Chapter 47 Chapter Forty Seven

"So that's how it is... Hearing the words of the elder, Wang Jian suddenly realized... Wang Jian will definitely work hard to put down the rebellion for the country, stabilize Xichuan as soon as possible, and return the people of Xichuan to a peaceful and prosperous world!" "The general has great ambitions, and the people of Xichuan are lucky!" Wang Jian led his two sons out of Qingyang Palace, the sun was already westward, and the breeze blew up people's spirits.After listening to Du Guangting's profound arguments, Wang Jian's eyes seemed to light up, as if he caught a glimpse of the guiding light in a deep cave.But such a high-spirited talk about governing the country and the people made him not know how to implement it.Perhaps, this road needs a scholar who understands the people of Xichuan and has real talents to practice.He thought of Feng Juan, the talent that Xu Geng had specially recommended to him.

"Go to Mochi." Wang Jian got on his horse and headed for the city. Zong Ji urged him to catch up with Wang Jian immediately, and persuaded him: "Father, it's getting late today, let's go back first, and it won't be too late to visit tomorrow." "I can't wait for tomorrow! I just want to see what kind of master Feng Xinzhi, who is famous in Xichuan, is!" "The Taoist priest just now was once the immortal elder bestowed by the first emperor. Needless to say, his father is a virtuous corporal. Now this old man Feng is just a down-and-out Jinshi, so he can't be worthy of your visit. Why don't you ask Governor Xu to call him? You are also ordered by the court after all. Local officials."

"This statement is wrong! This person who has real talents and learning throughout the ages deserves a personal visit! I dare not compare with the emperors of all dynasties, but King Wen of Zhou was able to visit the Grand Duke by the river, and Emperor Zhaolie was able to look for Zhuge in a thatched cottage. The sages value talents so much. I If you don't go there in person, how can you talk about sincerity?" As he spoke, he said to the two of them earnestly and earnestly: "Sieging cities and pulling out villages is nothing to us, but we are not experts in governing places. Right now, Chengdu will be settled, and everything is waiting for prosperity. When you are employing people, you must treat all scholars with the same respect as you respect your teacher, Mr. Zheng."

Wang Jian and his party inquired along the way and found Mochi when the sun was westward.But when he opened the thatched cottage where Feng Juan lived, there was only a naive little book boy at home.The little book boy said: My husband went to the southern suburbs to play chess with an old friend, and I am afraid he will spend a few nights there.Wang Jian felt regretful, but there was nothing he could do.He could only forcefully leave the generous presents that he had brought with him to the book boy, and he returned angrily with his two adoptive sons. Wang Zongyao comforted: "Things can't always be as smooth as the visit to Mr. Boya. Uncle Liu visited the thatched cottage three times before inviting Zhuge Kongming. This is the first time my father visited a virtuous person."

Wang Jian smiled knowingly: "Feng Xinzhi must be a great person when Governor Xu recommends this person who lives in that cottage like this. Don't comfort me, you boy. If you can invite this expert to come out of the mountain, don't say it's just three visits." , I am willing even if I look at it ten times and eight times!" Frost's fall passed in the blink of an eye.Wang Jian led Zongji and Zongyao to Mochi for the second time.There are scaffoldings on both sides of the farmland, and some of the current melons and fruits are ripe and dotted among them.Seeing this, Wang Jian couldn't help but feel relieved: everything is developing according to his own wishes, and according to this momentum, within half a year, the prosperity of Chengdu will return to the situation when the first emperor Xizong was in Shu.Bypassing the legendary ink-washing pond, we came to a small vegetable garden. An old farmer who was nearly sixty years old was picking up some weeds in the field with a bamboo hat bent over.

Wang Jian dismounted, stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Old man, how is your harvest?" The old man raised his head, his forehead was already covered with wrinkles, but he looked hale and hearty.He looked Wang Jian up and down, and said in a mocking tone: "At this age, the banner of the Great King is changed on the top of the city, and the old thieves are gone, and the new thieves are gone. Hehe, self-sufficiency, it is good to have something to eat..." Wang Jian was taken aback, and thought to himself, Mochi is really such a tricky place, even an old farmer speaks sourly.Oops, I really don't know what this Feng Juan will look like.Zong Yao, who was at the side, was a little displeased, so she replied: "Old man, what you said is wrong. If Wang Situ hadn't entered the city, would you still be able to care for the garden so leisurely under Chen Jingxuan's rule?"

