Chapter 2 Chapter Two Six Dynasties Gold Powder
Qi Jiguang raised his voice and said: "It's Qi, is it Lu Guerrilla in front?" The officers and soldiers of the team rushed up, and a general with a mustache looked at the two of them, and said in surprise: "Master Shen, why are you so embarrassed? What about the others?" Qi Jiguang sighed and told about the annihilation of the entire army.
Nalu Guerrilla sighed: "General Qi Shen, this is your fault. You knew that it was Mao Haifeng who came, and among the four bandits, he was the most powerful bandit soldier, so why did you still catch up? Wouldn't it be nice to stay in the city like a child."
Qi Jiguang said: "It is Yuan Jing's responsibility to raise soldiers for a thousand days and use them for a while to destroy thieves and bandits. If I stay in the city and do nothing and let him go, wouldn't it lead the war to other cities? What's more, if I let him go This gang of thieves swept past all the way, and I don’t know how many people’s homes have been destroyed, and their wives and children have been separated?”
Lu Guerzilla sneered, and said, "Okay, we all don't keep our duties, and you are the only one who participated. Hehe, now the whole army has been wiped out, and Lord Hu knows about it. Let's see how you explain it."
Qi Jiguang couldn't help being silent, while Lu Guerrilla took pleasure in other people's misfortune, swaggered, and went with a group of people.Lu Jian couldn't help but angrily said: "What is he doing out of the city now? The Japanese pirates have all disappeared. Could it be that they are going to find the common people again and beheaded for credit."
"That's not enough." Qi Jiguang said, "This man is very timid, and he always pays attention to meritorious deeds. Although he doesn't disturb the people, he always lags behind when he encounters wars. He is nicknamed 'the ground mouse'. Seeing Japanese pirates, even if there is a crack in the ground in front of him, he can get in right away."
He spoke in a serious manner, but Lu Jian couldn't help laughing, and then said worriedly: "I heard from him, it seems that there is something wrong with the elder brother's defeat."
Qi Jiguang smiled and said nothing, entered the barracks, explained the situation to the supervising army, and asked the army doctor to bandage the wound.After eating, the two of them made two cups of tea and sat quietly in the tent. Qi Jiguang was silent, holding the teacup, as if he had something on his mind.
Not long after, he heard the urgent footsteps outside the tent, Lu Jia felt ominous, stood up suddenly, saw the tent opened, strode into several officials, and the one in the lead sternly said: "Where is Qi Jiguang, Taizhou general?"
Qi Jiguang was already prepared. After putting down the tea, he got up slowly and said, "I am." The officer said sharply, "Take it for me."Lu Jian was furious, he took a step forward, spread his hands apart, and hit two iron chains, the two officials felt a strong force coming from the iron chains, they couldn't help but staggered, and both fell sideways.The officer in charge yelled loudly, but Lu Jian's figure flashed, his right hand pinched the back of his neck, and he shouted, "Why do you arrest someone?"
Qi Jiguang didn't wait for the official to answer, and shouted: "Lu Jian, don't be presumptuous. I lost my teacher and humiliated the country. I should be punished by military law." What about leading troops to fight?"
"Brother, you don't know something." Qi Jiguang sighed, "The general uses troops, but he wants to win. Once he loses, he will kill many people. If I am not punished, how will I face those soldiers who died?"
Lu Jian was stared at by him, helplessly, and gradually let go of his right hand.The officer had no expression on his face at first, but when he saw that he was discouraged, he suddenly became arrogant again, and said angrily: "Okay, Qi Jiguang, you actually led the crowd to resist arrest."
"The poor man is serious." Qi Jiguang shook his head and said, "My foster brother doesn't understand official rules, so I hope you will forgive me."
The official said with a sneer, "It's okay to forgive me." After saying that, he stretched out his hand and shouted, "Bring it."
Qi Jiguang was stunned, and said: "What?" The official took a look at him, and said coldly, "Are you a elm head? Do you have to tell me the truth?"
Qi Jiguang suddenly said: "How much do you want?" The official said with a smile: "If you become a general, you are not a small official. In addition to your salary, you usually scrape the oil and water of the common people from time to time. You have eight hundred savings in your pocket. I don’t need much, just a hundred taels.”
Qi Jiguang frowned, turned around and entered, took out a wooden box, and when he opened it, there were only a few pieces of silver. He couldn't help but smiled wryly: "Qi has only these few taels of silver in his hand. The poor man likes it, so take it all."
As soon as the officer's face changed, he overturned the wooden box with his hands, spilling the broken silver all over the floor, and shouted sharply: "Qi Jiguang, you are so bold, you dare to bribe the officer even if you lose your teacher, humiliate the country, and openly resist arrest. The crime is added to the second class, and I want you to look good when I arrive at Master Hu in Nanjing..."
Qi Jiguang raised his thick eyebrows, anger welled up in his eyes, Lu Jian suddenly took a step, picked up his own bundle from the table, and said with a sneer, "Don't you want money? Take it." The official took the bundle, but felt it was very heavy , Opened it and saw that it was full of white official silver, couldn't help smiling, handed it to his subordinates, bowed himself, picked up the broken silver all over the floor, put it into his sleeve, and said with a smile: "It's easy to say, silver That's enough, you can talk about anything." Turning around, he greeted the messengers and said, "Lock this lord general, don't lock it too tightly, loosen it a bit."
All the messengers coaxedly agreed, locked Qi Jiguang, and pulled him out of the tent. At this time, the front of the tent was full of soldiers, standing on both sides to watch the excitement. When they saw Qi Jiguang coming out, they all pointed and laughed.
Seeing how heartless these officers and soldiers were, Lu Jian couldn't help feeling inexplicably sad and indignant, gritted his teeth, and strode after the officers.After leaving the camp, the leader of the official post saw that Lu Jian was still following, and couldn't help saying angrily, "Where are you going?" Lu Jian said, "I'm going to Nanjing." The leader said suspiciously, "Fart, we're going to Nanjing, why don't you go to Nanjing. "
Lu Jian said with a sneer: "The road is facing the sky, each side goes, I will go mine, what's in the way?" The boss blew his beard and said, "If you want to rob people, you are asking for death." Lu Jian said : "If I want to rob people, can you guys stop it?"
The boss was furious and wanted to scold, but remembering Lu Jian's skill, he swallowed back his harsh words and glanced at Lu Jian, feeling a little apprehensive.But Qi Jiguang sighed: "Brother, didn't you say you want to go back to your hometown? Don't follow me."
Lu Jian shook his head and said, "I can't go back. The one hundred taels of silver just now are my expenses for going back to my hometown. If I can't go back, I will go to Nanjing with you, and I can have a few meals with the officials along the way." The official was so angry that his brows were crooked, wishing he could give Lu Jian a few mouthfuls, but he thought to himself that he couldn't do it, so he could only think about it in his heart to relieve his anger.
