Chapter 172 Are the lives of aristocratic families more valuable?

In mid-December, there was light snow.

Snowflakes fell over Luoyang, and the war finally came to an end. The Northern Army killed so many people in the four counties of the capital that rivers of blood flowed, and countless families were destroyed. Only after so many lives were lost did the land measurement policy have to be enforced.

As soon as the battle ended, Wang Jing held a banquet in the West Garden in the name of celebrating the victory, and summoned his civil and military officials to gather together to celebrate the victory.

Even Xun Yu, the prefect who was far away in Henei County, was invited by Wang Jing to return to the capital to report on his work for his contributions in providing food and fodder and defending the territory.

Xun Yu also brought Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai along on this trip.

Sitting in the four-wheeled carriage, Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai looked at the changes in the scenery along the way and could not help but marvel: "It seems that in addition to Zui Sheng Meng Si and the four-wheeled carriage, the appearance of Qiqiao Pavilion has brought a lot of changes to the whole Luoyang."

The biggest change is the price of books.

In Luoyang city, there are even specialized bookstores that sell all kinds of books printed in batches by the Printing Bureau.

Guo Jia picked up a copy of The Similarities and Differences of the Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals annotated by Ma Rong, a master of Confucian classics in the Eastern Han Dynasty. He flipped open the copy and read a few paragraphs carefully. He was shocked: "The punctuation is indeed novel and practical. What's more rare is that the printed font is clear and correct, and every word is neat and tidy. Printing is indeed magical."

Xi Zhicai also picked up a copy of the Mohist Classic that had been modified by Wang Jingmo. After reading it, he was filled with emotion: "I have also read the Mohist Classic. The content of this book seems to be very different from the one I read."

Xun Yu smiled and explained to Xi Zhicai: "This is the version that Qi Hou added and deleted. I have also read it. In terms of content, it is much easier to read than the original, but the insights and cognition are far superior."

The Mohist school now almost follows Wang Jing's lead. Although they still talk about universal love and non-aggression, in fact more and more Mohists are beginning to indulge in the ocean of technology, pursuing the purest knowledge accumulation and scientific exploration, rather than engaging in political struggles.

Because Wang Jing emphasized that any improvement of the social system is essentially to adapt to the development of productivity.

So instead of worrying about which social system is more advanced, it is better to calm down and do scientific research to improve productivity. This is the goal and mission that Mohists should pursue.

Obviously, the Mohists quickly agreed with this idea and put it into practice.

Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai were also exposed to this concept for the first time, and were equally shocked.

"Yuan Xu's ideas are wild and absurd at first, but when you think about it carefully and compare it with history, it is very consistent and really thought-provoking."

Guo Jia had a close personal relationship with Wang Jing before, so he was not surprised that Wang Jing actually wrote a book and used the Mohist school's reputation to promote his ideas on mechanics.

But Guo Jia was still shocked by Wang Jing's achievements in the fields of thought and scholarship. In the current academic atmosphere where Confucianism was still the only prominent school of thought in the world, Wang Jing's various actions were tantamount to "heresy."

Fortunately, although Guo Jia was born a Confucian scholar, he became a disciple of Longju Tiansi, secretly abandoned Confucianism and turned to Taoism, and studied military tactics and strategies. He was a thorough practical person. Therefore, when he learned that Wang Jing had been repeatedly slandered by Confucian scholars since he founded the Mohist Academy, he couldn't help but complain: "As the saying goes, a prime minister's stomach can hold a boat, but the truth in the world has always been easier said than done. The Confucian school is really narrow-minded."

Xi Zhicai didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Feng Xiao, please be careful with your words and don't hurt our friendly forces by mistake."

Guo Jia slapped his head and said, "I almost forgot that Zhicai and Wenruo are both from Confucian schools. I shouldn't generalize."

Xun Yu rolled his eyes at him in annoyance: "I see you are just angry that I didn't give you wine, so you took the opportunity to disparage me."

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding~"

The three of them talked and laughed and continued on their way.

But not everyone can have this kind of ease and joy.

Inside the prison, Zhong Ji was dejected and Wang Fu was silent.

After a while, there was a noise outside, and the prison boss came over with the key and pulled the cell door impatiently: "Hey, you two, someone's here to visit."

With suspicion and surprise, the two men left the cell and saw Zhu Jun.

"Marquis Qiantang?"

