After the dress was put on, Empress Dowager Li called Feng Bao, the eunuch in charge of etiquette, and sent the emperor to the main hall of the Wenhua Palace with all the palace officials like stars holding the moon.
When they arrived at the main hall, the quiet whip was fired three times (the quiet whip is a small object made of bamboo that makes a whip sound), and the salute officer praised: "The Holy Spirit has arrived!"
Zhu Yijun immediately ascended the Jade Majesty from the back of the palace, walked to the front of the palace, and stood in front of the dragon chair. Accompanying people are not allowed to walk on this section of the steps. They have to go around the front of the hall to arrange their duties.
Zhu Yijun looked down, his head immediately broke out in sweat. The scene was so big, he saw:
Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Cheng, Zhang Juzheng, the great scholar, and other high-ranking officials of the Manchu Dynasty and above were all present. They were old or young, tall or short, fat or thin. They were all good-looking and there was no one ugly. They are either wearing python robes or red robes, and their eyes are full of purple. Including Hanlin, Yushi, Jinyiweitang officials and other people, plus the powerful men in the palace, it was so dark that it made me dizzy to look at it.
The whole hall was in solemn silence, and Zhu Yijun looked down. Apart from Zhang Juzheng, Lu Tiaoyang and others, he didn't know many of these people, but the mentality of being alone arose spontaneously.
When he sat on the golden dragon bed inlaid with gold and engraved dragons, the salute officer praised: "Bow!" The ministers all knelt down like the wind blowing the grass, shouting: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live, long live my emperor." age!"
Although Zhu Yijun had been served by people in the harem before, and knew that the identity he traveled through was that of an emperor, it is difficult for modern people to imagine what the supremacy of imperial power is - they lack perceptual understanding.
At this moment, when he saw the important ministers prostrating themselves and bowing to him as a child, he understood one thing: he was really the most powerful person in this world, and even in this world!
A kind of pleasure ran through his body like an electric current. This feeling made him sincerely happy, but he was also a little confused. Immediately, there was a sense of fear rising deep in his heart, as if he was going to break something with a slight downward movement. This feeling made him intoxicated, confused, and stunned.
Seeing him sitting dumbly, the praise officer couldn't help but feel the grass growing in the temple. He panicked, coughed lightly, looked up at the emperor and winked.
Only then did Zhu Yijun come back to his senses and said loudly: "Ping Shen!"
As soon as the salute officer raised his hand, all the ministers shouted: "Long live thanks!" With each bow and thank you, the distinction between monarch and ministers became clear. Zhu Yijun finally understood why countless famous people came one after another for this dragon chair, and why the splendid palace was filled with rain of blood. Fishy wind.
Now is not the time to think about this. Zhu Yijun recalled the process of the banquet taught by the Ministry of Rites, coughed slightly, and said: "I heard that it is impossible to correct the present without archeology. Only by hearing more can we build things. I practice the great treasure with age. , I am deeply afraid that my virtue is not worthy of being worshiped by all the people, and entrusted by the emperor. Now, according to the method of our ancestors, we worship Confucianism and Taoism, prepare a small banquet, and ask for advice from the ministers. I hope that the ministers can teach me, and clarify the waxing and waning of rational desires. The causes of political gains and losses, the debate between loyal and evil talents, and the reasons for the rise and fall of unified industry, to show my sincerity of vigilance and encouragement!"
"I would like to express my gratitude to Heaven for my kindness, and I will obey the decree!" It is also like a grass weir blown by the wind, and it is bowed down.
After this exchange of questions, the ministers exited the hall, and the banquet officially began.
The ceremonial officers of Honglu Temple introduced Zhi Sutra Feast, Tong Zhi Sutra Feast, attendants, lecturers, book exhibitions, deacons, attendants and other officials to Danbi. After five bows and three kowtows, they entered the hall one by one and stood in east-west order according to their grades. .
The etiquette was given to two officials, Shizhong and Yushi, who stood on the left and right sides of the palace gate. The deacon lifted the desk that had been placed in the north of the hall to the center of the south side of the throne and stepped back.
The saluting official praised: "Enter the lecture!" The two lecturers, Wang Xilie, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Ding Shimei, the bachelor's student of Taichang Temple, came to the lecture table and stood side by side.
Zhan scribes Luo Wanhua and Wang Jiaping stood behind the lectern. The salute officer praised: "Bow!" The four bowed first, and the emperor bowed in reply. It's not easy. The emperor only bowed down when he met his teacher.
Then the four of them knelt down, bowed five times and kowtowed three times, and were granted a flat body.
Luo Wanhua, the scribe of Dongzhan, came to the imperial court, knelt down and unfolded the book on the imperial desk. It was the "Great Learning" volume in the "Four Books". Then he stood up and bowed down.
Wang Jiaping, the scribe of Xizhan, came to the lecture, bowed and unfolded the book on the desk to the same page.
