It is said that in order to ensure the objectivity of the recorded historical facts and not be interfered with and influenced by worldly sophistication and other people's opinions, Xie Guanmin, the historian of Pinghaiji, rarely communicated with the outside world and refused to visit.
His source of information was the huge intelligence network he had established himself.
Rumor has it that this intelligence network is so dense that even the palaces of Dazhou, Beiqi and Beiwan have his spies.
This is the advantage of being rich. The Xie family in Pinghai is as rich as anyone in the country.
However, not communicating does not mean not speaking out. Xie Guanmin himself will give his own comments on some recent major events in the world from time to time. In addition, at the beginning of every new year, he will express a few comments on the current situation.
The contents of these comments are collectively referred to by the outside world as: public notes.
No, just after the first lunar month, Xie Guanmin's public comment this year had just spread from Pinghai City to the north, and was brought to this small teahouse in Gucheng by a regular customer.
"Xie Gong made a public note in the New Year, saying that the world is about to change." said a regular customer.
"Oh? Then how did he change the method?" the old storyteller asked.
The regular customer replied: "I will publicly note that this game is the reverse of yin and yang in the world, and the common people are crossing the sea."
The old storyteller pondered for a moment and then asked: "Then did he mention the solution?"
"No."
The regular visitor paused and wanted to say that historians never talk about solutions. Don’t you know? But I was afraid of offending the old storyteller, so I skipped it and said:
"Xie Gong only said that the current situation is that the person who untied the boat has gone, but the person who tied it is still at a loss."
"Okay, I get it, hahahahaha..." The old storyteller suddenly burst into laughter for no apparent reason during the conversation.
The historians mean that the world is a boat. The person who untied the boat into the sea has passed away, and the person who will re-tie the boat in the future is still unknown in the vast sea of people.
This is not difficult to understand, and Ye Yuzhou understood it.
What he didn't understand was the old storyteller's smile. It was obviously not a mockery of contempt, but he couldn't tell what it meant.
"Sometimes the old man forgets what he is going to say next when he talks about a novel, and he suddenly laughs like this. He laughs and thinks at the same time."
The speaker was her sister Li Yingyue.
The little girl had secretly come to Ye Yuzhou at some point, squatting in the corner, blinking her big eyes and chewing snacks.
Seeing her brother staring at her mouth, she consciously reached out and took out a handful from her pocket, folded her hands and put it in Ye Yuzhou's hand.
The best dried fruit preserves are rich in variety and attractive in color. At first glance, it seems that merchants have trafficked them from afar.
This thing is not something Ye Yuzhou and Dragonfly can afford by themselves. Even if their family actually saves some money, their sister Zheng Yunniang will never allow them to spend money on these things.
Therefore, this is an old storyteller. The old man always seems not to eat the three meals seriously, but likes to buy some snacks to drink with.
"I stole something from you, Mr. Shu, again." Ye Yuzhou scolded him in a low voice and stuffed a piece of dried fruit into his mouth.
"It's not stealing, I asked the storyteller." Dragonfly explained.
"How did you ask?"
"I asked him if the dried fruit was delicious, and he said it was delicious."
"Then what?"
"No more."
The two brothers and sisters snickered.
After laughing for a while, Dragonfly suddenly stopped, turned around and asked seriously: "Yuzhu, do you think it is difficult to take the imperial examination and get the top prize?"
"It's difficult, it's difficult. Why do you ask this suddenly?" Ye Yuzhou asked curiously.
"I just heard some merchants over there talking about that historian, in order to test his talents in the early years, he participated in the imperial examination of the Zhou Dynasty and won the first prize, but did not enter the official position."
"Awesome!" Ye Yuzhou was about to sigh with emotion. Those who can do extraordinary things are indeed very talented.
Sister Li Yingyue has continued to ask seriously:
"Can Yuzhi take the top exam? Even if it's difficult, take the exam. Then you won't have to work so hard when you become an official. You've also read a lot of books."
"...Well, that probably won't work."
