Chapter 61 Two and Three Kingdoms Zhou Lang Chibi Bank, beauties and celebrities get married

Yang Zaifu commanded the Fifth Battalion Navy as the vanguard, and Li Mengqun commanded the Fifth Battalion Navy as the rear. This day sets sail.For the convenience of discussion, Peng Yulin also sat on Zeng Guofan's boat.It is late autumn, and the water of the Yangtze River is clearer than in spring and summer.The sky was cloudless, and the bright autumn sun shone on the water waves drawn by the Yong Ding, giving off a dazzling light of white flowers.Because it was going east by victory, the whole army was full of fighting spirit, and with the help of flowing water, the boat moved very quickly.Sometimes Zeng Guofan was in the cabin and sometimes on the deck, talking about the past and the present with Peng Yulin, Guo Songtao, Liu Rong and others, with high spirits.Watching the green hills on both sides recede, everyone was very happy.

At dusk, nearly 300 warships berthed in Gedian.After a tiring day, all the Yongding rested early after dinner.Peng Yulin looked at the night-shrouded river outside the cabin, feeling very uneasy.Standing on the bow of the boat during the day and commanding the sailing of the warship, he remembered that fourteen years ago, also on this section of the river, he spent the happiest period of his life with his sister-in-law.During the day, he was not allowed to think too much. Now, everything is silent and the hustle and bustle has subsided. The childhood scenes with my sister-in-law and childhood sweethearts come to my mind one scene after another.

The beautiful Vietnamese language of my sister-in-law, like a thrush, rang in my ears sentence by sentence.He took out the picture of the unicorn and plum blossom, and stroked it gently, as if he had fallen in love, bathed in the tenderness of his sister-in-law. Ever since he pretended to enter Wuchang City, he has not painted plum blossoms. Peng Yulin felt sorry for his sister-in-law's spirit in heaven, so he added candles, spread out the rice paper, and meditated while grinding the ink. Lin Bu's famous line about plum blossoms appeared in his mind: The shadows are slanting and the water is clear and shallow, the fragrance is floating and the moon is dusk." Yes, tonight I painted plum blossoms for my sister-in-law on the boat, and I painted her standing on the shore with open arms to welcome me.After a while, a beautiful picture appeared on the rice paper: beside the water, a plum tree with elegant branches leaned on the lawn, two long branches stretched out to the water surface, and a small plum tree floated on the water surface. Black awning boat.

To celebrate the recovery of Wuchang and to wish the success of Tianjia Town, Peng Yulin made an exception and mixed a little cinnabar to make the blooming plum blossoms red.Peng Yulin picked up the painting for self-appreciation, and was quite satisfied with the conception of the painting. "Xueqin, you are painting plum blossoms again." Peng Yulin looked back, and Zeng Guofan stood behind him with a smile on his face. "Oh, it's Mr. Di, please sit down." Zeng Guofan sat down opposite Peng Yulin and said, "I have been admiring it with you for a long time, but you don't know it at all. It's like my ancestors didn't hear the thunder."

Peng Yulin brewed a cup of Longjing tea for Zeng Guofan, handed it over with both hands, and said, "Yulin's painting skills are so rough, it's unbearable to be seen by Dizhang's eyes." "Xueqin, I often hear people say that you like painting plum blossoms the most, and you have no time to look for them. Seeing this painting of plum blossoms by the water today really refreshes my eyes and ears." "Dizhang praised you. Yulin has never been to a teacher, and he has nothing to do with painting, just to entertain his own eyes, and he really can't be in the hall of elegance."

Zeng Guofan said: "The art of Danqing is originally the expression of wisdom and heart, and it doesn't matter whether you follow a teacher or not. Zhang Yu of the Tang Dynasty said it well, 'Learning from nature outside, you can get the source of heart'. The plum blossoms in various forms are the Best teacher ever." Peng Yulin usually only knew that Zeng Guofan's classics and epics were the best. After hearing these two sentences, he knew that he also studied painting. In fact, I have seen thousands of plum blossoms, but my mind is not good enough. After all, what I paint is just a vulgar product. I will ask you to give me more advice."

Zeng Guofan shook his head and said: "I am the most clumsy painter in my life, and I can't even begin to write. That year in Hanyuan, I had the honor to see the painting of ink plum painted by Wang Mian in Ouchi's collection. It was a feast for the eyes." "Wang Mian's ink plum picture really still exists in the world. If you have a chance to look at it in the future, you will die in peace." "The painting of plum blossoms is also inscribed with a quatrain written by Wang Mian himself: "The tree beside the inkstone washing pond in my house is full of light ink marks. Don't let people praise the color, just leave the clean air to fill the universe." From the point of view, the paintings come from character. Wang Mian despises Xuan Mian's elegant and clean character, which makes the painted plum blossoms enter the divine rank. This is not bad. But the world has not noticed that Wang Mian's elegant and clean character , It is also the result of being nurtured by plum blossoms for many years."

Peng Yulin said: "What Dizhang said is true. People love plum blossoms, and plum blossoms also infect people, and people and flowers gradually become one." "Xueqin often paints plums, she must have a noble mind, which is unmatched by my generation." "It's not because of the noble mind, but painting plums is entrusted with other things." Peng Yulin regretted it as soon as he said that. As soon as Zeng Guofan entered the cabin, he saw the picture of unicorn and plum blossom placed on the wooden box. After hearing Peng Yulin's words, he understood a little bit.He pointed to the picture of the unicorn and plum blossom and said, "Xueqin, I don't think you have hidden a delicate embroidery. The unicorn and plum blossom are really interesting. You just said that painting plum blossoms has another purpose. Is Yu Qilin thinking of red plum blossoms?"