The complimenting officer praised again: "Reading!" The emperor lowered his head to read the book, and the reading officer began to read the first paragraph of "The Great Learning": "The way to a great university lies in Ming Ming De... then the shortcut is the shortest way." Read it ten times in a row.
While the scholar was reading, all the ministers raised their eyes and peeped at the emperor's performance from the corners of their eyes. Seeing the emperor lowering his head and chanting silently, a smile appeared on his lips, as if he was relieved.
After reading, the official lecture began. The Four Books and Five Classics were the work of officials in this era. Every word had long been studied and understood, and all the annotations were familiar by heart, making it effortless to speak.
Wang Xilie was a Jinshi in the 32nd year of Jiajing and a veteran of three dynasties. He spent many years in the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial College. When he gave lectures, he was really eloquent and colorful, but he could explain the profound things in simple terms and fully take care of the emperor's ability to accept.
After speaking for half a moment, another lecturer, Ding Shimei, combined this paragraph of the book with historical allusions. He also closely followed the theme and used specific examples to demonstrate the subtle meaning of the book.
Zhu Yijun sat and listened quietly without squinting. The original owner of his body could actually recite the Four Books long ago, but he did not understand the subtle meanings in them. Today, with the thoughts of an adult of later generations, he is receiving ancient education again and has a deep understanding of the philosophical thoughts in "The Great Learning" compared with what later generations have learned. I deeply understand that my knowledge of Chinese studies in previous lives is very superficial.
After finishing the first paragraph, Wang Xilie bowed and asked, "Does your Majesty understand?"
Zhu Yijun replied solemnly: "I know."
So the praise officer called for reading again, and the reading officer read the second paragraph of "The Great Learning" ten times, and the two lecturers spoke again.
After the second paragraph, Zhu Yijun interrupted: "I have doubts here."
The two lecturers and all the ministers, especially the ministers, were all excited. The rituals of this sutra banquet were complicated, but the content was familiar to them. Everyone saw that the emperor was smart and studious, and at first he was popular because of his imperial authority. After being excited for a while, everyone basically wandered away from the world.
Suddenly hearing the emperor's question, everyone immediately became energetic as if they had been anointed with magic oil - it turns out that these ministers are not decorations. Once the emperor does not understand or is not satisfied with what the lecturer said, the ministers can come out to explain. The explanation is that if you show it on this occasion, it is possible for "Jane to be in the emperor's heart". All of them had bright eyes, waiting for the emperor to ask questions.
“What’s the meaning of investigating things?”
The officials in the palace were overjoyed. In the chapter "Great Learning", it was recognized that the difficulty lies in "Gewu". Since Dong Zhongshu, Zheng Xuan, Sima Guang, Cheng Yi, Zhu Xi, and Wang Yangming of the Zhengde Dynasty were all Confucian masters, but they couldn't agree on the explanation.
The emperor raised this question, which shows that he has achieved "something to learn and think about", and it is really "the holy knowledge has brought glory, and the heroes have gained glory".
Just now, Wang Xilie and Wang Xilie have talked about the study of things. Of course, they taught it according to Zhu Xi's annotations (official official school authentic). The study of things is to "exhaust the principles of things." However, due to the limitations of the times, they cannot explain the connotation of the principles of things, only the things they embody. He worked hard on "morality", but Zhu Yijun was dissatisfied.
Before waiting for the officials and ministers to reply, Zhu Yijun said: "Everything has its reason, and if we examine it in practice, this can be called 'geo'? It can be called 'geo' as far as the world and the universe, as small as weeds and weeds, and even things like scholars, farmers, industry, merchants, and soldiers. This can be called 'ge'." "Things"? Things are there, so they are also there. How can we qualify them? Tell me about it."
This sentence contains three questions. The first question is that "objects" (objects to be studied) all have their own objective laws. If we study them realistically, is this study a "lattice"?
The second question is, what are the objects being studied? The third question is that the object being studied is objective and real, and the laws therein also exist objectively. How do we study it? How to study it?
If the ministers were happy just now because the emperor had something to learn and think about, now they felt a little frightened. A group of young men asked questions that were close to Taoism in Confucianism, which made everyone feel that they were very wise and almost demonic. A few rotten Confucians in the Hanlin editors could not help but secretly think about "the divine teaching of sages" and were even moved to tears, but they could Among the important ministers who entered the palace, none of them had an emotional or IQ below the standard. One could not help but suspect that someone had prepared such a question for the emperor when he was preparing for the sutra banquet.
Zhang Juzheng was at the top of the list of civil servants. He looked up at Feng Bao, who was at the top of the list of ministers opposite - only to see that Feng Bao also had his mouth wide open, a look of confusion on his face, and confusion written all over his forehead.
The minds of the ministers were turning over and over again, thinking about various possibilities in their minds, but the two lecturers opposite the emperor were a little confused.