However, Qi Jiguang knew that Lu Jianming said that he was free of money, but he was actually afraid that his injuries would not heal, and he would suffer from the secret losses of these officials on the way, so he intended to support him along the way.Unconsciously moved, he let out a long sigh and let him go.
They walked all the way, and whenever they ate, if there was fish, meat, poultry, or duck, Lu Jian would grab it first and give it to Qi Jiguang to eat first; if they wanted to drink water, Lu Jian would grab the cup and spoon and give it to Qi Jiguang to drink first, just to wash and sleep , He also specially selected good water and good houses, seized them with martial arts, and gave them to Qi Jiguang to enjoy.
The officials were angry and anxious, and cursed loudly. Lu Jian said with a smile: "Didn't I give the messenger a hundred taels of silver? The messenger is rich and powerful, so why not buy better vegetables and open a better house. Why are you acting like a prisoner?"
He is not a prisoner, and his martial arts are superb, besides, the officials shouldn't have collected the money before, and took advantage of others, even though he was angry, he didn't want to turn his face completely.Qi Jiguang frowned and said: "Brother, even if you follow to Nanjing, it won't help. Why bother to suffer these hardships with brother."
Lu Jiandao: "When Eldest Brother and I became sworn brothers, didn't we just say that we share weal and woe and share weal and woe? What is the hardship of the journey? I went to Nanjing to see if those grown-ups treated Eldest Brother fair or unfair. So I broke into the prison, robbed my eldest brother, and we all went to the rivers and lakes to have a good time."
Qi Jiguang said sternly: "It is absolutely impossible. Since the founding of the country, my Qi family has six generations of generals who have received the grace of the country. They are born as ministers and die as ghosts. What's more, I have lost before, even if Mr. Hu cut me One should be beheaded and be cut. Don’t bring up the matter of robbing and escaping from prison, otherwise, you and I will cut off our graciousness, and we will never recognize you as a righteous brother again.”
Lu Jian heard his words so emphatically that he couldn't help but feel dumb. All the methods of robbing people and prisons that he had set up in his mind were useless, so he couldn't help thinking in a hurry: "If Gu Zhen is here, he must be able to think of a way to kill two birds with one stone." Ways. But now he doesn’t know where he’s gone?” Thinking of how he abandoned Gu Zhen that day because of the one-sided claims of winning Wancheng, and the truth was not known, he regretted and felt sad at the same time.
A group of people stop and go.In a few days, it was approaching Nanjing.On this day, I suddenly saw a pavilion in front of me. There was a bamboo canopy tea house beside the pavilion to entertain distant guests.At this moment, people in Rigao are thirsty, and it is time to think about tea. All the officials made a commotion, and hurried to the pavilion to beg for tea, water and cattle.
Qi Jiguang's hands and feet were bound, making it difficult to move freely. Lu Jian brought two bowls of tea, one for him and the other for himself.In the drinking room, I suddenly heard the sound of the wheels, and looked in a blink of an eye, but saw a two-wheeled cart coming towards me, and a scholar in green clothes was sitting in the cart, with a rectangular face, full of heaven, red lips and black beard, just like a person in a picture .
Lu Jian's heart was moved by seeing this person, but he felt that this person seemed to have known him before, and he suddenly remembered that this person was quite similar to the man in the portrait of the patriarch, except that the man in the painting had a scar on his face and a high-spirited look, much more heroic than this scribe .
Pushing the cart was a man wearing a hat, linen and straw sandals, walking side by side with an old man. The old man had a big head and a slender neck, and his face was covered with wrinkles. , neither gentleman nor servant, neither fish nor fowl.
Lu Jian looked at these two people, and for some reason, felt uneasy in his heart, wishing to jump up and run as far as possible.It was very easy to suppress this strange impulse, but saw that the three of them were getting closer.Although the literati in Tsing Yi was handsome, he was not young, his eyes were full of crow's tail fine lines, sitting in the car, but his feet were not touching the ground, only his long gown was fluttering, swinging with the car.
Lu Jian saw it, and was very moved in his heart: "This man is a good scholar, but he is a cripple with no legs?" Suddenly he heard a buzzing sound, and when he looked again, it was the big-headed old man's lips moving, muttering something.Only the man in sackcloth always hides behind the bamboo hat, never seeing each other.
The scribe in green came to the pavilion, heaved a sigh of relief, and said, "If you haven't returned, give me a cup of tea." The man in linen took out a pair of cups and pots from behind the car, both of which were thin white porcelain, as clear as jade, poured between the pots , Emerald-like tea is poured into the cup, the white one is refreshing, and the green one is fresh, making people feel refreshed at a glance.
The scribe took the tea, took a sip and said, "This Biluochun tea is still good when it's first brewed, but now it's been cold for a long time, the lingering fragrance is gone, and the taste is no longer there."
The big-headed old man suddenly said: "Biluochun, also known as Dongting camellia. There was a saying in Lu Yu's "Tea Classic Eighth Outcome" in the Tang Dynasty: "Suzhou Changzhou grows Dongting Mountain". There is tea in Dongting Mountain, which is slightly like mustard tea and thin, with a very sweet taste. It is commonly known as "frightening people". The one that produces Biluofeng is especially good, and it is called Biluochun...'"
The scribe in Tsing Yi didn't wait for him to finish, and scolded: "Nonsense again, I just talked about the taste of tea casually, and didn't ask about the origin of tea."
The big-headed old man said: "Song Huizong's "Daguan Tea Theory" has a saying: the taste of husband's tea is the most important, sweet and smooth, and it is the whole taste. Only the products from Beiyuan Heyuan are also..." The scholar's eyebrows revealed With a look of impatience, he said coldly: "The taste of tea I am talking about is not the taste, but the fragrance."
The big-headed old man cut his mouth and said: "Still according to the above "Grand View Tea Theory": 'Tea has a real fragrance, which cannot be imitated by dragon and musk. It must be steamed and cooked and pressed, and it must be ground for thousands of years. It will be harmonious and beautiful if it is ground and made. It is sufficient.' And the 'scented tea method' recorded in Zhu Quan's "Tea Spectrum" in this dynasty: any flower with fragrance can be used. When the flowers are in full bloom, paper-pasted bamboo cages are used to separate the upper layer from the tea and the lower layer from flowers. It is tightly sealed, and the old flowers will be replaced after being bloomed overnight. After a few days, the tea has a lovely aroma..."
The scribe knew that if he let it go on, he would recite the China's thousand-year-old Tea Classic from head to toe, so he smiled wryly and said: "Mo Yi, shut up, don't say another word unless I have a question."
The big-headed old man shut his mouth resentfully, the man in sackcloth put down the teapot suddenly, turned around and walked away, with just one step, he was two feet away, and after another step, it was more than forty feet away, at first he was walking, but in a blink of an eye, he was running, and from there A figure turned into a stream of light, from thick to light, disappearing suddenly.
