Chapter 51 Envoys go north

The next morning, the ship they took arrived at Danyang.It is an important traffic junction on the canal line.Not far to the north is Zhenjiang Fucheng, the necessary port for crossing the river.From there, you can naturally go up the river and take a boat to Nanjing.But most people don't take the water, but take a car in Danyang instead.Qian Qianyi also decided to take the car.So after staying in the posthouse, he sent servants to hire vehicles, and at the same time sent Gu Ling to the county government office to inquire about any important officials who had stayed in the city in the past, so as to decide whether they should pay a visit.

After half a day, Gu Ling came back and said that there are two important officials resting in the city right now.One is Liu Zongzhou, who was appointed as the censor of the left capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and he is living in Zhishan Temple in the west of the city; Stay in a post.Gu Ling also found out that Zuo Maodi was not at the post at the moment, and according to the people who stayed behind, he went to Zhishan Temple to pay homage to Liu Zongzhou.Qian Qianyi thought to himself: These two officials are old acquaintances of his, why not take this opportunity to pay a visit to both of them together, and at the same time, he can learn about the latest developments in the court recently.So he didn't delay any longer, went back to the house, explained the whole story to Liu Rushi, after a little care, he took Li Bao out in a hurry, took a sedan chair, and set off immediately.

Arriving at Zhishan Temple, Zuo Maodi was already at Liu Zongzhou's place first.Probably because the mansion newspaper had already published the news, so when they learned that Qian Qianyi came to worship, they both came out to greet him, they just called it a "coincidence" and did not show any more surprise.Seeing this situation, Qian Qianyi didn't give any further explanation, but humbly yielded to them, and walked into the house together. What Liu Zongzhou lived in was a small courtyard in the monastery.As the chief inspector of the imperial court, Liu Zongzhou, like Qian Qianyi, is now a senior official of the second rank.What's more, as a great contemporary Confucian, he has many disciples and old officials all over the world, and he has a high prestige both in the court and in the opposition.Even Ma Shiying, out of political considerations, had to put on a gesture several times to urge him to join the DPRK and participate in politics.However, Qian Qianyi discovered that although Liu Zongzhou finally decided to take office, the simplicity that was almost eccentric has not changed at all.The corner of the house where he lived was very quiet and elegant, with pine trees covering the house and bamboo shadows all over the courtyard.The only thing is that apart from the common tables, chairs and screens that probably existed in the main room, there are no rare ornaments anymore.There are only two male servants around him waiting to be ordered around. There is neither a servant girl serving him nor a group of disciples following him.It is this kind of moral demeanor of frugality and self-denial that makes Qian Qianyi feel awe involuntarily.So, while the old servant was serving tea, he stole another glance at his former colleague.He found that Liu Zongzhou, who was nearly seventy years old, already had white hair and beard.It is said that he is often engaged in gardening and growing vegetables on weekdays, and his body is still very strong.He lowered his head slightly, wearing a half-worn second-grade men's suit and a black gauze hat, sitting on a chair with his back straight.That unsmiling square face, coupled with a pair of introverted eyes hidden in half-sagging eyelids, made him look as if he was always looking into his own heart.He was not easy to get close to, but now it seems that this character is more obvious, so after staring at him for a while, Qian Qianyi never dared to speak rashly, so he shifted his gaze to Zuo Maodi who was sitting next to him.

Compared with Liu Zongzhou, Zuo Maodi's expression and demeanor are much more flexible, and he is also much more shrewd and capable.This is not only because he is much younger in terms of age, but also because he is basically a transactional official.However, even Zuo Maodi looked solemn and silent at the moment, with two thick and black eyebrows squeezed together above his purple-colored face, lowering his black and white eyes.Qian Qianyi faintly felt that those eyes were heavy and melancholy, as if they were filled with infinite thoughts. "Mr. Zuo," in order to break the silence that had lasted for a while, Qian Qianyi put down the teacup in his hand, and asked with a smile, "This time, the old man has been resent, and he is ordered to manage Hebei. , can you get it and hear it?"

"Oh——" As if awakened from some kind of thought, Zuo Maodi's thick eyebrows that were deeply locked suddenly loosened.He hesitated for a moment, then arched his hands, and said in a low voice: "To tell you the truth, old man, this time the students are ordered to go north, the manager of Hebei is false, but in fact, they are going to Yanjing to talk to Jianlu!" "Ah, the old man is saying, go to... to make a payment?" Qian Qianyi tilted his ears, thinking he didn't understand. Zuo Maodi nodded, "It's just because Jianlu responded to Wu Sangui's request and entered the pass to assist in the suppression for more than three months. Now I heard that the intruders burned and plundered the capital, and ran away in a panic. Jianlu did not chase after the bandits, but sent troops into the territory. Counties in Hebei and Shandong provinces. The imperial court was concerned about other changes, so the students were sent with gold and silk to send money and consolation to see their aspirations. They were accompanied by Chen Gong Hongfan, the left governor, and Yongji, the former governor of Ji. Tomorrow Let's go across the river."

