Chapter 38 Section thirty-eight

Early the next morning, Ling Zhaoxiong quietly arrived at Zhenhui Temple in a small sedan chair. The Zhike monk had received a notice in advance to welcome him into the abbot's room. When would he go in and make an announcement? "This is the moment!" Ling Zhaoxiong stood up, "Let's go together." "No! Please sit down for a while." Guo Jinsheng, who was waiting there to take care of him, said, "I will go in with Zhike first, and explain to the surnamed Liang, and I will come to invite you." Ling Zhaoxiong thought it was okay to do so, nodded and sat down again.Before I finished drinking a cup of tea, I saw the Zhike monk rushing over, and said excitedly: "My lord, please come with me. Director Liang has returned to his master, please come in and have a talk. Oh! By the way, tell your lord: Manager Liang’s owner’s surname is Yang.”

"Surname Yang?" Ling Zhaoxiong said in a low voice, "It's Han!" The Zhike monk naturally didn't understand his ulterior surprise, so he bent his waist and led him to the back, and reported outside the gate: "Master Ling is here!" So Director Liang, who was waiting in the yard, quickly came up to him and said, "I don't want to alarm Mr. Ling!" "Your honor?" Ling Zhaoxiong asked deliberately. "My surname is Liang." "This is Director Liang." The Zhike monk added. "It turns out that your honor is Director Liang." Ling Zhaoxiong said, "I think he is taking care of the housework for your master?"

"Exactly!" Director Liang laughed a little, "Everyone calls it that, it seems to be some kind of prestigious title, but Master Ling is laughing at it!" "How dare, how dare! I came here specially to visit your superior. Please inform me." "Yes! My Majesty doesn't see visitors at all. Mr. Ling is a magistrate. To use a vulgar metaphor, it's like the local land. You have to respect it a little bit. If you always invite me to sit inside, I'll follow me back immediately." This time Manager Liang was very generous and opened the door of the main room straight to invite Ling Zhaoxiong to enter.Before they met each other, he saw that there was no hat tube on the square table in the middle, let alone a hat wrapped in brocade, probably put away on purpose.Ling Zhaoxiong feels disappointed, but he has gained something. This at least proves that he still has considerable authority, which is enough to be dreaded.

With this understanding, he felt that there was no need to be too humble, so he sat down on the guest seat as soon as he entered the door.Immediately, someone came to offer tea, one person carrying the tea tray, and another person holding the tea tray, their movements were subtle and quick, which made Ling Zhaoxiong think to himself: You can know his master by looking at his servant, it seems that this person surnamed Yang does not seem to have no origin people. Before he could finish his thought, someone lifted the door curtain from outside, Ling Zhaoxiong hurriedly took a closer look, the person who came out was about thirty years old, with thick eyebrows and deep eyes, pale face, wearing a blue satin hat and a sapphire blue satin leather robe , covered with a black waistcoat with a pipa lapel.His demeanor was unusually steady, almost stagnant.

"Master!" Manager Liang, who was following behind, flashed out to guide, "Please sit on this side." When he sat down as if no one else was present, Manager Liang said, "That side is Mr. Ling, the local official of this state." The one surnamed Yang nodded and raised his eyes to watch. Ling Zhaoxiong suddenly panicked. He was eager to find something to say to cover up his embarrassment, so he asked without thinking: "Is your surname Yang?" "My surname is Yang." The voice was very low. "Who is Taifu?" "My name is," he replied slowly, "Yang Guolin."

After the twists and turns of these two phrases, Ling Zhaoxiong's heart settled down a little, and he said calmly: "It's presumptuous to say it, and I'm just borrowing people's words. It is said that there is a guest in Zhenhui Temple who is different, so I came to visit on purpose. Please teach me more." "Oh!" Yang Guolin nodded, "Master Ling, what do you want to ask?" "Where did you come from?" "From the north to the south." "Jingli?" "That's right! From Beijing." "Congratulations at that yamen?"

