Huo Zhenxi got off the horse in front of the gate of Rong Bao Zhai, and was dusting off his body, Zhang Youlin saw it at a glance, and he rushed out of it excitedly: "Uncle, are you here?" Huo Zhenxi patted Zhang Youlin's shoulder, and his affection was overflowing: "I just came from the northwest, and I have to go back as soon as I finish purchasing the goods, Youlin, are you okay?" ”

Zhang Youlin took the reins from Huo Zhenxi's hand and tied them to the pillar next to him: "What's good?" I go to class when I should go to class, and I stay in the shop when I don't go to class, and it's really boring to live this day. ”

"Oh, what kind of life is interesting in your opinion?"

"If I had time, I would join your caravan and travel north and south, and it would not be in vain."

"Okay, when you finish from the school, I'll take you around a few times......" The two men walked into the shop as they spoke.

Zhang Youlin invited Huo Zhenxi to sit down and served tea, Huo Zhenxi took out a list and handed it to Zhang Youlin: "This is the order form, you prepare the goods according to what is written on the list, and I will pick up the goods before I leave the capital." Zhang Youlin took the order and looked at it carefully: "Uncle, why do you order so many goods?" There are 200 Guangduan inkstones, 300 pieces of Hu Kaiwen's ink, and 100 pieces of 'super top lacquer smoke ink'......"

"To be honest, I don't understand this stationery supplies, we have never taken this kind of goods before, but I don't know you, when I go back to the northwest, I will pay attention to the sales of this kind of goods, it doesn't matter, I really know some businessmen who specialize in stationery supplies, these are the goods they ordered, Youlin, do you do this business?"

"Of course I do, this is our big buyer of Rong Bao Zhai, I can't ask for it, thank you uncle for thinking of me!" Zhang Youlin was very excited, Huo Zhenxi put down the tea bowl: "What words!" Of course I think about you, but I don't know much about it, and a businessman asked me about my super ...... What kind of ink, is it Hu Kaiwen's, where can I answer? What is this? ”

"'Super top paint smoke ink' is a kind of raw lacquer as the main raw material, plus lard, tung oil, musk, borneol, gold leaf, male cloves, pig gall and other raw materials made of calligraphy and painting ink, it is said that this ink to write a thousand pieces of paper does not consume three points, the color can be divided into five levels of coke, heavy, thick, light, clear, ink color for thousands of years without fading, is the ink in the boutique." Zhang Youlin gushed endlessly, but Huo Zhenxi frowned when he heard it: "Good guy, can a piece of ink say so much?" You literati, pure! Well, give you five days to get the goods ready, no problem, right? ”

"No problem, though...... Uncle, you're an old horse gang, why are you so uninitiated? There is only the name and quantity of the goods on this list, why is there no price that anyone can accept? Huo Zhenxi was impatient: "You little rabbit cub, why are there so many things?" How much you sell Rong Bao Zhai to others, how much you sell me, do you need to say? ”

Hearing this, Zhang Youlin returned the list to Huo Zhenxi: "Uncle, I won't do this business." ”

Huo Zhenxi's eyes narrowed: "Why?" Lao Tzu spent a long time trying to help you contact customers, and you kid said that if you don't do it, you won't do it? Tell me clearly, or I'll beat you! ”

"Uncle, I know you want to help me, but you don't have such a help, you don't ask about the purchase price, what if it's too expensive? Do you want to make up the difference with your own silver? Is there a business that does this? ”

Zhang Youlin stopped Huo Zhenxi, and Huo Zhenxi said vaguely: "This is my business, it's your business?" ”

Zhang Youlin added tea to Huo Zhenxi: "Uncle, I thank you, you are trapping me in injustice, otherwise you will get it like this, don't you have too much money to spend it?" Give me five thousand taels of flowers first, why bother so much, it's both inkstone and ink. Now Huo Zhenxi was amused: "Little rabbit, I can't hide anything from you, okay, what do you say?" ”

Zhang Youlin pondered for a moment, and then said: "I will add three points to the purchase price for you, how much you add is yours, in short, the rule of doing business is that both parties are profitable, otherwise it is not called business." ”

"What's that called?"

"That's called relief, but why should I ask you for relief? If you really have that kind heart, you might as well open a porridge factory, and if you don't make a good scene, you can still get the reputation of 'Huo Da Good Man'......"

Huo Zhenxi stood up and grabbed Zhang Youlin's ear: "Boy, I see that your skin is itchy......

After sending Huo Zhenxi away, Zhang Youlin went straight to the north house in the backyard of Rong Bao Zhai. Zhuang Huchen was looking at the account book while planning to make a plate, and Zhang Youlin came up with a smile: "Master, what about the reconciliation, this month's business is not bad, right?" ”

Zhuang Huchen slammed the account book on the table with a gloomy face: "You call me Master!" ”

Zhang Youlin was taken aback: "What's wrong?" Master, am I doing something wrong again? ”

Zhuang Huchen pointed to the account book: "I have to ask you, do you see?" This month's trading is good, but there is not much profit, do you know what's going on? ”

Zhang Youlin shook his head: "I don't know." ”

"Then let me tell you, it was all 'made' by you, is there anything you do to buy and sell? I can't wait to earn a flower two, call the flower from the door, you say to a few hangs is a few hangs, guests come to buy things, you sell it at the price we set, no, you have to rush to give people a discount, a dozen is five discounts, you know don't know, five folds to takeaway, it is equivalent to we do not make any money only a loss to earn shouting, I tell you, do this, you have to do Rong Bao Zhai down! The more Zhuang Huchen spoke, the more angry he became.

