The toad jumped on the weighing pan - claiming to be himself!

Wu Chaoyue, who didn't know the height of the sky, really overestimated his own weight, although under Li Hongzhang's almost pleading persuasion, Wu Chaoyue spent some effort to pack up and prepare, made up a high-sounding excuse to see, and dressed himself up and took Li Hongzhang to visit Sushun Mansion. However, when he really arrived at the door of Sushun Mansion, Wu Chaoyue was extremely dumbfounded and found that it was definitely not as easy as it was in Shanghai to see Sushun.

Because the door of the Su people is more lively than the vegetable market, large and small sedan chairs are lined up from the front of the house to the mouth of the alley, the sedan chair is crowded with groups of three or five to the wall, and there are one or twenty Qing officials in the Su Mansion gatehouse waiting in line to see, and the men who came forward to receive Wu Chaoyue and Li Hongzhang have no good face, and they don't even look at the worship post and door respect held by Li Hongzhang in both hands, and the arrogant attitude just asks Wu Chaoyue's official position, and then after learning that Wu Chaoyue is only a six-grade master, That Menzi almost sprayed saliva directly on Wu Chaoyue's face, "The main guest of the Ministry of Rites?" You are a sesame mung bean official, what can you do with our master? Let's go, our lord is busy with official business, so I don't have time to see you! ”

"This steward, my virtuous brother has seen your master, and Lord Su is still impressed by my virtuous brother, please be sure to say it, Lord Su will definitely remember my virtuous brother."

Li Hongzhang nodded and continued to plead, but unfortunately the man still didn't listen, and casually pointed to an official who was waiting in line to see him, and said with a sneer: "If you see my master, my master will be able to see you?" See, this Master Chang is still my master's coat, a slave born in the family! Since our lord went to Shanghai, he has lined up to meet my lord, and he has not seen my lord yet! What are you? Get out! Don't be embarrassed here! ”

"I'm here to take the blame, and your master doesn't see me?" Wu Chaoyue was a little angry, and said loudly: "The last time I met Master Su, because I didn't know his identity, I was a little offended to him, this will be the guilt of Jing Plea, and your master will not be seen?" ”

Before Wu Chaoyue's words were finished, there was already laughter in the gatehouse, and many officials leaned forward and backward with laughter, saying that Wu Chaoyue's hand was too old-fashioned, and it was not new to come to the officials to find such a high-sounding excuse in the Qing Dynasty. The Sufu Menzi also laughed loudly, waved his hand and said: "Let's go, there's no need, a six-grade idle official like you, even if you bump into my master, my master will only be a fly buzzing in his ears, and he won't take it to heart." Let's go, I'll forgive you for my lord. ”

Except for some fire, Wu Chaoyue didn't care if he could see Su Shun, but Li Hongzhang, who was obsessed with officials, was extremely disappointed. However, at this moment, another middle-aged official came to the door to ask for a meeting, and when Sufu Menzi hurriedly threw down Wu Chaoyue and Li Hongzhang to meet him, Wu Chaoyue also recognized the person who came - Lin Ruzhou, the eldest son of Lin Zexu. Then Wu Chaoyue didn't dare to slack off, hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and said respectfully: "Little nephew Wu Chaoyue, I have seen Uncle Lin. ”

"Beyond, why are you here?" Lin Ruzhou asked with some confusion.

"I came to see Lord Su, but I was stopped here." Wu Chaoyue said truthfully: "I just wanted to leave, but I met you, uncle, so my little nephew hurriedly asked you to say goodbye." ”

"You are the head of the Ministry of Rites, what can you do to meet Master Su?" Lin Ruzhou was also very suspicious of Wu Chaoyue's true intentions, and immediately sank his face and warned: "Chaoyue, being an uncle has words first, you have to learn well, don't learn anything speculative drilling, otherwise I will not agree to be the first one!" ”

"Uncle, you have wronged me to death." Wu Chaoyue shouted grievances and said directly: "Uncle, if the little nephew wants to run for office, can he come here?" The little nephew won't go to you directly? Won't you go to Prince Gong? Uncle, you go to inquire, it's been so many days, has the little nephew gone to Prince Gong's mansion once? ”

