Chapter 133 Do You Want to Stand on the Side?
"Those seven powerful families are just representatives of those people. But the fact that they can come out shows that those behind them are a little impatient. Isn't your uncle panicking?"
"Why panic?"
At the back door, Xu Wei sat outside the Xiao family's door and took a sip of wine from the wine gourd. "This is just the beginning. I'm afraid there will be more troubles later. No, this is not trouble, but a crisis."
"I don't see that you are in a state of panic, Master." Hu Zongxian leaned against the back door. "You are teaching next door, don't you feel that it is a waste of time?"
Xu Wei put down the wine gourd and laughed, "You really are always thinking about recruiting me for Chang Wei Bo. But I would rather learn from that turtle and roll in the mud than sink into power with him."
"Haha!" Hu Zongxian smiled and stood up, "I feel sorry for you."
"What's there to be sad about?" Xu Wei said, "The right way is to take the imperial examination and become an official."
Hu Zongxian went in and found Jiang Qingzhi.
"Xu Wei was known for his unorthodoxy, but he followed the rules and wanted to take the imperial examination to become an official. It can be seen that deep down he still longed for a legitimate position."
Hu Zongxian said: "This person is very talented, what a pity."
"He can't run away." Jiang Qingzhi was wiping his sword.
"With Xu Wei's talent, it is only a matter of time before he passes the imperial examination and becomes an official." Hu Zongxian really admired Xu Wei's talent.
"He can't make it." Jiang Qingzhi said.
"No way!" Hu Zongxian thought it was impossible.
"He will definitely not pass." Jiang Qingzhi sighed.
Throughout history, Xu Wei fought again and again despite repeated failures, but the path to imperial examinations was unsuccessful no matter what he tried.
Hu Zongxian didn't want to argue about this issue. "My Lord, I suspect someone was behind the actions of Ma Chongde and others."
"There was definitely some instruction, but no one is a fool. Just a hint is enough. Don't think that Ma Chongde and others are doing well, but these powerful people are empty-headed. If someone throws a bone to them, they will hold on to it."
But when has Jiang ever suffered a loss? Jiang Qingzhi said: "It is impolite not to return the favor."
He looked up at Hu Zongxian and said, "Old Hu, I'll leave this matter to you."
Hu Zongxian was startled, "Yes."
Since following Jiang Qingzhi, Hu Zongxian has made many suggestions, but this is the first time he has done things alone.
This is trust!
It is also a test.
"Old Hu, don't worry too much, just go for it." Jiang Qingzhi sheathed his sword, "Sun Bu Tong and the others have just been training for a while, let's give them a try."
"Yes."
Just as Hu Zongxian was about to analyze the situation, he heard someone calling him uncle.
"The little girl is here." Jiang Qingzhi smiled, "You go!"
"Cousin."
Zhu Shou'an rushed in with two palace maids. Seeing Jiang Qingzhi playing with the sword, she said, "Uncle, I can't come tomorrow."
Tomorrow, Prince Yu and his brother will come to class, and Zhu Shou'an will also follow.
"Are you here specifically to ask for leave?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.
"Hmm!" The little girl waved her hand, and the two palace servants left. Then she looked worried, "Uncle, my father is going to hold a fast and a sacrifice. The palace said that we need to write something to worship the gods. I can't write, and they said it would offend the gods..."
"Oh! Really?" Jiang Qingzhi said, "Just do your best."
The next day, Prince Yu and his two brothers arrived.
"Uncle, the teacher taught us about economics yesterday." Prince Yu sat down, picked up the book and flipped through it. "The teacher said that food is the most important thing for the people, and the Ming Dynasty should focus on agriculture and sericulture. As for business, we don't need to worry about it."
"No need to worry about it?" Jiang Qingzhi chuckled, then burst into laughter.
"Uncle..." Prince Yu didn't think the question was funny.
He glanced at King Jing, who was in a daze.
