Li Qinggu, the envoy of Hubei, has never understood why he can't be promoted, and he is forgotten by Wu Chaoyue, a junior junior, Li Qinggu admits it, because whether it is the background, talent, ability, meritorious prestige, Wu Chaoyue did eat Li Qinggu to death steadily, Li Qinggu lost convincingly in front of Wu Chaoyue, and he did not dare to give birth to the idea of replacing Wu Chaoyue. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

What Li Qinggu didn't understand was why he couldn't even be promoted to a half-level political envoy? In terms of qualifications, Li Qinggu has been an envoy in Hubei for longer than Wu Chaoyue has been a governor, and no official above the state capital has been more qualified than Li Qinggu.

In terms of political performance and official reputation, although Li Qinggu is not a spotless Qing official, at least he did not careless about people's lives, nor did he do anything like the envoys of other provinces, in order to make money and even fill in the lack of virtue of the white duck. Regardless of the assessment of the officials and the reputation of officialdom, Li Qinggu is qualified to be promoted to a more powerful political envoy!

Li Qinggu once thought that it was only the Han identity that hindered his promotion, but it wasn't until he saw the auspicious secret fold annotated by Emperor Xianfeng that Li Qinggu finally knew that the reason was not just his Han identity, and he suddenly understood why even his backer, Han Shangshu Zhou Zupei, was not very keen to promote himself - because his character was indeed flawed, he only cared about the immediate benefits, and he forgot an iron law of officialdom!

This iron law of officialdom is that if you don't know, the smartest choice is not to know, the more you know, the more trouble you have!

"What to do? What should I do now? If this matter continues to be investigated deeply, and the crime of leaking secrets is investigated, won't the content of this secret fold be made public? Can the emperor let me go? Return this secret fold to auspiciousness, turn big things into small things, and turn small things into small things? But I can't dig it out in my eyes, the emperor knows that I have already seen this secret fold, can you not worry that I suddenly leaked my mouth that day, and others will know the content of this secret fold? Trouble, really big trouble. ”

When poor Li Zhentai kept complaining in his heart, Zuo Rui was triumphant in the hall and said: "Lord Zhentai, the student is not wrong, do you regret it now?" If you regret it, maybe it's too late, hurry up and invite our Ji Fantai to discuss with him how to deal with the aftermath. ”

Glancing at Zuo Rui, who was a villain, Li Qinggu was a little moved, but after thinking about it calmly, Li Qinggu immediately dispelled this idea - now hiding from Wu Chaoyue and Jixiang to deal with this secret fold in private, it is equivalent to getting on the auspicious thief ship, not to mention being coerced and controlled by Jixiang, and being forced to be the enemy of Wu Chaoyue, who is a tough backer, not only will it be more difficult to get ahead, but he may also be slapped to death by Wu Chaoyue at any time!

"Calm down! Calm down! Li Qinggu was at war with heaven and man in his heart, and said quickly in his heart: "The emperor made it very clear in the auspicious secret fold, he just didn't worry about letting Wu Chaoyue become the governor of Huguang and control all the Huguang troops, but he didn't say that he didn't want to use Wu Chaoyue, Wu Chaoyue's position as governor seems to be adjusted for a while and a half, Wu Futai's backer Su Zhongtang is covering the sky in the court with one hand, I offend him and look for death!" ”

"How about offending auspiciousness? Offending Jixiang, the advantage is that Wu Futai will definitely regard me as his right-hand man even more, and he will keep me no matter what. The disadvantage is that the emperor will be dissatisfied, but this matter is not provoked by me, it is Jixiang's own brain water, so that a master brought out such an important secret fold, and there is a debtor and a master, as long as I don't shake this fold to the court, even if the emperor wants to be angry, he should be looking for auspiciousness, and the possibility of implicating me is not too great. ”

When quickly weighing the pros and cons, the news of Wu Chaoyue's arrival suddenly came from outside the door, and Li Qinggu, who was more inclined to Wu Chaoyue, did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly left everyone to greet him out of the gate in person, and respectfully bowed to Wu Chaoyue. And Wu Chaoyue, who already knew some things, was not obscure, and while picking up Li Qinggu with his own hands, he whispered: "Li Zhentai, don't worry, I know that you were inadvertently involved, and this big black cauldron will not let you carry it." ”

Li Qinggu was slightly relieved when he heard this, and quickly invited Wu Chaoyue to sit in the lobby, and handed the secret fold to Wu Chaoyue, Wu Chaoyue was also a little hesitant after taking it, but he still couldn't hold back the curiosity in his heart, opened the fold and watched, and after reading it about once, the mystery in Wu Chaoyue's heart was suddenly solved, and finally understood why Emperor Xianfeng would directly say that he could not be the governor of Huguang on the secret fold.

