Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 288 Disciple Yansheng Gong!
March 11th, the sixth year of the Xifeng reign.

Zhaowen Hall.

A small wooden table, about ten feet long, had dozens of documents on it.

Occasionally, some of the more important documents were deliberately placed in the center and laid out separately.

Jiang Zhao pondered from time to time, carefully reviewing the document.

The nation and its people are interdependent; moving one piece can affect the entire game.

Not to mention, with an army of 200,000 marching north, attacking two countries at once, it already involves moving the "chessboard".

This naturally triggered a chain reaction across the country and all regions.

It has a significant impact, especially on the state and political power.

For the nation, the main impacts are twofold:
One is its impact on people's livelihood and stability.

Prices of essential consumer goods such as salt, grain, cloth, and firewood have risen to varying degrees.

Of course, while the number of cases is rising, it is still manageable and can be controlled. There are only slight fluctuations, and there are no major problems for the time being.

The two capitals and fourteen circuits of the empire, as well as the Ministry of Revenue in the capital, are gradually opening warehouses to try to stabilize prices.

Secondly, it has an impact on social stability.

Any conflict will inevitably affect social stability, and there will be uprisings or rebellions to varying degrees.

This is unavoidable.

Fortunately, since the Champa rice was introduced, the grain yield has been bumper, and the people have more or less stored up some grain.

Having food on hand means peace of mind.

Compared to the uprisings and rebellions during the Xifeng era when the borders were being expanded, the number of resistances during this Northern Expedition was almost precipitous.

As far as the regimes were concerned, the reactions were greater in Jiaozhi (Vietnam) and Dongying (Japan).

The rebellion of Jiaozhi (Vietnam) naturally led to the destruction of the nation.

As a typical regime that was confined to a corner of the country, the successive rulers of Jiaozhi had successfully made the people's hearts believe in only one sun—the Li family.

Now that the Yi dynasty has only recently fallen, it is inevitable that some resistance and uprisings will arise.

Even worse, they raised a great deal of momentum under the banner of "serving the emperor and quelling the rebellion".

Fortunately, the existence of the "autonomy" system allowed the major chieftain families to actively maintain the stability of their rule. The Southwest Protectorate also suppressed a full 50,000 troops, and the Grand Protector was Wang Anshi, who had been demoted. So, the small uprising could not cause too much of a stir for a while.

Japan!
This is mainly a problem caused by silver mines.

The main power holder in Japan was the Fujiwara clan, who had become aware of the existence of the Iwami Silver Mine. Taking advantage of the army's northward march, they harbored some ill intentions and were brutally suppressed.

In addition, there have been some changes in the cabinet personnel.

Tang Jie, a Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, suffered a relapse of carbuncle and was unable to recover. He was forced to submit his resignation.

As the Grand Chancellor temporarily in charge of state affairs, appeasing the ministers is also one of his duties.

Therefore, Jiang Zhao and the young prince Zhao Shen made a special trip to the Tang residence to visit on behalf of the Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager.

The skin is festering, the blood and qi are depleted, and the complexion is deathly pale; this is indeed a typical case of carbuncle.

Tang Jie was born in the second year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era and is now sixty-four years old.

At this age, to suddenly develop carbuncles is not exactly incurable, but it's not far off.

In such a situation, the only recourse was to have the imperial physicians provide frequent treatment and, on behalf of the emperor, bestow some palace silks and jewels as a form of appeasement.

Tang Jie's successor was Wang Gui, the Minister of Personnel, but Wang Gui was not allowed to enter the cabinet until the emperor sent back his decree.

Therefore, the cabinet currently consists of only five people.

"call!"

After about an incense stick's time, Jiang Zhao let out a long breath and picked up the three documents by himself.

This is one of the more important documents among dozens of documents, and it is worth highlighting it separately.

One of the documents was a Privy Council document, a military report written by Duke Ningguo, Gu Tingye.

It mainly describes the marching conditions of the Yan-Yun army.

Recently, the Yan-Yun front has gradually been deployed.

There were large numbers of soldiers scattered along the Hedong Road, Hebei West Road, and Hebei East Road.

Among them, Zheng Xiao is the main general of Hebei West Road, and Jing Sili is the main general of Hebei East Road.

As for the likes of Marquis Zhongjing, Marquis Funing, Liang Han, and Yang Wenguang, they were all in the central army, which was the Hedong Road.

In just over twenty days, all three routes of the army made considerable progress.

This is mainly because the power of the artillery is truly remarkable.

Especially in the siege of cities and the capture of strongholds, artillery was almost always effective.

Dozens or even hundreds of cannon shots bombarded the city, and the small earthen walls simply could not withstand the onslaught. The wooden city gates were even less able to stop the bombardment.

However, this was all within Jiang Zhao's expectations.

