The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Chapter 33 Lin Shangshu reads history

Lin Shizhang is 75 years old this year, but his sixth child, Lin Zhirui, is just in his early twenties. He was born to Lin Shizhang's fourth wife and concubine.

Early in the morning, Lin Shizhang was planning to eat when he suddenly heard Lin Zhirui yelling at him to prepare a carriage and ask a boy to get money. Then he saw him walking past his canteen wearing a brand new suit of clothes and a smooth face. Lin Shizhang frowned and stopped him:

"Where is this noise going so early in the morning?"

Lin Zhirui felt unlucky when Lin Shizhang called him out. He wondered why he had been seen by this old guy, and he stood there and said with a playful smile:

"I'm going to Zhangzhou City for a meeting."

"The literary society in the county school?"

Lin Zhirui smiled awkwardly, "It's Li Dan, a maritime merchant in the city. He invited me to have a meal and drink somewhere else. I thought it was just a quick trip..."

Lin Shizhang suddenly felt speechless for his useless little son.

"Sit down and eat, you are not allowed to go!"

Lin Zhirui had no choice but to move one step toward the door and sit down at the table.

Lin Shizhang looked at him like this and asked the servant to fill a bowl of porridge for Lin Zhirui. The rice was put on the table. Lin Zhirui finally gave up and started eating, but he deliberately made a noise to show his dissatisfaction.

"What does it mean to just eat and throw dishes and bowls when you eat?"

After being scolded by his father, Lin Zhirui bowed his head and drank porridge honestly, no longer daring to speak.

Lin Shizhang ate a bowl of rice, but he didn't dare to eat more because he was old. He was about to leave after the meal, but when he saw his youngest son looking like he was waiting for him to leave, he felt angry.

At this time, his long-term servant walked in outside the house and said: "Master's latest Chengdetang essay has been printed."

Lin Shizhang simply leaned back in his chair and said, "Put the book down, I'll read it now."

Lin Zhirui, who originally planned to run away as soon as his father left, was instantly frustrated when he heard this.

Seeing his son lowering his head to eat and glancing at himself from time to time, Lin Shizhang smiled inwardly and flipped through the collection of essays to the latest serialization of "History of Portugal".

Lin Shizhang became interested in this book a few months ago after hearing a scholar who attended Gao Yin's birthday banquet talk about the history of Portugal mentioned by Wang Wenlong at the birthday banquet. From the first serial issue published in Chengdetang Essays, he became interested in this book. Already started reading.

As a representative writer of historical popular science books in later generations, Roger Crowley's works are very readable. In addition, when Wang Wenlong selected the material, he arranged the text in a way that conforms to Chinese habits. The plot of this history book The compactness and twists have already reached the level of novels of later generations. Compared with the slow-paced novels of this era, it is simply a dimensionality reduction blow.

Lin Shizhang was fascinated by the mystery as soon as he read it, so he began to read it.

At first, Lin Shizhang was only interested in the overseas story of the Portuguese Empire and read the book as a novel. However, as the text progressed to Chapter 3, the grandeur of history had already unfolded in front of Lin Shizhang.

With Lin Shizhang's political literacy, he was naturally attracted by the stories in the book about the Portuguese monarchs' exploration of maritime frontiers.

Today’s Chapter 4 tells the story of how the Portuguese managed Persia and colonized India after Da Gama found the route from Portugal to Persia.

The King of Portugal sent Cabral as the commander, with a small fleet of more than 1000 people to expedition to India. Cabral had few manpower, but he actually took advantage of the contradictions among the local Hindu princes, Muslim kings, traders and other different forces in India. , tried their best to successfully establish permanent trading and armed strongholds on the coast of India.

Cabral is smart and cunning. After a long voyage, he gained a lot of wealth with his clever tricks and opened up territory for Portugal. He also rose from an ordinary fleet commander to the aristocratic status of a royal counselor. The whole process did not require too much Embellishment is like an adventure essay.People in the Ming Dynasty had never seen such entertaining stories. They only found them more exciting and exciting than those historical novels that told the legends of various famous generals in Chinese history.

Lin Shizhang was fascinated by the story written by Wang Wenlong and couldn't help but admire:
"With his great ambition, deep knowledge, and dangerous tactics, Cabral is indeed a tycoon of his generation!"

As an official who had participated in the struggle for power with Zhang Juzheng, after marveling at the stories in the book, Lin Shizhang, who was familiar with court struggles, thought of something deeper.

"I don't want to see such a decisive king and such an amazing and talented counselor in this wild land overseas."

Lin Shizhang was amazed that there were such people outside of China. Then he thought of the Ming Dynasty today and felt a little emotional.

Although he couldn't stand Zhang Juzheng's autocratic and domineering attitude, there was still a lot of vitality in the court at that time. Zhang Juzheng's drastic reforms, although the methods were somewhat destructive, were just like Cabral in this book. Although he is not ashamed, he is still united and has achieved remarkable results. The entire Ming Dynasty is also moving forward.

But now the imperial court is lifeless, all reforms have stalled, and we can only watch the Ming Dynasty rotting away day by day.

Then he lamented the ambition and talent of the Portuguese.

As a scholar of the Ming Dynasty, Lin Shizhang only thought that there was no civilized civilization outside the Central Plains, and that the Celestial Empire only needed to take care of the affairs of the Central Plains. However, according to this book, these Portuguese civil servants and generals should not be underestimated.

According to the description in the book, the world has been proved by Magellan's circumnavigation to be a huge earth. Although the Ming Dynasty's land is vast, it is only a corner of the world.

Moreover, these Portuguese did not have any contact with the Ming Dynasty. They had actually come to Xiangshan Ao to establish a port.

A large number of European countries are accumulating strength through maritime trade. If they continue to rise like this, won't they be able to plot the Ming Dynasty in the future?

Lin Shizhang thought that if a talented and brilliant figure like Cabral in the book began to oppose the Ming Dynasty, looking at the current court, who could resist him?

Thinking about Lin Shizhang, he even felt a chill in his back.

Lin Shizhang put down the book and saw Lin Zhirui looking at him curiously.

After coming out of the world in the book and seeing his useless little son, Lin Shizhang was furious.

He threw the book in his hand in front of Lin Zhirui: "You guys hang out outside all day long and never learn any useful skills. You should take a good look at this book!"

He tapped his cane and said, "Look at Cabral. He is only in his early thirties, but he is already able to conquer the ocean and expand his territory."

"Look at the author Wang Jianyang. He is also in his early twenties and has such knowledge. Why can't you be ambitious?"

Lin Zhirui picked up the book and flipped through it, looked up and smiled at Lin Shizhang: "Wang Jianyang, who wrote this book, is also going to attend the banquet of Li Dan's family today. I will go to him later to ask for advice in person."

Lin Shizhang's nose almost twisted when he heard this.

He studied hard since he was a child to be able to pass the Jinshi examination, but none of the five children he gave birth to were educated.

Lin Shizhang suppressed his anger and asked Lin Zhirui: "Then how much did Li Dan give you to make friends with you?"

(End of this chapter)