Triumphant return to Fu Heng was praised

Quasi-begging to rest and hold a cane to ascend the Dragon Palace

Zhang Tingyu, who is seventy-eight years old, is getting worse and worse, and he has repeatedly asked to return to Tongcheng for retirement. There seemed to be an unfinished matter in his heart, it turned out that he could no longer go to Huangye Village in Xishan for a trip to the countryside, but he couldn't rest assured that Cao Xueqin could not be relieved. On this day, he sent Ruo Wei, who had just returned from Xinjiang, to Huangye Village to see this untimely "Cao Gongzi" on his behalf.

Zhang Ruoyu Yongzheng was a mid-year jinshi in the eighth year, the director of the military department, and the first year of Qianlong was selected as the imperial history of Jiangxi Province. Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, the servant of the six moving criminal departments, and finally achieved the imperial history from the left of the first product. In the thirteenth year, he went to supervise the military affairs of Jinchuan with the university scholar Fu Heng, and in the first month of the spring of the fourteenth year, Qianlong ordered Fu Heng to be demoted, and Ruo Yu returned to Beijing in advance to report on his work. Zhang Ruoyu went back to Cao Xueqin's house.

Zhang Ruoyu took two entourages and carried the wine, food and daily necessities carefully prepared by his mother, Mrs. Zitong, for Cao Gongzi. Three fast horses galloped out of Xizhimen and galloped towards Huangye Village in Xishan. It was early spring, after a heavy snowfall, thousands of miles of ice were frozen, and the countryside was covered with white snow.

When you come to Huangye Village, if you go far away on horseback, a stream passes along the village, and an old locust tree with a crooked neck is about as thick as you can hug by the stream. The canopy of the trees is huge, and the branches are covered with sparkling ice cubes. Under the tree, a stone bench leans against a large stone in the shape of a steamed bun, which is covered with a thick layer of snow.

Crossing the stream, letting the horse come to Cao Xueqin's house, turning over and dismounting, I saw that the small courtyard was surrounded by an earthen wall, and a jujube tree in the courtyard was also full of icicles. The crimson aged dates are half-hidden and half-visible hanging among the branches, dotted in the white silver world, which is eye-catching.

Zhang Ruoyu was about to knock on the door, when someone behind him rode a tall horse and trotted all the way to catch up, and also turned over and dismounted in front of the door. When Zhang Ruoyu looked at it fixedly, it was Ji Xiaolan, Dun Min and Qian Du, and they couldn't help laughing.

Ji Xiaolan slammed her hooves and laughed:

"What's going on today? Did Xueqin post it? ”

"I just came back from Xinjiang, and my father ordered me to visit Cao Gongzi!" Zhang Ruoyu smiled and came over to the group, and said to Dun Min and Qian Du, "You go to visit Yashi in the snow, I am inferior to you after all!"

Ruo Yu is a veteran official of the imperial court, and has worked in many official offices, not to mention that he is the son of Zhang Tingyu, so the children of the capital, such as Ji Xiaolan, Qian Du, Dun Min and others, all know him. Before he went out with Fu Heng last year, it was Ji Xiaolan who was taking the high school entrance examination, and he also had a relationship. Unexpectedly, at the door of Cao Xueqin, this group of gentlemanly sons and gentlemen bumped into each other.

As he spoke, Ruo Wei stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After a while, as soon as the chai door "squeaked", Cao Xueqin leaned out, and when she saw that it was a few of them, she couldn't help but smile and said:

"I didn't expect it to be a few of you! Come in...... Ruo Wei, didn't you hear that you went to the Northwest Military Camp with Fu Liuye? ”

"Just a few days after I came back, my father asked me to come and see you, are you okay?"

"Good, good. Are Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang in good health? ”

"The more my mother lives, the more energetic she becomes," Zhang Ruoyu replied while letting the entourage carry the belongings into the house, "It's just that my father, after all, is old, and his health is not as good as a year." No, he couldn't come by himself, so he called me. ”

"Please come in quickly," Cao Xueqin greeted a few more literary friends, "Master Ji, how come you have some free time as an editor of the Hanlin Academy?" ”

"Hanlin Hanlin, retire and send the end of the age." Ji Xiaolan flamboyantly flammed her tongue, and came casually, "Editing and editing, taking a break but not editing, there are idle workers." ”

As he spoke, everyone flocked into the house.

