The thirty-fourth chapter, Wu Ciyou talks about world affairs, He Zhiming
The copper kettle leaked, the iron horse swayed, and Wu Ciyou couldn't sleep all night. Thinking of the strange and thrilling encounters he had experienced in the past few years, Wu Ciyou was nervous, excited, and sad for a while, and it was always difficult to fall asleep. Long'er, a strange student, had a kind of personality that was different from his age.
His incompatible temperament made him very suspicious. Aunt Sumala's flickering shadow always dangled in front of his eyes... He also spent a lot of "self-denial" efforts, but still felt that he could not "cultivate himself".
I don't know when he finally fell asleep in a daze. It was not until three o'clock in the morning that he was awakened by the knocking of Zhu'er outside the door. Zhu'er called outside the door: "Second Master, are you awake? Mr. Suo
Master He Long is here to see you!"
Wu Ciyou hurriedly stood up and opened the door. Longer stepped into the courtyard and made a long salute with a smile: "Good morning, sir! Longer has not seen you for a long time, and I am really thinking about you!" He was about to bow down, but Wu Ciyou hurriedly stopped him and stretched his shoulders to look at him.
He looked up and said with a smile: "We haven't seen each other in these days, and you are looking more and more energetic!" When I looked back, I saw that Wei Dongting had also entered the courtyard and was standing aside with a smile; there was also a man dressed in casual clothes holding his hand.
Carrying a gift box, she followed Wei Dongting; Wan Niang stood aside holding a handkerchief and lowering her hands. Everyone had seen the gift before entering the room.
"I heard from Wan Niang that my husband has been ill these past few days. Is he feeling better?" Suo'etu smiled with a smile on his face. He ordered people to open the gift box, take out the gifts and put them on the table, and continued, "My mother heard about it.
He gave me a good lesson, saying that he hired such a good gentleman, but he didn’t bring any benefit to me other than frightening me, so why don’t I go and take a look? - It’s strange to say that everything has happened to our family these days.
, I didn’t even bother to come visit my husband, I’m really ashamed of myself!”
Wu Ciyou said with a smile: "Your Excellency is so busy with state affairs and family affairs, and you keep sending people to deliver things. Your Excellency is so troublesome, which makes the students feel very ashamed!" After that, he stood up and came to the table to look at the gifts: a carved handle.
There was a jade inlaid with beads, a sprig of old wild ginseng wrapped in red damask mulberry paper, a few bottles of aged Laojiao wine and a square of bluestone inkstone. Wu Ciyou picked up the square of bluestone inkstone and looked at it carefully: it was dotted with strands of red silk.
, just like an ink-brush landscape painting. The most surprising thing is that a white jade tendon naturally formed next to the inkstone, which resembles the four characters "Mountain is high and the moon is small" in Yan Zhenqing's style. The jade tendon penetrates straight through the back of the inkstone, although the writing is blurry and unclear.
But if you look carefully, you can see it clearly. Wu Ciyou looked at it carefully for a while, and suddenly laughed out loud: "This masonry is quite confusing and wastes the materials!"
Kangxi selected these stones from the recent tribute stones from Yunnan, and ordered jade workers to cut them into inkstones. He was reluctant to use them, so he took them as a tribute to his husband. Unexpectedly, when Wu Ciyou said this, he asked in surprise: "
how?"
"This object is called chicken blood sapphire. It is extremely rare and precious. The four naturally formed characters on it are even more rare. Master Suo, if you are not the student Meng Lang, your mansion will never have this object." Wu Ciyou replied.
"This is a gift from the Holy One." Suo'etu smiled, "But why was it wasted?"
Wu Ciyou sighed: "It looks very beautiful to make an inkstone out of this thing, but everyone knows that the stone is extremely hard and cannot be used to grind out ink. It can only be used as a toy. Isn't it a pity?" Seeing Kangxi
Staring at himself suspiciously, Wu Ciyou smiled faintly and poured some water into it to rub the ink. As expected, the black water rolled out like oily beads and could not stick to the inkstone. Everyone was very convinced. Kangxi
I couldn't help but shout: "What a pity, what a pity!"
