Chapter 30: Inviting the political commissar father to visit the brothel (Part 1)
It was New Year's Eve at the end of the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign. Guangzhou, a city in the south, also entered the coldest day of the year.
Nowadays, it is the Little Ice Age with cold wave invasion and climate disorder. Therefore, the winter in Guangzhou in the late Ming Dynasty was far colder and harsher than in later generations.
But no matter how cold the weather is, it won't snow here. The flowers in the city have faded, but the vegetation is still green and full of vitality. The lanterns and couplets appearing in the streets and alleys add a sense of New Year's joy to the city. Of course, those wealthy families decorated the house with lanterns and decorations, invited friends, and feasted constantly, enjoying the luxurious pleasures of reveling in wealth and wealth. Even a poor family with no food to live on, as long as they can barely survive, will try their best to scrape together money to buy some bacon and salted fish, and buy half a pot of bad wine, so that the whole family can live a happy life. A decent new year.
To be honest, the past two years in Guangzhou have not been a good year - because the Ming Dynasty court has never been able to collect much commercial tax, last year the government sent troops to attack the "Kun bandits" in Qiongzhou, and spent money on military salaries. After the defeat, Pay the city redemption fee to the Lingao Chuanzhong, and this year’s expedition to the southwest Almost every penny of the military expenditures allocated to the rebel chieftains, plus the additional taxes levied by the court for the military, had to be passed on to the poor farmers in the Pearl River Delta, leaving Guangzhou, which had not suffered from natural disasters and was looking forward to the harvest, Farmers suddenly caused a horrific man-made disaster.
——Under the doubling of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, countless "scumbags" who had been robbed of their grain reserves by landlords and government, but refused to die, left their hometowns in groups to flee, begging, stealing, and selling their children along the way. Women flocked to Guangzhou, hoping to find a way to survive in the city.
In the past few years, the influx of refugees into Guangzhou might have caused serious social unrest. But in the past two years, the Lingao Traveler Senate, which was rapidly embarking on the road of industrialization, was like a black hole that continuously absorbed labor, invisibly solving this problem for the Ming government.
With the deliberate connivance of the Guangzhou government, these famine refugees poured into the charity hall opened by the "Australians" in Lingao in the name of the Guangzhou gentry. For many years, Lingao travelers have been confused by the handling procedures for such famine refugees. When I came down, I was already familiar with it - first, I shaved my head and "cleaned it". After reaching a certain number, the women and children will be transported to Lingao. The young and middle-aged people will be under military management, and will be trained and recuperated on the spot for half a month, and then taken to the construction sites in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Work: There is currently endless work in these two places.
——The all-you-can-eat hot meals, free clothing and bedding, and strict discipline with severe punishment if violated quickly turned the refugees in the refugee camp into hard-working workers. After all, no matter how strict the rules of the "Australians" are, compared with the government, landlords and bandits who had to flee before, the treatment provided by the "Australians" to their subordinates is simply as good as the Buddha on earth.
Indeed, with the exception of some craftsmen with outstanding skills and special treatment, most of the workers trained in the refugee camps had to sign contracts of prostitution for more than seven years, but the Guangzhou Station of the Traveler Senate still They will be paid a certain amount of wages and allowed to have an appropriate amount of personal freedom, instead of working like slaves all day long for nothing, or even being chained and imprisoned in a hellish concentration camp.
Although the things that your masters gave them as wages were not copper coins or silver, but "Australian circulation notes" made of paper, they were different from the waste paper-like treasure notes of the Ming Dynasty. Buy items in a store, such as food with the Australian Song label There are simple uniforms worn by workers, as well as various household items such as sewing needles, masonry knives, planes, farm tools, etc. If the workers want to buy things in the market outside, they can also take the circulation coupons to Guangzhou City. Exchange silver at "Zichengji" or "Delong Bank".
