When the Jiu family decided to withdraw from the mine completely, those local tyrants and mining tyrants in Quzhou panicked, they knew that their strength was far worse than the vigorous Sanchao, and even more unfortunately, Sanchao was located in the remote, the sky was high and the emperor was far away, and Quzhou was located in the thoroughfare of the four provinces and the hinterland of the southeast, if there was no support from those big families, the government would not be able to tolerate their behavior that was tantamount to rebellion.

However, it is clear that what happened in Quzhou is completely different from the nature of the Sanchao Rebellion, the latter has obvious rebellious tendencies, while the former is only because of the conflict of interests, so the policy towards the two is also completely different. Here, in order to avoid the escalation of the situation, we should not use force unless we have to, but should still prescribe the right medicine, and since it is an entanglement of interests, we should use interests to solve it.

So while secretly negotiating with the Nine Families, Shen Mo asked Shao Fang to negotiate with the local gentry with great fanfare, as long as those mining tyrants will be eradicated and no longer armed against the government, he will give them the right to jointly operate mines with the government, and the proceeds will be shared proportionally, and during the contract period, their rights and interests will be protected by the government.

It is the right of the local gentry in Quzhou to think about it legally, but the Ming Dynasty has extremely strict restrictions on private mining, and it is precisely because of Wang Bengu's severe crackdown on illegal mining that it led to the miners' riots, which then evolved into the current situation. Now that silence has given some people such power, in the hearts of these people, the original psychology of 'not digging for nothing' has suddenly been reversed, and they will regard the mine as their own, and if anyone still wants to dig and dig secretly, they will definitely fight with them.

This is a tempting proposition, and it is not difficult to be accepted by the other party; The difficulty lies in how to make oneself acceptable, more precisely, how to make a clear stream like Wang Bengu accept, for these dead brains who regard the ancestral law as Gui, all the mineral deposits belong to the imperial court and the emperor, how can they be shared with the local gentry?

This is the reason why Shen Mo put this matter on hold for a year, and had to wait until the year of external inspection to bring the high-level officials of Zhejiang to Quzhou. In order to further pressure Wang Bengu and others, he was at ease all day long, and deliberately upset the other party............ He knew that only when he was on fire and in a mess would Wang Bengu accept this plan.

What's deeper is that he doesn't want to get involved in this matter, after all, this method is not very glorious, although it is not a drink to quench thirst, but after all, it may attract discussion, and there may be trouble in the future. Therefore, he wants Wang Bengu to carry this black cauldron, and he only has one leadership responsibility at most, and the trouble is much smaller.

As a result, in March, the external inspection was imminent, and the people below were urging a solution, and Lord Jingluo stood by and watched, Wang Bengu was worried, and finally agreed to negotiate with the other party, but it soon reached an impasse...... The main dispute between the two sides is not over the division of interests, but on the name. This is not surprising at all, because a Qingliu official like Wang Bengu already regards money as dung, and will never be investigated. However, 'fame' is a major matter, and there must not be a trace of sloppiness -- it must not be transferred out, and this is the bottom line that cannot be broken by Wang Zhongcheng.

Under the instruction of silence, Shao Fang concocted a concept of 'contracting', stripping the ownership and management rights of the mine, the former still belongs to the Ming Dynasty, but the latter is handed over to the local gentry, in fact, it is no different from the previous terms, but it is just a different word.

But it was this simple change that convinced Wang Bengu to convince himself...... Or in other words, it was a reason to deceive himself, and when he was desperate, he finally nodded and agreed, and ordered the Zhejiang Political Envoy to sign a contract agreement with several wealthy families in Quzhou.

Of course, the other party also showed sincerity, they not only ensured that the mine income was handed over to the national treasury first, but also secretly gave some cadres to the relevant officials, so the agreement could go smoothly.

