After the banquet, Kang Ning personally saw off the guests, and even helped the drunk Zhao Xian to the car with his own hands. He also explained to the servants and the coachman politely, and stopped to watch the car drive away and disappear from sight. The party was officially over.
If it were Lu Guogong himself, that would be fine. It was just Zhao Xian who behaved like this. With Kang Ning's current reputation, it was indeed a bit of a loss. However, Kang Ning didn't care about this. He just felt that a little while today would be of great benefit.
.
Compared with Zhao Xian, his source of information may not be narrow, but some key information is missing, especially when it comes to some movements and trends in the upper echelons of the imperial court.
In the past, I have interacted with so many people of all kinds, and I have indeed obtained a lot of useful information. However, it is still very good to be as "frank" and "refreshing" as Zhao Xian.
Today's meeting was of great benefit to Kang Ning. At least Zhao Xian gave him a big wake-up call. After so many years of "frustration", Kang Ning has actually understood some things. Today's big man is a
It took Emperor Liu's leadership for decades to build a social system. In this system, there has been considerable development and progress in all aspects, but the restrictions of various regulations are also very clear.
In terms of business operations, Corning has made great achievements in many aspects, and can even be said to have reached the pinnacle of this field. But on the other hand, it is nothing more than that. When he wants to break through this field and complete the transformation of his life and career, then
Obstacles and resistances that were not obvious at first came one after another.
Everyone in the world is interested in profit. Money can affect power in many ways and to a large extent, and even control power. In the Han Dynasty, although power lies in money, there are always exceptions, which are inevitable, such as Kang Ning.
However, in today's Han Dynasty, if you want to put this unspoken rule on the table, you are challenging the rules and breaking the rules. This is disgusted by people and unacceptable to universal values. Strictly speaking, trying to challenge the rules
At the end, the person facing him is Emperor Liu, and Emperor Liu is the person who hates bad rules the most, especially the rules he made.
It is true that Emperor Liu himself would do things to slap himself in the face and break his words from time to time, but he is the emperor after all. To restrain the emperor with the same standards as his ministers, it is also difficult to a certain extent. Leading by example also depends on the emperor's mood.
What's more, this is Emperor Liu!
Before the matter of Jiangxi's participation in politics was finalized, there was a moderately heated debate within the imperial court. Several people believed that Kang Ning was different from ordinary merchants because he was loyal in times of crisis and had made great contributions to the imperial court.
The official position is justifiable and can be regarded as a reward for merit, which comforts the hearts of the benevolent people in the world.
Regarding such an argument, one can imagine what kind of attitude and reaction Emperor Liu would have. Regardless of other factors, just the four words "selling one's official position and getting a title" are enough to make him angry. However, some people are not sensitive at all.
He has no correct consciousness, but talks arrogantly and talks about "reasons" in a clear and logical manner.
In Emperor Liu's view, Kang Ning may be different from ordinary businessmen, and he has also worked hard for the court. However, the court has also given sufficient rewards. He is not satisfied with the huge benefits in business, and he intends to gain something in his official career.
, that is greed.
Although Emperor Liu had always encouraged industry and commerce, he hated it from his heart. He just had to take advantage of its advantages and endure its disadvantages.
When Emperor Liu held such an attitude, it is not surprising how things turned out later. Officials who made relevant remarks were demoted and dismissed one after another. Even Zhong Mo resigned from Jiangxi not long after, although he was once transferred to the capital as a minister.
He was a department chief, but his political career soon came to an end, he was dismissed from his job, and he finally died of depression.
Since then, Kang Ning has never been as smooth as he was in the previous thirty years. All kinds of troubles have come one after another. Although they are not fatal, they are overwhelming and even make him deeply worried.
When Kang Ning realized that given the current political ecology and environment, it would be extremely difficult for him to make a breakthrough, and Emperor Liu was the biggest obstacle, which was particularly disappointing.
With Kang Ning's intelligence, he naturally knew how to keep a low profile and avoid disaster, but just because he was smart enough, he was extremely unwilling to do so. In his view, if someone could move from an official position to a businessman, he would naturally be able to move from a businessman to an official position, even though the court had an explicit order.
It was a rule that officials in office were not allowed to engage in business, but Kang Ning could really see the actual situation. His Kang family's ship was carrying many "distinguished guests".
Look at how many powerful people in the Han Dynasty first served as officials and then went into business to make profits. He just reversed the order, so how could there be so many prejudices and restrictions.
Collusion between government and business, transformation between government and business, this is the norm, it is reasonable and it should be...
Kang Ning is a typical example. After accumulating a certain amount of wealth and gaining a certain social status, he wanted to seek a political status that matched his wealth. However, this was not something Emperor Liu could accept.
After encountering setbacks in his pursuit of becoming an official, Kang Ning did not recover. He even had a bold idea: If he was more direct and donated a certain amount of his family property, could he get an official position or even a title?
Compared with sneaking around in Jiangxi, this kind of idea is much more straightforward. Of course, to achieve such a goal, first of all, it depends on the timing, secondly, there must be people involved, and finally, the money must not be too little. Corning's initial budget is one million.
Through...
Kang Ning once made preparations and actions to implement this whimsical idea, but was finally persuaded by someone. A friend, a Taoist, a Taoist priest who was supported by him and convinced him. It is said that he had also heard from Master Chen Tuan in Huashan.
Zu's preaching can be regarded as half an "outer disciple".
After hearing Kang Ning's idea of donating money to become an official, the old Taoist didn't say much, but gave an inscrutable warning, saying that the power of God is unpredictable, and this move will not only bring no blessings, but will only bring disaster!
Then, the old Taoist wandered back to Shannafu, and Kang Ning fell into calm thinking, perhaps out of trust, or perhaps out of alertness to danger, and finally gave up.
That is to say, Kang Ning listened to the advice, otherwise, his millions of wealth will be just a waste of money. Emperor Liu's emphasis on Mingjue is definitely not something ordinary people can understand. It is almost regarded as the legal system and cornerstone of the rule. With a few stinky money
I just want to change my official position and seek nobility, but I just want to die.
What's more, even if Emperor Liu didn't say anything, even the nobles of the Han Dynasty would rise up to oppose and criticize. For some military nobles, even the ministers like Wei Renpu and Xue Juzheng, who were ennobled by civil rule, looked down upon them and often criticized them.
Not to mention a mere merchant.
If you can buy a title with a little money, then the nobles will not be in a rage and the people will not be in chaos? If Kang Ning really did that, in the eyes of Emperor Liu, it might be a provocation and humiliation. How could he do that?
Have a good ending.
In the past few years, Corning has been working hard to figure out how to break through this problem that has troubled him for many years, even to the point of getting into trouble.
Today, Zhao Xian's words finally inspired him to think differently. The old emperor's majesty is irreversible and difficult to resist. He can take a longer view. As long as he is willing to stick to the rules and regulations, there will always be success.
A day of turmoil.
If he wasn't good enough, he still had sons and grandsons. Money might not be that useful to Emperor Liu, but it was different for other people.
In the carriage going home, Kang Ning had two thoughts in his mind. One was to send someone to inquire about the whereabouts of the emperor's grandson Liu Wenhuan to see if there was any opportunity to show courtesy and wink; the other was to ask Guangyang Bo and Prime Minister Zhao Kuangyi