Qi Jiguang was worthy of being a general who had been able to bury wire reports for the central government when he was a frontier commander in other places. He could actually guess that the person behind Empress Dowager Li's back was Li Wenjin. Gao Pragmatic couldn't help but be a little surprised after hearing this. Based on this political vision alone, even if Qi Jiguang was a civil servant, he probably wouldn't do too badly.
Of course, Qi Jiguang in original history can be said to have the most reliable political vision among the famous generals of his generation. Doesn’t it mean that Yu Long, Qi Hu, Bei Ma, Nan Liu were the best? As for Wanli being transferred to Guangdong ten years later and dying in depression, it is really no wonder that he had political vision - who could have known that Zhang Juzheng died so early? Qi Jiguang is not Li Shizhen, how could he have this ability.
Speaking of which, Qi Jiguang is a person that Gao Pragmatic has found particularly interesting since time travel. When people in later generations who do not study history think of Qi Jiguang, they probably only have the words "fighting against Japanese pirates, national hero" in their minds. However, in fact, Qi Jiguang was far from such a "simple" person. He was very complicated.
From Gao Pragmatic's point of view, the most interesting thing is that Qi Jiguang, who was born and raised in the Ming Dynasty, actually has similar characteristics to himself as a time traveler.
Putting aside the well-known situation of the national hero, the most "contradictory" thing about Qi Jiguang is that he has been corrupt throughout his life but also incorruptible throughout his life.
This seems to be a joke. In history and reality, it seems that people should not be so contradictory. But unfortunately, all kinds of strange things will happen in Chinese history, especially in a system like the Ming Dynasty with its own distorted ancestral system. If you want to be an official or a general, you have never been corrupt or accepted bribes. It is actually really impossible to make a career out of it.
The only exception is the tough-minded Hai Rui, the most upright official established by the Ming Dynasty. According to records, he is probably the most upright official in Chinese history. But except for Hai Rui, it is really difficult to find a few such honest officials. Moreover, although Hai Rui has done a good job in his official career, it is actually difficult to define whether he has achieved a great career.
As for the national hero Qi Jiguang, who has indeed accomplished a great career, he certainly does not belong to the ranks of upright officials, but he has indeed lived an honest life.
At that time, Mingyue commented on Qi Jiguang in the book "Those Things in the Ming Dynasty": "Qi Jiguang - a person who is good at building relationships, catering to leaders, entertaining guests and giving gifts, and forming cliques. In countless history books, Qi Jiguang is the embodiment of bravery and fearlessness. , he is able to make good decisions and is invincible. All this is true, but he also has another side. For example, every time he goes to a place, he must first visit the dock, treat guests and give gifts, eat and drink, and then identify himself with his clan and find his ancestors. , we are all brothers, but based on his salary, it is impossible to afford such high expenses, so the conclusion is: Qi Jiguang is a person who both accepts gifts and gives bribes."
Although Mingyue used a very popular expression to evaluate Qi Jiguang back then, and did not really provide evidence, but just said "because of that", this evaluation is actually basically true.
A system like the Ming Dynasty has never been about "high salary to support integrity", it can only be about "low salary to support corruption", because the salaries of officials in the Ming Dynasty are very low.
If you are an official in the Ming Dynasty and do not plan to use your own money to fill the gap, then if you do not engage in corruption, bribery, or even accept all kinds of filial piety, there will be only one result in the end: not only can you not maintain various relationships in the officialdom, Even raising a family can feel difficult.
Serving as an official in the center of the imperial court, such as when Gao Pinggong was in the Hanlin Academy, he could actually save money if he was not a former small cabinet elder and a future star of the practical school. However, it is also based on the fact that there is no need for too much social entertainment. In fact, except for the Hanlin Academy, there are very few officials in the Ming Dynasty who do not need too much social entertainment.
If a general like Qi Jiguang does not engage in corruption, bribery, or even accept filial piety, he will not be able to recruit an elite army under his command. He will even be like Hai Rui, who not only becomes a beggar-like official, but also Let your whole family live a beggar-like life. He was so poor that he couldn't even afford a pound of pork all year round, but if he occasionally bought a pound of pork, it would become news that shocked the whole city.
In fact, an upright official like Hai Rui can only become a figure highly praised by the court, so that his official status will not be shaken. But such characters are always only exceptions and cannot be universal, just like Gao Gong "hanging up" Hai Rui in the end - you are only suitable to be a role model, never suitable for real use.
The officialdom of the Ming Dynasty was complicated and dangerous, as has been explained before. As an official in the Ming Dynasty, if you don't have the support of factions, no teachers to take care of you, no peers to help you, and you don't have enough money to open up connections and connections, it is basically impossible for you to have a prosperous official career, be safe and sound, and be able to protect your official position and life.
