Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 156 Thin Horse Project ([-])

After setting off from Shanghai, Zhao Xin and the others headed north on the sandboat.By the early morning of the third day, the boat had passed through the Chaohe Gate of the South Canal and sailed out of the border of Danyang County.

The heads of Cai Jiashu, father and son and Tong Zhilin were pickled by Lu Shoushan and Pan Xiucheng with quicklime from the ship, and packed in oilcloth bags, ready to pay homage to Yangzhou.Zhao Xin and other modern people can't accept the ancient practice of using dead heads to pay homage to the dead.But thinking about what happened to the poor Xu family brothers and Shen Xuan, it's hard to stop them with words; I just hope that the things in this bag don't stink halfway.

It is said that the use of human heads as sacrifices has appeared in ancient times.It was not until the Qin and Han Dynasties that the people began to prohibit the sacrifice of living people.However, that's what the feudal law is, only state officials are allowed to set fires, and people are not allowed to light lamps.Therefore, although the common people are prohibited from doing so, the ruler can still use living people as sacrifices in a high-sounding manner.

For example, the killing sacrifice before leaving the army in the Ming Dynasty is a typical military ceremony.The purpose of the whole set of behaviors is not just to kill people; it has a large degree of moral punishment in it.The ancients believed that the human head is the seat of the spirit, which can communicate with the gods.Using the head of the enemy to pay homage to the undead can vent hatred to the greatest extent.

At this time, the sandship had just passed the Yongning Bridge, and Shen Jingdan said to Zhao Xin and others who were watching the scenery on the deck: "Everyone, we have arrived at Zhenjiang Mansion now. When we cross the Yangtze River ahead, we will enter the boundary of Yangzhou."

"It's finally here!" Zhao Xin and others were extremely uncomfortable with the speed of travel tools in this era.From Shanghai to Yangzhou in later generations, the high-speed train will arrive in three hours.Now it will take more than three days to take the boat non-stop all night, which is really exhausting!
At this time, Liu Siting saw a very tall pagoda on the hill on the right front side of the bow, so she asked Shen Jingdan: "Boss Shen, where is that?"

Shen Jingdan replied: "Oh, that's Jishan Temple."

"The offering there is Zhang Xun, who guarded Suiyang in the Tang Dynasty. I heard from the elders in my family that there used to be a temple fair in Dutian Temple every year during the Dragon Boat Festival. I heard from the elders that it was very lively." Wu Siyu said excitedly. Everyone explained.

When Shen Jingdan and Lao Huang heard this, they couldn't help but look at each other.What the hell is Dutian Temple?It's obviously called Jishan Temple!However, Jishan Temple does have a temple fair every year during the Dragon Boat Festival; businessmen from all over the world, even Shanghai and Suzhou, come to the temple fair to sell their products.

Wu Siyu didn't know that he had slipped up.This Jishan Temple was not renamed Dutian Temple until the Xianfeng period, when Zhang Xun, who was enshrined in it, was added as "Dutian Emperor" by Xianfeng.

Then Shen Jingdan cupped his hands to Wu Siyu and asked, "Dare to ask Wu Da. Oh no, Wu Zhuangshi's ancestors were from Yangzhou? When did he leave for overseas?"

"This. The end of the Ming Dynasty, the end of the Ming Dynasty." Wu Siyu said awkwardly.

"Do you still remember where your home is in Yangzhou?"

"Hey, I can't remember this one." Wu Siyu's home is in the later Yangzhou East Bus Station.But in the eighteenth century, it was a proper countryside.Wu Siyu himself didn't know what the location of his family's community was called in the Qing Dynasty.

Afterwards, the sandboat went all the way north, passed the canal gate and entered the Yangtze River. In order to avoid the crowded South Canal channel, Shen Jingdan deliberately let the sandboat go eastward around Jiaoshan, and sailed from Shahe to Yangzhou City.

When it was dark, the sand boat docked at the pier outside Gongchen Gate in the north of Yangzhou City.Under Shen Jingdan's arrangement, the crowd arrived at a house outside the city an hour later.

