"Yes!" Fukangan was already disappointed, and suddenly got such a grace again, he was so excited that his body straightened, his eyes with tears lit up, and said, "The slave father, Fu Heng, has knowledge underground, and he must be grateful and grateful, and the emperor will fulfill Fukangan's loyalty and filial piety!" The slave went to say goodbye to his mother, and then went to the military department to handle the survey, entered the palace in the afternoon, and then listened to the emperor's instructions! Seeing that he was about to get up, Qianlong pressed his hand down to signal a while, and asked, "Are you going to lead troops in Beijing, or are you using Shandong Green Battalion?" Fukangan said: "Just use the local garrison." This is a group of clowns who jump off the beam, raise soldiers to political disadvantage, alarm the people, and are prone to doubts and rumors. Thirty muskets and thirty fast horses. The slave took the family slave to the starry night and went with the local green camp to conquer it. Within ten days, I will give the emperor a message. ”

Qianlong looked at Fukangan, and pondered for a long time before saying: "You can understand that Xing Dabing is politically disadvantageous, and it seems that he has made progress." First, we must fight thieves, and second, we must protect good people, and do not kill too many people; The third is to take measures to deal with the aftermath, and think about how to do a good job in the word 'consolation'. Even small enemies should not be neglected, and it is better to fight slower than to lose. If you are defeated, you are also the king of law and have no relatives, and I can't protect you, understand? Fukangan's handsome face was extremely serious, kowtowed and said: "The emperor has repeatedly taught him, don't be frivolous and frivolous, my father often has court training in the world, taking Ma Jian Zhao Kuo as an example, worrying that the slave is about to break the car, the words are still in my ears, Fukangan dares to forget the will of the monarch for a while?" Your Majesty, rest assured, I am willing to make a military order! Qianlong stared at this "nephew" for a moment, and wanted to say something, but said: "Kneel down, Ji Yun will go to the military department with you, and I will go to your house to visit your mother on my behalf." Go for it......"

He waved his hand, and Ji Yun and Fukangan resigned together. Looking at the two of them through the window, they turned to the wall, and then said to Li Shuyao: "You get up, sit on the pestle over there and talk." Without waiting for Li Shiyao to sit firmly, he asked: "The Lantern Festival is coming, what are the arrangements on the side of the Yamen, the commander of the infantry army?" ”

"Back to the emperor." Li Shiyao was sitting on his lap, rubbing his aching knees with his hands secretly, and said, "One thing is that it has been discussed with the Shuntian Mansion to protect the armor and prevent fire and theft." The Shuntian Mansion and the Admiral's Yamen are manned day and night, and the bucket and water truck fire brigade, as well as the officials of the Arrest Department, can be dispatched at any time. The second is to prevent the bandits from taking advantage of the festival to cause chaos, all the commanders of the Nine Gates and the Yamen military officials are all in civilian clothes, and the local youth gang, as well as Huang Tianba's detectives and arrests, and the eyeliner will be protected. Zhengyangmen, Xizhimen, Dongzhimen, Beiding'anmen, Chaoyangmen, more than a dozen lively places have bandits and fires, people must be stuck, the door must be closed at any time, can be controlled in pieces to arrest and fire, and another 2,000 sergeants do not change into civilian clothes, and the ministers are ready to use them. The first is that there can be no accidents, and the second is that the accidents cannot be chaotic and uncontrollable, so as to ensure that the Beijing division is peaceful and lively. The Shuntian Mansion and the Chenyamen have been registered one by one, and all the believers in the church, especially the suspicious persons above the owner of the Xiangtang Hall, have been kept under the watchful eye by special personnel, and there are people everywhere to supervise the sticks, street ruffians, and those who have committed crimes with criminal records, and the unemployed vagrants who have flowed into Beijing from other places. If there is an accident during the Lantern Festival, the emperor will ask Li Shiyao! ”

"Not even 'what if.'" Qianlong turned around and sat cross-legged on the kang and said, "I called you in to inform you, and the Queen Mother Lafayette and the Queen Mother should also have fun with the people and watch the lanterns." ”

Li Shuyao's eyebrows trembled, and he asked, "Please show the emperor, where to see the lights?" "Zhengyangmen." Qianlong said, "I want to issue a notice to inform the citizens of Beijing that I will personally go to the city to accompany the Queen Mother." The lamp market in Zhengyangmen should be lively. "Because the queen mother went to the city and the banquet of the hundred officials were told in detail. Li Shuyao's two brows were tightly twisted together and listened, and he was speechless for a long time.

"Huh? Having a hard time? ”

"The hour is a little too hasty, Your Majesty." Li Shiyao groaned, "If you use the front of the ministers to arrange, you will use the power of the thief a lot." Now the emperor is blessed with the Virgin Mary to watch the lanterns, and the feast is a major event in the prosperous era of praise and filial piety. The hunt for thieves is placed on the second secondary. Just to protect the area of Zhengyangmen Guandi Temple, there are no 20,000 people who can't. This inevitably leaves an opportunity for speculators elsewhere. Qianlong nodded again and again when he heard this, and said: "It's difficult for you to have this insight, and you can think of this right away, which shows that it is wise, even if the Queen Mother does not go to the city to watch the lanterns, it is also the top priority for the algae decoration to rule the world." It was the first time for Li Shiyao to hear Qianlong say that he was "wise" in the test, and he was so inspired that his eyes immediately sparkled with excitement, and he pondered for a while, and said: "As soon as the notice comes out, there is no need for officials to show Luo, all the businessmen and gentlemen will go to the Dashilar Guandi Temple outside Zhengyang Gate to set up a shed in the area of the Grand Corridor Temple on Qipan Street. Chen thought that the Shuntian Mansion would come forward to demarcate the lantern shed stalls, and the large merchants would pay the booth donations, and the temporary alarms for water and fire prevention would be managed by special personnel. The minister estimated that 700,000 people would gather here, and the Shuntian Mansion would be on the capital, and the minister's yamen would send 20,000, so he could be at ease. Then before the festival, it is necessary to make a big claim, ban all miscellaneous cults, evil temples and incense halls, and arrest all registered suspicious people. In this way, it can ensure that there is no accident in the Lantern Festival, but there is also a drawback, that is, it cannot be caught according to the original line of arrest. He paused for a moment, and then said: "I can only say a rough idea here, Rong Chen will go back to the yamen to discuss carefully with his subordinates, and then go back and forth to the emperor." ”

