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   Chapter 476 473 [Mission Impossible]

  By Xuanwu Lake, there is a gazebo.

  The surrounding area is open and full of flowers and plants, so literati like to gather here.

  There is a debate meeting today.

  Datong Emperor Zhao Han's conceited argument, the cause and effect, has been embellished and spread all over the world. In addition, the government has not been convicted of crimes for words, and now not only associations are common, but people hold debates every few days.

  Zhang Erqi is from Jiyang, Shandong. He hates imperial examinations and refuses to become an official. After more than ten years of drought, locust plagues, military disasters and plagues, Zhang Erqi began to reflect on how to govern the world. His approach was to find out from ancient rituals.

  Only in his thirties, Zhang Erqi is already proficient in the three rituals, namely "Yili", "Zhouli", and "Book of Rites".

  He taught a private school in his hometown, and scholars often visited him. Since last autumn, primary schools have been built in various parts of Shandong. Zhang Erqi didn't want to be a primary school teacher, and private schools couldn't recruit many students, so he just stayed at home and studied behind closed doors.

  The magistrate of Jiyang County admired his talent and visited him personally to ask for advice.

  After some academic exchanges, the magistrate said: "Mr.'s talent should be heard all over the world. Now that Shandong is withered and the style of writing is declining, why not go to Nanjing to spread knowledge?"

  So, Zhang Erqi came to Nanjing and found a job as an editor in a bookstore.

  He also contributed articles to various literary agencies in Nanjing, and published several articles discussing "rituals" one after another. In just half a year, he became famous and was besieged by opponents at the same time.

At this moment, Zhang Erqi is expounding his own point of view: "Husband etiquette is to restrain people's arrogance and resist people's cowardice, so as to be in the middle. The hostages in the world are inconvenient, and they can't be safe. If they are uneasy, they may become Dao Lie refers to the things of rites and praises the frank and easy words, so as to study the words from the deepest to the greatest to the utmost, so the one who sticks to the rites is the way of unity of heart..."

  Probably means: Li can restrain people's surly spirit and resist people's cowardice. People in the world don't understand the essence of etiquette, so they can't really observe etiquette. Failure to abide by etiquette may result in a decline in morality and the collapse of ritual and music. People point to gifts (archways, guidelines, vulgar customs, etc.) and say that rituals are these things, which are easy to do. Then go to study Gangchang Confucianism, study the Chaste Archway, and use the principles of heaven and earth to package and explain it. In this way, everyone's heart of abiding by etiquette will become abiding by the rules and regulations.

   All the scholars couldn't help but nodded, even Zhang Erqi's opponents thought that this passage was level.

But then Zhang Erqi said: "Rites are the collection and embodiment of Dao. Even if there is a way of benevolence and goodness, if you don't use rituals as a way of enlightenment, you can't spread it to all people in the world. What the sage supports is what the ritual supports." "What the sages object to is what Li opposes..."

   "Ridiculous," a scholar interrupted immediately, "You simply say that a saint is a rite!"

Zhang Erqi said: "The reason why a sage is holy is because he knows and observes the rites. Therefore, if the sage is indecent, if he knows the rites and keeps the rites, he is holy. If you can also know the rites and keep the rites, you can also be saints. This Li is the real ritual, not the appearance of the moral code. The moral code is the performance of the ritual, but not the ritual itself."

   There is no solution to this statement, because he himself defines a saint and blocks all avenues of rebuttal for opponents.

  Another scholar said: "Love ceremony, affection ceremony, courtesy is nothing but love."

Zhang Erqi shook his head and said, "Love is divided into good and evil, but etiquette is not different from good to evil. If there is evil, you should suppress it with courtesy. It's like I love a woman, but she is married. Although this feeling is not evil However, if it is not in line with etiquette, I cannot be a lady and a gentleman. If I ask for mercy in everything, the morality will be corrupted and the world will be in chaos. In the old dynasty, civil officials were corrupt and military generals were tyrannical. Restrict education."

A scholar sneered and said, "Arguing against reason! Those examples you just cited are all about desire, not emotion. Zhu Ziyan, preserve the law of nature, and destroy human desire. Marriage of husband and wife, full stomach, is also the law of heaven; wives and concubines gather in groups, big fish and big meat , human desires."

  Zhang Erqi said: "Observing the ritual means abiding by the principles of heaven, which is exactly what I said."