With artillery providing overwhelming firepower, as long as Gu Tingye and Wang Shao perform to their normal level, there is no question of defeat.

There may be minor defeats in some areas, but overall it will be a great victory. The only difference is whether we can stabilize the situation or expand our territory by one, two, or three states.

What truly caught Jiang Zhao's attention was the issue of Zhao Ceying's left arm.

His left arm was inexplicably itchy!

This is no small matter.

Zhao Ceying's left arm injury was from an arrow he was shot with during the southern expedition to Jiaozhi.

Judging from the timeline, his left arm injury has been present for about a year.

However, a year later, his left arm still inexplicably itches.

This only proves one thing—it hasn't been cured!
As for the specific symptoms, Jiang Zhao was not knowledgeable in medicine and was not quite sure.

However, regardless of the circumstances, it must be taken seriously.

Jiang Zhao intended to send people from the Imperial Medical Academy north to provide medical treatment.

If they can't cure the disease, they're all quacks and deserve to be punished!

The second document concerns the Jurchens and was presented by Miao Shou, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pinghai Army of Huainan East Road.

This person was a half-disciple of Fan Zhongyan, and their relationship was similar to that of Jiang Zhao and Zhong Shidao.

As early as the third year of the Xifeng era, Jiang Zhao had already made plans regarding the Jurchen "resistance".

Its main executor was Miao Shou.

Through maritime trade and opportunities to patrol the seas, the navy supplied the Jurchens with a considerable amount of spears and armor.

Now that the three major regimes are vying for power, it's only natural that the "Jurchen" pawn should also be moved.

If the Jurchens were truly instigated to rebel, the Liao Dynasty would certainly face internal and external troubles, and the situation on the border would have a significant turning point.

The third document was submitted by the Ministry of Rites and concerned the lectures at the Imperial Academy.

The lectures for the monarch were mainly of two types: daily lectures and formal lectures.

Among them, the daily lectures on classics were more common and had become more like rituals, with fixed lecturers, times, and content.

Depending on the system, lectures may be given every three days or every five days.

Even more remarkably, it's not uncommon for them to give a lecture every day.

Lectures on the classics were relatively rare. Apart from a few sessions held in spring and autumn according to ritual regulations, most lectures on the classics were initiated by the monarch, and there were three main reasons for this:

I. Involving natural disasters.

In feudal times, natural disasters could be seen as punishment from Heaven for the ruler's inhumane rule.

Natural disasters, especially solar eclipses or snow in June, are easily exploited by people.

Therefore, a separate lecture was held to explain the will of Heaven through the scriptures, thereby relieving the emperor of the burden of responsibility.

Second, it involves major government orders.

Major government decrees may violate ancestral rules.

Therefore, it was necessary to set up lecture halls and lectures to explain the contents of government decrees using the classics.

In any case, once the government decrees are explained, they will certainly be in line with the classics and will not violate ancestral rules.

This is also one of the functions of the right to interpret scriptures.

Third, for some special events, lectures and seminars may also be set up.

A typical example is the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai in the first year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era.

The documents submitted by the Ministry of Rites mainly concerned several lectures and seminars on classics held in March.

According to the established rites, all civil and military officials were required to attend the meeting, the young prince Zhao Shen, who was in charge of the state affairs, was required to listen to the lectures, while the Grand Chancellor and the Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet were responsible for giving the lectures.

I scanned through the three documents one by one.

Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment, then picked up the document and headed outside.

at this time.

"My lord."

A man walked in; he was a clerk.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Hanlin Academician Tao and Duke Yansheng Kong request an audience." The clerk bowed and reported.

Jiang Zhao was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes.

In just a moment, I understood.

This is to "meet"!

Around February, at Jiang Zhao's behest, a piece of news, neither too important nor too trivial, was casually spread out—Grand Chancellor Jiang Zhao quite recognized the aptitude of Duke Yansheng Kong Ruomeng and had the urge to take him on as a disciple.

This is no small matter!

Who is this Grand Master?

A pillar of the state for two generations, temporarily managing the nation's affairs!
Everyone, from top to bottom, whoever intends to "advance," will inevitably pay close attention to the words and actions of the Grand Master.

The matter of accepting disciples has had a significant impact, yet no one has denied it. What does this indicate?
This shows that the eldest son truly had this intention.

Therefore, Tao Jin, a Hanlin scholar eager for advancement, volunteered to visit Jiang Zhao and Kong Ruomeng, hoping to act as an intermediary to connect them as master and apprentice.

Generally speaking, when an older person and a younger person intend to establish a master-disciple relationship, it usually involves three steps:

1. A middleman acts as a messenger and intermediary.

This was mainly to convey the intentions of the master and disciple.

This included discussions on whether or not to learn a skill, or whether or not to serve.

