The Deer And The Cauldron 38

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The Deer And The Cauldron 38
第三十八回 纵横野马群飞路 跋扈风筝一线天

韦小宝笑眯眯的回到大厅,只见吴应熊陪着四名武将闲谈。赵良栋和王进宝不知在争辩甚么,两人都是面红耳赤,声音极大。两人见韦小宝出来,便住了口。韦小宝笑问:“两位争甚么啊?说给我听听成不成?”张勇道:“我们在谈论马匹。王副将相马眼光独到,凭他挑过的马,必是良驹。刚才大家说起了牲口,王副将称赞云南的马好。赵总兵不信,说道川马、滇马腿短,跑不快。王副将却说川马滇马有长力,十里路内及不上别的马,跑到二三十里之后,就越奔越有精神。”韦小宝道:“是吗?兄弟有几匹坐骑,请王副将相相。”吩咐亲兵回府,将马厩中的好马牵来。吴应熊道:“韦都统的坐骑,是康亲王所赠,有名的大宛良驹,叫做玉花骢。我们的滇马又怎及得上?”王进宝道:“韦大人的马,自然是好的。大宛出好马,卑职也听到过。卑职在甘肃、陕西时,曾骑过不少大宛名驹,短途冲刺是极快的,甚么马也比不上。赵良栋道:“那么赛长途呢?难道大宛马还及不上滇马?”

王进宝道:“云南马本来并不好,只不过胜在刻苦耐劳,有长力。这些年来卑职在滇北养马,将川马、滇马交配,这新种倒是很不错。”赵良栋道:“老兄,你这就外行了。马匹向来讲纯种,种越纯越好,没听说杂种马反而更好的。”王进宝胀红了脸,说道:“赵总兵,我不是说杂种马一切都好。马匹用途不同,有的用以冲锋陷阵,有的用以负载辎重,就算是军马,也大有分别啊。有的是百里马,有的是千里马,长途短途,全然不同。”赵良栋道:“哼,居然有人说还是杂种好。”王进宝大怒,霍地站起,喝道:“你骂谁是杂种?这般不干不净的乱说!”赵良栋冷笑道:“我是说马,又不是说人。谁的种不纯,作贼心虚,何必乱发脾气。”王进宝更加怒了,说道:“这是额驸公的府上,不然的话,哼哼!”赵良栋道:“哼哼怎样?你还想跟我动手打架不成?”张勇劝道:“两位初次相识,何必为了牲口的事生这闲气?来来来,我陪两位喝一杯,大家别争了。”他是提督,官阶比赵良栋、王进宝都高,两人不敢不卖他面子,只得都喝了酒。两人你瞪着眼瞧我,我瞪着眼瞧你,若不是上官在座,两个火爆霹雳的人当场就要打将起来了。

过不多时,韦小宝府中的亲兵、马伕牵了坐骑到来,众人同到后面马厩中去看马。王进宝倒也真的懂马,一眼之下,便说出每匹马的长处缺点,甚至连性情脾气也猜中了七八成。韦府的马伕都十分佩服,大赞王副将好眼力。最后看到韦小宝的坐骑玉花骢。这马腿长膘肥,形貌神骏,全身雪白的毛上尽是胭脂斑点,毛色油光亮滑,漂亮之极,人人喝采不迭。王进宝却不置可否,看了良久,说道:“这匹马本质是极好的,只可惜养坏了。”韦小宝道:“怎地养坏了?倒要请教。”王进宝道:“韦大人这匹马,说得上是天下少有的良驹。这等好马,每天要骑了快跑十几里,慢跑几十里,越磨练越好。可是韦大人过于爱惜,不舍得多骑。这牲口过的日子太也舒服,吃的是上好精料,一年难得跑上一两趟,唉,可惜,可惜,好像是富贵人家的子弟,给宠坏了。”

吴应熊听了,脸色微变,轻轻哼了一声。韦小宝瞧在眼里,知道王进宝最后这几句话已得罪了吴应熊,心想:“我不妨乘机挑拨离间,让他们云南将帅不和。”便道:“王副将的话,恐怕只说对了一半,富贵人家子弟,也有本事极大的。好比额驸爷,他是你们王爷的世子,自幼儿便捧了金碗吃饭,端着玉碗喝汤,可半点没给宠坏啊。”王进宝胀红了脸,忙道:“是,是。王爷世子,自然不同。卑职决不是说额驸爷。”赵良栋冷冷的道:“在你心里,只怕以为也没甚么不同罢。”王进宝怒道:“赵总兵,你为甚么老是跟兄弟过不去?兄弟并没得罪你啊。”韦小宝笑道:“好了,别为小事伤了和气。做武官的,往往瞧不起朝里年轻大臣,也是有的。”王进宝道:“回都统大人;卑职不敢瞧你不起。”赵良栋道:“你瞧不起额驸爷。”王进宝大声道:“没有。”

韦小宝道:“王副将,可惜你养的好马,都留在云南,否则倒可让我们见识见识。”王进宝道:“我养的马……是,是,不敢当。”韦小宝心觉奇怪:“甚么叫做‘是,是,不敢当!’?”赵良栋道:“反正王副将的好马都在云南,死无对证。韦都统,小将在关外养了几百匹好马,匹匹日行三千里,夜行二千里。就可惜隔得远了,不能让都统大人瞧瞧。”众人哈哈大笑,都知他是故意讥刺王进宝。王进宝气得脸色铁青,指着左首的马厩,大声道:“那边的几十匹马,就是这次我从云南带来的。赵总兵,你挑十匹马,跟我这里随便那十匹赛赛脚力,瞧是谁输谁赢。”赵良栋见那些滇马又瘦又小,毛秃皮干,一共有五六十匹,心想:“你这些叫化马有甚么了不起?”说道:“马倒挺多,只不过有点儿五痨七伤。就是韦都统府里随便牵来的这几匹牲口,也担保胜过了王副将你亲手调养的心肝宝贝儿。”韦小宝笑道:“大家空争无用。额驸爷,咱们各挑十匹,就来赛一赛马,双方赌个采头。”

吴应熊道:“韦都统的大宛良马,我们的云南小马那里比得上?不用赛了,当然是我们输。”韦小宝见王进宝气鼓鼓地、一脸不服气的神情,道:“额驸爷肯服输,王副将却不服输。这样罢,我拿一万两银子出来,额驸爷也拿一万两银子出来,待会儿咱们就去城外跑跑马,哪一个赢了六场,以后的就不用比了。你说好不好呢?”吴应熊还待再推,突然心念一动:“这小子年少好胜,我就故意输一万两银子给他,让他高兴高兴。”笑道:“好,就是这么办。韦大人,你如输了,可不许生气。”韦小宝笑道:“赢要漂亮,输要光棍,那有输了生气之理?”

一瞥眼间,见王进宝眼中闪烁着喜色,心道:“啊哟,瞧这王副将的神情,倒似乎挺有把握,莫非他这些痨病马当真很有长力?不行,不行,非作弊搞鬼不可。”他生平赌钱,专爱作弊,眼见这场赛马未必准赢,登时动了坏主意,心想今日赛马,已来不及做手脚,说道:“既要赌赛,我得去好好挑选十匹马。明天再赛怎样?”吴应熊决心拉马,不尽全力,十场比赛中输八九场给他,今天比明日比也没分别,当即点头答应。韦小宝在额驸府中饮酒听戏,不再提赛马之事。到得傍晚,邀请吴应熊带同张勇、王进宝、孙思克三人到自己府中喝酒。吴应熊欣然应邀,一行人便到韦小宝的伯爵府来。坐定献上茶,韦小宝说声:“少陪,兄弟去安排安排。”吴应熊笑道:“大家自己人,不用客气。”韦小宝道:“贵客驾临,可不能太寒伧了。”来到后堂,吩咐总管预备酒席戏班,跟着叫了府里的马伕头儿来,交给他三百两银子,说道:“我的玉花骢和别的马儿,还在额驸府中,你这就去牵回来,顺便请额驸府里的一班马伕去喝酒,喝得他妈的个个稀巴烂。”那马伕头儿应了。韦小宝道:“给马儿吃些甚么,那就身疲脚软,没力气跑路?

可又不能毒死了。”马伕头儿道:“不知爵爷要怎么样,小人尽力去办就是。”韦小宝笑道:“跟你说了也不打紧,额驸有一批马,刚从云南运来的,夸口说长力极好,明儿要跟咱们的马比赛。咱们可不能输了丢人,是不是?”那马伕头儿登时明白,笑道:“爵爷要小人弄点甚么给额驸的马儿吃了,明儿比赛,咱们就能准赢?”韦小宝笑道:“对了,你聪明得很。明儿赛马,是有采头的,赢了再分赏金给你。你悄悄去办这件事,可千万不能给额驸府里的马伕知道了。这三百两银子拿去请客,喝酒赌钱嫖堂子,他妈的甚么都干,搅得他们昏天黑地,这才下药。”那马伕头儿道:“爵爷望安,错不了。小人去买几十斤巴豆,混在豆料之中,喂吴府的马儿吃了,叫一匹匹马儿全拉一夜稀屎,明日比赛起来,乌龟也跑赢它们了。”韦小宝随即出去陪伴吴应熊等人饮酒。他生怕吴应熊等回去后,王进宝又去看马,瞧出了破绽,是以殷勤接待,不住劝酒。赵良栋酒量极宏,一直跟王进宝斗酒,喝到深夜,除了韦小宝与吴应熊外,四员武将都醉倒了。

次日早朝后,韦小宝进宫去侍候皇帝。康熙笑容满面,心情极好,说道:“小桂子,有个好消息跟你说,尚可喜和耿精忠都奉诏撤藩,日内就动身来京了。”韦小宝道:“恭喜皇上,尚耿二藩奉诏,吴三桂老家伙一只手掌拍不来手……”康熙笑道:“孤掌难鸣。”韦小宝道:“对,孤掌难鸣,咱们这就打他个落花流水。”康熙笑道:“倘若他也奉诏撤藩呢?”韦小宝一怔,说道:“那也好得很啊。他来到北京,皇上要搓他圆,他不敢扁,皇上要搓他扁,他说甚么也圆不起来。”康熙微笑道:“你倒也明白这个道理。”
The next day, Trinket called on the Emperor in his Library after the morning audience. Kang Xi seemed in the best of spirits.’Good news, Laurie!’ he exclaimed. ‘Two of the Three Big Baddies-old Shang and Geng-have “accepted” my “acceptances” and will be leaving any day now for Peking.”Congratulations, Majesty! So that leaves Wu on his own.”And as the old saying goes, a single hand cannot clap.”Exactly! We’ll soon have him in our power! And as another old saying goes, he’ll be as helpless as falling flowers and running streams.’Trinket was never one to be outdone when it came to ‘old sayings’.Kang Xi laughed”And supposing he “accepts” as well?’Trinket stared at Kang Xi for a second. Then”Why, if he does, so much the better. Let him come to Peking. He’ll be like a sea’dragon stranded on the beach.”I think you understand it well,’ commented Kang Xi.

