The First Lackey Under The Empress

If I were to recommend myself, Zhenbao, what would you think...?

In the pavilion, Zhao Du'an silently complained in his heart, his expression serious, without the slightest hesitation: "Of course, Grand Tutor Dong!"

He sneered and scorned: "That Zheng Yang, a mere country bumpkin, only dares to bark wildly in the capital by relying on some fame..."

Xu Zhenguan glanced at him with her beautiful eyes and said: "Tell the truth."

"It's a bit tricky." Zhao Du'an restrained his arrogant villainous posture and said seriously:

"Although this subject has not been in contact with that Zheng Yang, but since Prince Mu is willing to send him to the capital with a large sum, he must have confidence."

Xu Zhenguan sighed softly, her hands resting on the railing, faint blue delicate blood vessels appearing on the back of her slender hands, a look of sorrow on her face:

"If it's a matter of orthodox learning, the Grand Tutor naturally wouldn't fear this person, but... alas."

She understood that in order to maintain the legitimacy of the Empress's ascension to the throne, Grand Tutor Dong would inevitably have to hold high that set of hastily pieced-together concepts based on classical quotations.

How could he compete with Zheng Yang, who relied on orthodox learning and had an extremely solid theoretical foundation?

Even if he occupies a geographical advantage and half of the people's support, he has lost the timing.

"If the Grand Tutor loses, the capital will be fine, after all, it's under my nose, and it won't cause too much trouble, but in the nine provinces and eighteen prefectures, I'm afraid my reputation will be tarnished again." Xu Zhenguan mocked herself, as if she had anticipated this situation.

That's just right, if your reputation is tarnished, so is mine... We'll be called "adulterous couple", like "villainous couple" in TV dramas, it's very cool, okay...?

Zhao Du'an's mind was filled with all sorts of chaotic thoughts, and he had already seen that the Empress had no confidence in the debate three days later.

Xu Zhenguan was now calculating how to minimize the negative impact after losing the debate.

Zhao Du'an thought for a while and said:

"Your Majesty, before there is a result, you should boost morale. Maybe that Zheng Yang will be timid before the battle, afraid of death or something, and admit defeat on the spot during the debate, which is also possible."

Hoping that the other party will admit defeat on the spot?

Xu Zhenguan couldn't help but laugh, she almost laughed at him, she naturally didn't believe it in the slightest, and only thought that he was comforting her, she smiled and said: "Hopefully."

She said so, but she didn't have half a hope in her heart.

Even less did she expect that the lackey beside her could contribute anything to this matter.

Zhao Du'an fired a bullet yesterday, and there was no feedback yet, so naturally he wouldn't say anything.

The monarch and her subject listened quietly for a while, and only left quietly after Grand Tutor Dong finished his lecture.

......

......

The same morning, outside the inn where Zheng Yang was staying.

Lu Cheng rushed over again and asked the other disciples: "Has the master gotten up yet?"

That disciple hesitated and said:

"He hasn't come out yet. After you went back last night, Senior Brother, I saw that the lights in the master's room never went out. Maybe he's catching up on sleep now?"

Lu Cheng's heart sank, and he inexplicably had a bad feeling, and suddenly felt regretful.

With the academic debate approaching, if the master's mind is disturbed, or even falls ill, wouldn't it be a mistake?

He hurriedly rushed into the courtyard and took the initiative to knock on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock... Master? It's Lu Cheng."

He patted the door a few times, attracting the attention of many fellow disciples.

Suddenly, the door opened inward, and Lu Cheng was stunned.

He saw that Mr. Zheng Yang was wearing a coat, his face was tired, his eyes were bloodshot, his spirit was weak, but he seemed to be hiding excitement.

The beautiful beard under his jaw was rough and dull.

"Master... You didn't sleep all night?" Lu Cheng thought of this possibility, and his heart trembled.

Zheng Yang put on a straight face, did not answer, but glanced at the many gazes in the distance, suddenly reached out, grabbed his arm, and dragged the disciple into the room.

Only then did he ask in a deep voice: "Where did those words you asked last night come from?"

Lu Cheng stammered: "It was told to me by Junior Brother Song, he said he heard it from an acquaintance."

"Take me to find him!" Zheng Yang made a decisive decision, turned around and put on his coat, pulled Lu Cheng, and left the inn through the back door in a carriage.

When they arrived at the inn where Song Juren was staying, many disciples had already gone out again. After asking someone, they learned that Song Juren had not gone out today.