At the beginning, the workers were not used to receiving circulation coupons. Many people chose to exchange money after receiving their salary. But when I saw that the shops opened by Australians had a full range of daily necessities such as oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, candles, tea, etc., they were plentiful and good, and the prices were fair. The key was that they only accepted circulation coupons, and I quickly accepted this fact. , no one goes to Zichengji to exchange money anymore. As time went by, many people in Guangzhou secretly exchanged their silver for currency notes with workers so that they could go to Australian shops to buy some rare things on the market. As a result, the proportion of currency notes exchanged for silver became increasingly common on the black market. Rising - After the reputation of Australians for being trustworthy has been established, negotiable bonds have become more popular in the eyes of Guangzhou people. It is no different from silver, more convenient and easy to carry, and there is no need to check the quality. The terrifying military strength of the Australians bombarding Guangzhou City and burning the Ximen Tower also let the people know that the Australians are no better than the Folangji of Haojingao (Macau). Hongmao, the Ming Dynasty officials were determined not to drive them away, so they were not so worried about the invalidation of the circulation certificates.
——Various population centers under the rule of the Senate, such as construction sites, mines, refugee camps, etc., are usually closed economies. Small cooperative-type shops are opened to sell Lingao for use at the lowest price close to the cost price. Daily commodities such as uniform clothing, food, and utensils that are exported are used to recycle and distribute circulation coupons to workers as wages. In order to at least convince the first batch of workers who got the circulation coupons, and also because they had to recycle the circulation coupons, these small shops would never accept cash, at least in the initial stage. Compared with the junk products produced by handicraft workshops in the late Ming Dynasty, the gadgets produced by time-travelers through industrialized mass production are definitely cheap, high-quality and conscientious products...
In addition to these rural refugees who are living under the hands of the "Australian master", most of the Guangzhou citizens and wealthy gentry who have lived in the city have a good impression of the "Australians" - since these "Australians" first came to the city a few years ago Since their appearance in Guangzhou, their reputation for excellent business reputation and outstanding quality of goods has spread to all directions, and even the distant court in Beijing has heard about it. Then there was the battle last year that swept across the Pearl River and bombarded Guangzhou. The "Australians" in Lingao not only made a name for themselves, but also earned face for the "pro-Australian" indigenous forces in Guangzhou.
Next, in order to build the "Guangzhou World" outside the city, there are also the "Three Purple Projects" of expanding the Ziming Building (nightclub), Zichengji (commercial house) and Zizhenzhai (luxury goods store) in the city. "Australian gentlemen" have recruited a large number of people in Guangzhou The craftsmen, craftsmen and coolies provided employment opportunities for a considerable number of citizens. Although the "Australian masters" recruited rural refugees to serve as the basic labor force, professional talents such as carpenters often had to be recruited separately. The three meals a day of rice and sometimes meaty food, especially the generous wages paid on time and never in arrears, plus the occasional welfare prizes, attracted the same miserable people in the market.
——In general, the entire Lingao Traveler Senate is still very pragmatic in the current initial stage, and there are basically no "Long Aotian" style idiots. Even people with extreme ideas usually don't get into leadership positions. Generally speaking, as long as the natives of the Ming Dynasty became subordinates of the Senate and were loyal to the Senate, no matter what difficulties they encountered, the Senate would try their best to take care of them.
The villains and heroes in many low-level martial arts novels often have self-aggrandizement to an incredible degree and feel that they are more important than anything else. As long as he raises a high-sounding banner of righteousness, others are bound to sacrifice for him without asking for any reward. In the end, all the chess pieces and capital will be used up. Looking back, he will find that he has long been separated from his relatives and has become a loner. There are no children available...
Generally speaking, time travelers who can obtain positions of real power are not this kind of people, and generally speaking they will not become this kind of people.
Then, for the sake of generous filial piety and a cooperative attitude of joining hands to make a fortune, the upper class in Guangzhou did not have much hostility towards the Australians, but regarded them as good business cooperation partners... It was not until Governor Wang Dezun vowed to crusade against the "Kun thieves" However, in just over a year, the previous tragic wars seemed to have been forgotten. Almost everyone in Guangzhou, from the government to the porters, had disapproval of the Australians. As for those allies who have always had close contacts with the Australians, such as the Gao family who once sold "Australian goods" as an agent, the Liang family who helped open a charity to recruit refugees, etc., they have gained more respect in Guangzhou than before, and they come to their homes. People from all walks of life come to visit and beg to board the "Australia Ship" together every day.