韦小宝道:“那时候,他好比,似蛟龙,困在沙滩,这叫做虎落平阳……”说到这里,伸伸舌头,在自己额头卜的一下,打了一记。康熙哈哈大笑,说道:“这叫做虎落平阳被你欺,那时候哪,别说他不敢得罪我,连你也不敢得罪啊。”韦小宝道:“是,是,那也好玩得紧。”康熙道:“敕建扬州忠烈祠的文章,我已经做好了,教翰林学士写了,你带去扬州刻在碑上。挑个好日子,这就动身罢。”韦小宝道:“是。如果三藩都奉诏撤藩,这忠烈祠还是要建么?”康熙道:“也不知吴三桂是不是奉诏。再说,褒扬忠烈,本是好事,就算吴三桂不造反,也是要办的。”韦小宝答应了,闲谈之际,说起建宁公主请求觐见。康熙点点头,吩咐身后太监,即刻宣建宁公主入见。康熙兴致极好,详细问他罗刹国的风土人物,当时火枪手如何造反,苏菲亚公主如何平乱,大小沙皇如何并立,说了一回,公主来到了上书房。一见之下,公主便伏在康熙脚边,抱住了他腿,放声大哭,说道:“皇帝哥哥,我今后在宫里陪着你,再也不回去了。”
‘But Majesty, supposing things work out for the best and the Satrap doesn’t take up arms against you, do you still want to go ahead and build this Martyrs’ Temple in Yangzhou?”Most definitely. Don’t forget, we still don’t know what Wu’s response will be. But even if he does decide to go quietly, it’s always a good thing to proclaim the virtues of loyalty and devotion.”Yes, Majesty.’The two of them chatted idly for a while. Then Trinket brought up the subject of the Princess, and Kang Xi dispatched one of his eunuchs to bring her to the Palace at once. He and Trinket embarked on a conversation about Russia, but before they had got very far, the Princess arrived. She fell at Kang Xi’s knees, threw her arms around him, and burst into tears. ‘Dearest brother!’ she sobbed. ‘Save me! Let me come back! Let me spend the rest of my days here in the Palace waiting on you! Please! I never want to live with him again!’

康熙抚着她头发,问道:“怎么啦?额驸欺侮你么?”公主哭道:“谅他也不敢,他……他……”说着又哭了起来。康熙心道:“你阉割了他,使他做不了你丈夫,这可是你自作自受。”安慰了她几句,说道:“好啦,好啦,不用哭啦,你陪我吃饭。”
Kang Xi stroked her hair. ‘What’s the trouble’ Is your husband treating you badly?’ ‘It’s not that. . . It’s She broke down altogether. As he looked at her, Kang Xi (who knew her story) was thinking to himself’ ‘This is your own doing, dear sister. You’re the one who castrated him in the first place. If he can never be a proper husband to you, you have no one to blame but yourself.’ He spoke a few comforting words, and invited her to stay on in the Palace and have lunch with him.

皇帝吃饭,并无定时,一凭心之所喜,随时随刻就开饭。当下御膳房太监开上御膳,韦小宝在一旁侍候。他虽极得皇帝宠爱,却也不能陪伴饮食。康熙赏了他十几碗大菜,命太监送到他府中,回家后再吃。
There was never any fixed time for the Emperor’s meals. He ate as and when he felt like it. The Imperial Catering Department (with its fabulous repertoire of delicacies) was always ready to oblige at a moment’s notice. This it now did, and one of the Department’s eunuchs brought in a dazzling array of food. Trinket, however much of a favourite he may have been, was never allowed to sit down at table with Kang Xi. He stood in waiting to one side, and the Emperor graciously ‘bestowed upon him’ a dozen or so main dishes, which one of the court eunuchs was instructed to deliver to Trinket’s town mansion, for him to eat later in the day.

公主喝得几杯酒,红晕上脸,眼睛水汪汪地,向着韦小宝一瞟一瞟。在皇帝跟前,韦小宝可不敢有丝毫无礼,眼光始终不和公主相接,一颗心怦怦乱跳,暗想:“公主酒后倘若漏了口风,给皇帝瞧了出来,我这颗脑袋可不大稳当了。”他奉旨护送公主去云南完婚,路上却监守自盗,和公主私通,罪名着实不小,心下懊悔,实不该向皇帝提起公主要求觐见。公主忽道:“小桂子,给我装饭。”说着将空饭碗伸到他面前。
The Princess consumed several cups of wine, and became somewhat flushed. Her eyes began to swim, and she kept glancing in Trinket’s direction, which he found most disconcerting. They could not allow the slightest suggestion of misbehaviour in the Emperor’s presence, or he would never emerge from the Palace in one piece. He did his utmost not to meet the Princess’ gaze. But his heart was thumping. ‘If she gets really drunk and lets our secret out of the bag, I’m done for!’ His earlier cavorting with the Princess, on the way south to Yunnan, if it had ever been discovered, would in itself already be considered a capital offence. He had, in effect, helped himself to the very commodity he was supposed to have been protecting from all comers. He was Degimimg cu i^6,.^ “” -0 encouraged the Emperor to invite her to the Palace. ‘Laurie,’ she suddenly blurted out, ‘give me some more rice!’

康熙笑道:“你饭量倒好。”公主道:“见到皇帝哥哥,我饭也吃得下了。”韦小宝装了饭,双手恭恭敬敬捧着,放在公主面前桌上,公主左手垂了下去,重重在他大腿上扭了一把。韦小宝吃痛,却不敢声张,连脸上的笑容也不敢少了半分,只是未免笑得尴尬,却是无可如何了,心中骂道:“死婊子,几时瞧我不重重的扭还你。”心中骂声未歇,脑袋不由得向后一仰,却是公主伸手到他背后,拉住了他辫子用力一扯。
As she said this, she held her bowl out towards him.’You seem to have a good appetite today, at least’ said Kang Xi, trying his best to sound cheerful.’Seeing my brother makes me feel like eating again,’ she replied.Trinket filled her bowl with rice, and placed it politely before her on the table. She let her hand fall onto his thigh, and gave him a hefty pinch. Trinket dared not utter the slightest cry of pain, but kept an unchanged smile on his face.’Filthy little slut!’ he was thinking. ‘Just you wait till I have a go at youVEven as he was cursing her silently in his mind, he felt his head being jerked back’ she had grabbed him by his pigtail.

这一下却给康熙瞧见了,微笑道:“公主嫁了人,还是这样的顽皮。”公主指着韦小宝笑道:“是他,是他……”韦小宝心中大急,不知她会说出甚么话来,幸喜公主只格格的笑了几声,说道:“皇帝哥哥,你名声越来越好。我在宫里本来不知道,这次去云南,一路来回,听得百姓们都说,你做皇帝,普天下老百姓的日子过得真好。就是这小子哪,”说着向韦小宝白了一眼,道:“官儿也越做越大。只有你的小妹子,却越来越倒霉。”康熙本来心情甚好,建宁公主这几句恭维又恰到好处,笑道:“你是妻凭夫贵,吴应熊他父子俩要是好好地听话撤藩,天下太平,我答应你升他的官便是。”公主小嘴一撇,说道:“你升不升吴应熊这小子的官,不关我事,我要你升我的官。”康熙笑道:“你做甚么官哪?”公主道:“小桂子说,罗刹国的公主做甚么摄政女王。你就封我做大元帅,派我去打番邦罢。”康熙哈哈大笑,道:“女子怎能做大元帅?”公主道:“从前樊梨花、余太君、穆桂英,哪一个不是抓印把子做大元帅?为甚么她们能做,我就不能?你说我武艺不行,咱们就来比划比划。”说着笑嘻嘻的站起身来。康熙笑道:“你不肯读书,跟小桂子一般的没学问,就净知道戏文里的故事。前朝女子做元帅,倒真是有的。唐太宗李世民的妹子平阳公主,帮助唐太宗打平天下。她做元帅,统率的一支军队,叫做娘子军,她驻兵的关口,叫做娘子关,那就厉害得很了。”公主拍手道:“这就是了。皇帝哥哥,你做皇帝胜过李世民。我就学学平阳公主。小桂子,你学甚么啊?学高力士呢?还是魏忠贤?”康熙哈哈大笑,连连摇头,说道:“又来胡说八道了。小桂子这太监是假的。再说,高力士、魏忠贤都是昏君手下的太监,你这可不是骂我吗?”公主笑道:“对不起,皇帝哥哥,你别见怪,我是不懂的。”想着“小桂子这太监是假的”这句话,瞟了韦小宝一眼,心中不由得春意荡漾,说道:“我该去叩见太后了。”康熙一怔,心想:“假太后已换了真太后,你的母亲逃出宫去了。”他一直疼爱这个妹子,不忍令她难堪,说道:“太后这几天身子很不舒服,不用去烦她老人家了,到慈宁宫外磕头请安就是了。”公主答应了,道:“皇帝哥哥,我去慈宁宫,回头再跟你说话。小桂子,你陪我去。”
This time Kang Xi had spotted her. He laughed.’Sister, you are a married woman now. You should leave such childish nonsense behind you!”It’s his fault!’ she cried, pointing at Trinket.Trinket was terrified she was about to blurt out something terrible. But he needn’t have worried. What followed was a series of harmless enough exchanges between the Princess and her brother, until suddenly she announced that she wished to go in and visit her mother, the Empress Dowager.Both Trinket and Kang Xi knew that the Princess’ natural mother, Mao Dongzhu, the Fake’Empress Dowager, otherwise known as the Old Whore, had vanished. The true Empress Dowager, who had now been reinstated in her proper place, would be a total stranger to the Princess. (After all, she had spent all those years out of sight, cooped up in a wardrobe.) It would be far better to avoid the shock of such an encounter.’Your Mother has not been well recently’ said Kang Xi (which for all he knew might well have been true). ‘Go as far as the entrance to the Hall of Maternal Tranquillity, and do your curtsey to her there.’

韦小宝不敢答应。康熙向他使个眼色,命他设法阻拦公主,别让他见到太后。韦小宝会意,点头领旨,当下陪着公主,往慈宁宫去。韦小宝嘱咐小太监先赶去慈宁宫通报。果然太后吩咐下来,身子不适,不用叩见了。公主不见母亲很久,心中记挂,说道:“太后身子不舒服,我更要瞧瞧。”说着拔足便往太后寝殿中闯了进去。一众太监、宫女哪敢阻拦?韦小宝急道:“殿下,殿下,太后她老人家着了凉,吹不得风。”公主道:“我慢慢进门,一点儿风也不带进去。”推开寝殿门,掀起门帷,只见罗帐低垂,太后睡在床上,四名宫女站在床前。公主低声道:“太后,女儿跟你磕头来啦。”
He gave Trinket a look, which Trinket interpreted (correctly) to mean, ‘Go with her and make sure nothing untoward happens’.The two of them made their way together to the Hall of Maternal Tranquillity. The Princess was insistent that she should go in and see her mother, after such a long absence. No amount of pleading from Trinket and the maids and eunuchs could succeed in holding her back. As she approached the Dowager’s bedstead, with its great embroidered curtain closed, the Princess said in a barely audible whisper’ ‘Your Majesty, Mother, I kowtow to you.’

