"For example, speaking of simplicity, to be fair, I am still very indulgent in the 'human desires' mentioned in your Taoism, and I have always been pursuing them." Zhao Jiu sat cross-legged on the couch, shaking his head. "As for the desire of the mouth and tongue, if it's about drinking, I drink the best Lanqiao Fengyue in the world these days, and I can drink as much as I want; and if it's about eating, what else can I eat? There is no shortage of chicken, duck, fish and meat, and there is no shortage of fresh vegetables. Even if it's about fruits, I have eaten more than you have ever seen. Do you want to build another road for a few lychees? Do you really think I don't know what it tastes like? Besides, women... I have two concubines with different tastes, what else do you want? And clothes, the best cotton cloth and Shu brocade, don't I wear them? As for the palace residence, it's even more ridiculous. Not to mention that people can only sleep on one bed after all, even if it's a bit vulgar, is there anyone in the world who has a larger territory than me? More real estate than me? Didn't I just go to the most majestic Xuande Tower in the world? Isn't that also my real estate? When it comes to indulging human desires and enjoying life, who in the world can compare to me?"

The ministers looked at each other, and several Taoist scholars twirled their beards, but none of them knew what to say. Even Yang Shi lowered his head, as if thinking about something.

"As for learning... To be honest, I'm not very diligent." Zhao Jiu continued to sigh. "I'm just a man in his twenties, with a strong body and a natural instinct. I can't just lie here drinking tea and basking in the sun all day, right? So when I'm free, I go to the Yuetai camp to ride a horse, go to the Genyue wasteland to shoot arrows, practice calligraphy and write articles at night, and when I'm especially free, I dig some fish ponds and plant trees here... Isn't this reasonable?"

Yang Shi finally wanted to speak, apparently wanting to take the opportunity to insert today's topic, but Emperor Zhao continued to chatter, forcing the old man to continue standing still with his hands:

"Of course, I also have some vanity that goes beyond the limit, and I also seek an indescribable desire for power... There is nothing to hide. However, after all, I am a marshal who led the army to fight in Yanling, and an emperor who raised his hand to shoot an eagle at Yaoshan. I have personally tasted the most wonderful and exciting tastes in the world. Why would I care about those low-level vanity and power? A real man wants to be powerful and strong. What I can think of next is nothing more than learning from Wei Wu to conquer Liaodong in the north and then whip the East China Sea, or to carve the names of meritorious officials and patriots on a high monument after the nine provinces are unified, or to see the world become prosperous in my lifetime and burn a memorial in Mingdao Palace."

The ministers below Zhao Ding were already in awe. If Zhao Jiu had not been making a long speech, Zhang Jun and others would have almost jumped out and sworn to fulfill the emperor's wish.

At this point, Zhao Jiu finally came back to the point: "Yang Qing, do you think I am simple, studious and moderate? It is nothing more than the fun I seek. The low-level ones are endless, and the high-level ones cannot be achieved overnight."

Yang Shi sighed slightly and bowed his head: "This makes me seem hypocritical. But Your Majesty, I think Your Majesty can still pursue a higher and farther interest, rather than being confined to the mere hegemony and achievements..."

"I've said before, I'm not that noble. I'm content with these great achievements in this life." Zhao Jiu waved his hand to interrupt him. "Yesterday, I left Wuyue Temple without saying goodbye because of this. Yang Qing may have some knowledge, but the so-called governance of three dynasties is too illusory and cannot be achieved..."

Yang Shiqing knew that the situation was urgent, so he simply gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, Taoism has become a prominent discipline. Since the government wants to establish official studies, it cannot abandon Taoism."

After these words were spoken, Hu Anguo, Luo Congyan, Li Dong, and several other great scholars who had already been in the capital, such as Yin Dun, came out together and bowed their heads in salute on the grass beside the fish pond.

Hearing this, Zhao Jiu unexpectedly nodded: "You are right... Taoism has become a prominent discipline and cannot be ignored. However, I am full of literature. I followed Zhou and Taoism. I entered the pass."

Yang Shi and the others all looked up, and were unable to react for a moment. However, soon, when Minister of State Lu Haowen, who had been silent almost the entire day, stood up to express his gratitude, they immediately realized what Emperor Zhao meant.

Speaking of Taoism, if we trace its origins back to the past, it can be found in two schools of thought. One is the Luo School founded by the two Cheng brothers, and the other is naturally the Guan School founded by Zhang Zai.

These two schools have always been mentioned together, and nowadays any Taoist scholar will inevitably be influenced by these two schools. However, it is worth mentioning that the Guanluo schools, which were once mentioned together, were actually the two schools where Taoism and Neo-Confucianism originated. The situation now is no longer comparable to the past.

Just to talk about the present, Yang Shi, Hu Anguo, Luo Congyan, Li Dong, Yin Dun, and even Xu Jingheng who resigned from his position as prime minister, and Ma Shen, the governor who was far away in Hubei, all of these people's main inheritance was undoubtedly Luoxue. From this list, we can see that the momentum of Luoxue is unstoppable; and the other school, that is, Zhang Zai's Guanxue, had long been swallowed up by Luoxue, but there is no doubt that the Lu family school passed down by Lu Gongzhu, who facilitated Zhang Zai's coming to Beijing, contains obvious parts of Guanxue.

In other words, Emperor Zhao wanted Lu Haowen to be a patchwork monster while recognizing the Guanxue orthodoxy, so as to divide and disintegrate the Taoist force that should not be underestimated.

"Your Majesty!" Yang Shi realized in his heart, and without hesitation, he hurriedly replied, "The Guan and Luo schools have long been one! And how can the Guan school of thought be related to the misleading teachings of Wang Anshi, who is a scourge to the country? Wang Anshi is a man of extraordinary talent and virtue, but his teachings are heretical and must not be involved!"

"How can I not be involved?" Zhao Jiu said proudly. "I want to take four lines from Guan Xue and four lines from King Shu, and make them the orthodoxy..."

"May I ask your Majesty, which four sentences are they?" Yang Shi was completely anxious, as if he was ready to debate with the Emperor Zhao face to face. "I would like to hear it."

"The first four sentences are to establish a mind for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to inherit the lost knowledge of the past sages, and to create peace for all generations! The last four sentences are that the destiny of heaven is not to be feared, the ancestors are not to be followed, and the words of others are not to be worried about! The people are not taxed and the country has enough money!" Zhao Jiu sat still and blurted out. "Take Guan Xue's four sentences and Shu Wang's four sentences, and combine them with the principles obtained by Lu Gongxiang from studying things and looking at the world. That is, the original learning that Lu Xianggong has realized at home these days, which is the learning that I am impressed by after watching the "practice" in Xuande Tower today!"

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