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

Chapter 265 Donglin Academy Establishes a School to Improve the World and Rectify the Times

Gu Xiancheng and Zhao Nanxing both worked in the Ministry of Revenue.

It can be said that no one in the entire capital city felt the changes brought about by Zhang Yunxiu more than the Ministry of Revenue.

From the various expenditures of the national treasury to the changes in the lives of ordinary people in the capital.

The upright gentry could use their mere words to claim that the Western Hills were a place where human life was treated like dirt and that the oppression of the people of the capital was unbearable.

But the Ministry of Revenue's accounts would never lie.

Zhao Nanxing sighed again and said, "In the past, even with the implementation of new policies and the collection of excess taxes, the court was still struggling to make ends meet and had to be careful with every penny."

With the recent arrival of the Western Hills and the steady stream of revenue, the imperial treasury is surprisingly showing signs of relative ease.

Gu Xiancheng nodded slightly and said.

"Ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring. We officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue are no longer as overwhelmed as in previous years, thinking of robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Upon hearing this, Gao Panlong, being rather radical, slammed his fist on the table without hesitation and said, "In my opinion, His Majesty should vigorously promote the new policies instead of being so timid and hesitant as he is today. If the Xishan model is promoted throughout the country as soon as possible, what worries will our Great Ming have about not prospering?"

He looked heartbroken.

"In previous years, how many people were displaced by disasters and how many elderly, women and children suffered from hunger and cold? If the whole world could be like Xishan, perhaps the great harmony of the world would be just around the corner!"

After listening to the opinions of several people, Wang Heng still frowned. He agreed with Gu Xiancheng and Zhao Nanxing's remarks, but felt that Gao Panlong's words were too biased.

Therefore, he still reminded him, "I think this is just right. Throughout history, all government orders have been issued by taking advantage of the situation. We must not be too hasty."

Emperor Yang of Sui once commissioned the construction of the Grand Canal, a project intended to lay the foundation for future generations. However, his hasty approach ultimately led to a popular uprising.

Gao Panlong stared wide-eyed and said, "Emperor Yang of Sui oppressed the common people, but Mr. Zhang oppresses the gentry and merchants who suck the blood and flesh of the people. What is there to fear about such people?"

Wang Heng shook his head and said, "Although there are many people in this world, it still depends on scholars to govern it. If scholars are driven out and killed, the world will surely be in chaos!"

From Wang Heng's perspective, Zhang Yunxiu's approach was correct, but it was not a good thing to indiscriminately attack and kill the gentry and merchants.

This is also why he doesn't go to Xishan.

Wang Heng feared that if he joined Zhang Yunxiu's faction, one day he might have to turn against his own father and clansmen for his own "ambitions," which would be a tragedy of human relations.

Wang Heng hoped to persuade the other party: "In my humble opinion, not all scholars in this world are vicious and wicked. We live here and are able to read and write because we rely on our families for care."

There are also insightful scholars in the world who are willing to sacrifice their current losses for the greater good of the world.

If our new school can gather a group of insightful individuals from across the land to jointly undertake this grand undertaking, it will surely become a celebrated achievement.

"It's that doctrine of the mean again!" Gao Panlong said dismissively. "How can one govern the world with a soft heart? One must sweep across the land with overwhelming force!"

Wang Heng shook his head repeatedly. "Wrong! Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish."

For a time, neither of them could convince the other.

Seeing his two younger brothers arguing fiercely, Gu Xiancheng smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"Please hear me out. The implementation of this new policy, whether it follows the doctrine of the mean or is carried out with overwhelming force, is based on sound reasoning."

My teacher once said that we must approach problems dialectically and never be biased.

He paused.

The saying "Arrogance should not be indulged, desires should not be unrestrained, pleasure should not be excessive, and ambition should not be excessive" contains the truth of this principle.

Act in accordance with the circumstances; use moderation when appropriate, and swiftness when necessary.

What do you two think?

His words were well-reasoned and supported by evidence, and his insights into the "new learning" were even more profound. Wang Heng and Gao Panlong exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes, and quickly cupped their hands in greeting.

"Thank you for your guidance, elder brother."

This debate has been temporarily quelled.

However, Zhao Nanxing, sitting to the side, laughed self-deprecatingly. "In the end, we are just talking about war on paper, but we can't put it into practice."

