Chapter 539 Dog Food
Chapter 539 Dog Food
"The garden becomes more interesting as I walk through it every day. Although there is a gate, it is always closed. I use a cane to support the old man to rest by the stream, and sometimes I look up to see the distant view. The clouds have no intention of leaving the mountains, and the birds know to return when they are tired of flying..."
The official name of Qiao Garden is "Rishe Garden", which was inspired by Tao Yuanming's poem "Returning to the Countryside".
When Wu Wenxi and Grand Tutor Qiao lived in Qiao Garden, the place was crowded with dignitaries and scholars every day.
More than ten years have passed since Shao Quanzhong moved into Qiao Garden, and he has not held any gatherings for elegant people.
Now, finally, there are elegant people coming to Qiao Garden to linger, and the most elegant ones are Tolstoy and Tagore.
Tolstoy walked in the middle, accompanied by Shao Quanzhong on the left, and walking on the right was Liang Zhuoru, the first place in the national exam of Daxia, which is equivalent to the top scholar in the past.
Liang Zhuoru's English is quite good, and he is also the top scorer in the imperial examination, a truly talented person.
He translated "Returning Home" for Tolstoy and explained the origin of the name "Rishe Garden", and there was no problem in meeting the standards of "faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance".
Of the two Indians following behind, Gandhi studied law, but Tagore studied literature and music and was himself one of the world's top poets. When he first heard the famous quotes of the ancient Chinese, he was instantly fascinated.
"Based on my experience, the original text of this poem must be more beautiful. My grandfather and father have visited China. It's a pity that I don't know Chinese. I must start learning Chinese right away."
Tolstoy took over the conversation, "I have studied the translated versions of Tao Te Ching, The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean, but I found that it was far from enough. I also want to learn Chinese and absorb more wisdom from the ancestors of China."
"The wisdom of all masters is universal. I believe you will be able to find resonance with the Chinese sages."
Shao Quanzhong led the guests to visit Qiao Garden. Liang Zhuoru, as the scholar accompanying the guests, talked freely in front of the literary giant and did not embarrass Shao Quanzhong at all, which made Shao Quanzhong very satisfied.
The group walked around the century-old pomegranate tree, passed by Jiaoyuxuan, and walked north along the waterside to "Wuyunxuan".
"Wu" means "to play", which means playing the guqin and reciting poems. Ping'er, wearing Hanfu and with her face bare, plays the guqin for the distinguished guests.
The sound of Cheng Kong's (chēng kōng) piano is clear and melodious, giving people the feeling that Lai Qing Ge's nickname, "Yilan Wang Chen", which was once changed by Wu Wenxi.
Apple was a top expert in this field, but Tolstoy and Tagore were also truly knowledgeable listeners. When the song was over, Apple stood up, bowed slightly to the guests, and walked away with the zither in her arms.
Everyone stood there for a long while before they woke up from the lingering sound of the guqin. Tolstoy sighed softly, "Your Majesty, today I have seen the culture and art of China. European artists are too ignorant and self-contained."
Shao Quanzhong led the crowd along the corridor eastward and came to the "Wengui Boat", where they sat and looked at the detailed scenery of the lake and mountains in Qiao Garden.
Tolstoy stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty, your Qiao Garden has a very high artistic standard. However, it is the smallest imperial palace I have ever visited. This makes me full of confidence in the future of Daxia."
Except for Yali, the secretary behind Shao Quanzhong, all the people present were outstanding people, and of course they all knew what Tolstoy meant by this sentence.
"I am not flattering you, Your Majesty. I have been in Hailing for some time. I have walked among the people and visited the two administrators, Zhang Zhidong and Zhang Siwen."
"The people of Daxia are rich and full of hope for the future. The rulers live simply and work hard, which shows that Your Majesty is very good at employing people."
"Your Majesty does not live in a magnificent palace, but lives in such a small private garden without spending a single silver dollar from the country. I admire this very much."
"Russia is developing very fast now. His Majesty Alexander II liberated the serfs, and His Majesty Nicholas II made the peasants live a good life. However, Potowski was too extreme, and too many people died in the process."
"A rule like your majesty's, with harmony among all classes, is the ideal country in my mind. The moral requirements of Eastern Confucianism for officials and the doctrine of the mean are really worthy of learning from the whole world. Daxia is a beacon of mankind."
