Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 727

In the early morning of May 59th in the [-]th year of Qianlong.

Shopkeeper Dong today, as usual, got up to wash up when he heard the clock strike from the direction of Chongwenmen, and then went out to drink tea at "Donghongtai" teahouse.

He lives in Caochangsantiao, very close to Zhengyangmen Street. When you get out of the alley, you will find Shuichang Alley. When you walk west to the end, you will find Dashilan diagonally opposite to the left; The "Donghongtai" teahouse in the mouth.

This person's real name is Dong Xinchen, from Shangqiu County, Henan Province, he is 37 years old, and he was born in a small and wealthy farmer's family.When I was a child, I went to a private school for several years, but because of family accidents and downfall, I didn’t continue. At the age of 17, I started to carry a burden to do some small business, walking around the village every day, and my life was passable.In the 50th year of Qianlong's reign, Henan was hit by a catastrophe, and Shangqiu area was the hardest hit, and people were starving. Dong Xinchen, like other refugees, took his wife and children to Kaifeng to settle down.

Coincidentally, Xu Dayong was ordered by Zhao Xin to recruit refugees. Apart from buying people in the marketplace, he also recruited some hired workers through Yaren, mainly to cook for the refugees inside and outside the village.Dong Xinchen is a foreigner, and it is not easy to make a living in Kaifeng; however, this person is quick-witted and generous in his work, and he met a toothpaste through deliberate friendship.The latter happened to be helping Xu Zhuang recruit workers, so he took a hundred yuan as a favor and introduced him.

Because of his literacy and experience in business, Dong Xinchen quickly stood out among Xu Zhuang's servants.After a year like this, Xu Dayong felt that this person was hardworking and not greedy for petty gains in money. After several trials, he took him out on a boat and saw the Thunder God.After receiving the "shocking education", Dong Xinchen's family went to Beihai Town, where they had their land and a house. Unwilling to face the loess and turn their backs to the sky, he joined the Ministry of Trade and worked under Shen Jingdan.

Four years ago, Dong Xinchen was ordered to go to Beijing and opened a North-South goods store on Zhengyangmen Street under the name "Huang Shengtai". Since then, Beihai Town's first intelligence point in the capital has been established.Except for his wife Dong He who lived with him and two radio operators disguised as servants, the other accountants and staff employed locally did not know that the boss behind them was the No. [-] "rebel" in Tianzi.

During these years in the capital, Dong Xinchen's greatest achievement is to develop the deputy chief eunuch of the respect room into Beihai Town's eyeliner, making Beihai Town's tentacles extend into the Forbidden City, and basically major events in the palace do not take three days. Zhao Xin will know.

Today, the North Navy Intelligence Bureau has set up a total of five intelligence sub-stations inside and outside the capital.The first sub-station is based on "Huang Shengtai" north-south goods; the second sub-station is on Liulichang East Street outside Xuanwumen, an antique shop called "Fangutang". It is to buy antique calligraphy and paintings for Zhao Xin; the third station is Haidian Town, which is a medicinal material shop to the outside, and its main task is to monitor and inquire about the situation in the Yuanmingyuan; In the restaurant, from the shopkeeper to the waiters, all the members of the Cao Gang who defected to the Beihai Navy; Wufen stood at the wharf of the Tongzhou Canal, and it was a grain shop to the outside.

For the sake of safety, unless there are special circumstances, the various intelligence stations never communicate horizontally, and they only receive direct orders from the intelligence bureau through the radio.Among them, the four sub-stations are special operations teams, and they are the ones who delivered anonymous letters to Liu Quan and Ruan Yuan's residence.

Normally, Dong Xinchen would stay in the teahouse until noon before going back to the shop when he was free, but not today; Prince Yi’s grandson was in charge of Zhou Li, because he is also the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and now "Huang Shengtai" is also a supplier of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Shang, so no matter what, I have to give a gift.Besides, Li Qiucheng said last month that he would go today, just to meet up.

Seeing that it was almost time, he went home, changed his clothes, and called a personal entourage—actually, he was a guard sent by the Intelligence Bureau. With the gifts and posts he had prepared in advance, he rode on a mule cart. Chongwenmen entered the city and arrived at the destination in time for the end of the century.

