The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

In the east gate of Wuxi County, there is a site covering an area of ​​more than ten acres. It is the former site of Donglin Academy built by the famous scholar Yang Shi hundreds of years ago.

But this place has been abandoned for a long time, and the weeds on both sides of the faintly visible path are lush. We can only imagine the layout of the past through the remaining platform foundations here and there.

There are also some open spaces that are occupied by nearby families to grow vegetables - this is the end result of many ancient urban gardens being abandoned.

Today, the ruins of Donglin Academy, which had been silent for hundreds of years, suddenly welcomed a group of visitors, who seemed to have extraordinary status.

The leader was wearing mourning clothes, pointing at various places in the ruins, and saying something to the others.

This person is none other than Gu Xiancheng, a true Confucian who was formerly a member of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' Examination Department and was forced to go home to observe the system this year because of Ding You.

Although it may not be appropriate to go out for activities during the period of observing the system, it is understandable for the sake of justice, and it is not about drinking, eating, and having sex with women.

Zou Diguang, who had been asked about by Official Lin, was one of the remaining Crouching Dragon Phoenix chicks around Mr. Wang, and had often been called a die-hard loyalist to Mr. Feng in recent years. He was also present at this time.

As local hosts, Gu Xiancheng and Zou Diguang led others to visit the Donglin Academy site.

The person closest to Gu Xiancheng, with a green complexion, was Shen Li, the former Minister of Rites, who also resigned this year.

Although Shen Li has retired, he still has status.

First, after senior Ming officials resigned, they were reinstated as if they were commonplace, and they might return to the court at any time.

Therefore, we should not treat this kind of resigned officials as the kind of "retired veterans" who will take their time off in later generations.

Secondly, even though Shen Li is no longer the Minister of Rites, he is still the spiritual leader of the Qingliu forces.

Most of the current backbone of the Qingliu forces were discovered or promoted by him.

At this moment, I could only hear Gu Xiancheng saying to Shen Li: "After returning home this time, Senior Zou told me that rebuilding Donglin Academy can unite the morale of the righteous people, and I deeply believed it after hearing this."

Of course Shen Li could hear the implication in Gu Xiancheng's words, which was that he wanted to strengthen "organizational construction" and establish a more rigorous system.

So Shen Li sighed and said: "We are all on the same path because we have the same aspirations, not to form a clique."

Gu Xiancheng asked rhetorically: "With the current decline, if we don't form a party, can we still defeat the evil villain?

As the saying goes, if the devil is one foot high, then the Tao must be one foot high. "

Although Gu Xiancheng did not mention his name specifically, everyone present knew who this "treacherous villain" was. Anyway, he was not Shen Shoufu, the traditional target of criticism from the Qingliu forces.

Zou Diguang took a step forward and said to Shen Li: "After I resigned, although I was far away from the world, I often heard about things in the temple.

Maybe it's because of the clarity of onlookers, so I can see it more clearly.

Although Zhengdao Qingliu has more people and more help, it is actually too loose and its organization is very weak.

Under normal circumstances, the situation may be maintained, but when encountering a truly powerful enemy, it often lacks resilience and is often defeated piecemeal. "

Shen Li's face twitched, the word "piecemeal" really hurt his heart.

After more than ten years of operation, it took advantage of the trend of "liquidating Zhang Juzheng" and reaped a huge wave of dividends from the times.

The Qingliu forces hold high the banner of morality and gather a large number of people. They are especially popular among middle and low-level officials, and new people are often inspired and join in a steady stream.

In this context, the Qingliu forces are really not afraid of "speaking out and making mistakes". Even if one person is removed, there are still dozens of people who can replace them.

But since someone surnamed Lin appeared, Shen Li felt for the first time that the rate of manpower replenishment could not keep up with the rate of loss.

Gu Xiancheng said: "Facing a new type of powerful enemy, we must also keep pace with the times."

Then he turned to the other two people and asked, "Ding Yugong and Zhou Ting, do you think this is true?"

The two people expressed their stance together: "What you said is absolutely correct. Why bother to stick to the concept of forming a party?"

The person known as Dingyu Gong is Zhao Yongxian, who is currently the left minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites and the sacrificial wine minister of the Nanjing Imperial College.

He was the ruthless man who opposed Zhang Juzheng's love as a disciple and made bacon out of his fallen flesh after being imprisoned.

At the same time, Zhao Yongxian's identity in the literary world is that of the fifth son of the retro school who has won the title for two consecutive terms.

As a benchmark figure who opposes Zhang Juzheng, Zhao Yongxian also has a certain status in the emperor's heart. He is in Nanjing just to get a ministry qualification and be regarded as a candidate to join the cabinet in the future.