This excerpt is also related to Wang Qingyun, the governor of Shanxi, and Xu Jiji, the general office of Shanxi regimental training, Jixiang is to leave Shanxi when he wrote this secret fold to Emperor Xianfeng, reported the contacts between Wang Qingyun and Xu Jiji, as well as the situation of the troops in Xu Jiji's hands, and slandered that Shanxi is relatively peaceful, and Xu Jiji's regimental training is obviously a little too much, and Wang Qingyun is also obviously biased towards Xu Jiji in terms of money and grain, and it is recommended that Emperor Xianfeng pay attention to it.

The second paragraph is the most important, Jixiang expressed his attitude to Emperor Xianfeng on taking over as the political envoy of Hubei, and before he took office, he expressed concern about the excessive authority in Wu Chaoyue's hands, saying that Wu Chaoyue controlled and controlled the civil affairs and finances of Hubei, and actually controlled the Hubei army because Hua Lao Fox was seriously ill, and at the same time, most of the officials in Hubei Province were recommended by Wu Chaoyue, and almost all of them were Han Chinese. Therefore, Jixiang was worried that he would be overshadowed by Wu Chaoyue after he took office in Hubei, and he would not be able to actually control Hubei's finances and treasury, let alone monitor Wu Chaoyue's every move at all times, and asked Emperor Xianfeng for assistance.

And then there is the Xianfeng Emperor's Zhu pen imperial approval, in order to cheer up the auspicious, the Xianfeng Emperor in addition to comfort and encouragement, and then clearly tell the auspicious that he will send a Manchurian governor to replace the old fox to control the Huguang army, to auspicious and the new governor to work together, one in charge of the army and one in charge of the money, together for the Xianfeng Emperor to be optimistic about the two provinces of Huguang.

Closing the fold, Wu Chaoyue did not have any expression on his face, and in his heart, he kept greeting the eighteenth generation of Xianfeng's ancestors, while Li Qinggu over there kept wiping the cold sweat and asked, "Wu Futai, what should I do about this?" How to deal with the aftermath? ”

"I'll talk about it when the auspiciousness arrives." Wu Chaoyue replied quietly.

Li Qinggu nodded busily, Wu Chaoyue called Zhang Dejian to the front and asked in a low voice After the situation was clear, it didn't take long for the report of Jixiang's arrival to come from outside the hall, Li Qinggu ordered to be invited, and Jixiang, who didn't even have time to change his official uniform, quickly rushed to the hall, first took a general look at the situation at the scene, and suddenly saw that the secret fold was in Wu Chaoyue's hand, Jixiang's face changed first, and then he said viciously: "Wu Futai, are you too much?" Although your official position is higher than that of the lower officials, the folds in your hands are also written by the lower officials, and without the consent of the emperor and the lower officials, why do you watch them without permission? ”

"Then Ji Fantai, please explain." Wu Chaoyue asked coldly: "Since this secret fold is so important, then why do you want your master to bring it into the prison for a prisoner to watch?" ”

"You don't care about that!" Ji Xiang roared angrily: "Regarding this matter, master, I will naturally have an explanation!" Now, Lord Wu, please give me back the secret fold! ”

"I can't give it back." Wu Chaoyue refused, and said: "Not only can't I pay it back, Master Ji, I also want to ask you, what do you want to do when you dig out your minds, rack your brains, and forge such a secret fold of the emperor's Zhu pen and imperial approval?" ”

"Forgery?!"

