In the past, there was no outer city in Beijing, but during the Jiajing period, I entered the mainland many times, and the Beijing division was under martial law several times. In order to consolidate the city defense, Emperor Jiajing ordered the construction of the outer city, originally planned to use the city wall to surround the entire inner city and the Temple of Heaven and the Sheji Altar, but not long after the construction started, it was found that the actual amount of work was much larger than expected, and it could not be completed with the financial resources at that time.

In the end, the imperial court decided to build the outer city on the south side of the city wall in stages. After the south wall was built, the east and west ends were turned north and another section was built to connect with the southeast corner of the inner city. The city of Beijing has changed from the original square shape to a 'convex' shape.

Therefore, when Zhao Hao and his party entered Beijing, they had to enter the outer city from the Dongbian Gate first, and then walk west along the inner moat for a while to come to Chongwenmen.

However, with the protection of the outer city, the Chongwen Gate has actually become the gate of the inner city, and as long as it is not under martial law, it will not be closed all night.

When Zhao Hao and the others came to Chongwen Gate, they saw torches blazing under the city gate, and the business travelers were still queuing up to pass the customs.

It is not that the officers and soldiers guarding the city are more considerate of the people, but that Chongwenmen is the first tax gate in the world, and most of the goods entering Beijing from other places must be taxed through this gate. If you open the door for an extra hour, you can charge an extra hour.

In addition, the Chongwenmen tax gate is too big for oil and water, and the tax ambassadors and ordinary tax collectors have always been rotated every year. Everyone is on this year's situation, if you don't hurry up and make a big profit, how can there be a reason to get off work early?

Looking at the long queue in front of him, Zhao Haoxin said that he would have to enter the city in the middle of the night.

But the two carriages did not line up at all, and went directly through the crowd and came to the Chongwen Gate.

When the tax officials saw the lantern of 'Guangluqing' on the carriage, they didn't say a word, and directly switched it on and off. Those business travelers in line were not angry, but they were also commonplace, and they didn't bother to blame them.

Privilege is the kind of dog thing that makes others hate, but can cool their own.

~~

After entering the city, it was finally unimpeded, and three carriages went north along Chongwenmennei Street to Chunsong Hutong in Huanghuafang, Dongcheng.

Zhao Jin had already gotten the news and was waiting for it at the mouth of the alley.

"Oops." Seeing Zhao Jinli in the cold wind, his beard was frosted, Zhao Shouzheng hurriedly got out of the car, held his cold hand and said, "You have a different identity now, you shouldn't be waiting outside." ”

"Uncle said that he laughed, if he was lucky enough to get an official, he forgot his roots, am I still worthy of the surname Zhao?" Zhao Jin smiled and gave him a deep look.

After getting up, he took Zhao Hao's hand again, and said emotionally: "I look forward to it day and night, but I can be regarded as looking forward to my brother!" ”

"Brother, it's good that we don't make a lot of trouble." Zhao Hao smiled and asked Eryang to salute the teacher, and then said to Zhao Jin: "It's all frozen, let's go into the house and talk." ”

"Yes, yes, yes." Zhao Jin pulled Zhao Shouzheng with one hand and Zhao Hao with the other, and walked to his house with the two.

Zhao Jin's house is in the middle of the alley, and it is a large courtyard facing south. It is not far from Donghua Gate, and most of the people who live there are court officials, so the house price is really not cheap.

When Zhao Jin entered Beijing, he spent two thousand taels to set up this large courtyard with three entrances and two exits. If it weren't for Zhao Hao's funding, he really couldn't afford such a big house.

Of course, if it weren't for Zhao Hao's calculations that they would go to Beijing to take the exam, Zhao Jin would not have bought such a big yard.

Zhao Jin's daughter is already married, the eldest son stays in his hometown to serve Mrs. Tai, only the old wife and younger son come to Beijing to reunite with him, plus nephew Zhao Shizhen, and Yu Peng and other dozen or so subordinates, just living in the East Courtyard is more than enough. But even the west courtyard was bought, which shows that the elder brother was sincere from the beginning and wanted them to come to live at home.

