Eight hundred and fiftieth eight chapters four major families
From Qin Dewei's practical point of view, people like Wang Shizhen are just flower vases, standard literary and artistic scholar-bureaucrats, unable to do much practical work.
Even if Wang Shizhen matured and became a leader in the literary world and wrote such a masterpiece as "Golden Apple Berry", he would still be a big vase.
As a poet hegemon of his generation, Qin Zhongtang is fully capable of speaking for himself. Does he need a future leader in the literary world to add glory to him?
Therefore, as an "old-timer" in the literary world, Qin Dewei gave Wang Shizhen a little education: Don't be so quick just because you are a "prodigy". You are still far from being the heir to the mantle of a poet!
So the young version of Wang Shizhen was hit hard, and he happily ran over to a familiar senior to "surrender", but he was actually disliked!
Moreover, the poems and articles that I am proud of are not even comparable to those of a private soldier. It is so heartbreaking!
Under the sympathetic gazes, Wang Shizhen saluted and said goodbye in despair, turned around and walked out.
Looking at Wang Shizhen's back, Qin Zhongtang suddenly realized that his layout should be bigger.
Wang Shizhen is not only Wang Shizhen, but also the Taicang Wang family, a famous family with thousands of years of history, and the Suzhou Gang behind her.
In the highland of the imperial examination, I was not very harmonious with the Jiangxi Clan and the Zhejiang Party, and the only people I could win over were the Suzhou Clan and even the "fellow townspeople" in Southern Zhili.
"Wait!" Qin Zhongtang suddenly spoke to Wang Shizhen again: "I suddenly remembered that I heard that your calligraphy is not bad, and you can stay as a copywriter."
This reversal surprised everyone present. Just now, Wang Shizhen was demoted to the point of being useless, and in the blink of an eye, he was about to retain someone else. It was really unpredictable.
Only Wu Chengen has seen through everything, and he has also experienced this trick!
Qi Jiguang also felt a little familiar. Did he feel the same way just now?
Wang Shizhen turned around blankly and asked: "Really?"
Qin Dewei sighed and said: "Although you are useless, whoever allows my father to have friendship with my family for two generations will reluctantly take care of you!"
Don't look at the monk's face, look at the Buddha's face. In the officialdom, humaneness and sophistication are indispensable. Anyway, a shogunate probably needs dozens of people, so it doesn't matter if there is one more gangster.
Li Chengliang saw that even the scholar Wang Shizhen could be retained, but his nephew could not get a good word, so he hurriedly asked: "What about me?"
Qin Dewei had no choice but to take in two sixteen-year-olds. It would not be justified if he only wanted Li Chengliang.
All I can say is: "Although you are of no use, it is good for you to see the world and gain experience."
Qin Zhongtang suddenly turned to Qi Jiguang again, "Do you feel in your heart that I am deliberately repeating it to tease you? Are you thinking that I must be deliberately belittling you first and then showing favor to you?"
Qi Jiguang quickly replied: "I don't dare! I have no such intention!"
Qin Dewei said sternly: "It's not that I want to tease you, nor that I repeat it on purpose. It's just that you young people are impetuous and always dream of making achievements, but you have all kinds of flaws!
Therefore, we must treat you strictly and let you know the state of the world, the human heart and your own shortcomings. But at the same time, we must give you opportunities to grow!"
Qi Jiguang and Wang Shizhen listened together. Whether they wanted to listen or not, they had to listen, or at least pretend to listen.
Looking at these sixteen-year-old young people in front of him, Qin Zhongtang couldn't help but recall his youthful years.
"When I was your age, I had already won the imperial examination, and half a year later I won the first prize!
After being an official for six years, I have never been reprimanded by any court except the imperial staff. I rely on two things, the first is humility and prudence, and the second is respect for seniors!
As the youngest No. 1 pick in history, I still want to act like this, let alone you!"
When Qin Zhongtang was about to list a few more items and give more detailed instructions by words and deeds, suddenly another staff member hurried in, holding an official document in his hand.
Qin Zhongtang was slightly unhappy at being interrupted and shouted: "What else is there?"
The official reported: "The imperial court has sent an edict, reprimanding Zhongtang for being delayed in Texas, and ordering Zhongtang to move forward without delaying the military aircraft!"
Qin Dewei: "......"
Any document written in the name of the imperial court must be issued by the cabinet, and Yan Song has the final say on the cabinet.
So what is wrong with Mr. Yan Ge? If he stays in Texas for two more days, what will happen to him?
The scene was a bit embarrassing, after all, Qin Zhongtang had just boasted at length that he was reliable in his work and had never been reprimanded by the court.
Wu Chengen said considerately: "The imperial decree came at the right time, pointing out the way forward for us. Now that we've dispersed, teacher, we'd better set out as soon as possible tomorrow!"
The next day, according to the plan, Qin Zhongtang formed a small team with Lady Li, Li Chengliang, eight servants, and twelve selected military guards, and immediately set off on the road.
