It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

- A Tale of Two Cities

When he woke up, Ximen Fugui - it should be called Fang Zhongyong, the first thing that came to mind was this famous saying.

Chen Shixi, a political commentator in the Northern Song Dynasty, remembered the "reign of Renzong": "Song Xing has been in existence for more than 150 years, known as Taiping, and the country has been feasting for a long time. …… When the reign of Qingli and Jiayou was very prosperous, it was far more than the Han and Tang dynasties, and there were almost three generations of style. The great writer Su Shi said: "For more than 70 years in Song Xing, the people did not know the soldiers, and the rich taught them, and they were extremely saints and Jingyou. ”

Even Qin Hui, the prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty and a famous traitor, said: "In the past, my ancestor was in the palace, and I personally elected five out of ten people in the world to discuss the grand discussion, which was contained in the book. Qingli and Jiayou's governance on Tang Yu, under the business of Zhou, how grand! ”

At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the great Confucian Wang Fuzhi said in the "Song Treatise": "Renzong is called Shengzhi, and those who hear it now envy it." The emperor bows to the virtue of benevolence and frugality, and the ministers who are in charge of the Taiwan and admonishes the attendants, are all so-called gentlemen, and they should be prosperous. ”

Even the "perfect old man" Qianlong said that the three emperors he admired the most, except for his grandfather Kangxi and Tang Taizong, that is, Song Renzong.

If you want to list all the positive evaluations about Song Renzong in history, there is no need to write them down in this book.

In short, Song Renzong fully met the feudal scholar's definition of Renjun. As a result, all kinds of fancy touting came one after another.

However, there are two sides to everything.

It is true that during the reign of Song Renzong, China's economic level reached the peak of the feudal era. Comparing the total annual tax revenue of the national treasury during the reign of Song Renzong (reigned 1022-1063) with the purchasing power of the US dollar in 2009, it is concluded that China's GDP at that time was as high as more than 200 billion US dollars, accounting for more than 50% of the global total, and the per capita GDP was also impressively more than 2,000 US dollars. At its peak, the lighthouse country accounted for only about 30% of the world's GDP. Even when the sun never sets, the empire was at its strongest in the mid-19th century, and its GDP never exceeded 40% of the world's.

For Chinese who like to say "...... in the history of our country", it is really enough to make people excited and boast for a long time.

However, just as we can't average the height with Da Yao and the average income with Ma Shoufu, the wealth of the country is not equal to the wealth of the people, let alone the wealth of the whole people.

The economic structure in which the agricultural economy occupies an absolute predominance determines that land must be the most important means of production. As a result, large-scale land annexation became a stubborn disease that the feudal dynasty could not cure and could only postpone it. This stubborn disease during the Renzong period was not even alleviated. "The rich have a land of hope, but the poor have no land." ("History of the Song Dynasty", vol. 137), is a true portrayal of the polarization of wealth during this period.

Moreover, a benevolent emperor is not necessarily a wise emperor. Song Renzong's weakness and great rejoicing, "leniency and lack of judgment" (Cai Xiangyu) led to his lackluster performance in domestic affairs, diplomacy, and military affairs. With the Liao year coin, and the Xixia year coin, it won the reputation of "snot Song" for the Song Dynasty. You must know that sending supplies to the enemy is no different from fighting fires with wages and cutting meat to feed wolves. In the end, during the Jingkang period, Liao sent Song Huizong and Song Qinzong a luxury gift package of "Ten Years Tour in the North".

Fang Zhongyong thought about it for a long time, and finally came to a conclusion: The Song Dynasty is not easy to mix! Beneath what looks like a field of flowers is a volcano that is about to erupt. Especially when I think of the "difficulty of Jingkang" 100 years later, it is creepy. Although he was eighty percent hung up at that time, he couldn't prepare his children and grandchildren to be ravaged by foreign races.

