Daming Yuanfu

Chapter 37 Uncle and Nephew on Wealth (Part [-])
At dinner time, as usual, only three people came to the table: Gao Gong, Mrs. Zhang, and Gao Yushi. Gao Gong's two wives, Mrs. Cao and Mrs. Xue, ate at a separate table in the side hall according to the etiquette.

Gao Gong's wife, Zhang, and Gao Yushi's mother, Zhang, are not of the same family in Puzhou. Gao Gong's wife was born in Zhongmou County, Lin County, Xinzheng. Mrs. Gao's eleventh ancestor of the Zhang family was Zhang Gui, Minister of Rites of the Yuan Dynasty.In recent years, it has been doing well. His great-grandfather served as a Tunliu order, and his grandfather Zhang Songji was well-known for his filial piety. He was famous in Henan for his filial piety. He was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing. He first served as an official in Guangping Prefecture and is now a member of the Ministry of Criminal Justice Wailang.

In the eyes of Gao Yushi, Mrs. Gao is a very traditional and typical noble lady from an official family in the Ming Dynasty. She usually follows her husband's wishes in everything she does.Maybe because she has no children, she has a good attitude towards Gao Yushi, a nephew, but from Gao Yushi's observation, she is also nice to Gao Gong's other nephews and nieces, but anyway, Gao Yushi thinks that she is a nice guy.

In fact, Gao Yushi was not very familiar with Gao Gong's two concubines, Cao and Xue. He only knew that Cao had three daughters, but unfortunately all three daughters died at the age of fourteen or fifteen, while Xue originally had one. His son Gao Lai also died at the age of 13—speaking of which, the Gao Gong family is indeed a bit miserable.

The Gao family has a strict family style, and it is a basic requirement not to speak or sleep, and this meal is of course no exception.Mrs. Gao was the first to finish eating, but after she finished eating, she just waited quietly for Gao Gong, of course this is also a rule.Gao Gong actually eats faster, but because he takes care of Gao pragmatically, he has been deliberately eating slowly lately—because according to etiquette, if Gao Gong, the head of the family, puts his chopsticks, no one else at the table can continue to eat , and Gao Yushi is the time to grow his body, and after all, his body is still a child, and things like eating can't be too fast even if he thinks about it. Although Gao Gong is a straight-tempered person, it doesn't mean that he can't understand things. , so deliberately chew slowly and wait for a high-level pragmatic satiety.

After Gao Wushi finished eating, Gao Gong took a last sip of clear soup in a leisurely manner, put down his chopsticks, took the white handkerchief handed over by the maid, wiped his mouth, nodded to Mrs. Gao and said, "If you want to take a walk, Madam, go first." , I have something to talk about with Pragmatic as my husband.”

Mrs. Gao has been used to her husband's habit of doing high school exams after meals or talking about practical homework, and she was not surprised when she heard this. She nodded and stood up.

Gao Wushi got up quickly and bowed slightly: "Auntie, go slowly."

Mrs. Gao smiled gently: "There is no need to be too polite." Shi Shiran went with her personal maid.

Gao Wushi waited for Mrs. Gao to go out, looked up at Gao Gong, saw that his head was lowered and his brows were frowning, he couldn't help asking: "Sanbo, is something not going well in court?"

Gao Gong seemed to be in deep thought just now, and only after hearing this did he look up at Gao Yushi and smiled: "The affairs of the court have never been so smooth anyway, and Zhao Zhenji has always disliked me, so don't care what I say, He's going to object anyway, I've been used to it for a long time...Why, do you have any 'high opinion' about the stone in the latrine like Zhao Dazhou?"

Seeing him teasing himself, Gao Wushi smiled helplessly: "If the third uncle finds it difficult to do it, and my nephew has only read a few books, and he has little knowledge, naturally he won't have any good ideas."

"You little devil, when did you become so humble?" Gao Gong smiled, stood up and made a gesture: "Don't mention him, let's go, go to my study."

The servants and maidservants in the surrounding Gao Mansion listened to each other, thinking that the young master (referring to the dead Gao Lai) was not allowed to enter the master's study until his death, and he was already twelve or thirteen years old at that time.There are only three or four servants in the mansion who are allowed to enter the master's study to clean. It can be seen that the status of the eldest son of the sixth master's family in the master's heart is really not ordinary!
Gao Wushi didn't know about this situation, and he didn't think it would be a problem if he entered the study... When he was in Xinzheng's hometown, when would he not enter Gao Gong's study?
Of course, he also knew that Gao Gong’s study room was well-regulated, mainly because Gao Gong was a person who never stopped writing, and there were many manuscripts kept in the study room all year round. , some are records of state governance, some are reflections on academic research, and later generations once compiled them as "Gao Wenxiang Gongwen Collection"... Gao Gong did not sort out these manuscripts every day, but wrote them down when he thought of them. Put it there at random first, take it out after a while and look at it again, after reading it, if there is any need to modify it, then modify it, and then sort it out and put it in a special place after confirming that it is correct.Therefore, no one is allowed to move around in his study.

