Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 641

On the second day of February in the 58th year of Qianlong, Yuan Mei, a 78-year-old Cangshan layman, and Zhao Yi, a 67-year-old man of three and a half years old, met Qing Gui, an important minister of the Qing Dynasty who was ordered to go to Zhejiang, in Yangzhou. They came to Zhenjiang by boat and stayed in the woman Luo Qilan. In the house near Chaoan Temple.

Luo Qilan is one of Yuan Mei's most proud female disciples. She became a widow at the age of 30, and then moved to Jingkou, where she worshiped Yuan Mei and Wang Wenzhi successively to study poetry.

Although Yuan Mei's eldest son Yuan Tong is going to marry a wife at the end of this month, and there are many things that need to be prepared in advance, but he is not in a hurry to return to Xiaocangshan.You must know that there are always many guests there, and there are many people with mixed eyes. He came to Zhenjiang this time to wait for someone, a messenger from Beihai Town.

Speaking of Yuan Mei, people in later generations will focus on "Suiyuan Food List" and "Zibuyu", especially the allusion of "a woman is a tiger", which has attracted countless people to talk about it.

In the eyes of many people, this 82-year-old man who has lived in history not only eats, drinks, travels around the mountains and waters all day long, but also accepts a group of female disciples, which can be described as a model of "not doing business properly".

However, what Yuan Mei did on the surface was just a helpless move in response to the high-pressure rule of Manchu culture, and he was tired of the welcome and inaction in the officialdom.In his bones, he has always been adhering to the thought of "being practical and practical" in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. Simply put, it is "respect Zhou, convert Confucius, and deny Cheng Zhu".From this point of view, he and Wang Zhong, Jiang Fan, Hong Liangji and even Ruan Yuan, the heirs of Gu Yanwu, have completely the same views.

However, unlike Wang Zhong and others, Yuan Mei was not only a thinker under the influence of this trend of thought, but also a practitioner of the way of life. However, due to the cultural tyranny of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, he dared not publish any purely theoretical works.All his thoughts on "handling the world" are contained in his lifestyle and literary works, like salt dissolves in water.

As Yuan Mei's year-end friend, Hong Liangji, who likes to joke, commented that he is an "old fox who reaches the sky, drunk and showing his tail". He seems to be wild and unruly, but in fact he knows it well.

It is said that the trend of thought that criticized Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and advocated practicality was actually a movement of self-reflection within Confucianism during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. ".

True Confucianism is not conservative. Although it has been reduced to a tool of the rulers since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, it has been seeking changes until Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, which talks about mind and nature, was officially established as the official orthodox consciousness in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. All blind.

The purpose of studying is only for the imperial examination, and the imperial examination is for becoming an official, and being an official requires promotion and fortune.The intellectuals who were bought by selfish interests fell collectively and became a group of spiritual refugees with knowledge but no culture, body but no soul, who only knew selfish interests but abandoned justice, and had neither struggle, sacrifice nor integrity.The most elite part of Chinese civilization is going to decay and degeneration.

When the Yuan Dynasty destroyed the Song Dynasty, the real culprit was the Group of Doctors of Science who surrendered to the Yuan Dynasty; during the Battle of Jingnan, the group of Doctors of Science and Doctors quickly surrendered; Doctors with Bachelor of Science changed their vests and became two of the three mountains.

Beginning in the Jiajing period, the Confucian introspection movement that started with Wang Tingxiang and became spectacular in the early Qing Dynasty finally formed a magnificent system of managing the world and applying practicality.These include Gu Yanwu's "Bo Tong Guan", Fang Yizhi's "Quality Test and Mastery", Yan Yuan's "practical learning, practice, and practical" thinking, Fu Qingzhu's research on pre-Qin philosophers, Wan Sitong's Ming History ", and Gu Zuyu's historical geography, etc.

However, in order to realize the ideal of reform within Confucianism, it must be combined with the political periphery.The problem is that the thought of "manipulating the world and applying it" at the time of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was all based on anti-Qing and restoring the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, this external condition is completely inapplicable to Confucianists who uphold this idea. It will be reused by the Qing Dynasty, so it can only become an academic spiritual leader.

Yuan Mei has been pretending to be confused for nearly 50 years, thinking that this will be the case in this life, but he did not expect Beihai town to pop up suddenly.

In the first ten days of August last year, Wei San, an upper echelon of the Cao Gang in Songjiang, suddenly came to Suiyuan to ask for an interview. Although Yuan Mei was impatient with dealing with such people, she still met out of face.Unexpectedly, Wei Sanxing said a bunch of irrelevant compliments after the meeting ceremony, then took out a letter and presented it, and then left.

Because there was no signature on the envelope, Yuan Mei didn't care about it at the time, and put it aside, it took two days to think about it.But when he opened it, he couldn't help but be surprised. It was actually a letter written by the little friend Hong Liangji.No wonder there was no signature on the envelope. There has been no news of this person for several years, and it is said that he has defected to the North Sea Pirates.

Yuan Mei read Hong Liangji's letter several times, and the more he read it, the more he was touched. From the dignified and free-spirited narration between the lines, he saw the realization of the idea of ​​"practical application of the world" in Beihai Town, and he couldn't help being very excited.

