Chapter 28 The third time your Majesty met the Empress Dowager, Zeng Guofan was disappointed

Seventeen years have passed since Zeng Guofan left the capital.When the green tweed car entered the gate of Zhangyi, he felt a heat in his heart, and said silently: Beijing, Beijing, I finally see you again today!The car passed through Guang'anmen and drove slowly on a long and narrow street.This area was the former central capital of the Jin Dynasty, and the bustling past has long gone with the smoke and clouds of history, leaving only some dilapidated low-rise houses and narrow streets and alleys.After exiting Xuanyao Gate, they soon entered Zhengyangmen Street.The bright yellow palaces can be seen from a distance, and the extraordinary style of the heavy chariots, dignified and dignified finally appeared in sight.Zeng Guofan looked at it, his vision gradually blurred, and his thoughts turned.Seventeen years, what an extraordinary seventeen years!The majestic and majestic right servant of the Ministry of Rites at that time has been polished by unimaginable difficulties and obstacles, sorrow and fear, grievances and blows, and painstaking thinking. His temples are frosty, his cheeks are shaved, and he is so weak that he seems unable to withstand the wind and sand from the sedan window. .How did they survive the seventeen years of bloody storms?Is it by the ambition established in youth?Relying on the cultivation of Neo-Confucianism taught by Master Jing Hai?Or rely on the heart of repaying the kindness of the emperor of the three dynasties?What is the purpose of everything he has done in the past seventeen years?In order to mark the history of the name and leave it forever?In order to protect the famous religion and save the people?Or for the capital in front of me, as well as the big and small officials and their masters who live here?

Sitting next to Zeng Guofan was Zhou Shouchang who came out of the city to greet him yesterday.The romantic and talented man in the past is now fifty-four or five years old, and now he is an official student in the Imperial Academy.He was wearing a dark purple camel-hair gown with Hanwa tufted flowers and a suede military jacket. Because of his leisure time and ability to take care of himself, his complexion was very good. The difference between two generations.The two of them talked for most of the night in the posthouse last night, Zhou Shouchang still had a lot to say, seeing Zeng Guofan coming into the city with a dignified manner, he was silent and inconvenient to speak.

The car passed the overpass and arrived at the entrance of Zhushi Street.Merchants gathered here and there was a lot of traffic. There was a temporary wooden shed at the entrance of Banzhang Alley. There was a cauldron with a faucet steaming on the stove in the shed. Thousands of beggars gathered around the shed.It was mid-winter, and none of these beggars had a complete piece of underwear. Many of them hung pine and cypress branches from their upper bodies, hoping to rely on them to resist the wind and sand.They were covered in dirt and trembling.Those around the pot were making noise, and they passed the broken bowl in their hands from afar.The people in the back lined up in a messy line, and the broken bowls and bowls were not held in their hands, but knocked on top of their heads.Zeng Guofan felt sympathetic, couldn't bear to watch, and turned his face to the left car window.At this time, a large saddle cart surrounded by red barrier mud flew past the window, a burst of dust flew up, and from afar, the sound of the silver bell on the horse's neck could still be heard.

"Yingfu, have you seen clearly, which official from the yamen passed by just now?" Zeng Guofan frowned and asked. "It's not a hall official, it's a Youtong who has become popular recently." Zhou Shouchang smiled faintly. "Youtong?" Zeng Guofan was amazed, "A Youtong dares to ride in a red mud mud saddle cart?" "Di Weng, you are the old emperor's calendar twenty years ago." Zhou Shouchang laughed, "The most important thing in the capital now is the young boy, who is worth more than us Hanlin bachelors. A dignitary, a rich man with a flirt Youtong, who is all excellent, goes to a restaurant and spends two or three hundred taels of hops on a table. This kind of thing is not news in the capital. The residence of Youtong is modeled after a wealthy noble. A few, emerald emerald beads, like Linchun Pavilion, like Jieqi Tower, the gods will be surprised when they see it."

