Home Categories contemporary fiction White Gate Willow 1 Sunset Grass

Chapter 41 Jinshan Yuyou

Huang Zongxi finally decided to go north with Fang Yizhi, travel to the capital, and take part in the provincial examination in August this year.At the end of March, he left Suzhou to go to Jiaxing, found his second brother Huang Zongyan who was visiting friends there, raised a sum of travel expenses, and entrusted his mother and family affairs to Zongyan and another younger brother Zonghui to take care of them.Afterwards, Huang Zongxi took the book boy Huang An back to the north, planning to arrive at Zhenjiang at the end of April, and meet Fang Yizhi who had agreed to wait there.The purpose of Huang Zongxi's going to Beijing to take the exam this time is, of course, to implement his plan of submitting a letter to the imperial court, but before that, he also wanted to see the situation of the imperial court with his own eyes and estimate how the current situation will develop; On the one hand, after experiencing the turmoil at the Huqiu Conference, he also decided to temporarily change the environment.

That incident really shocked and stimulated Huang Zongxi a lot.He never dreamed that the mastermind of this despicable conspiracy was none other than Qian Qianyi, whom he had always respected and trusted!Just the day before the matter came to light, I went to see him tirelessly and begged him to come out and preside over the overall situation.Thinking of how stupid and childish he is, and how hypocritical and treacherous the other party is, Huang Zongxi's heart is filled with anger, pain and shame: "Hmph, just for the purpose of rehabilitating his official position, for his own fame and wealth, he will set the world up. Regardless of righteousness, he did such shameless things! Thanks to him being a senior official of Donglin, how worthy! How can I be worthy of all the sages of Donglin who sacrificed their lives! These years, I was really blind and misjudged him , Completely misunderstood..." In the past two months, Huang Zongxi has been troubled by this kind of mood.He thought more than once that he should rush to Changshu, question Qian Qianyi face to face, and express unceremoniously how much he despises him now!Even if he wanted to say something, Huang Zongxi was ready.He excitedly imagined the scene when they met again and again: how he would be stern and righteous, while the other party would be stunned and dumbfounded... However, it was strange to say that when he seriously considered taking action, he hesitated again.He found that he actually didn't want to see Qian Qianyi, and was even a little afraid of seeing him. "Well, no, it's not that I'm afraid, but I hate it! Yes, if such a person appears in front of me, I'm afraid I'll be sick!" He explained to himself.Therefore, this time, when the Tianping ship he took passed through Suzhou, he did not detour to Changshu, but continued to go north along the canal and went straight to Zhenjiang.

However, to be honest, even if it wasn't like that, Huang Zongxi didn't have the heart to pay attention to Qian Qianyi at the moment.Because along the way, all kinds of astonishing bad news about the current situation were spread everywhere, which made him very excited and nervous.As usual, these news were divided into two categories: one was about "rogues".It is said that Li Zicheng's tens of thousands of troops besieged Zuo Liangyu, the commander-in-chief of the Ming Dynasty, in Yancheng, Henan.Li Zicheng broke through the city, captured Wang Qiaonian alive, and killed him outside the city, while Zuo Liangyu fled to Huguang.Now after Li Zicheng fell into Xihua, Chenzhou, Suizhou, Taikang, Ningling, Kaocheng, and Guide, he entered Kaifeng again.At the same time, Zhang Xianzhong, Ge Liyan, Zuo Jinwang and other "thief" armies captured Heshan, Hezhou, and Luzhou in Anhui.Nanjing was shaken, and martial law was declared.The other category is about "Jianlu".It is said that Songshan City outside Shanhaiguan was finally lost on February 19th. Governor Hong Chengchou was exhausted in the battle, was captured and unyielding, and died heroically for his country;It is also said that Jinzhou, located near Songshan, was also captured by the Qing army, and the defender Zu Dashou led the crowd to surrender.This series of bad news stunned Huang Zongxi.Although all these years, he has heard all this kind of bad news, and he has almost become accustomed to it, and the ending like the fall of Songshan was originally expected.However, Huang Zongxi was still very shocked when several things came together and suddenly heard in his ears.In particular, the battle of Songshan was of great importance.Now that they are defeated, the Shanhaiguan barrier has been lost, and the situation is in jeopardy.Huang Zongxi was distressed and anxious, but also admired Hong Chengchou's heroic martyrdom, and felt that it was justified for a man to live in the world.He didn't know Hong Chengchou, and a few days ago, when he talked about the Songshan battle with his friends, he attacked Hong Chengchou fiercely, saying that his entire army was annihilated this time because of his incompetence in command and fear of the enemy like a tiger.But all of that doesn't seem to matter now.The image of Hong Chengchou suddenly became taller in Huang Zongxi's mind, and was endowed with extraordinary meaning. "Anyway, as an important minister of the country, he has done his utmost to be loyal and finished the festival! Compared with him, Qian Muzhai should really be ashamed!" He thought with emotion, hoping to know more about Hong Chengchou's sacrifice.However, according to the results of inquiries, the accounts are very inconsistent. Some say that he died in the street fighting after the city was broken, some say that he died of a hunger strike after being captured, and some say that he survived the hunger strike and hanged himself to die for the country later. "Well, go to Zhenjiang quickly. There are many people coming and going there, so you can definitely find out!" After making up his mind, Huang Zongxi felt that he still couldn't calm down. His blood was boiling and his mind was shaking. "Ah, I have to hurry up and be more serious!" He thought, and immediately ordered Huang An to take out his draft of the letter from his luggage.He leaned against the front of the cabin, collected himself, then buried his head, pondering every word...

