Chapter 12 Red Top Merchant (8-1)
Zuo Zongtang entered Zhejiang from Anhui, and he fought steadily, seeking undefeated first; so the first step was to clear Quzhou, as the place where his Zhejiang governor issued orders in the province. This was in early June of the first year of Tongzhi.
Having established a foothold in Quzhou, Zuo Zongtang further took Longyou, Lanxi, Shouchang, Chun'an and other places, and drove away the long hairs in the areas south of Xin'an River and west of Xin'an River; and then in late November , Conquered Yanzhou where the Xin'an and Xin'an rivers meet.From here, the tiger crosses the Diaotai of Yanziling, which has high mountains and long rivers, and goes north along the Qililong Lake and River. In February of the next year, it entered Fuyang in the south of Hangzhou; it is less than a hundred miles away from the provincial capital.On the south side of the Qiantang River, the Chang Jie army of the foreign general Dekebei; the Chang'an army of the Dürer Deke, conquered Shaoxing before they owed it, and then the Taiping army withdrew from Xiaoshan.The entire east, west, south, and south sides of Zhejiang have been cleared; however, the rich land of northern Zhejiang, that is, north of Hangzhou, south of Taihu Lake, including Haining, Jiaxing, and Huzhou, is still in the hands of the Taiping Army.
At this time, Zuo Zongtang was promoted to the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang; the governor of Zhejiang was supplemented by Zeng Guoquan.In order to repay the imperial court, Zuo Zongtang counterattacked with all his strength. Everyone can see that it will be a matter of time before Hangzhou is restored.
At that time, the main general who attacked Fuyang and watched Hangzhou was Jiang Yili, the governor of Zhejiang Province.Zuo Zongtang himself was still stationed in Quzhou, where he set up a factory to supervise the construction of warships; the battle of Fuyang was quite powerful for the sailors.But the defender of the Taiping Army in Fuyang was the famous and brave Wang Haiyang, so after five months of stalemate, Jiang Yili still made no progress.Zuo Zongtang had no choice but to borrow the help of foreign generals to dispatch 2,500 Chang Jie troops, led by Debei, to cross the river from Xiaoshao and attack Fuyang; on the eighth day of the eighth month, they finally recovered.It was also the time when Li Hongzhang, Liu Mingchuan, and Guo Songlin joined forces to conquer Jiangyin; Li Xiucheng and Li Shixian traveled from Tianjing to Suzhou via Liyang to try to break out of the siege.
In Zhejiang, Jiang Yili and Deke Bei went north from Fuyang and entered Hangzhou; at the same time, they divided their forces to attack Yuhang, which is west of Hangzhou.The Taiping Army consisted of Wang Haiyang, the "General of the Dynasty", Deng Guangming, the "King of Return", and Chen Bingwen, the "King of Listening".At the beginning of November, Zuo Zongtang personally visited Yuhang to supervise the division, but Hangzhou was still guarded by the Taiping Army.
At that time Li Hongzhang had gone to Suzhou and Wuxi.According to the steps he had planned, he did not want to go east to occupy Changzhou, which was at his fingertips, so as not to "squeeze" Zeng Guoquan; but went to the north of Zhejiang to "squeeze" Zuo Zongtang; Jinshanwei went down the coast and recovered Pinghu, Zhapu, and Haiyan in northern Zhejiang; on the one hand, Cheng Xueqi was sent from Wujiang to Pingwang, and Jiaxing was attacked in the south.After regaining all parts of northern Zhejiang, of course they can receive the supplies of the Taiping Army, collect food and taxes; and follow the precedent of Hu Linyi, governor of Hubei, who recovered the border of Anhui, thinking that Zuo Zongtang is far south of Hangzhou, and the reason is blocked, beyond reach, and it should be expedient. Powers, sent agents to act as state and county magistrates in the counties recovered in western Zhejiang.
Zuo Zongtang was so angry that he jumped into a rage.Not only does Li Hongzhang take up territory, but the governor of Jiangsu has come to Zhejiang, which is too much of a deception!But for a while, he had no choice but to regain Hangzhou with all his strength.
Therefore, Hu Xueyan began to plan to return to Hangzhou; Liu Bucai would be the vanguard; the purpose of going north was to subdue Zhang Xiucai, turn the enemy into a friend, and be an internal response.This Zhang Xiucai is originally a "broken boots party". He thinks he is a man in clothes and can walk around the government.When Wang Youling was the magistrate of Hangzhou, he hated him deeply; he had wanted to become a literary official for a long time and destroy his reputation, but it was not convenient for a while, so he forbeared in his heart.
This scholar has colluded with the servants of various yamen—the servants of each yamen in Hangzhou have a bad income. Anyone who opens a shop must pay a fee to the servant in charge of the local yamen as usual. The number depends on the size of the shop. , Pay off the fees before you can open. Its name is "eat salt water".Wang Youling was keen on doing things, so he posted a notice prohibiting him forever; the guards in Qiantang and Renhe counties were scruples, and they stopped their business for a while; , but it is inconvenient for me to come forward and instruct Zhang Xiucai to "eat salt water" and explain the 37 points.
Unexpectedly, I was unlucky. I was talking to a clothing estimate shop that was about to open on Yanqiao Street. Stated the truth; Wang Youling was furious, and decided to use Zhang Xiucai to "operate" to set an example.
At that time, when it was passed to the sedan chair, he was reprimanded first; he was warned harshly that he must be reprimanded.This time Zhang Xiucai panicked, and once he was dismissed as a scholar, he became a white man. Not only did he have to kowtow when he saw the magistrate, but he could also be dragged on the ground and spanked;
After much deliberation, the only option is to entrust Hu Xueyan to Wang Youling's advice.He took his wife and children to Fukang Bank, and when he saw Hu Xueyan, he fell to his knees and mourned bitterly.Hu Xueyan was careless for a while, and only regarded it as a trivial matter, Wang Youling would definitely obey, so he fully agreed and let him have nothing to do.
Unexpectedly, Wang Youling insisted on not following, saying that this matter had something to do with his prestige; he had newly signed the Superintendent of Grain Road, and was also ordered to handle regiment training, raise troops and raise wages. Orders are extremely important. Leather, orders are not good, how can we convince the public?
Having said it again and again, Wang Youling has taken a step back.Originally, Zhang Xiucai was going to get rid of Zhang Xiucai's reputation and beat him with two hundred small boards, and he was named March; now, for Hu Xueyan's sake, to save him from suffering and being ugly, Xiucai must be dismissed.
To tell the truth, Hu Xueyan had already helped him a lot; but he only thought that Hu Xueyan was unwilling to do his best, and he was perfunctory, and he held a grudge from then on and made things difficult everywhere.He still refuses to let go of Hu Xueyan.
