Chapter 958: Debating on the Street

The arrival of Li Huang finally gave the civil and military officials of the Li Dynasty present a backbone.

Only then did Liu Zheng realize what Li Tun had been waiting for.

Clearly, just a moment ago, the officials of both the Westerner Party and the Southern Faction were on the verge of falling apart. But the appearance of this Li Huang instantly united them once again, and one by one, they pointed at Liu Zheng, hurling insults and filled with righteous indignation.

Both sides.

Confronted each other once again.

Li Tun and Liu Zheng's side was clearly a notch weaker.

"Teacher, you have come."

Li Tun also stood up and, with great respect, made a bow to Li Huang.

Several eunuchs nearby hurriedly brought a chair for this old man in the palace hall.

In this way, having students all over the world was only natural.

Li Huang sat on the chair bestowed by the King, glared fiercely at Liu Zheng, and slammed his cane onto the ground: "Your Majesty, I dare not accept being your teacher! Why don't you call this young man from Longyan 'Teacher' instead!"

:

Liu Zheng was startled inwardly.

No wonder this old man was so formidable; it turns out he was an Imperial Tutor!

Facing his teacher, Li Tun was clearly unable to be as tough as he had been just now, and could only smile bitterly: "Teacher, you speak too severely; Li Tun is also doing this for the Li Dynasty."

"Bang!"

At these words, the whole hall burst into bitter wailing.

Those civil and military officials, as if they were all filial sons and virtuous grandsons, cried out that the world had collapsed and the court order was no more. All sorts of ugly words came sweeping toward Liu Zheng again.

Li Hang and his ilk were all excited; having a backbone really felt different. One after another, they cast mocking looks and expressions of watching a good show at Liu Zheng, who was currently in military attire.

Liu Zheng suddenly thought of an event in the history of Zhongguo.

The cane struck the ground again, and Li Huang roared: "For the Li Dynasty? If I hadn't come, you would have killed all these civil and military officials today!"

Li Tun bowed deeply, said no more, and returned to his throne.

Who would have thought that Yang Shen, outside the palace gate, would lead a group of civil and military officials to roar that line which has been passed down through the ages: "The state has nurtured scholars for one hundred and fifty years; to hold fast to one's integrity and die for righteousness is for this very day!" This group of officials began to resist the absolute imperial power of the Jiajing Emperor. But to speak more deeply, the Great Rites Controversy was a conflict and contest between the orthodox Zhu-Cheng Neo-Confucianism of the time and the emerging Heart Learning of Wang Yangming, and in essence, it was a reflection of the struggle between Heavenly Principle and human sentiment.

On the surface, the Great Rites Controversy was just about whether the Jiajing Emperor should posthumously confer an imperial title upon his biological father, but in reality, amidst this infighting, it was a fierce struggle between the old and new political forces.

That was the Great Rites Controversy of the Ming Dynasty.

The Great Rites Controversy was, in fact, fundamentally a struggle for power between imperial authority and the scholar-officials. At that time, the Cabinet System of the Ming Dynasty had already served many emperors, but after the Jiajing Emperor took the throne, he did not want imperial power to fall into others' hands, so he began to confront these ministers head-on, wanting to reclaim all imperial power.

Li Huang squinted at Liu Zheng and gave a cold laugh: "So you are that Liu, the Vice Minister from Longyan who forgets his ancestors, deviates from the classics, and uses some Heart Learning to curry favor and recklessly criticize Zhu-Cheng Neo-Confucianism?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall burst into laughter.

Interesting.

Liu Zheng suddenly felt that things were becoming interesting.

"Heretical doctrine!"

Liu Zheng smiled faintly and looked at Li Huang, who felt he had completely controlled the rhythm the moment he arrived at the scene.

Some were even clutching their stomachs in laughter.

"The unworthy are in power!"

"How do you say so!"

"The unworthy are ruining the country!"

He cupped his hands and said: "I am indeed the student, Liu Zheng."

Li Huang's eyes turned cold, and he immediately shouted: "You, Vice Minister Liu, had wolfish ambitions back in Longyan, repeatedly sending troops to invade other countries. Who in the world does not know that you, Vice Minister Liu, are full of wild ambition? This time, you have come to bring disaster to the Li Dynasty again; what do you have to say for yourself?"

Li Tun also watched quietly.

"These people are truly..."

"Your Majesty..."

Everyone was spitting as they spoke.

Li Huang looked at Liu Zheng with mockery. He really couldn't understand how Li Hang and the others had failed to defeat such a wet-behind-the-ears brat. And even let him continue to bewitch the King and bring disaster to the Li Dynasty?

