Half an hour later, the handyman of the Hanlin Academy brought Wang Shouren to Chang Feng.
Wang Shouren looked familiar when he saw Chang Feng, but couldn't remember where he had seen him.
Chang Feng smiled and said: "Brother Wang, you are fine."
Wang Shouren asked: "Who is your lord?"
Chang Feng said: "Have you forgotten? On the ground in Tai'an, you ate six of my pot helmets. Good guy, I have never seen anyone who can eat like you."
Wang Shouren patted his head and said, "Ah! I remember, you are the one who has been kind to me."
Wang Hua reprimanded him: "Don't be rude. Now you should call 'Chang Qianhu'. Kneel down quickly and salute, acknowledging your guilt."
Chang Feng said: "No need to be polite, please sit down."
Chang Feng understood Emperor Hongzhi's thoughts. Emperor Hongzhi asked him to check the person who wrote the anonymous letter because he was afraid that the person who wrote the letter was a pedantic official. Emperor Hongzhi had to find him and abandon him.
Now it is found that the person who wrote the letter is an eighteen-year-old boy with no official position or fame. With Emperor Hongzhi's benevolent character, he would never punish him.
Wang Shouren didn't dare to sit down and asked directly: "Why did Chang Qianhu come to me? Do you want me to return the pot helmet? I don't have the pot helmet at home, so I didn't bring it."
"How about I pay you back six pieces of silver? I can buy sixty pot helmets!"
Wang Hua became anxious and teased Menzi with Tiqi, the emperor's favorite, "You son of a bitch, are you willing to die?"
Wang Hua kicked him directly: "Kneel down!"
Wang Shouren knelt down.
Chang Feng quickly picked him up with both hands: "I told you that you don't need to kneel. Scholar Wang, don't scare Mr. Ling."
After Wang Shouren stood up, Chang Feng handed him the anonymous letter: "Did you write this?"
Wang Shouren nodded.
Chang Feng asked again: "Did you steal my father's official robe last night and wear it to the east middle gate of the imperial city?"
Wang Shouren answered truthfully: "Yes."
Chang Feng asked: "Why did you write such a letter to the emperor?"
Wang Shouren replied: "Scholars should establish their mind for the heaven and the earth, establish their destiny for the livelihood of the people, inherit the unique knowledge of the past saints, and create peace for all generations."
"It's a pity that I don't have any fame or official position for the time being. I can't tell the emperor the way I have thought up so hard to create peace for all generations."
"I have no choice but to submit my letter anonymously. I hope the emperor will give you good advice."
The truth about the anonymous letter came out. It was just an eighteen-year-old nerd who wanted to express his unrealistic ideas to Emperor Hongzhi.
Chang Feng comforted Wang Hua: "Xueshi Wang, this is not a big deal. The emperor will probably not pursue it. You and Mr. Ling don't need to be afraid."
Chang Feng turned around and said to Wang Shouren: "Little brother, if you want to serve the emperor, you'd better go through the hospital examination, provincial examination, general examination, and palace examination all the way to get the official position."
"At that time, you can submit your memorial openly and openly."
Wang Hua was relieved after hearing this: "Thank you Chang Qianhu for your noble hand."
After Wang Hua finished speaking, he was about to kneel down and salute Chang Feng.
Chang Feng said: "Scholar Wang, you don't have to be like this. Although I am a Tiqi, I am also a scholar. You are a senior scholar and the number one scholar. I should respect you!"
Chang Feng entered the palace, came to Qianqing Palace before lunch, and reported to Emperor Hongzhi.
Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said: "It's not strange for an eighteen-year-old boy to make such childish remarks. I will not pursue this matter."
"But having said that, although his thoughts are childish, his writing is brilliant and his handwriting is also very good. If he can be trained, he will definitely become something big in the future."
Chang Feng hurriedly patted Emperor Hongzhi's butt: "Your Majesty's generosity is a blessing to all the people in the world."
Emperor Hongzhi said again: "That's right. You said this man is the son of Wang Hua, a scholar at the helm? What a coincidence, I am going to hold a sutra banquet tomorrow afternoon. Wang Hua, as a scholar at the helm, will also come."
