Reading guide: A group of fake "long hairs" are making trouble in the county, and Laozhou County is in a dilemma.

Zeng Guofan's words were astonishing, and fifty-four human heads fell to the ground in an instant.

The resident waiter walked back to the village, and met his younger brother who sounded the gong and opened the way to collect the group practice fee. The second-rank high-ranking official Ding Wei was still like this during the period, if he was still in office, what should the family's behavior be in the township?

Zhu Sunyi entered the hall, and while performing a big salute, he said: "Lord Lingtang passed away, Lord Zeng returned to his hometown, and the lower officials were not present, and the two sins are combined to apologize." ”

Zhang Wufeng and other cadres who came with him also greeted Zeng Guofan.

Zeng Guofan helped Zhu Sunyi sit down and said, "Zhu Mingfu is too polite. He is a person who is worried, and he is no longer an adult. I hope that the parents and officials will not call them any more adults, otherwise it will be difficult to speak. ”

Zhu Sun stood up and arched his hand and said, "The lower officials don't dare to do this if they have the courage to do this!" Lord Zeng is so humble, it really makes the lower officials embarrassed! - Lord Zeng, wherever the lower officials are used, but according to the orders, the lower officials must follow it! ”

Zeng Guofan suddenly said: "Parents official! Have you ever caught the long hair of the shop? ”

Zhu Sunyi said: "After receiving the letter from the adult, the lower official has been leading people to patrol the vicinity, and sure enough, the adult is right." A total of 54 people with long hair were captured, all of them had their hair scattered, their faces painted, and they never escaped a single person! -- These prisoners have been taken into prison by Lord Cheng Li of the county -- My lord, the lower official has a request, and I don't know if my lord can agree to it. ”

Zeng Guofan smiled: "How did the parent official become so polite? — but that's it. ”

Zhu Sunyi said: "Since the lower officials took office, they have not tried the case of long hairs - the lower officials implore your lordship, can you deign to the county government and try these long hairs with the lower officials early tomorrow morning." ”

Zeng Guofan said: "The more the parents and officials talked, the more confused they became-how can Disheng be a person who is worried, how can he be qualified to go to the court to try the case?" - Parents, when you can see Disheng's words, you will take people to wait, which has made Disheng very grateful. My Zeng family is so cared for by the government, it really makes Disheng grateful! - You've been working hard to catch these long hairs. Parents and officials, there will be no one left here. Jiang Gui, go to the counter and find Zhang Ye to seal ten taels of silver and come out, and buy a cup of tea for everyone. ”

As soon as Zhu Sunyi heard this, he knelt down in the hall with a snort, and said while kowtowing: "Lord Zeng spoke like this, obviously to kill the lower officials!" Although Lord Zeng is homesick, he is still a resident of my Daqing Hall! If the adults insist on refusing to go to the county government to supervise and interrogate, Sun Yi will not be able to kneel for a long time! ”

Zeng Guofan hurriedly stood up, pulled Zhu Sunyi with both hands, and said, "Zhu Mingfu, why are you!"

Zhu Sun knelt on the ground and said, "My lord, the whole Hunan knows that Zhang also killed Xiangxiang and destroyed it

The living soul is an adult who takes the risk to fold the ginseng, and it is the adult who came to Hunan to do it! Sun Yi was trusted by the Constitution, and after he was promoted to office, he was sincerely afraid all day long, but he was afraid that he would be a little careless, and he did something sorry for the people. My lord, it's not the government that wants to take care of the Zeng family now, but the adults who are taking care of my Xiangxiang! ”

Zhang Wufeng and others followed closely behind Zhu Sunyi, and they all turned over and knelt down, begging Zeng Guofan to agree.

Zeng Guofan's head was sweating profusely.

He sat down for a long time before he said: "Ding Wei officials monitor the trial of local parents, and there has never been such a case in the founding of the Qing Dynasty - Zhu Mingfu, you clearly set up Disheng and roast it with fire!" This matter spreads out, and my punishment is small, and the black yarn on your head is difficult to protect! ”

Zhu Sun argued: "Your Excellency, and the lower officials ask your Excellency to supervise the trial, which is also for the sake of fairness." The first time that long hair harassed our Xiangxiang Township, it was only because we had to convince them -- not to mention that the adults wore civilian clothes, and the officials did not say it, the people from the yamen did not talk about it, and not to mention the emperor, even Zhang Zhongcheng of the ministry would not know about it! Lord Zeng, don't you still agree? ”

Zeng Guofan thought for a long time before he smiled bitterly and said, "That's it, Disheng only sits next to him." This case, no matter how the adults try it, Disheng will not say a word, and let the adults decide. How is it? ”

Only then did Zhu Sunyi turn over and stand up, smile at Zeng Guofan, and take everyone back to the yamen.

