Chapter 759: The Ribbon-Cutting Lion Dance is festive and noisy

If the former Huangpu Town was already a rich scene, then now it is enough to make people who have lived here a year ago feel unfamiliar. The shops are lined up one after another, on a single Hengdian street, there are eighteen lines of merchants, twelve lines of maritime merchants, all of which are large stores with three wide and one deep, and the guests who come in and out are endless, and the shopkeepers up and down are also full of smiles. Among the merchant ships that sailed out in the lunar month last year, several have now returned safely, and the number of ships from the Western island countries has doubled sharply in the past few months, and this business is naturally doing extremely prosperous.

On this day, the already lively Huangpu Town was flooded with twice as many people as before - because the new wharf in Huangpu Town was officially opened today. The original wharf was converted into an inland sea wharf, which was specially used for ships to sail to Qiongzhou Prefecture, Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Although the government also used a lot of labor, but three meals a day was enough, although the wages were still owed, but just yesterday, at the end of last year, five of the treasure ships that sailed out of the sea had returned, and the small boats had already docked to report the harvest, and now from the merchants of Foshan Town to the hard-working craftsmen and ordinary people, they are all looking forward to the docking of the five ships after the completion of the new wharf.

For such a happy event, Zhang Yue naturally would not take the limelight alone, so he had to invite the two chief officials of the capital division, and invited Zhang Qian and Yu Qian, the inspector of the imperial history. At this time, after the errand officer sounded the gong to open the way, it was the guidance of three teams holding tin lance steel rattan sticks, and then I saw a few large sedan chairs passing through the street one after another, and then there were many guards with knives, etc., which was much more grand and grand than the official travel on weekdays. Even those businessmen who came from other places when they heard that there were few deductions and exploitation in Guangdong City and did things fairly, they were all amazed when they saw this scene-not that they sighed at the great power, but sighed that a small incident can see the atmosphere of Guangdong officialdom.

At least on the surface, these three divisions of the yamen and the patrol of the city are one heart.

On the wharf, the officials of the city department had already commanded the miscellaneous servants to set up a high platform, and the officials of the Guangzhou prefect and Panyu counties in the South China Sea came together to have fun, and the yamen of the three divisions were all here except for the left-behind personnel. Zhang Yue stood on the high platform and looked around, only to see officials wearing black gauze hats and collar shirts abound, and in the distance, beyond the errand officers and inspectors who maintained order, there were many merchants dressed in silk and satin, but the scene was very quiet.

Zhang Yue has always been a person who does not like long speeches, and now that the sun is blazing, he just praised the officials and craftsmen who presided over the construction of the wharf, and encouraged the officials up and down, and then nodded to several high-ranking officials on the left and right, and everyone stepped forward in unison, and arrived at the red silk with six beautiful silk flowers.

The original inauguration ceremony was extremely simple, but because the completion of the new wharf coincided with the return of overseas treasure ships, Zhang Qian suggested that it be handled well, and patted his chest and said that the Shibo Mansion would pay for it. And because the growth of rice in the farmland this year is very good, and the business operation is also booming, Zhang Yue also has the heart to celebrate, so he signaled people to move the ribbon-cutting that has not appeared in this year, and said that Yu Qian, who originally thought it was too extravagant.

When the five people picked up the scissors on the tray next to them and neatly cut the streamers, the six sturdy men standing in front of the silk flower immediately raised the tray high, and the one in the center threw down the largest silk flower with one hand. In an instant, a lion dancer who had been prepared next to the high platform jumped out in a somersault and quickly caught the silk flower with the lion's mouth. At the same time as he landed, the rest of the silk flowers were also thrown out, and five colorful lion dancers appeared almost like gourds on the side.

Although this lion dance is not the same as the Guangzhou lion dance in Zhang Yue's memory, and even seems a little simple, it is an eye-opener for the gentry and people of Guangzhou Prefecture, and foreign merchants are even more intent. In the bursts of cheers, the artists specially invited by the Chief Secretary from Foshan can be said to have tried their best, running, jumping and jumping to the extreme, and the churning is quite good-looking. Zhang Yue thought that today's lion dance artists are all from the folk, and without martial arts skills, it is difficult to perform in winning color and high piles, and he can't help but have some calculations in his heart, but when he thinks of the words "chivalrous martial arts", he has to sigh.

If it is really like the scene in the movie where there are many martial arts halls and Huang Feihong and the lion king compete for hegemony, it will be very bad.

