Chapter 384: Ruan Dacheng Angrily Retorts Against Wei Dazhong

Listening to Wei Dazhong's words, Zhong Yuzheng's expression showed some hesitation.

In his heart, Zhong Yuzheng agreed with Wei Dazhong's argument, and also felt that scholars should step forward to defend the way of the sages.

So this time, even if it meant being the spearhead, they should stop the restructuring of the Imperial Academy.

As for Ruan Dacheng off to the side, his expression turned very ugly. The reason was simple — he had never gotten along with Wei Dazhong to begin with, and having been talked down to by the man this time, it would be strange if he felt anything but terrible.

When one feels terrible inside, one's expression naturally turns ugly as well.

Wei Dazhong, without any qualms, continued: "Confucius spoke of achieving benevolence, Mencius spoke of achieving righteousness. Here and now is the time for us to defend the way of the sages."

"The reform of the academies begins in the capital, and the reform of the capital begins at Shoushan Academy. As long as we can hold firm and stand fast, letting the whole world know that we are resisting, this matter will eventually fizzle out. When that happens, the other academies in the capital can be preserved, and the academies throughout the realm can also be preserved."

"If so, what the Imperial Academy seeks to promote will be like the moon in water, flowers in a mirror — impossible to realize. Isn't reading the books of the sages precisely about standing up at a time like this?"

"The scholars of the realm will all support us, will all be our backing. What do we have to fear?"

These words were spoken with such fervor that one's blood boiled — the complete opposite of Ruan Dacheng's rhetoric just moments before.

Zhong Yuzheng off to the side was at a loss for what to do at that moment, and could only look at Ruan Dacheng, waiting to see what he would say.

Ruan Dacheng looked at Wei Dazhong with a grim face, cursing the fool in his heart.

Stopping this matter was basically impossible. Did they think that just because Shoushan Academy resisted, there was no way to deal with Shoushan Academy?

That was utterly impossible — the court would not stop at all. On the surface this looked like a matter of Imperial Academy reform, but in essence it was not.

Why was the Imperial Academy established in the first place?

Because His Majesty believed that the lectures at the academies across the realm were colluding with one another, forming cliques for private gain, and were the root of factional strife throughout the land — and so he used the Imperial Academy to abolish the academies of the realm.

How long had it been since that matter? Had these people already forgotten?

Perhaps they had not forgotten — they were merely pretending to forget.

This Wei Dazhong before them was a student of Gao Panlong, and influenced by his teacher, he certainly had no great prospects in his official career. He was trying to use this opportunity to build up his reputation.

Just as he himself had said, as long as Shoushan Academy stood up in opposition, it would surely gain the support of scholars, and the scholars of the realm would surely shower him with frenzied praise.

After all, he didn't have to put himself on the line — someone else was taking the lead, so there was no harm in a little praise.

What was this?

This was reputation.

And being a student of Gao Panlong, with that identity lending him weight, he would surely rise even higher.

But Ruan Dacheng did not see it that way. He felt that the court's determination to push through the Imperial Academy restructuring was very firm — especially His Majesty's determination.

Looking at the current state of the court, His Majesty had already begun reclaiming power.

Whether it was the earlier destruction of the Donglin Faction, the Liaodong case, the Henan case, or this time the Shandong case, His Majesty's style was plain to see — he would not show the slightest mercy.

It was always those who jumped the highest who died the fastest.

If you cooperated obediently in this matter, perhaps there would be no great problem. But if you refused to cooperate, your fate would certainly be miserable — you might not even have the chance to jump.

Ruan Dacheng looked at Wei Dazhong and said: "So what do you intend to do?"

"Refuse, of course." Wei Dazhong said in a low voice: "They will have to send someone to negotiate, won't they? We will make our position clear to them — Shoushan Academy refuses."

"Why do you refuse?" Ruan Dacheng looked at Wei Dazhong with a grim face and asked: "Are you not a subject of the Great Ming? Or are you not a scholar of the Great Ming? How can you refuse? Do you mean to say the Imperial Academy is no good, not as good as your academy?"

Ruan Dacheng's two sentences made the expression of Zhong Yuzheng beside him change.

Compared to Wei Dazhong, Ruan Dacheng considered things a good deal more.

The meaning of Ruan Dacheng's words was clear — once the matter came out, if you dared to say such things, the court would certainly not let you off. Cui Chengxiu would also find a way to destroy you.

"So what? My academy teaches the way of the sages — can His Majesty force a sale?" Wei Dazhong continued, craning his neck stubbornly: "If they want to arrest people, then let them arrest me. Whether it's the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Eastern Depot, I'm willing to make the trip."

Looking at Wei Dazhong, whose eyes were red with fervor, Ruan Dacheng's heart stirred.

This man had gone mad chasing reputation. I can't play along with him in this game.

Ruan Dacheng turned to look at Zhong Yuzheng and said: "The court isn't insisting that you agree. If you don't agree, the academy can close its doors. The court is willing to pay to buy up this land before us, as well as the things inside these buildings."

"Of course, you can also choose not to sell." Ruan Dacheng turned to look at Wei Dazhong and said: "Whatever business you engage in, the court won't interfere. As for exactly how to proceed, think it over carefully yourselves."

