Chapter 2698: Showing off one's edge
Xiao Jing's words were very cold and harsh, but she never meant to look down on Wang Jing.
Although the Wang family in Taiyuan belongs to seven sects and five surnames, has a long heritage, and has been a member of a famous family for generations, is the Xiao family in Lanling not good enough as one of the "four great overseas Chinese"?
Of course, in terms of long-term inheritance, the Lanling Xiao family is far inferior to the Taiyuan Wang family, which started from Prince Jin of the Zhou Dynasty, but in terms of current momentum, the Taiyuan Wang family is slightly inferior.
Ever since Wang Shichong forced Emperor Huang Tai to issue an edict to abdicate, usurp the throne and establish himself, and then was defeated by Li Er in one fell swoop, the Wang family in Taiyuan has been in a state of decline, and its momentum has been greatly reduced. On the contrary, although the Xiao family in Lanling has perished, it has always been the righteousness of the world. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Both dynasties affirmed and treated Youlong with courtesy.
Therefore, even if the Wang family of Taiyuan wants to ask for an answer from the Xiao family of Lanling, such words should be asked by the current head of the Wang family. Among the aristocratic families who attach great importance to seniority and rules, Wang Jing's behavior is very unacceptable. Appropriate.
Especially for an old man like Xiao Jing, who was once a member of the Nanliang royal family and was used to seeing the world and experiencing extreme power, this kind of transgression was simply intolerable.
He respects the Taiyuan Wang family, but it does not mean that he can be suppressed by the Taiyuan Wang family.
He had to let the kid in front of him know that this was Jiangnan, not Guanzhong, and certainly not Taiyuan!
Wang Jing's expression remained calm and he was not moved by Xiao Jing's anger. After Xiao Jing's words, he pondered for a moment and then slowly said: "The words of the seniors are slightly inappropriate to the juniors. The so-called Qingtuzhi Yu blue, and green than blue; ice, water for it, and As cold as water. We are late in learning, so we naturally respect our predecessors, but we should also work hard to excel and become stronger than each generation. Otherwise, we can only be trapped in the light of our predecessors and cannot make progress. Wouldn't it be more disappointing to our predecessors?"
Xiao Jing frowned and said calmly: "In my life, I am most disgusted by those who show off their rhetoric. Mencius's "Encouragement to Learning" is not just the sentence you just said. The wood is straight in the rope, and the thread is like a wheel. The rules are as follows. Although there are those who are violent and unable to stand up, they will be made straight. Therefore, the wood will be straightened by the rope, and the metal will be sharpened, and the gentleman will know if he is knowledgeable. There is nothing wrong with knowing and doing... To learn and make progress, you need to have certain rules. Without rules, there will be no success. If you forget the rules, how can you improve? Moreover, besides being knowledgeable and memorizing, a gentleman must also examine himself three times every day. To be wise and clear without omissions is not to be ambitious and ambitious, and to look around at the slightest progress. ”
Even if you are excellent, so what? Rules are the foundation for a gentleman to establish himself in the world.
How can such people be so arrogant and ignore the heroes of the world after they achieve even a little bit of success? What real future can they have?
Wang Jing's qi-nurturing skills were quite good. Even though he was almost scolded by Xiao Jing, he did not change his expression and said with a smile: "Six years ago, Jiaci died of an illness. The younger generation was so sad that we married in front of Jiaci's grave." During these six years of being a filial piety, I studied thousands of volumes of books day and night, without stopping, and never wasted a moment. Just to benefit the common people and make achievements one day, the younger generation will keep the teachings of the elders in mind. From now on, we should still uphold the aspirations of the filial piety period and dare not forget it for a moment... However, the younger generation still wants to ask you a question about what you just said. Are words the answer from the Lanling Xiao family to the Taiyuan Wang family? ”
He has a thin figure, three long strands of black beard under his chin, neatly built, and a pair of deep and bright eyes. He exudes a gentle and jade-like temperament, but the words he asks are like an unsheathed sword, moving forward indomitably and absolutely. No turning around.
In his opinion, whatever answer Lanling Xiao gave represented the position Lanling Xiao stood on. He was not willing to quote scriptures and beat around the bush like ordinary Confucian scholars. He just wanted Lanling Xiao to give an answer. A clear answer.
Whose team are you on?
Prince, or King of Jin?
Xiao Jing has experienced countless storms and waves in his life. The ultimate power in the world and the fragmented sorrow of the destruction of his country and family have already tempered his dying heart to be extremely strong. Naturally, he will not get angry because of Wang Jing's attitude. .
He stared at Wang Jing closely, but said nothing.
To be honest, he had thought that Wang Jing came to Jiangnan in person in order to have a game with Fang Jun in Jiangnan and completely cancel the plan that he had promised to compensate Fang Jun. However, he has just realized that the main purpose of the other party's trip is The purpose was to win over the Jiangnan nobles for the King of Jin.
As the head of the Jiangnan gentry, the Xiao family of Lanling naturally bore the brunt.
