Chapter 134: All Quiet in Lingnan (Part 2)
In fact, the reason why Xu Xiake, who had always been low-key, became associated with the "Australians" was caused by the group of Donglin scholars who went south to Qiongzhou: that day, police forces were mobilized in Sanya to surround the inn and arrest him. The "Donglin Tour Group" headed by Fang Yizhi was full of stupid young scholars. At that time, Xu Xiake and his clan brother Xu Zhongzhao happened to live in the same inn, were dressed like scholars, and had the same Jiangnan accent, so they suffered a lot and were arrested together as suspects - although he was actually with Fang Yizhi has no friendship at all...
(Historical books say that Xu Xiake seemed to know Zhang Pu and was a good friend of Huang Daozhou, but he did not have much contact with other Fushe celebrities. Because the status difference between the two sides is too big, if Fang Yizhi and Zhang Dai are said to be among the "Top Ten Young Masters in the Capital", Hands and eyes The top dandy in Tongtian, Xu Xiake, is just an ordinary farmer. Moreover, Xu Xiake is much older than these celebrities in the late Ming Dynasty. There is a difference of about ten or twenty years, so naturally they cannot get along with each other.)
Next, after some interrogation, the Xu Xiake brothers who confessed truthfully were finally cleared of their suspicions, but their true identity surprised all the time travelers - everyone basically found it in the school's Chinese textbooks I have read this guy's "Travel Notes of Xu Xiake"!
As a result, Xu Xiake and his clan brothers were respectfully invited out of the detention center and moved into a high-end sea view room in the "Sanya Veteran Cadres Sanatorium". Then a group of inexplicable people came over to ask him to sign autographs and take photos. Then he was cordially received and given a banquet by the "Australian Song Emperor" (retired former president of the country), and then there were a group of "Australian great scholars" ( Professor of history and ancient Chinese literature) came over to discuss with them the dangers of hiking and the experience of writing travel notes. Xu Xiake, who had long been despised by the mainstream public opinion of Ming Dynasty scholars, was flattered for a while.
——In the eyes of modern people, the popularity and value of Xu Xiake is definitely far better than that of Fang Yizhi, Mao Pixiang, Qian Qianyi and others.
Next, the hospitable "Australians" even invited them to take a big iron boat to visit the exotic scenery of Taiwan Island and the Ryukyu Kingdom, and personally experience the tropical seascape of the coral islands in the South China Sea, which made them feel like a lifetime. Xu Xiake, who had never been out of the country, suddenly had his horizons widened and his literary thoughts surged, and he wrote many proud articles. Those "Australian scholars" also admired his articles and even prepared to advance money from them to publish Xu Xiake's travel notes over the years into a book and spread it to the world (many chapters of "Xu Xiake's Travel Notes" circulated in modern times have been lost), which made Xu Xiake very happy. I am in tears - one of the highest pursuits of traditional Chinese scholars is to "write a book and establish a biography"!
In addition, the member republics such as China, the East Coast, South Africa, and Australia also invited Xu Xiake to travel and write articles, so that when promoting their own territory, they could produce some high-quality masterpieces--- It can produce several masterpieces such as "Xu Xiake's Tour of the Five Great Lakes", "Xu Xiake's Tour of Tierra del Fuego", "Xu Xiake's Tour of the Great Barrier Reef", "Xu Xiake's Tour of the Ancient City of Machu Picchu", "Xu Xiake's Ostrich Hunting", etc. alright.
However, there is no feast that lasts forever. Although he was very grateful for the warm invitation from the "Australians", considering the large family and children who were still in his hometown in the south of the Yangtze River, Xu Xiake did not accept the invitation from the "Australian Song Dynasty Court" after all. Instead, he proposed to bid farewell and return to his hometown with his elder brother Xu Zhongzhao. , reunited with loved ones. The "Australians" were also very generous in this regard. Not only did they generously give him travel expenses, but they also sent someone to escort him to Guangzhou. In addition, he was given a badge of "Honorary Member of the Chinese League Writers Association" - Xu Xiake automatically thought of him as the "Hanlin Bachelor" of Australia and Song Dynasty based on his experience, which moved this old donkey to tears and felt that he was Being treated like a national warrior, I simply don’t know how to repay him.
However, no matter how maverick he was, no matter how far away from political affairs, Xu Xiake could still be regarded as a member of the scholar-bureaucrat class in the Ming Dynasty.
Therefore, the magical experience and warm hospitality over the past year certainly made Xu Xiake feel proud and radiant. However, the ambitious ambitions shown by the "Australian Song Dynasty Court" towards the Central Plains also made him deeply worried about the fate of his motherland and homeland.
