Chapter 55 Wang Tong

A few days later, Li Jing was successfully promoted to General Yishi, which indirectly proved Li Jiancheng's ability. Although it was only a promotion of one and a half grades, it was a promotion without any merit or achievement.

And it is obvious that it is only temporary, and he will be promoted again after making some achievements.

Li Jing's name once again resounded throughout the capital. No matter what others thought, when they saw him, they would always smile, greet him and call him "Mr. Li".

No one wanted to offend Li Jiancheng before the crown prince's favor for him diminished. He was too difficult to deal with.

Li Jiancheng had been around for two or three years. In order to deal with him, Liu Shu and others naturally tried every method, but the result was that this kid was even more ruthless when using external tricks. He was especially good at leading people to surround and beat other people's sons, grandsons, nephews and nieces.

If someone else had used this trick, it would certainly not work, as it would be taboo for the strong to bully the weak. But Li Jiancheng was old, and it was not easy to blame him for attacking his peers and bringing the incident to the presence of His Majesty.

In the summer of the third year of Renshou, Yang Su, Li Jiancheng and a group of literati welcomed the world-renowned Wang Tong outside the city. Although he was just a young man, he was knowledgeable and had the demeanor of an ancient sage.

He now has hundreds of disciples and students, some of whom are much older than him, but they all respect him like a god.

This time he came to Beijing to present "Twelve Strategies for Peace" to the emperor.

Outside the city, everyone dismounted and waited, while Yang Su's servants had already begun setting up tables and chairs and making wine and tea in anticipation.

Soon an ox cart drove over, and behind it were dozens of riders. Some were carrying many books and bamboo slips, and many were carrying bows and arrows and carrying long swords. It was obvious at first glance that they were a group of Confucian scholars who convinced others with their virtue.

The ox cart slowly stopped and a thin young man in a scholar's cap walked out. Everyone came forward to greet him. The man spoke slowly but was extremely kind to everyone.

After Li Jiancheng followed suit and greeted them, he found a man of extraordinary bearing among the group of knights behind him and bowed and greeted him. This man was Dou Wei, the youngest son of Grand Tutor Dou Chi, and also the cousin of Li Jiancheng's mother.

Everyone drank wine and tea politely, and then returned to the capital in a grand procession. Yang Su wanted to hold a banquet to entertain them, but Wang Tong felt that time was running out and insisted on meeting the emperor right away.

After Yang Su passed the message, the emperor summoned Wang Tong. Those above the sixth rank were allowed to enter. Although Li Jiancheng's rank was not high enough, he also followed in openly, and everyone turned a blind eye.

After Wang Tong met him, he passionately expressed his own ideas: "He who has talents will win the world, he who implements benevolent policies will bring peace to the world, he who complies with the will of the people will bring peace to the world, he who puts the public interest above his own will will bring prosperity to the world, and the fields will not be left uncultivated and the people will not lack supplies...

Those who take morality as their axis rule the world, those who select the virtuous and capable command the world, those who have virtuous ministers in power, a rich country and a strong people stabilize the world, those who distinguish merits and demerits clearly and are strict in rewards and punishments rule the world, and those who streamline the military and government and think of danger in times of peace make the world prosperous. "

Everyone listened in silence. Everyone knew that if this could be successfully implemented, it would make the country prosperous and stable. However, it was too unrealistic and required extremely high moral qualities throughout the country.

Not to mention one Wang Tong, even if there were ten Confucius and Mencius, it would be impossible to change people's selfish desires within a lifetime.

But Wang Tong's ideas still have their merits. For example, in response to the current phenomenon of the decline of Confucianism and the prosperity of Buddhism and Taoism, he proposed that the three religions can be one and that the strengths of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism's thoughts and methods should be brought into play.

It is rare for someone of such age to have such insights. However, just when Li Jiancheng admired Wang Tong, the ministers had already begun to criticize him, and Yang Su could not control them.

The old emperor did not persist in his admiration for him. Perhaps Wang Tong came too late and he did not have the energy and will to implement such a policy.

So he was only appointed as the assistant secretary of the Ministry of Revenue of Shu County. Wang Tong did not accept the imperial edict to thank the emperor. He declined the official position of the court and said that he wanted to return to his hometown to teach. The emperor did not try to keep him.