"It is indeed a pity!" Wu Ciyou said, "The creation of all things is the work of nature and cannot be done by human beings. Xunzi's "Encouragement to Learning" said, "Those who pretend to ride horses will not benefit their feet, but they will travel thousands of miles; those who fake boats will travel a thousand miles."
, It can't be water, but it can't be rivers. A gentleman is born without exception, and he is good and fake in things. What makes a smart person better than a fool is that he can do things according to human feelings and physics. If he uses inappropriate materials, he will violate human feelings and physics.
If you do anything, you will inevitably make a joke. The red sandalwood boxwood can be used to carve Buddha, but if it is used as a sedan chair, wouldn’t it be ruined? If this jade falls into the hands of a skilled craftsman, decorates it with gold, and carves it with a dragon, it will be ruined.
Place it above the Emperor’s Mingtang..."
Aunt Sumala, who had always believed in Buddhism, felt that these words were very unlucky, so she interrupted before Wu Ciyou finished speaking and asked: "Does it mean that this inkstone has no benefits at all?"
"No words," Wu Ciyou said with a smile, "It's a pity that it's not very practical." Seeing that everyone was silent and thoughtful, Wu Ciyou was silent for a while, and then said with a dumb smile, "I have a few bad poems.
You might as well write it down to make fun of me." After saying that, he took the pen and ink and started writing quickly. He wrote without adding any details:
The ancestral dragon was angry and whipped the stubborn stone, leaving blood stains and rouge red on the stone.
The vicissitudes of life have gone through several autumns, and the water has washed away the sand and eroded the remaining rulers.
Flying flowers are falling red, and the green field is green. What do you want?
But in a small place where the mountain is high and the moon is high, sea travelers are holding high coral branches.
The green jade is difficult to use as inkstone material, so the person sitting on the desk laughs like crazy.
Why not return to Nuwa's furnace and make the Tianqingbai Juice again?
After writing, he smiled and said: "This is just about physics. As for human relationships, as the saying goes, 'A goose's feather is thousands of miles away'. No matter how ignorant I am, I won't even know the deep love that Master Suo and Long Er have for me... I scanned it today."
When Long'er is happy, I look like Mr. Dong Heng, a Taoist scholar!"
"Taoism is not necessarily bad." Kangxi smiled and said, "For example, Mr. Xiong who often comes to the house to discuss knowledge with Mr. Xiong is a Mr. Taoist." Wu Ciyou said: "Master Xiong is good at learning and is a kind person.
Straightforward, but too broad-minded. For example, for a stubborn person like Wu Sangui, when he came to Beijing last year, Master Xiong talked to him about "moralization". Isn't this playing the piano to an ox? Just like a traitor like Ao Bai, Bing's
It is the hostility in heaven and earth. If the emperor talks to him about karma and retribution and reincarnation in hell every day like a Bodhisattva, will he be willing to listen?"
"Having said that," Wei Dongting said with a smile, "if you, sir, are now advising the emperor on government affairs, you may not even be able to save your life if you say these words!" Wu Ciyou said with a smile: "Singing songs in any mountain, if you let me
As a counselor in government affairs, I cannot allow Ao Bai to dominate the government and the opposition, while Wu Sangui supports his own troops. If these two wild horses are allowed to continue to act recklessly, once they join forces and cause chaos, the situation will be difficult to deal with. Now one is recharging his strength in Yunnan, watching with eager eyes.
, a man who is recruiting party members in Beijing and is tyrannical and violent. We should decide on a strategy to get rid of them as soon as possible. ——Ahem! Why are you talking about this? Common people talk about government affairs, scratch the surface, and make people laugh in vain! "
Ao Bai and Wu Sangui often exchanged letters. Kangxi had known about it for a long time, but he didn't think much about the two of them "getting together". Now that he heard Wu Ciyou's discussion, he couldn't help but feel extremely anxious. But he couldn't let Wu Ciyou.
Seeing this, he had to put on a smile and joked: "Sir is a commoner, and Long'er is a student of the commoner! We talk about the Three Kingdoms, so we don't have to worry about the ancients, but now that you have said this, I would like to ask,
Will they be compatible? In your opinion, sir, how should we formulate a strategy to deal with them?"
Wu Ciyou glanced at Suo'etu and said with a smile: "Master Suo, you are an important minister of the imperial court. Do you think they can get along with each other?"
