Chapter 127: The Imperial Guard Commander's Mansion
The Imperial Capital welcomed the first snow of the year.
The snow on the post road outside the Imperial Capital has been cleared. The entire post road looks a little black against the white snow, leading directly to the wharf of the Grand Canal.
Every year, there are 20,000 ships from the court and government offices that dock and set sail here. At the end of the year, the heavy snow came early, and the flow of people and vehicles coming to the wharf to pick up goods was even more noisy. However, this wharf is not the end of the Grand Canal. There is another section of the canal connected to the moat of the Imperial Capital. After passing through the gate, you can directly enter the Taiji Lake in the city, but this is a treatment only for royal tribute.
The so-called Grand Canal was built by the State of Wu near Jinling Prefecture to divert water from the Yangtze River in order to fight against the State of Qi in the north and dominate the Central Plains before the founding of the People's Republic of China. It was called the Han Canal in history. Later, successive dynasties continued to develop and extend northward and southward on this basis, especially after the second large-scale expansion and renovation of the Jin Dynasty. By the time of the previous dynasty, it basically connected Jiangnan and the Imperial Capital, and was called the Grand Canal.
The Grand Canal crosses four states, eleven prefectures, and twenty-three counties, and is about 3,600 miles long. The grain production in the south of the Yangtze River accounts for two-thirds of the world, and it depends on this river to transport grain to the imperial capital, so this river can be called the lifeline of the entire dynasty.
It is said that auspicious snow indicates a good harvest, and it seems that next year will be a good omen. Not only are the officials of the Imperial Observatory relieved, but the chief officials of the cabinet, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War also have some smiles on their faces.
There is only one government office that can't smile, that is, the grain transport government office. Not only can it not smile, but it is also a little panicked. The population of the imperial capital is one million, and all rely on this Grand Canal for supply. The last few batches of grain and silver transported to the imperial capital that year, as well as various tributes for the expenses of the palace, must be rushed before the winter solstice. Otherwise, the river will freeze, which will delay the great mission.
Therefore, the river entering Zhili in the past few days is full of boats, which has caused the phenomenon of blocking the river.
The snow is getting heavier and heavier, and it is all over the river.
If the distance between the boats is a little far, it is difficult to see the situation on the other side. There are many boats on the canal at this time, so it is inevitable to bump into each other. However, most of the boats that are still rushing to sail are officials working for the government. Once they bump into each other, they will not give up easily.
Although the serious officials will not escort the boats themselves, some people are just small clerks, but they have already cultivated a great official power, with their eyes in the world, their minds wandering in the eight poles, and their noses spitting contempt. They cannot tolerate small anger, and they must often vent their wrath.
Only shouting and cursing can be heard.
At this time, a large ship came from the wind and snow, with a huge lantern hanging on the ship, and the three big characters "Qingluan Guard" were written on it. One by one, the black "Qingluan Guard" flags fluttered in the wind in the flying snow, making a rustling sound.
All the boats hurriedly avoided the sides of the river.
The large ship of Qingluan Guard occupied the river in the middle of the canal in the heavy snow, with a cloak breaking through the snow.
A figure walked out of the cabin and stood on the deck. It was Zhao Guangji, the seal holder of the Luzhou Qianhu Office. It was he and Jiang Bieyun who planned the Fengtai County incident together.
Zhao Guangji looked at the direction of the imperial capital through the wind and snow, full of worries.
A Qingluan Guard centurion came to Zhao Guangji and reported softly: "Sir, the Duwei Mansion has sent someone to urge us to rush to the Duwei Mansion today."
The full name of Qingluan Guard is "Qingluan Personal Army Command", and its predecessor was also known as "Personal Army Duwei Mansion". Later, it was promoted to "Qingluan Guard Dudu Mansion" by Emperor Taizong of Wei. After the Great Xuan Court became the master of the world, Qingluan Guard was downgraded to "Qingluan Personal Army Command", and the title of "Dudu Mansion" was removed. Its government office still uses the old name of "Personal Army Duwei Mansion".
