Establishing a thousand-year family from the nobles of the Western Han Dynasty

Chapter 93: The rise of the Legalists, Xu Zhou falls ill

However, Liu Ju's gaze was completely different. He thought of something deeper.

The fundamental purpose of these legalists in saying this may not be to solve the problem of Confucianism using literature to disrupt the law, but to use this as an opportunity to let him take the lead in abiding by the law, thereby expanding the influence of the Legalists.

This was undoubtedly an offer that was hard to refuse, and Liu Ju could not find any reason to reject it, because this Taoist priest was truly giving sincere advice.

What he said makes damn sense.

"You are right. Prime Minister Xu, please draft a rule. The Confucianism that disrupts the law must be completely suppressed. I will not allow the national policy of the Han Dynasty to be undermined."

After a moment, Liu Ju decided to obey, because Confucianism had indeed been too rampant in recent years, and its power in the court and influence among the people far surpassed that of Legalism.

This is also contrary to the need for checks and balances, not to mention that he prefers the Legalists in his heart, so it is necessary to support them.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

All the ministers cheered, because they could predict that the new emperor was very fond of law, and they were about to usher in great prosperity!
After Xu Ye promised, he said, "Your Majesty, the time for selecting filial and honest people is coming soon, and the allocation of quotas still needs your decision."

"Everything remains the same. The quotas at the Imperial College will be filled according to the vacancies. Our Han Dynasty needs both Confucian officials and legal officials. The two complement each other and are indispensable."

Liu Ju was actually hinting at supporting the Legalists by giving more seats to the court, because Confucianists accounted for a larger proportion of doctoral students in the Imperial College, and therefore the number of Confucian officials was greater than that of Legalists.

"Yes, I will check it myself." Xu Ye immediately understood. It seemed that there would be another bloody storm.

Confucianism won last time, and this time Legalism is going to win back.

After that, it was just daily government affairs and the routine mud-slinging with ministers. Liu Ju had been attending court and supervising the country since the Yuanshou period, so he was certainly very adept at this.

At the same time, he also took advantage of the opportunity of both sides to throw dirty water on each other to purge a large number of disobedient ministers. His method was very simple. He first let the Imperial College engage in a public opinion war, and then confirmed the charges, imprisoned them, and beheaded them all.

Tried and tried.

Although the ministers were frightened, they still held on to the hope that the people who would be killed would be their political enemies.

The main focus in the court was still party struggles, and the fights between relatives by marriage and nobles had been gradually eliminated, because Huo Qubing, the head of the relatives by marriage, was very Buddhist and rarely expressed any opinions except requesting war.

He is also full of desire to survive.

The Confucian and Legalist parties naturally have ideological conflicts, so it is impossible for them to form an alliance. They have been fighting fiercely for many years, and framing others is commonplace.

Apart from some headaches, there is nothing to worry about, because when the two parties fight, the emperor can maneuver between them to ensure the balance of power and keep the fight going.

The dispute between Confucianism and Legalism will also become the main theme of China for thousands of years. Almost any party dispute is essentially a dispute over ideas, and conflicts between individuals can be put aside in the face of "major issues of right and wrong."

The effect was so good mainly due to the establishment of Imperial College, which gave the two sides another source of orthodoxy.

Everyone believes that they are the ones who can lead the country towards a better future, and students are willing to give up their lives for their "beliefs."

It is also the intensification of this sentiment that has led to the intellectuals being particularly strong-willed, even highly exclusive, and holding a contemptuous attitude towards foreigners.

.........

North of Chang'an, Imperial University.

A number of elegantly decorated schools are located here, covering a vast area large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of students. This is also a treasure land that countless people flock to.

As long as you succeed in becoming an official here, you won’t have to worry about your future. Your senior brothers have infiltrated almost the entire court and have friends everywhere.

In the eyes of Tai students, there is only a difference between classmates and country bumpkins. They do not take other people seriously at all and are at the top of the contempt chain.

"Learning without thinking is useless; thinking without learning is dangerous..."

The sound of reading resounded throughout the room. A dozen highly respected doctors stood by, looking at the smiling old man in front of them with great respect and concern.

When an old man walked into a classroom, the doctor who was teaching immediately stood up to greet him, and the students also became solemn upon seeing this.

"Student greets teacher." The respected doctor with gray hair on his temples was so humble that it made people feel dizzy.

The students below were all stunned. They knew how high the teacher's prestige was. It was said that even high-ranking officials like the Nine Ministers and the Governors had to greet him when they saw him.

It simply refreshed my cognition.

"Who are you? Have I ever taught you?" The old man narrowed his eyes, trying hard to recognize the identity of the person in front of him.

But I really can't remember.

"Student Li Siyan, you taught several classes in person back then, and I still remember them clearly."

The great sage named Li Siyan's eyes revealed admiration. He had studied in the Imperial Academy for half his life and thought he had achieved something. But compared with his teacher, he was like the bright moon and a firefly!

Even though there are many things that are not understood, the teacher can still explain them with ease, which is really admirable. It is said that even the saint himself is not as good as the teacher.

"Li Siyan...ah! It's you, kid. I remember you. You were the one who made me speechless back then."

The old man made an expression of sudden enlightenment, pointed at him and said with a smile.

"Um... that's Chen Nong, the current Grand Master of Horses, not a student."

"What I said is true!" The old man seemed quite angry. What he least wanted to admit was that he had a bad memory.

"Yes, yes, teacher is right, that is the student." Li Siyan was helpless, but could only obey with a smile.

The teacher's health is very poor, and he must try to calm down. The Imperial College cannot do without the Imperial College Master Xu Zhou.

"Well, that's pretty good." Xu Zhou, who was blind in one eye, patted the other person's shoulder with great satisfaction.

He could feel that his health was getting worse, so he wanted to see more of this place where he had worked hard all his life and might never see it again.

With the help of a doctor, Xu Zhou turned to the students below and became more and more satisfied when he saw their energetic faces.

"Okay, okay, these are all students from the Confucian Academy! They will all be of great use in the future!"

"Teacher, this is the law school." A doctor came over and reminded in a low voice.

"Oh, oh, oh... who cares about Confucianism or law? Do you know what my old uncle said? Confucianism and law... they are all one family. There should be no distinction between them."

In fact, Xu Zhou was very tired of the struggle between the Confucian and Legalist parties. When he was young, he certainly knew that politics required this aspect, but when he got older, he didn't want to use his brain much.

Peaceful coexistence is the right way.

"What the teacher has taught me is right." The white-haired doctor didn't dare to talk back.

This sentence is a treason anywhere, but the problem is that Xu Zhou said this! And he quoted the saint master Xu Gong. Who dares to refute it? If you say no, you will be scolded.

It turned out to be the master... The students below suddenly realized what was going on.

Clang.

Suddenly, Xu Zhou's body went limp and he fell down, but fortunately he was caught by the doctors nearby.

"Call a doctor, call a doctor!"

Suddenly, the whole school was in an uproar, and the Imperial College Commander Xu Zhou fainted. This was definitely a major event that could shake the foundation of the country!

I don't know how many students will be heartbroken because of this. I don't know how many of the Nine Ministers are Xu Zhou's students, or have been promoted by him. The reason why they are close to the Xu family is also because of this relationship.

Apart from anything else, the Xu family in Henan will experience a major earthquake, and their extraordinary advantages will be gone.

(End of this chapter)