national surname chiming

Chapter 5 Seeing the tricks and breaking the tricks (again, a five thousand word chapter)

The moment he walked into Goulan, Shen Shuren still felt a little unreal in his heart.

"I didn't expect that when I came to the Ming Dynasty and set foot in an entertainment venue for the first time, it was because of this kind of chance and coincidence. It's really not as good as the gods. In the future, I need to leave a little extra for the future."

After some self-examination, Shen Shuren finally adjusted, and by the way, he was introduced by his cousin and got to know some talented people who were partying together.

Shen Shuren's cousin, who is also the number one person, is named Zhang Huangyan, No. Cang Shui, from Ningbo Prefecture.He is slightly distant relative to Shen Shuren's late mother, Mrs. Zhang.So when Shen Shuren introduced Zheng Hongkui just now, he reported "Zhang Cangshui".

The relationship between Zhang Huangyan and the Shen family is actually quite far away. In terms of closeness, it is said that there is no way to get much resources from the Shen family.

However, Shen Tingyang is a man of righteousness and wealth, and likes to help and support the backward.He saw that the distant nephew of his deceased wife was capable of both literature and martial arts, and he was quite talented. Not only was he good at reading, but he could also ride and shoot.

Zhang Huangyan was two years older than Shen Shuren, he was just twenty, and he also had the reputation of being a scholar.

This year is the year of the township exam. He should go to Nanjing to take the exam, so he went to his uncle in Suzhou a few months in advance. While waiting for the boat in Taicang, he found his own Goulan Baochang to hold a church meeting and make friends with other candidates who were waiting for the boat.

In history, this Zhang Huangyan is also considered to be famous in history.In the second year of Yongli, when Shen Tingyang was defeated and died for his country, Zhang Huangyan and another general, Zhang Mingzhen, were in Shen Tingyang's army.But they relied on disguise to change their clothes, disguised themselves as ordinary soldiers, and successfully broke through to save their lives-of course, they did not break through to survive, and they still insisted on leading the troops to resist the Qing Dynasty.

Zhang Huangyan persisted for another 17 years after Shen Tingyang's death. He persisted until Zheng Chenggong died of illness, and then he realized that the situation was over. He didn't want his subordinates to die in vain, so he disbanded the remaining troops.But he himself still insisted on not surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, but lived in seclusion on overseas islands, and was finally captured by the Qing army, preferring to die rather than submit to be killed.

……

Thinking that this distant and cheap cousin would also be regarded as the No. [-] national hero in the future, Shen Shuren quickly got used to it after being rusty at first.

And Zhang Huangyan didn't know what plans his uncle and cousin had. He just got a temporary request from the steward of Shen's house, asking him to help hold his cousin and Zheng Hongkui for a while.

Fortunately, he was also a smart person, and he didn't ask too much. He soon started chatting and laughing with Zheng Hongkui, which greatly relieved Shen Shuren's social pressure.

In particular, Zhang Huangyan has some martial arts skills. When chatting with a military attache like Zheng Hongkui, he will not put on the air of a literati, which makes Zheng Hongkui feel a little familiar.

Seeing that the situation was under control, Shen Shuren finally relaxed.Then, out of curiosity for the first time he entered the hook, he was really attracted by the Kunqu Opera on the stage and enjoyed it with great interest.

Goulan in the late Ming Dynasty is also divided into three, six, nine, etc. Those who sing private dramas behind closed doors are of a larger scale, and there are more flesh and blood transactions.And this kind of venue that opened the door to the literati as a church is more like a theater in later generations.

It's just that there was no "sell tickets to watch the theater" in the Ming Dynasty. All such churches must first have a benefactor who is willing to pay the money to save the game.Then use the text to meet friends and let others play.

It's not completely in vain for those who play the show, and they will give some money to the singer, but they don't force it.

A gentleman does not speak for profit, and selling tickets is vulgar.

Today is Zhang Huang Yanbao's place, so a few of them are in the second floor, and all of them are in the hall downstairs.

