Chapter 79 Section 79 Dare to shoot at critical moments

After dinner, when Li Hongzhang was drinking tea, he suddenly said seriously: "Men, you are already an important minister of the country and a model of Confucian scholars in the world. It can be seen that on your old dinner table, there are still tofu and pickled vegetables for seasoning. If this continues How can it last for a long time! There are still sedan chairs, and it is time to replace them with new ones. What can I do if I change the sedan chairs to green ones, and add four more bearers?! Carrying eight big green sedan chairs, not only the faces of the disciples are bright, but also the Han people in my Qing Dynasty are all proud!"

Zeng Guofan smiled while drinking tea and said: "Speaking of which, according to my current monthly salary, plus entitlement salary, special salary, and support, I don't know how many times better than when I first came to the capital. , because like Shaoquan now, the expenses are low, and the family still has some subsidies every year. But now the salary is high, and the expenses are also high. Not only can I no longer ask for money from the family, but I have to pay twelve taels of incense to the ancestral hall every month For money, twenty taels for my grandfather, ten taels for each of my parents, and ten taels for each of my uncles and parents. In Xiangxiang alone, I have to spend seventy taels a month. As a person, I have given up many things since I was alive. There are only three things that cannot be left behind: books, calligraphy and painting, and Go. The expenses of the house are not included. Besides, I am really used to sitting in blue woolen sedan chairs. There are so many benefits in blue woolen sedan chairs! You can also entertain you in blue woolen sedan chairs Four dishes are already very good. It is easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but it is difficult to go from extravagant to frugal!"

Li Hongzhang changed the subject: "Are there still as many people asking for the teacher's ink marks as before?" Zeng Guofan said: "It decreased slightly last month, but it has increased again in recent days." Li Hongzhang said nothing, his two big eyes turned around as if he was calculating something. Qu Ziliang said at this time: "Your Excellency, you should think of something. Now that there are dignified officials in the capital, which one doesn't have a variety of income! The worst thing is to open a paper shop and hire someone to run it. It depends on the salary. If there is something really going on, it won’t make people laugh.”

Zeng Guofan said: "People in the officialdom must never get involved with business. Once an official falls in love with money, his disposition will change. No matter how hard it is to work for an official wholeheartedly, danger will definitely follow! You, Qu Shiyu, said so Well, I haven't opened any paper shop, so I still live on my salary?" Qu Ziliang muttered for a long while before saying: "There is always a shortcoming in the ability to maintain the lower senses and that's enough, how dare you have other thoughts!" Li Hongzhang interjected at this time: "Men, my disciple just thought about it in my heart for my teacher. Since my teacher is not willing to engage in business, why don't we find a way in other ways? For example, someone who came to ask for his teacher's ink marks, my teacher It’s okay to collect some embellishing pens, right? After a year, it’s not a small income! This matter will be handled by the disciples for you, so you don’t need to come forward, just let Tang Xuan post a notice in front of the mansion. Mu Zhongtang’s character is ten taels of silver, and Mr. Wen’s pair of couplets takes twenty taels of silver. As for my mentor, you can charge eight taels for Dou Fang and eighteen taels for couplets, which is not good!”

After listening to Li Hongzhang's words, Zeng Guofan said without even thinking: "According to this, isn't Shaoquan one day entering the cabinet to pay homage to the minister as rich as a country? Shaoquan! I am a farm boy, and I can get to where I am today. What is it? Isn’t it just a bright moon on one shoulder and a breeze on two sleeves? Yu Chenglong is poor, but he has a patriotic heart that cannot be bought with money; He Shen is rich, but he has been infamous for several generations. But I don’t want to harm the country and the people! This is definitely not feasible! This is not writing for others, it’s clearly out of someone’s pocket! It’s thanks to you, Shaoquan, who figured it out.”

