In an instant, Zhou Peigong became the first celebrity in the Hunan-Hui Guild Hall. Thinking of this experience, he felt angry, funny and helpless: no one paid attention to his articles on the world, and a few idle poems were used as a source of income. He was confused and rigid.
The examiner is not as discerning as a salt merchant who is doing business. Things in this world are really weird! He came out of the upper room with two hundred taels of silver and gifts from Liu Bingchen, and a group of people came to the hall to examine them.
Saying goodbye, Zhou Peigong walked down the steps with a smile and worried about Asuo. When he walked to the front yard to take a look, Asuo's tofu noodle stall had already been closed.
While hesitating, Zhou Peigong saw a group of people crowded together in the East Corridor looking at something. When he got closer, he saw a girl of thirteen or fourteen years old, holding a pipa in her arms and trying out the strings. Her two twinkling lights flashed.
Her big eyes were very lively, exuding a childlike spirit, but she also seemed very assertive. After she tuned the strings, she spoke in a strong Wu dialect and said, "Gentlemen——" The sound of the pipa suddenly sounded like beans.
It sounded and he sang:
Nong Bensan is a daughter of a poor family in Wu. There is Nong's family by the West Lake. The family has no money and gold and silver, and she makes a living on five acres of thin fields - thousands of miles of clouds and rivers are far away, and her sixty-year-old grandmother has white hair. A Hong girl is very frail and old.
12. Why did Nong come to the capital?
It’s not that A Hong is unfilial, or that A Hong is too unkind. A Hong has known calligraphy since she was a child, and is willing to learn from Xiao Tiying!
Then there was another burst of urgent music, and everyone who listened was stunned. Kangxi was sitting in the tea garden and saw Zhou Peigong's figure from the crowd, so he walked out, stood next to Zhou Peigong and listened carefully. Xiaohong sang again:
On March 3rd, Yangliuqing went to Lingyin Temple for a pilgrimage. Suddenly, the surly Wu family women came, shouting and cheering. The carriages and sedans were like clouds and horses were like dragons, and the slaves were whipping and sticks fiercely. Thirty-four people fell into the water and drowned alive.
My father and brother...
When Xiaohong sang until this point, her big tears flowed out. The audience around him was sighing. Kangxi knew that what he was singing was real people and real events: the Hangzhou general had made a memorial last year, but the Hangzhou prefect hesitated to wait and see, which led to the murder of Wu Mei and her husband Wang Yongning.
He calmly escaped to Mount Wuhua, but the court could not arrest him. When Kangxi thought of this, dark clouds immediately covered his face. Xiaohong sang again:
The younger brother was young and inexperienced in the world, so he went to argue with tears. The daughter of the Wu family went too far and said: "If you have the ability, I will sue you in the underworld. My aunt will wait for you little beast..." Poor younger brother Fang Jiuling hit his head against a stone on the bridge.
red.
When Zhou Peigong heard this, his hair stood on end and he asked loudly: "Who is this daughter of the Wu family? Sue her!" "Gentleman!" Xiao Hong cried out miserably, and sang even more sadly and angrily:
In the Sanfa Department of Nantai Prefecture, my uncle went to beat the drum and complain about his grievances. He heard that her father's surname was Wu and he was a prince. His soul was out of body and silent. He pushed her left and right like a millstone. My uncle was imprisoned!
The grievances have nowhere to complain - I came to the capital with my pipa in my arms. I don't complain to the officials, and I don't alarm the dragon court. I just ask you gentlemen to understand clearly: There is only one sun in the sky, but why are there two imperial courts in one country? The royal family eats my family's gifts,
When will you lift the dark clouds for me?
The singing stopped abruptly, and a group of onlookers were stunned like wood carvings and clay sculptures. Kangxi was covered in sweat, and his back was itching like thorns. It took him a while to calm down, turned around, patted Zhou Peigong on the shoulder and said: "Mr. Zhou, please lend me a step."
Talk." He turned back and told Tuhai: "This girl collected money and asked her to come to the tea garden and sing another song for us."
Zhou Peigong was filled with sorrow and was awakened by this shot. When he turned around and saw the young man following the fuji, he asked, "Who are you? Do you have a problem with me?" He hesitantly followed Kangxi to the tea garden.
"My surname is Long, and my name is Dehai." Kangxi asked Zhou Peigong to sit across from him, asked the waiter to make two bowls of tea, and said with a smile, "Just now in the main hall, I saw that I have enough talent to stand up to my feet, and my poetry surpasses all the heroes, and I admire you greatly. Special invitation
Come here and talk about it, I won’t give up.” Zhou Peigong laughed at himself and said: “I am not a bad guy, but a literary beggar; they are not heroes, they are just a bunch of literary dogs! What kind of poetry is that? It’s better to burn it in a fire!