Originally, before the 14th year of Wanli, Zhao Yongxian's political allies were the "Three Reds".

It was Li Zhi, Jiang Dongzhi, and Yang Keli who took the lead in criticizing Zhang Juzheng.

But it is a pity that when the "Three Reds" attacked Shen Shoufu in the 14th year of Wanli, they were attacked by the military champion Lin Tailai, and they were all transferred to other places and left the political center.

Therefore, if Zhao Yongxian still wants to make progress, he must find new allies, or the basic base.

It just so happened that the Qingliu forces were in urgent need of replenishing their high-end combat power after losing three positions: Yushi of Zuodu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Officials of Nanjing, and Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites.

So I hit it off with Zhao Yongxian, which is why Zhao Yongxian is here today.

The other person whom Gu Xiancheng calls Zhou Ting's younger brother is Gong Nai, one of the "Three Great Masters of Shanzuo" and a representative figure in today's Shandong literary world.

The other two people in the "Three Great Masters of Shanzuo" are Yu Shenxing, the Minister of Rites, and Feng Qi, a senior Hanlin scholar.

Although Gong Nai has not yet become an official, but with the status of the other two of the three great families in Shanzuo, others will not underestimate him and his potential.

Politically, Gong Nai is very inclined to the Qingliu faction, and is the kind of person who brings his own dry food, a bit like Tang Xianzu who was taught a lesson by Mr. Lin, otherwise he would not appear here.

Hearing other people's remarks, Shen Li, the spiritual leader of the Qingliu faction, could not help but sigh again.

Although he has always been a leader of the Qingliu faction, he does not want to be criticized for "forming a party".

His original intention was just to promote the moral system and achieve a moral revival from top to bottom, rather than forming cliques.

In the past few years, he has always regarded others as fellow travelers, not party members, even those he personally promoted.

But Shen Li can know from the attitude of everyone today that everyone is determined to clarify the party in order to achieve a more rigorous organizational form.

As for the reconstruction of Donglin Academy, it is the carrier and embodiment of this idea, giving the abstract concept of "forming a party" a material anchor.

Shen Li is of course very clear about the reason. The simple summary is that he was beaten by a certain Lin who has emerged in recent years.

It is indeed hard to imagine that the seemingly powerful Qingliu forces were beaten like this by a newcomer.

And it was not once or twice, but many times.

Shen Li sometimes even doubted that if the fight continued like this, would there be fellows who would go to the emperor to kill Lin Tailai?

Gu Xiancheng led a group of more than a dozen people to continue moving forward, gradually walking to the middle part of the ruins of Donglin Academy.

He continued to introduce the situation and said: "Senior Zou helped me raise funds to purchase the original land first, and then started the reconstruction."

Then he turned his head and asked the only person in the crowd wearing official robes: "County Master You! There should be no problem with the county government, right?"

The county magistrate surnamed You replied: "The county government will support it!"

Gu Xiancheng's face showed an expectant look, pointing to a large area of ​​​​remaining platform in front and said:

"This should be the main hall of the academy back then. After reconstruction, I plan to name it Yiyong Hall."

At this time, two wooden boards were placed on the remaining platform, and each board had a sentence written on it.

They are "The sound of wind, rain and reading, all sounds are pleasant to the ear" and "Family affairs, national affairs and world affairs, all are of concern", which is obviously a pair of couplets.

Gu Xiancheng said with a little pride: "A friend named Qian Yunzhi in Suzhou heard that I was going to rebuild Donglin Academy and specially sent this couplet.

I think it is wonderful and will be hung in Yiyong Hall in the future. Today, please appreciate it."

"Wonderful!" "Very good!" After everyone carefully read it, they praised it together.

To be honest, this couplet is indeed outstanding, and it feels like it can be ranked in the history of couplets.

No wonder Gu Xiancheng was proud of it after getting the couplet.

After returning to his hometown and secluding himself for several months, Gu Xiancheng felt that he was doing well again, and said with high spirits:

"Although I am not talented, as long as you are willing to lend me a hand, I have the confidence to turn the rebuilt Donglin Academy into the most famous academy in the world within three years!

I will make Donglin Academy a place to preside over the public opinion of the world!"

Then Gu Xiancheng asked Shen Li: "Mr. Shen, when you are not traveling in the forest and springs, why don't you come to Donglin Academy to teach more often?"

Shen Li knew very well that this was to use his influence to endorse the "Donglin Academy faction".

After a little thought, Shen Li agreed: "Okay."

