Rule over Ming Dynasty

Under the clouds, the continuous spring rain is slightly chilly, quietly decorating this ancient city.

The main streets of Suzhou City are Weiqian Street, Fuqian Street and Daoqian Street. Fuqian Street runs through the long straight street on the north-south central axis, while Weiqian Street and Daoqian Street run straight from east to west.

Suzhou Fuyamen and Susong Changbingbeidao are all located on Daoqian Street. Among them, the office of Governor Yingtian is also located in Suzhou City, which is considered a place with very complete administration.

In addition to political factors, this ancient city has a strong commercial atmosphere.

Because Suzhou thrived on silk, the wealthy merchants and officials who made their fortunes usually had their roots in the east of the city, but silk workshops could be seen everywhere in the west and outside the city.

The streets and alleys in the city are full of shops, there are also salesmen walking through the streets, and there are even all kinds of swindlers. It is not a shame to get rich through buying and selling here.

As the most prosperous entertainment industry in Jiangnan in this era, the brothel is naturally located in the city, and it is also located in the east of the city in the wealthy area.

There are six gates in Suzhou City, but Xu gate has no bridge, so the only way to get around is by ferry. But although the other five gates have bridges, they all have water gates for people to enter.

Zhaiyue Tower is located in the east area of ​​the city, in the Jiangmen area. It is a tall wooden building with Jiangnan characteristics. It is also one of the four major brothels in Suzhou City.

"Why is this young man's face so dark?"

"Although he is dark, he is really dark and handsome!"

"Is this your first time here, young master? My name is White Snake!"

……

Since it was still early, the girls were relatively free now. Several girls upstairs noticed the black-faced young man appearing and immediately started to recruit them.

"You must obey my orders in everything!" the black-faced young man warned very seriously before stepping up the steps.

This dark-faced young man was none other than Song Cheng, the famous Yin of Shuntian Prefecture, who was also the governor of Xinyingtian who had just been personally appointed by the emperor.

In order to rectify Jiangnan and implement the new imperial decree, Emperor Hongzhi dispatched the most capable ministers.

Song Cheng went to the south of the Yangtze River three days later than Wang Yue, but when he just arrived in Nanjing, Wang Yue had already been assassinated and returned to Nanjing to recuperate from his injuries and illness.

Faced with such a dangerous Jiangnan, Song Cheng did not choose to retreat, but decided to come to Suzhou City incognito, taking Wang Yue's grandson Wang Yu with him.

Because the opponent this time was the official and gentry group in Jiangnan, Song Cheng did not intend to reveal his identity directly, but disguised himself as a scholar to investigate secretly.

"Song... Young Master, what are we doing at the brothel?" Wang Yu still didn't understand why Song Cheng came straight to the brothel and asked in confusion.

Song Cheng looked up at the magnificent brothel gate in front of him and answered very seriously: "Looking for the most beautiful woman on the first floor of Suzhou!"

"You...were you always pretending before?" Wang Yu's eyes widened and he immediately said with shock on his face.

Although he didn't have many interactions with Song Cheng, he always knew that Song Cheng was a rare good official in Shuntian Prefecture, and he was even named Song Qingtian in Beijing.

But who would have thought that all this was actually a disguise.

He had just arrived in Suzhou City and went straight to the most famous Zhaiyue Tower. He even bluntly said that he wanted to find the most beautiful girl in Zhaiyue Tower. He was like a beast.

Looking for women has become so impatient and unabashed.

"Remember to talk less later!" Song Cheng did not explain, but warned him seriously again.

Naturally, when he came to the Moon Tower in Suzhou City this time, he did not reveal his true colors and let himself go as soon as he left the capital, but he had deeper considerations.

How to implement the executive order is actually a matter for the imperial court. Now he is most concerned about the affairs at hand. The robbery of the gold ship is his top priority as the new governor.

Various signs indicate that the robbery of the gold ship was an unexpected event.

If the original sailing route was followed, even the most ferocious pirates would not dare to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty's golden ship. It was precisely because the gold ship ran aground due to a typhoon that it gave the thieves an opportunity.

It's just that the typhoon was an accident, so the thieves who looted the gold ship must have also acted unplanned, and they were not even pirates themselves.

Just like a person who did not intend to rob, but suddenly sees a person dying on the roadside holding gold, this person is likely to pick up the stones on the ground and commit suicide. This is the bad nature of human beings.

Because of this, when Song Cheng saw the files about the hijacking of the gold ship, he did not think it was the Japanese pirates that had just emerged in the southeast in recent years. Instead, he cast suspicious eyes on the merchant ships passing by.