Yang Guolin didn't seem to understand Ling Zhaoxiong's words.Turning around, he asked, "What?" "I'm asking, which Yamen is your master in?" Liang Dianchen added softly, "The House of Internal Affairs." "The Ministry of Internal Affairs." Yang Guolin said scripturally. The traces of fraud are obvious!Is there a reason why I don't even know that I am working in that yamen, so I need someone to remind me?However, Ling Zhaoxiong thought to himself, this person is young and has a Chinese surname, and the pretense he shows is that he is only the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so it doesn't seem to be a big deal.Knowing this, I feel that there is no need to be too polite, so I simply tighten up the conversation, and force the truth out of him, and then make sense.

So he said: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs, you can't be a hall official?" "Not an official." "what is it then?" Hearing these words, Yang Guolin seemed embarrassed and displeased, and his answer became a bit angry, "Let's count it as an officer!" "So, is there an errand for this trip out of Beijing?" "That's right! I have an errand." "What errand?" 'That! Yang Guolin raised his hand, "I can't tell you that." " Because his attitude suddenly became tough, Ling Zhaoxiong became a little scrupulous, and asked in other words: "What does the Ministry of Internal Affairs care about?"

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't care about anything." This tone is so loud!Ling Zhaoxiong was confused again, "Then," he had no choice but to ask in other words: "Leave Beijing with one step, where are you going?" "Anyway, let's go south!" "Go south all the way to Guangdong." "Isn't Guangdong also the territory of the Qing Dynasty?" Ling Zhaoxiong was at a loss for words.There was a moment of stalemate between the host and guest, but Liang Dianchen broke the silence, "Master Ling," he said, "Please go back to the yamen!"

Ling Zhaoxiong thought to himself, this is an order to evict guests!A dignified magistrate, in the place under his jurisdiction, let an unknown person be kicked out. If this word gets out, won't all the face be lost? This thought forced him to be tough, "Don't worry about it!" He said with a sneer, "Your name is the manager, what kind of manager is it? The housekeeper's servant can be called the manager, and so is the minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Manager! This kind of insinuation and ostentation is in my place, and I can't ignore it. When you go to Beijing for business, of course you have to bring it with you, take it out and have a look."

