Chapter 5, Knowledge is Power
At this time, Jia Lu sent someone to persuade the Hongjin of Haozhou to surrender, hoping not only for their capitulation but also to display his might and shake the morale of the troops. After all, the Hongjin of Haozhou was not a monolithic entity; as long as someone was swayed, Jia Lu would have already won half the battle
One cannot achieve greatness without madness; if one wishes to soar to great heights, how can one refuse to endure hardship
Zhang Ximeng also smiled and said: "It is not much, after all, it is just a catalog. The young man has listed some books at the back, and it is best for the benefactor to purchase them as soon as possible, as we have already delayed for a long time. We must make up for the lost time"
How much is this? Why does it look so casual?
Lu Anmin smiled and said: "The great general is indeed a hero and a remarkable figure, but I am deeply saddened for the elders of my hometown. Over the years, there have been continuous floods and droughts, leaving the people in dire straits, with nine out of ten houses empty. Furthermore, with the chaos of war and the direction of the military's might, it is uncertain how many lives will be lost. I truly feel for the elders of my hometown. With just a thought, the great general could save countless lives. At that time, the great general would become an official of the court, bringing glory to his ancestors, and also achieving merit in protecting the people, making it an excellent choice for both the country and the family.
Zhang Ximeng no longer adhered to any gradual approach; in the morning, he read three hundred thousand types of classical texts, practiced writing, and in the evening, he returned to study Confucian classics and discuss history
Who
Old Zhu was taken aback again, what is being said?
Zhang Ximeng had never been outside, but upon hearing Lao Zhu's words, he was filled with a sudden urge to act and nodded in agreement. Zhu Chongba, feeling delighted, went to find Ma Shi. Regardless of who it was, one could not escape the fact that a wife manages the finances. When Zhu Chongba returned, Zhang Ximeng noticed that he was clutching a large handful of banknotes, carelessly stuffing them into his bosom, causing his chest to bulge.
Zheng Sixiao refused to serve as an official in the Yuan Dynasty throughout his life, painting orchids but not the soil. When others asked him, he replied, "The land has all been taken away, don't you know?" Such a loyal and steadfast man can truly be considered a scholar. As for you and Jia Lu, you are willing to be the lackeys of the Yuan court, yet you dare to come before the righteous army, flaunting your power and brandishing your claws, you have brought shame upon the faces of your fellow countrymen!
Zhu Chongba thought for a moment, nodded vigorously, "We understand." He turned around and left with Tang He
Perhaps this young man is still unaware of the significance of the position of the chief of the nine officers
He approached step by step, gripping the handle of the knife
Zhang Ximeng's eyes turned as he finally recalled that this was likely the banknotes of the Yuan Dynasty. Although the banknotes remained relatively stable for several decades after the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, the financial collapse that followed led to rampant issuance of paper currency, causing the banknotes to lose their value increasingly.
Luan Min never expected that these thieves could actually articulate a rationale, and he was clearly taken aback
However, upon closer reflection, it seems that throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, there was only one Duke of Qianguo who governed Yunnan!
You are too malicious
Zhang Ximeng turned his head to look; he did not recognize this person. Zhu Chongba smiled and said: "He is our good brother, named Tang He, and he is currently a Qianhu in the city, with a rank higher than ours"
Zhu Chongba could not help but laugh; there were only a few confiscated books that no one was interested in, so where would any official documents come from
Heavy Eight
Old Zhu laughed heartily and said, "Sure, here, as long as it has characters, it is all under your management!"
He is the envoy of Jialu, a scholar from Huaixi, named Lu Anmin
Lu Anmin immediately said: "Great General, please see clearly, I am from Anfeng, which makes me a fellow townsman of yours. How could I possibly harm you? The Zhimali in Xuzhou has been defeated, the King of Cloth in Nanyang has also been defeated, and Fang Guozhen from Eastern Zhejiang has been driven to the sea. Peng Yingyu is also fighting while retreating, like a dog that has lost its home. Now the court is mobilizing troops to eliminate Liu Futong, which should be as easy as turning over one's hand. At this point, those who follow will live, and those who oppose will die. Great General, do you not realize this yet?"
