Chapter 634 This Daming is so cute
Since entering the Political Affairs Hall, Xu Jie spent most of his time in Zhilu, either being excluded by Yan Song and his son, or serving Emperor Jiajing. His Qingci was very good, and he always satisfied Emperor Jiajing. So he was rewarded every now and then.
On the one hand, he was suppressed by Yan Song and his son, and on the other hand, he was valued by Emperor Jiajing. In the eyes of outsiders, this was an embodiment of Emperor Jiajing using Xu Jie to check and balance the Yan Party.
But Xu Jie knew that checks and balances were one thing, and the reward really came from the excellence of his Qing Ci writing.
But he would not explain, and even welcomed such speculation.
In this way, the suppression from the Yan Party will be much less severe.
He would occasionally sigh, feeling that he and Yan Song were actually dogs raised by Emperor Jiajing, who would be fed if they were obedient and kicked if they were disobedient.
“How many people want to be dogs but can’t!”
Xu Jie put down his brush, looked at the calligraphy he had just written, and laughed at himself.
"Lord, Commander Lu is here."
The attendant came in to report.
Without waiting for Xu Jie to nod, Lu Bing walked in rudely.
"Picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains...You are in such a good mood, sir, why don't you retire and return to your hometown to enjoy the pastoral life?" Lu Bing said sarcastically.
Xu Jie waved his hand and his entourage left.
"Are you here to call me to task?" Xu Jie slowly rolled up the paper and put it aside.
Lu Bing sneered, "Jiang Qingzhi actually knew about our marriage."
Xu Jie raised his eyebrows, then calmed down, "I have not agreed to the marriage."
"But how did Jiang Qingzhi know this?" Lu Bing clenched his fists. "If His Majesty knew about this, how would His Majesty view me?"
Xu Jie looked at him, "On the one hand, you are on good terms with Yan Song and others, almost forming a clique. On the other hand, you are marrying his mortal enemy Xu Jie, playing both sides and planting grass on the fence..."
Lu Bing looked grim, "If you don't agree, then that's fine, but why did you leak this?"
Lu Bing didn't believe that this was Jiang Qingzhi's guess. He thought that Xu Jie had deliberately leaked the news.
"I have not told anyone else about this." Xu Jie said calmly, "It's up to you whether you believe it or not."
"Do you think I have to have you?" Lu Bing stood up suddenly. "It would be more appropriate for Your Majesty if Lu Song joined the cabinet."
Lu Song is more forceful and has higher prestige. If he enters the cabinet, it will not be easy for Yan Song and his son to suppress him.
There was a cold flash in Xu Jie's eyes, "I said, this matter was not leaked by me."
As an important official, he naturally would not swear, but he reiterated twice that he was not the one who did it, which was already an exception.
"Who could that be?" Lu Bing looked at him suspiciously.
"Besides me, the only person who can handle this matter is the steward who has followed me for many years." Xu Jie pondered, "He is tight-lipped."
Xu Jie looked at Lu Bing, "You over there..."
"I haven't even told my wife about this." Lu Bing said, "You know it and I know it. Adding a steward, could it be that Jiang Qingzhi has a good ear?"
"This matter..." Xu Jie was also a little confused.
Is he really in charge?
"I will naturally inquire about this matter when I return."
"You'd better hurry up." Lu Bing sneered, "You are a dignified minister, but your private affairs have been known by your enemy. This is just a marriage alliance. If you want to do something taboo... don't forget that you and Jiang Qingzhi have a grudge for stealing your disciple."
God is my witness. At that moment Jiang Qingzhi suddenly thought of Lu Bing’s nickname: the marriage maniac.
In an instant, it was as if the spiritual energy was revived, and part of the memory was restored.
The marriage between Lu Bing and Xu Jie provided a double insurance for the Lu family. Some people in later generations sighed: This man had a unique vision. If Xu Jie had not lost his integrity in his later years, the Lu family would have been rich and prosperous for a longer time.
Xu Jie's butler was interrogated and suffered a lot. Jiang Qingzhi naturally didn't know about this and had no interest in knowing.
This guy left Xu Jie and Lu Bing uneasy, so he went outside the city to inspect.
In the workshop, the craftsmen transferred from the Ministry of Industry looked in good spirits.
He then went to the school.
Wang Tingxiang was teaching a class. When he saw Jiang Qing, he asked the children to recite the text on their own.
"I've met my uncle."
"How?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.
The children secretly looked at him while reciting their lessons.
"These children are sometimes naughty, but most of them are sensible. I have asked them, and their parents said that this is a favor from their uncle. If they don't study hard, they will be like their fathers and grandfathers, doing hard labor and not having enough food or warm clothes.
At this point, I have come to understand a truth: there is no need to talk about big principles to teach children to be motivated. It is enough to let them suffer and let them want to get rid of their current predicament. "
The old man seemed to have understood. Jiang Qingzhi nodded and said, "Teach me well. We will expand this place in the future. If you need anything, just tell me."
"Expand?" Wang Tingxiang was surprised. "Could it be that the bet between Lord Bo and Lu Song has come to fruition?" "Lu Song is about to invite me to drink."
"Congratulations, Master!" Wang Tingxiang said with a smile, "I have been worried since I heard about the bet, Master... Master, please forgive me. Looking at those children, I can't bear to see them suppressed by Confucianism. The more powerful Master is, the brighter the future of these children will be."
