Emperor Yongzheng: Eagle Bow Sirius

Chapter 96
Eleven mule carts rolled on the Loess Plateau in western Shaanxi.The violent northwest wind whipped up a whirlwind, carrying sand and soil, chasing and playing with each other recklessly in the vast wilderness, sometimes converging on the loess road, wrapping the carts and cavalry sergeants guarding the guard of honor in the whirling yellow mist, blowing them to death. People can't open their eyes, can't open their mouths, can't breathe, dozens of embroidered dragon flags with "Year of the Great General Conquering the West" written on them are swaying wildly, sometimes tilting southward and eastward, in the howling wind like a tearing silk Hunting sound.The monotonous and dull sound of horseshoes making the same sound on the hard frozen soil makes people drowsy. Only occasionally when they step on the broken ice, or the wheels run over the small glacier, the small chirp can be heard. Entering the carriage, only a little bit of life was brought in, and then everything returned to the original.

It was the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of Yongzheng, and it had been eleven days since Nian Gengyao left Beijing to return to Daying in Qinghai, but he seemed to have aged [-] years.I don't know whether it's because of the insomnia all night or the lack of water along the way and the inconvenience of bathing. Nian Gengyao's gray hair is a little disheveled, his wrinkled eye circles are also dark, and his deep eyes are melancholy and dazed, as if he doesn't think about anything. Through the gap of the canopy, I stared blankly at the pale yellow sky outside and the white thatch and weeds that stretched directly to the horizon.Sang Cheng Ding was sitting opposite to the same car. Seeing Nian Gengyao licking his lips, he expected to be thirsty. He leaned over from under the table and took out a water hyacinth wrapped in a sheepskin bag, poured a bowl, and said softly: "Junmen, just use it." A little bit. It’s like this all the way from Baoji to Tianshui. Since you left Beijing, you’ve been like this all day long, so it’s better if you have something on your mind.”

"I don't want to drink it, brother Sang, you can drink it." Nian Gengyao shook his head, let out a long sigh of relief as if he was going to be full of depression, leaned back halfway on the tiger skin cushion in the back, and laughed at himself He smiled and said: "I have something on my mind, and I won't hide it from you. I'm afraid the emperor has changed his mind about me. I don't know what I did wrong, and what should I do next." Sang Chengding held the bowl The water splashed a little, and he was stunned and said: "Isn't it? This time I saw you off very politely. You are reporting work this time, so you can't compare with the last time-leaving Beijing in eight sedan chairs, Ma Zhongtang and Zhang Zhongtang personally Send it to Luhe Station, even the governor and general don't have such a good reputation..." Nian Gengyao sighed: "You comfort me, how could I not know? I will talk about the situation inside slowly after I get back. Ten guards insist on taking the same car as me, is it like this in the past? The warmth and warmth of the officials along the way are also very different from before, you should experience it!"

Sang Chengding stopped talking, holding the bowl in a daze, and sighed after a long while: "Don't talk about leaving Beijing, I felt it when I entered Beijing. General, what are you going to do?" Nian Gengyao waved his hand slightly, closed his eyes Eyes closed: "Yeah, the future is inauspicious, so you have to think about it..."

Yongzheng summoned him three times in Beijing, and they were all very polite and accommodating.For the first time, I mainly heard Nian Gengyao's report about the military fortification on the western front and the wintering of the camp. Nian Gengyao talked for two full hours. Don't interrupt, Nian Gengyao emphasized the reasons why the army could not withdraw. Yongzheng also nodded frequently, and said with a smile: "The first emperor was the emperor on horseback, and I am the emperor on the desk. Zhang Tingyu doesn't understand military affairs. This is all with you." Let's discuss! If that's the case, then there will be no transfer of soldiers, and there will always be a solution for the food and grass issue."

"Young worker, you are not smart enough." The second interview was in the Xinuang Pavilion of Qianqing Palace. Yongzheng smiled and talked as soon as they met, and ordered Gao Wuyong to bring ginseng soup to Nian Gengyao. Then he said to the dazed Nian Gengyao : "The last time we met, when we broke up, I asked you repeatedly to manage the army well and ignore him in the government affairs of various places. Why do you still want to interfere?" How did I reply at that time?It seems to say that "the minister does not dare to be indecent."Yongzheng also smiled, but his words were astonishing: "Your brother Nian Xiyao took your letter in Guangdong and told Kong Yuli about the unjust case of Ling Mou's nine murders. Don't you know Kong Yuli? Three points for him! Fortunately, what he handed over was a secret document, so if I approve it, I don’t want to hurt you, and he wants to make it clear that the whole world will know about it, how can I protect you?”… That’s it. It was dinner again, chatting and laughing for a while, Yongzheng personally sent it to the entrance of Qianqing Palace, and when he stood on the altar to bid farewell, he said: "Don't worry about Xiyao's matter. The same sentence, General, is to manage In the army, the civil affairs are a mess of personnel affairs, and if you can't beat the weasels, you will be in a commotion, why bother?"

