Chapter 166: The Program of Reform

As for the disturbances outside the palace, if the court wishes to address them, it may; if not, there is simply no need to pay them any mind.

But it was precisely because this Cui Chengxiu was stirring up trouble in the court that matters had come to their current state.

Still, many people knew that this was in fact Your Majesty's intention.

This time, standing against Cui Chengxiu, it was not merely him being opposed, but Your Majesty. Removing Cui Chengxiu was not the goal—making Your Majesty retract his decision was the goal.

So many people were waiting, and many people were making preparations.

"Your Majesty, your minister believes this matter should be severely punished. Anyone who engages in private lecturing shall not be permitted; anyone who privately establishes an academy shall be arrested and prosecuted; all academies currently in existence throughout the realm shall be completely destroyed." Cui Chengxiu declared with forceful conviction.

"Lecturing academies are the source of chaos and calamity. Why did the previous Song dynasty fall? It was because of lecturing!"

"Many people harbor ill intentions, spreading heretical doctrines through lecturing; and even more people establish academies to form cliques, build factions for private gain—not only acting tyrannically in the localities, but also stirring up trouble in the court."

"These people wear a mask of righteousness and morality, yet behind it all they are thieves and prostitutes, monopolizing power in the court. Everything they do benefits neither the state nor the people—only themselves!" Cui Chengxiu grew louder and more agitated as he spoke.

"To put an end to such matters, your minister believes we must sever this at its root. Therefore, your minister holds that lecturing must be strictly prohibited and the establishment of academies strictly forbidden—only then can the realm be pacified and the world swept clean! Let the common people of the realm attend to their own stations, and hearts will be stabilized!"

Zhu Youxiao watched Cui Chengxiu—this fellow, as he spoke, had gradually turned his spearhead toward the Donglin Faction.

On the surface, it was for the sake of the state and great righteousness, but in reality Cui Chengxiu was simply eliminating those who differed from him, wishing he could trample everyone underfoot.

After Cui Chengxiu finished speaking, someone stepped forward from the side—it was Gao Panlong.

"Your Majesty, your minister believes these words are improper. Since ancient times, the practice of lecturing has flourished. Confucius himself once lectured, with countless disciples under him. Now that the culture of learning thrives throughout the realm, is this not also cultivating countless scholars for the Great Ming? Where do the officials of the Great Ming come from? Do they not come from among the scholars?"

"Would such an approach not be strangling the scholars of the realm? It would cause the court to lose the hearts of the learned. Such conduct is highly improper and likewise extremely unwise! Your minister believes it is utterly unacceptable!"

"As for those who lecture and spread heretical doctrines—when one case is found, punish that one case. How can we give up eating for fear of choking?"

"Some days ago, Chen Kedao went about lecturing everywhere in the capital, spreading his heretical doctrines, arousing the fury of the scholarly community. Scholars of the capital gathered in droves, and it nearly caused an incident. Your minister believes this is a typical example. Severely punish Chen Kedao, set an example for the realm, and naturally no one will dare do such things again."

"As for those who tyrannize the countryside and form factions for private gain—this is precisely why education and transformation are needed all the more. Only through study can one understand principle; only through understanding principle can one avoid trouble. Rather than prohibiting lecturing and academies, we should support them even more."

"Therefore, your minister believes that severely punishing Chen Kedao to set an example for the realm and serve as a warning to those who come after, while simultaneously encouraging the scholars of the realm to lecture and establish academies—this is the superior policy." Gao Panlong straightened his back as if doing so would make his argument more justified.

Zhu Youxiao cast a meaningful glance at Gao Panlong.

Within this whole heap of Gao Panlong's words was also a great pile of private agenda, sounding very reasonable on the surface, full of lofty ideals.

But when Zhu Youxiao examined it closely, it was entirely not what it seemed—there was even a threat hidden within Gao Panlong's words.

Losing the hearts of the scholars of the realm—speaking on behalf of all the scholars under heaven, crushing others with such overwhelming momentum—this was how the Donglin Faction had always operated.

Next, in the court, the opposing sides led respectively by Cui Chengxiu and Gao Panlong each expounded upon their arguments, refuting each other without yielding an inch—one could say they argued fiercely without end.

Zhu Youxiao said nothing, letting the two sides squabble back and forth.

Only when the two sides grew increasingly heated, to the point where they were just short of rolling up their sleeves and throwing punches, did Zhu Youxiao wave his hand and say calmly: "Enough. This is the court, not a vegetable market. You are all senior ministers of the state, not common street brawlers."

"Your ministers are guilty." Seeing that His Majesty had spoken, everyone hastily bowed and said respectfully.

This was in fact already a routine—the more fiercely they argued, the more they were making clear that their positions were firm, waiting for His Majesty to render a decision.

It was not that they truly wished to convince the other side, for they all knew no one could convince anyone else. Their interests differed, their starting points differed—it was impossible to truly make the other side obey.

So such quarreling was merely meant to make His Majesty resolve to deal with the other side, not to genuinely persuade them.

Now that the Emperor had stepped in, it meant there was room for negotiation, and everyone was listening.

Zhu Youxiao slowly began to speak: "Truth becomes clearer through debate. But you should all note that this is, after all, the court. Enough—dispense with the formalities."

Only after Zhu Youxiao finished speaking did everyone raise their heads and straighten their bodies.

