Chapter 962 Grandpa Sun Chonglou
Compared with the north, spring in the south is more delicate. There are small bridges, flowing water, lush grass and flying birds. Farmers work in the fields, occasionally looking up at the men and women by the river, and can't help but feel envious.
"Dad, don't they have to work?"
A boy of about twelve or thirteen was working in the fields with his father and couldn't help but feel curious.
The father next to him was in his thirties, with a dark complexion. He wiped his face and said, "Son, this is a scholar."
"Don't scholars have to work?" The boy thought that was not right. "Dad, you always say that people have to work to survive. If they don't work, they won't have food to eat. So where do they get food to eat?"
The farmer sighed, "This world is divided into several classes: scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans... It should be like this! The work is also different. Scholars are scholars, and we are farmers. Farmers' work is to farm, and scholars' work is... to study."
"Studying is work?" The boy didn't believe it. "Dad, you are kidding me. Last time, a scholar from the neighboring village came to visit our village. He looked very proud, walked with his legs spread wide and his eyes raised high. I went over to talk to him, but he gave me a sidelong look. I was still scared until the evening. Can studying be scary? What kind of work is this?"
"Scholars! Study to take the imperial examinations, and then become officials. When you become an official, you will be in charge of us farmers."
"I heard that the scholar from the neighboring village failed the exam many times and never became an official, so why is he so proud? I heard that his family has a lot of land. Oh, by the way, mother also said that the scholar's family was very poor before, but after he passed the exam, many people became his servants! Dad, I want to study too."
"Ah!" the farmer sighed, "Do you know how his family became so poor? It's because of his education. He did succeed, but there are many more who didn't. Those people! My son, he is so miserable."
"Dad, I want to read!" At this time, several prostitutes stood up and danced gracefully, and a scholar recited poems loudly, which attracted cheers from everyone.
"We don't have money." The farmer smiled bitterly. "To study, you need to buy the four treasures of the study, and you also need to find a good teacher. Teachers cost money! Our family... you also know that there is not much rice left in the rice jar at home. We have to wait until the harvest.
Hurry up and work. Go up to the mountain with your mother and get some wild vegetables. Add them to the porridge and cook it. It will also fill your stomach. Baby! This is our fate! People! We must accept our fate. "
The young man stood up straight while holding the hoe, watching those scholars drinking, his heart burning with excitement, "Dad, I will definitely become a man of high rank in the future, and then... I will, ouch!"
The boy was slapped by his father and covered the back of his head, "Dad."
"Your father was just like you back then. I thought I could make a name for myself in the future. After I got married and had you, I worked hard every day. If I didn't work for a day, I would go home and see you and your mother crying, and I would get anxious. I will find a marriage for you in two years. What a man! He is restless without a marriage and a child!"
"Everyone." At this time, a scholar raised his glass, "The traitor Jiang is now wreaking havoc in Nanjing. I heard that Duke Wei has surrendered."
"Xu has been in Nanjing for many years, but he has not thought about the country's kindness, and instead helped the tyrant to commit atrocities. He will be punished in the future!"
"Exactly."
Public opinion in the south is open, and these scholars dare to make up gossip about not only the Duke of Wei, but even the Palace Master Chen Lian.
"The next step for Chiang Kai-shek will be to come to Songjiang Prefecture. When he comes, there will be bloodshed!" The scholar was called Ma Ji, and he had some leadership aura. He sighed, "It's a pity that the elders of Songjiang Prefecture have done nothing wrong to suffer this disaster."
The young man was puzzled and whispered, "Dad, what disaster?"
The farmer's voice was even lower, "It has nothing to do with us."
"Brother Ma, what should we do?"
"Yes! My family only has a few acres of land. I have to declare all of it and then pay taxes. How will my family live from now on?"
Ma Ji said: "Don't look at Jiang's rampage, that's Nanjing. Those nobles in Nanjing are too delicate to dare to turn against him. Especially when Duke Wei bows his head, those powerful nobles and high officials are concerned about their own wealth and dare not speak. However, our Songjiang Prefecture is different. Don't forget... Xu!"
"Xu!"
"Mr. Xu Ge!"
Ma Ji smiled slightly, "Lord Xu is the leader of the Ming Dynasty scholars. He is in the capital to assist Your Majesty and regulate yin and yang. The eldest son is left at home to take charge. I heard that the eldest son is quite dissatisfied with the thief Jiang. He once said that if this thief was not a royal relative, he would have become a dog without a home."
"With the eldest son in charge, Jiang the thief will definitely not get any good!"
"But Lord Xu is being suppressed by the Yan Party in the capital!"
"Idiot! That's the capital, this is the south. The south is the root of our Confucianism. That thief Jiang can call the shots in the capital, but he can't do that here."
"That's right. As long as we are united, even if Chiang Kai-shek comes, he will be helpless."
"Everyone." Ma Ji coughed dryly, "Before the thief Jiang comes, should we have a discussion?"
Everybody cheered loudly, and then you said to block Jiang Qingzhi halfway and argue with him; I said we should just gather our men and it's time for the Broken Boots formation to appear.
The Broken Boots Formation is the scholars' trump card. Whenever there is any trouble, this group of people will call on their friends and gather a large number of scholars to attack their enemies' homes, or even attack the government offices.