When the master and apprentice pushed open the door of the inn room, they saw Song Juren leaning over the table, reading books, also in a posture of staying up all night.

"Master? Why are you here?" Song Juren looked up, startled.

Zheng Yang didn't waste any words, took a stride forward, stared at him, and repeated the question.

Song Juren was also stunned for a moment, he didn't expect that Zhao Du'an's few words would actually attract the master to inquire in person. He said with some trepidation:

"Indeed, this disciple learned it from an outsider. Last night, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that I couldn't figure it out, so I read the classics..."

Zheng Yang rudely interrupted him and pressed him, asking:

"Who told you these things? Where is that person? Can you invite him to meet?"

Song Juren opened his mouth and slowly uttered the name "Zhao Du'an", and emphasized and explained his identity and the process of meeting yesterday.

Zhao Du'an?

That famous favorite courtier of the capital's Empress? A tyrannical and ruthless hawk of the court?!

A... martial artist?

Zheng Yang and Lu Cheng were stunned at the same time, accompanied by strong doubts.

Then they heard Song Juren explain that Zhao Du'an himself claimed to have heard it from somewhere else. The two looked at each other and came up with a guess.

"Master, could it be that Dong Xuan?"

Lu Cheng speculated:

"Did Dong Xuan come up with this statement in order to deal with the academic debate? Did Zhao Du'an hear it? It's not surprising that this person is a martial artist and doesn't understand it, so he asked Junior Brother Song?"

After saying half of it, he shook his head again, denying himself:

"No! I'm afraid it's not that simple. Although this person's knowledge is shallow, he is said to be insidious and vicious. He wouldn't be so stupid as to deliberately find Junior Brother Song. I'm afraid it's deliberate. Could it be that he deliberately spread the word, using this mysterious and vague language, to ruin our hearts for learning? Master, if this is the case, don't be fooled."

Zheng Yang shook his head, this great Confucian scholar from the South said with certainty:

"A few words can't ruin my learning. Can we find a chance to meet him?"

For many disciples, the academic debate three days later is the most important and cannot be disturbed.

But for a scholar like Zheng Yang, who is faintly able to be canonized as a saint, what he really cares about is the theory itself.

"If Dong Xuan is really spreading the word, I want to find out more clearly." The great Confucian scholar wearing a square hat said decisively.

Song Juren took a deep breath and volunteered:

"Master, your identity is special, so it's not good to look for him, let me go find him."

After speaking, this old Juren went out.

Lu Cheng saw this and sat in the room with his benefactor to wait:

"I'll get some breakfast."

When he came back from buying food nearby, the master and apprentice had just taken a few bites when they saw Song Juren returning.

"So fast? Did you forget something?" Lu Cheng asked curiously.

Song Juren shook his head with a complicated expression and said:

"After I left the inn, I had just walked across a street when I was stopped by Zhao Du'an's subordinates. The other party said that if we want to meet, let's go to Bailu Academy at Shen Shi in the afternoon."

He was horrified and realized that their group had been monitored by officials hidden in the dark.

And yesterday Zhao Du'an deliberately stopped him, and it was indeed with a purpose.

"Bailu Academy? Isn't that already abandoned? Master, if this person sets up an ambush and wants to assassinate you..." Lu Cheng's face changed slightly.

Zheng Yang shook his head, his eyes clear and sharp, with the demeanor of a Confucian master, and said indifferently:

"If the court wants to kill me, why bother so much? Let's go there at Shen Shi."

......

......

Bailu Academy is a book academy-style building with a sense of age in the corner of the capital.

When it was glorious, it was the most dazzling star among many academies, but later it gradually declined.

Later, because of a case decades ago, the head of the academy committed a crime, and many students were also implicated and imprisoned. This once famous academy was abandoned, and because of its special historical baggage, no one has "taken over" it for a long time.

It has become one of the properties under the jurisdiction of the court, only arranging for civilians to clean and repair it, and few people come.

"Brother, what are you doing in this place?"

Zhao Pan jumped out of the carriage, the girl lifted her goose-yellow skirt and looked curiously at the front gate of the academy.

On the door knocker of the front door, there is a plaque with the four characters "Dunhua Yucai", but it is still mottled and peeling off.

Outside her goose-yellow Ru skirt, there is a green jacket, wrapping her slender neck, setting off her face particularly round.

"Waiting for someone, and picking some grapes by the way." Zhao Du'an got out of the car, took out two bamboo baskets, handed one to her, and said with a smile.

