Chapter 7 on the pole

A few days ago, I invited a foreign friend to listen to Peking Opera. This foreign friend came to Taiwan to study local cultural relics and Chinese opera.Coincidentally, what we were listening to that day was the full version of "Red Luan Jubilee" (also known as "Bad Beating the Lover"). In the play, Jin Yunu's father, Jin Laozhang, is "on the pole".The foreign friend asked me what kind of business I was doing, and hoped that I would tell him in detail.Friends who often listen to operas probably know that "the one on the pole" is called Huazitou, and I'm afraid they don't know much about its ins and outs.

In the former Qing Dynasty, regardless of whether it was the emperor, nobles, honors, Qi Ding, all belonged to the flag.Therefore, all real Manchurians belong to the Eight Banners, so when chatting normally, someone will ask which banner you belong to. Each banner has a leader, and all the people in this banner are under the jurisdiction of the leader.Back then when Manchurians wrote their resumes, they used some kind of flags or flags, Manchuria or Mongolia, followed by a certain leader, even the emperor, without exception, they all belonged to the flag.However, you are the son of heaven, so you don't write that you are under the leadership, but that you are the leader.

The noun "on the pole" is a new noun only in the Qing Dynasty, and there is no such business going back to the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.When the Qing soldiers entered the pass and Shunzhi ruled the Central Plains, besides the regular army, there were of course not a few people of all colors who climbed the dragon and attached the phoenix.During the battle, manpower is needed, and the idlers who accompany the camp to eat food are urged, so-called blacks, it doesn't matter if they live in the team, but the overall situation is determined, and everyone takes their positions.The people whose names are in the registration book, those who deserve to receive salaries, those who should be paid, as for those entourages and idlers who follow from outside the customs, it cannot be said that there is no meritorious service.I couldn't settle down for a while, and I was afraid that they would wander the streets and cause trouble, so I set up an organization like a homeless shelter to accommodate these people. When the opportunity arises, I will introduce you to a job.More people cost more, and the money will be spent on big shops (a common name for big shops in Peiping).It is not too much to pay ten taels or eight taels a month for the big ones, and it is not too little for one or two slings.This kind of informal yamen organization is in charge of the unemployed vagrants who are almost unemployed. If it weren't for the powerful and powerful officials, they would really be unable to suppress that group of fearless thorns!It is said that at first it was ruled by an iron hat king, whose name was the general leader, and was later replaced by the prince of divine power.The Lord of Divine Power is a man of integrity, selflessness and divine power. He manages such idle people very strictly and conscientiously, and blackmail, pickpockets and thieves are all at the same rate for a while.Instead, they rely on them to maintain the law and order on the ground, and ordinary businesses can do business with peace of mind, so it is also willing to donate a few cents a month to get rid of them.Hua Ziyuan, who specialized in stand-up comic drama fan biography, said: "Every year before the birthday of Lord Shenli, someone will send a small three-dimensional earthenware vat, which is tightly pasted with a piece of dough cake, and inside is a Pig head, one chicken, one duck, ten chickens, stewed rosy, oily, and fragrant in a pot of chowder. They euphemistically call it "one product of wealth". Lord Shenli is famous for his amazing appetite. This pot of chowder, although If you don’t eat a bowl and see the blue sky, there probably won’t be anything left.” This is what Hua Ziyuan chatted under the platform, and it’s hard to question whether it’s true or not.

Their organization has a treasure handed down from generation to generation, and its correct name is "Da Liang", which is also known by its common name as "Gan Er".Legend has it that Emperor Kangxi paid a private visit to this girder, and found that they had helped maintain local law and order, so he rewarded them with a carved dragon rosewood staff, wrapped with yellow velvet silk, and usually wrapped in yellow satin, as a gift for them. Above the lobby of the administrative office (they call it "Zan'er").When encountering vicious and cunning criminals willing to violate the law and discipline, you can call out the leader and beat them with a stick, or even kill them under the stick.

During the Daoguang period, with the descendants of this group of people who entered the customs, most of their lives were settled, and the local public security organs classified a group of beggars into the so-called "Zaner" institutions.Those who were in charge of money and food in Zan'er at the beginning must immediately kneel down and kowtow three times when they see Liang, no matter where they are.Since the beggars returned to their homes, they all salute without distinction. The general leader is also called the governor, and they are all led by the prince's son, Baylor. At first, he really did everything by himself. After the middle of the Qing Dynasty, those relatives and nobles gradually got used to peace and happiness. .This kind of person in charge secretly called him "Dana", and the so-called "Dana" was a substitute for the prince Beizi.There are deputy leaders under the command, and there are one deputy leader in each of the east and west cities. The royal residence is in the north city, so there is no deputy leader in the north city, and ordinary civilians live in the south city, so there is no deputy leader in the south city.There is a post under the deputy leader, and if there is anything to write or deal with the officials, it will be done by the post.The next class is called "Baertou". They set up a "Baertou" in each section of the streets and alleys, also called "Tuantou". Although the description is not exhaustive, generally speaking, it is not outrageous.

In the early years of the Republic of China, this organization was not completely abolished, and the shop numbers were still used for expenses. The deputy leader in charge of Xicheng was called "Duolu", and he lived in Xiaoyingzi Hutong, Beixiaoyingzi, Xidan. Anyone with a name and surname can go to his house to get a share (it is neither called money, grain nor customs rate, because the money is donated by the shop owner, so it is called a share).Any new Huazi who has no name on the book can also register to fill in the vacancies. Once they are filled, they are called return to the book, and they will get their share on a monthly basis.If there is a wedding or wedding event for a wealthy family, the accountant will definitely find the son and discuss how much to pay. At the end of the month, it will be collected and everyone will share it equally. In fact, in addition to eating and drinking, you have to earn a few pennies.As for the mixed dishes of leftovers, leftovers and wine that my family can't eat, their gang of bitter hahas will make up with it.The "pinch of hair" who scattered paper money in Peking was this role.Whoever disobeys the commander's command and blackmails and makes trouble privately, the commander can ask the leader to beat him up as a punishment, and the most serious ones can be expelled from this section.Therefore, although there are many gangsters in Beiping city, there are various gangs in charge, and it is rare to see a lot of trouble.This foreign friend is very interested in this organization. He said that there was a similar organization in Rome in the Middle Ages. It had great power and helped a lot in local security. The so-called "pole" on the pole, he really wanted to find a photo of that time Let's take a look, it's a pity that photography hadn't been introduced to China at that time, and now the yellow pole bestowed by the emperor is nowhere to be found.