Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 229 The Unyielding Luo Guanzhong! He's Lost His Temper!
Zhu Yuanzhang disrespected Confucianism, was exceptionally unorthodox and unethical, and was particularly inhuman!
In the last year or two, the situation has become particularly serious. They have become increasingly inhumane, committing a series of heinous acts that are so egregious that one would want to tear them to pieces!

What's with all this talk about the Chinese Pinyin system, simplified characters, and even labeling Mandarin as a Northern accent!
They even put nonsensical subjects like physics and arithmetic into the Imperial Academy.

To brazenly and blatantly tarnish such an institution of higher learning.

They also established schools, vigorously developed medicine, and provided numerous benefits and support to the medical field.

All those actions, one after another, are so infuriating that they make your teeth itch!

They wished they could kill Zhu Yuanzhang, such a nonsensical emperor, right away!
Over the years, this dog emperor Zhu Yuanzhang has only thought about harming Confucian scholars!
They practically viewed Confucianism as their number one enemy!
They keep praising those shady, low-class things.

They elevate them to a very high position, while suppressing true Confucianists and Confucianism in many ways.

Their actions had long been unbearable for them.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the Han emperor whom they had high hopes for, was not as good as the Yuan dynasty emperors when they ruled the country.

Although Confucianism was not popular at that time, the imperial examination system was eventually introduced later.

Many Confucian scholars also became officials.

That scoundrel Zhu Yuanzhang even stopped the imperial examination system, no longer using it to select officials, but instead allowed the students of the Imperial Academy under his command to directly become officials.

They appointed Song Ne, a northerner, as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

This has also harmed so many Confucian defenders!

Zhu Yuanzhang, this Han Chinese emperor, was really not as good at ruling the country as the Yuan emperor.

When the Yuan emperors came to power, they also introduced the imperial examination system, which allowed people to become officials through the examination.

Moreover, those who hold office are the real officials.

After becoming an official, life was truly carefree; that was the real life.

This is the life that officials should have!

Once you become an official, you can do whatever you want.

Will embezzlement and bribery lead to criminal charges? That's simply impossible.

As for the idea that embezzling a small amount of money would result in execution, or even torture like skinning someone alive, that's completely untrue.

Besides, how could that be considered embezzlement or bribery?

It was just normal social interaction; they were simply receiving payment.

It's perfectly normal.

As a result, when it came to Zhu Yuanzhang, it turned out like this.

It's infuriating just thinking about it!
It's bad enough that he's done so many outrageous things, but this bastard is getting even worse.

He originally thought that what he did at the Imperial Academy was his limit, but later he realized that he and his colleagues had been overthinking it.

Zhu Yuanzhang had absolutely no bottom line!

He truly hated Confucianism to the core.

They never thought about how Confucianism should develop; they only thought about encroaching on the rights and interests of Confucianism and undermining its orthodox status!
Just over a month ago, a National Industrial University was even established.

I heard that the emperor poured a lot of money into building this school.

The facilities inside were all very well built, and the teaching conditions, as well as the accommodation conditions for teachers and students, all surpassed those of the Imperial Academy.

If such a new institution of learning is intended for them to use in order to promote and develop Confucianism, then that would be acceptable.

They, as Confucians, could afford even higher-level institutions of learning, and it was only natural for them to use them.

But to spend so much money to build such an institution of learning, the purpose is actually to bring those low-class and despicable things into the school.

Let those lowly craftsmen become teachers, instructing students in these strange and useless skills that are of no use to the country.

This is an insult to civility!
When did these low-class things become allowed to be taught in schools?
They even occupy the university campus and are called "teachers"—this is utter nonsense and an extreme insult to people.

Such disrespect for scholarship, teachers, and sages is outrageous!
Zhu Yuanzhang's evil deeds had reached the point of arousing the wrath of both gods and men.

Countless people have wanted to tear down the plaque of the National Industrial University and smash it to pieces.

And then they burned it.

University! University!
This is a highly representative term from Confucian classics.

It is sacred and inviolable!
It would be acceptable to use it in institutions of higher learning such as the Imperial Academy.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang placed the word "university" after "industry".

It was used in a place where people from all walks of life gathered to teach.

This is an utter insult to scholarship!

Just thinking about it makes many people so angry they can't sleep and their livers hurt.

However, none of them dared to actually do it, partly because the National Industrial University was established by order of Zhu Yuanzhang himself.

On the other hand, even the words "National Industrial University" were written by Zhu Yuanzhang himself and stamped with the imperial seal.

If anyone were to actually take down and damage this plaque, it would immediately become a very serious matter.

Then, thinking about Zhu Yuanzhang, that scoundrel, who was extremely cruel and ruthless in killing people without blinking an eye, made them even more afraid to do anything further.

If other emperors did this, they might not get into any trouble. Even if they were caught, they would at most be imprisoned and would rarely be beheaded.

Even if they were to be killed, they could very likely escape through various means with the help of many righteous people.

And thus, he will have great prestige among scholars, and will rise to prominence in the future.

Even if we can't do these things and we do die, only a small number of people will die, and most people won't be implicated.

