Chapter 463 Mi Heng is amazed! Your Majesty is really a god!
The next day, early morning.
On the streets of Wancheng, there is an endless stream of people coming and going.
In this cold winter month, many people like to drink a bowl of steaming mutton soup. I heard that this mutton soup is a delicacy from the palace. Drinking a bowl of it can keep you warm and ward off the cold. It is the best breakfast in the middle of winter.
Nowadays, every household in Nanyang has some spare money. Now they dare to buy things that they didn't dare to buy before. Therefore, more and more people are drinking mutton soup.
The small shop next to the street was packed with people sitting in front of seven or eight tables of food. They were all men and women who came to drink mutton soup. They were old and young, talking and laughing. It was a peaceful and grand occasion.
Some people who have finished the mutton soup will bring another portion in a food box for those who are still in bed at home. After all, not everyone can get up early to have breakfast.
The Chen hour has not yet ended, and the streets of Wancheng are already crowded with people and traffic, as if the severe cold of winter has never come to this city, or it may have been melted away by the enthusiasm of the people of Wancheng.
At this moment, two men in fine clothes were sitting opposite each other in front of a roadside stall. While admiring the prosperity of Wancheng, they were drinking delicious mutton soup with a piece of sesame oil cake. It was really a great enjoyment.
"Zhengping, do you think we were really wrong?"
Kong Rong looked at the endless stream of people in front of him. Their faces were full of joy. Those jumping children and their rosy little faces were something Kong Rong had never seen anywhere else.
enlightenment!
enlightenment!
Or enlightenment!
If you don’t have enough to eat, what kind of education and etiquette can you talk about?
If the warehouse is solid, you will know the etiquette and food and clothing, and you will know the honor and disgrace!
Guanzi, what this guy said seems to be true.
Mi Heng put down the bowl quickly and glanced at Kong Rong. He was originally planning to joke, but he felt that Kong Rong didn't seem to be joking, so when the words came to his lips, Mi Heng took them back.
He turned to look at the bustling people on the street. The scene in front of him was indeed like the world of great harmony described in the sages' books, but all of this seemed to have nothing to do with him.
The shadow of being deposed will always hang over the two of them. Such a stain will eventually chase them for the rest of their lives and become the laughing stock of the scholars.
It's just a matter of self-restraint, but Kong Rong...
He is a direct descendant of Saint Kong, how can he be insulted like this?
Mi Heng took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Too many ways to comfort Kong Rong flashed through his mind, but in the end they only passed by in a flash. Instead of being able to say them out, he said:
"I only know that we have tried our best, focusing on internal affairs and education. Maybe it's just that someone is destined to be deposed, and it happened to fall on you and me."
According to Nanyang Hanting's system, there will be people promoted every year, and there will almost always be people eliminated every year. It's just a question of how many.
In Mi Heng's eyes, this system is flawed and unfair. After all, they are all working hard, but the direction of their efforts is different from ordinary officials.
But alas...
The current development of Nanyang Hanting is still at a stage where domestic affairs are the main focus and education is a supplement. After all, there are still many people in the world who don't even have enough to eat.
"We are focusing on education. This is not wrong in the first place, but it is contrary to the current requirements of Nanyang Hanting. In the final analysis, it is inappropriate."
"Wenju."
Mi Heng turned to look at Kong Rong and said softly: "Don't be too sad. Sooner or later, we will get up again and there will still be a chance to serve the imperial court."
Kong Rong shook his head, with a hint of disdain on his lips: "I'm afraid there is no chance."
"oh?"
Mi Heng couldn't help but be stunned: "Wenju, what do you mean?"
Kong Rong sighed softly: "I heard that what happened two days ago has reached the ears of His Majesty the Emperor."
"ah?"
Mi Heng was astonished and his eyes were as wide as bells: "This...such a trivial matter actually reached His Majesty's ears?"
Kong Rong nodded: "Well, it is true. Zhu Qiong and Zhu Tong are brothers of the same clan. You should also know that Zhu Tong is the personal bodyguard of His Majesty the Emperor. It is said that he is the only bodyguard left by the Queen Mother for His Majesty."
hiss-!
