Chapter 355 Let the Bullets Fly for a While
"Oh? Sit down."
Behind the large desk, the world-renowned scholar of the time smiled and pointed to an empty chair in the room.
Zhengyang was obviously more patient with this student whom he respected very much.
He smiled and said, "Since you came here so late at night to ask about this, it seems to be a difficult problem. Tell me, what is the problem?"
Lu Cheng did not refuse and sat down first, then said respectfully to his mentor:
"May I ask, sir, how do you explain the concept of mind being principle?"
“Is it possible to appeal to one’s conscience?”
“How should we view the unity of knowledge and action?”
He didn't waste any words and just asked the question directly without any further explanation.
Because he understood that his mentor didn't need it.
If these three incomprehensible words were thrown out like this, ordinary people would be completely confused and unable to understand them.
If ordinary readers knew this, they could only understand the superficial meaning and would not be able to connect the three together, so they still would not understand it.
When someone like Mr. Song heard it, he could sense the mystery...
But for Zhengyang, there is no need for a long speech. Just three or two words are enough to explain the problem.
As he asked the question, Zhengyang, who was originally smiling, slowly stopped smiling.
The great scholar of the time frowned, first smacked his lips, then pondered, and then gradually became absorbed.
No one spoke in the room; the only sound in the silence was the chirping of insects outside the window.
The master and the disciple sat in silence, sitting across the dim lampshade on the table.
Lu Cheng didn't dare to make a sound to disturb his mentor. To him, these few words were like a sharp dagger, tearing open the fortress built up by decades of reading, and causing the theoretical framework in his mind to tremble slightly.
Although it was far from the point where his heart collapsed after just a few words, Lu Cheng had a premonition that 'the mind is the principle' was like a seed that had been planted in his heart.
Even if he deliberately ignores it or disagrees, he will never forget it from the moment he hears it.
Even the seed will take root and sprout, gradually growing into a towering tree, and opening the sturdy city gate.
He even had a strong premonition that if this seed spread like a dandelion, it would be carried by the wind and spread all over the earth.
In the future, it may grow into a new behemoth that shakes and impacts the original "orthodox learning".
It was precisely because he had foreseen that possibility that he felt genuinely uneasy and fearful.
Especially since the teacher was about to discuss learning with Dong Xuan, when suddenly such an idea emerged that could fundamentally challenge the "orthodox learning"...
Is it a coincidence?
Lu Cheng dared not ignore it, this was the biggest reason why he rushed here overnight!
Time passed slowly, and Lu Cheng gradually became restless. The fear in his heart spread like weeds.
Because my mentor has not given an answer yet!
Could it be that even my mentor couldn’t solve or refute it for the time being?
a long time.
Mr. Zhengyang finally looked at him, frowned, and said slowly:
"I need to think about it. You go back first and come back tomorrow."
Lu Cheng just felt dizzy!
These words sounded extremely familiar to him. He opened his mouth, but finally stood up, bowed, walked out of the room with heavy steps, and closed the door.
After walking a dozen more steps in the cold night, he turned around and saw his mentor's motionless shadow, like a stone sculpture, reflected in the window of the inn.
No words were spoken that night.
It was as if nothing had happened, and no one knew that the bullet Zhao Duan had passed through the air had quietly hit Zhengyang's forehead.
…
…
The next morning was the third to last day of the "Meiyuan Academic Discussion".
The tense atmosphere in the city grew thicker.
Zhao Duan took a car to Xiuwenguan early in the morning to see how Master Dong was preparing.
But he came back empty-handed and was told that the Grand Tutor had gone to the Imperial College.
Zhao Duan was surprised and rushed to the highest institution of learning in the Dayu Dynasty for the first time.
The one who received him was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, a fourth-rank official, an old man with a scholarly demeanor and elegant temperament.
"You are honored to be here, Lord Zhao. What a rare guest." The old chief priest greeted him with a smile.
Zhao Duan smiled and went straight to the point:
"I heard that the Grand Master was here, so I followed him to take a look."
The old chief priest led him along a corridor filled with books. On the pink and white walls were paintings of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. Even the red-lacquered wooden pillars were inscribed with verses of poetry.
As the two walked, they only saw a few teachers and students. The Imperial College seemed particularly empty today.
"The Grand Tutor is giving a lecture in the hall inside, and all the teachers and students in the prison have gone there to listen." The old chief priest explained.
Zhao Duan asked in surprise, "Lecture? At this time?"
The old priest explained earnestly:
"Discussing learning isn't something that can be prepared behind closed doors. While the Grand Master doesn't need to publicize it, he will still practice rehearsals."
According to him, most of the time there are no secret weapons in academic debates.
After all, both sides of the debate are world-renowned scholars whose views and works have long been made public and are no longer secrets. Therefore, in order to win, in addition to the level of knowledge itself, a certain amount of practice is also required.
It was with the help of the Imperial College that Grand Tutor Dong honed his academic viewpoints, sorted out his knowledge through lectures, and accepted questions from students to fill in the gaps and become eloquent.
