Chapter 38 April 1 don't hurt spring

After conquering Jiufuzhou, Peng Yulin and Yang Yuebin led the navy of the Hunan Army to make another effort to break through all the stone barriers on both sides of the river from Dashengguan to Qilizhou.So far, the entire Yangtze River has been controlled by the Hunan Army Navy.The north gate of Tianjing was blocked.The good news spread to Anqing, which relieved Zeng Guofan, who had been depressed for several months.During these days, Zeng Guofan was not only worried about the auspicious camp under Jinling City, but also worried about his wife Chen Chunyan's illness. Zeng Guofan is not greedy for women, and Chen Chunyan is not a beautiful woman, but for more than a year, he has fallen in love with Chunyan from the bottom of his heart.Zeng Guofan didn't have much time to stay with Chunyan, nor did he explain to Chunyan what to do and what not to do with the same enthusiasm as talking with his son. Everything depends on her to decide her own words and deeds through careful observation .It didn't take long for Chunyan to do this brilliantly. She completely grasped Zeng Guofan's temperament and served her thoughtfully and meticulously, so that the delicate Zeng Guofan couldn't find anything wrong.What satisfied Zeng Guofan in particular was that Chunyan strictly abides by the rules of women, never saying a word or walking around casually all day long.Governor Anqing's yamen has a front yard and a back yard. She only walked through the back yard a few times, and never went to the front yard. She usually moves around and stops when she reaches the curtain of the hall.Another point is not to be greedy.Chunyan's mother and elder brother and sister-in-law sometimes came to visit her, but they always left empty-handed, and never gave them anything privately.With these two items, Zeng Guofan gradually developed a tinge of admiration for Chunyan.Unexpectedly, Chunyan contracted the disease of vomiting blood at a young age.Zeng Guofan extended medical treatment everywhere, but to no avail.For more than 40 days, I have not touched a grain of rice, and I only rely on taking medicine to hang my breath.Zeng Guofan sent someone to bring his mother, brother and sister-in-law to take care of him.

Last night, Chunyan knew that her death was approaching, so she invited Zeng Guofan into the inner room, and after dismissing her mother, brother and sister-in-law, she wept and said, "My lord, I can serve you for more than a year. If I can’t serve you for the rest of my life, I’m about to say goodbye to you forever. I’m a lowly little girl, so it’s not worth pity, but there are three things that are unfinished, and I won’t die with peace in my eyes.” When Chunyan said this, she coughed.Zeng Guofan brought the teacup, Chunyan took a sip, calmed down a bit, and said gratefully: "Thank you, sir!" After taking another sip, she put the teacup on the table, and continued, "The first thing that is wrong with me is that my stomach She has been pregnant with the flesh and blood of an adult for three months."

When Zeng Guofan heard this, he was flustered.Not long after marrying Chunyan, Zeng Guofan also thought about having a child in his later years. Later, seeing that his health was deteriorating and Chunyan was not pregnant for a long time, he dismissed this idea.Unexpectedly, she actually had it, and he secretly blamed Chunyan for hiding it.I heard that the son born to the old couple and the young wife is extremely intelligent, alas, this son is hopeless! "I didn't support him until the day when he was born. I am deeply indebted to my lord's kindness. Even if I go to the underworld, I will not be reconciled. The second thing is that my lord has been suffering from ringworm for 30 years, which has brought me endless troubles. I entrust me My brother was in the countryside looking for folk remedies. Now that I got a prescription, I wanted to fix it myself, but unfortunately I can't."

"What prescription?" Zeng Guofan asked, feeling very moved: This is a scheming woman who doesn't reveal the slightest bit of information until things are done, and her personality is quite similar to her own. "This prescription is very simple. It is to take a bath every day with Changpu mugwort decocting water, and it will be enough for a year or so. I don't know if it will work or not. After I die, I will ask the adults to buy another concubine and ask her to decoct the water every day. Give the adults a bath." Zeng Guofan nodded, but he no longer wanted to buy a concubine.

"There is one more thing. I have been the concubine of the adults for more than a year, but I have not seen my wife, and I have not served her personally. I feel uneasy. Although I was lucky enough to meet the young master, the second young master and the five young ladies in the family have never seen each other. Face. Chunyan, I did evil in my previous life, and my life is as thin as paper in this life. Hey!" Chunyan sighed long, tears flowed out, and after a long time, she said a few more words: "After I die For the sake of serving for more than a year, my lord, please send my coffin back to the lotus leaf pond, and don't let me be a lonely ghost. My lord, please take care of yourself." After speaking, he passed out.

Zeng Guofan knew that Chunyan was sad today, and regardless of his service over the past year, Zeng Guofan felt that he should stop all business affairs today and stay by Chunyan's sick bed to give her the last trace of warmth based on what he said last night. and comfort. But Zeng Guofan did not do this.Abandoning official business for the sake of a woman's death, wouldn't it be a small loss!A majestic co-organizer and the governor of Liangjiang, who is affectionate and sad in front of his concubine, will spread the word, and it will become a talking point for people! What's more, the two edicts received yesterday are unusual and cannot be delayed.

