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

Gu Qingping stepped in, gently set down her teacup, and seeing his solemn expression, asked softly, "Is someone causing trouble in the lecture hall again?"

Zhu Biao pushed the booklet over and said, “Take a look. What this person said yesterday seemed like a philosophical debate, but it was actually a hypocritical and heated argument. The implication was that he was trying to incite the argument that ‘lecture halls should not be bound by rules and regulations.’”

“I have already instructed Du Shiqing to give a personal speech in the next session, but I know that this matter is not just about words.”

Gu Qingping lowered her eyes and pondered: "I have also heard that although the Shen family lost power in the early years, they still have dealings with Liu Guang of the Ministry of Rites. If someone uses the Jiande Hall lecture as a pretext to stir up discussion among scholars, the Crown Prince's reputation may be dragged into the eye of the storm."

Zhu Biao's gaze was calm: "I want to use this opportunity to test who has real talent and who is just taking advantage of the situation."

He raised his eyes: "I am not afraid of gossip, but I am afraid of baseless noise."

"I plan to set up three questions, which will be answered by the lecturers, commented on by the scholars, and observed by the audience. If Shen Jun is truly talented, his brilliance will be revealed in the three questions; if he lacks true knowledge, he is nothing but a madman, and there is nothing to fear."

Gu Qingping nodded slowly: "This is to use words to control words, and reason to suppress empty arguments. As long as the three questions are set up cleverly, it will be difficult for others to confuse the issue."

Zhu Biao smiled: "Would you be willing to work with me to formulate these 'three questions'?"

Gu Qingping was slightly surprised, then smiled and said, "Why not discuss matters of inquiry with Your Highness?"

That night, the two of them discussed three questions and formulated arguments in the library.

The first question: "In the chapter on sincerity of intention in the Great Learning, it says that 'rectifying one's mind before making one's intentions sincere' is the foundation of governing a country. How can this be proven?"

The second question is: "If there is a conflict between 'propriety' and 'the times,' how should it be resolved?"

The third question: "In the Imperial Academy's lecture halls, did they discuss principles, doctrines, and politics?"

The three questions were answered. The next morning, Zhu Biao, holding the interrogation table, summoned Du Shiqing and Wu Qiong and ordered them to set up a table in the hall.

At noon, the Jiande Hall was packed. Shen Jun sat calmly among the guests.

Du Shiqing slowly ascended the platform and began, "Today's lecture is based on three questions posed by His Highness. It is not for arguing or debating, but for seeking the truth and clarifying the meaning."

"Please answer this together, gentlemen. First, what is 'sincerity' and what is 'rectification of mind'?"

Shen Jun stood up and replied: "Sincerity means being genuine; a righteous mind means being free from falsehood. The two depend on each other, with sincerity coming first."

Du Shiqing nodded and then asked, "If it is said that 'propriety' is out of step with the times, what should we do?"

Shen Jun pondered for a moment and replied, "If rituals are outdated, they should be reformed; if principles are unreasonable, they should be abandoned. Scholars should not be bound by the past."

Several people in the audience nodded in agreement, but two others frowned secretly.

Du Shiqing's expression remained unchanged: "Alright, third question: Will politics be discussed in the lecture hall?"

Shen Jun raised an eyebrow: "If the discourse contains political elements, then it cannot be avoided."

Wu Qiong suddenly spoke up: "Then, Young Master Shen, do you think the purpose of setting up Jiande Hall today is to discuss politics or to preach the Way?"

Shen Jun paused for a moment, then replied, "If the Crown Prince uses this to establish a name, then it is for governance; if it is to enlighten the minds of scholars, then it is for the Way."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

Zhu Biao stood behind the curtain, looking at Shen Jun, and said softly, "This man is indeed cunning."

Gu Qingping also said, "But he showed his talent too early."

Du Shiqing said loudly, "What Mr. Shen said sounds reasonable, but it is actually a fallacy of equivocation. Politics is the application of the Way, and the Way is the foundation of politics. If one regards the lecture hall as a place for power struggles, it is to belittle the Way; if one says that the Crown Prince is using the lecture as a pretext, it is to doubt politics."

"This is disrespectful."

Zhu Biao immediately stepped into the hall, and everyone stood up to pay their respects.

