Tang Dynasty Mingyue Song Dynasty Pass

Chapter 244 Forming Cliques for Private Interests

After Su Chen came to the Han Mansion, the banquet officially began. All kinds of delicacies from mountains and seas were brought to the table by the pretty maids. During the banquet, the five of them chatted freely while drinking.

Since Wang Yuechao first came to Runzhou City and was not familiar with the local customs, Han Pei, as a landlord, took the lead in explaining the particularity of Runzhou's geographical location to him.

Since Runzhou City is close to the Yangtze River, there is the famous Jinling Ferry (Xijin Ferry). All merchant ships, large or small, must enter the Yangtze River, whether they are crossing the river north to the Song Dynasty, or flowing eastward along the river to the sea. Go through this ferry.

Normally, a team of [-] people is stationed at Jinlingdu, not only to prevent the Song army from raiding, or robbers at sea landing on the shore to rob, but also to check the import and export of contraband, and the identity of the peddlers, so as not to mix in the Song and Yue countries and other spies. .

Runzhou City has a well-developed water system, rapid economic development, and rich people, mainly relying on the port for supplies. Various materials are moved from here to ships for export, or materials from outside are transported here, and the labor costs of the local people must be able to earn some.Store goods, turnaround transportation, buy low and sell high, etc. Merchants can do business very flexibly, which is an advantage that other prefecture cities do not have.

In terms of military position, Runzhou is the north gate of Jinling City, as well as the east gate. It is of great strategic significance to defend against the attack of the Song army from the north and prevent the thieves from the sea from attacking and landing.

In Runzhou, there are nine first-class merchant families, namely the Bai family, Du family, Ding family, Lu family, Fan family, etc. Among them, the Bai family and the Ding family have been hostile for many years because they both produce ceramics. In the end, the Ding family poisoned the old man of the Bai family and stole the secret recipe to suppress the Bai family. Who knew that Su Chen disrupted the situation and helped the Bai family turn around. Bai Susu integrated new resources and brought down the Ding family in one fell swoop. up.

After Wang Yuechao heard these things, he couldn't help but look at Su Chen with admiration.

"Unexpectedly, Mr. Su also has research on porcelain making, and he can also invent soap, refined salt, spirits, etc. He is indeed a rare talent!" Wang Yuechao was amazed. This young talent who had never met before became very interested.

A talented person who only knows how to write poetry, at most, after entering the imperial examination, can enter the Imperial Academy, write books and write books, and become a generation of writers and poets. As far as the bureau is concerned, it is not very useful.

This is also the reason why Han Xizai values ​​Su Chen. If he can continuously create new things, foreign trade can greatly improve the economy and make up for the shortage of Tang's treasury. With money, he can earn money from the surrounding princes and use it to enrich the country and strengthen the army. In this way, there is a chance to fight against the Song army.

Su Chen said politely: "It's all about the skills of investigating things. After studying, the juniors like to study those, so there are some small innovations, and they can't be listed in the elegant hall."

Han Pei said beside him: "Young Master Su, don't be humble! Do you know that because of your small innovation, the Bai family turned around in an instant, once the blue and white porcelain came out, and the soap was mass-produced, the Bai family's shops suddenly became rich. The batch of orders has made all the large and small business travel teams in Runzhou active. Many people plan to order new goods from the Bai family and go directly to the sea to sell them to Khitan, Nanyang, Fusang, and Korea, and exchange them for gold, silver, and pearl agate. , spiced ivory, rare melons and specialties.”

This Han Pei is in charge of the Han family's business, so he is also full of business experience, what he sees is economic benefits, and what he says is full of business remarks.

Su Chen smiled slightly. After all, he was a scholar, and it's not easy to boast about his business experience in front of several court officials, so he just smiled and kept a low profile.

Prefect Peng has read books all his life, and he can be regarded as a true Confucian official. In his heart, he still regards these techniques of investigating objects as side details, and pays attention to the righteousness of the essay, the road to the imperial examination, etc., so he asked: "Su Chen, have you done anything these days? Study hard and prepare for Qiu Wei?"

Su Chen cupped his hands and said: "Go back to the magistrate, the younger generation is at home to thank guests behind closed doors, and is studying the imperial examination bibliography, classics and history collections."

Han Xizai knew that he didn't read many ancient articles, so he was worried that his prose could not be written well, so he stroked his beard and said, "Why don't you let the old man test and teach you?"

Su Chen was taking a sip of the fish soup with a small spoon, and almost spit it out.

He was doomed to make a fool of himself on the spot when he was being tested by him, Su Chen didn't dare to answer.

"No, no... No need." Su Chen quickly waved his hands, rejecting the proposal.

Han Xizai showed suspicion, but he was still a little uneasy.

The others didn't know the details, so they didn't care. Prefect Peng toasted the new governor at this time, and Su Chen and Han Pei drank a cup with him.

