"Have you heard? Emperor Xuan Meng Yan is going to have a formal meeting with His Majesty at West Lake, and Prime Minister Chu has invited us Yingchuan scholars to go and watch the ceremony together!" A young scribe said excitedly.

Another scribe in the group said disdainfully: "We were notified yesterday that this meeting will be a prelude to peace in the Central Plains."

"I don't think so. The Xuan army has a stable rule in the south of the Yangtze River. Our court has stationed millions of troops in the north of the Yangtze River. I think it is very likely that we can divide the river and rule. A few days ago, I received a letter from a friend in the south of the Yangtze River. He said that the two houses of Daxuan

The scale is getting bigger and bigger, and status and family background are not valued at all. As long as you are determined to study, you can study in the two academies if you pass their preliminary examination." A short-bearded scribe looked longingly.

"Regardless of family background and status, why should I study so hard? If those peasant children sit together with me, I will never disdain to associate with them." Another elegant scholar retorted.

"I'm afraid your Excellency has forgotten that there is no distinction between education and distinction. My Majesty, I never judge talents based on their family background. What do you say?"

I refuted it, and had nothing to say, so I could only angrily throw away my sleeves and leave one sentence: "There is no way to make a fool of yourself!"

"Brother Jiangnian, Brother Chengwei is different from you and me. We come from a poor family, but he is a child of a high family. The Yingchuan Wen family passed down the family through poetry and calligraphy, which is not what you and I can compare with."

"Hmph! Our Yingchuan has been a Holy Land of Wenhua since ancient times. His Wen family just produced an ancestor who was the Minister of Rites. Since then, has his Wen family produced anyone who was famous all over the world? According to him, Emperor Xuan

Meng Yanzhi

My father, Meng Gong, is a world-famous scholar, and Emperor Xuan's mother is the eldest granddaughter of Jiangdong. Now the eldest grandson is a high-ranking official in Yingchuan, how can he say this?" The short-bearded scribe sneered at the so-called aristocratic family.

The largest aristocratic family in Yingchuan is the Chen family, the maternal family of Xiao Yu, His Majesty Daning. However, the Chen family is now just a vassal of Xiao Yu, and its influence in Yingchuan is even less than that of the Changsun family. The family is now nothing more than a mere vassal for enlightened scribes.

A joke.

The noisy discussion came to an abrupt end when the two parties drove near the West Lake. No matter how they commented, one thing these scribes knew very well was that neither Meng Yan nor Xiao Yu were qualified to criticize. These two people had the decision to make the Central Plains.

Destiny and future position of power.

In Yingzhou, Xiao Yu was the host and Meng Yan was the guest. Xiao Yu got out of the car first, and then Meng Yan showed up and came together surrounded by everyone.

Meng Yan smiled and cupped his hands and said: "You're fine!"

Xiao Yu was embarrassed and didn't even have a title. This shows that Meng Yan thinks the two of them are equal.

"After returning to Zhongyuan, I feel refreshed and my body is getting better and better."

This started. Although the two didn't say much, the tit-for-tat situation was already in front of everyone.

"It will take some time to unify the Central Plains. The people have been longing for it for a long time. We hope there will be a good result this time." Meng Yan kept smiling.

"Haha! That's right. The Central Plains will be unified, and Zhengshuo will take the lead!" Xiao Yu said without hesitation.

"Oh? Zhengshuo? What is Zhengshuo?" Meng Yan hit the point directly.

"Zhengshuo is naturally recognized by the world!" Xiao Yu replied calmly and calmly.

"Hahaha! That's right, the world recognizes him as Zhengshuo!"

"Oh? That's it. Jiangnan Angelica." Xiao Yu's reply directly dug a hole for Meng Yan.

"Why not return to Jiangbei?" Meng Yan was not nervous.

"Back then, my uncle overthrew the Baoling rule and established the Chen Kingdom. I never missed my uncle's untimely death. I inherited my uncle's legacy, and it was natural for me to be Zhengshuo."

"Hahaha! The Chen Kingdom has long since fallen into silence. The descendants of Brother Chen are now in Nanyue. When it comes to legacy, do you think Nanyue is Zhengshuo?"

