I studied in modern times

Chapter 764: Lu Huiqing’s Experience (1)

April 14, the second year of Yuanyou
Lu Huiqing went out in disguise, just like she had done for the past month.

He was still accompanied by Li Kui and several personal soldiers who were responsible for protecting him.

As usual, Lu Huiqing arrived at the main road leading east to the Imperial Street, and first ordered Li Kui to buy today's "Bian Jing Xin Bao" and "Bian Jing Yi Bao".

During these days in Bianjing City, Lu Huiqing has become accustomed to reading the newspaper every day.

And he cares a lot about what's being reported in these tabloids.

Soon, Li Kui bought the latest edition of "Bian Jing Xin Bao" and "Bian Jing Yi Bao".

Lu Huiqing found a bench on the street for pedestrians to rest and stay, and sat down - these benches were built by the Street Bureau and are now spread all over the streets and alleys of Bianjing, which can be regarded as Jia Zhongmin's political achievement.

Then, as usual, Lu Huiqing read the "Bianjing Xinbao" first.

Mainly because this tabloid is very entertaining.

The language is simple and easy to understand, and the articles and stories published in it are not often surprising. They mainly focus on the common people and usually talk about the style of Bianliang and neighborhood legends.

Once a major event occurs, the "Bian Jing Xin Bao" will jump up and down, stirring up public emotions.

Therefore, it has a huge sales volume and is now a tabloid that everyone in Beijing must read and listen to every day.

Originally, scholars and officials would not bother to read such tabloids, which were considered to be disrespectful to society!

Coincidentally, this tabloid also serialized a vernacular story called "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

Because of its brilliant writing, which tells the story of the Three Kingdoms in a vivid and lively manner, it was loved not only by the common people of Bianliang but also by the powerful and wealthy. The literati could only watch it with their noses pinched - if they didn't read it, it would be difficult for them to integrate into the circle of those yamen officials.

In addition, the Bian Jing Xin Bao would also report on the prices of goods in various places in the capital, and would specifically point out which stores in certain areas had cheaper items than those in other places.

Therefore, the ladies who were in charge of the household affairs in the scholar-officials' homes also had to watch it every day.

Lu Huiqing looked at the Bianjing New Newspaper and laughed after a while: "This Hu Feipan is really a flying disc..."

Originally, people in Bian Jing didn't know what the so-called "Hu Feipan" meant.

It was not until this year that Liu Xun returned to Beijing and was appointed as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat. When he was joking with someone one day, he said something that really brought out the essence of the story - Have you ever seen the Luojiang dog raised by hunters in Shu? This dog is very intelligent. I once saw people in Shu train a dog. If you throw a plate out, the dog would bring back the plate. It was very interesting!
Then, everyone suddenly realized.

From then on, the name Hu Feipan became truly relevant and deeply rooted in people's hearts.

only……

A terrifying question when you think about it carefully is - who raised this Hu Feipan?

Considering that some people have compared the present emperor to Emperor Ming of Han in private discussions, so... no one dares to explore it.

And the reason those people compare the present emperor to Emperor Ming of Han was found in history books - when Emperor Ming was twelve years old, Emperor Guangwu ordered the prefectures and counties to inspect the reclaimed land... At that time, various counties sent envoys to report on their affairs. Emperor Guangwu saw the letter from the clerk of Chenliu, examined it, and said: Chenliu and Hongnong can be asked, but Henan and Nanyang cannot be asked.

Guangwu said: If that is the case, why do you say that Henan and Nanyang cannot be asked?

Emperor Ming replied: The imperial city of Henan is populated by close ministers, while the imperial hometown of Nanyang is populated by close relatives. The land and houses there exceed the regulations and cannot be used as a reference!
Isn’t it scary!

At the age of twelve, he was already well versed in politics, skillful, and aware of all the unspoken rules, knowing what he could touch and what he could not touch!

The same is true today!
It's just that no one has ever actually compared the present to Hamming in public.

Generally it is Cheng Wang, Han He...

He was so full that he was compared to Emperor Zhang of Han.

It is really……

Emperor Ming of Han was a wise and powerful emperor.

But he doesn't recognize any of his relatives!
Even your own brother or uncle can be killed at will.

Meritorious officials and veterans can be put to death if they are ordered to do so!

No matter whether you are a provincial governor with a large army or a long-time distinguished relative of the emperor and a meritorious official.

If Emperor Ming is angry, he will die!

Today, although it seems to be lenient, there is already a hidden trend in this direction.

But on the other hand, many scholars and officials are eager to have another Emperor Ming of Han today.

Because, during the reign of Emperor Ming of Han, the Yellow River also flooded and caused a disaster, so Emperor Ming ordered Wang Jing and others to lead hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians to control the river. From Xingyang to Qiancheng Haikou, a land of more than a thousand miles, they built a water gate every ten miles, and thus tamed this violent river!

