Chapter 31 different feelings

The strong concern and worry for Liu Rushi and his family made Qian Qianyi's mood become unusually chaotic and depressed at this moment.However, on the Xuanwumenwai Street not far from the house where he was staying, the two officials riding horses and bridles—Gong Dingzi in the official department and Xu Zuomei in the military department were in a different mood. Gong and Xu came to visit Qian Qianyi specially.Speaking of which, they are all old friends of Qian Qianyi, and among them, Gong Dingzi's friendship is even deeper.Logically, they should have come earlier.But before that, considering Qian Qianyi's status, and because they didn't have a clear idea of ​​the court's intentions, they were afraid of being suspected of "collaborating with criminals", so they didn't dare to visit rashly.In the past two days, I saw that these demoted officials from the south of the Yangtze River had already met the emperor with their class. Although they had not yet been appointed, the old account from the past was officially written off.So Gong and Xu felt relieved and decided to visit their old friend.

October in Beijing is the so-called "Xiaochun" season.On the clear sky, the blue is as clear as washing, and there is not a trace of cloud in sight.The sun, still abundant but not too violent, shone pleasantly.The geese lined up in the word "one" or "person" are constantly flying from the north, passing the treetops where the green leaves are gradually thinning, and then flying towards the south vigorously.The little westerly wind is blowing in bursts, adding a dash of bleakness and a dash of coldness.Indeed, if you don't look at the shaved scalps, the braids of different thicknesses, the black warm hats with brims, the funnel-shaped white summer hats, and the colorful Lingmao, then, this ancient capital of emperors still looks the same as before, quiet and serene, as if nothing happened or changed.

However, this does not mean that people's moods have not changed in the slightest.In fact, even though several months have passed, and even though the people in the streets and alleys have silently succumbed to the conqueror's tyrannical will, Gong Dingzi and Xu Zuomei still feel a little gloomy in their hearts facing the street scene which is completely different from the past. , quite unpleasant.Because they all still remember that more than four months ago, when Sun Zhixie, the remnant of the eunuch party, took the lead in shaving his hair and remodeling, out of disgust and jealousy, they joined hands and planned to severely punish that traitor who betrayed his ancestors. Flatterers.Unexpectedly, the Qing court immediately issued a strict order to shave their hair, which made them feel ashamed if they touched their noses. They were forced to shave off their hair and change their clothes when they were in an extremely embarrassing situation; Because Xie seized the opportunity, his official career prospered, and his fortune went straight up. Not long ago, he jumped from the right servant of the Ministry of Rites to the Jiangxi recruiter who led the Ministry of Military Affairs.Comparing the two, it is really hard to swallow the bad breath in their hearts!Undoubtedly, as smart people who are well aware of the general trend and are well versed in current affairs, they are now all determined to submit to the Qing Dynasty, but secretly they always believe that the new masters who conquered the Central Plains by force are after all barbarians who do not know poetry What are rituals, music, benevolence, righteousness and morality? If you want to rule China for a long time, whether it is ability or experience, to be honest, they are not enough.That being the case, we should humbly ask Han officials for advice, respect Han officials, and rely on Han officials.Forcibly shaving and refitting like this, not to mention whether it violates the sentiments of the people, it is hard to convince most of the Han officials who surrendered. It can be said to be extremely stupid and ignorant!However, when their arms could not twist their thighs, they could only temporarily swallow their anger and calm down; as for their hearts, they have always been quite unconvinced.Recently, they learned from the Tang newspaper sent from the south that the situation in the south of the Yangtze River has undergone drastic changes. There has been a serious situation in which rebels have sprung up, rebel flags are everywhere, and the Qing army's southward advance has been completely blocked.The direct cause of this is precisely because the Qing court brazenly ordered to shave their hair and change their clothes.Intimidated by the power of the decision makers, they dare not publicly criticize anything, but they can't help gloating in secret, and even complacent. "Well, I tried my best to teach you and persuade you, but I didn't listen! I want to favor that dog thief hozen! Now it's really done, let's see how you clean it up!" While discussing in private, they "hehe" more than once sneered.Of course, in order to keep this kind of vicious pleasure going on, first, there must be new news to supplement; second, there must be more fellow sufferers to share.Now the arrival of several Jiangnan demoted officials, especially "circle friends" like Qian Qianyi, just provides them with the opportunity to have both.And this is the reason why they came to visit excitedly today.

Now, Gong and Xu have come to the house where Qian Qianyi is staying and got off their horses.Although Chengcha, who was ahead of him, handed over the greeting card to the doorman and sent it in, the master has not yet shown up.While waiting outside the door, Xu Zuomei approached Gong Dingzi and said in a low voice, "I heard that Qian Muzhai is not the only one who lives here, but also Wang Juesi. Will we see you all later?" Gong Dingzi gave a "hmm" and said in a deep voice, "This is a difficult problem--Wang Juesi is acquainted with each other at first, so it seems unreasonable not to see him. It's just that this man is a glutinous rice dumpling, which is useless, and it is inconvenient for him to communicate with him for some things." Smell. It would be best not to meet him face-to-face today, and if you do, try to lure him away. I'll just talk to Qian Muzhai about that matter alone!"

