In the city of Kaifeng, another day begins with the intoxicating evening breeze.
Seventy-two restaurants, as well as the thirty-six new restaurants that have recently emerged, are brightly lit in the dim night. Guests come from all directions and gather into one hundred and eight noisy hot spots.
There are also other large and small restaurants and foot shops, which make up the bustling night of Kaifeng City.
Everyone has their own expression on their face, and they talk about various things.
There are two lake reclamation groups who have started fighting with the barbarians in the mountains again; there is a Lingnan fleet that went to eat for a while and came back with a lot of rare items; there are maritime merchants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang who raised funds to form an expedition ship.
Team, go out of Dongwa, along the northern coastline, all the way east...
The battle to exterminate Xia in the northwest was mixed in and was uneventful.
"We, the Song Dynasty, have been sending troops for three or four months. Why haven't they reached the gates of Xingqing Mansion yet?"
In the lobby of Pan Tower, some people were talking loudly.
"Are the Xixia soldiers so easy to fight? They are not afraid of death and are invincible. We, the Song Dynasty, have suffered many losses, but haven't we suffered enough? This time, I am afraid it will be more difficult than good!"
A Confucian scholar who looked mature and steady shook his head and said.
The young scholar at the table next to him heard this and said unceremoniously: "The extermination of the Xia Dynasty was a humiliating war for the Song Dynasty to avenge a centuries-old revenge. It was also a war to destroy the country. How could it be that simple? Henan had been wiped out in three or four months.
, that’s enough.”
"A soldier is a murderous weapon; a fighter is a traitor to morality; a general is a dead official, so he has to use it as a last resort." The old Confucian scholar shook his head and recited a lot of Lao Tzu's famous sayings, and then spoke eloquently with an expression that had seen through the past and present.
.
"What are the good consequences of using force and force? From Han Wu to Tang Zong, when Shenwu was in power, the country was poor and the people were in poverty, causing great chaos. Therefore, we still have to follow the teachings of the sages and the teachings of the ancestors, govern the country with benevolence, and convince people with virtue.
Naturally, the world will be in peace."
Companions nearby shook their heads and echoed: "That's right, if you don't listen to the words of our ancestors, you will suffer consequences sooner or later!"
Several scholars nearby sneered unceremoniously: "To convince others with virtue is nothing more than feeding ferocious beasts with other people's lives and money. Of course you say it with ease. The centuries of suffering of millions of people in the northwest are in your hearts,
What is it? Is it benevolent government or moral transformation? Until the evil bandits are eliminated, the people will never have peace!"
"That's right! From ancient times to the present, peace can only be achieved through fighting, never through negotiation. Before the Han and Wu Dynasties, the Han Dynasty made peace with each other and bowed their knees; when the Tang Dynasty was founded, they made friends with the Turks and bribed them with money and silk... all were enough.
Are you convinced by virtue? However, the Huns and Turks are not just looting wantonly and never have a moment of peace. Only by enclosing the wolf in Xu, attacking from thousands of miles north, and completely defeating the Huns and Turks, can there be a revival of Zhenguan and the rule of Zhenguan."
Some young students even said angrily: "The centuries of peace between the Han and Tang Dynasties were all achieved with blood and fire. Only in the Song Dynasty, the peace of the people was bought with annual coins. And we still have to endure the despicable country of Xixia and wanton plunder! What a shame.
What a disgrace! Now we must rise up, slay the evil, and exalt the majesty of the heavenly kingdom!"
"Okay!" Many people in the hall shouted loudly. Only some Confucian scholars were so angry that their faces changed drastically. However, in such an atmosphere, they only dared to curse angrily in their hearts. They did not obey the sages and sages, which was an insult to elegance!
Two men in fine clothes were walking on the stairs to the private room on the second floor when they heard voices in the hall.
One of them, a slightly fat man, shook his head and said: "What do a group of so-called poor people know about military matters? They are inspired by the heroic words in the newspapers, and their brains are hot! Hum, but they don't know about military matters. They should be careful and patient!"
Another tall man sneered a few times: "In today's world, traitors are in power. They only know how to pursue fame and wealth but do not know the righteousness." The people of the region do not use the boundaries of the border, the country does not need to be protected by the dangers of mountains and rivers, and the people who dominate the world do not use military revolution.
Benefits. Those who have gained the right will get more help, but those who have lost the right will get less help! If they don’t know how to practice benevolent government and value people’s livelihood, and blindly engage in military warfare, sooner or later the Song Dynasty will end up with bad things in the hands of these treacherous ministers!”
