Introduction to this chapter: A "madman" in the eyes of most people, but in the mouth of Zeng Guofan, he is a genius in the world.

When he was a second-class high-ranking official, he had to clean his face and wash his feet for his deceased mother.

After reading this chapter, you can't help but feel it.

On August 23, the second year of Xianfeng, this is a day that the people of Changsha can not forget for a long time since the Qing Dynasty entered the customs.

On the morning of this day, the sudden increase in the number of soldiers at the head of the city made people feel very different from the past, and at noon, the four gates were suddenly closed, and the governor Zhang Liangji also ascended to the head of the city surrounded by a group of staff.

Since the 15th of last month, the people of Changsha have been nervous for a day. The difference is that Lord Futai did not personally ascend to the top of the city, and the soldiers in the city are still old faces. But today it's different.

First, the two battalions originally stationed on the outskirts of the city were upgraded and moved in, and later several battalions were added, apparently from the green battalion requisitioned from other provinces. These green battalions were used to wandering, and as soon as they arrived in Changsha, they began to run around, claiming to be happy before the fierce battle. The uproar reached noon, and the people in the city were already annoyed and annoyed.

Zhang Liangji's desk received 70 or 80 pieces of looting and nonsense from the officers and soldiers of the Green Battalion in the first day, which made Zhang Zhongcheng so nervous. Originally, they were all invited by themselves to protect the safety of Changsha, and it took a lot of words and promises to recruit them. Now it seems that Changsha cannot fall into the hands of the Taiping army, but there is a possibility that it will be destroyed by these green camp ancestors.

Zhang Liangji sat in the signing room of the governor's yamen, dizzy, sighing again and again, and deeply regretting his mistake.

Zhang Liangji, a native of Tongshan, Jiangsu (now Xuzhou), is a Caichen, a Shiqing, and a first-class background. Zhang Liangji served as a cabinet secretary and cabinet attendant, and was released to the prefect of Lin'an, Yunnan. In the first year of Xianfeng, he was transferred to Guangxi as an envoy for half a year, which coincided with the promotion of Luo Bingzhang, the chief secretary of the political department, to the secretary of Guizhou, and Zhang Liangji to supplement the political secretary of Guangxi.

Zhang Liangji was transferred to Hunan at the age of 45 when he was promoted from the post of chief political secretary of Guangxi. According to Xianfeng, all officials in Guangxi, no matter how big or small, will never be transferred unless they die in battle.

It was also in time for Zhang Liangji's official star attack, and one day he took a few Goshha to a squire's house to raise money. Halfway through, I happened to meet a yellow sedan chair, on which were embroidered with two monkeys, and five or seven people carried them, hurrying away. Zhang Liangji concluded from experience that this must be an official of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Because the officials of the Qing Dynasty, except for the emperor, the prince and the chief examiner of the examination, are not allowed to take the yellow sedan chair, and no monkeys are allowed to be embroidered on the sedan chair. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is different, no matter how big or small, officials all sit in yellow sedan chairs; The sedan chair likes to embroider monkeys, saying that it can be sealed.

Zhang Liangji was originally a little strategic, when he saw the yellow sedan chair coming, he immediately scattered his entourage in two places, and when the yellow sedan chair approached, he suddenly jumped out, one aimed at a "long hair", and stabbed the long sharp knife in the chest, and he didn't miss it, but it was also clean and neat.

stabbed down these "long hairs" carrying the sedan chair, and tied the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom officials in the sedan chair into the shape of pigs to be slaughtered, and quickly carried them back to the temporary yamen of the political secretary.

After careful interrogation, it was a division commander with the rank of a third-grade general!

Zhang Liangji was not happy when he heard this, and after leaving the hall, he immediately bowed to the Jingshi and asked for merit.

A few days after the excerpt arrived in Beijing, the holy decree Pegasus was delivered to Guangxi: Zhang Liangji rewarded the second grade and wore the military department as the acting governor of Hunan. Zhang Liangji became the first person to jump out of the fire pit in Guangxi.

As soon as he entered Hunan with his front foot, the Taiping Army drove the big war ship purchased from the Yiren on the back foot, and rushed to the lake to fight widely; Wuchang, the capital of Hubei Province, is already in a stalemate, and it is not guaranteed. Once Wuchang was lost, the next target of the Taiping army was Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province. In addition to asking the emperor to increase his troops in Changsha, he Zhang Liangji really had no other way to think about it.

