Ping An Biography

()Jingdezhen, Jiangxi is a well-known place for porcelain, but it seems particularly quiet at this time.The wind, dust and movement caused by horseshoes on the post road in the direction of Duchang County is a bit eye-catching, because ordinary people seldom ride horses, and there are only three or two messengers traveling to and from the post road. Such a whole team of horses is really rare.The horse team stopped at the city gate on the bank of the Changjiang River, and a group of people led the horses into the city.Jingdezhen has long been a county seat in the Ming Dynasty, with city towers.But the city is still beautiful.Courtyards with blue tiles and white walls can be seen everywhere, like a beautiful landscape painting under the green mountains and green waters.

One of the cavalry was Yu Qian, the governor of Jiangxi Province, but he didn't wear official clothes, and he wore a green robe and square scarf like a scholar-bureaucrat who traveled all over the world.In this situation, Yu Qian suddenly sighed a little: "If he is lucky enough to take off his black yarn and go back to hiding, this place is really a good place."

Most of the companions were military generals, so naturally most of them couldn't see the mystery of it, and just echoed it casually.

Yu Qian and others just came from Duchang County in the southwest of Poyang Lake. Because the northern government army increased troops to Chizhou and Huizhou in the south, the plain on the west bank of Poyang Lake adjacent to the boundary of South Zhili became an outpost. At this time it became a military center.Yu Qian visited Duchang several times, and this time he continued eastward, all the way to Jingdezhen.

On the spot, Yu Qian found that Jingdezhen was indeed not a military important place.The mountains and rivers here are beautiful, but it is not conducive to the movement of the army. The terrain is high in the northeast and low in the west. It is very unfavorable to face the east to threaten and resist the enemy.Moreover, Jingdezhen's city fortifications obviously did not consider military use too much. The inland hinterland is peaceful all year round, and the handicraft industry and commerce are developed. It is just a place with a prosperous economy.

Sure enough, Wei Bin, the general who was accompanying him, couldn't help but said: "There's nothing to see here, since you're here, let's see the local blue and white porcelain and learn a lot."

Yu Qian was noncommittal.Of course he understands that this place is easy to get and hard to keep, and he knew it before he came here.However, in addition to producing blue and white porcelain, Jingdezhen is also a land of fish and rice, and there is no shortage of military expenses, food and grass; if there is a force here, it can form a corner with Duchang County in Poyang Lake, and have the momentum to actively defend and defend China and Tibet; As for giving up all places on the west bank of Poyang Lake for passive defense.

This is also the reason why he came here personally, otherwise he would not be in the mood to see the famous blue and white porcelain at this time.

Another general murmured: "A horse that has been running for a long time has its sun head on its head. It is so hungry that it can't eat porcelain. Let's see what it does. I think it's better to find a restaurant first. Let's eat out of our own pockets."

Yu Qian thought it was kind, so he agreed with the accompanying people to find a restaurant for dinner.A group of people came to a restaurant, and the guards went to tie the horses, and everyone went in together.The shopkeeper greeted him with a smile, and the general in cloth robes asked what delicious dishes he had. The shopkeeper pointed to the wall and said, "The spicy chicken in our shop is a famous local dish. I heard that the accents of the guest officers are not local. You can taste it if it is spicy."

People have lived in Huguang for a long time, so they eat spicy food.Since ancient times, the dishes in Huguang, Sichuan Province have been famous for their spicy taste, but Jiangxi is also among Zhongbo.

Yu Qian saw a painting on the wall pointed by the store with pictures and words. He was a literati, and he couldn't help but want to take a look when he saw something with words.Going up to take a look, I saw a portrait of a person wearing an official hat painted on it, and some words were written on it. It said that a local scholar took the imperial examination during the Hongwu period. Noodles, tasteless, bad taste, so poor performance... Yu Qian saw a smile on the corner of his mouth, thinking that the capital was in Nanjing during the Hongwu period, and why did the imperial examination go to the north?He didn't care, and continued to read the story in the text.Then, during the one-year examination, the scholar-bureaucrat who went to Beijing hired a cook in Jingdezhen to go to Beijing to cook for him. The cook made spicy chicken very delicious. Later, he became a high official and so on.After the cook returned to his hometown, he simply opened a restaurant, and this is it...