Five earthen houses, the study is not small, and a few people seem to be very lively as soon as they come in. Zhang Ruoyu looked carefully, the main room and the west room were originally connected, and the study was so comfortable, but there was not even a ceiling on it. The east room is the kitchen, separated by a green cloth curtain, and the west side is a large kang. The kang table leaned against the south window, and there were piles of inkstones, paper and pens on it. Under the kang is a square table, but there is paper, scissors, and paste on it. In the northeast corner, there is also a bundle of sharpened bamboo strips. A few freshly tied kites were placed in the north of the kang, Fang Qing was cleaning up, and when she saw this group of people coming in, she generously came over and blessed everyone.

Cao Xueqin introduced Ruo Yu and Ji Xiaolan, who came to the door for the first time:

"This is the insider Fangqing."

"Oh, it turned out to be ......" Zhang Ruoyu looked at Fang Qing and then at Cao Xueqin, "Xueqin married her sister-in-law, hey, where is the maid Xiaohong?" ”

"Xiaohong is already married."

"Married? You gave her a free body? ”

"A woman's body is inherently free." Cao Xueqin turned her face to Fang Qing and introduced them one by one: "This is Uncle Zhang's Manchu son, Ruoyu, who has just returned from the Dajinchuan military camp. This is Ki-"

"Mr. Ji, we've met at the Sixth Master's Mansion." Fang Qing said to everyone again, and turned to Xue Qin:

"Master will sit with the guest, and I'll boil water...... It's just that there is no wine, and the dishes are all pickles, but how can it be good? ”

Xue Qin seemed a little helpless, and said with a smile:

"The friendship of gentlemen is as light as water, so ...... I had to replace wine with tea. This really fulfills the saying: 'If you have no wine, you must pity my poverty; Deeply speaking only tea, I also know the king's discouragement!"

"Xueqin, my mother brought you some food, all in the bag." Zhang Ruoyu instructed his entourage, "You go and help your sister-in-law." ”

"How did it get to that point?" Dun Min also smiled, "I have pork liver!" Ask my sister-in-law to cook, and I'll ask Maomao to get wine. ”

Mao Mao was followed by Dunye, and he hurriedly put a lump of pork liver and lungs in the corner of the wall, and Fang Qing took it to rectify.

Qian Du saw that she was moving slowly, and said to Xueqin with a smile:

"Fang Qing has a body. Whether it's making a tile, we can eat the soup, cake and wine. ”

While talking and laughing, Mao Mao suddenly said:

"That's not the sixth uncle coming, still carrying wine!" When Dun Min turned his head to look, it was the sixth child who was carrying a wine jar and walking leisurely in the snow. There was a carp weighing four or five catties hanging from one end of the burden, and he unloaded the burden at the door of Xueqin, wiped his face and shouted:

"Grandma Fang, is Master Cao in the house? The jade girl told me to bring wine!"

The people in the room suddenly smiled with joy, Dun Min rushed out and helped the sixth child carry the wine jar into the house, and Mao Mao carried the fish and handed it to Fang Qing. Cao Xueqin lifted the rice bag on the urn and poured wine into the urn with a smile:

"You are my Wang Lun...... It's the thirst for wine. Don't go, let's have a good time today!"

"Master Cao, I'm not the person on this table." The sixth said with a smile, "The second master of Dun and the third master of Cheng came back, and they got drunk by pressing it, and when they went back, the owner was so annoyed that the cover collapsed, and I brought out the names of the second master, and the old guy was so frightened that he had nothing to say." He picked up the empty barrel and said, "Yu'er said, this is the wine bought by Dun Chengye's money, and this fish." Asked Maomao to go back with me, and said that other gentlemen should drink to their heart's content, and Master Min should use less!"

The room full of people looked at Dun Min and smiled. The sixth man walked a few steps and then turned back to Cao Xueqin and said:

"Cao Ye is polite if there is anything, Grandma Fang has something, but you can ask my mother-in-law to help, and she lives not far away...... The couplet in our family, if you have time, write it out, and I will take the time to pick it up. "Then he hummed a little song and went out.

With the wine, the people in the room suddenly rejoiced. Cao Xueqin poured a pot and put it on the fire to warm it. In the east room, Fang Qing and Zhang's entourage were cooking, and the smell of meat spread through the curtain, making everyone salivate.

Ji Xiaolan has admired Cao Xueqin's name for a long time, and she had a few literary meetings before she tried it, and she had read a lot of Cao Xueqin's poems from Fu Heng, and she admired it very much. I never expected that this descendant of the famous hairpin clan would be so poor. While everyone was talking, Ji Xiaolan paced into the kitchen room, saw Fang Qing was cleaning up the fish, and pressed the fifty taels of silver ticket under the salt shaker.

"I didn't expect Brother Cao to be so poor." He walked out and sighed quietly.