Zhao Guangji nodded: "I know."
The Qingluan Guard centurion did not dare to say much and slowly withdrew.
Zhao Guangji was in a very gloomy mood.
Something went wrong in Fengtai County, and he was recalled to the Imperial Capital by the Tongzhi. In name, he was reporting on his work, but in reality, he was being held accountable.
It was true that he and Jiang Bieyun planned this matter, but the reason why he and Jiang Bieyun knew each other and worked together was because of the above.
Could it be that the Taiping Dao put pressure on the Duwei Mansion?
Looking down from the sky, the entire Imperial Capital City is like a "convex" character. It is divided into four layers. The upper part of the "convex" character is the inner city, the inner city has the imperial city, the imperial city has the palace city, and the lower part of the "convex" character is the outer city.
In general, the palace city is in the center, with layers of guards on all sides, the main seat facing south, the central axis protruding, and the two wings balanced and symmetrical.
The palace city has the smallest area and is where the emperor lives, which is the so-called "palace", and the main gate is the "Wu Men".
The imperial city includes the palace city. The main gate is Chengtian Gate, which means "receiving destiny from heaven and receiving the mandate from heaven". After Chengtian Gate, there is a huge white jade square surrounded by walls on three sides. There is another gate at the southern end of the square. This gate is called "Daxuan Gate", also known as "the first gate of the imperial city". It has the same name as the country and is a symbol of the national gate. Ordinary people are not allowed to pass through this gate. Only during national ceremonies, the emperor's carriage will pass through this gate. As for the queen, she can only enter the imperial city from this gate during her wedding.
Daxuan Gate is magnificent, with three ques in the middle of the five thresholds facing south, a single-eaved hip roof, and a black tile roof with flying eaves and heavy ridges. There are stone lions and dismounting monuments on both sides of the gate. In front of the gate is the imperial road. The left side of the imperial road is "Tianjie", which looks like a chessboard, implying that "the emperor's wealth and honor are a game of chess, and there will be a time when the game is scattered and defeated". The right side of the imperial road is "Qianbu Corridor", which is named because there are 110 east-west corridors on the left and right.
The Qianbu Corridor is surrounded by a two-foot-high palace wall. Most of the imperial offices are concentrated on both sides of the wall. Outside the east wall are the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Works, the Zongren Mansion, and the Qin Tian Jian. On the west wall are Outside are the three Fasi Yamen such as the Criminal Department, the Inspectorate, and Dali Temple. The Qingluan Guard's pro-army Duwei Mansion is within Daxuanmen and outside Chengtianmen, separated from the Liubu Yamen.
Among the many yamen, there are only two exceptions, which are within the palace city. One is the cabinet, located in Wenyuan Pavilion inside the Meridian Gate. The other is Taiping Temple, located at the former site of the former Secretary of Ceremony.
During the previous Wei Dynasty, the inner court established twenty-four yamen, headed by the Chief of Ceremonies. The chief eunuch who headed the Chief of Ceremonies and was in charge of the seals was honored as the "internal minister". The chief minister of the cabinet who oversaw the six ministries in the outer court was honored as the "foreign minister." , two people, one inside and one outside, exercise the powers and responsibilities of the prime minister.
This was also the most criticized eunuch's interference in politics in the Wei Dynasty.
When Daxuan conquered the world, he not only abolished the guard system and the governor's office of the five armies, but also abolished the twenty-four yamen of the inner court headed by the ceremonial supervisor, and returned all power to the cabinet. The chief minister of the cabinet became a true " "Phase", able to sit down and discuss matters with the emperor.
However, the Daxuan court did not completely abolish the eunuch system that had lasted for thousands of years. Firstly, it was because of the huge power of inertia, and secondly, because the previous Wei Dynasty left behind 100,000 eunuchs, and there were many masters among these 100,000 people. The Daxuan court could not let things go and could only choose to take over.
