"Brother Qiao, what are you thinking" Yan Yuting was flooded by the tide of Qiao Zhiqing's teasing, but saw that Qiao Zhiqing refused to move, just closed his eyes and remained silent."
It's coming to Anqing soon, you can rest for a while."
Qiao Zhiqing took a deep breath, stood up and covered Yan Yuting with the quilt.Yan Yuting knew that she was out of shape, and put the quilt on her head with a red face, stupid and laughing, showing the shyness of her daughter's family.Qiao Zhiqing walked out of the cabin sullenly and sat down at the bow of the boat.At this time, the dawn was approaching, and the cold wind of spring was still a little biting, Qiao Zhiqing couldn't help yawning, Yan Minxia's voice and appearance appeared in his mind again, looking at the river and muttering to himself, "Where are you now?"
"Who is the young master talking about, is it Miss Yan Minxia" Ma Xun suddenly came out from behind him."
Roll the calf, dare to eavesdrop on Young Master Ben's speech."
Qiao Zhiqing laughed and kicked Ma Xun's ass.Ma Xun hurriedly begged, "Good young master, can't I be wrong I came to inform you, the front is Anqing Mansion, since the young master wants to defect to Li Hongzhang, it is impossible to have no one to talk to, we have to plan as soon as possible." ”Qiao Zhiqing nodded, and asked Ma Xun to call Wang Shumao over to discuss together."
Brother Wang, you can meet some dignitaries in Anqing" Qiao Zhiqing looked at Wang Shumao with anticipation, the Tongxing Public Dart Bureau is full of power in Jiangbei, and it should come into contact with a lot of powerful people."
Nope."
Wang Shumao shook his head and replied bluntly.Qiao Zhiqing exhaled a little disappointed and turned his head to look at Ma Xun.Ma Xun pondered for a long time and hesitated, "Young master, I have a way, but I don't know if I can get through." ”Qiao Zhiqing hurriedly asked, "That's not too fast." ”Ma Xun chuckled lightly and said, "Young master, don't worry, now our Qing Kingdom is the common people are afraid of officials, officials are afraid of Lafayette, Lafayette is afraid of foreigners, in the past, I went to Anqing with the eldest young master to do business, and I took a foreign adult, if this foreign master came forward, I think things should be much simpler, that is, Anqing has been tossed by long-haired thieves for so many years, and I don't know if the foreign lord is still there." ”"Just do as you say, after the ship arrives in Anqing, you and I will go to the city to find out the news, and release our carrier pigeons first, we have not been in contact with our family for two months.Brother Wang will be on guard on the cargo ship, and when Ma Xun and I find a place to settle in the city, we will enter the city together. ”Qiao Zhiqing is more and more impressed with Ma Xun, this kid is really clever and obedient, and he can be of great use.Ma Xun and Wang Shumao nodded, and they all hurriedly went down to prepare.On the third pole of the day, the city wall of Anqing City was gradually revealed, both sides of the strait were broken bricks and tiles, withered like Changsha City, and there was a small tonnage ironclad ship moored on the wharf, Qiao Zhiqing secretly cursed, and one day he would drive all the gunboats of foreign devils out of China.After Anqing was recovered by the Hunan army last year, there was no danger in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and Zeng Guofan was heading towards Nanjing.If the loyal king Li Xiucheng was not obsessed with his gains and losses in Suzhou and Hangzhou, and worked together with the British king Chen Yucheng to defend Anqing, maybe Nanjing's dream of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom could be done for a while.After the boat docked, Qiao Zhiqing changed into a beautiful dress, a lupine scarf, a green robe and gray clothes, and he looked like a weak scholar.Ma Xun was still dressed in his own coarse cloth, pretending to be Qiao Zhiqing's scholar, and accompanied him into the city one after the other.Yan Yuting wanted to pester Qiao Zhiqing into the city, but her body and bones had just healed, but she couldn't move, and under Qiao Zhiqing's persuasion, she was a little unwilling to stay on the boat, but she always looked at Qiao Zhiqing's eyes with some grievances, as if she had changed from a girl to a resentful woman in the deep palace alone.Qiao Zhiqing, who slept on the deck of the ship for a week, couldn't wait to find a bathhouse to soak in a hot bath comfortably and sleep beautifully, but everything after entering the city made Qiao Zhiqing disappointed, the street was sparsely populated, full of dilapidated houses, not to mention an inn for business.The name of the butcher is really worthy of his reputation, the Hunan army has passed everywhere, and there is no grass to live, and Anqing City does not know how many people died under the knife of the Hunan army."