The Cao family really has nothing, and the wine and food come up, and they don't even have a big dinner table. Cao Xueqin hurriedly removed the manuscript paper on the bookcase, carefully put it on the big kang, and then brought a small square table that usually eats with Fang Qing and the two of them, and put it together, which can be regarded as a dining table that can accommodate seven or eight people.

The table was full of fish and meat, steaming, the cups and chopsticks were arranged, Fang Qing refused to serve the table, and was pulled by Dun Minqiang to sit on the main seat with Cao Xueqin. On one side are Zhang Ruoyu and Ji Xiaolan, on the other side are Dun Min and Qian Du, and below are Ruoyu's two entourage. Cao Xueqin's thin face swelled with a flush, and she picked up her wine glass and said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, today is really a gift of flowers. If Brother Yu comes back from the northwest, he will come to the Humble House...... There is also Mr. Ji, Brother Qian Du...... Brother Dunmin has been coming and going a lot, you all have to drink well. ”

Ji Xiaolan is the most cheerful person, he picked up the wine glass and drank it all, wiped his lips and smiled:

"Ji Yun is free and easy, but he can't be as good as Brother Cao Zhan. Brother Cao Zhan did not enter the science field, and he did not become an official, but he lived in seclusion in Huangye Village, doing some calligraphy and painting, selling some kites, and writing "Red Mansion" with Fang Qing's husband, this is a real talent! ”

"Haha," Cao Xueqin usually writes lonely, how can she be happy today? After he gave everyone a full drink, he opened his arms and smiled, "True talent, fake talent, who has you Ji Xiaolan as a whole?" ”

"All of you, have you ever heard the story of Brother Ji Yun's night break and the prince's mansion?" Dun Min laughed.

"Tell me about it!" Qian Du is also a person who likes to have fun.

"This is what Mr. Ji himself said."

"That's the case," Ji Xiaolan took a sip of wine and said, "It was last winter, and it snowed heavily." I put on a cloak and went to the palace of Prince He, and the gatekeeper asked, 'Who are you looking for?' I said, 'See your lords.' The gatekeeper looked me up and down and said, 'Wait, wait until the younger one goes in and reports it.' When the prince was entertaining a distinguished guest, he heard that there was a man in a cloak who asked to see him, and he thought that he had no fisherman friends, so he said to the doorman, "Go and tell him that today's banquet is full of famous people of the day, and there are many guests in writing. When the doorman came back to me and said so, I took up a pen and wrote a sentence and handed it to the doorman—"

"What did you write?" Qian Du asked urgently.

"One piece, two pieces, three or four pieces."

"You, you're deliberately teasing Hongday." Cao Xueqin said with a smile.

"Who's to say it's not?" Ji Xiaolan said with a big grin, "Hongtian looked at it and said, it's snowing, of course Yongxue can, it's too straightforward, ask him to write again." I went on to write a second sentence—"

"Five, six, seven, eight, isn't it?" Fang Qing smiled and said Lang Lang.

"Exactly, Mrs. Sister-in-law is divine."

"If you want to tease people, that's the only way."

"Yes." Ji Xiaolan took a piece of pork liver and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing it tastefully, "It wasn't until I wrote down three or four sentences and handed them in, that the prince and the prince stood up and said, 'Poetry is like its person, Ji Xiaolan is here, go and greet him.'" ”

Zhang Ruoyu listened attentively and asked anxiously:

"What did you write to fool people?"

"My last two sentences are-" Ji Xiaolan said, "In fact, it is very ordinary: nine pieces of ten pieces fly one by one, and they don't see the reeds when they fly in." ”

"Haha, that's the truth." Ruo Yu couldn't help laughing, "I thought Ji Caizi had some kind of genius." ”

"A stroke of genius," Ji Xiaolan turned the finger at Cao Xueqin, "I still want this real talent." Ji is just a pawn of a man and a dealer in the mountain village, and Brother Cao Zhan is a wonder in the world, and he has been taught in Fu Heng's mansion a long time ago. It's rare to get together today, Brother Cao Zhan can't do without poetry and wine! ”

The crowd applauded and shouted. Cao Xueqin asked Fang Qing to stroke the piano and sang:

Flowers and flowers fly all over the sky,

Who has mercy on the red incense?

Gossamer soft floating spring pavilion,

The flocculent lightly dips the embroidery curtain.

The daughter of the boudoir cherishes the spring twilight,

Sorrowful and nowhere to go;

willow elm pod from Fangfei,

Regardless of Tao Piao and Li Fei;

Peach and plum can be sent again next year,

Who will be in the boudoir next year?

