Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 81 The Sword Is Not the Enemy of Thousands of People (5)

Speaking of the embarrassing things in her childhood, Li Ruobing couldn't help but blush.

Huang Jian said with a smile: "Qingqing is a straight man." He smiled and said: "The way of governing the country is the same. If you lose loyalty and righteousness, the faults of a gentleman are like the eclipse of the sun and the moon. Everyone can see it. If you want to cover it up, Nothing is better than turning all the people in the world into blind and deaf. From imperially appointed scriptures, to prohibiting the revision of private history, compiling calendars, and private study of astronomy, etc., and using benefits to lure the world's scholars to bury their heads in scriptures and not think about the way. The cause and effect , going round and round, looking at the court at this time, there are many people who are dignified and respectful, and the road of benevolent government is far away."

At this time, if what Huang Jian said was spread outside, it might even lead to death. Li Ruobing was dripping with cold sweat, but he felt that every sentence was deafening, like a fog that had been shrouded in front of him for a long time. It was as if he stretched out his hand and pushed it away.

He was in a daze when he heard Huang Jian ask: "Qingqing has been here in Qiongzhou for a while, in your opinion, are these barbarians really all born stupid and stubborn?"

Li Ruobing was taken aback, thought for a moment, and replied in a deep voice: "No. The spiritual wisdom of the Yi people is no different from that of the Central Plains people. In terms of farming, weaving, business, and even arithmetic and writing, they are quite inferior to the Central Plains people. But in terms of trekking through mountains and rivers, The way of chasing snakes and catching animals, repelling insects and eating ants is quite better than those in the Central Plains."

Huang Jian nodded, and said slowly: "What Qing Qing said is true." He said with a worried expression on his face, "People are loved by all souls. The reason why China is better than the barbarians is that it has first obtained benevolence and righteousness. Zhi Daoer. Now that the way of loyalty and righteousness is damaged, and you have blocked your wisdom, given time, how do you know that these di barbarians will not come from behind?"

He saw Li Ruobing's face was stunned, as if he didn't believe it, and said: "In August of the tenth year of Xining, our imperial envoy went to the Liao Kingdom to celebrate the Liao Lord's birthday, and it happened to be the winter solstice. There is a one-day difference between the dynasty’s calendar and the Liao’s, and if there is no dispute, each follows its own calendar. Astronomy and the calendar are important matters for the country, and the Liao people can still fight against our dynasty. Given time, how can we know that we can’t come from behind?”

Li Ruobing nodded, but he couldn't believe it in his heart that this barbarian could surpass the Central Plains intellectually.

The three of them walked slowly along the beach, discussing Taoism to solve their "confusion", Li Ruobing asked Li Sihai if he could have a look at his firecrackers, Li Sihai said: "Why not a small object." From his arms He took it out, after the fire blunderbuss just 'shot' the pirates, he didn't reload the gunpowder and the blunderbuss, and he wasn't afraid of going off.Li Ruobing took it over, and saw that the firecracker was similar to the eight made in the Song Dynasty, except that it used an extremely complicated iron plate percussion device as the ignition mechanism.Upon closer inspection, one finds that the barrel and handle of the gun are covered with patterns, which are extremely exquisite.

Li Sihai said with a smile: "This flint blunderbuss does not need to be ignited with a fire-folder. It only has the advantage of seeing an opportunity quickly, but it is quite troublesome to manufacture and cannot be used by the military. This handle is a self-defense gift from Jiaci, so it cannot be used. Forward it. Brother Li, don’t blame me for being stingy.” He also secretly developed a friendship with Li Ruobing, thinking that next time he would bring a flint blunderbuss from the middle school and give it to him, a scholar would need it for self-defense.

The three of them chatted and laughed and came to a moored ship, and a sampan was tied to the shore. Then Li Sihai said in a deep voice, "I have benefited a lot from Mr. Zhoushan's teaching today." Then he cupped his hands and said to Li Ruobing: "Brother Li, let's leave now." Jumping onto the sampan, the sailors on the small boat worked together, and in a short while they were under the ship. Li Sihai climbed onto the side of the ship along the cables, holding on to the thick bow on the foremast with one hand. Sail, turned around, and waved goodbye to Huang Jian and Li Ruobing.

