Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 118 Many Opinions, Hidden Sharpness of the Law

"What is the real problem facing the Ming Dynasty today?"

This question, like an invisible stirring stick, completely ignited the passion of all the Hanlin scholars.

They were so excited that their faces turned red and they were spitting as they spoke.

The nearly out-of-control argument only came to a temporary end when several burly generals raised their hammers expressionlessly.

The officials were asked to leave the Wenhua Hall, but their lingering excitement remained undiminished.

"Let's go back to the Hanlin Academy and continue!" they said.

The emperor, as usual, held a banquet at the Huiji Gate as a reward, but the scholars ignored it and walked straight through the gate.

Upon returning to the Hanlin Academy, this fervor reached its peak.

The oldest scholar-in-waiting, Sui Shi, stroked his white beard and looked at the unprecedented scene before him, shaking his head and chuckling.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the courtyard, several young and spirited scholars had formed a circle and begun the second round of heated debate.

"Your Majesty's words today are truly groundbreaking!" Ni Yuanlu was the first to speak, his eyes shining as he excitedly waved his arms. "The words of sages are timely remedies, not immutable prescriptions! With these words, our scholarship will enter a new era!"

"That's right!" Fu Guan slapped his thigh and loudly agreed, "And it's not just Confucianism!"

"When we study history, both ancient and modern, we always only look at successes and failures, and only discuss ideas. But have we ever put ourselves in the shoes of the sages and thought about why they had such ideas? With this insight, the study of history may well open a new chapter!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, feeling honored.

At this moment, the usually composed Wang Zuoyuan frowned: "Speaking of contemporary learning, the Yongjia School that Your Majesty just mentioned seems to emphasize 'the combination of righteousness and profit,' but... it just doesn't feel right."

Upon hearing this, the previously enthusiastic crowd looked at each other, and for a moment no one could respond.

The Yongjia school of thought was confined to a small corner of the country. Although all of you here have heard of it, few have studied it in depth.

Sui Shi happened to come over and steered the conversation in another direction: "Leaving aside the achievements of the Yongjia era for now, Your Majesty's approach of 'seeking the best for our time' today seems quite similar to that of one person to me."

"Who?"

"Wang Anshi, Wang Jinggong."

"Bah!" Without a second thought, the hot-tempered Wang Tingyuan blurted out angrily, "How can a treacherous official like Wang Anshi, who is so stubborn and self-willed and who poisons the people, be compared with His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty's argument is to set things right and correct the wrongs; it is the way of the sages! Wang Anshi's approach is nothing more than a disastrous act of accumulating wealth under the guise of reform!"

His words were so resolute that many people nodded in agreement.

However, there is never a shortage of people in the Hanlin Academy who would argue.

A cold voice rang out: "Brother Wang, you are mistaken! If we consider the era, Wang Anshi lived in the Song Dynasty. Faced with the problems of excessive bureaucracy, an empty treasury, and lax border defenses, he stepped forward and tried to reform the system to solve the contemporary predicament. How can he not be called a wise minister who 'sought a solution for the times'?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Ni Yuanlu, who had been beaten up by a group of people yesterday.

Wang Tingyuan was immediately enraged: "A virtuous minister? His intention in implementing the Green Sprouts Act was good, but when it reached the local level, it turned into a tyrannical policy of extortion and plunder! His exemption from corvée labor caused countless families to be destroyed! Does such a scourge to the country and its people deserve to be called virtuous?"

Ni Yuanlu did not back down and stepped forward to confront him: "How can the problems of implementation be entirely attributed to the legislators? If it weren't for Wang Anshi's reforms and the accumulation of funds and grain, how could there have been the Xining border expansion?"

"To use today's right to criticize yesterday's wrong is like trying to find a sword by marking the boat; to use yesterday's merits to cover today's faults is like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree. Now that we have learned Your Majesty's method, we should discuss it fairly!"

"you!"

Just as the two were about to start arguing and come to blows, the bystanders quickly pulled them apart and tried to break them up.

But this debate also made the scholars around them fall into deep thought.

Yes, the Song Dynasty had three redundancies: redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses, which were deeply entrenched and difficult to reverse.

Wang Anshi's reforms were indeed a drastic measure taken under special circumstances.

So... what about my Great Ming Dynasty?
Everyone was lost in thought, and the corner suddenly fell silent.

In another corner, Huang Jingfang, Zhang Weiji, and others gathered together, discussing more practical issues.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness I didn't impulsively go up and answer His Majesty's last question." Zhang Weiji patted his chest with lingering fear. "Otherwise, I'd probably be a laughingstock by now."

“Who says otherwise?” Huang Jingfang said with a wry smile. “These traditional policy essays are now useless. His Majesty doesn’t read any of them; he only reads official documents on practical matters.”

