Chapter 57 Microservice for help

After arriving at the residence arranged by the host for them, next, as usual, Shi Kefa met with the local civil and military officials.Because Mao Xiang didn't need to be there, he dragged Zhang Zilie for a casual walk in the building, exchanging his impressions after entering the city with him, and at the same time angrily commenting on Liu Zeqing's arrogance.In the evening, when a group of aides, including Zhang Zilie, followed Shi Kefa to the government office lobby to attend the reception banquet held for them, Mao Xiang refused to attend, saying that he was unwell.After everyone had left, he ordered Cheng Cheng to get a pot of wine and a few side dishes, and sat alone at the small square table, pouring himself a drink while silently thinking about his thoughts.

If Mao Xiang was so eager to go to Nanjing more than three months ago, then at this moment he thought that it was really meaningless for him to come out to apply this time.It is true that going to meet with fellow commune members can somewhat help calm their dissatisfaction and criticism, but what is the point of that?Although Liudu has now established a new court and a new emperor, the power and army of the country are in the hands of villains like Ma Shiying and Liu Zeqing. What hope is there for ZTE?He also thought that ever since Shi Kefa was forced to supervise the division in Huaiyang, it is said that he had spent a lot of effort just to mediate the rebellious generals of the four towns.During this period, Gao Jie was once under house arrest in a monastery for more than a month, completely deprived of freedom.In the end, it was hard to persuade Gao Jie and mediate the dispute between Gao Jie and Yangzhou officials and people.On the surface, the four towns finally accepted the imperial court's order and entered their designated defense areas.But these warriors have always supported their own self-respect and only pursued their own interests. If the situation changes again, how do they know if they are really reliable?At least, from what I saw today that Liu Zeqing was overhauling the mansion in the city, it is not difficult to understand where they spent the military salary allocated by the country and what they were pursuing wholeheartedly.But Shi Kefa worked tirelessly around trying to appease them, pay for them, and expect these people to serve the country, it's really sad!Then Maoxiang thought that the most distressing thing about coming to Yangzhou this time was that he would never see Zheng Yuanxun again.In any case, Zheng Yuanxun can be regarded as a capable talent.A few years ago, when I set out to provide disaster relief, I had received strong assistance from him.If Zheng Yuanxun hadn't died tragically at the hands of the rioters, with his reputation in Yangzhou, maybe he would be of some help to Shi Kefa... At the end, Mao Xiang suddenly thought of Chen Yuanyuan.Since Chen Yuanyuan was snatched to Beijing by the head of state Tian Hongyu two years ago, Mao Xiang has never heard from her again.In fact, he didn't want to ask about it either.It wasn't until this time that he learned from Zhang Zilie that later Tian Hongyu gave Chen Yuanyuan to Wu Sangui.It is said that Wu Sangui loved her very much.But during the March 19th Incident, because she stayed in Beijing, she ended up falling into the hands of Liu Zongmin, the "rogue" general.I heard that Wu Sangui was extremely angry when he heard the news, and this time he resolutely raised his troops to fight against the "thief", which can be said to have something to do with it.What surprised Mao Xiang was that when he heard the news, his heart was so calm and indifferent, as if he was listening to a distant rumor that had nothing to do with him.Only at this moment, in the stillness of the night and the solitary lamp, those long-forgotten past love affairs reappeared before the eyes one after another.His heart also faintly felt a kind of pain like being bitten.

"Master..." A familiar, hesitant whisper came from the door.Mao Xiang instinctively turned his face away, and saw Mao Cheng standing there, the dim light illuminated his hesitant and respectful face. "Master, there is a guest outside the door, begging to see Mr. Shi." The servant lowered his hands and said hesitantly, "The military academy guarding the door will not let him in because Mr. Shi is not there. But he said there is an urgent matter, I have to see it, and I would rather wait here to wait for Master Shi to come back. The military academy dare not make decisions, so the villain from the central government came to report to Master, please show me." After speaking, he glanced at his master, and quickly added: "The villain also Said that the old man is not in good health at the moment, so he can't bother him—why, why not, the villain will reply to him right now and send that man away?"

