The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 105 Who is blocking the way?

The room fell silent for a moment.

Using words to convey meaning and express emotions is a specialty of literary figures.

But this word!
Xie Jin suddenly put down his pen and sighed, "What's the point of talking about literary masters or praising talented scholars? I'm just an ordinary person among the masses!"

Before Li Xianmu uttered the poem, Xie Jin and Huang Huai were quite hesitant. Who dared to call himself a sage? But once the poem was written, his vigorous ambition and proud spirit were already evident on the paper and in people's hearts. It swept away not only harmful insects, but also those who hesitated and feared difficulties!
So many things, always urgent;
The world turns, and time presses on.

ten thousand years is too long, fight for now!
With just a few words, Li Xianmu's ambition and lofty spirit were already evident. Looking at the overly energetic Li Xianmu, Xie Jin and Huang Huai felt a sense of impending doom.

“Mingda…”

Huang Huai felt his mouth was dry and his throat was even tight. "I understand what you mean. Since you have made up your mind, I will not try to persuade you anymore. I will try my best to cooperate with you within a certain range."

"A very important matter is about to occur!"

Li Xianmu turned around, his eyes fixed intently on Huang Huai, "Lord Jie'an should know about the widely discussed matter of moving the capital."

Upon hearing this, Huang Huai immediately became solemn. "Mingda, do you intend to use this matter as an opportunity? But this matter is of utmost importance. The court and the public are in an uproar, and it is extremely easy to be caught in the crossfire."

Li Xianmu said sternly, "If it's not a major issue, we won't achieve the desired effect."

Political struggles, especially those in ancient times, do not mean that winning guarantees all the benefits.

For example, in the struggle for the throne during the Yongle era, the Crown Prince's faction ultimately won a great victory.

However, Xie Jin died during the Yongle era, and all he got in return was the return of his family members who had been exiled to Liaodong. But what good was that?
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that if the emperor insisted on moving the capital, it would inevitably happen.

But why would anyone still object?
Are they all crazy, risking offending the emperor and disregarding their own status and lives?

Ultimately, it's because there's a possibility of winning!
Because many ministers did not dare to side with the emperor, if you sided with the emperor during the discussion on moving the capital, you had to be prepared to be attacked by the masses.

If I can't kill the emperor, I can at least kill you, you lackey!

Huang Huai held a neutral attitude towards moving the capital, but in front of the emperor, he showed that he agreed with the move. However, even so, he could only express his opinion in private and had not yet publicly agreed to it.

He was, after all, a southerner. If he were to openly agree to move the capital, he would certainly be criticized by his fellow villagers. He would have to consider these consequences for his future retirement and the prestige and survival of his family in eastern Zhejiang.

But Li Xianmu's resolute stance left Huang Huai with no room for wishful thinking. He took a deep breath and sighed, "Tell me what you want to do."

"It's very simple. I know that Lord Jie'an is highly respected. I just want Lord Jie'an to help me make a name for myself so that more people know that I, Li Xianmu, will respectfully request His Majesty to move the capital at the Grand Court Assembly. Whether Lord Jie'an is willing to speak at that time is up to him."

A head-on confrontation?

Even though Huang Huai knew that Li Xianmu was going to be involved in this matter, his expression changed drastically. This was a direct confrontation at the Grand Court Assembly. And if this matter were publicized, wouldn't it allow those who opposed him to collude and prepare in advance?
What exactly is this supposed to do?
Are you really that confident?
If it gets out of control, wouldn't that put the emperor in a dangerous position, ultimately leading to the emperor's wrath?

Huang Huai was deeply puzzled, but he still agreed, saying with a sigh, "Since I have promised Lord Li Zhongwen, I will not go back on my word. If you really submit a memorial at the Grand Court Assembly, I will support you. I would not stoop to the level of such a two-faced person!"

"it is good!"

Li Xianmu clapped his hands loudly and laughed, "Lord Jie'an, what a spirit you have! Then Xianmu will await Lord Jie'an's good news."

Huang Huai was somewhat helpless. He never expected that at the age of forty, he would have to become a spy to investigate those who opposed the relocation of the capital.

As he stepped outside the palace, he suddenly realized something: what did Li Xianmu want with this list of those who opposed moving the capital?
So who exactly wanted it?
A majestic and imposing figure had already appeared in his mind.

He felt a chill run down his spine, but dared not think about it any further. He even regretted agreeing to Li Xianmu's request. However, the relocation of the capital was inevitable. He was always by the emperor's side in the cabinet and knew how much the emperor wanted to move the capital.

The emperor, while staying in Yingtian City, was hardly ever comfortable, constantly reminiscing about his life in Beijing.

"If those people are indeed demoted because of the relocation of the capital, it might be a good thing."

After Huang Huai shifted his stance back to that of a faction leader, he suddenly realized that his previous concern about future retaliation was actually a good thing for his faction if he could wipe them all out.

He even thought that he could get rid of some of his political enemies in the process, and with that thought, his steps suddenly became lighter.

Xie Jin and Li Xianmu watched Huang Huai leave. "After Hu Guang and I left, Jie'an is now in charge of the cabinet and is often by the emperor's side. If he can stand on your side in the future, many things you do in the court will be much easier."

"Hopefully."

Li Xianmu sighed slightly and said, "Jie'an Gong is now the Right Chunfang Grand Academician of the Eastern Palace, an official under the Eastern Palace. The Prince of Han has the ambition to seize the throne, and it will inevitably become more and more intense in the future. Whether Jie'an Gong can get out unscathed at that time is still uncertain."

