Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 408 The Debate Over New Learning! A Clear Stance vs. Self-Preservation!

Among scholars in the early Ming Dynasty, Fang Xiaoru's name was widely known and his reputation was far-reaching.

The young Xie Jin was no less impressive, and he too made a name for himself in the literary and official circles, attracting much attention.

Moreover, although Fang Xiaoru was extremely talented, he never participated in the imperial examinations.

As a prized student of the great Confucian scholar Song Lian, he was recommended by others and was able to meet the emperor directly, thus bypassing the conventional path of advancement through the imperial examination and reaching the emperor's ears directly.

Xie Jin was regarded as a child prodigy from a young age. It is said that he was exceptionally gifted, could read ten lines at a glance, had a photographic memory, could write ten thousand words a day, and had read extensively in Confucian classics since childhood.

It is said that by the age of ten, he had already mastered the principles of the Four Books and Five Classics.
By the age of fifteen, he had become incredibly learned, able to quote all sorts of allusions with ease, which amazed many learned scholars.

Originally, Xie Jin wanted to participate in the imperial examination and make his mark, but his father forced him to stay at home for three years to cultivate his character and settle down.

Xie Jin did not emerge from seclusion until he was eighteen years old, and in one fell swoop, he won the title of Jieyuan in the Jiangxi provincial examination.

He then passed the provincial and palace examinations with flying colors, ranking among the top.

Such remarkable talent at such a young age truly made those old Confucian scholars who had spent their entire lives studying feel ashamed and overshadowed by his brilliance.

After entering the court as an official, Xie Jin submitted numerous memorials to the emperor, criticizing current affairs and malpractices.

His report caused a huge sensation throughout the court and the public.

For example, he once submitted a memorial impeaching Yuan Tai, the Left Censor-in-Chief.

Although he failed to bring down Yuan Tai at the time, Xie Jin's reputation and prestige made Yuan Tai wary, and even though he harbored resentment, he dared not retaliate against him.

Moreover, Xie Jin also wrote a memorial to the throne to plead for justice for Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han.

It should be noted that Li Shanchang's appointment was personally approved by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Xie Jin's move was extremely risky.

However, Old Zhu ultimately did not punish him for this.

Later, Xie Jin left the imperial court for various reasons and devoted himself to teaching among the common people.

Although he was far removed from the world of martial arts, he did not fade into obscurity.

Instead, he cultivated a reputation among the people based on his profound knowledge and traveled around lecturing and spreading his teachings.

Wherever he went, students flocked to him.

As time went on, Xie Jin's reputation grew louder and his influence expanded.

That is why scholars were so surprised when they suddenly heard his name, their eyes filled with admiration and awe.

When Xie Jin heard someone call him a "child prodigy," he felt a mix of emotions, a sense of both amusement and exasperation.

After all, those were just words of praise given to me by others when I was a child.

But who could have imagined that after growing up, experiencing the world, even becoming an official, lecturing everywhere, and having many disciples, and becoming a "teacher" admired by many students, the name "child prodigy" would still follow him everywhere and be hard to shake off.

In the legends of outsiders, he seems to always be that clever young child, rather than the mature, steady, experienced, and insightful Confucian scholar he is today!

I don't know whether I should be happy about this reputation or sad about being bound by this label.
For a moment, I was filled with a myriad of emotions.

Xie Jin smiled wryly and said, "I dare not accept the title of 'sir.' I am no longer an official of the court, but a commoner, living a carefree life in the martial world."

"Mr. Xie is humble and admirable." The scholar's face was filled with joy, his lips slightly upturned, and his eyes revealed admiration. He smiled and said, "His wisdom rivals the sun and moon, and his virtue fills the eight directions. This is what makes a great man."

"Although Mr. Xie does not serve as an official in the imperial court, he is extremely learned, talented, and of impeccable character, with lofty and extraordinary aspirations."

"For someone of your stature, what is inappropriate about addressing you as 'Sir'?"

The scholar swayed his head and spoke in a refined manner, his words filled with praise for Xie Jin.

However, despite saying this, he did not stubbornly stick to his own opinion, but rather very tactfully and obediently changed his address to "Mr. Xie".

His skill in reading people's expressions and flattering them was displayed perfectly, and his quick wit and adaptability were truly masterful.

He doesn't seem to be an ordinary person.

Whether it was because Xie Jin was arrogant and believed he truly deserved the title of "Master," or because he felt there was no point in continuing to decline, he simply smiled lightly, a smile that carried a hint of nonchalance, and did not refute it further.

Upon seeing this, the people around quickly stepped forward and respectfully greeted Xie Jin.

Xie Jin's reputation was renowned and extremely famous.

Even most illiterate peddlers and laborers have heard of this legendary figure who was called a "child prodigy" since childhood.

In the eyes of ordinary people, such a person, who could inspire such admiration from scholars, must be a reincarnation of the God of Literature, possessing extraordinary talent.

Although Fang Xiaoru was equally famous, he was more than ten years older than Xie Jin.

