位于地安(an)門和鼓樓之間(jian)的(de)(de)(de)后(hou)門橋(qiao),是(shi)老(lao)北京的(de)(de)(de)商業區,亦是(shi)要(yao)(yao)飯的(de)(de)(de)云聚(ju)之所。要(yao)(yao)飯的(de)(de)(de)面黃體瘦,整(zheng)天在橋(qiao)邊一(yi)(yi)蹲(dun),時(shi)人謚之為(wei)鎮(zhen)橋(qiao)侯(hou)。著(zhu)書言及(ji)(ji)乞(qi)丐,有傷及(ji)(ji)大雅(ya)之嫌。其(qi)實(shi),對(dui)城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)而言,乞(qi)丐是(shi)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)頗能(neng)反映實(shi)質的(de)(de)(de)切入點。首先應探(tan)討的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)什么人淪為(wei)乞(qi)丐,因為(wei)乞(qi)丐是(shi)“自由民”,不承擔封建義務。其(qi)次是(shi)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)能(neng)容納(na)乞(qi)丐的(de)(de)(de)數(shu)量,直(zhi)接反映了城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)人口構(gou)成、經濟結構(gou),以及(ji)(ji)“繁榮”的(de)(de)(de)基礎。再(zai)其(qi)次是(shi)市(shi)(shi)政當局對(dui)乞(qi)丐的(de)(de)(de)態度,最能(neng)反映出社會是(shi)處于上升時(shi)期還是(shi)沒落時(shi)期。故一(yi)(yi)些研(yan)究(jiu)城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)專著(zhu),均有關于乞(qi)丐的(de)(de)(de)章節,寫老(lao)北京的(de)(de)(de)鏢行,也就(jiu)不能(neng)不言及(ji)(ji)乞(qi)丐。
北京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)乞(qi)丐(gai)有(you)(you)兩(liang)大(da)幫(bang)(bang)(bang),南幫(bang)(bang)(bang)以天(tian)橋(qiao)為(wei)(wei)聚(ju)集點(dian)(dian),南幫(bang)(bang)(bang)乞(qi)丐(gai)大(da)多(duo)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)家鄉遇(yu)水(shui)旱(han)之(zhi)災而(er)(er)流入京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)城的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)饑民。進京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)后(hou)(hou)有(you)(you)“打(da)(da)(da)(da)工(gong)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)追(zhui)求(qiu)(qiu),也(ye)(ye)(ye)不(bu)(bu)(bu)會(hui)(hui)久滯(zhi),災情一(yi)(yi)過(guo)也(ye)(ye)(ye)就(jiu)返鄉務(wu)農。北幫(bang)(bang)(bang)以后(hou)(hou)門(men)橋(qiao)為(wei)(wei)聚(ju)集點(dian)(dian),是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)職(zhi)(zhi)業(ye)(ye)(ye)乞(qi)丐(gai)。職(zhi)(zhi)業(ye)(ye)(ye)乞(qi)丐(gai)以要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)為(wei)(wei)業(ye)(ye)(ye),無(wu)打(da)(da)(da)(da)工(gong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)追(zhui)求(qiu)(qiu),淪為(wei)(wei)職(zhi)(zhi)業(ye)(ye)(ye)乞(qi)丐(gai)之(zhi)前,大(da)多(duo)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“游手(shou)(shou)之(zhi)徒”。后(hou)(hou)門(men)橋(qiao)和掌管京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)城治安(an)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)軍(jun)政(zheng)機關步軍(jun)統領衙門(men)近在咫尺。嘎雜子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)們都有(you)(you)法制觀念(nian),更(geng)有(you)(you)“眼力見(jian)兒”,鬧事很會(hui)(hui)選擇場(chang)合。故后(hou)(hou)門(men)橋(qiao)一(yi)(yi)帶“社會(hui)(hui)治安(an)好”。但舊(jiu)京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)治安(an)機關有(you)(you)個不(bu)(bu)(bu)成文的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)土政(zheng)策——不(bu)(bu)(bu)懲治要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)。這種(zhong)土政(zheng)策的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)形成并不(bu)(bu)(bu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)出于(yu)惻隱之(zhi)心(xin)。而(er)(er)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)既敲(qiao)不(bu)(bu)(bu)出錢來,又榨不(bu)(bu)(bu)出油水(shui),“把叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)收(shou)(shou)(shou)監,他(ta)倒有(you)(you)飯(fan)(fan)轍(che)了(le)(le)(le)。”在這種(zhong)思想指導(dao)下(xia),要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)打(da)(da)(da)(da)官司能當原告(gao)(gao),當不(bu)(bu)(bu)了(le)(le)(le)被(bei)告(gao)(gao)。商界、民界不(bu)(bu)(bu)堪要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)騷(sao)擾時(shi),只好“打(da)(da)(da)(da)點(dian)(dian)打(da)(da)(da)(da)點(dian)(dian)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)頭(tou)(tou)”,所(suo)(suo)謂的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)頭(tou)(tou),就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“丐(gai)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)主”。舊(jiu)京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)頭(tou)(tou)”并不(bu)(bu)(bu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)電視劇中丐(gai)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)主的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)角(jiao)色。概而(er)(er)言之(zhi)“花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)頭(tou)(tou)”有(you)(you)兩(liang)手(shou)(shou),一(yi)(yi)手(shou)(shou)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“打(da)(da)(da)(da)”;一(yi)(yi)手(shou)(shou)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“養”。“打(da)(da)(da)(da)”是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)手(shou)(shou)持“龍(long)鞭(bian)”,在固定地盤上(shang)見(jian)要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)就(jiu)打(da)(da)(da)(da),打(da)(da)(da)(da)服(fu)了(le)(le)(le),也(ye)(ye)(ye)就(jiu)調(diao)教出來了(le)(le)(le)——按月上(shang)交“孝敬”。