Kangxi asked in surprise: "Why?"
"Poems express ambitions, and songs express words," Zhou Peigong said with a bitter smile, "my hundred poems are not as good as this little girl's one slang song!" At this point, he lowered his head sadly and said: "In today's troubled times, it is precisely
When a hero rises up and makes great achievements, I use a few sour tunes to compete with dirty celebrities in exchange for food. What kind of style is this? I feel regretful when I think about it. How can I be worthy of the admiration of Brother Long? "
Kangxi never expected that he would blame himself so much. He felt uneasy and had no comfort, so he asked: "Why were you dismissed from the examination today?"
"Ashamed, I have violated the sacred taboo." Zhou Peigong glanced at Kangxi: He was only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a calm expression and elegant manners. He wore a gray poplin shirt and was dressed as an ordinary bannerman. I don't know why he asked
Seeing that Kangxi didn't seem to have any ill intentions, Zhou Peigong sighed: "The article hates life, but there is only this little more [Note 1], what can be done?"
Kangxi couldn't help but smile and said: "This examiner is too unreasonable. Why don't you just help me fix that point?" Zhou Peigong said: "Of course there are people who do that. They all have a good reputation and connections. The following has taken care of it.
Yes, I don't have the ability, and I don't bother to do it." Kangxi said: "This is also true - but why don't you use it if you have a book worth ten thousand gold?"
"The Book of Ten Thousand Gold!" Zhou Peigong asked, "What is the Book of Ten Thousand Gold?"
Kangxi stared at Zhou Peigong and said meaningfully: "The recipient of the letter, Mingzhu, is a close minister who favored the emperor before his arrival. His words must be listened to and his plans must be followed. The letter writer Wu Ciyou is the emperor's commoner mentor, and his words are as important as nine tripods. Take it easy.
It’s rare for a governor to write a letter of recommendation from him! Why don’t you submit such an important letter?”
Zhou Peigong raised his head in surprise. This was the first time he heard about Wu Ciyou's true identity, but he didn't know how this young man knew it in such detail. He thought about it and said with a smile: "A man should be aboveboard when it comes to gaining fame, and he can only get it straight away.
Don't ask for help in the middle of the song. How can I be willing to bend my body to the powerful with my seven-foot body?"
"Well." Kangxi smiled thoughtfully, "Your ambition makes you one of the best scholars of our generation. Just now, I was holding a japan in the hall. From what you said, it seems that you are not only good at literature, but also good at martial arts.
Is it good too?”
"I can't pull up mountains and carry cauldrons." Zhou Peigong said, "But since I was a child, I have been familiar with military books, observed celestial phenomena, understood geography, understood wind angles, and used strange doors, so I do know a little bit about it."
"Sir, you have learned the art of slaying dragons, but you have no place to put it to use." Kangxi listened to his loud tone and said with a teasing smile, "Isn't there something wrong with the article? Now that the world is peaceful, the world is at home, there is no need for weapons!"
"Peace?" Zhou Peigong laughed.
"why are you laughing?"
"In the north there are Rakshasa plundering and burning the land, in the west there is Galdan who colludes with Qinghai and calls himself king, in the south there are the three feudal lords who are alienated from morality, in the east there is Taiwan harassing the sea frontier, the emperor's decree does not go out of Jiangbei, the city of Beijing is far away, and there is smoke on all sides. , the corners are drawn in all directions with desolation, at this time of internal and external troubles, where can the word 'peace' come from?"
Kangxi listened, bowed his head and thought for a moment, then laughed and said: "According to what Mr. Wang said, the unification of the world is already hopeless?"
"Otherwise." Zhou Peigong retorted, "There is another side. The little girl sang well just now, but she does not want the sky to have two days and the people to have two masters. The people's heart is the heart of heaven, and God will follow what the people want, and the people will hope for it. There is a good emperor, and there is no distinction between Chinese and barbarians. The people are tired of wars and suffering from separation. This is the general trend. From this point of view, if the three vassals dare to go against the will of heaven, it will only take a few years to destroy him. As Zhou Peigong spoke, Kangxi nodded. When he saw Zhou Peigong reaching for the tea, he was thirsty, so he hurriedly said: "Please use tea -" Just as he was about to ask further, he saw Tu Hai hurried in and whispered a few words to Kangxi.
