novelraw Chapter 126
Chapter 126
Chapter 126
Su Zhe shook his head and said, "I support the original new policies, not all reforms."
"You don't approve of the new laws that Jie Fu has formulated?"
Su Shi asked in surprise, "Didn't you praise him when Zigu mentioned it before?"
They also had a good relationship with Zeng Gong, who had shared some of Wang Anshi's ideas about reform with them.
Su Zhe sighed and asked, "Then, brother, do you still remember how I praised you?"
"You said he dared to be the first in the world, and you also said—"
Su Shi suddenly stopped talking. He thought back carefully and realized that Su Zhe had praised people almost exclusively, but had not commented on or praised the new laws.
"Since the failure of the New Policies, no one in the court has dared to advocate for reform. Although I do not agree with the laws proposed by Wang Anshi, his courage to be a pioneer is admirable," Su Zhe said.
Why don't you agree?
Su Shi said, "When I served in local government, I saw many problems. Considering these problems, and then looking at Jie Fu's methods, I found them to be very good."
Su Zhe paused for a moment and then said, "Brother, do you know why Mother directly replaced the manager of the family estate when the annual income decreased, instead of looking for problems with the tenant farmers?"
"If the farm's annual income decreases without any natural disasters, it must be a problem with the manager, and the manager should be replaced."
Su Shi frowned and said, "Tenant farmers rely entirely on the produce of the land, so naturally they won't slack off."
Moreover, even if it's a problem with the tenant farmers, it's because the foreman didn't manage them well. Is there anything wrong with doing that?
"Of course, no problem."
Su Zhe said, "The new policies of that year were like directly replacing the manager, while the new laws proposed by Wang Anshi were about finding problems in the tenant farmers."
To cure a disease, one must first cure the people. All problems stem from people; to ignore the problems of people is to put the cart before the horse.
"Indeed."
Su Shi pondered for a long time and nodded in deep agreement.
Wang You was unaware of the conversation between the Su brothers. Overall, his dinner with them today was somewhat unpleasant.
However, this was quite normal in ancient literary circles, as there is a saying that people with different paths cannot make plans together.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether we share the same ideas.
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Many intellectuals initially have a good relationship, but after disagreeing on a certain matter, they never speak to each other again.
This is a difference in mindset, and it's completely different from the minor conflicts and arguments that occur between ordinary people.
He wasn't close to Su Zhe, and his acquaintance with Su Shi was mostly limited to discussions about food.
Although some views on politics were discussed, there were no disagreements at the time.
Wang You didn't care whether this disagreement would cause the two to never speak to each other again.
When Wang You first met historical figures like Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi, he was very excited.
But after getting to know them better, I realized they were just ordinary people.
If you look through history, you'll find that those who have left their mark on history, especially the more positive ones, have records that are almost identical to those of saints, with no flaws to be seen.
However, the negative characters are almost all recorded as doing bad things, as if they were bad from beginning to end.
But once you get to know them, you'll find that they are human too, and they have flaws.
However, history books are all compiled by later generations. By that time, right and wrong, merits and demerits, loyalty and treachery had already been determined.
When later generations compile history, they will naturally focus on recording loyal and virtuous ministers, while downplaying their flaws.
Otherwise, other scholars would not only disagree but would also condemn it.
Conversely, those who have already been labeled as treacherous officials will naturally be met with a barrage of condemnation.
Even if he wasn't a treacherous official in his early years, it can only be mentioned in passing; his treachery and evil must be emphasized.
Otherwise, what will others think when they see it?
If you're actually trying to whitewash a treacherous official, then you must be a treacherous official yourself.
But Wang You believes that human nature is complex, and people go through a process of growth and change, so one cannot have the same impression from beginning to end.
The most objective way to view these celebrities is to remove the filters and look at them.
In the following days, the debate over sending troops to the capital raged in the imperial court and spread among the common people.
Not only did most people in the imperial court oppose it, but very few people in the general public also supported it.
Later generations felt that the Song Dynasty was militarily weak, and that from the emperor down to the civil and military officials, everyone preferred to spend money to buy peace and disliked fighting.
In fact, people throughout history have never wanted to fight.
This was true even during the Han and Tang dynasties.
The common people can't see that far ahead. They only know that when there is a war, they will be conscripted for labor, and the court will even have to increase taxes when it is short of money.
As for border stability, whether the people there are living in dire straits is too far removed from their lives.
Therefore, the people naturally opposed the war as soon as they heard about it.
Under this pressure, before the imperial court could make a decision, the envoy from Western Xia arrived.
When Wang Youyi heard that the Western Xia had sent envoys, he knew that sending troops was impossible.
The fact that Western Xia sent envoys at this time is undoubtedly a gesture of goodwill towards the Song Dynasty.
