Two people and two donkeys.
Gu Dan and Gong Shangguo rode out of the Xia Dynasty's imperial capital together on ordinary donkeys.
Today is the forty-third year of the Xia Dynasty.
They want to go outside and take a look again.
Gu Dan was okay, he always wanted to go wherever he wanted. Apart from being in a hurry due to official duties, Gong Shangguo had never had free time to really take a look at the career he had worked so hard for his whole life.
When the donkey actually carried them out of the imperial capital, Gong Shangguo, who had been reluctant before, suddenly said: "How about going to Yuzhou to have a look?"
"oh?"
Gu Dan's original intention was to wander around casually, wherever the donkey wanted to go. Since Gong Shangguo mentioned the specific location, he didn't take it seriously and said, "Of course."
If I remember correctly, Gong Shangguo was from Yuzhou.
After so many years, it is only human nature to want to return to my hometown to see it again.
The donkey's speed was not fast, it was slow and leisurely, and the scenery on the road was enough for them to appreciate.
What can be seen with the naked eye is that the Xia Dynasty has a lot more officialdom.
The official road was not only allowed to pass by officials. It could be used by the people of the Xia Dynasty and even business travelers. However, business travelers had to pay a part of the tax to use the official road. However, if the people could use it, it would be fine as long as it did not hinder the normal performance of the officials.
As the saying goes, if you want to get rich, build roads first. The great increase in the number of official roads has greatly facilitated business travel from various places, and even the exchanges between people.
In fact, Wang Mang has never given up exploring the outside world in these years. Business travelers have traded a lot of good things from other countries and brought them to the Xia Dynasty.
In addition, every ten years or so, Wang Mang would tour various places on official roads, spreading money along the way.
Literally throwing money away!
"Last time I heard Wang Mang tell me that the officials who scattered the money privately said that the people were rich, but the coins they scattered were few, and they were not even willing to pick them up. This situation is particularly serious in Yangzhou."
Gu Dan complained.
"The land of Yangzhou has smooth waterways, developed commerce, and the largest number of wealthy families. Business travelers gather here and it has always been prosperous."
Gong Shangguo said subconsciously.
"We are here to have fun, don't bring your occupational diseases with you."
Gu Dan waved his hand casually, "We are all ordinary people of the Xia Dynasty now, why do we think about so many reasons?"
Gong Shangguo was speechless for a moment. He had been the prime minister of the Xia Dynasty for decades, and many things had almost penetrated into his bones.
These leisurely and comfortable days actually made me feel a little uncomfortable.
However, he is an accomplished martial artist after all. After such a relaxing and leisurely tour for a period of time, his overall condition has improved a lot and he has gradually adapted to it.
When passing by Yuzhou, you can see large golden waves of wheat rolling.
The sun was high in the sky, and those who were exposed to the scorching rays were covered in sweat.
Such hot weather is truly good weather for wheat.
What surprised Gu Dan and Gong Shangguo was that there were Confucian scholars giving lectures under a big tree!
The content of the lecture was not profound, and his audience was not the students in the school, but a group of farmers.
"Now that life is getting better and money has been accumulated, many people are reluctant to spend it. This is unreasonable. Clothes woven from hemp mulberry are not as comfortable as silk and satin; wheat with bran is not as delicious as flour "Money that is not spent is the same as having nothing."
The Confucian scholar was actually a business traveler. He spoke seriously about what he had learned, "Only when everything is put into motion can money have meaning. Many people make money in order to live a better life, but after making money, But started to want more.
The comfortable silks and satins lack the splendor of jewelry; the delicious flour lacks the embellishment of mountain treasures; the accumulated wealth is still being filled."
Gu Dan and Gong Shangguo joined in and listened.
The Confucian scholar was talking about the way of business. He was trying to explain the operation of business travel and even why people wanted to make money, and he was explaining it to a group of ordinary people who had never seen the big world.
After listening silently for a while, the Confucian scholar preached for a while, and immediately a servant came over with mung bean porridge, and everyone present could share a bowl.
Although the weather is hot, the mung bean porridge is cool.
Drawing new well water from well water to make delicious food is a skill that people in this era have already mastered.
Then the Confucian scholar started selling things.
The items for sale are not valuables, but various agricultural-related equipment.
On a hot day, the Confucian scholar held the farm tools and made various demonstration movements under the tree to show the usefulness of his farm tools.
