Xiangye

Chapter 254 Preparation
As long as the messenger grabs it, hehe, with my high status in the teacher's mind, it's easy to get involved in this water conservancy project.Shi Guang first seized An Ganlu's property, and he still wanted to make a fortune in the sacrifice, is it possible?Also, he would not be able to pass the level of Prince Xiang's Mansion in the first place.

The key now is how to convince Xu Youzhen.

Actually, it's easy too.

After being in contact with Xu Youzhen for the past few months, Gao Wen has a teacher-student status with him, and Lao Xu has nothing to say to him.

According to Gao Wen's observation, Xu Youzhen has many problems.Good wine, greedy for money, narrow-minded, likes power.It can be said that the shortcomings and reactionaryness of the feudal bureaucracy in ancient China are all in one.

Especially for power, there is a passion that ordinary people can't imagine.This matter is also understandable. He was the second place in the list back then. He had been an editor in Hanlin for many years. After such a long life, he wanted to make a difference.Otherwise, there would not be such a big commotion in Shaanxi.

It's a pity that the major case in Shaanxi was handled because the promotion was important, but when the Supreme Emperor Ming Yingzong was met, he was sent back to Beijing first.The imperial court was in a sensitive period, and Emperor Jing was in a state of desperation, and he didn't have the heart to go to the court to see the case.Therefore, Xu Youzhen will still sit on his bench in the Imperial Academy.

At this time, he must be so depressed that he wants to vomit blood, right?
In fact, in real history, Xu Youzhen was reused by the court until the third year of Jingtai, when the Yellow River burst at Shawan and he was sent to control the water.

It is now the third year of Jingtai, if there is no accident, Lao Xu will have to be depressed for another two years.

Why not take this opportunity to advance this historical event.Since Shi Shangshu is unwilling to do this project, Xu Youzhen can recommend herself!
All Gao Wen needs to do is to persuade Xu Youzhen to do her part and show off the limelight.

To persuade him, you can't just rely on a three-inch tongue.This matter is of great importance, Xu Youzhen is not so easy to be fooled by others.

Moreover, he is an expert in water control.It's just that he hasn't realized that he has this talent until now, so his confidence is a little lacking.It's hard not to feel uneasy if you let him stand out.

Thinking of this, Gao Wen had an idea, sharpened his ink, and picked up his pen to write quickly.

His writing speed was trained by "Journey to the West", not to mention one hundred or two hundred words per minute, three or fifty is still possible.

I wrote it without discouragement, and I wrote more than ten thousand words.

After blowing to dry the ink, Gao Wen nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the thick stack of manuscripts in his hand.After leaving the yamen, he didn't go home, so he hired a sedan chair and went straight to Xu Youzhen's mansion.

After entering Beijing, Gao Wen of Xu Youzhen's mansion also visited once.Lao Xu is a fastidious person, a literati, and his residence is naturally elegant.In the courtyard, a rockery was erected, bamboo was planted, and a lotus pond was dug, creating the charm of a Suzhou garden.However, the place is not very big.

As soon as he got off the sedan chair, Gao Wen was taken aback by the situation in front of him—this place is simply a big construction site!
Craftsmen were everywhere, and scaffolding was built with reed bamboo, and the walls were pulled down.

Apparently, Lao Xu is building a big project.

Seeing Gao Wen, Xu Youzhen's butler greeted him, and said with a smile, "So it's Mr. Gao. I haven't seen you for a while. It's almost dark, why do you want to come here?"

Gao Wen pointed to the busy construction site in front of him, and asked curiously, "Butler Xu, what is your teacher doing?"

Steward Xu is Xu Youzhen's distant relative, and he spoke casually: "Master Gao, haven't you seen, Master Xu is expanding the house."

He lowered his voice and said with a smile: "Didn't Mr. Gao give my master 2 taels of filial silver when he was in Shaanxi? Dong Weng has no official position, so the money can't be spent. He simply bought all the houses of the surrounding people and demolished them. Join together and rebuild according to the courtyard of my hometown. By the way, my lady will go to Beijing to reunite with Dong Weng in two months, and the family has been able to spend the New Year together in the past ten years."