"Not for the time being." Suo'etu thought that Wu Sangui had a huge army and was close to Geng Jingzhong. He was pleased that the two feudal lords had responded to his request. He couldn't help but take a breath and muttered, "But it will be hard to say as time goes by. Mr. Wu
Turning over clouds and rain is nothing!"
"This person first betrayed Qian Ming, and then betrayed Li Zicheng, and there will be a third traitor behind his head. Now, the most urgent task is not to let them join forces, and to take out them one by one." Wu Ciyou said.
"How can we prevent them from getting along?" Wei Dongting couldn't help asking from the side. "Death is like a lamp going out." Wu Ciyou smiled faintly, "First stabilize the three vassals, not move their vassal position, and kill Aobai.
Besides." Kangxi couldn't help but sweat broke out on his forehead after hearing this. He had planned to issue an edict to withdraw the feudal vassal two years ago. He sighed and said softly: "It's really dangerous!"
"Huh?" Hearing his tone, Wu Ciyou turned around and looked at Kangxi in surprise.
"I mean," Kangxi realized from his deep thoughts and hurriedly laughed, "it is very dangerous for the emperor to still reuse Ao Bai!" Wu Ciyou said with a smile: "Long'er, don't worry, it seems that the emperor has not touched San Francisco so far.
He is a very smart vassal. Obai will not last long," Wu Ciyou gritted his teeth and said, "I told his fate."
As soon as the words came out, everyone in the seat looked at each other in surprise. After a long while, Wei Dongtingfang laughed and said: "Ao Bai is at his peak right now, why can't he be seen for a long time?"
"Although I am not good at counting winds, horns, and elephants," Wu Ciyou said, "but I know a little bit about the Book of Changes - Master Suo, does he remember the days when he searched the mansion?"
Suo'etu frowned and thought for a while, then said, "It seems to be the ninth day of August."
"That's right, it's the ninth day of August." Wu Ciyou said, "Weishangudian is the twenty-ninth day of November. Two 'nine's in a row are the extreme positions of the numbers. He should have changed the tune of the piano and the harp, but he didn't
No matter how hard you play, there is no reason to be consistent! The "Book of Changes" says, "Don't use the Nine Hidden Dragons". To put it bluntly, it means that when the moon is ten, it should return to one. When the moon is full, it will turn dark, and when the water is full, it will overflow.
If you go too far, your strength will be compromised!"
"Sir, your calculations are really good." Kangxi didn't understand much about this, but he was very willing to listen, so he leaned forward and asked, "Why didn't you teach me this when you were giving lectures earlier?"
"These are the last chapters." Wu Ciyou said enthusiastically, "I am not very experienced in this way, I just do it occasionally. My father is good at this way. The establishment of virtue, establishment of words, and establishment of meritorious service mentioned in the Four Books are the fundamentals.
, with this foundation, there is no need to understand these things anymore. Just do it in accordance with the people's sentiments and natural principles, and nothing will be unlucky. If you only focus on this, it is like only caring about 'profit' but forgetting '
Righteousness, no matter how tyrannical and shrewd he is, he will still fall into evil ways." He was a little thirsty when he spoke, but when he picked up the cup, it was empty. Wei Dongting was about to go to get some help, but Wan Niang had already brought it with her.
He poured a glass of water from the silver pot and brought it over.
Wei Dongting couldn't help but chuckle, and covered it up when he saw Kangxi lowering his head while drinking tea with a serious look on his face. Suo'etu saw Aunt Sumala blushing and stepped aside, and couldn't help but think, "Mr. Wu and Mr. Wu seem to be a perfect match."
, It’s a pity that it’s hard for this Manchu man to live for Yue Lao..."
Wu Liuyi was sitting in the signing room of the Jiumen Admiral's Mansion, and retired as a minister. He wanted to think carefully alone. At this moment, he took the "Secret Order of the Holy Emperor" that Xiao Weizi had just sent and read it over and over again.
He memorized every word, but still couldn't bear to put it away, still chewing every word. He admired the edict for being well written - not because of the good words, but for the profound and thoughtful meaning. He believed that it must have been influenced by a capable person.
Guidance. Now that I have no room for maneuver, I have to be more careful when it comes to the final decision. Because Aobai often sends Banbulshan and Jishi people here to take care of things. His immediate boss, Tai Bitu, is Ao again.