"You ask him to bring his son with him. Oh, you come too, and listen to the scriptures and the banquet and learn a lot."
Chang Feng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."
In the evening, I returned home from work under Changfeng.
Mrs. Ninth diligently changed Chang Feng into Feiyu clothes.
Chang Feng told her: "Prepare for me a set of plate-collar T-shirt and square scarf. I will wear them tomorrow."
Liu Xiaoyan, who was holding a strong figure on her side, felt a little strange: "This is the dress of a Confucian scholar. What are you wearing it for?"
Chang Feng explained: "Tomorrow I will go to the palace to attend the Sutra Banquet. The officials participating in the Sutra Banquet do not wear official uniforms, but Confucian uniforms."
Madam Ninth doesn’t understand what a scripture feast is. She asked: "What kind of banquet? You have to change clothes when you drink? You Han people have so many rules."
Liu Xiaoyan smiled and said: "Sister, it's not a banquet. It's a sutra banquet. It's a group of scholars gathered around the emperor to lecture and discuss knowledge with the emperor."
Madam Ninth nodded slightly: "My sister is more knowledgeable."
Tangtang interjected: "My brother is a butcher holding scriptures, and he pretends to be a scholar!"
Liu Xiaoyan reprimanded her: "Tangtang, don't talk nonsense. Your brother is a court official, not a butcher."
Tangtang said, "Pingping told me. She said she heard her father telling a uncle that my brother was a butcher."
Chang Feng asked: "Who is Pingping?"
Liu Xiaoyan said: "The little girl from the family of the high minister of the Ministry of Rites."
Chang Feng was stunned. Even if I study and make progress every night. The officials in the court still regarded him, the emperor's favorite in the Imperial Guard, as a butcher.
Stereotypes cannot be changed.
At noon the next day, there was a feast.
Chang Feng came to Xinuang Pavilion of Qianqing Palace. He is very strange. According to the rules, those attending the Sutra Banquet should all be Hanlin officials.
However, the people attending the Sutra Banquet today include the three elders of the cabinet, the ministers of the six ministers, and the Hanlin officials.
How could Chang Feng have imagined that Emperor Hongzhi reopened the major and minor Sutra banquets not just to listen to the noise of old scholars?
He wanted to express his philosophy of governing the country and his general political strategy on specific affairs to his ministers through the feast.
Wang Hua, the lecturer, and his son Wang Shouren were also standing in the Xinuan Pavilion.
Emperor Hongzhi asked: "Who is Wang Shouren?"
Wang Shouren knelt down and said, "Wang Shouren, common man, long live my emperor."
Emperor Hongzhi looked Wang Shouren up and down and said, "I see you have a very impressive face."
All the ministers were puzzled, why did the emperor allow a commoner to participate in the sutra banquet? Could it be that this young man is a young talent with great talents and learning?
Emperor Hongzhi saw the doubts of his ministers. He explained: "This Mr. Wang Xiao is the son of the lecturer Wang Hua. The night before yesterday, he handed me an unsigned memorial. He wants to teach me a lesson."
Wang Hua plopped down and knelt down: "The dog is arrogant. I taught you poorly. I am guilty. Please punish me."
Emperor Hongzhi said with a smile: "Young people have their own youthful madness. They despise Kunlun and laugh at Luliang. It will take a few years to sharpen the sword and choose a day to show its edge."
"Wang Qing is not guilty, why should I punish you?"
Emperor Hongzhi changed the topic: "I think, today I will start the feast with the memorial given to me by Wang Shouren as a guide."
"Wang Shouren, read your memorial to all the ministers."
Wang Shouren accepted the order, took the anonymous letter from Xiao Jing, and read it loudly.
If Emperor Hongzhi hadn't been present, all the officials would have laughed so hard.
Can rebellion be avoided by teaching poor people to restrain themselves and restore their rites? Oh, who do the poor people know about Confucius? In their eyes, Confucius was probably not as real as a small piece of wheat cake.
