Chapter 76 The seventy-third re-employment of the chief executive is widely open to seek talents and recommend the governor to carefully select the gatekeeper

In the world, people with bad intentions never get good results, and people with good intentions never get bad results.In the dark, God presides over everything.In other words, there are all kinds of things in the world, and even though God is smart and upright, I'm afraid they can't be next to each other, and they can be observed omnipotently.Haha, those who said this did not understand the principle of the unity of man and nature.In the original "Gongyang Biography", the explanation of the word "Tianzi" was the most thorough.He said that human beings cannot be born by yin alone, yang alone, and heaven alone, and they will be born after three unions, so it can be called the son of heaven, or the son of parents.The venerable takes the title of honor, so the king is called the son of heaven.But actually speaking, which one of the people in the world is not the son of heaven?Man is the son of heaven, and heaven is the great father of man, and they are in harmony with each other.Every move of a mortal, even a thought that occurs in the mind, the master of the heavens, can immediately perceive it.This is a kind of truth that comes from natural penetration, and there is nothing mysterious or difficult to understand.Therefore, good fortune, good fortune, misfortune, and misfortune should be like this.Everything you hear and see before you can be cited as ironclad evidence.When the inspector of the Wuwei Army wanted to chop Xia Hai, it was a close call, and his life was breathless.If Xia Hai wants to get the same result as Wu Ergui, there is no difference between a filial son and a villain.One is disgusting and harmful to others, helping gangsters to abuse others; the other is a young man who endures hardships and borrows money to support his relatives.The intentions of the two people are far apart.If you want to be a ghost under the sword, not only will you have no way to persuade the good and punish the evil, but even you who read the novel will feel depressed and unhappy, how can you make it happen!Sure enough, when the knife was on the verge of death, a savior suddenly flew from outside the sky.Do you know who this savior is?It was Bao Yongsheng, the old-fashioned and upright person mentioned above who would rather quit his job than destroy his good.The gentleman was depressed because he was granted three days off, so he wandered around the west city.When he arrived at Xidan archway, he suddenly saw a circle in front of him, so he came over to see what was going on.Oh, it's not good, the guards have already drawn their knives and are about to execute.Bao Yongsheng separated the crowd and shouted: "Slow down, keep people under the sword!" The inspector and the guard raised their eyes to watch, and when they saw it was Bao Yongsheng, they quickly raised their hands in salute.Because although Yongsheng's errand is small, his official rank is very high, and he is called Master Bao in the army.Those inspectors are several grades younger than him, so they all respect him as their superiors.While returning the courtesy, he asked why he wanted to kill this person.The inspector hurriedly replied: "Master Bao, this man followed the mutiny and robbed the residents. The stolen clothes and clothes are evidence, so I will punish him as an example to the rest." Bao Yongsheng said: "He robbed Have you ever seen a man's clothes with your own eyes?" The inspector said: "I have never seen this one. But he looks suspicious, and he can't explain clearly when asked. There are not only clothes in the package, but also women's shoes, which proves that He snatched it." Bao Yongsheng sneered, showing a look of disapproval, shaking his head and said to the inspector: "The affairs of the world cannot be judged by personal selfishness, let alone human life. I think he He is still an underage child, so he may not have the courage to follow behind the mutiny and rob other people's things. You always have to ask in detail. Don't worry if you don't understand the question here, you can take it back to the camp Go, hand it over to the master of the Law Enforcement Department, and have a detailed interrogation, and then it will not be too late to decide a solution. It seems a little inappropriate to treat human life like this.” Seeing him interfering, the inspector was not very happy at first, but now he Hearing that he openly acted like a boss, saying that he was not doing things properly, he became more and more angry, so he said: "Master Bao, you are always an inspector. Since you see that we are not doing things properly, you should never ask for leave. There is nothing inappropriate to do everything by yourself. Now that you ask for leave, you are not in your position, and you are not in charge of your affairs. It is appropriate to take care of it. We follow the order of the military command. When we encounter robbers, we can do it according to military law. , No matter who it is, it can’t interfere.” The inspector’s words made the old man very angry, and he stared and cursed: “Fucking doesn’t stink! Common people. If you have the ability to cut down a few of Cao Huchen's soldiers, you can count it as a sigh of relief for the merchants. When you see the change of soldiers, you don't even dare to reach out, but you only use a group of ordinary people as the head dish. Ask yourself Conscience, can you make sense? Besides, he is indeed a robber, and he is not wronged if he kills him. He is obviously a child. What kind of hatred does he have with you? It's good for you to tell you to keep your shade. Not only do you not appreciate it, but you dare to stand up to me. Do you think I can't ask questions because of my leave? To tell you the truth, even the military commander has to give me three points, don't Said that you, a small officer who fell to the ground and could not be seen, dared to frighten people in front of this job. If you want to kill him, I can't ask you to kill him. If you are not convinced, we will go to the military commander together. This Son, if it is proved that he is a robber, not only will he be killed, but I, Bao Yongsheng, will also pay for his head. If he is not a robber, he will falsely commit crimes, and the law clearly stipulates that you should just beware of your head." Bao Yongsheng talked eloquently, and even the people who watched the fun were moved by his words.Everyone applauded together, saying that Mr. Bao is really Bao Qingtian.Another said, this is indeed the descendant of Bao Longtu!Another said, your child must have fainted from fright, and now you are meeting such a life-saving nobleman, why don't you hurry up and kowtow to him.Xia Hai had just seen the guards draw out their shiny knives to kill him, and he was already frightened and dazed.Later Bao Yongsheng came in to stop them, and they said a lot of things to each other, but he didn't hear them clearly. He waited for the applause from others, which was so loud that his nerves were shaken, and he regained consciousness a lot.He also heard that person said that there was a life-saving nobleman, and then he realized that the old man standing in front of him was interceding.He immediately kowtowed to Yongsheng, burst into tears again, and shouted loudly: "My lord! My lord, please save the life of this little boy. I never robbed others. This is me. My sister lent me the clothes and told me to take them back and turn them into money so that I could support my parents. I used to pull a rickshaw to support my family. Because of the riots in the past two days, no one walked on the street, and my child was hungry. What’s more important, my poor parents are both sixty years old, and they can’t afford a full meal. As a son, I don’t feel sad. If you kill me again today, my parents will starve to death if they don’t care. Ah!" At this point, he burst into tears more and more, and let out a cry of grief, even the onlookers heard it, and all of them shed tears.Bao Yongsheng asked kindly: "You sound like a dutiful son. Where do you live and where does your sister live? Can you tell me?" Xia Hai said, "My house is outside the front door. Qingchang house number 12, my sister lives behind Taiping Street, Xisi Pailou, house number 18. If you don’t believe me, please send a boss to come with me to make a pair. If the match is bad, I’d rather I admit that I have robbed people, killed people, and willingly accepted the crime. Are you still not at ease?" Bao Yongsheng said: "I have nothing to believe, but it is a matter of business, and there must be an explanation." Speaking of this, he He turned to the inspector and said, "Well, this place is very close to the West Fourth Pailou. You can send a guard to go with him, and it won't be too late to release him after he understands." The situation, I also understood the situation in my heart, and knew that I had framed a good person, so I didn't dare to act as stubborn as before.He said to Bao Yongsheng: "Since your lord sees that he is not a robber, he can be released casually, so why bother to correct him?" You can't misplace it either. It's better to be a pair. If you are too embarrassed to send someone, I will send one for you." Then he appointed a guard and said, "Zhao Chenggong, you go and follow him." The guards under Yongsheng who inspected the streets were very experienced, and because Yongsheng gave a fake, they came out with this inspection.Seeing that Yongsheng sent him to talk, he agreed with his mouth, but looked at the inspector's face with his eyes.The inspector said: "Since Mr. Bao sent you, you can go." Then Zhao Chenggong started to escort Xia Hai, took the burden, and went northward together.After going there for a while, he turned back, still with Xia Hai, carrying his burden, and came to Bao Yongsheng, saluted first, and then replied: "My lord, I will follow Xia Hai to his sister Fu's house. It has already been confirmed that the clothes were indeed lent to him by his sister, not stolen. His sister had to come and beg the two adults to release his younger brother. It was Xia Xia who stopped him, saying that it was not bad , Of course he was released, and you don’t need to ask, so she never came.” Bao Yongsheng said to the inspector: “This can always prove his innocence.” Yes, release him quickly." Yongsheng took out two yuan from his side, and said to Xia Hai: "You take this money, if you don't pull the cart for three or five days, your parents won't be hungry. "Xia Hai kowtowed again and thanked him again. Just now he was happy, carrying his burden, and went to his sister's house to report the good news, so as not to worry her sister.The onlookers here all praised Mr. Bao, he is really a good official, if the military should be all-powerful like him, would the merchants still suffer?

