Chapter 13 Chapter 1 Before and After Bleeding

On the 15th day of the seventh month of the Xinhai Year of the Lunar Calendar, Huang Lansheng was slightly delayed, and when his sedan chair on three crutches landed on the open space inside the Yimen of Zhitai Yamen, it was almost half past ten in the morning.The big green woolen sedan chairs, the big blue woolen sedan chairs, the hard three-shaped sedan chairs, and the soft three-shaped sedan chairs carried by four people inside the Yimen have already been placed in a large dam, almost reaching the lobby. Not surprising, as usual! As soon as I turned around the lobby, the situation was a little different.Everywhere in the aisles, in the government halls, in every corner, there are people, patrol soldiers and guards with knives and guns, and there are many entourages in plain clothes.There are more people on the eaves of the big flower hall.

Subconsciously, he felt that it was inconvenient to walk towards the big flower hall, so he turned around and walked around through a side aisle. There were also soldiers in the lane, standing shoulder to shoulder in a long line, dragging them all the way to the backyard. He was surprised.Just as I was about to ask an acquaintance for a question, it happened that a Wu Xunzu who met often and knew each other's names came hurriedly from the opposite side. "Master Pu!" He stood in front of a window, first greeted the military inspector, and said, "Is there any visitor in the Dahua Hall?"

"Yes! There are quite a few of them." Pu Zugeng smiled all over his face, wiped his oily sweat with a towel, and replied, "Did Master Huang just come? Seeing the way the courtyard looks like today, doesn't it seem a bit strange?" "That's right! Why are there so many soldiers, guards and patrols?" "I still don't quite understand. I just know that Mr. Tian from the Camp Office didn't go back last night, and the team has been transferred since about midnight." "?..." "Ok!……" The two of them faced each other, both a little dazed.

Huang Lansheng casually asked: "Who are the guests in the flower hall?" "Ha! When it comes to these guests, we have run enough!" Pu Zugeng said proudly, "I ran all over the southeast, north, south, and north, but the evil fruit was still invited in two nearby places. The strange thing is that we were exhausted. It took more than half an hour to invite the guests, and let others sit in the flower hall, and they were not in a hurry to see them. Maybe we will wait until everyone is here before we see them?" Huang Lansheng said with a smile: "Although it is a hard job, it shows that the credit is not small! I just don't know what kind of customers they are, so I want to look for them like this?"

"It's not a rare visitor. Hengshun is just a few big gentlemen who often walk around the courtyard: Pu Dianjun, Luo Lun, Deng Xiaoke, Jiang Sancheng, Wang Mingxin, Ye Maolin, Zhang Lan, Peng Lanfen and others. They are still there. The one who didn't show up was Yan Hanlin and Yan Kai, and the other was Hu Rong, the outgoing chief executive of the Telegraph Bureau." "Oh!" Huang Lansheng's heart was shocked, and he quickly asked, "Is it because of these people that the team transferred to the Yamen last night?" Pu Zugeng scratched his hair a few times with the nail of his right hand, frowned and said, "It's hard to say!..."

"It's really hard to say!" Huang Lansheng couldn't help but also frowned. After breaking up, Huang Lansheng hurried to the office of their staff in the East Backyard.Although the people from each department and room did not gather in one place to chat with each other, but from the gaps in the curtains hanging from the doors of each door, it could be seen that the people in each room were not sitting at their signing tables and burying their heads in business affairs. Some are holding tobacco leaves in their mouths, some are holding hookahs, and some are holding a cigarette between their fingers, and they are talking in a low voice.

Their Civil Affairs Section is no exception.When he opened the door curtain and went in, that fellow Zhiyong, civil affairs assistant, Jian Xiaohu from Guizhou, and a civil affairs committee member, Han Tongshu from Anhui, who was also a candidate for the magistrate team, were standing opposite each other, speaking vigorously. Seeing him coming in, Jian Xiaohu quickly turned around and asked, "Huang Lanweng just came, do you feel that there is something strange in the yamen today?" "Hmm! Why don't you think so? I just don't know what to do with so many teams in an ambush?" "Who knows? Han Tongweng thinks it's used to suppress the railway trend."

Han Tongshu nodded his head and said, "Of course! Since the old man has listened to Zhao Cishuai's words, he has to change his attitude and deal with the railway crisis seriously. Why not use force? Besides, the old man was born in war!" Huang Lansheng asked inexplicably: "Zhao Jishuai has listened to Zhao Cishuai's words, and wants to change his attitude?..." Jian Xiaohu said: "Yes, this is what our Ke Rao inspector told us when we came down to review the manuscript yesterday....Oh! You provided food yesterday, and you didn't come on leave, so I don't know....Now, I I can only tell you a few simple sentences. Rao observed that Ci Shuai sent several coded telegrams in a row, all of which were given to him by Zhao Laosi to translate. The words were similar, except that Ji Shuai was indecisive and fell into the trap of Wang Caichen. In addition to appeasement and raising traitors, I told him to wake up quickly, stop making differences with Sheng Xingsun and Duanwuqiao, and work together with them to suppress the Sichuan railway trend and implement state-owned policies. If Sichuan people still resist, they can be dealt with severely , the imperial court will definitely reward him... However, Rao Guan did not assert that Ji Shuai's attitude changed. He just said that Ji Shuai was in a very bad mood these days. The pressure outside is so great, and the Sichuan gentleman still wants to fight with him It’s embarrassing. In addition to strikes and school strikes, there are more and more tricks now, and there are so many troubles that they don’t pay taxes, don’t pay land money and food, and even discuss independent self-protection. I don’t know how bad this situation will be! I also asked Rao Observe, do you just let it go so badly? Ji Shuai always has some plans? Rao Observer just frowned and kept silent. So I really don't agree with Han Tongweng's assessment."

Han Tongshu said: "If there is a reason, it must be done, and if it is true, it doesn't matter whether you agree with it or not. In short, my estimation is just like what Confucius said. Although it is not right, it is not far away!" Huang Lansheng pondered and said: "Han Tongweng may have estimated it well. There is only one point, I still need to ask for advice. Since Ji Shuai wants to use his troops to deal with the road war, then, instead of sending the team to the railway company, he should be transferred to the yamen to ambush , but why?" Jian Xiaohu went to his signing table and sat down, knocked on the side of the table with his knuckles and said, "Go, go, go! Huang Lanweng's words really won my heart!"

Huang Lansheng shook his head and said: "Brother Xiaohu, wait a moment. My fellow man's calculations seem to be reasonable. If not, why would the Wu Xun arrest Lao Pu and the others run so exhausted that Pu Boying, Luo Ziqing, Yan Yongqi, Zhang Biao Fang, Deng Mulu, and Ye Bingcheng are invited to the Great Flower Hall?..." Han Tongshu had already sat on the armchair in front of his betting table, but he jumped up, put his hands on the table and said, "Is this really the case?" Jian Xiaohu also said as if surprised: "Then why didn't you say it earlier?"

