Chapter 118 A disciple wearing a fourth-grade official uniform
Let's talk about yesterday, Xu Guangqi hosted a banquet for Xu Dahua, and told Zheng Haizhu to come to the mountain to pay homage to the mountain. With both parties on the line, Xu Guangqi could no longer appear in subsequent visits to the firearms workshop.
Zheng Haizhu knew it well. This meant that money should not be given away in the post house but in the school.
So she carefully selected only the round fans, handkerchiefs, and cloud shoulders newly produced by the Han family's embroidery workers, and presented them to Xu Dahua as a local gift to the female scrolls of the Xu family before the banquet started.
At first, Xu Dahua looked plain and gentle, with the sense of alienation that an official should have. He said, "Miss Zheng, don't be too formal, let's sit together at the table." However, he mainly asked Xu Guangqi for advice on Western learning, the scenery of southern Zhili, and other insights and anecdotes. , and don’t pay much attention to Zheng Haizhu.
Halfway through the meal, Xu Guangqi was served by a servant and went to Dengdong. Xu Dahua opened the gift box on the brocade stool and took out a handkerchief imitating the parrot in the Xuanhe painting of the Song Dynasty. He looked at it intently for a moment and praised Zheng Haizhu: " Songjiang Prefecture is really a place with outstanding people and a family of embroiders and painters. The paintings in the embroidery have a high and far-reaching meaning, and it is indeed not comparable to the folk embroidery."
When Zheng Haizhu heard this, he was quite pleased that this gentle middle-aged civil servant was a close friend of Songjiang Painting and Embroidery. He smiled and said: "Master Siqing has excellent taste. Our old lady from the Gu family and Miss Han all said that However, if you use the needle method flexibly, it is just embroidery, not Gu embroidery or Han Yuan embroidery. Really good embroidery depends on the charm and character, and you must carefully consider the artistic conception in the painting before placing the needle..."
Zheng Haizhu was about to start talking and talk in detail, but Xu Dahua suddenly leaned forward slightly, raised his hand, took the parrot embroidered handkerchief and wiped it against her cheek, and said softly: "I spoke too hastily. Sweating so much."
In an instant, Zheng Haizhu was stunned.
Her mind suddenly went blank, her words were stagnant, and her body stiffened.
Only her vision and touch were still normal, allowing her to feel that when Xu Dahua was wiping her skin, his fingertips brushed across her cheek. At the same time, she saw that Xu Dahua's domestic servant named Xu Bao was standing next to her. The master looked behind him calmly.
After a few breaths, Zheng Haizhu's consciousness seemed to have returned to normal, and her anger was ignited almost at the same time.
Just when he was about to have an attack, Xu Dahua had already withdrawn his hand, rolled up the handkerchief, and Shi Shiran put it into his sleeve.
He took the leisure time to pour himself a small cup of Yuezhou flower blossoms, took a sip, and said with emotion: "I have been in Beijing for many years, and my nostalgia is still there. People are the beauty of the south, and the wine is also the fragrance of the south."
Zheng Haizhu stared at Xu Dahua with an expression of disbelief.
Xu Dahua raised his eyebrows and caught the woman's glare nonchalantly, seeming to be happy with the shock in it.
Then, sitting at the top, he suddenly looked past Zheng Haizhu and smiled at Xu Guangqi who walked in the door: "Xu Hanlin, the wine is cold. Please ask the store to heat it. After the Beginning of Autumn, cold things are harmful to the body."
Xu Guangqi nodded: "People grow old and trees grow old, and as time goes by, you have to refuse to accept it."
Xu Dahua's words moved his face: "Brother, it's okay for us to grow old. The younger generations are to be feared. The rise of younger generations is a great blessing to our emperor, our country, and our people. Just now, I asked Miss Zheng a few words, and she is indeed Women are not allowed to be inferior to men. I originally thought that southern beauties were as weak as willows..."
Xu Guangqi continued: "There are talented people from generation to generation. General Qin is also a southern woman. The women's army under her command has won many battles. As for Miss Zheng, although she is young and not from the martial arts family, she summoned skilled craftsmen to make fire guns. If the cannon can be made into a weapon, it will be a great achievement. Brother, you are a well-informed person. Have you heard about Liu Shimin and the prefect Zhuang's request to open the Songjiang sea? Now the Frankie people and the Hongyi people are all There are cannons. If Songjiang is turned on and off, coastal defense cannot be without cannons."
When the old man said this, he paused, showed an unnatural flattery, and served Xu Dahua himself.
Then he cupped his hands and said: "Brother Fool will report to the court, imitate the artillery factory set up by the Franchis in Guangfu, and also build a firearms workshop in Songjiang. As for the money, it would be good to get some from the Changying treasury of Brother Xian." ?”
Xu Dahua glanced at Zheng Haizhu, and said with a smile: "It's a good thing that your mansion is open to the sea. Chang Yingku has not been so poor in recent years. Miss Zheng, since Xu Hanlin is full of praise for your firearms workshop , just take me to see it."
A moment ago, Zheng Haizhu suddenly lost control and had the urge to throw the cup and leave. She had suppressed it by herself.
