Chapter 979 Shang Fang’s Sword
Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuan opera, and Ming and Qing novels are the inheritance and changes of the mainstream culture and art of the Central Plains.
Some people say that the great poets of the Tang and Song dynasties completely destroyed the art of poetry, leaving the later generations with nothing but admiration. Opera was popular during the Yuan Dynasty, but in this dynasty, novels emerged as a new force.
The popularity of novels began during the Zhengde period, but it really came to the fore during the Jiajing period.
During the Jiajing period, as the Taoist priest retreated to the Western Garden and wrestled with his ministers for many years, neither the emperor nor his ministers cared about what the common people said.
As long as the people above don't care, things below will naturally flourish... and so the novel began to become popular.
Different from those prostitutes in later generations who had plastic surgery and painted their faces to look like walls, the prostitutes at this time were carefully trained from childhood, learning to play the piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, compose poetry, and even learn to sing opera.
Any of these famous prostitutes would be a talented woman in the future. If they do a few live broadcasts, what is an internet celebrity?
So, when they heard Jiang Qingzhi talking about the stage play, these female prostitutes suddenly remembered that this powerful official had written some poems that were famous all over the world.
People's lives are difficult, and the gentry are wise and just... This story is very popular!
As for stage plays...are they better than operas?
Just when everyone was hesitating, Ning Yu said, "I am willing to follow your orders, Master."
You say, I do!
Xiang Ying hesitated for a moment, thinking that he couldn't lose, "I am willing."
As she spoke, she glanced at Ning Yu and smiled, "Mr. Ning Yu, you have seen a lot in the capital, have you ever heard of a stage play?"
This bitch... Ning Yu said calmly: "Never."
"Is that so?" Xiang Ying chuckled.
"My Lord!" A guard came in, "Someone from the capital is coming."
Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "Who could it be?"
"Long Wilbur!"
A familiar voice was heard, and it turned out to be Zhang Tong.
Zhang Tong looked at the dusty man, and the fat on his face was gone. His big eyes were full of joy, as if he had met an old friend in a foreign land...
"Zhang Tong?" Jiang Qingzhi was stunned, wondering why the Taoist priest sent this person out.
Zhang Tong is simple-minded and has little scheming. He hangs around the Taoist priest and does not deal with any specific matters, but he is willing to help with anything he sees.
This is a jack-of-all-trades character who doesn't offend anyone, but no one offends him either.
Huang Jin was indifferent to others, but different to Zhang Tong, he was quite caring. So much so that there were rumors in the palace that Huang Jin was going to adopt Zhang Tong as his adopted son.
The eunuchs in the palace are useless, and the inheritance has been cut off. Don’t look at how proud they are today. When they fall out of favor or become too old to be useful, their miserable old age is beyond the comprehension of outsiders.
Generally speaking, those eunuchs who are proud of themselves will make arrangements for their retirement early, such as taking in apprentices, and giving you a push at the same time. When they are old, their apprentices will take care of them in their old age.
This is the unspoken rule in the palace, and the emperor tacitly approves it.
The adopted son went a step further. Although Huang Jin did not admit it, he did not refute it either. Therefore, people in the palace looked at Zhang Tong differently.
Zhang Tong smiled and said, "Your Majesty ordered me to go south, saying the sooner the better. I hurried along the way. I should have arrived half a day earlier, but when I was in Nanjing, I was stopped by the Duke of Wei and the six ministers of state - um! It was five.
They insisted on inviting me to drink. I said I didn’t know how to drink, and the Duke of Wei said… No one can ever learn. Then they all got drunk.”
Jiang Qingzhi was stunned for a moment, "What about you?"
"I even helped them carry people."
The most powerful group of people in Nanjing wanted to get the young eunuch drunk, simply to curry favor with him and ask him to say a few good words about them to Emperor Jiajing.
On the other hand, he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of drinking to find out the news from the capital and the Taoist's opinion on Nanjing.
These old ghosts had great tolerance for alcohol, plus the Duke of Wei Xu Chengzong, six people...all fell into the hands of this innocent-looking young eunuch.
"You can drink a lot." Jiang Qingzhi patted his shoulder. Zhang Tong smiled shyly. "I just felt it was hard to drink, but those people insisted on persuading me to drink. I thought I could get on with my journey sooner after drinking... By the way, being drunk is really ugly. At first, we were arm in arm and calling each other brothers, but later we vomited everywhere."
"Stop!" Jiang Qingzhi thought to himself that although you are a eunuch beside Emperor Jiajing, the relationship network of those old ghosts in Nanjing is complicated, so don't offend them if you can.
Jiang Qingzhi inadvertently discovered that those famous prostitutes were all staring at him.
The look in his eyes is very complicated.
Seeing him looking at them, the famous prostitutes laughed subconsciously.
Why is this?
Nan Mei sighed, "If I had known this would happen, why did I do it in the first place?"
Although Zhang Tong was a simple and honest person, he was inevitably influenced by the eunuchs around the Taoist priest and learned many of their ways, which came out naturally.
——This person is a eunuch who is useful to Your Majesty. As soon as he arrived in Nanjing, the six ministers of state and the Duke of Wei came out to entertain him... Who has such an honor?
That is, the popular person around His Majesty.
But this man's words and deeds clearly showed his disdain, as if the six ministers and the Duke of Wei were all paper dignitaries and he did not take them seriously at all.
Are the eunuchs around the emperor so extravagant?
The famous prostitutes have seen a lot in Qinhuai River and have developed the habit of not releasing the eagle until they see the rabbit. Although Jiang Qingzhi is in a high position and has great power, I'm sorry, you are far away in the capital and we can't use you.