Fortunately, one thing is one thing; "the wicked will be punished by the wicked", Zhang Xiucai is not afraid of anyone, except for officials, only his son.Xiao Zhang is a dandy who eats whoring, gambling, and has everything.The illegal money Zhang Xiucai obtained was used to support his precious son.Liu Bucai is also from a rich family background, and his qualifications are much deeper than Xiao Zhang; so Hu Xueyan thought of a way to use Liu Bucai to attack Xiao Zhang.After subduing Xiao Zhang, I am not afraid that Zhang Xiucai will not submit.
On the second day in Hangzhou, Liu Bucai went to the city to visit Xiao Zhang. The market in Hangzhou was still very bleak, with ten rooms and nine empty rooms. There were only Qinghefang in the upper city, Jianqiao in the middle city, and Yanqiao Street in the lower city. It looked like one; but before dusk, all the shops closed their doors, and it was silent at night, except for the long hairs on patrol, there were hardly any people in sight.
However, there are a few alleys, but there are other worlds; one of them is in Jianqiao, because the aftermath bureau of Zhongcheng is set up here, a group of local hooligans, under the instigation of Zhang Xiucai, pretend to maintain the local supply of long hair, Giving donations and collecting taxes is like a government; where there are daily gatherings, smoking, gambling, and local prostitution are unavoidable.Liu Bucai thought in his heart, since Xiao Zhang is such a character, of course he will rely on his father's influence to be the "eldest young master" in this kind of situation; he will definitely find an opportunity to get close to him.
When I went there, it was just after dark, and I saw two big lanterns at the door, and a group of idlers with chests and bellies talking and laughing loudly; The burden of selling snacks, the bright lights in the hall illuminated a group of people in darkness, it was obvious at a glance that it was a gamble.
It's an open gambling game, anyone can enter; Liu Bucai raised his foot and stepped over the threshold, and someone shouted: "Hey!"
Liu Bucai stood still, and smiled with neither condescension nor condescension, "Brother called me?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I'll come and see Xiao Zhang."
"Xiao Zhang! Which Xiao Zhang?"
"Zhang Xiucai's young master." Liu Bucai replied calmly, "He and I are old friends."
This time he was really pretending to be right; because Zhang Xiucai gained power, his son was very proud, and no one dared to call him Xiao Zhang unless he was an old friend.The man listened to his words and let him in with a wave.
Entering the second hall, there are two gambling tables, one table of Pai Gow and one table of treasure; Pai Gow is probably a moldy house, so the scene is much more lively than that table of treasure.Liu Bucai knew that the most taboo in the casino was to sneak around in the crowd, so he just quietly stood behind the people and stood on tiptoe to watch.
The pusher was a middle-aged man with a fleshy face and shiny oil; he was wearing a large satin woolen gown with wide and big cuffs. It was obvious that this expensive dress did not belong to him.There were so many people, he was probably in a hurry to lose again, but seeing him unbutton his coat, a large piece of fluffy white fox fur was flipped open, hanging obliquely on his chest, he couldn't stop screaming, turned his head and stared at the people behind him, It's because they shouldn't be so tight and airtight, which made him feel so hot that he couldn't breathe.
"Wu Dapao!" said a young man who came to the door, "I think you can take a break. Rather fight with the master than fight with the cards!"
People who have lost money don't like to hear such words; however, Wu Dapao seemed to dare to be angry and dare not speak up, with his mouth tightly shut, his ribs bulging up, and his sulking expression made people laugh. .
"If you don't listen to good words, there's nothing you can do." The young man asked the family: "You said to push Changzhuang, there is always a time to stop; could it be possible to push until dawn alone?"
"Are you going to sell the dealer?" Wu Dapao lost his composure, and took out a stack of bank notes from his body, "There are more than two hundred and two taels here, and if you lose them all, you will throw them down." "The bank notes!" The young Gu From left to right, "Are you using bank notes at this time? Which bank is open so that you can exchange money?"
"Most of them are Fukang's bills." Wu Dapao said, "Fukang Shanghai has a semicolon, why is it not easy to exchange?"
"You really believe in Fukang! But I have to ask everyone if you believe it or not?" The young man raised his face and looked back, "What do you say?"
"You don't need bank notes, that's what you said." Someone said, "It doesn't matter what Fukang is, it's all the same. If you want to gamble, you're cashing in cash."
"Did you hear that?" the young man said to Wu Dapao, "You only have twenty or thirty taels of silver now. I'll hit you at the door. If you win, you push it down; if you lose, give up your seat. Okay?"
Wu Dapao thought for a while, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay!"
Opening the door and throwing dice, it was a "five in the first place". Wu Dapao grabbed the cards and threw them on the table.But the young man turned over one card slowly, which was Zhang Sanliu; he was still touching the other card, but Wu Dapao lost his composure, turned over all the cards with a bang, inspected them, and said, : "Little Pai Gow does not have 'Tian Jiu Wang', it is useless if you take the Tian Pai Gow."
Liu Bucai had the sharpest eyesight on the cards, and he said in a low voice, "The door-to-door win, it's Zhang Hongjiu."
The young man glanced at him, touched him with his hand, and said happily: "It's really worthy!"
Looking over it, it turned out that it was Zhang Hongjiu, and they made a pair; Wu Dapao was so angry that he pushed the silver card forward, got up and left.
"Wu Dapao." The young man shouted, "I pushed the dealer, why did you leave?" "What do you bet without money?"
"Your banknotes aren't money? I don't want those from other houses. I'm not afraid of Hu Xueyan's banknotes from Fukang! Bring them here, and I'll exchange them for you."
After Wu Dapao heard this, he sat down in his original position as if he was not satisfied.When the young man was shuffling the cards, someone asked, "Uncle Zhang, do you recommend the big one or the young one?"
The title of Uncle Zhang is very special; but Liu Bucai is delighted that he is Zhang Xiucai's "precious son"—the people in the market are afraid of Zhang Xiucai, and they all call him Uncle Zhang; now Xiao Zhang must be more precious than his father. , so he is called Uncle Zhang.Thinking of this, he rectified and focused on Xiao Zhang.
Xiao Zhang is worthy of being a dandy, he is very calm as a banker, and he only answers the man's question after laying down the cards: "Big Pai Gow is often 'friendly', so it is better to play."
So Wen Wen quietly gambled on Big Pai Gow.Liu Bucai was looking for an opportunity to strike up a conversation, so he also placed a bet; Zhi didn't gamble, the win or loss was not big, so he just bet on the door nearby.
This village pushed Liu Bucai from behind to the front, changing from standing to sitting down, like the back waves of the Yangtze River pushing the front waves.As a result, he only bet on his own door.
