Chapter 610 Boss Zhu angrily criticizes Yan Ziling
The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang killed Xia Qibo's uncle and nephew was because he was worried that letting them go would make the world's scholars follow suit.
However, he still lacked understanding of the ethics of literati. After the death of Xia Qibo's uncle and nephew, he became the so-called "sacrificial person to become a benevolent person". On the contrary, his reputation became more and more prominent, triggering the imitation of scholars all over the world.
Later, Suzhou celebrities Yao Run, Wang Mo, etc. successively refused the imperial call and would rather die than serve as officials in the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang was not used to them, so he sent them all to the foot of Jiuquan to keep company with Gao Qi, Uncle Xia Qi and his nephew, as a warning to others.
However, one day when I heard the lecturer tell a story about Yan Guang, a hermit of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who refused Liu Xiu's personal invitation and refused to serve as an official in the court, the lecturer quoted Yan Ziling's words with deep meaning:
"In the past, Yao of the Tang Dynasty was virtuous, and Father Chao was the one who purified his ears. Scholars had great ambitions, so how could they be forced to do so?"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he became very angry. What are you doing? Why are you forced to do so if you have ambitions? Do you think we can't hear it?
Did we give you an official salary just to make you sit here and ridicule us?
What does "a scholar have ambitions" mean? Is it what Confucius said: "If there is a way in the world, it will appear; if there is no way, it will be hidden." Do you think that we are a king without a way?
In anger, he wrote another "Yan Guang Lun" and ordered it to be published all over the world, so that schools at all levels from Guozixue onwards must recite the full text.
The general idea is that there are all kinds of evildoers. Not only those who do evil are evil, but those who do things insincerely, and those who do not act when they have the opportunity are also evil.
At the beginning of the country's renaissance, people's livelihood was in decline and available talents were scarce. Emperor Guangwu sincerely asked Yan Guang to serve as an official, but he refused in every possible way. This was a contempt and insult to the emperor's grace, and made people think that the emperor was immoral!
He thought that he had the freedom to live in seclusion. In fact, this was not the case. If Emperor Guangwu had not brought peace to the world and there was war and chaos everywhere, how could he have the conditions to travel around the mountains and rivers leisurely? If he enjoyed the benefits brought by the country, he should serve the emperor so that the country could recover as soon as possible.
In fact, people like Yan Guang who retired to the mountains and forests were just fishing for fame, and what they were fishing for was the emperor's grace. If they did not join the officialdom, it was simply because the emperor's grace was not great enough.
But if the emperor himself has little virtue and talent and is incapable of governing the world, but capable people like Yan Guang still refuse to join the officialdom, causing the people to live in poverty and the country to fall into war again, can these people really feel comfortable living in seclusion?
Therefore, people like Yan Guang, who receive favors from the emperor but do not know how to repay them. He has great talents but fails to help the people and benefit the country when the country is in urgent need of talents. He is the biggest sinner!'
~~
Boss Zhu thought that as soon as he published this heroic article, those famous scholars would no longer dare to stay at home, and they would all have to go out and become officials.
Unexpectedly, it aroused even greater resentment among readers.
Because Yan Guang has always been indifferent to fame and fortune and refused the emperor's personal invitation, he has been famous throughout the ages. He represents the character of scholars. He is the idol of scholars of all ages. He has been repeatedly praised and praised by scholars.
When Boss Qi Zhu came to power, he directly criticized our idol and criticized us. We scholars no longer even have the right to say "no"?
The more he pressed like this, the more rebellious the scholars became. Not only did they avoid being recommended by local officials in various ways, but they also deliberately praised some young boys or the ignorant Dong Heng to make them famous for a while, and then openly recommended them to the court.
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As a result, the level of talents recommended over the years has naturally deteriorated year after year as Wang Xiaoer celebrates the New Year...
Some people even couldn't even recognize the characters, which made a big joke during Zhu Yuanzhang's inspection.
~~
Yufu study room.
"Now the recommendation examination has become a joke. If we continue to strangle the school road, the emperor will have to rely on the imperial examination." Chen Qianfu said to Yu Xi in a deep voice: "Otherwise, who will govern the world for him?"
"Oh, it's really ridiculous. The imperial examination is for the emperor to seek talents. It is an honest matter. Why is it so difficult in this dynasty?" Yu Ji sighed.
"There is no way. Today's prejudices against scholars and Confucianism are higher than the mountains. As long as there is a way, they will change to the path of Legalism. So this is not only a matter of the future of scholars in the world, but also related to the survival of Confucianism.
!" Chen Qianfu sighed and said:
"If the current situation were not like this, why would Taishi Gong come all the way to the capital every year to pay homage to the emperor even though he has already retired from office? Isn't it because he can't worry about it? He often told us that if the foundation of Confucianism was destroyed by our hands,
Here, then we are all sinners through the ages, how can we see Confucius and Mencius after death?!"
"Confucius said Cheng Ren, Mencius said Qi Yi." He said with great emphasis: "So we have no choice but to use our flesh and blood to block all the roads in front of the emperor, so that he has no choice but to go
Our great road of Confucius and Mencius! It is our unshirkable responsibility, Mao Ben!"
"Yes, teacher." Yu Heng hurriedly leaned forward and clasped his fists, and then began to plan for reinforcements: "But for such a big matter, we should try our best to gain support. The prince was taught by Taishi Gong, so he should be considered my Confucian protector, right?"
"Of course the Crown Prince supports Confucianism, but despite the fact that the Emperor has asked him to supervise the country, the major policies are still in the hands of the Emperor." Chen Qianfu sighed.
"Where is the King of Chu? We in eastern Zhejiang are his vassal state, and the big families in the south of the Yangtze River also look up to him." Yu Ji asked again: "Can we ask him to speak for us?"
"No." Chen Qianfu shook his head and said, "On this matter, the King of Chu is on the side of the emperor."
"That's it..." Yu Xu's heart sank.
"Oh, this matter is indeed difficult, but no matter how difficult it is, we must do it with difficulty." Chen Qianfu finally cheered him up and said: "Remember, the entire scholarly community, as well as the people of the world, are on our side! Confucianism will win.
!”
"Yes. Confucianism will definitely win!" Yu Ji nodded hurriedly.
~~
Qianqing Hall.
After Zhu Zhen read the surveillance records, he was shocked.
Although the records cannot be that detailed, they are enough to outline the plans of this group of scholars...
"Now, do you know why we have kept Hu Weiyong?" Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with his expression and asked leisurely.
"I understand." Zhu Zhen nodded and said, "Because he is not a scholar."
"Yes." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "It is already the twelfth year of Hongwu. There are fewer and fewer civil servants who are not scholars. Even if there are, they cannot convince the public and cannot replace him."
"So, if we change the prime minister again, we can only choose a scholar?" Zhu Zhen asked softly.
"Yeah." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said with a frown on his face: "But look at them, they all regard us as their enemies. How can we let an enemy become the prime minister? All the hard work he has done over the years will be destroyed by him.
"
"Do you know why they are so unhappy with us? Because they believe that since ancient times, 'the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats share the world', but we do not share the world with them. Of course they are not satisfied." Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly:
"Now you understand why we want to protect Song Ne?"
"Understood." Zhu Zhen nodded and said, "Because Song Ne is not from the same group as them. He is the general used by my father to fight against the scholars."
"That's right. With such a powerful enemy in front of us, how can we do something stupid like changing generals before the battle?" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said solemnly.
