I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 14: Rectify the academic atmosphere! The resistance of Confucian scholars

The third day of May, near noon.

Hanlin Academy, inside the Review Hall.

Wang Zudi, Zhao Yongxian, Liu Kezheng, Liu Chuxian, and Shen Nian gathered around the table, reading Zhang Juzheng's new memorial: "Memorial on Instructing Educational Administration to Revitalize Talents."

Sparse in the middle.

Zhang Juzheng said that most of the current educational supervisors (i.e., the academic officials of the Imperial College in the two capitals and the subordinate prefectural and county schools) have no real knowledge, only talk nonsense, seek fame and reputation, and gather cliques of followers, making the academic atmosphere in the world chaotic.

To this end, he formulated eighteen rules.

Almost every one of them would make the academic officials and students all over the world want to flip the table and curse.

Among them, several points stand out most.

"It is forbidden to establish new academies, form cliques, or recruit idlers from other places, or to talk nonsense and abandon their work, thereby opening the door to competition and paving the way for solicitation."

"Everyone is allowed to speak frankly about the good and the bad of the world, except for students."

"Each provincial education official is ordered to supervise the schools and is not allowed to abuse his power by running to the governor to seek recommendations."

……

simply put--

Zhang Juzheng forbade officials and scholars from establishing private academies; forbade private gatherings of factions, empty talk, and neglect of studies; forbade students at prefectural and county schools from discussing state affairs; forbade scholars from relying on recommendations to gain official positions; and required constant assessments of officials, instructors, and students.

After Shen Nian and the other four finished reading it, they were stunned for almost a cup of tea before they recovered.

Prime Minister Zhang is too tough and overbearing!
The performance evaluation system had just offended all the officials in the world. Once this memorial regulation was implemented, it would offend all the scholars in the world.

Among them, the two most inhumane ones.

That is, it is forbidden to establish private academies and Confucian scholars are not allowed to discuss state affairs.

If these two points were applied in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Even if it was proposed by the emperor, the scholars in the world would swallow it back and write a confession of guilt.

Since ancient times.

Scholars considered lecturing in the Legislative Yuan and participating in political affairs as their own rights.

No one can deprive it!

If we ignore the current situation, these two regulations do deprive scholars of their rights and go against the teachings of sages.

But considering the current situation, Zhang Juzheng's approach is completely understandable.

At least, Shen Nian can understand.

present.

Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism declined, while Wang's School of Mind became popular.

There is nothing wrong with pursuing yourself.

But the excessive pursuit of self has seriously damaged the Confucian spirit.

A large number of scholars discussed abstruse issues, opposed ethical codes, sought to be different, and coveted fame.

The academy was used as a place for lectures and attracted a large number of believers.

He even gathered together monks, Taoist priests, fortune tellers, pedicurists, prostitutes, thieves and other people who did not farm or work to give lectures publicly.

If you just teach and educate the people, the court will not care at all.

But they formed cliques and slandered the imperial court in veiled ways, and some of them even got involved in the bad habits of pedophilia and sexual assault.

In the past, the ambition of Confucian scholars was to make their rulers as great as Yao and Shun;
Today, Confucian scholars all think they can become Yao and Shun.

There are even corrupt scholars who say in their speeches: No matter how the society changes, I will just keep teaching!

In their eyes, it doesn't matter who is the emperor.

Their reckless remarks shook the imperial court, and they had been constantly undermining the imperial court in the past two years. Zhang Juzheng, who had always been pragmatic, naturally had to punish them.

If we don’t take corrective measures, the Ming Dynasty will be in chaos.

……

"You are indeed courageous. Confucian scholars all over the world should be pragmatic and study hard to obtain honors instead of talking big and making irresponsible comments on state affairs all day long!" Liu Chuxian said with a smile.

As a fellow townsman of Zhang Juzheng, he had great respect for Zhang Juzheng and could even recite all of Zhang Juzheng's articles.

"Ugh!"

Zhao Yongxian sighed deeply and said with emotion: "Another group of people are going to be unlucky next!"

Since Zhang Juzheng took power, anyone who rebelled against him had no good end.

As a person who has experienced this, Shen Nian admires Zhang Juzheng very much.