And Huifu Street, where "Australian industries" such as Zizhenzhai and Ziminglou are located, has become a bustling gold-selling den - every night, street lamps light up, lighting up the entire street. It shines like day; the various lights from Ziming Tower "New Australian songs" and "New Australian operas" are popular among the people in the market; there are also huge transparent glass windows in the shops along the street, and the glass cups used for tea and rice in Ziming Building can be used with just a twist of the hand. A pipe that can discharge water. Even the place where you go out is full of magic - the kind of white porcelain toilet that has gradually become popular in the wealthy homes of Guangzhou City. Not only is it comfortable to sit on, but you can just pull the rope afterwards and it will flush cleanly... …All these things made the natives of the Ming Dynasty feel incredible, and then they were so happy to see it that they even regarded Huifu Street as the "Ten Mile Foreign Market" in the Shanghai Concession in later generations.
It's New Year's Eve, and although every household in Guangzhou is hosting banquets and reunions at home, there are also many outsiders living in Guangzhou who have no home and can only celebrate by eating and drinking in inns and restaurants. Therefore, the business on Weifu Street is still quite prosperous, and there are customers from all over the world who come to "open Macau meat". And those wealthy citizens who have some spare money often squeeze out a little money at the end of the year and bring their whole family over to spend some luxury.
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However, in the midst of this bustling atmosphere, Guo Yi, the person in charge of the Guangzhou Station of the Lingao Senate and the famous "big boss of the bandits" in Lingnan, did not stay at Zizhenzhai or Ziminglou. , mingled with those rich businessmen and scholars, but stayed bored at the "Guangzhou World" construction site outside the city, lying in a small courtyard like a dead fish being dried, enjoying the lonely time without relatives and friends. .
——It has been more than three years since I last met my parents and relatives!
Before leaving modern time and space, part of the preparatory actions of the Lingao Crossing Group actually alerted the police, and some people believed that it might be an organized and premeditated large-scale fraud pyramid scheme, or suspected of being a cult promoting the end of the world. So as an unemployed agent from the "relevant departments", Guo Yi volunteered to investigate the activities of this group of people in order to save some money for future promotion or transfer.
While scouting and monitoring this time-traveling group, Guo Yi was puzzled by their weird behavior at first, but then he became very happy: this was his first time to commit such a bizarre and entertaining fraud and firearms smuggling case. Encounter once! He estimated that the final case was worth over 100 million. Although the value of the case was not large, this case was too rare. Enough to be included in public security textbooks. After solving the case, his promotion and reward will be just around the corner.
After the time travel was successful, Guo Yi almost went crazy: Needless to say, there was no hope of promotion and awards. He just "evaporated" in the original time and space, and he must have become a "martyr" in the end. He couldn't even imagine what would happen to his family when they learned the news.
Although people in his profession are surrounded by all kinds of dangers and are prepared to sacrifice every time they go on a mission, "disappearing" in such a dramatic and nonsensical way is not the ending Guo Yi wants - There is really no trace of heroism at all!
Fortunately, the Lingao Crossing Group was not a real criminal organization, and they still accepted the joining of these government spies. After experiencing a few days of depression, Guo Yi correctly assessed the situation and decided to make peace with it as it came. He officially joined the group and became a "veteran", following these ambitious travelers to conquer and transform the old world. And he gave full play to his professional skills as an agent, sitting in Guangzhou, fighting wits and courage with the officials and gentry of the Ming Dynasty, spying on intelligence, making connections, and expanding business routes, and he did a pretty impressive job.
As for the luxury enjoyment of all kinds of sensual dogs and horses, he also took the opportunity to enjoy a lot, and even had several women.
However, every New Year reunion, Guo Yi still couldn't help but think of his relatives in another world... At this time in previous years, there were several other time travelers around him who could get together to have a drink and sigh with each other. I lamented the bitter scriptures and recounted the sadness, but this year, Lingao will hold a global travel event. Because of the visitor summit, several time-travelers who were originally stationed in Guangzhou and Hong Kong returned to Lingao headquarters, leaving Guo Yi alone in Guangzhou to watch the scene. Except for a bunch of gentry and officials who needed to scheming around him, there was no one who could There is no one who can say anything intimate...
