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Zuo Lanshan was not an upright official. The Ministry of Industry he was in charge of was also an oil-and-water bureau. In recent years, he had gained a lot of income after joining Zhao Junchen. In terms of family wealth, he was among the best among the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.
Therefore, Zuofu is also a luxurious and magnificent mansion, especially the back garden of Zuofu, which is a famous scenic spot in the capital.
It covers an area of nearly ten acres, shaded by lush ancient trees, covered with exotic flowers and precious grasses, dotted with pavilions and waterside pavilions, layered with rockeries and carved corridors, with ingenious structures and red dots and green cuts. It is extremely beautiful.
But in such a beautiful place, there is a huge and ugly iron cage placed in the center, which immediately destroys the overall beauty and looks extremely abrupt and eye-catching.
The length, width and height of the iron cage are about three feet each. It is welded by iron rods and iron mesh. There are also rockeries and trees inside. The interior of the iron cage is divided into two places by the iron mesh, but there are two places respectively: a goshawk and an iron cage. With a crested eagle.
It is well known that Zuo Lanshan likes to raise eagles, and his method of "cooking eagles" is not inferior to professional eagle raisers from Mongolia and Jurchen.
The so-called "hawking" is a method of domesticating hawks, which is extremely cruel.
After the falconer catches the eagle, he will trap it in an iron cage and iron mesh, tie it to the talons with iron chains and iron balls so that it cannot fly, and the falconer will stay nearby and feast. He shouted loudly, constantly arousing the eagle's impatience.
During this period, the eagle keepers will also feed the eagles meat, but the hawks are unruly birds. They will certainly disdain the food that comes to them and will only attack the hawk keepers crazily. But all this is not the case. It was all in vain. Its beak and claws were blocked by the iron net, and in the end it was only injured and bleeding.
After two or three days of confrontation, the eagle's will gradually wore away and it was gradually unable to attack. It just wanted to take a rest, but the eagle keeper kept harassing it with sticks and stones, not giving it any chance to rest.
In this way, the eagle gradually realizes that it is no longer a predator but a prisoner. At this time, its beak and claws are covered with blood scabs, its anger has completely dissipated, and its tired body cannot drag itself. Chains.
On the fourth day, the eagle keepers will recruit some fierce dogs to surround the eagles. The fierce dogs will roar and roar at the eagles, making the eagles feel lonely, helpless, frightened and trembling. This also completely defeats the eagles' unruliness. In nature, there is only collapse and begging for mercy in his eyes.
Eventually, the falconer will lift the eagle out of the iron net, stroke its head, and soothe its emotions. The eagle no longer struggles. It stretches its body and lets the falconer touch it, with gentleness and obedience in its eyes. ; Then the falconer will put the lamb meat in the palm of his hand, and the eagle will no longer resist and eat it in one bite.
This marks that an eagle has survived, but it has also lost its freedom and completely turned into a pet.
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At dusk that day, Zuo Lanshan took Zuo Kuiwen outside the eagle cage.
After seeing Zuolan Mountain, the goshawks and crested eagles spread their wings and sang loudly to welcome their masters.
Zuo Lanshan looked at the two eagles in the iron cage with admiring eyes, then turned to a servant behind him who was responsible for serving the two eagles and asked: "Have these two eagles eaten today?"
The servant quickly replied: "My lord, these two eagles have not fed yet and are waiting for you to do it yourself."
Zuo Lanshan nodded and ordered: "Bring two pieces of mutton. The weight should not exceed three taels. Apply some olives and verbena on the mutton and feed them to the two eagles respectively. After they eat the mutton, then Take away the iron mesh from the compartment in the eagle cage, and then put in a three-pound piece of mutton."
Hearing Zuo Lanshan's instructions, the eagle servant couldn't help but be shocked.
Goshawks and crested eagles are of different species and have different temperaments, and they are both territorial eagles. They always dislike each other in order to compete for favor, so Zuo Lanshan ordered people to cage the eagles with iron nets. Separated into two parts, the two eagles will continue to fight across the iron fence on weekdays.
Now, both eagles have been hungry for a whole day. Three ounces of mutton will only make them hungry further. The olives and verbena smeared on the mutton will arouse the animals' ferocity. Once taken away at this time, The two eagles will definitely fall into an endless bloody fight to fight for the mutton!
After being stunned for a moment, the eagle servant couldn't bear it, but in the end he didn't dare to disobey Zuo Lanshan's order and quickly turned around to prepare.
On the other side, Zuo Kuiwen didn't know the knowledge about raising eagles. Seeing that Zuo Lanshan brought him to the back garden just to watch the eagles, he couldn't help but asked in confusion: "Father, what are you doing? Didn't you bring me here?" Do you want to be reasonable? Why are you just asking me to watch eagles?"
