lady, please calm down

Chapter 289 My brother-in-law is a melon seller
"Xiao Yi, have you changed your name?"

"Erlang, why did you change your name?"

"Do you, Aweng, allow you to join the army?"

"Of course I agree," Aweng said. Over the years, our grandparents and grandchildren have had no worries about food and clothing, thanks to the hard work of Brother Chen and other brothers. Now that we have finished school, and the left-behind department is recruiting soldiers, we can repay the kindness of Brother Chen and everyone by joining the army. Second, you can find a way out for yourself.”

"Hey! Xu Aweng thought it through! I don't know what my father told Brother Chen. Brother Chen did not allow me to join the army. He only said that the military formations have no eyesight. My brother has already served in the army and asked me to stay at home to continue studying and serving. Mom and dad! I’m so angry.”

"Brother Chen has some truth to what he said. I heard that after the first lunar month, the school will open middle school courses, such as material resources and flower studies."

"Others don't know, but you don't know? I'm no good at studying! Peng Yuyan and Wu Yanzu can memorize articles in half an hour, but I can't remember them in two hours! If they hadn't secretly memorized the graduation exam before, If I hand you the cheat sheet, I won’t even be able to pass the exam.”

"But you have to be 16 to recruit soldiers. You are only fifteen this year. Even if you are queued up all of a sudden, the person who registered will not accept you."

Inside the south gate of Caizhou City, there was a long queue in front of the recruitment office of the Left Behind Division. Yang Lei, the second man of the Yang family, and Xiao Yi, the Xu family, stood in the queue and whispered as the team moved forward slowly.

After hearing Xu Xiaoyi's worries, Yang Erlang smiled, took out a household register from his arms and handed it to the former to look at.

Xiao Yi took it and took a look, only to see that Yang Erlang's age was not only changed by one year, but his name was also changed to Yang Yutian.

"Erlang, are you looking for someone to apply for a fake certificate?"

"Well, Li, the master of the Chenghuang Temple, made it for me. I asked for a hundred-dollar coupon!"

"You are so brave!"

Xu Xiaoyi admired it and whispered Erlang's new name a few times, understanding that the latter had separated the "lei" in his name to get the word "Yutian". But after repeating it a few more times, Xiaoyi found something inappropriate. "Erlang! Your father's name is Yang Youtian. If you change his name to Yang Yutian, have you two become equals?"

"."

Yang Erlang couldn't help but be startled. He had never thought about this problem at first, but after a few breaths of thinking, he immediately felt relieved. He even retorted confidently: "What's this? Brother Chen often said that we are all brothers in the world! Look at him , I have been calling Master Cai my brother and sister all day long, so I still married the third lady and entered the house."

"Can this be the same?"

While the two were discussing in a low voice, they suddenly heard a commotion. When they looked back, it was Marquis Lu An and Mr. Yanagawa who each rode into the city gate.

There was a warm greeting all around. Chen Chu responded with a smile, but Chen Jing'an's face was not very pretty.

"Hurry and hide! Don't be seen by Brother Chen!"

Yang Erlang, who joined the army without telling his family, took Xu Xiaoyi and left the team, turned into an alley and hid.

"What are you doing to me! I don't have to hide!" Xu Xiaoyi complained.

"What kind of brother are you? Why don't you stay with me for a while!"

Chen Chu and others were just passing by. After a while, calm returned to the south gate of Caizhou City.

However, when Yang Erlang and Xu Xiaoyi came back, they could no longer find their positions in the team.

Seeing that the registration line was winding like a long queue, the two people who didn't want to queue up from the beginning found a position similar to the one they left just now and squeezed in.

But this time, a tall and thin young man was unhappy, "Hey, why did you two jump in line! Didn't you see that everyone was queuing up conscientiously!"

Yang Erlang and Xu Xiaoyi couldn't help but blush. They were about to explain, but they heard someone say in a strange way: "That's it, don't rely on your family to be special."

The two of them turned around and looked, hey, wasn't the guy who was talking to him the guy who blocked the door when Brother Chen was marrying his sister-in-law last year? He seemed to be his sister-in-law's cousin, his name was Qin Shengwu.

He also came to join the army?
If it were someone else, forget it, but it was this kid who blocked the door and caused Erlang to scatter the wedding money, leaving him penniless.

It can't be said that they are enemies meeting each other, at least they can be regarded as haters.