Young master, I've already inquired, Lord Yang really didn't leave, just in the foreign church in the east of the city."
Ma Xun walked around the street and finally got the news from an old woman."
One day, this place will be back to its former prosperity."
Qiao Zhiqing stood on the dilapidated street and sighed inexplicably, laughed to himself, and walked with Ma Xun towards the church in the east of the city.He was a British missionary, and when he came to China with a merchant ship ten years ago, he settled in Anqing, devoted himself to spreading the gospel of God, and gave himself a Chinese name, Joseph Needham.It was at that time that he had no fixed place to live, and he was almost beaten to death by the people of Anqing City as a devil, but fortunately, Qiao Zhiqing's brother Qiao Zhiguang saved his life and gave him some entanglement, so Joseph Needham was very grateful to Qiao Zhiguang.When the city of Anqing was broken, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the city were slaughtered, and Zhao Liewen, a staff member of Zeng Guofan, wrote in his diary: "The men above the bun are all dead, and more than 10,000 women are plundered.Joseph Needham used his status to shelter thousands of women, children and children who had taken refuge in the church from the massacre of the Hunan army, so he was very loved by the people of Anqing.The church is a three-storey European-style bell tower, with a grassy courtyard in front and back, the yard is the size of a football field, and a marble fountain in the center of the front yard, which looks like a garden villa from a distance.When Qiao Zhiqing and Ma Xun arrived at the church, everyone was still doing gospel in the courtyard, and when Ma Xun saw Joseph Needham at the gate of the courtyard, he waved his hand at him loudly, and all the believers who provoked him looked back.Joseph Needham was stunned for a moment when he saw Ma Xun, and then with a charitable smile on his face, he handed the Bible to the nun beside him, and walked slowly towards the door."
Oh, God willing, Ma Xun, I will be able to see you again in my lifetime."
Joseph Needham walked up to Ma Xun, trembling and holding Ma Xun's hands, and constantly sighed in his Chinese."
Lord Yang, your body is still so strong."
Ma Xun also said words of blessing happily, although he had a relationship with this foreign old man, but it could be seen that he was a good person.Joseph Needham laughed, looked at Qiao Zhiqing and asked Ma Xun curiously, "Where has your young master gone, who is this gentleman" Ma Xun introduced him at this time, "He is my young master's younger brother, we came to Anqing to do some business this time, so we came to the church to see you." ”"Brother, oh God, no wonder they look so alike."
Joseph Needham looked at Qiao Zhiqing with a smile, quickly led them into the church, and asked the nun to make two cups of coffee for the two.In the center of the church is a statue of Jesus, and below it are prayer seats, which are no different from modern churches."
Father Li, I didn't expect to be able to drink authentic Brazilian coffee here."
Qiao Zhiqing took a sip of the quilt and talked to Joseph Needham in an authentic London accent.Ma Xun took a big sip regardless of the appearance, spit it out in the cup, and scolded in his heart, how can foreign devils love to drink this Chinese medicine, it is bitter and astringent."
Oh God, you speak English, I haven't heard the language of my hometown in a long time."
Joseph Needham looked at Qiao Zhiqing with wide eyes, muddy tears flowed, and his body couldn't help but tremble.Qiao Zhiqing hurriedly comforted, "Priest, don't be sad, I believe that God will bless you to see your hometown again." ”Joseph Needham wiped his tears with a gauze towel, calmed down, looked at Qiao Zhiqing kindly, as if he saw his relatives, clasped Qiao Zhiqing's hand and asked, "Child, did you encounter any difficulties when you came to me, and I have anything to help you" Qiao Zhiqing's heart warmed, but he still pretended to be embarrassed and replied, "Something happened in my business, and I want to ask for help from the Lord Li Hongzhang in Anqing, I don't know if the priest has an official he knows to introduce me." ”"Oh, that's right, don't worry, I'll think about it."
