Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 481: Ushering in an Era of Peace for All Generations!

In Confucian debates, the choice between two options often contains various traps.

The debates between the two great powers, and between Confucianism and Mohism, were nothing more than this.

No matter how weak the situation, Confucian scholars can rely on a set of principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame to ensure their invincibility.

The crux of the problem is that people want to get to the bottom of things and determine right from wrong, so they must choose the optimal solution.

However, for Yue Ling, who is well-versed in dialectical materialism in the new era, her political education teacher had repeatedly emphasized that when faced with a choice between two options, one should think of the principle of unity of opposites, and all problems would become clear and easily solved.

The essence of the "either/or" trap lies in its fundamental metaphysical way of thinking.

It views problems in isolation, statically, and one-sidedly, only seeing the opposition between the two sides of a contradiction, while ignoring or denying their unity.

Only by recognizing the universality and complexity of contradictions can we clearly understand that problems in the real world are often complex and involve multiple intertwined factors.

Simply reducing it to two extreme options is an oversimplification of the real-world problem.

It was as if the Ma Yuan he had memorized in the past was constantly impacting Yue Ling's nerves, allowing him to refute without even having to think.

While everyone thought it would be a very tricky situation and eagerly awaited Yue Ling's answer, Yue Ling cleared his throat. This time, without even taking the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he began his final, magnificent performance in just a few breaths.

"How utterly wrong! What is this talk of 'choosing' and 'prioritizing'? The way of the sages and the practical skills are one! Like water and fire complementing each other, yin and yang generating each other!"

Yue Ling shouted angrily, but Mei Hanlin stood there stunned, completely bewildered. He never expected Yue Ling to answer like that, not making a choice and completely deviating from the expected pattern.

The students below were also dumbfounded, their expressions frozen.

"Perhaps Mei Hanlin is getting old. When I took the stage, I said, 'That which is above form is called the Way, and that which is below form is called the instrument.' The sages told us that the Way and the instrument are inseparable!"

Turning to the students around him, Yue Ling spread his arms as if embracing a statue of a sage, and began to speak about classical texts with great charisma.

"Without tools, how can the Way be carried? Without the Way, how can tools be properly positioned? Understanding the meaning of the classics is called comprehending the principles; mastering mathematics and craftsmanship is called putting them into practice! Comprehending the principles without putting them into practice is empty talk; putting them into practice without understanding the principles easily leads one astray. Only when the two are combined can one attain the true essence of 'practical application to the world'!"

"The sages taught the Six Arts: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics, with mathematics prominently featured! The craftsman Lu Ban, with his unparalleled skill, is also a manifestation of the 'Dao' in his objects! Your forced separation of the Dao from its objects and your denigration of the 'objects' are a misinterpretation and betrayal of the Daoist tradition!"

Yue Ling suddenly turned around, grabbed Gu Yanting by the collar, glared at him fiercely, and said, "Or are you deliberately doing this, treating the Daoist tradition like a little girl to be decorated by others, embellishing it only to your own advantage, so as to monopolize knowledge, seek personal gain, and cut off the path to advancement for those from humble backgrounds?!"

Gu Yanting was caught off guard by Yue Ling.

He hadn't joined in the debate between Yue Ling and Mei Hanlin; he was just listening intently from the sidelines.

He thought it was none of his business and didn't think much of it, but Yue Ling seized on his carelessness and pressed him right in front of him.

Trying to break free from Yue Ling's grasp is, of course, a pipe dream, but answering Yue Ling's question is even more difficult.

Even Mei Hanlin, who had initially raised the question, was still standing there in a daze, unable to come to his senses.

"How can you use such a deceitful and cunning excuse?"

Mei Hanlin was deeply shocked. Yue Ling hadn't actually answered his question at all. He had gone beyond the answer he had designed and offered a new interpretation, yet he couldn't be told that Yue Ling was wrong.

Especially after Yue Ling's highly infectious speech, the entire audience erupted in cheers.

This stroke, which redefined the framework of debate, made him seem to have reached a height that no one before him had ever achieved, taking everyone to another level and completely transcending the debate.

With such charisma, he instantly overwhelmed another learned scholar, Gu Yanting, and completely captured the hearts of all the students present.

The civil officials turned pale, while the military officials, even if they could only hear the gist of what was being said, could tell the outcome from the sheer force of their voices. They all clapped and cheered, standing up for Yue Ling.

Instead of stopping there and ending the debate, Yue Ling struck the bell with a gavel again.

As the tolling of the bells faded, all eyes turned to Yue Ling, who stepped forward again to face Emperor Longyou. He surveyed the officials, nobles, and scholars of the realm, and his voice, booming like a bell, seemed to pierce the very tops of their heads as he proclaimed: "Your Majesty, gentlemen, and scholars bear witness. Today's debate is not merely about adding or subtracting a few subjects! It is a contest for the fate of the nation, a contest for the orthodox tradition!"

Yue Ling frowned slightly and continued, "In this era of great strife, with powerful enemies surrounding us, the nine borders are in turmoil, and the seas are not safe."