Peng Yulin blushed in embarrassment.Zeng Guofan said to Peng Yulin in the tone of a brother: "Xueqin, don't blame me for being abrupt. You are over 38 years old this year and have not yet married. Could it be that you have always been in love with someone you can't get? Li Yishan wrote untitled poems?" Peng Yulin admired Zeng Guofan's observation of world affairs and human conditions in such a subtle way that he could see through them at a glance.Having been with Zeng Guofan for nearly a year, Peng Yulin admires Zeng Guofan no matter in terms of character or talent.Now that he had been seen, Peng Yulin didn't want to hide it any more, so he told for the first time the joyous but even sadder past that had been in his chest for the past ten or twenty years Commander of Xiangyong who is the teacher and confidant.

Zeng Guofan was very excited after hearing Peng Yulin's heartfelt words.He was originally a person with rich and delicate emotions. On this autumn night when the river was beating against the warships, Peng Yulin's past stirred his heart a lot.When I saw Yulin in Hengzhou last year, it was like seeing an old friend.Over the past few months, he has admired Peng Yulin's ability to manage the navy, his brave and decisive character, and his character of not taking credit or boasting, and praised Yulin in his heart many times as a rare talent.Tonight, listening to Yulin's affectionate narration, he admired Yulin even more.How many people are there in this world with such an affectionate man!Such a single-minded person must be a loyal minister and good friend.Zeng Guofan said: "Aunt Mei is in the spirit of heaven, and will always be grateful to you. But since my aunt has passed away, you don't have to be infatuated with her for the rest of her life. It's the same sentence I told you last year: 'There are three unfilial acts, and the greatest is to have no descendants. After all, it is not what a man does to make himself extinct for a woman. It is late at night, you can rest now. Set sail early tomorrow, and you can reach Huangzhou in the afternoon. I will go for a quiet tour with you. How about Po Chibi?"

Before dawn the next day, the Ten Battalion Navy set sail, and Shen Zhengshi arrived in Huangzhou.A month ago, Huangzhou was the place where Chen Yucheng was stationed. After Wuchang fell, Chen Yucheng retreated to Qizhou.Xu Gengzao, the prefect of Huangzhou, led a group of civil and military officials to wait by the river this morning.Zeng Guofan stood at the bow of the boat and bowed his hands to Jiang An, showing his appreciation. The boat did not stop for a moment, and sailed straight downstream.Ten miles away from Huangzhou, Peng Yulin ordered the ship to stop.Guo Songtao, Liu Rong and others all swam across the Red Cliff in Huangzhou and were too lazy to go ashore again.Zeng Guofan told Guo and Liu not to tell anyone, and after that, he and Peng Yulin changed into casual clothes, and took Wang Jingqi off the ship and landed together. This Red Cliff in Huangzhou was not the place where Zhou Yu burned Cao Cao. It was only because Su Dongpo was relegated to Huangzhou to serve as the deputy envoy of the regiment training. After the words of "Merry Man", this Huangzhou Chibi is much more famous than Jiayu's real "Three Kingdoms Zhou Lang Chibi".When the literati of the past dynasties passed through Huangzhou, they all lingered here.Zeng Guofan passed by here when he was attending a funeral the year before last, so of course he had no intention of visiting Chibi.Even if the war is imminent this time, I have to go for a swim.The three of them landed on the shore and walked for more than two miles along the river. They saw a rocky mountain standing in front of them. big stone wall. Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin reckoned that this was Huangzhou Chibi, and walked forward excitedly. Approaching the edge of the stone wall, I saw that the rock is ocher red, which is a real red cliff.There is a man-made stone step beside the red cliff.The three of them climbed up the stairs and came to the top of the Red Cliff.Standing on the top of the mountain, Zeng Guofan saw the spectacular scene of "rocks piercing through the sky, turbulent waves cracking the shore, and thousands of piles of snow rolled up".There is a Suxian temple on the mountain, and there is a clay statue of Dongpo in the temple.The statue is dull and bloated, without any character of Su Xian, but the "Ode to the Former Red Cliff" engraved on the bluestone on the four walls, the handwriting is elegant and chic, it is worth seeing.The Taoist priest in the temple said that it was carved in Su Dongpo's handwriting. Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin smiled slightly after seeing it. Zeng Guofan said to Yulin: "When I visited Chibi today, I remembered a pork poem written by Dongpo when he was exiled to Huangzhou. It said: "Huangzhou's good pork is as cheap as dung. Decoction. Slow fire, less water, he will be beautiful when the fire is full. Get up and make a bowl every day, and the king will not care when he is full.'” Yulin smiled and said: "It seems that the key to cooking Dongpo pork is the fire. I usually eat Dongpo pork made by others. Although the name is delicious, the taste is not good. It turns out that I haven't read this poem and don't understand it." Slow fire, little water' secret." Zeng Guofan also said with a smile: "In addition to poor cooking, there is also bad meat. Dongpo pork must be cooked well with pork from Huangzhou, just like wine in Xinghua Village, which can only be cooked with local water. It's a pity. We have no luck this time." Yulin said: "Dongpo is a genius, and his poetry, writing and painting are the best at that time. However, genius also has a small mistake. In his "The Story of Shizhong Mountain", it is said that Shizhong Mountain is due to the water hitting the stone orifice, which is like the sound of a bell. ,actually not." "How do you know it's not the case?" "When I read Dongpo's article when I was young, I felt suspicious. Water hitting the stone orifice, is Peng Li's Stone Zhongshan the only one? I saw it more often in my hometown. I passed by Hukou that year, and I took a special look to solve this doubt. It turns out that this The name of the mountain is not derived from the onomatopoeia, but from the shape. The mountain, seen from a distance, is just like a big bell carved in stone." "Xueqin, you can write an article to identify Shi Zhongshan, and sing a duet with Dongpo." Zeng Guofan laughed. "After the rebellion is settled, I want to write it down, and then I will ask my husband to revise it for me." Both of them laughed together.Just as he was talking happily, a person came in front of him, bowed deeply to Zeng Guofan, and said, "Master Minister, don't be merciless." Zeng Guofan was baffled, the man raised his head, Jing Qi exclaimed in surprise: "Aren't you Mr. Yang? Why are you here?" Zeng Guofan was also surprised and said, "It's really Yang Guodong! How have you been these few years?" Yang Guodong replied: "It's a long story, and the humble house is not far from here. Today, Tianci can have the honor to meet with the Minister's Lord here, which really makes Guodong never dream. Please, the Minister's Lord and this lord—" "This is Commander Peng Yulin." Zeng Guofan introduced. "Ah, I've been waiting for you for a long time! Please, Mr. Minister, Commander Peng and Seventh Brother, go to the next house and talk about it together." Jing Qi said: "Mr. Yang, you left without saying goodbye that year, and later you forged the antiques of the lord's house to sell, which caused the lord to lose 800 taels of silver for nothing." Yang Guodong was shocked: "There is such a thing? If this is the case, the crime is serious. Rong Guodong will slowly explain it to the adults tonight." Who is Yang Guodong, and why did Wang Jingqi say that he caused Zeng Guofan to lose 800 taels of silver for nothing?It happened five years ago. One morning, when Zeng Guofan was seeking fast and hard work, Wang Jingqi brought a poor scholar in shabby clothes and said, "My lord, this Mr. Yang Guodong must pay a visit to you. I can't stop me after talking a lot." Zeng Guofan put down the "Korean Public Collection" in his hand, and looked at the person with his deep triangular eyes. He was in his thirties, with a long face and dark eyes. Judging from his complexion and clothes, he was a man in the The down and out in distress.Zeng Guofan gave a humble and warm reception to visiting scholars, no matter they were rich or poor.As long as scholars have real talents and practical learning, are they afraid that they will not have a bright future?Fish and shrimp today, dragons tomorrow, is a common thing.What's more, the bright black eyes of Yang Guodong in front of him clearly show that he is a smart person.Zeng Guofan didn't put on airs as a servant at all, stood up, politely asked Yang Guodong to sit down, and asked Jing Qi to make a bowl of good tea.Zeng Guofan smiled and asked, "Where are you from? What can I do with you?" Yang Guodong said: "The late student is from Taoyuan, Hunan." "You are from Taoyuan, why don't you have a Taoyuan accent?" Zeng Guofan wondered. "My lord, I was born in Taoyuan in my late life. I followed my parents to Jinhua, Zhejiang Province when I was seven years old. I didn't come out to study and seek teachers until I was about 20 years old. So now I don't have any Taoyuan accent." Yang Guodong looked calm in front of Zeng Guofan. The shy and timid appearance of ordinary scholars made Zeng Guofan quite fond of him. "Did you come to study in the capital?" "Wansheng came to the capital this time to meet your lord. I heard that your lord is a famous minister of Confucianism today, and all scholars in the world would like to know Jingzhou. Guodong is here, not seeking wealth and honor, but only begging you to take me in as a student. Sooner or later, you have to listen to adults coughing and spitting." Zeng Guofan stroked his beard and smiled slightly: "Reading the books of the sages with one step, I think I must have a good opinion." "Reading the books of sages and sages in late life is not a great opinion, but there are some insights." Yang Guodong was not humble, and talked boldly, "I think that Cheng Zhu's learning can be summed up with the word 'not to deceive'. Don't deceive others, you are not precious. Deceit yourself. Today, people who don’t deceive others will never be one in a thousand, and those who don’t deceive themselves will never be one. A certain man has known it for twenty years and tried it for