"Junior Li Hongzhang, I have seen Uncle Lin." Li Hongzhang also ran to Lin Ruzhou to salute, and said respectfully: "Uncle Lin, the junior and the consolation are close friends, and the junior can testify for the virtuous brother of the consolation. ”

"Guilty of guilt? What do you mean? ”

Lin Ruzhou asked curiously, Wu Chaoyue was helpless, so he had to say the excuse that Li Hongzhang made up for himself, saying that when he met Su Shun in Shanghai, because he didn't know Su Shun's identity, he had a lot of disrespect for Su Shun, a big celebrity in the dynasty, but Su Shun repaid his grievances with virtue and took care of the old Wu family, so he felt ashamed, so he came here to ask for guilt.

Not to mention, Li Hongzhang's excuse really seems like that, plus during the contact with Wu Chaoyue, he found that Wu Chaoyue did not show any greed for official position and power, Lin Ruzhou also nodded, and said: "I didn't expect you to have this virtue of knowing your mistakes and changing them, or not, this is also a chance, I rarely came to Lord Su's mansion last time, since I happened to meet you in this matter, I will tell Lord Su for you in a while, and ask him to give you a chance to admit your mistakes in front of him." ”

After the Sufu Menzi hurriedly entered the report inside, and then it didn't take long for the officials who were waiting in line to see Su Shun - Su Shun, the first celebrity cabinet scholar in front of Emperor Xianfeng, actually came to the door to greet Lin Ruzhou in person, and complained as soon as they met: "Brother Jingfeng, what else do you need to report when you come to see me?" Isn't this what it is to see me? Hurry inside please, inside please. ”

Lin Ruzhou knew very well that what Su Shun really respected was actually his father, so he hurriedly saluted: "Lord Su is polite, the lower official is coming to see you on official business, and he must act according to the rules, and he dare not be presumptuous." ”

"Don't have so many rules, call me a cousin. Knowing that you are on business, if you don't have business, you will come to my house to visit the door, then it's weird! ”

Su Shun stretched out his hand to stop Lin Ruzhou's salute, and then when he glanced at Wu Chaoyue next to Lin Ruzhou, Su Shun's face immediately changed color, and without saying a word, he grabbed Wu Chaoyue's ear, and then asked viciously: "Little rabbit cub, what are you doing here?" Do you feel that you haven't me off enough in Shanghai, and you still want to bump into me in the capital? ”

Wu Chaoyue smiled bitterly and hurriedly apologized, Lin Ruzhou also explained that Wu Chaoyue was here to ask Su Shun for the guilt, but Su Shun didn't listen to Wu Chaoyue's nonsense, and said to Lin Ruzhou: "Jing Feng, don't listen to your nephew's nonsense, he will be guilty of Jing Shun's guilt, that's weird!" Don't you know, this kid was so arrogant to me in Shanghai, he had to force me to read the holy decree in public to believe that I was a Qincha, if it wasn't for your face, I really wanted to slap him twice at that time! ”

"Then you can smoke the rain pavilion." Lin Ruzhou, who has a serious personality, rarely said a joke, "With me here, I don't dare to fight back if I keep him." ”

"Excellent! With Jingfeng's words, then I'm welcome! ”

Su Shun smiled and rolled up his sleeves, and really slapped Wu Chaoyue's ugly face, Wu Chaoyue subconsciously dodged, but Su Shun's slap had already stopped next to Wu Chaoyue's thin face. Then, there was naturally a roar of laughter around, Su Shun and Lin Ruzhou laughed together, Li Hongzhang was also laughing, and the Qing officials in the gatehouse who were queuing up to see them all laughed out loud - and at the same time jealous Wu Chaoyue to death in their hearts - they would rather sell their wives for money than be played by Su Shun for such an opportunity!

After laughing, Su Shun kicked Wu Chaoyue and shouted, "Come on!" Don't pretend! For the sake of your Uncle Lin's face, I will spare you this time, and come in and talk with your Uncle Lin. ”

After that, Su Shun politely invited Lin Ruzhou to enter the door, Wu Chaoyue followed with a wry smile, and Li Hongzhang also sneakily followed Wu Chaoyue and mixed in, leaving a large group of officials waiting in line to see there with a smile on their faces, nodding their heads, and then naturally talking in a low voice about Wu Chaoyue's identity and background.

