Chapter 251: Clarifying the profound and explaining the obscure, pushing the boat along with the current

If the North-South dispute were merely a delusion, the commoners of Jiangnan would not have vied to echo it.

These newspapers have merely been sealed; there are even more cryptic "demon books" circulating among the populace.

From the reports of local governors and inspectors, the investigations of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the streets, and even the hearsay of the censors, almost all say how the southern commoners are filled with righteous indignation and share a common hatred for the enemy.

The propertyless commoners feel a stinging pain, full of expectation that the evil path of "using southern taxes for northern needs" can be stopped; regardless of whether the days in each province are poor or rich, they just want to live their own lives.

Diners in restaurants talk loudly, saying how the taxes they pay support the northerners, and that in the future, when northerners meet them, it would be reasonable and appropriate for them to call them "Father."

Scholars in academies repeatedly produce shocking works, saying it would be better to follow the old wisdom of the former Song, abandoning the irrelevant and desolate borderlands to avoid sucking the marrow from the bones of the south.

It is only because such rhetoric remains among the folk and lacks practical urgency that the high officials of the imperial court do not take it to heart.

But at this very moment, having been brought up to the Hall of Literary Brilliance, it naturally must be weighed carefully.

A breeze blew past, and the south immediately began to surge with undercurrents; so light and easy, how could it be explained away as being instigated by others?

The Emperor's attitude is also very clear.

Today, he must use the "Demon Book Case" to argue the North-South dispute clearly!

The ministers' thoughts were myriad, and the hall fell silent for a time.

Just then, a voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, this subject has something to say."

Everyone followed the sound and looked over.

Shen Shen Shixing stepped out from the crowd, his expression resolute, looking like he was prepared to speak out for justice.

Cai Cai Ruxian and Luo Zun exchanged a glance and secretly gave a thumbs-up.

The southerners are truly heroes and good men; Wang Wang Zongyi, who dared to remonstrate against the Emperor's face, has gone before, and the eclectic and mediating "Shen Licorice" has immediately followed!

Such integrity and demeanor, arguing based on reason and not fearing authority—how could they be compared to the crude northerners like He He Luo Wen and Ni Ni Guangjian who stir up trouble?

Zhu Zhu Yijun was also quite surprised to see Shen Shen Shixing's sense of responsibility today.

He gave Shen Shen Shixing a good look before slowly nodding.

Seeing that he had received the Emperor's permission, Shen Shen Shixing immediately bowed and replied candidly: "The Grand Minister of Rites' remonstrance and Your Majesty's counter-question are nothing more than entanglement over the North-South dispute—whether it is 'nurtured' or 'instigated'."

"This subject believes neither; the North-South dispute is 'proliferated'!"

After he finished this sentence, the expressions in the Hall of Literary Brilliance were varied.

What did Wang Wang Zongyi mean by "instigated"?

It meant that the North-South dispute was a delusion; everyone was actually in harmony, but now that some people were dissatisfied with the imperial court, they just picked up some contradictions to instigate trouble. Once the newspaper ban was reinstated, everything could return to harmony.

The Emperor clearly did not agree with this statement; his counter-question was a clear expression of his stance: the North-South dispute was conceived and born in this dynasty, an inherent dispute that does not change based on the instigation of outsiders, and it has already reached the point where it must be dealt with.

As for what Zhang Gelao Shen called "proliferated," it clearly had a different meaning.

The Emperor seemed to have become interested: "'Proliferated'? What kind of explanation is that?"

It must be said that coining new terms had become a trend during the Emperor Wanli era, and it could even be said to be a major hallmark of the New Policies in terms of culture.

Shen Shen Shixing bowed again, his expression solemn: "Your Majesty, do you know about the North-South Ranking Case of that year?"

Hiss.

The North-South Ranking Case!

Those four words truly had magic; the cold air emitted by the ice bucket in the corner was almost sucked dry in the blink of an eye by the ministers in the hall.

Even Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Wang Wang Xijue, who avoided the matter and were unwilling to participate in the dispute, turned their heads to look at Shen Shen Shixing.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's expression did not change much; he just silently sat up straight: "I naturally know. When I was studying the *Ancestral Injunctions of the Great Ming*, the Imperial Father once spoke of this matter."

"It was the Ding Chou imperial examination of the 30th year of During Hongwu, because the 51 successful candidates taken, such as Song Cong, were all southerners, with not a single northerner."

"At that time, the whole country was clamorous. The Taizu Emperor was angry at the partiality of the selection and stirred up a heaven-shaking case..."

A proper imperial examination, yet not a single northerner was a successful candidate—how could that be allowed?

Immediately, failed scholars cried out for justice, northern soldiers and civilians jointly submitted petitions, cried out along the streets, blocked carriages to plead their cases, and over a dozen censors in the court vied to submit petitions, begging the Emperor to investigate thoroughly.