The old man was very cute. Jiang Qingzhi said, "Just teach him. Believe me, in ten years, you will see his students all over the world."
"Then I...will die without regrets." Wang Tingxiang bowed solemnly. Jiang Qingzhi avoided him, but he shook his head, "Please accept my greeting, my Lord."
"Why?" Jiang Qingzhi is still the Jiang Qingzhi of his previous life, with the tradition of respecting the elderly and loving the young deeply rooted in his bones.
“I used to be a defender of Confucianism, but I have reflected a lot recently and witnessed all kinds of things in Mohism. I suddenly feel that most of my life has been wasted.
Man lives for a lifetime, and plants and trees wither with autumn. I have actually wasted most of my life. I regret it so much and want to do something to make up for it.
During this period, I taught these children, watched them understand reason, watched them learn the teachings of Mohism, and became more curious about the world... I feel that this is what it means to truly work for the Ming Dynasty and for one's own heart."
Wang Tingxiang said with emotion: "All scholars in the world aim for fame, wealth and honor, but Boye and Mojia advocate studying for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. And they exempted all the children from tuition fees. The former is to establish their minds, and the latter is to change their fate. It is a great merit.
The only person in the world who can do this is Master. And I should thank Master for being able to participate in this matter. Please accept my greetings! "
Wang Tingxiang saluted solemnly again, and this time Jiang Qingzhi did not avoid him.
Wang Tingxiang returned to the classroom, and the pairs of eyes that were stealing glances at Jiang Qingzhi returned one after another.
"Speak louder!" Wang Tingxiang said, holding the scroll.
The children shook their heads and recited aloud.
"… Xia means great. China has great etiquette, so it is called Xia; it has beautiful clothes, so it is called Hua. Hua and Xia are one."
"Ahem!" Wang Tingxiang said, "The so-called Huaxia is a country of etiquette and beautiful clothing...
China has been passed down for thousands of years, and has its own etiquette and beautiful clothing. Although the Ming Dynasty has a bit of the flavor of the twilight of the empire, its etiquette can still make foreigners feel ashamed. The beauty of the clothing can make foreigners feel that they are just a group of barbarians...
Why did later generations dislike the etiquette and clothing that had been passed down for many years? Jiang Qingzhi thought of the strong ships and powerful guns, the threats of force, and the humiliations in the past...
Everyone admires the strong, and everyone has the instinct to follow the strong. Therefore, whoever is strong, everything about him is an advantage that other races emulate.
This is the case with the Ming Dynasty at this moment. After several attempts by Portugal, the world's overlord, it suffered a crushing defeat and wisely gave up the idea of conquering this behemoth.
Therefore, at this moment, everyone in the Ming Dynasty considered their own etiquette and clothing to be beautiful.
As the country's strength gradually recovered in later generations, people began to reflect and look back, and discovered that the etiquette and costumes left by our ancestors were the most suitable for us.
Thus, Hanfu was revived along with the national strength.
So from time to time we can see the revival of traditional weddings...
China!
Jiang Qingzhi stood in Xin'an Lane, looking at the neighbors who were wearing Ming Dynasty costumes and bowing to their neighbors with smiles, and suddenly he had an epiphany.
What is Huaxia?
It is that special complex and pride that is rooted in the genes of every Chinese!
When the national strength declined and even fell into decline, this complex and pride drove countless people of noble character and lofty ideals to fight for this nation without regard for their own lives.
When the country was backward, it was this complex and pride that drove countless ancestors to abandon their wealth and glory, hide their identities, just to explode many years later and shock the whole world.
When this nation needed to unite and work hard to catch up, it was this complex and pride that drove countless people to work hard.
Twenty years later, when everyone looked up and saw the front, they realized, oh! We have caught up!
As long as this nation is willing, no one or any force in this world can stop them from moving forward.
No one can do it!
Although Lu Song politely declined Jiang Qingzhi's solicitation, Jiang Qingzhi saw through the old man's intentions.
——Although you and I have different paths, we share the same aspiration to revitalize the Ming Dynasty. I will not hesitate to defeat the Mohist School. But if I can make the Ming Dynasty strong, even if you are a Mohist leader, I will join forces with you!
This Ming Dynasty!
Tang Shunzhi, Lu Bing, Yan Song and his son, Lu Song... and even Jiang Hua and others.
Even Lu Bing, a fence-sitter, will still stand on the side of the Ming Dynasty on major issues.
Even Yan Song and his son, who hated to see Jiang Qingzhi go, would still put aside their past grudges when it came to the country.
This Ming Dynasty...should not sink!
This nation should not perish.
We should not drag our feet like a pig and become the laughing stock of the world.
The expansion of Huben Zuowei's army is imminent, and Jiang Qingzhi plans to urge Lu Song tomorrow.
"Qingzhi!"
The mother-in-law came to visit her daughter. When she got off the car and saw her son-in-law, she smiled so hard that her eyes and brows were squeezed together.
"I just heard that the Ministry of Revenue withheld the money and grain that should have been distributed to the nobles this month, saying that it would be delayed for a month." Chang said gloatingly, "Right now those nobles have blocked the door of the Ministry of Revenue and are shouting and cursing at Lu Song. Hahahaha!"
Jiang Qingzhi didn't laugh.
He looked at the bright spring sunshine and the smiling neighbors, and whispered, "This Daming is so lovely!"
(End of this chapter)
