Everyone present was stunned.
The Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty is indeed very talented.
But most of the things he did were contrary to Confucianism. Everyone believed that the Imperial Master knew how to govern, but it could be said that the Imperial Master understood Confucianism.
No one believes that!
Not to mention those officials who have studied Confucianism, even the common people don't believe it.
Hearing such words, Kong Maoxue was even more stunned, his mouth slightly opened as if he was shocked, his whole body was motionless, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
Not to mention the students behind him, all of them were in a daze, dumbfounded.
The whole scene suddenly fell silent.
The trees rustled in the breeze, and Li Xiao stood with his hands behind his back.
Standing on the high platform, his robe was blowing loudly. He rubbed his nose. It was obviously summer, so why did it get colder after the Dragon Boat Festival?
Suddenly, a burst of laughter was heard from the audience.
"Hahaha, did I hear it correctly? The imperial master wants to teach Confucianism?"
"You heard it right, it's so true, I almost thought I heard it wrong."
"It's so ridiculous. How dare a person who has never read a book say such a thing."
"I saw that Beiqing University has nothing to show for it. It is said to teach Confucianism, but it doesn't even have a decent tutor, and the national master is required to do it himself."
All the Confucian scholars laughed and looked back in disbelief.
"In my opinion, it is clear that the Imperial Master has an ulterior motive and is just trying to fool us."
Suddenly, a Confucian scholar spoke and his laughter stopped abruptly.
The Confucian students suddenly became serious again, and another one said: "Look at the name of this school, Peking Qingtian University. It is clearly based on his name, Li Qingtian. The entire university was established based on his personal will. This way How can we educate talented people by messing around?"
"It makes sense and is conclusive!"
Confucian scholars said one after another: "Beiqing University must not be established, let alone open a Confucian church. Otherwise, it is unimaginable what our academics will be like!"
At this time, the audience was in chaos, and everyone was talking in low voices.
When the officials of Beiping Mansion saw this, they planned to call people to drive out these sabotage Confucian scholars.
Li Xiao waved his hand to indicate no need, so they didn't take action.
"National Division."
Kong Maoxue stayed for a long time and finally spoke. He looked at Li Xiao solemnly and said coldly: "What the Imperial Master just said was a joke, right?"
He couldn't accept the news that Li Xiao not only wanted to establish this university, but also wanted to teach Confucianism. If this was the case, Confucianism in the world would really be ruined!
Even if I die today, I have to stop this!
Li Xiao smiled slightly and said calmly: "I am the Duke of Yongle of the Ming Dynasty and the national preceptor of the Ming Dynasty. How can I be a child's play when I keep my word?"
After the words fell, everyone was even more speechless.
"Absurd! That's ridiculous!"
Kong Maoxue pointed at Li Xiao and shouted: "Does the Imperial Master really want to be so decisive? You plan to dig out the roots of Confucianism, completely cut off Confucianism, and let the world learn your crooked ways! Yes or no!"
"Arrogant! How dare you talk to the Imperial Master like this!"
Zhu Gaosui, the Jin Yiwei who was in charge of guarding today, had been at the scene and kept silent. But when he saw someone pointing at his brother-in-law in public, how could he bear it?
Qiang Qiang——
The sound of drawing a sword suddenly sounded, and countless sword-wielding guards in golden clothes came in from the side.
Zhu Gaosui pointed his finger and ordered: "Take them all!"
"Wait!"
Li Xiao stopped him.
"Who dares to touch my respected master!"
The Confucian scholars at the back also pulled out daggers. These daggers were originally used to commit suicide, but now they have become weapons.
The two sides suddenly became tense, and the officials next to them were so frightened that they took several steps back. Their swords were blind, for fear of accidentally injuring themselves.
"Okay! You actually came here with a murderous weapon, intending to assassinate the Imperial Master!"
Zhu Gaosui was overjoyed. He had never been able to find any good reason to arrest these Confucian scholars, but now it was better. He had a reason, and now he could catch them all!
Zhu Gaosui was about to arrest these people.
Li Xiao said: "Gao Sui, step back. The short knives they hold are only a few inches long. It takes a lot of effort to kill a chicken. They are not murder weapons."