At this moment, several sisters downstairs are singing hard. They are of average body and appearance, but their singing voice is quite tactful and sad. It can be seen that this sub-level is not high.

Shen Shuren listened for a while, and heard what seemed to be a black joke about Yan Song, the late traitor of the dynasty.

This play is actually famous, called "Ming Feng Ji".It was created by Wang Shizhen, a local literati in Taicang in the early years of Wanli, so it has been performed a lot locally.

Especially in today's serious literati collection, it is not suitable to sing obscene lyrics and flamboyant songs, so I prefer to choose dramas that focus on political affairs.

It's a pity that Shen Shuren's culture is not enough, and he is not very clear about these anecdotes.

He just listened to Kunqu Opera one after another, and then rested for a while, during which time he secretly glanced out the window on the street several times.

About half an hour later, Shen Shuren saw that his attendant, Shen Fu, came back in a hurry, and winked at him at the entrance of the stairs.

After draining the water, Shen Shuren took advantage of the time to wash his hands, and asked softly, "Have the dock been cleaned up?"

Shen Fu poured out the hand soap and replied, "It's ready, you can go anytime."

Shen Shuren took the towel and wiped it carefully: "What about the sailor who caused the trouble? How did he deal with it? After all, he didn't do anything wrong, it was all a coincidence."

Shen Fu: "Don't worry, he has already been transferred. He told the other sailors that he was on sick leave, and he secretly rewarded him for his loyalty to his duties."

Shen Shuren nodded: "That's good, you prepare the car first, and leave after the song is finished."

As Shen Shuren said that, he returned to the second floor lounge and continued to listen to the play.

He was very thoughtful, knowing that after half listening to go out to change his clothes, he suddenly flashed, which would easily arouse Zheng Hongkui's vigilance.Anyone with a little bit of common sense in intelligence work understands that at this time, at least they have to listen to the song in front of them calmly.

Not long after sitting down again, this episode of "Ming Feng Ji" also sang the climax. The plot is roughly "Zeng Xian, a famous anti-Tatar general in the Jiajing Dynasty and a minister of the Ministry of War, was harmed by Yan Song, and he was finally wronged."

The talents who were playing the show downstairs applauded one after another, and couldn't help but talk and criticize the government.

After all, the current Ming Dynasty is also facing multi-line battles.Most of the civilian supervisors were convicted by Chongzhen. This episode saw that the scholars were very substituting, so they started to spray, and felt that the emperor should not kill scholars and officials indiscriminately.

I saw a scholar who threw a handful of copper coins on the stage, slapped the table, and said with righteous indignation:

"The court did not distinguish between merits and demerits, and Zhongliang was wronged. It is a shame! Since Zuo Liangyu was defeated by Zhang Xianzhong at the beginning of the month, I heard that Your Majesty has dismissed Xiong Wencan, the governor of the six provinces, and sent him to prison.

Now that the thieves are so rampant, that Li thief Zhang has repeatedly surrendered, but he has repeatedly surrendered, failing repeatedly.However, the imperial supervisor was immediately charged with guilt as soon as he was defeated!For a long time, wouldn't it be chilling!This Daming is afraid it will be over! "

This had nothing to do with Shen Shu, but when he heard that Xiucai thought of Xiong Wencan from the murder case of Zeng Xian in the Jiajing Dynasty, he suddenly thought something was wrong, and quickly looked at Zheng Hongkui from the corner of his eyes, lest the Zheng family think too much.

Three days ago, when Shen Shuren first crossed over, there was no news of Xiong Wencan being imprisoned from Suzhou, but as time went by, the situation was obviously getting worse day by day.

And Zheng Hongkui's expression really changed slightly, the corners of his mouth twitched, but he quickly returned to normal, obviously he knew the trick.

Shen Shuren was suffering from pretending that he didn't understand, so he couldn't persuade himself. In a hurry, he had to quietly kick his cousin Zhang Huangyan under the table and give him a look, implying that he would stop those talents who were spraying downstairs.

