Analysis of Shaoxing touts' role

Why do "Shaoxing people" play the role of "master" more?

Shaoxing, located in the south bank of Hangzhou Bay, has beautiful scenery, developed economy, superior natural environment and profound historical and cultural heritage. Since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it has become one of the famous cultural centers in China, where many scholars live. China feudal society believed in "excellent learning for officials". The talents of scholars could only be dedicated to the emperor, and Shaoxing people were naturally keen on seeking fame through the imperial examination. So there are 744 Shaoxing literati from generation to generation (including 625 from Yin Shan and Huiji counties).

Of course, only a few people can get ahead in the imperial examinations, and more people are eliminated in the pursuit of their careers. In addition, due to the "literary inquisition" during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, Zhejiang provincial examinations and examinations were suspended for seven consecutive years, which dealt a heavy blow to scholars in Zhejiang, especially Shaoxing. As a result, many Shaoxing people, who have tried and failed in the imperial examinations, feel that their career prospects are hopeless and are forced to give up their career, or study business, take the road of gathering money, or take the road of being a teacher and helping others. In addition to manual workers and farmers, doing business and swimming on the screen have become two "hot spots" in Shaoxing people's way of making a living. Those former masters can't be like lawyers or some professionals today.

In this way, in order to publicize and sell themselves through the mass media, they mainly rely on the recommendation of officials with special relations, such as their relatives, fellow villagers, teachers, relatives and friends, to get behind-the-scenes seats.

Fortunately, there are many literati in Shaoxing, and there are also many Shaoxing people among Beijing officials and foreign officials. These officials either bring their fellow villagers, relatives and friends who can be netizens to their posts or recommend them to colleagues. Those who get the screen seat will also suggest that relatives and friends introduce friends or classmates with similar situation and talents to be screen friends. This unique regional interpersonal condition makes Shaoxing's screen friends gradually move towards the whole country. In addition, Shaoxing people are smart, steady, good at planning and rhetoric, suitable for their own quality as a think tank, so that they can easily adapt to the career of aides and do quite well. They communicate with each other and collude with each other to form a network, and the giving and receiving of curtain learning is generally carried out between relatives and friends. Over time, a huge professional group of "Shaoxing touts" has formed in government offices all over the country, and there is even a trend that "there is no salt to be an official".

In fact, in the Qing Dynasty, all the provincial literati had the ability and possibility to be masters, while in the Qing Dynasty, Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and other provinces also produced many "famous scenes". But generally speaking, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Qiantang River are the most important suppliers of yamen masters in China, among which Shaoxing has the most people. As a result, gradually, "touts" and "Shaoxing people" are connected! The question is, are these so-called "Shaoxing masters" really capable? Of course. Shaoxing touts are good at dancing and writing, and they are very shrewd. They can have sex and turn Gan Kun around in a few words, so they are called "knife and pen officials".

1689, Emperor Kangxi went to the tomb of Dayu in Shaoxing to pay homage to Yu, and officials of civil and military affairs lined up on the steps of Yu Temple to give a nine-knock gift. In the early years of Kangxi, officials ranked first according to their positions. During the salute, Zhejiang Fantai accidentally lost his crown and was caught by the general (in the front row). The general and Mrs. Fan were always at odds, and later joined the imperial court. According to the laws of the Qing dynasty, falling to the ground is a great disrespect to the holy family and a serious crime. The official department ordered the governor of Zhejiang to check the reply. The Governor of Zhejiang wanted to protect this colleague who was in charge of the financial power of the whole province, and was afraid of offending the general who served as the chief of the Eight Banners in Zhejiang, so he secretly called in many Shaoxing touts and paid a high price to kill two birds with one stone. A master listened to the governor's account, pondered it a little, and drew up a wonderful eight-character essay, saying, "I rank first, and I have no hesitation in courtesy." This complicated chapter has nothing to do with the general, it shirks its responsibility. The implication is that if the general sees that Fan Station behind him has lost his crown, he will look back, which is disrespectful. The court received this reply and had to give up. Afterwards, this Shaoxing tout got a high reward of 1200 silver per word (in fact, it was nine words, but the first word claimed not to be sent).

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Shaoxing teachers were full of talents, and officials rushed to hire them. The most famous are Qiu Tong, the great-grandfather of revolutionary martyr Qiu Jin hired by Zhao Erxun, the governor of three northeastern provinces, Zhang Shijie, Ceng Guoquan, Zhang Zhidong, Ma Jiading, Li Hongzhang and Cheng Yu, the governor of Huguang, and especially Lou Chunfan, who is known as a generation star. He has been employed by six Zhili governors, including Li Hongzhang, Yuan Shikai and Duan Fang. When Li Hongzhang was appointed minister of Beiyang and governor of Zhili, he was very critical of his subordinates, but he respected Lou Chunfan. He entrusted Lou with everything such as the memorial, fines and salt affairs. There was always a flood in Yongding River at that time. After many field visits, Lou found the cause of the flood and made a water control plan for Li Hongzhang, which greatly reduced the flood. During the period when he was in charge of the governor's office, there was no unjust prison in Zhili. 1900, Eight-Nation Alliance captured Beijing, and all the colleagues in Doudufu fled when they heard the news. Lou Chunfan can't stay alone any longer, struggling to make things smooth. After the Boxer Peace Talks, Li Hongzhang proposed to protect him as an official, but he politely refused.