Chapter 65 audience with shoufu
Due to repeated persuasion by Fang Yizhi and the Feng brothers, Huang Zongxi finally agreed to hand over the letter to Feng Yuanbiao and forward it to Zhou Yanru.
Half a month later, he was notified that Zhou Yanru had seen his letter and decided to meet him.Therefore, Huang Zongxi came to Zhou Yanru's mansion according to the appointment on the eighth day of October.
If three months ago, Huang Zongxi had learned that his letter was so valued by the chief minister of the court, then, even though he had various dissatisfaction with Zhou Yanru's behavior, he would have been very excited and very grateful.Today, however, the situation is different.This time, from agreeing to submit to meeting as scheduled, it is not so much because he still has enthusiasm and confidence in his submission, but because he respects Feng Yuanbiao and does not want to be too disobedient to his friends. Some kindness.In fact, Huang Zongxi's mood has changed since Xu Shiqi asked him to talk to him that time in July.He can no longer be as blindly optimistic and self-absorbed as before.And once he looked around with his sober eyes, the dark, corrupt, sick, and declining side of this solemn and solemn capital of the emperor immediately appeared clearly.He found that the supreme emperor lived here, but the emperor was in a situation of internal and external difficulties, and he was becoming more and more self-willed and moody; In the hands of some eerie Yamen such as Dongchang and Jinyiwei, they are used to deal with people who are loyal to the country and innocent people; outstanding talents from all over the world are gathered here, but these people are currently involved in the life-and-death party Here, you can quickly hear the latest news about the current situation and grasp the pulse of the imperial court's decision-making, but each of these news is more unlucky and more disturbing People are discouraged; as for the so-called decision-making of the imperial court, it is completely caught up in haste, digging flesh to fill the sores, and it is in chaos... In addition, this time the rural examination, the situation of bribery, selling, and cheating for personal gain is more serious than ever before. There are many, but the imperial court has nothing to do about it, just let it go.This made Huang Zongxi feel deeply hopeless in addition to his indignation.So, until now, when he crossed the teams of cars and horses, and came to the gate of the chief assistant's mansion, from his expression to his heart, he was always cold and hesitant.
"Hey, Taichong, you're finally here! My little brother has been waiting for you for half an hour!" A joyous voice greeted loudly.
Huang Zongxi looked up and recognized Zhou Yanru's undercover Gu Linsheng.
Gu Linsheng is from Changshu. He is in his early thirties this year. He is tall and straight, shrewd and capable.He was originally a member of Fushe, because his father Gu Dazhang was Zhou Yanru's teacher, so this time Zhou Yanru came back, he was hired as an aide to participate in confidential matters, which is quite creditable.The last time he saw Zhou Yanru's correspondence and knew that Qian Qianyi was conspiring to reverse the case for Ruan Dacheng, he wrote a letter to Maoxiang, and only then did he expose the matter thoroughly.Huang Zongxi and Gu Linsheng knew each other from the beginning, and they had a good friendship. They also visited each other several times after they came to Beijing this time.He knew that Huang Zongxi was coming today, so he went to the door first to wait.
When Gu Linsheng appeared, Huang Zongxi didn't think much of it, but the people around who arrived first suddenly became commotion.They all came to see Zhou Yanru for various official or private matters.Some manuscripts have been handed in for a long time, and there is still no reply. Seeing that it is late, they are anxious, and finally hope that someone will come out. Of course, they will not let it go.
Gu Linsheng was obviously very familiar with this kind of scene.With a straight face, he waved his hands and said, "Mr. Zhou hasn't finished picking up the guests, please wait at ease!" Then, he took Huang Zongxi's arm and walked inside without looking back.
After hitting this hurdle, most people were discouraged, only a fat gentleman with a long beard was still not reconciled, he hurried a few steps, and caught up with Gu Linsheng in front of the gate.
"Mr. Gu, my younger brother is not asking to see Mr. Zhou, but Mr. Dong. I would be very grateful to let you know!" The fat gentleman begged with a smile on his face.
Gu Linsheng looked back: "Oh, Your Excellency wants to visit Mr. Dong?" He asked, stopping in his tracks.
"Exactly!" The fat gentleman hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "My little brother has recently engraved two new books, and I intend to send one to Mr. Dong for reading, and the other - if Mr. Gu does not abandon it, please advise me!"