The world was in an uproar, and the North-South regional dispute instantly became rampant.

In the end, it shocked the Taizu Emperor, who had one foot in the grave, to come forward in person.

The High Emperor not only killed a large number of examiners, readers, and top scholars, but in a fit of rage, he also dismissed all the southern scholars. Finally, he personally presided over the imperial examination and took 61 northerners, only then was the matter quelled.

However, this was the official rhetoric; although the facts were not far off, the wording was too restrained and neutral.

In reality, the controversy over this case could not be described as small.

Countless personal notes circulated in the scholarly circles and streets.

In the commentary on this matter, dissatisfaction with the Taizu Emperor's method of handling it was often hidden, and by citing classics to cry injustice, the characterization naturally had to add a word, calling it the "North-South Ranking Injustice Case."

On one hand, it was a grievance for the imperial court's suppression of southerners—the imperial examination was based on ability, how could there be a reason to dismiss those who had already passed?

That no northerners were recorded was merely because their skills were inferior to others; it could not be said that northerners were inherently inferior, so how could they have the face to complain?

Could it be that if all the successful candidates in a certain subject were over 30 years old, the scholars in their 20s could use this to cry injustice and appeal? It made no sense!

On the other hand, there was even more resentment at the Taizu Emperor for punishing without teaching.

If one insisted on saying there was cheating in the examination hall, where was the evidence!?

Wasn't it just because there was no evidence that they shamelessly pinned a charge of treason on the chief examiner?

In the final analysis, it was still for the sake of the so-called art of mediation!

A butcher like the Taizu Emperor, to quell the unreasonable clamor of the northerners, actually raised a butcher's knife, slaughtered examiners, and dismissed candidates!

If it wasn't an injustice, what was it!?

Even in the official history, under the premise of writing straight, it would implicitly express this meaning.

Of course.

In the oral traditions of the Zhu family, who valued the North-South defense, the matter was another sight entirely.

If one wanted to say there was a gap in academic standards between the North and South, the Zhu family had nothing to say—in the Jiaxu subject of the 27th year of During Hongwu, over a hundred scholars were taken, and northerners were no more than twenty-odd; the Taizu Emperor also acknowledged it, didn't he?

But just three years later, suddenly not a single northerner could enter the list—wasn't that a bit too unreasonable!?

Even at this time, the Taizu Emperor still retained doubts.

Out of consideration for the balance of the court and extinguishing public opinion, the Taizu Emperor's first reaction was to smooth things over.

At that time, after the Taizu Emperor learned of this, he immediately issued an edict, ordering court officials and the top three successful candidates to re-examine the papers for cheating, and to add ten northerners.

The examiners responsible for the re-examination were mostly southerners, and coupled with the fact that the top scholar, second place, and third place were re-examining the papers and adding northerners, it could be seen that the Taizu Emperor still left some face, hoping that everyone would shake hands and make peace.

Unfortunately, this intention did not seem to have been conveyed properly.

Under the Taizu Emperor's explicit order to "add ten northerners," this re-examination lasted for a month and a half, and finally reached a conclusion that no one expected: it did not meet the imperial will!

The reader Zhang Xin, who was responsible for the re-examination, reported that the papers of the southerners recorded had no problems at all!

On the contrary, the papers of the northerners were poor in logic and frequently contained taboo words; there was truly not a single paper that could be added!

At that time, there were censors who submitted petitions to impeach, saying that the chief examiner Liu Liu Sanwu instructed the re-examination official Zhang Xin to deliberately pick the worst papers of the northerners to submit, and not to add any—"Therefore, they submitted ugly papers; Liu Sanwu and the others were truly responsible."

But after a round of arguments, the examiners and re-examination officials stuck firmly to the claim that they "complied with the procedures."

If one was not convinced, one could re-examine again.

The world knew what happened later; although the Taizu Emperor was dying, he was ultimately not a benevolent monarch who cared about procedures.

The old man waved his hand.

The reader Zhang Xin and others responsible for the re-examination were sentenced to the death of lingering execution; the original top scholar Chen An, who participated in the re-examination, was sentenced to the punishment of being torn apart by carts; the chief examiner Liu Liu Sanwu was directly pinned with the charge of treason, spared death due to his old age, and his entire clan was exiled.

From the perspective of an Emperor who controlled the nine domains and planned for ten thousand generations, the killing had absolutely no problem.

Evidence? Things that the Three Judicial Offices didn't even need to judge a case, yet one wanted them for a major political case?

It was just the wailing of the defeated; it was ridiculous to the extreme.

Of course, both the monarch and the ministers had no lack of wrestling over the final conclusion of this matter; after several generations, it was still a draw—official history and unofficial history were running neck and neck.

After the Emperor briefly described the ins and outs, Shen Shen Shixing's voice arrived as expected: "Your Majesty is knowledgeable and has a good memory; that is indeed the case."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was noncommittal, silently waiting for the rest.

