Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

The two of them drank a glass together, and Pang Chao's eyes were strange and he said: "Good wine, a perfect moon in the cup. It is refreshing and soft, with a sweet aftertaste in the mouth. It makes people feel like drinking moonlight."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "How lucky this wine is to be praised by Sir."

Pang Chao changed the topic and said: "This wine is not inferior to that of Du Kang, do you also have the ambition of Meng De?"

Jia Cong was well prepared and avoided answering, but said: "The day before yesterday, Mr. Cong asked me what my ambitions were. Cong went home and thought hard for a long time.

Then I remembered that a teacher in the academy once said, "If you are poor, you can be good for yourself; if you are rich, you can be good for the world." Then I suddenly became enlightened. "

"Oh? Please speak."

"Actually, the sages have already made this clear. We, the younger generation, are the least advanced in learning and lack knowledge, so we are ignorant.

The sage said that a gentleman should cultivate his moral character, manage his family, govern his country, and bring peace to the world. This actually means step-by-step, and people should not be too high-minded and ambitious.

If you don't cultivate your character first, you can't bring order to your family. If you can't bring your family to order, it's impossible to govern the country. If you can't govern the country, how can you bring peace to the world? "

Pang Chao twisted his beard and said with a smile: "That's a very good thing to say."

"Therefore, Cong's ambition also changes at any time according to the force and the situation.

In the beginning, Cong was nothing more than a concubine. He swallowed his anger and was looked down upon. All he asked for was three meals a day and no one to beat him or scold him.

Later, fortunately, he was enlightened by his ancestors, learned martial arts, and his spiritual apertures were greatly opened. All he wanted was to stand upright, exhale and raise his eyebrows.

Nowadays, with some meritorious deeds and wandering around the court, he is like sailing a boat in the angry sea, and there is always the danger of the boat capsizing and people being killed.

What you seek must be peace on the inside, progress on the outside, power over the government and the opposition, and coercion for a while. Do you think so, sir? "

Pang Chao nodded slightly and said: "This is very reasonable. If you are below one person and above ten thousand people, what will your ambition be?"

Jia Cong said solemnly: "Cong's original idea was to follow the crowd, eliminate dissidents, install confidants, unite party members, and live a life of enjoyment, but now that's no longer possible."

"Why is this?"

Jia Cong ordered his soldiers to present the spring-loaded gun and handed it to Pang Chao, saying: "This time when the bandits were suppressed, Cong almost died under this thing. Only then did he know that there is something beyond the sky.

Nowadays, the Western Yi countries came across the ocean and invaded the small countries surrounding the Celestial Empire. Once they established a foothold, how could they not covet the sacred land of the Celestial Empire?

At that time, what can we use to resist such sharp weapons? Therefore, the troubles of the celestial dynasty are both internal and external. This is why I dare not slack off. "

Pang Chao frowned slightly and said, "Your Excellency is as brave as a dragon, but you are so afraid of firearms?"

Jia Cong smiled bitterly: "It is precisely because Cong is so brave that we know the benefits of this thing. Since Cong is invincible, let me ask, who in the world can be defeated?"

Pang Chao said: "Then your ambition is to compete with the barbarians?"

Jia Cong nodded: "When fighting foreign affairs, we must first make peace at home. If one day, Cong can keep his word and follow the law, he must eradicate the country's long-standing evils, suppress all the clans, and recuperate with the people.

It is Cong's ambition to enrich the country and strengthen its military at home, and to learn skills from the barbarians outside. Even if he cannot conquer the four seas, he may not be able to protect the country and prevent the dynasty from falling under the iron heel of foreigners. This is Cong's ambition. "

Pang Chao couldn't keep up with his thinking, but he didn't know what was going on overseas. After thinking for a moment, he said: "Your Excellency's ambitions are not lofty, and I admire them very much. It's a pity that I don't have any advice. I feel ashamed."

"Why did you say this, sir? I only learned about these things recently. You live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, so there is no way to know. In the future, intelligence news from inside and outside China will continue to come, so you naturally know everything." Jia Cong said.

Pang Chao pondered for a moment and said, "Let's put aside distant matters for now. Do you have any high opinions on the situation of the DPRK?"

"I'm just going to ask for advice, sir. I just want to talk, drink, and eat." Jia Cong said hurriedly, pouring wine for Pang Chao diligently.

