The Chief Assistant of the Cabinet, Fang Congzhe, addressed the Emperor Wanli yesterday afternoon, requesting the cabinet ministers and the Seven Ministers to go to the Imperial Academy to hear the summary of the debate. Emperor Wanli agreed, so early this morning Fang Congzhe sent someone to inform the officials of the six yamen and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Go to the Imperial College——
In the official system of the Ming Dynasty, the six ministers and the left and right censors of the Duchayuan were the seven ministers. However, among the six ministers in Beijing today, only Zheng Jizhi, the minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Li Rong, the minister of the Ministry of Punishment, were the official officials. The remaining four ministers were appointed by the ministers. There is also a lack of censor of the left capital, and Zhang Wenda, the censor of the right capital, is in charge of the affairs of the court. These seven ministers were surprised when they received the notice from Fang Congzhe: Elder Fang Ge was very surprised that Xu Guangqi, Zhang Yuan and others bypassed the cabinet and held a big debate. Are you annoyed? Why are all the six ministries and seven ministers required to listen to the debate?
Zhang Yuan was also surprised at first. Fang Congzhe should know that Shen Que's side had failed in the debate. Why would Fang Congzhe make such a big show of inviting these ministers to come and listen? What did Fang Congzhe want to do? Then he understood Fang Congzhe's intention and sighed slightly in his heart.
In the Yilun Hall, Crown Prince Zhu Changluo was sitting under the edict of Taizu. Officials from the Six Ministries and Seven Ministers, Zhan Shifu, Hanlin Academy, and Imperial College were lined up on the left and right. Except for Emperor Wanli, who was not here, almost all the powerful figures of the Ming Dynasty were present. , Zhu Guozhen of the Imperial Academy reported to the crown prince the situation of the debate the day before, and also reported that Master Lianchi had passed away. Liu Zongzhou left a letter to withdraw from today’s debate and summarized it, and set off back to Jiangnan——
There are now only two of the four people on Shen Que's side who advocated the strict ban on Catholicism in the great debate. Shen Que reported: "Your Royal Highness, after the second debate the day before yesterday, Zhang Yuan and Liu Zongzhou walked together for a secret talk. Liu Zongzhou's withdrawal from the debate must be Zhang Yuan's. "I was obstructing it." Liu Zongzhou did not play his due role in this debate. Now he quit midway, which made Shen Que very dissatisfied.
Zhang Yuan said rudely: "Mr. Qidong was invited from Shaoxing by Mr. Shen Shilang. Now that he has left Beijing, Mr. Shen doesn't know the reason and makes wild guesses. It's really ridiculous."
Crown Prince Zhu Changluo said: "Didn't Liu Zongzhou leave a letter? What did he say in the letter?"
Shen Que glared at Zhang Yuan bitterly and reported to the crown prince: "Liu Zong Zhou said in his letter that the current situation is changing day by day, and the Taoist movement is hindering the funeral. If he cannot be a minister who helps the world, he will become a Confucian who promotes Taoism. Isn't this the fallacy in this debate? His arrogance and rampage made him extremely disappointed and he left Beijing angrily?"
Li Zhizao said: "The debate was hosted by the East Palace, and there is no conclusion yet. Liu Zongzhou left midway, which is the courtesy of no one. He is not called a Confucian in vain."
Zhu Changluo knew that these ministers were arguing endlessly, so he said: "Today is the summary of the debate. You both should make your own statements. Xu Zanshan will speak first."
Xu Guangqi briefly stated his side's viewpoints and arguments for the debate on the 15th and 16th. Then Shen Que also presented their side's viewpoints and arguments in public. Zhang Yuan heard that some of the arguments were newly added by Shen Que. He immediately raised objections and asked for the transcripts of civil servants to be verified——
Fang Congzhe spoke: "Why should Zhang Xiuzhuan be so fussy? Today is the summary of the debate, so it's not a bad idea to add a few additions. Now that both sides have expressed their opinions, let the officials from the Hanlin Academy and Zhan Shifu comment on the gains and losses of both sides."
Qian Longxi, the Young Master of Zhan Shifu, reported to the crown prince: "Rong Chen will discuss with his colleagues in Zhan Shifu before commenting."