Slowly, Xiao Zhang's village turned into a mildewed village; Wu Dapao raised his eyebrows and overthrew it - the lower door was always a "trap door", and later it became "a side", with the only exception being Liu Bucai's. One bet, ten taels of silver is placed alone at the door, which is particularly conspicuous.
This is a bit of a ditty, and the downwind is quite annoying; but the dealer has a feeling of kindness. Xiao Zhang took a deep look at him, and his eyes unconsciously revealed a look of emotion.
Liu Bucai said in his heart: It's interesting!But more calm, quietly watching. "The bet at the door will be seen at the door!" Wu Dapao roared.
"I'm sorry!" Xiao Zhang replied: "Being clear first, everyone will not bet." Wu Dapao had no choice but to deal with Liu Bucai: "Hey! Hey! The man who came to the door put the bets yourself, okay? ? If you match, I will post half of it for you, ten taels win fifteen taels."
Liu Bucai asked coldly, "Who lost?"
"Bah!" Wu Dapao spat fiercely on the ground: "Damn it." Liu Bucai was silent, but Xiao Zhang was aggrieved for him, "Wu Dapao!" He said with a sullen face, "There are gambling products, If you can't afford to bet, don't come, it's none of your business if people are happy to bet on their doorstep! What are you doing like this?"
"Okay, okay!" Someone interrupted and persuaded, "Let's all leave! The dealer is going to play the dice."
As soon as the dice were rolled, Wu Dapao grabbed it and put it in his furry hand. He flipped it a few times, and quickly divided it into two pairs, one in front and one in back.Someone wanted to take a look; just as his hand reached out to the card, there was a "beep" and he was hit by Wu Dapao.Without asking, you can know that it is a good pair of cards. When you compare it, Tianmen is the largest; next is the next door; third is the banker;According to the license plate, the lower door is really a "trap door".
After the marriage was over, the dealer only took Liu Bucai's ten taels of silver; some regretfully said, "I'd rather match you."
"That's right!" Liu Bucai replied calmly, "I'm also looking at the 'Thirty Years of Feng Shui Rotation', and the luck will change when I come to the door. Now——" He hesitated for a while, took out the gold watch, and explained The watch pendant asked, "Is it okay to take this as a pledge and borrow fifty taels of silver?"
This watch pendant is a piece of emerald emerald green, cut into the shape of an ancient coin, and the market price is at least two hundred taels of silver; but Xiao Zhang is not willing to borrow it because it is valuable: "Why not? I will lend you fifty taels of silver Why do you want to bet on the head?" "No! The dealer's luck has something to do with it." Liu Bucai stubbornly said, "If you don't want to bet on the head, I don't need to borrow it."
In fact, he has a bank note from Fukang, which Xiao Zhang trusts; he deliberately pretends to be like this to pave the way for advancement.When Xiao Zhang stopped, he had almost lost fifty taels of silver; he stood up and asked for advice on where to live, saying that he would redeem the money the next day. "What's your last name?" Xiao Zhang asked.
"My surname is Liu."
"Then I'll call you Lao Liu." Xiao Zhang said, "I like you as a friend. You take back the things. Fortunately, when we meet again, you just bring the money back to me any day." Handed over the piece of sad emerald.
"You say it like this, it's even more difficult for me to accept it. Where is the mansion? I will take money tomorrow to redeem it."
"What do you mean by redemption or not?" Xiao Zhang was a little hesitant; he was away from home for 300 days out of 365 days a year.If you go home on purpose to wait for him; but you are afraid that you will not be able to grasp your whereabouts.
Liu Bucai was very alert, although he didn't know what was going on in his heart, anyway, it was obvious that he wanted guests to come to his door.I intentionally left the watch pendant with him because I wanted to arrange a chance to be alone; it doesn't have to be at his house, there are better places.
"Uncle Zhang," he said after making up his mind, "If you don't mind, let's meet tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay! Say it."
"Sister-in-law Agou in Huapailou, you always know?"
Why doesn't Xiao Zhang know?Agousao is a well-known old bustard; she presides over a huge "private family head", and all the boat ladies who throw themselves into their arms on the "Jiangshan Boat" on the Fuchun River live in Agousao once they land.Xiao Zhang and her are also very familiar; it's just that Hangzhou was besieged and the flowers were in decline, but after the chaos, they have never seen each other.
So Xiao Zhang asked in surprise and joy: "Sister-in-law Agou never starved to death!"
"Her place is lively again. But I live behind her, very quiet." "Okay! I will definitely come tomorrow afternoon."
Liu Bucai's residence was specially prepared by Mrs. Agou for him. It is just at the back, a single courtyard, with a waist door, which is closed off from the front by bolting the door; there are also entrances and exits. "
"Brother Zhang," Liu Bucai changed his address, "Do you want Fukang's notes?" "Oh, I forgot." Xiao Zhang took out a small tissue bag from his body and handed it over, "The things are here , take a look!"
"No need to look." Liu Bucai handed in fifty taels of banknotes; after the money was paid, he opened the cupboard door and said, "Brother Zhang, I have a few small gifts for you. Let's make friends." Those "" "Small Meaning" varies in length and size, the long one is a stick of "Sidi Ke"; the small one is a gold watch; the big one is a pair of Luzon cigarettes; It won't come out—it looks like a book; Xiao Zhang doesn't believe that he will give himself a book.Moreover, giving books to people who like to gamble is also considered "bad luck".
"Look at this 'Si Deke', a good thing for self-defense." Liu Bucai raised it up and shouted: "Be careful!" Then he smashed it on the head.
Of course Xiao Zhang was good at it and pinched the tail end.I don't know how Liu Bucai made the cut, but the "Si Dike" was split into two pieces, and what Liu Bucai held in his hand was a bright short sword.
"What happened?" Xiao Zhang was very interested, "I'll take a look, I'll take a look."
Look at that short sword, its shape is completely different from Chinese swords; it is triangular; "Look, there is a mechanism in the middle."
It turns out that there is a tenon in the middle of Si's gram, which is made to fit perfectly and is extremely fine; when someone attacks, Nasi's gram smashes at it, and the opponent will not catch it but will be beaten; The dagger pierces over, protruding and unexpected, and it will succeed.
Knowing the magical effect, Xiao Zhang loves it more and more; self-defense is certainly effective; it is even more fun to present treasures and show off to others when there is nothing to do.So I couldn't close my mouth from laughing. "Here are some foreign books."
It really is a book!This is not the right way to send it. Xiao Zhang arched his hands and said: "Old Liu! To be honest, my good friend: I don't understand Chinese books very much; foreign books are even more 'Master Zhao read the list', which is inexplicable."
"You can understand it." Liu Bucai handed it to him, "Take it home and read it slowly by yourself."