After the sandboat docked, Zhao Xin and the others did not dare to speak casually; it was not until Shen Jingdan led everyone into the main entrance of the courtyard and sat down in the front hall that everyone relaxed.

Shen Jingdan originally wanted to arrange a banquet, but was declined by Zhao Xin and others, so he had to ask his servants to buy some food from restaurants on the street.While waiting, Shen Jingdan introduced the history of this house to everyone.

The whole yard covers an area of ​​three mu, facing south.There are more than 20 small yards in the front, back, left, and right sides, plus gardens, and the layout is very regular.The layout of the courtyard is that three roads are juxtaposed horizontally, and three roads are extended vertically, and the left and right chambers are courtyards.The courtyards are well ventilated and well lit, interconnected vertically and horizontally, and can be separated and combined freely inside and outside, which is a typical courtyard architectural pattern in Yangzhou in this era.

However, due to the fact that no one lived there for many years, many of the furniture in the courtyards were damaged; moreover, the gardens in the backyard were very dilapidated because no one took care of them.After Shen Jingdan took over, he hired people to clean the courtyard, repaired several dilapidated houses, and added furniture. It was a lot of trouble.

To put it in detail, this courtyard was the property of Lu Jianzeng, the envoy of the Lianghuai Salt Transport decades ago.In the 33rd year of Qianlong's reign, the Lianghuaiyan incident occurred, and Lu Jianzeng was arrested and sent to prison, where he was placed in prison; and the Lu family sold the house in order to establish relationships.After several twists and turns, it was finally bought by Ma Yu, one of the eight major salt merchants.And when Shen Jingdan got acquainted with the salt merchant Ma Yuyin cigarettes, he casually mentioned that he wanted to buy a yard, and Ma Yu, who was in trouble, transferred the land to him for 5000 taels of silver.

When Shen Jingdan finished talking about the price, except for Lu Shoushan, Pan Xiucheng and Xu Dayong who were dumbfounded, Zhao Xin and other modern people did not respond.Shen Jingdan thought that Zhao Xin and the others were rich and powerful, so they didn't take it seriously.Unexpectedly, these people on the opposite side are a group of clubs, who have no idea of ​​the purchasing power of 5000 taels of silver!

(There is very little information on housing prices in Jiangnan during the Qianlong period. However, taking the government-allocated housing built by the Qing court for the Eight Banners outside Beijing as an example, the market transaction price of each house at that time was close to 40 taels of silver, so a set of 17 standard courtyard houses is More than 600 taels. Considering that Yangzhou was the most prosperous city in the country at that time, 5000 taels of silver for this mansion is quite cheap.)
After everyone chatted for a while, the food from the restaurant was also delivered.

During the dinner, Liu Siting suddenly asked Shen Jingdan: "Boss Shen, where does this Yangzhou skinny horse usually live?"

"Skinny horse?" Shen Jingdan was taken aback for a moment, he didn't expect that Dr. Liu knew about skinny horses.

"Yeah, isn't the Yangzhou skinny horse famous all over the world?"

Lao Huang interjected with a smile: "To tell you the truth, Doctor Liu, this skinny horse is not an ordinary girl. If you want to see her, you have to find a prostitute to bring her to someone's house; you can't usually see it in the market. .”

"Oh. So there's another saying. What about the brothel?"

Zhao Xin and other men at the dinner table actually wanted to ask this question, but they were embarrassed to ask because Liu Siting was there.Who would have thought that Director Liu was more curious than anyone else, so everyone strained their ears and waited for the next sentence.

Shen Jingdan knew what Zhao Xin and the others looked like.So he put down the bowls and chopsticks, and said with a smile: "The brothels are all located in the Little Qinhuai area of ​​the city. If you are interested, you can rent a boat tomorrow night to see the scenery of the Little Qinhuai."

"Okay!"