After getting up early for dinner, Zeng Guofan just asked Jing Qi to make a pot of tea, and wanted to drink two cups and go to the county office, but a blue sedan chair fell in front of the shop first; A criminal master of the county government, with gray hair and a yellow beard, stepped into the shop very carefully, and said to Zhang Ye, who was sitting in front of the case: "On the order of Zhu's parents, I have come to respectfully invite Lord Zeng, the waiter. ”

Zeng Guofan listened to it really well in the attic, and sighed in his heart as he walked down: "This Zhu Sunyi, he is so good at learning to do things at such a young age!" is still like this for a Ding Wei waiter, if he is in office, what should he do? ”

Zhu Sunyi, the word Qingxue, the number Hanmei, is from Guizhou, and he was born in the first list. From the teaching, he was introduced to Beijing by Baoju, and was distributed to Hunan as a candidate with the title of Qipinzhi County. When Zhang, the magistrate of Xiangxiang County, was also removed from his post for questioning, he was in office in the prefect's office, and he was temporarily appointed as the magistrate of Xiangxiang County because he would do things. As soon as he arrived, the first thing he did was to reduce the Zeng family's land and grain. After Zeng Guofan's mother returned home, although he had been looking for an opportunity to get close to this important minister of the imperial court, he didn't want this second-rank official to notice the word stammer.

On this day, he was drinking his daughter red with his newly married Mrs. Ru in the back room, but suddenly a note came in from outside, saying that it was sent by someone from the Zeng family. He put down the wine glass and looked at it, and couldn't help but be overjoyed, this turned out to be the handwriting of the former waiter - it was clear that someone peeked at the shops and there was a possibility of taking advantage of the chaos to rob, reminding the local yamen to be extremely vigilant.

Zhu Sunyi has heard of Zeng Guofan's personality for a long time, and knows that this person does not repeat his words, and he says a thousand things and ten thousand, so it is better to do one thing to show him.

After dinner that day, he gathered all the people in the yamen and began to personally and secretly inspect the shops, and if there was any change, he would immediately take it.

After he met Zeng Guofan, he didn't say that his family worked hard, but said that Zeng Daren was like a god, which shows how shrewd Zhu Sunyi is.

Zeng Guofan took Xiao Fusi and sat in Zhu Sunyi's blue sedan chair, and went straight to the county office.

Zeng Guofan got off the sedan chair, Zhu Sunyi rushed forward to come over to greet the salute, and went straight to the signing room to sit down, and then said: "My lord will rest for a while, and then how about going to the hall after eating?"

Zeng Guofan said: "Zhu's parents don't want to call one adult, this will spread out, and it will hinder your official reputation - let's go to the court now, more than 50 people, it will take some time." ”

Zhu Sunyi carefully helped Zeng Guofan into a wooden stool on the right side of the public hall and sat down, put a desk next to him, made a pot of tea and put it on the table, and then sat down in the right seat and drank to the court.

Eight officials walked in from the outside in turn with water and fire sticks in their hands, and stood on both sides of the lobby, completely unflustered; The criminal master and the copywriter also held their own notebooks and walked to their own positions step by step.

Zeng Guofan admired in his heart while watching: "At a young age, he has adjusted the officials so well, the front * is really limitless!" ”

More than 50 prisoners were escorted in by the officers, and all of them knelt under the lobby.

Zeng Guofan took a look and saw that most of the faces of these more than 50 people were smeared with ash from the bottom of the pot, and only their teeth were white. I couldn't help but move in my heart, and said secretly: "It's really long hair, how can I wipe my face with black ash?" Isn't it a local's fake long hair? ”

When Zhu Sunyi saw that everyone in the hall was in place, he patted the hall and asked: "Bold long hair, report your name in turn-what crime should you be guilty of daring to rob the people's shops at night?" - Do you still have a royal law in your eyes? ”

As soon as Zhu Sunyi's words fell, a person who was not very tall and not very old immediately crawled to the front and cried loudly: "Lord Qingtian, the little one is really wronged,"

As soon as his words fell, a series of shouts of injustice sounded behind him.

