Zuo Xianmei bought eyebrow pencils from different stores ten times in total.
Zuo Mengeng checked them one by one and found that most of them were graphite and some were charcoal.
"I'll leave these for you."
The eyebrow pencils made of charcoal were useless, so Zuo Mengeng gave them to Zuo Xianmei.
Seeing so many eyebrow pencils, Zuo Xianmei fainted.
"This...how can I use this up?"
It will last a lifetime.
Zuo Mengeng thought about it, but suddenly he had an idea.
"Sister, look, in addition to being able to draw eyebrows, these eyebrow pencils can also be used to write on paper? What do you think of using them as pens? In many cases, are they more convenient than brushes?"
The thing Zuo Mengeng thought of was a pencil.
In this era, writing and painting were all done with brushes.
This kind of pen is beautiful for writing and drawing, but it is very troublesome to use and is far inferior to a pencil.
Especially for surveying, drawing, document writing, etc., pencils are more convenient.
Zuo Mengeng told Zuo Xianmei how to make pencils.
"You are at home, and you have nothing to do anyway. How about you find some people to help your brother make this pencil? If you do it well, I will give you a penny for each pencil."
Zuo Mengeng has long wanted to transform this sister.
However, I was busy and never had the chance.
Making it with pencil is a good excuse.
As time goes by, this sister will definitely have a different life.
Since it was to help Zuo Mengeng, Zuo Xianmei naturally agreed happily.
"As long as I can help my brother, forget about wages and other things."
Zuo Mengeng didn't see it that way.
"We are brothers and sisters, and you should help. But what about the others? They all have things to do in the house. Being asked to make pencils by you will definitely delay the original work. Once or twice is okay, as time goes by, they If they don’t say it, they definitely don’t want it in their hearts. When working, it won’t be so enjoyable. If they can make money, don’t you think they are still willing?”
This kind of analysis of human nature is obviously not what Zuo Xianmei can think of.
After a few words, she learned a lot and no longer refused.
After getting the graphite, Zuo Mengeng took it upon himself to crush it into powder with the help of Zuo Rong and Zuo Hua.
However, the brick kiln has not been completed yet, and it is not yet time to bake refractory bricks, so there is no need to take them out yet.
The rear camp ushered in the first batch of troops.
There were not many people, only about a hundred.
But this group of people is special because they are all literate.
Twenty-one scholars and more than eighty children.
These scholars were supposed to have a good life and enjoy the treatment of superiors.
Unfortunately, this is the end of Ming Dynasty.
When the country's finances collapse, it would be nice to be able to take care of the juren class.
As for scholars and children, they are actually no different from ordinary people.
Therefore, under the natural disaster in Kifu, these people also lost their homes and land and became refugees, suffering from displacement and the threat of starvation and death.
Eventually, all decency was lost.
When the dock was recruiting workers, these scholars also enthusiastically signed up and became part of the labor force for the sake of their own stomachs and for the sake of their families.
In fact, Zuo Mengeng had known about the existence of these people for a long time, but he had always been indifferent and watched them just like ordinary refugees, fishing for boats in the river and wallowing in the mud.
There is only one purpose, and that is to allow these people to undergo labor reform.
After all, I used to be a scholar, and my thoughts and experiences are different from those of ordinary people.
If you let them get better again too quickly, it will arouse their arrogance and make them return to the natural world.
But after going through labor reform, things were different.
This kind of extremely heavy physical labor can, on the one hand, remove their arrogance and arrogance, and at the same time, it can also allow them to feel firsthand the sufferings of the people's livelihood.
Facts have proved that this approach is very effective.
When more than a hundred scholars stood in front of Zuo Mengeng, it was obvious that they had become much more steady and simple.
"May I have your name?"
Zuo Menggen's question was very straightforward. If it were in the past, these scholars would definitely laugh at him and disdain to interact with him.
But today, such words made them feel no discomfort.
"For Qianzuo, my name is Chen Zhi."
The person who answered was a middle-aged man in his late thirties. Although his body is thin, it can still be seen that all the muscles are hidden under his clothes.
"Are you a scholar?"
Chen Zhicuo was stunned for a moment, showing an expression that he could not bear to look back on, but then he became normal again.
"I am a scholar of Hejian Mansion in the first year of Tianqi."
"How did you become a refugee?"
Chen Zhi's expression fluctuated again, and she didn't want to speak several times. But under Zuo Mengeng's pressure, he still said it.
"Last year there was a severe drought, and the fields at home could not grow any food. We pawned everything we should have, but we still couldn't eat enough. Later, the refugees started a riot and our house was burned down. I, my wife and children had nowhere to go, so we had to beg everywhere. , arrived in Linqing."
Zuo Mengeng asked: "You are a scholar and have a good reputation. Why didn't you go to seek refuge with your relatives or seek help from your fellow disciples?"
Chen Zhi laughed silently, full of desolation.
