Chapter 37 The Thirty-Fourth Episode

Zai Tao was reading exercises in Tongzhou, trying out his Yanyang Tower stunts, a group of civil and military officials all took out their tricks and praised them, naturally it was an indescribable joy.But the happy relationship is no longer, and the good dream is easy to wake up.At this moment, suddenly an urgent telegram came from Beijing. The telegram didn't say anything, just a few simple words. It was ordered by the king to return Taobeile and Fu Gong as soon as possible without delay.After reading the zaitao, I couldn't feel the joy of the day, and discussed with Shanfu, thinking that he should go back first, and I still live in Tongzhou for a few days, so that I can teach them to graduate.Shanfu disagreed, saying that the telegram was an urgent order, and if the master did not go back, he would be resisting the order; the crime of resisting the order cannot be afforded, and no matter what, the car will have to get up tonight.Hearing what he said so solemnly, Zai Tao didn't dare to be stubborn anymore, so he had to send an order to return to Beijing in the evening of the same day.Fortunately, the floats were waiting on the platform, and all the officials respectfully sent them off, and Tong Yongdao and Hengji personally sent them back to Beijing.After getting off the car, the two went straight to the Prince Regent's Mansion and reported to the salesman.Along the road, there are many soldiers and policemen, as if they are under martial law.When the two got out of the car, Feng Guohua greeted them at the station with a company of imperial guards, and did not play military music.Although Zai Tao couldn't see it, Shanfu knew it at a glance.When I was on the road, I saw that the military and police had all added double posts, and I knew in my heart that something might have happened in Beijing.When he arrived at the Prince Regent's Mansion, he saw many soldiers and police surrounded in front of the gate, all loaded with live ammunition and armed with bayonets, Shanfu was startled even more.The carriage was still two feet away from the gate of the mansion, and all the soldiers surrounded him. Zai Tao didn't know what was going on, and he shouted involuntarily, "You bastard! What are you doing to surround me?" When everyone came to the front, they realized that it was the four The prince, even unconsciously took a breath.He hurriedly asked for peace and replied: "The humble people came to protect the fourth master and the auxiliary master according to the order of the king, but unexpectedly, the two drivers arrived at this time." Zai Tao got out of the car and scolded: "Nonsense!" , Usually when I come to the mansion, none of you will come forward, what kind of hospitality are you showing today! I was taken aback." The two entered the mansion together, and they didn't have to answer the door, they only asked where is the master?The guard on the door replied respectfully: "Tell me, my lord is now upstairs at the back, and I am meeting Lord Wu, the admiral of the nine gates. I want to see you, wait for me to lead the way." Zai Tao said: "We will go by ourselves. What way are you leading?" But the guard turned around and ran in as if he didn't hear it.Seeing Zai Tao, he was very surprised, and said to Shanfu: "Today is a hell, why these people have changed their appearance when they saw us, is there some reason for this?" Shanfu knew it in his heart, but pretended to Zuo didn't know, saying that they were also careful and made no mistakes, so there might not be anything wrong.The two walked from front to back for a long time before they came to the back building.

This back building is in the mansion, it is a very secret place, next to the garden, the other cross courtyard has only three floors and three bottoms, it is small and exquisite.It was still when the old King Chun was alive, the same group of Taoist priests burned and refined elixir here, whichever is quieter.Later, because of the superstitious belief in sorcery, the old prince took the elixir by mistake and killed himself. Therefore, the three buildings became idle and no one lived there anymore.For some unknown reason, the Prince Regent wanted to come upstairs to meet guests.Unless it is Zai Tao, no one else knows the place.Even he was surprised when he heard that, my brother is crazy, why he only wants to run to this place where no one else visits.He brought Shanfu to the front of this courtyard, but he saw many soldiers standing inside and outside the courtyard, all armed with live ammunition, he felt more and more surprised.Seeing that it was the Fourth Prince and Fugong, all the soldiers quickly raised their guns in salute and made way for them.A guard came to pay his respects and led the two of them upstairs, and a servant opened the curtain and cage.It was quiet inside, only the regent and Wu Jin, the admiral of the nine gates, were talking together.Seeing the two, Wu Jin quickly stood up, greeted them both, and said: "Please greet the fourth master, please greet the father-in-law." The two greeted him, and walked in to greet the regent.The prince asked them to sit down, and then said to Shanfu with a stern face: "Do you know? Now they Han people are going to use bombs against me! After all, it is the blessing of the ancestors, I should not die, otherwise, this time I was afraid that I would turn into powder." Shanfu's face turned pale with fright when he heard this, and he said in his heart that the scene he saw just now is confirmed by each other, and it really is not bad.Before he could answer, Zai Tao jumped up early and shouted loudly: "It's worth it! It's worth it! If you catch someone, put him to death early. If he dares to murder the prince, he is treasonous. This kind of person Can I still keep it?!" The regent saw him so frizzy, so he gave him a serious look and said, "Be quiet, what are you busy with?" Then he turned his face and asked Shanfu: "This piece What should I do?" Shanfu said: "This matter has come and gone, what is going on, I don't quite understand what is going on, I ask the prince for detailed instructions, and then I can come up with a solution." The regent said: "You have to know You can ask Wu Jin for the reason of this matter, this case was completely cracked by his yamen." At this time Wu Jin bowed and said: "Returning to Master, this matter is very long and cannot be explained in a few words. Wait for the servant to go down, and report to Fu Gong in detail what should be done, and then ask the prince for instructions." The regent nodded and said yes, you go down.The three of them came down together.