Jixiang and Li Qinggu were at the same time, and then after coming back to their senses together, Li Qinggu was ecstatic and settled. Ji Xiang laughed wildly, and gave Wu Chaoyue a thumbs up, and laughed wildly: "Wu Futai, high!" High! No wonder you can seal a province at such a young age, you are indeed tall! I insisted that this secret fold was forged, which not only saved the emperor's face, but also forced the emperor to kill me, you are high! Ruthless enough! ”

"But you're too ruthless, aren't you?!" Jixiang suddenly roared: "I have no grievances with you in the past, and I have no enmity in the near future, why do you have to put me to death?" Where the hell did I offend you?! ”

Wu Chaoyue was silent, and he also knew that Ji Xiang was indeed a little wronged, but Wu Chaoyue had no choice but to say calmly: "Ji Fantai, you didn't offend me, on the contrary, you are the same age as my father and you can still bow to me, which I am still a little ashamed of." But there is no way, Ji Fantai, when the matter has come to this point, I can only report it truthfully to the imperial court, and ask the emperor and the imperial court to punish you for the crime of forging Zhu Pi. Other than that, I don't have a choice. ”

"You can keep this down!" Ji Xiang also reddened his eyes and roared: "Just assume that this incident has not happened, and if this secret fold does not exist, this matter will be fine!" Wu Futai, Li Zhentai, I am not the kind of ungrateful person, I can assure you! ”

Not to mention, Wu Chaoyue was really a little shaken, and almost wanted to let go of the auspiciousness that really didn't deserve to die, but considering the major event of his promotion to the governor of Huguang, as well as the plan to raise troops against the Qing Dynasty, Wu Chaoyue shook his head again and said: "Ji Fantai, I'm sorry, it's too big, and there are too many people who know, I don't dare to let you go." ”

Jixiang was completely desperate, and vaguely guessed Wu Chaoyue's true purpose - to force Emperor Xianfeng to prove his innocence, so as to get the opportunity to take over as the governor of Huguang. So Jixiang no longer pleaded, but just stretched out his hand and said, "Okay, please, the matter has come to this point, I admit it." ”

"Come on, take down the auspiciousness of forging the emperor's Zhu Approval Imperial Pen."

Wu Chaoyue gave the order on behalf of the court, but the Yamen officials present did not hesitate, and immediately took down the auspicious tie, Wu Chaoyue then made a look at Li Qinggu, Li Qinggu understood, and hurriedly went to the back hall with Wu Chaoyue to talk privately. Then Wu Chaoyue was not polite, and asked directly: "Li Zhentai, how about you come to this excerpt?" ”

With a plop, Li Qinggu knelt down on Wu Chaoyue's knees, and pleaded with Wu Chaoyue with a pitiful face: "Wu Futai, you spare the lower official, the lower official is a big bold, and he doesn't dare to fold and hand the auspicious secret fold into Beijing!" ”

Of course, Wu Chaoyue knew that Li Qinggu was afraid of Emperor Xianfeng's revenge afterwards - even if Emperor Xianfeng insisted that the secret fold was forged for the sake of face, he would lose the car and cut the auspiciousness, and he would even definitely give Li Qinggu a little reward. But after the limelight passed, Emperor Xianfeng would definitely not spare Li Qinggu, who made him lose face.

Wu Chaoyue is not clean in this matter, of course, he can't force Li Qinggu to be anxious, but when things come to this point, it is obviously unrealistic to find someone to carry the black pot, so after a little calculation, Wu Chaoyue ordered: "Then Li Zhentai, you write an excerpt in my honor, I will sign it and use the seal, and send it out in my honor." ”

"Thank you, Lord Futai, thank you, Lord Futai." Li Qinggu kowtowed again and again, and then cautiously reminded: "Lord Futai, but you also have to think twice, your future is even more ambitious, send out this excerpt, it is nothing in a short time, but if you make a slight mistake in the future, I am afraid the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

Wu Chaoyue was silent, and he also knew that it was also very risky to do so - if the Second Crow War failed to force Emperor Xianfeng to death, or if the Second Crow War was delayed for a few years, as long as he made a slight mistake, Emperor Xianfeng would definitely not spare himself! What's more, Wu Chaoyue still has the ready-made handle of Wang Guocai to grasp.

When he was hesitating, Wu Dadao's anxious voice suddenly came from outside the door of the back hall, and said: "Young Master Sun, 100,000 is urgent, Master Dai of the Taiwan Mansion sent someone to send an urgent letter, asking you and Li Zhentai to go to the Taiwan Mansion immediately, and said that the sooner the better!" ”

"Is Grandpa Hua going to be dead?!" Wu Chaoyue was shocked in his heart, and hurriedly beckoned Li Qinggu to go out with him, not even daring to sit in a sedan chair, and each led a few servants to beat horses and went straight to the Yamen of the Governor of Huguang in Wangshan Gate.