twenty years, but he can’t do it in the end, so he traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to seek advice from adults.” Zeng Guofan was very happy to hear this, and said: "If you don't know how to do it, you don't know it. If you know it, you can do it naturally. Zhu Zi said that you can act after you know, and Yangming said that knowledge and action are one. Both sages have what they said The truth. Zhu Zi said: "If the meaning is not clear, how to practice it?" He also said: "Knowledge and action are always necessary, such as eyes without feet, no way, and feet without eyes." Yangming said: "Knowledge is the idea of ​​action, action is knowing Kung fu; knowledge is the beginning of action, and action is the completion of knowledge." He also said: "Knowledge is true and solid, that is action, and action is clear and discerning, that is knowledge." These wise words of the sages are profound, and you can understand them carefully. If you do it yourself, you will definitely grow a lot.” Yang Guodong was overwhelmed when he heard it, bowed to the ground, and said: "The words of my lord's advice are true medicine stones." Zeng Guofan supported Yang Guodong, and the two talked about the similarities and differences between Zhu and Lu and the advantages and disadvantages of the Yangming School, which was very enjoyable.Zeng Guofan made an exception to accept Yang Guodong, and praised Yang Guodong's profound knowledge and good understanding among his friends.When Zeng Guofan praised him, Yang Guodong didn't thank him very much.When others asked him, he said that he came to study, not to seek fame.When someone came to visit, Yang Guodong always refused to see him, and Guofan gradually respected Yang Guodong. Yang Guodong lived in Zengfu for three months.One day, he suddenly left without saying goodbye.Looking around, there is no trace of him.Zeng Guofan felt very strange.If you can't find it for a few days, forget it.Later, Yang Guodong was gradually forgotten by the Zeng family. On this day, Zeng Guofan visited Liulichang with his friends and saw several scrolls of calligraphy and painting at an antique stall.Zeng Guofan picked it up and took a look, and was surprised, it turned out that they were all old things from his usual collection.When I was puzzled, I caught a glimpse of a lotus leaf inkstone.Guofan picked up the lotus-leaf inkstone, groaning secretly in his heart.This inkstone is not cut or carved, its shape is naturally like a lotus leaf, and the surface of the inkstone is green and shiny.What's more, the surface of the inkstone can change with the weather of the four seasons. It is dry when it is sunny, moist when it rains, prosperous in summer, and dry in winter, just like a real lotus leaf.When it rains, the inkstone has its own water droplets like teardrops, which are used to grind the ink, and there is no need to add water. The written characters are extraordinarily bright.This inkstone was originally the ancestral treasure of Tang Peng's family.Tang Peng and Zeng Guofan were very good friends.Tang Peng is conceited and talented, and has no one in his eyes.Once arguing with Zeng Guofan over a trivial matter, he flew into a rage and scolded Zeng Guofan for being unlearned and incompetent.Zeng Guofan was annoyed and cut off contact with him.Later, Woren learned about this and accused Zeng Guofan of being wrong, saying that a person who studied Cheng and Zhu's studies should not have such a big anger.Zeng Guofan accepted it wholeheartedly.The next day, he took the initiative to come to the door to apologize to Tang Peng, and invited Tang Peng to come to his house for a banquet.Tang Peng was greatly moved, and the two reconciled as before.When Tang Peng was critically ill, he entrusted Zeng Guofan with funeral affairs and gave him this ancestral ancient inkstone.Zeng Guofan loved this inkstone very much. He usually didn't use it and kept it at the bottom of the box. "How did this inkstone and calligraphy and painting come here?" Zeng Guofan was very surprised.Ask the stall owner where these things come from.The stall owner said he bought it from a man named Yang Guodong.Shocked, Zeng Guofan asked Yang where he lived now, and replied that he lived in Lianshengdian, Xiheyan.Zeng Guofan immediately ordered his family to go to Liansheng store to find Yang Guochou.The owner of the store said that Yang had already left, and his whereabouts were unknown.Zeng Guofan had no choice but to take out all the cash in the family and make up 800 taels to redeem the inkstone, calligraphy and painting.For this matter, Zeng Guofan was unhappy for half a month, and complained to himself: I am really blind, leaving a thief at home, not only can't see it, but also respect him as a genius. In order to save face, he ordered no one in his family to talk about this matter to outsiders. Occasionally when it rained one day, Zeng Guofan ordered Jing Qi to take out the ancient inkstone and grind the ink to write. It's strange again, the ancient inkstone is not like in the past, when it rains, it overflows.Zeng Guofan sighed, took the inkstone in his hands and played with it carefully, but found that he didn't seem to have the heavy feeling of the past.He became suspicious, so he ordered all his family members to go out and rummaged