Chapter 16 Chapter Four: A Man Like an Owl

The third aunt should be on duty tonight. Speaking of the third concubine, she is no more enchanting than the first and second concubine; she is thin and small, and has not yet fully developed.Just because you're young—you haven't turned sixteen this year! ——Know how to act like a baby, know how to act like a fool, but won Lu Guangzhong's favor very much.Every night when the third aunt was on duty, Lu Guangzhong was always very happy.Once in the room, in addition to yelling at Zhang Ma, the old bustard who is serving the third concubine's wife, to boil Shaoxing wine quickly and arrange a night snack, she often has to take out some small things from her sleeves, such as the newly popular Chengdu, only The water red foreign silk sweatshirts that can only be bought from Zhang Hongyuan, Zheng Dayu, Ma Yulong, and Qingxietai Dayangguang grocery stores, oriental pearls on the sideburns, or the Western scenery that little girls like most, it is said A foreign girl who can blink her eyes, open her mouth, cry, and laugh can't be made by Shanghai craftsmen.He would never give these things to her happily and honestly.Always take it out first, shake it under her nose, and then hide it again, making her joking and snatching it; even in front of the girl, mother, and followers, the two men and women have no scruples. The ground rolled on a couch with a bean wood and rattan heart, making ghostly noises and disheveled hair.

Tonight, at dusk, the third aunt had already combed a tall Aisi hairstyle at the back of her head under the service of Zhang Ma. The sideburns on both sides dragged past her earlobes, and her hair was smoothed by shavings like a mirror.The front bangs are like a big steamed bun, arched high on the eyebrows that are as thick as a finger and have angular eyebrows. Although the forehead that is too low and narrow looks two inches higher and three inches wider, Coupled with a pair of single eyelid eyes, a nose so collapsed that you can't see the bridge of the nose, two oligobone faces that look like they were cut by an axe, and a mouth with a very short upper lip that can't even cover the buck teeth, it is not beautiful after all.It was originally a youthful, red and white and natural face, but Mama Zhang applied a thick layer of powder and two thick rouges.The powder is applied all the way to the nape of the neck, and the rouge is applied all the way to the temples. The white part is whiter than white, and the red part is redder red.The third concubine's wife doesn't know how to appreciate aesthetics, and she herself finds it a bit dazzling in Qianqiu's mirror, but Zhang's mother is full of praise, saying that this is the most fashionable dress.Mama Zhang has helped many mansions and served many concubines. She is well-informed and capable. It is said that she is the only one who pleases Mr. Lu.

But Mr. Lu came in tonight, not necessarily happy.He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, but there was no smile on his face. The third concubine's wife took a silver and copper hookah from the girl's hand with her mouth, and pretended to be walking with her little feet—in fact, her pair of feet that had not been wrapped in foot wraps were much stronger than her master Lu. Lu Guangzhong nicknamed Lu Xiaojiao, because of his small feet, he walked like Xiaodan who was not good at work. —— Coyly kicked Lu Guangzhong in front of Lu Guangzhong, touched the mouth of the cigarette bag to his lips, and said in a tired voice: "I will obediently pack the bag with you, okay?"

"Don't bother me tonight, I have something on my mind." He grabbed the hookah and almost broke the long nails on her ring finger and little finger. The third aunt did not feel any sadness.Instead, Mama Zhang pursed her mouth and muttered: "That's right! The third aunt wanted to curry favor with the adults in a low voice. She didn't want to fall a headlong, but also fell a dog to grab shit. Thanks to the good temper of the third aunt, she endured it." It’s gone. It’s another one! Hmph! I think this hookah probably needs to grow wings!  …” Lu Guangzhong rolled his eyelids, and said with a calm face: "Mother Zhang, don't try to flatter me and play tricks. I just don't want you to bother me. I have something on my mind."

The third aunt opened her mouth with a short upper lip and slumped corners of her mouth, showing all her buck teeth and said with a smile: "You are so serious! You have something on your mind when you open your mouth, and you have something on your mind when you keep your mouth shut. What is the matter! Say it out! Wouldn't it be good for people to hear it?" "My thoughts, don't you listen to me!" "Naturally!" Mama Zhang pursed her mouth, and said, "Your Excellency can tell you what's on your mind, and we don't deserve to understand it! What's on your adult's mind is always worrying about the country and the people, getting promoted and getting rich. "He smiled cunningly again, "How can we be like us! We people, just don't put things in your mind, if you do, it's not for the purpose of punishing people, or for the purpose of harming others. Hehe, it's up to you to cross-examine, We’re not refusing to say it.”

Lu Guangzhong stared at Zhang Ma with a pair of small triangular eyes.That demeanor was very much like a weasel waiting to pounce on a rooster woman. Mama Zhang was a little surprised.Quickly put on a flattering face, and said with a smirk: "You are a big man, don't be fooled by me because of me, thank you!" "It's not superfluous. I think you are very good at talking, and I would like to discuss something with you." "Discuss things with me?" Zhang Ma smiled and clapped her hands, "Could it be that your Lord Lu has taken a fancy to some widow or girl again, and you want me to be a pimp?"

"Don't talk nonsense, what we're discussing is serious business." "Serious business?" "Uh, that's right! Because Master Yin of Fantai ordered me to come down, saying that Zhao Zhitai wanted me to find a few more pieces of evidence of treason and treason to submit. It’s just about evidence; it’s just that I’m not sure which one will suit Zhao Zhitai’s mind. It’s not easy to discuss this kind of matter with other people who have nothing to do with it, so I don’t feel very peaceful.” "Evidence of treason?..." "Huh? Don't you know those people who were arrested and locked up at the Zhitai Yamen on the fifteenth day?"

"Why don't you know what's going on? But everyone says that Mr. Pu and Mr. Luo are good people, and they all say that Zhao Zhitai has wronged good people." "Good people, good people, good people won't rebel!" "Mr. Pu, have they really rebelled?" "As long as Zhao Zhitai thinks it's a rebellion, it's true." "So, what do you need evidence for?" "Because some gentlemen were arguing fiercely, and handed over several petitions in a row, forcing Zhao Zhitai to show the evidence to everyone. The regent is also asking for evidence. Although Zhao Zhitai pointed out some evidence, he always felt that it was not enough. It's a pity. The fire in Liansheng Lane was extinguished too quickly by the fire brigade, so there was no disaster." He could not say that after being investigated by policeman Dao Xuyue, he revealed his flaws, "That's why Zhao Zhitai asked me to do another Find some powerful evidence, so that he can play."