"That's right, I used to eat a la carte leaves, but now I eat some old pumpkin. Hehe, I never smell the broth in Jiedushi's house every day." Wang Jian thought to himself, what the old man said was true.He besieged the city for two years, and he didn't know how many people died of starvation because of it. He was guilty!Although the poor now have something to eat, they are still very poor after all, and it is impossible for them to eat meat.Thinking that I still have a lot of fish and meat every day, I don't know that this kind of life is no different from Chen Jingxuan in the eyes of the poor.

The old farmer straightened up and walked past Wang Jian and the three of them. He suddenly stopped and looked at Wang Jian. Pork smell...haha..." After speaking, one person laughed, ignoring the glaring eyes of Zong Ji and Zong Yao, and walked to the thatched cottage in the distance alone. Wang Jian began to feel that the old man spoke the voice of the poor, but his next series of actions made him feel a little disgusted with the old farmer: a poor farmer, who treats him so disrespectfully, even the emperor's relatives don't care. People do this to themselves.At the moment when Wang Jian was in a daze, he suddenly came back to his senses, the hut the old man walked into was exactly the thatched hut he had visited about half a month ago—he was Feng Juan!

Wang Jian took two steps and followed the old man into the hut.This is the first time he entered Feng Juan's house, the last time he was only blocked in the garden by that silly book boy.The furnishings in the house are very simple, and there is an old wooden basin in the corner of the house, which is collecting the stagnant water leaking from the thatched hut after the rain.Seeing this situation, Wang Jian suddenly respected that such an ancient genius with great literary talent and full of strategy can live in such a shabby room safely, and he couldn't help saying to himself: "Alas, the life of the people is hard, and it is too much for an official." !"

Feng Juan smiled: "People can't bear their worries, and they can't change their joys if they don't go back!" Perhaps Wang Jian didn't understand this allusion, so he could only compliment him: "However, there are such talents hidden in such a humble room!" "Zhuge Cottage in Nanyang, Ziyun Pavilion in West Shu. There is Ziyun Pavilion here, and I live in Yangxiong's old cottage. Hahaha..." After finishing speaking, he laughed triumphantly. "Wouldn't it be a pity for Mr. Feng to be such a great talent? Wang Jian is not talented, so I came here to see Mr., and beg Mr. to help me achieve a career."