After entering the study, Gao Gong asked Gao Yushi to sit down first, but he picked and picked among the stacks of manuscripts on the desk, as if he was looking for something.Gao Wu was very relaxed in front of Gao Gong, and he sat down when he was asked to sit down, and even picked up the big red robe personally sent by the steward of the inner palace and blew gently - he was afraid of being scalded as a child, even if he drank tea in winter. I prefer to drink it colder.

Gao Gong finally found what he was looking for. It was also a manuscript, and it was obviously a draft. He looked at it, walked over and handed it to Gao Wushi, and said, "Just take a look." After a slight pause, he added : "You are reading "University", look at this manuscript, and say what you think."

Gao Wushi put down his teacup, got up and took the manuscript, and waited until Gao Gong sat down by himself before sitting down and reading the manuscript.

"Question: Why does "University" talk about making money? Said: This is the useful learning of sages and sages! "Hong Fan" Eight Policies, the first talk about food and goods; Those who have a good reputation do not know righteousness and benefit, do not distinguish between public and private, and only think that it is high not to talk about profit, so that people cannot be a country. They do not know that gathering people is called wealth, and wealth management is called righteousness. It is also called the sum of righteousness and profit, and righteousness is solid. Disadvantages... The distinction between righteousness and benefit is only in the judgment of public interests. If it comes out of righteousness, then the benefits are both righteous; , it is also known as the one who benefits, but it is not the so-called righteousness."

After Gao Yushi finished reading, he raised his eyebrows and praised: "Good advice, my uncle! Financial management is by no means a matter of money. I still remember that when my nephew was reading "University Yanyi Bu", I saw Qiu Wenzhuang saying: Yi said: Why? Gathering people? It is called wealth. Wealth comes from the land and is used for people. The reason why people are human is to live with wealth, and they cannot be left alone for a day. The so-called wealth is just grain and goods. If there is food and usefulness for the people, then the people will think of it as a means of reproduction, and they will live in a place where they can live together in peace!" He paused for a while, and continued: "Although Lord Qiu Wenzhuang made the theory of wealth clear, if you say that the theory of financial management is elevated to the level of The debate between righteousness and benefit is so deafening, Sanbo may still be No. 1!"

Gao Gong listened carefully to what he said, and then smiled and said: "It seems that your "University Yan Yi Bu" is indeed not for nothing, but you said that I elevated financial management to No. 1 in the debate between righteousness and benefit. But I dare not take it seriously... You probably haven't finished reading this "Da Xue Yan Yi Bu"?"

Gao Wushi was slightly taken aback, Hao Ran said: "Grandpa Qiu's masterpiece has more than a million words, and you have to read it patiently. My nephew is dull, and it is true that I haven't finished reading it yet."

"Well, you are right. Given your age, you still have other homework on weekdays. It is not uncommon for you to have not finished reading." Gao Gong nodded, and said: "Actually, my theory is also based on what Lord Qiu Wenzhuang said. Explain, Qiu Gong said in the 160th volume of "University Yanyi Supplement": The ruler is the ruler, not for the use of the country, but the reason why the country is used is wealth. Wealth is born in the sky, produced in the earth, and formed in the world. People. Therefore, the one who controls its use is the monarch. Although the monarch controls its use for the country, it is actually for the people. Therefore, if the monarch is insufficient, the people will be taken, and the people will be taken if the people are not enough. , To know what is there or not, to control its use by one person, not to serve one person exclusively. It is because the ancient benevolent king knows that it is the treasure of the sky, and the wealth of the people is also gathered. Everything that is used is not for the sky or for the people. Never dare to spend lightly. If you spend what you have, you must consider it the enjoyment of the gods, and you must consider it the safety of the people, and you dare not take it for your own selfishness. What is it? Naturally, the five materials are used by the people, and the king is special for the people. The ear of reason is not obtained by the emperor but is privately owned. If you think it is your own and use it privately, you don’t know the inherent limitation and the hardship of people’s strength. If you accumulate it for a hundred years, it is not enough. Taming is caused by the emptiness of the government treasury and the lack of national budget. It is sought from officials who have no reserves, and what is sought from the people and the people has no cover. At this time, all schemes are unsuccessful. How can the monarch feel secure? What kind of capital is there to rule it?"

When he said this, he smiled and looked at Gao Yushi: "You see, although Duke Qiu Wenzhuang clearly advised the emperor to be frugal and love the people, he has actually expressed what he thinks in his heart: You are frugal for the people, and righteousness is also."

Gao Wushi also laughed: "In the final analysis, it all comes from the place where 'the people are the most important, the community is second, and the king is the least'."

Gao Gong laughed loudly, and leaned back gently on the chair of the grand teacher: "So it is said that knowledge is universal. You see, the people are the most precious, so it is righteous to manage money for the people, but what is necessary for the people? Goods and goods. Therefore, doing good for the world and managing money is the great righteousness of the world.”

(End of this chapter)