Everyone in the tea house was dumbfounded, only suspecting that they were in a dream, or how could they see such strange things.Lu Jian was even more shocked. He thought that even with Fomalhaut's help, he was absolutely unable to match such foot strength. This person's movements were far beyond what can be described as running.
The scholar in green shook his head and sighed unconsciously, took a look at Qi Jiguang, and suddenly smiled and said: "You general, you look so powerful, why are you locked up? Did you violate the military law, or take bribes..."
Then Mo Yi didn't wait for him to finish, and then interrupted: "Military law was first seen in "Zhou Li·Xia Guan Sima Fourth", and later in "Sima Law" said..." The scholar in green frowned and said: "Who asked you? Mo Yi scratched his thinning hair, bowed his head in embarrassment.
Qi Jiguang smiled and said: "Don't dare to take bribes. Qi failed to chase the bandits, but was defeated by the Japanese bandits. It is a violation of military law."
The scribe in Tsing Yi said with a smile: "There is a saying in the art of war, don't force the poor..." Mo Yi hurriedly said: "This sentence comes from "Sun Tzu's Art of War: Military Struggle". Suddenly hearing the green-clothed scribe coughing heavily, he was startled and hurriedly shut up.
Qi Jiguang waved his hand and said: "It's not the poor bandits who are forced by Qi, but the elite bandits who haven't fought. It's because none of the generals dared to send troops to fight. They just stick to the fortified city and sit and watch the thieves explode. Qi is young He was full of vigor, and the handsome division pursued him, but he fell into an ambush, and his soldiers were weak, and they were smashed by Japanese pirates, which made people feel ashamed."
The scribe in Tsing Yi was silent for a while, then sighed: "The so-called 'don't attack sharp soldiers, don't eat bait soldiers', you committed two taboos in a row, how can you be undefeated?"
Qi Jiguang was good at martial arts all his life, but when he had spare time, he was always thinking about how to use troops. At this time, in the outskirts of the city, he met such a good scholar who discussed the art of war with him. He felt relieved and said with a long smile: "Mr. "The Art of War", but I don't know that "Sun Tzu's Art of War" has thirteen chapters, although there are many words and sentences, but they are really used, but they are only one sentence."
The scribe couldn't help laughing, he said, "According to you, except for this sentence, Sun Wu's unrivaled art of war is mostly nonsense?"
"How dare Qi insult the sages." Qi Jiguang sighed, "It's just that Sun Wu's art of war was written not for himself, but for ordinary princes and generals, who are not very talented in using soldiers. , so Sun Wuzi was afraid that they would not understand, so he tried to be precise and detailed in his words. If he followed the art of war, set up a formation and march, even if he was a middleman, he would not be defeated. The law of constant victory and invincibility. Since ancient times, the generals who are always victorious and invincible have never thought about what others did not think about, and what others do is difficult, so they can overcome every battle, and there is no fluke in victory. ?”
The scribe said with a smile: "It's nice to say, but I don't know which sentence you said about the art of war?"
Qi Jiguang smiled slightly and raised his voice: "The one who can win because of the enemy's changes is a god!"
The scribe didn't have time to answer, Mo Yi had already said: "This is the penultimate sentence of the sixth chapter of "Sun Tzu's Art of War" "Fictity and Truth".
"One step has a good memory." Qi Jiguang sighed, "If you are really facing the battle, life and death are on the front line, and the commander has no time to think about the art of war. This is the only sentence I really remember.”
"What a 'god who can win because of the enemy's changes'." The scribe laughed, "If you are not a defeated general, what you said is touching."
Qi Jiguang couldn't help smiling wryly.The scribe laughed and asked: "Why, are you discouraged? From what you said, you should be well versed in the art of war, why can't you predict the enemy's opportunity, and even if you know you are invincible, you want to chase after it and take your own humiliation?"
Qi Jiguang shook his head and said: "What I'm talking about with my feet is just a military strategist's path, but whether to pursue it or not is the righteousness of the country. The Japanese pirates ran rampant in the southeast, and they are invincible. The wind will run away first, and the fear will break when you see the shape of a Japanese. When all the generals are tied up and the people are wailing, if Qi Mou cherishes his life, defends the city against the enemy, and hides to support the bandits, is he not as good as a pig or a dog? Although Qi Mou is not a Confucian scholar , but I also know that the ancient sages said: "If you shrink back from yourself, even if there are tens of thousands of people, I will go." Tens of millions of people have nothing to fear, let alone hundreds of Japanese slaves?"
The scribe listened, lowered his eyebrows and muttered, and had nothing to say for a long time.At this moment, all the officials had had enough rest and walked clamorously. The scribe suddenly took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve, and said with a smile, "Mentors, take a rest. My servant has gone to fetch tea, and I will return in a moment." I want to have a drink with this general."
It's all right for all the officials to get the silver.But Qi Jiguang said: "Don't bother to spend money, the old capital is not far away, and Qi also wants to get there quickly. Whether it is life or death, it has already been decided."
The scribe smiled, pointed to the distance and said, "Look, isn't he here?"
Everyone looked around, but saw a brown shadow rushing towards the poor place like the wind, and the shape could be recognized in an instant. It was the man in sackcloth. He was holding a tin pot in his hand, rushed to the front of the pavilion in an instant, and stopped suddenly.When he ran so wildly, he stopped as soon as he said it, and Lu Jian felt even more astonished.
The scribe laughed and said, "Pour two cups!" The sackclothed man carefully put down the teapot, took out two porcelain cups, and filled them with tea.
Qi Jiguang took the tea and saw that the tea was green and still boiling, and he was still spitting out crab-eye bubbles. He was not surprised and asked, "Is this tea brewed nearby?"
The man in sackcloth didn't say a word, but the scholar said with a smile, "I brought this tea back to the city."
"Stop bluffing me, you are so poor." An official said with a smile, "It's at least ten miles from here to Nanjing City, and twenty miles back and forth. How can it be possible to bring tea back from the city with this amount of time? Even if it is possible, this tea How could it still be boiling?"
Qi Jiguang smiled and said: "There are many strange people in the world, even so, it is not surprising." After finishing speaking, he gently blew away the powdered tea, took a sip slowly, and praised, "Good tea, but it's a pity that Qi is rude and doesn't know the way of tea. There's nothing good about it."
The scribe said with a smile: "This tea is as thin as a sparrow's tongue, and it is a product from the buds of Biluofeng in Dongting; the water is light and sweet, and it is a clear spring of stubborn stone in Huishan Temple in Wuxi. I am not good at wine, but I like tea, so I drink it with a cup. Ming and Jun Mianzhi, if the general can get out of the cage in the future, please remember what you said today, and don't forget it."
Qi Jiguang clasped his hands and said with a smile: "I have a lot of auspicious words, how dare I ask your name?" The scribe shook his head and said with a smile: "I am a useless person, a lowly scholar, and my name is not worth mentioning."