How could Mi Heng not know about Zhu Tong?
Said without politeness.
Zhu Tong was the most trusted person by His Majesty the Emperor, and even Xun Yue, Guo Jia and others could not have friendship with him.
When Mi Heng and Zhu Qiong started fighting each other, they didn't know this person's background at all, so they didn't expect that they could make such a big deal out of him.
"So what?"
Mi Heng took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to keep himself calm: "Anyway, people have already scolded you, and the ancients did have disdain for monkeys. Even in front of the emperor, I still dare to say it."
"If you really lose your life because of this, for me, Ni Heng, it will be considered a worthy death. It is better than such an unexplained death. I wish your majesty would call me into the palace."
In his words, his arrogance was fully revealed.
As if...
I want to use His Majesty the Emperor's hand to perfect my reputation.
Kong Rong shook his head in embarrassment: "You kid... you are really arrogant."
Mi Heng raised his head, patted his chest and said, "It's a pity that I'm too old. Otherwise, I would definitely have a place in the young genius class."
"snort!"
Suddenly, a soft hum sounded not far away.
Mi Heng turned his head and looked.
But I saw that the man walking towards me was none other than Zhu Qiong.
Zhu Qiong stepped forward and looked Mi Heng up and down: "You Zhengping, I think you really have no ability other than arrogance. Are you worthy of joining the Youth Genius Class?"
Mi Heng raised his head and looked at the other party, and taunted him in a cold voice: "I'm just a defeated general, but you dare to be so presumptuous in front of me, Mi Heng? Go away as soon as possible, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless."
"snort!"
Zhu Qiong was not afraid at all, and opened his mouth: "The mountain ape hangs on the tree, this is true; the moon rises and the ape crows, this is his faith; the ape disappears into the forest, this is his speed; the monkey plays with my side, this is his joy; the ape screams and the tiger
Howling, that’s why he’s so strong;”
"The monkey circles around the body, which is its intelligence; it is its wisdom to learn without a teacher; it is its emotion; the male and female sing in unison, it is its emotion; the flowers fall and the ape cries, it is its thinking; the monkey recognizes its old master, this is its meaning;
"
Mi Heng was stunned for a moment, his eyes widened as he stared at Zhu Qiong: "This...is this what you came up with?"
Even Kong Rong on the side couldn't help but be surprised: "I have to admit, it is indeed exquisite, but with your ability, I'm afraid you can't write such a poem, right?"
"That's right."
Zhu Qiong did not waste any nonsense and said directly: "I really don't have such ability. These words were said by Your Majesty, and were written into a poem by Xun Lingjun, which has now been circulated among the scholars."
"Here!"
Immediately, Zhu Qiong took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Ni Heng: "You Zhengping, take a good look at it. Your Majesty's situation is definitely not something someone like you can understand."
"Let's go."
Zhu Qiong waved her hand and left directly.
Mi Heng hurriedly opened the letter, took out the paper inside, and opened it to read: "In the winter of the second year of Zhongxing, in December, there was a monkey event in Wanxing. Because the monkeys were fond of monkeys, they spread among the people. Scholars and scholars had different opinions, and the heavens heard them. I personally experienced this matter and felt deeply about it, so I dedicated myself to it."
"Winter Festival offers sacrifices to heaven, universal celebrations, the son of Yizhou Shepherd, walks through the forest and jumps over the stream, the tributes fall off the cliff, dangers abound, only a few golden monkey acrobats are left, and finally end up in Nanyang."
"..."
"Qiong said: You don't know what the superior knows, so how can you say that this is the way to bring disaster? Heng was disdainful and said: You know it. However, man and ape have bowed to each other, and it has been a long time. You don't know the shortcomings of the ancients and the monkeys?"
"A sharp mouth and a monkey's cheeks are a sign of his ugly appearance; wearing a crown while wearing a monkey's head is a sign of his ugly appearance; a monkey's head and brain are a sign of his body being rough; killing a chicken to scare a monkey is a sign of his cowardice."
"A monkey riding a native cow is a sign of his clumsy eyes; fishing for the moon in deep water is a sign of his shallow wisdom; five horses and six monkeys is a sign of his floating mind; a female monkey with thorns is a sign of its sharp heart."
