Reading guide: What happened in Yueyang made Zeng Guofan unable to sleep; I just fell asleep, but I met a monster again.

Zeng Guofan walked out of the dream and was puzzled.

The official ship of Guangdong to deliver the silver finally arrived in Changsha.

Zeng Guofan flew over and read the material......

Seeing the old man like this, Zeng Guofan hurriedly groped for help.

After helping the old man up, Zeng Guofan invited the old man to sit down, and he slowly sat down, took a breath and said, "Old man, if you have anything to say, just tell me." This black light is blinding, you say kneel and kneel, there must be a mistake, how to get it! Don't be polite. The people are the food and clothing parents of the government, and without the people, how can there be any government! ”

The old man choked up and said, "Lord Zeng, now the county yamen in Yueyang does not allow the people to speak." Let's be honest with you, the little old man rented 30 acres of land leased by the Issuance and Examination Bureau. When the grain was harvested that year, the government didn't say anything. But just three months ago, the old man of the Dian Shi brought a few errand officials to my house, claiming that the county lord had a life, and asked the people who rented the land to make up for the first year's grain. Xiao Lao'er was busy working in the field at the time, and the old woman and her two daughters-in-law were at home. When the old woman heard this, she begged her neighbor to call me back from the field. To tell the truth, don't look at the old man of the classic history, the little old man is not afraid of him. Why? Because I have the documents jointly issued by the Issuance Examination Bureau and the county yamen. It is clearly written that those of us who rent land can be exempted from grain and land for three years. It's only been less than two years, what am I afraid of him? When I got home, I took out the paperwork and gave it to the old man to read. However, the old man of the history said that this is a matter determined by the Issuance and Examination Bureau, and it cannot be counted. I asked him why he didn't count. The old man replied that the Issuance and Examination Bureau is a group exercise, not a serious yamen. I asked him again, isn't there still the big seal of the county yamen on the document? Lord Zeng, what do you guess the old man said? He said that the matter of the predecessor has nothing to do with the current one. What's more, Luo's parents have been transferred to Jiangxi by the imperial court, and they may have been killed by the long-haired cannonball. I don't want to pay for the grain and the land, unless Lord Luo lives again! “

When Zeng Guofan heard this, he couldn't help asking: "Is that really what the classic history says?" ”

The old man said: "Lord Zeng, the little old man is in his sixties, and he never knows how to write the word lying!" What's more, I, a poor people, dare to wronged the people of the government? I haven't lived long enough! The old man said that the county parents were sympathetic to the plight of our farmers and decided to give us ten days. Ten days later, if we don't make up the grain and land, not only will we have to take back the land, but we will also have to pay the boss a fine, otherwise we will be arrested and imprisoned. ”

Zeng Guofan asked, "What happened later?" ”

The old man replied, "What will happen later?" Some of them made up the grain, and some did not, and the land was recovered. What about fines? Some of them borrowed it; Some of them couldn't hand them over, so the officials arrested them, and if they didn't hand them over, they would be beaten. Now the prison is full. I heard that all the people who rented the land, and the children and women did not let go. ”

Zeng Guofan asked in a low voice: "Old man, do you have a relationship?" ”

The old man said: "If you want to hand it over, I can hand it over, but I can't do it!" The two officers who came to get me saw that I was old, and they were afraid that I would die in prison if I was caught. And what about my two sons? It just so happened that he wasn't at home. ”

Zeng Guofan asked, "Why aren't the two sons at home?" ”

The old man replied: "There is a broken boat at home, and the two of them often go out to fish to supplement the family. When the two officers saw that my son was not at home, and that they were afraid that I would die, they went out and discussed with the land protector who had brought them. When he entered the house again, he came to my little daughter-in-law, to take her away, and let my son come back and take the money and get her. My little daughter-in-law was six months pregnant. I just want to fight for this old life, and I can't let them take her away! Later, when I did a good job, the local security guard also came out to intercede, and promised to send the fine to the county government when my son returned, and the officials were willing to leave. ”

Zeng Guofan suppressed the anger in his stomach and asked in a low voice, "What happened later?" ”

The old man sighed and said, "After my two sons came back, I was afraid that the errand would continue to entangle, so I packed up my things that day, returned the rented house to Dong Weng, and quietly moved the house. Now the house where the little old man lives is also rented. Cough! Now they haven't found this place, and when they find this place, the little old man's family can't live a stable life again. If it weren't for the dog baby slamming the door, the little old man would never dare to open the door in the middle of the night! ”

After listening to the old man's words, Zeng Guofan was speechless for a long time.

