Chapter 9, On the Weakness of Landlords and Powerful Gentry

Moreover, within the city of Haozhou, the other several generals were also engaged in mutual scheming and intrigue, showing no signs of being capable of undertaking significant matters

Old Zhu cannot help but be moved; it is just that the timing is not yet ripe

Convergence? Why convergence? Your Excellency should be more decisive and resolute, moving forward without hesitation. The morale of the troops and the hearts of the people in this city of Haozhou are all dependent on your Excellency's thoughts. If you are overly cautious and adhere strictly to the rules, will not those citizens who have just begun to have hope in your Excellency be disappointed? In summary, it is about acting boldly while being careful in personal conduct

Zhang Ximeng was indeed not speaking nonsense. A brief look at historical materials reveals that if it were not for Zhu Yuanzhang being such a son-in-law, Guo Zixing would only be categorized under "others" in the historical records, and would be completely incomparable to figures like Liu Fucai and Xu Shouhui.

However, it just so happened that this struck a chord with Zhu Chongba. Under the command of Guo Zixing, his situation was not particularly favorable. The biggest issue lay with Guo Tianxu, the young general, who, for reasons unknown, held a disdain for Zhu Chongba and made things difficult for him at every turn. If Guo Zixing were to heed his son's words, it would spell trouble for Zhu.

My lord, you assist the general and guard Haozhou, which is undoubtedly the most correct course of action. However, you still need to accumulate public support and wait for the right opportunity. But if you become blindly loyal and dutiful, merely serving as a pawn for the general, I truly worry that one day, the general may abandon you. After all, the general's vision is limited, and he is fond of political maneuvering, which is indeed perilous.

Zhu Chongba pondered and asked, "Little Master, may I ask again, do you think the General will bow his head?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, to put it bluntly, Guo Zixing is just a landlord from Haozhou! What could such a person be thinking? It's not hard to guess... Of course, Zhang Ximeng cannot draw a direct conclusion; he still has to shift the blame to his deceased father...! ... My apologies!

Zhu Chongba shook his head and said, "We are asking you what you plan to do next. Do you need to restrain yourself?"

Your Excellency, take the recent Red Turban Rebellion as an example. Liu Futong came from humble beginnings and was the first to raise the banner of rebellion, while the others such as Zhimali, Bu Wangsan, and Meng Haima were all impoverished individuals. Only General Guo was several months late in initiating his actions compared to the others. After occupying Haozhou, he hesitated and was indecisive, which reveals a significant depth of understanding in this matter

Therefore, throughout the various dynastic changes, the local gentry and powerful landlords have always been a significant force; however, there has been hardly any founding group of a dynasty that consisted of these individuals... Yet, there seems to be an exception, which is the Sima family of the Western Jin... It is better not to mention it!

Noticing that Zhu Chongba's expression gradually became serious, seemingly indicating displeasure, Zhang Ximeng, fearing that Old Zhu would blame him, quickly explained: "My lord, I also believe that the people's sentiments are of utmost importance, and such opportunities are rare. Therefore, I dared to make arrangements. As for the concerns you have, I believe they may not come to pass."

My lord, my father once wrote an article summarizing the founding monarchs throughout history. Qin Shi Huang inherited the legacy of his ancestors without question... The contention between Chu and Han, in essence, was merely a struggle among three bandits and the descendants of the six states' nobility, ultimately leading to the lowly-born Liu Bang, the Han Gaozu, seizing the world... Although Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, was a member of the royal family, by his time, he was no different from commoners. Further down the line, the founders of the Sui and Tang dynasties all came from aristocratic backgrounds. Song Taizu, Zhao Kuangyin, could also barely be considered a military man, while the Yuan dynasty was established by foreign tribes." Zhang Ximeng chuckled and said, "My lord, have you discerned any flavor from this?"

"Little Sir, do you think General Guo cannot accomplish anything? Should we go solo?" Zhu Chongba shook his head directly, angered, and said: "We cannot agree. General Guo has shown us kindness. At this critical moment, with the enemy forces pressing in, if we were to flee, wouldn't that make us deserters? No matter what, it is absolutely not acceptable!"

Zhu Chongba nodded and said, "Young sir, this is a well-known fact; what more is there to discuss?"

Zhu Chongba was taken aback and thought, "The young gentleman has an uncanny ability to predict events." He turned around and hurriedly ran out...

Zhang Ximeng said: "This reasoning is also simple. The general is able to get by, and he has never considered a situation where both sides suffer. When he saw the Red Turban Army gaining momentum, he seized the opportunity and took Huozhou. However, the Red Turbans soon encountered difficulties, and the general understood that being a leader is not an easy task. He then decided to hold onto Huozhou and became complacent, no longer striving for progress."