Zhang Youlin smiled: "Master, let's be honest with you, since I learned from you, I have become picky and searching, yesterday I fed the birds of the live insects are gone, I want to take the past, I will hand over a word, give some silver, and people will send it home, but now we will pass, reluctant to spend silver, I was stunned to go to Taoran Pavilion to catch insects......"

Zhuang Huchen interrupted him: "You don't talk nonsense with me, you said that you, the apprentice has been an apprentice for several years, why can't this young master's temper be changed?" With a little effort, he lifted the cage and raised the cage to fight the crickets, and spent the silver like running water, where is this like a trader? ”

"Master, don't be angry, I can't change it in the future? Everything else listens to you, but there is one thing, I don't think the same as you, I said don't scold me, what about you, just like a seller of sour jujube noodles, all you think about is a small profit, and the two jujube people are also calculating, Master, I didn't say you, you can't do much business like this......

"Well, I'm selling sour jujube noodles, and I'm also calculating." Zhuang Huchen sneered, "What about you? Can you make a big business with a single penny? ”

Zhang Youlin sat down opposite Zhuang Huchen: "For example, look at my uncle, don't look at my big skills, but people have eaten, played and seen, go there, and when you speak, everyone has to admit that this is a master." We have to come up with a little bit of the man's style to do business, we have to be generous, if we settle small accounts all day long, big business will not come to the door, you say, isn't this reasonable? ”

"My eldest young master, I have to ask this, you have been squandering money all day long, but I haven't seen you make any big deals? Can you show Master a hand and let Master see what a big deal is? ”

Zhang Youlin waited for this sentence, he unhurriedly took out Huo Zhenxi's order form from his sleeve and put it on the table: "Master, look at this list, it's reasonable, right?" ”

Zhuang Huchen picked it up and looked at it carefully, and sat up straight all of a sudden: "My God, big order!" Half a year's sales in our shop, where did you order this? ”

Zhang Youlin replied with a smile: "Northwest, it was my Uncle Huo who helped to handle it." ”

Zhuang Huchen stood up excitedly: "This is a long-term business, Rong Bao Zhai finally has a business that can stand!" ”

Zhuang Huchen walked back and forth in the room, unable to suppress his excitement.

Zhang Youlin looked at him: "Master, I think doing business is similar to being a person, treating people with a generous heart, acting with a fair heart, not deliberately pursuing results, doing nothing but doing nothing, and the result may be a bright future." Whether you are a person or a business, when it comes to this role, it should be a new realm. ”

Zhuang Huchen stopped: "Okay, Youlin, have you given a lesson to your master?" ”

Zhang Youlin hurriedly shook his head: "Don't dare, don't dare, you will always be my master......"

At night, a hall in the Tongwen Museum is brightly lit, a dance party is being held here, the band plays the repertoire of Johann Strauss Jr.'s "Waltz of Spring", several pairs of foreigners are dancing to the beautiful and moving melody, Zhang Youlin, Zhang Jilin and classmates in new uniforms stand next to the dance floor to watch.

Ivan and Qiuyue walked in, Qiuyue was dressed in Western-style dresses and was radiant, which immediately attracted the attention of everyone present, Zhang Youlin was stunned, and muttered: "Sister Qiuyue......"

Ivan led Autumn Moon through the hall to the corner where foreigners gathered, and he greeted acquaintances in French and Russian, and Autumn Moon nodded to everyone.

"Qiu Yue is the most beautiful woman at today's ball!" Zhang Jilin's mouth was admiring and followed her with his eyes, but Zhang Youlin's expression was a little gloomy: "Why is this Ivan again?" ”

The music started again, and Ivan and Akizuki joined the dancing crowd. This time the orchestra played Bach's minuet in G major, which begins with a brisk and lively first theme, elegant and gorgeous, followed by several variations on this theme, the whole piece has a simple structure and a steady rhythm, giving people a fresh and pleasant feeling. Ivan and Akizuki revel in the beautiful music, dancing gracefully and smoothly.

At the end of the song, Qiu Yue and Ivan happened to jump to the place where Zhang Youlin and Zhang Jilin were standing, and Zhang Youlin bowed quite gentlemanly: "Sister Qiu Yue is so beautiful." ”

Qiu Yue was surprised to meet them unexpectedly at the meeting: "You brothers are also here, why don't you dance?" ”

"We don't know how to jump yet." Zhang Jilin was a little embarrassed. Qiu Yue smiled: "It's okay, I'll teach you in a while." ”

Ivan stretched out his hand to Zhang Youlin: "Mr. Zhang, it's been a long time, how are you?" Zhang Youlin shook hands with Ivan: "Isn't Mr. Ivan a diplomat at the Russian Embassy, why did he change his career?" ”

"What do you mean?" Ivan didn't understand, Zhang Youlin smiled and said, "Did my sister Qiuyue hire you as a bodyguard, why do you follow her wherever she goes?" ”

"This is not a bodyguard, in our Europe, this is called a knight, how can there be no knight by the side of a beautiful woman?"

