Just as Duan Jingcheng expected, Han Xiufeng and his party changed boats from Yichang and went down the river via Jiangning to Yangzhou, then changed boats from Yangzhou and headed north along the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. They changed boats eight times and hired cars six times along the way, and finally finally

Arriving at the capital.

No one had been here before. On the way, they happened to meet a Juren master who was coming to Beijing to take the exam. The four of them followed the Juren master through the Marco Polo Bridge Ferry and entered the city from Guang'anmen.

I thought I wouldn't have to pay taxes by following Du San, but Du San's military alliance failed to work in the capital. Even the Juren master who was rushing to take the exam was extorted ten taels of silver by the tax collector at the city gate. Han Xiufeng didn't dare to cause trouble at the emperor's feet, so he bargained a lot.

, and finally paid three liang.

Although they were frugal on the way from Ba County to the capital, they still spent more than 180 taels of silver. They didn't dare to spend it randomly when they entered the city. The four of them carried their luggage on their shoulders and found out about Xuanwai Mi City all the way.

Chongqing Guild Hall in Jie Hutong.

I didn't know how cold it was until I got to the north. Pan Er's face turned purple from the cold. He looked at the courtyard in front of him, put down his luggage and asked, "Master, is this here? Are you sure?"

He had just passed several guild halls, each one more impressive than the last, but the courtyard in front of him was not only unattractive but also shabby. Han Xiufeng was also confused. He subconsciously turned around and asked: "Brother, didn't you come here once three years ago? You should have some impression.

Is it here?"

"It seems to be right here. Just go in and ask." Du San also turned purple from the cold. If Han Xiufeng didn't have two pairs of cotton-padded clothes and lent him one to wear, he didn't know what he would be like now.

Han Xiufeng didn't want to stay out in the cold like this, so he walked up and knocked on the door: "Is anyone there?"

"Coming!"

The door creaked open, and a short, thin old man came out and asked, "Who are you looking for? What do you want?"

"Old man, may I ask if this is the Chongqing Guild Hall?"

"Are you from Chongqing?"

"Yes, my surname is Han, whose given name is Zhixing, and I am from Ba County. This is my sworn brother, whose surname is Du, who is also from Chongqing. We all came to the capital to fill vacancies."

"To fill the vacancy, I thought you were going to Beijing to take the exam." The old man was a little disappointed, but he still welcomed everyone into the courtyard and asked as he walked to the main room: "Mr. Han, Mr. Du, you two look at each other.

Sir, may I ask what rank your official position is in and what kind of gap you plan to make up for?"

"I'm not afraid of your old joke. I am a late-born with a cold status. I can't get any merit in the examination. I can only donate to be a ninth-grade candidate for inspection. My eldest brother is a military examiner. He came to the capital three years ago. This time he was recommended by the town to fill a vacancy at the Ministry of War.

.”

The old man opened the dirty curtain and welcomed everyone into the main room. While warming his hands on the stove, he couldn't help but smile and said: "Boy, I have seen many old men who were born in taiwan. I walked around the street and ten

It is estimated that nine of the banner men have donated their official posts, and the lowest one is a seventh-rank official. Why don't you donate more? What's the use of donating a ninth-rank inspection, and you have traveled all the way to the capital!"

"I hear you tell me, isn't it easy to fill this gap?" Han Xiufeng asked awkwardly.

"There is no shortage in the world that is easy to fill. Let alone your shortage, what will happen if it is filled? Ninth-grade inspection, hahaha, it made me laugh to death."

Du San and Han Xiufeng had not only spent the past two months getting along day and night, but had also been through adversity together. They couldn't stand it any longer and said unhappily: "Old man, my second brother only donated a ninth-grade inspection. Can he still live there?"

, you always say something!”

"This is the Chongqing Guild Hall, and you are all from Chongqing, so you can naturally live here." The old man held up the purple clay pot, looked at the two of them with a smile, and said: "But the Guild Hall has its rules and regulations, you first look at the rules for living in the Guild Hall on the wall.

