Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

“Silver Cheek Flower…” Zhu Biao murmured, “This plant is rare and is often a tribute from foreign lands.”

Gu Yuan added, "We found that the person who bought the incense was a scholar named Zhu Zhifang. He claimed to be a scholar, but in reality, he was the head of a book club in the capital. This coincided with the opening time of Qingce Hall."

Zhu Biao's expression turned grim: "Is this an attempt to sow discord?"

Gu Yuan nodded: "I'm afraid someone deliberately exposed the relationship between Qingce Hall and the Crown Prince, and then stirred up resentment among the scholars."

Zhu Biao sneered: "Truly a brilliant move."

Chen Xiwen angrily said, "His Highness the Crown Prince should publicly vindicate the Qingce Hall!"

"No." Zhu Biao pressed down with his palm, "Don't make a sound."

"Your Highness?"

“If I were to legitimize the hall, it would confirm that it was set up by the Crown Prince and that we had fallen into a trap; if I were to order its elimination, I would lose the hearts of the people. Now, only… Uncle Wang can step forward.”

Even after nightfall, the lights in the side room of Qingce Hall remained lit.

After listening to Gu Yuan's report, Zhu Han showed no anger. Instead, he slowly sat down and said softly, "Very good, finally someone has started to make a move."

"Your Majesty?"

Zhu Han's lips curled into a smirk: "If no one disturbs us, I'm afraid this plan will be set up too slowly. Now, well..."

He looked at the flickering shadows in the candlelight, a sudden interest in his eyes: "This game of chess has only just begun."

Before the spring thunder had even sounded, undercurrents were already churning in the capital.

A new notice was suddenly posted in front of Qingce Hall.

The ink was not yet dry, but the running script was fluent, and each word was resolute: "Strategies are neither the private domain of the court nor the incompetence of the common people; the Way resides in the hearts of the people and cannot be bound by any single system."

The inscription was signed by Zhu Hanming. The crowd below the hall watched for three days and three nights, and the students still burned incense and read it.

At the same time, three lectures at the Imperial Academy were cancelled.

The students split into two factions: one faction advocated the supremacy of classical texts and ridiculed Qingcetang for its "heretical and disorderly teachings"; the other faction championed "the needs of the people" and secretly followed Du He and Chen Xiwen to listen to their lectures.

The academic atmosphere at Beijing Middle School was shattered from that moment on.

Meanwhile, voices of unrest were gradually rising within the court.

In the inner residence of the imperial city in the northwest, Zhu Han leaned back on a couch, holding a scroll of the "Rites of Zhou," but occasionally turning to blank pages.

Gu Yuan sat beside him, his face solemn.

"Your Highness, Zhu Zhifang has been found and is currently being held in the secret chambers of the Jing Si."

Zhu Han didn't even look up, and asked calmly, "Have you found out who instigated this?"

Gu Yuan shook his head: "He only said that someone gave him a scroll of strategy manuscript, promised him three hundred gold pieces, and asked him to take responsibility of Qingce Hall to the Crown Prince."

"What about the draft?"

"here."

Gu Yuan unfolded a tattered page of the strategy; the writing was skillful and the arguments were ingenious, clearly not the work of Zhu Zhifang.

Zhu Han stared at it for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly, "I recognize this brushstroke."

Gu Yuan opened his eyes: "Your Highness recognizes him?"

“This person’s characters are extremely sharp, and the ending strokes are often short and abrupt, which is an old habit of the ‘Lu School’.”

"The Lumen School? That's right..."

Zhu Han lifted the manuscript and shook it, revealing a barely perceptible "卯" character in the light and shadow.

"Lu Zhenyang".

Gu Yuan was so surprised that he sat up straight: "Lu Zhenyang, the former Chancellor of the Imperial Academy? Didn't he retire many years ago and live in Jinling?"

"He did indeed return to his hometown, but his disciples remained in the capital."

Zhu Han sneered, "This old fox is very good at hiding. No wonder he has refused to answer the imperial edict and failed to take the imperial examinations all these years. The court has been helpless against him."

"Your Highness, what's next..."

"Investigate the movements of his disciples, especially his newly acquired 'eighth disciple,' Xu Shanyao."

"Xu Shanyao?"