"The atmosphere in the capital has become so corrupt!" Zeng Guofan was very indignant. The car enters Labing Hutong, the front of a big official mansion is blocked by cars and horses, there is an endless stream of congratulators, and the sound of firecrackers continues.Zeng Guofan vaguely remembered that this was the home of Shouyuan, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry. "Is Shouyuan still alive? Is his family celebrating his birthday today or marrying a wife?" Zeng Guofan asked Zhou Shouchang in a low voice. "Shouyuan lived a very strong life. I know his family's celebration today is neither a birthday nor a marriage." Zhou Shouchang has been a master of the capital for decades, and he knows everything.

"What's that for?" "This happy event is beyond your imagination. Shouyuan has been favored by the eminent lama, who promised to carve his forehead bone into a rosary after his death." Zhou Shouchang smiled mysteriously. "What?" Zeng Guofan was so shocked that he almost got up from the car.At any rate, he had stayed in the capital for thirteen or fourteen years, and he had never heard of such a strange thing before. "Di Weng, you just came to Beijing, so you don't know yet. There have been a lot of strange things in the capital these years. For example, I can't understand this incident. People who believe in Lamaism say that if the forehead bone is carved into rosary beads after death, it will be a blessing for you." When the eminent monk wears it, his soul will always follow the Buddhist gate. The eminent monk never agrees to the request of the world. Once he agrees, the seeker is like a nine-tin, and everyone congratulates him. Shouyuan has been a minister, and he is very respectful to the lama. to be honored.”

"Why are the high officials in Beijing so confused?" "Di Weng, let me read to you a few pieces of "Yijianmei". It is said that it was written by a Jiangnan talent, and it is specially for portraits of Chinese and foreign officials." Zhou Shouchang shook his head and groaned—— The official career should be refined, the Jingxin is often connected, and the charcoal is always abundant. Don't talk about current affairs and be a hero, just be mellow and humble. The minister's economy is calm, don't show extraordinary achievements, don't talk about loyalty.

All kinds of personnel and affairs must be vague, and there is no need for refutation or discussion. There is nothing to do in all directions, and the years are prosperous, the national fortune is prosperous, and the official fortune is smooth. Everyone praises to be in harmony, the good will bridge the gap, and the bad will bridge the gap. There is no disaster and no trouble to Sangong, his wife is honored, and his son is a doctor. After Liufang's death, there is more infinity. If you don't posthumously Wenzhong, you will posthumously Wengong. The wheels ran over the dirt road, leaving two lines of shallow and deep rut marks, pulling the green tweed car forward, and the usual stench of the capital came in waves.Zeng Guofan only felt nauseated in his chest and his head was swollen. The spirit he regained on the way to Beijing was beaten to pieces by the scene in front of him.He asked himself painfully: After seventeen years of hard work against Changmao and the Nian army, could it be that such a dwindling capital was preserved?Such a group of mediocre and ridiculous officials?

Walking through the bustling and messy streets and alleys, Zeng Guofan and his party lived in Xianliang Temple in Jinyu Hutong outside Dong'anmen.Earlier, officials from the Ministry of Officials reported to the empress dowagers of the two palaces.In the evening, Hu Zhaozhi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, personally came to Xianliang Temple to pass the decree: "Enjoy Zeng Guofan's horseback riding in the Forbidden City, and I will summon you in the Hall of Mental Cultivation tomorrow." That night, Zeng Guofan stayed up all night.Appreciating horseback riding in the Forbidden City is a very high courtesy given by the royal family to senior ministers, and they are summoned as soon as they enter the city, which also shows the longing for the empress dowagers of the two palaces.The royal kindness is profound!Influenced by Cheng Zhu's Neo-Confucianism, the University of Martial Arts Academy repeated in his heart that the unhappiness he felt when he entered the city had disappeared, and the seventeen years of hard work and grievances seemed to be rewarded by this imperial decree.

