Outside Jurong City, in the fields.
Gu Zhengchen sat under the tree and talked to the old farmer.
The old man fanned the banana fan and looked at the crops in the rice field. He smiled and said, "My lord, thanks to your timely transfer of water, we were able to save this year's harvest. I heard that many people in Shangyuan County did this." Staring, we have delayed the farming season and haven’t planted 30% of the rice yet. I’m afraid things will be difficult this year.”
Gu Zhengchen looked at the prosperous fields with joy, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Everything depends on man-made things. You can never just rely on God and do nothing on your own. Shangyuan County knows our actions and knows that we are transferring water, but But they did nothing and just watched our jokes, which really made the people suffer."
The old man touched his chest and smiled: "This is the way the world is. There are always some officials who are afraid of doing things. If you do too much, it is easy to make mistakes. A young and promising person like the county magistrate, haha, is rare."
“If you do too much, it’s easy to make mistakes?”
Gu Zhengchen stared.
It turns out that this is the reason why this is a group of officials who are afraid of taking responsibility.
Thinking about it, we only see signs of drought. Who knows how far the drought will go. What’s more, this is the south of the Yangtze River. It cannot be said that there is no drought, but it only happens once every few years.
If you recruit people's power just because of the slightest sign, once there is no drought, it will hurt and disturb the people. This will be impeached by the censor, and Wu Shamao will not be able to keep it.
On the contrary, if there is a drought due to inaction, that is also God's problem. Report what should be reported to the authorities, and open positions when they should be opened. Just follow the process, and it will definitely not affect the official career.
Risk-taking behavior is not proportional to the risk, so simply don’t take risks.
Gu Zhengchen stood up and said in a deep voice: "With my current ability, I can only try my best to keep the jobs of the people of Jurong. Take a look, Mr. Zhang. The people of Jurong will one day be able to have enough to eat, three meals a day." !”
Elder Zhang looked at Gu Zhengchen and sighed: "Then I will live a few more years to see such a grand scene."
While the two were chatting, Dian Shi Yang Liang hurried over and whispered in Gu Zhengchen's ear: "Your Majesty, Mr. Sincerity is here."
"who?"
Gu Zhengchen was shocked and thought he heard wrongly.
Yang Liang repeated it.
Gu Zhengchen was a little confused. After saying goodbye to old man Zhang, he asked Yang Liang: "Shouldn't Uncle Chengyi stay in Jinling? Why did he suddenly come to our Jurong? Did he tell us his purpose?"
Yang Liang was filled with bitterness: "I asked about it, but Uncle Chengyi didn't tell us. He only said that he wanted to see the county magistrate."
Gu Zhengchen hurried back to the county town with full of doubts. Before he arrived at the county government office, he saw an old servant standing next to a shabby carriage. The old servant was supporting Liu Ji, who was a little awkward in walking.
"Sincerity."
Gu Zhengchen stepped forward and bowed.
Liu Ji smiled and stretched out his hand to help Gu Zhengchen up: "Mr. Quanzhou County, there is no need for more courtesy between us."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Liu Ji with questioning eyes.
How smart Liu Ji was. Without waiting for Gu Zhengchen to ask questions, he took out a document from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Zhengchen: "Don't worry, I came to Jurong this time with His Majesty's permission and did not leave Jinling privately."
Gu Zhengchen felt relieved after hearing this. He took the document and looked at it carefully, shaking his head slightly: "Unexpectedly, this little Pinyin trick actually attracted Uncle Chengyi, but - is Uncle Chengyi really here for this?"
Liu Ji looked at Gu Zhengchen and asked softly: "You don't think I'm here for this?"
"If I said I came here for this, would Uncle Chengyi turn around and leave Jurong?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Liu Ji.
The eyes of the two people looked at each other, one full of vicissitudes of life and deep, the other sharp and sharp.
Liu Ji laughed, his voice was very soft, and then he laughed loudly. He reached out and grabbed Gu Zhengchen's hand, and nodded repeatedly: "Okay, what a good county man."
Gu Zhengchen invited Liu Ji to join the county government.
Judging from the content of the document, Liu Ji requested an order to come to Jurong to learn pinyin to see if this knowledge was suitable for promotion in Guozi studies, and even in various prefectures and counties.
As a scholar in the early Ming Dynasty, Liu Ji had the right to speak in the field of knowledge. He was willing to come to Jurong to see and ask questions, but Lao Zhu had no reason to object.
However, Liu Ji came at the wrong time.
The news of suspending the construction of Zhongdu has already spread throughout Jinling. Jurong is close to Jinling itself. In addition, Gu Cheng, Hu Hengcai and others communicate from time to time, so the news naturally spread to Jurong.
According to the historical process, in April of the eighth year of Hongwu, Lao Zhu stopped Zhongdu, and in May, Liu Ji died.
Although there is probably no direct relationship between Liu Ji's death and the suspension of Zhongdu, who can know that Lao Zhu's suspension of Zhongdu was a temporary decision?
You must know that Lao Zhu often made decisions before taking action. After deposing the prime minister, he could immediately reorganize the court, disperse the personnel, and keep everything in order. This was obviously deduced.
So when Lao Zhu sent Hu Weiyong to greet Liu Ji, had he already made plans to stop Zhongdu, or even made preparations to get rid of Liu Ji?
After all, living people have mouths and can say:
If you had listened to me back then, why would you have done this!
After all, dead people shut up and won’t say:
How can you be a good emperor if you fail like this? If you are a commoner, you will be a commoner. If it doesn't work, just go back to Fengyang to farm.