"When my uncle passed away, he left a last word to me, that I must complete the unification of the Central Plains. Have you forgotten this?"

"I don't dare to forget the last words of Emperor Chen. He has been working hard on this over the years. However, Emperor Chen once publicly stated that he inherited his father's will to overthrow the Baoling rule. Uncle Ling has always respected my father as his teacher. According to your statement

Emperor Chen also inherited the Meng family, who dares to ask who is Zhengshuo?" Meng Yan retorted unhurriedly.

"Although your Majesty has ideas, it was the Xiao family that overthrew the tyranny and stabilized the Central Plains. Zhengshuo should be inherited by the Xiao family." Xiao Yu was a little confused at first. He thought that Meng Yan would confront him face to face, but he never thought that Meng Yan would confront him.

It would be so direct.

"Hahaha! The Xiao family did it all with their own efforts? Isn't this a big statement? Not to mention the distance is the East China Sea. When Beimu is wreaking havoc in the Central Plains, our country is not just waiting and watching, right?"

Seeing that Xiao Yu's face was not good-looking, Chu Cheng on the side quickly said: "Your Majesty Emperor Daxuan, it is too early to make Zhengshuo's opinion. This meeting is for peace in the Central Plains. Please don't engage in verbal disputes!"

"Chu Cheng, what a loud tone. Just because you are disrespectful to His Majesty with your words, I doubt your sincerity in this meeting!" Gu Yanfeng replied unceremoniously. They are all veterans of officialdom.

No one is afraid of anyone.

"Oh? Who is this?" Chu Cheng pretended not to recognize him.

"Because of the reputation of Grand Tutor Gu of Daxuan, I have met the Prime Minister of Daning!" Gu Yanfeng replied loudly. He knew that Chu Cheng was deliberately trying to embarrass him, and he had even guessed how Chu Cheng would ridicule him next, but

He had to stand up now, otherwise it would be a joke to have the two emperors arguing on the spot.

"Mr. Gu, I wonder what the Meng clan would think if you have Zhiquan Xia?"

As soon as Chu Cheng's words came out, everyone present trembled, and the surrounding scholars were even more embarrassed. Killing people is heart-wrenching. The Gu family spared no effort in killing the Meng family. Chu Cheng's words even made Meng Yan angry.

They were all caught up in it, and most of the scholars felt that Chu Cheng's words made it difficult for both Gu Yanfeng and Meng Yan to answer.

Gu Yanfeng was startled, and after looking at the scholars gathered around, he said calmly: "Your Majesty, I never use personal relationships to harm the court. As a descendant of the Gu family, I never keep silent about the Gu family's crimes. I just do it. Your Majesty is magnanimous."

If the Gu family's descendants are held accountable, I, the Gu family, dare not serve Daxuan? Dare I not seek benefits for the people? Dare I not speak out for the people of the world?"

Gu Yanfeng's three "dare not to act" directly hit the hearts of everyone present. His frankness won the favor of everyone, and at the same time, Meng Yan won a lot of praise in the hearts of the scholars.

Just when Chu Cheng was about to continue to refute, Gu Yanfeng continued: "I know that the Prime Minister is an old minister of Youdu. Is it true that the Prime Minister's loyalty to Daning is a last resort? I'm afraid not. I think it's more like a good bird.

Wood is the place to live, what do you think? Chu Xiang."

Gu Yanfeng's words perfectly responded to Chu Cheng's doubts. At the same time, he also gave Chu Cheng a slap in the face, but still saved him face. Judging from the dialogue in this round, Gu Yanfeng won completely and declared a complete victory.

"Okay, don't get into this quarrel. Since it's a meeting, how can there be any results if we don't talk about it? Everyone, stop talking and let's get started." Xiao Yu turned around and left with a cold face.

Meng Yan, on the other hand, hesitated and bowed his hands to the onlookers, instantly winning a round of applause.