"The name of a person is the shadow of a tree. I will come here every year. If there is anything wrong with the farm tools you purchased from me, you can come to me without any hesitation."
The Confucian scholar said this.
"Is this probably the Confucian businessman that Xun Ke was talking about?"
Gu Dan looked at Gong Shangguo on the side.
Xun Ke once mentioned his views on the way of business.
Although all dynasties have historically focused on agriculture and suppressed business, business travel certainly played an important role.
In other words, no matter how much suppression is exerted, business travelers will not disappear.
No matter how many shackles we put on, there will always be people who take advantage of them.
In this case, Xun Ke simply put forward the concept of Confucian businessmen.
The first and most important point is: you must operate with integrity, focus on personal cultivation, have a sense of responsibility, and be able to explain your products clearly to different people.
The ultimate goal of Confucian businessmen must transcend utilitarianism itself. They must have the idea of saving the world and benefiting the people, clarify the quality of business ethics, and pursue the concept of achieving excellence and benefiting the world.
Establish oneself and others, achieve oneself and reach others.
In human terms, it is mutual benefit.
Doing business can no longer be limited to business, but also the interaction between people.
"Probably so."
Gong Shangguo nodded lightly and refused to comment.
They didn't stay here for too long. After finishing a bowl of mung bean porridge, they continued to move forward.
When they wandered to the land of Yangzhou, they went to the most famous restaurant in Yangzhou, drank the famous Xia Dynasty immortal drunkenness, and also tasted the sweet-scented osmanthus cake there.
"I'm afraid immortals can't get drunk."
Gu Dan played with the cup in his hand.
The wine is as good as the throat, clear and sweet, warm and accessible, but not drunk.
"I'm quite drunk."
Sitting in front of the window of the restaurant, Gong Shangguo looked down.
There is an endless stream of pedestrians coming and going, there are passenger ships stopping at the river in the distance, and there are also merchant ships traveling far away.
Busy and prosperous.
Here in Yangzhou, everyone seems to be busy, enthusiastic and prosperous.
Even the people having a drink upstairs were talking about where the business was good and what was easy to sell.
There are even well-informed people who pretend to be quiet but actually mention the Xia Dynasty's prime minister without any restraint. Now he has been replaced by the benchmark of Confucian scholars, Xun Ke.
The previous model of hundreds of officials didn't like the business world much, but he didn't deliberately suppress it either.
And Xun Ke wanted to try to guide the business path to the right path.
In comparison, they naturally felt that Xun Ke was more kind and gentle, and at least he was more active in business matters.
Those people were discussing the temple affairs, and soon a large number of people joined in.
Gu and Dan just listened and did not participate in the discussion.
At this time in the Xia Dynasty, people had not yet begun to be punished for their words.
Even inside the temple, there are still Confucian scholars and Mohists. If the truth is not clear, what is there that you dare not say?
This country is still young and still has a lot of momentum. In addition, the chess game between Mohists and Confucian scholars has been going on for a long time, and the people have been more or less affected by it.
Just looking at the general trend, Confucian scholars have the upper hand.
In times of trouble, the Mohist family was the leader and the most popular.
Now that we have come to the prosperous age, everyone praises Mohists, but they refuse to become Mohists.
The boasting of the mouth is the most unnecessary.
Perhaps, it was precisely because he understood this that Xun Ke wanted to stand up and distinguish himself from the Mohists.
If you don't follow the trend of the times and the trend of the people, no matter how glorious and beautiful your deeds are, they will gradually fall into obsolescence.
What Xun Ke has been working hard to do is to put many problems that have not been solved in the past on the right track.
No matter what the result is, he at least dares to do it.
After finishing the meal, the two of them walked out of the restaurant and continued towards the land of Yuzhou.
In the forty-fifth year of the Xia Dynasty, after more than two years, the two finally slowly moved to their destination.
Although it is said to be a destination, there is actually nothing special to see.
"What a big change."
As soon as he entered Yuzhou, Gu Danshang had no reaction, but after Gong Shang passed by, he was already feeling emotional.
That war took place more than forty years ago.
More than forty years, the time of two or three mortal generations.
All traces of the past wars have faded away. Even the city that was massacred by Daqing's commander in the past is now bustling with people coming and going, even compared to the prosperity of Yangzhou.
