Chapter 196: 134. Chapter 133: Boldly Remonstrating, Reading a Text a Hundred Times

134. Chapter 133: Boldly Remonstrating, Reading a Text a Hundred Times

Fúquē!?

Not only Gu Assistant County Magistrate, but even Li Kun, who was unaccustomed to court politics, could not help but show a look of shock.

This was not merely kneeling outside the palace gates to submit a memorial.

Fúquē meant rejecting the Emperor and the Grand Secretariat's decision!

The upper and lower ranks are clashing!

Gu Assistant County Magistrate exclaimed: "Xiong Xiong Dunpu?"

Li Sancai lowered the hand he had rested on their shoulders and shook his head: "I don't know the details either—I only heard from your master and Zidao that there was some injustice."

"They petitioned Zhang Zhang Jiangling several times to clear their names, but every appeal vanished into silence—so they resorted to this last measure."

Your master is Zhao Zhao Yongxian's courtesy name; Zidao is Wu Wu Zhonghang's courtesy name—both were Shujishi of Emperor Longqing's fifth year.

And both were heroes of Nanzhili.

They were also, historically, the close brothers who successively impeached Zhang Zhang Juzheng, then jointly received the cane punishment and were dismissed from office.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate, seeing Li Sancai's vague words, understood there were outsiders present and details could not be discussed openly.

He suppressed his curiosity, waiting to ask later.

Li Kun still wore a dazed expression, following the two step by step into the estate.

Inside the estate were stone bridges, artificial hills, pavilions, and water terraces—elegant in style, truly an ideal place for literati to gather.

The three men chatted casually along the way.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate casually recalled old times.

Li Sancai occasionally probed Li Kun's scholarly knowledge.

Li Kun answered properly, stopping short of excess.

"Shushi, Lu's scholarship is far deeper than yours—I'd say this year's metropolitan exam, you'll be playing second fiddle to the two of us."

Li Sancai, mediating the atmosphere, clapped his hands and laughed.

In crowds, mentioning as many people as possible had become Li Sancai's instinct.

Whom to praise, whom to tease—he could do it effortlessly.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate naturally did not object; instead, he spread his hands: "I barely scraped through the provincial exam this year, ranking last—I can't possibly match the two of you, future Tong Jinshi."

"Let me familiarize myself with the exam hall first; in three years, I'll follow in your footsteps."

Li Kun, hearing this, grimaced and begged: "I'm nearly forty, a veteran Tong Jinshi candidate—why tease me so?"

Saying this, he waved his hands repeatedly.

All three smiled unconsciously.

A joke lightened the mood slightly.

Li Sancai raised another topic every candidate cared about: "Do either of you know that last month, Zhu Zhu Nanyong of the Board of Rites submitted a memorial outlining the key matters of the metropolitan exam?"

At these words, both men turned serious, fixing their gazes on Li Sancai.

Li Kun was especially attentive—he had followed them here just to hear this kind of exam intelligence.

Li Sancai did not delay: "During the Emperor Longqing era, Minister Gao Yi, disturbed by the florid style of writing, petitioned the late Emperor to set a limit of six hundred characters."

"But in these two recent metropolitan exams, candidates have over-pursued brevity, favoring convoluted phrasing and excessive artifice."

"Thus, Zhu Zhu Nanyong of the Board of Rites has petitioned His Majesty to abolish the character limit."

Li Kun and Gu Assistant County Magistrate exchanged glances.

This was no small matter—a six-hundred-character essay and an unlimited one required entirely different structures and techniques.

If you prepared based on the old six-hundred-character limit, you'd be heading in the wrong direction entirely.

Why did students come to Beijing early to prepare? Wasn't it precisely for such changes?

If you waited in the provinces for the imperial edict before preparing, wouldn't you waste two full months?

Li Kun pressed: "Has it been approved?"

Li Sancai, hearing this, could not help but praise: "That's why Nanyu Gong Gao Yi is truly a dignified elder."