Li Hongzhang's face was flushed by Zeng Guofan's words, and he dared not speak again. After drinking catechu for a long time, Zeng Guofan saw Li Hongzhang's embarrassment, and said, "Shaoquan is a smart man, and he has been with me the longest. He is just testing my behavior. The ones who know me are not only Tiandijun, my parents, my brothers, but also Shaoquan. .” Then Li Hongzhang turned his face and said: "The teacher who knows me is also my mentor, even my parents can't see me through!" At this moment Li Bao came in suddenly and said, "My lord, Mr. Wen is here to visit, and the sedan chair has already left at the door." Li Hongzhang and Qu Ziliang hurriedly stood up and said goodbye.

Zeng Guofan hastily adjusted his clothes and hurried out to greet him. Wen Qing walked in with a smile and said, "Dasheng, the old man came uninvited and disturbed your peace!" Zeng Guofan hastily said that he was dismissed from office, and his subordinates had seen the ceremony when they saw their superiors. Li Bao, Liu Heng and others standing on the left and right also knelt down to pay Wen Qing's respect. Seeing Wen Qing's face flushed, Zeng Guofan was both surprised and a little excited. He helped Wen Qing into his study, and took out the top-quality "Xiangfei tea" from his hometown for Li Bao to brew, and then invited Wen Qing to the kang.The four guards who came with him chatted with Liu Heng outside the study, and the bearers and attendants were also let into the gate room by Zhou Sheng to rest.

Wen Qing opened his eyes, and said: "Disheng, it's not that the old man said you, you are too poor, why are there so few servants in the house? Where's the old lady, where's the little girl?" Zeng Guofan smiled and said: "My lord, Guofan's family is still an old man in the waiting hall in Xiangxiang, and there is no need for little maids and old mothers here! How can you use many servants when you are alone? Now sometimes I don't like it." How many?" Wen Qing was amazed: "Seeing is better than hearing a hundred times. You can live without a woman! This is somewhat similar to the time when the holy grandfather begged everywhere! Well, the old man will pay, and I will beg for you first." A concubine is here. This is not like the well-known Zeng Mansion in China, but rather like the Ku Mansion!"

Zeng Guofan shook his head and said: "To tell you the truth, my lord, I can get a concubine, but what do you ask the subordinate to support her family? Besides, the humble wife is filial, there is no reason to make her sad." Wen Qing smiled wryly and said, "Disheng, if officials want to do something, people must do it too. Cough, I won't talk about that anymore. Disheng, I'm here to discuss the bank case with you. What do you say? , is it necessary to continue the trial of this case?" Zeng Guofan was taken aback, and said: "My lord, do you always believe in the words of Lao Nami alone? According to our system of upright officials, the treasurer must be changed every year. But Lao Nami can be re-elected for two years, isn't it strange?! Hu There is no need to say that the Minister of the Ministry is acting, but Du Shoutian knew about it a long time ago! Could it be that Du Shoutian is confused! The treasury has suffered such a huge deficit, how can we ask the emperor to support this country?"

Wen Qing took a sip of tea and said, "Looking at the appearance of Sikou Qi in the lobby, it seems that more than one Du Shoutian is involved in the bank deficit case, and even Qi Yuzao seems to have benefited. If a few more universities are involved But it’s even more lively. Cough!” Zeng Guofan said: "I wonder if my lord has exchanged views with other lords?" Wen Qing said: "At this time, you have to be free and free. Who would care about other people's affairs? The old saying is good, everyone sweeps the snow in front of the door, and don't care about the frost on others' roofs. Oh, the Qing Dynasty was founded. So far, the glory days have passed. Nowadays, who doesn’t see money? There are a few people like you who talk about the country and keep talking about the Qing Dynasty! An excerpt from Zhongtang said that dismissal means dismissal. As long as the court has prejudices against Han officials, the Qing Dynasty will not be stable for a day!"