So Erlang grabbed his neck and shouted: "What's wrong! Where am I standing to prevent you from asking for help!"

Qin Shengwu was also not afraid of trouble. He immediately rolled up his sleeves and took a step forward. Seeing that a conflict was about to occur, the tall and thin young man who was the first to criticize Erlang for jumping in line quickly stood side by side with Qin Shengwu, so that this man who spoke uprightly could Good people don’t get stuck at a one-two disadvantage.

There was a sergeant on site to maintain order. Hearing the commotion, he hurriedly stepped forward to separate the two sides like a cockfight.

"What's the matter? If you don't agree with me, go to Kill Thief Bay outside the city and try a few tricks. Whoever is a coward will be your grandson!"

Killing Thief Bay is located on the bank of Ruhe River. According to Xianhan rumors, after Lu Anhou killed more than a thousand thieves here last year, every night, the thieves could be heard crying and begging for mercy.

As time passed, no one dared to go there, and it has since become a place where teenagers compete for courage.

Seeing that Yang Erlang was still shouting, Qin Shengwu yelled back: "Don't think that because you are so tall and powerful, others are afraid of you! I am not afraid, I will beat you sooner or later!"

"Ah! Just wait. When I beat you, don't go crying to my sister-in-law!" Yang Erlang yelled angrily when he was stopped by the sergeant.

"Joke! You have suffered a loss, don't go to my brother-in-law to complain!" Qin Shengwu, who was also stopped, was also jumping.

Upon seeing this, Lao Meng, the general of the Wuwei Army who was responsible for recruiting troops here, took two steps forward with a whip and whipped two whips on Yang Erlang and Qin Shengwu, who were the most arrogant.

The two of them were in pain and said in unison: "Why did you hit me!"

'咻~pia~'

Lao Meng had a dark face, shook a whip in the air, and cursed: "If you have the strength, use it to kill thieves on the battlefield! How can you show off your authority with your own master! Now I will give you two ways, or each of you will receive ten lashes." , keep lining up! Or go home and get out!"

"."

All four of them were silent, but the tall and thin young man who was the first to stop Yang Erlang from jumping in line panicked. He quickly took off his shirt, exposing his thin back, and said anxiously: "I won't get out! The military master just fights, I'm Kang Shitou." If you shout, you are not a good man!"

With him taking the lead, the other three quickly took off their shirts, and shouted as if they were about to die: "I'll beat you."

Lao Meng looked at the four people with their heads held high, and couldn't help but smile and wave. Then his sergeants took the four people to the base of the city wall and gave each of them ten whips.

They were all young men, and the sergeant's attack was very measured, but he still left more than ten blood marks.

Yang Erlang and Qin Shengwu had already received two lashes from Lao Meng each. The execution sergeant took care of them, so he only gave them eight lashes, which was just enough for ten lashes.

Unexpectedly, Yang Erlang, who had blue veins on his neck in pain, said: "I'll hit you as many times as you can, why are you missing two strokes! Do you think I can't bear it?"

Qin Shengwu, who was already trapped like him, was sweating profusely in pain, but he also shouted, "Come on, come on! Finish the beating in one go, so as not to make people worry!"

"Stupid!"

The execution sergeant was finally aroused by the two ungrateful teenagers. He whipped him twice, without any mercy.
"Oh, mother"

"Hey, it hurts me to death!"

The two people in front of them, who had endured the eight lashes without saying a word, let out pitiful screams one after another.

There were already tears in Yang Erlang's eyes. These tears had nothing to do with sadness or sadness, but simply because of pain, he couldn't help but burst out.

But when he turned around, he saw Qin Shengwu, who was even more arrogant than him, with tears streaming down his face.

Yang Erlang, who felt that he had won, burst out laughing, "Hahaha, I was still trying to be a hero just now, but now I'm crying, hahaha."

"How are you better than me? Aren't you crying too!"

"I have dry eyes, moisten them!"

"Bah, then my face is dirty. Wash your face."

In the distance, Lao Meng sat back in the temporary greenhouse set up at the recruitment office.

Deputy Mao Tou picked up a slightly yellow steamed bun from the coal stove, broke it in half, handed one half to Lao Meng, looked at Yang Erlang and others who were dressing carefully, and said: "Brother Lao Meng, these thorns Is it possible to join the army?"

