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Zuo Lanshan is not a Qing official, the Ministry of Industry he is in charge of is also an oil and water yamen, in recent years, after taking refuge in Zhao Junchen, he has increased a lot of income, if the family is among the best among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.

Therefore, Zuofu is also a luxurious and magnificent mansion, especially the back garden of Zuofu, which is a well-known scenic spot in the capital.

It covers an area of nearly 10 acres here, shaded by lush ancient trees, full of strange flowers and rare grasses, pavilions and water pavilions are dotted in between, rockeries and carved corridors are layered on top of each other, the structure is ingenious, and the red dots are cut green, which can be described as beautiful.

But it is such a beautiful scenery, and in the center is a huge and ugly iron cage, which suddenly destroys the overall beauty, and looks extremely abrupt and eye-catching.

The length, width and height of the iron cage are about three zhang each, welded by iron rod and iron mesh, there are also rockeries and trees inside, the inside of the iron cage is separated into two places by iron mesh, but there is a goshawk and a crested eagle respectively.

Zuo Lanshan's love of raising eagles is also a well-known thing, and his "boiling eagles" technique is not even inferior to that of Mongolian and Jurchen professional eagle breeders.

The so-called "boiling eagle" is a means of domesticating eagles, which is extremely cruel.

After the falconer catches the eagle, he will trap it in an iron cage and iron net, and tie it to the talons with iron chains and iron balls to prevent it from flying, while the falconer will stay not far away to eat and drink, constantly provoking the eagle's impatience.

During this period, the eagle keeper will also feed the eagle with meat, but the eagle is a kind of rebellious bird, it must be dismissive of the food that comes to it, but will attack the eagle keeper madly, but all in vain, its beak and claws are blocked by the iron net, and in the end it is only injured and bleeding.

After two or three days of confrontation, the eagle's will gradually wore out, and it gradually became unable to attack, and it only wanted to rest, but the falconer kept harassing it with sticks and stones, and did not give it any chance to rest.

In this way, the eagle gradually realized that it was no longer a predator but a prisoner, and by this time its beak and claws were covered with blood scabs, and its anger had dissipated, and its tired body could not drag the chains that bound it.

On the fourth day, the falconer will invite some fierce dogs to surround the eagle, and the fierce dogs will continue to roar and roar at the eagle, making the eagle feel lonely and helpless and trembling in fear, which also completely defeats the unruly nature of the eagle, and only collapse and begging are left in the eyes.

Eventually, the eagle keeper will lift the eagle out of the iron net, stroke its head, and soothe its emotions, and the eagle will no longer struggle, it will stretch its body and let the eagle keeper caress it, and its eyes reveal tenderness and obedience; Then the falconer will put the lamb in the palm of his hand, and the eagle will no longer resist eating it in one bite.

This marks that an eagle survived, but it also lost its freedom and became a pet completely.

*

In the evening of this day, Zuo Lanshan took Zuo Kuiwen to the outside of the eagle cage.

After seeing Zuolan Mountain, the goshawk and the crested eagle all spread their wings and chirped loudly, welcoming their owners.

Zuo Lanshan looked at the two eagles in the iron cage with admiring eyes, and then turned his head to a servant behind him who was in charge of serving the two eagles and asked, "Have these two eagles eaten today?" ”

The servant hurriedly replied, "If you go back to your lordship, these two eagles have not yet been fed, and they are waiting for you to do it yourself." ”

Zuo Lanshan nodded, and ordered: "Take two pieces of mutton, the weight should not exceed three taels, smear some olives and verbena on the mutton, feed them to the two eagles respectively, and after they eat the mutton, then take away the compartment iron net in the eagle cage, and then put in a piece of three catties of mutton." ”

Hearing Zuo Lanshan's order, the eagle-raising servants couldn't help but be shocked.

