In the history of China, the nature of escort agencies is similar to that of escort agencies, which can be said to be a post station. The earliest post stations can be traced back to the Sui and Tang Dynasties. We know that the post station at that time was specially used to escort some letters to and from the imperial court. It can be seen that the limitations of the post station are limited to the imperial court, but there is no guarantee mechanism for some commercial exchanges between the people. So in the early Qing Dynasty, with the rise of China's financial industry, escort agencies gradually appeared. Escort agency, also known as escort agency, is an organization that protects people's property or personal safety with money and martial arts. In the old society, the traffic was inconvenient, and tourists were hard and unsafe, so there was a escort, which was the embryonic form of bodyguards in escort agencies. It is difficult to know exactly when the escort company in China started. According to the modern scholar Juxian Wei's History of Shanxi Banks, the originator of escort should be Zhang Heiwu, a native of Shanxi. During the reign of Qing Qianlong, Zhang Heiwu founded Xinglong Escort Agency in Qianmenwai Street, Beijing. (Juxian Wei further concluded that the Escort Agency was set up by Gu, Fu Shan, Dai and others in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties to fight against the Qing Dynasty, restore the line of sight and protect the merchants from carrying money. Later, when an escort agent saw a bandit in a distant mountain, he shouted, "I'll escort the car and the rivers and lakes will return safely for half a year." It is said that this "Wu" is a homonym of "Black Five". With the increasing complexity of social life, escort agencies undertake more and more extensive work. Not only will ordinary private property be guaranteed, but the reimbursement paid by local officials will also be transported by escort agencies. Because the escort agencies have connections with various places or have semicolons, some remittance services are also undertaken by the escort agencies. Later, guards, banks, etc. And the escort agency sent someone. The post station we mentioned just now is specially used to escort some letters coming and going from Chaoshan, forming the earliest letter dart; By the middle of Qing Dynasty, with the rise of financial industry (the appearance of draft banks), the main business of Escort Agency was to escort silver escorts for draft banks, forming two escort departments of Escort Agency. Silver darts and ticket darts; By the end of the Qing Dynasty, with the gradual decline of labels, the main business objects of escort agencies had changed into wealthy guests who escorted some clothes, things, jewelry and personal safety, forming three dart systems: food dart, material dart and personal dart, which were six dart systems adopted by escort agencies, namely; There are six kinds of darts: letter darts, ticket darts, silver darts, grain darts, physical darts and human darts.

There are three things to do in escort agency business: first, there are hard backers in the government; Second, there is a hard relationship in the green forest; Third, we have our own efforts, and all three are indispensable. To start an escort company, you must first arrange some people at the local table and invite famous friends from the government and the private sector to join us. This is called "light escort". If the relationship is not enough, it will be difficult to do business in the future; The popularity is not good. As soon as the darts are opened, someone kicks the field and closes the door without two strokes. Only when there is no problem with the bright escort can the escort agency stand on its feet, but whether it can get ahead depends on whether it can get ahead the first time.

The organization of escort agency includes escort agency boss, chief escort, escorts engaged in bodyguard work, escorts, big shopkeepers, people who manage chores and handymen.

The boss of the escort agency has a wide range of people and a good relationship; Rich and powerful people (gangsters or lawless elements) dare not provoke them. If something goes wrong, the government will be flat, and the dart will be robbed and compensated. The big shopkeeper said an eagle-eyed but careful abacus; Be optimistic about the goods, the valuation is not outrageous, it is absolutely necessary to do something up and down, and the cost will never be wasted. As for the chief escort, they are generally well-known figures in the Jianghu, and they are either amazing in their artistic career or famous after retirement.

Dart path experience

The business of escort agencies is called "escort" or "escort". According to the distance of the foot and the value of the goods, different "dart profits" are adopted, and a "dart list" is signed after consultation, which indicates the place of shipment, the name of the goods, the quantity and the amount of the dart profits. They are all marked, and both sides have posted books (that is, seals, their seals are amorphous). Escort to the designated place and business firm to obtain the dart profit. Escort generally has a general escort or experienced escort "escort", several skilled escorts and a group of clumsy guys; The silver goods were locked in a "dart car" with a "dart flag". The man shouted "Darts" in his mouth, holding a list of items to receive darts in his hand, and then carrying a pass issued by the government-showing it to officers and men when he met a pass. In order to avoid entanglement, escorts sometimes secretly slip them some money.