The later famous scholar Dong Qichang fell into the trap of broken boots and his reputation was ruined.
"This is a good idea!"
"Then we'll stop Jiang Qingzhi and see if he dares to do it!"
"The dynasty has nurtured scholars for over a hundred years, now is the right time to die for justice!"
The readers were excited and drank heartily.
"If Jiang the thief heard these words, would he still dare to come to Songjiang Prefecture?"
"He certainly wouldn't dare to come."
“Hahahaha! Let him never come back!”
The young man asked in confusion: "Dad, who is that Jiang thief?"
The gossip about Jiang Qingzhi spread widely in the south, and since he was a great enemy of Confucianism, the southern scholars made all kinds of rumors and attacks on him, which made Jiang Qingzhi's name known to everyone.
The farmer stood up, patted his lower back with his backhand, and said, "That man is from Suzhou Prefecture. His father is a son-in-law, and he has been a sickly child since he was a child. Later... it was fate. Later he was exiled, but was stopped halfway. They said... he was actually your Majesty's cousin. Now he has grown up." "Dad, I remember now, is he the God of Death those people talked about?" The young man said excitedly, "Yes, it's him. The blind man at the entrance of the village said that Chang Wei Bo is the God of Death who came to protect the Ming Dynasty. The last time that guy in the north... hundreds of thousands of troops went south, they were defeated by Chang Wei Bo. Dad, he is a good man!"
The young father and son were not far away from the group of scholars. His excitement made his voice much louder and was heard by everyone.
Ma Ji turned around and said calmly, "An ignorant villager, that's all."
"idiot!"
"They are just fools. Everyone, don't bother with them. Come, let's continue drinking!"
The young man was so angry that his face turned red, but the farmer bowed his head and smiled apologetically, "I am ignorant, I am ignorant..."
"Dad." The young man was not convinced. "I was right. The blind man said that Long Wei Bo is the pillar that protects the country. Without him, we would be abducted by those foreign races."
"Shut up!" The farmer kicked his son. Feeling distressed, he had to put on a smile towards the other side.
"Da da da!"
The sound of horse hooves is crisp.
Dozens of riders came galloping.
"The thief Jiang will arrive at Songjiang Prefecture within five days at most. After you return, you can summon your companions. Once you get the news, gather at the government office and give the thief Jiang a warning."
Ma Ji said loudly.
The sound of horse hooves suddenly stopped.
Ma Ji felt that the atmosphere behind him was not right, and seeing that everyone looked shocked, he turned around...
Dozens of riders were staring at them on the roadside, led by a great Khan, no, a giant. The young man in the lead was incredibly burly. He pointed his whip at the horses and asked, "Who was talking about Jiang the thief just now?"
Ma Ji cupped his hands, with disdain in his eyes, "I am Ma Ji, a scholar from Songjiang Prefecture, and this is..."
The Ming Dynasty used civil officials to control military officials, and it was customary for civil officials to look down on military officials. If it were before the arson incident, Ma Ji could have scolded the giant like a dog.
"Brother Ma, why are you so cautious?" someone asked.
"In extraordinary times, it's better to be careful with these warriors." Someone laughed.
"Just a watchdog." A drunk scholar said loudly, causing several prostitutes to cover their mouths and laugh.
Once a man is noticed by a woman, he will become very passionate. The scholar said loudly: "Why, Jiang the thief cannot be said? Today I want to say that Jiang the thief deserves to die! Damn it! He deserves to die, hahahaha!"
The giant dismounted, and dozens of riders dismounted in unison.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"What do you want to do?" Ma Ji was patient today and thought that this man should stop while he was ahead. Who would have thought that this giant came with bad intentions? He sneered and said, "This is Songjiang Prefecture!"
The giant slowly came over and asked, "What's going on in Songjiang Prefecture?"
Ma Ji said calmly: "The seeds of learning in Songjiang Prefecture are all here. You can think about the consequences."
Scholars form a big network through teachers, mentors, classmates, peers, and fellow townsmen. If you offend one person, you are actually offending this huge group.
To be honest, the prime minister would not bother to provoke these scholars who would easily go to the Broken Boots Formation.
Therefore, Ma Ji felt that the other party was a little ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.
Moreover, the giant was wearing ordinary clothes and looked a bit simple.
This must be a servant of a certain general!
Everyone thinks so.
The giant pushed Ma Ji aside, walked up to the drunk scholar, and asked condescendingly, "Did you say that?"
"What did I say? What?" The scholar glanced at the prostitutes. The prostitutes became more and more excited. Their faces flushed and their eyes kept flying over to encourage the scholar.
It’s not a big deal to watch the fun!
The farmer shook his head.
But the boy said, "Dad, I think they are going to be in trouble."
"That man doesn't dare." said the farmer.
Snapped!
Before he finished speaking, the scholar flew out.
The giant strode over, leaned over, grabbed the scholar who was spitting blood with one hand, and kneed him under the body.
"Woo..."
The giant let go, and the scholar slowly collapsed to the ground, with his head lowered and a moan coming from his mouth.
"Slave!" Ma Ji pointed at the giant, "Do you dare to tell me your name?"
"Damn, where does all that oil on your face come from?" The giant wiped his hands on his clothes and grinned, "Grandpa Sun Chonglou!"
(End of this chapter)