Ivan didn't seem to care.

"Youlin, why didn't you go to me recently, and forgot about your sister?" Qiuyue looked at Zhang Youlin, Zhang Youlin dodged her gaze: "The homework is too tight, there is no time." ”

At this time, the music started again, and a foreigner politely invited Qiuyue to dance, Qiuyue followed the foreigner into the dance floor, she turned back to Zhang Youlin and said, "I'll teach you later!" ”

The waiter passed by them with a tray, Zhang Youlin and Ivan took off their wine glasses and drank red wine, while Zhang Jilin's eyes kept following Qiuyue.

After a moment of silence, Ivan asked Zhang Youlin: "Mr. Zhang, I see something in your gaze, and you don't seem to like me very much." Zhang Youlin replied affirmatively: "That's right, I don't like you very much, because you have some bad plans for my sister Qiuyue." ”

"Oh, I'm pursuing Miss Akizuki, what's wrong with that?" Ivan was full of interest, and Zhang Youlin looked a little cold: "I heard that you have a wife, and Sister Qiuyue also has a man, so things are a little ridiculous." ”

"Yes, I have a wife, but if Miss Qiu Yue accepts me, I can divorce immediately, as for that Lord Yang Xianji, since he loves Qiu Yue, why not marry her? Aren't you Chinese allowed to take concubines? ”

Zhang Youlin snorted: "You foreigner know everything, let me ask you, does Qiuyue love you?" Ivan shrugged: "I don't know, but at least she doesn't hate me, besides, I have enough patience to wait, so far, I am equal to that Lord Yang Xianji, as long as Miss Qiuyue is not married, I have the right to pursue her." ”

"Well, count me in, I'm more qualified than all of you."

"Why?" Ivan asked, surprised.

At this time, the song ended, and Qiu Yue walked out of the dance floor, and neither Zhang Youlin nor Ivan noticed.

"You and Lord Yang both have wives, but I don't, so among the three of us, I am the most qualified."

Zhang Youlin was talking, Qiu Yue stretched out her hand from behind and grabbed Zhang Youlin's ear: "Youlin, what nonsense are you talking about?" Talking bad about your sister behind your back, who are you taking your sister for? ”

"Then Mr. Ivan......"

"Mr. Ivan is my friend, and your Sister Qiuyue has only one man, and that is Lord Yang, do you remember?"

"Remembered." Zhang Youlin muttered, lowered his head and was about to leave, but Ivan stopped him: "Mr. Zhang, please stay." Ivan leaned forward and whispered in Zhang Youlin's ear: "As far as I know, there are many reformers in your Tongwen Pavilion, are you?" ”

Zhang Youlin shook his head: "I can't say, but I agree with their proposition." ”

"According to our information, there may be a big move in the imperial court recently, the situation is very unfavorable to the reformers, and there may be bloodshed, Mr. Zhang, please do it yourself."

Zhang Youlin was shocked: "What you said is true? ”

Ivan shrugged: "I didn't say anything. He turned to Autumn Moon: "Miss Autumn Moon, can I invite you to waltz?" ”

Ivan and Qiu Yue stepped onto the dance floor with the rhythmic dance music, but Zhang Youlin stood there dumbfounded.

The Russians' intelligence was indeed accurate, and on the third day after the ball, the capital was in turmoil. One hundred days before that, that is, on June 11, 1898, the Guangxu Emperor issued an edict of "Ming Dingguo Shi", announcing the change of the law, with the purpose of learning Western culture, science and technology, and management and management systems, developing capitalism, establishing a constitutional monarchy, and making the country rich and strong. In September, the two sides reached a fever pitch, when the Empress Dowager Cixi suddenly rushed back to the Forbidden City from the Summer Palace where she lived, and on September 21 launched a coup d'état. The Empress Dowager Cixi imprisoned the Guangxu Emperor in Yingtai, Zhongnanhai, and then closed all the gates of Beijing, blocked the Beijing-Tianjin railway traffic, and thousands of forbidden troops searched for reformers everywhere in the streets and alleys, and for a time an atmosphere of terror shrouded in the capital.

A group of Qing cavalry galloped through the streets, and the Qing infantry with loaded guns and ammunition ran through the streets in a column, and the sound of footsteps shook the sky.

Zhuang Huchen walked out of Rong Bao Zhai and stood at the door watching, feeling melancholy.

After a while, an official sedan chair stopped in front of the door, Zhuang Huchen quickly greeted him, and it was Yang Xianji who got down from the sedan chair. Zhuang Huchen clasped his fists and saluted Yang Xianji: "Lord Yang, please inside." He was the first guest of Rong Bao Zhai since the coup d'état.

Yang Xianji returned the courtesy: "Shopkeeper Zhuang, business has not been big in the past two days, right?" ”

"yes, the adults didn't come except you." Zhuang Huchen sighed.

"It's no wonder that there is such a big thing in the court, who is not afraid? When you're done with business, go home quickly and save yourself from getting into trouble. ”

"Then you are ......"

