The first year of Hongwu, May 28

Jinling

The bustling streets are full of people, men and women dress up to travel, cars and horses are constant, pedestrians are endless, and there are customers coming and going everywhere in the shops, which makes people feel a prosperous scene at a glance!

The small bridge and flowing water, with the sons and literati who read the beautiful scenery, at this time, the war in Gunzhou does not seem to affect this place at all.

Although there were many mobilizations and expeditions, after several years of peace, especially after the pacification of the south, the forces of the provinces flowed to Jinling, the capital, resulting in more and more prosperity.

Even the patrol army in armor and with long knives hanging in front of their horses, as in the past, the horses did not hurry or hurry, and passed down the street, their eyes surveyed the city, and there was not a trace of anxiety on their faces.

At this time, the spring is thick, the road is weeping willows, even these stern-faced city patrol troops can often harvest the autumn waves of many girls.

Continue to walk along the road, from time to time, there will be a sound of chirping from high in the sky, and when you look up, you will only see a group of afterimages, passing by in groups.

Jinling has a lot of greenery, has a warm climate, many birds, and at this time it is often seen colorful birds, which makes people happy to see it.

A certain bird mixed in with it is something that people can't ignore.

A pigeon, flapping its wings, flew from afar, swept over the outer city of Jinling, without attracting any attention, until it flew into a deep mansion compound in the outer city.

"Coo, coo. The pigeon flew down to a vine in the backyard and cooed.

Its cry soon attracted the attention of the owner of the courtyard, and a young man who looked very kind came out of the house when he heard the sound, and when he saw the pigeon, he immediately stepped forward.

"What important news have you brought with you when you come back this time?" said the young man, stroking the pigeon, and he often dealt with the pigeon because of what he had done, and was a little more intimate with it than with people.

The pigeon would not answer, and after smiling, he skillfully took out a letterbox from the pigeon, quickly took out the letterhead in the letterbox, and unfolded it for a while.

The young man said to himself with a serious expression: "A secret letter that can't even be seen by a hundred households?"

Letters come and go, with their own ranks and imprints, divided into three levels: general flag, 100 households, and 1,000 households, which is currently the highest level of letterhead.

The young man put the letter back into the letterbox, patted the pigeon, turned and went into the house, and when he came out again, he changed into an official robe, put on his waist card, and walked out.

Sitting in a green oil carriage, galloping through the streets, it didn't take too long, the carriage stopped, there were patrolling cavalry in front, and further ahead was the boundary of the imperial city, unless it had an identity, it was impossible to continue to pass.

The young man poked his head out of the carriage and hung his waist tag in front of them, and the horseman saluted and let him go.

After another journey, the carriage in which the young man was riding stopped in front of the yamen of the general secretary of the thirteen divisions.

The young man was familiar with the people in front of the door, and after saying hello, he walked into the yamen quickly, and among the thousands of households in charge of the yamen of the general department, it happened to be Zhang Qianhu.

He was practicing boxing in his own small courtyard when he heard footsteps coming from outside.

Slowly put away his fist, and looked fixedly, he knew the person who came.

"Why are you here?" The young man who came was one of the hundred households responsible for intelligence collection during this period of time, surnamed Wang, and this Zhang Qianhu was an old acquaintance.

"This is ......" The expression that was originally quite calm, when he saw the imprint on this information, he changed slightly and became solemn.

With a wave of his hand, Wang Baihu automatically withdrew about five steps and stood with his hands down.

The information of the Thirteen Divisions is transmitted by secret threads, not only the imprint mark, but also the difference in language.

The lowest level is that it can be written in plain language, and more than 100 households must use code language, which can only be understood by fans, and the most important information can only be understood by a few thousand households and commanders.

At first glance, this information is written in the highest level of code, which shows the importance.

In the imperial city, in order to prohibit the leakage of secrets, and even the disclosure of the palace situation, pigeons are forbidden to enter and exit, as long as they are discovered, they will be shot down immediately.

The information transmitted by the pigeon will be sent to the outer city, and then sent by special personnel to the general secretary of the imperial city.

"That's ......" took a manuscript, corresponded one by one, translated the information, and carefully read the information, Zhang Qianhu's expression was solemn.

Wang Baihu, who was standing not far away, didn't dare to ask more, he stood with his hands down, his eyes were lowered, the rules of the thirteen divisions, the things he couldn't know, it was better not to know.

"Wang Baihu, this information was sent in a timely manner. Zhang Qianhu said with a smile.

"Don't dare, this is the proper part of the lower officials, how dare you praise the adults. Wang Baihu said, got up and said goodbye: "Now that the information has arrived, the lower officials will retire." ”

After sending the young man away, Zhang Qianhu's smiling expression gradually put away, his fingers flicked the paper scroll lightly, and he walked into the hall with a solemn expression and sat down on a chair.

"Unexpectedly, this General Fan has entered His Majesty's dragon eye again. ”

The content of the intelligence is not much, but it is enough for him to understand that within a few days, there will be a will to arrive in Jinling and order Fan Liuhai to send troops.

This kind of information is not only transmitted by carrier pigeons, but often by air and land for insurance.

The will was sent to Jinling by a special person, and there was a duty to protect the envoy along the way.