II. Meeting.

This is mainly to allow two people who intend to become master and apprentice to meet and discuss their political and academic philosophies, as well as whether their values ​​are compatible.

Third, prepare a gift of tuition and formally become an apprentice.

Jiang Zhao and Kong Ruomeng are both of exceptionally high status, making their arrangements more complex and thus destined to be more elaborate.

But in the end, it all boils down to three main processes: building bridges, meeting, and becoming an apprentice.

The difference lies in the fact that whenever a meeting is involved, Jiang Zhao and Kong Ruomeng must meet in public. When it comes to the apprenticeship ceremony, the two sides must coordinate the etiquette and regulations, especially the relative importance of "descendant of the Duke Yansheng" and "the humility of the disciple's etiquette." They must coordinate these aspects so that the Duke Yansheng is neither too humble nor lacking in humility.

Certain rituals, such as the three bows and nine kowtows in the apprenticeship ceremony, must be simplified to one bow and three kowtows, and the related etiquette must be customized separately.

If the place of apprenticeship is in Qufu, then the Confucius Temple should be grandly opened, and the "teacher" should be given the honor of being ranked alongside Confucius.

In comparison, it is still quite complicated.

"Let him in," Jiang Zhao said in a deep voice, waving his hand.

Kong Ruomeng did not reject the idea of ​​becoming an apprentice.

He even went so far as to actively facilitate becoming an apprentice.

Therefore, the process of becoming an apprentice was quite rapid, and it has already reached the stage of "meeting".

About ten breaths.

One after the other, Tao Jin and Kong Ruomeng entered the room.

"Greetings, Your Excellency." The two bowed in unison.

"Ah."

Jiang Zhao nodded, sizing up the current Duke Yansheng.

At twenty-seven years old, Kong Ruomeng possessed a scholarly air about him.

Perhaps because he has never experienced the hardships of officialdom, even though he is already twenty-seven, he still has an overall air of "clear-headedness and foolishness".

If it weren't for the blessings bestowed upon us by Confucius, we might not even have had the chance to become an official.

However, this was exactly what Jiang Zhao had expected.

Whenever "hereditary succession" is involved, there will inevitably be descendants who are mediocre or even foolish.

Kong Ruomeng still possessed some scholarly qualities, and there was no known flaw in his character; he could be considered a decent person.

not bad!

Moreover, Jiang Zhao's intention to bring him under his wing was not based on his aptitude.

Ultimately, this is simply a business about profit.

Jiang Zhao looked at him and said calmly, "Please sit down."

The two people took their seats one on the left and one on the right.

Throughout history, the lineage of the Duke Yansheng has always been characterized by both "cultural veneration" and "low social status."

Therefore, the current Duke Yansheng, Kong Ruomeng, is only a ninth-rank county clerk, yet he is seated on the right.

Jiang Zhao looked down, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Since the second year of the Xifeng reign, the central government has issued numerous decrees on reforms. The Qufu area is well-influenced by the teachings of the sages, and great Confucian scholars are everywhere. I wonder if the majority of those involved are opponents or supporters?"

Kong Ruomeng sat upright, his face serious.

In any matter of taking a master, it is a matter of mutual consent; the disciple chooses the master, and the master also chooses the disciple.

Jiang Zhaoyi wanted to take the Duke of Yansheng as his disciple mainly in order to seize the right to interpret scriptures by taking advantage of the glory of the Duke's lineage.

Kong Ruomeng's initiative to visit was naturally driven by a specific purpose—the lineage of the Duke Yansheng also sought to gain a share of the right to interpret scriptures!
In recent years, the reform policies have been implemented in a grand and sweeping manner. The lineage of the Duke Yansheng is not foolish, and can naturally see the effects of the reforms.

Today, the struggle between the two groups of opponents and supporters has shifted from a dispute over the imperial court to a dispute over the interpretation of the classics.

Qufu's Confucian veins essentially present three options:

1. Act as a neutral party.

That is, not participating in the competition between opponents and supporters.

However, this tactic has a drawback.

Once those who supported the reforms actually seized the right to interpret the scriptures and reinterpreted the classics, from then on, how the scriptures were interpreted would have little to do with the lineage of the Duke Yansheng.

Simply put, times have changed!
The reason why classics are classics is mainly because they are widely disseminated and have become a recognized fact.

But the existence of newspapers and semi-free education disrupted all of this.

Once the reformers had interpreted the new sacred texts, they disseminated them through newspapers and semi-free education.

Within ten years, a new interpretation of the classics of sages will emerge.

And the longer it lasts, the more likely the new interpretation will become mainstream.

Once this point is reached, it means that the true authority will no longer be the Confucian lineage in Qufu, but the great Confucian scholars who reinterpret the classics, or the Imperial Academy and the Hanlin Academy!