If we say that when Xu Xiake just set off from his hometown in Jiangyin and went south to Qiongzhou, he only regarded the "Australians" who settled in Qiongzhou as a group of novel and interesting "foreign visitors". So by the time he set foot on his return journey, the entire land of China had been turned upside down by the Australians.
Just from the scene outside the car window, it can be seen that Guangzhou has now completely become the territory of the Australians, and the Fujian side has also changed its status a long time ago. Then, according to the news Xu Xiake read from the Australian newspaper, in the early spring of this year, their Northern Expedition vanguard army had penetrated deep into the south of the Yangtze River, swept through half of Zhejiang, and broke into the provincial capital of Hangzhou in one fell swoop, a distance from Xu Xiake's hometown of Jiangyin. , which is only one step away.
At this time, the Ming court was in a state of collapse and disintegration - the capital and the entire Beizhili had fallen to the Liaodong Tartars, and Shandong and Shanxi seemed to be about to fall as well. The demons of the Wenxiang Sect are still wreaking havoc in the Huaihe River, and rogue bandits are rampant in the northwest and central plains. What's even more terrible is that the confrontation between the two emperors Chongzhen and Yonghe further involved the remaining power of the imperial court in internal strife, further accelerating the disintegration of the country.
However, for ambitious scholars, although these troubled times mean the danger of life and death, it also means the opportunity to soar into the sky. For example, beside Xu Xiake, his closest clan brother Xu Zhongzhao kept nagging him along the way, "...Brother, to be honest, you really should stay with the Australians and seek a career career! With all due respect, you have wasted most of your life, and your family fortune has declined badly. Although you rely on You've gained a bit of fame by traveling around, but it's really of no use. Nowadays, it's rare to find someone who favors you. Why don't you seize this opportunity quickly? Wait, you can't do it? Do you think the Australians are too small? Or do you think the Australians can’t conquer the world?”
"...Brother Zhong Zhao, what are you talking about? Am I, Xu Hongzu, such a greedy person?"
Xu Xiake lowered his head and looked at the "Honorary Member of the Writers Association" badge on his chest. He couldn't help but smiled bitterly and shook his head, "...I have no fame, and my family background is ordinary. In the Ming Dynasty, even if you want to be a master of history, It's difficult. The most I can do is serve as a staff member. The Song Dynasty court can treat me well. To be honored as an honored guest, and to be awarded the title of Hanlin bachelor, is already a great blessing that can make the Xu family's ancestral graves smoke! But... I heard that when the Australian and Song Dynasty troops attacked Zhejiang, they killed many people and treated the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River very cruelly. If I defect to the past, will it harm the family’s reputation?”
"...Hey, now is the time when heroes are vying for the throne and dynasties are changing. Anyone who wants to take charge of the world will not be killed without mercy?"
Xu Zhongzhao stretched himself disapprovingly, "...Back then, Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin released his military power with a glass of wine and taught his descendants not to kill scholar-bureaucrats. He should be regarded as a rare and kind leader! But before he sent troops to defeat the Southern Tang Dynasty and attack Western Shu, Isn’t it still killing people?
Besides, I think Guangzhou is very peaceful here! I didn’t even see how the new imperial court slaughtered the Lingnan gentry! It can be seen that most of the Jin gentry in Zhejiang are wholeheartedly resisting the new imperial soldiers and seeking death themselves, so naturally they cannot blame others. Throughout the ages, whenever dynasties change, how can there be no wars without killing people? If you are really worried about your clan and family business, then you should surrender to the new dynasty as soon as possible in order to seek the protection of the Australian and Song army!
Brother! Don't hesitate! It’s time to follow the dragon’s lead! In these troubled times, what does mere face mean? You have never received the salary of the Ming Dynasty, and you do not have the fame and title of the Ming Dynasty. Even if you want to be an elder of the current dynasty, you are not qualified, right? ”
Seeing that his clan brother Xu Zhongzhao had followed him and enjoyed the courtesy and hospitality in the Australian territory for a year, and had already called Ming Dynasty the "former dynasty", Xu Xiake couldn't help but feel even more entangled. He was just confused, but he knew in his heart that Xu Zhongzhao was telling the truth. Even if Xu Xiake himself has no intention of pursuing an official career and does not care about the title of Conglong Hero, he still has to think about the future of the Xu family under the new dynasty!
What's more, based on what he has seen and heard in the past year, this Australian's magnanimity and military wealth are so huge that it is unimaginable. As for the various amazing and amazing skills, it is even more shocking. Once they really make up their mind to compete in the Central Plains, it will be absolutely impossible for Ming Dynasty to resist them.
Moreover, to be honest, if the world falls into the hands of the Australians, it will probably not be a bad thing for all the people.