The two walked to the private room and knocked on the door. The door opened and a person appeared. It was Wang Fu. Seeing the two of them, he said in surprise: "Shaoqing and Boye, we have finally arrived."
Wang Fu led the two people into the room and introduced them to the people sitting inside: "These two are Sun Fu Sun Boye, Wang Shiyong and Wang Shaoqing. They were Jinshi during the Shaosheng period and now serve in the Ministry of Rites and Hebei County."
After saying that, he introduced the people present to the two of them, "This is Zheng Juzhong and Zheng Dafu. I believe both of you know each other."
Wang Shiyong, who was slightly fat, smiled and cupped his hands and said, "We have heard of the name Zheng Guanren for a long time and have admired him for a long time."
The tall Mr. Sun snorted, his hands were in his sleeves and his head was tilted up, as if he didn't see anyone on the other side.
"The Romance of Fairy Wood"
Zheng Juzhong's eyes flashed with a stern look, and then he showed the look of an adult who doesn't remember the faults of a villain.
"These are all local young talents, Wang Xiaodi, Wang Yiquan, Li Chu, Li Guoliang, Zhang Bangchang, Zhang Zineng, Wu Min and Wu Yuanzhong. They have read the books of sages and want to take the exam, call the Donghua Gate to serve the imperial court. But they don't want to..."
After Wang Fu finished speaking, he let out a long and sad sigh. He looked worried about the country and the people, and wished he could die with the evil forces in the court. It was very moving.
"Nowadays, treacherous ministers are in power and the dynasty is full of wolves. God's will is not in his favor, and the people are in dire straits! The officials are young and energetic, and they are so lofty and lofty, yet they favor and trust the treacherous ministers and do not care about virtue! We can only sit back and sigh, sitting back and watching the government's policies go wrong. It is really heartbreaking!
"
Having said this, Wang Fu shed tears of grief and anger.
Everyone also looked sad and angry, as if the Song Dynasty had lost their loyal ministers and assistants, and a disaster might come tomorrow. It was really sad.
Sun Fu was the oldest here, his beard was trembling, and he said angrily: "The laws of our ancestors benefited the people, the laws of Xi Feng benefited the country, and the laws of the Apocalypse benefited the traitors! Today's officialdom is absurd, and they have failed the late emperor's entrustment!
If we don’t act loyally and remonstrate, how can we face Taizu Taizong, all the late emperors, and all the sages and loyal ministers in a hundred years!”
There was silence in the private room. Li Chen secretly looked at the expressions of everyone present, and said tentatively: "The Northern Liao Dynasty established schools to cultivate scholars, issued the Five Classics, and issued an edict to confer Confucius as the Dacheng Wenxuan King. Respecting Confucianism and valuing the classics led to great practice.
The way of the sages.”
Wang Shiyong sighed: "The barbarians in the northern Liao Dynasty still know how to respect Confucianism and the classics and practice the way of sages. Why do the Central Plains dynasties abandon reason and pursue profit, and treat virtuous people far away and traitors close to them? How sad!"
A few people said something to each other, lashing out at the chaos in the DPRK and China: overhauling the scientific examinations, reducing the importance of classics and meanings, and belittling Confucianism... The more they talked, the more they felt filled with righteous indignation!
Wang Xiaodi rolled his eyes, pretending to be angry and depressed, and blurted out: "Now that the country is full of evildoers, why don't we borrow troops from the Northern Liao Dynasty to go south, and then gather loyal people to punish the traitorous ministers and clear the emperor's side! Let's create a prosperous and prosperous world again.
!”
As soon as he finished speaking, there was silence in the private room.
Everyone looked at Wang Xiaodi with complicated expressions, each thinking in their mind.
Zhang Bangchang was very good at observing people's words. His eyes swept over everyone's faces and he roughly guessed that this matter was secretly instigated by Wang Fu and Zheng Juzhong who organized the gathering. Li Chu and Wang Xiaodi were just their pawns.
Come and test Sun Fu, Wang Shiyong and others.
Sun Fu and Wang Shiyong, after hearing these "treasonous and unethical" words, did not get angry, but their attitudes were very clear.
Zhang Bangchang turned to Wu Min and said: "Yuanzhong, you are our most resourceful person, why don't you tell us your plan?"
Wu Min, who had been drinking tea with his head down, suddenly raised his head when he heard this, and said calmly: "Everyone, now the dragon emerges from the water and the tiger leaves the mountain! This is the best time, the opportunity will never come again!" This chapter has been completed!