Qianlong was speechless when he heard this, and when he saw that he was about to resign, he stopped and asked, "Do you have any business about buying a manor in Guangzhou or other places?" Li Shiyao just got up, and was stunned by his question, and hurriedly said: "The minister has three manors, two of which are given by the emperor, one is the ancestral house and land of the minister's family, and nothing else." The minister has led the troops for many years, and the governor is also mainly military and political, once the general who leads the troops buys more land, not only is he afraid of death, but the heart of the general is also scattered...... "He expected this matter to be related to "smashing black bricks", and the first one thought that it was He Shen playing ghosts, because the words said: "Before He Shen went out of Beijing, he said to the minister, there is a manor in Shunyi County, more than 4,000 acres, and eight or nine two acres can be traded, and ask the minister if he buys it." The minister said...... "Okay, don't argue." I'll just ask you by the way. Seeing that his brain was sweating, Qianlong smiled and waved his hand, "I heard that Yu Minzhong, Ji Yun and Fu Heng had bought a manor outside Beijing, and asked if you know." Li Shiyao said: "Yu Minzhong Ji Yunchen doesn't know, the minister dares to guarantee that Fu Heng didn't buy it himself." I saw Fu Heng five days ago, and he also said that the Fu family was too prosperous, and that it was not good for the descendants to have more land manors, and he had seven manors, all of which were rewarded by the emperor, saying that he was leaving, and it was not appropriate to speak at this time, after his death, please ask the ministers to play secretly, and Fu Longan should pay it back, so that the emperor can know it in his heart, and fulfill his heart...... "Qianlong listened, lowered his head and thought about it, and said: "Fu Heng is too, it is all given by me, and the Fucha clan is still blocking the resignation, what does it matter?" Respectful and prudent, it doesn't matter if you have more estates, frivolous and indulgent, and few estates are not immune to disaster - you go! ”

Li Shiyao withdrew from the Inner Palace, did not return to the yamen, and ordered as soon as he lifted the sedan chair: "Go to the military department!" As soon as the words fell, the four-person green tweed sedan chair had risen gently and slid forward quickly. The sedan chair was very stable, and the children who were playing and chasing all over the street and the people who had nothing to do during the New Year flashed through the sedan window, but Li Shiyao's heart couldn't settle down, and he was still thinking about Qianlong asking about buying Zhuangtian. Despite Qianlong's repeated explanations, he was still suspicious, and this was not asked "by the way". So, is there someone who is messing with what is wrong? But the emperor still appreciates me! Is the word "wise" easy to accept? But then again, wisdom can also be said to be "smart", which is a mixed word...... He has always vaguely felt in his heart that since Fu Heng was seriously ill, the emperor had intended to cultivate Yu Minzhong and Shen. If you want to start a new stove in the military aircraft department, no matter how good Fu Heng's "stove" is, it will be demolished. I and Ji Yun are both from that stove, and Ji Yun has already felt it, so now I have to be careful not to take one step or say a word, maybe some capable people have also seen this layer, and have already helped the emperor to "dismantle the stove". But what about Gui? It seems that the favor will not be retreated, could it be that this "old brick" is still easy to use? Then there is Fu Heng's kindness before his death, and he is grieved after his death, and there is no sign of falling out of favor...... Following this line of thought, every time a topic came up, there were immediately new examples refuted, and he returned to his original position after a long time, still in the clouds and fog, he carefully reviewed every detail when Qianlong was summoned, and Qianlong spoke with joy or anger, or calm or urgent, or cool or contemplative...... Every voice and smile, every word, tone and even eyes...... They all swept it in their hearts, but they were still ignorant in their hearts, and they couldn't help but touch their foreheads with their hands: "Tianwei is unpredictable and the difficulty of Tianxin...... I'm old, I really can't keep up......" was dizzy from his thoughts, the sedan chair fell to the ground, and a Goshha said by the sedan window: "The military gate, the military department has arrived." ”

"Huh? Hmm...... "Li Shiyao woke up from the reverie alley like the ecstasy array, and saw that he had arrived at the north end of the Liubu Hutong, the first big yamen in the west of the road, and a large area of catalpa trees in the wall, and the bare branches were densely intertwined - it was the Yamen of the Ministry of War. At that time, it was just past noon, although the military department regulations do not have a holiday during the New Year, but in fact, there is nothing to do, except for the divisions on duty who dare not leave without permission, and the doors of the second hall of the rest of the lobby are tightly closed. Several bookstores are oily-headed old officials, sitting in the door of the bookstore next door to the signing room, sitting around the stove with the open door, plucking peanuts and drinking old rice wine, seeing Li Shiyao coming, they got up to welcome them out, and said that the New Year is good, invite those who "sit together", beat Qian'er and ask An Zuoyi, the face is enthusiastic and close, Li Shuyao can't call their names, but their faces are very familiar, pull this hand, pat that shoulder to socialize, and asked: "Hu Sima Gao Sima What about them?" ”

"The Ministry of Rites You Lao Zhongtang called—uh!" A scrivener laughed while drinking, "You Lao Zhongtang is their teacher, retired at home, it's not good not to go - you want to see them, hurry up here, and come back in half an hour." Li Shiyao said: "I don't want to see them, the five hundred catties that my yamen lacks**, as I said, have passed the fifth day of the new year, what time is it today?" There's not a shadow yet! This is to put Zhaohui's military affairs in mind, and he will do it as an officer-" I have to go down, I heard footsteps on the road outside the north gable, and the sound of talking gradually approached. Turning his face, a group of people had turned the corner, but it was Ji Yun who accompanied Fukangan in the middle, and He Fengquan, the official of the Arsenal, and Hou Mancang, the official of the Ministry of Defense, came over with five or six officials in a cluster of two. The group of clerks all smiled, stepped aside and stood with their hands down. Li Shiyao saw that Fukangan was full of filial piety, and he was also busy greeting him, and said, "Fourth master, I thought you had returned home!" I don't want to meet here again. ”

