Facing Song Lian's impassioned speech, Zhu Su smiled slightly and said, "Master Song, you don't have to be like this."
"There is no need to die, but there is something that needs Master Song's help."
"You are knowledgeable and knowledgeable in hundreds of schools of thought. Since we want to reiterate the legacy of Confucius and continue the great aspirations of our ancestors, we naturally need a central book like the Zhou Li that Confucius admired, which can be respected by Confucian scholars all over the world. Thoughts come.”
"However, as Mr. Liu just said, the Zhou Dynasty has been around for thousands of years. The world has already gone through a lot of changes. If we apply it mechanically, it will make people laugh and be generous, and I am afraid it will leave a lot of poison."
"Therefore, I would like to ask you to use the purpose of 'respecting the king and repelling the barbarians and revitalizing China', referring to Zhou rites, history and many classics, to summarize an article that can sweep away the decadent trend of Chinese academic circles today, and let me, Chinese Confucian scholars... no, Let the Chinese people understand the painstaking efforts of the sages and inherit the great ambitions of their ancestors!"
"This work, like the Analects of Zhou Rites, should become the backbone of our Chinese nation's thoughts, allowing our Chinese people to once again navigate the blueprint and create a greater China."
"I am young and have little talent and knowledge. It is really difficult for me to take on such a big responsibility. After thinking about it, in today's world, only a great talent like you, Master Song, can take on such a heavy responsibility!"
After Zhu Su finished speaking, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and bowed to Song Lian very solemnly.
"This this……"
Song Lian was trembling all over, and he even forgot about helping Zhu Su up. He only felt that his already old body was still young at this moment, and was full of fighting spirit inspired by Zhu Su's words.
Write a book that is true to its origins and sweeps away the world's decadence. It will serve as the backbone of Chinese thought and the Zhou rites of the contemporary era!
Let’s build on the past and create a new future for China!
Isn't this what a scholar yearns for most in his life?
If, if I really inherit the legacy of many Chinese sages from the Third Dynasty and the early Zhou Dynasty, awaken many ignorant Chinese people, and build the Ming Dynasty into the greatest dynasty in history...then my achievements will even surpass Confucius and reach the level of The pinnacle of literati!
Rather, isn’t it the biggest goal of literary scholars to rectify the origins and carry forward the past?
"Old minister, I will do my best!" Still not helping Zhu Su, the gray-haired Song Lian just straightened his robes in an extremely serious manner, and bowed to Zhu Su in accordance with the ancient Chinese etiquette. "Your Highness wishes to write this book, which is unprecedented in the world since the Zhou Dynasty."
"I am willing to join His Highness's tail!"
"Master Song is so righteous!" Zhu Su praised.
I do need a guiding ideology to push all Chinese people into the upcoming era of vigorous change.
After all, the coming world changes will bring both opportunities and disasters. Even though he attacked Neo-Confucianism, there are still countless pedantic masters in the world. Even if Lao Zhu is around at this time, they may go dormant for a while, but even if there is official suppression, the court cannot control these old diehards secretly spreading outdated Neo-Confucian ideas and passing on the fire of Neo-Confucianism.
After dozens or hundreds of years, Lao Zhu and his group of people are dead. There is no guarantee that an unscrupulous descendant of the Ming Dynasty will not lift the ban on Neo-Confucianism and revive this outdated doctrine. After all, for rulers, Neo-Confucianism, which advocates the doctrine of "submission to heavenly principles" and "class consolidation," is still very attractive.
Moreover, after a hundred years of development, Neo-Confucianism has a foundation that is sufficient to make its own logic self-consistent. If Zhu Su wants to lead the Chinese people to look at the world and expand externally, he must also have core ideas that are convincing enough. In fact, the spread of ideas is very similar to religion. In addition to needing a "leader" with absolute authority, it also needs "core ideas" for preaching.
In particular, the core ideas of this book should not only be used to fool ordinary people, but also must be recognized by those well-read Confucian scholars, so as to break with the long-established Neo-Confucianism.
The position of "leader" is now being put on the shelf, while the "core idea" is temporarily vacant. Regardless of his vision, which was far ahead of his time, Zhu Su knew very well how much his literary literacy was, and he might not even be able to compare with ordinary scholars. If you let yourself write the core idea as the guiding ideology, it will definitely be ridiculous. In this case, it is better to let Song Liansong, who is familiar with hundreds of schools of thought, agrees with his own ideas, has a high status in the academic world, and has high moral character. Master came to compile it on his behalf.
