Reading guide: Jiang Zhongyuan wrote a note Chen, the military aircraft department ignored it, and Zeng Guofan was moved.

The Taiping Army recruited troops, and Peng Yulin skillfully boarded the warship to achieve a career.

Zeng Guofan was unaware of the ghosts and successfully arrived in Hengyang; The sky will brighten, the bird will rest in peace, the road is bumpy, and the catastrophe is waiting for him.

After Jiang Zhongyuan left Changsha, although he and Zeng Guofan could not meet, they continued to exchange letters.

After Jiang Zhongyuan's proposal to form a naval division was transferred by Zhang Liangji to the Military Aircraft Department, there was no follow-up. At this time, the Taiping Army and the Navy Army were as strong as a day, and almost all the thousands of miles of the Yangtze River were in their hands. The Qing army banner and the people on the land shore of the green road could not move forward at all, and they were passively beaten everywhere. The thousands of miles of the Yangtze River were thought to be dark for a while.

Jiang Zhongyuan was very annoyed, and wrote in a letter to Zeng Guofan: "Up and down the Yangtze River, let the thief ships cruise back and forth, and no one dares to interrogate. Today's urgency is to set up ship cannons first to shoot the thieves on the water. ”

Jiang Zhongyuan's letter was read by Zeng Guofan to Liu Rong and Guo Songtao.

Liu Rong did not express her opinion in view of the difficulty of raising money.

However, Guo Songtao believed that in order to completely exterminate the Taiping army, it would not work unless a strong naval division was formed, and instigated Zeng Guofan to ask the imperial court for approval. After Guo Songtao made the suggestion, he embarked on the journey of raising money and donating money.

But Zeng Guofan did not immediately fold to the imperial court, he had to select the person under the command of the water division first. Peng Yulin is naturally one of the best candidates in his mind.

Who is Peng Yulin? Is it worth Zeng Guofan's high view?

Peng Yulin, a native of Hengyang, Hunan. Father Ming Jiu, the official worship of Anhui Hefei Liang Park inspection. He studied with his father, and his father died of illness at the age of sixteen, and his original land property was taken away by the clansmen. There is no fixed place to live, and he lives in the provincial capital, and after being introduced by his father's friends before his death, he supports his mother by writing documents in Hengzhou Xiebiao. The prefect's master occasionally saw his text, and he was very surprised and ordered him to enter the office to study. When he entered school, he was an epiphyte. Xinning Lei Zaihao revolted, and ordered Hengzhou Xiebiao to practice arresting and suppressing with Jiang Zhongyuan's local regiment, and the masters sent Yulin to go together. After the deed, the governor of Hunan thought that Yulin was a martial artist, and the governor promoted him as the foreign committee of the Linwu camp. Yulin didn't agree, took his mother to Leiyang, and did business for a pawnshop. Yulin's body has been weak since he was a child, and he has been practicing martial arts since he was studying, and he is getting stronger and stronger. There is a bully in Leiyang, who has a close collusion with the government and survives by stealing money. Every time a man is bullied, no one dares to speak. The pawnshop supported by Yulin has an only daughter, who is as beautiful as a fairy. One day, he was seen by a bully, and he was lustful, and when he fell down, he wanted to be strong. The only daughter shouted, and Yulin rushed to the rescue when she heard it. The bully was annoyed and drew his sword to fight with Yulin. Yulin dodged and kicked the knife away. The knife flew to the extreme, and then fell down, but it was impartial, and it was piercing the bully's right eye. Because of this, Yulin was dismissed from his reputation and had to leave Leiyang and return to live in a rented house in the countryside of Hengyang.

Zeng Guofan heard that Yulin had a hard time since he returned to his hometown. Fortunately, when he left the pawnshop, Dong Weng gave him a sum of silver taels, and finally did not run out of cooking.

Peng Yulin's family has a large collection of ancient military books, and because of his talent and intelligence since childhood, he often reads them and benefits a lot. In particular, he is particularly devoted to the method of water warfare. In Kaifeng, Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin hit it off at first sight. Zeng Guofan went to the provincial capital to help organize group exercises, although he had long wanted to meet old friends for a while, but because of his troubled affairs, he never had time.

