Chapter 15 The Fifteenth Round of Uncle Fu Guo's Night Interview with Liu Shilang of Zizhitang

Tang'er returned to the mansion, and told her husband about playing queer at the same table with Qianlong that night, how the queen mother loves her, and how the emperor is so easy-going and amiable. It was all lost to me by the emperor, who said it was a "sanfu"—I'm going to send you out as an imperial envoy, isn't it your official luck?——You take this golden melon seeds to the bottom of the box, it's God Big jackpot!" "You should save a gold hairpin." Fu Heng smiled and said, "The emperor gave me several Ruyi handles. This idea of ​​golden melon seeds makes you so happy that you have no place to put them." Excited, uneasy, and shy, wrapped the golden melon seeds in a handkerchief, blushed and said with a smile: "I won the lottery for you, but you don't know how to feel about it. You are rewarded, you are rewarded." He won, and the taste is different! Lafayette later said, Fu Heng is a good kid, he is a descendant of Mi Sihan, and he is a close relative. The emperor wants to let your imperial envoy go out to practice for a while, and call you when he comes back Let's go to Zhangjing, the military aircraft department!" Fu Heng was stunned, and said, "Really? I knew about sending me out as an imperial envoy. I thought—"

Tang'er licked her temples, and said: "I knew it earlier and I didn't tell anyone. They are still husband and wife! Let me tell you, this is the first time you are working alone. You are young, and there are some things you can't think of. How about you?" Meet Zhang Zhongtang and ask for advice. Make the imperial envoys ostentatious. The empress and the emperor have good faces, and they can speak for you. You see, Gao Jin, the father of Hui Zhuer, is doing a good job in the Lianghuai Salt Administration. Let go of the governor of the river, the river is well managed, and now he is the governor of the two rivers, and he does not rely on his daughter to be a concubine to be promoted. Master Hui followed Zhanguang'er into the imperial concubine. You are the younger brother of the main palace, how much do you argue? He is also better than him! When I marry you, you say you are a beauty matching a hero, but in fact you are still a 'beauty matching an uncle'. Look at those dramas, does Uncle Guo have a good reputation?"

"Forget it, I didn't finish a sentence, and you have such a big article." Fu Heng smiled, "You seemed so crazy after meeting the emperor, and told me a big truth. If you really have a sister, you are lucky enough to become a queen, and you are not more moral than your sister? But it is true that if you have a good wife in your family, your husband will have fewer misfortunes. It is also thanks to your sister, otherwise, with the emperor's flirtatious temperament, I don't know how many jokes have been made!" Tang'er is a person with a heart disease. He was startled when he heard this, and he calmed down before saying: "I don't believe what you said. I see that the emperor is very serious, and he treats people with seriousness and easy-going." Fu Heng smiled.Tell her about Qianlong and Jinxia, ​​and then said, "The emperor saw me a few days ago and said that he dreamed that Jinxia came to sue her, and in the dream the emperor told her to give birth quickly and return to the palace—you Look, the emperor is affectionate enough! The emperor went to Henan and fell in love with Zhang Tingzhi from Xinyang. I am going to do business this time, and I have to play the role of a matchmaker!" Tang'er was stunned when she heard that, and she turned her face away for a long time Spit: "Aren't you also this type of person? There are three or four concubines in the family, and the emperor rewarded twelve opera singers. They spend all day playing in it, like Fang Qing. When they have played enough, they will give favors to others! Sooner or later, I will be with you." Will also give it away!"