"this……"
"Shangxi Shenna!"
While they were answering, Huang Zongxi just listened coldly.He had heard a long time ago that Zhou Yanru had a confidant named Dong Tingxian, who was cunning and greedy. He used his master's power to sell officials and nobles, take bribes, and his reputation had long been filthy.This is probably what the fat gentleman is looking for.As for the so-called "sending books", it is nothing more than a lingo for bribery. As usual, gold and silver are attached to the back of these books, which are called "book handkerchiefs".This fat gentleman didn't know what he was eager to seek, but now he planned to court Gu Linsheng as well. "Hmph, I'd like to see what to do with Yushu!" Huang Zongxi thought.
"Okay, I'll pass it on to Mr. Dong!" Gu Linsheng answered very simply, pulling Huang Zongxi to continue walking inside.
"Ah, so this book?"
"Post it in the concierge first, and I'll pick it up later!" Gu Linsheng said without looking back.
"Yu Shu," Huang Zongxi finally couldn't help asking after ten steps in silence, "Have you been like this for more than half a year?"
"what?"
"Of course it's 'Shupa', and..."
Gu Linsheng said "Oh" and said nonchalantly: "What is this? If you don't see someone surnamed Dong, that's called Huijiazi! No matter who it is, if you want to find a general soldier, governor or something, you have to go ahead. Come to worship him. Otherwise, it’s impossible to do it! These years, he has made enough money. Don’t look at those broken books, I’m afraid he may not be able to see it!”
"However, how can this be..."
Gu Linsheng laughed "hee hee": "If you say you can't, you really can't. But if you want to be like that, unless you don't come to this officialdom! In today's atmosphere, people don't hate you for asking for money, but hate you for not wanting money." His money. Once you don't want money, you will offend many people!"
"Ah, what?"
"If you ask for money and get things done, he can get back five times and ten times when he goes to the locality. Why not do it? If you don't want money, he can't get things done. Isn't it a dead end?" , how can I not hate you!"
Huang Zongxi couldn't help "humming", thinking: "The country first cuts itself down, and then people cut it down! The bad things in government affairs are caused by this group of pervasive moths! Even people like Gu Yushu, when they first entered the officialdom, they immediately became accustomed to it. It can also be seen that the drowning of the decadent wind is terrifying!" Although he knew that the root cause was not in Gu Linsheng, and even if Gu Linsheng kept himself clean, there were other people who were probably ten times more greedy than Gu Linsheng, like Dong Tingxian. Flow like that.However, Huang Zongxi still felt the need to persuade his friend and remind him not to forget the principles of being a gentleman. "Well, after meeting Elder Zhou Ge, I have to talk about him!" He thought sternly.
At this moment, they had already entered the other courtyard through a side door on the east side of the front yard.When they passed by the door of a flower hall, Huang Zongxi saw three or four officials with gauze caps and uniforms sitting silently facing each other, as if waiting for something.Gu Linsheng whispered in his ear and told Huang Zongxi: In Chen Xinjia's case, because Xu Shiqi, the left servant of the criminal department who presided over the trial, insisted on punishing it as the death penalty of wronging military planes and humiliating the country with private funds, the court was shocked by the verdict that he should be executed.It is said that the emperor is still hesitant.The few officials in the flower hall came to ask Zhou Yanru to try to rescue them.Huang Zongxi had heard about Chen Xinjia's case from Xu Shiqi a long time ago, and felt that this person had committed a heinous crime and deserved to die; moreover, he was quite dissatisfied with the fact that some ministers in the court were still defending Chen Xinjia and tried their best to excuse him.He glanced at Gu Linsheng, and asked lightly:
"Will Mr. Zhou be willing to help?"
Gu Linsheng smiled slightly: "A helping hand is a helping hand. However, Zhou Xianggong has served the emperor for many years, and he can understand the emperor's temper and thoughts better than anyone else..." He looked around, and suddenly came up to him, and said in a low voice, "The emperor is actually murderous." It's decided, but he doesn't want to be an ugly person, so..."
Huang Zongxi was taken aback when he heard how loud he said, and quickly stopped him with a wink.Gu Linsheng stuck out his tongue and stopped immediately.