"..."
"The matter is so big that Wancheng is becoming more and more prosperous. I can't stop it, so I went to heaven to hear it. However, when your Majesty heard the words, he just smiled and said a few words, which made me sincerely convinced."
"The world doesn't know how much I love monkeys, but it's better to know how much I love my heart! The ape hanging on the tree in the mountain is true; the moon rises when the ape crows, it's faith; the ape disappears into the forest, it's speed; the monkey plays with me. The side view is the joy; the roar of the ape and the roar of the tiger is the strength;"
"..."
hiss-!
After reading this, Mi Heng has been impressed by the talent of His Majesty the Emperor.
But if this is all, Mi Heng will definitely find loopholes in his words to fight back. After all, this is a debater's occupational disease, which has already been internalized in Mi Heng's bones.
But......
As he continued to read, his competitive spirit was extinguished unknowingly.
"I know how the ancients treated monkeys. They regarded monkeys as being incapable of what they could do, so they treated them lightly, and used thin words to describe them. They treated monkeys in terms of what they could not do, so they valued them and respected them in their zodiac signs."
"But I regard monkeys as being upright and peaceful, and I regard monkeys as myself and myself as human beings. Therefore, the despicableness of monkeys and the ugliness of human beings can be removed. Once I took a bath in late spring, my thoughts about grandma in the daytime can be seen!" "
"..."
At this thought, even Kong Rong beside him couldn't help but stand in awe: "His Majesty's realm is indeed higher than that of you and me. How would we know if Xun had not written this poem?"
"yes."
Ni Heng sighed and expressed sincere admiration: "Your Majesty is worthy of being your Majesty. He has no resentment at all and is dedicated to serving the public good. I admire him. But I, Ni Heng, am too violent and have too strong a desire to win."
Kong Rong pinched a strand of goatee under his chin and said with emotion: "Your Majesty has his own reasons for loving monkeys, but we are trying to dissuade Your Majesty by borrowing the poems of the ancients, which is a bit too paranoid."
"Today's interpretation of the ancients has its own articles and opinions, and they can still coexist in the world. Why should we insist on this? It is nothing more than the prejudice in our hearts. This is our fault."
Mi Heng sighed, put away the "Ling Monkey Fu" immediately, and said softly: "Wen Ju's words are reasonable. Read thousands of books, don't be trapped by books, apply what you learn, and benefit all people. That is the right way."
"We have been trapped in it for a long time. Although we can quote from others and speak eloquently to other scholars, the injustice may not be in the words. Only by Your Majesty, can we truly get a glimpse of the great road."
"That's how it is with monkeys."
For the first time in your life, you feel defeated.
but......
He didn't feel sad, but felt sublimated.
It's like being on a path that you have been walking on before, and suddenly you find that you have gone astray. You need to correct it in time before you can return to the right path. This is a blessing and an enlightenment like a sudden enlightenment.
*****
Posthouse, second floor.
Liu Zhang held "Monkey Fu" in his hand and couldn't hide the smile on his face: "Haha, I didn't expect that my two monkeys can have such an effect. Xun Lingjun personally composed the poem for them."
"Tsk tsk—!"
Liu Zhang praised it and couldn't put it down.
The man on the side was even more excited: "Yes, who would have thought that Liu Yao's Taihu Stone and Liu Biao's Longyuan Sword did not arouse His Majesty the Emperor's love, but he loved the Golden Monkey."
"Young Master may not know that many people have come to the inn these days to inquire, hoping to buy some golden monkeys from us. The price is not a problem."
"oh?"
Liu Zhang was astonished: "Is there such a thing?"
Zhang Yi nodded: "Yes, I have rejected two or three people, saying that we are only here to pay tribute and will not do these transactions, no matter how much we pay. If you want to buy, you can go to the Wu family."
The corners of Liu Zhang's lips curved slightly, and he smiled faintly: "By doing this kind of business, we are really degrading ourselves, and we are benefiting from the Wu family in vain."
The Wu family is a well-known aristocratic family in Yizhou, with over 10,000 doormen and over 100 million in assets. Their business has spread all over Yizhou, Hanzhong, and even to Guanzhong, Jingzhou, and Nanyang.