Lao Meng broke off a piece of toasted steamed bun and chewed it carefully. After feeling the aroma of wheat with his lips and teeth, he reluctantly swallowed it, "Why not? I have forgotten what we looked like when we were soldiers under Kou Shizhong. Huh? Good soldiers are both trained and taught. These little guys are good-tempered, responsible, righteous and not afraid of trouble. They are all good young soldiers."

late noon.

Stay in the Siguan Yamen study room.

Chen Jing'an and Chen Chu sat opposite each other, not talking to each other for a full quarter of an hour.

In the end, it was Chen Jing'an who sighed and spoke first: "Yuan Zhang, you don't believe in Confucian classics and the words of saints?"

Today, knowing that he wanted to ease the relationship between the two parties, Chen Chu composed that shocking five-sentence poem. The contempt and hostility contained in it were barely concealed. Chen Jing'an was naturally worried.

Chen Chu thought for a long time and then said carefully: "I only believe that practice is the only criterion for testing truth. I don't believe that there is an ancestral method that can be used by all methods in the world."

Although he said it tactfully, Chen Chu's disbelief in Confucianism was quite obvious.

Chen Jing'an was not annoyed, nodded and asked again: "So Yuan Zhang thinks, what are the shortcomings of my Confucianism?"

With these words, I dared to chat in a secret room. Not to mention that Chen Chu was a martial artist who was not familiar with Confucianism. Even the great Confucians of the world would not dare to ask such a question easily in front of others.

Chen Jing'an was frank, and Chen Chu also said frankly: "Confucianism is the dominant school and it restricts thoughts."

No, Chen Chu just said something, but Chen Jingan interrupted him, "How does Confucianism confine thoughts?"

As he spoke, Chen Jing'an blushed, obviously trying his best to suppress his emotions.

But Chen Chu was stumped by this question. Thanks to the explosive dissemination of information in later generations, he could learn some knowledge without spending a lot of time.

But the knowledge Chen Chu obtained was all unsystematic and fragmented. Anyway, a large number of public accounts and UP owners said that Confucianism was bad, saying that the decline of China in the last few hundred years was due to Confucianism's restrictive thinking.After seeing it too much, Chen Chu subconsciously thought so, but when he was asked to organize a set of well-founded arguments, he really didn't know where to start.

Seeing that Chen Chu was silent, Chen Jing'an said slightly excitedly: "Confucius said about becoming benevolent and Mencius said about seeking righteousness. Confucius advocated 'restraining oneself and restoring propriety', 'don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you', and proposed 'governing with virtue' , advocating 'education without distinction'.
On this basis, Yasheng also proposed "benevolent government for the people, save punishment, reduce taxes and collect taxes".Over the past thousand years, who else has advocated in Confucianism like ours that 'the people are valued and the monarch is valued over others'?
Yuan Zhang, tell me, what's wrong? "

These ideas were very advanced even a thousand years later, let alone the pre-Qin period. Chen Chu naturally couldn't fault them.

Chen Jing'an continued: "Confucianism in the Han Dynasty advocated 'the Doctrine of the Mean' and 'the unity of nature and man.' Do you think Yuan Zhang is wrong?"

The Doctrine of the Mean was somewhat controversial in later generations, but Chen Chu's understanding of the unity of nature and man was probably 'man and nature live in harmony'. This statement was very fashionable in later generations, and there is nothing wrong with it.

Chen Jing'an paused for a moment and then said: "In the Tang Dynasty, Confucianism advocated 'virtue and etiquette' and 'loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness'. Is there anything wrong with that?"

This time, Chen Jingan did not even wait for Chen Chu's answer. He immediately said: "The thousand-year development of Confucianism is not about imprisoning thoughts as Yuan Zhang said. The Han, Tang and even Zhou Dynasties all absorbed new content, just like the Yuan Dynasty. Zhang Fangcai said, "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth." If you feel it is very necessary, you can completely absorb it into Confucianism through the method of a great Confucian debate for you. There are more than thousands of words of sages, and you can read through the classics. You can always find a sage’s words to endorse this.”

Chen Jingan's words were quite straightforward. He was simply teaching Chen Chu step by step, systematizing and theorizing certain ideas, and then using Confucianism to promote the world.