As the saying goes, people in the rivers and lakes cannot help themselves, and he cannot go against the will of the people.

He knew very well that others had become more radical. If he did not show radicalism, he would be regarded as a "traitor" and be backlashed by the clean forces he had personally built up.

Gu Xiancheng was in a good mood. If the reputation of Donglin Academy spread and became the center of political opinion, even if he stayed in his hometown, he could still exert great influence on the government.

In the future, if he failed in the struggle in the court, he would have a way out, so he would not completely lose power after leaving the court.

Another local, Zou Diguang, was thinking that the atmosphere should be right now, and he could talk about the literary conference.

Regardless of their official positions, these people present were all powerful in the literary world and could exert great influence at the literary conference.

At this time, Zhao Yongxian pointed to the northeast and asked, "What's going on here?"

Everyone looked together and saw that there was an independent courtyard in the northeast corner of the ruins of Donglin Academy.

Judging from the degree of repair, this courtyard is still in use, and it is estimated that it occupies one-third of the area of ​​the ruins of Donglin Academy.

Everyone walked closer and took a closer look. There was a plaque hanging on the gate of the courtyard with the three words "Donglin Temple" on it.

At this moment, the gate was half open, and an old nun stuck her head out and looked over here.

Everyone: ""

This painting style, this atmosphere, this style, suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse.

Gu Xiancheng was furious, turned around and shouted to County Magistrate You: "I said earlier that I would buy all the land of the Donglin Academy ruins, and all other idle people would be cleared out. What's going on?"

County Magistrate You was also confused, and immediately called a local official over and asked: "Why hasn't this Donglin Temple been cleared out?"

In fact, old Wuxi people know that this Donglin Temple has existed for many years, and it is said that it existed during the Yuan Dynasty.

But this is not the problem. Gu Xiancheng just wants to know why Donglin Temple is still here now?

The local official quickly replied: "When we cleared the land of the Donglin Academy ruins, we learned that this Donglin Temple had sold the land three years ago, and the title deed is in the hands of others.

That is to say, now Donglin Temple is equivalent to renting someone else's land and running this small temple! "

These subordinates really don't know how to do things! County Magistrate You was also angry and scolded: "What idiots! No matter who has the land deed, he must be cleared out! Is there anyone in Wuxi County who has more face than Gu Quanbu?"

The local official explained again: "Master, you don't know! After inquiring, I learned that the land of Donglin Temple was sold to the mother of Mr. Lin in Suzhou City, the mother of the Nine Yuan True Immortal!

When we went to clear out the land, we saw the handwritten letter left by Mr. Lin, saying that whoever dared to touch his mother's private temple property would be exterminated for filial piety! ”

Everyone: “”

I’ve seen disgusting people, but I’ve never seen such a disgusting person!

If you really want to steal, can’t you secretly buy the entire Donglin Academy site? You, Lin Tailai, have the financial resources!

You only bought one-third of the Donglin Temple, left a bunch of nuns here, and left the other two-thirds empty for others. What’s the meaning?

In the future, the new Donglin Academy and the nunnery will be closely connected, in the same area, you next to me, I next to you?

And you’re holding high the banner of filial piety in the name of your mother!

The heat in Gu Xiancheng’s heart instantly subsided and became cold.

It was as if there was a pair of evil eyes in the dark, staring at him through time and space.

Could it be that three years ago, Lin Tailai knew that he would rebuild the Donglin Academy?

Just when everyone was silent, someone suddenly shouted: "I remember it! I remember it!"

In the eyes of the crowd, the man quickly explained: "When I saw the couplet, I felt familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I had seen it.

Just now when I heard Lin Jiuyuan mentioned, I finally thought of it!

I have seen this couplet at the gate of Xinxing Academy in Shijiaxiang, Nanhao Street, outside Xumen, Suzhou! "

Everyone is not from Suzhou, and they are just confused. What is this "Xinxing Academy in Shijiaxiang, Nanhao Street, outside Xumen, Suzhou"?

The man explained again: "When Lin Jiuyuan was a gangster, this Xinxing Academy was his earliest residence in Suzhou city."

Everyone: ""

Now it is 100% certain that this couplet was sent by Lin Tailai on purpose!

They praised Lin Tailai's handwriting for a long time, and said that they would use it in the main hall of Xindonglin Academy!

I have seen disgusting people, but I have never seen such disgusting people!

This is not just disgusting, it is simply a wanton insult and mockery from a distance of a hundred miles!

The emotions that were originally very high and passionate, and were forging ahead to defeat someone with the surname Lin, suddenly became like a clown!

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