There are many talents in Wuzhong, but Qingqiuzi is the first to be considered.
This Qingqiuzi's name was Gao Qi. He lived in seclusion in Qingqiu by the Wusong River, so he called himself Qingqiuzi. He also opened a tavern to recruit disciples, and he had many disciples. Even among the great Confucian scholars, he was famous.
, no one knows.
It stands to reason that such a scholarly celebrity should be a man of high moral character, with flowing beards, graceful demeanor, and a divine appearance... But in fact, Gao Qi has just passed his twenties this year, and he is in his prime and full of literary talent.
As early as a few years ago, when he was not yet twenty years old, Zhang Shicheng invited him over and made him a guest. However, Gao Qi was aloof, upright and clean-minded, and because of his young age, his reputation under Zhang Shicheng was not good.
Obviously, his status was not high, so he didn't care. Anyway, he received a monthly salary, so he could teach at home and compose poems and play chess when he had time. He was very happy.
But just a few days ago, Zhang Shicheng invited him over...
Even though Lao Zhang was a salt dealer, he had great respect for the people in the Shilin community. Even the young Gao Qi, he was polite and courteous. He invited you to take a seat, served tea, and after chatting for a while, Zhang Shicheng sighed:
"I invite Mr. Qingqiu to come over today. I have something to do. Please help me with the details."
Gao Qi hurriedly bowed and said: "Whatever your Majesty orders, I will naturally do my best to do it."
Seeing Gao Qi's obedience, Zhang Shicheng became even more happy. He simply slapped the table and sighed repeatedly, "I have defended Gaoyou for several months and defeated millions of Tuotuo soldiers. But I didn't expect that Zhu Chongba took advantage of me!"
This thief has occupied Jinling, conquered east and west, and his territory is getting bigger and bigger, and his power is getting stronger and stronger. He is simply a thorn in my side!"
Zhang Shicheng cursed loudly and was full of bitterness. Gao Qi just listened and said nothing. Anyway, you regard Zhu Yuanzhang as a close friend, but Zhu Yuanzhang may not think so.
After a full quarter of an hour, Zhang Shicheng stopped and finally returned to normal.
"Um... Mr. Qingqiu, one of Zhu Yuanzhang's confidants is named Zhang Ximeng. He seems to be a few years younger than Mr. Qingqiu. Now he claims to redefine the principles and rebuild the world. He has written many articles to teach scholars. It's really good.
furious!"
Gao Qi had no interest in military affairs, but when he heard these words, his eyes suddenly widened and he couldn't help but said: "Gang Chang is determined by heaven. If you are not a sage, how dare you say that Gang Chang is re-determined? And you have to put your own article in the school."
When you teach scholars, aren't you afraid of making people laugh? Zhu Yuanzhang attaches great importance to Kuangsheng and listens to crazy words. I'm afraid he is not a heroic leader. Your Majesty, don't worry."
Zhang Shicheng rolled his eyes, really don't need to worry?
Although he scolds Zhu Yuanzhang so much, he knows how many times he has suffered bad luck at the hands of Zhu Yuanzhang. The latest time, even Luo Guanzhong ran away, which shows that Zhu Yuanzhang still has something, and it is not a good habit to underestimate his opponents too much.
Zhang Shicheng coughed lightly and said: "What Mr. Qingqiu said is indeed reasonable, but the art of war also says that knowing oneself and the enemy will lead to victory in a hundred battles. Naturally, I want to find out what Zhu Yuanzhang is doing... It is true that his method is useful, but it is not necessarily impossible to learn it and learn from the strengths of others!
One more thing, Zhu Yuanzhang can confuse people's minds, and I can correct people's minds and calm down the nonsense. What I mean is to ask Mr. Qingqiu to come forward and refute Zhang Ximeng's nonsense, so as to set the record straight!"
Gao Qi immediately pondered. In fact, he was angry when he heard what Zhang Shicheng said. After all, after Confucius and Mencius, there are almost no people who can be called Confucian saints.
Even Dong Zhongshu and Zhu Xi were only semi-sages at most. They did not dare to say that they were redefining the principles, but they were just tinkering with them.
Although Gao Qi was young, he was very knowledgeable. He studied Confucian classics intensively and was familiar with Buddhism. He was a high-end talent integrating the three religions.
