Chapter 42 Five Zhang Wenxiang confessed

Zhang Wenxiang was born in Ruyang, Henan. He grew up in a poor family. His father died when he was fifteen, and his mother died when he was seventeen.The life of misery and wandering has developed his character of a stubborn, fierce and desperado who is not afraid of life and death, and also made him learn some boxing kung fu piecemeal.If he had money, he would go whoring, gambling and fooling around, and if he had no money, he could endure hunger and cold.He is cruel and domineering, but he is very loyal to the world, he dares to go through fire and water for his friends, he is a standard waver.At the age of twenty, he fled from Henan to Anhui, and soon joined the Huaiyan salt smuggling group in northern Anhui.Soon, he became a small leader of the Nian Army under Gong Deshu's subordinates.

In the eleventh year of Xianfeng, Gong Deshu led his troops south to rescue Anqing, but was bombarded by Bao Chao several times.Zhang Wenxiang did not withdraw to the north. He led more than a hundred brothers and merged into Chen Yucheng's department. They were highly regarded and promoted to a commander in chief.After Anqing was breached, Zhang Wenxiang was seriously injured, and he hid in a commoner's home to recuperate.Seeing the decline of the Taiping Army and the prosperity of the Hunan Army, he shaved his hair after recovering from his injury, joined Bao Chao's Ting Army, and became a brave man in the Qingzi Camp of Shenming.

Shen Mingbiao developed the elder brother association in the Qingzi camp, and Zhang Wenxiang was his backbone.When fighting Qingyang, Zhang Wenxiang accidentally got a purple-gold arhat.Shen Mingbiao liked it very much, and deceived Zijin Luohan on the pretext that the Gelaohui lacked funds.Zhang Wenxiang is straightforward and doesn't care about this matter.Later, when Jiang Ning took down, Jiziying looted all the gold and silver treasures in Little Heaven, and finally even set the Tianwang Palace on fire.Ting Jun did not make a fortune, everyone from the general to Yong Ding was jealous and annoyed.Later, they were asked to go to Fujian to hunt down Wang Haiyang's Ministry. It happened that Bao Chao went back to Sichuan to visit his relatives.Zhao Liewen came to appease them with 150,000 stipends, and most of them settled down. Shen Mingbiao, Zhang Wenxiang and others saw that the situation was not good, and fled in a hurry.On the way, Zhang Wenxiang remembered the purple gold arhat, and wanted to sell it by Shen Mingbiao, so that everyone could share some money to make a living.Shen Mingbiao lied that Luo Han had been stolen, and he was so angry that he broke up with Shen Mingbiao.Zhang Wenxiang started wandering again.

On this day, hungry and thirsty, he came to the foot of East Tianmu Mountain, and suddenly heard bells ringing from the mountain depression, mixed with indistinct Sanskrit sounds.He was overjoyed: there must be a temple not far in front of him, why don't you just take advantage of it and live there for a few days.He followed the voice around the mountains and ridges, and he saw a temple among the towering ancient trees.This temple is extremely magnificent, with dozens of halls and monks' houses surrounded by red walls.It is the famous Fahua Temple in East Tianmu Mountain, and there are 200 monks in it.

Zhang Wenxiang came to Sanmen and asked to stay in the temple for two days.It was also his chance that the abbot, Master Yuandeng, was sending a distinguished guest out.Master Yuandeng paid attention to Zhang Wenxiang for a long time, and asked kindly: "Where did the benefactor come from? Why do you want to stay overnight in our temple?" Zhang Wenxiang thought for a while and said, "My name is Zhang Wenxiang. I went bankrupt and my partner abducted the rest of the money. Now I don't have any money. I want to have two meals here on credit." "My Buddha is merciful. It is not difficult to save the suffering. It is not difficult to eat two meals. But the benefactor lost his money and went bankrupt. How will he live in the future? Do you have parents, wives and children at home?"

"I have no parents, no wife and children, and I haven't given much thought to how I will live in the future. I don't know if you need someone to do things here. I have the strength to cut firewood and carry water." Master Yuandeng squinted his eyes and looked at him carefully, and asked, "Can you make a gun?" "Understand a little." "Okay!" The mage cheered up, "You will stay here, do you want to convert to Buddhism?" "Buddhism is good," Zhang Wenxiang said with a smile, "It's just that I'm used to drinking and eating meat, and I can't bear it."

