Chapter 282: The Great World of Humanity

Two people and two donkeys.

Gu Dan and Gong Shang Guo, riding ordinary donkeys, walked out of the imperial capital of the Xia Dynasty together.

It is now the forty-third year of the Xia Dynasty.

They want to go outside and take another look.

Gu Dan was fine. He always went wherever he wanted to go. Apart from his busy pace of official duties, Gong Shanguo had never had the free time to really look back at the career he had worked hard for all his life.

When the donkey really carried them out of the imperial capital, Gong Shangguo, who had been reluctant before, suddenly said, "Why don't we go to Yuzhou to take a look?"

"oh?"

Gu Dan's original intention was to just wander around. It was fine for the donkey to go wherever he wanted. Since Gong Shangguo mentioned a specific place, he didn't mind and said, "Of course."

If I remember correctly, Gong Shangguo was from Yuzhou.

After so many years, it is natural to want to go back to your hometown to take a look.

The donkeys were not moving very fast, but leisurely. The scenery along the way was enough for them to appreciate.

It is visible to the naked eye that there were many more official roads in the Xia Dynasty.

Official roads were not only for officials. The people of the Xia Dynasty and even merchants could use them. However, merchants had to pay taxes to use official roads, while ordinary people could use them as long as they did not hinder the normal work of officials.

As the saying goes, if you want to get rich, build roads first. The great increase in the number of official roads has greatly facilitated business travel from all over the country, and even the exchanges between ordinary people.

In fact, Wang Mang never gave up external exploration over the years, and merchants traded many good things from other countries and brought them to the Xia Dynasty.

In addition, every ten years or so, Wang Mang would travel around the country on official roads, distributing money along the way.

Literally throwing money around!

"The last time I heard Wang Mang tell me, the officials who scattered the money privately said that the people had money, so they scattered fewer coins and were even unwilling to pick them up. In Yangzhou, this situation was particularly serious."

Gu Dan complained.

"Yangzhou is a place with smooth waterways, developed commerce, the largest number of wealthy families, and a gathering place for businessmen and travelers, so it has always been prosperous."

Gong Shangguo said subconsciously.

"We are here to have fun, don't bring your occupational diseases with you."

Gu Dan waved his hand casually, "We are all ordinary people in the Xia Dynasty now, why should we think of so many reasons?"

Gong Shangguo was speechless for a moment. He had been the prime minister of the Xia Dynasty for dozens of years, and many things had almost penetrated into his bones.

Even in such a leisurely and pleasant day, I felt a little uncomfortable.

However, he was, after all, a martial artist who had mastered the art of internal organ training. After a period of relaxing and leisurely touring, his overall condition had improved a lot and he had gradually adapted to the new environment.

When passing through Yuzhou, you can see large expanses of golden wheat waves rolling.

The sun was high in the sky, and the scorching sunlight made people sweat all over.

Such hot weather is really good weather for wheat.

What surprised Gu Dan and Gong Shangguo a little was that there was a Confucian scholar giving lectures under a big tree!

The content of his lectures was not something profound, and his audience was not students in the school, but a group of farmers.

"Nowadays, people are living a good life and have accumulated wealth, but many people are reluctant to spend it. This is unreasonable. Clothes woven from hemp and mulberry are not as comfortable as silk; wheat with bran is not as delicious as flour; money that is not spent is the same as having nothing."

The scholar turned out to be a businessman. He spoke seriously about what he had learned, "Only when everything is in motion can money have a meaning. Many people make money to live a better life, but after making money, they start to want more.

The comfort of silk lacks the splendor of jewels; the deliciousness of flour lacks the embellishment of mountain delicacies; the endless accumulation of money continues to increase.

Gu Dan and Gong Shangguo came over to listen.

The Confucian scholar was talking about the way of doing business. He was trying to explain the operation of commerce and even why people should make money, to a group of ordinary people who had never seen the world.

After listening silently for a while, after the Confucian scholar had preached for a while, servants immediately came over with mung bean porridge, and everyone present was able to get a bowl.

Although the weather is hot, the mung bean porridge is cool.

Pumping new water from the well to calm the appetite for food was a skill that the people of this era had already mastered.

Then the Confucian scholar started selling things.

What they sell are not valuable items, but various agricultural tools.

On a hot day, the scholar held the farm tools and performed various demonstrations under the tree to show how useful the tools were.

