew that the implementation of the New Deal would inevitably harm the interests of southern merchants, especially the collection of industrial and commercial taxes, but to what extent southern merchants resisted, he had to see for himself.
Because the government soldiers were gradually disbanded, and the army of Ma Shilong, the commander of the Three Customs, had been reorganized in the capital. Therefore, Ma Shilong’s 32nd Army, Zuofu’s 33rd Army, and He Kegang’s 34th Army were as early as May. I went to the south at the end of the month.
Ma Shilong followed the Cement Avenue from Beijing to Nanjing and went all the way to Nanjing. Zuofu followed the sea road and landed at Hangzhou Bay. He Kegang rushed directly to Wuchang along the Cement Avenue from Beijing to Guangzhou via Hebei and Henan.
In this way, before Zhu Youjian made his southern tour, the three major taxation provinces of Jiangnan, Zhejiang, and Huguang were already under the direct control of the Beijing Army.
Zhu Youjian's entourage was only a hundred, in addition to the 20 top guards led by the chief guard Fu Xiaojian, there were also 80 soldiers led by Wang Mujiu.
These one hundred and one people rode high-headed horses and set off from the capital, along Tianjin Mansion, Hejian Mansion, Jinan Mansion, Xuzhou Mansion, Fengyang Mansion, Chuzhou, and crossed the river from Pukou Wharf to Nanjing City.
There are very few cavalry in the south. The formation of more than a hundred good horses is too scary. Zhu Youjian asked Wang Mujiu to take 80 soldiers and all the horses to live in the barracks temporarily, but don't expose the goal of this trip.
Fu Xiaojian and the twenty guards walked, just following Zhu Youjian's side.
As the capital of Ming Dynasty, Nanjing City has four walls. The innermost is Miyagi, commonly known as the Forbidden City. It is surrounded by the imperial river. Outside of Miyagi, it is the imperial city guarding the palace. Nanjing's six branches are basically in the emperor. Inside the city, but now it has been abolished by Zhu Youjian.
On the outskirts of the imperial city is the capital city and Yingtianfu city. The perimeter of the city wall can reach 70 li. This is the largest city in Daming, surpassing the current capital city of Beijing.
On the periphery of the capital, there is also the Outer Guocheng, which has a circumference of 120 li and a total of 18 gates. It not only arches the capital, but is also a place where residential and commercial areas are concentrated.
In the early morning, Zhu Youjian entered the city from Jiangdongmen in the west of the city, along Jiangdongmen Street, West Street, Sanshanmenwai Street, and entered the capital from Sanshanmen.
This is an imperial garden, also known as "Xiyuan", "three mountains and half-fallen blue sky, two waters are divided into Egret Island", but today the sun is shining brightly, as the top of the forty-eight scenic spots in Jinling, Zhu Youjian has no Opportunity to appreciate.
Youshi Street, Doumen Bridge, Nanshilou, Sanshan Street, Dazhong Street, Qiwang Street, and Taipingli are the same broad and almost straight street. Yingtianfu and Jiangning County will be divided and ruled, with Yingtianfu in the north and Jiangning in the south. county.
Zhu Youjian turned right from Sanshan Street and turned to Dagongfang and Huashi Street in Nanshi. This place is under the jurisdiction of Jiangning County, but it is the widest street in Beijing and the most prosperous commercial area. The famous Qinhuai River passes through Jubaomen. This area is separated from Jubao Mountain.
The group stopped in front of the "Sanyuan Restaurant".
Fu Xiaojian whispered to Zhu Youjian, "Master, it's noon now, do you want to eat first?"
Zhu Youjian looked up at the restaurant and saw that there were already a lot of people coming to eat. Then he said: "Just eat here, don't disturb the local people."
"Yes, listen to the Lord's instructions," Fu Xiaojian replied, turning around and saying to a guard next to him: "Go, find a private room on the second floor."
"No, just eat in the lobby!" Zhu Youzhen whispered, "The lobby is lively, why should we wrap ourselves up?"
Fu Xiaojian suddenly looked bitter, "Master, there are so many people in the hall, afraid of insecurity, or..."
Zhu Youjian smiled lightly: "Xiaojian, have you forgotten our original intention here?"
"Ah... But..." Fu Xiaojian doesn't care about the private visits, he is the head of the guard, and once Zhu Youzhen has a safety problem, he will bear all the guilt.
"Xiaojian, if we can't go deep among the people, then we might as well stay in the capital, stay in the palace," Zhu Youjian understood Fu Xiaojian's difficulties, "Well, wait for you to be seated, you call two guards, let's four If you are at the same table, it is to strengthen your defense, and for the rest of you, let's open another table!"
"Master, how can the minions sit with the master? The minions should still stand!" Although Fu Xiaojian knew that Zhu Youjian's martial arts was unfathomable, Zhu Youjian was the emperor. If he needed to do it himself, it would be the negligence of the guards. .
"Whether there are so many rules when going out?" Zhu Youjian waved his hand, "Go, I'm afraid there will be no seats anymore."
"Yes, Lord..." Fu Xiaojian wanted to say something more, but seeing Zhu Youjian's attitude was very firm, he had to ask someone to book a seat first, and at the same time let others prepare to protect Zhu Youjian.