The sailor on the sea boat quickly lifted the anchor and raised the sail, slowly turned the rudder, and gradually sailed away. Li Sihai held the sail rope with one hand, and his body standing against the wind gradually disappeared in the red clouds of the sea and sky, leaving only flocks of terns behind. Still tweeting 'random' flying on the shore.

As the sky gradually darkened, Li Ruobing watched the ship go away, and said with emotion: "Such a hero, my Song Dynasty wants to compete with him, so I have to cheer up."

Huang Jian said slowly: "Xia's system originated from China, and it was ingenious. It coincided with Di Yi's way. What I worry about is not the Xia State itself, but its coincidence with the barbarian customs. It has been different for hundreds of years. Decay. If Di Yi practices it, it will be a great disaster for China. Today, the way of loyalty and righteousness in our dynasty is damaged, and we call it a peaceful and prosperous age. No matter how well the Hu people work together to become stronger, if they use this to invade the Central Plains, it will be enough to cause serious trouble."

Li Ruobing wondered, "Why did you say that, sir?"

Huang Jian explained: "Xia State's system of governing the people with soldiers and soldiers is unprecedented, and it has not seen its decline for a hundred years. In the past, Yelu Abaoji of the Khitan Kingdom invaded Kaifeng, and the people suffering from China were difficult to govern. If this method is used to govern the people, it will be difficult. It’s also easy. Xia Guoguang’s system of seizing officials by force and electing them level by level actually coincides with the Hu people’s way of striving for supremacy and respecting the strong. If the Khitans use this method to unite the army and gather a crowd, the upper and lower can use their arms to move their fingers, within ten minutes. In [-], the power can be doubled compared to before, enough to trouble the Central Plains. However, maybe this old man is worrying unfoundedly."

He was silent for a moment, and then said: "The so-called etiquette is broken, and loyalty does not exist in the court, but how can all the 6000 million scholars and people in my majestic Song Dynasty be all muddle-headed people. According to the old man, the way of loyalty , must not just decline like this! Even though "traitors" are rampant, and there are many people who deceive the world and steal their names. People in my generation should work hard, use up our minds, and find out the way of recovery and restoration, so that the above will be feared and the bottom will be relied upon. Only then can we cultivate benevolent government internally and defend against powerful enemies externally."

Li Ruobing was relegated to this barren place, originally somewhat disheartened, but at this moment a sense of pride arose spontaneously, bowed and said: "Master's teachings are so deafening, juniors are like candles in the long night, please allow me to be my teacher. "

Huang Jian smiled and nodded, accepting this disciple.The Dao must never be taught to anyone else, if Li Ruobing hadn't been a Confucian scholar who engraved loyalty, filial piety and fraternity in his heart, and had a nature of preferring to surrender, he would not have told him these shocking concerns.In the Han Dynasty, there was a Bank of China saying that since the Five Dynasties, there have been endless history books about prostitution.

Seeing that the sky was going to be dark, amidst the sound of the sea tide, a new moon was rising in the sky, and the stars were twinkling beside, the master and apprentice walked slowly along the way when they came, talking and walking towards the hut in the fishing village .

In the city of Bianjing, Zhao Zhifu, the political counselor, leaned on the chair with a tired expression. Compared with a few months ago, he was more than ten years older.After the Hebei camp was attacked by the Liao army, Tong Guan and Liu Yanqing seemed to be in collusion, slandering the prince Zhao Keke and deducting rewards, which made the army depressed and fearful of the enemy. , and even the Kelie tribe rebelled, and the camp mutinied, and the Khitan people took advantage of it.Even the great victory in Hebei did not change the courtiers' disapproval of the prince, and the official's heart of easy storage became more and more firm, and the situation seemed irreversible.

"These two old bastards!" Zhao Zhifu gnashed his teeth and smashed the teacup into pieces, panting and sat down again, slumped in the chair weakly.If the crown prince is abolished, as the biggest ally, his political career has come to an end, not to mention the blow and cold reception that the Zhao family will suffer after the third prince succeeds to the throne.

At this time, the family came to report, and Qin Hui, Yushi Zhongcheng, asked to see him. Zhao Zhifu barely cheered up and ordered someone to invite him in.He is about fifty people, and if he loses this battle, he will not be able to recover. Qin Hui is in his prime, not only the emperor and prince, but even the third prince has a good impression of him. Even if the prince is deposed, it is not completely hopeless Yes, in the future after the Zhao family, they may have to ask this junior to take care of them.