Zhao Hao's father and son entered the warm hall, and after meeting the old sister-in-law, they presented all kinds of valuable gifts brought from Jinling and Yangzhou.

The old sister-in-law is also a simple person, and she knew that when Zhao Jin was in Nanjing, she lived in someone's house. Coupled with the gifts brought by others, it was enough to buy this house, and the old sister-in-law was even more enthusiastic.

After the ceremony, the maid brought hot water to let the guests wash off the dust, and Zhao Jin beckoned the four to enter the table.

In the flower hall, the copper hot pot is steaming, and there are more than a dozen plates of all kinds of red mutton on the side of the pot, so that everyone who has been hungry for a long time will move their index fingers.

"Come on, let's make shabu-shabu today." Zhao Jin invited his uncle to take a seat, he and Zhao Hao sat on both sides of Zhao Shouzheng, and Eryang and Zhao Shizhen sat with him.

"Wow, I haven't eaten this bite in more than ten years." Looking at the plates of red and white mutton, Zhao Shouzheng's index finger moved, and he knew how to do it very well: "Upper brain, three forks, cucumber strips, this table of meat is not cheap." ”

Zhao Jin personally prepared a bowl of sesame sauce for his uncle, and said with a smile: "Your old nephew and I, Guang Luqing, have nothing else, just enough to eat and drink!" ”

"That's right." Zhao Shouzheng smiled and nodded, Guanglu Temple is in charge of all kinds of banquets inside and outside the palace, and Zhao Jin, the temple secretary's house, naturally has no shortage of various ingredients.

"Eat first, eat first, starve, starve." Zhao Hao picked up a piece of mutton and shook it like in his previous life.

Who knows, but he was despised by Zhao Shouzheng.

"What kind of poor man's way of eating is this?" I saw Zhao Shouzheng pick up a plate of mutton, put all the chopsticks into the pot and said: "Serious people, they are all on a plate." ”

"I haven't eaten it, how do you know this ......" Zhao Hao laughed dryly, covering up the past.

The mutton was cooked in a blink of an eye, and everyone got off their chopsticks and started moving. In the blink of an eye, one person said less about three or five plates, and finally his stomach was no longer hungry, and his body was warm......

The subordinate sent ten plates of mutton on a tray, and Zhao Shouzheng waved his hand and said, "It's so late, don't eat mutton, let's get some cabbage and tofu." ”

"Do as my uncle instructs." Zhao Jin instructed the servant: "Get some cordyceps matsutake mushrooms, chicken fir and beef liver sent from Yunnan, and clear everyone's mouths." ”

The servant hurried down to prepare, and in a short time he brought all kinds of precious mushrooms, which were still fresh in the winter, and I don't know how they were preserved or transported.

Put those mushrooms in the pot and put them in your mouth to melt in your mouth, full of fresh and fragrant, and they are not inferior to mutton.

Zhao Shouzheng couldn't help but praise: "Today, I know that the 'four no's are nonsense. ”

"Master, what do you mean by four undeputies?" Hua Shuyang asked curiously.

"This is ......" Zhao Shouzheng looked at Zhao Jin, Zhao Jin poured him a glass of wine, took over the conversation and smiled:

"The so-called four unworthy of the name refers to the four things that are famous in the capital that are not worthy of the name - 'Hanlin Academy article, arsenal knife and gun, Guanglu Temple tea soup, Tai Hospital prescription'."

After a pause, he smiled bitterly and said, "I can manage your master, it's the third thing." ”

"Guangrokuji tea soup...... Delicious, huh? Wang Wuyang tasted the delicious chicken fir and praised: "I want to go to Guanglu Temple to do it after I become a jinshi." ”

"Hahaha, look at your unproductive appearance!" Zhao Jin laughed heartily for a while, and Fang explained: "Guanglu Temple is in charge of banquets inside and outside the palace, and on that occasion, thousands of people eat together, which is a big pot of rice itself. In addition, there are all kinds of lengthy ceremonies, and the rice is cold, so it's no wonder that it's not unpalatable......"

"Of course, the small stove of Siqing's house is still delicious." Zhao Hao said with a smile.

ps. The sixth change, 2100 votes plus more, ask for a monthly pass recommendation ticket ~~~