Once you fall behind the times, it becomes incredibly difficult to catch up.

In this situation, the Confucius lineage certainly could not sit idly by and wait for its demise, and therefore could not take the path of neutrality.

Second, to act as an opponent.

The main argument of the opponents is to maintain the classic interpretation of the texts, which is actually the result that the lineage of the Duke Yansheng most wants to see.

According to conventional wisdom, the lineage of the Duke Yansheng should also be staunch opponents.

The problem is that it is almost impossible for the opposition to win.

The combination of the Emperor and Jiang Da Xiang Gong is truly intimidating.

There's almost nothing these two can't accomplish.

In particular, the Grand Master still has the "scientific research reform" card in his hand that he has not yet played.

In short, with new interpretations of the scriptures and their inclusion as mandatory content in the special imperial examinations, are you going to memorize them or not?

If you don't memorize it, you won't pass the exam!
Moreover, the longer it takes, the less likely you are to pass the exam!
Because your next batch of competitors are students who received semi-free education. They have been influenced by the reinterpretation of scriptures since childhood, and they are not on the same level as you who started halfway through your education.

Furthermore, once the opponents fail and the lineage of the Duke Yansheng sides with them, the interpretation of the sage's scriptures will have little to do with the lineage of the Duke Yansheng from then on.

Even the position of the Duke of Yansheng may not be unshakeable.

Therefore, the lineage of the Duke Yansheng only had one path.

He actively participated in the reinterpretation of classical texts and betrayed the stubborn Confucian scholars.

Thus, the right to interpret scriptures remained in the hands of the lineage of the Duke Yansheng.

As for whether there is any moral burden?
Hey, there must be a reason why the lineage of the Duke Yansheng has been passed down for thousands of years.

It was precisely for this reason that, from the moment she learned that the Grand Chancellor intended to use the authority of the Duke Yansheng's lineage to recast the right to interpret scriptures, Kong Ruomeng had already decided to throw herself into the Grand Chancellor's arms.

Taking on a master isn't necessarily a bad thing.

There's a saying that goes, "A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on."
"The reform policies had many opponents, but even more supporters."

Kong Ruomeng solemnly said, "The Grand Chancellor's policies are truly excellent policies for all time, and all people admire and submit to them."

"what!"

Jiang Zhao looked somewhat surprised: "The Analects of Confucius, in the chapter 'Ji Shi,' says: 'A gentleman has three things to fear: the mandate of Heaven, great men, and the words of sages. A petty man does not know the mandate of Heaven and therefore does not fear it; he is familiar with great men and insults the words of sages.'"

"This statement has been used by many to criticize the new policies. I thought that Qufu, influenced by the sages, would mostly oppose the reforms. Unexpectedly, there are quite a few insightful people among them."

Kong Ruomeng felt a chill run down his spine.

There's not much to talk about in a public meeting.

Ultimately, it's nothing more than testing political philosophies, academic philosophies, and values.

The phrase "the three things a gentleman fears" is a typical embodiment of the idea that "ancestral laws cannot be changed."

This single classic statement reveals a great deal.

"A gentleman has three things to fear: the mandate of Heaven, great men, and the words of sages."

Kong Ruomeng stroked his knee and slowly said, “However, fear is not dread. Fearing the mandate of Heaven is not fearing the mandate of Heaven, and one can also follow the mandate of Heaven; fearing great men is not fearing great men, and later generations can also become great men; fearing sages is not fearing sages, and one can also understand sages.”

As descendants of a sage, the lineage of the Duke Yansheng has a profound understanding of the sage's classics.

It can be said that the research has almost reached the point where both forehand and backhand techniques are available.

In short, it can be interpreted in one way or the other, and both interpretations have merit.

As for the difference, it's simply that the forehand has become a classic interpretation, while the backhand has been kept strictly secret.

In short, whatever the rulers need, they can provide a corresponding interpretation, and they have everything!
"it is good!"

Jiang Zhao clapped his hands and nodded: "Duke Yansheng, you are indeed learned and have the demeanor of a descendant of a sage."

Knowing that he had passed the test and was now on the "support for reform" bandwagon, Kong Ruomeng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Your Excellency is also very busy with many affairs of state and is very knowledgeable about the past and present."

"Ah."

Jiang Zhao nodded, quite satisfied.

An obedient Duke Yansheng is a good Duke Yansheng, and a legitimate Duke Yansheng!
"I am resigning."

Tao Jin and Kong Ruomeng bowed in unison and withdrew.

With both parties in love, the next step was to present the apprenticeship application and arrange a series of apprenticeship ceremonies.

Jiang Zhao smiled faintly.

With the support of the Duke Yansheng's lineage, the disputes over imperial edicts and laws, and the right to interpret scriptures, are likely to come to an end soon!

(End of this chapter)