My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 102 Academic Conference
"Master Qian is right!"

A hint of coldness flashed across Hong Wenchang's eyes. "The people can be made to blame, but they cannot be made to know about it. If public opinion goes astray, the danger of backlash will grow. We should be careful!

It's a pity that His Majesty doesn't understand this principle!"

"So, Lord Hong, you need to be patient. Although His Majesty is building up a strong momentum now, it is also an unorthodox approach and is not to be feared. Discussing knowledge is the right way. Tomorrow's academic conference will be the time to reveal the winner!"

Qian Hongming sneered: "Your Majesty's actions are all strange and cunning, like bamboo shoots, with a sharp mouth and thick skin but an empty belly, and have long deviated from the true meaning of the teachings of the saints.

Even if you create all kinds of momentum, it is difficult to conceal the fact that it is a tree without roots and water without source, and it will ultimately be futile.

Tao is the principle of heaven and earth, the aspiration of the human heart, and it cannot be monopolized by one person. Today, all the scholars in our literary world are upholding the Tao, with one heart and one mind, and gathered here to swear to rectify the name of the Tao of the sages. Although Your Majesty is in a high position, you have lost the support of Taoism and have no wise men to help you. Your power is isolated.

Let's see who Your Majesty can use at tomorrow's meeting."

Hong Wenchang was delighted when he heard this, and his expression gradually became proud.

“In the court, whether it is the six ministries or the Hanlin Academy, and also the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Dongge and other meeting places, they are all people from our literary world, reading the books of sages and learning the teachings of sages. I think the people Your Majesty can use are only Li Min and Yang Siyi, or that group of noble and reckless men!
I am extremely looking forward to tomorrow's academic conference. I want to see who your majesty will send to discuss academic issues!"

"No matter who you send, this game is a dead end for Your Majesty. Tomorrow, it will be very exciting!"

Qian Hongming said in a deep voice: "Moreover, I will prepare a big surprise for Your Majesty tomorrow!"

Hong Wenchang immediately became interested and asked quickly, "Please explain it to me, Master Qian!"

"Master Hong, do you know the great scholar Wu Daoxing, the headmaster of Yuelu Academy?"

"How could I not know? Wu Daru is famous and unrivaled in the world. He is a disciple of the Luo School. His knowledge is even more profound than that of Lan Zhi, Wang Qiaoling and others. He is known as the only successor of Zhu Sheng in this world!"

Suddenly, Hong Wenchang was stunned for a moment, and then he said in ecstasy: "Could it be that Wu Daru will come out to participate in the academic conference?"

"Protecting learning and defending morality is the unshirkable responsibility of scholars like me. Wu Daru is the leader of the current literary world and has been leading the trend for decades. How could he just sit there and watch?"

"With Wu Daru in charge, tomorrow's academic discussion will be a sure thing!"

Qian Hongming picked up the teacup and said, "Today, we will use tea instead of wine. Tomorrow, Lord Hong, we will raise our glasses and drink the celebratory wine together!"

"Okay, okay, Master Qian, I can't wait for tomorrow!"

……

Under the watchful eyes of the public, Yingtian Prefecture finally welcomed the academic conference, which was held right opposite the Jiangzao Academy.

Early in the morning, before daybreak, there were already crowds of people in front of the Jiangzao Academy.

Not only that, even the nearby restaurants and teahouses were filled with people, all wanting to witness this literary grand event of the Ming Dynasty with their own eyes.

Countless students have already surrounded the academic discussion arena, and looking around, it is packed with people.

The Confucian students were discussing enthusiastically.

"This academic conference has great scholars like Lan Zhi and Wang Qiaoling sitting in on the scene. I think the court has already lost without even having to debate."

A Confucian scholar brought up the topic, which attracted countless people to discuss it.

"In my opinion, we scholars are the best at discussing academic matters, but there are also many talented people in the court who should not be underestimated." "Not really, not really. Nowadays, the civil servants in the court are unwilling to get involved in this matter. After all, no one wants to offend the entire Ming Dynasty literary world."

"Who will the court send to discuss academic matters?"

"Perhaps it was Fang Xiaoru, a student of the great scholar Song Lian. He was knowledgeable and eloquent. I heard that the students of the Imperial College besieged the Craftsmen Academy that day, but they were all scolded away by Fang Xiaoru alone!"

"Fang Xiaoru is just a mere figure. You know, this time, not only will great scholars like Lan Zhi and Wang Qiaoling attend the academic conference, but there will also be another great scholar with a greater reputation than them!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately aroused the interest of other students.

"Oh? Is there any scholar who is more knowledgeable than Mr. Lan?"

"I am ignorant, everyone. Do you know that the principal of Yuelu Academy is the great scholar Wu Daoxing?"

"What, Wu Daru is here too?"

Many students showed shocked expressions. Wu Daoxing's name was well-known in the literary world, and in the hearts of all scholars, he was simply a god-like existence!

As early as the previous dynasty, Wu Daoxing was already famous all over the world. His insights into the way of heaven further deepened Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. Therefore, many people believed that he would be another saint after Zhu.

Not to mention, many of today's highly educated scholars are his students, and countless Confucian students dream of becoming Wu Daoxing's disciples.

It’s a pity that it’s easy to enter Yuelu Academy, but becoming Wu Daoxing’s last disciple is harder than climbing to the sky.

But this did not prevent the students from worshipping Wu Daoxing as a saint. Now that they could see this great scholar in person, the students were instantly excited.

"With Wu Daru in charge, no matter who the court sends, our literary world will definitely win this academic conference!"

"of course!"

"If Wu Daru comes, I will definitely ask him for advice. Maybe I can leave a good impression on him and he will accept me as his last disciple!"

"Why don't you look in the mirror? With the little knowledge you have, aren't you afraid of bringing disgrace to Mr. Wu?"

"No, no, I have read the books published by Wu Daru and the annotations on various classics countless times. I have already understood his knowledge clearly!"

In addition to Confucian scholars, countless common people also came to watch. They were not as relaxed as the students. Many sensible people understood that this so-called academic conference was aimed at the Jiangzao Academy!
The establishment of Jiangzao Academy made them realize that besides studying and taking imperial examinations, ordinary people had another way out.

Although the academy currently only enrolls 2,000 students, they believe that more and more artisan academies will emerge.

If the imperial court wins the debate at this academic conference, then the academy can be preserved.

But if the literati win the debate, the Craftsmen Academy will close down. Then, what will the common people and craftsmen do?

But now it seems that the literary world is full of great scholars, but I have never heard of any great scholars in the court.

It seems that the court has little hope of winning!
Many people secretly made up their minds that if the court lost the debate, they would follow the example of those Confucian scholars and petition!

Petition the imperial court and also petition those literati!

The skills of a craftsman are also a kind of knowledge. Why can't they be promoted and developed through official education?

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(End of this chapter)