Perhaps in the eyes of many people, Hai Rui has become senile and confused.
But in Zhu Youxiao's view, it was precisely at this moment that Hai Rui was most lucid. This minister, who had dedicated everything to the Ming Dynasty, had by this age seen clearly that only harsh punishments could govern the country.
The Ming Dynasty was on the verge of extinction. It was rotten to the core and the people were suffering terribly.
He may have thought of many ways, but in the end, Hai Rui still couldn't find a suitable one.
The people were under immense pressure and on the verge of collapse. Hai Rui knew that if he didn't do something, the Ming Dynasty would collapse.
The only way he could think of to ease the situation was to kill corrupt officials and restore the criminal law of the time of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang: anyone who embezzled more than 80 strings of cash would be skinned and stuffed with straw.
But if this were done, Hai Rui would probably be the only official left in the Ming Dynasty. The reason is simple: everyone else would be beheaded.
Zhu Youxiao admired Hai Rui, both for his almost strict integrity and for his farsightedness.
In comparison, Yang Lian's selection of honest officials seems like a joke.
How many practical things did Hai Rui do?
What did Yang Lian do again?
With a soft sigh, Zhu Youxiao collected his thoughts. He knew that Chen Kedao could not be Hai Rui.
Although both of them are juren, they are different.
Looking at Chen Kedao, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Are you Li Zhi's student?"
After hearing Zhu Youxiao's question, Chen Youdao was stunned.
In fact, Chen Kedao was wondering all the way why His Majesty summoned him to the capital?
I am just a juren, and I have no reputation, let alone my fame among the princes. Why does Your Majesty summon me?
Although he also asked the Jinyiwei, those people were like taciturn people and said nothing.
Now after listening to Zhu Youxiao's words, Chen Kedao had some ideas. It turned out that it was all for his teacher.
However, Chen Kedao had another worry, that is, His Majesty asked him to come to Beijing, could it be that he wanted to kill him?
Chen Kedao was well aware of how unpopular his teacher's theories were, and he still vividly remembered how his teacher died.
If someone had spread rumors in front of His Majesty and was plotting against me, I would probably be in great danger this time.
However, now that things have come to this, Chen Kedao is determined to defend his Taoist tradition.
My teacher can grab the razor and slit his throat to death, but I cannot bring shame to my teacher.
Thinking of this, Chen Kedao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am indeed your disciple. I have followed you for many years and have always served you."
After hearing what Chen Kedao said, Zhu Youxiao nodded gently and said slowly: "Then tell me about your teacher's theory."
Chen Kedao was stunned. His Majesty wanted him to talk about his teacher's theories?
You must know that the teacher's doctrine has not been recognized by the mainstream. Especially for the emperor, the teacher's doctrine is more like treason.
"What? You've been with your teacher for so many years, haven't you learned anything?" Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but speak when he saw Chen Kedao didn't say anything.
"Your Majesty, I was a little excited and didn't know where to begin." Chen Kedao said respectfully, "I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Zhu Youxiao nodded to show that he understood.
Glancing at Chen Kedao, Zhu Youxiao said, "Then go back and prepare. As for what to talk about, why not start with your teacher's book burning?"
"Book Burning" is a collection of works written by Li Zhi, who completed the book in the 18th year of the Wanli reign (1590) when he was 64 years old.
"Book Burning" is also known as "Li's Book Burning", which consists of 6 volumes.
The book's bold criticism of Confucianism and Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism reflects its anti-traditional, anti-authoritarian and anti-dogmatic spirit.
Chen Kedao never imagined that the emperor summoned him to the capital not to kill him, but to have him give him a lecture.
It would have been fine if he was just giving a lecture, but he actually asked me to talk about the teacher's book burning.
What was written in the book burning?
Chen Kedao knew it all too well.
As for Chen Kedao, he was very worried that he would be dragged out and beheaded by the emperor while he was speaking.
But he also knew he couldn't refuse.
But it was not because of the emperor's coercion, but because he wanted to prove himself for his teacher and to vent his anger at the same time.
You have to know that he has not had a good life these years because of his identity as a teacher and a student.
Promoting the teacher's academic achievements is a student's duty, even if it means sacrificing one's life for it.
Chen Kedao was excited at this time.
He knew the opportunity was before him.
This is an opportunity to promote the teachings of one's teacher. If the teacher's teachings are favored by the emperor, then the teacher will be famous for eternity. I will also be remembered in history!
At this moment, Chen Kedao thought of a person, and that person was Dong Zhongshu.
In the first year of Yuanguang reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Wu of Han issued an edict to solicit strategies for governing the country. In his famous "Strategies for Selecting Talented and Virtuous People", Dong Zhongshu combined Confucianism with the social needs of the time and absorbed theories from other schools of thought to create a new ideological system with Confucianism as its core, which was deeply appreciated by Emperor Wu of Han.
This ideological system systematically proposed the theories of "correspondence between Heaven and man", "great unification", and the propositions of "all that is not in the six arts and Confucius's teachings should be cut off and not allowed to advance", and "abolishing all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone".
From then on, the roots of Huang-Lao philosophy were cut off, allowing Confucianism to flourish.
My teacher is a disciple of Confucianism. Why can't the School of Mind cut off the roots of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism?
As long as I can come up with a set of theories that Your Majesty likes, like Dong Zhongshu, I will be able to cut off the roots of Huang-Lao school of thought like Dong Zhongshu.
Using his teacher's theory to cut off the roots of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, when he thought of this, Chen Kedao could no longer suppress his excitement.
For this goal, I would even sacrifice my life!
Thinking of this, Chen Kedao knelt down on the ground and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I will prepare carefully after returning and will never let Your Majesty down."
Zhu Youxiao smiled softly, waved his hand and said, "I was too anxious. You have come all the way to the capital, exhausted. You really should rest and prepare yourself."
After saying this, Zhu Youxiao turned to look at Chen Hong and directly ordered: "Tell the Jinyiwei to be more careful."
"I understand." Chen Hong quickly agreed.
"Alright, you can step back and rest. When you're ready, come back to the palace to give me a lecture." Zhu Youxiao smiled and waved his hand, his tone gentle and soft, but also a little expectant. He wanted to let Chen Kedao know that he had high hopes for you and that you had to work hard.
"Your Majesty, I thank you." Chen Kedao bowed respectfully and walked out.
Looking at Chen Kedao's back, Zhu Youxiao sighed softly.
This Chen Kedao looked pretty good. Of course, he was definitely far inferior to his teacher.
If Li Zhi was standing in front of him at this moment, he would probably have been talking to him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
