Chapter 107: Equality of the Four Classes

After hearing Zhang He's words, Luo Sigong nodded.

Though he still felt somewhat unsettled inside, he thought it was about as good as it could get, and he knew there was no way to arrange anything more.

It was just that Luo Sigong hadn't expected Chen Kedao's lecture to draw so many people.

This time it had stirred up so many people in the capital — he hoped nothing would go wrong.

Right now was precisely the time when the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot were contending for supremacy; neither side wanted to be overshadowed by the other, so everyone was putting great effort into their work.

This time Luo Sigong had even come in person to hold the line, afraid that if something happened at the lecture site and he wasn't there, he wouldn't be able to handle it promptly and properly.

"The lecture outside should be about to start, right?" Luo Sigong looked at Zhang He and asked.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it is indeed about to begin." Zhang He hastily bowed.

"Then let's go take a look as well." With that, Luo Sigong stood up and turned to walk outside.

He wanted to see what Chen Kedao would say.

These past days Luo Sigong had also learned something about Li Zhi's teachings; he approved of them, and liked them very much, and had even sought guidance from Chen Kedao on multiple occasions.

In fact, only Luo Sigong himself knew clearly that he had no interest whatsoever in these things.

Whether it was the thought of the School of Principle, or the thought of the School of Mind, or even these things Chen Kedao spoke of — he had no interest in any of it.

If one truly asked what he was interested in, it was holding office and getting rich.

But sometimes, what you have to do and what you want to do are not the same thing.

In later ages there was this notion of political correctness, and in this era it was the same.

Situated in the position of Regional Military Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Luo Sigong had to like this doctrine that His Majesty liked, believe in this doctrine, and even be willing to die for this doctrine.

Of course, that was how it had to be on the surface. Although appearances were put on for others to see, in fact he truly had to do it this way.

No choice, no negotiation, and no room to maneuver left or right.

The entire Embroidered Uniform Guard knew that their own Regional Military Commissioner held this Master Chen Kedao in great esteem, and greatly admired Master Chen's teachings — that was why he supported this master so much.

Moreover, this lecture had been organized single-handedly by their own master. Their master was also going to establish an academy, letting this Master Chen Kedao lecture there.

Now that their own master was going to listen to Master Chen Kedao's lecture, naturally there was nothing strange about it.

So Zhang He dared not be negligent, and hastily said: "This humble officer will lead the way."

Soon Luo Sigong arrived at another side, where one could clearly see the platform. And the people below the platform could not see this place — it was a spot commanding a full view of the scene.

Before Luo Sigong could even find a comfortable place to sit, a sudden commotion broke out below the platform.

Soon a person slowly walked up from below the platform onto the stage.

This person wore a scholar's robe, was not tall, and while one couldn't say he was plain-looking, he truly was very ugly.

No one had expected that this person was Chen Kedao.

He actually looked like this?!

Yet Chen Kedao faced the crowd's doubts with composure, slowly walking to the center of the platform and sitting down in the seat that was his.

After he was seated, once everything seemed ready, Chen Kedao stood up and spoke: "Today I am honored by everyone's presence, and I thank you all here."

With that, he smiled and cupped his hands toward those around him.

Many people were unimpressed by Chen Kedao's words, including some disciples of the School of Mind.

With you putting on this show, who doesn't know what's really going on? Were those people below the platform here to show you support?

They wished they could stomp you into the ground.

But saying it that way wasn't really wrong either. Since people had come, naturally they were here to show support. No one would jump out and say they'd come to cause trouble.

So however Chen Kedao said it, these people had to listen that way.

After the pleasantries were done, Chen Kedao continued: "It is I, Chen Kedao, who will explain my late master's teachings for everyone here. My master's work, A Book to Burn, contains the words of the Great Way. My learning is shallow and my abilities meager; I cannot fully comprehend it alone. Today I am here merely to exchange views with everyone. If anyone has read my master's books, you are welcome to join the discussion."

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

Some wore cold sneers — this Chen Kedao was afraid, actually narrowing the scope of discussion to his teacher's scholarship. But what use was that? It was nothing more than the act of covering one's ears while stealing a bell.

As long as you dared not accept the challenge today, then tomorrow your reputation would stink to high heaven, and everyone would know you were a heretic — there was no room for negotiation.

Under such circumstances, playing these petty tricks was already useless. Chen Kedao seemed not to have realized this, and still adopted this approach.

So those below sneered or scoffed as they pleased; in any case, no one took Chen Kedao's words to heart.

Chen Kedao didn't mind either, and directly said: "My master advocated many things, and there are many places where I myself cannot fully comprehend them. What I will speak of today is one of my master's advocacies — the equality of the four classes."

As soon as these words came out, the scene erupted in clamor.

This viewpoint was not something no one had ever raised before — it was just that it had always been struck down.

Because those in the mainstream were the literati — as the saying goes, scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant — the literati were the people at the very top of the food chain. How would they be willing to step down and play at equality with others?

That was simply impossible.

And this nation's public discourse and academic viewpoints were all held in the hands of the literati — how could they possibly pioneer such a theory?

Whoever did such a thing would be everyone's enemy; that person would be a heretic who must be eliminated — eliminated in both the academic and the physical sense.

No one had expected this Chen Kedao to directly shout out this slogan.

This fellow was simply audacious beyond measure!

But Chen Kedao didn't care about any of that — he had no choice but to speak this way.

Previously, when he had entered the palace to chat with His Majesty, His Majesty had brought up this matter.

His Majesty said that if Old Chen wanted to give lectures, he must take cleansing the world as his goal.

So the slogan he shouted had to be thunderous and eye-opening; it had to frighten everyone.

Otherwise it would be like doing things in a sneaky, underhanded way — everyone would ignore you, and if someone deliberately suppressed you on top of that, he himself wouldn't be able to stir up any waves at all.

So he had to shout a lofty, grand slogan, for only then could he win others' support.

The equality of the four classes had to be shouted out. So this wasn't actually something Chen Kedao wanted to shout, but something His Majesty wanted to shout — it was merely being shouted through Chen Kedao's mouth, while letting his teacher take the blame.

In any case, the teacher was already dead.

Besides, based on his understanding of his teacher, if there really were a chance to shout slogans on behalf of His Majesty, never mind taking the blame — his teacher would gladly give his life for it.

Chen Kedao paid no heed to the commotion below the stage, continuing calmly: "Heaven gives birth to the multitudes, and all are naturally equal, with no distinction of high or low, noble or base. As for the scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant — these are merely means of making a living, with no distinction of high or low, noble or base. Whether one takes up letters or arms, whether one farms or trades, we are all the same kind of people — only the things we do differ, and there is no other difference between us."

PS:

Next up is the ever-popular book recommendation segment — recommending a new book from the history channel!

The new work by "Yi Xiu Qian Kun," a master of quality historical fiction: *I Want to Be a Grand Secretary*

Synopsis: In the twenty-sixth year of Jiajing, the Great Ming's Son of Heaven refines elixirs and cultivates the Dao, seeking only immortality. Xia Yan and Yan Song scheme openly and secretly for the position of Chief Grand Secretary, neither willing to yield to the other.

In this year destined to be extraordinary, the young lad Xu Yan of Dinghai County, Ningbo Prefecture, climbs high and gazes into the distance, silently swearing in his heart: I want to be a Grand Secretary!