Qi Jiguang is magnificent, and the scribes are neither well-known nor reluctant, so he smiled and turned away.Lu Jian followed him, walked two steps, suddenly felt a chill on his back, and suddenly saw a sharp light flashing under the sackclothed man's hat, like a knife's edge.Lu Jian's eyes hurt.Turning his eyes in a hurry, he saw that Mo Yi was muttering something, but his eyes were fixed on him.
Lu Jian's heart beat wildly, and he couldn't help taking two quick steps, following closely behind Qi Jiguang.And the cold air on his back never left, he waited for several li to go away, it was expected that the man in sackcloth and Mo Yi would never see him again, and then he went away.
Qi Jiguang glanced at him and wondered, "Brother, why do you look so ugly?" Lu Jian said, "I don't know why, but I feel uncomfortable." Just leave it to fate."
Lu Jian didn't answer in silence, but the cold light from the bamboo hat was always flashing in front of his eyes, and as he thought about it, sweat dripped down his forehead: "Who are those two? Why do I feel uncomfortable and flustered when I see them, and I can't wait to see them?" Flee thousands of miles away in one breath." Lu Jian couldn't figure it out, and he was close to the city while thinking.A group of people entered the city through Fengtai Gate, and they saw a thoroughfare for ten miles, spread across the city, with thousands of families, and the city was full of stars; To the west, there is a city in the four directions and seven seas, where everything is gathered and merchants gather, as if the prosperity of the south of the Yangtze River is here.
When he came to the Governor's Yamen, the official handover was completed, and Qi Jiguang was sent to jail awaiting trial.Lu Jian was about to part, sad in his heart, unconsciously holding Qi Jiguang's hand, his eyes turned red.Qi Jiguang sighed: "I will send you off for thousands of miles, but I will have to say goodbye. Brother, you sent me here. My elder brother will never forget it in this life."
The head of the prison urged them, but the two had no choice but to leave with tears. Lu Jian watched Qi Jiguang walk into the prison door, and his heart sank. He lingered in front of the governor's mansion for a long time, watching the officials dragging Zhu Yizi in and out. out, but don't know who to ask for help.Walked back and forth for a long time, but felt hungry, touched his body, but found no money, just then remembered that all the money in the bag had been given to the official, so he turned around and walked on the street, looking at the taverns on both sides, smelling the smell of food and meat , couldn't help swallowing.
I was wandering around when I suddenly felt that someone knocked on my calf.With Lu Jian's supernatural powers and spiritual sense, he could advance and retreat freely among the crowds, and it was absolutely unreasonable for him to be tapped on the calf.Looking back in surprise, it was the "Golden Turtle" who won Wancheng, and saw a piece of plaster on his forehead, and several bloodstains on his cheeks and neck, Lu Jian couldn't help but surprised and said: "Why is it you, Gu Zhen? "
Ying Wancheng's face was gloomy, he snorted angrily, and said, "Didn't he come to you?" Lu Jian asked strangely, "He was caught by you, why did he come to me?" Ying Wancheng used the magical power of "turtle mirror" , turned his eyes on Lu Jian's face a few times, and said with a chuckle: "You are very good, you are much more honest than that bastard Gu Zhen. It's rare for us to meet again, how about going to a restaurant for a drink?"
Lu Jianwei felt hesitant, but he was determined to inquire about Gu Zhen's whereabouts, so he had to agree, and suddenly saw Ying Wancheng walking in front, with a limp on his left leg, and he was actually limping.
Lu Jian saw that he was covered in wounds, and wondered in his heart: "He is so strong in martial arts, and has the magical power of 'turtle mirror', who can hurt him to this extent? He is obviously with Gu Zhen, and he is here, but where is Gu Zhen going? gone?"
Ying Wancheng picked a magnificent restaurant at the crossroads, led Lu Jian up to the second floor, sat down, and greeted the waiter, "Master orders." The waiter saw his gorgeous robes, and respected him first , hurriedly said with a smile: "Old members, please tell me."
Ying Wancheng said: "First, let's have three whites and three delicacies, one steamed and two stewed." The guy was taken aback, and smiled apologetically, "Besides the old man, please explain more clearly?"
Ying Wancheng sneered and said, "It's a shame that you are still a clerk at the restaurant. The three whites are the three whites of Taihu Lake, small whitebait, baicai fish, and white shrimp. The three delicacies are the three delicacies of the Yangtze River, saury, shad, and puffer fish. White shrimp, white fish, and white shrimp. Puffer fish are all steamed, and the other four fish are all stewed."
The guy hesitated and said: "This is a lot of six dishes." Ying Wancheng sneered: "Why? I'm afraid the master won't be able to eat it. If the master can't eat it, he will walk around." The guy had to agree and was about to turn around.Ying Wancheng shouted: "Wait a minute, there is more. A bowl of crouching dragon and phoenix young soup..."
The guy made a big mistake, and said awkwardly: "Old man, I have never heard of this soup, what should I do?"
Ying Wancheng smiled and said: "Use two live abalones that weigh two ounces, remove the viscera and get the meat, then chop the tips of the breast wings of five young chickens into shreds, add pepper, green onion, coriander and so on, It takes half an hour to uncover it into a clear soup, throw away the dry ones, and only keep the soup. The abalone is Wolong, and the chick is Fengchu, so it has this name. Don’t play with the master, the ingredients are wrong, the master will know when he tastes it.”
The guy hurriedly said with a smile: "We are a hundred-year-old shop, how dare we make fake ones."
Ying Wancheng nodded, and continued: "I also need a pair of iron goose palms, a roasted soft-shelled turtle, a bowl of bad hoof tendon, a plate of stir-fried corrugated cockles with broken pond bamboo shoots, a bowl of braised fern pink scallops, and corrugated cockles. , Jiang yaozhu must be fresh from Taizhou, and the masters from other places don’t want it. The fire meat from Pujiang is also needed. As for crabs, the master of sea crabs is tired of eating, and steamed four pairs of river crabs from Shanyin; one camel hump from Mobei, steamed with honey; Liaodong One bear’s paw, stir-fried with Shandong scallions, and two pairs of big white clams from Sanjiang. Well, the master is afraid of fishy, so eating monkey brains will save you. Preserved fruit sticks to the teeth, it’s fine, and two bowls of watermelon Cream to relieve summer heat, the watermelon in this cream juice should be from Hangzhou, smashed little by little, so that there is no flesh left, then take May peach blossom juice, fry it with a slow fire until eight minutes, stir sugar and finely refine, remember this refining cream Don't make a mistake in the order."
After all, I ordered another pot of aged No. 1 scholar red and two pots of famous Sichuan wine.He kept a lot of treasures, but the clerk was sweating profusely, and when he finished ordering, he trembled and said: "There are many small shops here, so I have to go to other restaurants to borrow money, and I will definitely not miss the master. "
Lu Jian said: "There are so many things, can you finish it?" Ying Wancheng sneered and said, "I can't finish it, throw it away and feed it to the dog." The waiter was overjoyed to see that this man was so rich, and hurried to the counter.
