Chapter 64 In the sixty-fourth section, the memorial implores Emperor Daoguang to stay under his sword

The first person he saw when he opened his eyes was Li Bao, and Zeng Guofan clearly heard Li Bao call out: "My lord is finally awake!" Zeng Guofan didn't know why, so he looked around and found himself lying on the bed. He Chun was talking affectionately with Wen Qing by the window, and when they heard that Zeng Guofan had woken up, they both rushed over.One took Zeng Guofan's left hand, and the other took Zeng Guofan's right hand, and said in unison: "Don't be scary! My lord has slept for three days!" After a pause, He Chun said again: "If your lord doesn't wake up, the headquarters will submit a report and ask for punishment!"

Zeng Guofan struggled to sit up, and said: "The main hall has made the two adults work hard." Wen Qing said: "My lord's illness is so urgent! What is it for!" Zeng Guofan smiled wryly and said, "Where is the main hall? Could it be that you have returned to the provincial capital?" Li Baodao: "Returning to my lord, on the day my lord fell ill, Lord Hong sent chariots and horses to take my lord back to the provincial capital. You are always on an imperial envoy now!" Zeng Guofan thought for a while, and said to Hechun: "The main hall is no longer in the way, just go to the Zhongcheng if you have something to do, wait for the main hall to rest, and then go to the mansion to thank you." He said and cupped his hands at Hechun.

He Chundao: "Master Zeng rest well, what is lacking, just talk, you can't work so hard anymore. The people in Shandong can rely on the two adults!" Wenqing sent Hechun to the Yuanyuan.Zeng Guofan also wants to get out of bed to see him off, but Hechun insists on refusing.Zeng Guofan had no choice but to give up.Taking advantage of this moment, Zeng Guofan asked Li Bao to open the bamboo box he brought with him to take out the plaster, and asked him to wait for him to stick it on his back and chest. Li Bao quietly said to Zeng Guofan: "My lord's illness has frightened my lord, so I sent someone to ride a fast horse to bring Mr. Wen back that day. Thanks to my lord waking up in time, otherwise, the joint name of Mr. He and Mr. Wen The folder was sent out."

At this time, the cook on duty brought a bowl of lotus seed soup stewed especially for Zeng Guofan, and asked Liu Heng, who was guarding outside the door, if he could bring it in while it was hot.Liu Heng asked Li Baoduan to go in and ask Zeng Guofan for instructions. Zeng Guofan didn't usually use supplements, but now that he was hungry, he didn't even think about it. He took the bowl in his hand and ate it quickly. Even Li Bao was surprised that Mr. Zeng didn't even ask about the porridge this time. Ask, I think I'm really hungry. In the past, whenever he was on a business trip to other places, Zeng Guofan would ask Li Bao or the guards on duty what kind of meal, what dish, what kind of porridge, and what kind of soup they ate. Auntie, but this time...

Zeng Guofan hadn't eaten for three days. He didn't have any serious illness at first. It was a coma caused by phlegm fire caused by impatience. Now that he woke up, could he be like before?Food is the most important thing for people, and Confucius is no exception. After a bowl of soup, Zeng Guofan felt much better. He supported Li Bao's shoulders and got off the bed, step by step to Xingyuan's signing room.Wen Qing was talking about the local conditions and customs of Shandong with the copywriter he brought with him. When he saw Zeng Guofan walking in, Wen Qing hurriedly got off the kang to help him.Due to his duties, the copywriter hastily stepped aside and stood with his hands down, saying hello.

Wen Qing helped Zeng Guofan onto the kang and sat down himself.The copywriters and miscellaneous personnel knew that the two imperial envoys had something to discuss, so they all quietly withdrew. Wen Qing was the first to ask: "Tisheng, what happened in Wenshang that made you so anxious? You and I are ordered to release the relief, and others will do the rest. You are so weak, you can't do this anymore!" Zeng Guofan took a sip of tea and said, "My lord, since you and I have come to release the relief, we must check the relief. If you are an official, you will be angry with Na Hechun! Just now I heard from the guard that there is a shortage of leaves in Dongping County. Wealth has been promoted to the prefecture of Jining! Lord Wen, what is this Hechun doing!"