"A person's reputation is like a tree's shadow. I come here every year. If there is any problem with the farm tools you bought from me, you can come to me. I will never refuse you."

The Confucian scholar said so.

"Is this probably the Confucian businessman Xun Ke mentioned?"

Gu Dan looked at Gong Shangguo who was standing beside him.

Xun Ke once mentioned his views on business.

Although every dynasty has always emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, business travel certainly also plays an important role.

In other words, no matter how much it is suppressed, business travel will always exist.

No matter how many shackles you put on, there will always be people who find loopholes.

In this case, Xun Ke simply proposed the concept of Confucian merchants.

The first and most important point is: you must operate with integrity, focus on personal cultivation, have a sense of responsibility, and be able to explain your products clearly to different people.

The ultimate goal of Confucian businessmen must transcend utilitarianism itself. They must have the idea of ​​saving the world and the people, clearly understand the pros and cons of business, and pursue the concept of benefiting the world when they are successful.

Establish yourself and others, achieve yourself and others.

To put it simply, it means mutual benefit.

Doing business can no longer be limited to doing business, but also the interaction between people.

"Probably."

Gong Shangguo nodded slightly and made no comment.

They did not stay here for too long. After drinking a bowl of mung bean porridge, they continued to move forward.

When they wandered to Yangzhou, they went to the most famous restaurant in Yangzhou, drank the Xianrenzui which was famous in the Xia Dynasty, and also tried the osmanthus cake there.

"I'm afraid immortals can't get drunk."

Gu Dan played with the cup in his hand.

The wine is like a throat, clear, sweet and warm, but without the feeling of drunkenness.

"I am a bit drunk."

Sitting in front of the window of the restaurant, Gong Shangguo looked down.

There is a constant stream of pedestrians coming and going, and in the distance there are passenger ships parked on the river bank, and merchant ships sailing far away.

Busy and prosperous.

Here in Yangzhou, everyone seems to be very busy, bustling with enthusiasm and thriving.

Even the people who were drinking upstairs were talking about where business was good and what was selling well.

There were even some well-informed people who pretended to be in a low voice but actually mentioned the prime minister of the Xia Dynasty without restraint at all. Now, he has been replaced by Xun Ke, the benchmark of Confucian scholars.

The previous role model for all officials did not have much fondness for business, but he did not deliberately suppress it either.

Xun Ke, on the other hand, wanted to try to guide the business community onto the right track.

In comparison, they naturally felt that Xun Ke was more friendly and gentle, and at least more positive about business matters.

Those people were discussing the affairs of the temple, and soon a large number of people joined in.

Gu Dan and the other two just listened and did not participate in the discussion.

At this time in the Xia Dynasty, people had not yet been punished for their words.

Even within the government, there are Confucian scholars and Mohists. If the truth is not clear, why should we not dare to speak out? This country is still young and has a lot of momentum. In addition, the Mohists and Confucians have been playing against each other for a long time, and the people have also been influenced by them to some extent.

Just looking at the general trend, Confucian scholars have already gained the upper hand.

In times of chaos, the Mohist school was the most prominent and the most influential.

Now that we have entered a prosperous era, everyone praises the Mohists, but none of them are willing to become one.

Boasting from your mouth is the most unnecessary.

Perhaps, it was because he understood this point that Xun Ke stood out and differed from the Mohists.

If you do not conform to the trend of the times and the tendency of the people, no matter how glorious and beautiful the deeds are, they will gradually become deserted.

What Xun Ke has been trying to do is to put many problems that have not been solved in the past on the right track.

No matter what the result is, at least he dares to do it.

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

After finishing their meal, the two men walked out of the restaurant and continued heading towards Yuzhou.

The Xia Dynasty lasted for forty-five years, and after more than two years, the two men finally slowly moved to their destination.

Although it is a destination, there is actually nothing special to see.

“It’s changed a lot.”

As soon as they entered Yuzhou, Gu Dan had no reaction yet, but Gong Shangguo had already begun to sigh.

That war happened more than forty years ago.

More than forty years is equivalent to two or three generations in the mortal world.

All traces of past wars have faded away. Even the city that was once massacred by Commander Daqing is now bustling with people coming and going, and it is no less prosperous than Yangzhou.

The Xia Dynasty and the surrounding countries were still in their honeymoon period.

