Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Gaochi, who was sitting next to him, clenched his fat fists in his sleeves and stared at Dao Yan with bright eyes.

No matter what, Dao Yan is half of his teacher, and Zhu Gaochi certainly doesn't want Dao Yan to be angered by his father.

Dao Yan didn't say much, he just continued to drink tea calmly, and even stuffed a piece of matcha pastry made according to the old method of the Song Dynasty into his mouth. After eating and drinking, he stood up and respectfully He saluted Zhu Di and said calmly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I do have some selfish motives in it."

Zhu Di chuckled: "I knew you were doing it for Jiang Xinghuo. I'm afraid that once the heliocentric theory and universal gravity are proposed, it will shake the relationship between heaven and man, and I will be disadvantageous to him."

"You, you, old monk, what can I say to you?"

Zhu Di pointed his finger at Dao Yan and shook his head helplessly.

After so many years of old friends and comrades-in-arms, they turned their heads to outsiders. How could they not let Zhu Di just say Naihe?

"Your Majesty is wise, but not only because of Jiang Xinghuo himself, but because of the heliocentric theory and universal gravitation. It is indeed possible to directly intuitively let everyone in the world see that the perception of heaven and man is wrong. That's what I want. Use the power of Xunzi to modify the content of Confucian sage theory... Of course, this is not to start a big war, but to take the first step."

Dao Yan spoke slowly and unhurriedly.

However, what he said made Zhu Di's expression become uncertain.

Dao Yan continued: "Actually, this is not selfish. After all, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism has been plagued by serious shortcomings in the past few years since the founding of the country. If we continue to act according to the past imperial examination system, it will definitely lead to tragedy. Isn't the example of the North and South List right in front of us? For the sake of the livelihood of the people of the world, and for His Majesty's plan, I proposed to use Xunzi's teachings to improve Confucianism. This is the case."

After hearing these words, Zhang Yuchu couldn't help but raise his head and look at Dao Yan.

Dao Yan's words were actually very poor.

If it were Zhang Yuchu who came here, he would have to give the emperor a rainbow fart before he said anything.

But Dao Yan bluntly stated all his true thoughts, but missed the most crucial point, which was the strengthening of the imperial power by the theory of the Holy King.

It was obviously just a matter of one sentence, and the emperor would be happy if he said it, so why not say it?

Zhu Di's face became even more ugly.

Dao Yan continued: "Although Lao Na is aware of the malpractice of the imperial examinations over the years, he has been unable to change it. Not only because Lao Na is a Buddhist, but also not just because Lao Na had a shallow foundation in the past and it was difficult to promote the general trend. But because, If we rashly change the imperial examination system without corresponding alternatives, I'm afraid it would be better not to change it. But after hearing Jiang Sheng's remarks today, I suddenly thought of something. Maybe I can give it a try... Please grant me your permission. .”

Originally, Zhu Di was a little unhappy because Dao Yan kept talking about what happened to Jiang Xinghuo without mentioning the theory of the Holy King to strengthen his imperial power.

But when Dao Yan said this, Zhu Di became less unhappy.

This is because Zhu Di believes that Dao Yan is not blindly biased towards Jiang Xinghuo, but has indeed considered reforming the imperial examination for a long time.

Zhu Di snorted coldly: "Boldly speaking, using Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism as the study for the imperial examination is the ancestral system of Taizu and Gao Emperor. Do you dare to violate the ancestral system of Taizu and Gao Emperor?"

Zhu Di's words, despite his harshness, clearly meant that he was not angry.

After all, from a practical point of view, who violated the ancestral system of Taizu Gaohuang the most.

There is no one else but him, Zhu Di.

"His Majesty."

Dao Yan said calmly: "What is the ancestral system? Those are the rules set by Emperor Taizu Gao. I don't think it is wrong, but I feel that now that the world has moved from corruption to revival, it is even more necessary. We need to integrate some things. Otherwise, I believe that once we miss the opportunity of such great turbulence to create great changes, I am afraid that it will never happen again in the future.”

Daoyan's attitude was extremely determined.

Zhu Di's brows furrowed into a Sichuan shape, and finally he waved his hands and sighed: "That's all...how are you going to reform the imperial examination?"

Dao Yan folded his hands and said: "First of all, it is the Confucian concept. It is not convenient for Lao Na and Zhang Zhenren to intervene directly. Your Majesty ordered Xie Jin, Yang Shiqi, Jin Youzi and other Confucian scholars who have read poetry and books to re-compile the relevant opinions used by the imperial court for the imperial examination in order to promote them. Sage knowledge. Of course, Xunzi’s thinking needs to be added to this, and the proportion must be no less than one-fifth. After all, Xunzi is one of the Five Sages.”

In fact, Dao Yan's logic is a bit unreasonable.

Why should one of the Five Saints have to think about one-fifth of the exam content? As for the other four sages, to put it bluntly, except for Mencius, Yanzi, Zisi, and Zengzi, the combined weight of these three sages is far less than half of Mencius's.

However, the red line of one-fifth is obviously the result that Dao Yan arrived at after careful consideration.

Because one-fifth is a ratio that is enough to ensure that the Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism is disturbed like a smelly and disgusting stagnant pool, and the good thing about this ratio is that it neither completely replaces nor poses an extremely significant threat. It belongs to that kind of When soaking your feet, you have to bear the temperature of it being slightly scalded.