As a result, the Yellow River did not change its course or burst its dikes for nearly a thousand years, until the Jingyou period, when the river broke through at Shanghukou and changed its course to the north. The old course of the Yellow River left by Emperor Ming was gone forever.

For countless people, they certainly hope that another Emperor Ming of Han will emerge to restore the ruined country.

In short, it is very contradictory.

Lu Huiqing hopes more than anyone else that the current emperor is another Emperor Ming of Han.

Because it means making great achievements, it also means unifying the world and attracting all nations to pay tribute!

However, even he didn't dare to say these words rashly and could only imagine them in his heart.

When Li Kui heard Lu Huiqing's surprise, he moved behind him and glanced at the contents of the Bianjing New News.

However, the front-page headline had a very exaggerated title: The government troops were in command and the giant bandit from Guangnan East Road was captured.

When Li Kui saw the title, he laughed out loud.

Because he remembered that it seemed that half a month ago, the Bian Jing Xin Bao was still scolding the Guangnan East Road’s troops for being incompetent and cowardly!
It is a disgrace to the imperial court that they could not even catch a small evil person who was misleading ignorant people and women in the local area.

He cursed the entire Guangnan East Road from top to bottom.

In that article, Li Kui remembered that Hu Feipan had sworn at that time that the bandit leader Cen Tan had gathered a motley crowd, and the number of the ignorant people in the countryside he employed was no more than a few dozen.

The government troops attacked for several months but were unable to capture Agent Cen. They only captured some of his followers, including cats and dogs.

It hasn't been long since he changed his attitude.

They exaggerated the name of Detective Cen into a big bandit who was rampant in the prefectures and counties, and said that he "eats the heart and liver of a child every day and sleeps with a woman at night."

Under his command were "more than a thousand fierce men and countless desperate criminals."

However, even such a huge bandit still melted quickly in front of the Song Dynasty’s official army, like ice and snow meeting the sun.

He treated what he said half a month ago as a fart.

"Sir..." Li Kui scanned the contents of the Bianjing Newspaper and asked in a low voice: "This Hu Feipan is so fickle..."

"Why do people in the capital like to watch him?"

This is also what many scholars and officials are puzzled about.

It is obvious that the things written by Hu Feipan of "Bian Jing Xin Bao" are vulgar and simple, and have no literary value at all.

Even the characters used are simplified characters.

More importantly, this person often writes things that are contradictory and have completely different positions.

This is not the first time that a company has slapped itself in the face, as happened with Guangnan East Road.

But people in Bian Jing just love to watch it!

Even the illiterate old woman had to listen to someone read the "Bianjing Xinbao" to her every day.

It’s really hard to understand!

Lu Huiqing said to Li Kui meaningfully: "Si He, this is the evil of humanity!"

"Has Sihe read my "The Meaning of Zhuangzi"? " Lu Huiqing asked.

"The Meaning of Zhuangzi" was also written by Lu Huiqing when he was in Hedong. Currently, six volumes have been written, and he plans to write twenty-two volumes to explain the meaning of Zhuangzi and then use the meaning of Zhuangzi to interpret Confucius.

This is also the characteristic of the new learning - using Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, and even Buddhism to interpret the words and deeds of Confucius and his disciples.

Li Kui nodded.

Lu Huiqing asked: "What did Si He think of in this situation?"

Li Kui thought for a moment and replied, "But what did you say, sir, about the evil of human nature, the world is drowned in the evil of sorrow and joy and destroys the principles of nature?"

Lu Huiqing clapped his hands: "Good! That's exactly what I said!"

"The trouble with the world is that the common people do not know the greater good, and use personal feelings to pretend to be righteous and abandon the greater good!"

"There is no saint in the world today, so the people in the capital have abandoned the principles of heaven and pursued their own evil pleasures!"

Lu Huiqing was always arrogant, towards everyone. Even the scholars and officials, in his eyes, were mostly "pedantic people who stick to petty benevolence and righteousness", not to mention the ordinary people.

Generally speaking, Lu Huiqing doesn't care about the people's livelihood under his rule.

His mind is full of the Way of Heaven.

In his personal opinion, apart from Wang Anshi, he is the one closest to the Way of Heaven in this world.

It is precisely because of this mentality that Lu Huiqing became the target of public criticism and the public enemy of the world.

Even Wang Anshi's beloved son, Wang Rong, fell out with him.

However, he really has the right to be arrogant.

Too capable!
It is as strong as a sharp sword. Wherever it passes, either everything becomes desolate or full of vitality.

And this is exactly what he pursues - the growth in spring is gratifying, and the death in autumn is also reasonable.