Zhu Sunyi slapped the shocked wood and reprimanded loudly: "Don't talk nonsense!" Tell them one by one! ”

Bai Jingpi continued: "Lord Qingtian, the small one is not a long hair, the small one is the two tigers of the old Sun family in Qilipu - the big man recognizes the small one, and the big man has drunk the mulberry tea made by my mother?" ”

Zhu Sunyi was stunned for a moment, hurriedly raised his head and looked down carefully, and saw that the person kneeling below really seemed to have seen it somewhere, so he asked: "Bold killer, since you are the second tiger of the Sun family, you are not a long hair, how do you paint your face like this?" What kind of nonsense are the heavenly soldiers and generals talking about in their mouths, taking advantage of the darkness to rob? Don't you know that this is a crime? ”

Erhu pointed to a fat and drunken man behind him with his hand: "It's all about listening to Ma Huangtang's muddy words, saying that he is wrapped in a red cloth and reciting a recipe in his mouth, so that mortals can't see it with the naked eye, and he has become a heavenly soldier and a general, and he is a person from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom." I was also foolish, so I came out with the coaxing. was supposed to prove whether he was lying, but he was arrested. Adults, the little ones are really wronged! ”

Zeng Guofan raised his eyes to look at the horse yellow soup, it turned out to be a fat man who went to the shop in the dark of the first day.

Zhu Sunyi had already shouted: "Hurry up and give the horse yellow soup to the official fork and come to ask questions!" ”

The two servants pushed and shoved the fat horse yellow soup fork to the desk and knelt down.

Zhu Sunyi's eyes widened, he slapped the startled wood, and shouted: "Bold Ma Huang Soup!" Don't you confess when you die? - Dog killing, where did you hear the nonsense? Hurry up and take a closer look! If you are punished, you will suffer! ”

Ma Huangtang collapsed to the ground, and his legs were wet, apparently urinating.

He knocked his head three times, and said in a hoarse voice: "Adults are gracious, small tricks!" A few days ago, I went to Hanyang to see my aunt, and when I was halfway there, I was overturned by a group of strongmen with loose hair and red belts. Not only did he snatch the silver, but he also kicked him a few times, and now he still has a faint pain in his waist. On the day when he was young, he had four taels of yellow wine in his stomach, so he opened his mouth and scolded: 'It's better to rob other people's silver for nothing than to grow hair!' But when one of them heard me, he asked the younger one, 'Do you dare to come here to join the kingdom of heaven?' The little one said, 'What is it?' Can you still give me back the money? As soon as the group heard Xiao's words, they hurriedly came over and two people untied Xiao, and rewarded Xiao's white-flour steamed bun before saying, "Do you know who we are waiting for?" We are the heavenly soldiers and generals of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom! You're going to heaven, you're looking for the right person! The little one plucked up the courage to ask: "After talking for a long time, I want to ask, what are the benefits of participating in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom?" A man who looked like a leader said to the little one, 'If you enter the kingdom of heaven, you will not be able to say enough for three days and three nights!' If you want to get rich, you can get rich when you enter the kingdom of heaven! Those who want to be women have become heavenly soldiers and generals, and wherever they fight, they can be women wherever they are! You can eat whatever you want. Not only does the Qing Demon not dare to care about you, but even your parents can't care about you. The little one was moved by what he said, and said, "Listening to my brother's talk about the kingdom of heaven is so good, it is like heaven, and the little one wants to go too." When the man heard the words, he did not speak, but he took a red belt from his waist and said, 'Open your hair, tie this strap to your head, and I will teach you a few more mantras.' As long as you memorize the mantra, you will have entered the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. As long as you recite my verbal decision in your heart, you shout that the heavenly soldiers are coming! No one else will see you - take whatever you want! If you want to kill any Qing demon, you can kill which Qing demon! If you want to be a woman, you can have a woman! How jolly you want to be! When the little one saw that the man was happy, he said, 'Brother, I am also one of your people.' Give me my money. As soon as the man heard this, he raised his foot and kicked me, kicked me to rob me, and scolded me: "The killer of the dog's day, the mantra has been taught to you, and you dare to ask for money back!" See if I don't chop you with a knife! I was so frightened that I ran back on the ground. When I went to Changsha, I bought more than ten meters of red cloth, tore it into hundreds of belts, and sent it all the way, and I have been sending more than 200 pieces, all of which are women who want to get rich. When I got home, I gave a few more behind my father's back. I heard that I can bring people into the kingdom of heaven, make a fortune, and be able to take women casually, so Erhu and others also looked for me and asked me to take them into heaven to go to women. Then I said to them, 'First follow me into the city and rob a few shops and get some silver, and then I will take you with you to the Japanese woman.' And they came with me. ”

Zhu Sunyi didn't wait for him to finish speaking, so he patted the wood in surprise and said, "What nonsense!" - Waiting for the Great Punishment! ”

Ma Huangtang hurriedly said: "My lord, this is not nonsense. I still wonder what to do, I recited the mantra, shouted the heavenly soldiers, opened the braids, and tied a strap on my head, how did the government see us? Won't you also enter the kingdom of heaven? ”

Zeng Guofan sat on the side, and he was already sweating profusely: There are such foolish people, don't say long hair, even short hair, can you do things?

