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

Chapter 79 "The Theory of Heavenly Evolution"

Some businessmen have already been scolded and are angry. They feel that the scholars of the Ming Dynasty are unreasonable, and they are beating them to death just to discriminate against them and are unwilling to listen to the example of the Portuguese country.

When they heard that Wang Wenlong denied the Portuguese method, they felt that Wang Wenlong was on the side of those scholars.

Someone said angrily: "Mr. Wang originally looked down on us doing business. Even though he knew Portugal's process of enriching the country and strengthening its military, he still used the theory of the Four Peoples to suppress us and refused to learn Portugal's mercantile methods."

Wang Wenlong heard this and said: "I am not taking sides. Portugal was not defeated by Spain in the end. It can be seen that the Portuguese business methods have merits, but they are not the best."

"The Portuguese themselves are changing their business methods. If the Portuguese still only rely on businessmen, why do they fill so many missionaries in Xiangshan O?"

"The Portuguese relied on trade in the merchant houses, but they couldn't defeat the Spanish. The Spanish had a larger territory and relied on colonies, but they were about to be unable to defeat the Netherlands and Britain. So the Dutch relied on chartered companies, which was another way. "

"These small European countries all adopt different methods to strengthen their countries just because their situations are different. Think about it, how different is the difference between Portugal and the Ming Dynasty? How is it possible that the Ming Dynasty can be made rich and powerful by just following the same method?"

The indignant businessmen were finally speechless.

They were still angry because the scholars still disagreed with the mercantilism they thought was reasonable, but the series of examples Wang Wenlong cited left them at a loss as to how to argue.

At this moment, hundreds of people had gathered in the courtyard, with Wang Wenlong at the center listening to his speech.

The bustle in this inn attracted many guests from surrounding inns to come and have a look.

"Who is that scholar who is surrounded?"

"I don't know. His accent doesn't sound like he's from Pucheng. He's probably a big shot somewhere."

"Then the master stopped the scene with just one word. He must be very capable."

"This gentleman said it well. How can we in the Huanghuang Dynasty learn from the Portuguese methods? It is they who should learn from us."

……

The moon was high in the sky, and the drum watch outside had been played twice. Wang Wenlong said to everyone: "I didn't want to talk about such a big issue. I couldn't explain this kind of topic for a while, but I didn't expect it to come up here. It's getting late, and we all have to go on the road tomorrow, so why don't I say a few words and then we all go and have a rest."

Everyone fell silent and waited to hear Wang Wenlong speak.

Wang Wenlong said loudly: "Such a debate is not only being held by us in front of Xianxia Pass, but also by the Gonggun princes in the current dynasty, the scholars among the scholars, and even the people all over the world."

"Why? Because the world is changing! In just ten years, our country has fought three wars. The Mongols and Jurchens in the north, the Japanese pirates in the east, Yang Yinglong in the west have not yet been wiped out, and the Europeans have sailed ships on our southeast coast. Since then, since the opening and closing of Longqing, commerce has flourished. In order to collect business taxes, tax inspectors were sent out, which disturbed the people."

"Looking at today's territory, various factions and heroes have emerged together. What are they doing? Things are fighting for their own survival! Europe wants to develop, the Ming Dynasty wants to develop, the Mongols, the Jurchens, and Yang Yinglong of Bozhou all want to develop. Before the Ming Dynasty, Aren’t businessmen and literati also competing for these spaces for self-existence?”

"Everyone wants to survive, so they put forward various ideas and argue endlessly, but in the end who will succeed? Wang Wenlong can't give a judgment. He can only say eight words: natural selection, survival of the fittest!"

"Natural selection will preserve the best."

"The world will eventually develop. If you want to go back, you can't retreat. If you want to hide, you can't hide. All the princes think that the path they choose is a clear path. Which path is better will be determined by nature. There is a public opinion!" "The wind has started at the end of Qingping, and the world will look back on this situation a hundred years later!"

At this moment, the entire Ming Dynasty feels that the current situation is changing, but to what extent it will change, Wang Wenlong is probably the only one in the world who can predict.

At first, Wang Wenlong just wanted to make peace with both sides with some words, but as he spoke, he also became excited.

Everyone present, whether they were merchants, clerks, scholars, or servants, all fell silent. They all felt that the world was changing, but they couldn't express it. At this time, Wang Wenlong's words made everyone suddenly feel that they were on the cusp of a storm. Everyone is thinking according to Wang Wenlong's words: Where is the world going?
"Natural selection, survival of the fittest, a hundred years from now, the world will look back on this moment." What kind of life did the people live at that time?
Many ordinary people have never felt that the world's current situation is closely related to themselves. Following Wang Wenlong's words, they were excited and confused for a moment. The quarrel just now was instantly resolved by a larger emotion.

……

"Boom--boom, boom."

The watchman has called for the third watch.

After Wang Wenlong's words, the innkeeper also felt inspired. After a moment of silence, he said to everyone with a smile: "It's midnight. There are guests who have to get up early tomorrow and have to go on the road. It's better for everyone to go and rest first."

Everyone silently returned to their rooms. Before leaving, many people came up to greet Wang Wenlong, their actions were extremely respectful, and they all thanked Wang Wenlong for his words.

After everyone dispersed, Wang Wenlong and the other two went back to their rooms.

Ye Chengxue couldn't help but said to Wang Wenlong: "Jianyang's previous words really woke up the dreamer and made my spine tremble."

Huang Daozhou's face turned red with excitement, and he said to Wang Wenlong: "What Mr. Jianyang said has benefited the students a lot, and the survival of the fittest is selected by nature. It is really a wise saying. When the world is in chaos, it is me. It’s a moment for all generations to work hard.”

Don't talk about them, Wang Wenlong himself felt his face numb with excitement. As he was talking just now, he thought that the Ming Dynasty had reached the final moment of fate decision. Many historians of later generations believed that the fall of the Ming Dynasty actually began in Wanli. The Ming Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty had the opportunity to go to the sea, the Manchu and Qing Dynasties were in the process of rising, and Jiangnan was nurturing the buds of capital. Everything seemed to have a chance to change, but it seemed to be heading towards a deadlock.

Although Wang Wenlong had known for a long time that the situation in the world was not something that he, a little copywriter, could change. He couldn't tell what direction Ming Dynasty was going to take if he asked Wang Wenlong to guide him. But just now he couldn't help but uttered the words of Yan Fu's "Heaven". As he talked about the idea of ​​"Lectures", he felt a huge shock all over his body.

Maybe deep down in his heart he still wants to change the direction of the times?

But Wang Wenlong knew that what he could do was very limited. He said to Huang Daozhou: "It is extremely difficult at this time and cannot be changed by one person."

Huang Daozhou, on the other hand, said with a youthful spirit: "Then we should try our best to do it."

He thought for a while and said to Wang Wenlong: "Can the principle of natural selection mentioned by Sir be written down? I want to talk to people in Quzhou about its use."

Wang Wenlong thought that it might be a good thing for the literati at this time to understand the thoughts of "Tianyan Lun".

At that time, the southern branch of Kong Zong moved to Quzhou. Quzhou has a unique influence in today's Ming Dynasty literary world. If we can make friends with the Zhejiang Party, it can also reduce the partisan imprint on Wang Wenlong's interactions with the Donglin Party. So he nodded: " I’ll go back to the house and write an article for you.”

However, Huang Daozhou took the initiative and said: "Sir, I will record the dictation." His attitude was very respectful.

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(End of this chapter)