"Your Majesty, Grand Minister of Rites, is this case a North-South dispute or not?"

Hearing this, Wang Wang Zongyi's expression was not very good; it was already called the North-South Ranking Case, if it wasn't a North-South dispute, what could it be?

He had just said that the North-South dispute was groundless, and Shen Shen Shixing immediately brought up this case; could it be that he intended to take sides?

Several southerners also frowned at the same time.

Of course, there was no lack of those who understood.

For example, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, who had tacitly joined forces with Gao Gong to exclude Jiangxi officials after Yan Song, was like a statue at this moment, looking calm and composed; he was probably well-versed in the essence of it.

Those who understood naturally understood; Zhu Zhu Yijun, who didn't understand, could only ask with a smile: "I naturally take this as a North-South dispute; could it be that Minister Shen thinks otherwise?"

Eyes gathered, looking at Shen Shen Shixing one after another.

Zhang Gelao Shen straightened his body.

Amidst the attention of all, Zhang Gelao Shen shook his head seriously: "Your Majesty, please observe clearly. At that time, the world all said, 'Examiner Liu Sanwu favored his hometown.' However, although Liu Liu Sanwu was a southerner, he was neither from the same place nor a neighbor to Chen An, Yin Changlong, and others, and they were not even from the same province. Such a statement is truly far-fetched."

"There is more."

"The so-called South Ranking, did the scholars taken really spread across all the southern provinces? Sichuan, Huguang, Nanjing, all only took one successful candidate; how much difference is there from the northerners!?"

"And Jiangxi took 18 scholars, Zhejiang took 17, Fujian took 9; these three provinces took 90% of the quota!"

"Is this a North-South division?"

"Chief examiner Liu Liu Sanwu was from Huguang; how could he abandon his fellow countrymen and become the culprit of the Jiangzhe and Fujian monopoly?"

The "Jiangzhe" here refers to Jiangxi and Zhejiang, which is also the standard abbreviation in official documents today.

Shen Shen Shixing paused, his head held higher and higher.

Wang Wang Xijue, Xu Guo, and others behind him exchanged glances, their expressions complex.

Everyone was from the Southern Metropolitan Area, and at this moment, they couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy.

The North-South Ranking Case—I don't know which demon gave it such a good name.

Over the years, using region as a boundary, Sichuan, Liangguang, Huguang, and especially the Southern Metropolitan Area! Being the capital, it could be said that they hadn't received any benefits, but had been scolded countless times for nothing.

Looking at the officials of the three provinces in the hall, they looked quite embarrassed.

Shen Shen Shixing ignored the glances his colleagues were giving him, met the Emperor's gaze, and said decisively: "Your Majesty, this is not a North-South dispute, but a dispute of academic factions!"

The ministers in the hall were stunned.

"Academic factions"? What a vivid and easy-to-understand coined term.

However, the meaning within...

Cai Cai Ruxian and Luo Zun exchanged glances and shook their heads blankly.

On the contrary, Zhao Wang Zhigao, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy standing at the end, seemed to have thought of something, scratching his neck uneasily, muttering to himself.

He He Luo Wen and other northerners frowned and lowered their heads, deep in thought.

To this, the Emperor rubbed his chin, appearing quite puzzled.

Shen Shen Shixing bowed again: "Your Majesty, this subject studied the *Collected Statutes of the Great Ming* and was able to see the leopard through the tube; please allow this subject to explain one by one!"

"Liu Liu Sanwu was a great Confucian of his time; all the major works of the imperial court came from his hand. He believed that if articles could not 'penetrate the Dao' and be 'suitable for practical use,' they were all useless works."

"The so-called 'Dao' was the imperial-sanctioned official learning of that time: Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism!"

"And the inheritance of Cheng-Zhu at that time was divided into several factions; its orthodoxy fell on the Jinhua school of Zhejiang, followed closely by the Chongren school of Jiangxi, along with Fujian, the hometown of Master Zhu..."

As soon as the words reached this point, someone couldn't help but hold back.

Zhao Wang Zhigao, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, only felt that the weather was too hot, sweating profusely.

He couldn't even wait to step out, hurriedly stretching his neck and shouting: "Zhang Gelao Shen is wrong! The Shi Guan school of Shaanxi and the Hedong school of Shanxi are also the orthodoxy of the Neo-Confucian school!"

How could there be a reason not to talk about regional disputes, but to turn to sectarian disputes!

Shen Shen Shixing was a Suzhou-Songjiang person after all; he didn't think about sharing a common hatred, but spoke recklessly all day for the sake of a minor official position, putting their Zhejiang in what position!

However, these words were clearly spoken in a hurry, and Shen Shen Shixing couldn't be bothered to pay attention.

Instead, the Emperor showed off his knowledge as a master of Confucianism again.

Zhu Zhu Yijun laughed: "I know a little about this matter. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Neo-Confucian school in the north declined rapidly."

