Luo Congyan said: "The prince is not very interested in the "Book of the Emperor" and many historical books. Instead, he is particularly interested in the Four Books and the Five Classics, and is not very interested in new learning."

"Don't want to invest?"

"No, no, I'm not very interested."

"how you said that?"

"The prince is diligent in studying and asking questions, he is kind-hearted, has a gentle personality, knows etiquette, understands justice, is reasonable, and likes the learning of saints, especially the Neo-Confucianism of Mr. Yichuan."

Zhao Ning was stunned, but he didn't expect that Zhao Chen actually liked Neo-Confucianism.

Ercheng's Neo-Confucianism is part of Confucianism.

Cheng Yi believes that principle is the ultimate origin of the universe and the only existence that governs the world.

The so-called "natural principles" are the general term for morality and hierarchy in the feudal era, and also have the meaning of the characteristics of things and the laws of development.

Cheng Yi also said a famous saying: Starving to death is a small matter, but losing integrity is a big deal.

Philosophy is the summary and summary of natural knowledge and social knowledge.

The formation of society is affected by the natural environment, such as the mountains in the southwest, the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River, the grasslands, and the different natural environments in Liaodong. The social relationships, cultures, and customs formed are different.

Individuals are in society and nature, and their thoughts are naturally affected by nature and specific social environments.

Ercheng's Neo-Confucianism, in the final analysis, is also a reflection on social relations in a specific era.

As for what Zhu Xi later said, "preserve the principles of nature and destroy human desires", they were also said in a specific environment.

What was the environment like in the Song Dynasty where Cheng Yi lived?

Why did he say something like "Starving to death is a small matter, but being dishonest is a big deal"?

The society of the Song Dynasty was completely different from the society of the Tang Dynasty.

We can understand that the demise of the Tang Dynasty was the end of the classical empire.

There were several important components of society in the Tang Dynasty: royal family, wealthy families, poor families, and poor people.

A poor family refers to a family with low status and influence, not the poor.

In the society of the Tang Dynasty, the upward path was basically controlled by family members, and poor families were very weak.

The poor just have to have children.

By the Song Dynasty, society had several important components: the royal family, bureaucrats, scholars, and the poor.

At this time, the Song Dynasty was unable to expand externally. After decades of peace, the population grew unprecedentedly, and the bureaucracy expanded unprecedentedly.

As for the position of emperor, the power he holds has reached the highest level in history.

Because all the local aristocratic families have been killed, the taxes and people in the world will directly become the emperor's property. There will no longer be the phenomenon of the powerful and powerful enclosing the people in their own territory since the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Bureaucrats, on the other hand, work for the emperor and check and balance each other.

From the perspective of the system and social structure, the imperial power of the Song Dynasty experienced a high degree of concentration in history.

In the stagnant environment of external expansion, the expansion of imperial power and bureaucracy, as well as social prosperity, have brought about corruption and enjoyment in the internal society, leading to drunkenness and dreaming.

Moreover, the Song Dynasty was also a dynasty in which China's "official system" was established, and people were proud to be officials.

People only know that Cheng Yi's saying "It's a small matter to die of starvation, but a big thing to be dishonest" is about women, but they don't know that Cheng Yi also said: "There is no wedding ceremony for officials and above. When mortals are married, how can one of them die first?"

, a promise that one person will remarry, and the other will remarry again? It is only a promise to be a couple for life."

What does this mean?

This means that kings and scholar-bureaucrats can only marry one person, and they must restrain themselves and return to propriety, and not be greedy for pleasure.

Cheng Yi wanted to use his ideas to restrain the increasingly expanding class of kings and scholar-bureaucrats, not the poor class.

It is this idea that was put forward under this special environment.

Its main core is a check and balance on superior power.

Is this a good idea?

OK!

Checks and balances on public power are absolutely good.

But the problem is that Confucian scholars always hope to use morality to check and balance people's behavior.

This developed into the Ming Dynasty, when Neo-Confucianism became extreme, and scholar-bureaucrats directly used morality as a weapon.

What he talks about is doctrine, but his heart is full of business.

Is Zhao Chen stupid?

