Reading guide: In order to prevent being plotted, the minister of regimental training said that he went east to west; Just because the scholar is dressed up, the nameless little official talks nonsense and gibberish.

Zeng Guofan withstood the scorching sun and endured the ridicule of all kinds of people, from the south of the city to the north of the city, and then from the north of the city to the west of the city.

A commoner, it is still so difficult to ask for directions, if you go to the yamen to do things, what will be the situation? From ancient times to the present, all dynasties and dynasties have all been difficult to enter the yamen and difficult to open the official mouth.

As the minister of regimental training, why did Zeng Guofan go through such a thing? What was his purpose?

Zeng Guofan left Xiangyin, Zou Hanzhang sent him outside the city, and asked in a low voice: "Where is the next stop for adults?" Do you want to send someone to escort you? ”

Zeng Guofan said: "I'm not going anywhere, I'm going back to the provincial capital directly." Zou Mingfu, please go back. ”

Zou Hanzhang helped Zeng Guofan into the car, stopped to see the car go away, and then returned to the city with his subordinates.

Zeng Guofan's car got on the official road leading to the provincial capital, and only then did he explain to Xiao Fusi: "Go to Hengyang." ”

Xiao Fusi was shocked when he heard this, hurriedly dismounted and walked to the front of the car, and asked in a low voice: "My lord, it's too late, and the road to Hengyang is not smooth." Since you are going to Hengyang, you should let Lord Zou send some more people! ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Fu Si, you don't have to worry. As long as we don't leak the news, the counties in Hunan will let us come and go. It's too hot during the day, cool at night, and it's just in a hurry.!! Go to Hengyang! ”

Xiao Fusi didn't say anything more, turned over on his horse, and took his own soldiers to go straight to Hengyang with a horse-drawn car.

The summer nights in Hunan are very cool. It is the time when the rice flowers are pollinated, and the melons and fruits are ripe and bursting with honey. The breeze is gentle, filling the world with the aroma of rice and fruit.

The sound of frogs is the most beautiful song in the summer night, no matter how deep the night is, no matter what the year is, just sing endlessly. One after another, wave after wave.

Watching the snow in the middle of winter and listening to frogs on summer nights is the most cost-effective and effortless way to relieve sorrow in the world.

Zeng Guofan was also in a very good mood at this moment, sweeping away the depression and anger of the past half a year, and even looked at it and recited two lines of poetry: "I am a mundane thing in the world, but I have become an immortal in the painting." ”

I wanted to continue a few more words in my mood, but passing by a village, he suddenly remembered the scene of his first visit to Peng Yulin. As soon as the word Peng Yulin popped up in his mind, he immediately remembered the sailor, and the sailor thought of shipbuilding.

The interest in poetry disappeared.

When Zeng Guofan returned to Xiangxiang to perform a small auspicious ceremony for his deceased mother, Peng Yulin went to stay overnight, reported to him the progress of shipbuilding and the training of water bravery, and recommended a sailor pipe belt to him: Yang Zaifu.

In fact, letting Yang Zaifu serve as the officer of the sailor battalion was determined by Zeng Guofan in his heart. Although Yang Zaifu is the general manager of the Hunan Green Camp by land, he has been stationed in the Xiangyin Defense Camp and often follows the sailor to catch thieves on the river. This enabled him not only to develop a good water character, but also to have his own views on the methods of water warfare.

According to Zeng Guofan and Peng Yulin's original agreement, the sailor recruited two battalions first. Peng Yulin brought one battalion by himself, and the other battalion was handed over to who was in charge, Zeng Guofan never said clearly.

At the same time, Peng Yulin told Zeng Guofan about the relocation of the shipyard. Because the original site is too far away from the river, there are many inconveniences in ship trial and repair. In desperation, I had to choose a new piece of land closer to the river.

Regarding the process of shipbuilding, according to Peng Yulin, five tows are already being assembled and will be launched soon. Now the craftsmen are under the personal supervision of Liu Changyou, rushing to make fast crabs day and night.

Wang Rui, the prefect of the county, and Zhao Danian, the prefect, also often go to the shipyard to help with ideas. Employing people and materials, helping each other, there is no difference, and the process has to be accelerated. Knowing that Wang Rui and Zhao Danian were like this, Zeng Guofan was still embarrassed until Peng Yulin left Xiangxiang, and he was very emotional.

It was the middle of the night when the car entered the Chengguan of Hengyang County.

Zeng Guo fanned Xiao Fusi and found an inn in Chengguan to stay.

Early the next morning, after simply drinking a bowl of porridge at the inn, Zeng Guofan got in the car and rushed directly to the regimental training yamen to meet Liu Changyou, and then accompanied by Liu Changyou, he went to the shipyard to see the boat, and went to the riverside to see the training of Shui Yong.

When he arrived at Yuanmen, in order to surprise Liu Changyou, Zeng Guofan asked Xiao Fusi and others to wait outside the gate, and walked in directly.

To enter the regiment and practice the yamen, you must first see the door government. Because it was still early, the door was washing.

Seeing Zeng Guofan pushing the door in, the door government hurriedly took a towel and wiped his face, so he asked what was the matter.

