Ming politicians

At the turn of spring and summer, it is the season for traveling, Su Tiancheng and Qu Qingze, with more than ten people, set off from Pingyang Fucheng.

The sky is very blue. After a group of people left Fucheng and entered the official road, the surrounding scenery slowly began to change. In the distance, you can see soft green mountains and lush forests, and you can see lush green grass nearby. Blooming wild flowers are surrounded by a natural fragrance, and the air quality is not only excellent.

The official road meanders and stretches into the distance. The so-called official road is no more than four meters wide, which means it can allow carriages and mule carts to pass. There are not many pedestrians on the official road. From time to time, you can see some people dressed as farmers, hurrying Walking in the direction of Fucheng, some people are carrying burdens, some are carrying baskets, and some women, with their children, are heading in the direction of Fucheng.

Su Tiancheng couldn't help shaking his head. The difference between people is that big. Girls who grew up in official families or wealthy families pay attention to staying at home and never run around for livelihood, but those in the countryside Women, you can't be particular about it. If you don't want to go out, you might be starving to death at home.

Occasionally, scholars can be seen along the road, almost all in carriages.

It is very simple to distinguish the difference between a scholar and a farmer. The main thing is to look at the clothes. Scholars generally wear long gowns, and their manners are exquisite. Midsummer is no exception. Farmers are different. They all wear shorts or double-breasted clothes. Conveniently, merchants who do business also wear robes to show their status. As for officials and gentry, they wear silk and satin, and they will never wear commoner robes.

Scholars also wear short shirts, but they are at home and cannot be seen by outsiders. Sometimes, when guests come to visit at home, the host has to change clothes in a hurry, and needs to wear long robes to receive guests. A kind of respect for oneself is also a respect for oneself.

"Brother, this time we are going to Henan. There are some basic requirements along the way. You still have to be clear. You seldom go out. This trip to Henan is more than 1000 miles away. It takes a month to go back and forth. There are many things that need to be paid attention to. of."

"There are a lot of bandits in the Henan area. We can only follow the official road. Don't think about going to the remote countryside to see it. The accommodation along the road is best in the county town or above the market town."

"Brother, your heart is actually very soft. This is what I'm most worried about. Along the way, we may meet some refugees. Don't be soft-hearted. You won't be able to save them."

"There is plenty of time. We don't need to hurry. We set off after midnight every day. Before the sun sets, find a place to stay and travel. Safety is the most important thing."

"If you have any suggestions, we might as well discuss how to deal with it. Going out is no better than staying at home."

After Qu Qingze opened the chatter box, he said a lot of knowledge. Su Tiancheng rarely interjected, but listened carefully. There were many situations that he needed to know urgently. Reading dead books would kill people, and he didn't know anything about it. , that is, after passing the examination of Juren and Jinshi, and being appointed by the court to be an official in a local area, his eyes are darkened, how can he be a good official? , the whole is a puppet.

Today's scholars also know the truth. After passing the county and government examinations and becoming a child student or a student member, they will find time to go out to study. The process of studying is actually a process of experience.

It's a pity that scholars always can't let go of their stinking airs. It is absolutely impossible to go to the homes of ordinary people to understand the situation, otherwise ordinary people will always call scholars sour scholars.This process of studying and practicing often turns into a process of making friends and finding a way.

In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, party disputes had become a chronic disease that was difficult to eradicate. The Donglin Party was one of the most famous and powerful. In fact, when Donglin Academy was first established, the starting point was very good. It was for the court. The couplets about the ups and downs, the sound of wind and rain, the sound of reading, the sound of reading, family affairs, state affairs, world affairs, and everything concerned, was proposed by Gu Xiancheng, the leader of the Donglin Party. The famous Eight Gentlemen of Donglin are also well known to the outside world. Unfortunately, these People, as early as the Wanli period, have passed away one after another. The Donglin Party has lost its original purpose when it developed to the present. It has been single-minded in the pursuit of power, and has even done some mediocre things in order to gain power.

But the clear stream advertised by the Donglin Party is still the goal pursued by the students.

Throughout the dynasties, party struggles have always existed. There used to be a saying that there is no party in the party, the emperor thinks, and there is no faction in the party.The existence of party struggle requires a prerequisite, that is, when the country and the nation are facing life and death, party disputes must be abandoned. However, by the end of the Ming Dynasty, this kind of thinking no longer existed. Everything was for its own benefit. The rise and fall of the court Life and death are no longer the main issues.