There was already a frenzy of joy below, and although the senior officials of the three divisions on the high platform were more reserved, looking at these situations that were not easy to see before, they were all standing together in twos and threes, commenting and discussing with smiles on their faces. Zhang Qian was naturally standing with Zhang Yue, he smiled and watched the six lion dancers below re-place the silk flowers on the six wooden stakes that had been prepared long ago, and couldn't help but smile and asked Zhang Yue: "This lion dance is not bad, it is lively and festive, thanks to you getting so many people from Foshan, otherwise it would be too deserted just to cut the ribbon." Those businesses in Foshan Town are smart enough to recommend you to these people. ”

"Actually, I've read a few anonymous miscellaneous books in the past, and the lion dance scene on it is even more amazing than this. Those lion dancers can perform on high piles three feet above the ground, and they can move and dodge and fall under their feet, which is even more beautiful. It's just that to be able to perform like that, you have to have a lot of kung fu skills. But if you have that kind of kung fu, it is impossible to come to the lion dance for a play without fighting in the army. Now they are just trying to have a lively and festive celebration, so that these people will not have to worry about making a living in the future. Father-in-law Zhang might as well think about it, after today's incident, how many businesses in Guangzhou and Huangpu Town will open or invite them during the New Year's holidays? ”

"Look, the three sentences don't leave the bank, and when you talk about it, you turn to the main thing, you, you, you......"

Jokes aside, Zhang Qian tilted his head and thought about the high-stake lion dance that Zhang Yue said, which was quite fascinating, but after thinking about it, it was over. Seeing that on the high platform, there was a set of divisions, a division of the capital, and a division of the domain, only Yu Qian was standing there alone, he couldn't help frowning, and sighed in a low voice: "It's been half a year since he took office, Yu Tingyi is still out of step with others, and he is too lonely." However, for the sake of the second and third crops, he almost always ran outside and rarely stayed in Guangzhou. In order to curry favor with the higher-ups, several prefectures and counties ordered the people to plant rice in mulberry fields and even in the mountains, but because he was there, he failed to make a big mistake. ”

"Yes, if there were no people like him, we would not see the quick success of those below, but only the achievements they reported. Even if it is a good thing for the people, if it is not done well, it will become a bad thing, so the imperial court sent him to patrol the imperial history of Guangdong, so we can rest assured. In the past, Wang Jinggong had been famous in the world for 20 years, and the New Deal was not necessarily useless, but because of the wrong person, the New Deal became a tool for party struggle. Nowadays, although it is just a simple rice planting, if you blindly use forced orders, it is also a bad thing with good intentions. With such an iron-clad person, he is not afraid of making false accusations at the bottom. ”

"Iron bones are rare, and such a person is the most suitable person to match Gu Zuo with that iron-masked man in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. In the capital, Huang Huai retreated, Lu Zhen died, and others said that there was one less thorn and one slippery head, but it was not really the case. It is said that the monarch is wise and virtuous, but the virtuous ministers may not fight with each other...... Forget it, if you are not in your position, you will not seek your own government, these have nothing to do with us for the time being. ”

Zhang Qian sighed, and then smiled again: "By the way, now the Guangdong officialdom is afraid of him like a tiger, and your political secretary will not mention it for the time being, and the secretary and the capital will take a detour when they see him." In the past six months, he has an average of five or six books per month, and there are things in this book, which is no more than other patrols to take trivial matters. You probably don't know, it's you and me, and I've participated in him two or three times, not to mention Li Long and Yu Liang. It is really rare for the imperial history to be this lonely and straight......"

Seeing Yu Qian standing there alone, but he didn't show any loneliness, Zhang Yue didn't step forward in the end, as for being impeached, he didn't care much about it, and he didn't miss it before. After listening to Zhang Qian's words, he gradually mentioned the coming dynasty of all countries, and he couldn't help but think of the money that was taken out to celebrate the completion of the wharf: "Now Father-in-law Zhang is the biggest God of Wealth in our Guangdong Province." The maritime merchants are still preparing ships, and there are still few who go to sea, but since April, the ships of the merchants have not been broken, and you are full of money every day. By the way, the small sampan that rowed to the dock yesterday said that Gonggong Zheng and his people swept away a few groups of pirates who had just become a climate on the Western Islands, and I am afraid that this time in addition to the full ship of goods, there are also envoys. ”

"If you get a lot of money, that's because no one dares to make a fake account, and you can always have more money. Although the guy mentioned Li Wenchang by the city boss is a hateful bull temper, he is meticulous in his accounting, etc., and he can rest assured that he can hand it over to him. As for the envoys, it is just a matter of coping with them, and don't let so many people enter Beijing, so as not to waste money and food...... Hey, look, the ship has come into port! ”

In the midst of the noise of gongs and drums, more people's eyes looked at the sea outside the pier. Although the few ships in this area are far from being as good as last winter's thousands of sails, not only many merchants from Foshan Town, but also the craftsmen and day laborers responsible for the construction of the new wharf are also looking forward to it. As soon as the first ship was firmly anchored, someone got on the thick planks, and several sergeants in red jackets jumped out of the boat in three steps and two steps, and then shouted at the boat.