Wang Yuechao was still a little excited about coming to the affluent Runzhou, and couldn't help telling everyone about Daozhou.

That Daozhou is adjacent to the Southern Han Dynasty and close to Guangdong, Guangxi and the south of the Lingnan. It is extremely hot and has a lot of miasma. Not to mention that the northerners were not acclimatized in the past, even the people from the south of the Yangtze River would feel uncomfortable when they went there.

The previous governor, named Liao Yan, used to be a minister of the Ma family court in the state of Chu. Later, in the civil strife in Chu, Liao Yan and Peng Shisong led people to escort the last emperor's son Ma Xie to defect to the Tang Lord in the south of the Yangtze River and became a citizen of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Liao Yan was named the governor of Daozhou by Li Jing. After taking office, he had done a good job, but the Southern Han Dynasty sent people to rebel in Daozhou, and Liao Yan died while leading people to suppress it. Wang Yuechao was transferred from Jinling City as a member of the military department. , went to Daozhou to be the governor, and quelled the local chaos. This stay lasted for five or six years.

After Wang Yuechao finished talking about these past events, he came to Jiuxing, and said to Su Chen with great sincerity: "Han Shilang recommended you, he values ​​you very much, and treats you like a disciple. After you join our faction, you have to be of one mind with Han Shilang and us." , Crack down on treacherous and traitorous parties, purge the government, save the Tang Dynasty from decline, and resist the threat of the Song Army, these are the things we loyal and patriotic courtiers should do."

Su Chen also admired his eloquence when he heard the other party speak so righteously about the party struggle.

Perhaps this is what every member of the Sun Party uses to brainwash their minds. Only by believing in it can they have a common goal and be powerful in one place.

Wang Yuechao saw that he looked strange and did not answer. He thought he was resisting party struggles, so he explained: "Scholars, don't demonize party struggles! Mr. Feng Dao said well in the article "Kurong Jian", a gentleman who does not belong to the party will not be able to save himself from disasters." Also: the villain is good for friendship, and it is beneficial for others to help. If there is no punishment for the loss of morality, there will be trouble if there is no solution to the disaster. The gentleman cannot change it, but the villain may be forgiven. You have read this article, you should know it well meaning."

Su Chen was stunned for a moment, recalling this Mr. Feng Dao in his mind, he seemed to have a good impression. He was a strategist in the Five Dynasties period. Zhuangzong of the Later Tang Dynasty, Mingzong of the Later Tang Dynasty, Emperor Min of the Later Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu of the Later Tang Dynasty, Gaozu of the Later Jin Dynasty, Emperor Chu of the Later Jin Dynasty, Gaozu of the Later Han Dynasty, Emperor Yin of the Later Han Dynasty, Taizu of the Later Zhou Dynasty, and Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty. , It can be regarded as an evergreen tree in official career.

He wrote this "Kurong Jian", analyzing the relationship between officialdom, and came to a conclusion, which is the general idea of ​​what he said just now: a gentleman does not like to form cliques, but no one will help a gentleman if there is a disaster.The villain forms a party with a group of people for personal gain because of interests, and because of the relationship of interests, these people will help him if something happens.

Not being moral will not cause any practical evil consequences, and if there is a disaster and no one will help, it will inevitably be unlucky.Being a gentleman is unlucky and you can only bear the consequences. The villain sees this and chooses to be a villain in order to protect himself. This behavior is understandable and acceptable.

It is precisely because of this article that many literati and politicians in later generations criticized Feng Dao, thinking that he beautified party struggles and ignored the style of a gentleman, and he was simply discrediting scholars who had a career in imperial examinations. For example, Ouyang Xiu, a famous official in the Northern Song Dynasty, despised Feng Dao very much "Jin" and unscrupulous behavior, he scolded Feng Dao for being shameless.Sima Guang also criticized Feng Dao's "loyal ministers do not matter to two monarchs", but Wang Anshi believed that Feng Dao was "a man in the Buddha's position", and Su Dongpo also praised Feng Dao as "a Bodhisattva, a man who comes again".

In fact, Feng Dao was born in the troubled times of the Five Dynasties, surrounded by tigers, wolves and leopards, and he tossed around, set up his life for the people, and was able to save countless lives, which is a great merit.It is easy to be a "loyal minister" who dies. When the fate of the people hangs in the balance, it is the heart of a Bodhisattva who can bear the burden of humiliation and save time and things.

Su Chen was silent when he heard the words, he would not stick to a certain article or a certain point of view, but had his own style of conduct and principles of conduct.He can see what is good, what is evil, and what is right and what is wrong, and has a vision beyond the limitations of this era. Therefore, he will not follow blindly, but will only judge the situation, adapt to the situation, and do things according to his own heart.

(End of this chapter)