Emperor Qianlong: the beginning of his glory

Chapter 43
At this time, it has been more than a year since the death of Emperor Yongzheng. Although the national mourning has not yet passed, folks are not allowed to hang red banners and perform plays, but in fact the official ban has gradually relaxed. Beige gauze lanterns, some are like pearls, some are like pineapples, such as plum lanterns, revolving horse lanterns, gauze lanterns, grille lanterns, glass palace lanterns, dragons and tigers, all of which are full of brilliant colors.Even though it's not the right day, the streets are full of people watching the lanterns, and the places of performing arts, reckless performances, and setting off fireworks are full of excitement.Liu Kang was still sitting in the sedan chair at first, but gradually more and more people crowded, and the sedan chair swayed from side to side, so he had to get down and walk.He walked and watched all the way, and he arrived at Ertai Mansion at Heiding.But in front of the Xiangfu gate, there were only two apricot-yellow glazed palace lanterns hanging alone.Everyone at the gate knew Liu Kang, and someone had already followed up, saying: "Master Liu, Prime Minister E has ordered that there are not many guests invited tonight, and they are all in the front hall, where there is a running water table. Please rejoice, gentlemen. The Prime Minister came out to persuade everyone to have a drink and leave the table. Please forgive me."

"I would like to obey the order of E Xiangjun." Liu Kang wanted to see Ertai and tell him well, but now he remembered that Ertai said he was sick at home and couldn't come out to accompany the guests, so he had to follow the housekeeper in, but he said with a smile: "They are all under the Xilin sect. , we know each other very well, since my husband is upset, he doesn’t have to come out, we go in to say hello after dinner, and we can spend the Lantern Festival together.” The housekeeper laughed and said, “This is how the adults are considerate of our master.”

The living room was very lively. When Liu Kang looked at it, there were thirty or forty officials, ranging from generals and governors to county magistrates, all of whom were educated and military. old official.Everyone was watching lantern riddles around the porch, gathering together in twos and threes, some whispering, some laughing loudly.In the hall, there were five or six tables with bright lights and candles, and there were also people who were greedy for drinking.The boys outside were holding firework boxes, some lit mice, some released meteors, and the purple smoke and white light filled the courtyard with the fragrance of gunpowder, which also had a lot of fun.When Liu Kang squinted his eyes, he saw E Hao and Hu Zhongzao of the same age, as well as Amusa, Fu Erdan, and Sauron who were familiar with each other, all scattered in the west corridor watching lantern riddles, so he moved over and said with a smile: "Everyone Brother Nian is earlier than me."

"Experts are here!" Taihu Huzhou Guerrilla saw Liu Kang walking step by step, stepped forward and pulled his sleeves and said with a smile: "We are here to make a joke. This year, the lantern riddles at Mr. E's house are amazing, and they are not Lao Hu's opponent. You come You come!" Hu Zhongzao laughed and said, "Is there any opponent here? Poetry is incomprehensible, so if you explain it as you like, it's fine if it makes sense." Liu Kang forced himself to smile and came over to look, but saw a lamp that read :

If teaching and interpreting language can overwhelm the country, even if it is ruthless, it will also move people.

Liu Kang looked at the other lamps again, and said, "These are all Chen's poems by the ancients. What's so difficult about finding the answer? This is Luo Yin's "Ode to the Peony" poem." Hu Zhongzao played with the fan pendant in his hand and said with a smile: "So What's the fun? This is called elegance, you have to write new ideas. For example, this sentence is peony, so it's a 'beauty painting'. Do you understand?"

Liu Kang nodded, and when he looked at the next one, it read:

To the end of Jiangwu, there are many mountains across the river.

Liu Kang said with a smile: "Monk Wu's poem about the White Pagoda looks like a poem that divides the border? Poem." Everyone nodded and said, "It really does." "I don't see it" said: "I have seen this poem before, it belongs to Li Bai!" Everyone couldn't help laughing, and Amusa said: "What a playboy, he hides his clumsiness all night, and he reveals his secrets when he opens his mouth. This is Bai Juyi's "Song of Everlasting Regret" of……"

"Tang Minghuang must be regarded as a kind of love." Fu Erdan sighed, and then laughed again, "This is the 'Mulian's Poem for Saving Mother'!" Liu Kang was originally lazy, but at this time he couldn't help but cheered up, pointing to "Shuying" The sloping water is clear and shallow, and the fragrance is floating in the moonlight." With a smile, "Lin Hejing's poem about plum blossoms was once said to Dongpo, and it can be called "peach blossom." In my opinion, the peach blossoms are not worth it, and the wild rose seems to be approaching." Seeing everyone laughing, Hu Zhongzao said, "This is wrong. Wild roses grow in clusters, so where does the 'sparse shadows and slanting' come from?" Let's look at the next one, But it is Guanxiu's poem:

I can't find them all day long, and sometimes they come by themselves.

Liu Kang said with a smile: "This is the lost cat, looking for it!"