Ruan Dacheng had long seen through these people of the Donglin Faction.

Every one of them was incompetent in action and accomplished only in talk; when they spoke on ordinary days they were impassioned and high-sounding, but when it came to actually doing things, they could accomplish nothing at all.

Back when Fang Congzhe was toppled, Ruan Dacheng could be said to have plotted with all his heart. But what was the final result?

These people had made a complete mess of things.

From the moment trouble began in the capital, Ruan Dacheng had been watching this matter closely. The final outcome had not deviated in the least from Ruan Dacheng's expectations — these people occupied their posts without doing their duties and botched the whole affair.

This time, with the Emperor reforming the academies, Ruan Dacheng instead felt it was an opportunity. As long as Shoushan Academy reformed smoothly and put on a show of cooperating with the Emperor's wishes, he could cater to imperial favor.

At the same time, he could spread the word. Sing the tune a bit higher, and he would naturally become the leader supporting the reform.

Although Cui Chengxiu was the one presiding over it, there were many things he was not in a position to do, nor could he do them. In this way, the two sides could fully cooperate — one could say they would both reap the benefits.

When the time came, with my meritorious support, His Majesty would surely think highly of me. Only then could I turn things around and rise to the top in a single bound.

But these Donglin people were so short-sighted — truly worthless as confidants.

Especially Wei Dazhong — he didn't even look at the current situation, and still wanted to climb up by building reputation?

He was thinking too much!

What kind of temper did the current His Majesty have? Would he let you build up your reputation?

Even if you could build up your reputation, you would probably not be far from death. Once a man is dead, what the hell use is reputation?

As for Zhong Yuzheng — he didn't know how to be an official thirty years ago, and to this day he still doesn't know how to be an official. He can't see the situation clearly at all, and he's actually been bewitched by a junior like Wei Dazhong — simply stupid beyond belief.

Ruan Dacheng knew in his heart that he could persuade them. Then he would persuade them properly; if he could not persuade them, then he would quickly pull out.

He absolutely could not get too deeply involved in this mess, or he would easily get dragged in himself. When the time came, he would gain no merit and instead end up covered in filth.

That was why Ruan Dacheng had said such words to Zhong Yuzheng — the tone appeared gentle, as if stating a fact, but in truth it was a threat.

The court had already given them a choice of paths: either cooperate with the court's reform, or shut the doors for good. There was no third road to take.

As for Shoushan Academy closing its doors for good, Ruan Dacheng believed Zhong Yuzheng would not be willing to part with it.

Ruan Dacheng felt he had some understanding of this old scholar.

"So what?" Wei Dazhong hurriedly said from the side; "Even if the academy closes its doors, we must still speak our minds and let the whole world know. Once other academies follow suit, the court will have no choice but to reconsider."

"Other academies following suit?" Ruan Dacheng gave a cold laugh, saying nothing to Wei Dazhong.

He turned back to Zhong Yuzheng and said in a most sincere tone: "What sort of people run the Imperial Academy?"

"They are all men like Feng Congwu, promoting the doctrines of Xunzi. Moreover, they are sycophantic and utterly without principles — they are a disgrace to the scholarly class."

"If we withdraw, won't all the academies under heaven be left to their control? When that time comes, where will the remaining scholars go? Where will the upright men of the realm go? Who will defend the Way of the Sages?"

"In my view, we must not withdraw — on the contrary, we should actively strive. If the academy is to be reformed, then let it be reformed; we will cooperate. Once the reform is complete, we are certain to secure a place within it. That will be the time for us to make our move."

"Once these people are toppled, why can we not spread the Way of the Sages? Even without toppling them, we can still spread the Way of the Sages. In this manner, why can't every Imperial Academy under heaven become a Shoushan Academy? Why can't they all become Donglin Academies? Does the name of an academy matter? No. What matters is spreading the Way of the Sages."

"To voice our disagreement now would indeed be dramatic, but it would also be tantamount to handing all the academies over to those people. Since we are committed to defending the Way of the Sages, what does a little humiliation matter?"

Zhong Yuzheng stroked his beard and nodded gently, looking thoroughly persuaded.

Wei Dazhong, however, was furious. He glared at Ruan Dacheng and said angrily: "You have no backbone — you are disgracing the scholarly class! A scholar must have backbone!"

"Backbone?" Ruan Dacheng looked at Wei Dazhong and snorted coldly: "Is this what you call backbone? You are talking nonsense! You are burying the Way of the Sages! You are burying the future of every scholar under heaven!"

"Enough, stop arguing." Seeing that the two were about to continue quarreling, Zhong Yuzheng said: "Both of you, leave. Let me think this over carefully."

The two exchanged a glance, then snorted in unison, clasped their hands to Zhong Yuzheng, turned, and walked out.

After leaving the room, Wei Dazhong looked at Ruan Dacheng and said angrily: "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. As long as I am here, I will never let you succeed."

Having said this, Wei Dazhong flicked his sleeve and departed.

Watching his retreating figure, a cold smile curled at the corner of Ruan Dacheng's mouth. Then he said: "A fool is a fool no matter the time."