Zhu Jun's face was gloomy. He sighed and stepped forward and said, "I told you at the beginning that you would not succeed."

Wang Fu also had a cold face and sneered in retort: ​​"Does Qiantang Hou want us to watch Wang Jing take away our foundation and completely destroy our family?"

"What's the point of arguing about this now? I didn't come here today to argue with you about right or wrong."

"Then what are you doing?"

"bid farewell."

Zhu Jun looked at Wang Fu and Zhong Ji with grief and regret. The two were talented people among the gentry, but because they made the wrong choice, they were doomed.

After sighing, Zhu Jun closed his eyes and said, "The punishment for you has been announced. Three days later, you will be beheaded in public at the East Gate Horse Market."

Zhong Ji and Wang Fu were both shocked and their mood plummeted.

The only difficulty in life is death. No matter how many passionate words you say, the fear of death is still human instinct.

Zhu Jun did not look at the desperate expressions on Zhong Ji and Wang Fu's faces. He turned and left the prison. When he got on the carriage, he looked at the houses on both sides of the street that had been affected by the war. He felt inexplicably depressed.

Ever since he was ordered by Liu Xie to stop Wang Jing last time, he has been idle at home. Although his position as Taifu has not been removed, it has basically become a figurehead and has been sidelined by his subordinates.

"Go to General Wei's Mansion!"

"Yes, Master."

In front of General Wei's mansion, not long after handing in the visiting card, Zhu Jun was respectfully invited into the mansion and soon met Wang Jing.

The war had just ended, and Wang Jing had nothing important to deal with when he returned home. Naturally, he was busy spending time with his beautiful wife at home to ease his homesickness, but he did not expect Zhu Jun to visit him suddenly.

"It is said that no one comes to visit without a reason. I wonder why the imperial servant is visiting today?"

Seeing Wang Jing's leisurely appearance, Zhu Jun was furious: "Marquis Qi, in order to implement the new policy, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians were killed or injured. Don't you have a trace of guilt?"

Wang Jing smiled and looked at Zhu Jun calmly: "The Imperial Household Department's words are incomprehensible. I was not the one who started the rebellion, so why should I feel guilty? If there is anyone to blame, the Imperial Household Department should also blame the instigators, Zhong Ji and Wang Fu. If it were not for their incitement and provocation, how could there be rivers of blood and corpses everywhere?"

Zhu Jun refused to give up. "Marquis Qi, when Zhong Ji and Wang Fu started their rebellion, did you really know nothing about it? Did the secret guards really have no idea about their intelligence gathering? Or did you deliberately sit back and watch Wang Fu and Zhong Ji's actions in order to implement the new policy, allowing the dispute to escalate, just to wipe out all the old party forces that opposed the new policy at once? Marquis Qi, if you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself!"

The atmosphere was heavy, and the air was frozen because of the accusations.

However, in the face of such soul-searching questioning, Wang Jing's expression remained calm, and there was not a trace of disturbance in his peaceful eyes.

Wang Jing did not answer, but instead asked Zhu Jun a sharp question: "Six years ago, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out. You, Huangfu Yizhen, and Lu Zigan worked together to suppress the rebellion. During this process, did the Grand Coachman ever think about how many of the rebels you killed were innocent people who were coerced by the rebels and forced to rebel by the officials? After the incident was over, did you ever feel a bit uneasy and guilty?"

Zhu Jun was furious: "How can these two things be mixed up?"

Wang Jing was not surprised at Zhu Jun's reaction, and even laughed contemptuously: "I understand, the overall situation is more important. In order to quell the rebellion, all the people who participated in the rebellion can be executed, but after the incident, why did those aristocratic families and local tyrants who forced the people to rise up and live in rebellion not receive the punishment they deserve? Can the Imperial Household Department answer this question?"

Zhu Jun's throat moved and he wanted to speak, but in the end, he couldn't utter a word.

Even though Zhu Jun could use righteousness to justify his actions, in fact, both of them already knew the real answer.

Even if politics is dressed in a glamorous coat, it cannot change its bloody and cruel nature.

In his previous life, Wang Jing had read the law of blood feud and knew very well that the essence of politics was exploitation. Right and wrong were often determined by one's stance and position rather than justice and morality.