"I thought you all knew." "How do we know?" Jian Xiaohu said, "I came here almost at the same time as Han Tongweng, and I haven't heard of this incident. Our subordinates have gone outside for business and haven't come in yet. We only see that there are people everywhere." Patrolmen, guards. No one is allowed to enter or leave the house, saying that it was the order of the Four Young Masters. Only Mr. Tian Mengqing of the Camp Affairs Department, Mr. Wang Yinbo of the Military Preparation Department, Mr. Yin Xingwu of Fantai, and the four cities of the New Committee The Chief Inspector, that precious Taizun Lu Zishan, and a few hot adults are exceptions. Even Mr. Rao, our section counselor, can’t come in and out freely!” Huang Lansheng was also taken aback and said: "Ah! There are such serious things, why didn't you say it earlier?" "Han Tongweng, think again, how will Ji Shuai deal with Chairman Pu after they are invited here?" Han Tongshu scratched his scalp and said, "This...it's not easy to estimate! I think it's always the courtesy first and then the soldiers!..." It was still Jian Xiaohu who asked, "You mean..." "Don't you understand? Inviting this group of people is to let them try to end this road war. At least they have to open the market and start classes, and take back the words of resisting grain and tax. First, let's talk about it and talk about it with courtesy. Wait. If this group of people understand the pros and cons, and bow their heads and promise, it will be fine. If not, then..." Huang Lansheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Then, let's show them some prestige! ... Yes, yes, this is a good way." Instead, Han Tongshu waved his hand and said, "The solution may not be the best." "why would you say so?" "Why? Because the old man was undecided. When he first took office, he was tough, and then he softened. It seemed that he was going from soft to hard in a few days, but when Yan Kai and Zhang Lan, on behalf of the shareholders' meeting, petitioned for a temporary adjournment and waited for investigation, he comforted him again. People say that since the president and others have done the work before, they should still study it carefully so as to be good at the future, and behave as softly as Wang Caishuai. Suspend the shareholders' meeting, and then dissolve the comrades' association. If you continue to force it, I think this trend of fighting for roads will definitely subside. Why is it happening again now? member's actions." Huang Lansheng said to Jian Xiaohu: "Han Tongweng talked very incisively. He is indeed a veteran in the officialdom. Admire! Admire!" Jian Xiaohu narrowed his eyes and said with a smile: "I don't believe that Ji Shuai's knowledge is so shallow that he can't even see the truth, not to mention there are so many military advisers around him!" He then changed the subject, "Say Maybe Ji Shuai can't see this because of his stubbornness. This is called being obsessed with the parties involved. It's a pity, why didn't Han Tongweng write your words into a statement and hand it over?" "Ticket Chen? Don't you remember that at the meeting of Wufutang that day, Lou Li ran a few words to ask the old man Zhou Zibo to visit him, and if he broke his heart, he met a hard nail from the old man? Now in the yamen In such a situation, it is better to speak less!" Huang Lansheng said: "But your brother has preached a lot at this time!" "Discuss in private, what are you afraid of!" At this moment, there was a sudden loud voice not far outside the yard. The three people in the first office of the Civil Affairs Department were still talking enthusiastically about what they thought they were clever, and they didn't notice the noise outside the yard.About the time he finished smoking a stick of leaf tobacco, Jian Xiaohu's ears were still sharper, and he heard the next room—it was the second office of the Civil Affairs Department, where there were only two clerks and one for checking, copying official affairs and sorting out files. ——The sound of footsteps running towards the outside of the room, he looked up: "What's up?……" Huang Lansheng then looked out the window.Sure enough, there were quite a few people standing on the eaves of a wide Mingyi column—colleagues from various departments, all tilting their heads, listening intently. They paused to watch, without going out, for from the open window they could faintly hear the tumult, now low, now high; The same words, really scary! "Tie it up! Tie it up! . . . " Huang Lansheng's whole body shook, and his eyes opened wide.At first glance, Jian Xiaohu seemed to be more surprised than him, even his nose and wings fluttered, and he said repeatedly: "Who is tied? Who is tied?" The frightening shout continued: "The leader of the slaughter!... Nine! Nine... order to prepare!..." Jian Xiaohu said with a pale face, "Killer!... Whom?" Han Tongshu was relatively calm, but when he spoke, his voice was still unnatural.He said: "Of course it is to kill those invited in the Dahua Hall." "Didn't you take that into consideration?" "It's really impossible to estimate!... But it's hard to say. Maybe it's because Chairman Pu and the others are too tough, pushing the old man so hard that he can't turn. That's why they broke up. There are also some cases." Suddenly a very familiar voice asked by the door curtain: "Is Master Rao there?" Han Tongshu said: "It's Xu Baosheng." Then he shouted loudly, "Mr. Baoweng, please come in and talk!" Xu Baosheng's name is Xu Guan, and he is a counselor of the Army Division and a counselor of the Law Division.As a member of the magistrate's team, acting as two Daotai errands, it is enough to show his qualifications. He opened the curtain and came in and asked, "Master Rao, have you been down today?" All three stood up respectfully and greeted him. Although he is from Zhejiang, he is tall and tall, as long as he doesn't open his mouth, who doesn't think he is a northern man!Secondly, he has a ruddy complexion, no beard, and a pair of piercing eyes that are very flexible. If the corners of the eyes are not fishtailed, the skin on the forehead is wrinkled, and the lower eyelids are blistered, no one will believe that he is more beautiful than him. The old man Zhao Jihe is still two years older, which means he is already sixty and twenty! At this moment, his eyes are blurred, and his thick and short brows are knit into a big knot between his brows.Without waiting for someone to inquire, he shouted as if he was arguing with someone: "Ji Shuai's move is so bad, it can be said to be shit chess, and I don't know which dog-headed military adviser gave the idea! No matter what! How do you say, he, Ji Shuai, has finally done great things and seen a big battle, why is it so annoying this time? Could it be that he is really old and confused? Alas! Your Lord Rao is not here, but who are you looking for to persuade him? How about a suggestion?" Han Tongshu said: "Mr. Baoweng's dissenting discussion refers to the current affairs?" "That's it! You see, what kind of law and what kind of regulations is this? Invite people to come here, saying that there is something important to discuss. I won't see you in one or two hours, and I won't send someone to see you It doesn’t announce the criminal’s rules, but suddenly, it’s called tied! And to beheaded! No wonder Zhang Lan yelled at him, urging him to write Zhuyu! Hmph! But how do you write Zhuyu?  … " Jian Xiaohu went on to say: "It is true, Ji Shuai's marksmanship is too messy. Mr. Baosheng, why don't you rush into the house to report to him, and explain the principle of not killing people randomly?"..." "Is there any reason to talk now? We can only talk about pros and cons! For example, this group of people are all well-respected gentlemen, all of whom are well-known, and some are officials sent by the imperial court, and some are bachelors who have asked for leave to return home. It is no longer possible to add indecentness without making a statement first. Even if you make everyone commit a heinous crime, even in the dark age of autocracy, the governor of a province does not have the right to kill without authorization. How could it be so messy! Once you mess up, you have committed a crime first, and this crime is not a small one! Do you still remember the case in Dongxiang County in this province? It only killed some civilians, and in the end, the governor’s department was wrongly ordered The hall lost his official position, and the admiral who obeyed his orders had his head killed! Now he is in his own yamen, and the people he killed are extraordinary, so I want to ask Shuai Ji if there is an imperial edict? Take the news I got In other words, there is no such serious edict or cabinet dispatch. Then, after today's reckless behavior, it is inevitable that people will not be charged. In the future, when you investigate it, think about it, it is lighter than the case in Dongxiang County Which is more important? At that time, Ji Shuai will regret it too late!" Huang Lansheng said anxiously: "Yes! Mr. Xu is quite right! I remember Ding Weinian, when I was working in the Chengdu Public Prosecution Bureau, Ji Shuai Nursing Hospital, Wang Yinbo was in charge of Huayang County, and cracked the case. A group of revolutionary rebellious parties. According to Wang Guan's opinion, I don't know how many people will be killed or arrested. Fortunately, Mr. Gao Zengjue of Chengdu Prefecture and Mr. He Lun Kui He of Chengmian Longmao advocated lenient measures. Ji Shuai listened to Wang very much at first. In terms of observation, it almost turned into a big case. Later, he listened to the words of He and Gao, and closed the case without killing a single person, so he gained a good reputation. This is Ji Shuai himself. If Mr. Xu takes this example If you talk about him, he will definitely listen. If you quote the Dongxiang County case again, it will be more powerful." With both hands behind his back, Xu Guan walked around the room several times; while bowing his head in thought, his lips kept moving, as if he was talking, but there was no sound.Jian Xiaohu was about to say something when he saw Han Tongshu winking at him.He knew that Han Tongshu was Xu Guan's old friend, and of course he understood Xu Guan's temper, so he swallowed back what he was going to say.Xu Guan just seemed to stop thinking, raised his eyes and stared at Huang Lansheng and said, "It's very good, your brother's words are right on the joints! If someone can talk to Ji Shuai in person, it will definitely have an incredible effect." "Old Mr. Xu, it's easy to talk about it. I know Ji Shuai respects you very much." "Hey! Brother, you only know one thing, not the