But Zhu Chongba was different. If he really did such a thing, Zhu Yuanzhang, the butcher, would definitely not hesitate to raise his butcher's knife and slaughter them!

That butcher is absolutely capable of doing such a thing!

It is precisely because they know these things that many of them dare not speak out against their anger.

Not many people dared to voice too much opposition on this matter.

As for anything extreme, nobody would do it.

If this had happened to any of the emperors after Zhu Di, they would have been severely punished.

Countless people went to the palace gates to demand a beating.

But for Zhu Yuanzhang, it was just that quiet.

Few people dare to do flashy or fancy jobs.

Because they knew that if they did that, they would really die.

The existence of the National Industrial University was like a thorn in their side, a constant source of discomfort and frustration.

Therefore, they were all secretly thinking of ways to destroy this place where lowlifes gathered, and to get to the root of the problem.

These people, who should never have been in the school in the first place, should all be driven out and sent back to the dirty places where they, as craftsmen, live.

This excellent venue should be used to teach Confucianism to scholars and promote the ways of the sages.

Many people originally thought that it would be difficult to find a good opportunity to promote the right path, speak out for the sages, and safeguard the tradition.

Who would have thought that just over a month later, such a message would suddenly arrive.

After confirming the news was true, many people, who had been gritting their teeth, suddenly became excited.

Good! Good! Zhu Yuanzhang, that inhuman bastard, has finally revealed his fatal flaw!
They actually dared to spend so much money to make this kind of paper.

These papers had no other use than being used for toileting.

Ordinary students all scrimped and saved, worrying endlessly about paper.

Many people practice calligraphy on sand trays even on a regular basis, and are reluctant to write on paper.

But when it came to Zhu Yuanzhang, he invented paper not for reading and writing, but specifically for using as a toilet!

Such behavior is utterly absurd and utterly outrageous!

This perfectly illustrates the saying, "Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the road, frozen corpses lie."
This will surely break the hearts of countless students and incite the anger of many!
For an emperor to treat the sacred matter of reading and to show such disrespect for learning in this way is an unforgivable crime!

Many people, while gritting their teeth, also became invigorated.

They keenly sensed the opportunity.

This is the opportunity they have been searching for and wanting to obtain!

It's really here!

Faced with such a hard-won and golden opportunity, how could we possibly miss it?

If we don't seize this opportunity, there may never be a better chance in the future to bring down the Industrial University and achieve a great victory.

As a result, many people became excited.

They began to share this story with more people in their own ways.

The goal is to let more people know how incompetent and tyrannical the emperor has been, and to use this incident to incite public outrage.

They wanted to discredit Zhu Yuanzhang by linking the papermaking and toilet practices to King Zhou's extravagant feasts and debauchery.

Not only should Zhu Yuanzhang be infamous now, but he should also be remembered for his infamy for eternity, never to be able to recover!

They know all too well about these things.

As long as you can seize on one bad point, publicize it extensively, and nail it down, you won't give it a chance to recover.

Consequently, many people will subconsciously perceive other aspects of this person as negative, viewing him as a tyrannical ruler.

Moreover, it's something rarely seen throughout history! After all, how high could the morality of an emperor be if he could create paper specifically for wiping his bottom?
What bad things could he possibly do?
This point, even with just a little thought, makes it easy for people to connect the dots.

Many people already harbored resentment and anger towards what they had done for Zhu Yuanzhang.

In addition, Zhu Yuanzhang killed a large number of corrupt officials and had extremely strict requirements for officials.

This makes life exceptionally difficult for many people.

I wonder how many people secretly hate this emperor.

Under such circumstances, and with the deliberate promotion by those with ulterior motives, it is indeed easy to stir up the emotions of many scholars.

In this situation, the news spread like wildfire.

Countless people were outraged by this.

And who knows how many people will take this opportunity to stir up trouble and carry out their unspeakable secrets.

Do things you've wanted to do for a long time but never had the chance to.

In the capital, many scholars have already begun to gather.

If this continues, who knows what kind of trouble will arise?

Crown Prince Zhu Biao had a solemn expression, and his face looked very dark.

He knew that his father's business of making paper and toilet paper would easily provoke some people.

This allows people to seize upon it and make a fuss about it.

But unexpectedly, it caused such a huge stir in such a short time.

He truly didn't believe that no one was stirring things up or fanning the flames behind the scenes.

Even someone as good-tempered as Zhu Biao, who had previously had a good impression of Confucianism and had received orthodox Confucian education since childhood, was driven to a frenzy by it.

I'm becoming increasingly averse to Confucianism.

It's not really the Emperor's fault that he treats Confucianists this way; these people deserve to be treated this way!

These people all deserve to be killed!

The fact that Zhu Biao even considered shooting these people shows just how outrageous and annoying they had become.

This is none other than Prince Zhu Biao, who is known for his benevolence!

How many of these people are thinking about the greater good of the nation? Or are they doing it for their so-called Confucian orthodoxy?

How many people are secretly causing trouble, and how many are just scheming for their own benefit?