It was not until the last day of April in the lunar calendar that Huang Zongxi's boat arrived at the foot of Beigu Mountain in the north of Zhenjiang City.Because the meeting place agreed with Fang Yizhi in advance was Jinshan Temple, Huang Zongxi did not enter the city, but ordered the boatman to go straight west to Jinshan. Jinshan, also known as Longyou Mountain, is a small island standing on the Yangtze River, five or six miles away from the city, facing Jiaoshan and Beigu Shanqi.The trees on the mountain are sparse, and the majestic Jinshan Temple has been built from the bottom of the mountain to the top of the mountain. From a distance, you can see steps one after another, courtyard walls one after another, temples one after another, and corridors and pavilions one after another, meandering to both sides. Extending, wrapping the whole mountain layer by layer.The colorful paintings on the cornices and pavilions are shining brightly in the morning sun.The Cishou Pagoda on the top of the mountain stands majestically under the clear sky, looking very solemn and solemn.

"Grandpa, the 'Water-filled Jinshan Mountain' mentioned in "The Legend of the White Snake" is this Jinshan?" Huang An stretched his already slender neck, opened a pair of bulging eyes, and stared at the Jinshan that was getting closer and closer, curiously. ask.It was the first time for him to come to Zhenjiang, and he felt very fresh about everything around him. "That's right, it's this mountain." Huang Zongxi nodded, and at the same time was a little surprised at the number of tourists on the mountain today: Well, look at the dense crowd, there are thousands of people at least!What are they doing here?

"So, is the Zen staff still there?" Huang An asked again. "What Zen staff?" "Naturally it is Zen Master Fahai's Zen staff, it will turn into a golden dragon!" "Idiot, how can there be a Zen staff that can change into a dragon! It's just a story, and you take it seriously!" Huang An blinked his eyes: "Then, there is no more golden soldiers?" "Well, there are." "Then Huang Tiandang..." "Over there." Huang Zongxi pointed to the west, "It's far away, you can't see it." "Oh——I heard that Mr. Hong Jinglue of this dynasty is both civil and military, and he is also a first-class figure in King Han Qi!"

Huang Zongxi said "Oh", but didn't answer right away, his face became gloomy, and after a long while, he sighed: "Hong Jinglue is a rare and handsome talent, it's a pity..." He was about to continue, when suddenly, the balance boat violently The ground shook, and a large cruise ship painted in red and green was passing by the side of the ship.There were a few gentlemen sitting on the boat, drinking and playing around a flirtatious woman with heavy make-up.As the river wind blows, there is a series of gossips.Huang Zongxi couldn't help frowning, and let out a heavy "hum".

Huang Anwu stared blankly at the cruise ship flying away, only to hear the boat owner say loudly outside the cabin: "Today is April 30th, don't these people come to watch the dragon boat race?" Although the Dragon Boat Festival is said to be the fifth day of May, it has always been a habit in this area that the dragon boats always start dispatching several days in advance. "It's strange that there are so many tourists on the mountain today!" Huang Zongxi suddenly thought, and this made him feel even more unhappy: "Qu Yuan was loyal to the country, was slandered by villains, and repeatedly ostracized, but he was determined! He was sad about the fall of his clan, Sinking in grief and indignation, I want to use my death to inspire future generations, be virtuous and honorable through the ages! Unexpectedly, today, it has become a topic for people who are drunk and dreaming of death, it is really hateful and lamentable!" Thinking of this, he couldn't help "humming" again One sound.

