Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

When Wu Shigong and Xu Limu walked out of the Nancheng Bingma Commander's Yamen, they found that the entrance was bustling like a vegetable market.A bunch of idle people were there whispering in small circles, but all the voices added up to make the scene extremely noisy.Wu Shigong felt a little strange. Could it be that there were petitioners in the Ming Dynasty?So he asked Xu Limu: "Is it like this every day at the gate of the yamen?"

"It used to be quite a lot, but it's a little more these days." Xu Limu felt that it didn't matter to answer this question truthfully, so he told the truth.

"Why? What are they doing at the gate of the yamen?" Wu Shigong continued to ask.

"They are all relatives and friends of those who committed crimes. They are here for business. Recently, Wang Gong's factory was bombed and turned into ruins. There were a lot of robbery and disputes over unowned property, so it was very lively. Not only our yamen, but also the offices of the deputy commanders, even the yamen of the inspector censor in Nancheng and the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment are also very lively."

Xu Limu's introduction was very vague, catching offenders and extorting money from relatives of offenders is the core business of the Bingmasi Yamen.Those who came to the Nancheng Bingma Command Division were basically those under the jurisdiction of the former Commander Li. Because Commander Li was injured and could not be a director, the three hundred households (not a typo, will be introduced later) colluded with Xu Limu in the Together, I have made a lot of money by cheating and deceiving in the past few days.Therefore, Xu Limu also wanted to hide Wu Shigong, so that it would be best for him not to know.Even if they found out later, it was impossible for Wu Shigong to let them spit out the extra money that was earned after a few days of procrastination.Therefore, Xu Limu played a small game, and after a brief introduction, he brought the topic to Nancheng's inspection censor's yamen and the Ministry of Punishment's yamen.

But what did Wu Shigong do when he was traveling through?Xu Limu gave a brief introduction, and he understood.Isn't it just asking for bribes and accepting bribes, cheating others to make money.Now that he already understood, he didn't need to ask more questions. Instead, he was very interested in the two yamen that Xu Limu mentioned, the Nancheng inspector censor's yamen and the Ministry of Punishment. He then asked Xu Limu, "Why did we arrest them?" Those people in Nancheng still want to have relations with the censor's yamen and the Ministry of Punishment's yamen?"

Seeing that Wu Shigong was diverted from the topic, Xu Limu thought he had a plan, stroked his goatee proudly, and introduced the two yamen to Wu Shigong in detail.

It turns out that the power of the Bingmasi Yamen is less than that of the Public Security Bureau of later generations.Not only do they not have the right to judge, but they do not even have the power to detain and impose administrative penalties (that is, fines) to the public security bureau of later generations.For those who committed crimes in the capital, the power of trial should be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Punishment, while the power of detention and administrative punishment should be under the control of the inspecting censor's yamen.So, apart from arresting people, the Bingmasi Yamen has no other powers, so why are there so many people at the gate of the Yamen?

It turned out that after soldiers and horses Yamen captured people, they would keep them in their hands for a few days.If the crime is not serious, but it can be up or down, and the money is in place, then it will not be sent to those two yamen, and the person will be released if the matter is trivial.Of course, if the arrested person has a small background, he will be released after being greeted. Whether to charge money or not depends on the situation.Of course not to mention those people with great background.This kind of person has committed a crime, not to mention that the Bingmasi Yamen dare not arrest him, even Dongchang and Jinyiwei dare not touch him.Unless Bao Qingtian also travels through.

After hearing Xu Li's introduction, Wu Shigong was very happy, and learned more about the situation of the soldiers and horses.However, the visit in the next few days will add the Ministry of Punishment to the Yamen.Wu Shigong thought in his heart.Seeing that Wu Shigong was going out without any books and ink, Xue Qiang and Xue Yong, who were happily collecting red envelopes at the door, hurriedly followed them out. In just half a day, they each shared more than one tael of silver.Wu Shigong also didn't pay attention to the happy appearance of the two of them. Although he is not a small-minded person, his anger in the morning has not completely dissipated.But it's not good to not bring a single guard, so he only asked Xue Yong to follow him, and let Brother Xiaoqiang continue to stick to his post.He thought he was continuing to suffer for Xue Qiang, but Xue Yong listened to his arrangement with a helpless expression on his face.

Xue Yong hurriedly brought 50 taels of silver and followed Wu Shigong and Xu Limu.Yesterday, after Xue Lian's confession, the two of them had already paid 200 taels of silver in the accountant of Xue's house, in case Wu Shigong needed anything.And as much as you use in the future, you will make up the amount in the account room.Wu Shigong already knew about this situation on the way to Nancheng Bingma Command Department together today.Therefore, I had the guts to invite Xu Limu to dinner just now.Originally, Xue Qiang and Xue Yong wanted to hand over the money to Wu Shigong, but Wu Shigong refused.why?There is no place to put it.If you put it in your arms, not to mention that the weight of silver alone weighs nearly fourteen catties (the calculation of silver in the Ming Dynasty is 16 taels per catty, which is the origin of the idiom half a catty eight taels. Of course, the same is true for gold).Such a large pile of silver was placed in his arms, bulging, and he was not playing breast augmentation.Besides, Wu Shigong also decided not to use the money basically.No need!Isn't my father-in-law's money equal to my son's money?

