Chapter 3 In the third quarter, leave the kiln and join the Green Gang

Du Yuesheng was full of blood and rogue by nature, after a few days, he couldn't stay at home no matter what. As soon as the wind passed, he changed his whole body up and down, quietly slipped out of the small east gate, and went straight to the west. After walking for seven or eight miles, I came to the Eight Immortals Bridge.Baxian Bridge belongs to the French lease area and is an important commercial center in Shanghai.Some high-rise buildings stand tall and there are few theaters. However, it is famous for gambling and whoring, and there are all kinds of gambling halls dotted around.Outside the Baodai Gate to the south of the Eight Immortals Bridge, there is an old dilapidated wooden house, which is full of beautiful fireworks rooms. After working hard and tired, some small townsfolk hang out and relax in these low-level playgrounds.

Du Yuesheng was wearing a brand-new attire, squinting his curious eyes, looking around, walking and watching, Du Yuesheng felt that the real colorful world was in front of him.He felt that he seemed to have grown up, and he should have the demeanor of a street boy in every gesture and gesture, so he had already swept away the consciousness of "babes" in Gaoqiao Town, and measured himself, suddenly he thought: " I can no longer be like a beggar who has the ambition to make a big career in Shanghai.” But how to realize this ambition in life?He turned around and decided to start with gambling.

So, he strolled towards the gambling stall.Turning around an alley, Du Yuesheng suddenly felt that the owner of a gambling stall in front of him looked familiar. After thinking about it carefully, he remembered that this person was the "Fusheng with poles" whom he had met at the elder sister's fireworks.He hurried up, arched his hands, and greeted with a smile: "Hello, Boss Chen!" The real name of "Fusheng with a Pole" is Chen Shichang, and he lives in Xiaodongmen.This person has no ambitions in his life, and he makes a living by gambling and whoring.Chen Shichang's gambling is quite special. He learned to smoke bamboo poles from the prostitutes eating flower wine in the fireworks room, and transformed it into a set of pole gambling tools.In an iron cylinder, insert 32 Pai Gow, with the lower point above the top, as a sign; or 16 five-color wire iron sticks divided into five, four, three, two, one; stall owners and gamblers, each insert 5 Pai Gow, betting on Pai Gow, Then match two sets of big cards, compare the size, and bet on who has more colors.The stall owner holds the stick in one hand and the bamboo basket in the other.The bamboo basket contained peanut candies.This gambling booth can bet on fruit or cash.This liquid gambling stall is the worst of the gambling houses.Although Chen Shichang is not conspicuous in Shanghai, he still manages to live a decent life by setting up a stall every day.

Seeing that it was Du Yuesheng, Chen Shichang hurriedly greeted him: "Yuesheng, long time no see, are you getting rich now?" "Where, where, I just lost my wind and stumbled." Du Yuesheng spoke bluntly, telling in detail how he was beaten up by people and the innkeeper, and now he came out to relax. Chen Shichang knew people with insight, he laughed, and said: "Yuesheng, you can't make a fortune by relying on the elder sister. If you want to hang out in Shanghai, you have to worship the old man and find a backer. If you have something to do, don't say that the brothers can help, just make trouble. There is a big leak, which powerful old man is not the one who goes up to the sky and goes down to the earth, and by then, it will be covered up with a word of gossip!"

After what Chen Shichang said, Du Yuesheng suddenly realized.In Shanghai Bund, as long as you have power, you can get rich by doing anything, and if you don't form your own strong power, you can't keep your fortune.He tried to ask: "Boss Chen, can you point out a way?" Chen Shichang saw that Du Yuesheng was shrewd and strong, and dared to do something, so he intentionally wooed him and said, "Yuesheng, how about joining the Green Gang?" Du Yuesheng felt that everything was new, and he was just trying to find a safe backer in Shanghai Bund, which is known as the boundary between Yin and Yang, so as not to be fooled in case of trouble, so he couldn't wait to ask: "How to cast?"

