Chapter 73 Debauched

The two donkeys that Zhang Zilie and Huang Zonghui hired when they entered the city had already been sent away.Gu Gao ordered his servants to hire two other horses nearby, and he and his friend got on separately, and walked along the narrow streets and alleys.On the way, Gu Gao briefly told his friends about various things that happened in Nanjing in the past six months.It also talked about a strange incident that happened a few days ago-it is said that a monk named "Great Compassion" came from outside the Shuixi Gate, claiming to be the third son of the late Emperor Chongzhen, King Ding. It stirred up the market for a while.After the court got the report, it sent Cai Zhong, the governor of the Chinese army, to take him away.If it is really King Ding, it will be a great blessing.Finally, there is a soul in the sky, to save this bit of flesh and blood for the late emperor.It's just that why this great compassion dragged on until today to stay in the capital, and there is no one around him, is beyond doubt.

Zhang Zilie listened silently.If it is said that when he left Nanjing half a year ago, he just felt that the main energy of the imperial court was dragged down by the conflict between the two factions, and that he lacked the ambition and vigor of ZTE to make progress, then when he came back this time, he found that the situation had deteriorated. The degree is much more serious than what he imagined based on the rumors when he was in Yangzhou.As a matter of fact, since Ma and Ruan's treacherous and sycophants gained power, honest men and gentlemen were dismissed one after another, and Nanjing has become a dark abyss full of evil spirits and smoldering slag.It is impossible to expect it to do anything real, and it may be difficult to change this status quo.When he thought that Shi Kefa, who was backed by such an imperial court, was still running around in Jiangbei, struggling to support him, hoping to create a ZTE situation, Zhang Zilie couldn't help feeling sad and angry, and felt like crying out loud a feeling of.It is precisely because his whole body and mind are trapped in the despair of imminent catastrophe and powerlessness that he can't recover from the disaster, even though he didn't stop talking with Gu Gao along the way, his mood became more and more gloomy and desolate.

Finally, they came to Taoyehe House, where Maoxiang was renting, but found that the door was closed.According to a gentleman who lived in the courtyard next door, Maoxiang left early with his wife and servants.A gentleman surnamed Chen also visited just now, and because he couldn't find it, he left a message saying that he would go to Ding's house to look for it. If Mr. Mao comes back, please tell him to wait. If he can't find it there, his surname Chen's husband will return.When Gu and Zhang heard this, they didn't stop. They immediately got on their donkeys again and rushed to Ding's house.

Among the river houses in Nanjing, Dingjia River House, located between Qingxi and Dibu, can be regarded as the most famous one.There is not only an elegant environment and exquisite layout, but also a beautiful waterside pavilion facing the river. In summer and autumn, it is very suitable for enjoying the cool and overlooking, and feasting in elegant gatherings.However, the most luxurious thing is that there is a warm pavilion there, below which is a cellar that can light a fire to keep warm. The pavilion is surrounded by white plums and green bamboos. In the middle of winter, you can enjoy the snow there to cool off the cold.Therefore, many famous officials and high officials in the past like to stay there.When the members of Fushe were in high spirits, they often went there to meet up.

When Zhang and Gu came to Ding's house, got off their donkeys, and knocked on the half-hidden black lacquered door, they found seven or eight men who looked like servants in the hall, squatting or standing in a nest. Gather there to drink and gamble.Seeing the guests coming in, they stopped, turned around and greeted them with smiles.Gu Gao recognized that some of them were the followers of Mei Langzhong, Yu Huai, Wu Yingji and others, so he asked where their masters were now.When he knew that they were all in the Nuan Pavilion, he waved his hands and led Zhang Zilie to walk in. Thinking of not only being able to deliver Shi Kefa's letter to Maoxiang immediately, but also meeting other members of the community, Zhang Zilie temporarily put aside those heavy thoughts a while ago, and tried his best to cheer up.While looking at the courtyard, which has been completely covered with snow and now has a new look after not coming for a long time, he silently imagined the upcoming warm meeting. "Yes, they must ask me about Jiangbei's situation. Maybe I shouldn't be too gloomy and desperate like I did just now? At least, I shouldn't disappoint everyone as soon as we meet!" Just thinking about this, I suddenly felt that my sleeves were pulled one time.