Zhu Gaosui didn't believe it: "If it's not a murder weapon, then what is it? Brother-in-law, you don't need to say more, I'll leave this matter to my brother."
Zhu Gaosui pulled out the Xiuchun Dao, the ferocious expression on his face made one's heart tremble, and the cold air spread from his body.
This is the evil spirit that has been cultivated in Jinyiwei for many years!
Ordinary officials would be frightened when they saw it, let alone these Confucian scholars, and they couldn't help but tremble slightly.
No one here dared to stop him. That was the Jin Yiwei. Who dared to stop him?
Everyone couldn't help but look at this group of Confucian scholars with sympathy. If they fell into the hands of Zhu Gaosui, they were afraid that life would be worse than death, and even death would make them crippled!
"Gao Sui, stand down, do you want me to say it a third time?"
Li Xiao emphasized his tone and looked at Zhu Gaosui.
Zhu Gaosui faced the group of Confucian scholars, then turned to look at Li Xiao behind him. His expression immediately changed. To outsiders, he was cold.
He showed a friendly face to Li Xiao and whispered: "Brother-in-law, I have tolerated these Confucian scholars for a long time. Today they are carrying weapons and have evil intentions. It is a good time to catch them all."
Li Xiaodao: "Gao Sui, even if we catch them, so what? Treating the symptoms but not the root cause. These Confucian scholars are not the only ones in the world. If you do this, you will only arouse the anger of the Confucian scholars in the world. The matter will get bigger and bigger. You can't wait." Stand down and I will convince them with reason."
"What?" Zhu Gaosui was stunned for a moment and said, "Brother-in-law, if you want to convince these rotten scholars with reason, it will be even harder than climbing to heaven!"
Li Xiao frowned and said, "Don't you trust your brother-in-law?"
"this"
Zhu Gaosui thought of his brother-in-law's abilities and murmured: "Brother-in-law, what are you going to do to convince them?"
Li Xiaodao: "They are studying Confucianism, so I will use Confucianism to convince them!"
Zhu Gaosui was even more confused now. Although his brother-in-law was very powerful, he rarely studied, let alone Confucianism. If he couldn't explain it later, wouldn't it be embarrassing?
But now that my brother-in-law is speaking, I can't say much. I can only turn my head and look at the Kong Maoxue people and say: "You are so ignorant that you actually go out on the street with a weapon. If the Imperial Master is not here, I will definitely capture you all, but Your Imperial Majesty is magnanimous, and if you don’t throw down your weapons immediately because it is your first offense, I will spare you.”
"No need."
Li Xiao looked at Kong Maoxue and said: "Kong Daru, there is a saying that the body's hair and skin are affected by the parents. Life is precious, why seek death? You came here today, don't you plan to go back alive?"
After the words fell, everyone understood that these knives were used by Confucian scholars to seek death. This national master was really aware of everything.
"Hmph! Nowadays, Confucianism has reached the point of life and death. You, the Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty, have great power and high reputation. We can't defeat you, so we can only make this move!"
Kong Mao, who studied justice, said: "Life is what I want, and righteousness is what I want. You can't have both. You are the one who sacrifices life for righteousness!"
After the words fell, the expressions of the Confucian scholars behind him all became fearless. The Confucian scholars who could follow them here have already put life and death aside!
"Why bother"
Li Xiao sighed and said, "Life is precious."
To be honest, these Confucian scholars were often against him, but he actually didn't hate them very much in his heart. They were just too deeply influenced by Confucianism.
"Why be so hypocritical? I don't need your sympathy."
Kong Maoxue's eyes were full of desolation: "Today is all of our own free will. You don't understand our mood at all. You don't understand why we do this. Your heart has been filled with desire, and our thoughts It’s not on the same level as you at all.”
Li Xiao smiled and did not argue.
But such a smile, in Kong Maoxue's eyes, had a hint of contempt.
Zhu Gaosui found that these students still had no intention of putting down their swords. From what I heard, they were not here to hurt people with their swords, but to seek death.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Gaosui waved his hand and took all the Jinyi guards away.
The scene instantly calmed down again.
