Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 173 Breathing and Walking Rivers (4)

The Zhao family is at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, not far from the Guantiantai of the scholar's mansion, so Zhao Xingde did not need to ride a horse when he went to visit Li Rui.

There are more than a thousand caves on Mingsha Mountain, all of which hang on the side of the cliff, and there are many disciples of the scholar's residence. They are here with the Qingdeng Sutra, and they are tirelessly studying and proving the Tao.Several stone steps meander and circle, and it is winter. Walking on the path, I feel the wind is as sharp as a knife.Zhao Xingde climbed up the stairs and climbed to the viewing platform on the top of the mountain in one breath.The disciple who was on duty there said that Li Rui was waiting for his old friend to visit in the cave where he lived.Zhao Xingde couldn't help being taken aback, and thought to himself, "When will Dong Yan be able to predict the future?"

When I came to the cave where Li Rui lived, I saw it was empty. The servant said that Mr. Li had gone out with his friends.The theory of divination is, after all, vague.Zhao Xingde had no choice but to leave disgruntled, it was still early in the evening, he didn't want to make the trip in vain, so he simply wandered around the scholar's mansion.Three years ago, Zhao Xingde felt that the pavilions and pavilions of the scholar's mansion, together with the viewing platform on the top of Mingsha Mountain, were novel and impressive.After three years of being out of the garrison, I revisited my old place, but I felt a sense of intimacy.On the road, he came across literati and students dressed in Chinese clothes and with wide robes and sleeves. He smiled and bowed his hands in salute.He was wearing a newly sewn Confucian robe at home, with a calm and composed demeanor, everyone who came and went thought he was a scholar who came to study in the mansion.

While looking left and right, he suddenly heard someone calling the name "Xingzhi" behind him, Zhao Xingde turned his head to look, but it was not Li Rui.The visitor wears a shawl on his head and a bodice in his clothes, and his face looks familiar.Zhao Xingde was stunned for a moment, and then realized that he was Yuan Xingzong, the magistrate of Hua County who went to Dunhuang from Chang'an in the past, and he was one of the first people he met when he came to Xia Guolai.

Zhao Xingde cupped his hands and said with a smile: "It's true that we never meet again in life. Magistrate Yuan, late birth is polite." Yuan Xingzong is about forty years old.

Yuan Xingzong also bowed his hands in return, and said with a smile, "Don't come here without any harm." Walking to Xingde's side, Fang said, "I am no longer the magistrate of Hua County, and I work in the Tiance Institute of the Bachelor's Mansion. Yuan has traveled to the prefecture and county for a long time. It is also a rare opportunity to be able to sharpen the way of governing the country here."

Zhao Xingde was slightly surprised, he cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations to Bachelor Yuan." He has been in the army for three years, and he is also familiar with the court system.The Tiance Academy, the scholar's residence, is not simply a place for learning, it is actually like the Hanlin Academy of the Song Dynasty.The outstanding officials who govern the prefectures and counties are placed here to practice, to broaden their horizons, and to plan the affairs of the country and the world with the mind of the center of the imperial court.

Yuan Xingzong had a deep impression on Zhao De back then, and knew that this son was not only brave, but also had considerable talent, learning and insight, so he humbly said: "Straightforwardness is also something to be feared by later generations." Seeing that Zhao De seemed to be wandering aimlessly, he said: "If you don't go to Zheng Xiangtang when you travel to the scholar's mansion, you will return empty-handed like a treasure mountain. If you have time, you can follow Yuan to see it."

Zhao Xingde couldn't refuse, so he walked towards Zheng Xiangtang together with him.Along the way, Zhao Xingde asked: "Excuse me for being stupid, which prime minister is this Prime Minister?" Yuan Xingzong said with a smile: "Zheng Xiang is the son of a sage." Individuals like Zhao Xingde who have only a half-knowledge of the Confucianism and Daoism of Xia Kingdom, tried their best to explain it.

Zhao Xingde listened to his explanation, it turned out that Zheng Xiangtang, the scholar's mansion, had an oath from the founding emperor Le Shi, who wrote a letter saying "those who speak in the township school are not guilty".Later generations built the palace to remember it, because this was the legacy of Zichan, a sage in the Spring and Autumn Period. Zichan served as the prime minister of the state of Zheng.Zhao Xingde was a little puzzled, and asked: "Please forgive me for being stupid, in Zheng Xiangtang, are there no taboos who speak the truth, if anyone criticizes the imperial system, or even has ulterior motives, they will not be punished?"

