Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 244 Father! Your son will risk everything to get involved!

News from Jiangnan will arrive a few days later than from the capital.

In particular, if certain events were not published in newspapers, it would be difficult for scholars in Jiangnan to fully understand them.

However, Zhang Yunxiu made a big fuss about founding the "New School," as if he was afraid that no one would know about it.

Wang Xijue also frowned deeply.

"It is unprecedented to see a teenager wanting to start a sect or school."

However, since Zhang Yunxiu rose to prominence, various strange events have occurred frequently, so looking at this farce at the new school now, it's not so surprising.

He thought for a moment and added.

"According to what I have heard recently, apart from Li Zhi and other heretics of the School of Mind who highly admire Zhang Shiyuan's new learning."

Wang Ji, a disciple of Wang Yangming, is from the Wang family in central Zhejiang. He has recently written books to refute Wang Yangming's unorthodox views.

Jiao Hong and Luo Rufang of the Taizhou School also had some reservations about this person's deconstruction of Taizhou Neo-Confucianism.

It's nothing more than a child's attention-seeking stunt; there's no need to worry about it.

Wang Xijue and Wang Shizhen were both Jinshi graduates who often lectured and established theories, so they naturally despised Zhang Yunxiu's behavior.

What scientific principles? He wrote about them in several pages of the Wanli Xinbao newspaper. The vernacular language he used was so crude that it sounded like rural slang. He seemed to think that even country bumpkins and peddlers could understand his "new learning," which was simply an insult to culture.

Wang Shizhen nodded slightly.

"There are many great scholars of Neo-Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism in the capital. If Zhang Shiyuan dares to provoke this, there will surely be some people who are indignant. When that happens, they will come up to Xishan and have a 'literary battle,' which will be a good show to watch!"

Wang Xijue stroked his beard, smiled, and shook his head: "If that's the case, Zhang Shiyuan will definitely be utterly disgraced."

The atmosphere in the hall became cheerful again as soon as they started talking about how absurd Zhang Yunxiu was.

The two chatted back and forth until late into the night.

Wang Xijue rose to take his leave, saying, "It's late, so I won't bother you any longer, Brother Yuanmei."

Wang Shizhen, slightly intoxicated, escorted him all the way to his doorstep, summoned a sedan chair, and spoke with great enthusiasm.

"It is truly a fortunate thing for me, Wang Shizhen, to have met Brother Yuanyu (Wang Xijue's courtesy name)."

The ways of Heaven are unpredictable. Don't be fooled by Zhang Jiangling's current power. Even with Wang Anshi's reforms in the Song Dynasty, it still ended up with the "Yuan You Restoration".

We both harbor ambitions to serve our country and its people, and like Sima Qian of the Song Dynasty, we too will have our day!
"If he were to be remembered for his virtues as 'Wenzheng' (文正) in the future, he would not have failed in his duty of honor, both in life and after death."

Under the quiet street and the bright moonlight, Wang Shizhen felt a surge of emotion and began to compare himself to Sima Guang.

It seemed as if the previous plans had nothing to do with him.

Before boarding the sedan chair, Wang Xijue smiled and bowed deeply to his old friend.

"Thank you for your kind words, Brother Yuanmei. Sima Junshi experienced great ups and downs. He resigned from his post and returned home to devote himself to compiling the Zizhi Tongjian in order to oppose Wang Anshi's reforms. He is just like us, a hidden dragon in the abyss."

"If I were to rise up in the future, I would certainly emulate Sima Qian, abolishing all the new laws and restoring order!"

For a moment, a sense of pride rose in the two of them, as if they were about to emulate Zhang Zai, the great master of the Northern Song Dynasty, and express their aspirations with the four lines of Zhang Zai.

"Write it down quickly, write it down quickly."

The two pageboys exchanged a glance and quickly lowered their heads to take notes.

The gentlemen, brimming with magnanimity, naturally had pageboys by their side, recording their words and actions with paper and pen. If they ever rose to prominence in the future, it would become a celebrated tale.

But just as Wang Xijue boarded the sedan chair, he suddenly remembered someone and asked his pageboy in surprise.

Where is Wang Jiu?

Wang Jiu was naturally the household steward.

The pageboy followed them all the way, quickly wrote down the contents of their conversation in his notebook, and respectfully replied to Wang Xijue.

"Sir, you may have forgotten, but the steward just mentioned that the eldest son sent a letter from the capital. You couldn't wait to get home to read it, so you asked him to go and fetch it as soon as possible."

Wang Xijue felt a little dizzy from drinking, and only then did he realize the crux of the matter. He couldn't help but smile and shake his head as he spoke.

"I'm getting senile."

After thinking for a moment, he gave his instructions.

"The messenger will wait here and inform him to catch up. We will return to the mansion first."

"Yes."

The pageboy bowed respectfully.

But less than an incense stick's time had passed when they heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

"stop."

With Wang Xijue's instructions, the sedan chair was gently lowered again. He lifted the curtain, looked at the anxious steward Wang Jiu outside, and said with a smile.

"Wang Jiu, I almost missed you."

Wang Jiu quickly dismounted and bowed, speaking with utmost respect and trepidation.

