Walk as you please, sit at ease, drink when you are thirsty, eat when you are hungry, sing when you are drunk, and lie down on the grass when you are sleepy. The sun and moon are long, the sky and the earth are vast, leisure and happiness!
The old wine is thrown in, the new fermented grains are splashed, the old earthenware basin is laughing, and the monks and old men in the mountains are chatting leisurely together. He brings out a pair of chickens, and I bring out a goose, leisurely and happy!
The horse is withdrawn, the heart is locked, jumping out of the evil turmoil of the mortal world, who can break the Huaiyin noon dream? Leave the fame and fortune field, get into the comfort zone, and be happy!
Farming in the south, lying in the mountains in the east, I have experienced many things in the world and people, and I have thought about the past in my spare time. He is the virtuous one, and I am the stupid one, so why are we fighting?
——"Four Pieces of Jade·Leisurely" by Guan Hanqing (Yuan Dynasty)
…
"After Li Linfu became Prime Minister, for his own selfish interests, he denounced Wang Zhongsi and other loyal ministers and generals, and awarded Jiedushi to the Hu people. As a result, the military and political power on the border of the empire fell into the hands of the barbarians. The empire's huge army was controlled in Anlu Mountain. Shi Siming, In the hands of a group of famous foreign generals such as Gao Xianzhi and Ge Shuhan. Most of these foreign military governors have made great achievements in battle. Some are loyal, but some have ulterior motives and are ambitious.
Many knowledgeable people in the imperial court criticized Prime Minister Li for awarding military envoys to Hu people, and you, Uncle Jiang, are one of them. In fact, in my opinion, whether Han people serve as military envoys or Hu people serve as military envoys, it is very important. Danger. The establishment of this position itself is a huge power hazard. It destroys the normal bureaucracy of the imperial court and cannot produce effective checks and balances of power, allowing Jiedushi to hold great power and have enough strength to fight against the imperial court.
Therefore, in the granting and use of power, human nature cannot be challenged, and the safety of the empire cannot be based entirely on the loyalty of the Jiedushi. Power is bloodthirsty and must be checked and balanced and locked in a cage.
Otherwise, once the Jiedushi, who holds a heavy army, becomes disloyal, the world will be in chaos, all life will be devastated, blood will flow, and the bloody chaos of Wuhu will be repeated."
…
Speaking of this, Taifu Xu paused for a long time, as if recalling the distant past.
Taifu Xu said: "My ancestor Xu Shu was very resourceful, and his talent and strategy were not inferior to those of Prime Minister Zhuge. However, because his mother was kidnapped by Cao Cao, he had to leave Uncle Liu and join Cao Cao. As the saying goes, he was in Cao's camp and his heart was in Han.
My ancestor never made any plans for Cao Cao, but secretly helped Prime Minister Zhuge and Governor Zhou Yu win the Battle of Chibi. My ancestor possessed unparalleled knowledge, but was unable to realize his lifelong ambition, and missed the great opportunity to assist Uncle Liu to unify the country and leave his name in history.
Every time I think about this, I can't help crying, and I hate why my ancestors didn't fight against fate. When I was a young man, I was determined to fulfill the unfinished business of my ancestors, show what I have learned in my life, and make the Tang Dynasty rich and powerful, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. , Glorious family, lasting forever.
Looking back on half my life, I can be considered as diligent in assisting Li Longji in pacifying Wu Zhou, becoming a great treasure, sweeping away the chaos of the previous dynasty, and establishing the prosperous Kaiyuan era.
I wanted to make further progress, but failed to make any achievements. I watched the Tang Dynasty slide from prosperity to decline. Alas, I couldn't sleep at night, tossing and turning. The most painful part was that I knew the result, but couldn't dodge it.
When I was young, I studied the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. After middle age, I became fond of Buddhism. It was only after I was frustrated in politics that I came to understand human nature a little bit. Only today do I feel the helplessness and sadness of my ancestors. Halfway through my life, I finally understand that destiny is determined by fate and cannot be controlled by humans. "
…
Taifu Xu cared about the country and the people, and had the world at heart. Fan Zhongyan, a famous prime minister of later generations, wrote in Yueyang Tower: "Be worried about the world's worries first, and be happy after the world's happiness." This expresses Taifu's feelings today.
…
On this day, the scorching sun was in the sky, the green trees were overcast, and he was lying tiredly with his music and books. Bai Fu was awakened by the summer cicadas, and he opened the window lattice, and the wind returned to the scenery, and the bamboo shadows on the east wall were mottled.