"The fourth master came here to choose horses and guns." Ji Yun said beside him, "I'm going to walk tonight, so I'll arrange to go back and say goodbye to the old lady first." Fukangan only nodded to Li Shiyao, but said to He Fengquan: "My people share thirty-two horses." Pick another six mules to spare, and you have to drive 1,500 miles in five days, and you can't drop people on the road. I'm sorry that you're busy for a while, and I'll choose the best ones for me. Don't blame me for turning my face if I mistook me. He Fengquan only said that it was true, and Fukangan was already asking Hou Mancang: "Who did you just say you were going to send to make up for the Gubeikou camp left to manage it?" ”

Hou Mancang hurriedly said: "Go back to the fourth master, called Chai Daji." Fukangan frowned and said, "This name is familiar." Li Shuyao was about to say, "It's from my yamen", and Wang Jibao, the chief follower behind Fukangan, said: "I forgot, it was the general manager who was drunk and detained Xiao Hu Kejing at the Yangzhou Post Station that year!" ”

"This person can't be reused." Fukangan didn't even want to think about it, and said, "I know this person—it's not a good acquaintance." Hou Mancang couldn't help but glance at Li Shiyao, and said in embarrassment: "But the fourth master, this is ...... The excellent narrative from the Fengtai Daying newspaper has been drafted by the Ministry of Officials-""What preferential narrative? Fukangan looked strange and said: "As long as the civil official is willing to use the silver, anyone can get a good story." Now the military attache is like this? You speak to the officials, and the person I'm talking about can't do it! After that, he and Ji Yun took a group of Hao slaves and left.

Li Shiyao stood stunned, Hou Mancang smiled bitterly and spread his hands to him, and said, "Look, it's a good thing, Fourth Master Fu collapsed in one sentence!" Li Shiyao asked, "When did Chai Daji offend Fourth Master Fu?" This man is not like a troublemaker! He looked at Hou Mancang and He Fengquan and shook their heads, and said, "Let's do my serious business first." Chai Daji's matter is not in a hurry, your staff department will keep his approval first, there is always a way. Hou Mancang said with a smile: "The most wretched thing is my department, I can't manage the small official, I can't manage the big official, and I have to seal it from me - the staff is poor and busy, it's really the truth!" He Fengquan smiled: "Let's change the two!" 'The arsenal and arsenal are idle and rich', it also depends on each person's style, right? You don't have much power, and you are also Mrs. Jiang on the spine of the Ministry of War! Messenger, wait ...... the man himself recuperates," he said, and the crowd walked all the way back.

…………

The Ministry of War was talking about it, and Ji Yun and Fukangan were also talking about Chai Daji. Ji Yun sat in a sedan chair with him, and the two of them didn't speak for a long time, seeing Fukangan's face sad and angry, Ji Yun pondered for a while and asked, "Brother Shi, are you still angry with Fang Si?" ”

"He doesn't deserve it." Fu Kangan breathed a heavy breath, stared at the front and said, "Old Liu Tongxun has a saying, a dynasty, when it comes to the time when buying and selling official positions becomes the norm, the general trend of the world will go." Therefore, Liu Tongxun and Liu Yong stayed up to the death to guard this pass for the emperor. I said that I would add one more, military attachés will learn from civil officials at all times, and they will not rely on fighting to promote officials, they will love money for fear of death, and the world will be over! He sighed and said: "Ten years ago, Chai Daji was still an unqualified military attaché, I haven't heard of what battles he has fought, what kind of merit has he made?" This is a general! The Gubeikou camp is a clean place, and it is okay to hand over the soldiers to such a person? ”

Ji Yun listened and looked at the young grandfather, handsome and evil, his slightly upturned chin was slightly tilted upward, and he looked at the dust with a look of contempt for others at any time...... couldn't help but shake his head secretly, and asked tentatively, "Brother Shi has seen this person in the past?" "Yes." Fukangan nodded and said, "At the Guazhou Ferry Station in Yangzhou." Because of how to save the girl Huang Li'er in distress back then, he sent Tietou Jiao and Hu Kejing to the post station to contact the residence, but was forcibly detained at the post station by Chai Daji and his colleagues, and said about the festival, and said: "If Hu Kejing is well-dressed and clearly said that he came on my orders, he was deceived like this, and I can forgive him." Hu Kejing pretended to be a flower child, and they were tied up in the snow! Is this still a thing? Only then did Ji Yun know the reason, and after thinking about Fukangan, he decided that Chai Daji was a "drill camp", and he felt reluctant. Because he sighed: "This is a narrow road!" He changed the subject and said: "I will see Mrs. in a while, it is better to speak tactfully when I am ordered, she is just your own son, and Fu Gong is still in bed, and at first glance she will feel sad when she says that she will stay away from going out to fight." ”

"I think my mother already knows. As long as I was in Beijing, she was watched wherever I went. When Fukangan heard him talk about his mother, his stiff face immediately softened, and he patted his knees helplessly and said, "She is always afraid that I will fall to my death when I go up the tree to pick up birds...... I shot down two geese with one arrow to show her, and she took pity on the dead geese! Ji Yun heard it and said: "Everyone in the world is generally minded, and my mother is like this." When I was a child, I bit the pen in my mouth to sharpen the ink, and she was going to take the pen down, saying, 'If you fall, you are more afraid of people than knives' - I stand there and sharpen the ink, and I can fall and gnaw the ground for no reason? Fukangan didn't follow this topic to continue, with the sedan chair flashing slowly, his eyes looked ahead with a little melancholy, and only said for a long time: "As soon as my father left, the personnel of the court changed again. Ji Gong, you have to be careful, there are too many villains now, and if you accidentally stand and grind ink, something will happen. ”

Ji Yun's eyes jumped, and he leaned back without saying a word.