After leaving the palace, Wang Tong's frail body seemed even thinner. He looked back at the palace and sang:

"I miss my country and travel far to the capital.

Suddenly I met an emperor, who treated me with courtesy. Then I took on the heart of the ancients and established the foundation for peace.

Times have changed and events have occurred, my aspirations have gone against my wishes.

Alas!

Since the Way is not feasible, I will fly east with my wings down.

The emperor is unstoppable, and he flies westward with all his strength."

After singing, he was about to climb into the carriage and leave. Everyone tried to persuade him to stay. Yang Su also went to the palace again to ask for an audience. Finally, he obtained money and silk as rewards and the position of prince's tutor for Wang Tong. Obviously, Yang Jian also felt that it might be a good idea to leave this person to his son.

But Wang Tong still declined with disappointment. Perhaps in his short twenty years of life experience, he believed that the current emperor was a wise leader. If he couldn't do it, then there was no need to count on others.

At this time, an official stopped Wang Tong and said, "The Zuo Pushe respects you so much, are you neglecting him like this?"

Li Jiancheng stopped the man and said, "If Yang Gong can be neglected, then Wang Gong is right. If Yang Gong should not be neglected, then Wang Gong is wrong. The right and wrong, the gains and losses are all up to Wang Gong himself. Why should we interfere?"

Wang Tong looked at Li Jiancheng in surprise. The truth behind these words almost coincided with his own. He had naturally heard of Li Jiancheng's reputation and poetry, but in his eyes, poetry and songs could not save the world, so he was somewhat disrespectful of Li Jiancheng.

"Thank you, Mr. Li."

He said to Yang Su: "Please tell your Majesty that I have a shabby house like my ancestors, which is enough to shelter me from wind and rain, a small piece of land, enough to make me eat porridge, and reading and talking about the truth are enough to make me happy. I hope your Majesty will correct himself and rule the world. If the times are peaceful and the harvests are good, I will be blessed with a lot!"

Then he said goodbye to everyone in the capital, but Li Jiancheng said that he wanted to send Wang Gong back to his hometown and hoped that he could learn a little. Wang Tong wanted to teach the world, so there was naturally no reason for him to refuse.

…………

It was already the end of the year when Li Jiancheng returned to Beijing. He felt that this trip was worthwhile. On the way back home through Wang Tong, he met many local Confucian scholars and celebrities, who were the talents that the Li family lacked the most.

Conquering the world depends on military men, but ruling the world depends on military men as well. Along the way, he made friends with the sons of the gentry in Jiangnan and Shandong. During the years he spent in Beijing, he practiced the art of making friends.

Of course, there were also some people whom Wang Tong was unable to meet because they were serving in local positions, such as Wang Tong’s friends Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, Wang Gui, Du Ruhui, Chen Shuda, etc.

Yes, they are all familiar names. The circle of upper-class literati is so narrow, otherwise why would Li Jiancheng have to curry favor with Wang Tong.

Fortunately, after several months of persuasion, Wang Tong was persuaded to write a letter to introduce him, and Li Jiancheng also attached the letter to them as he wished. If a few people responded, it would be a good deal.

As soon as he returned to the capital, he heard that the Emperor had ordered the death of Yan Rong, which made people very happy. This man was notoriously cruel and was most willing to whip his subordinates, sometimes thousands of them, with blood all over his body, and he drank and ate as if nothing had happened.

Moreover, whenever he heard that the wives and daughters of his subordinate officials or common people were beautiful, he would leave their rooms and have sex with them...

After what happened that year, Li Jiancheng hated flogging and rapists the most. If Yan Rong hadn't survived this time, he would have died at his hands in the future. It was a lucky death for him.

…………

　Wang Tong taught in different schools. His disciples Dou Wei, Jia Qiong, and Yao Yi learned the Book of Rites; Wen Yanbo, Du Ruhui, and Chen Shuda learned the Book of Music; Du Yan, Fang Xuanling, and Wei Zheng learned the Book of History; Li Jing, Xue Fangshi, Pei Xi, and Wang Gui learned the Book of Poetry; Shu Tian learned the Yuan Classic; Dong Chang, Qiu Zhang, Xue Shou, and Cheng Yuan learned the meaning of the Six Classics.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)