Therefore, Qi Jiguang had long ago abandoned his ancestral precepts, followed the local customs, and sang whatever songs he went to in the mountains. Now that he has entered the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, he has no choice but to become a corrupt official.
However, Qi Jiguang really did not want to be corrupt or accept bribes, because he was indeed an ambitious person, as he said in his own poem: It is not my intention to be a prince, but I hope the sea will be peaceful. In fact, this is also true.
Qi Jiguang held numerous positions in his life, and served in most of the Ming Dynasty, from Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan in the south to Mongolia and Liaodong in the north. He served in both poor and rich areas; he served as both a junior general and a general. However, every time he left a place, he left penniless and clean, and he did not even leave any inheritance for his descendants.
It can be seen that whether Qi Jiguang was corrupt or accepting bribes, he basically entered with his left hand and went out with his right. All the money he gets will be spent, used up, and given away before he leaves office. He does not want to be a miser. The money he gets from corruption and bribes is not only used to support his soldiers, but also to support his official career. The bridge is paved.
Just like Gao Jingshi is not short of money at all, but Qi Jiguang has never missed a single gift on any important festival, including Gao Jingshi's birthday - even though he knows Gao Jingshi's family background and personality, he doesn't need to give Gao Jingshi a gift He cares about the value of the gift itself, but he never fails to give it once.
Why did he do this?
Looking at the fate of his boss, Hu Zongxian, who was also an anti-Japanese hero, it is not difficult to understand that officialdom relations are very complicated and subtle. If you are not careful, not only will you fail to succeed in your official career, but you will even have to move your head.
When Hu Zongxian wanted to be an official and have a career, he almost had no choice but to join Yan Song and his son. For the sake of his own future, Qi Jiguang first curried favor with his Shangguan Tan Lun. After his status was improved, he then leaned on Zhang Juzheng, who had just become the elder of the pavilion. Finally, after Zhang Juzheng was ousted by Gao Pingshi, he completely surrendered to the Shi School.
In terms of personal integrity alone, Qi Jiguang does not meet the standards praised by Chinese dynasties. His official style also favors both sides, and whoever is forced to follow will be confused. However, Gao Pragmatic understands his approach very well.
Because Gao Pragmatic felt that Qi Jiguang was the same as himself, "As long as my ambition does not change, the specific means can be discussed, and periodic compromises are okay."
What is pragmatism? This is pragmatism. Many things in the world do not depend on personal will. Otherwise, how could there have been conflicts over national origins in original history? There are many things that the emperor cannot stick to, let alone those of them who are ministers.
It was precisely because of the "original intention" that Gao Pragmatic did not care too much about Zhu Yijun's continuous favors to King Lu, and did not even interfere specifically.
Why? Because Zhu Yijun's continuous kindness was not necessarily his intention. In fact, he had to do so just because of his triple identity of emperor, son and brother.
Do it for your mother, do it for the world to see.
Who told the Ming Dynasty to pay attention to governing the world with filial piety and respecting brothers, friends, and brothers? Why did he keep emphasizing in his edicts that "my vice-presidents are friendly and unite"? The reason is: Even as an emperor, he is afraid that people in the world will say that he is unfilial.
In the Ming Dynasty, no one can bear the charge of "unfilial piety". Once you are labeled as "unfilial", no matter how many abilities and changes you have, all that awaits you is to be despised, ridiculed or even denounced.
Yang Wei was invited back to the court by Zhang Siwei to be a Heavenly Official, mainly because his filial piety moved the world, so there was no objection when he returned to the court. The reason why Wang Xijue was previously appointed by the Xin School to succeed Pan Sheng was mainly because his filial piety moved the world. The world.
Now when it comes to Zhu Yijun, there is actually no essential difference.
His favor towards King Lu most likely came from the fact that he had to follow Queen Mother Li's wishes. There is clear evidence for this: in the original history, when Queen Mother Li died, King Lu was shocked and sad, and he also died of illness not long after - he knew that once his mother's protection was gone, his imperial brother would probably change his attitude. .
Therefore, Gao Qingshi felt that what Zhu Yijun did was not necessarily out of his original intention. He just had to put on a show. Even if the cost of putting on a show was very high, he had no choice but to do it.
As long as it's politics, who in the world doesn't put on a show? Not only did Zhu Yijun and Qi Jiguang do it, but could he not do it because he was so pragmatic?
