"In accordance with the heavens, the emperor ordered: Su Song was in charge of the army, and Jiang Customs supervised Wu Jianzhang, and had been supervising Tianrong for a long time. His salary had been progressing. However, he did not want to repay him. Without the permission of the court, even if his grandson Wu Chaoyue privately helped foreigners to preach and buy land, he should be handed over to the Ministry for the crime. Gu Nian was loyal to his duties and was diligent in his work. During his suspension, he still paid the court taxes as the priority and did not miss his duties. It seems that he could still save him. Now, the foreign troops stationed in Dagukou, sent a letter to ask for peace. Wu Jianzhang rushed to the capital to assist the imperial envoy to discuss peace with the foreign countries, and to atone for his sins. I am here!"

After listening to Emperor Xianfeng's shameless decree, Wu Jianzhang was of course dumbfounded as if in a dream. After a while, he came to his senses and asked Sushun, who was reciting the imperial edict, "Mr. Su, you are not wrong? This diplomatic note submitted by foreigners involved the officials. Why did the emperor ask the officials to assist in the negotiations?"

"It is because it involves you that the emperor called you to go to the capital to assist in the negotiations." Sushun saw some clues and said to Wu Jianzhang directly: "The emperor is giving you a chance to make meritorious service and atone for your sins. If you do your mission, you need to say that Weng Xin has slandered you. Your grandson will also help foreigners to preach and buy land without the permission of the court."

Wu Jianzhang nodded dumbly, still a little unbelievable that this was true. Su Shun urged impatiently: "Mr. Wu, it's time to receive the order to thank you. Then arrange your other errands below and set off to the capital as soon as possible to assist the imperial envoy and foreigners in negotiations. Don't let the emperor wait in a hurry."

He came back to his senses and kowtowed to thank him. According to Sushun's request, Wu Jianzhang quickly set out to arrange the entry into Beijing, and sent someone to the concession to tell the situation to his beloved grandson who was still hiding in the concession, so that Wu Chaoyue would stay in Shanghai to preside over the family affairs. As a result, Wu Chaoyue was shocked when he heard the news and quickly returned to the city to meet Wu Jianzhang. As soon as he met, he asked whether the matter was true or not. Wu Jianzhang handed the imperial edict directly to Wu Chaoyue and said with a smile: "The imperial edict is here, please see it yourself. Unfortunately, time is too tight, otherwise grandpa would definitely take you to the capital to open your eyes."

After quickly taking the shameless imperial edict and looking carefully, Wu Chaoyue's brows immediately frowned into the word "chuan" and said, "Grandpa, do you think this is a bit strange? The foreign fleet stationed in Dagukou and threatened to start a war. It was because of us. The foreigners' notes submitted clearly mentioned the matter of our grandparents and grandchildren, and the court must admit that we are innocent. We are involved in this matter so deeply. Why do the court and the emperor still call you to go to Beijing to participate in this negotiation?"

"The emperor and the court gave me the opportunity to make meritorious service and atone for my sins." Wu Jianzhang said truthfully: "Mr. Su said it very clearly when he announced the imperial edict. If this errand is done, the emperor will no longer pursue you for helping foreigners preach and build factories."

"What if the errand is broken or not done well?" Wu Chaoyue asked, "Is it a punishment for both crimes and a new account and an old account to settle the new account together?"

Wu Jianchang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Mr. Su didn't say anything."

"He didn't say it because he didn't want to explain it clearly." Wu Chaoyue snorted coldly, raised the imperial edict of Emperor Xianfeng, pointed to one of them and said: "Grandpa, you see, the imperial edict actually has this meaning. This sentence 'It seems to be able to be saved'. It clearly means that the emperor and the court still believe that our grandparents and grandchildren are guilty, but there is still a possibility of salvation. For example, if you go to Beijing to participate in negotiations, it will give you a chance to make meritorious service, but if you lose your job, then settle the new and old accounts together!"

