I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 102: Double Ninth Festival: Academics Meet Data Streams
September 9th is the Double Ninth Festival.

It is advisable to climb high places, dry autumn leaves in the sun, plant dogwood branches, and drink chrysanthemum wine.

Near noon, in front of the Meridian Gate.

A wooden platform about one zhang high, four zhang long and three zhang wide stands in the middle of the left and right side gates.

That is the legislative platform.

To the north of the council platform, there are more than one hundred chairs, which are the seats for the council officials; to the south of the council platform, there are three hundred chairs, which are the seats for the three hundred people who come to the palace.

On the east and west sides of the Council of State were the positions of the Secretariat, the Six Departments’ Secretaries, and some clerks.

They were responsible for recording the contents of the political discussions of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

The thousand scholars who were attending the class stood behind those who were attending the palace, separated by a fence.

As for the rest of the scholars, they were standing further back, and some had even lined up near the Duanmen Gate.

These people rarely discuss politics, and they simply boost morale for their own doctrines and political views.

Not long after.

The left and right side gates and the left and right que gates were opened at the same time.

The councilors, visitors to the palace, and scholars who were attending the meeting all poured in and, under the guidance of a group of Jinyiwei, came to their respective seats.

Zhang Juzheng, Lu Diaoyang, and Zhang Siwei, the three cabinet ministers, sat at the front, and then a group of councilors took their seats one after another.

Hai Rui was among them.

Opposite them, the visitors also took their places.

Wang Xi, Luo Rufang, Wang Shizhen, He Xinyin, Li Zhi, Guan Zhidao, Master Yunqi, Taoist Lu Xixing and others also sat in the front row.

Soon, a scholar discovered it.

Hai Rui was actually wearing the uniform of a fourth-rank official and sitting among the council officials.

They knew that Hai Rui had been reinstated, but they did not know that Hai Rui had already come to Beijing and served as a councilor.

The subconscious reaction of some scholars was: Hai Gangfeng should be on our side!
He Xinyin, Li Zhi and others frowned slightly.

Some of their ideas were based on the "hypocrisy of the literati", and they were confident in arguing with Zhang Juzheng.

But faced with Hai Rui, who combined knowledge and action, they felt helpless.

However, they felt that given Hai Rui's temperament, it would be impossible for him to agree with Zhang Juzheng.

Today is the first day for the Hundred Schools of Thought to discuss politics.

Those who visited the palace expressed their views, talked about their respective theories and political opinions, and expressed their opinions on the abolition and establishment of private academies and whether students could discuss politics.

The councillors listened but said nothing; tomorrow is the day for them to express their opinions.

And this moment.

Young Wanli was sitting in the Wenhua Hall, reviewing memorials.

The speeches of those who came to the palace would be sorted out by the secretaries and quickly delivered to him.

Lean slightly.

The presiding official, Shen Shixing, was the first to step onto the platform. He looked around, then bowed toward the Meridian Gate. Then, he spoke loudly, "I am Shen Shixing, the presiding official of this Hundred Schools of Thought Conference. I now rely on Your Majesty's noble virtue to open up the channels of communication and summon scholars from all over the world to discuss the affairs of the world."

"The rules for discussing politics are fully explained in the 'Rules for Those Who Visit the Palace to Discuss Politics' by the Hundred Schools of Thought, so I will not elaborate on them here. Today, I am speaking for those who visit the palace. I kindly ask that you all follow the rules. Do not discuss empty matters, do not criticize personal morality, and do not speak for more than a quarter of an hour..."

After saying that, Shen Shixing stood aside.

The scholars did not expect Shen Shixing's opening remarks to be so brief.

In the past, this kind of event that brought together many people was organized by the imperial court.

Just to express gratitude to the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty royal family and to the emperor's virtue would take at least half a quarter of an hour.

In fact, Shen Shixing wrote an opening speech that lasted more than a quarter of an hour, but almost all of it was deleted by Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng focused on effectiveness.

