My country, you can pinch it

In order to celebrate the official name change to Shang Jinling, he gave himself a vacation and lay in bed for three days.

The body is delicate, and the water and soil are not acclimatized, which leads to fever and cough. It is not surprising that he fell ill.

This illness, Xilinghou was the first to worry. He was really afraid that Shang Jinling's body would not be able to stay in Shacheng, and that his daughter who came back after so much trouble would have to leave.

Fortunately, this situation was well prepared. The imperial physician sent by Liu Ke prescribed bowls of decoction to pour down, and cooked fine rice porridge for feeding. Under this care, Shang Jinling's fever finally subsided, and her body gradually improved. .After the heart-piercing first two days, even the cough was left with intermittent stuffy cough.

It was as if the sun was shining after days of cloudy and rainy days, and the hearts of the entire Hou Mansion were finally relieved.

It's just that his body turned back and forth, so Shang Qingrong didn't let him go out for the time being, so he could only read a book to pass the time.

And this day, Gao Xueli came to visit.

"Why is the second brother-in-law here?" Shang Jinling stood up and greeted him, "Please sit down."

Gao Xueli said: "I heard that you recovered from your illness. I was afraid that you would be bored. Your second sister asked me to find a few books for you to read." , he asked in surprise, "The Analects of Confucius?"

"En." Shang Jinling handed the book over.

Gao Xueli flipped through a few pages and said, "Is my cousin planning to take the imperial examination?"

"Yes." Shang Jinling didn't hide it, and said directly, "I want to become an official."

Scholars these days are all aiming to be an official. Gao Xueli knew that Shang Jinling came from a scholarly background, so it was not surprising that he had this ambition.

"Good ambition, it seems that the book I brought is wrong, I will look for it later." Gao Xueli said.

Shang Jinling said guiltily: "Actually, I should be the one who went to visit brother-in-law, but I didn't expect to let you go."

Gao Xueli didn't care, "Since you're not in good health, don't move around. Anyway, I'm alone, so it's okay."

"I heard that my brother-in-law is a human being?"

Gao Xueli nodded: "Ashamed, I was supposed to end that year in Chunwei."

With his talent and learning, it is not difficult to get a Jinshi, but it is a pity...

"Feel sorry."

"It's nothing, it's fine now, Lingling, I can call you that, do you want to learn from me?"

Shang Jinling's smile suddenly bloomed, his eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, "Is it okay?"

Seeing that the young man straightened up and his face was full of anticipation, Gao Xueli couldn't laugh or cry: "Of course, it's not easy to find a good student who wants to study in Shang's family."

When Shang Jinling thought of the seven sisters of the Shang family crying when they mentioned reading, she couldn't help but fell silent.

At this time, Zijing's surprised voice suddenly came from the door, "Miss, why don't you go in?" The two turned their heads, and saw a small head appearing at the door, with one foot stretched into the threshold, and now To take it back without shrinking.

"Large?"

"Second uncle, little uncle." Shang Yangyang called out obediently.

"How did you come?"

Shang Yangyang looked at Gao Xueli, cleared his throat and said, "Second Uncle, Fifth Aunt, Sixth Aunt, and Seventh Aunt want me to ask you, should we still study later?" She said and looked at Shang Jinling, Poor and cautious, "If little uncle has something important to say to you, we can change the time."

After finishing speaking, she looked at Gao Xueli expectantly, with the words "Change, change, don't study" written all over her face.

Shang Jinling: "..."

"Then change it to tomorrow morning." Gao Xueli's voice was full of helplessness.

Shang Yangyang's eyes were shining brightly, and he cheered, "Second Uncle is the best! I can go to the racecourse with Fourth Aunt to watch Hong Yun give birth!"

The pitiful look before was swept away immediately, and the whole person was jumping for joy, which showed how out of breath the mountain of reading weighed on her.

Gao Xueli sighed deeply, "Recognize all the words taught before, and I will take a test tomorrow."

"Ah... ah!" Shang Yangyang's foot tripped directly on the threshold, and he fell into a dog gnawing shit.

"Miss!" Zijing ran over immediately, and even Shang Jinling couldn't help but take a few steps forward, for fear that the child would hurt from falling.

Unexpectedly, a carp in Shang Yangyang jumped up, patted the ashes on his palm and said, "It's okay, I'm fine."

"The skin on your palm is broken, wait a moment, and the servant will get the medicine."

"Hey, don't go, just a little injury, I'm really fine, I'm going to the racecourse to see Hongyun." After speaking, he jumped up and down happily, leaving only the two people in the room looking at each other.

Shang Jinling smoothed things over and said, "Actually, good health is the most important thing, other brothers-in-law should not force it."

The girl from the Shang family is not a material for studying!

"I know that when my grandfather entrusted me with this task, he didn't have too many requirements. Literacy and etiquette, and discerning right from wrong are enough." It's a constraint, and there are some etiquette dogmas in the book, it's better to stay away from them."

