It was getting dark. When Qin Dewei came back from outside, a servant came to inform him that Master Zeng had asked him to go to the study.
Qin Dewei changed into his home clothes, crossed the passage, and came to the study room in the inner courtyard of the West Mansion.
At this time, Zeng Hou's father was sitting behind the desk, writing and meditating, probably preparing to write something.
Seeing Qin Dewei come in, Zeng's stepfather first put down his pen and asked: "Why did I hear today that you are going to fight with the Marquis of Xianning?"
Qin Dewei said in surprise: "How could you, Master, know about such a thing? I thought it would only be spread among noble circles."
Zeng's father was also helpless. If a normal son dared to fight in the street, he would have to be taught a careful lesson, and maybe even physical methods.
But Qin Dewei is an abnormal person, and he might end up being reprimanded instead of being taught a lesson.
So Zeng's father could only ask calmly: "Why do you do this?"
Qin Dewei said nonchalantly: "I've been bored lately, let's have some fun."
The sixteenth year of Jiajing was too boring. Apart from slowly studying hydraulics and steelmaking and promoting system reforms, I didn’t know what to do...
And things like female lust are just that, not rare anymore!
Zeng’s stepfather didn’t believe it at all and shouted: “Tell the truth! Don’t fool me!”
So Qin Dewei was helpless, "I'm not fooling you, this is the truth! I'm just bored!"
Do those dandy boys need any foresight to fight with each other?
I'm only nineteen years old, and I'm not an old man like you who is approaching his forties!"
Zeng's stepfather: ""
Forget it, forget it, it doesn't matter if young people fight, a scholar must be virtuous.
Before Qin Dewei left, he suddenly asked curiously: "Master, you don't rest at night, what are you going to write?"
Zeng's father said angrily: "Shang Shu defends himself!"
Qin Dewei hurriedly asked, and Zeng Hou's father added: "I don't know who reported it, saying that when I was on patrol in Liaodong, the Ma family of Jiangdu County was transporting grain in Liaodong in exchange for salt introduction and prospecting. The situation was suspicious, so the emperor ordered me to go to court to defend myself."
!”
Wucao! Qin Dewei was shocked. He had just proposed the reform of the Salt Law. How come his stepfather was secretly reported?
He quickly asked: "Mr. Zeng, do you really have some interest in colluding with the Ma family?"
Zeng’s stepfather said without hesitation: “Absolutely not!”
Qin Dewei still believed in Zeng's stepfather's personal integrity and asked again: "Then how do you plan to defend yourself?"
He felt that Emperor Jiajing's decision to ask his father-in-law to defend himself was very meaningful and should not be dealt with lightly.
Zeng Mian replied: "At first you proposed to open the Sino-French pilot project in Liaodong, but you were skeptical at the beginning, and no salt merchants came to transport grain to report the success.
So I had no choice but to invite my old acquaintance, the salt merchant Ma’s family, to come to Liaodong and set an example first, but I did not receive any benefits from the Ma’s family.”
Zeng's father spoke frankly, but was interrupted by Qin Dewei, "The facts are not important, I just want to know, what is your motive?"
Zeng's stepfather was speechless. What does it mean that facts are not important?
But he still answered truthfully: "I just wanted to promote official business, so I recruited the Ma family to go to Liaodong. It was completely out of public interest."
Qin Dewei looked at his stepfather with pity, no wonder your old man was beheaded ten years later in history.
If you use this trick to deal with a suspicious person like Emperor Jiajing, who will die if you don't?
Zeng's stepfather couldn't stand being looked at by his cheap son, so he couldn't help shouting: "What's that look in your eyes!"
Qin Dewei sighed, "Master, if you plan to go to court to defend yourself like this, then I will quickly write a resignation letter to avoid being dragged down by you in the future."
I want to hit someone! Zeng Mian suddenly felt a little nervous. How come his cheap son said everything he did was wrong?
This is the fact. I am dedicated to serving the public good and have a clear conscience. What problems can there be in defending myself like this?
No fiction, no fabrication, completely truthful. Is this wrong?
Qin Dewei was tired and could only help Zeng stepfather analyze: "You recruited the Ma family to go to Liaodong, did you use personal connections?
So you just spent your personal resources on official business. And then you got no benefit at all. Your motive is very pure, and you are dedicated to serving the public."
Zeng Stepfather nodded, that was indeed the case.
Qin Dewei shouted loudly: "But the emperor won't believe it!"
Zeng Mian asked back: "It's just a report based on the facts, it's not made up! Isn't it possible that there is no reason in the world?"
Qin Dewei began to look at Zeng Hou's father with pity again: "How naive are you to actually want to reason with the emperor?"
Zeng's stepfather thought of a political question for no apparent reason
If the Three Cardinal Principles and Five Principles emphasize the monarch, ministers and father and son, then in Qin Dewei’s sentence above, does it mean that the “junior and ministers” or the “father and son” are disobedient?
Qin Dewei was worried that his father-in-law would not understand for a while, so he decided to give an example: "Let's take an extreme situation. Suppose there is a food shortage in the capital and hungry people are everywhere.
At this time, a great scholar asked the court to save money, but he squandered his family wealth and gave out porridge to thousands of people to become Buddhas. What would the censors think?"
Zeng Mian hesitated and said: "This is a hypocrite! He secretly buys people's hearts and is suspected of being evil!"
Qin Dewei nodded: "Then what you did in Liaodong was of a similar nature, wasn't it?
Today's emperor has never believed that there is any selflessness in the world, nor does he believe that there are people who really try their best to serve the country!
Such an emperor asks you to defend yourself, but you brag that you are dedicated to serving the public good. What do you think the emperor thinks?"
Zeng Hou's father was dumbfounded. If this word got out, it would be a basic operation to kill the nine tribes with thousands of swords.
After Qin Dewei finished speaking, he silently added in his heart, this is the root of your thoughts when you will be beheaded ten years later.
Zeng Mian scratched his head in distress, "Then how do you defend yourself? I have never been greedy for money or taking bribes. Is it possible that you are forcing me to fabricate facts and slander myself? Do I still need my reputation?"
Qin Dewei said lightly: "You defended yourself by saying that it was me who proposed the restructuring of Liaodong, and as your stepfather, you were worried that my proposal would fail.
Therefore, selfish motives and a father's love took the initiative to recruit Ma Jiabao to promote the reform of the Liaodong Salt Law.
This is the way to reason with the emperor, use the emperor's logic, and use a routine that the emperor can understand!
Don’t get caught up in self-pleasure and self-movement, it’s useless! If the emperor doesn’t believe you, then let’s stop everything!”
Zeng Mian's heart felt bitter again, as if her outlook on life was shattered. Was she being reprimanded instead of failing to discipline her?
Qin Dewei was afraid that Zeng's stepfather still couldn't turn around, so he asked: "Have you figured it out? If you don't understand, don't go to the book. If it doesn't work, I will write one for you!"
Zeng Mian waved his hands feebly and sighed: "You'd better fight, fight well, and don't lose others if you lose."
A son who fights is always more satisfying than a son who disciplines his father.