Yuan Xingzong said in a deep voice: "That's right." He saw Zhao Xingde's face turned pale, and said again, "In Zheng Xiangtang, all the people who come and go are wise and knowledgeable, so naturally they are not bewitched by that monster. People are not sages, they can't Nothing wrong with it, it is a wise man talking about it in the township school to help the country."

Zhao Xingde was about to speak, he smiled slightly, and said, "However, the people's hearts of a country cannot be divided if they are united. If they are united, they will be strong, and if they are divided, they will be weak. If you let the discussion go unchecked, people's hearts will be confused, and it will be too much to go too far. Those who speak without restraint do not let it go. If you deceive the public with evil words outside, you must be punished according to the law." He saw that there was still suspicion on Zhao Xingde's face, and said, "When Yuan Zhi first came, did you ever Is there someone like Buddhism who wants to teach you?"

Zhao Xingde nodded, and Yuan Xingzong said in a deep voice: "I can't help preaching in various religions, but the common people still respect ghosts and gods and stay away. Why are you?"

"Why?" Zhao Xingde reminded him that it was very strange to think of this matter. According to the enthusiasm of the elders of various sects, Xia people should be full of believers, but from what he saw, there were very few Xia people who really believed in religion, most of them Several people still follow the old motto of "respect ghosts and gods and keep them at a distance", and only burn two sticks of incense during festivals.

"For this reason, it is in Zheng Xiangtang." Yuan Xingzong said with a slight smile, "The so-called man will conquer the sky, the sages and wise men of the country will gather here, and tomorrow will be moral, and then the scholar's office will spread it, correcting the hearts of the world. People are right, The common people have something to rely on, so naturally there is no need to ask ghosts and gods." Zhao Xingde felt a little half-understandable, and subconsciously replied: "Is that so?"

Xin Xingzong smiled and said: "Exactly, it is like the art of playing the sky. Peeping into the way of stars' movement was discussed and researched in Zheng Xiangtang. In my dynasty, people can't help learning astronomy, and the scholar's office is in charge of teaching and publicizing it to the world. Then there is no doubt, and the theory of ghosts and gods has gone a little further. The lesson of the saints who respect ghosts and gods and keep a distance has become a little more solid." He paused, and said in a deep voice: "Build a heart for heaven and earth. , To create a life for the people. The road is endless, just take it step by step, and you will be able to bring peace to all generations."

The two walked while talking, and in a blink of an eye they had already entered Zheng Xiangtang.This is a palace as wide as a court hall, and almost everywhere in it is full of scholars.According to Xin Xingzong, in addition to the people from the scholar's mansion, the officials from the prime minister's mansion, the school lieutenant from the Huguo mansion, and even the Zhu state from the Zhu state mansion often come and go here.Even when the emperor was not enthroned, he often came here in disguise.The wide hall was full of voices, and there were groups of knowledgeable people everywhere, talking about various topics endlessly.

In the blink of an eye, Xin Xingzong was stopped by several acquaintances, discussing the topic of "whether to restrict hereditary princes from serving as tribunes".One of them was saying, "I think that most of the hereditary princes have lasted for more than a hundred years. They are more familiar with the local situation than the five prefectures, and they are also one with the local people. If restrictions are imposed, they will be replaced by a shallow foundation. It is not conducive to protecting the interests of the people, which is no different from the weakening of the Kanto region."

Zhao Xingde listened with great interest. It turned out that when the common people elect local tribunes, they usually elect local hereditary princes who are highly respected.Some officials from the prime minister's mansion were quite dissatisfied with this, thinking that hereditary princes controlled the place by virtue of their ancestors' legacy.On the other hand, some people think that hereditary princes are the backbone of the country, and imposing special restrictions will shake the royal family and weaken the region.This issue has been debated in scholars' residences for decades, but there has been no decree, and the hereditary princes have been elected as tribunes by the local people year after year.

After listening for a while, Zhao Xingde had a general understanding of the situation, then he bowed his hands to Xin Xingzong and the others, and Shi Shiran went to the other crowd to listen.Suddenly, seeing Li Rui's figure in the crowd, Zhao Xingde couldn't help being overjoyed, adjusted his clothes, and walked over.

There were dozens of people in the circle where Li Rui was. Before he got close, he heard someone's voice, and the person inside was saying impassionedly, "The workshop in Guanzhong is the stone mill used by Huang Chao to eat people. Deceived, like a cow and a horse, after a few years, it will be destroyed."