Shang Jinling nodded again and again: "No wonder the second sister likes the second brother-in-law so much. There are too few people in the world who are as open-minded as the second brother-in-law."

"Ashamed, if she hadn't insisted, we would..." Gao Xueli was a little uncomfortable when he mentioned these feelings, so he changed the subject and said, "Since there is nothing else to do and there is plenty of time, Ling Ling, I would like to ask you some questions. other things."

"Is the second brother-in-law talking about the New Deal?"

Gao Xueli nodded: "Yes."

Shang Jinling said: "I also have this intention, but before that, can I take a look at the content of the New Deal?"

After Shang Jinling said this, Gao Xueli said seriously: "I brought it."

Gao Zixiu was the initiator and revisioner of the New Deal. As a great Confucian with many peaches and plums, it can be said that his whole life was dedicated to implementing the New Deal.

"Even if my father was exiled to the bitter cold of the Northwest and suffered from illnesses, he still didn't regret it, and he didn't let go of the New Deal until he died."

Shang Jinling carefully held a piece of plain white manuscript in his hand, flipping through it quickly, "This manuscript..."

"The latter part was written by me. My father was unable to move and could only lie in bed. He dictated it and I wrote it." When Gao Xueli said this, in order to avoid losing his composure, he paused slightly and continued, "He I have always believed that the emperor will think of him, that the court also needs to change, and that his ideals and ambitions can always be displayed, but it is a pity...he can't wait."

Gao Xueli's words made Shang Jinling's heart sour, and he was in awe of this old man.

He looked at the New Deal regulations in the manuscript. Although some of them were too idealistic and divorced from reality, it could be seen that his original intention was for the common people.

"I don't know how different it is from Jingzhong, the share held by Yang Shenxing?" Shang Jinling asked.

Gao Xueli replied: "It should be roughly the same. Before the exile, this new policy had actually taken shape. My father and Lord Yang advised the emperor more than once, hoping to be reused. They were implemented, but they all failed."

"Any reform will always go through countless failures and oppositions, and it will be taken seriously after learning blood lessons. Mr. Gao is a pioneer."

Gao Xueli smiled, "Thank you Lingling for your affirmation, if my father is alive, he will definitely make you his confidant."

Shang Jinling said modestly: "Brother-in-law is too much, and the predecessors have summed up a lot, so that future generations can express their feelings."

Gao Xueli thought so deeply, and said: "Although the basics are the same, the details have actually changed. We were exiled to the northwest to build fortifications, and we were closer to ordinary people. Sometimes when we talk to them, we will understand a lot that we once took for granted. In the eyes of the common people, it’s another matter. It was revised later, and you have what you have today.”

This is obviously affirmative. How many officials have been able to go deep into the market and the countryside to understand the lives of ordinary people and discover their difficulties and needs?That is, how many such memorials are handed over to the central government layer by layer, can be taken seriously by the cabinet or the adults in the six ministries?

When Gao Zixiu lived in the temple, he cared about the people, and when he fell into the dust, he didn't forget to go deep into the people. This is really commendable.

Shang Jinling flipped through the manuscript in his hand, one by one of the new policies, in his eyes, whether it was about farmland and water conservancy, national defense, military affairs, or even tax transactions, all aspects of imperial examinations for candidates had been considered relatively well.

"This is indeed an excellent policy. If it can be implemented step by step, the life of the people in Dashun will be much better, and the country will be prosperous and the people strong."

After Shang Jinling said this, Gao Zixiu asked, "So, do you think this new policy can be successful?"

Shang Jinling put down the manuscript, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then put the cup away, "Second brother-in-law, do you hope to succeed or not?"

Gao Xueli was stopped by the question, and he didn't speak for a while.

Shang Jinling waited quietly.

In the end, Gao Xueli said: "The new policy is my father's unfulfilled wish. If someone can achieve it for him, I think he will be happy in heaven. It's just... this is his painstaking effort. Every time he thinks of him, he forgot to eat and sleep just to amend the regulations. Just a few lines of explanation; in order to be accurate, I read a large number of records, constantly asked my colleagues to get the answer; and tirelessly promoted this idea to the students and the world... It is quite unwilling to leave a name in history without his share."

He said with a wry smile: "Thinking about it this way, I seem to be too narrow-minded. If my father cares so much, he won't end up like this."

Shang Jinling said: "It's human nature. Since my brother-in-law asked, then I will answer, whether you want it or not, Yang Shenxing will not succeed, and you must pay a huge price for it." Shang Jinling said It is decisive and there is no room for maneuver.

This surprised Gao Xueli: "Lingling, are you so sure?"

Shang Jinling smiled slightly, "Treat the New Deal as a child, guide it patiently, and make constant corrections to bear the fruit of success. If you regard it as a tool for fame and fortune, and be coerced by many forces, it will only add to the failure. .”

Combined with Yang Shenxing's actions on the matter of Shang Qingrong and Li, Gao Xueli had nothing to say. He picked up the manuscript and said in a low voice: "Then my father may never see the day of success."