After this, the two friends fell silent in unison.After walking through a few more doors, Gu Linsheng asked Huang Zongxi to wait outside the door and walked in alone.After a while he came out again and said:
"Please, sir!" Then he bit his ear and said, "This morning, my favorite Persian cat died of dystocia. Until now, I am still very unhappy. There are a lot of guests left outside. I don’t want to see you. It was because I pleaded for you again and again that he reluctantly agreed. Listen to what he says later, don’t argue, but remember? As long as he is willing to keep you, go Everything will be easy in the future, with me!"
At this time Huang Zongxi was somewhat nervous.After all, this is the first time he has come to see the chief minister of the dynasty. "Well, I don't know what he's like? What's his temper? What should I do with him?" he thought hastily.He listened to Gu Linsheng's instructions, but he didn't have time to react. He just nodded mechanically, followed Gu Linsheng up the steps, and entered the small room.
This is a small, very neatly furnished study.Looking at it at a glance, everything in the room is characterized by small and unique features - small screens, small tables and chairs, and small couches.Among them is an ancient book table with narrow borders, on which there are brushes and inkstones, incense boxes, incense burners, etc., all of which are small and exquisite with unique styles.There is no calligraphy and painting on the walls on all sides, but there is a small Buddhist cabinet, in which a small gold-plated Buddha is enshrined.Because it was the turn of October and the weather was getting cooler, ancient brocade mattresses were placed on the chairs, and a colorful tiger skin was spread on the couch.
Huang Zongxi was not in the mood to observe the layout of the room, he opened his eyes wide and looked around, hoping to see his master as soon as possible.At this time, there was the sound of official boots stomping on the ground, and Zhou Yanru, who was wearing a first-grade patched suit and a gauze cap, came out slowly from behind the screen.He is a man of medium build. Although he is old and seems a little sullen, he is still quite handsome. He has a long round face with delicate texture, coupled with slender eyebrows and straight nose bridge, it is not difficult to imagine that this man When he was young, he must have been a handsome man.Even now, the meticulously combed gray beard and the waist that has never been fat, still reveal elegance everywhere.Of course, as a minister with heavy responsibilities, he is confident and calm at the same time.Normally, his eyes must have been firm and energetic, but for some reason they were dull at this moment, and there were two deep grooves on either side of the protruding chin, which made the whole face look sad and lacking in what it should have. Majesty and style.
Huang Zongxi stared at this face in astonishment, for a moment he couldn't quite believe that it was Zhou Yanru.It's funny to say, probably out of a sense of disgust, in the past he had always imagined this chief assistant as a thin and sinister man, with greed and suspicion always shining in his snake-like eyes... However, He quickly woke up, because Gu Linsheng had already started to introduce.So Huang Zongxi heaved a sigh of relief, and with a fresh, even somewhat amiable impression of Zhou Yanru, he went up to meet him, stood up with the support of his host, recounted the etiquette, and sat down as the guest and host.
"Well, maybe he is not as greedy and contemptuous as I imagined? Since he has entered the phase twice, this time, it was Donglin's strength, which must have its own merits. For example, my one It took only half a month for the book to be delivered, and he not only read it, but also received it immediately, this alone is not easy!" Huang Zongxi continued to look at the master while thinking.His mood gradually became brighter, and he felt that maybe Zhou Yanru was really interested in his reform plan.He even began to think about how to answer if the other party asked.
"Brother Yushu, I'll trouble you to search for me later and find a dozen or twenty cat-chanting poems by the ancients. I want to see how they wrote them." After the guest and host exchanged a few words, Zhou Yanru suddenly Turning around, he said this to Gu Linsheng.
"Yes!" The latter agreed with arched hands.
"What? Poems about cats? What does he want to do about cat poems?" Huang Zongxi thought bewilderedly, and couldn't help looking at the narrow-bordered book.He had noticed just now that the pen and inkstone on it had not been put away, and there were still traces of writing on the paper.Suddenly, he remembered Gu Linsheng's exhortation, and thought to himself: "By the way, I heard from Yushu that Mr. Zhou died of a Persian cat. He was very sad. He must be planning to write a poem and cry about it right now." !"
Huang Zongxi couldn't help being stunned because he suddenly realized that until now, although Zhou Yanru seemed to be receiving him with a friendly face, in fact, what he was thinking about was his beloved plaything.Then, a feeling of being insulted gradually emerged from the bottom of my heart.His thin face was flushed with irritation.
