I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 239 Using Preparations to Attack Lü
While Chen Yu and the Confucian scholars of Jingzhou were still discussing "whether or not to build a new house," the two young men, Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi, seemed to have sprouted wings and had already moved on to the next step: how to build a new house.

Zhuge Liang's idea was that everyone should make do in the old house for now, and then gradually repair the new house outside so that everyone could move in together.

Sima Yi, on the other hand, wanted to smash the old house to pieces, so that everyone would face the storm equally, and then force everyone to build a new house together.

The former has the advantage of being gentle, but the disadvantage is that it is too idealistic.

If we keep the old house, who will go out and face the storms alone, and who will build the new house brick by brick?
Most people would rather watch a pillar collapse than lift a finger to prop it up. Expecting them to voluntarily build a new house is pure fantasy!
The latter has the advantage of being ruthless and decisive, but its disadvantage is that many people will likely die before the house is built!

When everyone suddenly has nowhere to shelter from the wind and rain, a bloody storm, like the law of the jungle, will inevitably break out.

In this process, only the best and most patient hunters can achieve final victory!

So, although both are about "building houses," their processes are completely different, even diametrically opposed!
Zhuge Liang was the kind of hero who dared to shield everyone from the raging storm with his own body, and firmly believed that he would move everyone and inspire them to work together to achieve their hopes.

Sima Yi, on the other hand, silently concealed himself in the shadows, treating everyone as an enemy, and determined to become the ultimate victor.

Although both men are young talents, they are at loggerheads on this one issue, almost irreconcilable!

Because Chen Yu wanted to build a "new house" as soon as possible, he naturally sided with Sima Yi out of eagerness for quick success.

The inherent conservatism of those great Confucian scholars in Jingzhou, and their desire to remain in their "old houses" for shelter, led them to quietly begin to side with Zhuge Liang.

Just as the two sides were about to engage in another round of hostile confrontation, a crisp knocking sound paused the impending conflict.

"Dang Dang Dang!!"

Liu Miao tapped the bronze wine vessel with a golden spoon, drawing everyone's attention to himself.

"Today is merely a welcoming banquet for Sima Jian Gong, so why are we discussing matters of classical texts that I don't quite understand?"

As soon as Liu Miao finished speaking, it immediately aroused resentment among everyone in the room.

Who orchestrated this whole thing?

If Liu Miao hadn't gathered all these people together, would everyone have argued so fiercely over this matter?
Moreover, when these Confucian scholars from Jingzhou and Chen Yu were arguing most fiercely with Sima Fang, Liu Miao didn't step in to mediate. But now that it's Sima Yi's turn to argue with Zhuge Liang, Liu Miao claims that he "doesn't understand the classics."
If it were anyone else, these renowned scholars and Confucian masters present would probably have immediately launched into a tirade.

But in the face of Liu Miao, they could only lower their flags and cease their attacks, daring not to fight again!

"However, seeing the lively scene just now, I am reminded of something that Liu Jingzhou once told me when he passed away."

When Liu Miao mentioned Liu Biao, the group of Confucian scholars from Jingzhou fell completely silent.

“He once told me that he had compiled a book called ‘The Final Commentary on the Five Classics’, which could be used to teach people.”

"There have always been many schools in Jingzhou, and I have also made preparations to open schools in Yangzhou. There is no better time than today, so let's set this matter now and establish schools in various places to teach the 'Post-Annotations on the Five Classics'."

The group of renowned scholars from Jingzhou were overjoyed to hear this!

Although Liu Miao's "Post-Edited Version of the Five Classics" which was taught in the academy was a version modified and abridged by Liu Biao, its overall structure still belonged to "classical studies" and was not something heretical!

Moreover, establishing schools and appointing doctors was itself an effort to elevate the status of scholars and to create a system tailored specifically for them. Liu Miao's willingness to retain such a system was certainly commendable.

"also……"

But the next word, "in addition," made all these great scholars from Jingzhou tense up!
Now I'm not afraid of anything except one thing!
Liu Miao asked Chen Yu, "Does Gongwei have the original copies of the books 'Xin Lun' and 'Lun Heng'?"

"No, but I can guarantee I'll memorize it all word for word!"

Chen Yu had long said that in military affairs, he was inferior to Zhou Yu; in political affairs, he was inferior to Zhang Zhao; and in strategy, he was far inferior to Lu Su.

But his excellent memory and pen-writing skills were the only things he could rely on! His photographic memory made him a veritable human encyclopedia!
"In that case, you should copy it down, make it into a book, and sell it in the market."

On the issue of "building a house," neither Zhuge Liang's opinion nor Sima Yi's opinion mattered.

So Liu Miao chose a compromise, which seemed somewhat contradictory: to keep half of the old house and demolish the other half.

Compared to Zhuge Liang's methods, it was not so mild.

Compared to Sima Yi's methods, it was not as drastic.

This approach clearly leaves both sides dissatisfied, yet there seems to be no other way to resolve the issue.