The old man stood up in disappointment and said softly, "Master Zeng, I'll go inside and find you a clean quilt, and you will rest here for a while." ”

Zeng Guofan got up and said, "Old man, you don't need to find me a quilt, I'll sit for a while and it will be dawn." What do you live on as a family now? The land was taken back, and the daughter-in-law had to give birth again. ”

The old man sighed and said: "Afraid of being arrested by the government, the two sons are fishing in Hubei, and they will send back some grain, oil and salt for ten days and eight days." Sometimes I can't connect it, so I borrow some from my neighbors. It's okay for us to say that pregnant people can't go hungry! You're actually tired for a long time, and you can't talk about it anymore. ”

When the old man finished speaking, he touched his hand and went back to the back room.

Zeng Guofan closed his eyes and sat until dawn.

Zeng Guofan quietly pushed the door and came outside the house, and saw Li Chendian and his own soldiers, all nested in all corners of the courtyard, sleeping soundly.

Zeng Guofan's heart was sour, and he almost burst into tears.

He bent down and pushed Li Chendian, and called softly: "Chendian, wake up!" It's time for us to hit the road. ”

Li Chendian jumped up with a carp, which startled Zeng Guofan.

Li Chendian looked around with his eyes, and suddenly understood. He said, "I fell asleep and thought I was in the camp." ”

Zeng Guofan whispered to Li Chendian: "Don't be loud, don't alarm the people in the house." You quietly call them up, and we'll go at once. Also, I went to Hengyang this time, I didn't bring any silver, how much do you have in your hand now? ”

Li Chendian said with a smile while flipping through his waist bag: "I just became a pipe belt, and you always borrow silver!" ,, No wonder my master repeatedly explained before leaving, when you are an errand by your old side, you must always carry some silver in your waist. ”

Zeng Guofan smiled helplessly: "I don't care if I borrow it from you, and I don't want it for nothing." ,, what else did Fu Si say? ”

Li Chendian said: "My master said that you have not paid for a year. ”

Zeng Guofan sighed and said: "Xiang Yong's salary is scarce, and it is the time to use silver,"

Li Chendian had already taken out the silver at this time. He carefully checked it with his hand, and handed it to Zeng Guofan with some reluctance: "My lord, this is the twenty taels that my master threw to me before leaving." It's not enough, I'll let them borrow some more. ”

Zeng Guofan took the silver and said, "Just twenty taels." I'll give it back to you when I get back. ”

Li Chendian said: "My lord, I'm going to greet them." ”

Zeng Guofan nodded and walked quickly into the house. He put twenty taels of silver on the table, and then crept out.

Returning to the Issuance and Examination Bureau, Zeng Guofan first sent several capable officials to rush to the wharf to wait for the ships escorted by the Guangdong side to carry the silver; He sent the copywriting to the signing room, opened four papers in a row, and then went to the bedroom to rest.

But what happened in Yueyang County made him unable to sleep for a long time.

First of all, he was the minister of regimental training, and the regimental training of various prefectures, prefectures, and counties was under his management, but except for regimental training and the suppression of bandits, all local affairs were handled by the governor's yamen.

Obviously, Yueyang County's fanfare ordering the tenants to pay the grain and land must have been approved by the governor's yamen or the political envoy's yamen. Otherwise, even if Yueyang County has the courage to do so, it will not dare to do so.

This puts Zeng Guofan in a dilemma.

If he came forward to take care of this matter, he would first have to obtain the consent of the governor's yamen, and let Xu Youren issue a notice. Will Luo Bingzhang and Xu Youren do what he wants?

And he ignored this matter, not only the people of Yueyang would no longer trust the Issuance and Examination Bureau, but the people of Hunan would no longer donate a penny of silver for the group training! Whether the group training can continue is really difficult to say.

Thinking of the headache, Zeng Guofan barely fell asleep, but he had a strange dream: as if on a mountain, as if in a dry ravine, he met a monster with wings that was neither a cow nor a horse. The monster hovered in mid-air first, shaking the ground so that it was not scary. Frightened, he ducked behind a tree. The monster lunged at him suddenly, so fast that it pecked him on his left shoulder almost with a snap of his fingers, and fled in an instant. He screamed and opened his eyes suddenly, but it turned out to be Nan Ke's dream.

