Kangxi is writing in the Pillow Xia Pavilion in the South Garden of Wei Mansion. Seeing Yu Chengchan coming in, Li Dequan hurriedly greeted him and said with a smile: "Lord Yu, please wait here, the master will see you after he finishes writing." Yu Chenglong nodded, and knelt down solemnly in the place designated by Li Dequan.

Wei Dongting's mother, Grandma Sun, was full of white hair, sitting diagonally opposite Kangxi, looking at Kangxi intently. Mama Sun is the nurse of Emperor Kangxi, and she loves Kangxi more than her own son. This time Kangxi came to Nanjing, she heard that she would live in her own house, and she couldn't close her eyes for a few nights. Unexpectedly, Kangxi entered the mansion and kept receiving the Nanjing festival officials, gentlemen, businessmen and elders, and the whole house flattered the will, and was busy like a marquee. The old lady saw that it was not her turn for a while, so she put on the clothes of Mrs. Fengsheng, walked over with a cane, and quietly looked for a seat in the corner of the hall, staring at Kangxi with her eyes tightly. Kangxi was also moved when he saw her like this, and occasionally came over to talk to her in his spare time, or even gave her tea to eat. Although there was no time to talk, the old man was satisfied. At this moment, she made time to write specifically for her, and this ironing in Grandma Sun's heart is needless to mention.

Kangxi wrote the words "Fuhai Shoushan", raised his head sharply and asked: "Eminem, I came to live this time, I'm afraid I'm going to spend your family in the sea, right?" ”

"This is the virtue of the ancestors of the Wei family, and the slaves earned this dignity, and other people's families can't dream of it - they are willing to dump their families!" Sun said with a smile on his face, "I'm afraid that it will be my sin to wronged my master." Kangxi thought for a while and said: "With such a big show, spending money is not a trivial matter, and the deficit will have to be repaid for a long time." Well-this year's tariff silver will be exempted from paying 30%, so Mu Zixu will also help a little in weaving. Although no one is talking at the moment, it will be a long time, and the imperial historians will speak. After saying that, he dried the words and handed them to Sun, Fang turned his face and called Yu Chenglong: "What do you always kneel for?" Come here! Seeing that the sky was getting dark, Sun asked someone to hold the lamp, and nagged and gave a lot of instructions before going. Kangxi sent two steps back and asked, "Yu Chenglong, do you know what I told you to do?" ”

Yu Chenglong pondered for a moment and replied, "The slave doesn't know." ”

"I intend for you to be the governor of Jiangsu." Kangxi sat down comfortably, took a sip of tea, and said calmly, "What do you think of this errand?" Yu Chengchan's heart was hot, and he hurriedly bowed down and said: "The lord does not overmove, which is unexpected by the minister." For those who are courtiers, promotion is both joy and sorrow, but I am afraid that I am not competent and will live up to the emperor's hard work. Kangxi nodded with satisfaction, gently put the teacup on the table, and said, "As the governor, you have to pay an extra seven million stone grains to Beijing every year." Is this a bad thing to do? ”

"Hooray!" Yu Chenglong fell to his knees with a thud, "Two-thirds of the imperial court's revenue comes from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the people are already suffering from too much endowment." The 'three feudatories' were flattened, and the people just breathed a sigh of relief, waiting for the court to lightly pay for the meager endowment, how could the ministers dare to be greedy for merit at this time? The harsh government is fiercer than the tiger, and the ministers dare not obey the edict! Hearing his tone so tough, Kangxi couldn't help but smile and said, "Who quarreled with you?" I'm talking to you! I just thought it was difficult, so I left it to you. Within five years, the northwest will use troops, and there will be no tens of millions of stone grain, how can this battle be fought? "Hasn't the emperor fought enough?" Yu Chenglong stared at Kangxi and asked, "Is this the idea of Mingzhu and Suo Etu, or is it a dictatorship of the Holy Bow?" ”

Kangxi's face suddenly turned pale, he glanced at Yu Chengchan coldly, got up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back for a few steps, and stood still in front of Jackie Chan, seeing that Yu Jackie Chan looked at himself without changing his face, he suddenly smiled and said: "Of course it's my own idea, I've always been a loner, how can everyone in the study influence me?" ”

