Xia Yuanji, the head of the household, not only went to see the "Fake Courtyard" with his own eyes, but also went to Longjiang Bao Shipyard.

Longjiang Port is located fifteen miles outside the Waijinchuan Gate. Many of the sea vessels docked in the pond (dock) have been renovated. Most of the stiff sails have been replaced, and craftsmen are repairing the ropes (pulleys), the water traps, the decks. There are so many people in the harbor that it looks like a market.

And a temple called Jinghai Temple by the pond has almost become a line of eunuchs sent by the palace, and there are many brocade guards and eunuchs guarding inside and outside.

What did the Holy God do when he asked people to compile the books of craftsmen and repair the ships of the sea? All kinds of signs have become very obvious, and the Holy Lordship will continue to work on the work of going to the West as an important event during his reign.

Xia Yuanji came back to his senses: Since last year, the Holy Lord has begun to deploy these things. What made Xia Yuanji a little angry was that as a scholar, the Holy Lord had never discussed this matter with him!

He went home and thought all night, ready to talk to his colleagues first.

The strategists of the Yan Wangfu among the civil officials, because they supported the abolition of the prince before and after the "Battle of Crime", and they had persecuted Jinshang, most of them have been cleared; The so-called "Jianwen Old Party", after the bloody suppression at the beginning of Yongle, was mostly very satisfied with the fact that the present party was pacified and regained power with them.

What Lu Zhen and his ilk, in the midst of fear and joy, had already succumbed to the imperial power, and did not dare to oppose what the emperor had made up his mind to do. And people like Xie Jin, who are not afraid of heaven and earth, Xia Yuanji doesn't want to talk to him more.

Xia Yuanji thought about it and chose Qitai, the secretary of the military department.

Qi Tai did not show up with his real name and surname during the "Battle of Crime"; However, Xia Yuanji believed that Qi Tai might be the first advisor of the old Han Palace, just as Dao Yan was to Taizong. And Qi Tai was already at the level of Shangshu during the Jianwen period, although he was not very trusted by Jianwen, but he was also the minister left by Taizu.

And Xia Yuanji has been an official in Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, and Hongxi dynasties, and he can be regarded as the "old party of Jianwen", and he can talk to Qi Taineng. He believed that Qi Tai not only had insight, but also dared to follow the words of the saint, even if it was disobedient to the saint.

Xia Yuanji came to the Ministry of War. Because he was on the same level as Qi Tai, Qi Tai opened the door and went out to greet him personally.

The two came to the lobby, and Xia Yuanji said again, "Borrow a step to speak". So they walked through the hall together to a suite in the back yard.

After serving tea, Qi Tai waved them out. Qi Tai is a man in his forties and a little thin, he has been an official since the Hongwu period, and he can be regarded as a veteran of the Four Dynasties, but he is not too old, about the same age as Xia Yuanji. Xia Yuanji said in his heart: This is the benefit of being an early student.

Xia Yuanji was more cautious, and first mentioned the matter of the fake courtyard and the repair of the sea ship.

Unexpectedly, Qi Butang said directly: "Yesterday, Bachelor Xie (Bachelor of Waiting) wrote and tried his best to refute the 'Fake Academy', I listened to Gao Siqing. Xia Butang is in the cabinet, but he doesn't know about it? ”

Xia Yuanji said: "I went to Longjiang Port yesterday, and the distance is a little far, and I haven't been to Wuying Palace. ”

Qi Butang frowned and said: "The saying that 'a gentleman is good at fake things' comes from "Xunzi". The world did not like Sun Qing (the Han Dynasty changed his name due to avoidance, and both names were used in later generations).

Xunzi has the saying of the king and the king (Longli respects the virtuous and the king, values the law and loves the people and dominates); He also believes that human nature is born evil, so he should persuade the world to learn and improve morality; He also said that the 'Queen of the Hoga' (I think that the records of the saints who are too far away are unknown, and the society is changing, so it is not necessary to adapt to the development of the current society, so it is necessary to learn from the recent saints...... These are very different from the theories of Confucius and Mencius, and they are even more contrary to the science since the Song Dynasty.

And because of Xunzi's student Li Si, he disturbed the Qin Dynasty and the world was in turmoil, and his reputation was very bad. Therefore, Xunzi has always been despised. ”

Xia Yuanji said: "Xunzi is different from Confucius and Mencius, but he is also a Confucian sage of the Huaxia (Han ancestors). Dongpo also said that Xun Qingming was kingly and recounted, and Li Si was chaotic with his learning. ”

Qi Tai said: "Having said that, but Master Xie hated Xun Zizhi deeply, and after he learned about the 'Fake Academy', he immediately went to the book. ”

Xia Yuanji remembered Hou Hai's words, and felt that it made sense, so he said: "The Fake Academy belongs to the Shouyu Sinan Bureau, and the grade is not high, or it is just an academy. It is not possible to speculate that the saint wants to practice Xunzi's learning. ”

Qi Tai nodded yes.

"What is the Holy Lord's reply to the recital of the Bachelor?" Xia Yuanji asked.

Qi Tai said: "I don't know, there has been no movement so far. ”

Xia Yuanji asked again: "What is Qi Butang's opinion?" ”

Qi Tai's expression became serious, he glanced outside the door of the study, and said in a deep voice: "In this matter, I think Xie Jin's remarks have some truth, if the saint has no intention of Xunzi's words, why use the canon?" ”

Xia Yuanji was silent.

Qi Tai said again: "Before the Han Dynasty respected Confucianism, Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty had a saying: The Han family has its own system, which is supposed to be a tyrant.

