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

Chapter 39 Drag it away
Tao Zhongwen genuinely could not understand Yan Maoqing's true intentions.

When Yan Maoqing curried favor with Guo Xun by presenting him with this extraordinary book, wasn't it all for the sake of making a living?
At least Tao Zhongwen can be certain of one thing:
Guo Xun definitely wanted to make a living in this industry, otherwise, how could there have been Duan Chaoyong before?
But Yan Maoqing's actions at this moment clearly indicate that he intends to smash the pot and stove together, leaving everyone without food to eat in the future!

If Yan Maoqing can gain any benefit from this matter, then so be it.

However, Tao Zhongwen thought about it again and again, but he still couldn't figure out what benefit he could gain from it. He just felt that it was harmful to others and not beneficial to himself, and that no normal person could do such a thing.

"This is so confusing, I can't understand it, I don't get it..."

"I only pray that Your Majesty will not be misled by him, I hope Your Majesty will not be misled by him..."

……

Art!

What a beautiful work of art!
Huang Jin stared intently at Yan Maoqing, and unconsciously cheered in his heart.

Compared to the methods used by those upright officials to advise the emperor to cultivate Taoism, Yan Maoqing's method at this moment can only be described as art!
There is a core strategy for water management called "dredging is worse than blocking".

Yan Maoqing's methods are similar to this core strategy.

Under the influence of these words, even if the emperor remains devoted to metaphysics, his reliance on these sorcerers and shamans will inevitably decrease in the future, and the holding of rituals and the writing of prayers will naturally also decrease.

The question is, if the Emperor completely believes these words and tries to uncover the secrets of heaven and seek the path to immortality, will things take an increasingly strange turn?

But this is all for later.

At least Yan Maoqing's current methods are truly applause-worthy!

If Yang Zui, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, had had the same methods as Yan Maoqing a few months ago, perhaps he wouldn't have died such a tragic death.
However, Yan Maoqing was not without his oversights today.

Most importantly, he shouldn't have gasped for breath so suddenly, which infuriated the emperor.

In the Emperor's eyes, this was a breach of etiquette, even a sign of disrespect. Given the Emperor's temperament, he would certainly not let this matter rest. Even if the death penalty was spared, he would not escape punishment!
However, this is somewhat understandable.

Yan Maoqing was just a newly appointed scholar who was meeting the emperor for the first time in his life. Naturally, he did not understand the emperor's temperament, so it was normal for him to make a mistake.

In short, its merits outweigh its flaws.

With these thoughts in mind, Huang Jin grew to appreciate Yan Maoqing even more.

From a talent worthy of assisting a king, to a treacherous villain, and back to a talent worthy of assisting a king again... Huang Jin's mood today is like riding a roller coaster.

At this moment, he couldn't help but pray for Yan Maoqing in his heart:
"I just hope his last words will resonate with the Emperor, and that he will show him mercy..."

……

"Hiss—that does make some sense, but..."

Emperor Jiajing, Zhu Houcong, stared at Yan Maoqing, who was lying on the ground with his buttocks raised high. His gaze shifted, but his expression grew increasingly gloomy.

"This scoundrel dares to act so cleverly in front of me on his first audience with the Emperor, which damages my dignity. If I don't teach him a lesson today, won't he take advantage of me in the future?"

"And what about those sorcerers and shamans like Tao Zhongwen? How could they possibly know that, besides seeking immortality through metaphysical cultivation, these people have other uses for me?"

"in addition……"

"His words just now, could they be derived from Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind?"

Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind originated during the Zhengde era, according to Wang Yangming himself.

When Wang Yangming was lecturing, he also referred to his experience of being persecuted by the powerful eunuch Liu Jin and living as a villager in Kaihua, Longchang, Guizhou as "enlightenment in Longchang".

However, Zhu Houcong was even more aware that Yangming's philosophy of mind truly began to spread widely in the third year of the Jiajing reign, after he ascended the throne.

That year, Wang Yangming was in mourning in his hometown. He was first invited to lecture at Jishan Academy, where he mainly lectured on Yangming's philosophy of mind.

The following year, it was observed that Yangming's philosophy of mind had already gained some influence among scholars and Confucianists.

Wang Yangming then founded the Yangming Academy in Shaoxing, and his disciples began to lecture everywhere, constantly expanding their influence. This led to the influence of Yangming's philosophy in the Jiangnan region being able to rival that of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, which was adopted as the official school of the Ming Dynasty.