Because of the existence of party struggles, the travel of scholars has become a very practical choice. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the sufferings of the people, and it’s not a big deal if you don’t know the people’s livelihood.

During the reign of Tianqi and Chongzhen, the backbone of scholars has become particularly important. Unfortunately, this kind of backbone has become a hypocritical expression, a manifestation of flaunting one's own value. For the sake of backbone, you can disregard the life and death of ordinary people. You can ignore the lives of others, and for the sake of your integrity, you can abandon the interests of the country and the nation.

And this kind of backbone that harmed the country and the people was also flaunted by the Donglin Party, and became one of the biggest chronic diseases in the late Ming Dynasty.

During this trip, Su Tiancheng was still in a good mood, and they had already determined the specific itinerary.

Departing from Pingyang Mansion, going to Quwo, Xiaxian, and Pinglu respectively, entering Henan from Shanxi Pinglu, and arriving at Luoyang, Zhengzhou, and Kaifeng in Henan. The whole journey is more than 1000 miles, and the round trip is more than 2000 miles. official way.

The main purpose of Su Tiancheng's traveling is to see the surrounding conditions. Traveling in this era is all done on horseback, or in a carriage, or on foot. There are no cars, trains or planes.Everyone rides Mongolian horses, and they can ride more than 100 miles a day. According to this arrangement, one month is more than enough.

Leaving Pingyang Fucheng, everyone hurried on their way.

"Brother, we can reach Quwo today, and we will rest in Quwo."

"Everything is under the arrangement of the elder brother."

"The purpose of this trip is to travel. There are not so many special things along the way. When you go to the country, you do as the Romans do. As far as staying in a hotel is concerned, we may not be able to live in a good room. I don't know if my brother is used to it."

"I came out this time mainly to follow my brother to learn and experience, not to enjoy, three meals a day and accommodation, there are not so many particulars, I just wronged my brother, I feel sorry."

"Brother, you are really interesting. You can talk like this. I often go out. I haven't experienced it before. You are a scholar. You need to get used to many aspects when you go out for the first time."

"Hehe, I always have to go through this, and I have absolutely no problem."

When a group of people entered Quwo, the sky had already darkened.

Although it was late, after entering the city gate, everyone's mood was still very good. Su Ertong and Su Jun had never traveled far, and they were surprised to see everything. As for Wang Dazhi, Although I have been in the monastery for many years, I have no experience of traveling.

It should be said that Wang Dazhi was the most nervous. He followed Su Tiancheng closely all the way, never leaving. Before leaving, he remembered Wang Furong's instructions clearly. Be careful, the young master's safety is no small matter, he has already been closely connected with his family, although it has only been a few months, but he has already been respected by everyone in the village, and his mother has a status in the village, and he doesn't worry about life, The body is getting better gradually.Moreover, the younger sister is the young master's personal servant girl, and her relationship with the young master is already extraordinary.

Qu Qingze accidentally gave Wang Dazhi a steel knife. Wang Dazhi was familiar with this thing. He had practiced it when he was in the monastery. He was always worried when he went out with bare hands. With this steel knife, Much more practical.Besides, the few people who followed Qu Qingze had all competed with Wang Dazhi. Although they fought alone, they were not Wang Dazhi's opponents, but their temperament had manifested, and they must be Lianjiazi.

When training the guards in the Su Manor, these people proposed some plans, the focus is on collective training, all training methods are close to the requirements of the army, Wang Dazhi is also studying hard, he feels that these people have all their money There is no reservation in the meaning of teaching, and in just over a month, the appearance of the nursing home has greatly changed.

It's all because of the young master. In his heart, the young master's status is supreme.

Wang Dazhi is this kind of person. Once he has a clear mind, he will be determined. The young master is not only his master, but also his family. If something happens to the young master, his task is to take revenge and follow the young master. <At the turn of summer, although it is the season of traveling, it is also the season of busy farming. On the first day, because he was busy on the road, Su Tiancheng didn't pay special attention to the situation around him. In addition, he was walking on the official road, so there were not many things he could notice. many.

Pingyang Fucheng is 110 miles away from Quwo. They set off early in the morning and arrived at Quwo when it was dark. Except for rest and eating time along the way, they were basically on horseback.

But after a day, Su Tiancheng's mood became not very good. Some of the situations he saw gradually confirmed his inner guess, which was enough to prove that Daming was already in the midst of the wind and rain.