First Minister of Ming Dynasty

It's just a pity that some buildings have been damaged from the outside, and I'm afraid the inside is even more unbearable.

To be honest, before coming to the academy, Zhang Ximeng still had various thoughts about Zhu Xi, and planned to have a thorough whipping of the corpse and a hearty victory.

Sweep Zhu Xi, an old thief, into the garbage dump of history, and bury Neo Confucianism in one fell swoop!

But walking in this academy, Zhang Ximeng seemed to feel a cordial atmosphere, as if an old friend was calling in a low voice, the mountain springs ding-dong, the birds were singing, the wind was blowing the fragrance of flowers, and the mountains were slightly glowing.

"Perhaps even a god can live in this place. It is indeed the number one academy in the world!"

Seeing Zhang Ximeng nodding non-stop, Gao Qi and the others sincerely admired him, their eyes widened, something was wrong!

"Zhang Xiang, do you think this place is very good?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said: "Isn't it good? If I don't have to deal with government affairs and so many mundane things, I really want to read and drink tea in the mountains, and be free from dust! Let me tell you, the air in the mountains is fresh Yes, it can prolong life, which is much better than Jinling's crowd...By the way, how old is Zhu Xi?"

"71 years old." Gao Qi answered honestly.

Zhang Ximeng was amazed, "It shouldn't be, how can I outlive Confucius and Mencius here!"

Confucius is 73 and Mencius is 84. This is the lifespan of a sage.That's why there is 7384, the saying that the king of Hades didn't ask him to go.

Zhu Xi was only 71 years old, which is indeed a little less.

At this time, Ye Chen coughed and said, "Master Zhang, Zhu Xi got involved in party struggles in his later years. Han Yuzhou attacked Taoism, expelled Zhao Ruyu, and dismissed Zhu Xi. Shen Jizu, the supervisory censor, took the opportunity to falsely accuse Zhu Xi of being disloyal, unfilial, unkind, injustice, disrespect, Dissatisfaction with the six major crimes, and fabricated the rumor that Zhu Xi seduced the nun as a favored concubine, and asked Ning Zong to learn from Confucius to punish Shao Zhengmao... Zhu Xi had a difficult life in his later years. He suffered from foot problems, lost his left eye, and almost lost his right eye. But even so, he still worked hard to write books, only to pass on the orthodoxy, so that there will be successors."

Zhang Ximeng was slightly taken aback, and quickly remembered what happened to Zhu Xi in his later years... In fact, looking at this passage alone, it is really embarrassing.

We all know that the Zhao and Song dynasties were full of party disputes, such as the Northern Song Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty... However, the literati in the Song Dynasty liked to give lectures, and the result was that lectures were often mixed with the government and became a pot of porridge.

After Zhu Xizhong became a Jinshi, his official position was not high, and he kept moving around, giving lectures, writing books, and teaching his disciples... During this period of time, Zhu Xi should be very carefree.

But in his later years, in his 60s, recommended by Zhao Ruyu, he went to court to give lectures to the emperor. As a result, he stepped into the circle of right and wrong.

Zhu Xi was also suffering from illness and died of illness.

The irony is that because of the contempt for Neo-Confucianism in later generations, they even hated Zhu Xi, and then took out the crime of framing Zhu Xi and pinned it on Zhu Xi's head.

Whether Old Master Zhu was wronged or not, I don't know how to say it for a while... He really didn't commit those crimes, but Neo Confucianism was carried forward from him.

In this way, it turns out that Confucianism did not become a prominent school all at once, and was even banned as a fake school during the period, and the old master Zhu Xi also had a bleak end.

Zhang Ximeng sighed for a while, they happened to arrive at a courtyard, an ancient well, a stone table, and a few scattered stone piers.

Zhang Ximeng sat down casually, and said to several people: "You think that Zhu Xi and Lu Jiuyuan debated here?"

Zhang Ximeng said regretfully: "It's a pity that today's school is depressed and desolate, and there are no famous scholars. Otherwise, sitting here and debating knowledge together would be an interesting thing."

That's right, Zhang Ximeng and the others entered the academy without seeing anyone along the way.

Obviously to avoid the chaos of war, everyone fled, and no one took care of the academy.If in a few years, the houses collapsed and the ground is full of rubble, we may not be able to experience the elegance of the place where Zhu Xi gave lectures.

Zhang Ximeng even had the urge to rebuild the academy.