"Although this person has little literary reputation, he is steady in his actions. If I am not mistaken, he will make some moves in the capital soon."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Shen Zhen whispered, "Your Highness, a secret report has come from the Eastern Palace that His Highness the Crown Prince will personally inspect the Imperial Academy's lecture hall and read aloud the 'Instructions on Teaching' issued by Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang."

Zhu Han raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone unchanged: "He actually chose this time?"

Gu Yuan said in a low voice, "Is the Crown Prince trying to stabilize the conflict between the schools of thought?"

“No,” Zhu Han shook his head, “I want to personally step into that battle.”

In the Imperial Academy lecture hall, on the jade steps, Zhu Biao, dressed in a black robe, with his hair tied up with a silver hairpin, stood solemnly.

He slowly walked up into the hall, and more than a hundred students all stood up to pay their respects, some with reverence and others with doubt, all of which were evident in his eyes.

"Gentlemen," Zhu Biao said in a calm voice.

"Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang rose from humble beginnings, drawing on the wisdom of many schools of thought to achieve unification, never taking any one school of thought as the standard. Today, the academic atmosphere is chaotic, so I wish to come here in person to lecture and read with you all."

He paused for a moment, then reached out and took out a scroll of imperial edicts, which he unrolled and read aloud:

"Scholars should not be confined by their own schools of thought; their strategies should serve the country, not their own fame. Those who dare to disobey this precept will be expelled from the Imperial Academy."

The students below immediately erupted in uproar.

"This instruction was not established today, but was written by Emperor Taizu himself?" some questioned.

Zhu Biao smiled slightly: "The Emperor Taizu's handwriting has been stored in the Grand Secretariat. If I were to make such a claim, I am willing to be flogged in court."

After those words, no one dared to retaliate.

Meanwhile, Zhu Han had already strolled over to a corner of the side eaves of the lecture hall, watching this scene with his hands behind his back and a smile in his eyes.

"He's starting to look more and more like a prince," he said softly.

Shen Zhen stepped aside and said, "Won't Your Highness step in to help?"

Zhu Han shook his head: "This is his game. My game is elsewhere."

He turned and left, his figure disappearing into the street and alley, vanishing in an instant.

That evening, a man suddenly volunteered to give a lecture in Qingce Hall.

His name was Xu Shanyao. He came from a humble background, but he spoke with a strong Beijing accent and was fluent in Taoist language. He attracted a hundred people to listen to him in one hall.

Du He stood below the hall, his brows slightly furrowed, while Chen Xiwen stared intently at the young man with eyes like lightning.

"What do you think of him?" Du asked in a low voice.

"Speech is acceptable, but people cannot be trusted."

"Why?"

"His strategy was simple, but every sentence led to the idea that 'one need not rely on kings and nobles.' This man was very good at hiding his true intentions."

As night deepened, in the back hall of Qingce Hall, a secret letter was delivered by pigeon and landed in Zhu Han's hands.

He unfolded it and read only a few words, but his eyes suddenly turned cold.

[Xu Shanyao, privately taught by Lu Zhenyang, will soon gather scholars to plan the establishment of a "Society for Public Discussion." His intention is to win over the Qingce Hall and sever its connection with the Crown Prince.]

Zhu Han slowly closed the secret letter, turned to Shen Zhen and said:

"It's time to close the net."

"Is Your Highness going to personally intervene?"

Zhu Han stood up, straightened his clothes, and spoke in a cold tone:
"No, let them talk first. When they're completely absorbed in their stories, I'll cut them off with one stroke."

"At that time, they will realize the weight of the king's decree and that policies are not something that can be simply followed by the common people."

Inside the palace, Zhu Biao had recovered from his illness, his expression was clear and his demeanor composed.

He would read books every morning, devise strategies in the afternoon, and recite history at night, bringing a fresh atmosphere to the Eastern Palace. In the afternoon, Zhu Biao, dressed in a blue robe, stood in his study with several volumes of policy essays spread out before him, while Chen Xiwen wrote annotations beside them.

"These three volumes were all written by newly appointed scholars from the common people, and they all discuss education and administration, but their views differ. This volume says, 'If learning is not integrated with propriety, the people's hearts will easily scatter,' while that volume says, 'If propriety is not in line with the times, it will become a hindrance.' Which one does Your Highness think is better?"