Goshawks and crested eagles are different species, temperament is not compatible, and they are all territorial eagles, in order to compete for favor on weekdays, they have always looked at each other unpleasantly, so Zuolan Mountain will order someone to use an iron net to separate the eagle cage into two parts, so the two eagles will fight constantly across the iron net on weekdays.

Now, the two eagles have been hungry for a whole day, three or two pieces of mutton will only make them feel further hungry, the olives and verbena smeared on the mutton will stimulate the ferocity of the animal, at this time once the eagle cage is taken away the compartment iron net, and is only a piece of three catties of mutton, the two eagles will definitely fall into an endless bloody fight in order to compete for mutton!

After being stunned for a moment, the eagle-raising servant felt a little unbearable, but after all, he didn't dare to disobey Zuo Lanshan's order, and hurriedly turned around to prepare.

On the other side, Zuo Kuiwen didn't know these knowledge of raising eagles, and after seeing Zuo Lanshan taking him to the back garden just to watch the eagles, he couldn't help but ask in confusion: "Father, what are you doing here?" Didn't you bring me here to make some sense? Why just let me watch the eagles? ”

Zuo Lanshan smiled: "Don't be impatient, you will understand if you look at it." ”

Soon, the eagle servant had prepared everything, and threw two pieces of lamb coated with olives and verbena into each end of the cage, and the crested eagle and the goshawk ate the lamb at once.

Perhaps it was the appetite stimulated, or perhaps the olives and verbena had played a role, and the two eagles in the cage soon became agitated, and both were ready to move, and they were no longer docile before.

Then, the iron mesh compartment in the middle of the eagle cage was removed, and then another piece of mutton weighing three catties was put into the cage.

When the goshawk and the crested eagle saw this piece of mutton, they spread their wings and rushed away, but in the end, it was the goshawk that was faster and took the first bite of the mutton, but before it could swallow the mutton into its belly, the crested eagle had already pounced on it.

In this way, the goshawk and the crested eagle began a fierce fight, which became more and more fierce and ferocious, and soon turned into an endless fight to the death.

For a while, the rapid sound of eagle chirping continued to sound, the broken eagle feathers fell everywhere, the eagle's blood splattered non-stop, and the injuries on the goshawk and crested eagle were also increasing.

Seeing such a cruel scene, Zuo Kuiwen was a little excited, but also a little unbearable, and even a little puzzled, not understanding why Zuo Lanshan usually pampered these two eagles, and now why he wants to promote their endless blood fight, he couldn't help but turn his head and ask: "Father, why are you ......?"

Zuo Lanshan quietly watched the bloody eagle fight in the eagle cage, but interrupted Zuo Kuiwen's inquiry with an expressionless face and said, "Look at it!" Read on! ”

Zuo Kuiwen knew that Zuo Lanshan's move must have a deep meaning, so he didn't ask any more, but continued to watch with a serious expression.

After about a stick of incense, the battle in the eagle cage was finally over.

The crested eagle was larger, stronger, and more ferocious, and won the final victory, but it was also scarred and nearly half of its feathers had fallen off, and it looked quite embarrassed; The other goshawk was faster, but it was trapped in the cage but could not show its skills, and was constantly pressed and beaten by the crested eagle, and at this time it was even more dying, and the neck was pecked by the crested eagle with a big hole, and it seemed that it could not survive.

Seeing the end of the battle between the two eagles, Zuo Lanshan sighed lightly with a little regret, and then turned to Zuo Kuiwen and asked: "This eagle fight is what you watched with your own eyes, and you came to tell your father, when these two eagles are fighting, where are they attacking each other?" Which parts of the body are the most injured and most severe? But which parts are the least injured? ”

Zuo Kuiwen thought for a moment and replied: "When the two eagles fight, they both focus on attacking each other's heads, but in the end, the body is the most injured and the most serious, and the injuries of the eagle's talon and eagle's beak are the least and lightest. ”

