Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 852 Editing of "History of the Former Ming Dynasty"

In fact, as for the post of president of "History of the Former Ming Dynasty", as expected, it was Zhao Shu, the chief assistant of the cabinet.

Among the important ministers of the country, there is no one more suitable than him.

Leaving a name in history, especially writing history books, is the greatest honor in life for a literati.

The emperor also wanted to use this official position to reward Zhao Shu for his contributions.

Similarly, it is precisely because Zhao Shu is in the same film and knows his mind that it is the most suitable.

In addition to the president, there are also a large number of official positions such as supervisor, editor, and historian.

However, here is a word, the "History of the Ming Dynasty" edited by the Qing Dynasty has gone through three edits, which lasted for 95 years. During this period, there were countless incidents of smearing. Waiting for history books, its value is higher.

After all, it is a historical practice to discredit the former dynasty, and it is understandable for the Manchus to do so. After all, if it is not written that the Ming Dynasty is about to end, how can it highlight the manifest destiny of the Qing Dynasty?

Therefore, the greatest value of "History of Ming Dynasty" has two points: one is that it is accurate and cautious in the selection of materials; the other is that it is more objective and fair in evaluating the characters of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, the biggest tampering of history is nine truths and one falsehood.

Historians, including novelists, generally agree. For example, "Yuan Shi", which was written in one year, is the worst among the 24 histories.

Of course, it is precisely because of this that there were many folks in the Ming Dynasty who revised the "Yuan History". For more than 200 years in the Ming Dynasty, many people kept writing to request the re-editing of the "Yuan History", but because it was edited by Emperor Taizu, it has never been completed. .

Many great Confucians who had no desire for official positions but were eager for fame went to Beijing one after another, hoping to occupy a place in the "History of the Former Ming Dynasty".

This trend quickly spread throughout the world.

However, the emperor understood that this was like a bait, fishing for those celebrities, such as a large number of retired officials and learned scholars, so that they could support the prestige of the Shaowu court and benefit each other.

Just like Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, conscripted Shangshan Sihao, and Emperor Wu of Jin Dynasty Sima Yan conscripted Li Mi, the voice of the new Zhaoyang Dynasty played an icing on the cake, thereby strengthening the emperor's prestige.

What it obeys is the praise of the people for virtuous emperors and ministers.

A virtuous monarch is matched with a famous official, and a wealthy family is matched with a football star, that's all.

The most typical one who used this trick to perfection was Langya King Sima Rui in the last years of the Western Jin Dynasty. Because he let the famous scholars Wang Dao and Wang Dun brothers lift their chairs, their worthless prestige soared instantly, and thus united with the Jiangnan family.

But in the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang humbly begged those old officials, but he was thrown off face by one by one, and they went to praise the stinky feet of the Tartars, which really made him very angry.

Zhao Shu also understood the emperor's thoughts. After becoming the chief executive officer, the first person to recommend to the emperor was Zhu Zhiyu, a native of Yuyao County in Shaoxing.

"Oh?" Zhu Yixi was a little surprised, he always looked down on those country celebrities.

In his view, these people are like big Vs on the Internet, self-media, who have a huge number of fans and have the right to speak among the people.

He has always been contemptuous.

"I'm afraid there are no officials above the fifth rank in the imperial court?"

The emperor guessed a little: "There should be none of the famous eunuchs who have become officials."

"But people from the clan?"

"Your Majesty, this person is a man of the people."

Zhao Shu said softly: "This person has no official or job, and lives in the countryside, but he is famous in the south of the Yangtze River. It can be said that he knows everything."

"It's all for fame and fame, sir, you admire him too much!" The emperor said with a hint of disdain in his tone.

"Your Majesty, don't underestimate him. This person is not someone who takes a shortcut to the south, but a person with real talents and practical learning."

Zhao Shu smiled slightly, he knew that the emperor liked those who were practical, not those who were vain and incompetent, so he explained softly.

It turned out that the reason why Zhu Zhiyu became famous in the south of the Yangtze River was that his actions were too amazing.

Gein refused the imperial edict four times to enter the court as an official, which not only shaped his own iron frame, but also made all the gentry admire him.

He refused for the first time in the 11th year of Chongzhen (1638). "Government is achieved through bribery", the government is in chaos, and I can't be tolerated by popular customs, so I give up my official career and focus on learning.

The second time, in the first month of the 18th year of Chongzhen (1645), King Fu ordered him to be recruited again, but he still did not take office.

The third call-up has not yet taken office.

The fourth time, in April, Jing Guogong Fang Guoan bit the bullet and recommended again, but he still did not take office.

He refused to be recruited three times within a year, so he was hated. The next year, he was pursued for the crime of "not being ordered by the court, not being courteous".

Zhu Zhiyu even fled to Zhoushan overnight, using businessmen as a cover.

Hearing this, Zhu Yixi's ass decided his head, and immediately felt that this person was rebellious, and he was definitely an out-and-out traitor.

