A versatile old man
"The evening mountain holds the setting sun, the wild scenery is moving, the autumn birds fly into the empty forest, and people come to the ancient ferry. The breeze blows the short hair, and the slender moon is beside the light boat. Ten miles south of the city, the bell sounds in the Xu Tower." Yinreng recited this poem "Hunhe River Late Ferry" in a slow tone.
Not to mention, the poem is well written, the guy's voice is also nice, and he was very devoted when reciting it.
Shujia found the poem quite poetic. Listening to someone recite or read poetry has its own requirements. If the writing isn't good, no matter how good the voice is, it's hard not to laugh. Can you imagine Uncle Daoming solemnly reciting "The yellow dog is white, the white dog is swollen"? If the content is good and the voice is funny (to avoid personal suspicion, I won't give an example here), the effect is similar to that of a tone-deaf microphone master.
Moreover, she was currently living in Changchun Garden, with its beautiful garden scenery and a light rain a while ago, which made her feel like reading poetry. Shujia nodded slowly, "It has quite an ancient style."
I have to defend Yinreng again here. He wasn't just someone who could push beautiful men or women down on him (and if the person being pushed down was the protagonist, he certainly wouldn't succeed). He had a very good cultural background. Uh, I'm also a bit of a romantic at heart.
However, even the most romantic person, if kept in the palace for too long, would become psychologically repressed, and with increasing repression, he would easily become distorted—luckily, he managed to hold back and wait for the dawn. Yet, even during those years when he was so angry he threatened to "beat him to death," his cultural level remained unchanged. At least, his poetry was, well, far superior to his father's. Shujia has seen it and can attest to that.
Now that he no longer had to suppress it, many of his true natures came out. For example, he was showing a bit of a yearning for culture and art.
By the way, Yinreng chose Dai Zi for another reason: he was a good poet.
Hearing Shujia's comments, Yinreng smiled and said, "Can you tell?"
Isn't that nonsense? "If you ask me to write, I might not be able to do it, but I can certainly criticize it. You can't cook, so how can you not taste the chef's cooking?" That's not right! "Why do I remember that a few years ago we criticized poetry every day? Is it strange that I hear it now?"
Yinreng shook his head: "Guess who wrote it?"
How could one guess that? It's not "Northern Scenery"! However, if Yinreng recited the line "Northern Scenery, thousands of miles of ice and snow", Shujia would definitely spit tea leaves in his face. "I know him?"
"It doesn't count."
"I know?"
"almost."
"Then I don't know," Shujia spread her hands, but still couldn't help guessing, "A new work by a contemporary celebrity?"
"Alas, Dai Zi's old work."
"Him? Doesn't he know how to make guns and cannons?"
It's a shame, then, that the author, a time traveler, didn't give Shujia any information about this person's background. Dai Zi's most celebrated weapon design came after Shuxian, after traveling through time, was looking into his background while hiring him as a tutor. Shujia, quite attentive to this, was shocked at the time and remembered this detail.
Because Shujia's identity as a weapons expert was far more important than that of a literati, she almost forgot that he was also a man of culture. She blurted out the point that mattered most to her, and then she remembered that Dai Zi was once a top-notch scholar.
Yinreng took a sip of tea and savored it. "He knows a lot! He's a talented person! He was wronged. Shu%ke)ju*" But the case was decided by his father. Even if it was changed, it can't be said to be his father's fault. This is an opportunity to step on some of the perpetrators of the wrongful case back then to serve as a warning to others. The people in the Southern Study dared to frame him. They are so bold! I can't fool them!
Since she knew very little about Mr. Dai, Shujia could only ask blankly, "What else can he do?"
"You don't know? Didn't Jiang Ting's family tell you?"
"Huh? She told me Dai Zi was quite knowledgeable and could make guns and cannons. It was you who told me that."
Yinreng transferred Dai Zi back not just to have him squeeze Fahai out of the picture; for Fahai alone, Yinreng didn't need to risk the reputation of "discord-crossing his father." What really impressed him was Dai Zi's practical skills. Before he became a tutor and had a stable income, besides supporting his family, Mr. Dai had two recreational activities: writing poetry and writing books.
What he wrote was not a novel like "My Days in the Southern Study", but "Ten Strategies for River Control"!
Peace and tranquility, the symbol of a prosperous and peaceful era, marked the Kangxi Emperor's tireless efforts to regulate the Yellow River. For at least two years, Yinreng dealt with two or three river affairs documents every month, deciding who to appoint as river governor, where to transfer funds, and how to repair embankments.
