The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

After Zhang Dai entered the house, everyone went to a pavilion by the lake and sat down. The weather had entered autumn, and it was a little cold during the day. The servants brought a heater, a water basin, and a tin wine pot.

There were six people sitting in the pavilion, namely Wang Wenlong, Zhang Yaofang, Tao Yunjia, Yuan Wuya, Feng Menglong and Ye Zhouze.

Everyone talked while warming themselves by the fire. First, they talked about opera creation for a while, and Yuan Wuya talked about "The Story of Pipa" that Ye Zhouze was reviewing recently.

Ye Zhou shook his head and said, "I have encountered some difficulties in writing books in the past two days. There is nothing new."

Yuan Wuya winked and asked, "Is it because you have no inspiration because you are away from a woman?"

Tao Yunjia laughed and said that he could take Ye Zhouze to the Qinhuai River.

Ye Zhou let everyone tease him with a smile on his face, and said to Tao Yunjia: "Brother Tao, don't break your promise. I heard that there are many talented women on the Qinhuai River, but I have never really seen them since I came to Nanjing."

Feng Menglong was also a frequent visitor to the entertainment venue. After hearing this, he recommended: "Nanjing has many talented women, especially the Qinhuai River. It has been a gathering place of culture and culture since ancient times, and the women it gave birth to are even more extraordinary."

The Qinhuai River is right next to the Confucius Temple in Nanjing. The Confucius Temple gathers the Jiangnan Gongyuan, the Confucian Temple, and the Academy. It is the place where the most cultural atmosphere in the entire Jiangnan is gathered. Many of the most powerful aristocratic families in Nanjing also live nearby. It is really the golden powder of the Six Dynasties.

But to put it another way, next to the world-famous Confucian Temple is the world-famous red light district. Directly opposite the Nanjing Confucian Temple Archway, the "World Wen Shu", are the brothels and flower boats. This scene is indeed magical.

Speaking of women, everyone began to comment on the famous talented women at this time. Zhang Yaofang praised Wang Wenlong: "I think Mrs. Jianyang's calligraphy post is the best among women in the world. I have also read your lady's calligraphy, and it is quite interesting. It has the charm of Wang Youjun.”

Zhang Yaofang has devoted himself to practicing calligraphy for more than 40 years and is quite proficient in this art. According to history, he later failed to pass the imperial examination. After donating his official position, he relied on his calligraphy skills to make a long history in the family of King Lu, which is equivalent to a well-established history. Qing Ke.

As soon as these words came out, the topic finally turned to Wang Wenlong. Feng Menglong praised: "Jianyang's article is also a masterpiece. Jianyang's discussion of nationalism in "On the Nation-State" is really precise."

"It's just some analysis, many of which are extremely difficult to achieve in the short term." Wang Wenlong said.

Ye Zhouze on the side also joined the discussion: "I think that all the theories in the world today want to help the world and save the people, but they often end up looking for chapters and excerpts, and quarreling among themselves because of some differences in ideas. And Jianyang's book analyzes human nature , but it can clearly explain the reasons behind the thoughts of many factions, and really peel off the cocoons. This can show the brilliance of it."

Ye Zhouze is definitely a talent. He has a wide range of knowledge. He not only reviews opera novels, but also writes "The First Commentary on the Four Books", "The Second Commentary" and other works that comment on the Four Books and Five Classics. Moreover, the version of the review is not very criticized. Moreover, he not only has a profound foundation in Confucianism, but also has in-depth research on Buddhist and Taoist theories. He is a genius who blends hundreds of schools of thought.

At this time, Ye Zhou praised: "Although Jianyang's theory of nationalism is somewhat different from reality, it may be difficult to implement, but if you think that nationalism cannot work because of this, then you are deceived."

The other four people also nodded.

Everyone present, including Ye Zhouze, were all cutting-edge literati at this time, and they all had a positive attitude towards nationalist ideas.

This can be attributed to the scholar movement in Jiangnan at this time. The rise of officials and businessmen actively participated in politics. Originally, the people in Jiangnan supported Donglin. However, since Donglin became more powerful, the party's political correctness burden was a bit too strong, and the emerging literati gradually People who feel that the Donglin Party is suppressing them can’t breathe, and everyone is looking for a new theoretical basis for social movements that is more in line with their tastes.

Naturally, the new nationalism was also targeted.