"What about after the performance?" "Hey! I don't even understand this. Of course I have to do something!" The third aunt interrupted and asked, "What should I do?" "What should we do?" Lu Guangzhong couldn't help playing in an operatic tone, and said with gestures, "The five flowers are tied up in the court, and they are pushed out of the gate and beheaded to show the public!" The third aunt exclaimed: "Oh! This is something without conscience, so it's fine if you don't do it!" Lu Guangzhong and Zhang Ma glanced at each other, and they both smiled knowingly.

Lu Guangzhong stretched out his hand and pulled the third concubine to the free chair he was sitting on, put her on his lap, put one arm around her narrow shoulders, raised his eyebrows and said, "You're talking nonsense too. What does it mean to have no conscience? What does it mean to have a conscience? I’m so young, I’m sorry you don’t understand. Let me tell you: our ability as officials is to curry favor with our superiors. People with a conscience can be promoted, and they can advance faster than those who have no conscience and can't curry favor with their superiors. Take me for example, I donated a small county magistrate from my hometown in Anhui Province, and I came to Sichuan , I had hoped to get a few errands and finish the work. Who knew that the police school was opened at that time, and I was the first to apply to study in it. After graduation, if I didn’t curry favor with the General Office of last week’s inspection in time, how could I be in the office all at once? Inspector of the South Sixth District Office? It can be seen that I have a good conscience when I first entered the official career. Later, I solved a case of the theft of a Russian businessman in Huangchengba. Being conscientious, I was appreciated by He Guan. I was immediately promoted to the county magistrate, and got a job offered by the patrol coach. At the school sports meeting in the South Campus the year before last, I got a big shot and almost got out of the crutch. Who knows My goodness reversed and flattered Vice Marshal Zhao. He appreciated that I was able to stand up for the officialdom. Immediately, I was promoted by the Patrol Police Road Police Office, chief auditor and chief inspector of the Patrol Coaching Office. Not to mention, now that Zhao Zhitai took over the job, he immediately appointed me as the chief inspector of the four departments. The power is very great! Xu Guan is my immediate boss, but Zhao Zhitai calls me to the signing room for questioning from time to time, and completely entrusts me with the security responsibility of the three gates, the southeast, the north, and tells me to report directly to the signing room if there is anything to do. The patrolman turned around. To put it bluntly, the patrolman Dao Xuguan just sat in the Daotai yamen, but he was already an official who couldn't manage his affairs. Take a recent incident--many people don't know it yet. Let me tell you now. A fire broke out in Longxu Lane behind Zhaobi on Tianduyuan Street, and a house was burned down. It was not a big deal, but it was at the gate of Zhitai Yamen, so it must be said that the circumstances were serious. I was the one who started the fire—— He was a poor old man who made a living by harvesting wasteland—he had already been locked up at the police office, and arranged to investigate whether he was bribed by an adulterer to set the fire on purpose? I don’t want the people on Duyuan Street to go to the Yamen on Patrol Road to ask for their release. He also threatened that if the people were not released, all the people living near the yamen would have to move, and they would have to patrol the police to find suitable houses for them. Xu Jian was originally cowardly, but this time he was too negligent and did not ask Zhao Zhitai for instructions. , so he was taken away and released. After he was released, he did not report what happened. For the sake of my conscience, I also wanted to clear my responsibility, so I had to go to the signing room to report the whole matter to Zhao Zhitai. The TV station was very angry, and immediately called Xu Guan and scolded him, saying: "Okay, good, good! You should all be good people now, and only my surname Zhao is a coward!" And in front of Xu Guan In front of him, he told me: "In the future, if there is anything to do, I can't tell you by mouth, and no one is allowed to interfere!"The department will follow suit.As a result, Xu observed that the somersault was set.If I don't take advantage of this opportunity to curry favor, won't I see that the lack of Dao that I can get out of my hand will fly to others?So where is my conscience?So today I want to devise ways to find evidence of treason. Naturally, for the sake of my conscience, I want to relieve Zhao Zhitai's worries and repay his kindness; The past few years have been turbulent in the officialdom.Ha ha!Should you understand what I said?What is conscience and what is not, it must be said in this way! "