"Gentlemen," he said with a slight bow, his voice clear and resonant, "the three questions I pose today are not intended to make things difficult for anyone, nor are they for political debate."

"This is the way to rectify the mind."

“The lecture hall is not the imperial court. If one enters this hall with personal intentions, political views, or the air of testing the Crown Prince, then one is not worthy of being called a lecturer.”

"Shen Jun's words are more intelligent than cautious."

"Starting today, Shen Jun will be dismissed from his post for three months. If he returns after three months, he must be publicly evaluated by the ten scholars."

Shen Jun's face paled, but he still cupped his hands and said, "I, Shen, obey your orders."

Zhu Biao looked down at the audience with a calm expression: "What I am doing today is not to reject people, but to protect the Way."

"In the lecture hall, scholars may freely discuss matters; however, they must not bring in private schemes."

Everyone fell silent. A gentle breeze swept through the hall, rustling the pages of books.

At that moment, Zhu Biao stood in front of the hall, his eyes no longer seeing the handsome young man, but the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, who established himself by "questioning" and settled his mind by "the Way".

Upon hearing this at the Prince's residence, Zhu Han remained silent for a long time before softly saying, "He is now able to lift himself up."

Huang Qi said respectfully, "Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince is indeed capable of making decisions."

Zhu Han nodded: "Then we absolutely cannot help him."

In the late spring of March, the air in Nanjing was filled with a purple haze, and the willows along the imperial road were like smoke. Officials in their crimson robes filed in through the Meridian Gate.

Today, though it is not the day of the court assembly, attention has been drawn to a matter concerning the "examination of officials for the imperial examinations".

It turns out that the Imperial Academy recently petitioned to establish a "Spring Examination Lecture Series," proposing a three-day lecture series at Jiande Hall. The lectures would be prepared by the Crown Prince's advisors, and the students would write their essays, with the Crown Prince personally observing the proceedings. This initiative was not for the purpose of the imperial examinations, but rather a strategy for selecting officials for the Crown Prince's court.

When the news spread, the entire court was in an uproar.

Some mature and prudent people secretly praised, "The Crown Prince values ​​scholars and aspires to cultivate a wide range of talents." Others, with their sinister and unpredictable nature, sneered, "He is probably just using this to gain fame and build his influence."

Inside the Prince's residence, Zhu Han remained calm and composed, sitting on a stone platform in the courtyard. He casually picked up a fallen flower, watching it tremble between his fingers, as if weighing something.

Huang Qi stepped inside lightly: "Your Highness, the Eastern Palace is holding a three-day lecture series, with the Crown Prince himself in attendance, and the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel also invited to observe."

“But…” he paused, then finally said, “Liu Guang, the head of the Hanlin Academy, is ill today, but he has sent three lecturers to observe in his place.”

Zhu Han did not answer, but simply raised his hand and placed a piece down, his tone as usual: "Illness? He's ill at the perfect time."

“He was unwilling to come because he knew that coming would force him to ‘make a statement.’ He didn’t want to turn his back on them, so he could only pretend to be deaf and dumb.”

Huang Qi asked, "Does Your Highness intend to make this clear to the Crown Prince?"

Zhu Han shook his head: "No need."

“He sees this clearly for himself. If he can use the opportunity of lecturing to test and control people, he won’t need my guidance.”

Having said that, he stood up and walked slowly in the small garden. After a moment, he added, "However, the matter of lecturing on policies, although intended for selecting officials, is prone to attracting gossip."

"Have someone pass on a message to Du Shiqing: the questions must avoid the topic of 'power' and focus on 'politics,' and avoid the topic of 'fame' and focus on 'righteousness.' We must not give anyone a handle to use against us, saying that this is a secret new examination set up by the Crown Prince."

Huang Qi accepted the order and left.

Meanwhile, outside Jiande Hall, scholars had already gathered. Seats were arranged in the hall like stars, with plain paper spread on the tables, and the faint scent of ink wafting through the air.

Zhu Biao, dressed in plain blue, stood on the platform, looked around, and said, "Today's strategy is neither to test talent nor to promote fame."

"This is to observe the abilities of those in positions of power in governance, to distinguish right from wrong, and to discern gains from losses."

The question posed in this policy is: "If the people are diligent yet their food is meager, and the government is simple yet their worries are numerous, what would a wise ruler do to resolve this?"

