Chapter 19 Uncle and Nephew Discussing Wealth (Part 2)
At dinner time, as usual, only three people came to the table: Gao Gong, Gao Gong's wife, Zhang, and Gao pragmatism. Gao Gong's two wives, Cao and Xue, ate separately in the side hall according to etiquette.
Gao Gong's wife Zhang and Gao Pragmatic's mother Zhang are not from the same family as the Zhang family in Puzhou. Gao Gong's wife was born in Zhongmu County, Linxian County, Xinzheng. The Zhongmu Zhang family is also an official family in the local area and has been a wealthy family for many generations -
The eleventh generation ancestor of Mrs. Gao's Zhang family is Zhang Gui, the Minister of Rites of the Yuan Dynasty. In recent years, it has been quite good. Her great-grandfather was a Tunliu Ling, and her grandfather Zhang Songji was good at filial piety and was famous for his filial piety in Henan. His father also served as a judge for the Zhou government.
There are even outstanding ones among the younger generation: Mrs. Gao's nephew Zhang Mengnan was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing reign. He first served as a promotion official in Guangping Prefecture and is now a member of the Ministry of Punishment.
In Gao Pragmatic's eyes, Mrs. Gao is a very traditional and typical lady who came from an official family in the Ming Dynasty. She usually follows her husband's will in everything, is gentle and courteous, and treats others with courtesy. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, she has no children in her life. Maybe.
It is precisely because she has no children that she has a good attitude towards Gao Jingshi, her nephew. However, Gao Jingshi observes that she also has a good attitude towards Gao Gong's other nephews and nieces, but in any case, Gao Jingshi thinks she is a
Good people.
Gao Gong's two concubines, Cao and Xue, were actually not very familiar with Gao pragmatically. He only knew that Cao had given birth to three daughters. Unfortunately, all three daughters died at the age of fourteen or fifteen, and Xue had one daughter.
His son, Gaolai, also died at the age of thirteen - speaking of it, Gao Gong's family was indeed a bit miserable.
The Gao family has a strict family tradition, and it is a basic requirement to be silent when eating and sleeping. This meal is of course no exception. She ate it quietly without saying anything. Mrs. Gao was the first to finish, but after she finished, she
Just wait quietly for Gao Gong. Of course, this is also the rule. Gao Gong actually eats quickly, but because he takes care of Gao Gong pragmatically, he always eats slowly recently - because according to etiquette, if Gao Gong, the head of the family, eats
Without chopsticks, no one else on the table could continue to eat. Gao Qingshi was just growing up, and after all, his body was still that of a child. Even if he wanted to eat quickly, he would not get anywhere fast. Gao Gong, this
Although a person may be upright and upright, it does not mean that he cannot understand things, so he chews carefully and slowly and eats in a pragmatic and full manner.
After Gao pragmatically finished eating, Gao Gong took the last sip of clear soup slowly, put down his chopsticks, took the white handkerchief handed over by the maid, wiped his mouth, nodded to Madam Gao and said, "Madam, if you want to take a walk, go ahead first.
, there are some things that I need to talk to pragmatically about for my husband."
In recent times, Mrs. Gao has become accustomed to her husband's habit of doing practical homework or chatting after meals. She was not surprised when she heard this, nodded and stood up.
Gao pragmatic stood up quickly and bowed slightly: "Auntie, walk slowly."
Mrs. Gao smiled gently: "No need to be polite." Shi Shiran took his personal maid away.
Gao pragmatic waited for Mrs. Gao to go out. He looked up at Gao Gong and saw that he had his head lowered and his brows were furrowed. He couldn't help but ask: "Third uncle, is there something going wrong in the court?"
Gao Gong seemed to be deep in thought just now. After hearing this, he looked up at Gao Pingshi and smiled: "Things in the court have never been smooth, and Zhao Zhenji has always disliked me. Don't care what I say.
He's going to object anyway, and I've long been used to it...Why, do you have any 'advice' for a stone in a pit like Zhao Dazhou?"
Seeing that he was making fun of himself, Gao Pingshi smiled helplessly: "If the third uncle finds it difficult, my nephew has only read a few books and has little talent and knowledge. Naturally, he won't have any good ideas."
"You little devil, when did you become so humble?" Gao Gong smiled brightly, stood up and made a gesture: "Don't mention him, let's go to my study."
The servants and maids of the surrounding Gao Mansion looked at each other after hearing this, thinking that the young master (referring to Gao Lai who had died in infancy) was not allowed to enter the master's study until his death. He was already twelve or thirteen years old at that time. The servants in the mansion
Only three or four people were allowed to enter the master's study for cleaning. This shows that the eldest son of the sixth master's family has a very high status in the master's mind!
Gao pragmatic didn't know about this situation, and he didn't think it would be wrong to just enter the study room... When he was in his hometown in Xinzheng before, there was no day when he wouldn't enter Gao Gong's study room?
Of course, he also knew that Gao Gong's study room had quite a few rules, mainly because Gao Gong was a man who kept writing. Many manuscripts were kept in his study room all year round. Some of those manuscripts were elaborations of his political ideas and expressions of some economic thoughts.
, some are records of state governance, and some are reflections on academic research. Later generations compiled them into the "Collected Works of Gao Wenxiang"... Gao Gong did not sort out these manuscripts every day, but wrote down what he thought of.
First put it there randomly, take it out after a while and look at it again. After reading it, if there is anything that needs to be modified, modify it again. Only after confirming that it is correct will it be sorted and put away in a special place. Therefore, it is not allowed in his study.
