Chapter 36 Section 36 Things can be done with half or six percent confidence

Manyuanchun is one of the best fireworks sites in Baoding, and Changshun and Zeng Guofan have heard of it for a long time. According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, officials are not allowed to whoring prostitutes to eat flowers and wine. Once the night is over, the supervisory censors will lead the imperial army to inspect the night at the fireworks. If you hit with a slap, no matter whether you are in the middle hall or the department hall, after the fight, you have to write down your name. Punishments, salary fines, and even dismissal of meritorious service, and even dispatched to the army to work as coolies for a few years, are dealt with in various forms.In private, people refer to the supervisory censor as "Master Du", which means the master of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Zeng Guofan's "playing a dry tea circle" refers to the kind that does not stay in a brothel, but only uses the brothel to eat melon seeds and talk to prostitutes.When Zeng Guofan was a juren, he used to beat the dry tea circle in Changsha brothel.Only because prostitutes don't like their indecent looks and they are very careful about money, they gradually give up their hearts. Manyuanchun is different from teahouses, which are full of traffic day and night.It was still early when the two walked through the door, but the upstairs was already full of voices.As soon as Changshun entered here, he immediately became active, which was a common problem of Manchu princes at that time.Is it considered full if you don't eat flower wine and don't fight pheasants?

"Oh! My ancestor!" The young bustard straightened Chang Shun, as if she was a regular visitor, "I haven't seen you in the past two years, I thought I forgot about us!" As soon as the bustard spoke, girls immediately came out of the small apartment.There are two coming up to pull Chang Shun.Because Zeng Guofan had a pair of triangular eyes and ringworm all over his body, when he didn't have an attack, he couldn't see anything on his neck and hands. Once he had an attack, his neck and arms would be numb and cracked, just like a mane. , the girls don't like it very much.Although Zeng Guofan didn't have ringworm tonight, but because of his preoccupation, his triangular eyes kept hanging, gloomy as if he was going to kill someone.The girls wanted to do his business, but were somehow afraid of him, so they could only smile at him neither far nor near, just to respect the money in his pocket.Zeng Guofan's ability to become a master of Neo Confucianism and a famous official of a generation was partly due to perseverance, talent and learning, and partly due to his indecent appearance.

When the melon seeds and tea were brought out, Changshun ordered something called Chunhong, and Zeng Guofan ordered something called Chunshun, and the four of them gathered around the table to eat melon seeds, drink tea, and gossip.Chunhong had already put her butt in Changshun's arms. Although Chunshun didn't dare to sit in Zeng Guofan's arms, she sneaked her body on Zeng Guofan's body. "Isn't this the elder?" At some time, a thin and withered man appeared in front of Chang Shun, smiling and cupping his fists to salute Chang Shun, as if reunited after a long absence.

Chang Shun was taken aback for a moment, but quickly stood up, took the man's hand and said, "You are an official! Where did you get rich?" Turning around, he asked for more stools and tea bowls. Zeng Guofan knew that Changshun had met an acquaintance, so he had to order a girl named Chun Nao to accompany the official.As expected, Chun Nao was a little troublesome, he walked over awkwardly, sat down on the official's lap, put his arms around his neck and called out the old man.Then Zeng Guofan knew that this official came here often, otherwise Chun Nao wouldn't be so hot with him.

At this time Chang Shun said to Zeng Guofan: "Master Wan, this official and my little ancestor are related by marriage." Then he said to the official: "Haven't you been in Shengjing all the time? When did you come to Zhili?" The official said: "I'm not in Shengjing anymore. I've been in Zhili for more than ten years, and I don't have a fixed job. I don't know why the elder came to Zhili? Isn't the elder a servant in the palace?" Chang Shun pointed to Zeng Guofan and said to the official: "This Lord Wan is the Duke of Xiaolian from last year, and he wants to donate an official to fill the gap in Zhili. The young one just got in touch with the arbitrary officer of the General Military Mansion yesterday, and I don't know who that is. Whether you can rely on it or not. I have long since vacated and returned to Fengtian, and it wasn't because of Wan Xiaolian's future that I didn't bother to come to Zhili!"

