The boat exits the Yellow River at Damingfu and turns into the Yongji Canal. The canal has calm waves and smooth movement.
"Brother Wen, you have studied for two days, what do you think?" Li Kui asked quietly.
"It's too domineering, and it blindly emphasizes the use of laws. Where is the morality and righteousness? As the sages say, educating all people depends on virtue and understanding..." Li Gefei said with a frown.
"I think some of the words are thought-provoking. For example, why did the sages of all generations emphasize the rule of virtue after Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty deposed hundreds of schools of thought and only respected Confucianism? Because rule by virtue is the simplest and easiest to implement, which is also the so-called lowest cost."
"If everyone abides by the Zhou rites, keeps righteousness and principles, takes morality as the standard in everything, and is a humble gentleman, the world will be harmonious. There will be no disputes, no need for litigation, no need to formulate complicated laws, and no need to deal with many government affairs. It will truly be peaceful.
Inaction means a small country with few people. But isn’t this too illusory?”
After hearing Li Kui's words, Li Gefei became excited.
"It's ethereal? How can it be called ethereal? Isn't that what happened during the reign of Duke Zhou and King Wen?"
"Who has seen it? Master Kong has never seen it. Brother Wen, just like Li Taibai's poem "Flying down three thousand feet", is the Lushan waterfall really three thousand feet? You and I are familiar with history books. In the old Han Dynasty
Starting from Emperor Wu, Confucian scholars have governed the country with virtue for nearly a thousand years, but have they ever truly governed the country? It is worth reflecting on."
Li Kui mentioned the word reflection, which made Li Gefei find it difficult to accept and almost jumped up.
"We do need to reflect. What we need to reflect on is that morality and etiquette are not enough! Nowadays, everyone is fighting for fame and fortune, abandoning righteousness and betraying etiquette, and that is why there are so many evil behaviors."
"Moralization and following rituals are not enough? The study materials say that Wang Mang of the former Han Dynasty took various measures to restore Zhou rituals and follow Zhou laws. What is the result? So I think that morality and law can be tried together. Virtue promotes good deeds
, Laws are used to prohibit evil. Using morality to regulate daily behavior and using laws to punish sins and evil deeds can also be regarded as a way of governance."
"This is deviant!" The veins on Li Gefei's forehead are about to pop out. "This is not Confucianism, it is the tyrannical Legalism! It is the heresy of 'Long Li respects the virtuous and becomes king, values the law and loves the people and dominates'!"
"Uncle Wen, you have to try. We always go around in the circles drawn by the ancients, spending our whole lives trying to reflect on what our predecessors said. How sad! Each generation has its own mission, and each generation must do more
Better than one generation! Focus on the present rather than the past, and look to the future, it is feasible!"
Most of the sentences Li Kui quoted were learned in the past two days, and they seemed to be in line with his taste.
Li Gefei sat on the chair, panting heavily, and finally walked away, leaving only Li Kui in the cabin.
After a while, Liu Cunyi walked in quietly.
"Brother Si He, I heard you and Uncle Wen had a fierce quarrel just now?"
"Yes, I have been studying hard these past two days, and I suddenly had an enlightenment. Many doubts that I had previously had were suddenly solved. But Brother Ge Fei is still too persistent..." Li Kui replied happily.
He briefly recounted the dispute between himself and Li Gefei. Liu Cunyi listened quietly and then asked: "Uncle Wen, is he still so stubborn?"
"He is not a pedantic and stubborn person. He just kept it in his heart and said angry words."
"An angry talk?"
"I also heard what Mr. Ziyou said. Uncle Wen has a close relationship with Zhao Zhengfu, and he even intended to make a marriage contract between his beloved daughter and Zhao Zhengfu's third son. I didn't want Zhao Zhengfu to mess up last year, and he was sentenced to death, and his family denounced him.
He went to the Wan'an Army on Qiongya Island and was spared no mercy. The latest news is that Zhao Zheng, his wife, son and others are seriously ill and will die soon."
"Seeing the end of his best friend's family and being unable to do anything about it, he felt very angry and deliberately did it..."