Soon, more planks were erected on board, and this time a dozen sturdy sergeants came down. Seeing that Zhang Qian and the others had already stepped down from the high platform to greet him, the officer led by him suddenly quickened his pace. When he got closer, he respectfully knelt down on one knee and gave a military salute: "Humble Shenwei Zuowei Hundred Households Xiang Jiao, see your lords." ”

When Zhang Yue just walked over, he recognized that this person was the military man Xiang Jiao who was taken to Zheng Mansion on Mafu Street by himself a few years ago because he borrowed food for the night, and followed Zheng He before. Seeing that Zhang Qian told him to get up, he couldn't help but look this old man up and down, and saw that his face was full of energy and red light, and he couldn't help but smile slightly.

Xiang Jiao glanced at everyone, but only recognized Zhang Qian and Zhang Yue, and couldn't help but think of Zheng He's instructions before leaving, and didn't dare to say it too clearly, but just lowered his head and reported: "Humble to the orders of Gong Zheng, lead five ships of the Great Ming Shenwei to sail back." ”

A simple sentence disappointed Li Long and Yu Liang, who had the heart to inquire about the next harvest. After Gu Xingzu, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, was robbed of his title before, Li Long said a few good words from Zhang Yue and Zhang Qian, not only did he not pursue the sin instigated by Gu Xingzu before, but also received a few words of praise and encouragement, and now he doesn't want to move his nest in Guangdong; And Yu Liang also got the quasi-news from his own channels that he would return to Beijing to take up his post after completing this term, so he became more and more in step with the Chief Minister. But even though they are people on the united front, they are still a little salivating about the big business that the chief secretary and the city of Bo Mansion have joined hands to do.

How could Zhang Yue not know the thoughts of others, however, it is not a question of whether to eat alone or not, but he is still waiting for this money to be used urgently, and some of it is the money and grain that will be handed over to the treasury. After all, in order to get the autumn grain of last year, the chief secretary also fell into a lot of famine. So, seeing Zhang Qian come over, he bowed his head and said: "Xiang Baihu has worked hard all the way, and there is a banquet in Caiyun Tower at noon, but there are many people there, so let's go to the courtyard of Gonggong Zhang on the east side of the dock to rest." ”

When he was in Nanjing, he was able to make a brazen night, and he was justified in front of Zhang Yue for the question of rice or banknotes, and said frankly and frankly, Xiang Jiao was naturally not a clever person in his bones. But he has a little benefit, that is, he is extremely concerned about kindness, so after the next official army eliminated a group of old and frail people to retire in Nanjing, he was able to be promoted to 100 households, and this time Zheng He entrusted such a big task to come back. Silently followed Zhang Qian and Zhang Yue to the small courtyard on the east side of the new wharf, as soon as he entered the house, he grabbed a few steps forward, took out an account book from his arms and presented it to Zhang Yue in front of him.

"Lord Zhang, this is the detailed account of the five ships of cargo."

After Zhang Yue took it, he flipped through it casually, and handed it to Zhang Qian next to him, and then smiled at Xiang Jiao: "I will let someone who knows how to look at the accounts when I go back, but I want to hear your explanation of the specific matters." ”

Xiang Jiao couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this, and when he saw Zhang Yue looking at him with a smile, he immediately remembered that Zheng He had said that he was given this hundred households just to appreciate his honesty and courage at the beginning, so he straightened his waist and said: "Back to Lord Zhang, after arriving in Luzon, the prince has already taken twenty ships to the west, and brought several local guides who are familiar with sea routes. In addition to the red sandalwood ebony and various wood ballast of the Western island countries, these five ships of cargo originally had to bring all kinds of dyed wood, pepper, etc., but because Guangzhou is not as good as before, Zheng Gonggong instructed not to use these, but to replace them with gold, silver, agarwood, ambergris, rhino horn, ivory, gemstone agate, and so on. Many of the latter were tributed to the imperial court, and the rest could be reimbursed for the value of the previous goods......"

Compared with the eloquence of those old oilmen in the officialdom, Xiang Jiao's proclamation can be said to be incoherent, at first he was still talking about the goods on the five ships, but suddenly he talked about the scene of exterminating pirates at sea, and after a while, he talked about the lively scene when he met with King Fan. At the end, he realized that he had said a lot of long-winded words, but he was out of bounds, and suddenly he was a little sneering: "Our five ships have also brought back about 2,200 taels of gold and 26,000 taels of silver." ”