Teach the northern captives benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trust? Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha immediately? Why don't you preach to the evil wolf about eating fast, chanting Buddha's name, and cultivating your mind?
Wang Shu and Ma Wensheng had spent most of their lives suppressing the rebellion, defending the northern captives, and plowing the Jurchens, fighting with real swords and spears.
The two old men finally couldn't help laughing. After a while, they realized they had lost their composure and quickly stopped smiling.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "What do you think of Wang Shouren's magnificent article?"
Wang Shu said: "Your Majesty, your literary talent is outstanding, but it's just a scrap of paper."
Ma Wensheng echoed: "Wang Butang's evaluation can be said to be extremely commendable."
Emperor Hongzhi said: "At today's banquet, the only people who are about the same age as me are Wang Shouren and Chang Feng."
"Chang Feng, please tell me."
Chang Feng knew that the opportunity to perform in front of the emperor had come again.
He cupped his hands and said, "I also think Wang Shouren's remarks are very childish." After saying this, he suddenly discovered that the emperor had called Wang Shouren to the Jingyan today as a target.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Tell me carefully, where is the childishness?"
Chang Feng said: "The people of the Han family are probably the most docile people in the world. As long as they have a bite to eat, they will never rebel."
"Wang Shouren just mentioned the two largest rebellions in the Chenghua Dynasty - the Guangxi rebellion in the first year of Chenghua and the Jingxiang refugee rebellion in the third year of Chenghua."
"The reason for the rebellion is definitely not what he said about the people not restraining their selfish desires and being greedy for profit."
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Tell me, what are the reasons for these two rebellions?"
Chang Feng spoke eloquently: "Let's talk about the Guangxi rebellion first. In the final analysis, the government squeezed the local chieftains in Guangxi, and the chieftains could only turn around and squeeze the Yao people."
"The Yao people are forced to survive. How can they not rebel?"
Chang Feng's words sounded like he was trying to absolve the rebels of their crimes, which was treason.
But no one would contradict him. Because Emperor Hongzhi’s grandfather was a member of the Guangxi rebels!
Without the Ming army's great victory at Duantengya, how could Empress Dowager Ji be captured and sent to the palace? It’s hard to say who is sitting on the Dragon Throne today.
Hongzhi Emperor Long Yan was delighted: "Well said! Go on!"
Chang Feng added: "As for the rebellion of the refugees in Jingxiang, it is because the gentry in Jingxiang are too powerful and the land annexation is serious. The common people have lost their land and can only become refugees."
"But what about the local government? They restrict the movement of refugees. To restrict movement, they have to provide food so that the refugees can fill their stomachs and survive."
"I have checked the archives of Jinyiwei. At that time, the two prefects of Jingzhou and Xiangyang brought out not food, but steel knives!"
"The government will kill anyone who migrates. The people have no food in the local area and cannot survive. The government does not allow them to leave their hometowns to seek a living. It would be strange if there is no rebellion!"
Emperor Hongzhi patted the dragon case and said: "Well said! Everyone. I believe that the eleven rebellions of various sizes in Chenghua Dynasty are nothing more than the four words 'officials force the people to rebel'!"
"Just now Chang Feng revealed the real reason for the Jingxiang refugee rebellion - land annexation."
"I know that many of you here are big landowners. I tell you, I will not take away the land that is already in your hands."
"But if any of you dare to continue to annex people's land, I will severely punish you!"
"You need to know that if you lose your land, you will lose your people, and if you lose your people, your country will be destroyed!"
"The gentry's tyrannical annexation of common people's land is tantamount to poaching the Ming Dynasty!"
"In the second year after I changed my reign title, the biggest task for everyone in the imperial court was to suppress land annexation!"
Chang Feng suddenly understood the reason why Emperor Hongzhi reopened the sutra feast.
It turns out that it is to convey the great political affairs of the country through the scripture feast!
Li Min, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, came out: "Report to the Emperor. It is the duty of the Ministry of Revenue to suppress land annexation. I am determined to handle this matter well."
The emperor had the intention to restrain land annexation, and his ministers also expressed support. But this matter is not so easy to handle.