Zuo Lanshan smiled and said: "Be patient and don't be impatient. You will understand after reading."
Soon, the eagle servant had prepared everything and threw two pieces of mutton smeared with olives and verbena into the two ends of the eagle cage. The crested eagle and goshawk also ate the mutton immediately.
Perhaps it was their appetite that was stimulated, or perhaps the olives and verbena had their effect, but the two eagles in the cage quickly became anxious, and both were ready to move, no longer as docile as before.
Then, the iron mesh partition in the middle of the eagle cage was removed, and then another piece of mutton weighing three kilograms was put into the cage.
After the goshawk and crested eagle saw the piece of mutton, they spread their wings and rushed towards it. In the end, the goshawk was faster and got the mutton first, but before it could swallow the mutton, the crested eagle It has already pounced on it.
In this way, the goshawk and the crested eagle began a fierce fight, which became more and more fierce and cruel, and soon turned into an endless fight to the death.
For a time, rapid eagle calls continued to sound, broken eagle feathers fell everywhere, eagle blood kept splattering, and the goshawks and crested eagles suffered more and more injuries.
Seeing such a cruel scene, Zuo Kuiwen was a little excited, a little intolerable, and even a little confused. He didn't understand why Zuo Lanshan, which usually dotes on these two eagles, would prompt them to fight endlessly. I couldn't help but turned around and asked: "Father, why are you..."
Zuo Lanshan quietly watched the bloody eagle fight in the eagle cage, but expressionlessly interrupted Zuo Kuiwen's inquiry and said: "Keep watching! Keep watching seriously!"
Zuo Kuiwen knew that Zuo Lanshan's move must have deep meaning, so he didn't ask any more questions and just continued to watch with a serious expression.
After about a stick of incense, the battle in the eagle cage finally ended.
The crested eagle was bigger, more powerful, and more ferocious. It won the final victory, but it was also scarred and nearly half of its feathers fell off. It looked quite embarrassed; the other goshawk was faster. , but it was trapped in the eagle cage but could not use its skills. It was kept being beaten by the crested eagle. At this time, it was even dying. A big hole was pecked in its neck by the crested eagle, and it looked like it would not survive.
Seeing that the battle between the two eagles was over, Zuo Lanshan sighed with some regret, then turned to Zuo Kuiwen and asked: "You witnessed this eagle fight with your own eyes. Come and tell your father, these two eagles are fighting." When eagles fight, where do they focus on attacking each other? Which parts of the body are most injured and most severely injured? But which parts are least and least injured?"
Zuo Kuiwen thought about it for a moment and replied: "When two eagles fight, they focus on attacking each other's head, but in the end, the body is injured the most and the most, while the talons and beak are the least injured. "
Zuo Lanshan asked again: "In your opinion, why do both eagles focus on attacking each other's heads, but in the end the body is the most injured? Why are the eagle's talons and eagle's beak the least injured?"
Zuo Kuiwen replied: "Because the two eagles protect their heads the most strictly, even if they are hit by a major attack, they will still not be injured much. However, the target of the body is too big and they are not very flexible. The two eagles are not very flexible." During the fight, the head often escapes the attack, but the body is implicated, so the two eagles' bodies are the most seriously injured... The eagle's claws and eagle's beak are the two eagles' main attack methods, not only are they the most flexible and sharp , and also made the other party try their best to avoid it, so the injuries were the least and least severe."
Zuo Lanshan nodded and said: "Actually, the partisan criticism in the temple is the same as this eagle fight! The eagle heads are the leaders of the factions in the court, and they are the powerful officials in the temple who will be attacked by the enemy. The main attack of the factions, but they will also be protected by their own forces... The eagle is like the bottom member of each faction. When the parties attack, these people are often the most vulnerable to being implicated... As for the least injured Eagle Claw and The eagle's beak represents the core official in each faction, second only to the leader, just like my current position in the 'Zhao Party'!"
Having said this, Zuo Lanshan smiled slightly and added: "Of course, there are some differences between party criticism and this eagle fight. The eagle has only one beak and only one pair of talons, but the major parties in the court hope They have more beaks and more claws. If the enemy faction collapses and loses power, they will completely peck out the opponent's eagle head and devour the entire opponent's body. At the same time, they want to take away the opponent's claws. Collect the beak for your own use!”
After hearing Zuo Lanshan's words, Zuo Kuiwen was thoughtful and felt that he had figured something out.
Zuo Lanshan continued: "It has been twenty-eight years since my father entered the official career. No matter whether it is my colleagues in the temple or civilian scholars, they don't think highly of me. They think that my methods and vision are mediocre, and I always think that my methods and vision are mediocre. Is he willing to be a minion and lackey... Hey, this evaluation is not wrong. Compared with Zhou Ge Lao's insight and ability to take advantage of the situation, or the current majesty's emperor's scheming and accurate calculation of pros and cons, or our Zhao Ge. Your Excellency's keen vigilance and unique approach are far inferior to mine! And I have always been content to be subordinate to others, and I have never had a proud moment when I stand out and stand out..."
