Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 131 Those who cut off chapters will not have a good death (Seeking monthly votes!)

Soon, Lu Xiang-sheng arrived near Zhengyang Gate.

Within the capital, there are many markets such as the Lantern Market, the Inner Market, the Poor Man's Market, and the City God Temple Market, but only the Zhengyangmen Market is open every day, rain or shine.

"Scholars, commoners, artisans, and merchants from all over the world arrived with their official documents and gathered here in droves, shoulder to shoulder and wheel to wheel, creating a noisy scene all day long."

The scene before us is the most vivid portrayal of this statement.

Shops selling jewelry, novels, writing brushes, ink, paper, silk, and satin... a dazzling array of shops.

There were even more stalls along the street, selling snacks, trinkets, fortune tellers, cricket fighters, monkey trainers... The shouts, calls, and bargaining rose and fell, creating a vibrant and lively symphony of life.

After passing the imperial examination, Lu Xiangsheng served as an official in the Ministry of Revenue for over a year, and he became extremely familiar with Zhengyangmen Street.

Undistracted by the bustling scene, he focused on his goal and walked straight through the crowd to a shop called "Zhang Family Bookstore".

The bookstore owner was a middle-aged man in his forties, sitting behind the counter, drinking tea and watching people come and go outside.

Upon seeing Lu Xiang-sheng, he was taken aback at first, then immediately stood up, his face beaming with the warm smile typical of a businessman.

"Oh my! Isn't this Brother Jiandou? What brings you back?"

Lu Xiang-sheng had been away from the capital for five years and thought the other party might not remember him, but he did not expect the shopkeeper to have such a good memory.

He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Wenshan, it's been many years. How have you been?"

This Manager Zhang, though a businessman, was a true intellectual and loved to associate with scholars.

When Lu Xiang-sheng was still a scholar who had come to the capital to take the imperial examination, he often came into contact with him during literary gatherings and garden parties. Therefore, he never called him "Manager" but addressed him by his courtesy name.

Zhang Wenshan laughed heartily, looking Lu Xiangshan up and down, and exclaimed in amazement, "Good, good, good! You've become more and more composed these past few years, my dear brother. What's this all about? Your sudden return to the capital, is it because you're about to be promoted?"

As he spoke, he ushered Lu Xiang-sheng into the store.

"Brother Wenshan, you jest. It's just a trip back to the capital to report on my duties," Lu Xiang-sheng replied casually.

Upon hearing this, a knowing glint flashed in Zhang Wenshan's eyes.

He had read every single issue of the official gazette he sold here, and he knew everything about the transfers of officials in various regions.

Lu Xiang-sheng was transferred from Linqingcang to Daming Prefecture at the beginning of the year. It has only been a few months. How could it be time for him to return to the capital to report on his duties?
Jian Dou, the younger brother who had been preparing for the imperial examinations, studying for the civil service exams, and becoming an official under his very nose, has now learned to speak politely.

However, being able to lie is a good thing; being able to lie allows one to go further in officialdom.

Zhang Wenshan's mind raced, but he showed no sign of it on his face. He smiled and changed the subject: "Brother, you came to my place as soon as you arrived in the capital. Do you want to buy a copy of the 'Da Ming Times'?"

“Exactly.” Lu Xiang-sheng nodded, his gaze sweeping across the bookshelf. “Judging from this, are they all sold out?”

"It's more than just sold out!" Zhang Wenshan slapped his thigh, his face full of excitement.

"My dear brother, you have no idea. When the official edition of the newspaper was first printed, two thousand copies were sent to various counties, and only five hundred copies were kept in the capital for sale. As a result, they were all sold out in less than half an hour!"

"We printed an extra thousand copies in the last two days, and they were gone as soon as they were put out! As for the handwritten versions, they were all pre-ordered by nobles, officials, and government officials. The wrists of the copyists on these streets are about to break from writing!"

Lu Xiang-sheng listened without being in a hurry, simply looking at him with a smile.

He was often fooled by Zhang Wensheng's "suppress first, then praise" trick back then, and his colleagues in the same department gave him a straightforward nickname: "Zhang But".

