The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 16: Enemies of All Readers
He came because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's affairs concern the safety of the country and the people.

I came here because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said in the street that he loves the people like his own children.

Unexpectedly, I got a pleasant surprise on the first day.

Things that seemed insignificant in the past and that he had never thought of before, now seem to have such a big impact.

If the punctuation is improved and regulated, it will affect all aspects of the Ming Dynasty.

“Brother Wang, Shen Yan, you want to fully annotate the ancient books, the Four Books and the Five Classics, which will have a huge impact.

It also involves the content of the current imperial examination.

What about Master Zhu's Annotations on the Four Books?" Li Xunhuan pondered.

Wang Shouren paused, then said firmly: "It is difficult, but should we do it?

Is Master Zhu's Annotations on the Four Books completely correct?"

Li Xunhuan, Liu Jin and others looked at Wang Shouren in amazement.

You are questioning the "Collected Commentaries on the Four Books" and involving the content of the imperial examination. Do you want to make enemies with all the scholars in the Ming Dynasty?
Not only that, there is also the problem of the court system.

"Your Highness, I beg you to order that what we said today must not leave this palace even once." Li Xunhuan sighed, bowed to Zhu Houzhao and pleaded.

"Why?" Zhu Houzhao came back to his senses with increasingly clear eyes and asked curiously.

"Because if I don't do this, my brother, I'm afraid you will be regarded as an enemy by all scholars.

Even his life may be in danger." Li Xun Huan said in a deep voice.

Wang Shouren looked at Li Xunhuan with gratitude.

Some people know each other for a lifetime and yet remain nothing more than acquaintances.

Some people, just meeting for the first time, can become friends for life.

He had another gain today.

"It would be so domineering to be enemies with all scholars." Zhu Houzhao looked envious when he heard this. Then he slapped the table and said with shining eyes: "This prince is here, this prince wants to be enemies with all scholars."

"Cough cough cough."

Not only Liu Jin and others, but even Wang Shouren and Li Xunhuan couldn't help coughing.

Wang Shouren immediately suppressed his hidden thoughts and bowed solemnly, saying, "Your Highness, the scholars of the Ming Dynasty are also your people. You love the people like your own children, so how can you be their enemy?"

"You are right." Zhu Houzhao thought about it and said a little disappointedly.

"Your Highness, I was reckless before. Marking all the ancient texts, the Four Books and the Five Classics with punctuation is an unprecedented task and we must not rush it," Wang Shouren said seriously.

Li Xunhuan breathed a sigh of relief.

This matter was so huge that he felt as if the sky was falling and the earth was cracking when he thought about it.

"What unprecedented event? Let this prince do it." Zhu Houzhao became interested again.

It was an unprecedented event, so of course he had to come.

Wang Shouren was silent for a moment, still underestimating the prince's character.

I also overestimated the prince's ability to understand.

After all, she is less than six years old.

"This matter can only be attempted after the prince has completely gained control of the Ming Dynasty in the future." Wang Shouren said solemnly.

Li Xunhuan, Liu Jin and others frowned, but did not speak.

Li Xunhuan's feelings were a little complicated, but he thought that what Wang Shouren said did not seem to be wrong.

Liu Jin and the others were not qualified to speak at this time.

"Why not now? Do you underestimate me?" Zhu Houzhao was unhappy.

"No, it's just that I'm not prepared either." Wang Shouren said seriously. He didn't think the prince was young and just gave him a perfunctory response.

"Okay, let's talk about it when you are ready. Remember to hurry up." Zhu Houzhao reminded.

"Yes." Wang Shouren replied.

After a pause, he continued, “Let’s not talk about marking the punctuation marks for ancient books, the Four Books and the Five Classics.

However, strictly enforcing punctuation in all articles and official documents will definitely do more good than harm.

In the past, there were many punctuation marks during the time of Emperor Taizu. Why are they becoming less and less today?

In particular, most official documents have no punctuation, allowing officials to misinterpret the meaning in various ways.

You should report this to Your Majesty and promote the practice of sentence reading."

Li Xunhuan pondered for a moment. Although this matter was not small, it should indeed be done.

He said solemnly, "Brother Wang, what you said is very true. I am willing to write a joint letter with Brother Wang."

"Thank you, Brother Li." Wang Shouren clasped his fists and bowed.

"You're welcome, brother."

"You think this sentence is good for the Ming Dynasty?" Zhu Houzhao rolled his eyes again and understood something.

Marking punctuation is a good thing.

This was he who suggested it.

"The advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages," Wang Shouren affirmed.

Li Xunhuan also nodded in agreement.

"Hehehe, this prince is indeed the most amazing. He thought of punctuation." Zhu Houzhao smiled proudly.

Wang Shouren and Li Xunhuan were just slightly stunned and then smiled with relief.

This was indeed proposed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

no problem.

"I will tell my father right now and ask him to promote this sentence." Zhu Houzhao stood up and was about to run to the Qianqing Palace.

"Your Highness, wait a minute." Wang Shouren stretched out his hand to stop him, and said seriously: "Your Highness, if we want to promote punctuation, we need to perfect it before it can be formally stipulated by the court.

Your Highness, don't be anxious. It's better to wait until Brother Li and his students are perfect. "

"You don't want to steal the credit from me, do you?" Zhu Houzhao looked at them suspiciously.

Wang Shouren and Li Xunhuan were at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Reporting this sentence to the emperor was not a good thing for them.

