my brother-in-law is the prince

Chapter 540 People are the knife and I am the fish

Chapter 540 People are the knife and I am the fish

After Hu Mu handed it over to him, he seemed to have a bad face.

This made Liu Zhan feel strange. It can be seen that Hu Mu had a sullen face, so he didn't ask too much.

It's been two days.

Hu Mu ordered his brother Hu Sui to come to the house.

When Hu Sui came, he was in a good posture, sitting in a beautiful carriage, and the horses that pulled the cart were all white and very handsome.Hu Sui was wearing a fashionable satin dress with folded long sleeves, revealing the smooth inner silk.

He walked in with square steps, glanced at the room, but said with a smile: "Brother, why is your dormitory so small... aha..."

Hu Sui has always been cheerful and optimistic, but now because of his talent, he is a bit unrestrained.

It's just that at the beginning, when I was in Jishui's hometown, I was tightly controlled by the family, but now I have returned to my nature.

Hu Mu prepared a few small dishes, and after looking at him, he said, "Don't be like this, sit down."

Hu Sui could only nod obediently and sit down.

Hu Mu said, "Is it okay to be outside now?"

Hu Sui laughed: "There are too many people listening to the opera, and the theater troupes everywhere are very popular. It seems that the New Deal is really good! How many people attended the opera in the past? They couldn't even eat! It's different now , I heard that the current theater troupes are popping up one after another, but there are theater troupes, and the only thing that is missing is the script. The so-called saying that there is no drama, if you always sing those clichés, everyone will get tired of it, so... now All the major theater troupes have to come and beg me for ink."

Hu Sui raised his head slightly, his face not without pride.

Hu Mu, however, sighed quietly and said, "If it goes on for a long time, it won't be good after all."

After hearing this, Hu Sui said excitedly: "It won't last long, as long as there are people in this world, he has to listen to the show."

"That's not what Wei Xie said." Hu Mu said, "I'm talking about Java."

"This?" Hu Sui smiled, looking at the worried Hu Mu.

Then, Hu Sui said: "What did you hear, brother?"

Hu Mu shook his head: "Not really."

Hu Sui picked up the wine cup in front of him, and after drinking a glass of water, he smacked his lips, and then said: "Brother, you are worried about me, but since you know it, is the foolish brother a fool? What happened in Java? It will definitely not last long, this money...can he still give it to me every year? Even if he is willing to support Yudi, Yudi is not happy."

Hu Mu couldn't help but said: "If you can do this, it will be great. To be a human being, you should keep your own place..."

Hu Sui said happily: "Young brother does not intend to hang himself on a tree! A few days ago, Yudi contacted the people of Lin's wood industry. Brother knows about Lin's wood industry. Waiting for a big business firm, they have promised me that as long as I add a few strokes to my storybook, they will donate a thousand taels of silver! Brother, you don’t know, as long as I write the storybook, the theater troupe will go on stage the next day , the libretto and script will be spread to Zhili within ten days, and within a month, troupes all over the world will sing along..."

Hu Mu: "..."

Hu Sui smiled again and said, "Don't think that the 1000 taels of silver is an astronomical sum, but in fact, in the eyes of these big business houses, what is it really worth? They have silver and just want a good reputation , and here... a libretto may impress them, you said, is 1000 taels expensive?"

Hu Mu smiled wryly, "You, you..."

Then the voice stopped completely, very helpless.

Hu Sui then continued proudly: "Brother, don't come and teach me. When is it now? Now that the New Deal has started, it's not what it used to be. You work hard at the railway department. Don't you know that the atmosphere is like this now? As a brother, I just let nature take its course and neither stole nor robbed. I have no pardon with our father, what's wrong with that?"

Hu Mu said with concern in his eyes: "I'm afraid you will suffer."