Zhang Ximeng also returned to the courtyard. If I am not mistaken, the war is likely approaching, and the one leading the troops for the Yuan court is Jia Lu. This person is indeed exceptional at flood control, but it remains to be seen how he fares in battle. Zhang Ximeng is very curious and truly wishes to go to the command hall to observe the heroes of Haozhou and see what great abilities they possess
Zhu Chongba, with a cold expression, disdainfully said: "In response to the Great General's words, this person repeatedly claims to care for the elders of his hometown, yet his very existence is a disgrace to that hometown. How unfortunate it is to have produced such a being!"
At this moment, Lord Guo wore a serious expression and said with a cold smile: "What you say sounds nice, but it is nothing more than deceiving us, attempting to eliminate us in one fell swoop; such tactics cannot fool anyone!"
Never have regrets
"What do you think of this statement, Reba?"
"Not too much yet." Zhu Chongba said with delight as he took it over
Guo Zixing's brows furrowed even tighter; this Lu Anmin truly had a way with words. In the hall of the handsome, there was actually no one who could match him? He glanced to his left and right and happened to catch sight of his son-in-law, Zhu Chongba
There is no need to say more; it is naturally to persuade surrender
Zhu Chongba certainly did not attend classes with Zhang Ximeng in vain; his speech was not only coherent and well-structured, but also carried a momentum that overshadowed Lu Anmin
Zhang Ximeng gathered his spirits and requested a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the Ma family. After all, he came from a scholarly family, and the muscle memory allowed Zhang Ximeng to easily master the characters.
The common people are filled with grievances, but the Red Turban Army was unable to introduce a new currency in time and could only reluctantly continue using the old one
In a state of panic, Lu Anmin took two steps back and sat down on the ground, his forehead covered in beads of cold sweat
However, it is evident that Old Zhu is not an ordinary person; he held his ground
Zhu Chongba thought to himself that there was indeed a time when they were not capable, but now it is different; the lessons from the young master are certainly not in vain
Zhang Ximeng has little expectation for the New Year, while Zhu Chongba is different; he continues to search, after all, this is the first New Year since he married his wife, and it is also the first year of improvement in his life
Indeed, in the early stages, the Red Turban Army caught the Yuan court off guard, flourishing everywhere and seizing many cities. However, when the Yuan court concentrated its forces and began to counterattack, the situation for the Red Turban Army became difficult in an instant
These few words were spoken with great satisfaction, and all the generals present could not help but burst into laughter, finally releasing their pent-up feelings
Is that so? The Yuan court has turned to paper money, and the Red Turban rebels number more than a million across the land. On both sides of the Yellow River and throughout the south and north of the Yangtze, there are rebels everywhere. In just over a year, the Yuan court has lost half of its territory, yet it still dares to speak so shamelessly? One must understand that the Hu people do not have a hundred years of national fortune; it is time for the Yuan court to meet its end!
Zhang Ximeng nodded, naturally prioritizing the important matters. After a brief contemplation, he reminded, "Benefactor, I suspect that the visitors will surely resort to grandiose threats. At that time, you only need to question them with righteousness. As a scholar, how can one willingly act as a lackey for the Yuan court, harming the elders and fellow villagers of one's hometown? Such a grave sin cannot be tolerated by our ancestors"
Time continues to move forward, and there are only a few days left until the end of the year. Zhu Chongba, who has not achieved satisfactory results, recalls the importance of respecting teachers and valuing education. Therefore, he proposed: "Young Master, you haven't been out these days. With the New Year approaching, it is time to buy some food and clothing, to see something new, as a small token of our appreciation."
