The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

It was a calm day today. At Xizhimen in the northwest corner of the capital, Mr. Pang, who was on duty at the gate, received a notification from his superiors.

It was said that a criminal who had been sent to Xizhimen for military confinement was going to be escorted over today and asked to be taken over by Mr. Pang.

This kind of thing is normal and common, and people who commit crimes are often punished. It is strange and strange. Isn't the word "fadu" a bit too close to use in Xizhimen?

Although Xizhimen is located in the most remote northwest corner of the capital, the capital is only a little over ten miles in radius. Being exiled for more than ten miles sounds like a joke.

But in the capital, nothing that happens is worth making a fuss about, because this is the capital, the most absurd place in the world.

The daily management system of the sixteen city gates inside and outside the capital is as follows. The number of gatekeepers is under the control of the Houjun Governor's Office. Each gate is rated to have more than 400 officers and soldiers, divided into two shifts.

There is also a guard eunuch at each city gate, also known as the gate official. He is the supervisor of the city gate and the first person in charge of the city gate.

In actual work, there is also a special director of the Ministry of War who is responsible for inspecting the equipment of officers and soldiers at each city gate twice a month.

Then there is "Admiral Zhengyang and other nine gates Yongding and other seven gates and four gates of the imperial city eunuchs", which is equivalent to the general commander of all city gates.

This eunuch position is the predecessor of the nine-door admiral who often appears in braided movies and TV shows.

All in all, this system is very characteristic of the Ming Dynasty, with civilian officials and eunuchs mixing in doubles against military attachés.

Boss Pang, who had long been accustomed to this kind of life, was squatting under the city wall with a few so-called personal soldiers, enjoying the warm breeze and spring weather.

In peacetime, nothing big happens here at the city gate, especially a relatively quiet city gate like Xizhimen.

If there is any major event, such as the emperor leaving the city from here, or the enemy troops attacking outside the city, naturally there will be noble military attachés leading the elite soldiers of the Beijing camp to take over the defense of the city gate temporarily.

Suddenly a soldier pointed in the direction of Xizhimen Inner Street and shouted: "Here we come! Someone is coming!"

Manager Pang looked up, and sure enough he saw an official in the distance, escorting a majestic man, walking towards Xizhimen.

As he got closer, he recognized that the official was Director Zhao of the Ministry of War who was responsible for supervising the officers and soldiers at the city gate. He would come here for inspections twice a month.

Mr. Pang immediately stood up, hurriedly greeted him, and saluted, "I've met Mr. Zhao!"

Director Zhao pointed to the majestic man next to him and introduced: "This is the imperial convict Lin Tailai, who has been sent to your Xizhimen for military confinement. Please accept it!"

Lin Tailai? Mr. Pang suddenly felt that the name sounded familiar.

Xizhimen is more than ten miles away from the political center and is definitely on the edge of the edge.

Therefore, Mr. Pang is usually not sensitive to politics, nor does he pay much attention to politics that has nothing to do with him, but he has still heard the name Lin Tailai.

Looking at the characters again, Mr. Pang guessed the truth and asked in a low voice to Director Zhao: "Is this person the one who won nine yuan in civil and military competitions?"

Director Zhao nodded and said, "That's him", then threw Lin Tailai to Mr. Pang, then walked away.

Mr. Pang took a deep breath, dear mother, how come such a person was assigned to him? The one who still rides on the horse is the imperial convict!

Behind this kind of thing is often a fierce confrontation between two political forces, and neither party can afford to offend it.

You won't be caught in the middle and become an insignificant victim, right?

"Um, Mr. Lin Lin, why are you here at Xizhimen?" Mr. Pang was confused for a while and asked tentatively.

Lin Tailai looked up at the tall and majestic Xizhimen and cursed, "Who wants to come to this shabby place like yours? I want to go to Chongwenmen!"

Originally, Lin Tailai thought that the best way for the officialdom to solve problems was formalism.

Therefore, you can create a formalistic military expedition, which will be acceptable to all parties, and just stay in the official army in the capital for a period of time.

And it is best to find a place located in the central political area, or somewhere very close.

In this way, you can still maintain your influence on the political situation and respond in time when things happen.

After all, the world is undecided now, and the old issues of the three pavilions are still unresolved. Who goes up and who goes down, who comes in and who goes out must be paid close attention to.

But I didn't expect that others guarding themselves is like guarding against thieves. It's not just one person, many people think this way!

As a result, a group of bureaucrats just sent themselves to Xizhimen, a marginal corner of the capital's political field!

What is the difference between this and physically benching yourself?

Isn't it just that my behavior is a bit arrogant? Why are you targeting me?