Then he left the coachman Xiao Wang to wait outside and led his sister into the academy.

Inside the academy, there are towering ancient trees, flying stone bridges, black tiles and white walls, stone tablets and楹联... faintly visible the flourishing cultural context of its former glory.

"Are there grapes here?" Zhao Pan blinked her eyes, not asking who she was waiting for.

At noon, Zhao Du'an ate at home, and then said he was going out for a while, and would not go to the yamen in the afternoon, so Zhao Pan wanted to come out to breathe, so he simply took her with him.

Zhao Du'an said with a smile:

"Yes, there is a whole vineyard here, all of which are very old vines. These grapes are sweetest after they have been frosted, with a unique taste, cool and delicious."

As he said, he and his sister followed the road signs and indeed arrived at a vineyard, but it had obviously been picked many times. The dignitaries who knew that the grapes here were good were not the only ones.

The two didn't care, but had a kind of joy of picking up leaks and finding treasures.

Especially when they found a bunch of purple grapes hidden under the cover of the grape leaves, it was the most pleasant. The two picked and ate while chatting about the history of this place.

"Brother, the person you want to see is also a scholar, right? Or the kind who is very old?" Zhao Pan guessed with bright eyes, carrying a small basket.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said: "Why do you say that?"

Zhao Pan took it for granted and said: "There's nothing special about this place, it's just history left, probably only scholars care about it."

Zhao Du'an smiled: "That's about it."

He chose here, firstly because it was secluded. He himself didn't know how sure he was of winning this time, and he didn't want to make too much of a fuss. Besides, if he chose a place with dense population, Zheng Yang might not be willing to come.

Secondly, it was indeed to take advantage of allusions, but not the allusions of this world, but of his world, the famous "Goose Lake Meeting" in history.

It was also the most famous debate between Idealist philosophy and Neo-Confucianism.

At that time, one side was Zhu Xi, who had not yet been canonized as a saint, but was already very famous, and the other side was the Lu Jiuyuan and Lu Jiuling brothers.

The former goes without saying, the latter is the founder of Lu-Wang Idealist philosophy, and Wang Yangming is still a hundred-generation Confucian scholar behind him.

In his previous life, Zhao Du'an studied history hard in order to please his superiors, so he naturally couldn't avoid such a famous debate, and he also had some understanding of the dispute between the two schools.

The topics at that time were very similar to the debate topics three days later, all about what it means to be a gentleman or a sage, and the methods and knowledge of learning principles.

Idealism and Neo-Confucianism do not differ in their ultimate goals or general direction; the only difference lies in the angle and method of approach.

The Doctrine of the Mean records:

“Vast is the Way of the Sage! How it flows and nourishes all things, towering to the height of the heavens! Therefore, the gentleman honors moral nature and pursues learning through inquiry, reaching breadth while exhausting the subtle and minute, exploring the highest clarity while adhering to the Doctrine of the Mean, reviewing the old to understand the new, and cultivating sincerity to uphold ritual.”

This is how the ancient sages described this learning.

Among them, the gentleman's “honoring moral nature” and “pursuing learning through inquiry” correspond to Idealism and Neo-Confucianism, respectively.

Zhu Xi advocated “pursuing learning through inquiry,” believing that one should investigate things to attain knowledge. People should read more, observe more, study and summarize the principles of all things, deduce the essence from them, and then apply it to people. When people understand the principles of things, they will understand how to conduct themselves, thereby becoming gentlemen and pursuing the virtues of sages.

Lu Jiuyuan advocated “honoring moral nature,” opposing extensive reading, believing that one should “focus on the individual,” constantly cultivate the body and mind, learn how to be a person first, understand the principles of being a person, and then do things, which will be universally beneficial, ultimately leading to becoming a sage.

Later, Wang Yangming inherited Lu Jiuyuan's theories and took them a step further to complete them.

He demanded the clarification of luminous virtue, believing that people's good and evil, heavenly principles and human desires, and innate conscience and nature are all clear and understood. As long as one holds onto the mean within their innate conscience, everyone can become a sage.

Constantly introspect, correct one's daily behavior, cultivate the spirit of the night, gather righteousness, and refine oneself in daily affairs, unifying knowledge and action…

In Zhao Du'an's view, it is difficult to say which of the two doctrines is “right” or “wrong.”

Or rather, honoring moral nature and pursuing learning through inquiry should both be possessed. As for whether to start with the mind or with things, it is just a difference in perspective.