All of a sudden, the dishes came up like flowing water, and it was only half an hour before they were all ready.Lu Jian had been hungry for a long time, gobbled it up, and was full after eating three dishes, but Ying Wancheng picked up a chopstick here and a spoonful there, chewed slowly, and tasted every dish, but no matter the dish, soup Forget it, it's just one chopstick and one spoonful, and he never eats too much. He eats carefully, and the crab is peeled very finely. Whole crabs with empty shells.
Lu Jian couldn't bear to watch him, and couldn't help asking: "Senior Ying, where is Gu Zhen?" Ying Wancheng was tasting drunk clams, when he heard the words he hesitated and said: "Run away." Lu Jian was startled, and suddenly realized: "It turns out that the old man's body is full of injuries because of Gu Zhen." Thinking of how Gu Zhen played tricks on the golden tortoise, Lu Jian couldn't help laughing, bowed his head and smiled secretly.
Ying Wancheng snorted angrily, and said, "I chased that bastard all the way to Nanjing, and almost caught him a few times, but he got rid of him with treacherous tricks. Hmph, now he's hiding in the crowd of the city. After a while, I can't catch him."
Lu Jian made up his mind, and suddenly remembered something, and asked, "Senior Ying, I have something to ask, you are well-informed, maybe you have some ideas?"
Ying Wancheng held the watermelon ointment, sipped it slowly, glanced at Lu Jian, and asked, "What's the matter?" Can you save him?"
Ying Wancheng raised two fingers and said with a smile, "It's easy, it only needs two words." Lu Jianqi said, "Which two words." Ying Wancheng laughed and said, "Silver."
Lu Jian was puzzled and asked: "How do you say that?" Ying Wancheng said: "If you have money, give fifty taels to the prison chief first, and your elder brother will never suffer in flesh and blood in prison; Send one hundred taels to the gate of the governor's mansion, and ask him to see the manager in the mansion, and send three hundred taels to the manager; through the manager, to the master three hundred taels; then the master, to the governor, to two thousand taels, and then through the governor , give it to the eunuch of the supervising army two thousand taels, hehe, only four thousand seven hundred and fifty taels of silver is needed before and after, not to mention losing a battle, even peeking at the emperor’s own mother, you can cover it up.”
Lu Jian shook his head and said, "I don't have the silver." Ying Wancheng smiled and said, "You don't have it, but Gu Zhen does. You just need to find him, not to mention four thousand taels of silver, but forty thousand taels of silver, right? Do you want to pluck the roots of Jiuniu?"
Lu Jian sneered and said, "You just want me to look for him, so you can follow me. I won't be fooled."
"Little baby is very good." Ying Wancheng smiled, "Unfortunately, if you don't look for Gu Zhen, your brother Lao Shizi will lose his head." After finishing speaking, he put the bowl and wiped his mouth, stood up slowly, The guy hurriedly stepped forward and said with a smile: "Old man, do you want to pay?"
"Fart." Ying Wancheng stared, "Who said it was the master who paid the bill?" Pointing at Lu Jian, he said with a smile, "This is the God of Wealth, you should ask him to pay the bill."
Lu Jian was stunned. Seeing Lu Jian's shabby clothes, the clerk was suspicious and yanked towards Ying Wancheng.But Ying Wancheng possessed the supernatural power of "Turtle Mirror", he predicted the enemy's opportunity first, before he could catch him, he laughed and jumped more than ten feet, and fell towards the restaurant.When he landed on the ground with his bamboo stick, he let go of his fall, then limped and ran fast, disappearing in a blink of an eye.
The guy's face turned green, he couldn't win Wancheng, so he grabbed Lu Jian tightly and shouted, "I was killed by you, you killed me..." As he spoke, Lu Jian couldn't help crying. If he wanted to struggle, a hundred fellows would not be able to catch him, but when he saw this fellow cry, his heart softened and he stood still.At this time, the waiters in the restaurant heard that someone was eating for free, so they rushed up to the second floor with brooms and benches, and beat Lu Jian on the head. Lu Jian couldn't fight back, so he just stood there stupidly.
The guy earlier was afraid that everyone would kill Lu Jian and no one would pay him, so he hurriedly said, "Don't hit him yet, let him give you the money?" Lu Jian smiled bitterly and said, "Brother, I don't have any money, how can I give it to you?" Hearing this, his body suddenly became limp, and he squatted on the ground, crying loudly.
Lu Jian was also extremely sad, although he had fallen into the trap of winning Wancheng, he had eaten the meal himself, so he could only say, "Brother, don't worry, I will work as a waiter in the restaurant to make money for you. "
Suddenly someone sneered and said: "Make money as a clerk? This meal is worth five hundred taels of silver. Even if you have been a clerk for eight lifetimes, you still don't know it." Everyone looked around, but it was the shopkeeper who came up, and they stepped aside for a while. , the guy on the ground was afraid of punishment, and cried harder.Someone said: "Since you can't pay him, let him go to the government."
The shopkeeper had a square face and three long beards, and he was not angry. He sneered and said: "This man is a poor man, can he pay me back the money when he sees the official? Somebody, tie me up and drag me to the cellar gate first." For three days, let him work to make money."
Hearing this, all the staff cheered up, tied up Lu Jian with hemp rope, dragged him to the cellar, and locked him up.
Sitting in the cellar, Lu Jian couldn't help smiling wryly, thinking that the hemp rope that bound him would break if he pulled it, and the cellar door was also made of wood, which could be crushed with a single punch, but if so, wouldn't he be like that old thief in Ying Wancheng? Became a shameless and unbelievers.
But after thinking about it, he couldn't think of where to find five hundred taels of silver. It seemed that the only way to pay off his debts would be to work as a waiter in this restaurant for the rest of his life.But when I think of Qi Jiguang, I don't feel sad.
As time passed, Lu gradually became hungry. Counting the time, it was already late at night.The shopkeeper of the restaurant was probably very angry and wanted to starve him for a few meals, so he didn't ask the waiter to bring the food.Lu Jian was hungry and tired, leaning against a wine jar, and fell asleep.
After sleeping for a long time, there was a sudden movement, Lu Jian woke up with a start, followed the sound, and suddenly saw a light of fire breaking through the wall on the left, and then the lights were brightly lit, and a wall turned over, which turned out to be a secret door.
There was a secret door in the cellar. Lu Jian was so amazed that he couldn't help jumping up, but he saw a person walking out of the secret door. With the help of the light, he saw the person's face clearly and called out: "The shopkeeper?"
The person who came was the shopkeeper of the long-bearded restaurant. He held an oil lamp and said with a smile, "Lord Lu has suffered a lot. I have offended you so much. I hope you will forgive me." What are you talking about, I don't understand."