The restaurant is not far away, it seems that Xu officials often come here, the shopkeeper warmly greeted the three of them as soon as they entered the door.Xu Limu introduced Wu Shigong to the shopkeeper: "This is the new Commander Wu from our army and horse department." The shopkeeper hurriedly greeted Wu Shigong and welcomed them to a private room on the second floor.Wu Shigong asked Xue Yong to wait downstairs, and asked the shopkeeper to greet him.

Wu Shigong asked Xu Limu to order, because he was not familiar with any special dishes here.Xu Limu agreed.After he asked Wu Shigong what kind of dishes he likes to eat and what are his taboos, he quickly ordered more than a dozen dishes, and Wu Shigong quickly stopped him.It's too much, two people can't eat it, and it's not like I was taken advantage of today.Xu Limu asked Wu Shigong what kind of wine he wanted to drink?Wu Shigong refused, and he had to do business in the afternoon.Xu Limu then asked if he wanted to accompany his family?Do you want to enjoy female music performance?Wu Shigong, who once opened a nightclub, couldn't help but sigh that the restaurant culture of the Ming Dynasty was indeed too rich and colorful.However, Wu Shigong still wanted to know more about the situation of the soldiers and horses with Xu Limu, so he smiled and rejected Xu Limu's kindness.

When the shopkeeper went downstairs to arrange the dishes, Wu Shigong asked Xiao Er, who was serving at the side, to go out and wait.Because next he wants to ask Xu Limu a question that he is particularly concerned about now: "So how much do these deputy commanders and hundreds of households have to hand over to this officer every month?" Wu Shigong's tone is very affirmative, but this question is more than half confused of.After understanding the purpose of so many people at the Yamen Gate, why didn't Wu Shigong know that these people from the Bingma Division were using the power of the Bingma Division to make money?In Wu Shigong's previous life, collecting protection fees and viewing fees was also a major source of income for him, and those who managed places and venues, his subordinates, big and small, also paid him a fixed fee every month.Wu Shigong believes that the current situation in Bingma Division is basically the same.Now that he is the deputy commander and the big boss of the Nancheng Bingma Command Department, his subordinates have made money, so of course they have to give him a share.

The smile that Xu Limu had been hanging on his face froze, he didn't expect Wu Shigong to know the tricks of Bing Masi long ago.He suddenly thought that although Wu Shigong had a son-in-law with a bad reputation and was only seventeen or eighteen years old with little social experience, there were two marquis houses behind him.Even if Wu Shigong himself didn't understand, there would always be someone in the two Marquis' residences who understood, and those who understood must have told Wu Shigong the situation.I am still too wishful thinking.Therefore, Xu Limu thought that Wu Shigong had already understood the situation, and even if he didn't tell it, Wu Shigong would find out from others in the future, so there was no need for him to be different inside and out.Therefore, Xu Limu quickly stabilized his mood and introduced the situation to Wu Shigong in detail.

It turned out that each deputy commander received 70 taels to 100 taels for every 50 households according to the amount of oil and water in the jurisdiction they manage, whether they are black or not.They then give the commander [-] taels of silver per month to one hundred households according to the number of hundred households they manage.Wu Shigong nodded, and it was almost the same as he estimated. It really was a pyramid-style fertilizer distribution system.

Suddenly, Wu Shigong had a question, and asked Xu Limu: "Then what about the four hundred households directly under the command?"

"Of course they hand over the money directly to the commander, and there is no need to peel the skin. However, there are two hundred households directly under the command that do not have to pay, one is the commander's own soldiers, and the other is the water dragon team."

Wu Shigong can understand this explanation, the bodyguards and fire brigade don't have any extra money.

"Then now, apart from those two hundred households, don't I have five hundred households that I can directly accept?"

"Indeed." Xu Li's eyes showed envy.In terms of benefits, Wu Shigong, the deputy conductor and acting conductor, is more lucrative than the principal conductor.

"The money received, how much can I personally get?"

Xu Limu was embarrassed when he heard this question, not because Xu Limu refused to speak, but because the question was too professional.After receiving the money every month, the Commander of the Bingma Division did not allow some of it to fall into his own pocket.For example: the soldiers always have to spend some money to win over; the injured always have to pay some soup and medicine, otherwise no one will work for you in the future; the supervisory censor and the head of the military department have to send regular orders, but this is not a monthly payment. , but according to the rules of three festivals and two respects.These situations are complicated.Although Xu Limu also knew some of the situation, it was his personal master who did this for the former Commander Li, and Xu Limu didn't know the details.

Seeing Xu Limu's embarrassed expression, Wu Shigong also understood that maybe Xu Limu really didn't understand the situation, so he smiled and didn't continue this topic.Wu Shigong was very satisfied. Xu Limu basically told him what he needed to know today. Although he left a tail, he could take his time.So Wu Shigong ordered the waiter at the door to come in and serve the food, and the two began to chat romantically, and the scene suddenly became harmonious.