"How can Zhengfu Zhao be a loyal minister and good official when he gathers villains and learns nothing? Uncle Li Wen considers this person a close friend, and his eyes are worrying. Uncle Li Wen is also known as the fourth bachelor of the Su clan. Mr. Dongpo and Mr. Ziyou were relegated to Qiongya, Lingnan.
Has he ever been so angry?"
Li Kui glanced at Liu Cunyi and said with a complicated expression: "I once heard that an official created a study called Ming Study to pursue light and escape from ignorance. I heard that one of the things that people who learn from study are good at getting to the point.
Insight into people’s hearts.”
Liu Cunyi laughed and said, "I am just a student of the official family. I was lucky enough to get some advice when I was in the dormitory. Now I am still studying day and night. And when I study, I like to invite like-minded people to go out and give each other corrections.
Promote each other and make progress together.”
Having said this, Liu Cunyi asked: "Brother Sihe, are you willing to join the Red Heart Society?"
"The Red Heart Society?" Li Kui asked curiously.
"Put what you have learned into practice and serve the country with all your heart!"
Su Che clearly felt the boat slowing down in the cabin. After a while, Su Ji came in and reported: "Official, the front is Wucheng County, Jizhou, at the intersection of Yongji Canal and the Yellow River. We need to change boats.
.”
"Changing boats again? This Yellow River is really a scourge. It has destroyed the good land of Hebei into pieces here and there, leaving the land poor and the people tired. It's really annoying!"
Su Zhe said bitterly.
When changing ships, Su Che unexpectedly discovered that there were several official ships not far away under the banner of Hebei Economic and Strategic Envoys. He was pleasantly surprised and said: "I didn't expect to meet Xu Zichong and Su Ji here, hurry up and get some
The famous assassin went to submit a letter."
"yes!"
Half an hour later, Su Ji hurriedly came to report.
"Xu Gong brought two officials to visit Lang Jun."
"who?"
"It's Pan Xun, the director of the Dushui Department of the Ministry of Industry, Pan Xun, the supervisor of the Yellow River River Control Department, the deputy director of the Dushui Department, and Wang Dezhi, the director of the Yellow River Control Committee."
"Oh, it's these two. Please come quickly."
Soon, Xu Jiang walked in quickly.
Compared with the last time they met, Su Che felt that he was older, his beard was grayer, and his hair was heavier. He must have come here after receiving the notice. The mud stains on his robes were clearly visible, some of which had dried to the point of shelling.
There are half dry and half wet.
There were even a few mud stains on the head of the futon facing the sky.
"Brother Ziyou, please forgive me for not being able to greet you at Daming Mansion."
"Brother Zichong, why do you say this? You are running around for state affairs, personally surveying the Yellow River, and working hard. It is really hard work, and you are a model for all officials."
"You and I should stop flattering each other. These two are Pan Xun and Wang Dezhi. They were ordered by officials to survey the river course and prepare for the next step of river management."
"Brother Zichong, you two dear friends, please take a seat quickly, Su Ji, serve tea."
After a few words of greeting, Su Che asked, "Brother Zichong, the officials want to control the river?"
Xu Jiang nodded and signaled to Pan Xun, asking him to answer.
"Yes, Mr. Ziyou. In February, the officials summoned us several times, and then held five Yellow River management meetings in the name of the Secretary of the Province, inviting river officials from Henan, Hebei, and Jingdong, as well as those on the banks of the Yellow River
There are more than 120 county magistrates, river workers and others. In April, a certain Wang official was officially appointed as deputy director of the Water Resources Department of the Ministry of Industry, and also as the supervisor and conference director of the Yellow River Water Control Committee."
"Yellow River Water Control Committee?"
"Yes, this is an official office specially set up to manage the Yellow River, coordinating the six ministries and departments. The general office is Sun Daguan, secretary of the Provincial Zuosan Chang Shichang. Zeng Daguan and Pan, a doctor in the Ministry of Industry, are in charge of the supervision, and Wang Dezhi is in charge of the meeting.
In addition, seven people including the Deputy Chief of the Department of Household Affairs, the Deputy Chief of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Works, and the Deputy Chief of the Security Department of the Ministry of War will handle it."
