Although Kong Yingda had never heard of this word, he could understand what it meant from the literal meaning. He couldn't help but be very interested and said: "What is a library?" After a pause, he imitated Li Mu and made another gesture.
Thumbs up gesture, said: "What does this mean?"
"This gesture is also my invention. It's just like the applause at the product launch a few days ago. Applause is a sign of support. This one is called a like. Like, you understand. I admire your virtue."
This was the first time Kong Yingda heard praise from Li Mu. He couldn't help but feel a little carried away. He gently stroked his beard and said, "Do you also admire me? This is rare."
"Oh, that's enough. I've complimented you a few times, but I'm not done yet." Li Mu said angrily: "The so-called library is a place where people read books. Build a library first, and then store the books in it, and anyone can borrow them. That's it.
Juzheng corresponds to Confucius and Sheng's saying that there is no distinction between teaching and learning. Anyone who is interested in learning can obtain knowledge from the library."
"This..." Kong Yingda hesitated. Although he was not very smart, he had been immersed in the art of education for a long time. The Kong family was a long-established noble family and knew what knowledge meant. There is a saying that "the monarch and the scholar-officials share the same
"The world", why should the gentry share the world with the monarch? It is not because the gentry has mastered the knowledge, the monarch needs to employ people, and all the talents come from the gentry. In this way, it is difficult not to share the world.
But if there is a place like a library, it means that poor students no longer have to seek refuge with the gentry if they want to read any books. For the gentry, this is tantamount to reducing their influence. Kong Yingda hesitated, not because he thought this move was inappropriate.
Well, after all, the Kong family is a member of the gentry. If the change starts from the Kong family, I don’t know how much criticism it will cause.
Li Mu naturally guessed what he was thinking and said: "Old Kong, I know what you are worried about? But I feel that as a descendant of Confucius, I should have a sense of responsibility. Confucius had three thousand disciples at that time, including all three religions and nine streams.
He didn't deliberately not teach knowledge because of someone's poor background. Lao Kong, what do you think?"
Kong Yingda took a deep breath and said: "Okay! As you said, if you can really build a library, I am willing to collect thousands of books and put them in the library for people to read."
"That's right!" Li Mu took Kong Yingda's hand and shook it vigorously, saying: "Old Kong, you are a good comrade, you are very enlightened!"
"Let go!" Poor Kong Yingda was sixty years old. He was almost concussed by Li Mu's shaking. He finally broke free and frowned: "Why do you always invent new words? Say something understandable!"
"What's a new word for comrade? Those who share the same goals are called comrades. Old Confucius, how else could I tell you to learn to be flexible? You can't always be stubborn. You can use whatever words your predecessors used. If so,
The same is true for people. Maybe even today there are not many words that can be used. You have to think about it. Teaching and educating people and spreading the learning of saints can all be used."
"I'm too lazy to listen to you." Kong Yingda knew that he couldn't talk to Li Mu, but he didn't want to be taught like a child, so he stood up and said: "I have sent gifts and had banquets. I am tired, so I will take my leave. Everyone, please take your leave.
It’s convenient, no need to send it far.”
After saying that, Kong Yingda left. Li Mu sent him downstairs, watched Kong Yingda get on the carriage, and then turned back to the private room.
Li Mu was about to find someone to chat with, but Wei Zheng didn't give him this chance. As soon as he walked in, Wei Zheng grabbed his arm and said, "I have something to discuss with you."
"If you have something to say, just talk about it. What are you doing?" Li Mu broke away and said: "Let's talk, the ugly words are up front, you can say whatever you want, I may not necessarily agree to you, especially if you borrow money, it will be sooner or later when you lend it to others.
If I can repay you, I will definitely never repay the money I lent you, so I don’t have to say anything.”
"Take a step to speak."
"Borrow me a step?" Li Mu looked at the people in the private room, smiled, and said: "Old Wei, what can't you say in front of the big guys? You should never betray a good deed, so let me borrow it from you.
Could it be that there is something ulterior to say?"
Wei Zheng ignored Li Mu's cynicism and still said: "Let's take a step to speak."
Li Mu took a deep look at Wei Zheng, nodded, and said, "Okay, borrow it, let's talk to the next door."
Li Mu turned around and went out, taking Wei Zheng to the private room on the left. The two sat down. Li Mu looked at Wei Zheng and said, "Okay, it's just you and me now. If you have anything to hide, tell me."
Wei Zheng got straight to the point and said directly: "I want to ask you for a favor. Now the imperial court is building roads from Taiyuan to Chang'an, and Chang'an to Longyou, except for Shandong. Therefore, I have reported to your majesty that I want to follow the method of the Wang family in Taiyuan.