Zhu Chongba could not help but feel a jolt; he quickly understood Zhang Ximeng's meaning. Just like when he was at Huangjue Temple, no matter how diligently he worked, he could not earn the affection from those above him. Instead, it only made him seem easy to bully, and anyone could manipulate him.

Zhu Chongba then said: "What should we do then?"

Zhang Ximeng was taken aback, almost losing his composure, and hurriedly said: "The young man merely inferred this based on the article; it is not necessarily correct..."

"Young sir, did your esteemed father write all of this?" Old Zhu suddenly asked.

Although Zhu Chongba felt angry and frustrated, he was well aware of the significant difference in status between himself and Guo Zixing, who had also shown him great kindness. If he truly angered Guo Zixing and faced his wrath, it would be difficult to handle

Old Zhu's heart surged once again, revealing a look of surprise. After weighing the matter several times, he fully understood Zhang Ximeng's line of thought. This young man not only saw through Guo Zixing but also recognized the imminent threat. The common people urgently needed a beacon of hope, which is why he had stepped forward to shoulder this heavy responsibility.

However, in many instances, Guo Zixing was not inclined to engage with the soldiers under his command, often exuding a sense of detachment. This allowed figures such as Sun Deya to usurp Guo Zixing's authority, challenging the power of this great leader with the support of the troops.

Zhang Ximeng was not surprised. He smiled and said, "The benefactor is right; now is indeed not the time to leave General Guo. On the contrary, we need to exert all our efforts to help General Guo defend Haozhou. Only by repaying General Guo's kindness can the benefactor plan the next step"

What he said was resolute and decisive, which instead made Zhu Chongba hesitate, not advising himself to leave ...? ... So what is going on?

Zhang Ximeng nodded and gave Old Zhu a thumbs up, agile

Zhang Ximeng perfectly captured Zhu Chongba's heart

Zhu Chongba pondered seriously; he understood Guo Zixing better than Zhang Ximeng. Following this line of thought, it indeed turned out to be the case. While Guo Zixing certainly had moments of valuing the worthy and treating them with respect, it goes without saying, otherwise how could he have married his adopted daughter to Zhu Chongba

It will happen! It will happen very soon! To deal with Jialu and to defend Haozhou, it is essential to rely on the benefactor. General Guo will definitely come to invite you!

Little Sir, we understand your meaning... You are saying that when we serve the Great Commander, we must do so with utmost dedication. However, we cannot be foolish; we must let the Great Commander know our worth! That is why you are helping us to gain a reputation among the common people!

Lao Zhu Yizhen, Zhang Ximeng's words are considered extremely rebellious, inciting discord between him and the commander.

Please share your thoughts, as we would like to hear the esteemed opinions of the young gentleman

Naturally, I agreed and felt immensely delighted and grateful

Landlords and wealthy elites share some similarities with the bourgeoisie; both are well-off individuals who do not have to worry about their basic needs. They have ambitions to rise and gain more power, yet they lack the courage to completely overturn the old order and create a new world. This situation may be referred to as the weakness of the propertied class

This time, Guo Zixing's rewards and punishments were unjust; he treated him as a tool. Therefore, it would be better to demonstrate strength to show Guo Zixing. It is likely that at this critical moment, Guo Zixing could not afford to sever his own limbs!

At that moment, there was a sudden noise outside the courtyard gate, and Guo Zixing personally arrived with several guards.

Zhu Chongba frowned, truly unable to do it

Zhu Chongba pondered for a moment, as if he had come to an understanding, and quickly pressed on, "Young Master, please continue!"

Zhu Chongba thought for a moment before slowly saying: "Are you suggesting that the powerful landlords are difficult to deal with?"

Indeed impressive

Going out to develop independently is the best way forward

Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Your Excellency, you have a keen insight. The great commander possesses both cunning and strategy, yet he is not a decisive ruler in matters of life and death. Being overly compliant may not yield any benefits. It is appropriate to occasionally showcase one's talents, which will instill a measure of respect in the great commander. In summary, one must fight for what is worth fighting for, and do not hold back when it comes to expressing one's grievances"

Zhu Chongba simply smiled, saying nothing

Zhang Ximeng nodded and said: "Your Excellency, understanding people and discussing matters, the General is fifty years old this year, and he is a local powerful landlord from Haozhou, possessing considerable wealth. His past days have been relatively good"

My lord, we have just discussed General Guo's character. This time, the way he handled the grain issue is also revealing. As a leader, he should stand up himself, decisively deal with the grain merchants, rally the people's support, and defend the city against enemies; this is what a great ruler should do. However, the general is afraid to offend the wealthy merchants in the city, always thinking of using others to do his bidding, trying to avoid offending anyone. With such a character, I fear he may not even be able to protect Haozhou in the future