Gao Jingshi said calmly: "Li Wenjin knew that the Queen Mother doted on her young son, and he had always relied on the Queen Mother to achieve his current success. Naturally, he had to follow the Queen Mother's wishes and find ways to keep King Lu. As for King Jing's legacy, That is the tool he uses to block the mouths of people all over the world."
Qi Jiguang opened his mouth, as if he had something to say, but hesitated for a moment and finally fell silent.
Gao pragmatic glanced at him and asked, "What does Mr. Nantang want to say?"
Qi Jiguang smiled bitterly and said: "The general is just worried that if the affairs of the King of Lu cannot be settled, the imperial court will never have the capital to launch a final attack on Tumen."
Gao Jingshi knew that he still had reservations about what he said, so he said calmly: "If the emperor insists on collecting the full amount of King Jing's legacy to give to King Lu, I don't think it can't be done. We can still finish it in our hands by then. The final blow to Tumen."
Qi Jiguang smiled bitterly and said: "Young Sima has just passed his weak years, so he can naturally wait for that day, but the last general is already not young. Judging from the situation of the two commanders in the north, Ma and Nan, Liu will In three or four years, I'm afraid it's time for me to resign from my current and other posts and go back to my hometown to roam the woods."
Oh, so you were worried about this.
Gao Pingshi nodded inwardly and thought to himself: This is very "Qi Jiguang". He was worried that he would not be able to catch up with the final battle against Bei Yuan. Also, how could he, a man who wanted to do great things, be willing not to leave a significant mark in such an important war?
But on the matter of King Lu... Zhu Yijun is unlikely to compromise.
Perhaps seeing Gao Pragmatic seeming thoughtful, Qi Jiguang ignited some hope and asked in a low voice: "Young Sima has always taken one step at a time. There is no difficult thing that you can't handle over the years. Look at this." Things...is there still a chance to change?"
Gao Pingshi twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and said to himself: Well, it is indeed Qi Jiguang himself, this rainbow fart is going to blow me up to the sky.
But he really didn't want to reject Qi Jiguang. After all, Qi Jiguang's starting point was not bad, and it was reasonable for him to want to show his strength in the war against Tumen - "West Huaidong System" for so many years, he had let Li Chengliang stay in Liaodong Killing all around, but he can only guard the gate of the capital, no one would be willing to change him.
Besides, Gao Jingshi also felt that he should quickly let Qi Jiguang perform, because now Li Chengliang seemed to be determined to join Shen Shixing. If Qi Jiguang didn't perform, the first victory in a battle would really go to the Xin School. , then don’t I have to sit on the wax when someone is taller than me?
He finally couldn't sit still anymore, stood up and started walking. Qi Jiguang, who was never rude, stood up immediately and stood respectfully, waiting for Gao Pragmatic to think of a solution.
I don’t know how long it took, but Gao Pingshi suddenly stopped. He seemed to be talking to Qi Jiguang, but also seemed to be talking to himself: "The reason why King Lu’s kingdom cannot be accomplished seems to be because King Jing’s inheritance cannot be obtained, but in the final analysis , or it lies in the interests themselves.”
Qi Jiguang was thinking about it just now. He failed to keep up with Gao's pragmatic thinking and subconsciously said: "Profit itself?"
"Yes, the interest itself." Gao Pragmatic said with certainty: "Actually, whether King Lu or the Queen Mother, what they really care about is not necessarily whether what he gets is the legacy of King Jing. That is not important. What is important is that he gets it. The benefits cannot be less than the amount left by King Jing."
Qi Jiguang frowned and said: "But isn't this still the same? King Jing's legacy has been returned to the people, and now the court can't take it out. If it wants to give another person the wealth of 'King Jing's legacy', the Ministry of Revenue will probably be blinded as well." "
Gao pragmatic shook his head and said: "Otherwise, as long as we can work around this, there is still hope for things to change. I am afraid that the emperor or the queen mother will admit death and insist on holding on to King Jing's legacy. That will be a headache."
When Qi Jiguang heard that there was hope, he didn't bother to ask Gao Jingshi anything else, and asked directly: "Young Master, has there been any solution?"
Gao pragmatic pondered and said: "I have an idea, but I'm afraid this method has to be 'first in the trend'. I don't know if I can convince the Queen Mother and Queen Lu's mother and son... It seems that I have to talk to the Queen Mother and King Lu in person. talk."
Qi Jiguang immediately presented him with a rainbow fart: "With Young Sima taking action, what difficulties will there be in the world? I would like to wish Young Sima success in advance!"
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Thanks to book friend "Cao Mianzi" for your reward and support, thank you!
Thank you to book friend "Nn" for your monthly ticket support, thank you!
PS: A little spoiler in advance: King Lu’s incident is not only a single incident, it will also lead to clan issues.
