Chapter 383: Starting the Reform from the Shoushan Academy

Zhu Tongmeng glanced at Cui Chengxiu, naturally knowing what he intended to do, and was also perfectly clear about what scheme this fellow was cooking up.

Ever since Cui Chengxiu's official position had been promoted, Zhu Tongmeng had been pleased in his heart as well.

Zhu Tongmeng was very clear about his own situation. Earlier, when His Majesty had promoted and entrusted him, it was precisely so that he could serve as a blade.

In fact, Zhu Tongmeng had indeed served as a blade once. But after that, Cui Chengxiu had burst onto the scene and snatched away his opportunity to be the blade, volunteering himself with gusto and never tiring of it.

Under such circumstances, many matters were handled by Cui Chengxiu, and Zhu Tongmeng was no longer so conspicuous. Of course, as a result, Zhu Tongmeng's official rank could not rise any further, and he had not even gained His Majesty's favor.

Instead, Cui Chengxiu's official position kept rising, and he increasingly gained His Majesty's esteem.

To this, Zhu Tongmeng harbored no jealousy. He had his own views, but he was no fool, and he shared no common language with Cui Chengxiu — the two were simply not the same kind of people.

In Zhu Tongmeng's view, his original impeachment of the academies and lectures had been out of public spirit — for the sake of the Great Ming, for the sake of His Majesty.

Whereas Cui Chengxiu was plainly seizing an opportunity for himself, for his own official advancement.

So the two simply could not see eye to eye.

Zhu Tongmeng knew that this time Cui Chengxiu had come to him for no other reason than to get him to make a move.

One should know that there were many academies large and small in the capital, but few that could truly stand on the main stage. Among them, the most prominent was the Shoushan Academy — an academy that bore a grudge against Zhu Tongmeng.

The Shoushan Academy had been founded by Censor-in-Chief Zou Yuanbiao and others, who gathered like-minded colleagues to lecture there, alongside Gao Panlong, Zhong Yuzheng, and others.

Although after the previous affair the Donglin Faction had declined and been beaten down by His Majesty, in fact the Shoushan Academy's status had always remained high, and many people had gathered there — it could be said to be a major stronghold of the Donglin Faction in the capital.

If academy reform was to be piloted in the capital, then the Shoushan Academy would inevitably have to be touched. Not only touched — it had to be touched with great fanfare, and it had to be the first one touched.

Clearly, Cui Chengxiu had come to Zhu Tongmeng precisely for the Shoushan Academy, thinking that Zhu Tongmeng would seek revenge.

Casting a disdainful glance at Cui Chengxiu, Zhu Tongmeng said: "Cui, His Majesty has entrusted this task to you, and the Censorate as a whole cannot conveniently interfere. You may act freely as you see fit, without concern for the Censorate, and certainly without concern for me. I cannot intervene, so there is no need for you to raise the matter with me."

Having said this, Zhu Tongmeng strode forward and walked out, looking as though he had no desire to deal with Cui Chengxiu.

This matter was inherently difficult to handle and would certainly offend people. Moreover, Zhu Tongmeng was not the sort to scheme for revenge.

Zhu Tongmeng would not participate. If Cui Chengxiu wanted to use him as a spear, he had lost his mind.

Cui Chengxiu watched Zhu Tongmeng's retreating figure, and his face instantly turned gloomy.

At this moment, Cui Chengxiu had already hardened his heart with resolve.

That old fellow Zhu Tongmeng absolutely had to be brought down — he was far too much of an eyesore in front of him.

This time he had wanted to join forces with him, yet the man did not appreciate the honor! Who did he think he was?

"Hmph!"

Cui Chengxiu flicked his sleeves and also strode straight out.

News from the court had always been something everyone paid attention to, and it spread very quickly. Moreover, this time, not to mention the civil and military officials, the entire capital was watching.

Under such circumstances, the spread of news was even faster. The moment the court session ended, the news had already been released.

Once the news spread, naturally there was a round of discussion.

This time there were too many matters being discussed, so different matters drew different reactions.

Some people cared about the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office; some cared about the Kong family affair, considering it the lifeblood of scholars; some cared about the reform of the academies.

For a time, hearts were anxious and tongues were wagging.

Those not implicated mostly treated the matter as fodder for idle conversation; but everyone involved was extremely nervous, for no one knew what the court's final decision would be or how deep the matter would reach.

However, not everything was of concern to everyone. For instance, regarding the Kong family affair, people did care, but whether it succeeded or not would not harm them much.

Although it was a scholar's duty to do so, and shouting slogans like "The banner of Confucius the Sage must not fall" could build one's prestige, if the court refused, it would simply be the same as now.

As for establishing the Imperial Guard Corps Command Office, most people did not care. What did such a matter have to do with them? It was nothing more than His Majesty wanting to raise some troops — and weren't all the troops under heaven already His Majesty's?

So they cared even less. The only thing that worried them was the matter of the academies.

