Chapter 33 3. From the master of fishing hooks to the management of sailors

Because Hengzhou is located in southern Hunan, even in winter, as long as the sun comes out, it looks warm like spring.The beautiful Xiangjiang River, under the sunshine in winter, looks more and more spotless. It is really cute after clearing it up. Occasionally, you can see a few younger children who are not afraid of the cold swimming in the river!In addition to the cargo ships and passenger ships on the river, there are also small boats called fishing hooks in the local area, and only one person can sit on the small boats.Throughout the year, even when it is misty and rainy, the Xiangjiang River is full of such fishing hooks.The fishermen stand or sit on the boat, hang their fishing rods to the water, hold their breath, and wait for the fish to take the bait.On the warm river in winter, there is no wind, the water is not rushing, and the hook is steady, as if nailed to death in the water.The eagle hits the sky above the head, and the fish swims in the shallow bottom, which is simply refreshing.This scene of winter fishing in the southern country is very different from the northern flavor of Liu Zongyuan's "birds fly away in thousands of mountains, people disappear in thousands of paths, a lonely boat with hats and hats, fishing alone in the cold river and snow".At sunset, the fishermen came ashore, holding a bucket full of fish in one hand, and holding the hook hooked upside down on their shoulders with the other, and went home smiling slightly.That scene is a typical portrayal of "singing a song at a setting sun evening".

When Zeng Guofan was in his teens, he studied with Mr. Wang Jue'an in Shigu Academy for two years. He took a walk along the Xiangjiang River in the morning and evening. Looking at the dots of fishing hooks on the river and the fishermen standing on them, he felt that they were really carefree in the world. The carefree and happiest people often unconsciously recite the poem "Linjiang Fairy" written by an anonymous author: "The Yangtze River rolls away in the east, and the waves wash away the heroes. Right and wrong successes and failures are turned around, and the green hills are still there, and the sunset is red for a few times. .White-haired fishermen and woodcutters on the river, used to watching the autumn moon and spring breeze. A pot of turbid wine is a joy to meet, and many things in ancient and modern times are all laughed and talked about." At this time, the irritability and boredom of studying the Four Books and Five Classics will fade away for a while, and the fame will be in vain. You will also get a moment of comfort for the worries and distress of the test: when you are a high-ranking official, build your career, "turn your head around whether it is right or wrong", or be a fisherman and be happy!

Ever since he came to Hengzhou to govern the army, Zeng Guofan often had the envious scene in his boyhood; he had thought many times that one day he would take the time to be a hooker.However, Xiangyong was a pioneer, with a lot of things, and there was no free day, and it was not easy to do things. He was depressed and lacked that leisure time.In the past month, through the rewards for the Zeziying and Lingziying Jiangxi operations and the disposal of Jin Songling, the training effect of Xiangyong has been greatly improved, and the military discipline has also been improved. Taqibu, Zhou Fengshan, Yang Zaifu and others often say : "Xiang Yong is available." Zeng Guofan has been feeling a little more comfortable recently.Today is a beautiful sunny day. While having breakfast, he suddenly had the idea of ​​fishing in a boat.Remembering that the soldiers and warriors have been in Hengzhou for four months, and they have never had a holiday, so they simply have a day off today.After the order was issued, everyone was very happy.

Zeng Guofan took Mandi Guobao, and two soldiers followed with two fishing hooks, walked along the steaming water to the mouth of Shigu, and the soldiers put the hooks into the water.Zeng Guofan planned to go to Shiguzui to see Shigu Academy after fishing. Although Master Wang Juean had left the academy and returned to the countryside, the plants and trees on Shiguzui still touched his heart. Zeng Guofan rowed the hook into the river with great interest, Guobao followed him with one, and two soldiers waited on the bank.The fisherman on the hook looks at ease, but it is not so easy to be a fisherman.The boat didn't listen to Zeng Guofan's commands, and swayed from side to side, making him often unsteady, and several times it swayed so much that even the bucket of fish was overturned.Guobao's situation is not much better than that of his brother.Sitting on the boat, Zeng Guofan was distracted and restless. For a moment he thought of the past wanderings by the river, for a moment he remembered the cases he tried in the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and for a moment he remembered that he hadn't seen his father-in-law for a long time; and Master Wang, who was twenty-five or six I haven't seen each other for a year, I'm afraid my hair has already turned white!For a moment, I remembered that it was too cruel to Jin Songling, and it was okay not to kill him.An hour passed, and his mind was seldom calm, the hook was still shaking, and the fish seldom took the bait.He looked at the small wooden barrel on the bow, except for a few skinny oil slicks running around, it was still a bucket of clear water.He sighed: he probably won't be a decent fisherman in this life.

At this moment, a large cargo ship drummed its sails and headed northward. The owner of the ship did not know that there was a regimental minister sitting on this small fishing hook. in the water.At the moment of this violent turbulence, he suddenly remembered that Chang Mao relied on his powerful warships to dominate the thousands of miles of Yangtze River. In the future, if he wants to fight Chang Mao, the navy must be indispensable. He can't be a fisherman, but he can be a Naval commander.Yes, we must take advantage of the favorable conditions of Hengzhou's two rivers, Xiangjiang and Zhengshui, to establish Xiangyong's navy.The land and water armies marched hand in hand, that was the truly majestic Zeng's army.Thinking of this, Zeng Guofan was very excited.