Zhang Weiji picked up the conversation, "Who says otherwise? Everyone previously thought that this 'Jingshi Gongwen' (a type of official document for governing the world) was created by Xue Guoguan."

"But today it seems that this so-called Xue Jingshi is nothing more than parroting."

"His Majesty doesn't care about fame, but Xue Guoguan has gained a great reputation out of thin air."

Xiang Yu said with a worried look, "But we Hanlin scholars usually only keep company with old books and do not hold any real power. Where should we even begin to write these important documents for governing the world? We can't just work behind closed doors, can we?"

"Then go ask, go investigate!" Ni Yuanlu had walked over from the stall next door at some point. His eyes were bright, and his voice was firm. "We are in the Hanlin Academy, with nothing to do. We're not without mouths and feet. Are we afraid we won't understand?"

"The Six Ministries are nearby. Among my colleagues and fellow graduates, there must be some I know. If I visit them and humbly seek their advice, how could I possibly fail to produce something?"

These words made Xiang Yu blush with embarrassment, and everyone else awkwardly fell silent.

No... how are we supposed to have a conversation when you're standing on your moral high ground and attacking us like this?

Ni Yuanlu, the conversation killer, was completely oblivious to this. With a bruise under her eye, she looked around and rushed towards another stall where people were discussing something.

……

Qi Xinxiao did not participate in any of the discussions.

Like a ghost, he silently passed through the noisy crowd and returned to his desk, which was surrounded by books on three sides.

The arguments among his colleagues, whether about research methods or official documents, seemed superficial to him, never getting to the heart of the matter.

Is everything Your Majesty has put forward today truly just to usher in a new academic atmosphere?

He didn't believe it.

This new emperor's thoughts run deeper than the East Sea.

Qi Xinxiao rummaged through the pile of books in frustration, making a rustling sound as he did so.

Finally, his fingers touched a familiar hard cover.

—A combined edition of Guanzi and Han Feizi.

He quickly pulled it out, skimming through it, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

Finally, he turned to the "Five Vermin" chapter.

Qi Xinxiao's gaze was fixed on a few lines of text, and his finger followed, as he couldn't help but read them aloud in a low voice, his voice trembling with the discovery of a secret.

"Therefore, anyone who praises the ways of Yao, Shun, Tang, Wu, and Yu in the present age will surely be laughed at by the new sages."

New Saint!

"Therefore, the sage does not seek to follow the ancient ways, nor does he adhere to the constant rules. He discusses worldly affairs and prepares accordingly."

When discussing worldly affairs, one should prepare accordingly!
As expected, it was just as I thought!

Qi Xinxiao felt as if a bolt of lightning had exploded in his mind, instantly illuminating all the fog!

All theories about Wang Anjing and the Yongjia achievements are wrong!
Your Majesty's argument is clearly rooted in the theories of Han Fei, who lived two thousand years ago!
This is a Legalist theory!
Qi Xinxiao slammed the book shut, shoved it haphazardly back into the pile of books, and stared blankly out the window, his chest heaving violently.

He slowly turned around and looked at his colleagues who were still arguing heatedly about Wang Anshi's merits and demerits. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a complex and unfathomable light flashed in them.

So, am I the only one who noticed it?

No.

Qi Xinxiao's mind flashed back to the person who had submitted the memorial to the Yongjia School. That person, perhaps, had also discovered it.

However, Han Fei Zi valued both tactics and law. Since Your Majesty has adopted the essence of Legalism, surely you wouldn't... abandon its tactics?
The thought, like a cold, venomous snake, traveled up his spine, making him shudder.

He shook his head violently, not daring to think any further.

Unfolding a sheet of snow-white Xuan paper, Qi Xinxiao began to slowly grind the ink.

The ink stick traced circles on the inkstone, making a soft, rustling sound that gradually calmed his chaotic thoughts.

He lost the initiative in the previous question.

He absolutely cannot miss this opportunity!
What are the problems facing the Ming Dynasty now?

How exactly should this question be answered?
The sounds of my colleagues' discussions continued intermittently in my ears.

"It must be the corruption in the bureaucracy! Corruption in officialdom is the root of all ills!"

"No! It is clearly the people's hearts that are corrupt! When scholars lack integrity and shame, and the people lack trust and righteousness, the people's hearts are corrupted, and the country will cease to exist!"

"In my opinion, it's all about taxes and the border regions! The lifeblood of the nation is flowing into the feasts of the border generals; how can there not be chaos!"

Qi Xinxiao shook his head again.

No, none of them are right.

Answering in this way will only lead you into His Majesty's trap once again.

This new ruler was never waiting for an answer.

For every question he asked, he had already prepared a groundbreaking answer.