The governor's yamen has been making a lot of noise in the past few days, and there is no quiet at all, and those who ask for money and food are all justifiable. Zhang Liangji was stirred up to hide, there was nowhere to hide, and he couldn't wait to strangle himself with a rope.

Since Zhang Liangji joined the company, it is the first time he has encountered such a situation. Now he doesn't even bother to do his favorite thing like drinking tea, and his face is sad all day long, and he can't keep up the slightest energy.

Zhang Liangji finally hid until noon, ate a tasteless meal, and quietly went to the bedroom to sleep, feeling much better.

In the afternoon, he saw that there was no news from Wuchang, and it was estimated that the Taiping army had not yet succeeded, so he took people to the dock to see if Zeng Guofan, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites who had returned home for funeral, had arrived. In the duke, it is common for the local governor to welcome the court officials who have returned home; In private, Zhang Liangji had a good relationship with Zeng Guofan when he was a Beijing official.

Zeng Guo's nationality was subordinate to Xiangxiang, Hunan, and Ding Wei was the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, and he also served as a servant of the military, engineering, criminal, and official departments.

Zeng Guofan's original name was Zicheng, the word Bohan, and the number Disheng. Born in the sixteenth year of Jiaqing (1811 AD). At the age of 20, he entered the county school, at the age of 24, and at the age of 28, he was a jinshi. Hand-picked Hanlin, scattered museum to give review. He used to be the examiner of the Sichuan Township Examination, and he was promoted to 10 levels in nine years, and he was the fastest promoted one in the same list. When he was promoted to the second rank, his Hanlin year, Hu Linyi, had just sat in the position of the prefect of the fourth rank. Zeng Guofan is known as a literary name, and his official reputation is also good. He was Ding's mother on the way to Jiangxi.

In the Qing Dynasty, no matter whether the Manchu or Han officials were on errands, as long as their father and mother died, they had to immediately hand over their official duties and leave their posts to return to their hometowns to keep their filial piety. Han officials, whether Beijing officials or foreign officials, must abide by the system for three years. If it is full, it will be more relaxed. The civil and military officials of the Eight Banners in Beijing can enter the office for 100 days; Ding Wei, a foreign flag officer, must re-enter Beijing after 100 days to introduce him and appoint him as appropriate.

According to the Manchurian people at that time, the Qing Dynasty was the country laid down by their ancestors, and they naturally enjoyed privileges.

Zhang Liangji received the news that Zeng Youtang had returned home for the funeral, so he went to the dock every day to wait. It's been more than 20 days, and Zeng Youtang hasn't been seen yet. Could it be that Zeng Shilang has already passed Changsha?

Zhang Liangji's green sedan chair had just arrived at the dock, and before he got off the sedan chair, he heard the same Goshha shout: "Lord Zhongcheng, look at it, the tengu is going to eat the sun!" ”

When Zhang Liangji heard this, his heart jumped first, and he hurriedly got off the sedan chair and looked up, and saw that there was something in the sky that looked like a dog and not a dog, and it was approaching the sun step by step with its mouth wide open. Although the dog's body did not grow, it was so loud that the sun dodged and dodged. Half the sky will soon be dark.

Zhang Liangji's heart hung in the air, and he didn't know what the world would become after the sun was eaten by the tengu.

When the tengu approached the sun, he ate it without hesitation. The whole dock looked up in horror.

The sun was eaten smaller and smaller, and finally swallowed it in one bite, and the heavens and the earth turned black in an instant.

"Ahh Zhang Liangji sat on the beach and said to himself: "Such an act is definitely not a good omen!" -- If you dare, I will clear ......."

The Goshkhas all left their ministries and fell to their knees, kowtowing to the sky.

The darkness lasted for half an hour, and it was only little by little that the tengu spat out the sun. The sky gradually began to brighten.

Zhang Liangji got up as soon as he got up, and then he remembered the person he wanted to pick up, so he turned his head to the dock, but suddenly found that a boat was docked on the shore, and two people in short clothes were busy carrying things from the boat to the shore.

Zhang Liangji couldn't help but take a step forward, watched carefully, and saw a middle-aged man with a plain white body slowly walking off the boat.