When you encounter a situation on the road, such as finding a thorny note on the road, you will know that something is wrong ahead. This is called "the evil tiger is in the way". These tough cops can't catch them by themselves. They must be ready to meet the robbers. The escort will click the "wheel head"; It means to make all the dart cars form a circle and prepare to defend against the enemy. However, before the last moment, it is usually either "breaking the disc" or tearing the face and fighting. Only half of the people who make a living in Jianghu rely on martial arts, and the other half rely on slang in Jianghu. The people in the escort agency are holding the escort car, shouting the escort number, and constantly telling people: "Come with me!" (We are all Jianghu people)

Brothers who meet the black threshold usually say some Jianghu pleasantries first, which probably means that it is not easy for grandfathers to enjoy a meal, so let it go. If the other party doesn't answer, they greet each other in Jianghu dialect to show their face and make a name for themselves. Make friends as soon as you meet. After that, I will meet them to propose a toast and tea, so as not to meet each other in a narrow way. In case the escort is robbed, it is better to find out the other party's route first, get the clue and then get it back. Usually, escort agencies do not report accidents publicly. Whether it's a small matter of death (that is, injury) or death (that is, death), Jianghu people must act according to Jianghu rules, otherwise it will be untenable.

If you can't call out the dart number, you need to talk at the spring point, which is the jargon in Wulin. Only people inside the escort agency know, but outsiders don't understand at all. For example, they call smoking a "pit", matches a "Liangzi" and coats a "leaf" ... If the other party still doesn't want to stop, they have to copy the guy's "Ming Qing Zi" (that is, draw a bright sword) to keep out the wind. The so-called "wind protection" means driving the other side away, unless it is absolutely necessary (that is, killing the other side), or whipping the soil (that is, killing people), which is never clear. There are also many people who rob the dart car, which is the so-called "missing dart". This kind of thing is not uncommon. The escort has arranged everything at home before each trip and is ready not to go home once.

Six precepts of guards

There are also some rules and commandments among bodyguards, and the "Six Commandments of Bodyguards" is one of them.

Don't live in the newly opened shop. Because the newly-opened store can't fathom people's hearts, bodyguards won't take risks at will, as long as the door says that a well-opened store can't survive.

Quit and change the boss's shop, change the boss's shop. People expect that there will be a thief shop and bodyguards will not live there.

Ban prostitute shops. In some shops, prostitutes will be tricked into throwing darts, and bodyguards will not take risks.

Don't leave your weapons with you. Whether you are walking on the road or staying in a hotel, you must carry weapons with you just in case.

Don't leave people, whether it's a dart car by land, a dart boat by water, or a protected official, businessmen are not allowed to leave at will.

Don't ignore doubts. As a guard, you must be alert to all directions. Once you find something suspicious, you should keep an eye on it and be ready to fight at any time.

Escort car

Escort agency employs some martial arts chivalrous men in the society, which is called Escort Master in Wulin. Their main business is to escort silver for the ticket number. At that time, there were two escort routes, one was by water and the other was by land. Escort vehicle was an important means of transportation for escort agencies at that time. There are many kinds of dart cars, from horse-drawn carriages to carts. What kind of escort car to use is usually determined by the goods transported. The most commonly used dart car is called unicycle dart car. It is characterized by only one wheel, so it is more convenient for cars to walk on bumpy mountain roads. A pennant is usually inserted on it, and the words on the flag represent the surname of the chief guard. When the robber saw who guaranteed the darts. You may not dare to rob, because the martial arts of these escorts are all famous martial arts experts in the Jianghu, and they are all famous for their stunts.

Dart flag

For the dart car, the most important thing is a small flag-the dart flag. When holding darts, it is inevitable that some robbers will come to grab them on the way. When grabbing these robbers, look at the small flag. If it is a dart guaranteed by a powerful master, they dare not start work easily. Over time, this little flag became a symbol of the escort.