"I can't afford it." Hu Sui became serious, put away his humorous look, but said in a serious manner: "I have planned to set up a business too, and do everything else, just concentrate on writing story books for others, and then write stories for others. Hiring people, specifically negotiating with commercial firms, and negotiating with theatrical troupes, you don’t need too many people, and bring a few more disciples, so that in this way... I don’t need to worry about negotiating in the future, just concentrate on writing the script, and Wouldn't it be fun to give advice to disciples?"

Hu Mu frowned, opened his eyes slightly, and said, "If father knows..."

But Hu Mu said indifferently: "If my father knows, he will know. He is old and obstinate, and he used to listen to him everywhere, but so what? He locked himself up and read books all his life, but he did it himself. official."

After a pause, Hu Sui looked Hu Mu up and down, and then said: "Brother, you and Dad are more and more like each other. There are too many things to worry about... want to take care of everything."

Hu Mu had no choice but to say, "This is because of the difference between our circumstances."

Hu Sui smiled and said, "We came to Raozhou together, why are we in different circumstances?"

Hu Mu spoke earnestly and earnestly: "You came to Raozhou to write story books for others. What you get in touch with are sensual dogs and horses, those people who wear new clothes and come out to listen to the opera with their families in a hurry."

After a pause, he continued: "But as an official, the people I come into contact with are ragged, unkempt, and sickly. They have settled down temporarily, but they have left their hometowns, frightened and terrified. Hey... ..."

Hu Mu opened the chatter box, and said with deep emotion on his face: "In the past...it's not like I haven't seen such people before, but they were poor, or...starved, but I didn't have much emotion. At that time, I only felt that I Since they were born in a scholarly family, the reason why they met like this is of course because they are not smart enough and dull, so it happened. But in the past half a year, I have felt a lot."

Hu Sui stood up and poured wine for Hu Mu.

Hu Mu didn't drink, and continued: "But after dealing with them, I realized that they are not unreasonable, but if you arrange him, he will be grateful to you, and if you give him a job, most of them will agree. What's more frightening is that among them, many of them... after learning that reading can lead to a better life, and once they can eat and drink, they are willing to buy books by themselves, and some... Self-study, and even able to read and write."

Speaking of this, Hu Mu's expression looked a little gloomy, and he continued: "Now that I think about it carefully, it's really frightening. You and I usually claim that we are from a scholarly family. The reason why we are different from others , is that we read books, and read books well, and take this as the basis of pride. But now I know that even people in rags, their intelligence is not inferior to ours. If they learn to know books and reason, They will never do worse than us, they don't need famous teachers, they don't need to be supervised, and sometimes they master the essentials of reading, which is by no means comparable to you and me."

Hu Sui couldn't help laughing: "Why, brother, these emotions, but I am worried that I will be overtaken by others."

Hu Mu waved his hand and said: "This is not my original intention, I only talk about my experience, and it is because of these experiences that I know the horror of the New Deal. Everyone says that the New Deal is good, and the New Deal is good because it can Gathering money, I don’t think so.”

"Those who have always been able to achieve great things are not only able to reserve talents. The more talents there are, and they can make the best use of them, then there is nothing in the world that cannot be done. Isn't it the same in all dynasties?"

"However, since the past dynasties, how many people have the so-called talents? After all, there are so many people who read books, and very few have vision. People who are more familiar with books are also beginning to get in touch with books. In order to change, they are more willing to use hard work. I have seen laborers who are quarrying stones and reciting poems at the same time. Think about it, how many people will emerge in a few years or even ten years later. Talents? I’m afraid...they will be ten or twenty times more than today. They will be more hard-working, more patient, and more patient. By then, if we don’t take advantage of a family of poets and books, how can we get rid of them? How does it compare to them?"

Hu Sui said: "Brother's words make people think twice."

Hu Sui actually became serious, frowning slightly, and then fell into deep thought.

This made Hu Mu very pleased, so he continued: "There are so many talents all over the world, what will the future of the Ming Dynasty be like? I really dare not imagine it, and I can't help but be fascinated by it. Maybe at that time, It is the time when the world is at its peak, and Han and Tang Dynasties will also be eclipsed in front of this."