Hearing this, Wen Qing suddenly smiled: "Di Sheng, Ye Zisong's vacancy, Hong Cai's promotion, that's all his job in Shandong Governor's Yamen, why should we get angry about these things? For other people's affairs It’s not worth it to hurt my body! I asked the cook to cook two bowls of bird’s nest porridge with rock sugar. Finish……" Zeng Guofan stopped Wen Qing's words, and said with a smile: "Master Wen, don't take down the official joke! When was the Yellow Emperor Mausoleum built in Jinan? Where did the White Horse Temple come from?" Wen Qing also said with a smile: "Don't worry about any mausoleum or temple, after all, you Zeng Disheng only needs to be happy!" Turning around, he shouted to the outside: "Tell the cook, serve Master Zeng's bird's nest porridge!" Then he smiled at Zeng Guofan: "Wen also followed Mr. Zeng to eat a bowl of bird's nest porridge! This is specially prepared by Mr. Zhongcheng for Mr. Zeng!"

Zeng Guofan smiled wryly and said: "Master Wen ordered, how dare I disobey my orders! Yes, I will accompany you to drink a bowl of bird's nest porridge! However, to say something that you are not afraid of your lord's jokes, I am so old that I only drink it once." Lotus seed porridge, I haven't had bird's nest porridge yet!" Wen Qing was taken aback, and asked back, "Didn't your lord have a bowl of bird's nest and lotus seed porridge just now?" Zeng Guofan was stunned: "Why, what Li Baoduan gave me just now is bird's nest porridge?" Fu said to himself: "If I had known this, I should have tasted it carefully! Cough, this high-quality tonic was wasted in vain! "Wen Qing laughed out loud.

The bird's nest porridge was brought in, and Wen Qing and Zeng Guofan each had a bowl.The two chatted while eating, and the topic naturally turned to disaster relief.Zeng Guofan told Wen Qing what he saw and heard along the way, and Wen Qing just drank the bird's nest porridge carefully without saying a word. Zeng Guofan had no choice but to stop talking and savored slowly. After eating a bowl of bird's nest porridge, Zeng Guofan said: "Master Wen, this bird's nest is no different from the lotus seed porridge and sweet potato porridge that I have eaten before! I believe that sweet potato porridge with more rock sugar will also taste the same! This bird's nest porridge is my favorite." Don’t eat any more. The money for a bowl of bird’s nest porridge is enough for an official to drink sweet potato porridge for a year!”

Wen Qing put down the bowl, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said, "You Zeng Disheng, you can't tell the difference between bird's nest porridge and sweet potato porridge even after you've reached the position of minister! It's no wonder people don't laugh their ass off when word spreads." ! Since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, there has never been a servant who doesn’t drink bird’s nest porridge! Well, you can go back to your bedroom and lie down now. Zeng Guofan had to be supported by Li Bao into the bedroom to rest.After entering the bedroom, Li Bao was busy making the bed and undressing Zeng Guofan.