other. Do you think Ji Shuai respects me so he can listen to me? If so, first of all, he won't have such absurd things in front of him; There's no need to come to Mr. Rao from your department! ... But, I admit that you think highly of me and encourage me to advance without retreating, good! The sage said that if you know what you can't do, you can do it, so I might as well give it a try. Brother Tongshu, let's go! Walk with me to the gate of the house!" All three were very excited and walked together.As soon as the door curtain was lifted, Han Tongshu's follower, You An from Hunan, suddenly appeared at the door. Youan wiped the sweat from his head and said, "Masters, don't go out! There is no way to get through the narrow road. Several masters blocked them and came back, and they are not allowed to stay there for a minute!" Several masters asked almost at the same time: "Why?" Huang Lansheng added another sentence: "Could it be that there is a mass killing field and arrangements are made to kill people there?" "No, no... because the commander-in-chief is holding a meeting at the Wufu Hall. Those masters who were tied up in the Dahua Hall have all been untied, please come to the Wufu Hall!" Xu Guan was very surprised and said: "There is such a thing! Did you see it with your own eyes, or did you hear it?" "Why did you hear it!" You An put on a displeased expression, pursed his lips and said, "If Mr. Xu refuses to believe it, you can go and see for yourself." He sneered again and said: "But those eighth deputy Qiu may not know you, Mr. Xu, so they can accommodate you and let Mr. Xu bump into you!" His master knew enough of his stupid temper as the housekeeper, so he immediately stopped him and said, "There is no need to talk about these things. What we want to know is what happened to those gentlemen in the big flower hall." It was tied up, but then it was loosened all of a sudden, and invited to Wufutang for a meeting. It is really strange to say. Within a few hours, you suddenly changed from a guest to a prisoner, and then from a prisoner to a guest. Since you saw it, you You have to say why.” You Anhong raised her neck and said: "Master, feel free to test me! I'm not the second master of Marshal Zhao who signed the house, how do I know the whole story of those bumps? I can only tell the truth to the masters what I saw with my own eyes.  … ..." For his master, You An went to the Eryou Shanfang on Xuedao Street to pick up the newly arrived "Guo Quintessence Journal".When I went out, I met Luo Lun, Deng Xiaoke and a group of people, accompanied by Zhou Shanpei, the envoy for mentioning the law, Xu Yue, the policeman, Hu Sifen, the Taoist of Quanye, and Liu Jiachen, the envoy for learning, walking into the gate back and forth.He didn't get the "Guo Quintessence Journal" in Eryou Shanfang, and it is said that it has not been sent yet.However, several volumes of "Shenzhou Guoguang Collection" have arrived.He went to a private school, read scriptures, and was able to understand "Liaozhai" at a Chinese level, and he could draw a few strokes. He had read "Mustard Seed Garden Painting Book";They spread out "Shenzhou Guoguang Collection" on the counter for him to watch, and gave him a cup of fragrant tea to quench his thirst, which made Youan stay for almost two hours. When he re-entered Taitai Yamen, the situation was different from the previous two hours.There are already many patrolling soldiers standing inside and outside Yuanmen and Yimen.In addition to patrolmen and guards in the lobby.Turning to the big flower hall, the situation has completely changed.There are teams all around, and the steps in front of the flower hall are stretched up and down to form a dustpan array. The outer floors are people with rifles, and the inner two floors and steps are people with pistols and ghost-headed swords, especially the ghost-headed swords. Polished to a gleam, one can tell at a glance that the blade is fast, if you lift your hands up and chop your head... "What! Will a butcher come out of this place? Could it be..." In the middle of the dustpan array, just under the stepping stones, it seemed that several prisoners were really tied up, because everyone was looking at that place.Euan also got used to pushing forward.But today was different from usual, Qiu Bafu and his men were all so rude, they not only pushed him out, but also scolded him viciously. Youan also got hairy, rolled his eyes and said, "I can't see it!" His Hunan accent immediately attracted the attention of a few Hunan people among the guards, so they changed their tone and chatted with him.I didn't tell him until I found out that he was also a yamen eater: what happened today is really special!A group of gentlemen and gentlemen were invited to the Dahua Hall by the patrolling gentlemen. After waiting for more than an hour, Zhang Mazi, a Shandong man with a guard, issued an order from inside, calling them tied up!Ask Chuanzai to serve you!It is said that these gentlemen are the leaders of conspiracy and rebellion.Wait for the marshal to pass Zhu on the mark with his own hand, and then he will be executed.Maybe it's in the gate.And those few guards were exceptionally good, so that Youan squeezed to the edge of the dustpan array to have a look at those so-called rebellious leaders. Among the nine gentlemen in long gowns, one of