Sure enough, Zhang Wenshan changed the subject, his tone rising slightly, and mysteriously pulled out a neatly folded, well-preserved newspaper from under the counter.

"But... Brother Lu, you've come to the right person!"

He slapped the newspaper on the counter and said smugly, "How could I not have any in stock? This is the first edition from September 10th! It's incredibly rare these days, everyone's hoarding it, nobody wants to sell it! It's extremely valuable!"

Lu Xiang-sheng squeezed the money pouch in his sleeve and asked, "How much?"

Zhang Wenshan laughed and waved his hand: "Not expensive! The original price is five coins, but I'll only add five coins, selling it to you for ten coins, brother. Consider it a small token of my good fortune!"

……

In the end, Lu Xiang-sheng paid ten coins but took away a large bag of newspapers.

In addition to the precious inaugural issue of the "Da Ming Times," Zhang Wenshan also gave him more than a dozen copies of old official gazettes that he claimed hadn't sold, insisting on giving them to him.

Watching Lu Xiang-sheng lead his horse away into the distance, Zhang Wen-shan stood at the door, stroking his beard with satisfaction.

The servant boy next to him curiously came over: "Shopkeeper, why are you being so kind today? Didn't someone offer you a tael of silver for this first edition of the Ming Times the other day, but you didn't sell it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenshan glanced smugly at the servant: "What do you know..."

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, glared at her, and resumed his managerial demeanor: "Are you bored? Hurry up and move the books out of the storeroom and air them out while the sun is shining! If they get moldy, I'll deduct your wages!"

The servant shrank back after being scolded, not daring to ask any more questions, and ran off to the backyard.

Zhang Wenshan then sat back down in his armchair, brewed himself a fresh cup of tea, and looked at the pedestrians coming and going outside, unable to hide the smile on his lips.

He thought to himself:
A seventeen-year-old emperor and a twenty-seven-year-old minister.

Isn't this a case of "a single encounter in the golden autumn breeze and jade dew surpassing countless encounters in the mortal world"?

Your boss here might just... strike it rich this time!

……

Lu Xiang-sheng left his horse at Chengshou Temple in the east of the city, spent two coins to take a hot bath, and then changed into a clean scholar's robe. He immediately felt a little less tired from the days of travel.

Seeing that it was already late afternoon, and feeling hungry, he decided not to eat his vegetarian meal at the temple. Instead, he went straight out and found a lively-looking restaurant on a street corner, where he chose a seat in the middle.

"Shopkeeper, cut two catties of mutton, a dish of fennel beans, stir-fry some seasonal vegetables, and warm a liter of Autumn Dew White."

"Okay, sir, please wait a moment!"

After ordering the food and drinks, Lu Xiang-sheng's gaze subtly swept across the tables in the hall.

In the marketplace, where people speak freely and without restraint, the truth is most easily revealed, making it the best place to understand public sentiment and trends.

Before the food and drinks were even served, the faint sounds of conversation from the next table drifted over.

"Have you heard? The young master of the British ducal family is currently searching the world for a midwife," a low voice said mysteriously.

"Why are you looking for a midwife?" another person asked curiously. "Could it be that the young master is... preparing for childbirth?"

"No way! The young master's eldest son is already three years old!" the man spat. "I heard from Granny Liu, who came back from the east city, that it was the palace eunuchs who questioned them, asking them about every single birth they'd delivered over the years, and even making a record of it!"

"Oh—" Everyone suddenly realized, and someone immediately chimed in, "I understand! The late emperor's lack of offspring must be due to the Duke of Ying's foresight in preparing for His Majesty's important affairs!"

"That's exactly right! The Duke of England is indeed a wise and experienced strategist!"

Lu Xiang-sheng listened and nodded to himself.

The succession of His Majesty is a matter of great importance to the nation. Although the Duke of Ying's actions may seem somewhat obsequious, they are indeed a prudent move and are beyond reproach.

As he was pondering this, the casual conversation at another table caught his attention.