Yang Xianji stretched his sleeves: "There are too many things to write in the past two days, I have run out of notepaper, come and buy some notepaper." ”

"Hey! You can just send someone here for this little thing, so why bother to run it yourself? ”

Yang Xianji said seriously: "Shopkeeper Zhuang, you don't know, I have a habit, when writing poems, the requirements for writing paper are very high, no matter how busy I am, I generally have to choose it personally, and I am not very relieved that others will do it for me......" The two walked into the shop as they spoke.

Zhang Xier took out all the notepads and put them on the counter for Yang Xianji to choose. Yang Xianji was picking, and Zhang Youlin walked in: "Yo, Lord Yang is here." ”

Yang Xianji raised his head: "Youlin, shouldn't your apprentice also become a teacher?" ”

"I've already graduated from school, and I officially got paid last month, hehe! It's just less. Zhang Youlin glanced at Zhuang Huchen with a smile, "My master's hand is tight, and he won't give any more." ”

"Being a buddy in Rong Bao Zhai is this salary, and if you are too little, you will find another job." Zhuang Huchen took out a stack of paper and handed it to Yang Xianji, "Of course, if you are a shareholder, it will be a different matter, you are richer than me, the shopkeeper, and you play with birds and insects, how much money do you have to spend every month?" ”

Yang Xianji took it: "Yes, you inquire on the street of Liulichang, how many young owners are buddies?" ”

Zhang Youlin leaned in: "Lord Yang, the past two days have been lively enough, there are infantry troops and horse teams on the street, and they haven't stopped until now." ”

"I got the news this morning, Tan Sitong, Liu Guangdi, and Yang Rui have all been arrested, and I heard that Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao ran away." Yang Xianji's expression was gloomy, and Zhang Youlin's eyes widened in surprise: "Lord Tan, Lord Liu, have they been arrested?" He thought for a moment, "Lord Yang, aren't you from the Criminal Department?" This case will eventually have to be tried by you, right? Why don't you just raise your hand and let them pass? ”

Yang Xianji looked out for a moment and whispered, "How can it be so easy?" I'm afraid that their case won't be able to reach the Criminal Department, it was hand-picked by Lafayette, not to mention Tan Sitong and Liu Guangdi, I heard that ...... Even the emperor was placed under house arrest. ”

"Alas, the affairs in the court, we grass people can't take care of it, it's useless to know anyway, it's better not to listen, no matter what happens, we ordinary people still have to live their lives, right? What's the matter, Lord Yang, did you choose this notepad? Zhuang Huchen asked.

Yang Xianji shook his head: "I don't like anything, now in this year, I'm afraid there is nothing to write about it." ”

"Lord Yang, you mean, there were still good notes in the past, but now they can't be made, is that so?" Zhang Youlin pondered.

"That is, the better the thing, the easier it is to be lost."

Zhuang Huchen smiled: "Lord Yang is talking about talking notes, right?" This we Rong Bao Zhai has nowhere to find, if there can be a few talking notes, I'm afraid no one is willing to sell, it has long been included in the collection, Lord Yang is well-informed, have you ever seen a talking note? ”

"It has only been more than 200 years since the paper was published, and although the production of this note has been lost, after all, there are still things that have survived, and I have seen them."

Zhang Youlin was a little curious: "What is a talking note?" Why haven't I heard of it? ”

Zhuang Huchen patted him on the shoulder: "Or you have an apprentice, if you know everything, where will I be the shopkeeper?" To be honest, I've been in the glass factory for so many years, and I've never seen a real conversation. ”

Yang Xianji told Zhang Youlin that Tan Jian was a kind of paper made by a person named Tan Zhonghe in the Ming Dynasty.

"Lord Yang, where can I see this kind of paper?" Zhang Youlin became interested in the conversation note, and Yang Xianji thought for a while: "I'm afraid this needs fate, if there is fate, you will see ...... sooner or later."

"Zhang Xi'er, where is the stack of notepaper that was originally placed here?" Zhuang Huchen asked at the counter, Zhang Xi'er stretched out his head and looked: "It's sold out, this kind of notepaper is good these days, and the new goods will come up in two days." ”

Zhuang Huchen walked out of the counter: "Lord Yang, I don't have a place to find the paper you want to buy, but there are still some delicate notes, and when the new goods come up in two days, I will let people send them to the house, and you will see if you are satisfied." ”

"Okay, then you'll have to drive."

After sending Yang Xianji away, Zhang Youlin entangled Zhuang Huchen: "Master, tell me a note." At this time, Zhuang Huchen's mood is not good, the current situation is turbulent, the business is depressed, and he doesn't know when he will count it as a stop, and his heart is not declining, but there is no way. He sighed and sat down: "Listen to my master, there is a secret method for dyeing on the paper, which is large and linked, small and ruler, with different colors, or the crumbs and golden flowers are depicted in the shape of landscapes, people, birds and beasts, or dyed flowers and plants, which are extremely exquisite. This type of paper is now lost. ”

"Has your master ever seen a conversation note?"