……

Hearing this, everyone was silent, and Cao Xueqin was even more tearful, unable to control herself. This is Daiyu's "Funeral Flower Words" that he just finished writing last night, although he is not very happy to write, and he still needs to revise the calendar, but he has already moved himself. Ji Xiaolan is a happy person, hearing this, she didn't want a good wine banquet to make the amorous genius stir up, so she smiled and said:

"If Brother Yu has just returned from outside the Saiwai, let's talk about the lonely smoke in the desert and the military that rises from the four corners."

Zhang Ruoyu was overwhelmed by the wine, put down the glass and said slowly:

"The Northwest Military began with the work of Naqin and Zhang Guangsi, and the defeat in Sichuan. In July of the thirteenth year, the Holy Lord strictly punished Jinchuan for his mistakes, and reprimanded Fu Erdan, Yue Zhongqi, Bandi and others. Qingfu was imprisoned, and Xu Yinghu was beheaded. This allowed Fu Heng to replace the Jinchuan military affairs. ”

"Yes," Qian Du interjected, "The emperor held a banquet twice and sent Fu Xiangye on the expedition, which was really a momentary glory. ”

"I followed Master Fu to Jinchuan," Zhang Ruoyu continued, "The governors of Sichuan and Shaanxi all listened to Master Fu's moderation, and Qingfu and Li Zhicui discussed the beheading. Ordered Fu Hengxun to know his relatives, and with the knife of his ancestor to curb Bilong, he beheaded his relatives in front of the army. The secret told Fu Heng to be suppressed by the party tyrant, and Fu Erdan handled Kasa all the way. All take the interest and calm the people, and for a period of April, they will be demoted to the class teacher...... Fu Heng really lived up to expectations......"

He is the mother's family of the Empress Dowager Niu Hulu, and he is also the uncle and grandfather of the concubine of today's Qianlong and Niu Hulu's family, and he is a first-class minister of the dynasty. Due to the loss of 100,000 soldiers and horses, he had to be beheaded according to the laws of the Qing Dynasty. Fu Heng was ordered, but he was also reluctant to give his ancestor the knife of Bilong to his relatives, let him kill himself, and give him a little dignity.

Dajinchuan Salopen and Langka and their gang rebelled, and after years of fierce battles, they also lost their troops and generals, and there was no food and grass, and they became the end of a strong crossbow. Fu Heng adopted roundabout means and finally succeeded in surrendering through peace talks. Fu Heng is still on the front line of Dajinchuan, and there are many happy events these days:

In December of the thirteenth year, Fu Heng Taibao was added.

In the first month of the spring of the fourteenth year, Ding Mao, with Dajinchuan Shaluoben and Langka begging, ordered Fu Heng to be a teacher, and specially awarded the title of "Loyal and Brave Gong".

Bingzi, Fu Heng was surrendered by Salopun, Langka, etc.

On the fifth day of the first month of February, Fu Heng set up an altar to remove the Dao and proclaim the edict to be surrendered by the Dajinchuan Tusi Sha Luo Ben and Shi Shelang Ka. Fu Heng was given four regiments of dragons to make up for it, plus two leopard tail guns, two pro-army guns, and Yue Zhongqi and the prince Shaobao. At the same time, he also rewarded Prince Taifu Laibao, Chen Dashou, Shu Hede, Celeng, Yin Jishan Prince Taibao, Wang Youdun, Liang Shizheng Prince Taishi, Dale Dang'a, Nayantai, Actun, Hadaha Prince Major.

In March, the emperor's eldest son and Prince Yu were ordered to welcome Fu Heng's triumphant return.

Ding Si, Qianlong led the Duke Fu Heng, Jing Liu, and the university scholar Zhang Tingyu to greet the Empress Dowager. Fengyue Zhongqi was a third-class duke, and he was given the title of secretary of the military department, and Fu Heng was ordered to manage the domain.

Fu Heng is proud of Jinchuan's military affairs, and it can be said that he is honored and noble, and his flying Tengda is beyond measure.

But at the same time, Zhang Tingyu is indeed old. As early as the second year of Qianlong, he resigned from the prime minister's affairs, and the emperor paid his respects to Rabul Hafan, and specially ordered to enter the third class with Ortai, and gave him the title "Qinxuan", which was still attacked by a haze.

In four years, Zhang Tingyu Taibao was added, and Qianlong said:

"The civil servants of this dynasty have no lords to marquis, Tingyu is an exception, and his life is self-serving, so there is no need to make Ruo Hao attack."