Zeng Guofan entrusted the affairs of the regimental camp to Luo Zenan and Taqibu, and asked Xiao Fusi to select fifty good men from the pro-military camp, all of whom rode horses, prepared guns, and single knives. Zeng Guofan changed into civilian clothes, took a horse-drawn car, quietly left the city after dinner, and went straight to Hengyang.

After receiving Jiang Zhongyuan's letter, Zeng Guofan had already moved the idea of building a naval army.

In fact, long before Jiang Zhongyuan proposed to Zhang Liangji to form a naval division, Zeng Guofan had already seen that the Taiping army could fight all the way along the Yangtze River, invincible, unstoppable, and almost entirely supported by the naval army. If there is no big ship to carry it, even if the Taiping army has wings, it will not be able to come to Changsha from Wuchang in a few days.

The Taiping army had the advantage on the water, and fighting against the Taiping army also had to work the water army to be effective.

Zeng Guofan came to Hengyang this time, and the route he took was basically the same as last time, except that he had to travel forty or fifty miles through Hengzhou Mansion to reach the village where Peng Yulin lived.

When Zeng Guofan's palanquin arrived there, it was the evening of the second day. But when I saw the red clouds in the sky, they were all covered on the surface of the river, as if there was a big fire, and the river was red. The sound of frogs comes and goes, adding endless fun and joy to this small village. The sun sets, the sky is full of red glow, half of the river cooking smoke, just like a fairyland, a good picture of the country and mountains.

A shepherd boy came back from grazing, riding on the back of an ox and playing a reed flute in his mouth, and walked up and down the riverbank.

Zeng Guofan signaled to stop, and Xiao Fusi and the others hurriedly dismounted.

Zeng Guofan stepped out of the car, looked at the shepherd boy with his eyes, and saw that he was only a teenager, and he should be in the school to say Shiyun; Maybe it's because the family is poor, maybe it's because the children of the rich family have suffered a catastrophe, and they can only herd cattle for others every day in exchange for food.

Zeng Guofan stared at the shepherd boy with good eyes, and his heart was surging when he saw it, and his eyes were sour. He thought of his son Ji Ze, and remembered the thing he had promised his son.

Kill the long hair, and take Ji Ze to Badou Chong to catch birds. He said in his heart. It is not only like saying it to oneself, but also to the gods of heaven and earth.

He walked on the embankment, looking at the fiery red river, but such a picture appeared in his mind: countless warships were patrolling back and forth, and they were all hung with large flags embroidered with the word "Hunan"; Long-haired came by boat, and when he saw it, he turned around and fled, and a boatload of thieves fell into the river and drowned, so happy!

Zeng Guofan fantasized, smiled, walked, and walked through the village unconsciously, still walking along the river step by step, and chanting a sentimental poem written by Xianfeng in the first year when he was the chief examiner of the Shuntian Wuxiang Examination: "The forbidden lotus leak has been deep, and the cool moon is willing to come." This place is frequently from the case, when will I get the mountains and forests in my life? The fog of Pixiu is hidden and the sky is heavy. The fire is cold and the lights are green, and there is nothing to do, and it is pitiful to kill love and talent. ”

Xiao Fusi followed behind Zeng Guofan, and the more he listened, the more confused he became, and the more strange he became.

He walked a few steps to catch up with Zeng Guofan, and whispered, "My lord, where are we going?" How do we not go down the embankment to enter the village? ”

Zeng Guofan was taken aback, and said casually: "Go to the village to find relatives and friends?" How did you forget? ”

Zeng Guofan stopped, looked around, and saw that he had already walked through the village, so he smiled and said: "Just thinking about some things that are not boundary, and knowing when you go too far, you still know - you are really not old and confused first." We went down the embankment and entered the village. ”

After Zeng Guofan finished speaking, he looked at the river again, as if he was reluctant.

Zeng Guofan was about to leave the riverbank and walk towards the entrance of the village, but suddenly found that on a large bluestone more than ten meters away from the river, there was a fisherman sitting on his own. The man wore a large cloak and covered the entire head. It looks like fishing, but he is holding a book in his hand, but his eyes are looking at the river, and he is in a daze.