Zhang Liangji couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw it, let go of his throat and shouted: "Disheng, I can look forward to you for my brother - how did you get there?" ”

The person known as "Disheng" was stunned, hurriedly raised his head, and when he saw Zhang Liangji, he couldn't help but say: "Zhang Zhongcheng, you don't guard Changsha well, what are you doing here?" ”

Zhang Liangji took Zeng Guofan's hand and said, "Disheng, Changmao hasn't come over yet, and the green camp in Changsha has been requisitioned and transferred, and the trouble is almost over!" I've been waiting for you at the pier every day! - Disheng! Get into my sedan chair, and we'll go back to the governor's yamen to talk in detail. ”

Zeng Guofan smiled bitterly and said: "Brother Shi Qing, please, Disheng is a person who rushes to mourn, how dare he disturb the government!" ”

Zhang Liangji hurriedly said: "Disheng, Changsha has become a pot of porridge, I, a foreign monk, can't be suppressed!" ”

Zeng Guofan didn't say anything, turned his face to the third brother of the Nan family standing next to him and said, "Third brother, you go into the city to call a carriage and a sedan chair, we have to hurry up!" ”

The third brother of the Nan family agreed, let go of his legs and ran towards the city.

Zhang Liangji stomped his feet and said, "Disheng, do you have something to say?" - You and I have been together in Beijing for a few years, can't you see my jokes! ”

Zeng Guofan looked at the back of the third brother of the Nan family and said: "Brother Shiqing, the success or failure of Wuchang is in these few days, why don't you hurry up the training - listen to Disheng's words, go back to the city quickly." Longhair is fierce this time! ”

Zhang Liangji became more and more anxious: "Disheng, do you dare to ask Brother Wei to kneel down for you?" Have you forgotten that Changsha and Xiangxiang are close at hand, Changsha is not guaranteed, and Xiangxiang is also difficult! ”

Zeng Guofan's whole body was shocked, he looked at Zhang Liangji with his eyes, and said: "If you want to keep Changsha safe, you quickly go and ask Xiangyin Zuoji Gao Zuo Zongtang to come out of the mountain!" A Zuo Ji Gao can top 100,000 green battalion soldiers! ”

Zhang Liangji smiled all over his face: "You have said this sentence earlier, why am I in such a hurry!" -- I'm going to find that Zuo Jigao! ”

Zeng Guofan waved his hand and said: "Brother Shi Qing, quickly put down your governor's big shelf - Zuo Ji is not better than others, your brother may not be able to invite him in person, but he will also have to ask people!" ”

"Good!" Zhang Liangji said while getting on the sedan chair: "What if the headquarters will personally invite it!" - Disheng, I have already sent the banner, and when I am done for a while, I will go to worship the old aunt. You can't blame me. ”

Zeng Guofan thought for a while, and suddenly said: "Brother Shi Qing took a step slowly, and Di Sheng forgot to explain a word. You saw that Zuo Jigao, don't say that I let you go. As long as you say that everyone in the world says that there is a Zhuge Liang in Sanxiang, then Zuo Jigao will be able to go out of the mountain! ”

Not long after Zhang Liangji's sedan chair left, the carriage and sedan chair called by the third brother of the Nan family also arrived.

Who is Zuo Zongtang? Why does Zeng Guofan think so highly of this person?

Don't worry, listen to me slowly.

Zuo Zongtang's character is Ji Gao, and he was originally a person in Xiangyin, Hunan. He was the former governor of Liangjiang Tao Shu's western seat, and was recommended by Tao Shu, and was invited by the late minister Lin Zexu to go to Guangxi to praise the military. Because Lin Zexu fell ill halfway, he did not succeed.

Zuo Zongtang once entered the northern part of Beijing twice, and after that, he gave up the idea of taking the test and devoted himself to studying military affairs. "Three Taos", "Six Strategies", "The Art of War", and even the famous works of soldiers of previous dynasties, he almost read them well. Luo Zenan has the nickname of "Lao Liang", people call Liu Rong "Xiao Liang", and he calls himself "Jin Liang", which means Zhuge Liang today. Many people regarded him as a fanatic and did not associate with him, and only a few people of insight knew his roots.

In fact, as early as when Zhang Liangji left Guangxi, Hu Linyi, the prefect of Liping, Guangxi, recommended Zuo Zongtang.

Soon after Zhang Liangji arrived in Changsha, he wanted to hire Zuo Zongtang into the scene, but he was opposed by all the staff. Zhang Liangjiwan didn't expect that Hu Linyi's praised capable member had such a bad reputation, so he had to give up.

