Compared with Li Qing's optimism, Wang Shouren was a little worried. He was smart and informal, but he could not escape the limitations of the times.
"Sir, there is no historical basis for the path Ming Dynasty is taking now. If something happens, I'm afraid... I don't know where to start if I want to remedy the situation!"
Li Qing smiled: "Actually, the world has always been in an upward spiral. Taking the initiative to cross the times is completely different from being pushed by the times."
"I don't quite understand what you are saying, sir." Wang Shouren poured wine for Li Qing, "Sir, can you explain it more thoroughly?"
Li Qing asked: "You are also a scholar. You have read so many history books. Do you know the root cause of the decline of the dynasty?"
Wang Shouren said: "Water can carry a boat but it can also overturn it. Throughout history, the old dynasties have been overthrown, all because of luxury at the top and greed at the bottom. It is difficult for the people to survive, so they fight hard."
"That's right, but it misses the point." Li Qing said, "In layman's terms, it's just one point: there are too many enjoyrs, and the producers can't support them;
In fact, people themselves are enjoyrs, enjoying the gifts of nature. "
Li Qing took a sip of wine and said: "When the gifts of nature are not enough for people to use, there will be riots, wars, and even the collapse of dynasties."
After a pause, "Actually, the land under our feet has been reformed several times for countless years. However, there has been no major progress since the Han and Tang Dynasties."
Wang Shouren scratched his head and asked, "What reforms are there?"
"The first reform was from hunting to farming. The increase in productivity not only nourished more people, but also promoted a new system-the ruling system."
Li Qingdao: "After the transition to farming, more people are engaged in production. People who are not strong enough, not even limited to men, can engage in production. Therefore, the era of small tribes competing with each other's fists has passed. People are longing for systems. Because of the system, more people can enjoy fairness to the greatest extent...
However, this so-called fairness cannot last forever, because there is no absolute fairness in the world. For the sake of fairness, people have given rights to the ruling class, but with the exploitation of the ruling class, there will definitely be internal shocks;
At this time, the ruling class must transfer conflicts, that is, expand outwards and plunder more resources to calm internal conflicts. These resources are not only land, food, but also people! "
Wang Shouren was stunned for a moment, "Slave?"
"Yes," Li Qing nodded. "In the process of continuous plundering and being plundered, a country gradually emerged, and the big fish ate the small fish until there was only one fish left. At this time, the system will be reformed."
"That's why the First Emperor unified Liuhe and abolished slavery." Wang Shouren said.
Li Qing nodded: "The Qin Kingdom was too short, and the slavery system was not completely eliminated. Fortunately, the Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system, and there were several outstanding politicians such as Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, Empress Lu, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing. After Emperor Wu, they only respected Confucianism. This can be regarded as a complete victory." It laid a solid foundation for the Central Plains Dynasty;
In the Tang Dynasty, the civil and military sectors blossomed, the system was relaxed, and the social atmosphere opened up, creating a prosperous age. After that... there was no progress, at least in terms of the system, and even..."
Li Qing sighed: "Since the Tang Dynasty, not only has there been no progress, but it has been regressing. This was also the case at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty."
"Sir, you really dare to say that!" Wang Shouren swallowed.
To smear Taizu would definitely be enough to kill the clan.
He did not dare to discuss this in depth, so he asked instead: "Sir, do you think the path that Ming Dynasty is taking now is the way forward?"
"To be precise, we haven't started walking yet."
"Ah?" Wang Shouren was shocked, "The degree of freedom is so high, doesn't it count as innovation?"
"Of course not," Li Qing said with a smile. "It's just that the road guide and household registration system have been abolished invisibly, business has become more prosperous, and the tax system has become more reasonable. It's not a groundbreaking innovation."
Wang Shouren asked curiously: "What is this innovation sir?"
"capital."
"Capital..." Wang Shouren didn't understand and looked at Li Qing confused.
Li Qing explained: “Capital can improve production efficiency, promote economic mobility, and enable more people to enjoy benefits.”
"Can I understand it as letting merchants become bigger?"
"That's not wrong." Li Qing nodded.
Wang Shouren frowned: "I have a question."
"you say."
"Businessmen are profit-seeking, and it is obvious that doing business is more profitable than farming." Wang Shouren asked, "When everyone attacks merchants, who will farm the land?"
"This problem does not exist." Li Qing shook his head.
Wang Shouren was puzzled, "Why?"
"Because... the big fish eats the small fish." Li Qing said, "Ninety-nine percent of the people are not qualified to join the game. If you forcefully join in, you will only get eaten and no one will be left."
After a pause, he added: "And a prosperous business can not only improve production efficiency, but also increase production enthusiasm. Not only is it harmless to production, it is also very beneficial."
Wang Shouren was stunned for a moment, lost in thought, and deduced in his mind for a long time. He nodded slowly and agreed with Li Qing's opinion.
"But capital must be right?" Wang Shouren pondered, "I am not biased against businessmen. It is their nature to pursue profits, or in other words, it is human nature. When they have a lot of 'weight', how can they know? They won’t exploit workers?”
