I clearly wanted to be a tyrant, but how did I become the greatest emperor of all time?

Most scholars studied Neo-Confucianism not because they truly supported it, but just wanted to gain fame and fortune!

Without official academic endorsement, science would surely fall from its pedestal!

Xia Donglin took a deep breath and decided that he had to fight for science!

After Tang Xiaoren finished reading, the big discussion officially began!

More than a dozen great Neo-Confucian scholars, as well as virtuous people from all over the country, immediately stepped forward and took a clear stand on the side of Neo-Confucianism.

Xia Donglin, a great scholar of science, gave an impassioned speech to Li Tian.

Soon, his retainers and some officials in the court expressed their support for Xia Donglin.

The virtuous local representatives overwhelmingly expressed their support for Neo-Confucianism!

In fact, the reason is easy to understand. It was a hundred years after the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty.

The local gentry have gradually eroded the power of the Great Zhou at the grassroots level.

Nowadays, private schools are thriving in wealthy areas such as Yuhang.

These local gentry and powerful people helped students by establishing private schools.

After becoming officials, these students will also give back to the college.

They are all closely tied to these gentry.

For a time, local public opinion was almost entirely controlled by these students of Neo-Confucianism.

In Yuhang area, students from various colleges and universities have become a trend and even incited public opinion to influence local government.

In order to be evaluated and promoted, local officials would basically cooperate with these local gentry.

Therefore, the local representatives selected this time almost all speak for Neo-Confucianism.

Many officials who passed the imperial examinations through private education and became high-ranking officials in the court were more inclined towards Neo-Confucianism.

Only people at Tang Xiaoren's level can see the harm of Neo-Confucianism controlling local areas.

If this continues, it will definitely shake the foundation of the imperial court!

The local gentry controlled the local areas, and with the gradual decline of the imperial court, it became difficult to collect taxes from the local areas.

If Lu Weibin had not implemented the land tax distribution in Huajiang Prefecture, the land tax in Huajiang Prefecture would not even be as high as that in the Northwest region!

Yuhang Prefecture's tax revenue was also being eroded.

This time, Lu Weibin's reform can be regarded as extending the life of Yuhang.

However, as the power of local gentry grows, the effectiveness of the measure of equalizing the land tax will certainly gradually become worse.

After all, any measure needs to be implemented by local officials!

This measure will certainly be gradually phased out, and the land will still be concentrated in the hands of local gentry.

Neo-Confucianism and local gentry are closely tied to each other.

Local gentry provided funding and channels for the spread of Neo-Confucianism, and also created momentum for outstanding students in the college and formed social opinion.

The students of the academy who become officials tend to be inclined towards local gentry.

The two sides have gradually formed a twisted vicious circle and are firmly entrenched in the local area.

In this debate, Lu Weibin also engaged in a debate with a group of scholars.

Almost all local representatives and some court officials are devoted to Neo-Confucianism!

Although many of them had high aspirations, they also felt that Lu Weibin's philosophy of seeking knowledge through investigation of things and strengthening capabilities was more beneficial to the Great Zhou, they also had to consider their own interests.

To support science is to safeguard your own interests!

After a whole morning of arguing, Li Tian yawned a few times.

These miscellaneous classic debates were a torture for Li Tian, who was not very interested in Confucianism.

Seeing that the team of Neo-Confucianism is so large, almost all the wise and virtuous people are supporting Neo-Confucianism!

Li Tian became more determined to support the study of psychology!

The more you oppose, the more I will do it!

Lu Weibin debated with many scholars, although he could always give the correct answer.

But he knew he had lost the debate.

There are too many people who support science!

The School of Mind has only been around for less than a year. It is still too naive to want to shake the status of official academic thought!

Lu Weibin was not discouraged. As long as he could provide a breeding ground for the spread of Xinxue, this Shiqutai Conference would be enough!

After both sides finished their argument, Xiao Weizi rang the bell.

Everyone looked at Li Tian.

The time for the Holy Judgment has come!

Li Tian finally ended his trance.

Whether it is the School of Mind or the School of Principle, the debates on the meaning of these scriptures are like listening to a mystery!

Li Tian didn’t understand at all!

But it doesn’t matter!

Since everyone supports science, Li Tian knows what to do!

Li Tian coughed lightly and said:

"I feel that this debate is a victory for the School of Mind!"

"In the future, the content of the imperial examination will be selected from the classics of the School of Mind!"

After these words were spoken, the whole audience was speechless!

Xia Donglin looked at the emperor in surprise.

Psychology wins?

How could this be?

It is obvious that Neo-Confucianism has a greater influence. Can't Your Majesty see it?

When it comes to debating the meaning of scriptures, isn't it just whoever has the loudest voice that wins?

Your Majesty, can't you see?

Everyone supports science!

how could you do this!

Xia Donglin almost vomited blood on the spot!

But when his eyes met Li Tian's, he swallowed all the words on his lips!

This emperor is no ordinary emperor!

He is an emperor who has conquered thousands of territories throughout history!

Now all the dukes and nobles are standing behind the emperor.

Rand and Li Chengdu were both famous generals of the time.

It’s the kind that’s hard to come by in a thousand years!

Xia Donglin also saw how Rand quelled the chaos in the Huaihe River shipping!

Can Yuhang College be as powerful as the Huaihe Cao Gang?

If Yuhang rebelled, the imperial court could simply send troops and put it down in less than half a month.

Now the emperor's prestige in the hearts of the people has reached its peak.

Now that the treasury is full, who dares to oppose the emperor?

What is even more desperate is that the emperor is only in his twenties and in good health!

If nothing unexpected happens, he will continue to rule the Great Zhou for decades!

At this time, even Neo-Confucianism did not dare to dare to rebel against the Emperor of the Great Zhou!

Xia Donglin got scared.

Even though Neo-Confucianism has lost its official academic status, the School of Mind is still a branch of Confucianism, and the basic classics are also very similar!

If that doesn’t work, just set up a psychology course in the college!

But Xia Donglin was scared, because those local representatives were not as sensible as he was.

They all jumped out and said:

"Your Majesty, you can't!"

"Your Majesty, it's obvious that science wins!"

"Your Majesty, how can such a heretical school of thought as the School of Mind become the official school of thought in the imperial court?"

"Great Sage and Master! This country is no longer a country!"

Representatives from all those places all started to act like best actor.

Li Tian's face gradually became ugly.

Finished!

Xia Donglin's expression became even uglier!

Sure enough, Li Tian became even more unhappy after those local representatives made such a fuss.

Are you teaching me how to do things?

Li Tian coughed lightly and said:

"I feel that local education is lax and we need to restore the system of the early days of the founding of the country."

"From now on, all provinces and cities will re-establish official schools."

"The official school has set up a doctoral program in the School of Mind, and the candidates are selected from among the outstanding scholars in the Imperial Academy."

"Officials at all levels are responsible for food, accommodation, and textbooks. As long as you pass the examination, you can study in the official school!"

"From now on, all private schools are banned!"

"The learned scholars from all over the country can also teach in the official school if they wish!"

"Anyone who runs a school and recruits disciples without permission will be killed without mercy!"

After hearing the iron-blooded decree, Xia Donglin turned pale.

Those local representatives were about to fall to the ground one after another.

Just when they were planning to continue resisting.

Li Tian gave him a cold look.