Chapter 162: Yan Song recommends Buddhist monks again, and Hai Rui’s Ming Dynasty Law challenges the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism?
“Hahahaha,” Gao Gong laughed heartily in the back hall of Xu Jie’s residence, “This is going to be lively!”
Xu Jie sat at the top seat, with Zhang Juzheng, Gao Gong and Zhao Zhenji sitting on both sides, while Xu Fan served on Xu Jie's side.
Gao Gong paced in the hall with the manuscript in his hand, and read with a smile as he walked: "Zhang Shenxing, the Left Censor-in-Chief, is amazing. I admire him! If I remember correctly, he is on the side of the Yan Party, right?"
"Tsk tsk," Gao Gong dusted the manuscript with the back of his hand and said, "Look, it's dirty, the curses are too dirty!"
After he finished speaking, he still felt that it was not enough, so he took a deep breath and read from the manuscript in his hand:
"I am the Left Censor-in-Chief, Zhang Shenxing. My duty is to supervise all officials and maintain discipline. Now there is an important matter that needs to be reported urgently. I heard that there is a treacherous person in the court, named Yan Shifan... Hahaha!"
When he read this, Gao Gong laughed out loud unconsciously. Zhang Juzheng and others couldn't help but smile and shook their heads when they heard this.
"Oh, this Zhang Shenxing, why didn't I realize before that he is so humorous, cough!" Gao Gong coughed lightly and continued to read: "This person behaves eccentrically and has ulterior motives. He wants to carry out reforms in the name of reform, but in fact he has evil intentions!"
"Yes, they do have evil intentions!" Gao Gong nodded slightly. "I really underestimated these Yan Party members. They are so bold as to turn against us at the critical moment."
"They are plotting to eradicate the Kong family and then ban Confucianism in the world, so as to end the inheritance of sage learning and sever the roots of China."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhenji couldn't help but speak up: "This is a big accusation. In the past, this kind of words and deeds that reversed right and wrong were used by the Yan Party to attack colleagues and eliminate dissidents."
"This time, the knife stabbed myself, huh?" He said, looking around.
Gao Gong nodded slightly, then continued reading.
"If this move succeeds, it will certainly shake the foundation of the country and endanger the country. As a court official, Yan Shifan does not think about serving the country, but instead seeks personal gain. His words and deeds have seriously violated the court's laws and regulations, and his behavior is contrary to the great principles of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism. He is actually a parasite of the country and a scum of the court!"
"I believe that if this person is not punished in time, it may bring disaster to the court and endanger the stability of the country. For this reason, on behalf of the Inspectorate, I hereby submit a memorial to request Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and strictly enforce the law to set things right. I hope Your Majesty will be clear-headed and make a fair judgment, and severely punish Yan Shifan in accordance with the law to serve as a warning to others and reassure the people."
"I know that what I said may be disobedient, but I have to say it because it is my duty. I beg Your Majesty to make a decision!"
After reading the manuscript, Gao Gong took a deep breath, nodded and said, "Zhang Shenxing has completely broken off relations with the Yan Party. Perhaps he can be won over."
"After all, this person has just joined the Yan Party after the rectification of the civil service system, and he has no grudges against us," Gao Gong said, turning his head to look at Zhang Juzheng, Zhao Zhenji and the silent Xu Jie, and said, "What do you think?"
Just now, I was reading the manuscript and making fun of Yan Shifan just to liven up the atmosphere and have fun.
At this time Gao Gong also became serious. It was time for them to talk about business. Zhang Shenxing was just a topic of conversation.
"I think we should be cautious," Zhang Juzheng spoke up at this time. When everyone's eyes were on him, he slowly spoke up, "Don't you think that the Kong family is too powerful?"
Hearing what Zhang Juzheng said, Gao Gong and Zhao Zhenji were both stunned, and then looked at Zhang Juzheng, not knowing what he was going to say.
