Outside the city of Qujing Prefecture, on the bank of the Nanpan River, there is a dilapidated and large temple called Bailian Temple. It was probably glorious for a while when the world was peaceful tomorrow, but after experiencing the chaos of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, this temple has been dilapidated. Except for a few temples and monks' rooms, it is still rickety. Some of the buildings were either overheated or simply collapsed. Among the ruins, bullet holes and broken arrows pierced into the walls can be found from time to time.
Although the temple is dilapidated, it has not been closed down. There are still a few monks and nuns who came from unknown places to survive the last round of chaos and preserve this place of incense for the Buddha. However, it was a bleak operation, struggling to support itself, and sometimes it was necessary to provide some food, food, and accommodation for merchants traveling on both sides of the Nanpan River to earn a little money to subsidize their lives.
But now that the country's vitality is far from being restored, how many merchants can there be in Yunnan and Guizhou, which is located in the southwest corner? Therefore, the restaurant, food, and accommodation business in this dilapidated temple is also bleak, and it is rare for it to open up again.
Today, this dilapidated temple seemed to have a big customer coming, but this big customer had no interest in burning incense and worshiping Buddha. He didn't even bother to enter the temple. Instead, he set up a tent outside the temple facing the Nanpan River.
The monks and nuns of Bailian Temple and the servants of this big patron were busy setting up the stove outside the curtain, setting up the kitchen, and cooking chicken, duck and fish... Of course, Buddhism The middle man does not kill. Although the chickens, ducks, and pigs were all raised in Bailian Temple, and the fish were caught by the monks of Bailian Temple this morning, the servants of the patron's family were responsible for the killing.
After the killing, if you donate some sesame oil money, a great monk will come and recite sutras for salvation, ensuring that the sin of killing is gone.
This attitude of serving the common people is truly unparalleled.
On the official road next to the ferry on the west bank of Nanpanjiang River, there was a long line of carriages and horses parked, as well as guards from the Pingxi Palace vassal army wearing blue coats and robes and red tassel hats. These royal guards, coachmen, horsemen and even the servants who followed them were also entertained with wine and meat in Bailian Temple. Broken tables and benches were set up next to the official road, and they gathered in groups to eat and drink.
It seems that some important officials from Pingxi Palace are traveling far away today and they use this place to buy wine for a farewell party.
There were only a few people sitting inside the curtain, and in the middle were Wang Fuchen, Wu Guogui and Liu Xuanchu, all wearing melon-skin hats and gowns. Daheng was accompanied by Lu Zhifu from Qujing Prefecture. This was a fat man in his thirties, a native of Yunnan, and a rich man whose family owned a mine. He had gained fame and money and became the prefect through the Western Election.
As a civil servant with a high reputation in the Western Civil Service, the prefect was the ceiling, but Fatty Lu refused to give up and wanted to move up a level. So I hooked up with Wang Fuchen, who had a background in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and wanted to use Wang Fuchen's ladder to climb up. Today's farewell banquet was arranged by him.
At this moment, he was chatting and joking with Wang Fuchen, Wu Guogui, and Liu Xuanchu, while his little eyes were wandering around, looking for Wang Fuchen's second son Wang Zhongxiao... He had found out clearly that this boy was the King of Pingxi. Everyone praises the capable young man. The prince is going to recommend him to Grand Master Aobai Ao, so he will definitely be able to choose the imperial guard this time when he goes to Beijing. Now is the time to spend money!
But where did Wang Zhongxiao go? Why is there no one there? Why don't you give your money to his father, Wang Fuchen? Thinking of this, Fatty Lu took out three envelopes, two of which contained two thousand taels of silver notes each. One was for Wu Guogui, and the other was for Wang Zhongxiao as a Sichuan capital. There was also an envelope containing five hundred taels of silver notes, which was given to Liu Xuanchu.
When Wang Fuchen was collecting money on behalf of his son, Wang Zhongxiao was of course reluctant to say goodbye to Wu Xiaotuo... According to his thoughts, he actually wanted to abduct Xiaotu directly. It's a pity that his thoughts seemed to be seen through by the two good brothers Wu Shicong and Wu Shijue. So what was originally a good thing for a man and a woman to meet in an ancient temple was replaced by such a pair of good brothers. Not only was Wang Zhongxiao unable to abduct a good girl, he was also inconvenient to use his hands and feet.
With no other choice, Wang Zhongxiao had no choice but to have a table of 60% vegetarian dishes set up in a dilapidated main hall to say goodbye to Wu Shicong, Wu Shijue and Wu Xiaotu - 60% vegetarian, rounded up to 100% vegetarian!
In addition, the four of them drank tea instead of wine and said goodbye while drinking Pu'er.
"Xiao Tu, don't worry. I will definitely come to Yunnan to marry you in five years at most. I will definitely become a high official by then!"
The one who patted his chest and made a five-year agreement with Wu Xiaotuo was of course the infatuated man, the last minister of the Qing Dynasty, and the righteous Wang Shikai. He had already calculated that this year was 1668 in the Western calendar, and five years later it would be 1673 in the Western calendar. This was the year Wu Sangui rebelled against the Qing Dynasty. By then he would have probably won the trust of Kang Mazi, the young hero of the Qing Dynasty, and he might even become Lord Wei, no, Lord Wang.