through boxes and cabinets to search.As a result, the ancient inkstone handed down by the Tang family was found, as were the calligraphy and paintings.It turned out that all the redeemed items were fakes, and they were not lost!He was stunned, and immediately asked Jing Qi to go to Liulichang to find the antique stall owner, but he had already disappeared.Zeng Guofan was puzzled: Who is the liar?Saying that the owner of the antique stall is a liar, how could he know about the treasures in my house?Said Yang Guodong was a liar, why didn't he steal the real thing? At this time, Zeng Guofan met Yang Guodong here. It was really an old acquaintance in a foreign land, and he could solve the mystery of many years. Is there any reason not to go?Zeng Guofan asked Jing Qi to go back first and tell Guo Songtao and Liu Rong that he would not return to the boat tonight and would pick him up early tomorrow morning. Yang Guodong led the two of them for more than a mile, and came to a mountain pass. He pointed to a hut with a bamboo fence in front of him and said, "This is a humble house." Zeng Guofan saw a stream in front of the hut, a few weeping willows, and the environment was quiet and quiet, and said: "It is a hundred times better to live in this blessed place than the capital." Said into the house.Unexpectedly, this hut looks simple on the outside, but it is quite different on the inside.The walls of the hall are painted with lime, which looks bright and clean.There are calligraphy and paintings of famous people hanging on the wall, and the room is full of exquisite and high-quality furniture.Sitting here, I don't feel like barren mountains and wild mountains, as if I came to the official and gentry's house in the bustling city. As soon as he sat down, Yang Guodong shouted to the back room: "Axiu, bring tea to honor the two adults." As soon as the words were finished, a twenty-three-year-old woman came out from the back room, holding a black lacquered mother-of-pearl tea tray, and walked lightly into the living room.The woman generously put two bowls of tea on the table and said, "Please serve tea, my lords." After finishing speaking, he smiled and turned around to enter the house.Peng Yulin looked at this woman who looked very much like Aunt Mei, especially the smiling expression and crisp Yue Yin, it was as if Aunt Mei had come back to life.He couldn't help but look at A Xiu twice more.Yang Guodong didn't notice Peng Yulin's instant expression, but Zeng Guofan did.Yang Guodong said: "This is my younger sister, Guoxiu. My mother has been paralyzed in bed for several years, so I can't get up to entertain her." Zeng Guofan said: "I am very concerned about your sudden departure that year." Yang Guodong said: "The student visited the lord rashly that year, and he was wrongly loved by the lord, so he stayed in the mansion. In the past three months, following the lord, he has learned more than I have learned in ten years. The lord's kindness, the student never forgets. That year suddenly Leaving was originally due to an accident." Axiu came out again, displaying all kinds of seasonal fruits.Zeng Guofan noticed that Peng Yulin had looked at Axiu again, and a thought suddenly came to his mind.Yang Guodong continued: "I was doing some business on Qianmen Street that day, and I happened to meet a servant from my hometown. He grabbed me and said, "Master, I have been looking for you in the capital for half a month, and I finally met you today. Come home with me quickly.' I hurriedly asked, 'Is something wrong at home?' The servant said, 'I don't know about it. The master is at home, and he filed a lawsuit for his ancestor's cemetery and Xie's family. He was locked in prison by the government, waiting urgently. You go home." I panicked when I heard this, and said, "I am now at the house of Mr. Zeng, the servant of the Ministry of Rites. Mr. Zeng has been on duty in the garden for the past two days. After Mr. Zeng comes back in two days, I will explain to him and leave the capital again." Go home." The servant said: "The master is in prison now, and I hope you go home every day. I don't know if I can see you after I go back." The old servant said and shed tears. I thought: He The servants in my family are all in such a hurry, can I wait any longer? Why don’t I go back first, and return to Beijing in two or three months to apologize to the adults. I hurried back home to pack my luggage. I didn’t have any luggage, only a few fakes. It was when I was living in an adult’s house, and I had nothing to do. One day, I copied a copy of the calligraphy and painting in the adult’s house. Looking at it myself, I still think it looks like it, and suddenly I want to make a little joke with the world. Several times in a row God, I went out early and returned late, went to Liulichang, chatted with those antique dealers, and learned a lot of counterfeit antique skills from them. I bought a few pieces of paper produced in the Ming Dynasty at a high price, and bought an ancient ink , closed the door, carefully copied and crafted, carefully copied a copy of each of the calligraphy and paintings in the master's family; I especially liked the ancient inkstone of the master's house, so I also copied one. So I brought these things with me , leaving a note of 'farewell on