"For example, the Shi Guan school has been like duckweed without roots for a hundred years. It wasn't until this dynasty, or rather, the current Ministry of Revenue Secretary Xu Xu Fuyuan inherited the orthodoxy, that it showed signs of revitalization."

"Another example is the Hedong school of Shanxi, which advocated the unity of principle and vital energy, and was once regarded as heresy by the Neo-Confucian school."

"Another example is the Mianchi school of Henan, which integrated Zhu's learning and Huang Taiji theory, more similar to the Mind Learning of Lu Lu Jiuyuan."

"In short, if we talk about the orthodoxy of Neo-Confucianism at that time, it was naturally led by Jiangzhe."

Zhao Wang Zhigao was suddenly speechless and had to retreat sullenly.

The current leader of the eight great masters of Dao learning was sitting on the throne at this moment; there was truly no room for argument against the definition of the school made by the grand master himself.

Moreover, these words were well-founded; although the Ministry of Revenue Secretary could not attend the court meeting, naming names clearly showed it wasn't just empty talk.

The officials of Jiangzhe looked extremely ugly, and could only turn their heads and glare fiercely at Shen Shen Shixing to vent.

This guy was digging a pit for his neighbors, truly forgetting his roots!

The North-South Ranking Case was originally an injustice manufactured by the Taizu Emperor; the southerners should have just cried injustice together, but this guy was good—in order to gain some dispensable reputation for Suzhou-Songjiang, he actually started internal division!

To this, Shen Shen Shixing naturally didn't look back: "Your Majesty is a master with great vision! Precisely because of this, the North-South Ranking Case is less of a North-South dispute and more of a dispute of academic factions!"

"Even, the Taizu High Emperor began to balance the academic factions early on, and it wasn't until the 30th year of During Hongwu that it exploded!"

"Especially the Jinhua school of Zhejiang."

"Song Tang Lian was exiled for interfering in treason; his successor disciple Su Boheng was executed for corruption; disciples Hu Han, and several great Confucians of eastern Zhejiang such as Zhang Mengjian, Zheng Tao, and Tao Xie Su were successively executed."

"Even so, Fang Xiaoru of the Jinhua school, who failed the provincial examination repeatedly, was still recommended to the Taizu Emperor again and again. In the 15th year of During Hongwu, 'ceremonially sent back' was not enough; by the 25th year, he was recommended four times by the Ministry of Revenue, and the Taizu Emperor sent him back without exception!"

The Taizu Emperor sent him back several times; whether he had talent or not almost goes without saying—especially since he couldn't even pass the provincial examination at the beginning of the founding of the country, the "test-takers" in the Hall of Literary Brilliance knew this even better.

"In the twenty-sixth year of During Hongwu, the Founding Emperor issued an edict approving that 'no officials from Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Suzhou, or Songjiang shall be appointed to the Ministry of Revenue.' This was because, at that time, the Ministry of Revenue had become a self-contained clique, recruiting only those from their own clans and sects while excluding outsiders, which led to them being impeached by the censors."

Of course, this was a chaotic order.

On the Yichou day of the second month of the second year of Jianwen, the new Emperor immediately corrected the chaos—people from Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Suzhou-Songjiang were still allowed to be officials in the Ministry of Revenue.

After the Fourth Uncle appeared, seeing that the martyrs of the Renwu year were almost all dead, he didn't bring up old matters again.

"In the 27th year of During Hongwu, Liu Liu Sanwu was ordered to delete and modify the *Mencius* and reinterpret the classics."

"In the second month of the 30th year of During Hongwu, in the first subject after reinterpreting the classics, Liu Liu Sanwu used this to draft several taboo words."

"The three provinces all knew the taboo words, while other provinces were mostly ignorant. The three provinces were light and easy, while those in other provinces violated the taboos without count, so that after the re-examination and addition, they could not be brought back to life because they violated the taboos."

"The North-South Ranking Case, years of dispute, no one thinks Liu Liu Sanwu cheated. This subject believes there was no mistake; Liu Liu Sanwu merely insisted on the orthodoxy of his theory and impartially reviewed the papers!"

The officials of the three provinces looked as if they had eaten flies.

They were clearly talking about the Demon Book Case, but after a round of arguments, they inexplicably poked out an old case.

Shen Shen Shixing gave examples, but why did he have to use such a public case to talk about things? He was not a human son!

"Aren't these words of Zhang Gelao Shen groundless!?"

"Zhang Gelao Shen is probably crazy about forming cliques for personal gain..."

Everyone was eager to move, looking like they were going to roll up their sleeves and come out to argue clearly.

Wang Wang Xijue, Xu Guo, Yin Yin Zhengmao, and others tacitly stepped forward, standing behind Shen Shen Shixing.

At this time, Fan Xue Yingqi, the Vice Minister of Revenue and Governor of the Granary, suddenly stepped out: "Everyone, these are all things from the founding of the country; it's better not to sit in the corresponding seats. Let's go back to the present."