After the mutiny was suppressed by Jiang Guiti, it was considered to be over.But not three days later, on the night of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, there was another mutiny in Tianjin, and the situation was more violent than that in Beijing.Although the merchants in Beijing suffered a lot of losses, after all, this squad of soldiers showed mercy and never hurt a single person.In the mutiny in Tianjin, many people died.Half of them were killed by the soldiers, and the other half were followed by the soldiers to sweep the camp, and were stopped by the patrol road Yang Zhonglin, who were killed at that time and gave orders.It's not a shame to die like this.Fortunately, the magistrates deterred them well, and all the aftermath issues were handled in an orderly manner, and it was calm in a blink of an eye.After these two mutinies, the hearts of the people in Beijing and Tianjin were always anxious and anxious.The three representatives sent by Nanjing did not dare to stay for a long time. After staying for four or five days, they bid farewell to Xiangzicheng and went back to Nanjing.Xiang Zicheng also sent Tang Shaoyi as a representative to apply for employment in Nanjing.There are also important missions: one is to ask President Sun Da to send the president's seal to Beijing; the other is to organize a responsible cabinet, with Tang Shaoyi as the prime minister, to seek the consent of the South Korean government; Now it's still a few old people from the former Qing Dynasty, who are only perfunctory for the time being, and this will never last long.Although there are many talents in the entrainment of Xiangzi City, in order to integrate the north and the south, they can't use them exclusively for themselves.In his mind, he took a fancy to several talents of the Democratic Party, so he specially sent Tang Shaoyi to ask President Sun Da to persuade him, and invited these gentlemen to serve as the deputy ministers of various ministries, so that the cabinet could be established in advance.With these three missions, Tang Shaoyi has been very close to the Democratic Party since she came to Nanjing.As for himself, although he has assisted Xiang Zicheng for many years, Xiang Zicheng single-handedly selected him as a high-ranking official in the pre-Qing Dynasty, but his origin is Guangdong, and he and a group of members of the Democratic Party in Guangdong are all from the same village. , more or less has a little origin.Tang Shaoyi is also a man, although he is a bureaucrat, he has a strong and unyielding temperament, which is very close to the temper of the Democratic Party.So when I went to Nanjing, I had a few talks with President Sun Da. It was very speculative, and later I made many friends from the Democratic Party.Everyone listens to his comments, which are not purely party.They talked to each other in secret, saying that Xiangzicheng's habits are too strong, and they have no lungs and intestines, which may be disadvantageous to the Republic of China in the future.However, the political power of a democratic constitutional country is entrusted to the responsible cabinet. As long as the prime minister of the cabinet has a suitable person, there is no need to worry about Xiang Zicheng not bowing his head.Tang Shaoyi is very knowledgeable and experienced in the government. In the future, he will organize the responsible cabinet, and the future is very promising.All of us, might as well help him out.However, several conditions must be discussed with him in advance, and the conditions must be formally established before agreeing to help him.Everyone inquired about signing the agreement, and made a statement to President Sun Da, and Sun Gong also strongly agreed.So it was time to start negotiating terms with Tang Shaoyi.There is no need to elaborate on other insignificant conditions.The most relevant one is the position of the governor of Zhili, who is in the position of guarding the gate. If Xiangzi City has other ambitions in the future, it must first obtain the consent of the governor of Zhili before it can proceed smoothly.Otherwise, from Tianjin to Beijing, from morning to noon, this pass alone is more than enough to kill him.With the current position of governor, Xiang Zicheng was worried about entrusting it to others, so he specially sent his cousin Zhang Yufang to take care of him temporarily.Zhang Yufang was originally a literati, a two-rank Jinshi in the former Qing Dynasty, who had served as an alternate Taoist in Zhili for many years, and was not qualified to be a nursing governor.Just because he is the direct cousin of President Xiang, he leapfrogged to the top position in Zhili.But Xiang Zicheng also knew that he lived up to expectations, so he told people that this was only a temporary transitional method, and once the overall situation was calmed down, he had to find another equivalent person.And sent Tang Shaoyi to keep an eye on it at any time. If there is a suitable person, I will recommend it by myself. I have absolutely no opinion of the North and South parties.At this time, the Democratic Party negotiated with Tang Shaoyi about the conditions, and the issue of changing the direct supervisor became one of the conditions, and it was studied for a while.Tang Shaoyi was also in favor of finding another equivalent person, saying that Zhang Yufang did not have enough materials, and that Xiang's party color was too strong, which would be detrimental to the future of the Republic of China.Everyone thought about it, and there was no suitable person in a hurry.If you want to choose from the Beiyang warriors, you are very happy in Xiangzi City, but it is very disadvantageous for the Democratic Party; if you want to choose from the Democratic Party warriors, you are very much in favor in the south, but the pass in Xiangzi City is definitely passed. but.Later, it was Song Woodman who thought of a person, and he clapped his hands and said to everyone: "Yes, now there is a most suitable person. He is originally from the north, but he is a southerner in his bones; he looks like a bureaucrat, but his spirit is the Democratic Party." , and has been an official for 20 years. President Xiang also knows this person, he will never be suspicious, and he can pass it as soon as he keeps it." Tang Shaoyi hurriedly asked who it was, and Song Woodman said: "Mr. Tang, let me tell you. You are welcome. It is Wang Zhirui who is currently serving as a vanguard officer under General Huang Da, and was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition. Because the overall situation has been decided, Wang Zhirui has not been mobilized." Tang Shaoyi listened and applauded.