No one knows exactly what happened between Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Ji, what kind of emotions and psychology existed, but Gu Zhengchen believed that Liu Ji, who tried his best to dissuade and opposed Zhu Yuanzhang's establishment of the capital in Fengyang, must be someone Zhu Yuanzhang did not want to see. Especially after the decision was made to stop Zhongdu, it was even more unwelcome.
But whether he was murderous because he didn't want to see Liu Ji is a mystery.
However, judging from the situation at this time, Lao Zhu actually allowed Liu Ji to go to Jurong to learn Pinyin after suspending the construction of Zhongdu. I am afraid that not only has he not thought about how to deal with Liu Ji, but he has also not thought about how to deal with the big man in Zhongdu. trouble.
Liu Ji entered the magistrate's house, and Zhang Xiwan came out to greet him. Liu Ji praised Zhang Xiwan again and stopped talking until Zhang Xiwan ran away.
Gu Zhengchen drove Zhang Pei away and poured tea for Liu Ji himself.
Liu Ji sighed deeply and took the tea bowl: "As I get older, I have more fears. Although I am here to learn something, I hope you can help me. You know the current situation even if I don't tell you. , Zhongdu is a hot potato, and it will be a matter of time to throw it away. It’s just that Liu objected angrily and His Majesty didn’t listen. Now it has ended up in trouble, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to escape.”
Gu Zhengchen sat down and said, "I heard that before the Battle of Anfeng, Uncle Chengyi also dissuaded Your Majesty from going to Anfeng to rescue Han Lin'er..."
Liu Ji picked up the tea bowl: "Yes, that time, I stopped the superior's horse and prevented him from going out. Later, Anfeng city was destroyed, Liu Futong died in battle, and Han Lin'er was rescued, leaving a mess. After that, the superior was left in the cold It took me a while. When the decision was made to build the capital in the second year of Hongwu, I was the most opposed. Even before leaving Jinling, I left the words that it was definitely not feasible..."
He was left out in the cold back then because he was not yet the emperor and lost face, but he still needed himself as an adviser.
Times have changed, and he is now an emperor. He has lost face and does not need an old man like himself who is old and bad at work.
Born when needed.
Die when not needed.
Liu Ji could sense the crisis and the approaching danger. He said to Gu Zhengchen seriously: "I need your help."
Gu Zhengchen stared at Liu Ji, not knowing how to answer.
Liu Ji sighed: "Since Hu Weiyong took power in Zhongshu, the people in eastern Zhejiang have been on the verge of death. No one dares to speak for me, and no one wants to be with me. The nobles in Huaixi regard me as a scourge and avoid me. Except for Mr. Yi and Er and scholars, no one in the civil and military circles of the dynasty can help me, Liu Ji. It is shameful to say that a man who prides himself on being resourceful has a single husband alive."
Gu Zhengchen looked deeply at Liu Ji. His favorable impression of Liu Ji basically came from his strategizing and unparalleled wisdom, and from Liu Ji who was almost deified in later generations.
It must be said that he made great contributions to the founding of the Ming Dynasty and devoted the rest of his life to returning order to this world.
If the Zhejiang Party hadn't been suppressed and couldn't breathe, if Uncle Cheng was not in trouble now and no one was willing to take action, maybe he wouldn't have come to Jurong, let alone find himself.
"How do you want me to help you?"
Gu Zhengchen asked cautiously.
Liu Ji chuckled, looked in the direction of the door, and whispered: "Simple, find a way to keep me in Jurong College."
Gu Zhengchen understood.
Jurong College is inconspicuous and is not located in Jinling, so it can easily become a safe haven. What's more, what Liu Ji is doing is cultural and educational, so he is not threatening, but he is also responsible.
But, will Lao Zhu agree?
Gu Zhengchen looked at Liu Ji and neither agreed nor refused. He just took a sip of tea and changed the subject: "I wonder if there will be any reward from your majesty after Jinghai Marquis Wu Zhen returns to Jinling?"
Liu Ji understood Gu Zhengchen's caution and caution, and nodded slightly: "Not long after His Majesty returned to Jinling, he summoned Wu Zhen. It is said that Wu Zhen stayed in Huagai Hall for more than two hours and even had dinner with His Majesty. As for the reward, I haven’t heard anything about it.”
"More than two hours?"
Gu Zhengchen pondered.
Obviously, if we just report the pirate incident, it won't take that long. It seems that Wu Zhen has conveyed his intention to Zhu Yuanzhang, but he just doesn't know whether these words can change Zhu Yuanzhang's will to seal the sea.
"I heard that Zhou Huan, the former governor of Jiangyin Guards, failed to report the knowledge, allowed the enemy to flee, threatened Jinling, and was executed." Liu Ji looked at Gu Zhengchen's face and said calmly: "Marquis Jinghai begged for mercy. His life was not saved."
Gu Zhengchen didn't want to say anything.
Zhou Huan's death was his own fault. He put his personal grudges above the safety of the court. This alone was enough to kill him.
Gu Zhengchen stood up, opened the door, and said to Liu Ji behind him: "Uncle Chengyi, since I have been ordered to learn Pinyin, why not stay at Jurong College temporarily. If Uncle Chengyi is willing to teach his disciples, I think the disciples will be willing to keep Uncle Chengyi here." Jurong…”
Liu Ji smiled: "You kid, you are thinking of a way to make me show my true skills."
Gu Zhengchen said calmly: "If Uncle Chengyi feels embarrassed, you don't need to take it too seriously..."
Liu Ji was blowing his beard. How long has it been? Can you not be serious?
The disciple's request to stay, the teacher's request to stay, is more legitimate than Gu Zhengchen's request to stay, and there is no risk at all.
I have to say that Gu Zhengchen made a good move.