"Look, who is that?" Gu Gao pointed to the front and said. Zhang Zilie looked up and saw a man dressed as a scholar walking slowly down the steps of the Nuan Pavilion.Zhang Zilie's eyesight is not bad, and he recognized Shen Shizhu at a glance. He was about to raise his voice to greet him, but Gu Gao held him down and said: "Don't worry, what is he going to do?" Just as he was saying this, he saw Shen Shizhu stop under the steps.He lowered his head for a long time and stopped moving.Just when Zhang Zilie was puzzled, he suddenly raised his head and looked around. For some reason, he didn't find Zhang and Gu.Then, he turned around, walked a few steps crookedly to the side, hugged a juniper tree next to the house, and remained motionless again.After a while, I saw his body twisting strangely, as if he was flipping his clothes.Then, there was a "hush" sound of water splashing on the snow. "Oh, it turns out that he was drunk and came out to relieve himself. He is just a scholar, and he doesn't go to the latrine. It's unrefined to pee like this in broad daylight!" Zhang Zilie suddenly thought, feeling both funny and helpless , but heard Gu Gao say dissatisfiedly beside him:

"Hmph, it's getting more and more outrageous! If this goes on like this, it's better to break up and go home!" After speaking, without waiting for Zhang Zilie to ask questions, he strode towards the Nuan Pavilion. Before he stepped on the steps, the noren curtain was lifted, and Zuo Guofeng, who was also flushed from drinking, had no hat on, his head was bare, and he was only wearing a satin jacket. Shouting: "It's so hot! It's so hot!" While shouting, he started to straighten the front of the skirt.Following him was Wang Xiaoda, a famous prostitute from the old courtyard. She held a fur in her hand and said anxiously:

"Young Master Zuo, Young Master Zuo, you can't take it off! It's icy cold outside, keep it carefully. Put this on quickly!" However, Zuo Guofen pushed her away, stuck out his tongue, and stammered: "No, no, no! It's cold, cool, cool outside! Hee hee, take it off, it's good when you're done taking it off! Come on." , You, you take off too! Haha!" As he said that, he really started to tear Wang Xiaoda's clothes.Wang Xiaoda was so anxious that while struggling, he called for help: "Master Gu, Mr. Gu, look at him! Help me!" At this moment, Gu Gao had already climbed the steps.He stood up and stood between the two of them, and stopped him angrily, "Shuo Ren, stop messing around! Go in, go in quickly!"

While talking, he pushed Zuo Guofen, who was still planning to refuse, into the warm cabinet. Seeing this scene, Zhang Zilie couldn't help wondering secretly, thinking: "In the past, I used to drink with them, and sometimes indulged in laughing and laughing, but it never happened like this. What's going on?" However, seeing Gu Gao, he didn't seem to think Strange, besides, there was no time to ask, so I had no choice but to follow, and stepped in from under the raised noren curtain. Zhang Zilie has also been to Dingjiahefang more than once, but all during the summer and autumn seasons. He only heard that the structure of the warm pavilion is special. Although it is the severe winter, it can make people feel like they are in the early summer, but he has never experienced it himself.However, what surprised him right now was not the warm warmth from the ground, but the scene in front of him: there was a large round table in the middle, not to mention a mess of cups and plates as usual, and most of the seats were empty.Those social friends, as well as the girls from the old courtyard who temporarily summoned Yujiu, were either lying on the couch and sleeping soundly, or bending over and vomiting, or banging the plate with chopsticks and singing ditties there, as for Mei Langzhong and Qinhuai courtesan Liu Yuan simply used the carpets as mattresses and lay there one by one, their clothes and hair buns were speckled with vomited things.The whole house was not only in a mess, but also reeked of alcohol.Only Bian Saisai and Li Xiang were still awake, and they were busy directing the maids to pass the water.And at the round table, Wu Yingji still had a livid face, fighting wine with Sheng Zhongwen, who was playing Shibangu with Tong Shan, and drinking endlessly.Regarding the arrival of Gu Gao and Zhang Zilie, none of them cared at first.In the end, it was Li Xiang and Bian Saisai who found out, and they were the first to say hello in surprise.Those club members who were still somewhat awake blinked their eyes, turned their heads, and suddenly there was a chaotic shout:

"Hey, Er Gong, why did you come back without saying a word?" "Just in time! Come on, have a drink with us!" "Hey, tell us quickly, what's going on in Yangzhou?" "Don't worry about Yangzhou for now! Ergong's drinking capacity is amazing, let him fight it out first!" "Yes, fight back the second tail! Be sure to fight the second tail!" "Ha ha ha ha!" Shouting so loudly, Yu Huai, Zuo Guofen, and Shen Shizhu who had just come in after untying his hands all surrounded him, handing cups and wine jugs, really forcing Zhang Zilie and Wu Yingji to compete immediately.

Seeing that the momentum was not right, Gu Gao quickly opened his hands, stood up and stopped Zhang Zilie, and said, "No way! Ergong just arrived in Liudu today. It was only because there was a letter from the Shige Department that he was asked to hand it over to Pijiang, so he didn't stop Come here—hey, where is Pijiang, has he been here before?" As Gu Gao asked, he rolled his eyes and searched all over the room. "Pijiang didn't come!" "Why did he come? Now Mrs. Ru is strictly controlling her, and she won't relax even a single step!" "Hey, you guys can't find him today anyway. It's better to drink!" "Yes, drink, drink!" Seeing the cordial invitations from the community members, Zhang Zilie felt that it would be a long time to meet again, and it was not good to please everyone, so he already planned to pick up the wine glasses.Unexpectedly, Gu Gao was very stubborn, he resolutely blocked everyone's hands and said: "If you don't make it, you won't make it! Today's wine, we must not drink it. If we want to drink it, we will meet another day!" Seeing him like this, the drinkers were a little disappointed.Shen Shizhu even lowered his face immediately, and asked sullenly: "Ah, why can't I drink this wine today? I want to ask for advice!" Gu Gao snorted, and said, "Look at what you've become now! It's a mess, full of ugliness! Are you still rehabilitating society, or do you look like gentlemen?" "What, we are not like gentlemen!" The aggressive Shen Shizhu almost jumped up angrily. Like you, just hiding at home, but unable to do anything, is it called a gentleman?" "Yes, yes, if you are really good-looking, take, come up with a way!" Zuo Guofeng also agreed with his tongue.He was reprimanded by Gu Gao outside the door just now, and he must not be convinced now. Seeing them competing, the rest of them retreated feeling bored.Gu Gao's face turned blue with anger. "Nonsense!" he shouted loudly, "If you can't figure it out, how do you know that I can't figure it out? Even if you can't figure it out, shouldn't you just be despondent, be obscene, and be laughed at by power-hungry villains!" "Well, then, brother, what can you do, why don't you tell me." A calm voice sounded from the side of the table, it was Wu Yingji.As usual, he doesn't talk much, but he always gets to the point. "Here, I—" Gu Gao was probably unprepared, and was stunned all of a sudden.Afterwards, he clearly interpreted this interrogation as Wu Yingji also helping to rob him of his whiteness, so the long nose turned from blue to red, and his eyebrows also stood up.Seeing that a bigger quarrel was about to break out, Zhang Zilie was very anxious, and was about to step forward to persuade him, when suddenly he heard Li Xiang's voice saying in surprise: "Ah, Mr. Chen! Mr. Chen is here!" Zhang Zilie's heart moved, and he turned around quickly.Sure enough, Chen Zhenhui was walking in from outside the curtain.After half a year, Zhang Zilie found that this old friend, who was always known for his calm and capable, hadn't changed much in appearance. His burly body was still so strong, and his square face with a beautiful beard was still as full and strong.Although in recent months, he has been in an isolated position, so that there is obviously a certain gap between the friends in the house, and he is not as close as before, but because of this, he is in front of him again. In an atmosphere of decadence and despair, a kind of extraordinary dignity and bearing appeared.So for a while, the room became silent, and no one spoke. Chen Zhenhui walked between Gu Gao and Wu Yingji, and stopped. "Brother didn't intend to come here to disturb the Qingxing of the brothers," he said expressionlessly, "just