Chen Shichang blinked, and said mysteriously: "The incense hall will open in three days. At midnight that night, you will wait for me at the small temple of Eight Immortals Bridge." Du Yuesheng looked at his mysterious look and nodded. Although he didn't know what kind of backer Chen Shichang would introduce him to, what the Green Gang was, but looking at Chen Shichang who was leaving, he thought that he would not be bullied in the future , he was indescribably excited. Three days later, in the middle of the night, the moon was setting and the stars were sparse.On Xiaomiao Road from Xiaodongmen to Baxian Bridge, there are night pedestrians in twos and threes from time to time.They all had serious faces and walked away with their heads buried.Du Yuesheng found Yuan Shanbao, a clerk in the Evergrande Fruit Shop, among the passers-by.The two looked at each other and smiled, tacit understanding.The two of them have already prepared the red invitation card for apprenticeship, and there is a red envelope for respecting the teacher in the bag.Before entering the incense room, according to the rules of the gang, they can only be regarded as "sisters", and they can become junior masters in the Green Gang after apprenticeship.

The Green Gang is the most powerful gang in Shanghai. It is the second largest gang in Shanghai after the Hongmen. According to legend, it has a history of more than 300 years.There are many theories about the origin of the Qingbang, but it was actually formed in the early years of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty to transport grain.However, the people in the gang pushed the historical origin to the Ming Dynasty, and Jin Youzi, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion in the Yongle Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty, was the first generation patriarch.The second generation patriarch is Luo Chuan.Luo Chuan once accepted three apprentices: Weng, Pan and Qian.During the Qianlong period, these three people transported grain for the Qing court. Under the imperial order, they planned to recruit 1,326 apprentices and bring 1,990 and a half grain boats.

After transporting food, Weng, Pan, and Qian were awarded military posts according to the military merits, so they publicly regarded Luo Chuan as their patriarch, set up 3 halls, 6 departments, 24 generations, and formulated 10 gang rules, so that the Qing Gang developed into a strict gang organization. The three halls are: Weng Youtang, Pan Antang, and Qian Baotang. The 6 departments are: introduction department, preaching department, palm printing department, printing department, ritual department, and supervision department. The 24 generations are arranged according to: "Quiet morality, Wencheng Buddhism, benevolent wisdom, original self-confidence, Yuanming Xingli, Datong Enlightenment", one word per generation. The 10 gang rules are as follows: 1. Do not bully masters and destroy ancestors; 2. Do not disturb gang rules; It is not allowed to jump with a water belt, 7, it is not allowed to rape, steal and commit adultery, 8, it is not allowed to be humble, 9, it is not allowed to open the gate to release water, and 10, it is not allowed to bully the weak.

Before the Revolution of 1911, the Qing Gang in Shanghai was headed by the "Da" generation, Chen Shichang was the "Tong" generation, Du Yuesheng worshiped Chen Shichang as the old man, and listed in the Qing Gang as the "Wu" generation in order, which is a very low generation.When Du Yuesheng and Yuan Shanbao walked to the small temple, Chen Shichang and the former members of the Green Gang who were invited to support the scene had already arrived.The temple wishers closed the double temple doors, and the hall was filled with cigarettes and flickering candles.In front of the shrine is a row of camp paper tablets with black characters.After waiting for a while, an introducer led a group of "sisters" straight to the temple gate.After Du Yuesheng followed them to the temple gate, the introducing teacher stretched out his hand and knocked lightly on the door three times. After a while, someone inside asked loudly: "Who are you?"

According to the rules of the Qing Gang, no one can make a wrong answer during the ceremony of opening the incense hall.The introducer calmly said his name and surname: "I am Zhang XX, and I am here to catch up with Xiangtang." "Come up here holding the incense, do you have three gangs and nine generations?" "Have!" "Did you bring any money?" "129 cash, with a penny in it." bingo.The gate of the temple opened with a "squeak", and the introducer led about 10 "Chezi" to the divine case.Du Yuesheng took a peek, and saw the tablet tablets of 17 patriarchs on the altar, and one of them was: "The Zen seat of Patriarch Daxiamo." At this time, Chen Shichang was sitting on a chair , Chen Shichang is the life teacher of this group of "sisters", and on both sides of him, there are two rows of seniors who are chasing Xiangtang.

