At dusk, the lanterns come on.
In the atrium of the East Palace, the eunuchs arranged the food and wine, and the maids brought melons and fruits. Nan Shiqing, the swordsman of the East Palace, checked the sergeant post and looked sharply at the guests of the prince, Prince Yude and others who came in, until he saw a young man. The man stretched his hand to the table, broke off a banana, and couldn't help but widen his eyes.
Gu Zhengchen walked to the dark place, opened the banana peel, and took a bite, enjoying it very much. In the middle of winter, it is not easy to eat a few mouthfuls of fresh fruit, not to mention the bananas here are probably tribute from the vassal country.
"The prince has arrived."
shouted the eunuch in a high-pitched voice.
The prince's guests, Yu De and others stood up one after another and stood in two rows. Gu Zhengchen wolfed down the banana peel, threw the banana peel into the bushes, walked two steps to the back of the team and saluted.
"Get up."
Zhu Biao smiled broadly.
Gu Zhengchen stood up and looked around, and saw another person walking side by side on the right side of Zhu Biao. He was an old man in his sixties, with a thin cheek and three obvious wrinkles on his forehead, like weathered rocks.
But his restrained depth and elegant temperament make people feel unusual. In his old eyes, there is no confusion or turbidity, but charity and wisdom.
When Gu Zhengchen saw that Zhu Biao's hand was always holding the old man's hand, he finally guessed the identity of this person.
Li Xiyan, Liang Zhen and others stepped forward one after another, saluted in unison, and shouted: "Master Song."
Song Lian chuckled and bowed slightly in return. He glanced across the crowd and saw a young man sticking his head out from behind the team. He looked very unfamiliar. He turned to Zhu Biao and raised his finger: "Your Highness, that is Gu Zhengchen, Mr. Gu, who said that eating is the way to govern a country, right?"
Zhu Biao looked over and saw that it was Gu Zhengchen. He smiled and waved: "Why are Mr. Gu hiding behind? Come and see Master Song. Master Song, he is Mr. Gu who has mentioned the Mid-Autumn Wheel of governing the country many times."
Gu Zhengchen stepped forward, looked at Song Lian, and bowed deeply.
The attitude was respectful and not disrespectful in the slightest.
For no other reason, just the sixteen words of "Expelling the barbarians, restoring China, establishing principles and discipline, and relieving the people" were enough to make Gu Zhengchen respect Song Lian extremely!
These sixteen words are the strongest voice of the Ming Dynasty’s cry to conquer the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the key slogan for Zhu Yuanzhang’s Northern Expedition to the Yuan Dynasty to call on the support of all people, and the roar of the Han nation and the Chinese community to awaken and stand up again!
And these sixteen characters were written by Song Lian!
This Confucian scholar used his wisdom and talent to gain insight into the times, understand the sentiments of the people, grasp Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts, and cry out his frustration and ambition!
The loud and moving slogan "Expel the Huru and restore China" started a national revolution. The national war is a fight to restore national independence!
Song Lian and Zhu Yuanzhang abandoned the slogan "Restore Zhao and Song Dynasty" originally proposed by the Red Scarf Army, and chose a slogan that should easily win the users and support of all the people!
It can be said that the achievements of Song Lian's Northern Expedition essay are no less than the charge of thousands of troops. It is difficult to estimate the enemy's fighting spirit and the public support it has won!
But this kind of talent has never been really reused by Lao Zhu. Many times, Lao Zhu always regarded Song Lian as a teacher, either teaching himself to read or teaching his son to read. For example, in matters of government affairs, Song Lian basically had no chance to participate. .
Even so, Song Lian is still worthy of admiration. He is a great Confucian scholar.
Song Lian stretched out his hands, supported Gu Zhengchen's arms, and looked at him with a smile: "You have been a talented young man for a year. Tonight in the East Palace, you will be discussing how to start a school. You must say more refreshing words."
"How to start a school?"
Gu Zhengchen was a little surprised.
"You didn't know?"
Song Lian was confused and looked at Zhu Biao.