At that moment, Zhang Juzheng was in charge of the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty. All his reform measures were for the sake of the Ming Dynasty.

No one can compare with this kind of heart.

Also.

In Shen Nian's mind, new policy reforms should be implemented with great vigor and speed. If one follows the methods in the books of sages and takes it slow, nothing will be accomplished.

……

soon.

The young Emperor Wanli then responded to Zhang Juzheng's memorial.

Said a lot.

In fact, it means only one thing: if the prime minister is right, we should do as the prime minister says.

……

In the north of the capital city, there is Chongjiaofang.

Inside the Imperial Academy.

All the academic officials hung their heads and listened to the lecture from Wang Xijue, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College.

"Everyone, I believe that there is nothing wrong with Lord Zhang's memorial. The current academic atmosphere should be rectified. Our Imperial College must resolutely implement Lord Zhang's policy and must not speak recklessly. If anyone makes such a suggestion, please do not bring disaster upon the Imperial College!"

The scholars who usually loved to debate were as silent as wilted eggplants.

They were the targets of criticism in the recent Beijing inspection.

If they continue to talk nonsense, according to Zhang Juzheng's habit, he will definitely give them eight words: dismiss them from their posts and serve as a commoner, and never re-employ them.

……

The academic officials dared not speak.

But many Confucian scholars without any official titles could not bear it.

Many Confucian scholars specialized in discussing state affairs, cheating people for money, fame, and women.

These regulations are threatening to destroy their jobs, trample on their ideals, and take their lives.

After this memorial reached the streets of the capital, the entire Confucian scholar community was in an uproar.

Everyone was filled with righteous indignation and cursed Zhang Juzheng for being a traitor to the country, acting harshly and cruelly, defeating the wise and humiliating the saints.

……

At night, in the north of the capital.

Several Confucian scholars wearing robes of various colors gathered in a private room of a tavern.

"Everyone, I've made all the arrangements. Tomorrow at noon, Mr. Xu from Nanjuxianfang, Mr. Hu from Renshoufang, Mr. Yuechong from Mingshifang, and Mr. Gongsun, who is temporarily staying at Longfu Temple, will all call on their like-minded friends to go to the Confucian Temple. Considering the current academic atmosphere, we expect at least three hundred people to come!"

"I have also arranged for the copyists. Once the brothers' brilliant remarks are published tomorrow, I will order them to be copied and disseminated, and they will be printed that evening."

"Leave the engraving and printing to me. I've already contacted several book engraving workshops, and I've prepared the paper and engraving blocks. I guarantee that within three days, our news will spread throughout the capital, and this will become a beautiful story, and you and I will both be recorded in history!"

"Everyone, let's agree on three things and speak with one voice. First, there's no one initiator in the discussion at the Confucian Temple, or maybe you and I are both the initiators. Second, tomorrow's discussion will focus solely on academic style, not on insulting the imperial court or disgracing Zhang the Prodigy. Third, anyone who doesn't show up at noon tomorrow will be severing their ties with him!"

"no problem!"

"no problem!"

"no problem!"

……

The Confucian scholars were all very excited and regarded tomorrow's "Confucian Temple Discussion" as a world-famous performance.

……

After a while, the Confucian scholars left with satisfaction.

And this moment.

On the roof of the tavern, there lay a middle-aged man about forty years old and a young man about twenty years old.

The former is short and strong, while the latter is tall and strong.

"If these nerds went to the Meridian Gate to sit in silence or to block the government offices, I would have looked up to them. But I didn't expect them to still use the same old tricks, gathering people to talk nonsense, nothing new!" said the middle-aged man disdainfully.

"Don't worry, Captain. I guarantee that no Confucian scholar will be able to give lectures in the Confucian Temple at noon tomorrow!" the young man said confidently.

Both of them were members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and their full-time job was to monitor and investigate these Confucian scholars who were engaged in empty talk and theoretical pursuits.

These Confucian scholars were not qualified enough to alarm Zhang Juzheng.

……

Note: A Qing Dynasty person once said: The demise of the Ming Dynasty was caused by factions, and factions began with cliques, and cliques began with teaching.

(End of this chapter)