now, I came to Cai Yi's place and learned that Brother Er has returned to Liudu, and that Brother and others are gathering here I expected to see Ergong, so I rushed into the banquet rashly. Please forgive me!" After finishing speaking, ignoring whether everyone returned the greeting, he turned to Zhang Zilie and said politely: "Brother Ergong, it's been hard work from afar! Brother Xiang just arrived? But I have a few things, and I am eager to ask my brother to enlighten me. Dare to bother my brother to go out with my brother, and I will never delay the elegant meeting of my brother and others when I have a small talk. I don't know if it is possible. ?” Zhang Zilie quickly said: "My brother is also planning to visit my brother, so it's best if I have a face-to-face interview!" After finishing speaking, he bowed his hands to everyone and said, "Forgive me!" Then she turned around and walked out following Chen Zhenhui. "Brother Dingsheng, don't go, don't go!" Suddenly someone yelled, it was Mei Langzhong who was sleeping on the ground - at some point, he had already sat up, showing a worried and pitiful look. "Brother Dingsheng, no matter what, Zhongyu and Jiegong are also people from Donglin and Fushe, and they had a friendship with us. Could it be that brother could bear to watch them die at the hands of treacherous people, why don't you try to save each other!" Mei Lanzhong begged again. Chen Zhenhui stopped.He turned sideways and looked at the poor Mei Lanzhong, showing hesitant to speak. "Yes, Mr. Chen, why rush to leave?" "Stay here, it's such a rare coincidence today!" "Look, everyone is looking forward to it!" Several voices tried to persuade him to stay, they were Li Xiang, Bian Saisai, Wang Xiaoda and the others. Chen Zhenhui smiled wryly: "The matter has come to this point, I'm afraid I can't do anything about it. However, all the brothers in the society think that I sit back and watch the treacherous and evil show up, and if I don't save Zhong Yu and Jie Gong, I will be looking down on my brother. There are many things that I will do in the future. I will see the difference. I don't want to say too much. I only have one word of advice here: Zifang Shicai blamed it well. Brothers should love and strengthen themselves in the future, and they should not be like today. As for the matter of Zhou and Lei, I should Run as hard as you can, and you will never lose your old friend!" When Mei Langzhong and Li Xiang sisters tried their best to keep Chen Zhenhui, the rest of the community members seemed a little hesitant, but once they heard him make such a promise, everyone's eyes lit up immediately, showing a look of expectation. "Since that's the case," Wu Yingji said, "Brother, why don't you explain it to everyone. If there is a brother who can help each other, you can also share the burden of running alone." Chen Zhenhui shook her head: "I don't need help in this matter. I don't dare to say whether it will be successful or not. It's just a trial!" After a pause, seeing that everyone was silent, he turned his head and said to Zhang Zilie: "The ones I want to ask my brother about are actually the recent situation in the Huaiyang area and Shi Gong's Northern Expedition. If this is the case, brother might as well Just talk here, so that everyone can listen together." When he was still in Yangzhou, Zhang Zilie heard Hou Fangyu talk about the social strife in the society with great resentment.Seeing this for a while now, the two sides seem to be tending to clear up the past and get closer together again. He is also relieved in his heart, so he nodded and sat down. At the same time, he made up his mind: try not to let everyone feel too frustrated.Therefore, in the following introduction, he intentionally highlighted Shi Kefa's deeds of being loyal to the country, persevering, overcoming all difficulties, and trying to recover; among them, he particularly focused on how Xingping Bogaojie germinated loyalty after being influenced by Shi Kefa's teachings Heart, vowed to serve the country wholeheartedly.That time in October, he took the lead in leading the army and crossing the Huaihe River in the north.Although there was a strong wind ① Big banner: The big banner in the ancient army.