October 30 of the twentieth year of Guangxu.

At the gate of Chongwen on Sijiucheng South Road, it is still as usual, full of cars sending wine into the city. These South Road shochus from Zhuozhou have been double-steamed locally this year, and the two pots are out of breath. Seeing that it is already the weather that is about to go into winter, this season, the wine is selling better and better day by day, and the taverns and taverns are not crowded, and cotton is added to it. Get a glass or two, and it's warm inside and out.

At the door of Chongwen, a few tax collectors had just finished lunch, and they were picking up their teeth to change shifts. This gate tax customs, which belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has always been the cause of the children of the banner people. Look at these tax collectors, satin shoes, silk sheepskin jackets, and sea dragon skin hats, I really don't know how much money to buy such a possessions. Speaking of identity, it is not low, there is also a red belt in the waist, and the title on the head is also the town of the country and the auxiliary of the country, at least, if you don't get into the eight points, you can't talk to these masters!

More than a dozen wine carts were lined up at the door, the whips of the drivers were squatting in a ball, and the little shopkeeper who was escorting the wine was in a hurry. A few tax collectors went to lunch, and they couldn't enter the customs without tax inspection, you know, several big restaurants are waiting for this wine. At the family banquet of the Alcohol Prince's Mansion, the Lord pointed out that he wanted to brew the newly brewed South Road Shochu, if he missed this section, he would have to cross the river with a meal ticket!

Seeing a few tax collectors swaggering over, the little shopkeeper hurriedly ran over to say goodbye, and a Qian'er played respectfully and thoughtfully: "A few masters work hard!" We've been waiting here for a while, and some of them are this piety! Sixteen carts of wine, parked in a proper manner, if the master doesn't come, who dares to move? There are a total of one hundred and forty-four baskets, and when you look at it, you will know that it is right! This is tax money, and there are a few masters who work hard to have a little heart, although the grasshopper is small, it is a meat, and the master will take care of it, even if it is a thoughtful villain! ”

The words are affectionate, and the silver in his hand is not slow to be delivered. The two bags of silver were delivered, and the little shopkeeper took two steps back, put his hands behind his back, and bent down respectfully to wait. The tax collector checked the silver in his hand, and changed his face with a smile: "Whoever changes has to spend the next year, why are you so blind?" It's a number every time...... Tell me, when didn't you release people quickly? With such a big business, I don't know how to increase the price? also took the alcohol king's mansion, how much money you have made, you can't look down on a few masters, right? ”

The little shopkeeper was anxious, and waved his hand with a white face: "What kind of things are we?" If you move your fingers, we can't afford it! Master, that's all we have, and half of the eldest son, you chopped me at the entrance of the vegetable market! You for, you for! Another day, I'll kneel down for my grandfather! ”

The first tax collector laughed, and he didn't look at the broken silver, foreign money, copper dollars, and even pawn tickets that the little shopkeeper touched out of his hand: "Brother, I'm a little full at noon, how about eating and eating?" ”

"Well, don't be diligent, don't be lazy, and don't have long eyes. If you don't set rules, everyone thinks we're so foolish! A few tax collectors laughed and scolded to find bricks and sticks to smash the wine cart, and the little shopkeeper's tears were about to fall, and he hurriedly tried to stop it, but he was kicked twice and pushed his head. fell into disgrace, and the handlebar style of the car was so frightened that he shrank straight to the wall.

Just when it was time to get along, I heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance, and these banner men who were full of food and had nothing to do and have fun stood and looked out, and saw a healthy horse galloping over, and the people on the horse were wearing Western-style military uniforms, like foreign soldiers in the eastern suburbs. The late autumn sun shone brightly on his shining riding boots.

The first tax collector wiped his eyes and patted his thigh: "Pu Laosi!" ”

The person who came was Pu Yang, who was the master of fooling around with these gentlemen in Sijiu City for two days a day. Wearing tattered clothes is a noble bearing, and he is holding his shoulders everywhere and filling his head with people. In the teahouse, the gangsters who could gather dozens of good fighting campmen for a pigeon can gather dozens of good fighters, but now they have a straight military uniform and a tanned face is back!