"That's fine, don't cut your hair!" The mage said without any disgust, "There is a large jujube forest three miles outside my temple, and the dates planted every year are a big income for the temple. When the jujubes are ripe, the total Someone came to steal, and the monk guarding the forest is weak, how about you help him guard it together?" "Great!" Zhang Wenxiang was overjoyed and bowed to the mage, "Thank you mage for taking me in!" There is a reason why Master Yuandeng treats Zhang Wenxiang so well.It turns out that this mage is not a fast-paced and Buddhist-reciprocating person, but an aspiring person who wants to use Buddhism to achieve great things.He was originally one of the leaders of the Southern Hokkien Tiandihui, named Zheng Nanzhang, the ninth grandson of Zheng Chenggong, with both wisdom and courage, and many brothers under his command.He secretly built weapons, drew flags, and contacted Hong Xiuquan, preparing to start an uprising in southern Fujian, echoing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.The matter was not yet ripe, but the wind leaked unexpectedly, and was uncovered by the governor of Fujian, Lv Quansun.In a hurry, most of Zheng Nanzhang's subordinates were arrested and killed. He only took dozens of brothers and fled overnight, and went north to Jinling to meet the king of heaven.Unexpectedly, when he reached the foot of Tianmu Mountain, he heard the bad news of internal strife in Tianjing: first, the Northern King killed the Eastern King, then the Heavenly King killed the Northern King, and then the King Yi left. Suddenly, the sky was covered with dark clouds, the vitality of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was seriously injured, and the prospects were bleak.

Zheng Nanzhang, who was already in a deep heart, was suddenly discouraged by the kingdom of heaven. In a fit of anger, he shaved off his hair and became a monk in Fahua Temple, changing his name to Yuandeng.Most of the brothers who accompanied him were scattered, and some of them escaped into Buddhism with him.Unexpectedly, Elder Cijing, the abbot of Xianghua Temple, is also a passionate person who hides in Buddhism. When he learned about Yuandeng's situation, he tried his best to encourage him to use Buddhism to do great things.Yuandeng regained his spirit and turned Fahua Temple into a Shaolin Temple. All the monks practiced boxing and knives, and secretly got in touch with the Tiandihui in Fujian and Zhejiang through his younger brother.Later when Tianjing was lost, they didn't feel depressed either, and wanted to wait for an opportunity to recover.With the eyesight of a martial arts master, Yuandeng saw that Zhang Wenxiang was an extraordinary person, and Fahua Temple urgently needed such a person.

Zhang Wenxiang lived in Zaolin.A few days later, Yuan Deng came to visit him and asked him to practice a few sets of punches and kicks on the spot, which was really good.Yuan Deng asked Zhang Wenxiang to be a teacher to teach martial arts to the monks in the temple.Zhang Wenxiang settled down in Fahua Temple and lived a peaceful life.Three months later, he suffered from typhoid fever, fever all over his body, blood in his stools, and he was unconscious all day long, his pulse weakened day by day. On this day, after praying to the Buddha in the Daxiong Hall, Master Yuandeng ordered the doctor to do everything possible to keep it safe for three days.Then he took off his cassock, changed into short clothes, took a steel knife, several catties of dry food, and carried a bamboo basket, and entered Tianmu Mountain alone.On the evening of the third day, Yuandeng came back, locked a very poisonous seven-step green snake in a bamboo basket, and tied a bunch of various herbs on the lid of the basket.Yuan Deng chopped the herbs and squeezed out the pulp, then dragged the seven-step snake out of the bamboo basket, pinched the waist with one hand, and pinched the head with the other. The snake opened its mouth in pain, and the venom flowed into the oar along its tongue. He pried open Zhang Wenxiang's tightly closed jaw with his own hands, and poured the medicine slurry down.In the middle of the night, the fever gradually subsided.Another dose was given in the morning of the next day, and his pulse became normal two hours later. Zhang Wenxiang was able to open his mouth to take the medicine by himself when it was dark.He slept soundly that night, and at dawn, he was able to get up and eat.