"Okay, okay, don't be angry, my wife! Fangqing married Cao Xueqin, didn't you just take advantage of your heart? Last time Xueqin sent two chapters of "Treasure of Wind and Moon", didn't you read it with great interest--beauty Marrying a talented person is a good thing!" Fu Heng didn't know Tang'er's thoughts, got up and stroked her hair, and said: "The old man is a famous minister in front of the holy grandfather, just look at it, the career I have done, He must be better than his old man, and he will never humiliate his ancestors. I actually hate myself for being an uncle of the country. If the job is done well, people will say that I have confidence; He's a coward, he suffers from both sides - if he doesn't work alone, if he doesn't make a big name, he's always a 'country uncle'. If there is no Bao Longtu to kill, what's the point of being an uncle for nothing?" After finishing speaking, he ordered someone to prepare a sedan chair .Tang'er hurriedly said: "Why are you in a hurry at this moment? It's getting dark, and it's not too late to go to the study tomorrow." Fu Heng changed his clothes and said: "Some things can only be said in private houses, and the ministries will return to you with the imperial decree." Meetings are needed, and the palace has to go around, so it's very busy. It's better to go tonight." Tang'er had to let him go, holding the bag of golden melon seeds, her heart was in a mess, and suddenly she was her husband , Sometimes it’s the queen, the queen mother, and sometimes it’s Qianlong... I can’t tell what it’s like.

When Fu Heng came to Zhang Tingyu's mansion, it was already dark.In front of the door hung two imperial palace lanterns, and four white gauze watermelon lanterns, which made the interior and exterior bright and bright.On the door couplet, the ten gold-plated characters bestowed by Yongzheng, "Emperor Enchun is mighty, Wenzhi Sunguanghua" are bright and dazzling.Six or seven officials from other provinces sat in the concierge's living room, drinking tea, smoking cigarettes, nibbling melon seeds and chatting, waiting for Zhang Tingyu to receive him.Seeing that it was him who came, the person at the door rushed forward to pay his respects, and said, "Our Zhongtang Lord is seeing a guest. Sixth Lord is different from other people, so I will take you in here."

"You'd better go in and report first," Fu Heng said with a smile, "Mr. Zhang has to be busy with other things. I'll come back at this time tomorrow."It was the first time for Fu Heng to wait for an interview so solemnly. He was bored and wanted to go into the living room to chat with everyone, but he was really unfamiliar. Talking to Fu Heng, he went into the living room and gave a few officials a smile and said: "Everyone and Mr. Liu haven't finished talking yet, and guard Fu here has an imperial envoy to see him. Zhang Xiang asked the villain to give to the adults first." My apologies, I will see you guys tomorrow morning. If there is something really important, I will go back and report it, but it will be a little later. Zhang Xiang can't get out of his body at the moment, and we will meet face to face tomorrow. Compensation is not enough." Several officials heard that they had already stood up, and said again and again: "Please go to the Fuzhong Hall, we will see you tomorrow." After talking, everyone resigned.

Fu Heng followed the family in, and said with a smile, "I never thought Mr. Zhang would be so busy." The family bowed in front of the road with a lantern in their hands, and said with a smile, "Neqin Xiangye has entered the military aircraft department now, and our middle hall is much more relaxed now. My grandfather followed Zhongtang, and I have never seen him sleep for three hours a day!" Fu Heng couldn't help feeling secretly after hearing this, and followed the family to come in, but it was still the study room where he had tea last time, just a new one on the lintel in front of the hall. A plaque was added with the four characters of "Zizhi Bookstore" written on it.Fu Heng paused for a moment in the corridor, stepped into the hall, bowed, and said, "Heng Chen's hall is so busy!"

"The sixth master is here, please sit down." Zhang Tingyu was talking to two officials, stood up and smiled, "You are a serious relative of the state, you used to go straight in and out, why are you so polite today? - Oh, let me introduce you For a moment, this is E Shan—" Fu Heng smiled at once, and said: "I know him very well. Isn't he a servant in the Ministry of Rites?" "That's what I said before, and now I am a servant in the Ministry of War." Zhang Tingyu smiled, Pointing to another official, he said, "This is Liu Kang, Shandong's grain storage chief. Zhuo Yi and Yue Jun recommended him to be the 'No. 1 honest official in Shandong'. The emperor said he would stay in Beijing for official business, so he was also assigned to the Ministry of War as a foreign official. ——This is Fu Heng, the second-class guard with a sword in the Qianqing Gate, and he has been released as an imperial envoy, and he is about to go out to Beijing for inspection." Liu Kang hurriedly bowed to Fu Heng, and said: "The sixth master has been to Shandong. A few times, I have met Xiaozhi in Li Zhitai's yamen. But the official is humble and the position is low, Liu Ye may not remember the humble position."