Soon the store and Xiaoer served the dishes together, and Yu Qian said casually: "The capital of Hong Wunian was in Nanjing. The shopkeeper should change the story and say that the scholar is not used to sweet and sour food. Jiangsu and Zhejiang dishes are served with vinegar and plums. , and the desserts are also well done.”

"Yi Xiao is so generous." The shopkeeper said with a smile, "Someone has said it before, but it's troublesome, so I just laughed objectively, and it can't be taken seriously."

Yu Qian picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks, and the general at the same table also picked up his chopsticks, which was very disciplined.This chicken is dried and fried in oil. The skin is crispy, and the spiciness and spices are incorporated into the meat. It is really delicious, but the taste is a bit heavy.

At this moment, a young man in a robe came in from the door of the store, he took off his big hat, took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, and shouted in Jiangxi dialect: "Boss, here is a plate of spicy chicken. "

The shopkeeper replied: "A plate of spicy chicken. Serve a pot of tea first."

Yu Qian put a piece of chicken on the chopsticks in his hand and just put it to his mouth, when he put it down suddenly, he turned to look at the young man.This person is none other than Wang Jian!Who is Wang Jian?One of Yu Qian's aides had followed him a long time ago. When the court was fighting openly and secretly with the Han people, Yu Qian went to Nanjing to accompany Zhang Ning to the capital. The main entourage he brought was Wang Jian. The two had a deep friendship.Wang Jian is not from Jiangxi, so he has learned some dialects for some reason... The key is why he came to Jingdezhen?

Wang Jian's knowledge, talent and handling of affairs are very mediocre in Qian Qian's eyes, but there is a rare spirit in this person's bones, and most of them have the tragic loyalty of the ancient Yanyun righteous man.He has always been a staunch supporter of Yu Qian's ambitions, and he has followed him for a long time; but after Yu Qian was secretly arrested in Changde City, he separated from Wang Jian, and today is the first time they have met since then.

"Hey!" Wang Jian suddenly exclaimed, and he immediately left his seat and walked towards this side, making a gesture to take a closer look, "I didn't recognize the wrong person, Mr. Yu?"

The eyes of the generals and entourage had already focused on this stranger.Yu Qian had no choice but to say: "So it's about cultivating virtue."

Wang Jian hurriedly bent down to worship: "Students never imagined that they would meet here, and pay respects to their teacher."

"Okay, okay." Yu Qian remained calm, but his heart was a little nervous, and he said to Wei Bin temporarily, "His name is Chen Yangde, and he taught in Jiangxi before. I had teachers and students with him when I was an official in Jiangxi." fate."

Wang Jian didn't show any flaws, and claimed that his surname was Chen.With Yu Qian's permission, he put the bowls and chopsticks here to sit at the same table with Yu Qian, sighed for a while, and recounted a few words of old friendship.However, Yu Qian was in a very complicated mood when he said face-saving words in front of people, and he controlled his emotions.

After lunch, Yu Qian was not in the mood to walk around the city, so he went straight to the county government office to meet the officials, and then the group settled down in the county government office.

Yu Qian met Wang Jian alone in his room, and the two chatted with each other asking and answering.While talking, Yu Qian took a pen and paper and wrote: "Be careful that the walls have ears. What are you doing in Jiangxi?"

Wang Jian wrote below: "At the order of Yang Butang, Shangshu of the Ministry of War, I came to be a lobbyist."

After all, the two have known each other for many years, and they have a tacit understanding. With just such a sentence, there is no need to talk about reasoning.Yu Qian was silent for a while and wrote: "Where are Yangde's family members?"