While drinking tea, Zeng Guofan began to worry about the Great Qing Kingdom.

Zhu Sunyi interrogated several people in a row, but all of them were tricked by the horse yellow soup: some were singles who had been beaten for half their lives and wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven to go to Japan, and some were poor for several lifetimes and wanted to enter the kingdom of heaven to get some silver, all of which had no bounds!

Zhu Sunyi knew that the retrial was useless, so he slapped the shocked wood and said loudly: "Come on, kill these dogs and put them all in prison, and wait for the fate!" ”

The hall shouted again the voices of injustice.

After retreating, Zhu Sunyi helped Zeng Guofan into the signing room and personally poured Zeng Guofan a cup of tea.

Zeng Guofan sat down, but suddenly found that there was a message from the Hunan governor Yamen on the desk. A look at the date, it was last month's event, and the content was: catch (or chop) a long hair, and reward a hundred taels of silver. The text below was covered by a volume of something else, and Zeng Guofan did not see it clearly.

Zhu Sunyi said happily to Zeng Guofan: "Xia Guan never dreamed that he would be able to catch more than fifty long hairs at once!" I really want to thank you for your ingenuity! ”

As Zhu Sunyi spoke, he suddenly raised his voice: "Master Wang!" You put a notebook on the prefect's yamen overnight. Wait for the approval, and immediately correct these fifty-four long-haired people! ”

The outer compartment casually agreed, presumably it must be Master Wang.

Zeng Guofan couldn't help but see Zhu Sunyi's joyful appearance, twisted his beard and groaned for a long time, before he said word by word: "Zhu's parents, how do you want to write this book?" ”

Zhu Sunyi replied: "Back to the adult, although these fifty-four people are not really long-haired, they are bewitched by long-haired and can recite the long-haired ascension mantra, which is already long-haired. The lower officials reported to the government constitution that they could only say that four out of fifty long-haired people had been captured, and it had been tried and understood, and they should be beheaded according to the laws and regulations of the Qing Dynasty. Anything else? - Please make it clear. ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Parent Zhu, from the perspective of governing the people, none of these fifty-four people are really long-haired!" You said above that four out of fifty people were captured by Long Hair, and the wording was wrong in the first place. Zhu's parents, Changmao knows everything about Changsha's withdrawal from the siege, and Xiangxiang, as the hinterland of Hunan, suddenly appeared fifty-four Changmao! This not only makes people all over the world wonder whether Changmao has really withdrawn from Changsha, but also makes it easier to cause panic among the people of Huguang - if you come across a careful government constitution and really send someone to study it deeply, how can you justify it? ”

Zhu Sunyi lowered his head and thought to himself, and suddenly felt a little remorseful: If you don't let this worried waiter sit next to him to supervise the trial, aren't these fifty-four long hairs just long hairs? - That's five thousand four hundred taels of silver for nothing! Now it seems that he has cut off his own financial route.

When Zhu Sunyi thought of this, his expression suddenly became depressed, and his spirit was no longer high.

He reluctantly raised his head and said with a wry smile: "According to what the adults said, if these fifty-four people are not convicted according to the long hair, they can only be sentenced to serve at the border - cough, these ignorant Diao people!" O long-haired troublemakers! - Long hair is really hateful! ”

Zeng Guofan saw the changes before and after Zhu Sunyi in his eyes, and knew that Zhu Sunyi's mouth "Long hair is really hateful!" Actually, it's "Zeng Guofan is really hateful!" ——He remained silent, and said calmly: "The people think that although these 50 or so people are not really long-haired, in this extraordinary period, pretending to be long-haired to rob shops should also be punished as long-haired crimes-the imperial court, the merits of the Ming Mansion should also be commended and rewarded." When the people returned to the next place, they wrote a private letter to the Fuyuan as Ding Wei, and they must explain the matter - Zhu Mingfu, the number of Cantonese bandits was originally limited, why did they develop so violently? How much real hair is there? How many are false long hairs? It's not hard to see the shots. Real long hair isn't scary, it's enough to start a war with an open fire - and the scariest thing is these fake long hairs! Nowadays, people everywhere are unstable, and a large part of the reason is that these are not long hairs. Governing the people says something that should not be said, and the local bandits are the same as the long-haired war, and they can't be despised either! - Zhu's parents, whether Xiangxiang is stable or not, and whether the people are stable, depends on your operation! ”