The Xia Dynasty and the surrounding countries were still in the honeymoon period.
Especially after the masters left, several countries lowered their tariffs.
This also means that even in border areas, there is no shortage of business travelers traveling around.
Although they are not engaged in production, just like blood vessels can transport blood, the existence of this group of porters is still necessary. As long as everything is not focused on money, it is acceptable.
In the border areas, what can be seen with the naked eye is that there are more and more people in various "fancy clothes".
"Boom!"
In the bustling city, a deafening sound of gongs and drums suddenly sounded.
Immediately afterwards, a group of people wearing plain white clothes could be seen walking side by side on the cleared street.
On both sides of the group of people, there were people wearing white lions dancing.
Gu Dan led the donkey to the side and asked the old man beside him: "May I ask my husband, what are you doing like this?"
The old man said with a frosty face: "Sacrifice the immortal's spirit in heaven."
His expression was very forlorn.
But apart from him, many young people actually had smiles on their faces.
More than forty years have been enough time for the mortal world to change.
I'm afraid there are not many people left who experienced it firsthand.
This kind of memorial day seems to have become a special festival for later generations, who come out to watch the fun.
Gu Dan and Gong Shangguo followed the crowd and walked out of the bustling city to the riverside.
Many people began to throw small paper boats into the river, and some lit white lanterns.
The vast music resounded throughout the vast world.
Gu Dan heard someone expressing gratitude for the kindness of their ancestors.
"I wonder which hero you are thanking? What deeds can you hear about?"
Gu Dan was a little curious.
With such a grand scale, it seems that the people paying tribute are not just ordinary people.
"He is a prince of Otsuki."
Anyone with knowledge will inform.
"oh?"
Gu Dan raised his eyebrows slightly, "Good guy, there is something about the prince in the Xia Dynasty paying homage to Dayue!"
Mentioning this, something in his memory seemed to be awakened, and Gu Dan looked at Gong Shangguo, who had remained silent.
As expected, Gong Shangguo stared at the lights on the river with his dim eyes, his mind seemed to be immersed in memories.
"Second Prince?"
Gu Dan came over and mentioned someone.
To be precise, that person should be his fair father.
"It's him."
Gong Shangguo nodded slightly, "He died here."
"It sounds like you don't like him very much?"
Gu Dan was slightly surprised.
Thinking about it carefully, Gong Shangguo has never mentioned the situation of his family.
"He's not a good person."
Unexpectedly, Gong Shang was rude when he opened his mouth, "As the second prince, he has neither an admirable mind nor a moral character that people admire. No matter how you look at it, the throne has nothing to do with it. The biggest problem in this life is My only wish is to leave a name in history."
Mentioning this, Gong Shangguo showed a little disdain on his face, "But apart from the thought of leaving a name in history, he has no other abilities, so his status is a little more noble. So under the advice of the counselor, his head turned upside down. He was so hot that he dared to go to the Yangxin Hall and reprimand Emperor Zongming for seeking immortality and ignoring the people.
But if you ask him how to treat the people, he will definitely only say words that are deafening to his ears, such as being diligent and caring for the people, working hard to govern, and being kind and courteous. But if you ask him how to do it, that is nothing at all. Will do.
After being thrown to Yuzhou, he was upset at first, but some people praised him for his wisdom, saying that he could understand the people's sentiments and love the people.
So he threw away all the troubles in his heart, drank and had fun every day, hired "sages" from all over the country to come to his attic, and constantly boasted about his "great achievements". He even gave people money privately and begged others to write books for him."
Gong Shangguo shook his head, and the expression on his face became a little complicated, "I don't know why he stayed behind after the Yuzhou incident. I'm afraid he really believed in his great achievements and was framed. Don’t you want to be embarrassed?”
"Since ancient times, people have always regarded deeds without regard to their hearts."
Gu Dan thought for a while and said.
Discuss the deeds regardless of the heart.
No matter what the second prince's original intention was, whether he just wanted to leave some fame, his existence did give some people hope, so much so that even today, some people are grateful for his deeds and set a festival for him.
And he succeeded.
Gong Shangguo said no more.
He walked to the river, picked up a folded white boat, and put it on the river.
With a gentle push, the small white boat made extremely fine ripples and swayed forward with the current.
Compared with the vast river surface, it is certainly not worth mentioning.
But it is enough to carry a trace of nostalgia.
(End of chapter)
