If the family style is correct, it is official and clean; if the family style is inferior, it is official. Throughout the ages, this has been almost the case.
Family style is the vane of social atmosphere, especially the family style of leading cadres, which is not only related to their own families, but also to the party style and government style. Gang corruption, although a temporary enjoyment and luxury, but will eventually lead to the destruction of the family, the separation of wives and children; help lian, although life is ordinary and plain, in exchange for the warm companionship of relatives and the long-lasting happiness of the long-lasting ....
In order to create a good atmosphere of honesty and self-cultivation and honesty, Xinjiang Procuratorate has specially launched the series of "Stories of Clean and Honest Family Style"..... Today's push is "Zeng Guofan Shou Lian"
"Shame on being an official and getting rich"
Zeng Guofan was honest
In the Qing Dynasty, the post of Governor of Liangjiang was in charge of almost half of China, and the jurisdiction was the center of China's wealth and humanities, including Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Anhui. This post is almost "full authority", integrating all human rights, property rights, and financial rights into one person. If you want to "embezzle", you will be a multi-millionaire in one year, and a billionaire in two or three years.
Zeng Guofan held this position from April of the Xianfeng Decade (1860). Its income, the annual salary is 155 silver taels, plus "raising cheap silver", "fees" and so on. This money is put into private pockets, and neither the superiors nor the people will have an opinion, and the court and society will not say a word of "no".
Less legitimate "inputs" can be a hundred times and a thousand times higher than that. For example, when Zeng was in office, he reformed the salt administration and created the "two Huai salt tickets". The face value of each salt ticket is 200 taels, and the stock market has soared, and it can be sold to 20,000 taels (1 tael of silver, which can be roughly calculated according to 200 yuan today). There is a salt ticket at home, and it is a rich man. A poor person, a migrant worker, a farmer, with a few salt tickets can get rich overnight and become a multi-millionaire.
Zeng's family or relatives can buy 200 salt tickets under a pseudonym, which can be said to be "reasonable", and if you don't know it, you can earn millions. However, the Zeng clan explicitly prohibited family members or relatives from purchasing salt tickets.
Let me give you another example. Zeng Shi was the commander of the Xiang Army, and the military expenditure was all in his hands. From the founding of the army in the third year of Xianfeng (1853) to the annihilation of the Twist army in the seventh year of Tongzhi (1868), the military expenditure has been about 35,000,000 taels, which is about 7 billion yuan today. After the war, the account should be written off, and the reimbursement method was compiled by Zeng's own book and sent to the Ministry of Households for verification.
Such a huge amount of money, only the "ministry fee" (reimbursement of personnel hard work) requested by the household department can be as high as 400,000 taels (drawn at 1.3%). Given this 400,000 taels of silver, the household department must open the gate to release water, how the Zeng family compiles the book, the household department can sign. The years are so long, the number is so large, Zeng said to buy these two million, buy the three million, who will check, who can say clearly. Moreover, in the eyes of the Qing court, Zeng Shi was also a "lifesaver", the only military commander who could be relied on, who would also report a few more money to him. Sure enough, when the Zeng clan raised the "ministry fee", the Qing court said that the Zeng clan could be "exempted from reimbursement", and that it was both a ping Tianjing and a ping twist army, and it was a great meritorious person, so don't worry about these few dollars.
What is the concept of $7 billion? Zeng "withheld" one percent from it, that is, 70 million, one thousandth is 7 million, and one in ten thousand is 700,000. If Zeng shi doesn't want to get rich, it's difficult! His legal income, his family "get salt tickets" to earn 10 million, accounting "deduction" out of 60 million, he can be a billionaire every year.
However, he "did not wear any clothes but his clothes were not trained, and his crowned boots were old" (Zhao Liewen), and he "wore old clothes, wrinkled clothes, and there were spots of oil on them" (Gordon of the Foreigner). He ate only four dishes per meal; the cost of marriage for his children was stipulated not to exceed two hundred taels of silver; and he did not buy land, did not build a house, and maintained himself as a humble person. Women in the family, self-sufficient, "food" in the morning, "clothing" at noon, "fine work" in the afternoon, "rough work" in the evening, from morning to night, busy non-stop. The excess money is used to support friendly forces, provide relief to disaster victims, and set up local official duties. We went through all the historical records and could not find a record of his "corruption".