Furthermore, you are full of murderous intent on this trip, and we are sticking too close to you. When the time comes, you will just walk away, but we will have to face the reckoning of the southern literati.
These reserved courtesans were cold to the powerful officials and would only show up after being asked many times. But once Xu Chengzong showed up, no, he just asked his family members to show up, these courtesans had to obey his orders.
Duke Wei's family has a huge network of connections in Nanjing. You, a famous prostitute, try to be reserved with him. Just try to refuse him. He will seal up your pleasure boat and drive you away. The six ministers are not to be mentioned. The county magistrate is better to be in charge. With one order, the officials in Nanjing rushed to the Qinhuai River like wolves and tigers, and threw the chains... You famous prostitute, follow me to the prison.
Once you are in jail, you have no control over your life. No one can help you even if you cry out to the sky or the earth.
The Duke of Wei and the six ministers were like gods in the eyes of these famous prostitutes, but the little eunuch in front of them made those gods condescend to flatter him.
After meeting Jiang Qing, the young eunuch's natural trust and humble attitude shocked these famous prostitutes.
There is a lot of speculation about the relationship between Jiang Qingzhi and Dao Ye, but no speculation can compare to seeing it with one's own eyes.
This little eunuch who could make the gods in Nanjing bow their heads was like a servant in front of Jiang Qingzhi...
What the hell!
This... this thigh!!!
It’s so fucking thick!
Even though he is far away in the capital, with this royal favor, who in Nanjing or even in the south dares to embarrass me with just a word?
These famous prostitutes were all smart people. They figured out the whole cause and effect in an instant and regretted their actions to their heart's content.
He is handsome, talented, and a famous general... But we were so blind that we ignored such a high-quality man.
Dozens of beautiful eyes suddenly burst into brilliant light.
Zhang Tong shuddered, "It's a bit cold."
"Mo Zhan." Jiang Qingzhi called Mo Zhan over, "Arrange for Zhang Tong to stay with us."
"Yes." Mo Zhan agreed. Zhang Tong yawned and was suddenly startled. "By the way, His Majesty said that Qingzhi's trip to the south will be difficult this time, and it would be bad if he was restrained. You go and tell him to just let go and act boldly."
The Taoist priest is untying Jiang Qingzhi... Don't worry about those damn official rules, as long as it is beneficial to the overall situation, do it!
"Oh, by the way, His Majesty also told me to follow Lord Bo first." Zhang Tong rubbed his eyes, feeling really sleepy. "Eunuch Huang told me not to embarrass His Majesty. If anyone dares to provoke me, I will... kill them decisively..."
"Go and take a rest!" Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile.
"Oh!"
Zhang Tong walked to the door and turned back to say, "Shi Tou, wait until I get some sleep, then we can talk slowly."
Sun Chonglou nodded, "I'll take you to play in the city then."
"it is good!"
Then isn’t Sun Chonglou Jiang Qingzhi’s servant?
This extravagant young eunuch was so close to the servants around Jiang Qingzhi... The famous prostitutes were shocked again.
Jiang Qingzhi stood by the window, thinking quietly.
The Jinyiwei and the Eastern Depot do not have many spies in the south, so for the Taoist to say this, he must have received some news.
The confluence of southern literati?
If they merged, Jiang Qingzhi would not be able to resist the huge force. Not to mention him, even if the Taoist came in person, he would have to avoid their sharp edge.
For now, we have to open a gap from Songjiang Prefecture, and use Songjiang Prefecture as a starting point to spread out to the surrounding areas...
Songjiang Prefecture... Huang Lin lowered his head, so the biggest monkey, Xu, became Jiang Qingzhi's current obstacle.
The existence of the Xu family is like a beacon of hope for Songjiang Prefecture, giving hope to those powerful people.
But what I am best at is blowing out lamps and removing wax!
Jiang Qingzhi smiled lightly, but his eyes were grim.
He turned around and found that the famous prostitutes were all standing there with respectful expressions.
This is……
Jiang Qing was startled, then smiled, "Take your time."
These people were stunned by Zhang Tong's words.
Sun Chonglou said, "Old Xu, these people are so shameless that they are arrogant at first but respectful later."
"Can you talk? No wonder no woman likes you." Xu Wei said calmly, "These famous prostitutes are playing tricks on me. I don't bother to argue with them. Zhang Tong's words let them know how powerful I am. It's natural for them to be rude at first and respectful later..."
"Zhang Tong used to be less talkative." Sun Chonglou and Zhang Tong had some similarities, and they would get close to each other whenever they met. But this time, Zhang Tong didn't care about him.
"Shitou, you're not stupid, you're just heartless." Xu Wei said earnestly, "Master Bo is carrying a heavy burden now, you should share his worries."
"I share your worries!"
"Just today's incident, Zhang Tong's words were clearly intentional." Xu Wei said, "There are no fools in the palace. Even if there are fools, they must learn to keep their mouths shut. Your Majesty has personally ordered this. If it were in the past, would Zhang Tong have said it in public?"
Sun Chonglou scratched his head, "He wants to use these women to tell those people in the south!"
"See, they are not stupid!" Xu Wei said with a smile, "That's right. These prostitutes have a wide range of friends and they are not stupid. They will naturally spread these words everywhere. Your Majesty allows the Earl to have nothing to worry about... If the news spreads, how many people will withdraw their outstretched hands?"
"This is……"
"This is the Imperial Sword mentioned in the opera!"
(End of this chapter)
