[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties":3,"chapter-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-68":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Really Am Not Neglecting My Duties",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2363337,4622,"Chapter 68: Is Yang Bo a Gentleman or a Petty Man? That Is the Question","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-68",68,"\u003Cp>“Feng Daban, you did very well today.” After every outburst from Feng Bao, Zhu Yijun would praise him, for Feng Bao cursed excellently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Bao bowed deeply, delighted, and said, “Thank Your Majesty’s praise!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Bao himself may not have understood the significance of cursing Wang Chonggu; perhaps to him, it was merely routine—upholding the Emperor’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhu Yijun, Zhang Juzheng, and Yang Bo all understood clearly: Feng Bao’s words forced Wang Chonggu to bow his head—and that carried meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was about defining right from wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo’s earlier impeachment of Qi Jiguang was a heart-destroying move; Zhang Juzheng had asked him: Do you truly wish to open the door to heart-destroying political struggle? Judge by deeds, not intentions; judge by intentions, and no one is flawless. Once this door opens, the state will know no peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, in the Wenhua Hall, Feng Bao’s verbal assault left Wang Chonggu no choice but to admit fault—thus confirming right from wrong. Some things cannot be changed by present reality, but right and wrong must still be settled; only by establishing right and wrong can action proceed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are three causes of national collapse, and factional strife stands first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the fiercest party struggles of the Two Song dynasties, factionalism ignored right and wrong entirely—it opposed merely for opposition’s sake, one side falling as another rose, rejecting everything the other side did. The result? Law no longer bound the people, and the people knew no law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Governance requires upright men to uphold justice; if even law fails, how can governance be carried out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can a court that cannot govern still be called a court?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Virtue is established from above; law transforms from below; rites are shaped by circumstances, and laws are made according to affairs; guide by virtue, regulate by law; unify by rites, govern by law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rites are the metaphysical expression of virtue; law is the concrete framework. Without law, the court has no reason to exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the intensity of factional strife can be controlled—it must not be waged merely for opposition’s sake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must be right and wrong; only by confirming right and wrong can the intensity of factional strife be fully controlled. No matter how opposed the factions, they must share a basic consensus—and that consensus is right and wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by controlling the intensity of factional strife can the state’s fundamental order avoid chaotic, large-scale destruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun gave high praise to Feng Bao’s work—even if Feng Bao did not understand its meaning, as long as he acted, it was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Feng Bao’s “Art of Provoking Anger” was truly masterful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Chonggu’s nose was nearly twisted with rage; his resentment toward Feng Bao surpassed even his resentment toward Zhang Juzheng!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Zhang Juzheng had struck the Jin Party with a heavy blow, cutting off a large chunk of its power and leaving them disoriented, he had not humiliated Wang Chonggu. In their struggle, all relied on ability; Zhang Juzheng stood a step higher, and Wang Chonggu admitted defeat without grievance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Feng Bao pointed his finger and screamed at him—and with Wang Xilie, spat in his face!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could Wang Chonggu not hate him? Yet no matter how much he hated him, Wang Chonggu could do nothing to Feng Bao; Feng Bao was an eunuch, outside the outer court’s system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lecture began. Zhu Yijun studied with utmost seriousness, swinging his small hammer and large hammer with full force against Zhang Juzheng’s mental steel stamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun did not need to strike hard; Zhang Juzheng himself was a “non-tool” gentleman—just a crack was enough, and Zhang Juzheng would shatter his own mental stamp himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng was a living man—he breathed, he had a heartbeat, he thought. His learning had reached perfection; all it took was a sharp, unexpected question, and he would ponder it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng spoke: “The Master said: The gentleman is inclusive but not cliquish; the petty man is cliquish but not inclusive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inclusive: broad, fair, impartial; cliquish: narrow, conspiratorial, forming factions to exclude others.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Master said: The gentleman treats others with loyalty and trust, guided by righteousness and upright intent—befriending widely but never forming cliques. The petty man bonds through mutual interest and scheming, disregarding morality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Master often contrasted the gentleman and the petty man. There are two ways to understand them: by status, and by virtue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By status: the gentleman governs; the petty man is the commoner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By virtue: the gentleman is virtuous; the petty man is deceitful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun understood: earlier, when he said “if the gentleman does evil, the state suffers great evil; if the gentleman does good, the state prospers greatly,” the gentleman here meant the ruler—defined by status. Now, “the gentleman is inclusive but not cliquish; the petty man is cliquish but not inclusive”—here, the gentleman means virtue—defined by moral character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng explained clearly and plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do we distinguish between inclusive and cliquish?” Zhu Yijun asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng held his hands solemnly and said: “The actions of the gentleman and the petty man differ, like yin and yang, day and night, black and white. How to distinguish inclusive from cliquish? In the two words: public and private. A hair’s breadth off, and the error becomes vast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The gentleman treats others with loyalty and trust—his way is public. The petty man bonds through factional favoritism—his motive is private.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun thought and said: “The gentleman’s heart is public; his actions are public. One should cherish talent when it deserves cherishing, without demanding allegiance. One should bestow grace when it deserves bestowing, without waiting for the recipient to beg.