This is the third generation of the Holy Master since Daoguang disbanded the museum in 20 years. The emperor is not yet fourteen years old, he wants to have a clear look at what the young emperor looks like.The empress dowagers of the two palaces are still young, and the empress dowager of the west is extremely smart. It is said that she has the style of the empress Zetian back then. He also wants to personally weigh how well he handles state affairs.Summoned tomorrow, what questions will the emperor and the two empress dowagers raise?He imagined many possible questions, and answered them one by one in his heart.After thinking about it like this, the chime bell rang four times, but it was still pitch black outside the window.Zeng Guofan got up, finished washing, sat cross-legged on the bed for a while, and then ate.

On the second quarter of Maochu, Zeng Guofan came to Jingyun Gate in a sedan chair, and the inner court officials greeted him at the gate.He got out of the sedan chair and entered the door, and the place was already full of brilliant lights.On the right side of Jingyun Gate is Qianqing Gate, which is the main entrance of the inner court.From Shunzhi to Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty, this was the place where the emperors of all dynasties listened to the government. After Xianfeng, it was mostly changed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.On the right side of Qianqing Gate to Longzong Gate, there is a row of small connected houses.The west end of the connecting room is the office of the minister of internal affairs, the east end is the guard's duty room, and the middle is the military aircraft office.At this moment, several core figures of the dynasty are sitting here.They were waiting for the morning court, and they had predicted that Zeng Guofan would see His Majesty today, and they all wanted to take this opportunity to meet this world-renowned First Waiting Lord and have a few words with him. Zeng Guofan has not yet reached the gate of Qianqing, when the ministers of military aircraft Wen Xiang, Bao Jun, Shen Guifen, and Li Hongzao heard the sound and welcomed him into the military aircraft.When Zeng Guofan left Beijing in the second year of Xianfeng, Wen Xiang served as the director of the Ministry of Industry, Bao Jun served as a bachelor's student at the Imperial Academy, Shen Guifen served as an editor at the Imperial Academy, and Li Hongzao just entered the Imperial Academy this year.In terms of positions, they are all under Zeng Guofan; in terms of subject names, except for Bao Jun who is the same year as him, the others are also juniors.The four military ministers were very humble in front of Zeng Guofan. Just talking speculatively, report to Prince Gong outside.Zeng Guofan and others went out together.I saw Prince Gong striding forward accompanied by several personal attendants.Zeng Guofan thought of Prince Gong's recommendation, trust, and support for him over the years, and he was very grateful.He quickly took two steps forward, and said in his mouth: "Caomang Zeng Guofan bows to the prince." He was about to kneel down. Yixin hurriedly took a step forward, supported him with both hands, and said: "The old Zhongtang is free!" He took Zeng Guofan's hand and entered the military aircraft department together. After sitting down, Yixin looked at Zeng Guofan carefully, and said softly, "Zhongtang is much older!" One sentence brought tears to Zeng Guofan's eyes, and he answered with a stiff throat: "When Cao Mang left Beijing seventeen years ago, the prince was still a young man in Yingmai. I don't want to see you again today, and the prince has already entered middle age." Yixin said: "Over the years, Lao Zhongtang has moved to the battlefield, prepared for hardships and dangers, his ancestors have relied on defense, and he has been in the civil and military affairs of the dynasty. I respect and appreciate Lao Zhongtang!" Hearing these heartfelt words, Zeng Guofan's blood boiled for a while, and he choked up and said: "It's all about the empress dowager and the emperor's great blessings, relying on the prince's temple to master the paintings, what is the merit of recklessness! I hope that from now on, the world will be peaceful." , the fortune of the country is prosperous." All the military planes said together: "It all depends on the latitude and longitude talents of Lao Zhongtang!" After a while, Prince Dun Yixuan, Prince Chunjun Wang Yixuan, Zhongjun Wang Yizhen, Fujun Wang Yixuan, and the