This world is neither heliocentric nor geocentric, but the emperor's theory.
The greatest right is to revolve around the emperor, and Buddhism and Taoism are no exception.
Faced with the imperial ban, the Buddhists chose to practice "out of the world", and the monks began to go out of the Tianjie Temple to build roads, bridges, and heal the people... However, the Taoists chose to survive by cutting off their arms and reducing the number of Taoist temples and Taoist disciples.
However, in Gu Zhengchen's view, the Taoist sect's "survival with broken arms" was sacrificing soldiers to protect the commander. Although this method seemed effective and lowered its profile, it did not win the hearts of the people. This also led to the Taoist sect being underrated for a long time during the Hongwu period. Buddhist suppression.
Zhang Xiwan is back and busy preparing for New Year's Day with Gu Zhengchen.
In ancient times, New Year's Day refers to the Spring Festival.
There are many things that need to be done on New Year's Day, such as worshiping gods, worshiping ancestors, paying New Year greetings, writing peach charms, drawing door gods, preparing firecrackers, lighting sky lanterns, etc. On the fourth day of the first lunar month, it is also necessary to take care of the stove, visit the tomb, etc.
Considering that his father-in-law Zhang He was alone at home with nothing to do, Gu Zhengchen simply invited Zhang He to his home for a drink. When Zhang He was so happy that he wanted to go home, he could no longer find his home...
After all, it was a rented courtyard, so Gu Zhengchen returned it directly. A large number of Zhang He's books and a number of belongings were also transported to the county man's house by Yao Zhen, Zhang Pei and others.
There are so many rooms in such a big courtyard that are empty, and one more person is nothing.
Zhang He said he was unwilling to do anything, but he couldn't resist Zhang Xiwan's efforts to stay.
Gu's mother persuaded from the side: "We are a family, so why not live at home? I heard that the prince once lived in the Chang family. Why can't you live in the Gu family? Do you look down on the county man's house?"
Zhang He had no choice but to stay, but this man was a little stubborn and did not live in the backyard. Instead, he insisted on staying in the east wing, next to Mu Chun and Mu Sheng's room.
Just move in and see Zhang Xiwan happy, and Gu Zhengchen will be satisfied.
New Year's Day requires eating flat food, that is, dumplings.
The custom of eating dumplings has been around for many years. It’s hard to say exactly which dynasty it was, but it became a customary habit in the Ming Dynasty.
On New Year's Eve, Gu's mother gave the maids a day off, and Gu Cheng and Sun Shiba also spent time with their families. Considering the safety of the mansion, Gu Zhengchen called Zhang Pei and Yao Zhen's family members to stay in the mansion.
Kitchen room.
Zhang He was restless and a little at a loss. Mother Gu was wearing an apron and kneading noodles.
Zhang Xiwan is a motivated person. She stood next to Mother Gu and learned, adding some noodles, adding some water, adding some noodles, adding some water...
"Why is this basin getting smaller on its own?"
Zhang Xiwan raised her hands, feeling aggrieved.
Gu Qingqing giggled, and Liu Qian'er also held back her laughter and picked celery leaves. At this time, Gu Zhengchen didn't say anything. He just raised the knife and chopped the minced meat...
Mother Gu doted on Zhang Xiwan very much. After taking away a large piece of noodles, she helped Zhang Xiwan rub it several times and said with a smile: "Look, the basin has grown bigger on its own."
Zhang Xiwan is convinced that this is a good basin.
Zhang He believed that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen, and wanted Gu Zhengchen to go outside and read a book. If he couldn't do it, he could just sleep in. What kind of gentleman would he be if he stayed in the kitchen?
Gu Zhengchen didn't believe this at all. Whether a gentleman is a gentleman or not cannot be judged by whether he is a cook or not. Lao Zhu still has to eat, who thinks he is a beggar?
Tao Yuanming, who is not willing to give up for five buckets of rice, also cooks the food himself. Who dares to say that he is not a gentleman? There is also Su Shi. Not only did he work in the kitchen, but he also invented Dongpo Pork. Do you think he was not a gentleman?