As soon as he heard these words, Zhu Sunyi's spirit was lifted, and he immediately asked: "The lower official thanked the lord for reminding him - the lower official gave the mansion a book according to the instructions of the lord - however, there is still one thing to ask the lord: these fifty-four people are not really long-haired, how should they be punished?" ”

Zeng Guofan said firmly: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary methods should be used; There is no need for heavy punishment, which is not enough to stabilize the township. ”

Speaking of this, Zeng Guofan saw that Zhu Sunyi's face was stunned, and there was some suspicion in his eyes, so he smiled, and then his triangular eyes narrowed, and he continued his words word by word: "Declare the constitution of the government and behead these fifty-four people to show the public - if this wind is allowed to spread, not only Huguang will not be protected, but the world will also be in danger!" ——Which is more important, please Zhu Mingfu decide for himself, and the people will retire. ”

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Zhu Sunyi to speak, he walked out of the county office.

Zhu Sunyi was so anxious behind him that he shouted: "Slow down, adult!" Xia Guan still has something to say! ”

Zeng Guofan waved his hand and said, "Hurry up and draw up a book for Fu Xian." Fifty-four people, one more day in prison, the people of Xiangxiang will be more unstable. ”

When he arrived outside the county office, he saw that Xiao Fusi was walking back and forth in a hurry, and when he saw Zeng Guofan walking out, he stepped up and said: "Uncle Shilang, let's go quickly, something big is going to happen in the yamen!" After finishing speaking, he stretched out his mouth and worked around.

Only then did Zeng Guofan find that in an open space in the county office, there were hundreds of people standing, and there were twenty tolerances standing around them.

Zeng Guofan asked Xiao Fusi in a low voice: "What's wrong?" ”

Xiao Fusi grinned and said: "These people have been here for a while, saying that they want to see their parents, and they don't know what to do!" ”

Zeng Guofan quietly asked a man beside him: "Little brother, what are these people doing here?" ”

Seeing that it was Zeng Guofan, he replied: "I caught dozens of long hairs at night, and the results were all fake-no, the father came to protect the son, the mother came to take the son, and the daughter-in-law came to find her husband. You look at it all the time, if you want to die or live, you have to see the big man. I don't know if Master Zhu is willing to see them. ”

Zeng Guofan smiled, didn't sit in a sedan chair, and walked back to the shop step by step with Xiao Fusi while looking at the yajing.

Zhang Ye has sorted out all the accounts, and there is already a lot of deficit, plus the arrears that cannot be recovered, it is difficult for the shop to open again.

Zeng Guofan immediately asked Zhang Ye to invite the big official of the house, saying that because of the bandits, the shop decided to rest, and the house would not be renewed. Although Mao Daguan was a little worried in his heart, he was helpless.

The next day, Zhang Ye hired two carriages to move all the old goods and containers in the shop, and he was busy all morning before the loading was completed.

Zeng Guofan asked Zhang Ye, Guohua, Jiang Gui and the three guys to sit in two cars, and pull things into the house first before making plans. Guohua considered that although the eldest brother was a person who was worried about Ding, after all, he was a member of the imperial court, and sitting in the carriage would hurt a lot of grace and damage the appearance of the Zeng family, so it was more appropriate to hire a sedan chair alone.

Zeng Guofan smiled and said nothing.

Seeing that the carriage was going away, Zeng Guofan said to Xiao Fusi, the third brother of the Nan family, and Wang Jingqi: "Let's go too."

Xiao Fusi said: "Uncle, instead of hiring a sedan chair outside the city, it is better to hire it now, the money is about the same - third brother, I protect my uncle, you go and hire a sedan chair." ”

The third brother of the Nan family was about to leave, but Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "The distance from Lotus Leaf Pond to Chengguan is thirty or fifty miles, even if we walk slowly, we won't be able to walk for a day-I have already thought about it, where we are today, we will walk home." ”

Wang Jingqi said: "Young Master, don't say thirty or fifty miles, even if it is three or five hundred miles, I can walk with the third brother and Fu Si." But you are always used to sitting in a sedan chair, how can you do it! ”

Zeng Guofan replied as he walked: "Before I entered Beijing, when did I come to Chengguan to meet Xueli Shixian?" - I walked more than ten years ago, but I can't go now?"