Gao Qi and others found that Zhang Ximeng seemed to be a different person, and they were a little disappointed, so they said unwillingly: "Mr. Zhang, I didn't expect that people from Bailudong Academy went to Loukong, and there was no one who could argue. If this is the case, how about Mr. Zhang?" Let's teach here!"

Xu Ben also said: "That's right, let's finish what we didn't finish on the way. The failure of Bailudong Academy is exactly the decline of Neo-Confucianism, and when new learning takes place, Xiang Zhang is duty-bound!"

Sun Yan also hurriedly bowed and said, "They are right!"

"To you!" Zhang Ximeng said bluntly: "Any kind of knowledge has a basis for theory and its own system. Although I don't like Neo-Confucianism, if I criticize it for no reason, wouldn't that be a bitch? After all, we still need prophets and governors... If you have time, look around and see if you can find some manuscripts."

What was originally a hasty cultural dispute turned into a rescue of cultural relics in an instant.

A few people split up and walked around. They found that the academy had indeed been empty for a few years, and the brick and tile house was still there, but the windows were obviously eaten by insects and ants, and the tiles were leaking. It looked okay on the outside. In fact, it is unusable.

They found the library, but found that the books had been evacuated long ago, leaving only a few dilapidated wooden shelves.

I don't know whether it was moved away by the people of the academy, or by the people nearby. Anyway, there is nothing left.

Several people searched around, but just moved a few planks back and placed them in front of Zhang Ximeng.

"Zhang Xiang, the paper is gone, only these few boards have writing, which seems to be the original school rules."

When Zhang Ximeng heard this, he stood up immediately, walked over and put the wooden board on the stone table, and carefully read the writing on it.

"Scholars only learn this. And there are five prefaces to their learning, which are different from the left: learning extensively, interrogating, thinking carefully, discerning clearly, and practicing earnestly. The right is the order of learning. Study, ask, Thinking and distinguishing are four, so it is poor reasoning.”

Zhang Ximeng has long been used to reading ancient Chinese, and these sentences are not obscure, which means that there are five in the order of learning.Learn extensively, ask questions carefully, think carefully, distinguish clearly, and implement faithfully.This is the order of learning.Studying, asking, thinking, and distinguishing are the four ways to thoroughly study the truth of things.

Zhang Ximeng looked at it briefly, and couldn't help but said: "Learning, asking questions, thinking, distinguishing, and implementing... Isn't this what I have always advocated? Not only to study, manage politics and appease the people, but also to broadly understand the situation and ask questions , think and analyze, come up with a plan, and then implement it... Is this really what Zhu Xi advocated?"

Everyone nodded together, "It is indeed Master Zhu who advocated it."

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help but look down again, "If you do things earnestly, you need to cultivate yourself, handle things, and handle things. The differences are as follows: Be faithful in words, respectful in deeds, punish anger and suffocate desires, and correct mistakes. .The essentials of self-cultivation”

These few sentences continue to be explained above, how to faithfully implement them?It is necessary to know the principles of self-cultivation, dealing with affairs, and dealing with things, and each has its own essentials.Speak faithfully and faithfully, behave honestly and respectfully, control anger, restrain selfish desires: correct mistakes and keep doing good.This is the principle of self-cultivation.

Zhang Ximeng looked at it again and again, and to be honest, he really couldn't find any faults, and if he asked himself, he might not have reached this level yet.

Looking further down, "Justify the righteousness without seeking profit. Know the way and don't count the merits. The key to doing things right."

Seeing this sentence, Zhang Ximeng couldn't help clapping his hands and applauding. Zhu Xi advocated that everything should be done for the sake of justice rather than for personal interests, and for the sake of discerning the truth rather than for his own fame.These words almost touched Zhang Ximeng's heart.

"Look, Zhu Xi said that doing things is for righteousness, not for profit... Let me ask the scholars in the world, how can they annex land, keep slaves, and avoid land taxes and corvees? How can they be greedy for their own selfishness and let the people suffer. The country is in trouble?"

"I think what Zhu Xi said is quite right! People in Neo-Confucianism really have failed Zhu Zi's teachings!"

Everyone stared, Zhang Xiang, don't you know what it means to say one thing and do another?

Chapter 3 Sixty Brother, I'm Still Alive!

When Zhang Ximeng came back from Bailudong Academy, the expected fierce quarrel did not happen.On the contrary, Zhang Ximeng took the academic regulations of Bailudong Academy that he had obtained into his study, and studied them painstakingly. Yang up.Why did I go to Bailudong Academy and change my appearance without seeing anyone?

