Chapter 59 After the twelve testaments were read, black rain poured down

Zeng Guohua's death was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Zeng Guofan, who was about to run out of fuel, and Chen Guangfu's straightforward criticism caused new pain deep in his heart.He repeated the words "subsection" and "great righteousness" over and over again, and compared them many times, but in the end he still couldn't accept Hiroshiki's criticism.Even if he started from the righteousness of the country's Zhaomin, he felt that he could not be a character like Zhao Kuangyin. At that time, the Hunan Army had nearly 200,000 soldiers, and they had the prestige of conquering Jinling. As the supreme commander, at the request of many caring generals, as long as he moved his heart a little, the Chenqiao Mutiny would repeat itself. It is not impossible to add a yellow robe of.However, what followed would inevitably be more brutal bloody fights and more protracted sword fights.Maybe as long as he ascends the throne in the southeast, someone will immediately become king in the northwest and emperor in the Central Plains, and the whole land of China will never have a piece of peaceful land, and hundreds of millions of people will have no time to breathe.The first thing the people who survived the catastrophe need is peace.

In order to change the dynasty and push them into the chaos of war again, isn't it just committing a heinous crime against them?How will the annals of history evaluate this matter?Mr. Hiroshiki did not think of this.Of course there is the cowardice of fear of losing one's reputation if you fail, and the loyalty of not being able to betray the royal family is very strong, and it cannot be said that a Confucian and Mencius believer has no sense of responsibility for the common people in the world. As for the great cause of Zhongxing, he was indeed disappointed. It was impossible for him to be the Kui, Gao, and Zhou Dukes who shaped the world by himself, but he still had a glimmer of hope.

This hope is pinned on Yung Wing's young children going abroad.He believes that as long as there are a large number of talents who have mastered the advanced technology of Europe and the West, and build factories in China to manufacture ship guns and machines, the Qing Dynasty can still be strong in the future. After thinking about it like this, Zeng Guofan felt much calmer. What made him uncomfortable was that the image of the sixth younger brother often appeared in his mind these days, lingering and lingering.Especially in the middle of the night when Zhenqian brought Wen Fu out of the dilapidated kiln in front of him, when he looked at Wen Fu coldly and asked Wen Fu to go to Lushan Mountain to live in seclusion and never come out for the rest of his life, Wen Fu's terrified face, that The desperate gaze deeply and sharply pricked his heart and disturbed his sanity.

"I ruined him!" These days, Zeng Guofan has condemned and cursed himself in his heart more than once.He felt that after his death, he would have no face to see his parents, his uncle, let alone Wen Fu.Zeng Guofan wondered how he could be so cruel and ruthless thirteen years ago, and how he would value fame and career above everything else.In fact, all that is needed is a memorandum to report the fact that Wen Fu escaped by chance, so what's the point of taking down the plaque of "full family loyalty"?I didn't mean to deceive you either!Besides, if Wen Fu came back alive, wouldn't that be loyalty?At that time, if Wen Fu had been left behind at the risk of being reprimanded by the emperor, why would he have a family but could not return, a wife and children who could not be reunited, kept the ancient temples with green lanterns and yellow scrolls, died in a foreign land and became a wild ghost!Maybe he will also confer the title of marquis and uncle, arranging flowers and feathers, wearing a yellow mandarin jacket, with glory and glory.I can't be sorry to my brother anymore!He called the ninth younger brother to the side of the sickbed, and said sadly: "In a few days, you will go to Lushan Mountain, dig out Wen Fu's remains, cremate him in Huangyeguan, and put the ashes in a proper place. After I die, you will take Wen Fu's body away." His urn is placed next to my head, and I will be by his side forever."

Zeng Guoquan nodded with tears in his eyes. After two days, he felt better. He struggled to get out of bed and took a walk in the courtyard.He pretended to be nonchalant and told his wife that the cemetery had finally been settled in Pingtang, Shanhua.He also jokingly said that whoever goes first will be responsible for guarding the jewel, and don't let others snatch it. When the later ones arrive, they will close the tomb, and only a monument will be erected in front of it.He stroked his wife's hand for a long time, and promised to marry again in the next life.At that time, he must have stayed in the Imperial Academy obediently, staying with her every day, being a thrush Zhang Chang and Liang Hong who took the case.The lady smiled, her heart was sweet and bitter.