"Secondly, in terms of culture and education, we selected Confucian scholars from various places who met the requirements of the imperial court and used them as the mainstay to spread the essence of Pre-Qin Confucianism in schools at the Imperial College, Fu School, Prefecture School, County School, Society School, etc., and use Xunzi's The 'Holy King' thought enlightens all people, making the people of the world respect Your Majesty as a god." Dao Yan said slowly while turning the rosary in his hand.

Translation Translation, what is "a Su Confucian who meets the requirements of the imperial court"? What does "spreading the essence of pre-Qin Confucianism" mean?

Zhu Di liked to hear this.

Dao Yan finally said: "In addition, I hope that your majesty will allow you to abolish some statements that prohibit Confucian scholars from expressing dissent. For example, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism should not be used as the only academic standard."

Daoyan talks about "abolition of some speeches that prohibit Confucian scholars from expressing dissent." So did Confucian scholars in the Ming Dynasty prohibit Confucian scholars from expressing dissent?

Forbidden, but not prohibited.

The non-prohibition here does not prohibit dissent among the people; the prohibition here prohibits Confucian students in government-run schools from expressing any dissent against academic and imperial policies.

The education system of the Ming Dynasty was divided into central and local levels. The central official school was the Imperial College, the local government school, the state school, the county school, and the village school.

In the Ming Dynasty, there were generally 30,000 to 40,000 students recruited from prefectures, prefectures, and counties across the country every year. They were all called "Linshan students." The so-called Linshan students meant that the government provided six buckets of rice for meals. s student.

As a supplement to the county school, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the world to establish social studies, which were later conceptualized as rural primary schools and community primary schools. This was not Zhu Yuanzhang's initiative, but could only be said to be a restoration. The social studies system was inherited from the Yuan Dynasty.

Fifty households in the Yuan Dynasty were divided into one community, and each community had a school. Those who knew the classics were selected as teachers to provide guidance and education. During the off-season, farmers’ children under the age of fifteen were admitted to school and read the "Book of Filial Piety", "Primary School", "University" and "The Analects of Confucius". "" Mencius", and his main task was to teach and persuade farmers to cultivate mulberry trees.

Zhu Yuanzhang added imperial imperial edicts (quotations of Zhu Yuanzhang), Ming Dynasty laws and etiquette such as crowns, weddings, funerals, and sacrifices, as well as simple historical calculations to the educational content of sociology.

Of course, Lao Zhu is not a philanthropic person. For students other than social studies, his six buckets of rice are not free.

Zhu Yuanzhang also stipulated that in regular government-run schools at all levels, from the Imperial College to the county schools, students are not allowed to wear school uniforms, are not allowed to arrive late and leave early, are not allowed to drink alcohol at night, are not allowed to form associations (including literary societies and poetry societies), and are not allowed to discuss whether the food in the school cafeteria is good or not. It’s delicious, but you’re not allowed to criticize people or things, and you’re not allowed to make irresponsible remarks about the country’s major policies.

In later generations, if you violated school rules, you would be expelled or criticized at most, but in the Ming Dynasty, if you violated Lao Zhu's school rules, the consequences would be a little more serious.

Punishment methods include, but are not limited to, being banished to the army, serving as officials, being shackled for life, starving to death, posthumous title, and having one's head displayed in public, etc.

Zhu Di naturally knew this, so Zhu Di asked: "Oh? If you do this, won't you worry that it will arouse greater public opinion? After all, once this hole is opened, it may not end well in the future."

Dao Yan nodded slightly: "Everything in the world has two sides. What is beneficial to others will be harmful to you; what is beneficial to yourself will also be harmful to others... Since I have chosen to do this, I have already expected this outcome. "

"Your Majesty, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism must be challenged. Whether it is a new theory or an old theory, the academic dispute must be opened. Otherwise, nothing can be discussed."

Dao Yan spoke with great magnanimity, obviously having sufficient confidence in his approach.

In fact, this is also a necessary foreshadowing for Dao Yan's important task for Jiang Xinghuo, who is about to be released from prison.

The emergence of new manufacturing forces will shake the material foundation and will inevitably lead to changes in the top-level structure.

Instead of letting the old top-level structure, especially the top-level structure in thinking, overwhelmingly suppress the new manufacturing power by public opinion.

It would be better for Dao Yan to strike first and catch Zhu Lili off guard.

Moreover, the tactics used were secretive.

Xunzi, a pre-Qin Confucian saint, was sacrificed to deal with Zhu Xi, a junior Confucian.

Zhu Di squinted his eyes. From this angle, he looked somewhat similar to Zhu Gaosui: "How sure are you?"

Dao Yan said: "Ten percent."

These two simple words made Zhu Di's eyebrows suddenly raise.

100%, that means victory is guaranteed!

Dao Yan seemed to see Zhu Di's thoughts, and said: "I have a way to prevent the court from suffering any losses, and this matter will be carried out smoothly."

"any solution?"

Dao Yan coughed slightly, and Zhu Di motioned Zhu Gaochi and Zhang Yuchu to leave with a solemn expression.

After the two talked for a while, Dao Yan said solemnly to Zhu Di.

"Everything I said is true, not a single word is false."

Zhu Di was silent for a moment and sighed: "I don't want to force you, but I hope you can remember that I am the Ninth Five-Year-Old and the Emperor of the World."

Dao Yan nodded and said yes.

"Okay, I'm tired, it's time for today." Zhu Di waved his hand, stood up and walked out of the room.