Qin Hui walked in hurriedly, seeing Zhao Zhifu's pale and tired face, there was no strange expression on his face.He cupped his hands to Zhao Zhifu and said: "When I came to disturb Zhao Xiang at night, it was the disciples of the lower officials who told me that there was a nonsense proposal in the capital's proposal. However, it might be able to win back the official's mind and prevent Donggong from changing his mind. reserve."

"What?" Zhao Zhifu cheered up, as if he jumped up from his chair, and said hurriedly, regardless of the prime minister's bearing, "What is the proposal?"

Qin Hui was like this, and told the story of Li Xueshe's attempt to contact Juzi in Beijing to jointly write to the imperial court, asking to behead Tong Guan, and also talked about the rebellion of the Kelei tribe from Zhao Xingde, and the collapse of the army in Hebei , Liao army sneak attack, Tong Guan abandoned the city and fled.In short, if what these officials say is true, Tong Guan is the only one to blame, and the prince who is far away in Daming Mansion has nothing to do with the fall of Hebei.

"Hey, I really don't know what benefits these two old foxes, Cai Jing and Tong Guan, have given Liu Yanqing. He dared to frame the prince." Even Zhao Zhifu believed Liu Yanqing's words in advance, not the prince's self-defense, because the deduction of rewards originally It has become a common practice, and there are even some who use inferior wine as royal wine, and the fact that the prince is afraid of the Liao army and stays in the name is all there, and there is no room for refutation.

Knowing that there was another reason for the fall of Hebei, Zhao Zhifu weighed in. At this moment His Majesty has made up his mind, even if he and other courtiers tell the truth and share the case for the crown prince, and accuse Tong Guan and Liu Yanqing of deceiving the emperor, most of the officials will listen to it. do not go in.As the saying goes, severe illness requires strong medicine. At present, there are nearly 2 scholars gathered in the capital, and there is a gathering of elite scholars from all over the world. As long as there is a storm, the officials may have to punish Tong Guan. The scapegoat for the defeat of the army, the matter of Yi Chu in the East Palace, naturally let go.

"Okay!" Zhao Zhifu showed a rare smile on his face, "You guys are concerned about the country and the people, and it's commendable to be brave enough to take responsibility. You must be encouraged."

"What Zhao Xiang said is that this is what I mean by being an official." Qin Hui smiled slightly, and reached out to pick up the tea cup from the table and took a sip.If the crown prince is really able to inherit the Datong, the contribution to the consolidation of the Eastern Palace is still greater than the recovery of Hebei.

At the same time, four or five sedan chairs were parked beside the Taishifu Bridge on the Bianhe River.In Cai Xiang's mansion, Prime Minister Cai Jing smiled and put the booklet of Lin Fu Yin of Kaifeng Mansion on the table. However, I was so anxious that I didn't expect to write a detailed notebook and submit it to the grand master.

"Nonsense." Cai Jing laughed, "A group of youngsters who don't know the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth, are really nonsense!"

The atmosphere in the flower hall was relaxed, and all the officials also laughed, and some even picked up the teacups and sipped the unique imperial gift tea in the Grand Master's Mansion.

"The Ministry of Rites privately informed these officials that those who dared to write a letter and wantonly slander the government will have their names revoked, so let's go back to the government." Cai Jing also smiled and dipped his lips with tea, in a graceful and self-possessed prime minister's demeanor He put down the teacup and said: "Under Zhongshu's door, officials in each room are not allowed to accept documents that lie about state affairs and slander the government without authorization. In addition," he paused, Smiling, he said to the governor of Kaifeng, "Although Hebei has achieved a great victory recently, it is time to rectify the market situation in Bianjing, especially the place of Dengwengu. It is necessary to prevent disturbances in the market and alarm the saints."

All the officials agreed, Cai Jing closed his eyes and pondered for a while, then slowly said: "The candidates who go to Beijing are gathered by the best of the country, and they need to be well cultivated. If you can persuade them, please do more." After finishing speaking, he closed his eyes again. He raised his eyes and raised his spirits.All the officials exchanged a few glances in private, and the whole room held their breath and remained silent.