Even further afield, the entry of the Yuan and Qing dynasties into the Central Plains, the occupation of the Western powers at the end of the Qing Dynasty, and the poison of a certain nation with original sin in their bones are all inextricably linked to this time.

If there is no weakness and corruption of the two songs, there will be no Liao, Jin, and Yuan; If there is no element of ignorance and rudeness, then there is no ignorance of the small peasant consciousness; If there is no ignorance, then there is no arrogance and decay; If there is no Qing Dynasty, how can we let the inferior people clamore for "three months to destroy China".

No way! Absolutely not! What a great nation this is! What a kind people this is! It should never have suffered so much!

Since Heaven has given me a chance to do it all over again, I must not allow the tragedy to happen again.

I want to let Huanghuang China always stand on top of the world.

I want all civilizations, known and unknown, to be proud of speaking Chinese and wearing Hanfu.

I'm going to let a nation with original sin in its bones perish and extinct its species.

But what should be done?

Industry to save the country? does not understand the economy, and cannot wage economic war; If you don't understand the manufacture of lucrative goods such as glass, you can't get a huge trade surplus.

Literature to save the country? Let's not talk about whether literature can save the country, in the era when Ouyang Xiu and Su Dongpo were rampant, the feasibility was too low.

For the sake of today's plan, we can only use the advantages of the "prophet" to get the opportunity to enter the office, and gradually gain the right to speak on domestic and foreign policies, and then get promoted, raise salary, and marry Bai Fumei.

Contribute to the prosperity of the Chinese nation.

Ten days later, just as Fang Zhongyong was sitting in front of the door with his right hand on his cheek, cossing as a "thinker" and meditating. A "little second brother" woke him up.

When I looked up, it was the youngest daughter of the seventh uncle next door, named Niuniu. He is six years old this year, wears two pigtails, and likes to play with Fang Zhongyong the most on weekdays.

I only heard Niuniu open her small mouth with two front teeth and say, "Little second brother......"

"Stop! It's okay to call the second brother, or Brother Zhong Yong. Don't call it Xiao Er, it sounds like a runaway. Fang Zhongyong hurriedly stopped.

Niuniu is as good as a stream: "Okay, little second brother." ”

Fang Zhongyong had no choice but to accept his fate: "Whatever you want!" What's the matter with me? ”

"Didn't you say take me to herd cattle today? Put that big buffalo you just bought. ”

Okay, let's experience the life of a shepherd boy. In many poems, the shepherd boy appears many times as a symbol of the elegant pastoral life, and it seems to be a very leisurely and interesting profession. Come to think of it, there's a little excitement!

Led out the cow, let Niuniu sit on the back of the cow, led by Fang Zhongyong, and slowly walked to the pond at the head of the village. Although cows are known for their docility, they are not always gentle and cute. Especially the ploughing ox, which is not very ridden, suddenly carried a person on his back, and with the recognition of life, it seemed a little anxious. Twisting around, it seems to want to throw Niu Niu off. Fang Zhongyong hurriedly hugged Niuniu down, it would not be good if she fell.

Only then did she find that Niuniu was holding a small shovel and a small bamboo basket in her hand, so she asked, "What are you doing with these?" ”

Niu Niu replied obediently: "Shovel cow dung!" In this way, it means that I can work, and my father and mother will not give me to other people's families as a child daughter-in-law. ”

Fang Zhongyong's eyes were sour, and he almost burst into tears: "Niuniu is so well-behaved, where is your father and mother willing to do it?" ”

"Well, my father is willing, but my mother is not willing. I beat my mother for this father! Dad said that I was a money-loser, and if I gave it to someone early, I could save a mouthful of food and get back 500 yuan. ”

"Does that Niu Niu want to be a child bride?"