six departments of Jiuqing all arrived one after another. Everyone surrounded Zeng Guofan like stars and the moon, and the solemn and quiet Military Aircraft Department in the past became lively. . Seeing that he was almost upright, but he hadn't heard a cry yet, Zeng Guofan became a little anxious.At this moment, Yishan, the nearly eighty-year-old general of the town, walked in to deliver the decree.During the Opium War, Yishan hoisted a white flag in Guangzhou and surrendered to the British invader Yilu, humiliating the country and losing power, arousing public outrage, and was locked up in the capital, planning to punish him with a big catastrophe.Only because he was the nephew of Emperor Daoguang, he was saved from death.Later, it was released and reused.It has been nearly twenty years since Lin Zexu, the hero who won prestige for the country, died, but the coward who shamed his ancestors is still alive and strong.Heaven is unfair!This thought flashed across Zeng Guofan's mind for an instant.The very moment when he was about to face the Holy Spirit did not allow him to think too much, he quickly came to his senses, followed behind Yishan, turned left into West Chang Street, and then stepped into Zunyi Gate, and the Hall of Mental Cultivation appeared in front of him. Yishan led Zeng Guofan to the gate of Dongnuange, and went in by himself.Immediately, a clear and pleasant female voice came from inside: "Call him in!" Zeng Guofan knew that it was the golden mouth opened by the empress dowager, so he straightened his clothes subconsciously and straightened his body.Yishan walked to the door and shouted hoarsely, "Broadcast to Zeng Guofan!" The two eunuchs drew up the bright yellow satin cotton curtain, Zeng Guofan bent over to enter the door, took two steps forward, knelt down on his knees, and shouted: "My minister, Zeng Guofan, welcomes Sheng An!" "Zeng Guofan is free of courtesy." It was another nice female Beijing accent, but the tone was softer than the previous one.Zeng Guofan was guessing in his heart: the previous sentence may be the decision of the Empress Dowager Cixi, and the sentence just now may be the politeness of the Empress Dowager Ci'an.He has long heard that Empress Dowager Ci'an treats people generously.Zeng Guofan took off the coral red top hat with double eye feathers, put it on his right hand, lowered his head, and said loudly: "I thank you, Zeng Guofan!" thick sound.After prostrating, he stood up, held the big hat in his right hand, walked a few steps forward, knelt down on a soft satin cushion in the middle, and listened respectfully to the words of heaven. For a moment, there was silence in the East Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.Thin beads of sweat appeared on Zeng Guofan's forehead. "Zeng Guofan, have you finished your work in Jiangnan?" The woman who spoke the first sentence finally spoke. "Yes." Zeng Guofan took this opportunity to raise his head, glanced forward quickly, then quickly lowered his head, and replied, "I have finished my work in Jiangnan." With just one glance, he had already seen the layout in front of him clearly.The emperor was sitting on the front throne, his figure seemed to be thinner, his face was pale and childish, his eyes were looking at the far door curtain, and he didn't look at him.The empress dowager who spoke just now sat on the north side, and another sat on the south side. A thin layer of yellow curtains was placed in front of the two empress dowagers.Zeng Guofan had already learned from the military aircraft office that when he was summoned, the Empress Dowager Ci'an sat in the south, and the Empress Dowager Cixi sat in the north. Therefore, the question just now came from the mouth of Empress Dowager Cixi. "Is the Yongdu finished?" Empress Dowager Cixi asked again. "They all withdrew shortly after the Nian Bandits were wiped out," Zeng Guofan replied.His expression was tense, and his back was getting hot. "How brave is it to withdraw?" It was the voice of Empress Dowager Cixi again. "20,000 people were withdrawn, and 30,000 people were left." Didn't they say that they were all withdrawn? Why are there still 30,000 people left, which is more than those who were withdrawn?Zeng Guofan himself had noticed the contradiction, and he felt anxious, and the heat on his back immediately turned into sweat. "Where are there many people?" "The people from Anhui are the most withdrawn, and there are also some from Hunan." Seeing that the Empress Dowager Cixi did not continue to