Shang Jinling was puzzled: "Why?"

"If the New Deal failed, wouldn't my father's hard work be in vain? Once it is abolished, how can the court implement it again?" Gao Xueli is also a person who has read a lot of poetry and books. There is no chance to start again, "If you think about it this way, you might as well succeed."

Shang Jinling shook his head and said, "Brother-in-law, do you want to go left?"

"Why?"

"Policies in this world aren't just about success and failure."

Gao Xueli found it ridiculous, "Is there a third type?"

Shang Jinling nodded: "Yes, there are also policies that have learned from failures and improved, and policies that have problems after success."

Hearing this, Gao Xueli was startled, his gaze changed instantly.

Knowing that he understood what he meant, Shang Jinling smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, in fact, there has never been a policy of success or failure, only suitable and inappropriate, perfect and imperfect. Yang Shenxing leads, but there will be more Contradictions, more fatal problems were found, and they exploded together, so that even the people complained, and then they were opposed by more people, and it ended without a problem. And he encountered these problems, in fact, anyone would encounter them, It's just that he can't resolve it."

"Lingling, I heard Xiyun say that you are smart and have an innate ability to judge the situation. I didn't believe it, but now I have seen it."

Who would have imagined that a 15-year-old ignorant boy would have such insights?

Shang Jinling paused, a little embarrassed, "I just watched too much."

Gao Xueli only regarded him as modest, and he asked: "You said that Yang Shen's new policies were opposed by the common people in the end. Why, I can understand why the family is honorable, but the common people... the new policies are all for them?"

Shang Jinling thought for a while and said: "For example, the first seedling interest law, in the name of the government, lends money to farmers who cannot afford seeds and have no food. The principal is returned to the government with interest. For the usury hidden in the private sector up to [-] or even [-] cents, it is really a policy for the survival of the people, and at the same time it can bring financial income to the imperial court, there is nothing better!"

Gao Xueli said: "It's natural. My father went to the household department in person and asked many places to set the two points. It was originally for the common people."

Looking at Gao Xueli's proud expression, Shang Jinling slowly retracted his smile, and asked with sharp eyes: "However, Mr. Gao would never have imagined that in order to promote this policy, the central government of the imperial court would inevitably impose requirements on the achievements of local officials, or that the parents and officials would not be able to do so in order to cater to them. The imperial court let the cabinet see his achievements and forced the people to borrow more money than they could repay, so that in order to repay the imperial court money, they still turned to private usury, and finally ended up selling their children and daughters, and their families were ruined."

Gao Xueli's breath stagnated, and he blurted out: "How is it possible?"

"Brother-in-law, is it really impossible?"

Shang Jinling's rhetorical question made Gao Xueli open his mouth, but he didn't refute, because it was too possible.

And Shang Jinling dared to ask such a question, and imagined it this way, naturally, later generations have already passed the verification of history. It turns out that there are such pioneers in the world, and the reasons for their failure are clearly written in the textbooks.

"Yang Shenxing's administration is controlled by King Duan. In order to quickly collect money for the court, King Duan will only ask the people to borrow more money and impose higher demands on the local officials. But what can Yang Shenxing do? Has he restrained him? "

Gao Xueli shook his head slowly, he never thought of this consequence.

"Except for the seedling law, the rest of the policies are the same. Behind the seemingly perfect, there are weaknesses hidden. If one policy is not resolved, and the next policy is immediately implemented, then all the contradictions will be brought together and should have benefited. Aren’t the people just full of complaints?”

"What can we do then?"

"From the process of Yang Shenxing's implementation of the New Deal, think about the solution, improve the policy, and wait for the next opportunity. The more problems he exposes, the better it is."

During Shang Jinling's eloquent talk, Gao Xueli let out a deep breath and said with a smile, "I can see it, but you already have an idea."

Shang Jinling smiled slightly, without humility, "I personally think that any policy that has not been tested in practice is rashly promoted across the country, like a poison that does not know when it will explode. To die from poison, the best way is to find a small place to try it out first."

"Seeing the big from the small?"

"Yes, the scope is small. Once a problem occurs, it is easy to control and solve it. As long as the operation is normal and the people are happy to accept it, then slowly push it to the whole country, step by step, and go further."

Gao Xueli nodded repeatedly when he heard the words: "Indeed, you are right, but..." He looked at Shang Jinling, "I am afraid that the place you mentioned is not easy to find, you need to obey orders completely, and there are few obedience and infidelity, then only Shacheng, but this place is not suitable."

"What does brother-in-law think of Yongliang City?"

Gao Xueli was surprised, "Prince Ning?"

Shang Jinling nodded.

Gao Xueli pondered: "Yongliang has a population of hundreds of thousands, and it is indeed suitable for farmers and merchants. His Royal Highness King Ning, as the lord of the lord, is one-sided. With his support, it is the best place."

Shang Jinling suddenly broke into a smile.