"With the rapid advancement of firearms and the increasing efficiency of ships and carriages, our Celestial Empire is already showing signs of falling behind. Should we continue to indulge in our delusions, cling to outdated doctrines, engage in empty talk about benevolence and righteousness, and sit idly by while our national strength declines, our military preparedness weakens, and our people suffer?"

"Should we open our eyes, embrace change, leverage the strengths of all, and compensate for the weaknesses of our nation? Should we cultivate true pillars of society who are knowledgeable about changes throughout history, discerning trends across the world, and possess practical skills for governing the country?"

"Are we willing to cling to the old ways, remain stagnant, and ultimately be crushed by the tides of time? Or are we determined to forge ahead, innovate, and rebuild the backbone of China's glory?"

Yue Ling spoke with great sincerity and earnestness, “You all can easily see that the Northern Barbarians are keeping a low profile and the Jurchens have been lying low for a long time. And the threat on the vast sea should not be ignored.”

"The Hongyi people can build ships weighing millions of catties and sail across the ocean to trade with our dynasty. In the future, they will be able to convert these merchant ships into gunboats and knock on our gates."

"Eight years ago, at the foot of this capital, I personally led troops to the city gates to fight against the northern barbarians. The reason we were able to defend the city and defeat the northern barbarians was because of the advantage of firearms. And these firearms were purchased from Westerners, not made by our dynasty."

"And tell the Ministry of Works, is the artillery battalion capable of building such sturdy ships and powerful cannons? If a formidable enemy were to invade one day, how would we defend ourselves?"

"To be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace and to nip problems in the bud is what we, as people of noble aspirations, strive for throughout our lives."

"Reforming the imperial examination system is imperative! It is not for the sake of novelty, but for national salvation and survival. It is for the sake of the country, for the sake of all people, and for the sake of future generations!"

Yue Ling paused, his tone turning serious, and the entire room fell silent.

Among the crowd, only faint breathing could be heard.

A moment later, Yue Ling spoke again, pointing to Mei Hanlin, who had somehow collapsed to his knees, and said loudly, "What Grand Scholar Mei just said was, 'To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!'"

"Zhang Zai's four lines are a wake-up call, as you all know. Today, we are working to usher in an era of peace for all generations!"

Yue Ling waved his hand and threw the mallet onto the top of the bell. The sound of the bell lingered for a long time.

The entire venue fell silent. Once the sound completely disappeared, the emotions that had been suppressed for so long erupted like a volcano.

Thousands of students stood up, and even officials, setting aside their status, stood up as well. Some elderly people were moved to tears.

A shout rang out from the crowd: "Let's rebuild the world!"

In an instant, it triggered a thunderous response.

The sheer number of people was so infectious that even the most thick-skinned officials could no longer restrain themselves. With embarrassed expressions, they helped each other to their feet and bowed to Yue Ling in the audience.

Everything is set in stone!

Inside the Wenhua Hall, Emperor Longyou was overjoyed. Unable to contain his emotions any longer, he overturned the tea saucer on the table and laughed loudly, "Good, good, good! What a wonderful way to usher in an era of peace for all generations! What a wonderful way to rebuild the world! Just as it should be! Just as it should be!"

Turning around abruptly, Emperor Longyou pressed, "What does the Empress Dowager think? Am I in the wrong?"

The Empress Dowager looked exhausted, and as she gazed at the kneeling scholar Mei Hanlin, she felt even more weary.

It was as if he was kneeling there, as if everything the previous dynasty had upheld had succumbed to the new dynasty, and that she, the last survivor, should also be laid to rest forever.

This wasn't the first time the Empress Dowager had lost to Emperor Longyou. This time, however, she wasn't hysterical like before. Instead, she was quite calm. She coughed a few times to cover her embarrassment and said in a low voice, "I'm tired. Your Majesty, please allow me to return to the palace to rest."

Emperor Longyou waved his hand, and palace maids escorted the Empress Dowager out.

Staring at the Empress Dowager's forlorn departing figure, Emperor Longyou's eyes flashed with a sinister light.

Xia Shouzhong invited Emperor Longyou to come out of the hall to preside over the closing ceremony of the literary gathering. Emperor Longyou gladly went, and the young ladies of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion inside the hall could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

They unleashed their natural instincts, high-fiving and celebrating, their laughter filling the air.

The Empress was delighted to see all this. She summoned the palace maids and, with a doting air, bestowed headdresses and jewelry upon the young girls who had come to the palace with Yue Ling, displaying the demeanor of an empress.

"An'er, have you learned anything?"

The Empress lowered her head and asked the eldest prince beneath her knees.

The eldest prince, Liu An, bowed respectfully and said sincerely, "The Duke of Dingguo's argument is thought-provoking, and practical learning can indeed make up for the shortcomings of the eight-legged essay. The concerns of great scholars such as Mei Hanlin are also reasonable. Sudden reforms will be fraught with difficulties. We will have to see how the Duke of Dingguo will carry out the reforms step by step."

