Prince Chongzhen

Chapter 463 Why can’t we defeat it? !
Qinhuai River.

Yingtian’s most famous check-in spot.

Whether it is the markets and taverns on both sides of the river or the pleasure boats drifting along the river, they can all be considered good places for entertainment. Naturally, there are many more people in this area than in other places.

Of course, although the places mentioned above are all important parts of the Qinhuai River, everything has its priorities. And on the Qinhuai River, the most famous are the geishas who are good at singing and dancing and have outstanding talents and looks.

Again, everything has its priorities.

Although all the women who make a living here are called geishas, ​​their value and final destination vary greatly.

The outstanding ones are no less inferior to the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, while the ordinary ones usually accompany drinking and singing, using their talents to add some value to themselves, but in the end they cannot escape from entertaining people with their beauty.

However, the woman's misery is not noticed by literati and poets. Their focus is either on her appearance or on her flattery. In such a world, all they see are just tools.

"Miss Xiaoqing, I brought a few young talents here today, but you can't ignore them."

Before the pleasure boat docked, a young man in brocade clothes standing on the dock called out to the woman on the boat. Then the boatman put two sampans together, and the young man led the "young talent" he mentioned on board.

"What are you talking about, Master Liu? Although my pleasure boat is small, I have always made sure you have a great time."

"That's right, that's right," the girl named Xiaoqing said coquettishly, and Master Liu immediately burst into laughter. He then turned to the people behind him and introduced them when he saw that they had already boarded the boat: "Miss Xiaoqing is proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy and painting. If she hadn't been unlucky and failed to become famous, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to board her boat."

As soon as the words fell, the people following Master Liu immediately showed a look of realization, but Xiao Qing did not boast about what he said. She just bowed and welcomed them in.

When it comes to welcoming and seeing off people on the Qinhuai River, her eyesight is extraordinary.

The people that Master Liu brought with him this time were all dressed like scholars. As soon as they got on the boat, they looked left and right, and it was obvious that they had never seen a pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River before.

If it were an ordinary time, this would naturally not mean anything, but the court had just held an imperial examination a while ago, and there were still many scholars in Yingtian City who had not returned home. Combined with their dress and curiosity, Xiaoqing could tell at a glance that these people were just scholars who failed the exam, so she was not in the mood to have anything to do with them.

Of course, if you open a business, you have to behave like a business. Although she looks down on the people brought by Mr. Liu, she has to provide good service for the sake of these regular customers. Those country bumpkins won't notice anything.

"Brother Jiang, please take a seat."

"No, no, Brother Liu is the host. How can I take over the host position?"

"Brother Jiang has done a great service to the Ming Dynasty by resisting the Tartars in Xuancheng. I am very lucky to be able to drink with you on this trip. I hope you will not refuse."

The host and the guest humbly declined the seat at the head, but Xiaoqing, who was standing nearby, keenly realized the error in her judgment. She then came up with a compromise and after removing the main seat, the guests sat on both sides of the pavilion.

This Brother Jiang is Jiang Tianyi, who followed his teacher to guard Xuancheng.

That day when Xuancheng was broken, they all fell into the hands of the Tartars. In order to prevent the Tartars from using his life to threaten his teacher, he jumped down from the city wall.

It can be said that God has a good will. After fighting for such a long time, there were some bodies of the fallen soldiers scattered under the city, and he happened to fall on them, so he finally managed to save his life.

There is no need to go into detail about what happened next. After the siege of Xuancheng was lifted, the various volunteer armies in southern Anhui received orders to reorganize.

At first, some people in the army said that this was a case of getting rid of the donkey after it has done its work, but the conditions offered by His Majesty were extremely generous, and the surrounding area was guarded by General Chang's troops, so these rumors died down after just a few days, and the reorganization was smoothly carried out.

By that time, the Qing army led by Duoduo had been driven back to Jiangbei by Your Majesty, and restoring production became a top priority.

Because of his contribution in defending Xuancheng, his teacher Jin Sheng was appointed Governor of Southern Anhui, and he was also awarded an eighth-rank official position due to his recommendation.

Normally, Jiang Tianyi should have taken over the position securely when he was nearly forty. However, in this world, if one was not born into a formal academic career, there would be no hope of advancement. After discussing with his teacher, he decided to reject the appointment and try again when the imperial court recruited officials.

But who would have thought that the imperial court did not offer many places this time, and he failed the exam. Coincidentally, a friend invited him to the Qinhuai River to relax.