But I wonder what Mr. Zhang's plans are in Jiangnan. These past few days, I've been thinking about it constantly, and it's truly worrying."

In recent days, Beijing has been experiencing continuous turmoil, and the prices of grain and cloth in the market have continued to rise.

Those gentry and merchants who had harbored resentment in the past now seemed to have gone mad, determined to raise prices and cause trouble for Zhang Yunxiu.

All of them were people with a strong desire to govern the country and benefit the people. They saw what was happening and were anxious, but they regretted that they were powerless to help.

Wang Heng, however, appeared unusually optimistic. He had witnessed the other party's methods since the Xishan Auction, and after some thought, he said...

"It seems that we can turn danger into safety. The principles of futures trading and economics are quite profound and mysterious, not as simple as they appear on the surface."

Gu Xiancheng sighed, "I have dabbled in economics, but unfortunately, I lack the talent."

At this point, he seemed to have thought of something and said it very solemnly.

“I intend to teach part-time at Peiwen Academy in Xishan. I have heard that the children there are mostly from ordinary people in Xishan and are in dire need of teachers.”

Gu Xiancheng took a deep breath, his eyes becoming exceptionally firm: "At this time of great change in the world, we scholars should not spend our days engaging in lofty discussions, but should, as my teacher said, be down-to-earth and use practice to test the truth."

If I could enter Xishan Academy, I could explore how the profound principles in the books are truly put into practice.

In his view, there was no better place than Xishan Academy to verify whether the principles in the books were true or false.

Moreover, there is another advantage to going there—"imparting knowledge, teaching skills and resolving doubts" is the duty of Confucianism. By using this as an excuse to come into contact with new learning, one can avoid the idle gossip among scholars.

After all, no matter how much Zhang Yunxiu is criticized for being unorthodox, no one can find fault with his teaching of children.

"This is an excellent plan!" Zhao Nanxing's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but feel excited. He praised it repeatedly, "Going to Xishan to become a teacher, living among the people and children day and night, and seeing every blade of grass and tree in Xishan with my own eyes, is exactly what I want to do to pursue the truth!"

Gao Panlong and Wang Heng, who were standing to the side, were also moved by what they heard. They looked at each other and nodded in unison, as if they had made up their minds.

"I also wish to follow my brother!"

"I also wish to follow my brother."

Gao Panlong was not surprised. If Gu Xiancheng and Zhao Nanxing could be considered rational, this young man was simply a lackey of "Zhang Xue".

Wang Heng's firm stance surprised Gu Xiancheng, who looked at him and said...

"Chenyu, we are deeply engrossed in the new learning and cannot extricate ourselves, but your family has been officials for generations, and your father has high hopes for you. Do you really want to go to Xishan as well?"

He specifically reminded him of this.

"If you go to Xishan, those of us with official positions will still have a way out, but you may lose your path to the imperial examinations. You must be extremely careful."

Wang Heng's expression faltered for a moment, then he glanced at Gao Panlong beside him before becoming unusually resolute.

“Brother Cunzhi is about the same age as me, and he can still act without hesitation. Why should I, Wang Heng, hesitate?”
I've had this thought for a while, but my resolve wasn't strong enough before. Now that my brothers are with me, what is there to fear?

Wang Heng was tossing and turning in his heart, simply lacking an opportunity.

"Heh—" Gao Panlong raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, saying with a hint of resentment, "Brother Chenyu is certainly using me as a comparison. Let me make this clear from the start: once I enter Xishan Academy, I will not be involved in the imperial examinations at all!"

Wang Heng cupped his hands and smiled, "How could my foolish younger brother fall behind?"

"Hahaha—" Gu Xiancheng laughed loudly when he saw the two of them start competing again. He turned to Zhao Nanxing beside him and teased, "Brother Mengbai, it seems that there will be something to watch every day in our society from now on."

Southern Zhili.

Songjiang Mansion.

"You little fool, I'll cut you into a thousand pieces!"

Upon hearing the news delivered by the servant, Xu Jie was so angry that his hair stood on end. He glared at Wang Xijue and Wang Shizhen and said...

"Zhang Shiyuan is going too far! He doesn't take us seriously at all. He even sent the Xishan Theater troupe to cause trouble all over Jiangnan. Does he really think Jiangnan is helpless?!"

(End of this chapter)