There is so much mystery in this sentence, Xiao Zhang had to take it apart and read it at that time.Open it and turn it over, and suddenly feel the blood rushing - it is a "foreign erotic palace".This time I stopped watching.Liu Bucai quietly brought him a chair to help him sit down; he sat on the side far away, watching him coldly, seeing his bulging eyes and swallowing saliva in such a poor way, his heart became more calm.
It was not easy for Xiao Zhang to finish watching, "Exciting!" He smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "Old Liu, where did you find it?" "
"Naturally, it's on the Shanghai barracks."
"There are many people who have been to Shanghai, and they have never seen them bring these things back." Xiao Zhang said admiringly, "Old Liu, you really have a way!" "I can't do anything either. I don't know where these things are. Looking for it? It was brought by a relative. I’ll talk about it later; you look at these two things first.” These are two boxes, one big and one small; Xiao Zhang looked carefully at them.While looking at it, I thought, it’s really embarrassing to accept this gift out of thin air; if I don’t accept it, I’m really reluctant to let go of that branch’s Ke and that “foreign book”.
After thinking about it for a long time, I couldn't make up my mind, and I could only tell the truth; "Lao Liu, we are friends for the first time. I don't know what to say if you are such a good friend? But, I am really embarrassed."
"You're out of touch now. My brother, friends don't last for a day; if we divide each other like this, I won't dare to climb high in the future."
"I don't know, I don't know." Xiao Zhang tried his best to defend, but, "You have to let me do my best."
It seems that they have been subdued, so there is no need to spend much effort, strike while the iron is hot, "I am also honest, these things are not mine; I brought them from my relative Witto." He then said: "You The old lady of the family, I have a little misunderstanding of my relative; not only a misunderstanding, but also a little wronged."
"Oh," Xiao Zhang asked, "Which one is Lingqin?" "
"Hu Xueyan from Fukang Bank."
Xiao Zhang lost his voice and said, "It's him!"
"It's him. How can your old man be wronged for misunderstanding him? I don't know what to say, but I know a little bit."
Xiao Zhang was waiting attentively for him to speak, but Liu Bucai was hesitant to speak; this was strange, "Old Liu!" Xiao Zhang asked, "Didn't you say you knew the inside story?" ?"
"Yes, I fully understand. When Wang Futai was transferred from Huzhou to Hangzhou, I followed him from Huzhou to handle general affairs in his yamen, so I know very well. However, if we talk about this matter, if we talk about right and wrong ;Your old man is also my elder. I can't talk about him."
"What does that matter? It doesn't matter if your own people talk about it. Our 'old man' has a great reputation. I don't know how many people have talked about him, and I have heard a lot about him. Why do you care if you criticize him?"
"I'm not criticizing him as an old man, but I blame him for being too careless and impatient. "New officials take office three fires", we should avoid him; but "eat salt water" let him bump into it. The notice is posted there. Before he did it, someone took his words seriously, like a slap in the face—after all, he is the head of a prefecture in Hangzhou, controlling millions of people in several counties; How do you hold it firmly? My brother, 'Think about others in the first half of the night, and think about yourself in the second half of the night.' If you are Wang Futai, do you want to be angry?"
Xiao Zhang is silent.It's not only because Liu Bucai's words are clear; the main reason is that it's easy to listen to everything because of his friendship. "That's right. At that time, Xueyan didn't have a scholar who could keep your old lady. However, the outside world only knew about one thing, but not about the other; Wang Futai gave official affairs to the teachers in the school, and even if the scholar was dismissed, he had to deal with others. This Above, Xueyan will definitely not agree, first soften and then hard, Wang Futai is reluctantly selling face."
"Oh," Xiao Zhang said, blinking wildly, "I don't know. How do you say 'soft first and then hard?'"
"Kneeling softly, fighting hard. Xueyan wants to break off friendship with Wang Futai for the sake of your old man; instead, he will say that he is not enough friends and will not help. Are you wronged or not?" "According to what you said, it is really true Wronged him?" Xiao Zhang continued, "Then why did he give me these things? It's surprising that a good man is so kind."
"It's not surprising at all. Of course he has something to ask you."
"Yes!" Xiao Zhang replied generously: "I don't know Boss Hu, but you are a good friend. As long as I can do it, I will help you if you tell me."
"Speaking of which, it's not that I praise my relatives, Hu Xueyan is really a good friend; although your old man misunderstood him, he stretched his hind legs for your old man, leaving room for him."
These two sentences were out of context, and Xiao Zhang didn't understand why; but the words were kind, but he could always hear them, "Thanks to him." He asked, "I don't know what kind of hind legs to stretch out?"
"Let me show you something first."
Liu Bucai dragged out the suitcase from under the bed, unlocked it, took out a "protection book", took out official documents, and handed them to Xiao Zhang.
Xiao Zhang has limited amount of ink in his stomach, but he can read the big purple clay seal of the governor's hall in Jiangsu; he also knows his father's name. what.
"This official business must not be disclosed. Once it is disclosed, let Changmao know that it is very important." Liu Bucai pretended to be solemn; then changed a brisk expression and said: "Take it back, please let the old lady keep secret." Secret collection; one day the officers and soldiers conquered Hangzhou, and took out the official documents to see that not only did not help the crime of rebellion, but also maintained the place.
You said, Hu Xueyan helped your old man with this favor, whether it was a big help. " Xiao Zhangfang began to understand a little bit about this, but what was puzzled was: "Then what about now?What are you doing right now? "
"At the moment, of course, do whatever you need to do. Shouldn't you maintain the place, and maintain it as usual."
"Oh, oh!" Xiao Zhang finally realized suddenly, "This is a boat with two ends." "Yes! A boat with two ends. However, the boat you are stepping on now will turn over sooner or later; it is the boat that matters."
"I see."
"Where's your old man?"
"I'll tell him, he must be very happy." Xiao Zhang replied, "I will answer tomorrow. It's getting late, and I'm going too."
Early the next morning, Xiao Zhang came to the door and invited Liu Bucai home.Zhang Xiucai has been cooking wine and waiting.
In order to establish friendship, Liu Bucai not only called him "Old Man"; he also gave Zhang Xiucai a big gift, which made Zhang Xiucai look a little flattered.
"Don't dare to be, dare not be! Brother Liu," he said, pointing at Xiao Zhang, "I've never made serious friends as a bastard; I never expected to make friends with you, Brother Liu. It's really a blessing for my family."
"The old man said that I have never eaten wine, and my face is going to turn red."
"By the way, drink, drink! With friends, the more you eat, the more you eat, and the more you gamble." He scolded his son again, "This bastard just likes to gamble; Met him nine times."
"Don't talk about him." Xiao Zhang retorted, "You went ten times and met me nine times; it's still one less than you!"
"Look at it, look at it!" Zhang Xiucai twitched his yellow beard in anger, "What this bastard said is so unreasonable."