He remembered that Zuo Zongtang's entrustment had not yet been done.He is very grateful to Zuo Zongtang for his sincere trust and appropriate praise.Over the years, Zeng Guofan's ears have been tired of hearing the praises of his disciples, staff and subordinates.They compared him to Fang Shu, Zhao Shu, Zhuge Liang, Fang Xuanling, Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, Li Mi, Pei Du, Wang Yangming, Han Yu, Ouyang Xiu, Liu Zongyuan, and some even concentrated the strengths of the former sages on him. On one person, it is said that he is close to Confucius and Mencius, his writing is like Han Ou, his martial arts is better than Guo Li, and he is better than King Pei. He is a perfect man of his generation and a model for future generations. can be compared.He just listened to these praises and laughed at them.

He has self-knowledge, knowing that his virtues are not comparable to Confucius and Mencius, and his meritorious deeds are not comparable to that of King Pei. He is actually an amateur in fighting with soldiers, not only can not compare with Guo Li, but even Tarot Peng Yang.As for his most confident poems and essays, there are not many poems that can be handed down after a calm review.Later generations of literati will always remember Han Ou, but may not remember that there is another Zeng Guofan.He himself believes that in the past twenty years, he has been able to achieve a great career because of his loyalty to the emperor and the help of others.Without the assistance of many outstanding military talents, how could he be famous for his martial arts as a frail scholar?For the vast majority of those people, he either knows them from the wind and dust, or pulls them out of the trivial, or entrusts them with heavy responsibilities in an unconventional way, and uses them as they are, without suspicion, so that they can boldly and fully display their talents.He sometimes thought very proudly in private that there are countless talents in the world, big and small, and knowing and employing people is the greatest talent among all talents. It is true that he can clearly see this and use it freely. A blessing.

Now, Zuo Zongtang sent him a heartfelt letter from the distant Northwest battlefield with his great achievements, his position in Chonglong, his arrogant personality, and his special relationship of eight years of discord. Summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of my life with "loyalty to the country" and using "I am ashamed to be inferior" to line it up, it is indeed impartial, neither flattering nor flattering, just to the point, and penetrating three points.Can he not admire Zuo Zongtang?He thinks that these eight words can be accepted without shame, and they will definitely be recognized by the current world and valued by future generations.Don't say that Liu Songshan is the general he sent to the northwest to help the left, but with Zuo Zongtang's eight characters, he will live up to his old friend's entrustment and write a beautiful epitaph for Liu Songshan even though he is sick.

He recalled the scene when Liu Songshan came to Changsha from a young boy to join the regiment for training, recalled Liu Songshan's role as an important general in the later period after the abolition of Xiangyong, and imagined the tragic scene of the bold charge in the Battle of Jinjibao, and finally the horse leather shroud .For a moment, thinking of Liu Songshan and Peng Yuju, from Peng Yuju to Mandi Zhenqian, thinking of Luo Zenan, thinking of Jiang Zhongyuan, his heart was shaking and he couldn't help himself.The ink was ground and then dried, and after drying and grinding, it took a long time to write more than 300 characters.He simply stopped writing and waited for a few days to calm down before writing.After a short break, he took out the banner he had written a few days ago.

This is for Ji Ze and Ji Hong.Over the past few months, he has been thinking about leaving something permanent for his two sons.Usually parents leave gold and silver fields for their children, Zeng Guofan disagrees.He said to his disciples that worthy descendants can have food without the inheritance of their ancestors; if descendants are unworthy, no matter how much family business they have, they will lose, and too much money just encourages the habit of dandies.Some parents also leave a few treasures for their children, usually as a symbol of the Zanying clan, and can be sold for money in times of emergency.Zeng Guofan himself had never accumulated treasures. Except for the Jade Shouxing, several of his precious items were clothes and accessories bestowed by the emperors of the three dynasties, but he did not want to give them to Ji Ze and Ji Hong. It has been donated to the family temple and left to future generations as the common property of the five brothers.

