In the past two years, "Houyitang" has translated a large number of Xiyi books, collected several large boxes of charts and maps, collected and translated more newspapers from the four countries of English, French, American, and Portuguese.

Ji Lu is responsible for registering, organizing, and archiving, and has changed from the previous helper to the Arsenal Department of the Internal Affairs Department, but like Wang Naizeng, there is no need to go to the Internal Affairs Office to order.

He put down a stack of copies of the excerpts of the "Houyi Hall" that had been reported to the emperor in the past two years, and reminded with a smile: "Young Master Zhang, you have been watching here for six days!" You can't just be in the house all the time, go out and walk around, go out to breathe, and come back to see. ”

"I've been here for six days?" Zhang Zhidong asked subconsciously.

"It's been six days," Ji Lu helped make a cup of tea, and said with emotion: "The first time I came to our 'Houyi Hall', it seems that everyone is like this, Lord Wen broke in by mistake, and as soon as he came in, he was tied up, and according to the rules, he will be punished." Lord Kewen didn't care if he would be investigated, he was fascinated by it just like you, he watched it for a whole day and a night, and he couldn't even take care of eating, and Master Han asked him to go, but he didn't leave, saying that if he left, he wouldn't have a chance to come in again. ”

"Really?"

"What are you lying about, it's just that it just opened at that time, and there weren't so many official documents and newspapers, and then he couldn't read it if he wanted to." Ji Lu smiled and said: "When Master Chongshi and Master Chonghou came, they also sat here like you for two or three days, if it wasn't for Mr. Wang sending someone to carry a letter at home, their family would really think that something had happened to them, and they might really go to the Bujun Yamen and Shuntianfu to report to the officials." ”

Hearing what Ji Lu said, Zhang Zhidong stood up suddenly: "It's bad, I forgot to explain to Zhang Xi!" ”

"Young Master Zhang, don't worry, Lao Yu and Xiao Shandong helped you explain to Zhang Xi, saying that you are running an errand and will have to go back in a few days." Ji Lu turned around and glanced at the change of clothes on the kang, and then said: "These clothes were let by Xiao Shandong to help you clean up, and the one he changed the day before yesterday was also taken to him to help you wash." ”

"Look at my head and head spinning, I didn't think of this."

"It's okay, I'm used to it." Ji Lu walked over and pushed open the window, and then turned back and said, "Young Master Zhang, Master Wen has been here in the morning, let me tell you to go to the Ministry of Officials with your resume early the day after tomorrow, and Feng Xiaowhip will accompany you when the time comes." ”

"What are you going to do in the ministry?" Zhang Zhidong asked puzzled.

"Kaojue Luo Guanxue teaches and learns, although our 'Houyi Hall' is not comparable to the big yamen of the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Households, but it is also for the emperor to do errands, and it is the most important errand! It's not a boast, our holy family is long, as long as the official who is on duty in the church. This time it is said that you will be asked to take the test, but in fact, it is just a formality, no matter how well you do in the test, you will come back and be the eighth product! ”

"It's so easy to get an official?" Zhang Zhidong will be skeptical.

"It's naturally not so easy for others to become officials, but we are not ordinary people, we are 'Houyitang' here. You may not believe it, but on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, even Wen Zhongtang personally brought wine and food to reward! ”

Ji Lu thought for a while and said proudly: "Master Han once joked with Lord Cao when he was here, ridiculing Lord Cao for being a hypocrite, and Lord Cao said that we are neither true gentlemen nor hypocrites, but Mr. Guigu who endures humiliation and silently serves the imperial court." Later, I heard that Lord Wen said that this matter actually reached the ears of the emperor, and as long as the emperor mentioned us to Prince Zheng, Prince Yi, Wen Zhongtang, Master Peng, and other princes and ministers who knew the inside story, he would say what Mr. Guigu of mine was busy with. ”

"Really?"

"This can still be fake, if Master Han doesn't return to his hometown, the emperor will pay more attention to us."

"Master Han's holy family is more enlong than Lord Wen?" Zhang Zhidong asked curiously.