Of course, the author of the book had to recount this passage in Wu Jin's mouth in detail.Do you know where this bomb came from?Which one is the assassin?It has a long history.Those who read novels can always remember Chapter 31, when Xiang Gongbao released the two traitors Duan Jixiang rescued, one was tall and tall, the other was short and thin. Send them out the back door.These two people had nowhere to run in the dark, so they had to stand in a small alley outside the back door of Xiang Zhai for three hours.Fortunately, it is a back alley, no one walks.The two of them waited until the sky was bright, and heard the sound of a rickshaw passing by outside the alley, they ran out quickly to greet the two rickshaws, without even negotiating the price, they only said one sentence outside the front door, and the two cars flew straight away like flying Run to the front door.When they went out of the front door, the cart driver asked them where they were going.A person with a Hubei accent said something about the Northeast Park of Liulichang, and the two cars went straight to Liulichang.After entering the Northeast Garden, at the gate of De's house, the car stopped when the man with a Hubei accent said it.Short stature came forward and knocked on the door. After knocking for a long time, someone answered and asked who it was?The outside responded: "Come on, don't Mr. Chen from Hubei live here?" The inside responded yes, and opened the door, but it was a servant in his forties who spoke with a Hubei accent.At this time, the tall man had already paid for the car, and both of them took out their business cards and asked the servants to go back quickly.The servant took two business cards, and saw that one was printed with the name of Wang Dujuan and his native place was Guangdong, and the other was printed with the three characters of Bai Chongguang and his native place was Hubei.The family didn't dare to neglect, and hurried to the upper room to go back.His host, Chen Youyun, just got up from the bed, looked at the business card, and ordered to invite him quickly.

It turned out that Chen Youyun was from Hanyang, Hubei, a small Beijing official in Bagong, and worked in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.He also opened a Nanzhi shop in Beijing called "Bowenzhai", and his business was very prosperous.Bai Chongguang is his cousin, and he brought a friend to visit today. You Yun, because he is a close relative, cannot refuse to see him.In fact, he was very unhappy, because Bai Chongguang and him were not only cousins, but also classmates since childhood. So he was cautious and dedicated to curry favor with being an official.When Zhuang Zhongtang was the governor of the two lakes, he founded a kind of normal school, and Youyun Tong Chongguangquan was admitted to study.Although Zhongguang was in the school, he was obsessed with all kinds of revolutionary theories, and secretly organized a volunteer society in the school.This aspiration to learn, on the surface, is an aspiration to study, but in fact, deep down, it is an aspiration to bleed.He also lobbied Youyun to join the club, but Youyun insisted on refusing.Later, Zhuang Zhijun selected people to send to Japan to study, and both Chen and Bai were in the selection.Youyun, however, was afraid to go. He was afraid that when he arrived in the East, he would be coerced by the party members and fall into the realm of revolution.Just in time for Beijing to hold the Bagong Palace Examination, he ran to Beijing.Fortunately, I have a business, so I live in Bowenzhai and concentrate on the exam.Because he was excellent in writing and he was a student of Zhuang Zhongtang, he actually got the first class in the examination.From then on, he worked as an errand in Beijing, and he was very proud of his official career.In the past two or three years, I have never passed a letter with Bai Chongguang, and I have forgotten this cousin for a long time.Now, when I see his business card, I am so rash, I am startled, and besides his cousin's business card, there is this Wang Dujuan's business card, and I feel very uncertain.Because of this kind of name, it clearly has the color of a party member, so it is expected that his cousin must have joined some party or society.However, at this time, they dare not refuse to see each other. One is a close relative, and Bai Chongguang is the son of his own aunt. He has come all the way, so there is no reason not to see him. If the two do not see them, they will cause trouble in Beijing. , if Bai Chongguang confessed that he was his cousin, how could he bear the charge.It would be better to treat them well, persuade them to leave Beijing with good words, and leave Beijing early, which is the best way.Thinking of this, I hurriedly greeted him personally.

At this moment, Wang and Bai had already entered his living room.Youyun came out, took the first step, took Chongguang's hand and said with a smile: "Old cousin, I haven't seen you for many years, how have you always been so good?" The progress has really failed my cousin's expectations.I also introduced it to a friend, saying that this Mr. Wang is my younger brother Mo Ni's friend, and this is my cousin Chen Youyun.The two shook hands and said a few polite words to each other.Youyun asked her aunt if she has been healthy in recent years?Chongguang replied sadly: "My cousin's question really leaves me speechless. I am finally the first unfilial person in the world. This time I went abroad to study, and I only passed two letters to my family for three years. This time After returning to China, I lived in Shanghai for two months, and then came straight to Beijing, and never went home to check on my mother, how can I know if my mother is healthy or not?" Hearing this, You Yun showed a very serious expression on his face. A look of dissatisfaction came, and he sighed and said, "Brother, it's not Brother Yu talking about you, think about it for yourself, my aunt is sixty years old this year, and you are the only son in front of her knees, and there are no three brothers or two brothers. Even if you can't sit still in the morning and evening, and stay in the courtyard for a long time, you should go home for a while to comfort the hope of relying on you. Why don't you go home first when you return to the country? This is really ridiculous." Chongguang received the praise. Brother taught me a lesson and bowed his head in silence.Seeing that he was embarrassed, Youyun asked him what school he had attended in Dongyang in the past three years, and whether he had ever graduated.Chongguang said: "My little brother, I wanted to learn military equipment, but later changed to industry because of the long years. I have graduated this year." Youyun asked him again, what do you plan to do when you come to Beijing this time?Chongguang said: "My little brother and my friend Wang Jun both graduated from industry. When we come back to China this time, we want to find one or two capitalists and open a factory so that we can develop our studies. We live in Shanghai for two or three years. Yue, but never met the opportunity, only went to Beijing to find a cousin. There must be a lot of capitalists in this metropolis, please introduce one or two for us, it will help us. I think my cousin can agree." You Yun Frowning, he replied: "My cousin, this is a difficult problem