The true end of land annexation will have to wait until 460 years later, when the Five Stars come out of the East to benefit China.
All Emperor Hongzhi could do was to suppress it as much as possible.
Emperor Hongzhi added: "Wang Shouren's second suggestion is to send Confucian scholars to the northern barbarians to teach them benevolence, justice, etiquette, wisdom and trustworthiness. Chang Feng, what do you think?"
Chang Feng said: "Back to the emperor. In the ninety-eight years since the puppet Yuan Dynasty usurped the country, they also respected Confucius and Mencius, respected Confucianism, and held imperial examinations. Their emperor and important ministers also read the Four Books and Five Classics."
"But in ninety-eight years, have they changed their ways? No! They still treat the Han people as talking animals and two-legged sheep!"
"Fortunately, Taizu raised the flag of righteousness, drove out the northern barbarians, and restored our Han family to the world."
"It goes back fifteen hundred years. I, the Han family in the Central Plains, have always treated foreigners with benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom and trust."
"For example, if they don't have clothes, we teach them how to make clothes to cover their bodies; if they don't have salt tea, we give them salt tea."
"But how did they treat the Han family in the Central Plains? Not benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom and trust, but sabers, bows and arrows!"
"When it comes to Beilu, the learning of Confucius, Mencius, and Cheng-Zhu are useless. There is only one word."
Ma Wensheng, Minister of War, interjected: "I know what word you are talking about - fight!"
Chang Feng's words just now made Wang Shu and Ma Wensheng aware of the news.
Chang Feng said: "Mabu Tang's opinion is exactly the word 'fight'!"
Emperor Hongzhi said: "What Chang Qing said is right! The Northern captives are brave and good at fighting, and it is difficult for them to join the bandits every time. If we follow the example of the Song Dynasty and give in blindly, what will greet us will be the shame of Jingkang! It will be the cliff mountain and the sea!"
"I respect Taizu, Taizong and Xianzong. Taizu made thirteen northern expeditions, and Taizong personally conducted five expeditions. They defeated the northern captives who did not dare to invade the south."
"During the reign of Emperor Xianzong, the national power was not as strong as that of Taizu and Emperor Taizong. However, he still dispatched surprise troops several times to attack the northern captives deep into the hinterland of the grasslands. This won a brief period of peace for the nine sides."
Ma Wensheng burst into tears and shouted: "Your Majesty is so wise!"
Ma Wensheng was one of the two commanders who led several surprise attacks on the grasslands in Chenghua Dynasty, the other was Wang Zhi.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Whether I'm dealing with the Northern Barbarians, the Jurchens in the Northeast, or the Turpan in the Northwest, it's all the same strategy."
"That is, we will never learn from the Song Dynasty. Remember Taizong's ancestral motto of 'No marriage, no compensation, no ceding of territory, the emperor will guard the country'!"
Emperor Hongzhi conveyed a second strong political signal through this sutra feast. That is the continuation of Xianzong's tough attitude towards foreigners.
All the ministers shouted: "My emperor is wise!"
Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said: "Chang Feng's grand remarks are the best in today's Jingyan. I can't help but appreciate it."
"But I have made extraordinary promotions and given you many rewards in the past two years. I can't move you any further because I'm afraid that foreign ministers will gossip and say that I dote on my slaves."
"I am a poor emperor and cannot give you much money."
"Let's do this. I have made an exception and allow you to take part in the Beizhili Township Examination this autumn. I really want to see if you can pass the examination in autumn with your talents!"
Chang Feng has no reputation as a scholar. Allowing him to take part in the provincial examination was an exceptional reward that transcended the system.
Chang Feng knelt down and kowtowed: "I thank the emperor for your kindness!"
Emperor Hongzhi looked at Wang Shouren again: "I have to continue to read your book. And you have to learn and apply it. You are only eighteen this year. It doesn't matter if you make people laugh at the sutra banquet."
"I hope that when you are twenty-eight or thirty-eight, you can become a pillar of the imperial court who can do things and know how to do things!"
Wang Shouren kowtowed: "The common people will definitely live up to the emperor's expectations."