Zhu Biao moved his fingertips back and forth between the two scrolls, remaining silent for a long time.

Suddenly he pushed the two scrolls aside and picked up the third scroll: "This scroll is the best."

Chen Xiwen was taken aback: "This scroll is merely average; what makes it excellent?"

Therefore, this person wrote: "Those who discuss policy today mostly talk about governing the country and bringing peace to the people, but they do not understand the essence of policy, thus stopping people from making wild guesses."

Chen Xiwen suddenly realized: "Does Your Highness believe that the initial purpose of policy proposals should be to win people's hearts?"

Zhu Biao laughed: "You haven't seen through it yet. All the strategies in the world are not for the people, nor for the ruler, but only for the sake of power."

"Position?"

"When the momentum rises from above, people naturally follow it. The reason why a strategy is passed down is not because its reasoning is moving, but because there is someone who can hold power over it."

"If the strategy loses its momentum, no one will believe it anymore."

Chen Xiwen stared blankly at Zhu Biao, and murmured unconsciously, "Your Highness has been... becoming more and more like a prince lately."

Zhu Biao was taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled and shook his head: "No, I am far less insightful than Uncle Wang."

Just then, a eunuch rushed in and whispered, "Your Highness, the Prince requests your presence at his residence."

Zhu Biao glanced around, pondered for a moment, and nodded in agreement.

At Zhu Han's residence, the bamboo rustled in the wind, and the pond rippled gently.

Zhu Biao entered in plain clothes, and no one in the mansion greeted him, as if they had known he would come on his own.

Walking along the corridor to the inner courtyard, one sees Zhu Han sitting alone beside a stone table. On the table is an old map, its edges damaged, but the words "Jifu" can still be faintly seen.

Zhu Biao bowed, but Zhu Han did not answer. He only asked, "Do you know what the end of the 'strategy' is?"

Zhu Biao sat down and replied, "It is power."

Zhu Han smiled without saying a word, and after a moment said, "No, it's stillness."

"Quiet?" Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, the beginning of a strategy is to argue for a principle; the middle of a strategy is to seize a position; but when a strategy is exhausted, it must return to stillness."

"For example, the common people, even if they listen to your policies, will still have to farm, forge iron, and make a living. The court officials argue endlessly, but eventually someone has to set the tone. Your and my policies are nothing more than finding a way to bring peace to the world."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, then said softly, "Is my royal uncle advising me to speak less?"

"No." Zhu Han looked at him. "I'm advising you to be careful what you say."

"Strategic discussions can be lively and diverse, but not for the Crown Prince. One careless word from you could bring down the entire nation."

Zhu Biao nodded: "I understand. Uncle Wang summoned me here, surely it's not just for this?"

Zhu Han rolled up the old map, put it into a wooden box, and handed it to Zhu Biao.

"open to take a look."

Zhu Biao took it, opened the wooden box, and a fragrant aroma of herbs wafted out. However, there was no medicine inside, only a few round tokens, which shimmered with silver light. Each side was engraved with a character: "Crane", "Spring", "Willow", and "Hidden".

"What is this?" he asked in a low voice.

Zhu Han said calmly, "These are the four 'Strategist' offices I set up outside the capital. They are called medical clinics and free schools, but in reality, they are places to gather strategists and collect talents."

"Tell me, if we connect these four Strategist's Offices with the Qing Strategist's Hall, and have Du He, Chen Xiwen, and others each reside in one of them, lecturing on strategies and methods year-round, wouldn't that be better than a hundred volumes of empty talk in the court?"

Zhu Biao was shocked: "Uncle Wang actually planned this all along?!"

Zhu Han stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "The Crown Prince doesn't win the world by arguing, but by making people believe that what you say will work in the future."

“These four hidden places are the root of your words.”

Zhu Biao accepted the token with an unprecedentedly solemn expression.

"Does Uncle Wang trust me?"

"Trust you?" Zhu Han turned his head and smiled. "No, I trust that I have trained myself properly."

The patter of rain on the stone steps of the Prince's Mansion's outer courtyard seemed to echo the rhythm of the imperial examinations in March.

Zhu Han stood under the eaves, gazing at the rain-soaked courtyard, motionless, yet clutching an unopened scroll of official documents in his hand.

"It was sent by Du He."