for you. How do you people outside know the situation in Beijing? This capital city has become dead in recent years, and the market is full of strong outsiders. Don't look at the streets full of people. Buildings, gold plaques, and soaring archways don’t actually have real money, they’re all empty.” Chongguang didn’t wait for him to finish, and then interjected: “If you want to find capitalists, you can’t find them on the street. Members, how many years have they been governors and servants, there must be a lot of money, why not use some as capital." You Yun laughed and said: "I said that my cousin is a layman and knows nothing, and you still refuse to be convinced. To say such nonsense, I really want to break my stomach from laughing. Why do you only take a fancy to the princes and officials? You must know that these people are all misers. When they returned to Beijing, they pretended to be poor. Not to mention opening a factory, they dared not even open a small shop. They kept all their silver in secret in foreign banks and only paid interest. Seeing that they are willing to take advantage of foreigners for nothing, they are willing to do so. At some point, they will have to stare at foreigners and trick them for a while, why bother?" Chongguang said: "Why are foreigners still cheating?" You Yun He laughed and said: "My brother, it's really rare and strange. You have lived in a foreign country for three years, but you don't know that there are so many wonders in China. Foreigners cheat, they only pick big ones, many cheats, not too big, not too many, not too many. It's worth his attention. Let's take this recent fraud case as an example. The 1.2 million taels of vain money went into the waist of outsiders without anyone noticing it. The owner of the deposit has to be humble. I beg someone to cancel this account. Do you think there are people in the world who are so taken advantage of?" When Youyun said this, not only Chongguang was surprised, but even Wang Dujuan was puzzled and asked anxiously what was going on.Youyun sighed and said: "It's a long story. We always blame us Chinese for being too immature. If we pass the knife handle to others and ask them to kill them, can they be polite? You don't know about others, the famous Prince En , you should know?" The two responded in unison: "I know, I know, this is the power minister of the three dynasties, a white-faced treacherous king, who is good at taking money and accepting bribes, and even foreigners admire his name. I don't know this gentleman. What happened again, what was so ugly, please tell me in detail, my cousin, we have also opened our ears, and we have never heard of it." Youyun said: "Okay, don't be busy, wait for the family to have breakfast, we will have a meal together." It’s not bad to have a drink while explaining the words in detail, as a kind of drink.” As he spoke, he moved the tables and chairs, and put the wine and vegetables on the table. The three of them were drinking, and Bai Chongguang urged him to ask again. Youyun, what is going on, Youyun smiled and told them.

It turned out that this king of grace, since the death of the empress dowager, although his power has been reduced a little, after all, he is a veteran of the three dynasties, with deep roots, no one can win him!Also, the regent is weak and incompetent, he still doesn't know much about the official affairs of the court, how can he take charge of the affairs alone?Therefore, you have to consult King En for almost everything.Seeing that there was a gap to take advantage of, the old King of Encouragement used the method of flattering the Empress Dowager to flatter the Prince Regent and the current Empress Dowager Longyu.Banner man's temperament, he likes to be courteous at first, not to mention that the queen mother is a woman after all, even though she hated him back then, now seeing that he obeys her own wishes in every way, she gradually recovered her feelings.At the same time, the most favored eunuch at this time was Zhang Delu, and King En used the same means to curry favor with Li De to use that day to curry favor with Zhang Delu.In front of the Queen Mother, Delu naturally tried his best to help him and said many good things.As for the side of the regent, because he was afraid of internal affairs, he tried his best to curry favor with the regent Fujin. Whenever Fujin loved something, he would come in without waiting for a word; Showing courteousness and making people happy, so this She Fujin is especially fond of him.Since King En has all kinds of methods, he is really happy to see his face, and his favored relatives are especially stable and unshakable in Japan than the Empress Dowager Xi.Since the favor is preserved, the power will naturally increase day by day.Not to mention all the activities of accepting bribes for personal gain.At this time, Zhang Fengzhou, governor of Guangxi, came to Beijing to introduce him.This Zhang Fengzhou was born in Chen Chunxuan's shogunate, because of his excellent handwriting and shrewdness, he drafted all the memorials about Lao Chen on weekdays.That's why Lao Chen cherished him very much. He guaranteed three guarantees and two guarantees, so he secured an alternate road, referring to the province of Guangxi.In less than half a year, Guangxi Youjiang Road was repaired.Three months later, he was appointed as the governor of Guangxi.At this time, Zhang Fengzhou was only thirty-four years old, and he started a house and established a festival. Anyone in the official career would not envy his luck.After all, the Minister of Military Aircraft always felt that this person was promoted too quickly, and it must be a young man who got lucky.Although the regent listened to old Chen's one-sided words and favored Youlong, these ministers of the king always wanted to get him out of trouble.That old En Wang YouQi was eager to give it a try, and sent a private message to Lao Chen, expressing his dissatisfaction.Old Chen was so shrewd, there was no reason why he couldn't see it, so he wrote a secret letter to Zhang Fengzhou, telling him to be extra careful, don't wait until it hits a wall, and it will not be easy to recover.When Feng Zhou received the letter, he decided that this matter must be like this in order to stabilize his position.Thinking of this, I made a note and asked to see you in Beijing.It is said very earnestly in the booklet, it is nothing more than that it is not easy to suppress the Jing Fu Sui in the important land in the south.The minister is a new student, deeply afraid of Fusheng, so he can only ask the emperor for permission to come to Beijing to see him, kneel down to listen to the instructions, and follow them.After sending out the booklet, he had expected that it must be exactly as requested.Because in the former Qing Dynasty, the Governor-General saw that it was an opportunity for military ministers to make a fortune. Even if the emperor forbade it, they would try their best to tell all kinds of reasons to blackmail the emperor and must allow it.What's more, Zhang Fengzhou is someone they pay attention to, so there is no reason why he should not be allowed.Feng Zhou made up his mind, so he hurriedly made preparations for going to Beijing.The first problem is money.Unknowingly, he remitted 1.5 million taels of silver from HSBC Bank to Beijing, and then got up to go by himself.

