The governor opened the government and recruited talented people, regardless of their origin.
The news quickly exploded in Zhejiang. Scholars who had failed many times, knights in the martial arts world, and sneaky helpers were all eager to give it a try when they heard about the situation - if they were selected, if they were not selected, they would just go to Hangzhou for a trip. That is Zhejiang
Governor and Right Minister of the Ministry of War!
The recruitment information even spread to Nanzhili next door.
Next to Wuxian County in Zhejiang Province, the county magistrate is called Li Jing. After he took office, he did little else and focused on education. Firstly, among the local officials’ duties, education ranked first; secondly, he also
Don't know much about other fields.
Farming, litigation, and theft were all left to the subordinate officials.
Li Zhixian himself played with scholars. He was friends with the county school. He often visited the county school to inspect, and occasionally gave funds to the county school to support poor scholars. In this way, in just one year, Li Jing became famous in Wu County.
The reviews are very good, and countless people will definitely praise Li Zhixian County highly.
"Your Majesty, Tang Yin wishes to see you." The servant came in to report.
Li Jing was reciting poetry to his master and immediately said: "Please come quickly!"
Tang Bohu's life is a tragedy. He was born in a small businessman family. He was the first boy in the examination at the age of fifteen, his friend died at the age of twenty-one, his teacher died at the age of twenty-three, and he died one after another between the age of twenty-four and twenty-five.
His parents, wife, son and sister were dead, leaving only one younger brother alive.
At the age of twenty-eight, Tang Bohu ranked first in the provincial examination. At the age of twenty-nine, he was involved in a fraud case in the imperial examination and was dismissed as a minor official. When he returned home, Tang Bohu was dumped by his wife who continued to marry him. In depression, he traveled alone and returned home seriously ill.
He was recuperating at home, and his younger brother made trouble to separate from him.
I can't be romantic, nor can I be free and unrestrained.
When Tang Bohu was at his poorest, he had no food for three days, and his main business was painting erotic pictures for people.
This year has been pretty good. Li Jing, the county magistrate, is a talent lover. He often invites Tang Bohu to dinner and drinks, and also spends money to buy his poems and paintings.
Someone appreciated it, and Tang Bohu burst into tears of gratitude. "Traveling to Mount Lu", "Crossing the Yantan", "Yuan Xi", "Spring Coming", "Ascending the Heavenly King's Pavilion", "Ren Ri", "Getting Up Early", "Grain Rain"... No matter the new or old works,
They presented them all to the magistrate, and even drew a "Picture of the Sound of Pines on Mountain Roads" specially for the magistrate.
Today, I am here to deliver paintings.
Li Jing unfolded the scroll, stroked his beard and praised: "The expression is smooth and the ink is vivid. The shades of dry and wet are just right. The brush strokes, twists and turns, and vigorous dancing perfectly capture the artistic conception of the sound of pine trees... Ziwei's painting skills have improved again.
It’s only one floor!”
Tang Bohu smiled apologetically and said, "The county magistrate is so complimentary."
Li Jing sighed: "It's a pity that Ziwei's talent and knowledge have been buried until now."
Tang Bohu looked bitter: "Time is also destiny."
Li Jing suddenly said: "Wang Ruoxu, the right minister of the Ministry of War and the governor of Zhejiang, is currently building a government office in Hangzhou and recruiting officials. Brother Ziwei, why don't you give it a try?"
Tang Bohu shook his head and said: "How can the dignified Governor of Zhejiang recruit me, a convicted person?"
Li Jing said: "General Wang Zhi has said that when he recruits the shogunate, he will not consider his background, but only his talent and learning. Why not give it a try?"
Tang Bohu still shook his head: "There is no need to humiliate yourself."
Li Jing really appreciated Tang Bohu's talent, took out two ingots of silver and said, "I will help you with the travel expenses, so I will go to Hangzhou to relax."
Tang Bohu was silent, a little moved, but also a little afraid.
Even in poverty, Tang Bohu still has high aspirations, but he has become depressed since last year.
Two years ago, King Ning hired Tang Bohu to go to Jiangxi. Tang Bohu went on the road with great joy. After contacting King Ning, Tang Bohu was so scared that he actually wanted to rebel!
