In order to hygienic, save labor and firewood, a craftsman named Huang Zhuangpeng asked people to put a large iron bucket that can store water and heat it next to the stove, and use the residual temperature of the stove to boil water and keep warm, so that even if you usually want to wash your hands and wash your face, there is hot water available at any time. When taking a bath, you can draw water from the iron bucket and pour it into the bathtub in the bathroom on the side, which is much more convenient than before, and there is a water hole under the bathtub, and a drainage ditch is dug in the kitchen, so that you can put the water after taking a bath, and you don't have to work others to pour the bath water.

Hajlan took a bath very comfortably, and returned to the main house with a smile and was ready to praise the Nine Elder Brothers' acquaintances and make good use of it, so quickly he made such a bathroom that was considered advanced in this era. She didn't expect that her hair was wet at this time, her face was red by the cold wind, and she smiled with a silly eldest sister, so that Brother Jiu, who was drinking tea and reading in the house, shook his head helplessly, and ordered to bring a dry towel, he got up and took the towel and walked to Hajilan's side, and gently wiped Hajilan's wet hair with a dry towel, Hajilan stuck out his tongue and smirked.

After putting the children to sleep, Hajlan asked her a curious question, how did Brother Jiu find this craftsman named Huang Zhuangpeng. Brother Jiu smiled and told him that Huang Zhuangpeng's hometown was in Yangzhou, a foreign treaty port, so he was able to easily see some scientific and technological books written by European missionaries, and learned a lot of knowledge in geometry, algebra, physics, machinery, etc., which laid a solid foundation for him to be good at inventing. Brother Nine accidentally heard about this person's talent, so he moved his mind, so he sent someone to invite him to the capital, and later Brother Nine bought the courtyard, so he let him learn there to refer to the design of water, and the design of this bathroom was tested by him in the early years, and it is estimated that he will be able to come up with a new finished product next year. Hajlan listened and looked forward to the appearance of the new finished product.

Speaking of Huang Zhuangpeng's ability to design such a bathhouse, which is related to some science and technology books written by European missionaries he reads, Brother Jiu told Hajlan about an incident that happened this year, in the language summarized by Brother Jiu: "The Pope of Rome sent an envoy named Doro, who was very rude, and wanted to forbid Chinese Christians to call God God and worship Confucian!" No one is allowed to worship their ancestors! Matteo Ricci's rules they don't want to follow, you say it's ridiculous? ”

Hajilan's deepest impression of the Qing Dynasty is that in addition to braids, opium, and seclusion, there are all kinds of unequal treaties, and the signing of unequal treaties can always see the shadow of religion in the causes, and the Ma Shenfu incident in the Second Opium War is a prominent example, at least as it is written in the history books.

This time the Holy See interfered in Chinese etiquette, this claw is too long, right?! For a long time in Europe, the clergy was above the secular royal power, and Hadjlan knew this, as if he remembered that there was a king who had forgotten his name, fought against the pope, and finally stood bareheaded and barefoot in the ice and snow for three days before he was forgiven by the pope.

Hajlan's mind instantly drew an equation: religion = aggression, dream your big dreams! "My subjects of the Great Qing Dynasty are not yet in charge of them! It's time to get them out! "What's the Pope going to do next? After controlling the cultists, they collect tithes, right?

Brother Jiu was completely out of the situation, and said, "Lan'er, what's wrong with you?" It's not a big deal! There is no need to be indignant because of this, Huang Ama is not intolerant. ”

Hajlan was stunned for a moment, and reacted that he was excited, Catholicism and the Qing Dynasty are really not a good association, especially under the stimulation of such a provocative move by the Pope, take a deep breath, it's bad, I was so excited just now, hehe!

Seeing that Hajlan had calmed down, Brother Jiu raised the corner of his lips, squinted his eyes to the globe in the children's toys, and said, "Many missionaries are still very sensible, they have been serving for many years, and they have also made some contributions. Although the emperor Ama was a little annoyed, he would not give up eating because of choking, what kind of pope in Rome, how could he not cure him? ”

"Huang Ama, he is really magnanimous." Hajran said.

"Yes, Emperor Ama Shengming," Brother Jiu praised Kangxi before he continued, "He said to Doro that the Chinese trip is to salute the cards, not to pray for blessings to the cards, but to pay respect." This is an important example of China, and it has a great deal to do. When naming each country, they all respect their own Chinese law, and because of the nouns, the great reason is different. The words of Catholics who revere God are different from those of China, but their meaning is the same."

