With plenty of money and food and plenty of labor, the canal can be dredged very quickly.
"I have organized labor many times in the past, but the slow progress of the project is really appalling. Today, the construction site is thriving, which makes people feel relaxed and happy. What is the difference? It makes people think deeply!"
Hou Xun stood on the shore and looked at the noisy construction site with many emotions.
Not to mention him, Cao Wenheng, Qu Shichun and other former local officials all had the same feeling.
Zuo Mengeng was by their side and the only one who could explain.
"The common people's requirements are actually not much. They are just to eat and survive. In the past, the court worked hard for the people without compensation. The people abandoned their homes and businesses, worked hard but got nothing, dared to be angry and dared not speak out, how could they work hard?
?”
To this day, no one will look down upon Zuo Mengeng.
Real achievements are his capital.
At the very least, a group of big guys have been famous for many years, but no one thought of using banknotes to raise money and food, and they actually did it.
Qu Shichun asked for advice like a student: "Corvee service is a major matter of state affairs. Many projects cannot be completed if the people are not mobilized. If the state pays for every corvee service, the national treasury will be overwhelmed."
This is a shortcoming of the feudal court, and Zuo Menggeng has no intention of solving the problem.
"This is a problem. If it cannot be solved, the people will be in dire straits. Just like the chaos in the northwest, it is inevitable."
If the people are not used to perform corvee labor, major projects cannot be built; if the people are used to perform corvée work and no money or food is provided, the people will definitely go bankrupt.
If you give money and food, the imperial government's finances will inevitably collapse.
Difficult, difficult, difficult!
Several big bosses frowned in thought, none of them could figure out how to solve the problem.
Fortunately, the bustling labor scene in front of us somewhat relieved everyone's depression.
A young man wearing sackcloth and mourning came to the construction site and walked directly in front of Liu Zongzhou. Without saying anything, he knelt down and saluted.
"Isn't this too overwhelming? Get up quickly."
Liu Zongzhou was very excited and helped the young man himself. He was filled with joy when he saw the young man.
The young man's face was full of tears, but his expression was quite stubborn.
"In memory of Mr. Tai, you must first take the test to clear up the injustice."
Everyone was overjoyed.
"Mr. Bai An is not afraid of power and castration, he is loyal to justice and sacrifices, and he is respected by the world as a hero. A good nephew should inherit his legacy and do not let his heroic name be weakened. When he returns soon, he must remember to be loyal to the king and serve the court without slacking off."
Liu Zongzhou's relief made the young man furious.
"What kind of loyalties can there be to this Laoshizi court?"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone changed their minds.
Hou Xun was afraid that he would cause trouble and hurriedly covered it up.
"My dear nephew, I'm afraid he is in an excited mood and is overjoyed."
Unexpectedly, the young man didn't appreciate it, and his voice was passionate and filled with endless sorrow and indignation.
"Mr. Ruogu, does he know what my nephew saw in the capital?"
Without waiting for anyone to ask, he told the story.
"The new king ascended the throne and liquidated the eunuchs. My nephew was in Zhejiang and was overjoyed when he heard about it. He hurried northward, hoping to see the eunuchs executed with his own eyes and the great revenge be avenged."
He paused for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was filled with shock and anger.
"That day, my nephew rushed to the Criminal Department. Under the majesty of the planned criminal law, Xu Xianchun, Cui Yingyuan and other evil criminals would be frightened and confessed. But who knew that these two thieves were sophistical and refused to plead guilty. That was all, but the interrogating officials in the court tried every means to protect them.
, intending to fool him. My nephew was so angry that he took action and beat Cui Yingyuan until his face was covered with blood. Xu Xianchun was also stabbed several times by my nephew before the two thieves confessed."
Everyone was in awe, they didn't expect him to be so fierce.
Zuo Mengeng was suddenly stunned. He looked carefully and didn't expect that this skinny young man was actually Huang Zongxi.
At this time, Huang Zongxi had apparently settled his affairs in Beijing and returned south to his hometown. Hearing that Liu Zongzhou was in Linqing, he came to see him.
His voice of grief and anger became clearer in the cold air, and everyone could hear it clearly.
"Although the imperial court sentenced Xu Xianchun and Cui Yingyuan to death, they were not the only ones who persecuted loyal and good people in the past. My nephew refused to accept it and wrote many times, but nothing was heard from him. I went to various government offices to inquire, and even the gates were closed.
No one is allowed to enter. I dare to ask you uncles, what exactly does the new king want?"
This is really disrespectful.
But the person who asked this question was Huang Zongxi, so it is not surprising.
Among the thinkers in the late Ming Dynasty, Huang Zongxi was one of the most radical.
Although he is still young and has not yet formed his thoughts, this trip to the capital and what he saw, heard and experienced still greatly stimulated him.
However, no one can answer his accusation.
Everyone knows that Chongzhen never eliminated all evil and kept the remnants of the Eunuch Party in order to check and balance the Donglin Party.
From the perspective of tactics, this emperor's art can be said to be extremely proficient and brilliant.
However, when the country is in turmoil, as an emperor, he is obsessed with power and does not think about cleansing the atmosphere and refreshing himself, which is actually a great harm to the country and the people.