Bai Fu walked out of the house, drew a bucket of water from the moss-covered well, sprinkled the cold well water on the floor of the house, and suddenly felt cool on his face.
Taifu Xu sat down in the shade of the courtyard, keeping his hands on the wicker chair, enjoying himself and enjoying himself.
The old butler coughed lightly and said, "Sir, the market price of your two largest estates has increased five times. Can you sell them?"
Taifu Xu didn't even raise his head and replied: "Wait a little longer."
"How long will it take?"
"Wait until Mrs. Guo makes her third bid."
"Then if Mrs. Guo Guo's final bid is almost the same as Li Xiang's, who do you think she will sell to?"
"Haha, no matter how much Mrs. Guo paid in the end, these two manors were sold to Prime Minister Li. After serving as an official in the same dynasty for decades, there must be something left for him." Taifu said with a smile.
"I understand, you asked Mrs. Guo Guo to help carry the sedan chair. Okay, I will do it now." The old housekeeper laughed and became energetic. Just as he was about to leave, he was called by Taifu Xu again.
Taifu Xu said: "The income from this land property is very profitable. All the money will be used to purchase land in Yuhang County, Yizhou and other places. The land deeds should be distributed to the families of the great Confucians who were killed in the Yinxu case. If they are willing to leave now,
Let them go with us. If they want to wait and see the situation first and not move south for the time being, let the Sichuan disciples go door to door and help take care of them one on one."
The old housekeeper burst into tears and tried to hold back his sobs.
Seeing the sad atmosphere, Zi Cheshang quickly changed the subject: "Young Master Bai, have you seen that Li Linfu is so busy talking about how he has worked hard all his life, but in fact he has been doing long-term work for our Taifu?"
Everyone laughed when they heard the words. The gloomy atmosphere was swept away.
…
All feasts in the world come to an end, and the day of farewell has finally arrived.
Taifu Xu did not want to disturb the people, so he did not inform the Luoyang government and local wealthy people of the date of departure. On this day, Taifu Xu and his party chose a usually quiet pier and boarded the ship.
When approaching the pier, Taifu Xu and his party were surprised.
On the edge of the river beach, smoke was everywhere and tents were densely packed. Seeing the Taifu's car arriving here, people rushed to run. More villagers poured out of the tents and knelt on the roadside, crying again and again. For a time, there was a sea of people, one after another.
Surrounded the Tai Tu's chariots.
Taifu Xu said angrily to everyone through the car curtain: "Didn't you give us repeated orders to keep everyone confidential? Why can't you control your mouth?"
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.
Just as he was talking, several elderly men who looked like patriarchs walked out of the crowd. They stopped Taifu Xu's car and kowtowed.
Taifu Xu quickly got out of the car, lifted up the patriarchs, and said: "Old man, please get up quickly, how can Xu receive such a great gift!"
The leader of the old man burst into tears and said: "We are villagers from the Shaanzhou area. I heard that the Taifu was going south, and the villagers rushed here ten days ago. All the docks in the Luoyang area are filled with people from Henan Province!
This year is a year of great calamity. To put things aside, we don’t know how many new graves will be built in our village. God is merciful and has given us a great master to save the lives of all the people in our village!
Your Excellency, let us kowtow to you!"
Taifu Xu quickly supported the old man and shouted: "Brother, you can't do it, you can't do it!"
Another old clan leader came forward. Behind this clan leader were four tall and strong men, carrying a large wooden box. The five men put the wooden box on the ground, ignoring it and kowtow.
salute.
After standing up, the patriarch pointed to the wooden box and said: "Taifu, this wooden box has twenty-nine layers, with a total of 126 grids. The grids contain 126 types of soil.
Representing all the folks in Henan Province, including one prefecture, twenty-nine prefectures, and one hundred and twenty-six counties. I hope that Taifu will not forget his homeland and come back to visit often!"
Taifu Xu opened the wooden box and held the fresh and fragrant soil in his hands. His eyes were moist and his mood was up and down, and he could not calm down for a long time.
…
The oldest patriarch, supported by his grandchildren, walked up to Taifu Xu. With trembling hands, he raised a jar of wine and filled the bowls himself.
He picked up a bowl and handed it to the Taifu, then picked up another bowl, raised it high above his head, and said loudly to all the people: "Let us raise our glasses to the Taifu, to His Majesty, and to the Tang Dynasty! Let's do it!"
"Dry!"
…
The river is surging and the waves are vast. The geese return at sunset and sail thousands of miles.
Taifu Xu stood on the bow of the boat and waved goodbye to everyone on the shore. He was leaning against the sea breeze, his clothes were flying, he was at ease and carefree, like a man among gods.