Chapter 47 Section 47: An old friend complains

Liu Rong and Luo Zenan are both county students, and they are both in the same class as Zeng Guofan, and they are bare-legged dolls who grew up together.Before Zeng Guofan entered Beijing, he often discussed knowledge with Zuo Zongtang, Luo and Liu, and was known as the Four Gentlemen of Xiangshui. Luo Zenan, courtesy name Zhongyue and nickname Luoshan, is one year older than Zeng Guofan.Liu Rong, courtesy name Meng Rong, nickname Xiaxian, is five years younger than Zeng Guofan.Luo Zenan is the eldest of the four gentlemen. When Zeng Guofan saw Luo and Liu, he hurriedly stood up.Luo Zenan rushed forward to salute, and said with a smile: "Disheng, Meng Rong and I have been here a long time ago and have been drinking tea in Chenghou's study. If Zhang doesn't leave, my brother won't even dare to see you."

Zeng Guofan pouted and said, "This is the Zeng family, not the county government office. What are you afraid of?" Liu Rong said: "I'm not afraid of him, but I don't want him to stain my face!" The servants brought out tea, and several people sat down again. Zeng Guohuang suddenly said: "Brother, you are in Beijing, and you always see the emperor, so you can't play Zhang Ye's books? Zhang Ye has ruined Xiangxiang in the past few years! Brother Luo couldn't read it once, and wrote it. This certificate was handed over to the mansion, but the prefect’s yamen didn’t dare to accept it! I heard that Zhang Ye sent people to Beijing to deliver money every year, and I don’t know if it’s true.”

Zeng Guofan said, "I forgot to ask, when was Liu Xiangdong released as the magistrate?" Liu Rong said: "It's not that long, it seems like it happened half a year ago. I heard that you are in the same year, and you are not very proud of being in Hunan for the past few years. This acting appointment is because the nursing home sees him pitiful and cares about him!" Luo Zenan said: "Liu Sheng, Liu Xiangdong is a good man! You should go and see him. If Ji Gao is here, he would have already carried you to the magistrate's yamen in a sedan chair!" Zeng Guofan hurriedly asked Zeng Guohuang: "If Luo Shan didn't tell me, I'd have forgotten. Did no one inform Ji Gao?"

Zeng Guohuang said: "How dare you not know him. His family said that he was out to visit friends, so he must have not come back, or he would have come here earlier! The whole of Hunan knows that you two are the best. If you don't know how to meet others, how dare you not know him? The four of you Together, they are called the Four Gentlemen of Xiangshui!" Before Zeng Guohuang finished speaking, Luo Zenan and Liu Rong burst into laughter. Zeng Guofan pondered for a moment and said: "Accordingly, I should go to the prefect's yamen to meet Xiangdong, but I am returning home for a funeral. According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, returning home for a funeral is not allowed to disturb the local area. I think the prefect Liu can also Forgive my plight."

"Okay!" Liu Rong waved her hand and said, "Don't mention any Qing regulations! The year before last, your old in-laws of the Zeng family and the Xiao family in Nanzhuang had the yamen shut down for three days because they failed to pay the grain. Sanye! If your father hadn't stepped forward, the punishment would have been even greater!" Zeng Guofan was suspicious, and hurriedly asked Guohuang, "But it's true? The imperial court didn't collect grain from Hunan the year before last! It also allocated three million dans of sweet potatoes and five hundred thousand taels of silver to Sanxiang! Dad wrote Why didn't you say anything?"

Zeng Guohuang sighed and said: "Because my family's grain and land are exempted, not to mention that every time you write a letter, you tell Dad that you don't let Dad come forward for anything ordered by the government, for fear of being criticized." There was obvious dissatisfaction in his tone. Luo Zenan said at this time: "Disheng, I didn't mean you, it's because you are an official in the capital, not only Chenghou brothers can't stretch their waists, but even us poor talents are also enraged! I'm afraid that I will bring you down The reputation of conniving family relatives and friends to oppress the local area. Without you as a Beijing official, Zhang Ye is really a little afraid. If we really sue in Beijing, I don’t believe the emperor, just Mu Zhang’a!"