ask about the figure of 230,000, Zeng Guofan breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you still quiet all the way?" This was the Empress Dowager Ci'an asking. "The road is very quiet." Zeng Guofan replied, "At first, I was afraid that there might be some rogues causing trouble, but it turned out that the journey was safe." "How many years have you been out of Beijing?" The Empress Dowager Ci'an asked. "The minister has been out of Beijing for seventeen years." "How long have you led the army?" It was still the voice of Empress Dowager Ci'an. "In the past, I always led soldiers. In the past two years, I have been favored by the emperor to serve as an official in the south of the Yangtze River." After answering this point, Zeng Guofan's nervousness began to relax. "You used to be in the Ministry of Rites?" Although the Empress Dowager Ci'an asked many questions, it was best to answer Zeng Guofan without thinking.He replied: "The minister is working in the Ministry of Rites." "Is Zeng Guoquan your younger brother?" The Empress Dowager Ci'an changed the subject again. "It's my younger brother." "How many brothers do you have?" "Of the five ministers, two of them died in the barracks, all of which were greatly graciously received by the emperor." When Zeng Guofan said this, his heart trembled slightly. He thought of Wen Fu in the Yellow Leaf Temple on Lushan Mountain.In the first few years after Wen Fu left, Zeng Guofan was always in fear, but after seeing that there was no sound, he gradually felt at ease.I often thought of going to see it, but felt it was inappropriate, so I never did.When he visited Jiangxi last year, he made the greatest determination to visit his sixth brother who had been studying Taoism alone for ten years.On the pretext of resting for a few days, he stayed in a small hotel at the foot of Lushan Mountain. After sending away the accompanying Jiangxi officials, one dark night, Chen Guangfu took Wen Fu down the mountain to the hotel. The brothers met and talked for more than an hour.Fortunately, under Guangfu's enlightenment, Wen Fu's mood was still at peace, which gave Zeng Guofan great comfort.Wen Fu wanted to see his wife, concubine and son, and he agreed, but repeatedly told him not to reveal it.Fortunately, Wen Fu's family lived in Lushan Mountain for half a year, and outsiders didn't know about it.Even so, he still felt guilty for lying again in front of the Queen Mother. "You used to be in Beijing, so you naturally know about Zhili." The questioner was replaced by Empress Dowager Cixi. He didn't know how to answer this question, so he paused for a while and said, "I know something about Zhili." "Zhili is very empty, you must train well." Empress Dowager Cixi continued. Zeng Guofan understood that the original purpose of being transferred to the governor of Zhili was to let him train soldiers.What kind of good soldiers can Zhili train?The only good source of soldiers in the world is Hunan, but the people of Hunan can't stand the bitter cold and pasta in the north.Zeng Guofan couldn't accept this task, but he couldn't contradict him, so he had to say euphemistically: "The minister's talent is weak, and his energy is declining day by day. I'm afraid I can't handle it." A word was played, and there was no response for a long time, Zeng Guofan's back began to get wet again. "Kneel down and give the sign tomorrow." Empress Dowager Cixi finally spoke. Zeng Guofan hurriedly kowtowed and knelt down, stood up holding his hat, and stepped back step by step until he reached the door curtain, and then slowly turned and went out. When Zeng Guofan walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and arrived at Qianqing Gate, he saw hundreds of officials and eunuchs had already gathered in the upper and lower corridors of Danchi and the corridors on both sides. Until he walked out of Jingyun Gate. The next day was Sizheng again, led by Jingshou, the only six-headed son-in-law who was not punished among the eight assistant ministers, into the East Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.The empress dowager and the emperor summoned him again and asked him about his condition and the building of foreign ships.On the third day, Led by Seng Gelinqin's son Prince Boyana Lahu, he was summoned for the third time in the East Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.The Empress Dowager Cixi asked who there are good generals who have led troops in recent years, and talked about the military training in Zhili, and