"What kind of fellow scholar is a scholar? Who would call a scholar a brother? My family has been farming for generations, and my old parents worked hard to support me in my studies. Before I could pass the examination as a scholar, my two elders had already died from overwork and passed away. Now that I think about it, reading this sage What’s the use of books?”
Zuo Mengeng did not let him go.
"Since you are a scholar, you should be able to get rice from the government. Isn't it enough to support a family?"
It was okay not to mention this, but when it came to it, Chen Zhi gritted his teeth and became furious.
"Lin rice? Haha, the dog officials in the government and county have long since given up the rice to Tan Mo. For six years, I haven't seen a small grain of rice."
Zuo Mengeng was frightened.
I knew that the politics of the late Ming Dynasty were dark and officials were greedy, but I didn't expect that even the welfare of scholars was given to greed.
"Aren't you making a fuss? So many scholars are making a fuss, how can the academic administration turn a blind eye?"
Knowing that he didn't understand, Chen Zhi explained in detail.
"Qianzao doesn't know anything. The academic master is far away in the capital. How can the young people see him easily? The officials in the government and county are colluding and collaborating to control the public opinion. Anyone who dares to be dissatisfied will be retaliated."
Zuo Mengeng still couldn't figure it out.
"Among the scholars, there are many who are rich and powerful. Don't they dare to stand out?"
All scholars must go through the process of being a child, a scholar, and a candidate before they can enter the officialdom.
The children of aristocratic families also have to pass the scholar examination before they can prepare for the examination.
How could such people be afraid of officials?
Chen Zhi's wry smile was filled with bitter tears.
"Since we are from a wealthy family, how can we care about a mere grain of rice? If we collude with our parents and officials to occupy a few more acres of land, don't we have everything?"
Zuo Mengeng understood.
By the end of the Ming Dynasty, not everyone could enjoy the status of scholars.
As always, only those with power can reap the benefits.
Fame is just a status. What's the difference between those who have no power and power and ordinary people?
There are countless scholars and young students in the world, are they worthy of being called scholars?
"This time I am recruiting troops for the rear camp, everyone has signed up. From now on, you will be a warrior. Without the honor of being a scholar, are you willing to do so?"
Another student, Jiang Wei, stepped forward.
"Qianzao, look at us, we don't even have enough to eat, and our relatives at home are crying for food. The sky is so big, how can we still have a big belly? No matter what, it is important for the whole family to survive."
The scholar Wang Yun even said: "The imperial court does not even provide a way for scholars like us to survive. We are looking for our own way out. What can I say?"
For a time, the crowd was furious, and everyone had endless anger.
The appearance of a dynasty does not actually depend on the situation among the people.
You only need to look at the group of people who are supposed to be the cornerstone of the dynasty to get some insights.
The Ming Dynasty valued literature over martial arts, and the status of literati was respected.
But now that the scholars and children who are the foundation of the literati are all starved of food and worse than death, then the dynasty is not far away from being destroyed.
Zuo Mengeng waved his hand and signaled everyone to stop.
"Since everyone has no worries about joining the military, let's open the sky and speak out so that everyone can work with peace of mind."
When it comes to future survival, these scholars and young students all cheered up, waiting to see what the young President Qian had planned.
"You are all scholars. Compared with ordinary people, one of your biggest advantages is reading and literacy, and you are also more sensible. This is your advantage, and I hope you can take advantage of it."
Seeing that everyone was confused and confused, Zuo Mengeng continued: "The army, or soldiers, must also be able to read and write."
When many people showed disdain on their faces, Zuo Mengeng's words were like thunder.
"The great things of the country are in the military and in the sacrifice. Since it is a great thing of the country, how can we be careless? What is a battlefield? A battlefield is a victory filled with the lives of countless people. Is life important? If it is not important, why are you willing to give up? Do you have the dignity of a scholar to come here to join the army? Your lives are important, but the lives of soldiers are not important?"
This view is unique in this era, and its impact on this group of scholars is unparalleled.
While everyone was shocked, Zuo Mengeng showed his talents.
"What would an army look like if everyone from top to bottom could read, read, and understand things? Orders can be issued from top to bottom without any hindrance. Even the most ordinary soldier knows how to fight. , and they know their responsibilities, think about it, how terrifying such an army would be?"
In the army of this era, there are very few scholars among them. Many of the generals are even illiterate warriors.
Zuo Menggeng actually required everyone in the rear camp to be literate from top to bottom, which was really shocking.
"Therefore, the first thing you do when you come to the army is to read and become literate!"
Well, the bigger impact is coming.
A group of scholars and young students looked at each other, thinking that Zuo Mengeng was confused.
They are scholars, they are literate to begin with!
"Your methods of reading and literacy in the past were not good enough. Here, what you have to learn is a new method of reading and literacy. Then, what you need to do is to teach every soldier. Whoever does it well will have the position of an officer Wait for him. Anyone who doesn't do well, I'm sorry, can only be the leader."
After all, it was his own army. Zuo Mengeng started tossing around without any worries.
Since you want to change the world, start by changing your own army.
If you want to change, change it completely!