Listening to what he just said, the "virtuous government" and "the people are valued and the monarch is valued" in Confucianism in the pre-Qin period did not seem to completely serve the monarch. However, in later generations, the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Confucianism is the word "loyalty and filial piety".

It seems that generations of emperors continued to add private goods to Confucianism in order to save governance costs.

According to Chen Jingan’s implicit statement, Confucianism is like a pocket, and anything can be put in it.

Seeing Chen Chu deep in thought, Chen Jing'an waited for a while and then sighed: "I know that many of the gentry that Yuan Zhang has come into contact with in recent years are bad, so he has prejudices against Confucianism, but Yuan Zhang must remember that the bad ones are people, not certain individuals. Even if all the scholars in the world turned to study Legalism and Mohism, wouldn’t there be no corrupt officials and evil gentry in the world? Has Yuan Zhang ever thought about what would happen if there were no schools of thought everywhere in the world overnight? What will it look like?"

"If there were no Confucianism, there wouldn't be chaos in the world, right?" Chen Chu asked in a relatively relaxed tone.

Chen Jingan looked serious and said firmly: "Yes!"

"." Chen Chu felt that Chen Jingan was exaggerating.

Chen Jing'an looked at the screen window tiredly, and said as if talking to himself: "It's not just a chaos. After the unification of China by the Qin Dynasty, despite the chaos at the end of the Qin Dynasty, it was quickly reunited by Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty. At the end of the Three Kingdoms period, the Wei, Jin, North and South were reunited in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It relied not only on the same writing and writing, but also on the unification of ideas."

When Chen Chu wanted to say something, Chen Jing'an waved his hand and continued: "Yuanzhang, listen to me first. China is a vast country, separated by mountains and rivers, with different pronunciations for ten miles, and no one can recognize each other for hundreds of miles. If there is no unity of writing and thought, it will be like the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It was divided into countless small countries, and wars continued for hundreds of years. Yuan Zhang, you"

Chen Jing'an paused suddenly, looked at Chen Chu with serious and even pleading eyes, and said: "Yuan Zhang, Confucianism can be improved, but you can't destroy it. Otherwise, if you can't bear the backlash, you will also mess up this world." The world."

At the end of Youshi, it was already dark.

There was no lamp in the study, and Chen Chu had been sitting in the same position in the darkness for an hour.

He didn't even know when Chen Jingan left.

What Chen Chu was thinking about was naturally what he had talked with Chen Jing'an in the afternoon.
Shao Qing, Mao Dan's slightly worried voice sounded outside, "Master, are you okay?"

"Oh, it's okay." After his train of thought was interrupted, Chen Chu turned his slightly stiff neck and looked at the dim sky outside the window.

"Commander Li, the military commander, is here. Do you want to see me again, my boss?"

"See you, please come in."

A few breaths later, Li Mulezi, who was dressed in coarse cloth, entered. After greeting him respectfully, he whispered habitually: "Master Hou, Yang Lei, the second brother of Commander Yang, Xu Xiaoyi, the grandson of Mr. Xu who manages the livestock of Luliuwei Farm Reclamation Group, Renren’s cousin Qin Shengwu signed up to join the new military camp of the Armed Guards today."

"Hey, why don't they come to the Huai Army to sign up?" Chen Chu said with a smile.

Li Mulezi paused for a moment, then said: "It was probably because the young masters were worried that the Suppressing Huai Army had many acquaintances and would be recognized, so they joined the Wuwei Army."

"These bastards."

Chen Chu laughed and cursed, but said happily: "Yes, going to a place where no one is taking care of you can be considered ambitious!"

"Master Hou." Li Mulezi hesitated for a moment.

"What's wrong?"

"Yang Erlang used a fake household registration and changed his name."

"Oh? How much did you change your name?"

"Yang Yutian"

"Hahaha. By the way, where did he get the false evidence?"

"I'm looking for Li, the master of the Chenghuang Temple. Do you want to capture him?"

"Forget it, leave it to the government officials. Don't interfere in private affairs."

"Yes."

Li Mulezi bowed and was about to retire. Chen Chu, who was standing there, hesitated and suddenly called out to him, "Mulezi, after the March training of new recruits is completed, we will arrange for all of them to join the Huotou Army."

"Uh yes!"

Li Mulezi was confused at first. Who is willing to be a soldier?Those guys would definitely not be happy if they found out.