Zhuang Huchen shook his head: "He hasn't seen it either, the elders in his family have used it, and it is said that there are many kinds of talking notes, the best of which are jade plates, silver light, ribs, cinnabar, mirrors and official notes." The paper used is Jingchuan's paper, which is thick and groomed on the Jingchuan paper, making a variety of flower and bird patterns, and then waxing to produce the finished product. It is said that the talk note is 'smooth and similar to Song paper', and Dong Qichang also praised the talk note back then. ”

Zhang Youlin pondered: "Dong Qichang spanned the three dynasties of Wanli, Tianqi and Chongzhen, and he was almost a contemporary of Tan Zhonghe. Master, why did such a good thing go out of print later? ”

Zhuang Huchen took a sip of tea: "Hey, it's a long story, Tan Zhonghe's talk note is a secret method, it is said that this secret method was first obtained by his ancestor Yi Zhai Gong from the inner house, and later, Yi Zhaigong's grandson Wuting passed the secret method to Tan Zhonghe, Tan Zhonghe tried it a few times, and it actually became it." ”

"It's that easy?" Zhang Youlin was a little puzzled, but after thinking about it, "I think this is probably the will of heaven." ”

"The news that Tan Zhonghe made the best paper spread far and wide, and for a while, more and more people came to ask for it from all over the world, and the Tan family hired more than 20 domestic servants to make it day and night, but it was still in short supply."

Zhang Youlin didn't think twice: "Then hire more people." ”

"If it were someone who wanted to get rich, maybe that would be it." Zhuang Huchen paused for a moment, "But Mr. Tan is a casual person, and he has no interest in fame and fortune, so he will pick on his son when he is annoyed." ”

"Picky?"

"Yes, one day, the people who came to ask for paper were a group of people followed by a group, you think, this talk note is in Jingchuan's even paper thick and polished, and then waxed, how can you get it out for a while, the buyer urged vigorously, Mr. Tan finally got annoyed, and in a fit of anger the people who came to ask for paper were blasted out, and ordered the servants to stop work, and lit a fire for the remaining materials for paper making...... It's all burned! ”

Zhang Youlin was dumbfounded: "Huh? ”

Zhuang Huchen stood up and paced in the shop: "Mr. Tan also left a sentence, 'How can a big husband be involved with a raccoon woman', which means that a manly man, where can he be chewed like a raccoon woman." Leaving this sentence, Mr. Tan flicked his sleeves and walked away, and the talk note has been out of print ever since! ”

"Why can't Mr. Tan think about it so much!" Zhang Youlin regretted, and Zhang Xi'er, who had been listening to the side, suddenly interjected: "Shopkeeper, no, I've seen a talk note, this South Paper Shop of the Liuli Factory, there are several talk notes?" Zhuang Huchen snorted: "That's a fake, a fake!" If it's really a talk, who is willing to sell it? That's worth the money. ”

Zhang Xi'er was suspicious: "It looks good." ”

"It was made of color and paste on paper, and it looked good at the time, but after a long time, the powder fell off, that cold! Alas, it can't be imitated! ”

"Master, you said, what a good deal this talks about Zhonghe, no one fights for it, no one grabs it, how can he say that it will be ruined?" Zhang Youlin was puzzled, and Zhuang Huchen sat back in his chair: "This human matter is not something that you and I can figure out clearly. ”

Zhang Youlin leaned up: "Master, I'm thinking, I'm afraid that there are still physical objects handed down from this note, since Tan Zhonghe has sold a lot, maybe someone will keep it, right?" ”

"Then wait, if the real talk note is still there, there will be a day of this life sooner or later, didn't Lord Yang say it? Who can get it depends on fate. ”

The situation has been turbulent in the past few days, and the goods ordered by Huo Zhenxi have been prepared, Zhang Youlin was worried in his heart, so he came to the Shengchang grocery store. As soon as he stepped into the threshold, the shopkeeper hurriedly stepped up to meet him: "Yo, isn't this Young Master Youlin?" But I haven't seen each other for a while. ”

"Shopkeeper Ma, is my Uncle Huo here?"

"It's unfortunate that he's not here." The shopkeeper looked around, and then lowered his voice, "I won't tell you, I'm looking for him here, Huo Ye doesn't know what's going on, I haven't shown up for several days, I'm dying." ”

Zhang Youlin was taken aback: "Will something happen to Uncle Huo?" ”

"Who knows, alas, the officials and soldiers are searching for them in the city, and my heart is full of ups and downs, I hope nothing will happen."

The shopkeeper looked worried.

Coming out of the Shengchang grocery store, Zhang Youlin pondered in his heart: Where can Uncle Huo go? Just thinking about it, he suddenly heard someone calling him, and when he looked back, Zhang Jilin was wearing an old-fashioned robe and caught up from behind. Zhang Youlin was a little surprised: "Brother, why are you dressed like this, don't you usually wear a uniform?" ”

Zhang Jilin looked around nervously: "Young Lin, you don't know yet, right?" Our Tongwenguan has suspended classes, and a few teachers have also been arrested, saying that it is the New Party, and the people in the yamen have said that the Jingshi Tongwenguan is the nest of the New Party, and the few people who have been arrested are open, and there are those who have not been arrested, and the students are so frightened that they dare not wear uniforms, for fear of being regarded as a new party. ”

"Didn't the instructors say when the class would start?"

"When is it, and are you still thinking about the start of classes? I don't know if the people who have been arrested are dead or alive! ”

Zhang Youlin sighed: "Alas, I see that I am about to graduate, who knows that I will catch up with this." ”

"Youlin, don't wander around the street if you have nothing to do, it's time to stay at home." Zhang Jilin instructed.