说着跪了下来,轻轻磕了几个头。只听得太后在帐中唔了几声。公主走到床边,伸手要揭帐子,一名宫女道:“殿下,太后吩咐,谁也别惊动了太后。”公主点点头,揭开了帐子一条缝,向内张去,只见太后面向里床,似乎睡得很沉。公主低唤:“太后,太后。”太后一声不答。公主无奈,只得放下帐子,悄悄退出来,心中一阵酸苦,忍不住哭了出来。韦小宝见她没瞧破真相,心头一块大石落地,劝道:“公主住在京里,时时好进宫来请安。待太后大好之后,再来慈宁宫罢。”公主觉得有理,当即擦干了眼泪,道:“我从前的住处不知怎样了,这就去瞧瞧。”说着便向自己的寝宫走去,韦小宝跟随在后。
So saying she knelt and performed a series of prostrations before the bed. She heard a faint mumbling from within the curtains, and insisted on going right up to the bed and drawing the curtains aside a crack. The Empress Dowager was lying with her face to the wall, apparently in deep slumber. ‘Your Majesty’ whispered the Princess again. But there was no reply. Trinket was hugely relieved to see that she had been unable to detect the change. The Princess, having let the curtain fall back into place, tiptoed out of the room and was so overcome with emotion that she began sobbing loudly. Trinket comforted her by saying that she could return some other day, when her mother was fully recovered. After all, she only lived just around the corner. ‘I want to go and see my old rooms,’ announced the Princess, wiping away her tears. Trinket followed her.

公主以前所住的建宁宫便在慈宁宫之侧,片刻间就到了。公主嫁后,建宁宫由太监、宫女洒扫看守,一如其旧。公主来到寝殿门口,见韦小宝笑嘻嘻站在门外,不肯进来,红着脸道:“死太监,你怎不进来?”韦小宝笑道:“我这太监是假的,公主的寝殿进来不得。”公主一伸手,扭住了他耳朵,喝道:“你不进来,我把你这狗耳朵扭了下来。”用力一拉,将他扯进寝殿,随手关上殿门,上了门闩。韦小宝吓得一颗心突突乱跳,低声道:“公主,在宫里可不能乱来,我……我……这可是要杀头的哪!”
Her rooms were just beside the Empress Dowager’s, and in no time they were there. The Princess noticed how immaculately clean the place had been kept by the eunuchs and maids since her departure. She also noticed Trinket dawdling awkwardly in the doorway, and flushed again. ‘Go on, you silly little eunuch! In you go!’ Trinket gave a laugh. ‘You know perfectly well I’m not a eunuch. And you know I’m not allowed into your private chambers.’ She grabbed him by the ear and cried’ ‘If you don’t come in, I’ll pull your ear off!’ So saying, she yanked him inside, and closed and bolted the door after them. Trinket was absolutely petrified. His heart was thumping in terror. ‘Princess!’ he pleaded in a strangled whisper. ‘You really mustn’t try anything inside the Palace. It would be more than my life’s worth.’

公主一双眼水汪汪地如要滴出水来,昵声道:“韦爵爷,我是你奴才,我来服侍你。”双臂一伸,紧紧将他抱住了。韦小宝笑道:“不,不可以!”公主道:“好,我去跟皇帝哥哥说,你在路上引诱我,叫我阉了吴应熊那小子,现下又不睬我了。”伸手在他腿上重重扭了一把。过了良久良久,两人才从寝宫中出来。公主满脸眉花眼笑,说道:“皇上吩咐你说罗刹国公主的事给我听,怎么还没说完,就要走了?”韦小宝道:“奴才筋疲力尽,再也没力气说了。”公主笑道:“下次你再来跟我说去辽东捉狐狸精的事。”韦小宝斜眼相睨,低声道:“奴才再也说不动了。”公主格格一笑,一反手,拍的一声,打了他一记巴掌。建宁宫的太监宫女都是旧人,素知公主又娇又蛮的脾气,见她出手打人,均想:“公主嫁了人,老脾气可一点没改。韦伯爵是皇上最宠爱的大臣,她居然也是伸手便打。”
Her eyes were swimming. She looked as if at any moment she would burst into tears. ‘Dearest lord and master,’ she said finally, squeezing the words out in her sweetest and most seductive voice. ‘I am your willing slave. Your word is my command.’ And so saying, she threw her arms around him in a passionate embrace. Trinket gave a panicky laugh. ‘No! Not here!! Please!!!’ ‘All right then, I’ll tell my brother the Emperor all about what happened on the way to Yunnan; how you seduced me, how you made me cut off poor Wu’s ding’dong, and how you’ve, now gone and abandoned me!’ And by way of punctuation, she dug her fingers into his thigh and gave him a good pinch. It was quite some time before the two of them finally emerged from her bedchamber. The Princess was all smiles, her face a picture of contentment. But she still managed to find cause to grumble and tease. ‘My brother said you’d tell me all about that Russian Princess of yours. Come on-‘ ‘I’m much too tired now,’ returned Trinket. ‘You’ve quite exhausted me.’ ‘Next time, then. I want to know all about her.’

两人回到上书房去向康熙告辞。天已傍晚,见康熙对着案上的一张大地图,正在凝神思索。公主道:“皇帝哥哥,太后身子不适,没能见着,过几天我再来磕头请安。”康熙点头道:“下次等她传见,你再来罢。”右手指着地图,问韦小宝道:“你们从贵州进云南,却从广西出来,哪一条路容易走些?”原来他是在参详云南的地形。韦小宝道:“云南的山可高得很哪,不论从贵州去,还是从广西去,都难走得紧。多数的出路不能行军,公主坐轿,奴才就骑马。”康熙点点头,忽然想起一事,吩咐太监:“传兵部车驾司郎中。”转头对公主道:“你这就回府去罢,出来了一整天,额驸在等你了。”公主小嘴一撇,道:“他才不等我呢。”她有心想等齐了韦小宝一同出宫,在路上多说几句话儿也是好的,但听皇帝传见臣工,有国事咨询,说道:“皇帝哥哥,天这么晚了,你还要操心国家大事,从前父皇可没你这么勤劳政务。”康熙心中一酸,想起父皇孤零零的在五台山出家,说道:“父皇聪明睿智,他办一个时辰的事,我三个时辰也办不完。”公主微笑道:“我听大家都说,皇帝哥哥天纵英明,旷古少有,大家不敢说你强过了父皇,却说是中国几千年来少有的好皇帝。”康熙微微一笑,说道:“中国历来的好皇帝可就多了。别说尧舜禹汤文武,三代以下,汉文帝、汉光武、唐太宗这些明主,那也令人欣慕得很。”公主见康熙说话之时,仍是目不转瞬的瞧着地图,不敢多说,向韦小宝飞了一眼,手臂仍是垂着,手指向他指指,回过来向自己指指,意思说要他时时来瞧自己。韦小宝会意,微微颔首。
They both returned to the Emperor’s Library, where they found Kang Xi busy studying a map of the South’West. He posed Trinket several questions about the mountainous terrain on the way to Yunnan, and its suitability for heavy military hardware. Then he sent word for the official in charge of transportation at the Board of War to be brought before him. Clearly his mind was completely occupied with great affairs of state. The Princess reluctantly took her leave, to set off back to her husband’s mansion. As she left, she caught Trinket’s eye and pointed first at him, then at herself. The message was clear’ come and see me more often. Trinket responded with a barely perceptible nod.

当下公主向康熙行礼,辞了出去。过了一会,康熙抬起头来,说道:“那么咱们所造的大炮只怕太重太大,山道上不易拖拉。”韦小宝一怔,随即明白康熙是要运大炮去云南打吴三桂,说道:“是,是。奴才胡里胡涂,没想到这一节。最好是多造小炮,两匹马拉得动的,进云南就方便得多。”康熙道:“山地会战,不能千军万马的一齐冲杀,步兵比马兵更加要紧。”过不多时,兵部车驾驶三名满郎中、一名汉郎中一齐到来,磕见毕,康熙问道:“马匹预备得怎样了?”兵部车驾驶管的是驿递和马政之事,当即详细奏报,已从西域和蒙古买了多少马匹,从关外又运到了多少马匹,眼前已共有八万五千余匹良马,正在继续购置饲养。康熙甚喜,嘉奖了几句。四名郎中磕头谢恩。韦小宝忽道:“皇上,听说四川、云南的马匹和口外西域的马不同,身躯虽小,却有长力,善于行走山道,也不知是不是。”康熙问四名郎中道:“这话可真?”那汉人郎中道:“回皇上:川马、滇马耐劳负重,很有长力,行走山道果然是好的。但平地上冲锋陷阵,远远及不上口马跟西域马。因此军中是不用川马、滇马的。”康熙向韦小宝望了一眼,问那郎中:“咱们有多少川马、滇马?”那郎中道:“回皇上:四川和云南驻防军中,川马、滇马不少,别地方就很少了。湖南驻防军中有五百多匹。”康熙点了点头,道:“出去罢。”

他不欲向臣下泄露布置攻滇的用意,待四名郎中退出后,向韦小宝道:“亏得你提醒。明日就得下旨,要四川总督急速采办川马。这件事可须做得十分隐秘才好。”韦小宝忽然嘻嘻一笑,神色甚是得意。康熙问道:“怎么啦?”韦小宝笑道:“吴额驸有一批滇马,刚从云南运来的,他夸口说这些马长力极好。奴才不信,约好了要跟他赛上一赛。滇马是不是真的有长力,待会儿赛过就知道了。”康熙微笑道:“那你得跟他好好赛一赛,怎生赛法。”韦小宝道:“我们说好了一共赛十场,胜了六场的就算赢。康熙道:“只赛十场,未必真能知道滇马的好处。你知道他有多少滇马运来?”韦小宝道:“我看他马厩之中,总有五六十匹,都是新运到的。”康熙道:“那你就跟他赛五六十场好了,要斗长路,最好是去西山,跑山路。”见韦小宝脸色有点古怪,便道:“他妈的,没出息,倘若输了,采金我给你出好了。”韦小宝不便直告皇帝,已在吴应熊马厩中做下了手脚,这场比赛自己已赢了九成九,但一赛下来,皇帝如以为滇马不中用,将来行军打仗,只怕误了大事,微笑道:“那倒不是为了采金……”

