After waiting for a long time, the emperor and Concubine Zhuang finally arrived, only two quarters of an hour late (a quarter of an hour in the Ming Dynasty was 14 minutes and 24 seconds).
But no official was dissatisfied with this. It was already rare for the emperor to come to class, so what does it mean to be half an hour late?
It was the appearance of Concubine Zhuang that attracted the attention of the officials.
Generally speaking, concubines do not participate in Buddhist feasts, at least since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. But there are no strict regulations, saying that concubines in the harem cannot do this. Even if this is inappropriate, it is just a violation of the rules of the harem.
There is also no objection, because the rules have been broken long ago: first, the scripture feast should not be held in the leopard room, which is disrespectful to the ministers; second, the concubines should not live in the leopard room, think about the leopard room
Those tens of thousands of soldiers knew how absurd this move was.
Zhu Houzhao accepted the obeisance of the ministers and said with a smile: "Please get up, sirs. No need to be polite."
Concubine Zhuang was veiled, covering her entire face, and was sitting next to the emperor.
Most of the officials thought they were avoiding suspicion and didn't take it seriously. Only Yang Shen and another young official looked at Concubine Zhuang with their mouths agape, obviously recognizing that she was Gu Guren!
The old British Duke Zhang Mao respectfully asked: "Which book does your Majesty want to read?"
This is also a sign of lack of rules. The content of the sutra feast needs to be determined in advance so that the speaker can be prepared and to avoid being unable to find the corresponding book at the moment.
Zhu Houzhao said: "Where did you talk last time?"
Fu Gui, the Minister of Rites, replied: "Zi Zhi Tong Jian Qi Ji No. 3".
Zhu Houzhao said: "I have almost forgotten it. Let's change it today."
Fu Gui said: "Your Majesty has finished studying the Four Books, the Book of Songs, and the Book of Rites, so you might as well talk about the Book of Books today."
The contents of the Ming Dynasty's Sutra Banquets were mainly based on the Four Books, the Five Classics and Tongjian. Occasionally, the "Huang Ming Ancestors" was also discussed, as well as the political gains and losses of each dynasty.
"Then let's talk about the Book of Books." Zhu Houzhao followed Shan Ruliu, his eyes swept downwards, and soon fell on He Tang.
There is no way, this gentleman is too outstanding, it is difficult not to attract attention even with his unkempt appearance.
Just when Yang Tinghe was about to announce the speaker, Zhu Houzhao suddenly pointed at He Tang: "You come and speak!"
He Tang stood up and left the table, strutted across to the emperor, and sat cross-legged on the ground without any rules.
Zhu Houzhao was very happy. He did not expect that there was such a person in the Hanlin Academy. He immediately asked with a smile: "Who are you, and where do you live now?"
He Tang replied: "He Tang, who was compiled by the Imperial Academy, was ordered to teach the junior students of the Imperial Academy how to compile history."
"He Xiuzhuan, let's start the lecture." Zhu Houzhao said.
He Tang waited for the officials of the Ministry of Rites to hand a copy of "Shu Jing Encyclopedia" to the emperor. He himself did not take the book, and was empty-handed. He directly said: ""Shang Shu" has ancient texts and modern texts, which can be used in parallel without contradicting each other. Both ancient and modern texts can be said.
"The sun is as old as the past, Emperor Yao said to release honors, Qin Mingwen said to think of peace..."
After reciting a passage from the original text, He Tang began to preach with some personal details mixed in: "The name of Emperor Yao was Fang Xun. He was serious and respectful, knew right from wrong, was magnanimous and gentle, and was sincere in his duties... What is the "Yao Code"? It contains the story of Emperor Yao and will be remembered for eternity.
This is the law! As a king of a country, he should be like Emperor Yao. Your Majesty lives in the Leopard Room for a long time and plays with his ministers every day. This cannot be called "serious and respectful"; Your Majesty favors villains, which cannot be called "aware of right and wrong";
Your Majesty is moody and cannot be called 'magnanimous and gentle'; His Majesty ignores government affairs and cannot be called 'sincere and dedicated'; Your Majesty..."
There was a dead silence in the main hall. Everyone looked at He Tang stupidly, feeling that this man had gone crazy.
Comparing Zhu Houzhao and Emperor Yao one by one, their actions were completely opposite, and they almost didn’t directly say the word "faint emperor"!
Zhu Houzhao is not afraid of being scolded. He has long been used to it, so he can still sneer in response.
When He Tang went from Emperor Yao to Emperor Shun and mentioned the five virtues of fatherly justice, maternal kindness, sonly filial piety, brothers and friends, and brotherly respect, Zhu Houzhao finally changed his face.
He Tang said that it was unfilial for the emperor to live in the Leopard Room for a long time and not go to greet the Queen Mother every day; it was unfilial to have been neglecting the queen mother and have no heirs for many years; it was unfilial to stir up chaos in the country passed down by the late emperor.
Unfilial!,
He Tang's rhetoric became more and more intense, reaching its peak during the reign of Emperor Yu, because "Emperor Yu" focuses on the king's governance!