Look, you probably don't even know how to stop the machine! Zhongba, you really need to work hard!" said Ma with a smile
Zhang Ximeng certainly did not have such grand aspirations, nor did he see the need for such great achievements. Being able to, like Mu Ying, guard a region after establishing a nation and serve as a stable local ruler would be sufficient for him
Managing affairs for an ordinary landlord merchant, at most being a bookkeeper or steward, is of little value
Lu Anmin raised his eyebrows, then smiled, "Indeed, it is the discourse of the uncultivated. This official will not stoop to the level of a person from the mountains and fields"
After several days of relentless and exhausting work, I finally handed a thick stack, consisting of dozens of sheets, to Zhu Chongba during dinner time
Zhu Chongba was completely frightened; what is he even worth? A novice monk or a beggar... This status is worlds apart from that of an emperor, akin to a toad dreaming of eating swan meat
Zhu Chongba spoke, giving a signal to both sides, and immediately someone agreed to comply.
Young sir, I am grateful for your regard; please stay. We can consider ourselves fortunate to have a distinguished teacher to guide us, and I must certainly seek your advice often
Nine Chiefs
Pavilion Chief
Although it is not written very well, it is barely readable
"What is he here for?" Zhu Chongba asked with a furrowed brow
Zhu Chongba wore a stern expression, his face flushed with suppressed emotions, rendered speechless. All he could do was express his thoughts with a heart full of reverence, saying: "Good sister, we understand!"
Zhu Chongba frowned. A few days ago, during a conversation with Zhang Ximeng, he expressed his concerns about the future. ... After discussing with Zhang Ximeng, he gained some confidence, but the others in the city may not necessarily feel the same way
Just at that moment, a horse suddenly appeared, galloping forward, and a tall man jumped down from it.
Even Liu Futong is under immense pressure and unable to take care of himself
Since Guo Zixing, all the leaders of the Red Turbans in Haozhou are present
You
Alright, this is what you said!
At the level of the emperor, the one in charge is indeed the prime minister of the nation (not to mention the head of the Imperial Secretariat). Zhang Ximeng could almost see his own path to promotion, and his future days were becoming increasingly promising.
The two main reasons for the Red Turban Rebellion were the opening of rivers and the change of currency, which demonstrates the power of these factors
Zhu Chongba approached Lu Anmin, the two were no more than one foot apart, their eyes met, and Lu Anmin's heart inexplicably began to race
"To eat the lord's provisions is to serve the lord's affairs. Zheng Sixiao does not recognize the times; the Great Yuan has established its nation for several decades, with divine might and prestige, winning the hearts of all under heaven... The Song Dynasty has long since perished; your rebellion against the court is a path to self-destruction"
Guo Zixing did not capture Haozhou alone; he was joined in the uprising by others, including Sun Deya and several others, totaling five marshals.
Zhang Ximeng's smile was radiant, as if he were gazing at prey that had willingly walked into a trap
You lack culture, and I am too lazy to engage with you
It is not surprising that, despite the decay of the Yuan court, it remains a well-organized regime from top to bottom. In contrast, the Red Turban Army operates independently, with varying levels of quality among its ranks. In the face of counterattacks, the powerful Zhu Ma Li of Xuzhou, who commanded an army of 100,000, was killed, and the once-mighty Wang San of Nanyang suffered defeat.
Finally, I have managed to stay, and I can consider this thick leg as having been embraced
Zhang Ximeng made every effort to teach, while Old Zhu worked hard to learn, and the two of them were quite enthusiastic about it
The officials and soldiers have made their move
Zhang Ximeng followed Zhu Chongba out. The market in Haozhou was not particularly lively, and the goods were quite scarce. He simply bought a new set of clothes and also purchased some cured meat and malt sugar
We are but uncultured folk, yet we also understand what it means to be a true scholar? Zhu Chongba glanced sideways at Lu Anmin and said with a cold smile: "You must know Zheng Sixiao, right?"
Lu Anmin's smile is subtle, yet full of confidence
He was furious and gritted his teeth as he cursed: "You are the real thieves, just wait until the heavenly soldiers arrive, and everything will be destroyed!"
The gentleman beside could not help but laugh, yet still earnestly advised: "Young sir is right, Zhong Ba, you must study diligently! Otherwise, I may have to stop the machine and counsel you."
