Chapter 147 Digging up the roots of the family
Although she was nearly forty years old, her life improved after her daughter entered the Wang family. After Wang Jing rose to power, she was favored by the Wang family of Taiyuan, so her treatment improved, and her figure and appearance were maintained quite well.

Now, Qian's family can be considered to be honored because of her daughter. After all, Diao Chan is favored by Wang Jing, and as Diao Chan's mother, her treatment naturally rises.

Seeing Wang Jing actually come with his daughter to greet her, Qian was flattered: "I greet Marquis Qi. May the Marquis be blessed forever."

"No need to be polite."

Wang Jing smiled and invited Qian into the carriage.

Knowing that her daughter was favored by Wang Jing and was treated as a treasure, Qian was so happy that she almost shed tears. She felt that her daughter had a good home in the future.
When she came to her senses, Qian realized that the carriage she was riding in was quite different. She called Diao Chan's nickname in a low voice and asked, "Xiaohong, why is this carriage running so smoothly?"

Previously, when traveling from Bingzhou, Qian had to travel a lot, and had taken horse carriages and ox carts many times, but those were traditional two-wheeled vehicles. Not only were the compartments narrow, but even when traveling on the road, they were shaky and bumpy.

It is nothing like the carriage in front of you, which not only has four wheels, but is also stable, has ample interior space and is extremely comfortable.

Before Wang Jing could answer, Diao Chan excitedly introduced Qian Shi, "Mother, this is a four-wheeled carriage produced by Qiqiao Pavilion. It was invented by my husband himself."

The four-wheeled carriage with steering function is not actually high-tech. With the help of Mohist craftsmen, Wang Jing even developed the suspension spring shock absorber structure of the carriage. Now it has almost become the standard configuration for the dignitaries in Luoyang. One car is sold for 10 million yuan directly. If you are a noble, don't buy it.

With this move, Wang Jing amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in wealth, and the wealthy families in Luoyang City competed for four-wheeled carriages. He successfully made the Qiqiao Pavilion famous, and the various exquisite objects produced were greatly welcomed by the powerful and wealthy, successfully leading the fashion.

Even the old party that was hostile to the new party would often spend huge sums of money to purchase equipment and bring it back to support the situation.

After listening to Diao Chan's narration, Qian finally realized that Luoyang had experienced many things and undergone many changes during this period of time.

For example, the promotion of Mohist Academy, the emergence of movable type printing, and the Qiqiao Pavilion recently funded by Wang Jing, which sells all kinds of exquisitely made and diverse yet very practical utensils.

During the Yan and Han dynasties, because Confucianism was the only official ideology, craftsmen had very low status and income, and were viewed as menial tasks by scholars.

Of course, Confucians have always been arrogant. Apart from high-ranking officials and dignitaries, there is no industry in the world that they do not despise.

Wang Jing opened the Qiqiao Pavilion not only to recruit craftsmen for his own use, but also to break down such prejudice and discrimination.

The effect was indeed good. The income of craftsmen was improved, and their children were able to enter Mohist Academy to read and learn, acquire knowledge, and broaden their horizons.

As long as this approach continues, the situation in which Confucianism has monopolized and controlled academic discourse will sooner or later be broken.

Ten years of trees, a hundred years of trees.

When the number of young people who have been exposed to scientific education concepts since childhood and have mastered knowledge and ideas continues to increase and become the backbone of society, by that time, no matter how conservative and xenophobic Confucianism is, it will be powerless to turn the tide.

This is Wang Jing’s layout and planning, which is based on the long-term, unwavering, and ultimately impeccable.

Along the way, Qian listened to Diao Chan talking about the changes in Luoyang City with a smile on her face. It was already evening when they arrived at Xiyuan.

The family had already prepared a banquet, and Wang Jing also called Zou and Dong Bai. After all, they would be living together in the future, so it was necessary to say hello.

The family was having dinner when the housekeeper Lu Fang came in and reported, "Master, someone outside the mansion has sent an invitation."

"Hmm? Present it."

"Yes."

The housekeeper brought the invitation, and when Wang Jing saw it, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

Diao Chan was very curious: "What's wrong, my dear?"

Wang Jing smiled and said, "It's nothing, it's just an old fox playing dead, who finally couldn't help but take action."

"Old fox?"

During the banquet, Diao Chan and Zou were very curious about who the "old fox" their husbands were talking about could be.

Luoyang is bright and beautiful in the early morning.

On the wide and straight Chaotian Street, you can already see horse-drawn carriages coming and going.