In fact, there were already some groups in Jiangnan at this time that were inclined to Wang Wenlong's theory, such as the "Wealth of Nations" reading group organized by businessmen such as Mao Wenlong, and the Jiangnan Physics Society organized by Xu Guangqi and others, but they had not yet become a force on the stage.

The launch of "On the Nation-State" will undoubtedly add fuel to this process.

After listening to Ye Zhouze's evaluation, Yuan Wuya on the side said: "The principles are common, but the actions are not the same. Just like this "On Nation and State", no matter how reasonable Jianyang said, it doesn't matter. Jiangnan is about to be sealed off..." Wang Wenlong was stunned when he heard this. He had long felt that Yuan Wuya was not in high spirits today, so he quickly asked: "What happened?"

Wang Wenlong went to Chengdetang in Fuzhou to publish the Fujian version of "On Nation-State". The first edition printed 2,000 copies. When he left Fuzhou, less than half of them had been sold. Because "On Nation-State" was an academic book, its audience was not large. , it is already very good to have such sales volume, Chengdetang will definitely make money.

Before Wang Wenlong came to Suzhou, Yuan Wuya had already asked him for a manuscript. Wang Wenlong signed the copyright of Jiangnan's "On Nation and State" to Yuan Wuya's Shu Zhitang.

He knew that Yuan Wuya came to Nanjing this time to publish this book. Now it sounds like his work is not going well.

"Nanjing didn't dare to criticize it," Yuan Wuya said in a disappointed tone. "Previously, the sample book of "On the Nation and the State" was sent to the Secretary of the Suzhou Prefecture School, but it was stuck for five days without any news. I went all over the place to inquire about it. That guy was recommended by Liu Chengxin. He was afraid that Eunuch Liu wanted to embarrass us and hurriedly came to Jiangnan to find connections. After hearing the news this morning, Liu Cheng was afraid that he came here just for Jianyang and wanted us to take the lead. "

Wang Wenlong also frowned when he heard this. Liu Cheng obviously hated him.

Liu Cheng was not a man of high moral character and had no good reputation in history. Wang Wenlong had hindered him from making money before, so it was not surprising that he hated him, but it was a pity that he had implicated Yuan Wuya.

Wang Wenlong asked: "Is there any loss to Shuzhi Hall?"

"The first draft is a movable type version. Si Yue stopped me at the first step. It hasn't been officially started yet, so I haven't lost anything." Yuan Wuya said helplessly: "It's useless to talk about this, everyone. It's better to talk about knowledge. It's my fault for mentioning it. I'll punish myself with a drink."

Yuan Wuya brought a glass of rice wine and drank it. Everyone sighed and could only change the topic back.

Ye Zhouze said: "I think that in order to promote nationalism, there must be relevant clubs."

"Brother Wentong, this nationalist club is probably vulnerable to attack." Wang Wenlong quickly reminded.

Ye Zhouze smiled and said: "I'm not setting up an editorial to comment on politics. I'm just discussing the contents of the book together. What's there to attack?"

Wang Wenlong shook his head and said: "It is impossible to talk about nationalism without talking about actual politics. Over time, there will definitely be people in the society who want to develop in the direction of current politics."

Ye Zhouze said: "The Jianyang book believes that if our Chinese nationalism appears, it must arise from external expansion or foreign invasion. To resist foreign invasion or organize external expansion, how can it be achieved without a group? ?”

"What I'm talking about is the future. At least relevant groups must be formed when they have sufficient strength." Wang Wenlong disagreed and said: "If we form that group now, it will be rootless in the end."

"I think we should do it in a planned way," Zhang Yaofang also said: "It is better to write a pamphlet to promote nationalist ideas, and then recruit colleagues to organize a club. If the number of people is large, we can hold regular meetings in the future, and gradually we can This nationalism has developed into a force that can invade every house."

Wang Wenlong was secretly surprised. Both Zhang Yaofang and Ye Zhouze were people who had organized poetry gatherings and had strong execution capabilities. Zhang Yaofang also had an unusual vision. The development method he mentioned was that of the Donglin Party and Fushe in this era. , and the subsequent rise of various societies known as "Donglin Houxue".

In the 31st year of Wanli, it was still some time before the Donglin Party officially held regular meetings at Donglin Academy. Zhang Yaofang had actually seen this path thoroughly.

(End of this chapter)