Everyone couldn't help screaming Miao, but Sauron said: "It's also like a fart. My stomach is full. I want to let one go, but I can't. Sometimes for no reason, one after another farts." Everyone was stunned for a moment, then suddenly There was a burst of laughter.Liu Kang laughed out of breath, and said: "The last time I talked to Zhuang Yougong about Jia Dao's 'birds staying in trees by the pool, monks knocking on the door under the moon', I said it should be 'monk pushing the door under the moon'. Who doesn't close the door? It's better to knock. I said, you are too honest. This is a monk's love poem. This bald thief has made an appointment with an adulteress, and the door is ajar." It made everyone laugh.While talking and laughing, Liu Kang caught a glimpse of a few glass lamps flickering out from the moon cave gate in the backyard. He expected Ertai to come, so he stopped talking.Everyone also stopped talking and laughing, but saw that the light flickered in the west courtyard and went out through the west door.

Liu Kang couldn't help but asked E Hao beside him in surprise: "It seems that E Zhongtang sent a guest out. Isn't he sick?" E Hao shook his head and said, "Zhongtang didn't come out tonight, I don't know what I saw Guests. If you meet a guest and send it off, it's either Zhang Hengchen or a relative."

"It's Nezhongtang." Hu Zhongzao stroked his mustache and said, "I recognize the long follower in the back as one from Neqin's mansion. The other one looks like an eunuch. Besides the Zhongtang masters, who's mansion still has eunuchs?" Just as he was speaking, Ertai's thin figure gradually approached, and the people inside and outside the hall immediately quieted down and bowed to meet him under the veranda.When Ertai came in, the governor of Huguang, Ge Dan, took the lead in beating Qian'er down, and said: "Students, please greet the teacher!" Everyone also knelt down.

"Get up, get up." A smile flashed across Ertai's pale face, "Because of my serious nature, I am afraid of spoiling everyone's happiness, so I don't accompany guests much. I can't sit still like this. Everyone sit down. I'll have a few drinks with you. I'm leaving, but you're still having fun." Then he sat down with the chairman.A group of disciples also signed obliquely and took their positions.Ertai was an introverted and deep person, everyone greeted him full of greetings, but they all held back and toasted him one by one according to their official positions.But he just touched his lips and turned around, without even drinking half a glass of wine.But the toasters each accompanied him with a big glass.When it was Liu Kang's turn, Ertai saw that Liu Kang finished his toast, and held a piece of Xuetao paper with both hands. When he unfolded it, it read:

Mix half of glutinous rice, five large slices of ginger, two bowls of river water, put them in a casserole and roll them twice, add five or seven green onions with whiskers, cook until the rice is cooked, add half a cup of rice vinegar, mix well and eat porridge while it is hot, or just drink porridge soup.

Ertai couldn't help asking: "What kind of porridge is this? Need to add vinegar?"

Liu Kang smiled all over his face and said: "Back to the teacher's words, this is called 'immortal porridge'. The king takes glutinous rice as nourishment, and the scallion and ginger diverge as the minister. One supplement and one dispersion, and vinegar is used to restrain it. If you are sick, you can get rid of it, and if you don't, you can treat it." Rong Yang. The students were doing disaster relief in Zichuan. One village was infected with the epidemic. Only this family was safe. After asking, I found out that they ate this kind of fairy porridge every day. It seems that the teacher is also weak and weak, and often uses this Porridge, it will definitely be immune - the old man in that family is over 80 years old and can still carry firewood and water!"

"Well, good!" Ertai smiled and handed the medicinal diet prescription to the family around him, "This prescription does not have those supplements like ginseng and yarrow, and I have a weak talent, so I can't stand that supplement.Instead, try this fairy porridge, maybe it will be right for the spleen and stomach. "As he said, he got up and raised his glass, and said, "I've been working hard outside for a year.Even if you live in Beijing and are busy with everyone on weekdays, it is rare to see them.It's a pleasure to gather together today, please drink this cup! "So everyone stood up and toasted, saying "Blessing for the teacher". This time, even Ertai, including Ertai, had their cups bottomed out. Ertai's pale face was tinged with blood, and he took a mouthful of fans slowly. Swallowing, he said again: "When the late emperor was around, what he hated the most was the faction of his disciples who went for personal gain.Today's emperor regards leniency as his policy and pays attention to harmony between upper and lower levels. In fact, in terms of purpose, he is also the same as the previous emperor.You are all still young and have different positions, but you are all on your own.Always remember that you are a courtier.If you always think about who belongs to which sect and who belongs to which faction, even if the errands are done, you can't be regarded as a pure minister.Eshan's business trip this time, disaster relief, food distribution, and coordination of salt transportation are all excellent. The emperor has issued a decree to commend him; .I love these students very much, and each of them gave them a catty of old wild ginseng.Because they give my face a glow!If you really want to be teachers, I advise you not to mutter about getting promoted every day, wanting to transfer good or bad jobs, and talking and discussing all day without meaning. Such people are my students, and I do not recommend them.Work hard and work hard.Those who leave a good reputation to the local people are not my students, but I also recommend them! This group of students knew that Ertai must have such admonitions for a long time, and they all bowed their heads and listened quietly, saying that the teacher's discussion was profound and selfless. Ge Dan is the most proud student of Ertai, so he naturally gave the main speech , his tone was deep, and he seemed to be overwhelmed with emotion: "I have been an official for more than 20 years, and every time I go to Beijing to listen to the teacher's discussion, I learn something new.I don't think there is anything unusual about the teacher. He just follows the way of Confucius and Mencius, and handles everything according to the situation.I was strongly recommended by my teacher. I became a member of the Taoist priest first, but the teacher impeached me for the uneven quality of the money I put into the treasury, and then I was demoted to be a magistrate.When I was the chief envoy, because I accidentally chose a corrupt official as the county magistrate, I was impeached by my teacher and demoted to a second rank.Now that he has become such a high-ranking official, he has been punished and demoted six times.At that time, I couldn't help but feel wronged, but now in retrospect, the teacher has no opinion of the sect.I work hard for the imperial court, there are promotions and rewards, and if I mess up the mission, there are demotions and punishments.How can such a teacher's character and such a minister's demeanor not be admired by others? "

