Chapter 155: Heavenly Principle, Human Desire, and Zhu the Ash-Player

At today's court assembly, the winds and clouds shifted so fast it was hard to keep up.

First, Wen Tiren stepped out of line to memorialize, requesting an investigation into community schools across the entire Great Ming — how many community schools there actually were, how many teachers, and how many children could not afford to attend community school or study.

Then came Shi Fenglai with a divine assist, stating that some scholars at the Imperial Academy were unwilling to take the civil examinations and were willing to become teachers, like spring mud nurturing new growth — this was a fine thing, proof that His Majesty's civil governance and transformative education were thoroughly effective.

He requested that the Chongzhen Emperor commend these scholars and establish a Great Ming Capital Normal College, using these Imperial Academy students as its foundation, broadly recruiting scholars who had failed the examinations yet were willing to teach, and then dispatching these scholars to community schools everywhere to instruct young children.

This was a good thing — after all, it glorified Ming teachings and spread the Sage's transformative education, a great and excellent undertaking. This deserved support.

But just as the assembled officials were all seconding the proposal, expressing their utmost support, and waiting for the Emperor to declare his stance, the Chongzhen Emperor once again showed he does not play by the rules: "This is a fine undertaking that carries forward the learning of past sages and lays a foundation for ten thousand generations — We naturally support it."

Watch a man's face, listen for the tone beneath the words — which of the grand ministers at court was not sharp as a tack? Hearing Chongzhen say this, they all knew there was bound to be more coming.

Sure enough, Chongzhen's next words gave these ministers a faint, aching sense of sorrow in their balls: "We have heard that the gentleman's Six Arts are rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics."

The moment Chongzhen's words left his mouth, the ministers knew things were about to go sour. Who the hell still studied archery, charioteering, and mathematics? Aside from those genuinely interested in numbers, the rest basically just studied rites, music, and calligraphy — that was enough.

Speaking of archery — getting these proper gentlemen to do some "shooting" on top of a young lady was no problem at all, but shooting arrows? Forget it.

As for charioteering — driving a chariot was impossible, absolutely impossible in this lifetime. After all, they were men of status, right?

Mastering the art of managing subordinates was exhausting enough as it was, and now they had to drive chariots too?

As for mathematics — those problems about chickens and rabbits in the same cage, well depths and rope lengths, or Han Xin counting his troops — just thinking about them made their heads ache.

How could any of that compare to "The Master said" and "poetry speaks the heart's intent" or "the gentle and modest maiden, the gentleman's good match"? Forget it, forget it — whoever wanted to study that stuff could go right ahead.

But since His Lordship Chongzhen had opened his mouth, this fellow definitely wanted to revive all Six Arts — this was a rhythm that said "I'm not letting you boys have an easy time"! This could not be tolerated!

Yet while some were unhappy, others were quite pleased. Take someone like Shi Fenglai — a man who had never much liked the Lu school Confucians or Zhu Xi's disciples and grand-disciples no matter how he looked at them.

Shi Fenglai thought this Emperor was absolutely on fire, striking right at the vital points of those two wastes in one blow.

All they ever did was study dead books all day, clinging to those scraps of trivia from the Three Dynasties of high antiquity, or else they went on about "extinguishing human desire to preserve Heavenly Principle."

But fine, extinguish human desire — then damn well extinguish it yourself! Instead, you go and play in the ashes yourself!

Son of a bitch — you have no shame, yet you put up a chastity arch and tell everyone else they must have face. Where in the world does such a shitty bastard come from, screwing over everyone but himself?

Even though Chongzhen had not breathed a single hint to Wen Tiren or Shi Fenglai when they discussed the community school matter earlier, before any other minister could step out to object, Shi Fenglai was the first out of line to memorialize: "Your Majesty is sagaciously brilliant.

This minister believes that the influences a child receives will accompany that young child for a lifetime. Therefore, early exposure to the gentleman's Six Arts is to plan for their entire future."

Wen Tiren, however, was not too pleased. This old man here hasn't even been removed as Chief Grand Secretary yet, and you're already jumping out to steal favor?

This was even more intolerable! Wen Tiren, who had originally planned to play dumb and not declare a stance, now could not stay put.

He immediately decided to sell out his teammates — currying the Emperor's favor was what mattered most: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister believes that those who study must not study dead books, still less study books to death.

The reason the Han and Tang were strong is that the scholars of Han and Tang could serve as generals in the field and as ministers at court — all were accomplished in both civil and martial arts, not bookish weaklings who could not even truss a chicken."