There is no stereotyped essay examination that confines the mind, and the school teaches all the knowledge of the world, and everyone learns the knowledge for practical application. Even a farmer must be literate in order to cultivate the land better.No one has spare time to do unrealistic empty talk. From Zhao Xin to a small official in the village, everyone does everything to save the common people from suffering.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhao Yi, the "three-and-a-half old man", visited Jiangning, and Yuan Mei invited him to Suiyuan for a banquet.However, Zhao Yi was tired of the many diners coming to Suiyuan's door every day, and it was too noisy, so he wrote "Famous papers fill the door and serve the altar, and Suiyuan wants to stay for dinner. There are five hundred arhats in Lingshan, and it is difficult for a Guanyin to treat guests." Send someone Sent to Suiyuan.

After seeing the poem, Yuan Mei couldn't laugh or cry, thought twice, and decided to go to Jiangning City to meet the other party in person.During the dinner, he deliberately turned away from the left and right, and showed Hong Liangji's letter to the other party. After reading it, Zhao Yi was very surprised at first, and then became angry.

He wasn't angry that Hong Liangji defected to Beihai Town, but that this kid didn't write a letter to himself first, but actually wrote a letter to an old fellow Yuan Zicai!You must know that Zhao Yi and Hong Liangji are not only from the same hometown, but also have a very good personal relationship.Earlier he had joked with Hong Liangji that when I die, you will write my epitaph.Hong Liangji also responded jokingly, that Mr. had better pass away earlier so that I can write.

So after discussing with Yuan Mei, the two decided to write a reply letter each.The main purpose is to test Zhao Xin's attitude, and the second is to severely ridicule Hong Liangji.As for how to send the letter, I have to ask Wei San from the Songjiang Cao Gang.

Speaking of Zhao Yi, although he has been teaching at Anding Academy in Changzhou all these years and is in a state of seclusion, he was invited to serve as an aide in Li Shiyao's account during the "Lin Shuangwen Rebellion" five years ago, helping to plan military supplies , for a full year.In his spare time, Li Shiyao once mentioned many secrets in the court, asserting that Beihai Town, under the banner of the "King Zhao" of the former Ming Dynasty, was the life and death enemy of the court.

From this, Zhao Yi learned the truth about the fight between the imperial court and Beihai Town, and was shocked that even people like Fukang'an were regarded as "meat tickets" by Zhao Xin, and beat Qianlong hard.

Even though Zhao Yi had been selected as a Tanhua, worked in the Military Aircraft Department, and even served as a fourth-rank official in the army, but this 67-year-old man, like Yuan Mei, is also a "practical school" in his bones.

Throughout the Kangxi-Yonggan period, as long as they were not members of the Neo Confucianism or Manchurian relatives, the better the official reputation among the people, the more political pressure they would suffer, and in the end they would either resign from office or go into seclusion or be imprisoned.The reason is that the "School of Manipulation and Applicability" is the great enemy of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, and must be suppressed by the Manchu Qing regime!
After Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi wrote back, nothing came to light. It was not until the end of the first lunar month of this year that Wei Sancai sent someone to Xiaocangshan Suiyuan again to make an appointment to meet.Yuan Mei heard it by coincidence, on the 27th of the first lunar month, he was going to Yangzhou to meet Qing Gui, and Zhao Yi would also be there at that time, so there would be no delay in finishing the work.

The reason why Yuan Mei went north to Yangzhou to see Qinggui was that he was a teacher and a friend with his father Yin Jishan.When Yuan Mei was 23 years old, he was selected as a good scholar and entered the Shu Changguan for further studies. Qinggui's father, Yin Jishan, was in charge of teaching him;

The two lived in Luo's residence for four days. Apart from drinking tea and chatting every day, they also talked about poetry and painting to a few disciples, and they lived comfortably.On the afternoon of the fifth day, a stranger dressed as a boatman sent a message that the two of them would meet at Yinshan Temple at noon tomorrow, and the exact location would be known outside the mountain gate.Yuan and Zhao understood that the other party was afraid of bringing criticism to their owner Luo Qilan, so they didn't visit directly.So the next day near noon, the two arrived at the agreed place, accompanied by Yuan Mei's eldest son Yuan Tong and Zhao Yi's fifth son Zhao Tingyan.

Later generations know that there is a Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang, but they don't know that there was a Yinshan Temple built in the Yuan Dynasty on Suanshan Mountain in the southeast.According to legend, during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang agreed that the strategy of attacking Cao Cao was on this mountain, so it is also called "Suan Mountain"; at the end of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Liu Yu also defeated the pirate Sun En here.In the 11th year of Xianfeng in another time and space, the entire Suanshan area was designated as the British Concession, and Yinshan Temple has since disappeared.

Because it was early spring, there were not many tourists coming to Yinshan Temple. As soon as the four of them arrived in front of the mountain gate, a man who looked like a young prince came over with a servant.This person is not tall, he looks to be in his early twenties, wearing a rain-blue jacket, a maroon button-up vest, and a royal blue belt around his waist. .And his servant was very thin, his eyes kept looking at the four of them, and then he scanned the surroundings vigilantly.