Ge Dan is worthy of being a veteran in the officialdom, what he said is restrained and eloquent, close to the truth, the teacher's painstaking efforts in cultivation, and his sincere admiration for the teacher, all are fully revealed in this speech that seems to be stammering and complaining. There is no trace of flattery at all.Liu Kang thought of himself making a fool of himself in the yamen of the Ministry of Criminal Justice this morning, and really admired this person to the extreme.Liu Kang pondered in a daze.Ertai had already come over, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Come with me—everyone is drinking and playing as usual, as long as you don't overdose, don't get drunk, it's not proper." , Liu Kang had no choice but to follow anxiously.

"Liu Kang, did you go to the Ministry of Criminal Justice today?" Ertai went into the study, sat down and asked straight to the point, "I heard you lost someone?" His voice was as dull as his face, as dry as a freshly split "Chai," asked Liu Kang with tired eyes.Liu Kangteng blushed to the base of his neck, and was so ashamed under the gaze of Ertai, he just bowed his head and said "yes", unable to say a word.Ertai smiled coldly and said, "Perhaps you are thinking that my eyes and ears are very good. In fact, I never inquired about these things at all. Do you know who the guest I sent off just now? It was Neqin Zhongtang who accompanied today to see it." Me. This is what Neqin said."

Liu Kang seemed to have been drained of blood all of a sudden, his face was as white as window paper, he raised his head and looked at Ertai in horror, and said: "The Pinglu case is really not in my hands, it is really a student. I am blind, and I have learned from others. Teacher Mingjian, it is not easy for me to do things outside, and my colleagues have to ignore the face. Who would have suffered such a big loss!" Ertai Gege smiled and said: "I have already stood in front of the emperor for you Explained. The emperor still trusts you. When Fu Heng came back from Shandong, he also said good things about you to the emperor. Otherwise, you will be in trouble this time. At least you can bear the four-character test of "despicable and shameless" firmly. .” Liu Kang asked cautiously: “What did the emperor say?”

"The emperor just laughed, saying that Liu Kang was young and ignorant, and he ran into a wall for selfish purposes for public affairs, right!" Ertai said, "Then Qian Du's heart for promotion at this time is hotter than charcoal fire, and he is worried that no one will back him up. If you don’t run into a wall, who will run into a wall? Can you make it?” Liu Kang thought about it, and Qianlong’s saying “not knowing things” was really not disgusting, so he immediately relieved, and said with a smile: “Students are so ashamed that they didn’t go out for a long time today. , I have always failed to cultivate morality by myself—" He suddenly had an idea, rubbed his legs and said, "For today's failure, I would like to ask the teacher to take care of the official department, and I am willing to change the name to 'cultivate morality'." "This It’s a small matter, you can go to the Ministry of Officials to talk about it tomorrow, and just say that I agree.” How did Ertai know his real intention of changing his name to avoid disaster?He just followed his own train of thought and said, "In fact, we should think carefully about the word 'cultivation of morality'. Flies don't catch flaws. Why didn't Qian Du attack Shi Yizhi and Liu Tongxun? People only insult themselves, and then others insult them." .You have done this with too low a style, and you have spoiled yourself. So don't resent others, and don't expect the teacher to vent your anger for you. I don't do such things. "

Liu Kang figured out what he said, and he must have said that Qianlong still praised Qian Du. He was ashamed and hated in his heart, but he said in his mouth: "The teacher is thorough. I will only reflect on myself, and I will never blame Mr. Qian."

"In this way, I won't blame you anymore." Ertai said in a more friendly tone, "To be honest, I was very angry at first, and I didn't plan to see you alone, only my group of disciples, so you are also very talented I would like to warn you to be careful. Shanxi is similar to Henan, and has always been troubled. It is estimated that the emperor will send someone to investigate the officials. Although I have no opinion of the sect, the villains always like to judge people by the sect. Please fight, I will Just don’t listen to gossip. If you want to dig around and make connections, it’s your own fault, and I will stand by. I will throw this sentence to you and weigh it carefully—go!”

(End of this chapter)