Good guy, that's all for King Fu, half of the country, a lame court, and in the 11th year of Chongzhen, at that time, King Chuang's momentum fell sharply, Sun Chuanting and Hong Chengchou were all over the Central Plains. It is absolutely audacious to dare to refuse the imperial edict at this time.

Seeing the emperor's displeasure frowning, Zhao Shu excused him and said, "The Chongzhen dynasty was turbid and party disputes were fierce, that's why Zhu Zhiyu refused to enter the court; the fate of King Fu is not here, and the treacherous officials are in power, so he won't enter."

"Nowadays, the government is sound and the people are harmonious, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Although they don't know the way and don't pick up lost things, and they don't close their doors at night, there is not much difference."

"It's the right time to recruit Zhu Zhiyu to the court, and it will also highlight your majesty's sense of virtue."

Hearing this, Zhu Yixi's brows eased a lot.

That's right, Chongzhen, King Fu.The two of them recruited many times, but they didn't become officials. As a result, they recruited themselves, and they came here in a hurry.

Doesn't this just show his greatness by comparing the two?

However, he hesitated and said: "If this Zhu Zhiyu is still desperate and refuses my recruitment, isn't that putting me in the company of Chongzhen and King Fu?"

Zhao Shu couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and then he realized that the emperor always saves face, but at this moment he forgot.

"Don't worry, before the imperial edict is called, the old minister can write a letter and test it out."

"If it's feasible, just issue an imperial decree; if it doesn't work, then let it go."

The emperor nodded and showed a smile.

"Other than that, is there anyone else?"

"There is a man whose original name was Gu Jishen, styled Zhongqing, later changed his name to Yanwu, styled Ningren, and he also gained great fame among the people."

Zhao Shu continued to recommend: "He once worked in Nanjing and wrote "On Military System", "On Situation", "Tian Gong Lun" and "Qian Fa Lun", which became the 'Yiyou Four Treatises', which attracted the attention of the government and the public."

"In the early years of Shaowu, after the world was pacified, he resigned from office and traveled all over the country, teaching and learning. He seemed to be looking for why the Ming Dynasty died, and he broke through countless cloth shoes."

"Because of this, it has the style of Wang Yangming. It seems to be creating a new school, and there are endless debates among the people..."

Compared to Zhu Zhiyu, Zhu Yixi is too familiar with Gu Yanwu.

Together with Wang Fuzhi and Huang Zongxi, he was listed as the three major thinkers in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.

"Etiquette, righteousness, honesty and shame are the four dimensions"

"The rise and fall, everyone is responsible"

"Practical and practical"

These slogans are catchy and point directly to people's hearts.

It can be said that Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism prevailed for 400 years, while Yangming's Mind-learning declined, and these thoughts of Gu Yanwu were of great use value to the imperial court.

That's right, in the eyes of the imperial court, Yangming's thinking of studying things and extending knowledge is completely useless for governing the country, and it is not as good as the increasingly decadent Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.

However, these thoughts of Gu Yanwu can be used by the country.

The rise and fall of the world is everyone's responsibility. Isn't this calling on the people to defend the imperial court and the Zhu family?
Isn't it about cultivating talents and governing the world?

"Okay!" Zhu Yixi excitedly said, "Let's recruit Gu Yanwu first."

"For him, I have been famous for a long time. Since I have such a great talent, I should compile history books so that my talent will not be wasted."

Zhao Shu was surprised.

In his opinion, Zhu Zhiyu has profound literary skills and is upright and selfless, much better than Gu Yanwu, who is more famous than real.

The reason why Gu Yanwu was recruited was to take care of his reputation.

"Yes--"

Zhao Shu sighed, and continued to recommend...

And at this time in Zhejiang, Shaoxing.

Zhu Zhiyu studies calligraphy and paintings at home, it can be said that he is leisurely and extremely comfortable.

Fifty-six, he was already an old man, and he originally wanted to restore the country with passion, but after Emperor Shaowu unified the world again, he immediately died down and started a leisurely time.

Even if there are people in the officialdom who want to recommend him to the court from time to time, they are all rejected one by one.

Over the years, like other great Confucians, he regarded the Jiashen Rebellion as a great shame, and even had lingering fears about the entry of the Manchus into the Qing Dynasty.

Over the years, continuous research has finally paid off:
To govern the country, we must apply what we have learned.

"The way of learning is the most important thing to practice, and the learning of sages and sages must be practiced."

But he didn't know that if in history, in order to preserve his solar terms, he would live in exile in Japan for more than 20 years, teaching and learning, and imparting China's advanced agriculture, medicine, architecture, and craftsmanship to Japan.

Established the "Edo School" with the purpose of Shunshui Theory.

"Zhiyu, Zhiyu—"

Suddenly, an old cry brought Zhu Zhiyu back to his senses from calligraphy, he put down his pen hastily, and walked out of the room.

Take three steps and two steps, and help the old man who is walking on the side.

This is his elder brother, Zhu Qiming.

After the death of his father at the age of eight, the eldest brother raised him like a father, which can be described as laborious.