Zeng Guofan walked over and said with a smile: "I want to ask, is there a prince of Peng Yulin and Xueqin here?" His old Lingzun once served as the inspector of Liangyuan in Hefei, Anhui Province. ”

The fisherman didn't move, and said, "Is this person you want to ask a relative or a friend?" ”

Zeng Guofan heard it familiar, took a step forward, and asked, "But Peng Xueqin?" ”

The fisherman's body shook, he hurriedly stood up from the stone, took off his cloak, and suddenly said loudly: "Is it Zeng Daren who is asking?" ”

Zeng Guofan took Peng Yulin's hand and said while looking at it: "Isn't it Xueqin?" How to dress up? Xueqin, you know that I am in Changsha, but why don't you look for me? ”

Peng Yulin broke free of his hand, and first respectfully bowed to Zeng Guofan and said: "My lord's Lingtang Immortal has passed away, I am at a friend in Jiangxi, and I am very ashamed that I did not rush back to worship." How can Xueqin still have the face to go to Changsha to meet adults? - My lord, where are you going? ”

Zeng Guofan said: "I'm here to find you?" Xueqin, you and I are gentlemen's friends, you can't stick to common sense - don't you invite the foolish brother to the house to drink a bowl of hot tea? I'm thirsty and hungry! I also want to say goodbye to Lord Lingtang. ”

Peng Yulin's face flushed, and he said, "If the adults are coming, they should say something in advance." You've just come here, but Xueqin isn't prepared at all! INTERVIEWER I just caught a few good carp, how about I stew them in a big pot for you to eat? ”

Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "I'm worried about my mother, just eat a bowl of tofu - just burn a few carp to Fusi." Xueqin, is the Fushang Lingtang okay? ”

Peng Yulin sighed and said, "My mother passed away three years ago. Xueqin is now a one-person cooker and a one-person eater. My lord, shall we go to the Humble House? ”

Peng Yulin lives in a small grass hut at the entrance of the village, which is half the size of the signing room, and there are five people, and it is full. A small bed was placed against the north wall, and at the head of the bed were "The Art of War", "Thirty-six Strategies", and "War Strategy". In addition, the "Four Books" and the "Five Classics" are all displayed in letters. On the east wall is a table of eight immortals, on which are offered four kinds of fruits and vegetables, and on the wall is a note that reads; Ancestral parental spiritual position. Other than that, there is nothing else.

Zeng Guofan sighed: "Xueqin, how are you so bitter? How can the inner man and the child not be seen? ”

Peng Yulin said while digging rice in the pot house: "Xueqin has not married a wife yet, where is the child?" ”

Zeng Guofan and Xiao Fusi were standing in the house, and the soldiers were standing and chatting under the eaves.

At this time, an old man held a stick, shook it three times, pushed open the courtyard door and walked in, shouting: "Xueqin, why don't you say a word when you visit?" Don't do it, clumsy. Treat yourself to my house for soup. ”

Peng Yulin stood up from the pot house with a misty face and said, "Seventh Uncle, you can go home and rest." I'm out of the way here. ”

The old man muttered something and turned around and went out.

Zeng Guofan asked Xiao Fusi and his soldiers to boil water and cook rice together, and put incense on Peng Yulin's parents by himself, and knelt down and kowtowed three times. Peng Yulin hurriedly ran out of the pot house, pulled up Zeng Guofan, and said again and again: "How to make this, how to make this!" ”

After Peng Yulin picked up the rice, he went to the neighboring courtyard to borrow dishes and chopsticks.

Zeng Guofan and the others stood in the courtyard and ate something simply.