If you don't dig out the rotten flesh, new flesh won't grow.

If the dead grass on the field is not burned, how can the flowers bloom in the next spring? Therefore, when Lu Huiqing did things, he habitually treated everyone, including himself, as pawns and objects to be sacrificed.

Li Kui certainly knew Lu Huiqing's style, and he was used to it.

As he was talking, Lu Huiqing had finished reading the Bian Jing Xin Bao.

He raised the tabloid in his hand and said to Li Kui, "Today's Bianjing New News only has one story, which is quite interesting."

He pointed to an article in a tabloid and said to Li Kui, "Si He, come with me and Ma Xing on the street to take a look!"

Li Kui looked carefully and saw the words "Today's Bian Jing Specials" written in a corner of the tabloid. This was the most watched page of the "Bian Jing Xin Bao".

It is said that since the publication of the "Bian Jing Xin Bao", it has been included in every issue, which reports on the price depressions in various places inside and outside the capital.

For example, the food in a certain section is the cheapest, and the clothes with the best value for money are sold in a certain store in a certain square.

Although such writings are unremarkable, they are something that everyone in the capital, from the wives of scholars and officials to the common people, must pursue.

Because this allows them to find the cheapest items.

Even so, things from these places would either go up in price or be in short supply after being reported in the Bian Jing Xin Bao.

But this still can't stop women from taking advantage of small opportunities.

In today's column, there is only one sentence: [A piece of raw cloth from Li's cloth shop in Ma Xing Street costs only six hundred coins].

Li Kui was a little puzzled: "Why are you curious about this?"

Lu Huiqing said: "The silk cloth comes from Guangxi!"

"Of course I have to go and take a look!"

Zhang Dun was his biggest competitor for the position of prime minister in the future.

Not even one!

Even now, Zhang Dun is going back to his hometown to observe mourning.

However, his influence, especially among the emperor's favored people, is still unmatched. A few days ago, the obituary of Zhang Dun's father arrived in Beijing. The emperor personally sent Feng Jing, the attendant of the emperor's palace, to comfort everyone in the Zhang family. He also ordered the Ministry of Rites to posthumously confer honors on Dun's father, and specially granted 100,000 coins for funeral expenses, and also gave a stele.

One hundred thousand strings of cash!
Standard specifications for a prime minister’s funeral!
Therefore, Lu Huiqing would collect as much public or private information as possible related to Zhang Dun.

Whether it is cloth or sucrose, they are both Lu Huiqing's key research objects.

It is also the focus of attention of the government and the opposition!

Especially sucrose!
no way!
Although sugarcane from Jiaozhou appeared in large quantities in the capital, it lasted less than a few months.

But it has already swept across the entire capital city!
Expensive frosting, ordinary people can't afford it or buy it.

But it only costs more than 500 or 600 yuan, and the most expensive one is just a little over a pound of brown sugar, but it is something that even common people can consume occasionally.

Nowadays, no one is willing to eat at restaurants and drink shops in Beijing unless sugar is added.

As a result, sugar ships came from Guangxi one after another.

Come and sell out one!
Making a fortune buying sugar!

The Gao and Xiang families were so happy that they couldn't stop smiling. Even the Ministry of Revenue became jealous and started to compete with Kaifeng Prefecture and Dutang for the jurisdiction of the sugar purchasing office.

None of the three parties were willing to give in!
As a result, Zhang Dun was awarded the title of "the minister who is best at managing finances" in the world!

This title is even more dazzling than his title of 'knowledgeable in military affairs and good at fighting'!
no way!
The three redundancies of the Song Dynasty can actually be summed up in two words - no money!
In other words, whoever can make money can get money for the court.

Who is the savior of the Song Dynasty, the reincarnation of Duke Zhou, and the superhero who is the resurrected Confucius?

Such a person must be immediately invited to the capital to sit in the hall and assist in government affairs!

Now, if it were not for Zhang Dun's father's death and the need to observe mourning, I'm afraid that there would be a trend of "If not Zhang Zihou, who can be the prime minister?" both inside and outside the court.

Since Zhang Dun had to go to observe mourning, his vacant position as the Governor of Guangxi and Pacifier of Jiaozhou naturally became a hot commodity that both the government and the public were vying for.

Even the governor of the capital was tempted to go to Guangxi to gild his reputation.

As far as Lu Huiqing knew, both Li Qingchen of the New Party and Li Chang of the Old Party wanted to carry the burden of Guangxi on their shoulders and shoulder the responsibility for the Song Dynasty.

If Lu Huiqing hadn't already found a place to go, he would probably be thinking about the position in Guangxi at this moment - it's too tempting!

Under such circumstances, Lu Huiqing would of course pay attention to all developments related to Zhang Dun.

