Guo Chuzi introduced the Xiang people to the family members of the mansion, and then placed him in a wing to stay temporarily. Guo Chuzi also wanted him to go to the dyeing workshop. Wen Zhong understood his eagerness, but still advised: "If Brother Guo urgently orders Sixing to go to the dyeing workshop now, then everyone will suspect that Brother Guo's time is running out, and panic will spread. , it will be difficult to handle. Stabilizing the situation is the most important thing now, so this matter will be postponed." Guo Chuzi gave up.
Wen Zhong returned to the gambling house and heard that Guan Qi was back, so he ordered him to tell Chen Tongpao the news.
"Master Chen, that's a good thing." Guan Qi and Chen Tongpao said, "I went to Nanjing alone and didn't know the situation there, but I heard that there was an actor named Cai Xianqing who was Wan Heshun's confidant, so I went there Worship him; who would have thought that he actually took my advice and said that he wanted to discuss it with Magistrate Ye, so I waited for a few days, and he came over happily and said, 'It's done.'"
There was no trace of joy on Tongpao Chen's face, he just said: "Master Guan Qi, as shopkeeper Wen, has really worked hard for me to do this. I will go to the Yamen immediately to find the prefect and prepare to go to Nanjing. You go back stop."
This new government office is a small courtyard house, surrounded by old stone walls, and the roof is covered with a layer of dirt. Only the doors and windows are newly built, and the style is not as good as before. Tongpao Chen opened the door, entered the study, and saluted the prefect.
"Chen Tongzhi, what can you do?"
"Sir," Chen Tongpao said, "the governor has Yangzhou in his hands. The Liu Party has advanced too far, and I am worried about you."
The magistrate held his forehead and sighed sadly.
"The lower official has a friend who is a high-ranking official in Nanjing... I think it is better to make friends with thousands of parties to limit the governor's ambitions."
"Are you going?" The prefect seemed reluctant.
Chen Tongpao smiled and said: "I'm afraid you won't be worried if someone else doesn't do it. Naturally, I have to go down."
The prefect looked him up and down: "Now is the time for you to take responsibility. You should stay in Jiangdu to defend against powerful enemies. Why go to Nanjing?"
"If your Excellency thinks so, then I won't force you...but there is still a clever idea."
"tell me the story."
"The position of Chief Envoy is now vacant, and the imperial court has not expressed this yet. The old scholar and political leader has been dissatisfied with Liu's party for a long time. He can ask him to write a letter to send the Chief Envoy to take up the post. In that case, Liu Zhennian will be distracted by this. In fact, Kuang Chang should also appease the local area and manage the gentry, so that the chief minister can take office smoothly and dare not make any big moves. Taking advantage of the time when he has no time to expand his power, the prefect should use the power of the capital to unite with other states and counties to prevent them from defeating them one by one. , then even though the governor has the power over the province, he cannot save the Liu Party from being trapped."
The prefect was deeply convinced and clapped his hands and said: "Wonderful! This delaying strategy can be used." He then wrote a letter and sent the Yamen servant to ride a express horse to deliver it to the Academic Affairs Office. According to his own opinion, the academic administration reported that "the Chief Secretary of Jiangsu Province still lacks a chief executive, and it is advisable to send someone to fill the post", waiting for the court's decision to reply.
Guo Xiangren served his brother day and night, but Guo Chuzi's illness had become serious and difficult to recover from. After meeting Xiangren, he prepared himself to die. During this period, he spoke a lot to the people in Hunan. He said: "Since we were driven out of Nanjing after playing house, I have been careful to support this dyeing business without any negligence. Although shopkeeper Wen is a good man of faith, After all, he is not one of his own, so don’t rely on him in everything, it’s better to be careful.”
The people in Hunan asked him again about his methods of managing the dye house. Guo Chuzi shook his head: "In this industry, you have to work hard, and you only need to be decisive. You don't have to follow my methods. But I want you to remember a few things: First, if this businessman keeps doing it, my family will not be able to hold it up. Don't miss the opportunity to become an official; 2. Chen Tongzhi must help him. This man is very shrewd. If you follow him, you will have an infinite career; 3. My brother's life is not long, I only hope that the day when the people of Hunan become successful , come back and worship my spirit, your heart will be satisfied.”
The Xiang man hurriedly kowtowed and gritted his teeth firmly: "Brother, I will definitely remember what I said! In the future, I will teach you how to stand upright in the world, so you can rest assured."
Wen Zhong had been working in the gambling house all day, and at night he was still looking at the accounts by his bedside, when suddenly a servant from the palace came quietly. He put on his coat and asked urgently: "How are you doing?"
The slave just shed a few tears and choked up: "Master, he... Master, he is about to die!"
Wen Zhong's eyes were as big as copper bells. He pushed the slave away recklessly, took two steps at a time, hurried downstairs, and yelled at the guys: "Don't sleep! Get up! Before I die, I will We have to meet him no matter what!"
The guys were woken up, jumped out of bed, and rubbed their eyes drowsily: "This is not a curfew..."
Wen Zhong couldn't hold his breath, so he immediately flicked his arm and gave him a crisp slap in the face.
"When did this happen? You're so long-winded, go get your horses ready!"
The waiter covered his cheek. He didn't have time to put on his shoes, so he went into the stable barefoot and brought in a black horse.
"Light the lantern!"
Wen Zhong got on his horse, looked at the slow-moving man, and rubbed the bridle so hard that his palms almost burst into flames.
"who?"
When Wen Zhong walked to the door of the mansion, two or three servants stopped him.
"Shopkeeper Wen Zhong." He responded impatiently.
"The master is in critical condition now, no one else is allowed in!"
Wen Zhong glanced at them, and without saying a word, he kicked open the door and rushed into the house.
"Brother Guo! Brother Guo!"
When he heard the cry of the virgin nearby, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly pushed open the door to the bedroom with his elbow, still stumbling under his feet, and threw himself in front of the bed with all his strength.
On the other side of the bed was Guo Chuzi's daughter-in-law, who was crying so hard that her face was withered and yellow.
"Where are the people from Hunan?" he asked, suppressing his grief.
"Xiandi...xian..."
Guo Chuzi shook his head and woke up again, coughing feebly.
Wenzhong lowered his head and whispered, "It's me."
"Shopkeeper Wen, the success or failure of our family is all in your hands... take care of it! Take care of it!" Guo Chuzi raised his eyelids drowsily and saw the Xiang people appearing behind Wen Zhong, and smiled at this moment. Then, he stopped struggling and let himself fall asleep.
Wen Zhong looked at him again. His face turned pale and his pupils lost the light, but his direction was fixed on Xiang Ren. Xiangren suddenly collapsed to the ground and stared blankly at the bed.
Wen Zhong didn't react at all, but the past situation between the two of them suddenly flashed in his mind, making his nose sore, like a big tide coming up. Wen Zhong lay on the bed and cried loudly, with tears pouring down his face. Until the end, he was close to losing his voice.
The people in Guoxiang were still stunned, their tears gradually drying up, then they got up and went to comfort Wen Zhong: "Brother Wen, my brother is gone and cannot be saved. He trusted you so much. Just remember his kindness." …”
Wen Zhong shed tears and stood up in pain.