Become a member. This is a crucial step in your life. You must not make a mistake!
"Come on!" Wu Liuyi suddenly called. A senior attendant came in respectfully, slapped Qian'er cleanly, stepped back half a step and lowered his hands to wait. "Go, invite Mr. He!"
Less than a pack of cigarettes after the messenger left, I heard Mr. He laughing outside the door: "Dong Weng lost the Shuanglu fight last night. Are you still thinking of getting it back today?" After saying that, he opened the curtain and came in.
Wu Liuyi stood up and gave up his seat with a smile: "Zhiming, the iron beggar is about to play a big game of Go with you. We can't lose."
"Yes, this game of chess has to be played by you and me together." He Zhiming said with a sly wink.
He Zhiming is of short stature, with two small eyes that look like black beans embedded in his face. He moves around when he speaks, and has a vigorous look on his face. Among the Qing guests invited by Wu Liuyi, he is the most useful one.
Wu Liuyi has been with him since he was a general. The two of them escaped death together several times, so although they are guest and host, they are actually closer than family members.
This "Go" joke has an anecdote between the two of them. He Zhiming is a good Go player, but Wu Liuyi is a bad player. The two of them teamed up and once played against the master and apprentice of Jinling national player Wang Shoutai.
He killed the opponent until he gave up in the middle of the game. The reason was that He Zhiming made a very rogue arrangement before playing chess - he asked Wu Liuyi to sit on top of Wang Shoutai, but he was below Wang Shoutai. It was agreed in advance that "no matter how strict the opponent is,
"Attack and defense, Wu Liuyi is responsible for killing and calamity." Facing the stupid chess player Wu Liuyi who can even hit the "straight four", Wang Shoutai was dumbfounded and busy dealing with it. After one game, it was He Zhiming and Wang Shoutai who
The disciples faced each other. After more than a hundred moves, Wang Shoutai had no choice but to admit defeat with a smile.
At this moment, when the "double kill chess" was mentioned, He Zhiming laughed loudly: "Okay, okay! Just follow the killing method last time and keep it to win! But I don't know who the opponent is?"
"Obai, the chief minister of the auxiliary government!" Wu Liuyi said in a hoarse voice, leaning forward, "How about it? It won't be too satisfying, right?"
He Zhiming was smiling heartily when he heard these words and stopped suddenly. He straightened his robe and sat down: "Dong Weng, you have been playing chess with him for almost twenty years. Did it just start today?"
"Yes. But today's move, in Go, can be regarded as a mid-game victory or a life-and-death disaster, but in Xiangqi, it is a killer!" The flesh on Wu Liuyi's face trembled, and a fierce light shot out of his eyes. He Zhiming
Although I have known him for many years, I still feel shuddering. After being silent for a while, He Zhiming suddenly raised his head, a pair of black bean eyes flashing: "I understand, how can I kill him?"
"The Holy One wants me to be his trump card," Wu Liuyi said, "This is a huge game of chess, and you have to help me play it. We can't lose to others!" He Zhiming straightened his body excitedly and said, "Why?
Yes!"
"Let's go, I have you on the red top." Wu Liuyi leaned back on the chair, stretched his body and said, "If we can't walk well, then we'll be 'red on the top' together!"
After saying that, he stared at the shed and said nothing. He Zhiming said while thinking: "A few days ago, the censor impeached the patrol yamen for neglecting their duties. I am afraid that the gap will be revealed. This is like a dish from Aozhongtang. I
It is expected that this side will also deal with it. Since you said this today, you must have faith."
"I can't let the guy surnamed Ao move to Jinshan now!" He was already at odds with Ao Bai, and Wei Dongting hinted several times in front of Zha Yihuang: Seven tricks to rescue Zha Yihuang from prison.
They were all rejected by Obai, and Long live the Lord could not make the decision. This made Wu Liuyi hate the auxiliary minister even more.
"Speaking of Jinshan, there is no such thing. There is something here for the general to take a look at." He Zhiming said, bending down and taking out a piece of paper from his boot and handing it over. Wu Liuyi took it and looked at it, but it was one hundred thousand taels.
