Chapter 9 Chapter 2 The governor of Liangjiang, the world cannot live without Hunan, and Hunan cannot live without Zuo Zongtang
After receiving the order, Fan Xie, the commander-in-chief of Yongzhou Town, excitedly set off for Sichuan with two thousand green battalions.Fan Xie was not a clean official, relying on being relatives of the official fifth aunt's natal family, he had nothing to fear.The governor's office in Hunan received many impeachment letters. Luo Bingzhang didn't want to offend the officials, so he suppressed these letters and ignored them. Zuo Zongtang was inconvenient to deal with Luo Bingzhang's face.
On this day, Fan Xie passed by Changsha and placed the soldiers outside the city. He brought a few soldiers into the city and went straight to another village governor's yamen.Seeing that it was Fan Zhentai, the patrolman did not dare to neglect, and hurried inside to report.Luo Bingzhang and Zuo Zongtang were talking about Zeng Guofan's garrison in Hubei. Hearing the announcement, he kept saying, "Please, please." .”
Luo Bingzhang hurriedly stood up, and said with a smile, "Fan Zhentai is exempt."
Fan Xie was about to sit down next to Luo Bingzhang when he suddenly saw Zuo Zongtang sitting opposite him with a serious face, so he took a step forward and said, "Master Zuo has always been good."
Zuo Zongtang glanced at Fan Xie, and said coldly: "General Fan, you are being polite."
Fan Xie felt unhappy, and sat beside Luo Bingzhang with his legs spread apart.Luo Bingzhang laughed and said, "Fan Zhentai, this time Guan Zhongtang personally recommends you to the imperial court to suppress bandits in Sichuan. I think Zhentai will repay the emperor's grace and Guan Zhongtang's respect with frequent victories."
"Shi Ni's army is running far away alone, and it won't make a difference. Fan dare not boast that he won in one fell swoop, but he will eventually wipe out those rebellious officials and thieves." Fan Xie said complacently, as if he wanted to let Zuo Zongtang know how powerful he is.
"The majesty of the general is really awe-inspiring, awe-inspiring!" Luo Bingzhang said still laughing.
"Long hair is nothing more than a clown, what is it?"
Fan Xie had only served as the commander-in-chief of Yongzhou Town for only a year or two, and had never fought against the Taiping Army at all.In the first two months, Shi Da opened the siege of Baoqing Mansion, which made the officialdom in Changsha very tense.Zuo Zongtang personally commanded the troops, and it took a lot of effort to barely deal with it.Hearing Fan Xie's deceitful words, how could Zuo Zongtang not get angry: "This is too much! The imperial court dispatched hundreds of thousands of troops and paid tens of millions of dollars. So far, Chang Mao has not been calmed down; and Shi Dakai is The hero among the thieves, Zeng Disheng's servant was defeated by him, don't you blush when you say this?"
Fan Xie didn't blush when he was bragging, but after hearing this, he really blushed. He suppressed his anger and said, "Master Zuo, I won't even fight with you. Let's see later!"
Fan Xie came to inspect the yamen, originally it was a kind of official entertainment, seeing the bad atmosphere, he stood up and cupped his hands at Luo Bingzhang, saying: "Farewell to the humble post."
After saying that, he turned around and left, ignoring Zuo Zongtang.Zuo Zongtang was furious and shouted: "Come back!"
"What's the matter?" Fan Xie stopped and asked angrily.
"Fan Xie, you didn't say hello to me when you entered the yamen, and you didn't say goodbye to me when you left the yamen. You are too rampant. Hunan military officers, no matter how big or small, always greet me when they see me. Why don't you say hello?"
Fan Xie was also angry, and said loudly: "The imperial court system does not stipulate that the military officer should greet the master when he sees the master. Although the military officer is light, he is not inferior to the master. What's more, Fan is appointed by the court. Please be safe!"
Zuo Zongtang was at a loss for words, his eyes bulged out of anger, his jaw was stiff, he stood up fiercely, rushed over, raised his foot to kick Fan Xie, Luo Bingzhang hurriedly stopped him: "Jigao, what are you doing?"
Zuo Zongtang was so angry that it took a long time before there was a thunderclap: "Bastard, get out!"
Fan Xie was furious, his veins were bulging, and he wanted to argue with Zuo Zongtang again, but Luo Bingzhang hurriedly said: Fan Zhentai, please go back!I won't send you off, I wish you success soon. "
Fan Xie had no choice but to withdraw with hatred, and left Changbei that afternoon.