asked him to do it wholeheartedly. After the three summons, Zeng Guofan was filled with emotion.The emperor remained silent from beginning to end, without uttering a single word.Although he is young and has his mother in charge, he doesn't have to speak, but after all, he has been the emperor for eight years, and he can always speak a few clichés.Zeng Guofan remembered that when he was working in Hanyuan, the elder Hanlin talked about the holy ancestor Kangxi, and everyone adored him.He ascended the throne at the age of nine, personally adjudicated political affairs at the age of twelve, eliminated the Obai Group at the age of seventeen, and made plans to cut down the feudal clan at the age of twenty.It is precisely because of such a talented and general emperor that he has made great achievements beyond the Han and Tang Dynasties.Now that the country is in trouble and the hearts of the people are scattered, it is in need of an emperor who can use his strength to turn things around. It seems that the fourteen-year-old weak emperor is not that kind of person. What the Empress Dowager Ci'an asked was all about the women's gossip in the boudoir, it was dispensable, it didn't matter.Empress Dowager Cixi claims to be powerful, and she is the only one who asks questions about major issues. Zeng Guofan carefully recalled every sentence she asked during the three summons. training.He thought about these three things carefully, connected them together, and saw Cixi's thoughts: remove all the brave men in the south of the Yangtze River, bring the generals who can fight to Zhili, and train an elite army in Zhili to defend them. capital.As for the main things he envisioned before the summons, such as the administration of officials in the south of the Yangtze River, the lives of the people, the recommendation of talents, the restoration of Anhui, Henan, and Shandong provinces after the chaos subsided, the construction of the Machine Bureau, how to resist foreigners, etc. The policy of long-term peace and stability is hardly mentioned.Is it because Cixi is selfish and only cares about her and her son's throne?Or is her talent really mediocre, not enough to take care of these imminent livelihoods and the national economy?Zeng Guofan's mind suddenly came up with Li Shangyin's poem: "The Xuanshi seeks talents to visit and chase ministers, and Jia Sheng's talents are even more incomprehensible. Poor midnight empty front table, don't ask the common people and ask ghosts and gods." Although Cixi didn't ask about ghosts and gods, she didn't. Ask about common people.The country is in the hands of such a queen dowager and emperor. Can you count on it to be safe and prosperous in the world?He shook his head secretly. As a bachelor, since he has arrived in the capital, he has to act like he is doing his job on the surface.The day after the summons ended, Zeng Guofan went to the cabinet to serve as a bachelor.He first went to the imperial imperial room to change clothes, then sat down in front of the scholar's office in the Hall of Martial Arts, took a look in the Manben room, and then entered the lobby.There are six large book cases lined up in the lobby.The three seats on the east side are the seats of Manchu University scholars, and the three seats on the west side are the seats of Han University scholars.Zeng Guofan sat down by the first desk on the west side.Immediately, dozens of people including cabinet bachelors, attendant bachelors, and Zhongshu came to see him.The bachelor attendant on duty sent two documents, which Zeng Guofan signed after browsing them briefly.The cabinet is named Zhengyipin Yamen, and it is above the six ministries. It is an example of a hundred bureaucrats. In fact, it has no power, and only handles some daily government affairs under the emperor's behest.During the Yongzheng period, the Military Aircraft Department was established, and most of the important tasks of the cabinet were separated, so the power of the cabinet was lighter, and it only handled some routine affairs.Because of this, the cabinet bachelor and the co-organizing bachelor can become a kind of title, and there is no need to take office. In the Qing Dynasty, the place where the academicians worked was located in the Hanlin Academy, so Zeng Guofan went to the Hanlin Academy again.First change clothes in the book hall, then sit in the lobby and salute at the holy temple.After going to the Dianbo Hall to change clothes, I went to the Changli Temple to salute, and then went to