Mao Xiang silently looked at the servant.He was still haunted by that weak and lingering emotion, and he couldn't react immediately. After a while, he asked casually: "Well, who is it? Is there a greeting card?" "My lord, he didn't bring a greeting card, and he refused to give his name." If it is a normal request for a meeting, Mao Xiang really does not intend to pay attention to it under the current circumstances.But the servant's reply made him a little bit suspicious: "Could it be that the person here really has a secret matter and wants to see the Shigong? If so, we must not miss the big deal!" Thinking of this, he became vigilant and ordered:

"Okay, order the military academy to search him, and if there is nothing, bring him to see me!" Perhaps because of the inspection by the guard, Maoxiang waited for a while, but still did not see any guests coming in.Impatient, he got up and went out into the patio.At this moment, footsteps sounded from the Moon Cave Gate in the distance, and a tall and thin man appeared behind Mao Cheng.He couldn't see his face clearly in the dim light, but from the green clothes and cap, he could be judged to be a commoner. "Well, you are..." When someone came to the front and made a gesture of saluting, Mao Xiang sized him up and asked.At the same time, he feels suspiciously that the other party's blue and white face with sparse eyebrows looks familiar, as if he has seen it somewhere.

The man didn't answer immediately, but also looked Mao Xiang up and down.Under the corridor lamp, his expression was a little nervous, and his small but bright eyes were flashing with vigilance. "Who the hell are you, and why do you want to see Shi Gong?" Mao Xiang asked again, frowning in displeasure. "Dare to ask, is it Mr. Rugao Mao Pijiang?" There was a trace of surprise in the man's voice. "...?" "Young officer Liu Konghe, don't you know sir?" Liu Konghe—the deputy commander-in-chief of Huai'an Mansion.When he entered the city with Shi Kefa this afternoon, Mao Xiang met him face to face among the civil and military officials who greeted him.Now when reminded, he remembered.But a dignified senior general was surprised by such a well-dressed and secretive expression in front of him.

"Although Mr. Liu is in the army, he has heard of his reputation for a long time. Please accept a gift from the students!" According to the etiquette system at that time that emphasized civility over military affairs, even an ordinary scholar was qualified to stand against the commander-in-chief, so Liu Konghe's move was not too much.Mao Xiang hastily answered with an arch, and then made a gesture, intending to let the other party meet in the outer flower hall. But Liu Konghe stood still.He looked left and right, and said in a low voice: "The student here has something important to report to the Master of the Cabinet. The Master of the Cabinet has not returned from the banquet. He planned to wait for him, but he did not expect to meet with the gentleman. It is really lucky. It is only a conversation outside. I don't know if I can take the honor to sleep for a while?"

After recognizing the other party's identity, Mao Xiang was relieved, seeing that he spoke solemnly, nodded, let the other party into the living room, saluted and sat down again, ordered Mao Cheng to serve tea, while looking at the guests, paying attention to ask: "I don't know what to teach the general?" On the way to Huai'an, Maoxiang heard someone introduce that Liu Konghe was the son of Liu Hongxun, Minister of Rites and Dongge University scholar during the Chongzhen period.Liu Hongxun was ordered to preside over the review of Wei Zhongxian's "reverse case". With his upright spirit and overcoming all kinds of resistance, he convicted a large number of eunuchs, including Ruan Dacheng, and won a high reputation among the ruling and opposition parties.Later, Liu Hongxun offended Long Yan because of admonishing the government, was convicted of crimes, and died at the border.Because of this relationship, Maoxiang naturally developed a close feeling for Liu Konghe.However, what surprised him was that when Liu Konghe heard his question, bright tears burst out of his small eyes. fell to the ground.

"Liu came here to ask Mr. Shi and Mr. to save his life. Mr. Qian prayed for it!" He sobbed in a mournful tone, and kowtowed his head. Mao Xiang was taken aback, jumped up instinctively, and stopped him with both hands: "General, you don't have to do this, you don't have to do this!" As he said, he helped the other party back to the chair, "Your Majesty has something to do, but it's okay. , take your own life." After a pause, after Liu Konghe's mood calmed down a bit, he asked suspiciously again: "From what the general said just now, it seems that someone intends to do harm to your step. I don't know who he is referring to?"