It is extremely hard work to support him to study with the salary of a military officer, so he has always felt respect.

"Brother, why are you still acting like this when you're old?" Zhu Zhiyu blamed, "Sit down first."

"Say something slowly."

"Hey, isn't this good news!"

Zhu Qiming is tall and tall, but he is on crutches. At the age of 70, his feet feel windy.

"You don't know, the imperial court is planning to recruit you as an official!"

With a smile on Zhu Qiming's face, he didn't let go of Zhu Zhiyu's hand.

"Brother, why are you here to persuade me?" Zhu Zhiyu said helplessly, "The officialdom is turbid. I'm not suitable to be an official, so don't come to recommend me again."

"This time is extraordinary——" Zhu Qiming's voice suddenly resounded, he stared at his younger brother, and said seriously: "The imperial court wants to compile the "History of the Former Ming Dynasty" and recruit you as a historian. This is a good opportunity to make a name for yourself in history." what!"

"I don't care if you're a celebrity, but you can't shirk such an opportunity to glorify your ancestors."

"What?" Zhu Zhiyu was taken aback.

He never expected that such an opportunity would fall on his own head.

Over the past few days, he has heard that many people braved the wind and cold and wanted to go north to get famous. He never thought that others were at home, but the imperial court recruited him.

After thinking for a long time, he opened his mouth and was about to refuse, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by his elder brother.

"Zhiyu, the youngest, you have been self-willed for decades, and you have been the seed of studying since you were a child. Your eldest brother, I have worked hard to support you, but in the end, I am not an official."

Zhu Qiming said sharply, "I'll let you go, as long as you're happy."

"But now that you are old and have many children, I can no longer let you be presumptuous. Clean it up for me immediately and leave for Beijing the day after tomorrow."

"No, it's tomorrow—"

Hearing this, Zhu Zhiyu could only bow down with a wry smile: "Oh——"

This time the imperial court really hit him seven inches.

At this time, at the foot of Huashan Mountain in Shaanxi, there is a Huashan Town, where a lively indoor lecture is being held.

The bonfire was burning hot, and everyone was sitting on the ground, wearing thick clothes, but their faces were full of excitement.

In front of everyone, sat a man about 50 years old.

He was wearing a black cotton coat, sitting upright, with a straight back, a dark luster on his rough face, and thick bags under his eyes showing that he had been tired for a long time.

A pair of inverted eight-character eyebrows are raised, shaping its majestic image.

"Since Wanli, the world has accumulated evils for a long time. Dozens of villages have been merged into Haoyou, which can be found everywhere. There are even those who have fields and rice paddies, but households are not satisfied with buckets of stones; By……"

"Therefore, at the end of the Wanli period, the establishment of slavery began in Liaodong, and between the apocalypse and the chaos of the people, before the internal and external attacks, how could the court have any reason to be invincible?"

Gu Yanwu talked eloquently, fluently describing the ills of the court:

"Those who are superior to others only seek their own profit, and collude with evil gentry to take plunder, so that the people's livelihood becomes poorer, and the national economy becomes more embarrassing. They raise soldiers but lack soldiers, and take wealth but lack the people. The more they seek it, the less wealth they will..."

"So much so that new taxes had to be levied, drinking poison to quench thirst, and thus the Jiashen Rebellion."

"Sir, I don't know how to make the national economy prosperous without disturbing the people?"

Suddenly, a scholar sat down and couldn't help raising his hand to ask.

Gu Yanwu smiled faintly: "Without him, wealth is hidden in the people—"

"Those who are good for the country must hide it from the people. Only in this way can they truly know the truth."

"The rulers of ancient times never kept secret about wealth. If the people benefited from it, the source of wealth would flow and benefit the officials; if the official took advantage of its benefits, the source of wealth would be blocked and would be detrimental to the people."

"The imperial court now lightly corvees and thins taxes, reduces and exempts the three rates, clarifies taxes, and divides the world's money and food into three classes. This is to hide wealth from the people."

"And using the wealth of the mines for the people, dredging the canals to help the north and the south, advocating sea transportation and saving manpower, can also be a source of wealth."

Gu Yanwu said with a smile: "At this time, the merchant tax will be re-imposed, and the profits of those merchants will be used by the government. The people will be happy. Who dares to say no?"

Some questions and answers, justified and well-founded, have to make people admire.

After one class, everyone got up and prepared to leave.

At this time, a yamen servant suddenly broke in, which shocked everyone.

Gu Yanwu remained calm.

Although he failed the provincial examination, he was still a scholar, and even the county magistrate couldn't do anything to him.

Sure enough, the magistrate of Huayin came over with a lot of smiles: "Mr. Tinglin, I congratulate you."

"I've met the county magistrate—" Gu Yanwu was puzzled, "I'm giving a lecture here, but where does the joy come from?"

"Your Majesty heard that Mr. Wenjian has solid knowledge, and summoned you to Beijing to compile "History of the Former Ming Dynasty"!"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the hall was shocked.

(End of this chapter)