Could it be said that there was Zhu Xi's soul in Bailu Cave, and the two confronted each other hundreds of years, and Zhang Xiang failed?

Can not be done!

We can't admit defeat!

Gao Qi wanted to rush in, but Sun Yan immediately stopped him.

"I said, take it easy and don't act rashly, just wait honestly and put your heart in your stomach."

Gao Qi gritted his teeth and said angrily, "How can I feel relieved about such a big matter, the dispute over knowledge? If Neo Confucianism is brought back to life, aren't you afraid?"

Afraid?What are you afraid of? "Sun Yan chuckled, and casually pointed to the teapot on the table, "I am just a humble tea set, used to hold Mr. Zhang's fragrant thoughts, so what's there to be afraid of?"

"You! You are an unintentional person!" Gao Qi cursed angrily, but Sun Yan accepted it calmly and ignored it at all.You guys don't know Zhang Ximeng well, do you really think he would have any resonance with Zhu Xi?

It seems that most of them can use Zhu Xi. The old man has been dead for so many years, and he is still used as a tool. What a pity!

Zhang Xiang is also capable of doing things, and he doesn't know how to respect the old and love the young!

Sun Yan secretly slandered.

Zhang Ximeng naturally didn't mind, Zhu Xi's head, you can touch Zhu Xi's head, but I can't touch it?

Not only do I want to touch him, but I also want to touch him bald.

Who is Zhu Xi?

First of all, he is probably a person who is very good at reading. After all, he is not good enough, and he can't be admitted to Jinshi at the age of 19!

But if you want to say that Zhu Xi is a top academic bully, it is a little bit reluctant. Of course, as long as he can be admitted to Jinshi, he should belong to the top academic bully, but among these people, it depends on who is more overbearing!

Zhu Xi is No. 90 in the fifth class, and he was born as a Jinshi.

It is said that they are the same as Jinshi, but they are actually different.

When Zhu Xi first entered the officialdom, he only served as the county registrar, and his starting point was not high. .

It belongs to the embarrassing situation of being mixed into the circle of scholar-bureaucrats, but outside the Fifth Ring Road.

If nothing else happened, Zhu Xi would just be an official like magistrate or magistrate, who would do nothing all his life, and was just an ordinary scholar with no achievements other than leaving some money and land for his family.

But soon Zhu Xi found his way, he followed the orthodox approach to become a non-commissioned officer, and it was impossible to govern the country and the world.

Then let's start with academic studies. Zhu Xi started a school in the county, and then he joined Li Tong's school and became the serious successor of Ercheng Neo Confucianism.

Note that this status is really important. Although Zhu Xi didn't get the top level in academic qualifications, he was hard-pressed in choosing a teacher.

After that, Zhu Xi made more use of his strengths and avoided his weaknesses, and if he didn't do well in the officialdom, we just learned.To some extent, Zhu Xi is not a genius, but he is very good at reading and summarizing ability.

He is not the kind of Su Shi, who is a genius with a spoon in his hand and feeds after chasing his ass.

But in the continuous reading, Zhu Xi's knowledge became more and more profound. He began to sum up the learning of Ercheng, introduce the old and bring forth the new, write books and set up theories, open the door of the mountain, give lectures and teach,

So much so that a generation of Confucian scholars can be achieved...

It’s not good to be disciples. As long as you find the true intentions of Confucius, you can stop being so naive. If you think so, you will be deceived.

The old master Zhu Xi can not only read books, write books and give lectures, but also do business... Zhu Xi once founded the Shecang. To put it bluntly, he imitated Wang Anshi's method of young crops. He borrowed grain and rice from the people and charged interest. The warehouse borrowed [-] shi of rice, and after more than ten years of operation, the grain accumulated in the warehouse has reached [-] shi, which is a double gain of fame and fortune!

The most interesting thing is that Zhu Xi summed up the difference between his Shecang Law and the Green Crop Law, saying that one is in the countryside, the other is in the state capital, and the other is run by the private sector and the other by the government.

That is to say, the Green Crop Law was loaned by the imperial court to the people in the prefectures and counties, while his Shecang Law was loaned to the people in the village by gentry and gentlemen.

It’s hard to say whether it’s true or not. Anyway, Old Master Zhu has explored a good way for the gentry to fish in a sustainable way. He is indeed a great Confucian in the south of the Yangtze River.

Gentlemen set an example!

No matter how much he said, Zhu Xi always sat on the side of the gentry and landlord, and he painstakingly summed up Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. According to Zhang Ximeng's previous summary, this thing is a freak cancer, and there is a problem from the root.