Dart box

Most of the dart boxes are made of elm pagodas, and the boxes themselves weigh 70 or 80 kilograms. The lock adopts the most advanced anti-theft hidden lock. At that time, only the big shopkeeper and the second shopkeeper could open the keys together, which played a role in preventing corruption. The dart box has a history of more than 200 years, which is used on water, transported by land and transported by horse.

Dart's presentation and writing

There is a whole set of sayings about "darts". Some people say it's a copper inlaid pattern on the scabbard, others say it's a "blade", and more often it's a "hidden weapons". The thumb is pressed down with four fingers, and the elbow is called "Yang hand dart", "Yin hand dart" and "Return hand dart". The dart is not a mascot, but a weapon. The establishment of security agencies to protect the transfer of businessmen's property is a bit of a "guarantee" flavor that is popular all over the world today. In terms of writing, in the past, the dart of the escort agency was marked with the word "wood", such as Jin Ping Mei in the Ming Dynasty. The fifty-fifth time, it was said that Ximen Qing "has two silk and satin shops at home, and now it is necessary to open the bid." It shows that the dart line in Ming Dynasty is called "marking line". At the end of the Qing Dynasty, with the appearance of the ticket number, it was changed to the word "ticket" next to the word "gold". The word "dart" in front represents the 18 weapons in front, and the tickets in the back represent the silver of the ticket number. The so-called dart is to use force to ensure the safety of money. The escort agency is such a special institution, which is equivalent to the current security company. The background color of the dart flag is yellow, because Shanxi is located in the Loess Plateau, and it is red next to it, which means

A leader in the industry

Escort agencies are also strong and weak. The strongest is the top ten famous escort agencies in China (I don't know who arranged this, remember the eight escort agencies). They are Xinglong Escort Agency (during the reign of Qing Qianlong), Hui You Escort Agency (Qing Qianlong-19 12), Chengxing Escort Agency, Yuanshun Escort Agency (1878- 1900) and Yu Yong Escort Agency (Qing Jiaqing-60).

The first one, Xinglong Escort Agency-calling itself the first escort agency-has said it before, so I won't say much.

Second, Hui You Escort Agency-the home of Li Hongzhang, Minister of Beiyang Government, is protected by Hui You Escort Agency. The founder of the threesome is Song Yanchao, and his unique skill is san huang knocking on the door. San huang Gun Hammer Gate has a long history. It is also called Renzong Gate, Renzu Gate and HuangSanmen because it is the ancestor of Xuanyuan Huangdi (that is, Ren Huang family). With the development of history, Huang San's gun-beating boxing has been continuously developed and perfected, and spread and passed down. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Qiao Sanxiu, a famous martial arts master in Jixian County, Hebei Province, taught this technique, and only written records and cultural relics can be tested. Qiao Sanxiu passed on his son Qiao Ling (the word crane age) as the second generation. Qiao Ling passed on the subtle essence of this art to four disciples of the third generation: Song Yanchao, Deng Julian and Wang Shuangkui. Song Yanchao collected what he had learned all his life, devoted himself to studying, and created the stunt of "the master surrendered three times". In the 25th year of Daoguang (1845), Song Yanchao came to Beijing to join the "Shenji Camp" to serve the country. The old seventh master in the camp ordered Song to learn skills from the martial arts masters in the camp. Song's hands were magical and exquisite, and all the masters were defeated by Song. The old seven kings were very happy and exclaimed, "What a fist!" Give five bright blue hats one by one. Since then, the name of "Shenquan Liaomailun" has become a household name in Wulin. Song roamed the capital, met Dong Haichuan, the founder of Bagua Palm, and became close friends one by one. Song heard and witnessed Beijing's political corruption and felt hopeless to serve the country. He abandoned his official position and opened the "Kyoto Friends Escort Agency" in Wailiangdian Street, Qianmen, Beijing, to make friends with martial arts, engage in the profession of guards and teach martial arts. Since then, a new era in the history of san huang has opened. Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty for five years (1866), the son of Lian Deng, was first taught by his father Yu Jian (Tang) and then went to Beijing to worship as a teacher. After learning the secrets of the Song Dynasty, my skills became more refined and my achievements were excellent. From then on, Yu Jian opened the door to Beijing, and taught Huang San the cannon, hammer and fist. In a long historical period, the reputation of Kyoto Huiyou Escort Agency and san huang Cannonball Gate was greatly shaken, and the business of Escort Agency was booming. Huang San's shooting boxing has also been widely spread and developed. Later, an excellent escort like Li Yaochen appeared in the escort agency. During his stay in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, he preached the endless art of using saber created by the army. In the Battle of xifengkou, he learned endless knife skills, fought with nearly 100 devils for more than 60 miles, and seized 18 cannons. Many people have studied martial arts with Li Yaochen. Yang Xiaolou, a Peking Opera performer, performed Monkey Boxing and Mei Lanfang performed Yuji's fencing, both of which were taught by Li Yaochen. Later, Li also beat the Japanese by two beats. However, the river is going downhill, only for individuals, not for current events.