And he is Qi Xinxiao!
This time, we will surely find the real answer hidden beneath the surface of the water!
A renewed sense of confidence shone in Qi Xinxiao's eyes. He picked up a brush dipped in ink and held it above the paper.

……

Shen Shi.

The setting sun cast long shadows across the Hanlin Academy.

The hustle and bustle in the courtyard finally subsided with the ringing of the end-of-duty bell. The officials from each office packed up their belongings and went home one after another, still discussing what they had seen and heard that day.

Qi Xinxiao slumped into the cold chair and let out a long sigh.

The blank sheet of paper in front of him remained unwritten.

He racked his brains for an entire afternoon, his head throbbing with pain, but he couldn't write a single word.

Han Feizi's "Five Vermin" has been read by at least 80,000, if not 100,000, but in the past two thousand years, apart from this emperor, who else has come up with such a groundbreaking method of scholarship?
Some things, when you really look at them, are just a thin veil of paper.

But to break through this barrier, one doesn't know how much luck and skill it would take.

Qi Xinxiao stood up, looking preoccupied, and walked out with the crowd.

Otherwise, forget it?

Learn from your colleagues, find a field you are familiar with, go to one of the six ministries to ask around, and honestly write a policy document on governance or finance.

However, he had always disliked socializing and was aloof by nature. For a moment, he couldn't recall knowing any of the officials from the Six Ministries.

Moreover, everyone is now thinking of taking advantage of this mysterious trend. Unless they are close friends and relatives, how could they really share their knowledge with you?

Qi Xinxiao was indecisive and his mind was in turmoil, so much so that he didn't even hear someone calling him from behind.

"Editor Qi! Editor Qi!"

Several clear calls startled him from his chaotic thoughts.

He turned around and saw a handsome young eunuch standing not far away, smiling at him.

Almost instantly, Qi Xinxiao realized what was happening.

His heart began to pound violently without warning, and a surge of hot blood rushed to his head, making him slightly dizzy.

Sure enough, the little eunuch quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully to him, and smiled broadly.

"Editor Qi, His Majesty summons you to the palace. Please come with me quickly."

The excitement and anticipation that had been suppressed all day burst forth at this moment, and Qi Xinxiao almost subconsciously took a step forward.

"Editor Qi," the little eunuch didn't move, but just smiled and pointed to his ear, "Where's your mask?"

Qi Xinxiao was suddenly startled, and then realized what was going on.

He hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Please wait a moment, sir!"

After saying that, he turned around and ran into the Hanlin Academy.

He jogged back to his desk, pulled the object from under a book, and then suddenly stopped just before reaching the courtyard gate.

He took a few deep breaths, smoothed out the wrinkles on his official robe, and then put on a calm and composed demeanor before slowly walking out.

When the young eunuch saw him come out, he simply smiled without saying anything, and turned around to say, "Come with me."

……

Qi Xinxiao silently followed behind the young eunuch, stepping on the smooth palace bricks, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

Was it my essay on Wang Anshi's policies that caught His Majesty's eye?

Yes! It must be!
Your Majesty desires to initiate new policies and reform social customs. Although you cannot publicly exonerate Wang Anshi in order to appease your court officials, you ultimately approve of your approach of "learning from history to solve contemporary problems."

Moreover, it is indeed only my own discourse on royalty that is closest to His Majesty's Legalist doctrine.

I made the right bet with this move!

But... what about the person who submitted the policy proposal on the achievements of the Yongjia era? Was he also summoned?

Qi Xinxiao couldn't help but look back.

The passageway leading to the Qianqing Palace appeared exceptionally spacious and long in the setting sun, with no one else around except for the occasional fire-wielder bowing and sweeping.

……

Before long, the Qianqing Palace came into view in the distance.

Before even reaching the palace, Qi Xinxiao could see two figures in blue official robes standing quietly at the foot of the steps in front of the palace.

Why are there two people?

Although he had doubts in his heart, he did not stop and walked straight over.

Perhaps hearing his footsteps, one of the figures turned around first.

Even with makeup, the dark circles under this person's eyes were still noticeable.

When he saw Qi Xinxiao, he was taken aback at first, then a surprised smile appeared on his face, and he cupped his hands in greeting to him.

Qi Xinxiao laughed and quickly stepped forward, returning the greeting with a cupped hand: "Brother Yuru, I wondered who it was, but it turns out it's you here!"

Hearing the commotion, another official in a green robe finally turned around.

The moment Qi Xinxiao saw the person's face clearly, his smile faded slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

When that person saw Qi Xinxiao, he was obviously taken aback, and his previously unfocused gaze instantly sharpened.

Neither of them spoke, but they stood a few steps apart and simultaneously cupped their hands in greeting.

—So it was you, X2.

(End of this chapter)