Although the location of the gold ship incident is between Zhejiang and South Zhili, the maritime traders in South Zhili are obviously more active, so the person who robbed the ship is more likely to be a maritime trader in South Zhili.

After he investigated the records of the ships of the Shanghai Shipping Department and the Ningbo Shipping Department, he also narrowed the scope of suspicion, but the real situation naturally requires on-site investigation.

"Sir, is this your first time coming to our Zhaiyuelou? I don't know what to call you? Do you have a girl you like?" The gaily dressed Madam leader greeted the guests at the door and asked very enthusiastically.

She has already developed a pair of fiery eyes and knows that the person coming must have a certain amount of spending power.

Although Song Cheng's skin is very dark and he is a bit older, he has an extraordinary bearing. This particular entourage appears to be very fair, and it is natural that he has an extraordinary background to have such an exquisite entourage.

"My surname is Song. This is indeed my first time here. I wonder who your top pick is in the Moon Tower?" Song Cheng followed the young master's style and spoke straight to the point.

Although the old madam looked up at Song Cheng, he knew how to run a business: "Mr. Song, the most beautiful girl in our Zhaiyue Tower is naturally Miss Sisi, but Miss Sisi has been booked today. Let me introduce you to another girl. You are guaranteed to be satisfied!”

"I want her!" Song Cheng's face darkened, and he immediately said like an overbearing young master.

Wang Yu noticed the look Song Cheng gave him. Although he felt a little sorry for his money, he still took out a piece of silver and threw it directly to the old bustard.

The old bustard stretched out his hand to take the thrown silver coins neatly, but smiled unmoved and said: "Mr. Song, this is not about the coins. Miss Chen Sisi really can't leave!"

"Who is she accompanying now?" Song Cheng pretended to be dissatisfied, but asked.

The old bustard saw that there was no one around, and finally chose to reveal in a low voice: "Mr. Song, the person who hired Miss Chen Sisi today is Mr. Hou!"

"Hou? Hou Haotian, the son of Hou Zan, the left minister of Nanjing Household Affairs Bureau?" When Song Cheng heard this surname, he immediately started to think about it.

The old bustard couldn't help but look at Song Cheng and nodded hurriedly: "Young Master Song is indeed from a famous family. He is the Young Master Hou from the Hou family of Nanjing's Left Minister of Household Affairs!"

At this time, a dispute suddenly broke out on the second floor, followed by the sound of tables and chairs overturning.

After all, a romantic place is a male place, and jealousy is not uncommon. Many young men often have grudges over girls here.

The madam turned pale with fright, and wanted to take people up to check the situation. As soon as she reached the stairs, a frail young man and a young man with a fierce face rolled down the stairs from above. When he saw the two young masters fighting each other, he immediately stepped forward and asked in a panic: "Mr. Cheng, Mr. Su, you... do you have anything to say?"

A woman in green clothes followed, her pretty face full of tears.

"Liu Qing, what's going on?"

"Master Cheng just broke in and said... he said some unpleasant things!"

The girl called Liu Qing pointed at Mr. Cheng who smelled of alcohol and seemed to be reserved.

"Su Qubing, have you given me face today? Isn't it enough to drink my urine in private school? Bah!" Cheng Xin sat on the body of the frail young master and took advantage of his body to give him another hard blow. slap.

Although the frail young master Su Qubing could not struggle, he still said angrily: "You will not die a good death! If you dare to arrange for my sister, your Cheng family will be punished!"

"Scholar, farmer, industrialist, you are a loser who can't even pass the exam. I will ride on your head for the rest of my life!" Cheng Xin's anger was ignited, and he immediately raised his strong fist and smashed Su Qubing in the face.

Ah!

Liu Qing was so frightened that she covered her face when she saw her lover being bullied like this.

However, Cheng Xin's fist did not fall, but it was already firmly grasped and could not move at all.

Wang Yu still chose to take action. He had been practicing martial arts since he was a child, and now he had served as a sergeant in the Metropolitan Procuratorate for many years. He could fight ten arrogant young men like Cheng Xin by himself.

Cheng Xin turned to look at the person who stopped him, but said viciously: "Let go! Do you know who I am?"

"No matter who you are, you dare to commit murder in broad daylight. Do you still have the law in your eyes?" Although Wang Yu had long heard that the officials and officials in Jiangnan were arrogant, he did not expect to be so unscrupulous.

Cheng Xin felt the righteousness in Wang Yu, but he said with great disdain: "What a joke! Who in the entire Suzhou city dares to take care of me?"