"Also, when we meet later, I'm afraid he will ask the imperial court what they will do when they are called to Beijing. Shall we talk about it or not?" "You and I don't know the imperial court's plan right now, so we can't mess around! If he asks, we'll avoid it first and see how the matter goes." "But—" Xu Zuomei wanted to say something, but was stopped by Gong Dingzi's wave of his hand. Gong Dingzi stopped his companion because he saw a tall and thin man with shaved hair and braids coming out of the door, and he recognized Qian Qianyi.

"Oh, Mr. Mu! It's been a long time!" Gong Dingzi greeted him loudly, and greeted him with a smile on his face. "It's been a long time, I haven't seen you for a long time—I don't know you two are coming, please forgive me for not welcoming you!" Qian Qianyi clasped his hands and replied slowly. "Hey, how dare you! I learned that Elder Mu has been in Beijing for many days, but he was late due to the entanglement of secular affairs, so I pray for forgiveness!" Gong Dingzi politely said happily, while continuing to look at his master.He found that compared with three years ago, Qian Qianyi was obviously a little older and thinner. Needless to say, his eyebrows and beard were much grayer. The calm and self-confidence in Changshu Banyetang has become stiff, with a dull expression, and a pair of eyes are shining with suspicion...

"This—Master Mu, do you remember?" Gong Dingzi took his eyes away from his master for the time being, and introduced Xu Zuomei. "Oh, this, this..." "The late Xu Zuomei, six years ago in the Banye Hall, had the honor to listen to the pastor's teaching..." "Oh, oh, it's Brother Xu! Remember, remember!" After expressing that he still had a good impression of the guest, Qian Qianyi did not further explain what he "remembered", but turned his body sideways and made a gesture of concession: "Please——" "Oh, Mr. Mu, the farewell to the south of the Yangtze River has only been two years, but the vicissitudes of the Linggu, looking back, it is like a lifetime. It is a great fortune to meet here again today!" Gong Dingzi walked in with his master. , said with emotion while looking at the profile of the old friend who had become unfamiliar and full of thoughts.

"yes." "Master Mu's noble body, you think it's okay? Shicai Wansheng saw it at first glance, and felt that it was a little thinner than before. It must have been caused by working too hard in the past two years?" "this……" Seeing that the other party was hesitant, Gong Dingzi suddenly came to his senses, and immediately waved his hand: "Come on, come on! Actually, you can imagine it without saying it!" Now that I have come here, from now on, at least I have a safe home!" "Ok." After answering like this, the three of them had already entered the gate, passed through the front yard, entered the hanging flower gate, and walked towards the east wing.

This east wing room was probably temporarily used to receive guests.Before entering the house, Gong Dingzi took a look around and found that although the house Qian Qianyi was staying in was of a temporary resettlement nature, he lived with Wang Duo.However, the front and rear courtyards are complete with main rooms, wing rooms, side rooms, and inverted seats.What is particularly enviable is that the house is well maintained, and it can be said to be quite new and shiny. "Well, if only I could get such a house!" he thought.Therefore, after he entered the room, saluted each other again, and after the host and guest sat down, he took a cup of tea from the servant and said, "Old Mu, although this Huaju is a bit small! As far as the current situation is concerned, the arrangement of the court in this way can be regarded as very generous to you!"

"Master Mu may not know—" Seeing Qian Qianyi's puzzled expression, Xu Zuomei explained from the side, "Since the inner city was assigned to the bannermen, my brothers and sisters are now crowded in the outer city, mixing with the street people. Residence, extremely narrow. For example, brother Gong, his luxurious residence is probably not half the size of Mu Lao’s house!" "Don't talk about my broken house!" Gong Dingzi waved his hands in disgust, "What kind of house is that, it's just a snail shell! Even turning around, I have to be careful not to knock my nose! Now I know that there is a visitor , I feel trembling in my heart!"