In the eleventh year, Ruo Ai unfortunately passed away before his father, Qianlong took Zhang Tingyu into the inner court and had to be supported, and ordered his second son Shu Ji Shi Ruocheng to enter the south study. Among the prime ministers of all dynasties throughout the ages, Zhang Tingyu is unique in the first place who has to help his son enter the south study because of his old age and frailty.

In the thirteenth year, the seventy-eight-year-old Zhang Tingyu once again begged for retirement from old age and illness, and Qianlong criticized him on his recital:

Qing received the favor of the two dynasties, and was ordered by the emperor to enjoy the Taimiao, how can he follow

Worship the Yuan Chen to return to the field and die old?

Zhang Tingyu had no choice but to see Qianlong and say:

"The Song and Ming Dynasty are worthy of enjoying the ministers, and there are also those who beg for leave. And seventy suspension cars, ancient and modern. ”

"Not really." Qianlong said, ""Yi" is said to be a matter of seeing a few, not about the country's welfare, and regarding the monarch and the minister as one. ”

"Your Majesty," Zhang Tingyu bowed and said, "The "Rite" says that it is seventy to the office, so the ancients regarded seventy as the year of the suspension car. The "Tongjian Catalogue" contains Wei Shikang's words: "The year is not twilight, and if there is an illness, you will resign." "Three Kingdoms Chronicles Xu Propaganda" cloud: "It is advisable to say, seventy has the gift of hanging the car, and now it is sixty-eight, you can go." It is resignation and abdication. 'The rest of the present retreat is just to follow the ancient way, and hope that the saints will observe it. ”

"Of course I know." Qianlong still warmly persuaded and said, "Huainanzi Tianwen Xun" clouds: 'As for the sad spring, the horse is called a hanging car. This is the ancient meaning. It is said that it is appropriate to rest at dusk, so that seventy must be suspended, why is there still eighty canes of the dynasty? Wuhou has done his best, what is it? ”

It seems that Qianlong's reliance on Zhang Tingyu is also incomprehensible. The seventy-eight-year-old man still barely stayed in the court, and he was specially ordered to enter the court with a cane, and he was also harsh on him with the example of eighty rods.

Zhang Tingyu replied at the time:

"Liang was appointed to the army, and the minister was fortunate to have a good tour of peace, and he could not talk about it on the same day."

Qianlong said again:

"Yes and no. Gao, Kui, Long, and Biyi are all the same. If you are responsible for the weight of the world, you will not be proud of your arduousness, and how can you be at ease? I think about it, not only by the emperor's ancestors, the emperor's excellent grace, but also by me, even if I have been treated for more than ten years, I should not say anything. I can't bear to let Qing go, can Qing Gu resign and go? I say that the discussion of the ancients must be the last resort. Those who are ministers will be indifferent to everything if they have this heart in advance, and they will be as general as Qin and Yue, and they will retire with dedication, who will come back to govern the country? It is impossible not to discern. ”

When the emperor said this, Zhang Tingyu naturally didn't want to speak again. In order to block Zhang Tingyu's mouth, Qianlong kept Zhang Tingyu by his side, and ordered the study to announce the "edict" he talked about with Zhang Tingyu, and allowed Zhang Tingyu to be relieved of his position as a minister.

However, Zhang Tingyu was indeed old and sick, and in the first month of the 14th year of Qianlong, Zhang Tingyu's movements became more and more slow, and even if he entered the court with a cane, he was still faltering. Qianlong had to order him to be like Wen Yanbo in the Song Dynasty, to discuss matters in the capital hall every ten days, and to enter the inner court to prepare advisers on the fourth and fifth days.

In November of that year, Zhang Tingyu begged again to recuperate, and Qianlong ordered the dismissal of the office to lead the supervisor and the president, and ordered Fu Heng, the minister of military aircraft and the loyal and brave prince, to visit Zhang Tingyu's mansion.

On this day, Fu Heng came to Zhang Tingyu's house, Mrs. Zitong greeted him, and Zhang Tingyu was lying on the newly built couch in the study. As soon as he saw Fu Heng walk in, he knew that he was visiting on order, and he was anxious to stay. Fu Heng stepped forward and said:

"Zhang Chenxiang, you don't have to come down on the couch."

"Sixth Master," Zhang Tingyu said with a bow, "Uncle Guo is now the busiest person in the imperial court, why do you want to waste time here?" ”

"It was the emperor who asked his ministers to come down to visit the old minister. Old lady," he turned to Mrs. Zitong, "is the old lady okay with his food and sleep?" ”

"Thanks to the sixth master, this is all fine."