When Zhang Wenxiang learned that Yuandeng risked his life and broke into the deep mountains to catch seven step snakes for him, this stubborn and ruthless tough guy shed tears of gratitude for the first time. He knelt in front of Yuandeng and asked to accept him as a Buddhist disciple.Yuan Deng raised his hands and said: "The Buddha Dharma is vast and ubiquitous, and its purpose is to eliminate evil and become good, and to benefit the world. As for whether to shave your hair or not, or to wear cassocks or not, there is really no big difference.If you are willing to follow me to eliminate evil and do good, can you listen to my advice. "

"My life is all given by the mage. In this life, I will obey whatever the mage says." So Yuan Deng brought Zhang Wenxiang into the abbot's room, and explained to Zhang Wenxiang the Tiandihui's anti-Qing and Ming-ming and the various principles he had realized to expel foreigners and defend China.Only then did Zhang Wenxiang reveal all his complicated experiences of participating in the Nianzi, Taiping Army, and Hunan Army, and said that he was the second uncle of the Gelaohui in the Hunan Army.Yuandeng said: "Although the Hunan army is hateful, they work for the tiger and help the tyrant, but the Gelaohui and the Tiandihui are a family. You and I have been brothers for a long time. I completely trust you. You are used to eating wine and meat, and you are also wandering. If you can't stand the prohibition of Buddhism, you don't have to take precepts.My younger brother organized some people to rob the rich and help the poor along the coast of Zhejiang, and donate to Fahua Temple. From now on, you will do one thing for me: go to the seaside once a month, connect with my younger brother, and bring back some gold and silver . " Zhang Wenxiang was thinking about moving for a long time, and was about to go out for a walk. Hearing this, he was overjoyed. From then on, he acted as a liaison officer for Yuan Deng and his younger brother.Zhang Wenxiang was loyal, committed, courageous and good at martial arts. After several contacts, he was especially valued by the brothers Yuandeng, and Yuandeng found a wife for Zhang Wenxiang nearby.The next year, his wife gave birth to a son for him.Zhang Wenxiang, who has been wandering for half his life, now has his own flesh and blood to continue the incense. He is really grateful to Yuandeng and vows to repay him with his body. A few years later, on the way back to Tianmu Mountain from the seaside, Zhang Wenxiang happened to meet Shen Mingbiao who opened a small bet shop.When old friends meet, they are very cordial.Talking about the scene after the breakup, Shen Mingbiao sighed again and again, but Zhang Wenxiang was full of joy.Shen Mingbiao heard that Yuandeng was also the leader of Tiandihui before he became a monk, so he decided to close the small betting shop and go to join Master Yuandeng with Zhang Wenxiang, and Zhang Wenxiang naturally agreed.In front of the mage, Zhang Wenxiang greatly praised Shen Mingbiao's martial arts.Seeing that Shen Zeng was Guan Tianpei's general manager and Zeng Guofan's battalion officer, Yuandeng accepted him without hesitation.Shen Mingbiao said that he wanted to be a complete monk, and Yuan Deng immediately agreed, shaved his hair himself, and took the Dharma name Wu Fei.Shen Mingbiao was already fifty years old. Seeing that he had rich experience and high ability, Yuandeng soon promoted him to be a supervisor. His status was second only to the abbot, and he took the second position in Fahua Temple.One day, Zhang Wenxiang accidentally found the purple-gold arhat in Shen Mingbiao's Zen room, and he felt very unhappy. Thinking that he was not short of money, why should he hurt his feelings for this matter, so he kept silent, but he began to despise Shen Mingbiao in his heart human.In this year, Ma Xinyi, the governor of Zhejiang, smashed the smuggling pirates along the coast of Ningbo and Taizhou. Yuandeng's younger brother was also captured by Ma Xinyi and sentenced to death.When the news reached Fahua Temple, Yuandeng was distraught, and Zhang Wenxiang was also furious. Fahua Temple recited the Sutra for seven days and seven nights for Yuandeng's younger brother's soul.Zhang Wenxiang made a vow of each other in front of the Buddha.If you don't kill Ma Xinyi in this life and avenge Brother Yuandeng, you won't be a man in the world! From then on, Zhang Wenxiang practiced kung fu hard in Fahua Temple.During the day he stabbed the cowhide with a short knife, and at night he cut off the incense with a flying knife, so that in the future, no matter how far or near, whether in winter or summer, as long as he met Ma Xinyi, he would not be able to escape from the knife.After practicing for two full years, he has developed the strength to penetrate five cowhide with one knife and the unique skill to destroy incense heads within 30 steps.He's going down the mountain to do something big. The night before he left, he hugged his three-year-old son and kissed and kissed again and again, which made his wife feel strange.He finally couldn't help it, and told his wife the purpose of going down the mountain.Hearing that