Upon hearing this question, all the scholars in the hall fell into deep thought.

Gu Qingping stood behind the curtain and whispered to Wu Qiong, "Your Highness's topic avoids 'national system' and discusses 'people-oriented governance,' which is both reasonable and uncontroversial, and is exactly what it should be."

Wu Qiong nodded: "Your Highness has become more and more tactful over the past few months, yet you have not lost your sharpness."

After three days of lecturing, the scholars completed their essays, and twelve were selected to read and discuss their answers, which were then reviewed by the Crown Prince.

On the third day, however, one person has attracted a lot of attention.

The man's name was Han Qingfeng. He was twenty-six years old, seven feet tall, with clear features and a steady voice.

His reply was elegant in style, yet highly organized, neither frivolous nor bound by convention.

He rose and clasped his hands in greeting: “In my opinion, the concern of the government is not about simplification, but about making what is simplified difficult for the people; the people’s diligence is not due to their physical limitations, but to their lack of support.”

"Those who eat meagerly may not necessarily have poor land; those who have many worries may not necessarily be subject to harsh laws."

"Only by responding to the people's sentiments and understanding their wishes, so that the government does not deviate from human feelings and the people do not disobey the government's orders, can good governance be achieved." The hall fell silent, and even Zhu Biao showed a hint of appreciation.

Gu Qingping whispered, "This person..."

Zhu Biao nodded slightly: "He is a useful talent."

After the presentation, Du Shiqing presented all the strategies of the participants. Zhu Biao read through Han Qingfeng's strategy, pondered for a long time, and then whispered a few words to Wu Qiong.

The following morning, the Crown Prince issued an imperial decree that Han Qingfeng was granted special permission to study in the Crown Prince's Palace and be appointed as the deputy lecturer of Jiande Hall.

The news shocked the entire court.

After only three days of lecturing, the Crown Prince immediately appointed the lecturers, demonstrating his remarkable speed and decisiveness in personnel selection.

What puzzles outsiders even more is that Han Qingfeng came from a poor family and had no prominent relatives or friends. He had only once submitted a letter to the Ministry of Rites three years ago, which was criticized by Liu Guang as "using deceptive language", and he had no chance of entering officialdom since then.

This reinstatement and entry into the Eastern Palace is tantamount to slapping Liu Guang in the face.

Sure enough, a few days later, someone from the Ministry of Rites seized the opportunity to make a fuss, saying that "the newly appointed lecturers have not been recommended beforehand, which is not in accordance with proper conduct."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han chuckled lightly: "As expected, you couldn't hold back any longer."

Huang Qi, standing nearby, asked, "Should we send someone to deal with this?"

"No need," Zhu Han shook his head. "The reason for the lectures at the Eastern Palace is to discuss the Way, not to appoint officials. Although Han Qingfeng has not been recommended, he is not being granted an official position but is simply a student."

"If they dare to submit a memorial to impeach him, it will be a false attack."

Huang Qi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness... if Han Qingfeng is someone the Crown Prince has appointed, should we investigate his background?"

Zhu Han slowly turned around: "You've reminded me of something."

"He is able to speak tactfully, and as someone who has been previously reprimanded, he has no complaints. This is suspicious."

“Go and investigate, not to stop him, but to protect the Crown Prince.”

“If he is truly devoted to the Way, then we can support him; if he is merely a hypocrite, then I will personally eliminate him for Zhu Biao.”

Huang Qi accepted the order and left.

A few days later, Zhu Han sat alone in his study, holding a document in his hand, a secret report handed to him by Huang Qi.

He glanced at the words on the paper, his expression unchanged, and said calmly, "As expected, someone is still paving the way for him."

Huang Qi asked in a low voice, "Who's behind us?"

Zhu Han slowly read out: "Liu Guang".

Huang Qi's expression changed drastically: "But he initially criticized his strategy as cunning and deceitful..."

Zhu Han laughed: "Those were just empty words; in reality, they were hiding their strength and waiting for the right moment."

"Han Qingfeng has not submitted any more memorials in recent years, which is unusual."

"He was a pawn of Liu Guangzang."

Huang Qi asked, "Does Your Highness intend to order the Crown Prince to withdraw it now?"