"Master Zeng!" A voice came from the shore, interrupting his reverie.He looked back, and the soldiers on the shore were gesturing to him, signaling him to row the boat to the shore. It turned out that Mr. Ouyang Ningzhi came to see him in the mulberry garden, and Luo Zenan sent someone to call. Zeng Guofan's interest in fishing was over. Even if no one came to call, he was ready to go ashore. There were many things to deal with urgently, and he couldn't be a fisherman for long. Zeng Guofan and Guobao hurried back to the Zhao Family Ancestral Hall, and the old man Ouyang greeted him with a smile: "Disheng, do you see who is here?"

As soon as the words were finished, a short, fat old man walked out from the back room, and said with a smile on his face, "Bo Han, do you still recognize me?" "Hehe, my mentor is here, and Guofan is far away to welcome me." It turned out that the fat old man was exactly the Wang Juean he remembered from the hook just now, and he still used the old nicknames to call his favorite student. "It's been more than 20 years, and your old body is still so tough, gratifying! gratifying!" "No, I've been having problems these past few years." Wang Juean took Zeng Guofan's hands and looked him up and down very affectionately, "I'm much fatter and more powerful, after all I became a high-ranking official, and it's completely different from the poor scholars in the past. "

Zeng Guofan let Master Jue'an and his father-in-law into the study, offered tea to the two old people respectfully with his own hands, looked at Master Jue'an and said, "Father-in-law said, you have always left Shigu Academy and returned to your hometown in the countryside for seven or eight years. Yes. Guofan has always wanted to take the time to visit you in Changle, but he couldn’t find time. I have been in Hengzhou for more than four months, and I have not had a day of leisure. Today I made a big determination to drop everything and go. Over the decades of wanting to be a hooker."

Jue'an laughed: "Stealing half a day's leisure in Fusheng. It's not easy, it's not easy!" "To tell you the truth, just now I was fishing near the mouth of Shigu, and I remembered the scene of your old man teaching with a whip. I wish I could go to Changle to visit your old man tomorrow." Zeng Guofan has a sincere heart for this mentor in his youth. affectionate. "I live in seclusion in a mountain village, and the road is far away. How dare I use a virtuous deed in vain. You have a heavy burden today. With the words of the virtuous deed just now, the old man feels very relieved."

"Where did the mentor say something? Guofan has not repaid the great kindness you taught me day and night. When I think about it, I often feel ashamed. Without a mentor, Guofan would not be where he is today." Old man Ouyang also said: "It is right to go to Changle to see the teacher. I originally planned to come to Changle with Disheng to see you next spring when the flowers bloom!" "Then I don't dare to do it anymore." Wang Juean laughed happily. "My mentor never comes to the city very often, so what's the point of going to the city this time?" Zeng Guofan asked.

"I didn't know that you were the commander in chief who trained troops in the city." "It's natural. That weak scholar back then couldn't have been linked with swords and soldiers. Don't say you're old, even I didn't think of it a year ago." Ouyang old man interjected. "Speaking of which," Juean glanced at Ouyang Ningzhi, then turned to Zeng Guofan, and said, "Since ancient times, there have been many scholars who were commanders. Those who are far away are like Kong Ming, and those who are close like Zheng Chenggong are all feather fans. Lunjin. I really didn’t know it was you before. If I knew, I would have come to visit. I have taught all my life, and I am so happy to have a talent like you! This time is the 60th birthday of my in-laws. I only entered the city on the fifth day of the lunar new year because of the invitation. Yesterday I went to visit my old friend—your Mount Tai, and only then did I know that Xianqi is today's Li Yehou and Wang Wencheng." "Students can't compare with Li Mi and Wang Yangming. May I ask my mentor, who is your old in-laws?" Zeng Guofan laughed. Before Jue An opened his mouth, Ning Zhi hurriedly said: "Master Wang's in-laws are a famous person. He is Mr. Chuanshan's sixth grandson, Mr. Wang Shiquan." "Is it Wang Shiquan who co-engraved the manuscript of Chuanshan with Deng Xianggao in Xinhua?" "Exactly." Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "My mentor and the great Confucian have become relatives, and I should congratulate them." "The woman who was full years ago married Shiquan's fourth child. This child loves poetry and books, and he has the legacy of his ancestors." "I heard that the Wang family has built Mr. Chuanshan's memorial room for generations. It's a pity that they didn't come to Shigu Academy when they were studying in the past." "Since I want to go, I think today is the most coincidental day. How about we go to Wang Yaping to visit Master Wang's in-laws together in the afternoon?" "It's just right," Zeng Guofan said, "I will accompany the two old people to visit the former residence of Mr. Chuanshan in the afternoon to fulfill a long-cherished wish." Jue'an was full of joy: "Bo Han is willing to go, this will add luster and glory to the whole family." When Guobao heard that he was going to Wang's house in the afternoon, he immediately asked a soldier to inform Wang Shiquan first. After lunch, Zeng Guofan accompanied Wang Shi and Yue Zhang to Wang Yaping in the south of the city.I heard that all the battalion officers and sentries who were born as scholars in Xiangyong Middle School were very interested in visiting the descendants of Chuanshan Gong, and everyone wanted to go with them.Zeng Guofan was afraid that there would be too many people going, and the Wang family couldn't afford to entertain them, so they stopped them, and only brought Luo Zenan and Guobao with him.