Those children of the clan who were able to come back alive from North Korea, and the people who were all over Yanjing boasted about the Korean riots they had experienced, and the mountains were full of people! There is also the ferocity of the devil, and many people are still the first time they see a foreign gun, and they blow that realm is as sinister as the Shura field. Everyone knows that Pu Laosi's brain is broken, and he has to rely on the Praetorian Guard, and the Praetorian Guard has beaten the corpses and blood in the land of Haidong, and the sky has been leaked. Everyone sighed, Pu Laosi is going to end! Everyone is a nobleman, how good is it for An An to eat money and food in Beijing, what are you doing with those stinky big-headed soldiers?

Unexpectedly, this kid actually came back!

The tax collector who took the lead slapped his thigh and shouted: "Pu Lao Si, Lao Si!" I'm your second brother! You're still alive! ”

Pu Yang had already rushed to the front, and when he heard the sound, he was stunned, turned over and jumped off the horse. At the beginning, he was a bean sprout with three tendons and a head in the capital, but now he looks with wide shoulders and a thick back, and his waist is straight when he stands on the ground. With a captured officer's katana in his waist, he stood like a mountain. People who have experienced the blood and fire on the battlefield naturally have a sense of calmness when they look at people. A few tax collectors made eye contact with him, and they couldn't help but take a step back.

Pu Yang looked at them: "I don't know you anymore?" What kind of second brother? He punched the second man in the chest, and the kid couldn't bear it, so he took a step back: "The master is back!" I didn't expect to see my old sister alive! I didn't say it, I was free in the middle of the night, I asked a few brothers to make a fuss! ”

Seeing the old brother rolling out of the pile of dead people, the second brother and the second brother were also happy: "What's the middle of the night, go now, it's all my brother's mine." After drinking, you leave and look at your old sister......"

Unexpectedly, Pu Yang shook his head: "I was ordered by the commander to do things first before I can go home." Drinking, waiting for errands, some are kung fu. ”

"What [***] handsome ......"

Pu raised his eyebrows, and subconsciously pressed the handle of the saber on his waist. The muscles of the whole body tensed, as if a leopard was about to pounce on it to hunt. He also followed Xu Yifan to fight in North Korea, rushed through the battle in Anzhou, and killed a hundred warriors among a large group of devils in Tianzhuangtai, this action, the murderous spirit naturally came out. A few tax collectors immediately felt it, and their faces subconsciously turned white.

Pu Yang put down his hand, let go of his muscles, shook his head and said: "De Er, scold me Cheng, don't have our handsome in your mouth, he is the one who keeps the country safe and secure, you can't reach him." Several tax collectors had strange faces, and the atmosphere was embarrassed, and they didn't know what to say. Pu Yang also wanted to ease the atmosphere, turned his head to look at the wine cart crowded at the door, and the large group of people watching the excitement, and said with a smile: "How many masters, are you looking for foreign salaries?" How's the harvest? ”

The little shopkeeper was so worried that he had no way, and when he saw that it was a person, he worshiped as a bodhisattva. Immediately knelt down with a bang and muttered to the end of the matter. Pu Yang looked back at the tax collectors: "I said De Er, anyway, I also passed to the mellow mansion, give face, raise your hand, and forget it...... It's not that people don't have rules! ”

A few tax collectors descended from De Er and wanted to scold, but somehow, they were a little weak in front of Pu Yang. When I was in the capital, I didn't have this kid with my eyelids...... At this moment, it's not good to say anything, and he raised his hand and let people go. Pu Yang watched the wine car go on the road, and then turned over and got on the horse: "I owe the money for passing the customs, come and ask for it when I drink!" Brothers, see you back! ”

Watching Pu Yang turn over and go away, a few tax collectors stood there grinning, and after a while, De Er secretly scolded: "You are still a flag man!" Follow the live Cao Ying, God see, see what happens to you! ”

Pu Yang naturally didn't hear the scolding of those people behind him, and as soon as he entered Chongwenmen, it was a bustling market scene. Yanjing City is still as gray as when he left. The people on the street are still those people, and the teahouses are still those teahouses. The memorial arch celebrating the Great Jiezha of the First Sino-Japanese Festival has already lost its color in just a few days. The prisoners in the flail of Shuntianfu are still begging for food along the street, and the footsteps of the bannermen who carry the cage and the bird are not faster than the previous one......

Why don't you get used to it?