"Miss, which lady?" Gao Wen asked.

Xu Youzhen's heirs are difficult, and he has no sons, which has always been a shock.But he had nine daughters, all of whom were delicate and beautiful. Later, they all married local talents in Suzhou. For example, Zhu Zhishan's father, Zhu Yuzhu Xinfu, is simply a model of a national father-in-law.

Steward Xu said with a smile, "Which lady can it be? Since we want to reunite, naturally all nine ladies will come to Beijing."

"They're all coming, this house needs to be expanded." Gao Wen nodded.

Indeed, the Xu family is a prominent family in Suzhou.Nine noble ladies, maids, children, old mothers, at least dozens of houses are enough.

Of course, Lao Xu's financial pressure is definitely not small.Otherwise, when he copied the bank in Shaanxi and sent 2 taels of silver himself, he took it without even refusing.

In fact, Xu Youzhen is a typical traditional classical bureaucrat, and also the mainstream among Ming Dynasty officials: he loves money and power, and likes to enjoy the scenery.However, there is still a certain amount of ambition in politics.This point is quite similar to the later Zhang Juzheng.

Steward Xu: "Master Gao, your 2 taels of silver really came in handy. Otherwise, when the ladies come to Beijing, the Elder Master doesn't know what to do?"

Gao Wen said: "Housekeeper, if you don't have enough money, just talk about it, I still have some family business, and I have a lot of idle money on hand."

"Er Zhi, you really have a heart, the old man is right." A voice came, and when I looked back, it was Xu Youzhen who was full of joy.

Gao Wen hastily cupped his hands: "The student has met his mentor."

Xu Youzhen: "It's rare for you to come here as a teacher, is there something wrong?"

Gao Wen: "The student wrote something, and I want to ask my mentor to read it. I don't know if the teacher is free?"

Xu Youzhen nodded: "Okay, I happen to have nothing to do at hand, let's talk inside."

After entering the study, Housekeeper Xu brought up two cups of tea.

Gawain was talking while eating refreshments.

Seeing him eating non-stop, Xu Youzhen asked with a smile, "Why, I haven't eaten yet, why don't I ask the kitchen to bring some over."

Gao Wen: "I just came from the Ministry of Rites, and I haven't had time to go home yet. No need, no need, teacher, please read the manuscript first."

Xu Youzhen: "What kind of manuscript is more important than food, and it is so urgent to send it here, but the stereotyped article you just wrote, or is there anything you don't understand or be sure about when you write it?"

Gao Wen shook his head: "It's not Shi Wen, teacher, you should read it first."

"It's not Stereotyped Shiwen, what is it, so weird?" Xu Youzhen picked up Gao Wen's manuscript, glanced at it twice, and then exclaimed in surprise: "It's Zhihe Ce, Erzhi, when will you deal with such a thing?" In love?"

"The teacher is very knowledgeable, and he knows everything about astronomy, geography and river engineering. If I, a student, only know how to write stereotyped articles and don't know how to do common things, wouldn't it be embarrassing for you old man? I just read some books when I had nothing to do in the Ministry of Rites. I also went to the river outside the city for field investigation, and I have some experience, written down, and came here to ask for advice."

Xu Youzhen smiled slightly: "Erzhi, how important it is to control the river requires experience to accumulate, and it can't be understood by reading a few books and looking at the river."

Gao Wen: "The teacher is right, you should read it first."

"Okay." Xu Youzhen nodded, "I'll take a look first."

He lowered his eyelids and read a few more pages, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Gao Wen with burning eyes: "Not bad, really good, why do you think of writing this kind of article? Interesting, interesting. Especially This method of attacking sand with a beam of water is quite insightful, and it is based on what the ancients thought. By the way, how did you come up with this, and can this method be implemented?"

(End of this chapter)