An emperor who cannot completely separate from the past will inevitably allow the country to continue to bear the remnants of the past.
Everyone understands, but who dares to say?
Huang Zongxi had a good vent, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and finally calmed down a bit.
"Xian Kao said something before his death, but his writing at that time was of no use and only harmed the country and the people. Today's scholars should prove it from history. There is also a saying that I beg you to learn from Nian Tai Gong. Please don't give up. My nephew respects his teacher as his father and will behave filial piety in the future.
In front of the knees."
Facing the chaos in the late Ming Dynasty and at the end of his life, Huang Zunsu made a profound reflection.
He came to the conclusion that moral articles were useless in governing the country and bringing peace to the people, and he had to find a new way to govern the country.
Huang Zunsu couldn't see the future, so the only way he could think of was to look for answers in the piles of historical papers.
China's history of five thousand years is so long that there are all kinds of allusions and examples.
Taking history as a mirror can help us understand the rise and fall of the times.
This is by no means an exaggeration.
Not to mention the end, even four hundred years later, similar examples can be found in Chinese history for what happened in various parts of the world.
Both from Zhejiang, Huang Zunsu and Liu Zongzhou had a close personal relationship. Therefore, before his death, he asked Huang Zongxi to study with Liu Zongzhou.
Since we met today, Huang Zongxi decided to become a disciple.
The son of an old friend and a loyal man, Liu Zongzhou would not refuse him no matter what.
"You have been smart and eager to learn since you were a child. Being able to teach you is a comfort to the soul that is in heaven."
This is a promise.
Huang Zongxi was overjoyed and finally lived up to his father's last wish.
Others were also happy for Huang Zongxi. With Liu Zongzhou's knowledge and careful teaching, Huang Zongxi would become a great person in the future.
Liu Zongzhou agreed, but he was in trouble.
"I will be moving north to serve as an official in the near future. Would you like to accompany me to Taichong?"
Huang Zongxi was stunned for a moment, then his face turned gloomy.
"What can an official do in this corrupt court?"
It seems that the Ming Dynasty completely disappointed this young man.
He is not acting out of impulse, he has good reasons.
"After Mr. Liu Ge, the morale of Wang Yongguang, Wen Tiren and others has greatly increased, and they are targeting me, Donglin, everywhere. That emperor is sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai, and his thoughts are self-evident. Teacher, if you go to the capital, you will not be of use."
This conclusion was supported by Zuo Mengeng.
"Brother Huang's analysis is in-depth and thorough. From now on, it will be increasingly difficult for me, Donglin, to do things in this court."
Huang Zongxi was very happy to see someone supporting him.
"This wise brother is..."
Zuo Menggeng bowed his hand, still very respectful to this great thinker.
"My little brother Zuo Mengeng, I have admired Bai Anggong Weilie for a long time. When I saw him today, I saw that the tiger father has no dog son. Brother Huang can be said to be better than the blue man."
Ever since he saw the corruption of the imperial court in the capital, Huang Zongxi had been talking a lot.
Logically speaking, his words are dangerous.
But because of Huang Zunsu's identity as his son, the court turned a blind eye.
The most depressing thing for Huang Zongxi was that no one responded to what he said were clearly warning words.
The feeling that everyone is drunk and I am sober alone is really uncomfortable.
Unexpectedly, I found like-minded people here.
Why did Zuo Mengeng unequivocally support Huang Zongxi?
Because Huang Zongxi was the first "non-king" person in the late Ming Dynasty.
This "not a monarch" does not mean that Huang Zongxi has any progressive ideas that transcend the times, but that in Huang Zongxi's concept, the monarch is not that important.
Since the status of the monarch is not as good as that of the people, there is a theoretical basis for overthrowing the monarch when he is fatuous.
Don't underestimate this concept. In fact, once this concept is popularized, its influence is unparalleled.
There is a saying that is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, that is, a scholar's rebellion will not take place in three years.
Why can't scholars rebel?
Because the core concept of feudal literati is loyalty to the emperor.
It will be very difficult to overcome the hurdle in one's heart when a man-made monarch who upholds loyalty to the monarch rebels.
This is why in ancient times, many literati assisted wise kings, but no literati became kings.
Is it true that scholars cannot rebel?
No.
The key is whether there is a theoretical basis for the scholar's rebellion.
Isn’t the librarian a scholar?
Who in the world can compare with his great achievements?
The farmers rebelled simply because they could no longer survive.
This is an instinctive approach, so it is blind.
This is also the reason why the peasant uprising was so easily strangled and ultimately failed to succeed.
But once the literati have a basis for rebellion, it will be terrible.
People with knowledge and culture know how to establish a reasonable political power, can maximize the use of social resources, and can stimulate the energy of the general public.
Zuo Mengeng wanted to rebel, but he could never find a way that suited him.
His background determines that he cannot completely take the bottom line.
Then we can only find solutions from the upper levels of society.
In order to inspire the upper class of society to oppose the now decadent old dynasty, in addition to starting from the economic and political perspectives, theoretical foundations are also indispensable.