People are often more curious about young geniuses.

For these people, even just meeting Xie Jin, or exchanging a few words, would be something they could boast about to their friends and family, becoming a source of great pride.

They were naturally happy to come over and chat.

Xie Jin quickly cupped his hands in greeting, his face beaming with smiles, and politely returned the greetings to everyone.

Inevitably, there was another round of mutual flattery and polite exchanges.

After everyone had finished exchanging greetings, Xie Jin sat down again. Someone in the crowd then asked, "Mr. Xie, you have come to the capital by imperial decree to discuss the new education system. We wonder what your views are on this matter. Could you please tell us?"

Upon hearing this, the scholar who had just been praising Xie Jin and was still all smiles instantly changed his expression.

The imperial court summoned Xie Jin to the capital to discuss national affairs, intending for him to offer advice and suggestions within the court, rather than to engage in unrestrained and eloquent discussions among the common people.

Ordinary people, when they have nothing to do, might occasionally discuss national affairs, and the imperial court generally won't interfere much.

Even if the secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard heard about it and reported it, as long as the content of the discussion was not excessive and did not openly slander the royal family, the people above, even His Majesty the Emperor, would usually just laugh it off.

However, Xie Jin's situation was quite different.

Given his status and influence among scholars and the general public, any casual remarks he made could be seen as reckless criticism of the government.

If what you say aligns with the wishes of those above, then everything will naturally go smoothly.

However, if there is any disagreement, the censor will immediately impeach him, putting him in a difficult situation and leaving him with no way out.

Ordinary people might not understand the implications, but this scholar came from an official family and had been exposed to officialdom since childhood. He had also studied the ways of officialdom in great depth and was well aware of it.

Such a request could very likely put Xie Jin in a dilemma, and even offend the other party as a result.

Thinking of this, the scholar hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Master Xie is here in the capital by imperial decree. He has countless grand strategies in his heart, but those are to be presented to His Majesty the Emperor in person when he meets him. How can he tell us about them first? Please do not ask any more questions."

After hearing this, everyone agreed. Although they all felt that what the scholar said made sense, their faces all showed disappointment.

It was a rare opportunity to meet such a talented scholar as Xie Jin. I was full of expectations to hear his profound insights, but I never expected that I could not ask him anything.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Xie Jin calmly said, "It's alright."

He slightly raised his chin, his tone steady, and slowly said, "When His Majesty was still the Crown Prince, he personally visited the Imperial Academy."

"With a flourish of his brush, he wrote a couplet that became famous throughout the world."

"The sounds of wind, rain, and reading all enter my ears; I am concerned about family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs."

"His Majesty's intention in writing this couplet is to encourage the students of the Imperial Academy to not only bury themselves in books, but also to pay more attention to important matters of the court."

"This couplet still hangs prominently in the main hall of the Imperial Academy to encourage students to act accordingly." "Since His Majesty ascended the throne, throughout the court and beyond, not a single person has ever been punished simply for speaking out against the government."

Xie Jin paused slightly, glanced around at everyone, and seeing that they were all listening attentively, continued: "Furthermore, since Fang Xizhi started lecturing at Bailudong Academy and established the new school, the controversy surrounding the new school has been like a surging tide that has never stopped."

"Scholars from all sides have offered various opinions."

"Those who support it praise the new learning highly, regarding it as another great innovation following the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism."

"Fang Xiaoru, the founder of the new school of thought, revered the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and gathered the essence of various Confucian scholars. His achievements are worthy of being a model for all ages."

Opponents, however, claimed that the new learning was nothing more than a treacherous path, wantonly tampering with the classics of the sages. They accused Fang Xiaoru of spreading heresies to bewitch the people, spreading rumors to disturb their minds, and using the name of the sages to harbor wicked intentions, and that his crimes deserved to be punished.

"Both sides stick to their own version of events and refuse to give in, and this debate has been going on for quite some time."

"The Da Ming Daily has also published several articles in which the two sides have clashed."

"The court's attitude toward this matter has always been fair and impartial, neither readily affirming nor hastily denying it."

"Furthermore, there was no prohibition against ordinary people or scholars discussing this matter."

"The same applies to the new policies."

"Previously, many scholars wrote letters to the imperial court with great enthusiasm, hoping to implement new policies within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, just as they had in the three northeastern provinces."

"However, among the court officials, there were many dissenting voices, and some even used extreme language, claiming that scholars discussing politics were attacking the court and slandering His Majesty, and should be severely punished."

"However, His Majesty ignored this matter and never issued an edict to punish him."

Xie Jin's expression grew even more impassioned, and he raised his voice: "His Majesty has summoned all the virtuous and learned scholars from across the land to the capital precisely to discuss in depth the new policies and new learning."

"His Majesty has never said anything about forbidding ordinary people from discussing this matter."

"If that's the case, then what is there that I can't say?"

"Besides, my trip to the capital was specifically for this matter."

"A true man should act with integrity and openness, and have nothing to hide from others."