Not stupid!

He is just an axis.

Xinxue's thinking is more open-minded. Zhao Ning has pointed out in Xinxue that what checks and balances bureaucratic corruption is the power of public opinion headed by newspapers, which represents the people.

Of course, Zhao Ning did not deny the views of Neo-Confucianism. Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty, especially in the Northern Song Dynasty, was still very healthy.

Zhao Ning was a little annoyed that the prince only talked about morality and did not talk about the checks and balances of the power system.

The checks and balances of the power system are a conspiracy. As an emperor, you must understand the human heart and human nature.

Zhao Ning didn't see any bright spots in Zhao Chen.

Even Rou Jia is much smarter than Zhao Chen.

Many times, education is one thing and nature is another.

It can be said that Zhao Ning does not attach importance to Zhao Chen's education.

"What about the new school? The prince seems to have studied in the new school?"

"His Royal Highness has naturally studied a new school."

"Why did he keep talking to me about Neo-Confucianism when I asked him about his new studies?"

“You may not be able to understand something new after you have read it and memorized it.”

People are indeed different. Some people like to eat apples, and some people like to eat durian.

It's not that Zhao Chen can't understand, it's that he prefers Neo-Confucianism and rejects new learning.

People's thoughts are also very different, just like the debate between Sang Hongyang and Confucian scholars, Sang Hongyang has been talking about using salt and iron to solve treasury problems, while Confucian scholars have been talking about moral issues.

Neither side can convince the other.

Zhao Ning thought for a moment and then said: "In the future, you will explain the new learning to the prince more often."

"yes."

"I know it's very hard for you. You have to teach both the prince and the new official."

"I'm just trying my best."

"Sir, please step back."

"I excuse myself."

As soon as Luo Congyan left, a memorial from Luojing was handed to Zhao Ning.

It turned out to be written by Wang Shoude, the governor of Henan Prefecture, and it was related to the prince. He hoped that your majesty would allow the prince to participate in government affairs on the grounds that the country has been busy with affairs recently and has a long way to go.

What level of official is the prefect of Henan Prefecture?

The center of Henan Prefecture is Luoyang, Xijing. Henan Prefecture is only slightly lower than Kaifeng Prefecture. The prefect of Henan Prefecture is equivalent to an official at the ministerial level or deputy ministerial level.

Theoretically, he is at the same level as Li Chunyou, the Minister of Civil Service, but his power is not as broad as that of Li Chunyou.

If it were the previous Emperor of the Song Dynasty, he would not say anything. After all, the Song Dynasty spoke freely and would even praise Wang Shoude for his direct advice.

But now, Zhao Ning smells some conspiracy.

Two incidents against the imperial court had just occurred, and two ministers were injured.

One was committed by students from Songyang Academy, and the other happened in Luoyang.

Now the officials in Luoyang have written a memorial to discuss the cultivation of the prince.

What is this for?

Is this a plan to form a princeling party?

Are you going to start with the prince and play a roundabout tactic with me?

"Go and pass the message to Gao Qiu."

Gao Qiu had just finished lunch and was going to take advantage of his lunch break to go to Nancheng to talk to Widow Wang about life. As soon as he stepped out, he received the news of Zhao Guan's family summoning him.

Damn! You don’t let people have a private life anymore!

I'm getting old now, and I don't have much time left to be happy. This emperor will call you when he has nothing to do, and he will call you when he has nothing to do!

So annoying!

The chamberlain who delivered the message said: "Captain Gao, your Majesty is waiting impatiently."

A smile broke out on Gao Qiu's face: "Okay, I'll go right away."

Gao Qiu and his wife arrived at Wende Palace again.

"Wang Shoude, the prefect of Henan Prefecture, how is this person?"

Gao Qiu was stunned for a moment and said: "This person is famous in Luo Jing. He has lectured at Songyang Academy many times and is considered to be a figure of the Qing school in Luo Jing."

"Check it carefully for me."

"yes."

"Back off."

When Gao Qiu heard that it was over so quickly, he immediately ran to the south of the city: Sister Wang, I'm here!
Chapter completed!