"This is natural, if it weren't for Master Han, how would there be today's 'Houyi Hall'. Without the support of Master Han, without my Ama and my Jilu today, I am afraid that even Lord Wen is still working as a foreigner in the Ministry of Works! ”

Zhang Zhidong just asked casually, in fact, in the past few days, he has found that this yamen that is not in the economic system has the imprint left by Han Xiufeng everywhere. And in my heart, I feel that I haven't come in vain, I feel that the past few days have really opened my eyes, and I feel that I really looked like a frog at the bottom of a well before I came here.

At the same time, the more I know, the more solemn my mood becomes.

Thinking that the English would really go to war with China, Zhang Zhidong asked eagerly: "Ji Lu, didn't Lord Wen hand over a sign to ask to see it a few days ago, do you know what the emperor said?" ”

"Young Master Zhang, I am the first treasurer, how can I know about these major military aircraft events, but Master Qingxian must know, or you should ask him."

"Is it appropriate for me to ask?"

"Since Master Wen and Mr. Wang are invited, then you are your own person, what can't you ask." Ji Lu paused, and said: "By the way, Master Enjun has gone to the Internal Affairs Office to help you carve the waist card, he didn't come today, the waist card seems to be placed in the big head, or I will accompany you to get the waist card first." ”

"Okay, I'm tired."

……

Find the big boss to lead the waist card, and follow Ji Lu to Qingxian's public house.

If it weren't for Ji Lu's reminder just now, Zhang Zhidong really couldn't believe that Qingxian, who looked at the aging Longzhong, was only in his forties, and he couldn't believe that Qingxian was actually the son of Qiying, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion University.

In terms of origin, people are clans.

When it comes to family background, I don't know how prominent people's family background is.

Zhang Zhidong didn't dare to reveal even a trace of youthful madness, and respectfully held the salute of the juniors.

Qingxian bowed back, beckoned him to sit, and said with a smile: "Xiaoda, although you have just arrived, I have heard of you a long time ago, and I already knew that you were a talent recommended by Master Han. This time I didn't have a Chinese style, and there will be a next time, you are so young and full of economy, you will be able to win the title of the gold list sooner or later. ”

"Master Xie Qing's auspicious words, I am ashamed of my late life."

"I heard that you spent more than a month in the Sheephorn camp before entering Beijing, Master Han is okay."

"Master Yuqing, Master Han is all right."

"He is open-minded and righteous, no matter where he lives, he will not be bad," Qingxian nodded slightly, thought about it and muttered: "The emperor ordered him to move his filial piety and loyalty, return to Beijing to receive the certificate, and go to Tianjin Acting Director Lu Yuntong. Counting the days, he has already received the official document from the Military Aircraft Department, but it is really uncertain whether he is willing to return to Beijing at this juncture. ”

"Loved?"

"You don't know?"

"I really don't know."

Qingxian sighed lightly: "It's love, but I estimate that he won't return to Beijing." ”

Zhang Zhidong asked puzzledly: "Why is Master Han unwilling to return to Beijing?" ”

Thinking that since the young talent in front of him came to work here, there were some things he couldn't ignore, Qingxian said bluntly: "Master Han is friends with Lord Wen, and when he returned to his hometown when he was out of vacancy, he even asked the emperor to be the chief treasurer of Lord Wen, and Lord Wen was in charge of the 'Houyi Hall'. But in terms of qualifications, Lord Cao is more suitable, but because of Master Han's protection, Lord Cao only became the current indecent shopkeeper of Han University.

Because of this, Lord Cao has some ideas, and he plays right and wrong in front of Lord Sushun. And Lord Su Shun not only has a good personal relationship with Master Han, but even has the grace of supporting Master Han. If he is ordered to return to Beijing, he will definitely be caught between Lord Sushun and Lord Wen at that time. ”

Zhang Zhidong was taken aback, and after a long pause, he asked in a low voice: "Are you saying that Master Han would rather not have a future than do something sorry for his friends?" ”

Qingxian smiled bitterly: "That's why he is righteous." ”

Thinking that Su Shun's official reputation is good, if it weren't for Su Shun's repeated remarks, not to mention that Hu Linyi might not be able to be the governor of Hubei, I'm afraid that even Lord Zeng Guofan might not be able to lead the troops like now, Zhang Zhidong asked with a bitter face: "Master Qing, Lord Su Shun has an opinion on Houyitang?" ”

"Lord Su Shun doesn't have any opinion on Houyi Hall, in fact, if it wasn't for Lord Su Shun to help him run back then, Master Han alone would not have the current Houyi Hall. Instead, he has a prejudice against Manchurians like Moon-sama, Eun-jun, Chong-sil, Chong-eun and me, and in his opinion, as long as he is a Manchurian, he is a bastard, even though he is a Manchurian himself. ”

"Lord Sushun is too extreme." Only then did Zhang Zhidong realize that there were more Manchus than Han people in "Houyitang".