The local gentry contributed their efforts to build a road from Yangzhou to Taiyuan to connect it, but His Majesty has a deep prejudice against the Shandong gentry and firmly refused to allow it..."
Li Mu stopped Wei Zheng and said, "So you came to take advantage of me and try to persuade His Majesty to agree to build the road through me."
Wei Zheng nodded: "Yes, that's what I mean."
Li Mu started laughing, and the laughter got louder and louder. He laughed loudly, laughed for a long time before stopping, and said to Wei Zheng: "Old Wei, Old Wei, what do you want me to say? You said you can do it yourself."
Yes, you have done everything in front of His Majesty, and you have done everything in front of me. To put it bluntly, how can you have the nerve to ask me for help? Even if I can help, why should I help you? There are so many people in this world
Are you helping the enemy's fool?"
Li Mu pointed to his nose and said, "Or do you think I, Li Mu, am like a fool?"
"Of course Zhuluhou is not a fool." Wei Zheng remained calm and said: "So I don't expect you to help me without asking for anything in return. You can say whatever you want, and I will find a way to satisfy you. But this road must be repaired.
."
"It must be repaired?" Li Mu sneered and said: "What a big statement! Of course the road can be repaired, but I don't believe that the Shandong nobles will be so generous and donate money and food to build roads for free. If so, I can help with this, Shandong nobles
He is generous and generous, and builds roads for the people regardless of reward. He will definitely be recorded in the history books in the future."
Wei Zheng didn't seem to notice the sarcasm in Li Mu's tone and said, "I'm talking about building roads following the method of the Wang family in Taiyuan."
Li Mu exposed it mercilessly: "In other words, it's still about profit!"
Wei Zheng did not deny it. He pulled back and said, "Tell me your conditions."
"I have no conditions." Li Mu spread his hands and said with a smile: "Because I have no intention of helping you! Regardless of the rift between you and me, let's just say that you still have conflicts between the Shandong nobles and His Majesty. I was stupid.
Are you still crazy? Help you to trouble His Majesty? Have you forgotten that I almost died at the hands of you and the Shandong nobles? I will remember this grudge. If the court does not allow it, the roads built by the Shandong nobles will be in vain. They dare to stop them
Tolls? To collect tolls without permission is to collect road taxes under the influence of the imperial court. This crime is punishable by the Nine Clan, I don’t believe they are so bold!"
A stern look appeared on Li Mu's face, he pointed at himself and said: "Wei Zheng! I don't have any merits, except that I have a good memory and a small mind. Let me tell you clearly, I won't help you with this!"
"That has to be repaired!" Wei Zheng said with a determined look on his face: "Li Mu, do you think I facilitated this just for the sake of the Shandong nobles? Have you ever thought that this incident started because of you!
If you didn't give the king advice, nothing would happen. But if you did it, you gave the idea, what happens next? The king took advantage, and Changsun Wuji jumped out. Both of their forces got it.
Li, how can the Shandong gentry sit still? If you don't let them build the road, they will have to build it secretly. When the time comes, His Majesty will be angry, the conflict between the court and the Shandong gentry will intensify, and the people will suffer. Have you ever thought about it?"
Li Mu had already heard similar words once, and it was exactly the same as what Changsun Wuji said that day about "uneven suffering".
Li Mu was silent. It was not that he was moved. Instead, he calmed down and was thinking about the pros and cons of this matter. In fact, in the bottom of his heart, there was no hatred at all. He had never taken the initiative to provoke anyone. He had always been provoked by others.
He. And because of his style of conduct, he was arrogant and domineering. In fact, he needed people like Wei Zheng to act as a check, so that Li Shimin could feel at ease. Otherwise, things would turn to the extreme and he would be too arrogant, and he would not be far from death.
Therefore, in a sense, he needs Wei Zheng and cannot let Wei Zheng fail. What Li Mu is thinking now is that the Shandong gentry must be disappointed with Wei Zheng after he has repeatedly failed in his hands. If this matter is not done again,
Perhaps it is not impossible for Wei Zheng to lose power. However, there must be someone in the court who speaks on behalf of the Shandong nobles. If it is not Wei Zheng, there will be others. As for Wei Zheng, he has already figured out the way. If it were another person, the situation would be better.
Where to go.
Moreover, Wei Zheng, in addition to being against him, is quite upright in many matters and is also a very honest official, so he still has merit.
Why not just fulfill him?
Li Mu's heart was moved, but he did not make a decision immediately. With his character and his opponent's affairs, even if he agreed, he could not let the other party take advantage of him, he still had to gain some benefits.
