Red Mansions: My Book is Cool

"Dream of Red Mansions" is a masterpiece handed down through the ages. It is based on the rise and fall of the "Four Families" of Jia Wangshi Xue as the background, and the love and marriage tragedy of Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, and Xue Baochai as the main line, and depicts the life of a group of noble women. , shows the ancient society, especially the world situation of the upper class, it can be said to be an encyclopedia of feudal society, an epic masterpiece.

The author, Cao Xueqin, has personally experienced the great changes in his family, and in this sad and joyful novel, people think that "Dream of Red Mansions" describes his family history, but Qianlong thinks it is Nalan Mingzhu's family history.Either way, it can be seen that at that time people generally believed that this book was very real and not the obscenity of boring literati.

In this case, the characters in the book have corresponding prototypes.For example, the emperor who seized Jia's mansion may reflect Yongzheng who was diligent and frugal, worked hard to govern, and was strict with officials.Before Yongzheng ascended the throne, he had been ordered by Kangxi to pursue loans from officials. He was ruthless and denied his relatives.After becoming the emperor, he made a series of reforms. Many officials were dismissed from office and ransacked their homes in his hands, and their fate was tragic.As a person, Yongzheng was a bit mean and ungrateful, and it was difficult to be good friends.But as an emperor, he is qualified, with courage, enthusiasm, means, and compassion for the people.

The four major families were finally destroyed, and the family business withered, leaving a vast expanse of whiteness, so clean!But with regard to the behavior in their book, are they wronged in this fate?What contributions have they made to this world, why should they be masters from generation to generation and enjoy glory and wealth forever?There is no man in these families who can stand upright. If the emperor doesn't need to raid the house, he will fall into ruins in a few years.

Closer to home, the prototype of Lin Ruhai in the book is Li Xi, an in-law of the Cao family—Made in Suzhou.Also being questioned by Yongzheng, Li Xike was much more miserable than the Cao family. He was locked up for embezzling public funds, ransacked his home and sent to prison, and used all his family property to refund compensation.Of course, the Lin Ruhai in front of me is not Li Xi, otherwise Lin Daiyu would have become the daughter of a criminal minister, not the daughter of an official family whose family was in decline in the book.It's just that some situations in the book are not detailed, but after careful consideration, I feel that it is very strange.

Salt and iron were government-run in ancient times, and the salt industry was more important than iron making.Ordinary people do not use iron products, but everyone must eat salt, right?The salt merchant was the most wealthy in the world, and although the rank of the inspecting salt censor was not very high, he could be said to be the most fat in the world, and he could not be a non-emperor's confidant.Lin Ruhai has been a salt inspector for many years, and he has worked hard without any credit. He has never done anything to bully men and women, and he has never done anything that makes people angry. Don't dare to do it!

Such an important official died while in office, not to mention pursuing a generous burial and giving him a good posthumous title. According to the court's practice, he must always provide compensation to future generations.The emperor appreciates and misses you, rewards you with a pension, gives your son a title, grants you a false official title, and receives regular salary.If it is because Lin Daiyu is a woman and cannot enjoy these favors, then the emperor can give her the lowest title of township monarch, and she will have a status and rank, with annual income of silver and cloth, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will ration servants, which is okay. Rewarding a few Huangzhuang, these are the benefits that should be enjoyed normally, and it doesn't cost much.At worst, I will issue an imperial edict, a few words of praise, some items will be bestowed by the palace every year, there will be a post about you at the palace banquet, and the queen will summon you to ask a few words, all of which are free of charge.If so, Lin Daiyu's situation in Jia's family will never be the same as in the book. She is said to be in Jia's family who uses every plant and tree, and she can only endure being compared to an actor face to face.

Judging by the award to Lin Qing, Lin Ming'an felt that the new emperor, as an emperor, was still sober and rational.Although Lin Ruhai had a cold relationship with him before, because he was just an ordinary prince at that time, Lin Ruhai didn't think it was necessary to bet on him.But if Lin Ruhai hadn't made any mistakes, the new emperor wouldn't be so indifferent and silent behind him.After all, the emperor was also afraid of chilling the hearts of his ministers and gaining a reputation of being mean and ungrateful, wasn't he?

Well, there are only two possibilities.One is that Lin Ruhai was on the wrong side politically and supported the new emperor's political opponents. The new emperor wished he could deal with him and care about his orphan?The second is that the problem lies in the salt tax money!Either way, it's irreversible!You can never use your own innocence and the new emperor's goodwill towards him to fulfill Lin Ruhai's wish!A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, not to mention that this dangerous building has never accepted him before, and has no kindness to him.He and Lin Ruhai are just some familiar strangers!

There is another crucial reason, that is, Lin Ruhai's life is not long, can he be the master of the Lin family's property by himself?Hehe, I have to ask the Jia family if they agree!If you have a life to take money, you have to have a life to spend it!

Lin Mingan felt no disturbance in his heart, and immediately made a decision: This muddy water must not flow!After making up his mind, he turned sideways and started chatting and laughing with the clansmen, not looking at the anxious eyes of the clan leader and Lin Ruhai at all.Send Lin Qing a comforting look, indicating that he understands, and be a little restless.

