After He Tang returned home, he immediately bathed, changed clothes, and took care of his hair and beard.
Leaving the Imperial Academy and about to be released abroad is like a new life. How can it not be worth celebrating?
The private house that He Tang rented in the capital was not big, but it was not shabby. His family belonged to a hereditary military general. During the Zhu Yuanzhang era, he accompanied the army in the northern expedition, and received a lot of land rewards and meritorious services, so there was no shortage of money.
After He Tang finished washing, the eldest son He Guangzu came over and reported: "Father, Bachelor Wang from the Hanlin Academy is visiting, and my second brother is talking to him."
Brothers He Guangzu and He Xianzong both studied with their father.
It's a pity that their qualifications are dull and they are just students, and they have never been admitted to the imperial examination. Although He Tang was able to shadow his son later, he refused to use this privilege, and he was upright as a person and an official.
The famous little Zheng Wang Zhu Zaiyu is the grandson-in-law of He Tang’s eldest son He Guangzu. He Tang and Zhu Zaiyu’s fathers were both teachers and friends. Many information, including the "Chinese Music Dictionary", is wrong. Zhu Zaiyu is not
He Tang's nephew and student, but He Tang's great-grandson-in-law and successor.
Later generations hailed He Tang as the "Sage of Zhongzhou". His most famous story is the last words he left to his two sons before his death.
He Tang asked his son: "How should we establish ourselves in this world?"
The eldest son replied: "Those who serve the people are diligent, those who serve the rich are benevolent, those who serve as officials are honest, and use one skill to benefit the world."
He Tang asked his son again: "I have been an official all my life and I have not bought any land for you. I only have the five thousand taels of silver that I got from dividing the family. How should you use it?"
The second son replied: "We don't want the money. Our brothers can support themselves. Three thousand taels will be donated to Jingxian Academy to help poor scholars; the other two thousand taels will be opened in front of the house to help the poor in the world."
He Tang was very happy and wrote: "My descendants are better than me, so what do I need money for? If my descendants are not as good as me, what do I need money for?"
After He Tang's death, his two sons carved his last words on a stele in front of the tomb. Over time, the stele was damaged, leaving only two "asking for money", which people called "asking for money stele". Those who didn't know the situation thought that
Before the tomb owner died, how many foreign debts he had had to pay back?
He Tang strode to the living room and said with a smile on his face: "A distinguished guest is coming to our door, and we welcome him from afar!"
Wang Yuan stood up, cupped his hands, and said jokingly: "He Xiuzhuan, the spring breeze is blowing on his face, it seems there is some great joy?"
He Tang smiled bitterly: "What joy is there? If Your Majesty hears the criticism and knows how to correct it after being scolded, that would be a really great joy."
"There is absolutely no such possibility," Wang Yuan shook his head and sighed, "The first time I went to the Leopard Room, I tried to remonstrate with His Majesty, but he was kicked out directly. Your Majesty is a donkey and has to be smoothed. You can scold him.
The more fierce you are, the less likely he is to listen. He Xiuzhan used the wrong method today."
He Tang sighed: "Why don't I know? But I can't get close to His Majesty at all, and I can't find the opportunity to smooth things over. His Majesty probably hasn't even read my memorials. They were blocked in the Cabinet and the Supervisor of Ceremonies.
.”
Wang Yuan smiled and said: "It doesn't matter if it's released outside, I will do it next year too."
He Tang was surprised and said: "Scholar Wang is willing to go out?"
The official positions in the Hanlin Academy were extremely noble, and being sent to other places was tantamount to being demoted. He Tang had no other choice, so he sought to be sent to work outside.
Wang Yuan explained: "Although I am sent abroad, my position in the Hanlin Academy is retained. I can go to the local area to gain experience."
He Tang was extremely envious: "Scholar Wang is really in the Emperor's heart!"
Being sent out to serve as an official, but still retaining a position in the Hanlin Academy, is tantamount to gold-plating to mix qualifications and political achievements. What's more, next year's affairs have been decided this year, so how much do you deserve the emperor's favor!
Wang Yuan said: "Today I listened to He Xiuzhuan's sermon, and there is a saying that I agree with very much. As a king and as a minister, you should benefit the people. The people are the foundation of the country, and Mencius's words are true."
"Haha, you and I are on the same path." He Tang laughed, very happy.
After chatting for a while, He Tang returned to the study and handed all the copies of the memorials that had been detained into Wang Yuan's hands: "Scholar Wang, please pass them on to His Majesty. Your Majesty must read them personally."
"I'll do my best." Wang Yuan opened it and browsed it roughly.
The content of the five chapters of "Military Statements" is very simple and does not touch on the foundation of the Ming Dynasty's military system, but it reflects the shortcomings in actual work.