Zeng Guofan asked his soldiers to help Peng Yulin clean up the inside and out, and said: "Xueqin, you can go back to Changsha with me now, I can't let you live here anymore." If you have anything to explain, explain it to the village. And then we set off. ”

Peng Yulin bowed deeply to Zeng Guofan and said: "Your Excellency, your lord's mind, Xueqin has received it all here." Xueqin is a casual person who can't stand it. What's more, Xueqin is now a white body, she can't carry a burden on her shoulders, and she can't carry a basket in her hands, what can such a person do in the provincial capital? Isn't it a burden to your old age? It stands to reason that Xueqin should have left you for the rest of the night, but this place is too unseemly-"

Zeng Guofan said to Xiao Fusi: "You lead them to clean up all the things in the house, find someone to ask for a few bamboo boxes, pack them and seal them in a unified manner, and then leave two people to watch." We went back to the province overnight, and when we passed by the county seat, the county government used a car to pull it. Peng Xianggong will go back to the province with us tonight. ”

Peng Yulin hurriedly said: "My lord, you can't be strong!" ”

Zeng Guofan grabbed Peng Yulin's hand and said, "Xueqin, you and I are familiar at first sight." I invite you to the provincial capital, not to enjoy happiness, but to suffer! If you are afraid of suffering, I will not force you. ”

Xiao Fusi had already packed up his things with his soldiers at this time.

Peng Yulin said: "My lord, Yulin wants to ask: You must let me go to the provincial capital, what do you want me to do?" ”

Zeng Guofan whispered: "Xueqin, I want to ask you: If you want to completely eradicate the long hair, what should you do?" The officers and the army have suffered defeats in successive battles, where is the crux of the problem? ”

Peng Yulin pondered for a while, nodded his head as if he had an understanding, and said, "If Xueqin didn't guess wrong, wouldn't my lord want to set up a water division in the provincial capital?" ”

Zeng Guofan shook Peng Yulin's hand tightly and said happily: "Shipbuilding, practicing water bravery, it's all up to you Peng Xueqin!" You, when you arrive in the provincial capital, you have to endure hardship! ”

Xiao Fusi and the others quickly cleaned up the things in the house.

Peng Yulin asked in a low voice: "Shipbuilding and water bravery, this requires a lot of money from the boss." You are now the assistant minister of Hunan regimental training, not the governor, and there is nowhere to raise this money! ”

Zeng Guofan frowned and said, "Let me tell you the truth, shipbuilding and water courage are just an abacus in my stomach." Whether the court can approve it or not, and how to raise the salary, I don't know the bottom myself. Let's go, let's go back to the province and discuss it slowly. Fu Si, you leave two people here to guard, you also ride your horse, let Peng Xianggong and I sit in a car-Xueqin, let's get in the car. ”

Peng Yulin said helplessly: "Wait a while, Rong Xueqin will give her parents a pillar of incense." ”

Peng Yulin walked into the house after speaking, and Xiao Fusi followed behind.

On the way back to the provincial capital, Peng Yulin said with a smile: "My lord, I'm not afraid that you will always laugh, Xueqin has been boiling into a beggar since she came here!" When the guests came, there was no place to sit, so you stood for so long. Xueqin has another question to ask my lord, if the construction of the water division is not successful, what do you always want me to do in Changsha? I thought about it and thought about it, and no matter how I thought about it, I realized that there was no shortage of people like me in the Issuance Examination Bureau. You always think about it, how many alternate officials in the provincial capital can be done, even if five more issuance and examination bureaus are established, it will not be enough. How can you entrust a white body to run an errand? ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and quipped: "Aren't you Peng Xueqin poor?" How about I appoint you to the grain station of the Changsha regimental camp to be a promotion officer? ”

When Peng Yulin heard this, he hurriedly said: "Don't scare me, adult-to tell the truth, Xueqin is so big, she is poor, but what she is most afraid of is money, and what she hates the most is this thing." A good man who has money will become bad; When the poor have money, they have to bully other poor people. From ancient times to the present day, this has been the case. - My lord, Xueqin is not pretending to be Qinggao, you are old, you should find someone else to be this promotion officer. Xueqin admits that she is poor all her life, and she can't do this errand! ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and asked: "Xueqin, do you still remember that when you and I were in Kaifeng, we went to ask a person outside the party to sign a hexagram?" ”

Peng Yulin blushed and said, "Xueqin has been busy with her livelihood and has long forgotten about it. But Xueqin promised the adult, but she always kept it in mind. ”