When the topic of the succession struggle came up, Xie Jin became somewhat nervous and whispered, "Is the position of Crown Prince really so unstable? It was Jinghe who once helped him ascend to the throne."

Will the crown prince promoted by Li Qi also be deposed?
Li Xianmu said indifferently, "Time changes everything. When Father was alive, how could these things have happened in Zhejiang?"
Will the proposal to move the capital cause such a huge uproar?

The emperor's heart is unfathomable.

The Prince of Han is, after all, His Majesty's most favored son. It should be known that throughout history, a crown prince who doesn't resemble the emperor has always been a path to disaster.

Liu Ju, the Crown Prince of Han, was trapped because he was unlike his father, and ultimately met a tragic end.

Xie Jin was well-versed in classics and history, so how could he not know these things? He just didn't want to believe it. After all, he was also a member of the Crown Prince's faction. If the Prince of Han had truly succeeded in seizing the throne, he would at least have been demoted to a local post.

"Mingda, could you make some effort in this matter?"

"Let nature take its course. When Father placed the Crown Prince on the throne, it wasn't for the Crown Prince's sake, but for the sake of the nation. As long as we maintain this stance, that's enough. The Li family has only one stance, and that is to be loyal to the Emperor!"

Xie Jin understood Li Xianmu's meaning: not to participate in the struggle for the throne. But in reality, this was the attitude of the country. Establishing the eldest son as heir naturally put him on the side of the crown prince. It was just a different way of saying it and a roundabout way of fighting for the throne.

"Uncle Jie, you just mentioned that the matter of Hu Guang was severed because of Lord Jie'an's arrival. Could you elaborate on that now?"

Xie Jin's expression turned somewhat grim again. "You must have guessed something by asking this question. Since Jinghe's death, the School of Mind has been developing continuously, but it has also been subject to considerable limitations."

Although Wang Gen and I are also quite talented, we are naturally far inferior to Jing He in the art of writing.

Many in the court and among the people admire the School of Mind, but the various schools of thought throughout history have always been powerful. While Jinghe was alive, he naturally dared not object, but now there are many disputes. In terms of power, the newly established School of Mind is only supported by Jiying, and his health is deteriorating; he has been frequently ill lately.

When Chen Ying first met Li Qi, he was already the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Later, he was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Justice and officially became one of the Nine Ministers. He was demoted during the Jianwen era and was recommended to be the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review during the Yongle era. Over the years, he has also been awarded honorary titles.

After Li Qi's death, Wang Gen cultivated his reputation in the Hanlin Academy. He and Xie Jin were the pillars of Neo-Confucianism in the court. Later, Xie Jin lost the emperor's favor and his influence and power decreased sharply after leaving the cabinet.

Although Wang Gen entered the cabinet, he was only the lowest-ranking Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion.

The current cabinet is no longer in its infancy; it is now quite well-established, and there is a hierarchy among the Grand Secretaries. According to their ranking from highest to lowest, they are: Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Glory, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Diligent Conduct, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Glory, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Military Prowess, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary Profundity, and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion.

Wang Gen faced difficulties in the cabinet and needed time to mature, leaving Chen Ying to shoulder the burden alone, which was extremely challenging. Moreover, Chen Ying's health had been poor for years, and he was nearing retirement.

Academic debates can determine who is superior and who is inferior, and they can also determine life and death!

Li Qi initially held considerable influence in the court and among the people due to the emperor's trust in him, as well as his prestige among scholars, which enabled him to mobilize people.

The Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism has been developing for so many years, how could it be so easily changed?
Li Qi's philosophy of mind is derived from Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, but it only changed a core worldview and interpretation. It may not seem difficult for people to accept, but in academia, it is actually heresy!
If we look at it from the perspective of Li Qi's philosophy of mind, how would other great Confucian scholars explain the transmission of knowledge to their disciples?
If we follow the philosophy of mind, wouldn't great Confucian scholars become beginners just like other scholars?
How can their status in academia be guaranteed?
Even if they truly accept the philosophy of mind, it is because they "autonomously" discover similar principles and explanations to the philosophy of mind, and then teach them to their disciples as new content. It is impossible for them to become disciples of the philosophy of mind!
Just as the various schools of thought copied each other more than a thousand years ago, who would say that they switched their allegiance to another school?
Confucius's teachings have been almost completely transformed by Legalism, yet Confucius is still the one worshipped today, not Han Feizi or others.

This is not a question of academic right or wrong, but a question of power.

If they switch their allegiance to the School of Mind, it would mean that they are voluntarily transferring power to Wang Gen, Xie Jin, or even Li Xianmu.

Li Xianmu knew that his father had realized this before he died.

Otherwise, at a time when the School of Mind was developing rapidly and flourishing like a tidal wave, he left behind his second great regret before his death: "I regret that the teachings of Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi are still prevalent, while there are very few who can truly understand the four sentences of Zhang Zai."

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In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism held absolute dominance. This empiricist approach was considered the ultimate and absolute authority. Ming scholars described it as follows: "Truth is already self-evident to the world; we no longer need any writings, only truth itself." However, another great Ming thinker, Li Qi, did not share this view. He proposed "the School of Mind" to perfect "Neo-Confucianism," a movement in the Ming Dynasty comparable to religious wars in the West. — *World History: Traditional Confucian Civilization*

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