A few people walked and chatted, and soon left the city gate.

Walking on the dirt road in the countryside, seeing the farmers farming in the fields on both sides of the road, Zeng Guofan suddenly felt much more relaxed. Because there are many people in Hunan and there is little land, the villages are very close to each other, and Xiangxiang is even closer.

Hunan people are wild and fierce, but they are hospitable and have an ancient style of chivalry.

Zeng Guofan remembered that before entering Beijing, every time he walked back from the county seat, once he encountered a rainy day, no matter which village he went to, as long as he said that he was a scholar of the Xianggong, no matter how poor the family was, he could also come up with the best food to entertain; After the rain stops, I will give you a ride and tell you to come in the next time you pass by. The poverty in Sanxiang is second to none in Hunan, and the scholars in Xiangxiang are especially high-looking.

Zeng Guofan was thirsty, so he walked into a house on the side of the road and wanted to ask for a bowl of water to drink.

Zeng Guofan walked into the yard and saw an old woman bending over to spin thread in the yard, looking up to see Zeng Guofan walking in, his hand did not stop, but he asked in dialect: "What do you want?" ”

Zeng Guofan came close before he said: "Annoying my mother-in-law's driving, I am thirsty and want to beg for a bowl of water to drink." I don't know if it's convenient? ”

The old woman got up, went straight into the house, and quickly brought out a ladle of water.

Zeng Guofan took two sips of the scoop and said, "Thank you!" "Pass the scoop over.

The mother-in-law took the scoop and asked, "Are you hungry?" There's also a gnocchi in the pot house! ”

Zeng Guofan only felt a warm current surging all over his body, and he sighed in his heart as he walked: "Thousands of changes, thousands of changes, only this rural style does not change!"

In the evening, Zeng Guofan and others walked to the village head of Lotus Leaf Pond.

Zeng Guofan walked for a day, his legs were heavy, and he was sweating all over his body.

He saw the big stone pier at the entrance of the village, which was already hundreds of years old, so he leaned closer, sat on it slowly, and said: "Finally home, let's rest and then go - I have been sitting in a sedan chair for more than ten years, and I am really lazy." ”

Wujing Qidao: "I said a long time ago, you are always born with a rich body, how can you walk!" ”

Zeng Guofan didn't answer, took out a sweat towel to wipe his sweat, but suddenly found that a small blue sedan chair was coming from the official road. In front of the sedan chair, a person is clearly holding a gong in his hand, walking a few steps and knocking it, obviously the opening officer.

Zeng Guofan was stunned for a moment, and said secretly: "What is this Zhu Sun Yi doing when he comes to Lotus Leaf Pond?" ”

The sedan chair went straight to the entrance of the village, and saw Zeng Guofan sitting in front of the stone, but suddenly stopped, and what walked out of it was Zeng Guohuang who was dressed in plain clothes.

"Hello Second Young Master!" Wang Jingqi took a step forward to greet Guohuang.

"You are—" Zeng Guofan stood up with Xiao Fusi's shoulders and looked at Zeng Guohuang suspiciously.

"Hello adults!" The man holding the small gong greeted Zeng Guofan and said, "The little one just came back with the Lotus Leaf Tang Tuan General Charge for the practice fee, because there were a few big families who wanted to get rid of this month's practice fee, so the Deputy Capital Tuan General went to ask for it in person. First of all, he said that he would not give it, saying that the regimental training in Xiangxiang was a fool's errand that the people were hurting money and money, and he was scolded by the deputy head of the regiment, so he handed it over a lot. ”

"Jing Qi!" Guo Huang ignored the eldest brother's expression, and asked Jing Qi loudly: "Fu Si mix, where are you too?" - What about the eldest brother's palanquin? ”

The third brother of the Nan family said: "Back to the second young master, the sedan chair was given to the fourth uncle of the North family in Chengguan, saying that the fourth uncle is old and his legs and feet are not good, so it is better to go out and sit in a sedan chair." ”

"Where's the palanquin?" Guohuang did not relent: "The eldest brother can't give the sedan chair man to the fourth uncle, right?" ”

Xiao Fusi suddenly said: "Fourth uncle, what do you always ask about?" This is my uncle's decision, there is no reason why my uncle can do it! ”

Zeng Guohuang was robbed by Xiao Fusi and was a little anxious, but he couldn't say anything in front of Zeng Guofan, so he only stared at Wang Jingqi with his eyes and said: "If you don't have a sedan chair, you won't hire one?" Look at the big brother tired! I'll settle accounts with you bastards when I get back! ——The founding of the Qing Dynasty, who has ever seen a second-grade squire walk home from the city? ”

Wang Jingqi was scolded so much that his face turned dark, and he couldn't make a sound, so he only hooked his head to listen.