As for Wu Chengen, Qi Jiguang, Wang Shizhen and others, they followed Yan Zhuang's large army and moved slowly behind.
Qin Zhongtang and others went south along the canal from Dezhou, traveling day and night, changing boats all the way.
After passing through the prosperous and affluent eastern Shandong region, we entered the southern border of Zhili, and then immediately arrived at Huai'an Prefecture, an important town in the north of the Yangtze River.
Here, Qin Zhongtang had to stay one more day.
Firstly, everyone was extremely tired and needed to rest; secondly, the minister He Ao was appointed as the governor of water transportation, and the government office was in Huai'an, so he wanted to see him as a courtesy.
He Ao was the academic officer who admitted Qin Dewei as a scholar, so he was considered one of Qin Dewei's teachers, so he couldn't be less polite.
However, Qin Zhongtang felt guilty and was a little afraid to see Teacher He because he had cheated the teacher a bit before.
Originally, after the purge of the East Palace last year, He Ao had the opportunity to become the Zhan Shifu of Zhan Shifu, and He Ao himself was very happy to be the Zhan Shifu. In the end, Qin Dewei changed his position to the governor of Hecao through political exchange.
As for Zhan Shifu, Zhang Bangqi, the leader of the Zhejiang Party, is in charge, and now Zhang Bangqi has become one of several auxiliary ministers.
At first, Teacher He had some objections to this change of appointment, but out of trust in Qin Dewei's political judgment and forced by Qin Zhongtang's domineering power, he accepted his fate. Anyway, the Governor of Hecao was not bad at all.
But now, looking at Zhang Bangqi, who has become the Assistant Minister, Teacher He has a lot to say!
Sitting in the office of Governor Hecao, Qin Dewei had not had time to finish the tea when he heard Teacher He ask lightly: "Tell me, how did you judge before?"
Everyone in the world thinks that Zhan Shi in Zhan Shi Mansion is a good and beautiful position and is the top priority; only you, Qin Zhongtang, want to be creative and replace Zhan Shi in Zhan Shi Mansion with a governor of the river and canal.
If there is no change, the current Minister Zhan and Assistant Minister will be He Ao, and maybe he will be able to join the cabinet in the next step! This may not be a second chance in his life!
Qin Dewei also had a very rare moment of embarrassment. The concept of the butterfly effect could not be explained clearly to Teacher He!
The time traveler did not expect that the palace coup broke out in advance, and the emperor fell into a long-term state of immortality. The chain reaction was that the prince supervised the country, and the useless Zhan Shifu of Zhan Shifu was naturally transformed into an auxiliary minister.
In the end, Qin Zhongtang could only think about things: "Let the past go, the important thing is to grasp the present and focus on the future!
I, my student, have been ordered to go to Zhejiang this time. I have to ask the teacher for advice on the governor's pacification of Japan and Jinghai."
Qin Dewei's words were not polite. He Ao was also from Zhejiang and must be very familiar with the situation in Zhejiang.
Teacher He could only complain a few words at most, but he couldn't really fall out with Qin Dewei, otherwise he would be the one who suffered the loss.
After hearing Qin Dewei's question, Teacher He couldn't help but frown, "One is peace and Japanese, and two are sea bans. This is the most difficult thing to handle in Zhejiang. If you go to Zhejiang and impose strict sea bans..."
"Wait a minute!" Qin Dewei interjected: "How come the teacher thinks that I will impose a strict sea ban?"
He Ao said: "The Jiajing Dynasty's sea ban is the strictest in decades. The emperor never relaxes the sea ban. As a Jiajing man, don't you follow the holy will?"
Qin Dewei responded: "Actually, sometimes I have thought that maybe it is better to block things than to open them up. It is impossible to ban things at all."
He Ao was stunned for a moment and didn't speak for a long time.
Qin Dewei was wondering what happened to Teacher He when he heard Teacher He speak again:
"In fact, during the Zhengde period, the maritime ban was relaxed. As you once said, there are policies from above and countermeasures from below.
At that time, many coastal local officials turned a blind eye to private maritime trade, and then ignored the cargo on sea ships.
Adopt the method of drawing points, such as drawing two or three out of ten, and then handing it over to the court, so as to get the best of both worlds."
Qin Dewei commented on this: "Although it is gray, isn't that good?"
Loosening in implementation will gradually lead to loosening of policies and promoting improvements from the bottom up. This is also a good approach.
He Ao took a deep breath, but continued: "As a censor at the time, I informed the court several times and reiterated the sea ban.
Then the imperial court banned the draw method! After that, the imperial court adopted a strict maritime ban, which lasted until the Jiajing Dynasty."
Qin Dewei: "......"
It turns out that the maritime ban that was loosened back then was tightened again because of Teacher He.
It turns out that you, Teacher He, are the reactionary swordsman who stifles the positive progress of history. That is disrespectful.