"This is good!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Xin and the others nodded with smiles on their faces, saying that this arrangement is really good!
The Little Qinhuai mentioned by Shen Jingdan is in the Jiahe outside the Xiaodongmen of the old city of Yangzhou, which is also known as Liuxiang.Since the Ming Dynasty, there have been many Goulan brothels in the area of ​​Xiaoqinhuai.The streets and alleys in front of these brothels are called "flower streets and willow alleys".At the back door of each brothel, there is a pier leading to the Little Qinhuai River; there are boats moored by the river, so that guests can board the boat at any time and enjoy a night tour of the Little Qinhuai River.

"Virtue!" Liu Siting glanced at Zhao Xin and the others, muttering inwardly.

After two mouthfuls of rice, Director Liu asked curiously again: "Boss Shen, is there a brothel called Lichunyuan in Yangzhou City?"

"Master Wei?" Zhao Xin interrupted.

"Yeah yeah."

Liu Sheng picked up the food in the bowl and said, "I said Director Liu, you are a woman, why are you so interested in brothels?"

"It's fun. Boss Shen, have you heard of the Lichun Courtyard in Yangzhou City? It seems to be on the edge of the Slender West Lake. I heard that it is the largest brothel in Yangzhou."

"Ah?!" Shen Jingdan said in his heart that this is all a mess, where did he hear it, and even made up the number one in Yangzhou.He shook his head and smiled wryly, "I'm sorry for my ignorance. I've never heard of a place called Lichun Court. I don't know where you heard it from, Doctor Liu?"

"Ah? I read it from..." Liu Siting can't say that she read it from the martial arts novels of later generations.

"Oh. We heard what the Japanese said." Zhao Xin hastened to cover himself.

Shen Jingdan let out an "Oh" and said: "It's very abominable for the Japanese to spread rumors. There are many academies and bookstores by the Slender West Lake, and the villas of rich salt merchants are all nearby. How can there be such a low-ranking Qin Louchu?" Pavilion!"

Zhao Xin nodded in agreement, and added: "Boss Shen's words are reasonable. For example, in Beijing City, the Fireworks and Willow Alley is located in the Bada Hutong area of ​​the South City. I have never heard of this near the residences of the dignitaries in the West City and East City."

After everyone had a hasty meal, Xu Dayong was responsible for cleaning up the dishes.Shen Jingdan asked his servants Ah Si and Gui Sheng to light up lanterns, and led Zhao Xin and others around the cleaned-up courtyards.The interior of this house extends in all directions and twists and turns, which made Zhao Xin and the others feel overwhelmed.In the end, everyone decided to watch it at dawn tomorrow, and tonight they will all gather in the Sanjin of the main room to deal with it overnight.Shen Jingdan proposed to let Ah Si's son Guisheng stay here to serve him, but Zhao Xin declined.People like myself have something to discuss later, how can we let outsiders be present.

Seeing that it was almost time, Shen and Huang bid farewell and came back tomorrow.

When Zhao Xin and others were sent outside the main gate, they noticed that there was something like a shrine on the wall of the courtyard gate, but when they touched it with their hands, it was made of bricks.

"Boss Shen, what is this?"

"This is called 'Fu Temple', also called Land Temple. It is built with bricks on the wall. It is used to burn incense in the morning and evening on weekdays to worship the land god in the family to keep the house safe. The incense candles have been prepared and placed in the gatehouse .”

Shen Jingdan was about to take a step, then took it back, turned to Zhao Xin and said, "By the way, I will ask Guisheng to bring someone over for breakfast tomorrow. As for noon."

"It's not necessary at noon, we'll figure it out ourselves. On the way here, I see that there are quite a lot of restaurants nearby."

"If that's the case, tomorrow I'll ask Ah Si to bring some money for you to use on the streets."

Zhao Xin cupped his hands with a smile and said, "Boss Shen is bothering you, but we have prepared money."

Shen Jingdan shook his head, and said solemnly: "The Qing Dynasty is different from the Japanese country. Generally, no one buys things with silver in the market. Please pay attention to this point and be more careful."

Then, he reminded everyone in a low voice: "Don't take out the thousand-foot silver bars from Beihai. Once someone pays attention to it, it will alarm the government."

