[{"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-70":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},2363339,4622,"Chapter 70","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-70",70,"\u003Cp>Yang Bo did not know how to answer Zhang Juzheng’s question, or could not answer the emperor’s seemingly naive inquiry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A child’s honesty is most hurtful; sincerity is the ultimate killing technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ten-year-old sovereign lamented Yang Bo’s past conduct as a gentleman of the Dao, and also lamented his present deeds as a petty man serving the interests of the Jin Party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Virtue distinguishes gentleman from petty man—these terms are opposites, yet the gentleman is Yang Bo, and the petty man is also Yang Bo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.” Yang Bo uttered only a heavy sigh; he could not answer this question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To call him a petty man would be to deny his past; to call him a gentleman would be to deny his present—no matter how he answered, it would be self-contradictory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His life’s final stretch had led him here, leaving Yang Bo slightly at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng saw Yang Bo’s expression and knew he was caught between a rock and a hard place; he recounted everything from the lecture hall, for now the question of whether Yang Bo was a gentleman or a petty man was merely an example—it was about Yang Bo’s dilemma, not Yang Bo himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The formless is Dao; the formed is tool. Now that we discuss this issue formlessly, how should I answer it?” Zhang Juzheng frowned; in scholarship, this was the first time in many years he had felt such profound doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo thought for a moment and said: “This is why I refused your request. In scholarship, the one who understands leads. Your grasp of the Dao has long surpassed mine; if you cannot answer it, how could I? To appear at the Wenhua Hall lecture would only be to humiliate myself again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teaching the young emperor to read, Yang Bo could only equivocate, evade, and deflect—when His Majesty asked about rules, he could only state facts; when His Majesty asked about facts, he could only speak of rules. Would that not make him a great villain who points to a deer and calls it a horse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng was profoundly lonely—in scholarship, he was lonely; in state affairs, he was lonely. In scholarship, Yang Bo was now the only one who could sit with him and discuss the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let us begin from the understanding of a single character,” Zhang Juzheng sat upright, ready to debate the Dao with Yang Bo; he had a vague answer but could not yet articulate it—truth becomes clearer through debate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo could still speak with him; those Confucian scholars in the Hanlin Academy had even stripped “unity of knowledge and action” of “action,” leaving only “attaining innate knowledge,” interpreting it as: if one has innate knowledge, all is well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This metaphysical school of mind was utterly inconsistent with practical practice. Wang Yangming had repeatedly emphasized the importance of action; had he known his followers reduced his mind-school to this, he would have wished he had never elevated it to such an unnatural height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-fourth of May, the moon hung like a sliver above the eastern hills, stars glittered brilliantly across the heavens; the spring breeze, carrying a chill, stirred the branches of the poplars and willows, their hanging tendrils swaying ceaselessly over Yanhui Pond, stirring ripples that shattered the moon’s reflection in the water. The sounds of the huqin and bangdi from the opera pavilion drifted with the spring breeze into Wenchang Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng’s fingers tapped steadily on the table and said: “We are like mayflies adrift in the vast universe, mere grains of rice in the boundless sea. We grieve that our lives are but fleeting moments, and envy the endless flow of the Yangtze, which has witnessed countless transformations of sea into land and land into sea, and countless heroes and villains.” This is Su Shi’s “Ode to the Red Cliff, Part One.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are like mayflies in the vastness of heaven and earth, like a single grain of rice in the ocean. We mourn the brevity of our lives, and envy the Yangtze’s endless flow, having witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the triumphs and tragedies of countless heroes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knowledge—the understanding of the infinite principles of all things—this understanding, in my view, has two aspects.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first is metaphysical: all things are isolated, partial, static, unchanging—as if the infinite principles of things have always been thus since their inception. For example, we still govern with Qin law and cultivate ourselves with Confucianism.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much thought, Yang Bo spoke: “Dong Zhongshu once said, ‘The great origin of the Dao comes from Heaven; if Heaven does not change, neither does the Dao.’ This aligns with Bai Gui’s view.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This “knowledge” is a noun—the knowledge of understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng was not speaking nonsense. For a hundred generations, Qin law had governed, and Confucianism had cultivated character—seemingly always thus. But has it always been right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng continued: “The second aspect is empirical: our knowledge of the infinite principles of things comes from practical experience. We find that all things are interconnected, dynamic, and ever-changing—as if the infinite principles of things are like the Yangtze’s waters: water has no fixed form, so principles are not constant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All things are interconnected: the moon in the water is the reflection of the moon in the palace; the ripples from the willow leaves shatter it; the willow sways because the wind blows; that willow was planted by me when I first arrived in the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The infinite multitude of things are mutually connected and mutually influence each other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo looked again at the shattered moon in Yanhui Pond—and saw it differently. He seemed to have gained a new understanding of the infinite principles of all things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Yang Bo said: “Heaven is ever-changing; the Dao is ever-changing. Yin and yang together are called the Dao; what follows it is goodness; what completes it is nature. One must not cling to a fixed image or assign a fixed name. Indeed, this is true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng continued: “Metaphysically, the sacred texts, the writings of the heart, benevolence and virtue, the principles of all things—these form a shield impervious to all penetration.