Xu Guangqi, Zhang Yuan and others' request to hold a debate on Western learning with Shen Que could only be carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Rites. Therefore, even if the emperor agreed to hold a debate in accordance with Wu Daonan's vote, he would still have to send the approved memorial to the Minister of Rites through the Ministry of Rites. The Etiquette Department Yamen executes it, and if the Etiquette Department believes that the cabinet's vote is inconsistent with the emperor's approval, it can be rejected and refuted. Therefore, this part of the Etiquette Department has become Fang Congzhe's last line of defense——
As the chief minister of the cabinet, how could Fang Congzhe resign his face and dignity to the emperor's temporary mood and anger? If the emperor was confused and approved it for a moment, then how could he have any face as the chief minister, and how would he do anything in the cabinet in the future? Aren't the two cabinet ministers going their own way, so Fang Congzhe had to find ways to prevent Wu Daonan's vote plan from being implemented. At this time, it no longer mattered whether it was right or wrong, it was just a battle of face and morale, which was generally the case with party disputes in the late Ming Dynasty.
On the evening of the day when Wu Daonan submitted the memorial note, Fang Congzhe asked his family boy to invite Qi Shijiao, a disciple of Fang Congzhe, to his residence in Yongfang, Dashi. Qi Shijiao was Fang Congzhe's disciple. The Qi Party gave Fang Congzhe great support. Fang Congzhe had been out of office for more than ten years. Originally, the traces of the party were not obvious, but as soon as he entered the cabinet, he naturally became close to the Qi Party and the Zhejiang Party. This was because the situation was pressing. If the cabinet ministers could not win over a group of Taiyuan officials, it is difficult for government orders to be implemented and easily ignored——
Fang Congzhe told Qi Shijiao about Wu Daonan's plan to submit the vote despite his obstruction, and said: "Zhang Yuan used the glacier theory to cater to the holy will. His memorial was sparse and clever, and he had the support of his fellow members of the Han Society. There was more in the cabinet. With Wu Daonan's support, the emperor might agree to hold a debate. I have to guard against it. If Wu Daonan's vote is implemented, it will be very difficult for me to speak in the cabinet from now on. It can be said that you are the official of the etiquette department and your friend. Zhou Yongchun is involved in the Etiquette Department. Keep an eye on the memorials these days. If the emperor approves those memorials, you will return them and refute them. This matter is the key to the growth and decline of the power of both sides. If Zhang Yuan succeeds, this person will From now on, they will become even more arrogant and unruly. It is this generation that will bring disaster to the country and the people."
Qi Shijiao had talked with Zhang Yuan several times, and he had some understanding of Zhang Yuan's mind and ideas. Generally speaking, Qi Shijiao admired Zhang Yuan. At this time, he heard that Fang Congzhe had a very bad evaluation of Zhang Yuan, so he made two sentences for Zhang Yuan. , Fang Conzhe said nothing for a moment, his eyebrows were raised, his eyes were fixed on Qi Shijiao for an instant, Qi Shijiao couldn't bear the teacher's gaze. He said: "The student has no other intentions. He just thinks that Zhang Yuan should enter the official career at the beginning." You can win over others, but you should not push them to the enemy's side, which is not good for the teacher."
Fang Congzhe said calmly: "Now Wu Daonan bypasses me and submits the memorial note. Don't you know the pros and cons?"
Qi Shijiao sighed softly and said: "Well, the student will inform Zhou Mengtai and Yao Tong that if Xu Guangqi is handed over to the palace, Zhang Yuan's memorial will be sealed and returned."
Fang Congzhe nodded, his face softened, and said: "It can be said that my teacher is narrow-minded and cannot tolerate Zhang Yuan. Zhang Yuan is less than twenty years old, and my teacher is nearly sixty years old. Zhang Yuan cannot threaten me. status, I can tell from the theory of Binghe that this person has evil intentions. Not to mention Dong Xuanzai and Yao Zongwen, Zhou Yanru and Zhang Yuan were both Hanlin officials, and they were both elected as lecturers in the East Palace. They should have lived in harmony and worked together. Educate the emperor's eldest grandson well, but Zhang Yuan found a way to squeeze out Zhou Yanru. How can you win over such a person? It can be said that I know Zhang Yuan has talked with you, but it is just his power, nothing more than fear. You, Yao Zongwen and Liu Tingyuan just joined forces to impeach him, think about it carefully."