Zhu Youjian laughed secretly, shining brightly, there are so many bad people there, and this is still to face the Emperor of Ming, who will dare to rebel if he is full
After a while, the guard who had just entered came back, "Master, the seats are booked. They are two dining tables next to each other."
"After you enter, don't scare the people," Zhu Youzhen was still a little worried, "Don't be too restrictive, let others see the clues."
Twenty people did it at the Xiang Lian dinner table not far from the gate. Fu Xiaojian was next to Zhu Youzhen. Once there was a disturbance, he would protect Zhu Youzhen.
Although Zhu Youjian looked like a businessman in a rough coat, but there were too many people in the group and neatly dressed, it still attracted a lot of attention.
Fortunately, there are ordinary people in the hall. Everyone cares about their own meals. As long as Zhu Youjian does not snatch their meals, they will not provoke Zhu Youjian.
However, here are ordinary citizens. What they care most about is not the New Deal, but their belly. Zhu Youjian hurriedly picked up two bowls of white rice and left the restaurant.
"Your Majesty, if you want to understand the people's attitude towards the New Deal from the shops, maybe the tea shop is better." Fu Xiaojian leaned close to Zhu Youjian and whispered.
Zhu Youjian asked casually: "Xiaojian, why do you say that?"
"Eating in the hall, everyone wants to fill up their stomachs. After eating, they have to give up their seats." Fu Xiaojian thought for a while and continued: "Drinking tea is different. It can be regarded as tasting tea. Tea drinkers have time. Naturally there are more topics."
"Oh!" Zhu Youjian comes from a later generation. He usually lives in a fast-paced life for starting a business. Unless it is for public relations and contracts, it is impossible to drink tea in a tea room. This kind of leisurely, but in the Central Dynasty, this tea culture has disappeared.
"Your Majesty..." Fu Xiaojian asked hesitantly.
"Okay, Xiaojian, let's go to the tea shop," Zhu Youjian said with a smile, "it's not bad to be able to calm down and comment on this common people tea in the tea shop!"
The group continued to walk along and found a tea shop called "Tianya" on Nanmen Street.
The tea shop is facing Nanmen Street. The shop is quite wide. Downstairs is a huge public tea shop. Zhu Youjian roughly counted them. There are about 28 tea tables. These tea tables are obviously for ordinary tea customers. Yes, but the business is good, almost full.
The second floor is divided into private rooms. The tea should be better. It is probably prepared for high-end tea guests or used as a place for business activities.
Zhu Youjian said to Xiaojian: "Xiaojian, we two will go in for tea later, and the rest, let them wander around for a while!"
Fu Xiaojian was anxious, he argued in a low voice: "Master, that's not good, just in case..."
Zhu Youzhen didn't care, he chuckled and said, "How can there be so many accidents?"
In future generations, Zhu Youjian would still worry about car accidents, floods, etc., especially terrorist attacks, but in Daming, the coercion of imperial power was too great. If it weren’t for the fact that they couldn’t survive, there would be a core figure who would lead the emperor. make life difficult for
"Master, how many people should you keep? The rest are nearby!" Fu Xiaojian was still worried, his brows were already wrinkled into a quarter moon, and he almost begged Zhu Youjian.
"Little sword, don't worry," Zhu Youjian beckoned to Fu Xiaojian, "Only when the two of us are together, we are more like businessmen from the capital of the capital. The rest of the guards, let them lurch on all sides!"
"Yes, Lord!" Fu Xiaojian immediately arranged for the guards to hide around the tea shop. As long as there is any disturbance, these guards will immediately rush into the tea shop.
Fu Xiaojian checked into the tea shop with Zhu You, but Xiao Er was enthusiastic, "Two guest officers, please go inside." Looking back, he found that the house has no vacancies, "Sorry, guest officer, there are no tea tables in the lobby. , Do you two go to the private room upstairs, or are you willing to squeeze downstairs?"
Fu Xiaojian wanted to stay in the private room on the second floor, but Zhu Youzhen replied, "Then squeeze it!"
Xiao Er smiled all over his face: "Two guest officers, please here, there are only two people at the tea table here, it's very empty!"
Zhu Youzhen sat down at a tea table with only two guests, Fu Xiaojian was next to Zhu Youzhen, and he said to Xiaoer who was about to leave: "Xiaoer, serve tea, serve good tea. "
The original two tea guests at the tea table were whispering something. The arrival of Zhu Youzhen and Fu Xiaojian obviously disturbed them. The older tea guest whispered: "If you want to drink good tea, you have to go There is no good tea here in the private room on the second floor!"
Another tea guest gently shook the porcelain cup in his hand, and said, “Now it’s no better than last year. They are all merchants. I am afraid that they can’t afford the tea money in the private room, let alone merchants from other places.”
Fu Xiaojian was furious, "You..."
Zhu Youzhen stepped on Fu Xiaojian from under the table, beckoning him not to say more, then turned his head and said to the two original tea guests: "How did the two know that I... really are merchants from other places?"
"Haha, it's hard to guess?" The older tea guest laughed loudly, as if he had heard the story of the Arabian Nights. "You are dressed up and have a foreign accent. What is it that you are not a foreign businessman?"