Chapter 406: Voicing Support for Zhong Yuzheng

Hearing Wang Linsheng's words, the crowd nodded, feeling that what he said made a great deal of sense.

The scholar surnamed Qi said loudly: "Brother Wang speaks sense. If we still sit by and do nothing at a time like this, we are unworthy of the name of scholars!"

"Read the books of the sages, do upright deeds — today is the day for us to step forward!"

"Right, today is the day for us to step forward!" Everyone echoed in agreement.

The atmosphere was instantly stirred up, and the mood in the entire tavern grew even more heated. They drank the wine in their cups, smashed the cups one after another, turned around, and walked downstairs.

Upon reaching the ground floor, Wang Linsheng placed a ingot of silver on the counter and said with a smile: "Proprietor, keep the change. We're off to do great things; this money won't be needed anymore."

"Brother Wang is a man of high honor!" The crowd laughed and echoed.

But in a place no one could see, Wang Linsheng's fingers tapped lightly on the table three times.

The female proprietor nodded slowly.

The two exchanged a quick glance, and only then did Wang Linsheng turn and leave.

The whole group swaggered out of the tavern in force.

At this moment, the waiter sidled up to the female proprietor and said: "Proprietor?"

"Go report that these people have left — they should be heading to the Shoushan Academy." The female proprietor said: "Also, send someone to keep an eye on them. If anything happens, come back and report at once."

"Very well, Proprietor." The waiter acknowledged, turned, and walked outside.

At the same time, similar scenes were playing out in various places across the capital.

Countless scholars began to gather and surged swiftly toward the Shoushan Academy.

In an instant, the capital was shaken — it seemed all the scholars had stirred.

And at this very moment, word also reached the Shoushan Academy — the first batch had already arrived.

After receiving the report from his subordinates, Zhong Yuzheng's expression was agitated, and his whole person showed the look of an old man greatly comforted. He turned to look at Ruan Dacheng and said with a smile: "Truly, there are still more upright scholars in this world!"

Ruan Dacheng glanced at Zhong Yuzheng and echoed with a smile: "We are all people who read the books of the sages, and naturally we should walk the way of the sages."

But in his heart, Ruan Dacheng was cursing furiously: What is going on? Who is behind this? Why are these scholars coming here at this time?

When things were about to bear fruit, these people now come running over — it's simply too foolish. Don't they know that doing this can only provoke the court?

Judging from His Majesty's current style of conduct, His Majesty is not the kind of person who can be threatened. If things truly fall apart, then everything will be ruined, and the academy reform can be forgotten.

If it really comes to that, what then?

Cui Chengxiu, who is in charge of this matter, will be completely finished. And what about himself?

He would certainly be unable to escape blame either — at worst, he would be ruined in reputation and standing.

Right now, Ruan Dacheng could only place his hopes on Cui Chengxiu, hoping that he could negotiate things out with His Majesty.

"But Senior Zhong, what should we do about this matter?" Ruan Dacheng said somewhat hesitantly: "Now all the scholars are converging here. If anything happens, I'm afraid we won't be able to account for it either."

Zhong Yuzheng pondered for a moment, then nodded and said: "What you say makes sense."

The excitement in his heart had now subsided, and he too began to worry.

With so many people, who knows what trouble might arise?

If something really did happen, he would have no way to account for it either.

"Let them in." Ruan Dacheng said: "Senior Zhong should go out in person and calm them down. It's fine for us to express our opinions, but we cannot make a scene. Moreover, if someone with ulterior motives exploits this and says Senior Zhong gathered students to cause trouble, I'm afraid it would give others a handle against us. When it comes to that point, a good thing would turn into a bad one."

Hearing Ruan Dacheng's words, Zhong Yuzheng nodded repeatedly.

Looking at Ruan Dacheng with great appreciation, Zhong Yuzheng said with considerable emotion: "Thank goodness you're here. If you weren't, I would have been at a loss. Let's go at once, go at once!"

The two hurried out.

Outside, the students had already gathered in ever greater numbers.

Standing at the very front was a young scholar, who was at that moment speaking with great fervor and passion.

Seeing Zhong Yuzheng and Ruan Dacheng come out, the young man hurried over, smiled, cupped his hands in salute, and said: "Your student Wang Linsheng pays respects to Senior Zhong."

Zhong Yuzheng looked at Wang Linsheng, smiled, and helped him up, saying: "Rise, rise."

After Wang Linsheng stood up, Zhong Yuzheng said with a stern expression: "What business brings you all here?"

"We have come because we heard that there are actually people at court who have memorialized that the academy does not teach the way of the sages and does not study the methods of Confucius. This truly defies the way of heaven and is an insult to all scholars! It is simply a heinous crime!"

"Some people even say they want to teach the way of the Mohist school, and others say they want to teach the Legalists. How can they be compared with our Confucian school?"

"In my view, these people have ulterior motives — their hearts are unclear, their intentions are unclear — they are simply plotting treason!"

"We heard that Senior Zhong upholds the way of the sages, and that as long as the court does not agree, the Shoushan Academy will not agree to the academy reform. Senior Zhong is truly a model for us scholars! We have come in righteous indignation precisely to voice our support for Senior Zhong!"

