Daming Yinghua

Chapter 118

Let’s say that yesterday, Xu Guangqi was the host, invited Xu Dahua to a banquet, and told Zheng Haizhu to come to worship the mountain together, and the two sides got on the line, so that Xu Guangqi could no longer appear in the follow-up visits to the firearms workshop.

Zheng Haizhu knew it well, which meant that money should not be sent in the post house, but in the school.

So she only carefully selected the round fans, handkerchiefs, and cloud shoulders newly produced by the embroidery workers of the Han family.

At first, Xu Dahua looked calm and gentle, and with the sense of alienation that officials should have, he said "Miss Zheng doesn't have to be too formal, let's sit together", but he mainly asked Xu Guangqi for some knowledge and anecdotes about Western learning and the scenery of Nanzhili. , did not pay much attention to Zheng Haizhu.

Halfway through the meal, Xu Guangqi was served by a servant to go to Dengdong. Only then did Xu Dahua open the gift box on the brocade stool, and took out a handkerchief imitating the parrot in Xuanhe's paintings of the Song Dynasty. After staring at it for a while, he praised Zheng Haizhu: " The Songjiang Mansion is truly outstanding, it is a family of embroiderers and painters, and the paintings in the embroidery have lofty meanings, and it really is not comparable to the embroidery that only sees folk customs."

Upon first hearing this, Zheng Haizhu was quite pleased that this gentle and elegant middle-aged civil servant was a bosom friend of Songjiang Huaxiu, so he hurriedly said with a smile: "Master Siqing has excellent taste. Our old lady of the Gu family and Miss Han all said However, if you use the stitches flexibly, it is just embroidery, not Gu embroidery or Han Yuan embroidery. Really good embroidery depends on the charm and strength of character, and you must carefully consider the artistic conception of the painting before dropping the needle..."

Zheng Haizhu was about to open up the chatterbox and talk in detail, but Xu Dahua suddenly leaned over slightly, raised his hand, and wiped her cheek with the parrot embroidered handkerchief, and said softly: "Speak too quickly, Sweating so much."

In an instant, Zheng Haizhu was dumbfounded.

Her mind suddenly went blank, her words froze, and her body froze.

Only the vision and touch are still normal, so she can feel that when Xu Dahua wiped her skin, his fingertips seem to have brushed her cheeks, and at the same time, she can see that Xu Dahua's servant named Xu Bao is standing in front of her. The master watched quietly from behind.

After a few breaths, Zheng Haizhu's mind seemed to return to her original position, and her anger was ignited almost at the same time.

When he was about to attack, Xu Dahua had already withdrawn his hand, rolled up the handkerchief, and Shi Shiran put it in his sleeve.

He poured himself a small cup of Yuezhou Huadiao in his spare time, took a sip, and said with emotion: "I have been in Beijing for many years, but my nostalgia is still there. The 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, catching the woman's stare indifferently, as if enjoying the shock in it.

Then, sitting at the top, he suddenly looked past Zheng Haizhu, and smiled at Xu Guangqi who came in: "Xu Hanlin, the wine is cold, please trouble the store to burn it, after the beginning of autumn, cold things will hurt the body."

Xu Guangqi nodded: "You are an old man, Shuqiu, as you get older, you can't accept it."

Xu Dahua's words moved his face: "Brother Zi, it's okay for us to be old. The younger generations are fearful, and the rise of the younger generations is the great fortune of our emperor, our country, and our people. Just now, I asked Miss Zheng a few words, and the girl is indeed Women don't give way to men. I only thought that southern beauties are 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. Miss Zheng, although young, is not from a martial arts family, but she has summoned skilled craftsmen to make firecrackers and guns. Cannon, if it can be made into a weapon, it must be a great achievement. Brother, you are a well-informed person. Liu Shimin and the prefect of Zhuang asked to play Songjiang Kaihai, have you heard? Now the Frankies and Hongyi people are all With guns, if Songjiang is switched on and off, coastal defense cannot be without guns.”

When the old man said this, he stopped, showing an unnatural flattery, and served Xu Dahua himself.

Then he cupped his hands again and said: "The Foolish Brothers will play the imperial court, imitating the artillery factory set up by the Frankies in Guangfu, and Songjiang will also build a firearms workshop. The opening of the money, a little from the Changying Treasury of the good brother, is good. ?”

Xu Dahua glanced at Zheng Haizhu, smiled lightly and said, "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 , you take me to see and see."

A moment ago, Zheng Haizhu suddenly lost control and wanted to throw the cup and leave, but she had already suppressed it forcefully.

Tasting Xu Guangqi's wording, relying on women's intuition for the word "protection", Zheng Haizhu felt that the old man emphasized the "things" he did, not his "person", so Xu Dahua's harassment just now, Xu Guangqi It should be unknown in advance.