"Since it is the emperor's idea," Yu Chenglong said categorically, "I don't think it's okay during the minister's period!" The destruction of the 'three feudatories' and rebellion has already caused a great loss of vitality, and the peace of Taiwan has made matters worse. In the event of a popular uprising, how can the imperial court deal with the aftermath? Kangxi listened to this aggressive question, as if he had expected it, and inadvertently smiled slightly: "So this is a bad thing for you!" If you are a corrupt official, you will definitely provoke a popular uprising, but you won't, you are their 'blue sky', even if the emperor's grain is heavier, at most you will complain, but you can't rebel. When the northwest is pacified, I will issue another edict to reduce the money and grain in the south of the Yangtze River. You are a minister, and you should have this amount of energy. ”

Yu Chenglong took a breath and said silently for a long time: "It's not that the minister doesn't want to bear the reputation of harsh government, but please ask the emperor to think of the people in the world, and don't lose the people's hearts with tyranny, which will hurt the virtue of the emperor." ”

"You're right." Kangxi sighed, "I am thinking of the common people in the world. The people of the northwest are hundreds of millions of dollars, and the places are thousands of miles, and now they are surviving under the iron hooves of Geerdan. The Rakshasa Kingdom has been looking at the northwest for many years, if I sit idly by and ignore the Central Plains, one day the land, the people, and the jade silk will be lost in the hands of the enemy, and the emperor will not be able to leave Jiayuguan, I ask you, how should future generations look at me as the emperor, and how should I comment on you, a 'clean official' who 'loves the people like a son'? ”

Yu Chenglong was shocked when he heard this, looked at Kangxi in amazement, and was speechless for a while.

"Qingjiang City is besieged by water, you intercept grain to save the people, and I promote your officials; Thou shalt file a lawsuit and exterminate the thieves in the country, and I will promote thy official again. Kangxi's eyes were blazing, and he looked at the jumping candlelight and said, "Now that the anointed land in the northwest has been ravaged, hundreds of thousands of hungry people have taken refuge in the pass, you can't see or hear Jackie Chan, so you don't care, right?" Yu Chenglong listened, his heart couldn't help but burn a pain, burning his face red, and he said after a while: "The minister is short-sighted, the emperor is holy and bright, and the land where the horns are hairy should be blessed." Thus the ministers are commanded! "This is the great weapon of the country!" Kangxi replied to his color, smiled and said, "Loyal ministers, the court can elect a lot, Shilu Shijun, as long as he has a little conscience, he can be a 'loyal', and it is rare to be a 'Ming' minister, who understands the general situation, takes care of the overall situation, and can afford to lose such a big husband in front of him, it is commendable." Get up and speak. ”

Yu Chenglong stood up with a little difficulty, thinking about Kangxi's words, it was really a pain in the needle, he studied for five cars, and still didn't get rid of his little family, he was a little embarrassed. After a long time, he said: "Listen to the holy oracle, it really has the effect of initiation, and the crime of dishonoring the emperor, please punish the emperor heavily!" Kangxi ignored Yu Chengchan's excuse for guilt, and said abruptly: "Courtiers like you and Guo Xiu, I never doubt your 'purity' and 'loyalty', but narrow-mindedness is also a serious illness. Spring and Autumn Punishment Heart, always you are too famous, competitive, self-denying, always think from the selfishness of this thought, in the word 'Shen Du', still far away! He couldn't help but smile, "Kneel down!" ”

Yu Chenglong returned to Daotai Mansion, and saw Yu Lu waiting at the door with a group of staff members, and the lanterns and candles illuminated the doorway, and he couldn't help but be surprised, and he got off the sedan chair and asked: "This is not a year, what are you called?" Didn't I tell you to have a little boy waiting at the door? ”

"Master Zhongcheng, it's not that the slave is bold, it's the old lady who said it, and the old man will go to see her old man when he comes back!" Yu Lu replied with a smile. Then a group of people knelt down, some called "Zhongcheng", some called "Fujun", "Ministry, Futai, Fuxian" shouted indiscriminately, a congratulatory voice, Yu Chenglong, who was full of heart, was made to cry and laugh, because he said: "What is there to congratulate, get up, your ears are down, the emperor over there just told me, you all know here-when will the old lady arrive at the ya?" So saying, he walked inside. Yu Lu followed in, and said: "The old man walked on the front foot, and the old lady came back on the foot, and as soon as she finished dinner, Ming Xiang took a sedan chair to worship and give the old lady a gift......

