"Haha, it's all my fault that I was in the middle of a discussion with Su Qing, and with the noise outside, I didn't notice that Lord Zhu was outside the door. Lord Zhu, please come in quickly..."
Zhang Juzheng's embarrassment lasted only for a moment, and he quickly regained his composure, laughed, explained softly to Zhu Ping'an, and then extended his hand to invite Zhu Ping'an in.
"Well, the wind is really strong today. It blew the door open." Zhu Ping'an did not expose Zhang Juzheng. He smiled and bowed in agreement.
"Lord Zhu has just arrived at Prince Yu's Mansion and he has already honored me with his visit. It really brings honor to my humble abode." Gao Gong stood up and glanced at Zhu Ping'an, raised his hand perfunctorily, and said indifferently.
Obviously insincere.
Gao Gong said that he was honored to be here, but Zhu Ping'an could tell from his expression that although he was not welcome, since you are here, please come in...
"No, no, Ping An, I am sorry to bother you by coming here uninvited."
Zhu Ping'an pretended not to notice Gao Gong's insincerity, smiled, shook his head, and bowed politely.
The guests were ranked according to their status and took their seats.
Then
Zhu Ping'an became a spectator.
After Zhu Ping'an came in, Gao Gong just asked Zhu Ping'an a few questions as if to perfunctorily ask whether he had met Prince Yu and whether he was settled. Then he kept talking to Zhang Juzheng, continuing their previous discussion and ignoring Zhu Ping'an's existence.
It's like two college students talking about national affairs and naturally ignoring the elementary school students next to them.
Experts fight, and rookies retreat.
Stand back and stay quietly. This is not a battle you can participate in, rookie.
Um
This was probably how Zhu Ping'an felt as he sat in a chair and watched Gao Gong and Director Zhang talking animatedly.
"Our dynasty's treasury has been empty for a long time, but some people in high positions do not do their jobs, dare not criticize current ills, do not do practical things to improve the country's economy and people's livelihood, but only bury their heads in choosing words and sentences, flattering, and fawning on others, trying to create a prosperous Ming Dynasty on paper... Haha, no matter how prosperous the paper is, what good will it do to the country and the people? It's really ridiculous, sad and lamentable..." Gao Gong said sarcastically without any concealment.
Although no names were mentioned, one could tell right away that the person being satirized was Yan Song and his ilk. Well, perhaps Zhu Ping'an standing next to him was also within Gao Gong's AOE range.
Because after Gao Gong finished his mockery, he glanced at Zhu Ping'an out of the corner of his eye.
During the year Zhu Ping'an was in office, he was quite famous in the field of Qing Ci. He participated in several fasting and offering ceremonies held by Emperor Jiajing and performed well. When Emperor Jiajing's beloved cat Weihu died, he helped Xu Jie win the emperor's favor with the line "transform a tiger into a dragon". And the poem he wrote some time ago, "I have been kneeling before the Buddha for three thousand years, but I have never seen the Buddha feel pity. It is not because dust has covered the Buddha's eyes, but because I have not offered incense money", made Zhu Ping'an stand out in the Qing Ci world... ...
In Gao Gong's opinion, Zhu Ping'an's rocket-like promotion speed was closely related to his "active" submission of Qingci.
In fact, Gao Gong didn't care much about what Zhu Ping'an did.
If there are too many lice, they won’t be a burden to you.
Are there not many such people in the current dynasty
Yuan Wei
Yan Ne
Guo Pu
... ...
What if there is one more Zhu Ping'an
but
But Zhu Ping'an was transferred to be a lecturer in Prince Yu's Palace!
This made Gao Gong feel like he had a thorn in his throat.
Because Gao Gong fought for Zhang Juzheng to be a lecturer in Prince Yu's Palace, in Gao Gong's opinion, Zhang Juzheng was the only one who was qualified to be his comrade-in-arms in Prince Yu's Palace, fighting alongside him and first helping Prince Yu ascend to the throne and then helping the country.
The reason why Gao Gong invited Zhang Juzheng to Prince Yu's Mansion for help many times was for this purpose. In fact, the purpose was almost achieved. With his talent and ability, Zhang Juzheng quickly won the recognition and attention of Prince Yu. Originally, after this lecture, Zhang Juzheng could naturally enter Prince Yu's Mansion.