These words were aggressive and sharp, but Yang Liang's master and servant looked at each other and smiled, as if they had encountered something very funny.Such an expression surprised Ling Zhaoxiong, and he couldn't help being stunned. "Master Ling, I don't blame you!" Liang Dianchen said, "I can't show you official business. River water doesn't interfere with well water. When we passed here, we didn't need a place to do business, and no one dared to show off outside. One day the cook was in the meat case. I even gave him a horsewhip for making trouble. Mr. Ling, you can’t see what you see. When our master leaves, the matter will be over. Why bother to force everyone to move? ?” What is "real"?What is "really"?Ling Zhaoxiong had to think about it, and at the same time, he also felt that Liang Dianchen's words were quite powerful. Unless he put on a straight face and used an official tone, otherwise, he might not be judged better than him. So far, it's worth seeing the opportunity.Ling Zhaoxiong thought about what he said, and found a topic to talk about, "Okay!" He said, "So, when will you leave?" "That's not necessarily true." Yang Guolin said again, "As long as it's a place in the Qing Dynasty, I can go and live anywhere." "Master!" Liang Dianchen approached him in a low voice and said humbly, "Don't make things difficult for him, it looks like this, it's almost enough to stay for another five or six days!" "Okay!" Yang Guolin looked at Ling Zhaoxiong and said, "Stay here for another five or six days." "Six days is the limit." Ling Zhaoxiong stood up, raised his face and said: "I have good intentions. But it is hard to be a good person in the world. If you don't eat a toast, there is no way out!" After all, he left the house without looking back.Guo Jinsheng was waiting outside, and the two glanced at each other, but both refused to make a sound. They left Zhenhui Temple and returned to the yamen, where they began to talk. "Did you hear that?" Ling Zhaoxiong asked. "yes." "Well, what do you think?" "It's hard to say." Guo Jinsheng asked: "If you say pretending to be a prince, what is the reason for it? And the local Zhengyin official has appeared. Shouldn't you pretend to be fake at this time?" The word "pretentious" reminded Ling Zhaoxiong.He always felt that something was wrong between Yang and Liang, but he couldn't tell what was wrong, now he understands! "By the way! Brother Jinsheng, you used the word 'pretentious' very well!" Ling Zhaoxiong suddenly made up his mind, "That's right! I think it's impersonation. It must be dealt with decisively." This answer surprised Guo Jinsheng. He found that Ling Zhaoxiong's views were opposite to his.If it is said to be dealt with decisively, things may get out of hand. After thinking about it, it was inconvenient to stop him directly, so he had to express his objection indirectly. "Tang Weng!" he asked, "If you say impersonation, what do you mean by impersonation? Pretending to be a Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? Doesn't it seem wrong?" "Who knows if he can commit the crime or not? Let's see a minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it's nothing special. In the eyes of businessmen, especially those who have big business dealings with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, that's fine." "I don't think so. It doesn't look like he's pretending to be a secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs." "Is it true that you are pretending to be the emperor as Old Master Sun said? That will never happen." Ling Zhaoxiong said again, "Take ten thousand steps back, even if it is the real emperor, I have already paid a visit, and I am very polite. I have asked for advice, who made them hide their real faces? Those who don’t know are not guilty, and I have no crimes to bear! This, of course, is a joke, and it will never happen. Brother Jinsheng, it’s not too late, tomorrow Catch it. I will pick it alone if there is any responsibility.” "The old man's words are wrong! Both good and bad. Now that the old man has made up his mind, I will obey." So the next day, he sent officers and soldiers, led by Guo Jinsheng himself, to Zhenhui Temple, dispersed the idlers, and surrounded the courtyard where Yang Guolin lived.Then, Guo Jinsheng sent someone to inform Liang Dianchen that he was invited to speak at the state government office.Everyone in the Yang family was very calm and gathered in the yard without saying a word.Only Liang Dianchen asked: "Is it bound? Or handcuffed?" Escorted to Zhizhou Yamen, given special preferential treatment, instead of being sent to prison, he was placed under house arrest in an empty house in the back garden.Ling Zhaoxiong had to ask more questions. For the sake of precision, he deliberately brought Yang Guolin to the signing room. He didn't have to kneel down, but he didn't have a seat, so he was asked to stand and talk. "Yang Guolin, who are you?" "There is only one person in the world!" As soon as this statement came out, the whole room was shocked.The curtain on the inside was lifted, and Sun Yizhen strode out, and on his own initiative, ordered the servant on duty to sign the bond: "Call someone! Take him back properly." "Old master..." "Ah! Ah!" Sun Yizhen winked hurriedly and stopped Ling Zhaoxiong.When Yang Guolin was taken away, and only Ling Zhaoxiong and Guo Jinsheng were left in the room, he began to whisper: "Dong Weng, I can't ask anymore! Who is 'one man in the world'? Isn't he a lonely emperor? Whether it's true or not, if or There is such a rumor in the market: Mr. Ling tried the emperor! Dong Weng think about it, is this sentence acceptable?" "Yes! Yes!" Ling Zhaoxiong broke out in a cold sweat, "If there is such a rumor, it can lead to death. Old master, it is easier to capture a tiger than to let it go. I did this recklessly." "I don't want to talk about it." Guo Jinsheng was also a little uneasy, "Now I only ask the old master for advice, will the plan be settled?" "There is no other way but to report overnight." It is quite difficult to word the official report, because the original instruction from Kui Lin, the prefect of Huangzhou, was to first investigate and report the truth, and then deal with it.Now that the truth is not known, he should be arrested first. If he does not comply with the instructions, there must be an explanation.After researching each other, only one theory is the most appropriate, that Yang Guolin and Liang Dianchen's masters and servants, their whereabouts are secretive and ostentatious, so that rumors abound in Qizhou. Temporary collection.Finally, he said: This person speaks wildly, calling himself "one man in the world".Zhizhou officials are humble and have small positions, so they dare not ask in depth. They can only guard carefully and wait for their fate. "Business can get by." Sun Yizhen said, "But this is not a matter of writing. It is best to ask Dong Weng to work harder." "Okay! It's a blessing, not a disaster. A disaster can't be avoided." Ling Zhaoxiong said helplessly: "I'll take another trip to Huanggang."