Return to the Qing Dynasty(85)

"Are you on a southern tour?" Twelve glanced at the other party and lowered his eyelids, "You haven't asked your name yet?"

"Toyotomi... Saburo." The other party paused obviously when he answered, and Twelve looked at the other party again.

The man who called himself Saburo Toyotomi frowned slightly, "Master Twelve, do you think there is anything wrong with me?"

It really feels like nothing is right.

"You speak Chinese very well." Twelve smiled sincerely, "No priest who has lived in the capital for half his life can speak Chinese as well as you."

Saburo Toyotomi lowered his body and arranged the felt blanket at his feet, and responded casually, "You are really flattering me."

But it didn't explain why he could speak Chinese so well.

Twelve looked back, but felt a little confused. The other party showed obvious evasion on this question. When answering the question, he did not answer directly, but avoided his eyes. There are many people in his position who have seen him.

There are all kinds of people, who is telling the truth, who is telling lies, and who is hiding something, you can tell them all with just a glance.

It was just a name, asked an innocuous question, and he avoided it.

Twelve did not look at this person, but got down to business, "What do you want to get from me?"

Saburo Toyotomi was stunned for a moment, "Master Twelve is joking. It's not that we are looking for Master Twelve, but someone said that Master Twelve is looking for us."

Twelve raised his eyebrows, raised his hand and slapped his forehead fiercely, saying repeatedly: "Blame me, blame me! I have been disturbed by this Yun Gu during this period, and my mind is in a mess. I haven't had much rest for several days."

Toyotomi Saburo couldn't answer this. At this time, there were two knocks on the door. He raised his hand to interrupt Master Twelve, walked over, opened the door a crack, and handed in a tray with a tray on it.

A tea set. He took it and waved it away. The door closed again.

Saburo Toyotomi looked at Twelve in embarrassment while holding the tray. Twelve looked around, as if he had suddenly realized something. He stood up and let the small table out from under his buttocks, and then sat cross-legged on the futon.

Toyotomi Saburo put the tray on the table, sat down cross-legged with Master Twelve, and then began to play with the tea sets.

Twelve really laughed this time. All the props were fine, but this detail betrayed him. I had heard Lao Jiu talk about the Japanese tea ceremony before. I had also seen it with the Japanese businessmen brought back by Lao Jiu.

of.

Their tea ceremony requires that you drink tea according to the rules, and the spirit of their tea ceremony is contained in these seemingly cumbersome tea drinking procedures. Before entering the tea room, you must pass through a small natural landscape area. This is to make tea drinkers

Before entering the tea room, calm down first, get rid of all mundane distractions, and completely integrate the body and mind into nature. Then use a long-handled water ladle to fill the water in a water tank outside the tea room door, wash your hands, and then slowly put the water into your mouth to rinse.

The purpose of the mouth is to wash away the mundane world inside and outside the body. Then, put a clean handkerchief into the front of the chest, then take a small folding fan and insert it into the belt behind you. After calming down for a while, you enter the tea room.

After entering the tea room, the rules are more complicated.

At that time, I was so tired and panicked, but now I saw Toyotomi Saburo sitting cross-legged opposite him making tea with a serious look, and a trace of ridicule flashed in his eyes. People say that it takes three generations to produce a noble.

These words are not false. Some things lack flavor without the background. It is difficult to paint the bones of a tiger with painted skin. This person can't even paint the skin well.

Suddenly he lost all interest in inquiring. If he wanted to know which group these people were from, it would be better to ask Lao Jiu than to waste time with them here.

When Saburo Toyotomi handed over the tea, Master Twelve smiled. Lao Jiu often dealt with envoys and businessmen from various countries and was very familiar with this. He remembered that Lao Jiu chatted with these brothers.

I once said that when serving tea, the host should hold the bowl with the palm of his left hand and the five fingers of his right hand by the edge of the bowl. After kneeling down, he should raise the bowl and send it to the guest. Look at this person again, sitting down cross-legged.

He also sat down cross-legged, let alone making tea, and just served tea with his hands holding the tea bowl. What kind of rule is this?