them also wore a gauze gown, which Youan recognized as Yan Hanlin.The same two arms are held by a four-eight-strand hemp rope thick as a finger.The nine people were all bald, and under the strong sunlight that leaked through the gaps in the dense clouds, it was very clear that everyone's face was not only devoid of blood, but even dusty as if covered with a layer of dust.Only one or two people still held their heads up and made a lot of noise.But I could also hear that the sound was hoarse and hoarse, like a strange and unpleasant sound made by two rusted ironware rubbing against each other.A few people seemed to be crying, and there were tears on their cheeks, maybe it was sweat.Even though the sky was cloudy, it was not as cool as indoors under the open air. There are people coming and going on the road from the Dahua hall to the gate of the house, but it is not clear who they are, some are wearing open robes, and some are wearing casual clothes, but wearing straw hats with high-grade hats on their heads.Among them, Zhang Mazi, who only wears military uniform, is the most eye-catching: one is that he is extraordinarily tall and strong—but he moves very lightly, and he is worthy of the nickname "Flying on the Grass!"Second, he always shouted: "Get ready! The commander-in-chief's call is almost finished!" After a while, it was: "The commander-in-chief has already called the adults in the official hall, and we just wait for the tea to see off the guests, and we will be fine." Let's do it!" The situation is urgent.The man with the ghost-headed sword kept taking a piece of coarse white cloth from his belt, and wiped and wiped the shining blade edge; it could be seen that the muscles on their arms were all strained.Youan has lived in the yamen for several years, and has seen many cruel and inhuman lynchings, but he has not seen slaughter.I heard that to practice courage, you must watch the heads fall several times.I don't usually have the opportunity to watch it.Now that the opportunity has come, I am afraid again.At first, I just felt nervous; then, goosebumps appeared on my body; when Zhang Mazi roared, he could see the whole body of the gentlemen trembling, if he didn't clenched his teeth, he couldn't help but feel like the gentlemen. You An swallowed his saliva and thought: "Is it so uncomfortable to watch someone kill someone?... Let's kill him quickly!" At this moment, a group of people rushed out, including Mr. Tian from the camp affairs office, Mr. Fourth Young Master, Mr. Nine Young Masters, and Mr. Wang from the military preparation department, calling from a distance: "Quickly untie the ties! Mr. Yan!" , Mrs. Pu and the clothes and hats of all the elders! Please, all the elders, all the elders, come to the Wufu Hall for a meeting! The commander has gone to the Wufu Hall!" Youan wiped his sweaty face again and said: "Master said it well, within a short time, the guest on the seat became a prisoner, and the prisoner turned into a guest. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would believe that it was a man in the yamen today? What about the real thing? What kind of tricks are being played here. I can only ask the gentlemen to investigate for themselves, I really can’t tell.” Jian Xiaohu couldn't help sighing and said, "The articles written by adults are too profound, how can I get a glimpse of them!" Xu Guan shook his head and said: "Is this considered profound? It can only be said that the rules are too chaotic and the reasoning is unclear. Such people will not write good articles!" Huang Lansheng said: "Perhaps with such a threat, Boying, Ziqing and the others were frightened out of their wits, and the turmoil of fighting for roads subsided. I don't know." Han Tongshu said: "In this way, today's sudden cloudy and sunny method, or a means of planning and then moving? Mr. Baoweng, what do you think?" Xu Guan was bowing his head and pondering, when suddenly another cry came from a distance. Everyone was taken aback. Xu Guan raised his head, looked at the increasingly gloomy sky and said, "What's the sound? It's very similar to Haining's autumn tide!" Huang Lansheng narrowed his eyes and said, "Could it be that the meeting at Wufutang changed its mind again, and bound the guest as a prisoner again?" Xu Guan said: "Absolutely not, absolutely not. The sound seems to come from the distant sky, and it seems that hundreds of thousands of people are roaring." Jian Xiaohu then murmured, "Mr. Baosheng's words are not bad at all. Listen, how majestic the voice is! How loud! Of course it's not close by, and it's not something that a few people's throats can make up." This time everyone ran out of the room.A long corridor is full of people, colleagues from various departments.Everyone asked me nervously, and I asked you: "Brother, what happened again?... Does it matter?... Is the screaming sound inside the yamen? Or is it outside the yamen?..." At first it was indeed like being outside the yamen.Some people said: "How far is this place from the Yamen, and how many houses are there? If people shout outside the Yamen, and the voice is heard here, how many people will be there!" "There are so many people! It must be in groups Team." "Crowds of people gathered outside the yamen and shouted, but why?" "Who knows?" Later, the roar got louder and closer, but it couldn't hear