urgent matters', and came to Xiheyan Liansheng store where the servant lives." Zeng Guofan was very interested in hearing it, and interjected with a smile: "Now I understand, you copied the Huangshan Valley's characters yourself." He also said, "This note has never been mentioned by anyone in the house." "It was placed on the desk at the time, and it may have been blown away by the wind. When I came to Liansheng store, the servant asked, "Have you brought any money with you?" With this amount of money, the master and the servant will not be able to get home anyway. The servant saw the calligraphy and paintings in the bundle and said, "Master, it is important to save the master at the moment. You should sell these calligraphy and paintings! I know you are reluctant, until now There is no other way. If you save the master, you can buy it again in the future.' I was amused. However, what he said reminded me. It seems that the copying of these calligraphy and paintings is not bad, at least the servant in front of him has been fooled. If it can be bought by someone who is good at antiques but does not know the goods, although it is a bit immoral, until now, I don't care much. I asked: "In an emergency, who should I sell it to?" "If someone buys it, live next door. I saw a stall owner selling calligraphy and paintings. The servant immediately called a middle-aged man. I thought to myself: just to test my antique skills. So I boasted to the man that it was an authentic work handed down from my ancestors, and now I want to save the master. , had to reluctantly sell it. The man had been familiar with the servant a few days ago, so he had no doubts about what I said. He squinted his eyes to appreciate the calligraphy and paintings and the ancient inkstone carefully, and asked me:' Make a price!" I said, "These calligraphy and paintings and ancient inkstones will be priced at no less than 1,500 taels of silver. Now I am in urgent need of money. I don't have time to find someone else. You give me 750 taels of silver." Ten taels!" The man bargained with me and finally offered five hundred taels. I thought to myself: Funny, these things are not worth ten taels of silver. After such nonsense, they are worth hundreds of taels of silver. Then he took five hundred taels of silver from the man with one hand, and gave him those counterfeit goods with the other hand." Zeng Guofan thought: This Yang Guodong is really a genius for imitating antiques. Not to mention people who sell antiques, he even deceived me, the owner of antiques.This kind of ability to confuse the real with the fake, the world is afraid that it will be difficult to find a second one.The original doubts have long since been washed away.Peng Yulin was also secretly surprised, and said with a smile: "Brother Yang, with your ability, you can travel all over the world without worrying about running out of money." "Peng Tong accepted it and laughed. This kind of trick can only be done occasionally, and it can't be the foundation of life. I took the money and hurried with the servant. Unexpectedly, when I got home, my father had died in prison. Thank you Because someone in my family was a high-ranking official, my family spent thousands of taels of silver and failed to win the lawsuit. Xie’s family always talked about Confucius, Meng, Chengzhu, but they turned out to be such a wolf-hearted dog.” At this point, Yang Guodong looked at Zeng Guofan with a wry smile, “I’m not afraid My lord was offended, and I was furious. From then on, I stopped reading the books of Confucius, Mencius and Cheng Zhu. The books of Cheng and Zhu are all about sincerity, and there is nothing without sincerity. In fact, where does sincerity come from in this world! My old father died in prison; if I were honest, I would not have to worry about the two masters and servants going home. I have been misunderstood by it for more than 20 years. The word "no deception" that I realized was actually You completely lied to yourself!" Zeng Guofan said sternly: "What Cheng Zhu said is correct, it's just that the world didn't follow it. It's just because of occasional setbacks that you become cynical to the world, so there's no need for it." "My lord is right." Yang Guodong said, "But in the past few years, the students have learned a lot of real skills. After my father died, I didn't want to stay in my hometown anymore, so I brought my mother and younger sister to Huangzhou Mansion I took refuge with my uncle. My uncle was originally a clerk in the Yamen of the prefect of Dianzhou. She was killed by Changmao a few months ago. We built a few thatched cottages next to Su Xianguan. My mother and younger sister lived here for many years. I went everywhere Yunyou, learn what you see. To tell you the truth, I just came back from Guangdong two days ago, and I learned how to make gunpowder bullets from foreigners in Guangdong!" Zeng Guofan's eyes lit up, and he said: "With the wisdom of your step, it is natural to learn something, and I must be good at making arms by now." "I can't talk about proficiency, but the gunpowder and bullets produced are no worse than those of foreigners." Zeng Guofan was overjoyed: "You are a great talent, and now you can make good use of it. I don't know if you still want to get along with me like