Fan Xie went to Wuchang full of anger, had an audience with the official document, and lamented for a long time how Zuo Zongtang ignored the court orders, arrogant and arbitrary, and acted arbitrarily.The boss was unhappy after hearing the official document.How could Zuo Zongtang dare to be so rude to his in-laws and generals appointed by the court to aid Sichuan? How could he tolerate it!In the evening of that day, the official document gave the emperor a note, wrote a few summaries of what Fan Xie said, and gave Zuo Zongtang a "bad scene" hat, saying that he controlled Hunan and did evil.
When Emperor Xianfeng received the memorial from the official document, he knew that Zuo Zongtang was actually such an aide. He was greatly surprised, and then he criticized on the memorial: "Hunan is controlled by a villain, and it is annoying and hateful. If there is something illegal, it can be punished on the spot."
The memorial was handed back to Wuchang, and the sixth aunt knew Zuo Zongtang's relationship with the Hu family, so she quietly told Mrs. Jingjuan about it.How could Mrs. Jingjuan see her brother's father-in-law being unsuccessful in a lawsuit, so she begged Hu Linyi to rescue him.Hu Linyi quickly sent someone to send a letter to Changsha, telling Zuo Zongtang the whole story, and at the same time sent a letter to Guo Songtao and Wang Kaiyun.At this time, Guo Songtao was working in Nanshufang, while Wang Kaiyun was working as a teacher in Sushun's family, who had been promoted to co-organizer of the university.In August of the fourth year of Xianfeng, Zeng Guofan led Xiangyong out of the province and entered Hubei, but Wang Kaiyun did not accompany him.In the fifth year of Xianfeng, Wang Kai won the imperial examination and went to Beijing for the next year's examination.After the exam, he stayed in Beijing to study, was favored by Sushun, and extended to the mansion.Hu Linyi asked Guo and Wang to pay close attention to the court's movements.
After receiving Hu Linyi's letter, Zuo Zongtang resigned from Luo Bingzhang under the pretext of going to Beijing for an examination.Luo tried again and again but couldn't keep him, so he had to let him go.Zuo Zongtang left Changsha with hatred, and after returning to Xiangyin to stay for a few days, he took a servant and went north by boat in the severe cold.At this time, Guo Songtao sent an urgent letter to Hu Linyi, saying that the emperor was afraid that the official documents would not be true, so he specially sent Fu Aji, the supervisory censor of the Huguang Road of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, to visit Hunan, and he would go down the canal in the near future.Hu Linyi called his family, Hu Han, into the study, and gave him secret instructions.Hu Han was ordered to go to Hebei on a fast horse in the starry night, and met Fu Aji in Dezhou, Shandong.
Hu Han paid a high price in Dezhou to hire a big boat with gorgeous furnishings and exquisite food.When Fu Aji's boat was moored at Dezhou Wharf, Hu Han first invited Fu Aji's servants to board the boat and entertained him with good wine and food.The servant then persuaded Fu Aji to take Hu Han's big ship instead.Fu Aji went to the boat to have a look and agreed.After Fu Aji boarded the boat, Hu Han hired four beautiful prostitutes who could sing and dance from a Texas brothel to accompany him.Fu Aji is a child of a family, with no inkling, relying on his ancestors' military achievements, he became a fifth-rank censor at a young age, and the best in his daily life are sensual dogs, horses, wine and women.This time, it was like entering heaven. He didn't want to enter Hunan as soon as possible, but just wanted to hang around on the boat for a few more days.Zhouzi seemed to understand Fu Aji's thoughts, the boat moved very slowly, stopping from time to time.In this way, it took Fu Aji three months to travel from Beijing to Wuchang.During this period, Hu Linyi left Zuo Zongtang in Xiangyang to listen to the news, and did not enter Beijing for the time being.
As soon as Fu Aji arrived in Wuchang, he was taken into the governor's office, and Hu Linyi personally hosted a banquet to cleanse him.When the wine was on the rise, Hu Linyi said to Fu Aji: "The Star Envoy, in order to investigate Zuo Zongtang, was not afraid of hard work and traveled across mountains and rivers, which is admirable."
Fu Aji said modestly: "The servant is sent by the emperor to investigate the important cases of the court, and there is nothing hard to say."