For example, the division of powers and responsibilities of a guard station, you take care of yours, I take care of mine, there is no coordination with each other. If there is a rebellion in the jurisdiction of this guard post, you only need to send troops to drive out the rebels and then forget about it. The rebels come to other guard posts.
The other guards said that this was not my responsibility and should be taken care of by the previous guard. The previous guard also said that I did not have the authority to lead troops across the border.
If it's within the province, it's fine, as it can be coordinated by the General Soldier. Once it crosses a province, it's a confusing lawsuit and must be handled by the Ministry of War.
He Tang suggested that a chief commander should be set up to supervise the local military attachés to dispatch sergeants to suppress the rebels based on their movements.
In fact, it is similar to the Bingbeidao. It existed during the Tianshun period, but it was a non-permanent institution. Before the ravages of Liu Liu and Liu Qi, He Tang proposed to promote it nationwide, but the court did not have any reply. Until now, due to forced
Due to the current situation, the imperial court began to build more military equipment, and they only added more troops wherever there was rebellion and the suppression was weak.
If He Tang's advice had been followed earlier and troops were deployed throughout the country, how could the Liu Liu Liu Qi uprising be rampant? At least it wouldn't be so fast!
These memorials written by He Tang are also about taxes and servitude, one is "Equal Cove" and the other is "Equal Grain". Looking at the content, there are already shadows of "One Whip Method", but it is not as in-depth as "One Whip Method"
That's all.
After reading the memorial, Wang Yuan stood up and clasped his fists: "Sir, you are a great talent!"
He Tang waved his hand and said with a smile: "I have also read Academician Wang's imperial examination articles. Your reform methods are more radical and thorough than my memorials. You are a great talent, and I am nothing."
Both of them were inclined to reform, so they naturally had numerous topics in common. The chat became more and more enjoyable. He Tang even kept Wang Yuan for dinner, and after the meal, he took Wang Yuan to the study.
He Tang collected a lot of books, including classics and history, as well as books on music, astronomy, mathematics, agricultural administration, water conservancy, medicine, etc. But he did not collect books just for the sake of collecting books. They were all relatively common, and He Tang had read them all.
The young King of Zheng, Zhu Zaiyu, later became a writer, mathematician, musician, and astronomer... It has a lot to do with He Tang, because Zhu Zaiyu was He Tang's disciple from another generation, and his father and father-in-law were both influenced by He Tang.
Learn from He Tang!
"How can Xiuzhuan know physics?" Wang Yuan asked.
He Tang said with a smile: "I have heard that physics is a school of thought under Wang Sect's philosophy of mind. I don't agree with Wang Bo'an's (Wang Yangming's) philosophy of mind, but it is actually a Confucian variant of Zen!"
Wang Yuan asked again: "Where is Baisha Xinxue?"
He Tang shook his head and said: "I don't agree with Baisha Xinxue, but after the improvement of Zhanganquan (Zhanruoshui), it is still somewhat interesting."
Wang Yuan said: "The study of physics comes from Zhu Zi, who explores the principles of all things and understands the way. As the saying goes, there is no limit to the extremes of physics, and there is no limit to what I know in my heart!"
He Tang was quite surprised: "Are you a disciple of Wang Bo'an or a disciple of Zhan Ganquan? Your path is completely opposite to that of your teacher Wang Bo'an!"
Wang Yuan smiled and said: "We can go in opposite directions, but we can reach the same destination by taking different paths."
The next day, Wang Yuan invited He Tang to his Gewu Hall.
He Tang was already proficient in astronomy and mathematics. After learning about physics in detail, he immediately started learning Arabic numerals. He did not admit that he was a member of the school of physics, but he studied and promoted physical knowledge from then on, combined with his own Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucian concepts, and created
The so-called "New Neo-Confucianism" lineage.
Half a month later, He Tang's transfer order also came down, and he was thrown to Kaizhou, Daming Prefecture, to serve as a fellow magistrate.
In terms of grade, it is a level transfer, but if a Hanlin official is transferred to a local level, what is the difference between being demoted?
This man happily took office, paid private visits incognito, and observed the public sentiment. Within two months of taking office, he beheaded the son of Qingfeng Magistrate, which was praised by the local people.
Then, regardless of resistance from all sides, he forcibly implemented his own "Nine Equal Laws" (somewhat similar to the "One Whip Law") in Kaizhou against the pressure of the governor and the gentry. He also personally went into battle and led the army and civilians to build water conservancy projects.
Within one year, Kaizhou's taxes increased significantly and the people were happy.
At the same time, the impeachment memorial floated into the central government like snowflakes, and He Tang offended many local forces.
Wang Yuan always paid close attention and added He Tang's name to his "operator list".
This kind of official has been idle in the Hanlin Academy for eleven years, which is really a waste.