Standing behind Lin Ruzhou with Li Hongzhang in an orderly manner, until Lin Ruzhou and Su Shun put the official matter to rest, Wu Chaoyue, who was about to yawn, stepped forward under Li Hongzhang's reminder, went to Su Shun to respectfully beat a thousand guilty, and presented Li Hongzhang with both hands a gift, thanking Su Shun for his kindness to his family in Shanghai. Su Shun waved his hand and said, "Okay, just know that it's wrong, you don't need so many courtesies." I heard that you did a good job in helping Prince Gong negotiate with the foreigners this time, and you have saved a lot of losses for our Qing Dynasty, and you can be regarded as my special care for you in Shanghai, so get up. ”

Wu Chaoyue thanked him, got up and just wanted to introduce Li Hongzhang to Su Shun, saying that Li Hongzhang also made a lot of efforts in that negotiation, but he didn't expect Su Shun to take the lead and said: "I heard that you are the head of the Ministry of Rites, how about it?" How did you do in that position? ”

"Master Su, the lower official said that you don't want to be angry, it's too boring." Wu Chaoyue told the truth in front of Su Shun, and said: "I have nothing to do all day long, and I want to resign and return to my hometown when I am so idle." ”

"The messenger of the host and guest division is indeed a little idle." Su Shun nodded, and took the initiative to ask, "Do you want to change the messenger?" Thinking of that yamen post? Do you want me to say hello to the Military Aircraft Division for you? ”

Hearing this, of course, Li Hongzhang was so jealous that his eyes were red, but unfortunately Wu Chaoyue was a tyrannical master in this regard, and said: "Lord Xie Su, the lower official has no interest in the official career, and he is bored no matter what kind of messenger he changes, so your kindness will be understood by the lower official." ”

Su Shun was a little dumbfounded, looked Wu Chaoyue up and down, and asked suspiciously, "Is what your kid said true or false?" I have a word first, this is the opportunity I gave you when I looked at your Uncle Lin's face, and I only gave you one such opportunity, you really don't want any officials? ”

"Lord Su, the lower officials are really not here to ask for officials." Wu Chaoyue nodded, and said helplessly: "Xia Guan came to see you today, really just to ask you for the guilt." ”

Su Shun was even more dumbfounded, and Lin Ruzhou next to him also explained for Wu Chaoyue, saying that Wu Chaoyue really didn't come for official power this time, and said that in fact, Devil Six also admired Wu Chaoyue very much, but after Wu Chaoyue came back from Dagukou, he had never stepped on the gate of Prince Gong's Mansion of Devil Six. As a result, it was okay that Lin Ruzhou didn't say that, but after saying this, it aroused Su Shun's rebellious mentality, and scolded Wu Chaoyue: "How old are you, why don't you want to be motivated like this?" At a young age, I wanted to learn from Tao Yuanming and Cai Judong, what can I do in the future? ”

Wu Chaoyue respectfully led the training, Li Hongzhang couldn't bear it anymore, and dared to come out and say: "Lord Su, Weiting is really angry in this regard, obviously he is full of talent and learning, and he is full of Chinese and Western knowledge, but he has no interest in his career, and he just wants to resign and go home, and he has persuaded him to serve the country many times, but he doesn't listen." ”

It's a pity that Li Hongzhang's words did not make Su Shun interested in him, on the contrary, it also made Su Shun pay more attention to Wu Chaoyue, and Su Shun reprimanded Wu Chaoyue again: "Learn literature and martial arts, sell it to the emperor's family, the emperor's will will supercharge you as the head of the six products, what a great grace is that, you don't want to repay, but think about resigning, worthy of the emperor's grace?" Give me the honesty to stay in the capital, dare to resign, I can't spare you first! In a few days, I'll give you a suitable position. ”

After that, Su Shun also turned to Lin Ruzhou and said: "Jing Feng, your nephew loves to get into trouble, but he has the courage and resourcefulness, and he is a material for doing great things, you are his uncle, you have to supervise his studies for the imperial court, and I will give him the opportunity to experience as much as possible on errands, and strive to cultivate him into a pillar of the imperial court." ”