Zuo Lanshan asked again: "In your opinion, why do the two eagles focus on attacking each other's heads, but in the end, the body is the most injured and the most serious?" Why are the talons and beaks the least injured? ”

Zuo Kuiwen replied: "Because the two eagles are the most protective of their heads, so even if they are attacked by the key, they are still not injured much, but the target of the body is too large and not very flexible...... The talons and beaks are the main means of attack of the two eagles, not only the most flexible and sharp, but also allow the opponent to dodge as hard as possible, so they are the least injured and the lightest. ”

Zuo Lanshan nodded and said, "Actually, the partisan attack in the temple is the same as this eagle fight!" The eagle head is the leader of the factions in the court, that is, the powerful ministers in the temple, who will be attacked by the enemy faction, but will also be protected by their own forces...... The eagle is like the bottom member of the faction, and it is often the person who is most vulnerable when the party attacks it...... As for the eagle talon and eagle beak that are the least injured, they represent the core officials of each faction second only to the leader, just like my current position in the 'Zhao Party'! ”

Speaking of this, Zuo Lanshan smiled slightly, and added: "Of course, there is still some difference between the partisan attack and this eagle fight, the eagle only has a beak and only a pair of claws, but the major parties in the court hope that they have more beaks and more claws, if the enemy faction collapses and loses power, they will completely peck at the opponent's eagle head, and they will also devour all the opponent's body, but at the same time they want to take the opponent's claws and beaks for their own use!" ”

Hearing Zuo Lanshan's words, Zuo Kuiwen was thoughtful, and faintly felt that he had figured out something.

Zuo Lanshan continued: "It has been 28 years since my father entered the official career, and whether it is my colleagues in the temple or the folk scholars, they do not have a high evaluation of me, they think that my methods and vision are mediocre, and I am always willing to be a lackey...... Hey, this evaluation is not wrong, compared to Zhou Ge Lao's insight into the fire, taking advantage of the situation, or His Majesty's imperial mental skills, pros and cons actuarial calculations, or our Lord Zhao's keen vigilance and unique way, I am far inferior! And I've always been willing to live under people, and I've never been proud of being the first to be the best......"

Speaking of this, Zuo Lanshan's voice raised slightly, and he said, "But so what? I'm still on a smooth career and I've never fallen in the past 28 years! How many officials have more ability, ambition, and talent than me, but they all collapsed and lost power in the end, but I stepped step by step to the pinnacle of the people and the elders! Why is that? It's because I've never been a chicken head, and I've never been a phoenix tail, but I just call myself a claw beak and faithfully perform the duties of a claw beak! ”

After a pause, Zuo Lanshan's voice was a little more proud, and he continued: "It's because I'm willing to be the claw beak of the eagle, so no matter who I take refuge in over the years, I will be reused, and it is precisely because I faithfully perform the duty of the claw beak that they will also use me with confidence!" Hey, who wouldn't want a partisan like me?

…… At the beginning, I was only a Qipin Zhi County in Jiangxi, and I have always been loyal to the Shangfeng prefect, and even offended many colleagues for him, so he also focused on promoting me and protecting me, and after the prefect retired and died, my reputation for loyalty had spread to the ears of Guan Zhongyuan, the governor of Jiangxi at that time, and was soon accepted by Guan Zhongyuan as a confidant, but he was promoted to the prefect in two years......

…… When Guan Zhongyuan was transferred back to the capital to serve as the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, I was also transferred to the Ministry of Industry, I was still loyal to him, and charged for him when the party attacked, but unfortunately Guan Zhongyuan soon lost power, everyone thought that I must end badly this time, but I immediately took refuge in the former cabinet elder Wen Guanliang, at that time everyone knew that I was a loyal friend, and the leader of the party was the most obedient, so Wen Guanliang quickly accepted me as a doorman, and made me a secretary of the Ministry of Industry......