With a few gifts and kind words, plus resistance from the court, the emperor naturally wouldn't send troops.
As Wang You had predicted, after the Western Xia envoys arrived in the capital, it is unknown what they said to the emperor, but the emperor gave them many rewards when they left.
As for sending troops, no one mentioned it again.
Wang You later learned from Hai Wenqing that after the Western Xia envoy met with the emperor, he denounced Mozang Epang for sending troops to harass the border and occupy Song Dynasty border land during his time in power.
They also informed the Song Dynasty that Western Xia would return the land that had been occupied over the years.
They also promised that Western Xia would abide by the alliance, recognize the Song Dynasty as its suzerain state, and never invade it.
The emperor was overjoyed upon hearing this and bestowed gifts upon the Western Xia.
Wang You found it somewhat laughable.
While the Western Xia did indeed seize some land from the Song Dynasty over the years, those were merely buffer zones outside the border between the Song and Western Xia.
With the Western Xia now in internal turmoil, these lands have become a burden.
Regardless of whether the Song Dynasty sends troops or not, the Western Xia will not occupy these territories.
By taking some land that would otherwise have been abandoned, Western Xia not only secured the Song Dynasty's non-intervention but also received a host of rewards, truly making a huge profit.
However, Wang You was helpless about this and didn't bother to pay attention to it.
Because the end of the year was approaching, neither Wang Min nor Feng Shi had spoken to him.
His previous words to his father seemed to have vanished without a trace.
He asked Mu Jie'er to inquire, but she didn't find out anything.
Wang You knew that his parents had most likely seen through his little scheme.
The reason I don't talk to him is because I'm worried that if I open up, he might do something drastic.
They're baiting him now, making him feel like there's still some hope.
"In that case, I'll just have to increase the intensity for you guys," Wang You murmured.
Although he had considered using Wen Yanjing to break the deadlock, that was only as a last resort.
Moreover, Wen Yanjing was favored by Sheng because he had a high chance of passing the imperial examination with flying colors during the special examination.
If Wen Yanjing is brought to Sheng Hong's attention ahead of time, and Sheng Hong tests his talent, will he think that Wen Yanjing has a low chance of passing the imperial examination and therefore not intend to take him as a student?
Wang You wasn't confident about this either, but fortunately he had another option.
As the year draws to a close, Bianjing (Kaifeng) becomes even more prosperous.
Even if people are frugal, they will still grit their teeth and buy some New Year's goods after a year of hard work, and buy new cotton clothes for their children.
Kang Jiaqi's mother walked into the main hall of the backyard and bowed, saying, "Madam, this is the gift list for the Wang family."
Madam Kang took it, looked at it, and frowned, saying, "It's too much. Let's halve it all."
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"this--"
"What's wrong?"
"Wouldn't this be a little embarrassing to present?" Mrs. Qi asked cautiously.
For married daughters whose parents are still alive, it's customary to prepare some gifts and send them over before the New Year.
If your parents have passed away, then there is no need for all of this; just bring some gifts when you go back to your parents' home after the New Year.
Even when the Wang family wasn't in Bianjing in previous years, they would still send someone to deliver this gift.
But ever since the Wang family came to Beijing, the gifts that Madam Kang sent have been reduced again and again.
Now it's been reduced by half, and what's left is just too meager.
"Why don't you take charge of this household?" Madam Kang said coldly.
"This servant wouldn't dare," Madam Qi quickly replied.
"Then hurry up and prepare!" Madam Kang sneered.
"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Madam Qi quickly bowed and left.
At this moment, a maidservant served tea, which Kang Wangshi took, drank a sip, and then spat out.
"Is this so hot you want to burn me to death?" Madam Kang looked at the maid with a livid face.
The maid carrying the tray knelt down with a thud, trembling as she said, "Madam said the tea was too cold yesterday, so this servant—"
"shut up!"
Madam Kang said coldly, "You dare to argue after doing something wrong? Take her away and give her twenty lashes."
"Please spare me, Madam!" The maidservant pleaded, her face pale, kowtowing repeatedly.
Yesterday, when Madam Kang returned from the Sheng family, she complained that the tea was too cold when the maid served it, and punished the maid with twenty strokes of the cane.
After the attack, I was half dead; it was hard to say whether I would survive.
She'll get those twenty lashes, and her fate won't be any better.
"Are you deaf? Drag him away!" Madam Kang shouted.
Ding's mother, who was standing nearby, quickly called two rough-looking women in and dragged the person out.
After the maid's cries faded into the distance, Madam Ding advised, "Madam, please calm down. There aren't many servants in this household to begin with. If they're all injured, there will be no one to do the work. Besides, if they die, we'll have to spend money to replace them later."