Zhang's leading banknote. Looking at Wu Liuyi's suspicious eyes, He Zhiming hurriedly said, "This is a classmate of Wansheng who was sent by Taibitu's subordinates last night."
"In what name?" Wu Liuyi looked He Zhiming up and down.
"In name?" He Zhiming laughed, "In order to congratulate the general and the young master's 100-day soup cake party, he was afraid that the general might not be willing to accept it, so he asked me to see what was done. I thought they had made enough money. Since they took it
If you are not dishonest, you will accept it."
"Okay! I have yours, it's good to use it!" Wu Liuyi said with satisfaction, and then asked, "What else did he say?"
"He also said that Aozhongtang would recommend you to be the Minister of War!"
"Secretary of the Ministry of War? Hahahaha..." Wu Liuyi looked up to the sky and laughed, "One hundred thousand silver plus a second-grade officer, in exchange for a dragon, a hundred tigers, a beggar, and your head, Mr. He..." Wu Liuyi carried his back
He raised his hand and took two steps back and forth, "Mr. He, I also want to show you something. - As soon as the matter starts, I will appoint you as the Minister of War!" He took out the secret edict from his arms and showed it to He Zhiming.
He Zhiming received the imperial edict and repeatedly examined the cinnabar jade seal "Ti Yuan Master" on it. He chewed on the few sentences in the imperial edict word by word. He suddenly jumped up and said: "Junmen, as long as this is here, things will be fine.
Done!"
"So I invite you to come," Wu Liuyi calmed down, "to discuss how to proceed."
He Zhiming hesitated for a moment, took out the coal and lit the smoke, and lay half on the chair, squinting his eyes and thinking hard. The two of them did not speak for half the meal. "Alas!" After a long time, He Zhiming sighed softly and sat up straight.
He stood up, and a faint green light emanated from the black bean eyes, "Although it is a bit harsh and hurts the Yin Zhi, that's all it can do."
"Please tell me the details!" Wu Liuyi sat upright. He did not smoke, and kept spinning two huge steel balls in his hands.
"Under the military tent, I guess Oboi must have done something else. This hundred thousand silver, knowing full well that it is useless, is just used to buy your lord's contempt."
"That's fair! He wants to do something big, and now he only promises a prince with just one sentence. He knows that I won't buy it, so he does this."
"It's true for the military gate!" He Zhiming said with a smile, "Even if you buy it, in the future when he becomes emperor, he will also list you on the list of Qing emperors." He changed the subject, "What is worrying is that it is under the general's account.
Generals Li and Huang, as well as deputy generals Zhang and Liu Shoubei, these dozen people have always..."
"You don't have to say anything," Wu Liuyi said, "I know it in my heart. I will send them all to Fujian on business today so that they will not be wasted!"
"That's not possible!" He Zhiming said, "What kind of person is Obai? Bumble's kindness cannot be deceived! Now that the time has not come, you are going to do it like this. How can they not be suspicious? It makes them prepared."
"Grandma Ge!" Wu Liuyi gritted his teeth and said, "Block them all up when the time comes!"
"No! We are the trump card in this game, and the protagonists are Wei and the others. If they are not able to seize all the prisoners, or are rescued by others, Brother Iron Beggar - you and I really want to be 'top red'
Got it!"
"What about you?"
"Kill!" He Zhiming's eyes flashed, "The dead can't mess with anything - from now on, all the officers under the tent will go to the Yamen to answer their duties, and the two corridors and wing rooms will be freed up for them to live in. This is one!" He stretched out his hand!
He raised two fingers and said, "Second, gather a few confidant captains together, promise high titles, and pay them a lot of money. The bows are stringed, the swords are close to the body, and they can respond at any time." Wu Liuyi was fascinated by what he heard and couldn't help but nod. He Zhiming stretched out his hand again.
The three fingers said, "As soon as something happens, I will issue a secret edict from the Holy Emperor and order these dozen people to be captured and killed at once! Knock the mountain to shake the tiger, and the rest will not dare to attack!"
"this--"
He Zhiming suddenly burst out laughing: "The army calls itself the 'iron beggar' in vain! How can you be soft-hearted when you do this? In the early days, you were ruthless in killing people, but now you have changed your mind to be kind?"
"Okay!" Wu Liuyi gritted his teeth and said, "That's it!" (To be continued)