However, who would have thought that Zhu Ping'an would interfere and cause Gao Gong's long-planned good thing to fail.
Therefore, Zhu Ping'an was like a thorn in Gao Gong's throat.
"Haha, in my opinion, Brother Suqing, the national treasury is empty now. How can we make money and manage finances?" Zhang Juzheng continued Gao Gong's words.
Because Gao Gong's ridicule was directed at the Prime Minister Yan Song and was too sharp, although Zhang Juzheng felt the same way, he did not continue the topic of ridicule for the sake of caution, but instead started talking about the deficit in the national treasury.
"Nothing else, just four words, 'use righteousness as profit'."
Gao Gong stretched out his hand, waved it forward, and spoke with great emotion.
"I'd like to hear the details from Brother Suqing." Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up and he bowed with interest.
"Whether it is managing finances to make money or governing the country and the people, we should not 'take profit for profit', but 'take righteousness for profit'. If we govern the country and manage finances 'for profit', we will only satisfy our own interests, which will inevitably damage the public interest, and eventually lose the people's hearts and ruin the national economy. This is not a profit, but a loss. Therefore, only by 'taking righteousness for profit', putting righteousness first, and pursuing public interests can we win the hearts of the people, fill the national treasury, and ensure long-term national order." Gao Gong said with emotion, and then shook his head and sighed, "However, nowadays, many people take profit for profit, impose heavy taxes and levies to open the way, squeeze the people's fat, extort and exploit merchants, and accumulate money, making the people poorer, the merchants poorer, and the country poorer. Little do they know that only by taking righteousness as profit, taking agriculture as the basis and business as the supplement, developing production, managing finances frugally, reducing taxes and levies, caring for merchants and reducing the burden on merchants, can the people, merchants, and the country not become rich."
"Brother Suqing, what you said is very good. You have elevated the distinction between righteousness and profit to the level of governing a country and managing finances. Brother Suqing should be the best." Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng clapped his hands in praise.
"Haha, uncle, you are too kind. In your opinion, how can we make money and manage finances?" Gao Gong smiled and shook his head, then asked Zhang Juzheng how to make money and manage finances.
"Haha, I also have four characters." Zhang Juzheng looked at Gao Gong and replied with a smile, leaving the question in suspense.
"Oh, haha, I'd like to hear your detailed explanation." Gao Gong laughed when he heard this.
"Nothing else, just to strengthen the foundation and keep the people safe." Zhang Juzheng also stretched out his hand, waved it forward, and replied with a smile.
"When the people are the foundation, the country will be strong. What Shuda said is absolutely right." Gao Gong agreed very much when he heard it.
"Strengthen the foundation and ensure the safety of the people. The people are farmers and merchants. In ancient times, the rulers of a country allowed merchants to exchange goods and to rely on farming. If merchants are not allowed to exchange goods to benefit farmers, then farmers will suffer; if farmers are not allowed to rely on farming to support merchants, then merchants will suffer. Therefore, the relationship between merchants and farmers is always like a balance. If one suffers, then there is no way to help. The wealth created by heaven and earth has a fixed amount. If it is taken with control and used in moderation, then there will be plenty; if it is taken without control and used without moderation, then there will be shortage. The dynasty's wealth is taken from the people, but the people's strength is limited and the affairs to be handled are endless. Moreover, the dynasty's expenses are dozens of times that of the beginning of the country. The annual contributions of high officials amount to huge amounts, but the taxes levied by the nobles are difficult to meet, and the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce have repeatedly reported shortages. I think that if we want to ensure that material resources are not exhausted, there is nothing better than to reduce levies to benefit farmers and support merchants; if we want to ensure that people are not in financial difficulty, there is nothing better than to ease customs duties to benefit merchants and benefit farmers." Zhang Juzheng went on to elaborate.
"Youth and I share the same view on emphasizing agriculture and not suppressing commerce." Upon hearing this, Gao Gong admired Zhang Juzheng even more.
sharp!
He is worthy of being the future Prime Minister!
Zhu Ping'an, a newbie who was watching the show nearby, silently gave the two of them a thumbs up in his heart. In a feudal society where agriculture was emphasized and commerce was suppressed, it was rare for the two of them to have such views.