Chapter 662 Seeing off guests
For a woman who has lost her husband, the biggest difficulty is having elderly parents and young children to take care of.
When Yang Zhao died for his country, Jinyiwei Commander Lu Bing personally sent him a pension and even personally offered to help him plan his future. But in the end, Yang Sheng still chose to join the army.
“It’s hard to be in the military.”
Mother-in-law Chen was already in poor health, and she collapsed when she learned that her son Yang Zhao had died for his country. Fortunately, Yang Sheng was studying martial arts, so he didn't need Zhang to take care of his food, clothing, housing and transportation, allowing her to concentrate on taking care of her mother-in-law.
Chen's eyes became darker and darker. Zhang felt sad when she saw it. "Mother, being in the army is difficult and dangerous. But a child is not under the control of a mother. Dalang has his own ideas... Besides, my husband's spirit in heaven will surely protect him."
"My son's soul..." Chen suddenly looked outside the door.
"Grandma, mother!"
Yang Sheng walked in carrying a bag. He was wearing a military uniform, with a long sword at his waist. He stood with his back straight and looked particularly energetic.
"Da Lang is back." Zhang saw her son coming back and said happily, "It's not time for him to rest yet, why are you back?"
"Martial arts classes are suspended. Let the students go home. Wait for instructions on when to start classes." Yang Sheng took off his bag and walked to the bedside. "How is grandma?"
"Good, very good." Seeing her eldest grandson, Chen's spirits improved a lot and she asked him a lot of questions about martial arts.
Zhang smiled and quietly went to the kitchen to cook.
"My dear, Dalang has become more and more muscular, and he looks more and more stable."
Zhang said to the void.
"Is anyone home?"
Someone outside asked.
Zhang stuck her head out and asked, "Who is it?"
"Looking for Yang Sheng."
Zhang opened the door and saw an unfamiliar man outside. She subconsciously took a step back, glanced at the wooden stick behind the door, and leaned towards the stick.
The man saluted and said, "My name is Sun Bu Tong. I am a guard from the Chang Wei Marquis's residence. I am here under orders. May I ask if Yang Sheng is here?"
Yang Sheng came out of the house. He had a good memory and remembered Sun Bu Tong. "It's Brother Sun!"
"Come in and sit down." Zhang said with a smile.
"No need." Sun Bu Tong said, "My Lord ordered that Yang Sheng rest at home for two days and then join the Tiger Guards Left Guard."
"What?" Zhang was stunned.
But Yang Sheng was delighted. "Brother Sun, please report to my uncle. I will definitely not embarrass him."
Sun Bu Tong was very perceptive. He saw Zhang's panic and said, "Not everyone can lose the reputation of the master. If you can't pass the training after joining the Tiger Guard Left Guard, you will go back to where you came from."
Sun Bu Tong left, and Zhang closed the door, turned around and asked, "You are only fourteen years old, how can you enter the guard post?"
Yang Sheng said, "An Da is sharpening his knife. Mother, this is an opportunity I have been seeking for with great difficulty."
Zhang burst into tears, saying that if the war broke out, she didn't know how many people would die. She was the only child in the family, and if anything happened to him, how would she live?
Yang Sheng would have been impatient if he was nagged like this in the past, but now he was patiently persuading his mother.
"Or... just pretend you can't do it, and go wherever you came from!" Zhang grabbed her son's hand, thinking this was a good idea. But seeing her son's calm appearance, she couldn't help but squat down, covering her face with her hands and choking with sobs.
"daughter in law!"
Chen shouted from inside the room. Zhang stood up, wiped her tears, and forced a smile before going in.
"I heard it." Chen looked at her, "You don't understand. The military has strict rules. Since you told me to let the child in, I'll let him in honestly. Don't be lucky, otherwise it will hurt Dalang. Dalang, come here."
Yang Sheng walked to the bedside, "Grandma."
Chen grabbed his wrist, her eyes seemed to be burning with fire, "Your father died for his country. They said your father died on the grassland. I think it was Altan!"
"Yes." Yang Sheng analyzed this matter many times and concluded that his father died in the Altan tribe.
"They say that when a person dies outside, his soul will wander without a home. I don't know how long my son has been wandering on the grassland. Go!"
