Let's talk about yesterday, Xu Guangqi hosted a banquet for Xu Dahua, and told Zheng Haizhu to come to the mountain to worship together. If the two parties are on the line, Xu Guangqi can no longer appear in subsequent visits to the firearms workshop.
Zheng Haizhu knew it well. This meant that money should not be given away in the post house but in the school.
So she carefully selected only the round fans, handkerchiefs, and cloud shoulders newly produced by the Han family embroidery workers, and presented them to Xu Dahua as a local gift to the female scrolls of the Xu family before the banquet started.
At first, Xu Dahua looked plain and gentle, with the sense of alienation that an official should have. He said, "Miss Zheng, don't be too formal, let's sit together at the table." However, he mainly asked Xu Guangqi for some insights and anecdotes about Western learning, the customs of southern Zhili, etc. , not paying much attention to Zheng Haizhu.
Halfway through the meal, Xu Guangqi was served by a servant to go to Dengdong. Xu Dahua opened the gift box on the brocade stool and took out a handkerchief imitating the parrot in the Xuanhe painting of the Song Dynasty. He looked at it intently for a moment and praised Zheng Haizhu: " Songjiang Prefecture is really a place with outstanding people and a family of embroiders and painters. The paintings in the embroidery have a high and far-reaching meaning, and it is indeed not comparable to the folk embroidery."
At first glance, Zheng Haizhu was quite pleased that this gentle middle-aged civil servant was a close friend of Songjiang Painting and Embroidery. He smiled and said, "Master Siqing has excellent taste. Our old lady from the Gu family and Miss Han all said that However, if you use the needle method flexibly, it is just embroidery, not Gu embroidery or Han Yuan embroidery. Really good embroidery depends on the charm and character, and you must carefully consider the artistic conception in the painting before placing the needle..."
Zheng Haizhu was about to start talking and talk in detail, but Xu Dahua suddenly leaned forward slightly, raised his hand, took the parrot embroidered handkerchief and wiped it against her cheek, and said softly: "I spoke too hastily. Sweating so much.”
In an instant, Zheng Haizhu was stunned.
Her mind suddenly went blank, her words stagnated, and her body stiffened.
Only her vision and touch were still normal, allowing her to feel that when Xu Dahua was wiping her skin, his fingertips brushed across her cheek. At the same time, she saw that Xu Dahua's domestic servant named Xu Bao was standing next to her. The master looked behind him calmly.
After a few breaths, Zheng Haizhu's consciousness seemed to have returned to normal, and her anger was ignited almost at the same time.
Just when he was about to have an attack, Xu Dahua had already withdrawn his hand, rolled up the handkerchief, and put it into his sleeve.
He took a leisurely moment to pour himself a small cup of Yuezhou flower blossoms, took a sip, and said with emotion: "I have been in Beijing for many years, and my nostalgia is still there. People are the beauty of the south, and the wine is also the fragrance of the south."
Zheng Haizhu stared at Xu Dahua with an expression of disbelief.
Xu Dahua raised his eyebrows and received the woman's glare nonchalantly, seeming to be happy with the shock in it.
Then, sitting at the top, he suddenly looked past Zheng Haizhu and smiled at Xu Guangqi who walked in the door: "Xu Hanlin, the wine is cold. Please ask the store to heat it. After the Beginning of Autumn, cold things are harmful to the body."
Xu Guangqi nodded: "People grow old and trees grow old, and as we get older, we have to accept it."
Xu Dahua's words moved his face: "Brother, it's okay for us to grow old. The younger generations are formidable and the rise of younger generations is a great blessing for our emperor, our country and our people. Just now, I asked Miss Zheng a few words, and she is indeed Women are not allowed to be inferior to men. I originally thought that southern beauties are as weak as willows..."
Xu Guangqi continued: "There are talented people from generation to generation. General Qin is also a southern woman. The women's army under her command has won many battles. As for Miss Zheng, although she is young and not from the martial arts family, she summoned skilled craftsmen to make fire guns. If the cannon can be made into a weapon, it will be a great achievement. Brother, you are a well-informed person. Did you hear about Liu Shimin and the prefect Zhuang's request to open the Songjiang sea? Now the Frankie people and the Hongyi people are all There are cannons. If Songjiang is turned on and off, coastal defense cannot be without cannons."
When the old man said this, he paused, showing an unnatural flattery, and served Xu Dahua himself.
Then he cupped his hands and said: "Brother Fool will report to the court, imitate the artillery factory set up by the Frankies in Guangfu, and also build a firearms workshop in Songjiang. As for the money, it would be good to get some from the Changying Treasury of the wise brother." ?”
Xu Dahua glanced at Zheng Haizhu and said with a smile: "It's a good thing that your mansion is opening up the sea. Chang Yingku has not been so poor in recent years. Miss Zheng, since Xu Hanlin is full of praise for your firearms workshop , just take me to see it."
A moment ago, Zheng Haizhu suddenly lost control and had the urge to throw the cup and leave. She had suppressed it by herself.
