I have a cornucopia

Chapter 219: Hundred Schools of Thought
"Princess, do you think His Majesty still has the support of the people?"

Yang Feng said very directly.

Princess……

The princess was speechless.

Indeed, how could her father still have the support of the people?
Although no one would say such things openly in front of her, she had been away from the capital for two years. She had been displaced during these two years, but because of Yang Feng's protection, she was not like her father and brother. However, what she saw and heard in the past two years was enough for her to have a clear understanding of this issue.

The Ming Dynasty had already looked like a doomed nation.

Hungry everywhere.

War rages.

Torn apart.

……

It is no less chaotic than any other time in history when a dynasty fell.

And her father is the emperor.

No matter how much she protects him, she knows that her father is the primary person responsible.

How can such an emperor still have the support of the people?

If he had the support of the people, he would not have been unable to gain a foothold in the capital and would have wanted to flee. If he had the support of the people, the whole country would not have been in rebellion. Even when Li Zicheng entered Beijing, no one fought for him. It can be said that his father had already lost the support of the people and could no longer maintain his rule.

"The Ming Dynasty has actually perished. The reason why it can still maintain its last bit of dignity is only because of a kind of inertia, or the various forces cannot find any other banner that can be barely accepted and everyone can make do with. It can be said that the local powerful gentry still need the name of the Ming Dynasty. After all, without this name, they don’t know how to get along with each other. After all, for them, there must be an emperor and a court. But there is none now, or they don’t like those who have the power now. Li Zicheng has this power, but to the powerful gentry, he is just a bandit after all. If they accept him as emperor, what if he confiscates their property like in the capital?
They didn't trust Li Zicheng.

The same goes for Dorgon.

Don't think that they would care about Dorgon's identity as a barbarian. The powerful gentry would not care about this because they had seen many barbarians surrender.

But Dorgon had just massacred Yangzhou and had shaved his head and changed his clothes, which made it difficult for the powerful gentry to like him. Although he could make various promises, the massacre in Yangzhou had proved that his promises were meaningless. First, he needed wealth to satisfy his subordinates, and the wealth was in the hands of the powerful gentry, so he could only rob the wealth of the powerful gentry to give to his subordinates. Second, he obviously could not control his subordinates. According to Huang Shu's confession, Wang the salt merchant and he had already negotiated with Ajige to surrender the city, and he even explained the situation when the Qing army entered Yangzhou, but the Qing army still did not hesitate to start.

Even wanted to kill him.

The knife that hit Hou Fangyu's head was caused by the Qing army who wanted to kill Huang Shu, and he pulled Hou Fangyu over to block the knife.

Therefore, Dorgon could not control his subordinates, and his promises were useless. Once his subordinates saw the luxurious gardens of the powerful gentry in Jiangnan, filled with beauties and gold and silver treasures, who would care about Dorgon's promises anymore?

Did Dorgon dare to offend the public? He was only the leader of the two white flags, and the remaining six flags belonged to others. Even the white-bordered flag also belonged to Ajige. If he could lead his men to burn, kill and loot, they would listen to him. If he could not lead them to burn, kill and loot, then someone else would lead them. The powerful gentry knew this, so they did not dare to choose Dorgon, and there was no one else left. In the end, the Ming Dynasty was the only name that could be used.

It’s not that they are loyal to the Ming Dynasty, but that they still need the Ming Dynasty’s nameplate.

Similarly, for His Majesty, he has already lost his kingdom, but he is still respected as His Majesty now. It’s just that the local powerful gentry feel that there is no need to change it. After all, he can’t control anything.

Just a tablet.

Putting it there won't get in the way.

Do you understand it?
It's not because he is still supported by the people and still qualified to be the emperor, but because no one can find a replacement for him, and he is under house arrest, so he will not affect others. This is why he can continue to be the emperor. Anyone who can replace him will not recognize him.

Similarly, if he causes any trouble to others, they will not recognize him either.

He was lucky to be able to maintain his dignity. Otherwise, wouldn't it be difficult for the gentry in Jiangnan to support a royal family member as the new king?"

Yang Feng said.

"So what I can do now is to try my best to appease them and let them continue like this?"

said the princess.

"Yes, just like a paperhanger, we try our best to maintain the dilapidated house of Daming, which should have collapsed, and make it look like a house. At least we have to hold on for a few years. As for the future, no one knows what will happen. We have to take it one step at a time. The world is in chaos now, and we don't know where to go.

But it’s never wrong to stay alive.

After all, the one who survives to the end is the winner, and the one who defeats all the enemies is the victor.