At the same time, the subtle details that Zheng Haizhu saw with his own eyes showed that even Xu Guangqi, a veteran of the community, was sacrificing his dignity for the purse of Taipu Temple.

Zheng Haizhu's anger turned into bitterness.

In any case, she couldn't turn her face 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 wretched within the range that can be turned back, and only needs to send money to approve a note, then, based on the principle of "the steamed buns can be eaten to the side of the meat", Zheng Haizhu is willing to send At that moment just now, it was regarded as being scratched by a dog's paw, and the tour that should be brought was still brought, and the gift money that should be given was still given.

……

With the mentality of fighting side by side with Xu Guangqi, Zheng Haizhu finally made a respectful agreement with Xu Dahua's servant Xu Bao when the banquet was over, that he would personally bring the most distinctive little fairy boat in Songjiang to pick Xu Shaoqing to the firearms workshop.

Perhaps it was because of Zheng Haizhu's return to his gaze at the banquet yesterday, which was not shy but clearly mixed with refusal. Xu Dahua did not exceed the rules in broad daylight today. He only walked with his sleeves behind his back and asked the Inquired about Zheng Haizhu's school matters.

Out of self-protection considerations, Zheng Haizhu intentionally brought up Liu Shimin, Ma Xianglin, and Yan Siqi's relationships that can be disclosed publicly.

Xu Dahua nodded while listening, and then said teasingly: "Young girl is very powerful, and she makes friends with either nobles and famous generals, or Jianghai heroes."

Zheng Haizhu endured his nausea, and took out a collection of poems: "Siqing, Caomin hasn't read a book for a few days, so he respects scholars the most. This is the only copy that Caomin found in a bookstore. Shaoqing please point it out."

Xu Dahua glanced at a corner of the poetry collection, revealing an inch of yellow paper printed with rich patterns, which was obviously a silver ticket, so he turned to Xu Bao and said, "The rare books are hard to come by, so keep them carefully."

Squinting his eyes again, he raised his airs to Zheng Haizhu and said, "We officials shouldn't be the ones who care about the wind and snow. We should go to the firearms workshop first and see the business."

Today, in order to receive Xu Qiandaizi, Zheng Haizhu gave the school a day off, and the students all went home. Yao Shi did not come because she is Huang Zunsu's female relative.

After accepting Xu Dahua's dirty face, Zheng Haizhu's first thought was that Zhang Dai's fairy-like confidante could not show his face.

Fortunately, during these days, Wang Yuesheng went to Sheshan to buy antlers, which were used to make the "lacquer" for the qin, and lived in Gu'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 answer, Wang Yuesheng came up from behind him.

Zheng Haizhu was taken aback and said, "Aren't you in Sheshan?"

As soon as Wang Yuesheng said, "Come back and see the condition of the shade house", his color changed suddenly.

She saw Xu Dahua's face clearly.

As for Xu Dahua, he also stared straight at this woman whose plain face could not hide her stunning beauty.

"Hey, are you Miss Wang from Mianyue Tower?"

Wang Yuesheng held the piano board that had been dug out, and lowered his head suddenly, as if he didn't know how to answer.

On Xu Dahua's face, there was a smile that he thought was elegant, and he turned his head to Zheng Haizhu and said, "Oh, I didn't expect to meet an old friend at Miss Zheng's place. Qinhuai River Mianyue Tower, the mother in charge is surnamed Wang, and the names of the female envoys There are moon characters in it. Wang Yueying, Wang Yuezhao, Wang Yueliu, and this girl Wang Yuesheng are all good names from poems."

Zheng Haizhu understood instantly.

In her heart, there are [-] famous South American specialty animals.

I'm really afraid of what's coming.

Sesame seeds fall into the eye of a needle. It is not uncommon for Xu Dahua, a Ming official who likes to go to brothels as an elegance, but Wang Yuesheng is a red lady he can recognize.

Wang Yuesheng returned to school today, and when Lu Xiangsheng happily said that the imperial court would have a Shangguan to visit the firearms workshop, she was also quite happy, thinking that Miss Zheng could get money from the imperial court, but unexpectedly, she took photos with the gentle scum whom she least wanted to see. face.

This is the end of the matter, and it is too late to hide.

Wang Yuesheng was afraid that if he confronted him coldly, it would ruin Miss Zheng's affairs, so he forced himself to calm down.

She had no choice but to step forward, bowed to Xu Dahua, and said calmly: "I have seen the master, Yuesheng has now redeemed his life contract, fortunately under the care of Miss Zheng, I will take shelter here and teach Songjiang's children how to play the piano."

Xu Dahua said "Oh" and said with a smile, "Why, I even forgot my surname Xu."

Wang Yuesheng hurriedly said: "Xu Siqing forgives the crime."