…… At this time last year, Wen Guanliang lost to Zhao Junchen in the party struggle, at that time, all the "Wen Party" officials were vying to betray and turn to others, only I was transferred to Zhao Junchen's door after the overall situation was decided, but because of this, Zhao Junchen trusted me the most, Zhan Shanchang, Tong Huan and others who took the lead in betraying Shen Changmao at that time were all in a bad career during this time, and Chen Dongxiang was also secretly beaten and used by Zhao Junchen many times before he was promoted to the secretary of the Ministry of Industry...... But I am the only one who is still stable and steady, rising step by step, and now I have become the respect of the elders! ”

After such a long speech, Zuo Lanshan finally restrained his emotions, turned his head to look at Zuo Kuiwen, and asked, "I said so much, do you understand the truth?" ”

Zuo Kuiwen pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "The child understands!" Some people in this world would rather be the head of the chicken than the tail of the phoenix, and some people would rather be the head of the phoenix than the head of the chicken, but father, you neither want to be the head of the chicken nor the tail of the phoenix, because the head of the chicken is the target of the public, and the tail of the phoenix is the most vulnerable to implication and is not safe, and only becoming a claw beak is the long-term way to settle down! As long as the claw beak can prove its loyalty and ability, the bird's head and body will be pecked and swallowed if it fails, but the claw beak is easy to be accepted by the new bird's head! ”

Zuo Lanshan stroked his palms and smiled: "The son can be taught, it is exactly such a truth!" In the 28 years since I have been an official as a father, the reason why I have not been able to stand tall and rise step by step is precisely because I have figured out this truth! ”

After a pause, Zuo Lanshan continued: "Speaking of which, since I joined the cabinet and auxiliary government, the 'Zhao Party' is still headed by Zhao Junchen and Lord Zhao, but on the surface, it is the most noble in my identity, and the 'Zhao Party' has become a two-headed monster bird, and Your Majesty and Shen Shoufu are even bent on using me to split the 'Zhao Party'!" Hehe, they think things too simply, Zhao Junchen's control over the 'Zhao Party' is far beyond the imagination of outsiders, and all the 'Zhao Party' officials only recognize Zhao Junchen in their eyes, and I have no ability to fight against the court......

Taking 10,000 steps back, even if I really split the 'Zhao Party' and became a faction of the 'Left Party', and now I swear to support my Majesty and Shen Shoufu, I am afraid that they will soon turn their faces and be ruthless, so I have always ignored their instigation, but I don't understand their hints......

But His Majesty and Shen Shoufu's repeated secret agitation also reminded me that I have now nominally become one of the two bird heads of the 'Zhao Party', and I will inevitably be attacked by the hostile faction in the future, but the bird body of the 'Zhao Party' is not under my control, once the two bird heads are attacked at the same time, everyone will give priority to protecting Zhao Junchen, but I am defenseless, so my current position is not only a little embarrassing, but also extremely dangerous! If virtue is not worthy, you will suffer from it......

It is precisely because of this reason that I strongly recommend Lord Zhao to join the cabinet and assist the government this time, even if I leave the cabinet for such reasons! Only in this way can I continue to be a claw-beak, instead of being a bird's head that is attacked by rival factions, and I can stand on my feet for a long time! ”

Zuo Kuiwen naturally understood what Zuo Lanshan said, but he was still a little reluctant, frowned and said: "Father, what you said is certainly somewhat reasonable, but just giving up the position of the elder of the pavilion makes the child really a little unwilling!" ”

Zuo Lanshan smiled: "You, you still can't see it!" This time I will leave the cabinet, but it also makes Zhao Junchen owe me a great favor, so even if I lose the position of the cabinet, Zhao Junchen will definitely do his best to protect me, with Zhao Junchen's preservation and recommendation, it is not difficult for me to become a feudal official! When the time comes, it will be up to me to say nothing in a province, but it will be much stronger than sitting in the cabinet and being a puppet elder! ”

