During his term of office, the great master of the Imperial Academy had to visit various places. If he only studied and taught in the county, then the mentality of the scholars would be like that.

Imagine that five hundred years from now, if a leader goes to a university to give a speech, he will understand the mentality of the students.

But this time the theme was not a lecture, but the punishment of Qin Dewei, a student member of Jiangning County. The sense of expectation immediately changed and it was overwhelming.

There are three schools in Nanjing, two county schools and a government school, with a total number of students of at least thousands.

Therefore, the fifty quotas for each family are definitely not enough. I heard that there was a fight at the county school in Shangyuan County to compete for the quota for this observation.

The night before, Qin Dewei bathed and changed clothes at his home in Qingxi, waiting for punishment the next day.

But Gao Changjiang, a classmate from the county school, sneaked over and asked, "I heard that the Grand Master ordered the county school to prepare canes. How many beatings will you receive?"

Qin Dewei said in confusion: "How many times do you care about what to do? And as a friend, you should care about yourself being beaten, not how many times, right?"

Gao Changjiang answered truthfully: "Everyone is placing bets on how many times you will get hit. According to usual practice, it will be five or ten."

Qin Dewei: ""

Gao Changjiang pressed: "Just tell me, how many times is it? Others don't know you, how can I not be clear about it? I'm sure you and the grand master have already communicated the details."

Qin Dewei was entangled and said helplessly: "With my relationship with the Grand Master, how can it be possible to hit him ten times? Just five gentle slaps will do the trick."

After all, Shengyuan is a scholar and a decent scholar.

Even if the grand master wants to punish the students, he can't do it like the county magistrate slapping the common people. It can only be a few symbolic blows.

It turned out that the answer was five, not ten. Gao Changjiang got the first-hand inside information and left happily.

Qin Dewei arrived at the Academy early that day, met with the Grand Master in advance, confirmed the details, and earned a living together.

Then Qin Dewei went to Dacheng Hall, and on the platform outside the hall, facing the hall, he knelt down to Confucius, the founder of the study.

Representatives from three counties, representatives from local village sages, and representatives from other places, totaling nearly 200 scholars, filled the open space in front of Dacheng Hall.

Qin Dewei secretly glanced behind him, feeling that this scene was worth selling tickets on the tree.

Mr. Gu Dongqiao, a local representative who had grabbed a ticket, was standing in the front row next to the platform, deep in thought.

He suddenly realized a question that many people didn't understand: why did He Ao, the imperial censor of Tixue, so favor Qin Dewei, who often caused trouble?

There seems to be no interest, and Qin Dewei can't give him anything substantial, but Grandmaster He often takes action to favor Qin Dewei.

It stands to reason that the Grand Master would not like students who are full of tricks and look for trouble, but this class has become an exception.

Mr. Gu finally understood at this time, because Qin Dewei allowed He Ao to show off and gain his reputation.

For He Ao, who made his fortune by relying on the reputation of the two dynasties, this was a great benefit.

For example, the year before last, Qin Dewei fought with the garrison eunuchs and "escaped" in a hurry. Then He Ao took Qin Dewei in and protected him, and he gained a lot of reputation.

Another example is this time, Qin Dewei's troubles made Nanjing's official circles restless inside and outside, and others were helpless.

But when He Ao came to Nanjing, he was able to suppress Qin Dewei and then end the "political crisis". How much prestige is this?

Just like this, amidst the expectations of everyone, He Tixue came out and introduced himself: "I sent He Ao, the imperial censor of Tixue, Nanzhili."

Then he pointed at the young man kneeling to the ancestor and said: "This is Qin Dewei, a student member of Jiangning County!"

"Pfft!" Suddenly someone started laughing. There were so many people that I couldn't tell who was laughing.

He Tixue was confused, what's so funny about this? Then he shouted directly to Qin Dewei: "Do you know you are wrong?"

Qin Dewei replied: "Master, please give me some advice."

He Tixue then lectured and said: "Two years ago, I saw that although you were young, you were still talented, so I recruited you as a student with the intention of recruiting talents for the country.

From now on, you should study hard, study calmly, wait for your knowledge to be complete, and then serve the country is the right thing to do!"

Qin Dewei responded respectfully: "Master's teachings are extremely reasonable. This is what I always do as a student!"

The others below couldn't help but start making noises. The words "Read quietly" have nothing to do with you, Qin Dewei, in any way, right?

He Tixue seemed to be extremely angry and laughed back, "I entered Nanjing City and heard a lot of rumors about you, but none of them were related to studying!"

"Rumors stop at the wise. They are just the talk of ignorant people. How can I be credulous?" Qin Dewei defended himself for a moment, and then asked: "I wonder what the master has heard?"

He Tixue said: "The most serious rumor is that you collude with government officials and businessmen! From what I have seen, it may not be a rumor, right?"

Someone in the crowd shouted: "It's not a rumor!"

At this moment, I don’t know what others are thinking, but the sharp-eyed and experienced Mr. Gu Dongqiao has already seen the clues!

This is called a disciplinary meeting? Is this a whitewashing meeting? It should be in the form of a counterpart!

It was the form that Qin Dewei and Xu Wenchang had last time. According to Qin Dewei later, this form was called "crosstalk".

