Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 270
Since being released by Beihai Town in February, Enhai only returned to the capital in May.Although the errands of the Firearms Camp have stopped, Enhai still has a first-class viscount and a captain of cloud cavalry, and his family has a farm and a few shops outside the city; although there are dozens of people in his family, they can live well.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, news came from the imperial court that the Beijing camp would be doubled in size, and people like Enhai saw hope again.Those who came back from the north had too many people, so there was no chain of contempt. Everyone stirred the stick noodles in the same pot.

After getting up and having breakfast, I checked the accounts of the farm and the two shops with the housekeeper, and it seemed that it was almost noon.Only then did Enhai change into casual clothes, took a long suit, and went out for a stroll.

Enhai is from the inlaid white flag, and his family lives near the Dongdan archway, and Chongwenmen is not far to the south.The master and servant walked for a while, then hired a carriage inside Chongwenmen, and headed towards Qianmen Street.

After the middle period of Qianlong, there were many teahouses inside and outside the capital, mainly from Chongwenmen in the east to Xuanwumen in the west; there were more than 100 teahouses in total.Among them, the most famous ones are "Tianquanxuan", "Yushunxuan", "Gaomingyuan", "Donghongtai" and so on in Qianmen Street. Because this place is close to the theaters of the six major departments, it is popular from around lunch to evening. Before the opening of the opera garden, some large teahouses can hold four to five hundred people drinking tea and chatting at the same time.

The carriage stopped at the gate of "Tianquanxuan", Enhai and the other captains lifted the curtain, and the coachman put down the footstool, and then got out of the carriage in a grand manner.

The gate of Tianquanxuan was very large, with two pillars more than two feet high standing at attention, and a horizontal pillar in the middle, which looked like a single archway.There are three huge characters "Tianquanxuan" written on the horizontal form, and the inscription turned out to be "Tongshan Fool".

"Yo! Master En is here. Who are you today?" The clerk at the door saw En Hai coming, and quickly stepped forward to salute Qian'er.In the past few months, Enhai has come here often and is already a regular customer.

"Our master made an appointment with a friend and found a private room." Enhai's long follower said with a smile.

"Come on! Please, my lord."

The two masters and servants entered the teahouse under the guidance of the staff, facing a "red stove pastry shop", bypassing the back cabinet, passing through the waist tie (aisle) before entering the teahouse.

Tianquanxuan is well-known, not only because of the exquisite furnishings in the shop, but also from time to time some literati, poets, opera storytellers come here.At this time, the teahouse is already full of people, eating melon seeds and sneezing, teasing birds and talking about fish, you don’t want to listen to it, you just listen to it.

The proprietor of the teahouse is still neat and tidy as always, wearing a six-watt black lump hat, a blue cotton coat that reaches to the feet, and the white cuffs with the dragon's head turned up, and a snow-white hand (towel) on the shoulder ), are rambling around.As soon as he saw Enhai coming in, he hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, and personally led him to a secluded corner, separated by a screen.

Most of the teahouses in the capital in this era had Eight Immortals tables and large stools.The shopkeeper said that he wanted to change two armchairs, but Enhai waved his hand to say no.Since he experienced the life of a captive, he has not been so particular about it before.At this time, the buddy came over with a blue and white porcelain girder pot and a blue and white porcelain tureen.

According to the old rules, what is soaked in the pot is Junshan Yinzhen.The water in Yuquan Mountain in the capital is relatively hard, so although there are all kinds of tea in the teahouse, the locals still mainly drink scented tea.The price of tea varies from high to low, ranging from the broken pieces of a big tea to new teas of a tael of silver.The shopkeeper ordered his assistant to bring two plates of snacks and some dried fruits from the pastry shop, and then smiled and bowed away.

Outside the screen, some tea guests were talking about Wei Changsheng, which made Enhai's ears perk up.

"Have you heard? Wei San'er is on stage in Guanghe Building today."

"Huh? Didn't he be banned from singing? How dare you go on stage?"

"You have the old calendar from last year. You are not allowed to sing the West Qin opera. Wei Wanqing (Wei Changsheng ranked third, with the style name Wanqing) is now singing Kunqu opera."

"Hmm. What's the matter, go to Guanghe Building at night?"

