Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 200: Xinxue, Confucianism, and Science?

Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Fu walked quickly to a four-cornered attic with lights on.

Suddenly, Zhang Yunxiu stopped and asked Zhang Fu who was following behind him: "Is that man really Wang Gen's disciple?"

Zhang Fu took two deep breaths before answering, "Who cares? Who cares if he is right or not? Nowadays, any arrogant scholar claims to be a disciple of Saint Wang."

Zhang Yunxiu thought about it and agreed.

Wang Gen was a direct disciple of Wang Yangming and the founder of the "Taizhou School".

Nowadays, anyone who admires Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind will bring him up to enhance their own prestige. It is not easy to pretend to be Wang Yangming's disciple, but it is okay to pretend to be Wang Yangming's disciple.

The person in the attic claims to be Wang Gen’s second-generation disciple.

The School of Mind and Confucianism have always been incompatible. The former emphasizes "the ruler is the ruler, the minister is the minister, the father is the father, and the son is the son."

The School of Mind emphasizes "investigating things to acquire knowledge" and disdains the shackles of Confucianism.

There are even some arrogant people who have come up with such treasonous slogans as "Everyone can become a saint."

Such a slogan is obviously very attractive.

Angry young people are not a minority in any era, and the concept of psychology resonates with these young people.

Therefore, apart from Confucianism, the second largest school of thought in the Ming Dynasty was Wang Yangming's School of Mind. Even in most southern regions, the School of Mind was so popular that it suppressed orthodox Confucianism.

Today, I heard Zhang Fu say that someone who was interested in learning from him was coming to visit.

Zhang Yunxiu knew that this person was most likely here to add fuel to the fire.

But he also understood that this was an opportunity - an opportunity to completely hide himself behind the scenes and turn the conflict between the court and the Confucius family into a dispute between the two major factions of "Xinxue" and "Confucianism".

After much deliberation, Zhang Yunxiu decided to meet this "master".

After straightening his clothes, Zhang Yunxiu walked in, and Zhang Fu followed behind him holding a big red paper lantern.

Pushing open the door, Zhang Yunxiu looked inside.

A middle-aged scholar in his forties sat at the round table in the middle.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu and the other two coming in, the middle-aged scholar smiled faintly, stood up and bowed to them: "He Zheng, meet Zhang Sicheng."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly, walked over to He Zheng and sat down, and He Zheng followed suit.

Zhang Fu was very respectful. He poured another pot of tea for the two of them and then quietly left.

Because the two were not familiar with each other, Zhang Yunxiu did not explain everything to him. He just asked in a stiff tone, "Sir, why are you here in such a hurry?"

"For the people of the world!" He Zheng took a sip of tea and replied proudly.

Seeing this guy getting arrogant, Zhang Yunxiu smiled coldly and muttered, "Sir, you have found the wrong person. You should go to the Bodhisattva in the temple or the emperor for this matter. It's useless to go to me."

He Zheng did not answer, but just turned his eyes and stared at Zhang Yunxiu.

The two men looked at each other, and Zhang Yunxiu refused to give in. After a long time, He Zheng took the lead in breaking the deadlock: "It is said that Zhang Sicheng has ruthless means and a kind heart. I came to you to save the people of the world, and it is not the wrong person to come to you."

"Sir, you think too highly of me." Zhang Yunxiu laughed.

However, the tone was much softer than before, no longer so harsh and irritating.

Seeing that Zhang Yunxiu was indifferent to fame and fortune, He Zheng was secretly shocked: this man is only in his early twenties, but his Qi-cultivation skills are flawless. It was obviously him who should beg me, but now I have to beg him.

Knowing that someone would have to speak first today, He Zheng simply made it clear: "I'm here for the Kong family."

"Kong family. What happened to the Kong family?" Zhang Yunxiu tried his best to pretend to be calm.

"Well, if Zhang Sicheng still says this, then I have nothing to say and I'll leave now." He Zheng's eyes widened, his head and face turned black, and he made a gesture to leave.

Zhang Yunxiu grabbed He Zheng's sleeve and motioned him to sit down. After a brief exchange, Zhang Yunxiu talked to him about business: "I'm sure you know the emperor's decree today. Duke Yansheng is in the emperor's heart, and it's not something that can be changed by just two small people."

"Zhang Sicheng, the Kong family is a big family with deep roots. It cannot be shaken overnight. You and I know this." He Zheng nodded, then licked his lips and said his thoughts with a burning gaze, "The Kong family relies on nothing more than the respect of scholars all over the world."

"As long as...as long as your father and you can support my Xinxue. Let us open more academies in the capital to enlighten the people. Sooner or later, the foundation of the Kong family will be cut off."

He Zheng had been secretly observing this farce.

From Zhang Juzheng signing the assessment of students in the academy, to Hai Rui entering Qufu, to the drama performed by Han San and Zhao Wenshan.

He Zheng always maintains the attitude of an outsider, but is always ready to enter the game.

Xinxue has already flourished sufficiently in the south.

In the north, even in the court, it was still a minority. If... if he could expand the School of Mind to the north, how would later generations record him?

Don’t talk about calling ancestors or saints.

He must be a giant in the field of psychology.

Therefore, when he learned that Zhang father and son did not like Confucianism, he made up his mind to lobby Zhang Yunxiu.

Firstly, Zhang Yunxiu has a good relationship with the emperor, and he will definitely have a lot of say in the court in the future.

Secondly, young people are always easier to be agitated.

On the other side, Zhang Yunxiu sneered inwardly after listening to He Zheng's narration. It sounds good to enlighten the people of the world, but isn't it just a preparation for his own preaching?

If we have to spread something, it should be science.

Your psychology is almost catching up with theology.

When thinking of science, Zhang Yunxiu suddenly remembered two people: one was Xu Guangqi, and the other was the missionary Matteo Ricci.

These two are great treasures.

It’s time to recruit him to the capital.

"Zhang Sicheng." Seeing Zhang Yunxiu sitting there in silence, He Zheng's heart was beating fast, so he called out in a low voice.

"Ah?! Mr. He, please speak." Zhang Yunxiu woke up in shock.

"What do you think, Master Zhang?"

"what's up?"

He Zheng's face twitched. Did he just say all those words for nothing? But after all, he needed help, so He Zheng suppressed his anger and repeated what he had said before.

"Oh, this is feasible." Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly.

"Really?!" He Zheng's brows suddenly lit up with joy and he cried out.

"Mr. He, don't be happy yet." Zhang Yunxiu slammed the table and continued, "You have to find a place to give lectures in the capital, right? The land price in the capital is not cheap."

"Don't worry about that, Zhang Sicheng. My fellow disciples and I have already purchased two plots of land in the west of the city. As long as Yuanfu and Zhang Sicheng support us in teaching, we can start teaching."

money is not a problem.

The most important thing is to have the support of the dignitaries in the court.

Seeing that he had said this, Zhang Yunxiu had no choice but to agree, so he nodded and said, "Since you have this intention, then go ahead and tell me. Who knows, I will also open a school next to yours when the time comes."

"Hahaha, then I'd like to go and listen to it."

(End of this chapter)