the governor was going to be murdered, his wife was stunned, crying and begging him not to do this for his son's sake. Zhang Wenxiang comforted me and said, "I have received great kindness from the mage, and I cannot refuse to repay it. After the assassination, I will find a way to escape. Don't worry about me." The wife was still crying bitterly: "There are many guards around the governor, how can you escape?" "I'll throw a knife from afar." After Zhang Wenxiang finished speaking, he asked his wife to light a stick of incense and stick it in a tree thirty steps away.He put the waist knife flat on the palm of his right hand, blew on it, took another deep breath, and then exerted all his strength, slightly forward his waist, made a circle with his right hand on his chest, and called out "" "Go", I saw a white light flying out of the palm of my hand, and in the blink of an eye, there was a "cha" sound on the tree pole, the incense head disappeared, and the waist knife was stuck straight on the tree pole.His wife had to pack his bags for him with tears in his eyes. In the early morning of the next day, Yuan Deng handed him two refined steel waist knives tempered with poison. The knives sealed their throats with blood, and they were hopeless.Yuan Deng clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and said solemnly: "The benefactor is brave and heroic. Today's Jing Ke and Nie Zheng are also. The poor monk represents the common people in the sea of ​​suffering, and also for myself, toast the benefactor with a glass of wine. May the Bodhisattva Bless you with success." After finishing speaking, he took a glass of wine from the hand of the young novice beside him.Zhang Wenxiang took it with both hands, and said excitedly: "Master, don't worry, if you don't achieve your goal, I, Zhang Wenxiang, will never go back to Tianmu Mountain to see my wife and children!" The round lantern and the name bid sent Zhang Wenxiang halfway up the mountain.Zhang Wenxiang entrusted Shen Mingbiao to take care of his wife and children.Shen Mingbiao patted him on the shoulder and said, "You and I are brothers in the war. We are friends between life and death. You don't need to trust me. I will take care of all your family affairs!" Zhang Wenxiang left Tianmu Mountain, rushed to Jiangning in one breath, found a small hotel near the Yamen of the Governor of Liangjiang, and settled down, closely watching the movement in the Yamen every day.Ma Xinyi usually does not go out of the yamen, and occasionally when he does, he sits in a sedan chair, protected by hundreds of soldiers with live ammunition in front, back, left, and right.Zhang Wenxiang lived there for three months and couldn't find a chance to make a move.Ma Xinyi went out that day, sitting in a big green woolen sedan chair as usual, with strict guards, Zhang Wenxiang with a dagger in his waist, and followed the sedan chair team from a distance. Because the original Liangjiang governor's yamen was still under construction, Ma Xinyi temporarily set up the governor's office in the Jiangning magistrate's yamen.After the sedan chair team left Fudong Street, entered Lufei Lane, and then crossed Tangzi Lane, and began to cross stone bridges: first Hongqiao, then Lianhua Bridge, Lianhua Fifth Bridge, then Yanjia Bridge, Hongban After crossing the stone bridge and Liangcang bridge, you enter Gulou Street.After passing the Drum Tower, the green wool sedan stopped in front of a church with a towering iron cross in the purple bamboo forest.The car door was opened, and Ma Xinyi, who was fat and handsome, stepped into the church gate.It turned out that he was paying homage to Lang Huairen, bishop of the Jiangnan Diocese of France.A few days ago, Lang Huairen paid a visit to Ma Xinyi.At that time, the religious incident in Tianjin had already broken out, and people in Jiangning City were fluctuating, and there were constant calls to smash the Catholic Church.Lang Huairen panicked.On the second day after paying a visit to Ma Xinyi, Zizhu Forest added 300 Qing soldiers.The streets and alleys of Jiangning are covered with notices with the big seal of "Imperial Envoys Handling Jiangnan Commercial Affairs and Liangjiang Governor-Ma". Chinese people who practice religion let them do as they please, and the governor does not interfere. When people and religion get along, they must be harmonious and respect each other. If there are lawless people who dare to imitate Tianjin scoundrels, gather crowds to cause trouble, burn churches and destroy religions, the law of the country will be severe. It’s difficult to borrow money. Scholars and people, etc., all respectfully abide by it. Special instructions.” After reading the notice, the common people scolded Ma Xinyi for being partial to foreigners and having no conscience.Ma Xinyi didn't care, in order to please Lang Huairen, he worshiped back and forth again today. Zhang Wenxiang followed the sedan chair team to the Purple Bamboo Forest, mingling with the crowd of onlookers.The gate of the church was full of guards, and he could not approach it.Zhang Wenxiang took a closer look at the surrounding environment, and saw that there was another small