Chapter 555: Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage of Emperor Jiajing
The Taoist priest boasted that he had great skills and could manipulate his ministers at will.
But this time he felt that he was in trouble.
That brat has been planning this for a long time... From what I see now, Jiang Qingzhi started to hide his identity as a leader of the Mohist School in order to build his foundation.
When the conflicts between Xiyuan, the ministers, and the literati could no longer be eased, he revealed his identity.
What followed was the war between Confucianism and Mohism.
This war involved both Dao Ye and the Yan Party. Both sides were so bloodthirsty that there was no chance of reconciliation.
It was at this time that Jiang Qingzhi put forward the steamed bun theory.
Just as Dong Zhongshu modified Confucianism to cater to the situation at that time and finally made Confucianism stand out, Jiang Qingzhi's steamed bun theory today combines the current situation of the Ming Dynasty and provides a solution...
"I bet that brat is laughing in Xin'an Lane right now, waiting for me to accept his advice helplessly."
Prince Yu whispered: "Father won't..."
The two brothers looked at each other, and the word "suspicion" flashed through their minds.
"Go to Xin'an Lane!"
……
Xin'an Lane.
Jiang Qingzhi was holding Duoduo and talking to Tang Shunzhi in the study.
"This time I went down and met many students of the School of Mind. I mentioned the Mohist school's views on the present, but most of them ignored me, or even resented me. If the heart of a student of the School of Mind is not pure, he will eventually become like a Confucianist."
Tang Shunzhi's eyes were clear and bright, which made people feel impressed.
"It's not wrong to put profit above all else. It's not wrong to take care of your own family first. But if you want to do something for the country and the people, you should put aside some selfish thoughts. Mr. Jingchuan, forgive me for being blunt, but how many people can really cultivate their minds? No one is perfect!"
Jiang Qingzhi felt that there was nothing wrong with cultivating the mind, but his mistake was that he infinitely elevated the status of cultivating the mind.
"People in this world do not have the heart to leave the world, and without the heart to leave the world, they are all dirty in the world, how can they cultivate their mind?"
"Take Xu Jie for example. He is also a person of your school of thought. He seems to be forbearing and considerate of the overall situation, but who knows what he is really like?"
"The biggest problem with the current study of the mind is that people want to cultivate their mind and achieve something at the same time. But ordinary people cannot have the determination of Mr. Yangming when faced with the temptations of the secular world. Cultivating the mind will inevitably lead to a mind full of selfish thoughts, greed, anger and ignorance!"
Jiang Qingzhi finished speaking, "Okay, Mr. Jingchuan can refute me now."
Tang Shunzhi remained silent for a long time.
"Why, Mr. Jingchuan... Your Majesty!"
What the hell!
Jiang Qingzhi saw the Taoist priest outside the door and stood up immediately. "Why are you here?"
The Taoist priest was dressed in a Taoist robe, and he looked at him with his hands behind his back. "Before, Uncle Liu visited the thatched cottage three times, and only then did he invite a great talent. Today, I will follow the example of Emperor Zhaolie. What do you think? Is Master Jiang willing to come out of seclusion?"
Jiang Qingzhi said awkwardly: "You said that... Stone, Stone!"
"Hey!"
"Go make some tea, you have no tact."
The Taoist priest came in and looked at Tang Shunzhi. "Are you Tang Shunzhi?"
"Yes." Tang Shunzhi responded calmly.
"I remember the imperial examination in the eighth year of Jiajing. When I was reviewing the papers, I saw a second-class paper, which made me very happy, so I annotated it in detail. That was the only paper I reviewed in that subject. I never heard from you again. Until many years later, you and others submitted a petition to the crown prince, but I drove you back. Until today..."
Emperor Jiajing sat down, took a sip of the tea handed to him by Sun Chonglou, and said, "Someone recommended you to be an official, but I heard that you refused to accept it. I think you are somewhat dissatisfied with me."
Tang Shunzhi's life can be described as a legend. He was great at the imperial examinations, he was great as an official, he had a great IQ, and he was great at everything he learned, including spearmanship. With just a little effort, he became an expert at spearmanship.
The more powerful a person is, the more proud he is, and the more misfortunes he will encounter in his official career. Therefore, in history, Tang Shunzhi's official career was quite bumpy. He angered high-ranking officials several times and even the Taoist priest.
Tang Shunzhi said calmly: "The common people are also serving the country in the countryside."
——It’s not that I don’t want to serve as a government official, but I see that the court is filled with corruption and I just don’t want to serve!
What a pride this guy has!
Jiang Qingzhi thought of Xia Yan. Old Xia was very proud and overbearing.
Xu Wei's pride is that of looking down on ordinary people, that is, crushing them with intelligence.
However, Tang Shunzhi's pride is hidden in his bones. He is like a piece of jade. Although seemingly gentle, the sharpness hidden inside makes people feel ashamed of themselves.
Such people will soar to success if they get the opportunity.
Others would be grateful for an opportunity and feel like they are God's illegitimate child. But Tang Shunzhi had countless opportunities in his life. Back then, the big boss Yang Yiqing appreciated him, but Tang Shunzhi refused to follow him, so he was hit by a palm thunder.
Later, Zhang Cong, a trusted minister of the Taoist priest, valued him, but Tang Shunzhi refused his solicitation, which led to his later discord with Zhang Cong, so he simply resigned.
I quit!
Zhang Cong was furious and gave a fake approval, but added a sentence: "You will never be employed again! Go home and eat your old rice!"
From then on, Tang Shunzhi returned to his hometown and has lived there until this moment.