"Of course! I heard him sing "Iron Lotus" the day before yesterday, and it was enjoyable!"

At this time, there was a sudden commotion in the teahouse, as if some distinguished guest had arrived.Enhai said to Chang Sui, "Look and see."

The long follower went out and came back soon, and said to Enhai, "Master, it's Wei Wanqing who is here."

Normally, Enhai would definitely go out to say hello and chat with Wei Changsheng; but today he had an appointment and was an acquaintance, so he had to wait patiently.

Not long after, a figure swayed outside the screen, and a strong and burly man in a maroon gown was led by the staff and walked over.Enhai didn't get up either, and smiled at the visitor: "It's late today, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The other party was serious, but just cupped his hands and said: "There is something to delay."

The person who came was the official security officer of Xianglan Banner.Originally, the two of them had a temperament that they couldn't urinate together, but because of their days in the prison camp in Fuldan City, they had formed a good friendship.Since returning to the capital, the two of them would get together for tea every now and then.

"Comrade, bring me a bowl of rotten meat noodles first." Guanbao sat down and ordered the buddy.

"Come on! Sir, sit down for a while, and I'll bring it to you in a while."

When the buddy left, En Hai asked with a smile, "What's the matter? You're so busy that you don't even have time to eat?"

Guan Bao said: "I went to the Ministry of War early in the morning. My good fellow, the queue has been lined up from the gate to East Chang'an Street. I am so hungry that I stick to my back." After speaking, he picked up a piece of snack and started to eat.

Enhai shook his head and laughed, "I asked you to go before the festival, but you didn't listen. Not to mention the expansion of the Beijing camp, but just to talk about the five galleons and hundreds of cannons, what a lot of oil and water! Tsk tsk, we men follow He Zhongtang If you don't have friendship, you can also get a good job."

The two chatted for a while, the waiter brought the noodles, the official security ate it with a big gulp, and drank half a bowl of tea before saying: "Master Qing's staff are looking for me."

Enhai's complexion changed: "You still want to go to the north?"

"Yes, I can't swallow this breath. If I don't fight them openly, I will feel sorry for so many brothers who died."

"Ouch! You asked me to tell you what's good about you!" Enhai pointed at the official security with his fan and said, "You were defeated in the east, but I saw it clearly in the south. There is no way to fight this battle!"

"If you can't fight, you have to fight! Master Qing is right, if you don't do anything, we won't be able to keep our ancestral graves in a few years!" The official protector put down his teacup, looked at Enhai and said, "I know you have a good relationship with Lord Eleven. He is protecting you, and will not let you go to the north this time. But after I leave this time, the whole family will be entrusted to you."

Enhai anxiously said: "What are you talking about! What friendship do we have? Brother, listen to what brother said, don't rush forward, musketeers don't have eyes. How is your mother?"

"It's still the same, and it doesn't get better after taking several medicines. The imperial doctor I invited said it was because of anger, and I came out of a hurry."

"Then are you still going?"

"Loyalty and filial piety have been difficult since ancient times. For the sake of the court, I can only do this." The official guard was silent for a while, rubbed his teacup and said slowly: "I will leave at the beginning of next month, and when I arrive, I will first build the city and start farming next year. It’s not just tens of thousands of people making small fights. Marshal Fu is rectifying the green camp in Shandong, and I heard that he will be transferred there.”

Enhai said: "How did Lord Qing arrange for you?"

Guan Bao said: "Deputy general. Follow the Ming army to listen to it."

"Okay, then I'll replace the wine with tea, and congratulate the old man on his promotion. Don't worry about everything at home, I'll take care of it for you."

Guan Bao used to be just a general. Although he was defeated and captured, he was one of the few generals of the Eight Banners returning to the north who was not afraid of being beaten by Zhao Ni; he often clamored for the whole army to fight again.

Qinggui heard that when the East Route Army was bombarded, he did not retreat hastily, but remained calm in the face of danger, trying to appease the deserters; so he called him by name.

"What about you? What's the arrangement?" Guanbao put down his teacup and asked Enhai.

"Damn! Thinking of this makes me angry. A few days ago I was thinking about transferring to Hangzhou, but I spent money and found someone, but it failed again!" Enhai sighed: "I can only stay in the Beijing camp. a general."