Liu Konghe didn't look up, but his face became more and more bitter and angry.After a while, he gritted his teeth and spit out three words: "Liu, Ze, Qing!" "What? Liu—yes, it's him?" Mao Xiang was even more stunned.He wanted to ask: "Isn't Liu Zeqing your nephew from the same family, how could he harm you?" However, seeing the other party's gnashing of teeth, he stopped talking again. "On seniority—" As if aware of his question, Liu Konghe continued, "He was originally the student's nephew. In the early years when my father was in Japan, he often flattered me at my house, and it was the students who brought him into the army. Who Knowing that his status is getting higher and higher, he repays virtue with grievances. In turn, he suppresses students everywhere and bosses them around. It has not been a day, and the students don't care about him. A few days ago, he took a poem he composed and asked the students if they were good. It was a student For a while, he joked: "It's better not to do it." He immediately changed his face. Although there was nothing else to say at the moment, after a few days, he ordered the students to take 2,000 troops from the headquarters to patrol the river. The students knew that he was threatening revenge. The only thing we can do is stay far away to avoid disaster. A few days ago, he suddenly ordered the students to come back, specifying that besides the 200 personal soldiers, not many soldiers would be brought with them. Today when I saw the Master of the Cabinet, he also explained that he would parade in the East School Field tomorrow. Wu, and on the spot pointed out that the student was the commander in front of the battle. This order was not mentioned to the students beforehand, so the more he knew that he had bad intentions. Tomorrow on the school field, he will take the opportunity to seek revenge and put the students to death. The students are panicked I am in a hurry, so I have no choice but to come here to ask for an interview, and I pray that the master of the cabinet and my husband will mediate this matter for the students, and I will never forget the virtue of rebuilding!"

Mao Xiang listened carefully to the other party's urgent pleadings, and then she understood a little bit.However, no matter how brutal Liu Zeqing was, if he wanted to kill just for a joke, and it was his uncle who was the deputy chief soldier, it would be unbelievable.What's more, according to Liu Konghe, Liu Zeqing plans to do something during the military parade tomorrow, but won't Shi Kefa be there then?Even if Liu Zeqing wanted revenge and murder, he wouldn't be so stupid as to pick such an occasion to do it.Because once found out, he can't get away with it.Mao Xiang felt that Liu Kong and Bacheng were frightened by his nephew's usual obscenity, so he was in a state of anxiety and fear.So he smiled and said: "Even if Uncle Dongping doesn't care about his honor, he will show his respect for the river defense, which is already repaying the matter. Tomorrow's military parade will be watched by everyone, and there will be no further incidents!" "Ah, no. Sir, I don't know something. Uncle Dongping's temperament is very narrow, and he will retaliate against his grievances. He is also fierce and violent. It is very reasonable and predictable. The former is in Shandong. Mr. Han demanded payment, and sent troops to rob and kill him when he passed by Dongchang. In addition—" Liu Konghe paused, looked out of the window worriedly, and said in a low voice, "My servant just got a job from one of Dongping's uncles yesterday. I heard from the acquaintance office that Liu Zongxian once went to the imperial court to accuse Dongpingbo and other towns of living in the south of the Yangtze River with their family members, with the intention of fleeing in battle, and all crimes could be executed. Dongpingbo hated it to the bone. This time Liu Zongxian went to Beijing to take office, He actually sent assassins to Danyang, intending to harm him..." "What? How dare he plot to assassinate President Liu!" Mao Xiang couldn't help asking.Although according to Zhang Zilie, Liu Zongzhou had arrived in Nanjing, the news still shocked Maoxiang. "Fortunately, the emperor protected the gentleman, but he failed to succeed. The assassins he sent are also missing, but it shows how fierce he is!" Liu Konghe added eagerly, "In terms of today and night, he entertained the historian and his colleagues All have to attend the meeting, but I don’t know that the servants will attend the meeting. The intention is to trap the students in neglect and rudeness, so as to provoke the Shi Gong’s anger and pre-set the situation for harming the students tomorrow. If the husband does not help, Kong He will have no physiology !" If Mao Xiang felt that Liu Konghe's pleading for help was overly suspicious and disapproving just now, then he believed it a little bit now.He looked at the other party's miserable face that was flickeringly illuminated by the dancing candle flames, and finally said resolutely: "In this case, when Shi Gong comes back, Xiaosheng will pass on this secret to you. , Please also pay attention to Shigong, don't allow that person to make excuses to make trouble!"