At the end, he turned around and asked Mrs. Zhang who was standing next to her, listening raptly: "You are an expert, please comment. Is my words correct?" "It's right for you to fart casually, let alone what you say makes sense!" The third aunt leaned on his thin face and said, "Then, what kind of evidence did you find?" "You will know when I discuss it with Mama Zhang." When Yin Liang came back from Taitai Yamen, two big maids took off his cap and gown, and before he changed his official boots, the little attendant came in with a plum red paper manuscript. "Who is here again?" Yin Liang asked the little follower very uncomfortable. "Lord Lu told me that he has some urgent business to do." "Oh! It's him." Yin Liang suddenly smiled. The eldest girl, Wu Zhen, was very sensible, and immediately opened the folded gown again, and held it in her hands. Yin Liang shook his head, and said to the little follower: "Master Lu, please speak in the small flower hall in plain clothes." The little follower just turned around. "Stand! Tell me to go out, don't wait in the waiter, come in and make some tea." She turned her head and said to another big girl, Dongzhu, "Go and say hello to the small kitchen. When serving snacks later, bring out an extra portion." Yin Liang made such an arrangement, thinking that Lu Guangzhong had some secret matters to discuss.Unexpectedly, when he stepped into the small flower hall, he saw that Lu Guangzhong was still wearing a weft hat, flower feathers, and a wedge-shaped gown of blue Ning silk with round flowers, and a buckle belt around his waist.Holding two vermilion lacquered wooden boxes in his hands, he stood there respectfully. "Ah! This is..." "Your Excellency ordered." He gently placed the two wooden boxes on the small wooden kang table, said hello, and then sat down with his back straightened. "Brother is really capable. He said that the job will be done in five days, and it will be done in five days. Haha! Haha!" Yin Liang smiled so much that even his dark two-character mustache trembled with the twitch of the muscles on his face.Then he raised his eyes to look at Lu Guangzhong and said: "I have already said that we will meet each other, why is my brother still wearing a crown like this?...Come on!" He said to the little follower who responded, "Go call Lord Lu's family bring in Lord Lu's bag!" After changing the clothes and thanking the lord for your gift, Lu Guangzhong just ignored the interrupted words and said: "It's not that the humble job is capable, it's really that the lord is able to enlighten you well.... But please take a look at the lord and look at these few things." Can this item be handed over? If there is any discrepancy, I will go to another place for the humble post." On the kang table, he first opened a square wooden box, took out a three-inch boxwood carved object from it, held it in both hands, and handed it to Yin Liang across the kang table. "It's the seal!" Yin Liang took a look, it was still in script, and read, "Da Min Xigu receives the treasure of heaven." He nodded again and again, "Miao, Miao, Da Min is referring to Sichuan, and Xi Gu is them again. The names of the newspapers we run are concatenated into one name, which is both novel and verified, which shows that the dude is highly talented.” He looked at the boxwood seal twice, and then murmured: "It's a pity that Ji Shuai's deadline is too tight. If he has a little more space, he can cast this thing out of brass, just like the seal we use. Wouldn't it be more trustworthy!" He glanced at another rectangular wooden box and said, "What's inside this?" "One is the alliance list." Lu Guangzhong then took out an apricot-yellow satin with dragon patterns woven from the rectangular wooden box, and was about to unfold it. "Mengdan?" Yin Liang asked suspiciously, "Why is there another Mengdan?" "My humble opinion, I feel that there is only a seal and no alliance form, which seems a bit out of place. Because in the book..." He had already unfolded Huang Ling. Yin Liang stretched his neck to look, there were about dozens of characters written in thick black ink, and the beginning was: "For the anti-Qing alliance, because the Qing family has no morals, abuse my subordinates..." "Is it your handwriting?" "I can't do it in a humble job. I found a confidant to draw it up. Please advise me!" "of course can." "It doesn't seem to be a little bit rude to speak out." "That doesn't matter. Since it's a statement on behalf of rebellion, the less condescending it is, the more it looks like it. The inferiority is not good." Lu Guangzhong pointed to the last line and said: "The year, month and day are written in this way, my lord, is it still correct?" Yin Liang squinted his eyes and saw that it turned out that it was written: the beginning of Damin Xigu's founding, the year of Xinhai, the month of Jianyiwei, and the date of Dingyou, it was established in the Railway Academy. "Of course it does. Can the rebels still write the first day of the seventh month of the third year of Xuantong? It must be written in this way to prove that they deliberately did not serve Zhengshuo of our Qing Dynasty." "One more thing," Lu Guangzhong took out another piece of yellow satin, and said, "It's the list of commanders of the Ten Routes." Yin Liang couldn't help but patted the red sandalwood kang with his finger and said: "Here! I was thinking in my heart, if there is no such thing, how can the seal and the alliance list be placed on the heads of those people? It turns out that the old man has already thought of this! Haha !" The ranks of the ten leaders are: the first leader is Wang, the second leader is Zhou, the third leader is Pu, the fourth leader is Luo, the