After he finished speaking, he suddenly leaned forward and whispered to the official security: "Did you hear that? Someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed to the emperor that the ransom money should be deducted from our salary."

Guanbao frowned. He knew that Enhai had better news than him, and asked, "Oh? I've never heard of this. The court is short of money right now?"

"Why are there no shortages?" Enhai counted each piece with his fingers: "The severe drought in Henan, the expansion of the Beijing camp, the purchase of ships, and the construction of guns, which one is not spent like splashing water? I heard the old picture of the Ministry of Finance complaining for the first two days. , at least this number."

After speaking, he stretched out two fingers to gesture.

"200 million?" Just as Guan Bao finished speaking, he immediately realized that it was too little.

"2000 million!"

"Hiss!" The official security took a breath, and then said, "Then He Zhongtang is really suffering. Where is he going to plan such a large sum of money?" It is said that since He Shen went to Hunchun in person, he brought all the captured soldiers with him. After returning, his reputation among the banner people in the capital was soaring, and many people remembered him well.

Enhai curled his lips and said: "Bullshit! If no one else says it, how can he be short of money? His family is richer than the palace!" He looked around, and then whispered in his ear: "Haven't you heard that the good things in the world are , all the high-ranking ones stay in his house, and only the second-ranking ones enter the palace."

Guan Bao was stunned and said, "Is there such a thing?"

Enhai said: "Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will go to the Eleventh Mansion to pay my respects, and listen to what the eunuch said."

"Tell me." The official security guard was also a little curious and asked quickly.

The eleventh master in Enhai's mouth is Qianlong's No.11 son Yong Xing.In the first few years, the eighth elder brothers Yongxuan and Yongxuan accidentally broke a jade plate displayed on the table in the palace. The jade plate was emerald green and one foot in diameter. precious.Yongxuan was so scared that he almost cried when he saw that he was in trouble, but Yongxuan was young but quick-witted. After thinking for a while, he said to his brother: "I heard that Heshen's family has a lot of treasures and antiques. Why don't you go to him and find a way."

So the two brothers found He Shen.When He Shen heard that the jasper plate was broken, he deliberately pretended to be embarrassed and said, "My lords, this kind of treasure is a tribute from overseas. How can it belong to my generation, and the servant can't help it." Paying tribute, he was even more afraid of Qianlong's strict dispatch, so he couldn't help crying again.

Yong Xun saw He Shen's intentions, so he pulled him to a secluded place, whispered and vowed to keep it secret, and He Shen nodded, and said to the eighth elder brother: "The servant will search slowly, whether you can find it, I don't know. , I will return to the words of the two masters tomorrow."

The next day, the two brothers came to Hefu as promised, and He Shen took out a jade plate from his arms.This jade plate was brightly colored, with a diameter of one chi and five feet, and it was even better than the broken one. The two brothers were very grateful, carried the plate into the palace, and quietly put it back in its original place.

Enhai finished speaking in a low voice, and told the dumbfounded official security: "Your brother must be rotten to the stomach, don't tell anyone. If it weren't for our friendship, I would never have said it."

The two were chatting on the screen, and on the Eight Immortals table outside, several people were chatting about the vocal genres of opera.

"Nowadays it is said that bangzi is not a serious thing, but the Yiyang tune is commonly known as Yangzhou bangzi. When Kunqu opera was popular in the past, this tune was only sung in Zaju. Its tune is easy to learn, with the same beginning and end, no difference between the north and the south, and no turning point It is multiplied, one flute is played horizontally, and it is catchy after learning one or two sips. Although there are many tunes, such as "Beating Cherry", it is authentic. In addition, "Visiting Relatives and Scolding" and "Widow Going to the Grave" are also tunes. The change is mostly the flute harmony, and it is not the same as the chord harmony, the Siping emblem and the bangzi."

The person who spoke was not tall, about forty years old.His head was shaped like two pointed jujube stones, his face was white and pockmarked, his nose was hooked and his eyebrows were raised, his chin was shaved clean, and his sparse hair was always in one place and only a braid the thickness of chopsticks.

With such a face, if you don't know him on the street, no one will guess that this person is the "Huabu" leader who was once famous in the capital and known as the "Wild Fox Leader", Wei San and Wei Changsheng.

