Chapter 8, City Entrance Tax

A single man is raising a child, and their life is quite frugal. Although the Jinyiwei may appear glamorous on the outside, it is important to distinguish the nature of their work.

Meng Yan's home is located in Sichengfang near Chaoyangmen, and to get there, one must at least traverse more than half of Beijing.

Little brother, this is all old news; last year it was already thirty wen! said the tax collector at the city gate.

Amidst the crowded throngs, Meng Yan finally returned to the city of Beijing, which he had not seen for ten years. The towering city walls, the bell tower, the densely packed shops, and, of course, the people.

old friend

The current Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is the renowned "Cricket Emperor," Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen

I actually have a home in Beijing, a spacious siheyuan; how difficult this will be to achieve in the future!

Should I go home first or eat first

"Young Master, we have arrived!" In a daze, Meng Yan was pulled back from his memories by the sound of the coachman's call

"Xiao Er, your boss truly knows how to do business. This bowl of lamb noodle stew is already quite substantial; for an ordinary person, just one bowl is enough" Meng Yan said with a smile

Yes, esteemed guest, once you finish your noodles, please leave quickly. Here, Lord Meng is a taboo. The shop assistant kindly said, "I see you are unfamiliar here, so I remind you, do you understand?"

Esteemed guest, it is evident that this is your first visit to our humble establishment. The business here has greatly benefited from the support of the local community, which is why we offer generous portions. As for the second bowl at half price, it is a special arrangement made by our proprietor for an old friend of his who has a particularly large appetite; one bowl is simply not enough, hence the introduction of this second bowl at half price

Meng Yan felt a bit of homesickness, after all, this body had given him a new life, and he had also accepted all the memories and emotions of this "Meng Yan"

How much does it cost? Meng Yan then remembered that common people entering the city empty-handed do not have to pay taxes, but anyone driving a vehicle carrying goods or riding livestock into the city is required to pay taxes

This emperor can be considered the most legendary among all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty

Addressing another person as "father" always feels somewhat strange

Meng Yan sold the large blue horse that Yu Xin had given him at the horse market, removing all traces in order to minimize the chances of his whereabouts being discovered

Although the tail has been dealt with, the mastermind cannot take any action against the other party for the time being. In the capital, he has been away from here for ten years

Stop, dismount, and pay your taxes

I understand, thank you very much, little brother! Meng Yan's heart skipped a beat, could it be that something has happened at home

Meng Yan was unwilling to entangle himself with such a tax collector, so he took out money and paid the entrance tax

"Little Second Brother, this Lord Meng is the old acquaintance mentioned by your shopkeeper, isn't he?" Meng Yan's brow twitched, and he had a bad premonition.

Beijing has been the capital of the Ming Dynasty for only a few decades, and some areas are still undergoing continuous construction and expansion; this grand and magnificent project is not yet completed

Alright, one bowl of lamb noodle stew, add more chili!" The waiter turned his head and called out, then quickly went to attend to other customers

It has now been ten years of the Orthodox era, and in four years, the war that will determine the future rise and fall of Zhu Qizhen and the Ming Dynasty will break out.

Meng Yan was slowly walking down the street with a horse. At this moment, the capital of the Ming Dynasty was somewhat different from the later historical capital.

Outside Chongwenmen, Meng Yan stopped the tax collector.

He truly has no mood to appreciate the scenery of Beijing

One may already be considered deceased in the household registration records

Having paid for the carriage, Meng Yan dismounted, his feet firmly on the ground, when suddenly he experienced a sense of unreality

He is an undercover agent, and this is a job that requires dancing on the edge of a knife. Caution is essential, and he must not have any connections to his past; otherwise, there is a risk of exposure.

This noodle shop has been open for at least over a decade, and he used to come here often with his father. The sign has not changed, but it is uncertain whether the taste has changed.

After searching for a large carriage shop, Meng Yan spent fifty wen to rent a cart, instructing the driver to take her directly there. After all, if she were to walk back on foot, it would likely take her most of the day to return home

"Lord Meng is a good person, what a pity..." The young waiter suddenly sighed.

Esteemed guest, what would you like to eat

This bond of affection that dissolves into the veins cannot be erased

It smells so good, I haven't had it in ten years!" Meng Yan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and his stomach unexpectedly let out a rumble.

However, this part is not considered the capital city; it can be regarded as the urban-rural fringe.

It has been ten years, and the world has changed beyond recognition. In Meng Yan's memory, he has not received a single piece of news regarding his father during these ten years

A bowl of lamb noodle stew, add more chili, hurry up! Meng Yan quickly placed the bag on the table and instructed swiftly

The father was originally a general of the Jin Yi Wei, holding the rank of a hundred households. However, for some unknown reason, he had a limp in one leg. The generals of the Jin Yi Wei formed their own camp and had very high standards for appearance. Naturally, the limping father could no longer serve as a general, so he became a sitting hundred households instead

30 wen

Is it so expensive? Wasn't it just 10 wen before? In my childhood memories, when people from other regions rode horses into the capital, they only had to pay a tax of 10 wen as long as they were not carrying goods

If it were the real Meng Yan, he would certainly choose to go home first, but he is not; he chooses to go eat first

In his youth, the Emperor, full of vigor and ambition, should have devoted himself to governance and become a wise ruler. However, he was misled by the slanders of eunuchs and personally led an expedition, resulting in a great defeat at the Tumu Fortress, where 300,000 elite troops from the capital were lost. He himself became a captive for a year. After being released, he lived in seclusion in the Southern Palace for eight years, yet he successfully regained the throne. His life can be described as tumultuous and grand.

Moreover, the outer city has not yet commenced construction, while the area from Zhengyangmen to Yongdingmenwai is already densely populated, with numerous merchants, bustling streets, and a vibrant atmosphere

He is indifferent to the changes in the capital, whether it has become more bustling and prosperous than he remembers. He only contemplates one thing: how he should face the man who heartlessly sent an eight-year-old child down that path of undercover work, and what his first words should be.

If someone were to trace the horse, it would cause trouble for the owner and the servant. Therefore, when handling the horse, he took precautions and sold it to a merchant caravan heading south, thus minimizing the danger.

Four years later, what position will he be in at the court?

It took him nearly an entire afternoon to handle these matters. After confirming that there were no flaws left, he did not return home immediately; instead, he sought out an inn to stay for a night, while also inquiring about some situations in the capital.

What? Meng Yan's hand trembled slightly; he remembered that every time his father came here to eat, he would always order two bowls of noodles, and for the second bowl, the shopkeeper would always only charge half the price.

The wheels rolled forward amidst the crowd, racing ahead, as the scene before him flickered like fleeting light. Childhood memories surged back like a tide, nearly overwhelming Meng Yan's mind.

The pursuers should still be unaware of his true identity. Throughout this journey, he has been particularly vigilant, and there should be no traces left behind, which is why he felt confident and bold enough to return

Is it possible that father has already ... ...

Therefore, before restoring his identity, he must first understand his father's situation, and the restaurant happens to be the most suitable place.

In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a steaming bowl of lamb stew noodles was placed before him: "Dear guest, please enjoy your meal slowly. If you need more, just let us know; the second bowl is half price!"

In my impression, my father was excessively upright and unwilling to compromise his principles, gradually becoming marginalized by his colleagues. Although he held the position of a hundred households, his life was not as comfortable as that of a street patrol officer.

He is not wealthy now, but he is no longer poor

The streets in my memory, the archway of memory, and that familiar taste, yes, the taste of lamb noodle stew

The reason is simple; this is precisely how it is stipulated in the "Great Ming Code"