Sima Guang pinched his beard and said to Zhang Yue: "Old man, I really didn't think about it that deeply. The intention is to cut out the redundant details and collect secrets, and focus on the prosperity and decline of the country, which is related to the livelihood of the people. Good things can be used as laws, and bad things can be used as warnings. ."
But Sima Guang held his hand to Zhang Yue and said, "But after listening to Du's wise words, I really learned a lot and feel that my trip was worthwhile."
"It turns out that I didn't find the wrong person when I came to ask Duzhi to come out and compile a history book today."
Zhang Yue stood up and returned the letter to Sima Guang, saying: "I am so frightened by Sima Gong's favor, but now that I have been dismissed from office, I have no intention of returning to Bianjing."
Sima Guang couldn't hide his disappointment when he heard Zhang Yue's rejection.
It was almost dinner time in the village courtyard.
These cooks are all employed by the Zhang family and are very good at cooking.
These cooks came to ask the Seventeenth Mother for advice.
"Madam, I heard that you are a high official. I originally ordered you to entertain me with good wine and meat, but just now I heard another message. The master said that the food does not need to be too rich, and the intention is to be light. We have no choice but to come and ask Madam for advice."
The seventeenth mother smiled when she heard this and said: "The person here is Sima Junshi. I have heard of this man's reputation. He is indeed extremely frugal in food and clothing. Follow my instructions and prepare a cup, a meal, a side, a piece of meat, and a dish. Yes, I won’t neglect it if I follow it.”
After hearing this, several cooks agreed and were about to go down to prepare.
Seventeenth Mother said: "Wait a minute."
The cooks didn't know what other instructions the Seventeenth Mother had. The Seventeenth Mother said, "I heard that Mr. Sima is from Shaanxi Province. Since Shaanxi people must like noodles, I will go to the kitchen and make a bowl of noodle soup myself."
Although Seventeen Niang rarely cooks on weekdays, the dishes she occasionally cooks are admired by several cooks, and even the famous chefs in Bianjing restaurants are not as good as her.
…
Smoke was burning in the courtyard, and soon the meal was ready.
The cook held a plate of food and put it in front of Sima Guang and Zhang Yue. Sima Guang couldn't help but smile when he saw a cup of drink, a small bowl of corn rice, a bowl of soup cakes, a plate of soy mutton, and vegetables on the table.
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "It's a remote place with nothing to entertain. It's really a neglect."
Sima Guang smiled and said: "That's enough, that's enough."
After speaking, Sima Guang took a bite of the soup cake first, and then kept praising: "It's very good, very good."
Then Zhang Yue watched Sima Guang slurping up the noodle soup.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but wonder, it seems that Sima Guang behaved and ate very decently? Why does a bowl of soup cake make a slurping sound?
Sima Guang saw Zhang Yue's expression and smiled: "I am from Shaanzhou. I don't like rice on weekdays, but I have a special liking for this soup cake."
Zhang Yue laughed and said, "If Mr. Sima likes to come here often."
Sima Guang smiled, and the cook on the side said: "My wife personally cooked this soup cake."
Hearing this, Sima Guang smiled and said to Zhang Yue, "I really have you as your wife. I can really cook good food."
Zhang Yue was happy to hear Sima Guang praise his wife.
After the two finished their meal, Sima Guang once again asked Zhang Yue to help him.
Sima Guang said: "Du Zhi, I call myself a circuitous old man. It is really difficult for me to understand the changes of ancient and modern times when I write this book. I need a virtuous person like Du to help me, otherwise it will be difficult to continue."
Zhang Yue said: "Sima Gong is also called Yingsou, and Bai Juyi is also called Yingsou. In fact, in my opinion, why is it so deceptive? Is it true that only serving the emperor in the court is upright, and writing books in the Jianghu is devious?"
"Actually, it seems to me that reading a book and writing a book seems to be righteous and honest, but serving the emperor in court seems to be righteous and counter-intuitive."
Zhang Yue's words aroused Sima Guang's sigh. Both of them were now politically frustrated, and they both withdrew from the temple.
Sima Guang said: "What Du said is reasonable. Scholars of our generation often say that there are three establishments: establishing virtue is the highest, establishing merit is the middle, and establishing words is the bottom. I started from the bottom to do it."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Living up one's word is not inferior. Different people have different opinions on establishing virtue. However, doing meritorious service is dangerous in temples and is difficult for ordinary people to achieve. Therefore, the first thing we scholars can and must do is, It’s about making a statement.”
"No matter how great our achievements are, if our life span comes to an end and our splendor ends in one body, it is not as good as articles that can guide the country and last for generations to come. Therefore, we, the scholars, place our lives in this calligraphy, no matter what people before us and behind us say about it. , there is no need to pretend to be a powerful person, but in this short space, I will leave my hard work to future generations."
Hearing this, Sima Guang couldn't help but leave the case, and cupped his hands to Zhang Yue and said, "What Du Zhi said is so good. He is really my confidant and a friend who has forgotten his years!"
Sima Guang sat down again and asked, "If that's the case, why don't you follow my advice?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Because I'm already writing my manuscript in rough draft."
Sima Guang suddenly said: "I see, I wonder what the article is about?"
Zhang Yue thought for a while and said: "Don't focus on the politics of conquest, but focus on economics."
Sima Guang's expression changed when he heard this. He was not interested in economic matters. For example, the famous tax law of the Tang Dynasty, there were only about twenty words in his "Zi Zhi Tong Jian".
"economy……"
Zhang Yue said: "Sima Gong, please listen to me first. Historical books in the past were all about individuals. They believed that the rise and fall of a dynasty lay in a few emperors and generals. This is a lesson from people. Another example is the Chunqiu Zuozhuan and the history books compiled by Sima Gong. , then it is closely related to historical events, and this is to use events as a guide."
Sima Guang nodded and said, "Is this unfair? Is there a third party?"
Zhang Yue said: "Actually, the book I wrote puts aside people and things?"
If others definitely wanted to expose it, Sima Guang said seriously: "I would like to hear the details."
Zhang Yue said: "For example, when it comes to reforms, why are most common people happy with them, but most literati and businessmen are not happy with them... Why do people with the same status come to the same conclusion?"
"Why do the people of the grassland like commerce and trade, but the people of the Central Plains focus on agriculture and suppress commerce?"
Sima Guang had countless answers in his heart.
But Zhang Yue said: "Sima Gong knows that in the Qing and Tang Dynasties, there were dozens of countries further to the west of Dashi. There was a sea in the center of the country, so it was extremely convenient for countries to conduct ship trade through this sea. If you don’t have enough, you have more than enough, so everyone in this country values commerce.”
"But on the other hand, in a country as big as ours in the Central Plains, with a population of hundreds of millions, if we focus on commerce, then everyone will do business. As a result, there will be fewer people farming, and people will starve to death. Therefore, we must instead focus on agriculture and suppress commerce."
"Another example is why it is necessary to work hard. Since Dayu controlled the floods, the Central Plains has been flooded with rivers. Controlling the floods is not a matter of one county or one state. It must be a joint effort. Therefore, the people think of a capable king who will bring the superiors and subordinates together. Thousands of miles of land are all under his unified management."
"So we can see that the places are different, their systems are different, and their cultures are also different. Therefore, when writing history, we should focus on people and events, and we also need to check the trends. This is also the intention of my book."
After listening to Zhang Yue's words, Sima Guang couldn't tell for a moment whether what he said was good or bad, so he said: "I trust talents to a high degree. When the time comes, please let me be the first to read the masterpiece!"