Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 116 Scriptures can carry the Way, but they can also obscure it.

Outside the Wenhua Hall, a group of Hanlin officials filed in.

However, the way the group was standing was rather strange.

There should have been two columns, left and right, but the left column had nearly twenty people while the right column only had a dozen or so, which looked very unbalanced.

Wang Zuoyuan frowned, looking impatient.

His gaze swept over the crowded left column, and he snapped, "You guys at the back of the left column, move to the right column! Hurry up!"

The people who were called out showed a hint of resentment on their faces, and slowly moved to the end of the right column.

The team has finally regained its apparent order.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

But beneath this silence, an undercurrent of tension is brewing.

Almost all the Hanlin Academy officials had bloodshot eyes and dark circles under their eyes, clearly having stayed up for several days preparing for the "problem" assigned by the emperor.

Among the crowd, Ni Yuanlu's appearance was the most peculiar.

His face was covered in a thick layer of makeup, making him look frighteningly white, but it still couldn't hide a clear dark eye socket, as if he had been punched solidly.

Almost at the entrance of the palace stood an inconspicuous figure.

Qi Xinxiao put on the mask specially bestowed by His Majesty, covering most of his face.

But beneath that mask, a pair of eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, gleaming with an irrepressible eagerness and excitement.

He clenched his fists, his heart pounding, anticipating what was about to happen.

"Your Majesty has arrived——!"

With the distinctive drawn-out tone of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, three crisp and clear cracks of the whip cracked outside the hall.

Zhu Youjian, dressed in a bright yellow robe, entered the Wenhua Hall surrounded by a group of eunuchs.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

Everyone in the hall knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

"Everyone loves you."

Zhu Youjian's voice was calm and even. He sat down behind his desk and slowly glanced at the officials below.

Everyone thanked the emperor and stood up, each taking their place.

For a moment, the scene became awkward.

Wang Zuoyuan held the tablet, somewhat at a loss.

This lecture was not the same as the usual lecture, and the scripture lecture was not the same as the usual scripture lecture. There was no routine to follow, and he was at a loss as to how to guide the audience.

He subconsciously glanced at Huang Liji, the chief minister, in the left row.

However, Huang Liji merely shook his head slightly, almost imperceptibly.

This "discussion" today has been the stage for the new ruler from the very beginning; it has no place for his ministers to make arrangements.

Sure enough, Zhu Youjian coughed softly behind his desk.

"I have read all the booklets that you have submitted."

Zhu Youjian spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Some pamphlets say that reason is the natural way, which is why Confucius chose benevolence and ancient texts replaced modern texts. All of this is due to reason. The so-called 'preserve heavenly principles and eliminate human desires' is the right way."

As soon as he finished speaking, the officials on the left nodded in agreement, while some of the officials on the right curled their lip slightly.

"Some other pamphlets say that the mind is the principle, and the principle is in the mind. This is the so-called 'unity of knowledge and action.' Confucius's expression of benevolence was driven by his own heart and had nothing to do with external things."

The Hanlin officials on the right now stroked their beards and nodded, while the officials on the left looked disdainful.

"Of course, there are also some pamphlets that advocate inclusiveness, believing that reason and mind are one and should not be neglected."

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept over Ni Yuanlu with a half-smile.

Instantly, the gazes of both the Neo-Confucian and the School of Mind were like knives, all shooting towards Ni Yuanlu.

Ni Yuanlu stiffened her neck, showing no sign of backing down, and glared back at them one by one.

Zhu Youjian smiled and said in a calm tone: "These views are not surprising at all. Over the past few hundred years, the great scholars and sages of the past have already debated them thousands of times."

His simple words startled many people in the hall.

“However,” Zhu Youjian changed the subject, “there are a few booklets with rather novel viewpoints.” Qi Xinxiao, at the back of the crowd, suddenly caught his breath, and sweat beaded on his clenched fists.

—His Majesty is talking about me!
Qi Xinxiao couldn't help but roar out in his heart.