Another scholar asked: "Then tell me, should widows remarry? I think they should remarry, but Zhu Zi advised widows not to remarry. Is Zhu Zi a sage? If he is a sage, based on what you just said, the sage supports it. Even if Li supports it, is it also an act of indecency for a widow to remarry?"

Zhang Erqi said: "A widow should not remarry according to the etiquette, but everything has the right to change. Now the north has gone through wars, husbands lose their wives, and wives lose their husbands. If widowers and widows can reorganize their families, they can help each other and prosper People, this is the way of human relations. Human relations are also rituals."

"Haha, human relations are love, so what is etiquette?" The scholar laughed, "Widowers and widows get married, and it is reasonable to break the etiquette. What does this mean? It shows that when there is a chance of change, love should be the first. Ruthless etiquette, then It's evil etiquette and fallacy!"

Zhang Erqi said: "No, no. Marriage of widowers and widows is a contingency change in the dynasty. If the population is prosperous in the future, widows should not remarry. Widows don't marry, and they stick to each other. They are like loyal ministers and good generals. The Son of Heaven is from one to the end. These three cardinal principles and five permanent principles must never be changed."

   "Fart, women are human too. Widowers can remarry, why can't widows remarry?"

A scholar shouted wildly: "It's only right and proper for widows to remarry. Your Majesty encourages widows to remarry, and you are a wise king in this world. Is it possible that you still want to criticize Your Majesty? I think you are a traitor and a traitor sent by the Tartars to disrupt public opinion!" "

  Zhang Erqi was also angry: "Don't slander me! Your Majesty encourages widows to remarry because of the changes in the troubled times. Revive the north as soon as possible!"

  The two sides are not clear about it at all, because everyone has different definitions of love and propriety.

   Don’t feel that you are full, this is really a national event, and they want to use their own ideas to build the social values ​​of Datong New Dynasty.

  Zhang Erqi in another time and space, because the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains, his views became more conservative.

  In the society at the end of Ming Dynasty, the ideological atmosphere was divided.

   Some people are extremely conservative, some people are extremely open, and more and more open people.

  An open-minded person, advocating self-worth, pursuing equality between men and women, and advocating comity and affection. Moreover, the academic mainstream is tracing back to the pre-Qin philosophers. Even those who abide by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism like to study the value of various schools of thought, and the combination of theories of the philosophers is also recognized.

  Historically, after the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, the ideological atmosphere took a sharp turn for the worse.

  People don't pursue themselves anymore, and they don't talk about equality between men and women. They still think that courtesy should be used to restrain affection. Hundreds of schools of thought were rejected and slandered, and they only recognized Cheng Zhu Neo Confucianism, and the combination of kings and tyrants was changed to only respect the way of kings.

   Now that Zhao Han established a new dynasty, he did not castrate social thought, but aroused more complex and diverse academic trends.

   There are even heterogeneous suggestions: Men can take concubines, but why can't women have multiple husbands? The imperial court should support the freedom of marriage, as long as a woman is capable, she can also marry more husbands.

  This is an era in which a hundred flowers bloom, and it is also an era in which demons dance wildly.

  Cao Fengji, who was the master of the Qing Dynasty, was standing next to Qian Qianyi at this moment, listening to these scholars discussing love and etiquette together.

  Cao Fengji sighed: "Nanjing's literary style is prosperous, it really far exceeds that of the Northland!"

Qian Qianyi said: "Your Majesty, although you are self-willed, you do not intervene in academic disputes. This is also very good. It's just that it is too chaotic. There are hundreds of theories in various places, and there are many eccentric theories. This is not conducive to the imperial court. Rule, His Majesty should be a little restrained."

  Cao Fengji asked: "Does the shepherd think that the Datong court can last long?"

   "Naturally, it will last forever," Qian Qianyi said with a smile, "Could it be that the intruders in the northwest and the tartars in Liaodong can still win the world?"

  Cao Fengji nodded and said: "The late students also think so."

  Qian Qianyi suddenly complained: "The new dynasty is at its peak, but we can only watch from the sidelines. In such a situation, what can we do? It's a pity, a pity."

Cao Fengji took the opportunity to say: "The shepherd has countless disciples and old officials, why not form a literary society and teach your own knowledge? The old Li Ge (Li Banghua) in the cabinet heard that the children of the family are quite powerful in the court and the army. Such a powerful minister , the family dominates, sooner or later it will be taboo by His Majesty. If this person falls from power, he will definitely be reused by His Majesty as a sage of the people like Mu Weng."