Wu Jianzhang took the imperial edict in surprise and looked at it carefully. He carefully chewed the true meaning of the sentence. Wu Chaoyue poured cold water on the side and said: "If my grandson is not wrong, the emperor should be fighting this idea - call grandpa, you go to Beijing to participate in negotiations, and if you negotiate well, you will be rewarded with merits. It is natural that I will no longer pursue the matter of helping foreigners preach, so that outsiders will not think that the court and the emperor are forced to pardon us by foreigners. If the negotiation is not good, or if you find that grandpa, you secretly collude with foreigners and betray the Qing court to please foreigners, then the emperor and the court will cut us off with one knife, and settle the new and old accounts together, and exclaim the anger. The foreigners can't continue to tangle because of our affairs."

Wu Jianzhang's face changed a little. He thought for a while before saying, "So, unless I finish my errand work this time, I will be in danger?"

Wu Chaoyue nodded and then said, "But it is not that easy to do the errands. The so-called "doing the errands well is actually to satisfy the emperor. If the emperor is not satisfied, it is useless to win any benefit for the Qing court at the negotiating table. The emperor still can't spare us. As for how to satisfy the emperor, it is probably the answer that no one knows."

After several basins of cold water from his baby grandson, Wu Jianzhang, who had been full of longing for visiting Emperor Xianfeng for the first time in Beijing, calmed down completely and sat back on the chair and thought silently. Wu Chaoyue felt sorry for this cheap grandfather who was very good to him, so he said again: "Grandpa, in my opinion, you'd better not go to the capital and give up this errand to others."

"Nothing nonsense." Wu Jianzhang scolded and said, "This is the emperor's will, how can we disobey it?"

"It is the emperor's will, and it is also the intention of deliberately cheating you." Wu Chaoyue retorted with disrespect: "Grandpa, think about it, over the years, who has been negotiating and signing treaties with foreigners, can one have a good end? Which one can satisfy the court and the emperor? Who has not been scolded by the people and settled the accounts by the court in the autumn?"

Thinking about the fate of Qishan, Mu Zhanga, Qiying and others, Wu Jianzhang quietly shook his hand and suddenly became a little shaken. Wu Chaoyue lowered his voice and said, "It's actually very simple to turn off this job. Grandpa, you just pretend to be sick. Anyway, you are so old, it's reasonable to suddenly become ill. Even if Su Shun becomes suspicious, you can eat some croton and have diarrhea, and then ask Su Shun to ask the doctor to come to treat you, so that the doctor can prove that you are really sick."

"This..." Wu Jianzhang was a little moved and hesitated.

"Grandpa, you can't hesitate. Negotiating a stolen treaty with foreigners is a matter of being infamous for thousands of years. You must not take the blame. And if the result of the negotiation is not satisfied with the court, the outcome will only be even worse." Wu Chaoyue persuaded: "It's better not to have this opportunity to make meritorious service and atone for sins. At worst, it's a matter of losing your official position and going home to retire. It's better than being infamous for being infamous for thousands of years or being confiscated and beheaded."

Wu Jianzhang was even more shaken after hearing this. After thinking for a long time, Wu Jianzhang said, "Then let me think about it, and then decide whether to pretend to be sick after I have figured it out."

With the lessons from Yuan Zuxu last time, Wu Chaoyue did not dare to take it lightly this time, and repeatedly urged Wu Jianchang to lie on the bed to pretend to be sick, but Wu Jianchang was reluctant to make up his mind. However, at this moment, someone suddenly came to report outside the door, saying that Sushun was visiting the door. Wu Jianchang quickly got up and prepared to greet him. Wu Chaoyue, who was so anxious that he jumped, forced Wu Jianchang to sleep on the bed, whispered to tell his grandfather how to pretend to be sick, and then went outside the door to greet Sushun.

Just as Wu Chaoyue expected, when he saw that Wu Chaoyue was coming out to greet him, Su Shun immediately asked about Wu Chaoyue's situation. Wu Chaoyue replied with a frown: "Report to the imperial envoy, my grandfather suddenly felt a little uncomfortable and was lying on the bed to rest, so he asked the juniors to go out to welcome the imperial envoy. If he was rude, I hope the imperial envoy would forgive him for his crime."

"Mr. Wu is sick?" Su Shun was a little surprised, then glanced at Wu Chaoyue and said, "A few hours ago, when I met Mr. Wu, wasn't he still fine? Why did he suddenly fall ill?"

"There are unexpected situations in the world." Wu Chaoyue said with a sad face: "My grandfather's health is not very good and he is so old. I heard that the emperor summoned him to Beijing to listen to him. I was so happy and excited that I suddenly became ill."

