Chapter 396: The knife of the Ming Dynasty should find a way out for the plow of the Ming Dynasty
Outside Xin'an Lane, dozens of scholars did not squeeze in and were waiting for news.
There was a sudden commotion in the alley, and then a crowd of people rushed out.
"What's going on here?"
Everyone saw the scholars walking out with ugly faces.
"Brother Wang, Brother Wang." Someone called out to an acquaintance and asked, "What's going on?"
Brother Wang shook his head and said with a wry smile, "I lost."
"what?"
"Mr. Ma has taught countless disciples, how could he lose to Jiang Qingzhi?"
"Could it be that he has hired help?"
Ma Yuan came out, and someone saluted, "Mr. Ma, may I ask what's the matter?"
Ma Yuan got on his horse and left without looking back.
"Ma Gong!"
Ma Yuan's disciples lowered their heads, said nothing, and walked out.
Everyone stared at them.
A bird was watching the scene on the roof with its head tilted.
At the manure cart, two scholars were rescued and were kneeling beside it vomiting violently.
Sun Chonglou grinned and said, "You want to fight with my young master? Don't you know how much you are capable of?"
“竟然输了？”
Then the rebuttals from Jiang Qingzhi and Ma Yuan came out one after another.
"...In the eyes of Jiang Qingzhi and the Mohists, the rise and fall of dynasties is not a matter of fate, but a matter of self-inflicted suffering."
“Who brought this upon himself?”
"Confucianism!"
"Bullshit!"
"Then you go and argue with him?"
"I...I...Why should I go?"
"He said, Confucianism is dead, burn paper if you have something to worry about!"
There was dead silence inside and outside the alley.
A scholar in his forties sighed, "Chang Wei Bo is saying that the Ming Dynasty is still following the old path of the previous dynasty. Who is to blame for the decline of the Ming Dynasty?"
"It's the emperor!" someone said.
"Bullshit!" the old scholar was furious. "When your Majesty first ascended the throne, you were full of confidence and were decisive and capable. Who interrupted your new policy?"
"That's... the Great Ceremony!"
"Why do those people keep harping on the emperor's family affairs?" asked the old scholar.
"Etiquette is the most important thing. Only when the name is right can the words be reasonable."
"Is the ritual greater than the country?"
"This has nothing to do with the country."
The old scholar sneered, "When the Great Ceremony Debate came out, His Majesty was overwhelmed and all new policies were delayed. After that, the Great Ceremony Debate was debated for many years, and factional struggles formed in the court. Political affairs were used as a tool for fighting...
Before Zuo Shunmen, Yang Shen led the crying, and a beating in the court made the emperor and his ministers hostile to each other for many years, so that the country became the sacrifice of the struggle between the emperor and his ministers... Doesn't this have anything to do with the country?"
"Who are you speaking for?" the scholar asked angrily.
The old scholar said calmly: "Since I was a child, the scholars I have met are either simple or slick.
It is simple that once you pass the imperial examination, you will become rich and start to live in the world of money.
Once a slick person becomes famous overnight, he will start to flatter and curry favor with others from then on...all for the sake of fame, wealth and power.
Why is Confucianism like this?
With these people, could the country prosper? Could there be a prosperous era?
Long Weber said that Confucianism is dead, and I agree with him. "
Someone who knew the old scholar said, "Ning Zheng, since you admire that great scholar so much, why don't you become his disciple?"
"Hahahaha!"
"Dare he?"
Amid the laughter, the old scholar straightened his clothes and looked around, "This Confucianism is full of the smell of decay, which makes me depressed. To be honest, I had the idea of letting my hair down and going into the mountains ten years ago. It's just right for you to talk about it today."
Ning Zheng walked into the alley, leaving a group of stunned scholars behind him.
"He really went!"
Ning Zheng walked outside the mansion and bowed to Zhu Shitai. "I am Ning Zheng, a student, and I would like to see you, sir."
There was an exam going on inside. Zhu Shitai frowned, "You're late."
Ning Zheng smiled and said, "If you hear the truth in the morning, you can die in the evening. As long as you understand the truth, it is never too late."
When Jiang Qingzhi heard that an old scholar wanted to see him, he was quite curious and said, "Let him come."
The yard was filled with desks. Jiang Qingzhi was sitting opposite, and Ning Zheng was brought to his side.
"I have met the giant."
Jiang Qingzhi looked up and was shocked to see the deep wrinkles on Ning Zheng's face.
"I have heard the great scholar say that Confucianism is not the study of statecraft. Then I would like to ask, what are the indispensable theories for statecraft?"
This person actually gave Jiang Qingzhi questions. Xia Yan, who was looking at the candidates with an expression of satisfaction, smiled.
"This question really hits the nail on the head." Xu Wei and Hu Zongxian were in charge of exam discipline. He said, "It's much better than that Ma Yuan question."
Hu Zongxian said: "Ma Yuan saw that things were hopeless, so he ran away. It can be seen that he was not determined to succeed in this trip. Once he had the mentality of being able to advance or retreat, he would retreat after being hit on the head by the uncle. It is not surprising."
"How will the uncle answer?" Xu Wei looked over there with great interest.
"The theory of governing a country..." Jiang Qingzhi thought for a moment, "Politics, fortifications, economy, education, military affairs... these five are the most important."
Ning Zheng's eyes lit up, "I see that the master puts the construction work in second place, may I ask why?"
"What is the most fundamental problem of the Ming Dynasty?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.
"Not enough land, not enough food, not enough financial resources."
This person does have some knowledge.
Jiang Qingzhi gave up the idea of perfunctory thinking and said, "All this is not enough, how to solve it?"