"Bastard! It's strange that you were out for so long!" Kangxi was so enchanted by what Zhou Peigong was saying that he completely forgot that he was the emperor who was visiting incognito. At this time, he heard from Tu Hai that the Ministry of Punishment actually ordered Shuntian Prefecture to come and get Xiaohong, and he couldn't help but be shocked. Angry, he ordered sternly: "Tell him to climb in for me!" As he said that, he pressed the table and stood up. Because the table was unstable, a thin porcelain-covered cup fell to the ground with a bang and broke into pieces.
Shuntian Prefecture Yin really crawled in on all fours, which alarmed all the tea guests in the tea garden, and all of them turned pale with shock. Wei Dongting, the guard who was guarding the surrounding area, saw that Kangxi had revealed his identity, so he hurriedly arranged for defense , driving away the idlers, Suo'etu and Mingzhu waited at the gate of the tea garden to wait for orders. Seeing Shuntian Fuyin, who was wearing a fourth-grade lapis lazuli crown, bending over and crawling to the tea table, Zhou Peigong turned pale with shock and was dumbfounded. The governor reported: "Long live, my servant Xia Houjun is here to greet you!" Then he woke up, took a step back and knelt down to bow, and said in his mouth: "Zhou Pei Gong didn't know that the holy king was coming, and he spoke too much, please be punished. !”
"Everyone, get up and talk!" Kangxi felt that he had lost his composure at this time, and calmed down before saying, "Xiahoujun, who asked you to come and fetch someone?"
"In reply to Long Live," Xia Houjun replied tremblingly, "This is a joint decree of the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Etiquette, which states that a civilian girl, A Hong, complained of grievances. After being dismissed, she refused to return to her hometown and played and sang ditties in Beijing and made obscene remarks. To confuse the public, he ordered the slaves to send her back to her hometown..."
"Filthy words to confuse the public?" Kangxi sneered, "You have not got any of the real filthy words to confuse the public, but you are showing off your authority on a weak woman! What is the use of the imperial court raising you with wine bags and rice bags? - Let Xiao Hong come in!"
Xia Houjun was so frightened that he dared not speak out, and bowed and said yes repeatedly.
Xiaohong came in. This girl was very smart. She had already guessed that the young man sitting above had an extraordinary background and must be more senior than the men in the Ministry of Justice. So she folded her crotch and squatted two thousand blessings upward, and said: "Your Majesty summons Little girl, I don’t know what music you want to listen to?” After saying that, seeing the tea juice dripping on the table, he hurriedly stepped forward and wiped it carefully, picked up the broken porcelain pieces on the ground, stabilized the legs of the tea table, and said: “This is like Emperor Kangxi’s Jiangshan - let it be stable..."
"What...what did you say?" Kangxi's voice trembled with excitement.
"My little girl said that when the tea table is set up, it will be like Emperor Kangxi's empire, stable and stable." Xiaohong spoke in Hangzhou dialect, which sounded very pleasant to the ears.
Kangxi stood up and paced back and forth. He no longer wanted to listen to any ditty. These words sounded a thousand times better than the music of Huang Zhong Da Lu Juntian played by the worshipers of Changyin Pavilion of the Ministry of Internal Affairs! On the blue brick floor
After Luolu walked a few steps, Kangxi stopped and asked, "Is your family engaged in farming?"
"Yes." Xiao Hong replied in a low voice, "There are five acres of land in total. Two acres of tea and three acres of fields."
"Your song is very good." Kangxi said, "Are they all true?"
"Everything is true." Xiaohong said with big watery eyes, "A civilian girl has lost her family and has nothing to fear, so why should she lie and deceive others?"
"Why did the Hangzhou government detain your uncle?"
"They won't let him go until the case is settled."
Kangxi took a deep breath and asked again: "You come to Beijing to accuse, and the three law departments can't deal with it. Why don't you go and beat the Dengwen drum?" The Dengwen Drum was set up in West Chang'an Street, and it was specially designed for people who had grievances to complain on time.
, the knocker was used to sue the emperor. Xiaohong was silent for a long time, and said: "No female citizen dared to sue the emperor." Kangxi asked strangely: "Then why?"
Xiaohong's eyes were sore and tears fell down. After a while, she said: "I have already thought about it. The murderer is in Wuhua Mountain and the court cannot catch it. My daughter goes to the emperor to complain. Even if the status of a commoner's daughter is confirmed, she will have to migrate.
Three thousand miles away, how can my old grandmother survive?"