Hearing this, Yu Chenglong stood on his feet and asked without looking back: "What gift did he give?" Did the old lady take it? "The old lady never accepted a gift, and resigned." Yu Lu hurriedly smiled, "Speaking of gifts, it's not valuable, it's a porcelain Guanyin." A smile flashed on Jackie Chan's face: His mother is different from ordinary women and Taoists, she has never recited Buddhism, but only respects Confucianism. If Mingzhu really took out Gao Shiqi's calligraphy and paintings, he might not be able to accept it. Thinking that Mingzhu was not the right way to please her son, Yu Chengchan's heart was half relieved, and he walked a few steps into the hall, and saw his mother sitting on the chair eating tea, so he knelt forward and said softly: "Please mother, my son is back." When the people who followed him saw him kneeling, they all knelt down together.

"Is it Jackie Chan?" The old lady Yu was blind in both eyes, and her ears were still good, she stood up on crutches, and touched it with shaking hands, and her white hair trembled under the lamp and candle. Yu Chengchan's heart was hot, two lines of tears rolled out early, kowtowed, and hurriedly got up to help the old lady sit back on the chair, and turned back to everyone: "You have been busy all day today, the old lady is tired tonight, I have to wait, today's evening class is exempt." Since he said that I was happy to be promoted, he would take out ten taels of silver from my silver tomorrow and everyone would have a good time, and the day after tomorrow he would follow me to the Nanjing Governor's Yamen to take over. ”

It turned out that after Jackie Chan was promoted to the Taoist platform, it was stipulated that every March 7 day, four books should be given to the left and right staff, personal soldiers, and family members. Today is the day of the lecture, so the people dare not disperse. Listening to Jackie Chan's instructions, he was busy kowtowing and wanted to quit. Unexpectedly, the old lady waved her hand and said, "Come back!" You can't do what you have to do, what can I do in your way? I'd like to hear if you're learning better! Yu Chengchan hurriedly made a promise, called the girl to beat the old lady's back, and when everyone sat down in order, he began to speak.

"Today, I will talk about Master Mengzi's exposition on the righteousness and benefit of the king, and set up the Tao to educate the people of the world." Yu Chenglong's face was tight, and he stroked the book on the case and said, "There are not only gentlemen but also villains in the world. I am a gentleman, and a saint guides him with righteousness. The word "Xi" can be interpreted as "sheep I", sheep, the ancient meaning from "auspicious", that is, by my nature benevolence, to pursue auspiciousness. Where is the righteousness? It is in my heart! There is a cloud in the ancient poem, "There is a knife next to the edge, and the greedy person kills himself". Therefore, the gentleman is profitable, and if he is in line with righteousness, he will do it, and if he goes against righteousness, he will give it up......" Because the people who listened to his lectures were very miscellaneous and the degrees were different, Yu Chengchan lectured in the yazhong, and while reasoning, he had to cite a lot of ancient sages and metaphors, and the people who listened to it did not feel bored. He said for a long time before he stopped it, turned back to the old lady and said, "Please teach my mother." ”

Yu Mu put the cane in her hand aside, coughed lightly and said, "That's it." It's just that as far as I can see, the heart of humanity was originally innate. Loyal ministers and filial sons only keep their conscience and are not tainted by the customs of the world. If we deliberately pursue righteousness, we will have 'evil' in our nature, but this is not in line with the way of the saints. That's why Confucius said, 'Benevolence is far away?' I want to be benevolent! 'You are all people in the temple, doing things for the court, doing things for yourself, if you can do it according to your own conscience, it will naturally be in line with the way of a saint - Jackie Chan, am I right to say this? Yu Chenglong hurriedly smiled and said: "Mother's talk is a bit of a stone-to-gold, but her son was negligent." Yu Jackie Chan's old curtain customers don't think anything, several of the newly recruited from Nanjing, several of them are from Jinshi, listening to this blind old woman in cloth and hairpins actually make such a penetrating explanation, they are all surprised, but they don't know that Jackie Chan's full of articles are all due to this lonely widow. After talking for a while, Yu Chenglong ordered everyone to disperse.

