Wang Zhongce entered Hanzhong City and worked all the time without having time to go home.
Li Fengming came to him and asked about the descendants of Uncle Xinjian.
Wang Zhongce was shocked, and then he felt relieved after making some insinuations.
Li Fengming wanted to borrow the books left by Emperor Gaozu.
Wang Zhongce revealed his identity and invited Li Fengming to go home with him to get books.
He saw that Wang's Medical Center was still open normally, not much changed from usual, except that there were six more soldiers standing guard in front of the door.
Wang Zhongce entered Wang's Medical Center and saw that the medical center remained the same, with no trace of damage.
There are still patients seeking medical treatment, and the doctors and clerks sitting in the hall are all busy.
"The second master is back."
When the doctors and waiters at the hospital saw Wang Zhongce coming in, they shouted in surprise.
When Wang Wenjun heard the waiter's shout, she ran out of the inner house.
She walked to Wang Zhongce, looked at her second brother carefully, and felt relieved when she found that there was no damage.
Wang Zhongce winked at Wang Wenjun and told her not to speak.
He directly introduced Li Fengming: "This is my third brother Wang Jijun. He is a doctor. He is usually taciturn and doesn't like to talk."
Wang Zhongce arranged for Li Fengming to rest outside the house and took Wang Wenjun into the inner house.
He entered the house and found the books left by Emperor Gaozu, and also took a bottle of medicinal wine.
"Mr. Li, these are the books left by Emperor Gaozu, as well as this bottle of medicinal wine to replenish your health."
Wang Zhongce and Li Fengming exchanged a few pleasantries and then sent Li Fengming away.
He returned to the inner house again, and Wang Wenjun asked aloud: "Second brother, Hanzhong City is occupied by rebels, what should we do in the future?
If we can’t wait for eldest brother to come back, we will run to the southeast.”
Wang Zhongce smiled bitterly and said: "We can't escape, I have become a thief.
Those rotten scholars are best at starting from a person's morality and completely denying that person.
Most importantly, King Zhu Changhao of Rui was captured by the rebels because of me.
This crime alone is the crime of annihilating the nine tribes.
No one whom Emperor Chongzhen spared can spare us.
The only way to protect you now is to join the rebels."
The housekeeper knocked on the door, and then whispered: "Second Young Master, the rebel leader Su He sent someone to inform the Second Young Master and the Third Miss to go to Prince Rui's Mansion."
Wang Zhongce was silent for a while and then made up his mind and said: "We must go there. Wenjun will say less for a while."
He decided to meet the rebel leader Su He and look for an opportunity to buy himself a good price.
If the situation goes wrong, he also has the courage to take five steps with blood splashing in anger.
…
Wang Zhongce and Wang Wenjun had just arrived at Prince Rui's Mansion.
They saw a young man dressed in simple clothes coming out.
"Mr. Wang, please come to the room. I have something important and I want to ask you for advice.
I'm Su He, I'm sorry to bother you so late."
Su He behaved like a courteous corporal.
"You're welcome, Commander Su." Wang Zhongce cupped his hand and introduced, "This is my younger brother Wang Jijun. He is a little reserved and not good at words."
Wang Zhongce unconsciously emphasized the word "brother".
Su He invited the two of them to the study, and he personally poured them a cup of tea.
"I have heard about Mr. Wang for a long time, and you have been working in our team for a while.
Please ask Mr. Wang to point out the pros and cons of some policies."
Su He sincerely asked for advice. Wang Zhongce was talented and a bystander, so he could see clearly the pros and cons of some policies.
Wang Zhongce knew that Su He was testing himself in the school.
This was also an opportunity for him to observe Su He.
There is an old saying: "The king chooses his ministers, and the ministers choose their king."
In this situation, he has decided to become a thief for the sake of his family's safety.
Whether you work hard or just dawdle, it needs to be determined through this exchange.
"I found a total of three policies that need to be improved. They are only for Commander Su's reference."