Hu Linyi repeatedly said "respectable, respectable", and then courteously persuaded him to drink a glass of wine, and asked, "Did the Star Envoy know Zuo Zongtang before?"
Fu Aji replied: "I have never heard of it."
"Lin Yi is from the same hometown as Zuo Zongtang, so he knows a thing or two about him."
"Please tell me, Zhongcheng." Fu Aji put down his chopsticks, showing a concentrated expression, as if the investigation into Zuo's case started from here.
"People in the Huguang area, anyone involved in state affairs, knows that Zuo Zongtang is a talented person today. In the midst of the turmoil in the universe, those who can rest in Sanxiang depend on the merits of Luo Zhongcheng's township and support, and also rely on Zuo Zongtang's praise. Leaving aside, this time the long-haired puppet king harassed Baoqing Mansion, and the whole province was shocked. It was precisely because Zuo Zongtang commanded the provincial green battalions and regiments to fight together, Baoqing Mansion was preserved, and the people of Hunan Province were spared. Be charcoaled."
"Oh, so to speak, Zuo Zongtang still has some skills." Fu Aji grew up in a family of Zhongming Dingshi. He had never seen wars and wars. How to deal with it!
"It's not just that he has some skills!" Hu Linyi said seriously, "He is really a great talent in fighting chaos today. Just because Zuo Zongtang is outspoken, jealous of evil, and lacks self-cultivation, he offended the villain. It is said that Fan Xie, the general soldier of Yongzhou Town who sued, was greedy. He is mediocre, and the soldiers and common people have complaints. Zuo Zongtang's reprimand to him is not to despise the imperial court officials, but to vent his resentment against corrupt officials. He hopes that the star envoy will say a few words for Zuo Zongtang in order to save talents. "
Fu Aji said nonchalantly: "I was ordered to investigate and deal with it. In the end, the truth will come to light and the facts of the case will be clear. Don't worry, Zhong Cheng will definitely handle the matter properly."
"It's a matter of business, sincerity is paramount, but there are so many rumors and rumors, and the star envoy doesn't know what's going on, I'm afraid I can't handle it impartially."
Fu Aji asked: "As Zhongcheng said, what should we do?"
Hu Linyi said: "In my humble opinion, star envoys should first cherish the heart of talent, and then they can handle it impartially."
"Does Zhong Cheng want me to protect Zuo Zongtang?" Fu Aji became alert.
"You can't say that you are protecting, but you are cherishing talents. Zuo Zongtang's talents are outstanding, and the world is chaotic. It is not easy to cultivate a talent. I would rather bear to destroy it? My humble opinion is really for the sake of the country and society, not for personal reasons. If you understand, please stay in Wuchang and suspend your trip to Hunan. I have prepared a memorial on behalf of the star envoy to defend Zuo Zongtang, and the star envoy can return to Beijing after paying homage in Wuchang."
When Fu Aji heard this, his face changed immediately, and he took on the posture of an imperial envoy, and said solemnly: "The Zhongcheng's words are wrong. The servant did not go to Hunan to investigate and deal with it, and lived in Wuchang. Wouldn't he be deceiving the court and the emperor? Zuo Zongtang's case has been established in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, how can I rely on Zhongcheng's one-sided speech to settle the case? Zhongcheng's remarks just now are suspected of flattering Zuo Zongtang, but also trapped in infidelity. Zhong Cheng thinks twice."
After finishing speaking, he was about to get up, as if this banquet was a trap for his infidelity.
"Slow down!" Hu Linyi said coldly, taking out a memorial from the cabinet and throwing it in front of Fu Aji, "The star envoy will not issue a copy of the memorial, but I will send it."
Fu Aji inexplicably picked up the memorial, looked at it, dripping with cold sweat, his face ashen.It turned out that Hu Linyi's memorial was a strongly worded impeachment.It lists how Fu Aji has harassed the people, raped women, indulged in pleasure, intentionally delayed the trip and other crimes since he left Beijing.Fu Aji was a young man who didn't know much about the world. Looking at this memorial, he was frightened out of his wits. His hands were shaking and he couldn't help himself. He hurriedly said with a smile on his face: "Zhong Cheng, why are you joking like this. As the saying goes, officials and officials protect each other. Let’s keep everything safe, please Zhongcheng don’t send out such memorials, I am very grateful!"
Hu Linyi also changed into a smiling face and said: "The star envoys don't have to be too afraid. I will not report the matter in the boat, and others will not know. I don't ask the star envoys to be grateful. Please ask the star envoys to send me a report!"