Everyone turned their heads in astonishment.

They saw Fan Xue Yingqi looking like an "excellent and independent Zhejiang person who doesn't feel offended."

Only then did everyone remember that because of the dispute over land clearing, this guy, along with the Dong family, had their ancestral graves dug up by their fellow villagers, and now he probably only had full resentment toward his hometown!

A traitor has appeared among the Zhejiang people!

"Cough."

A light cough interrupted this dispute that hadn't yet gained momentum.

Zhu Zhu Yijun stopped his hand rubbing his chin and pressed it back on his knees.

He didn't pay attention to the dissatisfaction of the court officials from the three provinces, leaned forward, and stared at Shen Shen Shixing: "So, Minister Shen's meaning is that although there is a North-South dispute, it is a secondary contradiction, merely a layer of appearance used to cover up the primary contradiction. If I get entangled in the North-South dispute, I am putting the cart before the horse?"

Hearing the Emperor's brief summary, Shen Shen Shixing couldn't help but let out a long breath. He nodded heavily: "Your Majesty, that is exactly it!"

"The North-South dispute rising again today is still rooted in the dispute over taxes and labor!"

"The commoners in the southern provinces are wealthy; those with ulterior motives plot to resist land clearing, so they expand regional involvement by native place, blur the truth, and then use newspapers to catalyze it. In a muddled way, they have coerced half the world, ultimately achieving the appearance of a North-South dispute."

"This subject's heartfelt words, I implore Your Majesty to observe clearly!"

A dispute over taxes and labor!

Speaking of this, Shen Shen Shixing's meaning was finally fully revealed!

The ministers in the hall stared at Zhang Gelao Shen's back, their expressions varied.

Wang Wang Zongyi wanted to speak but stopped, and finally silently returned to his rank.

The northerners frowned and pondered, calculating that the tax resistance in their hometowns had risen and fallen, and was not serious, only then did they feel relieved.

Wang Wang Xijue, Xu Guo, and other officials from Fengyang and Suzhou-Songjiang had a hint of reluctance in their expressions, but ultimately nodded in recognition.

Only a few people were pale and could not control themselves.

The first round of discussion and polishing ultimately saw Shen Shen Shixing's mediation and compromise gain the upper hand—Zhang Gelao Shen's move had the suspicion of backstabbing his hometown party, but no one could say anything wrong about it.

The Emperor brought out the Demon Book Case, and with the help of those heaven-defying remarks in the newspapers, aroused the dissatisfaction of the northern court officials.

Under the situation where the hometown party led by Shen Shen Shixing attempted to settle the matter, the intention of the northerners to trace the source and slaughter on a large scale was almost fully exposed.

Wang Wang Zongyi was a kind person; although he did not consider himself a hometown party member, he still stood up, attempting to control the scope of the Emperor's investigation to a few newspapers.

For this, the Grand Minister of Rites even went so far as to bring up the Emperor's opening of the newspaper ban, such an erroneous political decision, to force the Emperor to take a step back.

Unfortunately, this move was lightly blocked by the Emperor—the Emperor's original intention was not wrong, it was just that Li Li Chunfang's execution was too big a step.

Thus, Shen Shen Shixing only took another step back.

The North-South dispute was only a secondary contradiction derived from it, often rooted in the primary contradiction.

The North-South Ranking Case was essentially a dispute of academic factions; the current Southern Demon Book Case was essentially a dispute of taxes caused by land clearing.

Thus, using the North-South dispute to launch a large-scale prison case was going too far.

Replacing it was a limited and precise strike against certain gentry and big families who were dissatisfied with land clearing.

Judging from the reactions of southerners such as Wang Wang Xijue, Yin Yin Zhengmao, and Wang Wang Zongyi, it was clear that they had accepted this step back by Zhang Gelao Shen.

As for who was within this scope, it was tacitly understood.

Wang Wang Xijue, the Zhang Gelao of the Eastern Pavilion, stepped forward: "Your Majesty, Zhang Gelao Shen's words are reasonable."

"Such demon books naturally cannot escape the net of the law; punishing them according to the law is just a matter of course."

"However, as the saying goes, one must have a famous teacher to have a famous name. If one launches a large-scale prison case because of the demon books instigating the North-South dispute, and the edicts reach the local areas and are doubled, I fear that the commoners and scholars who have more complaints will also be implicated. Doing so would exactly fulfill the thieves' wishes!"

"It would be better to follow Zhang Gelao Shen's words and only interrogate a few newspaper offices, and ferret out the powerful gentry behind them who are interfering in major government affairs."

The instigated commoners were inevitably innocent, the small landlords who spoke out in complaint were understandable, and the scholars who wrote the demon books could be barely forgiven.

Only the powerful gentry behind the scenes who obstructed land clearing must be hit with a heavy fist!