Tasting Xu Guangqi's words, Zheng Haizhu felt that the old man was emphasizing the "things" he did rather than the "person" he did, based on a woman's intuition about the word "protection". Therefore, Xu Dahua's harassment just now, Xu Guangqi It should be unknown in advance.
At the same time, subtle details, but witnessed by Zheng Haizhu with his own eyes, showed that even veteran officials like Xu Guangqi were sacrificing their dignity for the money bag of Taipu Temple.
Zheng Haizhu's anger turned into bitterness.
No matter what, she couldn't fall out in front of Xu Guangqi.
She gritted her teeth and decided to give herself another try against Xu Dahua.
If this person, like many bureaucrats in later generations, is vulgar and obscene enough to be blocked, but only needs to send money to approve the note, then, with the idea of "eating the steamed buns until they are filled with meat fillings", Zheng Haizhu is willing to Think of that moment as being scratched by a dog's paw, and still take the tours that should be taken, and give the gifts that should be given.
…
Zheng Haizhu, who had the mentality of fighting side by side with Xu Guangqi, still respectfully agreed with Xu Dahua's servant Xu Bao when the banquet was over, that he would personally take Songjiang's most distinctive fairy boat to pick up Xu Shaoqing from the firearms workshop. .
Perhaps because of the look he received in return from Zheng Haizhu at the banquet yesterday, which was not shy but clearly full of rejection, Xu Dahua did not say or do anything out of line in broad daylight today. He only walked with his sleeves behind his back and asked in a business-like tone. He learned about some school affairs of Zheng Haizhu.
In order to protect himself, Zheng Haizhu deliberately brought up the relationships between Liu Shimin, Ma Xianglin, and Yan Siqi that could be disclosed publicly.
Xu Dahua nodded while listening, and then teased: "The little girl is very powerful. She makes friends with either nobles or famous generals, or heroes from the world."
Zheng Haizhu endured his nausea and took out a book of poems: "Master Si, the common people have not read a book for a few days, so they respect the scholars the most. This is the only copy that the common people found in the bookshop. Please give me some advice."
Xu Dahua glanced at the corner of the collection of poems, revealing an inch of yellow paper printed with gorgeous pictures. It was obviously a bank note, and then turned to Xu Bao and said: "Rare classics and books are hard to come by, so keep them carefully."
He squinted his eyes again, and said to Zheng Haizhu, "Those who are romantic should not be the focus of our officials. Let's go to the firearms workshop first and take care of business."
In order to receive Xu Qianbao today, Zheng Haizhu gave the school a day off. The students all went home. Yao didn't come because she was Huang Zunsu's daughter.
After experiencing Xu Dahua's dirty face, Zheng Haizhu's first thought was that Zhang Dai's fairy-like confidante could not show up.
Fortunately, during these days, Wang Yuesheng went to Sheshan to buy deer antlers, which were used to make the "lacquer" for Baini Qin, and he stayed in the Gu family's mulberry garden.
Zheng Haizhu led Xu Dahua to the gate of Fuyuan, but only saw Zheng Zhilong waiting.
"Where is Mr. Lu?" Zheng Haizhu asked with a frown.
Before Zheng Zhilong could reply, Wang Yuesheng walked up from behind him.
Zheng Haizhu was shocked and said: "Aren't you in Sheshan!"
As soon as Wang Yuesheng said, "Come back and see the situation in the Yin Fang," his expression suddenly changed.
She saw Xu Dahua's face clearly.
And Xu Dahua also stared directly at this woman whose plain face and cloth could not hide her stunning appearance.
"Hey, are you Miss Wang from Mianyue Tower?"
Wang Yuesheng held the grooved piano board and lowered his head suddenly, as if he didn't know how to answer.
A smile that he thought was personable appeared on Xu Dahua's face, and he turned to Zheng Haizhu and said: "Oh, I didn't expect to meet an old friend here with Miss Zheng. In Mianyue Tower on the Qinhuai River, the manager's mother's surname is Wang, and the names of the female envoys are They all have the word "month" in them. Wang Yueying, Wang Yuezhao, Wang Yueliu, and this girl Wang Yuesheng are all good names from poems."
Zheng Haizhu understood instantly.
In her mind, 10,000 famous South American specialty animals ran through her mind.
I am really afraid of what will happen.
A sesame falls into the eye of a needle. It is not unusual for a Ming official like Xu Dahua to consider entering a brothel as a form of elegance, but Wang Yuesheng is a prostitute that he can recognize.
Wang Yuesheng returned to school today and listened to Lu Xiangsheng happily saying that a court official would come to visit the firearms workshop. She was also quite happy, thinking that Miss Zheng could get money from the court, but unexpectedly she took a photo with the most polite scum that she least expected to see. Got the noodles.
Now that the matter is over, it's too late to hide.
Wang Yuesheng was afraid that if he looked at her coldly, he would ruin Miss Zheng's affairs, so he forced himself to calm down.
She had no choice but to step forward, give a blessing gift to Xu Da, and said calmly: "I have met the master. Yuesheng has now redeemed his deed. Fortunately, Miss Zheng took care of him and settled here to teach the children of Songjiang how to play the piano."