"The country should regulate the annexation of farmland and clear the population. But students think that with the increasing population, even if no one annexed the farmland, the Ming Dynasty would sooner or later face a situation where there would be no land to farm."
Jiang Qingzhi nodded appreciatively, "Why not look outside for a solution?"
"Send troops?" Ning Zheng's eyes lit up. "If there is unrest inside, we can make up for it from outside. I have thought about it before, but the ancient sages said..."
"Did the ancient sages ever unify the Central Plains?" "No."
"What unified the Central Plains?"
"The First Emperor's invincible army."
"What made the First Emperor's army so invincible?"
"The system of rewarding military merits, and... sharp weapons, chariots, and so on. Huh!" Ning Zheng was suddenly startled, his eyes lit up, "If you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools!
Fortifications come first, creating sharp weapons for the Ming Dynasty's brave warriors, and then using these weapons to dominate the world.
There are not enough fields, but there are plenty outside.
The population is too large, so just migrate out... The Ming army... this..."
This person is interesting. Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile: "The knife of the Ming Dynasty should find ploughland for the plow of the Ming Dynasty!"
Ning Zheng suddenly realized, "Yes, the sword of the Ming Dynasty should be used to find a way out for the Ming Dynasty. But Confucianism believes that the sword should be turned into a plowshare."
"This is destroying your own martial arts!" Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "What's your name?"
Ning Zheng bowed deeply, "Ning Zheng greets the Master. I am willing to be your disciple."
You are too old... Xu Wei asked, "How old are you this year?"
"Forty-three." Ning Zheng said calmly, "If I hear the truth in the morning, I can die in the evening. I heard the truth today, and I wish I could follow you and ask for your advice day and night."
"Go take the exam!" Jiang Qingzhi pointed at the candidates.
After Ning Zheng left, he said to Xu Wei, "This man is quite good."
"This is a very insightful view, but this person is unknown, and it seems that he has been working hard on the road to the imperial examination for many years. It can be seen that there are talents in this world, but the road to advancement of talents is blocked."
Xia Yan sighed.
At this time, a guard came over and said, "Master, someone from the Military Affairs Department is here."
A centurion was brought in, took a look at the candidates in the yard, his eyes narrowed, and then he stepped forward and saluted, "Greetings, Master."
"What's the matter?" Jiang Qingzhi leaned back in his chair and took out a cigarette.
"Someone reported to the police earlier that Sun Chonglou, who was with Lord Bo, had beaten a scholar..." The centurion looked at Jiang Qingzhi, "The two were covered in feces and were seriously injured."
Stone!
You cause trouble for me as soon as you come back!
Jiang Qingzhi frowned, but Xia Yan said, "I know Shitou, a very polite kid who never bullies the weak. Why did they anger him?"
Old man, as soon as you opened your mouth you put Sun Chonglou in a position where he was forced to take action. Is that appropriate?
Xu Wei smiled bitterly, "Mr. Xia is a little unreasonable."
"But I think it's very true."
Xu Wei looked at Hu Zongxian.
"Is not it?"
"Yes!"
The centurion smiled bitterly, "I am here on orders, my Lord..."
"Why, do you want to take advantage of others' misfortune?" Jiang Qingzhi lit up the incense.
The centurion quickly apologized with a smile: "How dare I?"
"I know Shitou's character. You said he bullies the weak. That's absolutely impossible. Ask him."
Jiang Qingzhi sent someone to question them, and they came back later to report, "The two men blocked the entrance to the alley and threatened the scholars. They also provoked Shitou..."
"Look." Jiang Qingzhi spread his hands, "Isn't this just asking for trouble?"
The centurion looked embarrassed, "After all, we did fight."
"Are you sure you want to stand up for them?" Jiang Qingzhi said with a half-smile, "Who do you work for? Tell me that person's name."
The centurion hesitated, and Mo Zhan said coldly: "Don't be shameless!"
"It's Captain Chen."
"Who?"
"Chen Ming Qian Hu Guan."
After the centurion finished speaking, he felt relieved. Well, it’s just a fight between gods, and it has nothing to do with me.
Jiang Qingzhi said to Mo Zhan, "Go and ask Captain Chen what I said. Ask him to come to Xin'an Lane and I will personally apologize to him."
……
“Isn’t Confucianism the study of statecraft?”
"Yes."
"Did you hear that correctly?"
"I'm sure."
"Jiang Qingzhi... is he so arrogant?"
Rui Jingxian took a piece of paper and looked at it carefully.
The debate between Jiang Qingzhi and Ma Yuan today was recorded on the paper with charcoal.
"This madman!"
After just one look, Rui Jingxian hurried to the West Garden.
Emperor Jiajing was discussing matters with Yan Song and others and had missed his bedtime.
"His Majesty."
Rui Jingxian handed over the paper with a serious expression.
Emperor Jiajing took it and took a look.
Then his gaze fixed.
He chewed carefully on every word recorded above.
Confucianism is not the study of statecraft!
Confucianism has been rampant for thousands of years, but it has only produced a group of idiots who are bringing disaster to the country and the people!
The prosperous times were not the result of Confucianism, but rather because people’s minds were stable at the time of the founding of the country, there were no land conflicts, and the administration of officials was acceptable. This was supplemented by a group of brave and powerful generals who emerged from the troubled times, which led to the subsequent prosperous times.
The Taoist priest seemed to see that idiot looking at Ma Yuan with contempt and saying, "Confucianism is dead. Burn paper if you have any questions!"
"Your Majesty!" Cui Yuan was anxious, "What's going on over there?"
The Taoist raised his eyes.
Say:
"Ma Yuan covered his face and left."
(End of this chapter)