Zeng Guofan saw that Guohuang had made enough trouble, so he suddenly narrowed his triangular eyes, looked at him fixedly, and said word by word: "Chenghou, listen to me, your eldest brother is no longer a second-grade waiter, but a common man who has returned to his hometown and kept filial piety - Fusi, let's go!" After speaking, he let go of Xiao Fusi's shoulders and strode towards the village. The third brother of the Nan family and Wang Jingqi looked at each other and hurriedly followed.

Zeng Guohuang froze there for a moment, and he didn't think about it for a long time. He has grown so long, and it is the first time he has seen his eldest brother angry. He touched his head with his hand, but he felt the sweat on his hand.

Zeng Guohuang scolded a few stunned palanquin men: "The dog kills talents, don't you hurry up and raise the regiment to chase my eldest brother!" After finishing speaking, he lifted his legs and stepped into the sedan chair.

When the man with the gong saw the sedan chair, he hurriedly struck the gong, and Zeng Guohuang was so angry that he scolded in the sedan chair: "Something that doesn't have a head!" Knock, knock, knock your head! - Why don't you hide your broken gong and go home! ”

The man who struck the gong was scolded so much that the second monk was confused. He tugged the gong into his waist and asked timidly, "Lord Tuan, will I come back tomorrow?" ”

Zeng Guohuang scolded while letting the sedan chair man go quickly: "Bastard bastard! Come, come, come, you bird! - Get the hell out of here! ”

Seeing the sedan chair going farther and farther, the man suddenly spat a mouthful of phlegm into the ground, stomped his feet again, and said, "Don't look at the silver, I'll knock you a bird!" ”

When Zeng Guofan walked into the house, Guohua had been unloading the goods from the car for a long time.

Zeng Guofan went to the treasury to take a look, and saw that the goods were neatly placed and the distribution was detailed, so he put his hands behind his back and walked into his father's study, and saw that his father was shaking his head and reciting the "Analects".

Zeng Guofan hurriedly retreated, but Zeng Linshu put down the book and said, "Listen to Guohua say that you lost money? Still have some old debts that haven't been collected? - Let Lao Zhang manage the accounts of the grain, right? ”

Zeng Guofan stopped, greeted his father, and said, "Master Zhang has been working in my Zeng family for a few years, and he is not bad. And the guys in the shop, let's also go to the fields - Dad, my Zeng family has been farming for generations, and I can't do business! ”

Zeng Linshu sighed and said, "It's not the dog official Zhang Yexuan!" ——Let the big families send their silver into the city to do business, if not, Xiangxiang will never be developed! Forget it, let's lose it - you've been busy for the past few days, so let's rest first. also accompany Ji Zeniang a few times. ”

Zeng Guofan withdrew from the study and found Guohua directly. Guohua is discussing something with Guoquan.

Zeng Guofan said to Guohua with a blushing face: "Chenghou comes back, you take him to the study to see me—don't alarm Dad." After speaking, he walked back to his study with his hands behind his back.

As soon as Guohua and Guoquan saw their eldest brother's appearance, they immediately concluded that Guohuang must be causing trouble outside, so Guoquan hurriedly and quietly went to find his father Zeng Linshu.

Zeng Guofan was sitting in the study, Xiao Fusi hurriedly asked Wang Jingqi to make a pot of tea and put it on the table, and said to Zeng Guofan: "Uncle! Si'er has been out for a few days, and wants to go home to see my father, and wait a few days to protect Uncle Kezhong? ”

Zeng Guofan hurriedly asked Wang Jingqi to go to the account office and spend ten taels of silver, and stuffed it into Xiao Fusi's hand and said, "Buy some food for your father and mother to go back." Tell your father and mother, and wait for your uncle to go to see them in the next few days. ”

Xiao Fusi took the silver and said, "How can you use so much?" Uncle, I'll take half of it. ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Fu Si, you can only buy a hundred dollars of food. The rest will be handed over to your mother. ”

Xiao Fusi bowed to Zeng Guofan and went happily.