Liu Rong hurriedly said: "Okay, it's rare for the Great Hanlin to come back, let's talk about something nice. Disheng, Zhang is also making a mess, I'm afraid Liu Xiangdong will be involved! Or let you leave this same year , or think of a strategy to bring Zhang down." Everyone was talking about it, when Zeng Guoquan walked in and said, "It's getting late, Mr. Luo and Mr. Liu should rest here. The sleeping places have been packed." Only then did Luo and Liu realize that Zeng Guofan had been busy for many days and hadn't had a good night's rest since he entered the house, so he quickly got up and left, and made an appointment to come back tomorrow.

Zeng Guofan stopped when he was sent to the "Jinshidi", and repeatedly urged him not to miss the appointment. After seeing off his friends, Zeng Guofan went directly to his grandfather's bedroom and saw that his father and second uncle were there. When Zeng Xinggang saw his eldest grandson coming in, he hurriedly pulled him to sit down beside him, and kept saying, "Kuan Yi has been exhausted these past few days, so I need to rest early tonight." But he just didn't let go of his hand. Knowing that his grandfather didn't want him to leave, Zeng Guofan said, "Old Ancestor, Kuanyi won't be going back to his bedroom tonight, so he'll rest here."

Zeng Xinggang said, "That's impossible, I haven't talked to Ji Zeniang in the past few days since I came back", but he has already got out of bed and made a bed for his grandson. Zeng Linshu said: "Father, if Kuanyi wants to accompany you tonight, let him accompany you. You can talk to Ji Zeniang anytime." Xinggang Gong smiled happily.That night, Zeng Guofan stayed in his grandfather's room, and the two talked for most of the night. Zeng Guofan had just finished his breakfast when a large blue wool sedan stopped in front of Zeng's house.Liu Xiangdong, dressed in casual clothes, walked towards him with square steps.Zeng Guofan stepped forward to hold Liu Xiangdong's hand, and rushed into the study in a few steps, regardless of salutes.

After entering the study, Liu Xiangdong struggled to get his hands out, first dusted off the dust on his body, and then gave a deep salute: "I pay my respects to Mr. Zeng. I have met Mr. Zeng. I am late to visit, and I hope you will forgive me. !" Zeng Guofan was stunned for a long time, and then said: "The person standing in front of the Beijing Hall is Liu Xiangdong who came from the second list?" Liu Xiangdong saluted and replied, "It's the next official." Zeng Guofan said anxiously: "Since you are Liu Xiangdong, how come you don't even know your old brother Zeng Disheng?"