"Obviously, the emperor has a Fu Heng, and he has to find another Fu Heng." Fukangan looked at Ji Yun sincerely and said slowly, "Serving my father at home and staying at home, I can see it more clearly." People went to visit my father, and the more sick they were, the fewer the junior and junior officials came, and the more diligent the big officials came, and later they became more and more careful when talking to my brothers. The market is booming, everyone comes to the market, the sun sets, and everyone goes back to their homes. ”

Ji Yun felt a chill in his heart when he heard this, and couldn't help asking, "What about Fu Gong?" What did he say? ”

"Of course my father knew, and when he came back from Burma, he said......" Fukangan choked in his throat, "'After the three springs, all the flowers are gone, and each must find his own door'...... I don't use it, you can see things that you can't see on weekdays, as long as you are willing to think about it, it is better to go through ten years of world affairs. If you want to read your Uncle Ji's "Notes on Reading Wei Caotang", you must be natural. If you have the ability, you can go out and earn it yourself, and if you don't have the ability, you will stay at home, and there will be no unexpected changes......" he said, as if he was overwhelmed by the cold, and leaned on the cotton cushion with both hands.

The more Ji Yun thought about it, the more he felt that Fu Heng was thinking about the world deeply and unfathomably, and he was like watching the fire, thinking of the fact that he was fooling around in a foggy alley these days, thinking about things more and more disorganized, even the noble son opposite, he was ashamed for a while, and he was a little frightened - he had reported to Lu Jian that he was preparing to investigate the "salt tea deficit" - it was really beyond his strength! "Alas!" sighed and said: "Brother Shi, don't read my books, it's all superficial opinions, you can only burn it!" As he spoke, he had already fallen off the sedan chair.

The two of them were stunned as soon as they entered the gate of the mansion, and when they stood and looked, on both sides of the long pebble road from the gate to the council hall, the spirit flags and white curtains were all withdrawn to the second gate, and the paper flowers and silks like a sea of white snow were trembling in the cold wind. More than 400 men are all linen clothes and filial piety hats on both sides of the corridor, the old ones stand against the wall, the young ones stand upright, the big knives hang from their waists, the nails seem to stand without squinting, and the two rows of people in the front of the council hall are holding water and fire sticks in their hands, and they are all standing straight. Ji Yunzheng didn't know why, behind him Wang Jibao took a step forward and whispered to Fukangan: "The old lady knows, this is for the master to choose his entourage." Fukang An nodded slightly, and Wang Jibao shouted: "Minister Qincha - our Fourth Master Fu is back home!" Ji Yun was shocked by his voice, and he didn't come back to his senses, and a family member at the door "snapped" and took two steps, and a Qian'er beat down, and said loudly: "Slave Hu Kejing knocks on the master!" Hearing this, Dean Man knelt down on one knee and said loudly:

"Say hello to the fourth master!"

The sound shook the trees and the jackdaws croaked and flew away. Fukangan glanced around with his eyebrows and asked, "What about the old lady?" ”

"If you go back to your grandfather, your grandfather and wife are in mourning clothes, and you can't go out to greet you, so you will wait for the young master and Master Ji in the West Flower Hall!"

"Get up and stand."

"Wow!"

"Wait here."

"Wow!"

In response like a thunderous roar, everyone stood up again. Fukangan stopped talking, let go with his hand, and took Ji Yun through the "Bing Hutong" to the gate of Xiyue Cave, and came straight to the West Flower Hall. Ji Yun followed nervously, crossed the frost and snow knife and gun formation, turned around a hedge, and saw Tang'er, Fulongan, Fu Ling'an and the two daughters-in-law of Princess Heshuo, as well as Fukangan's Xinfeng wife Huang all standing at the door of the study on the east side of the flower hall waiting. Even the two princesses and the brothers with Fulongan knelt down when they saw him two come in.

"E-niang!" Fukangan saw his mother standing in front of the flower hall with tears on her face, holding the cane in one hand and the pillar of the court in the other, looking at herself in a daze, with a sadness in her heart, she threw herself forward and staggered to the bottom of the steps, and fell to the ground with three rings, and said in a muffled voice, "Son-unfilial-" suddenly chopped his throat, but he trembled all over his body and couldn't speak.

Ji Yun often comes to Fu's mansion every three or five times, and he only talks through the curtain and window on weekdays, and it is the first time that a large family of people with heavy filial piety is dressed in a gathering hall. Tang'er looked pale, a little fatter than expected, and some people in her family already called her "old lady", but in fact, she was only in her early forties, and she still looked like a young woman with a good face and a plump body...... Secretly looking at the search for "Mrs. Huang" - the two princesses know each other, and the young woman standing behind Tang'er must be, wearing a thick filial piety dress seems to shrink her very small, and the filial piety cloth wraps her head so that almost only the eyebrows and eyes remain, naturally there is no powder, the middle of the eight-figure eyebrows is clustered, and the light lips are slightly dizzy - but there is no makeup, and the two princesses are eclipsed. Ji Yun thought to himself, such a character, he almost entered the tenant's house to be the daughter-in-law of the old bachelor, and he came out by chance to bump left and right, when the girl opened her face again, she entered the aunt and gave her marriage, and now she is about to be promoted to duchess...... Thinking about it, he waved to Tang'er on the side and said, "Madame, please mourn, cherish!" The fourth grandfather of Fu should be invited to the palace, receive the grace of heaven, and Zhao Zude, Mo Xuan begged for the thief for the country from Rong, that is the best of the people who are loyal and filial! Fu Gong knows underground, and he definitely won't blame him. ”

"I'm not to blame." Tang'er said. She looked weak, but her voice was unusually hard, "This is also his father's last wish." Though I love him, like an eagle, I have to give him up when it is time to fly! Son, get up and listen to me-the court sealed you this and that, it's true that you have a little credit and talent, but you can't earn it yourself, even if you beat the thieves in Shandong, I think it's a little interesting. I also want to ask you Uriya Sutai to be a general, and I want you to go to Zhaohui Hailancha to fight a big battle, and fight with a knife and a gun to serve the emperor to be worthy of you Amma. ”

"E-niang!"