Gu Yanfeng, Chu Cheng and others went to Mingtang. Starting from Xiao Yu's invitation, the negotiations in Mingtang were no longer important. Perhaps it was more like a formality. Everyone knew that the final result was Xiao Ran Ting's second...

people.

"Meng Yan, people in the Ming Dynasty don't speak secretly. If you surrender the whole country, I can guarantee the prosperity of your Meng family. If you still want to do something, I can make you a minister, or even let you lead the army to expand the territory.

." Xiao Yu came up and said directly without any greetings.

Meng Yan looked at Xiao Yu with a smile and said, "I can also say these things. This is not your privilege."

"Do you understand that what you are doing is not suitable for the Central Plains? Let the people be the masters of the country? Aren't you afraid of chilling the hearts of those subordinates who work hard for you?"

"How many people are there in aristocratic families? How many people are there in ordinary people? Over the past thousands of years, land has been annexed and people have been displaced. The rise and fall of many dynasties has been caused by aristocratic families. Don't you understand this?"

"So, I spare no effort to clear out and capture the old families, develop commerce and trade, so that everyone can have work. The land annexation will not affect the livelihood of the people in the future. This is the path that the Central Plains should take, and those with meritorious deeds will be in high positions.

This is an incentive. Are you going to let those illiterate people enter the temple?"

"Why can't the common people enter the temple? I opened two academies to teach everyone. Nowadays, many common people's children are serving in the army and becoming officials, and there has never been any trouble. Those who have meritorious deeds naturally need to be rewarded, but they are not given power. Aristocratic families can also be

Spiritual inheritance!”

"Do you want them to? If nothing else, you have supported the Gu family. Are the children of the Gu family willing to just inherit it spiritually?!" Xiao Yu said sharply.

"The Gu family is respected again in our territory not because of how great his contribution is. As Gu Yanfeng said just now in front of everyone, they have the people at heart and are not greedy for the people's interests. Those who have merit under my command will never share rewards.

Land grain and title are just symbols, not power!" Meng Yan's response was resounding.

"So it's absolutely impossible for you to surrender?"

"Between you and me, how can we talk about surrender between the two countries? None of us are vassals of the other!" Meng Yan no longer spoke in a good-tempered manner.

"Did you win the fight? The southerners are gentle and the good soldiers are in the north. This is an eternal fact. Have you forgotten it?" Xiao Yu said lightly.

"The femininity of the southerners only lies in their bodies. Don't forget that we are what we are today because of the southerners. There is no doubt that the northern soldiers fought hard, but the southern soldiers have tough temperaments. Don't you understand?"

Meng Yan laughed at Xiao Yu's words. Such words can be put on the table. This Xiao Yu is really cute.

Xiao Yu sighed and said: "If there is another dispute in the South, where should the people of the Central Plains go? Since you preach that you respect the people, you should do what you say. I will take a step back. As long as you surrender, I will not implement the policies you implement in the South."

Change, and then slowly adjust it after the integration of the north and the south, what do you think?"

"You always want me to join you, why don't you want to join the people? The former Prime Minister Wei Xuancheng once said to Emperor Taizong of the previous dynasty, 'The king is like a boat; people are like water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize a boat.

', Aren't you afraid that one day you will be buried by the people you despise?"

"It's alarmist. Civil strife has been around since ancient times. Have you ever seen them succeed? You are also a child of a noble family. The talents of ordinary people are limited. Only people like us can stabilize the government and create a prosperous age!"

"So to civilize the people, education without discrimination is an effective way. I just said that most of the officials and generals in Jiangnan are from the common people. In the hearts of the people in Jiangnan, they have put aside their fear of aristocratic families. Now they just care about aristocratic families.

It’s just envy, they can work hard to turn their family into a famous family. This is a kind of spiritual inheritance, which can only benefit the country and the people!"

Xiao Yu's expression began to change and he became uncertain. He seemed to have never defeated Meng Yan in a quarrel. Now that he thought about it, he might not have dared to have any talks and seek peace from the beginning. There was no peace between the two.

"Okay, neither you nor I can convince the other. Time will tell. Now there is nothing to do but I think we should each take care of ourselves."
Chapter completed!