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

Chapter 312 Cucumber? Rebellious Son? I've become a doctor through long illness!

"Can one glean profound truths from a cucumber?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Shixing chuckled and said...

"It's fortunate that Commander Zhang could come up with such a brilliant idea!"

But then he thought about it again, and the smile between his brows gradually faded. He suddenly felt that there was a deeper meaning hidden in this absurd statement.

Could it be that this cucumber, besides having a better yield than previous varieties, actually holds some profound truth?
Shen Shixing subconsciously turned his gaze to Zhang Juzheng beside him, only to see the latter resting with his eyes closed, his face still calm and composed, as if such discussions had nothing to do with him.

Then, looking at the table next to Zhang Juzheng, there was a fruit plate with small pieces of bright green melons and fruits, their skins glossy with freshness.

It looks like a cucumber!

At this moment, everyone present looked at each other in bewilderment, and amidst the uproar, many were confused.

Suddenly, a burst of maniacal laughter erupted from the crowd.

"That's exactly right! That's exactly right! Hahahaha~"

Li Zhi clapped his hands and danced wildly, his body trembling with excitement, which startled the onlookers who retreated in fear.

"The way of the cucumber is the scientific way of investigating things to gain knowledge! A mere cucumber can reveal the ultimate truths of the world, yet that old scoundrel Xu was completely oblivious!"

He completely ignored the stares of others and began to speak loudly to himself.

"Cucumbers grow in the fields, and agriculture is related to the livelihood of the people. Only when agriculture prospers can the people have full granaries and the world be at peace!"
Outsiders say that Zhang Shiyuan is full of business acumen and only knows how to pursue profit all day long.

But only Zhang Shiyuan truly understood that commerce and agriculture were both indispensable!

It's laughable how those pedantic scholars talk about farming all day long. Have they achieved even a fraction of the practical results of the Xishan Agricultural Settlement?
What use are these wise sayings that only quote classics and talk grandly but can't produce any tangible benefits for the people?
You guys are still stubbornly clinging to your delusions, it's hilarious!

Li Zhi's alternating between cursing, sneering, and mocking the scholars infuriated them, causing them to clench their teeth in anger.

If it weren't for the presence of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Guard today, they would have beaten this strangely dressed old man so badly that he couldn't take care of himself.

"gentlemen!!!"

The pageboy Yuan Wenwei rushed over from nowhere, hurriedly covered Li Zhi's mouth, and half-pulled, half-persuaded him to the back of the crowd.

While dragging him along, he bowed and smiled apologetically at everyone: "Please forgive my rudeness, everyone. My uncle injured his head a few days ago and has been talking nonsense. I am really sorry to all of you."

Under the complex gazes of the crowd, the master and apprentice hurriedly left and quickly disappeared into the distance.

However, although everyone despised the mad old man's outrageous behavior, they couldn't help but recall his words.

Upon careful consideration, I found that those seemingly absurd words actually contained some irrefutable truths.
"absurd!"

Standing behind, Wang Xijue saw Xu Jie being "humiliated" and his fiery temper immediately flared up. He carefully helped Xu Jie up and pointed at Zhang Yunxiu, cursing him.

"What are you doing here, you fool? This is clearly sophistry. You think you can explain the world's principles with just a cucumber? Are you saying that everyone in the world is stupid and mediocre, and that you are the only one who understands the world and knows everything?"
How much coal does your greenhouse cucumber farm consume every day? It's nothing but extravagance!

Even if the yield per acre doubles, so what? It's not a staple food; it can't sustain life. Such unorthodox methods are ultimately meaningless!

He roared in one breath, his chest heaving violently from the intense breathing.

Pressing his advantage, he took two more steps forward, his eyes wide open as he questioned him.

"Historically, the five grains have been rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans! If the five grains are not plentiful and the granaries are not full, the people of the world will not even have enough to eat, so how can we talk about great governance?"

"What are you really up to by using these flashy but impractical cucumbers to mislead people!"

Through the loudspeakers surrounding him, Wang Xijue's voice resounded throughout the theater; his voice was loud and clear, and his arguments were well-organized.

Upon hearing this, many upright scholars and gentry resonated with it, and suddenly a voice rang out from the crowd.

"This is Lord Wang Yuanyu, who once headed the Hanlin Academy. His demeanor and talent are evident to all!"

"Mr. Yuan Yu is absolutely right!"