One person in the room clapped their hands together and praised: "Wanqing's words are insightful. In the past, Wei Dan'an had a saying that Heshuo drank rough wine, and Hanshang's new songs were high; Is it Xiqin blowing melody!"

Wei Changsheng cupped his hands and said, "My views are all guided by Mr. Yucun. He once said that blowing opera is equal to Qin opera, and there is no rhythm, but instead of using bang and using flute as a different ear, this tune is very good in Shu. It's true. Shame on me!"

Another person present said: "Mr. Yucun has been away for several years, and I don't know what's going on now."

Wei Changsheng said with a smile: "I just wrote a letter a few days ago, and the master said that he is now living in the Wanjuan Building, seeing the vicissitudes of Hiraizumi every day, watching the haze and drawing pictures of Wangchuan. It is very pleasant."

"Wanqing, I heard that you plan to go south to Yangzhou?"

"Originally, I wanted to go back to Sichuan to visit Mr. Yucun, but it happened that Master Jiang from Yangzhou sent someone to invite me. I also thought about it. Three parts of the world are bright moonlit nights, and two parts are rogues in Yangzhou. I can't stay in the capital anymore!"

"Oh, with you Wei Wanqing leaving, the Liyuan in the capital is too boring!"

Since last year, West Qin Opera (this Qin Opera is not the Qin Opera of later generations, but mixed with the elements of Sichuan opera) has been banned in major theaters in Beijing.The Yamen, the commander of the infantry, issued a notice stating that only Kun and Yi tunes can be sung in the capital. If you don’t want to change, then you can change your career!If you want to continue singing, you will be escorted back to your hometown.

The reason for this is simple, the water in Liyuanxing is too deep!The correct way to say it is that the Shuangqing Department is too popular, especially after Wei Changsheng joined the class and became the leader.Someone once said that if you don't watch the "Shuangqing Department" in the theater, no matter how many Kun and Yi there are, it will be in vain.

Why is the Shuangqing Department so popular in the capital?It's not because of Wei Changsheng's "Rolling Tower".

Unexpectedly, after this word spread, the other "six major ministries" (Wangfu, Cuiqing, Dacheng, Yuqing, Yuqing, Baohe) would be completely offended.The six major parts are all sung in Kun and Yi tunes, the tunes are elegant, and there is no lack of support from the royal family and dignitaries.So these jealous people took the opportunity to blow the air, saying that most of the stories in "Rolling Tower" were about the affairs of men and women, and that there were too many "fan dramas" in the performance, which was really indecent.

Although it is said that it is a taboo among colleagues, Wei Changsheng's plays do contain a lot of "fan drama" elements, so he had to leave Shuangqing Department sadly.No matter how good an opera singer these days is, no matter how famous he is, he is nothing if he leaves the stage.Therefore, Wei Changsheng would sometimes go to the Beijing Kunyi Troupe to sing enlightenment plays praising loyalty.

At this time, there were fewer and fewer guests in the teahouse, and Wei Changsheng and his group were sighing, when they suddenly heard someone humming faintly, the tune was never heard before, and the content of the libretto also had a sense of sadness Affection.

Although the voices of the two people who were humming were not high, and their accents were twisted, but who was Wei Changsheng, he was stunned after hearing a few sentences.In front of him, there seems to be a brand new opera door beckoning to him
"Come to the entrance of the main street, respect the guests and friends who pass by and obey. One is not a thieves and bandits, and the other is a gangster stealing the city. I can't bear the kindness of my grandfather, and I can't bear to let go of the yamen servants. It's really hard to let go of the neighbors and me. A good friend of mine, I can’t bear to let my mother turn her head white. A mother gives birth to a child, and the heart is attached to the heart. The mother is worried when the son travels thousands of miles. It is difficult for the son to kowtow when the mother comes, and the mother tears when she wants the son.”

It wasn't until the humming gradually subsided that Wei Changsheng got up and walked over, and said loudly: "Wei Changsheng from the Lower Shuangqing Department, is the one sitting inside Master En?"

　Yucun, that is, Li Tiaoyuan, was a theorist of Sichuan opera in the Qing Dynasty.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)