bamboo grove about a hundred steps away from the church gate. There were more than a dozen large bamboos growing there, with dense leaves and thick bamboo stems. It seems to be hidden.It's a pity that it's a bit far away from the gate. If it's within fifty or sixty steps, it's not a problem for the waist knife to fly away and penetrate the chest, but it's not absolutely sure if it's a hundred steps away.After hesitating for a long time, he still walked into the bamboo bushes.Looking at Bibi, she still felt unsatisfactory. Just as she was about to walk out of the bamboo bushes, the door of the church opened.Lang Huairen, bishop of Jiangnan, wearing a black hat, black robe, and a white cross around his neck, accompanied Ma Xinyi out with a smile on his face.Unfortunately, Lang Huairen was right on the side of the bamboo bush, and this tall and burly foreigner protected Ma Xinyi.Zhang Wenxiang kept touching the waist knife hidden in the pocket of his underwear with his right hand, but he couldn't take it out.He watched helplessly, trying to seize the moment without blinking. Here's your chance!When approaching the sedan chair door, Lang Huairen stood still.Ma Xinyi took two steps forward, stopped in front of the sedan chair curtain, then turned around and clasped his fists at Lang Huairen.Zhang Wenxiang suddenly took out the waist knife, raised his right hand, and was about to throw the knife over.Suddenly, someone patted his arm lightly.Zhang Wenxiang's surprise was no small matter!He turned his face away, only to see a frail scholar in his thirties standing behind him.The man smiled and said to him: "Brother, you are too reckless. Are you sure about the distance?" Zhang Wenxiang said angrily, "Don't worry about it!" After finishing speaking, he wanted to raise the knife again, but at this time Ma Xinyi had already stepped into the sedan chair door. "It's late!" Zhang Wenxiang blurted out. "Brother, how about I treat you to a drink?" The man smiled more and more cordially. Seeing that he was harmless, Zhang Wenxiang followed him out of the bamboo bushes.The two entered a remote hotel and chose a single room to sit down.The man ordered the bartender to serve a few plates of big fish and meat, and ordered another catty of Guquan Daqu, and said to the bartender, "There are enough wine and vegetables. I won't call you. Don't come in to disturb me." The bartender agreed and went out. "Brother, why do you want to assassinate the horse?" the man asked in a low voice. "How do you know that I want to kill horses and build Taiwan? I want to kill foreigners." Zhang Wenxiang said without changing his face.At that time, people hated foreigners, especially foreigners who preached.Those who dare to kill foreigners are regarded as heroes. "Don't tell lies in front of a real person." The man sneered, "If you kill a foreigner, the foreigner has been standing there, why do you say 'too late'?" Zhang Wenxiang remembered that he had said these two words, so he fell silent. "Brother, I have the same thoughts as you, I want to kill him!" The man knocked his wine glass on the table. "What's your name?" Zhang Wenxiang was very surprised. "What are you doing, why did you kill him?" The man poured wine for Zhang Wenxiang with the pot, and also filled his own glass: "Brother, let me tell you after drinking this glass." The two wine glasses collided, and everyone drank in one gulp. "My surname is Qiao, and I am the third eldest, so you can call me Qiao San!" Qiao San leaned against the wall and said politely, "The French bishop Lang Huairen who sent Ma Xinyi out just now has an extraordinary relationship with Ma Xinyi. Do you know what happened between them?" Zhang Wenxiang shook his head. "In the fourth year of Xianfeng, Ma Xinyi was ordered to lead troops to Shanghai to fight the Small Knife Club. He was injured in the war and was sent to Dongjiadu Hospital run by the French. Lang Huairen was the director of this hospital at that time. His Majesty, he was baptized into Catholicism. Since then, the French have always tried their best to praise Ma Xinyi in front of Lord Xianfeng, and later in front of the queen mothers of the two palaces, saying that he is shrewd and capable, a rare talent among Chinese officials. In this way, Ma Xinyi has been promoted step by step. In order to replace Zeng Zhongtang with a mediocre person in Liangjiang, the relatives and noble ministers headed by King Chun in the court were very dissatisfied. However, Ma Xinyi won the trust of the Queen Mother and Prince Gong, but he couldn't help it. Ma Xinyi was grateful for the help of foreigners, so he devoted himself to them Last year, a religious incident occurred in Anqing. The French minister Luo Shuya went to Jiangning, offering to compensate for the loss, allocate land in the city for the church, and punish the people who smashed the church out of righteous indignation. Mei Fan and Taiwan were quite disapproving. A few days ago, the people of Tianjin set fire to the church and punished the foreigners. It was a good thing that pleased people's hearts. Ma Xinyi, a traitor, actually wrote a letter to the Queen Mother, demanding that the righteous people be