When he arrived in the capital, he lived in an old-fashioned grain store outside the front door, quietly and quietly.Almost no one knows that he is the commander in chief of Guangxi.He claimed to be the alternate magistrate of Guangdong and came to Beijing to introduce him.He didn't pay homage to his fellow countrymen, nor did he pay homage to officials in Beijing. He only lived in Beijing for ten days with a master and a family.He went to various theaters to listen to operas during the day, and walked around Bada Hutong at night. He visited almost all the famous places in Beijing.That night, instead of going for a stroll, he ordered a carriage, put on his official uniform and a second-rank topband, and after getting in the carriage, he ordered to pay a visit to Prince En's Mansion.Which one of these carriage drivers doesn't recognize Prince En's Mansion.After receiving the order, he raised his whip like the wind and lightning, and he arrived at the gate of the mansion in a blink of an eye.Feng Zhou got out of the car and walked to the work place by himself.The guards at the incident office were betting there, and when they saw a second-rank official, they didn't even lift their heads, and they were still yelling.Feng Zhou came over and asked humbly: "I would like to ask all the lords, is the old lord in the mansion at this time?" One of them was a little older, raised his head, glanced at him, and replied slowly "You are probably an official from another province, so you don't know the rules of your house?" Feng Zhou hurriedly said with a smile on his face: "What the master said is true, please ask the master for advice." That person wanted to answer, and the rest stopped: "What do you care about him! Since he has come to the palace, is there anyone who inquires about the rules?" The man said: "It's convenient for others, convenient for yourself, what can I do for him?" Then he said to Feng Zhou: "Since you are an official from another province , When you first arrived in Beijing, you must have come to introduce me. It is not easy to meet the old prince. The first threshold is that you have to meet the Lord Chang Shi of the house first, and Lord Chang Shi will allow you to come back. Only then can you have a chance to meet the prince. "Feng Zhou said: "Where is Lord Changshi? I have to ask the Lord for advice." The guard said: "The Changshi Office is not far from here, and we have to go up and back for you. Lord Changshi may see you, Maybe not. Maybe the governor will see it, but if it is a Taoist team, then it will not be sure." Feng Zhou understood it, and he had a root in his heart, and then asked who was on duty?It was the guard just now who smiled and said: "My name is En Rong, and he is the guard on duty today." Feng Zhou took out his wallet from his pocket when he arrived at this time, and took a piece of official title, two pieces of silver Tickets, said with a smile: "Master En, these two silver bills are two hundred and two, one for Mr. En to buy tea, and one for all the lords to share at will. Don't laugh at me. For official titles, I beg Mr. En to come to Master Changshi and reply on your behalf." After Feng Zhou made the announcement, all the guards stood up, smiling all over their faces, not just looking down on people.Enrong hurriedly took the film, saw the official title on it, felt a deep welcome, and said with a smile: "It turned out to be Mr. Zhang Zhongcheng, why didn't your old man tell you earlier, we people really have eyes but don't know Taishan, very Wait a moment. These four hundred taels of respect, I really don't dare to accept them, please take them back." At this time, seven or eight guards also gathered around to greet him, and Feng Zhou was too noisy to cope.While still in peace, he said to everyone: "If you masters don't accept my money, you think it's too little and look down on me." Then he handed it over.In fact, when these people saw the bank notes, they were already jealous.The temper of the banner man is very polite, and there is no truth in saying a nice word, with a humble mouth, the bank note has already flown into his waist.Enrong said again: "This room is hot and dirty, let me accompany you to the living room." He led Feng Zhou out and let him into the front hall.He then took the film and went to the long history office to make an incident.

But he said that the long history man in front of him, named Hailiang, named Zhongming, was from Baoyi Banner, and he was not very old, only twenty-seven or eight years old this year.Because his younger sister is Xing Beizi's side Fujin, Tete promoted him to the prefect of the prefecture.Although he is not very old, he is very shrewd, he is good at making friends, he talks broadly, and he is purely a banner man.People inside and outside the mansion are almost all called by Hai Erye.He has a hobby in his life, which is snuff bottles, such as agate, tourmaline, coral, and emerald. He keeps a lot of them, but he doesn't care much about them; he is most proud of magnetic snuff bottles, with various pictures and crystals painted by Zhou Leyuan. Hu'er, especially welcome.He never leaves his cigarette bottle in his hand all day long, even when he sleeps, he sleeps with his cigarette bottle in his hand, which shows how good he is.In the afternoon of this day, I was alone in the lounge, carrying out all the snuff bottles, admiring them for entertainment.The guard Enrong came in with the film and said to him: "Go back to Second Master, now there is Zhang Fengzhou, the governor of Guangxi, who is here to pay his respects to An. He has already let him go to the living room, Second Master, please go out to meet." Hai Liang heard this, and said impatiently: "Do you know that I will meet him, so you just let him go in the living room? How much money did he give you for the door bag, and you serve him like this." En Rong hurriedly smiled, and then Asked for an An and said: "Bibian made a mistake, Second Lord please forgive me." Hai Liang snorted, packed up the smoking pot, put on a Ning