Early the next morning, Zuo Zongtang really came to worship Pan Zuyin.

This was the first meeting between Zuo and Pan. These two people are really called "gods have been friends for a long time".

Since the eighth year of Xianfeng, that is, in 1858, Fan Xie's participation in the case has been seven years, and every year of "three festivals and two birthdays", Zuo Zongtang will give Pan Zuyin a very generous gift. Pan Zuyin was originally born in a family, and Zuo Zongtang gave generous gifts every year, becoming more and more famous and romantic, and his life was extremely chic.

Last night, the military aircraft Zhang Jing came to deliver the news, asking him not to enter the straight today, just wait for Zuo Zongtang at home. Pan Zuyin had already been asked by Guan Zhuofan, so he naturally agreed.

As soon as Zuo Zongtang saw Pan Zuyin, he knelt down. A first-class earl knelt down in front of him, which startled Pan Zuyin, and he quickly knelt down, saying "I can't afford it, I can't afford it!" ”

When Zuo Zongtang's material official picked up Pan Zuyin, the Pan family's messenger picked up Zuo Zongtang, and Zuo Zongtang said: "Yin Weng! I bow down today to those two words of yours. Then he opened his loud voice and said like a joke: "'The country cannot be without Hunan for a day, and Hunan cannot be without Zuo Zongtang for a day'!" ”

Pan Zuyin said with a smile: "Ji Weng, these two sentences are not what I said. ”

*

*

Zuo Zongtang did not linger in Pan Zuyin's house for too long, and after returning to Xianliang Temple, he first sent a post to Shuntianfu and Daxing County. Not long after lunch, before the end of the day, Yin of Shuntian Mansion and Daxingzhi County personally brought the guard of honor of the official and came to run an errand for Zuo Jue Shuai.

Zuo Zongtang arched his hand and said: "The two brothers have worked hard, and Zuo will personally come to the door to thank you in the future." ”

Shuntianfu Yin and Daxingzhi County two, even thanked. They all say that this is a matter of duty. Don't dare to worry about the marshal.

So Shuntianfu and Daxing County opened the road. The vast, behind the Shaanxi and Gansu Governor's Yamen, the material officer, holding a few huge vermilion tall cards, on the top of the gold Song characters, "Qing Dynasty first-class Ke Jingbo", "Qin ordered to supervise Shaanxi and Gansu military affairs", "the military department of the Shangshu and the right capital of the Imperial Envoy of the Shaanxi and Gansu Governor's Department", "Appreciate the dazzling eyes". There is also a piece that Zuo Zongtang dislikes the most, "Daoguang Twelfth Year Renchen Branch Hunan Township Test Chinese Style" - just a person, but there is no way, according to the rules of the imperial court, it has to be put out.

On the heads of the "top horse" and "follow the horse", there are all red tops, all of them are brilliant, and they hug a green sedan chair with eight people in front and back.

The pomp is so wide and the momentum is so strong, Zuo Zongtang is going to visit Guo Songtao.

I arrived at the pattern mountain alley where Guo's mansion is located. All kinds of honor guards and deacons lined up, filling most of the alley. The eight-carrying green sedan chair stopped in front of the gate of Guo's mansion. Zuo Zongtang got out of the sedan chair, only to see him with a jewel top, dazzling eyes, a yellow coat covered in court clothes, and a pair of big ink crystal glasses on the bridge of his nose.

A red-topped material official posted on the door of Guo's mansion.

Not long after, Guo's family came up to Zuo Zongtang to salute a thousand times, and then said with a huff: "My lord said that he would never dare to be a lord, please ask the lord to go back." ”

Zuo Zongtang expected that Guo Songtao would behave like this, so he said with a pleasant face: "Please return to your master, I am an old man who has come to see for decades, I can't help but wear official uniforms, otherwise I won't be respectful enough; Also, I'm here to meet relatives, please your lord, be sure to meet you. ”

After a long while, the main gate of Guo's mansion finally opened, but the owner did not come out to greet him.

Guo Songtao was standing in the main hall waiting, as soon as Zuo Zongtang met, he lowered his horseshoe sleeves, chatted about the hem of the robe, and knelt down, "Brother! Zong Tang is ignorant, ignorant, unintentional, formless, ashamed and landless, and he is here to ask for sin! ”

Guo Songtao never expected that Zuo Zongtang would really kneel down for himself as Guan Zhuofan said!

Mixed feelings for a while.

He was stunned, knelt down, and said, "Don't dare to be, don't dare to be!" ”

The two of Shuntianfu Yin and Daxingzhi County next to him saw the opportunity and hurriedly stepped forward, one picked up Zuo Zongtang, and the other picked up Guo Songtao.

Zuo Zongtang began to blame himself one after another, he scolded others with joy, and scolded himself unequivocally, what "blind eyes, deaf ears", what "lard blinded the heart", what "always I am confused, always I am ridiculous, always I am damned".

Hearing that the people around him were a little embarrassed, Guo Songtao was agitated in his heart, but on the surface he was still faint, and said: "Nothing, nothing!" ”

Sitting down to watch tea, Zuo Zongtang scolded himself and began to greet Guo Songtao's family, very attentive - uh, a real greeting.