Prince Yi's Mansion is located in Qihuamen (Chaoyangmen), in the east of the city, so it is neither remote nor lively in the capital.In fact, this is not the earliest Prince Yi's Mansion. The mansion in Yunxiang's era is located in Jinyu Alley to the east of Wangfujing.After the death of Yunxiang, the first Prince of Yi in the eighth year of Yongzheng, Yongzheng respected his last wish and converted the palace into a temple; and because the posthumous title he gave Yunxiang was "Xian", it was called "Xianliang Temple".As soon as Xianfeng kicked his feet in history, Zaiyuan, the seventh-generation Prince Yi, one of the eight ministers of Gu Ming, was quickly given to death. The iron hat king was gone, and the palace was confiscated. Later, it was given to the ninth son of Daoguang. Yichao was changed to Fujun Prince's Mansion.

Today, the one who celebrated the Zhou Ceremony was Yixun, the eldest grandson of Prince Yi Yonglang.His father was Yonglang's second son, Mianbiao, who in the first few years was granted the title of Fu Guogong; because Yonglang had only two sons, and the eldest son, Mianjin, died more than ten years ago, so Mianbiao became The best candidate for the next Prince Yi.If there is no accident, Yi Xun will naturally be the little prince in the future.

Dong Xinchen got out of the car when he was more than 50 meters away from the palace. The entrance of the palace was full of carriages and sedan chairs, blocking the entrance.After entering the gate of the palace, the long attendant handed over the big red greeting card and gift list.The eunuch who was in charge of welcoming the guests took the greeting card and opened it, then looked at the valuable gifts on the gift list, nodded in satisfaction, and then read aloud: "Master Si Dong, the Changlu Salt Transport Envoy, has arrived!"

Well, if a businessman wants to do business with the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the capital, he can't even think about it without an official.This is not only a matter of having an official body to do things well, but it also allows others to understand your strength.Without a net worth of tens of thousands of taels, doing business with the Ministry of Internal Affairs will cost you your life.

Before Dong Xinchen came to Beijing, the Intelligence Bureau first asked him to go back to Shangqiu and spent 150 taels of silver to donate a prison student, and then spent 5000 taels of silver to donate a tribute student in the household department in the second year of the capital, and then paid 1 taels of silver. An extra tael was donated to Yanyun Si Yuntong with a false title; if this is the kind of candidate with a real title, at least [-] taels.

Although the current situation in the Qing Dynasty is that Wang Xiaoer celebrates the new year, many dignitaries dare not be too ostentatious, lest Qianlong be unhappy.But the Manchus attach great importance to their children's first birthday gift, and Yonglang's heirs are thin, and they only have grandchildren when they are almost fifty; so after requesting Qianlong's approval in advance, Prince Yi's mansion invited many guests today, some Prince Baylor and his family's female family members include banner slaves who are officials in Beijing, some ministers of Manchu, Han and Mongolia who were close in the past, and a group of Qing guests.

According to the rules, the Zhou Catch Ceremony should be held before noon, and then we can eat longevity noodles. In the afternoon, there will be a theater troupe on stage to show the celebration.However, at this time, everyone finally discovered that the real master of the palace hadn't shown up yet, so many people couldn't help asking.

After hearing the explanations from Yonglang's Da Fujin and his son Mian Biao, everyone knew that Prince Ganqingyi and Prince Ding were rushed into the garden before dawn, and they didn't know the specific reason.The several princes Baylor present all looked at each other in blank dismay, thinking that there is something that they can't even take care of their grandson?Could it be that something happened to the court?I haven't heard of it!

In fact, everyone in Prince Yi's mansion also felt that this was strange.Mian Biao sent someone to the garden early in the morning, and wanted to ask Ama when she would come back.Unexpectedly, the questioner didn't see Yong Lang at all, but an eunuch came out to say that the emperor was negotiating important matters with Prince Yi, Prince Ding, and Zhongtang, and he couldn't come out for a while, so what should the mansion do? What to do, don't wait for him.

When things came to this point, none of the princes and ministers in the capital knew that something big had happened in the Old Summer Palace, and a great chaos was imminent.