Fu Heng looked Liu Kang up and down, smiled reservedly, and said, "I still remember. You were originally the county magistrate of Xincheng, and later you were promoted to the magistrate of Dezhou. Didn't He Luying's case come from you?" Liu Kang was very displeased. Yuan talked about this topic, and hurriedly said: "Master Liu has such a good memory. We, Yue Zhongcheng, don't remember it so clearly! That year when Lord Liu released grain, he personally saw every bucket and liter. Shandong people still remember it when they talk about it. But There were also some subordinates who complained, saying that it seems that the sixth master is so serious in his work, what's the point of eating this bowl of official food?" He was neither humble nor overbearing, there were praises and "deprecations", and he was scratching at Fu Hengitch, flattering Fu Heng laughed loudly, and said: "When I go to release relief, I naturally want to relieve the victims. I don't care what the subordinates say; if they scold me, I'm afraid that God will bless me with a long life!"——Zhang Xiang, you guys And then said, I'm not in a hurry."

"Actually, I've finished talking about the important things." Zhang Tingyu returned to his seat, sipped his tea and said, "The land reform in Miaojiang has been going on for seven years, and I roughly calculated that the state used at least 20 million taels of silver. The money for the family members of the fallen soldiers has not yet been summarized and reported. Since you are going to the Ministry of War, you should think more about military training. Before Zhang Xi left his post, he submitted a memorial. A few people from our army surrounded an earthen village. Only a few dozen people from the village came out to fight, and thousands of people ran away in fright, and their own people trampled to death. I am a scholar, and I don’t know how to lead soldiers. It's also one. No wonder the master was so angry that he overturned the imperial dining table. Eshan, when you go to the Ministry of War, you will be in charge of military training. Not only Gubeikou, but also the green battalions and banner battalions in all provinces. As a secretary, you should take a look at it when you are in office, and give more suggestions to the minister, if there is something that cannot be done by the ministry, write a report and submit it to the military aircraft department, and the brother will ask for an order to handle it."