After the agreement was signed, the gentry immediately had the spirit, and they took the initiative to assist the government and persuade those mining tyrants and bandits who were entrenched in the mines: 'Sanchao is much more powerful than you, and Shen Jingluo didn't say that it would be destroyed?' This Hades can't afford to be provoked, so it's better to be soft first and recruit for the time being, anyway, he always has to leave, and it's not too late to make trouble when the time comes. ’

These mining tyrants and bandits were all raised by local gentry, and they thought that everyone was single-minded, but they didn't expect that they had already sold themselves. The leaders of the mine tyrants and bandits came to Quzhou City in groups, expressing their willingness to accept Zhao'an and no longer cause trouble to the township. Sure enough, he was warmly welcomed by the government, not to mention the good food, drink, and service, and took out a list of official positions for them to choose. And told him that this was an official position that the governor had worked hard to vacate the position, and the number was limited, and it was on a first-come, first-served basis, and there would be no more if he came late. At this time, the rest of the people did not doubt it, lest they would be left behind and not be able to get official positions, so they all flocked down the mountain, and almost overnight, the city of Quzhou was filled with bandit leaders who came to surrender. At first, the government treated each other with courtesy, but within two days, Wang Zhongcheng suddenly attacked, took all these people into prison, killed some of them who were full of evil and viciousness, and then gave stern warnings to the rest of them, and released them.

After coming out, I learned that almost overnight, hundreds of new mines opened, and they woke up like a dream, it turned out that they were abandoned by those gentry, but at this time, most of their subordinates went to work in the mine, and they had become alone, what could they do?

There are also those who have a grudge and want to take revenge on the gentry who betrayed them, but Shi Fang was already prepared, and before they could do anything, he beckoned them first, killed them and threw them into the mine, and there was no such number in the world. For this kind of case, the Quzhou government also turned a blind eye, first shelved it into an unsolved case, and then after a long time, it was closed.

Of course, that's an afterthought.

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"Is it over?" After inspecting the mines that have been restored, Wang Bengu still has some unreal feelings, he really can't accept it, the nightmare that has plagued him for a long time has been solved in such a vague way in just a few months.

Hearing his question, Jiang Yi beside him smiled and said: "Lord Cheng is a wise commander in the whole battle, and now you will be promoted to Beijing, and it will definitely be just around the corner." ”

"Hehe......", Wang Bengu smiled when he heard this, glanced at the respectful Jiang Yi and said: "As soon as I leave the position of governor, it will be yours, we are happy." ”

"Thank you Zhongcheng for cultivating." Jiang Yi was overjoyed and said: "Friendship is full of brains, and there is no way to repay it." ”

The two laughed for a while, Wang Bengu's expression gradually froze, and he said in a low voice: "But, how do I feel that I haven't done anything?" Saying that, he looked confused and said: "The silver mine is still not controlled by the government, and those culprits are still at large, and only a few scapegoats have been killed......

"But the problem is solved", Jiang Yi persuaded in a low voice: "You can already explain, isn't this the best result?" ”

"Yes, ......", Wang Bengu nodded slowly: "It's solved, why do I still feel panicked?" ”

Jiang Yixin said that it was because of many things, and you were kept in the dark, so he stopped his mouth and let Lord Zhongcheng continue to be confused.

Wang Bengu is not the only one who is also confused, but also Sun Ling and Tao Dalin. In order to avoid suspicion, the two have not met with Shen Mo alone, but as ordinary officials in Zhejiang, after experiencing the whole incident, it is inevitable that they will have the feeling of 'not knowing the true face of Lushan', so on this day Shen Mo invited them to visit Changshan Bailong Cave together, and the two made up their minds to ask him for an understanding.

Shen Mo did not hide it at all, and on the way, he told all the inside stories frankly, Tao Dalin and Sun Ling were so shocked that they couldn't speak for a while, they really couldn't imagine that the secret was so complicated. Later, Sun Ling gradually looked like usual, but Tao Dalin was always unhappy, as if he had something to say. Shen asked him, but he shook his head silently...... It's either that I don't want to say it, or I haven't figured out how to say it.