"Although he beat all the people to death with a stick, but there is some truth in his words, you just know these things, and they have nothing to do with you. Not to mention that you may not be able to meet it, even if you meet it in the future, he will not embarrass you. ”

"Master Xie Qing mentioned."

"You are the person recommended by Master Han, you are yourself, you don't need to be polite."

Despite what Qingxian said, Zhang Zhidong still got up and bowed, and then asked about church affairs and even government affairs.

Referring to how the imperial court planned to deal with Yingyi's provocation, Qingxian said helplessly: "As far as I know, you studied hard behind closed doors for six days, and Prince Zheng, Prince Yi, Wen Zhongtang, Su Shun, Mu Yin, Du Han and other princes and ministers also quarreled for six days. ”

Looking at Zhang Zhidong's thoughtful appearance, Qingxian continued: "Not only is England gearing up, but they want to start a war with me. The Shanghai branch urgently reported to the American minister that Bo Jia had also sent a note to the British and French ministers, proposing to act in concert and ask the imperial court to revise the treaty. He even planned to lead a military ship to Naoli like the autumn of the previous year.

Seeing that the princes and ministers who knew the inside story had quarreled for six days and did not come up with a reason, the emperor saw that Concubine Yi had given birth to a prince, and did not want to hear them quarrel again, so he simply asked the Military Aircraft Department to order Ye Mingchen, the Minister of Commerce and Commerce of Wukou and the Governor of Liangguang, to 'properly control it and never think of sailing north, but not to refuse to see it'. ”

"How can Lord Ye control this kind of thing?"

"That's Lord Ye's business, but it's not easy to order Lord Ye to 'don't refuse to see', you have read so many excerpts and official documents in the past few days, you should know that the emperor did not allow Xinjiang officials to meet with foreigners easily before this."

"You're right, it's better to see than not to see."

Qingxian nodded slightly, then took out a letter from the drawer, stared at Zhang Zhidong and said solemnly: "Xiaoda, there is something that Yunqing and I feel that we can't hide from you. ”

"What's the matter?"

"Among the civil and military officials who returned to their hometowns with Master Han to help with the regimental training, there was a Zhili alternate Tongzhi surnamed Gao and Yunfeng, I don't know if you recognize it or not. He came back to Ba County from Guizhou last month to find Master Han, and he passed by Xingyi Mansion, and he was going to visit your father, but he found out that your father was sick. ”

"My dad is sick, what is it, is it seriously ill?" Zhang Zhidong chuckled in his heart, and suddenly got up and asked.

"I don't know what kind of illness I have, I just know that your father was sick a year ago, and the governor of Guizhou, Jiang Fei, ordered your father to lead troops to Zhenyuan and Tongren to quell the chaos a long time ago, but your father didn't go because of his illness. Then there is that Duyun is dead in battle, your sister's male Lu Pizong was fired for failing to suppress thieves, and Lord Jiang ordered your wife and brother Shi Jun to take care of Duyun Governor's Mansion, Duyun Mansion City is in danger, whether you can keep Master Han's heart is bottomless, and far water can't quench your thirst, even if you send troops to save it, it's too late. ”

……

At the same time, Wenxiang, who was about to return to the inner city after discussing business with Wang Naizeng, ushered in two uninvited guests, so he could only accompany the two guests to talk with Wang Naizeng.

Rong Lu looked back at Yongxiang, who was extremely downcast, put down the teacup and said with a smile: "Brother Bochuan, I knew that you must be here with Mr. Wang." Thinking that Mr. Wang is not an outsider, he can only take Yongxiang here. ”

Thinking that Wen Xiang, Rong Lu and Master Han had reminded them back then, but the official fan couldn't hold back, so he became Lianshun's "fellow party" in such a daze, he was dismissed and arrested a year ago, and Yongxiang, who had just come out of the prison of the Criminal Department yesterday, really regretted it, and fell to his knees with a puff, and said with tears and snot: "Lord Wen, Mr. Wang, I was wronged, I was implicated......