Kong Maoxue looked at Li Xiao and said loudly: "Master, today you said that you want to use reason to explain me, then come and see! What do you want to say?"
Li Xiao said lightly: "Of course I'm talking about Confucianism."
Kong Maoxue sneered and said, "Okay! Since you want to talk about Confucianism, let's talk about it!"
After finishing speaking, he pointed to the most prosperous place in Peiping in the distance and said:
"Sage Zhu has something to say. Thousands of words are just to teach people to follow the principles of heaven and destroy their desires.
Look at your city of Peiping, it is filled with indulgent desires everywhere!
You are prosperous in business, and businessmen are filled with the desire for money. Daxing Restaurant is full of lust for words. Daxing brothel nightclub is full of lust.
Over a long period of time, the desires in everyone's hearts have been continuously amplified. How can the world not be in chaos?
When your national master is here, I can still suppress him. What will happen if you are not here?
Human desires will be infinitely magnified. Once such desires can no longer be filled, there is no doubt that the world will be in chaos! ! "
What he said makes sense.
This is the Confucianism that flourishes in the Ming Dynasty today.
Zhu Xi, the third generation Confucian sage respected by countless people.
Zhu Xi's philosophy is: preserve the principles of nature and destroy human desires.
People should control their desires!
Confucianism has been used by nobles to rule common people since ancient times.
The current Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang also studied Confucianism, but he did not study Confucius and Mencius.
The first generation of saints was Confucius, and the second generation of saints was Mencius.
For Zhu Yuanzhang, Confucianism was not very noble, but just a tool.
Mencius, in particular, proposed that "the people value the king but not the king" and believed that a tyrant is a "lone man" who can be overthrown by the people. Only by benevolent government can the world be unified.
Because of this sentence, Zhu Yuanzhang was very unhappy with Mencius.
In the third year of Hongwu's reign in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang read "Mencius" again and saw that "if a ruler treats his ministers like dirt, then his ministers will regard him as a bandit." After this sentence, he became furious.
Immediately afterwards, he ordered people to drive Mencius out of the Confucius Temple, and said harshly: "If anyone has any advice, he will be punished as disrespectful."
No one dared to disobey Zhu Yuanzhang, who also learned Zhu Xi's theory.
Zhu Yuanzhang felt that Zhu Xi's theory was most suitable for the rule of the dynasty.
If officials and officials can control their desires, there will be no corruption or bribery.
As for the people, it is good to live in peace and harmony, have fields and food to eat, and live in peace and harmony.
In business, don't be unkind and evil for the sake of wealth, as long as the world is at peace.
But all this changed after meeting Li Xiao.
Zhu Yuanzhang discovered that even if he studied Confucianism, people's desires were still difficult to control. It was better to block than to block, so he allowed Li Xiao to change.
In fact, this is indeed the case. Since the salaries of officials were raised, corruption and bribery have become much less common, and things have become more efficient.
"Hey, Confucianism, Confucianism, this Confucian thought is indeed going to change now!"
When Li Xiao saw this scene, he felt silent in his heart.
Since Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty deposed all schools of thought and only respected Confucianism, he expanded the class of Confucian scholars and sanctified imperial power.
The royal family and the Confucian class gradually gained increasingly profound vested interests from Confucianism.
In order to protect and expand their vested interests, also since the Western Han Dynasty, the royal family and the Confucian class have cooperated with each other to suppress and suppress other doctrines and social groups (such as industrialists, businessmen, scientific and technological workers, knights, etc.).
This kept Chinese society in a state of small-scale peasant economy that relied on imperial power and the patriarchal system to maintain order.
This model of social stratification in which the vested interests of all components of the ruling class are consistent makes the vested interests of the ruling class a very powerful force resisting social change.
This is the reason why Confucianism has ruled China for more than two thousand years, and it is also a very important reason why it is difficult for Chinese society to achieve industrialization and modernization.
Of course, these Confucian scholars would not think so.
Preserving heaven's principles and destroying human desires is what the sage said. How can it be wrong?
"Li Xiao, you also said that you understand Confucianism. Do you understand that Confucianism will make Beiping Mansion like this?"
"People should restrain their desires, but in Peiping, I only see materialistic desires running rampant! There are places to spend money everywhere, and there are more types of places to enjoy than anywhere else."