While it may seem like initial success is being achieved, numerous problems remain. As someone who had actually handled state affairs and inspected riverbanks, Yinreng was pragmatic. He wouldn't assume peace would be all over the place once he allocated funds to repair the river. River maintenance requires knowledgeable individuals. At the very least, there should be more expert personnel within the central government, on the advisory council, and around the emperor, who understand whether their subordinates are doing their job properly.
Speaking of capable people who can manage the river, there were some during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. Even now, when Yinreng took over the court, there are still people who can do the maintenance work.
However, this raises another issue: they weren't necessarily the emperor's followers. It's a bit confusing, but the truth is, as the crown prince, even without a will, no one could claim his accession to the throne was illegitimate. Just because the ministers supported your ascension doesn't make them your followers. For example, Cao Yin certainly wouldn't oppose the crown prince's succession, but he might not be as close to the new emperor as the previous emperor.
gap!
Taking care of Fahai was just a side job; Dai Zi's real purpose was to announce to the world: The new emperor is about to start building his own team. Those who need to take sides should do so now! Those who want to confess their love, draft a plan and buy a diamond ring. Don't try to fool me with two-dollar roses!
Without any hesitation, he hinted to everyone: Behave yourself! It's not like I can't recruit anyone! Try your best!
This move must have a prerequisite: the first person to be employed, the role model to be established, must be effective! You can't just support someone and then have them exposed as a bad person right afterward. Not only was they dishonest before, but they're also now even worse. That's bad! You've found a bad teammate, and it's too late to scratch the wall.
Dai Zi's case was a false accusation, easily redressed. Nan Huairen, the man who spearheaded the persecution, is dead, and Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son was his greatest accomplice, not a good man either. The Kangxi Emperor's anniversary hasn't passed yet, and the successor emperor can issue an edict in the same tone as the previous emperor. With Chen Menglei's example, politicians understand that siding with the enemy is far more serious than colluding with foreign powers—though any statement issued would undoubtedly condemn the latter more.
Because the old man was prestigious, Yinreng did not send him directly to the court, but placed him in the Southern Study and made him a teacher for his own son.
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When Yinreng met Dai Zi, his wife's words were still on his mind: "Are you all going to make others look like idiots? Dai Zi can write poetry, build guns and cannons, and even control rivers! How come you know so much when you're only half his age?"
Yinreng was sure that at that time his wife was filled with new and old hatreds because he had once made fun of her for not knowing certain Western knowledge, and then he explained it to her.
Yinreng was still smiling when Dai Zi was ushered in. Wei Zhu was now very cautious. He used to be very impressive around Kangxi, and Yinreng would reward him with a lot of red envelopes. Now... he would rather return all the red envelopes plus interest in exchange for selective amnesia about Yinreng's behavior towards him.
Wei Zhu knew Dai Zi, so Yinreng asked him to serve and meet him.
Seeing Dai Zi, Yinreng was still surprised: "Master, you have suffered!" When he first met Dai Zi, it was almost twenty years ago. At that time, Master Dai was considered to be in high spirits and had the character of a famous scholar. He still has character now, but the word "bone" is more important than "wind". Yinreng couldn't help but feel sentimental for once.
Dai Zi, however, was filled with emotion. He had never expected to see this prince again! When Dai Zi was exiled, Yinreng had already shown some signs of being a bad person, but they were not serious enough to disgust Dai Zi. At that time, Yinreng was still a young man with a bit of intelligence and arrogance. His "bad deeds" (beating people, but not doing it himself) were not a big deal in the circle of the powerful.
Now he looked much older and more mature. Yinreng was sitting on the kang on the south edge (where the lighting was good), and the afterglow of sunlight filtering through the window gave him a golden edge, making his image a little hazy in Dai Zi's eyes.
Dai Zi still had a good impression of Yinreng. He agreed to the Jiang family's invitation to him as a teacher, which solved a large part of his life problems. He was pardoned and returned to Beijing, and he was summoned. Yesterday, he received a notice that Yinreng believed that he was wronged. "It's worse to have contact with Galdan than with the East! What's the East?!"
More importantly, Yinreng also sent someone to the Jiang family to ask for the "Ten Strategies for River Control".
For Dai Zi, twenty years of bitter experience had made him see things more clearly, and he also lost trust in the government. However, after twenty years of wasted time, he finally saw his chance to regain his power! What a passionate old man! No matter how your family rules, I'm going to do something that benefits the country. Right?
Dai Zi was excited but hesitant, unsure of what Yinreng would do. The old man was a worldly-wise man, so even with his excitement he remained composed and completely polite.
I heard Yinreng's familiar voice say, "Stand up and talk. Sit here."
Dai Zi's excitement boiled over, his suspicions growing. Yinreng was referring to the seat on the kang, across from him by the table. Sitting opposite the emperor? Dai Zi took a step forward and spotted another handsome young man standing in his previously sheltered spot. His vision blurred, and he was transported back twenty years. Back then, he'd been summoned repeatedly by Kangxi, and there'd been a young man standing beside him, wearing the same patterned uniform worn by the crown prince.