Considering practicality, he himself even leans more towards Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism.

But that's not important.

What is important is that the two doctrines are not superior or inferior and can be put on a stage for debate, which is enough.

“Zheng Yang and Dong Xuan, as well as the entire Great Yu Confucianism, are currently generally similar to Neo-Confucianism, but because this doctrine has persisted for too long and is too firmly tied to rituals and the words of the sages, placing too much emphasis on the principles in books, it is not conducive to the Empress's ascension to the throne… Therefore, Dong Xuan has been trying in the past two years to find fragments of words in the teachings of the sages to justify the Empress…

“But Dong Xuan's path is still the same old Neo-Confucianism, which makes him seem to be distorting orthodox learning. It is difficult to defeat Zheng Yang… Therefore, only by opening up a new path, abandoning Neo-Confucianism, and establishing Idealism can we break out of the unfavorable situation…”

“Moreover, if we look at the Empress's ascension to the throne from the perspective of Idealism, we can abandon the words of the sages and dogmatic rules in books and instead make people examine themselves. In this way, we can break away from the logic and rhetoric of today's scholars…”

“Even if we cannot win, it doesn't matter. As long as there is a new set of arguments that can compete with rituals and dogmas, it will already be a great victory.”

Zhao Du'an plucked grapes while distracted, sorting out the entire logic in his mind.

His invitation to Zheng Yang to meet and have a preliminary debate was both to test whether this doctrine was feasible, to prevent any flaws from being exposed during the formal academic discussion.

It was also considering that if he could defeat Zheng Yang in advance and make him retreat in the face of difficulties, it would undoubtedly be better for the Empress.

“Brother?” Beside him, Zhao Pan couldn't help but whisper, saying, “The basket is full.”

“Ah, is it?”

Zhao Du'an came back to his senses, smiled, glanced at the sky, and took out a strip-shaped metal rod with graduations from his bosom, with time刻度 inscribed on it. It was a special creation produced by the Celestial Master's Mansion that could determine the time.

It was called the “Chronometer Ruler.”

“It's already Shen time?” Zhao Du'an frowned slightly, then picked up the basket and said:

“Let's go home first.”

Zhao Pan was stunned for a moment and said: “It's only just Shen time, why not wait a while?”

In this era, there were no clocks or watches. The Chronometer Ruler in Zhao Du'an's hand was expensive and had limited production, so most people could not afford it.

Therefore, it was easy for appointments to deviate, and being late was normal.

“I won't wait,” Zhao Du'an said indifferently:

“I hate people who are not punctual.”

… …

“Giddy up… Giddy up, giddy up…”

When Lu Cheng drove the carriage to Bailu Academy, he looked slightly anxious.

When they came out, in order to avoid the sight of outsiders and keep a low profile as much as possible, the group chose a remote route, and judging by the sky, they were slightly late.

“Sir, we're here.”

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Master Zheng Yang walked down, followed by Song, the licentiate, and two other young and strong students.

Zheng Yang raised his head and looked at the peeling gold-lacquered plaque of the academy, his eyes showing emotion.

He had also studied here in his early years and was now revisiting the old place.

However, when the group knocked on the door, the commoner guarding the academy said:

“That lord has already left. He said you were late. If you want to meet, come here on time tomorrow at Wei time.”

After speaking, the commoner closed the door, not recognizing these scholars at all and not giving them any face.

“This… this… it's only a quarter of an hour late, how can he leave?” Song, the licentiate, said indignantly.

Lu Cheng persuaded him again:

“Sir, this person is probably deliberately teasing us. Why don't we just forget it? The debate with Dong Xuan is more important.”

Zheng Yang was silent for a moment, then flicked his sleeves, turned around and returned to the carriage, saying:

“We will come again tomorrow.”

… …

A day passed in the blink of an eye, the penultimate day before the Plum Garden Debate.

Because Dong Xuan was lecturing at the Imperial College, more and more people in the city were paying attention and discussing it, but fewer and fewer people came to Zheng Yang's door.

Because everyone thought that Master Zheng Yang would definitely stay at home and calm down to prepare for the battle.

However, what no one expected was that Zheng Yang once again led several disciples and quietly left the inn.

This time, he set off at noon. When he arrived at Bailu Academy, Zhao Du'an had not yet arrived.

He arrived a full half an hour early, leaving the young disciples to guard outside and watch over the carriage. He, Lu Cheng, and Song, the licentiate, entered the academy together.

