Chapter 806 Do it
Xia Yan was writing a book recently. Jiang Qingzhi entered his room and Xia Yan looked up. "Wait a minute."
Jiang Qingzhi picked up a manuscript and took a look. It was an article.
"When people get old, they become nostalgic. They worry that they will be forgotten by the world after they die." Xia Yan wrote while mocking himself, "I also laughed at those old guys who edited my articles and poems. I thought I would not be like that."
"Very good." Jiang Qingzhi said.
"An old enemy of mine passed away the other day. His biggest regret before he died was that he didn't compile his poems and articles into a book and pass them on to future generations. It is said that he died with regrets."
Xia Yan sighed, "This person! He was greedy for fame and wealth when he was alive, and he was still greedy for fame and wealth when he died. He was obsessed with his mistakes until his death. No wonder people say that the world is a sea of suffering, but people don't know it and are happy with it."
Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "Mr. Xia is still very energetic. He will have to work hard for at least another 20 years."
"At least twenty years?" Xia Yan fanned the manuscript to let the ink dry quickly, then stood up and said, "My old enemy seems to be in good health. The day before yesterday, he came home and asked someone to prepare a fat sheep for wine, but as soon as he gave the order, he sat on the chair and didn't move. When his family went over to take a look... He was gone just like that."
"This is a blessing," said Jiang Qingzhi.
"Where does this blessing come from?" Xia Yan sighed, "He has been in the officialdom for most of his life and has just retired for half a year. It is a good time for him to enjoy playing with his grandchildren and leisurely strolling in the woods."
"As people age, they are prone to illness. When that time comes, you will be bedridden and tortured by illness... It is better to die like this, without pain, which is a blessing."
Jiang Qingzhi put down the manuscript. Xia Yan pointed at him and said with a smile, "People get sick when they get old, but what do their children and grandchildren do? They just enjoy their care. People say that taking care of your children and grandchildren in the first half of your life is to wait for happiness in the second half of your life. But you are doing the opposite."
Jiang Qingzhi just smiled.
There are countless empty-nest elderly people in later generations. Even if they have children and grandchildren around them, there will be no filial sons by the bedside of a long-term patient. What’s more, in that era when tragedy had reached its extreme, how could the children and grandchildren have the time to take care of the elderly?
When you are old and sick, you go to the hospital and take care of yourself. When you are no longer able to do anything, you... die.
This is the social structure of later generations. It is not affected by personal will, but is related to the social atmosphere and the values of the time.
Individualism becomes the mainstream and egoism becomes fashionable.
Many elderly people are also open-minded. They believe that having children is not for the purpose of providing themselves with a reliable support in their old age, but is just an experience in life.
In his previous life, Jiang Qingzhi's parents divorced and each side formed their own family, which means that he had no responsibility to provide for his parents in their old age.
The other party doesn't need it either.
But people are mean people. Instead, he felt a little confused and thought that there was nothing in this world worth his concern.
People need to have concerns in order to feel at peace.
Jiang Qingzhi is like a lonely ghost, wandering around the world. He seems to be living a good life with wealth and freedom, which makes others envy and hate him, but he is empty deep down inside.
When he had a son in this world, he felt as if he had undergone a thorough cleansing from the inside out.
When he first arrived in Ming Dynasty, Jiang Qingzhi looked at the world from an outsider, a third party's perspective.
He didn't know what his spiritual support was.
Restoration of the Ming Dynasty?
This is a forced decision.
He still has the mentality of a wandering ghost. Even though he has a wife, his soul seems to still be floating around.
Until the moment he saw the child, Jiang Qingzhi miraculously discovered that his wandering heart suddenly sank.
The feeling of stability and indescribable peace moved him to the point of tears. He hid it by holding the child.
Jiang Qingzhi prepared a small courtyard and a small room for Xia Yan. Fu Cheng was worried that Xia Yan would not be satisfied, but Jiang Qingzhi said that Xia Yan would definitely be happy.