"Well, what's so bad?" Zhang Tingyu coughed, calmed down, simply sat on the couch, and said with a wry smile, "It's almost eighty." As the saying goes, seventy-three, eighty-four, the king of Hades does not invite himself to go, and the old man is between the age when the king of Hades does not invite himself to go. ”

"Where do you come from," Fu Heng said with a smile, "As the saying goes, it's hard to buy a thousand dollars to be old and thin, the old man has a strong body, don't look thinner, this is a good sign of a long life." ”

"Hehe, Sixth Master," Zhang Tingyu smiled, "Don't tell the emperor again, this Zhang Tingyu may live to be 100 years old!" That's a lot of harm to the old man. ”

"Could it be that Xiangye still wants to take a leave of absence and return home?"

"Alas, I dare not speak up when I receive the favor of God, and my private wishes must be returned temporarily. Please tell the saint that the year after tomorrow, the emperor will tour the south, and the ministers should follow the example of their father who welcomed Kangxi Ye and greeted him in Jiangning. ”

"Since the old minister thinks about it like this," Fu Heng thought for a while and said, "Okay, Weichen will truthfully tell Banzai." ”

Qianlong listened to Fu Heng relay Zhang Tingyu's words, "The year after tomorrow, the emperor will tour the south, and the ministers should follow the example of their father to welcome Kangxi, and welcome him in Jiangning". and personally made three chapters of poems to give.

The poem says:

When the world is prosperous,

Pitch up and read Jun's grace.

Carefully adjust the element,

Essence and whiteness, yang and yin.

When smelling the ointment following the sundial,

Bullet exhaustion.

Xiangzhu Liangqing Festival,

Jiaotong Shu qin rhyme.

The Three Dynasties of Jiaershi,

Taifu forty spring.

Mo Yan Lao,

I hope to comfort my heart.

The following attribution:

Qianlong's pro-system would like to give Zhang Qinxuan a third-class uncle

The next day, Gao Wuyong, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, sent the Qianlong imperial poem and the plaque of the imperial pen inscription "Three Dynasties Ministers" to Zhang's mansion. Zhang Tingyu immediately took a sedan chair with a cane and came to the Qianqing Palace to thank the emperor.

When Zhang Tingyu knelt down with difficulty and kowtowed to thank him with the support of his son Ruocheng, Qianlong personally supported Zhang Tingyu and said:

"Old minister, please get up quickly. Sit. ”

Gao Wuyong moved to the soft pier, Qianlong and Zhang Tingyu sat opposite each other, and the pair of monarchs and ministers, who were two generations apart by 40 years in age, talked on their knees.

"Old Minister Hengchen, are you doing well lately?"

"Thanks to the Holy Grace, it's okay, it's okay."

"Aiqing's assistance to the Holy Grandfather, the Ancestor of the World, and the three generations of my kings is rare in history. I had the intention of keeping you in the capital to retire, but I didn't expect Aiqing to return to Tongcheng and insisted on going. It's okay, when I go on a southern tour the year after tomorrow, Jiangning will meet again. ”

"Your Majesty," Zhang Tingyu said gratefully, "Meng Shizong was ordered to enjoy the Taimiao, and he was instructed last year that it is not appropriate for the ministers to return to the field to die old, and I am afraid that he will not be able to receive a great ceremony after his death." Bow without a crown and beg for a word. ”

Although Qianlong was unhappy in his heart, he secretly thought that you, Zhang Tingyu, wanted to insist on returning to Tongcheng to return to the field for the rest of his life, and he still wanted to enjoy the Taimiao, both ends, and he didn't want to think about my repeated edicts to keep me, and didn't give me a step down, what is this called my dignity? But when I think about it, although this Zhang Hengchen is stubborn, after all, he is the prime minister of the three dynasties, and he is a good minister of the meritorious *** dynasty. What's more, the first emperor and the ancestor still have a destiny first, so he will be a favor, and he specially issued an edict for Zhang Tingyu and said:

Fengtian carried the emperor's edict and said: Qinxuan Bojia Prince Taibao University Scholar Army

Zhang Tingyu, the minister of the machine, has entered the ranks since the 39th year of Kangxi

He served as the minister of study and the minister of military aircraft in the three dynasties of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong

He also held important positions in the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Households, and was the minister of the two dynasties. for officials

Respectful and diligent, there is the style of an ancient minister, according to the first emperor Shizong, the end of his life

For a hundred years, it is given to enjoy the temple. Although please return to Tongcheng to return to the field to end his life, to

Ming Liu Ji still deserves to enjoy it after begging, and there is this precedent, and Teshen Shizong is fateful

Zhang Tingyu deserves to be safe. Chin this!