"Career?" Feng Juan's face changed as soon as he said it. "The imperial court has ordered a ban on soldiers. Could it be that the cause of your step is to disobey the imperial decree?" Right behind Feng Juan was an old locked wooden cabinet. On the rice paper sealed on the cabinet were two characters that were evenly thin, hard and strong. Wang Jian knew very few characters, but he recognized these two characters. It is a "thief".Of course, he didn't know that what Feng Juan learned was the font of Liu Gongquan, the "Liu Shaoshi" of the seven emperors of the Tang Dynasty. Wang Jian asked suspiciously: "Why is there a thief in the cabinet, sir?" "You'll know it as soon as you see it." After finishing speaking, Feng Juan opened the cabinet, and Wang Jian instantly recognized that what was locked in the cabinet turned out to be the gift he sent last time.He suppressed his anger and pretended to be calm: "Sir, don't you like the gift I gave you?" "Your kindness, old man, I appreciate it. What you are doing is not something I can do. Forgive me for the poor hospitality. You can go back with these things." After finishing speaking, he called out of the house: "Tong'er, see off the guests. !" Wang Jian was shut down again, extremely depressed, but he couldn't get angry with Feng Juan, so he had to leave. "This old man is too deceitful!" Zong Ji said. "What kind of person am I? I'm just a farmer!" Wang Zongyao also said angrily. "No, this place in Xichuan is hidden dragons and crouching tigers! Zong Yao, isn't your father-in-law also a villager?" After finishing speaking, Wang Jian laughed, Zong Yao was a little embarrassed by this sentence, and blushed and stopped talking. Walking at least to the edge of the city, Zong Yao asked his father for leave, saying that his father-in-law was not in good health these days and wanted to visit him.Wang Jian replied that it should be taken care of, and specially entrusted his old in-laws to take care of him, and then he and Zong Ji went back to the mansion. Bypassing a memorial archway is the majestic Jiedushi Mansion.Wang Jian saw a lot of people gathered in front of him from a distance, as if there were still many people in mourning clothes, he was not surprised.He clamped the horse's belly with his legs and hurried forward. In the distance, Zhou Xiang saw Wang Jian coming back, and walked a few steps to the horse.Wang Jian took the reins and got off the horse, with a hint of vigilance in his doubts: "What's the matter? What happened here?" "My lord, Gu Gong, the envoy of Dongchuan Jiedu, died of illness. This is the person from Dongchuan to report the funeral." Wang Jian let go of his hanging heart. What he worried most was that his love would go wrong.A few years ago when he was still in Lizhou and Langzhou, Gu Yanlang really helped him a lot, and if Gu Yanlang hadn't helped him take care of his family back then, he would not have had the guts to come to Xichuan to fight such a big battle.The two of them still have some friendship. In the past year, I heard that Yan Lang was bedridden, and this day will happen sooner or later.Wang Jian sighed and ordered Zheng Xu to mourn.At the same time, another thought made Wang Jian's heart sink: Gu Yanlang died, and his younger brother Gu Yanhui should take over as Dongchuan's successor as a matter of course.Gu Yanhui has a different personality from his elder brother, not only is he irritable, but also arrogant.In the past two years of assisting the imperial court to fight Xichuan, he never took himself seriously.Wang Jian wanted to attack several times, but he endured it because of his brother's face.Now that Gu Yanlang is dead, it may be difficult for Dongchuan and Xichuan to form an alliance... Thinking of this, he suddenly felt new pressure spontaneously rising. "Bo Ya, I'm afraid that there will be changes in Dongchuan! Look, is Hua Hong allocated 10,000 elite soldiers to help Li Jian guard Lutou Pass..." "The lord is afraid that the Second General Gu will not recognize his old feelings and start a war against the country?" "That's right, we have just gained a firm foothold in Chengdu, and there are still remnants of Xichuan fighting against me. Gu Yanhui has always been at odds with me, and I'm afraid he will attack me while I'm not firmly established." "He doesn't have the guts." Zhou Xiang was full of confidence. "The imperial court has not formally appointed him Dongchuan Jiedu, so he should be more afraid of Yang Shouliang from Shannan who will attack him suddenly while he is not on his feet. My lord must beware of Yang Shouliang right now!" "Why?" "Everyone has the desire to annex Sanchuan. When Gu Gong was alive, Yang Shouliang was afraid of you joining forces with Dongchuan, so he didn't dare to act rashly. Now that Gu Gong is gone, if you meet Dongchuan in battle, you will definitely be used by others. As far as I can see, the troops stationed at Lutou Pass should not be increased, but should be reduced to show our trust in Dongchuan." "Okay." Wang Jian replied softly, thoughtfully, "I have another matter, I want to ask sir." "Don't dare to use the word 'ask for advice', my lord, but it doesn't hurt to ask." "Inspector Xu recommended