"...Yes, thank you Brother Zhongzhao for reminding me. Even if everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, we are just ordinary people after all. I'm afraid we don't have the ability or the thought to help the Zhu family royal family protect the country. ”
After a moment of silence, Xu Xiake finally nodded and admitted the correctness of Xu Zhongzhao's views. At the same time, his mouth felt a little dry, so he took out a bottle of herbal tea from the small rattan box under the seat, pulled out the cork and took a sip. Then he continued: "...Now the Ming Dynasty is suffering from internal and external troubles, and there are many traitors in the court. , the people are not living in peace. I have been walking all the way in the past two years, and I have seen countless people dying of hunger everywhere, even in the rich places in the south of the Yangtze River. On the contrary, here in Australia, the people's lives are so poor. Peaceful and prosperous... maybe destiny is really going to change! ”
"...What my dear brother said is very true. As long as the world is governed by Australians, let alone those wealthy cities and towns, even in remote countryside, the people can still have enough food and clothing without worries. This year, foolish brother, I have followed you to Australia. In many places under the rule of the Communists, I have seen with my own eyes that even prisoners and others can have enough food and clothing, and I have never seen anyone die of cold and hunger (death from illness and exhaustion is another matter)."
Speaking of this, Xu Zhongzhao's tone became more and more lamentable, "...Tell me, do the thirteen chief secretaries of the two capitals in this great world have such a good place? Don't talk about orthodoxy or destiny. The people of this world Is what you look forward to most just a happy birthday? Who will be the emperor and who will be with the people? Why? Australians distinguish between public and private affairs and value trust and rationality. Under their hands, ordinary people can have a way of life, and the life of the gentry will be better than before. If the Australians really sit in the Longting, maybe the whole country. They are as prosperous as Lingao, so why not?”
"...Oh, you are right...that is indeed the truth. What's wrong with letting the Australians take over? Ming Dynasty is probably running out of energy."
Xu Xiake shook his head, "...but, I am waiting in my hometown in the south of the Yangtze River. After all, I still have family to take care of. If I rashly defect to the new dynasty in order to seek fame and salary, where should I place these close relatives? We must make arrangements in advance. , so as not to bring trouble to them!”
Next, he took out a letter from his sleeve and waved it in front of Xu Zhongzhao, "...After returning to Jiangnan this time, you and I will pick up our families and go to Hangzhou to join the Australian army! I have Qiongzhou here. The autographed letter written by the ruling Wen Desi will definitely be taken care of and appointed as long as he arrives in Hangzhou and meets Mr. Zhao Yingong, who is presiding over the political affairs there! Even though the brave warriors in the army may not value my writing skills, I have traveled in the mountains and fields of the southern provinces for many years, and I know the mountains, rivers, roads, customs and customs of southern Anhui, western Zhejiang, and southern Zhejiang very well in the new dynasty in the future! If the officers and soldiers leave the coast and march inland, then there will definitely be a place for me to make plans!”
"...Oh, I didn't expect that the wise brother had already planned it. The foolish brother was really unfounded before!"
After hearing Xu Xiake's plan, Xu Zhongzhao suddenly turned from worry to joy, "...also, at this time of great revolution in the world, instead of staying in the official poetry club and writing ink, being a close minister who picks out chapters and excerpts and sings praises of virtues, it is better to It is better to work hard to earn a few military honors before serving in the army, and you will have more face when talking about it in the future, so that you will not be regarded as a lucky person! It turns out that the wise brother is thoughtful! Brother Yu is ashamed of himself..."
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
After eliminating the previous barriers and entanglements, the two of them relaxed. Soon they were leaning on soft pillows and taking a nap on the sofa of the carriage - now both of them are old. Not young, he was considered a grandfather in the Ming Dynasty. Although Xu Xiake developed a pair of iron feet and good muscles and bones during his long traveling career, it also accumulated many hidden diseases in his body.
Xu Xiake had not rested for a long time because he was tired from traveling and was upset. Now that he was relaxed, the soft sofa and the stable carriage made him fall asleep quickly. It wasn't until the sun set in the west and dusk fell that Xu Xiake woke up slowly. He looked out the window and found that the carriage had bypassed the city of Guangzhou and headed straight for the mountains and fields in the northern suburbs of the city! Xu Xiake, who was very confused by this, hesitated for a moment, then immediately opened the door, stopped the coachman and the retinue, and asked what the meaning of this was. The lieutenant of the security army who accompanied the retinue replied very politely, "...the two distinguished guests do not know something. Guangzhou is currently undergoing large-scale construction projects, and it is noisy everywhere, which may not be conducive to rest. Therefore, our leader has already ordered us to We arranged for two distinguished guests to stay at Changliu Taoist Temple in the north of the city..."