The Empress nodded silently. As a candidate for the crown prince, it was wise of her not to take sides casually.

Although Mei Hanlin is now a fallen man, he still has the talent to compile classics and historical texts. Those in high positions should make the best use of him, and stepping in to smooth things over is the best way for the court to handle the situation.

Unlike his father, who was decisive and efficient.

After the reforms, everything is new, and having a moderate and conservative ruler is not necessarily a bad thing.

Looking at the second prince in the middle, the Empress asked, "Yi'er, what's your opinion?"

The Second Prince Liu Yi seemed to have been waiting for a long time. When the question was asked, he couldn't wait to speak, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Duke of Dingguo has made outstanding military achievements, repeatedly protecting the peace of our dynasty on the battlefield. He has real insight! People like Mei Gu talk about benevolence and righteousness but know nothing about firearms manufacturing. They can be called corrupt scholars who mislead the country!"

"Your subject believes that we should immediately implement Yue Ling's plan to reform the system. How can the path to a strong military and prosperous people be delayed? If anyone obstructs us, we should take this debate as a model to set the record straight!"

The Empress nodded silently.

If Emperor Longyou's life's work fails to materialize, choosing the second prince as crown prince to take over the power of reform would also be a good option.

However, this second prince is by nature brave and fierce, and he values ​​martial arts over literature, so he is inevitably suspected of being ambitious and eager for quick success.

Turning her head again, the Empress asked the Third Prince Liu Yun, "Yun'er, what do you think now?"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager." The third prince was the youngest and the thinnest. He was usually quiet and didn't talk much.

"Duke Dingguo's victory lay in 'dividing power,' using 'great benefits and righteousness' to separate the poor families in the north from the aristocratic families in the south, and then using 'the mutual generation of the Way and its manifestations' to dismantle the shackles of the orthodox tradition."

"This is not a victory of a single debate, but rather a result of the times. The Emperor suspended court for several months but still allowed this debate, probably because he knew all along that the new learning was inevitable. The Jiangnan academic clique has monopolized the classics for a long time, and Yue Ling is breaking the deadlock on behalf of the poor scholars of the world."

Upon hearing this, the Empress thought he was very knowledgeable.

The summary of the victory was very accurate, as was the summary of people's hearts. In the end, the credit was even given to His Majesty, which shielded Yue Ling from some of his brilliance. It was as if he had revealed a little bit of his worldly wisdom.

The Empress was very satisfied, but she did not reward them easily. She did not want the old story of Xuanwu Gate to be repeated among her children, so she would not show favoritism and tried her best to avoid all of this.

"All are good. Go and rest. Another day, we will have the Duke of Dingguo come to the palace to teach the three of you."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave."

……

When news from the Wenhua Hall reached outside the imperial city, Yue Ling's impassioned speech resonated even more strongly with the larger crowds outside.

The students tore up the banners that had previously criticized Yue Ling, threw them on the ground, and trampled them.

Many others suddenly realized that they had been manipulated by someone with ulterior motives.

Even though Yue Ling has never publicly announced his reform methods or his propositions, thousands of students have gathered to oppose him, which is truly contrary to the gentlemanly principles they have cultivated over the years.

Just when everyone was at a loss for how to absolve themselves of their sins, they saw students from Qingfeng Academy weaving through the crowd, redistributing banners.

The above is Yue Ling's defense speech during this "Great Debate at the Imperial Lecture".

"That which is above form is called the Way, and that which is below form is called the instrument; the Way and the instrument are inseparable!"

"Introduce new knowledge, build new paths..."

The students understood immediately and returned to their old ways, raising flags outside the capital to show their support for change and embrace the reforms.

Students gradually emerged from the imperial city, most of them suddenly realizing their mistake and joining the march.

Some, like Jia Baoyu and Mei Wenhe, turned pale as if they had lost their parents.

Jia Baoyu's world has collapsed. Today, he truly witnessed the brilliance of the bright moon and realized the gap between him and Yue Ling, which was as vast as an insurmountable chasm!

Mei Wenhe's world collapsed. His most revered father, whom he had respected since childhood, was rendered speechless in front of Yue Ling, just like a child!

We are both wanderers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?

The two stood blankly outside the city gate, having never met before, yet they seemed to feel a mutual appreciation for each other.

A carriage drove by and stopped in front of Jia Baoyu.

Inside, Xia Jingui lifted the sedan curtain, glared at the outside, and said, "You pig-dog, what are you waiting for? You could never match the Duke of Dingguo's abilities in several lifetimes. Don't embarrass me outside. If you fail the imperial examination, you'll repay my great kindness by serving me like a cow or a horse from now on."

Opening his eyes, he found a scholar beside Jia Baoyu. This man had a dignified appearance and was more imposing than Baoyu, who was effeminate. However, he was also wilted, like a flower that had not been watered.

Xia Jingui smiled mischievously, "Where is this young master going? Would you like a ride?"

(End of this chapter)