Joseph Needham frowned and carefully recalled.Qiao Zhiqing looked at him nervously, and the room instantly fell silent."
Oh, come to think of it, an old friend from my hometown came to see me a few days ago, his name is Gordon, and he has been living in the mansion in Anqing recently, maybe he can help you."
Joseph Needham clapped his palm, breaking the silence in the room."
Gordon," Qiao Zhiqing called out in surprise."
How do you know him," Joseph Needham looked at Qiao Zhiqing's reaction curiously."
No, I don't know."
Qiao Zhiqing shook his head, but kept chanting this name in his heart, the name Gordon Qiao Zhiqing is very familiar, he succeeded the American Wall in charge of the foreign gun team and the Manchu Tartars to exterminate the Taiping Army, it turned out that there was an intersection with Li Hongzhang at this time, no wonder after Wall's death, Li Hongzhang strongly recommended Gordon to be the leader of the foreign gun team."
Then so be it, I'll send someone to the government first, and you can rest here for a day, and I'll let my daughter entertain you."
Joseph Needham smiled and went out again to preach the gospel of God.Qiao Zhiqing got up and watched this foreign old man go out.After a short time, a girl in a white dress walked outside the church, but she was Chinese, with long black hair, a tall figure, a little more round and plump than most girls, holding an English version of the book in her hand, and sat down in front of Qiao Zhiqing."
You are Father Needham's daughter" Qiao Zhiqing was a little surprised, Joseph Needham gave birth to such a beautiful daughter, and she still had a Chinese face.The girl nodded and generously introduced, "My name is Li Weier, and I am the adopted daughter of Father Li, and he raised me to adulthood. ”"So that's the case, no wonder Miss Li has an oriental face, my name is Qiao Zhiqing, and I am a friend of Father Li."
Qiao Zhiqing stretched out his hand to introduce himself.Li Weier did not expect that this Chinese actually understood Western etiquette, and unconsciously treated each other a little differently, stretched out her jade hand and shook Qiao Zhiqing, but did not want the book in her hand to fall to the ground.Qiao Zhiqing leaned over to pick it up first, and looked at the title of the book, which turned out to be Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet."
Ma Xun, you go out and take a walk, I want to talk to Miss Li about literature."
Qiao Zhiqing pretended to be mysterious and commanded Ma Xun."
Okay, young master, then I'll go out and see Miss Li again."
Ma Xun reluctantly stood up, said hello to Li Weier and walked out of the door, constantly scolding in his heart, picking up girls and discussing literature.Li Weier smiled at Ma Xun, turned around and asked Qiao Zhiqing, "Do you know this book?"
"Of course, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, I have read it when I was studying in England, it is a beautiful love story. ”Qiao Zhiqing began to talk about it."
Great, you also know Shakespeare, God forbid, finally let me meet a Chinese who understands foreign literature."
Li Weier seemed a little excited, most of the Chinese she knew were ignorant and illiterate, and some of the children of rich families were nerds who only knew the Four Books and Five Classics, so they were usually immersed in the ocean of literature alone, not talking to people much, and their expressions were a little exaggerated because of excitement."
Miss Li, with all due respect, our Chinese literature is not much worse than that of foreigners, for example, Cao Xueqin's Dream of Red Mansions is an insurmountable mountain, and Sha Weng is half a cut shorter in front of him."
Qiao Zhiqing showed off his knowledge, but in fact, he hadn't read Dream of Red Mansions completely, he only felt that the men and women in the book were too hypocritical, and he didn't understand the true meaning of the book.Li Weier nodded in agreement with Qiao Zhiqing's thoughts, and replied with a smile, "What Qiao Gongzi said is true, but unfortunately the Chinese culture is broad and profound, and few outsiders know about it, I recently tried to translate Dream of Red Mansions into English, that is, English is not my mother tongue, so there are many difficulties in translating, and I have time to consult Qiao Gongzi more." ”Qiao Zhiqing smiled and nodded, found some interesting things, and chatted with Li Wei'er, only to make Li Wei'er laugh and lean back.The two were talking happily about each other, and suddenly heard a burst of noise outside, Qiao Zhiqing got up to accompany him with displeasure, and when he went out, he found that the entire church had been surrounded by officials and soldiers
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