"If brother says the same thing, my brother's residence will be even more shameful!" Xu Zuomei frowned her stubby eyebrows angrily.After a pause, perhaps because Gong Dingzi was silent, he continued, "But there are some people who live in a more ostentatious place than anyone else. I don't see Feng Zhuo'an!" "Feng Zhuoan—huh, wait, he's the one to look at!" After throwing out such a resentful sentence, Gong Dingzi hadn't finished his thoughts at first, but when he found Qian Qianyi sitting there with his head bowed, silent, he also Temporarily swallowing the words that came out of his mouth, he laughed and said: "Old Mu, I haven't seen you for a few years, and it's really disrespectful to complain as soon as I see you! Fortunately, I'm a close friend, so I'm sorry?" He said so, but Qian Qianyi kept his head down and bald, without any reaction.It wasn't until Gong Dingzi cast a puzzled look at Xu Zuomei that he just woke up from a dream and said "oh", and answered the question: "Feng Zhuo'an—is he coming too?" Gong and Xu looked at each other even more after hearing this.However, when Gong Dingzi lost his patience and explained clearly to the host that they only mentioned the house surnamed Feng just now, not that he would also visit, Qian Qianyi finally became focused and the conversation resumed.It's just because we haven't seen each other for two or three years, and the whole situation has undergone earth-shaking changes in these two or three years, and we don't know each other's situation and thoughts, so for a while, the conversation just stays in the routine of warm and cold daily life. On the Q&A.Then I gradually talked about some situations after the farewell, such as Li Zicheng's invasion of Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen's suicide and martyrdom, the entry of Qing soldiers to help "suppress" and the later "mandate of heaven", and naturally also talked about King Fu's life in Nanjing. "Arrogance", Ma Shiying's and Ruan Dacheng's chaotic government, Zuo Liangyu's mobilization of troops, the Qing army's southward march to quell the "chaos", and Qian Qianyi's visit to Beijing this time... During this period, although Gong Xu and Xu talked a lot, Qian Qianyi talked less, and seemed passive and dull, but the strangeness and estrangement in the initial period were finally eliminated a lot.After talking like this for a while, Gong Dingzi turned the subject around, looked at his master and asked: "So, what's the situation in Jiangnan recently? My brother has been paying close attention to it, but the road is blocked, and it's rare to get details. I wonder if you can tell me something?" "Jiangnan recently—oh, nothing..." Qian Qianyi replied vaguely. "Hey, why is there nothing? Didn't I hear that there has been a lot of chaos recently?" Xu Zuomei, who hadn't had a chance to interject for a long time, couldn't help but ask. "Reverse...reverse a large area?" Qian Qianyi slightly raised his head, a gleam of suspicion flashed in his eyes, "I have never heard of this. Well, no way. Waiting for the wind to return..." "At the beginning, it was hopeful that the wind would return, but later—" Xu Zuomei said anxiously, paused temporarily, looked at Gong Dingzi, and then lowered his voice, "Later, when the imperial court issued an order to shave their hair, there were riots everywhere, but what happened? ?” "What's going on, um, it's not long since Jiangnan returned to his life, and there are still doubts and fears in the hearts of the people. Maybe there are two or three rebellious people who want to take the opportunity to make trouble. But my court's military power is so powerful, and it is absolutely impossible for him to make a big deal. So there is no need to worry." Qian Qianyi shook his head, his eyelids drooping again. "Old Mu," seeing Qian Qianyi's ambiguity all the time, and apparently deliberately perfunctory, Gong Dingzi had no choice but to intervene, "Since the imperial court's order to shave their hair, there are quite a few people in various prefectures and counties in the south of the Yangtze River who are rebelling. This is no longer a rumor. Brother Xu is now in Bingyuan, and what he has seen in Nanlaitang newspapers has been continuously mentioned. For example, Jiangyin, it was heard that there was a lot of trouble, and the king's army besieged it for several months, and it has not been suppressed so far. It is really a major battle situation Upheaval!" Such news, at least in Beijing, is still taboo to talk about.Gong Dingzi broke it, trying to create an impression of being honest and honest, so that the other party can relieve their doubts.However, even so, Qian Qianyi was still unmoved.He didn't look at the guests, and lowered his head and said: "You two, it's not that I avoided you on purpose. It's because I have been staying at home for the past few months and dare not hear about foreign affairs, so I really don't know anything about it." As Qian Qianyi's senior, since he had spoken to such an extent, although Gong and Xu were quite disappointed, it was inconvenient for them to continue entanglement.After looking at each other, Gong Dingzi had no choice but to change the subject and asked: "Then—then, the group of old friends who stayed in the capital must be all right?" "Brother means—" "The group of colleagues in Fushe, like Wu Ciwei, Chen Dingsheng, and Hou Chaozong." "Oh, I'm asking about them! Some time ago, they were all in Liudu, and they had a lot of trouble for a while, but then they left and scattered, and disappeared. Most of them are staying at home now!" "It's a lot of fun? What are they doing?" Gong Dingzi asked with interest. Qian Qianyi smiled wryly: "What else can there be? It's nothing more than presiding over the clean