Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 160 A true man is born between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long! [Seeking monthly votes]

The Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Yan Maoqing was calling Chen Yingda into the duty room for a lecture:

"Commander Chen, forgive my bluntness, but your approach to educating the Crown Prince is a mistake based on empiricism, and a grave one at that!"

"This is how I have been teaching in recent years... Please point out any errors, Your Excellency."

Chen Yingda looked completely bewildered.

If it were someone else who rejected him in this way, he would probably have already flew into a rage.

But this time it was Yan Maoqing, his superior who had just been promoted and was even more "upright and incorruptible" than him, so he could only listen obediently.

"That's why I said that Commander Chen made an empirical error."

Yan Maoqing continued,
"First, Commander Chen must clarify one thing: who exactly is this lesson for? Is it for the Crown Prince?"

"Isn't it?"

Chen Yingda was taken aback, his expression becoming even more bewildered.

"Yes! But no! Or rather, only a very small part is!"

Yan Maoqing tapped the table and said seriously,
"Power must first be accountable to its source. Our power today comes from the Emperor, so fundamentally, this lesson is for the Emperor."

"Therefore, as long as the Emperor thinks you teach this lesson well, and Consort Wang also thinks you teach this lesson well, you can continue to serve as the Crown Prince's teacher. No one can shake your position, not even the Crown Prince."

"So I'll ask Commander Chen again, who exactly is this lesson for?"

As he spoke, Yan Maoqing thought to himself, "This is a principle that all those countless tutoring centers in later generations understand."

After all, the money for tutoring classes comes out of the parents' pockets. The child's feelings are not important at all. What matters is whether the parents feel that it is useful for the child.

This time, Chen Yingda understood Yan Maoqing's meaning, but still hesitated before answering:

"Is it the Emperor, and the Imperial Concubine Wang?"

"correct answer!"

Yan Maoqing nodded affirmatively, and then continued,

"So when you were teaching these past two days, the Crown Prince was drowsy and you only dared to whisper reminders; when the Crown Prince couldn't answer questions, you didn't dare to scold him; when the Crown Prince was playful and distracted, you only dared to gently persuade him."

"Have you considered how Consort Wang will view us, and how she will evaluate us when she tells the Emperor about this matter?"

"Excuse my frankness, but the reason I transferred you from the Hanlin Academy to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is precisely because I value your strong character, outspokenness, and serious teaching style."

"If you become as timid and hesitant as a mouse before a cat when you see the Crown Prince, you will have gone against my original intentions and betrayed the Emperor's trust. You would probably be unfit for such an important task..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yingda was immediately filled with fear and had no choice but to bow down to the seemingly justified evil forces:
"This humble official knows his mistake. From this day forward, this humble official will strictly demand the same standards of the Crown Prince as he did in the Hanlin Academy, and dare not fail the Emperor's grace!"

Seeing that he had exhausted the PUA tactics, Yan Maoqing softened his tone slightly, grinning and revealing his fangs:

“That’s right. In addition, the content of the lessons also needs to be changed. We don’t need to continue to start the enlightenment from Confucian classics in a step-by-step manner.”

"In my opinion, it is most appropriate to start with 'The Art of War'."

"what?"

Chen Yingda thought he had misheard, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

In his more than sixty years of life, this was the first time he had ever heard of a family that didn't begin their children's education with Confucian classics, but instead started with "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu...

"Commander Chen, have you forgotten what I just said?"

Yan Maoqing immediately straightened his face again and said seriously,
"This lesson is fundamentally intended for the Emperor and Consort Wang."

"Just do as I say. I have already spoken with the Emperor and Consort Wang privately, and this is also their wish."

“The prince’s early education cannot be compared with that of a child from an ordinary family.” “Furthermore, Confucian classics advocate benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, while Sun Tzu’s Art of War advocates wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness.”

"The two have many things in common. Learning first or later will lead to the same goal. It just depends on whether you have the ability to teach the prince."

"Go ahead and prepare your lessons well."

Chen Yingda once again felt that Yan Maoqing's words made a lot of sense. Although he had many doubts and complaints, he ultimately agreed, thinking of the Emperor's boundless grace.
"Yes……"

Watching Chen Yingda's departing figure, Yan Maoqing's lips curled up slightly.

This was the enlightenment course that he had thought about for a long time and personally selected for Zhu Zai Rui.

Isn't it amazing that a prince, instead of studying Confucian classics, has started researching military strategy?

However, although he had some selfish motives, he truly had no intention of misleading or corrupting the younger generation.

Later generations have learned from history and summarized the methods by which court interest groups manipulated the emperor and princes, which can be summarized in just one sentence, sixteen characters:

"Legalism strangles, Confucianism pierces the ribs, Taoism binds the hands, and reality shackles us."

Throughout history, all emperors who achieved something significant have broken through at least two of these limitations.

Only by avoiding being "strangled by Legalism and stabbed in the ribs by Confucianism" can one break through the "constraints of reality." Otherwise, even if one does not die young, one is destined to become a puppet of interest groups.

That is why Yan Maoqing decided to use "The Art of War" to enlighten Zhu Zaiyi, in case he might cultivate a true emperor in the future.

As for personal reasons...

Having been enlightened by "The Art of War," Zhu Zaiyi was at least more shrewd, thus reducing the possibility that someone would use him as a pretext to frame him.

Just like when you're feeling smug.

"Minister Yan, are you there?"

A familiar effeminate voice came from outside the door.

The visitor was none other than Huang Jin, Zhu Houcong's most trusted eunuch.

"Eunuch Huang? Why didn't you inform me beforehand that you were coming today? I could have personally gone out to greet you."

Yan Maoqing quickly stood up and bowed, his face full of ingratiating smiles, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor when he met Huang Jin.

"Minister Yan, there's no need for such formalities."

Huang Jin had gotten used to Yan Maoqing's exaggerated expressions, especially after witnessing his intense behavior of not even bothering Tao Zhongwen.

Naturally, he didn't believe Yan Maoqing was genuinely pissing at him, so he didn't dare to put on airs and simply returned the greeting with a smile:
"I am not here today on private business, but on the orders of the Emperor to show Minister Yan something."

As he spoke, Huang Jin had already taken out the memorial submitted by Wang Tingxiang, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Memorial Impeaching Powerful Officials for Abusing the People's Rights?"

Yan Maoqing took it with both hands and, filled with doubt, carefully examined it.

This was a report submitted by Wang Tingxiang after the Censorate's five city censors investigated the situation following criticisms by Li Fenglai and others of powerful officials in the capital for encroaching on the interests of the people.

In this memorial, his adoptive father, Guo Xun, was listed at the top of the list, and his encroachment on the interests of the people was particularly serious.

"Minister Yan, this is His Majesty's will..."

Seeing that Yan Maoqing had finished looking, Huang Jin spoke again, preparing to relay the Emperor's decree.

"A true man is born between heaven and earth; how can he live a life of misery under the yoke of thieves?"

To everyone's surprise, Yan Maoqing slammed his fist on the table, filled with righteous indignation, displaying unwavering loyalty and awe-inspiring righteousness, revealing his ingratitude and betrayal.
"He's just a godfather. With just one word from the Emperor, I will put righteousness before family and personally lead the way to ransack his house!"

(End of this chapter)