In the Western Garden.
Zhu Youxiao was still fishing, but his luck today seemed not to be very good. Two fish took the bait but they quickly fell off the hook, resulting in Zhu Youxiao not catching any fish today.
I had originally wanted to get some fish to eat, but I couldn't get any.
After thinking for a while, Zhu Youxiao waved to Chen Hong who was not far away.
After Chen Hong came to his side, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Are there still many petitions impeaching Huang Kezun these days?"
Since the incident came out, many people have impeached Huang Kezun. Zhu Youxiao did not even read such memorials because they were of no great significance.
Under such circumstances, Zhu Youxiao asked this question because he actually wanted to see what the general situation in the court was.
"Your Majesty, there are still quite a few memorials impeaching Huang Ge Lao these days." Chen Hong said quickly, "But it's different from before. These days, more people are submitting memorials that agree with Huang Ge Lao's views."
Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked, "Who submitted the papers?"
"Your Majesty, all the officials in the Censorate and the court have submitted memorials, including Li Zhizao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue." After saying this, Chen Hong did not speak any more.
His meaning was very clear, that is, the highest-ranking official who approved of the memorial was Li Zhizao.
After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao smiled. This is quite interesting.
He waved his hand and said, "Then let's get ready. This matter will be handled at tomorrow's court meeting."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong quickly agreed.
After receiving this news, Zhu Youxiao was probably certain in his heart that this matter could be done.
He made up his mind to put an end to this matter once and for all before sunset tomorrow.
The next morning, Zhu Youxiao got up very early, put on his dragon robe with the help of Empress Zhang, had a simple meal, and then walked forward with Chen Hong.
When Zhu Youxiao arrived at the place, the ministers were already waiting there.
Looking at the ministers who came to pay their respects, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "No need to bow to anyone."
After everyone stood up, Zhu Youxiao slowly said, "My health has not been very good these days, and I have been delayed in many matters. Thanks to the efforts of all the ministers, nothing serious has happened in the court. My dear ministers, you have done a good job."
"This is the duty of our subjects." Han Yu, who was standing at the front, said loudly.
Zhu Youxiao nodded and continued, "I have summoned you all here today because I want to ask for your opinions on something regarding the imperial examination curriculum."
"This matter has been so turbulent for so long, it's time for a conclusion. I'm sure everyone is aware of the proposal submitted by Huang Kezun. He proposed replacing the Mencius with the Xunzi. Some ministers have written letters of opposition, while others have written letters of support. I would like to hear the opinions of all of you, my dear ministers."
After Zhu Youxiao said this, no one in the hall stood up to speak.
It's not that they don't want to talk about it, but that they haven't figured out how to say it. This kind of thing is inherently a matter of each person having their own reasons.
Mencius advocated that human nature is good, while Xunzi advocated that human nature is evil, which are in themselves two extremes.
Furthermore, Xunzi emphasized both ritual and law, and even considered law more important than ritual. This can be seen from Xunzi's students, all of whom were masters of the Legalist school.
What is the purpose of bringing up Xunzi now?
Didn’t the Ming Dynasty rule the world with Confucianism?
Now you bring up Xunzi, does that mean the Ming Dynasty is going to change?
As long as Xunzi's ideas were given more weight, the Ming Dynasty would at least be a country ruled by both kings and hegemons. How could anyone want such a thing to happen?
As a Confucian disciple, such things should not be brought up.
But now, some people have proposed to demote Mencius and promote Xunzi. Originally, the person who proposed this should be regarded as a heretic, but now there are people in the court who are willing to support it.
Many people couldn't figure this out, so they couldn't figure out how to say it for a while.
At this moment, someone was the first to step forward.
Zhu Youxiao turned around and saw Cui Chengxiu from the Censorate. He smiled and asked, "What do you want to say, Mr. Cui?"
At this moment, Cui Chengxiu felt very bitter in his heart, but he knew that he had to stand up.
If Eunuch Wei knew that he did not stand up at this time, he would be in great trouble. So Cui Chengxiu had no choice but to stand up.
"Your Majesty, I believe this is feasible," Cui Chengxiu said solemnly. "When did Mencius become a text for the imperial examinations? In the fourth year of Emperor Shenzong's Xining reign in the Northern Song Dynasty, Mencius was first included as a subject in the imperial examinations. After that, Mencius was elevated to the status of a Confucian classic."
"In the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhu Xi combined it with The Analects, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean to form the 'Four Books.' In the first year of the Yuan Dynasty's Zhishun reign, Mencius was given the title of 'Second Sage Duke,' and from then on was known as 'Second Sage,' second only to Confucius in status. What can we learn from this?"
"After Mencius entered the imperial examination system, the Northern Song Dynasty collapsed; after Mencius was listed as one of the Four Books by Zhu Xi, the Southern Song Dynasty fell. And the Yuan Dynasty canonized Mencius as the Second Sage. What was the Yuan Dynasty? It was the Mongol Yuan Dynasty."
"Our Great Ming Emperor, Taizu, expelled the Mongols, restored our Han dynasty, and reclaimed the Chinese land. Therefore, we should not imitate the previous dynasties. Whether it is the corrupt scholars of the Song Dynasty or the beastly Yuan Dynasty, neither can serve as a precedent for our Great Ming."
"I believe it is time to set things right, so I think Xunzi should be included as one of the Four Books."
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