"All the family members are in the front yard." Tang'er still looked at her son motionlessly, but her tone was categorical, "You can choose, you can choose, and you can take the silver." Anyway, you're going to fight for me! She slowed down her breath and said to Ji Yun: "Xiaolan Gong, you are Fu Heng's old friend, we have always been your own family, we don't avoid it, don't see you in the future, please sit in front of the ancestor for a while, and Kang'er will come to the front yard." Come back and let Long'er Ling'er accompany me, and see off Kang'er with three glasses of water and wine on my behalf. Success? ”

"Cheng, obey Madame's orders!"

"Except for the four grandmothers here, all women have no distinction of dignity and humility." Tang'er said, "If Fukangan doesn't leave, women are not allowed to go to the front yard." Kang'er go first, and see your father again when you come back from errands, and leave overnight! ”

"Yes, Eniang, my son is gone!"

Fukangan glanced at his mother, turned around and strode out of the inner courtyard of the flower hall. Wang Jibao and Hu Kejing both stood at the door of the Moon Cave like nails, and when they saw them coming, they raised their arms together and gave a military salute, Wang Jibao said: "Back to Grandpa, the military department has sent the bird gun musket and **!" ”

"Have you ever rewarded you with silver?"

"According to the old man's example, each person was rewarded with eight taels of silver!"

Fu Kangan nodded and stopped talking, and took Ji Yunjing to stand on the platform in front of the council hall. Hu Kejing then commanded his family to gather in a marching group, and in an instant a square team of more than 200 people had been listed, all standing upright under the tree in the courtyard to obey orders. When Ji Yun looked at it, the group of people holding water and fire sticks behind him did not move. All the remaining 160 or 70 people stood on the front steps of the east wing, the eldest was sixty or seventy years old, and the younger one was about forty years old, some were on crutches, some were supported by people, all staring at the platform with solemn faces, the footsteps stopped, and the courtyard suddenly fell silent. Ji Yun saw Fukangan take a step forward on stage, so he stood sideways and listened to him.

"The only child stands up - to the left!" Fukangan shouted.

The queue moved, and more than twenty young men silently stood in the east side.

"Follow Amma to Burma - stand on the right!" Fukangan shouted again, "Or those who have been killed or wounded in Burma, go over and go to the right!" He raised his right arm.

The team moved again, and this time less than forty people stood up.

"Those who have internal diseases, hidden diseases, and weak bones in their bodies, go out of the queue - to the back!"

People looked around, but no one came out.

"There are no superfluous words." Fukang An was magnificent, half tilted his face, slashed his right hand into the air, and said loudly, "There is a man named Lin Qingshuang, who led two thousand chaotic people to the turtle to pull the flag and set off a cannon to rebel. I asked for an order to exterminate this group of bandits, and the officers and troops there naturally had to listen to my command. But the people I led will form a death squad, and I will personally lead the attack, and show the green battalion soldiers how to fight! Therefore, those who are a little timid can't follow me, and those who don't have strong bones can't follow me. He suddenly raised his voice: "If you stand up like this, you will not be punished for fear of death!" ”

No one moved, and after a moment of silence, someone shouted behind the team: "Fourth master, there is no seed!" Take your pick! ”

"Yes...... Oh, it's Ge Fengyang. Fukangan looked behind him from the person, nodded to Ji Yun inconspicuously, and said, "Lao Getou's old son is my family's son and slave - where is your brother now?" ”

"Go back to the fourth master, be an envoy in Guizhou!"

"You also want to keep a platform?"

"Yes! Fourth master! ”

"Good boy!" Fukangan went down the stairs, walked to the hairy young man in a few steps, looked at his size, and suddenly waved his palm "pop" is two crisp slaps, and then another punch, hitting Ge Fengyang on the shoulder blade! Ge Fengyang stood up and received two palms, and his body was stumbled by him, and everyone was stunned and stood up again, shouting in a loud voice: "Fourth master, is it enough?" ”

Ji Yun had never seen Fukangan and this kind of style, so he was dumbfounded. Fukangan had already selected Ge Fengyang, patted him on the shoulder with his hand and said, "Don't be surprised when things change!" The bones of the body are still strong, you are the first one - go to the outside of the house to greet and feed the horses - egg and soybean dressing, understand? ”

"Wow!"

Ge Fengyang was stunned and ran away. Fukangan began to select people in the team at this time, but he didn't beat anyone again, just judged his body and complexion, and occasionally pushed to try his strength. The selected ones all stood at the foot of the front steps, all of them with a high spirit, looking at the rest of the people with anticipation. There were more than 20 of them, and even Hu Kejing picked them in, Wang Jibao was still standing stupidly on the side, and when he saw Fukangan turn around, he took a step forward in surprise and asked, "Fourth master, what's the matter...... No me? ”

"You...... Stay at home. Fukangan looked at Wang Jibao, who was a little stunned, with soft eyes, and said, "Your grandfather and the old man sent troops to release the horses, and your father followed the master to block the cannon in Jinchuan, and he hit more than 70 lead pills on his body, which is already crippled." If you don't go on the expedition, I'll take care of you. You are the original general manager of Qian, and you have already agreed with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of War, and you plan to be awarded the rank of general to guerrillas. The elderly in the family have to take care of it, and you also give some credit to others......" Wang Jibao didn't seem to hear Fukangan's words, and still muttered to himself ignorantly: "How can there be no me?" That's weird...... Will you miss my Wang Jibao? Fukangan was in a dilemma, and two people came out of the queue in the east, an elderly man with gray hair and a lame leg, but he came with a middle-aged man in his arms. The middle-aged man was severely disabled, blind in one eye, two crutches supporting one leg, one arm was gone, the empty sleeve was hanging diagonally, and the left half of his blind face was almost a scar, dark red and shiny It was scary - Ji Yun knew everything, one was the old housekeeper of Fu Mansion, Lao Wangtou, and the other was Wang Jibao's father, Wang Xiaoqi.