Everyone wants to ask who is this Wang Zhirui?His life history is very valuable for publication, and it is also in line with the materials of the novel. Let me briefly recount a few sentences below.This gentleman is originally from Beijing.He was also a filial and honest man in the former Qing Dynasty, and he had been a Beijing official for more than ten years. According to reason, he must be a man of culture and sourness.Unexpectedly, it is quite different.Since he was a few years old, he was a naughty child, extremely naughty.From the age of eight or nine, he beat and scolded all over the street.None of the children in the neighborhood were not bullied by him.Moreover, he is courageous and eloquent, and he is narrow-minded, especially resourceful adults who are almost dozens of years old, and sometimes they are fooled by him.His home was originally in Waisun Park, Qianmen.On the street of Sun Park, there is an old Mi Duo house.The surname of Zhang, the shopkeeper of the Dufang, is over forty years old, and he was born extremely fat, with more than two hundred catties of flesh all over his body.Because he spoke with a feminine tone, everyone gave him a nickname, Fatty Zhang.This fat girl had better keep her mouth shut.One day Wang Zhirui was mischievous in the street, grabbed a handful of black soil, and threw it at a child, but he never did it, and threw it on Fatty Zhang's clothes.Zhang Panggu often went to his house because she was doing business with his family, and she was very close to his father. He even called Zhang Panggu the second uncle.This time he threw dirt on Fat Gu's body, and he hurried over to apologize, saying, Second Uncle, I really didn't see it, so don't be angry.Unexpectedly, Fat Gu has a bad temper, so she doesn't listen to this kind of thing, she called him by his nickname viciously, and said, "Zeng'er, you kid is really going crazy, wait until I find your father and evaluate this theory." My son, I have to pay for my clothes." Wang Zhirui begged repeatedly, but he just didn't listen, and he went to Wang's house and told Zhirui's father.This old gentleman is an old Gongsheng, a bookworm, with a very old-fashioned temperament.Now that he heard that Zhirui was arresting people outside, he used Xia Chu to teach him a lesson.Fat Aunt Zhang thought she was out of anger, but she didn't know that she would have a grudge from now on.On this day, on Qianmen Street, Fatty Zhang was walking ahead, and there was a large gondola truck behind which was loaded with a lot of things.Wang Zhirui ran closely behind the car, just passing by Fat Girl.Zhirui greeted the second uncle loudly, and when the fat aunt saw her, she quickly asked, "Who is your child moving for?" You are having dinner at home, and I asked you to give me five buckets of old rice and four liters of mung beans, don’t forget." Fat Gu asked happily when she heard that she was invited to dinner, "Where did you move to outside the back door?" Zhi Rui said "There is a wooden gate in the silver alley." Fat Gu said, "I'll remember, I'll go tomorrow." On the second day, Fat Gu didn't even eat breakfast, and she just waited to go to Wang's house to break her fast.At one or two o'clock, I personally started, measured five buckets of old rice and four liters of mung beans, carried them on my shoulders, and walked forward step by step.Sun Gongyuan was originally on the west side of the front door, and it was three or four miles away after entering the front door.From the front door to the back door, it was almost a dozen li.With a weight of eighty or ninety catties still on his body, he was already sweating profusely from exhaustion.When you get outside the back door, you can see the boundless, and you know where there is Youyin Hutong.At that time, there were no patrolmen and no house numbers, so we could only ask pedestrians on the street for directions.The fat girl saw an old man in his sixties or seventies, and asked, "Grandpa, excuse me, where is the silver alley wooden gate?" After hearing this, the old man looked straight at him and said, Most of the people are a little bit wrong. Which alley is empty (Shandong people speak, and people and silver have the same pronunciation), and which door is not made of wood?Take your time to find it, I don't know.After saying that, he turned his head and left.Only then did Fat Gu realize that she was cheated by Wang Zhirui, and it was too late to regret.He put down the rice bag and burst into tears unconsciously.Because I have been exhausted for half a day, and my stomach is empty, I haven't eaten since morning, I am hungry and tired, I want to carry my pockets and walk out the front door through the back door, but it is too late.But he didn't bring any money with him, so if he wanted to buy some food to satisfy his hunger, he couldn't do it.Fortunately, there is no unparalleled road, and a fellow from Dufang came from there. The fat girl stopped him, borrowed two big money tickets, bought a catty of flatbread, two big money of pickles, and gobbled them up. After eating, he picked up his bag and walked back to his shop the same way. He was so tired that he couldn't go out for three days.From then on, Wang Zhirui was terrified to the extreme, and never dared to provoke him again.

Because Zhirui was naughty, he didn't enter a school until he was nine years old.His father abides by the righteousness of father and son not to blame goodness, and taught him by changing his son with others, and sent him to an old friend's home to study.This old man is a filial and honest man, whose surname is Wen and whose name is Sheng Ziping. He is over sixty years old. Although he is knowledgeable, his temperament is too rigid.When it comes to managing students, especially the strictness, they will not relax at all.Even college students who are in their twenties and have passed the exams will be blamed by Xia Chu if they are unhappy.It happened that Wang Zhirui came, he was really a naughty spirit who was not afraid of anything.In terms of talent, it is very good, and it is all in time to read, endorse, and lecture.In just a blink of an eye, he was about to make trouble.Mr. Wen also beat him a few times, but his natural skin is rough and thick, so the beatings were like tickling him.Later, when the husband became anxious, he punished him to kneel down in the courtyard.This kind of injustice, imposed on underage elementary school students, is unreasonable at all, and the darkness of the school at that time can be imagined.Although Wang Zhirui was not afraid of beatings, he couldn't stand this kind of punishment of kneeling on bricks, so he had no choice but to hold back temporarily.But even though he surrendered on the surface, he was extremely resentful in his heart, and he always wanted to find an opening to make the husband suffer a lot and vent the resentment in his heart.This day can be found by him.The husband is at home, and there is another toilet, and no one else is allowed to go in.On this day, Mr. went out, and all the schoolmates also dispersed, leaving him alone.He went into the toilet to check everything, feeling elated.He secretly borrowed a small saw from the carpenter's shop, and found some paste from home, and still came to his husband's house, pretending to play, but sneaked into the latrine to do the work of revenge.Sure enough, without anyone noticing, everything was arranged.Then I took a break and ran home.The next day I came to school early, just waiting to see my husband make a fool of myself.This gentleman is getting old, and he can't get up until after eight o'clock.It is a rule to go to the latrine first when you come down to earth.Just because I'm getting old, it's easy to squat down but hard to stand up when I'm going out, so I planted a wooden prong beside the latrine, and when I'm done, I hold my trousers in one hand and press the wooden prong hard with the other to stand up. Get up, this is an old rule for several years.Unexpectedly, he offended this brat, and quietly tried to tease him, which had already been arranged.After the old man came out in the morning, he still wanted to press the wooden peg so that he could stand up.Unexpectedly, when he pressed hard, the wooden prong suddenly snapped into two pieces.When he pressed down hard, his body was already standing halfway up, the stick suddenly broke, and the old man couldn't help but fell into the latrine.His body was covered in urine and feces, and the stench was suffocating. He struggled but couldn't stand up.Unknowingly shouting loudly: "Come and save people." The students in the study room have already arrived at this time, everyone heard the teacher shouting in the latrine, but they don't know what it is.Only Wang Zhirui knew in his heart that he was pretending to be panicked, and ran to the other end, the same class of students entered the latrine together, pulled the husband out of the pit, carried him to the inner room, changed his clothes, took a bath, and made a fuss for a long time. Just give up.The old man was so angry that he was sick for more than a month.Later, it was found out that it was Zhi Ruigan's trick, and he was dismissed, and he was never allowed to enter the house.His father was angry and taught him himself.In front of his father, after all, he was much better, and he didn't dare to be as naughty as before.His father taught him very strict homework, so at the age of seventeen, he became a county student member.Unexpectedly, a year later, his father passed away.This is like a wild horse that has let go of its bridle and can no longer hold it back.Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, smoking opium, and everything that is worthless, Zong Zong has to regard him as the leader.He also has the strangest temper: Although he is a student in school, he treats a group of sour talents as enemies and never gets close to them.The people he associates with are all local sticks, local ruffians, slippery officials, litigators, and a group of poor people who eat things and blackmail others.As time goes by, the habits are perfect, and he actually wears flower shoes, braids his hair, lifts cages to fight birds, fights in groups, smashes treasure games, and there is nothing he can't do when he is a bachelor.In the village, everyone who is a bit more decent stays far away, and no one wants to get close to him.