the rhythm, it was just a mess, it didn't look like the autumn tide in Haining, it was like the sound of the beach in the river during the flood! Huang Lansheng leaned into Jian Xiaohu's ear and said, "Xiao Weng, you have more experience, but you know this... what this is..." "Crowds of people are calling!" "There's no need to talk about it. People are calling...I know that! What I want to ask is why they...call like this?" "Listen! It's like breaking into the Yamen right now!" No!He just broke into the yamen! "What's the matter? Go out and have a look!" "Don't go out, it's dangerous! Tell the people below to go out and inquire about it!" Even including Youan, the people below had long since disappeared. The few masters couldn't bear it anymore, they all had the guts to clenched their empty hands -- some were holding a folding fan, and walked towards the aisle. There was a shocking sound: bang—bang!It seemed to be ringing in the yard ahead.Immediately afterwards, there was a strange sharp and ear-piercing sound: Chi-er!Whoops!Fly all over the air. Huang Lansheng had never heard this kind of sound before, and he was wondering: Since it was setting off a fire, why did it have that ugly ending sound like something was torn apart? Jian Xiaohu couldn't help covering his head with one hand, and took Huang Lansheng with the other hand, turned around and ran towards the room with his waist and legs bent: "Hurry up and hide in, the foreign guns are firing!" Those who knew the power of foreign guns among the staff hid in the room.Only a few people who had served as civil servants in the barracks still stayed quietly in the corridor, listening to the direction of the gunshot with their ears sideways.They didn't rush into the room until a few flying bullets whizzed past the cornice with their heads in their arms.Among them, there is Xu Guan, the counselor of the army department and the counselor of the law department. As soon as the foreign guns fired, the roars of people were instantly inaudible. The sound of foreign guns continued to bang—bang, bang—bang for a long time before it was not as dense as before.However, there was a ringing in the east and west, and it lasted for a long time.And it can be heard that there are fewer gunshots nearby and more gunshots in the distance. Youan appeared at the door angrily again.This time was completely different from the previous one.The previous time, he had a triumphant look on his face.This time, not only was his face pale, but his eyes were wide open without any luster; his upper and lower lips were as white as two pieces of paper, not tightly closed, and trembling unceasingly.Standing at the door of the room, he looked like a person who had been bombarded by thunder. Han Tongshu was surprised and said, "What's wrong with You An?" "Master!" Eyeballs rolled a few times, as if mustering all his energy, You Anfang stammered, "I saw...killing someone!" The three people in the room all jumped up from their seats as if on springs, asking, "?...Where is it?...Who killed who?" Seeing You An licking his lips repeatedly, Jian Xiaohu couldn't speak for a while, so he filled himself with a cup of new hair tea that he hadn't drunk, and handed it to him, "Don't worry, calm down, moisten your mouth before talking.  … Alas! What about my Jiang Fu? I went out shopping with you. You have been back for so long, and he is nowhere to be seen, so unreliable!" Huang Lansheng shook his head and sighed: "No matter what, Jiang Fu is still serving you. My Luo Sheng is terrible! I fell ill on the day of the strike, and I haven't been able to get out of bed for half a month until today. How can you say that you want someone to serve him!" Before You An finished drinking the tea, he went on to say: "Second Master You, should we have a chat now? What is it that scares you like this?" You An rinsed the teacup with boiling water, then held it respectfully and placed it on Jian Xiaohu's signing table.He breathed a sigh of relief, his cheeks turned red, his lips stopped trembling, and he said, "Why isn't it scary? Master Huang, what do you think, a group of good-looking young lads are still lively and vocal, Suddenly, a row of guns hit him, and he looked nothing like a human being, but the reed grass on the riverside! ... Not like that. Although the reed grass was washed down by the waves, it can still stand upright, as long as the waves pass by.... Human beings , it’s not even as good as reed grass. When the gunshot here, over there...in fact, it’s less than five feet away. Mr. Huang, Mr. Jian, close your eyes and think about it, who is the person on the other side? Didn’t you see clearly? The eyes are the eyes, the nose is the nose, and when you open your mouth, you can see the teeth and even the tongue clearly. . . There are no jumping shadows!... It counts as death!... Ouch! Ouch! I really can't figure it out, a person who looks so strong can withstand an iron rod, why! A gun that is not even big enough for a little finger just As soon as it got into the body, it fell down without a sound! ... It's dead! There's not much blood, just a small puddle, no more than the blood of a chicken." Jian Xiaohu said: "Second Master You, are you telling a story, or are you talking about life and death?" Han Tongshu said: "You An is so circuitous! You don't tell me what you want to know