When Dong Cheng heard this, he couldn't help saying: "But the general's series of policies not only confiscated the land of the nobles in various places, but also prohibits the scholars from entering the government. Not only that, the general will also serve in the government. Everyone from the Confucian forest was cleared out. In addition to the Li family's affairs not long ago, people really have to doubt the general about him, he..."

Chen Gong sighed and shook his head: "I didn't expect that even a wise man like Master Dong could not see the painstaking efforts of the lord!" Dong Cheng looked confused.

Chen Gongdao: "Master Dong is a wise man. Unlike those stupid Confucian scholars, he can be described as erudite after reading many books. He must be very clear about the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period."

Dong Cheng nodded, but he was inexplicable. He didn't understand what Chen Gong said about the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

Chen Gong asked: "Master Dong, if you are so knowledgeable, then please tell me, why did Kong Shengren's set of gadgets be ignored during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period? Why is no monarch of any country willing to adopt it when the heroes of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States period are competing for hegemony. The precepts of the saints?"

Dong Cheng was stunned. Although he was knowledgeable and talented, he had never thought about this problem. Suddenly when Chen Gong asked him, he was speechless for a while. He pondered carefully, and frowned, "It seems that the monarchs and intellectuals of that era believed that Confucianism was not capable of enriching the country and strengthening the army, and was unable to win or survive the cruel struggle for hegemony. Therefore, the monarchs of various countries used the tactics of the military and the military. ."

Chen Gong slapped and said: "That's it! The so-called'benevolence' in Confucianism does not make a country rich, let alone a strong army. If you govern the country with this system, it will only make the country weak. In the struggle for hegemony, you will only become a great power. It’s completely impossible to survive! The reason why Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty banned a hundred schools of Confucianism was not to approve of this'benevolent' thought, but to establish a centralized structure based on the idea of ​​monarchy and deity in Confucianism. Able to fully control the country! If the entire world becomes a country, it is not impossible to use Confucianism to govern the country. But this is impossible. When the Hans are unified, there will be no northern borders, southern borders, and western borders. Is it the scourge of Confucianism? Especially in the north, after the Huns, the Xianbei, Qiang and Wuwan people came again. The world has always been cruelly fought, and only the strong can survive. Confucianism cannot create the strong, but will only make it. The people lost their fighting spirit, and the wastes were in a dominant position. The final result can be imagined. The lord once predicted that if Confucianism is not eliminated, in hundreds of years, China will fall into the hands of a foreign race! I think this statement It is quite correct!"

Dong Cheng frowned tightly, his face showing thoughtfulness.

Chen Gong continued: "To sum up, Master Dong. The fundamental purpose of this series of measures taken by our lord is actually to avoid the kind of tragedy that we don't want to see in the future!"

Dong Cheng frowned and nodded.

Chen Gong said with a smile: "In fact, the development and growth of a family should not rely on Confucianism! The reason why those Confucian clans are so disgusted with the lord is simply because the lord has seized many of their privileges! In fact, these families have resources far more than ordinary people. , If you can work hard to do business, it will definitely make the family more brilliant! Why bother holding those fields and those privileges! The world will eventually change drastically. At this time, the so-called privileges are only granted by others, if you can’t make the family glorious with your own strength , Then this brilliance is short-lived after all! Are there few such families in history?"

After hearing what Chen Gong said, Dong Cheng was only embarrassed, and couldn't help but clasp his fists and prayed, "Thank you for your teachings!"

Chen Gong smiled and said: "It would be great if Master Dong could understand. Now the lord's policy is to vigorously develop industry and commerce, because only when industry and commerce are developed can the country be prosperous. This is the fundamental way to solve the problem. What do you talk about like Confucianism? Benevolence and righteousness are actually very absurd. Why don’t Master Dong follow the trend and change mystery? If this is possible, it will be a good thing for our lord, and it must be a great thing for Master Dong Dong and the entire Dong family! If you go into business, the income is definitely not comparable to those fields!"

Dong Cheng couldn't help but nodded.

...

Under the curtain of night, Dong Cheng returned home. The wife, brothers and a few children greeted him immediately. Dong Cheng's younger brother Dong Xiao hurriedly asked; "Big brother, what's the situation?" Everyone looked at him with nervous expressions.

Dong Cheng then told the conversation with Chen Gong.

Dong Xiao gave a high-five and praised: "Master Chen Gong is right! That's the truth! Our Dong family should have gone into business a long time ago!"

Dong Mu, another brother of Dong Cheng, shouted angrily: "How can we be like this! We are the Confucian scholars, and the world admires them. If we change our course, would we not laugh at the people of the world?! After death, what face will I wait to see the underground? Patriarchs?!"

Dong Xiao said unhappily, "A good family is the best! The underground ancestors would never want their descendants to have a bad life, right?"

Dong Mu Zhengyi said awe-inspiringly: "Confucius said to be benevolent, and Meng said to take justice. At present, what are the benefits of those property?