Tang Shunzhi then took his leave.
Now even Jiang Qingzhi couldn't help but roll his eyes at this guy.
If someone else had the opportunity to meet the emperor, he would either show off his knowledge or his views on the current situation, or at least say a few nice words or sit with the emperor for a while to leave a good impression on him.
This guy is just like that. He acts as if the emperor is a plague god and runs away when he sees him.
After he left, Emperor Jiajing said calmly, "Hu Zongxian was almost demoted, Xu Wei was a poor scholar, and Tang Shunzhi was also a frustrated official. You are willing to take in anyone."
Jiang Qingzhi smiled bitterly, "People are always looking for profit. Confucianism is very powerful right now, and everyone knows that it is suppressing Mohism. Any smart person will choose to stand on the side of Confucianism."
"A poor man?" The Taoist said slowly, "I heard your theory about steamed buns from the two boys, and it's true."
More than just good?
Are you trying to praise someone by first criticizing him?
Jiang Qingzhi complained in his heart.
"The solution of making a big steamed bun is not bad. In your opinion, can the internal conflicts of the Ming Dynasty be put aside?"
This is the title... Jiang Qingzhi thought of Dong Zhongshu of that year.
The three dialogues between Emperor Wu of Han and Dong Zhongshu laid the foundation for the later pattern of abolishing all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone.
And today, when I came to Jiang Qingzhi's study, I felt a bit of this feeling.
Jiang Qingzhi barely thought about it and said, "It can't be put aside."
"Why?"
"Your Majesty, internal conflicts can be covered up by development, but conflicts are still conflicts. If they are not resolved now, they may seem to be covered up by development, but as time goes by, they will become more and more intense. When they can no longer be covered up, or when development stagnates, they will explode and become difficult to suppress."
The later Eagle Sauce is a typical example.
In the early days, China’s national strength was at its peak, it dominated the world, and it fleeced the whole world, using development to cover up many problems and contradictions.
But problems are problems, and contradictions are contradictions. They will not disappear because of your development. They are just temporarily covered up.
The Taoist nodded. "Then, we should reform internally while looking outward. Rectifying the army is the first step. Only when we hold swords and guns in our hands can we govern calmly. The second step is internal reform..."
"At the same time, we must resolve external threats and provide a stable environment for internal reform." Jiang Qingzhi said calmly: "Just as the two reforms in the early Song Dynasty triggered the outbreak of internal conflicts, once the internal reform of the Ming Dynasty begins, it will inevitably trigger a backlash from vested interests. On the one hand, we must suppress it, but suppression will cause the conflicts to escalate..."
"So what do you think?" The Taoist asked calmly, but even Huang Jin could see the relief in his eyes.
"I think we should hold the radish tops in one hand and a big stick in the other, and give them a bite of radish tops after each beating." Jiang Qingzhi said, "In the Ming Dynasty, we would cut the meat eaters with a knife and then give them a candy."
"Giving them a blow is to combat land annexation and absorb population. So what is sugar?"
"Those vested interests have suffered heavy losses and will inevitably rebound. The court should guide them to join the maritime trade or invest in industry and commerce. Once the maritime trade is opened, a steady stream of overseas silver and money will flow into the Ming Dynasty, and they will naturally flock to it."
"But those people have a thought in their minds: gold and silver will be lost, but land can be passed down to children and grandchildren for hundreds and thousands of years."
"But how can there be a family that has been undefeated for a thousand years? Of course, except for that family." Jiang Qingzhi said: "I think it's time for the big stick to show its power. On one side is the big stick, and on the other side is making money. Anyone who is not stupid will naturally know how to choose!"
This is a complete solution, and Jiang Qingzhi just doesn't believe that the Taoist is not tempted.
This plan was the result of his repeated consideration on the way back to Beijing.
The current contradictions in the Ming Dynasty are becoming more and more intense. Forcibly suppressing the scholar-official group and refusing to give them some benefits will inevitably lead to unrest.
Maritime trade and industry and commerce provide a home for those people.
Let’s go out to sea!
Go make money!
When Jiang Qingzhi saw the huge profits made from maritime trade, when he learned that there was unlimited demand for Ming Dynasty goods overseas, and when he learned that those Western nobles were proud to get a piece of Ming Dynasty silk and considered it fashionable to drink a cup of Ming Dynasty tea, he was convinced that those people would be tempted.
So, everything is ready.
It depends on how the emperor of the Ming Dynasty chooses.
"You know when to advance and when to retreat!" Dao Ye gave a high evaluation. "However, the Portuguese country coveted the Ming Dynasty in the past and fought two battles with the Ming navy in the southeast. Although the Ming Dynasty won, I remember that it was a narrow victory. If we go out to sea, will the Portuguese and other countries just sit back and watch?"
Don’t think that I don’t understand this. When I learned about the attitude of the Portuguese, my reaction was: Get them out!
"Therefore, the Ming Dynasty needs to build a strong navy, and more powerful firearms will protect the Ming Dynasty's fleet from invasion."
"Is the Armoury Bureau confident?" Daoye asked, frowning slightly. "Back then, the Armoury Bureau imitated the Portuguese firearms, but they were said to be inferior to theirs."
"Your Majesty, I just happened to have a firearm here." Jiang Qingzhi said, "Last time I asked the Ministry of Works for a craftsman, Minister Lan said that they would only release the worker if the Mohists could prove that what they were doing was beneficial to the country and the people..."
"Is that the firearm you and Lan Zhen used in the bet?" Taoist stood up suddenly.
This is just the beginning... Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "That's right."
"lead the way!"
(End of this chapter)
