The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1648

[1648. Chapter 1567 Theism]

It turns out…this is hope…

Emperor Hongzhi generally understood.

He squinted his eyes slightly and stared at Wang Shouren seriously, his eyes full of appreciation.

It is not easy for a scholar who reads the Four Books and Five Classics all day long to understand these principles.

And it is even more difficult for a scholar who understands these principles to dare to speak out the principles in this world that advocates clear talk.

The most difficult thing is not being able to understand these truths, nor having the courage to speak them out.

The most difficult thing…is actually being willing to do it and put these things into practice.

But… Wang Shouren has all three.

Hope…

Emperor Hongzhi nodded to Wang Shouren with a smile.

“I finally understand this high-level argument. It’s like an enlightenment. Hey…how did the Qing family know this?”

Wang Shouren was neither arrogant nor impetuous in the face of Emperor Hongzhi’s praise. Instead, he was categorical towards Emperor Hongzhi.

“This couldn’t be easier. It’s nothing more than… receiving the teachings of my mentor, thinking about what the people think, and worrying about the needs of the people. If you can’t understand the people under your rule, how can you govern? So if you know what the people need, What you think is the most important thing. People in the world don’t want to be decent people, knowing etiquette, justice and shame. Everyone has a sense of integrity. Scholars have it, and so do the people. It’s just that what the court advocates. It is unrealistic scripture meaning. I will never dare to slander this scripture. It is a treasure left by the saints. But…how many people can the scriptures be useful to?”

Wang Shouren said with a pair of eyes. With a scorching light, he pursed his lips, paused, and continued.

“Obviously, simple principles can be used to educate the people, but why does the court choose to use the most complicated principles?”

Emperor Hongzhi clasped his hands behind his back. Faced with this question, he seemed anxious, so he paced back and forth and said worriedly: “What the Qing family means…”

Wang Shouren glanced at Wang Guang, the prefect of Luzhou, who was standing aside. Obviously, Wang Guang should not have heard what he said next.

But…Wang Shouren doesn’t care.

He wouldn’t say anything that shouldn’t be said anyway, so he swallowed and continued.

“This is because someone needs to make this simple truth complicated. It is obviously just etiquette, justice and integrity, but the more you know, then this etiquette, justice and integrity will become a stone on the ground, worthless. But if etiquette, justice and integrity are made complicated It has become difficult to understand, and it has become mysterious and mysterious. Only if you have to explain something clearly and clearly, you must write an article. Not only must the contrast be neat, but also there must be no more than one sentence. One word is indispensable. It seems that only in this way can we know integrity. As everyone knows, this is just the Midas touch, turning a simple truth into more and more difficult to understand. Only those who have mastered it can use this. , get wealth and honor.”

Wang Shouren said: “Because of this, what the common people learned in the academy is useless. For rich people, learning it is only a stepping stone to becoming an official. Confucius said it was the essence of benevolence, and Mencius said it was the essence of righteousness. But no one cares about it anymore. Will this teaching be effective in the long run? “

“The essence of new learning is actually to simplify the complex and speak out this simple truth so that people can understand it clearly. More people can understand it, and spend more time teaching the six arts of a gentleman. Ordinary people, after entering the school, can understand the principles and use these principles to know what to do and what not to do. It is enough that they can learn the knowledge of living a peaceful life. Naturally… more and more children are willing to study and are willing to study. “

As he spoke, Wang Shouren became excited, with confidence in his eyes. Every word and every sentence is emphasized with great emphasis.

“What is hope? In the eyes of ordinary people, the children of noble families inherit the titles of their ancestors. This is not hope. The children of wealthy families are named on the gold medal list. To them, the so-called hope lies in the common people. Next to me, Zhang Ergou, who lives next door, gained favor after entering school and was eventually recommended to Xishan Academy. He has a bright future. This is the hope for Wang Shijiu, who is facing the street. , was hired by the workshop with a high salary, married a wife, had children, and lived in a big house. This was also hope. Liu Sanxi, who had played together since childhood and even rubbed mud together, was lucky enough to publish an article in a weekly. , caused a shock in the academic world, this… is even more hope. “

“Only what happens around the common people is hope. As for the matter of being named on the gold list, as for the lucky ones far away in the temple, apart from adding some after dinner. What does the conversation have to do with the people?”

Emperor Hongzhi listened to Wang Shouren’s shocking words. At this moment, he was filled with emotion, but he just stood silently and continued to listen carefully.

