My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 94 The Prince's Tutor: Hongli's Chinese Studies Are Too Excellent!

On the second day of the seventh month of the first year of the Yongzheng reign, after the death of Empress Dowager Renshou.

Emperor Yongzheng issued an edict: There are musician households in Shanxi and other provinces whose ancestors did not ally with the Yan army at the end of the Jianwen reign of the Ming Dynasty and were registered as musicians. The edict ordered that all provinces prohibit and abolish this practice and that the musicians should change their profession to a respectable one. In addition, the lazy people of Shaoxing and the beggar households of Suzhou, whose professions were no different from those of musicians, should also be removed from the list.

"This is a gradual abolition of the status of lowly people."

After reading the contents of the edict, Hongli muttered to himself.

Hongli was not surprised by this.

Because he remembered that Emperor Yongzheng did indeed issue a series of edicts in history abolishing the lowly status of Han Chinese.

Certainly, Yongzheng did this for the sake of the Qing Dynasty's rule, to reform the lowly people and make them a new source of tax revenue for the court, so that these registered people would no longer have to rely on donations or gentry. But it did alleviate social conflicts and allowed these people to freely choose their occupations and even take the imperial examinations to become officials.

Therefore, Hongli was happy to see this.

However, when Hongli came to the Maoqin Hall for class, he found that his Chinese studies teacher, Zhu Shi, was not in good spirits. When he arrived, Zhu Shi was standing outside the hall, looking towards the direction of the Qianqing Palace and the Hall of State Affairs, sighing.

"gentlemen!"

When Hongli bowed, he called out to Zhu Shi, who then came to his senses and entered the room.

Hongli also sat down at his desk.

Then Zhu Shi suddenly said to Hongli, "Today, we will continue to discuss Wang Chuanshan's theories on Confucian classics. Hongli, you also read the articles by Wang Chuanshan that I selected for you yesterday. Did you gain anything from them?"

Wang Chuanshan is Wang Fuzhi.

Because he had taught Chinese for a period of time, Hongli had learned a lot about classical literature and had some understanding of the schools of thought in classical Confucianism.

Therefore, he was well aware that among the Qing Dynasty scholar-officials influenced by Wang Chuanshan's ideas, Zeng Guofan was the most famous.

Zeng Guofan's summary of Wang Fuzhi's thought was most recognized by the landlord class and literati at the time.

Because Zeng Guofan's ideology also emphasized respecting rites and advocated strictly maintaining the hierarchical and ethical order of rites.

Therefore, Hongli had already decided to recite a famous quote that Zeng Guofan used to summarize Wang Fuzhi's thoughts, which he remembered.

"What I have learned from reading this is that the study of economics and the art of governing the world are all based on the principle of propriety."

Zhu Shi's eyes lit up at this moment, and he raised his upper eyelids to look at Hongli's handsome young face.

“In the past, Confucius loved to speak of benevolence and to practice propriety in elegant words; Mencius also praised benevolence and propriety together.”

"The reason why sage kings can pacify the feelings between people and things and end the disputes in the world is that nothing is more important than benevolence internally and nothing is more urgent than propriety externally."

After Hongli said this, Zhu Shi not only opened his eyes wide, but also stood up without realizing it.

"Nothing is more important than benevolence within oneself, and nothing is more urgent than propriety without."

Zhu Shi then muttered something to himself.

Zhu Shi then nodded solemnly: "Good understanding! Etiquette begins with respect and ends with benevolence. If one wishes to serve the world, one should cultivate benevolence internally and teach etiquette externally."

“Hongli! Your knowledge of the classics has reached the point where I no longer need to teach you.”

Zhu Shi then said with a smile.

"You flatter me, sir."

Hongli bowed respectfully in response.

Meanwhile, Fu Peng, who was studying with Hongli, looked at Hongli with surprise and admiration.

Having studied Confucianism under the supervision of Lady Cao since childhood, he felt that Hongli had summarized the essence of practical application of knowledge very well after careful consideration.

Hongli then took the initiative to ask Zhu Shi, "However, I have a question that I would like to ask you, sir."

"speak."

Zhu Shi said with a smile.

He was initially disappointed by Yongzheng's removal of the status of lazy people and entertainers from the lowly social class, so he was in a bad mood. However, Hongli's insightful and profound advocacy of respecting rites in his summary of classical studies instantly lifted his spirits.

Therefore, Zhu Shi smiled broadly.

Zhu Shi had even secretly decided that he would write down this sentence when he returned home and share it with his like-minded friends.

While he was happy, he also felt a sense of regret that his joy had turned into sorrow.

His regret was that Hongli was a prince, someone who might become emperor in the future.

How wonderful it would be if Hongli were just an ordinary student!

That way...

He could simply advise Hongli to pursue the path of a great Confucian scholar, to achieve immortality in his writings, and to become a sage whose teachings on Confucian classics and the rites of propriety would illuminate the ages. And he, as his teacher, could also benefit from this.