"Beginning with the former Song, because their founding of the state was not legitimate, they treated scholars with exceptional generosity, making the scholars arrogant and indolent, until every last one of them could not truss a chicken.

Our dynasty inherited the systems of Song and Yuan and likewise treats scholars with exceptional generosity."

Seeing the murderous glares the court ministers were throwing at him and Shi Fenglai, Wen Tiren merely smiled faintly, utterly unconcerned: "There is a common saying: spoiling a child is like killing a child. This minister deeply agrees.

When every scholar cannot truss a chicken, cannot lift with his hands, cannot carry on his shoulders — to the point that the joke 'a scholar is useless for a hundred tasks' has spread — this minister believes that the gentleman's Six Arts should be reestablished in all county schools and prefectural schools across the realm.

Those who do not meet the standards may not participate in the spring metropolitan examination, still less hold office."

You bought a watch! The court ministers all cursed inwardly in unison.

Not only did the looks they directed at Wen Tiren turn hostile, but even the furtive glances cast toward Chongzhen were full of plaintive resentment — did you really have to collude with the Chief Grand Secretary like this to screw us over!

Chongzhen, however, cared not a whit about the ministers' reactions below. We have long been displeased with that old bastard Zhu Xi: "We have been perusing the histories of late and have discovered a most interesting matter. We hope our beloved ministers can resolve Our confusion."

Paying no mind to whatever expressions the court officials below might be wearing, Chongzhen merely spoke in an indifferent tone: "In Our recent leisure, We happened to read a lyric to the tune 'Song of Divination,' which goes: 'Not that I loved the life of wind and dust — it seems I was misled by a former life.

Flowers fall, flowers bloom, each in its season; always it is the Lord of the East who decides. Go I must in the end.

Stay — how can I stay? If only I could fill my hair with mountain blossoms, ask me not where I return.' From this, We grew rather curious about the Qingyuan Party Case.

We have searched through the histories of the former Song yet still do not understand. We hope you ministers can instruct Us.

Enough — today let us, sovereign and ministers, properly discuss this matter of 'playing in the ashes,' lest Master Zhu suffer wrongful blame."

He had long been ready to use this matter to slam that old bastard Zhu Xi! Now that community schools were about to be reestablished, this was a damn fine opportunity — if not now, when?

But the memes from later ages on the internet were, after all, just memes — unreliable. Acting cool feels great for a moment, but getting slapped in the face feels even better.

The moment Chongzhen's words left his mouth, before anyone else could step out to refute him, Meng Shaoyu, the usually obsequious Minister of Rites, was the first out of line to memorialize: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the term 'playing in the ashes' originates thus: there was once a temple whose incense offerings were especially abundant.

Tin-foil spirit money was burned in the furnace, and the ashes accumulated day by day. By washing out the tin, one could sell it for a handsome profit.

A neighbor of the temple learned of this and scraped out the ashes to steal and wash the tin, making it a regular practice. Scraping ashes — stealing tin.

'Tin' and 'daughter-in-law' are homophonous, and so it became a veiled expression referring to the act of debauching one's daughter-in-law."

Yet Meng Shaoyu's expression, no matter how you looked at it, carried a hint of strangeness: "In the twelfth month of the second year of the Qingyuan era of the former Song, the Investigating Censor Shen Jizu impeached Master Zhu for 'seducing two Buddhist nuns to serve as favored concubines' and for 'a daughter-in-law of the household becoming pregnant without a husband,' along with other matters of disloyalty, corruption, and the like."

Seeing how strange Meng Shaoyu's expression was, a surge of wariness rose in Chongzhen's heart — could it be that I've been bullshitted by those keyboard warriors from later ages again?

Sure enough, Meng Shaoyu continued: "In Master Zhu's memorial defending himself to Emperor Ningzong of the former Song, regarding the matter of taking nuns as concubines, he did not deny it.

However, regarding the matter of 'playing in the ashes,' he did not himself admit to the crime. One presumes there must be extenuating circumstances."

The implication was clear: you, old sir, are unlearned and unskilled, so today let this Minister of Rites instruct you, the Emperor: "Food and drink are Heavenly Principle; delicacies of mountain and sea are human desire.

Husband and wife are Heavenly Principle; three wives and four concubines are human desire. Therefore, Master Zhu's demand to preserve Heavenly Principle and extinguish human desire is to comply with the Way of Heaven and eliminate selfish desire.

One must not, for the sake of personal selfish desire, harm the virtue of a gentleman."

Before Meng Shaoyu could continue with further theories, Shi Fenglai stepped out of line to memorialize: "This minister reports to Your Majesty — this minister believes that Minister Meng's words are in error."