But they had grasped one phrase from Zhu Youxiao's mouth—that line about truth becoming clearer through debate. That phrase was certainly not something His Majesty had said casually.

What did it mean?

What did His Majesty want everyone to debate?

The several Grand Secretaries off to the side were growing somewhat anxious.

In their view, matters had reached such a point that a decision must be made. If this continued to drag on, it would affect the normal functioning of the court—a loss that would not be worth the gain.

Whichever side was chosen, a choice had to be made—that would be more beneficial than continued quarreling. Even if choosing one side meant offending the other, it would still be better than letting the two sides squabble here—this was the sentiment of the entire Grand Secretariat.

Zhu Youxiao slowly began to speak: "Many people believe that what they say is correct, that their words are the truth. Or they believe that the way of the sages is truth—universally applicable, unchanging through all things—and they all wish to replace others' truths with their own, to use their own truths to prove that others' truths are wrong and theirs are right."

"But truth is always truth—your truth is your truth, my truth is my truth. Is there any method by which we could test and prove whether a truth is right or wrong? I believe that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth."

"There is no truth in this world that is inherently right or wrong—even if there were, it would have to be proven through practice." Zhu Youxiao said slowly.

Zhu Youxiao had been waiting for this day for a long time. Before launching this movement, he had already prepared to put forward this thesis—practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.

Once this principle was established, the possibilities for action multiplied. No matter what matter arose, let us test it through practice.

Don't tell me the way of the sages is unchanging through all things, universally applicable everywhere.

Let us try it—this principle is the theoretical standard. With this theoretical standard in place, anything can be overturned, anything can be challenged.

Upon hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, everyone pondered—some were instantly struck with fear.

They understood the meaning of these words: if anyone wished to present their reasoning, then you must use practice to prove that your reasoning is correct.

But some people could only talk a good game—ask them to speak and they could manage, but ask them to act, and they simply lacked the ability.

But others were delighted—Xu Guangqi, for instance, was as if he had heard the ultimate truth of the world.

Zhu Youxiao's words were a tremendous inspiration to Xu Guangqi. He had previously been deeply perplexed—his going to believe in the Jesuits was also because of this.

Xu Guangqi knew the Great Ming was mired in crisis. He also knew this country had problems, but he did not know where he should seek help.

Buddhism and Daoism offered no connection, and Confucianism was rotten to the core. Dynasties rise and fall—according to history, the Great Ming had already reached the twilight of its dynastic cycle.

No dynasty under heaven lasts forever without decline.

The Great Ming had been passed down to the present for over two hundred years, through more than ten generations of emperors. By this time, the crisis of a dynasty's final days had already revealed itself. Under such circumstances, to save the nation from peril required finding an entirely new path.

With the existing paths blocked, Xu Guangqi chose the Jesuits. In the process of contact with the Jesuits, Xu Guangqi discovered their merits and wished to promote them.

But Xu Guangqi also knew the road ahead was perilous—no one would be willing to walk with him, and even if there were some, they would be few. The opposing force in the court was simply too powerful.

Yet at this very moment, Xu Guangqi was filled with confidence—he had never been so confident before.

Previously, although His Majesty had brought in Chen Kedao to lecture, Xu Guangqi still harbored deep worries in his heart.

Because you never knew when His Majesty might sell you out—that was also a very normal mode of operation.

But at this moment, he no longer thought that way. His Majesty had proposed that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth—what was this?

This was a guiding principle.

Every reform in history had a guiding principle, and every school of thought's propagation had a guiding principle.

Once His Majesty put forward this principle, he himself now had the basis to do these things. No one could oppose it—you're not convinced? Well, this came from His Majesty's own mouth.

The faces of those present showed varied expressions, yet no one dared step forward to directly oppose Zhu Youxiao's words.

"Since that is the case, why not give it a try? Try it in Shuntian Prefecture—ban lectures there, ban the founding of academies there, and see what results come of it. If the results are good, then spread it further."

The moment Zhu Youxiao's words came out, the assembled ministers erupted in uproar, while Cui Chengxiu and his cohort were overjoyed.

No sooner had Zhu Youxiao's voice faded than Sun Shenxing, the Minister of Rites standing to one side, stepped forward directly.

Sun Shenxing, expressionless, straightened his back, walked straight to the center of the great hall, removed his official hat, lifted his robes, knelt on the ground, and placed his official hat on the floor before him.

"Your Majesty, this act strangles the hearts of the empire's scholars and destroys the foundation of the Great Ming. Your servant dares not obey the edict."

"As Minister of Rites, your servant oversees the realm's culture and education. I must speak up for the scholars of the empire, must voice their concerns. Your servant begs Your Majesty to withdraw this decree—otherwise, please dismiss me from office. Your servant will absolutely never do such a thing!"

Everyone was stunned. No one had expected Sun Shenxing, the Minister of Rites, to step forward, much less to say such things.

This was no longer merely remonstrating against the imperial countenance—this was defying the edict!

This was sealing and rejecting an imperial decree!

This was not something a Minister of Rites should do!

In that instant, the great hall fell so silent that a dropped needle could be heard. Everyone exchanged glances with one another, none daring to whisper.

The atmosphere plunged to freezing point in a moment.

At this time, Zhu Youxiao clenched his back teeth, staring hard at Sun Shenxing with murderous intent in his eyes.