Lin Ruzhou hurriedly nodded in agreement, and then scolded Wu Chaoyue, asking Wu Chaoyue to quickly thank Su Shun, Wu Chaoyue had no choice but to say thank you wrongly. But Li Hongzhang next to him had an urge to vomit blood, and said secretly: "This is fate, if you want to be an official, you can't be an official, and if you don't want to be an official, someone desperately wants to take care of him, why can't I touch such a good thing?" ”

At this time, Su Shun, who was busy with affairs, had already pretended to keep Lin Ruzhou for dinner, Lin Ruzhou, who knew how busy Su Shun was, did not accept it, and got up to say goodbye, Wu Chaoyue and Li Hongzhang also bowed together with their own thoughts, but Su Shun suddenly remembered one thing, and hurriedly said: "Transcendence, wait, there is something to ask you, about Zhou Lichun in Qingpu County, Songjiang Prefecture, how much do you know about his situation?" ”

"Zhou Lichun?" Wu Chaoyue was stunned, although he didn't understand why Su Shun suddenly cared about such a small person, but he still said truthfully: "Xia Guan is not very familiar with him, he only knows that he is the leader of the Qingpu Tangwan Gang, and he has a little prestige in the Qingpu area, and he also has a little appeal, and later because of some things, Xia Guan had several contacts with him, and felt that this person was a little unscrupulous, and his impression of him was not very good." ”

After that, Wu Chaoyue couldn't help but ask curiously: "Master Su, why did you suddenly ask him?" ”

"I didn't think you still knew a little bit about people, you didn't misread him."

Su Shun sneered and said: "I investigated the case of mutual impeachment between Weng Xincun and your grandfather in Shanghai, and found that he was also involved, and ordered to chase and catch it. The urgent excerpt has been sent to the military aircraft, and the court has also convicted him of rebellion and ordered him to pursue and suppress. ”

"Zhou Lichun is so bold?" Wu Chaoyue, who didn't know anything about this history, was a little surprised, but after thinking about it again, Wu Chaoyue was immediately overjoyed, and hurriedly saluted Su Shun again, and said respectfully: "Lord Su, just now you said that the lower officials can't help but seek advancement, but in fact, the lower officials don't want to serve the court at all. Xia Guan is brave, I want you to let Xia Guan go to Shanghai to handle the group training, and help the two prefectures of Songjiang and Jiangsu Prefecture to suppress Zhou Lichun's traitors! ”

"Do you want to do a group exercise?" Su Shun asked suspiciously.

"Yes." Wu Chaoyue nodded and said: "Don't hide it from Lord Su, in fact, Xia Guan has long had the idea of handling regimental training to quell the rebellion for the country, but he only hates that he has never had a chance. Xiaguan moved to Shanghai at the age of thirteen, grew up in Songjiang Mansion, was very familiar with the customs and folklore of Songjiang Mansion, and met Zhou Lichun a few times, and knew his situation quite well. ”

After that, seeing Su Shun's expression a little hesitant, Wu Chaoyue hurriedly begged his uncle Lin Ruzhou to intercede for him in a low voice, and Lin Ruzhou was also a good uncle who loved his juniors, so he also said to Su Shun: "Yuting, if possible, I have to please fulfill my nephew." When my father set up a regimental training in Guangzhou to fight against the Yingyi, his grandfather Wu Jianzhang also participated, and persuaded many wealthy businessmen and gentry in Guangdong to donate to the country for my father, and he was familiar with various affairs of the regimental training. ”

The special relationship with the national hero Lin Zexu, Wu Jianzhang's only political property that can be given to his baby grandson is small, but it can often play an important role at critical moments and special circumstances, Su Shun has always respected Lin Zexu, and he also likes Wu Chaoyue's courage and wisdom and bravery, so after Lin Ruzhou opened this mouth, Su Shun did not hesitate, and instructed Wu Chaoyue: "Go back to the last excerpt, I will say hello to the Military Aircraft Department." ”

Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed, and hurriedly thanked Su Shun and Lin Ruzhou again and again, and then happily left with Lin Ruzhou's farewell, Li Hongzhang, who had made up the money, didn't get anything, and he couldn't even introduce himself in front of Su Shun, so he was naturally disappointed, but he didn't have the courage to be as presumptuous in front of Su Shun as Wu Chaoyue, so he had to hang his head and leave with Wu Chaoyue farewell, and kept scolding Su Shun in his heart, and he didn't even find such a talent as he was a conscience. Su Shun is indeed blind in this regard.