Seeing that Lin Tailai, an imperial convict, looked down upon Xizhimen so much, Commander Pang defended himself:

"It's quite nice here, with beautiful scenery and abundant water and grass. None of the other city gates have as good a view as this one."

No matter what, this is where he works and lives. Mr. Pang can complain about it himself, but he doesn’t want to hear others say that this place is not good!

Lin Tailai glanced at Boss Pang and asked, "If I help you unblock your joints and transfer you to Chongwenmen, will you go?"

"Go!" Mr. Pang said without hesitation, and he followed his heart.

Lin Tailai, who was assigned here, couldn't change the reality. He could only wander around nearby, then passed through Xizhimen and Wengcheng and arrived outside the city.

Sure enough, as Mr. Pang said, the scenery here is really good.

Outside Xizhimen is the Gaoliang River, which is regarded as the "source of life" of the entire capital today. The river banks are lined with green plants and occasionally pastoral fields appear, creating a beautiful scenery.

About ten miles to the northwest is the Haidian Scenic Area with a large area of ​​water.

It can be said that outside Xizhimen is the area with the richest water resources around the capital.

No wonder that during the Qing Dynasty, a large number of gardens from the royal family to princes and nobles were built in this direction.

"How's it going? Is what I said true?" Mr. Pang next to him said.

Lin Tailai still replied depressedly: "Although the scenery is nice, it is too far away from the court, which is not conducive for me to control the political situation."

Boss Pang: ""

Is this something a convict should consider?

Then I heard Lin Tailai sighing: "Finally, I can understand what it feels like to read a letter to the nine heavens in the morning and be demoted to Chaoyang Road eight thousand in the evening."

Mr. Pang said casually: "It's not that bad, it's only a dozen miles away."

Lin Tailai said in surprise: "You actually understand what I say?"

Mr. Pang said: "When I was young, I also wanted to take the martial arts examination. I read several books, but all my efforts were in vain."

Lin Tailai walked back to the city through Xizhimen and frowned:

"I remember that there were more than 200 gatekeepers in each shift at the city gate? How come we only saw a hundred or so?"

Mr. Pang's face turned serious, "Master Lin, as a new prisoner, don't you have too many questions?"

"Huh?" Lin Tailai turned his head, looking down at Boss Pang with a dead look in his eyes.

Pang Ba always felt as if he was being targeted by a ferocious beast, so he quickly replied sincerely: "If the servant pays five coins of silver to the gate officer every month, he will be exempted from work."

The gatekeeper was the eunuch guarding the city gate. Lin Tailai asked doubtfully, "Where is he? I haven't seen the gatekeeper even after I've been here for a long time."

??????????.??????

Mr. Pang pointed at the city gate tower and said, "Eunuch Liu is sleeping up there."

Lin Tailai shook his head, this Daming is really a pill!

I couldn't help but complain: "It's such a broad daylight that he can't sleep!

A normal man might be busy at night and catch up on sleep during the day, but what can a father-in-law do at night? "

Within a few dozen feet, Lin Tailai was probably the only one who dared to mock the eunuch like this.

Mr. Pang explained: "Eunuch Liu went to drink wine last night and played with the girls until dawn."

Lin Tailai: ""

When the eunuch went to the brothel, he was really full of personality, and he actually met such a weirdo.

While he was talking, a head suddenly popped up from the top of the city wall and shouted towards the bottom of the city wall: "Sir Pang! Eunuch Liu asked if the prisoners who were exiled from the army were delivered today!"

Mr. Pangba shouted back: "We're here! We're here!"

Not long after, a eunuch in his thirties was seen coming down from the city gate tower surrounded by several soldiers.

Then the eunuch smelled of alcohol and looked sideways at Lin Tailai:

"You little thief, are you Lin Tailai? Other civil and military officials are afraid of you, but our ministers are not afraid of you!"

Looking at Eunuch Liu, Lin Tailai was quite surprised.

I thought that when my identity was revealed, there would be no such things as pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, or pretending to be slapped in the face.

Looking at Mr. Pang next to him, he can tell that there are still many normal people in this world.

Unexpectedly, someone still wants to show you face? Is this kind of stupidity reasonable?

Eunuch Liu continued arrogantly: "No matter what your status was before, when you get here, you will be a thief and an army!

Some rules cannot be broken. Have you ever heard of the Killing Stick? "

Lin Tailai replied coldly: "I have never heard of the Killing Stick. I have only seen it in novels."

Eunuch Liu shouted: "Then today, Mr. Liu, I will let you know that this novel is derived from reality!"

Then he ordered the soldiers on the left and right: "Take this thief and join the army! First hit him with a hundred military sticks!"

Mr. Pang quickly advised: "Master Liu, think twice and don't hurt your harmony!"

