Xinshun 1730

Chapter 971

After such a discussion, the money must be given.

But after giving the money, you have to block the mouth of Tianxia Youyou.

Otherwise, there is no end to this matter.

Take this as an example today, and "extort" a hundred and one hundred thousand taels.

If I run out of money tomorrow, I will use this as an example again, and then "extort" another 10 taels.

Is this okay?

It's a trivial matter to exchange money.

Even if they exchange another three to five million taels, these people can also exchange it. The key is that everything must come to an end.

Salt merchants are experienced in this kind of thing.

People often come to join them, just like doormen.Then some people, write a couplet today and "sell" to the salt merchant for some money, and write a blessing tomorrow to "sell" to the salt merchant for some money.

It's a bit like Feng Chen, who thinks he's out of fish today and meat tomorrow, so he wants to go home.

How else can it be said that not everyone can be the Four Princes of the Warring States Period?

The attitude of these salt merchants is very clear. If you encounter such a shameless person, just let him go.

Otherwise, it will be a bottomless pit, insisting on haunting you to death.

Although the demand is small, only 30 taels and 50 taels, but I know that this kind of thing will not last for a long time.

At this time, the salt merchants probably felt similar to the emperor.I gave it so happily that I might have to push my nose to my face tomorrow.

Now I feel that Liu Yu is here to ask for money, to beg for the emperor, so he has to give the money.But there must be an explanation.

The salt merchants couldn't think of a good solution for a while, so they had to leave today, and asked everyone to go back and tangle with those confidantes and staff to think of a way.

In the eyes of Jiangnan literati, all the salt merchants were "benevolent", "kind-hearted", and "elegant and generous".

For example, some salt merchants specially built courtyards, landscapes, and drinking water, and invited scholars from all walks of life to come here to gather and write poems from time to time.

Some people are good at calligraphy, so we subsidize them with money and let them copy the Thirteen Classics.After the copy is completed, it will be given to the dignitaries and nobles, and the people will be recommended, and then there will be rewards.

Some people have good literary talents, so they specially create opportunities to write poems and prose, and even pay for these people to publish poetry anthologies.

It is true that "there are great Confucian scholars in talking and laughing, and there are no white people in communication".

It should be said that Liu Yu's evaluation is correct.In the context of the great chaos in the late Ming Dynasty and the destruction of the economy of Jiangnan manor owners, the existence of these salt merchants objectively continued the prosperity of literature and art in Jiangnan in the late Ming Dynasty.

Those who engage in artistic creation must be supported by someone; to a certain extent, in fact, the great development of natural history in Europe is somewhat similar, and the premise is that they have money and leisure.It’s nothing more than a difference in direction. In these years, when there is no money or leisure, let alone literary creation, can I afford to buy a few pieces of rice paper for painting?
However, such literati are not aides.

Literati talk about character, and very few people really turn to them as aides. To a certain extent, aides are divided into masters and servants.

Staff, Qing Ke, and literary friends are three different grades.

The staff who really depend on these salt merchants for their lives may not be very good at poetry and poetry, but some practical skills such as calculating accounts and making ideas are still good.

But even though these staff members had some practical skills, they couldn't think of any good solution for a while.

There is always a hurdle that cannot be bypassed, that is, although it seems that the behavior of the emperor is no different from that of a beggar, but in fact the difference is quite big.

The emperor can make you lose your head, and the beggar can throw a piece of shit on your window at night at most.

All the staff members couldn't come up with any good solution, they just made Zheng Yuxu, the eldest brother of Zheng Yuji, a branch of the great salt merchant in Yangzhou, anxious.

Just in the middle of the fire, the servants came to report, saying that someone had come to pay a visit with a greeting card.

The visitor's surname was Wu, his style name was Minxuan, and his first name was Jingzi. He was quite talented and had lived in Zheng's family for a while before.

At that time, Zheng Yuxu's brother's father was still alive, so he got a piece of Linglong Stone from Taihu Lake, so he built a library pavilion named "Linglong Pavilion" based on the stone as a town.

The collection of books is no less than [-], and there are no less than three to five hundred people who copy books here every day. Poetry meetings are held in spring, summer, autumn and winter to make friends with literati.

Many poor literati also came to eat, and he also entertained them, and did not drive them away. The literati called them "Xiaomengchang".

Zheng Yuxu also recognized Wu Jingzi.The ancestor was also a military officer who followed Emperor Yongle of the previous dynasty to raise troops on the side of the Qing emperor, and obtained a hereditary officer of the Xiaoqiwei.In the future, the side branches of the family line were converted into imperial examinations, and many talents were produced. The family was once rich in tens of thousands of gold, but the family line fell due to many reasons.