Because of this, he knew the difficulty of this matter. It not only required profound knowledge, but also a grand structure. It had to be at least comparable to Confucius in order to be able to innovate. Otherwise, it would only make people laugh.
For a person younger than himself to have such an ambition, he is either a born sage or a madman. And the possibility of the latter is much greater than the former.
Gao Qi only took it as a joke and didn't take it seriously at all.
"Your Majesty, Zhu Yuanzhang is from a humble background, and Zhang Ximeng is young and frivolous. Whatever they say will only make people laugh. I think it is better to let them show their true colors. Why bother and lose their identity in vain!"
What Gao Qi means is that you can't quarrel with them. If I end up quarreling, won't I give them face? For such frivolous people, just ignore them.
Zhang Shicheng understood what Gao Qi meant, but he was not stupid... If it was really useless, Zhu Jiajun would not develop so fast.
Now Zhu Yuanzhang has firmly suppressed him in Huaidong and Suzhou and Hangzhou. He just defeated Ni Wenjun of Tianwan, seized Hongdu, and marched into Jiangxi.
If this trend continues, I'm afraid it won't be long before the entire south of the Yangtze River becomes Zhu Yuanzhang's territory.
Just now, Ni Wenjun sent someone over to contact him and plan to cooperate.
Zhu Yuanzhang must have done something right to be able to develop so fast.
If Lao Zhu is said to be worthless, then what does it mean to be bullied so miserably by Lao Zhu?
A joke?
"Mr. Qingqiu, even if you want Zhu Yuanzhang to reveal his true form, it will take some time. They have sinister intentions, are very vicious and cunning, and are good at inspiring people's hearts and winning over unruly people... I must be on guard!"
Gao Qilue pondered, and then said: "Since the king has said so, I am naturally responsible. But I don't know what Zhang Ximeng said. I can't just abuse and insult Siwen!"
Zhang Shicheng took a deep breath, "It makes sense. To be honest, I sent someone to get a copy from Jinling. I also took a cursory look at it and it seemed to say something... Mr. Qingqiu is very knowledgeable and can naturally compete with others."
This king can see clearly."
Zhang Shicheng said, then took something out of his sleeve and handed it to Gao Qi.
The booklet was very thin, probably less than 10,000 words. After he unfolded it, he glanced at it for a few times, then his face changed slightly, and he turned his head to the side in a hurry. After calming down for a while, he said to Zhang Shicheng: "
Your Majesty, in my haste, I may not be able to find the loopholes. I plan to invite a few friends to study it together and carefully refute the fallacies in it after I return."
Zhang Shicheng paused for a moment and finally nodded, "Okay, but there is one thing. You must not spread it casually."
Gao Qianqian nodded vigorously and said goodbye to Zhang Shicheng casually. He hid the pamphlet in his arms and almost trotted back to Qingqiu Thatched Cottage by the Wusong River.
That night, Gao Qi shut himself in his study, took the pamphlet, and read it over and over. In the first half of the night, Gao Qi kept frowning. In the second half of the night, Gao Qi began to look through his collection of books, especially some historical works.
After that, compare it with what is written in the booklet.
After a lot of work, Gao Qi didn't get up until three o'clock in the morning and stretched out.
Even while eating, he held the pamphlet in his hand, reading and thinking... After one morning, Gao Qi simply walked out of the house and went to invite his friends.
Yang Ji, Zhang Yu, and Xu Bi were all invited. Together with Gao Qi, they were collectively known as the Four Elites of Wuzhong. They were all young talents.
"Brother Qingqiu, what kind of kindness do you have to invite us over? Are you composing poems or drinking?" Yang Ji said with a smile.
Zhang Yu also said: "Yes! Do you want to invite some singers to come over to add some interest?"
Gao Qi looked at the three of them and smiled slightly, "I also want to invite a singer to come over, but I'm afraid that the words of the sages will be insulted!"
"Sages' writings?" Yang Ji was puzzled, "Brother Qingqiu, you used the Analects of Confucius as padding for table legs and Master Zhu's articles as tissue paper to wipe your butt. You didn't say that either!"
Gao Qi's face turned red and he waved his hands quickly, "If you don't talk about this, I have a booklet here. Come and take a look!"