Instead, Xu Jie, who was sitting at the top, raised his eyelids and looked towards Zhang Juzheng, with a look of approval in his eyes.
At this time Gao Gong and Zhao Zhenji both realized that Zhang Juzheng must want to say something, so they were not in a hurry to reply, but waited for Zhang Juzheng's next words.
"First of all," Zhang Juzheng said, "there is no doubt that Yan Shifan wants to take revenge on the Kong family. And the emperor agreed to Yan Shifan's reform of 'innovation'. We have to think deeply about the intention behind this."
"Obviously, the emperor also wants the Ming Dynasty to carry out a reform, and the purpose of the reform is to break the outdated system that has existed since ancient times and in every dynasty, and make the Ming Dynasty more modern!"
"But now, the Kong family and the entire Confucian school have obviously become obstacles in the way..." Having said this, Zhang Juzheng stopped talking, but his meaning was self-evident.
After hearing this, Gao Gong and Zhao Zhenji both understood what Zhang Juzheng meant. On the surface, this incident was indeed Yan Shifan's revenge on the Kong family, and he wanted to use the Hundred Schools of Thought to ban Confucianism.
But behind this incident was the secret will of the Emperor.
In this way, combined with the question Gao Gong asked just now, whether it is possible to win over Zhang Shenxing, the answer becomes clear.
They certainly wouldn't stand against the emperor.
"Taiyue means that we should also stand against the entire Confucianism?" Gao Gong asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Almost half of the officials in the Inspectorate, including the Left Censor-in-Chief Zhang Shenxing, are now kneeling outside the Western Garden. In addition, many people from the six ministries, and officials of all sizes in the two capitals and thirteen provinces have also submitted memorials to impeach Yan Shifan."
At this time, Zhao Zhenji also spoke up and said, "There are many smart people among these officials."
"They can naturally see that the person who really wants to destroy the entire Confucian sect is the emperor."
"But they can't openly oppose the emperor. In this case, Yan Shifan is the best excuse."
"Then what should we do?" Gao Gong asked.
"Wait and see what happens," Xu Jie said at this time, "If necessary, we must cooperate with Yan Shifan's reforms."
Gao Gong was a little unhappy when he heard Lord Xu actually say that they would cooperate with Yan Shifan when necessary, but he was not stupid. Now the pros and cons were clear, and the bottom line of any internal struggle was that the Ming Dynasty would profit.
If we try to trip up Yan Shifan at this time, the interests of the Ming Dynasty will be harmed, and the emperor will not allow it.
"Let's see how Yan Shifan will reform." At this time, Zhang Juzheng spoke up, "The status of the Confucian sect will be reduced, but it does not mean that it will be dismissed. It's just that the Kong family is unwilling to do so."
"Unless it is necessary, there is no need for us to completely offend all the Confucianists in the world."
"The status of the Confucian school should indeed be changed," Zhang Juzheng said, his tone somewhat indifferent, "In the future, the Immortal Cultivation Family should be the boss, and the doctrines of various schools should be tools."
Hearing him say this, a gleam of light flashed in the eyes of several people.
Zhang Juzheng is right!
Although strictly speaking they are also disciples of Confucianism, their current identities are first immortal officials of the Immortal Dynasty, and secondly heads of the families.
After the development of the Immortal Dynasty in the future, the structure of the Ming Dynasty will be like that from the end of the Han Dynasty to the end of the Tang Dynasty, with aristocratic families and dynasties coexisting.
The difference is that their future family is the Immortal Clan, and the interests of the Immortal Dynasty are inseparable from their interests!
What is good for the Ming Dynasty is what is good for themselves.
So naturally, they are part of the dynasty, inseparable. Now that the Ming Dynasty wants to reform, the Confucianism represented by the Kong family is a stumbling block, so it must be kicked away.
……
The next day, the wind and snow became even stronger.
Inside the Yuxi Palace, Jiajing stood in the Lingtian courtyard, bending over to pick vegetables himself, while Lu Fang beside him was waiting with a bamboo basket.
