Small courtyard.
Peng Shi, Liu Dingzhi, and Shang Ren came to visit him hand in hand. Their words were polite and their behavior was elegant.
I have to say that scholars are quite particular on the surface.
Without reaching out to hit the smiling man, Li Qing invited a few people into the house. In the living room, they talked and laughed happily, as if they were friends for many years.
Peng Shi looked at the furnishings of the house and said with admiration: "Marquis Yongqing has devoted a lot to the Ming Dynasty, but he is so... frugal, which really makes us feel inferior."
These words were mostly polite, but not entirely polite. Most people in the temple were unhappy with Li Qing, but they all recognized his achievements in their hearts.
The facts are in front of us, and it's okay not to admit them. What's more, civil servants are all about a bright surface, and they are obviously unreasonable... It's too cheap and unconvincing.
This is why Li Qing has been impeached many times, but no one has ever made a fuss about major issues. It's not that he doesn't want to, but that Li Qing can't find fault in major matters.
Li Qing smiled and said: "I am already this old and have no children. I just have food and shelter. I don't pursue external things."
Outside the door, Zhu Wanqing couldn't help but feel sad and distressed when she heard this.
Uncle Li... so pitiful... Zhu Wanqing was in a low mood.
~
In the living room, compliments continued, and after the necessary procedures were completed, the few of them got down to business.
Peng Shi was the first to speak: "In the Ming Dynasty today, the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and the world is at peace... Well... although there are internal frictions and hidden dangers externally, given the current national strength of the Ming Dynasty, there is nothing to worry about."
"That's right!" Liu Dingzhi agreed, "The current situation in the Ming Dynasty is based on civil governance! Commerce, agriculture, handicrafts... How to balance the relationship between the three, how to make the people live better and the country become more prosperous and powerful, is the top priority. .”
Shang Ren nodded happily: "What the two adults said is that now that there is no war in the Ming Dynasty, civil governance is particularly important."
The subtext of the three people is obvious: the military generals are gone, and the future will be dominated by civilians!
It's not wrong for them to think so.
There is indeed no war in the Ming Dynasty today, and the chieftain issue is far from a threat. Although the situation in Mobei is chaotic, in general, they are very respectful to the Ming court and have no intention of invading, or they dare not.
The political status of generals is really in decline.
This is not the fault of the military commanders, nor is it the emperor's emphasis on civility over military affairs, but the political soil has changed.
This is the general trend, and they firmly believe that the status of civil servants will rise again in the future.
Li Qing muttered: "Be born in sorrow and die in happiness; if you are blindly arrogant, scabies will eventually become a disease of the elbows and armpits."
Shang Ren laughed dumbly: "It's good to be cautious, but too much is not enough..."
"Huh? The military preparations are extraordinary. Raising troops for a thousand days and using them for a short time is not a bad thing after all. Preparing for a rainy day is not a bad thing after all." Li Qing said with a smile, "Throughout the past dynasties, no one is richer than the Song Dynasty. However, the rich Song Dynasty can't match the poor Jin. Why?
The reason is that too much emphasis is placed on literature and not military force. "
Liu Dingzhi's brows, which he finally relaxed, wrinkled again.
Peng Shi hurriedly took the lead and said: "What Yongqing Hou said is reasonable. However, in the end, civil rule is more important, isn't it?"
Li Qing was startled for a moment, then nodded with a wry smile: "That's true."
This is the law of historical development, and it is also inevitable. After passing through the early stage, a unified dynasty will enter the stage of civil rule.
How can there be so many battles to fight?
The meaning of war is to stop the war. To start a war pointlessly and to fight for the sake of fighting is not a good thing for the country or the people.
Liu Dingzhi's brows relaxed...
What happens next is a matter of course. This is a "unparalleled masterpiece" that is irresistible.
…
After leaving the small courtyard and walking a long distance, the three people's sedan stopped and sent the bearers away, and then talked about this bet.
Liu Dingzhi frowned and said, "You two, why do I have an ominous premonition?"
"Using money to do things has always been the case since ancient times." Peng Shi said with a smile, "I have already collected the money, is it possible..."
He suddenly paused, raised his head, and found Shang Ren and Liu Dingzhi staring directly at him. His smile froze as he thought of some unpleasant things.
When Li Qing stirred up troubles in the early days of the Orthodox Dynasty, they were still younger brothers, but... they knew Li Qing's reputation. He had done such dishonorable behavior more than once, taking money without doing anything.
This bastard has a criminal record.
"Isn't that true?" Peng Shi said calmly, "He can't... remain so unworthy, right?"
"It's hard to say," Liu Dingzhi sighed, "He didn't agree directly. He received the gift neatly, but he didn't promise anything throughout the whole process. It's hard to guarantee... Sigh."
He worries about gain and loss.
Peng Shi frowned: "Hongzai, what do you think?"
Shang Ren thought for a while and sighed: "Before we bet, we took the risks into account. We just do our best and obey fate. There is no need to worry about gains and losses because of his attitude."
After a pause, "Judging from his words and deeds, he also recognizes the prospect of the decline of military generals and the rise of civilian officials, and his entry into the civil service system has also verified this."
After listening to his analysis, Liu Dingzhi's brows relaxed again, he nodded and said:
"Hongzai is right. If he didn't like the civil service system, he wouldn't have condescended to be a cabinet bachelor. What he is doing today is probably just for show."
Peng Shi nodded slowly. He also agreed with this point of view. He smiled and said:
"A person who knows the current affairs is a talented person. If he can mix with the Marquis of Yongqing, how can he be an ordinary person? He will not be unable to understand the general trend."