Sure enough, after Xia Yan moved in, he was full of praise for the layout of the small courtyard and felt even more comfortable with the small room.
Fu Cheng was puzzled and asked Jiang Qingzhi for advice.
Jiang Qingzhi said: "When a person lives alone, the bigger the house and the bigger the room, the more empty he or she feels. A small room can make people feel safe."
sense of security?
Fu Cheng spent the first half of his life in the palace and was used to the tall and majestic palaces, so he could not understand this feeling.
The two of them went to the outer room and sat down.
"Don't be too hasty with Lü Song of the Ministry of Revenue." Xia Yan and Xu Wei agreed. "Lü Song is a Confucian general after all. If you are too hasty, his kindness will turn into fear and suspicion. I think it's best to take action when he is desperate."
The old man raised his eyebrows at Jiang Qingzhi, "Boy, are you worried about His Majesty?"
The old man has become a spirit, Jiang Qingzhi nodded. "I am worried that the grace of Lu Song is too much."
"Your Majesty treats you well. You are also a person of character and know how to repay kindness." Xia Yan sighed, "At first, I thought you would form your own faction in the court as a relative of the emperor and fight against the Yan Party. But that was short-lived."
Although the ephemeral flower is beautiful, it will wither in a flash.
"Do you know why I am willing to come to Xin'an Lane?" Xia Yan said, "The reason why the relatives of the emperor form factions is mostly to fight for power and profit. They rise quickly and fall suddenly. But you are different. I am watching from the sidelines. Everything you say and do is for the Ming Dynasty and for His Majesty. This is the long-term way and the right way."
"So you have been observing for a long time?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled.
"Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times to invite him to his thatched cottage. Why did Zhuge Liang have to go three times before he agreed?" Xia Yan stroked his beard. "It depends on Liu Bei's ambition. Only those with the same ideals can stay together for a long time."
The old man's words were full of life wisdom. Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "If you have different paths, even if you are just helping each other reluctantly, there will inevitably be many conflicts over time."
"Do you think His Majesty is a fool?" Xia Yan said with a smile: "I bet that His Majesty... is also watching you!"
Xia Yan said in a low voice, "You defeated Altan Khan at such a young age. Are you complacent? Are you domineering? Why did His Majesty let you take over the Ministry of Revenue corruption case at this moment? Could someone else do it? No, His Majesty wants to use this opportunity to see your character." Jiang Qingzhi exhaled smoke and looked at Xia Yan through it.
"Boy, are you frustrated?" Xia Yan said with a smile, "Once the new policy is launched, it will be like a tsunami. How many people want to take your head? How many people will block your way forward, how many people will stab you in the back, how many people... can speak sweet words, can speak eloquently... are you ready?"
"Fighting with others is fun!"
Jiang Qingzhi smiled, with a stern look in his eyes.
Since he decided to take this path, he naturally made preparations.
"As soon as you returned to Beijing, you hid in Xin'an Lane, talking about your wife and children all day long. Many people in the outside world said that you were cowardly. Yes! After defeating Altan, you became famous all over the world, which can be regarded as a success. Even if you just rest on your laurels, your descendants will be able to enjoy the moment of the change of dynasty. Congratulations!"
"Ok!"
"Are you ready?" Xia Yan said solemnly, "In the pre-Song Dynasty, Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi stepped down in disgrace... That was the pre-Song Dynasty, where there was a rule not to kill scholars and officials. But this is the Ming Dynasty. If you cut the flesh of those people, they will take your life!"
"There's nothing to prepare, Mr. Xia." Jiang Qingzhi shook off the ashes from his cigarette and raised his eyebrows, "When friends come, we have good wine. When enemies come... we have muskets!"
……
"volley!"
Bang bang bang bang!
There was a large open space in the Western Garden. At this moment, more than a hundred people lined up and fired at the same time under the command of a eunuch.