"This 'blood-red fruit' looks good," Jiajing picked a fruit that looked like a 'tomato' and handed it to Lu Fang, "How many are there?"
"My lord, there are three now." Lu Fang handed over the bamboo basket with a smile, and Jiajing put the 'blood-red fruit' into the basket.
There were a few green peppers, two "blood-red fruits" and a bunch of tender green vegetables in the basket.
"Not bad," Jiajing clapped his hands, "I'll get three more magical eggs later and make some scrambled eggs with green peppers and blood-red fruits!" Jiajing licked his lips and said, "In this winter, paired with a big bowl of hot, fragrant, white and delicious magical rice, it will be a delicacy in the world!"
"Please be kind, master. I will do it right away." Looking at Jiajing's appearance, Lu Fang said with a smile.
Although the master has already cultivated immortality and reached the foundation-building level and could have practiced fasting long ago, he still maintained the appetite of a mortal. Lu Fang was not surprised by this.
In his opinion, only by having the qualities of an immortal and maintaining worldly desires can one truly experience the joy of cultivating immortality.
If you live like a person without emotions, without drinking alcohol or eating meat, then what is the meaning of immortality?
If longevity is not for enjoyment, then it is just nonsense!
"Yan Song must be here soon," Jiajing clapped his hands, looked at the heavy snow and the Lingtian Courtyard covered with a layer of silver, and said, "The Kong family has made a big fuss this time. I'm afraid Yan Shifan alone can't handle it. It still depends on Yan Song."
"The Kong family is indeed quite bold and presumptuous." Lu Fang, who had served Jiajing for many years, could naturally hear that his master was somewhat dissatisfied with the Kong family's reaction this time.
Of course, not only the master was dissatisfied, he was also extremely dissatisfied.
All under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people in the world are the king's subjects. In Lu Fang's view, everything in the Ming Dynasty should be subject to the will of the master.
It was impossible for the Kong family not to understand the intention of their master's move, and they chose to turn a deaf ear and dumb. It seemed that they were impeaching Yan Shifan and targeting the Yan family, but in fact, this was a disguised way of forcing the master to abdicate.
How dare a small mortal family defy the heaven? They really don't know how to live or die.
"What has Yan Song done recently?" Jiajing asked.
"Yes," Lv Fang seemed to have thought of something and said with a smile, "Master Yan has been getting closer to Buddhism in recent days."
Buddhism? After hearing Lu Fang's report, Jiajing's eyes showed a trace of thought, and then he smiled and flicked his sleeves to shake off the heavy snow on his body, and turned back to Yuxi Palace.
Upon seeing this, Lu Fang also started practicing his martial arts, and the spiritual energy around him spread out, brushing off the snow on his body, and he quickly followed.
The master and servant usually do not practice any martial arts and always maintain the attitude of ordinary people. Jiajing likes this ordinary feeling, while Lu Fang imitates his master.
"Yan Song wants to rely on the help of Buddhism and Taoism to help Yan Shifan complete the reform." Jiajing said with a smile.
Hearing this, Lu Fang was stunned, "Taoism?"
"You old thing, you are too stupid," Jiajing couldn't help but laugh and scold after seeing Lu Fang's reaction: "Have you forgotten that the girl was sent to the palace by Yan Song?"
After seeing that his master had seen through his act of pretending to be stupid, Lu Fang could only smile foolishly.
"Parents who love their children will plan for them in the long run," Jiajing said, "Yan Song has taken a lot of care for his son."
"Haha," Lü Fang said with a smile, "After all, if we let Yan Shifan come to test the emperor's will, it would make it seem that Lord Yan is ignorant. Besides, if Yan Shifan comes, the master won't see him."
Hearing this, Jiajing smiled and said nothing.
At this time, outside the West Garden, Chen Hong looked coldly at the group of kneeling civil servants with a sneer in his eyes.