in a hurry, gentlemen. It’s a long article, full of big and useless truths. In fact, who wants to listen to these truths? Who doesn’t understand these truths? Stop talking about these empty words, and honestly explain what you just saw in a nutshell!” Youan blushed and answered "yes" a few times, and said, "That's right. As soon as I heard people shouting, the masters were still studying, so I ran out. Because I wanted to avoid the aisle leading to Wufutang, I ran out. I walked around in a big circle. When I got to the lobby, oh! It’s such a big place, it’s almost too crowded to get in. At first glance, it’s full of Mr. Qiu Bafu, and the patrol battalion lined up outside, and the guards lined up inside, with four corners and four corners , Head and head are the idlers like us. The front, back, left, and right sides of the public case are adults wearing boots and top hats, a large group, and Marshal Zhao seems to be among them. Mr. Tian from the Camp Affairs Department, Mr. Wang from the Military Preparation Department, and Wu from the General Staff Department Your Excellency, Mr. Zhou, Mr. Patrolman, and Mr. Xu, the Patrolman, stood on both sides. Mr. Yin of Fantai, Mr. Zhu, the Commander of the Army, Mr. Hu of Quanye Dao, and some other adults in the yamen, accompanied by Mrs. Four Young Masters, stood in front of the case Just looking at the formation, it makes people feel that the things in front of them are unusual.... At that time, I saw a large group of people outside Yimen from a distance going in. A team of Qiu Bafu, I don’t know if it is a patrol battalion or an army Battalion?—There is an army, and there are two rows of troops in the two corridors under the hall and in the empty dam. In short, the eighth deputy Qiu did not want that group of people to come in. After all, there are so many people, and the sparse row of eighth deputy Qiu is It can't be stopped... People are pouring in. A large group, a large group, densely packed, who can count them! Look at the flood past the sacred oracle archway... Many voices in the lobby are also shouting: "The commander-in-chief speaks out, don't allow it Crowd forward! If you have any demands, hurry up and push a few representatives out to speak for you!' No matter how loud the shouts in the lobby are, they can’t suppress the roars of the common people...how could you not know that they are common people? I would bet that almost all of them are low-society people who do crafts and work hard! No one wears long shirts, and no one wears shoes and socks. Zhou Zheng. The trousers with big feet are tucked up high on the thighs. The braids are all coiled on the forehead. Such a commoner! But everyone is holding a piece of yellow paper. It must be pasted on the door of the shop. Because it looks like they are all so long, so wide, and printed in black, some people are holding them with both hands and holding them high above their heads....Hundreds of people, huh! There must be more than that, no less Well, there are also hundreds of people who opened their throats and shouted: "Let Mr. Pu and Mr. Luo out!... Let Mr. Pu and Mr. Luo out..." They all shouted in unison..." The three masters unanimously interrupted You An's words and said, "Oh! So that's what you called out for!" Jian Xiaohu said to Han Tongshu: "It seems that Ji Shuai's tricks have already leaked out. If not, how can the common people gather thousands of people at once?" Huang Lansheng interjected, "But it's strange. Even those of us in the yamen don't know anything about it, so how do the outside know?" Han Tongshu said: "Because we have never participated in secret affairs, we don't know these secrets. Alas! Not only are our small staff not worthy of hearing secrets, but we are as old as Xu Baoweng and good at planning and observation.而其实远在幕外的。目前谁能走内线，谁才是谋臣。谋臣都是外边人，自然机密该外边先知道。道理原本如是，也说不上泄漏。”他又向尤安说道，“你的话，似乎还没有说完吧？” “是！还有一些。百姓们通过圣谕牌坊，喊叫得更其厉害。是些什么样人，也更看得清楚，原来十有七八都是年轻小伙子。也有几个老头儿和一些未成年的小娃儿，大家脸上都带着笑容。我看得清楚，敢说没一个人像是来生事的。大堂上有人在喊：'传话下去，叫这班东西赶快退出仪门，举代表出来说话！若再向前一步，就开枪打！打死无论！'但是凭天理良心说，这喊声漫道百姓们没有听见，——百姓们的呼声那么高，怎会听见大堂上有人说话？就听见也没用，百姓是那样散散漫漫地好像没有人统率。看样子，百姓们除了拿着先皇牌位，——这时看清楚了，确是先皇牌位。除了翻来覆去喊着那两声：'把蒲先生放出来！''把罗先生放出来！'似乎也没有别的打算。不过看样子，要立刻挡住百姓们不准他们向前拥挤，那也是不容易的事情。百姓们涌到大堂的台阶下面了。大堂上也嘈杂起来。有人刚喊了一声：'再不听吩咐，只好开枪啦！'啪！接着就很尖地响了一枪。我身边一个人说是四少大人的手枪开了火，另一个人说是田大人的。那时又紧急，又乱，到底谁开的火，实在没法弄清楚。手枪一响，登时大堂上的长枪全响了。我来不及防备，把耳朵几乎震聋。举眼一看，我的妈！……” 尤安的脸色又青了，只嘴唇没有白，也没有抖颤。缓了两口气，又才说道：“人就是那样连芦苇草都不如！几百人都像变哑了，也变憨了。有一些，不声不响扑倒在地上。突然，大家又像从睡梦中才惊醒似的，也不声不响回转头就跑。” 尤安住了口，三个老爷也沉默着没一个人想说话。 隔壁房里一个录事在喊：“啊呀！火烧房子，好近喽！” 一抬头，从后面窗口望出去，果见北向天边一派浓黑烟子直冲霄汉，已经变得阴沉的天色更觉黯然无光，显现出一种令人恐怖的气象。 断不是一顷时之前才起的火。这时，黑烟当中已经闪出了赤褐色的火光，隔了无数重房子，——幸而都是不敢违制的不很高的平房，尚看得见几尺高的火尾，像巨蟒的舌头一伸一缩。 当然，大家更其惊惶起来。 黄澜生首先就慨叹一声道：“这才叫灾难重叠哩！又是兵灾，又是火灾，这日子太不好过了！” 韩同书向尤安说道：“这却要你出去打听一下了。……发火地方离衙门有好远？离公馆有好远？……是如何起的火？是由于不慎吗？或有别的缘故？快点回来！……这倒是不可轻视的一件事！” 蹇小湖的寓所就在南打金街的北头。拿起火方向来估量，好像正在燃烧的便是他租佃的房子。即使不是，离他的公馆也一定不远。他的家里，虽不似韩同书家有七十多岁的老太太，有十九岁还不到的新姨太太，但他家恰就没有多余的人，一个多病的太太，一个十二岁的儿子，也只雇用了一个仆妇。——服侍他的，是一个不可靠的蒋福。衣物用具那么多，书籍字画也不少，万一火烧起来，他和蒋福还有三个抬轿的大班都不在家，这却怎么办？韩同书的公馆远在东门红布街，尚那样担心，他蹇小湖安能不着急得猫儿抓心？ 如其在平常日子里，蹇小湖当然早带着蒋福，坐上三丁拐轿子跑了。纵然不走，也不会像现在这样起坐不宁：时而跑到后院，恨不得爬上假山去了解一下火头到底在哪个地方；时而奔到房里，搓着手问人：“你们看，这火该不会像那年烧青石桥、学道街一样，蔓延到几条街吧？”因为在平常日子里，警察局的消防很得力，只要火头一上房顶，各处的水龙就出动了，救火的人又多又有经验，不管白昼黑夜，火是不会成灾的。但今天恰恰又出了事，制台衙门在开枪打人，街上当然更乱得难以设想，起了火，谁还顾得去救？那么，起火地方即使离他寓所尚远，也还能够延烧去的。 大约耐磨有一顿饭之久，蹇小湖下定决心，咬着牙龈说道：“不管是刀山剑林，我也要走了！” 黄澜生道：“小翁何必忙在一时。