Zhang Huangyan was stunned for a moment. Although he didn't understand which game the Shen family was playing, he was very intelligent.In addition, I have been taken care of just now, and I want to help hold Zheng Hongkui.

So he pondered for a while, and realized that the topics that Shen Shuren wanted to stop were mostly related to the Zheng family.

So Zhang Huangyan stood up and pleaded guilty: "Brother Zheng, I can't listen to people discussing the state and politics, and I can't help but argue with people. You talk, I'll go down and see."

Shen Shuren also took advantage of the situation: "In that case, we still have something to go to the pier, why don't we just come here today."

Zhang Huangyan said cooperatively: "Alright, then I won't give it away. If you have time in the future, you can move around more."

However, it was too late. Zheng Hongkui was already attracted by the discussions of the scholars, and said in a cold tone, "No hurry, we have been chatting for so long, it's not a little bit of work, it's good to hear what they have to say."

Shen Shuren was helpless, in order to maintain his character, he had to keep his mouth shut and watch the show, leaving his cousin to deal with those talents.

The only thing he can do is to hold Zheng Hongkui: "Since Uncle Shi is interested, it doesn't matter if he listens, but if I don't know anything, I won't be ashamed."

Zheng Hongkui was not literate either, and was impatient to drop his book bag with the scholars. This arrangement was exactly what he wanted, so he followed Shen Shuren to watch the play on the second floor.

After Zhang Huangyan went downstairs, he bowed his hands to the scholar who had just talked eloquently: "In Yuyao, Zhang Huangyan, dare to ask Xiongtai Gao's name? Xiongtai's eloquent talk just now, but the younger brother is a little puzzled, and he still needs to ask for advice."

The scholar was about 25 or [-] years old, and he was also waiting for the boat here.Seeing that Zhang Huangyan was the host of today's treat, he wasn't rude, he just cupped his hands indifferently:
"Kunshan Guizhuang! I don't dare to give advice! I thought that although Xiong Wencan was reckless and gullible, Zhang Xianzhong's fraudulent surrender was over a year old. During this period, the court did not take any action to remedy it. Is this Xiong Wencan's fault alone? Wrong, if you don't do it well, and if you don't give the opportunity to make meritorious crimes, who will dare to make suggestions for the court in the future?"

After listening to Zhang Huangyan quietly, he retorted casually: "Brother Gui's statement is not good. The thieves such as Li and Zhang are capricious, and the world knows it. In the seven years of Chongzhen, Chen Qiyu in Shaanxi suffered this loss. The carriage gorge was Jedi, and then there were repeated encounters. Xiong Wencan has learned from the past, and he has repeated the same mistakes.

Then Guizhuang listened to him taking out Chen Qiyu's lessons, but he didn't think how to refute for a while, and was temporarily speechless.

However, there is another scholar next to him, who looks similar in age and has a clear appearance, but he took over the conversation and talked eloquently:

"Brother Zhang Xian's words are quite inspiring. Gu Jiang is in Kunshan. I think that even if Xiong Wencan deserves what he deserves, the court's disposal is really not a strategy for the country."

Zhang Huangyan had obviously heard of the other party's name, and bowed his hands in return: "It turned out to be Brother Tinglin, I just happened to ask Brother Tinglin for advice."

Gu Jiang was not polite, and analyzed bluntly: "Xiong Wencan has mistaken the country, there is no doubt. But if you look carefully, it is not difficult to find that he has successfully recruited seven or eight thieves in the past two years.

But now, Zhang Xianzhong is the only one who has fallen back and forth, and the other thieves still want to be safe from the beginning.This shows that Xiong Wencan's vision is at least seven or eight points accurate. "

Zhang Huangyan frowned and corrected: "What Brother Tinglin said doesn't seem to be in line with the facts, right? The imperial court newspaper clearly stated that Luo Rucai, the third battalion in Junzhou, and the fifth battalion in Gezuo were all reversed, and Hubei, Henan, and Anhui were all corrupted. How can you say that only Zhang Xianzhong died without repenting?"