"I'll go back to the shop, you can go home first."

As soon as Zhang Jilin left, Zhang Shanlin, who was carrying a bird cage in his hand, turned around from the corner of the street, and as soon as he saw Zhang Youlin, he shouted excitedly: "Youlin, Youlin!" Why are you going? ”

Zhang Youlin stopped: "Uncle, I'm passing here, what's wrong?" ”

Zhang Shanlin leaned in: "You don't know, right? The gang of people who are always yelling for changes are all folded this time. ”

"Oh, I know."

Zhang Shanlin lowered his voice: "I heard that Lafayette turned his face, arrested all the people who made changes, and asked for the cut without saying a word, did you see it?" The people on the street are rushing to the entrance of the vegetable market, and this time there is a lively scene. ”

Zhang Youlin only then found that the flow of people on the street was surging in one direction, and he asked in surprise: "If you don't even try it, you will come up and ask for a knife?" ”

"That's it, it's a lot of trouble to judge, go down with a knife, everything is over, let's go, let's go and see ......"

Zhang Shanlin walked a few steps and stood still, Zhang Youlin dragged him: "Uncle, why don't you leave?" ”

"It's time to feed my yellow bird, forget it, I'm not going, we can't just look at the excitement and starve the birds, young forest, you can go by yourself."

Zhang Youlin stomped his feet: "Ouch, my uncle, when is it, are you still thinking about the birds?" ”

At the Caishikou execution ground, men, women, and children had already surrounded the execution platform, and the six gentlemen of Wuxu, Tan Sitong, Liu Guangdi, Yang Rui, Lin Xu, Yang Shenxiu, and Kang Guangren, were tied up by Wuhua and escorted down the execution car in turn.

The prison officer and the minister of military aircraft sat on the Taishi's chair and looked at the condemned prisoners with a blank face. Liu Guangdi asked angrily: "Lord Gang, why do you ask for beheading without interrogation?" ”

Gangyi ignored him, but dragged a long voice: "Kneel down, listen to the order...... Liu Guangdi insisted on not kneeling: "According to the criminal law of the Qing Dynasty, even if the most heinous prisoner is about to cry out for injustice, he will be retried, even if it is not a pity for my generation, you are also against the *** criminal law by doing this, how can this move convince people?" ”

Resolute avoided Liu Guangdi's gaze and remained silent.

"You're talking!" Liu Guangdi urged impatiently, and cleared his throat resolutely: "I was just ordered to be beheaded, and the rest of the ......" then raised his hand to give the executioner a signal, and the executioner kicked Liu Guangdi's back knee socket, forcing Liu Guangdi to kneel, and Liu Guangdi stubbornly struggled to stand up.

Seeing this scene, Yang Rui shouted loudly: "Brother Guangdi, kneel and kneel, just obey the order!" Liu Guangdi knelt down angrily. Yang Rui was also very angry, but he forcibly suppressed the anger in his chest, took two steps forward, and said to Gangyi in a gentle tone: "I want to show my heart to the Holy One......"

"There is a decree in the Holy Spirit, and it is not allowed to say it!" Interrupting him resolutely and brutally, Yang Rui finally broke out, and he angrily rebuked: "It's all you, the minister of military aircraft, who is a sinner who has brought disaster to the country and the people......"

In the crowd, several burly and sturdy men quietly approached the execution table, and at the forefront was Tan Sitong's friend, Kyoto chivalrous sword king Wu, and Huo Zhenxi followed closely behind. They all put their hands in the plackets of their robes, as if they could unsheath their swords at the slightest command.

Zhang Youlin, who was standing not far away, suddenly found Huo Zhenxi, he was about to shout, but he woke up in an instant and quickly covered his mouth.

Wang Wu's alert eyes swept the execution ground, but seeing that the Qing soldiers were heavily guarded, Wang Wu looked at Huo Zhenxi helplessly, and Huo Zhenxi shook his head slightly. Two lines of tears rolled down Wang Wu's cheeks, and he turned to Tan Sitong.

Tan Sitong smiled and nodded with Wang Wu, and said goodbye loudly: "I have the intention to kill the thief, I can't return to the sky, I die as I deserve, hurry up!" ”

Gangyi saw that there was a change in the crowd of the court, and he was afraid that something would change, so he shouted: "Obey the order......" and then threw out the death card with a "bang". The executioner with the red belt in Xuanyi picked up the ghost head knife at the six gentlemen, and the blood mist flew in the air, and in an instant, the heads of the six gentlemen fell to the ground, and the law field was suddenly in chaos.

In the crowd, only a "plop" sound was heard, and Zhang Youlin fell to the ground and fainted. A spectator next to him shouted: "Another ...... has fallen here" Huo Zhenxi had already noticed Zhang Youlin, and at this moment he pushed aside the crowd and squeezed towards the place where Zhang Youlin fell......

When Huo Zhenxi came to Zhang's house with Zhang Youlin on his back, Zhang Shanlin and Zhang Li were chatting in the living room.