Chen held her grandson's hand tightly, looked at him with sharp eyes, and said in a hoarse voice: "Go and bring his soul back!"
In his previous life, Jiang Qingzhi didn't believe in souls at all. He thought that when a person died, he was dead. Moreover, he was still young and had never seriously thought about the life test of life and death.
So when I saw the old dude reciting the sacrificial text in the front and the ministers kneeling in front with their butts sticking up and looking very pious, I couldn't help but find it a little funny.
This is a sacrifice.
Emperor Jiajing worshipped Taoism and also worshipped heaven and earth. He would offer sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth every now and then. However, it was inconvenient for him to stay in the Western Garden, so he asked his close ministers to do it for him. The one who did it the most was Zhu Xizhong.
The Temple of Heaven was first built during the Yongle reign, while the Temple of Earth was the work of Emperor Jiajing.
At this moment they were at the Temple of Heaven. Jiang Qingzhi heard the officials from the Ministry of Rites muttering that in the past heaven and earth were worshipped together, but now His Majesty has changed it and separated heaven and earth. He wondered if God would be unhappy.
After Zhu Xizhong finished reading the sacrificial text, all the officials bowed in respect.
Jiang Qingzhi knelt at the back and felt severe pain in his knees.
On the left was an old civil servant, kneeling there and looking calm and composed. Seeing Jiang Qingzhi constantly rubbing his knees, he sighed and said, "Young people still need to gain experience."
"What do you mean?" Seeing that he remained calm after kneeling for a long time, Jiang Qingzhi couldn't help but secretly admire him, "Please give me some advice."
The old civil servant pointed at his knee. Jiang Qingzhi looked carefully and found that his knee was actually thicker than the surrounding area.
"This is……"
"mat."
What the hell!
Why didn’t I think of that?
"They say sacrifices must be made with piety, but I bet that all the officials are distracted right now and have no respect for the gods at all. Do you think the gods will punish you?"
Jiang Qingzhi shook his head, "No."
The old civil servant smiled and said, "God! It's busy!"
"That's right." Jiang Qingzhi nodded. "I'm a little curious. You're... so close to me, aren't you afraid of being criticized?"
Except for a few who openly supported Mohism and Jiang Qingzhi, most of the court officials kept their distance from him. Even those who were neutral were afraid of being attacked by Confucianists, so they did not dare to get close to Jiang Qingzhi.
"I am old, and I am not far from retiring and returning home." The old civil servant grinned at an official who turned his head in front of him, "I have no hope of advancement, and I am not ashamed of my old age... I have been a mediocre official all my life, but there is one advantage, which is that others cannot find any handle against me."
Jiang Qingzhi thought the old man was very interesting. "I received a letter from my hometown a while ago saying that the income of the clan increased by more than 10% last year, and they said it was due to the biogas digester." The old civil servant looked at Jiang Qingzhi and said, "This alone is a great merit."
The civil servant glared at the old man, and the old man winked at him. "Confucianism is powerful, and Mohism should not be impatient to replace it. Take your time, just like the spring rain, quietly... When you discover it, the branches are already full of vitality."
Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "That makes sense."
"Chang Wei Bo must be wondering why I am so close to you." The old man said softly, "Except for those nerds, most of the so-called Confucian disciples have benefited from Confucianism, so they call for the fight against Mohism...
What kind of Tao is that? It's all to fool people, no, it's to fool ghosts. It's all for the sake of benefits and interests."
"My family has benefited from the Mohist School and the biogas digester built by Chang Wei Bo. Naturally, I have a good impression of Chang Wei Bo and the Mohist School and am willing to get close to Chang Wei Bo." Seeing Jiang Qingzhi's surprise, the old man said proudly, "Think about it the other way around. What would happen if Confucianism and Confucianism could not bring benefits to those people?"
What will happen?
Jiang Qingzhi thought about future generations.
When the country's doors were opened by powerful ships and guns, what followed was the impact of various ideas, concepts, science and technology, and culture.
Countless people began to reflect on Confucianism, thinking about why this doctrine that dominated the Central Plains for many years was defeated by Western technology and thought.
In fact, the answer is very simple, but many people are unwilling to admit it.
Arts and Sciences.
The West emphasizes science, but also does not abandon liberal arts.