Qian Qianyi blinked, still looking at him suspiciously.More than a month ago, Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Shanhaiguan, borrowed elite soldiers from the "Jianlu", that is, the Qing Dynasty outside the pass, defeated Li Zicheng in one fell swoop, and regained Beijing.When the news reached Changshu, Qian Qianyi, like many others, was ecstatic for a while, thinking that under the protection of the emperor, Daming was finally saved.However, just now I heard from Zuo Maodi that the Qing soldiers actually wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to stay in the pass. This is a surprising trend.Because if that is the case, it is tantamount to driving away a fierce tiger, but letting in a violent lion.What's more, Li Zicheng's fierceness is unmatched, and he is not an opponent of the Qing soldiers. If the Qing soldiers occupy the north and then move south, wouldn't it be more difficult to resist?Thinking about it this way, Qian Qianyi couldn't help becoming nervous, and quickly asked:

"Could it be that when Wu Sangui borrowed troops from the Qing Dynasty, there was no agreement at all, and he could not succeed in taking Jianlu to occupy Shenjing?" "A contract?" Liu Zongzhou, who had obviously discussed with Zuo Maodi before, but now sat silently like a stone statue, suddenly interjected, "What is Jianlu? Jun, I don’t know what etiquette, righteousness and discipline are, but I only know tigers, wolves and beasts that eat fat and devour them! What kind of contract will the other generation care about? Besides, Wu Sangui’s introduction of Jianjian into the pass this time is nothing more than to protect himself. There may not be any agreement with Jianlu. Even in terms of the money sent by the imperial court this time, the students are suspected to be going back and forth in vain!"

"If you think about what the old man sees, you have a high vision. However, Wu Sangui received the great kindness of the court and was entrusted by the late emperor. Could it be that he didn't want to repay him and was willing to recognize the captive as his father?" With such hope, Qian Qianyi couldn't help arguing. "Since the day when Shenjing fell, those who would steal their lives as dogs and sway their tails as thieves, there were important ministers like Zhang Jinyan, Wei Zaode, and Chen Yan, as well as celebrities like Zhou Zhong, Chen Mingxia, and Gong Dingzi, and An Neng was famous for his loyalty and filial piety. All the blame lies with a martial artist!"

For more than a month, as a large number of Ming officials fled back to the south, many stories about the fall of Beijing have also spread.Qian Qianyi had already heard about the prominent cases of defectors mentioned by Liu Zongzhou just now during the trip, but now that the other party presented such evidence, he couldn't help being speechless.After a while, he hesitated and asked again: "Mr. Zuo's mission this time, if the Jian captive has an unreasonable request, how will the court respond to it?" Zuo Maodi was silent for a moment, as if he was considering whether or not to disclose such a secret, and to what extent.However, the prestige and status of Qian and Liu obviously made him decide to speak out:

"The intention of the imperial court is to suggest that if the captives insist on dividing the land, they will cut off the land outside the pass. From now on, the pass will be used as the boundary. This move was a bad policy when the late emperor was in power; but it is a good policy today. But I'm afraid Jianlu may not agree..." Hearing what he said, before Qian Qianyi had time to speak, Liu Zongzhou suddenly raised his eyes and said sharply: "If he doesn't agree, why don't we just give him the land in the pass? But what is the defense of Huayi? How will the ancestral mausoleum be safe? Whoever makes such a proposal should be beheaded!"

Zuo Maodi hurriedly said: "My lord, don't be angry. It's the same with His Majesty's intention. So when he left, he told the humble officer that the gold and silk should be generous - he has contributed a lot to helping me suppress thieves, so he should lose a certain amount of money and salary." The generals and soldiers should be given some gold, and they can all be leniently granted. The people of the Barbarians and Didi are nothing more than greedy for profit. At that time, I will say that we have millions of soldiers in the south of the Yangtze River. The rogues have a chance to breathe, and if they turn back, they will not be the only ones to suffer. In this way, it may make the chieftain wake up and submit." This sounds quite reasonable, but the three people present all understand that it is just wishful thinking after all.Of course, Zuo Maodi seemed unwilling to tell the truth himself.And Liu Zongzhou was probably the same as Qian Qianyi. He thought that Zuo Maodi's mission this time was really heavy responsibility and the chance of success was very small, and it must be full of hardships and dangers.Out of respect and sympathy for this brave and fearless colleague, and in order not to dampen his spirit, they all shut up and stopped arguing about the matter.However, even so, Qian Qianyi's heart was still more and more strongly shaken by the terrible suspense about the future, so that the teacup in his hand, which was placed on a small saucer, trembled. "The ground rang.