Pu Yang shook his head, but the little shopkeeper behind him shouted that the master ran over: "The master is from the alcohol palace?" Thank you for your great kindness! Today, I will send the wine to the master's house, and the master will leave a name, and the small one will kneel down to you, thank you! ”

Pu Yang was stunned, turned around and looked west, where there were all the deep mansion compounds of the palace. He was born in those places, and he grew up in those places, I don't know why, looking at these familiar scenes, I feel as if I can't breathe out a breath in my chest.

On the battlefield, tens of thousands of brothers ate ice and snow, and followed one after another...... Why, nothing has changed here? Could it be that all those sacrifices were fake?

He shook his head: "I'm not from the Alcohol Palace...... Lao Tzu is a member of the Praetorian Guard! Hurry up and get on your way, sir...... I don't need you to thank you! He whipped his horse and rode away. The little shopkeeper opened his mouth wide: "Haidong Xu is a handsome person? Huangtian, they are all men! ”

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Today, the hall of Dongzhi Hutong, to which the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites belongs, has become a place where everyone looks sideways.

Weng Tong Libao, the sages who went north specially selected by Guangxu, temporarily lived here. This hall was originally used to house the tributary guests of the four feudal domains, but now that the imperial court and the feudal kingdom have lost all their strength, it is naturally idle here. The priests of the Ministry of Rites simply rented out the house to eat the tile money. Now that a few rooms are hurriedly vacated, they have become the residence of Tan Si and all of them.

Guangxu was naturally kind and thoughtful to them, and when Tan Si arrived, he clearly issued a reward for Tan Si's title of waiter in the same Ministry of Rites, and handled the will of the Minister of the Fu Bureau to negotiate with him. Those who followed him were all rewarded with the title of secretary of the cabinet, and first learned to walk in the negotiations, and then settled. and also rewarded two thousand taels of silver for settling down and buying clothes.

Compared with Guangxu's enthusiasm, the entire bureaucratic system of the Qing Dynasty was somewhat inconsistent. As the foreman of the Military Aircraft Department, Shi Duo presided over the negotiation with the minister, and also received Tan Sitong's post, asking him to submit a note on the peace talks. None of the other post-party ministers have posted for this upstart. However, the imperial party is clear, and he is willing to come and take a look. Everyone said that in addition to the visitors, they were empty in the hall, and there were several poetry and drinking parties.

The foreign envoy also looked down on this place, and Tan Sitong saw the foreigners in Shanghai. I had some dealings with the ministers of various countries very calmly, and the roundup was very successful. It turned out that in Yanjing City, Li Hongzhang could maneuver foreigners, and those Wang ministers who walked in the prime minister's yamen had a headache when they saw foreign devils. Tan Sitong acted in such a way, and won the praise of the imperial party, the Qing Dynasty Fuyi, and there are successors!

Although it was said that the present council and the plenipotentiary would not be able to arrive in Yanjing until the beginning of November, Tan Si and them were not lonely here. Especially Kang Youwei, a few masters and apprentices, let out some big words, which made the entire capital stunned. But who can mix in the capital, who is not a top person? I haven't seen the old yet, and I can't express any opinions, express any likes and dislikes, and jump out to take the lead. Let's see how Tan Sitong will do it.

Even if the atmosphere is a little awkward, everyone is opening their eyes and seeing, this hall has become a lively place in Yanjing City during this time, Pu Yang rode a horse to come here, and saw that the door was full of sedan chairs, and the sedan chair drivers of various mansions and houses, holding the long entourage of the cloakbox, were chatting in a bunch there, nothing more than which house was better, which adult accepted Xiaoxing again, and the adult's outer house was copied, and the face was also scratched by the eldest lady.

As soon as Pu Yangren arrived, everyone immediately looked sideways, and even some officials who came out to call the sedan chair man after paying their respects stopped.

Pu Yang, who has a brilliant collar and a long coat and a big hat, is not the focus of everyone's attention!

Just because he came here, he has already seen a lot of stupid people in the capital, and there is even a group of half-sized children, who are still following his horse ass to watch the excitement!