Although Yong Lang was not there, the ceremony could not be delayed when the time came, so amidst the blessings of all relatives and friends, the little prince wearing a tiger-head hat and shoes was carried out by the nanny.After everyone at the scene said a few auspicious words, the Zhou Catch Ceremony began.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the ritual of grasping the week of the royal family was called "晬pan", which means to put things on the plate and let the children grab them to see their ambitions.Speaking of which, this is still the custom of the Han people in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and the Manchus learned it before entering the customs.However, the royal family's grasping week is different from that of ordinary people, and the items set up are quite different from those of the folk.

Standing on the periphery of the crowd, Dong Xinchen stood on tiptoes and stretched his neck to look, and saw Dafujin smilingly brought up a wooden plate, on which there were a variety of things, including jade ornaments, jade fan pendants, gold spoons, silver boxes, agate fan pendants, A small clock with rhino horn, four treasures of the study, a tied bow, an arrow, and a pair of small clubs tied with red silk tassels.

The one-year-old Yi Xun stared wide-eyed, looking at this and that, stretched out his little hand without hesitation, picked up the small bell with rhino horn, held it with both hands and brought it to his mouth, and was about to gnaw on it. I am no longer interested.

"Okay, okay! From now on, the little prince will be belled for food, which is beyond words!"

"Good sign, good sign!"

Although there was congratulations all around, making the masters of Prince Yi's Mansion smile, but among the iron hat kings present, except for the young ones, the elders all frowned slightly, and then returned to normal.Prince Li Yongen and Prince Zhuang Mianke looked at each other, and a bad premonition arose in their hearts.

How did the bear catch such a thing!Although the meaning of the bell represents "the bell rings and eats", but at any rate, he should grab another golden spoon. The problem is that this child only grabbed a bell.It would have been fine if it had been a peaceful time, but in today's world situation, the future of the Manchus is already in jeopardy. One day the Northern Navy will enter the customs, and everyone will have to pack up and go to the snow-covered plateau to nibble barley.

The three generations of Yonglang's ancestors and grandchildren were passed down in a single line, and this child is only one year old now, so getting sick in that place is no joke.It seems that the future of Prince Yi's series is not good!
Afterwards, everyone went to the banquet hall to take their seats. Prince Li Yongen looked around and asked strangely, "Why didn't you see the young couple Runpu today?"

After hearing this, Mian Biao explained: "In the morning, the Hefu sent someone to deliver a letter, saying that the princess was unwell this morning. I asked the imperial doctor to look at it and said that it was wind and cold. I am afraid that it will infect the child."

The two were talking about Heshen's sons, Fengshen Yinde and Princess Hexiao. They had promised to arrive in a post a few days ago, but they suddenly said they couldn't come this morning.But although the person didn't come, the gift was delivered early in the morning, and it was double, so although Da Fujin and Mian Biao were a little disappointed, they couldn't say anything.

Yong En nodded, glanced again, and said to himself: "No, why didn't Yong Jun and his wife come?"

Mian Biao shook his head in surprise and said: "I don't know. Maybe it was delayed by rushing from Haidian? After a while, three cups of fine wine will come."

This time, the two were talking about Yongjun, the grandson of Kangxi's seventh son, Prince Chun Yunyou, who married Heshen's eldest daughter more than ten years ago, and was regarded as the backbone of the party in the clan.In another time and space history, after He Shen's death, he was implicated, depressed and frustrated, and died of illness when he was less than fifty.

The speaker is not interested in the listener, but Decheng, the minister of the Ministry of Industry on the table next to him, said: "Speaking of Runpu, I heard something about it before I came here."

"Let's hear it." Now that He Shen is so powerful, and countless people are fawning on him, his every move, every word and deed will attract the attention of the powerful.

Decheng smiled and said: "Actually, it's not a big deal. I heard from my subordinates that his family lives in Batiao Bay, north of Desheng Bridge. It is said that the carriage that came out of Hefu early this morning was a pick-up car. One, and there are people in the car. The car went north from Deshengmen, and I don’t know why.”