He didn't say anything, so Shen Mo went with him, and he concentrated on hurrying. Seventy miles from Quzhou City to Changshan, the group set off early in the morning and rode to the foot of Tianma Mountain in the Changshan Mountains...... This bow-shaped mountain range stretches from east to west and resembles a galloping horse, hence its name. The white dragon cave was right on the back of the horse, so it could only be walked up, so Shen Mo left the guards to watch the horses at the bottom of the mountain, and the others began to climb the mountain.

The trees on Tianma Mountain are shady, lush, it is the mid-spring season of 'hawthorn after the peach blossoms, and the mast azaleas bloom all over the mountain', seeing this beautiful scenery, even Tao Dalin's face is smiling. The three silent brothers, walking and howling in the mountains, chanting poems against the beautiful scenery, are in a good mood.

Almost noon, finally saw the white dragon cave in the shade of the woods, only to see that the cave is very wide, there is a small river gurgling out in front of the hole, the reeds on both sides of the bank are covered, the willows are swaying, the waves are rippling, and the brocade scales swim. It's a blessed place.

Seeing that the river water was clear, the people who had long been dry cheered, and all ran over to wash their faces and drink water, and Shen Mo also washed his face with the clear river water, and suddenly felt refreshed, took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands, and then looked at the stone carvings on the mountain wall by the cave.

In fact, the name of the White Dragon Cave is very vulgar, there are five or six places that have only been seen by Shen Mo, and as for those who have not been seen, there must be even more. But this White Dragon Cave has become particularly attractive because of a person lecturing here; The charm of that person was so great that Shen Mo could run so far to admire the stone carvings on the mountain wall.

I saw that the mountain wall was engraved with six big italic characters: 'Wang Yangming Lecture Office'.

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In March of the sixth year of Jiajing, the fifty-six-year-old Yang Ming Gong gave a lecture here, at this time, Wang Yangming, after a long period of war and perennial travel, his physical condition was already very poor, but his transcendent thoughts and philosophies also reached the most exquisite peak moment at this time......

Two months later, he was appointed by the imperial court as the imperial historian of the left capital, went to Guangxi to quell the rebellion, and died of illness the following year. Therefore, this place has always been regarded as a holy place by Wang Xuemen, and there is an endless stream of worshippers.

Shen Mo ordered people to set up the sacrifices on the offering table, personally put incense on Yang Minggong, and then led everyone to kowtow respectfully, and then he and the two brothers carefully looked at the dense stone carvings on the mountain wall.

Most of these stone carvings are poems, and there are hundreds of them; Most of them are left by Wang Xuemen, and if you look at them one by one, you can see many thunderous names and poems that they did...... Of course, most of them are expressing their admiration for their ancestors, and some of them are telling about their own mental experience, among which there are many thought-provoking aphorisms.

Shen Mo and Tao Dalin were looking at it intently, and suddenly heard Sun Ling whisper: "There are still the true works of Yang Ming Gong!" The two hurriedly came over, and sure enough, they saw a long poem signed by Wang Yangming, called "Eternal Life". Tao Dalin whispered: "Immortality is in vain, and there is a lack of great medicine. The famous mountains are all over the depths, and the temples are long. The micro-body is a thought, and the road is far away...... The universe is up to me, and Ann uses him to ask for it? Thousands of saints have passed the shadow, conscience is my teacher! ”

"A thousand saints have passed the shadow, and conscience is my teacher." In one sentence, he learned all the knowledge of Yang Ming, and he muttered silently and repeatedly, and he was a little stupid for a while.

After his expression recovered, Tao Dalin said softly: "It is said that Yangming is crazy, it seems that this is the case, even the ancient sages are regarded as clouds, is it only his conscience that is right?" ”

"Hehe......" Shen Mo shook his head and said: "You misinterpreted Yang Minggong's meaning, he is saying that we should not stick to the ancients, even if it is the words of the sages, they are all aimed at the past, how can people today completely do it?" ”

"And what guidelines are we going to follow?" Tao Dalin stared at Shen Mo and said.

"Follow your conscience." Shen Mo said lightly.

"What is conscience?" Tao Dalin asked.

"It is conscience to know good and evil." Of course, Silence had to answer like this.

"Do you know that?" Tao Dalin asked.