Wang Jing saw through Zhu Jun's thoughts clearly, so he said sarcastically: "The Imperial Household should understand that for the superiors, the lives of the subordinates are just a series of chips, and they have to make choices again and again. When you can't have both fish and bear's paw, it is destined that someone will be abandoned and sacrificed."

"In the past, when suppressing the rebellion, the Imperial Household chose to sacrifice the common people, and no one among the civil and military officials said anything about this sacrifice. Now, it is the people from the noble families and wealthy clans who have died, but you are dissatisfied? Can the Imperial Household tell Jing if this is a double standard?"

After repeated questioning, Zhu Jun was sweating profusely and his eyes were flustered.

Every question from Wang Jing seemed to be tearing his heart and lungs out, making him suffer so much that he could hardly bear it.

When the bloody facts were ruthlessly revealed and the shiny exterior was peeled off, Zhu Jun finally had to admit that his so-called loyalty was so ridiculous.

Zhu Jun was undoubtedly a loyal minister and a good official, but his "goodness" was good to the imperial court, to the aristocratic families and powerful clans, and did not include the common people who lived like cattle and horses.

Wang Jing didn't care how many people from aristocratic families and powerful clans died, so his tone was particularly tough: "Since the Grand Coachman questioned that my actions were too harsh, why don't you persuade those stubborn people in the old party to accept the new policies? Who forced me to make a choice? If someone must bleed, why can't it be you? Are the lives of aristocratic families more noble than those of ordinary people?" Zhu Jun didn't know how he left the General Wei's Mansion. Until he got on the carriage, he was still in a trance, with cold hands and feet.

Every word and every sentence Wang Jing said was questioning his heart, making him constantly question himself.

"Am I the one who is wrong?"

Before learning the art of war, Zhu Jun received the most orthodox Confucian education, so he always believed that he had nothing to regret in what he did.

However, during a recent meeting with Wang Jing, Zhu Jun fell into self-doubt after Wang Jing peeled off the veil and revealed the bloody facts beneath the Confucian school's bright and beautiful appearance.

Zhu Jun recalled his past self. He was born in a poor family and lost his father when he was young. It was his mother who raised him by selling silk as a family business.

Back then, I was filial to my mother, loved justice and despised money, and was therefore respected by the people in my village.

Since when did those friends and old acquaintances who came from poor backgrounds disappear from my sight, and only the celebrities and dignitaries of prominent status remained?

"Alas, people, the hardest thing to remember is indeed the original intention."

Looking at the scenes flashing by on both sides of the carriage, various memories of his youth kept flashing through Zhu Jun's mind. He recalled how the simple self back then wanted to speak for the grassroots people, how he longed to change this country and change those outdated systems.

But I don’t know since when, I forgot my original intention, stood on the side of the powerful and the aristocratic families, and became the person I once despised the most.

General Wei's Mansion.

Xun You came to the door and asked for an audience: "My lord, I heard that the imperial steward was here just now?"

"Did the news spread so quickly?"

"The Imperial Household is honest by nature, and I'm afraid he is being used by others. If he says anything disrespectful, my lord, please don't take it to heart."

Wang Jing smiled when he heard this and looked at Xun Yu: "Gongda is worried that I will kill the Grand Coachman in a rage and make a big mistake, right? Don't worry, I am not that narrow-minded."

Zhu Jun was an important official in the imperial court. He fought in many battles throughout his life and made countless contributions, so his reputation was extraordinary.

If Wang Jing really killed him in anger, it would be a big trouble.

So when he heard this, Xun You hurried over.

Seeing that Wang Jing had no intention of killing people to vent his anger, Xun You finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then, with his high emotional intelligence, he took the opportunity to flatter him: "My lord, your magnanimity is unmatched. I was over-worried."

"No need to flatter me, just tell me who is causing trouble for me behind my back this time. Although I am magnanimous, it does not mean that I don't have a temper."

Wang Jing's words were plain but contained murderous intent.

Zhu Jun was a meritorious minister, and even though Wang Jing was a little disrespectful in his words, he was tolerant.

But Wang Jing would naturally step on the rat that was stirring up trouble behind the scenes to death, so that he would not stay and become an eyesore.

Xun You quickly replied: "Yes, the secret guards have already started investigating, and I believe there will be results soon."

"Well, let's go down."

"Yes, I am resigning."

After leaving General Wei's Mansion, Xun You wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and finally dared to breathe deeply.