five years ago?" "Your Excellency is the most talented and virtuous person today. When I was in Guangdong, I knew that Your Excellency was leading Xiangyong and taking the extermination of Changmao as his own responsibility. Guodong wanted to go for refuge for a long time, but his mother was ill and couldn't bear to go to the fierce battle. Dangerous place. Today I meet you again, and Guodong is willing to hold the whip and stirrup for you as he did five years ago." "Auntie is sick in bed, it's really inconvenient to stay away, you can come to see me again in two years." "If I don't meet the adults today, I really don't plan to stay away from my mother in the past few years. But I heard from the seventh brother that the students have committed an unforgivable crime without knowing it. I never thought that those fakes would deceive the adults." Zhiyan defrauded my lord of 800 taels of silver. The student has committed a deep crime. Therefore, in order to repay the lord’s kindness and redeem the student’s crime, I decided to go to Jiangning with my lord, and I can make gunpowder and bullets for you.” Zeng Guofan was overjoyed and said: "There is a shortage of such capable people in the army. Let's board the ship together tomorrow!" Peng Yulin also laughed and said, "With Brother Yang joining the battle, Xiangyong is like a tiger with wings added." Dong Guodong said: "My lord, I bought a good horse from a farmer the month before last. In order to pay off the crime of a student, I will give this horse to my lord. Please follow me to the backyard to watch it." Ever since Wang Shiquan gave Zeng Guofan the ancestral sword of his ancestors, Zeng Guofan longed for a horse that matched the sword. a pity.When Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin came to the backyard, they saw a tall horse tethered in the stable.Yang Guodong pulled it out.The horse was covered in charcoal, without a single hair. When it came to the middle of the plain, it raised its head and roared, swung its neck and hooves, scaring the birds on the tree to fly wildly.Zeng Guofan praised: "What a dragon horse! How did the farmer get such a good horse?" Yang Guodong said: "I was also surprised at the beginning, so I asked the farmer. The farmer said that this horse was originally owned by a long-haired prime minister. When Chang-mao occupied Huangzhou, his soldiers took him out for a walk. The farmer killed his soldiers and stole the horse. The horse is hidden at home and sold only after Changmao has left. People who saw it said it was Guan Yunchang’s Chitu horse, so I called it Chitu.” Zeng Guofan said: "Who has seen Guan Yunchang's red rabbit horse? It was all made up by Luo Guanzhong. I think it looks like an overripe jujube. Let's call it a jujube horse!" Peng Yulin said: "What a jujube horse! It is both vulgar and refined." Yang Guodong also smiled and said, "It's called Zaozima!" Zeng Guofan said happily: "Okay! I accept it, and it will pay off your crime of counterfeiting antiques." Everyone laughed.Seeing that it was getting late, Axiu had already set up a table full of dishes, Yang Guodong invited Zeng and Peng to the table.Yang Guodong pointed to one of the large bowls and said, "This is Dongpo pork roasted with Huangzhou pork." Zeng Guofan smiled and said to Peng Yulin: "I just said that there is no good luck, and good luck has come. This is really called 'people have misfortunes and fortunes without knowing it'." At the banquet, everyone talked freely and happily.Yang Guodong said: "My younger sister likes to make her own wine orders. She has always made up a story about wine orders. Unfortunately, her talents are limited and she has not finished it." "I didn't expect Lingmei to have such a talent. We really admire it. You might as well talk about it, brother Yang, to help the wine go." Peng Yulin said excitedly. "I have never been familiar with poetry and music. The two adults are seniors with profound knowledge. I am asking for help to make this wine order story complete. The younger sister made up a story like this with the existing monuments around her: that year Dongpo was relegated to Huangzhou, where he had nothing to do. He often drank and chatted with Qin Shaoyou, Zen master Foyin and the prefect of Huangzhou. One day, Dongpo rose up and proposed to make a new wine order for fun. Name two ancients, ask a question and answer, tell a thing, and the answer must be a ready-made two-line verse. Dongpo himself first said an order: "The pen fell silently, and looked up to see Guan Zhong.Guan Zhong asked Uncle Bao, why not grow bamboo?Uncle Bao said: It only takes two or three poles, and the breeze will be enough. Qin Shaoyou thought for a while, and then said: "The moth fell to the ground silently, and looked up to see Confucius."Confucius asked Yan Hui why he didn't grow plums?Yan Hui said: In the deep snow in Qiancun, a branch opened last night. Without thinking, Zen master Foyin also issued an order: "The smallpox fell to the ground silently, and I looked up to see Baoguang."Baoguang asked Vimalakirti, how close is the monk's practice?Vimo said: When you meet a guest, your head is like a turtle, and when you meet a guest, your neck is like a goose. "It should be the prefect of Huangzhou who made it, but the prefect of Huangzhou couldn't