After making his decision, Liu Miao ended the seemingly ordinary banquet.

Chen Yu chased after Liu Miao the moment he left his seat, calling out, "Zhongshan! Zhongshan!"

Having finally caught up with Liu Miao, Chen Yu, barely catching his breath, said angrily, "Your compromise is a bit too cunning! Where did all your decisiveness go?"

When Liu Miao established the Three Chiefs system and implemented the equal-field system, he didn't even blink! How come he's only taking a small, shaky step forward on this fundamental issue of legitimacy?
Liu Miao yawned, relieving his fatigue from the banquet.

"The three chiefs and the equal distribution of land are all done by first drawing the target and then shooting the arrow. Only in this way can we act swiftly and decisively."

"But now... Gongwei, let me ask you, you two seemed to be arguing quite a bit just now, but what was the final result?"

Chen Yu was momentarily speechless. "Kongming and Zhongda were indeed outstanding figures of their time, knowing that a new house needed to be built. But could either of them clearly describe what this new house would look like or what it would be used for?"

"Although the house that symbolizes the interaction between Heaven and Man is dilapidated, it has protected the Han Dynasty for hundreds of years. But now you only want to build a new house, yet you don't even know the purpose of the new house. How can you build a house like this in a day?"

Liu Miao shook his head.

"Following Kongming's approach, he probably would have worked himself to death and still not been able to build a new house."

"Following Zhongda's approach, most people would likely freeze to death in the wild, and it's uncertain whether they would even be able to build a house."

"These two are only arguing about the process of building the new house, not about what the new house should actually look like. So, Gongwei, whose opinion should I listen to?"

Chen Yu's brows furrowed even deeper: "Then what should we do?"

"What the hell are we going to do? You're asking me that?"

Liu Miao suddenly swore.

"You're the ones who do this! And now you're asking me?"

Chen Yu said aggrievedly, "You must know! I recorded Zhongshan's words and actions before, so I knew you must know!"

"Get lost! I don't know!"

Liu Miao ignored Chen Yu's persistent questioning.

"Once the matters concerning the academy and books are settled, I will return to Jiangdong!"

Chen Yu hurriedly asked, "What about me?"

"You? Do as you please!"

Liu Miao said he didn't care at all where Chen Yu was going, which hurt Chen Yu somewhat.

"Then I want to go back with you."

"Why?"

“I have found that although I have learned a lot outside, it is not as much as I have learned from you, Zhongshan.”

Chen Yu refused to continue wandering and chose to stay by Liu Miao's side.

"Especially that Wenchang School of thought that you've been messing around with lately, Zhongshan! I think thoroughly understanding that stuff is more useful than anything else!"

Chen Yu chuckled and grabbed Liu Miao's arm again: "Zhongshan, come on, let me take a stroll around the Wenchang Gate Academy?"

"No! Madam Cai and Madam Zou are still waiting for me. What would I do there?"

"You've married another widow? And two wives at that?"

"What? You're not convinced? If you're not convinced, then turn into a widow and let me see!"

"..."

------

With the lifting of restrictions on Huan Tan's "Xin Lun" and Wang Chong's "Lun Heng," which were no longer considered taboo within the academic sphere—at least not within the academic sphere of Jing and Yang regions—these two books and their contents immediately stirred up a storm!
Scholars from Sichuan, Guanzhong, the Central Plains, and Hebei successively read the works of these two men, who had sought to break the dominance of the interaction between Heaven and Man a hundred or two hundred years ago, through various means!

Most scholars' first reaction upon seeing these two books was to ban them!

Ban them severely!

How could such a banned book be circulating in the market? What is Liu Miao trying to do?
Especially those families with a long tradition of studying Confucian classics, who even petitioned the emperor to use the law to ban such books.

Forced into a corner, the emperor could only issue an edict to Liu Miao, ordering him to destroy such books.

"understood!"

Liu Miao cleverly dealt with the angel, and then immediately ordered the establishment of several more paper mills to accelerate the circulation and dissemination of the two books.

Someone else came to Cao Cao seeking his help, requesting that he stop the appearance of such books. Cao Cao agreed verbally, but he was not really interested in them.

After all, compared to the book issue, which doesn't seem to have much impact in the short term, something truly significant has happened in the east that concerns his interests—

Lü Bu had completely conquered the undefended Qingzhou, and now he completely controlled the lands of Qing and Xu, becoming a powerful warlord who possessed the former territory of Qi!
Thus, Cao Cao was no longer the sole and only hegemon in the Central Plains!

"Lu Bu..."

Cao Cao covered his forehead, which was beginning to ache slightly: "Go find Xuande. I want to make him the vanguard and immediately attack Lü Bu to recover the lands of Qing and Xu!"

Liu Bei still wielded considerable influence in Xuzhou.

Taking Xuzhou with Liu Bei as the vanguard should be the best way to deal with Lü Bu!
(End of this chapter)