Using people to lead the way, Huo Zhenxi entered the east house and put Zhang Youlin on the kang. Zhang Shanlin and Zhang Li followed, and Zhang Shanlin shouted: "I was fine on the street just now, why did I let people carry it back after a while?" Zhang Li looked at Huo Zhenxi anxiously: "Uncle He, what's wrong with Youlin?" ”

Huo Zhenxi wiped the sweat from his head: "This kid, watching the beheading at the entrance of the vegetable market, fainted when he saw blood." ”

Zhang Youlin slowly opened his eyes, and his voice was weak: "Uncle...... I've seen it all, Lord Yang, Lord Liu, Lord Tan...... I know them all...... Why did you ...... all of a sudden" Zhang Youlin cried, tears flowed like a stream, Huo Zhenxi was a little impatient, he scolded: "I faint when I see blood, you still practice martial arts like a bear?" Don't cry! ”

Zhang Li handed over a handkerchief, Zhang Youlin wiped his tears with a frown, Huo Zhenxi looked at him, and his tone softened: "Are you better?" ”

"It's all right."

"Then get me up and go out for a walk with me."

Zhang Li wants to stop: "His uncle ......"

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, Youlin is fine."

Huo Zhenxi took Zhang Youlin to stroll in a secluded grove, and Huo Zhenxi taught: "Look at your little talent!" Hum! Otherwise, it is useless to be a scholar. ”

Zhang Youlin was not convinced: "What's wrong with the scholar?" Which of those people who are engaged in changing the law is not a scholar? People are really worried about the country and the people. ”

"You're still not convinced? Let's give you an analogy, if you run into a robber while walking at night, they tell you to leave the silver and get out, or they will kill you, but what about you, boy, you insist on reasoning with the robber, telling the robber that it is wrong to do so, and persuading him to surrender, you say, what will the robber do? ”

Zhang Youlin didn't think twice: "Kill me." ”

"By the way, I have to kill you, because other people's reason is different from yours, and the two families can't talk together, and you scholars are prone to make this mistake, always thinking that your own reason is the reason of the world, and if you catch someone and who reason, you will lose your head if you don't make a good fuss."

Zhang Youlin thought for a while: "Uncle, do you mean that the six gentlemen who changed the law were reasoning with the robbers, so they were killed?" ”

Huo Zhenxi nodded: "That's right, this bullshit court is a robber, and there are only two ways to deal with robbers: either run, or hide if you can't be provoked; Either kill him, there is no other way. Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao are both smart people, and they ran away, unlike these people, who still pointed at the emperor to support them, but they lost their heads. ”

"Uncle, the six gentlemen of the family don't want to overthrow the imperial court, but to improve, what about you, you want to overthrow the imperial court, you two don't think the same, which one is better......" Zhang Youlin sighed, "Alas, I don't understand either." ”

"Youlin, have you heard of the great rebellion of the Hui people in the northwest during the Tongzhi period?"

"I have heard that the riot lasted for more than ten years, affecting Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia, and was later quelled by Zuo Zongtang." Zhang Youlin looked at Huo Zhenxi, Huo Zhenxi patted his head: "Well, you kid knows a lot of things, I participated in that riot when I was young, and followed Bai Yanhu Marshal all the way to Yangguan, and then Bai Dashuai led his troops into Russia, and I returned to Gansu." Let's put it this way, I never have any hope for this court, we Hui people don't like this court, as long as there is a chance, we have to resist, it doesn't matter if we can't defeat it, we start all over again, one generation can't do it from generation to generation, at least let it know that we Hui people are not easy to bully. ”

Zhang Youlin stopped: "Uncle, do you still want to do it?" ”

"Of course, we are preparing, and once the time is ripe, we will raise the banner of rebellion against the mother, so it is not a matter of improvement to deal with this bullshit court, we have to pick up the guy and do it with real knives and guns, and the few people who died on the execution ground today are really too wretched."

"Uncle, what are you doing at the execution ground today? There seem to be some people around you, who is that tall man? ”

"That's the fifth king of the big sword, a good kung fu, also a Hui people, very famous in the Kyoto area, I am an old friend with him, today we went to the vegetable market to rob the law field to save Tan Sitong, but when we went to the execution ground, the Qing soldiers were heavily guarded, and I really couldn't find a chance to start, so I watched them being killed, and I was really holding my breath!"

Zhang Youlin's eyes widened: "Do you know Tan Sitong?" ”

Huo Zhenxi shook his head: "I don't know, Wang Wu and he are friends, I am doing Wang Wu a favor." Tan Si was very tough with this person, and that day we learned that someone was coming from the yamen to arrest him, and Wang Wu and I also went to his house to persuade him to hide. We broke all our mouths, I said Tan Ye, if you don't have a place to go, just hide from us in the northwest, the emperor is far away, and it is the world of our Hui people, and the eagle dogs in the imperial court, no matter how much he dares to borrow a few guts, he will not dare to go there to arrest you. It's all said and done, Tan Ye still can't leave, I have nothing to do with Wang Wu, I know that this person can't be persuaded anymore, Tan Ye doesn't want to live anymore, and we can't help it. That's it, let's go on the front foot, and Tan Ye will let the yamen take it to prison on the back foot, alas, Tan Ye is really a man. ”

"Mr. Tan Sitong is really a hero!" Zhang Youlin admired.