Pang Chao drank a few cups of wine, his face was rosy, and he said, "I heard that you beheaded more than ten families this morning?"

Jia Cong smiled and said: "The execution was ordered by the prefect of Jinling."

Pang Chao shook his head and said: "A small trick is of no use. This time, you and Governor Gu, overtly and covertly, joined forces to wipe out the wealthy families in Jiangnan and forcefully push the new law. It will benefit the country and the people, but the consequences will be huge. A catastrophe is imminent. ”

Jia Cong was startled. Thinking of Gu Tao's words, he calmed down a bit and asked suspiciously: "What do you mean by this, sir? Please clarify."

"The new method is suddenly marching south of the Yangtze River. It seems to be as powerful as splitting bamboo. Don't you hear that its advance is rapid and its retreat is rapid?

Jiangnan officialdom has no foundation for the new law. If you and Governor Gu fall, the aristocratic families will inevitably rebound. Who can maintain the new law in Jiangnan? Pang Chao said.

"This..." Jia Cong frowned, but he didn't consider this issue.

"Once the Jiangnan incident is reported back to Shenjing, the court will inevitably be in turmoil. This move has already damaged the foundation of the old party, and there will be a fight to the death.

You've even destroyed the Su family. Wouldn't the old party be the same enemy? With the power of the new party, can it resist it? Can you and Gu Tao be saved? Pang Chao said.

"This... where is the Holy Spirit..." Jia Cong said hurriedly.

Pang Chao smiled and said: "If the ministers are angry, do you think the emperor will protect you two, or the overall situation of the court?"

The greatest possibility is to sacrifice you two to bring peace to the world and preserve the fruits of the Jiangnan New Law. This is already a better result.

Seeing that you have made great achievements in promoting the new law, at most you will be dismissed from office, but your life will not be affected.

If the old party does nothing and treats it calmly, then ruthless measures will come back to bite you and Gu Tao's lives at risk. "

Jia Cong was startled, then smiled and said: "Sir, don't be alarmist. If the old party has that ability, can the new party still have a foothold in the court?"

Pang Chao glanced at him and said: "Don't forget, the Supreme Emperor is still here in the palace. You are killing people like this in Jiangnan, and you can imagine the scholarly style.

The new law is beneficial to the country and the people, but it is not beneficial to the current emperor. In addition, the old party is instigating and instigating. If the emperor opens his mouth, it will not only be you two, but the new law may be in danger. "

Jia Cong said in a deep voice: "After this, the old party will definitely want to get rid of me and then hurry up, but now we have great talents and great plans, how can we let them do whatever they want?

When Gu Tao and I are done, won’t everyone in the new party be in danger? Wouldn’t the great cause of the new law be ruined in one day? "

Pang Chao looked at Jia Cong as if he were a fool and said, "If you place your hope on the Emperor and wait for him to open a golden mouth to save your life, you will definitely die."

"Sir, help me." Jia Cong quickly gave up.

"I predict that when you return to Beijing this time, the people in the old party will not attack rashly, but will make careful plans before deciding the outcome in one fell swoop, so we must make plans in advance.

The emperor will definitely reward you, but he will not reward you generously, so as not to irritate the old party and cause unnecessary problems. There is no need to say more about the New Party, we will protect you with death.

Therefore, first, we must try our best to win over the fence-sitters so that they will not fall to the old party;

Second, we must divide the old party so that it cannot form a united force;

Third, you must win the support of the inner court. Queen Su Wen has repeatedly shown favor to you, so you should take advantage of it;

Fourth, we must muddy the water and lure wolves into the house. I am planning this for you. Pang Chao said.

Jia Cong muttered: "Sir, I understand one or two of them, but I still need to explain the last two.

It turns out that the Fei family has something to do with the wealthy family colluding with bandits to cause chaos, so I wanted to take advantage of the situation to get rid of them.

However, Zitai said that this move was inappropriate, as he might trap the queen in injustice and himself in the struggle for the right to inherit the throne, so Cong did not dare to act rashly. "

Pang Chao said with a smile: "Gu Zhitai's words are very kind. Although it does not cost the family, it does not mean that we cannot secretly help the queen, and your majesty will not be suspicious."

"Sir, please enlighten me."

"Master Zhutai please pay homage to the Fei family and say that the eldest prince's mother's clan is not trivial and does not need to be equated with other clans, so that he can avoid enacting new laws to make him arrogant. He will not doubt his existence and accept it calmly.