"Mr. Cheng, please give Zhaiyue Tower some respect and don't make trouble in Zhaiyue Tower!" The steward of Zhaiyue Tower came after hearing the news, but he dissuaded him very seriously.

Of course, he didn't want to side with Su Qubing, but Zhai Yuelou had to maintain a good image, but he couldn't let thugs like Cheng Xin really run amok here.

If it were Cheng Xin in the past, they might have dealt with Zhai Yue Lou more tactfully, but the Cheng family is actually different now.

Originally, Cheng Minzheng was a possible minister of the cabinet, but due to the evil deeds of his son Cheng Si, now that Cheng Minzheng has been dismissed from office and returned, the decline of the Cheng family is almost doomed.

As for Cheng Xin's hostility to Su Qubing, this is a grudge between the two of them, but Cheng Xin can't resolve it here in Zhaiyue Tower. After all, they still have to open the Zhaiyue Tower to do business.

Cheng Xin felt the steward's firm attitude, but he thought of the boss behind Zhaiyue Tower: "Okay, just wait and see!"

Wang Yu saw Cheng Xin was about to leave and let go of Cheng Xin's wrist.

"Beware!"

Su Qubing covered his swollen face and was about to get up, but suddenly he exclaimed.

Cheng Xin pretended to leave, but turned around and punched the nosy Wang Yu. The punch was fast and hard, especially without any warning.

puff!

Just when Cheng Xin thought he had succeeded, Wang Yu's foot was ready to kick out, directly kicking Cheng Xin several feet away.

Although Cheng Xin is tall and strong for a young master, for someone like Wang Yu who has practiced martial arts and experienced battlefield experience, he is simply overestimating his abilities.

Cheng Xin fell heavily to the ground. He originally wanted to get up, but the position where he was kicked made it difficult to breathe. He was in so much pain that he could not speak.

The person in charge stepped forward to check the situation and took a deep look at Wang Yu.

However, he knew that Wang Yu could not be blamed, he had someone send Cheng Xin out. This was not the first time that Cheng Xin had caused trouble in Zhaiyue Tower.

Seeing such a brave Wang Yu, Su Qubing's eyes were like little stars: "Thank you very much, brother, for your help. I, Su Wubing, don't know what to call me?"

"My surname is Wang!" Wang Yu was not sure if anyone knew him, so he only revealed his surname.

Su Qubing admired Wang Yu's martial arts very much and already wanted to make friends with him: "Brother Wang, my younger brother will be the host today, please invite me upstairs!"

Even though he came here, he naturally wanted to find a woman, and Su Qubing didn't have much else, but he did have a lot of money.

"Since Brother Su invites you, it's better to obey your orders than to be respectful!" Song Cheng said with a slight smile when he noticed Wang Yu looking at him.

The madam also hoped that they would be in harmony, so that they would often come over to spend money together, so he enthusiastically led the two of them to another room on the second floor.

Su Qubing seemed very enthusiastic, but he made great efforts to arrange for a beautiful woman to accompany them, but Song Cheng refused, and made everyone else leave.

Wang Yu suddenly looked at Song Cheng in confusion, wasn't he just looking for women in the brothel? But I don’t know which song Song Qingtian will sing again. But as soon as Song Cheng opened his mouth, his jaw dropped.

"I am the new governor Song Cheng!" Song Cheng introduced himself to Su Qubing, who was also at a loss.

Su Qubing couldn't believe his eyes, and his eyes suddenly lit up with excitement and he said, "Huh? You are Song Qingtian, you are my idol!"

"Are you willing to run errands for His Majesty?" Song Cheng asked another question.

Su Qubing nodded hastily: "Of course!"

"You must know all about the young masters in Suzhou City. Who suddenly became rich?" Song Cheng asked seriously, knowing that there was indeed a ready-made intelligence network in front of him.

"Wait!" Wang Yu suddenly interrupted.

"What's the matter?"

"Are you...are you too hasty, will our identity be exposed like this?"

"Don't you still know his identity?"

As soon as Wang Yu said this, he thought about Su Qubing, who had just been rescued by him, and said cautiously: "He? Could he be a member of Jiangnan Company?"

"My sister is Concubine Jing! Due to being excluded, the Su family was unable to join the Jiangnan firm!" Su Qubing revealed his identity when he saw Wang Yu with a wary face.

Normally, since he has the support of a sister who is a concubine in the palace, he can naturally walk sideways, but the Su family says that it is just a merchant's home.

Originally, their family had some status in Suzhou City, but the official gentry group in Jiangnan hated the emperor, so they also excluded the Su family. As for that Jiangnan company, the Su family was not considered at all. (End of chapter)