However, Gu Jiang shook his head, he had the ability to remember his memories, and he was quite sure: "You didn't read the Di newspaper carefully, Yuan Wenming clearly wrote 'Xianzhong rebels in Gucheng, robbed Rucai in Fangxian, so nine The camp is against each other'.

See the problem?Luo Rucai is indeed the opposite, but there is a difference in succession and cause and effect, and the key lies in the word "robbery".If the court is clear and bright, and will not rush into anger and suspicion, those thieves will not necessarily think 'would the court be suspicious of me as well' because of 'other thieves who have been appeased with me have relapsed', and finally suspect each other , was forced to reverse.

From this point of view, the imperial court was so eager to take down Xiong Wencan, did it increase the fear of other thieves who were ordered by Xiong Wencan?
When Zhang Xianzhong robbed Luo Rucai and robbed the five left camps, I don't know what coercive words he said.But with common sense, most of the above is the truth.That's why I said that the recklessness of the imperial court contributed to the thieves. "

When Zhang Huangyan heard this, he didn't know how to refute it for a while, and even his cousin hinted at his mission, but he couldn't care about it for the time being.

After thinking about it, he could only express his admiration for Gu Jiang's high opinion for the time being, and he wanted to invite him to have a few drinks, close the door, and then ask for advice.

And Shen Shuren, who was leaning against the railing on the second floor, was in a sinking mood.

When he saw Zhang Huangyan stop Guizhuang just now, he still felt that the situation was controllable, mainly because he had never heard of an unknown person like Guizhuang.

But after Gu Jiang appeared on the stage and refuted Zhang Huangyan, Shen Shuren immediately screamed that something was wrong.

He could tell that this Gu Jiang was very knowledgeable and dialectical, so he was not an easy-going person.

More importantly, this is a great philosopher who has been famous in history - Gu Jiang is Gu Yanwu!
Shen Shuren's forehead was slightly sweaty, fearing that the situation would get completely out of control.

And Zheng Hongkui, who was next to him, also had an increasingly ugly expression, the last look of a broken jar, and suddenly opened his mouth to criticize: "This scholar downstairs is knowledgeable, the court is not to kill the donkey and accompany the king like a tiger. What!"

Speaking of this, Shen Shu's mind turned around, his brain quickly calculated, and finally he came to his senses.

He knew that it would be too fake to continue pretending to be a fool, so he put on an appearance that he just realized:
"Why is Uncle Shi so unfair to Xiong Wencan? Ah! Come to think of it, the Zheng family seems to have been recruited by Xiong Wencan back then, right? No wonder, seeing the benefactor in trouble is not fair, but it is also righteous."

Zheng Hongkui was taken aback for a moment.

If Shen Shuren continued to act stupid just now, then he should be more alert to the Shen family.

However, Shen Shuren suddenly revealed the words completely, but he was a little unsure.Still being Shen Shuren is really ignorant and really slow to respond.

He adjusted his expression, and seemed to be stroking his steel needles and whiskers arrogantly, and laughed loudly: "It was seen by my nephew, yes, our Zheng family was also ordered by the governor of the bear, so there is some righteous indignation."

Shen Shuren rolled his eyes, pretending to have just thought of it, and exclaimed in a low voice: "Since you are also being courted by Xiong Wencan, then according to what Mr. Gu said, you should be careful recently, be cautious and humble, so as not to be suspected by the court.

By the way, a few days ago, my little nephew, I read the letter from the Imperial Court inviting me to study in Nanjing. It also invited Governor Zhu's nephew and nephew Zheng Sen.I don't know how you arranged your nephew's studies?