Tasting Xu Guangqi's wording, Zheng Haizhu felt that the old man was emphasizing the "things" he did rather than the "person" he did, based on a woman's intuition about the word "protection". Therefore, Xu Dahua's harassment just now, Xu Guangqi It should be unknown in advance.
At the same time, subtle details, but seen by Zheng Haizhu with his own eyes, showed that even veteran ministers like Xu Guangqi were sacrificing their dignity for the money bag of Taipu Temple.
Zheng Haizhu's anger turned into bitterness.
No matter what, she couldn't fall out in front of Xu Guangqi.
She gritted her teeth and decided to give herself another try against Xu Dahua.
If this person, like many bureaucrats in later generations, is vulgar and obscene enough to be blocked, and only needs to send money to approve the note, then, with the idea of "eating the steamed buns until they are filled with meat fillings", Zheng Haizhu is willing to Think of the moment just now as being scratched by a dog's paw. You should still take the tours that should be taken and give the gifts that should be given.
…
Zheng Haizhu, who had the mentality of fighting side by side with Xu Guangqi, still respectfully agreed with Xu Dahua's servant Xu Bao when the banquet was over, that he would personally take Songjiang's most distinctive fairy boat to pick up Xu Shaoqing from the firearms workshop. .
Perhaps because of the glare he received from Zheng Haizhu at the banquet yesterday, which was not shy but clearly full of rejection, Xu Dahua did not say or do anything out of line in broad daylight today. He only walked with his sleeves behind his back and asked questions in a business-like tone. I learned about some school affairs of Zheng Haizhu.
In order to protect himself, Zheng Haizhu deliberately brought up Liu Shimin, Ma Xianglin, and Yan Siqi's relationships that could be disclosed publicly.
Xu Dahua nodded while listening, and then teased: "The little girl is very powerful. She has friends with either nobles or famous generals, or heroes from the world."
Zheng Haizhu endured his nausea and took out a book of poems: "Master Si, the common people have not read a book for a few days, so they respect scholars the most. This is the only copy that the common people found in the bookshop. Please give me some advice."
Xu Dahua glanced at the corner of the collection of poems, revealing an inch of yellow paper printed with gorgeous pictures. It was obviously a bank note, so he turned to Xu Bao and said: "Rare books are hard to come by, so keep them carefully."
He squinted his eyes again and said to Zheng Haizhu: "Those who are romantic should not be the focus of our officials. Let's go to the firearms workshop first and take care of the business."
In order to receive Xu Qianbao today, Zheng Haizhu gave the school a day off. The students all went home. Yao did not come because she was Huang Zunsu's daughter.
After experiencing Xu Dahua's dirty face, Zheng Haizhu's first thought was that Zhang Dai's fairy-like confidante could not show up.
Fortunately, during these days, Wang Yuesheng went to Sheshan to buy deer antlers, which were used to make the "lacquer" for Baini Qin, and he stayed in the Gu family's mulberry garden.
Zheng Haizhu led Xu Dahua to the gate of Fuyuan, but only saw Zheng Zhilong waiting.
"Where is Mr. Lu?" Zheng Haizhu asked with a frown.
Before Zheng Zhilong could reply, Wang Yuesheng walked up from behind him.
Zheng Haizhu was shocked and said: "Aren't you in Sheshan?"
As soon as Wang Yuesheng said, "Come back and see the situation in the Yin Fang," his expression suddenly changed.
She saw Xu Dahua's face clearly.
And Xu Dahua also stared directly at this woman whose plain face and common clothes could not conceal her stunning beauty.
"Hey, are you Miss Wang from Mianyue Tower?"
Wang Yuesheng held the grooved piano board and lowered his head suddenly, as if he didn't know how to answer.
A smile that he thought was personable appeared on Xu Dahua's face, and he turned to Zheng Haizhu and said: "Oh, I didn't expect to meet an old friend here with Miss Zheng. At Mianyue Tower on the Qinhuai River, the manager's mother's surname is Wang, and the names of the female envoys are
They all have the word "month" in them. Wang Yueying, Wang Yuezhao, Wang Yueliu, and this girl Wang Yuesheng are all good names from poems."
Zheng Haizhu understood instantly.
Her mind ran through ten thousand famous South American specialty animals.
I am really afraid of what will happen.
Sesames fall into the eye of a needle. It is not unusual for a Ming official like Xu Dahua to enter a brothel as a means of elegance, but Wang Yuesheng is a prostitute that he can recognize.
Wang Yuesheng returned to school today and listened to Lu Xiangsheng happily saying that a court official would come to visit the firearms workshop. She was also quite happy, thinking that Miss Zheng could get money from the court, but unexpectedly she took a photo with the most polite scum that she least expected to see.
Got the noodles.
Now that the matter has come to this, it's too late to hide.
Wang Yuesheng was afraid that if he responded coldly, he would ruin Miss Zheng's affairs, so he forced himself to calm down.
She had no choice but to step forward, give Xu Da a blessing gift, and said calmly: "I have met the master. Yuesheng has now redeemed his deed. Fortunately, Miss Zheng took care of him and settled here to teach the children of Songjiang how to play the piano."