The shopkeeper took out a small knife, cut the rope, and said in a deep voice: "This place is full of dangers, don't talk too much, come with me." After saying that, he went first with the lamp and went into the secret door. Lu Jian had to follow.Inside the secret door is a tunnel, low and damp, only allowing one person to walk. Lu Jian was puzzled, and couldn't help asking: "Shopkeeper, what's the danger? Why did you let me go?"
The shopkeeper said: "Ying Wancheng is guarding outside the restaurant." Lu Jian said angrily, "Okay, this shameless old thief, I'm just worried that I won't be able to find him." "No way, he's not the only East Island expert in this city of Nanjing. In addition to the restaurant, besides Yingwancheng, there are at least three more, and two of the five masters of the East China Sea."
Lu Jian was surprised.The shopkeeper sighed: "Master Lu didn't know that since you entered the city, you have been targeted. They didn't come to you, but they wanted to use you as bait to lure that person out."
Lu Jian suddenly asked, "Gu Zhen?" The shopkeeper nodded silently.Lu Jian said: "In this case, I should go out and fight them, so that Gu Zhen knows that the enemy is coming, so he can stay far away."
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "You underestimate Master Gu. When it comes to martial arts, maybe those masters from the East Island are great, but when it comes to fighting wits, who can beat Master Gu?" Lu Jian frowned, and said in surprise, "Are you Someone from Gu Zhen?"
The shopkeeper nodded and said: "Either Ying Wancheng would choose this restaurant to frame you. He is also suspicious of the relationship between this restaurant and Mr. Gu. He deliberately made you owe debts first, and then watched from the side. Follow the clues and find Master Gu. The only thing he didn't expect may be the secret passage in the cellar."
Lu Jian was startled when he heard that, he only hated himself for being careless, and became a pawn to win Wancheng, so he couldn't help asking, "Where are we going now?"
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "You'll know when you go." After saying that, he bowed forward, and Lu Jian had no choice but to follow.The secret road is narrow and long, twists and turns, and there are many forks in the road, which makes people confused. After walking for seven or eight miles, the road ahead ends and a wall appears.
The shopkeeper groped around the wall for a while, pushed forward, and the wall turned over in response. Behind the wall were several steps. Come in.Lu Jian went out the door, and was startled to find himself under an arched bridge, with bricks and stones arching above his head, overgrown with moss, and the river gurgling under his feet, with an ink color too thick to dissolve, leisurely drifting away.
The shopkeeper clapped his hands three times, and then he saw a small boat come out of the darkness and stop under the bridge. There was a man in coir raincoat and bamboo hat standing on the boat, silently.