Gu Zhengchen also turned his attention to Zhu Biao and said with some helplessness: "You can't invite me to the East Palace just for dinner..."
Song Lian burst out laughing when he heard this.
Zhu Biao readily agreed: "Okay, I'll make a special trip to invite you to the East Palace for dinner another day."
Li Xiyan, Liang Zhen and other guests of the prince, as well as Yu De and others heard the conversation between Gu Zhengchen and Zhu Biao, and they were all envious. If they are not in the East Palace, they are better off than me. Who has been in the East Palace for so long, and who was left here by the prince just to eat?
No, not one!
Song Lian also saw that the relationship between Gu Zhengchen and Zhu Biao was very close. Song Lian had only seen this kind of intimacy between Zhu Biao and a few brothers.
What's surprising is that Gu Zhengchen, whose surname is not Zhu, nor Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son, can actually have such a relationship with Zhu Biao! Song Lian couldn't understand, but judging from the fact that the prince often exchanged letters with Gu Zhengchen, the relationship between the two was by no means comparable to ordinary people.
Zhu Biao invited Song Lian to sit on the left side. He was about to invite Gu Zhengchen to sit on the right side, but when he saw Gu Zhengchen shaking his head and winking, he did not force it. He invited Li Xiyan to sit down and placed Gu Zhengchen next to Song Lian.
After everyone sat down, Zhu Biao put his hands on the small stove in front of him to bake, and said in a deep voice: "A few days ago, the prefect of Fenzhou in Shanxi Province asked for a memorial to restore the autumn tax. You have all read it. Before the emperor denounced it, Externally, there is not a day when I don’t worry about the local officialdom. The ancients said that if you are good at learning, you will be an official. The path of learning is a long way, how to cultivate talents, and one day when you become an official, you can manage the local area, not disturb the people, and relieve the people. , so that the people can afford food and warm clothes."
"Therefore, today I will hold a banquet in the East Palace to gather everyone to discuss ways to establish a school, so as to bring talents to the court. Let's talk freely tonight. Come and have a full drink."
After Zhu Biao finished speaking, the scene suddenly turned cold.
It's not that everyone doesn't give Zhu Dalang face, but because everyone is waiting for Song Lian to speak first. In the officialdom, you rush to speak before the boss has spoken. If you are too high-profile, you can easily be suppressed.
Gu Zhengchen understood this and simply immersed himself in eating bananas.
But who could have imagined it? The old man Song Lian was unreasonable and nodded directly: "Mr. Gu, you have been in Jurong Weiguan District for more than four months, and you have become known as 'Gu Qingtian' among the people. It shows that you have a great talent. I heard Jurong is renovating the county school and preparing to recruit a large number of students. Is it true?"
Gu Zhengchen swallowed a mouthful of banana and said seriously: "Master Lao Song asked, Jurong does have plans to revitalize Jurong's education."
Liang Zhen chuckled: "Revitalizing Jurong's education, haha, I wonder how many people Mr. Gu plans to recruit as students to be considered as revitalizing Jurong's education?"
Gu Zhengchen glanced at the eccentric Liang Zhen and said calmly: "The education revitalization I long for is to make at least 30% of Jurong people literate in three years. Most school-age children under the age of fourteen can attend school. Literacy.”
Liang Zhen shook her head repeatedly: "Mr. Gu takes it too much for granted. This is impossible to achieve. It may be feasible for children of school age to enter school, but it is impossible for the people of Jurong to become literate."
Li Xiyan couldn't understand Liang Zhen's attitude, but Liang Zhen was right. Education was not a simple matter. As the county magistrate, Gu Zhengchen could do it, but he wanted to make Jurong Sancheng Ding. Oral literacy is almost impossible.
Dingkou, grown men, they are the breadwinners of the family, who has time to learn how to read?
To take a step back, can you become literate if you have time?
Oh, the people are stupid. Even if you teach them a thousand times, they still won’t be able to write their own names. Let alone 30%, even 10%, Gu Zhengchen may not be able to do it!