“I knew that Zhang Yunxiu was good at confusing people.”

Wang Xijue's angry rebuke was like a spark igniting dry tinder, instantly stirring up the gentry and the upright scholars. The students of the Imperial Academy also joined in their indignation and began to verbally attack Zhang Yunxiu, their words filled with accusations of "deviant behavior" and "bewitching people."

Only some of the Xishan residents in the crowd felt indignant, their faces turning red, but they couldn't quite put their finger on what was wrong. They stood there clenching their fists and stamping their feet in frustration.

On the other side of the stands, Elder Zhang Sishu led a group of key members of the garrison.

Hearing Wang Xijue's remarks, he was so angry he wanted to kill someone. In just a few words, the other party had belittled the efforts of his group to nothing.

The men behind him couldn't contain themselves any longer. One of them muttered, "Damn it! These pretentious scholars are all bastards, heartless bastards! They bully one person just because they outnumber him, what kind of heroes are they!"

Suddenly, tensions rose in the stands.

Whether they were officials of the six ministries of the imperial court, noble generals, scholars, or commoners, everyone had their own different stance.

This scene of gathering people from all walks of life, from the government to the common people, to argue heatedly over a cucumber and discuss the livelihood of the nation is truly an unprecedented spectacle.

However, at the very center of the vortex, Zhang Yunxiu stared at Wang Xijue for a long time without saying a word, and there was not a trace of embarrassment on his face.

He said leisurely, "Speaking of which, Mr. Wang Yuanyu and I are of the same generation. It shouldn't be too much for Wang Chenyu to call Mr. Yuanyu 'elder brother' since he has become my disciple, right?"

"Zhang Shiyuan!" Wang Xijue's temper flared up. "Don't try to evade the issue. I'll settle this score with you later. Whatever your reasons are, just tell me everything!"

Mentioning the eldest son, Wang Heng, truly touched a nerve with Wang Xijue.

Zhang Yunxiu asked curiously, "Brother Yuanyu, why are you so angry?"

The more he said this, the angrier Wang Xijue became.

"Zhang Shiyuan! You're still causing trouble here!"

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said, "I am not being unreasonable, but Brother Yuanyu broke the rules. Master Xu wanted to argue with me, and Brother Yuanyu suddenly jumped out to argue with me as well. If I accept, then I will argue with anyone who jumps out here."
Wouldn't today's lecture turn into a vegetable market?

"You!" Wang Xijue was about to rebuke him, but what the other party said made sense. The main characters of this "lecture" were Zhang Yunxiu and Xu Jie, so it was a bit strange for him to interfere.

Zhang Yunxiu continued, "Since that's the case, if Master Xu sends out his students to compete, then I should also send out my students to compete. That would be fair, wouldn't it?"

As he spoke, he pointed to a group of people standing behind him. Some of them were doctors from the capital, some were storytellers from all walks of life, and some were even students of the Imperial Academy.

But now they all share the same identity: Zhang Yunxiu's personal disciple!
Yang Jishi and others studied medicine, Yuan Zongdao and Liu Dongding studied biochemical experiments, and Zhao Shizhen was an engineering genius.

Even the three core figures of the Donglin School—Gu Xiancheng, Zhao Nanxing, and Gao Panlong—had become disciples of Zhang Yunxiu, making it a place teeming with talent.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly to the crowd and said, "Chenyu, there's no need to be afraid. Just come and talk to your father. It's not a big deal."

"Zhang Shiyuan! You've gone too far!"

Wang Xijue was furious. Was this a threat to kill father and son?

But Gu Xiancheng saw it differently. Dressed in a blue robe, he stood beside Wang Heng and whispered words of comfort.

“Brother Chenyu, why hesitate? Today is a battle of wits. You don’t need to go up and berate your father. Just explain the scientific principles you have learned these days.”

"This"

Wang Heng lowered his head, not daring to look at Wang Xijue at all, but he still gritted his teeth and sighed.

"Then I will go and try to persuade my father."

As Gu Xiancheng said, Wang Heng didn't need any "pledge of allegiance," and Zhang Yunxiu didn't need that either. He only needed to explain his point of view properly.

Wang Heng stepped forward and bowed in a distant direction, the place where the Wanli Emperor was supposed to be, but it was now empty.

Then he bowed respectfully in the direction of Wang Xijue, and finally bowed again to Zhang Yunxiu.

"Daddy."

"gentlemen."