“養”是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)給要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)提供冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)住(zhu)所(suo)(suo)。職(zhi)(zhi)業(ye)(ye)(ye)叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)四季(ji)(ji)滯(zhi)留(liu)城區,冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)老天(tian)爺“收(shou)(shou)(shou)人”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)季(ji)(ji)節,更(geng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“收(shou)(shou)(shou)叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)季(ji)(ji)節。一(yi)(yi)夜(ye)風雪,街頭(tou)(tou)巷尾總要(yao)(yao)出現一(yi)(yi)些(xie)(xie)“路倒”。這些(xie)(xie)“路倒”大(da)多(duo)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)。德勝門(men)外后(hou)(hou)九條(tiao)一(yi)(yi)帶是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)舊(jiu)京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)城鄉兩(liang)不(bu)(bu)(bu)管地區。花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)頭(tou)(tou)在這一(yi)(yi)帶建造低(di)矮的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)土坯房,時(shi)人稱之(zhi)為(wei)(wei)“雞(ji)(ji)毛(mao)(mao)小(xiao)店”。春、夏、秋三(san)季(ji)(ji)租給“打(da)(da)(da)(da)工(gong)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de),冬(dong)季(ji)(ji)“打(da)(da)(da)(da)工(gong)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)都還鄉了(le)(le)(le),“小(xiao)店”也(ye)(ye)(ye)就(jiu)成為(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“冬(dong)宮(gong)”。“冬(dong)宮(gong)”地面(mian)上(shang)鋪著一(yi)(yi)層厚厚的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)雞(ji)(ji)毛(mao)(mao),這層雞(ji)(ji)毛(mao)(mao)也(ye)(ye)(ye)就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鴨絨墊、鵝絨被(bei)了(le)(le)(le)。叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)住(zhu)“冬(dong)宮(gong)”也(ye)(ye)(ye)不(bu)(bu)(bu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)白(bai)住(zhu),要(yao)(yao)按例“孝敬”。光憑著打(da)(da)(da)(da)一(yi)(yi)手(shou)(shou),很難成為(wei)(wei)丐(gai)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)主,雖說叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)賤(jian)骨頭(tou)(tou),不(bu)(bu)(bu)怕(pa)打(da)(da)(da)(da),但也(ye)(ye)(ye)不(bu)(bu)(bu)能真打(da)(da)(da)(da),逼急了(le)(le)(le)兔(tu)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)也(ye)(ye)(ye)會(hui)(hui)咬人。京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)城是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)“首善之(zhi)區”,“法制社會(hui)(hui)”,要(yao)(yao)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)失手(shou)(shou)打(da)(da)(da)(da)出人命,后(hou)(hou)果亦難設想。建“冬(dong)宮(gong)”廣收(shou)(shou)(shou)京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)城叫(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)花(hua)(hua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi)(zi),幫(bang)(bang)(bang)主之(zhi)尊也(ye)(ye)(ye)就(jiu)“勢之(zhi)必然”。舊(jiu)京(jing)(jing)(jing)(jing)城鄉不(bu)(bu)(bu)管之(zhi)地有(you)(you)不(bu)(bu)(bu)少“雞(ji)(ji)毛(mao)(mao)小(xiao)店”,所(suo)(suo)以幫(bang)(bang)(bang)之(zhi)多(duo)也(ye)(ye)(ye)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)車載斗量。要(yao)(yao)飯(fan)(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)被(bei)時(shi)人謚(shi)為(wei)(wei)鎮橋(qiao)侯,丐(gai)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)幫(bang)(bang)(bang)主也(ye)(ye)(ye)就(jiu)被(bei)謚(shi)為(wei)(wei)鎮橋(qiao)公(gong)了(le)(le)(le)。
橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)元(yuan)(yuan)代的至元(yuan)(yuan)二十二年(1285年),開始(shi)為木橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),后(hou)改(gai)為單孔石橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。元(yuan)(yuan)代在(zai)(zai)北京建(jian)都(dou)城大都(dou)后(hou),為解決漕(cao)運(yun)(yun),在(zai)(zai)郭守(shou)敬的指揮下(xia),引昌平(ping)白(bai)浮(fu)泉水(shui)(shui)入(ru)城,修建(jian)了通(tong)(tong)惠河,由南方沿大運(yun)(yun)河北上的漕(cao)運(yun)(yun)船(chuan)只,經通(tong)(tong)惠河可(ke)直(zhi)接(jie)駛入(ru)大都(dou)城內的積水(shui)(shui)潭。而(er)萬寧(ning)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)(shi)積水(shui)(shui)潭的入(ru)口,并且設(she)有閘(zha)口,漕(cao)船(chuan)要進入(ru)積水(shui)(shui)潭,必須從橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下(xia)經過。萬寧(ning)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)在(zai)(zai)當時(shi)所起的作(zuo)用是(shi)(shi)巨大的。由于(yu)交(jiao)通(tong)(tong)便(bian)利(li),又(you)毗鄰皇城,加(jia)之景色不遜江南,因此,當時(shi)萬寧(ning)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)附近(jin)商肆畫舫云集,絲竹悅(yue)耳,酒香醉(zui)人,好一(yi)派繁華景象。萬寧(ning)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)在(zai)(zai)元(yuan)(yuan)大都(dou)的建(jian)筑(zhu)設(she)施中(zhong)具有重要的地(di)位(wei),它也是(shi)(shi)北京漕(cao)運(yun)(yun)歷史的見證。