Chapter 8: Stargazing (Part II)

With the mentality of martyrdom or fame and other kinds of mentality, from February, a large number of scholars and celebrities set off from all over the country, or hired cars, or rented boats, and rushed to Huaiyang one after another.

Thanks to the greed for money of the Huaiyang merchants, many horse-drawn carriages running on land have been changed from two-wheeled to four-wheeled. Although the four-wheeled car waddled on the official road in disrepair, the carriage with steel or wooden shock absorbers was still much smoother than the original two-wheeled counterpart that straddled the axle directly. Passengers don't feel exhausted even if they spend the whole day in it.

It's just that the rent of this kind of four-wheeled vehicle is several times that of a two-wheeled vehicle. This made the renter more firm in his heart. Even if you fight to splatter blood for five steps, you must uncover the lie of "equality" of Zhu Butcher and expose his true face to the world.

As for the passenger ships running in the water, many of them have been replaced with thick cloth sails. It's easier to adjust, and the speed of the boat is much higher than before. It's just a guy who handles the sails, and he can no longer be the captain of the boat himself. You have to pay for it and the pay is not too low. After all, this thing is not something that can be played casually, and if the operation is wrong, it may be a shipwreck.

Therefore, the tragedy caused by the replacement of hard sails with soft sails has also become one of the crimes of Zhu Butcher in the eyes of some charterers. In order to make money, how can such a thief have the face to accuse the Mengyuan court? Although the Mengyuan court killed more ruthlessly when it founded the country, it did not use small profits to tempt the people to find their own death. Moreover, the Mengyuan Imperial Court has been a corporal since the time of Shizu, and the use of "Mr. Lu Zhai" has established the national program. And that Zhu Chongjiu openly trampled the way of Confucius and Mencius under his feet. (Note 1) After the beginning of spring, all the places under the rule of the Great Governor's Office of Nahuaiyang were silent except for small-scale battles with the Mengyuan local government in the south. So the entry and exit checkpoints are very loose. For passing vehicles and ships, just simply check whether they carry long-range weapons such as bows and crossbows, and then let them go decisively. I didn't care if the passengers were local celebrities or not, and I didn't look for all kinds of excuses to extort money. This made those who came from afar, in addition to being depressed, involuntarily pick a thumbs up in their hearts. I feel that although Zhu Thief Chongjiu is acting wildly, he has some means to control it, at least not like Meng Yuan's side, which allows corrupt officials to run rampant.

However, the good impression did not last a few days, and when they arrived in Yangzhou, the mood immediately became bad again. The entire Huaiyang Governor's Mansion did not arrange for anyone to come forward to receive celebrities from all over the world. The only Jixian Pavilion is no longer open to scholars and celebrities who have no recommendations because it is full of "Confucian scum" who came to the Great Governor's Mansion to defect to the Governor's Mansion. On the contrary, all kinds of inns in the city greeted the gentry who came from afar. However, the smiles on the faces of the innkeeper and the guys, how they looked like they had just picked up a big fat sheep butcher, made everyone shudder.

And the price of the inn in the city is indeed a knife. A set of upper rooms with inside and outside, the price actually starts at 200 Wen Datong Bao per day. Even in a humble room that is not divided into inside and outside, it takes more than 130 yuan to live with meals every day. As for the set of courtyards with gardens, it is as high as every day. I really took the scholars all over the country for idiots.

On the other hand, the chicken feather shops on the outskirts of the city and on the docks are very cheap. As long as fifteen Datong Bao can rent a single room every day, and the Tongpu is only a penny. But how could a celebrity, who had the will to die, live in the same courtyard with the sweaty hawkers? Isn't that insulting? Even if he dies as he wishes, how can he see the master with lice all over his body?

As a result, many scholars and celebrities did not wait to find a suitable opportunity to "martyrdom", and they were first beaten home by the huge inn rent in Yangzhou City. And those who didn't have much money in their pockets, after settling down in the inn in the city, were angry to find that they had no chance to meet Zhu Butcher at all.

Although Zhu Tuhu kept saying in his manifesto, "All men are created equal". But the door of his Grand Governor's Mansion was not open to anyone at all. Even the two leaders of Shilin, such as Zhou Tingzhen and Zheng Yu, who have been famous for a long time, did not get the due courtesy after handing over their names in front of the door in person. It's just that Lu Peng, the mountain chief of the Jixian Pavilion, came forward to say a few polite words, and after asking the intention, there was no response at all. (Note 2) "Since Zhu Thief Chongjiu dares to talk about equality, he should have the courage to accept Confucianism's questioning in person." Shrinking like this, aren't you afraid that the world will laugh at you?! Immediately, some scholars made a noise at the gate of the governor's mansion, asking the thieves inside to come out and listen to the people's opinions. As a result, after shouting twice, a large number of soldiers and ruffians dressed in black, carrying wooden sticks, and scarred faces were summoned, and everyone was surrounded by water.