The shopkeeper clasped his hands and said: "Zhao will send it here, Mr. Lu, please board the ship." Lu Jian hurriedly said: "The shopkeeper, the money." The shopkeeper Zhao said with a smile: "The restaurants are all owned by Mr. Gu, you don't have to worry Is it silver?"
陆渐略略放心，又道：“那位伙计大哥，掌柜的也莫要责备他。”赵掌柜叹道：“阁下真是厚道人，您放心，此事赵某自有分寸。”
陆渐拱手上船，那蓑衣人摇橹击水，顺流而下。行出里许，陆渐回头望去，那座拱桥已湮没在晦暗夜色中，再也不见。和风阵阵，迎面吹来，两岸初时灯火阑珊，渐渐繁密烂漫，胜如星河，灯火炽亮处，不时传来琴瑟箫管，男女笑语。河面上游舫飘然来去，舫中灯烛随风摇曳，流光如织。
那蓑衣人忽地停橹，恭声道：“请上岸。”陆渐一瞧，船边乃是一排石阶，当即告辞，踏阶而上，蓦地眼前一亮，出现一座壮丽大宅，灯火辉煌，人声喧哗，诧异间，身边黑暗里钻出一个男子，低声道：“是陆爷吗？”
陆渐懵懂点头。那人道：“随我来。”说罢快步在前，陆渐随他身后，绕墙而走，来到一道侧门前。那人敲开门，门内出来一个中年妇人，衣着华丽，淡施薄粉，虽是半老徐娘，风韵犹在，她开口先笑，脆声道：“陆爷么？”素手一招，道，“随妾身来。”
陆渐心中糊涂，只觉今晚之事，处处透着诡异。虽如此想，却不由自主随那妇人脚步，亦步亦趋，走了数十丈，也不见人，忍不住问道：“这位大婶，你怎么知道我的姓氏？”
那妇人回首一笑，眼中水光流转，未语含情，陆渐只觉那一双眸子直有勾魂夺魄之能，心头大震，慌忙低头，却听那妇人笑道：“原本不该我来接你，只是我想瞧瞧，能得谷爷赏识的人是什么样子？”陆渐奇道：“你也是谷缜的人？”
那妇人掩口笑道：“你这人说话真是，什么叫也是谷缜的人？我倒一百个想做他的人，可惜那小兔崽子眼角高，瞧不上老娘。”
陆渐见她举止妖娆，媚态横生，绝然不类寻常妇人，不自禁红透耳根，心道：“她怎么一会儿自称妾身，一会儿又自称老娘，一会儿叫谷爷，一会儿又叫小兔崽子，最后这一个，口气倒与赢万城相似。”想到这里，不觉狐疑起来，问道：“这是要去哪里？”
那妇人笑而不答，袅袅前行，陆渐虽然怀疑，但抗不过好奇之心，快步跟上。
两人上了一条长廊，长廊两侧，红灯高挑，摇光曳影，间或还挂着镀金鸟架。方要转角，前方急匆匆奔来一个女子，她只顾低头快走，收足不住，一下撞在那妇人身上，手上托盘歪斜，当的一声，摔碎一只瓷杯。
那妇人怒道：“小蹄子，瞎了眼么？”劈手便是一掌，向来人刮去。
陆渐眉头大皱，伸手拦住，说道：“罢了，不过一只瓷杯，也犯得着打人么？”转眼一瞧，那摔杯女子正抬起头来，这一瞧，陆渐不禁骇然，却不为别的，只为那女子生得太丑，肤色黄肿，嘴角裂开，左眼眉毛也无，歪斜成一条细缝，不见眼白；右脸眉眼虽在，却生了一颗硕大脓疮，尚未愈合，抑且背脊佝偻，双膝弯曲，无法伸直，似乎患了软骨之症，总而言之，那模样叫人瞧上一眼，绝不想瞧第二眼。
那女子与陆渐四目一对，右眼若有异彩闪过。陆渐但觉这神采似曾相识，但何处见过，却又想不起来，正待细看，却见女子眼中神采一黯，眼皮耷拉下去。
“好啊。”那妇人喝道，“又是你这丑奴儿。你知道么？这杯儿是官窑的上品，一只的价钱，顶你十倍的卖身钱。”
那丑奴儿瞧着脚尖，低声道：“何妈妈，对不住。”声音如绳锯木，喑哑难听，令人无法相信出自女子之口。
那妇人面露厌恶之色，啐道：“若不是你有这么一份天上有、地上无的丑模样，我才懒得留你，不只败兴，更会败家。”
陆渐瞧那丑奴儿低着头，双肩颤抖，似乎正在哭泣，心中大生怜悯，不忿道：“大婶说话太刻薄了些，容貌是天生的，谁又愿生得难看了？”
那何妈妈哼了一声，挥手道：“去去，今天遇上陆爷，算你运气。要不然，我打死你这丑货。”
那丑奴儿如蒙大赦，飞也似去了。何妈妈笑道：“这小蹄子真是扫兴，原来留着她，专为对付那些胡搅蛮缠的客人，不料竟冲犯了陆爷？”陆渐怪道：“怎么对付胡搅蛮缠的客人？”
何妈妈一笑，答非所问道：“那边的人想是等得急了。”说罢便走，两人曲折数转，忽听男女笑声，何妈妈走到一间房前，房门大开，红光满室，内有屏风遮挡，因为正当盛夏，故而屏风上临摹了一副宋代李成的“雪景图”，画中冰雪之气扑面而至，大减当前暑热。
忽听屏风后一个女子娇笑道：“好弟弟，这盘你输了，给我什么好处？”一个男子接口笑道：“姐姐你千金难买一笑，什么好东西没有，何苦还来算计我？”陆渐听这声音，不觉一愣，敢情说这话的，正是谷缜。
却听另一个女子呸了一声，脆生生地道：“菡玉姐，这小混蛋又想混赖了，这一遭你千万别心软饶了他，定要罚他学三声狗叫。”话音未落，又一个女子噗哧笑道：“秋痕你这才叫心软，你又不是不知他的德行，这小混蛋什么混帐事不敢做的？别说学狗叫，就算在南京城里当街学狗爬，怕也难不住他。我来出个题目，这盘若是输了，就罚他以身相许，今晚睡在菡玉房里。”
那菡玉啐道：“婉娘你不是害我么，他家那个母老虎凶得很，你别瞧他平素威风八面，心里怕着呢，上次他灌了几杯黄汤，不知东西，涎着脸要我陪他，都入了房，躺在床上，结果等我梳洗了回来，哪还有他的影子？都不知道跑到几百里外去了。”
“有这等事么？”谷缜似乎颇为吃惊，“我怎么不记得了？”
“又跟我装呆？”菡玉冷笑道，“不过这回我有证人，素琴姐姐，那晚你也亲耳所听，亲眼所见，是不是？”只听一个女子嗯了一声，道：“我也不记得了。”菡玉急道：“姐姐，你怎么尽护着他？”秋痕笑道：“素琴姐姐不护着他，谁护着他？也难怪，他俩一见面，就关在房里不出来，一关一天，都谈论什么诗呀词的。”
众女一听，都咯咯咯笑将起来，婉娘喘着气道：“秋痕你这个促狭鬼，素琴的诗词固然是极好的，但这小混蛋又懂什么诗呀词的。素琴，你不说明白，可了不得，你听秋痕的口气，醋劲大着呢。”
那素琴淡淡地道：“我跟他是君子之交，你们别以小人之心，胡乱猜度。”秋痕冷笑道：“好好，你是女中君子，我们都是浪荡小人，你会吟诗弹琴，我们就只会唱唱艳曲。”
谷缜见众女言辞不睦，咳嗽一声，正要劝解，何妈妈却忍不住出声道：“谷爷，陆爷来了。”
谷缜啊了一声，笑道：“快请进。”陆渐微一犹豫，转过屏风，却见谷缜戴一顶青纱方帽，披一袭青布长袍，神采俊逸，更胜从前。他坐在紫檀桌几前，正与一名美人打着双陆。那女子贪凉，罗袜尽脱，轻纱半笼，露出两弯雪臂，两人身周还坐了三位丽人，其中二女与那打局女子衣衫相若，一个倚床磕着瓜子，另一个则跷腿闲坐，双肩裸露在外，又白又亮，唯独一女衣饰严整，坐姿端庄，大约就是那素琴了。
谷缜含笑推枰道：“四位，这位陆渐，是我朋友。”四女目不转睛望着陆渐，均有好奇之色。
陆渐何曾见过如此阵仗，不禁面色涨红，进也不是，退也不是，那打局女子菡玉笑道：“谷缜，我认识你也有四五年了，却没听你叫过谁朋友，真是奇怪了。”婉娘也笑道：“是呀，难怪了，料是咱们的谷爷，不好女色，专好男……”风字尚未出口，那素琴忽道：“婉娘，这位陆公子是正大之辈，不可乱说。”