  This spy wants to stir up factionalism in Nanjing.

Qian Qianyi looked quite moved, and sighed again: "The new dynasty is not like the old dynasty, and with my reputation, I can't respond to everyone. In the past, many wealthy businessmen and scholars donated money to restore the society. Now I don't have the financial resources to do it." Big movement?"

  Cao Fengji said: "I was born late, and I have some money in my hand. I would like to help the shepherd."

   Qian Qianyi did not directly agree, but instead asked: "Are you the secret agent sent by Li Zicheng?"

  Cao Fengji was taken aback, then smiled and said, "The shepherd has good eyesight."

Qian Qianyi said: "Li Zicheng can't do anything, but if he wants to give me money, I can do something for him. Well, I can't be in a high position in this life, and I can only get some money to support my life." gone."

  Cao Fengji has no doubts, because this kind of operation is normal, and Chongzhen has a lot of similar people under his command.

  Cao Fengji's mission to the south this time is not to lure anyone to join the enemy, because that is obviously unrealistic. His task is to bribe officials and scholars, and obtain all kinds of intelligence and information. It is best to mess up the Nanjing court and make Zhao Han suspicious of those important officials who can do things.

  The two stopped talking and went home separately.

  In the afternoon, Zuo Xiaocheng came to Cao Fengji's home: "Shopkeeper Cao, I have been contacted, but this person has no ambitions and no abilities."

   "No rush, take your time." Cao Fengji smiled.

  Zuo Xiaocheng spread out his hands: "Shopkeeper Cao, that...my hands are a little tight."

  With a kind smile on his face, Cao Fengji asked someone to fetch five taels of silver, stuffed it into Zuo Xiaocheng's hand, and said, "Do something for me, there is plenty of silver, and there will be great rewards in the future."

   What Zuo Xiaocheng came into contact with was the grandson of the son-in-law of the previous dynasty, that is, the son-in-law who brought Zhu Cihong and Zhu Yuxi to Nanjing. His family was also brought to Nanjing to settle down in the spring of the following year.

  Cao Fengji intends to engage in the trick of restoring the Ming prince. He does not seek success, but only seeks to cause trouble. It is best to involve some important officials in Nanjing.

  As for Zuo Xiaocheng, he met him when he was holding a literary conference, and he was the first one to be bribed by him.

  All the details have been found out, the great Ming Jiangxi scholar. When Zhao Han's territory consisted of only one town, Zuo Xiaocheng helped the government to suppress it, and took refuge in several governors, governors, prefects, and general soldiers.

  Now, Zuo Xiaocheng is completely down and out, wandering around Nanjing all day, making a living by doing cultural favors for others.

   Besides, Zuo Xiaocheng is happy to gamble. The casinos in Nanjing have long been banned, but there are always outlaws who gather to gamble in private.

   Down and out, likes to gamble, and has a grudge against the Emperor of Datong, can't he be easily bought?

  Zuo Xiaocheng took the silver and went straight to the Qinhuai River, happily inviting people to drink flower wine. After closing the door, he said to the people who drank the flower wine together: "This is a whimsical plan. It actually wants to encourage the former prince's son-in-law to bring the former prince back to the throne, and also wants to involve the children of the ministers of the court. The action is generous. Give money every time you do something."

  The person at the same table ordered: "You should try your best to do what he asked you to do. After the failure, it would be better to escape back to Liaodong with him."

  Zuo Xiaocheng suddenly became anxious: "Don't, Liaodong is bitterly cold, and Tartars are everywhere. Isn't this telling me to die?"

The person at the same table said: "There is an order from above to develop detailed operations in Liaodong. They are not ordinary spies, but those who can talk to the nobles of the Tartars. We will take good care of the children born in your outer room. We will take the exam and become an official in the future." Definitely extra points. If you can come back alive from Liaodong, the whole family will have 30 acres of farmland as a reward. Don’t worry, the Tartars are very good at fine farming, and you can eat delicious food and spicy food when you go to Liaodong. If you are captured by the Datong Army, you can report it Identity, just bring you back."

  Zuo Xiaocheng reluctantly agreed: "Okay, let's go to Liaodong."

  (end of this chapter)