The young man stepped forward to Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi, clasped his fists slightly, bowed and said, "My surname is Shen, and each name is an expensive character. Presumably the two are Lord Jianzhai and Lord Oubei?"

Zhao Yi nodded slightly, while Yuan Mei smiled and said, "It's the old man. Brother Shen is from Yangzhou?"

"It's from Yangzhou, but it's been in the north all these years." After the young man said, he raised his hand and said: "My proprietor is waiting in the temple, please come with me."

Yuan Mei's eldest son, Yuan Tong, was displeased when he heard that the other party was not the right one to meet.Although Suanshan is not high, but my father is nearly eighty years old, and he carried it all the way, so he said coldly: "Your proprietor is really a big shelf."

Shen Gui said with an apologetic face: "It's not about being dishonest, it's because the matter discussed today is of great importance. I have always admired Cangshan Gong, so I specially sent my confidants here, but everything should be careful, I hope Mr. Yuan will not be surprised. "

Yuan Mei smiled slightly after hearing this, and said without hesitation: "It's okay, please let little brother Shen lead the way."

Yuan Tongxin said, dad, it's easy for you to talk about it, but the problem is that I'm tired!Then he turned around and squatted down, with the help of Zhao Tingyan, he carried his father on his back and followed Shen Gui up the steps.
Six people entered the temple gate.Go straight through the temples and temples, and the monks who come and go turn a blind eye.When they came to the door of a meditation room, before Yuan Mei got off his son's back, the door of the meditation room was opened from the inside, and a middle-aged man walked out quickly, bowed to Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi and said, "Excuse me!" Forgive me! Lord Jianzhai, Lord Oubei, I’m really sorry! Please both of you make a trip. I’m useless Xu.”

The person who spoke was about forty years old, wearing a large gray poplin jacket, his fat figure made the clothes a little tight, making him look a little ridiculous.On his white and broad face, he wore a side-whisker and two small black eyes. He was careless and careless.

Both Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi were startled, wondering why Beihai Town had sent such a high-ranking person, they looked at Shen Gui who was not beside him pleasingly.However, due to the prestige of Beihai Town, the two still greeted each other, and then entered the meditation room to sit down.Taking advantage of the tea time, Zhao Yi finally couldn't help asking: "May I ask what your Excellency's official residence is in Beihai Town?"

Xu Wuyong said with a smile: "I am ashamed to say that I am the deputy director of the North Navy Intelligence Bureau. This time I am honored to come to meet the two old gentlemen, but I have been ordered by the king, and I have a letter written by King Zhao."

Intelligence Bureau?Deputy Director?
Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi looked at each other, thinking what kind of official is this?I have never heard of it in the official systems of all dynasties!
Speaking of which, if Ruan Yuan was present, he would be surprised that the other party's name was "Xu Dachun", why did he change his name to "Xu Wuyong"?However, if he met Liu Quan, the steward of the house, he would definitely curse "Xu Dayong, the dog day" in his heart.

That's right, it was Xu Dayong, Zhao Xin's confidant, who came to see Yuan Mei on behalf of the North Navy Intelligence Bureau.And the young man named Shen Gui before was naturally Shen Guisheng.

After Xu Dayong finished his trip to the capital a year and a half ago, he returned to Beihai Town and has been in charge of internal espionage work. By the way, he also trained a group of new recruits for the Military Intelligence Bureau.At the end of the year before last, he married Chamei, and now he has become a father and has a big fat boy.

The peaceful days passed for a long time, and Xu Dayong, who had already gained more than ten catties, couldn't hold back anymore, and began to be very still and want to move again.It just so happened that Wang Zhong found Wang Changsheng and wanted to send someone to Jiangnan to contact Yuan Mei, Xu Dayong immediately volunteered, and this was the reason for this trip to Zhenjiang.

Although this guy has registered with the Manchu Qing government, he is from Chongming, so he has no problem with his Jiangnan accent; he also helped the Songjiang Cao Gang fight against the Suzhou Cao Gang, so he is very familiar with both the Yangtze River and the Canal.The reason why I arranged a meeting with Yuan Mei at Yinshan Temple this time is because I can go down the mountain immediately and take a boat to run away.

Xu Dayong did not explain to Yuan Mei and Zhao Yi what the Intelligence Bureau was, but only said that it was a military organization in Beihai Town, directly under the management of Zhao Xin.Meeting the two of them this time was of great importance, so he was sent south in person.It's a good thing he didn't say anything, otherwise the two old men would have been shocked, isn't this the same as the Jin Yiwei of the former Ming Dynasty!

After a while, Shen Guisheng brought the tea, and then left the meditation room.Only then did Xu Dayong take out the autographed letter of Zhao Xin and Wang Zhong from his bosom, explaining that all relevant matters were mentioned in the letter, please read it.

Zhao Yi raised his hand and took Zhao Xin's letter, opened it and looked at it involuntarily.But Yuan Mei smiled helplessly, and picked up Wang Zhong's letter.

(End of this chapter)