Once the Imperial Academy was reformed, there might be no place left to speak one's mind in the future. This was a matter touching everyone's vital interests, so before any concrete policy had even been issued, those below were already quarreling like a pot of porridge boiling over.

The news soon reached Cui Chengxiu.

Cui Chengxiu was helpless about this as well. After all, his reputation was poor — once the news spread and people heard his name, those below instinctively assumed he could not do anything good and would reflexively oppose him.

To this, Cui Chengxiu gnashed his teeth in hatred, but there was nothing he could do.

However, Cui Chengxiu also knew that this matter could not be handled too violently. After all, this was the capital, at the very feet of the Son of Heaven. If things were botched so badly that the Son of Heaven lost face, he would probably lose his head.

So Cui Chengxiu prepared to persuade with reason and move with emotion — he would first go find people to talk to.

The person in charge of the Shoushan Academy was now Zhong Yuzheng. Originally there had been Gao Panlong and others, but not anymore — those people had all been dealt with by His Majesty, leaving Zhong Yuzheng as the only one who could make decisions.

And at this moment, within the Shoushan Academy, the news had already arrived, and Zhong Yuzheng's face was very grim.

Regarding the court's decision, Zhong Yuzheng truly had no way to interfere. Now that the Donglin Faction had been swept clean from the court, academies were being established everywhere and lectures were being held everywhere — this was everyone's effort to accumulate strength and prepare for a return to the court.

But now Cui Chengxiu was digging at the very roots of Donglin — it was simply too ruthless, a man with no bottom line whatsoever, single-mindedly fawning on those above — truly the shame of all scholars!

"Brother Zhong, even if you pace back and forth, it will do no good."

A man sat on a chair nearby. He looked at Zhong Yuzheng, a bitter smile on his face, and said with some helplessness: "At this point, what we need to do is think of a way out. Otherwise, what use is being anxious?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yuzheng sighed helplessly, turned to look at the man, and said slowly: "Things have reached this point — what can we do? Now that His Majesty has issued the edict and no one at court opposes it, even if we oppose it, what can we do? Jizhi, surely you don't have some good idea?"

Upon hearing this, the man sitting in the chair said: "At this point, there is indeed no room for maneuver. The court has made its decision to use the capital as a pilot. Once the capital moves, it will inevitably touch our Shoushan Academy."

"Even if this matter is given to Cui Chengxiu, he would not dare to recklessly persecute us. Otherwise, if someone impeaches him and trouble erupts, harming the royal family's dignity — most importantly, causing this matter to fail — then Cui Chengxiu would have to bear the consequences himself. So we need not be too anxious. Let's see what they have to say."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yuzheng nodded, but still said with some helplessness: "But those below won't listen so calmly. If this stirs up trouble this time, I fear we'll be caught in the middle. Jizhi, you have always been full of schemes — why not think of a way?"

"I'm afraid it will be difficult." The man sighed and said: "This matter isn't something to fear trouble arising from — what we fear is being exploited by those with ulterior motives. If someone secretly stirs things up, I fear we'll be pushed to the forefront of the storm. Then if we agree to the reform of the Imperial Academy, we'll be cursed by ten thousand people; if we disagree with the reform of the Imperial Academy, we naturally won't be able to answer to His Majesty."

"You mean, those people will use us to sabotage this matter?" Zhong Yuzheng looked at the man with a grave expression.

"Exactly so." The man stroked his beard and nodded: "We certainly won't be the only ones opposing this matter, but those people dare not stand up openly — they can only make small moves behind the scenes. If the matter in the capital is sabotaged, then spreading it nationwide naturally becomes impossible."

"And how does one sabotage the matter in the capital? Nothing other than having the first academy oppose it from the very start. In that way, the court loses face, and at that point the matter naturally cannot be accomplished. But the first one to stand up in opposition will likely become the target at court."

"Ruan Dacheng, don't make such alarmist claims!"

At this moment, another voice suddenly rang out like a thunderclap from clear skies.

Following that, a man strode in from outside.

This was a man in his fifties, also dressed in the attire of a scholar.

"Wei Dazhong, is what I said wrong?" Ruan Dacheng looked at the man who had entered, his face dark as he spoke.

Seeing the two men squaring off against each other, Zhong Yuzheng could only let out a helpless sigh.

These two had never gotten along to begin with, and now they stood on opposite sides over this matter—this time they would likely argue endlessly again.

"Of course it's wrong." Wei Dazhong glared at Ruan Dacheng and said, "We founded this academy to spread the teachings of the sages. Many of the masters in our academy aren't even examination graduates; even those who are hold no official posts, taking it as their sole duty to pursue learning and spread the Way of the sages. How can the Way of the sages tolerate defilement!"

"What does the Imperial Academy teach? Among its students there are even crude, uncouth warriors. If Shoushan Academy becomes like that too, and every academy under heaven becomes like that, then what is the Way of the sages?"