Now seeing that Zeng Guofan is also full of praise for Zuo Zongtang, Zhang Liangji made up his mind, no matter what, he will invite Zuo Zongtang into the scene.

As soon as Zeng Guofan entered the Chengguan of Xiangxiang, his heart jumped suddenly.

First of all, the shops on both sides of the street were closed, and then the faces of the passers-by who walked were full of melancholy, as if the Taiping army was rushing from behind.

Zeng Guofan sat in a sedan chair, looking at the street scene and thinking: "Once Wuchang is defeated, Changsha is in danger!" ”

If you don't get out of the city for five miles, there is a large empty field, which has a nice name: Dianjiangtai. According to legend, Guan Yunchang, the Shu general of the Three Kingdoms, practiced soldiers and horses here.

When Zeng Guofan's sedan chair passed by, he accidentally found that in the open space in the past, thousands of people had gathered today, some holding knives and some holding sticks, obviously practicing martial arts. Looking at the clothes, it is not a green camp, it is clearly the local people who farm.

Out of curiosity, Zeng Guofan asked the sedan chair to stop, he wanted to see who their leader was.

The third brother of the Nan family jumped out of the car and rushed over, "Young Master, why did the sedan chair stop?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Who summoned these people here?" ”

The third brother of the Nan family glanced at it and said, "Young Master, who summoned it, what can he do!" - Long Hair really called, do you still want to count on these people to protect the county? These people can protect the county, and the ghost believes it! ”

Zeng Guofan was looking at it, but he saw a tall man in the distance on the official road, and he hurriedly ran over; There was still a stone's throw away from Zeng Guofan's sedan chair, so he let go of his throat and shouted: "Look at the excitement, but my right uncle who is a big official in Beijing?" ”

Zeng Guofan was stunned for a moment, not sure if he was calling himself, so he turned his head and looked at the pronunciation.

The man flew to the front.

"Ahh The man turned over and knelt down, kowtowing and saying, "My right cousin, I want to die!" Why don't you give me a letter? Do you dare to forget that I can't do it? ”

Zeng Guofan hurriedly picked up the man, identified it carefully, and couldn't help blurting out: "Aren't you the Fu Si of the Xiao family?" - Getting more and more handsome and lovely! ”

Xiao Fusi said: "Uncle Youtang still remembers Fusi's appearance!" - Uncle didn't know, three days ago, I was cruising back and forth on this official road, just to pick you up. Wouldn't you just meet you? -- Uncle, the whole family looks at you all the time, how can you still watch the excitement here? These little birdmen can practice a trick! Let's turn around! ”

Zeng Guofan settled down, and then said while boarding the sedan chair: "Fu Si, let's turn around - get up the sedan chair." ”

Xiao Fusi grinned and said, "Uncle go slowly, let me report the news first!" ”

After Xiao Fusi finished speaking, he didn't wait for Zeng Guofan to answer, so he let go of his stride and walked away.

Zeng Guofan looked at Xiao Fusi's back and said to himself: "What a good material for the army!" ”

The funeral of the Zeng family in Lotus Leaf Tang was done relatively quietly.

This is mainly because Wuchang is fighting fiercely with the Taiping army, and there is a danger that the city will be broken at any time; Once the city of Wuchang is broken, the next battlefield of the Taiping Army will be Changsha!

Due to the current situation and the admonition of his eldest son, Zeng Guofan, Zeng Linshu did not publish a single obituary.

However, when the old mother of the famous courteous servant of the Ministry of Rites died, it was not a trivial matter after all. Jiangxi Governor Lu Yuanliang, Jiangxi Xuezheng Shen Zhaolin, Hubei Governor Chang Dachun, Hunan Governor Zhang Liangji, Jiang Zhongyuan, who was brought to Changsha from Guangxi to help defend the guard, and other officials from near and far still sent the banners and the ceremony early, and sent them over on fast horses; Hu Linyi, the prefect of Liping, Guizhou, didn't know where to get the news, and he also sent people all the way to Xiangxiang to add a banner to the old lady's spirit.

According to Zeng Guofan's instructions, Zeng Linshu left all the banners, and the Dian Yi did not accept any of them, and handed them all over to bring back.