Kangxi's heart suddenly sank. Although Xiaohong was young and full of loyalty and filial piety, he could not handle her injustice as the emperor! After thinking for a while, Kangxi asked again: "Why are you singing here?"
"I want to earn some money and go back to the south of the Yangtze River." Xiaohong replied, "Besides, singing about the bitterness will make me feel better... This is Beijing. Maybe the emperor will hear my daughter's music and make decisions for her earlier."
"He has heard it." Kangxi's voice was a little hoarse, and he turned around and told Tuhai, "Call Suo'etu to come in."
"This girl is going back to Hangzhou." Kangxi said to Suo'etu, "Send someone to send her back by boat and tell Zhejiang Zhensi that if anyone makes it difficult and harms her, they are the only one who will ask!"
"Hey!" Suo'etu hurriedly agreed. Seeing that Kangxi had no other instructions, he said to Xiaohong: "Let's go!"
"Slow down!" Kangxi waved his hand and saw the four treasures of the study specially prepared for guests on a small table in the corner. He went over to pick up a pen and wrote a note, took out the small seal he carried with him, covered it, handed it to Xiao Hong, and said: "You
It's not easy to make a living back home. You can take this piece of paper back to the Hangzhou County Magistrate, exempt your family from donations, and ask him to help you with more, so that you can live an easy life."
"My daughter is illiterate, so she asked people to make up those little songs." Xiaohong took the note, looked at it over and over, and said, "Can this note be of such great use?"
"It works!" Kangxi laughed loudly, and even the unlucky prefect couldn't help but chuckle.
"Nong is such a good person. What's your name? Tell me. I'll go back and set up a memorial tablet for Nong!"
"You'll find out when you get back." Kangxi imitated Xiaohong's tone and smiled, "Nong is right, the court can't handle Nong's case right now, but it will definitely be done for Nong - and there is no need to set up any longevity tablets.
After you finish it, when I visit Nong’s family in Jiangnan, please treat me to a cup of Nong’s good tea, okay?”
Seeing Suo'etu taking Xiaohong out, Kangxi turned around and asked Xiahoujun: "Is this what you said to confuse the public with your dirty words? Go down and think about it, tell the officials yourself, and you will be fined half a year!" Xiahoujun did not expect it!
Kangxi's punishment was so light. He was startled at first, and then Nuonuo agreed repeatedly.
"Since you claim to know the military, I want to question you." Kangxi motioned Tu Hai to sit down next to him, and said seriously to Zhou Peigong, "Just stand and answer."
"Yes." Zhou Peigong bowed and replied, "I have never said that I know the military. Soldiers are fierce, and the path is extremely dangerous. How can I say that I know the military lightly? Zhao Kuo and Ma Di are familiar with military books and can talk about military affairs eloquently.
Absolutely, even though Zhao She was defeated, Zhuge couldn't do anything to defeat him - the soldiers were killed and the army was defeated, leaving behind the laughter of the ages. Therefore, it is said that there are no regular rules in war, and there are no rules for soldiers. The mastery of using them lies in one mind, and then the common people can almost use the army."
"According to what you say, even Sun Tzu's Art of War cannot be used?" Kangxi asked in surprise.
"Although Sun Tzu's Art of War has time-honored principles for using troops," Zhou Peigong calmly replied, "but the world only reads its meaning and does not understand its essence. Both the enemy and ourselves have read this book, but there will be victory and defeat. If you know how to change, you will win.
If you stick to the rules, you will lose, that’s all.”
"Well," Kangxi nodded and said, "Tell me about the way to be a general."
"The way of a general," Zhou Peigong said solemnly, "is that before the arms are fired, the general will not speak of hunger; before the well is drained, the general will not speak of thirst; when the drums are beaten, the general will not remember his wealth and life... These are all common principles.
.For the general to conquer on behalf of heaven, to use the right way to defeat the unjust, raising the flag will cost the country millions of coins, and drive the three armies through unpredictable places. In this extraordinary period, extraordinary ways should be used. Benevolence, justice and etiquette
Wisdom and trust are acceptable to me, but not to the enemy. To the enemy, you should use violence, lure them with benefits, deceive them with deceit, and endure cruelty. There is no loyalty or forgiveness."
When Kangxi heard this, he interrupted and asked: "What kind of general would you like to be?"
"I am willing to defeat the general for good!"
"General Shanda?" Kangxi asked in surprise.
"Yes!" Zhou Peigong explained plausibly, "A general who is good at defeating is not a general who is very defeated. Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, and Kong Ming of Shu Han are all generals who are good at defeating! In the art of war, it is said that those who are good at winning will not form, those who are good at forming will not fight, and those who are good at fighting will not be defeated.