E Shan and Liu Kang sat and listened, bowing and saying yes from time to time.Liu Kangdao: "I have never done military affairs in a lowly position. But the military rations in the Shandong Banner Camp and the Green Camp are all allocated from my way, and they eat too much. Just now Zhang Xiang said that the Southwest Military Pingmiao is only the first. Sooner or later, Jinchuan, big and small, will have to use soldiers and low-ranking posts to go to the barracks in various places to see what is going on, and come back to discuss with Master E and the chief officer of our military department, and make a solid rectification report." Zhang Tingyu said with a smile: "These It's a good idea. But this is your ministry's business. I went back and asked your Shangshu Qingfu for instructions. He has his own regulations. Don't go to Li Wei. He is dying of illness. Let's talk about it when he recovers. " After saying that, they got up and said nothing, E Shan and Liu Kang bowed and resigned.Fu Heng smiled and said, "Zhongtang, are you busy enough to talk about each of them in detail? Ertai and Neqin often go there, and they are not so busy. It seems that it is trivial to do this kind of errand." "I can't help it. It's a habit to play in the officialdom now, and if you don't explain everything clearly, something will go wrong." Zhang Tingyu sighed, "It's all because I used to take too much trouble. I'm used to it, and I'm used to it too. It's easy to get on the horse and hard to get off the horse. With that said, he took out a notebook from the case and handed it to Fu Heng, and said with a smile, "This is Yanqing's memorial, which is dedicated to Shen Na and me. Sixth Master, please take a look." Fu Heng glanced at Zhang Tingyu in amazement, and when he opened the booklet, the title was very eye-catching: "Minister Liu Tongxun's Neqin and Zhang Tingyu's Affairs for the Minister of the Study and Minister of Military Affairs".There are thousands of words, and the writing is very long.It seems that Qianlong has seen it and marked it. ... Zhang Tingyu, a great scholar, has lived through three dynasties, and encountered extreme prosperity, but he should be cautious at night, and blame him constantly.Stealing public opinion, it is said that "the two surnames Zhang and Yao account for half of the Jin gentry in Tongcheng".The two surnames are originally from the giant family of Tongcheng, and their officials were either recommended by their subjects, or they were discussed and discussed, and they increased day by day.It is not possible to quickly discuss elimination, but to slightly restrain the way of its removal, to make it full of precepts and modesty, that is, to preserve and cultivate it.Please stop promoting and transferring for non-special purposes within three years... There is also Qianlong's Zhu Zhu below, the handwriting of Yin Hong is very eye-catching: I think that Zhang Tingyu and Neqin Ruoguo are good at making prestige, and Liu Tongxun will not dare to play for it.Now that there is this performance, the two ministers have no voice and potential to restrain the bureaucrats. It can be seen that this country is auspicious.Ministers have great responsibilities, so it is inevitable that people will criticize them.If you hear it, you will be happy, as the ancients said, if there is a child with a slight grudge in his chest, it is not a minister's degree.Zhang Tingyu and Naqin saw this performance today, and they should encourage themselves, because they have too many responsibilities. If there is any reduction, I will wait for my decision. Fu Heng returned the copybook to Zhang Tingyu, and said, "I never expected that Liu Yanqing would play you a copy, and there was no real reference. The emperor scolded you for no reason." "Sixth Lord, don't think so." Zhang Tingyu stared at Fu Heng with deep eyes, and said, "Liu Tongxun really loves me, and he has cleared away my doubts. This man's energy is restrained, thick and powerful, and this performance really shows his strength." A gentleman loves others with virtue, and has the standard of an ancient minister. I really admire and am very moved." Fu Heng smiled and said, "Why do you have to play this performance? It will always look bad on Zhongtang's face if it is published in the mansion newspaper. If I have these words, I will come here, just like now, and tell you face to face." Zhang Tingyu smiled and said: "There are talented people from generation to generation, each leading the way for hundreds of years. I ask myself, from the Shunzhi Dynasty to the present, Xiong Cilu, Ao Bai, Suo'etu, Mingzhu, Gao Shiqi and other ministers, whether they are loyal or treacherous, or arbitrarily powerful or detached, no one has been as long as I am. It is not easy to meet the situation, but it is actually even harder to retreat. There is nothing false in Liu Tongxun's words. It’s all what I want to say, it’s inconvenient to say, and I dare not say it, how can I not be grateful to him? People like Ertai, Li Wei and I, who have this capacity, can do everything from beginning to end. Without this capacity, we will eat dog meat before we retire You don't know - now it's your generation's turn to do something." Fu Hengyuan came here to ask for advice. Hearing Zhang