severely punished and apologize to the foreigners. His slavish face made King Chun, General Kui, and Mei Fantai grit their teeth with hatred. King Chun said in a letter to General Kui that he must kill the horse and then act quickly. " "Who the hell are you?" Zhang Wenxiang listened for a long time, but he still didn't see this person revealing his identity, so he became impatient. "Are you someone sent by King Jingshi Chun?" Joe San shook his head. "Are you a member of General Quebec?" Joe San shook his head again. "Then you are from Mei Fantai?" Qiao San shook his head and said with a smile, "Brother, you don't have to ask me who I am. I'll tell you that I'm just like you. I just want to kill horses." "You're mistaken, I don't kill horses." Zhang Wenxiang said coldly, seeing that he didn't show his identity, feeling very suspicious in his heart. "Hahaha!" The man laughed loudly and said, "Brother, have you heard the story about the mantis catching the cicada and the oriole behind?" "What did you say?" Zhang Wenxiang was shocked. "Brother, for the past two months, you have been wandering around the governor's office every day. Can you hide it from others, but can you hide it from me? If you really want to kill a horse, I will help you, and I will also help you." thank you." "Okay, let me tell you the truth. I want to kill a horse and avenge my friends. I made a wish in front of the Buddha. If I don't achieve my goal, I will never give up. How can you help and thank you?" Zhang Wenxiang stared at him with wide eyes. Looking at Qiao San, his eyes were indifferent and suspicious. "Brother, let me tell you that on July 25th, Ma Xinyi will inspect the military monthly class in the school grounds." "Really?" Zhang Wenxiang was overjoyed. "This is a good opportunity." "There are hundreds of warriors on the school grounds, with swords and guns like a forest, and the people watching can only stay outside the fence. How do you do it?" Yes, how can assassins be allowed to show off in the important place of the school?Zhang Wenxiang's heart went cold. "But it doesn't matter, brother." Seeing Zhang Wenxiang's face darken, Qiao San smiled and said, "The arrow path in the school field leads to the back door of the Superintendent's Office. Ma Xinyi usually finishes his inspection and enters the office on foot through the arrow path. You can act on the arrow path." "How can I get close to the arrow path?" Zhang Wenxiang became troubled, "Even if Ma Xinyi is walking on the road, he may not be able to guarantee that the waist knife will hit the vital point." "Brother, this is where my younger brother can help." Qiao San said proudly, "I will tell you to follow the crowd into the school grounds, and I will also have a way to tell Ma Xinyi to stop." "Okay, if that's the case, I can stab him face to face!" Zhang Wenxiang said fiercely.Then asked, "What can you thank me for?" "I'll give you three thousand taels of silver." Qiao San raised his right hand and stretched out three fingers. "Once I assassinate, I will be arrested. What's the use of asking for three thousand taels of silver." Zhang Wenxiang shook his head. "Brother, don't you have parents, wives and children?" One sentence woke Zhang Wenxiang up: yes, if he died, what would his wife and children do?When they left home, they didn't leave behind a few taels of silver. How will their mother and son live and work in peace in the future! "Okay, please give the silver to my wife first, and bring along the two straps I usually use." "Where does sister-in-law live?" "Fahua Temple, East Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang." Eight days later, Qiao San came back.He handed two black ribbons to Zhang Wenxiang, and told him an unexpected thing: Shen Mingbiao poisoned Master Yuandeng to death and became the abbot of Fahua Temple. His wife asked him to go back and kill Shen Mingbiao to avenge Master Yuandeng.Zhang Wenxiang was so indignant that he wished he could kill the wolf-hearted bidder immediately, but he thought that the day after tomorrow would be July 25th, and he couldn't let this golden opportunity pass; I had to endure it. "Brother." Zhang Wenxiang said to Qiao San, "Master Yuandeng is my savior. I will not tolerate the person who killed him. I will kill Ma Xinyi this time. I will not be able to escape. After I die, please do one thing." "What's up?" "Kill Shen Mingbiao for me." Qiao San hesitated for a moment, and said, "Don't worry, I will take care of it." "If you don't do it, my ghost will not let you go!" Zhang Wenxiang gave Qiao San a deadly look. "Are you telling the truth?" After Zhang Wenxiang finished speaking, Zeng Guofan's eyebrows were already furrowed tightly. "I, Zhang Wenxiang, am a tough guy. I have never told lies in my life. Believe it or not." Zhang Wenxiang did not argue. "You said you used to be the whistle chief under Bao Chao's subordinates, do you know who I am?" Zeng Guofan leaned back in his chair, stroking his long beard habitually. "I know you. I recognized you the first time I saw you. You are Mr. Zeng, but you were much more energetic in the past, and you are not as old as you are now." Zhang Wenxiang replied. He