Liu Bucai saw that their fathers were not fathers, and sons were not sons. It was really funny; "The old man's knees are probably my brother." He said, "I have been spoiled since I was a child!" , make you laugh at Brother Liu." "What are you talking about! I think my brother is really capable and beautiful. He is an excellent outsider."
In one sentence, when talking about Zhang Xiucai's pride, Lian Rong replied: "Liu Sange, jade can't be polished, and it can't be used; I am a beast, I have ghosts and cleverness, but I have to practice hard with others. Let's talk in detail later, let's eat first." liquor."
So the three of the guests and the host had a small meal around the stove; it was inevitable to have some irrelevant gossip first.
When it was about the same, Zhang Xiucai smirked at his son; Xiao Zhang got up and went out of the main room, looked around, and told his servant loudly: "Young Master, you go and tell the door; the master is not feeling well today. No visitors. Ask me, and say I’m not at home. If you have business, go to the bureau in the afternoon and talk about it.”
This was the prelude to letting go of idle talk and talking about secrets. Liu Bucai was prepared in his heart and only waited for Zhang Xiucai to speak.
"Liu Sange, are you close relatives with Xueyan?"
The word is a general word, but the address is quite meaningful; instead of calling it "Hu Daotai" and calling it by its name, it means: one is very familiar; the other is an equal friend.When Liu Bucai thought about it further, it was Zhang Xiucai who seemed to be implying: He didn't think about the past, and if he had something important to say, he could say whatever he wanted.
If I guessed right, it is a good sign; but knowing people, faces, but not heart, and remembering Hu Xueyan's exhortation: "Only talk about three points when meeting people", so I replied very cautiously: "Yes, we are relatives?"
"What's the name?"
"Xueyan is considered to be a generation behind me."
"Ah, ah, you are Xueyan's eldest relative. I should call you old uncle." Zhang Xiucai said, "You are still friends with Xiaoer. If you count it like this, the seniority is not clear. Brother Liu. We all Pingshu is the best!"
"Don't dare! Don't dare! My name is Uncle Zhang." Liu Bucai didn't want to spend too much time on etiquette, and said in a hurry: "Xueyan also mentioned to me that there is a friend in need like Uncle Zhang. ; Ask me to come back to Hangzhou this time, I must come and see Uncle Zhang, and say hello to him."
"It's not bad to talk about a friend in need. When Xueyan didn't have a fortune, we met every day in a tea shop. Later, he met Wang Futai like this, and his eyes became high. A group of poor Friends are not in his eyes; we can't reach high. A friend in need has become a 'nodding friend'."
This was a complaint, and Liu Bucai listened quietly to him, so he naturally wanted to explain: "Xueyan is busy later, so it is inevitable that there are omissions in etiquette; but when it comes to treating friends, I am not protecting relatives, Xueyan no matter what. The three words 'do not hurt the Tao' have always been achieved."
"That's right! He's pretty on the field." Zhang Xiucai said, "Thanks to him for not giving up, and the times are like this. Any sorrows in the past should be written off, and we can be friends again."
"Yes!" Liu Bucai replied, "Xueyan also means the same thing. After all, everyone is a native of the hometown. Ye Luo returns to his roots and will always be together in the future. Now Xueyan is always leaving room for meeting each other."
These words are very pleasant, and they are persuading Zhang Xiucai to leave room for meeting, but there is no trace at all; Zhang Xiucai, who was originally worried about helping Changmao, feels more and more that it is time to "be a friend again" with Hu Xueyan .
"I think the same way, I'm almost the same age; the times are like this. To be honest, everyone is reincarnated now; think about the past, look at the future, and don't be confused anymore. I have a few words!" Zhang The scholar resolutely said: "I want to ask Liu Sange for advice.
Hearing this, Liu Bucai pulled his chair and moved closer to Zhang Xiucai; he looked closely at Zhang Xiucai in an extremely solemn and sincere listening attitude. "Ming people don't talk dark words. Xueyan's backer is Wang Futai; now he is no longer alive. The other backer is He Zhijun. It is said that 'the mud Buddha crosses the river, and he cannot protect himself'. If this is the case, I would like to ask for advice. Third brother Liu, why is Xueyan still messing around?" Liu Bucai didn't dare to be careless when he asked the key point, and the first thought in his mind was: It's better to be slow than to make mistakes.So I nodded and thought about it; if I make up a random relationship, say that Hu Xueyan is with a certain elder in Beijing, so what about with a certain provincial governor?Words can be made very round, but Zhang Xiucai will never believe it; so this is a very stupid way.
Liu Bucai thought that what he said was detached and pleasant, so he replied: "The backers are all fake, but the ability and friends are real. If you have skills and friends, you will naturally find a backer." He added another sentence: "Uncle Zhang, these two sentences of mine are very crazy. Don't be angry."
"Okay!" Zhang Xiucai was quite enamored, "Liu Sange, after listening to your two words, you are also a good character!"
"Don't dare, I'm talking nonsense."
"Brother Liu San, let me ask you again." Zhang Xiucai lowered his voice very low: "What do you think of the overall situation?"
It is not easy to answer this question; Liu Bucai took a look at Xiao Zhang——Xiao Zhang understood, and nodded heavily; he said that it was okay. "I used to be the same as Uncle Zhang. I seemed to be stuffed in a jar and covered in darkness. This time I lived in Shanghai for a few days, and I was well-informed in various places in the barracks. I heard a little bit, and everyone was talking about it. : 'This' is not long!"
While speaking, he made a gesture, pointing to the hair, indicating that "this" refers to long hair.Zhang Xiucai didn't listen, picked up the hookah, puffed, puffed for a long time before opening his mouth.
"Tell me, why isn't it long?"
"It can't be said in a few words—"
Liu Bucai's eloquence is very good, not to mention that the officers and soldiers fought really well; two good and one good, Liu Bucai analyzed the situation and made Zhang Xiucai's heart set.He also knew that their father and son had a bad reputation, and they had to do something shocking to the world and made great contributions to the country, so as to cover up many bad deeds and make people look impressive.Now that there is Hu Xueyan's way, how can he let it go easily?
"Third brother Liu, I have figured it out. Please reply to Xueyan. When the officers and soldiers arrive, drive out Changmao and restore Hangzhou. I will be the internal response. At that time, Xueyan will help me clean up."
"It's not just cleaning!" Liu Bucai replied, "At that time, the imperial court rewarded and awarded officials to fill in the vacancies. This official who got it through military merit is more beautiful than the donated class!"
Sure enough, when Hangzhou was rehabilitated, Zhang Xiucai and his son won a seventh-rank award letter and was appointed as a member of the Aftermath Bureau because of their contribution to welcoming the feudal governor Jiang Yili in Kaicheng.Zhang Xiucai took the opportunity to say that Hu Xueyan must be invited back to preside over the aftermath of Hangzhou.