"You mean Ren Nuyuan?" The official stared. "If you want to do something in Zhili, you have to rely on Master Wen of the General Military Mansion, so that you don't waste money. Master Wen's 50,000 taels of history, In the hands of the surname Ren, at least seventy to eighty thousand chips are needed, even without tea money." Chang Shun hurriedly said: "From the tone of the official, you must be very familiar with Master Wen?" The official slapped his thigh: "It's not just acquaintance! Master Wen and I are the best friends! Thanks to his guidance in the past ten years, my brother only has a few savings in his hand. Master, you always want to be with me directly. Li Hun, brother, I am responsible for letting you know the surname Wen!"

Chang Shun said happily: "It's not God's will to have such a relationship! Lord, let's not talk about the far away, just talk about Wan Ye. Tomorrow you will ask Mr. Wen to come out, and you will help Wan Ye to the end Well, it saves you from wasting money." The official patted his chest: "We are family friends, and we are all people in the banner, can we tolerate excuses? However, Mr. Wen went to Beijing to go to the county prince's mansion yesterday, and it will take some time before he can come back. Is Wan Ye in a hurry?" Zeng Guofan was able to pick up the words at this time: "It's not urgent, but the sooner the better. I don't know what kind of errand this Master Wen is running? Will it take a long time?"

Then the official said to Changshun mysteriously: "Everyone in Zhili knows about this. This time, the Anjunmen sent people to search Li Chungang's family property, and they got a few rare calligraphy and paintings and antiques. The county prince likes to play. Well, this kind of errand, I can only rest assured that Mr. Wen goes to handle the military. Mr. Wen went to the Western Regions last year! All the family affairs of the military are handled by Mr. Wen, and everything is done properly. " Chang Shun tugged at the official's sleeve: "This man surnamed Wen is so capable that the Lord Junmen trusts him so much."

The official said with a smile: "I don't know, sir? Master Wen is the elder brother of the Ninth Concubine of the Junmen. He is born better than his sister!" Seeing that Zeng Guofan was speechless, Chang Shun said again: "The official's residence has also moved to Baoding, right? Wan Ye and I are asking the official to have a drink." The official said: "My family didn't come here, and I'm still living in Shengjing. I'm alone in Baoding, and I don't have a fixed place to live. If you want to find me, you can come here. I have my room here. Okay." It's getting late, so I won't bother you two, how about I invite you tomorrow? Are you staying at an inn or at a friend's place?" He stood up and pretended to leave .

Chang Shun hurriedly said: "How can we let the official spend money, let's come here to find the official!" The official was no longer humble, and went inside with the help of Chun Nao.Zeng and Chang will also settle the account and walk out of Manyuanchun. Back at the inn, the two drank tea for a while in the room. Zeng Guofan had a whim, smiled and said to Chang Shun: "Chief guard, I have figured out a way to go, but it is a bit risky." Changshun smiled and said, "Hehe, can you still do it if there is a risk?" After taking a sip of tea, Zeng Guofan said with a pleasant face, "In the officialdom, one should think twice before doing things, let alone be timid. As long as you have half or six points in everything, you can do it!" Chang Shun put down his teacup: "My lord, please speak, I will listen with all my heart." Zeng Guofan said: "Now, it can be said with certainty that if you want to know the details of Zongbing An, Master Wen is the key. According to my opinion, you might as well use the small fish of the official to go to the capital to catch the big fish like Master Wen. This official speculates that An Ge's stay in Zhili is not as simple as selling an official and a noble, there must be other secrets." "Your Excellency, you mean..." Chang Shun asked suspiciously. Zeng Guofan pondered for a while, lowered his voice, and spoke out his plan slowly.