"We want to let those at court see, and let His Majesty know, what we scholars are thinking. Let those petty villains have nowhere to hide! Senior Zhong, we support you!"

Wang Linsheng's voice was very loud, and many people around heard the words he shouted.

The scholars behind were also in high spirits at this moment, shouting loudly: "Senior Zhong, we support you!"

For a moment, the atmosphere rose to its peak, and the shouting was extremely loud.

While Zhong Yuzheng felt moved and gratified, he also felt some worry, so he extended both hands and pressed downward, wanting to say something.

He had originally thought it would have no effect, but to his surprise, the moment he pressed his hands down, the surrounding students fell silent instantly.

This was a display of prestige.

Even Zhong Yuzheng himself had not expected this. His heart was greatly comforted — he had finally lived to see this day.

In the past, when Gao Panlong, Zuo Guangdou, and others were at court, the Shoushan Academy was run by their word. But today, at last, it was his turn! And he had finally gained prestige that blazed like the midday sun!

With this feeling, Zhong Yuzheng couldn't help but feel a bit elated. He cleared his throat and said: "I am well aware of the earnest patriotic hearts of you students. Your arrival today is a blessing for my Shoushan Academy, and also a blessing for this Zhong. It fully demonstrates the achievements of our Great Ming's civil education!"

Zhong Yuzheng talked on and on without end, and as he spoke, he somehow drifted back to his own student days, beginning to expound his views on scholars and the way of the sages — once he started, there was no stopping him.

Ruan Dacheng on the side was about to jump with anxiety; his whole being was in distress.

If they were allowed to gather these people together, the trouble would be enormous. But Ruan Dacheng had no good solution either — he certainly couldn't interrupt Zhong Yuzheng under such circumstances.

If he interrupted Zhong Yuzheng at this moment to state his own views, he would very likely become the target of everyone's criticism. Under such circumstances, this was absolutely something he could not do — he needed to think of another way.

Ruan Dacheng glanced behind him and suddenly spotted Cui Chengxiu.

Ruan Dacheng quietly walked over to Cui Chengxiu.

Everyone's attention was completely drawn to Zhong Yuzheng, so no one noticed Ruan Dacheng at all. This allowed him to reach Cui Chengxiu's side without any trouble.

"Lord Cui, what is going on here?" Ruan Dacheng looked at Cui Chengxiu and asked, his tone somewhat urgent.

Glancing at Ruan Dacheng, Cui Chengxiu said irritably, "I'd like to know what's going on myself!"

"What is that Zhong Yuzheng saying? He's not spouting nonsense, is he?"

Ruan Dacheng shook his head and said, "No."

This much Ruan Dacheng dared to say, after all, Zhong Yuzheng was currently floating on air, holding forth at length about his philosophy of life and ideals.

Zhong Yuzheng had taught at Shoushan Academy for many years, so he naturally had a fondness for playing the role of teacher. Never in his life had so many people flattered him, nor had so many people listened to his lectures, so once he started talking, he naturally found it hard to stop.

But Zhong Yuzheng would not speak recklessly — of this, Ruan Dacheng could be certain.

In Ruan Dacheng's eyes, Zhong Yuzheng was nothing but a bookish pedant, rigid and upright by nature, a veritable old scholar.

Cui Chengxiu nodded and said, "Good, that's fine then! You must do your utmost to maintain order here — absolutely no trouble is allowed to break out. Do you understand?"

Ruan Dacheng nodded and asked, "Lord Cui, did your audience at the palace yield anything?"

Hearing this, Cui Chengxiu's expression immediately soured. He shot Ruan Dacheng a glare, already feeling quite furious with him inside.

If not for this fellow, how could there be so many problems?

And now look — His Majesty was still deliberating, yet outside, a commotion had already erupted. How would His Majesty view him now? Wouldn't he think him incapable of handling affairs?

If he had handled things properly, how could it have spiraled into such chaos? The bigger this affair grew, the more he would be unable to escape the consequences. All of this was Ruan Dacheng's fault!

Unaware that Cui Chengxiu had already placed the blame on him, Ruan Dacheng continued looking at Cui Chengxiu with expectation on his face.

In Ruan Dacheng's view, resolving this matter was not particularly difficult — all that was needed was a guarantee from the palace, and it would hardly be a major issue. Once that happened, these people would naturally disperse on their own.

But Ruan Dacheng also knew that the difficulty lay precisely in that point — His Majesty truly might not agree. If someone said something before His Majesty, the consequences would be unpredictable.

So Ruan Dacheng looked at Cui Chengxiu with great anticipation, hoping Cui Chengxiu would bring him good news.

After all, Ruan Dacheng knew Cui Chengxiu's standing — this man had connections within the palace.

Not to mention anything else, Wei Zhongxian, the Director of the Eastern Depot, was on very close terms with Cui Chengxiu. If Wei Zhongxian could put in a good word, then this matter was not necessarily impossible to accomplish.

"His Majesty said nothing specific, only that he would consider it." Cui Chengxiu looked at Ruan Dacheng and sighed. "Even if there had been a settled plan originally, now that this crowd has stirred up such a fuss, who knows what the outcome will be."