The two of them helped each other, and the crutches came over with a clatter, and they stood still in front of Fukangan. The old man trembled, stared at Fukangan, and said for a long time: "Young master, the old man treats my family like a mountain, how can Ji Bao not go?" The master is here, can you not let him go? …… Ji Bao came over to help your father, and I knelt down for the young master......" he said, coughing silently.

"Don't ...... Other! Fukangan burst into tears, his voice trembled violently, and when he saw Ji Bao coming, he held his hands far away, and said, "Take your father back...... Don't worry, I'll just take Yoshiho with me! Watching the three of them slowly retreat, Fukang turned to the platform and said, "A slave is like a slave, and my master must be more like a master!" Some battles are fought, this is what the emperor gave me, and you will have the opportunity to be promoted by hard work! He waved his hand and shouted: "It's still the old rule!" If you go with me, the monthly number of family members will be doubled! The disabled and dead are freed from slavery, and in addition to the military aircraft pension, they will be rewarded with silver, land, and houses! - Our Fu family minions, we want to play the governor governor, and play a bucket and three liters of sesame officials! ”

There was a slight cheer from the crowd, everyone's eyes were shining, and they were so excited that they rolled up their arms and sleeves, and even those who didn't hit the pick were all swollen, stamping their feet and arms eager to try. Then Fukangan ordered everyone to take off their filial piety clothes, and the head was covered with black veil, Ge Fengyang led people to carry two large wooden boxes, and the thirty-one bird guns were all just opened, and the black and shiny roasted orchid was shining with a faint light, and it was equipped without even rubbing the butter...... Fukangan himself also changed his clothes, with a golden dragon second-class crown embedded with four eastern pearls on his head, a four-clawed dragon python robe wrapped around a heroic body, a stone green horse coat on the outside, a four-piece jade plate inlaid with cat's eye stone black ribbon around his waist, and a bright yellow tassel imperial sword - which Qianlong had already rewarded him - the most eye-catching thing is that there is also a gold-inlaid bird gun with wheels on his waist, only about two feet long, and a string of copper bullets, which are coiled with the belt like a yellow snake...... There was a crackling sound of swords colliding, and the line was re-lined up, and the courtyard had become murderous. Fukangan's spurs stomped on the ground, nodded to Ji Yun, his face turned pale, and he said loudly: "Please give me advice!" ”

"I'll just say a few words." Ji Yun took a step forward, somehow, he was a little stunned in front of this group of "tiger and wolf soldiers", but he quickly calmed down, "The mourning soldiers will be auspicious!" Fu Gongying's spirit is in the sky, seeing the little grandfather so martial and loyal, and seeing his family so competitive, he must - bless you! Since ancient times, there will be no seeds, and fame will be earned. Fu Gong I's reputation depends on you to inherit and carry forward, and the little grandfather is invincible in both civil and military battles, and he will definitely bring you to play majestic! As soon as his voice fell, Fukangan took the lead, and the whole courtyard burst into applause.

Emperor Qianlong summoned Huang Tianba in the Heart Cultivation Hall at this moment. He did not sit in the East Warm Pavilion, and duansu dressed in a crown on the Sumeru seat in the main hall. Seeing Huang Tianba come in tremblingly, he stretched out a finger and nodded to the chair below, and said, "I'll speak after I finish this one." ”

Huang Tianba met Qianlong, he had always been with the class, he greeted him, and he retreated solemnly with a gesture, and it was the first time that he had been summoned alone in the Heart Cultivation Palace. His expression was solemn and confused, reserved and a little flattered, trying his best to calm himself, standing in the heart of a golden palace, as if he was a little overwhelmed. After hesitating for a moment, he knelt down silently, and his eyes glanced at Qianlong who was concentrating on writing from time to time. Until Qianlong put down the red pen, kowtowed deeply, and sang uncontrollably: "Long live my lord, long live!" ”

"Get up." Qianlong said casually, "Appreciate that you sit on the chair over there - serve tea!" Only then did he take a serious look at this strange man in the rivers and lakes. I saw that he had an ape-armed leopard back, and five locks of beautiful hair on his rectangular face covered a wide mouth, although he was in his fifties, his eyes were still shining, and his two sword eyebrows went straight to the sideburns, and he still seemed to be unable to use up his strength. Although he sits, his hands are so handy that people look worried about him - his butt is only half an inch next to the edge of the chair, his body is hard and straight, and his hands are still on his knees - this "sitting" method will make a fuss for anyone who changes. Qianlong said with a smile: "It's useless for you to sit like this, since you enjoy the seat, you might as well sit generously, and respect is not on this." ”

"Back to Long Live Lord, the slave is used to sitting like this." Huang Tianba said seriously, "The slave martial arts dart pedestrian, the entry is this skill. The apprentices saw that the slaves were like this, and the slaves didn't dare to sit down when they saw the emperor! "This is a song that does not leave the mouth and the fist does not leave the hand!" Qianlong stopped forcing him, changed the topic and asked, "I heard that you and Gao Heng are brothers-in-law?" Is there anything wrong? Huang Tianba's body trembled, and he hurriedly bowed and replied: "Back to Long Live Lord, Gao Heng and the slave have no relatives, but there is a reason for this." In that year, 650,000 taels of emperors were robbed, and it was the slaves and Gao Heng who escorted together, Shandong and Yizhihua fought each other, and Gao Heng and the slaves did the same errand. The sister of the minion Ma has an affair with Gao Heng. After Gao Heng committed a crime and was sentenced, it was the slave who collected the corpse, and the Ma sister was redeemed by the slave and cut her hair to become a nun - there are these mistakes, and the adults who don't complain are suspicious. The emperor asked, but the slaves did not dare to deceive. ”