fifth leader is Deng, the sixth leader Yan, the seventh leader Zhang, and the fourth leader The Eighth Route leads Ye, the Ninth Route leads Cheng, and the Tenth Route leads Wang. "Why is there a name but no name? What does this mean?" Lu Guangzhong just put on a smiling face and looked at Yin Liang. "Starting from the third line, there is no need to nominate it. It is clear at a glance that it is the leader of the class. It is just the leader of the first line, which is a bit confusing. Who is this king? Could it be Wang Mingxin, the supervisor of the Railway Academy?" "Wang Mingxin is ranked tenth. Because although Wang Mingxin is a Juren, his prestige and qualifications are not higher than Pu Dianjun and Luo Lun." "So, this king?..." "Master Mingjian!" Lu Guangzhong made a strange look, and said with a half smile, "It is inconvenient for a lowly position to report it, and I dare not report it. Because the relationship is too big, only the surname can be listed on the list, which is not good." Bring up the names." "Oh! I see. Could it be Wang Caichen, Lord Wang?" Yin Liang stared at Lu Guangzhong intently, wondering why he had the guts to pull Wang Renwen into him, and act as a rebellious leader? "It's not the meaning of the humble position. Even if the humble position is confused, I dare not act recklessly. It's because the Fourth Young Master has a tone..." "Is it what the fourth young master meant?" Yin Liang thought for a while, and then said with emotion, "Originally, if we were to pursue the road strife in Sichuan, Wang Caishuai would indeed be the culprit. To appease traitors, how can the Baolu Comrade Association be established? How can the extraordinary shareholders' meeting be held? It is obvious that he is dissatisfied with the imperial court's appointment of him as Minister of Sichuan and Yunnan Border Affairs, and promoted Zhao Jishuai to the governor of Sichuan. The state-owned policy allowed the gentry and the people to stand up and make noise, and at ease turned the peaceful Sichuan into a pond of muddy water, making Zhao Jishuai retreat in the face of difficulties, so that the gentry and people in Sichuan would keep him. Little did they know that the imperial court had already seen through his treachery and issued strict orders Seeing him in Beijing, he urged Zhao Jishuai to take office quickly and clean up the mess. However, the root of the disaster has already been planted, no matter how powerful Zhao Jishuai is, this disaster will always happen..." He suddenly felt that he had spoken too much and was too obvious.After all, Lu Guangzhong is a subordinate.As far as the system is concerned, it is not allowed to talk about the boss in front of the subordinates, even if the boss has been transferred.He hurriedly stopped talking, read the list again and said, "This Second Route Commander Zhou, of course he is not the traitor Zhou Hongxun?" "no." Yin Liang blinked his eyes twice, and said with a smile, "It must be Zhou Fasi." Speaking of Zhou Shanpei, Yin Liang couldn't help talking again.One reason is that although Zhou Shanpei is also one of the four divisions, in terms of the official ranks of the vassals and the guilds, the guitai is lower in grade than the vassals; The company has only been in the office for more than two months, and Yin Liang is older. According to the system, he can talk about this person; in the three cases, Yin Liang has long been uncomfortable with Zhou Shanpei's behavior, and he has already twittered him behind his back. Since Guangzhong pulled him in, he was more than happy to talk about it, not afraid that Lu Guangzhong would spread his words. He said: "Zhou Fasi was originally a fellow of Kang and Liang. If Cen Yunjie and Cen Gongbao hadn't promoted him when he was the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and recommended him to return to Sichuan as a Taoist to start a new deal, he would have been reused by the Xiqing Bixi Army. How could he gain the trust of the imperial court? He was transferred from the chief office of the police station to the chief office of the Commerce Bureau, and he was actually taught the way of persuasion, and now he is promoted to the department of justice? The grace given to him by the imperial court is not insignificant, but you can see how Mr. Zhou rewarded him. How about the imperial court? I usually have a heated relationship with the gentlemen. I heard that all the evil gentry in the Advisory Council have worshiped him and have close contacts. This has already tarnished our official precepts. And this The second time Wang Caishuai failed to live up to the grace of God, Zhou Fasi was indeed the mastermind. Not to mention that, after the first strike in the early days, Zhao Jishuai asked him to advise the gentry and people to open the market as soon as possible and not to go to extremes. But Mr. Zhou instead Instigated from it, we want everyone to oppose it to the end. If the imperial court does not take back state ownership, the market will not open for a day; it also encourages those foolish people to petition in the court; If so, it is indeed Zhou Fasi's idea that the comrades' association and the shareholders' meeting openly proposed to deduct dividends with decent money and food, electrify the whole province, and prohibit the people from paying taxes. Of course, it was his original intention to take advantage of the situation and oppose the imperial court; secondly, because Zhao Jishuai once scolded him face to face: Fangfang is flattering, especially a villain. He couldn't bear it, so he decided to make things difficult for Zhao Jishuai. At the time of the incident, he had been deceived by him, and later he gradually saw through his tricks, so he was wary of him. So on the 15th day, after arresting the leader of the group, Zhao Jishuai named him as his substitute to draft the manuscript, in order to embarrass him on purpose.  … ...Now that he is included in the list of traitors, he is not indebted to him. ...Is it also the meaning of the Fourth Young Master?" "No, I figured it out." Lu Guangzhong said solemnly, "On the 15th day, when I rushed to the courtyard, I saw Lord Nine Young Masters reviewing the protection books of all the people in Puluo, and Master Zhou was among them. After thinking about it, I realized that the court had long regarded Mr. Zhou as a group of people. As for Mr. Zhou's flattery of Sichuan gentlemen, at the school sports meeting the year before last, Mr. Zhou took the children from the factory You can get a glimpse of the children's withdrawal from the South Campus. However, Mr. Zhou only tried to curry favor with the Sichuan gentlemen, but he didn't get any benefits after all. Just like this wave of road disputes, has your lord ever heard the outside discussion? ? The common people are still scolding Mr. Zhou very badly." Yin Liang said with great interest: "That's what I want to hear." Then, he called loudly to the little attendant to bring the mixed tobacco rod. Lu Guangzhong saw that Lord Fansi was so excited, so he also said with a smile on his face: "When Lord Zhou went to Yazhou Mansion to meet Lord Ji Shuai, there was already a rumor on the street that Zhou Baldzi went to offer advice... " Yin Liang quickly stopped him and asked: "At that time, there were many officials who went to Yazhou to meet Mr. Zhao (because Yin Liang himself had greeted Qingxi County, and he was still two stations south of Yazhou). Why do you only pay attention to Zhou Fasi?" "For what reason, I don't know. As far as I know, there is indeed only Mr. Zhou paying attention on the street." "Maybe Zhou Fasi is too popular!" Yin Liang said with a smoky smile, "Since Zhou Fasi started the police administration, it has been well-known. When everyone mentions Zhou Bald, who doesn't hate it? Not long ago Lord Duan sent a letter to ask about the road war in Sichuan, and when I wrote back, I listed some of his virtues in a down-to-earth manner.... Good! What else did the common people compliment him?" "A lot! As far as I remember, there was a meeting of comrades and a meeting of shareholders. Mr. Zhou gave a speech on the stage. Both times, some violent elements came down from the stage and ridiculed him as Shen Gongbao..." "What does this mean? Shen Gongbao, seems to be a villain in the novel "Feng Shen Bang", isn't it?" "I haven't read "Fengshen Bang", but Shen Gongbao is indeed a bad person, just like the adults said. Probably this person focuses on talking nonsense, telling lies, making others fall for him, and he can't get any advantage. ...These are all words from fifteen years ago, and although there are many people talking about them, it seems that there is not much hindrance. According to the humble official, nothing hinders Mr. Zhou more than those rumors after the fifteenth year." He paused and saw Yin Liang listened intently, and then continued: "First of all, Lord Zhou sent a note to Lord Ji Shuai to arrest Pu Luo and others; secondly, Lord Zhou gave Lord Ji Shuai the call to shoot in the lobby of Zhitai Yamen. Again, to stop sending telegrams and mailings, so that news from Chengdu and other provinces could not be sent in, so that Master Ji Shuai could let go of killing people, it was Lord Zhou who sent the message to Master Ji Shuai. So now the people We no longer call Master Zhou Baldy Zhou..." "What's his name? Could it be that the official called him Zhou Fasi? Or did he just call him Zhou Shanpei?" "Neither of them. He gave Mr. Zhou another crooked name, called Zhou Tiaoshi. He even said that the "Sichuan People's Self-protection Discussion Book" and the oil cards for launching the comrades' association in Hexia were deliberately made by Mr. Zhou to frame him. Miles of the Praetorians." Yin Liang couldn't help laughing and said: "From this point of view, Master Zhou is the cause of all evil, I really want to cry out for him!... Master Zhou only wanted to please two sides, but who knows the end result, two sides I couldn’t get any favors, but instead got scolded on both sides! But the common people hated him and scolded him so much, I didn’t expect it.