Seeing that Gu Zhengchen was not leaving, Zhang He was too embarrassed to go out alone to be lazy, so he had to roll up his sleeves and roll out dough. Gu Zhengchen took a look and raised his eyebrows: "Father-in-law, you, the cook, don't come in often..."
"Xiwan's mother also liked to eat dumplings before, but they were stuffed with eggs and chives. She hasn't made them in a few years, so she's a little rusty."
Zhang He said slowly.
Zhang Xiwan's eyes were a little moist.
When Gu Zhengchen saw that the pork stuffing was almost chopped, he said to Liu Qian'er, "Sister Qian'er, do you still have leeks at home?"
"There's some left."
Liu Qian'er replied.
Gu Zhengchen tilted his head: "Take it and make some."
Liu Qian'er glanced at Zhang He, smiled and walked out.
Gu Zhengchen said to Zhang Xiwan and Zhang He who were a little sad: "If she has a soul, she must also want us to eat well and smile brightly."
Zhang He nodded heavily and forced a smile: "In that case, let's live well. Xiwan, knead the dough hard. Dad will make dumplings for you and your son-in-law today. Mother, are these ingot-shaped dumplings good?"
The atmosphere softened.
On New Year's Eve, firecrackers sounded everywhere in Jinling.
Yao Zhen also lit firecrackers, and the crackling sound spread throughout the yard and into the distance, mixed in with the non-stop sound of firecrackers, and seemed to be echoing all the time.
"Husband, what are you thinking about?"
Zhang Xiwan saw Gu Zhengchen lost in thought and started to ask.
Gu Zhengchen grabbed Zhang Xiwan's hand and stuffed it into his wide sleeve when he saw it was a little cold. Listening to the continuous sound of firecrackers outside the hospital, he said softly: "It just feels like the sound of firecrackers came from across six hundred years." .”
Zhang Xiwan smiled lightly: "Six hundred years, isn't that the Tang Dynasty? Your husband must be thinking about the prosperous Tang Dynasty, right?"
"Datang?"
Gu Zhengchen withdrew his gaze, looked at Zhang Xiwan, and nodded slightly: "That's right, it was a prosperous time. Let's go, it's cold outside, go back to the room and rest."
Zhang Xiwan nodded shyly.
There was no time to keep vigil, Gu Zhengchen needed to get some rest as he would be very busy tomorrow.
It was still dark, so Gu's mother ordered someone to wake up the family.
The work of receiving and worshiping the gods was arranged by Gu's mother, but Gu Zhengchen had no chance to participate because Lao Zhu had to hold a court meeting early in the morning on New Year's Day.
Yao Zhen drove a carriage to send Gu Zhengchen into the palace, while Zhang Xiwan and others performed the ritual of receiving the gods and worshiping the gods.
Cars and horses were noisy outside Chengtian Gate, and many little donkeys were urinating and urinating everywhere. Officials gathered in small groups and exchanged hands, compliments, and congratulations. The liveliness was not inferior to that of the vegetable market.
Gu Zhengchen got off the carriage and asked Yao Zhen to go back first. After all, he had to go back after lunch, so waiting all the time was not an option.
It was dark and he couldn't recognize a few people, so Gu Zhengchen simply stood next to a sergeant on duty and yawned until he was caught by Liu Ji who saw him.
"Mr. Quanzhou County, why are you hiding here? Come quickly."
Liu Ji greeted, his voice was not quiet.
Gu Zhengchen is very depressed. It's not that Liu Ji is old and dim, but you are dim. How can you see clearly that it's mine in such a dark environment?
"Male from Quanzhou County, haha, I have admired you for a long time."
An official came over with a smile.
"The living county man is the only one who has a share in the founding of the Ming Dynasty. This person will be honored as a gift by the doctor in the lower household..."
"Uncle Sincerity, why did your Majesty make him a Quanzhou County boy? He is the Jurong County Magistrate, why didn't you give him a Jurong County boy?"
"Male from Gu County, this is Liu Ren Liu Shangshu, the Minister of the Ministry of War."
Gu Zhengchen saluted Liu Ren.