Jiang Yili was deeply convinced.So the special mission to meet Hu Xueyan fell on Xiao Zhang.
When he arrived in Shanghai, he first settled down in the Changfa inn in the "Shihuan Xingtai"; then he found out the address that Liu Bucai had left for him, and asked the inn to send a boy to invite Liu Bucai.
"I figured it was time for you to come, as it should be." Liu Bucai had no more gossip, and he touched Xiao Zhang's heart when he opened his mouth, "I'll take you to see your relatives first, and explain clearly if you have anything to say; I'll do your best later." played."
"Old Liu," Xiao Zhang replied, "I am now a member of the Zhejiang Rehabilitation Bureau, a seventh-rank official. This trip was appointed by Jiang Fantai to invite Mr. Hu back to Hangzhou; this is what I want to say."
"Okay! I see. We'll go right away."
So Xiao Zhang took out the seventh-rank official uniform and changed it in front of the guests; after changing it, he couldn't help but look embarrassed, and felt a bit like wearing a monkey's crown.
Liu Bucai didn't laugh at him; he just said, "Your housekeeper, please take the bag with you, so that you don't have to come back and change into plain clothes."
Zhang Sheng, a long-term follower brought by Xiao Zhang, has always been "following the officials". The name cards and clothes bags have been prepared a long time ago, and the three of them came to Fukang Bank alone in a carriage.
Hu Xueyan was negotiating business with a group of rice merchants, and it was at a critical juncture; because Xiao Zhang came from a long way and came to visit in official uniform, he had to accuse him of a crime and leave the previous guests behind to welcome the new ones.
小张是见过胡雪岩的，所以一等他踏进小客厅，不必刘不才引见，便即喊一声：“胡老伯！”恭恭敬敬地磕下头去。“不敢当，不敢当！世兄忒多礼了。”胡雪岩赶紧亦跪了下去。
对磕过头，相扶而起，少不得不家几句寒暄；然后转入正题。等小张道明来意，胡雪岩答说：“这是我义不容辞的事，已经在预备了。世兄在上海玩几天，我们一起走。”“是！”
“好了！”刘不才插进来对小张说，“话交代清楚了；你换一换衣服，我们好走了。”
于是刘不才带着小张观光五光十色的夷场；到晚来吃大菜、看京戏。小张大开眼界，夜深入倦，兴犹未央；刘不才陪他住在长发客栈，临床夜语，直到曙色将明，方始睡去。这时的胡雪岩却还未睡，因为他要运一万石米到杭州，接头了几个米商，说得好好的，到头来却又变了封，迫不得已只好去找尤五；半夜里方始寻着，直截了当地提出要求。
尤五对米生意本是内行，但松江漕帮公设的米行，早已歇业，隔膜已久；而且数量甚巨，并非叱嗟可办。他这几年韬光隐晦，谨言慎行，做事越发仔细；没把握的事，一时不敢答应。
“小爷叔，你的吩咐，我当然不敢说个'不'字；不过，我的情形你也晓得的，现在要办米，我还要现去找人。'班底'不凑手，日子上就捏不住了。从前你运米到杭州进不了城，改运宁波，不是他们答应过你的，一旦要用，照数补米？”
这是当初杨坊为了接济他家乡，与胡雪岩有过这样的约定。只是杨坊今非昔比，因为白齐文劫饷殴官一案受累，在李鸿章那里栽了大跟头，现在撤职查办的处分未消，哪里有实践诺言的心情和力量。胡雪岩不肯乘人于危，决定自己想办法。
听完他所讲的这番缘由，尤五赞叹着说：“小爷叔，你真够朋友；不过人家姓杨的不象你。他靠常胜军，着实发了一笔财；李抚台饶不过他，亦是如此。如今米虽不要他补，米款应当还你；当初二两多银子一石；现在涨到快六两了，还不容易采办。莫非你仍旧照当初的价钱跟他结算？”“那当然办不到的。要衣他照市价结给我。不然我跟他动公事，看他吃得消，吃不消？”
“钱是不愁了，”尤五点点头，“不过，小爷叔，你想办一万石米，实在不容易。这两年江苏本来缺粮，靠湖广、江西贩来；去年李抚台办米运进京，还采办了洋米，三万人办了两个月才凑齐；你此刻一个月当中要办一万石，只怕办不到。”“不是一个月。一个月包括运到杭州的日子在内，最多二十天就要办齐。”