Tingyu's heart-to-heart words, he felt emotional in his heart, because he laughed and said: "If I want to say this according to Zhang Xiang, I should have prepared room for retreat earlier." Zhang Tingyu laughed and said: "I I am most afraid that you will think so. The man is in the prime of his life, he has unrestrained talent, and he should make a name for himself in the world. If you follow my example now, you are nothing more than a "relative". The emperor sent you to Liangjiang this time. By the way, inspect the feudal administrations of the southern provinces. As far as I know, since the founding of the country, you are still the first to be appointed as an imperial envoy at a young age like you. This is the emperor who wants to use you a lot. You must not give up. I knew you thought so, Liu I won’t show you Yanqing’s memorial.” Fu Heng also couldn’t help laughing, and said, “I’m not even close to meeting the prince yet!” Prince He is Hong Zhou. Although Qianlong loved him, he was named "King of Political Affairs" as soon as he ascended the throne.But this prince has never discussed "politics". The biggest thing he does every day is to play with birds and paint the inside of a snuff bottle.His snuff bottle paintings are even better than Beijing's "Smoke Bottle Liu".During the Dragon Boat Festival in May this year, Hong Zhou had a whim and announced to his family that he was "dead". The children all wrapped their heads in filial piety cloth, screaming loudly.He himself sat in front of the "spirit" with a cup in his left hand and a pot in his right, eating and devouring offerings.Because of this incident, the Lifan Court was alarmed, and an excerpt was written before the Qianlong case.Qianlong said, "The ethos of the old Wujin people will not change." He smiled and put his hands away.Zhang Tingyu heard that Fu Hengbi had come out of Hong Zhou, and said: "You still don't know Fifth Lord, Fifth Lord is a smart man." He didn't want to continue on this topic, and said: "Sixth Lord, long live your trip to the south this time I've already told you. I wanted to chat with you in the study room tomorrow, but I didn't expect you to come first. You should think about what to do with this errand!" "I think there are established rules for tributes. The few yamen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the south are all run by old people, so there is nothing wrong with it." Fu Heng pondered, "The emperor hasn't made a decree yet. From the empress dowager Where do you know that there is still an errand to call back the treasury silver. I think that this year, the whole country is free of money and food, and there is no new money handed over. The emperor might want to clarify the background of the silver deposits in each treasury. But Liu Tongxun is from the Ministry of Punishment, also called He is a deputy envoy! I am a little confused about the holy will." Zhang Tingyu thought while listening, and said: "I heard from the emperor that these are not the principal's mission. The emperor asked you to go down for the purpose of collecting wind. The government is lenient. It was promulgated last year. The emperor wants to know what the officials do, what the owners think, and what benefits the poor get. Also, the copper and iron mines in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Zhejiang often gather crowds to make trouble, calling Closed business, is there any other article behind this? The last time the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi submitted a film saying that heresy is prevalent in some places among the people, such as the "Tianshenglaohui", "Tiandihui", "Baiyangjiao", and rampant magic tricks ... Although some of them are not cults, some big families specialize in recruiting high-ranking guests, asking gods to help them, and practicing martial arts. After a long time, it is easy to cause troubles. In short, these evil spirits exist in all provinces, and some officials also participate in it. Where is the court? Can you tell the good from the bad one by one? Since the sixth master is out on patrol, you might as well observe it. The emperor can't go out in person, but he really wants to know these things." After hearing these words, Fu Heng realized that there was no special topic for this business trip, but only the word "investigation", and Zhang Tingyu became more and more faithful in saying that he should use his own words.Fu Heng was so excited that his heart jumped up and down. He sat on the chair and cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Zhang, I understand. The last time I visited Henan with the emperor, I saw that the emperor was concerned about the affairs of the rivers and lakes. I thought the emperor wanted to recruit talents from the martial arts world." , Now it seems that I have underestimated it. Some things sound like the White Lotus Sect. He usually confuses people, but he rises up to create chaos in disasters. Of course, you should pay more attention to politics." Zhang Tingyu stared at Fu Heng's handsome face After a long time, he let out a sigh of relief and said: "Ertai and I are both old, it depends on you young people! The sixth master not only studies, but also learns the art of war. He is really versatile in