康熙忽然“咦”的一声,说道:“滇马有长力,吴应熊这小子,运这一大批滇马到北京来干甚么?”韦小宝笑道:“他定是想出风头,夸他云南的马好。”康熙皱起了眉头,说道:“不对!这……这小子想逃跑。”韦小宝尚未明白,奇道:“逃跑?”康熙道:“是了!”大声叫道:“来人哪!”吩咐太监:“立即传旨,闭紧九门,谁也不许出城,再传额驸吴应熊入宫见朕。”几名太监答应了出去传旨。韦小宝脸上微微变色,道:“皇上,你说吴应熊这小子如此大胆,竟要逃跑?”康熙摇了摇头,道:“但愿我所料不确,否则的话,立刻就得对吴三桂用兵,这时候咱们可还没布置好。”韦小宝道:“咱们没布置好,吴三桂也未必便布置好了。”康熙脸上深有忧色,道:“不是的。吴三桂还没到云南,就已在招兵买马,起心造反了。他已搞了十几年,我却是这一两年才着手大举部署。”韦小宝只有出言安慰:“不过皇上英明智慧,部署一年,抵得吴三桂部署二十年。”

康熙提起脚来,向他虚踢一脚,笑道:“我踢你一脚,抵得吴三桂那老小子踢上你二十脚。他妈的,小桂子,你可别看轻了吴三桂,这老小子很会用兵打仗,李自成这么厉害,都叫他打垮了。朝廷之中,没一个将军是他对手。”韦小宝道:“咱们以多为胜,皇上派十个将军出去,十个打他妈的一个。”康熙道:“那也得有个能干的大元帅才成。我手下要是有个徐达、常遇春,或者是个沐英,就不用担忧了。”韦小宝道:“皇上御驾亲征,胜过了徐达、常遇春、沐英。当年明太祖打陈友谅,他也是御驾亲征。”康熙道:“你拍马屁容易,说甚么鸟生鱼汤,英明智慧。真的英明,第一就得有自知之明。行军打仗,非同小可。我从来没打过仗,怎能是吴三桂的对手?几十万兵马,一个指挥失当,不免一败涂地。前明土木堡之变,皇帝信了太监王振的话,御驾亲征,几十万大军,都叫这太监给胡里胡涂的搞得全军覆没,连皇帝也给敌人捉了去。”韦小宝吓了一跳,忙道:“皇上,奴才这太监可是假的。”康熙哈哈大笑,说道:“你不用害怕,就算你这太监是真的,我又不是前明英宗那样的昏君,会让你胡来?”韦小宝道:“对,对!皇上神机妙算,非同小可,戏文中是说得有的,叫做……叫做甚么甚么之中,甚么千里之外。”康熙笑道:“这句句子太难,不教你了。”说了一会话,太监来报,九门提督已奉旨闭城。康熙正稍觉放心,另一名太监接着来奏:“额驸出城打猎未归,城门已闭,不能出城宣召。”康熙在桌上一拍,站起身来,叫道:“果然走了。”问道:“建宁公主呢?”那太监道:“回皇上:公主殿下还在宫里。”康熙恨恨的道:“这小子,竟没半点夫妻情份。”

韦小宝道:“皇上,奴才这就去追那小子回来。他说好今儿要跟奴才赛马,忽然出城打猎,的确路道不对。”康熙问那太监:“额驸几时出城去的?”那太监:“回皇上,奴才去额驸府宣旨,额驸府的总管说道,今儿一清早,额驸就出城打猎去了。”康熙哼了一声,道:“这小子定是今早得到尚可喜、耿精忠奉旨撤藩的讯息,料知他老子立时要造反,便赶快开溜。”转头对韦小宝道:“他已走了六七个时辰,追不上啦。他从云南运来几十匹滇马,就是要一路换马,逃回昆明。”

韦小宝心想:“皇上当真料事如神,一听到他运来大批滇马,就料到他要逃走。”眼见康熙脸色不佳,不敢乱拍马屁,忽然想起一事,说道:“皇上望安,奴才或许有法子抓这小子回来。”康熙道:“你有甚么法子?胡说八道!倘若滇马真有长力,他离北京一远,乔装改扮,再也追不上了。”韦小宝不知马伕头儿是否已给吴应熊那批滇马吃了巴豆,不敢在皇帝面前夸下海口,说道:“食君之禄,忠君之事。奴才这就去追追看,真的追不上,那也没法子。”康熙点头道:“好!”提笔迅速写了一道上谕,盖上玉玺,命九门提督开城门放韦小宝出去,说道:“你多带骁骑营军士,吴应熊倘若拒捕,就动手打好了。”将调兵的金符交了给他。韦小宝道:“得令!”接了上谕,便向宫外飞奔出去。

公主正在宫门相候,见他快步奔出,叫道:“小桂子,你干甚么?”韦小宝叫道:“乖乖不得了,你老公逃了。”竟不停留,反而奔得更快。公主骂道:“死太监,没规没矩的,快给我站住。”韦小宝叫道:“我给公主捉老公去,赴汤蹈火,在所不辞,披星戴月,马不停蹄……”胡言乱语,早就去得远了。韦小宝来到宫外,跨上了马,疾驰回府,只见赵良栋陪着张勇等三将在花厅喝酒,立即转身,召来几十名亲兵,喝令将张勇等三将拿下。众亲兵当下将三将绑了。张勇凛然道:“请问都统大人,小将等犯了甚么罪?”韦小宝道:“有上谕在此,没空跟你多说话。”说着将手中上谕一扬,一连串的下令:“调骁骑营军士一千人,御前侍卫五十人,立即来府前听令。预备马匹。”亲兵接令去了。韦小宝对赵良栋道:“赵总兵,吴应熊那小子逃走了。吴三桂要起兵造反。咱们赶快出城去追。”赵良栋叫道:“这小子好大胆,卑职听由差遣。”张勇、王进宝、孙思克三人大吃一惊,面面相觑。韦小宝对亲兵道:“好好看守这三人。赵总兵,咱们走。”

张勇叫道:“韦都统,我们是西凉人,做的是大清的官,从来不是平西王的嫡系。我们三个以前在甘肃当武官,后来调到云南当差,一直受吴三桂排挤。他调卑职三人离开云南,就是明知我们三人不肯附逆,怕坏了他的大事。”韦小宝道:“我怎知你这话是真是假?”孙思克道:“吴三桂去年要杀我的头,全凭张提督力保,卑职才保住了脑袋。我心中恨这老混蛋入骨。”张勇道:“卑职三人如跟吴应熊同谋,怎不一起逃走?”韦小宝心想这句话倒也不错,沉吟道:“好,你们是不是跟吴三桂一路,回头再细细审问。赵总兵,追人要紧,咱们走罢。”张勇道:“都统大人,王副将善于察看马迹,滇马的蹄形,他一看便知。”韦小宝点头道:“这本事挺有用处。不过带了你们去,路上倘若捣起蛋来,老子可上了你们大当。”孙思克朗声道:“都统大人,你把小将绑在这里,带了张提督和王副将去追。他二人倘若有甚异动,你回来一刀把小将杀了便是。”

韦小宝道:“好,你倒挺有义气。这件事我有些拿不定主意。来来来,张提督,我跟你掷三把骰子,要是你赢,就听你的,倘若我赢,只好借三位的脑袋使使。”也不等张勇有何言语,当即大声叫道:“来人哪,拿骰子来!”王进宝道:“小将身边有骰子,你松了我绑,小将跟你赌便是。”韦小宝大奇,吩咐亲兵松了他绑缚。王进宝伸手入袋,果然摸了三枚骰子出来,刷喇喇一把掷在桌上,手法甚是熟练。韦小宝问:“你身边怎地带着骰子?”王进宝道:“小将生平最爱赌博,骰子是随身带的。要是没人对赌,左手便同右手赌。”韦小宝更是兴味盎然,问道:“自己的左手跟右手赌,输赢怎生算法?”王进宝道:“左手输了,右手便打左臂一拳;右手输了,左手打右臂一拳。”韦小宝哈哈大笑,连说:“有趣,有趣。”又道:“老兄跟我志同道合,定是好人。来,把这两位将军也都放了。王副将,我跟你掷三把,不论是输是赢,你们都跟我去追吴应熊。若是我赢,刚才得罪了三位这件事,就此抵过。如果是你赢,我向三位磕头陪罪。”张勇等三人哈哈大笑,都说:“这个可不敢当。”

韦小宝拿起骰子,正待要掷,亲兵进来禀报,骁骑营军士和御前侍卫都已聚集,在府外候令。韦小宝收起骰子,道:“事不宜迟,咱们追人要紧。四位将军,这就去罢!”带了张勇、赵良栋等四人,点齐骁骑营军士和御前侍卫,向南出城追赶。王进宝在前带路,追了数里,下马瞧了瞧路上马蹄印,说道:“都统大人,奇怪得很,这一行折而向东去了。”韦小宝道:“这倒怪了,他逃回云南,该当向南去才是。好,大伙儿向东。”赵良栋心下起疑:“向东逃去,太没道理。莫非王进宝这小子故意引我们走上错路,好让吴应熊逃走。”说道:“都统大人,可否由小将另带一路人马向南追赶?”韦小宝向王进宝瞧了眼,见他脸有怒色,便道:“不用了,大伙儿由王副将带路好了。滇马是他养的,他不会认错。”吩咐亲兵,取兵刃由张勇等三人挑选。张勇拿了一杆大刀,说道:“都统大人年纪虽轻,这胸怀可是了不起。我们是从云南来的军官,吴三桂造反,都统大人居然对我们推心置腹,毫不起疑。”韦小宝笑道:“你不用夸奖。我这是押宝,所有银子,都押在一门。赢就大赢,既抓到吴应熊,又交了你们三位好朋友。输就大输,至不济给你老兄一刀砍了。”张勇大喜,说道:“我们西凉的好男儿,最爱结交英雄好汉。承蒙韦都统瞧得起,姓张的这一辈子给你卖命。”说着投刀于地,向韦小宝拜了下去。王进宝和孙思克跟着拜倒。韦小宝跳下马来,在大路上跪倒还礼。

四人跪拜了站起身来,相对哈哈大笑。韦小宝道:“赵总兵,你也请过来,大伙儿拜上一拜,今后就如结成了兄弟一般,有福共享,有难共当。”赵良栋道:“我可信不过这个王副将,等他抓到了吴应熊,我再跟他拜把子。”王进宝怒道:“我官阶虽低,却也是条好汉子,希罕跟你拜把子吗?”说着一跃上马,疾驰向前,追踪而去。向东驰出十余里,王进宝跳下马来,察看路上蹄印和马粪,皱眉道:“奇怪,奇怪。”张勇忙问:“怎么啦?”王进宝道:“马粪是稀烂的,不知是甚么缘故,这不像是咱们滇马的马粪。”韦小宝一听大喜,哈哈大笑,说道:“这就是了,货真价实,童叟无欺,这的的确确是吴应熊的马队。”王进宝沉吟道:“蹄印是不错的,就是马粪太过奇怪。”韦小宝道:“不奇怪,不奇怪!滇马到了北京,水土不服,一定要拉烂屎,总得拉上七八天才好。只要马粪是稀烂的,那定是滇马。”王进宝向他瞧了一眼,见他脸色诡异,似笑非笑,不由得将信将疑,继续向前追踪。

又奔了一阵,见马迹折向东南。张勇道:“都统大人,吴应熊要逃到天津卫,从塘沽出海。他在海边定是预备了船只,从海道去广西,再转云南,以免路上给官军截拦了。”韦小宝点头道:“对!从北京到昆明,十万八千里路程,随时随刻会给官兵拦住,还是从海道去平安得多。”张勇道:“咱们可得更加快追。”韦小宝问道:“为甚么?”张勇道:“从京城到海边,只不过几百里路,他不必体恤马力,尽可拚命快跑。”韦小宝道:“是,是。张大哥料事如神,果然是大将之才。”张勇听他改口称呼自己为“大哥”,心下更喜。韦小宝回头传令,命一队骁骑营加急奔驰,去塘沽口水师传令,封锁海口,所有船只不许出海。一名佐领接了将令,领兵去了。过不多时,只见道旁倒毙了两匹马匹,正是滇马。张勇喜道:“都统大人,王副将追的路径果然不错。”王进宝却愁眉苦脸,神色甚是烦恼。韦小宝道:“王三哥,你为甚么不开心?”王进宝心想:“我又不是行三,怎么叫我三哥?”说道:“小将养的这些滇马,每一匹都是千中挑一的良驹,怎地又拉稀屎,又倒毙在路?就算吴应熊拚命催赶,马匹也不会如此不济!唉!真可惜,真可惜!”