Zeng Guofan believes that the real treasure is not a gift from the emperor, but to let future generations know which family teachings should be followed after thousands of years of tests; Enduring prosperity.He thought carefully for a long time, and finally summed up the thousands of words he wanted to say to his sons into four items, and wrote them down neatly. He asked his sons to hang them in the middle hall and read them aloud every day. It was not easy to obey. And passed on from generation to generation.Now, he read these four articles from beginning to end again, changed two words, and felt satisfied, so he solemnly rolled them up. On the fourth day of February, Zeng Guofan woke up early in the morning.It was one of the sad days of his life.Fifteen years ago, on the fourth day of February, his father passed away.Today, like this day every year, he got up early and wanted to kowtow three times in front of his father's tablet, but his sick body no longer allowed him to kneel, so he had to bow his head in silence.After standing for a while, he also felt that it was difficult to support, so he hurriedly ended the sacrifice ceremony, and asked someone to help him to the signing room.He first picked up the pen, wrote down yesterday's diary tremblingly, and then started to deal with official business. There is a large pile of official documents on the table, and in the middle are several famous assassins waiting to be interviewed. He took the famous thorns and looked at them one by one.Among these famous assassins were imperial envoys who passed by Jiangning, senior officials who were transferred from Liangjiang, lower-level bureaucrats who came to Jiangning to report official affairs, and old and new acquaintances who just came to meet and chat.Because of poor spirits, he declined all those purely official entertainments and purposeless chats, and had to postpone talking about serious business for a few days. After opening the official document and approving a few copies, he saw the report about the expansion of the iron factory from the Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, and he was very interested in it.After reading the whole article, he immediately approved four words: "I agree with the request." He thought, this is a big matter, and he should report it to the court, so he added a few more words: "Waiting for the empress dowager." , The emperor's decree." At this time, the patrol came in, holding a large stack of letters, and told Zeng Guofan who sent these letters and where they came from. "My lord, this letter is from Rong Wing from Xiangshan, Guangdong." "Open it quickly and read it to me." Upon hearing that it belonged to Yung Wing, Zeng Guofan suddenly regained his energy. As the patrolman was thinking, Zeng Guofan's smile gradually revealed.Yung Wing said in his letter that he had already searched for nearly a hundred fifteen or sixteen-year-old children, all of whom were talented, pure-hearted, and from innocent families. After passing the assessment, he planned to recruit forty of them as the first batch of senders; It has been agreed with American friends that all these young children will go to the United States. Most of them will study astronomy, arithmetic, and manufacturing skills, and a small number will specialize in European and American medicine and law.Rong Hong said with confidence that they would all become the pillars of the Qing Dynasty's ZTE.He also specifically mentioned a boy named Zhan Tianyou, and praised the boy as an extraordinary talent. Zeng Guofan was very satisfied with what Yung Wing had done.He closed his eyes slightly, thinking about it.There seemed to be a vast ocean in front of him. On a large ship, Rong Wing led forty innocent and lively children, standing on the deck, waving goodbye to him.The water waves swayed, and the ship sailed farther and farther.Another boat came from the horizon and gradually approached. Rong Hong came back, and forty children had grown up, wearing dazzling medals of various colors on their chests.Zeng Guofan's eyes and brows were filled with smiles. "Jia San, help me go to the West Garden to see the mottled bamboo." The mourning when he got up early to pay homage to his father has passed, and Xu Tu's dream of self-improvement brought him joy. When he saw Jize coming in, he realized that his thighs were a little swollen, and he thought of going outdoors. Go and move around. Dark clouds piled up in the sky, although it was afternoon, it was like dusk.In mid-spring in Jiangning, the climate is usually still cold, and today it seems a bit chilly. "Father, it's cold outside, let me help you walk around the flower hall!" Jize dissuaded. "I haven't been to the bamboo forest for several days. I want