"In my opinion, what is really insulting to politeness is that the wine and meat of the wealthy families stink, and people freeze to death on the road. While you are enjoying the fine clothes and fine food, some people die of cold and hunger. This guy is insulting to politeness!"
"When people are wronged, it is an insult to politeness. When people respect officials like you, but they get your condescending looks in return, it is an insult to politeness!"
"When a man of letters does dirty things, it is an insult to the gentleman; when a man of letters is lazy, it is an insult to the gentleman!"
"Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of a country! When the Ming Dynasty is facing the embarrassment of destruction, you people are not taking the lead and fighting bloody battles for the Ming Dynasty. It is an insult to gentlemen!"
"When you have no country in your heart, but think about how to live a prosperous life, this is an insult to politeness!"
Lin Fan said in a deep voice.
…
His words made the officials from the Ministry of Rites who just spoke lower their heads in shame.
Among the officials present, some of them sounded enthusiastic. They originally wanted to shed their blood for the imperial court, but it was a pity that they did not have the chance!
And some people feel ashamed because they had money but didn't donate it, which led to the war getting bigger and bigger!
"We literati of the Ming Dynasty are fundamentally flawed. What you study is nothing more than the Four Books and Five Classics. What you study is knowledge!"
"What can you do with your knowledge?
Is it right to recite poetry?
Besides these, what else?
As for handling national affairs, don't be joking. If you had this ability, would the Ming Dynasty have ended up like before?"
…
Lin Fan was sarcastic again, and all the officials present were ashamed. Some even covered their faces with their hands, not daring to raise their heads to look at Lin Fan.
Li Jiantai said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, you are absolutely right. There are indeed some problems with the knowledge learned by today's literati!"
"Your Highness, how do you think we should reform?
For example, starting from the carrier of knowledge, books, what kind of books should we create more?"
Li Guozhen asked in a deep voice.
Lin Fan looked at Li Guozhen, this guy really understood his thoughts, and he could get the right idea for every question he asked.
"Books naturally need to be reformed, but to do it step by step, children must first learn to write, and it is difficult for children to concentrate!"
"Think about it, how many times did your teacher hit you on the palm when you were learning to write?
How much hardship did the child suffer?
How many people can learn and become talented?”
"Why don't children want to learn?
It’s because the Four Books and Five Classics, or the books that children study now, are too anti-esoteric and complicated, and they don’t want to learn them!”
"If we can turn the Twenty-Four Filial Piety into vernacular, it would be like an old man telling stories. Each story has a few hundred words or more than a thousand words."
"With Pinyin, children will definitely be willing to learn it. If the Twenty-Four Filial Piety is compiled into a book, then this book is enough for a six- or seven-year-old child to learn in one or two months!"
"As long as we write the story in an easy-to-understand way, children will read it over and over again. Think about it again, whether to write a book that no one will read, which will give you a sense of accomplishment, or to write a book that many people will love to read.
Do books provide a greater sense of accomplishment?"
Lin Fan asked in a deep voice.
His last sentence can be said to be a bombshell!
You know, everyone has vanity. Even if the book you write is incomprehensible, few people like to read it. Will you be happy?
But if you write a book that many people like to read and are read over and over again, you will feel very satisfied.
"Your Highness, we naturally hope that the books we write will be liked by many people!"
"Your Highness, we understand what you mean. We are willing to compile such a vernacular book!"
"Yes, His Royal Highness is absolutely right. Children should read some easy-to-understand stories to increase their motivation for learning!"
…
Officials from the Ministry of Rites were persuaded and decided to compile a vernacular version of the story of the Twenty-Four Filial Piety.
Lin Fan said: "Okay! You first write down exactly what I just told about lying on the ice asking for a carp, and then use this as a template to write the rest of the story!"
"Yes! Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
The official from the Ministry of Rites said solemnly.
What Lin Fan just said about "Lying on the Ice to Seek Carp" was so touching that they all remembered it clearly and could just go back and write it down exactly as it was.
"This is only the first step. I want you to write a few stories about my great grandfather Zhu Yuanzhang."
Lin Fan said again.
"Yes! Your Royal Highness, the records of Emperor Taizu are recorded in the Historical Records!"
"Yes! Your Highness, this is a matter for historians. How can we write this down? This is blaspheming Emperor Taizu!"
"Your Highness, children do not understand the rules and speak uncontrollably. If the deeds of Emperor Taizu are written down and the children read them, and some people talk nonsense, wouldn't it be an offense against the power of God!"
The officials hurriedly advised Lin Fan.
Lin Fan said in a deep voice: "I didn't ask you to translate the things recorded in the historical records. What I asked you to write is what my grandfather did before!"
"For example, my grandfather, Grandfather Taizu, was a man of destiny. He had just occupied a city and established a firm foothold. When he saw the suffering of the people, he distributed all the general food to the people. Isn't this behavior shocking to the heaven and the earth?"
"Only such a benevolent and righteous person deserves to win the world. The story of my grandfather Taizu should be known to everyone in the world. Just write a short story of about 500 words about what I just said. First, take the
Show it to me, I think it’s OK, then say anything else.”
this……
The officials looked at each other, His Highness the Crown Prince is crazy!
Emperor Taizu killed countless heroes back then. His deeds have always been taboo in the imperial court, and officials like them dare not mention it!
Now, His Highness the Crown Prince actually asked them to compile the story of Emperor Taizu, and this first story actually started when Emperor Taizu first started his army!
Is there another story behind this?
Lin Fan really meant this. If a country wants to continue, what it needs most is cohesion, and cohesion is the people's belief in the monarch!
If he directly asked the officials of the Ministry of Rites to compile his deeds, he would definitely be criticized by these officials, and his qualifications are not enough.
But if these officials are allowed to compile the story of Zhu Yuanzhang, their qualifications will be enough!
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, we really dare not compile the deeds of Emperor Taizu!"
The official from the Ministry of Rites said solemnly.
"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I would rather ask your Majesty for your opinion first. If your Majesty agrees, it will not be too late for our Ministry of Rites to compile it!"