韦小宝知他爱马,更不敢提偷喂巴豆之事,说道:“吴应熊这小子只管逃命,累死了好马,枉费了王三哥一片心血,他妈的,这小子不是人养的。”王进宝道:“都统大人怎地叫小将王三哥,这可不敢当。”韦小宝笑道:“张大哥、赵二哥、王三哥、孙四哥,我瞧那一位的胡子花白些,便算他年纪大些。”王进宝道:“原来如此。吴三桂一家人,没一个是好种。当兵的不爱马,总是没好下场。”说着唉声叹气。行不数里,又见三匹马倒毙道旁,越走死马越多。张勇忽道:“都统大人,吴应熊的马吃坏了东西,跑不动了。可是防他下马逃入乡村躲避。”韦小宝道:“张大哥甚么事都料早了一着,兄弟佩服之极。”当即传令骁骑营,分开了包抄上去。果然追不数里,北边一队骁骑营大声欢叫:“抓住了吴应熊啦!”韦小宝等大喜,循声赶去,远远望见大路旁的麦田之中,数百名骁骑营军士围成一圈。这一带昨天刚下了雨,麦田中一片泥泞。韦小宝等纵马驰近,众军士已押着满身泥污的几人过来。当先一人正是吴应熊,只是身穿市井之徒服色,那还像是雍容华贵的金马玉堂人物?韦小宝跳下马来,向他请了个安,笑道:“额驸爷,你扮戏文玩儿吗?皇上忽然心血来潮,要想听戏,吩咐小的来传。你这就去演给皇上看,那可挺合式。哈哈,你扮的是个叫化儿,这可不是《金玉奴棒打薄情郎》中的莫稽么?”

吴应熊早已惊得全身发抖,听着韦小宝调侃,一句话也答不出来。韦小宝兴高采烈,押着吴应熊回京,来到皇宫时已是次日午间。康熙已先得到御前侍卫飞马报知,立即传见。韦小宝泥尘满脸,故意不加抹拭。康熙一见,自然觉得此人忠心办事,劳苦功高之极,伸手拍他肩头,笑问:“他妈的,小桂子,你到底有甚么本事,居然将吴应熊抓了回来?”韦小宝不再隐瞒,说了毒马的诡计,笑道:“奴才本来只盼赢他一万两银子,教他不敢夸口,同时奴才有钱花用,给皇上差去办事的时候,也不用贪污了。那知道皇上洪福齐天,奴才胡闹一番,居然也令吴三桂的奸计不能得逞。可见这老小子如要造反,准败无疑。”康熙哈哈大笑,也觉这件事冥冥中似有天意,自己福气着实不小,笑道:“我是有福的天子,你是福将,这就下去休息罢。”韦小宝道:“吴应熊这小子已交御前侍卫看管,听由圣意处分。”康熙沉吟道:“咱们暂且不动声色,仍然放他回额驸府去,且看吴三桂有何动静。最好他得知儿子给抓了回来,我又不杀他,就此感恩,不再造反。”韦小宝道:“是,是。皇上宽宏大量,鸟生鱼汤。”康熙道:“你派一队骁骑营,前后把守额驸府门,有人出入,仔细盘查。他府里的骡马都拉了出来,一匹不留。”他说一句,韦小宝答应一句。康熙道:“这次的有功人员,你开单奏上,各有升赏,连那放巴豆的马伕头儿,也赏他个小官儿做做,哈哈。”

韦小宝跪下谢恩,将张勇、赵良栋、王进宝、孙思克四人的名字说了,又道:“张勇等三将是云南的将领,但也明白效忠皇上,出力去抓吴应熊,可见吴三桂如想造反,他军下将官必定纷纷投降。”康熙道:“张勇和那两员副将不肯附逆,那好得很。张勇本来是甘肃的提督,另外两员副将多半也不是吴三桂的旧部。”韦小宝道:“皇上圣明。”韦小宝出得宫来,亲将吴应熊押回额驸府,说道:“驸马爷,我在皇上面前替你说了不少好话,才保住了你这颗脑袋。你下次再逃,可连我的脑袋也不保了。”吴应熊连声称谢,心中不住咒骂,只是数十匹好马如何在道上接连倒毙,以致功败垂成,这道理却始终不懂。数日后朝旨下来,对韦小宝、张勇等奖勉一番,各升了一级。康熙不欲张扬其事,以致激得吴三桂生变,因此上谕中含糊其事,只说各人办事得力。吴应熊这么一逃,康熙料知吴三桂造反已迫在眉睫,总算将吴应熊抓了回来,使他心有所忌,或能将造反之事缓得一缓。康熙这些日子来调兵遣将,造炮买马,十分忙碌,只是库房中银两颇有不足,倘若三藩齐反,再加上台湾、蒙古、西蒙三地,同时要对付六处兵马,那时军费花用如流水一般,支付着实不易,只要能缓得一日,便多了一天来筹饷备粮。康熙心想多亏韦小宝破了神龙岛,又笼络了罗刹国,神龙岛那也罢了,罗刹国却实是大敌,此人不学无术,却是一员福将,于是下了上谕,着他前赴扬州建造忠烈祠,暗中嘱咐,南下时绕道河南,剿灭王屋山司徒伯雷的匪帮,除了近在肘腋的心腹之患。韦小宝奏请张勇等四将拨归麾下,康熙自即准奏。

With the impending storm brewing around his father the Satrap, Young Wu was not at all confident that his life was assured in Peking. One day it came to the notice of the Emperor’s staff that the young man had left the city and gone out hunting. Trinket offered to go in pursuit, and the Emperor authorized him to do so, providing him with an escort of cavalry. They discovered that Wu was already on his way to the northern port city of Tianjin, evidently planning to flee by sea to the relative security of the South. They would have to make haste if they were to catch up with him. Finally they came upon him heavily disguised, bogged down with his horses in a muddy field of wheat. They took him back to Peking, where the Emperor graciously decided not to kill him, but to allow him to go on living in his own residence, under a sort of house arrest.

Kang Xi’s intention in showing this clemency was to encourage Wu’s father the Satrap to abandon his plans of rebellion. Trinket and the others involved in his capture were rewarded with substantial honours. Throughout this, in the back of the Emperor’s mind, was the need to play for time. He did not want to have to fight on all fronts simultaneously’ against Satrap Wu and the two other Feudatory Warlords in the South and South’West; against the separatists in Taiwan; against the Mongols and the Tibetans. But despite all these preoccupations of his, he still decided it was important to proceed with his plan of sending Trinket to Yangzhou, to build the temple in memory of the Ming Martyr Shi Kefa, and to deal with the Wang Wu Clan. Before Trinket set out for the South, he received an unexpected visit from Admiral Shi Lang, and the various Triad Brothers who had taken part in the ill’fated attack on Snake Island. They were greatly relieved to find him safe and sound, having spent the months since his disappearance scouring the ocean and the seaboard for any sign of him. For old time’s sake, the Triads decided to accompany their Lodge Master on his new assignment.

En route for Yangzhou’ the Wang Wu Clan

这日韦小宝带同张勇等四将正要起行,忽然施琅、黄甫以及天地会的徐天川、风际中等一齐来到。相见之下,尽皆欢喜。原来韦小宝中了洪教主的美人计被擒,施琅等倒不是不敢回来,却是每日里乘坐舰只,在各处海岛寻觅,盼能相救。徐天川等更分赴辽东、直隶、山东三省沿海陆上寻访,直到接到韦小宝从京里发出的讯息,这才回京相会。韦小宝自然不说遭擒的丑事,胡言乱语的掩饰一番。施琅等心中不信,却也不敢多问。韦小宝又去奏明皇帝,说了施琅等人的功绩,各人俱有封赏。徐天川等天地会兄弟不受清廷官禄,韦小宝自也不提。众人在北京大宴一日,次日一齐起程。不一日来到王屋山下,韦小宝悄悄对天地会兄弟说知,要去剿灭司徒伯雷。众人都吃了一惊。李力世道:“韦香主,这件事却干不得。司徒伯雷志在兴复明室,是一位大大的英雄好汉。咱们如去把王屋山挑了,那可是为鞑子出力。”韦小宝道:“原来如此,我瞧司徒老儿那些徒儿,果然很有英雄气概。可是我奉了圣旨来剿王屋山,这件事倒为难了。”玄贞道人道:“韦香主在朝廷的官越做越大,只怕有些不妥。依我说,咱们跟司徒伯雷联手,这就反了罢。”祁清彪摇头道:“咱们第一步是借鞑子之手,对付吴三桂这大汉奸。韦香主如在这时候造反,说不定鞑子皇帝又去跟吴三桂联成一气,那可功亏一篑了。”韦小宝原不想对康熙造反,一听这话,忙道:“对,对!咱们须得干掉吴三桂再说,那是第一等大事。司徒伯雷只不过几百人聚在王屋山,小事一件,不可因小失大。”徐天川道:“眼前之事,是如何向鞑子皇帝搪塞交代。再说,鞑子皇帝有心在扬州为史阁部建忠烈祠,这件事,咱们也不能把他弄糟了。”史可法赤胆忠心,为国殉难,天下英雄豪杰无不钦佩。天地会群雄听徐天川一说,都点头称是。至于如何向皇帝交代敷衍,谁也及不上韦小宝的本事了,众人都眼望他,听由他自己出主意。
In a few days Trinket and his expeditionary force reached Wangwu Mountain, on the borders of Henan and southern Shanxi Provinces. They had been obliged to deviate considerably from the direct route to Yangzhou. Trinket confided in his Triad Brothers the nature of this preliminary part of the expedition, namely, the destruction of the Wang Wu Clan. They responded with horror. ‘Lodge Master Wei!’ protested old Brother Li, the tall thin Triad Elder who had himself been for a time Acting Lodge Master of the Green Wood Lodge. ‘We can’t possibly do that! Situ Bolei, the leader of the Wang Wu Clan, is a great hero, and an important fighter in the Resistance. By wiping out the Clan, we’d be doing the Manchus a great favour!’ ‘So that’s the score!’ replied Trinket. ‘I wondered myself, when I met them, if they were on our side. This is a tricky one. What are we to do?’It also occurred to him how ironic it was that Kang Xi should send him off to atone for one massacre and commit another, all in the same expedition.Father Obscurus was for taking this opportunity to link up with the Clan, and openly declare rebellion. Now was the time for their Lodge Master to show his true colours. Tertius protested that their first priority must be to deal with the Satrap. If Lodge Master Wei were to lead an open rebellion now, this might drive the Manchu Emperor into the arms of the Satrap, and the Ming Resistance would face a dangerous ‘United Front’. This line of thinking was more to Trinket’s liking (he had no desire to rise up against his friend Kang Xi). ‘You’re right,’ he said. The Satrap is the top priority. The Wang Wu Clan is a minor element in the big picture.’ The question then was how to avoid dealing a blow to the Clan, without alerting the suspicions of the Emperor. All eyes turned to Trinket.