Feng Xinzhi to me. But this old man is really difficult to deal with! I went to his house twice in person. The first time he was away, I left a gift. The second time, I wrote my gift" Return the original piece of the thief. Alas! Governor Xu said that this man is a great talent in governing the country, I really don't know how to invite this old man!" Zhou Xiang smiled and said, "I've read some poems by Feng Xinzhi." After finishing speaking, Zhou Xiang chanted slowly: "This man is talented, but he is hard to tame. I am afraid that even if the lord gets this man, it will be difficult to control his arrogance in the future." "I, Wang Jian, will take Chengdu and Dingxichuan immediately, but without the help of virtuous people, how can we realize our great ambitions with guns and sticks?" "My lord really wants this person?" "Since you are a talent for governing the country, you must get it!" "The lord must accommodate him for three o'clock." "Sir please speak." "First, being informal. People like him are used to being casual and won't stick to etiquette; second, being outspoken. Although good medicine tastes bad, it will make people unhappy if you hear too many bad words; the third He is an old man over sixty years old, not afraid of life and death, let alone fame and fortune? Such a person may scold the lord even if he is squatting in the toilet." Wang Jian pondered for a moment: "As long as he sincerely assists me, I can tolerate it! If you want to achieve great things, you must have such a person under your command!" "My lord cherishes talents, and Zhou Xiang admires them so much! From my point of view, Feng Xinzhi's poems are not content to be a hermit. Hehe, he is unrecognized for his talents, and he does not want to ruin his reputation in troubled times. The ancients said that if people from afar are not convinced, they will cultivate literature and virtue since That. If the lord really cherishes talents, then from now on, he will make every effort to govern Chengdu. When the market is prosperous, I'm sure he won't be moved." "I'm worried about not being able to manage the country. If Feng Xinzhi doesn't come to help me, I want to show that Mr. Zou is Chengdu Yin." Zhou Xiang declined and said, "I'm only worthy of using some small strategies in troubled times. I don't have any talent, so I'm ashamed to let my lord look up to me! My lord has great talents around me, how can I discard them and not use them?" "Who?" "Mr. Zhang who was 'assigned' to Lutouguan by the lord." Zhou Xiang deliberately emphasized the word "assignment".Seeing Wang Jian's doubts, Zhou Xiang said again: "Mr. Zhang has managed the state in an orderly manner since he took office in Meizhou. The people still praise his achievements. In the first year of Dashun, the Lord captured Qiongzhou, and it was Mr. Zhang who finished the city , Fu'an Yiliao, within a few months the people of Qiongzhou live and work in peace and contentment, and have a harmonious relationship with other ethnic groups. Zhang Gong has lived in Xichuan for many years, is proficient in farming, water conservancy, and sympathetic to the people's sentiments, so he is the best candidate for Chengdu Yin!" "What you said gave me an epiphany! Why... why did I send Mr. Zhang to the former enemy by mistake. Hehehe, this is really, there is nowhere to find it after breaking through the iron shoes!" The weather is getting colder, and the city of Chengdu looks a little lifeless, as if it has entered hibernation.Perhaps, everyone is waiting for this winter to be able to pass through safely, and when the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, a new world will be opened.In the winter of the second year of Dashun, Wang Jianbiao played Zhang Lin as the deputy envoy of Xichuan Jiedu. In the winter of Qili Pavilion, the cold wind suddenly blew up, and Wang Jian insisted on wearing a single suit and waiting for Zhang Lin to return.If Zhou Xiang didn't remind him, he seemed to have forgotten that he hadn't seen Zhang Lin for a long time.In the distance, an old man in a long gown came slowly on a thin horse with a red mane. "It's him!" Wang Jian excitedly stepped forward to meet him.The man on the horse was over sixty years old and looked a little old, with wrinkles on his forehead and around the corners of his eyes.Obviously, compared with two years ago, Zhang Lin seems to have aged a lot. "Once a person passes sixty, he ages very quickly," Wang Jian felt sore. "A few days ago, during the war, he made too many sacrifices for me in Qiongzhou and the rear!" The old man was jolting on his horse, and saw a person coming to the horse in a trance. He looked carefully and found that it was the lord Wang Jian!He threw off the rein in a panic and was about to dismount.But Wang Jian supported him: "Mr. Zhang, it is Wang Jian who is reckless. These days, you are making you suffer in front of the enemy!" After that, he was about to lead Zhang Lin's horse. "My lord! This, how can this be done." Then, regardless of Wang Jian's obstruction, he insisted on jumping off the horse, "I heard that my lord won Chengdu, I'm so happy!" "Ah!" Wang Jian sighed, "It's easy to win a city, but difficult to