"He himself proposed the rule, yet when others sought to overturn it, he did not interfere—on the contrary, during the court deliberation, he confessed before His Majesty that his original judgment had been flawed."

"The limit has now been changed to one thousand five hundred characters."

Upon hearing this, Gu Assistant County Magistrate's face lit up with joy.

More characters meant more room to display skill—especially good news for someone like him, who mastered multiple styles but was not specialized in convoluted phrasing.

"Moreover, His Majesty has decreed: 'The primary criterion is logical coherence; alignment with current issues is best; substance in speech is superior.'"

Li Kun's eyebrows lifted, and he involuntarily drew in a breath.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate reacted even more strongly—he suddenly clapped his hands and cried out: "Excellent!"

The sudden cry startled the other two.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate quickly apologized, but his voice turned fierce: "The Fengqi of Wang Yangming's followers must be crushed!"

Li Kun was utterly confused.

Hadn't Gu Assistant County Magistrate said on the road that his master was Zhang Qi, who also studied Heart Learning?

Then why was he calling for its destruction?

Li Sancai kindly explained: "Before age twenty, Shushi studied under Master Zhang; after twenty, he became a disciple of Master Xue Xue Yingqi."

Li Kun understood.

That explained it.

Xue Xue Yingqi was a renowned Confucian scholar, one who might enter the Hangzhou Temple of Worthies alongside Bai Juyi and Su Shi.

In scholarly circles, especially in Nanzhili and Zhejiang, his prestige was immense.

Though he belonged to the Southern Wing of the Wang School—Heart Learning—he abruptly shifted to Cheng-Zhu orthodoxy over a decade ago.

Now he was a Confucian who opposed empty talk of innate knowledge and advocated practical learning.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate, studying under him, had inevitably been influenced.

Yet Gu Assistant County Magistrate shook his head: "It has nothing to do with doctrine—I simply cannot tolerate this decline in morals and the decay of ancient virtue."

Since the Great Rites Controversy, scholar-officials had gradually grown listless.

Above.

The Emperor Jiajing Emperor was insatiable; the Emperor Longqing Emperor neglected state affairs; now Zhang Zhang Juzheng monopolized power and overshadowed the throne. Since childhood, Gu Assistant County Magistrate had sensed that the officials and scholars visiting his home grew increasingly gloomy, suppressed, and demoralized.

After Yan Song, Gao Gong, and Zhang Zhang Juzheng entered the Grand Secretariat, flattery toward the Chief Grand Secretary and factional self-interest grew worse each reign—the entire bureaucracy reeked of decay.

Below.

Even the Sage Wang Wang Shouren could not escape being twisted into "commenting the classics to serve my own ends"—his teachings gradually devolved into a license for licentiousness.

Since Emperor Jiajing, a pernicious trend promoting extravagance, unrestrained behavior, and so-called "authentic freedom" had continuously violated moral and ethical boundaries.

As he had said years ago: "Today, the world is awash in moral decay; all rely on hearsay and rumor; scholarly customs have deteriorated; propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame are nearly extinct. Whenever the three of us speak of this, we sigh or weep together."

At such a time, if no one defends the Dao, where is Heaven's Principle!?

So praising the Emperor has nothing to do with whether he follows Heart Learning or Principle Learning.

He merely praises the act of upholding orthodox learning and rectifying the moral climate.

In his view, this was still insufficient.

Once he passed the metropolitan exam and entered officialdom, he would one day thoroughly cleanse the bureaucracy and purify customs!

Then officials would no longer need to flatter the Chief Grand Secretary; they could speak freely without fear of punishment.

Scholars would no longer be reckless, merely mouthing benevolence and righteousness.

Only then would the court be filled with virtuous men.

But with Li Kun present, to avoid speaking too deeply, Gu Assistant County Magistrate stopped short.

Li Sancai never let silence linger—he smoothly took up Gu Assistant County Magistrate's thread: "This Emperor does have one virtue in purifying customs."

Gu Assistant County Magistrate turned curiously: "Oh?"