Seeing that Hu Sui was still frowning, as if touched by Hu Mu's words, Hu Mu paused, picked up the wine cup and drank quietly, without disturbing him.

At this time, Hu Sui suddenly stood up and said, "Haha, brother is so right."

"Where is it right?" Hu Mu put down the wine cup, stroked his beard and looked at him in relief.

Hu Sui showed a big smile, and continued: "I plan to write about a hard worker for the next story book. My family members starved to death, and I suffered from the world's eyes. He is bullied by the world today, and he will rise up in the wind in the future. Brother is right. Many people in Zhili and Raozhou are in such a situation. They must be very touched after hearing this drama. As for Scholars like us are also tired of listening to the words of scholars, and it is time to change the taste, and it will definitely give birth to a sense of novelty."

Hu Mu: "..."

Hu Sui said happily: "Based on these alone, I'm afraid it's not appropriate...or...not enough...yes, there should be a girl...she was a childhood sweetheart since she was a child, but it's a pity that the two families are poor. Parents hate the poor and love the rich, so they betrothed their daughter to others... Do you think this...is it appropriate?"

Hu Mu put on a blank face, and finally said: "Forget it, let's drink."

Hu Sui said happily: "I need to polish this story book for ten days and a half months, and I won't release it easily for a while. I have to wait and see. Is there any big business recently... willing to give money, not 2000 taels, I don't want to."

The two brothers, what you say, what I say, they are all eloquent, but it seems that the words are not speculative.

However, after all, they are connected by blood, even if they talk to themselves, there is no barrier, and the brothers get along fairly well.

The two brothers ate while talking. After drinking and eating, it was getting late.

Hu Mu got up to send Hu Sui off, but Hu Mu still couldn't help but warned: "My dear brother, there are some dissatisfied gentry and hawks and dogs outside making trouble. You should be more careful when you go out."

Hu Sui was in a good mood, and said cheerfully: "Don't worry, I'll hire a few guards in a few days. Besides, this is under the jurisdiction of Raozhou Station. Let's see which thief dares to make trouble."

Hu Mu only smiled at him and pursed his lips.

Hu Sui waved his hands freely and said, "Let's go."

"Be careful on the road."

After Hu Mu dropped the word four, he looked at Hu Sui quietly, intending to rest after watching him leave.

On the contrary, Hu Sui felt that something was wrong, so he said suspiciously: "Brother, why didn't you teach me a lesson today?"

Hu Mu couldn't help being a little dumbfounded, and said with a smile: "Do you want me to scold you a few words?"

Hu Sui stuck out his tongue: "It's just that I don't look like you today, I really left."

Saying that, without further ado, he directly lowered the curtain of the carriage, gave instructions to the coachman, and the carriage drove away against the dimming sky.

…………

Half a month later, a letter was sent to the capital in a hurry.

In Wenyuan Pavilion.

Because the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, it is a day for family reunion, but many officials who have left Beijing cannot be reunited with their families, but even so, everyone is beaming.

This year is different from previous years. In previous years, many people were on a tight schedule, but this year, not only their salaries have been greatly increased, but they are also paid in full early.

All of a sudden, it was pleasant.

In Wenyuan Pavilion, the atmosphere is not tense.

The officials are in a good mood, everyone has stopped making troubles, and they are very peaceful. In the past, everyone felt resentment in their hearts. Thinking about it, it may be because they are always owed salaries.

But now that everyone is safe and sound, it is also a good thing for Wenyuan Pavilion.

What's more, Qixia Commercial Company customized a lot of mooncakes, and Zhang Anshi also sent someone to Wenyuan Pavilion.

In fact, at this time in previous years, the emperor would also order the Shangshan supervisor in the palace to make some food and reward Wenyuan Pavilion, but most of the food was hard to swallow. Anyway, the emperor didn't eat it. The emperor himself ate small stoves, and the ministers ate it. , but dare not say bad.