Hajlan nodded again and again, and said, "That's it." ”

The ninth elder brother continued: "Emperor Ama wants to send an envoy to the Pope in Rome, and this Doro claims to be a minister sent by the Pope, and there is no Pope Statement. Either sent by the Pope, or impersonated, tens of thousands of miles apart, it is difficult to determine the truth and the false. Considering that he was getting in the way, he simply sent Bai Jin and Sha Guoan to Rome. ”

Ga? Kangxi still wants to send an envoy to Europe to communicate? Wife...... Too open-minded, right?

"As for the country, as long as the Westerners receive votes from the imperial court and declare that they are willing to abide by the rules of Matteo Ricci, they can also stay and serve. Huang Ama also sent a message to the governor of Guangdong, 'Seeing that there are new Westerners who have no knowledge and only preach, they should stay in Guangdong for the time being, and there is no need to go to other provinces.' When he was allowed to go, there was another purpose. If there are Westerners who are skilled or skilled in medicine and surgery, they will be sent by their families in a hurry. You see, I suffered from an ear disease, a high fever and a coma, and I was in danger for a time, and the imperial doctors were helpless, thanks to the Italian missionary Lou Yidao. They are very useful in medicine, law, and astronomy, so why delay us for the sake of these two clowns. ”

The two laughed again, Hajilan took the opportunity to ask a lot about the current Western affairs, in view of Hajilan's lack of some common sense, after the ninth elder brother popularized a bunch of common sense to him, the mood of being a teacher was greatly satisfied.

When Hajlan and the Ninth Elder Brother were talking about Western affairs, the miraculous Zhang Deming was quietly taken into the Eighth Elder Brother's Mansion in a small sedan chair in the dead of night.

"It's me who has a lot of things!" As soon as Zhang Deming walked into the hall, he was not humble, he sat down on a chair by the window, and sighed: "For no reason, I moved my mortal heart, and I went down to the martial arts to step into the red dust, causing so many magic obstacles." Ladies and gentlemen, please let me go! ”

Alinga got up and said, "Old Dao doesn't have to complain, the eighth master will come in a while." Several people in this room have been admiring the name for a long time, so why not sit down and push the poor for them! ”

Zhang Deming waved his fan leisurely, and said for a long time: "Okay, I'll do a word splitting game, who has something to say, please ask." ”

As he spoke, there was a murmur of footsteps outside the hall. Ah Ling smiled and said, "It must be the eighth master who is here!" ”

Everyone was about to get up to greet them, a group of domestic servants, dressed in a green coat and hat, the same cloth socks and shoes, all twenty-three or four years old, standing neatly under the front light of the big pit, the chief manager came in, bowed to Zhang Deming to the ground, and said coldly: "Immortal Chief, the eighth master is among these people, please come over and salute!" ”

In an instant, the silence fell, and the eyes of the people sitting widened, surprised, curious, nonchalant, waiting to see the joke, what kind of expressions did they have, waiting for this sanctimonious living immortal to recognize the eighth elder brother at once.

Zhang Deming first took a march, then sneered again, and said: "The eighth master originally had the meaning of a slow guest!" The poor road is a crane in the clouds, why ask for princes and nobles? Farewell! Then he got up and went.

Alinga took a step forward to stop and said, "The eighth master doesn't send off guests, how can you go?" Don't you hear that Houmen is as deep as the sea! Could it be that the immortal chief can't recognize the eighth master, and his heart is a little weak? ”

"Oh!" Zhang Deming laughed loudly and said, "The old Taoist and the young are young and old, abandon the family of daughters, cover the mountains of people, visit the master in Wudang, peep into the subtlety of the Tao, understand the principles of people and gods, what can the world deceive me?" There is a difference between the aura of nobles and mortals, don't say that they wear long clothes, but they change into bad clothes called Hanako, and they also have purple light and white gas to protect the roof! ”

After saying that, he took a few steps forward with the sleeves of his robe, pulled out the eighth elder brother who was ranked fourth from the bottom, and asked, "Is this the eighth master?" If you admit that you are wrong, please take away the old Taoist eyes from the eighth and fourteenth masters! After that, he let go of his hand and slammed it to the ground at the eighth elder brother: "Offended!" Please forgive the eighth master, the poor road has retired! ”

"Immortal Chief!" Eighth Elder Brother couldn't help but be shocked in his heart, and hurriedly changed his appearance and smiled, "Ye Menglang, I hereby confess, please stay for tea!" Pulled Zhang Deming to sit down, and said: "In the past, the eldest brother was a warlock in the rivers and lakes, and it was a last resort for me to make this decision. ”

Zhang Deming sighed and said, "From the Eighth Master Star Position, how dare I be angry with you?" I regret that I leaked the secret of heaven and violated the rules of heaven, I am afraid that one day I will not be able to escape the wrath of heaven! After that, he bowed his head.