As soon as Zeng Guofan's sedan chair arrived at the head of the village, he saw the fourth brother Guohuang (actually the second brother, the word Chenghou), the sixth brother Guohua (actually the third brother, the word Wenfu), and the ninth brother Guoquan (actually the fourth brother, the word Yuanpu) with his sister and more than a dozen clan relatives and friends, all standing in the wind, waiting for him with their eyes wide open.

As soon as Zeng Guofan saw the filial piety cloth on the heads of his younger brothers and sisters, he hurriedly shouted, "Get off the sedan chair!" ”

Zeng Guofan had not yet stepped out of the sedan chair, and a heart-rending "mother" had flown out of the sedan chair.

The palanquin drivers felt that the palanquin was tilted, and Zeng Guofan had already planted it straight out of it.

Guohuang stepped over and hugged Zeng Guofan, and the brothers cried in a hurry.

Xiao Fusi was anxious and shouted: "Before you reach your birthday, why are you crying in the wind?" - It's cold, it's not fun to be frozen! ”

As Xiao Fusi spoke, he took a step forward, put Zeng Guofan, who had already fainted, on his back, and walked to the village. Everyone gathered around the left and right, all the way forward.

After going to the mourning hall for a long time, Zeng Guofan woke up.

Zeng Guofan broke free from everyone, climbed to the feet of his father Zeng Linshu first, and cried while kowtowing: "My son is not filial, and he is too late to come back!" Let Daddy suffer! ”

Zeng Guofan climbed in front of his mother's longevity step by step, hugged his mother's coffin with both hands, and cried loudly, as if he had thousands of grievances to confide in his mother.

"Kuanyi," Zeng Linshu called the name of the country's domain: "People can't be resurrected after death, you have taken a long way, hurry up and collect your tears." Mother, she knows your troubles. From ancient times: loyalty and filial piety can't be both! ”

Although Zeng Linshu said this, tears fell from his eyes.

"Brother," the eldest sister Guohui also cried and said, "You can rush back to mourn your mother, and your mother's spirit in the sky will be satisfied!" ”

"What kind of disease does my mother have?" Zeng Guofan finally stopped his tears and asked Guohui: "Why are you in such a hurry?" ”

"Suddenly sick!" Zeng Lin said: "I don't know what evil I have committed, and your grandfather has a symptom." Let's talk about the headache first, it hurts like something, and it doesn't work even after taking two pairs of medicines. Later, I added numbness to my feet, and I couldn't walk steadily. went to Changsha to invite Chen Huatuo, but the person who went has not yet arrived in Changsha, and she is no longer acting here! - I went without taking any chances! ”

Guo Hui said: "Although my mother can't speak when she leaves, her eyes are just looking at Ji Ze. Mother really wants to see you! ”

In a word, Zeng Guofan cried bitterly.

After everyone talked and persuaded him, Zeng Guofan asked Guohuang to bring a basin of water in, and asked everyone to move Shoutian away, Zeng Guofan wanted to clean his mother's face and wash his feet.

When Guo Hui heard this, she was so anxious that she hurriedly pulled the corner of her father's clothes.

Zeng Linshu understood, and said to Zeng Guofan with tears: "Kuanyi, your father knows." But a few of them have already washed your mother's face and feet. According to Dad, forget it. You are weak, and you feel sad when you see your mother! Your heart, my father took it for your mother. ”

As soon as he heard this, Zeng Guofan burst into tears again. He cried and said: "My mother gave birth to me and raised me once, and I can't stay by my side when I live as a son, and when I leave, my son will no longer clean his face and wash his feet for his mother, how can you let your son stand in front of people in the future?" ”

Zeng Linshu knew that his son had made up his mind, so he had to nod to Guohuang with tears in his eyes.

Guo Huang hurriedly walked out, and after a while, he walked in with a basin of water and a cloth towel.

Zeng Linshu beckoned two subordinates to come over and move Shoutian, and said in his mouth: "Kuanyi is a mother, Kuanyi came back to see you." A wide body is weak when you hit a child, so don't scare the child. ”

The heavy Shoutian was finally moved away with a squeak.

Zeng Guofan endured his grief and crawled closer, looked at his mother's remains, and shouted softly: "Mother, why are you in such a hurry!" The son has been approved by the emperor, and when he comes back from Jiangxi, he will go to his home province! Mother, my son can't be filial piety before you are alive, so he can only wash your face and feet after you leave! ”

After saying this, Zeng Guofan took a cloth towel and washed it in the basin, and then began to clean his mother's face and feet.