Entering the Eastern Palace and officially becoming the prince's teacher was, for these two people with special circumstances, a matter of attracting attention.

If they report this sentence again, they will offend countless people. It is foreseeable that those who criticize them will become even more fierce.

"Your Highness, after the sentence reading is complete, I will report it to Your Majesty.

Firstly, although punctuation is beneficial to the country and the people, it will eventually offend many people.

Your Highness is still young, so it is not appropriate for him to come forward completely.

Secondly, it can be said that it was proposed by Your Highness, and I perfected this matter in order to please Your Highness.

In this way, His Highness's contributions will not be diminished.

"My brother, you won't have to participate then." Li Xun Huan said after a moment's hesitation.

"You want to steal his credit?" Zhu Houzhao pointed at Wang Shouren and before Li Xunhuan and Wang Shouren could say anything, he shouted:

"Who would be offended by something that benefits the country and the people?

Such a person must be a bad guy. This prince wants to see who is the bad guy.

Find them and I will kill them all."

Li Xunhuan had a headache. At the age of eighteen, he felt that it would be a bit difficult to communicate with the Crown Prince, so he could only look at Wang Shouren.

“Your Highness, Brother Li is not trying to steal the student’s credit. It’s just that the student is just a juren and not an official. He is worried that the student will attract too much criticism, so he wants to take all the pressure on himself.” Wang Shouren explained.

"So you are a man of loyalty." Zhu Houzhao looked at Li Xunhuan with a smile.

"Your Highness, thank you for the compliment." Li Xunhuan said.

"Your Highness, do you really have to read a book with punctuation?" Wang Yangming pondered and asked solemnly.

"Of course." Zhu Houzhao nodded immediately.

"Then Your Highness has to step in to handle this matter." Wang Shouren said firmly.

"Brother Wang!" Li Xunhuan was shocked.

Although it’s only the first day in the Eastern Palace.

But regardless of his feelings for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince or his loyalty as a subject, he believed that the young Crown Prince should not be allowed to come forward.

Liu Jin and the other two also glared at Wang Shouren.

Only Zhu Houzu felt very happy.

It has to be this prince!

“Your Highness wants to read the Four Books with punctuation, even if it means annotating the punctuation of the Four Books according to the Annotated Four Books. This is no small matter and cannot be decided by the student and Brother Li alone.

This should be decided in the court, and the Crown Prince must step in on this matter.

With this incident as a starting point, it will be much easier to promote the practice of sentence reading. ” Wang Shouren explained to everyone.

Li Xunhuan and the others were silent. Yes, the prince wanted to read the Four Books with punctuation.

This is also the core issue, and the prince must step in personally.

"If we don't cultivate His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's ability to deviate from the norm and distinguish his intentions, will the court agree?" Li Xunhuan frowned.

"The ability to distinguish one's intentions from those of other schools is not very important to Your Highness right now.

As for whether the court will agree?

We are willing to let you and me come to study for His Highness, so what else can't we agree to?" Wang Shouren said with a smile.

Li Xunhuan was stunned for a moment and then couldn't help laughing.

Yes, even he, who was marginalized and wanted to resign, and his brother, a successful candidate in the imperial examination, were allowed to study for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

What's more, this is the case?
Liu Jin and the other two looked at each other and continued in silence.

"Your Highness, once Brother Li and I have completed the punctuation, we will report your opinion to the court.

Then I will trouble Your Highness to ask His Majesty for his opinion on this matter." Wang Shouren said bluntly.

"No problem, don't worry. My father, the prince, will definitely agree. If he doesn't agree, I will never forgive him." Zhu Houzhao patted his chest and took the responsibility.

Wang Shouren, Li Xunhuan and others were all silent.

They really don't want to hear this kind of words, and they can't hear it either.

His Majesty's love for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is probably beyond their imagination.

He is the first prince to achieve this in a thousand years.

Even the Crown Prince Yiwen during the reign of Emperor Taizu was inferior to him.

"Hurry up and finish it." Zhu Houzhao immediately urged them to work, feeling a rare excitement and joy in his heart.

This was the third most important thing he felt he had done, besides practicing martial arts and beating up bad guys.

The more he thought about it, the more impatient he became.

"Three hours to enter school?" Li Xunhuan was a little hesitant. What should he do now?
Three hours is still early for school.

"Your Highness, why don't I and my brother discuss and perfect this in the East Palace first?

Wait until the three-hour school entrance time is up before leaving the East Palace.

Your Highness can go do other things." Wang Shouren said at this time.

"Okay, go quickly." Zhu Houzhao said without hesitation.

"I beg Your Highness to order that what was said today must not be spread outside the East Palace." Li Xunhuan bowed again.

"Liu Banban, Da Cao Banban, Er Cao Banban, you are all forbidden to tell anyone." Zhu Houzhao immediately gave the order.

"Yes, I understand." Liu Jin and the other two responded.

Afterwards, Wang Shouren and the other man were taken to a side hall for discussion.

Zhu Houzhao was happy for a while, and then began to practice martial arts as usual.

He still had some doubts about the fact that reading was invincible.

He was very sure that he was invincible in the world after practicing martial arts, and he would not delay.

at the same time.

Outside the Eastern Palace, only two of them were seriously injured and left the palace, while two remained inside.

Many officials breathed a sigh of relief.

Many also felt some relief.

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(End of this chapter)