both civil and military affairs. According to the old man , the one in this generation who can surpass the predecessors in achievements must be you, the sixth master! Although Neqin is in a high position now, but lacks confidence, it is certain that you will be above him in the future. I am only in my seventies, It may not be possible to see..." After finishing speaking, his expression was gloomy, and he sighed silently.Fu Heng saw the old prime minister who had been the chief assistant for nearly 30 years so comforting, his heart was sour, and he almost burst into tears. He forced a smile and said: "The conversation this evening is better than ten years of reading. It is really a bosom friend. I I will never forget your teachings, but if I have this opportunity, I must be a good minister like you and Neqin Xiangye!" After saying that, he got up and left. "Don't learn from Neqin, and don't learn from me." Zhang Tingyu sent Fu Heng out all the way from Zizhitang, looked at the sky full of cold stars, and said carefully: "I have literature but no martial arts, and I do things rigidly and trivially, without any innovation. I have been cautious all my life. Fortunately, I have been with three generations of British lords, so I have a good time. If I ever meet a faint lord, maybe I will only help the tyrant! Neqin is a careful person, seemingly cautious, but in fact he has no ideas. I can't say that he is ambitious and talented, but he can only act as the master and make a decision, and he is just picking up the leftovers from the sidelines. It will not work if he is alone-there are two vicious dogs that look like calves at the door of the house, they are called "prime ministers" '? Thinking deeply, it is because I am worried about my character. I am waiting to see me at the door tonight. There are four officials who are asking for his errands and dare not go. This is a disservice to your sixth master. In other words, it’s not so much that he dares not see him, it’s better to say that he dares not see him.” Zhang Tingyu's words are really heartbreaking words.Zhang Tingyu's city mansion had such a deep insight, Fu Heng was completely convinced.After a moment of silence, Fu Hengcai said, "I've learned the lesson, take care, Mr. Xiang!" On the second day after the conversation with Zhang Tingyu, Fu Heng officially received the order and was appointed as the imperial envoy of the Liangjiang patrol envoy to supervise the payment of the treasury bank recently.Tang'er and him are a loving couple, and it was the first time for Fu Heng to go on a long-distance business trip alone since the marriage, and he couldn't help feeling disappointed.She prepared water and wine for her husband's farewell, and was busy packing his luggage, taking him here and there, and asked the housekeeper to pick a few capable servants to follow him.Fu Heng smiled and said: "Do you want me to move the house and walk? You are so worried, why don't you pretend to be a girl and go with me, so that you don't worry about me being promiscuous outside, and I am worried that you will steal a man at home." Tang'er His face flushed and he spat: "He who has no conscience, he wants to go out to attract others before he leaves! ——You don't have a yamen, so how do you arrange the honorary book along the way?" "I have a survey from the Ministry of War, and there are post stations along the way. You don't have to worry about this and that." Fu Heng said with a smile: "I am ordered to patrol, and I can get anything I want. It's just that I don't want anything. I want to visit privately along the way." Tang'er was folding clothes, she couldn't help being startled when she heard this, she hurriedly came over to stare at her husband and asked, "Really? You're not talking gossip, are you?" Fu Heng said: "It's not a gossip. If I go out in the official sedan chair all the way, Or hang out in the officialdom, listening to them brag about their political achievements and seeing their flattering smiles, is it interesting?" Tang'er frowned and said: "Ah Gui wrote last time, he went to Shanzhou to take up his post, and on the way he caught a twit Yangzi. What a clever man he is, and he has been working outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs for many years, and he was almost kidnapped! It’s your first time to go out, I think it’s better to be more grand. If you want to visit privately, where will you stay? Wouldn't it be safe to come back after a day and a half?" "Is your husband dumber than Ah Gui?" Fu Heng took a sip of tea, put the cup on the table, and said with a smile, "You just want a few more people to watch over me." Tang'er laughed angrily, "I don't care about you." There are many whores on the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, and you only need to get rid of the disease carefully, and then you will repay it in this world!——Why, you want to go out?" Fu Heng put on a moon white waistcoat and buttoned it, Said: "I'm going to see Li Wei. What you said is true. There are people who twist seedlings, steal things, and rob people on the road. I'll borrow his blind man Wu to save some trouble. Really let you talk Yes, sooner or later it will become your mantra in this life." After saying that, he smiled and left.