At this point, Zuo Lanshan's voice rose slightly, and he said: "But so what? I still have a smooth official career, and I have never fallen once in the past twenty-eight years! How many officials have been better than me? They were capable, ambitious, and talented, but they all fell down and lost power in the end. But step by step, I climbed to the top of the human ministers and climbed to the position of elder! Why is this? Because I have never been a chicken. The head is never meant to be the phoenix tail, it is just a claw and beak, and it faithfully performs the duties of a claw and beak!"
After a pause, Zuo Lanshan's voice became more proud, and he continued: "It is because I am willing to be the claws and beak of an eagle, so no matter who I have taken refuge in over the years, I will be reused, and it is precisely because I have faithfully fulfilled my mission." I have the responsibility of holding the claws and the beak, so they will feel free to use me! Hey, who wouldn’t want a crony like me?
… When I was only a seventh-grade magistrate in Jiangxi Province, I had always served the magistrate Shangfeng loyally. I even offended many colleagues for him, so he also focused on promoting me and protecting me until the magistrate. After I retired, my reputation for loyalty had spread to the ears of Guan Zhongyuan, the governor of Jiangxi at the time, and I was quickly accepted as a confidant by Guan Zhongyuan. Within two years, I was promoted to prefect...
...When Guan Zhongyuan was transferred back to the capital to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Industry, he also transferred me to the Ministry of Industry. I still served him loyally and fought for him when the party attacked. Unfortunately, Guan Zhongyuan soon I lost power, and everyone thought that I would definitely end badly this time, but I immediately joined the previous cabinet minister Wen Guanliang. Everyone at that time knew that I was a loyal friend, and I followed the orders of the party leader, so Wen Guanliang quickly accepted me as his disciple, and even made me Minister of the Ministry of Industry...
...At this time last year, Wen Guanliang lost to Zhao Junchen in the party struggle. At that time, all the "Wen Party" officials rushed to defect and defected to others. Only I joined Zhao Junchen after the overall situation was decided. However, because of this, Zhao Junchen trusted me the most. Zhan Shanchang, Tong Huan and others who were the first to betray Shen Changmao were all in trouble during this period. Chen Dongxiang was also secretly beaten by Zhao Junchen before he was promoted to Minister of Industry. I have used it many times...but I am still the only one who is still rising steadily and rising step by step, and now I have become the elder of the pavilion! "
After such a long speech, Zuo Lanshan finally calmed down his emotions, turned to look at Zuo Kuiwen, and asked: "I have said so much, do you understand the truth?"
After Zuo Kuiwen thought for a moment, he nodded and said: "My child understands! Some people in this world would rather be a chicken head than a phoenix tail, and some people would rather be a phoenix tail than a chicken head, but father, you don't want to be a chicken head." I also don’t want to be a phoenix tail, because the rooster head is the target of public criticism, and the phoenix tail is the most vulnerable to being implicated and is not safe. Only becoming a claw beak is the long-term way to settle down! As long as the claw beak can prove one’s loyalty and ability , once the bird head and body fail, they will be pecked and eaten, but the claws and beak will be easily accepted by the new bird head!"
Zuo Lanshan put his hands on his hands and said with a smile: "Children can be taught, it is exactly this truth! As a father and I have been an official for twenty-eight years, the reason why I have been able to stand still and rise step by step is precisely because I have understood this truth!"
After a pause, Zuo Lanshan continued: "Speaking of which, since I joined the cabinet to assist the government, the 'Zhao Party' is still headed by Mr. Zhao Junchen and Mr. Zhao, but on the surface, my identity is the most noble, 'Zhao Party' The Party has become a two-headed strange bird, and His Majesty and Chief Shen are all bent on using me to split the Zhao Party! Hehe, they think about things too simply. Zhao Junchen has nothing to do with the Zhao Party. His control power is far beyond the imagination of outsiders. All the "Zhao Party" officials only recognize Zhao Junchen. I have no ability to fight against others...
Taking a step back, even if I really split the "Zhao Party" and became a "Left Party" faction, and now my Majesty and Chief Shen who have vowed to support me, I am afraid that they will soon turn against each other, so I also I just ignored their instigation and just pretended that I didn't understand their hint...
However, His Majesty and Chief Shen's repeated secret instigations also reminded me that I have now nominally become one of the two leaders of the "Zhao Party", and I will inevitably be targeted by hostile factions in the future. attack, but the bird body of 'Zhao Dang' is not under my control. Once the two bird heads are attacked at the same time, everyone will give priority to protecting Zhao Junchen, but I have no defense, so my current position is not only some Embarrassing, but also extremely dangerous! If virtue is not matched, you will suffer consequences...