However, the mooncakes customized by Qixia Commercial Company are different from other places, especially the sweet and greasy bean paste filling, which is full of praise.

In fact, Zhang Anshi did not expect that this sweet bean paste mooncake would be the most popular, not only liked by all officials, but also very popular in sales.

Food is the most important thing for the people, but for thousands of years, the supply of food has always been in short supply, so we have to advocate simplicity and frugality.

It's as if Zhang Anshi of the later generations really couldn't accept fatty pork, but Zhang Anshi's fathers and grandparents always had a soft spot for fatty pork. Just a memory.

Early this morning, Zhang Anshi arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion.

Hearing that several Wenyuange University Scholars were drinking tea in the study, they also went over immediately.

After he came in, he sat down quietly on a chair.

At this time, Xie Jin was talking about the situation of the troops entering the various feudal towns, and the various strategies adopted by the feudal towns to fight against the barbarians.

Regarding the strategy of banishing barbarians, Xie Jin has always valued it. So many feudal towns have adopted different strategies, and the effects are naturally good or bad. Some people think that the court should give proper advice to the feudal kings, but Xie Jin didn't see it this way, but believed that how to enter the army and how to fight against the barbarians was the business of the various vassals, and they were allowed to take measures on their own, and finally sum up their gains and losses.

After Zhang Anshi took his seat, he only nodded with everyone and listened quietly on the sofa.

At this time, Xie Jin smiled and said: "His Royal Highness Zhao is the most successful in Java. This is not because Xie is selling himself and boasting. It is really because of His Royal Highness Zhao's determination to forge ahead. This year, King Zhao opened up five hundred miles of land and built a city. Six of them, with a real population of [-] households, within three years, I am afraid that this Java Island will be completely owned by His Royal Highness Zhao Wang."

Sipping tea, Xie Jin continued with a smile: "Of course, the old man is not praising him, but thinks that at this time, it is time to be more cautious. It is easy to expand the soil, but it is the most difficult to maintain a business. How to digest so much? How to reclaim the land, how to feel at ease, and how not to make the soldiers called arrogant soldiers, this is the real test. Gentlemen, I will wait in the capital and talk about it. But I don’t know the hard work overseas... Here, every day It is extremely difficult to expand the land for a mile, and blood will be shed!"

"It's just because it's not easy, so we need to cherish it. From my point of view, the imperial court really needs to draw up a charter. We have to think of a way to see if we can help in this."

Hu Guang stroked his beard and listened carefully. After a long time, he said, "Jie Gong, we have developed so much land overseas, and the imperial court already has everything we need, but why does the New Deal take the lead in taking the land from the gentry?" ?”

After saying this, he felt that his words were a bit too straightforward, so he said again: Don't get me wrong, I just have doubts in my heart, the new policy... is of course beneficial to the country and the people..."

Everyone looked at him and laughed.

Regarding the issue of the gentry's land, Hu Guang has always been hard to let go. Although he now hates some gentry for being shameless, he always feels that the conflict need not be so sharp.

Xie Jin said, "Isn't Your Highness here? You should ask Your Highness."

Zhang Anshi laughed and said, "Don't ask me, don't ask..."

Jin Youzi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly asked, "What will be the end of Shang Yang's reform?"

As soon as this remark came out, all the laughter stopped, and Hu Guang and the others suddenly felt chills.

Hu Guang couldn't help frowning and said: "Jin Gong means...everything with a new policy will be life-and-death, and there is no room for change. Even Shang Jun will inevitably end up in a broken car. Therefore, there is no way to talk about this golden mean. "

Jin Youzi said solemnly: "Looking at the lessons of past dynasties, this is indeed the case."

Hu Guang exhaled and sighed: "This may not be unreasonable, hey... a good national plan, why do you have to fight for each other like beasts, people are not as good as beasts..."

Seeing that everyone's expressions changed slightly, the atmosphere became more solemn.

Hu Guang quickly said: "Masters, don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about you."

(End of this chapter)