But Zhu Shi then had some expectations, hoping that a prince like Hongli, who respected etiquette, could become the emperor. That would only make his idea of ​​strengthening the control of etiquette over the common people the only officially recognized correct ideology.

At this time, Hongli also followed Zhu Shi in advocating the idea of ​​"respecting rites," and even brought up Zeng Guofan's famous saying on respecting rites. His real purpose was to unify the thinking for Yongzheng's centralized reform.

To ensure that Yongzheng's reforms were legally sound.

Of course, Hongli did this so that he could establish a theoretical basis for his large-scale military campaigns after he became emperor.

Since many scholars of this era tended to respect etiquette, he took advantage of their respect for etiquette to do things for his own political purposes.

At this point, Hongli took the initiative to ask Zhu Shi: "Now that the Holy Emperor has issued an edict to remove the lowly status of musicians and lazy people, allowing them to study, take the imperial examinations, become officials, choose their own occupations, and marry commoners, is this not in accordance with the rites and teachings?"

"After all, rites, music, and military expeditions originate from the emperor and are also manifestations of inner benevolence."

"Please answer my question, sir!"

Hongli bowed again.

Zhu Shi was speechless at this point.

It's not that he couldn't answer.

Instead, he suddenly realized that Hongli had dug a huge pit for him.

He certainly advocated that rites should be determined by the emperor, and that the emperor's determination of rites should be based on cultivating benevolence and virtue.

But he couldn't accept the abolition of the status of a person of low social standing!
Because he was a member of the Han Chinese gentry class.

He knew very well that if entertainers and lazy people could reform themselves, the gentry and wealthy families in Shanxi and Zhejiang would have far fewer reasons to justify exploiting these Han people.

If he says this is correct today, it will only cause many gentry in Shanxi and Zhejiang to resent him in the future.

He respected etiquette, but he never considered what would happen if etiquette, in turn, bound him, a scholar-official.
"Sir, is this difficult to answer?"

Hongli asked.

Simultaneously.

He wanted to laugh to himself; he knew that Han Chinese officials like Zhu Shi would struggle when their advocacy of respecting etiquette was not in the interests of their own class.

Because when he arrived, he saw that Zhu Shi looked unwell, and guessed that Zhu Shi might not be able to accept the abolition of the status of lowly people.

The reason he is asking this question now is to force Zhu Shi to express his opinion, so that he will not hesitate to put his ideas into practice in concrete matters.

Since we respect etiquette, we cannot only respect etiquette when it is valuable to us!
At this moment, Fu Peng, who was accompanying Zhu Shi, also looked at Zhu Shi in surprise.

He hadn't expected Zhu Shi to be stunned for so long, and then asked, "Yes, Master Zhu, this shouldn't be difficult, right? Didn't you say that rites are determined by the emperor? After all, the sage did say that rites, music, and military expeditions originate from the emperor, so as long as the emperor's actions are in accordance with benevolence, they are naturally in accordance with rites, and thus constitute proper rites?"

After Fu Peng asked this question, Zhu Shi finally gritted his teeth and solemnly said, "That's right. Your Majesty's abolition of the status of musicians and lazy people is naturally in accordance with etiquette and is the proper way to uphold propriety!"

Hongli nodded in agreement, and at the same time, he couldn't help but think more highly of Zhu Shi.

Because Zhu Shi ultimately overcame his selfish desires and chose to continue adhering to his principles of respecting rites rather than abandoning his beliefs simply because they affected his personal interests.

"This disciple has learned much from you."

Hongli bowed again in response.

Zhu Shi let out a long sigh of relief and then smiled.

On that very day, Zhu Shi submitted his resignation to Emperor Yongzheng.

Emperor Yongzheng was very surprised by this and summoned him to the Hall of Mental Cultivation: "Why do you suddenly want to resign? Is Hongli not worthy of being taught?"

"Of course not. It is I who am ashamed that I am unworthy to teach the Fourth Prince. The Fourth Prince is wise and blessed by Heaven, and his nature is cautious and bright. On the contrary, it is I who am not firm in my will and do not understand etiquette as well as the Fourth Prince."

"Therefore, he is truly unworthy of the title of tutor to the prince, and would only invite ridicule from the Fourth Prince."

Zhu Shi replied.

After hearing what Zhu Shi said, Emperor Yongzheng became very curious and asked Zhu Shi to tell him the details.

"Nothing is more important than benevolence within oneself, and nothing is more urgent than propriety without."

Yongzheng's expression turned serious for a moment, then he said with a determined look on his face, "It seems that Hongli is indeed no ordinary prince."

"But in that case, you're even more deserving to teach him!"

"Since you have taken the initiative to admit that you are not as steadfast as your student, it is evident that you have a broad mind and an open heart, which is incomparable to a pedantic scholar. Therefore, I do not allow you to resign. You must continue to be his teacher and impart your knowledge to him!"

(End of this chapter)