The old lady was dressed in the robe of the lady of the fate, with her feet in the clouds, holding a piece of white bread in her left hand and a dog-beating stick in her right hand, and lying quietly in the longevity, her eyes closed peacefully, as if she was asleep. The gray hair has been combed neatly and neatly. Somehow, the woman's headdress was not put on her head, but was placed next to the pillow. All of the above are the burial customs of Hunan.

Relatives and friends of the Zeng family gathered around Shou to see how the forty-two-year-old second-class high-ranking official of the dynasty cleaned his face and washed his feet for his deceased mother.

People sighed and wept. Everyone is proud of the old lady and proud of all Hunan people in the world!

That night, in front of his mother's spirit, Zeng Guofan discussed with his father, wanting to show his mother the land the next day, afraid that once Wuchang was not guaranteed, the Taiping army would enter Changsha, and his mother's spirit would really not be good. This was much more than Zeng Linshu expected.

According to Zeng Linshu's idea, he originally wanted to wait for his son to come back and handle this funeral well. No matter what, the Zeng family is the first household in Hunan after all. is in a hurry, not only is it difficult to explain to the Jiang family, but even if Xiangxiang is a hundred miles away, he will also be gossiped about.

Zeng Linshu hesitated for a moment, and said: "Kuanyi, my father is not as big as the world you have seen, do you think it is appropriate to bury your mother in such a hurry?" - We can't let your uncle pick on them! ”

Zeng Guofan knew his father's concerns, so he said: "It stands to reason that I was busy burying my mother as soon as I got home, and I was in a hurry, but now it is different from the past." The long hair is sharp, and it is killed all the way from Guangxi. The officers and soldiers fled when they heard the news, and many governors and generals were killed on the battlefield. The world knows all the things that I am worried about, and I will also know the long hair. If the mother is not buried in time, once the long hair is killed, not only will the birth suffer, but even the mother will be humiliated! - Daddy, my son has no choice but to do this! How could the son not want to make his mother's funeral vigorous! ”

Zeng Linshu let out a long sigh and said for a long time: "This damn long hair!" "Put your hands behind your back and walk out slowly.

When Zeng Guofan saw his father going out, he raised his right hand and wiped his eyes.

Zeng Guofan kowtowed to his mother's coffin and said, "Mother, there is no way for my son to do this!" If you have a spirit in heaven, forgive your son this time! ”

After dinner the next day, Zeng Guofan brought the third brother of the Nan family and the prince of Qi, Jing Qi, and decided to choose a piece of land for his mother in the back mountain of Badou Chong and the lower waist. Zeng Guofan's grandmother was buried in Twenty-four Mudouchong, and his grandfather was buried in Badouchong. Eight Dou Chong was originally known as Eight Bull Fighting, and it is said that the place is as imposing as eight cows reaching the horns. There are more than 120 hectares of farmland and more than a dozen hillside wastelands placed by the Zeng family in the early years. When I was a child, my grandfather Hoshioka took Zeng Guofan to hunt birds, and it was in front of and behind the mountains here.

When he came to Badouchong and looked at the mountains and rivers here, Zeng Guofan was full of excitement and emotion.

After living in Beijing for more than ten years, he forgot some of his classmates in Lianbin Academy and Yuelu Academy, and he couldn't remember how many individual shows in the county school, but he remembered clearly the chapters and chapters where his grandfather took him to hunt birds, including his grandfather's smile and cheeks, every move and action, and he couldn't forget it.

In a flash, he was in his forties, and his son Ji Ze was also in his teens, but he had never brought his son here to catch birds. Son Ji Ze is also very sensible, at a young age, he even knew that his father was a big official in Beijing, and it was indecent to bring his son to catch birds, so he never asked for it.

When his grandmother died, he lived at home for more than ten days, and every day in addition to receiving relatives and visiting friends, he didn't even think of playing alone with his son for a day!

Every time he eats, whether it is in the lotus leaf pond or in the Beijing teacher, he can feel the longing and hope from his son's gaze from time to time.

At this time, he said to himself as if he had made a final decision: "Tomorrow, no matter how busy you are, you will take your son to play for a day!" ”

It was this little wish that he has not fulfilled until today! I owe so much to my son! It's just too much!

As soon as he thought of this, he felt an inexplicable sense of remorse in his heart.