The third Chengxing Escort Agency has a rule that the escort agency is not called Cangzhou. It is about the dart car that used to travel from south to north, whether it was the underworld or the waterway. As long as the car arrives in Cangzhou and the ship passes through Cangzhou, it is necessary to lower the dart flag and pass quietly, and no dart number is allowed. Otherwise, no matter how famous you are, just shout the challenge of darts in Cangzhou to ensure that you don't fall and lose face. The origin of this regulation is Li Guanming, the pioneer of Chengxing Escort Agency. After him, the "Chengxing Escort Agency", which was run by his nephews Li Fenggang and Li Qinglin for three generations, was also famous. And Fung Lan Lee's apprentice is even worse. It's Wang Zibin, the dagger of Yuanshun Escort Agency.

Wang Zibin (1844- 1900), a Hui nationality, is from Nanmen, Cangzhou. 12 years old, apprenticed in a biscuit shop. He often goes to Chengxing Escort Agency to steal paintings for self-study. He works very hard. Later, Li Fenggang, the shopkeeper of the escort agency, found out that he wanted to be an apprentice. However, because Li is a Hui nationality and Wang is a Han nationality, there is a saying that art does not preach. After reconciliation, Wang Gai Hui people and Li Fenggang took the teacher as their teachers and practiced Liuhe Quan. He ranks fifth among other disciples, and because of his skillful swordsmanship, he used a bigger knife than ordinary ones, so he was called Wang Wu the broadsword. In the fourth year of Guangxu in Qing Dynasty (1878), Yuanshun Escort Agency was founded in Xibanbi Street, Beijing. There are too many stories and legends about him as a great warrior in Beijing, but the most important thing is to help reform and protect the hearse. After he was killed by the Germans, Yuanshun Escort Company also broke up. Generally speaking, it is the shortest starting time in the big escort agency.

Let's talk about Yu Yong's fifth escort agency. The chief guard is a native of Cangzhou, Hebei Province, nicknamed Chang Mei Lao Dao Zhang Demao. Zhang Demao is a martial arts family, and his grandfather Zhang Jinghe, known as Shenquan Sect, was a famous boxer in Kangxi period. The old man was probably tired when he went to Daoguang to run an escort agency. Once he met an elegant young man outside Beijing and planned to pass on his martial arts to future generations. Who is this guy? He is Zuo Changde of Xiaoziqu Village, Wenshui County, Shanxi Province. Because he ranked second, people gave him a nickname, and his left hand was second. Zhang demao passed on most of his abilities to Zuo Changde. The most important one is cotton palm. Cotton palm is also called chain cotton palm, and the technique is mainly palm. The operation stretches like cotton, and the movement is continuous. The palm method runs in a circle and stretches out your hand. When the other side has softened the cotton, it is named cotton palm. Zuo Changde did not live up to the pains of the old man. He practiced cotton palm for eight years in the morning and evening, and his martial arts has reached the point of perfection. At this time, the young man was 26 years old. Zhang demao introduced him to Suzhou and opened Yu Yong Escort Agency, which was changed to Changlong Escort Agency the following year. From then on, Zuo began his bodyguard career and traveled all over the country for more than 30 years, during which Zuo Zi and Zuo Sun Bingxin followed him as martial arts bodyguards.