But Zeng Guofan said: "Li Bao, change me the court clothes and tell the bearer that I'm going to the governor's yamen to meet He Zhongcheng." Li Bao was stunned for a moment, speechless, and hastily took out court clothes and tops for Zeng Guofan; dressed Zeng Guofan neatly, and rushed to summon the bearers, attendant guards, and imperial guards of honor, etc. After a while, the big sedan chair of the imperial envoy came out of the shaft and came to the governor's yamen. When they arrived at the Governor's Yamen, Liu Heng, who was supporting the sedan chair, took a step forward and shouted: "Master Zeng, Minister of Disaster Relief, is here!" He Chunying came out and let Zeng Guofan into the lobby to take a seat. After sitting down, Zeng Guofan went straight to the point: "He Zhongcheng, the Headquarters has something important to discuss with your lord. The Headquarters is checking the relief in Wenshang County, and some accounts are about to be checked with the Hong Ming Mansion. It was listed and promoted to Jining Prefecture. Ordinarily, the promotion and deployment of subordinates is a matter of the adults, and the department has no right to intervene, but it is the period of investigation and relief after all." He Chun stopped the conversation before Zeng Guofan finished speaking, and said with a smile: "Master Zeng is overthinking. In fact, the matter of Hong Cai's promotion to the Department has nothing to do with the investigation and relief. Hong Cai came from the foundation of the sixth rank, while Wenshang is a small county , has always been appointed magistrate by a seventh-rank official. Hongcai was supposed to distribute Jining Prefecture, but when Hongcai came, Jining Prefecture did not meet the deadline, so he had to go to Wenshang to protect the seal. On the day my lord arrived in Wenshang, Jining Prefecture There is a vacancy in the same state, so which one do you want to release Hongcai? Fortunately, Wenshang is also under the jurisdiction of Jining Prefecture, so you can send a call at any time. Master Zeng is the minister of investigation and relief, and you dare not cooperate with this?" Zeng Guofan smiled wryly and said: "Master Zhongcheng is too flattering to the Ministry! Mr. Zhongcheng has been in the frontier for a long time, which is incomparable to others. Do others still want to manage the provinces that cannot be managed well by Mr. Wen? The Ministry and Mr. Wen came to Shandong It was superfluous to release the relief and check the relief. However, the court’s fate is like heaven, so the hall has no choice but to act according to the order. I hope Lord Zhongcheng will forgive me.” He Chun hurriedly said: "Master Zeng, please don't talk like that. Sending relief is like putting out a fire. Can you get this job if you don't have a capable person? But then again, Hong Cai is indeed a capable person from Shandong, and he is the material to know the state! " Zeng Guofan paused and asked: "I heard that there is a vacancy in Dongping County? Has Ye Zisong been promoted or demoted?" He Chun replied: "by decree, Ye Zisong, who deceived the emperor, has been dismissed from his post and put in prison! Whether it is beheaded or exiled to the army, we will know when the imperial decree is issued. Could it be that my lord has also found out Dongping?" Illegal deeds? This Ode to Ye Zi has made the people of Dongping miserable!" Zeng Guofan did not answer directly, but asked: "Should the imperial decree be issued?" He Chun calculated with his heart, and replied: "It will only be a few days. Cough! This Ode to Yezi will bring trouble to the Ministry." After chatting for a while, Zeng Guofan said goodbye and went back to Yuanyuan, and Hechun saw him off with parallel etiquette. Back in Xingyuan, Zeng Guofan thought hard for half the night, unable to make up his mind.After waking up in the morning, he had to ask Li Bao to keep an eye on the movements of the governor's yamen, and Liu Heng was by his side to be on duty. After breakfast, Zeng Guofan felt a lot more energetic, so he wanted to discuss with Wen Qing, and planned to leave for Wenshang in the afternoon to continue checking for relief.While changing clothes, Li Bao suddenly walked in to report that the governor's yamen was receiving the imperial decree in the lobby, and Ye Zisong, the sixth-rank magistrate of Dongping County, was sentenced by the emperor to be executed for embezzling donations and selling relief food.People in the yamen said that Ye Zisong will be taken to the execution ground as soon as noon arrives.I heard that hundreds of people came from Dongping, and they surrounded the governor's yamen and shouted to keep them under the knife! When Zeng Guofan heard this, his face changed drastically.He didn't have time to think about it, and didn't say hello to Wen Qing, so he hurriedly changed into his court clothes and rushed to the governor's yamen. As soon as you enter the lobby, you will see the imperial decree placed in the middle of the table.Zeng Guofan paid his respects to the Holy Majesty first, and then greeted Hechun.Seeing that Zeng Guofan was in a hurry, He Chun hurriedly asked, "Your Excellency is in such a hurry, what happened?" Zeng Guofan said without hesitation: "This hall is here for the imperial decree. I thought about it with Zhong Cheng and this hall all night. The case of Ye Zisong seems to be a bit strange. I wonder what crime the Holy Majesty sentenced Ye Zisong?" He Chun said coldly: "Slay the decision! If you are good at selling relief food, you will definitely be executed!" Zeng Guofan said: "Ode to Ye Zi's head can't land yet." He Chun said: "Who wants to do this? This department doesn't have the guts to resist the order! Mr. Zeng, listen to this department's advice and take good care of yourself." This is obviously because he is meddling in his own business. Upon hearing this, Zeng Guofan's expression changed greatly, and he said, "The main hall did not let Mr. Zhongcheng resist the order! Why did you say such a thing?" At this