Only Jackie Chan's mother and son were left in the hall. Yu Chengchan asked about the cold temperature of the journey again, and personally changed a cup of jujube tea for his mother, respectfully held it, and stood aside.

"Jackie Chan," after a while, Old Lady Yu said quietly, "You sent me a letter a while ago, saying that you wanted to impeach Mingzhu, I don't know if you wrote it?" ”

"Nope."

"Why?" Old Lady Yu turned her head and asked, "Are you afraid?" Yu Chenglong lowered his head and thought for a while, and said: "What is so terrible about my son, I just have to weigh it - you are always an old person, and my son knows these things." ”

Old Lady Yu smiled slightly and said, "It's just right that you don't ask me to take care of this matter—but since you have written to tell me, I can't help but ask you how to make up your mind!" ”

"The power of heaven is unpredictable......" Yu Chenglong sighed and said gloomily.

Sometimes a sentence is like a floodgate, which can shut down a thousand words that are about to pour out. The old lady seemed to shudder, and shook her hand as she stroked her smoothed cane. The mother and son were silent for a long time, and Yu Mother said:

"I knew it would be difficult, so I came to take a look. Things in the world are like sailing against the current, where is it easy? Mingzhu has been in power for so many years, and he is a national relative, the emperor is important, and his subordinates are supportive, if you are not ready to destroy your family, don't do it. ”

When Yu Chenglong heard "breaking the house and destroying the door", his heart sank suddenly, and he was about to reply, but he heard his mother say slowly: "It's not a woman's business, I didn't want to ask you." However, in the past few months, many people have come to the house, and I am also shocked when we talk about it. Qingjiang Chengdong Liujia filial piety committed suicide by pasting a roll in Nanjing Gongyuan for no reason that day. Because there is no money to fill in, dozens of people will be expelled from the examination room! You are now the governor, you go out and carry a sedan chair, and when you enter the door, you stand on the dry shore and watch others drown, are you considered a 'service of the people', or a 'lord of the people'? ”

"Yes......" Yu Chenglong listened to his mother's cross-examination, and didn't know how to answer for a while, so he had to say: "Mother taught me." "And that Jin Fu, I don't think it's a good thing!" Yu Shi said, "The Cai family, the Liu family, and the Huang family in the east of the city were originally Yin Shi households, and the fields were flooded and changed to business, and now that the fields have dried up, they should be returned to their owners, and they dominate the Tuntian and sell them, what is the reason?" For example, cucumber gourd, who came to see me in the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, was still a river worker, and originally had more than 20 acres of dry fields, but now he has to pay to buy it. Big families and small families are stewed in a pot in the River Governor's Mansion! On my birthday, Jin Fu sent the person surnamed Chen to give me two hundred and forty taels, and I didn't have anything good to say. I said, 'I am innocent in my family, and I don't spend unclean money!' Jin Fu only has more than 100 taels a year, where can I get this silver? Isn't it the blood and sweat of the river workers? '-Jin Fu and Mingzhu are not the same thing? ”

Yu Chengchan's heart moved abruptly: If Jin Fu occupies more than 10,000 hectares of civilian land, it will be a big case that will cause a sensation in the government and the opposition! Mingzhu has always been proud of using Jin Fu, and has blessed Jin Fu and Chen Huang in every way. He listened to his mother's words with blazing eyes and nodded frequently. After a long time, his eyes suddenly dimmed, and he muttered, "Mother...... This...... I'm afraid this will affect your old man's ......"