"Moreover, this is a matter of public opinion concerning the whole country, not a secret of the court."

"It is an honor to have you all here today, and I am here to have something to say to you all."

Xie Jin's speech was delivered with great cadence and passion, each word seemingly carrying a penetrating power that resonated in everyone's ears.

"Great!" Upon hearing this, everyone's emotions were instantly ignited, and they all clapped their hands vigorously.

Cheers and applause rose and fell, and for a moment, the entire teahouse was enveloped in this enthusiastic atmosphere.

The only one who had kindly tried to smooth things over for him was struck dumb, his face turning red and then white.

He inwardly groaned, thinking to himself: "I spoke up earlier, clearly intending to help you out of this predicament. Although you were an official before, that was years ago."

As the saying goes, "A new emperor brings a new court."

Now that a new emperor is in power, the entire court has changed beyond recognition.

You have just arrived in the capital and are completely unfamiliar with the current situation in the court. At this time, you should first calm down and carefully observe the court's every move. Only after you have a clear understanding of the situation should you consider how to speak out.

But you, on the other hand, couldn't wait to offer your insightful opinions right away. This kind of behavior clearly shows that you know nothing about the ways of being an official.

It's unbelievable that you, Xie Jin, renowned throughout the land and a master of scholarship and literature, are so muddle-headed and unwise when it comes to interpersonal relationships and the ways of officialdom.

How can you expect to maintain your position in the imperial court for long if you act like this?

As he thought this, a chill gradually crept into his heart, and the thought of retreating quietly began to take root.

Initially, he was full of hope that he could become friends with Xie Jin and rely on this powerful figure to rise to prominence in the future.

But now, the situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

His thoughts changed instantly, and he began to consider whether he should stay far away to avoid being implicated by the "reckless" Xie Jin and getting into trouble.

But just as he was about to leave, he suddenly stopped.

On second thought, Xie Jin was, after all, a renowned Confucian scholar.

Both academics and government officials have extensive connections and influence.

If one can successfully establish a connection with him, it will be of great benefit to one's future career and studies.

With such a rare opportunity before us, it would be truly regrettable to let it slip away easily.

For a moment, he felt caught in a dilemma, as if he were frozen in place, unable to make a decision.

Just as the scholar was struggling with his inner turmoil, Xie Jin cleared his throat and spoke again.

"The way of the sage is to benefit all under heaven!"

"In my humble opinion, Fang Xizhi's new teachings draw inspiration from the supreme virtues of heaven and earth, comprehend the great principle of harmony between yin and yang, and accurately capture the original intent of the sage. It is truly the way of the sage."

His statement made his stance very clear.

Everyone looked at Xie Jin with different expressions.

The official's son, who was already undecided, was now in a state of utter turmoil.

Despite the fact that Fang Xiaoru's new teachings garnered much praise and acclaim among the lower classes.

Those impoverished scholars were even more excited, spreading the news of the new learning.

Overall, there are quite a few people who support the new school.

However, in officialdom, those well-read officials who were adept at political maneuvering, as well as the wealthy merchants who were richer than a country, and even the large number of gentry who held power at the grassroots level of the empire, almost none of them agreed with Fang Xiaoru's remarks.

Even those military generals and nobles, though they did not understand the profound meanings of the classics, all cursed Fang Xiaoru when they heard that his theory was to distribute all the land and wealth of the world equally among all people.

The debate between the new policies and the new schools of thought involved a complex web of vested interests, and its impact was far-reaching and profound than anyone could have imagined.

Anyone who gets involved will fall into the abyss and be utterly destroyed if they are not careful.

Despite the seemingly surging momentum of new learning at present, upon closer examination, can a group of powerless scholars led by Fang Xiaoru and a group of poor people with no foundation really accomplish something earth-shaking without the strong support of the bureaucratic class?
This son of an official did not believe it.

His Majesty has issued an edict summoning virtuous and talented individuals from across the land to the capital to discuss the new policies and new schools of learning. Officials in the court have already been secretly working together and have reached a consensus in private, vowing to give Fang Xiaoru a hard time in court and completely suppress this so-called "unhealthy trend" of new learning.

Based on his understanding of how the court's power structure worked, with so many officials working together, there was nothing they couldn't accomplish.

Xie Jin, having just entered the capital, did not think about how to protect himself, but openly sided with Fang Xiaoru. Wasn't this courting death?
The sons of officials felt a chill run down their spines upon thinking of this and secretly shook their heads.

Forget it, it's best to stay away from him.

Stop trying to get close to people or build relationships.

So that when he goes to the guillotine one day, his blood won't splatter on him and bring him unnecessary trouble.

Thinking this, he unconsciously took a step back, turned around, and was about to walk out of the teahouse.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed two people sitting in a dimly lit corner of the teahouse, leisurely drinking tea.

The sons of officials' sons' gazes lingered on one of the faces, causing them to freeze abruptly, their pupils dilating as if they had seen someone who shouldn't be there...

……

(End of this chapter)