Qi Shijiao only said it was true. After leaving the Yongfang Temple in Da Shi, he took a bus back to his apartment outside Chaoyangmen. Chaoyangmen was part of the outer city and there was no curfew. When Qi Shijiao went to see his fellow villagers at night, he was told by Zhou Yongchun. Although Qi Shijiao had something to do with what Congzhe said.
He disagrees, but considering the overall situation, he still has to decisively support Fang Congzhe. If Fang Congzhe's prestige in the cabinet is frustrated, it will also be a loss for his party. Zhang Yuan appreciates appreciation, but his principles cannot be changed. Moreover, Qi Shijiao believes that this kind of debate has nothing to do with the national economy and people's livelihood.
It’s optional, he doesn’t need to feel guilty towards Zhang Yuan——
…
At the beginning of the morning of August 23, the six subjects on duty collected the yamen questions approved by the emperor at Huijimen and wrote this chapter. After verification, they had to copy them one by one and send them to each yamen in charge within five days.
To carry out the execution, all the people on duty in the etiquette department that day were assigned to Zhou Yongchun, who was in charge of the matter. Zhou Yongchun saw that Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan's memorial had been approved according to Wu Daonan's draft opinions, and thought to himself: "Mr. Fang Ge's information is very accurate."
, if this memorial continues to be implemented, there will be no distinction between master and subordinate in Fang Ge Lao and Wu Daonan Pavilion, and the chief and assistant will exist in name only."
Zhou Yongchun returned to the Liuke Gallery and carefully reviewed the memorials of Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan, because in order to return the emperor's memorial, the memorial must be well-founded and cannot be returned casually. The seal must be refuted, that is to say
Sufficient reasons must be given, otherwise it will be dereliction of duty and contempt for the imperial power. However, the officials are all masters of eight-legged essays. The swords and pens trained for so many years in the imperial examination must be criticized from the nearly 10,000-word memorials written by Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan.
It was not difficult at all. Zhou Yongchun thought about it for half a day, wrote a refutation, and returned the memorials of Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan to the Supervisor of Ceremonies——
Li En, the eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department, was quite unhappy. After hearing this from the emperor, he issued the ticket again according to the original plan. The next day, the ceremonial department on duty gave the seal to Shi Zhongqi Shijiao and returned it with similar refutations as Zhou Yongchun. Li En had no choice but to do so.
, before reporting to the emperor, he first communicated with Wang An of the East Palace. Wang An sighed: "This shows how corrupt the government is. It is so difficult to implement something. It is just a debate, not other important matters. The old gentlemen of the outer court are all
Push back and forth, don’t pay attention to Long Live Lord’s approval, just focus on your own morale.”
Li En felt the same way and said: "The foreign officials have repeatedly criticized Long Live Lord for his neglect of government. This is not all because of the foreign officials' force. Judging from this incident, it is difficult for government orders to leave the palace."
Wang Andao: "Xu Zanshan and Zhang Xiuzhuan also considered this situation. Zhang Xiuzhuan said that the memorial did not have to be issued through the Sixth Section. It was not a government order, but the emperor agreed to hold a debate. It could be issued by Zhan Shifu and Hanlin.
Held in the hospital.”
Li En smiled and said: "What a great idea. The Za family will go and report it to Lord Long Live now."
After so many years of fighting with foreign ministers, Emperor Wanli's anger has been almost dissipated, so when he heard that his imperial pen approval was returned twice by the Li Ke, it was just that Long Yan was displeased and would not get angry. After hearing this, Li En
suggested, nodded and said: "Then the East Palace James Mansion will host the debate, and the Hanlin Academy will co-organize it. The number of people to debate, the date is to be determined."
Therefore, Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan's memorials were sent directly to the James Mansion and the Hanlin Academy, bypassing the Six Sections Gallery. Fang Congzhe still felt that he had lost face, so he asked Qi Shijiao and Zhou Yongchun to submit them. He believed that it was illegal to bypass the Six Sections and issue the imperial edict.