I'm worried about the government of the Holy One, and so it is. From the point of view of the Sanpin Yamen of the Shouyu Sinan Bureau, the saint not only has the meaning of Xunzi, but also faintly does the things of the Mo family.

But that Li Si is not good at learning Xunzi, miscellaneous lawyers, and even Qin Zheng is out of control, which is a lesson from the past. After the Song Dynasty, the people's hearts were unified, and the long-term peace and stability of the country could be guaranteed.

I don't think I can persuade the saints to go to the West. However, Xun Zizhi said that we should admonish. ”

Xia Yuanji groaned, his thoughts were completely different from Xie Jin's, and even Qi Tai didn't seem to be the same. After a while, he said quietly: "The military department worships the Art of War, and the military family is also one of the hundred schools of thought. ”

Qi Tai said: "But there must be one thing to control the hearts of the world." There is a ready-made experience in governing the country in the Song Dynasty, why abandon it? ”

Xia Yuanji nodded yes.

Qi Tai continued: "The saint ruled the martial arts, the prosperity of martial arts, the thickness of benevolence, and the crown of kings. The matter of controlling firearms and going to the West was not discussed with the courtiers, which shows that the matter is unstoppable. We should not oppose going to the West, but should be side-beaten and reasoned, reminding the Holy One that there is a source of trouble. You and I deserve to be loyal servants. ”

Xia Yuanji heard that Qi Tai likes to read "The Mean", and after listening to this statement, it is really so, it is simply impartial and very knowledgeable.

"Qi Butang's words are probably the best proposition for this matter." Xia Yuanji began to try his best to reach a consensus with Qi Tai.

It's just the result of a compromise.

Because Xia Yuanji and Qi Tai have different ideas. Several emperors of the Ming Dynasty have taken a fancy to Xia Yuanji's financial management skills, no matter who ascends the throne, they will drag him out of his home, whether he is willing to surrender or not, first put the hat of the household secretary on his head. So after many years in the office, Xia Yuanji's philosophical thinking has been fundamentally shaken.

The monarchs and ministers didn't care about his integrity and thoughts at all, and just wanted him to make money. After years of adulthood, Xia Yuanji doesn't seem to care much about science, whether it is the saint's reverence for the king or the joy of Mozi, he doesn't care.

It's just that Xia Yuanji had a hunch that the financial strategy of the imperial court might gradually tend to the fiscal law of the Song Dynasty when he went to the West to prosper the sea trade. And Xia Yuanji is not proficient in everything, he may face unfamiliarity with new things, and he is afraid that he will not be good as an official of the household department, so he is faintly uneasy in his heart.

At this moment, a person came to the door, clasped his fists and bowed: "Yutangzun, the eunuch Wang Gui in the palace asks to see you." ”

Qi Tai said: "Welcome him to the lobby, and I will arrive later." ”

The one who came and said, "Yes." ”

Qi Tai turned his head and glanced at Xia Yuanji.

Xia Yuanji said: "It's inconvenient for me to stay longer, so I will go out with Qi Butang, meet with the prince, and go back." ”

Qi Tai nodded and said, "It's okay, forgive me for not leaving Xia Butang." ”

At the entrance of the military department, there are brocade guards on duty every day, monitoring the officials in a bright light. Xia Yuanji walked through the gate and came in, his whereabouts would definitely be recorded in Jinyiwei's file, so there was nothing to avoid from the eunuchs in the palace.

The two walked to the lobby together and saw that Wang Gui had arrived.

Wang Gui smiled all over his face, hugged the dust very respectfully and politely and said, "Our family has seen Qi Butang and Xia Butang. ”

Xia Yuanji and Qi Tai also returned the salute and exchanged pleasantries.

Wang Gui said with a smile: "The emperor is in the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, summoning the ministers to discuss matters. Ladies and gentlemen, we have to invite you personally. Xia Butang is here, so our family can make one less trip. ”

Qi Tai said: "The ministers obeyed the order, and then went to the Dongnuan Pavilion." Xia Yuanji also nodded in agreement.

Wang Gui said: "There are internal officials (eunuchs) at the noon gate, and the two adults will go first." We have to go somewhere else, say goodbye. ”

The two ministers saluted and said goodbye, and Qi Tai shouted: "Come, send off!" ”

Xia Yuanji and Qi Tai glanced at each other. So there's no need to separate, just go to the palace together. Qi Tai said: "Xia Butang, please." ”

When they walked to the noon gate, they ran into another official, and it turned out to be Xie Jin!

Of course, Xia Yuanji was a little surprised. Qianqing Palace is where the emperor's bedroom is located, which belongs to the harem area, where the saint deliberates, and there are definitely not many people summoned; Usually only the head of the government office can participate. The prefect of the Hanlin Academy is Hu Guang, a bachelor of Hanlin, and Xie Jin is only a bachelor.

After the three of them saw the salute, they naturally entered the palace together. The bureaucrats at the level of Shangshu are more easy-going and have very small shelves; Generally, most of the people who take the shelves are those petty officials. Therefore, Xia Yuanji and Qi Tai both gave Xie Jin face and did not blatantly reject him.

As expected, Xie Jin talked endlessly along the way, and began to persuade Xia Yuanji and Qi Tai to join forces with him to oppose the national policy that the Holy Lord had recently shown. To put it very seriously, what "the country will be in chaos" makes people tremble when they hear it.

Xia Yuanji snorted, neither wanting to argue with him nor agreeing. He said in his heart: I'll keep my saliva and go to Dongnuan Pavilion to talk about it.

The saint is not too much, he clearly knows that Xie Jin is dissatisfied with the letter, and what is it to discuss government affairs and ask Xie Jin?