Afterwards, the disturbance was so disgraceful that there was an old man whose surname was Dong Zizhujun, who was a post-exchange brother with his father, so he specially sought him out and persuaded him face to face.Tell him to think about his mistakes behind closed doors, read books carefully, take the Western Jin and Zhou Dynasties as the law, and speak sincerely, which made him cry bitterly.Sure enough, from now on, it took three years of hard work to reject a group of gangsters and work hard.Unexpectedly, in the Shuntian Township examination field, he won the 93rd Juren.After winning the election, he immediately donated a cabinet secretary.After a few years of poor work, just in time for the Sino-Japanese conflict in the Sino-Japanese War, even Beijing was shaken.At that time, the Minister of Military Aircraft proposed to conduct regiment training in the Kinki area in order to defend Shenjing.Taking this opportunity, Wang Zhirui made a statement, asking himself to try it out.At this time, Weng Tonghe, Minister of Military Aircraft, and Qian Yingpu, Minister of the Ministry of War, were all his teachers, so they tried their best to brag about him.It was actually approved, and he was appointed as the office of the Gyeonggi regiment's defense committee, and Tongyong Bingbeidao was appointed as the general office.The head office of the regiment training is located in Tongzhou, Jingdong.Wang Zhirui took this title for himself, and he really concentrated on handling everything in a down-to-earth manner.One or two thousand strong civilians were recruited to train all day long.It's a pity that the official funds are limited, and the money drawn from Tongyongdao's treasury every month is not enough for expenses.He complained several times to the two ministers, Weng and Qian.Weng Tonghe said: "The current situation is urgent. The former enemies, the army and the navy, all ask the central government for payment. I am already at a loss. How can I have spare money to allocate to you? You might as well make it a temporary relief. When the situation calms down, we will Then the Ministry of Household Affairs will try to raise it back." Zhirui couldn't do it, so he went to look for Qian Yingpu again.Qian Yingpu said, he is a dignified secretary of the household department, but he is still unable to raise funds, what ability can I have?Zhirui hit two snags in a row, knowing about money, he can no longer rely on others.He implemented Yin Ziwen's idea of ​​destroying his family to relieve his difficulties, destroying all the real estate and land, even clothes and jewelry, all kinds of soft and valuable things, all kinds of codes, and those sold for sale, and used them for group training, which was almost ruined. There are seventy or eighty thousand gold.When the current situation settled down, a paper was opened to settle the account, hoping to get it back from Weng Shangshu.Then how can it be done, Weng Shangshu said, you want me to spend this money, but I really don't have the strength.Now there is a way to pay off debts with officials.Aren't you a secretary in the cabinet? As usual, the interception can be released to colleagues.It's just that you don't have enough years to intercept. Besides, apart from the shortage of Tongzhi, there are only a few people with the title of Fumin in the whole country who are good people, and the rest are all normal.It would be best for you to return to the Zhizhou team now and distribute it to Shandong or Henan. I will write a few letters to you, and I will be able to fill the vacancy within a year.You go outside to fish for a few, and invisibly, you have paid off the debt.But what do you think?Zhirui thought for a while, and sure enough, he had no choice but to agree.According to this, within a month, it will refer to the province of Henan.In less than two months after arriving in the province, the department was dispatched to Guangzhou.Finally, it was smooth sailing, and won the help of Weng Shangshu.