He didn't care who's name was attached to this core idea. He also said that there was no problem at all in sending Song Lian to the throne of the saint who "established his words".
However, Song Lian didn't think so after being helped up by Zhu Su. He was even more moved when he looked at Zhu Su who looked happy at this moment. After having experienced Zhu Su's "superior" understanding of Confucianism several times, he naturally did not think that Zhu Su really wanted him to compile this masterpiece because of his insufficient literary literacy.
At this time, he felt that he, as a student, wanted to practice what he said, and actually practice the difficult road that his ancestors had traveled and the difficult road of opening up territories.
And selflessly, he gave himself this opportunity to leave his name in history.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I will never let His Highness's high righteousness be buried like this. Once Duke Zhou is regarded as a sage, I will definitely regard His Highness as a saint no less than Duke Zhou!"
The old man thought secretly in his heart, and at the same time, he said goodbye to Zhu Su.
He couldn't wait to read books related to Zhou Rites, so that he could create the Ming Dynasty version of "Zhou Rites" as soon as possible, which might change the entire pattern of China.
After Song Lian left, Zhu Su calmed down his excitement a little. Zhu Xi, who promoted Neo-Confucianism, was just a Jinshi scholar. When it came to literary skills, Song Lian's level was not necessarily weaker than Zhu Xi's. It's just that Master Zhu was more daring to think, had his own set of opinions, and then borrowed far-fetched methods from the sages' classics to package his thoughts and carry them forward.
Song Lian was originally a great scholar, and with the support of people like them from the old Zhu family, his starting point was countless times higher than that of Zhu Xi. Now he had a set of ideas that he had instilled in him. If he wanted to recover from the pile of old papers, If a Ming Dynasty version of "Zhou Rites" is released, there is nothing that cannot be done.
Liu Bowen, who was also excited when he heard this, drank tea to calm down. He raised his eyes and looked at Zhu Su, feeling more and more that this His Highness was really planning something big. Seeing Zhu Su's eyes looking over, Liu Bowen smiled and said:
"His Highness invites Brother Song to write a book. I wonder what the entrustment is for the minister?"
"There is indeed something." Zhu Su coughed lightly. "The matter you entrust to Mr. Liu is also extremely important, no less important than Master Song."
"My king, I would like to ask you, sir, to condescend to serve as the Imperial Academy's edict."
With the dignity of a dignified earl, he served as the edict of a mere Imperial Academy. This was indeed a condescending and even almost insulting arrangement. It was not at the same level as the importance of Song Lian's "establishment of words". Just when Zhu Su was ready to explain to Liu Bowen why the position of teaching was so important, he did not expect that Liu Bowen just smiled slightly and said:
"His Royal Highness has orders, and I, the old minister, will obey them."
"It's just that I have always been confused. I hope Your Highness can clear it up for me. If Your Highness can tell me frankly, I will devote my whole body to Your Highness, how about that?"
Work your butt off? Zhu Su narrowed his eyes slightly. What Liu Bowen said was too serious. It was simply making it clear that even if he wanted to compete for the position of prince, he, Liu Bowen, would give his full support. What doubts made this wise man care so much? So Zhu Su said tentatively: "Sir, let me ask, if there is anything that can be said, Su will know everything and say it."
"Haha." Hearing the agility in Zhu Su's words, Liu Bowen smiled slightly. He did not point out the deliberate escape route left in Zhu Su's words, but simply asked straight to the point: "May I ask, Your Highness, if you can learn the art of prophecy?"
"The art of prophecy?" Zhu Su frowned. "The words of prophecy are vague and vague. They are just open to speculation and are not trustworthy."
"What I believe in is science, and I firmly believe that everything should be based on reality and seek truth from facts. I will never believe in such specious and far-fetched knowledge."
As a gravedigger of the similarly nagging Neo-Confucianism, the doctrine of Zhenwei is something that he must resolutely resist, so Zhu Su's words are very decisive.
"Old minister, let me ask you another question." Liu Bowen was not impatient, but continued slowly.
"So, Your Highness can know... everything that will happen in the future?"
(End of chapter)
