A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 8 What do you think will be the fate of those who carry firewood for others?
The scholar-officials must start with themselves.

Correct the social customs, be strict with oneself, and advocate moral integrity.

Fan Zhongyan believed that Yan Shu invited him to teach at the academy with this in mind.

However, given the current environment, I am afraid there is still a long way to go.

After putting down Zhang Fangping's argument, Fan Zhongyan opened Song Xuan's argument and then frowned.

Even Fan Zhongyan, who had many years of experience as an official, felt that Song Xuan's article was a bit radical.

This article is truly audacious.

It is simply wishful thinking to ask the scholars and officials to farm!

I have also seen the brothels in Tokyo.

There are also many officials who, in pursuit of political achievements or to address the negative impact of "bad governance", often spare no expense to clear public opinion obstacles by paying "hush money".

Of course, this kind of thing had to start with Emperor Zhenzong of Song.

When he organized the so-called "Fengshan Taishan" ceremony, he paid a large sum of "hush money" to his prime minister Wang Dan.

However, the theory of passing on the family tradition of farming and studying made Fan Zhongyan nod his head, thinking that this was a good idea.

Or you could say that Fan Zhongyan was a pessimist, he was always worried from time to time.

After becoming an official, he was even more worried, fearing that the people's lives and places of survival would be destroyed by the flooding of the sea tide, so he mobilized 40,000 people to carry out the construction.

Teng Zijing came to supervise the work and the two of them began to get to know each other.

Even though Song Xuan's proposal was very bold, Fan Zhongyan thought it was worth a try.

Anyway, there are so many officials in the court who have nothing to do and are just sitting there doing nothing.

Song Xuan looked at Fan Zhongyan nodding his head while holding his policy paper, and he didn't know what he valued.

Yan Shu felt that Song Xuan's policy paper would suit Fan Zhongyan's taste, and that the two would definitely get along well.

Maybe in the future we can create a good story between teachers and students.

"Prime Minister Yan, this policy proposal should be reported to the court."

When Fan Zhongyan said this, everyone in the room was shocked.

Yan Shu spat out the tea in his mouth and stared at Fan Zhongyan and said:

"Are you serious?"

"nature."

Song Xuan stared at Fan Zhongyan.

His understanding of Fan Zhongyan was based on the famous poem Yueyang Tower Inscription: "You worry about the world before you enjoy yourself, and you enjoy yourself after the world enjoys itself."

Was he this radical when he was young?

Song Xuan wrote this essay to leave a good impression on Yan Shu, not because he really wanted to be the first to take the lead.

Especially since he was weak and did not pass the imperial examination to become a member of the scholar-official class and have the official golden medal of immunity from death.

"Confused."

Yan Shu stood up and took Song Xuan's policy paper directly from Fan Zhongyan's hand and tore it into pieces.

Then he still felt unsafe, so he sent someone to bring a brazier. He only felt relieved after watching it burn out.

"Fan Xiwen, what are you doing now?"

"Dingyou."

"Now that you understand, don't do what you shouldn't do!"

Yan Shu thought that he had met a radical person, Song Xuan.

After all, he is still young, and it is normal for him to be passionate.

Why did Fan Zhongyan become so radical after settling here?
Could it be that the people born here are all radical?
Fan Zhongyan looked at Yan Shu in great confusion.

"Mr. Yan, if many hands make light work, then the flames will rise high. If this matter doesn't start with us, will it have to wait until it becomes too late for us, our descendants, to do it?"

Fan Zhongyan also stood up and crossed his arms:

"Those who hold salaries for everyone must not freeze to death in the wind and snow."

Yan Shu stood with his hands behind his back and asked immediately:
"Twelfth Brother, what do you think will be the fate of those who carry firewood for others?" Song Xuan stood up and said with his hands crossed:
"Of course he died of freezing to death in the snow!"

Song Xuan's words were even more ridiculous than what Fan Zhongyan had just said.

After all, that’s not the mainstream view.

Everyone was silent for a moment.

Yan Shu stroked his beard and said:
"Fan Xiwen, if you want to realize your ambitions, you must not show off your talents. You are not as experienced as my twelfth brother in officialdom."

However, Fan Zhongyan felt that what Yan Shu said was wrong.

The world shouldn't be like this.

"wrong."

Fan Zhongyan shook his head and spoke again:
"What Brother Twelve said is too extreme."

Song Xuan couldn't help but roll his eyes. He even thought that Fan Zhongyan's words and deeds were even more extreme!

"Hey."

Yan Shu sighed helplessly:
"Xiwen, I think that Twelfth Brother has been hanging out with the common people for a long time. He doesn't just study books. He can observe some real situations that you and I have never observed."

"Oh?"

Fan Zhongyan asked Yan Shu to sit down again.

He didn't understand why Yan Shu had such a high opinion of a child prodigy who had fallen into depravity.

Looking at the phenomenon through the article, Yan Shu could feel that Song Xuan had his own thoughts in his heart, and the attitude he expressed was only a little bit.

"Twelfth brother, can you tell me why?"

Facing Yan Shu's question, Song Xuan also laughed:
"Since Mr. Yan has mentioned it, I will speak boldly."

"Although, there are no outsiders in this room."

Yan Shu felt that although Fan Zhongyan was full of passion, he did not have much experience in actual operations and he needed more experience.

"Someone has covered your eyes."

Song Xuan pointed to his eyes and said:

"You are all officials of the Song Dynasty, and you have many servants around you. Most of the time, your eyes are focused on the affairs of the higher-ups, and as for the affairs of the people, you mostly listen to the reports of the servants around you, right?"

"Not bad." Fan Zhongyan nodded slightly.

"Just like when we read the same article, Fang Ping, Mr. Fan, Mr. Yan, and others all have different feelings. Each person has his or her own unique perspective. When they see the same thing, their interpretations will be different for you."

Song Shou pinched his beard and said, "Why is it none of my business?"

"The information transmission is so bad." Song Xuan spread his hands and said:

"Even if you're on an incognito tour, what you see and hear is often just one person's opinion. Many things can't be viewed simply from one perspective."

Fan Zhongyan also agreed with Song Xuan's words and extended his hand for Song Xuan to continue.

"It's just like the person who just carried firewood for the crowd." Song Xuan sat back in his chair:

"I once heard a story about a business war where one shopkeeper took over another. The employees of both shops did the same work, but the employees of the other shop were paid a few cents less.

As time went on, the other guys became dissatisfied, but they didn't dare to say anything.

At this time, a man who carried firewood for the crowd appeared. He dared to speak up and repeatedly reasoned with the shopkeeper.

In the end, they risked their lives to get the shopkeeper to agree to the same wages, but what do you think will become of this clerk, Mr. Fan?

Song Xuan's words silenced Fan Zhongyan and others again.

"A clerk who dares to yell at the shopkeeper will not only be fired, but the shopkeepers in the surrounding shops will also no longer want him, and he will most likely lose his livelihood."

Compared to Fan Zhongyan's solemn expression, Yan Shu's eyes were full of admiration for Song Xuan.

The power of a single protester is very weak, and only when you are strong enough can you make others listen to you.

Of course, there is a more extreme result, which is that both the clerk and the shopkeeper will be destroyed, and both the life of the clerk and the shopkeeper will be in jeopardy.

Without waiting for others to speak, Song Xuan continued to ask:
"Will those fellows whose wages have been raised remember the kindness of this man who carries firewood for everyone?"

(End of this chapter)