To the surprise of Wu Chaoyue and Li Qinggu, when they hurriedly entered Hua Lao Fox's ward, Hua Lao Fox, who was usually in a coma, had not only woken up, but also sat up and was drinking a bowl of ginseng soup. When Wu Chaoyue and Li Qinggu hurriedly stepped forward to salute, Hua Lao Fox nodded first, and then asked with a smile: "Comfort Ting, Decheng, I heard that you arrested Jixiang, why?" ”

"Grandpa Huihua, auspicious forged the Holy Zhu Batch, and the juniors and Li Zhentai had to arrest him."

Wu Chaoyue replied respectfully, and at the same time hurriedly observed the expression of the old fox, and found that there were two abnormal blush on his skinny cheeks, and a thought suddenly flashed in Wu Chaoyue's heart, "Is it a return to the light?" ”

"Oh, did he bring the forged Zhu Pi? Let the old man take a look. ”

Hua Lao Fox commanded, Wu Chaoyue hurriedly took out the secret fold from his sleeve, and presented it to Hua Lao Fox with both hands, Hua Lao Fox took it and looked at it roughly, and quickly smiled: "Yes, it is really fake, long live my emperor Yao Shunyu soup, De with Wenjing, how can you be so suspicious and wary of your subordinates?" ”

After laughing, Hua Lao Fox casually ordered: "Wenjie, write an impeachment note for the old man, impeach auspicious forgery of the Holy Zhu Criticism, and leave the emperor and ministers, the crime cannot be punished." Besides, send someone to the Yamen of Zhentai to bring auspiciousness, ask the emperor to give the old man the royal flag, and behead auspicious in front of the superintendent's office! ”

"Grandpa Flower!"

Wu Chaoyue hurriedly held Hua Lao Fox's skinny hand, and Hua Lao Fox patted Wu Chaoyue's head, smiled and whispered: "Remember, you can't hesitate to do this kind of thing involving the emperor, kill it first, and then talk about it, leaving a living mouth and then worrying, it will only bring disaster upon yourself." ”

"I'm not that, I mean you." Wu Chaoyue said anxiously: "If you go to this excerpt, the emperor will ......." ”

"At most, it's just that the nickname is not good, it's not a big deal, anyway, the old man can't hear what the emperor will give me, and there is no way to know if the emperor will give the old man a nickname, it doesn't matter."

Hua Lao Fox interrupted Wu Chaoyue with a smile and said to Wu Chaoyue and Li Qinggu: "You are still young, and there is still the future, this kind of thing that offends the emperor by touching the dragon scales cannot be done by you." ”

"Grandpa Flower!"

"Flower table!"

Wu Chaoyue and Li Qinggu knelt on the ground and cried together, but Hua Lao Fox shook his head and smiled, urging Wu Chaoyue and Li Qinggu to hurry up and help Dai Wenjie write an excerpt, and then asked his son to continue to feed him ginseng soup, gritted his teeth and persevered in the huge pain, waiting for the final end of the matter.

The impeachment fold was written quickly, and after the old fox signed the fold, he could no longer insist, so he could only lie on the hospital bed and gasp, and then after a while, when Wu Ben came to report that Jixiang had been beheaded, the old fox struggled to say a word, and asked: "When Jixiang died, what did you say?" ”

Wu Ben hesitated a little, but at the urging of Dai Wenjie, Wu Ben replied: "Lord Huizhengtai, auspicious shouted injustice, scolded you for being a scum of the Eight Banners, a traitor to the banner people, and scolded you for being a Mongolian old man who pleases Han dogs...... Tartar ....... ”

Hua Shana smiled and muttered: "He didn't scold wrong, he died unjustly, but the old man did this to repay the kindness of the third dynasty and the Qing Dynasty...... Jiangshan ......, social ...... Minister of Agriculture............. ”

Muttering, Hua Shana's voice became weaker and weaker, and finally disappeared without a trace, and when Wu Chaoyue reached out to test his breathing, he found that he had no breath at all, and he had passed away with a smile. (To be continued.) )