Unexpectedly, Weng Shangshu suddenly withdrew his military aircraft, and the feudal commander in Henan changed another bannerman.This person had a rift with Wang Zhirui in Beijing, but now that he is a staff member, Zhirui is naturally uneasy.He hurriedly asked someone to clear it up, but his tone was extremely tight, and there was no room for relaxation.Zhirui was a very alert person, so he saw the opportunity, and without waiting for the whole day, he handed over a request to return to his hometown to repair the tomb, and after approval, he handed it over to Beijing.This time I thought about going out to do things far away, instead of serving as officials in the northern provinces, I moved to the Ministry of Officials and chose a vacancy in Hengzhou, Guangxi.After taking office, the official voice is very good.Less than a year later, just in time for Guangxi governor Ke Cheng, he was transferred to Jiangxi governor, and Zhirui was also taken to Jiangxi.When he arrived in Jiangxi, his official star flourished, and he met a Tai Shibo, who served as an official in the same province with his grandfather at that time, and they were very close.At that time, just in time for the Taiping Rebellion, Zhirui's grandfather was acting as an agent for Huangtang of a certain mansion.Because of the responsibility of guarding the soil, he died in the city.The family fled back to the provincial capital, but they were depressed and unable to return home. Thanks to the old gentleman, he took out the money and sent someone to send Zhirui's grandmother and his family back to Beijing.At that time, Zhirui was only four or five years old. The old man cherished him very much and said that he would be a very talented person in the future.Thirty or forty years later, unexpectedly, we met again in the provincial capital of Nanchang.At this time, the old man was already in his nineties, and his spirit was still very strong.His family was originally the first household in Nanchang and had a lot of money.Zhirui specially prepared a few native gifts from Beijing, and personally visited Tai Shibo to pay his respects.When we met, we fell down and kowtowed first, thanking for the kindness of saving us back then.The old man saw that he was a good-looking man, and when he thought of his dead friend that day, he was both sad and happy.First, I asked him about the situation at home. Knowing that his grandmother and his father had all passed away, he sighed and said that the old man is ninety-four years old this year, and he will never die for a long time.Zhirui said: "Tai Shibo has accumulated virtue and benevolence, so he will naturally cultivate wealth and longevity. This is the silent blessing of heaven, so that pines and cypresses are always spring, so that young children will have a reserved style." The old man heard that Zhirui talked elegantly and behaved Generous, very happy in my heart.So I asked him what shift he was currently a candidate for in the provincial middle school?Zhirui bowed and replied: "The later students are transferred from Hengzhou, Guangxi to Guizhou, and they still have to wait for the prefecture shift." The old gentleman laughed and said, "With my elder brother's talent, it's really overkill to be transferred to a prefecture or county. Why don't you donate to the government, and pass the shift once, so you can do something in the future." Zhirui said: "Why don't you have this delusion when you are born late, but it's a pity that the family has already gone bankrupt and empty-handed, how can there be any hope of passing the shift. "Then I will tell the history of how to destroy the family and run the team training.The old man said: "After watching Zhiren, it shows that Shixiong is a responsible and courageous person. How about it, if you want to pass the class, how much money should you spend? Just talk to me, 35,000, I can do it." I can afford it." Zhirui hurriedly greeted deeply, saying: "Chengtai Shibo has been successful again and again, no matter how late he is born, he dare not say thanks. The only thing is to try to make progress, serve the country, and hope to live up to expectations." The old gentleman Listening to him speak in a decent manner makes him even more delighted.Zhirui returned to his apartment, and at the same time sent a letter to Beijing, begging a friend from the Ministry of Officials to handle the work on his behalf.When I met Futai Kecheng, I told him how generously he, the Tai Shibo, paid him for his work, and asked Futai for instructions so that he could follow.Ke Chengshi said: "This is a very good thing. I have no reason to disapprove. It will take a lot of trouble for you to go through the Ban Daotai from a Danzhou team. If you wait for two or three months, I will Guaranteed you have a very good achievement, pass the class prefect. You have the foundation of this prefect, and then pass the class, not only save trouble, but also save money. Do you think this method is not good?" Zhirui thanked again and again.Sure enough, it was carried out like this, and within half a year, the Daoist pointed out that Guangxi was assigned as a candidate, and he still stayed in Jiangxi to play.

I have lived in Jiangxi for two or three years. Although I have never had any vacancies, I have gotten several kinds of errands, all of which are excellent.Having lived in Jiangxi for two years, he thought that as a Daoist, he was originally referring to the province of Guangxi. If he still refuses to go to the province, it will be difficult to fill the vacancy. It is better to go back to Guangxi, so that he can fill a vacancy first, and then find a way to rise to the top. .After the decision was made, it happened that Ke Cheng was resigned at the same time, so he returned to Guangxi as an alternate.At this time, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi was Chen Chunxuan.He and Chen Chunxuan have somewhat of a relationship.At this time, the Miao bandits in Guangxi were making a scene. Chen Zhitai knew that he had held regimental training when he was in Beijing, so he appointed him as the general office of Qingxiang in the whole province and also the commander of the patrol army.The patrol army consisted of twenty battalions, a total of ten thousand people.The former commander was called 10,000 people because of withholding military pay, but in fact he didn't even have 5,000.Since Jing Zhirui took over, he has really put all his energy into training, not only did not deduct any money from it, but also took out money from time to time to reward and reward.Therefore, all the soldiers praised Mr. Wang as a good official.Zhirui still has an unattainable place, that is, he can share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers.Every morning, he got up very early, and when eating, he was always accompanied by four soldiers.He didn't know the names of the four soldiers, some were officials and some were soldiers.Called, two on each side, he sat alone in the middle.The dishes and rice they eat are always the same as those of soldiers.After breakfast, he will go to the playground in person.Seeing that the exercise was over, all the soldiers were free to rest. He walked alone, maybe he walked to the bottom of the woods, and then sat and chatted with the soldiers.Either talking about the daily life in the countryside, or telling stories about the ancients.All the famous generals and warriors in ancient times, who killed the enemy and achieved results, served the country and became famous, all kinds of anecdotes and anecdotes, he told all the soldiers to listen to.This kind of education penetrates deeply into people, and it is really more effective than camp schools.Therefore, the soldiers of the 20th battalion loved Zhirui like a father and brother, and respected him like a god.Seeing that all the soldiers in this group were available, he personally took them to fight against the Miao bandits.In less than a year, the Miao bandits in the whole province were wiped out.Governor Chen Chunxuan gave a big reward.At that time, he was asked to come to Guangdong to meet Chen Su's situation, so that he could be recommended together.When Zhirui arrived in the capital of Guangdong Province, Chen Chunxuan sent troops to pick him up and fired a seventeen-gun salute to show his welcome.At this time, Zhirui was really in the limelight.The civil and military bureaucrats in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guangxi know that he is the number one celebrity in Taiwan, so which one would not curry favor with him.After Chen Chunxuan met him, he promised to fill the vacancy for him.Sure enough, he was specially recommended by the sponsor, and in less than three months, he made up the Youjiang Road in Guangxi.After working as a Daotai for more than a year, he was transferred to the provincial agency of Guangxi as an inspector.From acting to actual grant, from actual grant to acting chief envoy.