However, the carrier pigeon asked the cabinet to prepare in advance, so after receiving such information, the thirteenth division wanted to ensure that the envoy arrived safely, and before the envoy arrived safely, he communicated with the cabinet and the secretary's cabinet to make preparations before issuing the will.

Thinking of the preparations to be made, Zhang Qianhu thought for a moment, then stood up and walked to the door of the hall: "A few of you come here!"

Several general flags and small flags who were summoned hurriedly trotted over and saluted: "What do you have to say?"

Zhang Qianhu said: "A few of you go out, go to the vicinity of Fan Liuhai's mansion in the outer city, go to find out what Fan Liuhai has been doing recently, report to me, and don't let them notice, do you hear?"

"Please rest assured, a few of us will definitely do this errand!" As soon as I heard that it was this errand, for these general flags and small flags, it was an ordinary thing, and I hurriedly responded.

Zhang Qianhu waved his hand to let them retreat, he was not idle here, and immediately took a carriage to the palace.

Several general flags and small flags sent out by Zhang Qianhu rode together to the outer city.

At this time, it is almost June, the sun is shining, the cicadas are singing, the trees are quiet, although the streets are full of people, but many people have been taking a break in the cool and drinking tea to relieve the heat.

These people are from the Thirteenth Division, and they naturally know the second-grade masters.

The chief banner at the head got into a carriage with a small flag, walked down a street, and saw a mansion in the distance.

This mansion has a door number that reads: "Imperial Fan Mansion"

This is the door of the five wings, the continuous wall, climbed with evergreen vines, lush and continuous, the gate is often closed, and the occasional visitors are the officials above the fifth grade to let in and out.

The small door on the east side is arbitrary, according to the system, at this time there are four soldiers with knives, standing in front of the door stone lions, and there are some doormen, showing the atmosphere.

After looking, these people didn't go up directly, but turned to a store, this is a pharmacy, three facades, there is a willow tree in front, and there is a middle-aged man sitting in the counter, wearing a snow-white robe, who is keeping accounts, and when he sees a few people coming in, he can't help but be stunned.

The people of the Thirteenth Division, most of the time, are dressed ordinary, and only use the waist card to show their identity, and they are not afraid that anyone will know at this time.

"How's General Fan's doing?"

"My lord, it's all here!" The pharmacist went back and took out a record from the cabinet, handed it over, and looked at the general flag, although it was written simply, but basically everyone who came in and out recorded it, and was satisfied.

According to the Dacheng military system, the general army of the three grades is the highest level of real power, and the upper four levels are not in charge of military power, they live in the capital and wait for dispatch, and go out to fight according to their will and military talismans when fighting, or work in the Privy Council.

Fan Liuhai is already in this range now, and has been closely watched by the Thirteen Divisions.

When I was flipping through the pages, I saw several big cars on the street, and they were walking by without hurry, these cars were a little different, and there were marks on them.

Only then did I pay attention to these cars, and I heard the pharmacist sigh in a low voice: "This is the director of the Fan Mansion, Liu went out to buy again, look at the loading of these big cars, I don't know how much it will cost! ”

Zongqi sneered: "Not only the people of Fanfu, but also the official eunuchs of Jinling, which one really dares to be unscrupulous? If someone really crosses the line, how can Your Majesty spare them?"

A small flag said: "But the general has some rewards, some money, and there is no need to do more." ”

According to the system, this is 7,000 acres, 200 households, and the treatment of the four fires of the family soldiers, although it is not sealed now, but Wang Hongyi gave 10,000 taels of silver in one breath, which is more than enough for expenses.

It is said that Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty on the earth is very stingy, and the reward is usually no more than a thousand taels, but for Wang Hongyi, there is customs and maritime trade, plus the heart is different, so the military merit reward is extremely generous, which everyone knows and envies.

When the little flag was spoken, everyone was silent and just looked at it.

These people didn't know what it meant for Lord Qianhu to send them to investigate the Fan Mansion, but since they had been assigned an errand, they had to do it properly.

Fan Liuhai is located in this mansion in the outer city of Jinling, which is considered a wealthy family in this area.

The mansion covering a wide area is given by His Majesty, and the second-grade military generals are rich

200 taels per month, 10 horses of silk, 20 horses of silk, 100 taels of winter cotton, 100 stones of rice, six buckets of fine rice, 25 liters of japonica rice, six buckets of noodles, four buckets of wine, 40 catties of mutton, sauce, vinegar, salt, soybean, green onion, ginger, sunflower, leek, etc.

Coupled with the rewards from the war for many years, the economic conditions of the entire Fan Province are very good.

However, as a military general, sometimes I like to lean on the elegance, in this Fan Mansion, carved beams and painted columns, small pavilions and rockeries, garden buildings, and everything is available.

In the mansion with many slaves and attendants, there are two butlers alone.

At this moment, the second housekeeper of the Fan Mansion was busy preparing for the banquet tomorrow evening.

Look at the sky, it's almost noon, the second housekeeper can't help but be a little anxious, and said to one person: "You go outside, why does Lao Liu Cai buy something and not come back?"

As he was talking, someone had come in to report that Director Liu, who was buying the goods, had returned.