Seeing that Zeng Guofan was silent, Wen Qing continued: "Tisheng, I am also a Manchu, so I shouldn't say such things, but I am worried for the court. Whenever I see you, I think of Lin Zexu. There is always a process, don’t rush it!” Zeng Guofan thought for a while and said: "My lord said that sometimes it is better to hold the initiative. But the stubborn temper of the subordinate officials is hard to change. Only after listening to the lord's words did they wake up. That's right! If a human head falls off, how can we eat tofu!" Wen Qing was amused by Zeng Guofan and burst out laughing. Parting, Wen Qing suddenly remembered something, and said: "Oh, I patronized the chat, but forgot the business. A fellow of the old man opened a calligraphy and painting shop in Liulichang, and many Hanlin sent calligraphy to consignment, making a fortune. Only 30% of the profit is left in the store. Disheng, if you don’t feel like losing your status, you might as well write a few words and send it to sell. You have been living on your salary, but once you can’t even continue your salary, you have to eat Let’s go. Go check the bank yourself. It’s more than 10 million taels. If the provinces fail to harvest another year, they won’t be able to pay the soldiers’ salaries. This salary…” Zeng Guofan hurriedly stood up and said: "Your Excellency, you can really joke. You can sell the calligraphy of Poor Hanlin, but you can't sell the calligraphy of Disheng! It's just that I don't know whether the calligraphy and painting shop wants framed or raw film? Disheng hasn't sold calligraphy yet! " Wen Qing said: "Theoretically, it should be mounted." Zeng Guofan was stunned for a moment, and said, "Then we have to wait until we have more time to talk about it." Wen Qing said: "Okay, everyone said that you lived by counting your money, and even appointed you the official title of 'Tofu Servant'. Cough! The old man asked someone to go to the calligraphy and painting shop to tell you that you can consign and sell raw films. But we You have to talk about the ugliness first, if you can't sell it, you can't scold the old man!" Zeng Guofan also laughed loudly and said, "Master Wen, don't humiliate Guofan when you are old. I will write a few words tomorrow and send them over first, and sell them with the store!" In the early morning of the next day, Emperor Daoguang first arranged the "bandit incident" in Guangxi, and then said: "Qi Yuzao gave me a note, requesting to settle the case of the bank deficit. I would like to ask all the ministers whether to settle or continue the trial." , let’s talk about it, everyone.” Everyone was silent.Emperor Daoguang had no choice but to say: "Mu Zhang, what do you think?" Mu Zhang thought for a while and replied: "Returning to the emperor, this servant thought that the matter of Lao Nami was very clear. Look at his words." Although the property does not match the deficit of the bank treasury, the difference is almost the same. The banditry in Guangxi is getting serious, and the case of the bank treasury, the servant thinks it is better to settle it quickly. Please look into it clearly, Your Majesty." Emperor Daoguang pondered for a while after listening to Mu Zhang'a's words, and was about to speak when Zeng Guofan suddenly came out of the class and said: "I report to the emperor, I think that the case of Lao Nami cannot be closed here!" "Hmm..." Emperor Daoguang was taken aback, "Zeng Guofan, tell me the reason." Zeng Guofan said: "Your Majesty, I think that reading Lao Nami's confession clearly implies denial. I believe that as long as Lao Nami is punished slightly, the case will come to light. This is an opportunity for the Emperor to rectify the administration of officials, please." The emperor is aware." Emperor Daoguang didn't say anything, he paused and said, "Wen Qing, what do you think?" Wen Qing respectfully replied: "Returning to the emperor's words, Mu Zhongtang and Zeng Youtang's words are both reasonable. I listen to the emperor's decision." Daoguang stood up and said, "Let's do what Zeng Guofan wants. The trial of Lao Nami will continue tomorrow, and you are still the presiding judge, Qi Yuzao. Wen Qing and Zeng Guofan will co-judge, and the ministers of all the ministries will go to the side trial. Du Shoutian, you should avoid it. " The ministers knelt and retreated.