the Qingmi Hall to sit.Bachelors and editors of the Imperial Academy came to kowtow in batches.Zeng Guofan answered each of them with a smile.I think that when I first entered Hanyuan, I stood there before I arrived, but now I am almost sixty years old.The years are long, time waits for no one, the past days are long, and the days to come are short.When he walked out of the Imperial Academy, there was an inexplicable sense of melancholy in his heart. When he returned to Xianliang Temple, the invitation cards on the desk were piled up more than a foot high.Normally, he would basically ignore it, but this time it was different.Once here is an important place for the capital, most of the inviters have prominent positions, and the capital is the most social and snobbish, so you can't easily refuse other people's invitations.Second, he has been away from Beijing for many years, and he also wants to take this opportunity to meet with his old friends and talk about Yunshu's thoughts.He laid out the invitation posts one by one, arranged a rough schedule, and asked Ji Hong to remind him when he noticed it. After that, he went to the banquet according to the schedule.There are applications for students from various disciplines, there are applications for the same year of Jiawu and 1898, there are applications for officials from Beijing from Zhili, there are applications from Jiangsu Province, there are applications from officials in Nanjing, and there are applications from Woren, Zhu Fengbiao, and Ruichang. There are joint invitations from Wen Xiang, Bao Yun, Li Hongzao, and Shen Guifen, special invitations from Prince Gong, and private invitations from old friends such as Zhou Shouchang, Wu Tingdong, Pan Zuyin, Xu Xianping, etc.There must be a play after every banquet, and he has to go to the second and third watch every day when he returns to the apartment, which makes him extremely tired. In the middle of the night, the ringworm on my body broke out again, and I woke up with itching.He suddenly remembered that every day he socialized with the rich and powerful, and neglected a group of old teachers and friends who had already declined, and he couldn't justify it.Among them, there are two families in particular who have not visited so far, which is even more unreasonable! The next day, Zeng Guofan excused himself from the invitation of the Beijing official from Anhui, who was originally due to be ill.He changed into a commoner hat, and secretly came to the old house of Mu Zhang'a, the mentor of the year. Mu Zhang'a has been sick and living in a dwelling place since Emperor Xianfeng stepped down shortly after he ascended the throne, until his death in the sixth year of Xianfeng.The grandeur of the Xiangfu in the past has long since disappeared.Although there are many sons, none of them are successful. The empty house is deserted and overgrown with weeds.The seventh son Sa Shan and the ninth son Salian lived in the house. When they saw Zeng Guofan, the two brothers embraced him tightly with mixed feelings and tears.Zeng Guofan asked them if they had any difficulties in life.Sa Shan said: "It is not difficult to live with the meager inheritance left by my late father, but there is no money to pay for my late father's chronicle that has been completed recently." While talking, Salian took out a stack of ink manuscripts and handed them over, saying: "If Master Zhongtang has time to review and revise, our brothers will be very grateful." Zeng Guofan took the ink manuscript and flipped through a few pages. Feeling stunned, he said earnestly: "If it wasn't for the support of a mentor back then, Guofan would not be where he is today! I will take the manuscript back and read it carefully. If there is any question, I will bring it up. Especially regarding the dismissal of Duke Lin Wenzhong and Lord Xianfeng's decree, careful consideration must be given to the text." Sa Shan said: "Our brothers have little knowledge. If there are any inappropriate words in these places, please delete and rewrite them, Lord Zhongtang." Zeng Guofan nodded, and asked: "You can discuss how many parts of the annals of your mentor should be engraved." Salian said: "Our brothers have calculated that there are more than 300 members in our own family alone. There are many disciples of my father before his death. It takes at least a thousand copies to distribute." Zeng Guofan smiled helplessly, and said, "It's no problem keeping my family alive. How many of your father's former disciples are still in