"In order to reclaim the lands of the Han family and take back our homeland, it is worth dying for!" Zhu Chongba said calmly, "As for you, although you are alive, you are no different from pigs and dogs. When you die, you will serve as a little ghost behind Liu Mengyan and Fan Wenhui. We will now inscribe your words and deeds on a stone tablet, send it to your hometown, and place it beside your ancestral grave, so that your ancestors can be ashamed of you! Even after a thousand years, your descendants will never be able to hold their heads high and will never become human!" We will now inscribe your words and deeds on a stone tablet, send it to your hometown, and place it beside your ancestral grave, so that your ancestors can be ashamed of you! Even after a thousand years, your descendants will never be able to hold their heads high and will never become human!
After Zhu Chongba was shaken, there remained a trace of reverie. When Ma brought in the new dishes and called out a couple of times, Zhu Chongba finally came to his senses, awkwardly nodded, his expression somewhat unnatural
From this day forward, Teacher Zhang Ximeng officially began his duties. Due to Zhu Chongba's obligation to serve at the military governor's office, he could only read and write during his free time in the early morning and evening
Young sir, it seems we need to pay a visit to the handsome residence
It seems to be quite similar after all
Zhang Ximeng is no ordinary person; he actually created several palm-sized copies for Zhu Chongba to keep in his sleeve, allowing him to take a look during the day and to review them again at night, making sure not to miss any moment of time
Although Zhu Chongba said this, he did not show any intention of seeing the governor. Tang He also found nothing inappropriate; he believed that it would not be long before Chongba climbed to a position above him, which was a natural occurrence.
The one who can manage the written affairs for a vassal lord is the governor, specifically the chief secretary. Both Feng Dao and Zhao Pu have held this position.
At this moment, they are facing the envoy Lu Anmin sent by Jialu.
It is a pity that he is not yet qualified, and we can only rely on Old Zhu. Hopefully, he can demonstrate his abilities and, like Zhuge Liang who scolded Wang Lang to death, make that Lu Anmin come to a bitter realization
In other words, the small city of Haozhou has produced seven marshals
Lu Anmin's face turned crimson with anger, his heart filled with rage. "You are truly malicious! The misfortunes should not extend to one's descendants!" Nowadays, scholars have yet to cultivate the thick skin that allows them to disregard everything. If it were truly the case, he might as well be better off dead!
"Hmph, am I someone who is afraid of death?" Guo Zixing said, filled with rage
Placing it in any educational institution is an absurd act, akin to attending both kindergarten and graduate courses simultaneously; a regular person would surely go mad from such a situation
Zhang Ximeng, however, was still not entirely satisfied. He pressed further, saying: "If the benefactor wishes for me to teach, there must be books available. Are all the books and documents in this courtyard under my management?"
"Those like you, mere lackeys, are not worthy of being human in life, and even in death, you will not be able to enter the ancestral grave. For generations, you will only be scorned and spat upon by the elders of your hometown."
Not long ago, Xuzhou was breached, and the leader, Zhima Li, was killed in battle. Peng Da and Zhao Jun, along with two generals, fled with the remnants to Haozhou, seeking refuge under Guo Zixing.
General Guo, and esteemed leaders, I shall not elaborate on the situation in Xuzhou. One hundred thousand troops have vanished in a month, leaving no trace behind. The imperial court's military might is formidable and unmatched. Why should General Guo strike a rock with an egg? I believe the General raises his troops for the sake of wealth and honor. As long as the General aligns with the imperial court, not only will the General receive rewards, but even the General's subordinates will be promoted and prosper. Is this not a good thing?
This single move is enough to evoke admiration; Jia Lu's grasp of human nature truly surpasses that of the likes of Guo Zixing and other such rough characters
Historically, Li Shanchang was the one who performed this task for the old Zhu. When it came to the distribution of rewards and honors, he was ranked above Xu Da, holding the position of the foremost meritorious minister of the founding of the nation
Old Zhu's face immediately darkened, what are you chasing? Chasing for a life?
I would like to have one more, and the difficulty is not small
Isn't the main point of this statement to imply that one might have the mandate of the emperor
Someone has arrived
Zhang Ximeng secretly hoped that the current Shuitang was indeed solemn and dignified
Indeed, upon hearing this name, Lu Anmin's expression changed slightly, which was precisely noticed by Zhu Chongba