Zhu Han remained silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head: "No."

“This man is talented, and he is indeed useful now. Zhu Biao has taken a liking to him, so he put him to use.”

"But after this incident, I want to see if Zhu Biao can see through this man's true colors."

"If he can truly control Han Qingfeng, he can also control an even deeper situation."

The moonlight outside the window was like water, reflecting on the documents on the desk in front of him, each word clear and the pen steady.

Gu Qingping entered quietly, dressed in plain clothes and carrying a lamp in her hand.

She stopped at the door, looked at Zhu Biao behind the desk, and softly called out, "Your Highness has not yet rested?"

Zhu Biao put down his pen, rubbed his temples, and said, "If we don't pay attention to it, I'm afraid Han Qingfeng will distract me."

Gu Qingping put down the lamp and sat down gently beside him: "He has only been at Jiande Hall for ten days, yet he has already made you think about him every night. It seems that this person is indeed different."

Zhu Biao said in a low voice, "It's not that I'm thinking about him, but rather I'm thinking about 'why I should give him an important position'."

"Today, Han Qingfeng spoke frankly on the lecture platform, saying that 'the virtuous do not avoid relatives and strangers, and the capable do not ask about their origins.' Although his words were correct, they were not without their sharpness."

Gu Qingping nodded: "To others it may be a matter of public opinion, but you know that once these words are spoken, they are no longer just 'preaching'."

"Yes." Zhu Biao paused. "This is 'defending' me."

"Why don't you defend me?"

“Defend me for not following old customs in hiring people, and defend me for not using my lectures for personal gain.”

"But why would he defend me?"

Gu Qingping answered softly, "Perhaps it's loyalty, or perhaps it's a desire to serve someone."

Zhu Biao sighed: "What I fear most is this 'maybe'."

He looked up at the night outside the window: "I am not afraid of hostility, I am afraid of false loyalty."

“If loyal people do not speak of practical matters and only cover up my shortcomings, then I am nothing more than a puppet being supported by others.”

“But if the enemy speaks the truth, then I will become the one who obscures the right path.”

Gu Qingping looked at him and suddenly said, "So you have to go see him in person."

Zhu Biao turned to look at her, his expression momentarily stunned.

“I will only see him once,” Gu Qingping said. “Not in the lecture hall, not in the palace, and not in front of the court officials.”

"You need to see if he still says those things in private."

Zhu Biao remained silent for a long time before finally nodding and saying, "You're right."

"I will go see him tomorrow."

The following evening, Han Qingfeng was summoned to the "Listening to the Rain Corridor" in the Crown Prince's villa. This place was secluded and not connected to the outer pavilion.

Zhu Biao, dressed in casual clothes, sat in the corridor with a peaceful expression in his eyes, as if he were just an elder casually summoning a young man.

After Han Qingfeng finished bowing, he did not act cautiously as usual, but spoke directly: "Your Highness summoned me here, is it because the matter of discussing strategy has not been completed?"

Zhu Biao shook his head: "It's not about policy, but about people's hearts."

He pointed to the apricot tree outside the corridor and said, "Han Qingfeng, do you think those apricot blossoms fell early or not?"

Han Qingfeng followed his finger and said, "This flower bloomed at the beginning of spring and withered before late spring. It can be said to be neither early nor late."

Zhu Biao smiled: "That's right. Flowers fall in their time, neither too early nor too late."

"Then tell me, is it the right time for you to come to Jiande Hall?"

Han Qingfeng remained silent upon hearing this, and after a moment, he spoke: "Your Highness, do you have any doubts about what you've said?"

"If I answer at the right time, it will be a sign of seizing the opportunity; if I answer too early, it will be seen as a preemptive move; if I answer too late, it may arouse suspicion that I am hiding my intentions."

"I cannot answer this question, no matter what."

Zhu Biao was not angry; instead, he smiled and said, "You're quite a sensible person."

Han Qingfeng stated frankly, "Since I began my studies, I have never attempted to change my perspective through words."

"Entering Jiande Hall is not for power or fame, but solely for the purpose of having one's words put to use."

"If Your Highness does not trust me, I will leave."

Zhu Biao shook his head: "I don't just want you to stay."

Han Qingfeng frowned slightly: "What does Your Highness intend to do?" (End of Chapter)