Because Wang Jing personally promoted the products, the four-wheeled carriages produced by Qiqiao Pavilion, although expensive, were still in short supply and were very popular among dignitaries.

One of the four-wheeled carriages, printed with a sword emblem, drove straight to the gate of the Taiwei Mansion amid the amazed and envious gazes of the onlookers.

"Xu~"

The carriage stopped and a young man with handsome features and domineering eyes walked out.

Outside the Taiwei Mansion, the Huang family's servants were waiting long in advance. Huang Wan's eldest son Huang Kui even went out to greet them personally: "Marquis Qi, I am sorry that you have come to meet me in person."

Huang Kui, who had just been appointed as the Imperial Court Minister, had a smiling face. Although he was a generation older than Wang Jing, he came out to greet him in person. His courtesy was so considerate that it was almost humble. He did not dare to show the arrogance of the Anlu Huang family.

"My father has been waiting for a long time. Please come this way."

Huang Kui led the way with a smile on his face, almost flattering. This move shocked everyone in the Yuan family.

Although the Anlu Huang family is not as prominent as the Runan Yuan family, which had three dukes in four generations, it is also one of the most famous families in the world.

Huang Wan's great-grandfather Huang Xiang was an official who served as the Minister of the Chancellery. When he was only nine years old, he already knew how to serve his parents. His name spread throughout the capital and he was known as "the unparalleled Huang Xiang of Jiangxia". He was the protagonist of the story "Fanning the Pillow and Warming the Quilt" in the "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars".

Huang Wan's grandfather Huang Qiong was even more powerful. He served in the posts of Sikong, Taifu, Situ, and Taiwei, and was not afraid of power. He offended the domineering general Liang Ji during the reign of Emperor Huan and was dismissed from his post. After Liang Ji's death, he was able to re-enter the officialdom. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry and the posthumous name "Zhong".

As a descendant of such a famous family, even if Emperor Liu Xie himself came, he probably wouldn't need to adopt such a humble attitude.

However, when they saw the identity of the visitor, everyone understood why Huang Kui was so respectful.

Marquis Qi has come to the Grand Marshal’s Mansion in person!

For many people, this news was like a landslide and tsunami. After all, strictly speaking, the Huang family also belonged to the old party. Although Huang Wan had a good personal relationship with Wang Yun, Yuan Wei and Yang Biao also had a good personal relationship with Wang Yun. But this did not prevent everyone from fighting to the death in officialdom.

After all, personal relationships are personal relationships and politics is politics, and they should not be confused.

But now, the Grand Marshal Huang Wan, one of the mainstays of the old party, actually invited Qi Hou Wang Jing, the representative of the new party, to a banquet?
The New Party and the Old Party have always been at odds over power struggles.

Before this, the two sides had been fighting openly and secretly. Huang Wan even thought that Wang Jing was arrogant and lawless, and wanted to capture Wang Jing and bring him to justice.

So everyone is very curious, is Wang Jing coming here today to declare war or negotiate peace?
The news quickly spread from the Taiwei Mansion to the outside. The residences of the three ministers closest to the mansion, Taifu Yuan Wei and Si Tu Yang Biao, all sent people out as soon as they received the news to keep a close eye on the further development of the situation.

A silent storm, centered at the small Taiwei Mansion, began to sweep across the entire Luoyang.

Huang Wan, the Imperial Commander-in-Chief, one of the Three Dukes and nominally the highest military commander of the Han Dynasty, who was in the eye of the storm, was sitting quietly in the pavilion, admiring the peach and plum trees planted in the yard.

March is the time when peach and plum trees are in full bloom.

Flowers, either red or white, bloom quietly in the elegant courtyard. Decorated with carved railings and jade buildings, they are so exquisitely beautiful that people will linger and linger.

"The commander is still in the mood to appreciate the flowers. He is worthy of being the head of the family. He is really calm."

Wang Jing walked into the pavilion and sat opposite Huang Wan.

The stone table was filled with tea and cakes, and the stone chairs were covered with woolen mats. It was quite well prepared. Moreover, the other party had inquired about Wang Jing's preferences in advance, and it was obvious that all this was arranged carefully.

It is not difficult to be attentive, but what is difficult is to have enough strength to force the famous and prominent families who dominate the Confucian school to face up to your existence.

And there is no doubt that Wang Jing did it. Huang Wan treated Wang Jing with courtesy not because Wang Jing was born in the Taiyuan Wang family, nor because he was the second son of Sikong Wang Yun, but because of Wang Jing's own strength and the fact that the Northern Army he established was invincible on the battlefield.