At that moment, someone immediately remembered that Zhu Chongjiu was a thief. Reasoning with a thief is equivalent to asking for your own death. Suddenly frightened, the two trembled, and their faces were bloodless. There are also those who are noble in heart, who know that the time of martyrdom has come. Immediately straighten out your clothes and chant the poems you have prepared in advance. As a result, whether it was the two warfighters or the generous ones who went to the dead, they were all busy for half a day. The group of soldiers and ruffians dressed in black, who were either missing arms or had few eyes, although they were full of murderous energy, they didn't touch them at all!

The leader of the man in black looked quite gentle, brought a sign, and told everyone very seriously that there should be no noise for five miles around the governor's mansion. If there is a public opinion that needs to be submitted, you can go to the relevant departments in Yangzhou County to submit posts, and then wait for the county government and the government to approve them step by step. If it is a policy to govern the country, you can write it first and go to the Jixian Hall to find a small official to submit it. If you simply want to read your views on current affairs and the Grand Governor's Mansion in public, please follow the instructions on the wooden board and go straight to the south, and there is a council garden on the shore of Baoyang Lake in the north of the city, with a special podium and seats for everyone to sing their grievances.

"If you want to lie and deceive each other, if we go to the north of the city to talk to the lake, isn't it equivalent to telling ourselves to ourselves? Since the head of your family prides himself on "not sinnering for his words", why should he pretend to be deaf and dumb and laugh generously?! The celebrities were dizzy by the man in black, but for the sake of the other party holding a stick but treating each other politely, they called Zhu Chongjiu "the head of your family". But the latter's practice of covering his ears and stealing the bell is even more indignant.

The leader of the man in black, though missing an arm, looked as if he had read for a few days. Hearing this, he raised his hand and saluted everyone, and then added with a pleasant face: "Gentlemen, relax your mind, the Parliamentary Garden in the north of the city has been open for a year and a half, and it is definitely not specially set up for you. If you really have the heart to help the world, you might as well move over and have a look. The rules in it are clearly written, as long as the mention of the monarchs can convince most of the people present, and can get a thousand signatures every day for five days, it can be directly sent to Su Changshi! ”

"Is it Su Mingzhe, he is a "scholar", and some people immediately spoke disrespectfully. But soon, he was woken up from behind by his peers. This is in Yangzhou, although Su Mingzhe is a scum, he has been stealing the post of the governor of the palace for many years. is Zhu Chongjiu's number one loyal dog, and when the war book is delivered to him, Zhu Chongjiu must no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb.

But it is not easy to get 1,000 signatures a day for five days in a row. Although there are thousands of scholars and celebrities in the world who are dissatisfied with Zhu Thief's harsh government, there are only seventy or eighty people left who can rush to Yangzhou with a desperate death and can withstand the high inn rent in Yangzhou. And how easy is it for these seventy or eighty people to stir up ten times as many followers in a remote courtyard? If you don't get it right, you will get no response except for the sound of waves on the lake.

But as soon as this question was raised, it was laughed at by all the people in black. "Hahaha, do you think you're the only one who reads and writes? What a bunch of frogs at the bottom of the well! Please, you'd better wait and see before you talk. Don't be blind, but say it's all dark!! ”

"Just go, I'm afraid you won't succeed!" How can the gentlemen and celebrities be looked down upon by a group of remnants of soldiers who lack arms and eyes? Immediately, waving his fluttering sleeves, he was ready to rush to the Chengbei Yizheng Garden. And the man in black who took the lead kindly stopped them. "Don't worry, listen to me. We have public carriages in Yangzhou, although they are crowded, but every quarter of an hour, there are two buses going to Yizheng Garden. You go to the gazebo in front, and wait under the long gazebo in front. Looking up at the chiming bell on the bell tower on the cross street, at ten o'clock, it was the original half-hour, and there should be a horse-drawn carriage coming. The green paint on it is that as long as there is a tongbao, anyone can sit on it, and leave when it is full! ”

"Humph!" The scholars and celebrities frowned in anger, and let the scholars and the peddlers and pawns ride in the same car, wouldn't it be insulting? However, the other party is also considered to be well-intentioned, and they can't put on a show too much. I had to thank him on the surface, and then discussed where to rent a carriage.

Fortunately, in this Yangzhou city, in addition to the big public carriages painted green, there are also many four-wheeled vehicles that pull private work. Seeing so many people get together knows there is big business to be done. They all approached along the streets, transporting them to their respective destinations one after another.

Putting aside the apprehension and curiosity in my heart along the way, when I arrived at the Yizheng Garden, the scholars and celebrities were immediately angry again. There are more than one platforms for public impassioned speeches. On each seat, a special tin horn is also provided, in case the speaker's voice is not high enough. But off the stage, what are they all a bunch of? Those with patches on their shoulders, straw sandals under their feet, and those who are bored and stop with the burden of vegetables, and those who are calloused on their hands, actually regard themselves as characters and talk about current politics in vain.