In the afternoon, Zeng Guofan called Zhao Liewen, Yang Guodong, and Peng Shouyi, several of his most caring staff, into the signing room.Two envoys came yesterday.One is to grant Zeng Guoquan the governor of Zhejiang Province, who is still in the army without taking up his post.One is to grant Zuo Zongtang the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang Shi Que, and concurrently the governor of Zhejiang.The younger brother was honored to seal the border, so he was naturally gratified.The elder brother is the governor, the younger is the governor, the prosperity of the holy family is rare in the world, and it is enough to make the Zeng family glorious all over the world.But why did the imperial court promote Zuo Zongtang to governor of Fujian and Zhejiang in such a hurry?This incident made Zeng Guofan vaguely feel that there was something behind it.Originally, Zuo Zongtang was a rare character with both virtue and talent.Zeng Zuo has known each other for thirty years. Although he once disliked Zuo Suo's arrogant personality, he has always admired him for his honesty, self-discipline, shrewdness and ability.In the case of Fan Xie in the ninth year of Xianfeng, he tried his best to protect Zuo, and in the following year, he asked Zuo to build an army to assist Zhejiang. After Zuo won several battles, he secretly recommended Zuo as governor of Zhejiang.In all fairness, the Chu army, with less than 20,000 men, has been invincible and invincible in the past three years. It has successively recovered Hengzhou, Yanzhou, Jinhua, Shaoxing and other prefectures. Recently, it has conquered Fuyang and encircled Hangzhou.Zeng Chang admired it and sighed that he was not as good as it.But in only three or four years, he was promoted from a fourth-rank Jingtang to a second-rank de facto governor, and the imperial court paid Zuo mediocrity enough to save face.I once thought that as a servant, I had led Yong for eight years before I got a governor. Compared with him, Zuo was so peaceful and prosperous.Zeng couldn't understand why the imperial court hastily granted Zuo the post of governor at this time. Isn't it going to be equal to him in the future?

"Zhongtang, pardon me for my humble position, Zuo Jigao was appointed governor of Fujian, the imperial court has deep intentions." Zhao Liewen, who has been awarded the seventh-rank magistrate and is still in the curtain, finally couldn't help but speak after some deep thinking. "I think it's for your lord." Seeing the displeasure on Zeng Guofan's face, Zhao Liewen quickly shrank his mouth. "Hui Fu, why are you addressing me when you continue talking?" Although Zhao Liewen's words were not pleasant, they made sense, and Zeng Guofan encouraged him to continue.

"Zhongtang, according to his humble position, the imperial court wants to use this to build a force to counter Zhongtang." Having said so much, Zhao Liewen had no choice but to pour beans out of the bamboo tube, "Zuo Jigao has talent and merit, But it is enough to give him a governor. At that time, Jun Shuai was not very talented, and his merit was not high? He was only a governor; let’s go further, what about Min Shuai’s talent and merit? There was only one governor. Discuss talent and merit , the imperial court didn't need him to be governor. As a man, Zuo Jigao could only be above others, but not below others. Now that I am the governor, the Chu army has 20,000 people, and I don’t want to send it any more. This move by the court is to completely separate the Chu army from the Hunan army, which greatly weakens the strength of the Hunan army. This is actually the result of the former Tweet A replica of the plan.”

Zeng Guofan listened quietly, without any expression on his face, and praised Zhao Liewen's insight in his heart. Yang Guodong also nodded in agreement: "Huifu's words are very reasonable. Although Zuo Zongtang is a man of great talent, he is not broad-minded. As far as I know, he was not very convincing before, and he will rely on the court even more in the future. Extraordinary courtesy and no fear of being served. Maybe the imperial court wants to use Zuo Zongtang to restrain your lord." Zeng Guofan was still listening, not making a sound.Peng Shouyi also agreed with Zhao and Yang's analysis.He said: "Maybe there are several governors. For example, Li Shaoquan's military progress in Jiangsu has been smooth this year, and the imperial court is likely to make him a governor, and he and the Huai army will be subordinated to the status of adults, and mentioned as the same as adults." Gao, at that time the Hunan Army, the Chu Army, and the Huai Army were three-legged forces, unable to control each other, and the imperial court could control one and rule the other."