silk mandarin jacket, followed Enrong out, and entered the hall , Meet Feng Zhou.Greeting each other, Feng Zhou said: "My little brother came to Beijing yesterday, and today I came here to pay homage to Mr. Chang Shi. I am very disrespectful, and I pray for Haihan." Zhou Jingyan.Feng Zhou smoked while smiling and said, "So Master Chang Shi also likes this?" Hai Liang unconsciously asked, "Could it be that Zhong Cheng is also a comrade?" Feng Zhou calmly took out a small porcelain pot from his bosom Come here, hand it to Hai Liang and said with a smile: "Please appreciate this pot, is it Kangxi porcelain?" Hai Liang took it over and took a closer look. The fox rabbit with arrows has bright red blood on its body.Hailiang looked at it, couldn't put it down, and said: "This pot is really rare. There are many pictures of autumn hunting in blue and white, but there are not many colorful ones. There is one brother, but the injured animal has no blood color. It seems It's not as good as Zhongcheng's pot, but I don't know where you got this pot from?" Feng Zhou said: "This pot belongs to Chen Zhijun. I was in his tent back then, and because I first arrived in Guangdong and Guangxi, I was very afraid. Miasma, he asked me to smell the snuff and said it could avoid miasma, so he gave me the snuff pot together. According to him, this is the property of Director Li. He and Director Li are brothers, so the manager is willing to give this beloved Give it to him. Chen Zhijun didn’t like snuff very much, so he gave it to me.” Hai Liang said: “I can’t complain! I said that unless you are a big nephew, there is no such good thing. Now my brother has a kind of unfeeling request, I would rather Take an emerald jug, which is really glass green. I don’t know if you would give it up for this jug of yours.” Feng Zhou laughed loudly and said, “My lord Changshi, why are you so stingy! Since you love it, you can take it and take it away.” It's over, where can I change the words?" Hai Liang was overjoyed to see that he gave it to her, and hurriedly asked An to thank him.He also praised Feng Zhou and said: "I know a lot of governors and governors among you Han people. It's the first time I've seen you as generous as your husband." What kind of generosity. My little brother likes to make friends in the flag the most in his life, because he doesn't have any dirty spirit. Most of us Han people are nerds, so it's no wonder you don't like it." Hearing his openness, Hai Liang tried his best to get close to himself, and then He took Feng Zhou's hand and said, "My little brother would like to be an ally with you, but it's too high a climb. I don't know if you will condescend or not?" Become brothers with different surnames." Hai Liang said: "Excellent! Are you a Geng this year?" Feng Zhou said: "Young man, I wasted thirty-four years this year." Hai Liang heard this, kowtowed on the ground, saying that you are Big brother, little brother is only twenty-eight this year.Feng Zhou was not polite, so he accepted his gift, and immediately showed his elder brother's face, saying: "Brother, let's change posts tomorrow, and I will go to the house to kowtow to my adoptive father and mother. Today, let's do business first, Brother Yu." The second time I came was Jinjing. To tell the truth, I have been here for several days. Because I am not familiar with all the methods, I dare not report to the military aircraft. It's not too late to hand over the note." Hai Liang said: "Brother came to see the prince this time, is he empty-handed, or what's the point?" Feng Zhou said: "How can there be no reason to be empty-handed? Naturally, it is a sincere respect Yes, there is some offering." Hai Liang said: "How much do you want to offer?" Feng Zhou said: "This matter has to be deliberated with my brother in advance: if there are too few gifts, how can the prince think about it? Too much, and I'm afraid I don't have such great power." Hai Liang said: "How much money did you bring?" Feng Zhou said: "To tell you the truth, brother, I have collected a whole million taels. I don't know if this amount is enough. Not enough?" Hai Liang said: "How can there be any certainty about this matter? One million taels is not too little, but it depends on whether you know how to use it. If you know how to use it, this one million taels can be used as two Millions of flowers; if you don’t know how to use them, you will give them all to the open space, and you won’t get any benefits. How do you plan to distribute them?” Feng Zhou thought for a while and replied: “My lord, I want to give 400,000 The rest of the military planes will give a total of 400,000 yuan; the remaining 200,000 yuan will be distributed to the masters of the various ministries and the deployment hall officials. Brother, do you think this distribution is appropriate?" Hailiang laughed and said: "After all, the elder brother is a layman, so I can't If you want to spend it like this, it's too tasteless. You have to know that money must be spent on the edge of the knife, not on the back of the knife. Brother, this one million, for example, if you want to protect your immediate status, it is too much If you have any other thoughts, I feel less. But I don't know what you mean?" Feng Zhou heard that there was something in his words, and hurriedly stepped closer and asked: "My brother's words are right in the heart of Brother Yu. As the saying goes People go high, water goes low, who doesn't want to go to the next level? It's just that Brother Yu really doesn't know if there is such an opportunity now, and he has to ask my brother to show me how to get lost." Hai Liang smiled and said: "Brother is really an official star, If you don’t meet me today, I’m afraid you won’t have a place to look for this opportunity while you’re holding a lantern. To tell you the truth, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi will be vacated sooner or later. At present, there are already crowds competing in the dark curtain. Pity you old fool, Even Ying'er doesn't know yet."