等尤二爷打听清楚了，再做计较不迟。” “即令打听清楚，总之是要走的。难道今天还要墨守成规，坐候时候到了才退公吗？” 韩同书也站了起来道：“蹇兄的话说得对，我和你一道走。” 黄澜生略微有点慌张道：“你们都走了，我呢？……也罢！我陪你们走出衙门去。” 他们也顾不得各人随身所带的东西。只把挂在衣钩上的马褂取来穿上。抓起各自的皮护书便向夹道走来。 才走到夹道口，好几个已经走出去的同寅吵吵嚷嚷走了回来道：“走不通，但凡侧门、过厅，都扎了兵，不准通行。” “难道不准我们回家吗？” “看光景，我们全体幕僚也被拘留了，和五福堂上的绅士老爷们一样。” 蹇小湖急得抓耳搔腮地道：“这如何使得！这如何使得！……” 就是黄澜生也心慌起来。他一下想到他的太太，他的儿女，乃至他家的每个人。要是他今天不能回去，这些人一定会着急死了。制台衙门出了事，他家的人难免不知道，难免不恐怖，他不回去安慰一下，他还配当一家之主吗？ 正乱之际，徐琯匆匆走来大声说道：“各位仁兄，各位大人，大家真个不想留在衙门内过夜，真个安心回府的话，我告诉各位一条捷路……我已和王寅伯说好了，他也点了头。大家可以打从督练公所穿出去！……” “是啰！那是可以走的！穿出去，便是督院东街了。” 徐琯继续说道：“今天督练公所也扎了兵。王寅伯说，四点钟以后要锁门。各位要走，必须这时候就走！……” “当然即刻就走，谁还想流连下来呢？” 徐琯继续说：“还有。最好是三三五五地、从从容容地走，不要成群结队，不要吆吆喝喝！若是被队伍拦阻盘问，大家必须服从，大人老爷的架子千万别拿出来自讨没趣！……” “这成什么话！这儿并非营盘，怎么行起军法来了？” 徐琯继续说：“走出督练公所大门，可就不要折身回来，因为情势不同，准出不准进！……还有，还有，今天衙门外面秩序很乱，不说官兵的队伍庞杂，并且还有不少匪徒借故生风。要是碰着冲突起来，枪弹是没有眼睛的，带了伤，或竟被打死了，这冤枉的责任只好各自去负！” “啊！这倒是可虑了。看来，还是不要去冒险的好哟！” 不敢冒险的很有一些人，连民政科的两个录事一个核对在内。 蹇小湖、黄澜生毫不迟疑，立即偕同三四个人转过夹道，向督练公所的后门走去。韩同书犹豫了一下，不再等待尤安，也追随着他们跨进督练公所后门。故意放缓脚步，做出一种若无事然的态度。 但是刚走到第三进的穿堂，——果然每进房屋都有一些戴制帽、穿制服、系皮带、打裹腿、蹬皮鞋、负背囊、执洋枪的新式陆军在那里站哨起坐，却没有要阻拦和盘问他们的意思。——忽然看见尤安急急忙忙从外面走入。他身后还跟了一个人，正是蹇小湖盼了半天的蒋福。 “尤安！……怎么会打从这里进来？……”韩同书才问了这么一句。 蹇小湖已经向着蒋福骂了起来：“混账东西！简直不能使用你了！只要一离开我，便看不见你的影子。你晓得今天是一个什么日子？老半天找不着你，你奔到哪里去了？” “老爷，你还要骂咧。起先不是为了送老朱去红石柱军医学堂，我还不能走出仪门哩！” “！送老朱去军医学堂？” “嘿！老爷，你咋个晓得哟！大堂上一开枪，那枪子就朝着仪门这边飞。我同着那一大伙拿先皇牌位到衙门来请愿的人刚挤进仪门，看那阵仗实在走不过大堂，我只好闪到那伙大班堆里去躲了下。得亏我是蹲在老爷们的轿子中间，大堂上开枪后，才没被大家拖走。好些大班挤在人丛中看热闹。有的被逃跑的人裹走了，有好几个就着枪子打伤。老朱就在这时带的伤。” “打伤在哪里？不重吧？”蹇小湖在问。 韩同书也同时问道：“蒋二爷，我的大班有没有带伤的？” “这倒不清楚。伤的死的一大坝。大堂上、两边走道上，就连仪门内外，都在放枪。有的朝着天打，有的朝着人打……” 尤安插嘴说：“我们的大班没有伤，没有死，就只不能出来，连轿子都一齐扣留在仪门内。我刚走出仪门，就不准再进去。凭你怎么说，全不中用。所以我才打从督练公所走。好在陆军副爷通商量，我只说了声衙门里的人……” 黄澜生问道：“尤二爷，我们的轿子大班都不放出来，那我们怎么搞呢？” 蹇小湖仍在问他的跟丁：“你又怎么晓得走这一条路呢？” “我把老朱搀扶到军医学堂——他龟儿，不过大腿上穿一个洞，比别一些人就轻多了，他却哭得比啥子人都凶。所以陆军副爷才叫我先把他弄走。他龟儿汉仗又大，背不动，只好搀着走。把他送到后，我就跑回公馆去……” 他们已快走到头门。 蹇小湖立即站住说道：“公馆没事吧？火没烧着吧？我最不放心的就是火！到底哪里起的火？” “哪里起的火，还没打听准确。现在已经萎下去了，离公馆大约还有条把街远。太太倒不愁火，太太只愁的是老爷。我连气都没喘过，就立逼我来接老爷回去。刚走到这里，恰巧碰见尤二爷。” 已经走出督练公所大门。蹇小湖来不及和大家告别，遂带着蒋福赶先走了。 韩同书和其他两三人都住在东门这一头，而且很近，相距总不过两条街，不坐轿子，仅只被人讥诮为有失官体而已。在目前这种形势下，即是说满街是兵，没有一个普通百姓，你便穿上袍褂官靴，戴上翎顶大帽，你走你的阳关大道，谁来管你，更没有人会笑你，何况大家都穿的便服、薄底靴？因此，大家一走到督院东街，不由长吁了一口气，不约而同地都向东头的南打金街南口走去。 大家都走远了，黄澜生一个人还站在督练公所大门边踟蹰不定。手上一只皮护书，由于没有拿惯，不晓得如何拿才合式。 天上阴云密布，看来像个下雨天。要是步行回去，一定会遇雨。既无轿子，又没有雨伞，难道光着头皮去淋吗？那么，仍然回衙门去，——徐保生说不能退回去，当然是王寅伯恐吓大家的话。尤安、蒋福不是声明一声，就大摇大摆地走了进去吗？——更不好。自己在公事房熬个夜倒不要紧，不走的人有那么多，说不上寂寞。但是一想到家，一想到从未无缘无故与自己分别过一宵半夕的太太，再一想到绕膝索笑的小儿小女，恨不得一气就跑回，即令白雨倾盆，也无所谓了。决定走！好在自己也常常步行，今天步行一趟也算不得纡尊降贵。 门口一个站哨的陆军军人见他像要向西辕门走去的模样，便和颜悦色地对他说：“你这位老爷为啥不朝那头走呢？” “我住在西御街，是应该向西走的。” “我劝你老爷多走几步路，绕过去的好。” “却是为了啥？” “我晓得辕门内外都布了岗，不准通过。学道街、走马街那一带已有命令叫阻断交通。除非你有特许状才能走。”那军人还在嘴角边露出一丝笑意说，“若是我们陆军布的防哨，又好通融了，只要你说清楚，哪里来，哪里去。……” 一个军帽上有一条金线标记的军官走出来，站哨军人连忙立正举枪。 黄澜生只好打定主意，也向东头的南打金街走去。 果然满街是兵，而且是青布包头、麻耳草鞋，两个肩头上各沉甸甸地斜挂一条也和所穿衣裤一样的灰布做的子弹带、手上一支九子枪并不好生拿着的巡防兵，一个个立眉竖眼，好像满脸都生的是横肉。光看外表，已和陆军不同。黄澜生捧着皮护书，小心翼翼地从行列中穿出，一直走到丁字口上。 向北一条就是南打金街，通出去是东大街。照路线说，黄澜生是应该打从这里走的。他本也安排从这里走。但是举眼一望，也和督院东街情形一样，在街上站成队的全是兵，全是那些令人望而生畏的巡防兵，没一个普通人在走路。 向南一条是向来就不当道的丝绵街。这时，更显得冷清清地，没有兵，也没有普通人。跨在金河上的古卧龙桥的重檐翘角的桥亭，更其巍然。虽是一条好像生气很少的街，但在黄澜生看来，反而感觉平安得多。他于是就取道丝绵街，过了古卧龙桥，走入更为偏僻、只有不多几家公馆门道而无一间铺面的光大巷，沿着汤汤流水的金河，静悄悄地一直走到一洞桥街。 有兵的街道走起来固然有点使人胆怯。但是没有人迹的街道走起来却也有点令人心惊。看来，还是该选那些有人无兵的街道才是办法。黄澜生站下来估量了一下，他目前走的是金河南岸的街道，过了一洞桥向西，便是金河北岸的街道。第一条是半边街，差不多都是绸缎铺和机房，街道不冷僻，并且有几家绸缎铺他还常有往来。像这样的街当然入选，但是也不对。因为半边街向西出去，是青石桥，那个陆军军人不是说过青石桥就有巡防兵吗？走去被阻拦住了，反而不美。他想了想，遂向街的南口走去，再向西是东丁字街。 这条街倒不算怎么冷僻。街中还有一院大房屋，是湖北、湖南两省在四川做官的人，因嫌湖广会馆陈旧了，而且首事们大都是已在四川落了业的小绅士、小商人，做起会来，一同起居时，和他们的身分不相称，于是在湖广会馆之外，另自集资修建了一所堂皇富丽的两湖公所，用作他们聚会游燕地方。里面布置有一个“音樽候教”即是说请客坐席看戏的座落，黄澜生曾经应他湖南同寅之请，来坐过席，看过戏。这时，两湖公所也和这条街中其他一些公馆、门道、院落一样，两扇黑漆门扉关得死紧。 走到西丁字街才看见了人。黄澜生放缓脚步，吁了口气。不但感到头上背上全是汗，并且两只脚胫也确乎觉得有些疲软。尤其讨厌的是那个皮护书。穿着马褂靴子，而手上抱着一个皮护书，这成什么名堂！再向上一望：天更阴沉，雨好像等不到一顿饭的时候便要下了。“唉！如其有乘轿子坐上，多好哟！” 留心一看，一家铺面虽也阖上了铺板，但也敞开着两扇铺门。门外也有两个人，一个年轻些的站着，一个业已中年的衔了一根短叶子烟杆蹲在檐阶边。就人的模样而言，很像轿夫。再看屋檐口一块不很触目的吊牌，标题着“易洪顺花轿执事行”，岂不就是轿铺啦？ “轿子，打一乘出来！西御街！” 两个人都不开口。只那年轻一些的人泛起红沙眼瞅了他一下。 黄澜生再把吊牌看一遍，没有错；又进前两步走到铺门口，伸长脖子向里面一望，不是轿铺是什么？三面靠壁的通铺上还横七竖八地睡了几个人，架子高处，一排六乘小轿一乘不少，屋角上一个小行灶一个大炉子，两个人正在那里做菜，做饭。 “轿子，只要一乘，到西御街！” Nothing happened.一会儿才有一个苍老声音懒洋洋地答说：“没人抬。”“开玩笑的话！铺里铺外，睡着坐着的不都是人吗？” 另一个声音：“就是不抬！” “路不远，充其量五条街嘛，多给几十个钱，好不好？”黄澜生的话不是商量，已经近乎恳求了。平常日子，不会有这种声口的！ “钱是小事，性命要紧啰！……” 就是那苍老声音接着说道：“硬对！人无贵贱，性命都只有一条。今天不挣钱，明天还可以挣，今天丢了命，明天就找不回啦！” 黄澜生故意笑了笑道：“何至于就要命！” “你没有看见罢咧！文庙前街的口子上打死两个在那里摆着的，不就是云台司吗？” 这时已有四五人，大概都是左右几家做家具出卖的木匠师傅，也在街边闲望，便围拢来看。其中一个就搭起话来道：“今天真是个大日子，成都省从来没有过的大日子！好端端地会开起红山来。我才从北门上回来，他妈的，大什字那头，听说打死三个。东大街、走马街、院门口，没一处没死人……” 另一个人抢着说道：“制台衙门更多，死了一大坝，满地是血！” “开红山？到底为了啥？”一个人这样问。 “他妈赵屠户杀人，还和你讲道理吗？只能说今天大家背时，碰上了！” 一个老年人叭着叶子烟叹道：“也是现在的世道哟！从前制台衙门杀一个人，谈何容易！写公事的纸都要几捆。人命关天的事，好不慎重。今天不讲究这些了。管你啥子人，管你啥子事，红不说白不说，噼里啪啦一阵枪，成个啥名堂！说起来，总怪百姓不好，总怪百姓爱闹事，他们做官人总有理。今天呢？百姓不曾造反，做官人倒胡行非为起来，你们看，这是啥子世道！” 话一说开，听的人越多，登时就是一堆。 黄澜生晓得坐不成轿子，又怕下雨，遂耐住热汗和疲乏，取了条比较短些的路线，急张忙忙向西御街走去。 离大门还有几丈远，两个孩子便像飞鸟似的，从门旁石狮边跳出，对直向他跑来，一路喊着：“爹爹！……爹爹！……” 黄澜生顾不得在街上被人看见会议论他有失体统，他已蹲了下去，把皮护书放在衣襟兜里，张开两手，让婉姑扑进怀来；一把抱起，在她红得像花红似的小脸蛋上连亲几下。只管做出笑脸在说：“闹山雀儿！爹爹的闹山雀儿！爹爹的小乖女！”可是眼睛已经又酸又涩。 又伸手去把振邦的肩膀拍两拍道：“你们怎么跑上街来了！……妈妈呢？” 两个孩子争着说道：“妈妈急得啥样……尽等你不回来。……街上人乱跑……楚表哥也没回来，他在学堂里。……妈妈说，叫哪个人来找你呢？……全街闹震了，又不晓得啥子事。……后来，听说制台衙门的兵开炮火打死多少人。……你咋个这时候才回来？……妈妈在轿厅上等你。……” 皮护书交给振邦拿着，两手挽着孩子，还没走拢，看门老头已经满脸是笑地在大门外迎着道：“菩萨保佑，老爷回来啦！” 罗升也病体支离地扶着一根竹棍站在门房旁边，带着苦笑，呻吟道：“哎哟，老爷回来啰！……真莫把人急死！……” 黄澜生今天不晓得为啥缘故，一看见家里人，不管是哪个，都感到一种说不出的亲切。他既恳恳切切回答了看门老头的欢迎，还站下来问了罗升的病况，好像今天才知道罗升病倒了似的，要不是他的太太在轿厅上大声呼唤他，大约再五分钟他的慰问辞还说不完哩！ 当然，一看见太太，情况又有所不同，即是说什么都不顾了。站在旁边并嘻开嘴巴向他打招呼的何嫂、菊花，全未挤进他的眼睛。他这时的眼睛里只装了他太太一个人和遏制不住的两泡泪水。 他甚至还伸出两手，要去捉握太太的手。 黄太太眼睛四下一溜，登时飞红两颊，装作要生气的样子，把身子一侧，说道：“你也学上周宏道的好模样了，动不动就和人家拉手。……” 振邦抱着皮护书又跳又笑道：“看啰