"What a sturdy offspring! How do you wear foreigners' clothes? This is our people from the Qing Dynasty, right? ”

"This is the Janissary uniform! Didn't you see the dragon on the collar badge? These people have the courage to cover the sky, and they don't read, can the dragon chapter be used casually? ”

“…… Let's pull them down, the court can still control them now? It's not that the two rivers are out of sight...... A few days ago, Xu Yifan led the team to the boat and went south, and I don't know how many people in Yanjing City breathed a sigh of relief! ”

"This man, take a look at those steps? I don't know how many lives there are in my hands, and I panic when I look at it, I'm afraid that it will be in North Korea and Liaoning Province, and it will not be good at killing! Thanks to this gang of fierce gods, I don't know that Xu ...... How to train it out. Otherwise, this battle can end like this? ”

"Didn't Lord Tan cut off his robe with that man? Why are there still people from the Praetorian Guard coming to the door? The guy ...... What's the idea? ”

Everyone stayed there and made up their minds to see how lively this one was. Pu Yangyu looked uncomfortable, silently dismounted, found a stake to tie the horse, and walked up with his saber. With a straight face, he stepped on the bluestone steps, and sparks sparked.

He was born and died in such a battle, and he didn't think that he would be able to return to his hometown at that time. On the way back, I began to have a little fantasy, Pu Laosi came back with raised eyebrows, no longer the clan gangsters in the capital at the beginning, but a man who won the national war and stood up to the sky! Even if you don't get carried into the city, there should be a lively cheering in the middle of the road, right?

I didn't expect it to be a live monkey! He is not inaudible to the voices of the surrounding discussions, the Yanyan princes gathered here, since they are in and out of Tan Sitong's place, they are all flaunted by their integrity, and in the whispered discussions, they are full of suspicion, coldness, and alienation, but none of them really applaud this national war!

In the midst of all kinds of eyes, Pu Yang strode to the door, took out the post and handed it to the porter who was waiting there to pick out his ears: "Excuse me, please spread the word." Lord Xu, the governor of Liangjiang and the minister of the Guards of Qincha, sent a letter to Lord Tan. ”

The porter lazily took the post, but he put it aside and didn't see him lift his legs.

"Driving ......"

"Don't know the rules? You also ran the yamen for your master! ”

The rules of the capital, Pu Yang doesn't know. But Tan Sitong, who wants to be famous for Xu Yifan and sees him, no matter whether public or private, there is no reason to ask for a bag, a rhetorical question actually made Pu Yang stunned there, and only after a while did he squeeze out a sentence: "I am Lord Xu......"

"I don't care about Lord Xu and Xu Xiaoren, except for the emperor Lafayette, who worships the door has rules, right?"

"You're not the one brought by Lord Tan?"

"The iron-beaten yamen, the flowing man, who cares about that stubble...... There are 38,000 laws in the Qing Dynasty, and there is no reason for people not to earn money to eat......"

Needless to say, he is a small member of the Ministry of Rites, and maybe he is still an outsider. Putting aside his previous temper, Pu Yang's yellow belt lit up, and he spoke with a slap: "Master taught you what the rules are!" "I don't know why, he just doesn't want to do that now. He wrinkled his eyebrows and glared at the porter, striding inside. The porter wanted to stop him, how could he stop him! I only shouted in my voice: "Yamen is heavy, and you have entered the thief!" Someone, stop him! ”

Pu Yang rushed all the way to the second gate, watched a few subordinates rush out with a bar, and shouted with a loud voice: "Lord Tan, Xu Dashuai sent a letter!" Lord Tan, Xu Dashuai sent a letter! ”

Several subordinates tried to hit him with a pole, but he flicked and pushed, and they all stumbled out. was making a lot of noise, when I heard a voice shouting inside the second gate: "Pu Yang, what are you messing around!" This is where you can ram around? ”

Pu Yang raised his eyes and saw that it was Tan Sitong standing there, he had already changed into the outfit of a second-class official, and he was no longer the green shirt and hat when Xiao Ran came to North Korea to visit Xu Yifan. Standing next to him was a four-rank civil official with a dark complexion and a short figure, but he didn't know him. There was also someone running over with a placket in the back, and it seemed that it was the time to talk to the visitor, and he made a scene for Pu Yang.