… Dude put him on the list and placed him under Wang Caishuai, is it also for conformity? Public opinion?" "In addition to this, there is a little bit of unavoidable difficulty in being humble." "What's the reason?" Lu Guangzhong raised his eyebrows on purpose and said: "Don't you know that the lowly job was promoted by Master Zhou? If you don't report the lowly job to Mr. Zhou, you can imagine how the lowly job will be discussed in the political circles? What the humble job does is Officials of the imperial court are paid by the imperial court. Apart from serving the imperial court and serving the constitution, what other intentions can low-level positions have? Because of this, low-level positions should never be discussed by others as favoritism. little man...” Before he could finish his stammering, Yin Liang praised loudly: "Brother, what you said is very good! Originally, as officials, we received the emperor's salary and were cultivated by the constitution, so we shouldn't talk about personal favors. Such an action was called righteous killing relatives in the ancients, and it is really commendable, brother must report to Zhao Jishuai.” He smiled again, “In the future insurance case, my name will not be the first, and it will never fall behind the third. " Lu Guangzhong hurried down to the ground, and directed at Yin Liang, who was full of fat, Da'an, he forced his throat and said, "I beg you to cultivate me!" After the refreshment, Yin Liang wiped his face with the handkerchief on his face, and then he remembered to ask: "I don't ask you, did these things come to me after they were finished? Or did they do some cutscenes? " "It wasn't a pretense, it was printed wet in a well in the Railway Academy in front of many common people, and the list and list were picked up from a long ladder on the main beam of Zitong Palace on Confucian Temple West Street." "Tie Dao Xue Tang used to be a place for shareholders to entertain, and it was printed here and searched, which makes sense. Why are the alliance list and list placed in Zitong Palace?" "Because Confucian Temple West Street is almost an area where schools gather, and Zitong Palace is quiet and convenient, it would be a good idea for old people to hide these things here." "Are there many people present during the search?" "A lot. There are more than a hundred people in the two places together." Yin Liang smiled and said, "Does no one suspect that you are acting?" Lu Guangzhong also opened his lips and smiled, "It's hard to say!..." The injury on Chu Yong's left arm was due to the nine bullets tore off a large piece of muscle. Although it was not as good as Chen Shusen's assertion that the bone was broken, the bleeding was too much, and the injury was not serious after all.When Aaron and several strong gardeners carried him back to the Gu family's yard alternately, he almost fainted, his face was as white as a sheet of paper. I don't know if the surgeon in Banzhuyuan is really brilliant, or is it due to Chu's own vitality?He only howled for two days and two nights, and then gradually he could bear it.Only when the doctor came to change the dressing, he would grit his teeth and groan, and even his body was soaked in sweat from the pain, and even his hair seemed to be washed with water.But within a few days, with the support of Third Grandma Gu and her son Jin Sheng, she was gradually able to sit up from the bed, get out of bed, walk a few steps, and urinate in the urinal in the corner of the room. Third Grandma Gu was seriously injured because she had been severely beaten——the injuries she suffered in Tianhui Town were covered in cuts and bruises, which were much worse than Chu Yong's! ——So when I served Chu Yong, I was not only considerate, but also very pitiful for him, saying that he was also poisoned by the soldiers.She washed Chu Yong's face, wiped his bath, and untangled and braided his hair.Help him change his clothes and wash his clothes.When Chu Yong wanted to drink water, it was either she or Jin Sheng who gave him water.When Chu Yong was able to eat, she specially cooked broth and rice for him.After finishing the sentence, although she and Chu Yong were not relatives, they were just a student her husband knew, and it was only because she sympathized with him that she hoped that he would be free from pain for a few days. While Chu Yong was recuperating at Gu Tiancheng's home, it was the time when the Army's 34th Association attacked the Comrade Army on Zhengxi Road. According to common people's legends, of course there were several fierce battles outside Pi County, and the army also suffered great losses.But later Wang Ziyi told people that this was not the case.Pi County has never fought a serious battle like the student army in Xipu.Because before the army attacked, Sun Zepei retreated to Yuantong Field in Chongqing Prefecture.The student army had no command. After Jiang Chunfeng was buried in the coffin, more than half of the students left before the memorial service was held.Zhang Zun, Zhang Jiexian, Zhang Xi, and Liu Yinxi all had no combat experience, and they were in charge of thousands of people, so they didn't know how to manage them.But it is also estimated that the army is coming fiercely and powerfully, no matter how many of them there are, they are definitely not an opponent.The disastrous defeat of the student army in Xipu served as a useful lesson for them.The four commanders discussed fiercely with the team leader Mao Jiao for a day and two nights, but they found a gap.That is to take advantage of the army's unfamiliarity with geography and lack of eyes and ears, and engage in a revolving battle with it: if it can be delayed, it will be delayed; if it cannot be delayed, it will hide in the mountains of Pengxian and Guanxian. After the agreement, the four commanders immediately agreed to the request of Li Yuanchai, the magistrate of Pixian County, Wu Faxiang, a gentleman of Pixian County, Luo Antai, He Mingqin, Fang Lanxin, and