The seventh is Guangsheng Escort Agency, a credit store. Dai Erlv, the escort, was born in Qixian County, Shanxi Province, into an official martial arts family with a scholarly family. Why does he have this nickname? Because his father Dai Longbang thinks that Dai's family is famous abroad, but the risks are repeated and he often feels precarious, so he takes Shanxi's local customs as the name of cheap things, and the longer it takes, the safer it will be. After the second donkey became famous, people thought it was too unsightly to call it that, so they changed it into a donkey to show their respect. Dai Erlu grew up with extraordinary skills and studied psychological boxing with his father Dai Longbang. His father passed it on to his children without reservation. Therefore, after learning all the techniques of Dai Jiaquan and machinery, he practiced hard day and night, including five elements boxing, Ten Lines, Seven Lines, Seven Guns and Seven Straps, Dai Jiasan Boxing, and short routines such as Liuhe Knife, Gun, Stick, Four, and Brake. Dai Jiaquan's basic skill is called "Lying Monkey", and Er Lv spent three years on it, so when dealing with people, he can hit 20 feet away with one hand. After Dai Erlu became famous, the Shanxi businessman who was in the credit shop at that time returned to his hometown and invited him to be a bodyguard for doing business in the credit shop. It is said that Dai Erlu came to the credit shop for the first time, and there were many local martial arts masters. Dai Erlu made friends with him and failed to win. To this end, he returned to China to study for three years. In the sixth year of Jiaqing in Qing Dynasty (180 1), Fang came to the credit shop again and founded Guangsheng Escort Agency. The escort in the escort agency includes his brother Dai Dalu and his brother. Its darts mainly go to Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hebei, Beijing, Zhangjiakou, Tianjin and other places. The escort flag marked with the name of the escort agency is inserted in the escort car, and passers-by should "shout escort" all the way. One is to show the reputation of the escort agency, and the other is to tell the Jianghu people along the way not to move evil thoughts, which is also a respect for the Jianghu people. At that time, Cangzhou, Hebei Province was the hometown of martial arts. As a respect for the martial arts of Cangzhou, once the escort agencies from all over the country enter the ground of Cangzhou, they can't shout darts. Once the escort of Guangsheng Escort Agency passed through Cangzhou, Shandong Province, a new escort didn't know the rules and called the escort rashly. Yin Yuwen, the third martial artist, stopped the way and asked for guilt. Dai Erlu apologized again and again, but the Third Military Division refused and insisted on fighting it. Dai Erlu had no choice but to fight with them. As a result, all three martial artists were defeated by his men. From then on, "Dai Jiaquan" became famous, and Guangsheng Escort Agency became famous all over the world.

The eighth is Tongxing Escort Agency. Tongxing Palace Escort Agency was established by Wang Zhengqing, whose real name is An Song, who is known as the "king of noodles" and is from Nanliangzhuang, Pingyao. Born in the sixth year of Qing Jiaqing (AD 180 1), he studied in a private school for two years when he was young, and his family was poor. /kloc-left his hometown at the age of 0/6 and became an apprentice in a noodle restaurant in Beijing. At that time, there was no mill, so Wang Zhengqing could only knead flour with his elbow, which taught him amazing arm strength. Wang Zhengqing later studied martial arts with martial arts master Liu Liu for three years and made rapid progress. Later, he took Liu Liu's younger brother Jia Diankui as his teacher, and Jia Diankui taught Daoguang Wushu. Jia liked Wang Zhengqing very much, so he subsidized his living expenses and asked him to concentrate on practicing martial arts. Julian Waghann learned many sets of martial arts such as Shaolin Sanshou 108 potential from Jia Diankui. At the same time, he often learns martial arts from Chang Yi, a master at home. Three years have passed, and Wang Zhengqing has learned a lot about internal and external schools. At the age of 30, Wang Zhengqing became Zhu Wen's martial arts teacher in Jiangxi Daotai. At the age of 36, he went to Henan with Zhu Wen. In the past nine years, he has subdued countless thieves and helped the local government solve the public security problem. In the 28th year of Daoguang (AD 1848), 47-year-old Wang Zhengqing bid farewell to Jianghu and returned to Pingyao. The following year, he opened Tongxing Palace Escort Agency. Wang Zhengqing, Dai Longbang and Li Yuxiu of Wenxian County are also called "the three outstanding men in North China". All three people have escort agency business, often exchange needed goods, and sometimes their men will escort together. Shaolin Temple in Songshan, Henan Province once carved a monument for Wang Zhengqing, which was recorded in the history of Wulin. His son Wang Shumao is a true story with the potential to shine on you, so Tongxinggong Escort Agency became one of the famous escort agencies in China at that time. It is said that in 1900, Eight-Nation Alliance attacked Tianjin and entered Beijing. Empress Dowager Cixi fled to xi 'an with Emperor Guangxu in her arms. On the ninth day of August, the Second Palace arrived in Pingyao and counted 932,000 pieces of silver. For such a large sum, no one dares to be the bodyguard of this royal silver. Only Wang Jiacai of Pingyao, Shanxi, dares to answer it. Coincided with troubled times, the Wang Jiafei dart team ran all the way and experienced a tortuous day. This plaque, still hanging on the old site of the Wang family, was given by Empress Dowager Cixi after completing the imperial mission that year.