Chongzhen made an assenting sound and asked: "Principle grows clearer the more it is debated; words grow more penetrating the more they are spoken. This centuries-old unresolved case must, in the end, have a final verdict."

Shi Fenglai then said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister believes that Master Zhu advocated preserving Heavenly Principle, yet himself took two nuns as concubines — this is not the conduct of a gentleman.

As for the matter of 'a daughter-in-law of the household becoming pregnant without a husband,' although it does not appear in Master Zhu's memorial admitting his faults, Master Zhu did not deny it either. An empty cave invites the wind — it is not necessarily without cause.

If no such matter occurred, then the former Song Censor Shen Jizu's actions were outright false accusation, a crime of the greatest magnitude. Yet in the end, it was Master Zhu who was banished into exile.

From this, one can see that the matter must have occurred."

Seeing Shi Fenglai so shamelessly and directly toss the pot aside, Meng Shaoyu immediately argued back: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Master Zhu even dared to admit to the fault of taking two Buddhist nuns as concubines.

If the matter of playing in the ashes truly happened, how would he not dare admit it? One presumes it is merely a falsehood passed down through rumor."

What Chongzhen, who did not know much about Neo-Confucianism, actually knew was all that stuff from later-age keyboard warriors about "extinguishing human desire, preserving Heavenly Principle" and the like — he had never taken this Zhu Xi matter to heart.

Now, hearing the debate between Shi Fenglai and Meng Shaoyu, Chongzhen inwardly exclaimed that his knowledge had been broadened. The ancients really knew how to play, and dared to play.

Taking Buddhist nuns home as concubines — weren't you stealing girls from the Tathagata Buddha? Not afraid of falling into the eighteenth level of hell?

Shi Fenglai, however, objected: "Falsehoods passed down through rumor? I fear that what Minister Meng means by falsehoods passed down through rumor refers to the matter between Master Dongpo and Master Banshan?"

Damn, this matter even dragged in Su Dongpo? And who was Master Banshan? Looks like he must be from the former Song? As a history noob, Chongzhen now very much wanted to pull up a little stool, prepare some peanuts, melon seeds, and mineral water, and watch the show!

Ignoring Meng Shaoyu's rather unsightly expression, Shi Fenglai simply went on: "Within the green gauze bed-curtains, a pipa lies — even if it were spring sunshine, one dare not pluck it. If only father-in-law would pluck a tune, rich waters would not flow into another's field."

Yo yo yo, this little verse — truly lewd as hell. So Su Dongpo had such romantic escapades in his past?

Shi Fenglai, however, said: "Master Dongpo lost his wife in middle age — his wife was, naturally, of the Wang clan, the one who moved Master Dongpo to write, 'Ten years, living and dead, two vast expanses — I do not dwell on it, yet I cannot forget.' But his son Su Mai, courtesy name Weikang, was outstanding in literary talent, astute and diligent in governance — the rod and lash were applied only when unavoidable, and the people could not bear to deceive him.

Later generations look up to him. How could he possibly be connected to the rumored 'foolish son' of Master Dongpo in those tales?"

Meng Shaoyu said: "Indeed. What this humble official wished to say was precisely this matter. Even the rumors concerning Master Banshan follow the exact same pattern as the matter of Master Dongpo. One presumes it is a case of falsehoods passed down through rumor."

Shi Fenglai, however, gave a cold chuckle and said: "The matters of Master Dongpo and Master Banshan are naturally falsehoods passed down through rumor, unworthy of belief. But as for Master Zhu's affair — it may not necessarily be a case of falsehoods passed down through rumor."

"Playing in the ashes is a violation of the great bulwark of human relations.

Even though Master Zhu was the teacher of Emperor Ningzong of the former Song, how would he dare admit to such a crime in a memorial defending himself? If he had confessed, it would not have been as simple a matter as Neo-Confucianism being condemned as false learning.

Furthermore, what did Master Zhu say in the self-defense memorial he submitted?

'Deeply reflecting on yesterday's wrongs, carefully seeking today's right.'"

"For such ambiguous, equivocating language with such a suggestive attitude to appear in a self-defense memorial — that in itself already speaks volumes. Is that not enough?"

Meng Shaoyu was, for a moment, left speechless. This damn matter was just sitting right there — trying to whitewash it was truly not so easy to whitewash.

In his shame and irritation, he felt like swinging a wild flurry of punches to teach that old bastard Shi Fenglai how to be a human being.

But then he thought of the consequences the last time court officials brawled at court, and thought further of that Censor who was beaten to death with the heavy rod — Meng Shaoyu ultimately did not dare make a move.

