Xiao Ruxun was speechless. He found that even if he used the most pessimistic perspective to judge his path to save the Daming Dynasty, it seemed a little optimistic. The sharpness of the confrontation between the Emperor and the ministers, the sharpness of the confrontation between the social contradictions, and the sharpness of the confrontation between the international contradictions had all reached the peak in the 20th year of Wanli. They all began to erupt with the strength that they should have. The twilight years of the Daming Dynasty had inevitably come. As a general, no matter how hard he struggled, it seemed that he could not lead the Daming Dynasty to the right path.
Everything he had done since he transmigrated, was it to save the Daming Dynasty or to prolong the life of the Daming Dynasty? Was he a doctor or a witch doctor? Was everything he had done improved or useless? Was it possible for the Daming Dynasty to resolve the dispute peacefully and return to prosperity?
As the saying went, everything was possible. But was this degree of possibility enough for people with hope to see the light of hope? Xiao Ruxun tried his best to win one victory after another for the Daming Dynasty, and to seize money after money. But in the end, the storm in the court still washed away the only joy he had.
The war had just ended here, and the political struggle had started again. It was still so fierce and terrible, so arrogant, as if it could not continue to coexist without a winner.
The Emperor wanted to regain his power, and the ministers wanted to keep their bottom line. The Emperor wanted to be the only one, and the ministers wanted the Emperor to share the world with the scholar-officials. The Emperor wanted to walk the path of the Daming Dynasty, and the ministers wanted to pull the Daming Dynasty back to the old path of the Song Dynasty, back to the golden age of the Song Dynasty. Both sides thought that they were right, and the other side was wrong. But at this moment, who was right and who was wrong, could they really tell?
When they should coexist peacefully and develop the local construction, they were tied up by the political struggle. When they should coexist harmoniously and look outside, their brains and hands and feet fought. In the end, half of their bodies were paralyzed. No one could solve the problem or solve the dispute as they wished. In the end, in the afterglow of the sunset of the Daming Dynasty, the last emperor died, and the ministers who quarreled the most fiercely went to surrender.
Xiao Ruxun always felt that since Zhu Yuanzhang established the Daming Dynasty, the Daming Dynasty was destined to be destroyed. The Daming Dynasty overthrowing the Yuan Dynasty was not a national revolution, but a periodic change of dynasty. The Daming Dynasty inherited too much of the dregs of the Meng and Yuan Dynasties. Although they liberated the Han people, they still could not walk the path of the Tang Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang probably wanted to learn from Li Shimin, so he imitated the Tang Dynasty's military system and created a system of guards. However, he did not learn the good qualities of Li Yuan and Li Shimin, who were magnanimous and optimistic. Instead, he injected the evil spirit he accumulated from climbing to the top into the soul of the Daming Dynasty. Looking at the whole Ming Dynasty, no matter which period, from the Emperor to the ministers, except for the Jianwen Dynasty and the Hongzhi Dynasty, there seemed to be an evil spirit that could not be rid of.
This evil spirit seemed to have not dissipated until now.
Was the destruction of the Daming Dynasty destined by the heavens? Now that he thought about it, it seemed to be the case. Xiao Ruxun sadly realized that he was too naive. He wanted to do something for the Daming Dynasty, but in the end, he found that he was simply an insignificant chess piece. He was only qualified to be placed on the chessboard of politics, and there was no hope of becoming a chess player.
However, if he wanted to save the Daming Dynasty, he had to become a chess player. However, in such a social environment, as a military general, he was congenitally deficient. It seemed that it was impossible for him to become a chess player.
So, everything he had done so far, everything he had planned to do, was there really any meaning to it?
Five hundred years later, in the era of the end of the world, everyone could not see hope. There were thick dark clouds above their heads, and there was no way out. But now, in this era that was supposed to be full of hope, why was there no trace of hope?
Was it worth it?
This was the first time Xiao Ruxun asked himself and questioned himself like this since he had been transported to this world.
"Fine, fine. This old man will send more people to the capital to inquire about the news. At least before we set off for the capital, we have to get accurate news about the capital. Don't pick the wrong time and bump into the muzzle of both sides. If that happens, we will really become a big joke. Ji Xin, what do you think?"
Xiao Ruxun smiled helplessly and said, "Now that things have come to this, what else can I say? I will listen to Grandpa Song's instructions! I don't understand these political things. I just want to go home and accompany my beloved wife as soon as possible. I don't want to care about these annoying things anymore. "
Xiao Ruxun seemed to be a little disheartened.
Song Yingchang thought of Ye Mengxiong's letter. He wanted to persuade him, but in the end, he was also disheartened. He did not want to continue struggling to survive in that big whirlpool. Instead of spending all his efforts in political struggles and using his life to exchange for a few years of power, it was better to take advantage of the time when he was most glorious and retreat. He would return to his hometown with glory and rewards, play with his grandchildren, enjoy the happiness of family, and write articles and read books. He would no longer care about the political and military affairs.
After having this idea, Song Yingchang seemed to really yearn for this kind of life of paradise. He did not want to participate in the political and military affairs anymore, nor did he want to fight with others all day long.
He seemed to have the idea of retreating.
"Sometimes, I also think, instead of continuing to fight with others for power and profit, it is better to return, retreat, and return to my hometown. I will spend my old age with my family, play with my grandchildren, and enjoy the happiness of family. I will no longer worry about the affairs of the country. I will no longer worry about military equipment and food. I will no longer think about how to deal with the relationship between various factions, and I will no longer think about what to do if I can't complete the Emperor's order.
For the past few decades, I have dedicated more than half of my life to the Daming. For the Daming, I have not gone through fire and water, but I have exhausted all my efforts. I wanted to make contributions for the peace of the country, but I did not expect that after I returned, it would intensify the conflict between the emperor and his ministers. In this way, is there any meaning to all this old man has done? I have done too much for the Daming Dynasty, but now I can't see any hope. The Daming Dynasty is in its twilight, and chaos is everywhere, but I can't do anything! Ji Xin, is it really time for me to return? "
Xiao Ruxun suddenly thought of Tao Yuanming's poem.
After being in the Confinement for a long time, one returns to nature.
The troubles of the world are all because of being in the Confinement. If one could detach from it and no longer care about those worldly affairs, and return to his hometown to live a peaceful life, read books, write articles, play with his grandchildren, and enjoy the happiness of family. He would not have to worry about food or clothing. When he had nothing to do, he would meet up with one or two good friends to drink and chat. He would find a small fish pond to fish, eat, and be merry. He would not have to worry about the flood. Wouldn't that be a fairy-like life?
Calculating the time, he was already twenty-three years old. Calculating the life of the Daming Dynasty, there were fifty-one years left. If there were no accidents, in the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, he would be seventy-four years old. That would probably be the end of his life. What more could he ask for?
He would resign and live in seclusion. He would leave the Central Plains and settle down in Lingnan, or even Hainan Island. When the Jiaxin Kingdom changed, if he was still alive, he would bring his descendants abroad to Korea, Japan, or somewhere in Southeast Asia. If he died, he would leave a will for his descendants, ordering them not to be obedient citizens of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, but to leave the Central Plains and settle abroad.
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