Useless trash!

Li Xuanya, who was beside Queen Inhyeon, was also stomping her feet in anxiety at this moment.

The entire palace became lively.

"Are you even worthy?"

"You yellow-mouthed child, my teacher is well-read in the classics; how could he engage in a verbal battle with you?"

They were all a bunch of trash!

Liu Zheng smiled: "Does Elder Li wish to debate with Liu Zheng?"

Li Huang gave a faint smile: "And what if I do?"

Liu Zheng nodded: "Good, Elder Li is broad-minded. In that case, why don't we move outside the palace?"

"What a joke!"

The group laughed again, one after another mocking Liu Zheng for his overestimation of his own abilities.

Liu Zheng nodded.

Li Huang pondered for a moment, then laughed aloud: "Wet behind the ears, do you think I am afraid of you?"

"Outside the palace?"

Li Huang was stunned for a moment.

This was the real debate! That debate in Huangzhou was nothing more than children scolding each other. Today's debate was extraordinary. As the teacher of all the officials in the world, Li Huang's status could be imagined. Moreover, today he was representing all the civil and military officials, so in an instant, the news that Liu Zheng would debate Li Huang on the street spread throughout all of Hancheng.

On the street?

At this moment, everyone became excited.

A debate battle!

The platform had already been erected.

Li Tun had appeared here early, and the crowds coming to watch the spectacle had also arrived. This time, the fact that King Li Tun was asserting his authority was something the common people were talking about with great relish. Some said that Li Tun was about to personally lead a transformation, so people began to look forward to it—what would the outcome of this transformation be?

Upon hearing the location Liu Zheng had chosen, Li Huang could not help but sneer: "Does this brat want to humiliate this old man in public? Hahahaha, he is too presumptuous!"

In an instant, all of Hancheng was stirred into action, and the streets were emptied as everyone went to watch.

Since coming to this world, Liu Zheng had engaged in debate battles several times, such as in the Western Regions, in Longyan, and at Wangbei Academy; this time, he had come to the Li Dynasty.

He could be considered well-versed in this process.

A debate battle!

In ancient times, a debate battle between two people was even more entertaining than a duel between main generals.

Liu Zheng hurriedly returned the salute: "Liu Zheng shall do his utmost!"

Since Li Huang had proposed a debate battle, it was effectively drawing a line in the sand. That is to say, no matter what tricks the King wanted to pull, let us first have a debate! In other words, we can resolve disputes and determine the winner through this method, which can avoid the occurrence of bloodshed.

"In that case, I shall trouble Vice Minister Liu!"

Li Tun bowed deeply toward Liu Zheng.

Li Tun could naturally have used force to make these people submit, but clearly, with the Wa invading, he was unwilling to truly tear his face off with these court officials.

What he needed was for them to be convinced in their hearts.

Of course.

For the current civil and military officials, this was also the best way for them to save face, because the Duqi Duwei and the Imperial Guards were now all in the hands of Li Tun and Liu Zheng.

If Liu Zheng lost, it could barely be established, but if these people were not convinced, it would leave many hidden dangers for the progress of affairs.

Under the gaze of the masses.

To put it simply.

Today, if Liu Zheng wins, this constitutional monarchy can proceed smoothly.

Li Huang sneered: "Yellow-mouthed child, this old man will let you go first!"

Liu Zheng shouted "Good," and laughed loudly: "Then Liu Zheng shall ask the master: what is a scholar-official? The ancients said, 'A scholar who cherishes his comfort is not fit to be called a scholar.' Why then are the scholar-officials of the Li Dynasty divided into Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern factions, engaging in constant infighting? Is this the way of checks and balances, or is it something done intentionally by someone?"

The two men stepped onto the platform.

The two looked at each other across the distance once more.

This brat has some substance.

"'A scholar who cherishes his comfort is not fit to be called a scholar'—this sentence comes from the Analects, fully expressing the broad-mindedness of the ancient scholar-official who aims for the four corners of the world and holds the world in his heart. That is to say, those who are always greedy for their own small families are not worthy of being called 'scholars.' But this Li Dynasty—what with these Easterners, Westerner Party, Southern Faction, and Northerners—and having gone on for two hundred years, are these East, South, West, and North not just small families?"

Once this question was posed, the entire audience was in an uproar.

Li Huang's expression also changed slightly.

Even Li Tun could not help but call out "Good."

The incredibly sharp question caused many people at the scene to change their expressions one after another.

Are these civil and military officials of the East, South, West, and North truly worthy of being called "scholars"!

The common people were even more excited to hear this and began to clamor.

"Good!"

"You all are not fit to be called scholars!"