System, in order to impeach Wu Daonan, Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan——
Emperor Wanli did not leave the imperial edict undisclosed this time, but instead blamed Qi Shijiao and Zhou Yongchun for not having sufficient reasons for their refutations and deliberately obstructing the issuance of the edict. They were each fined half a year's salary, which was a fine of dozens of taels of silver.
Through this overt and covert fight, Wu Daonan and Zhang Yuan can only be considered a small victory. The debate on the imperial edict can only be considered a big victory if it is issued through the Six Section Corridor. It is not easy to win a big victory over the chief minister of the cabinet, but Zhang Yuan is already satisfied with the result. , as long as the debate can be held, it is a victory.
Qian Longxi, the young minister of the James Mansion, discussed with Guo Hui, the bachelor's student of the Hanlin Academy, and sent a document to the Nanjing Ministry of Rites on August 28, asking the Nanjing Ministry of Rites to discuss it carefully. The doctor Xu Ruke sent it before the end of October. Anyone who comes to the capital to participate in the debate, whether they are officials from the court or the central government, scholars in the field, or eminent monks, is limited to four people from each side. The debates will be held on the first, third, and fifth day of winter, and there will be three sessions on the third day. At that time, the crown prince will Visit the Imperial College Debate in person——
Now that the date and number of people for the debate have been set, Xu Guangqi, Zhang Yuan and others must also step up preparations. They have agreed on the list of four people to participate in the debate:
Xu Guangqi, the Zuochunfang Zuo of Zhanshi Mansion, Li Zhizao, the Shaoqing of Taipu Temple in Nanjing, Zhang Yuan, the editor of the Hanlin Academy, and Xiong Sanba, the Western accompanying minister——
Li Zhizao, the Shaoqing of Taipu Temple in Nanjing, knew the art of war and was proficient in Western and Western studies. He had a close relationship with Xu Guangqi. He was also the first group of enlightened gentry that Ricci made friends with after coming to China. He once engraved the Map of All Nations and co-translated the Hun Dynasty with Matteo Ricci. "Gai Tong Xian Tu Shuo", "Huan Rong Comparison of Meanings" and "Tong Wen Shuan Zhi", involving astronomy and mathematics, were Ming gentry who were as famous as Xu Guangqi in the field of Western learning at that time;
Xiong Sanba was a German who came to the Ming Dynasty as Matteo Ricci's assistant in the 34th year of Wanli. His knowledge was superior to that of Long Huamin and Pang Di'e. He was proficient in astronomy, mathematics, water conservancy, and had expertise in ancient Greek philosophy, art, and music. According to research, "Jian Ping Yi Shuo" and "Taixi Water Law" were jointly translated by Xiong Sanba and Xu Guangqi. This man was knowledgeable and remembered that he came to the Ming Dynasty ten years ago, spoke fluent Nanjing Mandarin, and could read many ancient Chinese books. , have dabbled in the knowledge of the pre-Qin scholars. This debate is related to the survival of Catholicism in the Ming Dynasty. The Jesuits in the Ming Dynasty dare not neglect it. Naturally, they have to recommend the most outstanding talents to participate in the debate——
Li Zhizao, Xiong Sanba, plus Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan, this can be said to be the strongest debate team supporting Western learning. Now it depends on who Shen Que will recommend to Beijing to participate in the debate. The debate has spread. Shen Que would not refuse to participate, otherwise his goal of expelling the missionaries from Europe and the West would be in vain. Who would be willing to bear the name of cowardice?
…
On the sixth day of September, this day was the holiday for Shujishi. Zhang Dai was not studying at the Hanlin Academy. But when Zhang Yuan came out of the Hanlin Academy gate in the evening, he saw his elder brother Zhang Dai waiting for him at the head of the North Bridge of Yuhe River.
Zhang Dai said with a smile on his face: "Jiezi, come with me to drink at Paozi."
Zhang Yuan asked: "Brother is so happy, what's the happy thing?"
Zhang Dai said: "August 25th is my birthday. I forgot to celebrate my birthday. I will make up for it today."
Zhang Yuan saw that his eldest brother Zhang Dai's uncontrollable joy did not look like he was celebrating his birthday. He suddenly remembered something, slapped his forehead and said, "Brother, has Li Kou'er arrived in Beijing?"
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