那婉娘将手里瓜子一丢，轻轻哼了一声，拍手道：“罢了，人家来了朋友，双陆也不打了，料也不希罕咱们了，你们怎么样，我可走了，文大官人还等着我呢。”说罢一扭腰，当先去了，众女笑的笑，嗔的嗔，一忽儿，便都散了。
谷缜待众女走尽，方才笑笑，示意陆渐坐下。两人相对无话，好半晌，谷缜才道：“我只当观海楼一别，便是永诀，没料到你我还有重逢之日。”
陆渐也觉感慨，叹了口气，他心中虽有无数疑问，却又不敢贸然开口，只怕这一问，两人的交情就此决裂，再无丝毫转圜余地，忍了半晌，方迸出一句：“这里是什么地方？”
谷缜一笑，淡然道：“这里是萃云楼，秦淮河上最大的妓院。”陆渐骇然道：“你竟然做这等生意？”
谷缜失笑道：“你会错意了，这天下的生意，我什么都做，唯有两样不做，第一是赌，第二是嫖。我呆在此间，只为逃避仇敌，这里的几位妈妈姑娘，早年受过我的恩惠，交情颇厚，所谓大隐于市，藏在这里，远比别处安稳。”
陆渐望着他，不知说什么才好，此人似正非正，似邪非邪，总是叫人捉摸不透。沉默半晌，忽道：“我求你一件事。”
谷缜笑道：“你也有事求我？真是奇了。”陆渐将戚继光被囚的事说了，迟疑道：“赢万城说要救大哥，须得银子，你能否借我五千两银子？我好去疏通关节，至于银子，我将来一定设法还你。”
“五千两银子算不得什么。”谷缜沉吟道，“不过这行贿救人，换在两年之前，官贪吏横，或许还能成事，如今只怕不成了。”陆渐惊道：“为什么？”
谷缜道：“去年中，江南明军换了总督，如今的总督名叫胡宗宪，极为了得。四大寇中，陈东、麻叶先后死在他手里，剩下的汪直、徐海处境也万分不妙。以此人的精明厉害，如何会被区区金银收买？”
陆渐泄气道：“这么说，大哥当真没救了。”谷缜微微一笑，道：“那也未必，这得瞧那胡总督是诸葛亮，还是秦穆公了。”陆渐奇道：“这跟诸葛亮、秦穆公有何关系？”
“干系大了。”谷缜道，“一样是全军覆没，马谡兵败街亭，被诸葛亮一刀斩了，结果三国之中，蜀国先亡；而孟明视败于崤山，不止全军覆没，甚至做了晋国的俘虏，结果秦穆公非但不杀他，反而加以重用，故而能够先败晋国、再服西戎，开创秦国六世霸业；若胡大总督是诸葛亮，戚将军性命休矣，若他是秦穆公，那就恰好相反了。”
他见陆渐愁眉不展，不由笑道：“咱们要不要赌一把，我赌这胡宗宪是秦穆公。”陆渐不禁破颜而笑，叹道：“这我可不赌，若我赌他是诸葛亮，岂不是咒大哥送命么？”说罢，欲言又止，谷缜瞧他一眼，微笑道：“我瞧你又饿又累，不妨先吃些东西，睡上一觉，有什么事，待你醒后，再来问我。”
说罢，他叫人送来晚点，陆渐胡乱吃了，默默躺在床上，嗅着满室薰香，倦意涌上，朦胧睡去，其间迷糊醒了一次，隐约瞧见谷缜伏在桌上，奋笔疾书，桌边堆了高高一叠帐簿。第二次醒来时，那叠帐簿已不知去向。谷缜负着手，踱来踱去，似乎颇为烦恼，见陆渐起身，转愁为笑道：“这么快就醒了么？”说罢递给他一袭白缎披风，说道，“我们去河边逛逛。”
两人出了门，天色未明，顺走廊行了一程，便至河边，此时残月西坠，晓星未沉，秦淮河的歌舞欢笑却已休歇，只有寥寥数点灯火，在河面上漂泊。谷缜叹道：“如今还亮着灯的，这灯下的女子可不太好过。”
陆渐问起缘由，谷缜道：“若还亮着灯，足见今晚没有客人，若没有客人，赚不了钱，必然要挨鸨母的叱骂，龟奴的毒打了。”说罢拍拍手，忽自暗处快步走出两个黑衣男子，躬身侍立，不见容貌。
谷缜道：“鱼传、鸿书，你二人拿银子去有灯火的船上，若有姑娘没客人，便给她五十两。”那二人应了，躬身退入黑暗之中。
谷缜笑指着远处一座三层小楼，说道：“高处清寂，正好说话。”陆渐默然点头，去那小楼只有五十来步，须臾可至，但不知为何，他心里却盼着这短短一程，永远也走不完。
两人逍遥登楼，凭栏远望，可见南京城重檐叠宇，好比万千飞鸟展翅高翔，楼下一条墨玉也似的长河，残月余照，给河面上抹了一层淡淡的霜色。
谷缜指着那河，说道：“这条秦淮河，既是流金之河，也是流泪之河。”陆渐奇道：“什么叫流金？什么又叫流泪？”
谷缜道：“这里夜夜笙歌流宴，豪商巨贾、才子官绅，无不一掷千金，是可谓流金之河，而这浮华之后，却又不知有多少弱女子的血泪，故而又称流泪之河。”
陆渐皱眉道：“当初是谁在这里开设这么多青楼妓馆呢？”
谷缜笑道：“若算起来，这始作俑者，却是本朝太祖朱元璋朱大皇帝，他在这秦淮河边开设官娼，本意是想天下豪商都来这里风流快活，他好大赚特赚，以充国库。却不料，商贾之辈，钱财来之不易，花销起来，自也颇多顾忌。倒是他手下那些文武大臣趋之若骛，夜夜来此，至于花的银子，自然都是国库中的公银了。这样一来，无异于朱大皇帝自掏腰包请臣子们荒唐，偷鸡不着蚀把米，成了这天底下最大的冤大头。
“到了他儿子朱棣，因为是夺取侄儿的江山，故而上台之后，便大肆株除异己，先有'诛十族'、后有'瓜蔓抄'，光是男子便杀了两万不止，至于这些男子的妻女姊妹，全都流放到这秦淮河边，削籍为娼，任由天下男子污辱。说起来，这位成祖皇帝，也可谓子承父业，将这秦淮风月发扬光大了。”
谷缜初时尚且笑着，那笑容却渐渐变冷，以至于有若寒冰。陆渐听得惊心，脱口道：“这两个皇帝，真，真不是……”谷缜瞧他神色，猜到他的后话，笑道：“真不是东西么？这话却不然，这两位皇帝，私德固然差劲，但若论治国才干，均是一时英主，只不过他们的子孙，倒是一个比一个不是东西，一个比一个荒唐。”
陆渐摇头道：“皇帝尚且如此，更不用说下面的臣子了。”
谷缜摇头道：“这昏君佞臣倒也罢了，最让我思索不透的，却是这天下逆来顺受、任由昏君佞臣摆布的百姓。唐太宗说：'水能载舟，也能覆舟'，有什么样的水，就有什么样的船，有什么样的百姓，便会出什么样的皇帝。这么多年，只见载舟之水，却不见覆舟之浪了。”
陆渐听了，心生怪异之感，但如何怪异，却又说不出来，忽听谷缜又道：“陆渐，我知道你想问我什么，那些事我今生本不想说，但今夜我说出来，你信也罢，不信也罢，只须记住，这些事，普天之下，我只告诉你一个。”
陆渐吸一口气，点头道：“好，你说。”
谷缜笑笑，说道：“我五岁时，我亲妈便跟人跑了。故而现在的是继母，至于妹妹，也是过继来的，小我半岁……”陆渐脱口道：“即便这样，你也不该……”
谷缜摆手道：“你听我说完。”陆渐点头默然。
却听谷缜道：“我妈走时，我年纪还小，只知道第二天醒过来，她就不见了，爹说她跟别的男人跑了，然后天天喝得烂醉。如此过了一年，他又娶了一个女人，那婆娘人很美，心机更深，面子上对我很好，骨子里却厌恶得紧，她以为我瞧不出她的心思，但我年纪小，心却明白得很，所以从小我就跟她不和，但她很会伪装，计谋又多，每次跟她斗气，爹爹都是罚我。八岁的时候，有一次，我跟那婆娘大闹一场，事后挨了爹的打，气愤不过，就偷偷混上来中土的船，到了江南，想去找我亲妈，可是人海茫茫，我一个小孩儿，哪里找得到她？身上钱用光了，渐渐沦落成一个小乞儿，受尽世人的白眼。”
说到这里，他露出一丝苦笑，叹了口气：“不过，我最倒霉的时候，却遇上了一个人。那人见我跟别的小乞丐打架，即便不能力取，也能智胜，便觉得我很聪明，将我带离那群乞儿，让我学做生意。那人相貌平平，却有通天之能，说他富可敌国也不为过，他教我如何断事，如何用人，如何转运货物，逐那什一之利。可他本事虽大，身体却不好，过了五年，便退隐幕后养病，将一切生意交给我打理，我从一个小乞儿，一变为天底下最大的豪商，一时也忘了天高地厚，返回东岛，在继母妹子面前大大炫耀了一番。我爹见我有了出息，也不