"Why not care? Well, it's a little early for you two to deal with this issue." Jiang Qingzhi looked at Prince Yu and Prince Jing, thinking that the crown prince was still alive. Isn't it too early for them to step forward now?
Prince Yu was puzzled, and Prince Jing whispered, "Fool, the crown prince is still here. If we stand out too much..."
Prince Yu said: "It's just homework, and you also call it outstanding?"
King Jing sneered, "There are a group of people in the East Palace who are watching us! The prince can't see his father, but we can see him every once in a while. Those people want to skin us alive. If you stand out, be careful to get stabbed."
"Shut up!" Jiang Qingzhi shouted at King Jing.
The most taboo thing in the palace is to stab a villain.
Seeing Prince Yu was a little disappointed, Jiang Qingzhi suddenly laughed, "My students were bullied by a group of corrupt scholars with ulterior motives. How can I say this..."
Prince Yu's eyes lit up, "Uncle..."
That group of scum with ulterior motives... Jiang Qingzhi said: "Then today I will teach you some basic economic knowledge."
Prince Yu was overjoyed. Seeing Prince Jing quickly take out his notebook, he teased, "Isn't the fourth one afraid of standing out?"
King Jing said seriously, "I would rather offend the East Palace than learn something new from my uncle."
This flattery is so sweet, but the fourth brother is so shameless.
"The so-called economy, in a broad sense, includes commerce, workshops, agriculture...all aspects. But today I will talk about commerce in particular."
Xia Yan is here.
"Uncle is in class." Sun Chonglou whispered outside the door. He knew that the young master would not avoid Xia Yan, so he let the old man lean against the door and listen with squinted eyes.
"In the earliest times, there was no currency. Our ancestors bartered goods. What does this prove? It proves that the existence of commerce is essential for human beings."
This is the origin!
Xia Yan nodded slightly.
Jiang Qingzhi talked about the development of business, then changed the subject and mentioned the core.
"Food is the primary need of the people. The collapse of every dynasty is related to food, so farming has always been the top priority in every dynasty. In earlier times, such as the Han and Tang dynasties, emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce became the national policy."
Xia Yan crossed his arms, thinking, could this kid even talk about business? He thought of the years when he ruled the country, when business flourished. This could be considered a political achievement!
"In the Early Song Dynasty, the city walls were torn down, and commerce flourished unprecedentedly. The status of merchants was also unprecedentedly high. Therefore, the economy of the Early Song Dynasty was so prosperous that it has never been surpassed."
"In this dynasty, Emperor Taizu encouraged merchants to trade and built markets for this purpose. However, the atmosphere in this dynasty is a bit strange. The scholars and officials said that merchants valued profits over separation and that merchants were lowly people."
Xia Yan smiled. In his opinion, merchants are cunning and will take advantage of any opportunity. If there are no restrictions, who knows what they will do. "However, I am not optimistic about the current attitude towards merchants."
"Uncle, why are you not optimistic? Do businessmen dare to show their teeth to the court?"
"People are never satisfied!" Jiang Qingzhi's voice was full of sarcasm. "The third brother is a generous person. So, I will give you a question."
"My uncle ordered me to do that."
"When you return later, go check for yourself among the scholars, officials, and dignitaries in the capital to see how many of them are engaged in business."
"Yes."
"The second question." Jiang Qingzhi glanced at Prince Yu and thought that he was the emperor during the Longqing period when the gate was opened. This showed his open-minded attitude towards business at that time.
“Why can’t we suppress business?”
Prince Yu hurriedly recorded it.
“Third, why is it necessary to collect business taxes?”
"Fourth, if we don't collect business taxes and let the merchants run wild, what impact will that have on the Ming Dynasty's national destiny?"
Jiang Qingzhi said: "Four topics, work on them as soon as possible."
"Yes."
After class, the two princes came out and bowed to Xia Yan when they saw him.