I have already been ill, and if my nephew delays it any longer, it will not look good on the face of the Imperial College.Alas, I originally wanted to be a classmate with Brother Zheng Xian, but unfortunately I couldn't let go of the women in Suzhou. "

Zheng Hongkui was beaten so frankly, but he couldn't get down the steps, so he gritted his teeth and said, "How is it possible, my nephew has been practicing martial arts since he was a child, and his body is very healthy. I heard that his family has arranged for him to go north on the same day. Soil and water, before going to Nanjing, it is estimated that I will stay in Suzhou for a few days to get used to it. When that time comes, I will have to move around a lot with my nephew.”

Shen Shuren cupped his hands: "It should be, and I can't ask for it."

After some temptation to try to see the poor, everyone simply opened up, and forced the Zheng family to express their stance, and would not directly reject the court's call.

Shen Shuren also breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't expect to turn harm into profit. Taking advantage of Gu Yanwu's opportunity to refute his cousin Zhang Huangyan, he made things clear and moved things forward a step.

The follow-up arrangements were also logical. The episode of "Ming Feng Ji" on the stage had already been sung. Zheng Hongkui and Shen Shuren got into the car one after another and went straight to the pier.

Before going out, Shen Shuren also said goodbye to Zhang Huangyan, and then got to know each other with Guizhuang and Gu Yanwu, who were discussing with Zhang Huangyan, and said a few words of his own.

Gu Yanwu's eyes lit up when he heard it, saying that he must ask for advice next time he has the opportunity.

……

After getting in the car, it didn't take long to arrive at the pier.The follow-up plan finally went well.

As soon as Shen Shuren got out of the car, he summoned the captain of a Shen family passenger ship, and gave him the letter in a grand manner, and asked him to take it to Nanjing.

And the captain of the Shen family also said with an embarrassed expression that he inspected before the voyage today and just found that the process of applying hemp and paulownia oil during the last maintenance was not done properly. sailing day.

Shen Shuren pretended to be angry and reproached: "How can I make such a mistake? Well, fortunately, I'm not in a hurry. You can take it to Nanjing after setting sail in two days."

Zheng Hongkui was on the side, his eyes lit up after hearing this, and he took the initiative to take care of it: "Hey, it's not a big deal, it's just that we need to drop by a boat to send a letter, we have a boat to Nanjing today, nephew, why don't you let yours go? Let the messenger take our ship."

Shen Shuren put on a face-saving expression: "Why are you embarrassed? Our Shen family is also a big owner of hundreds of sea ships. In fact, there are at least five or six large ships at the Liujiagang wharf every day. Today is really unfortunate, Just yesterday, a large number of ships loaded Su Embroidery and set sail. In fact, there will be other ships coming back tomorrow."

Zheng Hongkui raised his hand and pressed it with a seemingly kind smile: "I know, why should my nephew be so careless, no one doesn't believe that you have a lot of boats in the Shen family, it's just a letter, it's a lot of work."

Only then did Shen Shuren return to his "self-esteem satisfied": "If that's the case, then there's work."

Having said that, he let the messenger board the Zheng family's boat.

Everything that follows is naturally logical.After the letter arrived on the Zheng family boat, it was dismantled and read, and the content was indeed Shen Tingyang asking Shen Shuren for a long vacation.

He said that he was not in good health, and he would not be able to get naturalization in the Imperial College before this year's township examination.After missing the schedule, there is no difference in enrolling in the next three years anyway, so there is no need to hurry.

Of course, Zheng Hongkui and even the Zheng family in Fujian will not know all this news immediately, because the Zheng family ship will have to wait for the Zheng family ship to arrive in Nanjing and then return to Suzhou to bring this news back. a few days.

On the other hand, it was confirmed that the Shen family cooperated in this way, and Zheng Hongkui also reported the situation of the Shen family overnight, and wrote down some of his own knowledge, thoughts, and rumors.

It is suggested that the eldest brother Zheng Zhilong send his eldest nephew Zheng Sen to Suzhou as soon as possible, so as to show a sincere attitude to cooperate with the court and give the court some face.

He didn't know that what he saw and heard was what Shen Shuren wanted him to see and hear.

(End of this chapter)