Su Shun blinked his eyes and did not question anymore. He just proposed to see Wu Jianzhang. Wu Chaoyue hurriedly led Su Shun into the back hall. After Wu Jianzhang was pulled on the bed by his baby grandson, he finally made up his mind and moaned on the bed according to Wu Chaoyue's instructions. When he saw Su Shun, he stood up with difficulty and pretended to be exhausted and wanted to fall. When Wu Chaoyue rushed forward to support him, Su Shun was clear-headed and quickly supported Wu Jianzhang and said with concern: "Mr. Wu, be careful. How is it? Is it uncomfortable there?"

"Thank you, Lord Su." Wu Jianzhang moaned and said with a painful expression: "I am so dizzy, my heart is so fluttering that I keep jumping fast, my hands and feet are numb, and it will be difficult to move for a while."

After saying that, Wu Jianchang covered his chest and moaned in pain. His half-dead look was very vivid. Wu Chaoyue, on the other side, quickly comforted him: "Grandpa, it's okay. Your disease is called hypertension in a foreign hospital. As long as you rest more, you won't be seriously injured."

Wu Jianzhang nodded weakly, then turned to Sushun and said, "Sir Su, it's okay, it's okay for the junior official to take a break. He gets more sick as he gets older, which makes Lord Su laugh."

Su Shun was polite with Wu Jianzhang while carefully observing Wu Jianzhang's expression. Wu Chaoyue next to him saw that Su Shun was already suspicious, so he begged Su Shun: "Sir, you are from the capital and you know many famous doctors. Can you give me some guidance or two doctors? Caomin will invite them to see my grandfather."

After saying that, Wu Chaoyue sneered in his heart again: "Even if you call the doctor, there is no blood pressure monitor. I think that Chinese medicine doctor can find out whether the high blood pressure is true or false."

When Sushun, he heard Wu Chaoyue's words, he wanted to ask the doctor to check whether Wu Jianzhang was pretending to be sick, immediately gave up the idea. He knew that Wu Jianzhang was either a real disease or a sure thing that the doctor could not find out whether it was a real disease or a fake disease - otherwise Wu Chaoyue would not be so fearless. So after thinking about it, Sushun shook his head and said, "I didn't bring the imperial physician this time, and I'm not familiar with the situation in Shanghai. I can't help this matter. Nephew, you should ask someone else for a good famous doctor."

Wu Chaoyue agreed with a disappointed expression, and Su Shun said to Wu Jianzhang again: "Mr. Wu just rest with peace of mind. I came here to see your preparations for going to the capital. There is no other major matter. If you feel uncomfortable, just lie down and rest. Oh, by the way, are you ready for your trip? Are you planning to go to Beijing by land or water?"

"I'm ready to go on the waterway, and the boat is ready." Wu Jianzhang replied weakly, and said with a groaning: "Please rest assured, as long as the officials can still move tomorrow, we will definitely set off on time and will never miss the major affairs of the court."

After saying that, Wu Jianzhang also added to his heart and said to himself: "If I still can't move and get my stomach up, then I can't blame me."

Su Shun nodded, blinked his eyes, and suddenly said with a smile: "Of course I don't have to worry about this. Lord Wu, you are the person recommended by Duke Wen Zhong to the court. With Duke Wen Zhong's example, I still have to worry about why Lord Wu, you can't set off for Beijing due to illness?"

Hearing this, Wu Jianzhang's moans pretending to be stopped suddenly, and he asked Sushun in surprise: "Master Su, do you know about Xiaguan and Wen Zhonggong?"

"Mr. Wen Zhong's eldest son Lin Ruzhou served as a cabinet attendant in the capital. I am a cabinet bachelor. I often meet and have a good relationship, so I heard him talk about you and Duke Wen Zhong."

Su Shun replied with a smile and said with a smile: "Mr. Wu, I don't hide it from you. When I came to Shanghai, the members of the association you organized were besieging Weng Xincun's official officers from the city. Your grandson took Weng Xincun's son as a hostage. The reason why I did not report these things to the court was actually because of Duke Wen Zhong and Brother Jingfeng (Lin Ruzhou's name).

Wu Jianzhang was speechless, while Wu Chaoyue, who was on the other side, was both surprised and curious, and quickly asked, "Grandpa, Lord Su, who is Duke Wen Zhong?"