Now, he felt more and more pressure. When facing Wang Jing, he felt like he was with a tiger. It was not because he was afraid of Wang Jing's mood swings, but when a person's strength and aura were too strong, the closer others got, the more nervous and uneasy they would be.

Not long after walking, Xun You met Jia Xu and asked, "Wenhe, are you here to see the Lord as well?"

Jia Xu smiled and shook his head: "My lord, you must be in a bad mood right now, so I won't bother you."

"It seems that news spreads really quickly."

"Someone is pushing it in the dark, how can it not be fast?"

Jia Xu and Xun You were both smart people, so they naturally understood that the coincidence must be a conspiracy.

"Then who do you think is the one who set up this scheme in secret?"

"That is the duty of the secret guards. I will not interfere in their affairs."

Jia Xu threw away his sleeves, indicating that he would not take the blame.

Xun You was amused by his lazy appearance: "You, you just don't want to do one more thing. With your talent and wisdom, if you were willing to put in a little more effort, I wouldn't be so busy."

Jia Xu was not ashamed when he heard this, but proud of it: "The more capable you are, the more work you should do. Besides, in the officialdom, the more you do, the more mistakes you make, the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make, and if you do nothing, you make no mistakes. I still want to live a few more years."

Looking at Jia Xu's leaving figure, Xun You was thoughtful. He understood the hidden meaning of Jia Xu's words, but he could only appreciate the good intentions.

Three days later, in the west wing of Zuiyue Tower, there was a middle-aged scholar drinking alone.

He was dressed in cloth, but his demeanor was proud. Under his flying eyebrows were a pair of aggressive eyes, which were sharp and intimidating.

Xun You suddenly appeared and walked to the opposite side of the scholar: "Is anyone sitting in this seat?"

The scribe did not look up, holding the wine pot in his right hand to pour himself some wine, and spoke bluntly: "If I say yes, will you leave?"

"It seems that you don't welcome me."

"If someone comes with bad intentions, would you welcome him with a smile if it were you?"

"You came to the master's territory and attacked without saying hello, trying to pin the crime of killing ministers on my master's head. I wonder who is the real bad guy?"

Xun You stared at the scholar in front of him and suddenly felt that he had met a worthy opponent. The other party's wisdom and strategy were probably no less than his own.

"They were able to find out about me in just three days. The secret guards really live up to their reputation."

The middle-aged scholar put down the wine pot, his attitude still proud: "This wine is also good, but it always tastes a bit bloody when I drink it."

Xun You heard the hidden meaning in the other party's words: "You sound sarcastic. It seems that you think my lord has killed too many people. I wonder what to call you?"

"Chen Gong."

Chen Gong sneered at Xun You and said, "You are so close to me, but I am telling you that if you use too many schemes, you will have to hide in the dark for the rest of your life and will never see the light of day."

Xun You couldn't help but think of what Jia Xu had said to him before: "What a coincidence, a friend also advised me to stop before I had enough, but people always have some obsessions that are hard to let go. Brother Gongtai, what do you think?"

Just as Xun You and Chen Gong were arguing with each other, the back garden of General Wei's mansion was filled with the chirping of young girls.

In front of the chessboard, Diao Chan, Zou Shi and Dong Bai, three beautiful ladies, gathered around Wang Jing and said in soft voices, "Ah, you are so bad, my dear. Didn't you agree to give in to me?"

It turned out that Wang Jing was teaching them how to play Gobang. After all, Go is too difficult. Not everyone can learn it, and not everyone can play it well.

After winning several games in a row, Wang Jing was grinning wickedly at the moment: "Hey, we agreed that whoever loses will give me a kiss, you are not allowed to go back on your word."

"do not do it."

"As the saying goes, a promise is worth a thousand gold. How can you break it? Besides, I will kiss you even if I lose."

"Whether we win or lose, I will suffer the consequences. We don't want that."

Among all the women, Zou was the most bold and unrestrained, charming and seductive. Although she kept shouting no, her body was still very honest. When Wang Jing kissed her cheek, she did not move at all, and even squinted her eyes in comfort, like a female cat whose chin was being scratched, exuding a lazy and charming temperament.

Back in Luoyang, Wang Jing was happy to take time out of his rare leisure time to accompany them. While they were laughing and playing, his servant suddenly came to report: "My lord, Minister Xun wants to see you."

(End of this chapter)