After watching the two of them leave, Xia Yan entered the study.
"Mr. Xia."
Jiang Qingzhi took out a cigarette and asked, "How come you have time to come to my place today?"
"The four topics you gave Prince Yu are not quite appropriate." Xia Yan said, "The crown prince's position is stable. It would be good if Prince Yu honestly studied Confucianism. Music, chess, calligraphy and painting are also good. Economics, this is a big topic."
"Raising princes in the Ming Dynasty is just like raising pigs. Mr. Xia, do you think that if a future prince studies economics, he will be seen as ambitious?" Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile.
"What do you think?" Xia Yan sat down. "You have made many enemies now. If you become enemies with the East Palace again, I am worried that His Majesty will be dissatisfied."
"Mr. Xia, there's no need to worry." Jiang Qingzhi smiled.
"Is the prince still the same as you?" Xia Yan asked.
"Maybe they are waiting for me to come and pay a visit." Jiang Qingzhi said, "It's just that I'm too lazy."
"Don't be reserved."
"I'm not being reserved, I'm just sympathetic."
"Sympathize with what?"
"Sympathize with the prince."
If nothing changes, next year will be the end of the prince's life.
"Mr. Xia, I have no opinion about the Crown Prince, and I have no intention of taking sides."
Even if he raises a cat or a dog and spends time with them, Jiang Qingzhi will cry once the cat or dog leaves.
He is not close to the crown prince and does not stand on Prince Yu's side.
I just feel conflicted.
Take action to save the prince?
God knows why the prince went there in history.
The history books only record that the prince's illness came suddenly.
That is, there were no signs.
Could it be that Jiang Qingzhi has started planning now?
Come on!
The Taoist would think he was crazy, so he would wake him up with a slap and pull him to his side, "Come, follow me to practice Taoism and drive out all the evil spirits in your mind."
Prince!
Jiang Qingzhi narrowed his eyes, thinking that this guy was not an easy person to deal with.
Since Jiang Qingzhi came to Beijing, the relationship between the two has become distant. If Prince Yu stands out, the Eastern Palace will definitely think that Jiang Qingzhi is helping Prince Yu win the throne...
Fighting for the throne is much more serious than killing one's parents.
The two sides will inevitably fight to the death!
……
"Your Highness, Prince Yu has been quite busy lately."
In the East Palace, someone reported to the Crown Prince, "Prince Yu frequently inquired about business matters and was looking for something in the city."
Crown Prince Zhu Zaizhen was talking to two gentlemen, and when he heard this, he asked, "What is the Third Master going to do?"
A gentleman stroked his beard and smiled, "Maybe it was the question given by that elder Wilbur?"
"That must be it." Another gentleman said, "That person really tried his best for Prince Yu. But he didn't know that it was all in vain."
Once they reach a certain age, the princes will be sent to their fiefdoms. After they arrive at their fiefdoms, they have no control over anything and are just like pigs that eat and sleep.
Therefore, in the eyes of everyone, Jiang Qingzhi's actions were to stand on the side of Prince Yu, which was extremely foolish.
"I heard that the teacher on Prince Yu's side was a little dissatisfied, saying that Prince Yu had learned from Chang Wei Bo and was a little unorthodox..."
The prince said calmly: "It is said that the third brother's teacher is very strong. I think he will lead him back to the right path."
……
"Business is the lifeblood of the country. How can we ignore it?"
Bah!
After the sound of heavy slamming on the desk, Fang Yue, a scholar at the Imperial Academy, looked at Prince Yu's homework, furious. He turned his gaze to the eunuch who handed in the homework, "Is this your Highness's homework?"
The eunuch was confused and said, "Yes."
"absurd!"
"absurd!"
Fang Yue slammed the table and stood up, "Let His Highness come down. Today I will ask that Elder Wilbur what he taught him. Why did he become so unorthodox?"
……
The fourth update has been delivered.
(End of this chapter)
