In the final analysis, it is just to crack down on dissidents, there is no other reason.
What Zhu Youxiao just said would definitely be rejected in this era.
No one wanted the emperor to promote Xunzi's theory, because if the emperor promoted Xunzi's theory, many of their privileges would be weakened and many of their ideas would become ineffective. So they would not let the emperor do so.
This is the collective interest of the educated class, and they will subconsciously oppose it. Each person may come up with different reasons, but they will oppose it because it is in the interests of their entire class, and there is no other reason.
Even Song Yingxing's look towards Zhu Youxiao was different.
"Brother, you actually want to learn from Xunzi?" Song Yingxing asked in surprise.
"Isn't it possible?" Zhu Youxiao asked back with a smile on his face.
"But Xunzi..." Song Yingxing hesitated a little.
He originally wanted to say something, but after seeing the smile on Zhu Youxiao's face, he swallowed back what he wanted to say and showed an embarrassed look on his face.
"I told you I wanted to learn from Xunzi, and this is your reaction, Brother Song?" Zhu Youxiao asked sternly, "Brother Song, do you want me to change my ways? If I remain stubborn, do you think you need to punish me? But how is this different from Neo-Confucianism and the School of Mind?"
"You said you think what Your Majesty said makes sense, but are Xunzi's ideas useless? You said you could give Guanxue a try, so why not Xunzi's ideas?"
"You know what I call this? It's called double standards. It means it's okay for me, but not for you."
Song Yingxing looked at Zhu Youxiao with some shame, and after a while he spoke, "My dear brother, your words are like a revelation to me. I couldn't understand it before, but now I understand."
"Thank you, brother." Song Yingxing clasped his fists towards Zhu Youxiao.
"We shouldn't try to decide who's right or wrong, or whose theories are right or wrong. Collusion will only lead to factional strife. Let's just put it into practice and see. Practice is the only criterion for testing truth."
“If it is right, then there will naturally be a good result; if there is no good result, then it proves that it is wrong.”
"We should allow others to have different ideas and tolerate different schools of thought. Even if we need to debate, we should use facts to prove our point, rather than undermining others or silencing them."
Song Yingxing looked at Zhu Youxiao with admiration in his eyes and said with a smile: "My dear brother, you are very talented."
"I disagree with your opinion, but I will defend your right to speak to the death." Zhu Youxiao looked at Song Yingxing and said with a smile, "Perhaps this is what you want. No sectarianism or factionalism. Let the facts speak for themselves, not your words."
"That's right!" Song Yingxing clapped his hands and said, "My dear brother, you are truly talented!"
"Go to the academy. That's where you can show your talents." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "Perhaps after you get there, you will have different ideas and see some different things. Then you may have new ideas."
Zhu Youxiao didn't believe what he had just said.
Although it seems very philosophical, the reality is not so. Reality is always cruel. Things that seem to make sense will inevitably not work in reality.
"Meeting Brother Song today has opened my eyes and made me think of many things. I think we will be different the next time we meet. The mountains remain unchanged, and the rivers flow forever. Let's meet again someday."
After Zhu Youxiao finished speaking, he bowed to Song Yingxing, then turned and walked out.
Looking at Zhu Youxiao's back, Song Yingxing showed a thoughtful expression on his face.
If he still couldn't see the extraordinary nature of the man who called himself his brother, then he wouldn't have to stay in the capital.
But the other party’s name didn’t seem real, and he didn’t leave any contact information with me.
Shaking his head, Song Yingxing smiled bitterly. He hadn't been like this for a long time.
I don’t know when we will meet next time, but the other party seems very confident that he can find me.
Unable to guess what was going on, Song Yingxing had no choice but to put this idea in his mind.
After leaving the tavern, Zhu Youxiao strode forward.
This trip was not in vain. I met Song Yingxing and watched a literary gathering, which was actually a quarrel.
At the same time, I also understood what the party struggles in the Ming Dynasty were all about. The struggles for interests and opinions were intertwined and complicated.
From the moment they entered the court, everyone was different. They represented different regions, different ideologies, and their own interests, and they argued endlessly with each other.
After entering the court, what evolved was political struggle, there was no other possibility.
However, the Donglin Party escalated the situation. They began to exclude dissidents and retaliate.
What followed was revenge. Anyone who stood against them was considered a member of the Donglin Party or the Eunuch Party.
The court was a chaotic mess, with no one immune to the endless debate.
Zhu Youxiao used to think that this was a mess. He used Xu Guangqi, Han Yu, and Sun Chengzong in the cabinet. The court was also intertwined and balanced, which seemed relatively stable.
But in reality, this is not the case.
Zhu Youxiao has been trying to find a way, something ideological, a governing concept that suits this era.
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