Twelve compared in his mind, stretched out his hand and drank it directly, then shook his head bitterly, "No, I can't get used to drinking." After saying that, he stood up directly, "See... today is considered a meeting. What else can I say?

If so, go find Aunt Yun. It’s not convenient for us to meet each other all the time.”

Toyotomi Saburo quickly stood up and said, "You are leaving."

Twelve laughed, glanced at the tea sets on the small table, and then said something meaningful, "I heard that in your country's tea ceremony, money, politics and other secular topics are never allowed to be discussed. What's more,

It cannot be used to discuss business..." He placed his hand between the two of them and nodded, "In the final analysis, this transaction between us is just a business...it would be inappropriate to talk about it any further..."

Saburo Toyotomi nodded with a smile and bowed again, "Then just wait for the good news from Master Twelve."

What can I say about good news?

After coming out of the Toyotomi Tavern, Twelve returned home without much delay. As soon as he entered the study and before he sat down, the nanny next to Fujin came over and said, "...Miss Qiaoer is sick and has severe abdominal pain.

The imperial doctor in the mansion took a look and found nothing serious..."

I was sick and had severe abdominal pain, which meant that the piece of flesh in my stomach had been cured. I showed it to the imperial doctor in the palace, which meant that it did not alarm outsiders. This outsider did not only mean anyone outside the palace, but of course those with ulterior motives.

Man. Fujin handled this matter with his trusted aides.

I sent someone to say something specifically to reassure myself that she would handle everything neatly.

The Twelfth Master nodded, dismissed the person, and quickly wrote another note. This time he did not go to the Thirteenth Mansion in person, but sent it to his confidant, "Remember, I must hand it to you, the Thirteenth Master."

The Thirteenth Master still followed the old rules and didn't look at it. He only sent someone to send it away.

The Fourth Master was actually very close to the capital, and it took more than half a day's journey to get there. After receiving the secret folder from Thirteen, he opened it and took a quick look, then told Su Peisheng, "Call the Ninth Master and the Tenth Master to come over."

These two people came out with the fourth master this time, but they made a strong sense of presence. They were called to the dragon chariot from time to time. To be honest, even when the late emperor was here, such an honor would not be their turn.

Therefore, when the two of them came up, they were still a little embarrassed. It looked like there were nails under their buttocks, and they twisted left and right, interpreting the word "flattered" to the extreme.

The fourth master laughed: "Okay, that's not enough."

Master Jiu laughed along with him: "My brother is not pretending to be scared. You know that when Huang Ama was here, he never took me with him when he went out. Let alone such an honor."

Speaking of the late emperor, it has been a long time ago for Fourth Master.

Unexpectedly, the fourth master's face showed a bit of sadness. The three brothers were silent for a long time, and then the fourth master said: "If Huang Ama sees that we brothers are united now, I think he will be satisfied."

Then he handed the twelve folds to Lao Jiu, "Look at this."

The names of the two brothers are all familiar to each other. On the cover, it says "Thirteen", but when you open it, it says "Twelve".

Master Jiu frowned slightly, raised his head and glanced at Master Fourth. Seeing that the man holding tea was holding his mouth wide open, he looked back and took in every word.

After reading it, he handed it to Lao Shi and then said: "What Lao Twelve means is that those people are not Japanese."

"What do you mean?" Fourth Master did not express his own opinion, only asked Lao Jiu.

Master Jiu shook his head, "Actually, the situation outside is far more complicated than imagined. Ship after ship of real gold and silver is shipped back, and there is definitely not one person who has any ideas about us."

Therefore, it cannot be completely ruled out that they are Japanese.

Fourth Master understood Lao Jiu's subtext and motioned for him to continue.

The expression on Master Jiu's face was complicated for a moment, but his voice came over smoothly, "No matter what time, no matter which country you are in, there is no shortage of careerists..." Just like Lao Ba and himself in the past, just like the past

Twelve also has the fourth elder brother Hongli, and the White Lotus Sect Tiandihui who are all jumping around now.