"One book says that the way to learn lies in 'practical achievements' rather than empty talk about principles."

"The so-called 'Tao' cannot be separated from its tools. If morality has no practical benefit, it is nothing but useless empty talk."

Why did Confucius choose benevolence? Because benevolence has real benefits. If benevolent governance is practiced, the country will be at peace and the people will be prosperous. This is both benefit and righteousness. Benefit and righteousness are originally one.

"Therefore, the essence of learning lies in applying knowledge to practical use and in enriching the country and strengthening its military. Without such benefits, what good are thousands of words to the country or the people?"

Zhu Youjian's voice echoed in the hall.

Only a few people with slightly broader knowledge knew that this was the Yongjia School of thought from the Southern Song Dynasty.

Most people, however, were hearing this viewpoint for the first time and were immediately taken aback.

What kind of school of thought is this? How can it be so blunt and blatant? Can righteousness and profit really be like this?!

Qi Xinxiao was stunned at first, and his enthusiasm instantly cooled down, replaced by disappointment and disbelief.

not me?
What's so strange about this talk of achievements and righteousness versus profit? Why are you putting me above them?
Zhu Youjian ignored the commotion below and continued:

"There's another book, even more interesting. It says that the law is a public instrument of the world; change is a universal principle of the world. The way of learning should also change with the times. Confucius adopted benevolence in response to the chaos of the Spring and Autumn Period; using ancient texts to replace modern ones is to refute falsehoods. If one remains unchanged and tries to find a sword by marking the boat, then learning will be in danger."

The hall fell silent for a moment, then a collective gasp filled the air.

These words, though full of allusions and veiled, clearly reveal Wang Anshi's true colors!
The Yuan dynasty preceded the Ming dynasty, and the Song dynasty preceded the Yuan dynasty. When discussing the Song dynasty, one cannot avoid mentioning Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi's reputation as a treacherous minister and his role in the downfall of the country was almost universally accepted during the Ming Dynasty.

Based on his statement that "changes in the heavens are nothing to fear, ancestral laws are nothing to follow, and public opinion is nothing to heed," he deserves to be nailed to the pillar of shame for the rest of his life!

When a ruler's power is unmatched, no one in the world can rival him. If a subject wishes to challenge him, he must find someone greater to seize power.

If we teach them to be fearless of natural disasters, disregard the laws of our ancestors, and disregard public opinion, then what is there that they cannot do!

This is a theory that will bring disaster to future generations!
The officials could no longer contain themselves; though they still dared not speak, they exchanged bewildered glances.

Only Wang Zuoyuan, standing at the front, remained calm and composed.

As the person in charge of compiling all the books, he certainly knew who His Majesty was referring to.

Wang Zuoyuan couldn't help but sigh softly to himself.

The ruler's anxiety is evident in his words; how can this be the way to govern a country?

The world... is likely to be in turmoil from this point on.

however……

"Ah."

A very soft, cold laugh came from the throne, like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing all the noise in the hall.

Everyone was startled, for the smile on Zhu Youjian's face had completely vanished.

"Haven't I already made myself clear?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unprecedented sense of pressure.

"Don't ask if it's right or wrong, just ask why!"

"Why do you keep answering each other, still arguing about right and wrong, instead of discussing why?"

"You are all outstanding talents who have risen through the ranks of the imperial examinations. Do you genuinely not understand the questions, or are you pretending not to understand them?"

Zhu Youjian slowly stood up, his voice icy, each word deliberate and deliberate.

"The classics carry the Way, but they can also obscure it. Later generations follow the classics, but they only see the traces and not the source."

"Since you cannot answer this question, then I will answer it myself."

"Gentlemen, please take a look at my answers and see if there are any problems."

The scholars in the hall were all bewildered, and even Qi Xinxiao was completely confused.

Even the Yongjia School and Wang Anshi are not what Your Majesty desires, are they?
Only three cabinet ministers, who had truly witnessed the new emperor's demeanor up close, had anticipated this scene.

The three of them silently murmured to themselves.

—They've arrived!
(End of this chapter)