"Let me tell you something interesting! The commander of the Southern City Military Command, Zhou Kui, didn't he just seize land belonging to Wei Zhongxian's nephew a few days ago?"

"Is that so? Is his name Wei Liangqing? The one hundred acres of land His Majesty reserved for them?"

"Who says otherwise! And guess what happened? His Majesty's decree came down that very day, not only ordering him to return the land, but also fining him a thousand taels of silver to be donated for road repairs in the capital!"

"My God! That greedy Commander Zhou, would he really be willing to spend this much money?"

"He can't bear to part with it? Does he have a choice?" The man said excitedly, "Tian Ergeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, personally led his men to the door. Zhou Kui tried to plead poverty, but Lord Tian ignored him and ordered his men to search the house. They found a thousand taels on the spot and handed it over! His Majesty also said that if he commits the same offense again, he will be fined two thousand taels!"

"Hahaha, that's great! That's really great!"

"So, does that mean Princess Zhou won't be able to become Empress?" someone whispered.

“You don’t understand,” someone immediately retorted. “The matter of the Empress’s investiture has already been published in the official gazette and announced to the world. It is a major national ceremony, so how could it be shaken by such a trivial matter?”

"In my opinion, His Majesty is making a show of force, both to warn Zhou Kui and to tell everyone that even imperial relatives cannot do whatever they want!"

Just as everyone was discussing this, a loud voice suddenly rang out.

"Silence! How dare you speak so presumptuously about royal affairs? Do you want to be thrown into prison and taste the bitterness of life?"

Lu Xiang-sheng looked in the direction of the sound and saw a burly, handsome young man at the next table suddenly stand up, his eyes wide open, glaring angrily at the people at the previous table.

The people at that table were so frightened by his angry rebuke that they lost all their senses and their drunkenness vanished. They hurriedly stood up, bowed, and apologized, forgetting all about the food on the table. They quickly paid the bill and slunk away from the restaurant.

The restaurant became quiet for a moment.

Lu Xiang-sheng's gaze met that of the young man in mid-air.

He's truly a hero.

He smiled slightly and raised his glass in a gesture of respect to the other person.

The young man also saw Lu Xiang-sheng's goodwill, and his anger subsided slightly. He returned the greeting with a bow and sat down again, but his expression was still unpleasant.

Soon, the restaurant returned to its noisy state.

Lu Xiang-sheng's food and wine were also served.

He took a sip of the warm Qiulu Bai tea, and a fiery warmth slid down his throat into his stomach, instantly invigorating him and completely dispelling the fatigue from his many days of travel.

He ate his food in small bites while continuing to listen to the various voices around him: the Beijing Garrison, the Yongwei Garrison, the Chongwenmen Commercial Tax Bureau... all sorts of big and small matters, true and false, mixed together like a large net, enveloping the entire capital.

After a hearty meal, he let out a long sigh of relief and then carefully took out the neatly folded copy of the "Da Ming Times" from his sleeve.

……

The engraving craftsmen at the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs' printing press were of the highest caliber, producing clear characters on fine bamboo paper that felt warm to the touch. The cost of this alone was likely more than five copper coins; this newspaper was practically unprofitable.

At the very top are the four large characters “Da Ming Shi Bao” (大明时代), and below it is marked “First Issue, September 10th, the seventh year of the Tianqi reign”.

Lu Xiang-sheng's gaze traveled downwards.

The first column reads, "[Imperial Edicts Revealed]".

The first item in the book is about Wang Chengqi, the magistrate of Zhenyang County, Runing Prefecture, Henan Province, who was negligent in his duties and cruel to the people.

Lu Xiang-sheng then understood why the young Imperial Guard had said "sooner or later he would be disgraced" by the Lugou Bridge; it turned out he was referring to this matter.

Wang Chengqi... this name, which should have been unknown, is indeed destined to become famous for all time with the inaugural issue of the "Da Ming Times".

A writer's pen can be as sharp as a knife, killing without a trace!
In an instant, Lu Xiang-sheng realized the terrifying power of this newspaper.