has made up his mind to die, and he doesn't want to please Zeng Guofan, so he can say whatever he thinks in his heart. "When General Kui and Zhang Caotai asked you before, why didn't you say so?" "I don't want to talk about Master Yuandeng, lest the monks of Fahua Temple will be involved." "Then why did you tell me again?" Zeng Guofan narrowed his eyes and interrogated him with extreme distrust. "Because I have an appointment with you first." Zhang Wenxiang scorned Zeng Guofan's attitude.He said contemptuously, "I forgive you, you won't say anything, and you don't dare to play the emperor." "Why?" Zeng Guofan asked with hatred. "Because I used to be the little leader of the Hunan Army, and the little leader of the Hunan Army plotted to assassinate the governor. Do you have a bright face as the commander of the Hunan Army?" Zeng Guofan was depressed, he waved his hand feebly, motioning for Zhang Wenxiang to leave here. Zeng Guofan didn't listen to Zhang Wenxiang's confession, but after hearing it, he was confused and even a little helpless.When his staff members reported the rumors in Jiangning City, he was very skeptical about a phenomenon: Why are there so many and bizarre rumors about this case?In addition to the discussions in the streets and alleys, teahouses and restaurants even composed and sang songs.Zhang Wenxiang's confession can provide an answer to explain this doubt, that is, there are powerful people behind him who have a great hatred against Ma, and they create all kinds of rumors to damage his reputation, and they also use this to cover up Zhang Wenxiang's real intention to stab Ma. Who is this character?Of course Qiao San can be interrogated clearly, but where will Qiao San be arrested?This is a very shrewd and experienced guy, and his contacts with Zhang Wenxiang did not leave a trace.Zhang Wenxiang still doesn't know what he does, and he doesn't know his real name.Qiao Zhe, false also.Zhang Wenxiang, who had never read a book, didn't understand, but Zeng Guofan knew it when he heard it.Zhang Wenxiang was deceived by him, but he was not deceived.The stop at the door of the church was correct; the information provided was accurate; at the critical moment, the fence was overwhelmed, allowing Zhang Wenxiang to sneak into the school grounds, and Wang Chengzhen’s beggar was to stop the horse. These may also be arranged secretly by him; The three thousand taels of silver were indeed delivered to Mrs. Zhang.Who the hell is Joe San?He is also a man who wants to kill horses, there is no doubt about that.Is he for himself, or for others?He stared at Zhang Wenxiang's tail outside the yamen, watched horses at the church door, and drank with Zhang in a small wine shop. These series of actions proved that his status was not high.It is impossible for a person of low status to set off a storm in Jiangning.From this point of view, there is someone behind Qiao San, and he is also working hard for others.This person has a lot of money and great influence, who is he?Is it the Alcohol King in the capital?Or Kuiyu from Jiangning City?They hated him for taking refuge with foreigners, and wanted to kill him to vent their anger?Zeng Guofan knew that Junjun Wang Yixuan hated foreigners the most.In the past few years, in the conflict between the people and the religion, he has been the backer of the Qingyi faction, and he has become the defender of the interests of the people and the country.He hated Ma Xinyi who protected foreigners and foreign religions, and he had no right to dismiss him, so he spared no expense in sending people through Kuiyu to assassinate Ma. This is not impossible.But this is speculation and has no basis. Even if there is basis, would Zeng Guofan dare to touch the emperor's uncle and the empress dowager's sister-in-law in the memorial?Back then, Zeng Guofan was full of blood and armed with a heavy army, but he didn't dare to compete with the royal family, let alone today! Zeng Guofan thought again and again, maybe the whole confession was made up by Zhang Wenxiang to put money on his face.This guy is likely to be a rogue and desperado who has been in the Nian Army, the Changmao Army, and the Hunan Army. Ma Xinyi, but Ma was an innocent official who died in the line of duty.Zeng Guofan remembered that he had been an official for decades, especially since running the Hunan Army and being a local official, there were more than a thousand people who had enmity with him, and there were also some big enemies who fought hard and died with him.If you compare your heart with your heart, can you not pity Ma Xinyi?What made Zeng Guofan even more uneasy was that this hateful Zhang Wenxiang had actually served as the head of the Hunan Army.If this matter spreads out, won't it smear the face of the Hunan Army!In the Hunan army there are scoundrels, ruffians and bandits, murderers and robbers, and rapers and robbers, it doesn't matter.Where are these people not in the barracks where soldiers eat food?There are plenty in the green battalion, and there are plenty in the Eight Banners soldiers.Zeng Guofan is not afraid.However, during the two hundred years since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, the