When Zheng Yuxu's father was alive in the past, because he admired Wu Jingzi's name and made friends with him, knowing that he was short of money, he gave him 200 taels of silver without waiting for him to ask.

Zheng Yuxu thought that this was another autumn wind, and he couldn't help being irritable.

On weekdays, in order to continue the name of his father's Xiaomeng Chang, he might have to go to the reception, but now that he is facing the storm of the reform of the salt administration, how can he have any thoughts?
It's just that this person is quite famous. Although he is poor and humble, there are also a few leaders of the northern school of Confucianism in Jiangnan Confucianism among the people he associates with on a daily basis, which is not trivial.

The literati who dealt with the salt merchants were also divided into ranks because of their talents, reputations, and connections.

At that time, some Confucian scholars from other provinces were traveling in Yangzhou. When they saw the Confucian scholars in Yangzhou meet a salt merchant, they bowed their heads respectfully and said: "I went to pay a visit to the mansion yesterday, do you know?"The salt merchant didn't even reply, just nodded with a hum, and left without looking at him.

For a while, Confucian scholars from other provinces were stunned and inexplicable, calling out that the world was upside down, scholars and merchants changed positions, and Dashun was about to end.

But obviously, this Wu Jingzi's reputation is not the kind of person who can be "slightly nodded and not answered" by the salt merchant.At least he has a few capable people in his circle of friends.

Zheng Yuxu was about to ask someone to give him 30 taels of silver to get rid of the matter, then he looked at the greeting post again, read the allusions in it, and his heart moved.

He stopped the servant who was going to prepare money to send, and said: "Wait a minute, I will meet myself."

After leaving the door, he squeezed out a smile from a distance, cupped his hands and said, "Brother Minxuan! Where did this come from? Please come in!"

Seeing Zheng Yuxu coming to welcome him, Wu Jingzi thought that what I said would be harmful to many people.

However, in the righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, scholars die for their confidants.

When I was down and out in the past, my father would give me a hundred taels of silver without saying a word.As a human being, you should know how to repay your kindness.

If he asks someone to give me some money today and just lets me go, I will settle my entanglement.

However, he actually came to greet him in person today, and he had to repay such acquaintance.

How can you be human if you don't repay your kindness?
Thinking of the ugly faces in the satirical novels he wrote, and thinking about the messy things in his family because of the division of property, Wu Jingzi finally decided not to be the kind of person he satirized, but to be a person who knows how to repay his kindness. It can be regarded as a complete satisfaction of Confucian scholars' spirit of chivalry in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zheng Yuxu walked into the hall and asked, "Brother Minxuan is here, what can you learn?"

Wu Jingzi said: "This time, it's not for anything else, it's just because of Brother Zheng's troubles. In the past, Huaiyin never forgot the kindness of the old woman's meal, and Hou Yingsi's righteousness to repay Xinling's driving. I have longed for it. I came here today, just now. For this."

Zheng Yuji was overjoyed, knowing that Wu Jingzi had a few confidantes and friends, all of whom were capable.For example, Cheng Tingzuo, a famous scholar in Jinling and the leader of the southern biography of Yan Li's ancient Confucianism, had a close relationship with Wu Jingzi.

Those who are really capable will never come to be this staff member.However, Yan Li's learning also emphasizes practical learning, unlike that kind of learning that can only recite poems and make mistakes.Cheng Tingzuo's ability to make this person a friend also shows that this person has some means.

Zheng Yuji thought about the incomprehensible salt affairs of his staff, could it be that this person was going to fall on him?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but deliberately said happily: "Brother Minxuan came at the right time. Now that the talk of the reform of the salt government is spreading all over the world, brother, I am at a loss!"

Speaking of this, Wu Jingzi's complexion was a little ugly for a while, and his heart felt tight.

The matter of the reform of the salt administration had actually been aroused as early as a year ago.Also because of this, he and his friend Cheng Tingzuo broke up with each other.

Regarding the reform of the salt administration, Wu Jingzi supported the bill reform.His friend Cheng Tingzuo also supported it.

The two had discussed it for a long time in Jinling, and had a very happy conversation, but then they chose a different path.

The two people are about the same age, similar in age, and similar in style of Ci and Fu. They both like to use ancient times. I think that Xin Jiaxuan's Ci, which has been criticized for "using too many allusions", is really good Ci.

On some things, the two have quite similar views.

They are both in their forties this year, but before Wu Jingzi came this time, the two chose a different path.

The cause of this incident, but also from 20 years ago.