Wen Xiang hated iron and said: "Isn't this coming out, isn't it okay, why are you still crying?" Hurry up and get up, a big man is not afraid of being laughed at when he cries! ”

Seeing that Yongxiang wanted to speak and stopped, Rong Lu said bluntly: "Brother Bochuan, Mr. Wang, Su Shun released him, but the errand was gone, and even his home was raided." If he doesn't have an errand, how can he support his family, is it true that his wife and children will eat the northwest wind? ”

"If you knew today, why bother in the first place!"

"The adults scolded me, I was confused, I was confused, I ......"

"Brother Bochuan, speaking of which, Yongxiang is really not an outsider, if Zhixing doesn't return to his hometown to worry about it, he will definitely not sit idly by."

Wen Xiang thought to himself, of course, he was not an outsider, after all, they were all Gua Erjia's family. Thinking that he had worked with Han Xiufeng, Wen Xiang stared at him and asked, "What errand do you want to get?" ”

Yongxiang had just come out of the prison of the Criminal Department, and he had already mixed up with this, how dare he be picky, and hurriedly said: "Any errand is fine, I just ask the adults to enjoy food." ”

Wang Naizeng, like Rong Lu, felt that he should help, and said in a low voice: "Lord Wen, the emperor took Changlu Yan Zheng Wenqian as the political envoy of Guizhou, and Changlu Yan made Haiying the envoy of Yunnan, and ordered Chonghou to go to Tianjin to act as the Changlu Yan envoy and the prime minister of coastal defense. Do you want to ask for Chonghou and let Yongxiang and Chonghou go to Tianjin to work? ”

In the past six days, several princes and ministers have not quarreled in vain, and at least they all believe that they should quickly dispatch the Eight Banners Green Battalion soldiers from all over the Guanwai and Zhili to gallop to Tianjin and Shanhaiguan to strengthen coastal defense. After all, compared with Guangdong, Zhili is more important, and no one wants to see foreigners coming to the city.

On the question of who to send to the prime minister for coastal defense, several princes and ministers also believed that they should send people who knew the foreigners best, in other words, they should choose people from the "Houyi Hall"!

Of course, the best candidate is Han Xiufeng, the former counselor of the General Political Department, and even ordered Han Xiufeng to "transfer loyalty and filial piety" to return to Beijing immediately to receive Lu Yuntong, the acting director of Tianjin, but far from quenching his thirst, and no one knew that Han Xiufeng would not be edicted, the emperor and Wen Qing and others thought about it, and finally decided to order the noble and generous who was strong, young and strong, and brave to do things, and directly acted as the acting director Lu Yanyun instead of the acting director Lu Yuntong.

Thinking that there was only one Han Chen in Tianjin, and after Chonghou arrived, there were few of his subordinates who could train and fight, Wen Xiang got up and said: "It's okay to go to Tianjin to serve, Yongxiang, and now I can only help you find an errand outside Beijing." But you have to do a solid errand and serve the court in a down-to-earth manner! ”

"Thank you, don't worry, I will ......"

"Listen to me," Wen Xiang thought for a while, and then said: "It's not difficult to find an errand, as for what I can help you find a shortage, I don't dare to guarantee the ticket." Then you can't just go, I'll help you go to the Dutong Yamen to ask for a share of the official document to go to Gu'an to run an errand, and then go to Gu'an. ”

"What are you going to do in Gu'an?" Yongxiang couldn't help but ask.

"Go and meet Wang Qianli, the Tongzhi on the north bank, and by the way, go to see your old subordinates in the river camp, and ask them if they would like to go to Tianjin with you to serve."

Yongxiang was confused, and said with a sad face: "Master Wen, not to mention that my guerrilla has been dismissed, even if I have not been dismissed, even if those brothers in Heying are willing to go to Tianjin with me to serve, this soldier is not something that I Yongxiang can transfer if he wants to!" ”

"There's no need to worry about this, as long as they are willing to go, I will help the military department find a way." Thinking of raising soldiers for a thousand days and using them for a while, Wen Xiang turned around and said, "Brother Yunqing, you help write a letter to Wang Qianli, and let Yongxiang take it after it is written." ”