"As you get older and see more, you will naturally become more open-minded about some things."

Huang Wan turned around with a smile and filled a cup of tea for Wang Jing. She had a calmness and composure about her, and it seemed as if the two of them had returned to the time when they fought side by side in Yuzhou.

Huang Wan turned back into the elder with kind words, and Wang Jing turned back into the humble and teachable younger person, as if the two sides had never been on the verge of a confrontation in the court.

Wang Jing glanced at the peach and plum trees in the yard, then his eyes fell back on Huang Wan, and he said with a smile: "Peach and plum trees are silent, yet people come to them of their own accord. The commander really has a refined taste."

"It's just a metaphor for something bigger, just to show off one's taste."

Having said that, Wang Jing still saw the satisfaction and pride on Huang Wan's face.

The Huang family of Anlu has students and former officials all over the world. Although their influence on Confucianism is not as great as that of the Yuan family of Runan and the Yang family of Hongnong, it should not be underestimated.

Wang Jing was a man of quick thinking, so he understood that Huang Wan had arranged to meet him here, and used the metaphor of "peach and plum" to show off and to demonstrate.

But in Wang Jing's view, this kind of demonstration is more like a sign of weakness.

In nature, only prey uses bluffing to scare off predators.

The real top predator always waits quietly, gracefully and cruelly for the right time to hunt. Before that, it will try to hide itself as much as possible to avoid disturbing the prey.

Wang Jing understood that Huang Wan's initiative to contact him was in itself a signal of begging for mercy and surrender.

But as a scholar, even if he surrenders, he has to keep a certain level of dignity to avoid making it look too embarrassing.

Wang Jing picked up the teacup and looked at the tea leaves floating in it. He was too lazy to play along with Huang Wan and asked directly, "The Anlu Huang family should still have a lot of bargaining chips in their hands. Why should the commander-in-chief give up now?"

Faced with Wang Jing's blunt words, Huang Wan's anger rose in his heart, but he could only suppress it by force. Then he smiled bitterly and said, "Even with the great momentum of the coalition forces, they still cannot win. The Anlu Huang family is far less powerful than the Runan Yuan family. How can they resist the Qi Hou's army?"

As the saying goes, the more experience you have, the smaller your courage becomes.

There is no doubt that Huang Wan did not intend to accompany Yuan Wei all the way to the end. The defeats of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu made him realize that the rise of the Northern Army had become an fait accompli, which meant that the New Party could no longer be contained.

How can you get something in the court if you can’t get it on the battlefield?
Rather than standing with the losers and being liquidated, it is better to quickly stand on the side of the winners to reduce losses, and maybe even share the interests of the old party.

After all, Huang Wan had some friendship with Wang Jing when they were in Yuzhou. Although Huang Wan had a straightforward character, he was not stubborn.

After all, Wang Jing is not Dong Zhuo, and his reputation is still pretty good, so it is not shameful for him to join the Northern Army.

Unlike the ambitious Yuan family of Runan, the Huang family of Anlu had no ambition for imperial power and was not concerned about the plan of ruling the world with Confucianism. Anyway, even if the plan of ruling the world with Confucianism succeeded, the Yuan family of Runan would be the one to benefit the most.

If Huang Wan could get a bowl of meat soup by following the Yuan family of Runan, she wouldn't mind cheering for Yuan Wei.

But now the Runan Yuan family is losing ground on the battlefield, and the imperial seal has not been found yet. It seems that if this continues, not to mention the meat soup, the Anlu Huang family may also be cut off by the New Party. For the survival of the family, Huang Wan decisively chooses to kick the Yuan family out and come to Wang Jing to make peace.

Even though they were both members of the Confucian school, as the head of the family, Huang Wan had to consider the Anlu Huang family's retreat in the event of failure.

That’s why we have today’s meeting.

Huang Wan has decided to lead part of the Anlu Huang family's forces to surrender to Wang Jing and support him in his fight for supremacy in the world.

But selling oneself cannot be cheap. Huang Wan invited Wang Jing precisely to test his attitude and thoughts: "Marquis Qi seems to be hostile to our family. There have been rumors that the Marquis wants to wipe out all the families in the world. Is this true?"

It goes without saying that the person who spread this rumor must be Cao Cao.

Huang Wan raised this matter simply to see Wang Jing's attitude towards the world's aristocratic families.

If it were an ordinary person, he would have denied it long ago.