So, Lu Huiqing took Li Kui and, surrounded by guards, headed towards Ma Xing Street.

Along the way, Lu Huiqing walked while reading the "Bian Jing Yi Bao" which he had not had time to read.

Compared with the "Bian Jing Xin Bao", the painting style of "Bian Jing Yi Bao" is completely different.

A copy of "Bian Jing Xin Bao" cost five cents, and its circulation was tens of thousands of copies. A copy of "Bian Jing Yi Bao" cost twenty cents, four times that of "Bian Jing Xin Bao", and its circulation was at most a few thousand copies. Generally, only scholars and nobles would buy it.

Not only the price and circulation are completely different.

From the paper and ink used to the content, they are two opposite extremes.

It is said that the founder of the "Bian Jing Yi Bao" was Sima Kang, the son of the late Sima Guang, the Minister of the Imperial Court, and the chief writer was Sima Kang's good friend, Yan Jidao, the son of the former Prime Minister Yan Yuanxian.

But now, Sima Kang has returned to his hometown to observe the mourning period, while Yan Jidao has gone far away to Dengzhou. It is said that he was warmly received by Su Shi in Dengzhou, but now he has lost contact with us.

Therefore, the "Bian Jing Yi Bao" has changed its owner and chief editor.

It’s just that no one knows who the owner and the chief writer are.

However, his painting style still retains the ideas of Sima Kang.

Known for being serious, elegant and cautious.

However, unlike the time of Sima Kang, the "Bian Jing Yi Bao" is now divided into two pages.

With the slogan "Gentlemen are harmonious but different", it carries the views and articles of both the new and old parties.

Therefore, ministers from both the New Party and the Old Party would use a pseudonym and submit articles to compete for the dominance of public opinion.

However, these so-called pen names cannot hide anything from people.

Because everyone's writing style is very distinctive.

Just like him, Lu Huiqing, who submitted his work under the name 'Enzu' and was recognized the next day - at first glance, it must be the Fa Ma Liu (Fujianzi)!

I was reading the articles and poems in the Bian Jing Yi Bao, carefully savoring their pros and cons.

Suddenly, Lu Huiqing heard someone calling him from behind.

"Lord Jifu! Lord Jifu!"

This is a name that no one has called me for many years.

Lu Huiqing turned around and saw a middle-aged man in simple clothes leading a horse.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he muttered, "It turned out to be him!"

Li Kui asked, "Sir, who is that?"

Lu Huiqing said: "It is the Shu Daoist Shu Tan who was called 'the contemporary Wen Hou' by Liu Gongfu!"

Li Kui was surprised and asked, "Him?"

Since Liu Xun came to Beijing, many ministers in the court of this city have been given nicknames by him.

Not long after Shu Tan was reinstated by the Empress Dowager and returned to the court, Liu Fu gave him the elegant title of Shu Wenhou, using the image of Lu Bu portrayed in the story of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" published in the "Bianjing Xinbao".

However, there is also a legend that this nickname came from the Forbidden City.

No one knows exactly how.

Anyway, Liu Xun neither admitted nor denied that he gave Shu Tan the nickname.

Thinking of the legend that Shu Tan repeatedly backstabbed the people who promoted him, Li Kui couldn't help but remind him: "Sir, be careful..."

"No problem!" Lu Huiqing looked at Shu Tan's figure and said, "I am not Zhang Tianjue (Zhang Shangying), nor am I Cai Zhizheng (Cai Que), Li Zisheng, nor am I Wang Yuyu (Wang Gui)!"

As soon as Lu Huiqing opened his mouth, he pointed out the four big figures that Shu Tan had flattered and stabbed in the back.

Shu Tan, however, came to Lü Huiqing with a cheerful face, bowed and said, "Lord Ji Fu, how can you be so elegant as to go out?"

Lu Huiqing simply said, "I have some free time today, so I'll go out and relax."

"What is this, Lord Xindao?" He looked at Shu Tan and the young men following behind Shu Tan.

"Oh……"

"I led my students to tour Bianjing, and happened to meet Lord Ji Fu, so I came to pay a visit to him!"

As he spoke, Shu Tan introduced several students behind him to Lu Huiqing.

The students greeted him respectfully, calling him "Bachelor" and so on, referring to him as the younger generation and the most advanced.

Lu Huiqing was polite and patient, nodded with a smile, and was just about to say a few words to Shu Tan and then say goodbye.

Suddenly, sounds of noise and fighting were heard from the side of the street not far ahead.

Lu Huiqing's guards immediately put their hands on the weapons at their waists, and at the same time surrounded Lu Huiqing, Shu Tan and others, and took a vigilant posture.

Some people even came forward and began to investigate the situation like the spies in the army.

(End of this chapter)