"Could it be that you are going to burn incense at the Bixia Yuanjun Temple on the top of the north? The date is not right." Prince Li Yongen rolled his eyes, beckoned to his eunuch behind him, and ordered in a low voice: "Go and inquire about the Hefu. movement."

"Whoo."

Dong Xinchen, who was sitting far away, couldn't hear all of this, and what he was most concerned about now was when Li Qiucheng would arrive.However, he waited and waited until the banquet was over and the troupe kicked off, but he didn't see the other party.Unwilling to leave like this, he decided to continue waiting.The two hadn't seen each other for two months. It was not easy for Li Qiucheng to go out of the palace. He usually passed on news through a cook from the imperial dining room.

It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, and Dong Xinchen, who was a little absorbed in listening to the opera, was suddenly patted on the shoulder from behind. He turned his head and saw that it was Li Qiucheng.

"Ouch~~ Manager Li! I greet you." Dong Xinchen wiped his sleeves and slapped the other party.

Li Qiucheng put his hands behind his back, and said with a smile: "Shopkeeper Dong, I said I looked familiar from behind, we haven't seen each other for a long time!"

Dong Xinchen understood, pretended to be courteous with the other party for a while, and then followed the other party outside under the pretext of sending "Director Li".

"Something's wrong today. The emperor in the garden didn't show up all day, and He Zhongtang blocked several people who handed greeting cards back. Many things in the palace were delayed because of this, or I would have come earlier." Li Qiucheng said slowly. Let's go, whispering in his mouth.

"sick?"

"It's hard to say. The Tai Hospital has not received an order to send people to the garden."

"Has anything like this ever happened before?"

"No. And there is another thing. The person who went to the garden to deliver the booklet came back and told me that the emperor didn't even leave Jiuzhou Qingyan today, so I feel something is wrong."

"Please keep an eye on it, if there is news in the garden tomorrow, it will still be in the same place."

"I know." Seeing that Li Qiucheng was about to reach the gate of the palace, he hesitated and stopped, turned around and asked in a very low voice: "When will you enter Shengjing?"

"It's been a few days."

"Enter the customs early, I live in fear every day."

Dong Xinchen smiled and said, "Don't worry, it will only take a year or two. How did you come up with the nine-character mantra?"

Li Qiucheng said in his heart that you can be pulled down!Don't think I don't understand, we have heard people say "The Strange Trace of Yuntai".It has been nine years, and they are still accumulating food and building walls!That guy didn't know what to think, he didn't enter the good capital, didn't sit on the dragon chair, and actually sent troops to Xinjiang.

Just as the two of them came to the gate of the Wangfu and were about to say goodbye, they heard a "bang" sound from the east, followed by another sound.

"Who is this bastard who set off firecrackers in broad daylight to scare our little master, do you still want to?" A servant of the palace just started cursing, and then heard three consecutive explosions from the east.

"Tom!"

"Tom!"

"Tom!"

After five explosions in succession, Li Qiucheng suddenly stopped, and was stunned like a clay puppet.I saw him standing at the gate of the palace, tilting his head as if thinking about something, this appearance confused Dong Xinchen and the servants of the palace at the gate.

"Director Li, what's wrong with you?"

Suddenly, Li Qiucheng walked quickly to the street, no matter whose carriage it was, climbed up and looked west.After a while, he suddenly shouted: "No! This is not a firecracker, it's the cannon on Qiongdao White Pagoda!"

"Xin Pao?" The few people at the door were confused.

Seeing that Li Qiucheng's complexion changed, he shouted loudly at a servant of the palace: "Go and tell your master, the white tower letter cannon has fired, the yellow dragon flag has been hoisted, something serious has happened!"

Dong Xinchen was startled, and before he could ask about the relationship between the gun and the flag, he heard Li Qiucheng say, "Master Dong, get out of the city quickly, you won't be able to get out if it's too late!"

Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, cannons rang out one after another from all directions.At this time, Dong Xinchen wanted to leave the city again, it was already too late!
　The last Prince Yi's Mansion in history is located in Beijige Hutong, northeast of Dongdan Intersection, and the ruins are still there.In the third year of Tongzhi, Zaidun, the fourth Sun Zhenguo of Wang Hongjiao of Ningliang County, inherited the lineage of Prince Yi.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)