time, Wen Qing hurried in, and saw that the table was neatly arranged in the middle I hurriedly knelt down to pray for Shengan.Hechun and Zeng Guofan also hurriedly greeted each other, and then they were promoted to the kang. Without waiting for Wen Qing to speak, He Chun said: "Master Wen came just in time! The imperial decree has been issued, and Ye Zisong, who perverted the law, has been sentenced to death. Master Zeng asked the headquarters to keep people under the knife. This..." Wen Qing looked at Zeng Guofan suspiciously.Zeng Guofan said: "Lord Wen, Dongping's relief funds and food have not been verified yet, how can Ye Zisong die at this time? How can the main hall make Master Zhongcheng resist the order? Master Zhongcheng has no evidence. Hastily requesting an order from the Holy Majesty, isn’t this a disregard for human life? Why didn’t Lord Zhongcheng investigate the reason why Ye Zisong sold the relief food without authorization?” He Chun was so angry that his expression changed drastically, and he shouted: "Okay, Zeng Disheng, how dare you falsely accuse the headquarters of human life! Come on! Pass on the words of the headquarters, let the Fubiao camp be in Qingjie, and when noon arrives, Ye Zisong will be detained." Go to the Falun Gong to rectify the Fa on the spot! No delay!" "You..." Zeng Guofan was shaking with anger. Wen Qing hurriedly smoothed things over and said: "Don't be angry with Zhong Cheng, Master Zeng should also calm down. It stands to reason that killing Ye Zisong before the relief money and food was verified was a bit hasty, but the imperial decree has been issued, and the imperial order cannot be violated. How can you not follow the order? Mr. Zeng, you should also think about it for He Zhongcheng." Zeng Guofan said: "It's okay for the main hall to ask the emperor for an order? The main hall is the minister of relief. Before the relief money and food in Dongping County are verified, Ye Zisong cannot be cut! He Zhongcheng, please hurry up Take the criminal Ye Zisong to the imperial envoy Xingyuan for custody. After the headquarters returns to the courtyard, we will ask the Holy Majesty for an order. If the Holy Majesty blames the crime, this department hall will bear it alone! He will not be involved." He Chun sneered and said, "Master Zeng, aren't you afraid that the headquarters will accuse you of interfering with the local government?" Zeng Guofan suddenly squinted his triangular eyes, and shouted loudly: "Presumptuous! Have you forgotten that the headquarters is still the Minister of Relief and Relief in Shandong?" After speaking, he walked out of the lobby of the governor's office without even looking at Hechun.Wen Qing and He Chun froze there for a while. When Zeng Guofan returned to Xingyuan, he immediately drafted an article "Zheng Liupin Zhixian County, Dongping County, Shandong Province Ye Zi Praises for Breaking the Law and Asking for Slow Travel", and handed it over to Xingyuan's 800-mile fast ride to send it out. Soon, Wen Qing also returned to Xingyuan.Knowing that Zeng Guofan's booklet had been sent out, Wen Qing paused and said, "Disheng, what you have done is really a bit abrupt! I know that Hechun has some issues with you, and I know his character. Hechun, although he is greedy for money and lustful, , but as far as the current situation is concerned, he can be regarded as a capable member of the full staff, and he can still do something! If there is no holy grace, how can he survive the feudal border for a long time! How many people are there?" Zeng Guofan sighed and said: "Lord Wen, you are a senior figure in our dynasty. You always understand things and people the most. This big official in Xinjiang can't compare with the Beijing officials, and the Beijing officials still manage if they are ministers. In a department, the employment of people depends on the holy will, and I can't be too much in charge. But this border guard is in the hands of the people of one or several provinces. Although the rank is second-rank, the majesty and power are even in the capital. No one can compare to the first grade in Li! A person from Hechun’s background can bring two battalions of soldiers to fight against the enemy at best. Isn’t it a waste of the word “Governor” to let Hechun be the governor? , proficient in everything from Wen Tao to Wu Lue, is he still a governor?" Wen Qing replied: "Tisheng, how to employ people, the emperor has his own reasons, let's not talk about this matter, let's talk about the present. Can the emperor be accurate in the book you gave?" Zeng Guofan thought for a while and said: "From the perspective of checking relief, the emperor can approve it; from the perspective of maintaining the prestige of sealing borders, the emperor can't approve it according to the laws of my Qing Dynasty. But regardless of whether the emperor approves or not, the lower officials will also fight for the Ye Mingfu. Ye Zisong is a rare good official in my Qing Dynasty! It is nothing more than a change of relief method. Such a person who dares to do things to benefit the local people We don’t give protection to officials, isn’t our salary too unconscionable? Mr. Wen, what do you think?” Wen Qing let out a long sigh when Zeng Guofan said it, and after thinking for a long time, he said: "My Manchurians can think and act like you Master Zeng. Even if our Qing Dynasty suffers provincial disasters, there is no need to be afraid, and it will not collapse. !Okay, I’ll give the Emperor a note too, to build up momentum for you!” Saying that, he shouted outside: “Serve with pen and ink!” When Zeng Guofan heard this, he was greatly moved.He stood up, stared at Wen Qing for a long time before saying: "Master Wen, you don't want to go into this muddy water anymore! You don't want to make enemies with Hechun!" Wen Qing laughed loudly and said, "Your ministers of the Han Dynasty are not afraid. I am a Manchu, so what should I be afraid of?" That night, Wen Qing's memorial was also delivered by Xingyuan's 800-li Kuaiqi.