Chonghou was silent for a long time, and nodded slowly: "I see, this is for a reason, and there are extenuating circumstances, these words, after I return to Beijing, I will naturally tell the truth." After that, he raised his hand: "Guan Fantai, please get up." ”

That's it? Xue Huan and Xu Changshan looked at each other, knowing that they had offended Guan Zhuofan this time, if they couldn't do it, what if they were attacked by him on another day? I had to bite the bullet and say, "Lord Chongda......"

Chonghou did not speak as sharply as Fang Cai, but said with a slight apology: "What I asked was only the charge of 'conniving at foreigners to set up telegrams privately', and now since there is no connivance plot, other things are not within the brother's duty." If you two have something to say, you might as well write it as a post, or write it as an excerpt, and I can bring it to the capital together. ”

Come like thunder to restrain anger, and let it be like the river and sea condensing the light. Xue Xu and the others thought that Chonghou was coming to redo Guan Zhuofan, where did they expect his face to change so quickly. That being the case, what else is there to say?

"Dishan, since your business has been done, we should wash the dust for you—and Yixuan will do the friendship of the host." Obviously, the reasonable and well-founded thing was done like this, Xue Huan's heart was like eating a fly, and his nest was full, so he had to say with a forced smile, "Yixuan and I have nothing to worry about, we are both for state affairs, and we won't worry about Yixuan if we want to." ”

"Futai is right, it always relied on such an opportunity to clear up my grievances for me, and Yixuan didn't dare to have a little resentment." Guan Zhuofan's attitude is still respectful, and his words are extremely sincere.

When he said this, Xue Huan and Xu Changshan could only listen to it. Even with sublime in it. Several people have their own ghosts. It's all about the belly. At noon, the banquet was set up in the old banquet spring restaurant, which was regarded as a reception for Chonghou, and after a few glasses of wine, everyone talked and laughed, and gradually diluted the embarrassing atmosphere. It wasn't until they were full of wine and food that everyone dispersed. They each went back to rest, and prepared to send Qin Cha on the ship back to Tianjin early tomorrow morning.

The new feudal division yamen has been chosen, but it is still being slightly repaired, so Guan Zhuofan still returned to the county office. The telegraph office has been unsealed, Bian Ning and a few telegraph operators are okay - the scene in the Zhengyang Inn in the morning, the news has already come back, since Guan Zhuofan is fine, of course the telegraph office is safe. Guan Zhuofan gave a little encouragement and entered the signing room. After Zhang Shun made new tea for him and withdrew, he held a cup of tea. Thinking blankly about what was on his mind.

sat like this for a while, suddenly shook his head, and laughed - Xue Huan and Xu Changshan, the two bastards, wanted to put themselves to death for no reason, and they dared to say that they "don't worry"!

Not only these two, but also one Wu Xu, if it were not for him, they would never have been able to inquire so clearly about the telegram. This time, if it weren't for the fact that Chonghou, a traitor, had enough friendship and was willing to support him, I was afraid that there would be big trouble - although he had made a new great contribution, he would never be convicted for it, but a severe punishment was indispensable. It is a big loss of face and prestige, and secondly, the new telegram will definitely be stillborn.

Okay, let's see.

However, these two people, weishenme can't get along with themselves? I don't know for sure, but I can guess a few points. He Guiqing's matter is considered a layer, and the last military meeting cut off their face, which is considered a layer, and maybe there is ...... Hu Qingqing?

Thinking of Hu Qingqing, my heart moved, I saw that the sky outside the window was about to get dark, opened the small safe next to the table, took out three thousand taels of silver tickets, thought about it, added another two thousand taels, took a seal and wrapped it, and put it in my arms, then shouted: "Come on", and saw Zhang Shun running in when he heard the sound.

"Go and tell Miss Hu that she organized Wall's wedding banquet and worked very hard," Guan Zhuofan said with a raised face, "Just say what I said, she is not allowed to cook for the past three days, take a good rest, and I won't have dinner in the backyard today." ”

"Huh." Zhang Shun agreed, and asked again: "But you want to go out?" So I commanded them to prepare a sedan chair. ”

"You don't need an official sedan chair, ask them to make a small sedan chair carried by two people, let Thurin change into civilian clothes, and follow me alone."

A small sedan chair for two people was quickly prepared, Guan Zhuofan was dressed in a green coat and a small hat, got on the sedan chair, stretched out his head again, and whispered to Tulin who was following the sedan chair: "Go to Zhengyang Inn."

*

*

This time, it was really very different from yesterday's situation, and when I went to the outside of the inn to report in, I was invited to come in immediately, and Chonghou stood inside the hall door and greeted him in person: "Yixuan, I've been waiting for you for a long time." ”

"Respect justice and righteousness, how can it be repaid?"