Chongzhen, however, was greatly disappointed. He had originally thought these disciples of Neo-Confucianism would bring out some evidence to slam Shi Fenglai, but they just went mute like that? Out of battery? Dropped the ball.

Chongzhen was thoroughly disappointed and was about to speak when Shi Fenglai preempted him: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the 'Great Learning' chapter of the Book of Rites states: 'The ancients who wished to manifest bright virtue to all under Heaven first ordered their states; those who wished to order their states first regulated their families; those who wished to regulate their families first cultivated their persons; those who wished to cultivate their persons first rectified their hearts; those who wished to rectify their hearts first made their intentions sincere; those who wished to make their intentions sincere first extended their knowledge — the extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things.

When things are investigated, knowledge is extended; when knowledge is extended, intentions become sincere; when intentions are sincere, the heart is rectified; when the heart is rectified, the person is cultivated; when the person is cultivated, the family is regulated; when the family is regulated, the state is ordered; when the state is ordered, all under Heaven is at peace.'"

"Although Master Zhu's learning was sufficient, he did not cultivate his person.

If he did not cultivate his person, he was insufficient to rectify his virtue. If he did not rectify his virtue, he was insufficient to order the state.

Even in Master Zhu's own self-defense memorial, he directly admitted his faults and acknowledged Neo-Confucianism as false learning. This minister believes that Master Zhu's virtue was not cultivated and he is insufficient to serve as teacher to ten thousand generations."

Fuck your mother! You, Shi Fenglai — you're trying to sever the root of the orthodox teaching!

The court officials all cursed furiously in their hearts. But before anyone could step out to refute him, they heard Shi Fenglai continue: "The learning of the Sages was originally the learning of ordering the state.

Master Zhu's learning is the learning of self-cultivation — it is insufficient to serve as the foundation for ordering the state. And when one's own virtue is not cultivated, how can one use virtue to win the submission of all under Heaven?"

Chongzhen, who had long intended to tilt the scales and slam Zhu Xi, was naturally delighted. Confucianism was a fine thing, but there were always some bastards who chanted the sutras crookedly.

Having long found Neo-Confucianism displeasing, Chongzhen now spoke: "Today's matter reminds Us of the affair of the Duke for Fulfilling the Sage."

Holy shit! The moment Chongzhen's words left his mouth, the court officials' hearts all went holy shit in unison — today's business was not going to end well!

"The Duke for Fulfilling the Sage is a descendant of the Sage, yet he distorts the Sage's intent and disregards the Sage's legacy — not what a son of man should be.

Even Master Zhu advocated extinguishing human desire, yet himself took two Buddhist nuns. From this, it is evident that no man is without flaw."

"The words of the Sages originally contained profound meaning in subtle words.

Yet over the centuries, there arose the distinction between 'the Spring and Autumn Annals annotating me' and 'I annotating the Spring and Autumn Annals.' Whoever reads the Sage's teachings will develop their own understanding — some good, and naturally, some bad."

"We wish to re-annotate the Five Classics and the Four Books, to establish the correct foundation, and to print and distribute them throughout the realm."

The Chinese government's prohibition on ordinary citizens possessing and carrying firearms, controlled knives, and the like has a long history, and it is in fact a responsible approach to global security.

Suppose China did not ban guns — then the world would see news reports like these: 100 million armed Chinese rioters sweeping across Southeast Asia, with roughly 30 million currently crossing the sea to kill their way toward Australia; Syrian opposition armed forces willing to trade shared sovereignty as a bargaining chip to win over Chinese rioters against Syrian government forces.

The US fleet patrolling the Bering Strait expresses great pressure, having learned that approximately 300 stealth situation-hunting vessels of the Chinese military suddenly vanished from satellite surveillance at a certain naval port in Liaoning!

According to reports, these vessels are fast, heavily armed, and possess excellent stealth capabilities — a single heavy ship-to-ship missile carried aboard can severely damage an aircraft carrier!

200 million armed Chinese rioters have occupied vast uninhabited regions of Russia and constructed massive quantities of permanent fortifications.

Russian military experts reveal that this batch of armed rioters has already prepared to use these as bases to establish large areas of operation, gradually nibbling away at Russian territory.

The elite of the elite among Russian forces — the "Alpha" unit — is suffering from collapsed morale, having heard that a portion of those rioters are former Chinese special forces veterans.

And that is not the main issue — according to prisoner confessions, within the rioter army there is a contingent of China's god-tier mysterious forces: the Chengguan troops!

Numerous Russian soldiers have expressed that they are still young and do not wish to make too many pointless sacrifices, especially since any resistance in the face of the Chengguan troops is utterly laughable.

(This chapter is complete)