Chapter 529: Debate It Out

The expressions of everyone present changed instantly.

They had originally assumed that the fine food and drink and the high-level treatment in Liangzhou Prefecture today were meant to express an apology to them, the scholars.

Many also felt that if Governor Liu were willing to make concessions, they would not make things too difficult for him—reimbursing their travel expenses for the journey would suffice.

Unexpectedly!

He wanted to confront them head-on!

Looking at Liu Zheng and his party, each person was holding a number of scrolls. The meaning was self-evident; was Liu Zheng intending to engage in a debate against the masses?

The Four Great Academy Principals also frowned.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became eerily quiet.

People could not help but look at one another.

After Liu Zheng and Qingyang Shuo's party walked over, he stood on the podium, scanned the crowd, and chuckled: "Gentlemen, first of all, on behalf of Liangzhou Prefecture, Liu Zheng welcomes everyone to gather in Liangzhou. Regardless of the purpose, it is quite rare for countless scholars from across the world to gather here. Liu Zheng has been busy compiling a new book these past few days, so I have had no time to receive you all and fulfill the duties of a host. Liangzhou has always held scholars in high regard, so for the next seven days, you may enjoy yourselves within the borders of Liangzhou, and all expenses will be covered by Liangzhou Prefecture!"

Once these words were spoken, the entire venue became lively.

Liangzhou Prefecture is picking up the tab?

There is such a good thing?

You have to admit, these days in Liangzhou, they had truly witnessed just how prosperous this place was. Many people began to feel reluctant to leave. If they could stay in Liangzhou for seven days without spending their own money, wouldn't that be wonderful?

Generous!

Liangzhou Prefecture is truly generous!

Many people nodded with smiles.

But there were also those who did not appreciate it, snorting coldly: "Is Governor Liu trying to bribe us with money? Do you think that by doing this, you can make everyone ignore your evil deeds of opposing Confucianism and insulting the sages!"

"Right! Don't even think about it!"

"Governor Liu, you must give everyone an explanation for this matter!"

"How are you any different from a traitor who forgets his roots?"

A group of people also began to clamor.

A traitor?

Liu Zheng heard this and gave a bitter smile; it was true that scholars were skilled at killing with soft knives. How had he become a traitor?

He waited for the commotion of the crowd to subside for a moment, then chuckled: "This is precisely the reason why Liu Zheng has gathered everyone here..."

"Hmph, want to admit your mistake?"

"It's too late!"

"Don't think about bribing us!"

"The integrity of a scholar cannot be insulted!"

Many people, while secretly stuffing the exquisite pastries into their pockets, shouted with righteous indignation.

The Principal of Yuelu Academy also chuckled, stroking his beard as he said: "It is a great virtue to correct one's mistakes, but Governor Liu's arguments are so rebellious that I fear the scholars of the world will not accept Governor Liu's apology..."

"That's right!"

"Why not do this: have Governor Liu fund the construction of more Confucius Temples to spread Confucianism!"

"Right!"

"Only in this way can the people of the world be appeased..."

The group talked over one another, even offering suggestions to Liu Zheng.

They had already concluded that Governor Liu would definitely have to concede to them.

Who would have thought that Liu Zheng would chuckle and shift his tone: "However, Liu Zheng has no intention of apologizing today. In fact, Liu Zheng believes that the decay of Confucianism is the very shackle that has caused our Longyan Dynasty to stagnate for years! Today, Liu Zheng has gathered the scholars of the world precisely to break the decay, the dogmas, and the ignorance of Confucianism!"

These words were like a bomb thrown into the crowd.

"You..."

"Governor Liu..."

"You, you, you..."

These people began to use foul language and hurl insults again. If it weren't for the many Liangzhou Army soldiers nearby maintaining order, they would have loved to spit on Liu Zheng.

The Four Great Academy Principals had even gloomier expressions.

Liu Zheng sat tall, laughed heartily, and gestured with his hand: "Scholars of the world, gathered here today. Since you have your logic, I have my Dao."

"Then, if you are not convinced, come and debate!"

The entire venue became tense and extremely shocked.

Was this Governor Liu truly going to challenge the scholars of the world?

How did he dare!

He was a young man of twenty-two; where did he get the courage?

A white-haired scholar finally could not hold back, standing up first and pointing at Liu Zheng: "How can this be, how can this be! The Dao of the sages has been passed down for thousands of years and is revered by all scholars in the world. The cycle of the Heavenly Way and the classics of the sages—are these things for a mere yellow-mouthed child like you to challenge?"

Liu Zheng said calmly: "If the sages could write books, why can I not write books?"

"If writing books makes one a sage, then everyone can be a sage!"

"If a sage writes books to seek the name of a sage, then what meaning does this holy name have? As for the Dao of the sages, my nature is self-sufficient; those who seek reason in external things are mistaken! The Master said, 'If I desire benevolence, then benevolence arrives.'"

"In that case, everyone can be a sage. What do you gentlemen think?"

Once these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.

Everyone can become a sage?

These words were too rebellious! Since ancient times, people's concept has been that a sage is one who bestows widely and can save the masses, perfecting oneself and ultimately perfecting others!

This is the sage of Confucianism!

This statement by Liu Zheng, that everyone can become a sage, directly subverted their reverence and faith in sages.

However...

Liu Zheng finally added a "The Master says," meaning that even the Master once said that as long as one desires benevolence, benevolence will come. This statement itself is very idealistic, and it fits the artistic conception of Liu Zheng's words even better: I believe I am a sage, therefore I am a sage.

What is improper about that?

Using the Master's own words to rebuke you disciples of the Master immediately left them speechless.

In fact, Wang Yangming's Heart Learning originally inherited the true teachings of the Confucian school; it is simply more advanced than Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and more suited to this era.

"Presumptuous!"

"How dare you compare yourself to the Master?"

"You, you, you, you—this is a desecration of the ancestral temple!"

"This is preposterous!"

The group of people were furious and flustered.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Principle? Without my spiritual intelligence, who would look up to the height of Heaven? Without my spiritual intelligence, who would look down into the depth of Earth? Without my spiritual intelligence, who would distinguish the auspiciousness, disasters, and omens of ghosts and spirits? Heaven, Earth, ghosts, spirits, and the ten thousand things—if they depart from my spiritual intelligence, they cease to exist. If my spiritual intelligence departs from Heaven, Earth, ghosts, spirits, and the ten thousand things, it also ceases to exist."

"The learning of the sages is Heart Learning!"

"The goal of sage learning is also to allow everyone to return to the original substance of spiritual intelligence!"

"Using this heart that is pure in Heavenly Principle, when applied to serving one's father, it is filial piety; when applied to serving one's ruler, it is loyalty!"

"For instance, in serving one's father, can one go to the father to seek the principle of filial piety? In serving one's ruler, can one go to the ruler to seek the principle of loyalty? In interacting with friends or governing the people, can one go to the friends or the people to seek the principles of trustworthiness and benevolence? It all lies within this heart; the heart is principle!"

"Knowledge is the original substance of the heart, and the heart naturally knows: seeing a father, one naturally knows filial piety; seeing an elder brother, one naturally knows fraternal respect; seeing a child fall into a well, one naturally knows compassion. This is Innate Knowledge, which requires no external seeking."

"If the manifestation of Innate Knowledge is free from the obstruction of selfish desires, then it is what is called 'extending the heart of compassion, and benevolence will be inexhaustible'!"

"If the Dao of the sages requires seeking through scriptures, then this Dao is not worth having!"

Once these words were spoken, everyone in the hall could not help but stand up.

The expressions of these people were all different.

This Prefect Liu—was he actually going to do this for real?