C616 Who was the traitor? (1/2)
Who is the traitor?
”Time to serve tea …” Following the manager's melodious shout, two Han Lin Scholars left Great Marshal Zeng's study room. Ceng Guofan stood up and walked a few steps, but then stopped at the entrance of the study room.
”Marshal, please wait!” Please Halt... ”Perhaps Weng Zhongtang will also visit the marshal in the evening. Please take care of yourself, marshal. Don't overwork yourself …”
After sending off the two Pure Flow guests, Ceng Guofan sat back down on his chair with an exhausted look and said to Jiu Shuai with a wry smile, ”The capital has never been my paradise. I only saw six batches of guests in the afternoon, and I don't think it will be peaceful at night either …”
”Big Bro, what are you saying? This is exactly the reason for Big Bro's position in the imperial court. Other than Big Bro, who else can stabilize the situation?” However, we truly did not expect that in just two short years, Xiao Letian had actually become so powerful, and that it would be so difficult to deal with. He must have been our great enemy in the past! ”
Jiu Shuai started to instigate his theory again, making Ceng Guofan's head tighten. ”Forget it, forget it, I see that you have really fallen for the devil's trap. I will repeat it again ten thousand times, a beautiful dream of a different day is not possible, it's not realistic!”
”Big brother, why are you so stubborn? ”This is the work of Song Taizu. In front of you, a foot of water can be easily raised …”
”Enough!” Ceng Guofan growled, ”What about Song Taizu's business, is it chaotic now? Have the citizens lost all hope in the Qing Dynasty? All the powers have accepted it? ”
”Even if everything is ready, what can we get? It was just a small part of the Song Dynasty. Then do the Mongolian on the prairie share the same thoughts as us? Are the Tibetan people of Qinghai and Tibet with us? Are the Uighurs in Xinjiang with us? Does a large area of land outside the border have anything to do with us? ”
”If all that I have done is to exchange for a situation where I suffer from a civil war, then I, Ceng Guofan, will be a sinner!”
”Big brother …” Jiu Shuai was at a loss for words, he truly could not change this strange line of thought that Ceng Guofan had. Every time they talked about this topic, Ceng Guoquan would not know how to answer.
Among the elites of Chinese traditional literati, there are two extremes to the treatment of national territory. In the view of conservatives, the traditional Chinese territory should be within the Great Wall.
The more powerful the Han people were, the more they would expand and occupy some of the more barbaric lands. Their goal was to gain some strategic buffer zone and ensure the safety of the Han people's land.
And the other type of elite was just like Ceng Guofan, an ambitious Chinese elite. In their heart, they were living a dream of a great nation, dreaming of the heroic winds of Han Tang.
In their eyes, expanding their territory could not only expand the living space of the Han people, but also bring great benefits. In exchange, the Han Dynasty managed the Western Regions in exchange for countless wealth.
In the eyes of these elites, the Barbarian Lands might not be of much use for the time being. However, as time went on, as long as the hardworking Han people worked hard for three or four generations, it would not be difficult for them to build new lands.
Back in the day, Emperor Yan and Huang were just a few small tribes by the Yellow River. The Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, Chu, Jiangnan and Beijing were all barbarian lands.
In Ceng Guofan's heart, even the white-faced vile subject Cao Cao Cao knew about the expedition against Wu Heng, intimidating the Northern nomadic peoples Cao Cao Cao Cao, who did not dare to head south for the rest of his life. Could it be that he wasn't even as bold as Cao Cao?
What's more, where is Wu Heng? Wasn't it just the hot river that crossed the current morning sun? Where was it full of Han nationality residences? The Han Chinese population was already very large.
Ceng Guofan and Ceng Guoquan's thoughts were supported by a theory. After so many years, no one could persuade anyone, and every time this topic was brought up, the two brothers would part from each other.
”Ai …” I think you can continue to be muddleheaded like this, sooner or later you'll be the dowry for that brat Xiao Letian! Now that he has risen up to such a level that it is unstoppable, if you didn't get your reputation straight early, when Xiao Letian is in trouble, you can just wait and regret it … ” With that, Jiu Shuai turned and left.
Ceng Guofan shook his head and sighed, ”You don't understand, that Xiao Letian is the same type of person as me, he even saw things even further than me. Just from the plans we made after we entered the capital, he definitely doesn't look like a young man. ”His magnanimity is unimaginable, you won't understand it …”
After Jiu Shuai left, he rested for a while before it was time for dinner. In the end, the evil guests all came to visit as soon as the banquet ended, and Weng Tonghe, who had aged quite a few years, came to pay a visit.
After all, Weng Tonghe was the Qingliu Leader, and his status was different from ordinary scholars. Ceng Guofan invited him to a seat and drink, but when he saw Weng Tonghe's appearance, he was stunned.
”Why are they so familiar with each other? How come I haven't seen them age like this for years?” If I remember correctly, you should be twenty years younger than me, right? ”
Weng Tonghe bowed deeply, and performed a great junior's bow. ”Marshal has a good memory, the older boy, 19 years old, you watched me grow up …”
”Haha, sit down!” I am a lifelong friend to your father now, so you can treat it as a family banquet today, there's no need to be courteous! ”
As the two sat down, there was naturally a maidservant pouring wine for Weng Tonghe. The wine was thirty years old and the dishes were fresh and fragrant, but both of them were not thinking about eating or drinking. After three cups of wine, Weng Tonghe could not help but go straight to the point.