"Plop." Finally, another person couldn't hold on any longer and fell down. Seeing this, Chen Hong calmly waved his hand and said, "Drag him away and feed him some ginger soup. If he wants to continue kneeling after he wakes up, send him back."
"Yes." Two Western Factory editors said as they carried a middle-aged censor away with expressionless faces.
"Tramp, tramp, trample." After a while, the sound of snow being trampled came from the distance. Chen Hong raised his eyes and looked through the wind and snow.
The sedan chairs of Yan Song and his son were approaching. "Humph!" Chen Hong snorted coldly at Yan Song's sedan chair, and had no intention of going to meet them. He just raised his chin arrogantly and looked down at Yan Song who was supported by Yan Shifan.
Chen Hong knew that these cabinet elders did not take him seriously, so there was no need for him to curry favor with them.
"Yan thief!" The ministers kneeling in the snow became excited when they saw Yan Song and his son.
However, in the face of the anger and curses of the ministers, Yan Shifan and Yan Song did not even look at them and walked past them silently.
These people are nothing more than knives of the Kong family. Given the power of the Yan family, it is just a matter of settling scores after the event.
Although the Yan family is now on the verge of falling apart after a large number of people defected, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. The Yan family's support and power have never come from how many people in their faction they have. Their real supporter will always be the emperor in Yuxi Palace.
As long as the emperor still needs the Yan family and the Yan family is still useful to the emperor, the Yan family's power will never fall.
If a group of your subordinates defect, a new group will immediately gather around and become the new supporters of the Yan family.
Confucianism is indeed the bottom line for many officials, and it is also the bottom line for those who have integrity and ability in their hearts. However, interests can move people's hearts, and there are more capable people living in reality.
In a nutshell, if you don't do it, there are plenty of people who will.
Today, the Ming Dynasty is a country with growing national power, strong military and horses, abundant financial resources, a burgeoning population, and a plethora of talented people, many of whom are talented but have not been recognized and just need an opportunity.
Therefore, even though those who defected from his faction were all capable people, only these people's defection could be considered as the disintegration of the Yan Party, but Yan Song never worried.
He didn't take these people seriously!
"Eunuch Chen, please tell them that Yan Song wants to see you." Yan Song said with a slight bow.
Looking at the Prime Minister who was pretending to be old in front of him, Chen Hong looked him up and down, nodded coldly, then turned and walked towards the West Garden.
"You arrogant and rebellious villain!" Looking at Chen Hong's back, Yan Shifan cursed in a low voice with a cold face.
"Heh," compared to Yan Shifan's anger, Yan Song was much calmer and chuckled, "It's just a knife in the emperor's hand that can be discarded at any time, why bother?"
"Everyone in the Imperial Household Department has also been granted magical powers. Will the emperor give them up?" Yan Shifan was a little surprised to hear his father say this.
"So what if I grant you the magic?" Yan Song turned his head slightly and glanced at his son Yan Shifan. "For the emperor, there are only two types of people: those who can be used and those who cannot be used..."
Hearing his father say this, Yan Shifan nodded.
Soon Chen Hong came back and said calmly, "Master, please let Elder Yan go in." Then he looked at Yan Shifan who was about to help Yan Song into the West Garden, "Young Elder, please wait here."
"...You!" Seeing that Chen Hong was becoming more and more unreasonable, Yan Shifan could not help but start to reprimand him, but Yan Song raised his hand to interrupt him, saying in a submissive tone: "Shifan, since the emperor has not summoned you, you are not allowed to enter. Just stay here."
"Yes, Dad." After glaring at Chen Hong fiercely, Yan Shifan finally stepped aside, but he hated Chen Hong.
Think about it, as a young cabinet minister, how could he have ever been so humiliated? The only people in the Ming Dynasty who could humiliate him were the Qingliu people. When did Chen Hong, this bastard, become the number one?
I have already secretly decided in my heart that I will wait until the day this arrogant villain loses power, and then I will deal with him properly!
Inside Yuxi Palace.