韦小宝笑道:“既然王屋山打不得,咱们就送个信给司徒老兄,请他老哥避开了罢。”众人沉吟半晌,均觉还是这条计策可行。韦小宝想起那日掷骰子赌命,王屋派那小姑娘曾柔瓜子脸儿、大大的眼睛,甚是秀美可爱,心想:“我跟司徒老儿又没交情,要送人情,还不如送了给曾姑娘。”正在此时,张勇和赵良栋分别遣人来报,已将王屋山团团围住,四下通路俱已堵死。原来韦小宝一入河南省境,便将围剿王屋山的上谕悄悄跟张勇、赵良栋等四将说了。四将不动声色,分别带领人马,把守了王屋山下各处通道要地,只待接令攻山。四将跟随韦小宝后,只凭擒拿吴应熊这样轻而易举的一件差事,便各升官,都很感激,只盼这次出力立功,在各处通道上遍掘陷坑,布满绊马索。弓箭手、钩镰枪手守住了四面八方,要将山上人众个个擒拿活捉,不让走脱了一个。四将均想:“五千多名官兵,攻打山上千来名土匪,胜了有甚么希奇?只有不让一人漏网,才算有点儿小小功劳。”韦小宝心想:“将司徒伯雷他们一古脑儿捉了,也不是甚么大功,天地会众兄弟又极不赞成。江湖上好汉,义气为重,可不能得罪了朋友。”
‘Perhaps we should get a message through to them, warning them to keep well out of our way,’ he suggested vaguely. His own memories of the Clan were dominated by the image of the fifteen’year’old Zeng Rou, whose pretty face and lustrous eyes had so beguiled him on that previous occasion. Perhaps he could deliver the message to her, which would offer him a chance of renewing their brief, but memorable, first encounter . . .As he was musing on this possibility, word came from his second in command, Lieutenant’Colonel Zhao Liangdong, that the Clan’s mountain lair was already completely surrounded. Traps had been dug, barbed with arrows and spears, and devices for tripping horses had been laid on the various roads leading up the mountain. They were only waiting for Lord Wei’s command to launch theattack. Trinket racked his brains for a way out of this dilemma. It was clear to him now that he must stand by his Triad Brothers, and somehow save the Clan from their perilous predicament.

正自寻思如何向曾柔送信、放走王屋派众师徒,忽听得东面鼓声响动,众军士喊声大作。跟着哨探来报,山上有人冲杀下来。韦小宝心想:“三军之前,可不能下令放人,只有捉住了再说,慢慢设法释放便是。”传令:“个个要捉活的,一人都不许杀伤。”亲兵传令出去。韦小宝又加以一句:“尤其是女的,更加不可伤了。”一瞥眼见到徐天川、钱老本等人的神色,不禁脸上微微一红,心道:“你们放心,这次不会再像神龙岛那样,中美人计被擒了。”他带了天地会群雄,走向东首山道边观战,只见半山里百余人众疾冲而下。官兵得了主帅将令,不敢放箭,只涌上阻拦,但听得吆喝之声此伏彼起,冲下来的人一个个落入陷坑,被钩镰枪手钩起捉了。韦小宝想看曾柔是不是也拿住了,但隔得远了,瞧不清楚。
At that very moment, there were cries from outside. Some of the Clan were already hurtling down the mountainside, intent on fighting to the death! Trinket pulled himself together, and issued the following order’ ‘They are all to be taken alive! No one is to be killed!’ (Especially not the women, he thought to himself.) He stationed himself with some of his Triad Brothers on a knoll to the east, and watched. They could see more than a hundred men come charging down the mountainside. The government troops, in obedience to their commander’s orders, refrained from letting fly their arrows, but stood firm, blocking their descent. There were agonizing cries as the men fell into the traps set for them, and were impaled on the arrows and spears, before being taken away. From a distance Trinket could not tell whether the fair Zeng Rou was among them.

忽见一人纵跃如飞,从一株大树跃向另一株大树,窜下山来。官兵上前拦阻,那人矫捷之极,竟然阻他不住。玄贞道人赞叹:“好身手!”这人渐奔渐近,眼见再冲得数十丈便到山脚。钱老本道:“这人武功如此了得,莫非就是司徒伯雷么?”徐天川道:“除了司徒老英雄,只怕旁人也无这等……”一言未毕,孙思克突然叫道:“这人好像是吴三桂的卫士。”说话之间,那人又已窜近了数丈。韦小宝叫道:“先抓住他再说!”天地会群雄纷向那人围了上去。那人手舞钢刀,每一挥动,便砍翻了一名军士。孙思克挺着长枪迎上,看清楚了面貌,叫道:“巴朗星,你在这里干甚么?”这人正是吴三桂身边的亲信卫士巴朗星。他大声叫道:“我奉平西亲王将令,为朝廷除害,杀了反贼司徒伯雷。你们为甚么阻我?”徐天川等一听,都大吃一惊,只见他腰间悬着一颗血肉模糊的头颅,也不知是不是司徒伯雷。众人一拥而上,团团围住。
Suddenly they caught sight of a man leaping with extraordinary agility from tree to tree, undeterred by the lines of Manchu troops that tried to block his advance. ‘Excellent kungfu!’ muttered Father Obscurus. The man was almost at the foot of the mountain. That must surely be their leader, Situ Bolei,’ ventured Butcher Qian. Apothecary Xu was of the same opinion. But one of Trinket’s officers, Colonel Sun Sike, thought he recognized him as a commander of the Satrap’s. ‘Whoever he is, capture him!’ ordered Trinket. The Triads rushed forward to surround the man. As they came closer, Colonel Sun called out’ ‘Ba Langxing, what are you doing here?’ Colonel Sun had been right’ the man was indeed one of the Satrap’s top guards. ‘I am here on the Satrap’s orders,’ the man called back, ‘to wipe out the Wang Wu Clan, and to save his Majesty the Emperor from the harm they were plotting against him! Why are you trying to prevent me from doing my duty?’ As he was speaking, they were able to distinguish a round, murky-looking object suspended from his sash’ it was a dripping, bloody human head. Their immediate thought was that it must be the head of Situ Bolei, the Clan leader.

孙思克道:“韦都统在此,放下兵刃,上去参见,听由都统大人发落。”巴朗星道:“好!”将刀插入刀鞘,快步向韦小宝走去,大声道:“参见都统大人。”韦小宝道:“你在这里……”巴朗星突然一跃而起,双手分抓韦小宝的面门胸口。韦小宝大叫:“啊哟!我的妈!”转身便逃。巴朗星武功精强,嗤的一声,左手已扯下了他背上一片衣衫,右手往他头顶抓落,突觉右侧一足踢到,来势极快。巴朗星侧身避开,那人跟着迎面一掌,正是风际中。巴朗星举掌挡格,身子一晃,突觉后腰一紧,已被徐天川抱住。钱老本伸指戳在他胸口,巴朗星哼了一声。风际中左腿横扫,巴朗星站立不定,倒了下去。钱老本将他牢牢按住,亲兵过来绑了,推到韦小宝跟前。巴朗星大声道:“平西王大兵日内就到,那时叫你们一个个死无葬身之地,识时务的,这就快快投降。”韦小宝笑道:“平西王起兵了吗?我倒不知道啊。他老人家身体好罢?”巴朗星见他神态和善,一时不明他用意,说道:“钦差大臣,你到过昆明,平西王也很看重你。你是聪明人,干么做鞑子的奴才?还是早早归顺平西王罢。”徐天川在他屁股上踢了一脚,喝道:“吴三桂这大汉奸卑鄙无耻,你做他的奴才,更加无耻。”巴朗星大怒,转头一口唾沫,向徐天川吐去。徐天川侧身避过,这口唾沫吐中一名亲兵的脸。
‘Lord Wei is in command here’ called out Colonel Sun. ‘Lay down your weapons, and hear what he has to say about this.’ Ba Langxing went through the motions of obeying this CHAPTER 23 command, but no sooner had he come near Trinket than he leapt into the attack again. It took the concerted efforts of several Triad Brothers to subdue him.’Just wait till the Satrap’s forces arrive!’ he cried defiantly. ‘You’ll die then, every one of you!”So the Satrap has already given his army their marching orders, has he?’ replied Trinket coolly. ‘I had no idea. How is the old man, anyway?’Ba mistook this for a sign of friendship.’Lord Wei, you’ve been to Kunming. My master the Satrap thinks highly of you, I know he does. Why waste your time with the Manchus’ Come over to us!’Apothecary Xu rewarded this with a good boot up Ba’s pants.’The Satrap is a filthy, low’down dog! And you’re his lackey, so you’re even worse!’Ba spat in Xu’s face, but Xu turned aside and the spittle landed on the face of one of the guards.