After asking his family, and then asking Guo Songtao about the old days when the two of them knew each other, Guo Songtao answered them one by one, and was about to say something, Zuo Zongtang began to talk about his westward expedition.

Zuo Zongtang first said triumphantly that Guan Beizi had promised him a division of soldiers and horses - in fact, Guan Zhuofan promised him two infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, and an engineer battalion, which is less than the number of one division, but pulling the banner as a tiger skin has always been Zuo Jigao's forte, and Guo Songtao can also understand the meaning of his words: We are all one boss, so don't be small-bellied.

Then Zuo Zongtang began to "speak".

Zuo Zongtang is really talkative, he mainly talks about the Western Expedition and border defense, occasionally with the news in Beijing, the past in Hunan, from time to time to talk about Zeng Guofan, scold a few words of Li Hongzhang, and talk endlessly, Guo Songtao can only occasionally pick up a sentence, and it is basically impossible to take the initiative to express some opinions.

Shuntianfu Yin and Daxingzhi County can only peck at the rice from beginning to end, just laughing.

Zuo Zongtang is certainly talkative, but he also has a small calculation: he talks so non-stop, firstly, to prevent Guo Songtao from "serving tea to guests", and secondly, it will be delayed until dinner no matter what.

Speaking of Xingtou, Zuo Zongtang suddenly said: "Yunxian, not long ago, Xiangyin Confucian Temple suddenly produced Ganoderma lucidum, do you know about this matter?" ”

Guo Songtao knows about this matter.

Guo Songtao's younger brother Guo Kuntao wrote a special letter to inform him of this, believing that this was a good omen for Guo Songtao to "open a mansion" in Beijing. Of course, this kind of statement has to be circulated among relatives and friends, and it is not appropriate to publicize it; However, Guo Songtao is still very proud in his heart.

In fact, the Temple of Literature produces "Ganoderma lucidum", which is ordinary. Because although the Temple of Literature is tall, it is mostly dark and dark, the ground is humid, Hunan is hot, the rain is abundant, and the corners of the Temple of Literature are more likely to grow plants, the so-called "Ganoderma lucidum", sometimes just mushrooms of various colors and shapes.

But people in this era, when they encounter this kind of thing, according to the political theory of the time, they must "go along".

Guo Songtao nodded and said, "I've heard of it." ”

Zuo Zongtang said: "This is auspicious from the sky, and it should be on you and me!" ”

Guo Songtao was stunned: "Oh, how do you say it?" ”

Zuo Zongtang said triumphantly: "I will seal the first-class Ke Jingbo and march west with Yuan Rong; You serve as the chairman of the advisory committee, railways, national bonds, Feng'en Fund, the 'three major pieces' are in hand, our brothers are so famous, Xiangyin is naturally glorious to the sky, and the essence is perceived, and it is auspicious! ”

Guo Songtao didn't expect that Zuo Zongtang would also come to grab this "Ganoderma lucidum"; After thinking about it, this is really reasonable, and it is strange that the "left mule" did not come to rob it. But Zuo Jigao is actually willing to share the glory with others and tell the truth, but the big news, in the past, this was unimaginable.

The saying of "three major pieces" is also the first time I have heard of it.

So he nodded solemnly, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

Finally, it was dinner time, and the Guo family could only keep the guests for dinner.

Guofu's family is very simple, but a taste of Hunan bacon, a large plate of boneless chicken, and a large bowl of sauerkraut stewed vermicelli. But Zuo Zongtang was in an uproar and ate very happily. This is because although he has handled countless military expenditures and is very "rich", he has never paid attention to enjoying food; secondly, bacon and boneless chicken are "local flavors", which are very appetizing to him; Third, to give face to the master.

After eating and drinking tea, the "left mule" had to say goodbye no matter how much he grinded. Before leaving, Zuo Zongtang shouted "Come on", and the subordinate officer hurriedly came up and handed over a red envelope. Zuo Zongtang took it, turned around and offered it with both hands, and said: "It is not easy to live in Beijing. Don't be shy, talk about your heart, please reward. ”

Guo Songtao would not ask for Zuo Zongtang's money, but in front of the two officials of Shuntian Mansion Yin and Daxingzhi County, it was difficult to push around, and he lost his dignity, so he accepted it first.

After sending Zuo Zongtang away, Guo Songtao opened the red envelope and saw that it was a ticket of 10,000 taels of "Fukang", so he changed to a white envelope, reinstalled it, and sent someone to send it to Xianliang Temple overnight.

According to the rules, Guo Songtao wants to "return to worship". Guo Songtao fulfilled this obligation, but he specially selected Zuo Zongtang to enter the palace to see His Majesty and "return to worship" when he was not in Xianliang Temple.

The meaning is obvious: the grievances of the past have turned into ashes and do not linger in the heart; But it is impossible to become a confidant again. In the future, between Guo and Zuo, there will be only righteousness and no personal feelings.

*(To be continued......)