Regarding the questions asked by the emperor, although these two men thought about it when they were studying the scriptures, they all believed in Zhu Xi's explanation. It was not acceptable to disagree. No points would be given if they did not fill in the correct answers during the exam. The emperor suddenly asked such a profound question, and the emperor also gave a scope - specific definitions of "ge" and "object". How the hell do you answer this? The standard answer is that the emperor "has doubts". Although he also knows the other answers, who dares to talk nonsense at the banquet? Immediately, my forehead was sweating profusely and I lost my temper.
Luo Wanhua, the exhibition official, was the number one scholar in the second year of Longqing. He had just entered Ming Dynasty officialdom four years ago and was a new one. It is said that newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. Seeing that the lecturer was dumbfounded, he hurriedly bowed and said: "Back to the emperor, knowledge lies in me, and reason lies in things. This is what Zhuzi calls the 'host-guest debate', which is exactly what the emperor just said. In relation to the key point of 'things', Zhu Zi said, 'To check things to the end, to exhaust them', 'Those who check things are the ones who exhaust physics.'
Upon hearing this, all the ministers secretly gave Luo Wanhua a thumbs up.
Luo Wanhua not only answered the emperor's questions and avoided an awkward moment, but also gently flattered the emperor. He said that Zhu Xi's annotations were in line with the gist of the emperor's definition, and the answers he provided to the emperor did not deviate from the exam syllabus. He was truly worthy of being the top scholar. Talent! Zhang Juzheng, who was at the top of the list, kept his eyes on Luo Wanhua, showing undisguised admiration.
Zhu Yijun just saw that the lecturer was mute and couldn't help but feel a little anxious. He was deeply afraid that he would disturb the sutra banquet. When he saw someone replying, he was very happy. With a smile on his face, he said: "What is your name? What official position do you live in?"
"Your Majesty Luo Wanhua, now compiled for Hanlin." Luo Wanhua's voice trembled.
Why do scholars in the world want to be officials in the capital? Why do young people like to read at Hanlin exhibitions, serve as lecturers, and other close ministers of the emperor? Just look at Luo Wanhua and you will know that there are tens of thousands of officials in the world. For example, there are not even a thousand but also eight hundred officials in Luo Wanhua, but how many of them can let the emperor know their names? Today, I answered a question from the emperor, and my name was on the list - even though the empress dowager is now in charge, he, Luo Wanhua, is still young and can afford to wait!
Seeing his excitement, Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "What you said is right, but you can think about the exhaustive methods. What do you get? Tell me what you have learned. This is a banquet where you can fully display what you have learned - you have what you have thought about and what I have learned. Listen together."
Luo Wanhua and others are so excited. The emperor is really a "sage and gifted by heaven". Knowing that those of us who teach and read have concerns, we can only provide you with standard answers, so let us express our personal opinions-do you want to show what you have learned? I learn from it. After so many years, it’s just for this highlight moment!
Luo Zhuangyuan immediately began to examine the question: the emperor gave the definition of "ge" and "object", this is the stem of the question, asking "how to exhaust it", and this is the meaning of the question - his mind was spinning very fast, in less than a breath, He replied loudly: "I think that the principles of things cannot be understood without grids. How can we grid them? It needs to be measured qualitatively. For example, if you want to know the weight of something, you can call it; if you want to know the length of something, you can measure it. Then you can know it. .”
Just as Luo Zhuangyuan finished his answer, Hanlin Wang Jiaping also echoed: "The nature of this thing is not the principle of things. If you want to understand the nature of things, you can measure them. If you want to understand the principles of things, you need to correct yourself first. Meaning - Zhu Ziyun, "Today I will do one thing, and tomorrow I will do one thing. If I have accumulated many habits, I will naturally find a way to connect them." It can be seen that the acquisition of this principle is not a day's work. You must first correct your body and mind, and make your mind clear. Defend against the interference of external objects and gain the power of penetration."
These two took the lead, and the ambitious ministers and imperial lecturers in the palace all spoke, either answering directly or refuting others, and they could not say anything at the same time.
Seeing that the atmosphere was getting better, Zhu Yijun listened with a smile, and occasionally interjected a few words to guide everyone in the direction of "the physical world is real and needs to be classified into categories to investigate its rationale", which was quite lively.
Seeing that it was late, the praising officer looked at Zhang Juzheng and nodded when he saw him. The memorial said: "Your Majesty, it's time to talk about Shangshu." Then everyone stopped talking.
The ones who talked about "Shang Shu" were two other lecturers, namely Tao Dalin, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Wang Bor, the right minister and wine minister. Zhu Yijun listened carefully and did not make any mistakes again. He was quiet. The official who was waiting for the compliment praised: "After reading and speaking, we will give you a feast." Only then did everyone realize that it was past noon. After all the ministers thanked them for their kindness, they performed a dance according to the banquet ceremony, spent the banquet, and received the royal gold, silver, colorful satin, silk and other rewards before leaving.