People move around at will.
After entering the study, Gao Gong asked Gao Gongshi to sit down first, but he was picking through several stacks of manuscripts on the desk, as if he was looking for something. Gao Gong was very relaxed in front of Gao Gong and asked him to sit down.
He sat down and even picked up the big red robe that the steward personally sent to him and blew it gently - he was a child who was afraid of being burned and preferred to drink cooler tea even in winter.
Gao Gong finally found what he was looking for, which was also a manuscript, and it was obviously a rough draft. He looked at it, walked over and handed it to Gao Pingshi, saying: "Just take a look." After a slight pause, he added
: "You are reading "The University", look at this manuscript, and tell me what you think."
Gao pragmatically put down his teacup, stood up and took the manuscript. After Gao Gong sat down, he sat down, took the manuscript, and started reading.
"Ask: Why does "The Great Learning" talk about making money? He said: This is the useful knowledge of sages! The first of the eight political affairs in "Hong Fan" is food and goods; the third thing in "Yu Han" is the last one, wealth management. Financial management is also the most important thing in royal government! Later generations will be pedantic.
Those who love fame tend to flow away, but they don’t understand justice and benefit, and don’t distinguish between public and private affairs. They only regard profit without talking about it as high, and even make people unable to serve the country. Little do they know that gathering people is called wealth, and managing money is called righteousness. It is also said that righteousness is the sum of benefits, and righteousness has not been achieved.
Unfavorable... The only difference between righteousness and benefit lies in the judgment of public benefit. If you go beyond righteousness, then all benefits are righteous; if you go beyond benefit, then righteousness will also be beneficial. But if you don't talk about benefits, you will not be able to serve the country.
, this is also a name for profit, but it is not called righteousness."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! After Gao Pingshi read it, he raised his eyebrows and praised: "Thank you, Third Uncle! Financial management is by no means a trivial matter. I still remember that my nephew read it before
In "The Supplement to the Meanings of the University", Qiu Wenzhuang once said: "Yi said: How to gather people? It is called wealth. Wealth comes from the land and is used for people. The reason why people are human beings is to live by wealth. It cannot be lost in a day. So-called
Wealth consists only of grain and goods. Grain is for the people's food, and goods are for the people's use. If food is useful, the people will have tools to support themselves, and they will live together in a place where they can live in peace!" He paused for a moment, then continued: "But Duke Wenzhuang of Qiu
Although the discussion of wealth is clear, if there is anyone who raises the discussion of financial management to the debate of justice and benefit and enlightens the deaf and enlightens, Sanbo is probably the first person!"
Gao Gong listened carefully to what he said, and then smiled and said: "It seems that your "Explanation of the University" is indeed not in vain. However, you said that I am the first person to elevate financial management to the debate between justice and benefit. I
But I don’t dare to take it seriously... You probably haven’t finished reading the "Extensions to the University", right?"
Gao Pragmatic was slightly startled, then Hao Ran said: "Qiu Gong's masterpiece has more than a million words, and it requires patience and careful reading. My nephew is stupid and has not finished reading it."
"Well, you are right. Considering your age, you have other homework on weekdays, so it is normal that you have not finished reading." Gao Gong nodded and said: "Actually, my theory is also based on the words of Qiu Wenzhuang Gong.
Qiu Gong once said in the 160th volume of "The Supplement to the Explanation of the Great Learning": The ruler is in charge of governance, and he should not use it to control the country. The reason why the country is used is wealth. Wealth is born in heaven and produced in the earth.
, it comes from people. So the one who controls its use is the king. Although the king controls his use as a country, he actually thinks of the people. Therefore, if the king is not enough, he will take from the people, and if the people are not enough, he will take from the king. The upper and lower levels will be accommodating and mutually beneficial.
When it is collected and dispersed, there is nothing, and it is covered by one person to control its use. It is not dedicated to one person. Therefore, the benevolent kings in ancient times knew that it is for heaven to keep wealth and to gather wealth for the people. Whatever is used is not for heaven.
If you are not for the people, you will never dare to waste anything lightly. If you spend anything, you must consider it to be enjoyed by a hundred gods and for the safety of all peoples. You dare not take it for your own personal gain. What is this? Five talents are born, and the people use them together.
It is specially for the ears of the people. It is not owned by the king but is privately owned. If you think it is your own property and use it privately, you do not know that it is inherently limited and the people's power is difficult. It can be accumulated for a hundred years and it is not enough. It will be scattered in a day and there will be nothing left. The sun will disappear and the moon will disappear.
Once the consumption is tamed to the point where the treasury is empty and the national finances are scarce, there is no support for the officials and no cover for the people. At that time, all the plans will be in vain. How can the throne be relied on?
An, what does the country deserve to be governed?"
When he said this, he smiled and looked at Gao Pingshi: "You see, although Duke Qiu Wenzhuang explicitly advised the emperor to be frugal to love the people, he actually expressed what he thought in his heart: it is righteous for you to be frugal for the people."
Gao Pragmatic also laughed: "In the final analysis, it all comes from the principle of 'the people are the most important, the country is the second, and the king is the least'."
Gao Gong laughed heartily, sat on the Taishi chair and leaned back slightly: "So it is said that knowledge is universal. You see, the people are precious, and managing finances for the people is a great righteousness, but what do the people need? Wealth.
Therefore, doing good things for the world and managing money is the most righteous thing in the world."
