Autumn of the 17th year of Chongzhen

Chapter 256

When the Ming Dynasty was passed to the Hongguang Dynasty, it was already in a precarious state. Since Ma Ruan was in power, and the land in the south of the Yangtze River was the headquarters of Donglin, the gentry had a lot of criticisms about the actions of the Hongguang court.

Since the late Ming Dynasty, Jiangnan’s economy has developed, humanistic thought has risen, and even Li Zhi, who criticized Confucianism and is a representative of the merchant class, wrote "Collection of Books" and "Burning Books", which set a precedent in history. This is the whole era and is changing. omen.

At that time, some scholars still insisted on loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, while others reconsidered the relationship between the emperor and his ministers, and the relationship between the emperor and the people. There were a large number of scholars who felt that the court was corrupt and the monarch was incompetent, so they lived in seclusion and did not serve in official positions. .

The traditional Confucian culture of the Ming Dynasty talked about "learning the arts and martial arts and the emperor's family", but now a small number of people feel that the court is dark and the monarch is fatuous, so I will resign and return to my hometown, choosing not to be an official. The thinking is a little different, and it seems to be back to the pre-Qin period. Mencius said: "The king treats his ministers like dirt, and the ministers regard the emperor like a bandit."

Such words can be said in the pre-Qin period, but after the Han Dynasty, they cannot be said casually.

Re-examining the relationship between the monarch and his ministers, and even the relationship between the monarch and the country and the world, this is the humanistic trend of thought that emerged in the late Ming Dynasty, and it is also the Renaissance of the East.

Scholars began to question the monarchy, and the impact of various schools of thought inevitably made the gentry class very confused in their thinking.

Before the Qing army went south, many people already felt that the state was in danger of being overthrown. When Lu Yunlong was discussing current affairs with someone, he once said: "It seems to be defeated."

Many people have seen the general trend, but they have not done anything to save it. In their view, perhaps the Manchu Qing Dynasty is just a change of dynasty, more like the Northern Wei, Liao, and Jin. Even if they occupy the Central Plains, they still have to Practice Chinese law, learn Chinese characters, conduct imperial examinations, and finally complete Sinicization.

Changes in thinking and conflicts made some people not pay too much attention to the matter of loyalty to the emperor. Therefore, when the Hongguang court suddenly collapsed, the land in the south of the Yangtze River did not resist too fiercely.

In desperation, some civil and military officials took refuge in the Qing court in an attempt to protect their own or their family's vested interests, while the other part chose to adhere to traditional Confucian teachings and self-declared themselves to maintain their reputation.

When the Manchu Qing invaded, it was the time when the minds of the Ming gentry were in chaos, and chaos meant the dispersion of power.

After the fall of the Southern Capital, a group of scholars died. The highest official was Dongge Dashi, Gao Hongtu. Afterwards, the order to shave their hair was issued, and the other part suddenly realized that the Manchu Qing was not the Northern Wei Xiaowen, nor the Liao and Jin. Intended to integrate into Huaxia.

Clothes and clothes, the belief of the nation, some gentry who felt that the Ming Dynasty was not very good, stood up at this time, and did not hesitate to use their flesh and blood to protect the clothes of the Han family.

People in the south of the Yangtze River did not want to shave their hair, and a large number of gentry died, among which Jiading and Jiangyin were the most.

Among the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River, there are still a group of people who have shaved their heads and surrendered to the Qing Dynasty. They surrendered to the Qing court in order to preserve their vested interests or have other plans.

At first, most of them thought that after surrendering to the Manchu Qing Dynasty, they could gain glory and wealth, and their talents could still be displayed in the new court, but soon they gradually discovered that things were completely different from what they thought.

After the Qing Dynasty ruled the south of the Yangtze River, many scholars who called themselves "remainers" appeared in the south of the Yangtze River. I am afraid that there are very few of them who have not shaved their heads, but their political inclinations are also anti-Qing and Ming-ming.

Among the officials who surrendered to the Qing court, there were many such complicated people. They soon discovered that in the Ming Dynasty, they could raise different opinions, scold the emperor and ministers, but in the Qing Dynasty, they could only "" The master is wise", "the slave obeys orders", "the slave deserves to die".