"Ah? There's another saying!" A group of modern "sticks" suddenly realized that the thousands of taels of silver bars they had prepared before were useless, and they had to exchange money with Shen Jingdan.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xin took out two silver bars from his pocket, handed them to Shen Jingdan and said, "Then ask Boss Shen to help you exchange some silver bars that can be used in the market."

The silver bar that Zhao Xin took out was made by the workshop.Zhao Liang melted and purified all the silver seized from the Fukang'an camp, and then molded it into 500-gram pieces of thousand-pure silver bars.Due to the high temperature casting below 1200 degrees and manual polishing, the whole silver bar is in the shape of a rectangular column with extremely fine water silk patterns.In order not to be detected, only three Chinese characters "nine" were pressed out of the silver bar with a mold to represent thousand fine silver.

Shen Jingdan was not pretentious, he put it into his arms with a smile, and then bid farewell with Lao Huang.

Everyone returned to the main hall, and with the help of the lanterns and moonlight hanging on the corridor, they admired the carved beams and painted columns in the courtyard, and couldn't help but be amazed.Both Shen and Huang were there just now, and everyone was holding back for fear of showing cowardice.

Zhao Xin said to Lu Shoushan who was at the side: "Shoushan, you and Xu Dayong should work hard tonight and stay in the concierge. Boss Shen will send someone to deliver breakfast tomorrow morning."

"Yes. Don't worry, master, I'm used to doing these things before."

It was just after nine o'clock in the evening, and a group of modern people were not sleepy at all, so they sat in the main hall and chatted happily.Lu Shoushan, Pan Xiucheng and Xu Dayong went to the kitchen to help boil water and make tea.

Liu Siting suddenly remembered that Wu Siyu said that she was from Yangzhou, so she asked, "Hey, Wu Siyu. Is your home located in the city or outside the city?"

Wu Siyu thought for a while and said: "Outside the city, near the East Bus Station. It doesn't seem to be very far from here, just follow Dongguan Street and cross the canal."

"His house is still a piece of farmland if it's not well maintained at the moment." Wang Yuanfang said with a smile.

"Maybe it's the yard of a landlord's house."

Seeing that Zhao Xin hadn't spoken for a long time, Liu Sheng asked, "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking about how we will operate in the future." Zhao Xin has been thinking about what he will do in Yangzhou this time, which is the "Slim Horse Project".The most important thing about the whole plan is that Shen Jingdan and Lao Huang cannot be involved in the implementation process.

"I thought and thought about it. I still have to find an opportunity to clarify this matter with Shen Jingdan. Otherwise, if it is exposed, we will completely trap him. I also want to go to Xuzhou to see if there are any people who fled the famine. According to historical records, The drought in Henan has already begun, and next year it will turn into a nationwide catastrophic drought. We have to prepare in advance and plan the route."

"What if Shen Jingdan disagrees?" Liu Sheng asked.

"There is no other way. We are too short of people now, so we can only do this." Zhao Xin sighed.

Liu Siting did not speak.This matter had been debated repeatedly in Beihai Town, and Director Liu finally agreed in view of the current situation.The reason why she followed this time was to be in charge of the most critical part of the operation, the release of halothane on the target and the comforting work during the evacuation.

The current illiteracy rate in Beihai Town is too high. Even though literacy schools are set up for children, and literacy classes are also set up in the army, there is no rush.If the cultural level does not improve, it will be difficult to master modern mechanical technology.Zhao Xin couldn't even understand the instructions and maintenance manuals. A large number of equipment that Zhao Xin bought before could only be left in dust.If you don't even know the words, let alone become a skilled worker.

The seven people discussed until late at night, and finally decided that Zhao Xin, Wu Siyu, Ding Guofeng, Liu Zheng, and Wang Yuanfang would pretend to be wealthy businessmen from the North, come forward to pick out the lean horses, and carefully observe the situation in the courtyard.As for the situation around the houses of those who raise skinny horses, the three of Lu Shoushan will be responsible for investigating.

As for how to explain to Shen Jingdan and Lao Huang, Zhao Xin is responsible for this matter.

(End of this chapter)