Do we have such ideals and fighting spirit?
Fan Zhongyan's question made everyone stunned.
They also did not expect that Fan Zhongyan called everyone here to ask them about their ideals.
For a while, everyone except Ouyang Xiu was in high spirits and was deep in thought.
Fan Zhongyan didn't rush them, he just looked at them and waited quietly.
After a while, Fu Bi asked, "Don't you know what the regulations are for Duke Xiwen?"
"Um."
Fan Zhongyan nodded: "The expert read some books to me and said some thought-provoking words, which made me feel a lot."
As he spoke, he distributed the papers in his hands to everyone one by one.
These are "Selected Works" by great men, most of which are quotations. They have been modified by Zhao Jun and Fan Zhongyan to conform to the current social environment.
From some perspectives, it is even said without shame that the theories of the five great teachers are neither complete nor perfect, let alone perfect. Anyone who takes their theories as scripture will only have them shaking their heads and sighing.
But their theory is a thunder, a torch, a beacon, which guides the direction.
Zhao Jun firmly believes that we must move forward along this correct path, constantly think about practice as we move forward, and then continue to improve it so that it can adapt to the current environmental situation.
First understand the theories of predecessors, and then think. The most important thing is to practice, then think and then practice. Don't be a visionary, and don't treat them like Jesus or saints. The further you go in their theories, the happier they will be.
So Zhao Jun is also practicing these days and continues to read their theories. While groping, he is doing his own thinking to see if he can find a path of characteristicism that belongs to the Song Dynasty.
It would definitely not be possible for him to complete the ideological changes and explore the system progress by himself, so he had already approached Lao Fan, hoping to join forces with him.
It's just that in a sense, Lao Fan can't be his companion.
Because Lao Fan is only slightly more advanced than those conservative interest groups. In essence, it still has feudal bureaucratic ideas and does not have the consciousness of the new era.
But in this era, as long as Lao Fan can help him find a group of companions who are a little bit more advanced, that will be great.
Let's all work together to get Da Song on the right track before we can move on.
The paper was passed around and everyone studied it carefully.
Ouyang Xiu looked quickly and just saw the sentence "Throw those extremely bad guys who feel superior and arrogant when they become officials into the cesspit, because no upright person likes it. Every upright person What I like should be the way that is popularized by the people, that is, the way that every ordinary farmer likes to accept." He was so impressed.
"Is this written by that expert? It's so in line with my wishes. Now that many people have become officials, they immediately raise their heads to the sky, thinking how powerful they are. But they forget that their ancestors were also farmers. Among scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, who is born to be a scholar-official? Who is born to be an official?"
Ouyang Xiu sighed: "Even those who have been officials for generations, most of them are from farmers. It is a pity that most officials now have forgotten their roots. After becoming officials, they work harder to make money and reputation for themselves. The world Most of the officials are like this, so won’t the lives of ordinary people become worse?”
Fan Zhongyan's current idea is to reform the administration of officials, so many of the "Selected Works" he copied are about pointing out the ideological problems of the bureaucracy. If people like Lu Yijian saw it, they would definitely regard it as poison. But if these people can see it, it is a treasure.
Because everyone here later became a pioneer of the Qingli New Deal, and like Fan Zhongyan, they tried to change the rotten and outdated atmosphere of the Song Dynasty's officialdom, hoping to make the Song Dynasty look brand new.
So everyone watched it with gusto and couldn't put it down. I also feel that the thoughts and core inside are extremely profound and thought-provoking.
"We must not only put forward the task, but also solve the problem of methods to complete the task. Our task is to cross the river, but we cannot cross without a bridge or a boat. Without solving the problem of bridges or boats, crossing the river is an empty talk. Without solving the method Questions and tasks are just nonsense.”
When Fu Bi saw this sentence, he was deeply moved and said: "This sentence is really good. If you encounter a problem and don't want a solution, then everything is just empty slogans, which is of no use to us."