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like how Master Yuan and General Qi, or how Master Yuan and Scholar Xu Zhen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Jiguang had returned the Huaihui Hall’s token, yet Zhang Juzheng still defended him fiercely when censors impeached him—Zhang Juzheng’s protection did not demand Qi Jiguang’s allegiance. Xu Zhen was a talent, useless in everything but farming and waterworks; Zhang Juzheng granted him grace, not to make him dependent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this is not the gentleman, then what is?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty flatters me—I dare not accept such praise,” Zhang Juzheng replied with proud humility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, Zhang Juzheng could say with certainty: above, he owed no shame to his sovereign; below, he owed no shame to his conscience—he was an upright gentleman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The petty man’s heart is private; his actions are private. They gather under power, rush together for profit, or ally over shared hatred, aiding each other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like Wang Chonggu and Zhang Simei? Like Wang Chonggu and Ma Gui, Ma Jin? ‘Let the friend die, not the poor man’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I should not speak such flattery,” Zhang Juzheng neither denied nor affirmed, yet answered the emperor’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I humbly accept your teaching,” Zhu Yijun said thoughtfully. “Inclusive: public heart, public action, public virtue. Cliquish: private heart, private action, private virtue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The gentleman’s heart is public; precisely because it is public, he loves what deserves love, without demanding allegiance; he bestows grace where due, without waiting for petition—this is why he is the gentleman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The petty man’s heart is private; precisely because it is private, he clings to power, rushes for profit, flees from harm, allies with those he hates to form mutual support—only caring for his own private gain, ignoring public good—this is why he is the petty man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng carefully pondered the emperor’s words, never dismissing them because the emperor was only ten—he pondered long before bowing and saying, “Your Majesty is wise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty’s wisdom grows daily, ever clearer, ever deeper in insight—this is Your Majesty’s innate brilliance, not my merit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, Master Yuan teaches so well,” Zhu Yijun shifted tone. “Master Yuan, I have a question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng ventured: “Your Majesty, I feel slightly unwell—shall we resume tomorrow?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng wanted to escape. The young emperor’s questions were nearly driving him to mental exhaustion—he dreaded hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feng Daban, go to the Dissection Institute and summon Chief Physician Chen Shigong to examine Master Yuan’s pulse,” Zhu Yijun said earnestly to Zhang Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, please wait—after the lecture, I shall visit the Imperial Medical Academy. No need to disturb Chief Physician Chen,” Zhang Juzheng immediately conceded—he merely had a chill; why summon Chen Shigong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Yuan, is Yang Bo a gentleman or a petty man?” Zhu Yijun asked his question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng fell silent. Without Confucius, the world would remain in eternal darkness—but even Confucius’s words, when faced with concrete cases, led to such dilemmas. According to the Master’s logic, gentleman and petty man were like yin and yang, day and night, black and white—opposites, irreconcilable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By status, Yang Bo was a ruler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By virtue, is Yang Bo a gentleman or a petty man? That is the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo spent his life striving for the stability of the Great Ming—but can he be called a gentleman? He was the patriarch of the Jin Faction, yet whenever major issues arose, he remained impartial, preventing situations from deteriorating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Ge Shouli necessarily a petty man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is Ma Fang, who fought tirelessly for the Great Ming, a petty man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tan Lun embodied public heart, public action, public virtue—but refused to repay the Jin Faction’s patronage—was he a petty man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Qi Jiguang received his title, he severed ties with Zhang Juzheng—was he a petty man?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Misfortune is eight or nine out of ten; few are worth speaking to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Analects, gentleman and petty man are binary opposites, discussed in contrast—there seems no middle ground. But reality is not so simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a few lines of sacred texts fully explain this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Yang is a man of great virtue,” Zhang Juzheng evaded, choosing vagueness for a question he could not answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black or white, this or that, right or wrong, good or evil—this is a simplistic, singular, oppositional view of truth. But reality is diverse, complex, interwoven, overlapping. To describe it with binary opposition is not grounded in practice, not grounded in fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun asking whether Yang Bo is a gentleman or a petty man is like asking: “If you use your spear to pierce your shield, what happens?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng evaded, but Zhu Yijun refused to let it go. He immediately asked: “Master Yuan, Minister Yang is a man of great virtue—so he should be a gentleman. But he is the patriarch of a clan faction—so he should be a petty man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Minister Yang is one person. How can he be both gentleman and petty man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng fell silent for a long while, then said: “People are complex; the principles of all things are complex. One cannot generalize from partial views. A person’s words and deeds cannot be summed up in a single phrase. To perceive the infinite truth of things through isolated, static, one-sided views must lead to bias.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take a specific case, like Minister Yang: gentleman and petty man are opposites, yet both are Minister Yang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun flashed his signature bright, cheerful smile and said, puzzled: “I didn’t understand. Master Yuan, you explained too complicatedly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a heavy hammer—Zhang Juzheng nearly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, shall we read the Illustrated Guide to Imperial Governance?” Zhang Juzheng, himself still unclear, chose to change the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no shame; Zhang Juzheng was not avoiding—he simply needed to fully understand before teaching the emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>",1884,"2026-06-21T07:55:54.218Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","23c3d5e6c6e440e597e5e017b9c58b5f33269903892b482c9bf8ee997577d47e","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-69","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-67",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-cover.jpg"]