Wang Xijue's eyes were bloodshot as he turned his head and said, "You unfilial son, how dare you make a fool of yourself here!"

Zhang Yunxiu said softly, "Chenyu, just say what you want to say, express your ambitions and thoughts. As for the rest, don't worry about it. Your master is here. Losing is not shameful."

Upon hearing Zhang Yunxiu's words, Wang Heng felt a lump in his throat. Compared to his strict father, Zhang Yunxiu, his young mentor, was even more reassuring and warm.

He nodded his head emphatically, as if he had been encouraged.

Seeing this scene, Wang Xijue's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. He felt as if he had raised a virgin for eighteen years, only to have her tricked away by a local thug, and then she turned around and helped the thug scold him.

Wang Xijue was trembling, staring intently at Wang Heng. If it weren't for the fact that everyone was watching, he probably would have rushed up and given this unfilial son a good beating.

Wang Heng was a little scared, but he still straightened his chest and looked his father in the eye for the first time in his life.

He gave a slight bow and said.

"If I may be so bold, Father, your words are indeed wrong."

"You unfilial son! Still stubbornly clinging to your delusions!"

The sight of the father and son facing off really excited many onlookers. They had all heard that Zhang Shiyuan was the number one rebellious son in the world. Could it be that his disciple was also a rebellious son who wanted to overthrow his father?

However, in the blink of an eye, the theory Wang Heng presented attracted the attention of many people.

"Father is wrong. You dismiss greenhouse cucumbers as a luxury and a waste of money, but little do you know that the greenhouse is precisely the key to agricultural innovation!"

Wang Heng was already a learned man, and these days he was teaching children in Xishan while also conducting various investigations and research. Through working in the fields and participating in various biological and chemical studies, he was able to verify his previous conjectures firsthand, which naturally made him quite different.

His eyes gradually hardened, and he lost a trace of timidity.

"You say that using coal in greenhouses is extravagant, but you don't see the profound agricultural principles it contains. Cucumbers are sensitive to cold, so temperature and humidity need to be controlled; their roots are delicate, so the soil needs to be improved; fruit setting is not easy, so pollination needs to be carefully studied; and the variety has inherent deficiencies, so hybridization is needed to improve it. Through several generations, the superior shape has been preserved."

These words carried Wang Heng's genuine feelings, because he had indeed grown cucumbers.

"From the cultivation of cucumbers, we can improve various methods such as early spring rice seedling cultivation and late autumn wheat seedling protection, and explore the experience of land improvement."

"Reaching cucumbers may seem impractical now, but the transformative power it could bring is beyond your wildest imagination!"

At this point, Wang Heng opened his arms and cried out from his chest, "Your son has not fallen into demonic possession; your son has found the truth, a truth that can truly enable scholars to establish their hearts, their lives, and their virtues, and to bring peace to the world!"
And this is the true principle of investigating things to acquire knowledge, the very essence of what Yangming upheld!

"Crazy! Crazy!"

Wang Xijue shook his head repeatedly. Hearing these strange words from his son was more painful than being killed.

In his eyes, Wang Heng was like a pure white lotus flower, which was tainted by Zhang Yunxiu, a filthy person, and turned into a strange black lotus flower.

"My son isn't crazy!"

Wang Heng stared wide-eyed as he spoke.

"Father often taught me that scholars should care about the world and take the people's well-being as their responsibility. I have always done so. Why have you forgotten this, Father?"

"I never taught you to be unorthodox!"

"What is meant by going against the grain? Why not use the principles that can save the people? Does the great order of the world mean we are stuck in our ways? In my opinion, our science is a thousand times, ten thousand times more powerful than Confucianism!"

"Bullshit science!"

Wang Xijue instantly lost his composure. With his hair disheveled, he looked as if he wanted to rush forward and break the legs of this unfilial son to relieve the frustration in his heart.

"enough!"

Xu Jie grabbed Wang Xijue and glared at him, saying...

"Wang Yuanyu! Are you really going to make such a fool of yourself in front of everyone?"

"Master Xu."

"Enough!" Xu Jie let out a long breath, glanced at Wang Heng with a complicated expression, and then said to Wang Shizhen behind him.

"Yuanmei, you two should both step back."

"Master Xu!"

Wang Xijue wanted to argue, but Xu Jie's words reminded him that thousands of eyes were watching, and today's events would spread throughout the Ming Dynasty, with every word and action recorded in history books.