Guan Zhuofan was about to salute as he spoke, but he was hugged by Chonghou and said with a smile: "Let's not make trouble with these false texts, come and sit in the house." ”

The one in which Chonghou lives is the largest apartment in the east. When he entered the door, Chonghou first asked him to "ascend to the kang" - took off his shoes, sat on both sides of a small kang table on the bed, and then a messenger brought two blankets, surrounded the legs and feet for the two, and brought a pot of hot tea, a very delicate cigarette tray, put it on the table, picked up the jade white ivory smoking gun, and made smoke bubbles on the lamp for the two adults.

When the cigarettes were loaded, Chonghou let go of his hand and asked Guan Zhuofan first. Guan Zhuofan shook his head and said with a smile: "Chonggong, please take care of yourself, but I can't enjoy this blessing." ”

"Then you're welcome." Chonghou took the cigarette gun, took a deep breath, closed his eyes and remained silent, and did not move for a long time. Guan Zhuofan had already begun to worry about whether he was suffocating to death, only to see him slowly puff out the smoke from his nostrils, leisurely, with a look of extreme enjoyment on his face.

"Fushou ointment, this thing is not a good thing." Chonghou took a sip of hot tea and said with a smile, "But I can't quit this little habit, so I can't help it." ”

From then on, the two greeted each other with their family members and said a bunch of nonsense. Guan Zhuofan patiently coped with the past, and only then waved his hand to let the messenger go out, cutting to the point.

"Xue Huan and Xu Changshan, they are dedicated to adding chaos, so they are happy, and they almost made them disturbed." Chonghou said indignantly, "Could it be that he picked out all the mistakes of the banner man, so as to show that he was clever in Xue Qitang?" ”

Guan Zhuofan was dumbfounded, and said in his heart This time, did he rely on the identity of the flag man to pass the test? After listening to it, I realized that it was not true.

"But speaking of which, Yixuan, you've done this a little recklessly. The opening of a telegram is related to the decency of the imperial court, and the General Administration is in the hands of the prince, and if there is such a thing in the future, you should always say hello first. ”

"Yes, this time Chonggong is maneuvering around."

"Don't dare to be, this time out of Beijing, the prince has specially explained, so I always try my best to protect you." Chonghou held the teacup in his hand and said slowly, "In the two palaces, since Xue Huan has been on the fold, he has to show people to the public, so it is not the prince's idea to send Qin to Shanghai to investigate, but the idea of the west." ”

It turned out to be the meaning of Cixi. Guan Zhuofan thought to himself, this royal sister really sees a clear difference between the light and the heavy, compared to her son's world, the little personal relationship between herself and her is about to swing back.

"But the prince also has a word, let me ask you." Chonghou put down the teacup, leaned his head over, and asked in a low voice, "Is this telegram really easy to use?" ”

King Gong has always been very interested in these new things in foreign affairs, but although he is in power, he cannot have the final say in everything. Prime Minister Yamen repeatedly rejected the applications of British merchants, firstly because the interests and powers were in the other, and secondly, because things such as telegraphs and railways, which had never been seen before, had always been disliked by a group of defenders in the court, and most of the governors in various places also held an attitude of opposition, so King Gong did not dare to be self-dictatorated. Now that Guan Zhuofan has secretly made two lines in Shanghai, King Gong is naturally itching, and he inevitably wants to ask Chonghou to ask.

"Chonggong is a person who is familiar with the past and the present, and now he is in charge of the three-port trade, and he is naturally proficient in foreign affairs." Guan Zhuofan first praised the lofty sentence, and then began to talk about the benefits of the telegram, how to send it at any time, how to be fast and convenient, how to transmit it by a special line, without the risk of leaking secrets, and how to show his strengths at the three ends of military affairs, commerce, and civil affairs. When I arrived at Zuihou, I summed it up: "In the next time, I can break the long hair, and I have a lot of power to telegraph!" If the prince intends to start a trial operation, he might as well call in the name of military affairs, which is easy to be caught off guard. ”

Chonghou's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he nodded again and again, remembering everything Guan Zhuofan said. In the current situation, military affairs are important, and it is a feasible way to use this article to plug the mouths of those people who have eaten the ancients.

"Chonggong, you are in a hurry to come and go, and these brothers who follow you are working very hard." Guan Zhuofan felt that the heat was about the same, and took out the envelope, "I don't have time to prepare some Shanghai Tuyi to send them, this money, please buy some food for them on the way back, and treat it." ”

The reputation of being greedy for money and good goods is clearly recorded in history, and Guan Zhuofan is full of hope that he will accept it. Who knew that there was a big accident, Chonghou smiled and waved his hand, but he refused to accept this red envelope.

"Yixuan, to tell you the truth, it's not that I'm polite to you, but I also have one thing, which is for you. This time, our brothers are even. ”

"This ...... Where to start? ”

"Thanks to that excerpt of yours, the matter of the Aspen fleet, the two palaces have been approved!"

*(To be continued......)