"What, you also think I went too far?" Madam Kang said coldly.
"How dare I? But since the young lady doesn't agree, why does the eldest daughter insist on marrying into the Sheng family? Isn't You-ge'er of marriageable age?" said Mama Ding.
"snort!"
Madam Kang's face turned ugly as she said, "Do you think I don't want to? A few years ago, when Mother returned to Bianjing, I brought up this matter, but my nephew was quite something. He said that his father wasn't here and that we should talk about it when his father came to the capital."
Later, when my elder brother came to Beijing, I went to talk to my mother again, but she kept putting it off and wouldn't agree.
My older brother also said that You-ge'er is still young, but he just looks down on the Kang family and thinks they can't help You-ge'er's future.
Speaking of this, Madam Kang was filled with anger. She had thought that since she couldn't marry her daughter into the Wang family, marrying her into the Sheng family would be a good alternative.
She often heard Madam Wang talk about how talented Sheng Changbai was.
In her opinion, whether Sheng Changbai could pass the imperial examination was another matter, but Madam Wang and Old Madam Sheng's dowries were quite substantial.
The Kang family is now entirely supported by her dowry, which is why Kang Haifeng dares not interfere when she frequently kills her concubines and gives away some of her illegitimate daughters to become concubines.
But no matter how much dowry she had, it couldn't withstand such spending.
She could only swindle some money from Madam Wang to lend out at exorbitant interest rates.
If they could marry her eldest daughter into the Sheng family, not only would she have a good marriage, but when that old geezer of the Sheng family dies, her dowry would naturally go to her daughter, who would be the eldest grandson's wife of the Sheng family.
Then she can have her daughter get some to support her family.
She had already persuaded Madam Wang, but when she went to the Sheng family yesterday, Madam Wang told her that the old man in the Sheng family disagreed.
Grandma Sheng had always disliked her; it hadn't been a problem when they were in another city.
When the Sheng family came to Beijing, she went there a few times, but that old geezer didn't like her.
They even said that since she went, there was no need to go to Shou'an Hall to pay respects, because even if she went, she wouldn't see her.
"Madam, times have changed."
Ding's mother whispered, "The old lady dotes on you the most. Go back and cry and tell her that your eldest daughter's marriage is not going well. If the old lady softens her heart, she will agree."
She said these things not entirely to give advice to Madam Kang, but also to find a good family for her eldest daughter.
The Kang family has long since declined. Even if the mess that Kang Wangshiqian has been involved in over the years is dealt with quickly, very little word of it has gotten out.
After all, Kang Haifeng took one concubine after another, and the Kang family often had concubines die.
Anyone who isn't stupid can naturally guess what's going on.
Families of equal social standing, or even those of lower social standing than the Kang family, would likely be unwilling to form a marriage alliance with the Kang family.
But the eldest sister was nothing like Lady Kang; she was gentle, virtuous, and had a very good temperament.
He also frequently tried to persuade Lady Kang, which is why he was disliked by her.
Otherwise, Madam Kang wouldn't have thought of marrying her off to the Sheng family so that she could help the Kang family in the future.
In ancient times, there was no Voldemort. Once a daughter was married, she belonged to another family. Normal etiquette was fine, but if she secretly took money from her husband's family to help her own family, she would be divorced if discovered.
Madam Kang's eyes lit up, and she said, "You're right. You're Hai's student. If Yun'er marries into the family, he might be able to ask Hai to help arrange a job for Jin'er."
"Should we prepare a more generous gift?" asked Mrs. Ding.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Madam Kang hurriedly said, "Go and call Mother Qi back quickly."
Madam Ding breathed a sigh of relief and immediately instructed her maid to go find someone.
But soon the maid returned to report that Madam Qi had already gone out of the mansion to buy things.
"Then let's wait for her to come back and have her make the trip again," said Madam Kang.
"Madam, some goods are in short supply this year. What if we can't buy them? Wouldn't that cause a delay? Why don't we have Steward Liu make the trip?" said Madam Ding.
She and Madam Qi were both personal maids of Lady Kang when she was a young girl.
But she looked down on Qi's mother.
When Aunt Qi said that there weren't enough gifts, she didn't really think so. She just meant that if she bought too few, she wouldn't make enough money.
Going out to buy things in person isn't about being dutiful; it's about being able to buy things for yourself.
"You're right, quickly tell Steward Liu to go and buy it," said Madam Kang.
"Yes," Mrs. Ding replied and quickly went to make the arrangements.
She had just finished making arrangements and returned to the backyard when, not long after, Qi's mother actually came back.
"Madam, I just ran into a servant from the Wang family while I was out shopping, and I overheard some news," Madam Qi said excitedly.