He served as the chief political envoy of Guangxi for three years in one go, and then caught up with the Wuhan Uprising of 1911 and the establishment of the Republic of China government in Nanjing.Guangxi is located in the border area, and it was the hometown of Hong Tianwang. It was originally the place where the revolution started.How shrewd is Wang Zhirui, and he also holds military power in his hands, so he declared independence first without waiting for the people's request.The governor also ran away, and everyone named him the governor of Guangxi.He himself became the governor of the whole province. While issuing notices to comfort the people, he sent a telegram to Nanjing, Hubei, reporting the situation of independence, and asked President Sun and Marshal Li Tianhong for instructions.Sun and Li Ergong really praised him.Zhirui was originally an ambitious person. He wanted Guangxi to be a frontier. Even if he was in the limelight, he didn't make any great progress. He had to try to come to the north to have a chance to develop.So I made a statement to the Nanjing government, saying that at present, most of the provinces have declared independence, but Zhili province refused to follow the trend and still served the Manchu Qing. The restoration of the overall situation by the Han nationality had a great impact.之瑞在广西练有两万劲旅，情愿率之北上。静候总统命令，做北伐的先锋，躬冒矢石，俾得早日克复燕京，完成革命云云。孙大总统居然批准了，命他带兵北上，听候差遣，之瑞于是将广西都督，让给提督路华廷，自己带着一万多人，开关北上，驻扎在江苏境内。本人特到南京，觐见孙大总统。孙公十分赏识他，当时便特任他为北伐第一军总司令，专候命令，便即日动员。这时候恰赶上孙项议和，项子城应许用和平手段，使清帝退位。孙大总统原不忍涂炭生灵，便完全允许，照和平方法去做，不必再进兵了。因此之瑞便住在江苏，无事可做。后来中华民国成立，项子城又当选为临时大总统，他想再回广西去，其势有所不能。要在北方谋一个适当差缺，急切间又不能如愿。

这时，恰赶上唐绍怡到南京来，同一班民党人物，互相联络。之瑞知道他是民国第一任内阁总理，便也极力拉拢。唐绍怡同他谈过几次，果然军政民政，样样皆通。而且才力精敏，确是一个济时应变之才，便也不住口地赞赏。这一天同孙大总统谈起之瑞来，孙公说北方照他这样识时务的俊杰，真真不可多得。阁下组阁之后，似乎要罗致一下才好。唐绍怡道：“总统说得很是，绍怡也早有此意，只是急切间想不出甚样位置来。因为他在前清，已经做到藩台，又是民国成立广西第一任的都督，总统又曾委他为北伐第一军总司令，他的地位资望，总算不小了。如今要派他一份没要紧的差使，不但不能展其才，他也绝不肯就；要是给以重大的事权，绍怡个人，又不能十分做主，必须得项大总统的同意。因此这个问题，倒是很难决定的。”孙公笑道：“这也没有什么为难。你是责任内阁的总理，对于用人一项，是可操全权的。你自看得中他，什么事不能派呢？”孙大总统给唐绍怡戴上一顶高帽子，倒闹得唐绍怡无话可答，只有唯唯听命。 他退下来便遇着一位革命大家臧炳文。炳文是浙江人，字汉火，为民党中第一个大文豪，真是下笔万言，倚马可待。他是专门讲种族革命的，对于满清，向来是深恶痛绝，誓不两立。他曾在报馆中当过几次编辑，因为持论过于激烈，两次被驱，一次下狱。在狱中住过四五年，他仍然是著书立说，攻击清室。甚至连狱中同伴的难友，全受他感化，大讲其革命。后来遇赦出来，他逃亡在海外。因为研究某种学问，曾在印度住过五年。此番武汉起义，他也随着一班同志回国。孙大总统派他为公府秘书，他不肯就，只要了一个顾问的名义，优游自在，专备咨询。他的学问虽好，只可惜有一宗毛病，脑筋中总带着三分精神病：无论是多大人物，他也看不在眼里，不怕下等社会的人，只要一语投机，便引为知己；无论怎样伟大人物，只不可他的意思，他是张口便骂，举手便打，丝毫也不会客气的。尤其生性爱钱，大有和峤之癖。每逢钱一到手，他便锁在柜中，再也不许移动，暇时摩挲一番，自以为名士爱钱。同仁知道他这种毛病，大家也习见不怪。

他此番在南京，不知怎么同王之瑞要好起来，两人非常密切。炳文便到处替他鼓吹，之瑞便乘势托他给运动直隶都督。直隶都督这个缺，关系重要，上文已经表过，尤其是之瑞垂涎此缺，因为他是直隶京兆人，如果充任本省都督，正所谓衣锦昼行，是再光荣不过的了。民党各要人，多数也赞成此议，只是谁也拉不下脸来，向唐绍怡破除情面去说。唯有臧炳文横打鼻梁，大包大揽，说此事全在我身上，包管一说便妥。这一回在总统府内，无意中遇着了唐绍怡，他怎肯放过，当时一把拖住，说唐先生不要走，我同你谈几句秘密话儿。绍怡说好好，两人便一同到秘书处来。秘书长宋樵夫，正在屋中阅看文电，见臧、唐两人进来，连忙起身让座，敬烟敬茶，十分殷勤。绍怡问道：“臧先生你有何事见教，可避宋先生不避？如不避宋先生，就请你直接地说吧。”炳文大笑道：“我臧炳文事无不可对人言，从来是没有避讳的。今天向你要求一件事，就是直隶都督的人选问题。我已经替你物色着一位最妥当最适宜的人物。你将来回到北京，头一道委任令，便可将此人发表，也是你的臂助。”