At that time, Wu Xiaotuo was taken in privately, so that the Wang and Wu families were both brothers and in-laws, and then Wang Zhongxiao could be the final minister of the Qing Dynasty who lived up to the title of "Shikai"!
He must be as loyal as Shikai!
"It will take five years..." When Wu Xiaotuo heard this, his little mouth was so high that he could hang a small bottle on it.
Xiao Tu is fifteen years old this year, and will be twenty in five years.
In this day and age, twenty years old is almost as old as an old girl!
Wang Zhongxiao glanced at Wu Xiaotuo. Xiaotuo was so wronged that she almost cried. She was so pitiful that he couldn't help but want to abduct her away.
"Xiao Tu, Shi Kai must first become a high official and raise the flag before I can marry you." Wu Shicong is really a considerate and good brother. At this moment, without waiting for Wang Zhongxiao to kidnap his sister, I explained the reason for him first, "Otherwise, if Shikai married you as Baoyi, wouldn't you also be Baoyi Baoyi's Han army? Baoyi's wife and daughter have to serve the master... "
"What? Serve the master?" Xiao Tuo looked at Wang Zhongxiao in surprise.
Wang Zhongxiao said: "That's right, our master of Zhengbai Banner is still a big man with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks. He is so ugly!"
While Wang Zhongxiao was talking, he thought to himself: That Mazi's surname is probably Kang, and his name is Kang Mazi... But he is so lustful, if he sees the little tug, he will definitely take it as his own!
Wu Xiaotuo stuck out his tongue, with a look of disgust on his face, "I am a chaste and loyal woman, the master of Zhengbaiqi, don't even think about touching me!"
Wu Shicong and Wu Shijue were stunned by Wang Zhongxiao's words. They knew that the flag owner of the Zhengbai Banner was the young Emperor Kangxi... Could this loyal minister say that the emperor was a "sharp-mouthed monkey-cheeked pimp"? Is it possible that you, Wang Shikai, have the same thoughts of rebellion as us?
Wang Zhongxiao knew that he had said something that a loyal minister should not say, so he quickly changed the subject and said: "Xiao Tu, don't worry, my father has a way to become a bachelor of Hongwen Academy. As long as the money is in place, he can become Lan Ling in at most one year." Guards. If I work for another two years, I will definitely have a third-class guard. By then, my father will have already established himself as an admiral. It will not be difficult to ask someone to carry the flag..."
"One year plus two years is three years... As promised, it will be three years!" Xiaotuo did not let Wang Zhongxiao continue, but counted on his fingers, and his fair and tender face became clear. It became pink and puffy with a smile. It looked so delicious that Wang Zhongxiao couldn't wait to take a bite.
Just when Wang Zhongxiao was thinking of finding a reason to drive Wu Shicong and Wu Shijue away, Master Yu suddenly walked in from outside in a hurry. Seeing Wang Zhongxiao still eating and drinking with Wu Shijue, Wu Shicong and Wu Xiaotuo, he immediately He hurriedly said to him: "Second Young Master, it's almost time. Master and Third Master Wu have already closed the stall. We have to set off."
"Okay!" Wang Zhongxiao stood up and raised his hands towards Wu Shicong and Wu Shijue: "Eldest brother and third brother, let's stop here today. It's time for me to set off... See you later!"
Wu Shicong smiled and clasped his fists: "Second brother, I wish you can become a high-ranking official soon and show your ambitions!"
Wu Shijue also raised his hand and said: "Second brother, you are really capable. In a few years, you will definitely be able to become a staff general. In the future, you will be a commander-in-chief and an admiral. Let's serve the Qing Dynasty together!" "
Wang Zhongxiao almost laughed out loud after hearing Wu Shijue's words. Wu Shijue was Wu Guogui's son, and he was still loyal to the Qing Dynasty? It’s almost the end of the day!
At this time, Wu Xiaotuo also stood up and bowed to Wang Zhongxiao, "Brother Shikai, let's say goodbye...you, don't forget today's appointment."
Wang Zhongxiao said seriously: "Xiao Tu, I, Wang Shikai, will definitely live up to my expectations!"
Xiao Tu took out another handkerchief embroidered with a pair of fat black swans and handed it to Wang Zhongxiao, "Brother Shikai, this is the mandarin duck handkerchief embroidered by Xiao Tu. You can take it with you to Beijing. Take it out and look at it when you miss Xiao Tu." one look."
Wang Zhongxiao took the handkerchief, pondered for a moment, and said: "Xiao Tu, actually I have also prepared a farewell gift for you. It is a poem called "Farewell"."
"Ci?" Xiao Tu was stunned, "Brother Shikai, can you still compose lyrics? Can you read it and listen to it?"
Wang Zhongxiao nodded, then brewed his emotions for a while, opened his throat, and sang with his rather rich voice with a bit of Henan accent: "Outside the pavilion, beside the ancient road, the green grass stretches to the sky. The evening wind blows the willow flute, The setting sun is outside the mountains. At the end of the sky, at the corner of the earth, only a few close friends are left. A ladle of wine will wipe out all the fun, don’t sleep in the cold tonight..."