“那更难了。只怕官府都办不到。”
“官府办不到，我们办得到，才算本事。”
这句话等于在掂尤五的斤两。说了两次难，不能再说第三次了；尤五不作声，思前想后打算了好久，还是叹口气说：“只好大家来想办法。”
分头奔马，结果是七姑奶奶出马，找到大丰米行的老板娘“粉面虎”；将应交的京米，以及存在怡和洋行的两千石洋米，都凑了给胡雪岩，一共是八千五百石，余数由尤五设法，很快地凑足了万石之数。
米款跟杨坊办交涉，收回五万两银子；不足之数由胡雪岩在要凑还王有龄遗族的十二万银子中，暂时挪用。一切顺利，只十三天的工夫，沙船已经扬帆出海，照第一次的行程，由海宁经钱塘江到杭州望江门外。
小张打前站，先回杭州，照胡雪岩的主意，只说有几百石米要捐献官府；再用一笔重礼，结交了守望江门的营官张千总，讲好接应的办法，然后坐小船迎了上来复命，细谈杭州的情形，实在不大高明；胡雪岩听完，抑郁地久久不语。
既是至亲，而且也算长辈，刘不才说话比较可以没有顾忌；他很坦率地问道：“雪岩，你是不是在担心有人在暗算你？”“你是指有人在左制军那里告我？那没有什么，他们暗算不到我的。”
“那末，你是担啥心事呢？”
“怎么不要担心事？来日大难，眼前可忧！”
这八个字说得很雅驯，不象胡雪岩平时的口吻，因而越使得刘不才和小张奇怪。当然，刘不才对胡雪岩，要比小张了解得多，“来日大难，这句话他懂，因为平时听胡雪岩谈过，光复以后，恤死救生，振兴市面善后之事，头绪万端。可是，眼前又有何可忧呢？
“我没有想到，官军的纪律亦不比长毛好多少！”胡雪岩说，“刚才听小张说起城里的情形，着实要担一番心事。白天总还好，只怕一到了夜里，放抢放火，奸淫掳掠都来了！”
怪不得他这样子忧心忡忡，不管他是不是过甚其词；总不可不作预防。小张家在城里，格外关切，失声问道：“胡先生！那，怎么办呢”
“办法是有一个。不过要见着'当家人'才有用处。”整个杭州城现在是蒋益澧当家；小张想了一下问道：“胡先生，我请你老人家的示，进了城是先跟家父见见面呢？还是直接去看杭州的'当家人'？”
“当然先看'当家人'。”
“好的！”小张也很有决断，“老刘，我们分头办事；等到上了岸，卸米的事，请你帮帮张千总的忙。现在秩序很乱，所谓帮忙，无非指挥指挥工人；别的，请你不必插手。”
刘不才懂得他的言外之意，不须负保管粮食之责；如果有散兵游勇，强索软要；听凭张千总去处理，大可袖手旁观。“我知道了。我们约定事后见面的地方好了。”“在我舍间。”小张答说，“回头我会拜托张千总，派人护送你去。”
于是，胡雪岩打开小箱子，里面是一套半新旧的三品顶戴官服；等他换穿停当，船也就到岸了。
虽说到岸，其实还有一段距离，因为沙船装米，吃水很深；而望江门外的码头失修，近岸淤浅，如果沙船靠得太近，会有搁浅之虞。
好在重赏之下，自有勇夫，张千总颇为尽心，不但已找好一所荒废的大房子，派兵打扫看守，备作仓库之用；而且也扣着小船，预备接驳。此时相度情势，又改了主意，下令士兵在浅河滩涉水负载，更为简捷。小船只用了一只，将胡雪岩、小张、刘不才和胡雪岩的跟班长贵送到岸下；交代明白，胡、张二人就由挟着拜匣的长贵陪着，先进城了。望见城头上飘拂的旗帜，胡雪岩感从中来，流涕不止，他是在想王有龄；如果今天凯旋入城的主帅，不是蒋益澧而是王有龄，那有多好？今日之下，自然是以成败论英雄，但打了胜仗的人不知道可会想到，王有龄当年苦守危城，岂仅心力交瘁，直是血与泪俱；所吃的苦、所用的力，远比打胜仗的人要多得多？
这样想着，恨不得一进城先到王有龄殉节之处，放声痛哭一场。无奈百姓还在水深火热之中，实在没有功夫让他去泄痛愤，只好拭拭眼泪，挺起胸膛往里走！
守城的已经换了班，是个四品都司；一见胡雪岩的服气，三品文官，与蒋益澧相同，不敢怠慢，亲自迎上来行了礼问道：“大人的官衔是？”
“是胡大人。”小张代为解说，“从上海赶来的，有紧要公事跟蒋藩台接头。”
这时长贵已经从拜匣里取出一张名帖递了过去；那都司不识字，接过名帖，倒着看了一下，装模作样的说道：“原来胡大人要见蒋大人！请问，要不要护送？”
“能护送再好不过！”小张说道，“顶要紧的是，能不能弄两匹马来？”
“马可没有。不过，胡大人可以坐轿子。”
城门旁边，就是一家轿行；居然还有两乘空轿子在，轿夫自然不会有，那都司倒很热心，表示可以抓些百姓来抬轿。可是胡雪岩坚决辞谢——这时候还要坐轿子，简直是毫无心肝了。
没有马，又不肯坐轿，自然还借重自家的一双腿。不过都司派兵护送，一路通行无阻；很顺利又到了三元坊孙宅，蒋益澧的公馆，投帖进去，中门大开；蒋益澧的中军来肃客入内。走近大厅，但见滴水檐前站着一个穿了黄马褂的将官，料知便是蒋益澧；胡雪岩兜头长揖：“恭喜，恭喜！”这是贺他得胜，蒋益澧拱手还礼，连声答道：“彼此，彼此！”
于是小张抢上一步，为双方正式引见：进入大厅，宾主东西平坐，少不得先有一番寒暄。
胡雪岩先以浙江干绅的身分，向蒋益澧道谢；然后谈到东南兵燹，杭州受祸最深。接下来便是为蒋益澧打算，而由恭维开始。
蒋益澧字芗泉，所以胡雪岩之称为“芗翁”；他说，“芗翁立这样一场大功，将来更上层楼，巡抚两浙，是指日可待的事。”
“不见得，我亦不敢存这个妄想。”蒋益澧说：“曾九帅有个好哥哥；等金陵一下，走马上任，我还是要拿'手本'见他。”
浙江巡抚是曾国荃，一直未曾到任；现在是由左宗棠兼署。蒋益澧倒有自知之明，不管从勋名、关系来说，要想取曾国荃而代之，是件不容易的事。
但是胡雪岩另有看法：“曾九帅是大将，金陵攻了下来，朝廷自然另有重用之处。至于浙江巡抚一席，看亦止于目前遥领；将来不会到任的。芗翁，你不要泄气！”“噢？”蒋益澧不自觉地将身子往前俯了一下，“倒要请教，何以见得曾九帅将来不会到任？”
“这道理容易明白，第一，曾九帅跟浙江素无渊源，人地生疏，不大相宜；第二，曾大帅为人谦虚，也最肯替人设想，浙江的局面是左大人定下来的，他决不肯让他老弟来分左大人的地盘。”
“啊，啊！”蒋益澧精神一振，“雪翁见得很透彻。”“照我看，将来浙江全省，特别是省城里的善后事宜，要靠芗翁一手主持。”胡雪岩停了一下，看蒋益澧是聚精会神在倾听的神态，知道进言的时机已到；便用手势加强了语气，很恳切地说：“杭州百姓的祸福，都在芗翁手里，目前多保存一分元气，将来就省一分气力！”
“说的是，说的是！”蒋益澧搓着手，微显焦灼地，“请雪翁指教；只要能保存元气，我无有不尽力的！”“芗翁有这样的话，真正是杭州百姓的救星。”胡雪岩站起来就请了个安：“我替杭州百姓给芗翁道谢！”“真不敢当！”蒋益澧急忙回礼；同时拍着胸说：“雪翁，你请说；保存劫后元气，应该从哪里着手？”