Fu Aji had no choice but to obey his orders.
At the same time, Guan Wen also sent several people to pretend to live in Changsha for a few days.Back in Wuchang, according to the pre-set tone, he also issued a memorial to prove that what Fan Xie said was true, please kill Zuo Zongtang as an example to others.
Emperor Xianfeng received two completely different memorials and was a little embarrassed, so he discussed with Sushun.After Sushun returned to the mansion, he talked about it with Wang Kaiyun.Wang Kaiyun took the opportunity to speak highly of Zuo Zongtang's talent in front of Sushun and asked him to keep him safe.Sushun heard for a long time that Zuo Zongtang was capable and willing to protect him, so he said to Wang Kaiyun, "I heard that Zuo Zongtang had a close relationship with Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi. I advise the emperor to inquire about Zeng and Hu. Go talk to Guo Songtao again. Contact a few Hanlin to write to the emperor. At that time, I will be able to talk."
The most famous Hanlin at that time was Pan Zuyin from Wu County, who was a cabinet scholar at Tanhua in the year of Renzi. His grandfather was Pan Shien, a well-known number one scholar.Pan Zuyin loves antiques, especially collecting snuff bottles.It is said that when he was taking the provincial examination, he met two candidates who were equally matched, and he could only choose one of the two. He took out two snuff bottles, red and green, and put them in his pocket. First, he decided that the red was A and the green was B. , and then feel casually, touch the red to take the middle A, touch the green to take the middle B, and never change.In the Wangfujing antique shop, Guo Songtao bought a silver and agate snuff bottle that Matteo Ricci brought as a tribute from Italy during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty at a high price, and invited Pan Zuyin to drink at home.When the wine was hot, Guo Songtao took out the snuff bottle as if showing off, which really attracted Pan Zuyin's mouth, admiring and playing, and couldn't put it down.
"Brother Boyin, you are an expert in collecting snuff bottles. If you like it, I will give you some!"
"Really?" Pan Zuyin was overjoyed, "Yunxian, your gift is too precious, how can I thank you!"
"Thank you, I don't dare to take it." Guo Songtao stroked his chubby face and said with a smile, "I just hope that your generosity will write an article that is beneficial to the country."
"It's easy, you just say it."
Wanting to explore Pan Zuyin to write an article is like asking a child to make a clay egg. It is both willing and easy to do.
"Have you heard about Zuo Zongtang?"
"Are you talking about the official complaint?" Pan Zuyin picked his teeth with a jade pick in one hand while playing with the Hangzhou sandalwood fan.
"The official document is a false accusation."
"Really?" Pan Zuyin felt strange. Zuo Zongtang had contributed a lot to the stability of Huguang in recent years, and there were rumors in the capital.As the governor of Huguang, Guan Wen, why did he falsely accuse a master?After Guo Songtao told Pan Zuyin exactly what happened and the complicated relationship between them, Pan suddenly realized.Pan Zuyin is brilliant, youthful and energetic. He is very annoyed that he is full of relatives and nobles. Besides, his hometown has been in the hands of the Taiping Army for many years, and he is eager for an early recovery. , Zuo et al.
Pan Zuyin typed up the draft while listening, and after Guo Songtao finished speaking, his belly draft was also ready.
In an instant, an excerpt was written.
"Junxian, can you see if you want it?"
Guo Songtao took it over, and read softly: "Xiang Yong made contributions to the province and aided Jiangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Zhejiang. Although Zeng Guofan's command was appropriate for Kejie, Luo Bingzhang's supply was well dispatched, and Zuo Zongtang's Decision-making in operations and planning is common knowledge in this world, and it has been in my sage's insight for a long time. The former rebellious chieftain Shi Dakai went back to Hunan, claiming hundreds of thousands. With the salary of the province and the soldiers of the province, he wiped out the four areas in a few months. At that time The thieves spread across thousands of miles, all within Zongtang’s planning. If you look at it from another place, there are people who cannot be cured. The country cannot live without Hunan for a day, and Hunan cannot live without Zuo Zongtang for a day.”
After reading this, Guo Songtao was in high spirits and praised, "Brother Boyin, you really deserve to be Tanhua Lang! 'The country cannot live without Hunan, and Hunan cannot live without Zuo Zongtang'. This is really a good sentence through the ages! Thousands of praises Zuo Zongtang's words seem weak in front of these two sentences. I really convinced you today."