“First point, you promote land lending, want to realize land to the tiller, and unite farmers to attack the gentry.
But you have not made strict distinctions, and the only people you can unite with now are the poor peasants.
The middle peasants just want to live a stable life, while the rich peasants want to become gentry.
The land allocated to farmers is also divided into good land and bad land.
I heard the soldiers discuss that you set a flat tax rate, which is completely undesirable.
The land must have different fertility and different distances from water sources, and corresponding levels must be determined.
Pay more taxes on good land, and pay less on bad land.”
After Wang Zhongce finished speaking, he observed Su He's expression.
He found that Su He was still smiling, without any anger.
Wang Zhongce felt relieved, Su He was still tolerant. He took a sip of tea and continued:
"The second point is that you eliminated the gentry but did not cultivate new gentry.
Now only some subordinate officials are activated and they are allowed to serve locally.
Subordinate officials can be promoted, but they must never be allowed to serve locally.
From the Song Dynasty to the present, they have been suppressing the birth of noble families and must not give them a chance.
Also, if you reject the gentry, why should you shut out all scholars?
Scholars can transform them, but they cannot reject them.
If you want to govern the place stably, you must open courses to attract scholars.
If you don't like the Confucian style, you can change the test questions.
It’s okay to take the exams for Legalists, Mohists, etc., but you must not cancel the imperial examinations.
In the Southern Han Dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, only eunuchs could serve as officials.
There are many people who castrate themselves and compete to become officials.
You must not kill the hopes of scholars, otherwise they would rather support Hulu than oppose you."
Su He took a sip of tea and said: "As for the subordinate officials, you are right, we want them to serve as officials in another place.
I don't want to reject all scholars, I just reject the evil gentry.
The evil gentry and his minions wantonly bully the people and commit heinous crimes, and they must not be spared lightly.
I welcome gentry who have not committed any crime to become officials.
I have always wanted to use scholars like poor scholars, but they looked down upon me.
Now that I have begun to gain strength, I should be able to recruit some scholars.
When we are strong enough, we will also train some scholars ourselves.
In the future, we will open courses to recruit scholars, but we will not adopt the Confucian method.
Mr. Wang has extensive knowledge and strong ability. We hope you can join us."
Wang Zhongce knew that Su He was inviting him to join the rebellion.
After listening to what Su He said, he knew that this man had his own ambitions.
If you can go on firmly, you will never waver easily.
This kind of leader deserves help.
He did not agree immediately, but pointed out the problem of Su He's favorite policy.
This is the information he learned after chatting with Su Que, the guard next to Su He.
Wang Zhongce spoke sharply while observing Su He's reaction.
"Third point, issuing paper money is absolutely undesirable.
The Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes are too harmful to people's confidence. The farmers under your rule have no choice but to accept paper money.
Large amounts of paper money can be used for transactions between merchants.
I understand that there are gentry in the southeast who rely on their own credit to help other people make money.
It is completely bad policy to use paper money such as treasure banknotes for private transactions.
I have communicated with some soldiers that their families received paper money and only bought things in the department stores opened by the commander-in-chief.
They will never use paper money to buy things from their neighbors.
The only purpose of this evil government is to steal the wealth from the people."
Su He's face turned slightly blue, and then he sighed: "Mr. Wang, your observations are very keen.
I issue banknotes just to take away the copper coins from the people and extract the copper to make bronze cannons.
I realize that there are still some shortcomings in these policies, and I hope you can help me improve them."
Wang Zhongce was a little surprised when he saw Su He admitting his mistake.
The excellent quality of admitting mistakes is extremely valuable among people who hold great power.
People with greater power are less likely to reflect on themselves.
Wang Zhongce knew that he had no chance to show his talents in the Ming court.
Su He has invited him again and again, and since he has no literati under his command, he will definitely take him very seriously.
He had no way out, so this was a good way out for the rebels.
Wang Zhongce considered various gains and losses, and after a moment of silence, he said: "Commander Su strongly invites you, and I am willing to work together to create a world where land is available to the tiller."