I can no longer speak what I could say before, I can no longer write what I can write, I can no longer read books I can read, and I can no longer compose poems I can write.

Some surrendered ministers who had illusions about the Qing court realized that the Manchu Qing Dynasty wanted to destroy our culture and thoughts, so they immediately retreated a group.

Qian Qianyi is undoubtedly the most typical representative of this group. He has been in Beijing for more than half a year, and after returning, his thinking has changed.

Chen Zilong came to him to raise military pay, which made him very happy, but also a little scared. He was happy that the Fuming forces in the south of the Yangtze River were willing to accept him as a minister who bowed his knees and surrendered. It is no longer possible to live in peace.

Qian Qianyi, who was educated in Confucianism, has his own small thoughts, but also has a family and country in his heart.

At that time, he had no ambitions in the Qing court, resigned from office and returned to his hometown, and there were a large number of former students and officials who devoted themselves to the cause of resisting the Qing Dynasty. How could he have no ideas in his mind.

Qian Qianyi agreed to Chen Zilong's request, but the money needed by the [-] army was not a small amount, and he couldn't come up with much money for a while.

After sending Chen Zilong away, agreeing on a date and secret words, and sending someone to collect the silver, Qian Qianyi walked up to the library alone. He is a leader of scholars, he is fond of ancient books, calligraphy and painting, and there is no cash at home, so he can only rely on these things. Things, come for some silver.

In the past, Qian Qianyi was the leader of the Shilin, and Donglin saw his son, but now Donglin has basically disappeared, and his former friends are more angry at his surrender and broke up with him. He has nothing but treasures, and it is difficult to sell them.

At this time, he suddenly remembered that he had a disciple who was poor in his studies, but his family had a lot of money.

In fact, most great Confucian scholars usually accept one or two such disciples. After all, Donglin Sawzi also needs to support his family. Whenever money is in short supply, he can sell a few calligraphy and paintings made by that disciple. He can make a profit. And the disciples of rich families can also be famous, and can be mixed with celebrities.

When Qian Qianyi took Liu Rushi, he wanted to build an auditorium for her, but he had no money, so he sold a painting and calligraphy and gave it to the disciple for 500 taels of silver.

At this time Qian Qianyi was eager to raise money, but he remembered the disciple again.

The next day, the disciple was invited to the mansion by Qian Qianyi. He saw several paintings and calligraphy by Qian Qianyi, but there was a sneer on his face, and he asked the servant to take out 50 taels of silver from the cash box and put it on the table. Come on, and then deliberately said: "My teacher used to be the leader of Shilin and the leader of the southeast alliance, but now he is a notorious sinner. This calligraphy and painting are worth so much."

Seeing this and listening to his words, Qian Qianyi's face immediately turned extremely ugly, and the shame and indignation in his heart could not be added.

If it was before, Qian Qianyi would definitely kick him out of the house, but now he has been insulted too much, and he can't find other places to get money, so he can only endure the humiliation in his heart and order another A few ancient books and a few famous paintings of the Song Dynasty were brought.

The disciple smiled slightly after reading it, and finally paid 1 taels of silver, and took these Wenkui treasures into his pocket.

After the transaction was over, Qian Qianyi was annoyed at his rudeness, so he didn't get up to see him off. When the disciple walked to the door, he suddenly turned around and smiled coldly, and then left with his servants.

A few days later, the silver taker sent by Chen Zilong arrived as promised. Qian Qianyi gave him the signal to hand over the silver. Surrounded by a group, they shouted: "Take people at the sticky pole, and shoot and kill those who resist."

Seeing this, the person who took the money was immediately furious, pointing at Qian Qianyi and yelling at him.

(Looking at the comments, some book friends said that the previous chapter was the same as the movie Liu Rushi. You guessed it, the author shamelessly messed up two chapters. But Liu Rushi is indeed a good movie, and Da Ming Jie is also good. Thanks to the book friends Xiao Ke 008’s tip and monthly pass. Book Friends Group 160522963)

(End of this chapter)