to see it. Give me a cloak!" Zeng Jize found an old cloak and put it on his father's shoulders, and helped him walk out of the signing room, and walked towards the West Garden.The cold wind was blowing on his face, Zeng Guofan didn't feel cold, but felt moist. "After all, it's the wind in spring, so it's different from winter." He thought to himself. "A third, next month you will go back to the household department to work as an errand." "Yes." The son agreed.The year before last, Zeng Jize took the exam with the qualification of Yinsheng, and was selected as the Shaanxi Division of the Ministry of Accounts, and soon he was promoted to Yuanwailang. Years ago, because his father's old illness worsened, he came to Jiangning from the capital for inspection. "The Beijing official is idle. If you don't think about making progress, you will be the easiest to mess up. Whether you are successful or not depends entirely on each person. Do you still study English?" "I insist on reading English books for an hour every day. I don't feel strenuous in reading newspapers anymore, but my speech is not very fluent." Brother Zeng Jize has been learning English with British teacher Yaertai for three or four years, and his progress is not slow. "A few years ago, Ke Yi liked to read military books. I told him that war is the most harmful thing, to commit crimes, and the descendants of my Zeng family will never send out soldiers to fight. Since then, he has not read military books. .Recently, I became obsessed with Zu Chongzhi's circular reckoning, which made me forget about eating and drinking. Academic mathematics is a good thing, and it is practical, but his physique is not good, so you have to persuade him not to work too hard." "He told me very proudly the day before yesterday that he had pushed it to 100 decimal places, greatly surpassing Zu Chongzhi." "Really?" Zeng Guofan laughed, "I'm afraid there was a mistake on the way, and the rest will be for nothing." "I laughed at him like that too. He said he was absolutely right, and boasted that he went ahead of foreigners." Zeng Guofan felt comforted.Although the two sons are not great talents in governing the country, they are still the sons of the Ke family.If you have a child like this, you should be content. "Yuan Qi is seven years old this year!" Yuan Qi is the nickname of Zeng Jihong's son Guangjun, and Zeng Guofan likes this eldest grandson the most. "This child is very smart, and he may be promising in the future. As an uncle, you need to give more guidance. Yuan Shi is also handsome, so stop crying now!" Yuan Shi is Guang Quan who was adopted by Ji Ze more than two months ago.When he just left his mother, he confessed his life to his aunt and cried all day long. "It's better now." Ji Ze replied. "We kissed slowly." Zeng Guofan said, "I think that child is a lucky sign, and he will bring a younger brother along in the future." For Zeng Jize, who is looking forward to his son becoming ill, this is an excellent word of comfort. The father and son talked about the daily life like this, and before they knew it, the bamboo forest was in front of them.Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and Zeng Guofan yelled, "The feet are numb", and he leaned over and fell on his son.Ji Ze hurriedly supported him, and when he looked at his father, he was stunned: he opened his mouth, his right hand was frozen in the air, and he could no longer speak.Zeng Jize shouted anxiously: "Someone is here!" The servant who was weeding in the bamboo grove came after hearing the news and hurriedly carried Zeng Guofan into the hall.Ji Ze told people to call for a doctor quickly, and at the same time ordered the mattress to be made.After a while, Zeng Guofan woke up and his lips were closed naturally, but he couldn't speak anymore.He shook his hand and pointed to the grand master's chair in the middle of the hall.Jize understood, and asked the servant to carry his father to the chair, and help him to sit slowly.At this time, Mrs. Ouyang, Zeng Guoquan and his son, Ji Hong and his wife, Ji Chen, Ji Chun, and Ji Fen sisters had all rushed over in a hurry, and the hall was full of people.After a while, Ouyang Zhaoxiong also entered the mansion, squatted beside Zeng Guofan, checked his pulse, and got a few more needles.Seeing that he was still unable to speak, Ouyang panicked, quickly called Zeng Guoquan aside, and said quietly: "Old Zhongtang is in critical condition, call all your grandchildren over." Knowing that something was wrong, Zeng Guoquan hurriedly asked his nephew and daughter-in-law to bring their sons up; he walked up to the elder brother himself and held his hands.That hand was icy cold. Soon, Mrs. Guo held Guangjun in one hand and Guang Rong in