Now that he has finally taken off his official body. Not only can he play with his son every day, but he can also take his son to the wild to hunt birds with great fanfare!

There are people in the fields doing farm work, pulling weeds, or loosening the ground. You don't need to ask Zeng Guofan to know that these are the helpers of the Zeng family.

Zeng Guofan beckoned to them, but I don't know if they saw it, so they still did their own work.

When he arrived at the grave of Badouchong's grandfather, Zeng Guofan asked the third brother of the Nan family and Wang Jingqi to put the offerings they brought, knelt down and turned into a few pieces of paper money first, and kowtowed three times, before he got up and looked for the ground for his mother.

Zeng Guofan stood up, but suddenly felt a buzzing sound in his head, followed by a flower in his eyes, and spit out a mouthful of blood.

The third brother of the Nan family and Wang Jingqi hurriedly held Zeng Guofan up, and slowly helped him to sit down on a stone.

Zeng Guofan gasped for a long time, and his face turned a little.

He sat against Wang Jingqi for a while, sat straight until his legs were a little numb, and then helped the third brother of the Nan family to stand up slowly; was blown by the wind, but almost fell down.

"Third brother," he put the third brother of the Nan family on his shoulders and said sentimentally: "I have been a Beijing official for more than ten years, but I haven't created a trace of happiness for the people, and I haven't shared a trace of worry for the court, but I have added a lot of illnesses to myself - my body is bones, but this Beijing official has been ruined!" ”

The third brother of the Nan family said: "Young master, you have been weak since you were a child, and you didn't have a good rest when you came back. The iron-beaten man can't stand it! ”

Wang Jingqi also said at this time: "Young master, your old name is known to the whole of Hunan!" You say, why do you even dare to judge the Hou Ye? ”

Zeng Guofan sighed, felt the strength in his body, stopped talking, let go of the shoulders of the third brother of the Nan family, and began to inspect the ground for his mother. Until he turned around, he didn't answer Wang Jingqi's words.

Although Zeng Guofan does not believe in feng shui, he still understands this knowledge. Yang Zhai emphasizes three not to be affected by three things: not to be affected by water, not to be affected by the wind, not to be poor; By the light of the sky, by the light of people, by the light of abundance. Yin House pays attention to three haves and three nos: there are distant mountains, living water, and big trees; No anthill, no dead soil, no evil beasts.

According to these elements, Zeng Guofan inspected for two hours before selecting a piece of land in a piece of abandoned land in the back mountain of the lower waist. This piece of land is two and a half miles away from the eight buckets of the grandfather's land, on the right side of the eight buckets, and the grandfather's tomb is far away. Standing here, you can see Hutou Mountain, and at your feet you can climb the long-flowing Zanglong River, on the right is a square forest, and on the left is the tall tomb of my grandfather.

Zeng Guofan grabbed a handful of soil casually and saw that there was sand in the soil, and the sand body was colored, light, and bright, proving that it was breathable, breathable, and vigorous.

Zeng Guofan asked the third brother of the Nan family to insert a bamboo stick according to the direction, and told Wang Jingqi to send someone here as soon as possible to dig his mother's grave.

Wang Jingqi agreed one by one.

On the way home, Zeng Guofan suddenly asked Wang Jingqi: "Jing Qi, when I passed through the city pass, I saw many people practicing and practicing at Dianjiangtai, who summoned it?" ”

Wang Jingqi was stunned for a moment, then relieved, and said, "You always talk about the county's group training, right?" ——It was the governor Yamen who appointed Zhu's parents, and Zhu's parents appointed Luo Xianggong and Liu Xianggong to do it, saying that it was to protect the county seat. By the way, the master of the house is not only the nominal head of the regiment, but the second young master of Guohuang is also the deputy head of the regiment that is really lacking! What, doesn't the eldest young master know? The group training in Xiangxiang County is the best in Hunan! ”

Zeng Guofan was stunned for a long time before he woke up, and he said as he walked: "No wonder I didn't see Luo Shan and Meng Rong, it turns out that they are busy with big things!" - But I see them practicing, with knives, sticks, and axes, and they don't look the same. Didn't these people die for nothing? ”