"I, your humble servant, kowtow to His Majesty." Yan Song said docilely and knelt down slowly in the hall.
Seeing him like this, Jiajing couldn't help but smile. Yan Song, this old fox, had obviously reached the first level of Qi training, but he always pretended to be old.
Well, this idea is understandable. It has something to do with the times we live in.
It’s like in later generations, adult men don’t like to grow beards, and even some older men don’t want to grow them anymore, but in this era, it’s inappropriate for a man to be beardless.
The ideas of Yan Song and his group are similar.
Is pretending to be old a disguise? Or is it a unique personality? Or a habit?
Jiajing naturally would not interfere with the changes in the appearance of his ministers. He was not so boring and dictatorial.
"Lord Yan suddenly asked to see me. I wonder what's the matter?" Jiajing said, raising his hand to signal Lu Fang to move a seat for Yan Song.
"Your Majesty, I have been very interested in studying Buddhist and Taoist classics recently. I have found that there are many principles in them, which are very useful in spiritual practice, governing the country, and governing the people," Yan Song said, pausing slightly, and then slowly took out a book from his arms and said:
"Two years ago, Zhejiang presented a list of officials who were wrongly convicted in the 'Gengxu Prison'. One of them was named Wu Cheng'en. He wrote a book about myths and strange stories called 'Journey to the West to Exorcise Evils', which contains many insights on Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism..."
Upon seeing this, Lu Fang stepped forward, took it and presented it to Jiajing.
Wu Cheng'en? Journey to the West? Hearing Yan Song's words, some memories of later generations flashed through Jiajing's mind, and he suddenly understood.
This "Journey to the West: Releasing Evils" became very famous in later generations and is considered a work of insights into many vernacular stories.
Jiajing took the thick volume of the draft, scanned it with his mind, and instantly memorized it, and then looked at Yan Song.
"What does Lord Yan want to say?" Jiajing's face relaxed slightly. He handed the book in his hand to Lu Fang, motioning him to take a look too.
"I think that the book's discussion of the three religious thoughts is presented in an entertaining way. If it can be used in the national policy of 'inspiring thinking and innovation', it may have different results."
"If the emperor wants to break the old dynasty system, he needs a reform of thought. The three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have been passed down since ancient times and have a far-reaching influence on the people."
"Perhaps this is a good starting point..." Yan Song paused for a moment, "I know a lot about Confucianism and Taoism, but not much about Buddhism. For this reason, I have visited many famous Zen masters..."
After hearing this, Jiajing had already guessed what Yan Song would say next, but he did not say anything. Instead, he continued to listen to what he said next.
"Your Majesty, you may not know that there is a nunnery outside the capital called 'Prajna Forest'. The abbess, Master Huiyi, has a close disciple who is a young girl of 28 years old," Yan Song said without changing his expression. "This girl's Buddhist name is 'Chan Shuang', her family name is Li, her given name is Zhu Yu, and she has a high Buddhist nature."
"Well, in my opinion, his understanding may not be inferior to that of the national teacher."
"Just three days of talking about Zen with him has benefited me a lot. Combined with Wu Chengen's book, I think Buddhism may also have its merits, so I want to recommend it to Your Majesty..."
"My emperor is an immortal on earth, and he has a natural understanding of the way of heaven, which is beyond the reach of others. I am thinking that after my emperor personally experiences it, if it is possible, perhaps he can use Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism as a guide to open a new chapter of 'inspirational innovation' for our Ming Dynasty."
After saying this, Yan Song raised his arms and lowered his head.
After Yan Song finished speaking, the main hall of Yuxi Palace fell into a brief silence.
Jiajing sat high on the Taotai, silent and seemingly thinking about something. Lu Fang, who was standing beside him, was flipping through Wu Chengen's "Journey to the West" and glanced at Yan Song speechlessly.
This Lord Yan had previously recommended a female Taoist priest named Qingfeng from the Zhengyi school to the emperor. She was deeply favored by the master, and the imperial teacher was also labeled as a member of his Yan party.