"What?" Old lady Yu opened her eyes sharply, her two eyes were completely blind, and she emitted a white and bright light under the lamp, staring at Yu Chengchan and said sharply, "You say it again and call my wife to lead the lesson!" ”

“……”

"Do you understand the meaning of 'the husband obeys the son'?" Seeing that he was too frightened to speak, Yu's mother slowed down and said, "You are Yue Fei, I am Yue Fei's mother; You are Qin Hui, and I am the mother of Qin Hui! This is the 'husband and son'! Think about it! After that, he ignored Jackie Chan, called the girl, and went inside.

The next day is the ninth day of the fifth month, and the celebrant estimates that it is an auspicious day for the zodiac to worship the filial piety. The holy decree came down, that is, the governor of Jiangsu went to it. At the right moment, Yu Jackie Chan arrived as scheduled. There were already a sea of people along the way, and they all couldn't wait to see the emperor's demeanor. The incense candles on both sides of the road have been discharged from the east gate, and the sound of firecrackers and the smell of ** permeated the whole city. Nanjing City has become the capital of the Ming Dynasty since the Yongle Jing Soldiers. Twelve emperors ascended to the pole to go to the filial piety tomb to pay homage to the ancestors, and the old people over sixty years old can still recall the story of seeing Chongzhen in childhood. But since the Qing Dynasty entered the customs for more than 40 years, he has not had the opportunity to see this pomp again. When Yu Chengchan rushed to the Jinshui Bridge in the Ming Palace with all his heart, the guard of honor was almost over, and what dragon flags, silent whips, silver guns, and yellow umbrellas flashed in a trance in front of him, he didn't care, and he kept thinking about how to see Kangxi alone. Just as he was thinking, he suddenly heard an excited shout behind him: "Long live!" When Yu Jackie Chan looked up, he saw Kangxi's imperial chariot yellow and shining, approaching the front.

This is a golden sedan chair with five high zhangs, carried by thirty-six eunuchs of the Yellow Gate, the Hunan curtain is rolled up high, and the Kangxi Emperor sits firmly in the middle, his face is like a crown of jade, his green hair hangs slightly, and he wears a satin crown in a golden dragon coat. At the moment of Mingzhu, Suo Etu and Gao Shiqi are behind, and at this time, gongs, drums, firecrackers, and tsunami-like cheers are everywhere, and it is rare to hear the words spoken on the other side.

Kangxi sat in the sedan chair, watching the officials and the people so embraced and happy, raised his hand, and suddenly thought that this was going to the filial piety tomb to pay tribute, and he should have a solemn and solemn appearance, so he put it down again, and only smiled and nodded to the people who kowtowed.

When the car drove out of the city, it was immediately deserted, and the people could not come here. On both sides of the royal road, the bright yellow curtains that keep the head are pulled up, leading directly to the filial piety shrine. Kangxi looked back, but saw that under the green mountains, stone elephants, stone lions, and Weng Zhong stood among the grass and trees, and the pomegranates and camellia were flashing with red light like flames. At this moment, Kangxi suddenly remembered what Wu Ciyou said when he lectured, "Those who are good at the beginning must be cautious of the end, and those who seek to be near must chase after them", and it is even a famous saying! At the age of fifteen, he was pro-government, and at the age of nineteen, he decided to withdraw the feudal domain, and within a few years, the "three feudatories" were flattened, and Taiwan's Zheng family scroll map returned, which can be described as "good at the beginning", but whether it can "end cautiously" and level the north and south of the desert is still unknown. My grandfather once sued the heavens with the "Seven Hatreds", and there was no goodwill to the Ming Dynasty, but today if we want to win the hearts of the Han family and ask for this "near", we can't help but worship the ghost of Zhu Yuanzhang more than 200 years ago. It is incredible, that heaven and earth are set up so skillfully. Kangxi turned around, and was about to ask if the former Ming gentry had been waiting in front of the mausoleum, when suddenly the salute rang three loud sounds, shaking the goose full of, the internal affairs government released eight hundred cranes, soaring in the air, the celebrant eunuch Qin Cangai came to the sedan chair and kowtowed: "Long live, the front is the tomb of filial piety, please come to the side hall to rest!" ”