, He who is good at losing will eventually win - after a small defeat, he can form a formation, thoroughly understand the enemy's situation, and regain victory. Compared with Xiang Yu who wins every battle and Wu Jiang who is completely defeated in one battle, isn't it much better?"
Kangxi couldn't help laughing, and turned to Tuhai and asked: "You have been a soldier all your life. Does it make sense to listen to this scholar's military theory?"
Tu Hai stared at Zhou Peigong with his eyes fixed on him, admiring him greatly. The "Book of War" he had read before entering the customs was "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", and he had not been exposed to more advanced military theories. Zhou Peigong's analysis made him understand
Hearing Kangxi's question, he hurriedly said, "What Zhou Peigong said is all about using military force."
Zhou Peigong was encouraged and couldn't help being very excited. His eyes were bright, and he continued: "I would like to make a statement on the military affairs of the south!"
It goes without saying that the so-called "southern military" refers to the three vassals. Kangxi originally planned to drive back to the palace, but he couldn't help but sit down again and said with a smile: "Things discussed here are more meticulous than those in the palace, so don't worry!"
"What will happen if something happens to the south of the country?" Zhou Peigong clasped his hands together and said thoughtfully, "I thought Yueyang, Jingzhou or Nanjing would be the place for the decisive battle!"
"Tell me the details!" Kangxi pulled his chair forward.
Zhou Peigong's eyes seemed to penetrate the wall and look into the distance. "If the rebels are well-organized, they will use Yueyang and Hengyang as their bases to seize Jingxiang, move east to Nanjing, go north along the canal by water, and go north by Wanzhou by land.
Luo went to the Central Plains and joined forces in Zhili. But now it seems that they may not be able to do it. Most of the rebels are arrogant and strong generals. They have inconsistent minds, inconsistent commands, and people are not following. Such a wishful thinking cannot be carried out well.
I thought they just wanted to divide the country by dividing the river."
"How should I deal with it?" Kangxi's eyes were unfathomable, and he looked at Zhou Peigong in ragged clothes.
Zhou Peigong smiled: "If this is really the case, the Lord will use Hunan as the place for the decisive battle. At the same time, he will deploy the Eight Banners force along the Yangtze River to stabilize the situation in the north. Jiangxi and Zhejiang will be the eastern front, and Shaanxi, Gansu, and Sichuan will be the western front to cut off the enemy.
Contact each other and use all the power of the world to defeat each one. How dare you capture this clown without restraint?" At this point, Zhou Peigong paused and said, "Of course, we must use both suppression and appeasement, kindness and power. War is a matter of nature.
It’s not just a confrontation between two armies!”
Kangxi was both nervous and happy when he heard this: today's visit was well worth it. He thought for a moment and said with a smile: "You can step aside and ask Mingzhu and Suo'etu to come in."
Seeing Zhou Peigong come out from the curtain, Suo Etu and Mingzhu knew that the discussion was over. Mingzhu had just found out that this man named Zhou had Wu Ciyou's letter of recommendation but refused to come to him. He was very angry when he heard that Zhou Peigong
Passing the message, he walked in and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhou, congratulations! You have invited the Holy Grace this time, and you can make great achievements!" Suo'etu looked at Zhou Peigong, and he appreciated Zhou Peigong's lack of power.
Although he had a strong character, he was very suspicious of him as a sensationalist. After a while, he said to Mingzhu: "Let's go in." Zhou Peigong didn't know the thoughts of these two number one favorites, so he just smiled and said nothing.
After a while, Mingzhu came out and delivered the order: "Grant Zhou Peigong to be a Jinshi, to be rewarded with the title of Chief of the Military Department, and to command the Yamen Counselor of the Tuhai Infantry Army." After that, he called Mu Zixu and gave the order: "Send a message to the Ministry of Officials to revoke the order.
Li Mingshan is qualified as a Jinshi!"
Regarding this latter decree, not only Mingzhu, but also Tu Hai, Monk Zhang Er, was at a loss. On the way back to the palace, Tu Hai muttered for a long time and finally said: "My lord, although Li Mingshan's words are offensive, he does not recognize the holy face.
It seems possible..."
"There's no need to say this," Kangxi said with a smile, "Am I a master of incompetence? Li Mingshan stood there for so long, and he stepped on a piece of money left by the calligrapher. Did you see it?"
[Note 1] The taboo word "Xuan" can be written as "Yuan" or "". (To be continued)