More than ten years ago, when Li Gang, a disciple of Yan Xizhai, a member of the Northern Confucian school, came to Jinling, Cheng Tingzuo began to see Yan Xizhai's masterpiece, and he slammed Cheng Zhu's Neo-Confucianism in it, thinking that it is necessary to go back to the old, equalize the land, develop a divided education, and implement a practical learning system , Engage in the selection of agricultural, engineering, and business credits, shouting "see you later".

Even in public, he said some "shocking" things: the ancient harm to Tao came from outside Confucianism; the current harm to Tao comes from Confucianism.The Yan family started from the day when Yan, Zhao, and Dang four seas advocated harmony and harmony, and they were able to compromise to the point, and some were able to denounce their faults, covering only one person in 500 years.Therefore, it is said that Yan's power is more difficult than that of Mencius, and his contribution is twice that of Mencius.

The allusion here is that the reason why Mencius's status is so high is because of the difficult situation Mencius faced at that time.Facing the siege of master disciples like Mo Di and Yang Zhu, the world's learning, if not from Mo, belongs to Yang. Confucianism is no longer the most prominent school in the world.

In the past, the great harm to the world was due to the lack of Confucianism; the great harm to the world today is because some people use the banner of Confucianism to engage in private goods.

Therefore, the situation faced by Yan Xizhai is even more difficult than that of Mencius, and heresy is easier to deal with than heresy.

Therefore, Yan Xizhai's contribution is several times that of Mencius.

This is a bit... a bit shocking.At this moment, it was like a madman talking wildly, no matter what, it was impossible to stand shoulder to shoulder with Yasheng.

After seeing Yan Lizhixue, Cheng Tingzuo completely gave up his previous knowledge, began to study the books of Yan Yuan, Huang Zongxi, Gu Yanwu and others, and began to practice his own journey of practical learning.

Established a foothold in Yan Lizhixue in the south of the Yangtze River, and also made up for an important problem of Yan Lizhixue-Yan Lizhixue, is a "wisdom ghost", plus some of Yan Lizhixue's thoughts that focus on practical learning, coupled with this "wisdom ghost" , was directly caught by people's biggest weakness: this is ink, not Confucianism.This is not heresy, this is heresy.

He complemented the world view and cosmology of Yan Li's school, and after a long time, he has become the leader of Yan Li's school in the south of the Yangtze River.But in fact, he himself advocates a set of theories of "love widely, not only love relatives", but he firmly does not call this universal love, but universal love.

Wu Jingzi is also critical of Song-Ming Confucianism. It should be said that the incident 20 years ago did not lead the two people to the same divergent path today, and they should still be on the same road.

Apart from this incident, Cheng Tingzuo's most famous incident in Dashun stems from a poem he wrote.

A poem written before Liu Yu captured Bering and built a navy.

The title of his poem is "Worrying about Xiyi"

Cruel as a gun, endless discussions.

To cater to Chu Xuyu, China is invincible.

Meditation is not accidental, it is like keeping silent.

How can this be used by human beings? It has ulterior motives.

I heard that Tuo Maoqian moved far away to Shangship.

Concealing a real evil intention, you can see nibbles over and over again.

In what year did he attack Lu Song and cut it off as a vassal state.

Governance is based on Western methods, work at night and rest during the day.

Give birth to a daughter first, and then make it suitable for the world.

... It is not admiration for saints and sages in the air, and it is a style of courtesy and music.The emperor is close to God, and the view is right.

To some extent, there must be an element of deliberate smearing in it, at least the phrase "work at night and rest during the day" must be deliberate.However, the latter sentence "Abstain first when giving birth to a daughter, and then make it suitable for the world", can also be understood as the No. 1 that introduced the concept of "power tax" into China?
In short, the preface is added to the poem, and it is said that since Matteo Ricci came to China, these missionaries all possessed unique skills, and they flattered and said that China was invincible all day long. If you think about it carefully, it may not be accidental, but a hidden evil intention. .

Look at that Luzon, I don't know when it was breached.I'm afraid that these missionaries are the vanguard of encroaching on China, so we must guard against them.Will he preach first, and then use the believers to lead the way to conquer?Like Luzon.

These scholar-bureaucrats still foolishly thought that they were really looking for sages and virtues.

I'm afraid that China will have the same fate as Luzon in the future.Don't be fooled.Be vigilant.

When Cheng Tingzuo wrote this poem, Dashun's navy was still there.

Of course, if it continues to develop normally, it is estimated that Cheng Tingzuo will gradually become "extremely xenophobic".This is not only the limitation of the times, but also another special reason, that is, before the appearance of Liu Yu, practical learning was monopolized by Catholic missionaries.

To oppose Catholicism, it is easy for scholar-officials to reverse all the mathematics they have mastered.

but.

Dashun did not develop normally.

(End of this chapter)