This is a change that hasn’t happened in three thousand years!”

Yang Feng said with emotion just like Li Erguizi.

In fact, this is not simply to persuade the princess. After all, he himself cannot say what will happen in the future. At least for now, it will be enough if he can just survive. If he can kill everyone else, he will of course win.

As for the road ahead...

He can't see it either!

The Ming Dynasty is already in such a mess, who can foresee the future?
"But we can't just do nothing, can we?"

The princess said with some distress.

Yang Feng looked at her.

"If you really want to do something, it's not impossible. Since they are talking about public opinion, it can't just be a group of elders. Besides, even if it's just them, the people have to know about it. They might as well make it bigger and designate a place in the capital to debate it in the future. As for this time, don't worry about it. They just want to find a reason to stop Li Zicheng. The result of the debate has been decided long ago, but they just use this method to make the result look like public opinion.

But since it is a debate and since it is about public opinion, it is certainly not limited to Confucian scholars.

Anyone can.

In this place, anyone can speak freely, as long as they are not advocating treason, rebellion, or promoting the worship of gods and Buddhas, etc., anything else can be said, and the speaker will not be guilty, as long as they are said there.

It is even allowed to throw money as a reward to those who are popular in the interview.

In ancient times, there were hundreds of schools of thought. We also have a hundred schools of thought in our Ming Dynasty.

You can even go and speak.

You have read so many books from me, and there are many things worth talking about. You can also tell the people about them. I can give you some more, and even select some content for publication."

Yang Feng said with a smile.

The princess blushed, but it was obvious that she was looking forward to it.

"Why?"

Kou Baimen said curiously.

"In order to prevent those elders and great scholars from controlling the people's thoughts."

Yang Feng said.

Let’s argue!

Everyone came to debate.

The end of the Ming Dynasty was an era when all kinds of thoughts began to sprout like weeds, but they were all crushed to death by the Qing Dynasty, and then the slave mentality was promoted. But now there is no such thing, and the people are extremely fond of those heretics, such as Li Zhi's popularity. Now the imperial power's suppression of thoughts has been weakened to almost zero...

No one cares at all.

Then give them a stage for debate.

This proposal obviously suited the princess's heart, mainly because she was bored in the palace. She played best with Yang Ying at Yang Feng's place before, so she was actually very active. If there was a place like this where she could listen to the debate openly, or even join in. And it would be best if it was far away from the palace, so that she could go out shopping openly. After all, the regent had no suitable reason to leave the palace, but with this debate place, she could go out under the pretext of listening to the lecture.

So the most suitable place...is of course Yuejiang Tower.

The farthest!

However, there is a fort there now, but this is not a problem. The fort is just on the top of a mountain, on the middle of a mountain, or at the bottom of a mountain. It is enough to find a place, build a square, and put a platform in the middle.

Finally, Yang Feng, who had discussed with the princess, left the palace in the twilight and boarded a ship to the west the next day. However, he did not take a fleet, but only found the fastest centipede-shaped oar boat. He did not bring soldiers with him, but went upstream to gather soldiers. The princess and the ministers, including the elders such as Gu Tianxu who had just arrived, bid farewell to Prince Yang at Longjiang Pass. Prince Yang went upstream in a small boat carrying the dreams of the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River. When he arrived in Wuhu, he received a new battle report that the Qing army besieging Anqing had withdrawn, and before that, the last batch of Qing troops crossing the river in Ma Dang surrendered, and the passage to the upstream was completely opened.

Of course, there is bad news too.

Li Zicheng, who was angered by Du Yinxi, waited for the warships on the Han River, and immediately led his army downstream to Jiujiang and began the attack.

Du Yinxi said in his report that he would live and die with Jiujiang.

Of course, it's of no use.

After all, the people of Jiujiang probably have no interest in this.

However, one million taels of silver can still bring certain effects.

It should be able to hold in the short term.

Anqing.

"It's better to be a centurion than a scholar! So now you understand the ambitions of those scholars in the Tang Dynasty?"

Yang Feng looked at the people in front of him.

They are all the last elites of the Ming Dynasty, or we can say the national heroes in history, Yang Tinglin, Wan Yuanji, Chen Zilong, Zheng Chenggong...

Now, of course, they are heroes.

"The snow-capped mountains are covered by long clouds in Qinghai, and the lonely city looks into the Yumen Pass in the distance. The yellow sand wears golden armor in a hundred battles, and Loulan will never return it until it is broken."