"It is also necessary to combine knowledge and action." Shen Mo looked back at him, and said with a warm smile: "If you have anything to say, just say it, why do you go around in such a big circle?" He didn't believe that Tao Dalin didn't know this, but now he asked knowingly, obviously with other intentions.

"You said that knowing good and knowing evil is conscience," Tao Dalin did not shy away, and said in a deep voice: "I also said that you should unite knowledge and action, but what you do is really good?" You can still tell what is good and what is evil? ”

"Finally, I can't hold it anymore." In the face of his old friend's accusations, he was silent and not annoyed, and still smiled: "Of course I can tell the difference."

"You can't tell." Tao Dalin is an upright person, he is very disapproving to silence this set of good and evil, mercenary behavior, he felt that he had to wake up his brother, so as not to fall deeper and deeper, said: "If it is clear from wrong, you should punish evil and promote good, even if you can't do it for a while, you shouldn't compromise with those villains......" After a pause, he strengthened his tone and said: "You obviously know that the real culprit is the Nine Great Families, the local tyrants, but you just make peace with them and give them benefits, what is this not a distinction between good and evil?" Finally, he asked: "Keep saying that knowledge and action are one, have you done it?" ”

"Yes, it seems that you have also worked Shi Yangming's learning." Shen Mo was not in a hurry, and said with a smile: "You should know the story of 'Supplemental Fu Feng'." ”

Tao Dalin nodded, indicating that he knew. This is a well-known example given by Wang Yangming in his writings. It is said that there is a proliferation named Fu Feng, because his family is poor, and he can't support his elderly parents and stupid younger brother, so he studies hard day and night regardless of his life, and wants to get rid of poverty by studying and make his family live a good life. But it backfired, because he couldn't eat enough, and his studies were too hard, he was bedridden, suffered from a serious illness, and almost died.

"Do you remember what Yang Ming Gong said?" looked at Yang Minggong's sentence of 'pointing out the way for you, don't doubt it anymore', and couldn't help but sigh secretly: 'I only hate being born decades late, and it is really a great regret in life that I can't listen to Mr.'s teachings.'" ’

Tao Dalin showed a thoughtful expression, he knew that if he only talked about the motive and not the effect according to the traditional Confucian thought, Fu Feng's actions could be said to be very filial and should be praised by the world. But Wang Yangming didn't appreciate it, but said that he was not filial to his parents...... If you don't take care of your body like this, if you are tired and sick, or even die of exhaustion, and your parents and younger brother will have no one to support you, even if your motives are good, what's the use?

"How do you achieve the unity of knowledge and action?" Listening to Shen Moyun said lightly: "The world knows that 'it is easy to know and difficult to do', if you stick to the framework of some moral dogmas and dare not take half a step, your behavior will inevitably be restricted, which is tantamount to cocooning yourself, and if you encounter a little difficulty, you will have nothing to do." He smiled and said, "Why don't you first step out of those frameworks, use your 'conscience' to find a good solution to the problem, and then act cheaply and expect to succeed?" ”

"Aren't you afraid of going crooked?" Tao Dalin asked in a deep voice.

"So we can't forget our conscience at all times," said silently: "The so-called conscience knows good and evil, but the standard of good and evil cannot be set in stone." It is not evil for a soldier to kill people on the battlefield, but it is to kill people in peacetime; It is good to be kind to the widows and orphans of one's neighbors, but not to be kind to one's own children. Therefore, conscience must also be divided into situations, and great conscience must be emphasized in doing big things, and small conscience must be emphasized in small things...... Let the Quzhou mine no longer be the source of trouble, and let the court and the people avoid the harm of riots, this is my great conscience, as long as the final result is positive, I can give up some small conscience, even if it is criticized for this, it doesn't matter, because I only follow my own conscience. ”

At this time, Sun Ling on the side also said: "What I said is right, since I came out to be an official, we should consider the court and the people, this is our conscience." He said with a smile: "As for personal conscience, I can only put it aside for ...... first

Tao Dalin's face changed for a long time, and finally nodded.