After returning to the capital, he secretly reported the Fei family's crimes to the Holy Emperor, saying that the matter involved the eldest prince's mother's family, and he did not dare to make any move, but would ask the Holy Spirit for judgment.

This not only saved the face of the eldest prince, but also laid the seeds of trouble for the Fei family, making them increasingly arrogant. It also fulfilled the duty of a minister and did not make His Majesty jealous.

If she secretly leaks this news to Concubine Shun, Concubine Shun is eager to protect the family and will definitely try her best to defend the Fei family... Your Majesty is so wise, how can you not know right from wrong?

Every time Concubine Shun begged, it was like stabbing the Fei family with a knife. In the future, every time the Holy Emperor thought of the misdeeds of the Fei family, how could he not vent his anger on Concubine Shun and the eldest prince? " Pang Chao said. Jia Cong's eyes lit up: "If I reveal my presence in front of the queen again, the queen will be grateful to me. She should be able to reciprocate my kindness. If there is any disaster, she will lend a helping hand. "

Pang Chao nodded: "That's exactly the reason."

"Then what's the fourth point, stirring up trouble and luring wolves into the house?" Jia Cong asked hurriedly.

Pang Chao said: "The new law in Jiangnan is just like the new party beating the war drum. There is no possibility of turning around. In the future, the court will definitely be in a desperate situation. It is life and death. Only one of the two parties, the old and the new, can survive.

If the New Party wins, where will you go? It is inevitable that the birds will be wiped out and the dogs will be cooked.

If the old party wins, you will have many enemies and will be desperate. Even if the two parties are at loggerheads in the court, you still need another force to speak for you to check and balance, so as not to be controlled by the old and new parties.

As the saying goes, there are people in the court who want to be officials, and it is not just an empty lie. Before the new law is implemented, the new party can be used as assistance. After the new law becomes popular, your sword will be useless. "

Jia Cong took a deep breath, nodded and said: "What the teacher said is like an enlightenment. So what should Cong do?"

"Introduce the Jiangnan Socialist Party into the DPRK!" Pang Chao said.

Jia Cong was shocked: "Sir, I am neither a military minister nor a minister of the Ministry of Personnel. How can I decide who can become an official in the court?

What's more, I am in charge of Jinyi, so how can I dare to risk the disapproval of the world and interfere in the government affairs? "

Pang Chao smiled and said: "When the time comes, it will naturally fall into place."

"Sir, how can I guarantee that this socialist party will speak for me if he joins the government?" Jia Cong thought for a while and said.

Pang Chao said: "Most of the leaders of the major socialist parties today are officials who were demoted when the Supreme Emperor was in power. They have been away from the center for many years and have a shallow foundation in the government.

The new party is not tolerated, and the old party is afraid that they will go back and seize the position. If they get your help to return to the DPRK, how can they gain a foothold without forming an alliance with you? "

Jia Cong nodded in agreement and said, "Are these people from the new party or the old party?"

Pang Chao smiled and said: "There is no difference between the old and the new. If the new party is beneficial to me, then I will become the new party; if the old party is beneficial to me, then I will remain the old party. That's all."

Jia Cong laughed: "Sir, what you said hit the nail on the head."

Pang Chao drank a glass of wine, took a bite of the food, wiped his mouth, and said, "That's all that Chao can do. Can't we just eat your wine and food in vain?" He said it with the intention of seeing off his guests.

Jia Cong was stunned: "Sir, when you give me advice, don't you mean to help me?"

Pang Chao pointed to the food and wine in front of him and said with a smile, "It's just about paying for drinks."

Jia Cong shook his head and said: "Sir, you are joking. Mr. Cong Shi is both a teacher and a friend, how could he give up halfway?

The ancients would visit the thatched cottage three times and greet each other with their shoes turned upside down to show their sincerity. From today on, Cong will eat, live and walk with his husband and ask for advice morning and evening. I think his sincerity is no less than that of the ancients.

You see, I have brought all my daily necessities, so I won’t trouble you sir. "

"You... why are you doing this?" Pang Chao smiled bitterly.

Jia Cong smiled and said: "Isn't this also the motto of Jinshi Academy? Wherever sincerity leads, Jinshi will open up."

As a lecturer at the academy, sir, do you have to tell Cong that this sentence is nonsense? "

When Pang Chao met the scoundrel Jia Cong, he had nothing to say for the first time and could only sigh.