"Hey, Brother Taichong, you don't know, Mr. Yu's cat was bought by Shen Gong, the governor of Guangdong, from a Persian merchant in Haojingyu last year, and he sent it to Beijing on a special trip. It was a pair, all pure white, and there was no one. Mixed hair, lingering, very cute. The female cat is particularly strange, with two eyes of different colors, one gold and one silver, looking forward and looking bright, everyone who sees it is different. Unexpectedly, it died of dystocia this morning. It's a pity!" Probably seeing that Huang Zongxi's expression was wrong, Gu Linsheng quickly explained, winking at him.
Huang Zongxi just pretended not to notice.He bowed his hands towards his master, and asked directly:
"Teacher, I don't know if you have learned from Jun Jun about the letter that the late student asked Mr. Tao to forward half a month ago?"
"Oh, brother, did you write a letter? Feng Shao Sima has already transferred." Zhou Yanru nodded, and gave the guest a strange look.
"I wonder if you have learned from Jun Jun?" Huang Zongxi asked again.
"This... well, I have also read it as a student... the opinions in it are generally good, but..." Zhou Yanru said vaguely.
But Huang Zongxi did not relax: "Shangqi Mingjiao!" He arched his hands again.
Zhou Yanru obviously sensed the other party's aggressive attitude, and felt displeased with this way of talking.In order to make the other party understand this, he waved his hand and said in a tone that became dignified: "This, let's talk about it later!"
Having ended the matter thus decisively, he immediately turned the conversation to other aspects.He began to ask Huang Zongxi what books he had read recently, whether he had met Qian Qianyi, and asked about the disaster situation in the south of the Yangtze River. Whether he was asking or listening, he always maintained an indifferent and unpredictable And often before Huang Zongxi finished speaking, he would ask another question to interrupt him.This created an impression that what Huang Zongxi said was something he had already grasped and was worthless, and he asked this question just out of politeness.
At first, Huang Zongxi answered the host's questions very seriously.But soon, he became less interested, and realized more and more clearly how humble and naive he was in the eyes of the other party.He began to blush and fidget, and his answers became shorter and shorter each time, until only "yes" and "no" remained.
Seeing this situation, Gu Linsheng, who was sitting by the side, was secretly anxious.He winked several times at Huang Zongxi, but Huang Zongxi stubbornly lowered his head, pretending not to see.Gu Linsheng had no choice but was about to open his mouth to smooth things over for him, when suddenly footsteps sounded in the corridor, and then Dong Tingxian, a dry and skinny old behind-the-scenes guest, appeared at the door.Gu Linsheng had no choice but to hold back temporarily.
Dong Tingxian looked inside the room first, then shrugged, bowed his waist, walked to Zhou Yanru's side with light but hasty steps, bowed his head, and said something in a low voice.
Zhou Yanru listened expressionlessly, waved his hands and said, "Let them wait, just say I don't have time to see them right now."
"Yes!" Dong Tingxian obediently agreed, but did not back down.He squinted at Huang Zongxi with the tip of his eyes, and raised his voice slightly: "But I heard that Mr. Xu has already entered the performance, and I'm afraid that the imperial edict will be issued at any time..."
Zhou Yanru glanced at him, and said impatiently, "Why are you panicking? Didn't you see that I have guests right now!" Then, he ignored the guest, turned to Huang Zongxi again, and asked with a smile:
"Where were we talking just now? - Yes, I heard that when Qian Muzhai went to Shengze to greet his relatives, he was driven to fly tiles. What's going on?"
"Boss Ge has an important job, so Wansheng is resigning." Huang Zongxi, who had become dejected, stood up quickly and said.
"Oh, brother is leaving now?" Zhou Yanru's expression was a little surprised, but also a little regretful, but he didn't hold back, and stood up to see off the guests.It wasn't until he walked out of the door that he narrowed his eyes, looked at the few withered grasses on the opposite wall that were flickering in the autumn wind and sunset, and said in a casual tone:
"The student's intention is to invite Brother Qu to come to the cabinet to assist with the affairs of the paperwork - naturally, this matter is not urgent. After the master goes back and weighs the pros and cons, if he is willing to bow down, he will inform Yu Shu and ask him to tell me. "
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