But then, Li Mulezi realized that the military formation was dangerous, and the Marquis was worried about these young men who had watched them grow up, so joining the Huotou Army was safer.

It is night, Xu time.

Caizhou City South Campus.

The new recruits who just entered the camp today have not started formal training yet and are wandering around the school grounds in twos and threes.

Kang Shitou sat alone on the parallel bars used to exercise his arm strength, looked at the lights of Caizhou in the distance, and quietly wiped away his tears.

I have long wanted to join the army, but today I was whipped on the first day, and my back hurt so much. Apart from the pain and grievance, I couldn't help but miss my sister who depended on me for life.

"Hey, Stone! Why did you come here? It's hard for me to find it!"

With a greeting, Kang Shitou quickly wiped his tears, and when he looked back, he saw that it was Qin Shengwu whom he had just met today.

Kang Shitou was very fond of this young man who could quickly become friendly with anyone, so he moved aside to make room for him to sit.

Qin Shengwu climbed up quickly and turned his head to see Kang Shitou's red eyes, but he didn't reveal it. He just threw a small porcelain bottle and said with a smile: "Here, the wound medicine sent by the Maotou deputy captain, put it on the wound before going to bed." Paint it."

Kang Shitou hurriedly took it and said with envy: "The deputy general of Maotou looks like he is a few years older than us, but he has already become the deputy general. He is really awesome."

"That's not the case! The positions of our left-behind officers are all accomplished with real swords and real guns. Although the deputy general of Maotou is not very old, he followed his sister and the Marquis to fight against the thieves, and went through seven or eight battles before becoming deputy general. Captain."

"hey-hey."

Kang Shitou, who was not very good at words, smiled and didn't know how to answer the question.

Qin Shengwu, who was familiar with him, continued to ask: "Shitou, where is your family from?"

"My home." Kang Shitou subconsciously glanced at the night sky to the east, then pretended to be calm and said: "I have no home. Last June, there was chaos in Shouzhou. The thieves killed Aweng and his father. His mother starved to death on the way to escape. . Now only my sister and I are left. By the way, my sister’s name is Kang Yulan, and she is now working in a textile factory that makes people happy.”

Even Qin Shengwu talked a lot, and he didn't know what to say when he accidentally asked about someone else's tragedy.

But when talking about this, Kang Shitou started chatting instead, "Brother Wu, have you seen Renren empress? I have!"

"Uh"

"The Queen is extremely beautiful, and her voice is soft and pleasant, just like the Bodhisattva Queen walking out of a painting."

"Um, you know Ren Ren very well?"

"It's okay." Kang Shitou wiped his nose proudly and puffed up his chest and said: "Before I joined the army, I lived in the Orphans and Children's Bureau. The queen would visit us during the holidays and bring us delicious food. .”

"Hey, that person is really a good person." Qin Shengwu grinned, but he looked even prouder than Kang Shitou.

"That's natural. Brother Wu, why did you join the army?"

"Let me first tell you why you joined the army?"

"I, my sister often say that a person should repay kindness, so that people and the Marquis can repay my sister and brother's kindness. Now that the Marquis is recruiting troops, I will naturally come."

At this point, Kang Shitou suddenly smiled shyly, and continued: "My brother and I are the only ones left in my family now. I want to make a career in the army, be my sister's backer, and save her dowry."

"Shitou, I didn't expect you to be ambitious! Your sister is also a good person. By the way, how old is she? My brother is twenty years old and works in the Machinery Expansion Bureau of the Iron Smelting Institute. He earns three to two months' salary every month. He is very nice. , also honest”

Qin Shengwu secretly promoted his brother. His brother Qin Shengwen was good at everything, but he was a bit dull and didn't like to talk.

Kang Shitou naturally heard the implication, but he never asked his wife to say that now he and his sister depended on each other, and they were like mothers. Naturally, he had to ask his sister about such a big matter first. How could he make the decision for her.

Then he changed the subject and said: "Brother Wu, today you had a conflict with Yang Yutian. I heard you mention 'brother-in-law'. Is Brother-in-law Wu very powerful? What does he do?"

"My brother-in-law. He. He is a melon seller."

"Selling melons? Tongshan watermelons? It is said that Tongshan melons are in very short supply and can be sold to other places for several times the price. I guess your brother-in-law can also make a lot of money, right?"

"Hey, it's just a small business. It's just a small business."

(End of this chapter)