What exactly does Old Nine Gates mean? Is there a historical prototype? An introduction to the present situation of future generations.

The old nine gates were invented in novels, and there are no descendants. The name is taken from the post of "Nine Prefects" in Qing Dynasty, which is just a metaphor.

In the Southern School's Notes on Grave Robbery, the Old Nine Doors refer to the nine families who robbed tombs in old Changsha, also known as the Nine Doors prefect.

The commander-in-chief of five battalions patrolled by Jiumen Bujun, referred to as "Jiumen Prefect" or "Commander-in-Chief of Bujun" for short, was the military attache of the Qing Dynasty in Beijing, and was established in the 13th year of Kangxi (1674).

There are different opinions about why it is called the nine-door prefect. The most recognized one is that there are nine gates in ancient big cities, and merchants who come and go have to choose one of them.

That's what the Laojiu man in the novel means. To do cultural relics business in Changsha, you can only choose one of these nine forces, and there is no other way to go.

Extended data:

Prefect (Nine Prefects) Battalion Commander of the Fifth Battalion of the Nine Steps Army

The garrison, guard and public security institutions in the capital of Qing Dynasty were called "prefect, nine infantry governors, and five battalions commanding the yamen", commonly known as "infantry commanding the yamen". The commander-in-chief is called "Infantry Commander" for short, commonly known as "Nine Prefects" (there are nine gates in the inner city of Shi Jing, namely Zhengyang, Chongwen, Xuanwu, Chaoyang, Dongzhi, Fucheng, Xizhi, Desheng and Anding).

Nine Magistrates are in charge of the Eight Banners Infantry of Manchu, Mongolian and Han armies and the Horse Infantry of green camp, the capital ("patrol camp"). The specific tasks of his department are to station troops in a pan-style ("pan-style" refers to the establishment of grass-roots units), inspect city gates, catch thieves, and apply for night patrols.

The infantry commander-in-chief was founded in the early Qing Dynasty and has undergone several changes. Originally only responsible for the Eight Banners Infantry Battalion. In the 13th year of Kangxi (1674), he became the prefect of Beijing Jiumen (formerly under the management of the Ministry of War), and in the 30th year of Kangxi (169 1), he was also in charge of the 3rd Battalion, so the full title was changed to "Commander of the 9th Battalion".

In the seventh year of Yongzheng (1729), the official position was named "Step Army Commanding Yamen". In the 12th year (1734), the official office was officially established in Xuanwu Gate, Gyeonggi. Nine years later, it was moved to Maoer Hutong in the north city, also known as the "North Yamen" (both the punishments in charge of the trial were located in the south city, so it was called the "South Yamen").

In the forty-six years of Qianlong (178 1), the governor added two left and right battalions to become five battalions, namely, middle, south, north, left and right. Therefore, the chief of the yamen was renamed as "the commander of the five battalions of the Nine-door Step Army".

In the fourth year of Jiaqing (1799), the official rank was changed from one.

References:

Old Nine Gates-Baidu Encyclopedia? Commander of the Fifth Battalion of the Nine-door Step Army-Baidu Encyclopedia