At this point, we can understand why Mao Zedong said, "Serve Zeng Wenzheng alone." It is really not easy for a "heavy minister of the country" like Zeng Shi to make a six-character oath of "not to get rich by being an official" and "not to be afraid of death" under one person and above ten thousand people, and to strictly practice it for life. He admonished his family: "All the children of the family, who have food, clothing, and living, are all the same as the cold soldiers, and they can become great instruments." If you are tainted with the habit of wealth, it is difficult to hope for success. ”
Zeng's oath is indeed admirable: "Yu did not pay the silver to send home, because when he first came out, he silently made this oath, and in the letter of Fazhou County, he used the six words 'no money and no fear of death', and he clearly did not want to deceive himself." ”
His "philosophy of being an official" is full of reference: "Since the age of thirty, it has been shameful to be an official and rich, and it is shameful to leave behind the descendants of the official pocket." If the descendants of the grandchildren are virtuous, they will not rely on their fathers, and they will also seek food and clothing; if the descendants are not wise, they will accumulate one more money, and they will surely create one more iniquity, and later they will commit adultery and evil, and they will make a big noise. Therefore, he made up his mind that he would never make a fortune by being an official, and would never give silver money to future generations. ”
"I can't save money when my family is interrupted"
Zeng's parents had nine children, and the eldest was eight: the eldest daughter Guolan, the eldest son Guofan, the second daughter Guohui, the third daughter Guozhi, the second son Guohuang, the third son Guohua, the fourth son Guoquan, and the fifth son Guobao.
The Zeng clan and Lady Ouyang had a total of nine people, and the eldest was seven: the second son Ji Ze, the eldest daughter Ji Jing, the second daughter Ji Yao, the third daughter Ji Chen, the fourth daughter Ji Chun, the third son Ji Hong, and the full daughter Ji Fen.
The four younger brothers of the Tsang clan had six sons, fourteen grandchildren, and forty-one great-grandchildren.
This is a huge house of officials and eunuchs, and the education of the second and third generations of officials has become a huge problem. The Tsang family did not produce "contrarian sons", no "hooligans", no "goons", no "gamblers", no "incarnated children", no "eating, drinking, gambling, and being incorruptible and shameful".
On the contrary, of the five Zeng brothers, four of them received the title of Qing court: Zeng himself was given the title of "Wenzheng", Guohua was given the title of "Gong Lie", Guo Tsuen was given the title of "Loyal Xiang", and Guo Bao was given the title of "Jingyi". In his children, Kizawa was also nicknamed "Huimin". What a miracle that five people in one door get it!
It should be known that the Qing system is extremely strict, not to mention one discipline and five words, that is, one discipline and one word, which is also rare. One discipline and five truths can be said to be the glory of those who have never been before and have never come after.
Lady Ouyang was also named by the Qing court as Lady Yipin, Lady Yipinhou, and Lady Yipinhou, which was also a supreme honor.
The descendants of the five zeng brothers are almost all upright in style, or have achieved fame. In eight generations, more than 240 have achieved remarkable results. Zeng Jize (outstanding diplomat), Zeng Jihong (scientist and mathematician who died young), Zeng Jiguan - Guanglu Dafu, Zeng Guangluan - General Jianwei, Zeng Guangjun - Hanlin, Zeng Guangjiang - Senior Political Doctor, Zeng Guangrong - Criminal Officer Wailang, Zeng Guangshan - Famous Female Poet, Zeng Yunong - Educator, Zeng Baosun - Educator, Zeng Baofang - Translator, Zeng Baoxun - Principal and Outstanding Teacher of Changsha Primary Schools, Zeng Zhaoxuan - Vice Minister of Higher Education and Chemist, Zeng Zhaomei - Professor, Zeng Guoyi - Archaeologist and museologist, Zeng Zhaomian - engineer, Zeng Zhaoquan - Director and Professor of electrical Engineering Department of Hunan University, Zeng Zhaoyi - Director of Beiping Transportation Museum, Zeng Xianpu - Director of the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Horticulturist, Zeng Xianzhi - Wife of Marshal Ye Jianying and Vice Chairman of the All-China Women's Federation, Zeng Xiankai - Professor of Chinese Min University, Zeng Xianzhu - Professor of Chinese Min University, Zeng Xiansen - Professor of Chinese Min University, Zeng Xianyun - Researcher of Papermaking Research Institute of the Ministry of Light Industry, Zeng Xianyun - Publisher, Zeng Xianjie (Hou Xi) – painter, Zeng Xiandi – director, Zeng Rujian – virologist.
"There have been so many generations in the zeng family, you can't find a bad person"; "Most of them are well-behaved, honest, cautious, and diligent." (Zeng Xianhua) How did this "miracle" come about?