do it. In fact, the younger sister couldn't think of it herself. " Zeng Guofan said: "Young sister's talent for singing Xu is rare in ancient and modern times. These wine orders are very good, and the stories are also elegant. I don't think she can't compose a song for Huangzhou prefect, but she wants to test you. How talented is this brother!" I laughed out loud.Yang Guodong also smiled and said: "My lord is right. She asked me, so she was testing me, and I couldn't make it, but the little girl has not made the fourth song herself, and said that someone can make it for the prefect of Huangzhou. She I got him." Zeng Guofan is also interested in this book. If he has time to think about it, he can also write a song for the Huangzhou prefect, but he has other ideas.He turned his face to Peng Yulin and said: "I have never understood the wine order, Xueqin, you have studied this way, today we ask the Taoist platform to condescend to be the prefect of Huangzhou." Peng Yulin has a good impression of Axiu, and he is willing to finish the story for her, so he doesn't refuse.Peng Yulin was inspired by the word "goose" in the concluding sentence of Zen Master Foyin, and remembered the poem written by Wang Luo Bin when he was a child: "The goose, goose, goose, song to the sky, the white hair floats in the green water, and the red palm touches the clear waves." There is.He said to Yang and Zeng: "I think of one, I don't know if it looks like the tone of Huang Taishou." Zeng Guofan smiled and said, "Just read it, I'll judge whether it looks like it or not." Peng Yulin read: "The snowflakes fell silently, and when I looked up, I saw Bai Qi. Bai Qi asked Lian Po why he didn't raise geese. Lian Po said: "The white hair floats in the green water, and the red palm touches the clear waves." "What a 'Snowflake' and 'Bai Qi'!" As soon as he finished reading, Yang Guodong said happily, "The clothes are perfect, I don't think the Huangzhou prefect back then could make such a good wine order, it really beat Dongpo and Foyin. I'm angry." Yulin said embarrassedly: "The talent of Dongpo and Foyin are all of Lingmei's talents." After Axiu heard Peng Yulin's drinking order in the back room, she was very happy to meet her bosom friend, and she came out to fill Peng Yulin's glass of wine generously, and he got up in a panic to thank him.Axiu said with a smile: "Commander Peng helped the little girl a lot." Zeng Guofan saw it and was delighted. After dinner, Yang Guodong sent Zeng and Peng to the guest room to rest.After Yang Guodong left, Zeng Guofan asked Yulin quietly: "Xueqin, tell me the truth, do you like Yang Guodong's sister Axiu?" Yulin blushed and said, "Dizhang, you know that I have been unwilling to get married for many years, how could I fall in love with Axiu as soon as I see her?" Zeng Guofan said: "Your behavior can't hide from my eyes. I know you are a real man who loves righteousness, but the way you look at Axiu today is unusual. I guess, this woman may be like your deceased Aunt Mei, You like Aunt Mei because you like her, don't you?" Peng Yulin has always admired Zeng Guofan's insight into the state of the world and human relationships.This guess seemed to have seen through his heart, so Peng Yulin could only nod in embarrassment.曾国藩说：“雪琴，你的品性为人和我十分接近，我和你虽名为堂属之分，实同兄弟之谊。如果你听我一句劝告，不固执独居的话，阿秀便是你合适的人选。这女子，我虽然没有和她交谈过，看她今天走路说话，是一个端庄的淑女，且生在这样一个家庭，必然灵慧而懂诗书礼义。我去跟杨相公提，如阿秀尚未许字的话，我为你作伐，结秦晋之好如何？” 彭玉麟低头不语，曾国藩知已默许，随即走进杨国栋的卧室。杨国栋正在灯下收拾行李，见曾国藩来，忙起身让座，说：“大人尚未安歇？” “我想冒昧问你一句话，请别见怪。” “大人只管说，学生哪有见怪之理。” “请问令妹字否？” “大人问阿秀的事，真令我做兄长的心焦。小妹自幼聪颖，老父爱她如掌上明珠，从小教她诗书字画。谁知小妹读了几句书后，心气高傲得很，不管谁为她提亲，都一概不允，说要得天下一真正名士英雄才嫁。老父去世后，从金华流落至此，人地生疏，再加上我常年不在家，小妹的婚事便耽搁了。” “令妹贵庚几何？” “不瞒大人，小妹今年足足二十三岁了。” “我身边现正有一个名士英雄，不知令妹看得上否？” “请大人明说。” “足下看彭雪琴如何？” “彭统领已是三十开外的人了，莫不是夫人弃世，意欲续弦？” 曾国藩摇摇头：“怎是续弦，雪琴根本就未娶过。” “那是为何？学生见彭统领堂堂一表，儒雅英迈，才学满腹，又是大人麾下名将，为何未成家呢？” “这正是雪琴英雄过人之处。以雪琴之人才，何愁没有倩女。只是他自小立志，要成就一番大事业后再谈家室，以致拖延至今尚未成亲。” 国栋不禁面露喜色：“这样说来，小妹真正有福了。彭统领适才的酒令，小妹甚为喜爱。待我禀告老母、告诉小妹后，立即回话。” 这边，曾国藩也把杨国栋的话告诉了彭玉麟。一会儿，杨国栋来到曾、彭所住的房里，对他们说：“老母说：'既是曾大人为媒，这件事可办。'小妹没有做声，只是拿出一张纸来，写了几句话在上面，说还要向彭统领请教请教。我拿过纸看时，竟不明白她写的什么。”说罢，将纸递给彭玉麟。曾国藩好奇地凑过来看，只见上面写着这样几行字： 纱窗碧诱横斜影月光寒处空帏冷香柱细烧檀沉沉正夜阑更深方困睡倦极生愁思含情感寂寥何处别魂销 曾国藩在心里默读了两遍，已经明白了，偷眼看彭玉麟，见他眉头紧蹙，一副为难的样子。杨国栋心里在骂妹子：“成天躲在屋子里没事，尽编些稀奇古怪的文字来难人。”彭玉麟十分赞赏阿秀的才情，无论如何要破这个谜。他反复默读，突然心头一亮，高兴地说：“原来是一首《菩萨蛮》！涤丈和杨兄请听：纱窗碧透横斜影，月光寒处空帏冷。香柱细烧檀，沉沉正夜阑。更深方困睡，倦极生愁思。含情感寂寥，何处别魂销。” “正是正是，雪琴断得好！”曾国藩兴奋地称赞。 杨国栋也笑着说：“彭统领大才，小妹不自量，班门弄斧了。我这就去告诉她。” 杨国栋拿起纸就要走，彭玉麟一把拖住：“慢点。令妹才华锦绣，世间少见，这四十四个字不知费了她多少闺情。历代才女喜欢写回文诗词，说不定这也是一首回文词。” 曾国藩笑着说：“我刚才听你念时，也这样想过，但究竟比不上你对杨小姐的知心。” 彭玉麟脸红起来，说：“涤丈取笑了，还不知我说得对不对哩！姑且念念看。” 彭玉麟拖长音调，从最后一字读起，竟然真的又读出一首《菩萨蛮》来： “销魂别处何寥寂，感情含思愁生极。倦睡困方深，更阑夜正沉。沉檀烧细柱，香冷帏空处。寒光月影斜，横透碧窗纱。” 曾国藩叹道：“昔曹大家、苏若兰之才，亦不过如此。” 杨国栋兴冲冲地进了妹子的房。一会儿，又红光满面地出来说：“小妹对彭统领的聪明才学十分佩服，她还想请彭统领就眼前之景和心中之念作一首七律。” 彭玉麟七岁时便会作诗，写一首七律，对他来说是太容易了。但这首诗却非比寻常，眼下自己正分统水师东下，这是将载之于史册的不朽事业，何不把这件事写出来。他认真想想，然后一气挥就： 长江不许大王雄，王濬楼船要建功。 十万天兵驱虎豹，三千犀甲奋貔熊。 旌旗常带潇湘雨，鼓角先清淮海风。 戎马书生少智略，全凭忠愤格苍穹。 杨国栋将这首诗带进内室不久，便喜融融地托出一个锦绣香匣，对彭玉麟说：“这是小妹的生庚八字，今夜就交给彭统领了。” 彭玉麟脸上流光溢彩，恭恭敬敬地接过这份重礼，随手从身上取出一只碧玉兔交给国栋，说：“玉麟属兔，三朝时，家母亲手把这只玉兔挂在玉麟颈上，至今有三十八年了，今日请小姐收下。” 曾国藩异常高兴地说：“今夜成就了雪琴与阿秀的百年好事，我这个红娘不可无表示。”曾国藩饱醮浓墨，凝神片刻，写了一首《贺新郎》： 艳福如斯也。看江中，雄师东进，君其健者。一从风浪平静后，喜结鸳鸯香社。料不久笙乐细奏，袍是烂银裳是锦，算美人名士真同嫁。好花样，互相借。 淋漓史笔珊瑚架。说催妆，新诗绮语，几人传写？才子风流涂抹惯，莫把眉痕轻画，当记取今宵月夜。明年携得神眷归，令老母幼弟同惊讶。悄悄话，声须下。 曾国藩写完，又细看了一遍，不无得意地交给杨国栋说：“杨相公，你把这阙词也交给阿秀，待这仗打完，我便打发雪琴前来迎亲，我为他们主婚。”