This is not a ritual sacrifice, and most of the people we are facing are "heretics". Some empty words are useless, so it is better not to say them.

……

soon.

A middle-aged Confucian scholar in a long gown walked onto the platform.

He stood in the center of the council platform and spoke loudly, "I am a teacher at the Dongtao Jingshe Academy. I believe that punishment is used to prevent evil, and evil arises from a lack of education. If people are raised properly and educated in a proper way, they will have enough food and clothing, and propriety and righteousness will flourish. Then the people will naturally be free from evil, and why would punishment be necessary? The way of a sage is no different from the way ordinary people live in their daily lives... But now, the punishments are too harsh. Closing down private academies and prohibiting students from speaking out about politics is an act that stifles speech and blocks the eyes and ears of the court..."

This master is obviously a typical admirer of the ancients.

He praised the policies of the Yao and Shun eras, criticized the current harsh punishments, and said that public speech should not be suppressed.

Immediately afterwards, a young scholar came up.

"From the filial piety and brotherly kindness of one individual, we can observe the whole family; from the filial piety and brotherly kindness of one family, we can observe the whole country. Within the whole country, there is not a single person who is not filial and brotherly. We should believe in the goodness of human nature, and treat our people with joy and love. Over time, punishments can be abolished throughout the world..."

This scholar is most likely Luo Rufang's disciple.

He believed that the goal of governing the world could be achieved by replacing harsh laws with kindness.

Subsequently.

Those scholars who supported the integration of Confucianism and Buddhism to govern the country, advocated the transformation of the world through discussions of Zen and Zhuangzi, and advocated governing the people through teaching and changing the ethical principles to govern the country, constantly took to the political stage to express their theories and political views, and used this to oppose the ban on private academies and the prohibition on students from participating in politics.

……

About an hour later.

After the visitors to the palace expressed their political views and put forward their opinions on banning private academies and prohibiting students from participating in politics, their discourse turned to criticizing current politics.

The words gradually became more intense and sharp.

Some people said: The court should immediately abolish the imperial prison, stop the eunuchs' interference in politics, and use lenient and benevolent governance to restore peace and order to the world.

Some people say: Local officials and clerks are seriously corrupt, and they are a den of evildoers, harming the country and the people. The current performance evaluation system makes them harsh on the lower-class people, and the number of refugees is increasing. They should be reset and improved.

Some people said: The court should immediately reduce taxes for the people, return land to the people, restrict land annexation, and ensure that all people in the world have land to farm and houses to live in.

Some people say: At present, the powerful ministers are autocratic and all national policies are decided by one person. The power of cabinet ministers should be reduced and the power of the six ministries should be increased.

Others also said: The military and political situation on the border is chaotic, and officials and businessmen are one. The court should withdraw some military commanders and officials who have been guarding the border for a long time and replace them with new officials.

Others argue that the current imperial examination system, rigidly adhering to dogma and formality, has become stagnant. The world's education is based solely on the Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism that suffocates human nature, and that drastic reforms should be implemented starting with next year's joint examinations.

……

If a teacher had said these words to young scholars in a college, given Zhang Juzheng's temper, he would have had them thrown into jail long ago.

Those who came to the palace criticized the current political situation and were very excited.

Everyone's point of view was different, and in total, more than 30 problems in the court had been pointed out.

Some of them directly criticized Zhang Juzheng.

The remarks were sharp and direct.

Some even compared Zhang Juzheng to Huo Guang, a powerful official in the Western Han Dynasty, which was more serious than calling him Wang Anshi of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Zhang Juzheng sat in the middle, stroking his beard from time to time.

After he became the Prime Minister, he experienced a lot of slander.

But he no longer cares at this moment.

In order to make the new policy go more smoothly and with less resistance, he is willing to give up his own reputation.

What's more, he already has a bad reputation in the eyes of these people.

In his own words: I only want to keep the country safe and the people stable, so why should I care about grudges and hatred? I never care about what others say!

……

In the blink of an eye, it was dusk.