When Qianlong stared at Huang Tianba, he said slowly: "You are a loyal person, I know all this. It has nothing to do with it - the turbidity is self-turbid, and the clear is self-purifying! Just collect the body for Gao Heng, some people say that you are embarrassed with him and are a raccoon dog, I said that Huang Tianba is different from other officials, he has his righteousness, how many things has he done for the court in the green forest, can you do it? He is now an earl, and he will be rewarded for his meritorious service in the future, and the marquis will also be rewarded—don't take it to heart when you say these things. With me, no one can harm you. ”

Huang Tianba's life's achievements are almost attached to Liu Tongxun's father and son, Liu Tongxun died suddenly, although Liu Yong was trusted by Qianlong, but the official position has not been prominent enough, he was a dart from the detective arrest fast, all the way to the earl, the civil official looked down on the military attache and was not convinced, but when he lost his backing, there was a taste of unsettled on all sides, how much gossip he heard, not only swallowed it himself, but also had to restrain the disciples to endure it, listening to Qianlong's words, full of grievances, helpless and awkward suddenly turned into tears, sadness and sadness can not be controlled, In the chair, his body fell to his knees, and he was already choked with convulsions, and said bitterly: "God knows the heart of the slave, and the Son of Heaven knows!" The slave is content...... Long live the Lord is so well cared for, and the slave still has a lot of strength. I can only do my best to repay the effect......"

Qianlong motioned to Sula to help him up, wrung out the towel and let him sit down with his tears, and waited for Huang Tianba to calm down before saying, "I tell you, don't be so short of breath and long-hearted. Liu Yong's will to enter the military aircraft has been issued, and you are still at his disposal—there is an envoy for you to do, but I heard that your apprentices are many disabled, and I am afraid—"

Huang Tianba was like a hound that heard his master's order, and immediately sat up straight, staring at Qianlong with blazing eyes, and said, "They are all faults, where are they so spoiled that they can't do errands?" The first thirteen apprentices of the slave took a flower and died, and the eldest apprentice suffered a stroke and a broken leg. There is also a little apprentice who went with the fifteenth master, and the rest is used. Long live the Lord sends, in the water and in the fire, there can be no ambiguity! ”

"Oh, it's that 'human sperm', and it's also your apprentice." Qianlong smiled and retracted, his anger returned to seriousness, and said, "There is a messenger here." The fifteenth elder brother is now in the Pingyi area of Shandong, and the county is already in chaos, I am afraid that there will be some surprises, Fukangan will send troops to recruit and suppress, and I am afraid that I will not be able to contact him, and I mean that someone will protect the fifteenth elder brother. In that case, the mission will be handed over to you. ”

"The slave will go in person, long live rest assured, only the slave is dead, and he can't hurt half a hair of the fifteenth master!" Huang Tianba said angrily, "Apprentices, go!" ”

"You can't go all," Qianlong said, "The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is approaching, and Li Shiyao is going to solve the case in Beijing." I can rest assured that I will have you to go. I expect that with you, no one will be able to hurt my son. ”

There is such a sentence, Huang Tianba is already twelve points satisfied, he pondered for a moment and said; "The slave took Liang Fuyun to go, he is familiar with people in Shandong, first ordered the green forest to pay attention to not killing, and then I calmly looked for it."

"It's up to you, go to the seer to see Liu Yong. He knew what he was going to do. Qianlong thought that there was nothing to say, and said for a while: "You go down!" ”

Seeing Huang Tianba retreat from the hall, Qianlong sighed tiredly, frowned and stood up, seeing that the sky outside the window was already dark, the little eunuch was holding candles and distributing them to each room, and called Wang Bashame and said: "This time Fukangan is only afraid that he will go on the road, you ride a horse and then go to the Fu Mansion to pass the decree, Fukangan and Liu Yong will each reward a lynx monkey velvet cloak, and they want to hang noodles in bright yellow - and then go to the queen's palace, and inform her that she has been with Lafayette for a day today, and she is tired, and I will turn over Chen's brand today, and I will not go." With that, Wang Lian came over and added a shawl to Qianlong. Several eunuchs escorted Qianlong to the Jianfu Palace where the Chen family lived.

Jianfu Palace is in the northwest direction of the Yangxin Palace, and the queen is living in the Chuxiu Palace, and there is only a Xianfu Palace in the middle. Xianfu Palace is the residence of the Shunzhi abolished queen Borzigit, stained with this layer of bad luck, Jianfu Palace is regarded as a "cold palace", even the eunuchs and palace maids are around, not to mention the concubines and concubines, these nobles, is the most deserted place in the western half of the inner city. Because the Xianfu Palace has been abandoned for decades, the palace gate has been blocked for many years, the wild artemisia in the palace is overgrown, the fox badger and the weasel are infested, and there have been snake wounds and eunuchs. Chen's position among Qianlong's many concubines is medium, the "holy family" is good, and it is not bad with Yanyan's mother Wei Jia's family, but he has a calm and free personality, and never competes with others. Others are competing to catch up with the stove nest, and squeeze to live in the side courtyard of Kunning Palace, Zhongcui Palace, Chuxiu Palace, but she chose this pure place - she embraced this "indisputable" purpose, and she was kind and cheerful, and the palace was full of jealousy and jealousy, and she was the only one who won popularity. The group walked through a gloomy and dark alleyway, and the first few eunuchs were so frightened that they didn't dare to turn back, and they didn't dare to turn back after taking a step without pulling into the gate of Jianfu Palace. Qianlong seemed to be in a good mood, and when he saw that the eunuch guarding the door was going to go in to report, he smiled and waved his hand and entered the palace gate alone.