At the beginning of the founding of the Wei Dynasty, in order to protect the royal family, the Qingluan Guard and the twenty-four yamen of the inner court were established. The Qingluan Guard had thirteen eunuchs who recruited strange people and strangers for their own use. The eunuchs were trained by the royal family since childhood and awarded one The secret scriptures of Buddhism and Taoism compiled by Confucian masters are legendary among the people in Jianghu, and the eunuchs also teach them from master to disciple and pass them down from generation to generation, just like the sect.
In addition, there were also Confucian people who had "learned the arts and martial arts and belonged to the imperial family". The combination of these three made the Wei Dynasty suppress Taoism and Buddhism for more than two hundred years. .
The eunuch's inheritance is not included in the inheritance of the five immortals. It is specially used for people with incomplete bodies. Although after practicing to the extreme, one can get a glimpse of the wonderful truth of immortality. It is said that one can also understand the essence of the transformation of heaven and man and the growth of all things. But before practicing, But he wants to go to the palace. If a man or a woman practices it, the yin and yang will be reversed, the man will become a woman, and the woman will become a man, which is very strange.
With the collapse of the Wei Dynasty, this inheritance also fell into the hands of the Daxuan Dynasty.
The Daxuan court called them "Yin Yang people".
Taipingguan, as the name suggests, has a close relationship with Taiping Dao. If the Imperial Master, that is, the Great Master of Taiping Dao, comes to the imperial capital, he will stay here and sit and discuss Taoism with His Majesty the Emperor. Because the Daxuan royal family adheres to Taoism, in the Taoist sect system, the Daxuan emperors of all dynasties also have honorific titles. His Majesty the current emperor is titled "General Master Yin Yang Gong Guo Zi Da Zhenren", and he is nominally above the three deputy chief masters Da Zhenren. , just like the headmaster Da Zhenren, they are in the same super level.
However, most people in the Taoist sect do not regard His Majesty the Emperor as a Taoist priest, so the only superior Taoist priest is the Grand Master.
There are dedicated Taiping Dao disciples in charge of the Taiping Temple on weekdays. Ordinary people, including maids, eunuchs, guards, courtiers, and princes, are not allowed to enter.
As for the original twenty-four yamen of the inner court, they were streamlined into the Xuanhui Courtyard, with two courtyards, the South and the North, and various departments under them. Eunuchs served as the Xuanhui envoys and deputy envoys. The Hui envoy is in charge of the South Courtyard, and is in charge of the registration of all the internal offices and three groups of internal servants, the rituals of suburban sacrifices, court gatherings, banquets and tents, and all internal and external offerings, and inspects their names and objects. The deputy envoy to the North Courtyard is in charge of the Yin and Yang people. He has the responsibility of guarding the inner court and only listens to the orders of the emperor.
The biggest difference between the Beiyuan and Qingluan Guards is that the Qingluan Guards can leave the Imperial Capital and have the responsibility of investigating the world, while the Beiyuan will not leave the Imperial Capital unless there is an emperor's decree.
At this time, in a duty room of the pro-army captain's mansion, a brass brazier was burning red and warm.
Today, Qingluan Guard commander Tongzhi Yunluo is on duty.
She is the only woman among the three officials of Qingluan Guard. Judging from her appearance, she looks about thirty years old, but few people know her actual age.
Over the years, she has been in charge of Nanzhen Fusi, living in seclusion and rarely showing up. In the eyes of outsiders, it is the Master Tongzhi who controls the North Town Fusi who is more prestigious, but within Qingluan Guard, it is Yun Tongzhi who is more famous. Knowing is even more frightening.
Yun Luo came to the threshold of the check-in room and lifted up the heavy cotton curtain, but did not cross the high threshold. When he looked out, he saw snow particles mixed with the low wind blowing towards his face.
Yun Luo's mood was a little gloomy, just like the weather in front of him, and he couldn't help but sigh.
Master Qingwei will be going to the capital in the near future. He is nominally following the edict from His Majesty the Emperor, Master of Yin and Yang, Master Zi Jiji, to come to the capital to perform a Luotian Jiao for His Majesty the Emperor, and he comes to ask questions along the way.
Thinking of this, Yun Luo's already gloomy mood became a little more gloomy.