If it were a scene of father and son killing each other, Wang Xijue would truly become a laughing stock in history.

After Wang Xijue and Wang Shizhen slunk away, Xu Jie looked at Zhang Shiyuan. He suddenly picked up the cucumber beside him, took a big bite, and said with a smile as he crunched on it.

"Shiyuan wants to debate with me about the principles of cucumbers, and I agree. As the Tao Te Ching says, 'Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish,' which shows that the big picture can be seen from small things. I admire Shiyuan's talent to the fullest."

"but."

He turned his gaze to the large group of disciples and followers behind Zhang Yunxiu.

"Since this is a discussion between the two of us, it's really inappropriate to involve outsiders. How about we ask all irrelevant people to leave?"

Xu Jie, however, saw it clearly.

Compared to his disciples and followers, Xu Jie certainly had students and former officials all over the country, but those who were truly talented were all in the imperial court, and how many people would stand up for him?
On the contrary, Zhang Yunxiu's disciples were a group of talented individuals, and they were so devoted to this "scientific" method that it was as if they had been subjected to some kind of sorcery.

If Xu Jie were to pit his disciples against his disciples, he wouldn't know how he could win. He couldn't very well bring Zhang Juzheng up to fight against him, could he?

Zhang Yunxiu, however, seemed unconcerned. He nodded and said, "This is only to be expected."

As the theater gradually quieted down, Xu Jie slowly began to speak, clearly after much deliberation.

"Shiyuan used cucumbers to explain the ultimate principles of the world, just as he used the art of cooking small fish to explain the principles of governing a large country. I especially agree with the importance of agriculture."

Xu Jie picked up the half cucumber, looking quite appreciative.

The "Hong Fan" states that there are "eight policies for agriculture," with food being the most important and goods being the next most important. Only when food and goods are in balance can the world be well-governed. Ancient sages and wise men have listed agriculture as the primary task of governing the country.

King Zhou of Shang perished due to his indulgence in wine and meat, and King You of Shang lost his life by playing with the feudal lords by lighting beacon fires; both were due to abandoning the fundamental principles of agriculture and neglecting the essentials.
During the early Han Dynasty, Emperors Wen and Jing governed the country with the policy of "rest and recuperation," emphasizing agriculture and sericulture with light taxes and levies, which resulted in abundant granaries.
Emperor Wu of Han was ambitious and eager for quick succession, and he greatly promoted commerce, which ultimately led to the depletion of the empire. If he had not issued the edict of repentance at Luntai and revived agriculture, the Han dynasty would have been in grave danger.

Xu Jie's words, full of classical allusions, sounded almost like a memorial to the throne, which pleased many scholars who nodded in agreement.

But the people present were not just scholars; most were peddlers with limited literacy, or ordinary people from the Western Hills, or even the old man selling pancakes on the streets of the capital. They all had only one feeling about it—it sounded impressive, but they couldn't understand it.

Xu Jie, however, was already accustomed to this lecture and discourse style, and he stared intently at Zhang Yunxiu as he spoke.

"Shi Yuan said that this cucumber technique can nourish the five grains, but he did not know the principle that 'the wealth of the end is easy to decline, while the wealth of the beginning is hard to take away.' The wise rulers of the past all 'valued grain and silk over gold and jade.' The criticism of strange skills and tricks by the people of the world is not without reason, because the five grains are the foundation of life."
Farmers toil day and night, and merchants can earn in a single day what takes months of farming. If everyone in the world were to focus on the ingenuity of greenhouses and disregard the hardships of farming, within ten years, the granaries of our Great Ming Dynasty would be empty, and displacement would inevitably arise.
The Qin dynasty built the Epang Palace, and the Sui dynasty opened the Grand Canal; both were due to excessive labor and neglect of agriculture, ultimately leading to the collapse of the empire. Must we repeat their mistakes?

Xu Jie's words were full of deep emotion, yet they sounded like an old man giving earnest advice.

Many of the scholars present were deeply moved by what they heard.

"These are words from the bottom of Xu Gong's heart!"

"It is time to get to the root of the problem and focus on agriculture, which is fundamental. We cannot abandon the fundamental for the trivial."

"If agriculture is lost, the world will inevitably fall apart, and this is also recorded in historical books."

Xu Jie's voice suddenly grew louder.

Zhang Yunxiu, who was resting with his eyes closed, slowly raised his head and asked.

