Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"I also have a shop in Hangzhou."

"First, Zhu Mian used the Flower and Stone Tribute to plunder,"

"Then Fang La invaded Hangzhou."

"Sigh, it's a long story..."

Hu Quan said, "I heard that the tyrannical emperor went to Hangzhou."

"It was also rampant plundering."

Zhang Jiucheng said, "After that tyrannical emperor arrived in Hangzhou,"

"They even allowed treacherous officials to seize land outside the city."

"My family's several hundred acres of land,"

"Nearly half of it was seized by the tyrannical emperor and turned into imperial estates."

Zhao Ding asked, "After Lord Cao (Zhang Shun) took Hangzhou,"

"Has the land and property of Zishao's family not been returned?"

Zhang Jiucheng explained, "Lord Cao's advance was incredibly swift."

"Where would they find the time to stay in Hangzhou and handle civil affairs?"

"Later, the imperial court appointed Minister Zhang as the Provincial Administration Commissioner,"

"They've started investigating the farmland in Hangzhou,"

"But I'm also in a hurry to get to the capital for the imperial examination,"

"We don't know if we've gotten the land back yet."

"The tyrannical ruler is so cruel that he even seizes the land owned by scholars,"

"He deserves to die and his country to perish!"

Li Gongmao slammed his fist on the table and cursed.

Yang Ji raised his cup and said, "Your Majesty governs with benevolence and loves the people."

"This cup is a toast to the Emperor!"

Everyone quickly stood up and clinked glasses.

He cursed Emperor Huizong of Song for a while.

He also praised the benevolent rule of the new dynasty.

Everyone finally started chatting.

Li Gongmao pointed to his cousin at a table in the distance.

“My brother is quick-witted,”

"When encountering a physics problem involving picking a lock with an iron bar,"

"He actually used a calligraphy brush to pry open the bowl and got the answer."

"Hahahaha!"

Li Yi laughed loudly, "But I can pry open a clay stove with chopsticks."

Everyone burst out laughing when they heard this.

Let's start by turning the topic to physics.

Li Yi asked, "Have you all studied physics?"

"Learned."

This large round table

There were twelve people seated.

Besides Zhao Ding,

The rest are the top eleven Jinshi graduates of this year's imperial examination.

Among the eleven people,

All six of them had studied physics.

Zhang Jiucheng said excitedly, "Your Majesty's 'Strategies for Applying the Way'..."

"The Way lies in what the common people use daily."

"These mere seven words directly point to the true meaning of the Great Dao,"

"Upon first reading, it felt as if one were waking from a deep dream!"

Zhang Jiucheng naturally accepted this theory.

Even without Zhao Yuan...

He himself would also propose that "the Way is used in daily life" and "the Way is inseparable from the tools".

This gentleman's academic ideas are extremely eccentric!

On the one hand, he was a devout Buddhist,

Introducing Buddhism into Confucianism

They also believed that everything in the world was an illusion.

On the other hand, he also believed that entering the Tao and becoming a saint,

It must be obtained from these illusions.

He not only established the prototype of the philosophy of mind, but also

It also advocates applying what one has learned.

Discard the empty and superficial aspects of Confucianism.

"To take nothingness as the way is enough to destroy a country."

“If we take daily life as our guide, then we can achieve the great accomplishments of the Yao, Shun, and other emperors.”

This is the core tenet of the Hengpu School founded by Zhang Jiucheng.

Li Tong clapped his hands and said, "Indeed, by exploring the principles of all things, one can glimpse the Great Dao!"

Zhang Jiucheng said, "Your Majesty's understanding of principles..."

"It appears too fragmented, with a focus on many things while neglecting one."

"Otherwise, one is to ten thousand, and ten thousand is to one,"

"In reality, they are one entity."

Li Tong immediately retorted.

"No, no..."

Li Tong was a pivotal figure in the development of Neo-Confucianism, bridging the gap between earlier and later periods.

Zhang Jiucheng was a founding figure of the School of Mind.

The two began arguing at the dinner table.

They all agreed with the importance of investigating things to acquire knowledge.

They all agreed with Zhao Yuan's theory of the application of Dao.

However, they have different understandings of how to specifically investigate things and seek the Dao.

As they chatted, Hu Quan joined in.

"Your Majesty's way lies within numbers,"

"Recently, I have been studying mathematics in seclusion,"

"The principles of all things can be explained using mathematics."

"If it cannot be explained mathematically,"

"Then they must not have found a way out yet."

"This is not something I have uttered nonsense,"

"The Emperor has long been aware of this,"

"It is hidden between the lines of 'The Way of Application'."

Li Yi's original text is the Book of Changes (易经).

He was quite proficient in divination.

"It is easy, it is also about numbers."

"I've been studying math intensively lately,"

"This is the origin of the Great Dao,"

"The Emperor is truly a learned man of extraordinary talent."

Li Gongmao said, "The path is too far, but the practical application is closer."

"I do not aspire to seek the Way,"

"I only seek to apply what I've learned."

"To seek a livelihood for all people under heaven."

"That makes sense,"

Zhang Jiucheng raised his glass and said,

"Take daily life as the way,"

"They will surely achieve the great feats of Yao, Shun, and the three emperors!"

Turbulent times produce heroes.

In another time and space, during the early Southern Song Dynasty,

Due to national peril and widespread suffering among the people

Not only did a large number of famous coaches and fierce generals emerge,

A wide variety of academic ideas have also emerged.

Those who pioneered or promoted these ideas,

Many of them were among the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) in this year's cohort.

And now they are also exposed to the mathematics and physics that Zhao Yuan brought.

I wonder what kind of sparks of thought will fly between us in the future.

Zhang Jiucheng chatted with everyone until late at night.

After the banquet,

They were still lying in their dorm room debating.

That felt so good.

It's as exhilarating as passing the imperial examination!

Chapter 1863 The Qionglin Banquet

The Song Dynasty emperor held a banquet for the newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).

Because it was held at Qionglin Garden,

Therefore, it is called "Qionglin Banquet".

But when Zhao Yuan passed the imperial examination,

Qionglin Garden is undergoing a major construction and expansion project.

From then on, the banquet for successful candidates in the imperial examinations was held in a different location.