臧炳文直截了当地说了这一套，闹得唐绍怡没有一点回旋余地，只好问道：“你先生推荐的人，一定错不了。但不知是哪一位，请说出来，我没有不赞成的。”炳文道：“这人赫赫有名，便是目前北伐第一军总司令王之瑞。他是北方人，做直隶都督，最为相宜。他又是民党，南方也没有反对他的，真要算全国赞成的人物。唐先生，你的意思如何？”绍怡道：“王之瑞诚然是不可多得之才，他做直隶都督，我完全赞成。但……”绍怡才说一个但字来，炳文便迎头挡回去，说：“你既赞成，这议案就算通过，不用再加但书了。好在樵夫也在座，就算他是保证人。我还要见总统去，没有工夫久谈，咱们改天再会吧。”他说完了，连头也不回，便跑到后院去。唐绍怡看他这种神气，觉着好笑，便对宋樵夫道：“这真是天外奇峰，突然飞来，真叫人摸不着头脑。”樵夫道：“他这人向来就是这种脾气，所以人管他叫疯子。照这样疯头疯脑，也就是在民党队中，大家看惯了，不以为怪。唐先生终年同一班有规矩有礼貌的人在一处做事，哪里看得惯这个呢？”绍怡听他这话里柔中有刺，连忙拉回来，说道：“好在他谈的是正事，咱们全是知己朋友，有什么礼貌可讲的。”樵夫道：“唐先生，你可不知道他的脾气。他要求人家什么事，不许不应，应了不许不办。方才这件事，你应了他，将来倘或办不到，大麻烦呢。”绍怡道：“据我想，这件事总有八九分把握。头一样，之瑞是北方人，第二样，他根本也是一个官僚，并非完全民党，料想项大总统，没有什么可驳的。”樵夫微微一笑，说但愿这样才好吧。

绍怡乘势问道：“你诸位要求我的事，我全答应了，请问我要求的事，你诸位怎么样呢？”樵夫正色回道：“我们几个人，一定帮忙，决不含糊。不过谁负什么责任，还不曾议到，这事得你先生同项总统斟酌一番，我们也不能擅自做主。”绍怡笑道：“你几位都是全才，无论负什么责任，也必能胜任愉快，议不议有什么关系呢？”樵夫道：“唐先生，你怎么也说出这样话来。我们这些人，频年奔走革命，对于做官一道，本是门外汉。将来不过就个人学过的，斟酌试办，至于经验阅历，是丝毫也没有。就以我说吧，家里几辈子种地，本是一个农人之子。虽然读过几年书，留过几年学，所研究的，还是些老农老圃之学，将来只好去做田峻。其余重大责任，不要说轮不着我做，就是派到我头上，我也不敢担啊！”唐绍怡哈哈大笑，说宋先生既想做田畯，将来便请你做农林总长吧。樵夫道：“要论这个责任，也不能算轻，因为我国对于农林一门，向来不曾设有专部。可是户部的别名儿，又叫作农部，户部尚书，又叫作大司农，可见古人也未尝不重视农政。不过自汉代以后，演成一种商富农贫的现象，当局之人，遂把农的地位看低。数千年农业不能发达，受病之处，全在于此。如今既改成民国，农林一部，是应当设立的。不过我的材料，实在够不上当总长，还是请唐先生另物色高明吧。”绍怡道：“这事由不得你，横竖农长一席，是非你莫属的。”樵夫也不便再说什么。又过了两天，大致已经决定，教育总长是陈元培，司法总长是王保惠，农林总长是宋樵夫，工商总长是陈起梅，算是由民党中聘请了这四位人物。拍电报告与项总统，项子城完全同意。唐绍怡这才由南京起身，遄返北京。四位总长，也随他一同来到。过了没有几天，便由项总统明令发表，第一任责任内阁，算是完全成立。 内阁成立之后。便有人向唐绍怡进言，说直隶都督问题，正好趁这时候解决了，免得夜长了梦多。唐绍怡很以他这话为然，第二天到国务院中，办完了公事，便亲至公府，面见项总统。先说了几件没要紧的公事，然后慢慢地引到直隶都督问题。绍怡还不敢遽然提出王之瑞来，先探项子城的口气。说如今总统已经正式就任，各省的气象，也要焕然一新。所有都督民政长，多半还是些旧人，总统看他们能否胜任，有什么更动没有呢？项子城用手摸着胡子，微微笑道：“我向来对于用人，但凡能将就，是不愿更动的。不过人地太不相宜，也不能不斟酌一下子。你看谁应当更动的，也无妨商量商量，我倒没有什么成见。”绍怡听他这话，毫无边际，有心直说吧，又嫌过于突兀；不说吧，以后更没有说的机会了。略一思索，还是说了吧，大概总不至于碰钉子。想到这里，便慢吞吞地说道：“总统看直隶都督，怎么样呢？”项子城听见直隶都督四字，立刻把笑容收敛了，沉下脸来说道：“你还提直隶都督呢，真真要把人气死。章遇芳这个东西，本来不成材料，我也知道的，不过暂时叫他看看大门。没想到他连大门也看不了，正月十四还闹出那样的笑话来。我正想要换他呢，只是急切间想不出相当的人物，你意中可有人吗？倒是快点举出来，赶紧发表了，也可减去我一块心头之病。”绍怡听总统这样说，真是喜出望外，立刻振起精神来，向总统回话道：“章遇芳本是一个民政长的材料，军事非其所长，这个总统也不能怪他。此次绍怡到南京去，无心中倒是遇着了一个人才。此人不但军事学很优，并且还长于民政，是一个服官多年的老手，决没有民党嚣张之气。若叫他去做直隶都督，确是人地相宜，必能胜任愉快。”项子城听他加了这许多考语，自己觉着好笑，便扬着脸说道：“南京中居然有这样的人才吗，到底是谁呢？你何妨直截了当地告诉我。既然是服官多年的，大约我也许知道一点。”绍怡忙躬身回道：“此人曾在河南做过官，总统当然知道，就是广西布政使王之瑞。”项子城听了，大笑道：“我当是谁呢，原来是王之瑞呀。他的历史，我很知道。当年在我们家乡做官，确乎是一员能吏。后来跑到外省去，我可就不知道了。”绍怡道：“他在外省的官声也很好，广西苗匪，就是他肃清的。陈制军非常赏识他。若叫他做直隶都督，服务于桑梓之邦，料想他必能为总统尽力。”项子城道：“你既看他可以胜任，就拟命令，送府盖印好了。还是那一句话，我并没有丝毫成见。”唐绍怡听总统说得这样冠冕堂皇，便诺诺连声地退了下来。当天晚上，便将命令拟好，次日早晨便送印。 在他的意思，以为早晨送进府中，当日午后，便能盖印发出，等不到明天，就可以发表了。哪知早晨送进去的，直到掌灯时候，唐绍怡亲自给府秘书厅通了两次电话，问这一纸命令，曾否盖印交下。秘书厅的回答，全是说不知道。绍怡只得耐着性儿，等到第二天早晨，连早饭全不曾吃，便到国务院去。因为每天早晨，内阁送印的公事，一准发下一批来，是由公府的文承宣官，亲自送国务院，当面交给本院的参事，取了某人的亲笔盖章收据，然后才能回府，向秘书厅交代，这是照例的文章。绍怡来到国务院，公府的文承宣还不曾来呢。他便传下口谕，公府送来盖过印的命令，先拿来我看。少时由某科员亲自将命令送进总理办公室中，恭恭敬敬地放在桌上。绍怡忙翻开看，看了一遍，却不见王之瑞的任命令。莫非是我眼花了？再从头至尾地看一遍，仍然没有。哦，这可真怪，莫非是秘书厅给压住了，这也许有的。本来阮中书是一个财迷，他见王之瑞做了直隶都督，却不曾向他有个礼儿，他便冒坏，故意把公事压起来？我却一时疏忽，竟自忘记先托付他一句，许给他一点便宜，却闹得迟误了两天。没法子快许愿吧，便伸手把公事桌上的电话机拿起来，亲自打电话到公府秘书厅。他叫的也是秘书长公事桌上的号码，电话局怎敢怠慢，立刻就接上了。彼此一说话，阮中书道：“我的大总理，你怎么这早就跑到国务院，真是为国贤劳，太不辞辛苦了。”绍怡道：“老弟，先别闹客气，愚兄有一件事托付你，请你特别关照才好。”中书道：“什么事，请你吩咐吧。”