"Please forgive me, sir. I rushed here." "It's not your fault." Wang Xijue was in a good mood and stretched out his hand. "Then bring it here for me to see. Chen Yu is a mature and prudent person. He would never send such an urgent message unless it was something important."

Wang Jiu hurriedly took out the letter from his bosom and respectfully presented it.

"Master, please look."

Upon receiving the thick letter, Wang Xijue couldn't help but smile. This was his most valued eldest son, who was sure to become a top scholar in the future.

Compared to the rebellious son in Wang Shizhen's family, it was a world of difference.

He tore open the envelope, took out the letter inside, and a whiff of ink fragrance wafted out. Seeing his eldest son's vigorous and powerful calligraphy made Wang Xijue even more spirited.

He sighed.

"Chen Yu's handwriting has improved a lot; he must have put in a lot of hard work."

Upon seeing his eldest son's handwriting and wording, Wang Xijue, the elderly father, couldn't help but feel his eyes well up with tears.

But as he looked at the contents, he felt something was wrong, and his expression gradually became serious.

As was his usual practice, the eldest son, Wang Heng, would always begin his letters by mentioning his own studies, then talk about the recent situation of his companion, Wang Shiqi, and finally introduce his observations in the capital.

The contents of this letter must have been meticulously written, perhaps even employing the techniques of writing the eight-legged essay, so that Wang Xijue could judge and correct it.

But today, Wang Heng's letter is quite messy, giving the impression that he was in a state of mental turmoil when he wrote it.

"Brother Jiongbo (Wang Shiqi) harbors resentment and recently even considered using futures trading to reignite a conflict with Zhang Shiyuan. My earnest attempts to dissuade him have been to no avail."

"In order to profit from this, Brother Jiongbo seems possessed by a demon, mortgaging and selling the deeds to our family's land. I don't know if Uncle is aware of this, but if not, please remind him. And please do not say that it was I who told him."

“I have recently been studying the methods of futures trading, and I wonder if they can indeed be applied to practical matters.”
When I read Yangming's "Instructions for Practical Living" in the past, I heard about the concepts of "the mind is principle" and "the unity of knowledge and action." It seems that my trip to Xishan was actually in line with this philosophy.

Furthermore, Zhang Shiyuan's new school of thought also explicitly stated that "without investigation, one has no right to speak."
The child pondered deeply, yet could not grasp its profound meaning. Therefore, he decided to emulate the ancient sages and personally experience this futures trading method to see if it could truly benefit the world and its people.

"I will make my own decision, and I hope Father will not worry too much."

"Bastard!"

Wang Xijue slapped the sedan chair, and the sedan chair came to a stop again.

In the first half, we see Wang Shiqi's absurd behavior, even going so far as to sell his grandfather's land.

Wang Xijue felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that Wang Shizhen's words about being spoiled excessively since childhood were all too apt.

He was just about to ask someone to send a letter to Wang Shizhen, informing him to properly deal with this "unfilial son".

Of course, he wouldn't go to inform his old friend in person; such a disgraceful thing to the family should be avoided, and he had to give his old friend some face.

But as I looked at it, I realized something was off.

Not only Wang Shiqi, but even his eldest son, whom he had carefully cultivated, had been foolishly led astray by Zhang Shiyuan's "demon".
In his letters, he would occasionally mention his "new learning" and "science," suggesting that he was deeply influenced by them.

What angered him most was that Wang Heng was also confused and entered that so-called "futures market," even talking about getting involved and putting his knowledge into practice.

This isn't scholarship; it's jumping into a fire pit!
Wang Xijue was trembling with anger, but he still didn't know what this "futures market" was.

Fortunately, Wang Heng was very considerate and specially included a section at the end, using a simple and easy-to-understand story to explain the principles of the "futures market".

Upon seeing this, Wang Xijue's eyes turned even redder and more furious. I felt a surge of blood rush to my head, and he roared twice.

"Zhang Shiyuan! Zhang Shiyuan!"

His eyes nearly spit fire as he shouted loudly from inside the sedan chair.

"Stop the carriage! Stop the carriage! Who gave you permission to continue?! All of you, stop right now!"

The steward, Wang Jiu, who had been following them, was startled and quickly stepped forward to ask what was wrong.

"What is this, sir?"

Just a moment ago, Wang Xijue was all smiles and looked delighted. Why has he suddenly become so irritable?

But Wang Xijue didn't explain to him, and said angrily.

"Are you all deaf? I told you to stop! Turn around!"

Wang Jiu felt wronged; you never said that!
But he still hurriedly addressed the sedan chair bearers.

"Turn around! Turn around! Master wants to go back! He wants to go back!"

The sedan chair carriers quickly turned around and headed back the way they came.

But from inside the sedan chair, Wang Xijue's words sounded increasingly urgent.

"Hurry up and go fetch Mr. Yuanmei!"

Wang Jiu looked rather troubled: "Master probably already has Mr. Yuanmei asleep by now."

"Knock on the door! It's extremely urgent!"

Wang Xijue stared wide-eyed as he spoke.

"They say there's another big mess in the capital, and that Zhang Shiyuan has stirred up trouble again!"

(End of this chapter)