Of course, whether the truth was like this or not was not important.

Taking advantage of this opportunity to make a big move, leveling the powerful gentry and clearing the obstacles to land clearing was the most pragmatic thing.

Unfortunately.

This didn't seem to scratch the Emperor's itch.

After hearing this, the Emperor pondered on the throne for a long time, still noncommittal.

Following the Emperor's intermittent groans, the heartbeats of the ministers in the hall were also gripped.

Shen Shen Shixing and Wang Wang Xijue exchanged glances, the panic in their eyes unable to be concealed—could it be that because of these newspapers stirring up trouble, the Emperor had really developed a prejudice against southerners!?

The atmosphere in the Hall of Literary Brilliance became increasingly tense.

I don't know how long it had been.

Zhu Zhu Yijun finally spoke, smiling and praising: "Secondary contradictions are always rooted in primary contradictions. The idea is very correct, and the reasoning is also very right. Minister Shen clearly has read the theory of contradictions in reasoning thoroughly."

Civil officials never lacked the ability to argue classics; it just depends on what they take as classics.

If the official learning was set as Cheng-Zhu, then the Golden Throne Hall was a place to strictly guard the Three Bonds and Five Constants; if the official learning was set as Lu-Wang, then the Hall of Literary Brilliance was a place for self-evidence; and once the eight great masters' theory of reasoning came out, then talking about the reasoning of morality was the essential foundation for high-ranking officials.

Shen Shen Shixing was in his prime, and studying classics was even more of a leader among them.

The North-South Ranking Case was essentially a dispute of academic factions in the scholarly circles.

Whether it was the clues found in historical materials or the hasty speculation to cope with the current situation, it was more profound than a regional dispute.

The tenant farmers in the southern border were still propertyless, and the powerful gentry in the northern land were equally able to summon wind and rain.

This was the big difference, whether horizontal or vertical.

Extending it further.

The dispute over the North-South capital, the tacit suppression of Jiangxi officials by the cabinet after Yan Song—all were disputes over political resources.

The stopping of the opening of the law by the Filial Emperor, the opening of the sea by Emperor Longqing, the salt administration of Emperor Wanli, and even the land clearing at this time, essentially could not escape being a dispute over tax distribution.

All kinds of things, the root was indeed not in regional differences, but merely manifested in the form of geopolitical contradictions.

Shen Shen Shixing analyzed it to this point, and Zhu Zhu Yijun couldn't help but praise him.

However, there was quite a sign.

Although the Emperor made an affirmation, the ministers' expressions were not very good.

Because with such a sentence as a starter, a turning point would definitely follow.

Sure enough.

"However..."

Zhu Zhu Yijun pondered and spoke again: "Nowadays, the theory of reasoning is changing with each passing day, and Minister Shen is still a bit behind."

"Last summer, Yuan Yuan Hongyu wrote a new article, pointing out the errors and omissions of Li Zhi, one of which was."

"When conditions are sufficient, primary contradictions and secondary contradictions can transform into each other."

"The North-South contradiction is indeed rooted in interest distribution, but in the process of development and change, I fear there are signs of the guest usurping the host's role."

The Emperor chasing and not letting go like this was really a bit scary!

Cai Cai Ruxian, Zhao Wang Zhigao, and others all turned blue in the face.

Even Wang Guoguang of Shanxi, who was out of the matter, couldn't help but advise: "Your Majesty's exposition like this, I fear there is a risk of splitting the country!"

Many things, when spoken from the Emperor's mouth, have completely different meanings.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu Yijun turned to look at Wang Guoguang.

He shook his head lightly and slowed his tone: "Minister Shen's reasoning can explain the causes of the North-South dispute, but if it is used as the basis for administration, it is truly not enough to look at."

Zhu Zhu Yijun paused: "Minister Shen said that the North-South Ranking Case was not a North-South dispute, but a dispute of academic factions. I cannot pick out any flaws."

"To speak some tacit words, Liu Ji, Ye Chen, Zhang Yi, and the four masters of eastern Zhejiang led by Song Tang Lian were recognized as forming cliques by region, once contending with the Two Huai-Xi people like Li Shanchang, Xu Da, and Tang He. With these literary celebrities leading, it was truly not strange to cause the North-South Ranking Case."

"But what about the later matters?"

"In the first year of Hongxi, the North and South rankings were established, dividing land to take scholars, 60% for the south and 40% for the north."

"After Emperor Xuande, it was changed to South, North, and Middle rankings; at the beginning of Jingtai, it was all abolished, and then restored."

"In the 22nd year of Chenghua, the then Chief Zhang Gelao Wan An and Minister of Rites Zhou Yao Hongmo were both from Sichuan; they favored their hometown feelings and reduced the South and North rankings by 2 each, moving them to the Middle ranking belonging to Sichuan."

"In the second year of Hongzhi, the old system was restored."