Ye Yuzhou smiled bitterly and said to himself, "Brother, the time I really studied hard, I only got the 1,632nd place in the province."
"It's a pity." Li Yingyue felt a little regretful because her brother failed to pass the exam.
"Yes." Ye Yuzhou nodded in agreement.
At this time, behind the rectangular table in front of him, the old storyteller finally "calmed down".
"Although it seems a bit empty without mentioning the explanation, it is generally accurate and far-sighted. Mr. Xie is worthy of being regarded as a great talent in the world."
This was the old man's evaluation of the historian's New Year's Announcement. It was just one sentence. After he finished speaking, he stretched out his hand forward and signaled: "Whatever you want to ask, you can start asking."
After a brief collective daze.
"How do you think, Taizong of this dynasty?" One of the listeners asked cautiously, a little tentatively.
"Taizong Shengming," the old storyteller said quickly and concisely.
Perhaps the answer was too simple and direct, or because there was no "rebellious" speech as imagined and expected, the listener who asked the question seemed dissatisfied, so he thought for a while and said:
"Since ancient times, all emperors have spoken of sage."
"But Taizong is a true sage."
As the old storyteller spoke, he bowed to the higher place and continued:
"To be fair, Taizong Chen Rong, in terms of his political and military skills, his conduct and his wisdom, he is completely worthy of the title of sage. Although our Zhou Dynasty officially stated that it started from the great ancestor, I think that even everyone here feels it in their hearts. It is very clear that the Zhou Dynasty was actually conquered by Taizong. Otherwise, why would Gaozu pass the throne to an adopted son if he had thirteen sons?"
"That's true. It won't work if we don't pass it on." A listener answered and affirmed.
"Moreover, the situation at the beginning of the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty was that the people were in dire straits, and everything was in ruins waiting to be revitalized. In just over ten years, there were first signs of prosperity and resurgence. Aren't these the achievements of Taizong's governance?"
"Yes, both are true. Does Mr. Taizong think that with his achievements, he can be listed among the saints in the history books?"
"No." The old storyteller firmly denied.
"Why?!"
"Since Emperor Qin, all non-unified kings in China have no qualifications."
After saying this, the old storyteller paused for a moment, softened his tone, and then continued:
"I don't know how Xie Gongshi will compile the biographies of the saints, but if I were to write it, I would look down on him."
There was silence.
Regarding this question, the evaluation of Zhou Taizong and Chen Rong has been praised and derogated. Both sides of the evaluation are reasonable and well-founded. This can undoubtedly be concluded here.
The merchants' silence this time was not because they were dissatisfied.
On the contrary, as ordinary citizens of Shengdou, they felt at this moment that this program was simply too enjoyable, but this kind of enjoyment and pleasure was not suitable to be expressed in terms of cheers and rewards.
It was rare for them to hear these things, and it was even rarer for them to participate in them so freely.
Anyway, it was in this remote little Tucheng, so if he told it, it would not reach the higher authorities. Anyway, the old storyteller was not afraid at all. Anyway, someone had already come up and asked Emperor Taizong...
"What about Lu Yu's move? How do you evaluate it?" This question came out in a jumbled voice, and it was actually asked by several people at the same time.
Because for the people of the Zhou Dynasty, since Taizong was mentioned, they would naturally think of Lu Yuzhao.
The relationship between the two is roughly equivalent to that of Zhang Zifang to Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, but the relationship is even closer. Lu Yuzhao may have done more for Taizong in his life.
Lu Yuzhao, also known as Xuanji, was the mastermind (the one who managed the country's strategy), the military master (the one who was in charge of military expeditions) during the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, the founding right minister, the founder of Jiantian Pavilion, and the first pavilion master.
According to legend, he could flick each other's foreheads with Emperor Taizong.
"Is Lu Yu moving?"
The old storyteller lowered his head and pondered, not knowing what he was thinking. After a while, he raised his head and said leisurely:
"If we look at chess players in the world, he is the best player in three hundred years."
