"… What the common people say is the same, what the literati say is the same. Grand Preceptor Cai has been prime minister for ten-some years. There are some good things and some bad things, but they are not so simple to evaluate. In the present Imperial Court, the leader of the military officials is Tong Shumi, but when it comes to civil officials, the one who holds the hopes of the world is not this old man, nor is it Minister Li, but the Grand Preceptor who writes at home. To tell the truth, if there really is a problem on this northern expedition and Minister Li and I are unable to hold on, the only one who can truly suppress the situation is this old man. "
After dinner, Qin Siyuan and Ning Yi chatted, leading him to the garden in the back of the Prime Minister's estate, and they began to talk about Cai Jing. This old man, who had been prime minister for ten-some years, did not have a good reputation among the lower levels. Among the literati, his reputation was mixed, but the majority of the civil officials understood his status. Qin Siyuan was also sixty years old, but he still had to be addressed as "old man". Presumably, if Li Gang and Qin Siyuan were dismissed, this old man would probably be the first to stabilize the situation.
Fortunately, Li Gang's appearance as prime minister coincided with the best opportunity for the northern expedition. Qin Siyuan's knowledge was as vast as the sea. Although he did not have the accumulation of Cai Jing's ten-some years as prime minister, he was by no means easy to deal with and could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. This sort of situation would probably not occur for a while.
Qin Siyuan had only casually mentioned this without any deeper meaning. Accompanied by several guards, the two strolled to the back garden. Qin Siyuan had someone bring a game of Go and prepared to play a game with Ning Yi, just as he had in Jiangning. After some idle chatter, the old man asked, "What does Liheng think about governing a country?"
This question was truly too formal. Ning Yi was a little surprised. After a moment's hesitation, he smiled. "Lord Right Minister … isn't this a bit of a blind man?"
His words of 'Lord Right Minister' were somewhat strange, and Qin Siyuan smiled. As they spoke, a servant came over. It was Cheng Zhouhai, who had come to visit the Prime Minister's estate. After bowing to the teacher, Qin Siyuan waved his hand and gestured for him to sit next to him.
"There are many difficulties in this northern expedition, but Tong Shumi has already stationed troops in the Liao border to confront Xiao Gan and the Victorious Army has surrendered. Under the attacks of the Jins, the Liao people retreated step by step. If everything went smoothly, it was possible to end the war within this year and conquer Yan Yun. Now that the war is over, the next step is to settle down … "The old man put down a chess piece." So, Liheng might as well talk about it. "
"Casually?" Ning Yi laughed.
The old man smiled and nodded. "Yes, I was just saying."
"Sure, say whatever you want." Ning Yi looked at the chessboard and thought for a moment. After placing a chess piece, he waved his hand, "Prime Minister Qin is here every day, looking at this city. What does he see?"
At this moment, the two of them were in a pavilion on a rockery in the back garden of the Prime Minister's residence. Although it was not possible to overlook Bianliang, they could still feel the liveliness from the night sky. Cheng Zhouhai looked around. Qin Siyuan smiled and said, "Isn't this a big problem? Liheng, why don't you be frank? "
"Do you see resentment?"
"Hmm?" Qin Siyuan frowned. "Why do you say so?"
"If you want to cure it, you have to see resentment." Ning Yi held the chess piece in his fingertips and rubbed his fingers. "In this world, everyone is born into contact with the people around them. There will be clashes and friction. Resentment, big and small, accumulates from this."
"Today, I quarreled with my neighbor, that's resentment. I fought with others, that's resentment. I was cheated when I bought something, that's resentment. I was slashed by someone for no reason, that's also resentment. Here, there's resentment. The trial is unfair, there's resentment … These resentment, big and small, are kept in mind. Some can be eliminated, and some can't. When Prime Minister Qin said to cure it, I think to be more practical, it's to cure resentment. "
Qin Siyuan was stunned and placed a chess piece. "Liheng's words are quite innovative."