Immediately, someone brought a basin of water and cleaned their hands one by one in order of generation, starting from the natal master.Clean hands means shower. There is only one basin of water and dozens of pairs of hands. When it was Du Yuesheng's turn to wash, the clean water almost turned into mud.However, instead of thinking it was dirty, he washed and washed it reverently. According to the rules, after cleansing your hands, you have to fast, and another big bowl of sea water was brought over, and then everyone turned from the natal master in turn, one mouthful per person, and the mouth was not allowed to touch the edge of the bowl when drinking. After fasting, you can concentrate on welcoming the ancestors from now on. At this time, Master Baoxiang walked out of the ranks and sang a poem inviting ancestors loudly: The ancestors of all ages came down the mountain, Red felt paved with lotus platform; Purdue disciples help Zhongjin, Thousands of lotus flowers bloom everywhere. Amidst the ugly singing, Du Yuesheng kowtowed and burned incense in front of the tablets of the ancestors along with others. At this time, the temple gate was closed tightly, and the incense holder announced: "The natal master can participate in the ancestors!" At this time, Chen Shichang left his seat and took his seat, facing the altar, silently recited a poem that he didn't understand, and then reported his family name: "I, Chen Shichang, from Shanghai County, sign up for incense." After he finished reporting, Another three kowtows were performed.Behind him, the people present followed suit and kowtowed to the altar.At this point, Du Yuesheng was refreshed, and followed the introduction teacher to pay homage to the life master and the uncle of the sect who was present. After the meeting, Du Yuesheng imitated everyone's example and handed in the pre-prepared invitations and respects.The letter of apprenticeship is a piece of red paper, with a line in the middle of the front: "Old Master Chen", on the right side are three generations of resumes, my name, age, and place of origin, and on the left side is signed by the introducer first, and the year, month, and day are appended. On the reverse side of the teacher's invitation, there is an oath written: "One ancestor passed on, forever, and the water flows eastward, never looking back!" After handing over the letter of worship, the teacher of praise distributed three incense sticks to each of them, and the "sisters" knelt down holding the incense and listened respectfully to the preacher's introduction of the history of the gang.After the introduction, Chen Shichang looked down at the kneeling "Zizi" and asked: "Did you join the gang out of your own will, or was it persuaded?" The crowd replied: "Out of willingness!" Therefore, Chen Shichang sternly taught: "Since it is voluntary, you must understand that if you don't invite me, you won't take it with you. If you don't come, you don't blame it. Those who come will be precepted. It is easy to join the gang and it is difficult to leave the gang. You can't buy it with thousands of dollars, and you can't buy it with ten thousand dollars!" Du Yuesheng and others repeatedly said: "Yes, yes!" Chen Shichang collected all the greeting cards, and suddenly shouted majesticly: "Little masters accept the gift!" Then, he glanced at everyone coldly, and talked about the gang rules and various cuts in the gang, Signals, movements, gestures... Finally, he said: "You have mastered these, no matter what wharf you go to, as long as the members of the Qing Gang are there and show your license plate, you can get help. But if you use it wrongly, it will be regarded as impersonation, and you will be killed. From now on, you will all be 'enlightened' A person of seniority." Du Yuesheng and more than 10 "co-attendants" became full members of the Youth Gang. After listening to Chen Shichang's lecture, Du Yuesheng almost entered the state of fascination.Standing beside him were Yuan Shanbao and another man named Ma Xiangsheng.Yuan Shanbao's eyes were also shining with novelty, but Ma Xiangsheng didn't seem to care about it. Suddenly, he sneaked into Du Yuesheng's ear and said in a Changzhou accent: "Yuesheng, old man Chen only has leather skills. It's just a small role in Shanghai Beach!" Du Yuesheng was taken aback, and stared blankly at Ma Xiangsheng.Ma Xiangsheng closed one eye and opened the other, and said inscrutably, "In a few days, my brother will take you to Tongfulihuang Mansion to open your eyes." Thinking that he had been hiding among the fireworks at Xiaodongmen for too long recently, Du Yuesheng nodded immediately when he heard something eye-opening, and agreed to go with him.