Facing the emperor's anger, He Tang spoke eloquently: "The king of a country should 'cultivate himself, know people, and calm the people'. Your Majesty is ridiculous, can you cultivate yourself? The whole dynasty is full of villains, but know people and do their jobs well? There are refugees in the world.
From all four, can we know what is peace of mind for the people? There are nine virtues of a monarch. The first is to be tolerant and solemn. Your Majesty is not tolerant when you should be tolerant, and is not solemn when you should be solemn. This is not a virtue! The second is to be gentle and upright. Your Majesty has a strong character, and he is also
It is easy to be misled by slander. These two are unvirtuous! The third is..."
"He Xiuzhan, please stop it!" Yang Tinghe finally couldn't listen any more, and He Tang also scolded him more or less in his words.
Zhu Houzhao was extremely angry, but he sneered: "Let him finish!"
He Tang compared the nine virtues of a monarch with Zhu Houzhao and concluded that Zhu Houzhao did not have even one virtue.
Then there is the matter of government. "Shangshu" explains that the king should not be corrupt and indulge in pleasure, but should work conscientiously. A wise king should not set up various official positions and institutions, but should let talented and virtuous people complete political affairs. The king and his ministers should respect each other and work together.
Virtue...Zhu Houzhao violated all of them.
He Tang became more and more excited as he spoke and simply stood up. He glanced at the ministers and then faced the emperor directly: "Why does the Book of Documents record that Dayu controlled floods? This is a warning to the emperor and his ministers! As a king and ministers, you should put the benefit of the people first. People.
It is the foundation of the country. If there are no people to farm, the world will be hungry. If there are no people to weave, all kinds of crafts will not flourish. Now, people cultivate but cannot get food, and people weave cannot get food. Therefore, refugees are everywhere, and they can’t live! Emperor Yu opened the mountains and split them.
The stone is the great water that has ceased. The people live and work in peace and contentment. They have achieved supreme merit and will be admired by all generations! Can Emperor Yu alone control the water? Only by selecting talents and appointing capable people, and by the unity of the monarch and his ministers, can the people be safe! Looking at your majesty's actions, all of them are contrary to Emperor Yu.
His virtues are those of a single man throughout the ages, and future generations will certainly spit on them..."
Wang Yuan couldn't help but sigh: I'm so awesome, I dare to call the emperor a single husband to his face.
"Get out!" Zhu Houzhao finally couldn't bear it anymore, picked up the teacup and smashed it over.
He Tang was hit by the tea cup, but he continued as if nothing had happened: "I will come again to speak about the 'Gan's Oath'. Please listen carefully..."
Zhu Houzhao stood up suddenly, kicked several cases over, and shouted: "Drag me out, and the imperial staff will serve you!"
"Your Majesty, no!"
Yang Tinghe, along with the cabinet and six ministers, all came out to stop him.
Yang Tinghe said: "He Xiuzhan was ordered to give a lecture. He is not a minister at this moment, but the emperor's teacher. How can your majesty beat the teacher?"
Zhu Houzhao was extremely angry: "I don't have such a teacher!"
Yang Tinghe said: "If you are ordered to lecture on the scriptures, you are the emperor's teacher. At least at this moment and here, He Xiuzuan is your majesty's teacher!"
Zhu Houzhao was very angry, but he was blocked by the teacher-student relationship. He didn't know how to deal with it for a while.
Concubine Zhuang suddenly said: "Brother Emperor, although I haven't read many books, I also know the story of Tang Taizong and Wei Zheng. Although this man is talking nonsense, your Majesty is a wise and wise king. How can you be the same as him? Why not follow the example of Tang Dynasty?
Taizong, please tolerate this foolish minister for the time being and let him go home to reflect on his mistakes today."
After hearing this, Zhu Houzhao originally wanted to give up and stop arguing with He Tang, but He Tang refused to give up.
He Tang said: "Your Majesty, what did I do wrong? I was just talking about the Book of Documents. Every sentence is true and not false. Is it wrong for me, as a minister, to tell the truth to your Majesty? Your Majesty is indeed not a wise king.
!”
"Okay, you are very good," Zhu Houzhao sneered and pointed at He Tang, "You said that being an official should benefit the people, so don't be in the Hanlin Academy and go to the local areas to benefit the people."
He Tang was overjoyed when he heard this. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying with great sincerity and respect: "My lord, thank you for your grace!"
This reaction was completely unexpected. Zhu Houzhao instantly felt that he had been tricked. This person was here to seek release today!
Concubine Zhuang said: "He Xiuzhuan, please remember what you said today and be a good official who benefits the people."
He Tang said: "I dare not forget it for a day."
Zhu Houzhao's anger had subsided at this time. He looked at He Tang who was kneeling on the ground. He was so angry and funny that he had an inexplicable liking for He Tang. But he couldn't hide his face and pretended to be angry. He turned around and rolled his sleeves with a sneer.
And go.
The banquet meeting ended like this, and the ministers bowed their hands to He Tang to express their respect for the upright and remonstrating ministers.
At the same time, officials also commented on Concubine Zhuang privately, and everyone praised her: "This virtuous concubine should be a blessing to the country!"
(I have something to do today, so I only have one update. I will make it up tomorrow.)