Wang Jingqi hurriedly said: "Young Master, this kind of thing is okay for your old man, but no one in the countryside dares to say it." A few days ago, because Liu Zhuang's Gou San'er was unwilling to pay the group training fee, he said, 'Yongding can fight Changmao, and Changmao will not rebel', so he was arrested and quickly locked up and taken to the county prison. Not only did he take a lot of money for the group training fee, but he was also fined fifty taels of silver. After that, no one will dare to gossip anymore! ”

Zeng Guofan didn't say anything more, but what he thought in his heart was: "This Zhang Liangji, it's really nonsense!" ”

Luo Xiang's official name in Wang Jing's seven mouths is Zenan, the word Zhongyue, the name Luoshan, and he was born in all lives. In the hall within a radius of 100 miles, there are many disciples who go to school. He is a famous gentleman in Xiangxiang and has a lot of prestige. Before Zeng Guofan's examination, he had a close relationship with Luo Zenan; After Zeng Guofan entered Beijing, the two often exchanged letters.

Meng Rong is Liu Rong's character. Liu Rong is called Xia Xian, who is also born in Zhusheng, known as a strategist, and is also a friend of Zeng Guofan. The Taiping Army rose, and regimental training was initiated in various places. The county magistrate Zhu Sunyi asked Luo Zenan to take charge of the matter, and Luo Zenan hired Liu Rong to go out of the mountain to help. In today's group training in Xiangxiang, if Luo Zenan is the coach, Liu Rong plays the role of a military advisor.

The three of them silently walked to the entrance of the village, and met several neighbors who were hoeing grass in the field.

Zeng Guofan was about to open his mouth to greet him, but several people knelt on the ground first, kowtowing and saying, "Greetings to my lord!" ”

Zeng Guofan hurriedly helped several people up one by one, and said: "I am worried about my mother, I am no longer an official of the imperial court, and I must not call it like this again in the future." ”

Several people said in unison: "I don't dare to wait for the killing!" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "I have a Qing official system, and the officials are the people. In the future, whoever calls me an adult again will not be Zeng Disheng's fellow countrymen! "After speaking, raise your legs and leave.

Several people were stunned for a long time, and one of them muttered: "My child, the master of her mother's village, is just a county with a lack of points, and he is all famous, who dares not to call him an adult when he sees him, and he is still shouting for the yamen to take people!" - The eldest young master of the Zeng family is good, a second-grade high-ranking official, just a Ding worry, not a Zhishi, but he is not allowed to call him an adult, but it's strange! ”

Because they were in the limelight, Zeng Guofan and the other three heard it clearly.

The third brother of the Nan family said: "Young Master, after all, you are a person who has been a high-ranking official, even if Ding is worried, what can you do if you are called an adult?" - Everyone respects you! ”

Zeng Guofan smiled bitterly and did not speak.

Back at home, Zeng Guofan went straight into the spiritual shed.

More than ten days later, Wang Jingqi took people to the back mountain of the lower waist to dig the grave of the old lady.

The whole Zeng family began to be busy with the funeral.

September 13 is the burial date chosen by Zeng Guofan for his deceased mother.

To Zeng Guofan's surprise, not only did Luo Zenan and Liu Rong rush over, but Zhu Sunyi, the magistrate of Xiangxiang County, also sent a famous master and several officials to Zeng's house to help with the funeral.

Zeng Guofan said a lot of good words, and only then did he persuade the master and the official to retire.

The first household in Hunan, Zengfu in Xiangxiang County, was particularly lively on this day.

Seeing his mother enter the ground, Zeng Guofan's heart completely fell to the ground.

On the day of returning from the funeral, Zeng Guofan quietly called the Zeng family's helper, who was also a relative named Jiang Gui, to the side, and whispered: "Jiang Gui, you should leave for Changsha now." Don't alarm the government, and don't mention to people that it's from the Zeng family in Xiangxiang. You can find someone you know and find a way to get a Bible out of the church. I heard that the long-haired surname Hong relied on this set of books to make a fortune. You go now. If someone asks, they say that they will go to Changsha to visit relatives. ”

sent Jiang Gui away, and Zeng Guofan invited Luo and Liu's two friends into the study.

Luo Zenan also forgot to comfort his friend who was suffering from the loss of his mother, so he didn't sit down, so he said, "Do you know Disheng? Wuchang has been broken by long hair! More than 40 people under Governor Chang Dachun were killed -- Chang Zhongcheng was also stripped of his long hair and hung on the head of the city! ”

Hearing this, Zeng Guofan was stunned, and he didn't know what to say for a long time. (End of chapter)