"What Brother Chun Dao said is absolutely true." The two of them smiled and nodded.
The three of them said goodbye. After Peng Shi left, Liu Dingzhi and Shang Ren reunited.
"Brother Hongzai, what do you think about the position of chief minister of the cabinet?"
"Currently, it seems that Marquis Yongqing will most likely not be able to take the seat, and it will most likely fall to Academician Peng." Shang Ren sighed and asked, "What do you think, Brother Zhu Jing?"
Liu Dingzhi changed his usual tone and said: "Brother Hongzai, what do you think...Brother Yu?"
"That's great!" Shang Ren nodded, "When the emperor called me to join the cabinet, Mr. Chen Ge made things difficult for me in every possible way. Academician Peng also often excluded me, but Brother Jing was the only one who was kind..."
Liu Dingzhi was overjoyed and promised: "If Hong Zai supports Brother Yu, Brother Yu will become the first assistant in the future and he will never let you down."
Shang Ren looked like he was being used and said, "Brother Zhu Jing, if you need anything, just say a word."
"Hey, okay."
The two walked for a long time before saying goodbye...
Shang Ren sighed softly: Let's fight. Anyway, it won't fall on me. Let's just watch the show. Maybe I can get some benefits.
Liu Dingzhi said in his heart: Shang Ren's right to speak is too low, so he just said, well... I still have to see Marquis Yongqing, and I have to visit him again in private tomorrow.
…
Small courtyard.
Li Qing took out all the banknotes in the book and counted them. There were three banknotes of one thousand taels and twenty banknotes of one hundred taels in total, which was really a lot.
With the salary of a bachelor, even if the emperor's reward, as well as Bing Jing and Tan Jing were added, the money would allow them to work for at least three years.
But judging from the three people's actions, the money was not enough to break their muscles and bones. It can be seen that there were too few absolutely honest officials in the Ming Dynasty.
Thinking of this, Li Qing couldn't help but sigh: "Looking at the court, how many people are not greedy?"
Zhu Wanqing endured it again and again, but finally couldn't help it and complained: "Uncle Li, you... what's the difference between you and a corrupt official?"
"You little girl, what do you know about movies?" Li Qing was not angry this time, but asked: "Do you know what the standards for corrupt officials are?"
Zhu Wanqing hummed: "Accepting bribes from others! Helping to do things that benefit the briber but harm the court and the people."
"Hmm... What if we just collect money and don't do anything?"
"Ah? This..." Zhu Wanqing didn't know what to say for a moment, "Can it still be like this?"
"Why not?" Li Qing said confidently, "Is it reasonable for them to pay bribes?"
But is it justified for you to accept bribes... Zhu Wanqing didn't dare to say it, and asked: "Uncle Li, aren't you afraid that they will be impatient?"
"They don't dare to be impatient." Li Qing said with a smile, "If you are not clean yourself, how can you dare to say that others are dirty?"
Zhu Wanqing was speechless and said angrily: "Uncle Li, you're like this... you have such a bad character."
"I don't have any character in official circles." Li Qing smiled and put the money into his pocket, "Let's go to a restaurant."
…
Zhu Wanqing was also convinced. What convinced her even more was that there were still people who fawned over such Uncle Li.
Among the three people who came that day, one came to give money again, which was a thousand taels.
These people are really rich... Zhu Wanqing thought bitterly: Uncle Li said that there are not many honest officials in the officialdom, but Uncle Li himself is not honest either...
The little girl felt uncomfortable, firstly because of the turbid officialdom. Although her status as a princess was not recognized, she still regarded herself as a member of the royal family;
The second reason is that because of Uncle Li, she feels that Uncle Li is not so perfect.
The collapse of her idol's house made her feel even more uncomfortable.
For this reason, she went to Li Qing specifically and persuaded him: "Uncle Li, let's give the money back. We are upright people and won't take this dirty money."
Li Qing said: "It is difficult for a gentleman to be an official. Even if he becomes an official, it will be difficult for him to go far. Evil people still need to be punished by evil people..."
So much so...
Zhu Wanqing didn't agree with this theory, but she couldn't persuade Uncle Li, so she felt sulky for several days.
It wasn't until Li Qing said that Li Hong was coming to Beijing that Zhu Wanqing felt better.
She was so excited that her lover was coming back, and she dressed up specially for it. However, Li Qing made fun of her, and she almost turned her fans into fans.
At this moment, all the halo of the idol in her heart completely disappeared. The idol was really worthless!
Two days later in the morning, while Zhu Wanqing was choosing vegetables, there was a sudden knock on the door.
'Bang bang bang...! Li Hong's loud voice came, "Godfather, godfather, open the door. It's me, Hong'er!"
"Big brother?" Zhu Wanqing was stunned for a moment, then quickly took off her apron and happily stepped forward to open the door.
The door suddenly opened, and Li Hong rushed in unexpectedly and almost fell down.
"Brother, you are finally back." Zhu Wanqing quickly supported him, with a happy face, "You are not hurt, are you?"
"No, who can hurt me?" Li Hong smiled proudly. After not seeing each other for several months, his sweetheart became more and more lovely, and he no longer cared about his godfather.
"Sister Wanqing, have you been waiting for me?"
"Well..." Zhu Wanqing blushed with embarrassment and did not dare to raise her head, only exposing her snow-white neck...
Such an appearance is simply... fatal.
Li Hong couldn't help himself and took action...