They're all so hypocritical!

While feeling angry, the first thing Crown Prince Zhu Biao did was not to go to his father, the Emperor.

Instead, they immediately sent someone to summon Luo Guanzhong.

If the other side resorts to public opinion tactics, then our powerful public opinion machine cannot be idle either!

……

Today, Luo Guanzhong, arguably the greatest writer of the Ming Dynasty, is sitting in his room.

At this time, Luo Guanzhong wore glasses and no longer squinted when looking at people.

He looked much younger.

The emperor certainly didn't do a very good job in this matter.

How can you make paper just to wipe your butt?

Even if you do it, you can't let anyone know.

It's really not entirely unjust for me to be criticized for this.

Now that things have escalated to a great extent, Luo Guanzhong has naturally heard about it.

Just as he was thinking this, someone came and said that His Highness the Crown Prince had invited him.

Luo Guanzhong immediately put aside all his thoughts and followed the man quickly toward the Wenhua Hall.

……

Zhu Biao treated Luo Guanzhong with great courtesy. As soon as Luo Guanzhong arrived, Zhu Biao told him to dispense with the formalities and offered him a seat.

Then, looking at Luo Guanzhong, he asked, "Scholar Luo, you know about this, right? What do you think?"

Luo Guanzhong immediately became indignant.

“These people, we have to chop their heads off one by one!”

Your Majesty works tirelessly day and night for the country; what's wrong with enjoying yourself a little?
What's wrong with using some paper?
"Not to mention paper, even gold and jewels use it!"

Luo Guanzhong was so emotional that his glasses even wobbled a little.

He reached up to adjust his glasses: "Moreover, these are all people distorting the truth and viewing His Majesty through the lens of conspiracy theories."

They are trying to manipulate public opinion and do something shameful.

Its target lies with Your Majesty, with the industrial university Your Majesty has established, and even with other policies that benefit the country and its people!

Zhu Biao nodded. What Luo Guanzhong said made perfect sense and hit the nail on the head.

"These people, using this to attack His Majesty, are equally unjustified."

Your Majesty did not prepare this toilet paper for personal enjoyment.

It's for the sake of all the people!
How many of those kings, generals, ministers, and wealthy merchants used toilet paper?
They all used cloth, and some even used silk and satin for toileting.

Even more disgusting and infuriating are those who keep maids to clean themselves after using the toilet, without using paper or cloth.

These are the things that should be criticized and strongly opposed!

Your Majesty is now making this toilet paper to eradicate this bad habit.

How many people in my Great Ming Dynasty are destitute and lack proper clothing?
In many families, the entire family only has one pair of pants.

Even the work has to be done at night.

Whoever goes out wears it.

As a result, those wealthy families and many meritorious ministers were so extravagant!
So much cloth, even silk, was used for toileting!

Such a waste of good things and trampling on people's livelihood!

Those who keep maids as toilet paper are even worse and should be killed!

This is like forcing people into the mud and humiliating them!
It was after His Majesty learned of this phenomenon that he invented toilet paper!

Toilet paper is said to be very expensive, but that's not actually the case; it's not as expensive as regular paper.

Moreover, it is much cheaper than cloth and silk.

Compared to raising a maidservant as a toilet paper offering, it's far better than anything else.

This is precisely why His Majesty disapproved of these things, and even knowing that toilet paper would be criticized by many people, he still insisted on producing and promoting it.

Therefore, I say that Your Majesty is wise and loves the people like your own children, and that those people should all be killed!

Good guy!
After hearing Luo Guanzhong's indignant words, Zhu Biao couldn't help but blink.

I was simply shocked.

Is that... how you could say it?

No wonder he writes novels, his ability to make connections is amazing!

How could someone even think of this!
It was a brilliant move by the Emperor to discover Luo Guanzhong and place him in such a position; it was definitely not a waste of his talent!

This is truly making the best use of people's talents and resources.

What is professionalism? This is professionalism!

With a loud slap, Zhu Biao clapped his hands together.

"That's so true! That's so true!"

That's it.

How profound are the Emperor's intentions! Are the livelihoods of the people and the clothing of all people less important than the education and literacy of scholars?
Besides, although the Emperor provided toilet paper, the paper used by scholars was not neglected either.

They also encouraged people to conduct research and increase production.

Now, the paper sold on the market is cheaper than before.

Why do those people turn a blind eye to this?
Why insist on focusing on toilet paper, a product that is well-intentioned, beneficial to the country and its people?

What were they reading in the classics? Weren't they advocating for the people? Weren't they working for the sake of all living beings?
Isn't it about treating people as human beings and letting them live with a little bit of dignity?

How can we turn a blind eye to the extravagance of the powerful and wealthy?

Why criticize the benevolent policies implemented by my father?
When Scholar Luo returned, he immediately added an extra issue to cover all the topics.

Refute their absurd claims!
Let those who have been incited come to their senses.

"I obey!"

Luo Guanzhong responded, then bowed to Zhu Biao in farewell, and headed straight for his office with his head held high and chest out.

He's in battle mode!

(End of this chapter)