In an instant, many scholars forgot their original intentions and began to scold in a low voice. "I don't look at what I am, I actually want to give advice for Zhu Tuhu?! This military event, how can it be said by the head of the Qian? ”

"Isn't it? It is said that Zhu Chongjiu is perverse, in my opinion, this is clearly self-willing. Throughout the ages, how can those who want to achieve great things ask about blindness?! ”

was in a fit of rage, but he heard someone on the nearest platform to everyone say loudly through the tin horn: "Fathers and fellow villagers, they are all neighbors, so I won't talk nonsense." Everyone knows that in our Yangzhou place, silver is about to grow in the ground. But no matter how much money there is, it has to be earned by our Yangzhou people first, right? But since last year, hundreds of people have been squeezing into our Yangzhou every day, as well as from the south and north, as well as from the countryside and ravines. And when he came, he didn't leave, so that the shop pù and the workshop recruited guys, and they all picked and picked. We, the old Yangzhou, are almost out of work. How can this be fair? If you want me to say, we have to hand a note to the prefect's yamen, and anyone who is not a local can't come to the city to find something to do! Yangzhou is the Yangzhou of Yangzhou people, not a place where anyone wants to come? You say, am I right? ”

"That's right! Boss Zhao, you're right! ”

"Yangzhou is the Yangzhou of Yangzhou people, outsiders get out, get out!" In all directions, the people waved their arms in response. For a while, it was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky, which shook people's ears and buzzed.

"This is also a political discussion?" Just as the scholars and celebrities had seen such a lively scene elsewhere, they were suddenly dumbfounded. And at this moment, on the nearby platform, another person raised an iron horn and shouted: "Fathers, fellow villagers. Don't worry, don't worry! Let's think about it, our manager Zhu is from Xuzhou. Our Luo prefect is not from Yangzhou. If it weren't for them, everyone would be talking about making money now, and some people wouldn't even have to ask for food! This person can't shake up and forget his roots. What's wrong with the stranger, isn't the stranger a human being? Their willingness to come to Yangzhou shows that our general manager has won the hearts of the people, and our Yangzhou people are righteous. As the old saying goes, only those who win the hearts of the people can win the world. Our chief manager will definitely be the emperor in the future, and we can't spoil his old man's big thing just to make a few more money in our pockets! ”

"Second Brother Liu is right!"

"Yes, Manager Zhu has a great kindness to us Yangzhou people, we can't make trouble for him!"

"Boss Zhao, why do you want to kick out Manager Zhu too?"

In all directions, there was another echoing sound, which made the onlookers dizzy.

Boss Zhao looked at his supporters, and was instantly pulled away by the other party. I was furious. jumped to his feet and shouted loudly, "The surname Liu, what kind of bullshit are you fooling?" When did we say that we were going to get rid of Mr. Zhu? You little bastard, who doesn't know that your family took advantage of the chaos to occupy half of the street in Nancheng the year before last? Don't you just want to rent a few more houses? Why pretend to be for the sake of the whole world! ”

"You're just shitting? Who doesn't know that you, Boss Zhao, worked secretly and cheated, and was fired several times? ”

"Damn, you dare to slander Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu beats you to death! Boss Zhao was exposed in public, and his face was red. immediately jumped off the high platform, rolled up his arms and sleeves, and prepared to find Liu Er desperately.

That Liu Er is not a good stubble, and he wants to use force when he sees Boss Zhao. He also lifted the hem of his robe and jumped off the stands. With more than a dozen minions, he went straight to the boss of the Zhao family and his accomplices.

Seeing that the two sides were fighting together, their fists and shoes were flying. At this moment, a team of black-clothed people suddenly rushed in, and the gong in his hand struck loudly, "Dangdang, Dangdang, Dangdang!" Wu Na Zhao Da Liu Er, still don't let go? If you fight again, I will send you all to dig a ditch. Grandma's, before she became an official, she didn't allow others to speak. If you two become officials, how can you all still live?! ”

Note 1: Mr. Lu Zhai, that is, Xu Heng, a native of Jin Guo, is a famous physicist. He advocates that "the state of the general ethics cannot be abolished for a day, and if those who are above do not fulfill it, we ordinary people must also fulfill it." Later, it was reused by Kublai Khan and formulated a "national program" for Meng Yuan. And distorted the Analects, ignoring the reality that the Mengyuan court divided the people into four classes, and came to the strange theory that "Yidi enters China is China". A thousand years of calamity.

Note 2: Zhou Tingzhen, Zheng Yu. Confucianism at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. After Yuan's death, a nostalgic day of being a fourth-class person, he died of grief. The other refused to accept Zhu Yuanzhang's call and died for the martyrdom of Meng Yuan.