The ancestor of the Zeng clan, Yuping Gong (known as the "Xinggang Gong" in the clan), warned zeng's father, Lin Shugong: "Although Kuan Yi is a bit hanlin, my family still relies on farming for a career, and it is unreliable for him to eat." ”
Yuping Gong, the ancestor of the Zeng clan, also warned zeng himself, who was about to enter the capital to take up the hanlin post: "Er's officials are inexhaustible, and Er's is good, but it is not to be proud." Full of losses, humble benefits, if you are not proud, you will be fine. ”
The father of the Zeng clan, Lin Shugong (known as the "Duke of Zhuting" in the clan), warned future generations: "There are descendants, there are pastoral, the family style is half-read and half-cultivated, but it is inherited by Ji Qiu; there is no official guard, no word of responsibility, the world is not concerned, and it will be difficult to pay ErCao." ”
The Tsang clan admonished the brothers in this way: "Whoever has a long family way, he does not fear the officials of the moment, but the rules of the long house; he does not fear the sudden rise of one or two people, but the maintenance of the masses." ("To Brother Cheng") and Yun: "All those who are officials", do not be "thicker than their wives, thinner than their brothers, privately fattened by a family, and mean to their relatives and clans." ("To ChengDi Wen DiYuan's First Season Brother")
Zeng warned his two sons: "When you are obsessed with studying, you must not join the army, nor do you have to be an official." Youyun: "Silver money, field production, the most easy to grow squeamish and easy." My family can't accumulate money, and I can't buy land. The Er brothers studied hard, and they were never afraid of not having food. Best of luck! ("Ji Ze Ji Hong") and Yun: "Mortals expect their descendants to be high officials, and Yu does not want to be great officials, but wishes to be a gentleman who reads and is reasonable." Diligent and thrifty, hard-working, can be happy, can deal with worries, this gentleman also. ("Zhi Ji Hong") and Yun: "I don't want to be rich from generation to generation, but I hope that there will be talents from generation to generation." Talent shows, the seeds of reading, the signs of the family, the banners of etiquette. ”
Zeng shi warned his five daughters: "Clothes should not be made more, especially not large edges, too gorgeous." "Deeply concerned about women's extravagance." It is stipulated that the dowry shall not exceed 200 yuan of silver, which is 40,000 yuan today. It is stipulated that the choice of a son-in-law should be "a frugal and simple cultivation and reading house", and "it is not necessary to be rich and famous". After marriage, it is stipulated that "filial piety to wenggu and respect for the husband", "although the husband is not virtuous, the wife cannot be disobedient", and it is necessary to avoid "valuing the mother's family and neglecting the husband's family". Take the word "thrift" as the first meaning: "Frugal kung fu, the first Mo makes gorgeous clothes, and the second Modo uses servants to hire workers." "If you are a little involved in luxury, you can't buy it."
The Zeng clan admonished all female relatives in the family, such as daughters, children, nieces, and nieces: "Lead the family with honesty, rule the family with frugality, and vow not to send a single dollar from the army to the family." "Men in my family are indispensable in reading, reading and writing, and women are indispensable in the four words of clothing and food." Set a "homework list" for all female dependents: make small dishes after breakfast, dim sum, wine sauce and the like, food affairs; spin flowers or hemp at noon, clothing; do needle embroidery after lunch, fine work; unitary carving (after the second change) to make men's shoes and women's shoes or sewing clothes, rough work. It is stipulated that Zeng himself "personally checks the merits": "Food is inspected once a day; clothing is inspected once every three days; the spinner inspects the thread, and the performer inspects the goose egg; the fine worker is tested once every five days; the rough worker is tested once a month, and a pair of men's shoes must be made every month, and the women's shoes are not tested." (Tongzhi 7th year, May 24, "Homework List") So that Mannu Jifen (1852-1935) in addition to Gu Tinglin's proposition of "Pi Fu has responsibility", another proposition was established that "Pi Women are especially responsible", emphasizing that "the power of women to influence the fashion is especially greater than that of men, and their responsibilities are heavier." ”
All in all, "miracles" are produced in this way.
The issue of education for family, children, and descendants has been solved for Zeng. He put forward the famous theory of "cultivating and reading filial piety can be long-lasting": "In the homes of officials and eunuchs in the world, more than one generation will enjoy it, and their descendants will be proud at the beginning, then wander, and eventually go through the ravine, and those who can celebrate one or two generations will be rare." The house of the merchants, the thrifty, can continue for three or four generations. The house of cultivation and reading, the simple one, can last for five or six generations. The house of filial piety can last for ten or eight generations. I am now relying on the accumulation of my ancestors, and I am afraid that he will be exhausted by his own enjoyment, so I teach my brothers and children, and I hope that they will be the home of filial piety and do not want them to be the house of eunuchs. ”
He also proposed the common "law of rise and fall" common to the houses of officials and eunuchs, the houses of merchants, the houses of cultivators, and the homes of filial piety:
"The house of the eunuchs, from frugality to luxury, from luxury to thrift. He is still young, and he must not covet luxury, and he must not be accustomed to laziness. No matter how small the family, the peasants, industrialists and merchants, diligent and thrifty, not unhappy, arrogant and tired, not undefeated. (Xianfeng 6 September 29,"Encyclical Jihong", written at night in Fuzhou, Jiangxi)
Keeping in mind the way of the Zeng clan and emphasizing the "cultivation and reading of filial piety for a long time" and its "law of rise and fall", the education of the "second generation of officials" and "the second generation of the rich" is not a problem now.
The rise and fall of the family is in it, and the rise and fall of the country is in it.