“请恕我直言，芗翁只怕未必知道，各营弟兄，还难免有骚扰百姓的情形。”
“这——。”
胡雪岩知道他有些为难。官军打仗，为求克敌制胜，少不得想到“重赏之下，必有勇夫”这句老古话，预先许下赏赐；但筹饷筹粮，尚且困难，哪里还筹得出一笔巨款可作犒赏之用。这就不免慷他人之慨了；或者暗示、或者默许，只要攻下一座城池，三日之内，可以不守两条军法：抢劫与奸淫。蒋益澧可能亦曾有过这样计诺；这时候要他出告示禁止，变成主将食言，将来就难带兵了。
因此，胡雪岩抢着打断了他的话：“芗翁，我还有下情上禀。”
“言重、言重！”蒋益澧怕他还有不中听的话说出来，搞得彼此尴尬，所以招呼打在先，“雪翁的责备，自是义正辞严。我惟有惭愧而已。”
不说整饬军纪，只道惭愧；这话表面客气，暗中却已表示不受责备。胡雪岩听他的语气，越觉得自己的打算是比较聪明的做法；而且话也不妨得率直些。
“芗翁知道的，经商人。在商言商，讲究公平交易；俗语说的礼尚往来，也无非讲究一个公平。弟兄们拼性命救杭州的百姓，劳苦功高，朝廷虽有奖赏，地方上没有点意思表示，也就太不公平，太对不起弟兄了。”
蒋益澧听他这段话，颇为困惑，前面的话，说得很俗气；而后面又说得很客气，到底主旨何在？要细想一想，才好答话。他心里在想，此人很漂亮，但也很厉害；应付不得法，朋友变成冤家，其中的出入很大，不可不慎。
于是他细想了一下，终于弄明白了胡雪岩的意思；谦虚地答道：“雪翁太夸奖了。为民除寇，份所当为，哪里有什么功劳可言？”
“芗翁这话才真是太客气了。彼此一见如故，我就直言了。”胡雪岩从从容容地说：“敝处是出了名的所谓'杭铁头'，最知道好歹，宫军有功，理当犒劳。不过眼前十室九空，这两年也让长毛搜括净了；实在没有啥好劳军的。好在杭州士绅逃难在外的，还有些人，我也大多可以联络得到。如今我斗胆做个主，决定凑十万两银子，送到芗翁这里来，请代为谢谢弟兄们。”
这话让蒋益澧很难回答，颇有却之不恭，受之不可之感。因为胡雪岩的意思是很显然的，十万两银子买个“秋毫无犯”，这就是他所说：“公平交易”；“礼尚往来”。只是十万两银子听上去是个巨数，几万人一分，所得有限，能不能“摆得平”，大成疑问。
见他踌躇的神气，胡雪岩自能猜知他的心事，若问一句：“莫非嫌少？”未免太不客气；如果自动增加，又显得讨价还价地小气相。考虑下来，只有侧面再许他一点好处。“至于对芗翁的敬意，自然另有筹划——”
“不，不！”蒋益澧打断他的话，“不要把我算在里头。等局势稍为平定了，贵省士绅写京信的时候，能够说一句我蒋某人对得起浙江，就承情不尽了。”
“那何消说得？芗翁，你对得起浙江，浙江也一定对得起你！”
“好，这话痛快！”蒋益澧毅然决然地说：“雪翁的厚爱，我就代弟兄们一并致谢了。”接着便喊一声：“来啊！请刘大老爷！”
“刘大老爷”举人出身，捐出州县班子；蒋益澧倚为智囊，也当他是文案委员。请了他来，是要商议出告示，整饬军纪，严禁骚扰。
这是蒋益澧的事，胡雪岩可以不管；他现在要动脑筋的是，如何实践自己的诺言，有十万两白花花的银子，解交藩库，供蒋益澧分赏弟兄？
一想到藩库，胡雪岩心中灵光一闪，仿佛暗夜迷路而发现了灯光一样，虽然一闪即灭，但他确信不是自己看花了眼而生的错觉，一定能够找出一条路来。
果然，息心静虑想了一会，大致有了成算；便等蒋益澧与他的智囊谈得告一段落时，开口问道：“芗翁的粮台在哪里？”
“浙江的总粮台，跟着左大帅在余杭；我有个小粮台在瓶窑。喏，”蒋益澧指着小张说，“他也是管粮台的委员。”“那末，藩库呢？”
“藩库？”蒋益澧笑道，“藩司衙门都还不知道在不在；哪里谈得到藩库？”
“藩库掌一省的收支，顶顶要紧；要尽快恢复起来。藩库的牌子一挂出去，自有解款的人上门。不然，就好象俗语说，'提着猪头，寻不着庙门。'岂不耽误库收？”
蒋益澧也不知道这时候会有什么人来解款？只觉得胡雪岩的忠告极有道理，藩库应该赶快恢复；可是该如何恢复，应派什么人管库办事？却是茫无所知。
于是胡雪岩为他讲解钱庄代理公库的例规与好处。阜康从前代理浙江藩库，如今仍愿效力；不过以前人欠欠人犹待清理，为了划清界限起见，他想另立一爿钱庄，叫做“阜丰”。
“阜丰就是阜康，不过多挂一块招牌。外面有区分，内部是一样的，叫阜丰，叫阜康都可以。芗翁！”胡雪岩说，“我这样做法，完全是为了公家；阜康收进旧欠，解交阜丰，也就是解交芗翁。至于以前藩库欠人家的，看情形该付的付，该缓的缓，急公缓私，岂非大有伸缩的余地？”
“好，好！准定委托雪翁。”蒋益澧大为欣喜，“阜丰也好，阜康也好，我只认雪翁。”
“既蒙委任，我一定尽心尽力。”胡雪岩略停一下又说：“应该解缴的十万银子，我去筹划；看目前在杭州能凑多少现银？不足之数归我垫；为了省事，我想划一笔帐；这一来粮台、藩库彼此方便。”
“这，这笔帐怎么划法？”
是这样，譬如说现在能凑出一半现银，我就先解了上来；另外一半，我打一张票子交到粮台，随时可以在我上海的阜丰兑现。倘或交通不便，一时不能去提现，那也不要紧，阜丰代理藩库，一切代垫，就等于缴了现银；藩库跟粮台划一笔帐就可以了。垫多少扣多少；按月结帐。 "
听他说得头头是道，蒋益澧只觉得振振有词，到底这笔帐怎么算，还得要细想一想，才能明白。
想是想明白了，却有疑问：“藩库的收入呢？是不是先还你的垫款？”
这，怎么可以？”胡雪岩的身子蓦然往后一仰，靠在椅背上，不断摇头；似乎觉得他所问的这句话，太出乎常情似的。
光是这一个动作，就使得蒋益澧死心塌地了。他觉得胡雪岩不但诚实，而且心好，真能拿别人的利害当自己的祸福。不过太好了反不易使人相信；他深信是自己有所误会，还是问清楚的好。
“雪翁，”他很谨慎地措词，“你的意思是，在你开给粮台的银票数目之内，你替藩库代垫；就算是你陆续兑现。至于藩库的收入，你还是照缴。是不是这话？”
“是！就是这话。”胡雪岩紧接着说，“哪怕划帐已经清楚了，阜丰既然代理浙江藩库，当然要顾浙江藩司的面子，还是照垫不误。”
这一下，蒋益澧不但倾倒，简直有些感激了，拱拱手说：“一切仰仗雪翁，就请宝号代理藩库；要不要备公事给老兄？”“芗翁是朝廷的监司大员，说出一句话，自然算数；有没有公事，在我都是无所谓的。不过为了取信于人，阜丰代理藩库，要请一张告示。”
“那方便得很！我马上叫他们办。”
“我也马上叫他们连夜预备；明天就拿告示