Xiaoqing knew nothing about Jiang Tianyi's experiences.

In her opinion, His Majesty has always valued military merit. Not to mention the merit of resisting the Tartars, even ordinary soldiers who have served in the battlefield have never heard of His Majesty treating them unfairly.

This scholar named Jiang could come to Yingtian to take the imperial examination, so he must have some achievements. However, the court did not seem to have given him any official position. Xiao Qing was really curious about this situation.

During the meal, several people came and went talking about how tricky this year's test paper was, but no one mentioned Jiang Tianyi's past.

As a geisha on a pleasure boat, Xiaoqing could not take the initiative to explore the secrets of the guests. After they had drunk three rounds of wine and eaten five dishes, she took the initiative to volunteer to play her best piece, Three Variations on Plum Blossoms.

This is a flute piece composed by Huan Yi of the Jin Dynasty. It has been passed down through the ages because of an anecdote involving Wang Huizhi.

It is said that Wang Huizhi was summoned to Jiankang, the capital of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and the ship he was on was moored at Qingxi Wharf.

It happened that Huan Yi passed by on the shore, but Wang Huizhi did not recognize him.

At this time, a guest on the boat revealed Huan Yi's identity, and Wang Huizhi ordered someone to say to Huan Yi: "I heard that you are good at playing the flute, try to play it for me." Huan Yi was already a high-ranking official at this time, but he had also heard of Wang Huizhi's great name for a long time, so he got off the car and got on the boat.

Huan Yi sat on a Hu bed and played the tune of plum blossoms three times on his flute, which was extremely exquisite.

After finishing the performance, Huan Yi immediately got into the car and left. Although the host and the guest did not exchange a single word, this unexpected musical exchange has become a story that will be passed down through the ages.

This story has been passed down for thousands of years, and the inner story is unknown to later generations. However, when Huan Yi composed the music, the metaphor in the song referred to the noble and peaceful static state of the plum blossom, while the rapid melody expressed the dynamic state of the plum blossom, swaying in the wind without fear of the severe cold.

The repetition of "Three Variations" aims to express the heroic posture of the plum blossoms blooming one after another in the cold wind, frost and snow, their unyielding character and their upward spirit.

To sum up, Huan Yi originally wanted to highlight his own extraordinary and self-admiring state of mind by praising the noble qualities of plum blossoms.

However, a thousand years later, "Three Variations on Plum Blossoms" has become a compulsory course for famous prostitutes represented by the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai. I wonder what the Right Army General of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Governor of the Military Affairs of Yuzhou would think. Of course, Xiaoqing has played "Three Variations on Plum Blossoms" for so many years, and although she has not been able to grasp the true meaning of it, it is no problem to fool some country folks. However, when the cheers rang out in the boat, a very inappropriate voice came out.

"The warm wind intoxicated the tourists, who mistook Hangzhou for Bianzhou."

Looking in the direction of the voice, Jiang Tianyi saw a young man on his left with a look of grief and anger on his face. He didn't know whether it was because he failed the exam and couldn't vent his resentment, or because he was sad that his ancestral land had not been recovered.

He only knew that the man's surname was Hu, and that he had failed the exam just like himself. If it weren't for Master Liu's invitation, the two of them would have had no intersection.

But in his opinion, some things are better known. If one is really concerned about the country and the people, then just don't come. Why ruin people's mood at this time?

As a result, Jiang Tianyi's impression of this scholar named Hu suddenly became bad.

To be honest, there seems to be nothing wrong with saying this at this time.

Although the Northern Expedition had already begun, the artillery fire from Zhenjiang had been going on for quite some time, but the fortress built by the Tartars at the river mouth had not yet been broken.

If we consider that the several northern expeditions of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty all ended in failure for various reasons, some impatient people will naturally complain.

"Brother Hu, you can't say that. Your Majesty has worked hard to govern the country. Not only has he driven the Tartars back to Jiangbei, he has also recovered several provinces in the southwest. Although the war in Hekou has suffered some setbacks, I think Your Majesty and the officials in the court have already made a decision. It is not appropriate for us to discuss state affairs."

Seeing this man acting like this, Master Liu was naturally quite unhappy, but as the boss he had to maintain harmony on the scene, so he started to persuade the other party as soon as he finished speaking.

"The fault lies with the officials in the court!"

Faced with the step handed to him by Master Liu, the scholar surnamed Hu did not show any intention of retreating. After saying this indignantly, he actually stood up openly.