others, not to confront the army at the Chengguan of Pixian County. For a little deployment, Zhang Jiexian, Zhang Xi, and Liu Yinxi three roads first withdrew from the city and drove towards Chongning County, Peng County, and Guan County.And in these three counties, we contacted the militia, mobilized elders from all the wharves, rushed into the three county towns separately, and set up a comrade army in each county; all the land money, food, tax and likin collected by the Economic Expropriation Bureau and the Lijin Bureau were withdrawn. In addition, the members of the Economic Expropriation Bureau and the Lijin Bureau, as well as the master bureau members of the sub-cards, were also shut down, beaten, and kicked out.Although he did not interfere with the magistrate's administration and judgment, the majestic magistrate was almost reduced to a official official under a certain commander. Trembling, nothing to do.In addition to reporting the change to the provincial capital with chicken feather documents, he had to hide in the yamen all day long and wait for fate. There is only Zhang Zun all the way left in Pi County.But he was not willing to back away without making a sound.He adopted the suggestion of several captains under him: the old iron cannons known as the Great Generals and the Second Generals above the four city gates—all of which were cast by officials of the Qing Dynasty during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom era when Lan Chaoding and Li Yonghe attacked western Sichuan The waste used as city guards - transported together to the northeastern corner of the city wall, polished off the accumulated rust and dirt, and filled with gunpowder and iron slag.When Chen Delin, the commander of the Thirty-Fourth Association, led two battalions of army soldiers in person, and went to the distance of a mile from the city in a daze, several big iron cannons blasted one after another.The noise was frighteningly loud, and the gunpowder smoke shrouded the city of Pi County like a cloud formation, which had not dissipated for a long time after the meal.Although it was not as powerful as the legends said, hundreds of soldiers were killed and wounded at once; but how many people were wounded by a group of leading soldiers walking in the front really shocked Chen Delin, The entire two battalions of army soldiers who had not yet passed through the battle were frightened back for a few miles, and they were not taken in until Gaodianzi.At this time, Zhang Zun all the way out of the west gate and drove to Chongning County in one go. Then, Chen Delin attacked Chongning County, Peng County, Guan County, and Chongqing Prefecture, which was occupied by another team under Sun Zepei.Everywhere, it was almost a success, and success was achieved immediately; even the scary big iron cannon like the one at the head of Pixian County has never been encountered again.But when it was his turn to attack Wu Qingxi, the Second King of Wu who occupied Wenjiang County, he didn't want Pixian County, Chongning County, Pengxian County, Guanxian County, and Chongqing Prefecture, which had just been recovered for a few days, to be taken over by the retreating comrades. Members of the Bureau of Economic Expropriation and Lijin Bureau suffered disaster again, and the magistrates of prefectures and counties sent petitions one after another to complain about changes.So Zhu Dan from the Governor's Department, and the letter from the General Office of the Military Preparation Department of the Governor's Office, rained on Chen Delin's head again.He was reprimanded for being ineffective in using troops and failing to live up to the constitution; he was ordered to recover the lost land and put an end to the banditry.Chen Delin hadn't learned how to fight fire like this, especially when the few battalions he led were placed alone in this large sea of ​​people who could no longer restrain themselves. There seemed to be suspicious enemies in all directions, but he couldn't find a real enemy that could be dealt with by force. The enemy; it is not an easy task for him to fight and defend in a very short period of time, to wipe out this invisible enemy and restore this destructive order!In the end, thanks to Wu Bihua, the chief of staff of the Supervisory Training Office, he gave him a clear instruction, telling him to concentrate a few battalions of people in several cities for guarding, where to call the police, and where to send troops, and stop following the comrades' ass in circles up.In this way, when Chen Delin was exhausted from running, he temporarily guarded the three cities of Pi County, Chongqing Prefecture, and Wenjiang County. Even the three places guarded are only guarding a circle of the city wall. The small and large towns outside the circle of the city wall are still composed of comrades and some regiment defense forces who refuse to obey the dispatch and advocate against the government.Therefore, every night, you can hear the sound of the mountain horn blowing and beeping all over the field. Sometimes, the earth guns raise their cannons and mingle as if they are on fire.Is the comrade army coming to attack the city?Was it a deliberate demonstration by a passing team?Of course I can't figure it out.The officers and soldiers stationed in the city had no choice but to stand by. 