"Everyone in Beiping Mansion is working hard to make money in order to indulge their own desires."
The Confucian scholars were filled with indignation and used this incident to attack Li Xiao.
"There is a nightclub in Beiping Mansion called Jin Jijing Brilliant. The shopkeeper behind it is Li Xiongzhi, who is a loser under the Imperial Master's sect."
Another Confucian scholar pointed at Li Xiao and shouted.
"Li Xiao, please tell me whether the nightclub you opened violates the desire to destroy people as mentioned by Sage Zhu Xi."
As he spoke, the Confucian scholar looked at the crowd and shouted: "In this splendid nightclub, a glass of wine costs more than ten taels of silver, and a bottle of the most expensive wine costs a thousand taels of silver. Even if it is accompanied by a dancer, it actually costs twenty taels of silver." , It’s really a waste of money, a place of wine and meat!”
The words fell.
Everyone who received such news was amazed.
Especially the officials and common people looked amazed.
This is too exaggerated. The most expensive bottle of wine costs one thousand taels of silver. You will never make so much money in your lifetime.
Everyone looked at Li Xiao.
The officials in Beiping Mansion were all worried about Li Xiao. This was indeed difficult to answer.
Not to mention the officials of the imperial court. They were also the first officials in the imperial examination who were born in Confucianism, but they had already compromised and compromised after Li Xiao raised their salary.
Although these officials studied Confucianism, they actually did not follow what the sage said.
Therefore, these court officials could not help but lower their heads in shame.
Everyone looked at Li Xiao to see how he would answer.
However, Li Xiao pointed at the Confucian scholar who was talking about the nightclub just now and said, "What's that person's name?"
The Confucian scholar patted his chest and said, "If you don't change your name in office, you won't change your surname in office. I'm Zhao Lin from the Zhao family in Shandong!"
The Zhao family in Shandong is also a relatively famous gentry family in the local area.
Li Xiao smiled and said: "Master Zhao, your family must be quite rich, right?"
"The family has some money."
Zhao Lin came back to his senses and said, "Why do you ask these questions?"
Li Xiao smiled and said: "A glass of wine costs more than ten taels of silver, and the most expensive bottle of wine costs a thousand taels of silver. It is even accompanied by a dancing girl. It costs twenty taels of silver. You know, most people will not go to this magnificent place. But This is what you just said. If you, an outsider, have never been there, how do you know so clearly?"
As soon as this statement came out,
Countless eyes at the scene were cast on Zhao Lin.
Zhao Lin also felt that he had said the wrong thing and was ashamed. He hurriedly defended: "I, I, I just went to take a look and see how much this Peking is."
"Huh"
There was a burst of sighs among the people.
Kong Maoxue looked at Zhao Lin as if he hated iron, and cursed: "It's really a waste of time for me to teach you, how can you go to such a shabby place?"
"Master, I..." Zhao Lin's face turned red.
"Hey!" Kong Maoxue waved his robe, knowing that he had just said so much and was suddenly knocked back to his original shape by Zhao Lin.
"Kong Daru, look."
Li Xiao smiled and said: "Your student Zhao Lin learned Confucianism from you, hehe, but he hasn't gone to that kind of place. What does this mean? People will have three emotions and six desires, and the desires in people's hearts are What cannot be blocked is just like Dayu's control of floods. Blocking is worse than sparing. You are too obsessed with destroying human desires and ignore the natural principles. Work hard, make money legally, and spend money legally. This is the natural principle. Why not? ?”
Kong Maoxue argued: "If you have no desire, you must be strong. Zhao Lin is just a scholar. He is just an example and cannot replace Confucian students like us. National teachers should not make generalizations or take ideas out of context!"
Li Xiao smiled and said: "Being strong without desire is a very high state. It is generally difficult for us mortals to achieve it. If everyone can really achieve it, I, Li Xiao, will immediately cancel the reform and support it with both hands. But the fact is that you, Kong Daru, take life and death lightly. I believe you can do it, but what about the world? Can you ask everyone to reach this state?"
Kong Maoxue shook his head and said in shame: "Actually, I haven't reached this level yet, let alone letting everyone reach it."