Hearing Feng Yiyi's words, his enthusiasm for promotion immediately soared to the extreme. He felt his face was hot and his heart was pounding.Busy tried his best to calm down, and asked Hailiang: "The Guangdong-Guangdong Taiwan-based Fang Jiangong is in Shengju Youlong, how can he open a vacancy?" Hai Liang said: "How do you know that Fang Jiangong himself feels that Shengju Youlong, He refused to buy the prince's account. This spring, the prince sent him a telegram, entrusting him to buy pearls and diamonds for 200,000 yuan. After buying them, he asked him to send a commissioner to Beijing. The bank remittance. This Lord Fang is also fat and greasy. After buying the pearls and diamonds, he sent an official to Beijing until the mansion came to present. The prince immediately heard that the officer presented the brocade box, and the prince opened it. After looking at it, I was quite satisfied, so I asked the officer: "How much is the total price?" Feng Zhou interjected after hearing this, "Of course it's for filial piety to the prince, can you still ask for a price?" Hai Liang said: "But here again, If you want to speculate according to common sense, of course it is so, who knows that things in the world are beyond common sense. The old Fang actually opened a handbook of the value, which clearly stated: one cent, one pearl, how many pearls, How much is the price of each diamond, how much is the total price; what is the number of one cent five cents, how much is the number of two cents, how many diamonds of other sizes, how many cents, the total price. It will be stated later that the total is one hundred and ninety-eight thousand and seven hundred and sixty Five yuan and four corners. There is also a letter to the effect that this pearl and diamond was purchased by an outsider, and the price has not yet been paid. Please send the money to Guangdong as soon as possible so that it can be paid back. The prince smiled after reading it, and said yes The messenger said: I haven't got all the money yet, please take this thing back to the store for now, and when I remit the money, I will let you know and send this thing here. The messenger has not yet realized , bowed to answer, and said that as long as the prince accepts it and rewards a stamped receipt, it is not very important for this model to be remitted early and late. I don’t have the money, and I can’t remit it for a while. Why don’t Fang Zhijun suspect that you have done something wrong? You’d better go back to the store and wait.” For half a month, there was no news, so I had to come to the mansion again to report. How could the prince be willing to see him? After waiting for a month, the officer was in a hurry, so he only sent a telegram to Guangdong to ask for instructions. He called back and said: As long as the prince accepts it, the money will follow It is also possible to remit it. The official sent the telegram to see the prince again, and the prince accepted it. It happened that the enemy's road was narrow, just in time for the reimbursement of a navy in Guangdong. He came to trust the prince again, and the prince wrote back, saying that there is no 300,000 yuan, which is not good. After repeated pleading, 200,000 was settled. The prince was benevolent, and said that the price of 200,000 pearls and diamonds would be fully allocated for him. For this purpose, in fact, it is just a word to the Du branch. You see, Lao Fang is so good at doing things, how can he blame the prince for hating him, and his legs are not good? He asked for it!" Feng Zhou said "Since this is the case, I have to help Brother Yu no matter what, and it must be less than a talent. As for spending more and spending less, but according to my words, Brother Yu is by no means a stingy