"Sir, life is too short, why bother sighing. As a poem says, don't think about the endless things outside you, and there is only so much you can do in your lifetime.

Maybe the gentleman will convince me in a couple of days and I'll go by myself, please. "Jia Cong raised his glass and said with a smile.

Pang Chao had no choice but to drink with him.

At the moment, Jia Cong didn't talk about politics with him. He just talked nonsense about how he wrote poems to capture the hearts of beauties, how he traveled across the battlefield and killed countless enemies, how he did business with various Jurchen tribes, made a fortune, and even got a pair. Twin concubines.

Lubricated by the wine, Pang Chao also opened up his chatterbox, talking about how he studied hard as a boy, how he was in high school, how he couldn't stand the atmosphere of the court, and wrote angrily to Emperor Changtai.

Talking about his interest, Jia Cong stood up, picked up the brush on the table, and drew a rough map of the world on the white wall based on his vague memory.

He pointed out: "Sir, please see, this area is the Celestial Dynasty, the Western Yi is here, this is the Tianzhu where Tang Sanzang studied scriptures, this is Goryeo, and this is Japan.

Now the Western Yi soldiers have traveled thousands of miles across the ocean and have arrived here, here, and here. They have become a force to surround the Celestial Empire. If we don't pay attention to it, it will definitely become a big trouble in the long run! "

Pang Chao, already ninety percent drunk, staggered over, looked at it for a long time, nodded and said, "The situation is indeed not optimistic."

"Sir, please look at these places. If you take Japan and Korea and connect these places, what do you think it will look like?" Jia Cong took a brush and drew a line to connect several places.

Pang Chao's drunken eyes were blurred and he said: "Like... a chain."

"Yes, this is the first island chain that locks the destiny of the celestial dynasty in future generations!" Jia Cong was drunk and spoke fluently.

"The first island chain? Is there a second island chain?" Pang Chao burped.

"Of course there is. Let me draw it for you. Coming from Yokosuka, passing through Guam, and ending here is the second island chain." Jia Cong said with a smile.

"How do you know about future generations?" Pang Chao looked at Jia Cong drunkenly.

"Uh..." Jia Cong was stunned and laughed dryly: "I guessed it."

"There are too many nonsense to talk about." Pang Chao smiled and waved his hand, walked to the couch, lay down and fell asleep.
-

Governor's Yamen

Gu Tao looked at the notices submitted from various places in Liangjiang and listened to the reports from subordinate officials.

"The yamen of Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou and other places reported the matter, and various aristocratic families requested the implementation of the new law."

"The yamen of Nanchang, Ruizhou, Yuanzhou, Linjiang and other places reported the matter and all the wealthy gentry families supported the new law and actively cooperated with the government to clear their land."

"The yamen of Anqing, Huizhou, Chizhou and other places reported it. There is no resistance to the implementation of the new law, and all officials in the family are respectful."

Gu Tao twisted his beard and laughed: "Jiangnan's new law has been completed!"

"It's all thanks to your lord's careful coordination and deployment." Everyone hurriedly bowed.

Gu Tao smiled and shook his head: "No, no, this new law is greatly promoted. Internally, you all worked together, and externally, Jia Du suppressed the people's thieves. It is not Tao's fault."

"Your Excellency, you are too modest. I can't wait to do what you are told, and I dare not take credit." Everyone laughed hurriedly.

Gu Tao smiled modestly, and then said: "Although these big families implement the new law, they may not be willing to do it, and we must prevent them from passing the burden on the people.

It is planned to announce that the land rent of tenant households in Liangjiang is not allowed to exceed last year's amount. However, those who dare to increase land rent without authorization and torture the people will be severely punished and will not be spared lightly! Anyone who complains will be rewarded with a hundred gold coins. "

"Yes, I'll do my humble job right now." An official bowed and left.

"You all go. Although the situation is very good now, we cannot slack off. We must keep an eye on everything to prevent changes," Gu Tao said.

"Yes."

Gu Tao pondered for a long time, then stood up slowly and looked at the bright moon in the sky, feeling excited.

The hard bone of Jiangnan was finally broken by me. I think all the princes in the capital should be happy after hearing the news.

Tao finally lived up to the emperor's kindness. Even if he suffered backlash, he had no regrets. (End of chapter)