Zeng Guofan was stunned for a moment and asked, "What did you promise me?" Why don't I remember? ”

Peng Yulin said: "Adults have dark diseases and often have attacks, Xueqin promised adults that even if they travel through thousands of mountains and rivers, they must find the right medicine for adults." However, to this day, Xueqin has not fulfilled this promise. ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Let's not talk about him. Xueqin, I ask you now, do you remember the words that someone outside the party wrote to you? Wrote four sentences for you, wrote four sentences for me. In addition, he gave me a set of manuscripts. ”

Peng Yulin thought for a while and said, "That set of manuscripts seems to be called "Bingjian", right?" But what he wrote to me, I can't remember. My lord, what did he write me four sentences? ”

Zeng Guofan raised his head and thought for a while and said, "I remember that the four words he wrote to you were: In the sparkling water, follow the python to protect the dragon court." Forty years less than three years, three or seven into a double line. The four sentences that I wrote to me are: The Dragon Court in the Forty-Seven Mountains, nine years and ten journeys. Jin Ge exterminated the bandits in two or five, and traveled in pairs. ”

Peng Yulin said: "My lord, have you untied it?" ”

Zeng Guofan said: "How can the words of outsiders be easily solved? However, in the four sentences he wrote to you, there is the word 'in the sparkling water', which should have something to do with the boat. ”

Peng Yulin suddenly realized: "No wonder you don't look for me early or late, you want to build a water master before you come to find me!" It turned out to be because of a few nonsense words from the old man! Spread it out, don't you eat people jokes? We all grew up reading the books of the saints, how can we believe some words of the people in the rivers and lakes? ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and said, "Not really. Some things are half by manpower and half by heaven. After all, I thought of you and came to find you. By the way, how are you reading that set of books about water warfare? Can you eat it thoroughly? ”

Peng Yulin said: "Are you talking about the "Gongjian Water Warfare Method"? It's not a heavenly book, what's so hard to read! ”

Zeng Guofan said: "It's good to be able to eat thoroughly." Xueqin, have you ever seen a long-haired warship? ”

Peng Yulin said: "Not only have I seen it, but I have also sat on it!" Xueqin came back from Jiangxi that year, and was running into the long-haired recruiter, so I signed up out of curiosity. I was on this boat when I fought Wuchang, and when I arrived in Wuchang, I left. ”

Zeng Guofan was overjoyed and said: "It's really worthy of being a person with a heart - Xueqin, what does the long-haired boat look like?" How is it different from my Changsha ships and merchant ships? Can you remember? ”

Peng Yulin said: "There are two kinds of long-haired warships; One is a large war ship with gun emplacements bought from the Yi people, and the other is a large war ship that has been transformed from a merchant ship. The Yiren warship had a steamer, ate coal, and suddenly opened it, emitting black smoke, and the cannon was very powerful, and it cost a lot of silver. As far as Xueqin knows, there are not many such ships in Changmao's hands, and there are only a few at that time. Most of the warships were converted from merchant ships, requiring eighty boatmen to row and carrying thousands of men. This kind of earthen ship has a safe gun position, and there is an uneasy gun position. I drew the pictures of these boats one by one. When I arrived in the provincial capital, when Xueqin's things arrived, I naturally showed them to adults. What I was talking about was a year ago, and Xueqin doesn't know what the long-haired water master is like now. ”

Zeng Guofan was overjoyed and said: "Fortunately, this is the sky that wants to destroy that long hair!" Heaven will not extinguish my great clearing! God send Xueqin to help me! ——When we arrived in Changsha, we planned slowly. This water master, whether the governor's yamen is built or not, we don't care about him, we must build it. Xueqin, I'm also a little sleepy, you also talked for half the night, let's sit in the sedan chair and be sleepy. This road is the quietest road in Hunan, so I don't have to worry about long hair.

Peng Yulin's eyes turned red and said: "Let the adults suffer, the adults are sleepy by my body, it's always warmer." ”

Zeng Guofan had not closed his eyes for a day and a night because he was in a hurry, and he couldn't hold on at this time.