At that time, the Central Plains had only focused on liberal arts for many years, and science students (craftsmen) were actually treated as menial laborers.
The two sides have different focuses, so the results are naturally different.
Students of liberal arts racked their brains to find opportunities for promotion and wealth in the books of sages written thousands of years ago, while students of science in the West were constantly improving their weapons... and then using these weapons to beat the students of liberal arts.
Confucianism could not bring any benefit to this old empire, but instead brought disaster to the country.
As a result, Confucianism became a pariah, and Western learning became popular for a while.
There is no need to suppress Confucianism by force. It is enough to let people in the world see the shortcomings of Confucianism and the strengths of Mohism.
Use interests, not swords and guns to solve Confucianism!
Jiang Qingzhi suddenly understood and was about to thank the old man, but he found that the old man had already left.
"Qingzhi." The old playboy was drinking tea. He had been reciting the eulogy for so long that his mouth was dry, but he still maintained an elegant demeanor.
"Dalang's wedding will be scheduled for the day after tomorrow." Zhu Xizhong said.
"I know." Jiang Qingzhi warned: "Young man, be careful about sex. Don't let Dalang repeat your mistakes."
"Da Lang is not young anymore." Zhu Xizhong said, "When I was his age, I had already done that..."
"So you only have one son." Jiang Qingzhi said bluntly.
Satisfied to see Zhu Xizhong was depressed, Jiang Qingzhi laughed and left.
Zhu Shitai's wedding was grand.
Even though it was hasty, the Duke's Mansion still demonstrated its strength.
The house was packed with guests that day, and even the Taoist priest had someone send a piece of calligraphy he had written. Jiang Qingzhi did not go to join in the fun, but he heard that it seemed to be the words "Happiness and Marriage for a Hundred Years".
On this day, many nobles and relatives gathered.
Jiang Qingzhi saw quite a few old guys who usually stayed at home waiting to die. When they came out at this moment, many people came forward to pay their respects.
"I heard that the girl was chosen by Long Wilbur?" asked an old man.
Jiang Qingzhi nodded.
The old fellow looked at the others and said with a smile, "In the past two years, I have often heard that there is a young man in the capital, saying that he is the most famous general in the Ming Dynasty. Damn it, is this famous general so common? Meeting him is not as good as hearing about him... After seeing him today, isn't it the same? Hahahaha!"
A few old guys also started laughing wildly.
Zhu Xizhong heard the servant's report and hurried over.
"Da Lang, when the old Duke left, he told you to be careful. Don't go the wrong way." The old guy seemed to be no simple man. He treated Zhu Xizhong like his own son or nephew.
"You said that..." Zhu Xizhong smiled and said, "Today is a big day, how about we talk about it another day?"
The old man shook his head and pointed at Jiang Qingzhi, "This is a lucky minister. His rise was rapid, and his fall was sudden. Listen to me and stay away from him from now on. That way, when he is in trouble, you won't be affected."
Zhu Xizhong glanced at Jiang Qingzhi.
Jiang Qingzhi waved his hand lazily, "An old man who refuses to die is a thief. I am too lazy to bother with such withered bones in a grave."
Jiang Qingzhi was waiting for the groom to come back.
"Why don't you... go in and rest first?" Zhu Xizhong said to the old man with a smile.
When people get old, they become particularly stubborn. The old man shook his head and said, "If you refuse to distance yourself from this lucky minister in front of everyone today, I will never set foot in the gate of this Duke's Mansion again."
This is forced palace!
Jiang Qingzhi saw that many of the nobles were proud, and he knew that the old man's outburst was mostly due to this generation. These people said so many bad things about him behind his back.
For example, cutting off the road to wealth and honor for the nobles would be a great vengeance.
Then there were the beatings of nobles and relatives in the streets.
That’s why today’s forced abdication happened.
The Duke's Mansion has always been famous for its wide social connections and for not offending anyone.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhu Xizhong scratched his head.
smiled.
He looked at Jiang Qingzhi and raised his eyebrows.
Those complacent looks suddenly became colder.
coming!
Zhu Xizhong bowed to the old man and said, "Someone come here!"
"Duke!" Two servants came in.
Zhu Xizhong pointed at the old man and said, "Show him away!"
(End of this chapter)