Liu Ren looked at Gu Zhengchen and said with a straight face: "Not long ago, the emperor issued a decree to set up Jurong Guards and use you as a guard and governor. To be honest, Liu strongly opposed it. He is just a county magistrate and has no experience in commanding an army. If you don't have the ability to run an army, how can you manage a guard of soldiers? If something goes wrong, it will be a disaster! Mr. Gu County, if you are sensible, you should take the initiative to write to His Majesty to resign and choose another capable person."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Liu Shangshu, who had a lot of opinions about him, and smiled unnaturally: "Liu Shangshu, it's not impossible for me to submit a letter to resign, but who is the worthy person you are talking about?"
"The imperial court will choose its own people without your intervention. If you don't take the initiative to withdraw, impeachment will be inevitable."
Liu Ren is cold and ruthless.
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly: "Since Liu Shangshu said so, it would be very ignorant if I didn't write a resignation letter. That's all, as you wish."
Liu Ren looked at Gu Zhengchen in astonishment. Didn't he say that this guy was tougher and tougher, but why did he finally give in after just a few words?
But that’s fine too.
Liu Ren laughed and left.
Liu Ji, the sincere uncle, looked at Gu Zhengchen. Seeing Gu Zhengchen's cold eyes, he shook his head: "Don't bear any grudge against this minister. He treats you like this for your own good."
"Yeah?"
Gu Zhengchen was a little surprised.
Liu Ji nodded slightly: "In the officialdom, those who scold you are not necessarily hostile to you, but may be to protect you. Those who are flattering and smiling at you may not be to please you, but may be trying to harm you. You need to know , taking charge of a guard is not an easy task..."
Gu Zhengchen wanted to understand.
The 5,600 soldiers of the First Guard and the family members of the coalition soldiers, more than 20,000 people, were handed over to an inexperienced person. Liu Ren, who was the Minister of the Ministry of War, would naturally be worried.
In addition, the "Qingtian County Mingyang Military Guard Hundreds Zhou Guangsan's Rebellion" incident that caused a stir some time ago has not completely subsided. Isn't the reason why Liu Ji was imprisoned in Jinling also related to this incident?
Why did Zhou Guangsan rebel and embark on the road to death?
It was because the commander of the guard, Qianhu, did not regard the sergeants as human beings, bullied the sergeants, bullied the sergeants' wives, and deducted food and salary.
Besides, no matter who is the commander of the guard, as long as something goes wrong with the sergeants in the guard, the commander must bear the responsibility. If there is another hundred households rebellion, Gu Zhengchen will probably be implicated...
The big soldiers were disobedient, disobedient, and made a lot of noise. It was also a question whether Gu Zhengchen, a man who lacked authority, could restrain this group of people.
Governing the people and running the army are completely different things.
Governing the people should be based on gentleness and be based on laws and regulations.
The military should be run with strictness and with military laws and orders as the criterion.
Liu Ren hoped that Gu Zhengchen would withdraw voluntarily, and he did have the intention of protecting him.
However, Gu Zhengchen couldn't retreat even if he wanted to. He could write documents casually without approval from Lao Zhu. Besides, if he wasn't in charge of all this, then who would improve the firearms?
If you expect firearms to evolve a little bit, how many decades will it take?
By that time, Zhu Xiao’s Fourth Divine Machine Camp has been built and he has gone hunting in the grassland several times. Does he still need it?
The Chengtian Gate opened, entered the corridor, passed through the Duanmen, and arrived in front of the Meridian Gate.
Looking at the closed Meridian Gate, Gu Zhengchen looked back at Duanmen and Chengtianmen, and sighed. There are certain things in later generations that will kill people. The idea of decapitation at the Meridian Gate is all made up. The Meridian Gate is inside the Imperial City. , it’s not a place to lose your head at all, not to mention that inside, people can’t watch at all.
The business of beheading is still a specialty at Caishikou.
On New Year's Day, there was a great court meeting, and all the officials were busy. Only Gu Zhengchen was thinking wildly, until Liu Ji pulled Gu Zhengchen into the ranks of civil servants...