Zeng Guofan picked up the teacup and just took a sip, but saw Zeng Linshu walking in with Guohuang, Guohua, Guoquan and Mandi Guobao (Zishiheng).

As soon as Zeng Guofan saw his father walk in, he hurriedly stood up, helped his father to sit down on the wooden chair with both hands, poured a cup of tea with his own hands, and personally placed it in front of his father, saying, "Dad, do you have something to do when you come in?" ”

"Kuanyi," Zeng Linshu took a sip of tea, and said, "Dad is already in his sixties, and when he is old, sometimes his hands and feet are shaking when he writes Xiaokai." You're also in your early forties. You've been home for so long, if there's anything you can't get used to, just say it, don't get angry at every turn. As the old saying goes: anger hurts the body. One wide! You are not better than a few of them, your body has been weak since you were a child! ”

Zeng Guofan didn't wait for his father to finish speaking, and then fell to his knees with a thud. When the younger brothers saw it, they also hurriedly knelt down.

Zeng Guofan choked up and said: "With my father in the hall, I didn't have the right to speak. But after all, my Zeng family is one of the few official eunuchs in Hunan, and if we are not careful, how many people will poke our backbone! My father is old, and his legs and feet are not good, so it is indispensable to go out and sit in a sedan chair, but it is only a tweed sedan chair to be carried by two people. But Cheng Hou, the year is not more than enough, not only to sit in a blue sedan chair, but also to sound the gong to open the way! - This kind of thing that makes people laugh and lose their teeth is in my Zeng family! If this is spread, how will you let the world see my Zeng family! Before he finished speaking, he felt a sudden heat in his chest, and his head rang, and he couldn't stand on his knees, and suddenly fainted at his father's feet.

Zeng Linshu picked up his son all of a sudden, not only tears. He shouted loudly, "Kuanyi", while beckoning Wang Jingqi and the others, and carried Zeng Guofan into the bed in the lobby room. The third brother of the Nan family did not wait for orders, and hurriedly opened his legs to invite Lang Zhong in the countryside.

Zeng Linshu held his son's head in his arms, and while touching his son's chest with his hand, he loudly reprimanded Guohuang: "Chenghou, how did you become so unsuccessful?" - Not only do you want to be angry with your eldest brother, but even your father won't live long! Move out of your house quickly, I can't recognize you as a son anymore!" ”

Guohuang was so frightened that he trembled, and he just kowtowed to his father while crying.

As soon as Guo Bao saw that things were getting bigger, he hurriedly ran to find a few sisters-in-law.

After a while, Yuying took Guohuang's daughter-in-law Zhao, Guohua's daughter-in-law Wen, Guoquan's daughter-in-law Spice Girl, and Guobao's daughter-in-law Mei Mei to come to the hall and knelt down behind Guohuang and the others.

Yuying kowtowed and said, "Master, don't be angry!" ”

Zhao kowtowed and pleaded for Guohuang: "Master, Chenghou is not sensible, he is a fool, you can spare him this time." ”

Zeng Guofan slowly opened his eyes at this time, and when he saw the people kneeling all over the ground, he hurriedly climbed up, but spit out a mouthful of blood. He shook it three times, and finally stood firm.

Zeng Linshu hurriedly said: "Kuanyi, sit down and talk to them - you are really angry, who do you want your father to look at?" As he spoke, he burst into tears.

When Zeng Guofan saw his father crying, he hurriedly turned over and knelt down, and said, "Dad, my son is not filial, which makes you angry." Go back to the house and rest. He turned around and instructed Guohui: "Eldest sister, you help your father into the bedroom." ”

Guohui got up and hurriedly helped her father up.

Zeng Linshu said as he walked: "Cough, this rebellion is unfortunate!" ”

Seeing his father walk out of the hall, Zeng Guofan sat down again. When Zhao saw it, he hurriedly said: "Uncle, Chenghou is a fool, can you be as knowledgeable as him!" You are really angry, who do you want Brother Ji Ze to look forward to? "Brother Ji Ze naturally includes Guohuang's son.

Guo Huang said at this time: "Big brother, I know it's wrong, you just beat me, right?" Just don't be angry with your body because of me, a fool. With that, he actually slapped his face and slapped it fiercely in the face.

Zeng Guofan hurriedly got up and grabbed Guohuang's hand, and said while crying: "Big brother is also for this family!" Chenghou, why do you practice yourself like this? (End of chapter)