rule it! I specially invite Mr. Zhang back, and please read the friendship in the same village of Xuzhou to help me." "I have only a handful of bones left, thanks to my lord for being so respectful!" As he said that, Wang Jian helped Zhang Lin all the way to the Jiedu envoy's mansion, and then to the upper seat, and respectfully asked for advice: "Please give me your advice, Mr. Zhang!" "My lord, do you know what people do for a living?" "Food is the most important thing for the people, and the common people want to eat. I understand this truth." "Hehe, this is it! People often say that Xichuan is fertile and wild, and it means that the soil here is good! The soil in Xichuan is nourished by unique water, and it does not dry up in winter and not waterlogged in summer. Why is this? It is all because the pre-Qin River Lord Li Bing built the Weiwei Weir, and the Chengdu Plain has benefited from it for thousands of years! The Weiwei Weir is the dragon vein of Chengdu! If the Lord wants to establish a foothold in Chengdu, he must find a trusted person who is virtuous and able to endure hardships to manage the ancient weir. Promoting water conservancy is the root of agriculture!" Wang Jian nodded silently, thinking to himself, Zhang Lin has sharp eyesight, unique insights, and hits the nail on the head! "The second important thing is to persuade the people to work in agriculture and reduce or exempt taxes - this must have been arranged by the lord. Chengdu is known as the world's granary. But in the past few years of wars, many fertile fields have been deserted. If the lord can reduce taxes for three to five years, The peasants will be happy with the land. If so, within two years farming will be back to its prime. "If the lord wants to achieve great things, scholars, peasants, businessmen and commerce must be used by the lord. Scholars governing the country and farmers governing the land, since ancient times, the virtuous emperors probably understand this truth. However, the role of merchants is often ignored." "Businessman? Don't they all say that there is no business without treachery?" Wang Jian asked confused. "The nature of merchants is to pursue profit, but they unintentionally make the goods from east to west, north and south complement each other, and exchange goods with each other. Wherever there are merchants, the market will flourish and the population will be large. If the ruler can give a relaxed environment, he can extract from it. Taxes, this will be an immeasurable income!" As he spoke, he stroked his beard with a smile, and said, "Chengdu is not only rich in water and soil, but also Sichuan tea, Sichuan brocade, and lacquerware are praised by the world." "Hmm! When you talk about Sichuan tea, it's true. At the time when Emperor Xian was fortunate to Sichuan, Chen Jingxuan provided Mengding yellow bud tea, which was known as 'immortal tea'. After tasting it, the emperor was overjoyed! Until he returned to Chang'an, he still wanted the Japanese Mongolian tea. Camellia. He Yiyang once told me that in the Central Plains, one tael of gold can’t be exchanged for one tael of Mengshan’s new tea!" "Yes, Mengshan was originally a place for tea production. These years of war have caused tea farmers to stop growing tea, but tea merchants have risked their lives to go to Yazhou to benefit and make a fortune! I heard that Shan Xingzhang once used high-grade The jade tiger carved from Hetian jade was exchanged for half a catty of Mengshan tea..." "Hahaha," Wang Jian laughed, "Unexpectedly, Shan Xingzhang, like the old man He Yiyang, is also a tea addict! I also love Sichuan tea, but not so much." "So in my opinion, in addition to encouraging tea growers to grow tea, it is also necessary to control Xichuan's tea from production to sales under the official control. This is a lot of wealth! Wars have always been fought for money and food. With Xichuan farming, plus On this golden mountain where tea leaves are piled up, who can compete with the lord?" "Mr. Zhang's words are really clearing the clouds and seeing the sun, which made me suddenly enlightened!" Zhang Lin said again: "Shu brocade is the treasure of Xichuan. What Yuehua brocade, Yusi brocade, Huanhua brocade, and scattered flower silkworms are all famous treasures in China! Silk is used for brocade. Since the founding of silkworms, the king of ancient Shu, this silkworm breeding has always been They are all natural livelihoods of the Shu people. Eating mulberry leaves and planting mulberry is the foundation of brocade. If the lord wants to seize Xichuan and create a foundation for eternity, he should manage tea and salt, persuade farmers to teach mulberry, repair water conservancy, and promote commerce. So, don’t worry about big things failing!” "Wang Jian remembered what Mr. Zhang said from the bottom of his heart!" Zhang Lin took another step closer to Wang Jian, and said in a low voice, "It's just that right now, the imperial court should be respected more, and the imperial court should not be allowed to focus on Xichuan. The imperial court is in decline, but if the emperor orders a crusade, the lord will not be able to deal with it if his foothold is unstable! "