Except for the presiding official Shen Shixing stopping the meeting twice to allow everyone to rest and urinate or to go to the side to eat some snacks prepared by the eunuchs in the inner court.

On the council platform, almost every time someone left, someone else would immediately take up the platform. Every visitor was incredibly excited.

They never imagined that they would have the opportunity to stand in front of the Meridian Gate and criticize the government without being punished.

Today, all councilors reached a consensus.

No matter what kind of sarcastic remarks are made, everyone should listen attentively and not utter a word of criticism.

After listening for most of the day, Shen Nian gradually relaxed.

Before the Hundred Schools of Thought.

The scholars and literati were like a flood and a beast.

At the mildest, they oppose the laws and policies of the time; at the worst, they directly oppose the imperial court, and the momentum is very strong.

But listen to them today.

What Shen Nian heard the most was not resistance or heresy, but just excessive idealism.

In addition, their speeches also contain a lot of public opinion, which the court must pay attention to.

Gradually, the sky became completely dark and torches were lit in front of the Meridian Gate.

Seeing that it was getting dark, Shen Shixing wanted to announce the end.

But Zhang Juzheng said: Wait until no one comes to the parliament or it is midnight before ending it.

This may be the only day when scholars in the world can speak freely and the court will not refute it for the time being.

Zhang Juzheng wanted them to speak freely and wanted to hear more real voices.

More than an hour passed.

At the beginning of the hour of Hai (21:00), the visitors finally finished their speeches and no one came up to the stage again.

Shen Shixing immediately announced the end.

At the same time, I would like to remind everyone that after noon tomorrow, it will be the time for the court officials to speak.

Shen Nian at this moment.

A lot of various theories and political opinions came into my mind. I felt tired and exhausted, so I went home to sleep immediately.

……

The next day, the sun had just risen.

A brief report on the speeches of those who visited the palace yesterday was printed out.

The notice was posted in front of the Hanlin Academy, Shuntian Prefecture, Imperial Examination Hall, Confucian Temple, Imperial College and other government offices, and clerks also distributed it on the streets to let more people know.

Scholars and other scholars gathered around to watch.

They wanted to see whether the imperial court would be perfunctory and suppress some rebellious doctrines and political views.

When some scholars discovered that the briefing contained the truth about yesterday, they couldn't help but feel a little favorable towards the court.

The past.

They simply could not see the court's sincerity.

Of course, some people also think that this is a move by the court to win over the hearts of the people, and it is actually for the rebuttal this afternoon.

"It's just a show. If I'm not mistaken, this afternoon, those councilors will definitely criticize these political views one by one and refute them all."

"The court allows those present to speak first so they can refute the allegations. Perhaps they will settle old scores later. If my predictions are correct, anyone who makes hostile remarks against the court will definitely face setbacks in their subsequent imperial examinations or careers, and may even be thrown into prison."

"As long as the imperial court doesn't lift the ban on private academies and allow students to freely discuss politics, I will continue to curse!"

……

At noon, in front of the Meridian Gate, the sun was warm and there was a slight breeze.

The group gathered was still the same group from yesterday.

However, today, those who came to the palace became listeners, and the councilors became speakers.

Just as those who went to the palace were wondering how the councilors would fight back, they wondered whether the first to stand up would be the Hanlin officials who knew the court policies and various theories best, or the censors who had the strongest debating power.

Six doctors (fifth rank) from the six ministries walked onto the council platform together.

Immediately, Xu Mo, a Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department, stepped forward first.

He did not refute what the visitor said yesterday, but instead talked about the performance evaluation system that had been implemented since June of the first year of the Wanli reign.

Before the implementation of the Performance Evaluation Law, when imperial decrees and regulations were issued, even though those above them were earnest in their supervision, those below them were often dismissive… Afterward, the court adopted the principle of comprehensively verifying the merits and rewards and punishments, emphasizing the importance of selection, dedicated responsibility, long-term appointments, and strict inspections. In July of the second year of the Wanli reign, the Ministry of Personnel conducted a detailed investigation and severely punished 562 officials. In March of the third year of the Wanli reign, due to the Performance Evaluation Law, the Ministry of Personnel punished, demoted, or dismissed 376 officials…

Xu Mo, a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel's Department of Examination and Reward, did not talk about political views or academic studies, but instead reported on the achievements made since the implementation of the performance evaluation system.