When he was messing around in Yanjing City, Tan Sitong was a second-class official, but where could he put it in Pu Yang's eyes! Not to mention scolding him Fourth Master Pu, at this time, he subconsciously snapped a straight upright, flat-chested military salute: "Lord Tan, Xu Dashuai has a letter, your door dignitaries are in charge, I am poor, I have no money in my waist, I can only break in." ”

Tan Sitong glanced at the door and didn't speak. This porter is a minor official of the Ministry of Rites. The two officials of the Ministry of Rites, Waitabu and Xu Ying, both said that the sick frame was missing after receiving his post of worship, and their attitudes can be known. This small official of the government, he lost face for anything, so he could only calm down and stretch out his hand: "What about the letter?" He has been by Xu Yifan's side for two years, and he has always promised himself to be a brother with Xu Yifan, and all kinds of people under Xu Yifan's command are polite to him, and it has become a habit for him to use this tone. I forgot that Pu Yang was not only Xu Yifan's horse leader, but also the official Bei Ziye of the Qing Dynasty, counting it, this Yanjing City is still his territory!

Pu Yang's well-behaved hands handed over the letter, Tan Sitong didn't say anything, but the swarthy middle-aged man beside him sneered: "From top to bottom, you can't do anything!" ”

Tan Sitong opened the letter and said casually: "Nanhai, what does he know, don't talk about this." ”

The person standing next to Tan Sitong is naturally Kang Youwei. He went north with Tan Si, and promised to be at least a double sage with Tan Si. Tan Si used it with the Ministry of Rites, but he only got a small middle book. In the midst of the anger in my heart, I have said more over-the-top things these days. Although it aroused some loud applause from Qingliu, Tan Sitong is not embarrassed or embarrassed now, and the minister's cold-eyed situation does not necessarily have his Kang Nanhai's three points of credit.

Tan Sitong read the letter with three or two eyes, shook his head, and smiled faintly. Pu Yang waited there quietly, but Kang Youwei couldn't help it: "Resurrection, what is this person's letter?" ”

Tan Sitong smiled and said: "It's nothing more than greetings and congratulations, and said that I am in the capital, he is in Liangjiang, and the two brothers are bent on changing the law, and look at how their respective achievements will be after three years......"

Kang Youwei slapped his face, and his voice was loud: "This person is so thoughtful!" ”

Tan Si grabbed him at the same time, glanced at Pu Yang, who was still there, and waved his hand: "I received the letter, and I am very grateful to bring you a message...... With the handsome talent, the two rivers are governed, and it is said to be visible. As long as he is faithful, there will be a time for our brothers to see each other again...... Go ahead! ”

Pu Yang is waiting for this voice, Da Shuai has raised you for two years, and this is the tone in a blink of an eye. If it weren't for the commander's order, the grandson would have come over!

Seeing Pu Yang turn around and go out, Kang Youwei rolled his eyes, shook off Tan Sitong's hand, and strode out. Tan Sitong didn't know what Kang Nanhai was going to say, so he hurriedly followed. Seeing that Kang Youwei walked all the way to the gate, he shouted at Pu Yang's back: "Tell you handsome!" I want him to do it for himself! The court is already a generous favor to him, and he must no longer have the heart to turn against him! If he makes any moves, tell him, and I, Kang Nanhai, will be able to clean him up as soon as he backhanded! ”

Pu leaned up and froze there, and the onlookers around him were also stunned. After a long time, these Qingliu who often said that they were in the same relationship with Tan Si shouted hello!

"Nanhai, those who are upright, speak rightly, there is really a sound of thunder!"

Kang Youwei smiled all over his face, and bowed his hand around, but was pulled in by Tan Sitong: "Nanhai, why did you say this in public?" Chuanqing is not that kind of person, and he also has a great kindness to me! ”

"Great grace? Not that kind of person? Fusheng, you invited him to Beijing, why didn't he come? Obviously they have gone their own way, why did they suddenly send people to deliver the letter with swagger? This is pulling you back! If you Tan Fusheng don't get rid of the relationship with this Xu Yifan, you won't get the emperor's trust and the court will be convinced! Why did he say that he wanted to compete with you in Liangjiang to change the law, and there would be some competition? It is our wish to change the law, he is a martial artist, what do you know about changing the law? It's nothing more than to steal our ability to repay his false name, we can't let him be greedy for the merits of the sky, and he will start to change the law as soon as possible! Be in a hurry, be fast, time is running out! ”

Kang Youwei's expression was awe-inspiring, his tone was categorical, his head kept rising upward, and in the end, he almost turned his face to the sky.

And Tan Sitong just listened silently and turned his head to look south.

"Chuan Qing...... Are we brothers, really going our separate ways? I thought you would go the same way with me...... In that case, I'll be able to walk by myself......"

(To be continued)