"A hero is a hero, it's just not worth dying, it's still my words, don't expect this bullshit court to improve anything, you have to pick up a knife and gun to defeat it." Huo Zhenxi made a gesture.

"Uncle, according to what you said, defeat it, but what about after it is defeated?"

"That'...... I don't know. Huo Zhenxi didn't seem to have thought much about this problem.

The two of them walked out of the grove while talking, they passed by the Lotus Temple, and saw that it had been arranged as a mourning hall for the six gentlemen.

Wang Yuxuan and Yang Xianji were walking inside, Wang Yuxuan wiped his tears: "Brother Yang...... What is this called? ”

Yang Xianji shook his head and sighed: "Alas! We can only send it......"

Zhang Youlin witnessed all this, and his heart was hit by a huge impact.

When Zhuang Huchen came to Erqingni's mansion again, Erqingni was happily teasing the birds in the courtyard. The employee let Zhuang Huchen sit down at the stone table, Erqingni's mind was obviously still on the bird, and nodded to Zhuang Huchen: "Zhuang shopkeeper, you really keep your word." ”

"Dealers, if they don't keep their promises, will it be okay? This is a sample of the pen, you inspect the goods. Zhuang Huchen opened a sandalwood box he brought with him and handed it to Erqingni, who took it and looked at it, didn't say anything, and put it down again.

Zhuang Huchen opened another sandalwood box he brought with him, and offered it with both hands: "This is what Qianlong Ye used back then." ”

Hearing the words "Lord Qianlong", Erqingni seemed to be a little interested, he hung up the bird cage, washed his hands, respectfully took out the pen from the sandalwood box, and looked at it carefully. The barrel of the pen is painted with black lacquer, and the four golden characters of "Blessing the common people" are engraved on it. Erqingni looked at it for a long time, and asked suspiciously: "Did Lord Qianlong use it?" ”

"That's right, look at the four golden words of 'blessing the common people', except for the emperor, who can afford it?"

Erqingni rolled his eyelids: "Shopkeeper Zhuang, how many years has your Rong Bao Zhai been open?" Can there be something that Qianlong Ye did? You've been fooled by me, aren't you? ”

Zhuang Huchen hurriedly explained: "Rong Bao Zhai has been open for a few years, but have you heard of Songzhu Zhai?" ”

"Songzhu Zhai, of course I've heard that the study utensils I made when I was a child were all bought from there."

"That's a long-established store, right?"

Erqingni nodded: "That's right, it's a time-honored brand." ”

"Songzhu Zhai's original shopkeeper was my brother, and when Songzhu Zhai went out of business, my brother gave me all his goods."

Erqingni was still skeptical: "Is there this pen in the bottom of the goods?" ”

"Yes, my lord, it's a year!" Zhuang Huchen leaned close to Erqingni's ear and whispered, "This was ordered by Lord Qianlong in Songzhuzhai back then, and Lord Qianlong rewarded a eunuch surnamed Wang once with a gift. This prince is a frequent visitor to Songzhu Zhai, and sometimes he is short of silver, so he sells the things rewarded by the emperor to Songzhu Zhai at a price, anyway, what he has in his hand is a good thing. Let's put it this way, this pen is made by Songzhu Zhai, it was not valuable, but Qianlong Ye used it to write, this is not ordinary, and now there is no hundreds of taels of silver that can't be taken down. ”

Erqingni was very surprised: "Worth a few hundred taels of silver? ”

"That is, what is the identity of Lord Qianlong? Not to mention the pen made by his old man, how about the night pot made by Lord Qianlong? It's not a night pot, when it comes to mortals, if it's not good, it will be used as an heirloom in the ancestral hall, and it's worth the old silver. ”

Erqingni was happy at this time, and he tentatively said: "Then I'm done reading this...... Sending it back to you? ”

Zhuang Huchen waved his hand: "Where can I be, my lord, this is dedicated to honoring you!" ”

"Honor me? Ouch, what's that going on? If so...... Then you're welcome! Erqingni was overjoyed, and Zhuang Huchen handed over a package of stationery supplies: "These are all things supervised by Rong Bao Zhai, you make it first, and then send someone to tell me when it's over, and then send it to you." Erqingni opened the package and glanced at it: "Shopkeeper Zhuang, you are so polite, thank you, thank you!" ”

"My lord, I heard that there has been a big incident in the court in the past two days, you are not inconvenient, right?" Zhuang Huchen lowered his voice and asked, Erqingni picked up the tea bowl and took a sip of tea: "Thanks to Lafayette's blessing, I'm fine, in fact, it's not a big deal, but I killed a few new parties." If you want me to see, they should have been killed a long time ago, the Qing Dynasty has been here for more than 200 years, and the rules have been set a long time ago, how can it be that a few new parties can change it if they want to? If you don't kill them, is there still a royal law? ”

"That's, that's, I'm just a businessman, I don't understand the big things of Jiangshan Sheji, as long as the Lord is good, my heart will be steady, in the future, what is needed in the palace, you also think about Rong Bao Zhai."

Erqingni nodded: "I know this in my heart." ”

Coming out of Erqingni's mansion, Zhuang Huchen walked briskly and was happy, he did not go back to Rong Bao Zhai, but went to Baoyun Pavilion to invite Zhou Mingren to drink.