contact with your father's house?" Sa Shan and Salian were dumb. "The two elder brothers really don't know the world. If you give it to them with kindness, I'm afraid they don't want to accept it yet!" Zeng Guofan said with a sad face, "I will take the manuscript to Baoding first, and then send it after reading it. The two of you will hire it in this house." I will engrave five hundred copies, and all expenses will be paid by me." Sashan and Salian are very grateful.The two brothers accompanied Zeng Guofan to walk around the courtyard again.These familiar houses and vegetation aroused a thousand strands of melancholy in Zeng Guofan's heart. The prosperity is over, people go to the empty buildings, this feeling can be regarded as a memory, but it was already at a loss.He finally couldn't bear the heavy emotional pressure, and hurriedly bid farewell to Brother Sashan. After leaving Mu's residence, he hired another mule cart and quietly came to Taqibu's house in Silk Thread Hutong.There are three Taqibu brothers. The third brother died in Xianfeng four years ago, and the second brother died of illness in August this year.All three brothers have no children, only four daughters.Tamu is eighty years old.I heard that Zeng Zhongtang came to visit in person. The old woman leaned on a cane and tremblingly kissed the gate to greet her, followed by a group of widows and weak women.When Zeng Guofan saw it, he felt very sad.He personally helped Tamu to the lobby, and then saluted the old man's nephew and nephew, which scared the old woman to stand up and return the salute.Zeng Guofan talked affectionately about Taqibu's difficulties in founding the Hunan Army with him, and praised him as a rare general. Grabbing Zeng Guofan's hand, he couldn't say a word.Zeng Guofan was very sad, and comforted him: "Old man, Guofan is like your son. After I settle down, I will send someone to pick you up, old man, to take care of him." Tamu shook her head vigorously, and finally said, "With your words, I will die with peace of mind. I only blame my son for his poor life and poor fortune, and he can't grow up with a good person like you." Banner women were originally generous, and Tazibu's wife did not shy away from Zeng Guofan. At this time, she took her daughter and knelt in front of him, crying and said: "My lord, it's a pity that Taqibu has only this little flesh and blood in his life. She is naturally a daughter. It's nothing, her father booked a marriage for her when she was young, and she will be married next year, and I beg the elder to look for her father's sake and find a job for the little daughter-in-law." After saying that, thinking of her husband, she couldn't help but burst into tears. , speaking incoherently. Zeng Guofan really couldn't bear to listen to her, so he thought for a while and said, "A month later, ask your son-in-law to come to Baoding to find me." Mrs. Tazib and her daughter kowtowed.Seeing that Zeng Guofan agreed so generously, Mrs. Alingbu, Taqibu's second younger brother, hurried over and begged: "My lord, be merciful, the eldest daughter of a poor woman will also come to the house in the next year, please give her husband a bowl of food to eat." Bar!" Zeng Guofan felt quite embarrassed.How many people from Xiangxiang, including close relatives like Nanwu's son-in-law, went to Anqing and Jiangning, begging him to take him in, but he didn't agree. Finding an errand for Taqibu's son-in-law is a big exception. Next comes another one, where to put it?Seeing that Zeng Guofan didn't speak, the woman in Alingbu kowtowed like garlic.Ta Mu said: "Master Zeng, I kneel down for you." As he spoke, he was about to get up.Zeng Guofan was so panicked that he hurriedly supported him, and said repeatedly: "Okay, okay, let's come to Baoding together next month!" The mother of the tower ordered the meal to be prepared, and Zeng Guofan said: "Old aunt, Guofan has too many chores, so he can't sit for a long time." He took out a piece of hard paper from the boot leaf and handed it up with both hands, "This is a thousand taels of silver bill. , your old man accepting it is considered a little filial piety from Guofan." Tamu shed tears again, and after a few excuses, she accepted it. Coming out of Taqibu’s house, Zeng Guofan’s heart was heavy: the Manchu Tazibu, who had served as the admiral, was in such a depression after his death, wouldn’t the more than 20,000 mid- and lower-level military officers who died in battle and the orphans of ordinary Xiangyong be more pitiful?