As the influence of Yangming's philosophy of mind further expanded.

The Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism and the Yangming school of mind are respectively at the two extremes of "idealism" and "idealism", and thus naturally contain irreconcilable contradictions.

This led to a political struggle between the Neo-Confucian school and the School of Mind, following the conflict between the Qingliu faction and the eunuchs during the Zhengde era.

Zhu Houcong was inherently sensitive to political struggles within the imperial court. He was also extremely rational regarding the foundations of the Ming Dynasty's rule.

Therefore, despite his great admiration for Wang Yangming's talent and learning, he issued an edict at the beginning of his reign to confer upon him the title of Earl of Xinjian.

However, on this issue, he remained steadfast in his choice to suppress the School of Mind and support the School of Neo-Confucianism, even issuing a decree in his own name:
"From now on, the selection of officials shall be based entirely on the teachings of Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi. No unorthodox or unreliable books shall be allowed to be privately printed or circulated, so as not to mislead or mislead the orthodox learning!"

From then on, Yangming's philosophy of mind was suppressed, and Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism became the dominant school of thought.

Wang Yangming was no longer highly regarded and died of illness a few years later.

Zhu Houcong certainly knew that Wang Yangming was a rare talent, a versatile individual skilled in both literature and martial arts, and even agreed with many of the theories in Yangming's philosophy of mind.

But he never regretted it.

As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he understood better than anyone else which was more important: a talented person or the foundation of the dynasty's rule!

Yan Maoqing's words just now were essentially the same as those of the School of Mind.

Although Zhu Houcong thought there was some truth to it, just as he had initially believed that Yangming's philosophy of mind was not without merit, and just as in recent years he had been wearing the cloak of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, most of his actions were actually based on his own ideals.

However, he would never admit it in any situation that the official school of the Ming Dynasty could only be, and had to be, the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism!

and so……

Yan Maoqing, this newly appointed scholar who is suspected of advocating the philosophy of mind, also needs to be further refined and his edges smoothed out before he makes any further moves, lest he end up with the wrong attitude!
They remained silent for a long while.

Only when Yan Maoqing, Huang Jin, and Tao Zhongwen began to feel guilty did he speak ambiguously:
"Yan Maoqing, I can tell that your speculation just now, though it may seem reasonable at first glance, is actually nothing more than idealistic arguments without evidence, isn't it?"

"Yes."

Yan Maoqing felt that the question was strange, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

"The books that Guo Xun and you presented to me are merely storybooks, not mystical or magical texts. I fear they may be intended to deceive the emperor. Do you acknowledge this?"

Eh?
Yan Maoqing's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up blankly.

What do you mean by that question? Didn't I admit from the beginning that this was a fabricated story? How can it be considered deceiving the emperor?

This is completely outside of my expectations...

"Your Majesty, I do not acknowledge you..."

"enough!"

Zhu Houcong interrupted him sharply, then turned away with a flick of his sleeve.

"Huang Jin, drag this man out and give him forty strokes of the cane. You personally do the beating, and then throw him out of the palace. I don't want to see him again!"

"..."

Huang Jin was overjoyed upon hearing this and breathed a sigh of relief for Yan Maoqing.

But Yan Maoqing's face turned deathly pale in an instant, tears and snot streaming down his face, and his shrill screams, like those of a pig being slaughtered, echoed throughout the entire Qin Zheng Hall:

"Father, spare my life—!"

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I dare not do it again. I will never speak nonsense again!"

"If my sovereign teaches me to acknowledge it, I will acknowledge it; if my sovereign teaches me not to acknowledge it, I will not acknowledge it. Is that not acceptable?"

"From now on, if my sovereign or father instructs me to go east, I will never go west; if he instructs me to chase a dog, I will never chase a chicken!"

"Father! Father! Please give me another chance! I am a talented person, I am still useful..."

"???"

Huang Jin was speechless. "Can someone tell me what this thing in front of me is?"
"..."

Tao Zhongwen was taken aback. This guy had just confronted me in front of the Emperor, wasn't he quite principled? Why is he putting on airs now?
"..."

Zhu Houcong couldn't help but glance back, then frowned and waved his hand dismissively:

"Huang Jin, what are you standing there for? Drag him away, drag him away!"

(End of this chapter)