Especially after the masters left, several countries lowered their tariffs.

This means that even in border areas, there is no shortage of merchants traveling around.

Although they are not productive, just like blood vessels transport blood, the existence of this group of porters is necessary. As long as they don't just focus on money, it is acceptable.

In the border areas, it is visible to the naked eye that there are more and more people wearing all kinds of strange costumes.

“Boom!”

In the bustling city, a deafening sound of gongs and drums suddenly rang out.

Then, a group of people dressed in white clothes could be seen walking on the cleared streets.

On both sides of the group of people, there were people dancing with white lions.

Gu Dan led the donkey to one side and asked the old man beside him: "Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?"

The old man said with a frosted face: "To pay tribute to the spirits of our ancestors in heaven."

His expression was somewhat bleak.

But apart from him, many young people actually had smiles on their faces.

More than forty years is enough time for the world to be renewed.

I'm afraid there are only a few eyewitnesses left who witnessed the incident.

For later generations, this day of memorial seems to have become a special festival, and people come out to watch the fun.

Gu Dan and Gong Shang Guo followed the crowd, walked out of the bustling city, and came to the river.

Many people began throwing small paper boats into the river, and some lit white lanterns.

The vast music echoes between the vast heaven and earth.

Gu Dan heard someone expressing gratitude for the kindness of their ancestors.

"I wonder which hero you are thanking, and what deeds you can hear about?"

Gu Dan was a little curious.

With such a grand scale, it seems that the person being paid tribute to is not an ordinary person.

"He is a prince of Otsuki."

Someone with inside information informed me.

"oh?"

Gu Dan raised his eyebrows slightly. Wow, the prince who was offering sacrifices to Dayue in the Xia Dynasty must be quite something! When he mentioned this, something in his memory seemed to be awakened. Gu Dan looked at Gong Shangguo, who had remained silent all the time.

As expected, Gong Shangguo looked at the lights by the river with a dim gaze, his mind seemed to be immersed in memories.

"Second Prince?"

Gu Dan came over and mentioned someone.

To be precise, that person should be Gong Shangguo's father.

"It's him."

Gong Shangguo nodded slightly, "He died here."

"From what you said, it seems that you don't like him very much?"

Gu Dan seemed a little surprised.

Come to think of it, Gong Shangguo never mentioned the situation of his family.

"He's not a good guy."

Unexpectedly, Gong Shangguo spoke bluntly, "As the second prince, he has neither a mind that people admire nor a character that people respect. No matter how you look at it, he has no chance of getting the throne. His greatest wish in this life is to leave his name in history."

Speaking of this, Gong Shangguo showed a little disdain on his face, "But apart from the desire to leave a name in history, he has no ability, just a slightly noble status. So under the advice of his advisers, he dared to run to the Yangxin Palace to scold Emperor Zongming for seeking immortality and ignoring the people.

But if you ask him how to treat the people, he will certainly only say some words that you have heard so many times, such as working hard and loving the people, working hard to govern the country, and being kind and respectful to the wise. But if you ask him how to do it, he will not know how to do it at all.

After being thrown into Yuzhou, he was upset at first, but some people among the people actually praised his wisdom, saying that he was able to understand the people's feelings and loved the people.

So he threw away all his worries, drank and had fun every day, invited "wise men" from all over the country to his attic, and constantly boasted about his "great achievements". He even gave money to people privately and begged them to write books for him.

Gong Shangguo shook his head, his expression becoming somewhat complicated. "I don't know why he stayed behind to cover the retreat after the incident in Yuzhou. I'm afraid he really believed in his own great achievements and was unwilling to lose face after being put on the stage, right?"

"Since ancient times, people have judged deeds rather than intentions."

Gu Dan thought about it and said.

Judge by deeds, not by heart.

Regardless of what the second prince's original intention was, whether he just wanted to leave a name for himself, his existence did give some people hope, so much so that to this day, some people still appreciate his deeds and set up a festival for him.

He did succeed.

Gong Shangguo said nothing more.

He walked to the riverside, picked up a folded little white boat and put it on the river.

With a gentle push, the little white boat created extremely tiny ripples and swayed forward, drifting with the waves.

Compared with the vast river, it is certainly not worth mentioning.

But it is also enough to carry a trace of nostalgia.

(End of this chapter)