These are three small halls with two lights and one dark, and the lights have been turned on. On a large wooden couch under the north wall of the outer hall, Chen and Wu Ya sat cross-legged, and the four slender hands turned the rope under the spotlight lamp, playing attentively, and they didn't even notice Qianlong coming in. Cha Wu Ya turned out a new trick, four fingers picked up eight red velvet, the two ends of the rope were glued into two strands, and a red knot was pulled up in the middle, Wu Ya saw Chen's face was embarrassed, and said with a smile: "This is called 'two dragons playing with pearls'." He pointed to the "bead" in the middle and said: "Two hundred and eighteen, the red bead in the middle is sixteen threads accumulated, and it can't be picked up with one hand - pick up the first two knots with your little finger, bite it with your teeth, and the eight fingers of the other two hands are hooked apart, and the backhand is pulled outward, and it will open." Chen smiled: "This time I have been dizzy, which is where, I can't tell the clue, where to bite with my teeth, and which one should I hook with my fingers?" Wu Yashi smiled: "I heard the queen mother say, you still let's 'open a hand' - come, put the rope in your hand, I'll open it!" Chen agreed and handed it over, but suddenly stopped in mid-air, and she saw Qianlong standing in front of the couch - she knelt on her knees on the couch, and said with a stunned smile: "The master is here!" ”

"I've been watching you for a long time, what a picture of "Beauty under the Lamp"!" Qianlong said with a smile, "This two dragon play beads are really complicated and difficult to open. Come, put the rope on my fingers, and you can open it and see. He stretched out his hand. Wu Yashi also half-knelt up and reached out, carefully put the rope sleeve on the four fingers to Qianlong's hand, but Qianlong's hand was twice as big as her, and intentionally or unintentionally rubbed against her hand, Wu Ya's face was enthusiastic and heartbeat, and his hands trembled left and right, Chen smiled and helped take the rope to put his fingers, and he was busy for half a meal before changing the "Two Dragons and Pearls" to Qianlong's hand. The two women were already so busy that a fine sweat broke out on the tips of their noses.

Then there is the opening of the hand, Qianlong's hand is big, the eight-strand rope sleeve can be seen, the middle of the intersection line is only four inches long, and the hand hook and bite again, Wu Yashi is a "shy face" description, even the hand to take the lead by Qianlong "slashed" in the hand to open that hand. Wu Yashi easily bit the thread in his mouth, and when he pulled the thread outward with both hands, he suddenly felt that Qianlong's fingers were pressed on his lips, and he smiled and pulled apart, and only two threads were twisted into one in the middle, and Wu Ya's left and right palms were entangled with two "red bumps" - it was already a loose relationship.

"What is this? This is Erzhu Dragon Play! - You ...... you talk about it," Qianlong clapped and laughed, "What are you doing stupidly with a rope in your mouth?" It's really funny for you two to kneel in front of me like this......" The two of them laughed and got off the kang. Chen ordered someone to serve fruit and tea on the kang table, and Wu Yashi said coquettishly: "Is the master's dragon hand too big......?" Qianlong had already stopped laughing, but when he heard the word "dragon hand", he laughed again, and said: "You bragged yourself, is it weird?" Chen said: "That year, Fu Liuye's Mansion chose Ding, and there was an eleven or twelve-year-old hairy boy who was recruited. Fukangan thought that his body was thin, so he didn't want to go over. The boy pointed to a few family members and said, 'Fourth master, they are bringing ropes, poles, and knives, are they going to kill pigs?' It takes five people to kill a pig? I'll do it alone! So saying, he snatched a pole and a knife, and carried it behind the back of his hands into the pigsty. Fukangan followed, and the boy pointed to a big fat pig and said, 'Is this the only animal?' Seeing Kang'er nodding and passing without saying a word, Leng Ding's stick was raised and struck, and the pig turned over on all four hooves without having time to snort. This kid then grabbed the knife into the pig's neck before it reached the root of the knife, and even hit and killed in the blink of an eye, and the account was settled......"

She said so vividly that Qianlong and Wu Yashi both listened to it, and Wu Yashi was just about to ask, "What about later", Chen said: "That kid looked angry, let go of the knife and looked at Kang'er, put his hands on his waist and said: 'Fourth master! What do you think? Is it enough? I-'I didn't finish speaking, the pig's 'moo'' let out a long howl, and the four hooves propped up his body, and a knife under his neck 'suddenly' came out of the pigsty, screaming and running around, and Wang Jibao also arched his back, and the yard was full of pig's blood, drenched in the ground--it turned out that this child was from the butcher's family, the pig in the township was small, and the pig of the Fu family was three hundred pounds, and it was naturally useless to kill him in his old way...... But he bragged to himself, Kang'er still appreciated him, and in the end he still accepted it......" Chen smiled as he spoke, and Wu Ya covered his mouth with laughter, "Killing a pig is also a twist and turn for the master, the master is really strong!" In the month of the Great New Year, he said bloody, and he was not afraid of the master's taboo......" Qianlong smiled: "What is the taboo here? It is not taboo to kill pigs (Zhu), and I have killed many people with the surname Zhu. Ming Dynasty Qiantang River troubles Zhu Longpo[1]

, the emperor's surname is Zhu, and he didn't dare to say 'kill Zhu Longpo' in the excerpt, so he had to say 'Yuan' (Yuan), and ordered to 'kill the turtle fiercely', and the soldiers killed the turtle cleanly, but Zhu Longpo was safe and sound, he should eat people and eat people, he should bite livestock and bite livestock, he couldn't make a fuss......"

After laughing for a while, the three of them went to the bed, Chen Wu and the two of them waited for Qianlong to enter the late, Qianlong asked Wu Yashi: "There are many foreign officials in your house, what are the rumors outside?" Okay, just tell me about it. ”

"The prince is so sick that I can't see outsiders and hear nothing." Wu Yashi said, "Some women came in to greet me, talking about Fu Liuye's illness, some ......" She looked at Qianlong, chewed the almonds slowly, and seemed not to care, and then said, "Say that the queen is gone, and the sixth master will have another long and short, this is the fortune of the Fu family...... Seeing Yu Minzhong coming up, and Shen Liu Yong'er jumped up, this is another character. Isn't it feng shui in turn? ”

Qianlong's heart moved, and he pricked up his ears: he hadn't heard this, nor had he thought about it, unexpectedly, outsiders had already said it-seeing Wu Yashi looking at himself, he hid his smile and said: "It's okay, I don't ask or care, you just have to say!" ”

[1]

Zhu Longpo: Suspected to be a crocodile.