The Shu brocade business run by the Wu family is very popular even in Jingchu, Nanyang, Heluo and other places. They often bring it over and it is sold out as soon as it is put on the shelves.
certainly!
Shu brocade is just one type of business run by the Wu family. They involve all aspects of clothing, food, housing, and transportation. They were famous wealthy merchants during the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. The Nanyang Kong family was basically a younger brother to the Wu family.
.
"yes."
Zhang Yishen nodded in agreement: "I heard that many people have rushed to the Wu family's business in Wancheng, and many people have even placed deposits."
"oh?"
Liu Zhang was surprised: "Have you even paid the deposit?"
Zhang Yi gave a grunt: "That's right, the Xinye Yin family spent two gold horseshoes."
hiss-!
Liu Zhang was stunned in place like thunder and lightning: "Two gold horseshoes? Is it just a deposit?"
Zhang Yi nodded: "Well, golden monkeys are very rare in the first place. Whether they can be caught is another matter. The Wu family offers ten gold horseshoes each, so the deposit must be more than two gold."
Liu Zhang's eyes were full of envy, jealousy and hatred: "What a Wu family, they really know how to do business. No matter how valuable the golden monkey is, it only costs less than ten gold horseshoes, right? It's more expensive than a war horse!"
An ordinary war horse only costs 15,000 gold, which is less than two gold horseshoes. Even if it is above the BMW level, it only costs ten gold horseshoes.
But who would have thought...
A golden monkey can be sold for ten gold horseshoes, which is simply unbelievable.
Zhang Yi was equally surprised and lowered his voice: "Young Master, I heard that the Wu family has exaggerated the spirituality of the golden monkey, and combined with the "Monkey King" and other books currently on the market, it has made it full of mystery.
color."
"There are storytellers in every major wine shop in Wancheng. During this period, most of what they are telling is the story of the Monkey King dominating the Huaguo Mountain and leading his monkey descendants to battle wits and courage with all the monsters."
Liu Zhang was shocked: "Is this happening?"
"certainly."
Zhang Yi nodded affirmatively: "In the lobby on the first floor of our post house, there will be a storyteller every day before noon. I even went to listen to it once. It is really good."
"Not to mention the common people of Wancheng, even the last general wants to own such a monkey. Some four or five-year-olds even dress up as the Monkey King and play around. Not to mention how interesting it is."
Liu Zhang frowned: "Isn't it almost noon again?"
Zhang Yien said: "It should be coming soon, right?"
Squeak!
Zhang Yi opened the door, walked out, approached the railing, and looked down at the stage.
Beside him, there was already a man wearing a long gown, negotiating the price with the shopkeeper.
Zhang Yi raised his hand and pointed at the man, and said softly: "Young Master, that one should be today's storyteller. They can make at least 20 big bucks by telling a story. The more popular the book, the more money they make."
, I heard that "The Monkey King" cost at least fifty coins."
"Fifty coins?"
Liu Zhang looked in disbelief and made some calculations in his mind: "You can earn fifty yuan in one afternoon, five hundred yuan in ten days, and one thousand five hundred yuan in ten months. This is indeed better than what you can earn as a servant."
There are so many.”
Zhang Yi smiled: "That's not all. Some people talk twice a day and can earn hundreds of dollars in one day, and three thousand dollars in ten months. Some storytellers even bought a house outside Nanyang City.
Settled at home here.”
"Because of this, people around Nanyang are willing to send their children to school. When they grow up, whether they work as bookkeepers at the counter or come out to tell books, they will not have to worry about food and drink."
"I heard that storytellers recruit apprentices. After a storyteller, half of the money will go to the master. Look at the little guy next to that person. I think he must be his apprentice."
Liu Zhangdan smiled and pinched a strand of beard under his chin: "No, it's only been two or three years, but Nanyang has become so flooded with scholars?"
"If these scholars were in our Yizhou, they would probably be able to get a job as an accountant, but they would rather be in Nanyang than come to our Yizhou."
"Nanyang is really terrible."