The next day, Gao Wuyong held the emperor's edict and the imperial poems given, and came to Zhang's mansion again, Zhang Tingyu knelt down to take it, Zhang Tingyu looked at the holy edict, reiterated that Sejong had made a decree to allow him to enjoy it after a hundred years, and his heart was both happy and very moved, and he immediately asked Ruocheng to enter the palace with Gao Gonggong to thank him.

Ruocheng was a ten-year jinshi of Qianlong, awarded the Jishi, and in order to support Zhang Tingyu's staff to enter the palace to prepare for the matter, he was specially appointed to the south study, and later moved to the cabinet bachelor. Ruocheng entered the Qianqing Palace, and the chief knelt down and thanked him:

"Father Zhang Tingyu, send Ruocheng to thank the emperor for his kindness, long live!"

Qianlong glanced at it and said with a straight face:

"Did Zhang Hengchen call you to thank you?"

"Yes—it was my father who called his sons to thank him."

Qianlong stood up and said angrily:

"Why didn't Zhang Tingyu come by himself? Is he sick? Can't get out of bed? ”

"Yes, Father...... My father was dyed small, and he was ...... a little sick, "Zhang Ruocheng is a lowly official, how can he see the emperor so thunderous and angry, and he was so nervous that he couldn't speak," yes...... It's not ......"

"Is he old and confused?" Qianlong was so angry that he walked over to the hall, walked over, and flicked his sleeves suddenly, "Zhang Ruocheng, you go, it's none of your business." Sick ...... That'......"

Zhang Ruocheng was so frightened that he retreated. As soon as Zhang Tingyu's son left, Qianlong didn't seem to have finished venting his inner anger, and exclaimed:

"Gao Wuyong!"

"The minions are here."

"Xuanjun Minister Fu Heng and Wang Youdun come in!"

"Yes."

After a while, Fu Heng and Wang Youdun walked in with their backs upside down. As soon as they saw Qianlong pacing around the hall alone, his face was blue and white, the two immediately became nervous, not knowing what was going on.

"Hooray, I wonder what is the matter with summoning the minions?" Fu Heng and Wang Youdun knelt there, and they all said in unison.

"Oh, flat." Qianlong waved his hand, trying to calm himself down, and said slowly, "It's not urgent." ”

Fu Heng and Wang Youdun glanced at each other and breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's the case," Qianlong sat down and sighed, "Zhang Tingyu's father and son have been the prime minister for two generations, and his father Wenduan Gong deserves to enjoy Xianliang Temple. After he returned to Tongcheng, every time the Holy Grandfather toured the south, Zhang Ying went to Jiangning to greet and wait, in order to release the thoughts of the monarch and ministers. ”

"Yes," Fu Heng said, "Weichen also heard that the Holy Grandfather had a southern tour and was in distress in Taihu Lake, and Gao Shiqi, a scholar of the university, and Zhang Ying, a scholar of Zhishi University, were escorted by themselves, and Gao Shiqi was injured and died suddenly in less than a year; Zhang Ying was frightened and couldn't afford to fall ill, and the courtiers protected the king, and it was rumored to be a beautiful talk for a while. ”

"But I-" Qianlong became more and more angry when he heard this, "I am very kind to Zhang Hengchen, and I intend to keep him in the capital for the rest of his life to enjoy the Taimiao, and also to fulfill my love for the important ministers of the three dynasties." Who knew that Zhang Tingyu was completely uneducated, and he repeatedly asked to return to his hometown in Tongcheng, and fell in love with enjoying the glory of the Taimiao. I remember that he is a minister who cares for his life, there is no merit and hard work, he issued his edict, allowed him to return to the field and allowed him to enjoy, such a vast imperial grace, he himself did not enter the palace to thank him, but sent his son Zhang Ruocheng to prevaricate me, you think about it I am not angry! ”

"How can this be reasonable, how can this be reasonable......" Fu Heng and Wang Youdun looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

"I order you to draft the decree on my behalf and severely reprimand Zhang Tingyu!" Qianlong said goodbye and walked away.

Fu Heng and Wang Youdun accepted the decree and withdrew from the palace, Wang Youdun was selfish, and begged for favor after the emperor was angry, so the will was not made, but he quietly sent someone to tell Zhang Tingyu about the emperor's anger.

On this day, Zhang Tingyu came to the Qianqing Palace in a sedan chair with a cane, asked to see the emperor, and apologized in person again. Qianlong knew that the decree of the reprimand had not been lowered, so he blamed Wang Youdun for leaking the news, and severely punished Wang Youdun in the early dynasty. At this time, the courtiers came out one after another and accused Zhang Tingyu of being disrespectful to the saint.