"You finish reading. After reading, let's think about each sentence." Pan Zuyin smiled, very proud of himself, shaking the sandalwood fan gently in his hand.The weather is actually still very cold, and the fan in his hand is just a habit and a show of style.
"Zongtang is a man with an upright nature, and he hates evil like a hatred." Guo Songtao continued to read, "The unworthy members of Hunan have not followed their own interests, and they have been thinking of slander for a long time. The governor of Huguang is confused by false rumors, so there is something to criticize. As long as Zongtang is a registered student, it doesn’t matter whether he goes or stays, but the situation in southern Chu is especially relevant, so he has to cherish this talent for the country.”
"Okay, just send it up like this, you don't need to move a single word!" Guo Songtao praised from the bottom of his heart.
"Junxian, you are welcome, what should be changed or deleted is up to you."
"It's really wonderful. Such memorials will definitely be passed down in the future, especially the two 'I can't live without a day' will be passed down through the ages."
"I don't dare to pass it on through the ages. However, these two sentences are indeed a stroke of God's help. A good article depends on one or two epigrams to support it. For example, "The Preface to the Pavilion of King Teng" relies on "the sunset and the lonely bird fly together, Autumn waters are the same as the sky', "Yueyang Tower" relies on "worry about the world's worries first, and enjoy the world's joys later." Pan Zuyin shook his head and said, it seems that he was also intoxicated by the aphorisms he created.
After a few days, Zeng's and Hu's replays reached Emperor Xianfeng one after another.Zeng Guofan said: "Zuo Zongtang just knows how to bear hardships and knows how to fight. When the need is urgent, he may order the Hunan regiment defense, or simply use officials such as fan and standard to give the place so that he can do things with peace of mind. Thank you for the map, it will help the current situation." Hu Linyi said more earnestly: "Chen Zha Zuo Zongtang, a doctor in the Ministry of Military Affairs who is a fourth-rank minister in Hunan, is proficient in Fangyu and understands military strategies. The prefectures and counties of Guizhou and Guangxi are famous all over the world, and the slander follows. It is upright and fierce, and it is unavoidable to be ridiculed for being stupid, forgiving and less harmonious. It is necessary to raise troops and pay, concentrate on thinking, and pass It may be forgiven, but there is no one else in the heart. I implore the grace of God to make appropriate arrangements, order the Fuchen in Hunan, and order him to quickly recruit 6,000 brave people in Hunan to save the territory of Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and southern Anhui. "
Sushun asked the emperor to refrain from investigating Zuo Zongtang's fault through the memorials of Pan, Zeng and Hu, and to reuse them.Emperor Xianfeng accepted Sushun's suggestion, and ordered Zuo Zongtang to serve as a fourth-rank Jingtang candidate to accompany Zeng Guofan in military affairs.Later, Zuo Zongtang asked Luo Bingzhang to present a memorial on his behalf, detailing Fan Xie's corruption and incompetence, and Fan Xie was eventually dismissed.
Fan Xie took his two sons back to their hometown of Enshi, Hubei, and built a building.On the day when the building was completed, Fan Xie invited Enshi's father and elders to a banquet, saying: "Zuo Zongtang is just a man. Educated by a famous teacher, if you don’t win the imperial examinations, I will be ashamed, and you will not be allowed to enter the ancestral tomb after death.”
Fan Xie paid a lot of money to hire famous teachers, and used the building as a study room. Except for his husband and second son, no one else was allowed to go upstairs.Every day, I have to look at the dinner and dinner in person. Mr. Gu Yiguanyan goes downstairs to sit and eat. If there are people at the table who have not moved their chopsticks, they will remove them and change them.The second son was not allowed to wear men's clothing, but only women's clothes; he also wrote Zuo Zongtang's words "Bastard, get out" on the wooden sign and placed it under the ancestral shrine. Entering the school, take off women's outer clothes; in the middle school, take off women's inner clothes, and you will be equal to Zuo Zongtang's fame; in the Jinshi, the Imperial Academy, you will burn the wooden plaque, and tell your ancestors that you have surpassed Zuo Zongtang."
The second son was ordered by his father to engrave the words "Zuo Zongtang can be killed" on the case.Later, Fan Xie's second son, Fan Fanshan, became a Jinshi.On the day of the victory, he respectfully announced the good news on his father's grave and burned the wooden sign saying "Bastard, get out" on the spot.These are things for later.