At this moment, there was a rump outside, and the car suddenly stopped, followed by people shouting and neighing.

Zeng Guofan woke up suddenly and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?" ”

A soldier replied outside the car: "It's not in the way, it's the master who has been planted from the horse——"

Zeng Guofan asked: "Have you ever fallen?" How do you accidentally fall off your horse? ”

Xiao Fusi limped to the front of the sedan chair, lifted the sedan curtain and said: "Don't worry, my lord, I am sleepy and confused, and somehow I planted it - the others are not in the way, but my foot hurts a little." My lord, I tied the horse to the cart, and I squeezed it with the balls. ”

Peng Yulin sighed: "This Xiao Fusi is really a loyal person!" ”

The group began to move forward again, seeing that they were getting closer and closer to Hengyang, but the horse suddenly neighed.

All the soldiers dismounted and got off the carriage one after another, dancing with guns and knives.

Xiao Fusi shouted loudly: "We are the Changsha Kaishan Dart Bureau to dart here, get out of the way!" This is Xiao Fusi's consistent statement.

Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin all opened their eyes and heard someone outside say: "Xiao Fusi, you dog who once shaved his head!" You're dazed. Do you open your eyes to see who I am? ”

Xiao Fusi said after a while: "Hurry up and protect the adults and Peng Xianggong, I have to fight with him!" ”

Outside, there was the sound of gunfire and fighting.

Zeng Guofan's heart suddenly rose to his throat, and he whispered to Peng Yulin: "This must be someone who is not strict and leaks the news." You lie in the car and don't move, I'll go down and take a look. ”

Before Zeng Guofan could say anything, a bullet flew in with a whizz, passing between the two people.

Before Peng Yulin could speak, the three horses pulling the cart had already raised their manes to the sky and roared wildly, spun their four hooves away, and rushed forward desperately.

Peng Yulin grabbed Zeng Guofan's hand tightly and whispered: "With Xueqin here, don't panic." Grasp the front cross member of the car and do not turn it upside down. ”

The soldiers shouted one after another, but no one followed, obviously unable to get out.

At this time, someone in front shouted: "Put the horse down!" Put the horse down! ”

A few gunshots, a few knife lights, and three horses were knocked down and cut down one after another.

Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin were taken out of the car in a hurry.

Peng Yulin was in his body because of his kung fu, and at the moment when his body was about to land, he rolled on the spot, not only dodging the knife and stick that came to his face, but also taking Zeng Guofan into his arms with his hands.

Two masked men suddenly jumped forward from behind, one with a gun, the other with an iron rod, and the whirlwind seemed to be rolling over, clearly wanting to take the lives of the two.

At the critical moment, Peng Yulin quickly swiped with his foot, and quickly hooked up a fist-sized stone. Peng Yulin hid Zeng Guofan behind him, and then with a force under his feet, the stones flew out like lightning on the ground.

The man who made the stick was holding the stick high at this time, and he had already used enough strength to smash the heads of Zeng and Peng into pieces with a stick, not to guard against a ball of arrows coming at him, right in the left eye. The man screamed, threw his rod away, and squatted down with his hands over his face.

The gun was stunned, Peng Yulin saw the opportunity, pushed Zeng Guofan back, bent down and grabbed a small piece of wooden stick, raised his hand to hit it, and hit the gunman in the cheek.

Zeng Guofan came to his senses at this time, squatted on the ground and shouted: "Xueqin, let's go up the mountain." Their reinforcements arrived. ”

Peng Yulin panicked, and while guarding against the person who used the gun, he looked behind him with his eyes. This look made him sweat in a hurry: on the oncoming official road, a sentry shouted and ran over, and there were hundreds of people; Looking at Xiao Fusi and his own soldiers, they are entangled with hundreds of people, and they can't let go of their guns, they can only fight hand-to-hand, and they are obviously at a disadvantage.

At this time, five more people circled around the car like a tiger.

One laughed and said, "Zeng shaved his head, you made the master wait so hard!" You killed my brother, I just want to avenge him! Brothers, take him alive, I will tear out his heart and sacrifice to my brother! (End of chapter)