Li Xiao smiled and said: "Yes, this is the fact. Human desires cannot be eradicated. People are just a ball of desires. None of us are saints, and we cannot hold ourselves to the standards of saints."
At this point, the court officials who had lowered their heads in shame raised their heads again.
The Imperial Master is right, it is true, where do so many saints come from in the world?
Although everyone studies the articles of saints every day, they still can't do it. In the final analysis, it is not for glory and wealth, so that they can live a better life.
"The world's panic can only be spent on breaking a few taels of silver, but these few taels of silver can relieve all panic. People are not immune to vulgarity. Even monks have to collect some incense money to support themselves."
Li Xiao smiled lightly and said: "Kong Daru, let me ask you, when you came to the capital together, there were probably about a thousand people, and together with the students from all over the world who came to Peiping, there were probably as many as ten thousand people. But today, why are you the only one with hundreds of people here?"
Kong Maoxue was stunned by the question, and he was stunned for a long time before saying: "The world is deteriorating, and people's hearts are not as old as they used to be!"
"hey-hey."
Li Xiao smiled and said: "It seems that Kong Daru didn't find out the reason. If you don't mind, can you ask my national master to help you analyze it?"
Kong Maoxue snorted, folded his hands in front of his chest, stood sideways, and said, "Tell me and listen."
Li Xiao said with a smile: "First of all, you originally came from a thousand people, but now there are over a hundred people. I looked at it and none of those who jumped into the water during the dragon boat festival that day came.
Why? Because they tried it once, walked through the gate of hell, and understood the value of life.
Human beings have three emotions and six desires, which cannot be cut off. This is due to the desire to survive. Who is willing to die if you can live? Life is the most magical creation of nature. We must respect life!
The remaining students of yours did not come, not because they are greedy for life and afraid of death, but because they understand the preciousness of life! "
Kong Maoxue paused and murmured: "What you said makes two sense. In the face of great right and wrong, there are only a few who dare to die."
Li Xiao smiled and continued: "As for the countless students, it is still the same. You are standing too high and cannot see the scenery below. Have you seen the embarrassment of the lives of those poor students? A Fan Jin passed the exam. The sufferings of the world have been eliminated. Countless students have struggled hard just to become famous at one stroke, but a few can pass the exam, and those who have not passed the exam may not be without talent!! It is only right that they did not come. This imperial examination involves... Their own interests, but they still give up making trouble, why? Because they have suffered, and they don’t want more people like them to continue to suffer in the future! Although they did not express their determination by death, it is still an expression of sacrificing their lives for righteousness. Now my own interests are exchanged for the future of countless people!"
After saying this, Kong Maoxue couldn't help but be moved.
He secretly watched that movie, and felt sad at the end.
Is this really what Confucianism and imperial examinations are like?
He didn't believe it, so he asked many students privately and found that it was indeed the case, as Li Xiao said.
Recalling what Li Xiao said, Kong Maoxue couldn't help but look at Li Xiao, feeling moved in his heart.
This young man talks and laughs calmly and confidently, as if he already knew that he could persuade him? Does he really have this confidence?
"Can the imperial examination be canceled and replaced with what you call the national examination? Isn't it still the same?"
Kong Maoxue's tone has softened a bit.
"No, it's different, it's very different!"
Li Xiao said with a smile: "In the previous imperial examinations, only those who passed the examination could become officials. But I will abolish the civil service. At that time, there will be no distinction between officials. They will all be officials. There will be countless more official positions. It's just that the officials are big and small. The difference is that with this change, even if it is a scholar, more talented people will be able to work for the court! Tragedies like Fan Jin will not be born."
The words fell.
Kong Maoxue was suddenly startled and said: "Do you want to cancel the official administration?"
Li Xiao nodded.
At this time, countless people on the scene were shocked!
Kong Maoxue was even more delighted. It turned out that Li Xiao was going to do such a big thing!
Officials and officials are separated.
Officials are officials, officials are officials!
Officials need to take the exam, while officials can take the exam or not.
There is a lot of room for manipulation here. Most of the officials in the imperial court are related households, so there will be loopholes in the recommendation.