Xu Dahua said "Oh" and said with a smile: "Why, I even forgot my surname is Xu."
Wang Yuesheng said hurriedly: "Xu Siqing, please forgive me."
Xu Dahua was quite interested.
He suddenly realized that the pleasure this scene brought him did not come from teasing the former Yingyan, but from hitting Zheng Haizhu in the face.
Girl surnamed Zheng, you were at the banquet yesterday and on the boat on the Yue River today. You are so arrogant.
She looks like a chaste woman who doesn't know how to be promoted by her superiors, but in fact she is not raising a bitch in her own yard.
Xu Dahua was in a good mood. He was about to ask Wang Yuesheng who redeemed his body for you. Is it Zhang Dai from Shanyin, Shaoxing? Suddenly he heard a man behind him shouting: "Junior Lu Xiangsheng is disrespectful and late, please forgive Xu Siqing!"
Zheng Haizhu looked back and saw the paint mark on Lu Xiangsheng's palm, and understood that he must have taken advantage of the good weather today to help Wang Yuesheng prepare the "shade room" where the Baini Qin was placed.
"Xiang Sheng, the temple minister has taken the time to come here. Quickly show the temple minister the musket and the barrel."
Zheng Haizhu decisively broke through the bad atmosphere and ordered Lu Xiangsheng.
When Xu Dahua just came over, he could tell from the gesture of his servant Xu Bao that Zheng Haizhu had sent five hundred taels.
This number was a bit shabby, but it still made him condescend to listen to Mr. Lu in front of him.
Xu Shaoqing, who was of great official power and suave, squeezed out some interest and followed Lu Xiangsheng, listening to him explain several machine guns with different bore lengths and calibers, and then weighed the weight of the guns, pretending to do it. Servant Xu Bao said: "It's quite light and can be carried on horseback."
Today, Zheng Haizhu also asked the Qi family army commander who trained his servants to conceal his identity and only come to test the gun in the name of a retired veteran.
However, Xu Dahua waved his hand, glanced at Wang Yuesheng who was standing at the door and dared not leave, and said: "No need to try, the sound is too loud, don't offend the beauty."
Lu Xiangsheng frowned and pressed down his sword with half surprise and half contempt. He respectfully and carefully explained to Xu Dahua the difficulties in casting the barrel.
Xu Dahua knocked on the well-forged barrel, but only had one short section, and said in a tone of voice: "Hey, if we really want to build this, can it afford a big blast furnace? No wonder Xu Hanlin said that the court would have to allocate money, Zheng No matter how big the business between the girl and the south is, it will be difficult to support it alone."
Zheng Haizhu lowered his eyelids slightly and said calmly: "Master Lu has calculated that the cost of a combined machine gun, not counting the fire pills and primer, is six taels of silver. Xu Hanlin said that the imperial court issued Mingjia for the border army officers. , is a set of eight taels of silver. If we make it, the combined gun can be cheaper than a set of plain armor. At that time, the firearms team outside the Qi Jiajun Killer Team (referring to the Cold Weapon Team) once had three guns per person. Today The danger of establishing slaves is greater than that of Northern Mongolia. The border army's firearms should be strengthened. And although this smoothbore cannon is much more expensive than the ordinary Frankie cannon, costing about three thousand taels of silver each, it is not just for us. What is needed for the defense of Songjiang Pass, but from Fushun to Shenyang, to Liaoyang, to Shanhaiguan, and finally to Shuntian Mansion, they are all important weapons that can defend the enemy under the city."
Zheng Haizhu's words were conclusive. After talking about the technical level, he talked about the general level.
She still hopes to try hard to awaken this fourth-grade red-robed civil servant's awareness of the crisis of the current situation and his duty as a minister of food and salary.
However, Xu Dahua interrupted Zheng Haizhu with a "Oh!" and approached her and said, "Miss Zheng, what are you talking about? Why did Jian Nu enter Shanhaiguan just as you were talking?"
At this time, Lu Xiangsheng could no longer bear it. He stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said seriously: "Five hundred years ago, the Jin soldiers went south, and the shame of Jingkang was left in the history of Qing Dynasty. Students think that if you neglect to take precautions and take it lightly, don't say it's wrong." Shanhaiguan, Jiannu means attacking Shuntian Mansion, which is not an alarmist statement."
Xu Dahua turned around and glanced at Lu Xiangsheng's headscarf.
This is a man with a good reputation, not a woman like Zheng Haizhu and Wang Yuesheng who can be bullied by him.
Xu Dahua smiled generously: "Well, for a young man like you, what you say makes sense."
He breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand and said: "I have seen what I should have seen, and what I should have heard, but I haven't heard it yet. In such a pleasant autumn weather, can I ask Miss Zheng for a cup of tea? Listen to Miss Wang." Want to play a piece of piano music? I think the waterside pavilion in your Qingyuan Garden is good. Mr. Lu, a few masters, and this little Mr. Zheng, let’s continue working."
