The others didn't notice Lu Xiangsheng's expression. It was a rare opportunity to meet, so they couldn't help but want to express themselves, and they all agreed.
"Yes, sir, now that the world is at peace, it's time to let your horse go to Nanshan. Sir, you can finally have a good rest!"
"Today's Ming Dynasty is already extremely powerful and powerful. It is far more powerful than before. Your Excellency has made great contributions to the wars in the north and south. I will have many opportunities to return to my hometown to see more in the future."
"..."
These people all talked in the same way, with little difference, but they could not show their individuality. Finally, one of the officials raised his voice and said: "My Lord killed all the enemies for the Ming Dynasty, which made the students want to join the army and learn from the Lord's example." There’s no chance for style!”
His words were of course meant to be a joke, to be precise, they were meant to be flattering.
But Lu Xiangsheng had already frowned, but kept silent. But when he heard this, he finally couldn't help it, and said with a serious face: "You all think so?"
When he spoke, his expression became serious as he spoke. This made everyone stunned. Thinking about it carefully, they all felt that they didn't say anything wrong, and they were a little surprised. However, no one dared to reply and just looked at Mr. Lu with their eyes.
Looking at their expressions, Lu Xiangsheng knew what they were probably thinking.
So, while he glanced at the officials in front of him, he said loudly and seriously: "The Ming Dynasty is powerful, but has it ever been as powerful as the Han and Tang Dynasties? How is the Western Region now? Do you think the Ming Dynasty is really powerful enough to let go of Nanshan and live in comfort? "
After hearing this, everyone was stunned again. What do you mean, sir, do you want to conquer the Western Regions and re-establish the territories of the Han and Tang Dynasties?
As they were thinking, they heard Lu Xiangsheng say again: "To put it more plainly, in the past, just saying that a poor monk came from the Eastern Tang Dynasty would be regarded as a guest by all barbarians. But now, the people of Ming Dynasty have gone out , can such treatment be given? You may not have the information, but over there in Nanyang, the people of the Ming Dynasty who went out were massacred by the Western barbarians at every turn. Do you think the Ming Dynasty is strong enough? "
Everyone's mouths opened wide when they heard this. They never expected that Mr. Lu would actually say such words. To be honest, there were so many hidden meanings in these words that it was difficult for them to digest them all at once.
Since Lu Xiangsheng had already said it, he simply said: "Why I want to fight the Japanese country in North Korea is because the Japanese country wants to attack my Ming Dynasty! The emperor has an order, and the Japanese country is ambitious and covets my Ming Dynasty. This has not happened overnight. The Japanese country will only bring harm to future generations, so we must destroy it! In addition, there are also the red barbarians. They have come from thousands of miles away. With just a few people, they can invade our southeastern coast, and they even colluded with each other this time. The Japanese countries will deal with me together, the Ming Dynasty. Those red barbarians must learn enough lessons..."
After he spoke loudly, the surroundings became very quiet, and everyone was listening quietly. Therefore, Lu Xiangsheng's words can spread far.
"...The emperor once said that the current situation in the world has changed so much that it has never been seen before. If our Ming Dynasty is limited to the country and surrounding countries, we will just sit in the well and look at the sky. In the future, the foreign barbarians in the distance will become stronger, and they will swarm us. , and when our Ming Dynasty happens to be weak again, will future generations suffer the same sufferings as before?"
Hearing that the emperor had said this, many people couldn't help but look shocked.
When Lu Xiangsheng saw this, he immediately questioned them: "Don't take it for granted! I want to ask you, why is the most powerful artillery in the Ming Dynasty called the Hongyi cannon? Because it is the weapon that Hongyi first had! Also, the warships of Xiyi are far faster. It’s faster than our Ming Dynasty! If you know how to fight at sea, you know how dangerous it is to the Ming Dynasty!”
For people on the Jiangnan side, of course they have heard of how fast Xiyi's ships can be. Not to mention the Hongyi Cannon. Suddenly, those who heard Lu Xiangsheng's words suddenly felt a sense of crisis for some reason.
At this time, Lu Xiangsheng clasped his hands and gestured towards Yunnan, and then said loudly: "Your Majesty worked tirelessly and traveled thousands of miles to conquer the Yunnan region and Dongwu in person to defend the country from enemies and protect the Ming Dynasty. As ministers, we may have Do you feel relaxed and feel that the world is peaceful and you can feel at ease?"
These officials in Changzhou Mansion are not unaware that the current emperor is conquering Dongwu, but at this time, they are welcoming their local pride and want to flatter Lu Xiangsheng, praise him, and say nice things.
Unexpectedly, Lu Xiangsheng was a serious person and immediately said a lot of truth. If it were Hong Chengchou, and based on Hong Chengchou's behavior in the officialdom, he would just ignore it and pass by saying, "Hello, I am well, everyone is well." As for whether these officials really thought so, he didn't care much.