Out of respect and gratitude, Wu Chaoyue wanted to send Lin Ruzhou home, but Lin Ruzhou still had business to do, and when he arrived outside the gate of Sushun Mansion, he was separated from Wu Chaoyue, Wu Chaoyue bowed and sent it off, and after Lin Ruzhou went away, Wu Chaoyue naturally immediately asked his good buddy Li Hongzhang to write an excerpt for himself, and asked the court to allow him to go to Shanghai to handle the group practice. Li Hongzhang agreed sullenly, and said even more sullenly: "Weiting, I don't understand, why don't you want to be an official, the more Lord Su wants you to serve the imperial court, I, who want to serve the country, why doesn't Lord Su even bother to ask about my name and official position?" ”

"Shaoquan, this may be what the book says about no desire." Wu Chaoyue patted Li Hongzhang's shoulder and smiled: "I really don't want to be an official, I have no desires, that's why I have so many opportunities to test and seduce me." You have desires and desires, so God deliberately does not give you a chance, which is also a test. ”

"Nonsense!" Li Hongzhang was very angry, and said hatefully: "What do you call desireless and rigid? You are called a husband who is indisputable, so the world cannot fight with it! I don't see myself, so I know; is not self-sufficient, so it is revealed; If you don't cut yourself, you have merit; Not self-conscious, so long! Pretending not to be merit or greedy, Lord Su thinks that you are rare and rare, and you are retreating to advance and seek justice, these tricks are considered to have been played by you! ”

Knowing that Li Hongzhang would be in an extremely bad mood, Wu Chaoyue didn't argue with him, but just smiled and said: "Shaoquan, if you really want to be promoted and make a fortune, and you can't find any opportunities in the capital, why don't you go to Shanghai with me to hold a group practice, wield a knife on the battlefield to kill the enemy, and earn credit and silver, aren't there more opportunities to get promoted and make a fortune than in the capital?" ”

"Do you want me to go to Shanghai with you for group practice?" Li Hongzhang hesitated for a moment before saying: "Then when we get to Shanghai to run the regimental training, who of us will be in charge?" ”

"Of course you're in charge." Wu Chaoyue said without thinking about it: "You are older than me, and the official is also older than me, of course you will be the leader when you go to Shanghai to run a group training, and I will be your deputy." ”

Li Hongzhang looked at Wu Chaoyue in amazement, Wu Chaoyue looked back with a smile, his eyes were open, and he did not hide his selfishness - Wu Chaoyue was really willing to be Li Hongzhang's deputy, first, Wu Chaoyue was unwilling to worry about being tired, and second, Wu Chaoyue knew very well how capable Li Hongzhang was, and he only had the life of happiness for Li Hongzhang to be his deputy.

It's a pity that at the critical moment that decided the track of history, Li Hongzhang made a wrong choice that made his children and grandchildren regret it, shook his head and said: "Forget it, ask you to pay for the group training, I will sit back and enjoy the success of being your boss, I am not so thick-skinned, and I have no interest in running the group training, you still have to worry about the Shanghai group training." ”

After that, Li Hongzhang muttered in his heart again: "The key is that the thief chaos in Songjiang Mansion is too small, even if it is completely pacified, how much credit can it have?" Unless it's like Jiang Zhongyuan, another disciple of the teacher, who leads an army and rebels alone, I have no interest in this. ”

Wu Chaoyue sincerely persuaded Li Hongzhang a few more words, but Li Hongzhang still shook his head and refused, Wu Chaoyue was helpless, so he had to dispel this idea, but he just thought in his heart: "It's okay if Li Hongzhang doesn't go, go back and get hundreds of Lian Yong, find foreigners to buy some weapons at will, and fight two battles casually and finish things perfunctorily, and be happy." ”