Yang Feng raised his glass and looked up at the sky.

then……

"Look at those corrupt scholars who kneel down before the sword even comes. What the hell are they? They are just a bunch of insects. How can the country be good? Scholars, you must be scholars first. What is a scholar? A scholar is someone who can pick up a sword and kill people. Confucius traveled around the countries with a sword, and his father was said to have lifted a thousand-pound gate.

I don’t even dare to lift it.

Of course, his may not be as heavy as the gate in Nanjing.

I have always said that if you have money and land but no military power, then you are just preparing for others. This has been the case since ancient times. From the Nanliang nobles who starved to death while carrying gold and jade to the Yangzhou salt merchants who were slaughtered a few days ago, every time there was a turmoil in the world, the result was the same. So I am very pleased that you finally understood my good intentions. Look at the swords on your waists. This is what a true scholar is. "

He said.

Yang Tinglin and others looked at this guy with some confusion.

After all, he doesn't look like a civil official at all.

Of course, considering that he is just a scholar, it is understandable. He is just a scholar. How much literary talent can he have? Who among us is not a Jinshi or a Juren?

"Your Majesty..."

Chen Zilong said quickly.

He had a relatively deep understanding of Yang Feng. After all, they had met many times. He knew that this guy, although called a Confucian scholar, was actually a bandit. Furthermore, he was a bandit who was strong enough to refuse advice and deceitful enough to cover up his mistakes. He had his own set of twisted theories and heresies. If he continued to talk nonsense, it would easily lead to a fight.

"Brother Wozi, you are being so formal again!"

Yang Feng said.

"Well, Fengsheng, Jiujiang is in danger now, and Fengsheng has been ordered to march west. We all obeyed your orders, but the soldiers are exhausted after a long battle, and many of them want to go home. In addition, the ammunition and food are exhausted, and we need to replenish them if we want to fight again."

Chen Zilong said.

They were ordered to come here to accept Yang Feng's orders.

However, not all the militias from Susong and Zhejiang came, and half of them were left to defend Chaoxian and other places. After all, they had to be vigilant against Dorgon. The same was true for the militias from Jiangxi. After all, the enemy was not just Dorgon. In the end, the total number of troops that were assembled for Yang Feng to go west was about 70,000. Together with the navy of Zheng Chenggong and Wu Zhikui, the total number of troops was more than 90,000. Although they were not weak in strength, most of them were from Jiangxi militia. The latter's defense was okay, and they could only be used as cannon fodder in field battles.

The core is still the Suzhou, Songjiang and Zhejiang militia.

But the problem is that they have been fighting since last winter, and this time they are fighting abroad, and they are not allowed to burn, kill or loot.

Morale was low.

In short, money is needed, and a lot of money is needed for stimulation.

Yang Feng immediately waved his hand.

"None of this is important. What's important is the spirit in our hearts, the righteous spirit. As long as we have this righteous spirit, everything else is not worth mentioning.

Send a message to all the troops to set out tomorrow and take advantage of the northeast wind to reach Jiujiang within five days!"

He said.

Then he walked outside proudly.

"What does he mean?"

Yang Tinglin asked Chen Zilong in astonishment.

"Solve it yourself and don't bother him. After all, he is just here to help. We are the ones who want to protect our hometown."

Chen Zilong said.

"What's the use of him then? He doesn't even bring soldiers with him?"

Wan Yuanji was also surprised.

"Everyone, we can't do without him. You haven't seen his ability, but Li Zicheng has. Even without our troops, he can go to Jiujiang alone. Li Zicheng will have to think carefully about whether he should continue to move forward. He is more terrifying than thousands of troops. We should quickly raise money to boost morale. I hope Du Zhongjian can hold on.

Yang Feng is right. We have to protect our own family business by ourselves and cannot rely on outsiders. "

Chen Zilong sighed and said.

Yang Tinglin was speechless.

Indeed, everyone is wealthy. His Qingjiang Yang family is the most important medicinal material merchant in the Ming Dynasty. Li Zicheng does seem to have turned over a new leaf now, but before he entered the capital, he was still a royal teacher. As a result, he turned his face and started to treat him like a king after entering the capital.

Dorgon cannot be trusted, and Li Zicheng cannot be trusted either.

I wouldn't dare bet on this kind of thing.

If you lose, your family will be destroyed.

If you want to be truly safe, you still have to keep him out of your home. Ultimately, your own destiny is in your own hands.

"I'd rather be a centurion than a scholar! After decades of studying sage books, I still have to pick up this musket in the end."

Yang Tinglin pulled out his pistol and smiled bitterly.

(End of this chapter)