Liu Xiangdong replied solemnly: "Zeng Disheng is a fourth-rank palace known throughout the court, and the lower official is just a fifth-rank official. The lower official dare not be presumptuous, please forgive me!" Zeng Guofan slapped Liu Xiangdong on the shoulder while smiling and said, "Hurry up and turn me back to Liu Xiangdong when I was a concubine! You must only call me Disheng, and you are not allowed to call me Sir, otherwise I will let someone detain you." Blast out the door!" Liu Xiangdong was taken aback by the photo, and said: "My lord dares to pat the official on the shoulder, but the lower official dare not pat the lord on the shoulder. As long as the lord doesn't blame the lower official, the lower official will obey everything. Why bother to blow the lower official out?" Woolen cloth?" In desperation, Zeng Guofan had no choice but to ask someone to sit down and make tea, and read a book by himself, ignoring him.Sitting alone, Liu Xiangdong's face alternately turned pale and then turned red, and after murmuring for a long time, he finally said: "Disheng, I should have come to see you long ago, but I'm afraid that it will spread to the Fuyuan and get a bad reputation of colluding with Beijing officials. Disheng, are you still angry with me?" Zeng Guofan put down the book, pointed at Liu Xiangdong's nose and said, "Xiangdong, Xiangdong, you are the imperial court official. I haven't seen you for a few years, and you have become almost unrecognizable to me!" Liu Xiangdong sighed and said, "Dasheng, don't talk about you, sometimes I don't even know who I am! In the past few years, I have suffered so much and suffered so much!" Tears come. Liu Xiangdong, who was originally from Hubei, was in the same year of Zeng Guofan's general examination, and he also served as a scholar in the Imperial Academy.After the expiry of the introduction was distributed to Hunan, one term of county magistrate and one term of state councilor were signed, and then there was no shortage of them.Even though he has the title of the fifth rank, he is still very poor after a few years.My son is already an adult, but he can't afford to hire a husband alone, so he can only go to a private library ten miles away to study with others. The former feudal lord sympathized with him, and he wanted to adjust his deficit to help him, but he couldn't afford a tael of silver, and the former Fuyuan was the most money-conscious.Fortunately, the new Fuyuan is also from Hubei, and he is from the same county.After receiving the seal, when I saw him like this, I had the idea of ​​pity for my fellow countrymen.Coincidentally, the prefect of Hengzhou Prefecture came to Beijing for an introduction.The Fuyuan immediately notified Hui Fantai and asked him to act as the deputy of Hengzhou Mansion, and finally gave him something to eat, and soon transferred Changsha Mansion to him.Liu Xiangdong is considered clean and honest as an official, but he is a bit timid. He has been in Changsha Mansion for nearly half a year. Although he has not done any great things to the people, he has not made people reviled. His reputation as an official is acceptable. Recently, I heard that his fellow village governor will be transferred to other provinces to be the governor.After the new nursing home came, he still didn't know if his department could succeed or not, and he had been terrified for several days. After listening to Liu Xiangdong's narration, Zeng Guofan was silent for a long time before saying: "I never thought it would be so difficult to be a local official!" Liu Xiangdong said: "I have always had a shortage of officials in the Qing Dynasty, that is, the capital. Are there still fewer alternate officials? Disheng, I am not jealous of you. There are few officials who are as successful as you! If there is no shortage of officials in the local Without money, you can’t have Xianen. On the other hand, without Xianen, how can you have good points? It’s hard to do anything!” Zeng Guofan suddenly said: "Xiangdong, Zhang Ye's official job is quite good. I'm afraid he is a first-class official in Hunan!" Liu Xiangdong hurriedly said: "How many Zhang Ye are there in Hunan? His debut is Qiangu Dianshi, and after one term, he will earn 500,000 taels! How many governors in Hunan have served as officials for thousands of miles? Only for money! Zhang Yeda Throwing money out of the land, how can Xianen be bad. There are not many officials like Zhang Ye in a province, so what do you rely on as a governor? So, an official like Zhang Ye, no matter which province, whether there is a backer in the court or not , They are all first-class good officials!" Zeng Guofan was dumbfounded by Liu Xiangdong's eloquent lecture on official scriptures, and it took him a long time to wake up.Zeng Guofan forced himself to calm down, turned around and shouted outside: "Tell the chef that the