Invisibly, it greatly increased the power of the Yan Party.
So he's tasted a little sweetness and started playing the same tricks again?
However, despite what he thought, Lu Fang was not surprised by Yan Song's move.
Use Buddhism and Taoism to fight against Confucianism this time. Now that Taoism has a national teacher, the only thing missing is Buddhism. Doesn’t it mean adding another person from Buddhism?
"Since Lord Yan recommended him, let's let this Master Chan Shuang enter the palace and let me take a look." Jiajing said, nodding slightly, which was considered as his agreement.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, as your old minister." Hearing that the emperor agreed to let 'Chan Shuang' enter the palace, Yan Song felt relieved. After many years of tacit understanding between the monarch and his subjects, the emperor finally sympathized with him, an old minister.
"In that case, I will arrange it today..." Yan Song said as he stood up.
"Well, go ahead." Jiajing nodded.
Having achieved his goal, Yan Song bowed respectfully and walked out of Yuxi Palace with a relaxed step.
"My master has guessed it. The Yan family is indeed going to use the three religions to launch reforms." After watching Yan Song leave, Lu Fang immediately said.
"You seem to have something to say?" Jiajing looked up at Lu Fang.
"Nothing can be hidden from the master," Lu Fang bowed quickly after hearing this and said, "I am worried that the three religions have a considerable influence among the people, and I am worried that the Yan family will not be able to handle it."
"You are wrong," Jiajing raised his sleeves and said calmly, "He has no intention of ending it."
Hearing this, Lu Fang was stunned. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Jiajing's voice again.
"This reform will not be short. Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism are just an introduction. Yan Song is taking advantage of the chaos caused by the dispute between the three religions to introduce the theories of the Hundred Schools of Thought."
"The three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism will become the sacrifices of this reform." Jiajing paused for a moment and continued, "As for how to stop the chaos? Have you forgotten Hai Rui of Ningbo Prefecture?"
"The reform will affect the entire Ming Dynasty. If something happens in Ningbo Prefecture, Hai Rui's territory, then it will be easy. Given Hai Rui's personality, what do you think he will do when faced with the disaster of the three religions?"
Hearing Jiajing's words, Lu Fang was stunned at first, then he couldn't help shaking his head and laughing, saying: "This 'Sea Pen Holder' will definitely suppress it with the laws of the Ming Dynasty. In his eyes, what are the three religions, what are the hundreds of schools of thought..."
"Everything must be subject to the laws of the Ming Dynasty. He will record everything and write it into a file of charges, from the southeast all the way to the capital, hehe..."
Speaking of Hai Rui, Lu Fang couldn't help but get a headache.
"Fighting is good," Jiajing smiled and clapped his hands, reciting: "The dispute between the three religions caused chaos, and hundreds of schools of thought took advantage of the situation. In the end, the Ming Dynasty benefited. Wonderful, wonderful!"
"Yes," Lv Fang nodded with a smile, and said, "Master, to be honest, I am looking forward to the day when the Great Ming Law will challenge Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and suppress all schools of thought."
"There's no rush for this. Hai Rui is the main event, and the debate between Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism is the finale. But before that, I want to watch an opening scene. Tell my little imperial teacher that a Buddhist genius will come to challenge her to discuss Taoism tomorrow, and then go outside the palace gate to pick a Confucian representative."
"Don't they want to talk? I'll let them talk!"
"I never thought that after nearly a thousand years since the Southern Dynasty, after the three religions and four major conflicts, the fifth conflict would start in my Ming Dynasty!"
"interesting!"
"..."
The next chapter is a big one, with the clash between the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, as well as the subsequent reforms. I need to prepare well tonight. I will just watch these 6K+ first, and tomorrow will be more exciting.
Well, everyone, it’s the last day of this month, please, help me get some monthly tickets, please, please, please!!!
(End of this chapter)