"What does the gentleman mean?"

"Emphasis on agriculture, suppression of commerce, promotion of literature and morality, emphasis on education, and adherence to etiquette!"

Xu Jie spoke almost without thinking, like a machine gun firing off a string of words, each one resounding and powerful.

"Agriculture is the foundation of the nation, so we must reduce taxes and levies to encourage farming. We should spread academies throughout the land to educate the people and use the calendar, village covenants, and other methods to rectify customs and maintain discipline. This is an immutable principle!"

After hearing this, many of the teachers present nodded in agreement, and a few even took out their bamboo tags and used charcoal pencils to write down his words.

A scholar from the Hanlin Academy sitting at the front stroked his beard and exclaimed in admiration, "Lord Xu's words are truly wise and benevolent. If they could be disseminated to private schools and academies throughout the land, so that all children would know the foundation of my governance, then education would naturally be successful!"

Zhang Yunxiu, however, was somewhat dismissive. He narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp.

"The Han dynasty had edicts to encourage agriculture, the Tang dynasty had the equal-field system, and the Song dynasty had the village covenant law; all of these followed this approach."

Why is it that throughout history, people on both sides of the Yellow River filled in the ditches, and tenant farmers in the water towns of Jiangnan sold their children?

What exactly went wrong?

Zhang Yunxiu's question was undeniably sharp, even catching Xu Jie off guard. However, having been immersed in officialdom for many years and possessing considerable experience in "lecturing," he quickly replied after a moment's thought.

"It's simply a matter of a lack of education. If farmers can work diligently, merchants can abide by the rules, scholars can understand etiquette, and craftsmen can refine their skills, each fulfilling their duties without overstepping boundaries, and officials and clerks can enforce the law impartially without bias—then the world will naturally be well-governed."

Xu Jie's white beard trembled slightly as he emphasized.

"When people's hearts are upright, everything will naturally prosper!"

Zhang Yunxiu was not in a hurry to refute the other party, but instead asked again.

"Master Xu must know how arduous farming is."

Xu Jie felt that the other person was like a child with a head full of questions, but he was not afraid of answering questions, so he immediately said in a deep voice.

"I once served as a cabinet minister to govern the country and also inspected local areas. I saw that farmers worked hard in spring, summer, autumn, and winter."

Since ancient times, it has been said that "those who labor with their minds govern others, while those who labor with their bodies are governed by others." Naturally, everyone must fulfill their respective duties to maintain order and harmony.

The debate between the two sides has reached a fever pitch.

Zhang Yunxiu exuded an imposing aura, while Xu Jie quoted extensively from classical texts and spoke with clear logic.

"As expected of Master Xu, these heartfelt words would be an exceptionally brilliant answer even in the imperial examination."

An official in the crowd couldn't help but sigh.

Many ordinary people were confused, but they could still tell that Xu Jie was speaking with great authority.

However, the nobles were getting anxious.

Duke Zhang Rong of England couldn't help but feel a little impatient: "What is Shi Yuan doing? Where has all his usual sharpness gone? He's acting like he's asking that old scoundrel Xu a question!"

"If this continues, Shiyuan is likely to lose."

Zhu Yingzhen looked rather disappointed. He clearly placed great hopes on Zhang Yunxiu, especially hoping that the other party could kill Xu Jie.

Perhaps this opportunity can help improve the long-standing situation in which the court is dominated by civil officials and military officials take sides.

Now it seems that it has all become a pipe dream.

Inside the private room, Shen Shixing was also somewhat puzzled, and frowned as he spoke.

"Zhang Zhangwei doesn't seem to be in good shape today; he seems to have lost his spirit."

He sighed again.

"In the end, there is too much of a age difference. Xu Zisheng is already in his eighties, and his ability to reason and cite classics is already superb."

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted to Zhang Juzheng beside him, and an idea popped into his head.

In the past, when Zhang Yunxiu argued with his father Zhang Juzheng, he was full of vigor and quick-witted.
Zhang Juzheng remained unmoved. He slowly raised his head and glanced at the stage, then spoke leisurely.

"No need to rush, this kid is very cunning, Xu Zisheng has already fallen into the trap."

"trap?"

Shen Shixing was stunned for a moment; he had no idea what kind of trap it was.

"How did the En family figure that out?"

Zhang Juzheng slowly turned his head and said, word by word.

"Experienced illness for a long time makes one a doctor."

(End of this chapter)