Most of the local officials' staff are monopolized by local people, and they are all related households.
It would be a great thing if officials were abolished and more scholars could be reused and more scholars could use their talents!
Kong Maoxue couldn't help but look at Li Xiao in surprise. He didn't expect that he would make such a choice. But doing so would undoubtedly affect the interests of many people. This Li Xiao really wanted to be the enemy of the world!
Kong Maoxue began to admire Li Xiao a little, and said slowly: "No wonder you want to set up so many subjects in the university. It turns out that it is just for this step. The national teacher is really far-sighted. Although what you said before has some truth, I still don't agree. against the Word”
In the end, Kong Maoxue disagreed with Li Xiao's statement and thought that the sage was right, but he still admired him and said: "But I admire you for what the national teacher said!"
After saying that, Kong Maoxue said again: "How about this, you and I each take a step back, and I am willing to enter your university and teach you Confucianism?"
Kong Mao thought that as long as Confucianism continued to take root, he would be willing to suffer some hardships.
"That would be great."
Li Xiao smiled and said: "My master, I can't get it!"
"Seriously?" Kong Maoxue's eyes lit up.
, he never expected that Li Xiao would agree to such a request. Is Li Xiao so generous?
At this time, Kong Maoxue was actually a little moved by what Li Xiao said, and he indeed lacked understanding of the sufferings of the people.
Regarding Li Xiao, he felt that Li Xiao's intentions were good and he understood the suffering in the world.
But the words of the saint cannot be refuted!
It is better to help him yourself, teach Confucianism, and continue to pass on the words of the saints. After all, the country can only be governed well by external Confucianism and internal law.
Li Xiao nodded and said with a smile: "Seriously, but you can't teach Zhu Xi the theory of the sage."
Kong Maoxue frowned and said: "Do you want to learn from Confucius and Mencius? I don't care, but the Holy One has strictly prohibited it and does not allow learning the words of Confucius and Mencius."
Li Xiao shook his head: "It's not Confucius or Mencius either."
Kong Mao said: "He is neither Confucius, Mencius, nor Zhu Xi. Is there a fourth saint in the world? Tell me, whose Confucianism do you want to learn from?"
Li Xiao pointed at himself: "My national teacher."
As soon as the words fell, everyone was shocked.
Kong Maoxue collapsed again and said loudly: "Master, you have gone too far. I have already taken a step back. Do you really want to force me and my disciples to death? If you insist on doing this, we can only die today." It’s clear!”
Li Xiao shook his head: "I don't mean that, but my father-in-law also has his own understanding of Confucianism. Han Yu once said that there is no young or old in learning, and the masters come first. Can't our teachers teach Confucian theory? Is Confucianism always going to continue the predecessors? , is it unchanged? Times are changing, and Confucianism will naturally change as well."
"Okay! Okay! Okay!"
Kong Maoxue pointed at Li Xiao and shouted: "Then you should come and listen, I am all ears."
The entire audience looked at Li Xiao in awe.
But not just why.
At this moment, Li Xiao felt enigmatic in the eyes of everyone.
It was slightly cool today, the wind kept blowing, but no one spoke in the audience. It was extremely quiet. The wind blew through Li Xiao's robe, but he remained motionless. There was a faint sound of gold and jade vibrating on his body, as if a statue was standing there with a deep gaze. Insight into the Holy.
Li Xiao smiled faintly and looked at the sky and the earth. He knew that it was time for the science of mind to come out, change the current structure of Confucianism, and promote the development of the Ming Dynasty.
The tranquility reaches far away, and it is like watching the fire.
Li Xiao stood on the high platform and looked at the crowd. He had an air of arrogance and dignity, looking down on all living beings:
"In knowing, there is action, and in doing, there is knowledge. Examine and govern, and knowledge and action are unified."
The words fell.
Everyone trembled in their hearts. This principle of "unity of knowledge and action" sounded like a bell ringing in their ears. It was shocking!
Sky.
The rays of light rise everywhere, the colorful rainbow emerges from the sky, and the vast righteousness of the sky descends.
There is actually a strange phenomenon happening in heaven and earth!
A vision appears and a saint appears!
(End of chapter)