Zeng Guofan got up and found that his clothes were already soaked with sweat. Thinking back to the dream, Zeng Guofan felt that his left shoulder was really painful.

Zeng Guofan walked to the window and looked out, but saw that the sky was about to darken, and it was time to hold the lamp.

Hearing a noise inside, the soldiers waiting outside the door pushed the door and walked in, saying, "My lord, are you awake?" Do you want to change your clothes? ”

Zeng Guofan asked casually: "Have you had dinner in the room?" ”

The soldier replied: "Back to the adult, the meal has already been served." But the kitchen is not on fire, and the villain immediately informs them of what you want to eat. ”

Zeng Guofan said: "You get a basin of water and put some salt in it." I was feeling a little unwell, as if I was about to have ringworm. I'll wipe myself. Tell the guy to just heat up the leftovers. ”

The pro-soldier agreed to go out.

After wiping his body, when the soldiers changed Zeng Guofan's clothes, Zeng Guofan asked again: "When I sleep, there is nothing wrong, right?" ”

The soldier replied: "It was Ta Xietai and Bao Yingguan who came to visit, and I heard that you had rested, so you returned to the camp again." ”

After changing clothes, Zeng Guofan pushed the door and said, "Heat up the meal and find me in the signing room." ”

When I arrived at the signing room, a soldier brought in a bowl of hot tea.

Zeng Guofan originally wanted to deal with a few official duties, but the scene in the dream has been haunting his mind.

What the hell is that monster with two wings, which is neither a cow nor a horse?

Zeng Guofan drank tea while recalling his dream.

He stood up and began to pace slowly in the signing room. Pacing and pacing, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and the word "unicorn" popped up in his mind.

It's a unicorn! It's definitely a unicorn! You can't go wrong!

Zeng Guofan walked quickly to the wooden cabinet, took out the key to open the lock, and took out a piece of paper from the bottom and spread it on the table; On the paper is a parting message from the last time the Taoist saw him.

Zeng Guofan looked at these four sentences horizontally and vertically for a long time, but none of them could have anything to do with Qilin.

He sighed and put the paper back in the cupboard.

At this time, the soldiers walked in and said, "My lord, the meal is already hot, you can eat when you are old." ”

Zeng Guofan nodded and walked out of the signing room listlessly.

At noon the next day, a Guangdong official ship arrived in Changsha. After inquiry, the official of the Issuance and Examination Bureau inquired and found that what was escorted on the official ship was the money that was ordered to be sent to the camp in Jiangnan.

Hearing the report, Zeng Guofan immediately ordered two sentry soldiers with Li Chendian, took a blue sedan chair, and flew to the wharf where the Guangdong ship docked in Changsha.

When they arrived at the wharf, Zeng Guofan ordered Li Chendian to take his own soldiers to hold the main road first, and then blocked a Hunan naval warship that Taqibu had allocated here in advance for business to block in front of the Guangdong ship. Li Chendian led twenty personal soldiers to follow behind Zeng Guofan.

The escort officer was a guerrilla sailor in the Green Battalion in Guangdong. Born with thick eyebrows and big eyes, broad shoulders and round waist, his figure is very large. Zeng Guofan saw the guerrilla and first reported to his home.

As soon as the guerrilla heard that the person was from Ding Worry, he hurriedly got up and saluted, and said: "Humble duty to the lord to say goodbye." ”

Zeng Guofan picked up the guerrilla and said in a deep voice: "This minister is here to discuss a business with my brother. I also hope that my brother will be accommodating. ”

Guerrilla said: "If you have something to say, please speak, and listen to me." ”

Zeng Guofan said: "This minister first asked my brother a word: My brother was escorted, but the 200,000 taels of money allocated to the Jiangnan camp by order? ”

Guerrilla nodded, "Exactly." ”

Zeng Guofan smiled and said, "This minister is here to do this. My brother knows that I, Hunan and Hubei, are preparing for ship artillery on the orders of the imperial court. However, due to the lack of funds, it has not been completed so far. The elder brother escorted 200,000 taels, if all of them stayed in Hunan, the elder brother would not be able to deal with it, not to mention, the imperial court would also raise the salary of the Jiangnan camp. The minister thought about it again and again, and only asked his brother to leave 40,000 taels for Hunan to make up for the shortfall in the ship's artillery. In this way, the elder brother will not be embarrassed. ”

As soon as Zeng Guofan's words fell, the guerrilla's face changed suddenly, and he suddenly jumped up. (End of chapter)