the other. The maid carried her daughter Guangshan, and Mrs. Liu came up with Guangquan in her arms. The whole family surrounded Zeng Guofan.Mrs. Ouyang and her three daughters were already sobbing.Zeng Guofan raised his head reluctantly, glanced at everyone, then lowered his head weakly.After a long time, he wrenched his right hand out of the ninth brother's hands and pointed to the signing room, but no one understood what he was pointing at.Ouyang Zhaoxiong said: "Old Zhongtang can't speak, and he's anxious, why don't we carry him to the signing room together with the chair." Mrs. Ouyang and Zeng Guoquan both thought this method was good, so they surrounded the Taishi chair and entered the signing room.After the chair was straightened, Zeng Guofan raised his hand again and pointed to the case table.Zeng Jihong immediately brought over the official documents on the desk, and Zeng Guofan shook his head.Seeing something wrong, he brought the stack of letters over again, and Zeng Guofan shook his head again.There was only a roll of paper left on the desk.Zeng Jize went over and brought the roll of paper in front of his father, Zeng Guofan nodded. Zeng Jize opened it, and a line of words suddenly appeared on the paper: Yu Jize, Ji Hong. He held it and didn't know what to do, and everyone watched helplessly.I saw Zeng Guofan raised his hand again with difficulty and pointed to his mouth.Zeng Jifen hurriedly said: "Brother, Dad told you to read!" It was already overcast and cloudy outside, the cold wind was howling, and it was only the beginning of the year, but it seemed to be midnight, and candles were lit in the signing room.Seeing that there was not enough light, Jing Qi hurriedly found the kerosene lamp and lit it, the room was much brighter.Zeng Jize unfolded the paper with both hands, and read in a trembling voice: Yu Tong has been in office for more than 30 years. He has been an official of the highest rank, but he has achieved nothing in his studies, and his virtues are not allowed.Today will be farewell forever, and I will set up four special rules to teach you brothers. One is to be cautious and alone, and you will feel at ease.The way of self-cultivation is nothing more difficult than cultivating the mind; the difficulty of cultivating the mind is to be cautious and independent.If you can be cautious and independent, you can introspect without guilt, and you can deal with the world, ghosts and gods.If a person has nothing to be ashamed of, then the Heavenly King will be at peace. This heart is always fast, full and peaceful. This is the first way of self-improvement in life, the first way of seeking pleasure, and the first priority of self-defense. The second is to respect the Lord and strengthen the body.The inside is quiet and pure, the outside is tidy and solemn, and it is the work of respect; when you go out, it is like seeing a distinguished guest, so that the people are like receiving a grand sacrifice, and the atmosphere of respect is also the atmosphere;Wisdom and wisdom come from this.Zhuang Jing is strong day by day, An Si is stealthy day by day.If there are no crowds, no matter how big or small, respect each one, and dare not be slow, then why doubt the health of the body? The third is to seek benevolence and make people happy.The life of mortals has the principle of heaven and earth to form nature, and the spirit of heaven and earth to form. The origin of me and the people are from the same source.If you only know your own selfishness but not benevolent people and love things, you have gone against and lost the way of the great foundation and one source.As for honoring officials and earning a lot of money, if you are high above the people, you have the responsibility to save the people from drowning and hunger.Reading to learn the ancients, knowing the righteousness roughly, that is to say, there is the responsibility of being aware of the past.Confucianism teaches people that nothing is more important than seeking benevolence, and the most pertinent thing is to want to establish people and to master people's words.People who make people up to others, are there people who are displeased and return? The fourth is to practice hard work and become a god.The clothes a person wears and the food he eats in a day is commensurate with the strength he uses in the things he does every day. Then others will criticize it, and ghosts and gods will allow it, thinking that he can support himself.If the peasants and weavers work hard all the year round, and make the cloth of several feet of millet, and the rich and noble family enjoy themselves all the year round, and do not have a single business, but the food must be precious, the clothes must be beautiful, and they will sleep