陆军士兵大都在推行新政时候招考来的，素质已比巡防军高了，平日三操两讲又非常认真，更非巡防军可比。当其赵尔丰一班人决计调陆军来打同志军与团防时候，队伍中间就打起了一种叽喳，大意是：“我们陆军，据说本是为保护国家疆土而练的。调我们到边疆上同外国人打仗，是我们的本等，上了战阵，我们当然要告奋勇，打死打伤，我们决不哼一声。如今调我们来打同志军，打团防，却是为了何来？漫道这些都是爱国同胞，并非什么为害国家的土匪，不应该拿武力去对付。即令是土匪，该打，这也是他们巡防军的职责，与我们陆军又有什么相干？十一营巡防军放在省城保护他姓赵的一家人，却差遣我们来和百姓们拼死生。把百姓打死了，良心上过不去，把我们打死了，才叫报不出奏销哩！”这已不是好现象，再加上陈锦江那样一些下级军官，有意无意散布一些革命理论，大家哪里还肯当真去和同志军、团防打呢？因此，每逢下令要他们到某一处剿匪，一排人总是借口人少了，不敢走，增调一排，甚至增调到整整一队，才勉强奉命。要是当真与所谓的土匪碰上，总是老远老远打起枪来，子弹尽量地放，横竖空气是打不伤的。土匪退走了，子弹也放得差不多了，立即收队回城。报告战绩是打死匪徒若干名，打伤匪徒若干名，“只以匪众我寡，而匪又皆亡命之徒，愍不畏死，未便穷追，致遭损失”云云。纵然没有碰上什么匪徒——十有九回都碰不上——他们也要做够过场，像打野操一样，向着漠漠荒野放上一阵枪才收队回城。报告战绩，依然是“只以匪众我寡，而匪又皆亡命之徒，愍不畏死，未便穷追，致遭损失”云云。 陈德麟是外省人，又是不常和部队接触的高级军官，他当然摸不清底实，下面怎样禀报给他，他也便怎样禀报给赵尔丰和王。同时，还要禀请补充一些军火，还要照例把匪势张大几倍，明明知道省里的陆军所留无几，偏又一再恳求增援，这是从前封建军队遗留下来的积习，叫作预为之地，作用是胜固有功可居，败亦有过可卸。 说起来，赵尔丰是打仗起家的一个有资格大官，而且头发胡子都已斑白，业经活满六十岁的老人，对于陈德麟这样诳报的军情，何以会信以为真呢？当然是有理由的。理由是： 首先，把他自己处以监禁。用了十一营之众的巡防军把自己监禁在制台衙门的签押房与上房内面。——到后来，即使从签押房回到上房，或由上房去到签押房，都要张麻子率领一众亲信卫兵，拿着大刀手枪，在前后保镖，生恐有刺客行刺。赵尔丰枉自歪号屠户，他的胆子，已着造反的百姓吓破了！——而所寄托的神经，是赵老四，是杨嘉绅；所寄托的心腹，是饶凤藻，是余大鸿；所寄托的股肱，是王，是田征葵；所寄托的耳目，是尹良，是路广钟；这已非使他糊涂不可了。其次，诳报军情，虚张匪势的，又并非陈德麟一人，比如差遣到东南路去打团防的六十五标一个营，也因带兵的教练官姜登选是一个革命党，一天几里路的行军，好容易走到秦皇寺，竟自牢牢地驻扎下来。一次禀报，是匪众我寡，不能冒进；二次禀报，是匪势甚盛，前进堪虞。又如六十五标另一个营，差遣到德阳县、罗江县、绵州、安县、绵竹县、什邡县一带去剿办这一路同志军统领侯国治，因为有一个排押送军装，路过汉州向阳场，兵丁们正架着枪吃饭时候，忽然被一百多个袍哥围住，四十五名兵丁同一个姓易的排长立遭乱刀斫死；军装损失了，四十几支快枪和每个兵身上所配发的子弹全被抢去。这一意外，不仅增加了市面上的谣言，增加了官场中的恐怖，也使开去剿匪的管带、督队官等不得不加倍小心。就因小心过分，一进入山区，仅只一点风吹草动，也觉得到处是匪，不敢深入了，当然要借口。最方便的借口，恰好又是匪众我寡、匪势甚盛这一类话。四面八方的禀报都像一个板子印出来似的。古人说过，一连三个人来告诉你说，市上有虎，不由你不相信市上当真有了一头老虎；一连三个人去向曾母报告说，她的好德行儿子曾参杀了人，也不由曾母不相信她的儿子果然杀人犯罪。像自处监禁的赵尔丰已经糊涂得可以了——何况还吓破了胆——再被这同样的情报一蒙，要他不信以为真，那简直是说不过去的事！ 也因这个缘故，开了三四千人去攻打周鸿勋三百多人，——若把侯保斋等的同志军计入，在新津城内的还是有好几千人啊！——而且负责指挥的尚是第十七镇统制官朱庆澜，逾限已久，还未打到新津城下，赵尔丰每次在专用电话上催问，总被朱庆澜一阵“部署尚未周到，未便冒昧挺进”的话抵住，而他也只好叹息两声，硬相信困难是很多的。 省外地方不安靖，新津急切攻打不下，倒也不完全虚假。新津的事姑且不说，地方不安靖一层，确乎又是事实。比如陆军六十六标统带周骏——这个四川籍军官，就是王向赵尔丰力保其为忠诚可靠的人。——亲率一营之众，赶到新繁县城，打了半天硬铮仗火，把所谓劫夺县城的匪徒完全打退，恢复了县城秩序，使那个被匪徒撵走的知县官余慎，又得安然回任，再做民之父母，这就是并非虚假的一例！ 新繁县城在成都之北六十五里，也是川西大平原上一座富庶县城。因它位置偏在北大路之西，虽属疲难，还不算冲烦。知县官余慎，在官场中混了十多年，资格相当老。就是不谙民情，不识时务，现在已是辛亥年了，而且闹过铁路风潮，官民尚正冲突，但在余慎心中，好像与他刚从吏部领照出京，到省禀到候缺时候，并无不同。因此，他不仅确认知县官仍旧是民之父母，还诚心相信县大老爷依然应该凭个人喜怒，来对百姓作威作福。 这一天，是新繁县城赶场日子，四乡进城的人很多，街上人来人往，生意很为兴隆。余慎本来好端端地在他签押房里批阅公牍，不知由于什么，忽然心血来潮，想到邻封州县都在剿匪闹事，独有他新繁县还算清静，为什么能清静呢？当然是他防患于未然的劳绩。他已有几个场期未出去弹压，听说今天又是什么神会日子，人来得更多，如不及时防范，万一混些匪人进来，发生一点小事故，那么，他今年的考成又没有卓异希望了。他头上一发烧，来不及像往常一样先共刑名老夫子商量一下，遂青衣小帽，带了几名新招募的堂勇，几名皂隶差人、两名跟班随从，拿着前膛枪、皮马扎、打人的刑具、杂拌烟杆、鼻烟壶、朝扇等等物事，出来巡查弹压。 余慎一众，刚威威风风步出衙门，还未走上街道，忽闻很近之处，砰砰——一声震耳爆响。他猛吃一惊，心想：“不好，这准定是匪人的什么暗号！”他的胆子果然不小。立地督着堂勇、差人，分头向乱作一团的人丛中去清查。不一会儿，便从人丛中逮到一个约摸十二岁的、又脏又烂的调皮娃娃。 这娃娃是衙门口钟刀儿匠的一个独生子钟小娃，自小就被父母惯失得顽劣异常，成日吃饱了肚子，便在城内城外伙着一班年龄相仿的孩子们，出奇地想着方法来整人的冤枉。今天是他从火爆铺里偷了人家几个红纸大爆竹，告诉同伴说，在人堆中放起来，多吓人！多好耍！已经在东湖外面放了两个，把一些赶场的、摆摊子的大爷、大娘都惊吓得来追打他。他与同伴们简直说不出的高兴，又笑又跑。跑到衙门门前，看见坝子里拥挤的人更多，他们商量一下，在这里放他几个，更有意思。 爆竹一响，人们果然大乱。正在吵骂之际，堂勇、差人跑来清查。孩子们都跑了，钟小娃还一心一意蹲在地上安放第二个爆竹，登时着堂勇发现，像老鹰抓小鸡儿一样，抓到余知县跟前跪下。手上的爆竹和一根点燃的神香，做了凭证。 余大老爷坐在皮马扎上，满脸煞气叱骂道：“你个小杂种，从实招供！是哪些匪人叫你进城来放号炮的？” 钟小娃时常在衙门里溜进溜出，大老爷坐二堂问案的样子，他已看惯了。这时只管跪在地上，一点不晓得害怕，还是嘻哈打笑地把大老爷瞅着，也不大明白大老爷问的什么。 一个有年纪的差人从旁代为回明了钟小娃姓甚名谁，家住哪里，父母是干什么营生的。几句平淡无奇的话，恰好说明了大老爷所怀疑的全非事实。充其量，钟小娃是个没教育的孩子罢了，那样大的罪名，当然不好安得。 但这一来，反将余慎的脾气逗发了。他之怀疑钟小娃，实实因为钟小娃自有可疑之处。他是民之父母，古人就说过：天下无不是的父母。现在当着这么多看热闹的子民，要叫他把说出口的话吞回去，还要改口判定钟小娃只是出于儿戏，并无大不是之处，这岂不是要父母官当众认错？认错是丢面子的事呀！子民们倒是应该，父母官的面子可是丢得的？他猛然想起四川人的话：“有理三扁担，无理扁担三，打了再说。”遂不管钟小娃的年纪是否达到大清律例应予笞责的规定——新刑律根本就不在他的意下——只一味呛着两眼吆喝道：“现在正自人心浮动，谣言孔兴之时，你个小杂种竟敢故意扰乱安宁，不打你个半死，你不知道本县的王法厉害！——来呀！给我拉下去打！——结实打！” 执刑的差人都是钟小娃平日喊惯了的伯伯叔叔，虽然横拉顺扯把钟小娃按在地上，剥下裤子；虽然打在那两片尚未发育的大腿股上的竹板尽管响得噼噼啪啪，钟小娃也尽管学着那些挨打人的腔调，哼声不绝地喊着：“哎哟喂！大老爷开恩呀！”但是打了四五十板，被打的肌肤并未露出一点红肿的样子。余慎知道差人在卖人情，他更冒了火。大声把执刑差人叱开，叫他前不久才从省城招来，与本地人尚不稔熟的堂勇来代替了差人。 堂勇一执刑，钟小娃哪还有不吃大亏的道理？不到二十板，两条瘦小的大腿股立即肉绽皮开，冒出鲜血。钟小娃不再像唱歌般地哼着“大老爷开恩呀”，而是真正地痛得大哭大叫，喊起妈呀来了。 这时节，钟刀儿匠夫妇已从人丛中慌慌张张奔了出来，一齐跪在大老爷跟前，为儿子求饶。钟刀儿匠的老婆心疼儿子，儿子哭叫一声“妈呀！”她便冲着余慎磕一个头，泪流满面地哀求道：“大老爷，我那娃儿还小，啷个受得了你的刑法？求你积点阴德，饶了他吧！”钟刀儿匠也不住磕头道：“娃儿家不懂厉害，犯了大老爷王法，求大老爷高抬贵手，饶他这一遭，大老爷实在要打人，就打我一顿好了！” 余慎还是气哼哼地一面咂着跟班递来的杂拌烟，一面撇起官腔叱骂道：“混账王八蛋，你可晓得养女不教如养猪，养子不教如养驴？……养些禽兽出来，扰乱社会安宁……自己说，该当何罪！……你还怕本县不打你两个吗？……本县历来执法如山……犯了本县王法……本县断不姑息养奸的，等把小杂种打够了，自会打你两个，你倒不要着慌！” 板子沉重地打到五六十下，余慎还在叫喊“加劲打！”钟小娃一边的大腿股已经打烂有巴掌大一片，娃儿哭叫声音已不像先前那样有劲。 看热闹的人们打起叽喳来了。一些愤然不平的言语传到县大老爷的耳里，很清楚的是： “妈的，太毒辣了！娃儿家惹烦，打个知道好啰，为啥就朝死处整？” “打娃儿是过场，不过借此摆摆他的臭架子。” “臭架子摆跟哪个看？妈哟，这些人就看不上眼！” “借娃儿的屁股来摆臭架子，他妈算个啥东西！” 钟刀儿匠的老婆好像也听见了，便车过身去，冲着大众旋磕头，旋哭诉道：“是啰，这样扎实打下去，还不把娃儿打死吗？造孽哟！我半世年纪，就只养了这一个娃儿。求你们帮忙说说好话，大老爷不开天恩，死一个就是两条命啊！……” 余慎瞪着双眼才待开口骂人，人丛中已经一片声吆喝起来： “不许再打了！” “不许再打了！” “打死人要你抵命！” “对，对，硬要他抵命！——硬要他狗日的抵命！” “？要本县抵命？”余慎把手一挥，杂拌烟杆撂有几尺远。两只穿着青缎粉底官靴的脚在土地上连连顿着道：“真是无法无天了！当着父母官的面，胆敢口出不逊之言！……谁在放这等狗屁？敢给本县站出来吗？” 他估定没人敢站出来。他已准备要叫人去清查那些说话的人了。但是出乎意料之外，只听人丛中一阵嘈杂，一个中年汉子居然朝前跨了一步，算是站出来了。 这人，个儿不高，肩膊相当宽，一张圆圆的、被太阳晒得红中透黑的脸。酒糟鼻子底下有一些胡子碴儿。身上穿的一件藕合色湖绉单衫，显然是十年前的旧东西，周身尺码大得出奇；袖口在手背上挽了个龙抬头；胸前纽子没有扣上，衣襟搭拉下来，露出黑黑的一段项脖；一条牛绳粗的发辫，在脖子上缠了两圈。一顶满是灰尘的纱瓜皮帽，歪歪地戴在头上。一双青筋虬结的大手，握了根酒杯粗细、格楞包拱、不知什么材料做的叶子烟杆。这人一站出来，就瞪起那一对满布红丝的眼珠，盯住余慎，从牙齿缝里进出了一种沙哑声音吼道：“老子站出来了，肯信你把老子的卵包咬下来！” 这一来，真把余慎气昏了，使他来不及把这个人多多端详一下，更没有想到这个人如此大胆，是不是有所仗恃？他还是把他当成一般的子民在看待。立即把一根气得打抖的手指指着这人道：“是你！是你！……来呀！给我拿进衙门去！……等本县重办他！……” 那个上年纪的差人赶快凑在余慎耳边，刚说了一句：“大老爷，使不得，这是……” 只听见一片人声，像炸雷一样发作起来：“还了得！敢搒动我们的舵把子！……打死这狗日的！……打死他……打死他，莫让他跑了！” 几十个壮汉凶神恶煞般扑了过来。差人先跑，几个摆样子、吓百姓的堂勇，除了那三个在地上按人打人的，早丢下钟小娃，混着差人跑了外，其余几个，因在大老爷跟前站班，全被抓住，打得鬼哭神号。有两个因为保护余慎，把扑过来的人推攘了几下，立被牛耳尖刀捅了几个鲜血淋漓的窟窿。十支没有子弹的前膛枪也转了手。街上的百姓们都跟着动手的袍哥们，从衙门外一直打到二堂，——到底有点顾忌，尚未打进内宅去。——见人打人，见东西打东西，就只没有打着县大老爷余慎。因他眼明脚快，在堂勇挨打之际，已经溜了。 知县一溜，其余的官员都溜了。动手生事的那个袍哥大爷，乐得把字样拿出来，将几个尚未公开的公口上的龙头大爷约齐，商量了一下，一不做，二不休，当天夜里就把同志军的招牌抬了出来，乘势招兵买马，霸占了城池。 新繁县的乱子，几乎同好多州县的乱子一样，都是由于一二桩小事情闹起来的。