Emperor Jiajing was not far away, and in front of him were several guards holding huge shields.
The targets in front of him were messed up. Huang Jin sighed, "There are only a hundred people here, but during the battle, thousands of muskets were fired at the same time. It was so powerful that it was no wonder that Altan's men were defeated. If it was me who saw such a sharp firearm for the first time, I would definitely be scared."
Emperor Jiajing said calmly: "They are fierce soldiers."
Huang Jin blushed, knowing that the Taoist was talking about how he had been in the palace for many years but had never even killed a chicken, so how could he be compared with the fierce soldiers under Altan's command.
"There are countless people who want to test me, and you are no exception!" Emperor Jiajing walked over and checked the target.
Huang Jin stood there in a daze, and Zhang Tong reminded him, "Eunuch Huang, His Majesty has passed."
Emperor Jiajing tapped the holes on the target with his fingers and asked, "Is there any armor that can resist it?"
The eunuch said respectfully, "Your Majesty, if the distance is not far, no armor can resist it."
"How many more layers should we put on?" Zhang Juzheng was accompanying him today.
"Put on a few more layers..." The eunuch smiled bitterly, "The armor is heavy. If you put on a few more layers, I'm afraid it will be difficult to walk, not to mention fighting."
Zhang Juzheng suddenly realized, "Yes, in the early Song Dynasty, there was infantry armor, which is said to be extremely thick and heavy, and can withstand the enemy's cavalry, but it is inconvenient to move."
After a careful test, Emperor Jiajing was very satisfied. "Some people say that the two guards' firearms are enough to protect the capital and the Ming Dynasty. What do you think?"
Being an attendant beside the emperor may seem honorable, but as the saying goes, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. The emperor's mind is unpredictable. If you make a mistake in your response, don't even think about being a reserve prime minister, you'll be prepared to sit on the bench from now on!
Zhang Juzheng said without hesitation, "Your Majesty, this is just a way to gain comfort."
"Let's just live in peace! Seemingly you are quite dissatisfied with such remarks. Tell me."
The favored Shujishi took turns serving Emperor Jiajing. They could get a glimpse of the imperial court by observing the emperor and his ministers discussing matters and drafting imperial edicts.
After such training and learning, these Shujishi had a much higher vision than ordinary Jinshi and ordinary officials. Once they were sent out to serve as officials, they had a high starting point and a big vision. If they were outstanding as local officials, once they returned to Beijing, they would be the real prime minister reserve.
This is the training method for prime ministers that is unique to the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Juzheng knew that this was an inspection.
He thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, although Altan suffered a great defeat this time, as long as he can suppress his subordinates, then conquer everywhere and gather the tribes, he will be able to recover his strength in a few years."
Zhang Juzheng glanced at Emperor Jiajing, who nodded. "Emperor Taizu Gaozu sent his generals to the grasslands, and Emperor Chengzu launched five northern expeditions, but it didn't take long before the foreign tribes on the grasslands revived. It's clear that it's impossible to solve the problem once and for all."
"I believe that we should be prepared for danger in times of peace."
"What does your great master think?"
Zhang Juzheng's heart skipped a beat, "Your Majesty..."
"Why, secret?"
"No." Zhang Juzheng thought of some recent rumors and said cautiously, "Chang Wei Bo once said that it is better to pursue the enemy with the remaining courage."
"It is better to use the remaining courage to pursue the enemy..." Emperor Jiajing narrowed his eyes, "That idiot has been hiding in Xin'an Lane. He wants to see my attitude towards the new policy."
Xin'an Lane, Bo's Mansion.
Jiang Qingzhi said to Xia Yan: "The ruler chooses his subjects, and the subjects also choose their ruler."
The new policy is dangerous. If the Taoist hesitates, Jiang Qingzhi will use other methods to save the Ming Dynasty.
Xia Yan looked at him steadily.
a long time.
"So, what do you think His Majesty will choose?"
"Dry!"
(End of this chapter)