At this moment, a cry came from outside the door: "Report! The Red Feather Courier is reporting urgently!"
If there is an emergency military situation on the nine borders of the Ming Dynasty, the general will send a red-feathered courier to the capital urgently. The emergency report can be sent directly to the palace without going through the Ministry of War.
Emperor Hongzhi frowned: "Xuan!"
The Red Feather Messenger was supported into Xi Nuan Pavilion by two Han generals.
He held a small leather pouch in his hand. There is a feather in the skin bag.
The so-called feather quill refers to inserting pheasant feathers on military documents to indicate an emergency.
Pheasant feathers, pheasant feathers.
The most important military information requires three sticks.
As an aside, the story of Haiwa's three chicken feather letters in later generations has historical heritage.
Xiao Jing forwarded Yu Xi to Emperor Hongzhi.
After reading it, Emperor Hongzhi said: "Everyone, the general of the Datong army reported that the young prince of the Northern Tatar tribe has led his troops to hide near Datong. The camp is more than 30 miles away and contains about 50,000 people. They are about to invade!"
"Just now we were discussing the matter of Beilu. Now Beilu has come to the door!"
In history books, there are more than ten chiefs in Mongolia who are called little princes. The little prince mentioned by the general of Datong was the leader of the Tatar tribe, Dayan Khan Batu Mengke.
Just after reading the letter handed over by the Datong General Soldier, the eunuch outside the door passed a message: "Wang Yuanning, the doctor of the Department of Rites and Guests, requests an audience."
In the words of later generations, the Host and Guest Department of the Ministry of Etiquette is in charge of diplomacy. The doctor's request to enter the palace must be due to important diplomatic matters.
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Xuan!"
Not long after, Wang Langzhong entered the Xinuang Pavilion and said: "Your Majesty, the Tatar envoy presented his credentials. The little prince of Tatar requested to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty."
Emperor Hongzhi said angrily: "Pay tribute? Is there anyone who brings fifty thousand soldiers and horses to pay tribute?"
Wang Langzhong added: "The little Tartar prince is so rebellious! He actually calls himself the 'Great Khan of the Great Yuan Dynasty' in his credentials!"
The little prince was famous on the grassland for his single-minded focus on "anti-Ming Dynasty and restoration of the Yuan Dynasty".
Emperor Hongzhi said: "Today's banquet ends here. Move to the main hall. Xiao Jing, Xuan cabinet ministers, military officials and above, Qianshi and above from the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion, and Jinyiwei Nanzhen Fu envoys have entered the main hall to discuss military matters!"
In Jinyiwei, the North Town Fu Division supervises hundreds of officials and investigates and punishes illegal affairs of officials.
Nanzhen Fusi not only manages the discipline of the local guards, but also manages foreign military affairs.
Nanzhen Fusi has countless internal responses and hidden stakes in Jiubian and the hinterland of the grassland.
Liao Fanyong, the governor of Nanzhen, has been in charge of foreign military affairs since Wantong was in charge of the guards.
After Emperor Hongzhi succeeded to the throne, he carried out a major reshuffle of Jinyiwei. Only Liao Fanyong was not abandoned.
Because Liao Fanyong has been specializing in foreign military intelligence for fifteen years, he cannot be replaced by anyone else.
Chang Feng was not included in the military discussions in the main hall. Returned to Jinyiwei.
Fatty Xu saw Chang Feng dressed as a Confucian scholar and said with a smile: "Master Chang looks elegant and knowledgeable in this outfit. When I put on your outfit, I still look like a prostitute. Is the banquet over so soon?"
Chang Feng said: "Yes. It seems that there is going to be a war in the north. The emperor ended the Sutra banquet early and summoned the generals to discuss military matters."
Fatty Xu became interested: "There's a war in the north? Fatty, can I participate in the battle?"
"My ancestor's best friend, King Chang Yuchun of Kaiping, once said that a man with a three-foot sword can march hundreds of thousands of men across the world to protect the mountains and rivers!"
Although it’s a bit late, it’s still a day when the 10,000 words are updated.
(End of chapter)