"Did I do something wrong?" He Ao asked.
There is no definite rule of right or wrong. Qin Dewei pointed to the core of the test and said: "I wonder what the teacher's motivation was for reaffirming the strict maritime ban at that time?
Do you simply want to prevent disasters at sea and stick to the laws of your ancestors? Or do you have other purposes, such as making huge profits through smuggling after a strict maritime ban?"
He Ao did not answer directly, but sighed: "The fact that you can ask such a question shows that you are not completely ignorant of the situation in Zhejiang.
Nowadays, smuggling is common in Zhejiang and Fujian, and maritime smuggling is inextricably related to local powerful families, especially places such as Yong and Shao, which may be the places with the most smuggled maritime trade in the world.
Moreover, these two places are also major imperial examination offices, with many scholars and officials, making it very difficult to handle."
In Qin Dewei's memory, the Shaoxing Prefecture produced more than 800 Jinshi in the Ming Dynasty, and the Ningbo Prefecture also had 500 or 600. The official power was indeed not small.
This is where things get complicated. Zhejiang Party figures who support the strict maritime ban policy often don’t like others to strictly implement the maritime ban policy in Zhejiang.
Officials who truly and strictly implement the maritime ban policy in Zhejiang are often criticized by the Zhejiang Party.
It sounds very strange. On the surface it seems that the Zhejiang Party is very sophisticated, but in fact it is just business.
The more severe the maritime ban, the more lucrative the smuggling profits will be. Not only in Zhejiang, but also in Fujian, the situation is similar.
Now that everything has been said, Qin Dewei took the opportunity to ask He Ao: "I just want to ask, what are the big families in Ningbo?"
Teacher He said very sensitively: "You didn't ask elsewhere, why did you only ask about Ningbo? Do you want to open a house in Ningbo?"
Qin Dewei also did not answer directly, which was a kind of acquiescence. He could not lie to the teacher just by opening his mouth.
Although traditionally the governor's main residence should be in Hangzhou, Qin Zhongtang, who aspired to the sea, had little interest in Hangzhou.
Although the provincial capital Hangzhou was the political and economic center of Zhejiang Province in the Ming Dynasty, today, Ningbo is the center of East China Sea trade, whether official or smuggling.
He Ao introduced: "There are many prominent families in Ningbo, but there are only four major families that are recognized as having the highest status. Generally, people who are officials in Ningbo will not be happy if they don't know these four major families!"
Qin Dewei felt that Teacher He's tone was a bit familiar, and responded subconsciously: "The four major families have come out, so does the teacher have a protective talisman?"
He Ao was confused, what is the official amulet?
Qin Dewei came back to his senses, "Teacher, let's talk about the four major families first!"
He Ao continued to introduce: "The four major families in Ningbo are the Yang family in Jingchuan, the Lu family in Yuehu, the Zhang family in Louhu, and the Tu family in Jianqiao."
Among the people you are familiar with, Tu Qiao, the imperial censor of Zuodu, is from the Tu family in Jianqiao, and Zhang Bangqi, the imperial censor of Zhan, is from the Zhang family in Chahu.
After that, He Ao carefully told Qin Dewei the anecdotes of Ningbo, and also told the stories of nearby Yuyao and other places.
For example, the Yang family, the head of the four major families, once had a marriage with the Lu family. The Tu family and the Zhang family had a better relationship.
If there wasn't such a "teacher-student" relationship, Teacher He certainly wouldn't have said too much to Qin Dewei.
After all, judging from the current attitude and tendency, Qin Zhongtang is very unfriendly to the Zhejiang Party, especially the Ningbo Township Party, and Teacher He, as a native of Shanyin, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, is suspected of betraying his fellow villagers if he talks about it in such detail.
By the time he had finished speaking, it was almost midnight. Qin Dewei stood up and said goodbye: "The king is on duty and cannot stay for a long time. We will continue to start tomorrow."
Procedure."
Teacher He suddenly reacted, "In today's chat, why did you only ask about the affairs of the big family and not mention the Japanese pirates? Fighting the Japanese is your most important matter, right?"
Qin Dewei said vaguely: "In order to fight foreign affairs, we must first make peace at home!"
He couldn't say that five hundred years later, there would be more research on Japanese pirates and more information. He already knew a lot of detailed information about Japanese pirates in his mind, so there was no need to ask anyone.
As for the gossip about how many big families there are in a certain place, there is very little research information, but it is a situation that I need to master. If I don't ask this, what else can I ask?
After coming out of Teacher He's place, Qin Dewei went to the inn to sleep.
We will continue our journey tomorrow, passing through Gaoyou, Yangzhou, Qinzhongtang, and turning a corner on the Yangtze River, first heading to Nanjing, a city we have not seen for two years.
Of course, there are legitimate reasons, such as selecting officers and soldiers to form a standard battalion and going to Nanjing Ordnance to monitor the production of firearms.