tofu rice is in the study for lunch. I want to have a good talk with the magistrate." Zeng Guofan made it clear that he was staying with Liu Xiangdong for dinner, but he actually told his family that the magistrate is here.In rural Hunan, the meal served during mourning is called bean curd rice or white rice. Sure enough, not long after, Zeng Linshu took Zeng Guohuang and his brothers into the study one by one to greet Liu Xiangdong.Liu Xiangdong and Zeng Linshu knew each other originally.When Liu Xiangdong first distributed to Hunan, he asked the Fuyuan for leave and went to Xiangxiang to visit Zeng Linshu.As soon as Zeng Linshu walked in, Liu Xiangdong recognized him at a glance, and hurriedly left his seat to say hello. Zeng Guofan introduced Zeng Guohuang, Zeng Guohua, Zeng Guoquan, and Zeng Guobao to Xiangdong in turn. After the ceremony, just as everyone sat down, Luo Zenan walked in again with Liu Rong.Zeng Guofan gave another introduction.Luo Zenan clasped his fists to Liu Xiangdong and saluted: "The students were talking about Mr. Futai with the students yesterday, but they would be caught up today! It's not like heaven fulfills people's wishes!" Liu Xiangdong said: "As soon as I arrived in Hengshan, I heard people say that there are three brights in Sanxiang. Zuo Xiaolian and I have been friends for a long time. Today I saw the remaining two brights, and they are really top-ranking!" Luo Zenan said with a smile: "Master Futai, do you always tell the truth? Rural slang, Zuo Xiaolian takes it seriously, but Meng Rong and I don't dare to take it seriously. Master Futai, let's talk about something serious, I heard that you are old Are you going to be fired?" Liu Xiangdong's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly asked, "Where did you get the news, brother?" Zeng Guofan also said: "Luo Shan, this kind of thing is not a joke! Liu Futai is timid, don't be scared!" Liu Rong said: "Master Futai will withdraw this appointment sooner or later. Do you think that if you let your subordinates do anything wrong, will this appointment last?" Hearing this, although Liu Xiangdong put his heart in his stomach, his face was full of embarrassment. Some can't hang up.No matter what Zeng Guofan did, he didn't dare to refute, but Luo Zenan and Liu Rong were only rural talents, and Liu Xiangdong dominated them from birth to fame.As a county student who dared to speak to a current magistrate like this, Luo Zenan and Liu Rong were the only two in the Qing Dynasty at that time.Liu Xiangdong's face was pale at first, obviously thinking whether to attack or tolerate. Zeng Guofan hurriedly said: "Xiangdong, Luo Shan and Meng Rong are used to talking like this, and they are doing it for your own good. It's not that I suppressed them, the two of them have already gone to Beijing to sue Zhang! Xiangdong, you prefect Sooner or later, it will be ruined in Zhang Ye's hands!" Liu Xiangdong raised his neck and said, "Dasheng, why didn't I know about it! I knew about Zhang Ye when I was in Hengzhou! Do you know how my predecessor opened up a vacancy? It was because he was admitted to the Fuyuan." Canzhang also ruined the records of searching for the people in the local area, so he was clearly recommended by the Fuyuan to be introduced to Beijing. In fact, he was dismissed! It has been almost three months since he came back from Beijing, and he is still working as his alternate in the province. With this matter in mind, who would dare to make an idea of ​​the surname Zhang! You asked me to participate in Zhang, didn’t you throw an egg against a stone?” Zeng Guofan saw that Liu Xiangdong was spitting, so he couldn't help interrupting the conversation and said: "Xiangdong, just listen to my advice, in the officialdom, if you leave a bit of leeway in everything, you can still turn around freely. If you don't leave leeway, you will easily lose it. Just, wrong and hopeless. He Zhang Yecai is only a seventh-rank prospect, and he is far behind He Shen. There will be a day for Zhang Ye, and you will not only be as simple as dismissal! Opening a vacancy will never be used , dismissed from your post and exiled for three thousand miles, any one of them can ruin your life!" Seeing that the atmosphere was not quite right, Zeng Linshu walked out quietly, walked in again after a while, and said with a smile, "I think Liu Futai is starving. The study room is too small, so I asked someone to put the food in the main room. Disheng , please move the master Futai and the two gentlemen." Liu Xiangdong's meal was tasteless.After dinner, Liu Xiangdong went back to Yamen.Zeng Guofan and others sent them back to the village. After returning, he drank two more cups of tea, Zeng Guofan asked Luo Zenan and Liu Rong to accompany him, took two attendants and Zhou Sheng, and walked to Nanzhuang to visit some relatives and old friends, and to relax by the way.