韦小宝道:“巴老兄,有话好说,不必生气。你要我归降平西王,也不是不好商量。你到王屋山来贵干啊?”巴朗星道:“跟你说了也不打紧,反正司徒伯雷我已杀了。”说着向挂在腰间的首级瞧了一眼。韦小宝道:“平西王为甚么要杀他?”巴朗星道:“你跟我去见平西王,他老人家自然会跟你说。”徐天川等人大怒,拔拳要打。韦小宝使眼色制住,命亲兵将巴朗星推入营中盘问。岂知这人十分倔强,对吴三桂又极忠心,只是劝韦小宝投降,此外不肯吐露半句。一搜他身边,搜出一封盖了朱红大印的文书来。韦小宝命人一读,原来是吴三桂所写的伪诏,封司徒伯雷为“开国将军”,问他这文书的来历,巴朗星瞪目不答。韦小宝眼见问不出甚么,吩咐押了下去,将擒来的余人拷打喝问,终于有人吃打不过,说了出来。
‘Let’s all calm down,’ said Trinket, ‘and talk this over properly. What are you doing here?”What’s the point talking about it’ Take a look at this instead! It’s Situ Bolei’s head!’Trinket looked down at the object hanging from Ba’s waist.’Why did the Satrap want him dead?”You come with me and see the Satrap, and no doubt he’ll tell you himself.’The Triads were enraged by the man’s behaviour, and Trinket had difficulty restraining them. He ordered his guards to take Ba down to the camp for questioning.

原来吴三桂部署日内起兵造反,派了亲信巴朗星带了一小队手下,去见旧部司徒伯雷,要他响应,嘱咐巴朗星,司徒伯雷倘若奉令,再好不过,否则就将他杀了,以防走漏密谋。司徒伯雷听说要起兵反清,十分喜欢,立即答应共襄义举,可是一问详情,才知吴三桂不是要兴复明室,而是自己要做皇帝,这“开国将军”的封号,更说得再也明白不过。司徒伯雷不肯接奉伪诏,要巴朗星回去告知吴三桂,倘若拥戴明帝后代,他决为前驱,万死不辞。但吴三桂当年杀害桂王,现下自己再想做皇帝,天下忠于明朝的志士决计不肯归附。巴朗星劝了几句,司徒伯雷拍案大骂,说吴三桂断送汉家江山,万恶不赦,倘若改过自新,尚可将功赎罪,否则定当食其肉而寝其皮。巴朗星便不再说,当晚乘着司徒伯雷不备,突然将他刺死,割了他首级,率领同党逃下山来。王屋派众弟子出乎不意,追赶不及。不料官兵正在这时围山,吴三桂的部属一网遭擒。巴朗星突向韦小宝袭击,用意是要擒住主帅,作为要挟,以便脱逃。
At length, by dint of torturing some of the other men (Ba himself was too proud to talk), they ascertained that Ba was indeed on a secret mission from the Satrap, who was planning to launch his rebellion any day now. Ba’s job was to contact Situ Bolei (an old comrade’in’arms of the Satrap’s, from Ming times), and try to persuade him to throw in his lot with the Three Feudatories. If Situ went along with the idea, well and good. If not, he was to be killed. Those were Ba’s orders. In the event, Situ had been excited to leam of an imminent rebellion against the Manchu house, but when he enquired further and discovered that the Satrap was planning to install himself on the throne instead of a scion of the Ming Imperial family, he reacted with indignant fury, though not with undue surprise. After all, was it not the Satrapwho had been responsible for the death of the Ming Pretender, Prince Gui’ He refused to have anything to do with his planned uprising, and assured Ba that every loyal supporter of the Ming Restoration would do likewise. His master the Satrap, Situ had told Ba, was a traitor who had sold his own country to the Tartars, a crime for which history would never forgive him. That very night, Ba had taken him unawares, cut off his head, and made his getaway with his men. The Clan had not been able to catch up with them. It had been the unlucky fate of Ba and his men, however, to run right into the trap set for the Clan by the Manchu troops.

韦小宝问明详情,召集天地会群雄密议。李力世道:“韦香主,司徒老英雄忠肝义胆,不幸丧命奸人之手,咱们可得好好给他收殓才是。”韦小宝道:“我倒有个主意在此。”于是将心中的计议说了。众人一齐鼓掌称善,当下分头预备。这日官兵并不攻山。王屋派人众亦因首领被戕,乱成一团,只严守山口。次日一早,韦小宝率领了天地会群雄及一队骁骑营官兵,带备各物,来到半山,命官兵驻扎待命,自行与徐天川等及亲兵上山。行出里许,只见十余名王屋派弟子手执兵刃,拦在当路。徐天川单身上前,双手呈上一张素帖,帖上写的是:“晚生韦小宝,率同李力世、祁清彪、玄贞道人、风际中、樊纲、钱老本、马彦超等,谨来司徒老英雄灵前致祭。”王屋派弟子见来人似无敌意,后面有人抬了一具棺材,又有香烛、纸钱等物,不禁大为奇怪,说道:“各位稍待,在下上去禀报。”当下一人飞奔上山,余人仍严密守住山路。韦小宝等退开数十步,坐在山石上休息。过不多时,山上走下数十人来,当先一人正是昔日会过的司徒鹤。他是司徒伯雷之子,山上首领逝世,王屋派就由他当家作主了。韦小宝一双眼骨溜溜只是瞧他身后,只见一个姑娘身形苗条,头戴白花,正是曾柔,不由得心中一阵欢喜。
Trinket’s Triad friends insisted that Situ Bolei was a hero in their cause, and that as such should receive a fitting burial. Trinket agreed, and intimated that this would fit in very well with certain plans of his own, which he then proceeded to share with them. Obsequies on the Mountain The following day at dawn, Trinket led a detachment of men, consisting of his Triad Brothers and certain hand’picked Valiants, halfway up the hill. There he told the Valiants to await his further orders, and proceeded on up with the Triads. They had climbed less than half a mile, when they saw that the way ahead was blocked by a number of heavily armed Wang Wu Clan’members. Apothecary Xu went on ahead, bearing a large white card on which was written’ Trinket Wei, together with his friends Li, Obscurus, Tertius, Feng Jizhong, Qian, and Ma, respectfully request permission to pay their last respects to the mortal remains of the great warrior, Situ Bolei.’ The Wang Wu men were taken aback to see this delegation bearing a coffin and all the paraphernalia for a funeral-candles, paper money, and so on. They told them to wait while they went up the hill for further instructions. It was not long before a small group descended from higher up the mountain, with in their midst Situ Bolei’s son, Situ He, the young man whom Trinket remembered from his previous encounter with the Clan. He was clearly now in charge. But Trinket’s eyes had already been caught by the figure walking behind him, a slender young girl with white flowers of mourning in her hair. It was Zeng Rou.

司徒鹤朗声道:“各位来到敝处,有甚么用意?”说着手按腰间剑柄。钱老本上前抱拳说道:“敝上韦君,得悉司徒老英雄不幸为奸人所害,甚是痛悼,率领在下等人,前来到老英雄灵前致祭。”司徒鹤远远向韦小宝瞧了一眼,说道:“他是鞑子朝廷的官员,率领官兵围山,定然不怀好意。你们想使奸计,我们可不上你这个当。”钱老本道:“请问杀害司徒老英雄的凶手是谁?”司徒鹤咬牙切齿的道:“是吴三桂的卫士巴朗星,还有他手下的一批恶贼。”钱老本点头道:“司徒少侠不信敝上的好意,这也难怪。我们先把祭品呈上。”回头叫道:“带上来!”两名亲兵推着一人缓缓上来。这人手上脚上都锁了铁链,头上用一块黑布罩住。王屋派众弟子都大为奇怪,不知对方捣甚么鬼。那人走到钱老本身后,亲兵便拉住了铁链,不让他再走。钱老本道:“司徒少侠请看!”一伸手,拉开那人头上罩着的黑布,只见那人横眉怒目,正是巴朗星。王屋派众弟子一见,纷纷怒喝:“是这奸贼!快把他杀了!”
‘What brings you here?’ asked Situ He, his hand on his sword hilt. Butcher Qian spoke for the rest of them, bringing his hands together in respectful salutation.’Our leader, Lodge Master Wei, hearing of the death of your father, the great warrior Situ Bolei, at the hands of a cowardly traitor, has brought us here to express our respect for the departed and our condolences for the living.’Situ He glanced suspiciously at Trinket.This man is a Tartar official. He has come here to destroy our Clan. Don’t expect us to fall for this trickery.’Butcher Qian replied”We understand your doubts. But tell us’ who was the man that killed your father?’Young Situ gnashed his teeth angrily”It was that scum Ba, and other of the Satrap’s men!’Even as he was saying this, Qian gave the order for his men to come forward. They were dragging a man in their midst, his hands and feet shackled, his face wrapped in a black cloth.’Sir, I beg you to behold-‘And so saying, he withdrew the black cloth, to reveal the figure of Ba Langxing. The Clan shouted with one voice, ‘Kill the traitor! Kill him!’

呛啷啷声响,各人挺起兵刃,便要将巴朗星乱剑分尸。司徒鹤双手一拦,阻住各人,说道:“且慢!”抱拳向钱老本问道:“阁下拿得奸人,不知要如何处置?”钱老本道:“敝上对司徒老英雄素来敬仰,那日和司徒少侠又有一面之缘,今日拿到这行凶奸人,连同他所带的一众恶贼,尽数要在司徒老英雄灵前千刀万剐,以慰老英雄在天之灵。”司徒鹤一怔,暗想天下哪有这样的好事?侧头瞧着巴朗星,心中将信将疑,寻思:“鞑子狡狯,定有奸计。”巴朗星突然破口大骂:“操你奶奶,你看老子个鸟,你那老家伙都给老子杀了…”钱老本右手一掌击在他后心,左足飞起,踢在他臀上。巴朗星手足被缚,难以避让,身子向前直跌,摔在司徒鹤身边,再也爬不起来。钱老本道:“这是敝上的一件小小礼物,这奸人全凭阁下处置。”回头叫道:“都带上来。”一队亲兵押着百余名身系镣铐的犯人过来,每人头上都罩着黑布。黑布揭去,露出面目,尽是巴朗星的部属。钱老本道:“请司徒少侠一并带去罢。”到此地步,司徒鹤更无怀疑,向着韦小宝遥遥一躬到地,说道:“尊驾盛情,敝派感激莫名。”寻思:“他放给我们这样一个大交情,不知想要我们干甚么,难道要我们投降鞑子吗?这可万万不能。”
They would have sliced him up into pieces there and then, had Situ not prevented them.’Stay your hands!’He turned to Butcher Qian”What would you have me do with this man?”It is my Master’s wish,’ replied Qian, ‘that you deal with him as you yourself see fit. My Master remembers a previous encounter with you. He feels that it would be fitting if this man and his associates were to be put to death in front of the mortal remains of that great warrior your father, whom they so ignobly slaughtered!’Situ He could not decide whether to believe this or not. It might all be a crafty Tartar plot. Then Ba himself burst out”<****> the lot of you! Do what you bloody well like! One thing’s for sure’ your old man’s well and truly dead! I killed him! Nothing’s going to bring him back!’Qian struck him hard in the small of the back, and followed up with a great boot to his backside. Ba tumbled forward into the mud at Situ’s feet. ‘Take him up the hill,’ commanded Situ. Qian’s men handed over Ba’s whole contingent, all of whom had their heads wrapped in black. Situ bowed to Trinket from a distance, and expressed his appreciation of this act. But he was still wondering to himself what it was the Tartars were after. Perhaps they thought they could buy his cooperation by this gesture. If so, they were wrong!