"Alas!" Li Mu sighed and said: "People, people... In this world, the rise and fall of the world, the people are the bargaining chip in the game between the noble clans and the court. It's a shame! It's a shame! In prosperity, the people suffer! In death, the people also suffer!
Poor! Poor!"
When Wei Zheng heard these sighs, he couldn't help but be a little stunned. He had experienced the troubled times in the late Sui Dynasty and saw countless people suffering. These few words of Li Mu spoke to his heart. The reason why he was surprised was that he couldn't believe that Li Mu actually
He can summarize it in such a profound way, but he has never experienced troubled times, so why can he sigh so accurately?
Li Mu sighed again and said: "That's all! Just think that I am doing it for the people..."
Wei Zheng said hurriedly: "So, you agreed?"
"Wait a minute!" Li Mu frowned at Wei Zheng and said, "Old Wei, I won't hide it from you. I will also help with your uncle's affairs. But I have a word in advance, whether it is the Wang family of Taiyuan or the noble family of Longyou,
They are all loyal to His Majesty. For loyal people, even if they get a little advantage, it doesn't matter. Moreover, everyone has spoken in advance and made a contract. When the time is agreed upon, this road will be owned by the imperial court. To be precise,
This is also part of the New Deal.”
"The Taiyuan Road was built for Datang Mining, and the Longyou Road was built for Datang Salt Industry! Otherwise, His Majesty would never allow it. Old Wei, don't forget. At the beginning of the New Deal, who took the lead in opposing and forced Your Majesty to
As promised, Shandong will not implement the New Deal on the ground. I would like to ask, why does Shandong, which does not implement the New Deal, benefit from road construction?"
"This..." Wei Zheng was stopped by the question and sighed: "I can't explain to you clearly the interest entanglement behind this matter. But I hope you believe me. Everything I do is not for the Shandong gentry.
, not for Your Majesty, I just want to maintain a stable situation. For the current situation, I have tried my best. There are some things that I cannot explain to you. Maybe you will understand in the future, and then you will know my painstaking efforts.
"
"Ha!" Li Mu chuckled and said: "Old Wei, I don't understand what you are saying. Since you can't explain it, let's just follow what has been made clear. The current situation is that Shandong ground
I don’t want to implement the New Deal, but I also want to get benefits, okay! I’ll give you this advantage, but how can you guarantee that when the time comes to agree, the ownership of the road can be taken back to the court? How can you guarantee that after the Shandong gentry builds the road, the tolls will be collected reasonably
?You don’t know how to prey on the common people?”
"This..." The question raised by Li Mu once again stumped Wei Zheng. How could he understand the twists and turns involved? He frowned and thought for a while and said, "How did the Wang family in Taiyuan do it?"
"The contract between the Taiyuan Wang family and the imperial court stipulated the standards for collecting tolls. Who will collect tolls and who will not collect them? Depending on the weight of the goods, damage to the road, etc., there are detailed regulations, and the imperial court will also establish
The Road Inspection Department specializes in conducting inspections. Are the Shandong nobles willing to accept these conditions?"
Wei Zheng's face felt feverish, and it took him a long time to say, "I'm afraid it will be difficult."
"Then there's nothing we can do." Li Mu waved his hand and said, "There's nothing I can do to help!"
Wei Zheng gritted his teeth and said: "I can promise you that after the number of years stipulated in the contract, the imperial court will definitely take back the ownership of the road. Isn't that okay?"
"You can't take charge of the inspection department's affairs?"
Wei Zheng sighed and said: "Li Mu, you have also seen that I have never left Chang'an. Far water can't quench my thirst nearby, so what if I agree to you? I can't be there to supervise, and agreeing to you is nonsense. What's the point?"
"Then you must at least accept the court's pricing of tolls, and you cannot increase or decrease them at will!"
"Okay!" Wei Zheng nodded heavily. He knew in his heart that if he didn't agree to this condition, there would be no negotiation.
"Okay! I can give you a try. After all, you are different from my uncle. You know His Majesty's prejudice against you better than I do."
Wei Zheng took a deep breath, stood up and saluted Li Mu, saying: "Thank you for your help. Regardless of whether it can be done or not, Wei Zheng will keep it in mind."
"No need!" Li Mu helped Wei Zheng up and said: "You don't need to thank me, my help is not in vain. Didn't you just say that I can make any conditions? I won't be polite to you anymore, fifty thousand
Guan, let me go to your Majesty's place to tell you that if you have one hundred thousand Guan, I guarantee that you can make it. Once the money is available, we will do it immediately!"