Guo Wei, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, also made the same request. After receiving the permission from the Crown Prince, thirty officials from the Zhanshifu and the Hanlin Academy left the Yilun Hall and went to the east side of the Imperial Academy to discuss matters. The officials waited quietly, and while offering wine, Zhu Guozhen invited the crown prince and the emperor's eldest grandson to take a rest in the back hall. About three quarters later, officials from Zhan Shifu and Hanlin Academy returned to the Yilun Hall, and the crown prince also returned to his seat.
Guo Hui was the elder, so Qian Longxi asked Guo Hui to comment first. Guo Hui talked about a lot of sages' lofty views, and his final comment was just as Zhang Yuan expected. He still favored Shen Que's side, but the wording was milder, thinking that Westerners were kind and knowledgeable. Scholars can also serve the Ming Dynasty and do not have to be expelled.
Qian Longxi's views were similar to Guo Hui's, and they also adopted a compromise attitude. The four missionaries, Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and Long Huamin, were obviously a little disappointed. In the debates in the first two days, it was clear that their side had the upper hand, but these judging officials Still prefer to dwell on it, which inevitably makes them feel frustrated——
But Zhang Yuan was not very surprised by this result. The conservative forces in the late Ming Dynasty were extremely powerful. Li Zicheng was about to attack Beijing. Imperial officials were still debating whether to move the capital to Nanjing. It was the winter of the 44th year of Wanli. Nurhachi has not yet released the "Seven Hatreds" to attack the Ming Dynasty. Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong, a pair of peers who were born in the 34th year of Wanli, are still herding sheep in Shaanxi. Although there were natural disasters in the Ming Dynasty, in the eyes of most subjects , this is still a prosperous age, and there is not much sense of crisis. Blind arrogance is a common mentality. Zhang Yuan cannot change this situation with just one debate——
Fang Congzhe's personal visit to the Imperial Academy was to put pressure on officials from the Hanlin Academy and Zhan Shifu, because Fang Congzhe had already expressed his support for Shen Que. How could these officials disobey Fang Congzhe, the first assistant, for Xu Guangqi and Zhang Yuan? If it weren't for Xu Guangqi, Zhang Yuan Yuan had the upper hand in the debate, and the wording of the judging officials would not be so mild, and would definitely fall completely in favor of Shen Que——
Fang Congzhe glanced at Xu Guangqi, Zhang Yuan and others, smiled slightly, and said to himself: "Speaking in the court depends on status and strength. What's the use of being eloquent and eloquent." He saluted the crown prince Zhu Changluo. : "Your Highness, let's end this debate. I believe that in addition to disturbing people's hearts, this kind of debate does not contribute to the political affairs of the country. Please do not hold such useless debates again in the future."
Fang Congzhe wanted to erase the impact of this debate in just a few words, and continue to implement Shen Que's proposal to ban Catholicism as usual. Xu Guangqi, Zhang Yuan and others would certainly fight for it. Xu Guangqi said: "The debates in the first two days were based on the analysis of things and the exhaustion of reason, and the benefit. We have discussed how to eliminate the harm, how can we say it has no benefit?"
Crown Prince Zhu Changluo respected the lecturer Xu Guangqi and asked: "What innovations does Xu Zanshan want to make in government affairs through this debate?"
Xu Guangqi said: "I have three suggestions: first, release Wang Fengsu and other priests and parishioners, and return the Nanjing church to the Jesuits; second, set up a calendar bureau by the Ministry of Rites and rebuild the calendar with reference to the Western calendar; third, set up a translation bookstore in the Hanlin Academy, Confucian officials and Western ministers translated Western calendars, geography, medicine, farmland, and water conservancy books to make up for the shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty."
Fang Congzhe said: "Wang Fengsu and Xie Wulu are inciting the believers and attempting to rebel. They must not be tolerated. As for the calendar, the Western calendar must not be used. Our Ming Dynasty does not have talents like Guo Shoujing. The Qintian Prison will naturally absorb talents who understand the calendar to cultivate the calendar. There is no need for Westerners to participate, and it is even more pointless to translate Western books. Our agricultural books of the Ming Dynasty include "Essential Techniques for Elevating the People" and our medical books include "Compendium of Materia Medica". Isn't it more applicable than the books written by Westerners in remote overseas countries?"