Li Sancai smiled: "The Emperor not only demoted that scoundrel Li Li Zaiting to an official post in Fujian, but also summoned Master Wang Wang Shizhen to serve at his side."

Though Li Li Zaiting had been promoted from seventh rank to wear a red robe.

But a censor's prestige differed entirely from that of a provincial official.

As the saying goes: "When a censor of the Six Boards is transferred, he becomes a fourth-rank capital official or a third-rank provincial assistant commissioner—yet being sent out from the capital, rising from seventh to third rank, is considered a great honor, yet most despise it. Hence the saying: 'Promoted seven ranks, power diminished ten thousandfold.'"

Being transferred out was seen as shameful.

To complain about diminished power was not enough—some, enraged, even posted anonymous denunciations to insult the Ministry of Personnel.

Especially the Ministry of Personnel—"The Personnel Censorate is most often promoted to capital posts"—was no joke.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate burst out laughing: "That sycophant deserves to be demoted!"

To these scholars, Li Li Zaiting was no different from Yan Song.

Demotion? Better yet—execution!

After venting, Gu Assistant County Magistrate immediately sobered and pressed: "Has Master Wang entered the capital? Will literary gatherings now be common in Beijing?"

Wang Wang Shizhen's gatherings were vital.

They were the second-best path for scholars to gain fame.

As for the best?

Submitting essays to Wang Wang Shizhen for his commentary—then instantly becoming known nationwide—Wang Wang Xijue often wrote essays praising his nephews and brothers to gain Wang Wang Shizhen's approval.

Moreover, Wang Wang Shizhen himself was an object of admiration for all scholars.

Gu Assistant County Magistrate immediately forgot Yan Song's second place and turned to ask about Wang Wang Shizhen.

Li Sancai nodded: "There is, but Master Yanzhou said that to avoid delaying the candidates' studies, he plans to organize a grand literary gathering several days after the spring examination, inviting scholars from across the land."

What a grand occasion!

Gu Assistant County Magistrate immediately envisioned in his mind the scene where he would tower above all others, the center of universal attention.

His heart surged with excitement.

He murmured: "Good. Not all scholars have yet arrived in the capital. One day after the spring examination, all the candidates will gather in the capital, waiting for the results—most will surely come to join this grand event."

Li Sancai also nodded with a look of longing.

No wonder Master Yanzhou is the foremost organizer in the land—he always picks the perfect moment for a literary gathering.

When all the scholars of the realm gather, that's true fame!

I must learn his methods well—only then can I organize a society that thrives!

Li Kun sat quietly, lost in thought.

Literary gathering… when did it become about having as many people as possible?

Weren't these always exclusive events for sons of prestigious families? When did they ever invite old examination candidates like us?

The more Li Kun thought, the more something felt off.

But he hadn't come here to gossip—he raised the more pressing matter: "I wonder how many scholars this year will be allowed to remain in the capital."

The number varies by cohort; this is the first examination since the new emperor ascended the throne—perhaps they'll grant more slots.

This was an indirect inquiry to Li Sancai.

Li Sancai smiled: "The Long Fei cohort naturally has expanded quotas—the Ministry of Rites has already…"

The three exchanged words, one after another.

Gradually, they walked away.

Only the stone bridge and rockery stood unmoved, while flowers, trees, and grass swayed in the wind.

…

At this moment, inside and outside the Zhao Wenhua Hall, all officials' gazes converged.

A petition at the palace gate!

The last time was when Gao Gong and Feng Bao clashed, forcing Zhang Zhang Shouyue to kneel and petition outside the Wu Men.

Zhang Zhang Shouyue is now retired in Daozhou.

Rumor says he spends his days composing poetry, lamenting his stalled career.

Now, over a dozen junior scholars and Hanlin officials have knelt outside the Zhao Wenhua Hall—this sudden incident has left court officials unaware of its cause.

They all pretended to pass by, eager to see what was happening.

On the open ground outside the Zhao Wenhua Hall.

Zhao Zhao Yongxian, Wu Wu Zhonghang, and others had been kneeling for an hour.