Niuniu hurriedly shook her head, and the two pigtails flicked one by one: "Niuniu doesn't want to!" I heard my mother say that the son of that family is a fool, and he only knows how to crush people under his body and bully people. The last child daughter-in-law was bullied to death by him. Quick, little brother, the cow is drinking the water from the pond. ”

Fang Zhongyong disagreed: "If the cow wants to drink, let it drink." ”

Niuniu hurriedly waved her hand: "No, no!" The mother said that the water in the pond is not clean, and the cows will get sick if they drink it. The cows had to drink clean stream water, not water under the trees. ”

Although it is not very easy to understand where Niuniu's erudition comes from, the importance that agrarian society attaches to ploughing cattle is obvious.

Song Zhenzong even issued an edict: "From now on, those who slaughter cattle and steal cattle will not be killed, and they will be imprisoned and should be sentenced heavily", which shows how high the status of cattle was at that time. In the Song Dynasty, the price of cattle was about five to seven yuan, and ordinary farmers could not afford to buy them at all.

Even if there are farmers who can afford to buy cattle, they should be taken care of. When you are free, you should add water and bean cakes. You can't get drenched on a rainy day, and you have to dry it in time after sweating, which is really more delicate than taking care of children.

Looking at Niuniu who tickled the cow, Fang Zhongyong thought to himself: Since Niuniu is so good at herding cattle, why not hand over the work of herding cattle to herd? I only need to take care of the food every day, and I expect my father and Uncle Seven to agree. In this way, Uncle Seven shouldn't be in a hurry to send Niuniu out, right? Fang Zhongyong made up his mind, and the cow didn't let go, holding Niuniu's hand, and Niuniu's hand went home with cow dung.

When he arrived at home, his father was chatting with his guests. Busy Shi Yili said: "Father, the child is twelve years old this year, and he is determined to learn. In the future, if you can get fame, you will also shine on the lintel. I hope my father will be perfected. ”

Father Fang was sitting precariously and pinched his voice: "My son has this ambition, it is, it is, it is, well, very good, very good." If you study with peace of mind, you won't have to worry about your family. ”

Fang Zhongyong hurriedly took the opportunity to say: "Thank you, father!" It's just that ploughing cattle are precious and need to be carefully cared for. Uncle Seven's little sister is very smart and knows how to herd cattle. But find her to herd cattle, and take care of the food every day. ”

Father Fang is also okay: "Okay, I'll tell the seventh child when I go back." He wished for! ”

At this time, the guest spoke: "Is Fang a prodigy under your feet?" ”

Fang Zhongyong saluted: "Don't dare." It's rude to disturb the conversation of the honored guest. ”

The guest smiled: "Don't be too modest. Below is the housekeeper of Liu Daguan at the West Gate of Jinxi. On the fifteenth of next month, the old lady of our house will celebrate her 70th birthday and would like to invite you to a banquet. If you can chant a birthday poem on the spot, you must dedicate 500 pens. You know, my lord invited Professor Liu from the county school to support him. ”

Fang Zhongyong looked at his father, saw that he couldn't help nodding, knowing that he had promised someone, so he said, "Go yourself." ”

Seeing off the guests, Fang Zhongyong couldn't help complaining: "I just said that you want to study hard, and you promised people to go to the banquet." ”

Father Fang was slightly embarrassed: "Don't take it as an example, don't take it as an example." Besides, if you eat and drink for nothing and give money, why don't fools agree? ”

After lunch, Father Fang told Niuniu about it. Niuniu also embarked on a new job - a shepherd boy. Looking at Niuniu's smile, Fang Zhongyong couldn't help but sigh for a long time.

Niuniu's problem has been solved for the time being, but how many people like Niuniu are there in the entire Song Dynasty?

They are hardworking, unpretentious, and kind.

They are the loveliest people in the world.

Their fate should be smooth sailing, their lives should be rich and happy, and all those who persecuted them should be sent to hell.

Just as Fang Zhongyong was pondering how to send those people to hell, there was a burst of intent urging him to quickly rush to the "place of reincarnation of the five grains".