But Wang Jing didn't care at all. He gently put down the teacup in his hand, tapped the stone table with his fingertips, stared at Huang Wan, smiled proudly and asked, "Why not?"

The four extremely domineering words immediately stunned Huang Wan.

He swallowed back all the words he had prepared in his mind, as well as the various conditions that were favorable to the Yuan family that he had proposed.

"Does Marquis Qi really want to be an enemy of all the noble families in the world? Don't forget that the Taiyuan Wang family, from which Marquis Qi was born, is also a member of a noble family. Does Marquis Qi want to destroy the Wang family as well?"

"It's not that I want to be an enemy of the noble families, but the conservative noble families have to be my enemy. For example, the Wang family of Taiyuan, the Xun family of Yingchuan and other famous families are on my side now. How could I attack them?"

Facing Huang Wan's gaze and questioning, Wang Jing refused to give in. His eyes were as cold as knives, and his words were even more sharp: "Those who do not stand in the same camp with me and are my enemies will eventually be eliminated by me. Isn't this a matter of course?"

Perhaps without the help of the Anlu Huang family, it would be very troublesome to attack Jiangnan in the future, but Wang Jing was least afraid of trouble.

At worst, we can mobilize the power of the people and kill them all.

He just didn't believe it. Could it be that all the wealthy and powerful families in the world were so stubborn that they were not afraid of death?
Wang Jing's words were shocking, and Huang Wan was horrified by what he said.

He didn't expect that Wang Jing would be so strong and aggressive. The plan he had been planning for a long time suddenly fell through, but Huang Wan was unwilling to accept this.

"Why is Qi Hou so aggressive? Regardless of whether you can do it or not, even if you can destroy all the noble families in the world, what can it do? Who is without selfishness in this world? Qi Hou may be able to destroy all the existing noble families, but can you, Qi Hou, destroy the selfish desires in people's hearts? In a hundred years, there will definitely be new noble families in the world. What difference will it make from today?"

Huang Wan stared at Wang Jing with doubt and questioning, with a deep and experienced gaze, trying to see what he was thinking.

Wang Jing recognized these words, so he smiled and said, "The commander is indeed worthy of being the commander. What he said is indeed profound. The word 'selfish desire' alone reveals the mystery of the human heart."

Huang Wan was unmoved by Wang Jing's praise and remained expressionless: "So what exactly does Qi Hou want? Fame, power, profit, and even beauty. Everyone I have met has their own selfish desires. Even if Qi Hou is a hero, I don't believe you can be an exception."

Facing Huang Wan's questioning, Wang Jing did not evade it and nodded in acknowledgment: "I do have selfish desires, but my selfishness is different from yours. What I want is to change the world, so destroying the aristocratic families is not my goal, but a means."

These words obviously caused a huge storm in Huang Wan's heart.

Wang Jing is not one of those so-called loyal ministers who seek to leave their names in history, nor is he one of those tyrants who compete for power and want to control the world. Instead, he is an idealist who wants to revolutionize the world and rebuild a new order!
Huang Wan was shocked, with an expression of disbelief in her eyes, and she exclaimed: "Lord Qi, are you going to change the law?"

"Yes, I want to change the law."

Wang Jing admitted it frankly, and even said bluntly in front of Huang Wan: "Confucianism can govern people, but it is not enough to govern the world. I want to break the pattern of Confucianism's supremacy, open up new avenues, and revive the past scene of a hundred schools of thought contending with each other."

Reviving the Hundred Schools of Thought is actually just a slogan.

Wang Jing’s real goal was to break the ideological and academic hegemony of Confucianism, inject scientific genes into Chinese civilization, and make people all over the world begin to pay attention to the accumulation of knowledge and technology.

The Confucian teachings are indeed extremely profound, and the power of thought is even more incredible, but this power is only mastered by a few people and cannot be used to promote the development of productivity, then it is meaningless.

That is why Wang Jing wanted to break the Confucian monopoly on knowledge, deeply explore the potential of the power of thought, and use this power to promote the advancement of science and technology.

However, it is too difficult to do all this.

The Anlu Huang family is itself a member of a Confucian family that made its fortune through clan studies. Naturally, it is impossible for them to give up their monopoly on knowledge and official positions.

Looking around the world, there are countless aristocratic families like the Huang family of Anlu.

When Wang Jing wanted to reform the law, the first thing he had to do was to deprive Confucianism of its monopoly on official positions. This was tantamount to digging up the roots of all the aristocratic families, which was even more serious than digging up their ancestral graves.

(End of this chapter)