The emperor and the Grand Secretariat remained unmoved.

Even after the court deliberation ended, neither the emperor nor the Grand Secretariat appeared to address the matter.

Most peculiar: no eunuch came out to counsel them, nor did the Embroidered Uniform Guard appear to drive them away?

No counsel came—and not even a beating.

Only these men knelt, suspended in uncertainty, outside the Zhao Wenhua Hall.

Zhao Zhao Yongxian had kept his forehead pressed to the ground for an hour; his legs were fine, but his waist ached.

A cold wind blew, sending a chill through him.

Wu Wu Zhonghang's voice reached his ears.

"The court deliberation ended long ago—why hasn't His Majesty appeared?"

They had been kneeling here before the deliberation began, precisely to make a spectacle.

Logically, whether the emperor or the Grand Secretariat, both should act swiftly to quell the disturbance.

Zhao Zhao Yongxian kept his head bowed, motionless, whispering: "I suspect His Majesty is unaware of this matter—either he's still investigating the facts, or he's furious, deliberating a response."

Outsiders might not know, but we Hanlin officials understand the emperor well.

He would surely take notice of such a thing.

He might even surpass the Grand Secretariat to meet us directly.

That's precisely why we chose to kneel outside the Zhao Wenhua Hall.

Wu Wu Zhonghang sighed: "Right and wrong are clear. The Chief Grand Secretary is stubborn and deceives His Majesty—we have no choice but to force His Majesty to correct the injustice."

"After all, Xiong Xiong Dunpu has been wronged—how innocent he is!"

Once a process begins, it's hard to reverse.

Getting a superior to admit fault is harder than climbing to heaven.

But if Zhang Zhang Juzheng acts this way, don't blame us for escalating it—let His Majesty and the court judge the matter.

Of course, whether Zhang Zhang Juzheng himself is being deceived is beyond our concern—it's clearly intentional!

The two knelt, foreheads to the ground, whispering quietly.

Zhao Zhao Yongxian's tone was firm: "No matter what, today we must secure justice for Xiong Xiong Dunpu."

Wu Wu Zhonghang shifted his waist, muttering: "Good thing I wore knee pads—kneeling all day won't be a problem."

"It's just cold."

No sooner had he spoken than a cold wind swept through.

Both shivered in unison.

Zhao Zhao Yongxian was about to speak.

Just then.

Footsteps sounded in their ears.

When they recognized the sound as descending the steps from within the Zhao Wenhua Hall, both couldn't help but smile.

The emperor finally couldn't hold back!

This divine opportunity is perfect to teach Zhang Zhang Juzheng a lesson.

As they thought this—

"Gentlemen of the Selection Office and Hanlin Academy, I come on His Majesty's orders."

Zhao Zhao Yongxian, Wu Wu Zhonghang, and the dozen or so junior scholars and Hanlin officials behind them slightly lifted their heads.

They stole glances—and upon seeing only a few eunuchs, their brows furrowed.

The emperor won't appear himself? He sends a eunuch to dismiss us?

Li Jin, seeing their restlessness, quickly raised a hand to calm them: "Gentlemen, no need to rise."

He smiled: "His Majesty says he still has his Confucian lectures—he must prioritize his studies and cannot attend to your grievances now."

"Wait a while. After his lesson, His Majesty will summon you."

With that, he waved his hand.

The young eunuchs behind him each draped a large cloak over the shoulders of the junior scholars and Hanlin officials.

Zhao Zhao Yongxian and Wu Wu Zhonghang froze.

They exclaimed in unison: "Eunuch Li…"

Li Jin cut them off.

He smiled gently: "It's grown cold. You must preserve your health—kneeling so long must have left your limbs icy."

"His Majesty, concerned for his ministers, specially sent me to provide you with warm cloaks."

Zhao Zhao Yongxian and Wu Wu Zhonghang exchanged glances—both eyes filled with unmistakable astonishment.

…

In the Zhao Wenhua Hall, the Confucian lecture.

The Confucian lectures began in August for autumn instruction, originally scheduled to end on the second day of the tenth month.

