Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 150 What is an eloquent speaker?

It was very quiet inside Songtaozhai.

"How to answer the question of 'the harm of the money shortage and the way to adapt' in the form of historical theory" sparked the thinking of these top state students.

This unconventional approach forcefully embeds the urgency of current affairs into the framework of historical theory, testing the true ability to transform the past into the present and integrate them seamlessly.

Su Xun did not get up immediately.

He gently smoothed out the slightly wrinkled note on the table, still making his final thoughts.

"Then I will open the window for you all."

Finally, Su Xun spoke.

His voice wasn't loud; it had a strong Sichuan accent and was somewhat hoarse.

"The problem of cash shortage is not a chronic disease unique to today. Tracing its origins, it is the intertwining and mutual devouring of the two words 'profit' and 'power' that has persisted for thousands of years."

Su Xun clearly and incisively reduced the complex monetary issue to a core conflict between power and interests.

The Guanzi states: "A country whose profits come from a single source is invincible." This "single source" refers not only to the profits from salt and iron but also to the power over currency.

“In the past, Emperor Wu of Han used white deer skin currency and three kinds of white gold to cleverly seize the profits of powerful families and use them to fund border defense. His methods were undeniably ingenious. But why did the announcement of ‘counting the wealth’ and ‘reporting the wealth’ cause such a stir throughout the land, bankrupt merchants, and desolate markets?”

"This is because they wielded their power too hastily and seized profits too cruelly! Although they gained wealth temporarily by forcibly seizing it through cruel laws, it was like cutting flesh to heal a wound, damaging the vitality of the nation. This was a failure to exercise the proper measure!"

He cited Emperor Wu of Han's monetary policy as an example, directly pointing out that the imbalance of "degree" was the key to policy failure and the exacerbation of social contradictions.

This subtly echoes what he had read in Lu Beigu's "On the Six States," but it also incorporates historical examples more deeply.

Clearly, Su Xun was not a conservative person; he knew how to learn from the strengths of others, especially from the works he considered "worth learning from."

"Wang Mang's New Deal," Su Xun said in a slightly somber tone, "His reforms to the currency system included five items, six names, and twenty-eight grades, with countless variations and constant changes. His intentions may have been to restore the past or to promote mutual benefit, but the laws were too complex and the people didn't understand them, leading to 'unemployment in agriculture and commerce, and the collapse of food and goods,' and the proliferation of treachery and fraud! Why? Because he didn't understand the fundamental principle of 'change'!"

"The essence of adaptability lies in 'adapting to the times and being simple and feasible.' Wang Mang was rigid and inflexible, attempting to go against the times and the people's hearts with complicated systems. This was like trying to control a galloping horse with a rotten rope. How could he not fail? This is a failure to grasp the essence of 'adaptability'!"

He used Wang Mang as a negative example, vehemently criticizing the fundamental errors of his reforms, which were detached from reality, had complex systems, and lacked feasibility. He accurately grasped the crux of the "way of adaptation." This analysis not only stayed at the level of phenomena but also delved into the psychology of policymakers and the historical context.

Su Xun's voice gradually rose: "By the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, the monetary system had become even more chaotic. Inferior coins, like those with goose-eye or thread-ring rims, flooded the market, causing immense suffering for the people. The situation became one where 'barter was the norm, and money and silk were no longer accepted!' The imperial court's minting of coins became a tool for plundering the people! This was not a currency shortage, but a 'political crisis'! With corrupt officials and unclear laws, even good coins were like pearls cast into darkness. Therefore, the root of the currency shortage lay deeply in the corruption of officials and the laxity of the law!"

He directly pointed to the core root cause of the cash shortage problem as the corruption of officials, and the phrase "political shortage" was a wake-up call.

Isn't this also a reference to Sichuan, where iron coins are now rampant?

This is not just a historical analysis, but also a reflection on the current state of the Song Dynasty.

Such is Su Xun's characteristic style: his writing is magnificent and ancient, with an eloquent style. He often has clear viewpoints, profound analysis, sharp language, and a rigorous structure. His argumentative essays are often directly aimed at the reality of Song Dynasty society.

While Su Xun may have been lacking in many other areas, his argumentative essays were undoubtedly among the best of his time, and would certainly hold a place in the annals of history. Finally, Su Xun concluded: "Looking back at the past and learning from the present, the problems of monetary scarcity stem from three issues: first, the abuse of power without restraint; second, the lack of simplicity and practicality in the methods of reform; and third, the corruption of officials leading to political chaos. Is our current predicament not a sign of repeating those mistakes?"

"If we only focus on opening mines and minting coins, or forcefully promote paper money, without considering measures to restrain powerful officials from annexing assets, rectify official corruption, clarify laws and regulations, and strive for practical solutions that benefit the people, then it will be like adding fuel to the fire—the fuel will not be exhausted and the fire will not be extinguished! History serves as a mirror, reflecting our gains and losses, and showing us the rise and fall of dynasties. We should think about this and be cautious!"

After he finished speaking, Songtaozhai fell silent.

—What is an eloquent speaker?

Su Xun's arguments, though lacking ornate language, are like a heavy hammer striking a drum, each word carrying immense weight!
He cites classical texts with ease, analyzes historical cases with profound insight, and presents a logical chain of interconnected points, revealing complex economic and political issues through concise historical facts and sharp perspectives.

In particular, the critical spirit that runs throughout the work and the relentless exposure of official corruption highlight the sharpness of his thought and the profound knowledge he possessed as a master of classical Chinese literature.

At this moment, everyone had different expressions.

Su Zhe was deep in thought, clearly his father's profound words had given him great inspiration.

Cui Wenjing frowned, looking at the key points of Su Xun's argument recorded on the paper, trying hard to digest them.

Zhou Mingyuan was somewhat bewildered. He understood every word Su Xun said, but when put together, they felt as heavy as mountains. He could only subconsciously nod in agreement.

Lu Beigu's expression, however, was extremely solemn.

It can only be said that being one of the "Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song" at his peak was by no means an undeserved title.

“Heroes of the world are indeed as numerous as carp crossing a river! We must always be vigilant and not become complacent after achieving some success,” Lu Beigu thought to himself.

However, Su Xun's strength also inspired Lu Beigu's fighting spirit.

To be honest, he didn't encounter any worthy opponents at Hejiang County School. The only things holding him back were his weak foundation and limited time.

When they arrived at Luzhou Prefectural School, the elites who had stood out in the county examinations over the years gathered here, which made the competition a little more intense. Some of them did have solid basic skills and rich experience, but they could not be said to be particularly outstanding.

However, during the training camp following the joint entrance exam of the four states, Lu Beigu could clearly sense that the strength of many top students from the four states was indeed worthy of attention.

And these are just the elites selected from the four southern prefectures of Sichuan.

How many prefectures were there in the entire Song Dynasty?
Two hundred and forty!
This gives you an idea of ​​just how intense the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites, which brings together the nation's top students, really is!
Moreover, next year is destined to be a landmark year for the imperial examinations, with heroes from all over the country gathering in Kaifeng!
If you're not strong enough, why should you be listed on the "Millennium Dragon and Tiger List"?

Lu Beigu took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and his gaze became extremely focused.

In his mind, Su Xun's resounding keywords "power, benefit, measure, change, and politics" swirled repeatedly, colliding and merging intensely with what he had learned, observed, and thought.

Afterwards, Lu Beigu picked up his pen and carefully wrote down the insights he gained from Su Xun's historical theories.

From this moment on, he will be at his best!
(End of this chapter)