Liu Zhang took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and couldn't help but sigh: "We in Yizhou are no match against such a person. Fortunately, my father was wise in the beginning, otherwise he would have ended up like Liu Biao and Liu Yao."
"To be honest, I have been deeply impressed by the more than ten days I have been in Nanyang. Compared with Luoyang back then, the prosperity of Wancheng is nothing short of exaggerated."
"Especially in winter, the people in Wancheng are truly wealthy, while Luoyang back then was just a park for dignitaries and had nothing to do with ordinary people."
"Only when the common people get rich can the country be truly wealthy, not how much money you have in the treasury or how many troops you have in your hands, because the common people are the source of the treasury's tax revenue."
"In the past, I didn't understand why Your Majesty wanted to abolish oral taxes and calculated taxes. Wouldn't this lower the taxes of the Han Dynasty? But now, if you look at Nanyang, you will know that the taxes of the imperial court have not been reduced, but are increasing.
Already."
"The imperial court will find ways to make the people rich, and then the imperial court will naturally become rich. If the imperial court always changes its methods to exploit the common people, then the imperial court will eventually become poorer and poorer. This is the right way."
Zhang Yi simply couldn't believe that his young master could actually have such insight and say such words, which proved that his trip to Nanyang was really fruitful.
"Then what are the preparations for the young master after he returns?"
Zhang Yi frowned and asked curiously.
"go back?"
Liu Zhang took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Immediately, he shook his head, glanced at Zhang Yi, and said softly: "I'm not sure, if I tell my father this, he might call me stupid, or call me naive."
"snort!"
He hummed softly.
Liu Zhang's face seemed a little disappointed.
Although many people are unaware of Lu Yue's existence, in fact, it is just an open secret.
His father's trust in Lu Yue even exceeded his trust in himself. What he said could not enter his heart at all.
Liu Zhang truly understood his father's purpose of coming to Yizhou in the first place. He had been working hard for so many years and could not give up easily. Even if he described Nanyang as a world of great harmony, invincible and unwarrantable, he would never believe it.
Instead of doing this, why are you wasting your saliva? There is absolutely no need.
At this moment, Zhang Yi also realized that he had made a mistake, so he did not dare to say anything more. He just exhaled and said: "Young Master, when will we return to Yizhou? The matter of the golden monkey must be reported to the lord.
One sound."
Liu Zhang thought for a moment: "Let's do this. In two days, when the snow on the road has melted slightly, we can rush back to Yizhou. This time we will go back the same way and try to find all the lost things."
Zhang Yi nodded: "Here."
Snap!
At this moment, a gavel sounded from below: "Dear fellow villagers, my storyteller Chen Ning will bring you a story about the stone monkey today."
"good!"
The next second, there was thunderous applause in the hall on the first floor, and people gathered around to hear that the scholar told the story of the Stone Monkey.
Even Liu Zhang found a seat with a good view and sat down. He ordered people to serve four dried fruits and four fresh fruits, ready to listen to the story of the stone monkey who dominated the Flower and Fruit Mountain and was known as the Monkey King.
"It is said that outside our southern sea area, there is a Chinese state called Dongsheng Shenzhou. There is a small country on this Dongsheng Shenzhou called Aolai State."
"And in this proud country..."
"..."
Liu Zhang had to admit it.
This story of the Monkey King is really exciting and fascinating.
Even he himself couldn't help but clap his hands and praise him. Like the people below, he called the mountain to say hello, and even ordered Zhang Yi to reward the storyteller to make him work harder.
After the storyteller gave a hard speech, not to mention ordinary people, even Liu Zhang himself was deeply impressed by the cuteness of the monkeys. If he was lucky enough to buy some, he could train his troops and horses, and even occupy the mountain and become the king. It would be so happy.
"I finally understand why the golden monkey became popular throughout Wancheng in such a short period of time. Your Majesty is on the one hand, but these storytellers play an even greater role."
"yes."
Zhang Yi nodded, full of emotion: "After passing through the mouths of these people, I feel that these macaques are not as despicable as the ancients said, but more lovable."
Liu Zhang pinched a strand of beard under his chin and said softly: "Perhaps, the price of this golden monkey will continue to rise in the future. It is possible that it will exceed fifteen or twenty gold in the future."