It's all data, all results.

Immediately afterwards, the doctor from the Ministry of Revenue came out and continued to read out the data and explain the results.

From the first year of the Wanli reign to the third year of the Wanli reign, it talks about the changes in the silver in the Taicang warehouse, the collection of land tax, the relief of natural disasters and man-made disasters in various places, the expenditure of the palace finances, the military expenses and money and grain of important border towns, and the measurement of land.

Followed by.

The head of the Ministry of Rites talked about the progress of a series of matters such as sacrifices, ancestral enfeoffment, banquets, and imperial examinations, and how much the expenses for palace festivals and banquets had been reduced in the past two years.

Then, the head of the Ministry of War talked about the expenses of suppressing bandits, guarding the border, casting weapons, raising war horses, etc.; the head of the Ministry of Justice talked about the crimes committed by officials and civilians since the New Deal, and the head of the Ministry of Works talked about the development of water conservancy projects, and the construction of roads and bridges.

……

Under the council platform, the scholars were listening very attentively.

The doctors of the six ministries did not refute the criticisms of the scholars, but instead spoke seriously about the national conditions and people's sentiments of the Ming Dynasty.

This would be unthinkable in any dynasty.

On ordinary days, these people have no access to this information at all.

Zhang Juzheng ordered the doctors of the six ministries to say this so that everyone could see that although the current court had flaws, everything was developing in a positive direction, and the new policies were making the Ming Dynasty prosper.

Although there is no refutation, these data and results are more powerful than any rebuttal.

Sincerity is always a must-win.

After the doctor from the six ministries finished speaking, many of the scholars who listened to the speech felt that "the court was not as bad as they had imagined."

Immediately afterwards, Wang Xijue stood up.

As the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, he explained in detail why the imperial court banned private academies and prohibited students from participating in politics.

The main reason is that the world's academic theories and political views are in chaos. There are many scholars who have no outstanding deeds and are seeking fame and reputation, empty talk and neglecting their careers. They rely on false reputation to open the way for petitioning and become officials. What's worse, some of them seek fame by slandering the government. Their lies are terrible and mislead young scholars, which in turn affects the new policies of the court.

Students are allowed to enter officialdom and are the pillars of the court. They should not be influenced by them, so students are prohibited from participating in politics.

Wang Xijue also said that as long as this debate can determine which academic and political views should be suppressed and which should be promoted, and a set of rules can be formulated to establish a correct academic style and outlook for people all over the world, then there is hope that the ban on private academies will be lifted and students will be able to participate in politics.

In short: When scholars around the world lecture and discuss politics, they should speak for the majority of the people in the world, rather than for personal fame and fortune, which would ruin the academic atmosphere in the world.

As dusk approached, the second day of the Hundred Schools of Thought came to an end.

These two days.

The court and popular theories were like two strangers introducing themselves to each other.

The imperial court was not as bad as popular opinion imagined, and popular opinion was not as bad as the imperial court imagined.

We have a deeper understanding of each other.

The next three days of free debate are the focus.

It will determine whether the court will lift the ban on private academies, whether it will allow students to participate in politics, whether it will ban some theories and political views as heresy, and whether it will support some private theories to become mainstream.

After the end.

Wang Xi, Luo Rufang, Wang Shizhen, He Xinyin, Li Zhi, Guan Zhidao, Master Yunqi, Taoist Lu Xixing and others all returned to their accommodation and began to prepare seriously.

Tomorrow, they will be the main force in the debate.

Whether their doctrines and political views will be denounced as worthless, or can shake the position of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, or even become a new basis for reform, depends on their ability.

(End of this chapter)