"Mr. Xiwen, what do you think?"
Cai Xiang asked.
Fan Zhongyan said thoughtfully: "I am determined to reform the shortcomings of the Song Dynasty. If I rely on myself alone, I will not be able to achieve great things. Therefore, I want to gather all my colleagues to participate in this grand event."
"Where's that expert?"
Ouyang Xiu asked: "Can't he persuade the officials? Wouldn't things be better if there were officials to help?"
"Official family."
Fan Zhongyan looked a little weird. Judging from the current situation, if the official family is reliable, the sow can also climb the tree.
It's just that an official is an official after all, so he couldn't say much. After a moment, he shook his head and said bitterly: "That expert is just moving forward with difficulty. Our enemies are too powerful. They have controlled the entire court, and Throughout the Song Dynasty, even the masters were unable to support themselves."
Zhao Jun and Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian talked a lot about the future outcome of the Song Dynasty, about the great thoughts of teachers, and there were many things they should do and change.
But now every step Zhao Jun takes is because he is forcing Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian, and they are completely unable to use their subjective initiative.
Because the sad thing is that Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian don't want to betray their class.
In other words, Lu Yijian and others did not want to betray their own class, while Zhao Zhen did not want to offend the scholar-bureaucrat class and was afraid that something would happen that would affect the stability of the Song Dynasty.
Even Zhao Jun did not want to overthrow their group immediately, but hoped for a gradual process.
For example, first carry out officialdom restructuring.
At least we should clean up the official system that is now rotten to the core in the Song Dynasty.
Only when official governance improves can we better implement new reforms and concentrate our efforts on major tasks. It is not that the official organization is bloated and everyone is superfluous. There are obviously so many officials, but the efficiency of government operation is pitifully low.
But these people still just want to increase the productivity of the Song Dynasty on the original basis and muddle along. They have no intention of changing the bottom layer.
Therefore, Zhao Jun could only move forward with difficulty like this.
Fan Zhongyan naturally knew Zhao Jun's situation, so he also needed to make changes. After knowing what he would encounter in the future, he needed to sublimate his thoughts even more.
"How can you say that you can't stand alone?"
Ouyang Xiu said dissatisfied: "Since this master wants to reform the Song Dynasty, we are not just mediocre people, so we must also contribute our modest efforts."
"Yes, Mr. Xiwen, we also have a heart for boxing. If you find a time and ask the master to show up, I am willing to be a host in Fanlou and let us have a talk with him? Hear it with your own ears This is the opinion of an expert.”
"Yes, since you want to do great things, such a master should be a role model for our generation, and he should work with us to create a great cause."
"We also want to admire the master's style, Mr. Xiwen, what do you think?"
Several people read some documents given by Fan Zhongyan and felt that the thoughts in them were really profound and enlightening. I was so excited for a moment that I really wanted to see the master in Fan Zhongyan's mouth.
But Fan Zhongyan shook his head and said: "The expert said that he still feels that he is shallow now, so he needs time to complete the precipitation. He plans to visit various places in the Song Dynasty after a while, and we will talk about the meeting later. .”
"Such an expert still thinks he is shallow?"
Ouyang Xiu said in shock: "If he is shallow, then who are we?"
"hehe."
Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "Exalts naturally have their own ideas. It is not a bad thing to let him do it to understand the Song Dynasty in depth. The purpose of calling you here this time is actually to establish a forum to discuss the new policy together. Things."
"oh?"
Fu Bi was surprised and said, "Mr. Xiwen, have you already got an idea?"
Historically, Fan Zhongyan’s Qingli New Deal would not begin until six years later, but this does not mean that he had not had this idea for a long time, but it had not reached that level yet.
Now with Zhao Jun's help, I have been able to summarize a lot of things.
"Um."