"I see." Zhao Duan suddenly realized that he was indeed lacking experience in such professional matters.
"Shall we go straight there?"
He had already heard faint sounds coming from the front.
The old priest said with a smile, "If you want to listen, please follow me."
As he spoke, the old priest led him around a small path and climbed up a two-story building.
When Zhao Duan went upstairs, he was surprised:
"His Majesty?!"
I saw that standing by the railing on the second floor was the Empress of Dayu, Xu Zhenguan, dressed in casual clothes with flowing black hair!
"Your Majesty, why are you here too?"
Zhao Duan smiled instinctively and walked quickly forward to salute.
Xu Zhenguan turned around, his eyebrows relaxed on his beautiful face, and he smiled:
"Only you are allowed to come, but I am not allowed to come and see?"
"That's not what I meant!" Zhao Duan waved his hands hurriedly and asked curiously, "Your Majesty, are you also looking at the Grand Tutor..."
"Yes." Xu Zhenguan turned his head and looked down.
Zhao Duan stood beside her and followed her gaze.
From this angle, across a rockery, you can see an extremely spacious open-air lecture hall. Master Dong is sitting on the platform giving a lecture. Below him are the densely packed teachers and students of the Imperial College, surrounding the hall so tightly that there is no room for movement. It is a spectacular sight.
With the hearing ability of a practitioner, one can hear Dong Xuan's lectures and his debates with students.
"Your Majesty, I will go down first." The old chief priest was a smart man. He led the way and went downstairs.
Xu Zhenguan arrived quietly without any entourage. At this time, only the emperor and his minister were left in the pavilion.
"The Grand Tutor has lost weight in just a few days because of dealing with Zhengyang." Xu Zhenguan said softly with emotion in his eyes.
Zhao Duan stood in awe. "I've also heard that the entire Xiuwen Academy is busy with this matter. The Grand Master is old, yet he still shoulders this heavy responsibility. He truly is the pillar of the nation."
Xu Zhenguan asked, "What is the public opinion outside the city?"
This is the tone of talking about work.
Zhao Duan is a man who knows how to judge the occasion. In this kind of atmosphere and occasion, he would not try to flirt with girls, so he said seriously:
"Generally speaking, there are naturally more voices supporting the Grand Tutor, but there are also some scholars who like to sing a different tune. I have sent people to monitor them and compile a list of them. However, the academic discussion has not yet begun, and there are too many people paying attention, so it is difficult to handle. I plan to wait until the matter is over and then screen them to see how many of them are restless."
Xu Zhenguan did not comment on this, which was considered as his tacit agreement.
She suddenly said, "Xu Zudi came to the palace to plead for Yunyang, but I denied his request."
There was actually such a thing... Zhao Duan was slightly surprised, thinking that this prince still cared about his aunt who was confined to the nunnery...
The Empress's words seemed to be a statement... She said it to herself to make herself feel at ease?
Zhao Duan agreed, "Your Highness will surely understand your Majesty's good intentions."
Xu Zhenguan laughed at herself, and a hint of sigh appeared in her beautiful eyes. She didn't know whether it was because of these words or because of the uncles and aunts who were rushing to attack her.
"That Zhengyang was invited out of seclusion by Prince Mu. Do you know this?" Xu Zhenguan said softly.
Zhao Duan nodded and asked curiously:
"Speaking of which, Zhengyang is also strange. If he was hostile to us, he waited three years before coming down the mountain to voice his opposition. If he was bribed by Prince Mu, he refused the court's invitation to join the Xiuwen Academy.
Could it be that he is truly devoted and has accepted Prince Mu as his master? But when he came to the capital, he didn't show any determination to fight to the death, and he even left some room for maneuver. It's very strange."
Since Zhenbao took the initiative to mention Prince Mu, Zhao Duan no longer had to be shy about the topic. He decisively stood on the side of the empress and was filled with righteous indignation.
Xu Zhenguan said softly, "Because Zhengyang has received favors from Prince Mu."
"oh?"
"Zhengyang was born into the Shi family, a family of officials. He himself served as an official in other places, with outstanding achievements and talents. His father was an official in Yunfu Road, and later fell seriously ill. At that time, Prince Mu intervened, using the power of the palace to find famous doctors and prescribe rare and powerful medicines. He spent a lot of effort and kept his father alive for two years.
After his father's death, Zhengyang resigned from his official position and returned home to observe mourning. Later, he immersed himself in learning, writing books and becoming increasingly famous, but he no longer wanted to serve in government. "Xu Zhenguan explained.
Zhao Duan was surprised:
"So, this person came to Beijing to repay a favor?"
This could explain why he did not come out to express opposition two years before the empress ascended the throne, but now he has come to Beijing.
"Probably," Xu Zhenguan sighed.
"If I had known this, I would have taken him here by force and saved myself the trouble today."
After a pause, she turned to look at her confidant: "Who do you think will win this time?"
(End of this chapter)
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