Zeng Guofan was a little familiar with the doorman, and he thought that he was a newcomer, so he said: "I am here to donate money to set up a group, and I want to meet your Lord Liu." ”

Men Zheng said: "Lord Liu hasn't come here yet, and there is only Lord Wu who was on duty last night in the yamen." If you want to donate silver, Lord Liu has already instructed you to go in directly, and you don't need to report it. ”

Zeng Guofan thanked him, then walked inside with his hands behind his back.

When I walked into the duty room of the yamen, I saw an old official crouching in front of the desk reading a book.

Hearing the knock on the door, the old official raised his head and said, "Which one are you looking for?" How not to report? I see that you are also a scholar, so you should understand the rules in the yamen. ”

Zeng Guofan saw that he was a face-to-face again, and couldn't help but say: "I want to see your Lord Liu, and I have something important to discuss." ”

The old official frowned and said, "Lord Liu has been very busy recently, and it is also very difficult for the official to find him. You might as well go to the shipyard and have a look. Maybe if you're lucky, you'll run into it. ”

Zeng Guofan said: "Move to ask your lord, how to go to the shipyard?" Can you take my old driver's hand and send me there? I'm not a local, so I'm not familiar with this place. ”

Seeing that Zeng Guofan was dressed plainly and was not an official, the old official said impatiently: "The shipyard is only in the north of the city, and it is across the moat." The sound of the tinkling bell can be heard by the deaf. The official still has a business trip, so the old minister will go by himself. The official left his post without permission, and Lord Liu came back to play the board. The official has no errand, and you can't pay for it. ”

Zeng Guofan saw that what the man said seriously, thinking that he really had something important to do, so he didn't dare to force it anymore, and said: "Then bother you to say it in more detail, and save the villain from taking the wrong road." ”

When the official heard this, he glared at himself and scolded loudly: "You poor old talent, why are you so noisy!" You've been reading books for decades, but haven't you read them all in the belly of a dog? Xiangyong's shipyard is known to the whole of Hengzhou, why are you occluded? You walk slowly and ask slowly, and you will naturally be able to get there. What are you anxious about? What kind of urgency is it? It's not to grab the filial piety hat! ”

After the old official finished speaking, he deliberately pretended to be angry, and raised his head to look away.

Zeng Guofan smiled, had to walk out of the gate, and said while getting into the car: "Go north is the shipyard." ”

Xiao Fusi led the way, the sedan followed behind, and the soldiers surrounded the car in front and back.

Because it was a busy city in the city, the car did not dare to go fast, stopped and walked, and it took nearly two hours to reach the moat of the north city gate.

After leaving the city gate, we walked a short distance to the river.

Xiao Fusi opened his eyes everywhere, but where was the shadow of the shipyard? Then he said to Zeng Guofan: "My lord, the shipyard will not be built in the water, right?" ”

The soldiers helped Zeng Guofan out of the car and looked at the opposite side, but there was no workshop, only a child running around on the embankment and playing wildly. On the river, there are a few fishing boats swinging around, stretching their nets to catch fish.

At this time, a man was carrying two loads of live fish from the sedan chair.

Zeng Guofan hurriedly stepped forward and said with a smile: "Brother, isn't Xiangyong's Hengzhou shipyard in the north of the city?" ”

When the man arrived, he saw that it was a scholar, so he said, "Which second master showed you the way?" The shipyard is in the west of the city, when was it built in the north of the city? Run errands without asking clearly. Running around like this, you won't see the shipyard until it's dark. Do you think Hengzhou City is your own pot house? Let's go to Sanlipu! ---Hmph! ”

Xiao Fusi was so angry that he wanted to punch him several times, but Zeng Guofan stopped him with his eyes.

Seeing the man walking away, Zeng Guofan smiled at Xiao Fusi and said, "Fusi, we should have stayed in Xiangyin for one night." But I see that the ship is very heartfelt, and naturally it will be ridiculed. ”

Xiao Fusi said while driving the door: "It's not you who always stop me, I threw him into the water to feed the fish!! Let's see if he dares to play a poor mouth! ”

Zeng Guofan sat back in the sedan chair and ordered: "Go to the Sanli shop in the west of the city!" ”

Xiao Fusi hurriedly got on his horse, asked for directions, and headed west of the city.

When Zeng Guofan arrived at the Sanli shop in the west of the city, it was almost noon. The scorching sun hung in the sky, like a burning fireball, roasting the river to the heat.

Xiao Fusi was already sweating at this time, and the horse was so hot that his nostrils were open, and his whole body was steaming.

Xiao Fusi couldn't ride the horse, so he dismounted and held the reins, and led the car to a big tree to stop.

The soldiers did not wait for the order, so they took off their brave uniforms one after another, and hung on their guns in a group, making the appearance of fleeing the desert.

Zeng Guofan was so hot in the car that he had to be helped out of the car by his own soldiers.

Xiao Fusi wiped the sweat of the horse and whispered: "Okay, you Peng Xianggong!" You don't want adults to take a good look at the boat! ”

Zeng Guofan said at this time: "Fu Si, listen carefully." How do I hear what sounds like? (End of chapter)