The routine is already obvious! The grand master will list Qin Dewei's black spots lightly, and Qin Dewei will try his best to explain, and finally give a symbolic punishment.

So you called so many people here today just because Qin Dewei came to clear your name?

While Mr. Gu was thinking about it, he heard Qin Dewei say: "If there is collusion between government and business, students admit it, and it is indeed true!"

Sure enough, it was wrong to clear his name! Mr. Gu interrupted his thoughts and looked at Qin Dewei in surprise. Why did he admit it? Shouldn't he take the opportunity to clear his name?

Then he heard Qin Dewei say: "But my collusion between officials and businessmen is different from the collusion between officials and businessmen like Luo Heng and Liu Da Sima of the Western Shang Dynasty!"

He Ao asked: "What's different about you?"

Qin Dewei explained: "The word "official" in my official-business collusion is not official, but government!

I did give guidance on the management of the Yuanfeng Hao, but was it wrong for me to let the Yuanfeng Hao collude with the government?

Isn’t the government the government of the Ming Dynasty? Isn’t it the government of the imperial court? I have always believed that businessmen should also have the heart to serve the country and should take the initiative to get close to the government!

I let businesses cooperate with the government and help the government make profits, so as to serve the country, so why not?

Compared with those who collude with officials to prey on the common people, my collusion between officials and businessmen is certainly different!"

Old Mr. Gu Dongqiao complained secretly. No matter how fresh and refined his explanation was, he still came clean in the end! Don’t think about it later, it must still be this routine.

But if we make such a trip just to see Qin Dewei clear up, wouldn't it be a waste of time?

Thinking of this, Mr. Gu felt that although he could not stop Qin Dewei from clearing his name, he should still be able to do something.

"There are too many rumors, not just collusion between government and businessmen! There is also talk that you, Qin Dewei, are using the government to compete for profits with the people!" Mr. Gu suddenly interrupted.

With the Grand Master on top, other scholars would never dare to interrupt casually, but Mr. Gu had no such scruples.

He was promoted from a high-ranking government official to a second-rank official, and he was also known as a leader in the local literary world. Grand masters also wanted to pay tribute to him.

Qin Dewei can't quite understand. How many times have you, old man Gu, been taught a lesson? Your status as the leader of the literary world has almost been lost. Why do you still dare to jump out? Don't you have a long memory?

However, this question still needs to be answered in a targeted manner.

Qin Dewei retorted: "Gu Dongqiao, don't talk nonsense. How can Yuanfeng compete with the people for profit?"

Mr. Gu continued to ask calmly: "You mean it doesn't exist if you don't? I know that a few years ago, the city's money industry offices were composed of dozens of banks.

But now, how many of them can still be called famous? Why have all the disappearing banks disappeared?"

Qin Dewei immediately refuted: "This is also called competing for profits with the people? Do their banks that only lend generous loans deserve to be called people?

Scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, merchants are the last ones, let alone loan lenders with generous profits.

Yuanfenghao Bank cooperates with the government, but it is actually competing with businessmen for profits. What can be said about this?

Is it possible, Mr. Gu, that you still want to speak for those banks? To protest against those money-lending banks?"

Mr. Gu retorted: "Who is good and who is bad is not all up to you, the winner is the king or the loser!"

Qin Dewei faced all the scholars, raised two fingers, and said loudly: "Here are two numbers, please listen to them!"

According to statistics from the Jiangning County Government, during the Jiajing period four years ago, there were as many as 67 vicious cases related to huge profits and debts a year!

After the rise of Yuanfenghao, last year, the twelfth year of Jiajing, there were only five vicious cases related to huge profits and debts in a year!

I wonder which situation you think is better for the people? It is not worth refuting that Yuan Fenghao competes with the people for profit!"

Some people just feel that Qin Dewei's image is extremely tall at this moment.

Some people just feel that Qin Dewei has been able to justify himself.

As for Mr. Dongqiao being criticized by Qin Dewei, everyone is really not surprised.

If we say that two or three years ago, everyone would have regarded this kind of thing as a novelty, but now when will Mr. Dongqiao knock Qin Dewei down, will it be called a novelty.

Gu Dongqiao is like a loser villain who never refuses to leave the show to receive his box lunch, and he has started a new round of troubles.

"You, Qin Dewei, have countless misbehaviors, so I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words frankly!

You said that you, a student official, actually took the initiative to go to the eunuch and grovel, it is really embarrassing! Is this ridiculous? Can you live up to the robe of a student official!"

Qin Dewei scolded Mr. Gu without thinking: "Gu Dongqiao, don't you think about how many struggles I, Qin Dewei, have fought against illegal eunuchs?

Was it me, Qin Dewei, who fought and exposed the last eunuch Pan of the Nanjing Internal Guard? Is it me, Qin Dewei, who rushed back to his hometown because the younger brother of the current eunuch Qin in the East Factory has committed many unjust acts?"

No matter who is convinced, this achievement is indeed brilliant.

Qin Dewei's expression exploded, he waved his arms explosively, and said impassionedly:

"Then please think about it again, why am I, a person who has fought to the death with eunuchs, forced to bow to eunuchs regardless of my status?"

Everyone couldn't help but fell into deep thinking, what happened to Nanjing's officialdom?
To be continued...