The emperor's will, transformed into an invisible net, covers the entire world, and is even more powerful than thunder!
If we only target one corrupt official, the whole world will applaud.

But what if, in the future, the emperor's pen were to be used against a high-ranking official in the court?

Doesn't that mean that if the emperor wants someone to be virtuous, then that person will be virtuous; if he wants someone to be wicked, then that person will be wicked?

No...it's not that bad.

There is wind in the area, so things shouldn't be so completely reversed. As things stand, there should be more good news than bad.

Lu Xiang-sheng frowned, but still patiently continued reading.

The second point concerns Zhou Kui's matter, which I had just heard about at the tavern; it's hardly news.

However, at the end of the article, Wei Zhongxian's nephew, Wei Liangqing, was even praised, with the article saying that his willingness to step down and settle down to farming was a sign of good manners, making it even more difficult to understand the new emperor's intentions.

The second section is titled "Current Affairs News".

This section is quite similar to previous official gazettes, listing recent important memorials and official appointments and removals, but it contains very little information about military affairs in the nine border regions.

Lu Xiang-sheng's gaze swept quickly across the list until he saw the title of the third column—[Why Confucius chose benevolence].

Lu Xiang-sheng's breath hitched, and he slowed down his scanning.

……

"it is good!"

After reading less than half of it, Lu Xiang-sheng could no longer contain himself, slapped his thigh, and shouted out in a low voice!

What a fine "problem of our time"! And what a fine "problem of the Ming Dynasty today"!
This article, through its analysis of Confucius, ancient and modern Confucian classics, Cheng Yi, Zhu Xi, and Yangming, presents a clear and well-defined argument, truly setting a new standard for historiography!

What's even more interesting is that it talks about the classics, but doesn't debate them; it talks about history, but goes beyond history.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this is clearly a political declaration that couldn't be more eye-catching!

New policy!

The new emperor wants to implement new policies! But he actually uses Confucius, Mencius, Cheng Yi, and Zhu Xi as his guides—that's incredibly audacious!
Lu Xiang-sheng felt his blood boiling. He subconsciously reached for his wine glass, only to find it was already empty.

He suddenly looked up and shouted, "Shopkeeper! Bring me another two liters of warm wine... no! Bring me the best Daughter's Red!"

After shouting, he simply stopped looking down, closed his eyes, and felt a surge of emotions in his chest that he couldn't calm down for a long time.

When the shopkeeper brought out a jar of new wine, he didn't even look at it, but picked up the jar and poured himself a large bowlful.

"That's wonderful! Let's drink a big toast!"

After downing a bowl of strong liquor, he felt a surge of heroic spirit, and all the pent-up frustration in his chest vanished.

He then looked down.

British dukes donated a total of 500,000 taels of silver for road repairs.

...To the left of the title is a densely packed list of names.

He glanced at the list and, combining it with the previous official appointments and removals in the old official gazette, he vaguely sensed that the list and the amount of money involved were slightly off.

But at this moment, none of that matters anymore.

With such ambitions from the new emperor, how could I, Lu Xiang Sheng, possibly back down?
Horse hay? No, he was about to present an even grander plan!

It all depends on whether the new ruler has the guts!

Lu Xiang-sheng then quickly read through the following three modules: "The First Phase of the New Policies in the Capital," "The Simultaneous Construction of Three Lines of the Thousand-Mile Lightning Transmission Platform," and "Miscellaneous Anecdotes from the City."

My gaze finally fell on the last page of the newspaper.

[Records of Loyalty in Liaohai]

It appears to be a novel, and the entire text is written in vernacular Chinese.

He wasn't interested in this kind of popular fiction, but when his eyes swept over the first line, he couldn't help but be taken aback.

The format of that first sentence was extremely strange, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of destiny.

Lu Xiang-sheng couldn't help but read it aloud in a low voice:

"Many years later, when he cut off the head of a Tartar, Wang Sancai would always remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to see the market in Shenyang..."

……

Before we knew it, it was completely dark outside the window. The shopkeeper lit lanterns, and the dim candlelight spilled into the restaurant.