... The car was bumped by the ridge on the loess road, Nian Gengyao was startled for a moment, and recalled the third time he had seen Yongzheng. "I have to send you back to suffer again, and I can't bear it." Yongzheng's eyes were full of melancholy, "But it won't be long. If there is no war next year, I will transfer you back. If you like to manage the army, you can manage the army. If you want to change You are a Confucian general, the reincarnated Marquis of Wu!" Nian Gengyao thanked him without hesitation, and said, "Why do you dare to be a minister? The only thing I have to do is to die. The remnants of Luo Bu must be wiped out. , subdue Cering Allah Butan, and repay the master's kindness!"... At that time, in the imperial garden, the red and green withered trees, Yongzheng strolled and looked around, and said with a calm smile: "This is still Kong Ming's words. But , the credit cannot be earned by one person, and others will have no chance, so you will make more enemies. This is also what I mean by fulfilling your name. Why don't you ask Yue Zhongqi to try it, and he will know how you got a duke like you It's over." When parting, Yong was patting Nian Gengyao's shoulder at the gate of the imperial garden and said, "Don't think wildly, I trust you. However, I hope you will be a pure minister. A pure minister is like Zhuge Wuhou through the ages, How many people in Yue Fei's generation can you have? Take care of yourself, don't listen to gossip, and don't be afraid when you hear gossip, who in this world doesn't listen to gossip? If you hear gossip, you will get angry, become suspicious and fearful, so it's okay?" Man: "Bring up the palanquin and take my Marquis Wu out!"

"Marquis Wu——Adou!" Nian Gengyao opened his eyes, sat up straight, and took a sip of water as if he had realized something. His messy thoughts finally came to one place: only by grasping the hundred thousand elites in his hands In the army, "A Dou" did not dare to kill "Wuhou"!The reason why Yongzheng promised "not to transfer a single soldier" is not that he didn't want to, but that he didn't dare-this is the soldier that my Nian Gengyao used to annoy these brothers who rolled out of the yellow sand and green bloody battlefield. Anything can be done, and no one has the ability to suppress them and appease them.Nian Gengyao even thought that during his stay in Beijing for nearly forty days, Zhang Tingyu had secretly consulted how many governors and generals for advice, and had no choice but to let the tiger go back to the mountain as a trick to catch him.Thinking about it, the corners of his mouth couldn't help lifting slightly, revealing a bleak smile: With a soldier in his hand, the reason is unclear, it's Master Jiu, so why isn't he the one who can be protected?Nian Gengyao took a heavy breath.

But Nian Gengyao soon realized that he was completely wrong.After driving through Lanzhou and entering Yanguo Gorge, you will see a large area of ​​military camps next to the post road sheltered from the wind, all kinds of new Mongolian felt bags, and a large number of grain, dried vegetables, and charcoal vehicles are transported westward along the post road.He is the supreme commander who controls the troops from all walks of life, but he doesn't know that there is such a huge army stationed here!That day, Nian Gengyao was supposed to rush to the Heqiao post to rest. In order to find out what was going on, Nian Gengyao specially ordered the car and sedan to unload the mules at the Honggu Temple in advance.He didn't expect these ten guards to do anything for him anymore, so he ordered Sang Chengding to go to the town to inquire.As soon as he entered the room at the post station, he saw Mu Xiang'a rushing in with a wine gourd in one hand and a horse whip in the other. He laughed and said, "I'm so numb from sitting in a car, but it's better to ride a horse! The wine brought by the general?" Give us a gourd!" With a bow, he sat down on the edge of the kang and asked, "Why are you resting here tonight? It would be nice to go to the Heqiao station! I told the people at the front station to burn more. Water, I want to take a quick bath!"

"I'm the coach, and I have my reasons for saying where to station the horse." Nian Gengyao said coldly, "I don't know who taught you to be so presumptuous, but you must know that there are rules in my three-foot forbidden area—— Throw away the horse whip, wine gourd, and fasten your buttons! Otherwise, I will ask my soldiers to slap you in the face!" Mu Xiangah quickly threw away the things in her hands, looked carefully at Nian Gengyao, and said with a smile: "The country is easy to change, and the nature is hard to change. After living in Beijing for a few months, I forgot the rules of the general. Can't I change it? No one taught me-who taught this? But just ask for a drink, how can I commit a crime?" What about your military discipline?" The wine cat probably drank a lot of wine on the way, he was already drunk, he wandered carelessly in Nian Gengyao's room for a few steps, and slapped himself for no reason. Stumbled away.Nian Gengyao was in a state of uncertainty at first, but when he disturbed him, he was even more disturbed. Seeing the soldiers escorting the car come in, he asked angrily, "Has the Sang Zhongjun returned yet?"