Zhao Xingde walked behind Li Rui and patted him on the shoulder lightly.Li Rui turned around and when he saw Xingde, he exclaimed in a low voice: "Yuanzhi!" He immediately came to his senses and gave Zhao Xingde a wink.Zhao Xingde also clasped his hands and said with a smile: "Brother Dongyan is not here for an uninvited visitor, but unexpectedly we meet here." Li Rui said with a smile on his face: "It's such a pleasure to have friends coming from afar!" He stretched out his hand to pull him in.

In the circle surrounded by dozens of people stood two scribes, both wearing purple gauze scarves, which was a symbol of the identity of the Kanto Juzi.Although the Confucian uniforms are half old and the soap boots are worn, they are full of energy.The man who was speaking loudly had a white face and beard, and his appearance was magnificent. The other man was dark and thin, short in stature, but with piercing eyes.Li Rui told Xingde in a low voice that these two were the sons of the Dongren society living in Chang'an, and they came to Dunhuang this time to express their feelings to the five prefectures.The Dongren Society is a literary society formed by scholars of the Song Dynasty who lived in Chang'an because of the involvement of the Jietie case.

Zhao Xingde stood in the crowd, only to hear the man slowly say: "The workshop is surrounded by walls. Once the refugees step inside, they will be under surveillance day and night. No matter whether it is labor, eating or sleeping, they are not allowed to do what they want. Three meals a day It is extremely dirty and crude, like pig and dog food. The huts where they live are overcrowded. In spring and summer, diseases and epidemics are rampant, and countless dead are killed. The pottery urn money is also reluctant to spend. The winter night is bitter and cold, and there is no heating, so the apprentices can only "bury" their bodies in the sand and cover them with straw to keep out the cold."

Speaking of this matter, the faces of the two Kanto masters showed pain.Unlike Zhao Xingde, who hurried past with the Iron Bone Army, these Kanto scholars have lived in Chang'an for a long time, and gradually discovered that in Chang'an and other places where the Guanzhong Chamber of Commerce is autonomous, the workshops took advantage of the fact that the Kanto residents did not understand the Xia State system, and wantonly lured and recruited people from the Kanto region. The landless refugees are laborers, oppressed.Hearing what they said, Zhao Xingde remembered that when he first arrived at the Xia Realm, many Kanto people came to persuade the villagers to go to the workshop at the place where exiles were screened out.Fu Zhiren also specially reminded him not to trust others' persuasion.While he was muttering, he heard that Juzi said again:

"Especially, driven by the huge profits of mining, the mine owners forced the workers to open the mountain to drill wells, regardless of their lives. Every year, countless people were buried in the dark place. The mine owner just closed the mine pit hastily. There are even wealthy businessmen who are "traitors", who are connected with the customs clearance subordinates in the Song Dynasty. Hundreds of thousands of people lured them to the Kanto and sent them to the workshop as cattle and horses. The Guanzhong Chamber of Commerce used the blood and sweat of the workers to benefit the rich , Handing over the princes, buying subordinates, has accumulated evils for a long time. Now there are hundreds of thousands of Kanto workers in the workshops. Every month, every day, there are people who die of poverty and illness, and become ghosts from other lands. It’s unbearable to watch.”

"Is there such a thing?" Li Rui, like Zhao Xingde, had only been in Chang'an for a while.Chang'an occupies a vast area, and the workshop area is a separate area outside the city. It is difficult to enter unless it is led by an acquaintance, and it is also difficult to know its inside information.Hearing about this at first, he thought about it, there are soldiers in the shadows, and there are tribunes who can redress grievances. The chamber of commerce and workshops will be more or less restrained, so he couldn't help asking: "If you do such nonsense, Guanzhong will just sit back and watch." Does it matter?"

Before the speaker could answer, the black and thin one next to him said first: "Xia Guo adheres to the self-government of the Chamber of Commerce, but the refugees are deceived by others, and they are willing to become merchants during the screening, and sign a contract to be apprentices for several years. It’s just because I don’t want to easily interfere with the merchant’s affairs.” He paused, and said angrily, “What’s more hateful is that there are some shameless scum who are dedicated to deceiving fellow villagers from the Kanto region. I have seen with my own eyes that some refugees live in the factory In the square, it is difficult to see the outside scene, not to be loved by human relationships, not to hear the teachings of saints, ignorant and stubborn, and gradually become no different from animals. If you are influenced by your ears and eyes, those who are close to ink are black. There are quite a few of them. They even injured several comrades in our agency who went to save people."

"So that's how it is." Several people in the crowd said one after another.Someone behind Zhao Xingde said in a low voice: "The turmoil in the world is all for profit, how can this matter be so simple."