At this time, hearing Lu Xiangsheng mention the current emperor, these officials couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
However, Lu Xiangsheng did not have Sun Chuanting's cold face and went his own way. Therefore, when he finished speaking and saw the reactions of these officials, he softened his tone and said seriously: "Don't say that the Ming Dynasty is not strong enough today. Even if it is really strong, it must be prepared for danger in times of peace!"
"Yes, yes, Master Lu is right, I have learned a lesson!" Changzhou prefecture magistrate quickly bowed and replied.
Other officials also followed suit and saluted, saying that listening to Lu Xiangsheng's words was worth ten years of reading! As for what they are thinking in their hearts, I don’t know.
Seeing this, Lu Xiangsheng encouraged them again: "Work hard on official affairs to benefit the people; study hard, be loyal to the emperor and serve the country. The glory of the Han and Tang Dynasties will not only be reproduced in our hands, but even better than before. Don't worry about the skills you have learned. There is no place to use it. The world is so vast that it is far beyond your imagination! The emperor’s great aspirations and concerns for future generations are also far beyond your imagination! Do you understand?"
"I understand!" After hearing this, everyone responded in unison.
Seeing this, Lu Xiangsheng clasped his fists and saluted: "My heart is like an arrow, so I have to continue on my way. I appreciate your kindness. I hope that among you, in our Changzhou Prefecture, good officials and good generals will continue to emerge. Only in this way can we It is the glory of my Changzhou Prefecture."
After saying that, he took the reins, turned the horse's head, and prepared to go around the city and rush to Yixing.
Seeing this, everyone watched respectfully.
However, Lu Xiangsheng obviously remembered something again. He turned around and said in a very solemn tone: "Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and he is an unparalleled king and father! In this era, we are at the right opportunity, so don't miss it!"
After saying this, he turned back, clamped his legs between the horse's belly, and with a "drive" sound, he drove the horse into gallop again, and soon went away.
After Lu Xiangsheng left, everyone outside Changzhou returned to the city laughing. Of course, no discussion between them could be separated from Mr. Lu. Moreover, they were all curious about what Mr. Lu said when he stayed and asked about it one after another. So, it didn't take long for what Lu Xiangsheng said to spread quickly.
"Master Lu is really worried about the world's worries first, and rejoices after the world's happiness. He is indeed a good official for me to go to Changzhou!"
"It goes without saying that it's just four words: be prepared for danger in times of peace. We think the world is peaceful, but Mr. Lu knows that there are still many crises in our Ming Dynasty! This perspective is different!"
"..."
From the beginning of talking about Lu Xiangsheng, we slowly began to discuss what Lu Xiangsheng said and the meaning revealed in those words.
"Originally, I thought it was enough for us to live and work in peace and contentment in Jiangnan, but I didn't expect that just one word from Mr. Lu would make me ashamed."
"What words? Which words?"
"The poor monk came from the Eastern Tang Dynasty, and barbarians from far away came to treat him as his guest!"
"Yes, yes, this sentence is very vivid. The Tang Dynasty was indeed powerful in the past! If we, the Ming Dynasty, want to reach what we were back then, we still have to work hard and we must not relax!"
"No, Luzon Island massacred us Ming people several times. Is this the case? Now those Western barbarians are not doing anything at all, and they are treating us Ming people as fat sheep! I was very angry when I heard that!"
"You should have heard what Mr. Lu said. The current emperor is unparalleled. Dongwu invaded the border, and now he is conquering it himself. Let me tell you, the Xiyi people on the other side of Luzon are also waiting for the emperor's thunderous wrath. Sooner or later we will deal with them!"
"What's the name of that sentence? It was circulated from the capital, and Mr. Lu seemed to have said something similar. It seems... we... we were born in the best of times, right? That's the sentence, right? I We must not rest in comfort, and we must work hard to avoid letting down the good times and this era!"
"Yes, Mr. Lu has already said that he hopes our Changzhou Prefecture will produce more good officials and generals! We must work hard!"
"Seriously, I want to join the army and go to the Western Regions to open up the Western Regions for my Ming Dynasty. What do you think?"
"..."
It has to be said that Lu Xiangsheng did not respond perfunctorily. His words seemed to give him no face, but in exchange for giving him a lecture.
However, his status is there. He is the second civil servant to be awarded a title in the nearly 300 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. He has fought for the Ming Dynasty for half his life, made great military exploits, and won the trust of the current emperor. It is the pride of Changzhou Prefecture.
Therefore, Lu Xiangsheng's preaching actually made many people listen to it and work hard for it, changing their destiny.
If it was Hong Chengchou, although his response would make the Changzhou Prefecture magistrate and others feel better psychologically, and might also make them admire Hong Chengchou even more, it would not change the perception of the people in Jiangnan.
…………
Besides, Lu Xiangsheng drove all the way and finally arrived at Zhangzhu Town in Yixing County in the evening.
The sun sets in the west and dyes the clouds in the sky red. In the farmland near the town, farmers in twos and threes are walking towards the town. In the town, smoke is curling up, and the scenery is pastoral and peaceful.
After reining in his horse, Lu Xiangsheng looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but feel very emotional.