"Even Duke Wen Zhong didn't know, did you read the book into the dog's belly?" Su Shun scolded Wu Chaoyue.

"I really don't know." Wu Chaoyue answered truthfully, adding: "My grandfather never told me."

Su Shun also looked at Wu Jianzhang in surprise, but saw Wu Jianzhang lowering his head and not saying a word. He guessed some reasons in his heart, and snorted: "Mr. Wu, you have never told your grandson about your affairs with Wen Zhonggong. Why don't I want to know or be interested in knowing. I just want to remind you, if it weren't for Wen Zhonggong's favor and support, how could you be today? After the Opium War, merchants from the Thirteenth Trading Company of Guangdong went bankrupt or went bankrupt. There were several people who were forced to commit suicide, but you could be safe alone. Don't you know the reason?"

Wu Jianzhang was even more silent and even more afraid to see Sushun. Sushun stood up and said lightly: "Mr. Wu, I'm leaving. I'll see you off tomorrow. Last year, Wen Zhonggong was seriously ill, but he resolutely went to Guangxi to take office. Unfortunately, he died of illness in Chaozhou. I see that your health is much better. A mere minor illness will definitely not affect your departure to Beijing. This matter has happened because of you, and because of you, I hope you will settle it."

After saying that, Su Shun turned around and left. Although Wu Chaoyue had already heard from Su Shun's implicitness that he had seen through his grandfather being pretending to be sick, he no longer cared about this matter first. He kept asking Wu Jianzhang who Duke Wen Zhong was? Wu Jianzhang looked sad. After a long time, he replied weakly: "Duke Wen Zhong is Lin Zexu, the famous Lin Zexu."

"Lin..., Lin Zexu?" Wu Chaoyue was completely stunned. After a long time, he screamed and asked, "Grandpa, do you know Lin Zexu?"

"It's not just acknowledge?" Wu Jianzhang smiled bitterly and said, "During the Opium War, I was always a translator of Wen Zhonggong. I have always been with Wen Zhonggong for banning smoking in Guangzhou, expelling cigarettes in Humen, and defending the Guangzhou war. I can be regarded as a assistant of Wen Zhonggong at that time, and I have also helped Wen Zhonggong a little."

Wu Chaoyue's triangular eyes stared into copper bell eyes and asked in screaming: "Is there anything wrong? Help Lin Zexu ban smoking in Guangzhou! Humen's cigarettes are removed! What a glorious thing? Grandpa, why haven't you told me before?"

"Because..., I don't have that face."

Wu Jianzhang looked depressed, recalling the past, murmured: "When Duke Wen Zhong went to Guangzhou to ban opium. In order to hold his thigh, the merchants of the Thirteen-League tried to be a translator for him. No one looked down on me, but they picked me up. Later, in the Opium War, the wealthy businessmen of the Thirteen-League were forced to donate huge sums of money as military pay. Wu Bingjian, the richest man in Guangdong, was also arrested and imprisoned by Duke Wen Zhong, and was escorted and paraded in the streets. But I was out of the matter. These were because..., all because..."

"What's the reason?" Wu Chaoyue asked in an itchy way.

"Because at that time, I was the only Thirteen-Strait businessman in Guangzhou who did not do opium business."

Wu Jianzhang told the truth, then lowered his head weakly, and said in a choked voice: "I didn't save my evening and had no shame to see Wen Zhong Gong."

Wu Chaoyue was silent and finally understood why the comprador grandfather never mentioned his relationship with Lin Zexu. The grandparents and grandchildren were relatively speechless, and no one said another for a long time.

I don’t know how long it took, Wu Jianchang wiped the corners of his eyes and stood up and said, “Sun, I know you have good intentions, but since Su Shun deliberately mentioned Duke Lin Wenzhong in front of me, and mentioned the old things about Duke Wenzhong and me, it means that he has seen that I am pretending to be sick, deliberately warned me, and also warned me with kindness. So I have to lie in the capital no matter what, and try my best to do something worthy of Duke Wenzhong. Take advantage of the fact that you are still free now, go back to the concession quickly. If the situation is not right, go to Hong Kong to find your father, and you don’t need to worry about me.”
Chapter completed!