So, seeing the hustle and bustle on the streets of the city, the sound of firecrackers, the citizens celebrating with their families, the seats full of relatives and friends, and the scene where the whole family came out to happily buy new year's goods, Mr. Guo Yi felt extremely depressed and even lost his mind. Continue to socialize in the city and go outside the city to hide for peace and quiet. But as soon as he closes his eyes, he can't help but think of the New Year's Eve dinner in the modern world. Although it doesn't have the luxury of a group of servants, eight seats in the living room, and there aren't so many delicacies to enjoy, there are still things that can't be found here. The human touch...
--oh! This day is really unbearable!
Guo Yi sighed gloomily and opened his eyes from the recliner. The sky seemed to ignore his mood at all. It turned out to be clear blue when he was so depressed. It wasn't until he drank a small cup of Limushan Oolong tea under the service of the maid that the unique sweet fragrance of Oolong tea finally made him feel a little relieved. Then he got dressed and prepared to inspect the "Guangzhou World" construction site again. .
According to the plan of the Lingao Senate, "Guangzhou Big World" looks like a pentagonal fortress in the shape of the American Pentagon - the entire building complex is backed by the Pearl River, and a road from Guangzhou City passes through the square in front of the big market and passes behind it. The trestle is inserted into the water, allowing direct transfer of ships and cargo. Four of the five corners are three-story pentagonal forts, and the front corner is a large clock tower, plus a two-story Dajiji Police Station. In the middle of the pentagonal building, the designer imitated a modern commercial street and arranged a department store integrating catering, trade and entertainment.
The cantilevered corridor between the pier and the center is decorated with exaggerated floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls, and the upper area is divided into two corresponding large squares. Although it is not like a modern glass corridor, even the feet are supported by glass plates, but under the This plane is definitely already a stunning visual effect like a beautiful palace, jade, and moon. In order to maximize the visual effect, a removable light strip is also arranged along the inside of the double-layer glass for lighting. Even though it is only a self-produced incandescent lamp in this plane, its unique soft yellow light combined with the diffuse reflection effect of the frosted glass plate , the visual shock is even better.
The plan for the west plaza is to invite garden landscape craftsmen from Guangzhou to arrange the scenery on the spot, using the Pearl River water system to form a living water system. A large area of open activity space has been reserved in the east square, and a stone screen and matching columns have been erected to show outdoor movies, which can be viewed from the glass corridor. The connection between the large department store and the East-West Fortress is also connected by two blocks with high closed walls, completely blocking the two squares at the back of the pier. The large square in the front is divided into two areas with stone partitions, one half is a playground, and the other half is a public activity square for ordinary citizens. To enter the Dongtian Paradise at the back to experience the glass corridor and beautiful scenery, you need to be a VIP or a senior. Along the wall that divides the front and rear squares is a food street, which is planned to create a noisy night market. For this purpose, sufficient lighting fixtures must be arranged in every corner for safety.
Of course, as an important stronghold in enemy-occupied territory, this building, which looks like an entertainment and leisure place, can also be turned into an indestructible fortress at any time - each corner of the pentagonal building complex is equipped with a strong turret. The artillery and machine gun positions were reserved, and a gentle slope was installed to facilitate the garrison troops to pull the artillery cart directly to the top floor from the inside. In conjunction with the machine gun reserved position below, it can form an all-round fire coverage without blind spots.
Because the above-mentioned project is so huge, even with the help of steam-powered construction machinery, there is still a long way to go before it is completed. It's New Year's Eve vacation right now, and the construction site is empty. Only a few firecrackers can be heard faintly from the labor camp in the distance... While Guo Yi is looking at the building complex that is beginning to take shape, and imagining the prosperous scene in the future, But suddenly I heard a noise coming from outside the gate of the construction site. Then a soldier ran over panting and reported that an old man with short hair who claimed to be Guo Yi's father came here to find his son!
"... Damn it! Where did this liar come from? He actually blackmailed me!" Guo Yi rolled his eyes, cursed, turned around and walked over... A moment later, he stood at the construction site gate in disbelief. On the road outside, I saw my work colleague Wang Meiling who was in the dust, and my father, Guo Jing and political commissar Guo, who were wearing silver-gray Chinese tunic suits, thick eyebrows and big eyes, not angry and self-respecting! God! This must be a hell!
In an instant, Guo Yi fell into a state of mental collapse and confusion. It took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence: "...Dad, why are you here?" Political Commissar Guo sighed, "...Son , it seems that you are having a good time here, and you have gained a lot of weight!”