Shao Quanzhong smiled but said nothing. Hehe, Potowski was ruthless because he didn't have my prestige, so he had to cut the Gordian knot.
The harmony of Daxia is only possible because I succeeded in grabbing it. Only when the pie is bigger can the internal conflicts be covered up.
You are an old man, just write books. I can't catch up with you as a literary writer, but you insist on talking to me about governing a country. You are far behind in this area.
The fact that Daxia has reached the height it is today is not simply due to my good intentions and simple lifestyle, or the Zhang brothers’ integrity and dedication to public service.
You need drastic measures, the invincible Huai Army, the Fenian Society to equalize land rights, and I need to use my cleverness to take advantage of loopholes among the great powers, taking advantage bit by bit and trying to bring it home.
You don't understand what I'm talking about with an old man like you. You can sing praises to me as a beacon of noble morality. But you are right about one thing. I know that I am not good at handling domestic affairs, so I will not interfere in the affairs of the Zhang brothers.
In fact, I am not good at fighting, but Grant can, Emery can, and now being filial and righteous can also do it.
I am good at employing people and judging people well. This is my most proud ability.
After I firmly grasped the barrel of the gun, I focused on industrialization, invested heavily in science and technology, and improved national strength. This is my greatest ability.
What art, what culture, they are all superficial things.
I am the ruler of the country, and there will be great scholars to debate for me. To spread virtue to the people and to ensure that the people have enough food to eat is the foundation of the Shao family's iron rule and the secret of the Great Xia's prosperity. But I won't tell you, I will only tell Jiming this.
Tolstoy had no idea that Shao Quanzhong, who smiled and called himself a rough man, was secretly criticizing him for not knowing how to slay a dragon.
A person who can only write books, sitting across the stove from the kang, worrying about national affairs, and immersed in his own yearning for oriental wisdom.
"Your Majesty, under your leadership, the people of Daxia are living a good life, but two-thirds of the world's people are still suffering."
"In your neighbor India, the people are living in dire straits. You are now the guide of the world, can you help these two young men?"
Shao Quanzhong rolled his eyes and said, "You old man, are you here to beg for alms from me on behalf of two Indian monks?"
Are my things so good? If they are not good, don't even think about getting a penny from me.
But - Tianzhu, hehe, this is the weak spot of big brother Britain.
As a subject of Queen Victoria, I feel embarrassed to tarnish my reputation by personally stabbing in the back the big brother whom I once recognized.
You've handed me the people who are willing to stab me, that's good. I've heard of these two names "before"...
Shao Quanzhong stood with his hands behind his back and chest puffed out, looking as if he had been fooled by Tolstoy and had lost his way. "Well, senior, you are too kind. I don't deserve it."
"Since the elder has spoken, I will obey. Yali, record my orders."
Yali tapped her heels and pulled out her shorthand notebook.
"Twenty million taels of reserve funds will be drawn from my special account to set up the Tolstoy Fund. Two million taels will be drawn every year to specifically aid the economic development of our neighbor India. Tagore and Gandhi will each draw one million taels."
Tagore and Gandhi looked at each other, both of them were surprised, and bowed to Shao Quanzhong together. Tagore said, "Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty. You can send someone to monitor the whereabouts of our funds. We will definitely use the money for the welfare of the people of India."
Shao Quanzhong waved his hand and said, "I trust the person recommended by the senior. You can spend the money however you want. But——"
Shao Quanzhong patted the back of his head and said, "If this aid comes openly, the British big brother will be unhappy. I will be annoyed if they protest every other day."
"How about this, Yali? In your name as the Greek princess and the imperial concubine of Daxia, you can set up a pet protection association. The Tolstoy Fund will be registered under the name of the pet protection association, and its nominal purpose is to provide free food for stray dogs in India."
"In this way, outsiders will think that I spent this money to support the excessive love of a noble girl like you."
Yali was stunned. “But I am His Majesty’s full-time secretary and I don’t have time to manage this association.”
Shao Quanzhong laughed, "I'm just borrowing your name. This organization——"
Shao Quanzhong looked around and said, "Zhuoru, you, the top scholar, will be in charge of the management. The external name is a company that sells dog food and studies remote breeding technology. The internal name is--"
Shao Quanzhong thought for a moment and said, "Let's call it the International Development Agency, and you will be the director. By the way, the funding for the radio station that Mark Twain will run will also come from you."
(End of this chapter)