"In the third year of Zhengde, the eunuch Liu Jin, who was from Shaanxi, instructed that 150 each be taken from the North and South. Liu Jin was executed, and the old system was restored."

"Minister Shen, the ranking dispute has lasted for a hundred years, and it continues to this day. Could it be that this is also a dispute of academic factions?"

Facing the Emperor's enumeration as if counting family treasures, Shen Shen Shixing was speechless.

The imperial examination case was finally characterized as the North-South Ranking Case; it was difficult not to develop into a regional dispute.

Perhaps the Emperor had deep feelings, and he sighed deeply: "There are too many people who have hated each other for a hundred years, not for profit, but just to fight for a breath."

Primary contradictions and secondary contradictions transform into each other.

Chanting the scripture of "Ah, the North-South dispute is essentially a class contradiction, don't put the cart before the horse" in the Hall of Literary Brilliance all day cannot solve the problem at all.

It is very common for geopolitical contradictions to rise to primary political contradictions because of blood feuds.

Under such circumstances, the interest analysis that always works immediately loses its effect.

Zhu Zhu Yijun glanced at the newspaper at hand; at first glance, he almost misread the name as *Mother-Killing News*. Of course, what it was called didn't matter; anyway, it was just like these newspapers.

It is legitimate and reasonable for a southern newspaper to publish a newspaper like *I, Hate Northerners*, but if He He Luo Wen says something about southern jokes or creates some "South-Regulating Games," that is a rebellious thing.

Don't look at Wang Wang Zongyi speaking nicely; he was truly turning a blind eye to the former, but was the first to come out and advise when He He Luo Wen retorted, warning him not to have North-South opposition, and so on.

Interests trigger contradictions, contradictions bring hatred, hatred divides identity, and identity gathers strength.

No matter how much one looks down on a certain type of contradiction, when both sides identify friends and enemies by identity and begin to gather strength, it is a contradiction that cannot be ignored here and now.

After gathering strength, conflict is inevitable; the outside has already developed to the point of openly clamoring for "Southern Court, Northern Monarch" in the newspapers.

Every mediation in the Hall of Literary Brilliance is actually letting the contradictions intensify.

Zhu Zhu Yijun's gaze swept over the ministers in the hall, and he slowly closed his eyes, leaning back on the throne: "There are too many people fighting for a breath."

"Wang Ao, the Minister of Personnel during the Chenghua period, served seven dynasties in his life and assisted six emperors; he is recognized as indifferent and desireless, lofty and isolated."

"Even the Ying Emperor had to respectfully call him 'Old Wang,' which shows his prestige."

"Even such a person, since taking charge of the Ministry of Personnel, has intentionally or unintentionally 'disliked southerners and recruited more northerners'."

"What kind of interest dispute was this for? Wasn't it just fighting for a breath?"

"When Yao Kui took over the Ministry of Personnel, he immediately openly declared, 'Every time I oppose Wang Ao,' and openly 'favored southerners'."

"The court officials were so angry that they secretly carved hateful poems on the carved railings outside the Imperial Pole Hall, 'Cut off Yao Kui's head to sacrifice at Wang Ao's grave.' Wasn't it still for a breath?"

"When Jiao Fang went a step further, he didn't hesitate to collude with the inner minister Liu Jin, just to vent this breath."

"He would say, 'Don't let him abuse Jiangxi people in the future,' not only 'Every time I demote a southerner, I am happy; even when discussing ancients, I must slander the south and praise the north,' and even openly declared that he would personally kill the Jiangxi-born Zhang Gelao Peng Hua outside the Thousand-Step Corridor."

"Even the ministers just now in the court, divided into North and South, openly arguing—isn't it because they have a breath in their chests?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun didn't want to say it too deeply.

The division of East-West confrontation since the Three Dynasties, the transition to the North-South competition pattern, the vision was too transcendent, and the southward shift of the economic center since the Yongjia crossing was even more impossible to explain clearly in a day.

Especially since region determines resource endowment, which then rises to realistic contradictions, even the New Learning hadn't touched upon it.

Rather than explaining to the court officials that interest disputes are rooted in geography, it's better to say it more simply.

Using various precedents to point out that regional disputes are a universal and widespread trend—even if it is a secondary contradiction itself, it has developed to the point where it has become a primary contradiction that cannot be ignored.

In summary.

This Demon Book Case today must be raised to the level of a North-South dispute; no matter who comes to mediate, it won't work! The Emperor said so!

The southern officials saw the Emperor's unshakable attitude and were all speechless.

Shen Shen Shixing felt stuffy in his heart.

He turned his head and looked at Wang Wang Xijue, who looked back with a solemn gaze, also not knowing what to do.

Shen Shen Shixing silently turned his head and cast his gaze on Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Unfortunately, the Chief Zhang Gelao was unusually silent today; even at this point, he was still like a statue, standing at the head of the left rank without saying a word.