Speaking of this, Zuo Lanshan's expression was a little more serious, and he continued: "Actually, I have a deeper consideration for this matter, now Zhao Junchen seems to be in the limelight, but it is obviously also feared by His Majesty and various factions, if others are in such a position, they will inevitably be dead, but Zhao Junchen is the best at turning danger into safety and bringing the dead back to life, so I can't guess what his final outcome will be, but I vaguely feel that Zhao Junchen's life and death success or failure is only afraid that in the next three or five years, Once he bears the next three or five years, he will definitely be able to tilt the power of the government and the opposition with his scheming methods, but if he can't resist it, he will inevitably die without a place to be buried!

But in any case, the center of the temple in the next few years will inevitably be changing and full of crises, I took this opportunity to leave the center of the temple, but also took the opportunity to leave the troubled waters of the capital, so as not to be implicated during this period, and at the same time to create a situation for myself to advance and retreat freely, and so on after I have served as a feudal official, the situation in the capital should have been roughly determined, if Zhao Junchen wins, I will naturally be able to return to the cabinet to re-serve as the elder of the cabinet, but if Zhao Junchen finally loses, Our Zuo family will not be more implicated, thinking that the reputation of the father's claw beak is not difficult to find a powerful minister to take refuge in! But no matter what, my Zuolan Mountain will still stand tall in the temple at that time! ”

After hearing Zuo Lanshan's further explanation, Zuo Kuiwen was finally convinced and praised Gao Ming again and again.

But soon, Zuo Kuiwen felt that something was wrong, and asked: "Father, you can just explain these truths to me directly, why kill the two eagles that you raised with your own hands, these two eagles have always been the meat of your heart!" ”

Zuo Lanshan's face was full of kindness and smile, and he said: "If it weren't for this approach, how could these teachings of being a father impress you and remember the bottom of your heart?" If you can understand these truths thoroughly, what is the point of killing two eagles! ”

Zuo Kuiwen was moved in his heart, and only felt that Zuo Lanshan was really well-intentioned for himself, and suddenly said excitedly: "Father, rest assured, my son has fully understood these truths!" It's just a pity that father, the two eagles you have worked so hard to raise! I'll find someone tomorrow to find two more eagles for my father!" ”

Hearing Zuo Kuiwen's words, Zuo Lanshan's brows jumped slightly, but he shook his head and said: "No need, my father is getting older, and I don't plan to continue raising eagles in the future." ”

In fact, since Zuo Lanshan took refuge in Zhao Junchen, he felt more and more awkward when he raised eagles.

Because Zuo Lanshan discovered that Zhao Junchen's various methods of controlling the "Zhao Party" officials were very similar to his "boiling eagle" methods, all of them were mutton in one hand and a stick in the other, all of them skillfully used external threats, and they all gradually consumed all the dissenting intentions of the "Zhao Party" officials, so that all the "Zhao Party" officials could only be firmly tied to his boat.

After discovering these circumstances, Zuo Lanshan went to look at the two eagles he raised, as if he saw himself who was becoming more and more tame to Zhao Junchen.

In this way, Zuolan Mountain can no longer find the joy of raising eagles.

Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity, Zuo Lanshan no longer plans to continue raising eagles.

This discovery is also one of the reasons why Zuo Lanshan wants to take advantage of this opportunity to leave the capital, he is afraid that if he continues to stay in the capital, he will eventually lose his self-judgment completely, and can only follow Zhao Junchen to the dark.

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PS: Well, today's first update, there is still a chapter before the early morning!

By the way, Zuo Lanshan's prototype is a certain official that the worm knows in reality, this person is nicknamed a "mad dog" by the low-level civil servants, and he will bite whoever the boss asks him to bite, he doesn't care who the boss is, and he doesn't care whether the boss's orders are right or wrong, but he is loyal to the boss, so every boss is willing to reuse him, and now he is a county cadre.

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