"Those who are good at lying may not be good at doing it. I'm just an armchair strategist." Ning Yi smiled and continued, "To cure resentment, there are two aspects. Enlightenment and justice. Enlightenment is morality, culture, and customs. Confucius said that heaven, earth, king, relatives, and teachers should be ranked. According to the sage, scholars, farmers, merchants, and merchants should be listed as important and unimportant. Think about it. If a farmer has never been educated, doesn't ask for much, and lives in a village or a town all his life, even if this kind of person is bullied, he thinks it's normal and forgets it at night, so there won't be much resentment. People like me, who have read more books and traveled more places, feel great, and have more conflicts with people. If someone looks down on me, I'll be angry, and I'll probably have a lot of resentment in my life … "
When he said this, Qin Siyuan and Cheng Zhouhai, who was listening next to him, laughed. Ning Yi continued with a smile, "In this world, if one's moral standards are better, they will be polite to each other, and they will know what can be done and what shouldn't be done. There will be less friction, and there will be less chances of resentment. People have different levels of education, and their understanding of reason is also different. Moreover, people have different positions in themselves, and encounter different things, and the possibility of resentment is also different. A scholar will be angry because others don't take him seriously, but an old farmer won't. "
"Culture and customs tell everyone what position you have in this world, and what respect you should get. Morality is the lubricant of this society. When you return home, your neighbors are harmonious, your brothers are respectful, and your wife is gentle and kind. These things will alleviate resentment. As for the judicial system, that is the last resort. "
Ning Yi placed a chess piece. "I had some friction with Brother Cheng, and resentment was born. I couldn't solve it, and I felt uncomfortable, so I could only report it to the officials. If justice is trusted, and the officials do things according to the rules, fair and strict, he and I will accept the verdict, and the resentment will be dispelled. But if justice is not fair, people in the world will think that officials protect each other, and the law is useless. When Brother Cheng and I report to the officials, the first thing we think about is to find connections. In the end, his connections might be able to suppress me, but even if I avoid him for a while, the resentment in my heart will not be dispelled. And he is rich and powerful. Even if I accept him for a while, he will still think that I dared to provoke him, and will definitely make me regret it. Even the resentment in his heart will not be dispelled. Then, justice will become a joke. "
He shook his head. "This resentment will not affect anything for a while, but people will remember everything that happened in their lifetime. Slowly, the resentment will intensify. If there is too much resentment before death … people will kill, and they will rebel. Some people don't dare, but they are more easily incited by others, and more likely to become a scourge. People have strange temperaments, and there is no longer any trust between each other. The most important thing for a society is to eliminate this resentment, to … make the symptoms lighter, and the number of people less. Then, the world will be better. "
After he said this, Qin Siyuan and Cheng Zhouhai were silent for a moment. Cheng Zhouhai smiled and said, "If that's the case, isn't educating the world the best? Everyone is a farmer, and there are no scholars, so there is no resentment … "
"But human nature pursues better." Ning Yi smiled. "You pursue eating well, dressing well, and after eating well and wearing well, you want to have a girl. If you have a girl, you want to carry on the family line. In between, you also want to do something meaningful. Some things are self-evident. The development of society needs to eliminate resentment, so that it does not collapse. Eliminating resentment is also to make society more stable. However, when it comes to treatment, it should be based on eliminating resentment. Treatment and development go hand in hand. You can't stop development, just like the reform … "
He paused. "In the past dynasties, every reform was not because smart people thought of a good idea, so they pushed the way of the world. It was because of the development of the world. At the juncture, people came out to implement change, because everyone saw that change was needed. Since Shang Yang's reform, the number of scholars gradually increased, and there were more and more people who wanted to go up. If they could not go, the resentment would increase, and when it reached a certain level, a new method had to be implemented, so that everyone had something to look forward to. The goal of every reform, the adjustment of the court, and the structure of society were mostly the same. If there were people who were dissatisfied, then they had to be satisfied. The laws of the world have always appeared when it is useful to people, and not when it appears, people follow it … "
After he said this, Cheng Zhouhai thought for a moment. "In today's world, there are indeed more and more scholars. Looks like it will change soon?"
"I hope there will be changes." Ning Yi answered casually. "Actually, there are more and more merchants. They have money and have the intention to climb up. Nowadays, many high-ranking officials are also influenced by merchants, right? Now they can slowly influence, and when it reaches a certain level, they will definitely push for change … Heh, I am also doing business … "
Cheng Zhouhai frowned. After a moment, he nodded in agreement. "A large number of people will die."
Ning Yi was still watching the chess game. "A social trend will change for twenty, thirty, or even a hundred years. I will just hide."
In fact, there was one thing he did not say. The Wu Dynasty seemed to be enjoying peace and prosperity, but in fact, he did not know if there was a chance for change. After he said this, Qin Siyuan, who had been listening to him and playing chess in silence, spoke.
"Liheng … did you have any intention of preparing for the things that were implemented in Saber Manor?"
Ning Yi furrowed his brows. Since coming to Shangjing, he knew that Qin Siyuan was very interested in this and knew that he would ask about it, but he did not expect that it would be this question.
"That is a folk prescription," he said after thinking for a while. "It has nothing to do with governing the world. And … it is hard to say now. If there is a chance to see the results, we can discuss it in the future. "
He looked at Qin Siyuan.
That was indeed a folk prescription. It was to cure the weakness, not the way of the world. The most praiseworthy thing about the revolution in China's modern history was that it had incited every member at the grassroots level. Before that, every rebellion, uprising, or large-scale armed struggle had only been incited by the scholar-officials and generals. The real members at the bottom had always followed the tide and had no value in inciting them. And the value of this incitement was only reflected in combat power. It had little to do with other things.
Qin Siyuan nodded and smiled. "Liheng has such ideas and such ability. Since he has returned from Shandong, why not study at the Imperial College and try to make a name for himself?"
Ning Yi also smiled. "I am just talking nonsense. As for those things … I have no ability and I am not interested. "
Ning Yi's ability to do things had long been there. Qin Siyuan would not question his ability. But at this time, he could only smile and shake his head. "Well, well, let's talk about this when we come back … I have something to do today. I lose this round. Zhouhai, accompany him for me. When you leave later, see Liheng off. Oh, when Liheng leaves the day after tomorrow, I will see you off. "
It seemed that the main reason why he asked Ning Yi to stay today was to discuss "governing the country" with Ning Yi. At this time, after saying that, he hurried to deal with his own affairs. When the old man's figure disappeared, Ning Yi turned his head and looked at Cheng Zhouhai next to him.
"Brother Cheng, did you come here specially for me?"
Cheng Zhouhai did not tell anything to Qin Siyuan this time. And from his expression, it seemed that he had something to tell him. Ning Yi was a little confused. On the other side, Cheng Zhouhai looked up at the sky and smiled.
"There is still time. Let's talk on the way."
"Okay."
At the same time when the two left Qin's Mansion, in another place in Bianliang City, Zhou Pei put a dagger into her bosom and put herself into a big sack with a determined look. After putting her in, the sack was sealed and then opened again. Zhou Pei poked her head out and looked before going back in again. She said to the people next to her, "Be gentle."
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