Tang Bohu had no choice but to pretend to be crazy, eat shit, drink urine, and run around in the street. After a lot of trouble, he was finally let go by Prince Ning.
When he returned to his hometown, rumors and rumors spread, saying that Tang Bohu had gone crazy, and even the famous actresses in the brothel did not welcome him.
Tang Bohu was completely disheartened. When someone came to buy a painting, he didn't even accept money and asked the buyer to bring him wine. He also said that he "doesn't use money to cause evil in the world."
This year, the county magistrate Li Jing visited Tang Bohu many times, which made Tang Bohu a little angry, and he finally stopped sitting at home drinking all day.
"Go and give it a try," Li Jing advised, treating Tang Bohu as a friend. "Mr. Wang Zhi is not an ordinary person, but one of the most extraordinary men in the world. He must be a discerning man."
Tang Bohu thought about it again and again, but he was not completely tired of the world yet. He took the money and said, "Brother Li, thank you very much!"
Li Jing laughed loudly: "Ziwei is finally willing to call me Brother Li."
…
Wenzhou Prefecture, Yongjia County.
Zhang Cong, who failed six consecutive examinations, had not yet founded Luo Feng Academy, but had already accepted several disciples.
Zhang Cong was born into a landlord's family, and was not from "a humble background" as recorded in history books. Moreover, his sister-in-law's family was also a landlord, her grandfather was a high school Jinshi, and her ancestors donated food to fight against the Japanese during the Hongwu period and were awarded the seventh-grade teaching position.
At this moment, Zhang Cong was telling the students about "Mencius": "'The king also said that it is only benevolence and righteousness, why should it be called benefit?' What Mencius said was not that he only talked about benevolence and righteousness without mentioning benefit. Mencius said that righteousness should be first and then
Benefit, only the benefit of benevolence and righteousness can be achieved..."
"We gentlemen, since we have benevolence and righteousness in our hearts, why can't we speak of benefit? We should use benefit and righteousness, and should not suppress benefit with righteousness. The so-called 'Tao is inseparable from tools' only talks about morality and righteousness, but has no means. This is mediocre! Dong Zhongshu said:
'Rectify one's righteousness without pursuing its benefits, and clarify one's way without considering its merits'. This statement is fallacious and deeply wrong! If there is no utility, morality and justice are all empty words!"
"Those who do not seek profit are false virtues; those who do not seek merit are negligent in government! Only when people are in harmony with virtue and practice it with dedication, is real virtue; only when learning is in harmony with Tao and benefits all people, is real government!
Talking about benevolence and righteousness but not doing practical things in the name of the country is a hypocrite, a stupid official and a mediocre official!"
Why did Zhang Cong fail every time he went to Beijing six times?
If you look at the above remarks, you will know that this guy believes in the "Yongjia School".
This school of thought is also known as the "utilitarian school" and the "merit school". It advocates applying practical principles to the world, emphasizing both righteousness and benefit, promoting trade and benefiting industry, reducing taxes, and opposes empty talk and suppression of business.
After school, a friend who worked as a scribe in the county government came to see him with a handwritten official document: "Brother Bingyong, I copied this from the county. Please take a look."
Zhang Cong read it carefully and said in surprise: "Why does the governor have the power to open a government?"
The friend said: "It has long been spread that the emperor wanted to lift the sea ban. He was worried about the local obstruction, so he sent Wang Shilang to make an exception and have the power to open a palace and build a tooth. Brother Bingyong is so talented, why don't you go to answer the curtain? Anyway, it's okay.
Don’t delay the imperial examination.”
"How to open the sea?" Zhang Cong asked.
"I don't know." The friend shook his head.
Zhang Cong pondered: "If we can really open the sea, it will be a great thing. I'm afraid that if we can't open it half way, it will be a different strategy that harms the people."
The friend laughed and said: "That's why I have to help my brother Bingyong. How can outsiders know the situation in Zhejiang?"
Wenzhou Prefecture, where Zhang Cong is located, was the third largest base for maritime smuggling in Zhejiang during the Zhengde period, and Zhang Cong knew all the stakes involved!
Suddenly, Zhang Cong stood up tall and said: "I am not going to Hangzhou to cling to the powerful, but just to use my own efforts to guide Mr. Wang not to treat it carelessly. Otherwise, the people along the coast of Zhejiang will suffer!"