Xu Dahua found it very interesting.

He suddenly realized that the pleasure brought to him by this scene did not come from teasing Yingyan under the robe in the past, but from slapping Zheng Haizhu in the face.

Girl surnamed Zheng, you were at the banquet yesterday, and today you are on the boat on the Moon River, you are so arrogant.

The attitude of a chaste woman who doesn't know the favor of her own official is actually not raising a whore in her own yard.

Xu Dahua was in a good mood, and just wanted to ask Wang Yuesheng, who redeemed you for you, was it Zhang Dai from Shanyin, Shaoxing, when he suddenly heard a man behind him shouting: "Young Lu Xiangsheng is too late for being rude, I beg Xu Siqing to forgive you!"

Zheng Haizhu looked back and saw the paint marks on Lu Xiangsheng's palms, and understood that he should take advantage of the good weather today to help Wang Yuesheng organize the "shade room" where the qin was placed.

"Xiang Sheng, the Minister of the Temple took the time to come here, and quickly show the Secretary of the Temple to see the machine gun and the barrel."

Zheng Haizhu decisively pierced the horrible atmosphere, and ordered Lu Xiang to advance.

When Xu Dahua came over, he could tell from the gestures of his servant Xu Bao that what Zheng Haizhu sent was 500 taels.

This number is a bit shabby, but it can still make him condescend to listen to Mr. Lu in front of him, nagging.

The majestic and suave Xu Shaoqing squeezed out some interest, followed Lu Xiangsheng, listened to him explain several combined guns with different bore lengths and calibers, weighed the guns, and pretended to be right. The servant Xu Bao said: "It's still light, and it can be carried on a horse."

Today, Zheng Haizhu also let the captain of Qi's army who trained his servants hide his identity, and only came to test the gun in the name of retired veterans.

However, Xu Dahua waved his hand, glanced at Wang Yuesheng who was standing at the door and dared not leave, and said, "Don't try it, it's too loud, don't be rude."

Lu Xiangsheng frowned, half surprised and half contemptuous, and explained to Xu Dahua the difficulty of casting the barrel in a respectful and detailed manner.

Xu Dahua tapped and forged the well-closed but only a short section of the gun barrel, and said in a tone: "Hey, this is really going to be built, can it afford a big blast furnace? No wonder Xu Hanlin said that the imperial court has to allocate money. No matter how big the girl's business with Nanfang is, it can't be supported by herself."

Zheng Haizhu lowered his eyelids slightly, and said in a calm voice: "Mr. Lu has done the calculations. A pair of machine guns, not counting fireballs and primers, cost six taels of silver. Xu Hanlin said that the imperial court prepared the Mingjia for the frontier soldiers. , is a set of eight taels of silver. If we do it, the machine gun can be cheaper than a set of Mingjia. In the past, the firearms team outside the Qi Family Army's killer team (referring to the cold weapon team) used to be equipped with three guns for one person. Now The trouble of building slaves is better than that of Mobei Mongolia, and the frontier army's firearms should be strengthened. Although this kind of smooth-bore cannon is much more expensive than ordinary Frankie cannons, about 3000 taels of silver, it is not just us in Songjiang What is needed for customs defense, but from Fushun to Shenyang, to Liaoyang, then to Shanhaiguan, and finally to Shuntianfu, they are all heavy weapons that can defend against the enemy under the city."

Zheng Haizhu speaks conclusively. After talking about the technical level, he talked about the righteous level.

She still hopes to try hard to awaken the crisis awareness of the current situation and her duty as a minister of food and wealth.

However, Xu Dahua interrupted Zheng Haizhu with a cry of "Oops", and leaned closer to her and said, "Miss Zheng, what are you talking about? How can you say that Jiannu has entered Shanhaiguan?"

At this time, Lu Xiangsheng couldn't bear it anymore, stepped forward and gave a deep bow, and said seriously: "500 years ago, the Jin soldiers went south, and the shame of Jingkang was left in the history. The students think that if they are negligent and take it lightly, let alone Shanhaiguan. "To build a slave is to attack the Shuntian Mansion, and it is not an alarmist speech."

Xu Dahua turned his head and glanced at Lu Xiangsheng's turban.

This is a man with a reputation, not a woman like Zheng Haizhu and Wang Yuesheng who can be bullied by him.

Xu Dahua smiled generously: "Well, you young man, it makes sense to say so."

He let out a breath, waved his hand and said: "I have seen what I should see, and I haven't heard what I should listen to. In such a pleasant autumn climate, can I ask Miss Zheng for a cup of tea and listen to Miss Wang?" Playing a qin tune? I think, your waterside pavilion in Qingyuan is not bad. Mr. Lu and several masters, oh, and Mr. Zheng, please continue to work.”

(End of this chapter)