韦小宝快步上前还礼,说道:“那天跟司徒兄、曾姑娘赌了一把骰子,一直记在心里,只想哪一天再来玩一手。”指着身后那具棺木,说道:“司徒老英雄的遗体,便在这棺木之中,便请抬上山去,缝在身躯之上安葬罢。”司徒伯雷身首异处,首级给巴朗星带了下山,王屋派众弟子无不悲愤已极。司徒鹤仍恐有诈,走近棺木,见棺盖并未上榫,揭开一看,果见父亲的首级赫然在内,不由得大恸,拜伏在地,放声大哭。其余弟子见他如此,一齐跪倒哀哭。司徒鹤站起身来,叫过四名师弟,抬了棺木上山,对韦小宝道:“便请尊驾赴先父灵前上一炷香。”韦小宝道:“自当去向老英雄灵前磕头。”命众亲兵在山口等候,只带了双儿和天地会兄弟,随着司徒鹤上山。韦小宝走到曾柔身边,低声道:“曾姑娘,你好!”曾柔脸上泪痕未干,一双眼哭得红红地,更显得楚楚可怜,抬起头来,抽抽噎噎的道:“你……你是花差……花差将军?”韦小宝大喜,道:“你记得我名字?”曾柔低头嗯了一声,脸上微微一红。
Trinket walked towards him and returned his salutation. ‘I still remember that day when we played at dice together. Miss Zeng was there on that occasion too, I believe.’ He pointed towards the coffin that they had carried up the hill. ‘Inside that coffin, you will find your father’s severed head. It is right that it should be reunited with your father’s body, and that the great warrior should rest in peace.’ Situ walked up to the coffin, and when he saw the head inside it, he broke down and fell sobbing to the ground. His men all followed suit. When he had recovered from this fit of grief, Situ needed no more convincing. He invited Trinket to accompany him up the hill, and pay his last respects to his father’s remains. Trinket gladly accepted, taking Doublet and the Triad Brothers with him, and bidding the others to await his return. As he passed by Zeng Rou, Trinket whispered’ ‘How are you, Miss Zeng?’ The tears were still wet on her cheeks. Her eyes were red from weeping. She raised her head and looked at Trinket’ ‘Aren’t. . . you . . . General Wishy-Washy?’ She sobbed as she spoke. ‘You still remember my name?’ Trinket was delighted. Zeng Rou lowered her head, but gave the faintest little sound of acknowledgement. Trinket was pleased to detect a slight flush on her cheeks.

她脸上这么一红,韦小宝心中登时一荡:“她为甚么见了我要脸红?男人笑眯眯,不是好东西,女人面孔红,心里想老公。莫非她想我做她老公?不知我给她的骰子还在不在?”低声问道:“曾姑娘,上次我给你的东西,你还收着吗?”曾柔脸上又是一红,转开了头,问道:“甚么东西?我忘啦?”韦小宝好生失望,叹了口气。曾柔回过头来,轻轻一笑,低声道:“别十!”韦小宝大喜,不由得心痒难搔,低声道:“我是别十,你是至尊!”曾柔不再理他,快步向前,走到司徒鹤身畔。那王屋山四面如削,形若王者车盖,以此得名,绝顶处称为天坛,东有日精峰,西有月华峰。一行人随着司徒鹤来到天坛以北的王母洞。一路上苍松翠柏,山景清幽。王屋山于道书中称“清虚小有洞天”,天下三十六洞天中名列第一,相传为黄帝会王母之处。王屋派人众聚居于王母洞及附近各洞之中,冬暖夏凉,胜于屋宇。司徒伯雷的灵位设在王母洞中。弟子将首级和身子缝上入殓。

韦小宝率领天地会众兄弟在灵前上香致祭,跪下磕头,心想:“要讨好曾姑娘,须得越悲哀越好。”装假哭原是他的拿手好戏,想起在宫中数次给老婊子殴击的惨酷、为洪教主所擒后的惊险、一再被方怡欺骗的倒霉、阿珂只爱郑克昇的无可奈何,不由得悲从中来,放声大哭。初哭时尚颇勉强,这一哭开头,便即顺理成章,越哭越是悲切,大声道:“司徒老英雄,晚辈久闻你是一位忠臣义士,大大的英雄好汉。当年见到你公子的剑法,更知你武功了得,只盼能拜在你的门下,做个徒子徒孙,学几招武功,也好在江湖上扬眉吐气。哪知道你老人家为奸人所害,呜呜……呜呜……真叫人伤心之极了。”

司徒鹤、曾柔等本已伤心欲绝,听他这么一哭,登时王母洞中哭声震天,哀号动地。徐天川、钱老本等本来不想哭的,也不禁为众人悲戚所感,洒了几滴眼泪。韦小宝捶胸顿足,大哭不休,反是王屋派弟子不住劝慰,这才收泪。他将巴朗星拉了过来,取过一柄钢刀,交在司徒鹤手里,说道:“司徒少侠,你杀了这奸贼,为令尊报仇。”司徒鹤一刀割下巴朗星的首级,放在供桌上。王屋派弟子齐向韦小宝拜谢大恩。本来韦小宝小小年纪,原也想不出这个收买人心的计策,那是他从《卧龙吊孝》这出戏中学来的。周瑜给诸葛亮气死后,诸葛亮亲往柴桑口致祭,哭拜尽哀,引得东吴诸将人人感怀。幸好戏中诸葛亮所念的祭文太长,辞句又太古雅,韦小宝一句也记不得,否则在王屋山上依样葫芦的念了出来,可就立时露出狐狸尾巴了。这么一来,王屋派诸人自然对他感恩戴德,何况当日韦小宝将司徒鹤等擒住之后,赠银释放,卖过一番大大的交情。

但他是清廷贵官,何以如此,众人始终不解。钱老本将司徒鹤叫在一旁,说明自己一伙人乃天地会青木堂兄弟。但韦小宝在朝廷为官,他的身份却不能吐露,只怕一有泄漏,坏了大事,只含糊其辞,说他为人极有义气,“身在曹营心在汉”,众兄弟都当他是好朋友。司徒鹤一听之下,恍然大悟,更连连称谢,其时语出至诚,比之适才心中疑虑未释,又是不同了。

跟着谈起王屋派今后出处,司徒鹤说派中新遭大丧,又逢官兵围山,也没想过这回事。钱老本微露招揽之意。天地会在江湖上威名极盛,隐为当世反清复明的领袖,王屋派向来敬慕,又是志同道合。司徒鹤一听大喜,便与派中耆宿及诸师兄弟商议,人人赞同。他当即向钱老本请求加盟。钱老本这时才对他明言,韦小宝实是青木堂的香主。当日下午,天地会青木堂在王母洞中大开香堂,接纳王屋派诸人入会。众人拜过香主,便都是韦小宝的部属了。他心中欢喜,饮过结盟酒后,便想开赌,和新旧兄弟大赌一场。李力世、钱老本等连忙劝阻,说道兴高采烈的赌钱,未免对刚逝世的司徒伯雷不敬。

韦小宝赌不成钱,有些扫兴,问起王屋派的善后事宜。李力世道:“王屋山在山西、河南两省交界,不属咱们青木堂管辖。按照本会规矩,越界收兄弟入会,是不妨的,但各堂兄弟不能越界办事,最好司徒兄弟各位移去直隶省居住。”钱老本道:“鞑子皇帝差韦香主来攻打王屋山,司徒兄弟各位今后不在王屋山了,韦香主就易于上报。”司徒鹤道:“正是,小弟谨遵各位大哥吩咐。”韦小宝道:“司徒大哥,现下我们要去扬州,给史阁部起一座忠烈祠。这祠堂起好,大伙儿就去打吴三桂了。”司徒鹤站起身来,大声道:“韦香主去打吴三桂,属下愿为前锋,率同师兄弟姊妹,跟吴三桂这恶贼拚个死活,为先父报仇雪恨。”

韦小宝喜道:“那再好也没有了,各位这就随我去扬州罢。只不过须得扮作鞑子官兵,委屈了一些。”司徒鹤道:“为了打吴三桂,再大的委屈也是甘心。韦香主做得鞑子官,我们自也做得鞑子兵。何况李大哥、徐大哥各位,不也都扮作了鞑子兵吗?”当晚众人替司徒伯雷安葬后,收拾下山。会武功的男子随着韦小宝前赴扬州。老弱妇孺则到保定府择地安居,该处有天地会青木堂的分舵,自有人妥为照应。韦小宝对张勇等言道,王屋山匪徒眼见大军围住,知道难以脱逃,经一番开导,大家一起归降。他已予以招安,收编为官兵。张勇等齐向他庆贺,说道都统兵不血刃,平定了王屋山的悍匪,立下大功。韦小宝道:“这是四位将军之功,若不是你们团团围住,众匪插翅难飞,他们也决计不肯投降。待兄弟申报朝廷,各有升赏。”四将大喜,知道兵部尚书明珠对他竭力奉承,只要是韦都统奏报的功劳,兵部一定从优叙议。韦小宝初时担心曾柔跟随王屋派妇孺,前赴保定府安居,如指定要她同去扬州,可有些说不出口。待见她换上男装,与司徒鹤等同行,心中说不出的欢喜。一路之上,他总想寻个机会,跟她亲热一番。可是曾柔和众位师兄寸步不离,见到了他,只腼腼腆腆的微笑不语。韦小宝想要和她说句亲热话儿,始终不得其便,不由得心痒难搔。倘若他只是清军主帅,早就假公济私,调这小亲兵入营侍候,但身为天地会香主,调戏会中妇女乃是厉禁,众兄弟面上也不好看,只有干咽馋涎,等候机会了。
‘I wonder if she still has the dice I gave her?’ he thought to himself. He asked her this very question. She flushed again, turned away, and murmured’ ‘I’m afraid I can’t remember.7 Trinket was disappointed, and he sighed. But then she turned her head back, and smiled faintly. During the mountain obsequies for Situ pere, Trinket put on a terrific show of grief (largely to impress the pretty young girl). He then asked young Situ to avenge his father’s death. Situ needed little encouragement. He proceeded to slice off Ba’s head, and placed it before his father’s coffin as an offering.Finally, Butcher Qian decided the time was right to let Situ in on the secret of who they all really were. He persuaded the Wang Wu Clan to throw their lot in with the Triads, and to fight in a common cause against the Tartars. In order to escape, the Wang Wu Clan were all to dress up as Manchu troops. The fighting members of the Clan were to accompany Trinket to Yangzhou, while the women and infirm were to move to the provincial city of Baoding, where they would all be taken care of. Zeng Rou herself donned guard’s uniform, and announced that she wanted to form part of the detachment moving on to Yangzhou. Trinket was delighted to hear this. All the way to Yangzhou he sought out every possible opportunity of getting close to her, but she always kept a distance, and rewarded him with nothing more than coy (and tantalizing) smiles. He would have to bide his time.

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