Wang Hongxu was Hanlin in the end, and felt that Zhang Deming's shrewdness was beyond ordinary feelings, and smiled cautiously: "Confucius is a master of all ages, and a saint from heaven has educated the people. But the principle of heaven and man, the things of ghosts and gods have always been avoided and silent, and the son said, '** exists outside and doesn't care'! Dong Zhongshu tried to use personnel to push the sky, and almost caused a fatal disaster! It can be seen that life and death are rich and rich, and who knows the sages. My students follow Zhu Zi's teachings, read thousands of books, learn from things, and are also well-versed. I really can't think of it, how can the immortal chief be able to see the white light and purple qi in this hall? Who does the white light refer to, and where does the purple qi come from? ”

"The three religions are different, and what they see is naturally different." Zhang Deming's ancient well-like deep gaze stared at Wang Hongxu, "The old ape in the mountains cries, and it responds to every call; The mosquitoes and dragons in the river are angry, and the fish and turtles are panicked; Who can understand the words of mortal beings in the flesh? Shanren since the Yongle years by Zhang Sanfeng, in the dragon and tiger mouth to seize the pass of the essence of the mystery, refined into gas, gas into gods, gods into nothing. How do you know the samadhi of the rich and noble? The house slave in the Eighth Master's Mansion hovers in the black fog on the top; The fourteenth master is a noble night, and the purple air is shining; Only the eighth master and you have white gas in their lives! ”

Wang Hongxu was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "What! I'm actually the same as the eighth master? ”

"Far from it!" Zhang Deming glanced at the stunned crowd, and said, "You are just a star, you are too white." Only the eighth master's breath, flowing bright, lush and endless, is very different from the natural purple light brought by the fourteenth master from the emperor's wall, it is really strange! ”

The eighth elder brother waved his hand to rebuke the servant, pondered for a while, and said with a smile: "I would like to ask for advice, I and Lao Fourteen are both dragon species, why is there such a difference?" ”

"There are nine kinds of dragons, and there are all kinds of differences." Zhang Deming said coldly, "Since there is a difference, the fate is naturally different!" If you have a share of the king, I dare to assert that you are the breath of the Son of Heaven on top of you! ”

A cold wind hit in, everyone shivered, was silent for a long time, and said in a trembling voice: "Immortal Chief, how can this matter be said lightly? If you are not careful, the nine clans will suffer! You ......"

"There are no nine tribes in the poor road. Looking at the looks, all the people in this room are the eight masters' henchmen, so they are outspoken. Zhang Deming smiled.

Before he finished speaking, the eighth elder brother broke off and shouted: "Shut up!" I'm just sitting and talking, and you're going to talk so much, and you dare to talk so wildly! Now that the Holy Son of Heaven is on the throne, the crown prince assists the government and is virtuous and benevolent, and the world knows it. Hum! The three-foot dragon spring in my house can't cut off the head of your bull's nose? ”

Zhang Deming got up, his eyes were aggressive, and after a long time, he dimmed again, sat down dejectedly, and said with a wry smile: "I'm not an immortal, I'm just a qi alchemist, and my head can naturally be cut off." But since I have a fate with the eighth master, I can't help but get in the way. As he spoke, he handed one to Orodai, "You cut off the handle of this fan, and see what the result is?" ”

Oro Dai took the fan blankly, looked at everyone, drew his waist sword, and slashed it lightly, which had been broken into two, and there was nothing unusual. When everyone was puzzled, Zhang Deming smiled and said, "The eighth master's folding fan is in the sleeve, please take it out and check it." ”

The eighth elder brother hurriedly took out the folding fan from his sleeve, and was immediately shocked, the folding fan was actually broken in two! Everyone was so frightened by this hand that their faces were like ashes, and they looked at each other! Zhang Deming said arrogantly: "Eighth Master, it seems that I can't cut my head for a while!" ”

"I can't see your old way, your temper towards the master!" The fourteenth elder brother said with a smile, "The eighth master said that it was a game, where did he really use a knife to kill you?" Starling can be blessed to be the emperor, I am the happiest, isn't it a hundred times stronger than the prince who can't be torn apart? I didn't think I could hear this good news tonight, and my heart is beautiful! ”

The eighth elder brother said: "Fourteenth brother! Think carefully! One step down, hatred for eternity! ”

"Well said!" Zhang Deming smiled incomprehensibly and said, "'Jia' is an eight-stroke font, and one person holds the image of Gui; Eighth master, why should you be worried, Zhang Deming did not ask you to rebel and seize the palace, nor did he instigate you to seize the heir and stand on your own, but just told you to be at peace with the situation and abide by the mandate of heaven. It's a pity that you lack self-confidence, and if you test me with indecency, I'm afraid it will take another ordeal. He sighed.

The fourteenth elder brother was in high spirits, and said: "Good things are grinding, after all, success, it is really gratifying and happy!" (To be continued.) )