Lu Xiang-sheng was completely oblivious to the changes around him. His entire mind was focused on the boy named Wang San-cai, and he had experienced the prosperity of Shenyang with him, the fire and massacre when the city fell, and the separation and escape of his relatives.

After a long while, he turned the newspaper to the bottom.

???

Is this gone?

He incredulously flipped the newspaper back over.

Really...gone?
Wang Sancai hid in a pile of corpses, and then what?
Did those slave riders find him? How is the wound on his leg? And has his long-lost father been found?
A series of questions exploded in his mind, and even with Lu Xiang-sheng's usually calm demeanor, he couldn't help but grit his teeth at this moment.

"Damn it!"

"Damn it!"

Two identical swear words were uttered almost simultaneously.

Lu Xiang-sheng was startled and realized something was wrong. He turned around and met a pair of eyes that were equally filled with frustration and anger.

The young man who had spoken out in the restaurant earlier was now standing next to Lu Xiang-sheng's table. He craned his neck and silently read the entire newspaper page with Lu Xiang-sheng.

When the young man saw him looking over, he instantly realized his rudeness. His handsome face flushed red, and he quickly took half a step back and bowed deeply.

"This...this brother, I...I'm so sorry for being rude!"

Lu Xiang-sheng composed himself, stood up, and solemnly returned the greeting, saying, "My name is Lu Xiang-sheng, a scholar who has come to the capital to take the imperial examination. I just arrived in the capital today."

Seeing that he did not pursue the matter, the young man's expression softened slightly, and he earnestly returned the greeting, saying, "My name is Li Ruolian. I have just returned from studying in Huguang and am preparing to take the military examination. Just now... just now I saw you reading so intently, and I couldn't help myself and did this thing of stealing light through a hole in the wall. I am truly ashamed."

He gritted his teeth, as if he had made a great decision, and took out five qian of silver from his sleeve, handing it over with great heartache: "This newspaper is now worth one tael of silver, but it is still hard to find. I am willing to pay five qian of silver to atone for my sin of reading it secretly. I hope you will forgive me, brother."

Seeing his embarrassed and heartbroken expression, Lu Xiang-sheng burst into laughter and pushed his hand back.

"Sir Li, you flatter me! I have come to the capital and have no relatives or friends here. I was just worried that I would have to enjoy such a fine article all by myself, with no one to share my feelings. It is a great honor that you can appreciate it with me. What crime have I committed?"

He carefully folded the newspaper, gently put it back into his sleeve, and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

"But the way this story ends... is just... so frustrating!"

Upon hearing this, Li Ruolian nodded in deep agreement, and the embarrassment on her face dissipated considerably.

He then eagerly added:
"But who exactly is this author, Yijuichai? If we could find out his address, perhaps we could urge him to update the series a bit..."

……

Meanwhile, at Xuanwu Gate, in front of the ruins of Chengen Temple.

Lu Xiang-sheng's servant stood blankly amidst the ruins, leading a horse.

His tearful cries echoed across the empty ruins.

"Master...where are you...?"
-
Lu Xiang-sheng's route to Beijing this time overlapped with the route in the "Illustrated Map of the Capital's Victories".

They all started from Lugou Bridge and entered Guangning Gate.

However, after entering the city, Lu Xiang-sheng went through Xuanwu Gate, while the "Imperial Capital Victory Map" went through Zhengyang Gate, and then went all the way through the Imperial Palace and then north to Juyong Pass.

If you're interested, you can search for this picture. It's very beautiful, 21.8 meters long, and it's a Ming Dynasty version of the Qingming Scroll. I'm only showing the Zhengyangmen Market section here.

Unfortunately, with a population of one million in the capital, famine and plague struck one after another, leaving nine out of ten houses empty. It's unknown how many people were left.

After the Manchus took control, this inner city became the domain of the Eight Banners.

In the vast capital city, all that could be seen were queues (braids) everywhere, and the traditional Han Chinese clothing was nowhere to be seen.

I don't know what you think, but I don't like it!
Attached is Zhengyangmen Street in 1900.

(End of this chapter)