Having said this, Master Jiu added, "Nowadays, on some small islands in the South China Sea, there are still some people who claim to be subordinates of the Taiwan Zheng family... These people are far away from the rear supplies, and their lives are actually not easy. Also rely on

Robbery the merchant ships passing by to make a living... In the past, they were our own people. When we went ashore, we were citizens, and when we went out to sea, we were thieves. However, when Thirteen established the navy, he recruited most of these people, and now there are fewer of them.

Some people make a living by doing this. So, sometimes, the people and thieves cannot be distinguished so clearly."

Fourth Master put down the tea cup and said, "Tell me your conclusion."

Master Jiu pursed his lips, with a bit of seriousness on his face, "My brother thinks that the ambitions of those countries in the West are the most terrifying thing... A few months ago, my brother received a personal letter from Hong Xi, saying that there is

A Dutch merchant ship landed on a small island, which was marked on the map you gave me. Later, Hongxi sent people to station there... There was a slight conflict between the two, but that place was patrolled by our navy.

Within the scope, the matter was resolved without any major conflict..."

When the fourth master heard this, he understood what the ninth master was talking about. It must be the later Aomen.

"It's all at our doorstep." Master Jiu sighed, "His ambition is obvious. Besides, our navy escorts and the quality of the warships are clear at a glance. It is human nature to covet good things. These people's

The purpose may not be regicide. This is ridiculous."

Master Shi nodded, "The White Lotus Sect thinks they have the blueprints in their hands. If these people want the blueprints, they will inevitably make a deal with the White Lotus Sect. The purpose of the White Lotus Sect is different from these people. The transaction between the two parties is to get what they want.

The White Lotus Sect has been severely damaged, and if they want to try again, there is no one available. And these people want the blueprints but have no way. So the two parties hit it off immediately." He put the folder in front of the Fourth Master.

, "Actually, which party this is from is not what we are anxious to know now. The key thing is their plan - on the southern patrol road. Therefore, my brother suspects that there is a shadow of the Cao Gang in this."

Master Jiu frowned, thinking of the secret move the Queen made half a year ago. He couldn't help but feel moved in his heart. He raised his eyes and looked at Master Four. It was obvious that the two of them thought of going together.

While they were talking here, Su Peisheng's voice came from outside, "Long live the Lord, Fourth Brother is here to welcome the Holy Master."

Hongli?

The Fourth Master frowned and picked up the tea again. The Ninth Master and the Tenth Master looked at each other and resigned knowingly.

Su Peisheng personally helped the two of them down, then went up again and whispered to the fourth master: "The fourth brother is here, I don't dare to stop you..."

"Then call him over." Fourth Master raised the curtain and tightened his cloak, "call Hong Zhou over on the way, and let's have a meal together." He asked in a good mood, "What are we going to eat today?"

"Mushroom soup pot, freshly made silver noodles..." Su Peisheng was stunned for a moment before replying.

The Fourth Master didn't seem to have much of an appetite, "Do you still have the pickles your mistress asked you to bring?"

"Yes." Su Peisheng immediately understood that the master was thinking of the empress, and he quickly apologized, "The empress asked someone to bring pancakes yesterday, and now you ask them to bake them and bring them to you?"

"Forget noodles, just make pancakes. Just cut the pickles and serve them freshly." After eating, only Tongtong's rice tasted like home.

Su Peisheng left without hesitation, and by the way, he informed the fifth elder brother that the emperor had proclaimed him.

Hong Zhou looked at the smile on Su Peisheng's face and thought it was a good thing, but as soon as he got on the chariot, he realized that Hong Li was coming.

He was only stunned for a moment, then raised a smile and greeted his Ama first, and then hugged Hongli affectionately, "Fourth brother is here, and he misses me so much."

Hong Li was so disgusted by Hong Zhou that as soon as he pushed him away, he heard a barrage of questions coming from him, "...Is the emperor's grandmother feeling better? Where is the emperor's mother? Xiaoqi and the others are also very tired.
To be continued...