Zhang Yuandao: ""Qi Min Yao Shu" was written in the Northern Wei Dynasty, more than a thousand years ago. Mr. Fang Ge still thinks it is applicable to the current Ming Dynasty?"
Fang Congzhe said coldly: "Why doesn't it apply? Does Western knowledge apply?"
Zhang Yuandao: "Xu Zanshanzheng compiled "The Complete Book of Agricultural Affairs" in response to the frequent droughts and floods in the Ming Dynasty in recent years. He referred to the "Qi Min Yaoshu" of the Northern Wei Dynasty and the "Nongshu" of the Yuan Dynasty. Of course, books such as "Taixi Water Law" were also cited in famine preparation and disaster relief. Does Mr. Fang Ge think it is necessary to compile such books?"
Zhang Yuan's tone seemed to be very respectful, but Fang Congzhe could hear the sarcasm in it. A sixth-grade editor dared to speak to him like this. Did he want to stay in the Hanlin Academy forever? He said: "That person who compiles agricultural books is Xu Zanshan." It is a matter of the imperial court to implement policies that benefit agriculture and has nothing to do with each other." The implication is that Xu Guangqi's "Sweet Potato Shu" mentioned by Zhang Yuan in Wan Yan Ting Ce cannot be implemented.
At this moment, Zhang Yuan wanted to beat up Fang Congzhe. The chief minister did not care about right or wrong, but only looked at likes and dislikes. How could such a country be governed well?
The eunuch Wang An whispered a few words to the crown prince Zhu Changluo, and Zhu Changluo said: "The debate has ended. The record scribe will compile the transcript of the debate and submit it to the emperor within three days. Shilang Shen and Xu Zanshan each wrote a memorial to express their respective views. , it is up to the emperor to decide whether to ban teaching, revise calendars, and open a translation bureau." After saying that, he ordered to drive back to Ciqing Palace.
Fang Congzhe quickly left the Imperial Academy without even looking at Zhang Yuan.
Wu Daonan remained silent until now. He couldn't argue with the chief minister in front of the crown prince over this debate. Then he called Zhang Yuan over and said, "You are so young and energetic, why bother fighting with Mr. Fang Ge face to face!"
Zhang Yuandao: "Mr. Wu Ge, students can't change their opinions at will because of Mr. Fang Ge's likes and dislikes." He thought to himself: "It's useless for me to flatter Fang Congzhe now. The big debate bypasses the cabinet, and Mr. Fang Ge has already ignored him. If I am the enemy, it is better to stand up for yourself with a clear-cut stand. How can Fang Congzhe, the chief minister, still be in office for ten or eight years?"
…
The next day, Xu Guangqi finished writing the memorial and went to Lige Old Hutong to see Zhang Yuan in the evening. Zhang Yuan made some additions to the memorial. On November 20, Xu Guangqi submitted the memorial, and the memorial that was discussed was also sent to the cabinet. house--
The relationship between the two cabinet ministers, Fang Congzhe and Wu Daonan, is a bit strange now. They are still friendly on the surface, but they no longer speak sincerely. Wu Daonan will generally obey Fang Congzhe's wishes when drafting memorials, but Wu Daonan did not respond to Fang Congzhe's memorials to Xu Guangqi and Shen Que. After the vote was drawn up, he signed his name to express his disapproval and wrote a special memorial to express his opinion——
Fang Congzhe had a sullen face and asked the eunuch of the Li Jian to send the memorials of Xu and Shen and a "Debate Minutes" compiled by the Imperial College scribe to the emperor. At the same time, he also wrote a memorial saying that he wanted to resign to the emperor. This poem Fang Congzhe was unable to assist him, so Fang Congzhe was retreating in order to force Emperor Wanli to express his position. The cabinet could no longer perform its duties normally. Fang Congzhe was confident that his status in Emperor Wanli's heart was higher than that of Wu Daonan.
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