, the capital officials let the candidates, the candidates, the candidates, the candidates let the examination, the court examination. The guild hall is so big, with a total of six rooms, only four are empty. After the New Year, the court will hold an encore, if there are several meetings

If you try, you will have to move out and find a place to live for yourself."

"We have a lot of successful candidates in Chongqing Prefecture, but as far as I know not many come to the capital to take the exam."

"I mean," the old man put down the purple clay pot and continued: "Then there are not many officials in Chongqing and even Sichuan in Beijing, and foreign officials cannot be compared with Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Huguang. If there are not many officials, there will be no funding.

There are many, and there is no shop to rent out. In order to maintain it, each of you has to pay one tael in library fees."

"This is what it should be." Han Xiufeng quickly opened the package and took out a piece of silver and a letter: "This piece of silver is almost five taels."

"Okay, I'll accept it for now. If you can't live here in a few days, I'll give you half back." The old man accepted the money, picked up the letter, saw the signature on the envelope, and asked in surprise: "Boy, what are you doing?

Do you know Mr. Gu?"

"I recognize it. This letter was sent to you by Mr. Gu."

"I told you earlier, you guys sit down first, and we'll take a look first." The old man opened the letter in front of everyone, read it carefully, then raised his head and said with a smile: "Since it was recommended by Mr. Gu, he is not an outsider. You guys

Let’s stay in the two rooms on the east side first. The stoves are ready. Go to the alley entrance to buy some charcoal to make a fire, and you can also boil water on the stove for cooking. You must be tired after running all the way here. I will rest for two days and wait until I have time.

I'll take you to the provincial embassy to get the seal signed."

Han Xiufeng thought that fifty taels of silver was not wasted, so he quickly handed over his hands to express his gratitude, and then asked: "What's your surname?"

"My surname is Fei. I am the second eldest son in the family. Mr. Qian, who lives in the west wing, calls me Fei Er. You should also call me Fei Er."

"You are always the elder. We can't call you like that. Let's call you Mr. Fei."

"You can just call me Second Master Fei." The old man smiled, then turned around and said: "Boy, since you are a martial arts examiner, you are from the sixth rank of General Qian. With the recommendation of Chongqing Zhentai, there is no need to go to the provincial hall to find the seal.

Gu Bao, over the years I have been in Beijing, I happened to recognize someone who wrote a letter from the Ministry of War. I cannot catch up today, so I will take you to the Ministry of War tomorrow morning."

Du San was overjoyed and quickly raised his hands and said, "Thank you, Mr. Fei, for letting Mr. Fei worry about it."

"Don't be in a hurry to thank me. I recognize you, but if you want to make up for the shortcomings, you have to do what needs to be done."

"Master Fei, how much money does it cost for someone like me to make up for the loss?"

"The more, the better. As long as you are willing to spend money, you can even make up for it!"

Mr. Men Qian, Du San didn't even dare to think about it, and said with a grimace: "Master Fei, I'm not afraid of your old jokes. I don't have much silver with me. I only have one hundred taels with me, and I have to leave dozens of taels for expenses."

Fei Er Ye never thought about ripping him off to make money from him. He also didn't expect that he only brought so little money to the capital. He subconsciously looked up at Han Xiufeng and saw Han Xiufeng nodding with an embarrassed look on his face. He couldn't help but smile:

"Since there are only a few dozen taels, it doesn't make any difference whether or not to pack them. Just prepare two door bags."

"How much does the door bag cost?" Du San asked awkwardly.

Mr. Fei said in an understatement: "Put a thousand cash notes into a door bag. If you don't have any money, I can change them for you. I happen to have two here."

Han Xiufeng couldn't help but ask: "Master Fei, how much money do I need to cover my shortcomings?"

"Although your shortcoming is not big, it is not that easy to make up for it. I estimate it will cost four to five hundred taels, and you need to find the right person."

"Just find the right person?"
Chapter completed!