Dong Xiao smiled coldly and said: "It sounds good, but it is not for profit. If the general did not take our land, if the official existence of Confucian scholars was not cleared, would you still talk like this? You don't want Sacrifice one's life for righteousness, but irritate the general for taking your benefits!" Dong Mu was furious, Huo Chengqi, pointed at Dong Xiao angrily and shouted: "You dare to be so nonsense! Don't forget, I am your brother! "

Dong Xiao curled his lips in disdain, and said mockingly: "This is also the characteristic of Confucian scholars. He always likes to use his seniority status to overwhelm people! It's disgusting!"

Dong Mu was furious and shouted at Dong Cheng: "Brother, Dong Xiao is so rebellious, why don't you say a word?!"

auzw.com Dong Cheng frowned and said: "We are discussing the way out of the family, why are you so angry with your second brother?"

Dong Mu said angrily: "So you and Dong Xiao are the same, big brother!" Angrily turned around and walked away.

Dong Xiao said mockingly: "Hold filial piety all day long, but dare to be so rude to the elder brother who is like a father! These scholars really say one thing and do one thing! The second brother's brain has been broken. !"

Dong Cheng shouted angrily: "Don't talk nonsense!" Dong Xiao closed his mouth.

Dong Cheng glanced at everyone and said: "I have already decided. For the future of the family, we must change course!"

Dong Xiao was overjoyed and couldn't help shouting: "Big Brother is really wise!"

The wife and all the children were worried, and the wife was worried and honest; "If this is the case, wouldn't it, wouldn't it be despised by other families, this..."

Dong Xiao said in an unpleasant manner: "What right do they have to despise us! In the eyes of the general, they are afraid that they are all in the way of the scourge! Sister-in-law, you don't have to worry at all!" However, the wife and the children still looked worried.

Dong Cheng firmly said: "I have decided on this matter." Looking at Dong Xiao, he said: "Master Chen Gong provided me with a message saying that the general is in urgent need of sulphur saltpetre. If we can provide sulphur saltpetre, how many of them will be How much do you want. I remember that the rock wall of the back mountain of the mountain villa in the east of the city seems to be saltpetre. You will take a technician to take a look at it tomorrow. If it is saltpetre, organize mining immediately." Dong Xiao clasped his fists excitedly and promised.

By the way, Dong Mu rushed out of Dong's Mansion in anger, and came to a tavern to drink boring wine alone, with infinite resentment in his heart, thinking that the eldest brother and the third brother were all traitors.

"Isn't this Master Dong Er?" A voice suddenly came from the side.

Dong Mu turned his head to look, only to see Zhang Chongsheng, the second master of the Zhang family, had come to him at some point, and couldn't help saying: "It's Master Zhang!"

Zhang Chongsheng sat down next to Dong Mu and asked with a smile, "Why is Master Dong drinking boring wine alone?"

Thinking of what happened just now, Dong Mu couldn't help but get angry, and shook his head: "Nothing!" He raised his head and drank a glass of wine, then picked up the jug and filled himself up again.

Zhang Chongsheng looked at Dong Mu and said, "I am going to see Mr. Dong on my elder brother's order and I have something important, so let's go home with me."

Dong Mu couldn't help asking: "I don't know what is important for Master Zhang?"

Zhang Chongsheng looked around and whispered: "It's for the future of our Confucian scholars."

Dong Mu couldn't help but exclaimed, "My elder brother is already apostate, what's the point of looking for him?"

Zhang Chongsheng was taken aback, and hurriedly asked, "Where did the second master start?"

Dong Mu told the unpleasant conversation he had with his brother not long ago, and finally said angrily: "I didn't expect my eldest brother to be like this. It really disappoints me!"

Zhang Chongsheng frowned and said, "Unexpectedly, Mr. Dong Da, one of our Confucian leaders, would succumb to power! This is really surprising!" Dong Mu drank the wine in one gulp, looking depressed and angry.

Zhang Chongsheng glanced at Dong Mu, thought for a moment, and said, "Since Master Dong can no longer rely on it, why don't you let the second master follow me to see my brother?" Dong Mu smiled bitterly: "My eldest brother did such a thing, Zhang Da How is the Lord willing to see me?"

Zhang Chongsheng smiled and said, "What is the second master! Master Dong is the master Dong, and the second master is the second master. The two of you are irrelevant! Besides, the second master is also a well-known figure in our Confucian forest. , Such a big event, how can you lose the second master!" Dong Mu couldn't help being touched when he heard these words. He couldn't help clasping his fists and saying, "If Master Zhang doesn't give up, I would like to do my best!"

Zhang Chongsheng smiled slightly, then stood up and urged: "It shouldn't be too late, let's go now!" Dong Mu paid the bill immediately and followed Zhang Chongsheng and left the tavern.

Soon after, the two came to Zhang Mansion. Zhang Chongsheng was the second master of the Zhang family, and there was no need to notify them, and the two drove straight into the back hall. Dong Mu abruptly saw that in the back room not only Zhang Jue, the elder of the Zhang family, was present, but the Chen family and Li family heads of the Luoyang family were all here. The head of the Chen family is called Chen Feng, a rich middle-aged man. The Li family is Li Yuan, whose family property has been confiscated because of his son. Li Yuan has lost his previous rich state, and his whole person looks a little gloomy.