For no apparent reason, the old gentleman's heart softened. "When I, an old minister, summoned you for an audience, Your Majesty also stood by the late emperor's side. It has been twenty years now."
Yinreng was filled with emotion for a moment: "Time flies by." Fang turned to Hongdan and said, "Mr. Dai is a learned man with good character. You should ask him for advice."
Dai Zi stood up and said, "I dare not."
Hongdan had already spoken: "Father said that the teacher is good, so the teacher is good. Yesterday, when I was doing my homework, father sent someone to tell me that I could look at those things or not, but there was one thing I must see."
Dai Zi also saw the "Ten Strategies for River Control" on the kang table.
There is a topic to talk about, and old feelings can be revisited.
Yinreng smiled, "Sir, there's no need to be so modest. I've read your masterpiece and have formed my own opinion." He then inquired about Dai Zi's current living conditions. Learning that he was alone in Beijing, living in the Jiang residence, he said, "This is very inconvenient." Looking back at Hongdan, he said, "Tell the Imperial Household Department to select a house nearby for you. Is your family still outside the Great Wall? Bring them over as well."
Hong Dan replied, "We are still short of servants. Should we select from the Imperial Household Department or hire from outside? The master has come from afar, so his household needs to be rearranged."
"Where do you get so much to say? Leave these to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Your fourth uncle is always picky about things. You're making a fool of yourself, sir." Yinreng pretended to complain.
He said "Mr." because he was reminiscing about the past and because Mr. Dai had not yet been officially appointed. Also, Mr. Dai's poetry and prose were not bad.
In Dai Zi's eyes, the emperor and the crown prince were truly approachable and amiable, no less so than Kangxi and his son. When Yinreng was still the crown prince, he was also quite polite to intellectuals.
Then, Yinreng asked Dai Zi to "get paid to talk with him", and Mr. Dai returned to the Southern Study, and Yinreng had another person to chat with.
Time is a good thing. It can erase many traces, including embarrassment.
Death is a useful thing. It can solve many problems, including some holidays.
Twenty years later, Kangxi died again, and Yinreng had a pleasant conversation with Dai Zi.
Of course, Fahai was unhappy.
Fahai doesn't take others seriously, and Mr. Dai treats him as a puppet. The so-called puppet means that they greet you when they meet and tell you when there is something. Not ignoring you is more painful than ignoring you. "I see you, but you are a backdrop" is probably what it means.
Mr. Dai doesn't have a favorable impression of the powerful. If you are polite, he will return the favor. If you are sincere to him, he will still remember your kindness. However, if you are impolite, he will definitely not give in first. Here is an example: Kangxi.
Fahai's temper is modeled after Tong Guogang's, which is... right? Dai Zi is a man who has tempered himself after going through hardships. Twenty years ago, he could have pretended Fahai didn't exist.
Fahai was a bit irritable. He was known for his pride, as Old Master Dai had survived twenty years of exile without being defeated. He had a distinguished background, as the Crown Prince addressed him as "Master." He was also knowledgeable, as Old Master Dai knew everything he knew and even things he didn't. Worse still, Old Master Dai had served in the army that conquered the Three Feudatories, making him a very experienced man.
Fahai also became angry, and often argued with Dai Zi on certain academic issues, with an attitude that he would not stop until the dispute was settled. The matter of his mother's burial in the ancestral tomb had to be put aside for the time being. Yinreng suddenly received several fewer memorials on "where the dead should be buried" and thought to himself that this move was the right one.
Finally, Fahai and Dai Zi's academic discussion came to the attention of Yinreng. Fahai refused to give in, while Dai Zi seemed confident in his decision. The old man's opinion of Fahai dropped even further: "How could he be so impatient?"
Yinreng finally found an excuse of "improper conduct in front of the emperor" and sent Fahai to the Ministry of Revenue as an assistant minister. This was an offensive assignment. Even if it would not offend anyone, Fahai's going there would still make people offend - Yinreng was about to clean up the national treasury and was planning to send a ruthless person to put pressure on him.
The author has something to say:
[1] The date of creation of this poem has not been found, so it can be assumed that it was written relatively early.
Dai Zi's birth and death dates are not found in the Draft History of Qing Dynasty, and Baidu and Wikipedia give different results. However, both claim he was exiled for over thirty years. In the 25th year of the Kangxi reign, the Dutch imported the Panchang musket, which Dai Zi even copied. His exile would have occurred after that, so he must have lived until at least the 55th year of the Kangxi reign. Baidu's information is more reliable on this point.
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