Liu Tongxun has long impeached Zhang Tingyu, Ortai, and Neqin for too many things and too much power, and they are suspected of being supported by the party. Now that Ortai has died of illness, his relatives were beheaded for military defeats, and there is only one Zhang Tingyu left who is too old to walk, and the emperor is so attached to him that he has repeatedly been grateful, and he is already indignant. Now Zhang Tingyu himself annoyed the emperor without knowing the severity, and he went out of class to add fuel to the fire and said:

"Zhang Tingyu, as an important minister of the Three Dynasties, is so disrespectful to the saint, and he has repeatedly given grace and does not know what to do, please take Zhang Tingyu's official title, and he will enjoy it!"

Wang Youdun, Minister of Military Aircraft, also wanted to beg for Zhang Tingyu, but Fu Heng pulled down his sleeves and stopped. Fu Heng went out of class by himself and said impartially:

"Even if Zhang Tingyu is old and frail and doesn't want to move around, but the saint can't help but thank him, at least he has to write a thank you fold and hand it over, and his son should not enter the palace to metabolize."

When the ministers saw that Uncle Guo had opened his mouth, they all bowed and said:

"What Master Fu said is, please make a decision!"

Qianlong also felt that this matter was a big trouble, and it was difficult to ride a tiger, so he took the golden mean and preached:

"Ordered to cut off Zhang Tingyu's earl title, retire with the original title of university scholar, and allow him to return to his hometown for the rest of his life, and he is still allowed to enjoy it."

And so the turmoil passed.

In February of the fifteenth year, this was the day when Qianlong personally promised to "wait for the ice pan in the spring of the next year, and the boat will return to the city", but unfortunately the emperor's eldest son, Prince Ding'an, passed away and was holding a funeral for the prince. Zhang Tingyu is like an arrow, and he may be dizzy and can't see the current situation clearly, so he recklessly handed over the fold and asked Nan to return it.

Qianlong was furious when he saw the excerpt, and immediately ordered Fu Heng to take the "List of Ministers of the Kings of the Taimiao" and show it to Zhang Tingyu, asking him to examine for himself whether Zhang Tingyu should still enjoy the Taimiao.

Fu Heng took the "List of Ministers of the Taimiao Worthy of Enjoying the Kings", like a hot potato to Prime Minister Zhang's mansion, and said as soon as they met:

"Old Minister Hengchen, you are also a little too anxious. No, did you make the emperor angry again? ”

Zhang Tingyu asked the reason, and sighed:

"I'm also anxious to go to the doctor, I just want this old bone to return to my hometown as soon as possible, and it's a hundred. I didn't think about touching the mold of Prince Ding'an's first sacrifice again. ”

"What now?"

"Let's go."

"You're leaving?"

"It's a hundred."

"The Thing That Deserves ......"

"Everyone will die, whether they deserve it or not."

"Worthy of enjoying the Taimiao, you are the first minister of the Han Dynasty in the Qing Dynasty!"

"Forget it," Zhang Tingyu knew that this time the emperor would not let it go easily, and said lightly, "I will write an excerpt and ask for a dismissal to enjoy the punishment." ”

"Ahem, at this point, I can't help it." Fu Heng took Zhang Tingyu's excerpt and returned to the palace to report to Qianlong.

A few days later, Qianlong dismissed Zhang Tingyu from enjoying it with the advice of the university scholar Jiuqing, but he was still exempted from punishment and allowed to return to his hometown in the spring and March.

Just when Zhang Tingyu's family was packing his bags and preparing to leave on time, and the official ships were all ready at the canal wharf, it was unfortunate that Zhang Tingyu's in-law, Zhu Quan, who edited and edited the Hanlin Academy and signed the Sichuan Xuezheng, was guilty of studying the case, and Zhang Tingyu recommended this in-law many times, and now he is naturally jointly and severally responsible. Perhaps Qianlong has never been able to get Zhang Tingyu's "ignorance of promotion", and this time he took the opportunity to severely reprimand Zhang Tingyu for negligence in recommending and ordering all the rewards awarded over the years.

Zhang Tingyu, the old prime minister who has gone through three dynasties and has been honored and topped, finally left the capital and returned to his hometown, leaving only the false title of scholar on leave. This is also in line with Cao Xueqin's words in "Dream of Red Mansions":

There is no way, and they are separated in the blink of an eye.

Red stripes, come and go without involvement.

Where to beg, smoke and rain rolls single line?

Once I am in office, the mangshoe's bowl will be broken with fate!