After listening to Pan Xun's words, Su Che was a little curious. The branch office was in charge of money, the construction department was in charge of construction, and their chief adjutant was also in charge of the conference. It was understandable why the Security Department of the Ministry of War was involved.
After hearing Su Che's question, Wang Dezhi replied: "Zi Yougong, the Security Department has a surveying and mapping bureau. Its level of surveying geography and drawing maps is unparalleled in the world. The surveying and mapping bureau has now established a Yellow River flood control surveying and mapping team, which is currently
Field surveying and mapping in Henan, Hebei, Jingdong and other places."
"I see."
After chatting for more than a quarter of an hour, Pan Xun and Wang Dezhi said goodbye and left.
Only Su Che and Xu Jiang were left in the cabin.
Su Zhe asked: "Brother Zichong, a certain person passed by Daming Mansion and learned that you were not in the city and went out to govern. Unexpectedly, you were surveying the river. When I was in Kaifeng City, I heard that you were relegated to Hebei. I was depressed. Could you please excuse me?
I drank to relieve my sorrow, but I am still worried. When I see you today, Xu Zichong is still Xu Zichong, nothing has changed."
General Xu served in many places and made great achievements in both civil and military affairs. He was praised by many practical officials in the court. He also displeased many officials and celebrities who were elegant and talkative. They said that he had both sides and was muddy. He was not like the Tsinghua scholar who was the champion.
Character.
Xu Jiang smiled and said, "A certain person is someone who can't sit still."
Su Che's eyes flashed with cold light, and he suddenly asked: "Zhu E, Zhu Sheng, the imperial censor in the palace, and Shangshu impeached brother Zichong. He collected all your chapters and tables one by one, searched for chapters and excerpted sentences, and criticized brother Zichong...
"
Xu Jiang smiled and said, "I know that Zhu Shengyu said that he looked left and right, and when he saw advantages, he turned around and changed his plans. At first, there was no conclusion. Yuanyou was once under the jurisdiction of the prime minister, so he changed Yuanfeng's guard.
. When Shaosheng returned to holding the Jun axis at the beginning, he concealed what Yuanyou had done. If he catches Yuanfu and still pretends to be here, then all Shaosheng's actions are wrong. Today, if Qiang Yan also steals safety again, then Yuanfu will do it.
Everything you do changes accordingly.'"
Su Che's eyes lit up and he said quietly: "It turns out that brother Zichong has known about it for a long time."
General Xu replied, "Of course I know that when the official sent a copy of the impeachment memorial, there was an imperial approval on it, 'Old Xu, some people say that you catch fish when you see them, shrink when you see snakes, you turn up and down in the clouds and rain, and live in peace and quiet.
. His political stance is extremely unstable. He is a typical slippery man who makes rudder to the wind! Do you agree?'"
Listening to these humorous comments from the officials, the corners of Su Che's mouth couldn't help but tremble, and he continued to ask: "How will brother Zichong respond?"
"A letter from a relative reads, 'Reporting to Your Majesty, the officialdom is ups and downs, and the official career is dangerous. Sometimes I have to act against my will and try to protect myself. I plead guilty and beg your Majesty to severely punish me.'"
"A few days later, His Majesty wrote a written reply, 'If your heart is bright, why be afraid of walking alone in the dark.'"
When he said this, Xu Jiang's face was filled with tears and he was speechless.
Su Che felt both joy and fear in his heart, with all five tastes present.
After a while, General Xu said sincerely: "The emperor's sage is a blessing to the Song Dynasty, and it is also a blessing to us as ministers. Brother Ziyou, I have passed the make-up exam, and yours is still in the north, so go ahead bravely!"
Su Che stroked his beard and looked at the distance outside the window with neither joy nor sorrow.
"Yes, I am still on my way to make up the exam. Zichong, have you ever seen the official's ambition, thoughts, and methods?"
"There are extraordinary people, and then there are extraordinary things; there are extraordinary things, and then there are extraordinary achievements!" Xu Jiang said in a loud voice.
Chapter 183: The Red Heart Meeting This chapter has been completed!