Fan Zhongyan nodded and said: "If we want to give our Song Dynasty a new look, we must first improve the officialdom. Nowadays, corrupt officials are rampant in the Song Dynasty. There is so much dirt hidden in Kaifeng Mansion alone. Look at the people arrested by the Imperial City Division this time. Which one is not bullying good people and doing evil? So I plan to start with this!"
"OK!"
Ouyang Xiu immediately responded: "Although the Imperial City Department arrested people a little harshly, looking at the evidence of their crimes, they are really worse than pigs and dogs! I wrongly blamed Zhao Jun before, but now it seems that the officials should have eradicated these filthy people." only."
Fan Zhongyan smiled mockingly, weren't these filthy people connived by the officials? If Zhao Jun hadn't been forced to give the Imperial City Division authority, the Kaifeng Mansion would have killed many people.
But he did not say these words after all. Instead, he turned around and said: "That expert once said that without investigation, there is no right to speak. It would be best if there were detailed signatures. For example, how many officials are there in the Song Dynasty now? No matter how many things they handle and how many practical things they do, they can work hard to find problems if they have a coordinator."
"We can do this"
Fu Bi thought: "I am in Jianyuan, so I can naturally check many official documents."
"Then I'll be in charge of editing!"
"I'm in charge of the Ministry of Works secretary!"
"I can read official documents from all over the country in the Secretary's Office."
"I"
Wang Zhu reviewed the history museum and looked around. All the brothers were in key departments and had access to key data. What could he do if he was from the history museum?
Wang Zhu had no choice but to say: "Then what can I do?"
Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "You can help copy some things, and then we can compile them together to see the situation in various places in the Song Dynasty."
Yin Zhu hesitated and said: "Xi Wen, although it is common for officials from various departments to take important official documents home or even lose them, will you be impeached if you blatantly steal official documents like this?"
"I can't. I don't need you to steal it. Just read it and write it down and tell me the situation."
Fan Zhongyan said: "Now is just a preliminary investigation stage. Since we want to reform the Song Dynasty, we must understand everything. When the time comes to report it to the court and explain it to the officials, we will have regulations to follow. The Song Dynasty There are already too many problems now, and governance is only the first step. We will need to work together to solve more problems in the future."
"In that case, why don't we form a club."
Ouyang Xiu felt that Fan Zhongyan was indeed a man who did great things, and he immediately said happily: "Nowadays, the trend of folk associations is prevalent. We are looking for a gentleman's style to help the country. Why not call it a gentleman's society?"
Fan Zhongyan's face suddenly changed and he said: "No, we are also here to share the worries of the officials and solve the problems for the people of the world. We must not have the intention of forming cliques for the sake of personal reputation. You must remember that we are doing it for the Song Dynasty, the officials and the world. The common people are definitely not doing this for themselves!”
"All right."
Ouyang Xiu was puzzled and didn't understand why Fan Zhongyan made such a fuss.
Folk associations are quite popular. Wouldn't it be more cohesive if they set up an association?
Only Fan Zhongyan knows that he was tricked to death by cronies in the history books. He must not repeat the same mistakes now, so he must not claim to be a crony to the outside world.
It's just that everyone in the court has their own political views. They have the same political views, so they support each other, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the officials.
"Come on, everyone, there are some things to do next. Let's talk and eat."
Seeing that the hot pot was boiling and all the dishes were served, Fan Zhongyan began to persuade everyone to eat.
Everyone's thoughts are still unfinished.
Ouyang Xiu said: "Okay, let's eat first. Anyway, what the master said has won my heart. I am willing to follow the master and participate in the grand event together!"
"Here, have a drink!"
Everyone raised their glasses, obviously very satisfied with Fan Zhongyan's expression of concern for the country and the people today.
For these young officials with ideals, this is also the best age to make friends (fool).
Although they may part ways in the future due to different ideas, at least today, they are united by their common ideals.
I hope that you will also have like-minded companions to join in this great event with you and create a great cause! I wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and may the flowers be full and the moon be full!
(End of chapter)