The ninth Sanhe Escort Agency was founded by An Jinyuan of Dongyang Town, Yuci County, Shanxi Province. According to legend, in the mid-Qing Dynasty, eight famous teachers of Shaolin Temple, * * *, in order to abandon the sectarian concept, shared their skills, collected the essence of Tai Chi, Eight Diagrams, Xingyiquan, Shaolin, Tong 'an, Eagle Claw, Liuhe and Qinna, and worked out a boxing method with * * *, so they were named public boxing, also known as Gongquan. An Jinyuan (1850- 1927) is the fifth generation descendant of Gongyi Boxing. During the Guangxu period of Qing Dynasty, An opened a "Sanhe Escort Agency" in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, and made friends with martial arts experts, so he spread this boxing to the world.

Finally, this Wantong Escort Agency is also great. The founder is the famous "one-handed Li". Li Cunyi Li Cunyi, formerly known as Cunyi, whose real name is Su Tang, was later renamed Cunyi, whose real name is Zhong Yuan. Born in the 27th year of Qing Daoguang (1847), he was born in Nanxiaoying Village, Shenxian County, Hebei Province. Warm-hearted, materialistic, fond of boxing, learning long and short fists since childhood. Liu, a famous Xingyiquan teacher, studied Xingyiquan at the age of 38, and gained the essence of Xingyiquan for several years. After hearing that Dong Haichuan in Beijing was good at eight diagrams, he went to Beijing to worship Dong Haichuan as his teacher. As he and Cheng are fellow villagers, he asked Cheng to introduce Dong Haichuan as his teacher. Dong Haichuan knew that Li Cunyi was good at Xingyiquan and refused to accept him as an apprentice at first. After many intercessions by disciples such as Liang Zhenpu and, Dong Haichuan agreed to accept him as an apprentice. He used to be the general manager of the Governor of Liangjiang, and later went to Baoding to set up Wantong Escort Agency, where he also received apprentices and taught arts. 1900, at the age of 53, he resolutely joined the Boxer Rebellion, went into battle alone, stood up against the enemy, was fearless in the face of foreign guns, and bravely killed the enemy. In the battle of the old leader station in Tianjin, he had more than a dozen foreign soldiers and was famous in the Central Plains. For a time, he was called "Lee alone" and spread like wildfire. Abandon darts in his later years and concentrate on teaching his disciples. In three years (19 1 1), Ye He founded the Chinese Wushu Association in Tianjin.

Where there are people, there will be rivers and lakes, where there are rivers and lakes, there will be robbers, and there will be robbers who need escort agencies. Escort agencies not only rely on the existence of bandits in Jianghu, but also have close ties with Jianghu. Some Jianghu people who are targeted by the government can't be caught if they live in the escort agency after entering the city. On the one hand, escort companies are very powerful, on the other hand, escort companies often have supporters. For example, Li Hongzhang is the backstage of Beijing Huiyou Escort Agency. In fact, the escort agency has relations with the greenwood and the government, and interests determine the nature. Between the government and the people, escort agencies often present a contradictory dilemma. This undoubtedly hindered its development. With the development of society and the appearance of ticket number, escort agencies are gradually unsustainable. Coupled with the opening of trains, cars and ships and the emergence of banks, escort agencies gradually withdrew from the historical stage of China.