Without help, Shen Shen Shixing subconsciously looked back, only to see the earnest expectations of Cai Cai Ruxian and others.

Shen Shen Shixing became increasingly helpless.

In desperation, he could only raise his tablet and bow again: "Your Majesty! It is easy to break the thieves in the mountains, but difficult to break the thieves in the heart."

"The Demon Book Case can be easily investigated, but the breath of the southern and northern subjects that Your Majesty speaks of, I fear, will be extremely difficult to erase in a short time."

"Your Majesty, please observe clearly!"

Wang Wang Zongyi proposed to stop at the newspaper office, but the Emperor resolutely refuted it.

He and Wang Wang Xijue made a slight concession, using the powerful gentry as a sacrifice, but the Emperor was still not satisfied.

Then what should be done? What does the Emperor want to do with the Demon Book Case?

Does he want to move against the Southern Metropolitan Area? But just now, in the Six Counties Silk Case, it had already been paved, so there was no need to be so pretentious.

Then is it to change the quota of successful candidates in the North and South?

Or is it to restore the Ancestral System of During Hongwu, not allowing people from Jiang, Zhe, and Suzhou-Songjiang to enter the Ministry of Revenue?

Or is it to make the tacit understanding that Jiangxi people are not promoted to the cabinet a written rule?

It's not that he wants to learn from Zhu the Fourth, leading the ministers of the northern border to trample on Jiangnan before he is willing to give up?

Thinking of this.

Shen Shen Shixing subconsciously raised his head to look at the Emperor, attempting to explore one or two from his expression.

But he saw the Emperor's expression was playful, and he nodded candidly: "It is easy to break the thieves in the mountains, but difficult to break the thieves in the heart... Minister Shen's golden words!"

"Since I ascended the throne, although I have lived in the north, I have treated the subjects of the southern border equally. Even so, at this moment, I have still become the monarch of the Northern Court recorded in the demon books."

"Even, from now on, whether it is investigating illegal newspaper offices or arresting the powerful gentry behind the scenes, I fear it will not only fail to eliminate the breath of the North-South dispute, but will instead become evidence of me, the monarch of the Northern Court, harming the people of the southern border, adding fuel to the fire."

"The two sons in the family are in such contradiction; what can I, an old man without virtue, do?"

Shen Shen Shixing looked blankly at the Emperor's expression, and a bad premonition suddenly rose in his heart.

What does it mean to live in the north...

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Zhang Zhang Juzheng, Zhu Zhu Xixiao, and others who had just been restored today!

Why did the Emperor go against the norm and suddenly issue an urgent edict for Zhang Zhang Juzheng to return to the capital!?

Why did he start to forget to eat and sleep, and once arranged all the major and minor affairs of the inner court and outer court until next year!?

Why has he been biting onto the North-South dispute and not letting go!?

Ordering Shen Li, who was going to patrol the fields in Jiangnan, to detour to Henan, Duke of Chengguo Zhu Zhu Xixiao, who had been silent for six years, to return to the imperial presence, and issuing an edict for Hai Rui to return to the capital, without even beating Yin Yin Shidan, who was entangled in the civil unrest in Shandong...

Every single political affair flashed through his mind rapidly.

Shen Shen Shixing's thoughts were chaotic and surging.

Unknowingly, he had connected all the unreasonable clues of these days!

A flash of inspiration!

He suddenly realized! He looked up at the throne in astonishment; could the Emperor be thinking of...

Shen Shen Shixing's pale lips seemed to tremble, and seemed to move, as if he wanted to say something.

Unfortunately, before Shen Shen Shixing could speak to extinguish the Emperor's words, Fan Xue Yingqi, the Governor of the Granary, had already taken a step ahead.

"The Demon Book Case, southern resentment, shaking the foundation of the country, cannot be taken lightly! Now that things have come to this, this subject dares to..."

Fan Xue Yingqi simply stepped out, actually prostrating on the ground, and shouted loudly: "I dare to request Your Majesty to tour the south to quell the disputes!"

In the Hall of Literary Brilliance, there was a sudden silence.

Everyone didn't react, only feeling a buzzing in their brains.

Tour what?

What tour?

What southern tour!?

Only Zhu Zhu Yijun slowly stood up from the throne and let out a long breath: "Sigh, so be it. I have sat in the north for twenty years and have not yet set foot in Jiangnan."

The words were like a rehearsal, actually pushing the boat along with the current!

While the Emperor was speaking, he turned from behind the imperial desk and walked toward the side hall.

Zhu Zhu Yijun turned his back to the ministers and waved his hand: "In the eighth month, wait until the eighth month when the imperial heir is born, I will go to Jiangnan for a walk!"

Without giving anyone a chance to react, after saying this, the Emperor had already disappeared into the Hall of Literary Brilliance.

"It is decided; the court is dismissed."

Only the lingering sound echoed in the ears of the stunned ministers.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 252 =====