"Your worries are right, this is almost inevitable." Li Qing nodded, then smiled bitterly, "But this is the gentlest way;
No matter how heartless the businessman is, at least the workers should be paid for their work, right? "
Wang Shouren hesitated for a moment, unable to argue.
Li Qing sighed: "This is also to improve the people's ability to resist risks and give them another way to survive. In the world, it is not the king's land. The emperor can raise taxes with just a word, squeezing the people without any cost. In comparison , capital cannot do this step no matter what.”
"That's true." Wang Shouren nodded, and then asked another question, "But have you ever thought about it, sir, after the people's ability to withstand pressure is improved, will future generations of kings be more confident, and use this... to intensify their efforts?"
Li Qing was stunned for a moment, then fell silent.
After a while, he said: "If that's true, then I have nothing to be polite about."
"What are you going to do?" Wang Shouren looked shocked. Although he was asking, he already had the answer in his heart.
Li Qing did not answer, just said: "This is the limit of what I can think of and what I can do, at least for a long, long time in the future. There is no way to go further, and the conditions do not allow it;
If the emperor of the Ming Dynasty is really that unsatisfactory... I can't let my hard work go to waste, let alone watch the people live in dire straits. "
Wang Shouren wanted to say something, but couldn't.
At the end, he said: "That's what I'm saying. Sir, you don't need to worry. The Ming Dynasty has gone through nine...eight emperors. They are all promising kings. Even if the succeeding kings are not as good as their ancestors, they will not be that bad." Like."
Wang Shouren was afraid that Li Qingzhen would do something treacherous and unethical and end up dead, but he could not persuade him out of conscience.
He was loyal to the emperor, but he was not foolishly loyal. If the emperor was really helpless, and he was blindly loyal to the emperor, he would be a great treacherous person.
However, Wang Shouren was too influenced by Confucian culture and did not want to talk about this heavy topic anymore, so he smiled and said:
"The imperial court has mostly positive opinions on Mr.'s propositions. It can be foreseen that the future of Ming Dynasty will be bright!"
Li Qing smiled bitterly: "You are wrong. They affirm my proposition because they are the beneficiaries, not because my proposition is good for the Ming Dynasty and the people. It is definitely the answer, but not the reason."
Wang Shouren was silent.
This topic was also quite heavy and made him somewhat breathless.
"Haha... listening to your words is better than ten years of reading. The same goes for studying history. Your understanding is ten times better than mine."
Li Qing took the initiative to pour him wine and said:
"Xiaoyun, you have a compassionate heart, and you are also talented and wise. In the future, I hope you can enter the upper echelons of the civil service and use your ability to change... Even if it is only to change the atmosphere of the officialdom to a certain extent, it will be a great achievement. "
Wang Shouren said sarcastically: "Sir, actually I..."
Li Qing raised his hand and raised his eyebrows: "Do you want to be a sage?"
"Uh..." Wang Shouren had a strong premonition that whenever he nodded, he would be slapped on the head. He retreated to the next best thing and said his second ideal, "I want to be a general!"
Li Qing: "..."
He gritted his teeth and said, "I've been telling you for so long, but breaking it apart and crushing it to explain the secrets is a waste of time, isn't it?!"
Li Qing was very optimistic about Wang Shouren and hoped that he could enter the top level of the civil service and take his place.
At that time, Wang Shouren was in the government and he was in the opposition. The two of them cooperated with each other to perform actions that benefited the country and the people.
Unexpectedly, this guy actually...
"Believe it or not, I'll beat you up!" Li Qing threatened directly with a sullen face.
He really couldn't find a better candidate than Wang Shouren. Whether it was wisdom, high thought, or moral integrity, Wang Shouren highly met his standards.
Wang Shouren is only in his twenties, and his future is limitless. Why should he be an illusory sage?
How is this different from cultivating immortality?
In Li Qing's opinion, it was all a waste of time and years.
Li Qing took a deep breath and stared at him fiercely, "Think again!"
Wang Shouren: "..."
I just had a meal, why did you threaten me? Wang Shouren complained endlessly, thinking: "As a general and a sage, can't I serve the country and the people?
The twisted melon is not sweet! "
Wang Shouren is not stubborn. The slap is right in front of him. If he refuses, it will fall on him the next moment.
"Ahem, let me think about that again." Wang Shouren said, "You have to give me some time, right?"
Li Qing's expression changed from cloudy to clear. He retracted his slap and said with a smile: "Sir, I have always been reasonable. I will give you time. Come on, have a drink."
"Hahaha, drink." Wang Shouren smiled unnaturally.
After finishing a glass of wine, Li Qing poured it for him and said warmly: "I will help you when you enter the official career."
"I haven't hit it yet, sir, don't worry." Wang Shouren smiled compensatingly.
He knows Li Qing's secrets, has seen Li Qing's domineering behavior, and understands Li Qing's temper.
How could it be that someone who looked at the emperor with a straight nose and raised eyes was so polite to me, even respectful, for no reason?
Once you make him unhappy, you will definitely turn against him, or at least... you will have to beat yourself up so much that you won't be able to get out of bed.
No matter what,
The twisted melon is really not sweet...Wang Shouren shouted in his heart.
Literature Museum