It is precisely because of this reason that I will strongly recommend Mr. Zhao to join the cabinet to assist the government this time, even if I leave the cabinet for this reason, I will not hesitate! Only in this way can I continue to be a claw beak instead of becoming a bird head that is attacked by hostile factions, and can I stay established for a long time! "
Zuo Kuiwen naturally understood what Zuo Lanshan said, but he was still a little reluctant. He frowned and said: "Father, your statement is certainly reasonable, but you just gave up your position as Pavilion Elder and let The kid is really unwilling!"
Zuo Lanshan smiled and said: "You, I still can't bear to look at it! Retreating to advance is a profound knowledge. Although I will leave the cabinet this time, Zhao Junchen also owes me a huge favor. So even if I lose my position in the cabinet, Zhao Junchen will definitely do his best to protect me. With Zhao Junchen’s protection and recommendation, it will not be difficult for me to become a feudal official! When the time comes, It is much more powerful for me to say everything in a province than to sit in the cabinet and be a puppet boss!"
Having said this, Zuo Lanshan's expression became a little more serious and continued: "Actually, I have further considerations about this matter. Nowadays, Zhao Junchen seems to be in the limelight, but it is obviously also affected by His Majesty and various people. The common fear of the factions is that if others are in such a position, they will definitely die, but Zhao Junchen is best at turning danger into safety and bringing back the dead, so I can't guess what his final outcome will be. I feel that Zhao Junchen's success or failure will only be in the next three to five years. Once he survives the next three to five years, he will definitely be able to dominate the government with his scheming methods, but if he cannot resist it, he will definitely die without mercy. Burial place!
But in any case, the temple center in the next few years will inevitably be in a state of flux and crisis. I took this opportunity to leave the temple center and the muddy waters of the capital, so as not to be implicated during this period, and at the same time create a way forward and retreat for myself. In a comfortable situation, after I have served as a feudal official for one term, the situation in the capital should have been roughly determined. If Zhao Junchen wins by then, it will naturally be easy for me to return to the cabinet and resume my position as cabinet minister. , but if Zhao Junchen loses in the end, our Zuo family will not be further implicated. Considering my father's reputation as a claw and beak, it will not be difficult to find another powerful minister to join him! But no matter what, I, Zuo Lanshan, will still stand tall in the temple! "
After hearing Zuo Lanshan's further explanation, Zuo Kuiwen was finally convinced and praised Gao Ming repeatedly.
But soon, Zuo Kuiwen felt something was wrong again and asked: "Father, you can just explain these truths to me directly, why do you have to kill two eagles that you have raised with your own hands? These two eagles can be I’ve always been your pet peeve!”
Zuo Lanshan's face was full of kindness and smile, and he said: "If it were not done in this way, how could these principles of fatherhood be deeply impressed and remembered in your heart? If you could fully understand these principles, I would kill two eagles. What’s the point!”
Zuo Kuiwen was moved and felt that Zuo Lanshan had really good intentions for him. He suddenly said excitedly: "Father, don't worry, my son has completely understood these principles! It's just a pity, father, for the two eagles you have worked so hard to raise!" I will find someone to find two more good eagles for my father tomorrow!"
Hearing Zuo Kuiwen's statement, Zuo Lanshan's brows jumped slightly, but he shook his head and said: "No need, my father is getting older and I don't plan to continue raising eagles in the future."
In fact, since Zuo Lanshan took refuge in Zhao Junchen, he felt more and more awkward raising eagles.
Because Zuo Lanshan discovered that Zhao Junchen's various methods of controlling "Zhao Party" officials were actually very similar to his "Eagle-boiling" method. They both used mutton in one hand and a stick in the other. Both of them cleverly used external threats, and both gradually This eliminated all the dissent of the "Zhao Party" officials, so that all the "Zhao Party" officials could only be firmly tied to his ship.
After discovering these circumstances, Zuo Lanshan looked at the two eagles he had raised, and it was as if he saw himself becoming more and more tame to Zhao Junchen.
In this way, Zuolan Mountain will no longer find the joy of raising eagles.
Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity, Zuo Lanshan no longer plans to continue raising eagles.
This discovery was one of the reasons why Zuo Lanshan wanted to take this opportunity to leave the capital. He was afraid that if he continued to stay in the capital, he would eventually lose his self-judgment completely and could only follow Zhao Junchen into darkness.
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PS: Well, the first update today, there will be one more chapter before midnight!
By the way, Zuo Lanshan is based on an official whom Chongzi knew in real life. This person was nicknamed a "mad dog" by low-level civil servants. He would bite anyone his boss asked him to bite. He didn't care who his boss was or who his boss was. Whether his order was right or wrong, he just served his superiors loyally, so every superior was willing to reuse him, and now he is a county-level cadre.
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