Zeng Guofan broke out in a cold sweat when he heard this.The analysis of the staff was very reasonable, and it helped him to see more clearly the intention of the imperial court to promote Zuo Zongtang as the Governor of Fujian. From this, he missed his younger brother under Jinling City even more: if Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang will soon be With the recovery of southern Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Lao Jiu's situation is in an embarrassing situation.Suddenly, there was a mournful cry from the backyard. "My lord, Chunyan is her, she has passed." Chunyan's brother came in with eyes swollen like two rotten peaches, and said to Zeng Guofan. Zeng Guofan listened in a daze, a feeling of gloom filled his chest, he really wanted to shout "Chunyan" and run to the inner room crying, but he controlled it rationally. "Understood, you go!" He said slowly and stood up. He was about to turn around and walk out of the signing room. As soon as Fu arrived, I went to Jinling with him to help Lao Jiu. Lao Jiu is short of people, especially people with ideas." "Yes." Zhao Liewen stood up.Yang Guodong and Peng Shouyi also stood up.They knew that Zeng Guofan was going to enter the inner room to bid farewell to Chunyan's body, so they said goodbye and went out. "Hui Fu played two games of Go with me. You two go back!" Zeng Guofan waved his hand. "Still playing chess?" Zhao Liewen's eyes widened in astonishment. He could not fathom Zeng Guofan's state of mind at this time, so he had to sit down again.After placing a few pieces, Zhao Liewen saw that Zeng Guofan's chess skills were disordered, and said quietly: "Zhongtang, let's not play today!"Before the game was over, Zeng Jize came in with a few yamen servants, all of whom were holding things in their hands. "Father, the gentlemen in the shogunate collected a thousand taels of silver, and there is an elegiac scroll. Son, would you like to engrave an obituary and distribute it?" Zeng Jize finished speaking and stood beside his father waiting for instructions.At this time, Chunyan's mother's heart-piercing cry came from the backyard.Zeng Guofan hesitated for a long time, and said to his son: "Return all the silver and sacrificial banners, and keep the elegiac couplets, and no obituary will be issued." Zeng Jize stood still, and after a long time he murmured, "In this case, I'll go and return the silver." "Slow down." Zeng Guofan called to his son, "Jing Qi is asked to withdraw the money. Don't interfere with the funeral. Just go about your business. Have you written the preface to "Elements of Geometry"?" "The first draft is ready." Jize stopped and replied. "Give it to me tomorrow morning." "Yes." Zeng Jize bowed his head and led the servants out. "Hui Fu, help me with my funeral these two days." Zeng Guofan stopped playing chess and whispered to Zhao Liewen. "Don't worry, Zhongtang, I will take care of everything. Please decide what specifications to use." The smart Zhao Liewen finally saw the complicated emotions in Zeng Guofan's heart. "Tonight, I will be quietly carried out of the yamen. All the funeral ceremonies will be held in Jingxu Nunnery. I won't participate, and neither will Jize. You will come out to represent the Zeng family to socialize. The ceremony will be presided over by her elder brother. Inform Anqing County, Do not send people to send money or goods. This matter should not be publicized, and it should be done quietly. Please ask the nuns in Jingxu Temple to recite the three-day scriptures. After three days, I rented an empty room in the nunnery for the time being. Whether it will be buried in Anqing or transported back to Xiangxiang will be discussed later. " In Jingxu nunnery, the nuns read the sutras for Chunyan for three days.Everything in the governor's office was as before, and there was no sign of a funeral.Zeng Guofan manages affairs, sees guests, reads books, and plays chess every day as usual, and there is no trace of sorrow for the loss of his concubine.On the fourth night, Wang Jingqi secretly accompanied Zeng Guofan to Jingxu nunnery outside the city with offerings, money paper, incense sticks, candles and other items.Jing Qi placed the fruit offerings beside Chunyan's coffin, lit joss sticks, and burned the paper money.Zeng Guofan sat on the straw mat beside him, looked at the shiny black coffin, neither cried nor made a sound, just sat silently.After a long time, he took out a carved mahogany comb from his cuff and stroked it gently.This was the only gift Zeng Guofan bought for Chunyan, and it was only worth ten Wen.Chunyan likes it very much and uses it to comb her hair every day.That long black hair, that rosy white face, followed the comb to Zeng Guofan's eyes.After a long time, he asked Jing Qi to ask the nuns for some blank paper, pens and inkstones.With the dim light, he wrote an elegiac couplet for Chunyan and ordered Jing Qi to hang it up.After the elegiac couplet was hung up, he sat upright on the straw mat again, staring at it blankly, repeating in his heart over and over again: "It's not unavoidable that there is love, but the cold light on the account is dim, and it hurts the spring when you don't; it seems to be familiar , I feel sad that the beams are empty and the mud is falling, when will I see Yan return again." It wasn't until the window paper gradually turned white and it was almost dawn that Zeng Guofan asked Jing Qi to take down the elegiac couplet and burn it in front of Chunyan's coffin.He took one last good look at the carved mahogany comb before throwing it, too, into the fire.After watching the comb and the elegiac couplet burn to ashes together, he and Jing Qi went back to Liangjiang governor's yamen without a sound.