"Your Majesty has won numerous battles and is naturally unmatched in military strategy. However, it is easy to pacify the world but difficult to rule it. Look at what the court has become because of the eunuch party!"

When Master Liu heard the words, he immediately realized that he had invited the wrong person. No matter how capable this scholar surnamed Hu was, he would not amount to anything as he was so outspoken.

But then again, the people he invited this time were just scholars who failed the imperial examinations. It was like looking for gold among a pile of stones. What would Master Liu ask for?

As his thoughts turned, he spoke slower. But who would have thought that the scholar surnamed Hu was so tactless. When he saw that everyone was silent, he actually thought that his point of view was recognized.

"Qian Qianyi had a nefarious relationship with the eunuch party during the Hongguang reign, but now he has become a cabinet minister. Let's look at Liu Zongzhou. Mr. Liu, he was a leader of the literati, but he was ignored in the court, and now he is sent out to investigate his own relatives. Isn't this a perverse act?!"

Seeing that everyone present was so shocked by his outspoken words that they could not speak, the scholar surnamed Hu kept going further and further, and in the end he even hinted at the current emperor's intentions.

The Ming Dynasty had never punished people for their speech. Even though Hai Rui criticized the decades of Jiajing's rule in his "Memorial on Public Security", he eventually gained a reputation that will last forever.

Faced with such a situation, Master Liu naturally had to think of a safer way to suppress the other party, but before he opened his mouth, Xiao Qing interrupted with the soft tone unique to Jiangnan women.

"Mr. Hu, you are so generous and passionate. I really admire you. But I still have some questions. I have to ask you for your advice."

"Oh, Miss Xiaoqing, just ask, I will tell you everything I know!"

After all, he is just a young man who has not experienced much.

Looking at the scholar named Hu who was a little confused because of a woman's polite words, Jiang Tianyi couldn't help but complain in his heart.

His silence did not mean that he agreed with the other person's words. It was just that a man of his age and experience had long since passed the stage of refuting others at the slightest disagreement, and naturally would not have any conflicts with such a random acquaintance.

"I don't know if Lord Qian is a member of the eunuch party, but when the Tartars besieged the city, Lord Qian was always by your side. As for Mr. Liu, I know a little bit about him. I heard that many people went to Yingtian Prefecture to report him, which led to the subsequent events."

After a few soft words, Xiao Qing chuckled and looked at the scholar named Hu.

Anyone with a little bit of insight could have heard the disapproval in the other person's words, but that fool really thought the beautiful lady was asking him for advice, and after a blush appeared on his face, he said with great sorrow.

"Miss Xiaoqing, you don't know that things in the court are very complicated and are never as simple as they appear. Although Mr. Liu's case seems to be a complaint by a victim, it is actually a struggle in the court."

"Oh? What fight?"

"This..." The scholar surnamed Hu seemed a little hesitant when asked this question. However, when he met the inquiring eyes of the beautiful lady, he suddenly felt a surge of courage. He gritted his teeth and said directly, "Of course, it is the struggle between the eunuch party and the clean stream. People like Qian Qianyi and Ma Shiying are just flatterers. Not only do they condone Your Majesty's corruption of the ancestral system, but they also instigated Your Majesty to stay away from wise officials for their own power. Such treacherous people should be dismissed from office!"

"As far as I know, Mr. Hu is from Zhejiang, right?"

The scholar surnamed Hu spoke so many wonderful words in a very eloquent manner, but in essence they were just personal attacks. However, he thought that his impassioned speech had completely shocked everyone present, and when he heard the sudden question, he answered it without any preparation.

"Uh-huh?"

Looking at the smiling Mr. Liu, the scholar surnamed Hu did not react immediately. He then sighed and asked another question.

"Is Mr. Hu's family related to Mr. Liu's case?"

"Whether I have anything to do with it or not has nothing to do with what I'm saying today!"

After a scream, the scholar surnamed Hu finally saw the expressions of the people present. It was an expression that one would see when watching a monkey show, but he did not expect to see it in such an occasion.

Seeing this situation, he immediately became angry and embarrassed, and then he didn't care whether the people around him would care about his explanation. After looking around, he shouted at the top of his voice again.

"Hekou! The Battle of Hekou is the proof! If the people employed by Your Majesty were all good ministers, how come it took so many days to conquer the small city of Hekou?!"

(End of this chapter)