soundly and sleep well. The most unfair thing in this world is forbidden by ghosts and gods, how long can it last?The ancient sages and sages always encouraged themselves with hard work.For a personal plan, you must practice skills, hone your muscles and bones, persevere in knowledge and practice, worry about dangers, and then you can increase your wisdom and talents.For the sake of the world, you will starve and drown yourself, and if you don't get anything, you will be cited as a victim.Both Dayu and Mozi were extremely frugal to serve themselves and diligent to save the people.Diligence will lead to longevity, leisure will lead to death, diligence will have talents and see use, leisure will give up without labor, diligence will benefit the people and the gods will admire them, leisure will not help people and gods and ghosts will not sympathize. These four items are the result of the remaining decades in the world. If you remember and practice them, and pass them on to your children and grandchildren, then Yu Zeng's family will continue to prosper and have talents from generation to generation. There was no sound in the signing room or even the entire Liangjiang Governor's Office, they were all quietly listening to Zeng Jize's crying recitation.These words flowed into everyone's hearts like a medicinal soup, spicy, bitter, sweet, everything.After his son finished reading, Zeng Guofan stretched out his hand again and pointed to his chest.Ji Ze and Ji Hong said together: "We must keep our father's teachings in our hearts!" There was a slight smile on Zeng Guofan's face, his head tilted, and he fell on the grand master's chair. When Ouyang Zhaoxiong went to help him up, his neck was already stiff! "Old Zhongtang!" Ouyang Zhaoxiong's cry made the faces of those who signed the mortgage turn pale with fright. Everyone seemed to be awakened and burst into tears. At this moment, there was a roar in the dark sky, and the first spring thunder in the eleventh year of Tongzhi exploded above Jiangning City, followed by a series of lightning and thunder.The wind was blowing harder and harder, and the cold wind was wrapped in a downpour of rain. The rain is so strange!It is hazy and black, like a vast black cloth, enveloping the world, making it difficult for people to distinguish north from south, east to west, and houses and streets. It is also like a strong wind blowing down the writing table of the Jade Emperor, and pouring an inkstone ink into the universe. It will stain the white and clean stone boats and the emperor's supervisory office, and pollute the majestic Zhongshan and the beautiful Qinhuai River. It smears the human world where thousands of living beings are active, into a dire and miserable state. This terrible black rain ruthlessly whipped the bamboo forest in the West Garden.Those rare people who came to Jiangning from Junshan after untold hardships encountered unexpected catastrophe.Its green leaves were knocked off, its slender slanted branches were twisted, and the main trunk covered with the emperor's tears was pulled out, and it lay on the ground moaning in disarray, which was horrible to look at.The infinite hopes placed by the owner on it all vanished in an instant!The four red palace lanterns hung at the gate of the Supervisory Office were swayed left and right by the strong wind. Even though they were covered by eaves, they still could not resist the invasion of the heavy rain, and the splashing raindrops soaked the silk silk drop by drop.First, the four characters "Congratulations to the New Year" pasted on the lantern fell down stroke by stroke, then the red silk and silk were peeled off piece by piece, and finally only a few skeletons remained, looking extremely thin and shabby in the wind and rain. The gorgeous vision was shattered, and the beautiful weather was destroyed. It seemed that the black rain was not reconciled, and it still didn't let go of its hatred. It rained more violently, with whirring sounds from time to time, and became extraordinarily ferocious and terrifying.It seems that it wants to destroy this recently restored yamen and shake this dying national line.Everything is wailing, people's hearts are trembling, heart-piercing cries, mournful sobs, combined with this rare black rain and thunder, so sad, so terrified, like the sky is about to burst, the earth is about to burst. It's about to collapse, like a mountain trembling and water weeping.It makes people suddenly have a premonition that the Qing Dynasty, which has been established for more than 200 years, will fall into the hell of hell that will never be restored together with the person in front of him who is determined to protect it! ("Black Rain" is finished at the end of the volume)