Lin Mingan was eloquent, his words were lively and humorous, and he was easy-going. Soon, the relationship with the clansmen became closer.People curiously asked about their father and son's life in Sichuan. People rarely go out these days.The landscape outside and what people's lives are like can only be seen from books.

"Shu land, in fact, the scenery is excellent, and it's not such a barren land, but the roads are difficult." Lin Mingan described it vividly, and when everyone was talking about it, he suddenly changed the subject: "Father was in Xuzhou first. I worked as a subordinate official at my uncle's grandfather, and later, because I made a living for silkworm farmers, I was hired by the county magistrate of Fuzhou County as the chief bookkeeper. At that time, my father was still a scholar, but with this performance, no one would be dissatisfied."

Everyone sighed, unexpectedly, Lin Qing still has such ability, no matter how he looked at it when he was in Gusu, it wasn't too surprising.It seems that this land of Shu is really a treasure land of geomantic omen for their father and son. No, both father and son won the election, and Lin Qing is the only one. Lin Mingan's age has a bright future!

Those who knew the inside story secretly glanced at Lin Ruhai, sighing or laughing in their hearts.

"Shu people are straightforward and decisive in their actions." Lin Mingan slowly elicited the following words: "One of the incidents happened to my fellow disciples, which left a deep impression on me."

"Brother An, tell me quickly!" Everyone urged out of curiosity.

Lin Ming'an smiled: "I have a brother Yang from the same family. His family background is ordinary, but his father has a reputation as a scholar. Let me call his father Yang San. He has an elder brother who is also a scholar, and his family is richer than mine. It’s too much, let’s call it Yang Er. You know, Xiucai has [-] acres of tax-free land. Yang Er sees that he has about [-] acres of barren land under his name, which is not worth much, and he has taken up the tax-free quota. After dragging down the cultivation of the good field, I gave it to Yang San, saying that I was thinking of the kinship, and it happened that your family’s field was less than [-] mu, so it’s not good to harvest it for nothing? Yang San listened to the reason, and after receiving it, he cultivated it carefully Irrigated and fertilized with all my heart. More than ten years later, the barren land was planted into a good farmland. The original farmland in Yang Er’s family was abandoned due to various reasons. So Yang Er looked jealous and thought that this was originally My own field, it’s time to come back. The two families started to quarrel, and the lawsuit went straight to the clan.”

The patriarch's heart skipped a beat, he swallowed, and forced a smile, "How did the clan mediate?"

Lin Mingan took a deep look at the patriarch, and said with a smile: "The patriarch, Yang Da, is not as fair as you! He took advantage of Yang Er, and favored Yang Er, saying that since the field belonged to Yang Er, Yang San would not It should be returned to the original owner. Considering that Yang San has spent so much effort and energy on this barren land, then Yang Er will give Yang San some compensation. This way everyone will be happy, and it will not hurt harmony!"

"But Yang San never agrees. This is obviously a bully! If you have already sent it out and passed the contract, can you get it back again? Can mere compensation make up for the painstaking efforts that have been put into it for more than ten years? He refuses to accept Yang Da To argue with him. Unexpectedly, in the name of the clan, Yang Da wanted to suppress Yang Er to bow his head and swallow this grievance."

The atmosphere suddenly froze, and many people who knew the inside story held their breath and dared not speak out.Some immersed themselves in the food, and some concentrated on studying the wine cups in their hands, um, this texture, this color, really good, ha ha!

"Oh, this is a bit unfair!" A careless person interrupted without noticing the sudden strange atmosphere.The acquaintance next to him immediately held a chopsticks of vegetables for him, and blocked his mouth: "Eat vegetables, eat vegetables!", then lowered his voice and warned: "Eat more vegetables, talk less!"

As if Lin Mingan didn't know it, he continued to say with a smile: "But the people of Shu are strong-tempered, and Yang San would rather smash the jade than be whole! In a fit of rage, he sued Yang Er to the Yamen, and declared that the patriarch's handling of things was unfair. Human power is indifferent. The so-called clan is composed of everyone worshiping the same ancestors. They should watch out for each other and keep warm. Now they are relying on their power to bully innocent clansmen. If this is the case, such a clan should not stay! He asked himself out Zong, take away the tablets of my father and ancestors and the ancestors of this line, and set up another family!"

"Why is this, why is this!" the patriarch murmured excitedly.

"This kind of behavior is to cut yourself off from the clan! Your master is a great Confucian, and you also accept such a student?" Lin Zeyu said in a stern voice.

Lin Ruhai's face was livid, and his eyes were full of disappointment and indignation when he looked at Lin Mingan.

"However, people in Shu appreciate this kind of toughness! 'Although Chu has three households, Chu must die!" Don't forget, Chu also includes the land of Bashu. The local county magistrate handled the case impartially and judged that Yang Er was unreasonable. I had no choice but to return to the field. After that, Yang San didn’t want to stay where he was, and after selling his property, he moved to Xuzhou to live. My brother therefore entered the academy to study, and became a student of Master Song Qian, and he was successful in his studies.”

"It can be seen that there is no unparalleled road. My master, a generation of great Confucianists, did not think that Yang San's behavior was wrong. He said: If the ruler is not upright, the minister will go abroad. It's clear and obvious. The king and father are like this, let alone the clan?" Lin Mingan said contemptuously.