But the Grand Secretariat was too busy, so several sessions were canceled and postponed by half a month.

At this moment, the emperor himself, who was being petitioned outside, showed neither anger nor hesitation.

Even inside the hall, no one mentioned the kneeling outside—they were fully absorbed in the lesson.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sat upright, listening attentively.

"The ancient sages, when faced with difficult circumstances and moral upheavals, always found a proper way to act. Thus, serving one's parents to continue the ancestral line is paramount; providing for them is secondary. Only when the ancestral altar has a rightful heir and the sacrificial rites are properly performed can the spirits of ancestors be appeased and parents' hearts be satisfied. Those who rule the realm through filial piety must extend this principle."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng spoke sternly, watching the emperor, word by word.

The lecture official took notes and placed them before the young emperor.

The young emperor glanced at the notes, listening carefully.

Occasionally he drew analogies: "Master, I understand."

"For example, Emperor Yao married his two daughters to Shun. Shun immediately obeyed Yao's command without returning home to consult his parents."

"Shun did this because he feared his parents would refuse, leaving him unable to marry and thus childless."

"Consulting parents before marriage is to honor their wishes and avoid acting independently—that is the basic requirement of ritual. Not consulting them is to ensure the continuation of ancestral rites and avoid lineage extinction."

"Shun's action is a flexible application of filial piety—his extension of principle!"

"No wonder the sages all say: among all emperors, ancient and modern, none surpassed Shun in filial piety!"

Tao Tao Dalin watched this master and pupil, teaching and learning as if nothing were amiss, and couldn't help but admire.

The Chief Grand Secretary was expected to be composed—but he hadn't expected the emperor to possess such calmness.

He glanced subtly toward the Zhao Wenhua Hall's exterior.

Such a major event as the petition at the palace gate, and inside, they acted as if nothing had happened.

Hasn't the petition at the palace gate been going on for an hour outside?

If they knew His Majesty was still diligently studying, would they feel relieved—or enraged?

After His Majesty drew broader conclusions from a single example, the ministers all praised him endlessly.

Tao Tao Dalin snapped out of his daze and hastily offered a perfunctory compliment—once accustomed to flattery, everyone now praised in formulaic fashion.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's expression grew even more restrained.

He merely nodded solemnly, even warning His Majesty to guard against arrogance and impatience, to proceed steadily and avoid frivolity, and so on.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was accustomed to Zhang Zhang Juzheng's severity, and he understood, at least somewhat, how his predecessor had become so rebellious.

No wonder he was the quintessential Chinese parent.

He smiled and nodded in assent, then said, "Master, I now understand what Mencius meant."

"Yet, I have another question."

At these words,

Tao Tao Dalin quietly stepped back a pace.

Here we go again.

The two men in the Grand Secretariat now took turns on duty, carving out time from their busy schedules to teach His Majesty.

Ever since His Majesty's scholarship had grown increasingly refined, his questions could no longer be easily answered by the daily lecturers—he asked too deeply, often touching upon the very foundations of Confucian and Legalist thought, the empire's lifeline.

This was also why the Grand Secretariat was so occupied, and the imperial lectures had to be postponed.

Only Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Gao Yi had the authority to answer.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng, in particular, had suffered greatly and understood this well.

He rarely showed such a strained expression; his face twitched slightly as he said dryly, "Your Majesty, please speak."

Zhu Zhu Yijun first rose and bowed to Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Then, respectfully, he said, "Master, just now you said that a ruler who governs the realm through filial piety should embody it and extend it."

A ruler who governs the realm through filial piety should practice it himself and promote it widely.

Zhu Zhu Yijun paused, then asked curiously, "May I ask, Master, does our dynasty also govern through filial piety?"

The content of the imperial lectures, Zhang Zhang Juzheng's remarks, generally drew from the "Direct Explanation of the Four Books"; Gao Yi's from the "Collected Works of Gao Gao Wenduan." Some of the protagonist's lines are original, others patched together—I won't cite each source individually.