Wang Jian wrote: "I have been taken to Nanjing. But my teacher doesn't have to worry about it..." His pen paused, "The students are not forced to come here, and it is false to be a lobbyist, but it is to solve the confusion in their hearts. .”

Yu Qian casually asked him about the imperial examination, and wrote: "Why are you confused?"

"The righteousness of the world, loyalty to the emperor, repaying one's body, serving the country and the people, going through fire and water without regret. This is the ambition that my mentor has pursued throughout his life. Why is he accepted as an official by a traitor?"

Yu Qian was a little confused, and he was also asking himself, why is he in such a status now?The world is impermanent, and some things cannot be applied by righteousness.Yang Shiqi's experience, his own experience, and many reasons combined, had to come to this point.

But when asked by his own students, he seemed to be stopped.It is really impossible to admit in front of Wang Jian that the reality has affected his ideal direction.He wrote with difficulty: "Be loyal to the world, not just one person. The matter has come to this point, and the rest of Jianwen's party cannot be flattened, and it must go through the disaster of war. Emperor Jianwen's name is justified, and King Xiang also has a heart for the people, so he voted for him; the original ambition has not changed."

Wang Jian wrote: "Yang Butang of the Ministry of War took the students to face the saint, and the emperor said that as long as the mentor makes atonement, the past will be past."

After seeing it, Yu Qian thought to himself, cultivating virtue is really not what an official is made of.He wrote back: "I have made up my mind, I can't care about my official career. You should return to Nanjing quickly and don't stay too long. Don't let your family members be implicated innocently. I can't bear it."

After finishing writing, Yu Qian said loudly: "I have official duties, and I can't travel with Yangde. It's not too late to talk about his fate."

Wang Jian sighed slightly, and had no choice but to stand up and say goodbye: "The teacher is busy with something, and the student is inconvenient to bother me, so I leave."

Yu Qian picked up the paper on the table, put it on the candle, threw it into a teacup, then poured water to flush it, and printed it with his head up.Shen Sheng said: "Leave Jiangxi immediately, the sooner the better."

Wang Jian bowed, "Student understands your difficulties."

……

At this time in the Nanjing Imperial Palace, Zhu Zhanji had some words with the two important ministers, and then remembered to mention: "That Wang Jian can't convince Yu Qian."

Yang Rong said: "Your Majesty is wise. Wang Jian and Yu Qian have a very close friendship. It would be great if he could fulfill his mission by accident, but I did not send him because of this. Yu Qian was valued by Yang Shiqi when he was in court, and he also received the emperor's kindness. This person can’t do this unless he has real talent and learning. He is a sensible person. Since he first betrayed his father and devoted himself to a thief, if he betrayed the remnants of Jianwen and put his teacher Yang Shiqi in an embarrassing situation, his reputation will not be preserved. It will be difficult to do anything in this life. Your Majesty Jin Kouyu's words to absolve him of his crimes are solid, there is no need to question them, but how will he face the officials after he returns to the court? Yu Qian must have been on guard against liquidation after the event... I am afraid he will not come back."

Yang Rong went on to say: "However, it is not easy to be a 'rebel'. It is obvious that Yu Qian's identity cannot be fully trusted by the King of Xiang. At this critical juncture, Wang Jian only needs to meet with Yu Qian, and Wuchang will find out. How will they feel? As long as they are separated from each other, it is trivial to eradicate Yu Qian. The key lies in the tens of thousands of rebels who were recruited by the Hanwang Army in Jiujiang. Yu Qian spent a lot of effort to win over the rebel army. The Hanwang rebels will be rewarded. I am grateful to you, and I only believe in Yu Qian; once Yu Qian loses his military power, how will these tens of thousands of people be used by the remnants of Jianwen?"

"Very good." Zhu Zhanji nodded, and then said to Zhang Fu, "Duke Yang's strategy is available, and the court soldiers and horses can also defeat the bandits in a majestic formation. Why should Jiangxi Huguang be upset?"