“The imperial examination has nothing to do with ordinary people, and reading has nothing to do with the common people. But…in the temple, people are still selecting scholars for the imperial examination and are complacent about their achievements in education. Little do they know that when the imperial examination selects When the people who account for 90% of the world are excluded by virtue and enlightenment, sooner or later, the country will fall.”

Fang Jifan sighed in his heart, as a disciple, he really dared to say anything. .

The word “the country is overthrown” is something no one dares to say easily.

But Wang Shouren said so.

Emperor Hongzhi didn’t seem to take it seriously. He actually nodded and agreed with Wang Shouren: “It makes sense, it makes perfect sense. Today’s world is different from the past. The scholars we relied on in the past…but now…now…”

Hongzhi The emperor was a very smart man, and he had already begun to draw inferences from one instance to another.

Wang Shouren is right.

In today’s Ming Dynasty, isn’t there firewood everywhere?

In the past, the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats ruled together.

This is because scholar-bureaucrats are very important.

How important is it? At the local level, these scholars almost controlled the land, the tenant farmers, the public opinion, and everything…

The emperor had to rely on them to govern the world. Otherwise, war would break out and the world would be in chaos.

But now…the annual income of the national treasury and the taxes on the land have become less and less. The income from industry and commerce is increasing. Many scholars who no longer studied Eight-legged essay writing began to stand out in various walks of life with the help of other knowledge they had learned. Scholars and farm laborers were increasingly unable to control the farm laborers, and the income from the land was not far inferior to that of all walks of life… …

All of this… seems to be foreshadowing something.

Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes widened: “It’s time…”

Wang Guang was really shocked when he heard Wang Shouren’s deviant words.

Deep down in his heart, he was extremely disgusted with these remarks.

This statement was simply deceptive, but…

but he found that he was unable to refute it.

Now when he heard His Majesty suddenly say… It’s time…

Wang Guang’s heart was shocked, his body trembled, and he subconsciously said: “Your Majesty… what is the time… is… what is the time…”

His Adam’s apple rolled He stood there, as if waiting for the thunder to fall from the sky, and his heart was extremely frightened.

Emperor Hongzhi said in a long voice: “I say…it’s time!”

Wang Guang felt his legs and stomach were shaking. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly said sternly: “It can no longer be like before. The so-called going with the trend, the world is changing, how can the court remain unchanged? If it does not change today, it will continue to be trapped tomorrow. Sooner or later, this will happen The world must push it to change. At that time, the country will be shaken… The regulations for the succession of vassals are very reasonable, but… it is still a bit intense. At present, for scholars, some measures are needed to make them It would be better not to despair, let me think about it again…”

We must change…

but we must change…

but we must not completely push the scholars to the opposite side. This will not be good for the court.”

The most urgent task now is to appease these scholars and at the same time do their own thing as they please.

This is a test, like walking a tightrope. Once you go off the rails, you will be doomed.

Emperor Hongzhi took a deep breath, looked at Wang Shouren, and said with approval: “The Wang Qing family is really talented. It is my blessing to have such people who can be used by me. Successor, you The professor’s disciple is really convincing me more and more, he is really my good son-in-law.”

Fang Jifan was afraid that Wang Shouren would say something wrong again, so he immediately said: “Your Majesty, this is nothing, Wang Bo’an still has many shortcomings, I will definitely do it in the future. Educate him well. Your Majesty’s rise to power has impressed both the past and the present. All the people in the world admire your grace. Wang Shouren was just a commoner and received your majesty’s love to be where he is today. This is just like King Wen of Zhou meeting Jiang Taigong. Without King Wen’s wisdom, where would he be? Bo’an showed his talents. It is said that horses with thousands of miles of horses are always there, but Bole is not always there. Your Majesty’s achievements are not comparable to that of King Wen, but are actually Bole’s. It is a blessing for Wang Bo’an that his son and minister can be born in this world. Same. Bo’an, come and thank me.”

Wang Guang was shocked. He felt a little embarrassed when he heard this, but he couldn’t find anything wrong with it. He could only open his eyes and look at Fang Jifan in surprise.

“Oh.” Wang Shouren said, “Thank you.”

Fang Jifan breathed a sigh of relief. You see, if you follow the teacher’s words, you will definitely make no mistake.

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head and waved towards Fang Jifan and others.

“Stop talking about this. I have made up my mind now. You two should think of a way. This charter needs to be changed. It should not be too drastic. But what has been decided must be done. Now that I have made up my mind, I will never change it.”

Fang Jifan immediately said: “This… How can we have both ends of the world? Your Majesty… I thought…”

Wang Shouren thought for a moment: “I might give it a try.”

Fang Jifan sighed inwardly. This disciple doesn’t know how to adapt at all.

(End of chapter)