Eunuch Liu scolded: "Go away! Don't delay my promotion and fortune! Otherwise, I'll beat you too!"

"Promoted and made rich?" Lin Tailai was slightly puzzled.

Eunuch Liu smiled ferociously and said: "It's fine if you just be a sensible person! We don't want to guard this broken city gate anymore!"

As long as I deal with you, Concubine Zheng will definitely reward and promote me! This is our opportunity!

So although you and I have no grievances, you must be unlucky today!

Then I can leave this broken city gate and find a fat job! "

Lin Tailai was actually a little speechless. Eunuch Liu was really stupid and sober at the same time.

The twenty or thirty soldiers around looked at each other and surrounded Lin Tailai, but they were timid.

Eunuch Liu shouted: "Don't be afraid! He is just a traitor now! If he dares to attack your guard, it will be a serious crime!"

Lin Tailai sighed deeply. As expected, the scene of showing off and slapping someone in the face is indispensable. Could this be the halo of the protagonist?

A long whistle sounded, and suddenly countless big men jumped out from the alleys on both sides of Xizhimen Inner Street.

Moreover, these big men were well-trained, and within a few breaths, they formed a formation and surrounded them.

Mr. Pang took a few glances and saw that there were over 200 of these big men!

"Who are you?" Eunuch Liu asked loudly.

Lin Tailai sneered and said: "These are the servants of the Lin family. There is no rule that says you are not allowed to take servants with you when you are sent to the army, right?

Don't worry, servants like me bring our own dry food and don't need to spend the court's money on food. "

Everyone: ""

The actual number of officers and soldiers in each squadron at the city gate is only about a hundred. How can you lead an army of 200 servants with just one thief?

Why don't everyone else take a holiday and you can guard the city gate alone?

Looking at Eunuch Liu who was sandwiched by several Lin family servants, Lin Tailai felt the slap in the face and said calmly:

"It seems that you don't know the core competitiveness of the Lin Mansion. Do you think that the civil and military officials are afraid of me just because I have the civil and military nine yuan?

I just want to ask you one question, can the killing stick be exempted?"

Eunuch Liu still said hard words: "No!"

It was the first time that Lin Tailai saw such a tough eunuch, so he threatened again:

"I'm sure you must have heard about what happened in the inner palace a while ago. Do you really think I dare not take action against the eunuchs?"

Eunuch Liu gritted his teeth and said: "If you do it, do it! As long as you can't kill me, the killing stick will be exempted!"

Not to mention Lin Tailai, all the servants of the Lin Mansion were shocked. There was such a tough eunuch!

Lin Tailai was also stunned for a moment. He had never met such an opponent.

Is this eunuch a brain-dead, or a brain-dead among the brain-dead?

Eunuch Liu shouted frantically: "If you dare, just do it! I don't think you dare to beat me to death!"

Objectively speaking, this is true. As long as Lin Tailai is not crazy, it is impossible for him to openly beat the eunuch who is responsible for guarding the city gate to death.

That is really an indisputable heinous crime. No one can reduce the sentence. Beating people and beating to death are completely different things.

But even if he is not beaten to death, the pain of being beaten, as well as the double humiliation and torture of the body and mind, are not what ordinary people are willing to endure. Why is Eunuch Liu so stubborn?

Lin Tailai put himself in the shoes of Eunuch Liu and thought about it.

If a certain eunuch with certain connections was beaten by the vicious Lin Tailai, what would be the consequences?

At the very least, it can attract the attention and even sympathy of Concubine Zheng, who has a lot of power in the inner palace?

It can also have a reason to get closer to Concubine Zheng, right?

After the last battle in the inner palace, Concubine Zheng's trusted eunuchs suffered heavy losses, some were disabled, and some were beaten to death by the emperor.

So now that Concubine Zheng is short of people, people like Eunuch Liu who have been tested by Lin Tailai have a great chance to be promoted by Concubine Zheng!

Thinking of this, Lin Tailai almost cursed, fuck your mother!

From the perspective of interests, this eunuch Liu is simply invincible.

Whether he is beaten by Eunuch Liu or beats Eunuch Liu himself, Eunuch Liu will not lose.

As long as Eunuch Liu survives, there will be huge benefits.

This is not a brain-dead among brain-dead, this is simply a ruthless person among brain-dead.

Lin Tailai pondered for a while and was a little entangled.

It's easy to pretend to be slapped in the face, just beat Eunuch Liu. But if the other party gets benefits, is it still called pretending to be slapped in the face?

When Eunuch Liu saw that Lin Tailai was not taking any action, he started to mock him:

"You are a thief! Why don't you fight him or let him go?"

Lin Tailai: ""

It turns out that force is not omnipotent.