Xu Dahua said "Oh" and said with a smile: "Why, I even forgot my surname is Xu."
Wang Yuesheng said hurriedly: "Xu Siqing, please forgive me."
Xu Dahua was quite interested.
He suddenly realized that the pleasure this scene brought him did not come from teasing his former lover Yingyan, but from hitting Zheng Haizhu in the face.
Girl surnamed Zheng, you were at the banquet yesterday and on the boat on the Yue River today. You are so arrogant.
She looks like a chaste woman who doesn't know how to be promoted by her superiors, but she is actually not raising a bitch in her own yard.
Xu Dahua was in a good mood. He was just about to ask Wang Yuesheng who redeemed his body for you. Is it Zhang Dai from Shanyin, Shaoxing? Suddenly he heard a man behind him shouting: "Junior Lu Xiangsheng is too late to be polite. Please forgive Xu Siqing!"
Zheng Haizhu looked back and saw the paint mark on Lu Xiangsheng's palm, and understood that he must have taken advantage of the good weather today to help Wang Yuesheng prepare the "shade room" where the Baini Qin was placed.
"Xiang Sheng, the temple minister has taken the time to come here. Quickly show the temple minister the musket and the barrel."
Zheng Haizhu decisively broke through the bad atmosphere and ordered Lu Xiangsheng.
When Xu Dahua just came over, he could tell from the gesture of his servant Xu Bao that Zheng Haizhu had sent five hundred taels.
This number was a bit shabby, but it still made him condescend to listen to Mr. Lu in front of him.
Xu Shaoqing, who had great official power and suave style, squeezed out some interest and followed Lu Xiangsheng, listening to him explain several machine guns with different bore lengths and calibers, and then weighed the weight of the guns, pretending to do it.
Servant Xu Bao said: "It's quite light. You can get on a horse and carry it with you."
Today, Zheng Haizhu also asked the Qi family army commander who trained his servants to conceal his identity and only come to test the gun in the name of a retired veteran.
However, Xu Dahua waved his hand, glanced at Wang Yuesheng who was standing at the door and did not dare to leave, and said: "No need to try, the sound is too loud, don't offend the beauty."
Lu Xiangsheng frowned and pressed his sword down with half surprise and half contempt. He respectfully and carefully explained to Xu Dahua the difficulties in casting the barrel.
Xu Dahua hammered and forged the barrel, which was well closed, but only had a short section. He said in a tone of voice: "Hey, if we really want to build this, it can afford a big blast furnace, right? No wonder Xu Hanlin said that the court would have to allocate money, Zheng
No matter how big the business between the girl and the south is, it will be difficult to support it alone."
Zheng Haizhu lowered his eyelids slightly and said calmly: "Master Lu has calculated that the cost of a combined machine gun, not including fire pills and primer, is six taels of silver. Xu Hanlin said that the Ming Jia issued by the imperial court for the frontier soldiers
, is a set of eight taels of silver. If we make it, the combined gun can be cheaper than a set of plain armor. Back then, the firearms team outside the Qi Jiajun Killer Team (referring to the Cold Weapons Team) once had three guns per person. Today
The danger of establishing slaves is greater than that of Northern Mongolia. The border army's firearms should be strengthened. And although this smooth-bore cannon is much more expensive than the ordinary Frankie cannon, costing about three thousand taels of silver each, it is not just for us.
It is necessary for the defense of Songjiang Pass, but from Fushun to Shenyang, to Liaoyang, to Shanhaiguan, and finally to Shuntianfu, it is an important weapon that can defend the enemy under the city."
Zheng Haizhu's words were conclusive. After talking about the technical level, he talked about the general level.
She still hopes to try hard to awaken the fourth-grade red-robed civil servant's awareness of the crisis of the current situation and her duty as a minister of food and salary.
However, Xu Dahua interrupted Zheng Haizhu with a "Oh!" and approached her and said, "Miss Zheng, what are you talking about? Why did Jiannu enter Shanhaiguan just as you were talking?"
At this time, Lu Xiangsheng could no longer hold back. He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said seriously: "Five hundred years ago, the Jin soldiers went south, and the shame of Jingkang was left in the history of Qing Dynasty. Students think that if they neglect to take precautions, they will take it lightly, and don't say it is wrong."
Shanhaiguan, Jiannu means attacking Shuntian Mansion, which is not an alarmist statement."
Xu Dahua turned around and glanced at Lu Xiangsheng's headscarf.
This is a man with a good reputation, not a woman like Zheng Haizhu and Wang Yuesheng who can be bullied by him.
Xu Dahua smiled generously: "Well, for a young man like you, what you say makes sense."
He breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand and said: "I have seen what I should have seen, and what I should have heard, but I haven't heard it yet. In such a pleasant autumn weather, can I ask Miss Zheng for a cup of tea? Listen to Miss Wang."
Want to play a piece of piano music? I think the waterside pavilion in your Qingyuan Garden is good. Mr. Lu, a few masters, and this little Mr. Zheng, let’s continue working."