Seeing that Nian Gengyao's complexion was not good, Nageshha slapped Qian'er cautiously and said, "I didn't see Sang Junmen under the bid. The yellow box was transferred from Lanzhou General's Yamen, and it was originally going to be sent to Heqiao Station to meet the General." I'm here to rest my horse, so I'll just hand it over." While talking, he brought up a box with a yellow silk cover.Nian Gengyao took it over, took out a key from his waist and put it in the lock spring, and it opened with a soft click.There are two booklets inside, the first one is opened, and there are impressive comments on it:

Go to Tian Wenjing's memorial and take a look. If you really treat me like this, it will be really chilling.I see that what you do in Beijing is still honest, but what is the result when you are outside?When you come to see me now, I feel very perverse. There are many things I don’t like. I don’t know if it’s because of your mental decline, or if it’s because of your high achievements and ambitions?Nian Gengyao was taken aback. Before he could read Tian Wenjing's original booklet, he opened it to read the second booklet, but it was:
I see Hu Qiheng now!You are so stupid!Such a thing as Hu Qiheng, is it that you, Nian Gengyao, recommended the governor?How unreasonable!

"Let's do it so soon!" Nian Gengyao muttered with trembling lips, it seemed to be remorse, it seemed to be a curse, he waved his hand and ordered the sergeant to step back, his legs softened and he sat on the edge of the kang, and then picked up Tian Wenjing's See the original discount.The book has been transcribed, and the handwriting is in regular script.The inscription is startling:

In order to play the big general Nian Gengyao's elder brother who was attached to the party, he took power and messed up the political affairs. When Nian Gengyao entered the pilgrimage, he had a close relationship with Prince Lian and the 48th elder brother Yun, who had seized the throne at that time. Is this what a pure minister should do?" Then he said that the prince was abolished for the second time. , do other secret things, watch the wind and look at the color and choose the way, what do you want to do?" The third article is even more powerful, saying that Nian Gengyao took over the post of General after the Holy Patriarch Yanjia, "I had a secret relationship with the former General Wang After discussing for several days, I spoke to my confidant, "My lord refused to listen to my advice, and insisted on returning to Beijing. Beijing is now a dragon's lake and a tiger's den, and my lord goes back unarmed, what will happen?" Nian Gengyao felt dizzy and lost his mind Then look at the "crime" of meddling in the government affairs of various provinces by doing Weifu without authorization. The paper is full of words like ants crawling faintly and faintly, sitting on the edge of the kang without any pain.Just at this time Sang Chengding came in, seeing Nian Gengyao's appearance, he hurriedly said: "General, what's wrong with you? Are you out of fashion?"

After yelling twice, Nian Gengyao came back to his senses, as if wanting to quench his anger, he drank up the water in the cup in one breath, and said with a sneer, "Look at this book, and then look at the emperor's Zhu Zhu, and said This is 'gossip'! Since it's 'don't listen', why did you pass it on to me so quickly?" Sang Chengding quickly took it, and was startled when he saw the title, and glanced at Nian Gengyao, who was already flushed with anger, Read the booklet without saying a word.Nian Gengyao became very emotional for a while, walking back and forth under the lamp, muttering: "I finally understand and see through! His purpose is to cross rivers, demolish bridges, unload mills and kill donkeys!... Don't think I don't know, He used the third master to punish the elder brother, and when the elder brother was defeated, he punished the third master...Gao Fuer saved his life, and even filled it in a snowdrift to suffocate to death, let alone me?...It's my turn, Give me the words 'unnecessary'! This book—" He stopped suddenly, pointed to the book and said, "I dare say it was written by that cripple. Tian Wenjing doesn't know about those things at all! Only those who don't want to be an official He is the only one who can believe it! This bastard is crippled, mechanically overwhelms the villain, one day I must kill him!" He looked at the dancing candle with his eyes like a hungry wolf caught in a trap, like a ghostly phosphorescent fire. It took half a day to calm down and grind the ink by himself.Sang Chengding knew that he was going to play again, so while spreading the paper, he said in a low voice: "General, take a breather, calm down and finish writing, and then read the transcript." "I know." Nian Gengyao sat cross-legged, moved Shi Cai let out a long sigh and wrote in support of pen and ink:
(End of this chapter)