At this moment, the balance boat has come to the foot of Jinshan.Because there are many boats crowded on the pier, it took a lot of effort to go ashore.Huang Zongxi led Huang An, squeezed through the crowd, entered the mountain gate, passed through the Heavenly King Hall, and went around the back of the main hall. Just as he climbed a step with a stone railing, he heard the sound of "Dong Dong clang! Boom, boom, clang!" the sound of drums and cymbals.The surrounding tourists rushed up the mountain with a "coax".Huang Zongxi couldn't stand, and was suddenly squeezed into a corner.Looking back, Huang An was nowhere to be seen.He was anxious, raised his voice and yelled a few times, but he agreed.It turned out that the little book boy couldn't turn around because he was carrying the burden, and he wanted to watch the dragon boat race, so he was squeezed to the side of the railing. The master and servant are only seven or eight steps away from each other.But the crowd stopped again for some reason.Huang Zongxi squeezed a few times, but couldn't make it through. He couldn't help getting anxious, and shouted: "Hey, what are you doing here, let me pass quickly!" He also gave way slightly to the sides.But there were too many tourists, and it seemed that the front was blocked again, making it impossible to move.Some people saw that Huang Zongxi was just a poor scholar in plain clothes, and ignored him, so they stayed still.How could Huang Zongxi have the heart to watch a dragon boat race? Seeing that he couldn't make it through, and Huang An couldn't get out, he thought: How long will this delay last!So he stomped his feet and yelled again: "Do you hear that? Let me pass quickly! Do you hear me?"

"Hey, my husband, it's not that the villain is trying to resist, there are too many people..." A young man who looked like a shopkeeper standing in front of him was rushed by him, turned around and said aggrievedly. "Hee hee, this dragon boat is not his family's. Everyone can see it. Why should they get out of the way? Could it be that his godmother is sitting on the boat?" A slippery voice said, and the people around listened. Half of them laughed. "You're going to be crazy!" a deep voice stopped.It was a gorgeously dressed middle-aged Confucian scholar with a bushy beard. He turned his head and nodded to Huang Zongxi: "Your Majesty, please don't be anxious. Since you and I are placed here, it is the so-called restricted situation. We can only wait in peace. That's all."

Huang Zongxi didn't seem to hear, he opened his eyes wide, looked around the crowd angrily, and suddenly shouted sharply: "Da Ming's country is about to perish! Are you still so at ease?" This sentence was like a thunderbolt.The people trembled for a moment, then turned their heads in horror, and stared blankly at Huang Zongxi, with expressions of astonishment and terror on all of their faces.The few standing nearby involuntarily stepped aside to make way for him.Huang Zongxi bit his lips, walked over without a word, grabbed Huang An, and turned around to leave.This time, there was no hindrance, and people shrank back to the sides, staring blankly at this strange scholar of unknown origin who made terrible predictions to them here and now, wondering whether this master and servant was a lunatic or a The god-man who came to warn the world with the intention of the emperor of heaven.Otherwise, how dare he say such desperate words in the public? After Huang Zongxi squeezed out of the encirclement, he led Huang An up another stone step, then turned to the right, and was planning to go around the back of the Miaogao Terrace and go straight to the Langjia Terrace.Suddenly there was commotion in front, just like the scrambling to see the dragon boat just now, people crowded forward suddenly, and then retreated hastily, pushing Huang Zongxi aside as usual.Huang An gained experience this time, and followed his master every step of the way. "Hey, what's going on?" Huang Zongxi thought angrily.At this time, people continued to retreat to both sides to make way for one of them.At the same time, the audience became silent. Everyone stretched their necks and stared wide-eyed, as if possessed by a demon, watching a man and a woman who were walking down from Miaogao Terrace motionlessly.The girl was about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a thin western red linen blouse with faded red lining, fair skin, and a light body.Although she held a raw white round fan in her hand, which lightly covered half of her face, only revealing a pair of slightly melancholy, dreamy big eyes, but at a glance, she must be a stunning beauty.However, if it was just her, maybe it would not have caused such a sensation, because what was particularly amazing was that the man walking side by side with her turned out to be a dazzlingly beautiful person.He was dressed as a Confucian scholar, dressed in plain white, with a folding fan in his hand, and an indifferent and lazy expression on his handsome face.With his head held up slightly, he walked unhurriedly on the road that people let out automatically, just as naturally as strolling in the courtyard of his own home.And he didn't take the astonishment, admiration, and envious gazes from around him at all.Evidently, all this had long been accustomed to him, and it neither disturbed him nor excited him in any way. "Ah, it turned out to be him! He also came to Zhenjiang—I just don't know who that woman is? It's Chen Yuanyuan? No, definitely not. Then..." When Huang Zongxi recognized this handsome and handsome man, he was there a month ago. After Maoxiang broke up in Suzhou, he was instinctively impulsive and planned to go up to meet him.But only for a moment, this impulse subsided.At the same time, a gloomy and powerful thought seized him: "Hmph, the country has become so corrupted, it is absurd to be determined to save the country and the common people, but to be infatuated with alcoholic women! I used to hang out with them There are too many times for one piece, and we must never do this again in the future!" Therefore, even though Mao Xiang was passing by, Huang Zongxi didn't turn his face away.After the tourists dispersed for a while, he led Huang An to climb the mountain along the road, and went straight to find Fang Yizhi.
Notes:
Press "Left Key ←" to return to the previous chapter; Press "Right Key →" to enter the next chapter; Press "Space Bar" to scroll down.
Chapters
Chapters
Setting
Setting
Add
Return
Book