Shen Zhen handed over a cup of warm tea and reported in a low voice, "It is said that a young man has been newly recruited in Qingce Hall. He calls himself 'Ce Kuang' (Ce Madman). He speaks recklessly and is highly regarded by the scholars."

“Creative arrogance?” Zhu Han raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. “It’s good that you can be arrogant when you’re young.”

"But he said—strategies should not be kept secret."

Shen Zhen paused slightly, "This implies that the Prince's 'Hidden Place' is not the right path."

Instead of being angry, Zhu Han laughed: "Well, he put it well. It is said that strategies should not be kept secret, so let's see if he can deliver them convincingly."

He unfolded the scroll; the paper and ink were still wet. Indeed, as the man himself displayed, the calligraphy was swift and powerful, the writing sharp and incisive.
“Those who conceal their strategies doubt others; those who disperse their strategies trust the masses. Strategies should not be concealed, for concealment leads to their demise. If kings and nobles conceal their strategies and occupy high positions, are they not similar to the tactics of emperors, and not the way of true scholars?”

After reading it, Zhu Han slowly closed the document and tossed it onto the table: "Go and call Du He here."

Shen Zhen was taken aback: "Your Highness... wants?"

"It's time to let him go out and explore."

Zhu Han said calmly, “He has been lecturing at Qingce Hall for so long that he has inevitably forgotten that the strategy is not for scholars, but for the whole world.”

"Let him take this 'strategist' on a trip to the county. Tell him I ordered him to survey the people's opinions. If he can persuade the people of a town, I will accept his words, 'Strategies should not be kept secret.'"

Shen Zhen accepted the order and prepared to leave.

Zhu Han suddenly said, "Wait a minute."

He took a pen and wrote three words, then sealed them in an envelope: "Give this letter to 'Ce Kuang' himself. Do not let anyone else know about it."

Shen Zhen took it, a hint of doubt in his eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions.

Ten days later, in a small town outside Wenshan County on the eastern outskirts of the city, a tattered cloth flag hung at the entrance of an inn, which read: "Three Seats for Policy Evaluation".

Du He sat in the hall, dressed in plain clothes, his eyes calm and taciturn.

Opposite stood a young man, dressed in rags, but with a scroll of bamboo slips hanging from his waist, who called himself "Ce Kuang".

“You said that strategies should not be kept secret,” Du He said. “But you only talked about your strategy for three days before it attracted a crowd of townspeople to watch. Several disputes broke out in one day, and the academy in the neighborhood had to suspend classes twice. The instructor himself came to persuade you to stop.”

"When I speak about strategy, I am speaking words of wisdom that are meant to awaken people."

The boy's eyes were bright. "They fight because they've awakened. If a strategy can't move people, it's just empty words on paper."

"But you told them to ask the magistrate why setting up stalls outside the market is not allowed?"

“I told them to ask ‘why we can’t display it,’ not ‘why we can’t wear it.’”

The boy laughed loudly, "If you dare not ask, what strategy are you going to offer?"

Du He said in a deep voice, "But you asked too soon."

The boy's tone turned cold: "If people always say 'the time hasn't come yet,' then that time will never come."

The two were arguing heatedly when they suddenly heard a loud noise outside the hall.

An elderly man knelt in the street, surrounded by dozens of people, all crying out, "He's been wronged!"

It turned out that the town's chamber of commerce had arbitrarily increased taxes under the guise of "road maintenance," causing suffering to all merchants and vendors, yet no one dared to speak out.

The young man, Ce Kuang, strode forward, holding a bamboo scroll and shouting, "This policy is illegal, this tax is unfair!"

The people cheered, their voices echoing throughout the neighborhood.

Du He stood in the hall, looking at the boy's fiery gaze, and was speechless for a moment.

Until midnight, the townspeople petitioned, and the county magistrate, unable to bear the disturbance, finally allowed a meeting to be held, with the town hall personally hearing the proposals.

The next day, three seats were set up in front of the city gate of Wenshan County. At noon, the sun was blazing, and the crowd sat around the seats like a mountain.

Seated high on the platform, Ce Kuang proclaimed in a resounding voice: "The purpose of strategy lies not in controlling things, but in enlightening minds! Today we will not discuss classics or history, nor the imperial system, but only whether the people of this town can set up stalls, speak their minds, and inquire about politics." (End of Chapter)