“You can wait here,”

The commoner guarding the academy led them to a courtyard and left.

This was the former lecture hall of Bailu Academy. Although it was still cleaned, the houses were old and dilapidated.

Ancient trees towered overhead, but most of them were now withered, and the ground was covered with leaves that had not yet been swept away.

Zheng Yang sat down by the stone table, in front of him was a plate of grapes placed by the commoner. He closed his eyes and waited for a while before hearing the sound of carriages and horses outside.

Then, a young figure in gorgeous clothes and silk robes floated in.

Beside him was a girl in a yellow skirt and green jacket with a beautiful appearance.

“Lord Zhao,” Song, the licentiate, spoke first, indicating the other party's identity to his teacher and several fellow disciples from the side.

Lu Cheng was surprised that the rumored male favorite of the Empress was indeed very handsome.

Master Zheng Yang, wearing a square hat, a Confucian robe, and an outer cloak, stood up, with his hands behind his back, his eyes calmly facing Zhao Yanwang, whom everyone in the capital feared, without any panic or fear.

The autumn wind blew, and his beautiful beard fluttered, which also made Zhao Du'an's eyes light up, and he exclaimed:

“Is the old gentleman Master Zheng Yang, who has been guarding the tomb in Yunfu for ten years, famous in the Great Yu Dynasty?”

Zheng Yang? The person the elder brother wants to meet is the great Confucian who has caused a sensation in the city recently?

Zhao Pan was shocked. Her dark and round eyes, like purple grapes after autumn frost, curiously looked at this person.

“It is this old man,” Master Zheng Yang nodded, with a subtle expression:

“I have long heard of Lord Zhao's reputation, but I didn't expect you to invite me here through my student's mouth. What is the matter?”

Zhao Du'an smiled in surprise and said:

“Old sir, you are wrong. Could it be that you didn't take the initiative to find me?”

Zheng Yang said calmly:

“What I am looking for is the person who said that the mind is the principle and that knowledge and action are one.”

Zhao Du'an leisurely sat on the stone bench opposite the stone table, while Zhao Pan stood curiously behind him.

For a time, in the autumn wind, the fallen leaves on the ground rolled and rolled. In this quiet academy, the Zhao siblings and Zheng Yang's disciples, separated by a stone table, faintly had a sense of confrontation.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said seriously:

“Then that's right, the one who said that is me.”

It's you?

As soon as the words came out, Lu Cheng and Song, the licentiate, were stunned. The former frowned, while the latter looked blank.

Of course, the two of them did not believe that the words that could make their teacher come to seek them twice could be said by such a warrior.

Even if he was a legendary warrior who understood poetry and prose and understood politics.

But learning is ultimately a field that is very different from the former two.

Master Zheng Yang's solemn face was restrained, and he said:

“Lord Zhao, I came here with sincerity, wanting to discuss with the scholar who said that the mind is the principle.”

Zhao Du'an still smiled and said: “Does the old gentleman think I am joking?”

“Isn't it?”

“Of course not.”

Master Zheng Yang frowned slightly. Even with his learning and cultivation, he was now displeased, and his expression became a little cold:

“So, that set of arguments, did you make it? Has the Lord also studied the learning of the sages?”

Zhao Du'an smiled and said: “I understand a little bit. I usually do some research, but few people discuss it with me.”

Master Zheng Yang snorted, with hidden anger. Seeing this, he simply said:

“Okay, I won't ask you where you heard those words from. Whether Dong Xuan said it or it's really your own thoughts, since you said it, I want to ask you, why did you say these things to my disciples?

What is the meaning of the mind is the principle, extending conscience, and unifying knowledge and action? Does the Lord have different opinions on my Zheng Yang school and on the learning of the ancient and modern sages?”

He did not dwell on who the original author was. In his opinion, these words were mostly said by Dong Xuan through Zhao Du'an's mouth.

What he cared about was the doctrine of that Confucian behind Zhao Du'an.

“Opinions, I really have some,”

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

“I have been reading recently and have some insights, so I wrote a short poem.”

He recalled slightly and calmly recited:

Children know love, adults know reverence, ancient sages and modern men share this heart.

Generally, there must be a foundation to build a house, I have never heard of a mountain suddenly forming without a site.

Cherishing emotions and passing on annotations will turn into thickets, focusing on subtleties will turn into decline.

Cherish friends and cut and polish each other, you must know that the greatest joy lies in the present.

The poem ends!

The wind stops!

Master Zheng Yang suddenly changed color.