unprecedented case of assassinating the governor was committed by a person who had served as a post in the Hunan Army.This matter was heard by the empress dowager and the emperor, spread to the mouths of thousands of people, and it will be written in the annals of history and kept in the case file, but it is a matter of great embarrassment to the former commander of the Hunan Army!The Tianjin teaching case has already greatly reduced his reputation. In addition to this, how many achievements will he leave to future generations?This suspicious and confusing assassination case once again pushed Zeng Guofan into a vortex of suffering that was exhausting both physically and mentally. One and a half months later, Zheng Dunjin, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, came to Jiangning.The imperial envoy, who was ordered to investigate the horse case, set off from the capital and walked for four months!There is only 2,400 miles from Beijing to Jiangning, that is to say, he only walks 20 miles a day!In the meeting hall of Xiaguan Wharf, as soon as Zheng Dunjin sat down, he said to Zeng Guofan repeatedly: "I am old and weak in humble positions. I was not acclimatized to the environment along the way. I suffered three serious illnesses, so I was late. I hope you will forgive me." "Big Sikou, you've worked hard! Has your body recovered now?" Zeng Guofan felt amused when he saw the tall, strong, and good-looking star envoy from his hometown openly telling big lies in front of him.In fact, Zeng Guofan not only could forgive him, but also hoped that it would be better if he didn't come. "I've gotten a little better in the past two days, but I'm still dizzy and weak." Zheng Dunjin said lazily, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness. "After entering the city, take a good rest for two days. Do you want to call a good doctor again?" "Thank you, Lao Zhongtang! I know a little bit about medicine, so I don't need to call a doctor. I can rest for a few days. Lao Zhongtang, General Kui, and Zhang Caotai have worked hard these past few months. On the way, I saw Lao Zhongtang's memorial in the Beijing News, saying that the assassin refused to confess, probably a revenge slip through the net.Lao Zhongtang's analysis was absolutely correct.I see exactly that.Ma Gushan killed more than a thousand Changmao, he must have made a big enmity with them. That bastard Zhang Wenxiang gave up his life and dragged Ma Gushan all the way to the underworld.What do you think? "Zheng Dunjin turned his face, and slapped Kuiyu, Zhang Zhiwan, Mei Qizhao and others who came to greet him twice, haha, "I see you all, you have to be careful in the future, no one in office has many enemies ah! "After that, I laughed out loud. Zhang Zhiwan said: "I have no experience in judging cases, and I have to rely on you, the head of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, to decide the case." "Where, where!" Zheng Dunjin hurriedly waved his hands. "Old Zhongtang served as the servant of the Criminal Department more than 20 years ago, who in this world can fool the old Zhongtang's eyes with tricks? Whatever case I want to decide on this case, the analysis in the Lao Zhongtang Memorial is the final decision. " Zheng Dunjin's words reassured Zeng Guofan.This clearly means that he will no longer seriously interrogate Zhang Wenxiang, he is just putting on a show; and walking all the way for four months, he is neither sick, nor is he negligent and dereliction of duty due to traveling in mountains and rivers, maybe this shrewd man The minister of the Ministry of punishment has already peeped into some inside stories.Zeng Guofan thought of the empress dowager's indifference to this matter when he met him again. Could it be that killing Ma Xinyi was the intention of King Chun and got the acquiescence of the empress dowager?This young empress dowager in her thirties has been in power for ten years. She has few great skills in governing the country, but her tricks are extremely clever and insidious. She can definitely do things like putting arsenic in honey. Early the next morning, Zhang Zhiwan came to say goodbye, and hurriedly left Jiangning and returned to Qingjiangpu as if jumping out of a fire pit.Since then, Kuiyu, Mei Qizhao and others have stopped asking about this matter.Zheng Dunjin heard about Zhang Wenxiang once, and after asking a few insignificant words, he went to Qixia Mountain to recuperate. After half a month of staying there, he had no intention of returning to Jiangning.It seemed that none of them wanted to get involved in this matter, and they all relied on Zeng Guofan to come up with an idea on how to close the case in the end.Zeng Guofan, Zhao Liewen and others carefully discussed how to write a convincing case closing material, which can not only explain to the queen mother and the emperor, but also take into account Ma Xinyi, that is to say, take into account the dignity of the entire officialdom, and not involve the slightest The Hunan Army, at the same time, can justify itself and block the mouth of the world.When I was thinking hard, a new situation appeared in the horse case unexpectedly.