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Empirically, practical action, what one sees, what one observes, what one gains—this is a spear that penetrates all shields.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happens when an impervious shield meets an all-penetrating spear? The spear strikes the shield and sparks fly. When practical experience collides with metaphysical knowledge, doubt arises. When we resolve these doubts, our understanding of the principles of all things becomes clearer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo listened, his eyes brightening, and said with deep agreement: “Bai Gui is a rare genius of this age. Your words have enlightened me like nectar poured on the head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng continued: “This applies to individuals, and to the state. If a person fails to resolve the doubts between knowledge and practice, he becomes lost and perilous; if the state fails to resolve them, it perishes. Han replaced Qin, Tang succeeded Sui, Yuan destroyed Song, Ming replaced Yuan—all were the inevitable results of unresolved contradictions, and also the necessary resolutions of those contradictions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Contradiction exists among all things; the great doubts born of contradiction are the very source of all things’ ceaseless advancement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the spear of practical experience, forged by grounded action, strikes the shield of established knowledge, doubt inevitably arises. To ponder these doubts and arrive at clear answers prevents confusion and helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similarly, the realm itself is riddled with contradictions. If these contradictions and their resulting doubts remain unresolved, then Han replacing Qin, Tang succeeding Sui, Yuan destroying Song, Ming replacing Yuan become inevitable—and so too do their resolutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo struck his right palm with his left fist, excitedly exclaiming: “Only principle! Only principle! Bai Gui’s words surpass ten years of reading. Exactly so. Indeed so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, Yang Taizai—are you a gentleman or a petty man?” Zhang Juzheng brought the question full circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Yang Bo’s shield of knowledge clashed with the spear of practice—that was the root of his awkwardness on the court. Yang Bo must either ascend and become a gentleman, or descend and fully become a petty man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I plan to retire and return home after the Kaocheng Law is implemented in the capital. All my belongings are packed.” Yang Bo answered the question—he chose evasion, unable to resolve his inner doubts, so he chose not to resolve them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you content to resign, Taizai?” Zhang Juzheng frowned. Yang Bo was fleeing, avoiding—on this matter, he chose to be a coward. Zhang Juzheng felt a flicker of disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo smiled bitterly and shook his head, looking worn out: “I am old, Bai Gui. I am old.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two sat in Wenchang Pavilion, listening to the gurgle of water and the cuckoo’s cry beneath the moon, watching the opera pavilion’s lanterns dim and voices fade as night deepened. They said nothing, gazing at each other in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taizai, did you come for Ma Gui and Ma Jin?” Zhang Juzheng asked about Yang Bo’s purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. I beg you, Yuanfu, to show mercy. Ma Gui and Ma Jin are brave, swift, and skilled in warfare; they have won many battles, launched surprise attacks on Bansheng and guarded the capital’s borders—they are exceptional generals. To discard them would be a great waste. Yuanfu, your goal is to enrich the state and strengthen its military; killing such frontier commanders will surely demoralize the troops.” Yang Bo admitted he had come on behalf of the Jin Party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng shook his head: “I never intended to execute them. The deputy commander and Assistant Regional Commander of Xuan-Da may retain their posts if they redeem themselves through merit—but they must never return to Xuan-Da.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ice gifts and charcoal gifts were institutionalized corruption. This systemic decay severely damaged official integrity, but Zhang Juzheng had no better solution—it was an old, deep-rooted illness. Had the emperor been young and strong, Zhang Juzheng might have acted. But the emperor was still a child; Zhang Juzheng could not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You, Zhang Juzheng, hold the Grand Secretariat, wielding life and death, absolute power. You do not merely seek authority—you seek reputation, you seek a good name. What do you intend to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taizai must still restrain Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei. If they cause further trouble, do not blame me for being merciless.” Zhang Juzheng spoke sternly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo shook his head: “Yan Shifan was Yan Song’s own son, and Yan Song could not restrain him. What can an old man on the verge of retirement like me do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng could only nod: “True enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Bo leaned slightly forward: “Bai Gui, you plan for the state so meticulously—how do you plan for yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know, I know—you don’t care. But you cannot ignore your new laws. Do you truly accept that your reforms will die with you? I am not your equal in scholarship, nor your equal in lofty ideals—but I have found a way to protect yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? I am eager to hear.” Zhang Juzheng looked at Yang Bo, his brow slightly furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! I knew you cared. Your appeasement of the Jin Party is useless—if it worked, you would have agreed to marry your son to mine long ago. Those in the game are blind; those outside see clearly. You, Bai Gui, are in the game and do not perceive the anomaly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your method of self-preservation is not far away—it is right before you: the emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though he is ten, he already shows the bearing of a sovereign. In our Great Ming, if the emperor chooses to protect you, you may gain glory; if he turns against you, others will suffer disgrace. If that treacherous man knew the emperor was forced to become wise by assassination plots, would he regret it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Juzheng looked doubtful, then smiled. Indeed—the emperor had great ambition; it was the great fortune of the state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is one matter requiring your cooperation, Taizai.” Zhang Juzheng had spared Ma Gui and Ma Jin without harsh punishment—naturally, there was a condition.\u003C\u002Fp>",2010,"2026-06-21T07:55:54.218Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","79c2cc04ac9b1ad993d7a5ac5fb79b9256aef822104581223e5e53cf2a53a60d","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-71","i-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-chapter-69",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-really-am-not-neglecting-my-duties-cover.jpg"]