person. I think you can save me for me, and you can also help me." It will never be wasted." Hai Liang counted it with his fingers, and said with a smile: "Brother, you only prepare 1.5 million taels, and you will keep your Guangdong-Guangzhou production platform in safe hands. By chance, you may not need this much. To tell you the truth, currently ShaanxiLao Rui, governor of the West, has already handed over two million.The prince didn't like him very much, saying that he was mediocre and not good enough to be the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, so he never promised him.I think the elder brother is so young and beautiful. The prince must like it when he sees it.You can confer 200,000 respects, first ask the prince to be your teacher, and then I will clear it up for you. I guess one million is enough to do it.As for the other four military planes, you can only give him 20,000 silver charcoal respects each, which is quite a lot, and you can't offend them any more.Ke Dao censor, give them two hundred taels of silver each, and pick the naughty and talkative ones, and give each of them another two hundred, and that's it.There are more than a hundred but no more than a thousand officials in each temple.Calculated in this way, less than 200,000 yuan is enough, so why spend more money? "Feng Zhou said: "Brother Chengxian taught, and brother Yu followed them one by one.Let's pay homage to the teacher today, what do you think? "Hai Liang said: "As long as you have the money ready, you can learn to be a teacher at any time." "Feng Zhou immediately took out a receipt book from his bosom. There was ready-made pen and ink on the table. He filled in 200,000 taels and another 20,000 taels. After stamping them all, he tore them off and gave them to Hailiang. Look, it is said that this is a check from HSBC. The two hundred thousand is for the prince. The two thousand is not a respect. Please accept it. It is a little bit of filial piety to help the adoptive parents for snacks. Hai Liang said: "We Brother, why care about this? "Although he said so, the ticket was accepted. He found another red envelope and asked Feng Zhou to write down the 200,000 yuan of respect, and wrote "disciple Zhang Fengzhou paid a hundred respects", and Hailiang carried it in his bosom. In the middle, I said excuse me big brother, you wait here for a while, and when the prince hears you, I will accompany you in again. After saying that, I wobbled away.

After a while, I saw him running back with a smile on his face.When they met, they congratulated Feng Zhou and said, "Brother's luck is really good! The prince is eating dinner in the dining hall. I took it up for a while, and the prince was very happy. He said that since he is a student, there is no need to be polite.他到膳厅来，一同吃饭吧。你快随着我走，别耽误工夫了。”凤周三脚两步，随海亮来至膳厅。只见金碧辉煌，绕眼生致。一共是六间，里面三间明着，外面三间也明着。王爷正在暗间用膳，明间站着几个侍卫，还有两三个太监，轮流着向里间上汤上菜。海亮将他带至外间，低声道：“你先候一候。”凤周站住，海亮进去，一转身又出来，高高将帘子打起，又喊道：“有请章中丞。”凤周侧身进来，略一抬头，见上面椅子上坐着一位须鬓如银的老叟，只穿着古铜色爱国布夹袍，头上戴着六瓣青纱小帽。帽上镶着一块碧玺，碧玺上面还有豆粒大小一颗珍珠，宝光四射，灿烂照人眼目。凤周料想这必是王爷了。王爷见他走进，居然立起身来。海亮向凤周道：“这便是老王爷。”凤周连忙跪下叩头，王爷居然弯下腰去，扶了他一把。这也要算从来未有的异数了，因为其余督抚参谒王爷时候，不过立起身来，拱一拱手罢了。如今居然弯腰搀扶，这二十万两的魔力，真是不小。凤周立起身后，王爷满面春风，招呼他坐下，问他是几时来的。凤周答称是昨日才到的，赶紧斋戒沐浴，今日一早特来参谒师王。恩王又笑道：“初次见你，何必这样费心？”凤周道：“不腆之仪，门生实觉抱愧得很。难得师王不嫌菲薄，居然赏脸收下，门生已经感激了！怎又劳王爷挂诸齿颊，岂不更叫门生跼蹐不安？”恩王听他对答得十分得体，心中益发高兴，说：“好好，你随我吃饭吧。也没有什么好菜敬你，家常便饭，咱们借此可谈心。”凤周又谦逊道：“门生怎敢同师王并坐吃饭。请王爷随意用饭，门生侍坐，王爷有什么垂询的事，随问随回就是了。”恩王道：“岂有此理！我既收你做门生，便用不着这许多客气。我叫你吃饭，你吃就好了。”凤周不敢再谦，只得随着同吃。恩王问他广西的缺肥瘠如何？凤周回道：“广西原是著名的暗缺，面子上虽是协省，其实地方并不穷。像门生规规矩矩地做官，不敢胡乱想钱，每年七八十万总可以剩。在不规矩的，各项伸手很多，那就没有准稿子。”恩王点点头，说：“足见你这人诚实不欺。当年于老枚林老年，他们做的时候，总说是不剩钱。我向他们借十万，全不肯痛痛快快拿出来，总是推三阻四，可见人心太不公了。”凤周道：“门生是托师王的福荫，才能做官，饮水思源，时刻不敢忘记，绝不敢同他们这些人去学。”恩王大笑道：“本爵的门生，全能照你这样，那就好极了。”又问凤周何时递请安的折子，何时会见那几位军机？凤周道：“这些事门生全不敢自主，必须先请师王爷的示下。”恩王沉吟了一会道：“这样吧，你暂且先候三天，到时候我派海亮去知会你好了。”凤周诺诺连声，也不便久坐，便告辞回寓。