However, what he never expected was that Wang Jing had the guts to go head-on when they met, and aggressively asked the Lanling Xiao family to express their stance?
Anyone who is proficient in politics will not be so stupid.
Because even if I clearly promise to stand behind Prince Jin now, if my interests are harmed and I weigh the importance and switch to the prince's sect when the time is right, what can you do to me?
In the final analysis, the promises made by the family members are nothing compared to the real interests...
Then there can only be one answer, and that is that Wang Jing hopes to use the Xiao family's position to influence the orientation of the rest of the Jiangnan gentry, and achieve the purpose of integrating the Jiangnan gentry through vertical and horizontal alliances, so as to create a better position for the King of Jin among the Guanlong nobles. In addition, get another powerful ally.
But if this is really the case, the question arises again, why did the Wang family of Taiyuan leave Song Guogong Xiao Yu in the court without looking for him, but why did he travel thousands of miles to the south of the Yangtze River and visit in person to get an answer?
Everyone knows that although Song Guogong Xiao Yu is not the head of the Xiao family, the political stance of the entire Xiao family has always been based on Xiao Yu's leadership, and even the head of the family never refutes...
With her mind spinning, Xiao Jing said slowly: "I have already said that Lanling Xiao's answer is not something you can just ask for."
Wang Jing stared at Xiao Jing for a moment, then suddenly smiled, as if the spring breeze was blowing on his face. The fierce aura just now disappeared suddenly, and he nodded and said: "Thank you, senior, for your reply. I am very grateful to you. I am in a hurry today." Come, I didn’t have time to prepare a generous gift. It's really disrespectful. I hope the seniors won't blame me. When the job is done one day, the juniors will definitely come to visit me again and make up for the etiquette owed today. The juniors accepted the orders from their fathers and have important matters to attend to, so I won't bother you too much. , farewell now.”
Xiao Jing frowned, but did not stop.
Until Wang Jinggong bowed respectfully and left, Xiao Jing looked at the figure under the oil-paper umbrella outside the door walking farther and farther between the bamboo leaves, and her heart became solemn.
He knew that his statement that he seemed to require equality of status before giving an answer was not necessarily hidden from Wang Jing, but he did not expect that the other party would be so keen to capture the essence of his evasiveness and avoidance of answers.
Prince or Jin Wang, this choice is too big, Xiao can't afford to gamble, it can be said that he is unwilling to gamble.
Unlike those officials in the court who had a keen sense of taking sides, the Xiao family was far away in the south of the Yangtze River, where the court's power was weak. Even if both parties tried to please them, they would not suffer much suppression and retaliation from the imperial power. In other words, that was Watching the fire from across the bank or watching the tiger fight from the mountain, Xiao will be loyal to whoever wins in the end.
As long as he still controls the leadership of the Jiangnan gentry, no matter who becomes the emperor, the worst-case scenario will not be worse than it is now.
As for Xiao Yu, because his status is too special and his qualifications are too deep, no one can do anything to him.
Therefore, Mrs. Xiao's current position is apparently to stand behind the prince, but in fact she has reservations.
But it is obvious that this stance of protecting oneself wisely outside of the struggle could not be concealed from the Dukes of the Manchu Dynasty. Even the Wang family of Taiyuan could see through the Xiao family's plan at a glance, otherwise Wang Jing would not have come all the way to the door. Forced into the palace.
It can be seen that both the prince and the king of Jin can clearly see this kind of trick. If things go on like this, not only will they not be able to please both sides, but they will offend both sides. They are not human beings inside and outside...
Xiao Jing thought of Fang Jun even more.
Wang Jing in front of him can capture the Xiao family's true intention, so what kind of pressure will Fang Jun, who has left the capital and come to Jiangnan, put on the Xiao family?
Compared to Wang Jing, Fang Jun must be more difficult to deal with.
After all, Wang Jing only used his mouth to analyze his interests and state his interests, and he could even make excuses with him, but Fang Jun had military power in his hands, and his acting style was even more simple and crude...
The drizzle was falling outside the window, the bamboo leaves were rustling, and the air was cool and moist. However, Xiao Jing's mood was not good. On the contrary, it was even messier than the rain.
Nowadays, the Jiangnan nobles are like snakes and scorpions to avoid Fang Jun. He doesn't think that a marriage alone can make Fang Jun look at the Xiao family in a different light. How can personal favors be tolerated when the battle for the reserve is at stake?
Marriage is a bond that can make a relationship closer, but it cannot essentially change anything.
Xiao Jing didn't find Wang Jing too difficult to deal with because of his sharp edge, but just thinking about Fang Jun's simplicity and rudeness made Xiao Jing feel her temples twitching.
Fang Jun is not as eloquent as Wang Jing in quoting scriptures. He simply doesn't care about such power of words. If you don't do it, it will make you miserable.
Don't be afraid of big fists, be afraid of being unreasonable...(End of Chapter)