discussion and criticizing the government!" Afterwards, he probably noticed that the guest was blinking his eyes, looking a little confused, so he added: "Say It's a long story. When you have free time in a few days, the student will discuss it with brother and others in detail!" "..." Since the host was obviously not interested in talking, the topic that was started was interrupted again.This disappointed Gong Dingzi, but he couldn't help feeling a little strange.In his view, even though Qian Qianyi has experienced all kinds of anxiety and panic, many setbacks and even humiliation in the past year or so, isn't everything over now?Right now, the other party, as a minister of fate, has been specially taken to Beijing by the Qing court.Although this may not be a particularly glorious thing, with the powerful prestige of the Qing Dynasty, at least one's family and life are guaranteed; if it is done well, it is not impossible to enjoy the glory and wealth.In this case, Qian Qianyi should relax and be happy.Unexpectedly, Gong Dingzi couldn't understand the look of being so out of his mind. Gong Dingzi was disappointed, and Xu Zuomei, who was sitting next to him, was even more disappointed.Originally, he didn't have a deep friendship with Qian Qianyi, but the reason why he followed Gong Dingzi today was out of a kind of expectation.In fact, since they failed to conspire to rectify Sun Zhixie a few days ago and instead got into a panic, their group including Zhuang Xianzu, Du Lide, Yushi Li Senxian, Wang Shoulu, Luo Guoshi and others "Friends in the circle" have always been resentful and plotting revenge.Recently, they finally found a clue from Feng Quan, a scholar of the Hongwen Academy.This Feng Quan is the "Feng Zhuo'an" they mentioned just now. During the Tianqi period of the Ming Dynasty, he was listed as a "rebellious case" because of the eunuch Wei Zhongxian, and was punished by being dismissed from office and never employed.After the Qing Dynasty took over Beijing, he came from his hometown Zhuozhou to surrender, and was soon appreciated and reused.Like Sun Zhixie, he was also one of the first Han officials who took the lead in shaving their hair and keeping their braids. It can be said that he has always been a shameless flatterer.Therefore, Xu Zuomei and others decided to start with him through secret business, and made another attack.First of all, relying on their identities as "speech officials", they each split up and impeached Feng Quan, who was originally a member of Wei Zhongxian's party member, who had always been corrupt and perverted the law. At the same time, Li Ruolin, the Minister of Rites, was also impeached as Feng Quan's henchman, and demanded that they be dealt with strictly.These memorials have now been submitted to the court, and it is estimated that there will be a follow-up soon.As the only remaining leader of Donglin, Qian Qianyi is naturally a powerful witness.According to the news they got, in the next few days, the emperor will specially summon this group of demoted officials. If the regent asks about the eunuchs and chaos in the government, Qian Qianyi can cooperate, and it will be great for removing those thorns. helpful.However, looking at Qian Qianyi's current appearance, it seems that it is difficult to place expectations... Because they couldn't think of a way to break the deadlock, Gong and Xu couldn't help but fell silent.I only heard gusts of autumn wind rustling the window paper. "I heard that Brother Gong's Rujun is also in Beijing right now, how about that?" In the silence, Qian Qianyi suddenly said something. Gong Dingzi was slightly taken aback: "Old Mu—is he asking Amei?" Seeing the master nodding, he said "Oh" and said, "She came to Beijing with her students two years ago, so she is here now." One place. She, please pay more attention, the word 'good' can't be said, it's just a pity." "Well, she seems to have a relationship with Mr. Neihe Dong." Gong Dingzi blinked his eyes: "Hedong..." He suddenly came to his senses, "Oh, yes, yes! They are familiar with each other. I heard Amei often talk about it, and I always admire Mrs. Liu very much!" Qian Qianyi didn't speak immediately.He raised his head, stared blankly at the guest, and after a long while, he sighed: "It's a pity that Jiannei didn't come with her, otherwise, she and she are companions." "Oh, it turns out that my sister-in-law didn't come with me, but why?" Gong Dingzi was quite surprised. Qian Qianyi moved his lips: "This—" However, for some reason, he temporarily stopped talking, just snorted heavily, and lowered his head in frustration. Seeing the other party always like this, Gong Dingzi began to feel a little unhappy.Originally, before the visit, he had high expectations for Qian Qianyi, but after meeting each other, he found that he hadn't seen each other for a few years, and the other party had changed a lot.He has completely lost the vigor and energy that he had when he was trying to come back, and has become cautious, hesitant and timid, as if he has lost his soul. "Well, if you force him into the circle, I'm afraid the success is not enough, and the failure is more than failure!" He thought coldly. "Old Mu—" Xu Zuomei's voice rang in his ears.Gong Dingzi raised his head, and found that the cannonball probably couldn't bear it anymore, he had already left the chair, his eyes were wide open, and he was about to say something.He hastily made a stop gesture, then stood up and said: "Master Mu, it's very rare to meet again today. It's just that my brother is exhausted from a long distance, and must be tired after sitting and talking for a long time. At present, I still have some chores to do, so I will take my leave and come to listen to the teaching again some other day!"