这三天以内，海亮果然在恩王面前替他疏通妥协，一百万的款子，也开好支票送过去，恩王便传谕叫他递折请安。照例，督抚请安的折子一上去，便立时召见，决不能迟过三天。果然摄政王传谕，明日预备召见。凤周正在少年英俊之时，相貌既秀美，说话又嘹亮，连次召见两回，奏对称旨。摄政王对恩王说：“这章凤周果然名下无虚，听他的谈吐，确有干济之才。”恩王乘势答道：“王爷眼力果然不差。此人不止有才，而且心地忠诚。他对本爵说，年来受摄政王爷特达之知，由监司擢升疆吏，时时刻刻想着勉报皇恩，碎骨粉身，亦非所惜。看来此人很有良心，与那班滑头的汉臣迥乎不同。”摄政王道：“这就难得了。他们汉人中，唯有那骑墙派的滑头，分外可恨。”恩王道：“他们岂但骑墙呢，据章凤周报告，两广总督方建功，对于革命匪徒他都不肯得罪。有时候明知故纵，有人擒了来，交给他办，他愣给放了，还说屈枉良民。似这种人，比骑墙派尤其可恨，所以广东革命党闹得更凶。据凤周说，简直是明目张胆，白昼横行。那为首的孙文，居然敢跑到省城活动。这还像话吗？”摄政王听了，不觉勃然大怒道：“方建功的为人，怎么会坏到这样？叫他早早滚蛋吧！别等酿出事来，可就晚了。”恩王道：“方建功当然要革掉他，只是继任的人，必须寻一个明干有为、忠心报国的，方能消弭隐患。”摄政王道：“叫章凤周去很好，何必另想人呢？”恩王道：“王爷看他能胜任，一定错不了，本爵这就拟旨好了。”摄政王点点头。恩王提起笔来，拟了两道旨意，呈与摄政王看了。摄政王盖了图章，吩咐即日发抄。真好似霹雳一声，从天而下，连其余的几位军机，全都莫名其妙。彼此纷纷议论，说怎么也没听见一点声息，这旨意是从何而来呢？分明是皇上上谕：“两广总督方建功，着开缺另候简用。钦此。”“章凤周着补授两广总督。钦此。”旨意下来之后，立时报子马接二连三地跑到粮食客店来报喜。店主人直到此时，才知道住着的是两广大帅，立刻悬灯结彩，一个粮食店街，全格外热闹起来。紧跟着海亮来拜，给凤周出主意，说：“大哥快快将银子该送谁的，一律拨清。然后提前请训出京，千万别在北京久住。这北京是一个是非坑，住久了，夜长梦多，可不是闹着玩的。”凤周此时已经达到目的，自然也不便久住，赶紧拜客送款。恩王的一百万，是由汇丰银行转账拨清。另外送了海亮十万两，算是把一百五十万报销了一个干干净净，只换了一个两广总督的头衔。请训之后，便倏然出京，直赴上海，换轮船到广东接任去了。 却说这北京城中，因为凤周这个总督放得太突兀，官场中莫不纷纷议论，说他一定是在当道手里报效了巨款，要不然一个三十多岁的人，朝廷无论如何，不能放他做总督。这其间有一个御史，尤其愤愤不平。此人姓江名士兴，少年登第，才气很好。只是有些名士气，恃才傲物，不受罗勒。又是新考取的御史，立志想弹劾几个大头脑，出一出胸中的愤气，也好博一个直言敢谏的贤名。偏巧遇着这件事情，凤周又不达时务，拿他当一个末学新进看待，只送了二百两银子。江士兴原封给他璧回，他便收下，也不曾再送。因此二人益发有了嫌隙。凤周走后，他便向各处探听这次纳贿的凭据。也活该是冤家路窄，江士兴有一个表叔，姓梅号叫子林，在汇丰银行出纳科做事多年。此番章凤周行贿，恩王得了一百二十万两，怎样拨的账，他是彻始彻终全都知道。士兴托他探听消息，他便笑着问士兴：“如果探听着了，你怎样办呢？”士兴道：“给他一个和盘托出，连行贿的带受贿的，叫他们全不得安生，也泄一泄我胸中的积愤。”子林道：“我的老表侄，都老爷，你这主意就错了。常言说，杀人须落两把血。你自己想一想，你的势力，能扳得动章凤周同受贿的人吗？”士兴道：“扳不动是自然的，不过出出气罢了。”子林道：“你专为出气，将功名丢掉了，那犯得上吗？至不济自己得要寻一个下半世的快活，然后再同他们拼一拼，也值得呀。”士兴听子林的话里有话，忙把座位向近处挪一挪，低声问道：“表叔这话，莫非是有什么把握吗？”子林笑道：“要没有把握，也不向你谏言了。实对你说，老章的两广总督，是一百二十万换的，由我们汇丰账上，只把姓章的存款拨作恩王的存款，这件事便算妥当了。”士兴一听，不觉跳起来喊道：“这还了得！我明天便递折子参他们。”子林道：“你怎么又闹起毛脚刺来，这件事不是这样做法。如今你倒不必忙着参，等我先同外国人接一接头，问他肯出多少？等他把支票给你送过来，然后你再递折子，也不算晚。”士兴到此时，方才恍然大悟，不觉笑道：“原来外国人也想敲他的竹杠呀？”子林道：“什么话呢，这样稳拿的买卖不做，要做什么买卖呢？只消你一个折子上去，摄政王必定要派人查账，那时恩王除去央求本行将这笔款注销之外，再也想不出旁的法子来。你请想，账既然注销，再想要款，却向何处拿去？这件事岂不是完全便宜银行吗？你为何无缘无故白给外人做饭吃呢，乐得敲一笔花花不好吗？”士兴听到此处，不觉心花怒放，忙问子林：“可以敲得多少？”子林道：“你的意思怎么样呢？”士兴道：“至不济他还不给三分之一吗？”子林道：“恐怕做不到，二十万是稳能拿到手的。”士兴道：“我们坏了功名，只换得二十万，他们稳坐钓台，倒得一百万，这事太不公平了。”子林道：“我替你说着看，能多不更好吗。但是你怎样谢我呢？”士兴道：“咱爷儿俩，还分什么彼此？只要炮响了，银子到手，表叔想用多少，便拿多少。”子林哈哈大笑道：“这口上的春风，我不领情，咱们是先小人后君子。”士兴道：“一成怎么样？”子林冷笑道：“我就知道你们酸字行儿，没有大出手。效这大的力，只给一成，那就不用办了！”士兴道：“再加一成不少了吧？”子林道：“好好，一言为定，你听我的信吧。”子林告辞去了。过了两天，高高兴兴地来见士兴，见面就说道：“好难啊！外国人是两拿，说不犯着得罪恩王，办也好不办也好，先听听再说。是我费了许多唇舌，才将大班说活了心。后来说酬劳的话，他张口只给十万两，我说不成功，人家一个御史的功名，也不只值十万呀！他问我得用多少，我要了四十万。大班说：一个折子，两篇白纸，就卖到这个价钱吗？我说：白纸与白纸不同。这张白纸，便是一百二十万两的银票。人家坏功名冒危险，只得三分之一，咱行里不费一刀一枪，白得八十万，还少吗？大班被我问住了，他又添了十万，我落到三十万，并声明自己不向行里要一个钱。他游移了多时，才给三十万，再多一两也不添了。我生怕把事闹僵了，只得答应下来。银子可不能立刻就兑，先开三十万的支票，交在我手中存着。这票上有一定的日子，过期不付，通共一个月的期限。在期限以内，你递折子参他，连查办带勾账，总可以办完了。事情完了之后，你坐在家中，净擎着得银子，一切拨兑的手续，全由我替你代办，你就候着当富家翁好了。”士兴听说事已办妥，说不尽的快活，连夜将折子拟好，也不用旁人缮写，自己誊录好了，又给梅子林看了看，便呈递上去。 此时摄政王正在沽名时候，对于贪赃枉法的案子，很想雷厉风行惩治一番。见了这折子，不觉勃然大怒道：“怨不得老恩极力保荐章凤周呢，原来贪了这大的贿赂！此事若不彻底查究，何以整肃官方？”随亲笔在折子后批道：“此案着副都御史陈侃言查明回奏，务须秉公办理，不得瞻徇情面。”旨意下来，照例是由总管处太监，知会被派人承办。此时总管处首领是张得禄，见了这折子同旨意，不觉吓了一跳，连忙亲手拿起来，去寻恩王，当面报信给他，叫他赶紧防备。恩王见了这旨意，也吃惊不小，一面向得禄致谢，一面将海亮叫上来，附耳低言，吩咐如此这般，快去弥缝办理。海亮领命去了，秘密同银行交涉。始而大班还再三不肯，说敝行的账目不能改也不能换，无论谁来查，我们只有原账端出，请他过目。至于怎样对付，请你们王爷自己办理，敝行是管不着的。海亮再三央求，大班急了，说：“除非完全注销，算当初就不曾存这笔款，此外想不出旁的法子来。你能代表王爷，担保这件事吗？”海亮无法，只得完全答应了。等他去后，过了两天，陈侃言果然到行来，说是奉旨查账，专查存款的账同拨款的账，别的不查。银行将账抱出来，请陈侃言逐一过眼。他还带了两名随员，也帮同检查，从早饭后直查到日落，不但没有这笔款，连章凤周同恩王的名字，不曾查出一个来。陈侃言只得罢手，回到家来，具了一封折奏，大致言遵旨到某行查看账目，并无此款，亦并无章凤周、恩王存款之事。该御史摭拾无稽之言，诬蔑王大臣，殊属非是。应如何申饬之处，出自圣裁，非臣所敢妄拟。谨将查明原委，具折奏陈，伏乞圣鉴训示，云云。摄政王见了笑道：“我想恩王也不能这样荒唐，江士兴未免太可恶了！”随又降一道意旨：“御史江士兴，少年浮躁，诬蔑亲贵，本应革职。姑念朝廷纳言之时，从宽惩处，着仍咨回翰林院当差，钦此。”这旨意下来，江士兴总算万幸，虽然把御史去掉，却仍保全了翰林院的清衔。至于那三十万银子，他究竟得着没得着，作小说的不曾亲眼看见，也不便再往下说。可是从此以后，这位先生潦倒宦场，再也不曾派过一次差事。他却住在北京，花天酒地，摆他名士的架子。表面上看着，比从前做御史时，倒阔绰了许多，究不知他这钱是从何处来的。到如今，北京各界提起这件事来，还都传为笑柄。常言说狼吃狼，这简直是狼遇着狼虱子了。以上所言，便是清末亲贵贪赃好货的一种黑幕。要知后事如何，且看下回分解。