But, then again, it is true that there are problems with Neo Confucianism, but there is still much to learn from Zhu Xi's academic ability, reading level, and logic of exposition.

Chang Ximeng wants to form a family of his own, but he has too many shortcomings. The most important one is that his thinking mode is different from most scholars nowadays.

How to cut in and how to get people to accept it has become Zhang Ximeng's biggest weakness.

After all, those who can accept Zhang Ximeng's ideas are all well-read poems and books, and already have a fairly basic foundation. Whether it's Zhu Sheng, Liu Ji, Gao Qi, or Xu Gui, they are all such people.

But Zhang Ximeng can't expect people all over the world to learn Confucius and Mencius first, pretend to be Confucianism, and then repent and become his loyal disciples, right?

Obviously, this is not realistic.

There is no other way but to start with Zhu Xi's academic rules. Although Zhang Ximeng didn't dig Zhu Xi's ancestral grave, he decided to include Zhu Xi and devour Neo Confucianism... It seems even more ruthless!

Zhang Ximeng was fiddling with the school regulations of Bailudong Academy. I mentioned some of them earlier. Here, the first rule is: "Father and son have relatives. Monarchs and ministers have righteousness.

Couples are different.Young and old in order.A friend has a letter.The purpose of the Five Teachings of the Right.Yao and Shun entrusted Qie as a situ, respecting the five teachings, that is to say, this is the case.

These few words are to elucidate the general principles, and bring out Yao and Shun, saying that our school teaches students to cultivate their minds and self-cultivation.

Bar?Zhang Ximeng watched it for a long time.It seems that there is no problem. If he lectures, he can't talk about father and son discord, monarch and minister slaughter, husband and wife fight, brother against each other. This is almost an impeccable nonsense, it all depends on how you understand it.

Zhang Ximeng pondered for a while, he took out the difference between the couple, and then wrote a sentence behind, there is no difference between the difference.

Men and women are different, isn't this nonsense, who doesn't know?

But husbands and wives are different. This other word is tantamount to admitting that men and women are different. The man is the head of the family, and the woman is the house. The man is the head of the family, and the woman is just an accessory.

And Zhang Ximeng added the word "no difference" at the end, which immediately changed the meaning. Although husband and wife are different, they have the same legal status, and women also enjoy property rights.

Looking at his notes, Zhang Ximeng couldn't help grinning.

It turns out that this is the joy of the Great Confucianism!

In fact, this sentence originally came from Mencius, and Zhu Xi took it and used it as the academic regulations of Bailudong Academy, which is equivalent to expressing his own opinions through the mouth of a sage.

And Zhang Ximeng's re-annotation is tantamount to pulling the sage to his side again.

As for what Mencius said, it doesn't matter. I think what you said is what matters!

In a word, the final right of interpretation belongs to me.

After Zhang Ximeng successfully solved the problem, he was out of control

"Learn it. Interrogate it. Think it over. Discern it. Do it earnestly."

This sentence comes from the doctrine of the mean, which belongs to the process of reading... and Zhang Ximeng added four words at the end: the unity of knowledge and action.

Of course he knows that earnest practice does not mean practice, and he also knows that the one who advocates the unity of knowledge and action does not mean practice, but now the power of interpretation is in my hands, and I can explain it however I want.

After meditating for a while, Zhang Ximeng wrote with a pen: "Wu Wang opened a course to select scholars, and when he became an official, he first went through various ministries, accumulated experience, and learned skills. Then use the income in the actions of assisting the country and governing the people, that is to practice it earnestly, and to unite knowledge and action.

"Justice is not for profit. Knowing the way is not for merit."

The reading population does not talk about profit, and does not seek profit.Enter the court as an official and serve the Holy Lord.Do not annex fields, do not evade taxes and duties, set an example for all people, and be a pillar of the country.Zhang Ximeng commented all the way, changing one of Zhu Xi's academic regulations beyond recognition, and the old master Zhu's coffin is almost overwhelmed.

In order to prevent Zhu Xi from defrauding the corpse, Zhang Ximeng summed up a paragraph later... For thousands of years, there are many kinds of propositions, such as Chinese heroes, talented people,

What hasn't been brought up?

But there are too many things that are just mentioned, left in the books, and talked about, but never practiced.

Because knowledge and reality are separated, it is impossible to connect books with reality... I think that a person has the heart to serve the country, is a man of knowledge, and agrees to annex land. The most of the three is the second.