绍怡道：“直隶都督已经内定了王之瑞，大概你还许不知道。命令是昨天送印的，请你给催一催，快点发下来。之瑞对于老弟，一定有些报效，决不空的，就请你费心吧。”中书在电话里哈哈大笑，说：“二哥，你这话说在后头了。之瑞早有信来，托我关照。昨天送来的命令，我也见着了，但是……”中书说到这里，略顿了一顿，然后又改口道：“还不曾盖印，也许是留中未发，等我替你探一探好了。”绍怡道：“多谢多谢，晚半天再说吧。”随手挂上耳机。心里盘算，方才听中书的口气，多半怕有变局。他在电话里，也不好说，等晚上我去访他，到底问一个水落石出，也好谋转圜的法子。只得耐着性儿，在国务院坐了大半天。厨房开上早饭来，他吃不下去，便朝着厨夫大闹脾气，说你做的是些什么菜，这也能叫人吃吗？厨夫直磕头认不是，又重新再做第二回。这位大总理吃了，仍然不可口，直闹了半天脾气。 已到日落西山，赌气坐上马车，一直到公府来。这一回不见总统了，一个人跑到秘书厅，寻阮中书谈话。这位大秘书长，已经回到休息室中，手里端着水烟袋，呼啦呼啦地正吸个不住。忽抬头见绍怡进来，忙将水烟袋放下，紧走两步，拉住绍怡的手笑道：“二哥来得正巧，昨天有人送来一对熊掌、一对嵩山猴头，我已经叫厨房做去了。请杨老五来吃，他说近来守斋，不吃厚味，我正愁没人配吃这好东西，恰好二哥来了，咱们痛饮三杯吧。”绍怡道：“这两样东西，虽然好吃，但是你昨天交下去，今天就要，恐怕做不好吧。”中书道：“你不知道，我们这厨子，外号叫神手陶三，无论什么费手的菜，你只要交给他，哪时想吃，哪时便能端上。”绍怡道：“好好，到底是老弟的口福大，所以才有这样良庖来伺候你，愚兄也随着沾光不小。”两人又谈了一刻闲话，厨房已开上饭来。中书叫茶房开了一瓶香槟、一瓶威士忌，请绍怡喝。绍怡道：“我们既吃国产名菜，也应当喝国产名酒。有隔年的陈绍，用大杯喝上几杯，倒是最快活的一件事。”中书连说有有，快换陈绍来。果然斟到杯子里，如琥珀一般的浓。绍怡便尽量喝起来。喝得有几分醉意了，这才提到王之瑞的任命令上。中书道：“之瑞这个人，是非常圆通的。不知因为什么，却得罪了老头子，连我全有些莫名其妙。”绍怡忽然听见他这样说，犹如冷水浇头，把方才喝的酒，全不知吓到什么地方去了，忙立起身来，一只手按着桌子，把身子向前探了一探，低声问道：“你这话怎么讲，莫非老头子又变了卦不成？”中书道：“岂但变卦呢，看神气还恐怕有一点不易转圜。在前三天，之瑞就派有专员，拿着他亲笔的信到我家里，当面托付。说是总理那一关，已经完全说妥，就等命令一下来，他便可以走马上任。并且他在南京，已经收拾好了行装，不日就可以北上。叫我在公府里面，替他招呼一声，并指明在某某银行里，存着一万块钱，所有府中上上下下，应当怎样点缀，叫我看着便宜行事。我说既然托付好了总理，无需再花这许多钱，等哪时用着，我再知会你提取。幸而我不曾留下他那支票，倘然要留下，这半途中变卦，叫我怎对得起朋友呢？”绍怡道：“你先不要提这个，到底老头子对你有什么表示呢？”中书道：“昨天命令送进来，我因为有之瑞的关系，亲自呈给他阅看。他看过了，单单把那条任命令提出来，压在公事桌的砚台底下。我看了，很觉着诧异，当时沉不住气，还碰了他一个钉子。我说请示总统，那一条命令盖印吗？你猜他说什么？他也不说盖，也不说不盖，只微微一笑，说这事还有斟酌余地，等过一两天再说吧。他这样含糊其辞，我如何敢往下再问，只好将他交下的命令，送给监印官盖印。之瑞那一条，到如今还在他砚台底下压着呢。你说这事奇怪不奇怪？”绍怡道：“看这神气，一定府里有人给说坏话，老头子耳软心活，半路打退堂鼓。这事叫我如何对得起人？”说到这里，皱着眉为难了多时，又对中书道：“这事还得老弟给想法子，我要一见他面，更闹僵了。最好你先探一探，是有什么人作梗。解铃还是系铃人，只要把他疏通好了，老头子也不见得坚持到底。好在他有一万元的存项，到了这紧急关头，说不得只好提出来，先替他安置一切。你想怎么样呢？”中书道：“事情挤到这里，也只好如此。不过据我想，还未见得是有人破坏。老头子向来耳朵不软，就怕是他自动地信不及，那可就无法挽回了。”绍怡道：“他如果信不及，昨天就应当向我有一种表示，怎么会满应满许呢？”中书笑道：“老头子的为人，岂能以常情测度。他心里不乐意的事情，面子上轻易不肯表示，你只能细心体验，慢慢窥察。要想从老头子嘴里讨供，那是做不到的。”绍怡道：“这样只好求老弟费神，替我探一探。但能有转圜的法子，无论如何，总要做到才好。不然愚兄可就要受热了。”中书道：“这话怎么讲呢？”绍怡遂将臧汉火怎样嘱托，他的为人怎样难缠，详细报告了一番。中书点头答应，说我但能为力，必然替你做到。绍怡至再称谢，吃过饭便告辞去了。 中书这一回，倒是真心实意地想玉成这件事。可不是专为绍怡排难解纷，是知道王之瑞决不能辜负他，将来可以大大地得一笔谢仪。正在这时候，恰恰里面传他进去，有公事待办。中书便乘这机会，面见总统，将公事说完了，又慢慢提到王之瑞身上。说外间的耳风真长，王之瑞补授直隶都督，不过有此一议，其实距事实尚远，外边竟乱吵嚷，说是总统已经下令真除，这也不知从哪儿说起。项子城笑道：“本来这也难怪，唐绍怡把命令全送进府来，他们国务院的人，当然是认着没有变动了。其实这件事，总怨绍怡过于粗心。他自己也不想一想，那王之瑞是自告奋勇，充当北伐军总司令的人物，怎能叫他去做直隶都督。难道叫他跑进大门来，好讨伐我们不成吗？要知道，直隶不同旁的省份，天津是北京的大门，彼此相距不过咫尺路程，倘然要有一点变动，哽噎咽喉，被人掐住了，岂不要甘受其苦。那直隶都督，好比是一个看守大门的。自家的大门，还得用自家心腹去看，岂能随便交给一位不知谁何的人，将来大门被人摘了去，我们还不知道呢！”中书道：“总统虑得深远，可惜唐绍怡一时粗心，未曾斟酌及此。”项子城道：“他是第一任内阁总理，我不能不尊重他的地位，所以面子上不肯驳他。如今压住命令，他当然也就了悟了。”中书道：“绍怡对于这件事，不见得怎样坚持，不过他从中也很有些难处。据中书风闻，他在南京时，是受了臧汉火的嘱托，倘然要做不到，还怕汉火不能同他干休呢。”项子城大笑道：“岂有此理，那真笑话了。臧汉火本是一个著名的疯子，难道疯子说话，也能算数儿吗？”中书也笑了，说总统可不要轻看那个疯子，他捣乱的本事很大呢，绍怡提起他来，还怕得了不得。项子城道：“没要紧，要专为怕他，我自有法子对付。你回来见着绍怡，请他自管放心，到了临时，我必能替他解围。”中书答应一声是，便退下来。第二天原原本本，将谈话的情形，对绍怡述说了一遍。 绍怡到此时，才知道完全绝望，心中是说不出的懊恼。但是眼前也想不出旁的法子来，只可隐忍着再等机会，一方面还得设词对付民党。旁人全好办，唯有臧疯子实在难缠。他心里这样盘算着，面子上却不肯露出来，很镇定地拍出几封电报去，只说项总统现在政躬有点不豫，此事只好多搁几天，不拘迟早，一定可以发表。别人接到这电报，倒还不大注意，唯有王之瑞本人，满腹狐疑，不知是怎么一回事。莫非这位大总理，别有怀抱，想把这个缺送给他人？要果然这样，我运动了两三个月，结果成空，这不是拿人开胃吗？心里很