As Gao Qi spoke, he stood up, washed his hands with water, then respectfully, slowly unfolded it and placed it in front of the big guy.
These three people were also frightened and confused, so they could only follow Gao Qi's example, clean their hands, and gather around them.
When they saw the contents, they were stunned... Zhang Ximeng actually summarized the main ideas of the past few years in this booklet.
The first chapter is about the dynasty changes that occurred around the annexation of land in the past dynasties. Above the destiny, it is the most fundamental survival problem for the people.
In the second chapter, Zhang Ximeng summarized the mission of the emperor and put forward the idea of ​​equalizing land on behalf of heaven and earth. He believed that everyone growing up between heaven and earth should have their own land to settle down, live, and reproduce.
So far, these two articles have focused on land. Although they are shocking, they are not shocking.
But the third article makes people understand the sharpness of the author.
He directly targeted the gentry landlords, bureaucrats and gentry. He pointed out that they occupied the land and enjoyed the profits, and they relied on squeezing the people to survive.
If that were all, it would not be earth-shattering. The next step is the most critical part. The author points out that the principles created by the scholars were, in the final analysis, to protect their own interests. The scholars maintained their aloofness by forming an alliance with the imperial power.
status.
At the end of the article, the author explains this matter carefully using the example of husband being the guide for wife and not allowing women to work... In this world, there are two kinds of laws.
One kind is promoted by the gentry and landlords desperately, in order to let the tenants stay on the land forever, the gentry Gangchang worships the land rent.
The other is the realistic choice of ordinary people. In order to survive, couples work together, help each other, work hard, and maintain their families.
These are two things that exist at the same time, but ordinary people have no say and are usually ignored.
Although the gentry could not eliminate the second law, they could use various means to tie as many people to the land as possible and create an environment that was favorable to them.
It is only beneficial to the gentry, but it is increasingly detrimental to the country. The strong Han Dynasty prospered, the four aunts served as guests, the Zhao and Song Dynasties prayed for peace, the defeat of Yashan, the fall of the Central Plains, the loss of clothes and the ruins of the Qiu ruins for hundreds of years... The blame lies with the scholars.
!
The three articles came to an abrupt end, but the impact they brought made these four talented men look at each other with shock.
Yang Ji touched his chin and said in fear: "Brother Qingqiu, how can this, this kind of article be among the people? It's better to burn it as soon as possible!"
Gao Qi couldn't help laughing, "Burn? How to burn? This is written by Wu Guogong's right-hand minister Zhang Gong! Not surprisingly, in schools in Jinling and other places, these three articles will soon be learned. They are about equalizing land and suppressing
The powerful ideas will be implemented. Also, Zhang Gong's re-explanation of the rise and fall and the general principles will probably be accepted by more and more people. The most important thing is, as Zhang Gong said, under the rule of Wu Guogong,
Regardless of men and women, everyone worked hard and all the people were united. At that time, it was easy to drive out the barbarians and restore China! Burning Zhang Gong's articles, we overestimated our capabilities."
These people looked at each other, and Xu Bi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said: "Brother Qingqiu, I can't say yet, but I have a lot of admiration for Mr. Zhang, and I plan to go to Jinling!"
"What?" Zhang Yu said in shock: "You, you want to surrender to Zhu Yuanzhang?"
"No!" Xu Bi shook his head and said: "I, I just want to ask for advice. It is said that if you hear the Tao in the morning, you will die in the evening. The Song Dynasty fell for a hundred years. If you include the loss of Yanyun before, it has been three to four hundred years... two
During the hundred years of debate on the Classics in the Song Dynasty, Master Zhu made a lot of noise about the orthodox discussion, but ask yourself, do you believe it? If you lose, you will lose. Perhaps as Zhang Gong said, the road of scholar-bureaucrats has come to an end, and it is time to open a new road."
Zhang Yu and Yang Ji looked at each other in confusion. The number of words in the article was not many, but it was enough to shock people's hearts. No, Xu Bi had already used it.
"So, you are going to join Wu Guogong?" Yang Ji asked curiously.
Gao Qi pondered for a moment and then said: "I'm not busy with this matter, but there is another thing that is very important."
"What's going on?" the three people asked together.
"We have to find a way to spread these three articles by Zhang Gong so that scholars in Wu can see them as soon as possible!" Gao Qi said decisively.
